Chapter 26 On my journey, I am not interested in men, nor am I prepared to be with any…

Feng Tan lifted the sedan curtain, looked up and met Xiao Yinshi's cold gaze, and bowed with the willow branch in her hand, saying, "This humble official greets Your Excellency."

Since the day Feng Tan cut off Gao Yu's finger, the two had not seen each other. She didn't know what method Xiao Yinshi had used to make Gao Yu give up impeaching her, nor did she intend to ask. She simply asked, "What important matter has Your Excellency summoned me for?"

The sedan chair was filled with the most luxurious items imaginable. Wisps of sandalwood incense wafted from the gilded beast-head incense burner, illuminating Feng Tan's face. Xiao Yinshi slowly withdrew his gaze from Feng Tan and placed it on the chessboard Feng Tan had casually placed on the carriage after her torture. He said, "In the past, Zhu Ling, the Minister of Works, governed the waterways several times as Right Vice Censor-in-Chief. He upheld the imperial authority but failed to understand the importance of restraint, ultimately leading to his being framed and exiled. You and I are on a mission to the Linzhang sea area to govern the waterways. Besides guarding against the mastermind behind the theft of silver from the national treasury, we must also be wary of corrupt officials along the way. If we find ourselves in a murky situation, it will hinder our investigation."

Feng Tan said, "Having learned from the previous experience, I will certainly be more cautious in my actions."

“Even the fastest route from the capital of Dahuang to the sea area of ​​Linzhang would take a month,” Xiao Yinshi said, taking out the map made from the human skin he had peeled off Su Bai and spreading it out in front of Feng Tan. He pointed to the target location with his fingertip, looked up at Feng Tan, and said slowly, “In your opinion, should we take the land route or the sea route?”

"Is this a test question?" Feng Tan thought to himself, then replied after a moment's thought, "Half and half."

"Oh?" Xiao Yinshi raised an eyebrow and asked, "What kind of dichotomy?"

Feng Tan pointed to their current coordinates, "Kyoto is located in the center of Dahuang. Your entourage is large, and it would be difficult to slip away unnoticed in front of everyone. It would be better if we abandoned land and boarded a ship in Kangjiang County. While traveling at sea, Your Majesty could select capable people to quietly disembark. Once we reach the southeastern sea area, we can return to land. This way, we can proceed more easily. Moreover, this combination of land and sea is the fastest route to the Linzhang sea area and will not delay Your Majesty's time."

In the blink of an eye, Feng Tan had thoroughly explained the stakes, and the path she had chosen coincided with Xiao Yinshi's thoughts. Xiao Yinshi remained expressionless, but his heart sank inwardly. He scrutinized Feng Tan for a moment and then asked, "Feng Tan, the path you chose is to show your strength. You are very bold."

Feng Tan was taken aback at first, but then she understood what Xiao Yinshi meant.

That day, after she had been subjected to twenty strokes of the cane at the Meridian Gate, she boarded Xiao Yinshi's carriage. Inside the carriage was an unfinished game of chess. She picked up a chess piece that had fallen to the ground and placed it in an attacking position, thus restoring the chess pieces in the deadlock to a position where one side could overwhelm the other.

Feng Tan said, "A strategist enters the game himself and wins half a move against the heavens... Now that I am your strategist, I will do my best to solve the mystery and devise a comprehensive plan for you."

Xiao Yinshi looked at the young man who was speaking obsequiously with lowered eyes and coldly smiled: "We are both officials in the same court, how can you make such a fallacy as him being my advisor?"

Why won't you admit it? This person is really two-faced.

Feng Tan smiled and said, "My lord is truly... seemingly close yet distant."

"Like a bond, yet also like a separation, we each go our separate ways." Xiao Yinshi poured a cup of tea and handed it to Feng Tan. In the dim sunlight, his eyes pierced like arrows as he looked intently at Feng Tan's unwavering expression. He said calmly, "This journey is fraught with danger, but I still hope to return with you."

Feng Tan chuckled awkwardly, "Of course, of course. As you say, sir, I still need to go back and get promoted!"

After saying that, she suddenly remembered something and asked, "My lord, I have heard that His Majesty has arranged a marriage for the princess?"

Xiao Yinshi lowered his eyelashes, slowly took a sip of tea, and said with a half-smile, "Lord Feng has many beauties by his side, but you've only met the princess once, and you're already thinking about her?"

Perhaps it was because he had left the treacherous capital city, but Xiao Yinshi was in a rare good mood and even started teasing Feng Tan.

Xiao Yinshi put down his teacup, glanced at her for a moment, and said, "Are you afraid that Gao Yu will give you another helping hand?"

