Chapter 10

"Madam... The argument was quite intense at the time. Master was so angry that he came out of the Fragrant Pavilion and had the study cleaned up..."

A maid was now chattering away, reporting the events from the Fragrant Pavilion in detail.

Madam Lu had already taken a nap and was now sitting up, her face radiant.

It really worked, not only effectively but also like a divine elixir.

The concubine Ling'er, who had been favored and had Master's heart, had been domineering in the mansion. Now that she had suffered, and Master had stayed out of the Fragrant Pavilion for the first time, it was a grand victory for Madam Lu, who felt greatly relieved and proud.

Madam Lu smacked her lips and said, "Send a quilt to Master later, and some wine and dishes. He used to drink when he was in a bad mood. Also, that Mr. Feng..." Madam Lu paused, her face showing appreciation. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Hao Fenglou had indeed solved her most pressing problem. However, this was just the beginning, and there might be more reliance on him in the future. Madam Lu continued, "Tomorrow, send someone to ask if he is comfortable living in the mansion. If he needs anything, he can just say... No, I'll go see him myself in the morning."

...

The next day, every move of the Lu family was reported to the Fragrant Pavilion by the second steward, Lu Zhong.

Ling'er, still fuming, bit her lip, her teeth grinding. Since entering the Lu family, when had she ever suffered such humiliation?

Lu Zhong added fuel to the fire, saying, "Second Concubine, this Mr. Feng is indeed very suspicious. I've already sent people to Songjiang to investigate. There is no wealthy family with the surname Feng in Songjiang. Even if there were, there would be no recent bankruptcies, nor any wealthy or ordinary prosperous families. Second Concubine, I suspect this person might be a spy for the Prince of Yan. The Commander of the Thousand Households said that the Prince of Yan has already deployed troops north of the Yangtze River, and our imperial army is surrounding them from all sides. If they can't cross the river, they will have no place to hide. The Prince of Yan's troops are northerners, unfamiliar with boats. To cross the river, they can only send spies to win over Commander Lu. The Prince of Yan, with no other options, will place all his hopes here. The Commander of the Thousand Households arranged for you to enter the Lu family months ago, precisely for this day. Therefore, this is the most critical moment. This Mr. Feng's background is already suspicious, and today Madam Lu even went to see him personally. It's clear that he was behind yesterday's incident. After much thought, I believe he must be a spy for the Prince of Yan. If we don't eliminate him soon, the Commander of the Thousand Households will blame us, and we will have a hard time explaining ourselves."

Ling'er said coldly, "What you say is not without reason. I originally suspected the cousin, but now it seems unlikely to be her. She is too straightforward, not like a spy. This Mr. Feng, on the other hand, doesn't seem trustworthy. If you want to eliminate him, how do you plan to do it?" As she spoke, Ling'er gritted her teeth and laughed coldly. "During the Hongwu era, our Jinyiwei was so glorious. But now, after the abolition of the military garrisons in the twentieth year of Hongwu, we have become wandering ghosts. Thanks to the protection of the Commander of the Imperial Guard, we have food to eat and work to do. But now, when investigating rebels, we have to act secretly, like thieves. In the past, how could we have fallen to such a state?"

The second steward smiled awkwardly and said, "So, isn't this our opportunity? Whether we can restore the Jinyiwei depends on this. If we can make a significant contribution in the Prince of Yan's rebellion, the court will recognize our value, and the restoration of the Northern Town Command will not be far off. However, we must be cautious. If the palace and the court learn that we have placed spies in the Lu family, we don't know what will happen. The higher-ups took great risks to arrange this. If it is discovered, our heads will be on the line."

Ling'er laughed even colder, full of disdain. "You men act like women. At this critical moment, you still talk about righteousness. If righteousness really worked, how could the Prince of Yan's rebellion still be ongoing? Forget about their affairs. Think of a way to deal with this Mr. Feng. I don't want to see him in the mansion anymore."

The second steward nodded and then asked, "Should we report to the Commander of the Thousand Households?"

Ling'er said indifferently, "Do as you please, as long as the job is done." It seemed that killing a person was as easy as eating a meal to her.

...

The next morning, Hao Fenglou went to the pavilion to teach as usual.

Miss Lu was still behind the screen, unwilling to show her face. Hao Fenglou wished he could kick the screen open to see his future wife, but Yingchun, as always, sat quietly in the corner, preventing him from acting.

Hao Fenglou sat down in a very gentlemanly manner and cleared his throat.

Miss Lu said, "Yan'er greets Mr. Feng."

Hao Fenglou said, "Mm, let's start the lesson."

Miss Lu said, "I wonder what story Mr. Feng will tell today."

