He knew that Yuan Gang took duty seriously. If someone had ever helped or saved him, he would fulfill his obligation. Niu You Dao didn't consider this a bad trait. He even supported Yuan Gang and didn't want him to become as heartless as himself.
And he had no intention whatsoever of bowing down to the Shang siblings; nor would it be easy for them to win his heart.
Shu Qing wanted to say something, but in the end, she remained silent. She pondered, feeling a deep, hidden meaning in Niu You Dao's words.
Seeing her silence, Niu You Dao challenged her again:
“Princess, did I do something wrong?”
Before him, Shu Qing finally replied:
“Lord Dao did everything correctly. It will be better for us this way.”
Niu You Dao was at a loss for words. He had hoped she would say he was wrong, and then he could easily leave, taking Yuan Gang with him.
It seemed to him that this girl had outsmarted them both. Back at the Southern Mountain Monastery, this girl had forced them to stay. And here, she once again gave him no reason to leave. This seemingly gentle, yet truly strong-willed girl, managed them quite well.
“Women are more troublesome than men,” Niu You Dao muttered under his breath, then unclenched his fist and said:
“If that’s the case, then what other questions do you have?”
Shu Qing sighed and, changing her tone, asked:
“Feng Ru Nan seems to already know that she was given medicine. How is my brother supposed to face her now?”
The moment Niu You Dao heard this, he immediately smiled. He plucked a flower from his ear and sniffed it:
“Princess worries too much. We simply need to move forward. As for the relationship between the newlyweds, that’s their business. It’s the Prince’s happiness or problems; he’s the one to resolve them. What are we supposed to do? They need to sort it out themselves.”
He hadn't initially thought the Prince would be weaker than Feng Ru Nan, but it turned out quite differently.
Shu Qing was speechless.
*You engineered all of this, and now you’re saying it’s none of your business? Is this how you always conduct your affairs? Mess things up and then push the blame onto others? Truly, you kill the person but don't want to bury the body!*
She gave a bitter laugh and said:
“Lord Dao, what if this matter gets out?”
Niu You Dao retorted with a question:
“Will *we* tell others?”
Shu Qing shook her head, “No!”
Niu You Dao, arms crossed, replied:
“Will the Feng family, upon learning of this, go around spreading it? Feng Ru Nan is strong. At most, in this matter, she’ll find ways to simply get her revenge, but she won’t tell everyone either. She’s already caused enough trouble as it is. And even if someone hears about it, they’ll just say it’s a family affair. What is there to fear? It doesn’t concern other people. What if the Prince gives her that medicine a few more times? Princess, you needn't worry.”
Shu Qing let out a soft sigh. She herself realized that she was being rather tedious. Indeed, what difference did it make what others thought? It wasn't that important, especially given their situation.
She then looked at the bristly soybeans and, changing the subject, asked:
“Lord Dao, what do you intend to do with the soybeans?”
“Hehe. Yuan Gang is gluttonous and asked me to cook something,” Niu You Dao said, gesturing towards Yuan Gang. “Someday, I’ll prepare a delicacy and invite the Princess to try it.”
*Soybeans, what can you do with them? Boil, fry, stew, bake?* Shu Qing didn’t understand. Nevertheless, she nodded:
“Very well! I hope to broaden my horizons and sample Lord Dao’s cooking.”
“The Princess will be pleased!” Niu You Dao replied cheerfully at once, then turned to Yuan Gang and said:
“Later, we’ll need to find some seasonings. Pay attention to that.”
They had been here for several years now and found that the seasonings here were quite monotonous. That’s why the food seemed rather bland.
Yuan Gang nodded.
They hadn’t had breakfast yet. The Shang siblings, Lan Ruo Ting, Niu You Dao, and Yuan Gang went to eat together.
As the few of them had breakfast, Niu You Dao couldn’t resist a joke:
“Prince, what’s wrong with your face? Where did those blue swellings come from?”
Originally, Shang Chao Zong and Feng Ru Nan had planned to visit their parents in the morning, but after what happened last night, he felt awkward going out. So, he sent word that he was unwell. The other side, understanding the situation, sent someone to wish the Prince a speedy recovery.
Shang Chao Zong rolled his eyes:
“Lord Dao, you know everything. Why are you asking?”
Niu You Dao continued with a smile, “And why is there one person missing? Where is the Princess? Is she not eating with us?”
Aside from the stone-faced Yuan Gang and Shang Chao Zong, the others couldn’t hold back their laughter.
While they ate, a bodyguard ran in and called Lan Ruo Ting. Lan Ruo Ting stepped out, spoke with him, and returning, said to Niu You Dao:
“Lord Dao, Yuan Fang wants to borrow some clothes from the bodyguard.”
