Feng Yu Jiu Tian

Volume 12

(YoungPhoenixsEarlyCry)

xfengyujiutian.tumblr.com

Translator:Christy
Editors:Fern,Joy,Manu

Chapter1

Themorningsunspreadacrossthesoundlysleepingface,bringingwarmthandcomfort.
FengMingopenedhiseyes,halfasleepheacceptedthelastnightfeelinghehadendureda
residualtraceofnumbnesswasfeltfromhislowerback.Hiseyesswepttheentireroom.
Lookingaround,hiseyesresteduponthepersonnexttohim,thefaceofXiLeiKingappeared
withinhissight.
Areyousecretlywatchingme?
Secretlywatching?Iamlookingatyouinanupstandingway.RongTianstretchedoutafinger
andpointedathisnose.
LyingonthesamebedasFengMing,RongTianwasturnedonhisside,hisheadrestingona
proppedarm,lookingathislover.
FengMingsoftlypattedthehandthathadjusttouchedhisnose,Youdidntsleepallnight?
Whosaidthat?Ialwayswakeupearlierthanyou,littleslacker.
RongTian.
Ah?...

Youreyesarebloodshot.FengMingcopiedRongTianandstretchedouthisindexfingerto
pointathisimpeccableshapednose,proudlysaying,Lyinginmypresence,Icaughtyou
redhanded,right?!
AsadignifiedKingofXiLei,perhapsFengMingistheonlyonewhodarestopointathimso
casually.
Likeasmallrabbitraisingitspaw,intimidatingalionwithinthejungle.
RongTiandidnthesitatetograspthewhitesofthand,whilefrowninghesaid,Howcomeyou
aresuddenlysmartertoday?
Areyoustillreluctanttoleaveme?FengMingnestledwithinthelargechestandbroad
shoulders.
RongTiansbodytemperaturealwaysseemstobehigherthanhis.
Niceandwarm.
FengMingsuddenlywhispered,Inthepast,IusedmytitleasCrownPrincetoheadtoFanJia
andbeforeleaving,youdidntwanttoseeme,whichmademeincrediblysad.NowIrealizethat
notmeetingduringthemomentofseparationisbetter,thenitwouldntbesopainful
Youfool.RongTianlaughedoutloudwhilelookingadoringlyathim,WaituntilIfinishmy
missionandIllcomefindyou.Itwontbelonguntilthensothereisnoneedtofeelsad,alright?
FengMinggentlyhummedinresponse,closelysnugglinginRongTiansarmsandremained
silent.
Thetwoofthemembracedeachother,lookingoutsidethewindowasthesuncontinuedtorise,
theworldslowlywakingup,thesoundoffootstepsfromoutsidewasfaintlyheard.
Thetimetheyhadtogetherwasnotmuch,butonesecondcannotbeturnedintooneday,and
onedaycannotbechangedintooneyear.
Justlikethecalm,quiettides,iftherewerenodisturbancethenthetimewouldstopatthis
momentforever.
Butawishisonlyawish,inashortwhile,thefootstepshadstoppedinfrontofthedoor.
Thefamiliarvoicesofthemaidswereheard,YourMajesty,DukeMing,wevecometoserve
you.
Thedoorwascautiouslyopened,sunlightfollowedin,spreadingacrosstheroom,thesilence
frombeforequicklyceased.

ThoughRongTianwasnotwillingto,hehadtoremoveFengMingfromhisembraceandgotup
fromthebedsmiling,hesaid,HasZiYanarrangedallthepreparationsalready?
Imhere!ZiYanappearedatthedoorwayinatravelingoutfit.Hiscalvesweretightlytiedina
meticulousway,adaggerwashiddenonhiswaist.Asimplebaggagewascarriedoverhisback,
hisupperandlowerbodywerephysicallyfit.FacingRongTian,hereported,YourMajesty,
everythingisprepared.Wecanstartourjourney.
FengMingwasfeelinganxiousinside.
Aftercomingtothistimeperiod,eventhoughthetimetogetherwithRongTianwaslessand
separationhadbeenlong,thosetimesofseparationwereunexpectedsohehadnever
experiencedthefeelingofseeinghisloverheadingoff.
Nomatterhowmuchmentalpreparationwasdoneinadvance,inthismomentherealizedhow
painfulthisindescribablefeelingwas
ChiuLanhandedRongTianapreparedoutfit,YourMajesty,thesearetheclothingthataregular
businesspersonusuallydresses,allowmetohelpyouwearit.
RongTiannodded,ChiuYuewalkedoverbesideChiuLantohelpdressRongTian.
FengMingwatchedhimstandingthere,beingwaitedonbythetwomaids,histallhandsome
stature,calmlyraisinghisarmsandlegs,emittinganuniquemajesticappeal,themorehe
watchedhimthemorehisheartbeatquickened.
Atthismoment,herealizedhowimportantRongTianwastohim.
AslongasRongTianwasnexttohim,hedidntneedtobeafraidorworryaboutanything.
WithoutRongTianaround,nomatterhowmanypeoplearearoundhim,itwouldbeuseless.
Whatareyoustaringat?RongTianturnedhisheadtolookaround,suddenlycatchingFeng
Mingsgaze,knowingthathewasworried,RongTiandeliberatelygothisattention.
FengMingwasstartled,hewentsilentforamomentbeforesmilingatRongTian.Takingina
longbreath,heregainedhisspiritandjumpedoffthebed,adjustedhisbeltandthenyelledout,
ChiuXing,comeoverhere,selectabeautifullookingoutfitforDukeMing.Thistime,while
traveling,Iwanttodisplaymymagnificent,prowessdemeanor.
Yes,DukeMing!ChiuXingrushedovertoservehim.
Oncethetwoofthemfinisheddressing,everyoneelsewaspresent.

RongHuandLieErwerethefirstonestoenter,LieZhongLiufollowedafterbringingalongLie
ZhongShiandLieDou,thetwobigmenwholovetoquarrel.
FengMingwascuriousandaskedLieZhongLiu,HowcomeIdontseeLadyLie?
LieZhongLiusmiledandreplied,Shehadbeenlookingforwardtohavingasmartdiscipleand
afterfindingone,sheimmediatelystartedinculcatinghimwithherteachings.
Beforedawn,QianLinwasdraggedofffromhisbedbyLadyLie.RongHuadded.
LieErburstoutlaughing,Thatsright,hismasterwaspinchinghisearsandscoldinghim.Asa
successortotheWeisArtofWarandyethedarestosleepin.Thistime,QianLinisinbig
trouble.
YoushouldntaccuseinnocentQianLin.Thattime,itwasobviousthesunwasntoutyet,he
hasalwaysbeenpunctualandfollowtherulesongettingup.
Butaccordingtohismaster,hemustgetupanhourbeforedawn.Haha,fromtodayonward,
QianLinwillbecompletelypitiful.
FengMingstuckouthistongue.
Mustgetupanhourbeforedawn?Luckily,heisnotastalentedandcleverasQianLinand
wasntchosentobethesuccessortotheWeisArtofWar,otherwise,hewillneverbeableto
haveagoodnightsleepagain.
ThecrueltortureofbeingdraggedfromundertheblanketsmadehimrememberDongFan13th
Captain,JunTing.
YourMajesty,areyouready?LieZhongLiulookedoveratRongTian.
RongTianstretchedouthisarmsandturnedinacircletoshowLieZhongLiutheoutfithewas
wearing,Whatdoyouthink,PrimeMinister?
LieZhongLiucarefullyscannedit,noddedhisheadandsaid,Ah,asimpleoutfit,itsgreatthat
wehaveregulartradersaroundherethatdobusinesswithZhaoBei.Anoutfitlikethatshouldbe
acceptable.
RongTianlaughed,IfPrimeMinisterseesnoflawsinit,thenitshouldbenoproblem.
FengMingscratchedhishead.
Yesterday,bothofthemwerestaringdownateachother,sohowcometheirrelationship
suddenlybecamerelativelyclose?

LieZhongLiusgazeswitchedovertoZiYan,TheoutfitZiYaniswearingrightnowis
completelydifferentfromthearmoroutfit.
PrimeMinister,ZiYanlooksgreatlikethis,right?Hisbroadshoulders,strongchest,doyou
wanttotouchabit?LieErdrapedhisarmsoverZiYansshoulders,usingameatinspector
voice,helaughedout.
ZiYanwasnotpleasedashetossedLieErsarmasideandscoldedhim,QuititLieEr,godie!
Ah,itsnotbad.LieZhongLiuglancedatLieErandcontinued,ButthebeautythatI,thePrime
Minister,isfondof,isstillyou,LieEr.
Histeasingstatementclearlybroughtuproaramongeveryone.
ChiuYueandChiuXingstooduptogetheratonce,Weregoingtocomplain!Weregoingtotell
LadyLie,welldefinitelytellheraboutthis!
Seeingthemchatterinenthusiasm,FengMinglaughednonstop,hesilentlythoughtthatthey
mustbeworriedhemightbesadaboutseparatingfromRongTiantherefore,theydeliberately
jokedaroundtolightenuphismood.
Itwasemotionallytouchingforhim.
Hehadcometothisancientworldforsometimeandnowwasmorefamiliarwithiteach
passingday.Inthepast,hewouldntpaymuchattentiontoeveryonesbehavior,butnowhe
graduallycametounderstandthehiddenmeaningbehindeachone.Thegroupofpeopleinfront
ofhimgrewclosetohimasiftheywerehislovedones.
Evenifitsonlyforthesepeopleinfrontofhim,hestillwishestobringpeaceandharmonyto
them.
Thelaughterceased,ZiYanlookedupatthesky,thenfacedRongTianandsaid,YourMajesty,
weshouldntThewordswerestillnotfinishedwhenhepausedandglancedoveratFeng
Ming.
FengMingclenchedhisteeth,revealingabrightsmile,Itsnolongerearly,itstimefor
departure,afterwards,thereisstillalongroadahead,doyoustillplanonwaitinguntilnighttime
toleave?
Thewholeroomwentsilent
Afterawhile,LieZhongLiuasked,DoesYourMajestystillwanttospeakwithFengMingin
private?

EveryonewereintendingtoheadoutsidetheroominordertoletFengMinghavesometime
alonewithRongTian.
No.FengMingshookhishead,seeingeveryonesshockedfacelookingathim,hestompedhis
foot,Itsnotanythinglikelifeanddeath,sowhatsthepointinprolongingthis?Asaman,ifyou
sayyouleavethenleave.Whatelseistheretocontinuetalkingprivatelyabout?
Beforehefinished,RongTianreachedoutandpulledtheyoungmannexttohim,gavehiman
intensekissonthelips,thenchuckled,Notbad,beforeleaving,youalreadydisplayeda
demeanorfitforYoungMasterXiao.However,asaman,afterIleave,youarenotallowedtocry.
Takecareofyourself,hereIgo.
Liftinghishead,hegavehisfarewell,hisbrighteyessparkledashebellowedout,HereIgo!
YourMajesty,takecare!
RongHusaid,YourMajesty,letussendyououtside
Noneedforthecustomaryetiquette.JuststayhereandlookafterDukeMing,takecareof
yourself.PrimeMinister,pleasetakecare.FacingLieZhongLiu,RongTianclaspedhishands
togetherandsmiled.RongTianmotionedhishandandordered,ZiYan,letsheadout!
XiLeiKingproudlylaughedandquicklystrodeoutthedoor.
ZiYan,fullofenergy,followedrightbehind.Thetwoofthemwalkedoff

Chapter2

AfterRongTianleft,therewasonlyoneWangpresentinYueZhong.
(*Note:Wangisaroyaltitlewithdifferentmeanings.BothRongTianandFengMingare
addressedasWang,forRongTianitisKingandforFengMingitisDuke)
Fearingthattheothersmightbeworried,FengMingrefusedtodisplayanysignsofsadness
insteadhepretendedtolookforwardtohistrip.
RongHualreadyknewthatFengMingwasunhappy,sohesecretlywenttoaskthePrime
Ministerforanadviceonwhattodo.
LZL:Sincehehasmadethedecision,itsonlynaturalforhimtofeeldepressed.Decidingto
travelthroughthenations,hopingtobecomeamorefreeandcleverpersonwithoutrelyingon
hisreputationasXiLeiKingsloverorinHisMajestysprotection,itsnotsoeasy.Inthepast,

whenDukeMinghadanargumentwithEmpressDowagerregardingfindingaQueenforHis
Majesty,didnthemakeapowerfulstatement?Somethinglikeafishandbearpaw*,youcant
chooseboth.Youcanusehisownstatementtohelpcomforthim.
(Note:ThislineoriginatedfromMengZi/MenciusFishissomethingIdesirebearspawisalso
somethingIdesire.IfIcannothaveboth,Iwillforsakefishandselectbearspaw.)
AfterlisteningtowhatRongHureported,ChiuYueangrilyclenchedherteeth,Icantbelieve
thereissomeoneasheartlessashim.TherearelotsofpeopledistressedforDukeMing,while
hehasthenervetosaysomethingsarcastic.
ChiuXingnoddedandadded,Thatsright,weonlyknewhewasheartlessandvulgar,overall,
hesjustabitmorecleverthansomepeople.
LE:However,IthinkwhatPrimeMinistersaidisreasonable.
ChiuYueandChiuXingstaredatLieErindissatisfaction.
Worriedthattheymightquarrel,ChiuLanquicklywalkedovertointerveneDukeMingis
currentlynotinagoodmood,ifallofyouweretoargue,andDukeMingfindsout,hellbemore
upset.
Afterwhatshesaid,theystoppedtheirargument.
LE:ImgoingtoseeDukeMing.
Insidetheroom,FengMingwaslookingforsomethingtodobutcouldntthinkofanything.
Vaguelyhearingsomeoneoutsidetheroom,whichsoundedlikeLieEr,heranouttosee.He
sighedinreliefandsaid,Wheredidallofyougo?Imsoboredherebymyself.
Theyallwentinsidetheroom.SinceRongTianwasnotthere,theyweremoreunrestrainedthan
usualandlookedforaplacetositcomfortably.ChiuYuesatnexttothebed,seeingthatthere
wasabaggagethere,shechuckled,IsthisbaggagesomethingthatDukeMingpreparedby
yourself?Thisisnthowitsdone.Ifthisweretobecarriedupanddown,itllbetiresome.
ChiuXingcamefrombehindtotakealookandalsolaughed,Thisreallylookslikesomeone
wasfeelingeagertotravel!
FM:Doesitreallylookbad?ButIfeelthatthewayImadeitisnotbad.
WhenRongTianandhimweretogether,theywerealwaysinhighspirits.NowthatRongTianis
gone,FengMingfeltthat30%ofhissoulwastakenaway.Althoughheisstillsmilingand
laughing,hefeelsabitdepressed.

CL:DukeMingisnotaregularperson,doyouhavetoprepareyourownbaggage?Yourclothing
andsuch,justletushandlethem.
FengMingshookhishead,Itsjustsimpledaytodayitems,stuffthatRongTianleftbehind.I
hadnothingtodosoIdecidedtoputthemalltogetherandwrappedthemupsotheywontget
dirty.
LE:DukeMing,Icameheretobidmyfarewell.
FM:Thatquick?
LE:Withthisimportantmatter,itsbesttocompletethemearliertofeelatease.OnceImdone
withmypacking,Iwillimmediatelyhittheroad.
FengMinglookedatLieErupanddown,witheyesfullofsadness,hewhispered,Ifthereare
someunexpectedincidents,youdontneedtosettlethem,justtakegoodcareofyourselffirst.
LieErsmiledandsaid,BesidesYongYi,theentireYongYinroyaltiesareabunchofuseless
junk,whatkindofunexpectedincidentwouldhappen?DukeMing,restassuredIpromiseyou
thatyoullbehearinggoodnewssoon.FacingFengMing,hegaveasignoffarewell,turning
overtoRongHu,henoddedandcasuallysaid,Brother,Imleaving.DukeMingisleftinyour
hands.Thatsright,ifyoureceiveamessagefrommerequestingformoney,thenimmediately
havesomeonesendittome.
RH:Restassured,PrimeMinisteralreadyorderedtogiveyouasmuchasyouneed.Butitis
DukeMingswealth,yourenotallowedtosquandercarelessly.
LE:Whossquandering?AreyousayingthatIdonthavemyownmoney?EvenifIdont,YongYi
willnotletmestarve.
LieErmadeafaceandblatantlywalkedoff.FengMingwalkedhimoutthemaindoor,Nowthat
LieErisgone,whencanIactuallystartmytrip?
RongHu,whowasresponsibleforthismatter,reported,IhavesentsomeonetocontactLuo
Deng,otherthanthefleetofships,wealsoneedtowaitforMasterXiaoselitementocome.
Afterensuringenoughsecurity,DukeMingwillbereadytoleave.
FM:Howlongwillthattake?
RH:Theearliestwouldbefourtofivedays.
FM:Fourtofivedays?(FengMinghadafacelikehewascrying)RongTianisnothere,LieEris
alsogone,ZiYanandtherestwentwithRongTian.ThisislikethetimeIvebeenconfinedinside
thePrincesQuarters,beingboredtodeath.

RH:(frowning)Howareyouboredtodeath?DukeMinghasmanythingstodo.Imafraidthat
thesefourorfivedaysmaypassquickly.Istillhavemanythingstoprepare.Illtakemyleave
first,DukeMing.
FengMingheldontoRongHusarmtightly,askingcuriously,YoujustsaidthatIhavemany
thingstodo?
RH:DidntPrimeMinistermentionedittoyou?
FM:Likewhat?
DukeMingChiuYuecarefullypokedFengMingintheback,DukeMing,lookinfrontofyou,
therearetwobozosthere.
FengMinglookedup.
Sureenough,appearingwithinhisviewwerethetoweringfiguresofLieZhongShiandLieDou.
LieZhongShicametosendamessageonbehalfofLieZhongLiu.
MybrothersaidthatinpreparationforDukeMingstravel,youhavetocompletesomevery
simplethings.
LieZhongShifollowedFengMinginsidetheroom.Wordbyword,herepeatedwhatLieZhong
Liuhadinstructedhimwith,DukeMingwilltravelthroughmanydifferentnationsandwill
encountermanydifferentpeople.TheywillaskDukeMingmanyquestionsuponarrival.What
DukeMingneedstodorightnowistothinkofgoodresponsesforthosequestions,donotfall
intomomentsofhesitation,notknowingwhattosayorreplyingwithawrongresponse,arousing
ridicule.
Thispersonsvoicewasnodifferentfromalargebell.Eventhoughhewasspeakingnormally,it
wassoloudthatitshooktheroof,causingdustparticlestodropbelow.
FengMingnoddedinagreementandsaid,Ah,PrimeMinisterthoroughlythoughtaboutthis,Im
mostfearfulofriddles.
Especiallyiftheyrenotcarefullyanswered,awronganswercancauseseveralnationsto
disputeoversensitiveissues.
Thatyear,hisweakheartcouldnotwithstandthepressure.
ChiuLanfrownedandsaid,Howcanweknowwhattheotherpersonwouldask?

Thisyoudonthavetoworry,LieZhongShiansweredbluntlyandthengrinned,Mybrotherhad
alreadypreparedseveralquestions,DukeMingonlyneedstowritethemdownonpaperand
thinkonebyoneabouttheanswer.
FengMingwasoverjoyed,LieZhongLiureallyhasastrongsenseofobligation,withoutabitof
effortandyethealreadypreparedeverything.HequicklyorderedChiuYuetofetchthebrushand
paper.Sittinginareadyposition,hefocusedhard,waitingforLieZhongShitosaythefirstword.
ThenIllbegin,youhavetowriteitalldown.
Pleasestart!
LZS:Thefirstquestion,XiLeiKingRongTiandoesnthaveastatusanymore,sowhatstatusis
DukeMingusingtotravelthroughoutthenations?DoesyourtitleasDukeMingneedtobe
removed?Youhavetoknow,DukeMingisatitleRongTianhasgivenyou,andsinceRongTian
lostthethrone,yourtitleasDukeMingnolongerhaveitspracticalsignificance.
FM:Ah,Iknowthis,iftheyaskme,Iwillanswer
Noneedtorush.LieZhongShiisatalluncouthperson,buthesverygoodatimitatingthe
actionsofothers.Crossinghisarms,hefollowedLieZhongLiusmovements,DukeMingneeds
towritedowneveryquestionsandthenslowlythinkofananswerforthem.
Er,alright.
Thesecondquestion
"Thethirdquestion......"
"Thefourth......"
"Thefifth......"
Twohourslater
SohowmanymorequestionsChiuYueyawned,askingChiuXingwhowasalsoyawning
besideher.
Whoknows?ChiuXingsatthereinadaze,Ohmother,thisLieZhongShimustbesomesort
ofstrangebeing.Thatmanyquestionsandyethecanrememberthemclearly?
Standinginfrontofthedesk,LieZhongShiwasstillthesame,withaloudvoicehecontinuedto
recite,The97thquestionDanLinisnotapartofthecontinent,butisaseparateislanditself,
whatdoesXiLeiKingthinkaboutthepolicyofthisnationcomparedtotheothers?

Atthebeginning,FengMingwasfullofspirit,butnowhelookedlikehewashitbyastorm,and
sufferedmercilessly,LieZhongLiuisnotahuman~Givingoutsomanyquestions,didheintend
topickonhimwhileRongTianisnothere?
HethoughtthatLieZhongShicametopassamessageandthequestionswouldbenomore
than10questions,whowouldexpectittobeaslongastheYellowRiver,foreverflowing
endlessly?
Onthetablewerepiecesofpaperdisorderlyplaced,ifoneweretoorganizethem,itwouldbeas
thickasabook.
Finishingupthe97thquestion,LieZhongShisvoicerangoutagain,Question98th
Theresmore?FengMingbegantoshake.
ChiuLansawhispatheticstateandhiswrittenwordsbecomingmoreandmorejumbled,soshe
softlysaid,DukeMingseemstobetired,allowyourservanttohelpwriteforyou.
Receivingthebrushinhand,sheneatlywrotedownthequestions.
ChiuXingbroughtoverhotteaandrequestedFengMingtotakearest,ChiuYuecouldnttakeit
anylongerandasked,Hey,howmanytotalquestionsdidPrimeMinistersendforDukeMing?
FengMingraisedhisearstolisten.
JudgingbyLieZhongLiusstrangepersonality,heshouldnthavepreparedathickencyclopedia
forhim,didhe?
Ifthatsthecase,thenthereisnoneedforhimtotravel,hejusthavetostayinsidethisroom,live
throughitanddiewhilestayinghere.
LieZhongShihonestlyreplied,Onehundred.
OhFengMingletoutasighofrelief.
Thankfullyitsnotseveralthousands.
However
Thereisahowever?FengMingnervouslychuckled,feelingrelievedasecondagoandnowhe
hadtotenseupagain.
Brothersaidafteryoufinishedwritingdownthequestions,hewillinquireaboutyour
responsesthedayafter,therefore,DukeMinghastothinkcarefullyaboutyouranswersstarting
today.

Hewillinquireaboutmyanswers?
Oh,wellthatisexpected.
Moreover,hehastwodaysandonenighttothinkabouttheanswers.Ifhecantthinkofany,he
canalwaysaskRongHuandtheothersforhelp.Itshouldntbeconsideredcheating,hehe.
Theonehundredquestionswerefinallywrittendown,LieZhongLiuapparentlygaveLieZhong
Shiothererrandstodo.Afterfinishingthe100questions,hehurriedoffwhilebringingalongLie
DouandLittleAutumnwithhim.
Boththeleftandrightsideofthetablewerefilledwithwhitepaperswiththequestionswrittenon
them.
ChiuYueandChiuXingwentovertosee,ItlookslikeDukeMingwontbeboredanylonger.
Theanswerstotheseonehundredquestions,justwritingthemwouldmakeoneshandsore.
ThatsrightandDukeMingwritesveryslow.
FengMingstaredatthelargepileofpapers,hefeltanoncomingthrobbingheadache.
FM:Well,Illwrite.EversinceIvesteppedintothispugilistworld,whatstheretobeafraidof?
Thesefewminorproblems?ChiuYue,ChiuXing,preparetheink.
Helifteduphissleeve,satdownatthedeskinanuprightpositionandseriouslythoughtabout
howtoanswerthesequestions.
RongTianisgone,LieEralsoleftYueZhong,nooneistherenowtodisturbFengMings
strenuousstudioussession.
FengMingdippedhisbrushintotheink,strugglingtoanswerseveralquestions,anxiously
wonderingwhichresponsewouldbebestsinceeachnationsrelationsarecomplicatedandnot
knowingthemclearlymadehimthinkaboutthequestionevenlonger.
However,occasionallyhewouldhaveasuddenflashandwouldimmediatelywritedownthe
answeronpaper,whileexpressingamerrysmileofsatisfactiononhisface.
Sureenough,apersonsabilitytosurviveisrevealedonceheisforcedtoreachthelaststep,
beingfarfromRongTian,hislittlelazybrainstartedtoworkharder.
Intheevening,RongHufinishedhisownerrandsandreturned,justwhenhesteppedintothe
room,hefirstnoticedFengMingworkinghard,scratchinghisheadtothink,soRongHudecided
togivesomepraise,DukeMingisworkinghard,didPrimeMinisterarrangedforalotofworkfor
you?

