Chapter 42: Lan Aimo's Division
Feng Yanyuan closed his eyes and rested in the shade of the eaves, while Feng Jiu walked around in the yard.
"Stop spinning, you're making me dizzy." Feng Yanyuan said helplessly.
Feng Jiu saw that the young master had finally spoken, and hurriedly asked, "Young master, this mansion is surrounded by soldiers, and the birthday banquet is tomorrow. What should we do?"
"If you find the ambush too troublesome, just go and have some of the food and wine sent by Governor Liu, and they will withdraw on their own."
Feng Jiu didn't dare. The food and wine had strong drugs in them. If they were exhausted, the ambush would surely withdraw. But going without food and drink all day wasn't a solution. The young master was so relaxed, was he expecting Yun Yuan to leave the city and bring in reinforcements? He was just thinking when he heard a commotion outside the door and hurriedly peeked through the crack.
I saw a man riding a fine horse, standing at the porch of the outer courtyard, followed by a dozen elite horsemen. Although there were not many people, the man was wearing a crown and a brocade robe, and compared with the clothes of these elite horsemen, it was obvious that he was a prince.
The soldiers in the yard were so dense that they didn't dare to move forward, but they also didn't dare to give way.
"Where is Yuzhou Governor Liu Huai?!"
The ground shook with such a shout that the man took a step forward, forcing the soldier to take a step back.
"Tell him that the King of Changshan wants to talk to him!"
The Yuzhou Governor finally came out, thought for a moment, and then bowed and said, "I didn't know Your Highness was coming. I'm sorry for not welcoming you."
The King of Changshan said, "I have some friendship with the third son of the Feng family. We made an appointment to reminisce in Shouchun. I heard that he had entered the city a few days ago, but he hasn't left yet. I think he was detained by Governor Liu. I wonder if he has completed the Governor's business."
Governor Liu said, "I deserve to die. I was so greedy for the Third Young Master's fame that I didn't realize that the Third Young Master Feng also had an appointment with the prince. I hope Your Highness will forgive me!"
The gate of the inner courtyard was wide open. The Yuzhou governor said a few polite words when inviting Feng Yanyuan to come out, and then respectfully saw him off in front of the door until a group of people disappeared into the corner of the alley. He curled his lips and turned back to his mansion.
Feng Yanyuan was riding on his horse, feeling vaguely uneasy. He couldn't understand why the Yuzhou governor had insisted on stopping him that day and why he let him go so easily now.
"This trip is simple, but I'm lucky I've got this impressive outfit." Changing his ferocious demeanor, the King of Changshan jokingly said, "Why are you wearing such a long face? Don't you think the show you're on isn't enough?"
Feng Yanyuan glanced at the people brought by the King of Changshan and asked, "Where is Yun Yuan?"
The King of Changshan was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing and said, "Alright! Zishang! I really thought you were pure and unselfish!" After that, he laughed for a long time before saying, "That girl is not bad. Not only is she pretty, but she's also very smart! It took me some effort to get into the city. How did she get out?!"
Feng Jiu also wanted to know, so he pricked up his ears.
"Is she in Lei Ting Manor?" Feng Yanyuan just kept asking this question.
Prince Changshan couldn't help laughing. "She's currently resting at her master's farm. After a night of riding, even a brave man would be exhausted and his legs and feet would be numb. She forced herself to bring the message and only fainted after making sure you were alright. You're such a lucky guy!"
Feng Yanyuan didn't know if he could handle this blessing, but knowing that she was fine was enough. He then asked, "How is the old lady? Who organized this birthday banquet?"
Prince Changshan shook his head and said, "I don't know yet. It's as if this letter has been waiting for me all along, and when the Luoyang incident happened, it immediately reached the hands of all the major sects. Master has long since stopped caring about the right and wrong of the martial arts world. It was only when I arrived a few days ago to tell him about it that I realized he was actually planning to hold such a ridiculous birthday party!"
"What does the old man say?"
"Master is already over seventy years old and no longer wishes to be involved in disputes. However, in his name, he cannot sit idly by. However, for now, there is no other way but to wait and see what happens. The outcome will be revealed at tomorrow's birthday banquet."
Feng Yanyuan frowned and said, "We still need to discuss this after we go to Lei Ting Manor tonight."
The King of Changshan said, "But it will be early morning if we go to Leiting Manor, and afternoon if we get to Bagong Mountain in Shouchun. Master wants you and me to go directly to Bagong Mountain for the banquet, so he should have left by now."
Feng Yanyuan thought for a moment and said, "Well, I really must go to this birthday party."
"We have to see the beauty too, let's go!" King Changshan laughed loudly, whipped his horse again, and shouted, "Horse hooves have no eyes, make way!" Then he laughed loudly, rushed forward with high spirits, and cleared a path.
The group galloped out of the city at top speed. The sun was blazing, and both riders and horses were thirsty. They happened to come across a tavern, and the King of Changshan suddenly stopped his horse with a sigh, saying, "It's shady here, with good wine and good food. Let's rest for a while."
Feng Jiu and Feng Yanyuan hadn't eaten a single grain of rice in a day and a night, so naturally they were eager for something. Several people sat down in a huge crowd, filling up the otherwise empty tavern. After a while, the food and wine were served, and the guards devoured them ravenously.
King Changshan patted Feng Yanyuan on the shoulder and said, "I'll take you to drink something good, come."
Feng Yanyuan was puzzled and followed him for a long time. They walked around a slope and suddenly saw a well under the shade of a tree. After the King of Changshan circled the windlass, he turned the handle and drew a bucket of well water.
