Chapter 135 Bodhisattva lowers his brows, Vajra glares fiercely (5) "So we..."
Chapter 135
Feng Tan angrily cursed, "You're a young lady begging for food, so stubborn!"
Zhu Qi snorted and retorted in Feng Tan's style, "You monk buying a comb? Useless!"
Feng Tan: "......"
He refused to leave no matter what she did, and Feng Tan knew that even clever words would be useless, so she simply let him stay and listen.
Bai Xiangsheng was covered in cold sweat. Feng Tan had woken her up with pain when she was removing the bullet. Looking at the face in front of her with the mask off, she said, "Sister, with this face, no wonder the King of Chu went against the natural order to save you."
Feng Tan took the medicine the doctor had prepared, lowered her head to blow on the hot medicine in the porcelain spoon to cool it down. Her every move was different from the fierceness she had when she was holding a sniper rifle; she was gentle. She handed the porcelain spoon to Bai Xiangsheng's lips and fed her the medicine, saying, "Then you're wrong. He is a pervert, and it has little to do with what I look like."
Feng Tan said, "Bai Xiangsheng, you are a man of the King of Chu. Why would you be a man of the King of Chu?"
Bai Xiangsheng took the medicine and drank it all in one gulp, saying, "I'll work for him and get paid."
Feng Tan approached Bai Xiangsheng, her clear eyes staring directly into hers. "The King of Chu is wealthy, and it is indeed understandable that he would risk his life for money. But Bai Xiangsheng, you spent ten years choreographing a dance to satirize 'The Song of Everlasting Regret.' It doesn't seem like you came for his money, but rather for his power."
Seeing the turmoil in Bai Xiangsheng's eyes, Feng Tan confirmed her statement and continued to speculate: "His power is enough to eliminate your enemy, but you cannot, which means that person is a member of the Da Huang court, and holds a high position of power... You willingly endured being trapped in this banquet hall for more than ten years, and last night you risked your life to save the King of Chu, which means that person is still alive..."
Feng Tan paused here, then turned to look at Zhu Qi. He was listening intently when Feng Tan suddenly stared at him, and his heart skipped a beat.
But it was too late. Feng Tan, wielding a hidden spear, struck him with a bang.
Zhu Qi glanced down at his chest. The bullet Feng Tan had fired was different from usual; it was a thin, tubular object. He raised his hand, accusing her, "You tricked... me..."
“All's fair in war,” Feng Tan smiled slightly and said, “I’m not some kind of killing god, you won’t die.”
I just need to sleep for several days and nights.
Zhu Qi collapsed to the ground with a thud. Feng Tan glanced at the old doctor and hurriedly stammered, "I'll go out right away..."
After clearing away the bystanders, Feng Tan turned to Bai Xiangsheng and continued, "More than ten years have passed, and Feng Tingxiao still hasn't killed your enemies. Don't you find that strange?"
Bai Xiangsheng dropped his teasing expression and stared at Feng Tan with a serious look, asking, "What do you want to say?"
"Those caught in the situation are unaware of its true nature, while those outside the situation can see clearly. What I mean is, shouldn't you consider whether Feng Tingxiao truly wants to help you?" Feng Tan thought for a moment, then added, "Why don't you tell me who he is?"
Bai Xiangsheng stared intently at Feng Tan. Her pure and upright aura was both open and wild, easily seducing people into a trance. "Minister of War Mao Bingjun."
Mao Bingjun... When he was in the Six Ministries, Feng Tan once entered the cabinet because of a quarrel among the cabinet members. At that time, he had a brief encounter with this official. His personality was not as smooth and cunning as Yue Yuda, the Minister of Revenue, nor as ruthless as Gao Yuming, the Minister of Justice. He was more profound and experienced, and he did things discreetly. He was a man of great skill.
Like a floodgate bursting, Bai Xiangsheng blurted out, "Mao Bingjun came from a poor family; his family was destitute in his youth..."