RongHu,youcameattherighttime.FengMingletgoofhisbrush,happilygrabbedRongHu
towardsthedesk,andpointedtotheanswerhejustwritten,ComehereandreadthisanswerI
wroteinreplytoDongFanKingofferinghiskingdom.
Alright.
RongHupickedupthepaper,therewereinkstainsontopofit,reflectingsomelight,whichwas
obviousthatitwasjustwrittenandisstillwet.
TherearethreereasonswhyDongFanKingofferedDongFantoRongTianRongHulooked
atitwhilemurmuring,ThefirstreasonisbecauseDongFanexperiencedaplague,theirtroops
wereunabletoprotectthemthesecondreason,thereweretwofactionsdividedwithinDong
Fan,AdvisorLuDanwasworriedthatafterheleft,therebelliousfactionwouldthreatenDong
FanKingandusurpthethronethethirdreasonis
ThethirdreasonisbecausetheyareoptimisticaboutthestrengthandcapacityofRongTian
andI.FengMinganswerforhimself,feelingverysatisfiedabouthisanswer,proudlyraisinghis
head.
RongHunodded,Troops,dignitaries,alongwithtrust,canbeconsideredanorderlyanswer.
ChiuYueandChiuXingsneeredatFengMingfromthesideline,DukeMingisveryimpressive,
ha?Eventakinghislunchandeatingitonthedesk,thinkingwhileeating,sofarheonly
answered13questions.
Theresmore.ChiuLanshookherhead,Theinkalmostdrieduptoo,ohDukeMing,therewas
apointwhenhedidnttakeaglanceofffromhispapers,andnoteventakingtimetoeat.ButI
dontcare,tonightsdinneryouarenotallowedtoeatnexttoyourdesk.Youhavetofinisheating
beforeworkingagain.
FengMingcouldntwinagainsther.Thatevening,hewasdraggedtothediningroomtoeat.After
eatingheimmediatelywenttocontinuewritinguntilthethreemaidsrepeatedlyurgedhimtogoto
sleep.
Justlikethat,twodaysandonenightwentby,FengMingandhismaidswerebusystayingup
lateandintheend,finallyfinished.
Alldone!Hooray!
Afterwriting100responses,FengMingfeltlikehehadcompletedamajorproject.Withredeyes,
heranwildintheroom,excitedlycheering.
ChiuLanlaughed,Ohheavens,wefinallyfinished,butPrimeMinisterhasntseenthemyet,we
dontknowwhetherhellapprovethemornot.

FengMingsolemnlysaid,Eitherway,Ihavepouredallmyheartandsoultocompletethem,if
itsnot80%then60%willdo.WaituntilPrimeMinistercomeshere,readonepageofmy
response,hellhavetogivemeatleastapraiseoneffort.
DukeMing,takealook!Thosetwoarebackagain!ChiuYuesuddenlypointedoutatthe
window,shouting,LittleAutumn,LittleAutumn,comeoverhere!
LittleAutumnwasontopofLieZhongShisshoulders,alongwithLieDousteppedforward.After
seeingChiuYueseveraltimes,LittleAutumngraduallybecameclosetoher,hearinghercall,
LittleAutumnresponded,jumpingdownfromLieZhongShisshoulder,acrossthewindowand
intoChiuYuesarms,wavingitstailtogreether.
LieZhongShi,Ihaveansweredalltheonehundredquestions!FengMingwasbusyforsolong,
hismoodwasliftedandhewasfeelingverysatisfiedabouthisaccomplishment,waitingforhis
teachertogivehisapproval.SeeingLieZhongShientered,hegrabbedhimandsaid,Come,
youandIwillgotogethertoseePrimeMinisterandseeifhessatisfiedwithmyanswers.
LieDoushookhishead,Noneedtogo!Noneedtogo!
FengMingfeelingsurprisedasked,Whynot?
Theeldermastersaid,ifwesmellthescentofinkwhenenteringthedoor,thenwejustneedto
takealookatoneansweralone.
Ah?Justoneanswer?ChiuYuewassurprised,Justone?
LieZhongShiwasthenumberonepersoninreportingmessages,LieZhongLiuwantedhimto
conveyhiseverywords,The13thquestion,whydidDongFanKingofferhiskingdom?
WhyDongFanKingofferedhiskingdom?Ah,ah,Iknow,waitformeabit.FengMingwentto
thedesk,andsearchedthroughthestackofpapers.Afterawhile,hepulledoutasheet,Ive
foundit!Thisisit!TheanswertowhyDongFanKingofferedhiskingdom.
Whowouldhavethoughtthatwithjustoneglance,LieZhongShicasuallysaid,Itsallwrong.
FengMingwasstunned,Wrong?
Itsnotright?
Thatcantbe,itshouldatleastpassormeettheexpectations,right?
ChiuXingwasingrievanceforFengMing,Youbigmanshouldnttalknonsense,youdidnteven
readallofit,howcanDukeMinggotitallwrong?
Thatsright!Youhaventevenreadit!

LieZhongShishruggedhisshoulders,withahelplesslook,hereplied,Mybrothersaid,the
answerisjusttwowords.Hewrotesomanywordslikethis,ofcourseitswrong.
What?Twowords?ChiuLancuriouslyasked.
LieDouwhowasstandingnearbyanswered,Thosetwowordsare:HeavensWill(Destiny)
Heavenswill?FengMingstartedscratchinghishead.
Wellthatisacompleteanswer
Indeed,ananswerthatonlyLieZhongLiucanthinkof.
ButwhyisitHeavensWill?
Themessagemybrotheraskedmetosend,Ihavecompletedit.Iwillbegoingnow.
FengMingquicklyasked,PrimeMinisterdoesnthaveanythingelsetotellme?
Yes,mybrothersaidthatheisverybusy,DukeMingdoesnotneedtodisturbhim.
Ah?
HewasplanningonfindingLieZhongLiutoaskaboutthematterclearly..
ChiuYuewasreluctantforLittleAutumntoleave,whileplayingwithit,shesaid,CanLittle
Autumnstayheretoplaywithus?
Beforeshecouldfinish,LittleAutumnunderstoodwhatshesaidanditcriedout,scaredofbeing
leftbehind,itsuddenlyjumpedontoLieZhongShisshoulders,tightlyclutchingonhisclothes,
givingadeadlystareofnotwantingtobeleftbehind.
ChiuYueandChiuXingletoutanannoyingsigh.
WaitinguntilLieZhongShileft,FengMingturnedbacktolookatthemessonthetable,his
accomplishmentsittingthereasasenseoffrustrationstartedtobuildup.
Itwasararemomentforhimtoputinsomucheffort,ifRongTianwashere,hedidntknowif
RongTianwouldhavepraisedhim.LieZhongLiudidnteventakeonelook,heeventoldhis
peopletohelppassamessageandwithoneanswer,herejectedeverything.
Whatacruelteacher
SeeinghowunhappyFengMingwas,ChiuLantriedtocomforthim,DukeMing,Illarrangethis
foryou.

DukeMingdoesntneedtobesadlikethis,nomatterwhat,thetaskPrimeMinistergaveyouis
nowcompleted.DukeMingdidntevenhaveanyleisuretimeandwasnotlazy,wecantestifyto
it.ChiuXingandChiuYuechimedin.
RongHuhappenedtocomeinatthistime,noticingthattheatmospherewasnotright,he
curiouslyasked,Whathappened?
CL:ItsPrimeMinister.DukeMinghadworkedhardonwritingtheanswersandyethedidnteven
bothertotakealook.Heevensaidhewasbusy,tellingDukeMingnottodisturbhim.
AfterlisteningtoChiuLan,RongHuponderedforamomentbeforespeaking,HisMajestyhad
saidbefore,PrimeMinisterhashisownwaysofdoingthings,swordplayhasmanyhidden
mysteries,unfathomable,thewayoftheswordisjustlikeastrokeofabrushwithhidden
meanings.Heavenswillthesetwowords,theylooksimple,butinfact,containsdeep
meaning.MaybeDukeMingneedstoponderabitmoreaboutPrimeMinisterswords.
FengMingsatstraightonthechair.AfterlisteningtoRongHu,heregainedhisconscience,
silentlynodding,Heavenswill
Inpreparationfortheupcomingtrip,withoutRongTianbyhisside,hewillhavetousehisbrain
andfocushardtounderstandLieZhongLiusteaching.
Thenextfewdays,LieZhongLiudidnotappearatall.
FengMinglistenedcarefullytoRongHussuggestion,rereadingallonehundredquestionsbyLie
ZhongLiuoncemore,andponderinghardaboutthemeaningbehindHeavenswill.
ComparingtoHisMajesty,PrimeMinistersureknowshowtomakeoneobedientlylistento
him.
Inashorttime,theplantotravelthroughthenationswasinfrontoftheireyes.
Afterfivedays,thepeoplewhohavebeensentreturnedwitharesponsemessage.
LuoDengwillleadabigfleetofMasterXiaosshipstothenearestpiernotfarfromYueZhong
withinfourdaystoawaitfurtherorders.Bythattime,thegroupofMasterXiaoselitemenwill
alsohavearrivedtoescortthewellknownYoungMasteronhisway.
Thebigdayhasfinallyarrived!
RongHugotthemessage,rushingovertoFengMing,hereported,PrimeMinisteralsoreceived
thenews.PrimeMinistersaidthatthemountainshaveashortcutandwillleadustothepierjust
intimetomeetupwithLuoDenginfourdays.
ChiuYueexclaimed,Thenshouldntweheadouttoday?

Yes,startingtoday.
Thelongawaitedjourneythateveryonehadbeenlookingforwardtohasfinallystarted!
Everyonewasthrilled,burstingoutinanuproar.
Justthinkingaboutstartingthejourney,FengMingwasexcitednoless,hiseyeslitup,Great!All
ofyouhavepreparedallthebaggage,Ialsohavenothingtoprepare.WelljustbidPrimeMinister
goodbye.However,ifwemeet,hemightaskaboutthemeaningbehindthewordsHeavens
will,howwillIreply?HedefinitelylovestoaskmethosetypesofquestionsHefrowned,I
havethoughtaboutitforseveraldaysandIvaguelyunderstandit,butifhetellsmetoexplainit,I
wouldntknowwhattosay.
DukeMing,restassured.RongHulaughed,Ihavejusttoldhimthatyoumightfindhimtobid
farewell,PrimeMinistersaidthattheresnoneedto.AsforthemeaningbehindHeavenswill,
hewantsDukeMingtojustfollowyourinstincts,youdontneedtoworryaboutyourdecisions.
SuccessandfailureisuptoHeavenswill,noneedtoworrytoomuch.Asforhismeaning,Duke
Mingwillunderstanditduringthistrip.
FengMingwassurprisedandasked,PrimeMinisterjustsaidtostartgoing?Noneedtobidhim
farewell?
Thatsright.
Atthistime,LieZhongShibroughtLittleAutumnandLieDoualong.
Thistwolargemenalongwiththeirlittlecreatureareinseparable,alwaysappearingandleaving
together,justlikeSiamesechildren.
Thetwoofthemwerecarryingbaggagesontheirshoulders,notlargebutnotsmall,therewere
nosimilaritiesinshapesandsizes,eventhecolorwasdifferent.TheoneonLieZhongShis
shoulderwasblack,andthecolorofthebaggageforLieDouwasred,whichwerethesameas
theirclothing.
LieDousawFengMingandquicklysaid,Oureldermastersaid,DukeMingcanstarttravelling
today,noneedtobidhimfarewellsincewewillmeeteachothersoon.
FengMingwaslikeachildleavinghishomeonhisfirstjourney,hewashopingforascene
whereeveryonewouldlineupandbidfarewell,butyetfoundoutthatLieZhongLiuwasnteven
intendingtoseehimoff,justkickinghimoutthedoormakinghimfeelabitlost.
LieZhongShisecretlyobservedhisfacialexpression,thenhesuddenlylaughed,Mybrother
said,ifDukeMinglookedlikeheissad,justtellhim
Tellmewhat?FengMingsuddenlyraisedhishead.

Mybrotheraskedmetopassthemessage,onceDukeMingstepsoutsideofYueZhong,he
hastotakeonamanlyendeavortostandwithintheworld,DukeMingsrelianceonothersmust
beexterminatedbecauseeveryoneslifeisnowwithinDukeMingshands,doyouunderstand?
FengMingcametoarealizationashenodded,Iunderstand!
LieZhongLiuisright.ThereasonwhyhewantedtomeetLieZhongLiuwasbecausehewas
feelinguneasyandfeltpsychologicallydependentonhim.HehadbeenunderRongTiansstrict
protectivenessfortoolong,butnowhehastomakehisowndecisions.LeavingYueZhong,
everythingwillbedifferent,hecantrelyonotherssincetheywillnowrelyonhim.
Hehastheresponsibilityoflookingafterthelifeanddeathofthosewhofollowhim.
Thisisaveryhugeresponsibility.
SincewedontneedtobidfarewelltoPrimeminister,thenDukeMing,weshouldstartheading
out!
FengMingnoddedhisheadgrimly,revealingasenseofdetermination.Hiseyesslowlyturned
towardthemaingate,andshoutedout,Allmyfollowers,headtowardsAmanRiverletshead
out!Underthesurgingpassion,usingaBeijingoperavoice,FengMingroaredoutintothe
distance.
========
"AH!"TongEr,lyingonXiLeiKingsdragonbedscreamedout,wakingupwithhisforehead
drenchedinsweat.
Histremblinghandrubbedhisicecoldforehead,hishandscoveredincoldsweat.
Thesoundofpanicfootstepsquicklyrushedforwardandstoppedinfrontofthedoor.
YourMajesty,areyoualright?
TongErwasdistractedforamomentbeforerecognizingthevoiceofhisconfidantewhowas
withhimduringhischildhoodtimeswithintheTongresidenceheexhaledabreathofair,Come
in,whattimeisitrightnow?
ReplyingtoYourMajesty,itsalreadymorning.UncleZhangcalmlywalkedhisbodyover,lifting
thesilkscreenwithintheKingspalace,thebrightsunlightshonethroughtheroomontoTongEr,
suddenlyblindinghimthathehadtoraisehishandtoblockoutthelight.
UncleZhangglancedoveratTongErsfacewithhiscloudyeyes,YourMajesty,didyouhave
anothernightmare?

TongErnoddedhishead.Thesepastnightshehadbeenrestless.Hisfacewaspalewithloss
ofspirit,suddenlywithaviolentvoiceheyelled,Thosephysiciansarealluseless,theycantdo
anything.Prescribingsomanydifferentsedativemedications,butnotabiteffective.Imstill
experiencingnightmares,ifIstillcanthaveapeacefulsleeptonight,Iwilldefinitelyexecutethat
PhysiciansurnamedChuandmakehisheadfly!
YourMajesty,youmustnot.UncleZhangslowlyspokeout,Heisacloserelative,anephewof
theveteranGeneralChu,ifyoukillhim,youwillgreatlyoffendGeneralChu.
TongErimpatientlygrunted,IamtheGreatKing,andyetIcantmesswithanoldman?Thatold
foolChuXiaowhoisreluctanttodie,heisofoldage,heshouldhandoverhismilitarypowerand
retireathomepeacefully.Yeteverysingledayhewoulddraghishalfdead,halflivingselfoverto
thecourthall.Ivesentmycountlessmilitarycronieswithinthearmy,buthesentthemallinmad
confusion,heclearlydoesnthavewhatittakestoholdontomilitarypower.FromwhatIsee,he
deliberatelywantstopissmeoff!Hiseyesflashingfiercely.
YourMajesty,youaretheKing,therearefutureopportunitiestodealwiththisChuXiao.Uncle
Zhanghadtakencareofthisyoungmastersincehewasyoung,nomatterhowangryTongEr
was,hestillcalmlyspokewithhim,Letsdealwiththisinthefuture.Asofrightnow,Your
MajestycannotoffendGeneralChu,especiallyifRongTiandecidestoreturnandmobilizea
siege.WestillneedtorelyonthesepeopletodealwithRongTian.Oncewesuccessfullydealt
withRongTian,itstillisntlateforYourMajestytodealwiththem.Ifyouweretocreatetension,it
willonlybeunfavorableforyou.
PerhapsUncleZhangstoneofvoicehelpedTongErcalmdownabit.TongErlistenedquietlyto
hiswords,slowlyextinguishingtheangerinside.Loweringhisheadtothinkforamoment,he
sighedandthensaid,Alright,IwillfirstdealwithRongTian,afterwards,Iwillgetridofthemone
byone.Hismercilessexpressionappearedinhiseyes.
Forashortwhile,heglancedoveratUncleZhangandwhispered,UncleZhang,everynightI
wouldhavenightmares,alwaysinastateofconfusion.Iwouldalwaysdreamofkillingscenes
whereRongTianisholdingaswordandstabbingstraightatme,piercingthroughmybody,even
pullingoutmyheartuponwithdrawalDoyoubelievethatRongTianwouldattackXiLei?Ifhe
doesattackwherewouldhefindalargearmytoattackourbignation?
Eversincegrowingup,hehadlookedupandadmiredRongTian,heevenfollowedRongTian
andlearnedswordplayfromhim,sohesveryclearofRongTiansability.
TheXiLeiKingwhomhestolethethronefrom,ismorefearsomethananyotherpersonhe
knew.FromthetimeheheardthatRongTianwasnotdead,heneverhadapeacefulday.
IfheknewbeingaGreatKingwouldhavehimbefearfuleachday,beingrestrainedbyministers
andofficials,unlikethetimewhenheindulgedhimselfasYoungMasterTong,thenhewouldnt

havelistenedtothatYupersonandconspiredwithLuDantocaptureFengMing,andseizethe
thronefromRongTian.
Ifheknewaboutthisearlier,hewouldnthavedoneso.
HismotherwasXiLeisPrincess,andhisfatherwasapersonwithintheTongfamily,agenuine
noblewithroyalblood.
Fromthetimehewasyoung,therewassomeoneinthefamilywhotoldhim,hehadthechance
ofinheritingtheXiLeithroneinthefuturebecausecomparingtotheCrownPrincewithintheXi
LeiPalace,hewasmuchmorecapable.
Atthattime,hedidntunderstandwhatthethronemeant,whatwastherightofinheritance,but
thatonelinehealwaysrememberedcomparedtotheCrownPrince,hewasmuchmore
capable!
TheCrownPrince?
AnHe?
HowcanAnHebecomparedtohim?
AnHewasatimid,stupid,coward,weakling.Alloftheshortcomingsthatanyonecanhaveinthe
worldwereallplacedontohim,apitifulsoulwhowashiddeninthedepthsofXiLeipalace,even
hisownmother,theQueen,didntlikehim.
TheonlypraiseAnHehad,washisface.However,afterTongEraccidentallysawRongTian
forcingAnHebeneathhisbodybehindthescreen,hewasshockednonetheless.Itwasthenthat
herealized,evenwithaprettyface,itwasntreallyapositivepoint.
ACrownPrincebeingplayedaroundlikeanobject?
XiLeiKingsmonarchy,wouldhehavetofallintothehandsofsuchavileperson?
AnyXiLeipersonwouldbereluctanttohavesuchaKinglikethat.
Therefore,whileAnHewaswalkingaloneinthegarden,TongErpushedhimintothelake.He
neverimaginedthatthatonesecondofmischiefhemade,wouldcreateahugecatastrophe.
Inhiseyes,drowningAnHewasnodifferentthancrushingabug.
Thisbug,whoTongErwantedsobadlytodisappear,hadbeendanglinglongenoughtherefore,
TongErcouldnthelpbutgivehimanunexpecteddeath.
Nooneshouldcareaboutabug.

Buttheworldisconstantlychanginginridiculousways.
AfterAnHewassaved,hechangedintoacompletelydifferentperson.
Originally,theAnHeinRongTianseyeswasnothingtohim,butyethebecamevaluedeach
dayandoriginally,TongErsrelationshipwithRongTianwasgreat,butbecamedistantasdays
passed.
TongErhadintendedthatonceAnHedied,hewouldbecometheCrownPrince.
Onceheascendedthethrone,RongTianwouldbehismostvaluedminister,andthatRongTian
couldhelphimbecomeawellknownmonarch.HeappreciatedRongTian,worshippedRong
Tian,andrespectedRongTian.
However,theresultbecameatotalmess.
AnHedidntdie,hewasrescued,notonlythat,hewasmoreandmorebelovedeachday.Rong
Tiancherishedhim,theministerspraisedhiswisdom,whenhewenttoFanJia,hewas
supposedtobeshreddedintoeightpiecesbyFanJiaPrincess,theresultinsteadwasAnHe,
bringingFanJiaPrincesstoXiLeiandevendiffusingthesimmeringconflictamongthetwo
nations.
Acleverpersonwhoencounteredthesethingswouldbecomeconfused.
TongErbecameconfusedeveryday,andintheend,hesnapped!Justlikeathunderboltona
sunnyday,strikinghismuddledheadAnHewasnttheCrownPrince,AnHewasnotevenAn
He,hewascalledFengMing.
However,themostridiculousmatterwasbeyondthat.
Asheexpected,RongTian,theministerofstateheadmired,theonehetrustedtoassisthimin
becomingawellknownrulerintheworld,wasactuallythetrueheirtothethrone.
IsYourMajestyregrettingit?UncleZhangaskedinawhisper.
TongErwentsilentwithoutsayinganything.
Regret?Itsalreadytoolate.
Whotoldhimtotakeaction?TopushthatAnHeintothelake?
Whowouldhavethoughthislittleactionwouldbewitnessedbyadarnmaid?
WhowouldhaveexpectedthatmaidwasAnHesoldlover?

WhatsevenunexpectedwasthathissecretwasspreadandcaughttheattentionofLuDan
fromthefarawayDongFan.
ThesecretletterLuDansentwaspersonallysenttohimbyCaiQing,TongErwasshocked,
coldsweatcoveredhisentirebody.
Inotherwords,theattemptedmurderoftheCrownPrince,evenifhewasasubstitute,itwasa
capitaloffense.
ThatbeautifulAdvisorLuDanwaslikeapoisonoussnake,heonlygaveTongErtwochoices.
ToconspirewithLuDan,assisthimincapturingFengMingorthesecrethehidfromRongTian
wouldbeexposed.
IfthatyearAnHewasjustabug,thenhowcouldthepresentdayFengMingbeanuntouchable
precioustreasureofRongTian?Thatyear,ifhehadkilledAnHe,whowasFengMing,andifthat
reachestheearsofRongTian,whatwouldbehisending?
TongErcertainlywouldnotchoosetheroadofadmittinghiscrimeandsurrenderingtodeath.
Hewasbornanoble,hewasoutstandingandstillyoung.
Ifhewasatfault,thenitwasonlyoneno,eventwoarenotaproblem.Hemadeuphismind,
wrotealetterinreplytoLuDan,agreeingtoworkwithhim,creatingaschemetolurethe
preciousFengMingawayfromRongTian,aslongasLuDanguaranteedtonotdisclosehis
secret.
Everythingfromthereon,spiraledoutofcontrol.
Everythinghadgoneoutofhand.Tothepointwhenhesleptonthedragonbed,theplacewhere
RongTianhadslept,hecontinuedtohavenightmares,frightfulones.
Themostbeautifulmanintheworld,thisviciousbeautifuladvisorwasdead.Onlyheisleft,an
unwillingculpritwhochosetoprotecthislife,wassufferingnightanddayfromtorment,fearing
thatRongTianwouldseekhisrevenge.
Whatkindofkarmaisthis?
ThencanYourMajestyretreat?UncleZhangaskedoncemoreinalowtone.
TongErcoldlyanswered,DoIevenhavetheopportunitytoretreat?
IfYourMajestyunderstands,thenthatsenough.UncleZhangdesperatelycoughedforawhile,
holdingontohischestuntilhefinallyrecovered,heweaklycontinued,Thosewithinthispalace

canalwayschangetheirminds,onlyYourMajestycannotrepentandretreat.RongTiancan
forgiveanyone,butwillhebewillingtospareYourMajesty?
Afterlistening,TongErnoddedhishead,Iunderstand.Hiseyeswerestilltheeyesofayoung
man,butwereunmoved,filledwithcoldbitternessthatwerenottherebefore.
Thereisalsoonemorething,youroldservantwishedtotellYourMajesty.
Whatisit?
Tocapturetheonewhohavebeencausingyournightmares
Oh?
Thephysicianscontinuouslyprescribedmedication,buttherehasntbeenanyimprovement,
yourservantbelievesthatitdoesntseemlikeanillness.
Afterhearingthat,TongErfeltsomethingwasntright,hefrowned,Ifitisnotanillness,then
whatisit?
IthastobesomeonewhostryingtoharmYourMajesty?Itcouldbeacurse,orsomesortof
poison
Whodarestodosuchimmoralacts?TongErsuddenlystoodupinfury,Theydareto
YourMajestydontneedtobeinhaste,yourservantisjustspeculating
Justthenafewmaidswhowerewaitingoutside,preparingthewarmwaterandclothes,entered
throughthedoor.TongErsawthemfromthecornerofhiseyesandshouted,Whotoldyouto
comein?Allofyou,scram!Someone!Come!Thosewhodaretotrespassinsidemychamber,
dragthemoutofhereandbeatthemalltodeath!Wherearetheguards?Wherearethey?Hurry
andcomehere!
Thosemaidswhorealizedthatpunishmentwillbecrushingdownonthem,trembledwithfear.
Droppingtheitemsinhand,theirwholebodyfelltothegroundastheycriedout,YourMajesty,
pleasehavemercy!Pleasehavemercy!
Nothearinganotherword,TongErcalledfortheguards,orderingthemtodragthemaids
outsidetoperformthebeating.
UncleZhang,standingnexttohim,whispered,WhatisYourMajestyangryfor?Thosemaids
wererash,justgivingthemafewwhipswillbegoodenough,ifyouhastilybeatthemtodeath,
Imafraidsomeonemightberesentful.
TongErsfaceflashedamomentofhesitation,butafterthinkingforamoment,hefiercely
clenchedhisteethandsaid,SinceIcanttakecareofabunchofministers,doesthatmeanI

canteventeachthoselowlymaidsalesson?Thosemaidsarejustabunchofworthlesscrap,
notevenworthworryingabout.Asforthethingyoujustsaid,Ifinditverylikely.Hisface
changedcolor,andhistoneofvoicelowered,UncleZhang,youaremymosttrustedaide,this
matterisrelatedtomylife,Illassignyoutoinvestigateitforme.
Beingentrustedwiththetask,UncleZhangwasquietbeforeansweringslowly,Thismatter,
shouldIdiscussitwithGeneralTongaboutit?
Noneed.TongErabruptlystoppedhim,withasigh,heexplained,FromthetimeIdecidedto
cooperatewithKingofLitodealwithRongTian,myunclesattitudebecameincreasingly
strange.ThisrareopportunitytoattackRongTian,myunclesuddenlyofferedtopersonally
ambushhim,Ialreadyfeltitwasstrange.Sureenough,notonlydidtheambushfail,we
sacrificedalotoftroops.Theentirearmywasannihilatedandyetthemaincommanderreturned
unscathed,howcanthatbepossible?IbelievethatheissecretlycooperatingwithRongTian
Notknowingwhatcametomind,oncethematterwasuttered,hesuddenlypaused.
TongErclenchedhisfist,pacinginacircletwicewithinhischamber,hesuddenlyloosenedhis
grip,feelingabitrelaxed,Forgetit,youdontneedtobotherwiththatmatter,thefirstthingisto
investigateabouttheoriginsofmynightmares.Ifthisisduetosomeonesdeliberateattemptof
harmingme,Iwilldefinitelybringhimoutandchophimintothousandsofpieces.Pausingfora
bitbeforenervouslyasking,HastherebeenanyrecentnewsaboutRongTian?
None.
AfterRongTianscampsitewasdestroyedbythefire,therehaventbeenanynewsofhim?
Thatsright.UncleZhangadded,However,wehadcompliedwithwhatYourMajesty
commandedwevesentspiestoretrievesomenews,IbelievewewillsoonhearofRongTians
whereabouts.
TongErstoodsilentforamoment,suddenlyinterror,hequivered,UncleZhang,doyouthink
thathesneakedintothecapitalalready?
YourMajestyshouldntjumptoconclusions.SeeingTongErsfrightenedexpressionasifhe
witnessedhismothersdeath,UncleZhangwatchedhimwitheyesofaffection,usingthevoice
heoncecradledhimtosleep,hesoftlysaid,YourMajestyisthebiologicalsonofXiLei
Princess,youareofroyalbloodline.WhydoyouhavetobewaryofRongTian?Youarethe
sameasRongTian,thesamebloodflowinginsideyou.RongTiandidsomethingagainstthe
Heavenswill.HerefusedtomarryaQueenandconspiredtocreatetheGracesOrderinan
attempttoshakethefoundationofXiLei.EventheformerKingswhohadpassedawaywould
abandonhimandchooseyouastheirGreatKing.
Listeningtohisreasoning,TongErgraduallyquieteddown.

