Joy of Life: Starting by clinging to the eldest princess's coattails!

Chapter 78 Fan Mang

Even late at night, many places in Kyoto are still lit up.

In the main hall of Qingyutang's headquarters, Ye Songnian, Ye Jingxing, and several managers were still awake, gathered together and talking in hushed tones.

The commotion coming from the east side of the city was so loud that it was impossible for them not to hear it.

Just then, a dark figure carrying something flashed in.

Everyone was startled and stood up abruptly, staring warily at the newcomer.

It was a masked man dressed in black night clothes, holding a swaddled baby in his arms.

"Who are you?" Ye Jingxing stepped forward and asked in a deep voice, "What brings you to our Qingyutang?"

The man in black didn't speak, but reached out and pulled off the black cloth covering his face.

"The boss?" Ye Jingxing was stunned.

Ye Songnian was also stunned: "Boss? What's going on here...?"

Wu Feng handed the still-whimpering baby forward: "To make a long story short, this child is now in your care."

His gaze swept over everyone present, his tone serious: "Raise them well, but don't let anyone else know, not even Chen Pingping and the others. Can you do that?"

Ye Jingxing immediately nodded: "Don't worry, boss, there's absolutely no problem."

Ye Songnian's hands were trembling slightly.

He stepped forward, looking at the blood-stained infant in Wu Feng's arms, his voice trembling: "Master, this child... could it be...?"

His question immediately caught the attention of the other shopkeepers.

Wu Feng shook his head: "No. Ye Qingmei's child was probably taken away by someone else, but she should be safe."

Ye Songnian understood.

He looked at the baby, then at Wu Feng, his expression becoming increasingly complex.

"Don't worry, boss," Ye Songnian said solemnly, "we will raise this child well and ensure he grows up safely."

Wu Feng nodded and gently placed the child in Ye Songnian's arms.

The child stirred, smacked his lips twice, and then fell silent again.

Ye Jingxing leaned closer to look and asked, "Master, does this child have a name?"

Wu Feng thought for a moment, and a wicked sense of amusement suddenly arose in his heart.

"From now on, let's call him Fan Mang."

"Fan Mang?" Ye Songnian asked, puzzled.

"Yes," Wu Feng said, "Fan Mang, the 'mang' in 'busy'."

Ye Jingxing and the other shopkeepers exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat subtle.

No wonder their young lady chose Wu Feng as her partner; even their names are similar...

"Alright," Wu Feng said, "I'm leaving the child in your care. Remember, don't tell anyone."

"Don't worry, boss." Ye Songnian held the child and nodded solemnly.

Wu Feng said no more, put his mask back on, turned and left the hall, quickly disappearing into the night.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On the other side, in a back alley near Niulan Street.

The torchlight illuminated the place brightly.

The Imperial Censorate and the Kyoto Garrison surrounded the area several layers deep, making it impossible to move.

In the middle of the alley, on the ground, lay a small swaddled baby.

Fan Jian knelt beside the swaddling clothes, and when he reached out and touched the child's cold little face, his whole body trembled.

Emperor Qing was being helped to stand to the side, still wearing that large black robe.

He looked at the child on the ground, his voice trembling: "Fan Jian, this...this is..."

Fan Jian let out a suppressed sob, tears streaming down his face: "This... is Qingmei's child."

As soon as the words were spoken, Chen Pingping felt a jolt in her heart.

He had seen both Fan Jian's child and Ye Qingmei's child, but the one who died was clearly Fan Jian's own child!

But he soon realized what was going on.

Emperor Qing closed his eyes, and tears streamed down his face.

Ye Qingmei's child is also his child.

He wouldn't want to kill his own child unless he was forced to.

Just then, a series of chaotic footsteps were heard.

Fan Jian's wife, Zhou, arrived, supported by others.

Tears still streamed down her face, and she froze when she saw the child's body on the ground.

She couldn't utter a single word before everything went black and she fainted.

"lady!"

"Quick! Help her up!"

Chaos broke out again.

Chen Pingping quickly had someone help Zhou Shi to the side to treat her.

He turned to the shadow and asked, "When you arrived, did you see where the other child was taken?"

Shadow shook his head: "When I arrived, I only saw two Ninth-Rank cultivators who had escaped, but they didn't have any children with them. So I don't know where the other child is."

Chen Pingping immediately ordered, "This child must still be alive! Send people to find him immediately!"

"Yes!" Zhu Ge and the people from the Overwatch Council accepted the order and quickly dispersed.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After leaving Qingyutang, Wu Feng returned to Guangxin Palace.

As he climbed over the palace wall and landed in the small garden, he let out a soft breath.

Tonight was really exciting; I watched another great show.

Life should be this colorful!

He returned to his quarters, changed out of his night clothes, and took another bath to wash away the blood and grime before quietly returning to his bedchamber.

In the outer room of the sleeping quarters, Chunmei had already sat up from her small bed.

When she saw Wu Feng return, her eyes held a hint of resentment.

Is this guy not planning to let her sleep tonight?

Wu Feng gave her an apologetic look and tiptoed into the inner room of the bedchamber.

Li Yunrui was lying on her side in bed, fast asleep.

The brocade quilt outlined her increasingly full waistline, her long hair was spread out on the pillow, and her beautiful face looked very peaceful in her sleep.

Wu Feng climbed into bed and carefully slipped under the covers.

The blankets were warm and cozy, filled with the rich, cool fragrance emanating from Li Yunrui.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The next morning, when Wu Feng woke up, he was all alone in the bedchamber.

Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the carved wooden window, casting streaks of light on the floor.

He sat up, stretched, and walked to Li Yunrui's dressing table.

My hair looks a bit messy in the mirror.

He picked up a comb, about to comb his hair, when he suddenly noticed a bright red lipstick mark on his cheek.

Wu Feng frowned.

Was he too careless? He didn't wake up after being kissed.

But then I realized that this only happened when I was in Li Yunrui's bed, and I felt much more at ease.

Moreover, calming incense was always burning in Li Yunrui's bedroom, which should also be one of the reasons why he and Li Yunrui slept well at night.

He washed his face, removed the lipstick mark, changed into clean clothes, and then left the bedchamber.

Inside the main hall, Shuying was already waiting.

Seeing Wu Feng come out, she stepped forward and handed him a small bamboo tube: "This is a message sent by carrier pigeon from Qingyutang."

Wu Feng took it, opened it, and pulled out the slip of paper inside.

Someone from Northern Qi contacted Qingyutang, representing the Zhan family of Northern Qi, wanting to discuss the sales rights of the three major workshops' products in Northern Qi.

Wu Feng's lips curled up into a smile.

It seems the Northern Qi royal family is about to take action against the Wei family.

Hopefully, the Wei family can hold out until they pay the three million taels.

He ate a quick breakfast and then left the palace for Qingyutang.

When they arrived at Qingyutang, Ye Jingxing was already waiting.

"Master," Ye Jingxing greeted him, lowering his voice, "the person is inside."

Wu Feng nodded and followed him into a side room at the back.

A man, who looked to be in his late twenties, was sitting in a side room. He was dressed in the clothing of the Northern Qi Dynasty and had a smile on his face, but that smile revealed a shrewdness and calculation.

Upon seeing Wu Feng enter, the man stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "My name is Shen Zhong, greetings to Lord Wu."

Wu Feng sat down opposite him and sized him up.

It was surprisingly heavy!

A trusted confidant of Empress Dowager Wei of Northern Qi!