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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

nWhen the servant made his report, Feng Gui was playing chess with his father, Feng Ren.

nHaving heard this news, he lifted his head to look at his father.

n“I never thought Liu Xi would actually come. He is bold and courageous.” Feng Ren placed his chess piece and smiled. Both enjoyed the slow pace of setting their chess pieces. As they sparred with one another, the chess match slowly unfolded. It would become increasingly complex and make it hard for the other to predict the next step. “He is bolder than Liu She.”.

nFeng Gui was filled with curiosity about Feng Jin’s lord.

n“If your son remembers it rightly, you’ve met Liu Xi before. What kind of person is he?”

nThe year he was the examiner of Shangjing, Liu She and his son had stayed over at Feng Ren’s house. It had been mentioned to Feng Gui by Feng Ren before.

nFeng Ren added, “He is a youthful man filled with ambitions. He is much more direct compared to his father.”

nFeng Ren never imagined Liu Xi to have such lofty ambitions.

nNonetheless, having thought about Liu She and the Dongqing imperial differences in-depth, he could understand if there were irreconcilable differences.

n“Solely on this basis, I’m afraid it is not enough for Huaiyu to submit to him. I wished I could have met him earlier.”

nA peaceful smile broke out on Feng Gui’s face. Although was divorced with two children, without Madam Feng-Du’s hysteria and nagging, it seemed as though he had lost all of his burdens. He became more relaxed and his breathing was tranquil.

nAlthough he’d wished to meet this “legendary” Jiang Pengji earlier, because of Feng Gui’s status, he couldn’t go out of the city to welcome them.

nSince the Feng family wasn’t among Jiang Pengji’s subjects, their statuses were equal.

nFeng Ren remarked, “Why are you so anxious? We will meet eventually. Hopefully, he will not be a disappointment.”

nFeng Ren had a good impression of Jiang Pengji. It wasn’t just because she was “Liu She’s son.” On the contrary, her status as “Liu She’s son” was deemed a flaw in Feng Ren’s sight. If Liu Xi backstabbed others like Liu She, he would be very worried.

nHe had a good impression of her because back at the hot springs in Ji mountain, Feng Jin had accidentally been injured by the envoy from the three tribes of the northern borders. Only Jiang Pengji had stepped forward to defend him. This was an upright lord who valued friendship. It was better than those superficial rulers who were disappointing in private.

nExcept… Feng Ren felt Jiang Pengji valued his principles and friendships, while Feng Jin felt his lord was a cold-hearted man. To put it plainly, she had no compassion.

nHe hurriedly went out to receive him and was filled with unspeakable joy. His lord, whose hair covered her face, immediately said this —

n“Huaiyu, have you decided to return at the beginning or end of next year?”

nJiang Pengji got off her horse and grabbed the reins. Feng Jin paid his respects to her before she stepped on his Achilles heel.

nFeng Jin acted completely confused. He looked at Jiang Pengji’s brows that seemed to be smiling. His heart suddenly raised an alarm.

nWait a minute —

nShe said, “The official documents at the government office have piled up to the ceiling. Xiaoyu and the rest are helping to ease your workload, but when you return, you must compensate them.”

nThe smile on his face became stiff.

nHe came close to Jiang Pengji and held back his confused emotions. He lowered his voice and clenched his teeth as he asked, “My lord, Jin returned home and accomplished a great feat for you. Let alone a good job done, there was a lot of effort put in… yet, in the end, is this how you are ‘rewarding’ your subordinate?”

nIn his daily conversations, Feng Jin rarely used the formal form of “you” to address anyone, but now he purposely emphasized this point.

nThe goddess Jiang Pengji was well-pleased as she folded her sleeves. The delight was obvious in her eyes.

n“This is a different matter altogether,” she said plainly. “Of course Huaiyu should be rewarded handsomely for the work you accomplished. But you purposely slacked from work. It is a fact that you refused to return and delayed your stay in Shangyang county. As your lord, my rewards and punishments are fair. They cannot be compromised. Only with rewards and punishments can my subordinates be convinced.”

