Chapter 7

Everyone in the hall was taken aback, none of them had expected Cao Ning'er to answer in such a way.

"Dan Fei!" Cao Ning'er suddenly said.

Dan Fei was also taken aback, not knowing why this young lady always called his name at such moments. Seeing everyone looking at him, Dan Fei whispered, "Young Lady, what is it?"

"Take the deed, let's go." Cao Ning'er pushed the box into Dan Fei's hand.

"I don't have that many hands." Dan Fei was at a loss. The incense burner he was holding was quite heavy, and it was true that the capable should do more, but this young lady seemed to have decided to make him do everything.

Without a word, Cao Ning'er shoved the box into Dan Fei's collar and turned around, saying, "If you want the deed, you'll have to step over Dan Fei's body to get it."

Damn, are you really that ruthless, woman?

Dan Fei almost fainted, hurriedly picked up the incense burner, and followed Cao Ning'er out.

"Sister!"

Cao Fu shouted, wanting to grab back the deed but not daring to. He wasn't afraid of Dan Fei, but he was afraid of Cao Ning'er's methods. Seeing Cao Ning'er and Dan Fei about to leave the pharmacy, Cao Fu called out, "Sister, you can't leave. If you leave like this, how can I still hold my head up in front of my friends?"

"That's right." Xiahou Heng clapped his hands. "If Jiyuan can't get the deed today, this news will spread, and not only will the brothers look down on him, even Liu Mengru of Ruxian Tower will look down on Jiyuan."

Cao Ning'er finally stopped, turned around, and said, "If you can't hold your head up, just lower it, or cover it up. That way, it's better to avoid disgracing the Cao family."

Cao Fu was stunned. Seeing Cao Ning'er about to leave again, he shouted, "Sister, I'm your elder brother. You don't know, if I can't get the deed this time, they'll cut off one of my hands."

Cao Ning'er's expression changed slightly.

Xiahou Heng sighed, but before he could say more, Cao Fu suddenly leaped, reached out his hand, and drew the sword from his waist. Xiahou Heng was startled and retreated several steps.

Cao Fu, one hand on the table, the other hand raised the sword, said, "Sister, if you won't agree to pay the debt for your elder brother, this hand of mine will eventually be cut off. Since that's the case, I might as well cut it off myself. Sister..."

With a sorrowful expression, Cao Fu said, "A person must be trustworthy, and gambling debts must be repaid. Before I die, I have no other request, only that after I cut off this hand, you will hand over the deed of the pharmacy to me, and I will die without regrets."

Dan Fei didn't expect to witness a family blood feud here. He really couldn't bear to see this young master lose his hand, so he closed his eyes.

After a while, Dan Fei finally opened his eyes. Seeing that Cao Ning'er wasn't looking at Cao Fu but at him, Dan Fei was taken aback. He turned his head and saw the sword still raised, and Cao Fu's face was as red as Guan Yu's.

"Why don't you cut it?" Cao Ning'er said coolly.

"Are you my sister?" Cao Fu almost jumped up. With a "clank," the sword fell to the ground. Cao Fu, furious, came over, "You watched your elder brother lose his hand and didn't even try to save him? In the future... in the future... when you're in trouble, don't expect me to save you!"

He left a harsh word, but ultimately didn't dare to lay a hand on Cao Ning'er. Passing by Dan Fei, Cao Fu stopped, glaring at him fiercely, "You dog slave, you wait, this young master won't let you off."

Young Master, I'm innocent, I didn't do anything.

Dan Fei wanted to explain, but Cao Fu was already far away.

There was applause, and Xiahou Heng clapped and laughed, "They say the young lady is as beautiful as a flower and as ruthless as a knife. Today, I see it's true."

Seeing Cao Ning'er looking at him coldly without a word, Xiahou Heng felt a bit uncomfortable, coughed, and said, "But the performance by the two of you was truly excellent."

"The Cao family pharmacy doesn't welcome you," Cao Ning'er said coldly.

"This pharmacy is already the Xiahou family's," Xiahou Heng said coolly.

"The deed is still with the Cao family," Cao Ning'er retorted.

"That's why I say your performance was excellent," Xiahou Heng's face darkened, and he sneered, "Young Lady, don't think that by putting on this act with Jiyuan, you can keep the deed. At Ruxian Tower, many eyes saw your elder brother lose the pharmacy to me. Even if you are unreasonable, if your father finds out, it will be... "

He laughed and didn't continue.

