Chapter 181 Dealing with Xu Lezhi

Ever since Xu Zhenying confessed to Feng'er that he was going to rebel, Feng'er seemed to have learned everything by herself overnight, and she thought deeply about everything she did. Look, in just a few months, she had already established an intelligence network, produced ironware bypassing the court, bribed court officials, and even brought back countless news from the court.

With Feng'er's help outside, Xu Zhenying is like a tiger with wings.

As long as she concentrates on developing from Lan County, and then conquers Jinzhou, Qianzhou and other places, while producing, developing and continuously expanding outward, sooner or later she and Feng'er will meet on a certain territory!

However, the court may be in turmoil recently.

Considering that the previous emperor had no sons, his only son was still rebelling, and the remaining uncles and nephews were all misfits, the court actually dug out a young man who could barely be considered a young talent from the family tree to be the emperor.

This man was the illegitimate son of the late emperor's youngest brother. His fiefdom was far to the north. He had finally managed to avoid the war and died halfway of an inexplicable sudden illness.

After much arguing, Prince Gong's son finally succeeded to the throne.

Prince Gong was old and in poor health, but he had a good son.

Xu Zhenying thought that it might be because the 50,000 cavalry brought by Prince Gong and stationed outside the city of Bianjing formed a certain deterrent force, so he was able to suppress the court in a short period of time, support his son to succeed to the throne, and become the emperor.

Now Prince Ming was embarrassed.

According to the information provided by Feng'er's intelligence network, Prince Ming was so angry that he didn't even use the name of revenge for the Fang family this time. Instead, he simply declared himself king in Qiongzhou and rebelled directly. He was also stationing a large number of troops and food in the Qiongzhou area, and it was estimated that he was preparing to attack the city of Bianjing.

It’s really pitiful for Prince Ming.

Xu Zhenying couldn't help but shed tears of sympathy for Prince Ming.

God bless you, Prince Ming has such bad luck. If he had waited a few more days, the throne might have fallen on his head.

At the same time, the war in the north is intense, and a major war is expected in the near future.

Feng'er also said that she secretly funded a group of refugees who could not survive to become bandits, and they adopted the Lan County model. Currently, they are robbing the rich and helping the poor under the banner of rebellion, which can be regarded as attracting some firepower for Lan County.

These dozen pages of paper can almost be said to be Feng'er's work report for several months.

Xu Zhenying immediately wrote back to Feng'er, comforting her that she didn't need to rush to make money. He also told her to focus on developing her intelligence network, spreading the news about Lan County, and attracting more people to Lan County!

At the same time, she also informed Feng'er about the recent situation in Lan County, so that Feng'er could rest assured and not worry about home.

Only after finishing the letter did Xu Zhenying put down his pen.

She opened the window and looked out, only to see a faint green outside. Spring had arrived quietly.

This was her first spring in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

By next spring, will she have taken over Jinzhou Prefecture?

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At this moment, the door of the Xu family's second room was closed.

It was getting dark and there were candles lit in the house, making the room dim and hazy.

This time, there were still only people from the second room in the house.

However, the difference was that everyone in the second house was urgently called back, including Lian who was in logistics, several concubines, and several younger generations who were studying in literacy classes.

People from the second house arrived one after another, and everyone felt the oppressive atmosphere as soon as they entered the house.

Unlike the oppressive feeling brought by Xu Deyuan, this time it was Xu Yinxi who sat in the main seat.

Her face was pale, her pupils deep, making her skin look even paler. Her whole body shone with a delicate, cold light. She sat upright, silent, yet inexplicably gave people a feeling of being unable to breathe.

Standing next to her was Xu Lezhi, who was curled up in a ball.

Xu Minglu came in last and started yelling, "Sister, why did you call us all back so suddenly? Today is the day of the literacy class exam!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw that the room was full of people and no one responded to her.

Even Xu Deyuan just sat there, dazed, as if he was in a trance.

Xu Minglu realized the low pressure in the room belatedly, and Xu Yinxi gestured for her to sit down. "Sit down first, and we'll talk after everyone arrives."

Soon, Lian and several concubines who were helping in the granary also came back.

When Lian came back home, she saw such a big scene, and also saw Xu Lezhi's frowning expression, and her anger immediately rose. "Xu Lezhi, have you gotten into trouble again?"

Xu Lezhi said aggrievedly: "Mom, I didn't!"

