Chapter 27 You're Not Allowed to Go. You're not allowed to go anywhere.
His fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and a sharp, murderous glint flashed in his eyes: "You still dare to ask me to save him? If you hadn't been so busy having an affair with him back then, how could you have lost me? Father tortured you like this with drugs because of him, and you still don't know how to repent?"
Li's chapped lips parted slightly, her withered and sickly face showing shock and bewilderment.
Although she was estranged from her son, she remembered him as always being gentle and kind. He had never spoken to her in such a harsh tone.
Realizing his lapse in composure, Feng Zhijian took a deep breath, calmed himself, and stared coldly at Li Shi, saying, "I will not save anyone, but out of consideration for your life-saving grace, I will grant him the privilege of seeing your remains before he dies."
After saying that, he walked away, and no matter how much Li called out to him, he did not turn back.
Feng Zhijian thought he was angry enough at Li's place, but he didn't expect that he would be even more furious as soon as he stepped out the door.
As he walked under the bamboo grove, a servant approached him from outside the moon gate not far away and said, "Young Master Feng, there is a guest in your mansion who is looking for you. He said his name is Zhang Yin, he comes from Lingnan, and he has come to study with you."
Feng Zhijian paused, his gaze turning icy as he looked at the servant: "Who are you talking about?"
"Zhang, Zhang Yin..." The servant lowered his head under his gaze.
Feng Zhijian clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, and the servants, listening, secretly broke out in a cold sweat.
Where is he?
"It's right here in the front courtyard flower hall."
Feng Zhijian strode away.
Passing through the back courtyard hidden by flowers and plants, several maids stood silently in front of the flower hall in the front yard.
As Feng Zhijian stepped into the flower hall, he saw Zhang Yin dressed in a gray-white Hu-style robe, with a few specks of black ink on his sleeves. His gaze was calm and gentle, and a faint smile played on his lips. He was talking to the maid who was pouring tea, making the maid laugh and chat.
The maid looked up and saw Feng Huaihe enter. She quickly stopped smiling, gave a respectful greeting, and hurriedly left.
Zhang Yin stood up, bowed to Feng Huaihe, and said, "You must be Mr. Huaihe."
Feng Huaihe didn't speak. He walked slowly to the high hall, sat down, and glanced at Zhang Yin with disdain as his cold eyes looked down at him.
Zhang Yin faced him, bowed again, and said gently, "I have heard of your reputation as a brilliant strategist before. I have come to Chang'an to learn from you, or perhaps become your retainer. I hope to be taught by you and become a strategist who can serve the world."
As Feng Huaihe played with a small jade teacup, he glanced at Zhang Yin and tried to recall if Zhang Yin had ever come to study in his previous life.
Why doesn't he remember?
Deep within my memories, I seem to have found some clues.
In his previous life, Feng Huaihe was used to compromising and yielding. Even though he was unwilling, he still agreed to his mother, Li, to save her lover and help her find the daughter who had been taken away by her lover.
After leaving Li's place, he heard from his servants that a man from Lingnan named Zhang Yin was requesting an audience with him, wanting to become his disciple.
He felt melancholy and depressed because of Li, and waved his hand, saying he would not see her.
Then he thought that his refusal might be too harsh and hurt people's feelings, so he added, "I will only take one disciple in my life. Now that I have taken Zhu Qing, I will not take anyone else. Tell him to go back."
At that time, many people came to visit him. Some asked him to help with just one thing, some asked him to solve their puzzles, and many more came with large sums of money to recruit him as their advisor.
With so many visitors, Feng Huaihe didn't remember anyone by name, and Zhang Yin, an extremely ordinary name, gradually faded from his memory.
No wonder when he later received Zhu Qing's letter about getting married, he felt that Zhang Yin's name was somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
Feng Huaihe felt that fate was somewhat absurd; after all the twists and turns, he had come back to the same place.
Zhang Yin should only be nineteen years old now, not yet of age to be formally married and given a courtesy name. He is a very young man, and he also has the fearless and courageous spirit of a young man.
He puffed out his chest and said, “I’m from Lingnan. I started reading and writing at a young age. I could recite poems at eight, write essays at ten, and discuss Lingnan affairs at fifteen. If you are willing to take me in, I will certainly not disappoint you.”
Feng Huaihe listened with pursed lips, but remained silent. The air grew quiet. Most people would be anxious and fearful of rejection at this point, but Zhang Yin remained confident, his eyes shining, his head held high and chest out.
Looking at him, Feng Huaihe felt that he was like a rooster crowing the loudest, naively believing that the sun only dared to peek out after he crowed, and also like a newborn calf, so innocent that he would befriend a tiger cub.
Young people are often impulsive and reckless, unaware of the complexities of the world.
Feng Huaihe sneered, raising an eyebrow at Zhang Yin: "What makes you think I'd even look at your talent?"
Zhang Yin hadn't expected his tone to be so sharp, and hesitated, "This..."
Feng Huaihe glanced at him and said, "You can leave now. I don't plan to take on any students."
"Can……"
"After careful consideration, it's not impossible, but I have one condition," Feng Huaihe slowly put down his jade teacup, a half-smile on his face, and said, "Within three days, you must find someone to marry."
"Huh?" Zhang Yin was stunned: "This...the current situation is turbulent, I'm afraid it's not a good time to get married."
Feng Huaihe thought to himself with sarcasm.
Now he knows that it is not advisable to get married in turbulent times, so how did he manage to coax Zhu Qing into marrying him in his previous life?
Feng Huaihe was unwilling to say more, and stood up with a flick of his sleeve: "If you don't want to, then leave."
Zhang Yin sighed.