Mao Bingjun came from a poor family. In his youth, his family was destitute, but he was fortunate enough to fall in love with Ming Zhaoyun, the daughter of a wealthy family in a neighboring village. Despite her family's objections, Ming Zhaoyun married into the Mao family with a substantial dowry. After marriage, she managed the household affairs, was filial to her parents-in-law, and even used her own savings to support Mao Bingjun's education. During those difficult days, Ming Zhaoyun toiled day and night, her hands becoming calloused, yet she never uttered a word of complaint. Mao Bingjun, in turn, made a vow of eternal love to Ming Zhaoyun by candlelight, promising to provide her with a life of wealth and luxury in the future.
With Ming Zhaoyun's support and his own hard work, Mao Bingjun finally distinguished himself in the imperial examinations, rising through the ranks to become a minor official. However, as his status rose, he came into contact with more high-ranking officials and witnessed the luxurious lifestyle and complex interpersonal relationships within the officialdom. He began to look down on Ming Zhaoyun's humble origins, finding her vulgar and unworthy of his current status.
By chance, Mao Bingjun met the daughter of a powerful official. This daughter was beautiful and came from a distinguished family. He secretly plotted that if he could marry her, his career would be smooth sailing and he would rise rapidly in rank. So, he began to try every means to get close to her and flatter her in every way.
In order to successfully marry the daughter of a powerful and wealthy family, Mao Bingjun decided to abandon Ming Zhaoyun. He returned home and treated Ming Zhaoyun coldly and cruelly, making things difficult for her in every way. Ming Zhaoyun felt deeply wronged but didn't know what she had done wrong. She tried to win back Mao Bingjun's heart, but he avoided her and even sent people to drive her out of the house.
Ming Zhaoyun was homeless and could only take refuge in a dilapidated temple. She missed Mao Bingjun day and night, unable to understand why her once deeply loving husband had become so heartless. Mao Bingjun, however, felt no remorse whatsoever; he was only thinking about how to marry a wealthy and powerful woman as soon as possible.
However, things didn't go as smoothly as Mao Bingjun had imagined. While the powerful families valued his talent and potential, they were quite bothered by his background and his existing wife. Mao Bingjun was extremely anxious; he knew that if he couldn't resolve this "trouble" of Ming Zhaoyun, his dream would be shattered.
When Ming Zhaoyun lay in a pool of blood, her eyes were filled with terror and confusion. She never imagined that her beloved husband would do such a cruel thing to her.
At that moment, Mao Bingjun stood before Ming Zhaoyun, watching her lie dying in the desolate forest. He felt no grief, but rather a profound sense of relief. He lifted Ming Zhaoyun from the pool of blood, threw her into a pit dug by local thugs, and used a shovel to bury her piece by piece. He left without looking back, and thereafter rose rapidly through the ranks, enjoying a successful official career.
“The person beside you in bed, a vengeful ghost…” Bai Xiangsheng gave a bitter laugh. “Princess Yongle has worked in the officialdom. I want to ask you, can the taste of power really change a person beyond recognition?”
Feng Tan said, "Before gaining power, everyone has the appearance of a Bodhisattva; only after gaining power do they reveal their true nature. What changes people is never power, but the greed, anger, and ignorance in their hearts. Power merely makes that hidden nature more obvious."
As the way of Heaven is, many will swallow hatred. Bai Xiangsheng has been working for the King of Chu for over ten years to avenge her blood feud. She has a knack for gathering intelligence and is a very useful pawn in the King of Chu's hands.
A wisp of hair fell down Bai Xiangsheng's cheek. She reached up and gently brushed it behind her ear, wiping away the smile that usually graced her face, and asked solemnly, "You just said that Feng Tingxiao might not be genuinely helping me. Do you have any evidence for that?"
“Minister of War Mao Bingjun is a man of the King of Chu,” Feng Tan said frankly, addressing the stunned eyes of Bai Xiangsheng. “You are his pawn, and so is Mao Bingjun. The position of Minister is at the center of power. Do you think Feng Tingxiao would kill Mao Bingjun for your sake?”