"It's so hot out here, I need something cool. The wine is lukewarm, I can't drink it."
Feng Yanyuan saw that he seemed to be having fun, so he smiled helplessly and said, "Your Highness, don't you know the suffering of the people? Do you want to have a taste of it?"
"Didn't I tell you to call me Shidu? In this world of martial arts, what's the point of calling someone Your Highness? Are you really trying to prevent me from participating in your grand gathering?"
"Oh? Then under what name will Your Highness attend the meeting?"
"Ma Shidu." King Changshan grinned and said, "Don't let anything slip out again."
Feng Yanyuan smiled helplessly and could only respond, "Okay, okay, Hero Ma."
The King of Changshan had already brought up a bucket of water. It was a cool bucket, just enough to quench his thirst along the way. He lowered his head to take a sip and said cheerfully, "I can't tell whether the people are suffering or not, but this water is very sweet. You should try it too."
Feng Yanyuan hadn't had a drop of water since last night, and after riding all this way, he felt incredibly thirsty. He squatted down, reached out to touch the water, and took a sip. It was indeed sweet and refreshing.
King Changshan said, "In this wilderness, you are following such rules. I think you are even more ignorant of the sufferings of the world than I am. You'd better drink more."
Feng Yanyuan was about to retort when he suddenly felt dizzy. Then he was hit hard on the back and fell to the bottom of the well.
The well was deep, but the water was not deep. Feng Yanyuan was half submerged in water and could only look up in anger.
The King of Changshan covered half of the sky in the well with his body and asked with a smile, "Can you fly up?"
He is not a god. Even if his lightness skills are very good, how can he fly up without any foothold?
"What do you mean, Your Highness?" Feng Yanyuan asked angrily.
King Changshan ignored him, squatted for a while, stood up straight, looked into the distance, and walked away.
Seeing him leave, Feng Yanyuan could only frown and look at the smooth walls of the well. Just as he was thinking about how to get out, he heard someone calling from outside the well. He was suddenly stunned - it was Feng Yanhao's voice.
"King Changshan has been waiting for a long time!"
"Master Hao is really punctual!"
Feng Yanyuan frowned.
"Your Highness has made an appointment, how dare I delay even a moment? But I wonder how I can serve you?"
"Master Hao, don't you know that I have snatched the Third Master Feng from the Governor of Yuzhou?"
"Is that true?" Feng Yanhao laughed heartily. "Brother Yuan, you are truly honored. But how can a commoner know about your nobleman's affairs?"
"Master Hao, there is no need to worry. The governor has already informed me of the entire situation. He knew your third brother wouldn't just sit there and wait for the meeting to end, and feared he would suffer heavy casualties and fail to fulfill your trust, so he took this opportunity to hand it over to me."
"I am ignorant and don't know what your Highness means by this..."
"Master Hao, let me be frank. The Third Young Master is now in my hands, barely breathing. Of the entire Feng family, I only care about the eldest young master. If Master Hao doesn't mind, how about I help you solve this problem?"
"If my third brother offends the prince, how can I dare to say anything?"
"I just don't know how Master Hao will repay me."
"What do you want, Your Highness?"
"Master Hao must know that I was exiled to Changshan because of a treacherous minister's frame-up. Now that King Zhao is in power..."
"Your Highness is a man of unparalleled wisdom and courage, possessing both virtue and talent. He was indeed murdered in the past. If the King of Zhao knew the King of Changshan's intentions, how could he allow the thick earth to bury the gold?"
"Then I'll leave it to you, Master Hao."
"I wouldn't dare. I rely on intelligence to survive in the martial arts world. If I'm asked, I'll naturally report the truth."
The two looked at each other and smiled. They didn't say everything, but they had said everything.
"Then Master Hao will go first?"
"I am in a state of panic, so of course Your Highness will go first."
"You go first. I'll have some water and rest for a while."
"I obey your order."
Feng Yanyuan lay silent in the icy water. A moment later, the windlass creaked again, and the bucket fell directly before him. He reached out, grabbed hold, climbed the rope, and jumped out of the well.
King Changshan just stared at him intently, no longer showing any sign of laughter.
Feng Yanyuan didn't look at him, but just tried his best to dry his clothes.
The two of them were silent for a while.
"Do you have anything to say?" King Changshan said.
"What does Your Highness want me to say?" Feng Yanyuan said indifferently.
"Your brother knows all about the robberies and murders you've been carrying out. You heard it all today. He wishes you were dead, and you're still playing dumb?" He couldn't stand Feng Yanyuan's calm demeanor. "Zishang, don't you feel angry? You've been like this... letting him bully you. How can you be a real man?"
Feng Yanyuan said coldly, "Boiling beans with firewood, quarreling under the wall, Your Highness is familiar with it."
King Changshan never expected that Feng Yanyuan not only did not appreciate his kindness, but also threw dirty water on him. He was so angry that he kept shouting "You! You! You!" but he couldn't say anything else. In the end, he had no way to refute it. He just snorted and said, "Although I don't know why you attended the meeting, but since you are here, you must have a position. If you have the same position as Feng Yanhao, you and I don't have to have any contact from now on!" After saying that, he turned around and went back to the tavern. After a while, he took all the elite soldiers with him away.
Feng Jiu, who was at a loss, hurriedly threw down the steamed bun in his hand, got on the horse, got off again, and trotted to meet Feng Yanyuan who was slowly returning.
"They leave first. You and I still need to eat."
Feng Yanyuan didn't even look at Feng Jiu. He just sat down at the low table and drank a large bowl of liquor.
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