Chapter 14: I Hate Foolish Women

After warning her not to provoke Dong Xinrui, Fei Yan restrained his anger.

With a calm yet threatening tone, the man said, “Tang Chaoyang, you may not care about your own reputation, but what about the women of the Yong’en Marquis Manor and the Su family? Are you willing to drag their names through the mud as well?”

Tang Chaoyang suddenly smiled, tilting her chin up arrogantly, reverting to her once domineering self.

“Fei Yan, don’t bother threatening me with them. The Yong’en Marquis Manor has already abandoned me, and I’m merely the Su family’s maternal granddaughter. My reputation won’t tarnish theirs that much.”

“And you, Fei Yan—do you dare let your beloved read the steamy tales of how we once shared a bed? Do you dare?”

After her outburst, she calmed herself and leisurely poured herself a cup of tea. “Sorry, that was just a joke. I wouldn’t really use a method that harms both others and myself. I simply wanted you to know—An’an is my bottom line.”

Fei Yan saw the flush of anger still lingering in her eyes. He stood up and slowly approached her.

The man reached out and pinched her chin, towering over her. “Tang Chaoyang, is this all you have to threaten me with? How naïve. You don’t have the ability to threaten someone like me. Do you understand?”

To him, Tang Chaoyang’s attempt at intimidation was laughable.

He believed Xinrui would quickly recover her composure—after all, it was a fact that he and Tang Chaoyang had once been married.

A trace of mockery flashed through Tang Chaoyang’s beautiful eyes.

Fei Yan, the powerful Prime Minister, and Dong Xinrui, backed by the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Tutor—they could crush her as easily as killing an ant.

Had she not been reborn and gained an extra twenty years of memories from her past life, she indeed wouldn’t have the power to challenge Fei Yan.

But now, she had been reborn.

Fei Yan released her chin. “I hate foolish women. Be smarter. Live a decent life. Don’t seek death.”

With that, the man left the private room.

Tang Chaoyang dropped the arrogant act she’d been putting on and curled her lips into a calm smile.

She pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the spot on her chin where he had pinched her.

Disgusting. And he still dared to touch her!

She threw the handkerchief on the table in disdain.

Walking to the door, she told Ma Jiang, who was waiting outside, “Prepare brush, ink, paper, and inkstone for me.”

Ma Jiang nodded and went downstairs to retrieve the items from the innkeeper.

Soon, he brought them up and respectfully left the room.

Tang Chaoyang first examined the hemp paper, then picked up the brush and dipped it in ink. She began writing with her left hand.

When she finished and the ink had dried, she rolled the paper up and called Ma Jiang in again.

“Find someone to deliver this paper to the Censor-in-Chief, secretly. Can you do it? This matter stays between us—no third person must know.”

Ma Jiang looked at the paper in his hand, and his heart skipped a beat. “Yes.”

He didn’t know what was written, nor why it needed to be delivered to the Censor-in-Chief.

But he did know one thing—if he wanted to stay alive, he had to ensure no one else ever found out about this.

—

Guard Cheng clearly noticed that his master had been seething with anger ever since they left the teahouse.

When Fei Yan returned to the Prime Minister’s residence, he didn’t even change out of his court robes and went straight to the study.

That woman, Tang Chaoyang—she went to Cold City once and now had the gall to grow claws and threaten him?

There was a knock at the study door.

“Husband, it’s me. May I come in?”

Fei Yan rubbed his brow and suppressed his fury. He opened the door himself.

Dong Xinrui looked up at him with a gentle smile. “I had the kitchen make lotus root soup for you. Look at you—coming home straight from morning court and not even changing out of your robes. At least eat something.”

Fei Yan responded coolly, “Thank you for the trouble, Madam.”

“It’s no trouble.”

The two entered the room. Dong Xinrui set the food box on the table and opened it, taking out a bowl of soup and a small plate of pastries. “Husband, drink the soup first. I’ll leave once you’ve finished.”

