At that moment, County Lieutenant Zhao harboured murderous intent.
But after much thought, he shook his head.
“Only as a last resort. We cannot use this move. Jin Feng and Marquis Qing are close friends. Not only did he stay in West River Bay so long, but he took Jin Feng to the battlefield. If we kill Jin Feng, Marquis Qing might return personally. Then it would be far worse than now.”
Jin Feng was merely a nominal noble without a fief. Dealing with them required evidence.
But Qing Huai was a marquis with real power over the Iron Forest Army, backed by Duke Qing. He needed nothing. Mere suspicion of Jin Feng’s death at their hands would let him execute them directly.
“Then what now? Jin Feng went to Tiger Head Mountain!”
Master Zhu stamped his foot in panic.
“Relax. Tiger Head Mountain still has hundreds of bandits. Jin Feng bringing ten more men changes nothing.”
County Lieutenant Zhao said, “I’ll send men now to see what he’s doing there.”
Jin Feng, unaware his casual action caused such uproar, smiled placatingly while Qing Mulan scolded him.
“Sir, you told me coming here would satisfy my battle craving. Now what? Four days and I haven’t seen a bandit’s shadow!”
Qing Mulan fumed. “Mosquitoes bite me daily here, while you sneak off to marry Miss Xiaobei!”
When planning and assigning tasks, Qing Mulan was thrilled, choosing the fiercest-sounding Tiger Head Mountain. Yet its bandits were the most cowardly of the three. After initial two-day counterattacks, they hunkered in their lair, clearly set for an endurance contest.
Qing Mulan lacked patience. The novelty wore off in days, and she grew restless.
“Who said we sneaked? I married my wife openly. Why sneak?”
Jin Feng held Tang Xiaobei’s hand, raising it to Qing Mulan. “Open enough?”
Tang Xiaobei blushed deeply, but her heart sweetened like honey.
“Pah, shameless!”
Qing Mulan spat, then realised it sounded wrong and explained hastily. “Xiaobei, not you. Him. I thought him a true man, but he’s a lecher!”
“Qing Mulan, I know you’re angry, but no need to slander me?”
Jin Feng deliberately acted roguish, puffing his belly. “Who says I’m not a man? How do you know I don’t stand tall?!”
Poor Qing Mulan, still a maiden, uninterested in marriage, uninformed by maids, missed his meaning entirely, thinking it a challenge.
She puffed her chest, defiant. “You said women hold up half the sky! I’m no man, but I stand tall too!”
“Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right!”
Jin Feng glanced and nodded repeatedly. “You hold up more than half!”
“Husband…”
Guan Xiaorou blushed, rolled her eyes at Jin Feng, and pinched his arm.
Tang Xiaobei covered her mouth, eyes squinting with laughter.
Even Qing Mulan, clueless as she was, saw from their faces it was no compliment.
But she couldn’t retort, huffing in anger. Jin Feng glanced a few more times…
“Sister Mulan, I’ve never seen battle. Take me to look.”
Seeing Qing Mulan near explosion, Tang Xiaobei linked arms with her, smiling to change the topic.
“Come, I’ll show you around.”
Qing Mulan, knowing she couldn’t win verbally, took the out and left with Tang Xiaobei.
She planned to ask secretly what Jin Feng meant.
Amei glanced complexly at Jin Feng and followed.
“Husband, teasing me and Xiaobei is fine, but Mulan is a maiden. How could you joke like that?”
Once they were far, Guan Xiaorou said crossly.
“She chose Tiger Head Mountain herself, now complains. Reasonable?”
Jin Feng hung his head. “Besides, was I wrong? Women hold half the sky. You and Xiaobei are my sky.”
“Husband…”
Even after such familiarity, Guan Xiaorou blushed easily, tempting Jin Feng to tease more.
Soon, Qing Mulan and Tang Xiaobei returned.
To Jin Feng’s surprise, Qing Mulan bowed instead of settling scores. “Sir, sorry. Without you, I’d be confined to the inner courtyard with maids forever. You truly treat me well. I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”
Jin Feng paused, then smiled. “Uh… it’s only right. We’re family. Who else to treat well?”
Guan Xiaorou glanced at giggling Tang Xiaobei, rubbed her forehead speechlessly.
Behind Qing Mulan, Amei’s gaze grew more complex.
“Xiaobei, what potion did you feed Mulan?”
Once Qing Mulan left with Amei, Jin Feng asked curiously.
“Won’t say,” Tang Xiaobei shook her head mysteriously. “If Husband takes Sister Mulan too someday, I’ll tell you.”
“Forget it. Qing Mulan is Governor Xichuan’s sister. If I took her, Marquis Qing wouldn’t just return from the frontier to kill me. Her brother would poison me via shadows.”
Jin Feng rubbed Tang Xiaobei’s hair helplessly.
Why were his wives all concubine enthusiasts…
Guan Xiaorou still eyed Tang Dongdong. Now Tang Xiaobei targeted Qing Mulan.
Did they consider his status? A minor baron like him touching her?
At most verbal teasing.
“Husband, I believe you’ll surpass Marquis Qing and Mulan’s brother someday.”
Tang Xiaobei looked up admiringly.
“Thanks.”
Jin Feng rubbed her head, amused.
Tang Xiaobei was his little fangirl now. To her, he could do anything.
But Jin Feng knew Da Kang’s classes were solidified, stronger than reinforced concrete. The court was always dukes. Even if they died, heirs followed.
From humble origins, breaking this barrier required becoming a hero like Meng De, perhaps.
But Jin Feng craved no power. Better to develop soap uses with Guan Xiaorou and Tang Xiaobei than court intrigue.
If they insisted on more sisters for research, he’d reluctantly accept.
After all, he was open-minded, listening to opinions.
Musing on soap development, he suddenly saw a mounted team round the foothill, galloping towards Tiger Head Mountain.
