Farewell and Journey
Just as Jiang Manyan went out to inspect the progress of the city wall construction project, Qin Lingfeng's trusted confidant, who had been sent to the central area, delivered a second detailed secret report about Jiang Manyan's past.
The contents of this secret report were far more brutal and detailed than he had previously known.
The confidant even managed to find an old nanny who had been redeemed from the Song family, whose account provided a wealth of chilling details.
"...When Aunt Jiang was receiving those twenty strokes of the cane, the Second Young Master knelt to the side watching, not shedding a single tear, but that look in his eyes... to this day, it sends chills down my spine; it was as if he wanted to burn everyone to the bone..."
"...Later, I don't know what method the second young master used, but he managed to get the eldest young master to take him to the Moon-Viewing Pavilion to serve him closely. During that time, the eldest young master's temper improved considerably, and he was quite lenient with the second young master, rewarding him with many good things. However, the second young master only wanted medicine for his injuries, which he then gave to Concubine Jiang..."
"...Everyone says the second young master is skilled at serving others, and he's managed to make the eldest young master very comfortable. But this old servant has noticed that the way the eldest young master looks at the second young master has become increasingly strange... It's not like a master looking at a servant, but more like..."
Upon seeing this, Qin Lingfeng's heart sank, and an indescribable bitterness and rage almost overwhelmed his reason.
He could almost picture the scene: how the frail boy endured humiliation and deep-seated hatred, fawning over his enemy—his elder brother—just to secure a chance for his mother's survival.
Behind that "close care" lies so much fear and unspeakable torment.
The change in Song Guansui's attitude towards Song Manyan, the "something was off," made Qin Lingfeng feel a strong sense of unease...
Overwhelmed by jealousy, he could vividly picture Song Guansui looking down at him with a condescending, possessive gaze!
The secret report ended with an even more startling piece of information.
"According to investigations, on the day Consort Jiang fell into the lake, someone saw the eldest son's trusted servant near the pavilion in the middle of the lake. Furthermore, it seems that Master Song and Madam Liu had a heated argument a few days before Consort Jiang's accident, the content of which is unclear."
"But afterwards, Master Song turned a blind eye to Madam Jiang's death. And after Madam Jiang's death, the mistress Liu gave a generous reward to the trusted servant and sent him far away to a country estate."
Qin Lingfeng's breathing suddenly tightened.
Jiang's death was probably not a simple "accident" at all! It is very likely that it involves the evil scheme of the mistress Liu, and may even have been approved or participated in by Song Guansui!
But Master Song's indifference was the last straw that broke the camel's back.
It turns out that his Slow Smoke not only had to face the open and covert attacks from the Qin family elders, but also had to be constantly on guard against the deadly gaze from the Song family and from that madman Song Guansui!
The suffering and danger he endured were far deeper and more terrifying than he had imagined!
A sharp, intense pain gripped Qin Lingfeng, making it far harder for him to breathe than the knife wound in his chest.
He used to be arrogant about his noble status and his intelligence and courage, but now it seems that he is still too weak!
So weak that he couldn't even properly protect the person he loved! He even needed his Slow Cigarette to use his methods to teach those bastards a lesson, rather than personally clearing away all obstacles for him immediately!
If Jiang Zhong and his men had been a step later... if the knife had been off by even a fraction... would Jiang Manyan still exist in this world?
The thought gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake, bringing with it overwhelming fear.
No! This absolutely cannot continue!
Qin Lingfeng clenched the secret report in his hand, the paper crumpling into a ball in his palm. The last trace of hesitation and tenderness in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by an almost ruthless resolve and an unprecedentedly strong conviction.
He could no longer be content with dealing with the clan elders, nor could he place his hopes on slow change.
He wants to go back! Back to the center of power! He wants to crush all obstacles with swift and decisive action!
He wanted to seize absolute and unquestionable control over the Qin family! He wanted to completely break free from the constraints of the elders and possess enough power to firmly protect his Slow Smoke under his wings.
This will ensure that no one—whether a parasite of the Qin family or a madman of the Song family—will dare to touch him in the slightest!
This decision, like lava, boiled and solidified in his heart, eventually turning into an unbreakable rock.
He looked up and gazed out the window. Jiang Manyan, returning from her inspection, was standing at the courtyard gate, bathed in the warm golden light of the setting sun.
Qin Lingfeng's eyes became incredibly deep and gentle.
Slow smoke, wait for me a little longer. Let me clear away all the gloom in this world for you, and build an impregnable fortress.
On the unfinished city wall, the bricks and stones still bear the marks of being newly laid, overlooking the vibrant Jinxi Town below—no, the "Jincheng" that is now taking shape.
The evening breeze rustled, stirring the hems of their clothes.
Qin Lingfeng looked at Jiang Manyan beside him. Her profile was somewhat blurred in the afterglow of the setting sun, but her honey-brown eyes, filled with worry, were clearly visible.
He felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, but finally spoke.
His voice was deep but firm: "Manyan, I have to go back."
He chose to reveal part of the truth: "The pressure within the family is immense, and the elders are pressing us relentlessly. If I cannot seize absolute power, I may be able to protect you today, but I may not be able to withstand the open and covert attacks from within the Qin family in the future."
The current peace is like a structure built on shifting sands.
He concealed the fact that he knew about the other person's painful past; the scars were too deep for him to reopen.
He only wanted to build a strong enough fortress for him so that he would never have to experience those storms again.
