Mo Lingzheng felt a tingling sensation on her scalp—this child’s presence was overwhelmingly intense!
Frowning, she said, “My engagement with Zhou Rongkai must be called off, but I can’t do it with just my words alone!” She sat on the bed and sighed. “This marriage was arranged by my mother while she was still alive. My father treats it as her dying wish. Even if I want to break it off, I have to get past my father first.”
“Hmph! I don’t care! If you don’t break off this engagement, I’ll kill you!”
He clenched his small fists, as if he were about to strike her at any moment. Mo Lingzheng couldn’t help but grumble inwardly—this child was not only domineering but also exceptionally violent…
Forcing a smile, she patiently coaxed him, “Don’t worry, even if you didn’t pressure me, I’d still find a way to break it off. I can’t waste my life on such a rotten person. But this marriage ultimately requires my father’s approval, so before he returns to the capital, what I should do is find a way to ruin Zhou Rongkai and Mo Si’an’s reputations. The worse their reputations become, the more my father will side with me.”
After saying this, she changed the subject, pointing to the food tray by the bed and asking, “Did Mo Si’an bring this?”
“Yes.”
“She said you hit her. Why did you hit her?”
“That woman wanted to seduce me!”
“Uh…” Mo Lingzheng’s lips twitched violently. Staring at his childish face, she dryly corrected him, “You’re just a child. At most, you could say she wanted to abduct a child. Seduction is a bit of a stretch.”
“Hmph!”
“…” Mo Lingzheng rolled her eyes speechlessly.
“Weren’t you going to make food? Where is it?”
“I…” At the mention of food, Mo Lingzheng’s expression turned cold. “There’s no food! Probably because of what happened last night, my second aunt was unhappy and withheld all the ingredients from my courtyard today. Not even radishes or vegetables are left!”
Yan Si narrowed his eyes in disbelief. “They treat you like this?”
Mo Lingzheng sighed. “My family matters are complicated, but don’t worry, I won’t let you starve. I have some secret savings tucked away. Once I freshen up, I’ll take you out for a feast and find a doctor to check on you.” As she spoke, she couldn’t help but reach out and touch his pale face, her voice filled with concern. “Although I don’t know medicine, I can tell something’s wrong with your health. It’s better to have a doctor take a look to ease my worries.”
Yan Si suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Mo Lingzheng looked at his small, pale hand, thinking he was angry at being touched, and quickly apologized with a smile. “Young Master Yan Si, I didn’t mean to… It’s just that you’re too adorable, I couldn’t help myself, hehe!”
Yan Si didn’t let go of her wrist. Instead, he tugged her slightly toward the bed. “I don’t need a doctor. I just need you to help me with Qi regulation!”
“Huh?”
“Do as I say!”
“…”
Mo Lingzheng truly didn’t know what to say, but the little one was too forceful. Speechless, she could only take off her shoes, climb onto the bed, and sit cross-legged in front of him.
“Concentrate your spirit and gather qi!”
…
Half an hour later.
Mo Lingzheng leaned weakly against the headboard, looking at the little one in front of her, whose complexion had turned rosy. Suddenly, she felt as if she had encountered a monster.
“You… How did you cultivate internal energy at such a young age?”
Yan Si glanced at her sideways. “Don’t be so surprised. There are many things in this world you’ve never seen!”
Mo Lingzheng retorted indignantly, “Hey! At least I used my internal energy to nourish your body. Isn’t your attitude a bit too disheartening?”
Daring to mock her for being ignorant…
As someone from the 21st century, who among them was truly narrow-minded?
“Don’t even mention you helping me nourish my body—even if I demanded your life, you’d still owe me!” Yan Si gritted his teeth again. Just thinking about what she had done to him made him want to strangle her!
“I…” Mo Lingzheng was about to argue how she could possibly owe him anything when she suddenly remembered he might be Prince Anren’s son. Immediately, her anger deflated with guilt.
Alright, if she owed his father, it was only fair for him to come collecting.
Yan Si took out a jade whistle from his person and suddenly blew it three times in succession.
Mo Lingzheng asked curiously, “What are you doing?”
Yan Si put away the whistle and took a bottle of medicine from his bundle, tossing it to her. “Take this, two pills will do. From now on, perform Qi regulation for me once a day, without interruption!”
Mo Lingzheng’s face instantly darkened.
She had only heard of bloodsuckers, but never someone who fed on internal energy.
And every single day?
What did he take her for? A wet nurse?