Hisfrightenedexpressionslowlydisappeared,heexhaledandwhispered,Thatsright,eventhe
formerKingswouldnotblamemeJustlikeachildbeingforgivenforhiswrongdoings,he
expressedasenseofrelief.
Inablinkofaneye,hereturnedtohisformerYoungMasterTongsdomineeringways.
Outside,thecriesofthemaidshavegraduallydieddown,ashortmomentlater,theguardsin
chargeofthetorturecamerunningintoreport,YourMajesty,thosemaidswhotrespassed
withinyourchamberscouldnolongerbearthebeatingandarenowdead.
Dragthemoutandburythedead,whatstheretoreport?Withouttakingmuchnotice,TongEr
casuallyspoke,hislipsnotevenrevealingatraceofsmile,Tellthemtosendanothergroupof
maidsoverhere.Wait,alsosendforsomeyoungboys,thefewwellbehavedtypestonight.
Thecuteface,innocenteyes,andtenderbody.Maybetheycanhelpdriveawaythoseterrible
nightmares.
Sendoutmyorder,Iwillnotbesleepingheretonight.HavetheCrownPrincesQuartersswept
clean,Iwanttosleepthere.Whatareyoustillstandingtherefoolishlyfor?Hurryupandget
going!
Yes!Wellcarryitoutrightaway!
TongErlookedatthejitteryattendantsasheorderedthemtowork,hislipscurvedupwardintoa
grin.
TheCrownPrincesQuarters,hewantstoheadovertheretonight,usingthoseinnocentdocile
bodiestoventhisangerthathecantreleaseanywhereelse.
Thatyear,whenRongTianravishedAnHebyforce,no,FengMing,thatdamnDukeMing
holdingFengMingsnakedbody,thrustingbackandforthinthatforbiddenarea,itwasinsidethe
CrownPrincesquarters.
FengMing,youshouldhavejustbecomethatbugIkilledyearsago.
IfIevercaptureyoualive,IwillcertainlytakeyouovertotheCrownPrincesquarters.
Turningyoufromashiningpreciousyoungmanintotheworldsmostwretcheddamagedgoods,
torturedruthlessly,untilyoucryoutbeggingformercy,dyingatragicdeath!
Anannoyingbuglikethat,howcanitbelovedandappreciatedbyeveryone?
Howhateful!

========
YongYin.

FengMingsjourneyhasfinallystarted!

AlthoughthereisLouDengandtheotherskilledswordsmenofMasterXiao,anythingregarding
FengMingslife,noonedarestomakeanymistake.Amongthedeparturegroup,excludingthe
threepalacemaids,therestwereselectedfromthetroopswithinYueZhongtocomealong.
TheywerethemostskillfulamongtheelitetroopsunderRongHuscommand,atotalofa
hundredmenwillfollowFengMingalongtheroad.

LieZhongLiuplacedRongHuinchargeofthemaptherefore,theysuccessfullyfounda
shortcutthroughtheforestandonthefourthday,theyreachedtheAmanshoreasscheduled.

Onemagnificentlargeshipwasalreadydockedatthesmallport,LuoDengandhismenwere
waitingforFengMingsarrival.

Theshiphasbeenthoroughlycleaned,theroomshavebeennewlydecorated.YoungLord,
pleaseinspect.

FengMingproudlyboardedtheship,everythingwasrearrangedanddecoratedveryluxuriously.
Hefeltitwasashametohavesuchpreciousthingsonthedeckoftheboat,butLuoDengsaid
thataccordingtotheletterhereceived,FengMingwantedmanythingsdisplayedexcessively.
FengMingknewthattheonewhocouldhavepossiblywrittentheletterwasRongTian.

LuoDengexplainedthatifitsnotdisplayedthisway,thenhowcantheyshowhowwealthythe
Xiaofamilyis?Also,hefeltthattheweatherwasniceandFengMingcouldenjoytheviewand
siphotteaatthesametime.Butiftheweatherisbadanditstartsraining,thentheycould
alwayspackuptheitemsandbringtheminside.HeaskedFengMingifhewantedtopackupthe
thingsinstead?

FM:Noneed,sinceitsalreadylikethis,justletitbe.Youhavearrangeditverywell,itsmyfault
forsayingotherwise.

LuoDengdidnotexpecttheYoungLordtogiveacomplimentsohewasslightlysurprised.This
YoungLordwaskindandhisattitudewascompletelydifferentfromtheelderMaster.

HehadworkedfortheXiaofamilyformanyyears,withthesamelookonhisface,hebowed
downandsaid,Itsmyduty.

Buthowcomethereisonlyoneship?

LD:TheletterstatesthatthefocusofthepeopleshouldnotbeonYueZhongandYoungLords
locationofboardingtheshipshouldnotbeknowntoothers.SincethisistheXiaoFamilysship,
peoplesattentionwillbehardtoavoid,therefore,Iorderedtheothershipstoseparate
themselvesalongtheAmanRiversonoonewillknowtheexacttimeYoungLordboardsthe
ship.

LuoDenglatermentionedthataccordingtotheirarrangement,therewillbeatleasttwoships
thatwillarriveherebeforetheeveningtomeetup.

Afteraskingwhattimethemenwillarrive,RongHufoundoutthatthereisanotherhourwhere
theywonthavethebackupifanenemyambushhappens.Soforthetimebeing,hehadsplitout
theonehundredguardshebroughtalong.Thirtyofthemwillbeguardingwithintheforest,thirty
willbeatthepier,thirtywillbesurveyingaroundtheship,whiletheremainingtenwillbefollowing
besideFengMing.

WhenFengMingheardthattenmenwillstandguardnexttohim,itwasnodifferencethanbeing
lockedinacage.ButastheBigBoss,hemustconsiderthegreatergoodforeveryone,sohe
didntobject.AsforLuoDeng,hetoldRongHuthatitsverysafeontheshipandRongHusmen
onlyneedstoguardthevicinityoutsidetheship.AsfortheYoungLordssafety,hismencan
protecthim.

RongHufiguredthatiftheenemiesknewthatDukeMingisaboardtheshipthentheirfocuswill
beontheshiptherefore,heratherhaveRongTianselitesoldierswhocanbattleagainstone
hundredstayontheship.

TheXiaoFamilyalsohasnolessofskillfulswordsmen.

RH:IunderstandthatthemenwithintheXiaofamilyareallskillfulswordsmen,butDukeMing
needstohaveourelitemenbesideshim.IvereceivedHisMajestysordertoprotectDukeMing,
soIcantallowDukeMingtoleaveoursight.

LD:TheYoungLordssafety,ourXiaofamilyarenaturallyincharge.Duringthistrip,the
protectionoftheYoungLordssafetyisalsoourduty.GeneralRong,ifyouandyourmencanaid
ontheoutside,thenLuoDengwillbeverygrateful.

FengMingopenedhismouthinamazementashelookedatRongHuandLuoDeng.

Howwonderful,theenemieshavenotyettoappeared,butaquarrelseemstobebrewingup?

FengMingtriedtointerruptthem,butRongHutoldhim,AnythingDukeMingsaysisuseless.
StaringdirectlyatLuoDeng,hesaid,Thistripwasoriginallyplannedformeandtheone
hundredeliteguardstoprotectDukeMingclosely,whiletheXiaoFamilysmenaretoactas
secondaryprotection.


FengMingfellsilent.

Withhisstubbornattitude,itseemsthattheresalittlechancetoconvinceRongHu.

LuoDengslightlysmiled,hisattitudewasveryrespectfulandseemedtobetheonetogivein.

FM:LuoDeng,RongHuisfollowingRongTiansordertostaybymyside.Hehastocarryout
hisdutiessothereisnootherway.Thatswhytheoneinchargeofprotectingmeishim.Haha,
allofyouareheretoprotectme,soitdoesntmatterwhoisprotectingontheoutsideornot.

LuoDengstoopeddownandwithawrysmiled,hesaid,Itsnotbecausethissubordinatewants
toarguewithYoungLordsorders,butthereisnootheroption.ThiswastheMastersorders.

FengMingwassurprised.

TheMaster?Itcantbetheheartlessfatherofhis,couldit?Theworldsfamousmiddleaged
handsomeHolyMasterXiao?

Myfather?

Yes,theMastersentamessage,pleasetakealook,YoungLord.Afterfinishing,LuoDeng
pulledoutaletterfromwithinhissleeves.

FengMingreceiveditandopeneduptheletter.Itwasindeedacommandletter,evenmore
simplethantheletterLadyYaoYewrotetoforceMasterXiaotomarryher,thisoneonlyhada
fewwords.

Monitorhimclosely.

ThoughFengMingcouldntverifythehandwritingofMasterXiao,butsinceLuoDengsaiditwas
writtenbyhim,thenhecantbewrong.LuoDengtellsFengMingthatbecauseofMasterXiaos
orders,hismencannotdisregardit,thereforetheyalsoneedtocloselyguardFengMing.

RongHudidntbackdownandalsosaidthathecannotignoreRongTiansorders.

LuoDengrepliedthatheisnottheoneinchargeofmonitoringFengMing,buttheone
responsiblewillbeLuoNing,theleaderoftheelitegroup,whowillbearrivinghereshortly.If
RongHucanprovehisabilityinmartialartsthenmaybeLuoNingwillhandoverthemaintaskof
protectingFengMingtohim.

Hearingthis,FengMingwasshocked.HedidntwantRongHutobattlewithLuoNingandget
hurt(likehedidbackwhentheywereatthecampsite)soinordertoappeaseeveryone,Feng

Mingagreedtohaveprotectionfrombothsideswithatotaloftwentycloselyguardedmen,ten
fromRongHusmenandtenfromtheXiaofamilymen.

RongHubroughtoutthetenyoungmenandintroducedthemtoFengMing.HealsotellsFeng
MingthathewasworriedFengMingwouldntagreetohavethemaround,butsinceFengMing
agreed,thenheshouldntchangehismindhalfwaythroughthetrip.

FengMingaskedRongHuwhotaughthim(tobestubborn),RongHurepliedthatitwasthe
PrimeMinister.

FengMingthenturnedtoLuoDengandaskedhim,Areyoualsobandingtogetherwiththemto
teaseme?

LD:Iwouldntdare.ThiswaswhatXiLeisPrimeMinisterwantedtogiveDukeMingasagift.I
wasjustfollowingalong.

FM:Gift?

LD:ForthefirstdayonDukeMingstrip,wehavetotesthiscalmnessduringintensesituations
andtastetheconsequenceofhisownswiftdecisionmaking.Havingyourownpeopletrickyouis
betterthanhavingtheenemytrickyou.Pleaserememberthislessonwell,DukeMing.

FengMinghelplesslysaid,Thenthatletterwasfake?

LD:Theletterisfake,buttheElderMasterdidsendaverbalmessage.HehopesthatYoung
Lordstillrememberhiswords.

XiaoZongdidsaidthatwithinoneyear,FengMinghadtofindasafewaterrouteof
transportationotherwise,hewillbekilledwithoutmercy.

Thinkingaboutthis,FengMinghadanotherheadache.

Atthatmoment,aburstofchatterwasheardfromtheoppositeside,ChiuLanandtheother
maidscamefromthecabinandreachedthebottomoftheladdertothedeck.

FengMingaskedthemiftheysawsomethingexciting,inwhichtheyrepliedthattherewerea
bunchofcolorfulbrocadethattheyreallylike.LuoDengtoldthemthatthosebrocadesareforthe
YoungLordandallofthemaidstouseandcreateclothes,soiftheylikeacertaincolor,theyare
freetouseittotailor.

ChiuYuewasoverjoyedknowingthatshecanusegoodmaterialtomakeherselfsomenew
clothes.

ChiuLansaidthatshellmakesomecloaksforFengMingfirstandthenshellmaketwosets
withbrightcolorsforLieEr.FengMingteasedherbyaskingherwhyshewontmaketwosets
forRongHuinstead.HethenaskedaboutChiuXing.

CX:IcantcomparedwithChiuYueandChiuLaninclothemaking,buttheresnoneedtoworry.
OnceChiuYueisdonemakinghers,Icanalwaystakeitandwearit.

CY:ChiuXing,youredespicable!

Thewholecrowdlaughed.

HavingthesegirlsherehelpedtoeasetheatmosphereandFengMingsmoodwasbetter.

ThemaidshelpedspreadablanketonthedeckforFengMingtorestandenjoythethescenery
fromabove.FengMingcalledtoRongHutojoinhim,butRongHujustsmiledandwavedtothe
tenguardstoformasemicirclelineofdefenseinfrontofthebowofship.Notwantingtoleave
hisposition,hemetFengMingsglanceandtoldhimthatthiswastoguardagainstarrows
shootingthefrontoftheshipfromtheforest.

Whiletheyweregettingsettled,ChiuXingrealizedthatsomethingwasmissing,whichChiuLan
realizedtheyweremissingteaandsnacks.Justwhenshewasabouttostandupandprepare
them,LuoDengbroughtoverseveralmaidsandtoldthemthatteaandsnacksareallhere.
Fromthelastencounter,hehadobservedthatFengMingpreferredsweetfoodandsohe
preparedfivesweetandthreesaltysnacks,alongwithacomfybackcushionforhiscomfort.

Afterthehotteaandsnackswereserved,RongHunoticedthatsomeoneiscomingtowards
them.LuoDengtellshimthatitmustbeLuoNingandtheothers.

LuoNingarrivedandwenttoseeFengMing,whowasenjoyingthesceneryatthetopdeck.

LD:YoungLord,thisisLuoNing,theoneinchargeoftheXiaoFamilyselitemen.Hewillbethe
onetocoordinatetheescort.

FengMingexaminedLuoNing,whowastallandhandsome,amanwithoutadoubt.Withone
glance,hewasaround35to36yearsold.Hiseyebrowsweredark,straight,andlongtothe
edge.

Hisintenseauraleftachilloneveryonewhoapproachedhim.

TheXiaoFamilyselitemenwereinfact,theXiaoFamilysleagueofassassins.TheXiao
Familyswealthcamefromtheshippingbusinessbutnoonewoulddaretoprovokethestrength
ofthesemen.Inordertoleadagroupofassassinsinthisworld,he,ofcourse,cannotavoid
emittingadeadlyaura.


LuoNinghasseenYoungLordbefore.

FengMingnoddedhishead.HelookedatLuoNingandLuoNingalsolookedbackathim.His
sharpeagleeyessweptbackandforthonFengMingsbody,hesuddenlysaid,YoungLord
seemstohaveamoregodlyaurathanbefore.Althoughwhathesaidwasntrude,itwasalso
notrespectful.

FengMingwassurprisedandasked,Youhaveseenmebefore?

LuoNinghadsuchadeadlyauratohimthatifoneweretoseehim,thenhewouldnothave
forgotten.

LuoNingseemedtobutnotseemedtosmileashereplied,Peopleinourlineofworkusuallytry
ourbesttopersonallymeetallthedignitariesintheworld,inordertofacilitatetheordergivenby
ourMaster.ItsjustthatonetimewhensecretlyspyingontheYoungLord,Ididntknowthatyou
werethewellknownDukeMing.

Afterhesaidthat,thepeoplearoundhimcametoarealization.Thispersonmustoftensneak
intotheothernationstospyondifferentdignitariestogatherinformation.Sointhefutureif
someoneneedstobeassassinated,thechancesofamistakewillbegreatlyreduced.

Thus,theXiaoFamilyselitemenareinfactaleagueofassassins,andprofessionalones.

FengMingcouldnthaveimaginedthathewasonceatargettobestudied.Thinkingbackabout
whatRongTiansaid,ifXiaoZongreallywantedtokillsomeone,evenRongTian,theXiLeiKing,
wouldntbeabletoprotecthim.Thisthoughtgavehimachill.

Ifhecannotopenupasafewaterroutetotransporttheluminescentsandwithinthegiventime,
thenperhapsthepersonsenttoassassinatehimwouldbethepersoninfrontofhim,LuoNing.

LN:IfYoungLordisaslightlytallerthanbeforethenthatwouldbegood.Yes,verygood.

HispupilsemittedabrightlightashestaredatFengMingfromtoptobottom.

Feelingconfused,FengMingwonderedwhatwasverygood.

LuoNingsuddenlyraisedhisvoiceandcalledout,LuoYun,comeoverhere.

Yes!

Followingtheloudvoicethatanswered,withinthegroupofLuoNingsmenstoodoutone
person.Afterwalkingoutofthecrowd,heasked,Dad,whatisit?


OnlywhenhewasstandinginfrontoftheothersdidFengMingseehimclearly.Theyoungman
wasaround17to18yearsold,butlookedolderforhisage.Hisheightwasnotmuchofa
differencefromFengMings,hisfigurewaspleasingtotheeyes,hehadastraightnose,his
eyebrowswere50%similartoLuoNings,hisfacewasslightlymorefriendlythanLuoNings,
butwasstillcolderthantheaverageperson.Hiseyeswereclearandheldafeelofcalmness.

LuoNingtoldhimtostandbesideFengMingandseemedtomeasuretheirheightratio.He
noddedandsaid,Ah,YoungLord,thisismyson,LuoYun.Thistimearound,hewillactasyour
substitute.

Mysubstitute?

FengMingseyeswidened,heturnedaroundandlookedcuriouslyatLuoYun.

Heheardofsubstitutebefore,butitisusuallyintvshowsorwuxianovels.Hedidntexpectto
reallymeetoneandyetthatpersonishissubstitute.

LN:Yes,IwasworriedthatLuoYunwouldbetallerthanYoungLord.Butthatmainproblemnow
nolongerexists.Startingtoday,LuoYunwillstaybesideYoungLordandwillstudyYoungLords
everydemeanor.Asforappearance,Illhandleit.OnceweenterTongKingdom,youwillhaveto
disguiseyourselfastheYoungLord,withoutanyflaws.

LuoYunseemedtohaveacceptedmanysimilartasksbeforesoheacceptedwithouthesitation.

FengMingaskedLuoNingthateventhoughtheirheightsarenotmuchofadifference,LuoYun
andhistemperamentalongwithappearancearecompletelydifferent,sohowcanallofthosebe
disguisedwithoutanyflaws?

LuoNingdidntliketotalkmuchanddidntseemtopayFengMingmuchrespect.Heonlysaid,
WaituntilwearriveinTongKingdom,YoungLordwillimmediatelyunderstand.

RongHuasked,WhydowehavetowaituntilreachingTongKingdom?

Becauserightnow,TongKingdomisverydangerousfortheYoungLord.OncetheYoungLord
reachesTongKingdom,havingasubstitutewillbeusefulatthattime.

LuoNingsappearancewasalreadyfilledwithadeadlyaura,FengMingdoesntknowwhether
hewasbornwithit,buthistoneofvoicetowardstheYoungLordwasveryindifferent.Themore
calmlyhespoke,themoreapersonfeltuneasy.

FengMingalmostsubconsciouslyfeltgoosebumpsthroughouthisbodyashesuspiciously
guessed,TherelationshipbetweenTongKingdomandXiLeihasneverbeengood,Ialsoknow

that,butIdonthaveanydeephatredwiththem.Andthistime,IllbeusingtheXiaosfamily
YoungLordsnametoinspecttheshippingbusinesssothereshouldntbeanybigtrouble,right?
Helookedateveryonewithhiswideeyes,hopingtoreceiveanodinagreementfromthem.

Itwasntbecausehewasconfident,butLieZhongLiuandRongTianhadremindedhim
beforehand.

Originally,thereisnobigtrouble.LuoNingcalmlyanswered,However,whileIwasonthe
road,IheardthelatestnewsinTongKingdomaboutarumorthatRongTianandtheYoungLord
hadconspiredtokilltheKingofTong,QingDing.TheTongPrince,QingLihasahugegrudge
againstYoungLord.KnowingthatYoungLordisheadingtoeverynationandwillbestoppingby
TongKingdom,hehasmadeavowtochopYoungLordintothousandpieces.

What?FengMingsfacesuddenlypaled.

Sureenough,noonecanpredictwhattheheavenshaveplanned.

NomatterhowamazingRongTianandLieZhongLiuare,theycannotcalculateeverything
thoroughly,yettheysaidthatnonationwoulddaretoopenlyconfesstheirintentionofeliminating
him,theywouldjustsendassassinsinstead.

LieZhongLiudidconfesstohimbeforethatifapowerfularmyweretobemobilizedandsentto
killhim,thenevenRongHuandMasterXiaosmenmaynotabletoprotecthim.

Choppedintothousandpieces.seemstobequiteserious.

QingDingwasobviouslykilledbyBoLingandtheThirdPrincessofFanJia,whileheis
completelyinnocent.

ButinfrontofTongKingdomsPrince,justrelyingontherelationshipbetweenRongTianand
QingDingandalsotherelationshipofRongTianandFengMing,whatotherwordscanFeng
Mingsaytoclearlyexplaineverything?

ChiuYueopenedupandsaidthatRongTianhadmentionedthatifthereisanydangerthen
DukeMingshouldavoidit.Sincethatsthecase,thentheyshouldavoidheadingtoTong
Kingdom.

FengMingstartedthinkingaboutthisproblemwhenLuoDengtellshimthatthenewsofhim
travelingaroundtheworldhadspreadacrosstheland.Hearingthis,FengMingsighedatthe
highlyefficiencyoftheXiaoFamilysworldwidenotification.IfheweretocancelthetriptoTong
Kingdom,thenitwouldbehumiliatingandTongKingdomwouldconfirmthathewasguiltyfor
beingafraidofgoingthere.

However,ifhereallystoppedbythere,thenjustwhenhestepsfootinTongKingdom,hewill
alreadygetcapturedbyTongPrince.Swish!Onestabandhewillbekilled,wouldnthisdeathbe
unjust?

HestillwantstogoonasightseeingtourwithRongTianafterunifyingtheworld.

Whataheadache!

Whosebrightideawasittogiveapublicannouncementandthenfollowthrough?Thisisjust
great,lettingthewholeworldknowsothatnowitsnotevenpossibletosneakintoanyplace.

Whatarealdilemma.

LuoDengaskedifFengMingwasstillthinkingaboutwhethertostopbyTongKingdomornot.
FengMingstatedthatheneededtothinkaboutthiscarefully,butLuoDengtoldhimthereis
nothingmuchtoconsidersincetheElderMasterhasamessagetopasstohim.

