TNIBFT -Chapter 333 Are You Afraid of My Mother?

Qiu Feibai was amused by Xiao Jiang’s worried expression. He raised his hand and ruffled the soft top of Xiao Jiang’s head. “What a kind and good child.”

“Master…”

Xiao Jiang looked at Qiu Feibai with a plaintive gaze, dragging out the last syllable. His voice was soft and tender. Hearing this, Qiu Feibai immediately wiped the smile off his face and said seriously, “Speak, I’m listening!”

“If others don’t like Xiao Jiang, Xiao Jiang still has Master!” After saying this, Qiu Feibai reached out and pinched Xiao Jiang’s chubby cheeks.

Xiao Jiang frowned and pulled a jade pendant out of his pocket. “Here, this is the gift Mother gave me when we first met.”

“My older brother and sister don’t have one, only Xiao Jiang does. Mother specially cares for me… Could it be that I really am not her child?”

Xiao Jiang pouted, looking aggrieved.

He looked pitifully at Qiu Feibai. Qiu Feibai glanced at the jade pendant and his expression changed drastically. His eyes went wide, and after staring at it for a long moment, he said, “Hēi Jiǎ Order?”

“She actually gave this to you?”

Qiu Feibai was completely shocked. After looking at Xiao Jiang for a while, he picked up the pendant and handed it back, saying, “You must take care of this. Never take it out casually, understand?”

“Ah?”

Xiao Jiang was confused. Qiu Feibai glanced around cautiously, then leaned closer to him. “Do you know what this is?”

“It’s just like my Master’s Pharmacist Order—very important. She gave this to you, and you still think you’re not her real child?”

“Could it be that only you are her real child, and your older brother and sister aren’t?”

Xiao Jiang’s eyes widened. “Ah?”

His little face was full of astonishment and disbelief.

The revelation came so suddenly that his little brain could barely process it.

If that were the case… then in the future, he would just let Mother care a little more for his older brother and sister!

Xiao Jiang nervously pressed his hand to his chest.

Having gotten the answer he wanted, the little fellow’s eyes lit up, and he whispered, “Master, then this jade pendant… is it very valuable?”

“Mother gave me something so important… she really loves me. Master, in the future I’ll love Mother above all.”

“And what about Master?”

“I’ll love Master above all too!”

Qiu Feibai smiled and shook his head.

Xiao Jiang nestled close to Qiu Feibai, sitting by his side. The two of them looked very close.

“Message from the carrier pigeon!”

“Message from the carrier pigeon!”

“The City Lord’s letter!”

A young soldier shouted. Hearing the commotion, Sun Wuji and Old Yang didn’t know from which corner it came but dashed out immediately.

Xiao Jiang’s eyes widened with curiosity. “Are my parents coming back?”

Sun Wuji read the letter and breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought that brat would be killed if he went out. I couldn’t relax at all.”

“It’s fine, he’s already on the way back to Sifang City!”

“They’ll arrive by evening, and you can see your parents.”

Sun Wuji handed the note to Old Yang. After reading it, Old Yang still needed to deliver it to Tao Lichun and the others.

Xiao Jiang’s big eyes were bright.

Sun Wuji turned toward the back courtyard to deliver the good news to his little disciple first, while Old Yang rode to the government office to find Tao Lichun.

Qiu Feibai hurriedly got to his feet.

Xiao Jiang tugged at Qiu Feibai’s sleeve, his little face puzzled. “Master?”

“Where are you going?”

“I… I just remembered, there are still patients waiting at the Apothecary Hall. If I go back now, I can just make it in time.” Qiu Feibai quickly came up with an excuse.

Xiao Jiang’s big eyes shone with intelligence. “Master, are you afraid of my mother?”

“Nonsense!”

Qiu Feibai immediately refuted. “Your mother isn’t some tigress, she won’t eat people. Why would I be afraid?”

“Master, did you know my mother before?”

“Is my mother an incredibly powerful person?”

Xiao Jiang pressed on relentlessly.

Qiu Feibai didn’t want to stay even a minute longer. Thinking of Qin Fengyi’s icy gaze made his heart shiver. “All I can say is, there’s no one in the world who isn’t afraid of your mother. I’m leaving now—remember to come see your master!”

After saying this, Qiu Feibai hurriedly exited the hotpot restaurant.

After dinner, Ye Tian and Qin Fengyi returned to Sifang City with the main army.

Everything was as usual.

Nothing was out of the ordinary. Everyone knew that Duan Qingshan and Lin Xianzhong had taken Heng City, and once again, Sifang City was filled with celebration.

The next night.

In the past two days, Miao Changqing had to stay as low-profile as possible. He sensed that Ye Tian was keeping an eye on him. Revealing himself too early would only lead to certain death.

Over the years, he had learned many tricks of the officialdom. As long as Fang Shenghu and Zhu Heyu trusted him, and Ye Tian had no proof, Ye Tian couldn’t touch him. So today, he went to Zhu Heyu’s office and invited Zhu Heyu, Fang Shenghu, and others to drink and reminisce.

“Come, come, a toast!”

Red hues rose to Zhu Heyu’s cheeks.

He raised his glass toward Miao Changqing and smiled with satisfaction. “This cup I dedicate to Brother Miao. You are chivalrous and loyal to the General, and at critical moments, you don’t hesitate to travel a thousand miles… to aid the heir, even entrusting all ten thousand troops under your command to him. Such loyalty is worthy of our admiration!”

“To your health!”

Everyone raised their glasses, surrounding Miao Changqing with gratitude.

They all called each other brother and chatted from past events to Ye Zhengyang, from the Sifang City crisis to the Daliang crisis. Everyone was drunk, except Miao Changqing, whose eyes were sharp and cold.

“General?”

Someone sneaked in. Miao Changqing turned his head to see it was his confidant. “Any news?”

The confidant nodded.

Miao Changqing glanced at Zhu Heyu, Fang Shenghu, and the others with disdain. Loudly, he said, “Drink! Another cup. I can’t take it, I’m going to vomit.”

No one answered; all the others were drunk, slumped over the table, unmoving.

Miao Changqing turned and left the room.

Finding a safe place, he opened a letter this time. After reading it, his expression froze, unable to react for a long moment.

Princess Leyang had written: Ye Tian had colluded with Dazhou. Dazhou troops were attacking Heng City—Ye Tian was now allied with Dazhou!

Miao Changqing immediately thought of Ye Tian’s wife.

Dazhou people!

If there was no connection between the two, he didn’t believe it.

Clearly, Princess Leyang also knew that Ye Tian and Lin Xianzhong had a close relationship. His task now was to sow discord between Ye Tian and Lin Xianzhong. As for how to do it, Princess Leyang had already provided evidence; it was now up to him to execute flawlessly.

Lin Xianzhong?

A fierce general of Dazhou—against him, Miao Changqing had no chance. But if it was Ye Tian’s wife, a single woman…

A cold smile curved Miao Changqing’s lips.

“General, Ye Tian seems carefree, but he’s actually quite calculating. If we do this, won’t we be discovered?” his subordinate asked nervously.

Miao Changqing said, “Exactly why we choose the simplest mission!”

“Make Ye Tian and his wife turn against each other, then destroy his family—I think Princess Leyang will be satisfied!”

His eyes darkened.

The subordinate’s face fell. Ye Tian was not someone to provoke. This was the conclusion he had drawn after observing Sifang City for several days.

“We act tomorrow. By then, there will be witnesses and evidence. Let them tear each other apart. A swift battle, a quick end. I cannot stay another minute in this wretched place!”