Chapter 43: Quick Guide to the Soldier King
I am Feng Ziang, the eldest son of a family, but was abandoned because of my family's decline. In the chaotic times, I met the military king Bi Yuntao by chance, and from then on I was involved in the anti-Qing struggle. After going through hardships, I finally became a great hero.
"Feng Ziang, you are just like your mother, a natural born loser!"
My father's angry voice echoed in my ears, shattering my last hope like thunder. I, Feng Ziang, the only legitimate son of the Feng family, was now branded as a "sweeper" and ruthlessly expelled from the family.
The cold rain slapped my face mercilessly, and I couldn't tell whether it was rain or tears. I tightly grasped the insignificant bag in my hand, which contained my few banknotes. People on the street hurried past, and no one cared about a man abandoned by his family, leaving me to wander alone in this stormy night.
"Master, do you really want to do this? Ziang is your biological son!"
My mother's voice was filled with tears, and it seemed particularly weak in the empty hall. My father sat on the armchair, his face was ashen, and he paid no attention to my mother's pleas.
"I have made up my mind. Don't mention it again!" He slammed the table and shouted, "Eunuch Li said that only by driving this scumbag out can we save our Mao family!"
I walked aimlessly, and before I knew it, I arrived at the busiest night market in the city - Baihua Street. The colorful lanterns lit up half the sky, and the sounds of hawkers and stringed instruments were incessant, forming a sharp contrast with my current desolation.
I folded my arms, huddled under the light of a small stall, hoping that the faint light could bring me a little warmth.
"Sir, are you okay?"
A gentle voice rang in my ears, and I looked up to see a young man in a blue shirt looking at me with concern. He had delicate features, a faint smile on his face, and a folding fan in his hand, which made him look particularly gentle and elegant in this noisy night market.
I hurriedly wiped the tears from my face and shook my head, not wanting strangers to see my wolfish appearance.
"Sir, I see you are alone. Have you encountered any difficulties?" He did not leave. Instead, he squatted down beside me. His tone was so sincere that I couldn't help but want to confide in him.
I bit my lip, wondering whether to tell him or not. Although I was naive, I also knew that people were evil. Moreover, I was a kid abandoned by my family, so I should be more careful.
"My name is Bi Yuntao. May I ask what your name is, sir?" Seeing that I remained silent, he introduced himself in an attempt to allay my concerns.
"I..." I was about to speak when my father's words suddenly flashed through my mind: "Eunuch Li said that only by driving this scoundrel out can we save our Mao family!"
Eunuch Li? Why is he targeting the Feng family? Could it be...
I suddenly looked up at the seemingly gentle and harmless man in front of me, and my heart was alarmed. Could it be that he arranged all this? What was his purpose in approaching me?
"Sir, please respect yourself. I am a poor boy with a humble background and cannot afford to marry you."
I stood up, kept my distance from him, and spoke in a cold tone. Surprise flashed across his eyes, and then he returned to his gentle demeanor.
"My lord, you are worrying too much. I have no ill intentions. I just saw that you were alone and wanted to do my best to help you."
As he spoke, he made a move to stand up, but he seemed to have difficulty walking and stumbled a little. I subconsciously reached out to help him, but he grabbed me.
"Young Master, save me!" He whispered in a hurried tone, completely different from before. Before I could react, he pulled me and I ran, weaving through the crowd in twists and turns, with the shouting and chasing sounds coming closer and closer.
"Who are they? Why are they chasing you?" I asked breathlessly, my heart full of confusion and fear.
"It's a long story, but I'm penniless and desperate now! If you can help me, I will..." Before he finished speaking, he was knocked to the ground by a group of people coming towards him. I looked closely and found that it was my housekeeper!
"How dare Feng Dayu, you embezzle public funds and come here to have fun!" The housekeeper roared, scaring the people around him to avoid you. Feng Dayu? It turns out that he is my cousin, the playboy who has always been idle and has no business!
"I... I didn't..." Feng Dayu stammered, unable to speak, his face full of fear and despair. I then noticed that he was in rags, with messy hair, and he was no longer as elegant as before.
"You've been robbed and captured, and you still want to deny it?!" The butler searched out a pile of IOUs from him, on which the word "gambling debt" was clearly written.
Gambling debt? It turned out that he had lost all his property in the casino! I immediately understood that the reason why my father said I was a loser and wanted to kick me out of the house was not because of Eunuch Li, but to cover up Feng Dayu's crime!
The housekeeper ordered people to tie up Feng Dayu. Before he left, his eyes fell on me, full of resentment and hatred. I was shocked and suddenly realized that the Feng family's affairs were far from as simple as I imagined...
In order to find out the truth, I sneaked back to Feng Mansion and searched through my father's room. Finally, I found a locked box in a secret compartment. I tried my best to pry it open and found a ledger inside! I opened it and was stunned...
The account book records everything the Feng family has done over the years, with every income and every expenditure clearly recorded.
What shocked me was that many of the funds were related to Eunuch Li! He was involved in corruption, bribery, embezzlement of military pay, and even... murder of an official of the imperial court! My heart sank suddenly. It turned out that the Feng family seemed to be in great glory on the surface, but they had been in cahoots with Eunuch Li in secret, and they were traitors!
No wonder my father wanted to kick me out of the house. It turned out that he wanted me to bear all the blame and protect the Feng family!
I clutched the account book tightly, a raging rage burning in my heart. I wanted to make this public, to let the world see the true face of the Mao family and Eunuch Li! However, before I could step out of the room, I heard hurried footsteps coming.
Oh no, it's Eunuch Li's people! I quickly hid the account book in my arms and escaped through the back door.
The night was as dark as ink, and the wind was biting. I ran desperately, and I heard the shouts of the pursuers behind me. I didn't dare to look back, and could only run forward desperately until I ran into a dead end and stopped in despair.
"Mr. Feng, you can't run away, so just surrender!" A cold voice came from behind me. I turned around and saw several men in black holding sharp blades, surrounding me. I was in despair. Was I going to die here today?
At this moment, a black shadow flashed by and kicked one of the men in black away. Then, a familiar figure appeared in front of me. It was Bi Yuntao! He was agile and knocked the remaining man in black to the ground in no time.
"Are you okay?" He helped me up and asked with concern. I shook my head, but before I could say anything, my eyes went dark and I passed out.
When I woke up, I found myself lying in a simple thatched house. Bi Yuntao was sitting beside the bed, bandaging my wound. It turned out that I accidentally broke my leg when I was running away.
"Who are those people? Why are they chasing you?" he asked with a hint of worry in his tone.
I took a deep breath and told him the Feng family and Eunuch Li's conspiracy in detail. After listening to it, he frowned and remained silent.
"I must expose their true colors and not let them continue to do evil!" I said firmly.
He looked at me with a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. "Okay, I'll help you!"
I was delighted. With his help, I became more confident. Although we had only just met, he gave me a sense of intimacy as if we had known each other for a long time. I could completely trust him and even tell him about the dirty and ugly things in my family.
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