“Nothing can be hidden from you, sir,” Feng Tan poured him a cup of tea and presented it to Xiao Yinshi with both hands. “Gao Zhizhen was originally just a compiler in the palace. He had no power or influence and his position was naturally insignificant. But if he marries the princess of the court, will His Majesty promote him?”

“No.” Xiao Yinshi accepted the tea that Feng Tan handed him. Their fingers touched briefly before parting. His eyes flickered slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, he said, “His Majesty has only two daughters so far. Xiao Dai is not a legitimate princess, and her husband is not that important… If you want to have the power to contend with Gao Yu, it is almost impossible to do so in just a few years. However… I can point out a clear path for Lord Feng.”

Feng Tan became even more devout and hurriedly said, "Please speak, my lord."

With a "click," Xiao Yinshi placed the teacup on the small table, lowered his head, and slowly approached Feng Tan's face. His gaze swept over her from top to bottom, and he said softly with a smile, "By marrying that legitimate princess who disappeared for eight years and is about to return to the capital, Lord Feng will surely rise to great heights."

Even with Feng Tan's excellent expression control, the corner of her mouth couldn't help but twitch at this moment.

A slight smile appeared in Feng Tan's eyes. "I come from a humble background and hold only a seventh-rank official position. I dare not presume to ask the princess for anything. The path you have suggested is beyond my capabilities."

In the dim light, the boy's skin was radiant, his face as bright as a star. The longer you stared at him, the more the warmth of your touch seemed to ignite.

A strange restlessness rose in Xiao Yinshi's heart again, and this uncontrollable, bizarre emotional surge made his gaze gradually turn cold and fierce.

Feng Tan felt the air above suddenly turn chilly, wondering what he had said to offend this unpredictable man. He quickly stood up and said, "If there's nothing else, sir, I'll take my leave..."

Before Feng Tan could even utter the words "take your leave," Xiao Yinshi reached out and grasped her arm, his thin lips parting slightly to cut off her unfinished words, "Stop."

The strength of the fingers on the arm was domineering and powerful. Feng Tan frowned, shifted his gaze from the man's arm, and asked in a gentle tone, "Is there anything else, sir?"

Xiao Yinshi slowly loosened his grip on Feng Tan's arm and asked, "After returning to the capital, which government office do you want to work for?"

Feng Tan held up five fingers and gestured to Xiao Yinshi, saying, "Minister of Justice, fifth rank."

Xiao Yinshi sharply commented, "Not only are they bold, they also have big appetites."

"I am flattered by your praise, sir. I am but a mayfly trying to shake a tree. How could I dare to take it one step at a time?"

The Dahuang government has a strict system for promoting officials. The Ministry of Personnel selects officials based on seniority or family background. There are two paths to promotion: accumulating seniority or being recommended. Accumulating seniority requires three years of examinations, and Feng Tan doesn't have that much time. If she wants to overturn her teacher's case, a fifth-rank position as a principal officer in the Ministry of Justice is the highest position she can currently achieve by taking an unconventional approach.

"A mayfly trying to shake a tree?" Xiao Yinshi pondered these words, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. "Borrowing my strength, which tree are you trying to shake?"

Feng Tan's eyes were open and honest. "Naturally, it's Gao Yu."

He brought down Gao Yu to avenge Wan Niang and to pave the way for his teacher's exoneration.

"It seems that Lord Feng has told so many lies that he is no longer afraid of breaking his tongue. Ordinary families cannot raise a person with such a temperament as you."

Xiao Yinshi possessed the alertness of a lone wolf, and Feng Tan immediately shut up, refusing to say another word.

The carriage left the official road, its body creaking as it scraped against the withered vines. After traversing this winding path, Zhu Qilang called out from outside the carriage, "Master, it will be almost dark in seven or eight hours if we travel south. Judging by our pace, we should be around Kangjiang County by then. I see a post station there; shall we rest there tonight?"

"Can."

Feng Tan lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. The sky, which had been clear and bright just moments before, was now covered with dark clouds, looking as if a heavy snow was about to fall. The weather was not cooperating. If it snowed halfway through the journey, the convoy's progress would be hindered. They didn't want to stop in the middle of nowhere.

She lowered the sedan curtain, turned her head to look at Xiao Yinshi's profile, and said, "If Your Excellency has no other instructions, I will take my leave."

Just as she was about to step out of the sedan chair, Feng Tan turned back and looked into Xiao Yinshi's cold, sharp eyes. She scrutinized him for a moment in the dim light and said in a low voice, "My lord, I am not interested in men, nor am I prepared to be with men. Moreover, I can tell that you are not someone who craves love and lust. It is more valuable for me to be a sharp weapon in your hand than a plaything on your bed, isn't it?"

