Chapter 93

Feng Wu hesitated for a moment, immediately thinking that if Shadow Girl failed, would Feng Liwu hide in the shadows and try to deceive him?

His youth had been smooth sailing, but at the peak of his success, he was overthrown by his taciturn elder brother and cast into the dust.

At that time, his mother was killed, and Feng Liwu visited him in his place of confinement.

He wept and cursed his cold-hearted brother, but Feng Liwu looked at him as if he were a dying dog and said, “Worthless, what else do you have besides relying on your arrogant and domineering mother to stand in this palace?”

Feng Wu couldn’t remember what else his brother said after that, but those words were unforgettable, even unto death.

Feng Wu, who had been praised by his father and tutors since childhood, was for the first time trampled underfoot and called worthless.

This was a humiliation that Feng Wu could never erase, even in death.

When he had initially planned to assassinate Feng Liwu, his only regret was that he couldn’t witness Feng Liwu being reduced to his original state and falling pitifully at his feet.

Now, suspecting that Feng Liwu might still be alive, he felt a sense of satisfaction—his lifelong nemesis shouldn’t die so easily.

It was better for him to live, so that Feng Wu could take away everything he cherished, one by one, right before his eyes… With this thought, Feng Wu twisted a wide ring on his finger, pondering his next move…

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiurun, after spending a passionate night with Feng Liwu, barely opened her eyes the next morning to the melodious chirping of birds.

Initially, to facilitate rescuing people from the river, Feng Liwu had set up camp in a grove of trees by the riverbank.

Thus, as dawn broke, the orioles began their gentle songs.

Jiang Xiurun rolled out of Feng Liwu’s embrace and was about to stretch when he pulled her back, holding her waist and asking, “Where are you going?”

She nuzzled into his chest and mumbled, “You tore my clothes, where can I go naked?”

Feng Liwu snorted coldly; her clothes, which she had taken from Feng Wu’s den, reeked and naturally couldn’t be kept.

So he got up and fetched his own clothes from the tent’s chest for her to wear.

Now that Jiang Xiurun had been found, Feng Liwu saw no need to stay any longer and called his guards to prepare to break camp and return to Great Qi.

Jiang Xiurun, struggling with her hair, thought of asking a guard to find Qian’er.

As she peeked out of the tent, she saw Qian’er asking the cook for hot water.

She quickly waved Qian’er into the tent.

When Qian’er entered, Jiang Xiurun couldn’t help but look her over to see if anything was amiss.

Seeing nothing out of place, she relaxed. Qian’er, unable to bear her mistress’s scrutinizing gaze, took a comb and began to fix Jiang Xiurun’s hair.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Jiang Xiurun asked, “Yesterday, Dou Siwu proposed to you, did you accept?” Qian’er pursed her lips tightly and firmly replied, “I’ve decided never to marry, don’t tease me, mistress.”

Jiang Xiurun thought Dou Siwu’s sincerity was rare, why refuse? But before she could speak, Qian’er preempted her, “Dou Siwu isn’t cut out for studying, yet his father insists on sending him to Master Mufeng, showing he has high hopes for his son.

With such prospects, his marriage can’t be careless. It’s not about letting him idle away and marry a lowly maid! His proposal was just a momentary lapse, a wrong turn in his thoughts. I’m fine as I am, not crazy, why should I join his folly?”

Qian’er’s words were actually quite reasonable.

Despite not being educated, she understood the ways of high society.

Jiang Xiurun looked at Qian’er, increasingly seeing her as a wise and capable future general, no wonder Dou Siwu was so infatuated.

If she were a man, she would marry Qian’er herself.

Would the Dou family dare to look down on Qian’er? Who knows if they would even have a chance to marry her once she rose to prominence!

As Qian’er applied hair oil to the comb, she looked up to see her mistress gazing at her with a look similar to Dou Siwu’s infatuation.

She instinctively leaned back and seriously said, “Mistress, let’s not talk about this anymore, okay?”

Knowing that matters of the heart couldn’t be forced, Jiang Xiurun nodded and turned back to her thoughts, trying hard to recall Qian’er’s marital status in her past life.

It seemed many had sought to marry General Bai, including handsome youths from fallen noble families, hoping to use their charm to secure a general who could uphold their family’s honor.

Unfortunately, Bai Qian was too picky, rejecting all, which led to Qin Zhao mocking her behind her back, saying no man would want her if not for her military achievements.

In her past life, Bai Qian and Dou Siwu were sworn enemies serving different masters, with no romantic entanglements between them.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiurun sighed, regretting once again why she had bought Qian’er, thus hindering her rise to greatness.

