TNIBFT -Chapter 298 We Haven’t Met, Right?

“Benefactor?”

Lin Xianzhong’s eyes flickered with surprise. He subconsciously looked up toward Ye Tian in the main hall.

Seeing Ye Tian’s calm and composed expression, with the three children gathered around him, the family of four chatting about something, a faint smile hanging on his lips—he seemed completely unconcerned with what was happening here.

“General?”

A trusted aide behind him cautiously spoke up, but Lin Xianzhong raised his hand to stop him, cutting off whatever he was about to say.

For Ye Tian to have become Jiaojiao’s benefactor, there were only two possibilities.

First, it was truly a chance encounter—a matter of fate between them.

Second, Ye Tian had long known about the story between him and Jiaojiao and had deliberately been waiting here.

“Erniu, the master has treated me very well!”

Seeing Lin Xianzhong frown, his face full of calculation, Feng Jiaojiao spoke helplessly and continued, “If it weren’t for the master, you wouldn’t even be able to see me now. That day, when those ruffians came to my door…”

Feng Jiaojiao briefly recounted what had happened that day—how Ye Tian saved her, how he rescued her again on the street the next day, and how, in order to give her a place to live and make a living, he arranged for her to be Shuangxue’s embroidery teacher. Her face was filled with gratitude.

Lin Xianzhong, however, turned ashen.

He really was a bastard… After being gone for so many years, what kind of life had Jiaojiao been living?

Clenching his fist tightly, Lin Xianzhong slammed it against the doorframe.

Feng Jiaojiao’s heart ached at the sight. She stepped forward, grabbing his arm, pleading, “What’s past is past, Erniu. The master has shown me kindness. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have lived until now. I know you’re successful now—I’m not worthy of you. I… I never dared to hope for anything…”

Her voice choked with emotion, and by the end, she lowered her head, tears falling.

“Don’t say that…” Lin Xianzhong hurriedly tried to explain.

But Feng Jiaojiao interrupted him: “I’ve never asked you for anything, Erniu. For the sake of how I served your parents until their last days, please let Sifang City go—let all of us go. I swear I will remain devoted to you in this life, praying for your well-being every day. Is that alright?”

As she finished speaking, her knees gave way, and she was about to kneel before him.

Lin Xianzhong quickly supported her arms, his expression conflicted.

A confidant behind him said, “Miss Feng, why must you do this? It’s not that our general refuses to spare Sifang City—by doing this, you’re putting him in an impossible position!”

“This is the Empress’s order, not the general’s decision!”

The aide looked at Feng Jiaojiao with clear hostility.

As a widow, Feng Jiaojiao didn’t understand these matters at all. She looked anxious, not knowing what to do.

A life-saving grace should be repaid with one’s life—

That was what her parents had taught her since childhood. But now…

“Sister Feng, please get up first!”

Seeing this, Ye Tian walked over, personally helping Feng Jiaojiao to her feet. “There’s no need to beg him. The current ceasefire isn’t because we can’t win—it’s because Lin Xianzhong doesn’t dare to fight!”

A faint, knowing smile played on Ye Tian’s lips.

Lin Xianzhong clenched his teeth in anger.

Feng Jiaojiao wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, looking from Ye Tian to Lin Erniu.

Ye Shuangxue spoke up, “Auntie, don’t beg him. He’s the one in the wrong. You’re the one who suffered—so why should you be the one begging him?”

The childish voice echoed in the room.

Everyone present looked awkward. Feng Jiaojiao’s eyes reddened as she nodded at Ye Shuangxue.

Surrender?

That was impossible.

A ceasefire was already Lin Xianzhong’s bottom line. Seeing Feng Jiaojiao about to leave, he grew anxious and took a couple of steps forward. “Jiaojiao?”

“This… this is a matter of the state, I…”

Feng Jiaojiao didn’t want to say anything more and turned to leave.