Of course not.
This is an obvious answer.
Bai Xiangsheng laughed loudly, his eyes filled with madness. "How ironic that I was played by one man for half my life, and then played by another for more than ten years?!"
After saying that, she met Feng Tan's eyes again, gradually calming down, and said, "What do you want from me by saying these things to me?"
Bai Xiangsheng shook his palm, which was burned by the branding iron, and said with a smile but no smile, "You see, I'm just a cripple now."
Feng Tan said, "You are still a very useful person. From now on, be my pawn, and I will help you take revenge."
Bai Xiangsheng scoffed and said, "Princess Yongle is already struggling to take care of herself, how could she possibly help me get revenge?"
Her words were sharp, hitting Feng Tan's sore spots, but Feng Tan didn't take them to heart and spoke in a gentle tone, saying, "That's precisely why I need your help."
Bai Xiangsheng asked, "What do you want me to do?"
The two spoke frankly and directly, without any pretense. Feng Tan said, "I want to know the specific situation of the army under the King of Chu, and most importantly, I want his military defense map."
Bai Xiangsheng said, "You said it yourself, I'm just a pawn in his game, responsible for gathering information from all sides. How could I possibly know about something so important?"
Feng Tan said, "You've been by his side for so many years, and you're a skilled spy, you couldn't possibly not know."
Bai Xiangsheng chuckled softly and said, "Here you go. But what do you need these for?"
Feng Tan got up, opened the window, and looked down at the boundless landscape below the high-rise building. In the distance, the vast expanse of mist and clouds seemed to shroud the entire land in fog. When he looked back at Bai Xiangsheng, he had a cheerful and fearless smile on his face. "Kill them and go back to Dahuang."
"Kill...who?" Bai Xiangsheng shuddered, goosebumps rising on his skin as he looked at the gleam of ambition in Feng Tan's eyes. "Feng Tingxiao or Xiao Yinshi?"
Feng Tan said, "Kill them all."
Bai Xiangsheng then said, "But you are weak."
The blue sky and white jade outside the wooden window were breathtaking. A cry of an eagle came from the azure sky, and Qing Cang swooped down, landing precisely on Feng Tan's shoulder. She took the letter from its claws, unfolded it, and read it. She said, "When the time is right, heaven and earth lend their strength. In the past, Empress Dowager Xuan tricked and killed the King of Yiqu, and then raised an army to destroy Yiqu. This battle was a great victory. The King of Chu rebelled, and he is currently fighting fiercely with the army of Dahuang. Why did Xiao Yinshi station his army here and not leave? The world will eventually unite after a long period of division. He also wants to get a share of the power. When two tigers fight, one will surely be injured. Take advantage of their weakness and kill them. At this moment, the situation is chaotic, and it is easier to win in chaos."
Feng Tan's voice was as follows: "I only need to win by half a point and fight my way back into the officialdom of Dahuang amidst the chaos."
Feng Tan always seemed to be one move behind in her game of chess; she was constantly losing. But losing didn't necessarily mean she would be the ultimate loser. She was resilient enough, full of vitality, and her cunning and strategic skills were no less than those of the wolves.
We can't keep running away; we have to fight our way back.
If you can't drive away the jackals, then dismantle them.
She once wanted to protect herself, but now she wants to build a ladder to heaven for all girls.
Her words sounded like a treacherous move, but Bai Xiangsheng saw the fighting spirit burning in Feng Tan's eyes, a determination that seemed to break through the shackles she had been bound to all along.
The spring breeze lifted Feng Tan's unbound hair, perfectly embodying a sense of freedom. But freedom means disorder, and disorder means everything must be rebuilt.