Ah?Anothermessage?Whatmessage?

TheElderMastersaid,Welldone,verycourageous.HeisfinallyshowingabitofXiaoZongs
valor.

Althoughhismoodwasveryvexed,buttohearhisfathersfirstverbalpraise,FengMingsmood
wasrelievedalot,heslightlysmiled,Hereallysentsomeonetopassthismessage?Hehe,I

Thisisjustthefirsthalfofit,thereisalsotheotherhalf.

Theotherhalfofit?

LD:Yes.Ifhedarestogiveuphalfway,causingmetoloseface,thenjustbreakhisarmsand
legsandtellhimtonevercomeoutanddisgracetheXiaoFamilyagain.

FengMingssmileabruptlysolidifiedonhisface,bothfunnyandpatheticatthesametime.

YoungLord?

Afteralongpause,FengMingwithdrewhissmile,Iunderstand,youareteasingme,right?

LuoDenglookedathimsympathetically.

Haha,howisthatpossible?Iamhisonlyson,right?IfIdontfollowthroughwiththeoriginal
plan,hecantpossiblysendsomeonetomakemedisabled,right?

Thatcantbe!

Thatsright,althoughhedidusetheXiaofamilynametospreadthenews,whichprovedhe
wasntscaredanddidntbackdownfromhardship.Overallheisnottalentedinswordsmanship
asXiaoZongwouldlike,butthatdoesntmeanthathewouldbreakhisonlyprecioussonsarms
andlegs,wouldhe?

Onlyamesseduppersonwoulddosomethinglikethis!

FengMingstaredatLuoDeng,Thismustbefake.

Itscompletelytrue.LuoDengstilllookedathimsympathetically,Thepersontodosowillbe
LuoNing.

LuoNing?!

Hisfather,XiaoZong,isreallyamessedupperson!

CatchingFengMingsglanceathim,LuoNingnoddedandsaid,Itstrue,LuoNingalsoreceived
thismessage.Nomatterhowdangerousthetripis,becauseoftheXiaofamilysname,Young
Lordmustnotretreatoutoffear.TheXiaoFamilysreputationhaslastedfora100years,if
YoungLordwantstomakechangestothetrip,LuoNingwillhavetofollowtheElderMasters
intentionanddisableYoungLordslimbs.Notonlythat,ElderMasterwillrepossesshisproperty
andwealthinordertopreservetheXiaofamilyname.IwouldliketoaskYoungLord,willwe
followtheoriginalplanandenterTongKingdom?

Hishandgentlypressedontothehiltoftheswordhangingathiswaist,onceFengMingshakes
hishead,hewillimmediatelytakeaction.

RongHucouldntstandtheattitudeLuoNingwashavingtowardsFengMing,hecoldlysaid,
YoualreadyknowthatthePrinceofTongKingdomwantstokillDukeMing,thismatterwould
endangerDukeMingslife,wecannotcontinueforth.IfyouwanttoharmDukeMing,youllhave
toaskmyswordfirst.Hishandsalsopressedagainstthehiltofhisswordashestepped
forward.

LuoNing,whowasinchargeoftheXiaofamilysleagueofassassins,hadtraveledtheworldfor
morethantenyears.OtherthanXiaoZong,heneverheldanyrespectforanyoneelse.Even
RongTiandidntholdanyimportancetohimsodontevenmentionRongHu.Hesnortedcoldly,
Alright!

SeeingRongHuandLuoNingalongwiththeirgroupofmenchallengingeachother,FengMings
facewentpalewhite.Bothsideswerehisownpeople,beingexpertswordsmenamong

swordsmen,oncetheybeginthefight,swordswillbeflyingeverywhereandinjuringsomeone
wouldntbegood.

Thisisterrible

Hislittleheartwaspounding,FengMingwasdrippinginsweat,hequicklyasked,Allofyou,
theresnoneedtobeanxious,letstalkthisover!Silentlythinking,ifthiswasanotheroneofthe
PrimeMinisterstrickthenitwouldbegood,butjudgingbyeveryonesdemeanor,itseemstobe
real.

Feelinganxious,FengMinglookedaroundandhisgazeunexpectedlyfelluponLuoYun,who
wasstandingnexttohimwithasmilefullofdisdain,hesuddenlyrealizedsomething.

WhydidLieZhongLiugivehimsuchastrangegift?Coulditbebecauseheguessedthatthe
XiaoFamilybodyguardsandRongHusbodyguardswouldbeinconflict,therefore,helethim
practicetheact?

Withoutthepracticeact,hewouldcertainlypanicwhenwitnessingthisanddisgracehimselfby
speakingnonsensically.

Afterthinkingaboutthesituation,FengMingtoldhimselfthathemustcontinueupholdingtheXiao
Familysreputationbecausehecantlosethebargainingchipofowningagiganticwealthy
inheritancetohelpRongTian.NotonlydoeshewantXiaoFamilyswealthbuthealsowants
XiaoFamilystalentedpeople.

Buthowcanhegetthem?

Slightlycalm,FengMingalmostblurtedout,Dontfight,IlljustgotoTongKingdom.Butthose
wordsabruptlygotstuckinhisthroat.FengMingthoughttohimself,hehasntmadeaconclusive
decisionwhetherornothewillbegoingtoTongKingdom,butbeingscaredbyLuoNing,ifhe
weretospeakthosewordsatoncethentheywouldthinkthathewassomeonewhoisafraidof
deathandeasilypersuaded.Inthefuture,hewontbeabletoputupagloriousfacadeinfrontof
MasterXiaosmen.

Thinkingofthis,hesteppedinfrontofRongHuandLuoNingtointerveneintheirpreparationto
fight.Revealingasmileonhisseriousface,hetoldthem,Doyoureallywanttofight?Come,Ill
bethereferee.Youtwodonthavetomindtherulesofjianghu,justcontinuetofightasyoulike.
HavingMasterXiaosmenandRongTianselitebodyguardsfighteachotherwillmostdefinitely
beanexcitingsight.
(Note:The"jianghu"(lit."riversandlakes")referstoacommunityofmartialartists)

Afterlisteningtohim,theywereallstunned.

FM:Afterthebloodyfight,itseitheryoudieandIlive,withbothsidesheavilyinjured,itsbestto
havesomebodyguardsleftorelseanenemyambushwouldtakethisopportunitytocapture
everyone.Theshiphasyettosailandyetaninternalconflicthasstarted.Wouldntthisbe
humiliatingtomyfather,XiaoZong?

Eversincecomingtothisera,hehadmetRongTian,RuoYan,LuDan,andLieZhongLiu.Allof
themarepowerfulfigures.Althoughhiswordswerenotaseloquentasthem,hehadspent
sometimewiththemsohecouldatleastmimicaround40%oftheirdemeanorandtrytobe
similartothem.Atthistime,hissmilequicklydisappeared,hishandsomefacedarkenedashis
darkpupilsswepttowardsthecrowd,givingthemafrighteningfeeling.

ChiuLanandtheothershaveservedhimforsometime,buttheyneversawareservedand
impressiveFengMingbefore.Theyallclutchedtheirchestswiththeirsmallhands,without
sayinganything,theystaredathiminawe.

FengMingbroughtoutthemannerismofDukeMingandYoungMasterXiao,whichquellthe
crowd,butheknewthiswasonlytemporarily.Itwasprobablybecausehisimagehasalways
beentoosoftandthechangewastoosudden,thereforetheydidnotrespondrightaway.

Iftheyweretorespondwithoutholdingback,thenthesituationwouldnotbegood.EspeciallyLuo
Ning,itwouldbehardtopersuadehim.

FM:ThistripwasoriginallyplannedtofollowtheAmanRiverinYongYinandheadtowardsTong
Kingdom.Afterthat,wewoulddisembarkandtraveltoBoJian,BeiQi,thenDongFantorest.
Afterwards,headtoPuRongandYanTing.Butnow,sincethingshavechanged,wemust
improvise.

Withoutlettinganyonehaveachancetospeak,FengMingsdemeanorchanged,heputona
calmfacadeashesaid,AboutTongKingdomsrumors,thePrimeMinistermaynothavegotten
thenews.RongHu,sendsomeonetoquicklysendthisnewstohimandseeifhehasany
suggestions.

RongHucalledoutinresponse,lookingoveratLuoNingtomakesurehetooknofurtheraction.
RongHuquietlymotionedforhismentostepbacktotheiroriginalposition.

Thesoundofswordclashingandexplosivetensionwereeasedoffquiteabit.

TurningtoLuoNing,FengMingimitatedRongTiansinscrutabledemeanorandlightlysaid,If
youareinchargeoftheXiaofamilysmen,thenwhoisinchargeofgatheringinformation?

BecauseLuoNingwasinchargeofgatheringinformationfromothernations,hehadoncesnuck
intoXiLeipalaceandsawthecowardly,incompetentandtimidCrownPrinceAnHe,thetypeof
personLuoNingdespisesthemost.Withabadfirstimpression,howcanheshowthesame

respecttothispersoncalledXiLeiDukeMing,whoalsotookonthenameofYoungMasterXiao,
FengMing?

Anationcaneasilybechanged,butapersonspersonalitycannot,apersonwhoisafraidof
deathwillalwaysbeafraidofdeath.Thisuselesscoward,yetXiaoZongacknowledgedhis
identityandgavethewholeXiaoFamilysinheritancetohim.LuoNingisaloyalsubordinateto
theXiaofamily,althoughhecantdenythisfact(aboutFengMing),hefeltitwasnotright.

LN:ReportingtoYoungLordtheoneinchargeofXiaofamilysspiesandmanaginginformation
isme.

Ah.FengMingnoddedhisheadashegavehisorder,Good,IwontneedtouseRongTians
men.IllletyoutakecareofgatheringinformationfromTongKingdom.Iwanttoknowwhattype
ofpersonthePrinceofTongis,hispersonality,preferencesandhisrelationshipwithhisdead
father,whetheritsgood,fairorpoor.Also,whataresomeofthepowerfulministersinTong
Kingdom.IfIweretoenterTongKingdom,whichpersonwouldwanttoseemedeadandwhich
onewishesformetoleaveTongKingdomsafely,hopingtheXiaofamilywillnottakerevenge
towardsTongKingdom.Doyouunderstand?

Yes.LuoNingsaid,Iunderstand.Iwillimmediatelysentsomeonetoinquireaboutthenews
withinTongKingdom.

Whenhefinished,heslightlyboweddown,removinghishandsoffthehiltofthesword.

FengMingletoutasilentbreathofreliefafterseeingthat.

Hewasworriedthathemightbetooarrogant,takingtheroleofYoungLordtoofarandangering
theworldfamousruthlessbossofMasterXiaosleagueofassassins,whomighthavestabbed
himinthechestwithhissword.

InFengMingseyes,nineoutoftenoftheXiaofamilysmenareinhumane.Rememberingthat
daywhenhisfathertoldhimtowatchhisswordplay,itwasntbecausehewasfeelinguneasy
insideandaskedtoaccompanyhim.Thattime,hecouldhaveeasilytakenRongHuslife.

LuoNingnolongerheldontohissword,themenbehindhimseemedtofollowasilentcommand
andlikeghosts,theyslowlyretreatedbehindthedarkshadowinsidethecabin.

Thesituationwasfurtherstabilized.

FengMingrecitedaphraseinsidehismind,ThankyouVirginMary.Heturnedaroundtofind
LuoDeng,revealingacalmsmile,hesoftlysaid,Oncetheothershiparrivesandjoinsupwith
us,wellimmediatelysetsail.Thepaceofthetravelwillbeinyourcontrol,butwellneedto
receiveinformationaboutTongKingdombeforeourfleetcanenterTongKingdomsborders.


LuoDengquicklyobeyed.

Afterassigningthreetasks,FengMingseyesfelluponChiuLan,ChiuYueandChiuXing,who
werestandingtotheside.Slightlyscared,theydidntdaretomakeasound.
AsmileappearedonFengMingsfaceashepleasantlysaid,Thatsright,Icantjustletthe
threeofyoubeidlewhileeveryoneelseisbusy.Fromtodayonward,picksomebrocadefabric
andcreateseveralsetsofclothesforthespecialoccasion.Donotspareanymaterial,themore
ornatethebetter.

Hiscalmattitudegreatlyeasedtheatmosphere.

ChiuLangraduallyrecoveredherself,gracefullybowedandreplied,Yes,yourservant
understands.

ThisrespectfulmannerwasusuallyreservedforRongTian,yetthiswasthefirsttimeshehad
givenFengMingformalityandobedientlystoodup.

LuoNing,whowassecretlyobservingFengMingfromthesideline,thisYoungLordinfrontof
him,whoseappearanceandstaturehadmaturedfrombefore,washereallythesameAnHehe
hadseenthatyearinthepalace?AfterhearingaboutthePrinceofTongwantingtotakerevenge
forhisfather,hishandsandfeetwerewaveringbackandforth,justasLuoNinghadexpected.

However,LuoNingcouldnotimaginethatduringthetenseconfrontationbetweenthetwosides,
thisYoungLordwouldchangeintoadifferentperson,evendaringtospeakout.

Heevenmethodicallydividedtasks.Hisindifferentcalmtone,alongwithhisextraordinary
handsomeappearanceweredifferentfromtheformerAnHe.

YoungLord.LuoNingponderedforawhilebeforecontinuing,YoungLordstillhasnot
completelyansweredabouttheproblemearlier.

Whatproblem?

AbouttravelingtoTongKingdom,areyoucontinuingornot?

ThereasonLuoNingaskedwastounderstandwhetherornotFengMingwastryingtoeasethe
problemearlier.

Ifhechangesthetripplan,thenLuoNingwouldimmediatelytakeactionaccordingtoXiaoZongs
instruction.This,hecannotblameLuoNingfordoingashewastold.

IfFengMingchoosestonotchangethetripplan,thenFengMingwouldseemhelplessunder
pressure,fearingthatLuoNingwoulddisablehislimbs.

ItsobviousthatthetreatmentoftheruthlessexpertoftheXiaofamilytowardsthisYoungMaster
ofunknownoriginshowedthathewasnotverysatisfiedwithFengMing.

FortunatelyforFengMing,hewaswellpreparedashereplied,Youjustneedtogatherthe
informationaboutTongKingdomassoonaspossibleandreportbacktome.Thedecisionof
whethertochangetheoriginaltripplanornotwillbedeterminedbyme.Afterreceivingthenews
aboutTongKingdom,IwillmakemydecisionofwhetherourshipswilladvancetoTong
Kingdomornot.

FM:Thistime,thepurposeofthistripisunifyingtheworldandnottosendoneselfonadeath
row.IfIweretofollowonewordfrommyfatherorathreatfromyou,LuoNing,thenIwouldmake
ahastydecisionwithoutcarefullyanalyzingthesituation.Whethertomoveforwardorhead
backward,withoutunderstandingeveryconsequenceandarrangingmyselfalongwithmypeople
intothehandsofdanger,then,whatkindofqualificationswouldIhaveasyourYoungLord?

Everyonewentsilent.

WhetheritwasLuoNingorRongHu,FengMingsanswerwasbeyondtheirexpectation.Hewas
wiseforhisyoungage,anauracompletelydifferentthanthenorm.Eventheunconcerned,
unemotionalLuoYunshowedatraceofdeepthought.

Thismatterwillbehandledthisway.Withaconfidentattitude,FengMingdidnotbotherhimself
withtherest.Heleftthemenstandingandswaggeredbacktohisdeluxe,luxuriousand
spaciousmastersuite.

Onceinsidethesuite,RongHuandthetenselectedXiaoFamilysbodyguards,makingatotalof
twentymen,werestandingguardoutside.FengMingledChiuLanin,andtheothermaidswent
insidetheroom.Afterclosingthedoor,allofthemletoutasuddensigh.

CL:ThatLuoNingisreallyscary.Awhileago,heseemedlikehereallywantedtodisableFeng
Mingslimbswithhissword.Luckily,ourDukeMingismoreimpressivethanhimwithafew
words,DukeMingorderedhimtocarryouthisduties.

CY/CX:DukeMingisreallyamazing!EventhoughthoseXiaoFamilysmenaresointimidating.

Isntthatright?Reallyamazing!

Ofcourse!

FM:Atfirstitwasreallystrange.Myfatherdidntreallylikeme,sowhywouldhesuddenlyhand
overhisbusinessandfortunetome?Ah,itseemsthattakingovertheXiaofamilysfortuneis
reallymiserable.

FengMingrubbedhischesttofeelhispoorheart.

Stillbeatingheavily,hefrowned,Imstilldrenchedincoldsweat.

Letussee.ChiuLanwalkedoverandtouchedthebackofhisneck,herfacewentpale,Itis,
yourecoveredincoldsweat.DukeMing,quicklychangeyourclothesorelseyoumightcatcha
cold.

ChiuYueandChiuXinghurriedover,justwhentheywereabouttohelpFengMingchange,a
knockwasheard.

Whoisit?

ReplyingtoYoungLord,itsme,LuoDeng.

ChiuYueopenedthedoor,behindLuoDengwasRongHuandLuoYun.LuoNingwasnowhere
tobeseen.

LuoDengreported,YoungLord,theremainingshiphasarrived.AccordingtoYoungLords
command,yoursubordinatewantedthemtoheadtowardsTongKingdominaslowpace.The
springseasonisfilledwithlotsofrain,adequateforsailing,itwillnotbedifficulttonavigatethe
ship.Inaccordancetothesailingspeed,wewillreachtheborderofTongKingdomwithin13
days.Bythattime,LuoNingsinquiryreportofTongKingdomwillarrive.

Bythetimetheyenteredhisroom,FengMingwasplanningonrevealinghispitifulfacetoChiu
Lan,butnowhecalmlynodded,puttingupafrontlikehegoteverythingundercontrol.

LuoDengcontinued,LuoYunwillbecomeYoungLordssubstitutewhennecessaryinthe
future.Therefore,fromtodayonward,hewillfollowrightbesideYoungLord,memorizingyour
everymovementanddemeanor.

Oh?

LuoYunisstillyoung,ifthereisanythingunsatisfactorythatIdointhefuture,IhopethatYoung
Lordwillforgiveme.

LuoYunsteppedforward,claspedhishandtowardsFengMingandspokesonorously.

ThecandlelightintheroomwasbrighterthanthemoonlightondeckthathecouldseeLuoYuns
appearancemoreclearly.

FengMingtookacloserlook,andsureenoughLuoYunsimagewassomewhatsimilartohim.If
oneweretoviewhimfrombehind,hisstaturewasaround8090%similar,nowonderLuoNing
selectedhimashissubstitute.

However,LuoYunsexpressionistoorigid,somethingthatwasverydifferentfromFengMing.

Hewonderedhowsuchayoungpersonwoulddisplaysuchabonechillingoldmansface.
Suddenlyaburstofloudpercussionmusic,earthshakingsoundrangout.

Upanddowntheriver,thesoundofdrums,bells,gongsandotherinstrumentswereheardinthe
surrounding.

FengMingandtherestwerestartled,itvaguelyfeltthatthemusicwascomingfromthevicinity
oftheshipandaroundtheship,theycouldnthelpbutlookstrangelyatLuoDeng.

LuoDengsmiledandsaid,Theshipistravelingontheriver,withmusiclingering,itwilldisplay
itspowerandprestige.YoungLordsletterhadmentionedofit,sayingthatthemorenoisethe
bettersothewholeworldcanhearit.

FengMing,ChiuLanandtheotherslookedateachother.

TheletterthatwassentfromYueZhongtoLuoDeng,usingFengMingsname,whoisthe
culpritthatwroteit?

WasitRongTian?OrwasitLieZhongLiu?

Maybeitwasthetwoofthemwhojoineduptocausethismischief!

Chapter3

ThetimeFengMingstartedhisjourneywasalsothesametimethatthecopiesoftheGrace
Orderwerespreadacrosstheland,fromthevarioussmalltownstoKingdomLi,thousandsof
milesaway.

RuoYanwassittingalonewithapileofrecordsinfrontofhim,allofwhichwerebroughtupby
hisministers.Heconcentratedhardashereadthem,hopingtoexplorethedeepmeaning
behindthewrittenwordsconcealedwithinthesheetsofpaperonthetable.
ThisisRongTiansgift.
ThegrandgiftRongTiangavetoeverynobleandaristocratsineverybigandsmallcities,even
mysteriouslyappearinginthecapitalofLiKingdom.
Thisnoticewaspostedonthewallswithinthecity,andifaninnownerweretocarelesslyforget
andleaveitbehindonatable,itwouldbepickedupbythepeasantsorslaves.Ifoneofthemis
literatethenhewouldreaditforeveryonetohear,spreadingthenewsthroughout,attracting
followersandcorruptingtheirhearts.
ZhuoRan,whoguardedLiTong(thecapital),carriedoutRuoYanscommandtostopthe
incomingnoticeoftheGraceOrder.
Thosewhoread,relate,orgathertodiscussaboutitwillbesentencedtoaharshpunishment.If
theyaresomewhatcleverthentheybetterstayquiet.
TheGraceOrderRuoYanstaredatthepapersonthetable,hismouthfaintlymuttering
thosethreewords,andinanalmostinaudibletone,hesnortedcoldly.
Thecandlelightinsidetheroomisquitevisibleoutsidethemaindoor.Outsidethewindows,the
moonlightsharplyshinedagainstthepurplesilkcurtains,contrastingRuoYansfaceinan
angularslice,leavingaclearimprintofhissharpfeatures.
Pacingfootstepswereheardcomingfromoutside.
Whosthere?
MiaoGuangcameasorderedfromLiTongtogreetRoyalBrother.
Oh,itsRoyalSister!RuoYanredirectedhisfocus,placedtheGraceOrdertothesideofthe
tableandfacedthedoor.
Comein,thisplaceisfarfromLiTong,Ididntexpectyoutoarriveheresosoon.EventhoughI
requestedforyouraudience,youdidnthavetocomegreetmeinthemiddleofthenightlike
this.
TheearlierIcanmeetRoyalBrother,thesoonermymindwillbeatease.WhenRoyalBrother
regainedhisconsciousness,youimmediatelysneakedintoYongYintoambushRongTianand
afterthat,youdidntevenbothertoreturntoLiTong.Instead,youheadedstraighttoFanJia,
makingmeveryworriednonetheless!MiaoGuangsteppedthroughthedoor.Themaidshelped
herremovehercloakandsoonleft.ShethenwalkednexttoRuoYan.Withhereyesglancing

down,shegavealightchuckle,ItseemsthatthishasreachedRoyalBrothershands,Ieven
purposelybroughtacopytoshowyou.
RuoYanpattedattheemptyspacenexttohim,askinghertositdown,RongTiansGrace
Order,whatdoyouthinkaboutit?
RongTianisconniving,usingtreacherousmeansthisonemoveofhisisbeyondothers
expectations,notbadindeed.
Ah
Afterlisteningtohissistersopensentenceofpraisingfirstandthenmockingafterwards,he
knewthereweremore,sohecontinued,However?
MiaoGuangsmiledassheremovedherdeerskinboots.Stillwearingthewhitestockingswithno
traceofdirt,sheclimbedontoRuoYansmattressandplayfullyrestedherselfagainstRuoYans
shoulders.Herfacerevealedaslyhintofinnocence,However,nomatterhowmanytimeshe
anticipates,hestillcouldnthaveimaginedthatRoyalBrotherwasblessedbytheHeavens,
regainingconsciousnesssosoon.Therefore,thisonegoodmoveofhis,isaverywrongone.
RuoYangrinnedhislargehandsoftlypattedhislittlesisterscheek,revealingararegentleside
ofhim.
Iftheresenoughtime,TheGraceOrdercouldbethebiggestweaponRongTianhascreated.
Therearecountlesscommonersacrossthelandfilledwithdelusionstheydarenotspeakof.For
thoseinferiorpeasants,thisabsurddecree,iftheyhavenodoubtaboutit,wouldbetheir
salvation.Itsenoughtomakethemcapableofrebellion,formingallegiancewithRongTian.
HoweverRuoYanchangedhistoneofvoiceashesneered,Evenhisownthrone,hecant
evenholdonto.Rightnow,heslikeawandererwithoutastablefootholdandyethewantsto
issueadecreeandispromotingitopenly.Ifhewantsthewholeworldtobelievehim,thenhe
stillneedsaverylongtimetoconvincethem.
RoyalBrotherwontdefinitelyallowRongTiantohaveenoughtimetobrewhisplan.
Withaflashinhiseyes,hesuddenlyswunghishandacrossthetable,knockingdowntheGrace
Ordersnoticeintotheground.Tiltinghisheadtowardsthesky,helaughedheartily,Todealwith
thisonemovebyRongTian,thebestmethodwouldbeforaquickattack.OnceIannexFanJia,
thefertilelandalongtheAmanRiverwillbemine.Then,whenLiKingdomsarmyoccupiesthe
area,therewillbetwolargenationssupplyingfood.Thosesmallernations,whowoulddareto
lookatmyfaceandattackme?
Withhisdarkblackswordlikeeyebrows,heemittedadomineeringaurathatnoonewoulddare
tolookdownupon.

