Finest Servant

Chapter 503 A Child Within

"Lord Lin is too polite," Gu Shunzhang chuckled, "To be honest, I have a vested interest in discussing these matters with you. I heard that my son, Bingyan, is now in your hands—"

Lin Wanrong let out a sound of acknowledgment and smiled, nodding, "I understand, Master Gu. You're here specifically for this matter, aren't you? Rest assured, I believe that Brother Bingyan was merely confused for a moment. He hasn't committed any grave offenses; the Emperor won't hold it against him. However, since you already know so many secrets, why didn't you directly advise your son, instead of letting him get so close to Prince Cheng?"

Gu Shunzhang let out a long sigh, full of lamentation, "Bingyan grew up alongside the two princes. The late Emperor was quite favorable towards him, yet, for some reason, he became close friends with Prince Cheng. Perhaps it's fate. As an imperial tutor, if I were to advise him to stay away from Prince Cheng, wouldn't that give people something to talk about and make Prince Cheng suspicious?"

Lin Wanrong listened, filled with admiration. "Master Gu, your integrity is admirable."

"What integrity are you speaking of," the imperial tutor shook his head with a bitter smile, "It's my failure in his upbringing that has ultimately led to me having to clean up his messes. Lord Lin, the siege against your mansion was incited by my son. I'm truly ashamed."

Lin Wanrong had already been aware of this, but he hadn't expected the imperial tutor to admit it to his face.

Master Gu sighed repeatedly, "Ever since the current Emperor ascended the throne, I have paid little attention to court affairs. I've been preoccupied with traveling around, neglecting matters concerning Bingyan, unaware that he's still entangled with Prince Cheng. I used to think that 'children and grandchildren have their own blessings,' and whatever he does is his own responsibility. However, I am, after all, a mortal and can't escape the worldly attachments. I'm deeply ashamed."

Gu Shunzhang made repeated bows toward Lin Wanrong, his face clearly showing his guilt. For an imperial tutor with such fame and integrity, this humility was incomparable to the pretentiousness of so-called scholars. Lin Wanrong sighed inwardly, "So what if you've shown favoritism? We are all mortals, not saints. Speaking up for your own family is nothing wrong. Your son should be fine. During yesterday's court meeting, the Emperor didn't bring up the matter, clearly intending to downplay it. Please rest assured."

"It's the Emperor's grace then," the imperial tutor made a fist salute towards the palace, his expression somewhat helpless. Despite his esteemed reputation, he had birthed a rebellious son, naturally adding to his emotional burden.

Educating one's children indeed presents a significant challenge. Even an esteemed scholar like the imperial tutor could not easily decipher the cause and effect. Lin Wanrong suddenly heightened his alertness, 'I'm also going to be a father soon; I can't let my child turn out worse than me. That would be disastrous!'

By the time Lin Wanrong returned to his mansion, it was already deep into the night. Seeing the flickering lights in the embroidered building, although dim, they felt exceptionally warm.

"Why did you return so late?" Xiao Qingxuan gracefully descended the stairs, grabbed his hand, and asked with a smile.

"The Emperor has arranged a multitude of affairs. I've been so busy that I can't get away. Son, ah, let your father listen to your heartbeat—" He pulled Miss Xiao to his side, embraced her waist, and pressed his ear tightly against her abdomen, listening to the pulse of his own bloodline.

Xiao Qingxuan's face flushed, and she gently touched his hair. The warmth of his cheek seemed to merge with her own skin, filling her with an indescribable sweetness.

"Qingxuan, I think I hear two heartbeats," Master Lin exclaimed joyously, his ear still against his wife's belly. "Could you be carrying twins? My God, I am so capable!"

"What nonsense are you talking about," Xiao Qingxuan playfully tapped his head. "The child isn't even born yet; how could you know it’s twins? If both are as mischievous as you, I can't even handle one, let alone two."

