In regards to Fu Ya, Feng Yu Heng had always had her doubts and reservations. If it was said that there were people in the world that looked similar, then there definitely were; however, to be like them, that was not too likely. When Fu Ya went to the Illusory Hall, she had registered as being 13 years old, and she had just turned 14 years old. The records stated that there was a one year difference, but it could not be seen from her appearance.
Feng Yu Heng had taken Fu Ya's fingernails. Even if she did not do it now, she would need to do it when she returned to the capital.
Three days later, Xuan Tianming led the army out of Jiang Zhou, leaving behind ten thousand soldiers to guard Song Zhou City. Huang Quan and Wang Chuan were left behind by Feng Yu Heng to take care of Fu Ya.
From Song Zhou to Jiang Zhou, the army traveled for six days. During these six days, there was a large difference compared to when they traveled from Guan Zhou to Song Zhou.
Based on what the people of the North said, Guan Zhou and Song Zhou were considered to be slightly cold. Although there were no four seasons and it was all winter, in any case, there were still sunny days. In the middle of the year, the sun would melt the snow on the streets, revealing the dirt.
But after passing through Song Zhou, on the way to Jiang Zhou, they would need to pass through a pine forest. That pine forest was called the ghost realm by the people of the North because once they passed through that pine forest, the temperature would plummet, and the sun would no longer shine. Snow would fall all year round. Although it was not as thick as the ice in the center of Qian Zhou, it was still something that Guan Zhou and Song Zhou could not compare to.
Once Xuan Tianming exited the ghost realm, he pulled Feng Yu Heng onto his horse. At the same time, he ordered for the soldiers to bring out their winter clothes and put them on. But even if this was the case, Bai Ze said: "Everyone is still cold."
Xuan Tianming gave the order for the entire army to move quickly. The soldiers trotted the entire way and finally managed to avoid the sudden cold.
Feng Yu Heng was wrapped up in Xuan Tian Ming's cloak. She pondered that the pine forest should be on a latitude line to the North. This was why the difference in temperature between the two sides was so large. However, he did not know how cold Qian Zhou, which had been described as even colder, was.
Duan Mu An Guo had fled after sinking the Winter Palace. Nobody knew where he had fled to, nor did they know what sort of people had fled with him. Of the people that had been dug out from the Winter Palace, there was not a single member of Duan Mu An Guo's family. Who knew where his children and grandchildren that had lived in Song Zhou were. Feng Yu Heng had thought that they would run towards Jiang District and use Jiang District as their last line of defense. Unfortunately, as soon as they arrived outside Jiang District City, they immediately denied this idea.
Jiang Zhou City was much smaller than Song Zhou. People had thought that it would be like Guan Zhou and Song Zhou, with the city gates tightly shut. It would take a lot of effort to break into the city. However, the city gates of Jiang District were wide open. Commoners came and went as usual. Some carried carrying poles to pick game, some carried baskets to buy groceries, some carried baskets to buy vegetables, some cried, and some men quarreled. Everything was so normal. Everyone was living their own lives. It was as though the chaos in the North had nothing to do with them.
Feng Yu Heng was shocked by this scene. However, she heard Xuan Tianming say: "The prefect of Jiang District is a smart person. He must still be in the city and did not attend Duan Mu An Guo's birthday banquet. He also did not get buried in the Winter Palace. As for the commoners of Jiang District, because they are separated by the ghost realm, they do not know about the chaos in the two cities. "
She nodded and added: "Since that is the case, it means that Duan Mu An Guo did not run towards Jiang District."
"That should be the case." Xuan Tianming raised his hand and had the army stop. He then said to Bai Ze: "Enter the city first. Call the prefect of Jiang District to come out and see me."
Bai Ze complied and left. An hour later, a few fast horses rushed out of the city gates at the same time, heading straight for the army.
The prefect of Jiang District was a middle-aged man in his fifties. Xuan Tianming said that he was an old man who had been on the battlefield with Emperor Tianwu. It was because of this that he dared to ignore Duan Mu An Guo's birthday banquet. He continued to guard his own territory and live his own life.
Very quickly, Bai Ze brought people over. The horses stopped, and the old prefect immediately dismounted. Arriving in front of Xuan Tianming's horse, he knelt on one knee and loudly said: "This official, Lu Shang, greets his Highness Prince Yu."
Feng Yu Heng quickly dismounted from her horse. Xuan Tianming also dismounted and personally helped Lu Shang up, saying: "Uncle Lu, we have not seen each other for many years. Is your body well?"
Lu Shang appeared to be a little emotional. Holding Xuan Tianming's forearm with both hands, he trembled slightly, "Good, everything is good." But this word of good could not hide the fact that he was in pain. He helplessly let out a long sigh and patted Xuan Tianming's shoulder, "It's good that you came, it's good that you came! If you did not come, this old man was really afraid that Jiang District would not be able to be defended. I would have failed to live up to his Majesty's trust! "
Xuan Tianming also said: "Uncle Lu followed Father Emperor to battle in the early years. You were a meritorious official who fought for Dashun. Even if Father Emperor did not trust anyone, he had to trust you!"
Lu Shang waved his hand, "Don't mention the past, don't mention the past! Come, let's enter the city. " As he spoke, he pulled Xuan Tianming into the city. When he turned sideways, he caught sight of Feng Yu Heng and immediately stopped to carefully size her up.
Xuan Tianming introduced her to him, "This is Princess Ji An, who was personally conferred by Father Emperor. She is also engaged to I."
"Aiya!" Lu Shang's eyes lit up. He stamped his foot and asked: "Is she Old Man Yao's granddaughter? The amazing girl who helped Dashun forge new steel? "
Feng Yu Heng's lips curled into a smile. She slightly bowed and politely said: "Uncle Lu, you flatter me. Just call me Heng."
