Chapter 26

Feng Shaohao is very busy...

The Xu family is very busy...

Many noble families are also busy...

This night is destined to be anything but peaceful. With the imperial examination approaching, numerous noble families are doing their utmost to recommend their key talents, hoping that through various efforts, they can enter the imperial court, meet the emperor, and seize the opportunity to make a stunning impression.

The Shangguan residence is also not calm...

In the quiet courtyard, Shangguan Lingyun sat in his study, conversing with his beloved granddaughter. The conversation was originally quite pleasant, but an unexpected piece of news suddenly turned the peaceful atmosphere in the room heavy.

Several people stood in the room, clearly the four followers of Feng Jueyu. They hung their heads, not daring to breathe loudly, for fear that the old master of the Shangguan family would punish them in a fit of anger.

Shangguan Ruomeng sipped her tea thoughtfully, her clear and beautiful face showing a hint of seriousness and curiosity. She occasionally glanced at the few people, wanting to speak but holding back.

Wang Tong stood beside Shangguan Lingyun, his tall and straight figure like a sharp sword about to be drawn, calm, steady, and fierce...

"Wang Tong, take them out. From today on, you no longer need to protect him."

The "him" Shangguan Lingyun referred to was undoubtedly the great assassin Feng. The old master had a glorious life, managing the family well, but he never expected to be helpless against a weak grandson-in-law.

It had been several days since that boy was knocked unconscious, and things had not been peaceful since. It seemed that all the recent troubles had his shadow in them?

Wang Tong took the four followers out of the study, and the room fell silent again.

Shangguan Lingyun leaned back in his chair, eyes half-closed, lost in thought. Shangguan Ruomeng said nothing, and the two of them just sat there for a long time...

"Jueyu has been coming and going early and late recently. I don't know what he's been up to," Shangguan Lingyun finally spoke, his tone calm, as if he were just making small talk.

Shangguan Ruomeng pursed her lips, understanding what her grandfather was worried about. She smiled and said, "I've heard about his affairs, and I find them suspicious too, but I can't quite put my finger on it. To be honest, Grandfather, I can't see through him anymore."

The two of them seemed to be speaking in riddles, neither revealing the truth, but in their hearts, they both knew what was going on.

"What do you think?" Shangguan Lingyun opened his eyes, wise and profound...

Shangguan Ruomeng smiled and said, "In the past, he was either frivolous, weak, or incompetent, but he was always genuine, unable to hide his true feelings. But since I came back, he has become strange. His behavior is the same as before, but I know it's all fake, and it's hard to explain. This change is too sudden, isn't it? If Grandfather wants to know what I think, I can only tell you that perhaps Xu Zixiong's blow opened his eyes."

Shangguan Lingyun suddenly laughed, scolding, "You little devil, you've learned to dodge your grandfather's questions?"

"I haven't, Grandfather, you're overthinking it." Shangguan Ruomeng's cheeks turned slightly red. The young lady of the Shangguan family, who had been in business for years, had long cultivated the ability to remain calm in any situation. She rarely showed such an expression, and if outsiders saw it, they would be shocked.

"You say you haven't, but your face is red." Shangguan Lingyun smiled, as if remembering a long time ago: "You started helping your father and me manage the business in Huairen Hall when you were ten. You've been through so many storms. The Shangguan family has many male descendants, and it's not proper for a woman to be so prominent. But because you liked it, I never said a word against it."

He looked at Shangguan Ruomeng and said, "In this world, no one understands you except me. Not even your parents, let alone those few idiots. I know what you're thinking, and I feel I owe you."

Shangguan Ruomeng lowered her head, silent, frighteningly calm.

As Shangguan Lingyun said, there were few people in this world who understood her, and no one else but her grandfather.

Shangguan Lingyun knew he had touched his granddaughter's pain, and he sighed inwardly. Marrying his proud and noble granddaughter to a worthless and weak man, it would be strange if Shangguan Ruomeng had no thoughts about it.

For the sake of the Shangguan family, Shangguan Ruomeng had been enduring. How could Shangguan Lingyun not know the heavy burden on her shoulders? He was heartbroken but could not change it. This was his promise, a permanent one.

For this promise, Shangguan Lingyun had sacrificed his beloved granddaughter's lifelong happiness.

And Shangguan Ruomeng, for the same promise, had dedicated her entire life.