"My father won't find out," Cao Ning'er said coolly.

"Oh?" Xiahou Heng was very surprised, "That's hard to say. Who knows which wind will blow this matter to your father's ears? When that happens, your father will have no choice but to transfer the pharmacy to the Xiahou family. Since that's the case, why be so overconfident, Young Lady?"

Cao Ning'er sneered, "That wind is probably leaked by you, Xiahou Heng."

"Well..." Xiahou Heng adjusted his headband, looking very suave, "I can't guarantee that."

"You can guarantee it," Cao Ning'er took a step forward and smiled, "I think Xiahou Heng definitely won't say anything."

"Is the Young Lady so confident?" Xiahou Heng leered at Cao Ning'er, swallowed, and said, "But the Young Lady indeed has the right to be confident. How about this? If the Young Lady joins me for dinner, I'll cancel the gambling debt?"

"I won't have dinner with you, and the gambling debt still won't count," Cao Ning'er's expression was as cold as ice, as hard as iron, making Dan Fei stare in amazement.

Life is like a play, all about acting.

The performance by the elder brother Cao Fu was a bit exaggerated, not quite Oscar-worthy, but the performance style of this young lady was truly beyond his comprehension.

Xiahou Heng's face darkened, "Is the Young Lady too overconfident? Since it's a bet, how can it not count?"

"Because Cao Sikong, to avoid losing oneself to gambling, forbade gambling among the clan. This bet doesn't count," Cao Ning'er revealed her trump card, "You can spread this matter, but if you do, I'll make sure Cao Sikong knows."

Dan Fei was slightly taken aback, realizing that the Sikong Cao Ning'er mentioned was probably Cao Cao. Cao Cao was the Chancellor before the Battle of Red Cliffs, and the position of Sikong was one of the Three Excellencies. However, whether it was Sikong or Chancellor, it was just a title, and no one could surpass Cao Cao.

Xiahou Heng's expression changed, knowing that the young lady was not bluffing. He thought for a moment, "In that case, Jiyuan will certainly receive several lashes."

"Xiahou Heng should also prepare more medicine. Don't forget, at Ruxian Tower, dozens of eyes saw Xiahou Heng set up the bet," Cao Ning'er said coolly.

Xiahou Heng was stunned, and after a while, he sneered, "Cao Ning'er, don't be too pleased. One day, I, Xiahou Heng, will make you bow before me."

"Maybe when you're in your grave," Cao Ning'er didn't back down.

Xiahou Heng flung his sleeves and left angrily, glaring at Dan Fei as he passed, "You dog slave, I'll remember you."

Dan Fei was speechless, not expecting to offend two second-generation officials by staying silent.

What kind of world is this?

Seeing Xiahou Heng leave, Cao Ning'er finally sighed and said to Uncle Fu, "Uncle Fu, it's not that I don't trust you, but for now, let's keep the deed with me."

Uncle Fu nodded repeatedly. Cao Ning'er glanced at Dan Fei and said coolly, "Let's go." At the carriage, Cao Ning'er suddenly paused and looked at Dan Fei, "Thank you for saving Uncle Fu."

"No, no, it's nothing," Dan Fei hurriedly said. He had always felt that this young lady was as cold as ice, but now he felt he needed to reassess her. This young lady was clearly a fire pit.

Before she even thanked him, he had already offended two second-generation officials. If she thanked him properly, he might not know when he would be dismembered.

"Why did you close your eyes just now?" Cao Ning'er suddenly asked.

"What?"

Dan Fei was taken aback, then realized what the young lady was asking. Seeing Cao Ning'er staring at him intently, Dan Fei said after a while, "It was the sand in my eyes."

The sky was clear, the wind calm, and their clothes didn't even flutter.

Cao Ning'er stared at Dan Fei for a while and said, "You saw through it, didn't you? Cao Fu wouldn't really cut off his hand, right?"

Dan Fei hadn't expected this woman to be not only sharp-tongued but also so observant. After a while, he said, "I closed my eyes because I saw that the elder brother's sword wouldn't cut me."

Cao Ning'er was taken aback, not expecting such an answer. Her eyes twinkled, and she suddenly smiled, "What if he aimed the sword at me? Would you close your eyes then?"