This means that they might not be able to wait for reinforcements for at least two months. If the city falls before then… After hearing this, everyone fell silent.
“Alright, since that’s the case, then we should also be mentally prepared. It’s better to rely on ourselves than to beg others. Have all these years of business been for nothing?” Old Master Feng’s bony body spoke with a voice that carried weight. Seeing that he, at over seventy years old, still possessed such mettle, those present naturally felt their spirits lifted.
While everyone was discussing important matters in the front hall, a white dove fluttered into a courtyard in the backyard.
Someone beside him stepped forward, caught the dove, and deftly retrieved a letter written in secret code from its leg, handing it to the master before him.
The man unfolded the letter and a calculating smile quickly spread across his face.
“Fourth Young Master, is there news from the Duke’s mansion?”
“Yes, the Duke has asked me to understand the situation of the Feng family’s mines in detail, so that I can explain it to Tutor Du, who is by the Ninth Prince’s side, when the Ninth Prince arrives.”
The Feng family’s rich assets were coveted by the royal family, and naturally, others would covet them as well. Especially the Duke of Wei, who, after failing to win over the Bai and Feng families years ago, began to devise ways to dismantle their power from within.
Unfortunately, the Bai family was small in number and everyone was indifferent to fame and fortune, like untearable cotton that always stuck together. On the other hand, the Feng family’s second branch, far away in the northwest, had many descendants and numerous collateral relatives, making it much easier to start from there.
After much deliberation, Feng Jin Hao, from a collateral branch of the Feng family, was chosen.
Both his parents were deceased, and he was raised in the Feng family’s second branch by Concubine Guo, Feng Shan’s concubine. He was steady and cunning, yet he feigned the appearance of a frail scholar, deceiving everyone in the household, including the sharp-eyed Madam Hua, the mistress of the Feng family’s second branch.
“Excellent! In this way, Fourth Young Master will surely gain favor with the Ninth Prince, and his future will be boundless!” Following him was Steward Zhuang, a confidant cultivated by Madam Guo for many years. He had followed Feng Jin Hao since Madam Guo’s death and was extremely loyal and reliable.
“The arrival of the Northern Di people is perfectly timed. It not only disrupts Second Aunt’s investigation of the mole within the household but also allows me to fish in troubled waters and learn about the mines. When the time comes to take over the position of family head, Steward Zhuang, my concubine mother’s revenge can be avenged.” The master and servant’s eyes were filled with hatred when Concubine mother was mentioned.
Concubine Guo was kind and never engaged in petty squabbles in the backyard. She treated him like her own son, saving all the best for him. Yet, a mere cold took her life!
The indifference and heartlessness of the family head, Feng Shan, and the disregard of Madam Hua, were the reasons for her death. Since they never bothered to pay attention to them, he would overturn the heavens and disrupt the earth. When they faced disaster, he would go to the underworld to apologize to his concubine mother.
The dove flapped its wings a few times and walked leisurely in the courtyard, completely unaware of what it was carrying, its eyes devoid of emotion.
In Dongdu City, Feng Hai had been recuperating at home since being injured. More than half a month had passed, and he had almost recovered. However, it was publicly announced that he had just escaped danger and was still unable to receive visitors.
His eldest son had been sent to Jiangnan by his father-in-law, while he remained in the capital to investigate the account books of all past grain taxes submitted by the Grand Canal Administration, leaving no stone unturned to find evidence of corruption involving the Duke of Wei’s mansion and the Censorate officials of the thirteen cities in the two Zhe regions.
Every year, he would keep a copy of the account books submitted by the Grand Canal Administration at home for emergencies. Since taking office as the Minister of Revenue, this habit had continued for nearly ten years without any lapse. Therefore, all backup account books were kept in his study.
When Madam Feng brought him food, she saw him frowning and circling many places on those account books with red ink.
“My lord, have some fruit before you continue. Take care of your health. What if you get tired?”
Madam Feng could not help with official matters, but she was very attentive to his health, interrupting him every hour to rest.
“Madam, please don’t worry. I’ve already eaten fruit two or three times this morning. If I eat any more, I’m afraid I’ll get indigestion.” Feng Hai said with a wry smile, knowing that his wife was concerned about his health and had come up with this idea, but he truly couldn’t eat any more.
“Alas, I’m just afraid you’ll overwork yourself. I don’t understand officialdom, but my lord, there’s no rush for these few days. Those account books won’t run away. Take a break and then continue.”
Feng Hai had no choice. Since his wife had said so, he couldn’t refuse.
So, he closed the account books and walked to Madam Feng. This time, he ate the freshly brewed lily soup.
Seeing him eat with relish, Madam Feng finally felt happy, knowing her efforts were not in vain.
“My lord, put aside official matters for now. Household matters are more urgent. After our second son takes the imperial examinations in spring, if he succeeds, I’m thinking of proposing marriage to the Xu family. What do you think?”
“The Xu family? The granddaughter who broke off her engagement from Elder Xu’s family?”
Madam Feng gave him a dissatisfied look when he said this, “Does the Liang family, such a low-class and fallen household, deserve such a good girl? It was heaven’s will that the pearl was not to be tarnished that they broke off the engagement. I’ve looked at her several times and discussed it with my sister-in-law. They all praise this child highly. I’m just afraid the Xu family will look down on our second son, especially given his previous reputation…”
It was not uncommon for women in the Jin Dynasty to remarry after breaking off an engagement, but it was rare for them to remarry so quickly, usually waiting for a year or two for the dust to settle.
However, Madam Feng feared that Xu Mingyue would be in high demand and wanted to finalize the matter as soon as possible for peace of mind.
She didn’t care what other families thought, but she knew that if the Feng family could marry Xu Mingyue, it would truly be a high-profile match.
Feng Hai did not know much about Xu Mingyue, but he greatly admired her grandfather. He came from a humble background, and his wife’s family was also ordinary. He climbed to his current position solely through his own abilities, which spoke volumes about his capabilities!
If not for the repeated misfortunes of his family and the loss of his two sons, the Xu family would likely be a prosperous and powerful family today. The Liang family would probably not have agreed to break off the engagement even if their legs were broken!
Seeing his wife’s eager eyes, he pondered for a moment and then said, “Since Madam likes that child, then interact more with the Xu family. However, it is important that the two children like each other. Otherwise, if the household is disharmonious, no matter how good the marriage is, it will be in vain!”
“That’s natural. My lord, don’t worry. I’m not one of those who only care about parental orders and matchmakers’ words. Otherwise, how could Ah Xu marry Wen Shi? I would have turned the world upside down!”
Recalling the affairs in the backyard of his eldest son’s family, Feng Hai couldn’t help but sigh. Fortunately, the storm had passed, and the sun was shining. It could be considered a tribulation in their lives as a couple. Once they overcame it, they could grow old together.