It was worth it!

"Grandfather," Shangguan Ruomeng choked up, "You don't have to say that. If I am what I am today, it's all thanks to your guidance. I have never blamed you, and I never will."

Shangguan Lingyun walked to his granddaughter, comforted, and said with approval and affection, "You are the most understanding. I am very pleased. Some things have happened to Jueyu recently, and no one knows if they are good or bad for him. I hope you can come back, return home, and take care of him. I am old, and one day I will leave. When that time comes, he will be in your hands."

"Um." Shangguan Ruomeng leaned into her grandfather's embrace and softly responded.

She was a woman, and no matter how strategic and intelligent she was in business, she was still a woman. She couldn't make a bold promise like a rough man; she could only choose her way to fulfill her grandfather's request. For her, this was her greatest effort to keep her promise to her grandfather.

Slowly letting go of his granddaughter, Shangguan Lingyun resumed his usual stern and authoritative demeanor, sitting back in his chair, his eyes sharp: "Do your best with the Tian Nan Chamber of Commerce. After all, that important person is not someone you can see easily. I won't force you."

With a decision made, Shangguan Ruomeng quickly felt relieved and smiled weakly, "I understand, Grandfather. It's late, I'll go back to my room to rest. You should also get some rest."

With that, Shangguan Ruomeng walked to the door.

"Ruomeng." Shangguan Lingyun called her, "You... really don't blame me..."

Shangguan Ruomeng paused, "No... I don't..."

"That's good, that's good..."

The long night was silent, and in the empty study, only Shangguan Lingyun's low sighs echoed. Outside the door, Shangguan Ruomeng's figure was gone.

...

Late at night, a hurried figure appeared outside the mortuary in the western city...

Feng Jueyu, drenched in sweat, lifted the hem of his robe and hurriedly ran to the mortuary.

As he said, Feng Shaohao is very busy...

First, he helped the Li family clear their grievances, spending an entire day and night. Just as he was about to go home to rest, he remembered that he had tied someone up in the mortuary.

This wasn't a big deal, but the key was that the guy had been hungry for two nights and a day. No matter how strong a person was, they couldn't endure that.

Although Gongyang Yu had a grudge against him, it was an unexpected event. Feng, the great assassin, had a sense of self-reflection. After all, he had run to someone else's territory to steal, which led to the misunderstanding. Besides, Gongyang Yu hadn't done anything to him, just taken him to the authorities. Overall, they didn't have a major grudge, so he couldn't just leave the guy to starve to death.

The young master didn't want to be haunted by evil spirits in the future...

With such noble thoughts, Feng Jueyu brought three pounds of pork head meat and a pot of old wine and rushed back.

He ran into the mortuary, and when he saw Gongyang Yu still tied to the pillar in the hall, his head hanging to his chest, and a few black and white hairs drooping weakly, he was relieved.

Gongyang Yu, who was already thin, had a noticeably sunken stomach after two nights and a day of hunger. He had clearly fainted from hunger...

"Uh, this old man didn't starve to death, did he? He's really unlucky. In a city as big as Tian Nan, no one has died in two days and a night?"

The mortuary in the city stored the bodies of the poor who died in the city. In a place as large as Tian Nan, people died almost every day. Once someone died, they would be sent to the mortuary. Normally, there would be people coming to the mortuary to deliver bodies during the day.

But Gongyang Yu was really unlucky. From the moment he was tied up, not many people died in Tian Nan, and those who did were all from families with children and grandchildren. They were quickly mourned and buried outside the city, leaving the western city mortuary in a vacuum for a day.

This left Gongyang Yu with no one to hear his cries, and he missed about five or six meals, fainting from hunger.

Feng Jueyu saw this and knew it couldn't go on. He quickly walked over to Gongyang Yu to check if he was alive or dead.

He walked over and put his hand under Gongyang Yu's nose. Yes, he was still breathing. He sighed in relief.

"Old man? Old man, wake up..."

He shook Gongyang Yu, and the old man, who was clearly very hungry, slowly came to. When he saw the smiling face he wanted to tear apart in his dreams, Gongyang Yu's anger finally found an outlet, and he erupted...

"Your grandmother... Do you want to starve me to death..."

To the readers:

PS: I went to sweep the graves today for Qingming. The cemetery was packed, and it took a long time to get to the top of the hill. I was so tired.

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