Chapter 55◇

Why does such a perfectly good lady have a mouth?

Although the fire wasn't big, Feng Ran was kicking down walls and rescuing people, so her light-colored clothes were easily soiled, and from a distance, it looked like she had been rolling in mud. Her delicate face was covered in streaks of black and white.

Xiuer had been busy saving people, and then she inexplicably ended up in Kaifeng Prefecture. She kept thinking about whether she could get her message clearly by randomly grabbing someone on the street. Since this matter had gotten so serious that it had reached Kaifeng Prefecture, she figured it couldn't be simple. So she temporarily forgot that Feng Ran was still covered in dirt.

Feng Ran chuckled, "Take a look at your own little black hands first, don't worry about me." She then turned to the old woman serving ginger soup and said, "Grandma, could you please give her a bowl of ginger soup? She just sweated a bit, a bowl of ginger soup will warm her up."

Xiuer also withdrew her hand with a look of shame. She then realized that her handkerchief and hands were already filthy black. If she were to wipe them for the Crown Princess, it would probably only make them worse.

When Duan Jingchuan and Lao Li arrived, they saw his wife pitifully holding a bowl of ginger soup, blowing on it lightly. Her face was filthy, and it was impossible to tell if she was injured.

Ignoring the presence of outsiders, he pulled Feng Ran into his arms and asked, "Madam, are you injured anywhere?"

Feng Ran's hand holding the ginger soup trembled, almost spilling it. She cleverly shifted her position in Duan Jingchuan's arms and whispered, "I'm fine, let me have a sip first."

Seeing that his wife still had the leisure to drink ginger soup, Duan Jingchuan's heartbeat suddenly calmed down. She still knew to drink ginger soup, so he figured there was probably nothing wrong with her.

With a stiff face, he took out a soft, clean handkerchief and wiped Feng Ran's smudged face.

Prefect Zhao Qing of Kaifeng couldn't help but feel fortunate. Fortunately, he had treated the Crown Prince's wife with respect. He never expected that such a trivial matter would alarm the Crown Prince. It seems that the Crown Prince's wife is still a favorite.

Feng Ran finally finished the bowl of ginger soup, and Duan Jingchuan, after confirming that his wife was alright, turned his attention to Zhao Qing.

Upon hearing of Feng Ran's accident, Duan Jingchuan felt a surge of anger, but he couldn't vent it on his wife. So, he had to let Zhao Qing take the blame.

"May I ask, Lord Zhao, my wife was saving someone. Why did you bring her to Kaifeng Prefecture without saying a word? Do you want to compensate that unscrupulous shop owner? If so, there's no need to detain my wife. You could just take the bill and knock on the door of the Marquis of Bei's residence."

Zhao Qing's heart clenched. No wonder they were father and son; this young master of the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion was up to no good!

He hurriedly apologized, "Your Highness has misunderstood. I only asked the Princess Consort to understand the situation, and I was just about to send her back." It really wasn't his fault. Who would have thought that the Princess Consort would act so unpredictably, making the person who reported the crime an accomplice? He didn't know how the Princess Consort had managed to do it.

He didn't have the guts to detain the innocent Crown Princess. Feng Ran came on her own initiative, and after she arrived, she told him to take down the three people who were busy running around behind her. He couldn't understand it at all.

He later realized that these three were most likely accomplices. He was terrified when he first heard the news. It turned out that this woman was really capable; not just anyone could do something like "criminals reporting criminals."

Duan Jingchuan only wanted to take Feng Ran back to the manor as soon as possible. They couldn't get involved in this matter; if they were not careful, his wife would be retaliated against.

"Lord Zhao, please handle this matter impartially. If you need any cooperation, the Marquis of Dingbei's residence is ready to assist you at any time. My wife has been frightened today, so I will not stay any longer."

Upon hearing that Feng Ran was leaving, the dozen or so children turned around and respectfully kowtowed to her once more, saying, "Thank you for your righteous rescue, Madam. We will never forget this kindness."

Feng Ran looked at the children with some worry in her eyes. Duan Jingchuan understood and added from the side, "Don't worry, Madam, I will take good care of these children."

Feng Ran nodded and said softly to the dozen or so children, "Consider this a lesson for you. Don't take it to heart in the future, but don't forget it either. Don't believe every rumor you hear about a kind person. Do you know any kind person who is as stinky as him? People can smell him from a hundred thousand miles away."

Several children, who spoke quite eloquently, recounted the whole story in a few words. Feng Ran then realized that the Ren'ai Bookstore, under the guise of helping poor children, had attracted many poor children who wanted to study, or children who had nowhere else to turn.

Over time, the bookstore owner became familiar with the children and learned everything about them. He then began to specifically target those who were easy to catch, sending them to unknown places, which Feng Ran couldn't guess either—but certainly not to any pleasant locations.

Although the children didn't understand why Feng Ran said the shopkeeper smelled bad, they thought it was their own smell that had bothered Feng Ran, so they all lowered their heads, feeling extremely embarrassed.

On the way back, Feng Ran boarded Duan Jingchuan's carriage.

Although she had retrieved the blankets and cushions from the carriage she had ridden out of, they were so dirty that they were unusable for the time being.

After getting into the car, Duan Jingchuan kept a cold face, but he didn't let go of Feng Ran, holding her carefully in his arms.

Feng Ran assumed it was just her husband's social anxiety acting up, and comfortably nestled in his arms, playing with his dark hair.

