Perhaps it was due to seeing blood and being stimulated during the day, Yu Chi Feng had a nightmare at night.
He dreamed of blood everywhere and corpses all over the fields. He dreamed that he was in the wild mountains and forests, in the pouring rain, with no support.
Then he dreamed that he was surrounded by countless unclear faces. He didn't know who those people were, whether they were enemies, people from Liu Du City, or...
Finally, he saw a pair of crimson eyes, which seemed to burn his body like a raging fire.
When he suddenly woke up, it was already dawn and the rooster's crowing had not yet stopped. He was covered in cold sweat, sitting up in bed, breathing heavily.
Yu Chi Feng touched his chest, feeling a flutter of panic. At the same time, he felt a dull pain in the back of his head, as if someone had split his skull open and stuffed it with wriggling maggots, causing a nauseating pain.
However, Yu Ji had already told him that such a reaction was normal. And only after the pain subsided for a while could he get up as usual to serve Feng Ting Liu.
Yu Chi Feng was getting more and more used to life by Feng Ting Liu's side, gradually figuring out the daily habits of this young master. He could even know what to do next without Feng Ting Liu speaking.
Just like today.
Today is Zhang Dou's big day. Red flowers are everywhere in the city, and the sounds of gongs and drums continue. The vendors on the street have put away their stalls and set up tables after tables of banquets. They have set up a wedding banquet on West Street, just waiting for the newcomers.
They don't worship their parents. Instead, they worship the most powerful person in the city - Feng Ting Liu, who is sitting in the highest position, wearing a red and white luxurious robe. Rarely does he have a slight smile on his face. Holding the tobacco pipe in one hand and shaking the wine cup in the other, he sits in the main seat and looks down at the entire bustling street.
The wine prepared for the wedding banquet is a strong liquor brewed by the city residents. The family that brewed the wine is a disciple from the Beggar Gang. The wine is strong and spicy. Although it feels refreshing when swallowed, it doesn't suit Feng Ting Liu's taste.
If it were an ordinary day, Feng Ting Liu would definitely put down the wine cup with an unhappy expression, and even smash the cup, and no one would dare to complain. But today at the wedding banquet, he actually drank the wine offered by the Beggar Gang and even played with the wine cup in his hand.
But the wine is indeed too strong. Feng Ting Liu rubbed the wine cup with his fingers. His expression remained unchanged, but he held the wine cup a little farther away from himself.
Seeing his actions, Yu Chi Feng immediately understood. He reached out to take the wine cup that emitted a strong smell of alcohol, and with the other hand, he handed over a cup of flower and fruit tea with a refreshing fragrance, saying, "Young master, we still need to go to the accounting room later. Have a cup of tea first."
Yu Chi Feng's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for several people nearby to hear clearly. Going to the accounting room became a reason not to drink anymore, and the people around naturally weren't stupid.
After all, except for the wine just offered by the Beggar Gang, no one dared to offer a second cup to Feng Ting Liu.
"Mind your own business." Feng Ting Liu scolded, but his eyebrows were slightly raised, without any intention of blaming. He took the cup of clear tea, put it to his lips and took a sip, washing away the spicy and fragrant wine taste in his mouth.
Yu Chi Feng smiled, asked a servant nearby to take away the wine cup, and brought some fruit and snacks for Feng Ting Liu to enjoy.
The banquet below became even more lively. The groom, Zhang Dou, was forced to drink cup after cup of wine, and among them, of course, was Xia Yi, who said he would force Zhang Dou to drink.
Xia Yi didn't wear that Taoist robe today. It seemed that he was afraid it would affect his drinking, so he also changed into a festive outfit to fit the atmosphere. His drinking posture was extremely inconsistent with his face. He actually held a wine jar and poured it into his mouth, while shouting that Zhang Dou wasn't manly enough to drink from the jar, making the people around laugh.
There are many familiar faces in the crowd that Yu Chi Feng recognizes. They are servants of the Feng Mansion. Even Xie Zi Cun, who always has a stern face, is drinking cup after cup of wine.
"You don't have to stay here." Feng Ting Liu suddenly spoke, leaning back in the chair and closing his eyes to rest, "I'm not someone who can't live without someone by my side."
Yu Chi Feng felt that Feng Ting Liu was in a very good mood today. Even his words were much gentler. Perhaps it was because the city was lively, and Feng Ting Liu didn't want to spoil everyone's joy, not even frowning for a moment.
Yu Chi Feng just shook his head, picked up the empty cup, and filled it with just the right temperature of tea.
"I'll just serve the young master."
"As you wish."
Feng Ting Liu snorted lightly and stopped paying attention to Yu Chi Feng. Feng Ting Liu likes to be quiet, and he has never been willing to blend into such a lively scene.
The atmosphere became more and more lively. Amidst the laughter of the crowd, the groom entered the bridal chamber, and most of the drunkards had already collapsed on the table.
Only then did Feng Ting Liu get up, walked into the midst of the drunkards, and tapped Xie Zi Cun, who was hiccupping, with the burned-out tobacco pipe.
"Ah...?" Xie Zi Cun looked up, his eyes confused. Seeing Feng Ting Liu's calm eyes, he suddenly sobered up, "What's wrong!"
"Come with me to the study."
"Now?!" Xie Zi Cun looked at the drunkards around him, looked at Feng Ting Liu in confusion, but saw Feng Ting Liu nod. He could only sigh helplessly, straightened his wrinkled robe, "Do you know what I was called when I was in the Heavenly Craft Sect?"
Feng Ting Liu was rarely in the mood and raised his eyes to ask, "What?"
"Salted fish! Transparent! Never turn over!"
I firmly oppose this kind ofbad behavior of working thirteen hours a day!