nFeng Jin’s facial expression was downcast as if a palette just dropped. He willed himself with all the self-control he had not to kill his lord.

nWei Ci had a look of “I did not see anything” on his face. Feng Zhen laughed mercilessly as he watched this scene unfold.

nOnly the viewers in the live streaming room had some conscience. They felt sorry for Feng Jin.

nDuanwujie Ankang: “Hahaha — Streamer, doesn’t your conscience hurt? When I saw how elated our dear Feng Jin was as he rode the horse out of the city, he didn’t seem to have time to even groom himself. He was so joyful, yet you had to be a wet-blanket the moment you met him.”

nHappy Children’s Day: “It isn’t just cold water, it was ice that froze over a thousand years. His heart must have frozen from the cold.”

nMingtian Youfanwai: “Before he met the streamer, our dear Feng Jin must have been excited to see his lord, he was expecting praises and rewards or to make requests. Yet after meeting the streamer, his mood became disheartened. What rubbish lord he has, I wish to change my allegiance!”

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nFengjin Baobao Weiqu: “Our dear Feng Jin’s mood must be so downcast. He refused to say anything and he just threw some sarcasm at the streamer.”

nZhugong Baobao Kanxi: “The streamer has no self-awareness; she just received the sarcasm our dear Feng Jin threw at her. She even enjoyed sun tanning with it.”

nAs they reacted to how her conscience had deadened, Jiang Pengji felt the System should be dragged out for a canning.

nThe System planted many spies backstage, so why didn’t it limit the viewers who could post on the bullet screen?

nLook at the last two comments that flew past the bullet screen. Was that something kid-friendly?

nLuckily, Feng Jin had a deep understanding of his close friend, this lord of his. She was momentarily frustrated, but she would get it sorted out soon.

nWasn’t it just skipping work and getting caught for it?

nHe refused to believe that many official documents could have accumulated since then.

nBecause they have been informed of their arrival beforehand, the guards at the city gates allowed them to enter. Feng Jin escorted Jiang Pengji into the city.

n“My lord, have you really agreed to those terms?”

nFeng Jin lowered his voice and asked her this, feeling anxious.

nHe knew Jiang Pengji’s temperament. Those who agreed to be on her side could not back out. How could she agree to the Feng family’s terms so readily?

nShe answered, “Why wouldn’t I agree? This is a win-win deal. I can gain Shangyang county without any effort. It’s so wonderful!”

nAs for the Feng family?

nShangyang county was hers and, in the future, so would the Feng family.

nRegardless of who the Feng family placed their investment in, they would be defeated by her.

n“Moreover, the whole world will be mine in the future, let alone the Feng family.”

nFrom her perspective, it was just putting what was hers in the hands of another before regaining possession of it. She hasn’t lost anything at all.

nFollowing the usual play script, Feng Jin should have been convinced by Jiang Pengji’s bold demeanor, but…

nHe now felt his lord had acquired another sickness. It was the sickness of thinking of oneself as unique.

nHe also wished for her to win at the very end. But circumstances are often unpredictable, who could guarantee what would happen in the future?

n“Since it is so, Jin is excited to see how things unfold.”

nShe mercilessly replied with sarcasm, “Let’s wait till you finish up the accumulated work and see if you live that long. Let’s see if you dare to escape from work ever again.”

nFeng Jin: “…”

nHe felt that if Jiang Pengji lost later, it would definitely because of her uncontrollable mouth. Why were her words lacking?

nHe ordered his men to let the troops and horse carriage settle down, then he led Jiang Pengji and her team to the Feng manor. Feng Ren had already been anticipating their arrival.

nThere were many noble families in Shangyang county, but all of the others added together had less authority than the Feng family. Their opinions could neven be ignored. If the Feng family agreed to surrender Shangyang county, everyone would have to pay attention.

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