MiaoGuangliftedherheadandstaredatherpridefulbrother,afterponderingforawhile,aslight
sighescapedherlips.
RuoYanshiftedhisgazeandasked,RoyalSister,whyareyousighing?
ItsnothingMiaoGuangwasntclearastowhyshewassighing,beingtakenaback,shewas
quietforabitbeforereplyinginawhisper,RoyalBrothersschemesareexcellent,butduringthe
100yearsofdisputesamongthe13nations,therewasneverasituationwherealargenation
wasannexed.OnceFanJiahasofficiallyperished,theothernationsmightgreatlyfearus,Im
justafraidthattheywillunitetogoagainstyou.
Youdontneedtoworryaboutthis.RuoYancalmlyreassured,RongTiansthronewasseized
andrightnowheshavingaheadache,thinkingabouthowtoregainhisthrone.Ihavealready
sentsomeonetocontactRongTongandprovideallsortsofschemestodealwithRongTian.
Regardlessofwhowouldwininthefuture,XiLeisstrengthwilldecreaseafterbattlingeach
other,andthatinnerconflictwillleavethenationindestruction.XiLeiwillnolongerbeableto
resistlikebefore.RongTianwillnolongerbeathreat,andthosesmallernationswillbenothing.
TheKingofTongKingdomhasrecentlypassedaway,causingchaosthroughoutthatland.Dong
Fanstroopswasnarroweddownbythesmallpoxitsnotworthmentioning.BoJian,BeiQi,Yan
Ting,PuRong,allofthoserulersareabunchofidiots,theyonlyknowhowtoteareachother
apart.Aslongastheydontjointheirforcesandresist,Ihaveawayofcapturingeachoneof
themstepbystep.Usingaregalingtonelikebefore,RuoYanreachedoutandheldMiao
Guangschin,afterexamininghereyes,hecontinued,Butthesearenotthereasonforyour
sighing.
RoyalBrother
Justtellmeeverythinghonestly!
MiaoGuangwasshocked,sheloweredherheadandsadlyreplied,Whenyoumentionedabout
theGraceOrder,IjustfeltthatthisisntsomethingapersonlikeRongTian,whowasbornto
inheritthethrone,wouldcomeupwith.Thismattermademethinkofsomeoneelse
RuoYanlaughed,IsthatpersonDukeMing?
Histonewasveryrelaxed,causingMiaoGuangswholebodytotremble,shenoddedherhead
RuoYansighed,RoyalSister,youdontneedtofeelguiltyaboutthereleasingofDukeMingat
theAmanRiverincident.Thelongfingersthatmademanypeoplefearwasnowgentlystroking
hislittlesistershead,followingherlonghair,herestedhishandonhershouldersandsoftly
whispered,Instead,afterIregainedconsciousnessandrecalledthatincident,Ifeltthatwhatyou
didwasright.Ifatthattime,youdidntletDukeMingescape,myrageatseeinghimwould
definitelytakecontrolkillinghimwithoutmercyintheprocess.

MiaoGuangsuddenlylookedup,catchinghisgaze,shequiveredwhilesaying,ButRoyal
BrotherwouldnthavebeeninamaddisarrayifIdidnthelpDukeMingescape,allowingRong
Tiantotakeadvantageandshootanarrowatyou,resultinginalongcoma.
Victoryanddefeatisanormalissue,ahthisiswhatDukeMinghadlecturedregardingon
beingaman,receivinganarrowfromtheenemy,whatdoesitmatter?RongTianwasalsoshot
byoneofmyarrowsinwhichhealmostdied,butunfortunately,hewasrescuedbyMeiJi.
MiaoGuangdidnthearatraceofresentmentinhisvoice,hismoodwascalmandwarmwhen
shelookedathiseyes,slightlyclosed.
Thetwosiblingsnestledonthesoftmattress,restingagainsteachother,andnotsayinganother
wordforalongwhile.
Aftersometime,MiaoGuangsvoicerangout,IcameheretoshareanothernewswithRoyal
Brother.TherehasbeenarecentrumorofDukeMingbeingacknowledgedasMasterXiaos
successortoinherittheXiaofamilysbusiness.Heiscurrentlytouringthroughvariousnationsto
overseetheXiaofamilysbusiness.
AfterRuoYanheardaboutLongTiansdeath,herushednonstoptothesmallcityresiding
betweenthebordersofLiKingdomandFanJia,joiningupwiththelargearmy.Heimmediately
plannedouthismoveofswallowingtheentireFanJiaandwasincreasinglybusy.Thiswasthe
firstnewsheheardaboutFengMing.Afteramomentofsilence,hesuddenlygrinned,Hesure
ismoredaringthanbefore,isRongTianwithhim?Howmanytroopsareonhand?
MiaoGuangshookherhead,IhaventheardanynewsaboutRongTian.Imguessingthathe
wantedtoregainthethrone,butdoesntwantFengMingtobeinvolvedinthedisputetherefore,
heisconspiringaloneattheborderofXiLei.Whileontheotherhand,allowingFengMingtouse
hisYoungMasterXiaoidentitytotraveltothedifferentnationstotakerefuge.DukeMingsidentity
isabitsensitivenow,havingbothHolyMasterXiaoandRongTianashissupport.Ibelieveall
thosesmallnationswilltreathimwithcompleterespect.
HeallowedDukeMingtotakerefugeintheothernations?Ifhereallywantedtoavoid
misfortune,thesafestplacewouldbenexttoRongTian.RuoYanponderedforlongmoment,
hiseyesemittedalightthatcouldfrightenothers,SomethingisverystrangeforRongTianto
allowhimtoriskdangerandtraveltodifferentnations.Immediatelysendsomeonetoinvestigate
everynewsregardingDukeMing.
MiaoGuangacceptedtheorderandafterwonderingforabit,shetentativelyasked,IfRoyal
BrotherhasDukeMinginhishandsagain,whatareyougoingtodowithhim?
RuoYanlaughedatthequestion,AreyouafraidImightkillhim?Restassured,oncehefallsinto
myhands,hewonteventhinkaboutcommittingsuicide.HowcanIallowhimtodoso?

MiaoGuangwasRuoYansclosestrelative,thisbrotherofhers,shequiteunderstandshimvery
well.AfterlisteningcarefullytohistoneofvoicewhenmentioningFengMing,hisoften
unpredictableloveandhateweretruthfullyexpressedatthismoment.IfheweretohaveFeng
Minginhand,hewilldefinitelynotharmhim.Withthatinmind,shewasatease.Steppingoff
fromthemattress,shekneeledinfrontofRuoYan,Thisrareopportunity,MiaoGuangwishesto
haveRoyalBrothersapprovalformetosneakintothosenationsandcaptureDukeMingalive,in
ordertoredeemmycrimeattheAmanRiver.
RuoYanwassilentforawhilebeforehavingachangeofexpression,Rightnow,Iamverybusy
withFanJiaaffairstherefore,Icannotleave.Alright,Illletyouhandlethis.Youhavetoplace
safetyaspriority.Atthismoment,thesituationinFanJiaiscausingothernationstohavea
changeofattitudetowardsLiKingdom.Everythingisunpredictableandevenmoredangerous.I
willsendsomeonetoaccompanyyoualongtheway,thetwoofyoucanhelpeachotherout.
MiaoGuangwassmartandquickwitted,afterhearingthat,sheimmediatelyknewwhoitwas.
Lettingoutachuckle,shereplied,FanJiawillhaveahugewar,RoyalBrotherisinneedofa
capableaide.Ifheweretofollowme,thenhowwillyoumanage?
RuoYanlaughedoutloud,Withmehere,itsmorethanhundredsofthousandsofelitesoldiers,
isitreallythatdifficulttodealwiththisweaknationofFanJia?Goahead.
RoyalBrotherisright.Illfollowthroughwithyourcommand.
MiaoGuangtookabow,turnedaroundandwasabouttoleavewhenRuoYansvoicetravelled
frombehind,Waitaminute!
MiaoGuangturnedback,IsthereanotherorderRoyalBrotherwouldliketoaddress?
RuoYanstallbodystoodup,hesteppeddownfromtheseat,andstoppedrightinfrontofMiao
Guang.Withinhalfafoot,gazingcondescendinglyathissistersfaceasheslowlyremindedher,
TheincidentatAmanRiverwhereyouusedpersonalmattertofreeDukeMing,fromtoday
onwards,dontmentionitagain.However,Iwillneverallowthesamethingtohappenonce
more.
MiaoGuangstaredrightintoRuoYanseyes.Afteramoment,shegracefullyboweddownand
repliedinacalmtone,Restassured,RoyalBrother.
MiaoGuangsimagedisappearedbehindthedoor.RuoYansatinthemiddleoftheemptygrand
palace,hesuddenlyshoutedout,Someone,sendforSiQiang.
Afteramoment,aflawlessdressedSiQiangenteredthedoor,helookedupandsawRuoYan
standinginthehall,tallandmajestic,afigurefullofoppressiveforce.SiQiangquicklykneeled
down,UponYourMajestysorder,SiQiangisheretoserveyou.

Rise.RuoYanturnedhisbacktohim,SiQiangcouldntseehisface,heonlyheardtheKingof
Ligiveanorder,Walkovertothemattressandliedown.
Yes.SiQiangcarefullywalkedovertothemattressandgentlylaiddownwithoutglancingupat
theKingofLi,whowasrumoredtobeterriblycruel.
HewasntapersonfromtheLiKingdom,SiQiangwasgiftedtoRuoYanbytheFanJia
Ministersaspartofhisharemtoimploreapeacetreatybetweenthetwonations.
Amongthebatchof12youngcourtesansthatwerebroughtalongwithhim,allofthemhadgood
looksandwereinnocent.Notonlythemen,eventhewomen,hehadnevertastedthembefore.
ThefirsttimehegreetedLiKingsRuoYan,althoughhisheadwaslowered,hecouldnthelp
sensingLiKingsattentionfocusingonhim,givinghimaneedlepinsensationdownhisspine,
andcoldsweatdrippingdownthroughouthisbody.
Butstrangelyenough,afterthatday,LiKingneversummonedforhim.Whilehispeerswere
occasionallycalledforandwerecarriedbackwithabloodyposteriorlowerhalf,afterserving
him.
Anappallingwound
SiQiangheardthatduringthefirsttimeinservingaman,thatforbiddenareawouldinevitably
hurt.Afterall,heisjustaplaythingwithinhisgrasp,nonobleorroyaltywouldtakepityona
cheapobjectlikethis.Thatpersonwouldntcareifthiswashisfirsttime,justaslongashe
servedhispurposeasanentertainment.
AndLiKingRuoYanistheextremelyfrightfuldevilwithinthoserumoredlegends.
Youretrembling?
Thevoicesuddenlycamefromthetopofhishead.Hewasscaredtothepointthatachillran
downhisspine.
LiKing,thepersonwhowillviolatehisbody,quietlycameclosertohim,sittingatoneendofthe
mattress,twosharp,unfathomableeyesstaredbackathim.
YourYourMajesty
Aslenderfingerwasunexpectedlyplacedonhislipsasthatpersonsoftlycommanded,Dont
bite.Tonight,Idontwanttoseeyourblood,hurryandcloseyoureyes.
SiQiangreleasedhisbitefromhistremblinglowerlips.Henolongercaredwhatmighthappen
asheclosedhiseyes.

Hewaitedforthatpainfulmomenttocomewhenheheardavoicefullofauthorityaskinghim,Si
Qiang,doyouknowwhyoutoftheyoungmenthatwerebroughthere,Icanonlyrememberyour
name?
Hewarilyreplied,SiQiangdoesntknow.
Dontopenyoureyes,ifyoudaretoopenthem,Iwillimmediatelygougethemout.Calmly
warninghim,RuoYanstonebecamegentleashelaughedshallowly,Itsbecauseyou
resemblesomeone.
SiQiangdidntdaretoaskhimwhichpersonhelookedsimilarto.Heonlycompliedwiththe
command,tightlyclosinghiseyes.
RuoYanseemstospeaktohim,butthenitseemslikehewastalkingtohimself,sadly
muttering,Thattimewhenthatpersonpretendedtosleepwithhiseyesclosed,hewasvery
similartoyourightnow.AslongasIgentlytouchedhim,hecouldnthelpbuttremble.
HetookonehandandtouchedSiQiangsshoulder,andsureenoughhiswholebodyshivered.
Areyoupretendingtosleep?Yourpretendactisntreal,howcanitfoolme?Gentlytrembling
likeasmallkittenwithacold,butyetyourclaws,thetipofithaddestroyedtensofthousandsof
Listroops.
RuoYansfingertipstenderlycaressedthesoftsmoothchinofSiQiang.Occasionallyusinghis
fingernailstopiercefiercelyatthatsmoothskin,thoughwithnotenoughforcetodrawblood,the
painwasenoughforSiQiangseyebrowstofurrowappearingevenmoredelicateand
charming
SiQiangwaswarnedbeforehandsohecontinuedtokeephiseyesshutwithoutopeninga
crack.HelaidthereonthemattressignoringRuoYansteasing.
Suddenly,heheardRuoYansgentlevoiceagain,Dontbeafraid.Thoughyourestillfearfulof
me,therewillbeadaythatIllhelpyouforgetallabouteveryoneelse.OnlyIwillbewithinyour
thoughts.AnythingthatRuoYan,I,wishtohave,willneverbeoutofmyreach,doyou
understand?
Hisgentletoneofvoicewaslikehewasintimatelywhisperingtohisloverhowever,itseemslike
therewasabitofchillingcoldnesshiddenwithin.SiQiangheardeveryword,hewasabit
surprised,buttheresaportionwherehecantseemtodescribethefeeling.
Whilehewassearchingforthewordtodescribeit,heswiftlyfeltawarmsensationonhislips,
forcingitselfonhisscaredpaleface.
SiQianglaystillforawhilebeforeherealizedwhatwashappening.

Atthatmoment,hedidntknowwhy,butonimpulse,heforgotwhathewasorderedtodoand
involuntarilyopenedhiseyes.Withinthatsmallspace,hefellintothestareofaclosepairofdark
coldeagleeyes.
Inablink,itseemedasifhissoulwasstolenbythosepairofeyes,hiswholebodywentrigid.
Youdaretoopenyoureyes.RuoYanlightlyspoke.LikeahammerknockingagainstSiQiangs
skull,heregainedhiscalmstaringatRuoYaninhorror,hebeggedforforgiveness.
RuoYanlookedathimblankly,theatmospherestoodfrozen,almostdifficulttobreathe.
JustwhenSiQiangthoughthewouldbepunished,thedevilinfrontofhim,whoholdshislifein
hishands,saidsomethingunexpectedasherevealedahintofasmile,Forgetit,mymood
tonightisverygood,Illspareyourlowlylifethisonetime.
WhenRuoYanfinished,hedidntconcernhimselfwithSiQianganymore.Heturnedaroundand
grabbedabookofdocumentsonthetableandquietlylookedatit.
Theroomwasunusuallyquiet,asifbreathingseemedtohavedisappeared.
ThelatestdocumentswereallreportsabouttherecentharvesttothewestofLiKingdom.It
wasntanythinginteresting,butRuoYancontinuedtofocusinreadingit.
Uponthatunyieldingface,araretraceofatemptingsmileappeared.
Thattimidlittlerabbit,whyhasitgottenbolderthanatiger?Jumpingeverywhere,traveling
aroundtheworld?
EversincethecampsiteofYongYiwasattacked,RuoYanthoughtthatRongTianwouldhide
himaway.
Well,thatsentirelyswell,exposinghisownwhereabouts.
XiLeiDukeMing,Ihaventseenyouformanydaysnow.Comparedtobefore,youmustbemore
handsomeandbrilliant,right?

Chapter4

YongYinterritory.

AmanRiver.
FengMingreminiscedaboutthebattleatAmanRiverandhowpeoplehadnamedhimasthe
TeacherofWarfare.ItwasalsoontheAmanRiverthatLuDankidnappedhimfromRongTian,
causingRongTiantolosethethrone,butyetbroughtsmallpoxtoDongFan.Bothnationshad
sufferedahugeloss.
Becauseoftheseevents,listeningtothesoundoftheAmanRiverflowingbeneathhimwasvery
difficultforFengMing.
Rightnow,heissittingonthelargeluxuriousshipoftheXiaoFamily,sailingalongtheAman
River,travelingtodifferentnations,awonderfultriphehadneverhadbefore.
Onthedeckoftheship,theresasmalltableandatrayoffruitsalongwithhottea.FengMing
andthemaidswereenjoyingtheviewandentertainment.ChiuYuewasabitupsetwithFeng
Ming,sincehedidntseemtopayattentiontohersinging.ChiuLan,whowashalfsittingonthe
carpetwasknittingacloakforFengMingandtoldChiuYuethatDukeMingmustbethinking
aboutHisMajesty.
No,Imnot.FengMingshandsomefaceflushedred,hewalkedtowardsthem,removedhis
bootsandfollowedChiuLanswayofsittingonthecarpet,Iwasthinkingabouthowtocomplete
thetaskthatmyweirddadhasassignedtome.
YoungLord,pleasebecarefulwithyourspeech.Avoicewithaguardedtonethatcanmake
anyonejumpwassuddenlyheardbesidehim.
FengMingandChiuLanraisedtheirheadsinsurprise,theireyesmetwiththesternyoungface
ofLuoYun.
LuoYuncoldlycontinued,Masteristhenumberoneswordsmanintheworldandis
wellrespectedbyeveryonewhereverhegoes.YoungLordisthesonofMasterandalsothe
successoroftheXiaoFamilysbusiness,howcanyouusesuchadisrespectfultonetotalk
abouttheMaster?
LuoYunwasarrangedbyLuoNingtobeFengMingsbodyguard,therefore,healwayshastobe
withFengMingasifgluedtohim,itsnodifferentthanRongHu.Unfortunately,hisattitude
comparedwithRongHuisthousandtimesworse.
UnsureofwhichpartofFengMingirritateshim,alldayhewouldstandtheresilentlywitha
gloomyface.Ifhedoesmakeasound,itwillbeveryharshwords.
Becauseofonewordheinadvertentlysaid,FengMinggotscolded,hisbitterfacesecretly
thought,Theswordsmanshipisnotbad,butthewords:wellrespectedbyeveryone,needstobe
reexamined.

Butasthesonofthatman,havingasubordinateundertheXiaofamilyadmiringMasterXiaoin
frontofhim,FengMinghastopayspecialattentiontothewordshesaysoheadmittedhisfault
humbly,Youreright,Iwaswrong.Illcorrectmyself.TurningtoChiuLan,FengMinghada
seriousface,Iwasjustthinkingabouttherequestmyfathermade.
ThethreemaidshavebeenirritatedwithLuoYunsbadattitudeforafewdaysnowsothey
decidedtocompletelyignorehisexistence.TheyaskedFengMing,Whatrequestdidyour
fathermention?Haveweheardaboutitbefore?
FM:Hewantsmetoopenupasaferouteoftransportingtheluminescentsandwithinayear.
CY:Itsjustcreatinganotherwaterroute.TheXiaoFamilyhasashippingbusinesssothere
musthavebeenalotofsafewaterroutesalready,unlessthereissomethingmissing?Thatisa
veryweirdrequest.
ChiuYuedeliberatelymentionedthewordweirdandsureenough,LuoYunsnortedupon
hearingit.
ChiuXingpretendednottohearLuoYunandpurposelyasked,Isthisreallyadifficulttaskfor
theHolyMasterXiao?Itsjustfindingasafewaterroute.Heistheworldsfinestswordsman,
wellrespectedeverywhere,isnthe?
CL:Noneedtoworry.DukeMingisverysmart.NomatterwhattaskHolyMasterXiaoassigns,
ourDukeMingwillaccomplishit.Otherwise,whywouldMasterXiaogivethewholeXiaoFamily
businesstoDukeMing?IfhealreadyacceptedDukeMingashissonandgavehimthenautical
map,thenhealreadybelievesinDukeMingsability.
CY:(nodded)Therefore,alloftheXiaofamilysassetsfromtheshipvessels,property,houses,
men,areallsupervisedbyDukeMing.DukeMingisthebest.
CL:Ofcourse.
Speakingofvindictiveness,howcouldLuoYunwinagainstthethreepalacemaidswhogrewup
withinXiLeipalace?
AlthoughLuoYunsfacewasashen,hisrestraintwasquitefearfulthathewasnotangry,still
standinguprighttothesidewithoutlookingaway.
FengMingfeltabitwaryandscoldedthegirlsfortalkingtoomuch.Theyfinallygotbacktothe
topicoftransportingtheluminescentsandwithinoneyear.
CY:Thenyouhaventthoughtofhowtodoityet?
FM:Sofar,IjustknowthattheluminescentsandisproducedinDanLinandtransportingitisnot
aneasytask.Otherthanthat,Idontknowanythingelse,sohowcanIthinkofagoodmethod?

CX:Shouldntthisbesimple?IsnttheXiaoFamilysfleetofshipsverypowerful?Wecanask
LuoDeng,hemustknowtheanswer.
AftercallingforLuoDeng,hecameoverandtoldthemabouttheoverallstoryregardingthe
transportationofthesandfromDanLin.Whilespreadingthemaponthetable,heexplainedto
FengMingandtheothers.
LD:TheislandofDanLinhasanarrowandlongshape.Itsarelativedistancefromour
mainland.IfonestartsfromBeiQi,BoJian,TongKingdomorXiLei,hecanreachDanLin.
However,thequickestwaytoDanLinisstill
CL:TongKingdom?Isittheplaceweshouldbeheadingtonow?
CY:DukeMinghasntdecidedyet,hesaidweneedtoseetheoverallsituationfirst.That
remindsme,thenightbefore,DukeMingwasreallyamazing.Youwerestandingonthebowof
theship,infrontofeveryone,expandingyourchestandsayingthatthistripistounitetheworld
asoneandnotleadingoneselfintodeath.Itreallymadeeveryoneexcited.
Anotherfaintbutaudiblesnickercamefromsomeone.Apparently,itwasfromLuoYun.
FM:(feelingembarrassed)Youdontneedtorecallthatnight.Trynottointerruptotherswhile
theyarespeaking.Becareful,forLuoDengmightbeangryandrollupthemapwithoutteaching
us.
LD:Iwouldntdare.ThestraitthatisbetweenDanLinandthemainlandiscalled
CY:ItstheMoEasternStrait!
FengMingstaredatChiuYue,shesmiledtenderly.
CY:Aiya,Iknowmymistake,Iwontinterruptnexttime.
LD:StartingfromthemainlandandtravelingalongtheMoEasternStrait,wellreachtheDanLin
shore,whichisthefastestandmostconvenientway.
FM:Then,wefollowalongtheMoEasternStraitandheadforwardonthisfastandconvenient
way.
FengMingsuddenlynoticedthatLuoDengdidntrespond,soheasked,Isthereaproblem?Oh,
Iknow,coulditbethatthiscurrentshipcantgopasttheMoEasternStrait?
LD:(shookhishead)IfwewanttosailacrosstheMoEasternStrait,thisshipislargeenoughto
doso.Inthepast,wehavestartedfromXiLeiandTongKingdomtoreachDanLinsuccessfully.
FM:Oh?Successfully?ThenwhydoIneedtosetupanewwaterroute?

CoulditbethatthisstrangeHolyMasterXiaofinallyhasabitoffatherlylove,deliberatelypicking
amatterthathasbeenresolvedasaconditiontobecomingasuccessor,awonderful
compensationforhefeltguiltynotraisinghisownchild?
LD:AlthoughtheshipsuccessfullyreachedDanLin,theproblemwasspendingalargeamount
ofgoldtobuyashipfullofluminescentsand,whichwasrobbedbypirates.TheMoEastern
Straitisthepiratesterritory.Iheardthattherearefourtofivelargemainpirategroups.Smaller
groupsofpiratesarecountless.Ifwewanttousethisroutetoreturnsafely,Imafraidits
impossible.
FengMingwasdumbfounded.
Thatsright,hefinallycametounderstandabitaboutXiaoZong.ThisfamousHolyMasteris
definitelysomeonewhoisguiltless.
Pirates!
ChiuYueuneasilyasked,ThepirateswouldevendarerobfromtheXiaoFamilysships?
LD:ThelargestpowertheXiaoFamilysfleetholdsarewithintheinlandnations.Thepirates,
whoarebornatthesea,liveamongtheseawithroaringthewaveseveryday.Theyalmost
inherentlyknowhowtotakeadvantageofthevagariesoftheseaandsendtheiropponentsto
theirdeath.TheMoEasternStraithasreefs,shallowwaterandchangingcurrents,whichthey
arewellawareof.Afterall,wearemostlyinlandpeople.Dealingwithnavigationandnaval
battles,howcanwecomparetothem?
CY:Coulditbethateventhoughtheshipwasrobbedbypirates,MasterXiaocanjusteasily
forgetaboutit?
Speakingofthis,LuoDengwrinkledhiseyebrows,revealinganexpressionhedarenotrecall,
ThepiratesoftheMoEasternStraitarenotoriouslycruel.Robbingashipofluminescentsandis
notaproblem,buttheydidntevenspareasingleperson.Slaughteringeveryoneonboard.After
halfamonth,whentheshipdrifteddownstreamtothecoastofBoJiandidwelearnaboutthe
news.Ah,thattimethesceneontheshipwasreallytragicHegrittedhisteethbefore
continuing,AfterourMastergotthenews,hewasfurious.Heimmediatelysentforthelargest
andsturdiestship,preparedavarietyoffoodandweapons,andsworethathewouldkillallof
thoseruthlesspirates.Reachingtothatpart,hesuddenlystopped.
Everyonewhowaslisteningatthispointwereuptight,Andthen,whathappened?
EvenChiuLantookinterestinthestoryandraisedherheadtolistentoLuoDeng.
AlthoughLuoYunsexpressiondidnotchange,hisearsperkedup,apparentlyalsolisteningto
LuoDengsstory.

