Yang Chen retrieved the money pouch from the beggar, who immediately scampered away.
“Truly, the world’s morals decline daily. With so many honest ways to live, why must they resort to theft?” Yang Chen shook his head and turned to go back, remembering Lin Jiaojiao was waiting.
Smack!
A slap landed on his face.
Followed by a punch to his abdomen.
Caught completely off guard, he couldn’t defend himself and fell to the ground.
Luo Chi’s swarthy face appeared in his line of sight.
“Luo Chi, how dare you hit me!” Yang Chen gasped through the pain, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He grabbed Luo Chi’s clothes and retaliated with a slap.
But how could he possibly match Luo Chi, who had trained in martial arts since childhood?
Before his hand could reach Luo Chi, his wrist was caught in a firm grip.
“Yang Chen, I saw everything just now. You deserved that beating!” Luo Chi’s eyes were bloodshot. “When will you hand her over?”
“I told you, I haven’t touched your woman!” Yang Chen found Luo Chi increasingly unreasonable.
He had previously sent Shuang Rui to investigate—there was no one missing from Luo Manor.
So why was Luo Chi causing such a scene? What else had he failed to anticipate?
“Still lying!” Luo Chi’s eyes grew even redder as he raised his fist.
“Don’t you dare touch the Young Lord!” Lin Jiaojiao arrived just in time, stepping in front of Yang Chen.
Interrupted by a woman, Luo Chi’s fist halted mid-air.
Yang Chen caught his breath, looking at the woman before him with a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
She… actually shielded him from a punch?
“Woman, step aside, or I’ll hit you too!” Luo Chi moved to push Lin Jiaojiao away.
“Luo Chi! Have you gone mad?” Wu Shi’s voice cut in sharply from behind him.
Luo Chi froze instinctively.
“Why are you picking a fight with Young Lord Yang for no reason?” Wu Shi grabbed him by the ear. “Have you been drinking behind my back again?”
Knowing Luo Chi had thrown the first punch and was in the wrong, Wu Shi used “drunkenness” as an excuse.
Luo Chi remained silent, his eyes still blazing.
With this tigress of a wife present, how could he dare speak the truth about his outside woman?
“Luo Chi, I’ll remember this!” Yang Chen climbed to his feet, his usual graceful demeanor gone. His robes were crumpled, one side of his face bruised and swollen.
“Young Lord, it’s all a misunderstanding. Luo Chi had too much to drink and lost control. Please don’t take it to heart. Another day, I’ll have him come to apologize properly.”
Wu Shi knew Yang Chen was her father Wu Xiong’s right-hand man and coaxed him gently.
She then turned to Luo Chi. “Isn’t that right?”
Luo Chi was fuming, his fists clenched tight, but he couldn’t refuse in front of Wu Shi—otherwise, she would demand an explanation.
He could only nod grimly.
He needed to find a way to send this tigress of his away from Jing City for a while, so he could search for his woman freely.
Yang Chen seethed with anger, but with his superior’s daughter present, he had to swallow his rage for now.
“Hmph! You’re lucky you married a sensible wife.” Yang Chen flicked his sleeve and left.
Lin Jiaojiao followed closely, supporting Yang Chen with feigned concern.
Earlier, she had seen Wu Shi approaching and calculated that Luo Chi wouldn’t dare strike her—that’s why she had deliberately stepped forward.
Watching them leave, Wu Shi looked puzzled. “I thought Yang Chen was engaged to Lin Tangtang. Why is he so close with her cousin Lin Jiaojiao?”
Wu Shi had met people from Beiwei General Manor before.
“Tsk tsk, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, how interesting.” Luo Chi’s eyes gleamed with shrewd light.
From the second floor of the teahouse across the street, Lin Tangtang took in the entire scene.
She said to Chunxue, “Later, send some more silver to Song Ru Er. Tonight, with lanterns bright as dragons, let’s join the festivities too.”
The two bought some fish lanterns and small trinkets.
Before leaving, remembering they had run out of xuan paper at home, they purchased some more.
Just as they exited the shop, they happened to encounter Luo Chi and Wu Shi.
Both parties nodded slightly before hurriedly going their separate ways.
After boarding the carriage, Xiangxue asked, “Miss, why do I feel General Luo was looking at you strangely just now?”
“Oh? How so?” Lin Tangtang inquired.
“Like he was looking at prey…”
“Feelings are often unreliable.”
Xiangxue: “…”
When they took a shortcut back to the Marquis Estate, Yang Chen had also arrived.
Meeting Lin Tangtang’s icy gaze, Lin Jiaojiao immediately withdrew her hand.
“Madam of the Hou Estate, Young Lord.” Lin Tangtang greeted indifferently before heading towards the West Garden.
“Wait, are you just leaving like this? Chen’er is injured, why haven’t you asked about him?” Yu Shi complained discontentedly.
“I’m not a physician. If he’s injured, please consult a doctor.” Lin Tangtang remained perfectly calm.
She made a slight bow and left.
Yu Shi felt her chest tightening with frustration again.
She didn’t like Lin Tangtang.
The fact that Lin Tangtang showed no concern for her son made her dislike her even more.
Back in Jing City, how many noble maidens had admired her son? It was Lin Tangtang who had shamelessly insisted on clinging to him.
And now she put on such airs, just because she took some medicinal herbs and a headdress set? She had money, was it necessary to be so stingy?
Yang Chen’s expression grew even darker.
Lin Tangtang wasn’t fulfilling her duties as a fiancée.
After the Flower Viewing Banquet concluded, he would inquire about the territorial map matter, and then…
Returning to the West Garden,
Lin Tangtang and Xiangxue hung the lanterns at the doorway and throughout the courtyard.
The entire yard became brightly lit, transforming its previous cold and monotonous atmosphere.
Although they wouldn’t be living in the Marquis Estate for more than a few months, wherever people reside, there should always be light.
Just after hanging the fish lanterns, a sudden gust of wind blew out all the lights.
A pair of large hands dragged Lin Tangtang into the room and closed the door.
“Miss!” Xiangxue cried out in alarm, drawing her ruanjian as she rushed forward.
“Make her leave. I have words for you.” A man’s voice spoke as a sharp blade pressed against Lin Tangtang’s neck.
“I’m fine, Xiangxue. Continue lighting the courtyard lanterns. I’ll rest for a moment and come out soon.” Lin Tangtang’s voice sounded remarkably calm.
“But…”
Lin Tangtang’s composure was almost unbelievable to Xiangxue.
She was certain that someone had taken advantage of the darkness to sneak in and was now holding Miss Lin hostage.
“Make her leave.” Noticing Xiangxue standing motionless at the door, the man’s voice held a trace of impatience.
“What, are you no longer listening to my words?” Lin Tangtang spoke again.
Xiangxue couldn’t see the situation inside the room. If she barged in recklessly, it might put her mistress in greater danger.
She had no choice but to open the fire tinder and quickly go light the courtyard lanterns, though her attention remained entirely focused on the room.
“General Luo, you can release me now.” Lin Tangtang spoke unhurriedly.
She knew the man beside her was Luo Chi.
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