{City Lord's Manor}
"Lady Meng Mei, if you need anything, please just ring the bell, and someone will be right with you."
The middle-aged servant spoke to me and quietly closed the door. For a second the room was silent. I shifted my body to an upright position while holding little Feng in my arms. It would be so easy to just settle down here. I could become a housewife and take care of this child for the rest of my life.
And for a second I stopped thinking about revenge. I stopped thinking about how I was thrown away by my clan. Tossed on this worthless dirtball to crawl around with these primitive apes! I can feel the air becoming heavier due to my qi leaking out of my body.
'Calm down, Zhou Mei. It won't be long now.'
I reined my qi in, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath.
"Zhou Fa."
Not even a second after I spoke, he appeared. He wore his cloak and mask as he always does. It is only fitting that servants should hide their faces. The fact that the servants here do not, never fails to confuse me.
"Yes, Lady Zhou Mei." He spoke just loud enough for me to hear and no louder.
"Can you explain to me why my husband entered the delivery room with seemingly all of his wits about him?" My qi lashed out, covering the room in its entirety. And this time, with an acceptable target available, I let it run free.
"Geh!" I do not need to look at him to know that he is suspended in the air, seemingly from nothing, choking. The grip is light enough that he can still speak but tight enough to know what will happen should he misspeak. I wait for him to speak while rubbing my son's chubby cheeks.
"My Lady, I promise! I used mind-wandering lotus just as you asked! He should still be under control!"
He spoke desperately while struggling. He clearly wanted to use his own qi to escape but knew the consequences of doing so.
"And yet he is not. He came in here, fully cognizant, and spoke clearly to the nurse, me, and my child." I spoke slowly as my grip began to tighten. "My husband, City Lord Meng Tao, was supposed to give me a child, gather ample funds, and sadly 'pass away' once Feng becomes of age."
My gaze is fully on the ant before me. All this planning. Letting myself be touched by a mindless ape. Selling most of my treasure for fertility pills, only for this worthless goon to mess up the simple task of mind-controlling an ape!
I let Zhou Fa fall to the ground and allowed him to refill his lungs. After regaining his composure, I spoke in the same subservient tone.
"Madam, please give me another change. I will be sure to completely control the city lord. Now that the young master is born, I will use my technique to turn the City Lord into a puppet."
I ignore him. I simply stare at my son's face. A face like mine, a nose like his father's, and eyes like both of ours. I then remember his words.
"I would die for you."
I could tell that he meant that. Having a City Lord giving his full support for his son would be much more beneficial than simple inheritance in the long run. One more shield between the world and my son is only a good thing.
"No need. Zhou Fa, for now, gather as much high-level beast meat as can be stored. Give it to the servants here and say that it was a gift from my family."
The man's body language seemed as though he wanted to question his orders. Lucky for him, his common sense kicked in before I felt like crushing him. He vanished out the window, leaving only an afterimage behind.
For a moment I remained quiet. I then began to rub my child's head as if trying to smooth out his wrinkles.
"Little Feng, I gave up everything I had left for you. I give it all for you despite being hated for the possibility of giving birth to you. Because I gave everything to you, you will give everything to me, right?" My heart cools, and I feel my face tighten.
"Those that bullied your mom and took my and your birthright should disappear, right?"
My face and voice soften as I imagine it. "You will kill them all for me, right, little Feng? You kill them for me, and I'll give you the world. All of the world."
I rock my child in my arms. I even hum a nursery rhyme I have distant memories of. I will give this child everything. As long as he will be my weapon, he can have anything he pleases. And if after everything he resents me?
"I will let you kill me. But until you do, I refuse to die for you."
I allowed my humming to fill the room as I funneled my qi into my son's meridians.
Slowly, I prepared my son's body for his destiny. / Slowly, I sharpened my blade for revenge.