LuoDengcontinuedinalowvoice,Iwaswaitingattheshorewhentheshipreturned.The
numberofXiaosubordinatesatthattimewasatotalof170peoplewhenreturningMasterwas
theonlyoneremainingonboard.Boththeinsideandoutsideoftheshipwerecoveredinblood
andhundredsofstrangemarkingsasiftheywereviolentlyattacked.
CY:Whatreallyhappenedonthatship?
LD:AfterMasterlefttheship,heneverspokeaboutitsowhowoulddareask?Afterthatpointon,
noonementionedaboutdeliveringtheluminescentsand.
Noneedtoask,XiaoZongspridewasdamagedthatday.However,itwashisunparalleled
swordsmanshipthatsavedhislife.
FengMinggasped.
Hisfacewasabitpale.XiaoZongcouldntaccomplishthistask,sohegavethistasktohim?
Anyway,thereisonlyonetruth,whichis,youcanbeanyone,butyoudefinitelycannotbetheson
ofadementedperson.
LD:Theluminescentsandisapreciousmaterialtocastsharpweapons.Itisaveryessential
itemforeverynation.Aslongasitcanbedelivered,nomatterhowexpensivethecost,thereare
peoplewhoarewillingtobuyit.Howeveruntilnow,besidesthesmallhandfuloftwobags,there
isnoonewhohastheabilitytotransportawholeshipback.
Atthistime,RongHuappearedandlistenedin.Infact,hehadheardXiaoZongmentioningabout
theluminescentsand.
XiaoZongrequestingFengMingtoopenupasaferoutefortransportingthesandwas
somethinghealreadyknew.Althoughthejourneybackisabitdifficult,hestillcouldntimagine
thatevenXiaoZonghadtroubletrying.
RH:IfthepiratesofMoEasternStraitareoutofcontrol,howdidXiaofamilysshipsuccessfully
arrivedinDanLin?
LD:Althoughtheluminescentsandisextremelyvaluableonthemainlandcomparetogold,in
DanLinthesandisabundant.Infact,theirwholeshoreisfilledwithluminescentsand.But
accordingtoregulations,ifmerchantsweretopurchasethesand,theyneedaskDanLin
departmenttobuyit.Overall,onepoundofgoldcangetyoutwopoundsofsand,ofcoursethe
pricingisverydemanding,butaslongasitcanbebroughtback,wecanputonepoundto
pound,doublethepriceofgoldtosellandresellitfor19timesmore.Ourshipisspecially
manufacturedforthesea,notonlyitislarge,butitcanalsotravelatafastspeed.Thereisrarely
anyshipsthatcancatchuptous.AtthetimeofdeparturetoDanLin,wewerecarryingone
hundredpoundsofgoldthespeedoftheshipwasnothindered.Themenonboardtheshipwere
intelligentsailors.Iftheysawaproblem,theywouldincreasethespeedandescapefromthe

pirates.However,onthejourneyback,theonehundredpoundsofgoldturnedintotwopoundsof
extremelyheavysand.
Everyonesuddenlyrealizedtheissue.
Ashipcarryingaheavyloadwouldbehardtoescapethepursuitofpirates.
OnceLuoDengfinished,thedeckwentsilent.
FengMingfeltmiserable,thinkingthatheshouldhaveenjoyedtheviewinsteadoftalkingabout
openingaroutetotransporttheluminescentsand.
LuoYunwhohadntspoken,sneeredatthismomentandasked,Oneyear,thattimewillpass
byquickly,doesDukeMinghaveasolutiontothisproblem?

TogetFengMingsmindoffofthewholedodgingpiratesandfindinganewwaterroutetask,
ChiuYuedivertedeveryonesattentiontoaharborandaskedLuoDengwhatplaceisit.
LuoDengtellsthemthatthisisthelargestharborinYongYinandiscalledFenCheng,where
manymerchantsdotheirtradingandwheretheXiaosusuallyunloadtheircargo.AlthoughFen
ChengcantbecomparedtothecapitalofYongYin,itisstillverylively.
LD:Withoutpriornews,wewillnotentertheTongterritory,sorightnowwehavealotoffree
time,doeseveryonewanttotakeadetouratFenChengforabit?
ChiuXingandChiuYueurgedFengMingtomakeastopatFenCheng.
FengMingfrowned,lookingoveratRongHu,Canwereallygo?
Undertheclosesupervisionofthetwofactionsofbodyguards,theluxuriousandcomfortable
shipbecameanimpenetrablecage.Thethreepalacemaids,ChiuLan,ChiuYueandChiuXing,
alongwiththethreeguards,LuoYun,LuoDengandRongHu,theywerelikesixtallplasters
stucktogether,notleavinghisside.Inaddition,tenmoreguardssurroundedeachside,witha
totaloftwentystrongbodyguardsaroundhim.AnimpressivesteelwallthatbroughtFengMingto
tearsthosewhosawhimfromtheoutsidewouldntunderstand.Theywouldprobablythinkthat
heistooarrogantanddespoticthathehadoffendedsomanypeopleandthatmanyassassins
areconstantlytryingtokillhim.Therefore,heneedsallthesepeopletoprotecthislittlelife.A
verypatheticsituationindeed~
Asfornighttime,RongHuandLuoYunwouldstaybesidehisbedandlookafterhim.
ThefeelingofbeingwatchedwhilesleepingmadeFengMingveryuncomfortableatnight.He
repeatedlyissuedaprotest,butRongHusaid,HisMajestyremindedusthatevenwhenDuke
Mingtakesabath,wearetolookafterhimeverysecond.Atpresent,Ihaveloosenuptheorder

quitealot.IfDukeMingcontinuestohaveanopinionaboutit,Icanonlyretreattothestrict
ordersthatwerehandeddownbyHisMajestyandfollowitaccordingly.
Aftersayingthat,FengMingdidntdaretoprotestanymore.Sonow,wheneverhewakesupin
themiddleofthenightandifitisntRongHusfacethathesees,thenitwillbeLuoYunscold
expression,complexeyesandapokerfacestaringbackathim.
FengMinglookedatRongHupiteously.
RongHuwasamusedbyhisexpressionandchuckled,YoucanstopbyandenjoyFenCheng,
buttheguardswillfollowcloselybehindandDukeMingmustensuretonotcausetroublealong
theway.
Ofcourse,ofcourse.ChiuYuenoddedinbehalfofDukeMing,Also,DukeMingwillensure
thathewillnotbeleftbehind,hewontsecretlyleaveoutofoursightandwillfollowtherules.
FengMingpinchedChiuYuesfaceforteasinghim,butthathelpedhimtakehismindoffofthe
luminescentsandtask.
Aseveryonenoddedtheirheadsinagreement,FengMingandtherestturnedtolookatLuoYun.
ThispersonwouldusuallyopposetoeverythingFengMingsayssoitwouldbenaturalforhimto
interferewiththis.
LuoYunstoodtooneside,seeinghoweveryoneseyeswereuponhim,heaskedcoldly,
What?
ThatFengMingswallowedhissalivaandcarefullyasked,ShouldIbeabletotakeastrollin
FenCheng?Yousee,LuoDengsaidthattheresnoproblemwiththescheduleandthisharbor
isalsooneofthemaintransshipmentpointoftheXiaos.
FengMingdoesntknowwhybutalthoughLuoYunismuchyoungerthanhim,heemitsacold
aurathatnoonewoulddaretolookdownupon.
Thefirsttimehemet,hefeltthatLuoYunsfather,LuoNing,hadanaurathatwasevenmore
coldthanhis,butforthesepastdays,ifFengMingcarefullyexaminedhim,hefeltLuoYunhad
exactlythesameenergy.
Theoutsideappearancecanbedescribedascold,butinotherwords,itsanextremely
unspeakablechillinessdowntothebones.
BesidesFengMing,thethreepalacemaidsarenotinsupportofhiscoldness.Theyallfeelthat
LuoYunisbullyingothersanddoesntunderstandthemeaningofhierarchy.

LuoYunglancedatFengMingandseeminglydidntwanttocreateeyecontact,sohecasually
lookedpasthimandanswered,Youarefreetogowhereveryouwant,YoungLord.Weas
subordinates,donthavethequalificationstointerfere.
FengMingwasoverjoyed.
IfitwasLuoYunsdad,thenthatLuoNingwouldbeangrilygrumblingaboutitallday.
TakingadvantagethatLuoNingisonadifferentshipanddoesnthaveasayinthis,everyone
quicklywenttopreparetodisembark.
LuoDengrolledupthemapsandsentacommandtohismentoraisethebannersinthehelm
andbowoftheship.Itistonotifytheshipswithcargotoalsopreparetodisembarkatthedock.
FengMingwasdraggedinsidebyChiuYueandChiuXingtochangeintoadifferentoutfit.When
hewentoutside,hesawChiuLanwasstillstitchinghiscloak.ChiuLanwantedtofinishitup,but
ChiuYuetoldhertofinishitaftertheycomebackfromtouringaroundFenCheng.
Aftersteppingofftheship,FengMingenjoyedthesceneryforabitbeforeamiddleagedman
suddenlycamerunningtowardsthem.BeforehecouldreachFengMing,hewasstoppedby
Xiaosbodyguards.LuoDengtoldthemtolethimthroughandexplainedtoFengMingthatthis
manhereisthecityofficialofFenChengpier.Heisinchargeoftaxationalongwithinspectionof
theshipments.
LD:TheXiaosarehislongtimecustomerandhaveyieldedalargeamountofmoneytotheYong
Yinroyalties.HeknewthatYoungLordwasheresohewouldsurelygreetyouwithhospitality.
FM:Howdoesheknowwhoweare?
LD:YoungLord,pleasetakealookatourbannersontheship.Evenablindpersonwillknow
thattheYoungLordofXiaowillbepresentontheship.Also,Imconsideredasamanagerofthe
Xiaosfleet,sothepersonwhoIaccompanyshouldbenootherthantheYoungLordofXiao,
right?
RH:ThenewsofDukeMingtravelingaroundtoinspecttheXiaoFamilyshippingbusinessis
knownworldwide,notknowingisnotanoption.Iftheycantguesshalfofit,thentheymustbe
fools.
Whilesayingafewwords,themiddleagedmanappearedinfrontofthem.HegreetedFeng
MingrespectfullyandintroducedhimselfasTaiCan.
LuoDengtellsTaiCan,OurYoungLordheredoesntliketobecagedinsohewantedtotakea
tourofFenChengforabit.

TC:AllowmetoleadthewayasaguideduringyourvisithereinFenCheng.Rightnowits
spring,FenChenghasauniqueflowerinbloom,calledYouziorWanderingflower.Itsvery
fragrantandthescentiseverywhere,therefore,thiscityiscalledFenCheng.
FengMingacceptedTaiCansofferandthenaskedLuoDengiftheyhaveanyhorsecarriages
ontheship,sincehewantedtotouraroundtheplace.
LD:Whywouldwehavethatreadyontheship?Everylargeportslikethis,theXiaoFamilyhas
ahorsecarriageandlodgingpreparedandeasilyavailable.Allofthese,Ihaveorderedmymen
topreparebeforehand,however,thetimingwasquitesuddensoatthemomentweonlyhavesix
carriagesavailable.ItseemsthattheYoungLordwillhavetoridethesamecarriageasus.
FengMingknewthattheXiaoFamilyhadahugeamountofmoney,butheneverthoughtthat
theirtransportationsystemwasmoreefficientthantheroyalties.WhenRongTiantravels,he
canonlysupplytheitemswithinXiLei,onceoutsideofXiLei,itsnotveryconvenient.
Therewasafaintscoffcomingfrombehind.
Withoutlookingback,everyoneknewitwasLuoYun.
ThecityofFenChengwasnearthecityportandwithaquarterofanhour,thecarriagearrivedin
frontofthegates.
Insidethecarriage,FengMingcouldsmellthefragranceoftheflowers.
CY:Thistypeofflower,ifusedforwine,itwillbeveryfragrant.
CX:Youaredefinitelyanalcoholic,isthewinebugitchinginyourstomach?
CY:Imnotanalcoholic,Imjustcurious.
TaiCanexplainedtothemthatpeoplewhocometoFenChengusuallytesttheirWandering
wine,sinceitcanonlybeproducedinFenCheng.Iftheypassbywithoutdrinkingit,itwouldbea
pity.
FengMingwasverycuriousaboutthenameWanderingandaskedTaiCanaboutit.TaiCan
ledthemtoasmallhuttoexperiencethewinefirstwhileheexplainedabouttheorigin.
Everyonenoticedthattheplacedidntseemlikeahighendrestaurantandweresuspicious,but
TaiCantoldthemthatinordertotasteauthenticwine,thisistherightplacetoexperienceit.
Afterthewinewastestedforpoisonandappearednontoxic,FengMingandthemaidstooka
tasteofit,whileRongHuandLuoYunrefused,statingthatifanassassinweretocomeby,they
needtobeonhighalert.

TaiCanaskedthemiftheycouldtasteabitoftearsinthewineandtheyallagreed.FengMing
reallyenjoyedthetasteofthewine,thathewantedtobuyafewtohaveRongTianenjoyit.
However,TaiCantoldFengMingthathecantcarrythewineoutsidethecityofFenCheng.Ifhe
does,thewinewillbecomesourandnondrinkable.
Hethenexplainedabouttheoriginofthewine.Accordingtolegends,therewasawomannamed
Mrs.Li.Shewasayoungwidow,whoplantedflowersforalivingandbroughtupachildnamed
Youzi.WhenYouziwas16yearsold,itwasthebeginningofspring,andhedecidedtoleave
thecitytomakealiving.Afterbiddingfarewelltohismother,heneverreturned.Mrs.Liwaitedfor
hersonsreturneveryday.Butsheeventuallydiedwithinhergardenofflowersandatherresting
place,aYouzitreegrew.
Atthebeginningofeveryspring,everyyear,theYouziflowerswouldbloomandthefragrance
wouldlingerformilesasifMrs.Liiscallingforhersontocomeback.
TaiCanstoppedthelivelyandcheerfulatmospheresuddenlybecamesilent.
LuoDengsighed,IvecometoFenChengmanytimesandeverytimeIlistentothatstory,itstill
seemslikethefirsttimeandImstillsaddenedbyit.Especiallyinearlyspring,thescentofthe
Wanderingflowersissimplyheartbreaking.
NooneknewwhatLuoYunwasthinking,buthisfacewasbleak.
TC:TheysaidthattheYouzitreeappearedbecauseofMrs.Li.Shewholeheartedlywantedto
waitforYouzitoreturn.TheWanderingflowersareherthoughtsandtheWanderingwineisher
tears.Therefore,anythingoftheYouzi,oncetheyareremovedfromthecityofFenCheng,itwill
immediatelywitherandthewinewillbecomesour.
Whilethinkingaboutthestory,FengMingrecalledabouthimselfbeinganorphan,notgainingthe
parentallovefromXiaoZongorLadyYaoYeandperhapstheclosestparentallovehereceived
wasfromEmpressDowager.However,EmpressDowagerhadbeenangrywithhimaboutthe
GracesOrder,soFengMingfeltguiltyaboutit.
Atthismoment,FengMingcontinuedtodrinkandthenmutteredalineregardingmotherlylove
forherchildandhowitishardforachildtorepaythekindness,etc
Aftermutteringthepoem,aloudclappingsoundwasheard.FengMingturnedaroundand
noticedthatthepersonwhoapplaudedwasnotoneofhispeople,butamanstandingoutside
thehut.SeeingthatFengMingwasstaringathim,heletdownhishandsandsmiled,Myname
isMuSa,IcoincidentallypassedbyandheardYoungMasterreciteashortpoemwithdeep
affection,whichImamazed,therefore,Icouldnothelpbutpraiseyoubymyapplause.Ideserve
deathforfrighteningyou.
Thismanworeaplainbluerobe,completelyspotlesswithoutdirttherewasalsoapaperfan
placedwithinhisbelt.Hisblackeyeswererefinedandsereneitwasevidentthathewasnota

simplecommoneruponseeinghim.Hisspeechwasgentleandeloquent,givinghisaudiencea
goodimpression.
Uponseeingsuchafigure,FengMingwasveryhappy,andlaughed,Ifeelashamed,Iwasjust
drinkingandcasuallysaidafewwords.BrotherMuistookind,howaboutcominginsideand
drinkingafewcupswithme.
Beforehefinished,RongHuandLuoYungaveoutawarningsoundalmostsimultaneously,their
meaningwasbothclearandsimple.Duetoamatterofsafety,theyrequestedthatheshouldnt
comeincontactwithstrangers.
MuSawasabouttonodinagreement,buthearingthetwomenatthetableexpressingtheir
thoughts,heimmediatelyknewhewasnotwelcomed.Thispersonwasexceptionallysmart
facingFengMing,hedeclined,Ihaveotherthingstoattendto,Icanonlythankyou,Young
Masterforyourkindthoughts.Ifwearedestinedtomeet,thenperhapswewillmeetagaininthe
future.CanIaskforyourname?
Ah?MynameisFengMing.
AfterhearingFengMingsreply,hedidnthaveachangeinexpressionorattitude,hefaintly
smiled,SoitsXiLeiDukeMing,YoungLordofXiao,yournameislikelightningbesideones
ear.Itsunfortunatethatwedonthaveprioraffinity.Ifinthefuture,DukeMingdoescometoBei
Qiandhasfreetime,youcancomevisitmeatmyplace.Hepolitelybowed,turnedaroundand
thenleft.
FengMingquicklyshouted,Hey,youstillhaventsaidwhereyourhomeis!
Blanklywatchingthenewacquaintancedisappear,FengMingsighedandfeltabitsadthathe
didntgettoknowthatpersonabitmore,buthecouldntblameRongHuandLuoYun.
HebegandrinkingsomemoreandthatswhenTaiCanwentandtoldFengMingabouthistrue
intentionsinbringingFengMingtothisplaceandtellinghimabouttheWanderingflowersand
wine.
TaiCanbeggedFengMingtohelphiminsavinghisbrotherinlaw.Apparently,hisbrotherinlaw
ownsthewinebusinessandwascaptured,leavingbehindhispregnantwifeandelderlymother.
AlthoughTaiCanisanofficialinFenCheng,hedoesnthavethemeanstosavehis
brotherinlawandwishesFengMingtolendahelpinghand.

FengMingtellsTaiCantocalmdownandexplaineverythingclearly.However,beforehecould
explaineverything,somethingunexpectedhappened.

Chapter5

DukeMing,watchout!RongHusshouttravelledthroughhisears,LuoYunsimultaneously
jumpedandrolledovertowardsFengMing.

FengMingstaggeredafterbeingpushedasidebyLuoYunandRongHu.Eventhoughhewas
slightlydisoriented,hestillheardastrangecrashalongwithaloudsoundasifaheavyobjectfell
fromabove.Thesoundofweaponswithdrawingfromtheirsheathswereheard.

Thethreepalacemaidsscreamedout.FengMingmotionedthemtocomeovertowherehewas
hiding.Theguardsoutsidealreadyremovedtheirswordsandsurroundedthearea.Fiveorsixof
thempointedtheirswordsatTaiCanandhismother,whowasrunningtheplaceatthattime.

Nothingseemedtohappenexceptforadeadbodyfallingdowninthemiddleoftheinn,
destroyingtheroofabove.

ChiuLanaskedifthatpersonwasanassassin.

RH:Ifheisanassassin,thenhemustbeverystupid.

RongHutookalookoutsideandaroundtheinnheconcludedthatthissmallinnispartofa
threestorybuilding,whichthispersonmusthavefallenfromandcoincidentallylandedwhere
theyweresitting.Luckily,therooftopisquiteoldandhasanopeningtherefore,theycoulddetect
anyfallingobjects.

LuoYuncheckedthebodyagainandaddedthatthispersonmusthavebeenthrownduring
somesortofdisputeanddieduponimpact.

RH:Idon'tknowwhodidthisbuttheydaretocommitacrimewithinsoldier'sterritory.

Sinceitwasn'tanassassin,thesurroundingguardsplacedtheirswordsbackintothesheaths.

FengMingsteppedoutandwrinkledhiseyebrows,"Judgingbyhisclothes,heseemstobea
FenChengsoldier."PlacinghisgazetowardsTaiCan.

TaiCanfeltthathehadbeenexperiencingbadlucklately.Becauseofhisbrotherinlaw,hetried
tocomeupwithameticulousplan,butyetthisMuSapersoncamealongandnowtheresa
deadpersonfallingfromthesky.Notonlythat,buthewasalmostkilledbyFengMing'sguards,
theshockscaredhimsomuchthathewasstilltrembling.

LY:It'snotuncommonforsomeonetodie.WhyisYoungLordworried?

RH:Thispersonisdead.Eitherway,thisplaceisnotsafe.DukeMingisofhighstatus,we
mustn'tstaylong.Whydon'tweheadbacktotheshipandcontinuewiththeconversation.

LuoDengagreed.

Sincethemajorityagreed,FengMingdecidedtofollowalongandleaveFenChengcity,climbing
ontothehorsecarriage,bringingalongTaiCanandhismother.

Whentheyheadedoutsidethecity,ChiuYuenoticedthattheWanderingflowersheplacedon
herhead,suddenlywithered.

AtriptoFenChengthatstartedoutinhighspiritsquicklyendedinsadnessandfear.

Onceinsidetheship,FengMingrememberedaboutTaiCanandhismothersoheordered
someonetobringTaiCansohecancontinuetalkingabouthisbrotherinlaw'sproblem.

TaiCandidn'timaginedthatFengMingwouldlistentohimafterwhathadhappenedtodaysohe
wasverygrateful.

TC:Mybrotherinlawisawinebrewer.WithinFenCheng,everyoneknowabouthim.Hesaved
upabitofmoneytoopenawineinnandtheprofitwasnotbad...tomakeitclear...thethreestory
buildingRongHutalkedaboutwasmybrotherinlaw'sbusinessamonthago.

FengMingfinallyunderstoodashefeltitwasstrangeearlierhowTaiCanisanofficial,sowhy
wouldhemarriedoffhissistertoawinebreweronasmallinn.Itseemsthathisbrotherinlaw
alsoownsabuilding.

FM:Thenthatbuildingasofnow...
TC:IfIcontinuetheIangrierget...

FengMingtellsTaiCantostandupandordersChiuYuetobringoverthetea.TaiCanwas
surprisedathowkindFengMingwastowardshim,heevenhelpedhimupfromhiskneeling
position.

TC:Mybrotherinlawownsaninnandmylittlesisterispregnant.Theirlivingeachdayisvery
good.However,threemonthsago,adisastercame,thehigherupssuddenlyorderedmy
brotherinlawtotransporthiswinetothecapital.ButoncetheYouziwineleavesFenCheng,it
becomessouroncearrivinginthecapital.That'swhymybrotherinlaw'sinnwasclosed,his
businessshutdown,evenmysisterandmotherinlawwereforcedoutsidetheirhomes.My
sisteronlyhasalittleamountofmoneyonhersoshegothermotherasmallwineinntopass
thedays.


FengMingwasupsetuponhearingthis,butherememberedwhatLieZhongLiutoldhimabout
stayingcalmandnotgeteasilyupsetovercertainmatters.

FM:IfheisimprisonedinFenCheng'sjail,youareanofficial,youcangopleadforhisinnocence
andaskforaretrial.

TaiCansaidthathepleadtoeveryoneheknewandeventoGeneralLeTing,theoneincharge
ofthecase.

FengMingaskedhimaboutGeneralLeTing.

TC:HeisunderthecommandoftheKing,asaGeneralinchargedofthisarea,heholdsthe
powerofexecution.Whethermybrotherinlawlivesordiesiswithinhishands.Ihavevisitedhis
residenceseveraltimes,andgavealumpsumoftreasuresmyancestorshadaccumulatedto
gifthim,thereforehewasabletoreconsider.

FM:Heagreedtoreleaseyourbrotherinlaw?

TC:Itwouldbegreatifthat'sthecase.Mybrotherinlawdidcommitacrimeofdeception
towardsthecourtanddeservesdeath,buttheGreatGeneralreconsideredtoallowanothertrip
ontheYouziwinetobesenttothecapitalagain.Ifthesamethinghappens(thewinebecomes
sour),thenhewillbeexecuted.Mybrotherinlawisthemainsupportinthefamily,ifhegets
killedthenitwouldbethesameaskillinghisentirefamily.

TaiCancontinuedsayingthataslongasthetimeofexecutionisstretchedout,hestillhasa
chancetofindapowerfulpersontohelpsavehisbrotherinlaw.

FengMingfeltabitpridefulafterknowingthatheisconsideredapowerfulpersonandpeopleare
requestinghishelp.Healsobelievedthatthestrangewinemighthavesomethingtodowith
chemistrybutsinceheisn'tachemistanddoesn'thavethenecessaryitemstotest,hecan't
reallyhelpinthisarea.

TaiCancontinuedtobegFengMingtohimsavehisbrotherinlaw,sayingthatifDukeMing
doesn'thelpthenhisbrotherinlawisagoner.FengMingtoldhimnottoberashandthathe
didn'tsayhewouldn'thelp.TaiCanwasoverjoyedandrushedinsidetheshiptoinformthe
elderlywoman.

Lookingtowardstheother,FengMingaskedthemwhattheyshoulddo.

LuoYunwasascoldandindifferentasever,ifhedoesn'twanttotalk,hewon'topenhismouth,
however,itwasrareforhimtospeakfirst,butyethegaveFengMinganothersplashofcold
water,bysaying,"Theirlifeanddeathistheirbusiness,whyisYoungMasteraddinganother

bothersomematterforyourself?Also,thatTaiCanisclearlyamanfilledwithtricks,hes
definitelynosimpleton."

