Chapter 50: Truly a Foolish Fox

When Ji Ci woke up, the sky outside had already begun to lighten with the first pale hues of dawn.

Dongfang Jibai sat at the edge of the bed, a satisfied expression on his face as he gazed at her. Seeing her open her eyes, he reached out to gently tousle the top of her hair.

“Hungry? Get up and eat.”

He wrapped his cloak around her petite frame and lifted her up horizontally in his arms.

Her eyes fixed on Dongfang Jibai. They hadn’t seen each other for a long time, and she found herself missing him more than she expected.

“What’s wrong? Don’t recognize me?”

Dongfang Jibai chuckled softly and placed a warm kiss on her forehead.

Patiently, he fed her spoonful by spoonful of porridge, his movements tender as if handling a fragile treasure.

“Xiaobai, are you feeling better now?”

Dongfang Jibai paused slightly before nodding. “Better, thank you. Without you, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have woken up.”

Ji Ci’s eyes sparkled as she immediately requested a reward from the system.

“Quick, issue the reward—the male lead is well again.”

Her inner thoughts made Dongfang Jibai pause in surprise. He thought his little fox had finally become more aware and cared for him.

Turns out, she was just thinking about the system rewards.

What a silly fox.

[Reward points: 1000, permanent human form unlocked, access to the beginner’s shop opened.]

[New mission: Help the male lead catch the spy. Reward points: 50. Countdown: Three days.]

Ji Ci’s eyes lit up.

Catching a spy was no difficult task. If she earned points, she could exchange them for some modern items.

She desperately craved a hamburger and cola.

She was practically drooling.

The system despised Ji Ci for this. Others focused on completing missions, but she only thought about eating.

Upon hearing the mission, Dongfang Jibai’s knuckles whitened. He couldn’t let his little fox take risks anymore. Those battles and dangers were his burden to bear.

He could no longer allow her to intervene; she had already done too much.

Ji Ci browsed the shop, which was a basic shopping platform resembling certain well-known online marketplaces.

The prices were reasonable, with no exorbitant mark-ups.

Of course, there were also her favorite fried chicken, hamburgers, and cola.

She licked her lips, determined to find a place to secretly feast without Dongfang Jibai catching her.

Otherwise, she’d have to explain where all these things came from!

Dongfang Jibai watched his silly, smiling little wife, his heart melting.

“Ah Ci, now that you’re back, you won’t leave again, right?”

“No.”

Ji Ci shook her head, her mind still occupied with browsing the shop.

She planned to save these treats for a secret midnight snack to satisfy her cravings.

As she schemed silently, Dongfang Jibai gently rocked her in his arms.

Snapping back to attention, Ji Ci suddenly slapped her forehead and anxiously said, “Xiaobai, I found something on the road. Take a look.”

From her embrace—no, she wasn’t wearing clothes!—a sealed letter with a wax stamp materialized out of thin air and was handed directly to Dongfang Jibai.

“For you.”

Dongfang Jibai raised an eyebrow, took the letter, and carefully unfolded it on the table.

The more he read, the darker his expression became.

These people were truly audacious!

His grip tightened, his eyes blazing with fury.

Ji Ci’s reflexes kicked in; she leapt out of his arms, dressed quickly, and prepared to dash outside.

But Dongfang Jibai caught her again, feeding her a few more bites.

Madam Xin had returned, and the master’s illness was cured. The household staff finally breathed a sigh of relief, no longer tiptoeing around as before.

The oppressive atmosphere that once hung over the Xin residence quietly dissipated.

Outside the Xin residence gate, over thirty young men nervously clutched their clothes, hesitant to knock.

Their master had assigned them here, but this place looked prosperous.

Just as Xin Tian, the leader, hesitated to knock, the vermilion door suddenly swung open.

“Are you the Xin brothers?” the gatekeeper greeted respectfully.

“Yes, I’m Xin Tian.”

Xin Tian stepped forward and bowed. The gatekeeper hurriedly stepped aside.

These were talents personally recruited by the madam; he dared not be negligent.

“Come in quickly. Madam has been waiting for you.”

The gatekeeper opened the gate, and the thirty or so youths entered the household, carrying Xue Jing inside on a stretcher.

The mansion was decorated with elaborate dragon and phoenix carvings. The young men dared not move about carelessly, fearing offending their noble hosts.

Xue Jing lay on the ground, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Was this really where the great general was hiding?

His gaze narrowed dangerously. Dongfang Jibai truly had betrayed them.

Feigning death to escape—an overt tactic masking a covert plan.

Ji Ci wore a vibrant orange dress, silver bells hanging from her hair, jingling with every step.

