Volume One, Chapter 29: Sorry to Disturb

"Alright, go eat." Feng Yizhou forced down his displeasure, his voice deep and icy, as if squeezed through clenched teeth. The obvious discontent in his tone was laced with a subtle hint of helplessness, barely discernible.

"Of course, of course! Your friends are my friends. You look weary from your journey—please, come down, have some hot tea, and enjoy a warm meal," Captain Hook persisted, his enthusiasm undiminished, still chattering on.

Yet the men in black grew all the more tense at the sight, some already pointing their weapons at Long Si and Long Wu.

In an instant, their powerful voices exploded over the palace, shaking the very air, making even the tiles on the roof rattle and clatter.

His tone was somewhat low and somber, and Ji Ruoyu could even detect a trace of dejection within it.

Having placed them by his side, longing to savor this stolen fragment of familial joy, how could he possibly let it go?

They discussed it for most of the night—by the time the roosters crowed at dawn, they finally returned to their rooms to rest.

In the end, the naturalist had no choice but to bring Caesar, and Caesar, in turn, had to bring Vivi.

Chunxing and Bitiao agreed, and seeing the weariness in her eyes, felt a pang of sympathy. They nodded, poured her a cup of tea, and served her as she drank before quietly withdrawing.

It was clear this wasteland had once been an ancient battlefield—almost nothing grew here now, the desolation absolute.

Ji Yun frowned, then wrote a few more characters above the ancestral tablet. Only after finishing did he nod in satisfaction and turn to leave.

For a while, all of Jizhou held its breath, watching intently—what would the Black Mountain bandits do next? The governor of Jizhou secretly dispatched a multitude of riders in every direction, faintly hinting at mobilizing the troops.

With Tang Kexin’s question, the boys who had just been eager to play the hero instantly deflated, heads bowed, not daring to speak.

When Nangong Yu usurped the throne and refused to abdicate, the heir launched a coup, forcibly driving him from power.

From that afternoon into the night and then deep into the evening, Sun Jie shivered uncontrollably from the cold, hugging herself tightly for warmth.

"What do you mean, 'again'? The school isn’t yours—you think I can’t come here?" Han Yichen retorted irritably.

Young Master Wushuang cut a striking figure in white, his long black hair flowing. The cuffs and hem of his robe were embroidered with an intricate band of black and silver—a subtle gleam playing across the elaborate pattern, the very portrait of a noble youth.

But faced with a pot full of chili peppers, she suddenly had an idea—she picked up some fresh lettuce leaves, dipped them in the broth, and ate them with relish.

Ouyang Yunge had always been proud, but after she fell for Lan Muchen, she felt that her pride slowly faded away.

When a person is sad, they always want to find some spiritual support, to pour out the grievances in their heart; otherwise, bottled up inside, those feelings could make one truly ill.

It wasn’t until the scouts reported that Dong Zhuo had retreated twenty li and encamped near Sunset Pavilion that Ding Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. After making arrangements with Commandant Wu Qiong for the defense of the city, he went to report at the Grand Marshal’s residence.

Zhao Yebai’s mind was filled entirely with Jiang Yunji, so much so that he treated Cuan Longmei as if she were Jiang Yunji, tormenting Cuan Longmei throughout the night.

As for the terms of the temporary contract, Lolita drafted several versions—the specifics could be chosen and amended by Qiaomu, unlike the permanent contract, which was nothing more than a cold, binding declaration: "Eternally sold to the tavern."

In the Shen household now, it was clear who held the power. The maids, having served there for years, knew precisely what to do and when.