FengMingwasusedtoLuoYun'sattitudeforafewdaysalready,sohepatientlysaid,"This
personlifethathasbeencaptured,howcanwejustsitidlyandnotsavehim?Ifweencounteran
injustmatter,weneedtolendahelpinghand.Ifwedon'thaveafeelingofchivalry,wouldn'titbe
ashameforyou,someonewhohaveexcelledinmartialarts?"

LuoYunlearnedmartialartswhenhewaslittle,otherthanLuoNingwhotaughthim,otherskilled
expertsalsohelpedguidehimalongtheway.Everyonetaughthimthatheneededtokillpeople
swiftlyandaccurately,incoldbloodwithoutmercyorhesitation.Noonehadevertoldhim
anythingabout'encounteringanunjustmatter,oneneedstolendahelpinghand.'

LuoYuncouldn'tbelievethatsomeonelikeFengMingcouldspurtoutsharpwordstolecture
him.Afteralongsilence,hecoldlyshoutedout,"ChivalryisnotwithintheguidelinesoftheXiao
family."

FM:EachdaythatIamthesolemaster,itwillbepartoftheXiaofamilyguidelines.

LuoYuncloselyobservedhim,hiseyeswerethesame,theeyesofaheartlesskiller.FengMing
calmlyfacedhim,butinside,asmalldrumwasringingoutchaotically.Hethoughtallthemenin
theXiaofamilymustbeinfluencedbyhisstrangedad,causingLuoYuntobeheartlessaswell.
FengMingwonderediftonight,whileheissleepingandunalert,wouldLuoYuntakeastabathis
heart?Thinkingaboutthis,hedefinitelymusttellRongHutoprotecthimatallcostsandChiu
Lanwilljusthavetospendthenightbyherself.SinceChiuLanhastobealonebyherselfat
night,sheprobablywon'tblameFengMing.Atmost,she'lljustpinchRongHu'searwhilethey
arealonetogether.

ThinkingaboutRongHugettinghisearpinched,FengMingcouldn'thelpbutgiggletohimself.

EveryonearoundhimthoughtthatFengMingwouldbescaredaftercomingincontactwithLuo
Yun'seyes,butweresurprisedseeinghowhewasabletosmile.

EvenRongHuwasthinkingthattheDukeMingrightnow,comparedtobefore,ismoremature
thanwhenhewasayoungladtravellingforthefirsttimetoFanJia.

IfheknewwhatFengMingwasthinking,RongHuwouldprobablyfaint.

RH:DukeMingisright.Ifwecansavesomeonefromjail,thenweshouldn'thesitatenotto.
Overall,itwillbeconsideredagooddeed.However,whatLuoYunsaidaboutTaiCanbeing
tricky,Ialsofeelthesameway.Ifhetrulyloveshissister,thenit'snaturaltohelpher,why
displayawornoutwineinnforshow?IfeelthatthatwornoutwineinnwastheretomakeDuke
Mingsympathizewithhim.


LuoDengnoddedhisheadinagreement,"ItissomethingTaiCansetup.Ihaveencounteredhim
manytimes,heisn'tabadperson,buthelikestoplayaroundwithpeople'semotions.First,he'll
bringyouonatourtoenjoytheWanderingflowers,thenhaveatasteoftheYouziwine,thenuse
theelderlywomantogainyourfeelingsandbegyoutohelphimuntilyouagree."

FengMingfinallyrealizedTaiCan'strueintentionsandagreedthathisplandidwork.Heeven
complimentedthatifTaiCanwasaGeneral,he'llbeverygoodwithusing'Emotionalschemes.'

FengMingthenaskediftheyhaven'tstoppedatFenChengthenTaiCanmusthavewastedhis
effortinpreparingeverythingforthem.

LuoDengtoldhimnottoworrysinceFenChengisalargeportthattheXiaofamilyusuallystops
bytotransportcargo.Also,eveniftheydidn'tstopby,TaiCanwouldjustwastehiseffortin
settingupawornoutwineinn.

FengMingsmiledabitbeforetellingthemthattheyneedtofindawaytohelpTaiCan's
brotherinlaw.

That'swhenRanQing,oneofXiao'smencameinandreportedtothem:"YongYin'sGeneralLe
TingheardthatYoungLordwasstoppingbytheareaheoversees,sohecametomakehis
greetings."

FengMingwonderedwhyGeneralLeTingwouldpersonallycometogreethim.Hethoughtthat
maybeLeTingdidn'twanthimtointerferewithYongYinaffairsandpurposelycametowarn
him.

LuoDengtellsFengMingthatGeneralLeTingisanimportantfigure,holdingtheYongYinarmy
inhishandsandbecauseofthis,FengMingneedstowelcomehimandshowhimrespect.

FengMingagreedanddecidedhefirstneedstobuildagoodrelationshipwithLeTingbefore
directlytalkingaboutTaiCan'sbrotherinlaw.

LeTingappearedontheship,heseemedtobearoundthirtyfive,thirtysixyearsold.Described
astallandstrong,hewaswearingagreenrobe,withoutanybodyarmor,justaswordhanging
onhiswaist.Justoneglanceandonewouldknowthathewassomeonewhohasbeenouton
thebattlefields.Hebroughtfivetosixbodyguardsontotheship,standinginfrontofFengMing,
hislaughtersoundedlikeabell.

Pausingforabit,heobservedFengMingfromtoptobottom,hiseyesbrightenedashegave
praises,"Ayoungheroicmanindeed.Notanythinglikeanormalperson.I'veheardmanyrumors
aboutwhatXiLeiDukeMinglookedlikeandnowIfinallygettomeetyou.Definitelyacompelling
heroicaura,leavingadeepimpressiononeveryone."


FM:Acompellingheroicaura?Aiya,Iwasplanningonusingthesetermstodescribeyour
greatness,Ican'tbelievethatGeneralhasalreadysaidthembeforeme.

FengMingthenledLeTingintoagrandluxuriousroomontheshipandorderedthemaidsto
bringoversometea.LeTingcomplimentedonhowhugetheshipwasandthateventheKing's
palacewouldn'tbethisluxurious.

LT:DukeMingshouldn'tblamemeforcomingwithoutinviting.Itisbecauseyourreputationis
veryhuge,andsinceyourtripisheavilyadvertised,everyoneknowsaboutit,makingmevery
curious,therefore,Ihadtomeetthiswellknownfigure.KnowingthatDukeMingwasstoppingby
FenCheng'sport,Iimmediatelycalledforhorsestocomeherejustintime,soIdon'tlosethis
opportunity.

Sotheyeventuallychattedforabitaboutrandomthingsandtheweather.LeTingseemedlikea
veryforthrightperson,veryhonestanddirect,verycompatiblewithFengMing'spersonality.

FengMingdidn'twanttogointothetopicaboutTaiCan'sbrotherinlawsohedecidedtoaskLe
TingaboutMuSa,whomhemetbriefly.

LeTingthoughtaboutthemanypeopleinBeiQiwhocouldgiveFengMingadeepimpression.
HetoldFengMinghedoesn'tknowanyonebythenameofMuSa,butaftermuchpondering,Le
Tinglaughedandsaid,"Haha,thisyoungmasterhasn'tchangedonebit.Alwayscomingupwith
tricks,that'swhywhenIheardabouthisdescriptionandspeech,hefeltfamiliar."

FM:SotheGeneralknowswhoYoungMasterMuis?

LT:WhatdoyoumeanYoungMasterMu?DukeMingwasliedto.Thisperson'snameisDu
Feng.HeisanoblefromtheroyalfamilyofBeiQi.Thispersonistalentedbeyondpeople,he
lovestotravelaround,becauseheiscarefree,handsomeandhasahighstatus,heishumble
andeducated,therefore,heknowsalotofpowerfulpeopleinvariousnations.Hejusthasone
strangehobby,whichistochallengeotherpeople.

FengMingwassurprisedlearningaboutMuSaspossibleidentityasDuFeng,wellknownas
TheReluctantKing.

WhenFengMingwasinXiLeiPalaceandRongTianwashisteacher,heonceheardaboutDu
Feng.Hewasdescribedas:Ifwetalkedaboutwhohasvastnetworking,isasmoothtalker,has
anobleindividualityandacalmdemeanoramongthepeople,withintheroyalpalace,fromXiLei
KingtootherKing,noonecansurpassBeiQisYoungMasterDuFeng,alsoknownasThe
ReluctantKing.

FengMingwantedtoknowwhyDuFengwascalledtheReluctantKing,butRongTiannever
botheredtoanswerhimsoinstead,FengMingwentandaskedLieEr.

LieErtoldFengMingthatthereasonforthenamewasntbecauseDuFengdidntwantto
becomeKing,itwasoneofhisrumoredromanticstoriesthathappened.

LE:ThisYoungMasterDusnameisverywellknown.Heisjustasmallbranchfromtheroyal
familyofBeiQi,withnorighttoinheritthethrone,buthisfamilyisofhighstatusandisrich.Heis
handsome,suaveandlikestotravelhereandthere.Hesympathizeswiththewomen
everywherehegoes,sohewillseducemanyladieshearts,itsstrangetosay,withsomany
womenwholoveshim,notoneofthemhashatedhim.Iheardtherewasonetimewhenhewent
overtoZhaoBeiandstayedatthepalacefortwotothreedays,hestoleZhaoBeiPrincesss
heartandfromthatpointonshewouldthinkabouthimfordaysandnights.Atthattime,Tong
KingssonhadjustturnedfifteenandtheKingwantedtofindawifeforhim.HefanciedZhaoBei
Princess,sohewroteseveralletters,hopingthatthePrincesswouldmarryhisson.DukeMing,
thinkaboutit,althoughDuFengwashandsomeandclever,hecannotinheritthethrone,while
thatotherprincecouldbecometheKingofTong.Ifwecomparethetwo,themajorityofthe
womenwouldchoosetheprince.However,ZhaoBeiPrincessrefusednomatterwhat,andwas
puttingherlifeonthelinescreamingandshouting,shealsowroteapoemtobesentbacktothe
PrinceofTong.Thepoemread:Requestingthewindtolingerattheselfinjuredbranchwhois
thinkingofaunrequitedlove,cryingallhertearsandyetstilllongsforthatsomeone,please
forgivemeforrefusingyourkindness,forIstillwishfortheReluctantKing,mybelovedDu.(this
poemincorporateDuFengsnameinit:Feng,meaningwindandDu,hissurname.)

LieEralsomentionedthatthatpoemwasspreadthroughouttheworld,themoreitspread,the
morewellknownitbecametothepointthateveryonebegancallinghim,TheReluctantKing.

Thattime,FengMingreallywantedtoknowwhatkindofpersonDuFengwas,whocouldmake
ZhaoBeiPrincessnotwanttobecomeQueenandrealizinghowhemissedtheopportunityto
knowDuFeng,FengMingfeltatloss.

HeaskedLeTingwhysuchapersonlikeDuFengwaswanderingaroundFenCheng,ishe
lookingforbeautifulwomenorsomething?

LeTingtoldFengMingthatmanypeoplemisunderstandDuFengtobealecherousperson,but
infactheisaveryupstandingperson,loyalandacourageouspersonthatishardtofind.

FM:IsGeneralafriendofYoungMasterDu?

LT:HowdoIhavesuchafortuneto?However,Iheardmanystoriesabouthiminthepast,allof
thesestorieswereretoldbytrustworthypeoplesotheyaren'tmadeup.

FM:Hurryandtellme,whatIlovemostislisteningtopaststories.


LeTingtellsFengMingheisnotgoodwithwordsandbelieveshisstorytellingwon'tbevivid.
FengMingstillencouragedhimtoretellonestoryatleast.

Chapter6

"Ah......"LeTinghesitatedforamoment.AfterlookingatFengMingseagerexpression,he
couldntbeartorefuse,sohenoddedandsaid:Alright,Illtellyou,ifitsboring,pleasedont
blameme,DukeMing.

OfcourseIwontblameyou.

LeTingclearedhisthroat,hethoughtforamomentthenslowlysaid,Iheardthatyear,theYan
Ting2ndPrince,ZhengNan,broughtafewfollowersonhishuntingtripintheforest.Heshota
bigdeer,andwhileroastingit,hesuddenlyheardsomeonepraising:smellsgood,smellsgood,
canIeatwithyou?ZhengNansawthatalthoughthepersonworeaplainoutfit,hisappearance
wasstillhandsomeandpossessedahighclassquality,whichmadeanyonelikehimatfirst
glance,soheinvitedthatmantoenjoythevenisonmeat.

FengMinglaughed,Justhearingabouthandsomelooksandhighclassquality,itmeansthat
thatpersonisYoungMasterDuFeng?

LeTingsighed,IknewIshouldnttellastory,sincetheresnosuspenseatall.

FengMingwasscaredthathewouldntspeakanymoresohequicklyapologizedandsaid,Its
mybadforinterrupting,goaheadandcontinue,General.

ThatpersonwasinfactYoungMasterDuFeng.HeacceptedZhengNan,2ndPrincesinvitation
andsatbythefire.ZhengNanhandedhimavenison,whichhedidntholdbackandateit.After
eating,hegavePrinceZhengNanathankyouandleft.

FengMingwantedtorestrainhimselffrominterrupting,butstillcouldnthelpandwhispered,
WhatfakenamedidhegivePrinceZhengNan?

LeTingsmiledandreplied,HedidntspeakmuchtoPrinceZhengNan,nordidheleavehis
name.Hejustateandthenleft.

FengMingthoughtthathisencounterwithDuFengwasslightlybettersinceheatleastgavea
name,MuSa,whichshowedabitofrespect.However,hewasunsureastowhichDuFeng
gavefaceto,hisXiLeiidentityorhisYoungMasterXiaosidentity.

Threeyearslater,YanTingandLiKingdomhadadispute.BecauseLiKingdomwasstronger,
andcouldntbeoffended,YanTingKingsentPrinceZhengNantoLiKingdomasanenvoyand
toapologizetotheKingofLi.YoungMasterDuwascurrentlyatZhaoBeiatthattimeand
hearingaboutthat,heimmediatelykilled12horses,ridingdayandnightwithoutrestandfinally
arrivedinYanTingbeforePrinceZhengNandeparted.

ChiuYuewhowasstandingbehindFengMing,listenedtothestorywithherearsperked,
thinkingaboutthatscaryLiKingRuoYan.Shefeltachillandshowedatraceoffear,shethen
whispered,HewenttheretopreventPrinceZhengNanfromleaving.

LeTingshookhisheadandloweredhisvoice,AftermeetingPrinceZhengNan,hejustsaidone
sentence,Illbecomingwithyou.Asforhowheknewaboutthenews,hismeanof
transportationorhowanxioushewasalongtheway,hedidntmentionasingleaword.

Althoughhisstorytellingskillwaspoorandhedoesntusefacialexpressions,butwiththisshort,
straightforwardstory,LeTinghadalreadyplacedhisownuniquecharmintoit.Aftereveryone
heardhimsay,Illbecomingwithyou,theyfelttheirbloodpressurerising.

Whathappenedafterwards?ChiuYuepulledtightlyonhersmallhandkerchiefinhand,asking
eagerly.

LT:WhentheenvoyarrivedinthecapitalofLiKingdom,LiKingdeliberatelywantedtomakeit
difficult.HecalledPrinceZhengNanintothepalacetoentertainhisministers.
HeaskedPrinceZhengNan,YanTingwantstoreconcilewithLiKingdom?PrinceZhengNan
saidthat,thatwashisintention.LiKingdomsRuoYanthenaskedhimifhewasreallysincere
PrinceZhengNansaidhewas.AfterLiKingsRuoYanheardthat,heorderedsomeonetobring
outthreesimilarcupsofwineandthenturnedtoPrinceZhengNantosay,Theresonecupof
poisonedwine,ifyouarereallysincere,thenchooseacupanddrinkit.

Suddenly,asoftgaspwasheardcomingfromChiuXingwhocarelesslywhimperedafterfeeling
nervous.

ChiuLanstremblingvoiceasked,SodidPrinceZhengNanimmediatelydrinkone?

LT:PrinceZhengNanhadntspokeyetwhenYoungMasterDuwentforwardandrandomly
pickedacuponthetablewithoutanyhesitation,hethenswiftlydrankallofit.

FengMingexclaimed,Hesureisreallycourageous,butfortunately,whenhechoseamongthe
threecups,hechosetheonewithoutthepoison.


YoungMasterDudoesntgamble.Sayinguptohere,LeTingseyesrevealedalonginggazeof
admiration.Hecontinued,Afterdrinkingthefirstcup,heplaceditdownandpickedupthe
secondone.

What?Allthepeoplelisteningtothestoryshoutedinunison,exposingadisbeliefexpression.

IsthisDuFenganidiot?

YoungMasterDudrankallthreecupsofwine,evenLiKingwasverysurprisedandaskedhim,
Howishewillingtodrinkallthreecupsofwine?

YoungMasterDujustrepliedtohimcasually,Ijustguessedthatthesethreecupsofwinedont
haveanypoison.ThisplaceisthepalaceofLiKingdom,ifLiKingwantstokillus,whywouldhe
wastehispoisonedwinefor?Hejusthastogiveoutasignalanditllbedone.Ididthistoprove
totheworldthatLiKingisntthetypeofpersonwhowouldviciouslykillanenvoywhois
requestingforreconciliation.

AfterLiKingheardthat,heliftedhisheadandlaughedloudly,hethenaskedWhatifyour
guesswaswrong?

YoungMasterDusaid,ifIweretodieforafriend,thenthatsthegreatestcauseforaman.
Aftersayingthat,heturnedaround,grabbedPrinceZhengNanandlaughedforalongwhileas
theyleftthepalace.Theguardsandministerswereallstunnedthatnoonedaredtostopthem.

LeTingfinishedhisstory,hesatquietlythatevenaneedledroppingdowncouldbeheard.

EveryonefeltshockedaboutDuFengsstory.Afteralongmoment,FengMingfinallyletouta
longsighandwhispered,PrinceZhengNanisfortunatetohaveafriendlikethat.Remembering
abouthismissedopportunityofgettingtoknowDuFeng,FengMingregretteditbadly.

LT:IhaveadmiredYoungMasterDuformanyyearsnow.WheredidDukeMinghadachanceto
encounterhim?

FM:ItwasinFenCheng.

SoDukeMingwenttoFenChengtoday.LeTingsawhisexpressionandguessedthathemust
hadmissedDuFengsohewasupset.Deliberatelychangingthesubject,hesmiledandsaid,If
youwenttoFenCheng,thenyoumustexperiencethetasteoftheYouziwinethere.Thetasteis
waybettercomparedtootherwines.Allthepreciouswinewithinthepalacecantcomecloseto
theYouziwine.

WhentheYouziwinewasmentioned,FengMingwassuddenlystartled,oh,howcouldhe
almostforgetthemostimportantthing?

Therewasaninnocentfuturefatherwaitingtoberescued.

FengMingwasfeelingtroubledaboutmentioningTaiCansbrotherinlaw,soafterhearingLe
Tingmentioningaboutthewine,hedecidedtofollowthroughwiththetopic,Iheardthatwhen
theYouziwineleavesFenChengcity,itwillimmediatelybecomesour,therefore,itcantbe
transportedoutside,isthatright?IfthecapitalofYongYinisfarawaylikethis,evenifonewereto
shipitout,itwouldbeinvain.

FengMingthenbecamequietandcarefullyobservedLeTingsresponse.

Ah.LeTingplacedthehotcupofteadown,hissmiledisappearedashesaid,DukeMingmust
haveseenthebrokendowninnTaiCanhadarrangedandheardhiscryforhelp?

Hewassodirect,itwasbeyondFengMingsexpectation.

FengMingasked,Howdidyouknow,General?

LeTingshookhisheadandsmiled,ThisTaiCan,hehadusedthisbrokendowninntrick
manytimesnow.WhenIwaspatrollingtheareainFenCheng,healsousedthistrick,sohow
couldInotknow?IsawthatelderlywomancryandsoIcouldntbearit,therefore,Iorderedfor
theexecutionofherchildtoberescheduledandgavethemonemorechancetoshipthewineto
thecapital.Ah,butwhetherthewineisshippedornot,theresultwillstillbethesame.Overall,
itsjustlengtheningthetimeofdeath.

Hearinghimsaythat,FengMingfeltevenmorestrange,IfGeneralalsothinkthathis
brotherinlawisinnocent,thenwhydontyoureleasehim?

IfIcouldreleasehim,thenIwouldhavealreadydoneit.LeTingletoutasigh,helookedaround
andsaid,Speakingofwine,Isuddenlyhavetheurgetodrink.CanIhavetheblessingofdrinking
apreciouswinefromtheHolyMasterXiaoswinecollection?

Ofcourse.FengMingcommanded,Bringthewinehere.TurningtoLeTing,hesaid,
AlthoughourwinecantcomparetotheYouziwine,itsstillconsideredasoneofthefinest
wines.

LuoDengsentsomeonetobringoverthefinestwineandinvitedLeTingtodrinkandenjoythe
sceneryofthefullmoonoutside.Asfortheotherguests,theycanenjoythemusicanddance
entertainment.

FengMingsecretlypraisedLuoDengforhisquickthinking,noddedhisheadandsaid,Good,
whatdoesGeneralthinkaboutthat?

LeTinghadnoobjection,Thatsgreat.

Leavingbehindagroupofsubordinates,hefollowedFengMingandtheothersuponthedeck.

Afterthemaidspreparedthewineandfood,theysilentlyleft.OnlyRongHuandtheother
bodyguardsstoodonthedeckwithabitofdistance,formingawallofprotection.

LeTingsatdown,afterdrinkingacupofwarmwine,hefeltmorerelaxed,Rightnow,theres
onlythetwoofussoitsmuchmoreconvenienttospeak.I,LeTing,isamanwhoenjoys
battlingandhatesmostwhentheresaninterruption,soletsgetstraighttothepoint.DoesDuke
MingknowthatTaiCanistakingadvantageofyou?

TakenadvantagebyTaiCan?FengMingwasshocked,heasked,Thenisthestoryofhis
brotherinlawmadeup?

AlthoughTaiCanisacunningperson,hismotherpassedawayearlieronandheloveshislittle
sisterdearly.Afterhisbrotherinlawencounteredanunfortunatematter,TaiCancameupwith
manydifferentmethodstosavehim,sothissituationisntmadeup.Aftertalkingincircles,Le
Tingasked,ButdoesDukeMingeverwonderedaboutwhyheneededtoasksomanypeople
forhelp?Butnoonereachedouttohelpsavehisbrotherinlawslife?

FengMinghaventthoughtaboutthisissue,soheasked,Thatsright,howcomenooneis
willingtosavehislife?Hecouldnthelpbutscratchhishead.

Withoutpriorpreparation,FengMingdisplayedasillyfoolishexpression.

ItwasthefirsttimeLeTingmetFengMing,encounteringthefamousDukeMingforashorttime
andseeinghowthepersoninfrontofhimwhowasknownforhishiddenwisdombecomenaive
likethis,anamazinglyfastchangeinpersonalitygavehimquiteasurprise.Hecouldnthelpbut
smile,thenspokeinaserioustoneofvoice,TheressomethingDukeMingmaynotbeaware
of,eventhoughTaiCansbrotherinlawsmatterisasmallone,butifanyonewithhighstatus
weretointervene,thenitwouldbeabigmatterwithinYongYin.

FengMingbecameevenmoresurprised,AbigmatterwithinYongYin?Hishandhadnt
stoppedscratchinghishead,Generalisnttryingtoscareme,areyou?First,explaintome
clearly,mystomachisquitesmall.(note:hisstomachisquitesmallmeaninghesnotas
braveashelooks.)Hisbehaviorwasverycute.

ItseemsthatDukeMingisntawareofthecurrentsituationinYongYin.LeTingexplained,
YongYinKinghasthreePrinces,hismostfavoritewastheformerCrownPrinceYongYi,but

notlongago,whenPrinceYongYiwasdemoted,hispositionwastakenoverbythesecond
prince,YongQuan.

Listeningtohistoneofvoice,FengMingfeltLeTingwasgoingtostarttalkingabouttheentire
situationwithinYongYinsoFengMingquicklyputonhisstudiousfaceandnoddedhishead,
displayingthatheunderstoodeverything.

Infact,hehadheardaboutthesethingsearlier.

YongYilosthisCrownPrincepositionbecauseRongTiangotinvolved,requestingsomehelp
fromLieEr.Asofrightnow,LieErandYongYiarestucktogetherlikeglue,itcanbeconsidered
thatafterhewentthroughapainfuldecisionofchoosingthebearpaw,hegothissweet
delicacy.

IfLeTingknewhowYongYilosthisCrownPrincetitle,thenwouldheimmediatelydrawhis
swordtowardsthislittlelifeofhis,totakerevengeforYongYinKingdom?

FM:IhaveheardofPrinceYongQuan,whoseemslikeagoodcandidate.SincehestheCrown
Princenow,hemustbeactivelyinvolvedinnationalaffairsthaneverbefore.

LeTingsighed,Whathehaddestroyedisalreadydestroyed,healsoruinedthosewordsof
positiveinvolvement.

Howisthat?

LT:AlltheproblemsstartedonceYongQuanbecametheCrownPrince.AfterHisMajesty
officiallyannouncedthechangeandmadeYongQuantheCrownPrince,thewholeplacehas
changedfromthepastcustoms.Hestartedbribingforpower,withintentionofcontrollingthe
highestmilitaryandpoliticalpower.