Every outfit Dongfang Jibai chose suited Ji Ci perfectly.

Zhao Qiaofeng trailed behind her. The last time she saw her sister-in-law, she was unwell; now fully recovered, she thought her sister-in-law resembled a fairy.

Since early morning, she had stuck to Ji Ci like a shadow.

“Sister-in-law, let’s go offer incense today. Your return was too perilous; we should thank the gods.”

Zhao Qiaofeng tugged at Ji Ci’s arm coquettishly.

“I’m not going. I have other matters today. You can go instead with Wang Feng.”

Ji Ci refused outright, pulling out one or two silver coins from her bosom and handing them to Zhao Qiaofeng.

“Offering money.”

Zhao Qiaofeng laughed wryly, pushing the money back.

“If you don’t go, I won’t either. I’ll keep you company today.”

“No need. You should go about your own business.”

Ji Ci refused again.

Zhao Qiaofeng nearly lost heart. If it weren’t for knowing her sister-in-law’s good intentions, she might have suspected she was disliked.

“Sister-in-law, what do you want to do?”

She had figured it out. Her sister-in-law was simple-minded, so it was better to be straightforward.

“We’re going to bring people to clear new fields and plant crops. The Grain in Ear season is approaching. The climate here differs from the south; it’s the perfect time for farming. I want to take a look.”

Ji Ci said this, then prepared to run off.

Zhao Qiaofeng blocked her way.

“Sister-in-law, I’ll go with you.”

Ji Ci hesitated briefly.

“Alright, but don’t slow me down.”

Zhao Qiaofeng took a deep breath. She couldn’t afford to upset her own sister-in-law.

The two ran through the courtyard, where a group of young men stood waiting.

“Xin Tian? You’re here?”

“Master, mission accomplished!” Xin Tian led them in kneeling and saluting.

Ji Ci raised her hand.

“Stand up. Rest today. Tomorrow, follow me. Qian Bo, arrange for my men.”

Qian Bo, the Xin residence steward, immediately ordered servants to escort Xin Tian and the others to rest.

In an instant, only Xue Jing remained in the yard.

Zhao Qiaofeng stepped forward, looking at the man covered in wounds.

“Sister-in-law, where did you find this man?”

“Found him on the road. He still owes me three thousand taels of silver,” Ji Ci poked Xue Jing.

“When he pays back, I’ll take you to buy some beautiful clothes.”

“You’re the best, sister-in-law!”

Zhao Qiaofeng hugged her joyfully, unaware of two tall figures standing just outside the Moon Gate.

From afar, two men frowned at the pair.

“Jibai, you say she’s the little fox?”

“Yes.”

“Jibai, your little fox seduced my fiancée.”

“My cousin is not your fiancée.”

“Right, I’m the live-in son-in-law. Anyway, she seduced the one I love.”

“Check that man’s injuries. Don’t let him die.”

Dongfang Jibai spoke, donning his cloak as he approached Ji Ci.

“Going out? Why didn’t you call me?”

His voice dripped with jealousy, like a bottle of aged vinegar overturned.

Ji Ci puffed her cheeks, resembling a flustered cat.

“You insisted I eat egg custard. I don’t like egg custard.”

She wanted to eat whatever she pleased, but this man insisted on nutritional balance.

Her own mother never cared!

Why should he?

Dongfang Jibai’s tone softened, coaxing her.

“I just worry you’ve worked too hard lately and want you to recover. If you don’t want to eat it, you won’t have to.”

“Hmph, then swear it.”

“Silly girl, I swear I won’t force you to eat what you dislike anymore.”

Then he leaned close to her ear and whispered softly, “Except in bed.”

“You scoundrel!”

Ji Ci grabbed Zhao Qiaofeng’s hand, sprinting out of the residence.

Zhao Qiaofeng looked on curiously, noting how deeply red her sister-in-law’s face was.

“Sister-in-law, is it safe for just the two of us to go out? My cousin said you must have guards.”

Once bitten, twice shy. Now she was extremely cautious.

“No need. Anyone who crosses us will be unlucky.”

She hoped to encounter some careless fool to make her pay compensation.

Dongfang Jibai followed behind them toward the newly purchased farmland.

On the outskirts of the city, refugees were busy building shelters.

The displaced people Ji Ci had gathered were settled there.

Dongfang Jibai distributed grain to each household. Food was plentiful, but there was no silver.

Even so, the refugees were deeply grateful.

Dongfang Jibai gazed distantly at the orange figure ahead, a faint smile curling his lips.

His little fox always thought of saving the world, never realizing that she was the one who needed to be carefully protected.