Seated in his study, Mo Ying was busy checking some scrolls when Fuhan entered.
"Master, Dan Li is here," he informed.
Fuhan nodded and opened the door. Dan Li entered quickly and bowed deeply, stretching both hands forward in respect.
"General, congratulations on your victory," Dan Li said as Mo Ying smiled faintly.
"You may rise, Dan Li. I hope you have been well these past two years."
Dan Li straightened and answered happily, "Yes, Master. After you sent me to Wu Village to monitor Miss Lin, I managed to find a wife of my own. We got married just last year, and we already have a baby on the way."
Mo Ying chuckled warmly. "That’s good news." He turned slightly toward Fuhan. "Reward him with two thousand taels of silver, and assign his wife a personal maid to assist her through her pregnancy."
"Yes, Master," Fuhan replied with a nod.
Once that was settled, Mo Ying’s smile faded. His expression turned serious as he looked back at Dan Li. "Now, tell me about Miss Lin and the children."
Dan Li’s face straightened as he quickly took out a scroll and handed it to Fuhan, who then passed it to Mo Ying.
"Life has been good for Miss Lin," Dan Li began. "She managed to open two pavilions, making her one of the wealthiest female merchants in the region."
Mo Ying unrolled the scroll slowly, scanning the contents with a calm but focused gaze. "What about the children?" he asked without looking up.
Dan Li bowed slightly. "The children have been doing well too, Master. Thanks to Miss Lin’s wealth, she was able to hire the best private tutors for them. They’re well-educated, healthy, and safe. There’s not much they lack... they’ve just been living their lives peacefully."
Mo Ying’s hand paused over the scroll for a moment, his eyes distant as if lost in thought.
Closing the scroll, he looked up at him. "Anything else?"
Dan Li nodded, his forehead getting a little sweaty. "W-well Master, I had already prepared the scroll when I found out about certain information. It came just this morning and I was already preparing to come, so I didn’t write it down."
Furrowing his brows slightly, Mo Ying leaned forward. "And that is?"
Dan Li hesitated, his fingers fidgeting at his sides. "M-Master... Miss Lin... she..." He stopped mid-sentence, his throat dry as sweat rolled down his temple.
Mo Ying’s brows drew tighter. "Speak." His tone was calm, but there was a quiet pressure in it that made the room feel colder.
Dan Li swallowed hard. "Miss Lin is... getting married."
The room went completely silent. Even the sound of the burning candle seemed to stop.
Fuhan’s eyes widened, his mouth slightly open. "M-married?" he repeated in disbelief.
Mo Ying didn’t move for a moment. His eyes stayed fixed on Dan Li, but they no longer seemed to be seeing him. The scroll in his hand loosened, slipping from his fingers and falling onto the table with a soft sound.
His jaw tightened, and his breathing slowed. For a second, his calm face cracked, just a flicker, but it was enough for Fuhan to see it.
"When?" Mo Ying finally asked, his voice low and hoarse.
Dan Li lowered his head quickly. "In two days’ time, Master."
"W-well, she is to marry a businessman who’s currently staying at Wu Village..." Dan Li was beating around the bush.
"What’s his name?" Fuhan asked in Mo Ying’s stead.
"Young Master Su Feng."
Immediately those words left his mouth, both Mo Ying and Fuhan stood there in complete shock.
"Young Master Su Feng?" Fuhan repeated, wanting to make sure he heard correctly.
Dan Li quickly nodded. "Yes... Young Master Su Feng."
"What relationship do they both have to want to get married?" Mo Ying finally said.
"Well, for the past two years, Young Master Su Feng had been working with Miss Lin. They must have grown closer because of that."
Mo Ying’s fingers curled into fists on the table. The veins in his hands stood out, but he said nothing.
Fuhan took a small step forward, unsure if he should say something, but Mo Ying spoke first.
"Leave," he said softly.
Dan Li bowed quickly and hurried out, almost tripping on his way.
When the door closed, silence filled the room again.
Mo Ying sat still for a long time, his eyes on the fallen scroll. Then he picked it up, looking at Lin Xu’s name written across it. His lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.
"Master, what the heck is Young Master Su Feng up to... He is not someone to take interest in women. What does he want from Lin Xu? Is he trying to use her to get to you?"
Mo Ying was silent as he dropped the scroll on the table.
"That bastard! I should have killed him when I had the chance. Now he wants to cross me... He’s a psychopath incapable of loving anyone. The only reason he’s going after Lin Xu is because he knows I’m in love with her."
Mo Ying stood up, his eyes dark with rage.
Stepping forward, Fuhan questioned, "Master, what are we going to do? We can’t let him marry Lin Xu."
Mo Ying placed his two hands behind him as he thought for a moment.
"Fuhan... Pay a visit to Uncle Muchen. Get two tokens needed to visit ’Qing Lou,’" Mo Ying instructed as Fuhan immediately nodded.
He knew what Mo Ying was planning on doing, and he couldn’t agree more.
"I’ll get it done immediately." With that, he bowed and left the study, leaving only Mo Ying inside.
Collapsing on his chair, his thoughts were in complete dismay.
Bringing out the earrings in his robe, Mo Ying caressed it slowly as he whispered to himself.
"You want to marry him, huh, Lin Xu? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen in love with him?"
"Even if you have, I will never let him have you... You belong to me, only me." For more chapters visıt NoveI-Fire.ɴet