“Young master!” Chang Jiu’s voice suddenly came from outside the door.
“Come in!” Yan Si called out coldly.
Mo Lingzheng looked toward the door. She had seen Chang Jiu last night—he was the one who had shoved the bundle at her. Behind him followed two tall, sturdy women, all three carrying food boxes.
“Young master, you look much better. That’s wonderful!” Seeing color return to his master’s face, Chang Jiu couldn’t hide his delight.
“Hmm.” Yan Si responded indifferently.
Chang Jiu glanced at the weakened Mo Lingzheng beside him, his expression immediately turning stern. “Miss Mo, I must ask you to take good care of the young master. I’ve already inquired about your situation in the general’s residence. To better assist you in caring for the young master, I’ve specially selected Da Niu and Er Niu to serve by your side. During this period of caring for the young master, they are at your disposal.”
Mo Lingzheng looked at the two women and could only manage a forced smile, unable to muster any other expression.
She hadn’t even managed to handle one little fellow, and now she had two overseers…
What great sin had she committed in her past life to end up with such an exploitative journey through time!
Chang Jiu suddenly placed the food box in his hand beside Mo Lingzheng, opened the lid, and added, “The general’s residence has been withholding your food, clothing, and necessities. This gold and silver is a subsidy from Prince Anren’s residence.”
Mo Lingzheng focused her gaze, her eyes instantly gleaming brightly. Suddenly, she no longer felt weak!
Good heavens!
A box full of gold leaves and silver ingots—Prince Anren was truly no ordinary generous man!
“Ahem!” Yan Si cleared his throat stiffly, his face taut as he watched her greedy expression.
Mo Lingzheng snapped back to reality, moved in front of him, and hugged his small frame, chuckling gleefully. “Young Master A-Si, you’re my ancestor! Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re plump and fair from now on. Not only will I help nourish your body, but I’ll even wipe your bottom when you poop!”
A dark cloud instantly settled over Yan Si’s face.
Disgusted, he pushed her away.
Seeing Chang Jiu staring at them wide-eyed and dumbfounded, he snapped irritably, “What are you still standing there for? Get out now!”
“Yes, yes… I’ll leave right away… I won’t disturb you…” Chang Jiu fled as if escaping.
Da Niu and Er Niu placed their respective food boxes on the table and said to Mo Lingzheng, “Miss Mo, this is today’s meal for you and the young master. Starting tomorrow, we will be responsible for procuring ingredients and preparing three meals a day for both of you.”
Mo Lingzheng nodded politely. “Then I’ll trouble you with that.”
Da Niu and Er Niu were about to withdraw when suddenly an old woman entered from outside the door. She straightened her back, lifted her chin, and first scrutinized Da Niu and Er Niu from head to toe before turning to Mo Lingzheng and asking, “Miss Lingzheng, who are they?”
Mo Lingzheng looked at her coldly. This woman was Nanny Zhang, who had been working for her second aunt for the past three years. She could be considered her second aunt’s number one lackey.
“They are maids sent by Prince Anren’s residence, specifically to take care of Young Master Yan Si. What business do you have here?”
Nanny Zhang replied, “Miss An’er is injured and claims you were the one who hit her. The second madam has sent me to summon you over!”
Mo Lingzheng got out of bed, picked up one of her embroidered shoes from the floor, and walked toward her. With a sharp swing of the shoe, she slapped Nanny Zhang hard across the face—
“Ah!” Nanny Zhang covered her cheek, her face twisted with rage. “You… you dare hit me?”
Mo Lingzheng grabbed her by the collar and began striking her head repeatedly with the sole of the shoe, cursing as she did so. “You wretched slave! Bought by my general’s residence, yet you can’t even recognize who your master is! If I don’t beat you, should I enshrine a disloyal and ungrateful dog like you instead?”
“Ah—ah—” Nanny Zhang screamed in agony, clutching her head and struggling desperately.
But Mo Lingzheng held her tightly. The more fiercely Nanny Zhang struggled, the harder Mo Lingzheng struck. The hairpin in Nanny Zhang’s hair was knocked loose, and her meticulously styled bun was completely undone, now disheveled like a bird’s nest perched on her head.
This scene left Da Niu and Er Niu utterly dumbfounded.
The reason they had been sent here was because they had investigated Mo Lingzheng’s situation. They had heard she was weak-willed and held no status in the household, and they worried that their prince would suffer hardships with her…
But who could tell them, who was this violent woman before them now?
Even Yan Si on the bed was unusually stunned.