novelSusiti Chapter 87 You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub.
Chapter 87 You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub.
Chapter 87 You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub.
Liu Feng didn't want Lin Daiyu to see him in such a disheveled state, so he planned to wait until his injuries healed before going to the Rongguo Mansion.
Before the wounds could fully heal, the body of the Prince of Jin was brought back.
Emperor Yankang wept bitterly, not only suspending court assemblies but also ordering all officials to go and pay their respects.
Liu Feng didn't bother arguing with the dead. Every day, he would run to the Prince's Mansion with high spirits, mingling with the crowd of mourners, but his eyes were fixed on the back of Eunuch Guan's neck, plotting how to twist that head off!
Today, at the grand ceremony, Emperor Yankang, dressed in mourning clothes, personally visited the Prince's Palace. He touched the coffin, trembling all over, with tears streaming down his face.
Perhaps it was Liu Feng's gaze that had been too "fiery" these past few days, but Guan Gonggong sensed a murderous intent. Suddenly, he cried out in a shrill voice, "Your Highness, this old servant will go with you!"
Before anyone could react, he slammed his head against the wall, blood splattering everywhere, staining the wall and the floor.
Emperor Yankang was taken aback at first, then repeatedly praised, "Excellent! Excellent!"
The officials nodded in agreement, and many of them showed expressions of admiration.
Liu Feng was stunned. He died just like that? I haven't even taken my revenge yet!
Emperor Yankang: "Dai Quan!"
Dai Quan: "This old servant is here."
Emperor Yankang: "Eunuch Guan died for his master, his loyalty and righteousness are commendable... He was buried with the emperor in the imperial mausoleum."
The officials exclaimed in admiration, "What a loyal servant!"
"He's a man of strong character!"
"How lamentable!"
Unexpectedly, the eunuch who stepped forward to collect the body exclaimed, "He's still alive!"
The mourning hall fell silent instantly, and the atmosphere became quite subtle.
Liu Feng blinked. Could this old man be acting?
Emperor Yankang's expression had already turned rather unpleasant.
Dai Quan quickly gave his godson a wink.
The godson understood, stepped forward, and waved his hand, ordering his men to carry away the "corpse" and seal the coffin!
Liu Feng almost burst out laughing. Well, this time he's going to die whether he wants to or not!
After the farce, Emperor Yankang lost his appetite, cried a few times, and returned to the palace.
No sooner had the emperor left than the crowd joined in with a few perfunctory shouts, then dispersed and went about their own business.
Liu Feng left the Prince's mansion, quickly took off his plain clothes, and spat three times: "Pah, pah, pah!"
A custom from my hometown in a past life, to ward off bad luck!
"grown ups."
Upon seeing Liu Feng emerge, Jia Yun, dressed in a brand-new official's uniform, immediately led her horse to greet him.
Jia Yun was literate and clever, so Liu Feng kept him by his side to do his bidding. He was quite useful for writing documents, running errands, and relaying messages.
Liu Feng mounted his horse and asked as he rode, "Is there anything urgent at the Thousand Household Office?"
Jia Yun, riding alongside, replied, "The newly recruited guards are almost done with their training. Commander Wang asked you, sir, when will you go and give them a pep talk and test their skills?"
Liu Feng nodded: "Anything else?"
"Ni Er has already gathered dozens of street thugs, and they can make a move at any time."
Jia Yun glanced around and lowered his voice: "Ni Er and his gang are good at fighting and bullying ordinary people, but if they really want to kill someone... I'm afraid they won't be quick enough and will leave some loose ends."
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Liu Feng grunted in agreement and said, "Tell Li Shoutian to send about ten skilled men to help Ni Er. We must avenge our grievances, reclaim our territory, and make sure everything is done cleanly."
"Yes..." Jia Yun stammered, "There's... there's something else."
Liu Feng glanced at him: "Zhou Rui's family is looking for you again?"
"Your Excellency is wise," Jia Yun flattered. "Zhou Rui's wife came to the door early this morning with some homemade pastries, begging me to put in a good word for her with you..."
Liu Feng smiled and said, "Alright, for your sake, I'll let her son-in-law suffer a few days less."
Jia Yun: "Thank you for your kindness, sir."
Before he could finish speaking, Liu Feng changed the subject: "However, while she may be spared the death penalty, she will not escape punishment. Tell her to take five hundred taels of silver and deliver it to Miss Lin."
"Five hundred taels?" Jia Yun exclaimed in surprise. "The Zhou family has already spent four hundred taels, I'm afraid they won't be able to scrape together another five hundred..."
""
Liu Feng snorted coldly: "I want to show those servants of the Rongguo Mansion that anyone who dares to slight Miss Lin will be ruined!"
Jia Yun shrank back, not daring to say another word, and only responded softly.
Having nothing to do in the afternoon, Liu Feng planned to visit Lin Daiyu at the Rongguo Mansion. It wouldn't be appropriate to go empty-handed, but bringing something else seemed too deliberate, so Liu Feng decided to go to Qianmen Street to buy some pastries and dried fruit.
Just like that time in Jinling, I wanted to buy everything I saw, and before I knew it, I couldn't carry any more.
So they bought two more baskets, but this time, the people carrying the baskets were replaced by members of the Imperial Guards.
"Hmm, this dried fruit is good, and the price is reasonable. I'll buy it again next time."
Liu Feng popped a piece of candied fruit into his mouth and strolled out contentedly.
Jia Yun's lips twitched. "Your waist token is practically shoved in someone's face. With that kind of swagger, who would dare charge you an extra penny?"
