A clear stream flowed into the Gongsun Manor from the waterway, meandering through the back garden and exiting from the other side of the garden wall.
The part that flowed through the Gongsun Manor's garden converged into a man-made pond that was so clear that one could see the bottom.
In the pond, a school of fish swam back and forth, advancing and retreating together. Whether it was advancing, retreating, or turning, they were always so uniform, like a well-trained army.
Feng Yuanyi squatted by the stream and picked the most ripe, plump, and lustrous jujubes, pears, grapes, apples, and other fruits from a large wooden basin. He happily washed them in the stream before putting them into another clean wooden basin.
Autumn was the season when all kinds of fruits were the most abundant. Aunt Pei said that pregnant women should eat more fruits so that the children they gave birth to would be fresh and beautiful. Thus, Feng Yuanyi was duty-bound to snatch this job.
He felt very happy. Although he was the son of a provincial governor, and had been a young master since he was a child, he was no different from heaven to him after that painful experience.
He could feel Yang Fan's concern for him and Sister Butchie's love for him. As long as he had something to do, he felt that he was not an idle person. Moreover, he really wanted to do something for his benefactor, even if these things were insignificant to others.
After washing the fruits, Feng Yuanyi picked up the wooden basin and happily walked back to the courtyard. When he reached the courtyard, he saw two maidservants of the Gongsun Mansion sitting on a long board by the railing, chatting while eating melon seeds. The two girls didn't see Feng Yuanyi, but the content of their conversation was precisely Feng Yuanyi.
"What's his name?"
"Feng Yuanyi!"
Hearing his name, Feng Yuanyi stopped in his tracks.
"I heard that he's the son of a high-ranking official?"
"Yes, I heard that he's a provincial governor, and it's a hereditary one at that. He's the local emperor of Lingnan!"
"Oh! That's really pitiful. He was castrated at such a young age. "
"Yes, a castrated person, bringing shame to his ancestors. Look at him, he's still so happy all day long, so carefree... "
"You can't say that. Don't be fooled by that child's tall stature. I heard that he's only ten years old. What does a kid know? Maybe he doesn't even understand what it means to change from standing to squatting."
The two girls giggled. One of them said, "Yang Langzhong and Madame take good care of him. It was said that after his father's case was solved, he would be sent back to Lingnan. Sigh! I don't know how he will live then. Maybe the Feng family will look down on him. In the future … "
When there were no outsiders around, girls dared to say anything. The two handmaidens spoke without restraint. The more Feng Yuanyi heard, the paler his face became.
He did not know that the castration of his body would have such a huge impact on his dignity and everything in the future. Apart from the painful days after he was castrated while waiting for the wound to heal, he only felt that urinating was not as convenient as before. The ten-year-old child had no idea that it had ruined his life.
"Clang!"
The two girls suddenly heard a muffled sound behind them. They could not help but jump in fright. They hurriedly turned their heads and saw a large wooden basin jumping on the ground. Pears and apples were scattered all over the ground. A figure was madly running into the distance.
Feng Yuanyi ran madly, letting his tears fall all over his clothes. The world was so big. He did not know where he could stay.
… …
After Young Master Jiang arrived in Chang 'an, he moved into one of the Lu family's mansions.
In Chang 'an, where aristocratic families gathered, in Chang' an, which had now become Shen Mu's nest, the safest and most secretive place was instead the most conspicuous. He could only keep the secret that he was in Chang 'an by staying in the Lu family's residence.
Lu Taigong and Young Master Jiang's second brother, Lu Binzhi, had already left Chang 'an. Lu Taigong had lost face at the hands of Yang Fan. Moreover, he had already sworn in the name of his ancestors that he would no longer participate in the fight for the vacant position in the Southern Border. There was no use in staying in Chang 'an. So he wanted to leave immediately. He could not even wait to see his most valued eldest grandson.
Lu Binzhi had caused a great disaster. He also knew the impact this matter would have on the entire family. He had long been silent out of fear of being punished. When the Old Grandfather wanted to leave, he did not even dare to fart before leaving. He did not dare to say a single word.
As for the other members of the Lu family, they were scattered all over the world. Among them, the majority were in Luoyang and Chang 'an. In Chang 'an, the people who had received orders from the clan master were already hurriedly preparing to evacuate. Everywhere in the Lu family's mansions and manors, there was chaos. This time, it was not a short departure. It had been three years. Of course, there were many things that needed to be moved.
However, ever since Young Master Jiang moved in, it was as if a ladle of cold water had been poured into a pot of boiling water. It immediately regained its calmness, even though this calmness was only temporary and superficial. No one dared to cause a scene in front of this Young Master. It was as if their country had been destroyed and their homes had been destroyed.
The walls and corridors of a house were covered with ivy. However, because it was already autumn, the ivy was no longer green. Instead, it had turned into a patch of fiery red. Therefore, the house looked as if it was on fire, and it was bright red.
A man dressed in green walked to a house covered in ivy. Climbing up the stone steps, there was a wooden corridor. The man in black stood in the corridor and said respectfully, "Yuan Tingyun requests to see the young master!"
"Come in!"
The man in black took off his boots and put them aside. He gently opened the door and walked in wearing a pair of cloth socks.
Young Master Jiang was sitting behind a low table, looking at something. Behind him was a window, and outside the window was a dense shade.
Lu Boyan's white beard fluttered as he sat upright in the corner.
Yuan Tingyun only glanced at him and quickly lowered his head. He walked to the opposite of Young Master Jiang and knelt down. He bowed his head and said, "Young Master!"