Bai Xiangsheng was very clever and understood immediately. "I know Mr. Feng's story. What you are going to do is very difficult. Women are slaves and men are slave owners. This is an unchanging iron law since ancient times. I can join your ranks, but Princess Yongle, even if you become empress, what then? After you die, they will completely overturn the policies you have established."
The light shone on Feng Tan, and she stood in the light as well. "So what we need to do is change the system itself."
It's not about clearing away snow to find spring, nor is it about burning lamps to prolong the day; it's about a complete overhaul and reconstruction.
***
Under the warm spring sun, in the beautiful March weather, the Imperial Dragon Camp is built against the mountain, its shape resembling a dragon coiled around the ridge. The "Imperial Dragon" flag hangs high above the camp gate, fluttering in the wind, creating a picturesque scene against the backdrop of the new greenery of the mountains.
On the training ground, the soldiers, still in their armor, were gradually losing their grim expression. Some leaned against the battlements watching the clouds, while others shoveled soil and planted a few new willows at the base of the camp wall. The tender branches gently brushed against the banners. Feng Bingzhu came out of the training ground, took the towel handed to him by Shan Qi, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Shan Qi followed behind her, saying, "Qing Cang sent Feng Tan's personal letter the other day, ordering us to send elite troops to the front lines of the war."
Feng Bingzhu's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, and he said calmly, "As she says."
So Shanqi swallowed her doubts, and seeing Lin Wanzhou in military uniform walking towards her with a sniper rifle in hand, she exclaimed in surprise from afar, "Sister Lin, what are you doing...?"
Unlike the others in the Imperial Dragon Camp, Lin Wanzhou still maintained the elegant demeanor of a noble lady in every move, a temperament that was extremely inconsistent with the image of her carrying a gun.
Lin Wanzhou walked up to Feng Bingzhu, bowed, and said, "A'Tan needs the Imperial Dragon Camp, right? What does she need to do? I can go and help her."
Before Feng Bingzhu could speak, Shan Qi exclaimed in surprise, "You?"
Shan Qi's impression of her was still that of a frail young lady from the capital. Upon hearing this, Lin Wanzhou blushed uncontrollably again, beads of sweat appearing on her nose. "I can do it, you see..."
After saying that, Lin Wanzhou swung her gun at the target on the wooden stake in the training ground, and the sound startled the birds perched in the willow tree.
The bullet hit the bullseye.
"Bang!" Another gunshot rang out behind them. Everyone looked over and saw Xiao Ke walking over with a smile, saying, "Me too!"
After being brought back to the Imperial Dragon Camp by Feng Bingzhu from the Linzhang sea area, Xiao Ke never slacked off in her training. Moreover, she had a talent for shooting and had mastered it to perfection in two years.
Feng Bingzhu looked at the two girls. One was as delicate as a willow in the wind when she came, and the other was still young and had experienced the hardships of life. They were both girls that Feng Tan had saved and were growing up in the Imperial Dragon Camp.
“You can’t go,” Feng Bingzhu declared decisively.
Lin Wanzhou watched her leave and demanded, "Why?"
Feng Bingzhu turned around, her words containing both affirmation and concern for the risks they would face: "You two have indeed trained very well, but this battle is dangerous. Sniping skills alone are far from enough. Without the foundation of military training, you could lose your lives if you are not careful."
Shan Qi chimed in, “The commander is right. Lin Wanzhou, you are someone Feng Tan values highly. If something happens to you, we won’t be able to explain it to her, let alone to Mr. Feng in the afterlife. If you stay in the camp and we win this battle, why should Feng Tan not need you? If you want to help her, there’s no need to rush.”
Lin Wanzhou remained silent, lowering her long eyelashes to conceal her thoughts. Xiao Ke patted her back and said, "Alright, Sister Lin, we're in the army, and military orders are absolute. Besides, we'll definitely win. You've been worried about Sister Tan for days now; she's gotten so thin."
Lin Wanzhou was amused by her and smiled, "You silly child!"
Xiao Ke said, "I'm not a little kid anymore, I'm ten years old now!"