FM:Soonerorlater,YongYinwillbelongtohim,sowhatstheneedofdoingallthis?

LT:IsntRongTongalsorecognizedastheheirtothethrone?Sowhydidhesuddenlyrevolted
andstoleXiLeiKingsthrone?

ThisonequestionofLeTingmadeFengMingspeechless.

ThepowerofbeingKinghasalwaysmadepeoplelosetheirmind.

Rightnow,asbigasthecapitalandassmallasFenChengis,everyonehasbeendraggedinto
thedisputeoftheroyalfamily.Withthefightamongtheroyaltiesabove,theministersand
officialsbeloweithersupportCrownPrinceYongQuanortheThirdPrince,soofcourse,they
wouldbefightingamongeachothertothebitterend.DukeMingisnotapersonofYongYin,so

youwouldntknowtheconsequencesofgettinginvolvedwithinYongYinterritory.Withonlyme
overseeingthisarea,therehavebeenmanysoldiersfightingeachothertodeath,sowhatsthere
todo?(Note:Ah,nowweknowwhytherewasadeadbodybeingthrownfromthe3rdstory
building)Thesoldierswhoarestationedhere,theformeronesareofThirdPrinceYong
Cheng,andthenewonesaresentbyCrownPrinceYongQuan.Bothsidesseemtohave
severallifetimesofhatred,sotheywouldglareateachotherwhenmeeting.Idontwanttotake
anysides,andwishtobeneutralwhenjudging,butwhatstheresult?Somethingstillhappened
today.

FengMingrememberedaboutwhathappenedatFenChengtoday,whereheencounteredthat
bodyfallingfromthesky.Needlesstosay,thevictimwasinvolvedinthestruggle.

Withsuchabrawl,evenresultinginadeadbody,thesoldiersstationedheredoesntseemtobe
afraidofLeTingspresence.

Butwhenhethoughtaboutit,allthesesoldiershavetheirownfactions.IfLeTingweretotake
oneside,hewilloffendtheothersideoverall,hesjustaGeneralmanaginganarea,notto
mentionYongQuan,buteventheThirdPrincecantbeoffended.Underthiskindofsituation,
remainingneutralandindifferent,maybethebestoption.

Afterponderingforalongwhile,stillfeelingpuzzled,FengMingasked,WhatdoesTaiCans
brotherinlawhavetodowiththat?CoulditbethatTaiCansbrotherinlawisoneofYong
QuanspeopleorperhapsYongChengspeople?

Hisbrotherinlawisjustanormalperson,theonethattheywanttodealwithisTaiCan,sothey
decidedtotakecareofhisbrotherinlawfirst.TheTaifamilyhasalwaysbeenloyaltotheThird
Prince,sotheonewhoproposedforthedeliveryofthewinetothecapitalwasoneofYong
Quanspeople.Therefore,ifDukeMingweretointerveneinthismatter,thenitsthesameas
involvingyourselfamongthetwoPrincesbattle.

FengMingfinallyrealizedthehugematter.

NowonderTaiCanwasanxious.ButevenifheknewTaiCanwashidingthisfromhim,Feng
Mingcouldntblamehim.EvenifTaiCanwasdaring,TaiCanwouldntdaretotellhimaboutthe
politicalaffairshappeningwithintheYongYinroyalty,sohecouldonlycryinjusticewithout
mentioningaboutthesourceoftheintricacy.

Sincethetwobrothersfightingissoobvious,arenttheyafraidofitbeingknown?

LeTingsneered,Whatiftheyknow?Whichroyalfamilydoesnthaveaninternalconflict?His
Majestyisalreadyofoldage,sothemajorityofnationalaffairsaregiventothePrinces.Back
then,whenYongYiwastheCrownPrince,thetwoPrinceswerealittleafraid.NowthatYongYi
nolongerinterfereswiththepoliticalaffairs,thosetwoPrincesaredissatisfiedwitheachother,

sotheirfightsarefiercerthanbefore.Infact,thistimewhenIcamehere,Ireceivednewsthat
TaiCancamelookingforDukeMingtohearhisplea.IwasafraidthatDukeMingdidnt
understandthewholematterandwouldhastilyintervene,bringingyourselfintotrouble.

FengMingrecalledthemanthatwaskilledinfrontofhimtoday.Becauseofinternalaffairsof
YongYin,evenasmallcitylikeFenChengwasdraggedintoit.Hedoesntknowhowmuch
moreinnocentpeoplewillhavetodie.

LieZhongLiuwasright,oncethereisapowerstruggleamongtheroyalties,innocentpeoples
bloodwillflowlikerivers.

FengMingfinallyunderstoodwhynoonewantedtohelpTaiCansbrotherinlaw.Itwas
becauseiftheydidhelp,thentheywouldbeoffendingtheCrownPrinceYongQuan.FengMing
thenaskedLeTingwhichpersonhesidedwith.

LT:CanInotchoose?IwaselectedbyHisMajestytocomehere.Thatyear,thepersonwho
recommendedmewasPrinceYongYi.YongYisentaletterthatrecentlyarrived,notifyingme
thatifIweretomeetDukeMing,hewantedmetotakecareofyou.

FengMingsuddenlyunderstood.OnecanconsiderthatLeTingisoneofYongYismen,no
wonderhedoesntwanttoinvolvehimselfwithintheconflict,butcameenthusiasticallyhereto
explaintoFengMingaboutthecurrentsituation.

Thus,FengMingfeltmorefondofLeTing.

FengMingfrownedandsaid,ThankyouGeneralforcomingheretoremindmeaboutthe
currentsituationamongtheYongYinroyalty.Ireallydontwanttogetinvolved.However,I
alreadypromisedtohelpTaiCan,nottomentionabouttakingresponsibilityinthis,buta
personslifeisprecious,IcannotjustthinkaboutthematterbeingtroublesomethatIjustsitback
andwatch.General,yourgreatness,howcanyoubeafraidofthedifficultiesinfrontofyouin
expenseofabandoningtheweak?Thisinnocentperson,Ihavetosavehim.

LeTingheardthathedidntwantanyinvolvementandfeltitwasonlynaturalandthebestthingto
do.HewasabouttonodhisheadwhenFengMingsuddenlyspurtoutthewords,havetosave
him,whichconcludedthathehadnothoughtsofreconsidering,justlikewordsthatcantbe
takenback.

Thistime,LeTingwasstunned,raisinghisheadtolookatFengMing.

Thecalmyoungmaninfrontofhimwasholdingasmallcupofwine.Underneaththemoonlight,
hisskinwassmoothasjade,gentleanddelicate,butyethecouldspeaksuchnoblewords.Le
Tingwascompletelysurprised,hesilentlythought,thisDukeMingseemsweak,butyettheres
suchafortitude,chivalroussidetohim.


BecauseofYongYisletter,hewasonlyplanningonremindingFengMingandthuswould
completehisresponsibility.Atthismoment,hecanthelpbutadmireFengMing,and
immediatelygaveFengMingalargetoast.Afterdrinkingallofit,hesaid,DukeMingisnot
someonefromYongYin,butyetstillcherishesthelifeofaminorpersonofYongYin.HowcanI
nothavealittlebitofcourage?Alright,sincethesedaysIhaveenoughbirdpoop,tonightwhenI
getback,IwillimmediatelyorderforTaiCansbrotherinlawsrelease,sotheirwholefamilywill
bereunited.IfPrinceYongQuansendhisindictmentinthefuture,thenIwilltaketheblame.

Absolutelynot!FengMingquicklywavedhishandandsaid,IfGeneralreleaseshim,itjust
meansthatyouareabandoningyourneutrality,standingtowardsThirdPrincesside.IfYong
Quanknowsofthis,hewillholdagrudgeagainstyou.Rightnow,heistheCrownPrince,who
knowswhatkindofchargeshewillframeyouwith?Savingonepersonandyetharminganother
isnotthebestmethod,howabouthowabout.Formorethanhalfaday,FengMingstill
couldntfindthebestmethod,feelingembarrassedhesmiled,Givemesometimetothink
Hethenstartedscratchinghishead.

Hisplanwouldhavebeenverysimple,whichwastoconvinceLeTing,provingTaiCans
brotherinlawsinnocenceandbeggingLeTingtosparehim.

Upuntilnow,herealized,thematterswithintheworldisoftentimesmorecomplicatedthan
expected.

Rightnow,LeTingagreedtoreleasetheprisoner,butthiswarmheartedGeneralwhowishedto
remainneutral,howcanFengMingheartlesslypushhimintoadangerouspartisanstruggle?

Evenifitsnecessarytosavealife,hecannotmakeLeTingoffendthetwoPrinces,FengMing
triedtothinkaboutasolution,butcouldntthinkofanythingtosolvethisdifficultproblem.

HecouldnthelpbuttothinkofRongTian.

Thatpersonissuchacraftyguy,ifhewashere,perhapshislipswouldcurveupward,andthen
formulateaplanthatwouldbenefitbothsides.

Bastard!Bastard!Rightnow,heshouldconcentrateonthinkingofawaytosavesomeone,so
whyishesuddenlythinkingaboutRongTian?FengMingsecretlycursedhimselfforalmost
gettingdistractedandheaskedLeTing,TheedicttoexecuteTaiCansbrotherinlaw,what
doestheentireissuestate?

LT:Theedictwassentbytheofficialsinthecapital,accordingtoYongYinslaw,iftheorderis
notcarriedout,thentheyhavetherighttoexecutethepersoninchargeofhandlingit.Because
ofTaiCansplea,Ihavealreadystretchedoutthetimeandrequestedforanothershipmentof
thewinetothecapitaloncemore,whichisalreadypressingtheissue.Overall,theyknowmy

approachtosuchmatter,andneversuspectedmeasapersonoftheThirdPrince,sothiscan
becountedasgivingmerespect,andapprovedmyrequestforanothershipmentoftheYouzi
wine.However,despitealltherespect,theyareonlywillingtogiveonechance,thesecondtime
wontbeconsidered.Thiswinebrewer,ChaoAn,oncehesdead,asalocalmanagement
general,Ihavetofileareportabouthischargesandevidencetothecapital.Andinthefuture,if
myreportisapproved,thenthemattermayevenbeimplicatedtotheprisonersrelativeslikeTai
Can.IfTaiCanissentencedandimprisoned,hispositionasFenChengsinspectorofthe
lucrativepierwillfallintothehandsofCrownPrinceYongQuanssubordinates.

ChaoAnisTaiCansbrotherinlaw.

FengMingwidenedhiseyesandsaid,Sointheend,allthisisbecauseoftheFenChengs
inspectorposition?

LeTingasked,Ifnot,thenwhatelsedoesDukeMingthinktheywant?Athreestory,broken
downinn?Thepostasaninspectorofthepierisinheritedbythefamily.TaiCanusuallydoes
thingscarefullysotheywereunabletofindfault.However,someonedecidedtoproposesucha
sinisteridealikethis.

FengMingseyeswidenedevenmore.
OhGod!

Isanyonegoingtoteachhimhowtosavesomeonefromthischaoticpoliticalstrugglehere?!

=========

RongTianwaswearingrainclotheswithahat,coveringhistallstature.TogetherwithZiYan,
theyimmersedfromthecurtainofrainandsteppedintoPiaoXiang(Fragrant)House.

Withintheplace,therewerentthatmanyguests,fillingonlythreeorfourseatings,which
occupiedthebestspotnearthewindow,andwereleisurelyenjoyingthespringrainoutside.Both
ofthemdidnotglanceatthehallonebit,butinsteadwalkeduptothesecondfloor,pushedopen
adoortoaroomattheendofthecorridorandwentinside.

Coincidentally,whileFengMingwasdrinkingwine,enjoyingthegardensceneryinFenCheng,
andencounteringadeadbodycrashingthroughtheroof,itwasthesametimeRongTian
reunitedwithhismenandarrivedattheportofWeiZhen,inZhaoBei,alongtheborderofYong
Yin.

ThissmallportofWeiZhen,cantbecomparedtothelargeharborofFenCheng.However,
travelingalongthewaterwayofYongYinandenteringZhaoBeiwasthemostconvenientrouteat
themomentforRongTian.

Withinthesmallhall,incensewasburning,onthetablewerefourpreparedsidedishesandajar
ofhotwine,justintime!

ZiYanlookedaroundforabitandwhisperedapraise,ThesameXiaoLiuEr,alwayspreparing
everythingproperly.HefollowedRongTianinahastetoarrivehere,eventhoughthedayswere
tiring,hewasstilllivelyasever,withouttheslightestsignoffatigue.

Afterthepersoncameintotheroom,closingthedoortightly,andlookingoutofthewindows,
makingsurethatnoonehadfollowedhim,hequicklyclosedthewindows.FacingRongTian
whowassittingtooneside,hegavearespectfulsalute,YourMajesty,youvefinallyarrivedhere
safeandsound,Iwasworriedthatyoumightencountertroublealongtheway.Raisinghiseyes,
heglancedatRongTianwitheyesfullofexcitement.

ZiYanandXiaoLiuwereacquaintances.TheywerebothpromotedbyRongTianandwere
placedunderstrictsecrettraining.Topreventunexpectedsituations,twoyearsago,RongTian
trustedXiaoLiuandsenthimtoYongYinasaspy.Today,theymeetagainandZiYancouldnt
keepcalmashewasoverjoyed,Whatdoyoumean,wefinallyarrivedheresafeandsound?
Makingitsoundlikewehadtogothroughmuchdifficultytoarrivehere.WithHisMajestysskill,it
shouldntbeaproblemtravelingbetweennations.

RongTianlookedasifrelaxed,butinfact,hewasreallyanxiousashewishedtoarriveinDong
Fanquickly.HepattedXiaoLiuontheshoulderandorderedhimtositdown,withacalmvoice,
hesaid,OurelitetroopsinZhaoBeihavedisguisedthemselvesaslaborersorsailors,
separatedintosmallgroups,andwillsneakintoYongYin,usingthewaterwaytopassthroughLi
KingdomtoreachDongFan.Iwillberestinghereforonenight,tomorrowmorning,wewill
immediatelyleavethisplace.AreyoustillcurrentlyworkingwithinYongQuansresidence?What
isthecurrentsituationinYongYin,rightnow?

Twoyearswithoutmeeting,XiaoLiuappearedmorethinnerthanwhenhewasbesideRongTian
thatyear.Maybehewastaller,therefore,helookedmorethinner,buthiseyeswereunusually
seraphic,expressingasenseofconfidenceandtenacity.

HearingRongTiansquestion,heclearlyreplied,YongYiniscurrentlyinamess,everywhereis
chaotic.ForatrooptocrossYongYinisextremelyeasy,whilethetwoprincesareinapower
struggle.Peoplefightingamongpeople,themoretheyfightthemoreterrifyingitis,sowhowould
payattentiontoafleetofsailorsandacaravanoflaborers?Pausingforabit,herevealedan
uncertainlook,feelingworriedhesaid,However,onceYourMajestypassthroughYongYin,why
dontyouheadtowardsBoJianorBeiQi,butinsteaddecidedtoheadtowardsTongKingdom?
Thatplaceisenemyterritory,ifRuoYanweretodiscover

RongTiandidntcaremuchashebrushedhishandlightlyandlaughed,RuoYaniscurrently
dealingwithFanJiaandhislargetroopsareassembledthere.HismilitarypowerwithinYongYin
andTongKingdomarevirtuallynone.Evenifhistroopsarethere,Iamnotonebitafraid,notto

mentionthathistroopsarenotthere.BoJianandBeiQiaresafeterritories,butthedetouristoo
farandwouldwastemuchtime,IHewasgoingtosaythathewasworriedthathewontbe
abletoreturnintimetoprotectFengMingwhowastraveling.Hewassoconcernedthathe
formedanimageofFengMingsaying,Greatwisdom,Greatcourage,thathedecidednotto
sayanymoreandjustadded,IwanttoheaddirectlytoTongKingdomtosavetime,um,Feng
Mingspreparingforhistravels,heshouldbeinYongYinterritory,iftheresanytrouble,youhave
toprotecthim.

XiaoLiunoddedhisheadandsternlysaid,Yoursubordinateunderstands.

ThebattlebetweenYongQuanandYongCheng,thetwoprinces,whatisthecurrentsituation?

XiaoLiucarefullyanswered,heworkedinsidetheresidenceofYongQuan,therefore,received
themostnews.HeexplainedhoweversinceYongQuanwasnamedCrownPrince,hetriedto
seizepowerandYongChengcooperatedwiththoseministerswhoseinterestweredamagedto
formaresistance.Hecitedmanydifferentvividexamples.RongTianwassippingwinewhile
listeningquietly.

Everythingwasaccordingtohiscalculations.

ThatdaywhenhedesignatedLieErtopersuadeYongYitoabandontheCrownPrincetitle,he
alreadyguessedtheoutcomeoftoday.

Rightnow,thesituationhasdevelopedsmoothly,hecantletYongQuanandYongChengs
powerbebalanced,fortheyshouldcontinuetofighteachother.

FengMingsaidsomethinglike:twocranesfighting,thefishermanwillbenefit.

AfterlisteningtoXiaoLiu,itseemsthatYongChenghasbeencompletelybeatenandhistrusted
officialsarebeingcapturedbyYongQuan.Onceallofhismenarecompletelycaptured,Yong
Chengwillalsobecompletelyruined.

IfYongChengisfinished,thenYongQuanwillseizefullpower,andYongYincanteasilygain
controlasbefore.

Thinkingaboutthis,RongTianslipsslightlycurved,hecasuallysaid,Ifthatsthecasethenthe
fightisunfair.Wecantjustidlysitasideandnotlendahelpinghandfortheweak.XiaoLiuEr,
bringyourearoverhere.

WhisperingbesideXiaoLiusear,hegavetwoinstructions.

AfterXiaoLiulistenedtohiswords,hiseyessuddenlylitup,helaughed,YourMajesty,please
restassured.Yoursubordinateunderstandswhatneedstobedone.Recently,YongQuan

involvedhimselfwithFenCheng,thatharboroverthere,itseemslikehewantstoseizethe
harborinspectorpost.Wecanstarttakingactionthere.

Good.

Withoutfurtherado,yoursubordinatemustnowrushovertoFenChengharbor.Illtakemy
leave,YourMajesty,pleasetakecare.XiaoLiuErboweddownatRongTian,thenturnedover
toZiYan,ZiYan,takecare.Eventhoughhiswordsweregentle,hiseyeswerefilledwith
brotherlylove.

======

FenChengPort.

AlongtheAmanRiver,themostimpressivedisplaywasthelargeship.

FengMingtriedtoputthatsmallheadofhistowork,usingallofhisbraincellstofigureoutthe
bestrighteousactiontodotohelptheweak.

Alas,hestilldidnthavethetalenttosolvepoliticalmatters.Whileonthebattlefield,hecan
handlefacingabloodywar,butwithinternalpoliticalaffairsamongtheroyalties,wheresubtle
andunderhandedmeansaredonewithoutatraceofblood,thiskindofrealitymadehimshiver.

HecantletTaiCansbrotherinlawdiewrongfully

HecantletLeTingbeimplicated

Healsocantinvolvehimselfotherwisethistripacrosseachnationswillbecomeaseven
nationalliancetokillDukeMing

Whatadifficultproblem!IfRongTianwashere,itwouldbegreat.

FengMingfrowned,hepouredafewcupsofwineandconsecutivelydrankthemallatonce.
Silentlylookingatthemoonlightreflectedonthetabletop,thelightbouncedintohiseyes,ina
slightmomentaryglance,everythinglookedblurrythathecouldntseeclearly.

IcantseeclearlyFengMingmumbledfoolishly,hedidntknowwhatcametohismind,but
hesuddenlyshuddered,hisdarkeyesinstantlybrightened,hishandsslappedfiercelyuponhis
thighsashecriedout,Ifinallyfigureditout!

WhatdidDukeMingfigureout?LeTingquicklyasked.

FengMingdidntanswerrightaway,hecalledRongHuoverandasked,WhereisTaiCanright
now?

Hesinsidethelowercabin,togetherwiththeoldlady.

CallTaiCanoverhere.

RongHuleftimmediately.

Withinashortmoment,TaiCanwasbroughtover.WhenhesawLeTing,hisfacewentpale
sincehefiguredwhathetriedtoconcealwasexposedtoFengMing,hetimidlyboweddownand
said,WhatordersdoesDukeMinghave?

FengMingglancedathimandlaughed,Youthere,stoppretending,thewholesituationaboutthe
PrincesImcurrentlyawareofit.Yousurearedaring,evenwantedtodragmeintothisutter
chaos.

TaiCanimmediatelykneeleddown,trembling,DukeMing,pleaseforgivemyindulgence,Ihad
nootherchoiceandnowheretoturnforhelp.

WhynotaskforyourThirdPrinceforhelp?

TC:SinceYongQuaniscurrentlytheCrownPrince,PrinceYongChengisforcedintoa
situationwherehecantlifthishead.AllofuswhoaresuspectedtoallywithPrinceYongCheng
arebeingpersecuted.HowcanPrinceYongChengbeabletoassistus?Imonlyasmallofficial,
whoreceivedabitofbenefitfromhim.Iveneverharmedanyoneandhaveneverdoneanything
evilbefore.God,whywouldIevenwanttooffendPrinceYongQuan?Ijustwanttorequestfor
DukeMingshelp!

TaiCan,thereasonwhyImaskingyou,FengMingthoughtforalongwhilebeforeasking,You
askedmetosaveyourbrotherinlawnotbecauseofyoursister,butalsobecauseofyourself,to
satisfyyourambition?Wereyouplanningoninvolvingmeinthisfromthebeginning?IfIwereto
rescueyourbrotherinlaw,itwouldmeanthatIindirectlysidedwithYongChenganditwill
increasethestrengthforhim?

IfitwasFengMingofthreeyearsago,hemightnotutterthesewords.

Butaftergoingthroughmanydifferentsituations,hefoundthatusingotherpeopleslivesin
exchangefortheirownambitionwascommon.SinceRongTianisnolongerhere,evenifhes
unwilling,hemustbecarefulinspeculatingabouteveryonesulteriormotives.

Hemusttrainhimselftobestrongsothathecanprotectthosearoundhimandcompletethis
journeypeacefully.


TC:WhatisDukeMingthinkingof?IamasmallofficialwhopledgedhisloyaltytoPrinceYong
ChengbecauseIwantedsomeoneofsupport,toliveoutmydayspeacefully,sohowisthere
anyothermotives?MybrotherinlawiscurrentlyindangersohowcanIeventhinkoftaking
advantageofthesituationformyowngain?WhatkindofpersonwouldIbe?

Hisvoicetrembled,filledwithahiddenangerbecauseofFengMingsmisunderstandingofhim.

Afterlisteningtohim,FengMingnoddedhishead,Thatsgood.Ihavethoughtofaplanthatcan
satisfybothsides,whereeveryonecanbesafe.

TaiCanwasoverjoyed,heaskedexcitedly,WhatgreatideadidDukeMingthinkof?

IwantGeneralLeTingtocomplywiththeedictfromabove,andhandletheexecutionofyour
brotherinlawtoday.

Oncethewordsweresaid,bothTaiCanandLeTingwereshocked.TaiCanwasstiffforalong
time,hischubbyfaceletoutahesitantsmile,This..thisisthegoodidea?DukeMingisntjoking
aroundwithme,areyou?

Imveryserious,whosaysthatImjokingaround?FengMingputonasternfaceand
continued,Whenwedothis,itwillprotectGeneralLeTingfromenteringtheblackbookof
PrinceYongQuan.GeneralLeTingwillfollowaccordingtotheorderreceivedfromabove,
thoughkillingsomeoneisnothisintention,ThirdPrinceYongChengwillsurelyunderstand,so
hewontblamehim.

LeTingfrowned,Butwouldthisstillbesavinganinnocentpersonorkillingsomeone?

DukeMingjusttoldhimthathemustsavethisinnocentpersonandyethehasquicklyforgotten
aboutit?

Ionlysaidtohandletheexecution,nottoexecutetheperson.

LeTingvaguelyguessed,WhatDukeMingmeanistopretendtocomplywiththeorderof
execution,butsecretlyreleaseChaoAn?Heimmediatelyshookhisheadandnarrowedhis
eyebrows,Thisideaismucheasiersaidthandone,theexecutionprocesshasalwaysbeen
carriedoutinpublic.Twoyearsago,therewasaprisonerwhobribedtheguards,usinganother
persontoundergothepunishment,andhewasdiscovered.Therefore,beforetheprisoneris
sentoutsideontotheexecutionground,hewillbeidentifiedoncemore.Thismatterisrelatedto
theFenChengspierpost,ImafraidthatthewholeprocesswillbecloselymonitoredbyPrince
YongQuansmen,soitwontbeeasytotrickthem.

TaiCandesperatelynodded,lookingnervous,headvised,Theexecutiongroundisnotan
ordinaryplace,medicalofficialswillexaminethedeadbody.Ifthereisasubstitutionorafake
death,allthesetrickscannotbeconcealedfromthoseveteranexaminers.

FengMingwasveryconfident,inhighspiritshesaid,Havingasubstitutionorfakingdeathare
alloldtricks,whichcantbeusedtodeceivethem.Thistime,wewillgivethoseveteranmedical
examinersanewtrickupoursleeves.

Anewtrick?

FengMingswepthiseyesbetweenthetwomen,lickedhislipsandgavethemasmirk.

Hewaslikealittlekidreadytoperformabigprank,heraisedhischestandaskedinalowvoice,
Haveyouallplayedwithmagicbefore?

ENDofVOLUME12