As soon as he stepped out of the shop, Liu Feng spotted a familiar figure. He frowned slightly. Why was this guy still wandering around the capital?
Jia Yun also noticed: "Jia Yucun?"
Jia Yucun happened to look over as well. Although he looked down on Liu Feng, this kind of lackey, he thought that he might need him in the capital in the future, so he forced a smile and approached him: "It's been several months since we parted in Jinling..."
'
Liu Feng interrupted him directly: "Why are you still in the capital?"
Despite his displeasure, Jia Yucun maintained a smile: "Thanks to the favor of Prince Bei Jing, who personally petitioned the Emperor, I will soon be appointed as the Vice Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture."
"You're not going to Jinling?" Liu Feng was taken aback and blurted out.
Jia Yucun frowned slightly. Shouldn't the focus be on the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture? Could it be that he also got involved in the affairs of Jinling? Thinking of this, his dislike for Liu Feng increased even more.
If Liu Feng knew what he was thinking, he would definitely cry foul. He was wondering, if Jia Yucun didn't go to Jinling, how would the case of the "Foolish Tyrant" end?
Seeing Liu Feng standing there in a daze, Jia Yucun crossed his arms and left.
Hey, why did this guy leave?
Liu Feng didn't take it to heart, but then he suddenly remembered that Wang Xifeng probably didn't know yet. He blinked and thought, "Isn't this a good opportunity to take advantage of her?"
It's exciting to think about getting a good deal on spicy food!
Growing increasingly excited, Liu Feng waved his hand and exclaimed, "Let's go to the Rongguo Mansion!"
Wang Xifeng was completely unaware that a sinister hand had already quietly reached out to her.
Although it was a demotion in name only, Uncle Wang Ziteng was still promoted a step higher. However, since the emperor had just lost his son, he could not hold a banquet or opera to celebrate, but he could not be careless about the etiquette.
"That's not enough..."
'
Wang Xifeng knew that her uncle and aunt only cared about money, and that she would need their support in the future to keep Jia Lian in check. So she gritted her teeth and instructed Ping'er, "Tell Wang'er to collect all the money that was just lent out, and waive the interest..."
She paused for a moment, then said, "Take two more gold necklaces from my dowry chest, worth 400 taels of silver, and send them to the Wang family along with these gifts."
Ping'er glanced at the gift list in her hand and hesitated, "Isn't it... too much?"
"You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub." Wang Xifeng disagreed.
"But what if Second Master finds out..." Ping'er lowered her voice.
"So what if they know!" Wang Xifeng raised an eyebrow. "It's my own money, I can spend it however I want, what's it to them? It's not like I've spent a single penny of the Jia family's money!"
Ping'er didn't say anything, but she was inwardly scoffing. Apart from the two gold necklaces that came from the Wang family, which of the rest wasn't obtained by leveraging the Jia family's influence and reputation?
"Hurry up and go, don't let your second master find out..."
"What is it that you can't let me know this time?" The curtain was lifted, and Jia Lian walked in.
Wang Xifeng was startled and scolded in an annoyed tone, "Why do you walk so quietly?"
Jia Lian ignored her and looked at Ping'er.
Ping'er didn't have time to hide the gift list in her hand, and she didn't dare to say that it was for the Wang family, so she just made up a lie: "It's a congratulatory gift for the Liu family."
"The Liu family? It's not a holiday, why would they send a gift?"
Jia Lian casually took it, glanced at it, and said, "Such a generous gift?"
Ping'er braced herself and said, "Grandma heard that Lord Liu was rewarded with a flying fish robe and an embroidered spring knife, and became a favorite of the Emperor. Thinking that our family might need them in the future, she prepared these things for Second Master."
"Prepared for me?" Jia Lian looked up at Wang Xifeng, his face full of doubt.
Wang Xifeng really wanted to say "no," but the words that came out were just angry words: "Don't believe me then!" With that, she got up and went to snatch the gift list.
Jia Lian, quick as a flash, hid the gift list behind his back and pulled Wang Xifeng into his arms, saying, "I believe you, of course I believe you!" He then leaned close to Wang Xifeng's mouth.
"In broad daylight, aren't you ashamed!" Wang Xifeng shoved him away and tried to snatch the gift list.
Jia Lian dodged to the side: "You don't need to worry about the rest. I'll hand it over to Liu Feng myself in a bit."
Wang Xifeng was taken aback: "Liu Feng is here?"
Jia Lian grunted in acknowledgment, then turned to Ping'er and said, "Find your grandmother a bright and cheerful dress." Only then did he turn back to Wang Xifeng and say, "They're talking in Master's room. Master wants you to accompany Miss Lin to the old lady's three front rooms in a little while to meet Liu Feng."
"To meet, to see each other?"
"Why are you making such a fuss? They've already seen her in the south. Liu Feng has been accompanying Miss Lin whenever she goes out or goes out."
Recalling Lin Daiyu's reaction at Rongqing Hall, Wang Xifeng immediately perked up, "You mean the two of them..."
""
"Stop talking nonsense." Jia Lian turned and walked out.
Ping'er put down her clothes, peeked out to check, and only after confirming that the person had left did she turn back to look at Wang Xifeng, her face full of "What should we do?"
Wang Xifeng's eyes darted around, and she gritted her teeth: "I'll be back later."
"Want, want it back?" Ping'er's eyes widened.
Wang Xifeng glanced at the clothes on the bed out of the corner of her eye, rolled her eyes, and suddenly said, "You should also go and change into some bright clothes."
Ping'er's eyes widened even more...