Jinfeng had always trusted his instincts.
He just felt that this Fifth Miss Zheng was off!
This concerned his young master’s life and safety, and Jinfeng didn’t want to miss any clue, no matter how small.
He was determined to drag out the person who wanted to assassinate his young master and tear them to pieces!
If this Fifth Miss Zheng really had something to do with it… Jinfeng thought darkly, he’d throw her into the river to feed the fish too!
If she died, all the better—his young master’s engagement could be terminated.
His young master was meant to marry a noble lady from a distinguished family, not some country bumpkin.
Countless thoughts flashed through Ye Feishuang’s mind—
Could she defeat Jinfeng right now?
What were the chances of silencing him by killing him?
If the truth came out, what would happen to that noble young man?
The medicine bowl was already gone. Gripping the tray as a weapon, Ye Feishuang followed him inside.
She kept her eyes fixed on Jinfeng, searching for the weakest spot on his body to strike.
But she was startled by the empty room.
The door was wide open, and the river breeze blew in, making the bed curtains flutter. The bed was empty—there was no one there.
That person was gone.
Whether he had woken up and left on his own or had been taken away by someone else, he was no longer here.
Ye Feishuang finally let out the breath that had been stuck in her throat.
Frowning, Jinfeng circled the room several times, leaving no corner unchecked, but he couldn’t find anyone.
…Could it be that his instincts were wrong?
Ye Feishuang sat at the table, watching coldly as Jinfeng ransacked her room like a bandit.
The bed curtains were torn, the table overturned, and the trunk was pried open and stabbed directly inside, shredding her already meager clothes to pieces.
In her previous life, Ye Feishuang had known that Jinfeng looked down on her, thinking she wasn’t worthy of Chen Yan. Especially after the scandal of her adultery, every time Jinfeng saw her, he seemed to wish he could grind her bones to dust, as if she were a stain clinging to Chen Yan.
Back then, she had been foolish too, caring about Chen Yan and, by extension, the people around him. She had even tried to change Jinfeng’s impression of her, lowering herself to please him many times.
Of course, all she got in return was more contempt from Jinfeng.
After searching fruitlessly, Jinfeng sheathed his sword and turned to leave.
“Stop,” Ye Feishuang called out to him.
Jinfeng turned impatiently. “What do you want—”
A slap came straight at his face.
Due to the height difference, Ye Feishuang’s slap only struck Jinfeng’s jaw.
Although Ye Feishuang’s body was only ten years old, she had trained with a staff for years and had strong hands. Jinfeng’s jawbone instantly turned red.
More than the pain of the slap, Jinfeng was shocked. “You dare hit me?”
He had grown up with Chen Yan and was Chen Yan’s closest and most trusted person. No one had ever dared to hit him before!
Ye Feishuang looked coldly at Jinfeng—she was genuinely angry too.
Barging into her room without a word, ransacking it like a bandit, and then leaving without a single explanation—what did he take her for?
Her voice was icy. “You forced your way into my room, and now you have no explanation?”
Jinfeng sneered, looking at her disdainfully. “What are you, that I should explain myself to you?”
Ye Feishuang pressed her lips together, her chest heaving as anger surged within her.
Jinfeng’s behavior had stirred up many unpleasant memories from her previous life.
She had endured such humiliation many times in her past life, and each time, she had swallowed it down.
She thought that as long as she took a step back, the world would open up before her.
Little did she know that for every step she retreated, those people would advance ten steps, pushing her to the brink of losing her footing.
Those people, like Jinfeng, harbored the deepest malice toward her, humiliating and bullying her.
Why?
Why did she suffer setbacks time and again when she had done nothing wrong?
And why, even as she lay dying, did those who had clearly wronged her never offer a single explanation or apology?
Since forbearance proved so futile, she would never endure it again—this was the lesson she had learned with blood and tears in her past life!
Ye Feishuang glared at Jinfeng. "Which family are you from? Your upbringing is truly appalling!"
"Did your master never teach you manners?"
"What kind of banditry is it to barge into someone else's room? Slapping you once was letting you off lightly."
Furious and humiliated, Jinfeng drew his sword, wishing he could slit Ye Feishuang's throat on the spot.
Just as the blade left its sheath, his hand was pressed down.
Turning around, he saw Chen Yan had arrived.
Jinfeng's anger instantly turned into embarrassment and shame. He had been slapped by a country bumpkin! He had disgraced his master!
Having already prepared herself for the possibility that Chen Yan was on this boat, Ye Feishuang was not surprised to see him.
Yet, the hatred, resentment, bitterness, and pain from her past life surged within her, mingling with the river breeze and striking her face, making it hard to breathe.
Chen Yan couldn't comprehend the myriad emotions from past and present lives swirling in Ye Feishuang's eyes. He only felt her gaze was complex, far beyond what a ten-year-old girl should possess.
She seemed particularly sorrowful and aggrieved.
For some inexplicable reason, his heart felt as if it had been gently struck by the tangible weight of her gaze, stirring an indescribable ache within him.
She had every right to feel aggrieved, Chen Yan thought. Jinfeng had gone too far.
It was clear he held no regard for her, showing utter disrespect.
Jinfeng, however, was the first to voice his grievance. "Master, look at my face…"
Chen Yan glanced at the red mark on his cheek, frowned, and said, "Apologize."
Jinfeng shot a smug look at Ye Feishuang.
He knew his master would stand up for him. What did this country bumpkin amount to?
His master needed to see that this woman from the countryside was simply unfit—utterly lacking in upbringing and entirely unworthy of him!
Ye Feishuang was not the least bit surprised. She knew that whenever she clashed with others, Chen Yan would always demand she take a step back.
He never stood by her side.
It was only in her past life, blinded by affection, that she failed to see it.
Before her marriage in her past life, she had been bullied countless times. Chen Yan had shielded her, but he never once made those who wronged her apologize.
He had even advised her to endure.
Well-read and eloquent, he had convinced her.
Now, looking back, she realized he had merely been placating her. Where was the genuine care?
"Hey, are you deaf?" Jinfeng pointed at his own face. "My master told you to apologize to me. Did you hear?"
As his master's personal attendant, he was usually treated with deference—even the master and mistress had never struck him!
This woman before him was the first to ever do so!
Seeing Ye Feishuang remain silent, Jinfeng grew even more insolent. "What's the big deal about entering your room? A country bumpkin putting on airs? Flaunting your pretensions in front of us—what's there to be so fussy about? When you were borrowing my master's influence earlier, I didn't see you being so particular! Shameless…"
This was truly going too far. Chen Yan frowned and snapped in a low voice, "Shut up!"
Jinfeng still wore a cheeky grin. "Young Master, I'll shut up once she apologizes to me."
Chen Yan fixed a cold stare on Jinfeng for a moment.
Then, he raised his hand and slapped the other side of Jinfeng's face.
Unlike Ye Feishuang's slap, Chen Yan's was a solid, forceful blow that sent Jinfeng staggering back two steps, his cheek swelling instantly.
This not only stunned Jinfeng but also left Ye Feishuang somewhat taken aback.
In her previous life, having lived over twenty years, she had never seen Chen Yan lay a hand on Jinfeng.
Now, he had actually struck Jinfeng for her sake?
Ye Feishuang's gaze on Chen Yan was tinged with confusion.
"Young Master?"
"Insolent servant." Chen Yan glared coldly at Jinfeng. "Spouting such insolence, utterly disrespectful—is this how I taught you before? Have I been too lenient, making you forget what you truly are?"