It wasn't until they returned to Jinghua Courtyard that Duan Jingchuan spoke, "Has Madam replenished her strength?"

Feng Ran tilted her head, only able to see Duan Jingchuan's smooth jawline, and said softly, "Husband, how did you know I had no strength left?"

Duan Jingchuan frowned. "You still have no strength? Why are the aftereffects so severe? Is it just a lack of strength? Is there anything else that's uncomfortable? How can you get better?" He asked several questions in a row.

"What aftereffects? I'm just hungry," Feng Ran said weakly. She used to be able to eat lunch an hour in advance, but now her stomach was empty. If she weren't clinging to Duan Jingchuan, she wouldn't even want to walk.

"Hungry? Isn't it supposed to replenish energy by sucking?" Duan Jingchuan realized he had misunderstood something.

"My lord, you're good at sucking, but you can't eat me! I'm not a demon that sucks people's life essence." Feng Ran rubbed her stomach, which was about to give a warning, and pitifully begged to be fed.

"Then what are you?" Duan Jingchuan really wanted Feng Ran to tell him herself.

Feng Ran looked completely innocent. "Didn't you sleep well last night, or didn't you get enough sleep this morning? Why are you talking nonsense?"

Duan Jingchuan clenched and unclenched his fists, but in the end he did not go against his own will. He pushed Feng Ran away and pressed her into a chair. "Someone, bring the meal."

With her stomach finally satisfied and the whole world feeling warmer, Feng Ran finally had the mood to observe Duan Jingchuan, who hadn't uttered a single word from beginning to end.

"Husband, why aren't you eating? Are you feeling unwell?"

Instead of answering, Duan Jingchuan asked, "Are you full? Have you regained your strength?"

Feng Ran nodded obediently, but for some reason, she felt uneasy, as if she were facing a volcano about to erupt.

Duan Jingchuan turned around and looked directly at Feng Ran. "Madam did a great job today and saved many children."

Although it was meant as a compliment, there was no trace of joy in it. Feng Ran's upturned lips drooped again, and she said sullenly, "It's all what I should do."

Duan Jingchuan did not let Feng Ran off the hook because of her show of weakness. "Let's talk about your method of saving people."

"The method? Isn't it good? Not a single child was hurt."

"Very good? Do you mean to send Xiuer away and let her face four strong men alone, or to set fire to the bookstore to distract her, or to kick down a wall that ten strong men couldn't push down together?"

Upon hearing Duan Jingchuan recount her moments of intellectual brilliance, Feng Ran perked up again, "Does my husband also think I'm very smart?"

Duan Jingchuan gave a half-smile, "Oh, so that's really what Madam thinks?"

Feng Ran's upturned lips gradually froze. Even the most naive person would realize something was wrong, and she said awkwardly, "Is something wrong?"

"Please think it over carefully, Madam. I'm going back to my study."

Is the fairy aura about to leave?! Her digestive elixir after meals!

Feng Ran looked at Duan Jingchuan's retreating figure and said softly, "Husband, you're such a scumbag. You really don't cherish what you have after you've got it."

Duan Jingchuan stumbled, nearly twisting his ankle. He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and only after feeling that his expression wasn't too ferocious did he turn around and say softly, "I just wanted you to be more composed."

Feng Ran dared not sit any longer. She walked behind Duan Jingchuan and tugged at his clothes. "Husband, it's just that the wind is a bit strong today. It's hard to stay calm. Please don't be angry."

Don't be angry, don't be angry, Duan Jingchuan kept comforting himself.

Feng Ran shook her little hand behind him, the stronger she shook, making him sway. He suddenly laughed, "Madam, if you keep shaking like this, you might lose your husband."

Upon hearing this, Feng Ran immediately withdrew her small hand and took small steps to Duan Jingchuan's side. Seeing that Duan Jingchuan did not react, she carefully reached out and hugged his waist. "My husband doesn't use the silent treatment. I'll catch a cold."

After being coaxed like that, Duan Jingchuan lost his temper and said helplessly, "When did I ever give you the silent treatment?"

Feng Ran gave her a look that said, "Didn't you say you wanted to sleep in the study? I've read in storybooks that if a husband and wife quarrel, the wife will make the husband sleep in the study when she's angry. That's similar to our situation. Anyway, you're going to sleep in the study."

Duan Jingchuan remained silent for a long time, looking at Feng Ran, who was snuggling and sucking in his arms even though he was trying to coax her. For the first time, he wondered who he was punishing when he went to sleep in the study if they had a fight. Perhaps it was right to think of it as punishing Feng Ran.

If he kept pushing her around, he probably wouldn't be able to go to the study. Duan Jingchuan hardened his heart and pushed Feng Ran away: "I didn't want to sleep in the study. It's just that I need to take care of those children. I'll be right back."

Feng Ran tilted her little face up and smiled ingratiatingly, "Then, my husband, you're not angry anymore?"

Duan Jingchuan couldn't help but pinch the other person's nose, then took a sip, and said with amusement, "Do you know what I'm angry about?"

As expected, he received a bewildered look from Feng Ran.

Duan Jingchuan surrendered. He didn't know what kind of ridiculous answer his wife would come up with, so he decided to take the initiative and say, "I'm angry that you don't cherish yourself and put yourself in danger. If you encounter a situation like today again, you can come back to the manor for help. It's better than you venturing into dangerous and unknown places all by yourself."

Feng Ran disagreed, arguing, "But I smelled a strong aura of death at the time. What if the children had been hurt if I had been a step too late?"