Jiang Manyan remained silent.
He was incredibly intelligent; he had already glimpsed the danger within the Qin family from Qin Zhao and Qin Rui's attitudes and from that assassination attempt.
Looking at Qin Lingfeng's still slightly pale face, and recalling the nearly fatal blow, his worry almost overflowed.
But he knew even more that Qin Lingfeng's choice was right.
Staying trapped here will only put both of them at a disadvantage.
"I know."
He finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse.
"Go ahead."
He raised his hand and gently smoothed Qin Lingfeng's clothes, which had been ruffled by the wind, his gesture filled with reluctance.
"But promise me you'll be careful in everything you do. Your life is no longer just your own."
Qin Lingfeng grasped his hand, pressed it against his heart, and said with burning eyes, "I promise you. I'll come back. I'll come back as soon as possible, with... a more mature and powerful love, enough to protect you for the rest of your life."
He took out a black dragon jade pendant that he wore close to his body and that felt warm to the touch. The pendant was exquisitely carved, with a dark red dot on the dragon's eye, which was one of the symbols of his status as the heir of the Qin family.
"This was a gift from my father when I was born, and I have never been separated from it. Seeing it is like seeing myself."
Jiang Manyan stared at the jade pendant, feeling its heavy weight.
He also took off a finely woven black hair tie with dark gold threads from his wrist. It was the only old item his mother had left him, and he had worn it all the time without ever taking it off.
"This was left to me by my mother. May it keep you safe."
The two exchanged tokens, their fingertips touching, conveying a silent promise and longing.
Qin Lingfeng could no longer hold back, so he hugged him tightly and lowered his head to kiss his lips.
This kiss was not like the previous ones, which were full of probing or teasing. Instead, it was filled with the bitterness of parting, a firm promise, and deep affection that was hard to let go of.
On the city wall, with the setting sun as their witness, they exchanged their most cherished possessions and made vows about the future.
At dawn the next day, Qin Lingfeng, accompanied by a group of elite guards, quietly left Jincheng.
There was no grand farewell; Jiang Manyan stood alone atop the city wall, watching the convoy disappear into the morning mist, lingering there for a long time.
Back in the central district, Qin Lingfeng seemed like a completely different person. His former laziness and leisure had vanished, replaced by an icy coldness and almost cruel decisiveness.
He no longer concealed his brilliance, nor did he harbor any illusions about the deeply entrenched power within the clan.
He began an internal purge with swift and decisive measures.
The spies planted by the clan elders in key positions were either found guilty of corruption and severely punished in public, or they died "accidentally" one night.
Several of the most vocal collateral relatives who tried to collude with outsiders to sabotage him were quickly disgraced, stripped of all power, and expelled from the family's inner circle.
He even retaliated in kind, taking advantage of the contradictions within the opposing camp to meticulously frame a most prestigious clan elder, tainting him with indelible suspicion and severely damaging his power.
His methods are ruthless and efficient, encompassing both the crude and the crude.
For a time, the Qin family was in a state of panic. Opposition was forcibly suppressed, while his supporters were greatly encouraged.
Everyone clearly realized that this heir, who might have once retained a trace of warmth, had transformed into a true lion, baring his sharp claws and determined to reclaim everything that belonged to him.
Jiang Manyan, far away in Jincheng, was not discouraged by Qin Lingfeng's departure.
Instead, he transformed his longing and worries into even greater motivation, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to the construction of "Jincheng".
He personally surveyed the terrain and optimized the city wall's defensive design.
Coordinate resources among the three towns to ensure the supply of engineering materials.
Establish strict regulations to ensure project quality and schedule.
He even invented a new rammed earth technique, which greatly improved efficiency.
The entire city of Jincheng was like a sophisticated machine, operating efficiently and changing rapidly under his command.
Although the two were separated by thousands of miles, they never lost contact. Relying on loyal messengers who tirelessly traveled back and forth, secret letters crossed mountains and rivers.
In the letter, Qin Lingfeng would briefly inform the public of the progress of the purge. His words were filled with exhaustion and bloodshed, but he always ended with "All is well, don't worry" and a clumsy love confession.
Jiang Manyan meticulously described the changes in Jincheng: which section of the city wall had been closed, the new granary had been built, and how the technical problems encountered had been solved... She went into every detail, as if she wanted him to be involved as well. Her letters always ended with "Everything went well, looking forward to your return."
They fought on their respective battlefields: one grappled with the quagmire of power struggles, while the other toiled to build a city of dreams in the wilderness.
They are aware of each other's difficulties and are proud of each other's achievements.
Although the two stars are far apart, they each shine brightly in their own part of the sky, waiting for the day they will meet.
The frequent exchanges of messengers became the strongest yet gentlest thread connecting these two stars.
The construction of Jincheng's city walls has encountered a bottleneck. The design of defensive fortifications at a key pass has repeatedly failed, consuming a great deal of manpower and resources with slow progress, causing Jiang Manyan great anxiety.
Just when he was at his wit's end, the casual conversation of a passing caravan resting at the post station reached his ears like heavenly music.
"If we're talking about skilled craftsmen, we have to mention the Zhang family from the central district. They were a true family of architects, what a pity..."
"Yes, I heard that Mr. Zhang Qiong has mastered all the skills, but he offended some powerful people, so he moved his whole family away. It seems he went to live in seclusion in some small town in the eastern district. Tsk tsk, what a waste of his talent..."
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