"Heng." Lu Shang pondered for a while then said: "I heard long ago that the Feng family's second daughter and His Ninth Highness were engaged from a young age. But to speak the truth, I do not like that father of yours, so I have never looked favorably on this marriage. Not to hide it from you, but a few years ago, I secretly sent a memorial to the Emperor to have him reconsider this matter. Feng Jin Yuan's thoughts are truly unsettling. But in these two years, Jiang District has also heard some news from the capital. They say that you are a divine doctor who is even more amazing than Old Man Yao. They say that you used a weapon called new steel to break Zong Sui's iron essence. They also say that your archery skills are outstanding, and you won both the Hou Yi bow and the phoenix hairpin into your own hands. " While he spoke, he sighed in disbelief, "If there really is such a person in this world, would that not be a fairy? How could Feng Jin Yuan have such a good life? "
Feng Yu Heng still had a faint smile on her face. She did not try to claim credit for herself. She only told Lu Shang: "My surname is Feng, and my name is Yu Heng. This name is known as the beautiful jade that flies into the heavens. Thinking about it, the Feng family originally had some expectations for me, but they gave up midway. This allowed me to marry His Ninth Highness."
Xuan Tianming laughed loudly. Hugging the servant at his side, he said to Lu Shang: "If you say that she is a fairy, then she is a fairy. I fear that if it was not for Heng Heng taking action to treat my legs, I would not have any hope of standing up again in this lifetime. Uncle Lu, let's enter the city and talk. "
The army entered the city, leaving a majority outside the city. Lu Shang brought Xuan Tianming's group into the prefect's manor. When they finally sat down, his expression sank, and he finally brought the topic of conversation to the current situation: "I heard that Duan Mu An Guo ran away. Is there any news of him?"
Xuan Tianming shook his head, "This is the matter that I wanted to discuss with uncle Lu. Duan Mu An Guo ran away from Song Zhou, and there is no trace of him."
Uncle Shang stomped his foot and sighed, saying: "Their Duan Mu family was a rat in their previous life. They were best at moving, hiding here and there. They even learned how to dig holes. Song Zhou City has been dug up by them to the point that it is nearly empty. Nobody knows exactly how many secret tunnels there are. That is his territory. If he wants to escape, nobody can stop him. "
"Is there any news from uncle Lu's side?" Xuan Tianming asked him, "Duan Mu An Guo has a close relationship with Qian Zhou. He must pass through Jiang Zhou. I wonder how much uncle Lu knows about him."
Lu Shang said: "Duan Mu An Guo runs to Jiang Zhou countless times a year. He always passes through Jiang Zhou and Qian Zhou. This has been going on for over ten years. I have tried to send letters to the capital every day, but the three northern provinces are under the jurisdiction of the Duan Mu family. They may not be able to do anything else, but their ability to block letters is top-notch. No less than a hundred letters have been intercepted by him. If it was not for me having some military service with the Emperor in the early years, perhaps Duan Mu An Guo would not have allowed me to live until today. "Lu Shang shook his head with a bitter expression. It seemed that he was reminiscing about those years. Unfortunately, many years had passed. His youth was no longer there, and the mountains and rivers had changed colors.
"Between Jiang Zhou and Qian Zhou's first city, there is a four-colored lake. That is a place that Qian Zhou's imperial family has raised. It is a place that is used specifically for fishing." Lu Shang continued to tell them about the situation in the North, "The fish in the four-colored lake are said to be extremely delicious. Unfortunately, after so many years, I have not dared to eat a single bite. Apparently, the fish grow by eating the flesh of the dead. Qian Zhou regularly sinks corpses into the lake to feed the fat fish. "
Feng Yu Heng suddenly began to retch, and her stomach began to churn. She covered her mouth and quickly ran out. Before she could run a few steps, she began to vomit. The things that she had eaten along the way were all vomited up. Even the stomach acid was gone.
Lu Shang was very surprised and subconsciously looked toward Xuan Tianming, who had already rushed out. He could not help but mutter: "That girl does not seem to be of marriageable age. I have never heard of the two of them getting married. Why is it that the Emperor's ninth brother has the same hobby as Duan Mu An Guo?"
These words were heard by Ban Zou, who was still in the room. He angrily rolled his eyes and was unable to hold back, reminding: "My master is not pregnant. It's because of the fish that you are talking about."
Lu Shang was stunned and glanced at Ban Zou, saying: "Because she was fed the flesh of the dead, she felt disgusted just from hearing about it?" While saying this, he shook his head, "That shouldn't be the case! I heard that Princess Ji An is also a general. She can easily kill enemies on the battlefield. How could she be as disgusted as a normal girl? I am just speaking the truth. The fish in the four-colored lake really grew by being fed the flesh of the dead. "
Ban Zou was almost unable to continue listening. Upon thinking of Feng Yu Heng's performance at the Winter Palace's Hundred Family Banquet, he also felt nauseous. He had no choice but to tell Lu Shang: "My lord, you really must not bring up this matter again. That four-colored lake … I fear that master will give the order to fill it up."
Lu Shang was still serious, saying: "That can't be filled up. The lake is very large."
Even in her dreams, Feng Yu Heng never thought that the fish that tasted so good would actually be raised like this. She had an urge to dig out her own stomach and wash it. Xuan Tianming helped her rub her back while asking: "What exactly is going on?" Sleeping under a blanket would not lead to pregnancy.
Feng Yu Heng forcefully became alert. Gritting her teeth, she told him: "The fish in the four-colored lake … this grandaunty has eaten it before!"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