Now, while Qian’er’s hair-styling skills had improved, there was no sign of the future general, which deeply frustrated Jiang Xiurun.

After Qian’er finished styling Jiang Xiurun’s hair and placed a silver crown on her head, Jiang Xiurun tried once more to encourage her maid, “If you feel your background is looked down upon, you should strive harder. Have you read the military books from the other day? Have you memorized them? I’ll ask the Crown Prince for more tomorrow.”

Qian’er, feeling overwhelmed, decided to clarify, “If you think I lack knowledge and embarrass you, then assign me to be a lowly maid in the mansion, but don’t force me to read military books. I’d rather be drugged by Feng Wu, lying motionless in bed, than read those tedious books. If you give me more books, I’ll find some effective drugs to knock myself out and lie in bed all day doing nothing.”

Seeing Qian’er’s determination, Jiang Xiurun realized she wasn’t lying and was ready to give up entirely.

Frustrated, she tapped Qian’er’s forehead and said, “You’re so unambitious, are you really content to be a maid forever?”

Qian’er smiled, “If it were for someone else, I wouldn’t want to be a maid. But for you, mistress, I wouldn’t mind being a maid for life. If you have time to guide me, you should focus on your own advancement. You’re now a top scholar at the academy, you should study hard and aim for an official position, then take a few concubines. When you’re successful, I’ll share in your glory.”

Although Qian’er hadn’t made progress in reading military books, she had picked up some skills in flattery from listening to Jiang Xiurun’s subtle praises to the Crown Prince.

Having just defied her mistress, she quickly resorted to flattery.

Hearing this, Jiang Xiurun was both annoyed and touched, realizing that forcing Qian’er was futile for now.

She decided to give up temporarily and find another way to steer the future general back on track.

After some more banter and breakfast, they expected to depart for Great Qi. However, after waiting half a day, the camp showed no signs of moving.

Puzzled, Jiang Xiurun sent Qian’er to investigate. Qian’er returned shortly, reporting, “The Crown Prince received urgent news this morning that a group of bandits has appeared in the mountains near the Qi-Wei border, demanding grain from the local government. If refused, they threaten to breach the dam and flood four downstream counties. The Crown Prince is handling the matter and has instructed us to proceed to a city in Great Qi to rest before returning together.”

Actually, dealing with bandits was the local governor’s responsibility, but with Qin Zhao already returned to Luo’an, the remaining officials were indecisive about whether to suppress the bandits or not.

Upon receiving the news, Feng Liwu briefly considered returning to the capital or staying to handle the dam issue.

He decided to resolve the situation first before returning to Luo’an.

Otherwise, if the Crown Prince left and immediately after, the counties were flooded by bandits, it would be exploited by his enemies to spread unfavorable rumors about him.

Moreover, Qin Zhao wouldn’t be returning.

His secret dealings with Feng Wu made him a liability.

With Jiang Xiurun now safe, there was no need to keep him around.

However, not knowing Feng Wu’s current whereabouts, Feng Liwu decided to delay Qin Zhao’s execution to see if it would lure Feng Wu out.

Assassinating the Crown Prince was a grave crime, and the Qin family had been instrumental in overthrowing Feng Wu.

Given the Qin family’s deep roots, it wouldn’t be wise to cut down the entire tree because of one bad branch.

It was better for the rebellious son to die quietly on the road, sparing the Qin family’s reputation.

Thus, Feng Liwu had sent a secret order early that morning: if Feng Wu showed no further contact with Qin Zhao on the way, Qin Zhao was to be dealt with before reaching the capital.

Feng Wu had indeed grown more capable, learning some sinister tricks in the martial world.

It was unclear how many other noble youths he had corrupted besides Qin Zhao.

His ability to operate so smoothly in the shadows was likely due to his father’s covert support.

Thinking of this, Feng Liwu sneered inwardly.

In his father’s eyes, only Feng Wu was the beloved son fit to be the heir, while he himself was the bastard who should have rotted in the cold palace.

These bitter memories filled Feng Liwu’s chest as he stood by the lake, gazing into the distance with empty eyes.

Jiang Xiurun, bringing him porridge, noticed his familiar melancholy and quietly placed the tray on a nearby rock, standing silently behind him to see what was so captivating about the view.

Before she could settle, Feng Liwu grabbed her arm, “Why are you hiding behind me, being so mischievous?”

Jiang Xiurun knew that when he stared at the lake, he was often lost in unpleasant memories, enveloped in a gloomy aura.

Having spent days with Feng Wu, she had heard many stories about Feng Liwu’s past, told in a mocking tone.

Yet, to Jiang Xiurun, Feng Liwu’s seemingly ignorance and rigid demeanor only evoked pity.