Xu Yinxi raised her hand to stop Lian. She seemed to be also angry, but unlike Lian, Xu Yinxi's anger was silent and made everyone feel inexplicably scared.

"Father, Mother." Xu Yinxi stood up and bowed to Xu Deyuan and Lian. Ignoring Xu Lezhi's pleading gaze, she spoke directly, "You must have heard the recent rumors about the city lord. They say that the city lord is a woman, unfit to be the city lord, and that the men in the barracks shouldn't serve her."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone present changed slightly.

Of course they had heard this rumor.

It was just that Xu Yinxi said this at this time, and combined with Xu Lezhi's evasive attitude, everyone already understood most of it.

"The male soldiers followed the clues and captured Xu Lezhi and handed her over to the city lord. The city lord ordered me to bring her back and let me handle this matter." When Xu Yinxi said this, she felt an indescribable tiredness in her heart.

She tried so hard to keep up with Xu Zhenying, staying up all night, staying cautious and highly focused at all times. She was so eager to lead the entire Xu family's second branch forward, but why...

Why is there always someone pulling her and dragging her into the abyss?

Seeing everyone looking at her angrily, Xu Lezhi hardened her heart and said bluntly, "Did I say anything wrong? Xu Qingying is just a woman, and women shouldn't show their faces in public! Yet she keeps coming in and out of the military camp and never shying away from men. She's really brought shame to my Xu family!"

"Enough!" Lian shouted angrily, wishing she could slap her daughter to wake her up, but she felt more pain in her heart.

Xu Lezhi is such a hopeless person. Not only does she still not understand the situation clearly, but she is also so stupid in doing things, leaving clues everywhere. Xu Zhenying lets her go today, but what about the future?

What will happen in the future?

"Mother, there's no need to get angry with her." Xu Yinxi gently supported the enraged Lian, but her words were extremely heartless. "We've said everything we need to say, and tried our best to persuade her, but she won't listen, and there's nothing we can do. But since everyone is here today, I'm not afraid to tell you the truth. The City Lord is not someone to be trifled with. She's already given us, the second branch of the Xu family, enough face. We won't have the chance to make the same mistake again."

The younger ones were speechless and felt dissatisfied, but they did not dare to refute.

"Xu Qingying is no longer the same person she was before. I advise you not to look at her with old eyes, and don't assume we're still in Bianjing City. Xu Qingying now could easily crush our Second Branch like an ant."

Xu Minglu muttered, "How can she be so powerful? Why are you all afraid of her?"

Xu Yinxi smiled faintly, but could not hide her sarcasm. She said in a clear voice, word by word: "Am I afraid of her?"

Changing the subject, Xu Yinxi's smile grew even colder. "Xu Minglu, not only am I afraid of her, the entire Xu family is afraid of her! The entire Lan County is afraid of her! If you're not afraid of her, it only proves that you're foolish, stupid, and dumb!"

Xu Minglu had never been scolded like this by Xu Yinxi. Even though Xu Yinxi was the eldest daughter of the second wife, she was always gentle and caring in teaching these illegitimate brothers and sisters.

Now she seems to have not changed at all, but there is a sharpness hidden between her eyebrows.

"Father, Mother, I suggest that we shackle Xu Lezhi and keep her at home for a while, then find her a husband to marry off as soon as possible!"

After Xu Yinxi said this, everyone present looked at her in shock.

Lian was the first to get anxious. "Yinxi, Lezhi is your sister after all. If she's wrong, we should just tell her. How can you tie her up like a dog?"

"Mother." Xu Yinxi pulled Lian, her gentle voice tinged with a hint of aggression. "How many times has Xu Lezhi gotten into trouble? Not to mention the rumors she spread this time, just think about the last time she sneaked into a man's room late at night. How many messes did we have to deal with for her?"

Lian said anxiously, "Yinxi, I know what you mean, but... Le Zhi is right. Xu Qingying is a girl, and she has never deliberately hidden her female body. Why can't she tell others?"

"Mom, you're so confused!" Xu Yinxi had never felt so tired before. She rubbed her temples and explained word by word, "The city lord didn't deliberately hide her gender, but she never took the initiative to explain, which means she prefers others to think she's a man. As for why, our Lan County is such a large area now. Before the city lord has a firm foothold, what if someone with ulterior motives knows she's a woman and stirs up unrest among the male soldiers to seize power? Besides, taking in tens of thousands of refugees is already enough to worry her, and Xu Lezhi is stabbing her in the back, leaving the city lord too busy to deal with all this mess. How can she not be angry?"