“Clothes?” Niu You Dao, holding a flatbread with his chopsticks, looked up. “Why does he need to borrow clothes?”
Lan Ruo Ting said, “He says that Brother Yuan Gang often beat him, tearing all his clothes. Now he has no suitable attire left, so he’s asking to borrow a few.”
Niu You Dao nodded. “Well, then let them lend him some.”
Lan Ruo Ting smiled but said nothing further. He had deliberately mentioned it so Niu You Dao would know whether that bear demon was plotting anything.
“Prince, are you eating everything without leaving any for me?” Feng Ru Nan’s voice sounded from outside. She appeared beyond the gates, her gaze malevolent.
In the hall, several people immediately rose. Shu Qing stood and greeted her:
“Elder Brother’s wife!”
Lan Ruo Ting and the others also began to greet her, “Princess!”
Ru Nan, ignoring everyone else, walked up to Shang Chao Zong and, standing before him, stared intently. Her height was clearly greater than his. She clenched her fists as if ready to punch him in the face at any moment.
Shang Chao Zong, maintaining his composure, said:
“Let’s eat together!”
“Why bother talking nonsense? You’ve already eaten.”
Feng Ru Nan looked around and said:
“I’ll just walk around and take a look. The Prince doesn’t mind, does he?”
Shang Chao Zong: “As you wish!”
Feng Ru Nan freely took Weng Li and began walking through the rooms, as if searching for something...
Night.
Feng Ru Nan kept sending people, summoning the Prince to the bridal chambers for a respite. But the Prince refused her under every conceivable pretext...
And so the moment arrived when it was time to embark on their long journey. Beyond Kuangai County city, a few li away, stood a pavilion. There, Peng Yu Lan, shedding tears, waved goodbye to her daughter. Feng Lin Bo stood beside her, gloomily watching the riders depart. It saddened him to let his daughter go in such a turbulent era.
Galloping on horseback, Feng Ru Nan repeatedly glanced at the silhouettes of her parents and at her familiar city.
How many times had she entered and exited this city? Yet today, her departure was different. She now truly understood that she had indeed been married off!
This was merely a means. The love between a man and a woman had yielded to a greater cause. After the wedding, there weren't many elaborate ceremonies. Shang Chao Zong rested for a single day with them, then took his wife and departed.
This time, their forces increased by an additional 500 bodyguards. These were Feng Ru Nan's personal guards.
In Kuangai County, under Feng Lin Bo’s rule, there were a hundred thousand elite troops. Among them were 5,000 cavalry. This time, he dispatched 500 to Feng Ru Nan, and Feng Ru Nan also agreed to lend Shang Chao Zong another 4,000 infantry. In truth, everyone understood that these troops belonged to Feng Ru Nan. Without her word, not a single soldier would move. However, even though the force was small, everyone clearly understood that Feng Lin Bo’s daughter and son-in-law were among these troops. Therefore, no one would dare to attack them without good reason.
Including Shang Chao Zong’s riders, they ultimately numbered around 1,000 cavalry and 4,000 infantry. However, if they marched with such a composition, their speed would be very slow. Therefore, Feng Lin Bo instructed his second son to meet Shang Chao Zong on the western side of the route and assign them 4,000 infantry soldiers. Feng Lin Bo himself would later reinforce them with another 4,000 soldiers.
Feng Lin Bo had already notified the neighboring Qingshan County that his troops would accompany his daughter. In truth, they wanted to observe the situation and, in a worst-case scenario, ensure escape routes. Moreover, Qingshan County was not as powerful as Kuangai County, and they dared not oppose Feng Lin Bo.
If Feng Lin Bo dared to defy the imperial court, how could *they*?
Although an imperial decree had been issued, ordering Shang Chao Zong not to proceed to Cang Wu County but to return to the capital, supposedly to be appointed to a position of service.
A tiger released into the mountains, a dragon sent to the lake — would they ever willingly return to a cage?
If the envoy took a circuitous route, it would take him a considerable amount of time. So, he passed through Kuangai County. However, as soon as he entered the county, he vanished without a trace. Even if he had reached Shang Chao Zong, the latter would have simply claimed he never met any envoy.
The imperial court understood that this was Feng Lin Bo’s doing. Therefore, they believed even more firmly in the existence of the hundred thousand Crows!
Feng Lin Bo became increasingly important, and the Heavenly Jade Sect supported him, sending him more people.
In addition to the 500 bodyguards, Feng Ru Nan also brought 30 cultivators. Bai Yao followed them as well.
The married couple had many wedding gifts and belongings. To avoid delaying them, Feng Lin Bo decided to send the gifts and other items separately, to follow behind.
As soon as they rode far from the city, Feng Ru Nan collected her thoughts and said to Weng Xing and Weng Li:
“Go, find me that bearded old man. But don’t say anything!”