True, this era had no ultrasounds; the pinnacle of medical skill was pulse diagnosis. Before the child was born, no one could know whether it was one or two.

Master Lin straightened his face, caressing Miss Xiao’s smooth belly, and confidently said, "Judging from the shape and size of your abdomen, it must be twins. I'm very sure of it!"

Xiao Qingxuan gave him a sidelong glance, bashfully saying, "Even the physicians couldn't tell, but you did? You wish—hey, what are you doing? Everyone is watching! How annoying!"

"Yeah, big brother, we’re all watching." Luo Ning giggled and poked her head out from behind Miss Xiao, revealing a beautiful cheek flushed as if with rouge.

"Oh, um, so everyone is here!" Master Lin awkwardly withdrew his hand from inside Miss Xiao's clothes and chuckled, "I've been reading too much lately, and my eyes have become a bit nearsighted. My apologies, my apologies."

Several people entered the hall. Qiaoqiao handed him a bowl of steaming Eight Treasure Lotus Seed Soup. "Big brother, weren’t you hungry? Try this."

"My obedient little darling takes the best care of me," Master Lin sighed, pulling Qiaoqiao to sit beside him. He scooped up the fragrant lotus seed soup and brought it to her rosy lips, "Darling, you eat too—put on some weight, so you can bear more children for your husband!"

"Big brother—" Qiaoqiao’s face turned crimson, almost choking on the soup. She giggled shyly, "Then you should offer this soup to Sister Ning; her desires align perfectly with yours!"

"Oh, really—" Master Lin widened his eyes and looked at Luo Ning. "Ning'er, how many do you plan to have? Let it be known, any number less than ten is not open for discussion!"

"Young lady, what nonsense are you talking about? You're the one who needs to bear children!" Luo Ning’s face flushed, and she and Qiaoqiao began to playfully bicker. Miss Xiao watched her two younger sisters frolic, glancing at Master Lin, a tender emotion flickering in her eyes.

A chamber of beauties, a tomb of heroes—indeed, life was good. With these wives by his side, who would want to go to war? Lin Wanrong sighed inwardly, feeling a warm little hand grasp his own.

"My Dear, what are you thinking about?" Xiao Qingxuan's voice resounded softly beside his ear, as delicate and gentle as flowing water.

"It's nothing," Lin Wanrong patted her hand, concealing the melancholy in his heart. "I was just thinking about the matters I've been handling these past couple of days."

Miss Xiao sighed softly and laid her cheek against his shoulder. "Don't worry. Though the northern territories are far away, what does distance mean to us as husband and wife? My sisters and I will wait for you to return, steadfast through life and death."

Lin Wanrong's nose tingled at her words, and he gripped her soft hand tightly. "Qingxuan, you treat me so well."

Miss Xiao Qingxuan smiled gracefully. "Stop trying to charm me. Tell me, during today's court session, do you have anything to inform us about?"

"Anything to inform?" Lin Wanrong frowned slightly, pondering. "Today's session was mainly about Prince Cheng. The Emperor said he would be stripped of his title and sent into exile in the northern regions. Qingxuan, since when have you been interested in political affairs?"

"You're evading the topic!" Xiao Qingxuan lightly poked his forehead with her small finger, glaring at him. "What does the Emperor's punishment of Prince Cheng have to do with me? Is that all that happened today?"

"Other than that, it doesn't seem like there was much else," Lin Wanrong spread his hands. "I've been at war in the south of the city, and then I visited the underground palace where Prince Cheng was plotting his rebellion. Ah, Qingxuan, you wouldn't believe it! Your uncle had stored countless treasures of gold and silver. It was as luxurious as a real palace, really—"

He rambled on and on, but the expressions on the faces of his wives were ambiguous, half-smiling, half not. It made him feel uncomfortable.

"Ahem, ahem," he cleared his throat, feeling awkward under the scrutiny of the three women. "Qingxuan, what exactly are you trying to ask? Can you give me a hint? I've been busy with many things these days and might have overlooked something."