Ever since that day when this man almost exposed her true gender, he has once again revealed the murderous glint of his greed. The man known throughout the capital's officialdom for his unwavering integrity, Liu Xiahui, was now repeatedly stirred by lust in front of Feng Tan.

This made Feng Tan very uncomfortable.

Feng Tan finished speaking in one breath, not giving Xiao Yinshi a chance to scold her, and quickly jumped off the carriage.

In the shadows, Xiao Yinshi chuckled. This was a truly sharp-witted little wolf cub.

Zhu Qi, who was outside the sedan chair, shuddered when he heard the laughter. Why was the master's laughter so sinister and eerie?

*

After stepping out of Xiao Yinshi's luxurious sedan chair for thirty-two people and returning to her own humble sedan chair, Feng Tan's eyes darted around before she said to Uncle Meng, "Indeed, it's hard to go from extravagance to frugality!"

Menghenabul took the warm porridge he had just prepared for her from the small stove, and handed the small bowl to Feng Tan with his rough, large hands. "Angelica and red date porridge, drink it, and your stomach will stop hurting."

Because of the voice-changing drugs she takes, Feng Tan's menstrual cycle has always been irregular. Meng He Naboul took Feng Tan's pulse two days ago and determined that Feng Tan's period would be in these two days.

The medicinal porridge emitted a fragrant aroma. Feng Tan took the bowl of medicine, picked up the porcelain spoon, and stirred it in circles, as if she had returned to the past.

When she was thirteen, she felt a slight pain in her stomach after returning home from school. Uncle Meng noticed that her complexion was not right, so he quickly took off his apron, washed his hands, and took her pulse.

This middle-aged man, who never spoke the Central Plains dialect well and was clueless about social etiquette, blushed as he explained the changes in her body word by word. "Ah Tan, in Volume Seven of 'Shou Shi Bao Yuan,' it says that when a young woman is fourteen, her menstrual flow begins, which is called the arrival of Tian Gui water. Don't be afraid. If it hurts, tell your uncle, and your uncle will prepare medicine for you. Your uncle made it for you two years ago. Menstrual pads, I'll go get them for you, bring them here."

It was bright daylight then, and the sight of Uncle Meng fleeing in disarray made Feng Tan laugh so hard she almost fell over on the bed. She stopped clutching her stomach and complaining of discomfort, and just rolled around laughing. Since Feng Tan's first period, with Uncle Meng by her side to take care of her, Feng Tan had never suffered much during her menstrual period, only feeling a little weak.

As the scalding heat of the porridge in her hands subsided slightly, Feng Tan scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth. "Soft, sticky, and sweet, Uncle Meng, your cooking is so good that I can hardly afford to pay your salary."

The bowl of hot porridge was quickly emptied. Feng Tan took a sip of tea to cleanse his mouth and asked, "Uncle Meng, where did Qing Cang go?"

Qingcang is the gyrfalcon that has always followed Feng Tan.

Menghenabul is of Kyrgyz ethnicity and possesses four unique skills: kung fu, cooking, medicine, and falconry. The Kyrgyz people have lived in the Lintian Mountains south of the Dahuang region for generations, yearning to soar alongside eagles. The eagle's wings are their wings; freedom is the Kyrgyz people's aspiration.

Menghe Nabuer followed Feng Tan and stayed in that small courtyard in Qingning County for eight years, simply because he had made a promise to Feng Youming back then.

He didn't speak the Central Plains dialect well, so he tried hard to learn. However, Menghe Nabuer's linguistic talent was really not high, and he still stumbled a lot when he spoke. "Qingcang, follow the caravan and fly slowly. I've prepared meat for it."

Feng Tan felt relieved. She had loved taming wild beasts and birds of prey since she was a child. She wondered how her white tiger, which she had raised when she was a child, was doing now. The gyrfalcon she was raising now was loyal and brave, and especially good at delivering messages. She treasured it very much.

Menghenabul took out a letter from the capital from his sleeve, placed it on the small wooden table, and said slowly, "Sent by Ren Pingsheng, silver notes."

A large stack of silver notes, worth enough to cover Feng Tan's salary for five years. Each note was of a small denomination, making it convenient for Feng Tan to exchange them at the money exchange. In addition, there was some intelligence on the Linzhang sea area that Ren Pingsheng had recently gathered.

“Aunt Ren is always so thoughtful,” Feng Tan said, stuffing half of the silver note into Meng Henaboul’s hand and the other half into her own pocket, her eyes crinkling with laughter. “It really does feel reassuring to have money on hand.”