Lin Wanzhou knew about Xiao Ke's experiences in the Linzhang sea area. She felt sorry for the little girl's past. In the brothel, she had a group of girls from the Red Sleeve Pavilion to protect her, but Xiao Ke was all alone on that hellish island. No one protected her, and those demons left her covered in wounds.
Lin Wanzhou stroked Xiao Ke's hair and said softly, "Then we'll wait here for Atan to come back."
Feng Bingzhu watched their departing figures without speaking. Shan Qi broke the silence, saying, "The guns Feng Tan left behind are powerful enough to take on a hundred men, but we are far outnumbered by the armies under the command of the Prince of Chu and Emperor Chongming. It's impossible for us to win against them. Feng Tan wants the entire Imperial Dragon Camp to be mobilized, but even if the entire army is mobilized, it's still just a drop in the ocean in terms of overall strength. What is she trying to do?"
Feng Bingzhu pondered the situation and, after some thought, said, "A good bow is hard to draw, but it can reach great heights and go deep. I don't know how she intends to break the deadlock, but I trust her."
Shan Qi stared intently at Feng Bingzhu. The word "trust" carried immense weight. Feng Bingzhu trusted Feng Tan, and she trusted Feng Bingzhu. So, the beginning was also the end. Feng Tan... must possess extraordinary abilities.
What they talked about with each other was the word "trust".
The long thread that has bound everyone together from beginning to end is constantly tightening. The situation is not static, and the changing situation has brought together all those who want reform.
As dawn broke on the horizon, the mountain shadows loomed like ink. Feng Bingzhu and Shan Qi, their backs straight as sword spines, walked resolutely forward. The sharp blade of the era had driven them to a high cliff, but amidst the vastness of heaven and earth, their figures formed a new world of their own.
Meng Henabuer had been waiting at the foot of the mountain for a long time. When Feng Bingzhu saw that he seemed to have something to say, he asked Shan Qi to step aside and stepped forward, saying, "Mr. Meng."
Menghenabul nodded and said, "I'm going to find Fengtan."
Feng Tan fell into Xiao Yinshi's trap while seeking medicine for Meng Henabuer. After Meng Henabuer woke up, he wanted to find Feng Tan. Feng Tan had never left him since she was young, and he was heartbroken during the days she was taken away. However, Feng Bingzhu refused to allow it. Even though Meng Henabuer was highly skilled in martial arts, he was trapped in the Imperial Dragon Camp by Feng Bingzhu.
Feng Bingzhu looked at the rugged, middle-aged man from another ethnic group in front of him. Unlike his appearance, he was as delicate as water and truly cared for Feng Tan.
Feng Bingzhu said, "Mr. Meng, let's go find Feng Tan together."
Menghenabur was aloof and taciturn, rarely interacting with the people in the Imperial Dragon Camp. Hearing Feng Bingzhu's permission for the first time, he was somewhat taken aback and paused for a moment before saying, "What... no, you object to me?"
“The tide is about to turn, and our Imperial Dragon Camp must also set off with the wind,” Feng Bingzhu said, his words always carrying a kind of inexplicable power to convince people. “More importantly, she needs you.”
When Feng Youming sent such a taciturn man to take care of the young Feng Tan, he valued not only his superb medical skills and martial arts, but also his loyalty and integrity.
Feng Tan was willing to go alone to seek medicine for Meng He Nabuer even knowing that a prison lay ahead, and Meng He Nabuer was even willing to die for Feng Tan.
In this world, emotions that are not based on blood ties are often the most moving.
Menghenabor asked, "You have news of her, don't you? Is she alright?"
Feng Bingzhu said, "She's fine, everything's alright."
Relieved, Menghenabur asked, "When shall we depart?"
Feng Bingzhu replied, "Let's depart immediately."
Meng Henabul rarely smiled, perhaps because he hadn't seen Feng Tan for a very long time. He grinned when he heard Feng Bingzhu's reply, "Okay."
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