He was cunning, preemptively making excuses. Xiao Qingxuan chuckled. "Selective memory, eh? Let me ask you, who did you meet at the court today?"

"Gao Qiu, Xu Wei, Chen Biqing, Yu Wenzheng, Gao Ping, ah, and the Emperor," Lin Wanrong said earnestly, counting off on his fingers.

"That's it?" Miss Xiao looked at him with a half-smile.

Luo Ning stepped beside him, massaging his shoulders with a tender touch. "Big Brother, think carefully! If you withhold any reportable encounters from us sisters, the consequences could be severe."

"Ah, thank you, Ning'er!" Lin Wanrong hummed in comfort. "Wife, can you give me another hint? As you know, I don't keep anything in mind other than you all."

Hearing his sweet talk, Xiao Qingxuan's face flushed. "You always know how to tease. Let me ask you, did you encounter the Emperor's tutor today?"

"Ah, you mean Mr. Gu," Lin Wanrong suddenly realized, nodding vigorously. "Yes, I met him. We even had a good talk and became sworn friends. Ah, my poor memory, how could I forget such an important person?"

"You're conveniently forgetting," Xiao Qingxuan shook her head in exasperation. "When you met with Mr. Gu, did he give you any important instructions?"

Important instructions? Lin Wanrong's eyes darted around, and he spoke nonchalantly, "Ah, he just reminded me to be cautious and diligent on the battlefield, so that the Turkic people wouldn't look down on us—these should be quite important, right?"

"Big Brother, just confess!" Ning'er twisted his neck gently with a giggle. "I heard you received a letter today, all the way from Goryeo!"

"Ah, so that's what you're talking about!" Lin Wanrong's face turned serious. "Ning'er, you'll surely be moved when you hear this. In today's court session, Master Gu, on behalf of the Goryeo Kingdom princess, proposed marriage to your husband here. I flatly rejected him on the spot! Ning'er, aren't you moved? And you, Qiaoqiao—"

He was dodging the issue, focusing only on the noble aspects of his own character. While these words were ostensibly addressed to Ning'er, they were meant for Xiao Qingxuan to hear. However, Xiao Qingxuan's expression remained unresponsive.

"Big Brother," Qiaoqiao glanced at him nervously, cautiously saying, "What sister is asking about is the letter from Goryeo!"

"The letter?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, his mind racing. "Qiaoqiao, where did you hear about the letter?"

"It was from the Emperor—" Just as Qiaoqiao, ever submissive to him, was about to spill the beans, Ning'er quickly covered her mouth, giggling, "Qiaoqiao, did you forget what I told you earlier?"

Qiaoqiao's face flushed with embarrassment, her eyes filled with apology as she looked at her big brother. Ning'er, that little fox, had Lin Wanrong grumbling internally. How dare she make things difficult for him when he doted on her so much?

"The letter, ah, I remember now," Lin Wanrong slapped his hand, "Mr. Gu also brought me a letter from a friend in Goryeo! My excitement upon seeing you made me forget all about it!"

"Who is this Goryeo friend? What's their name? Bring out the letter to have a look!" Ning'er hummed and stretched out her hand, posing a challenging question.

Was this girl daring to defy him, backed by Qingxuan? Lin Wanrong glared at her, causing Ning'er to recoil in fear. She quickly withdrew her hands, clutching her chest, pleading, "Big Brother, don't hit me!"

Her voice was soft and charming, her face tinged with an indescribable sense of allure, and her eyes held an ineffable excitement. Lin Wanrong felt his anger dissipate, replaced by another form of fire.

Ah, heroes have a weakness for the allure of a beauty. Lin Wanrong sighed, finally recognizing that his wives were here to interrogate him, armed with information.

"As for the letter, I indeed received one," Lin Wanrong took Qingxuan's hand and sighed. "But it's not like I intentionally hid it from you. The letter was written in such a cryptic manner that I couldn't understand what it was saying, so I didn't think much of it and forgot to mention it to you."