Menghe Nabul remained noncommittal. Seeing Feng Tan frowning as he studied the intelligence and the newly acquired ancient books about the Linzhang sea area, he quietly took the bowls and chopsticks Feng Tan had finished eating and got off the carriage.

When Zhu Qi saw Meng Henabuer finally emerge from the sedan chair, he quickly rode over and said with a grin, "Brother Meng, I noticed that the broadsword at your waist doesn't seem to be made with Central Plains craftsmanship. The blade is wide, the hilt is thick and heavy, and it exudes a very imposing aura. May I take a look?"

Zhu Qi had followed Xiao Yin for many years and had no other hobbies besides weapons. He noticed the weapon on the side of this tall man when the caravan had just set off. However, he was busy in Feng Tan's sedan chair and did not have a chance to greet him. After waiting for a while, he finally got off the car.

Menghenabul glanced at Zhu Qi and said simply, "No."

"..." What happened to the saying "you don't hit a smiling face"? Zhu Qi's smile faded slightly. He glanced again at the broadsword, radiating a battle aura, and said, suppressing his temper, "Brother Meng, don't be so stingy. I'm just looking, I'm not doing anything else..."

Upon hearing the commotion, Feng Tan quickly put down the paper in his hand and got off the carriage. He said to Zhu Qi, "Lord Zhu, I forged this knife for Uncle Meng. If you have any questions, just ask me!"

She turned to Meng Henabul and said, "Uncle Meng, you've been busy all day, go and rest."

Seeing Feng Tan's anxious expression, as if he were afraid his servant would be bullied in the slightest, Zhu Qi scratched his head and said with a hint of grievance, "Lord Feng, you and your servant are both so stingy!"

Feng Tan smiled and said, "Lord Zhu, you don't know this, but my uncle really treasures this knife. I only touched it on the day it was forged. After giving it to Uncle Meng, Uncle Meng forbade even me to touch his knife again."

Zhu Qi asked, "I don't think this knife is made of the iron that ordinary craftsmen in Dahuang usually use. What is it made of?"

"This material is called steel. It has the hardness of iron and the toughness of carbon, making the blade sharp and not easily broken," Feng Tan repeated what her husband had said, finding a comfortable position to lean against the car body. "It's much better than brittle iron."

Zhu Qi's eyes lit up. "I knew it! Brother Meng's knife is no ordinary piece. Lord Feng, with your craftsmanship, why don't you take a position in the Ministry of Works? It would benefit the people of Dahuang. I wonder if Lord Feng could..."

Feng Tan smiled and said, "No."

Zhu Qi: "......"

These two are truly master and servant; they speak in exactly the same tone!

“However, if Lord Zhu really wants it,” Feng Tan said, her words taking an unexpected turn as she watched Zhu Qi’s ever-changing expressions, “I can forge one for you after I return to the capital. As for the price… one hundred taels.”

"One hundred taels!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Qi jumped up and down, shouting, "One hundred taels! One hundred taels for a knife! Why don't you just rob me!"

Feng Tan raised an eyebrow at him.

Zhu Qi gritted his teeth: "One hundred taels it is!"

Seeing his distressed expression, Feng Tan comforted him, "Lord Zhu, I'm not asking for an exorbitant price. This money is guaranteed to be well spent. This knife is so sharp it could easily cleave open the eighth-level cell door of the Imperial Guard Prison!" "You're going too far," Feng Tan continued, "do you know what the Imperial Guard Prison is like? During my years as Commander of the Imperial Guard, I went in and out of the most dangerous prison area countless times. The cell doors there are made of thick iron; your... steel knife... can't cut through them."

Feng Tan felt a chill run down her spine. The imperial prison was so heavily guarded, clearly intended to eliminate any possibility of a prison break.

Now the only way is to overturn the case for the man. If the attempt fails, breaking him out of prison will be a matter of life and death.

Feng Tan asked again without showing any emotion: "Lord Zhu, you have quite a lot of knowledge! I have also been to the Imperial Prison once, and it seems to be no different from the Floating Prison of the Ministry of Justice, except that one is the eighteen levels of hell on the ground and the other is the eighteen levels of hell underground."

"You can't just talk nonsense like that! These two prisons are worlds apart! Just looking at the prisoners they hold, one is for commoners and the other for officials. Just from that point of view, the Buddhist prison is far from being the imperial prison!"

Feng Tan suddenly realized and said, "I see! In that case, the Imperial Prison must be more strictly guarded. But I see that the Imperial Prison has a much smaller capacity than the Floating Prison. In that case, won't there be a situation where there aren't enough cells?"

