Chapter 33: Having Your Body Seen by a Young Lady Is Like Your Ancestors’ Graves Smoking with Good Fortune

"Cousin, I don't want to get married." Zhao Qiaofeng lowered her head and began to shed tears again.

The tears fell onto Ji Ci's small head, making her wonder for a moment if it had started to rain. She looked up, and their eyes met. Ji Ci saw a pair of almond eyes, red and swollen like peaches.

*Eyes are already swollen?*

*You love to cry so much; I wonder if you cried just as pitifully when the Eastern family was being wiped out.*

Ji Ci's ears drooped, and her tail stopped wagging. She felt a pang of heartache for Zhao Qiaofeng. She was clearly a delicate young lady raised with love; even after losing her parents early, she hadn't been led astray, and her aunt’s family treated her like their own. Such a massive tragedy was far too heavy for a young girl to bear. Perhaps, on that night she was dragged into the military camp, she had already cried herself dry.

Dongfang Jibai’s heart trembled. He reached out, pulled Zhao Qiaofeng into his arms, and gently stroked the top of her head with his palm. "If you don't want to marry, then you won't. Cousin can support you for the rest of your life. With me here, I will never let anyone bully you."

Zhao Qiaofeng finally smiled. She nodded heavily and pushed Dongfang Jibai away. "Cousin, go write your letter. I’m taking the little fox out to play."

Before Ji Ci could react, Zhao Qiaofeng grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and ran off. Dongfang Jibai clenched his hands tightly, comforting himself: *Don't be angry, don't be angry, you can't be angry with your own cousin.*

*I was being kind and trying to comfort her! And she’s actually obsessed with his fox!*

Outside the manor gate, Wang Feng saw Zhao Qiaofeng and immediately stuck to her side like taffy. "I want to go with you; you can't just abandon me after getting me interested." Wang Feng was thick-skinned—you couldn't win over a wife without being thick-skinned!

"Stop talking nonsense!" Zhao Qiaofeng bit her lip, her eyes turning red again, looking like she was about to cry.

Ji Ci nodded and chattered at Wang Feng.

*Stop spouting nonsense! So what if a man looked at her? Being looked at by a lady is like your ancestral grave emitting auspicious smoke!*

*There are so many men on the street, why did she look at you?*

*It must be because you don't wear enough clothes! You don't look like a proper man at all!*

Wang Feng squinted at the little fox, feeling like the creature was cursing him, but he had no evidence. Dongfang Jibai, who had followed, heard Ji Ci’s outrageous remarks and silently walked away. The little fox was in a foul mood; it was better to let her go out and blow off some steam.

*Let’s go, A-Feng.* Ji Ci patted the back of Zhao Qiaofeng’s hand and pointed toward the gate.

Zhao Qiaofeng understood immediately. With a soft hum, she took the little fox and left the manor. Wang Feng followed them at a distance.

***

The market in Pingcheng County was bustling with activity. Zhao Qiaofeng had never been here before and was very curious. She looked left and right, and basically everything she laid eyes on, Wang Feng bought for her.

Wang Feng’s hands were completely full. He sighed, "I should have brought the donkey cart."

Zhao Qiaofeng had a charming face, and coming from the south, her skin was fair to the point of glowing compared to the local women; she looked incredibly elegant. Along the way, many men cast glances at her. Wang Feng was displeased and followed closely behind her. "Miss Feng, look at this veil. Would you like to try it on?"

"No, it's not pretty," Zhao Qiaofeng refused directly.

Wang Feng’s eyes darted around as he explained, "Miss Feng, you don't understand the environment in the Northwest. You just arrived, so you aren't aware—it's dry here, and the wind is strong. If you don't wear a veil, your skin won't stay healthy for long. I’m a physician; I wouldn't lie to you."

Zhao Qiaofeng stopped in her tracks and looked at Wang Feng, asking, "Is that true?"

"Naturally, it’s true. Why would I lie to you?"

Wang Feng ran to the side of the road and bought a reed hat. The hat had a veil, and through the hazy fabric, Zhao Qiaofeng looked even more beautiful.

*That was a miscalculation,* Wang Feng cursed to himself.