He was once a noble young man from Lingnan, and naturally possessed the temperament of a nobleman. After Feng Huaihe finished speaking, he did not insist any further.
After politely thanking them and returning the gift, they prepared to leave.
"Wait!" Feng Huaihe suddenly shouted at the departing figure.
Zhang Yin turned around in confusion.
Feng Huaihe stepped down from the platform and came to his side. As rumored, he smiled gently and patted Zhang Yin's shoulder as if to show concern, asking, "If you fail to complete your studies, where do you plan to go next?"
Zhang Yin, caught off guard, laughed and said, "When I came to the capital, a family helped me. Yesterday, I sold some calligraphy and paintings and got some money. I plan to go back to that family to repay their kindness. After that, I plan to go to the State of Jin."
Just like in his previous life, he went to the State of Jin to assist Li Cunxu, and later, Zhu Qing would also meet him in Jinyang.
Even if Zhu Qing were from the moon, the course of events would remain unchanged.
No wonder Zhu Qing repeatedly tested the waters about quitting his job. Did he want to go to Jinyang with Zhang Yin?
Feng Huaihe smiled without revealing his true intentions, "I see you are talented, so I can give you some travel expenses. Although I do not accept students, I have someone I can recommend to assist you, so you don't have to travel all the way to Jinyang, where you are unfamiliar with the place."
Zhang Yin: "Whom should I assist?"
Feng Huaihe narrowed his eyes slightly, "Zhu Wen."
Zhang Yin's eyes lit up: "Really?"
Looking at his innocent and unguarded smile, Feng Huaihe thought to himself that all young masters who are new to the world are like this. They have no suspicion and no defenses. They can easily believe someone based solely on rumors.
No wonder he toiled his entire life in his previous life, only to remain an unknown strategist. Why then did Li Cunxu continue to employ him?
"That gentleman..."
"Don't worry, once you return from that household, just find the steward in my household, and he will make arrangements for you. At that time, take my letter of recommendation to Zhu Wen. Although everyone says that he is cruel and ruthless, he is actually quite courageous and resourceful. In a few months, he will surrender to the Tang court."
To reassure Zhang Yin, Feng Huaihe patiently persuaded him: "If you don't trust me, you can observe for a few months and see if it's as I say."
"It's not that I don't trust you, sir, but I don't know why you're helping me?"
Feng Huaihe sighed regretfully, looking at Zhang Yin with a sense of cherishing talent, and said sincerely, "It is truly a pity to have your talent buried. Although I do not accept disciples, I still cherish talent."
Zhang Yin was overjoyed.
He knew that the rumors about Feng Huaihe's gentle temperament and magnanimity were not unfounded!
"Thank you so much, sir! Thank you so much, sir!" Zhang Yin said with a smile. "I will return immediately after I have informed my benefactor!"
After Zhang Yin finished speaking, he bowed and withdrew.
As his figure disappeared into the distance, Feng Huaihe's smile slowly faded. His handsome and gentle face was now clouded with gloom.
If you assist Zhu Wen, you're just waiting to die.
-
Feng Huaihe rushed back to the shogunate, and it was already noon.
As soon as they stepped inside, they heard the gong signaling the end of the shift. Zhu Qing, Hua Ning, and Bao Fu rushed out of the secretary's office and ran quickly towards the kitchen.
The three of them raced each other like they were in a competition. It was clear that Zhu Qing had won this competition. She was the first to rush into the kitchen, grab bowls and chopsticks, and fill the large bowls to the brim with rice and vegetables.
Holding the overflowing bowl, Zhu Qingxin turned around with satisfaction and immediately saw Feng Huaihe standing outside the kitchen door.
He carried a stack of books, wearing a gray-blue robe with a thin snow-white shirt over it. When the wind blew, the snow-white shirt fluttered, and he stood there like a snowflake, aloof and pure, as if making the sweltering summer heat feel cool. He looked at her with a deep gaze.
Seeing her ravenous appearance in front of the handsome guy, Zhu Qing's cheeks flushed. Pretending not to see anything, she picked up her full bowl and sat down in a seat with her back to Feng Huaihe.
Hua Ning and Bao Fu rushed in at this moment, each picking up a large bowl, and followed closely behind, sitting down next to Zhu Qing.
Hua Ning whispered, "I just saw the Secretary's books. The top one is called 'My Brother-in-Law's Charming Widow's Sister-in-Law.'" Her face gradually turned red. "I didn't realize the Secretary read these kinds of books in private. And there's such a big stack of them!"
Zhu Qing turned around suspiciously to confirm, and saw Feng Huaihe carrying a book walking slowly towards them.
Zhu Qing quickly looked away. She had already discovered enough of his secrets; she really didn't want to see anything she shouldn't.
She buried her head in her food, shoveling it into her mouth with a playful grin. Even communal cooking tasted much better than takeout. Just as she was getting into it, Feng Huaihe bent his long, slender fingers and gently tapped the edge of the table, making a soft sound.
Zhu Qingdun stayed.
With her mouth full of food, she looked up in astonishment, her cheeks bulging, staring at him with wide eyes, like a little hamster caught secretly hoarding food.
"W-what's wrong..." Zhu Qing sensed that his expression wasn't good. Could it be that he overheard her cricket chattering?
Feng Huaihe said calmly, "Come with me."
"I haven't finished eating yet!"
"The secretary's room has plenty of food."
"But……"
Feng Huaihe gave her a stern look, but just stared at her without saying a word.
"……All right."
Zhu Qing slumped her shoulders helplessly, silently got up and followed behind him, lamenting inwardly how spineless she was.
Upon entering the chief secretary's office, Feng Huaihe placed a stack of books he was carrying on the table: "These next few days, you will stay here and read books. You are not allowed to go anywhere."
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