“Yes, I’m actually angry with you,” Cold Wanyuan said, her cold black eyes glistening with sharp intensity. Her voice was delicate yet firm. Thud— Everyone heard the sound as if it had echoed through the hall itself. All eyes were wide open in astonishment. This little girl was daring! How could she dare to challenge the General so directly? After a moment of stunned surprise, Lady Mu and her daughter felt a surge of triumphant satisfaction. It was only fair—now that the General had his hands full, he couldn’t possibly punish her. Their eyes were wide with anticipation, as if they already saw her suffering in vivid detail. To Ruan Yisheng and Lin Chengqi, it seemed utterly unacceptable. The dignity of a General could not be so casually questioned. Though this third lady was still young, she had repeatedly challenged the General’s temper—how could one possibly admire such boldness without also feeling sympathy for her youthful naivety? Even the nannies’ reaction was immediate—the very next moment, she fainted. The silence that followed was thick and profound; it felt as if a single rusted needle falling to the ground would require an entire orchestra to hear it. General Cold remained motionless. His deep, still eyes watched her steadily, unblinking—what exactly was he thinking? Wanyuan held her head high, silently wondering what would come next. Was he now angered by her words? If so, that was perfect. Yes, she had deliberately provoked him. And now, by proving to everyone else in the household that she didn’t fear anyone—even the General—she would have secured her place as someone no one could ignore. Those who dared to cross her path would need to be ready for what came next. “Hahahaha…” Suddenly, Cold Wanyuan laughed out loud—his laughter was full-bodied and warm, yet carried absolutely no anger at all. It was unexpected. Wasn’t it supposed to be outrage followed by formal censure of this young girl? “My own daughter,” he stood up, his voice steady, “brave indeed.” Ruan Yisheng smiled warmly; Lin Chengqi nodded slightly—clearly the General had begun to recognize something truly unique in this third lady. “But Father,” said Ling Yue, rising with a strong voice, “why haven’t you punished her? She said she found you odd!” “Sit down!” The General turned sharply back at her. “What do you mean, sit down?” Lady Mu raised her brows, her indignation rising. “How can the General be so biased? Yue is just as much your daughter as anyone else—what could she possibly have done wrong?” Her gaze fixed on Cold Wanyuan, this impudent girl now clearly holding a position of superiority. “Do I need your permission to carry out my duties, Lady Mu?” The General shot her a frosty glance, his tone edged with displeasure. “Sir,” Lady Mu began—only to find that the words faltered under the weight of his icy gaze. She swallowed hard and gently guided her daughter back into their seats. In her heart, she vowed to make sure this girl wouldn’t escape unscathed. Cold Wanyuan watched them all with quiet amusement, her expression half-smiling, full of subtle sarcasm. “How about compensation?” the General asked softly, gazing down at his little daughter—rarely showing such warmth before. Compensation? Her smile remained firm. Not every matter could be resolved after the fact. And now, the very people he had once expected to bear witness—he was no longer standing beside them. The ones who were present here weren’t his daughters of today; they were instead a girl from another world. As she thought of the young woman’s strength and presence—her eyes sparkled with new ideas. “Come,” she extended her slender hand, beckoning gently toward him, her gaze mysterious. “To me?” The General blinked in surprise, pointing at himself as if he’d misunderstood. What could this little girl possibly want now? “Yes,” Wanyuan nodded enthusiastically. He stepped forward and watched her intently. “Now—kneel.” The General’s eyes deepened with curiosity, yet obediently bowed to the ground. “Excellent,” she said with a satisfied nod, then reached out and gave him a sharp slap across the cheek. *Pap!* A soft sound—but it seemed like thunder in the silence. Ruan Yisheng and Lin Chengqi had always believed their hearts were strong; yet today they felt as though they’d been thrown into two opposing realms at once—what was this girl planning now? Lady Mu and her daughter were equally stunned. How could she dare to slap the General so boldly? Were their eyes deceiving them? The General’s cheek bore a small, fresh imprint. His deep pools of dark eyes flickered with intensity, fixed on Cold Wanyuan. She watched it carefully, her own gaze warmed by satisfaction. “Excellent,” she said softly, “just like a blooming flower. Hahaha…” Her black, gem-like eyes shimmered with an unusual radiance. Her laughter was clear and bright—yet full of boldness. Though only three years old in appearance, she radiated an air of regal authority that far surpassed her age. “Are you truly daring to do this?” The General raised his brows, his expression cool. A wave of cold energy swept through him, as if he were preparing to take over the room. “Why not?” Cold Wanyuan gave him a level gaze. “What could I possibly be afraid of?” Her tone was unyielding—equal in strength and presence to his own. Ruan Yisheng and Lin Chengqi stared wide-eyed—at such young age, how could she possess this commanding spirit? Lady Mu and her daughter felt a chill, their very breaths caught. Could they possibly hold the ground against such determination? “Are you not afraid of me?” The General found it hard to believe—this child’s confidence and self-possession reminded him so much of the young Emperor. “What do you expect from me now?” Cold Wanyuan spoke with a touch of disdain. “You said you’d compensate me after all, didn’t you? Yet just one slap is enough to make you remember it—what kind of compensation will that be?” She looked at him sideways—as if pointing out his inconsistency. “And does this very slap count as your requested compensation?” The General asked, now genuinely interested. Unprecedentedly, his deep eyes held a warm glimmer of amusement. “Of course not,” she replied with a glance. “Is there such a thing as a cheap form of compensation? A single slap?” He smiled softly—had he known this before, he would have had to send her pleading for mercy. “Well then,” he said, reaching out and gently lifting her into his arms. Unaccountably, the sight of this small child stirred something within him—perhaps now, at last, he felt truly like a father. Was it only now that he realized what it meant to be one? He found himself shaking his head in disbelief. “Lady,” he said with gentle amusement, “now you must call me ‘Dad,’ shall you not?” Cold Wanyuan stared back, unwillingly murmuring: “Dad.” Only because you’ve been so cooperative and now agree to all my demands. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have lifted a finger. “Heh—heh…” The General smiled—how could one fail to be delighted with such an intelligent daughter? At the first hour of evening, there would follow another at twilight.