Miss Xiao covered her lips and chuckled lightly, "You're good at talking nonsense. How could you not understand a letter? They are written with words, after all."

"If it were written in words, I would naturally understand," Lin Wanrong sighed. "The problem is, the letter wasn't written in words at all."

"Words are futile," Ning'er chuckled as she extended her small hand, humming from her nose. "Big Brother, bring out that letter so we can see what young lady has managed to write a letter that even you can't understand."

Surrounded and grilled by his wives, Lin Wanrong had little room for protest. He took the letter from his bosom and handed it to the talented Lady Luo.

With a light laugh, Ning'er accepted the envelope, casting a seductive glance at him. Unnoticed, her delicate fingertip lightly scratched across his palm—soft, tingling touches that set his heart racing. This bewitching vixen was fatal, Lin Wanrong felt his heart pound uncontrollably.

"Sister, you go ahead and read it," Luo Ning passed the envelope to Xiao Qingxuan. Miss Xiao was rather polite, frowning, "This is a private letter for My Dear; it doesn't seem proper for me to read it."

Hearing the playful banter between the young women, Lin Wanrong understood. Xiao Qingxuan wanted him to make a decision—her reading the letter would be both "reasonable and legitimate."

"It's fine!" Gazing at the beautiful face of Miss Xiao, Lin Wanrong gritted his teeth, beating his chest resoundingly, "We are husband and wife; what's mine is yours! Besides, I couldn't understand the letter anyway. You read it and then tell me."

"My Dear, then I will read it," Xiao Qingxuan lightly laughed, her face a mix of joy and shyness. "You can't blame me later!"

Her smile seemed like the most beautiful flower in the world, blossoming in Lin Wanrong's heart. With both his soul and senses captivated, he quickly nodded, "As you wish. If after reading the letter you want to see me disrobe or anything, just let me know. I will fulfill your request."

Miss Xiao lightly scoffed, her cheeks flushed like fire, paying him no mind as she hastily opened the envelope. A faint, pleasant fragrance wafted through the air, penetrating the senses, revealing a white sheet of paper. As Lin Wanrong had said, there wasn't a single word written on it. She examined it for a moment, then sighed lightly and passed it back to Ning'er.

Seeing Xiao Qingxuan's worried expression, Lin Wanrong was uncertain about her thoughts and casually commented, "Ah, the paper is quite nice. I wonder where they bought it; I should get some when I have time."

Qiaoqiao curiously said, "Isn't this just ordinary rice paper? If you want it, Big Brother, I can go buy a dozen sheets for you to write letters on tomorrow."

This girl was truly adorable, Lin Wanrong thought, grasping her little hand in his own, but saying nothing.

"Huh, what is this?" Luo Ning's eyes fell upon the letter. What first caught her sight was a flower petal with a lingering fragrance, somehow sticking to the rice paper and refusing to fall. The petal's luster was faded, having wilted long ago, with only a few remaining traces of its once-vibrant crimson hue.

Upon closer inspection, Qiaoqiao said softly, "This looks like an azalea flower, also called rhododendron. They bloom in the mountains in spring, painting the landscape with brilliant reds. It's extremely beautiful."

Azalea? Luo Ning acknowledged with a sound, then continued examining the paper. The page was completely blank, except for a small sketch of a fruit in fine lines. The fruit was round, dotted with a few seeds in red ink. The strokes were simple and clear. The paper was otherwise empty, save for faint water stains scattered across it—perhaps the tear marks of the person who had written the letter.

"What is this? I can't understand it either!" Miss Luo's elegant eyebrows furrowed as she sighed.

Qiaoqiao scrutinized the drawing intently for a moment, then giggled, "Sister Ning, you must be joking. You're so clever, how can you not understand the meaning of this painting? Big Brother is also deceiving us. Don't you see? The round fruit is a pomegranate, and the red in the middle are the seeds. The painting symbolizes having seeds in the belly—having a child, ah—"

She stopped abruptly, her expression changing suddenly as if she had thought of something, and hurriedly closed her mouth.

