Inwardly, Wen Ning cursed this man—who would surely go bald young—a thousand times over. But she finally realized: with his level of cunning, her half‑trained acting skills could never truly fool him. She had already revealed enough in front of Chen Jinfeng. After testing his boundaries, she had no intention of hiding her true nature forever.
After all, she had to live in the Protector’s residence, right under his nose. If she kept pretending, she would never accomplish anything. Her lashes trembled slightly as she slowly lifted her gaze. “I can guess, my lord summoned me because of what happened today in the street—when I saved that woman, correct?”
Chen Jinfeng raised his brows, faintly surprised that she had suddenly dropped the act. Those eyes that had always avoided his now looked straight at him, clear and lively, the feigned obedience obvious. His right hand, resting on the desk, toyed with the hilt of his sword. His thumb stroked the metal lightly as he said, half‑smiling: “You know I had someone following you.”
It was a statement, not a question.
Wen Ning’s eyes flickered. She curved her lips into a smile, still carrying the mask of docility. “I know. What I did that day made my lord suspicious of me. Anyone who understands your nature would know—once you doubt, that suspicion never fades easily.”
Chen Jinfeng stared at her without blinking. Suddenly, he gave a cold laugh, a flash of steel in his eyes. The next instant, his hand turned, and the blade swept through the air in a clean silver arc.
Wen Ning’s heart jumped instinctively. Before she could react, she felt the sharp edge pressing close against the skin of her neck. Her back straightened involuntarily, lips pressed tight as she looked at the man before her. She had held scalpels countless times, cut open countless bodies—yet this was the first time someone aimed a weapon at her throat.
Seeing her remain calm even now, her bright eyes fixed on him, emotions long hidden beginning to stir—Chen Jinfeng had to admit he was surprised. In just a few days, this woman had already given him more than enough surprises. He smiled faintly, though his action was ruthless, his whole demeanor still lazy and unrestrained. “Lady Wen has been in my household for two years, yet only now do I learn how well you understand me. Just as I only now discover you possess such peculiar skills to save lives.”
His lips curved, but his phoenix eyes suddenly darkened. “You’ve lain low for two years. Why choose this moment to tear off your disguise? What is your purpose?”
His hand was steady, the blade pressed against her skin without cutting.
But Wen Ning had no doubt—if her answer displeased him, he would send her straight to the underworld. Her instincts told her: now was not the time for lies. Aside from the fact that she was not the original Wen Ning, everything else was best told truthfully.
She clenched her fists. “My lord, you are mistaken. I have lain low not just for two years.”
Chen Jinfeng said nothing, only watched her quietly.
She no longer referred to herself as “concubine,” but he could see—this was her truest self.
Wen Ning continued: “Even the Wen family doesn’t know this side of me. Perhaps you suspect they sent me here with some purpose. I won’t claim they had no motives when they placed me here. But whatever their aims, they have nothing to do with me.”
At last, Chen Jinfeng spoke: “Why?”
Her words carried no credibility. She was, after all, of the Wen family.
“Because the Wen family has never treated me, my mother, or my brother well.”
She did not force herself into grief or anger. It was true that she was not the original Wen Ning and could not summon such emotions. Her tone was calm.
“I know the Wen family never valued my life. Even if I foolishly sacrificed everything for them, I would gain nothing. Nor could I ever give my mother and brother a good life. You ask why I chose this moment to shed my disguise. In truth, I wanted to long ago, but I hesitated. Until Concubine Cheng pushed me into the lake and I nearly lost my life—then I realized my hesitation had been laughable.”
“So I no longer care to keep up any disguise. If even when I behave properly I still court death, then I might as well take a gamble—perhaps I can gain what I truly want.”
Those last words were her genuine thoughts. Chen Jinfeng could clearly see that, at some point, a small flame had ignited in the woman’s eyes—bright, vivid, like a shooting star. Unconsciously, he looked into her eyes for a moment, his grip tightening on the sword hilt. He asked quietly: “And what is it you want?”
Since he had asked, Wen Ning had plenty to say. Her gaze grew brighter. “I want a life free of shackles, where both body and spirit are free. To be honest, my lord, two days ago, when I left the dungeon, I lost my way in the eastern courtyard and wandered for a while. By chance, I overheard Fourth Young Master and Chief Fang talking. They said that as long as we concubines in the rear courtyard behave ourselves, my lord will eventually release us from the household—and even provide us with a generous dowry. Is that true?”
Well, “generous” was a word she had secretly added herself. She knew perfectly well—he had likely already set someone to follow her then. He must already know she had overheard Chen Jinbai’s conversation.
Chen Jinfeng narrowed his eyes, his words deliberately cruel: “And if it is true? And if it is not?”
Wen Ning pursed her lips but didn’t argue, instead looking at him earnestly. “Then, my lord, do you think I have been well‑behaved?”
“…”
After a long pause, Chen Jinfeng gave a smile that was all mockery without warmth. “Do you think your actions these past days count as well‑behaved?”
Wen Ning was no fool. She would not have dared test him so boldly if she hadn’t sensed his attitude softening. Ignoring the blade at her throat, she spoke with utmost sincerity: “Of course not. But today I have confessed everything to you. I have never told anyone else these things.”
To soothe a man was much like soothing a child—you had to make him feel he was unique, that the favor you gave him was his alone.
“I swear I will never do anything against you. Even if the Wen family comes to me, I will not help them. Whatever they say, I will repeat word for word to you. If you don’t believe me, you can keep someone watching me at all times. I only wish to live quietly until the day you release us from the household. Until then, I want to use the medical skills I learned from my grandfather to earn some silver.”
As she spoke, she looked at him with pleading eyes, her whole face spelling out: I am sincere—believe me.
Chen Jinfeng suddenly laughed, shifting the sword hilt as though his hand had grown tired.
Wen Ning felt the blade’s edge rotate minutely against her skin. His control was so precise that it did not cut her, yet every hair on her body stood on end. Inwardly, she cursed the hateful man.
And he, still provoking, said: “Since you know me so well, you must also know I am no soft‑hearted man. Even if what you say is true, it means little to me. But if even a fraction of it is false, then it becomes troublesome.”
His lips curved upward as he spoke each word deliberately: “For such people, I have always chosen to dispose of them—once and for all.”