On the street—

The sunlight was just right, and the townspeople were full of joy. Laughter and cheerful voices filled the air.

Qin Fengyi rode a tall horse. Listening to the crowd’s praise and admiration for Ye Tian, a trace of tenderness appeared on her usually indifferent face.

“Mother!”

“My mother is here!”

Seeing Qin Fengyi dismount, Ye Shuangxue dropped the peanut candy in her hand and ran toward the entrance.

“Mother, where is she?”

Xiao Jiang hurried after her, trailing behind his second sister. Ye Yunting shook his head helplessly, but when he saw Qin Fengyi approaching, he couldn’t suppress his joy and followed his younger siblings.

“My good Xiao Jiang!”

“And my little Shuangxue!”

Qin Fengyi casually tossed the reins to her subordinate and eagerly picked up the two children, affectionately rubbing her cheeks against theirs.

Ye Yunting jogged over and properly bowed to Qin Fengyi. She smiled with satisfaction and said, “Good child, no need for formalities.”

“Mother, Aunt Feng’s Uncle Erniu came to find her…”

“He’s the bad guy attacking Sifang City!”

“Mother, he’s not a good person—he made Aunt Feng cry!”

“Mother, men are really scary!”

Xiao Jiang and Ye Shuangxue spoke over each other.

Standing at the doorway, Lin Xianzhong’s face darkened.

He wanted to see what kind of mother could raise such sharp-tongued children. Looking irritated, he turned his head, about to speak—

Under the warm sunlight, a woman in a dark red fitted outfit stood there, her face cold as frost, her aura like an unsheathed blade. A single glance from her was enough to make one tremble with fear.

With just a slight look from her—

Thud!

Lin Xianzhong dropped to his knees.

His mind went blank. Looking at the woman walking toward him while holding the children, he recalled the person he had seen in the military tent the night before.

The exact same face.

The exact same presence.

“Your Maj—”

He began to speak, trembling, but Qin Fengyi’s boots stopped right in front of him. Her voice was cold as she said:

“Lin Erniu, is it?”

“We haven’t met, right?”

Huh?

Cold sweat covered Lin Xianzhong’s forehead. Kneeling on the ground, his mind was in chaos. Haven’t met?

He couldn’t figure out her meaning for a moment, but since she said they hadn’t met, he quickly nodded.

“N-no, we haven’t!”

Qin Fengyi expressionlessly carried the two children into the hall.

Ye Yunting followed closely behind, the little boy remaining calm as he quietly glanced back at Lin Xianzhong.

“General?”

“General, what’s wrong with you?”

Several of Lin Xianzhong’s trusted subordinates stepped forward in confusion to help him up. His limbs were ice-cold as his mind raced.

Last night, the Empress’s light cavalry had intercepted him, leading to that conversation. At the time, he didn’t understand why Her Majesty didn’t want to attack Sifang City.

Now—

He completely understood.

“Mother?”

The Empress was in Sifang City—and she had three children with Ye Tian?!

For the past five years, she had neglected court affairs… so she had been hiding here, marrying and raising children?

If it weren’t for the Empress, how could Ye Tian have become the city lord?

How could he have resisted the Great Zhou army?

Thinking this way, everything suddenly made sense!

“He knelt?”

“Hahaha, Lin Erniu knows he was wrong now?”

Old Yang came out of the kitchen carrying ginger tea, looking disdainfully at Lin Xianzhong on the ground.

Inside the hall, everyone started talking:

“He can’t win in a fight, yet still acts all arrogant!”

“Exactly—this kind of apology shows sincerity!”

“I say, since he’s already kneeling, Shopkeeper Feng, you should forgive him!”

Lin Xianzhong’s face flushed red. He slightly raised his head to look at Qin Fengyi, but she didn’t spare him a single glance.

To avoid exposing her identity, he could only grit his teeth and say:

“Jiaojiao… as long as you forgive me, I’ll do anything!”