With the veil, the wind hitting Zhao Qiaofeng’s face was indeed much weaker. Suddenly, a gust of scented air swept by. A man emerged from the crowd, dressed in fine silks and holding a folding fan; his features were decent enough. He reached out and blocked Zhao Qiaofeng’s path. "The young lady is quite exquisite. How about coming to the Zuixian Tower with me to listen to some music?"

"No. Move aside." Zhao Qiaofeng held the little fox, her eyes filled with displeasure.

Song Lecheng actually reached out to touch her cheek. "The young lady surely doesn't know who I am. My father is the Magistrate of Pingcheng County. Still not coming?"

"I said no. Can't you understand?" Zhao Qiaofeng hugged the little fox tightly and took half a step back, her eyes beginning to turn red again.

This one look nearly hooked Song Lecheng’s soul. "Since the young lady won't show me the courtesy, then I won't be polite either."

Song Lecheng raised his hand to grab her. Wang Feng stepped forward and kicked Song Lecheng directly in the crotch. "She said no. Are you deaf?"

Song Lecheng doubled over, clutching his privates, curling up on the ground like a shrimp. His eyes were bloodshot as he screamed, "You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! Someone, beat him!"

In an instant, they were surrounded by a group of servants. Wang Feng grabbed a bamboo pole and struck at Song Lecheng. Seeing this, the servants pulled out bamboo poles used for drying laundry to retaliate. Before long, Wang Feng was beaten to the ground.

Song Lecheng kicked Wang Feng in the stomach. "How dare you hit me! Beat him to death!"

Wang Feng struggled to rise from the ground, but the servants didn't give him the chance.

***

"Now, come back to the manor with me." Song Lecheng grabbed at Zhao Qiaofeng’s collar with a hideous expression.

Terrified, Zhao Qiaofeng was already crying, her face pale with fright. She set the little fox aside and drew a soft sword from her waist.

*Clang—*

The sword unsheathed like a silver snake, slashing toward Song Lecheng. Her movements were sharp; if she weren't crying, she would have looked like a true heroine.

This was a real eye-opener for Ji Ci. *Crying while fighting? Are you that strong, sister?!*

*Sister is good, sister is clever, making the bad guy wail in terror!* Ji Ci stood up on her hind legs, nearly applauding Zhao Qiaofeng.

Zhao Qiaofeng noticed Ji Ci’s movements and frowned. *What's going on? Why does this little fox look like she’s watching a show?*

*Sister, don't get distracted! Attack his lower stance! Give him a hit—the 'Descendant-Ending Slash'!*

Ji Ci gestured from the sidelines. Zhao Qiaofeng understood her meaning and immediately began attacking Song Lecheng’s lower body. Zhao Qiaofeng’s martial arts were not weak; having been personally taught by that pervert Dongfang Jibai, how could she be anything less than a little pervert herself?

Song Lecheng suffered, so he hurriedly ordered the servants to attack Zhao Qiaofeng. Zhao Qiaofeng didn't want to kill, so she just kicked the servants away and faced Song Lecheng one-on-one. Suddenly, she turned the blade and pressed the soft sword against Song Lecheng’s throat. "Take out all your money and pay for our medical expenses!"

Zhao Qiaofeng said this while crying. Her threat, delivered with a sobbing tone, had no intimidation factor; those who didn't know would think she was the one being bullied, but moments ago, she had been laying waste to everyone!

Ji Ci heard this and nodded excitedly, holding up one small paw. *Yes, yes, pay up! One thousand taels!*

"Ten thousand taels! Hand it over immediately! Otherwise, you'll regret it."

Zhao Qiaofeng nodded at the little fox. Her thoughts were the same as the fox's—she wanted ten thousand taels.

Ji Ci froze. *No! You're even darker than me, sister!*

"Ten thousand taels? Are you a bandit?!" Song Lecheng was already covered in injuries, his clothes torn and tattered; he had no trace of a noble young master’s demeanor left.

"Are you paying or not?" Zhao Qiaofeng pressed the sword forward, pricking Song Lecheng’s shoulder. With another inch of pressure, Song Lecheng let out a piercing shriek.