Ling Feng sat in her study, the faint glow of lantern light tracing the elegant lines of her face. Her silver-white hair cascaded over her shoulders like flowing moonlight, and her sharp, discerning eyes reflected a mind always calculating, always observing. For a few moments, she allowed herself a rare, personal thought.
"If it's him… perhaps he can solve my mother's case. Even if he can't, at least it will be better than these pretenders who only flock to me to gain favor. He… he is different."
With a calm precision, she called a trusted servant. "Take this to Lord Ye Tian. Discreetly. Make sure he receives it personally." She handed over a small, folded note, sealed with her insignia. "Do not linger, and do not let anyone see you."
The servant bowed and vanished into the night.
---
A short while later, Ye Tian received the message at his temporary residence. Unfolding it carefully, he scanned the elegant handwriting. As he did, the system overlay appeared automatically:
[System On]
Target Assessment: Ling Feng
Affection Potential: High
Combat/Strategy Potential: High
Physique: Excellent
Future Possibilities: Strong candidate for household integration / Third Wife potential
A faint smirk touched his lips. "Interesting," he murmured. He glanced at his two wives, who were seated nearby. "It seems… a third presence may soon join our circle."
Lan Yuhua raised a delicate eyebrow. "A third member, you say? You never fail to keep us on our toes."
Mu Qingyao's lips curved in quiet amusement. "Indeed, Lord Ye Tian. Always a surprise with you."
He chuckled softly. "Potential matters more than spectacle. This one… she has potential that may prove invaluable."
---
At the appointed time, Ling Feng arrived early, slipping into the high-class tavern quietly. Her posture was regal, movements graceful yet commanding. Every subtle motion, every fleeting glance exuded intelligence, poise, and quiet authority. To anyone else in the room, she was merely a beautiful noblewoman—but for Ye Tian, her presence carried a weight that did not go unnoticed.
Ye Tian entered soon after, flanked by Lan Yuhua and Mu Qingyao. From across the room, his sharp eyes caught her figure. He allowed himself a faint, amused smile. "Quite the presence," he thought. "Not only beautiful, but precise, commanding… and aware of the weight she carries."
As they approached, Ling Feng's gaze met his, unwavering yet subtle, revealing neither intimidation nor fluster. Ye Tian gestured for them to sit, and he took the seat opposite her, eyes scanning every detail.
Her beauty, though understated to casual onlookers, was extraordinary. Her silver-white hair framed a face both delicate and sharp, eyes glinting with intelligence and calm authority. Her figure carried the grace of disciplined martial training, slender yet strong, every movement refined and deliberate. The subtle strength and poise she radiated marked her as someone of significance, someone who would not bend or falter easily.
Ye Tian allowed a small, appreciative smile. "You arrived early. I suppose punctuality is a reflection of your character."
Ling Feng inclined her head slightly. "I wished for discretion. And I preferred to be settled before our conversation began."
A brief silence fell, comfortable yet charged, as both parties measured the other. The two wives observed quietly, recognizing the unspoken gravity of the meeting without interference.
After a light, courteous exchange about the venue and timing, Ye Tian leaned forward slightly. "You asked to meet me in private. Pray, tell me—why?"
Ling Feng's gaze sharpened, and her hands rested lightly on the table. "It concerns my mother… and the circumstances of her poisoning. The truth has been hidden for too long, and I have found no one willing—or capable—to act. Perhaps… you can."
Ye Tian nodded slowly, studying her with careful amusement. "Very well. Speak freely. Begin from the start, and leave nothing hidden."
The night outside continued undisturbed, but within the secluded room, a subtle tension settled—the beginning of plans, strategies, and alliances that could shape the fate of more than just a single family.