"Is that so?" the talented Lady Luo, sighed softly, "I didn't pay attention earlier; I really didn't see it. This painting is profound. Big Brother, surely you didn't understand its meaning either, did you?"

"Yes, yes," Master Lin, breaking out into a cold sweat, responded, "Ning’er, you know I've never been good at solving riddles or anything of the sort. This painting is too profound; had Qiaoqiao not pointed it out, I would really not have understood it."

No wonder Big Brother was stammering, reluctant to reveal the truth. Qiaoqiao sighed softly, understanding that Big Brother wasn't confused; he understood all too well!

"My Dear, do you intend to keep this a secret from us?" Miss Xiao's eyes reddened, glistening teardrops shimmering, "Do you consider us outsiders?"

"No, no," seeing Qingxuan on the verge of tears, Master Lin instantly softened, "Qingxuan, it's not like that. I was worried about you, afraid that seeing this letter would upset you. Look, hasn't my concern been justified?"

Luo Ning hurriedly supported Miss Xiao and whispered, "Yes, Sister, Big Brother hid the letter because he didn't want to upset you. Though his actions were wrong, his intentions were good. Otherwise, why would he be so hesitant to let you know?"

‘My dear Ning’er, finally someone understands me.’ Master Lin felt a rush of emotion, his eyes brimming with tears.

"I know he cares about me," Xiao Qingxuan looked at Lin Wanrong, her tears falling freely, "but I don't want him to deceive me like this—"

Seeing that her sister was genuinely angry, Luo Ning quickly shot Lin Wanrong a meaningful glance. Lin Wanrong, feeling the deep emotional bond with Qingxuan, hurriedly took Miss Xiao's hand and softly said, "Qingxuan, I shouldn't have kept this from you. But as you know, everyone has some small secrets in their hearts, secrets they can't share with anyone—"

Small secrets? Miss Xiao snorted; what secrets did he have that she didn't know? He was just deceiving himself.

"This was purely accidental, and I hadn't told you yet. I've been considering how to minimize the impact of this on you—you know you're always the most important to me—"

He pulled Qingxuan into his arms, gently patting her shoulder, then secretly mouthed to Ning and Qiaoqiao, "And both of you—"

Both Qiaoqiao and Ning’er blushed, feeling a mixture of irritation and affection toward their shameless Big Brother.

"What are you doing, consoling me like this?" Miss Xiao's cheek rested against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Silently, her tears fell. "Even the secrets you keep from me seem to be for my sake. My Dear, you have bewitched me. My life is entirely yours."

Qingxuan spoke with sincere emotion. Master Lin felt uneasy and hastily reassured her, "The enchantment is mutual. Ah, the situation arose so suddenly that I had no time to prepare mentally. How could I tell you? You are the treasure I hold in the palm of my hand, so precious that I'd hesitate to even kiss you."

He'd struck her with his sugar-coated words; Miss Xiao felt her body soften and a mix of shyness and delight flood her heart. She, who had slain enemies with her sword and fearlessly roamed the world, was vulnerable only to the sweet words of her beloved.

"Even if you can't bring yourself to say it, you can't just keep it from me," sighed Xiao Qingxuan. "Having a child is not a trivial matter. It concerns a woman's honor and life. Moreover, it's the bloodline of the Lin family. Can you really bear to ignore this?"

"I have no choice," Master Lin exhaled deeply. "You are the most important to me. A thousand cities wouldn't be worth trading for a wife as good as you. Speaking of which, what shall we name our child?"

Miss Luo and Qiaoqiao listened, confused. What was he doing, bringing up naming the baby out of nowhere? They were unaware that this was Lin Wanrong's trusted tactic of changing the topic.

Sure enough, Miss Xiao spoke, "We're discussing a serious matter here, don't muddy the waters. What are we going to do about this?"