Xu Yinxi looked around and saw that everyone looked dazed, and she felt angry and anxious.

Xu Zhenying was a man who wanted to do great things. If she was really planning to rebel, then as a man it would be easier for her to recruit soldiers. But Xu Lezhi actually let such a big thing out like this -

"Or do you think that our Xu family's Sixth Young Lady is someone who is easy to talk to and bully, and who keeps silent when she suffers a loss?"

Everyone shook their heads.

Even the concubines' expressions changed slightly.

Let Xu Zhenying suffer?

Who would dare to let her, Xu Zhenying, suffer any loss? She was a person who dared to kill people, attack cities, and even drag her entire family into banditry!

"I'm not afraid to tell you the truth. The City Lord hates us, the Second Branch, the most. To her, the Second Branch is nothing more than a dispensable existence. Now that the literacy classes have started, there will soon be literate people who are even more loyal and completely obey her orders. How can we guarantee that we won't be kicked out by her then?"

The Lian family has become accustomed to cooperating with the Miao family on logistics. Although this logistics is similar to the previous backyard management, each one of them is much more fulfilling than managing Xu Deyuan's backyard!

When she thought about how many lives the food that passed through her hands could save, she felt a sense of pride.

What's more, there are many capable and hardworking women in the logistics department, and Lian has made many friends. If she is asked to leave like this, how can she be willing?

Xu Huizheng said, "Kick them out if you want. We in the second branch are all capable and well. We don't have to rely on the third branch to survive. At worst, I can go out and set up a stall and write. I can always earn some money to supplement the family expenses."

Xu Yinxi was so angry this time that she laughed. "Setting up a stall to write? The city lord's comprehensive education program is about to be fully implemented. By then, everyone will be able to read and write. Who will patronize your business?"

Xu Huizheng, however, felt that Xu Yinxi was just exaggerating. "Sister, how can it be so serious? If you ask me, since we've already changed our registered residence, we might as well just leave Lan County. His third branch is a bandit, and Xu Qingying is the city lord. Their third branch is prosperous, but what about us? What have we gained? To put it bluntly, we're no different from their third branch's servants. Who knows, if the imperial court sends troops to suppress the bandits in the future, we might have to suffer the consequences too! This life is so boring!"

Xu Yinxi pursed her jawline when she heard that.

She suddenly felt that the second wife was truly beyond saving.

No wonder Xu Zhenying looked down on the second wife.

No one in the room was sober. Xu Zhenying was about to rebel. The opportunity to become a dragon follower was within reach, so the people from the second branch of the Xu family were scrambling to push him out.

Xu Yinxi suddenly didn't want to say anything.

The so-called playing the lute to a cow is probably this scene.

After training with Xu Zhenying for so long, Xu Yinxi had long since become silent. She ignored her half-brother's complaints and simply said to Xu Deyuan, "Father, if we let Xu Lezhi continue like this, she'll eventually cause disaster and bring disaster upon our Second Branch as well. Instead of that, it's better to chain her up in the room while we quickly find her a husband. Of course, please rest assured, Father and Mother. Although there's war everywhere right now, we can still pick out some wealthy families in Lan County."

Xu Lezhi looked at her own sister in disbelief. She couldn't believe that such cold and heartless words would come out of Xu Yinxi's mouth. She widened her eyes for a moment and forgot what to say. It was not until she saw Xu Deyuan's moved expression that Xu Lezhi panicked.

"Sister, how can you be so heartless? I'm your biological sister!" Xu Lezhi grabbed Xu Yinxi, his eyes filled with tears, a sense of betrayal and deception welling up in his heart, "Why are you always like this? No matter what happens, you refuse to stand by my side. Open your eyes and see clearly, I am your sister. Who is Xu Zhenying? Why do you treat your own sister like this for an outsider!"

Xu Yinxi withdrew her hand with a cold expression and said slowly, "Lezhi, it is precisely because you are my sister that the city lord will let you go. If I don't punish you, then tomorrow she will appear here to punish you personally. You know the city lord's temper. She has given you many chances, but you didn't cherish them. There is no point in saying more now, just stay in your room and prepare for your marriage. Don't worry, I will definitely find you a husband that suits your needs, which will also be considered as fulfilling our sisterly love!"