Young Master Jiang raised his eyes and looked at him coldly. He said, "You were in charge of the assassination of Yang Fan?"
Yuan Tingyun's face paled. He lowered his head and said, "Yes! Second Young Master said … said that Yang Fan was the eldest young master's enemy, and he wanted to avenge the eldest young master, so … "
Young Master Jiang lightly snorted. He said, "So, you ruined my Lu family's important matter?"
This light snort was no less than a clap of thunder in Yuan Tingyun's ears. His body trembled and he touched his forehead to the ground, not daring to raise his head.
The eldest young master was the master, and the second young master was naturally the master as well. How could he not follow the master's orders? Although it was not his idea, since it had failed, there was nothing he could do if the master wanted to vent his anger on him. Arguing that this idea was not his idea and that he had no choice but to follow orders was meaningless. Therefore, Yuan Tingyun did not argue and only waited for the eldest young master's decision.
However, Young Master Jiang was silent for a while and did not say anything to have him commit suicide. He only said, "The matter failed, and we were counter-attacked by him. He forced all the descendants of my Lu family to retreat to Fan Yang and not leave for three years. Although the losses were not serious, this was a complete loss of face! "
Yuan Tingyun lay on the ground, not daring to answer.
Young Master Jiang said, "Kill Yang Fan!"
Yuan Tingyun was startled and abruptly raised his head.
Young Master Jiang said, "Yang Fan also knew that it was impossible for all the descendants of the Lu family to return to Fan Yang, so he specifically forced Great Grandfather to swear three deadly oaths. Within three years, if any descendants of the Lu family do not return to Fan Yang and intend to harm him, the two sides will fight, life and death will be up to the heavens. When the Lu family returns, they will not make an enemy of him! Haha, he thinks that without the support of my family, he can rely on his martial arts and position to deal with me. Arrogant! Bin's order for you to kill him may be a mistake. But if it is a mistake, then you can only continue to be wrong! Only his death can wash away the shame of my Lu family! "
Yuan Tingyun nodded and said, "Yes! This subordinate obeys! "
Young Master Jiang lightly said, "This time, you will either bring his head back or bring your own head back. There is no third choice!"
Yuan Tingyun clenched his teeth and nodded. "Yes!"
At this time, the shade of the rear courtyard suddenly moved despite the absence of wind. Lu Boyan, who was sitting in the corner, suddenly raised his head. His eyes were like cold lightning as he glanced outside. However, he immediately restrained his fierce, lion-like demeanor and once again became that of an old man. He slowly lowered his head.
A figure suddenly flashed out of the shade. In the first flash, it seemed as if he had drilled out of the shade. In the second flash, he had already appeared in the window. In another flash, he was kneeling at Young Master Jiang's side. His face was covered with a black cloth, revealing only his eyes.
He did not speak, only offering a letter to Young Master Jiang with both hands. Young Master Jiang did not seem the least bit surprised by this ghost-like person. He took the letter and carefully read through it. Suddenly, he began to chuckle.
Yuan Tingyun looked at him in surprise. Young Master Jiang waved his hand, and the masked man cupped his hands towards him before disappearing from the rear window.
Young Master Jiang said to Yuan Tingyun, "The mission is canceled!"
Yuan Tingyun was stunned. However, Young Master Jiang was too lazy to explain to him. So, he only waved his hand. Yuan Tingyun did not dare to ask again. He only kowtowed and saluted. Then, he got up and quietly withdrew. Yuan Tingyun left the room, and pulled down the door. Then, he heaved a long sigh of relief. Cold sweat suddenly poured down his forehead.
He had endured the fear in front of the Young Master for a long time …
Young Master Jiang opened the letter in the room, and read it again. He had only read half of it when he couldn't help but burst into a mocking laughter.
Lu Boyan was sitting in the corner. He hadn't said a single word since the beginning.
Young Master Jiang glanced at him and asked, "Old Lu, why don't you ask me why I'm laughing?"
Young Master Jiang had always been an autocrat. He didn't like other people to interfere. How could Lu Boyan not know this? However, Lu Boyan had no choice but to comply since he wanted someone else to ask. So, he asked, "Young Master, why are you laughing?"
Young Master Jiang waved the letter and said, "That old man Li Mubai thinks highly of Yang Fan. The Dugu Family also wants to make friends with him. When I first saw him in Luoyang, I also thought that he was a piece of unpolished jade. I even thought of cultivating him. Unfortunately … I observed him for a while. So, I let it go. I didn't think that Li Mubai and Dugu Yu would have the same thoughts as me … "
Young Master Jiang slapped the letter on the table, "I can't kill him if that's the case."
Young Master Jiang proudly said, "You think highly of him. So, I'll defeat him in front of you. I'll let you know that you've misjudged him. I'll let you know that he's worthless!"
Lu Boyan's white eyebrows slightly wrinkled. He wanted to remind the Young Master, "Shen Mu was also discovered by that old man Li Mubai. You didn't think much of him at first. In the end … "
However, he knew that the Young Master wouldn't listen to other people's words. Therefore, those two white eyebrows were like two clouds in the sky. They came into contact with each other, and then suddenly separated.
Young Master Jiang raised his chin. He looked like a proud peacock. If his second brother hadn't been rushing back to Fan Yang, then he would've asked someone to draw his eldest brother's appearance at this moment. He would've mounted it on his fan. That way, it would've completely replaced that big-tailed bird with its tail spread out.
…
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