As Fei Yan rinsed his hands and began drinking the soup, Dong Xinrui didn’t ask about the incident with Tang Chaoyang blocking the carriage.

Instead, she mentioned Old Madam Fei. “Mother returned from the Su residence a few days ago. Since she couldn’t bring An’an back, she’s been sleeping poorly and is in low spirits.”

“What did the doctor say?” Fei Yan obviously didn’t believe that his mother had insomnia because she couldn’t bring An’an home.

“The doctor said she’s overthinking things, which has caused the insomnia.”

Dong Xinrui found it ridiculous. She’d been expecting the old lady to raise a fuss at the Su household for a few days.

Who knew the old lady would be delayed because of some sleep issues?

What a waste.

After finishing the soup, Fei Yan’s gaze darkened as he recalled Tang Chaoyang’s threats.

He couldn’t afford to push her too far.

“I’ll go to the inner courtyard to change, then visit Mother in Rong’en Hall. Xinrui—An’an will remain with Tang Chaoyang for now.”

Fei Yan had previously taken an indifferent stance on whether An’an should return to the Prime Minister’s residence.

Dong Xinrui pressed her lips together. She could already guess why Tang Chaoyang had blocked the carriage—it had to be about Fei An’an.

She hadn’t expected Tang Chaoyang to be capable of pulling something like this!

She had actually convinced Fei Yan!

Old Madam Fei was somewhat afraid of her son. If he said not to fetch An’an, she naturally wouldn’t.

Besides, the Dong family could still bear children. The Prime Minister’s residence wouldn’t lack an heir.

—

Meanwhile, Tang Chaoyang had left the teahouse and bought a few trinkets on the street to give to her son.

After having a meal at the General’s Manor, she picked up her acupuncture needles and headed to Jinhe Hall.

Liu’er handed her a hand warmer. “Miss, it’s cold. Take this with you—don’t catch a chill.”

Tang Chaoyang accepted it, and the mistress and maid set off.

“How did your talk with Fei Yan go today?” Old Madam Su asked with concern.

Tang Chaoyang smiled lightly. “Grandmother, don’t worry. I can handle it. Why don’t you lie down on the bed? I’ll perform acupuncture to help your health.”

Nanny Zhou helped the old madam change into loose, comfortable clothing.

The old lady lay down.

But when she saw her granddaughter holding the silver needles, she immediately felt a pang of regret.

“Chaoyang… how many people have you done acupuncture on? Do you really have the experience?”

Tang Chaoyang couldn’t help but laugh. Her grandmother was only asking now?

She answered seriously, “Don’t worry. When An’an had a fever in Cold City, I had no money, so I did acupuncture on him myself.”

Old Madam Su muttered a curse at Fei Yan, calling him worthless.

Tang Chaoyang pinched the needle and began treatment.

Nanny Zhou, who stood by, felt reassured seeing how steady Tang Chaoyang’s hands were.

After all… none of them had ever seen her actually perform acupuncture before.

By the time the session ended, the old madam felt much more comfortable. Her stomach no longer felt bloated, and her body seemed lighter.

Her features softened. “My dear girl is truly amazing.”

Tang Chaoyang loved hearing her grandmother’s praise. Her smile was radiant. “Grandmother, why don’t you keep praising me a bit more?”

Old Madam Su laughed and gently shooed her out of the inner room. “Any more praise and you’ll get arrogant!”

Tang Chaoyang left Jinhe Hall with a smile on her face.

As she returned to her courtyard, she saw Ma Jiang waiting outside.

Liu’er tactfully stepped aside.

Ma Jiang bowed respectfully and spoke in a low voice, “Miss, it’s been delivered to the Censor-in-Chief.”

Tang Chaoyang nodded. In Fei Yan’s eyes, she was just a foolish woman.

That was good. If anything happened, no one would ever suspect her.