“Absolutely not,” Zhu Qi waved his hand. “Once an official is imprisoned, he is either exiled or dies. He is not kept in prison indefinitely.”

Feng Tan felt a chill run down his spine and probed again, "Lord Zhu, I don't think that's entirely true. Take Shen Ze, the general of the enemy country, for example; he's been kept in the imperial prison all along."

Zhu Qi waved his hand and said, "Hey, that's an exception. Since the Dahuang Prison opened, it has only had two regular visitors. Shen Ze was imprisoned for only two or three years, which isn't long. If we're talking about who has stayed in the prison the longest, the eldest daughter of the Feng family in the female calamity case eight years ago is no less impressive! The prison is built underground, where there is no sunlight. Even an ordinary person would have gone mad long ago, but this eldest daughter of the Feng family has remained neither mad nor demonic for years, maintaining her composure every day. She has truly developed a heart of iron! It's just that time takes its toll, and although she's only in her thirties, her hair is now completely white..."

Feng Tan's throat tightened, and he felt as if the sky had suddenly darkened, and the prison cell was as dark as a long night. Only a beam of light shone down, illuminating the gentleman sitting alone on the dilapidated prayer mat.

Having endured half a lifetime of hardship, he had reached a state of utter isolation; though suppressed by imperial power in the darkness, he could still brave the cold and sway with his own spirit.

"Zhu Qi!" Sun Cheng shouted from the front of the convoy, interrupting Zhu Qi's speech.

Zhu Qi looked ahead, then touched his nose and chuckled awkwardly at Feng Tan, saying, "Lord Feng, it seems you're the one calling me. Let's talk another day, another day!"

Feng Tan nodded and smiled, "Definitely."

......

After driving for more than half a month, the sky, which had been overcast for several days, finally began to snow heavily.

A vast expanse of snow and wind swept across the land, howling and whipping up huge swirling snowflakes, raging like a white storm. These snowflakes fell densely and wildly, enveloping the entire boardwalk in a white, chaotic haze, their sharp edges cutting like knives against one's face.

The heavy snow was so thick that people and horses alike could not open their eyes, and the snow blocked the roads, making it very difficult for the caravan to move forward.

Since leaving the capital, the convoy has been heading south and is now near Kangjiang County, located along the coast of Linzhang. However, the mountain roads are rugged and treacherous, and it will take another half a day to reach Kangjiang County. But with the snow falling heavier and heavier, it seems the plan to rest for the night at a post station near Kangjiang County is out of the question.

Zhu Qi, sitting on his tall horse, brushed the thick snow off his shoulders and said to Sun Cheng, "We can't be trapped in this godforsaken place. I see a tall tower standing in the distance beyond this plank road. Let's rest there tonight!"

Sun Cheng gripped the horse's reins tightly and nodded, saying, "You have extensive experience following the master on exploration missions, so I'll listen to you."

After another half hour, the convoy finally stopped in front of the tower amidst the raging snowstorm.

Looking up, the tower has seven stories, with a bronze sea beast at each of the four corners of the top. The tower is built of bricks, which are finely fitted together and are exceptionally sturdy. There is a staircase inside that spirals upwards, but the furnishings inside are somewhat decayed.

Heavy snow blocked the mountain pass, and the guards, cold and hungry from their journey, spontaneously went out to fetch the prepared charcoal to start a fire without Sun Cheng's instructions.

As the warm firelight blazed up, Feng Tan took the roasted lamb leg from Meng Henabul, took a bite, and exclaimed, "Uncle Meng, look! Everyone has lost weight from exhaustion over the past two weeks, but I've gained a lot of weight thanks to your excellent cooking!"

Menghenabul's eyes lit up with a smile. "Eat more, get strong!"

The relationship between the two was not like that of master and servant, but more like that of family.

Xiao Yinshi withdrew his gaze, the sheen of his black and gold fox fur cloak highlighting the cold and sinister look on his face.

There were no beds in the tower for resting. The guards were exhausted and sleepy. After eating and drinking their fill, they didn't care about anything else. They huddled around the campfire, wrapped themselves in thick clothes, and slept on the spot. They were on duty in shifts of ten.

At midnight, the heavy snow stopped, and the wind howled outside the tower.

Suddenly, the faint sound of a baby crying could be heard, "Waaah..."

"What...what sound?"

"I...I've long heard that evil spirits roam the waters off Linzhang, could this be...?"

"A ghost? A ghost?"

In the dim light of the remaining flames, Feng Tan slowly opened her eyes.