"Who knows? We'll take it one step at a time. It's not as if I wanted this to happen; I'm quite wronged too," he squinted, gauging her expression, but his face was nonchalant.

"That won't do!" Miss Xiao suddenly stood, her expression tinged with anger. "The bloodline of the Lin family cannot be allowed to drift to foreign lands, especially among foreigners. This is absolutely unacceptable!"

Master Lin lamented, "Maybe we should just let it be. Having you all is enough for me in this lifetime. I don't want to deal with any more complications."

"No!" Miss Xiao was firm, her hand gripping his tightly. "Men deal with the outside world, women manage the household; this matter is too serious to neglect. I will personally write a letter to Goryeo."

"It's better if you don't. This is hard to explain, and people are sure to doubt my innocence," Lin Wanrong frowned, intending to reject Qingxuan's kind gesture.

"At this point, who cares about innocence!" Frustrated with her husband's hesitance, Miss Xiao was getting impatient. "It's settled then. My Dear, when you return from the north, you will go to Goryeo."

"How can I?" Master Lin shook his head like a rattle drum. "I don't want to go to Goryeo. The journey is long, the alcohol weak, and the kimchi unpalatable."

"You won't go?" Tears welled up in Miss Xiao's eyes. "Very well, I'll go in your stead—then, let the child in my belly see how his heartless father torments his mother!"

The threat was indeed potent, and Mr. Lin was immediately alarmed. "Qingxuan, don't scare me. Fine, fine, I'll go, I'll definitely go! It's just a trip to Goryeo. I'll come back the same way I go."

"You said it yourself!" Miss Xiao huffed, "I didn't use our child to pressure you."

"Yes, yes, I said it myself," Mr. Lin sighed regretfully. "Qingxuan, are you not making it difficult for me?"

Qiaoqiao and Ning'er exchanged puzzled glances. Something seemed off. Now it appeared that their sister was anxious while their brother was not.

"Sister Ning," Qiaoqiao quietly tugged at Ning'er's sleeve, "from the looks of Big Brother, it doesn't seem like he's having a hard time. It looks more like he's pleased!"

"Hush," Ning'er winked mysteriously, "Don't speak, don't speak. Have you not seen Big Brother's tactics before?"

Having settled the matter and seeing him still frowning, Miss Xiao was both annoyed and amused. "My Dear, what is it? Are you not satisfied with my arrangements?"

"No, not at all," Lin Wanrong hurriedly sighed, "Ah, Qingxuan, you have a heart full of kindness. Marrying you is indeed a fortune I've accumulated over several lifetimes."

Xiao Qingxuan gave him a sidelong glance, "Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? Taking advantage and still pretending to be aggrieved. How annoying!"

"What are you talking about?" Lin Wanrong wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered, "Qingxuan, you treat me too well. From now on, I will certainly heed your advice. If you tell me to go east, I will not head west!"

"Who's the winner and who's the loser is still hard to say." Seeing the flash of humor in Miss Xiao's eyes, Qiaoqiao silently sighed. Intuitively, she felt that her big brother and sister were truly an inexplicable pair.

After conversing for a while, Xiao Qingxuan carefully examined his wound. The medicine given by Qin Xian'er was truly remarkable. Not only had the flesh wound scabbed over and new tissue grown, but the broken bone had also healed nicely. Miss Xiao carefully pressed down a few times before nodding, "In another two or three days, you can try to stand."

"Really?!" Lin Wanrong was overjoyed. Good medicine truly made a difference; just a few days had passed and he was already able to move.

"Don't be too pleased," Miss Xiao cautioned, "After you stand, you can only engage in some light activities. Don't use too much force. After another six or seven days, then you can walk slowly—remember, gradual progress!"

"Yes, yes," With Qingxuan's assurance, Lin Wanrong was beyond happy. Dragging around a broken leg was inconvenient anywhere, let alone going to the north for battle; that could be fatal. The sooner he recovered, the more confident he felt.