Hao Fenglou was so frustrated he wanted to stomp his foot. He was a teacher, not a storyteller. However, it seemed he was indeed leaning towards being a storyteller. Tragic, this was the life of someone without real knowledge.

Hao Fenglou said calmly, "I tell you stories to enlighten you. Our lessons should still focus on the classics, otherwise it would be inappropriate."

Miss Lu said, "So, Mr. Feng, will you teach the classics today?"

"No," Hao Fenglou said decisively. "Today, I will continue to tell stories to enlighten you."

Yingchun, sitting beside her, was at a loss. She had long suspected that Hao Fenglou was a fraud.

Hao Fenglou could only hate himself for his lack of resolve but had to maintain the demeanor of a scholar. "Today, I will tell a story about the Ming Dynasty... uh, today I will simply tell..."

Hao Fenglou had many stories, all carefully selected, mostly about women's loyalty. Regardless of the meaning, the stories were interesting. Miss Lu listened intently. After several stories, Hao Fenglou said seriously, "These stories are meant to enlighten you about female virtue. Without virtue, a person is no different from an animal. A man with virtue can support the world and be a role model. A woman with virtue will be remembered for generations and respected by women. As the sage said, a minister should not serve two lords, and a woman should not serve two husbands. A minister who serves two lords is a traitor, and a woman who serves two husbands is a disgrace. This is not just my opinion but the words of the sage. Also, a marriage should be arranged by parents and matchmakers..."

Miss Lu said, "What if the parents' decision changes?"

Hao Fenglou said seriously, "A ruler's word is not to be taken lightly. How can a parent's decision be changed? Can spilled water be retrieved?"

Miss Lu seemed to be thinking and said, "Thank you, Mr. Feng, for your guidance."

Yingchun couldn't stand it anymore and reminded, "Mr. Feng, it's time to end the lesson."

Hao Fenglou thought there would be plenty of time to interact with Miss Lu in the future, so he didn't insist on continuing. "That's all for today, Miss Lu. Think about what I said. I hope these stories will enlighten you. The day after tomorrow..."

Miss Lu couldn't help but ask, "Will Mr. Feng teach the classics the day after tomorrow?"

Hao Fenglou blushed and said calmly, "Not in a hurry, not in a hurry. Sharpening the axe doesn't delay the woodcutting. I will continue to enlighten you." He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and almost fled.

Back in his courtyard, Xiao Xiang smiled at him. Before she could ask, Hao Fenglou knew what she was going to say and said sternly, "Don't rush, haste makes waste."

Xiao Xiang said with a smile, "Is Miss Lu hard to pursue?"

Hao Fenglou said calmly, "I'm playing the long game. I don't care about short-term gains. You wouldn't understand. This is called gradual influence."

"Is that so?" Xiao Xiang nodded and said with a smile, "The second steward came just now, very politely, and brought an invitation, saying he wants to invite you for a chat. He also mentioned inviting some people from the mansion to accompany you, and he hopes you will honor us with your presence."

Hao Fenglou squinted and looked at the invitation, which was indeed very polite.

Xiao Xiang said, "Will you go, Master? The second steward said it's at the Ruchun Pavilion. I heard it's quite far..."

"Of course, I'll go," Hao Fenglou said with a cunning look, putting away the invitation. "It's hard to refuse such a kind invitation. We are guests here, relying on the Lu family for a living. We need to get along well with everyone. It's good for both of us."

Xiao Xiang pouted and said, "The Ruchun Pavilion doesn't seem like a clean place. Master, you've just turned over a new leaf, don't..."

"Um, um..."

Hao Fenglou agreed. He rested for a few hours, and seeing it was getting late, he instructed her to stay at home. After confirming the location of the Ruchun Pavilion, he thought it was still a good time to leave, so he went out.

It was almost the hour of You. Hao Fenglou, fearing he would be late, rented a donkey cart. However, it was difficult to rent a horse cart recently, as the war in the north had started, and Zhenjiang, as the gateway to Nanjing, was the first line of defense against the rebels. The government had almost requisitioned all the vehicles and boats months ago. He finally found a cargo donkey cart, and the driver didn't hesitate to ask for fifty coins, which would have been a rip-off in the past. Hao Fenglou was hesitant. Fifty coins were enough to buy a few dishes and drinks. Was he being foolish to spend fifty coins on a ride?

However, he was a broad-minded person and didn't argue much. After negotiating the price, he harshly criticized the driver and got into the cart.

After getting in, he gently lifted the curtain and saw that a carriage nearby had also started, following his donkey cart. Hao Fenglou's face showed a mysterious smile.