But Xie Zi Cun had no choice. Under those fierce crimson eyes, he walked towards the Feng Mansion with a long face. But when he saw Yu Chi Feng following behind Feng Ting Liu, he suddenly felt relieved.
Fortunately, he wasn't alone.
The three of them entered the study. Yu Chi Feng lit the oil lamp for the dark room and filled Feng Ting Liu's tobacco pipe with tobacco, then stood to one side. Feng Ting Liu took a few sips of white smoke and exhaled a breath, as if to wash away his fatigue.
Xie Zi Cun frowned as he watched him smoking, somewhat worried, "Can you smoke a little less."
Feng Ting Liu ignored him. He tapped the tobacco pipe on the armrest to even out the tobacco leaves and said, "I saw you drinkingDrinking over there. It's not like your style. What's the reason?"
Xie Zi Cun frowned even deeper. Hearing this, he heaved a heavy sigh, "What else could it be? It's the business of the Plum Blossom Society. The more I think about it, the more worried I get, so I asked someone to investigate. Guess what I found out..."
"Behind the Plum Blossom Society is the Twelfth Prince."
"That's right! So you already knew. That's why you did business with the Plum Blossom Society!"
Xie Zi Cun's tone was both serious and helpless. Suddenly, he felt a headache and covered his head.
Yu Chi Feng was also somewhat shocked. He didn't expect Feng Ting Liu to have a connection with the imperial court.
Feng Ting Liu, however, remained calm. He stretched out an empty hand towards Yu Chi Feng. Yu Chi Feng seemed to sense something and took out a booklet marked with the character "Plum" from the side and placed it in his hand.
"After all these years, you should be used to my way of doing things." Feng Ting Liu casually flipped through the booklet and placed the records in front of Xie Zi Cun.
"Not used to it... I'm just a salted fish."
"The Twelfth Prince and the Fifth Prince are born to the same mother, both are Concubine Mei." Feng Ting Liu suddenly said, "It is Concubine Mei."
Xie Zi Cun was stunned and looked up, "Concubine Mei? Isn't she the dancer who accidentally had an affair with the emperor and got pregnant? She was deeply favored by the emperor. After giving birth to the Fifth Prince, she got pregnant again but accidentally drowned in the imperial garden?"
"Deeply favored? She's just a canary kept in the deep palace. The emperor feels guilty towards Concubine Mei, but also feels that her death has relieved a burden in his heart. Now both princes are dissolute by nature. People think that they are just the children of a dancer and have no potential. As long as they don't covet the throne, everything else is fine. The emperor allows them to play around and doesn't give them power. Can this be called deep favor?"
"But... The Twelfth Prince has now built a power in the martial arts world. Won't the person on the throne not care?" Xie Zi Cun looked confused.
"The Twelfth Prince is only fifteen years old this year and is lively and innocent. The emperor likes him very much. But the Twelfth Prince has no interest in the throne. Instead, he has loved reading those folk storybooks since he was a child and yearns for the martial arts world. Now there are many powers in the martial arts world, and he wants to be a part of it. Although theThe opposing memorial are piled up in the imperial study, the emperor thinks it's just a child's play." Feng Ting Liu rarely said so many words, and his tone was full of interest, as if he was just reading a storybook and feeling pleased.
"Play... It can be said as a child's innocent play, but if it's seen in a larger perspective, it's raising private soldiers and planning a rebellion!"
"But he's just a dissolute and unambitious child. What potential can he have? At least, that's what the person on the throne thinks."
The more Xie Zi Cun listened, the more his head hurt. He didn't know if it was because of the strong liquor or because of Feng Ting Liu.
"So you want to win over the Twelfth Prince... No, that's not right. You have already allied with the Fifth Prince. The Twelfth Prince's actions are just paving the way for the Fifth Prince..." Xie Zi Cun's eyes suddenly became clear as he looked at Feng Ting Liu, as if he understood everything.
The two princes who are not favored seem to be dissolute, but their actions are actually paving the way for the future. This paving has led their way to the martial arts world.
Those who are not favored are just pretending to be weak.
Feng Ting Liu stopped speaking and continued to sip on the mouthpiece of the tobacco pipe. His pair of crimson eyes looked at Xie Zi Cun with an indiscernible smile.
Xie Zi Cun had nothing more to say. He had been with Feng Ting Liu for so many years and naturally understood his character that once he decided to do something, he would never turn back.
"Crazy, really crazy. You cooperate with the royal family, and also with..." Xie Zi Cun suddenly wanted to say something, but looked up at Yu Chi Feng standing aside and stopped, "Forget it, forget it. The weapons that the Plum Blossom Society needs will be fully manufactured by Jian Ya Chi in three days."
Feng Ting Liu didn't get angry when he heard Xie Zi Cun call him crazy.
Yu Chi Feng lowered his eyes and stood aside, treating himself as a decoration. Although his heart was shaking, he pretended not to hear.
It was already late at night. Feng Ting Liu also felt sleepy. He placed the tobacco pipe on the white jade holder on the table, closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair, supporting his cheek with one hand.
"I will personally go to Bei Ji City."
"That's fine. But recently, Bei Ji City is very chaotic. Who will you go with, Yu Chi Feng?" Xie Zi Cun looked up at Yu Chi Feng, looking hesitant.
When Yu Chi Feng heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up. His pair of bright eyes looked at Feng Ting Liu, like a well-trained big dog, full of anticipation. Although Yu Chi Feng has settled in Liu Du City, he still misses his memory and background. Going out of Liu Du City might give him some clues.
But Feng Ting Liu just chuckled, opened his thin and emotionless eyes, and didn't even give Yu Chi Feng a glance, saying:
"The dog I keep hasn't been trained well enough to be taken out."