Xiao Qingxuan's eyes were tinged with red as she softly said, "It's just that, your injury can only recover gradually during the march. The army is full of men, and they're all rough. Who can take good care of you?"

Lin Wanrong hurriedly wiped away her tears and laughed, "What's there to be afraid of? I've always been rough and rugged. I recover fast. Besides, the army will be marching all the way to the border. There's so much time in between. Even a pig's leg would heal nicely by then."

Miss Xiao couldn't help but laugh. "What nonsense about a pig leg! You're wounded. You're not like the common soldiers; someone needs to properly take care of you."

"Sister, if you're worried about someone looking after our husband in the army, there is someone suitable," Luo Ning cautiously chimed in, blinking her eyes.

Xiao Qingxuan's eyes brightened, and she grasped Luo Ning's hand. "Ning'er, are you talking about Xu Zhiqing?"

Luo Ning nodded gently. "Given Sister Xu's meticulous nature, if she's willing, she'll undoubtedly take good care of Big Brother."

"Excellent," Xiao Qingxuan nodded, "Ning'er, tomorrow I'll personally go to Li Tai's camp and visit Miss Xu!"

Lin Wanrong waved his hand dismissively, "No need. Qingxuan, don't go. Given your status, it's not appropriate to seek favors from others—"

Miss Xiao shook her head, "My Dear, as long as you are safe and sound, I'd willingly die, let alone set aside my princess status."

"You're mistaken," Lin Wanrong said, gently touching her cheek, "You're no longer a princess; you're the lady of the Lin family. I, Lin Wanrong, may laugh or cry, but I'll never bow and scrape. In my family, everyone must hold their heads high; that's my style."

His words were filled with a vigorous spirit. It was rare for the ladies to see him in such a mood, and they looked at him with a mix of awe and love. Luo Ning still looked worried, "But Big Brother, Sister Xu is not an outsider—"

Lin Wanrong interrupted her, "Miss Xu is an army strategist, overwhelmed with tasks. How can we burden her with my well-being? Besides, I'm going to war, not to enjoy myself. Life and death are at stake; I can't have someone else look after me. I have Gao Qiu, Xu Zhen, Brother Hu, and Brother Du, my sworn brothers. They're more than enough!"

"My Dear—" Xiao Qingxuan tried to interject, but Lin Wanrong waved her off, "I'm the man; listen to me on this. If anyone goes behind my back to seek help, I won't forgive them!"

The words were spoken with great gravity, unlike his usual jovial self. Even Miss Xiao didn't dare to contravene him, leaving the ladies speechless. Luo Ning whispered in his ear, "Big Brother, if Sister Zhiqing hears what you've said, she might be devastated."

"It's just one more heartbreak; it doesn't matter," Lin Wanrong replied softly, "Ning'er, you mustn't betray me—"

"Big brother, what are you saying?" Miss Luo's voice trembled, "How would I dare to betray you to Sister Xu? I'm afraid you'll beat me—"

Luo Ning's charming face flushed like rouge, making Lin Wanrong's heart race. ‘This little vixen is trying to tempt me into making a mistake again,’ he thought, sighing. As a small act of revenge, he planted a kiss on Luo Ning's cheek.

Initially, he had planned to visit Yuruo and the others, but hearing that they had gone to the old Xiao residence with Xian'er to plan its reconstruction, he spared himself the visit.

Wounded and exhausted from capturing people and waging battle these past few days, Lin Wanrong retired to bed early, attended by his wives. Yet, his sleep was restless, clouded by a nagging sensation that something had been left undone.

The next morning, he woke up in a daze. The red candles in the room had burned down to stubs, and the sky outside the window was still dark. Xiao Qingxuan, who had slept beside him last night, had vanished at some point, and even Ning'er and Qiaoqiao were nowhere to be seen.

"Damn it!" Lin Wanrong slapped his forehead. "How could I have forgotten about this?!"

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