Chapter 182: The Secret Letter - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

 Chapter 182: The Secret Letter

In other words, they might not receive reinforcements for at least two months. If the city fell during that time...

After hearing this, everyone fell silent.

“Well, since that’s the case, we should be mentally prepared. Relying on others is not as reliable as relying on ourselves. Have these years of business been in vain?” The elderly Hua family head spoke firmly despite his frail body. Seeing him, in his seventies, still so resolute, everyone felt encouraged.

While the important matters were being discussed in the front hall, a white pigeon fluttered into a courtyard in the back.

A servant approached, swiftly retrieved the pigeon, and took a letter from its leg, which was then handed to the master in front of him.

Upon unfolding the letter, a calculating smile soon spread across his face.

“Fourth Young Master, is there news from the Duke?”

“Yes, the Duke instructed me to thoroughly understand the situation with the Feng family’s mines so that I can brief Master Du when the Ninth Prince arrives in the future.”

The Feng family’s lucrative assets were coveted by the royal family, and naturally, others also coveted them. In particular, Duke Wei, who had failed to win over the Bai and Feng families in the past, had since been plotting to undermine their power from within.

Unfortunately, the Bai family was small in number and disinterested in fame and wealth, making them as difficult to break as a piece of cotton that always sticks together. In contrast, the Feng family’s second branch, with numerous members and extended relatives, was a much easier target.

After much consideration, they had chosen Feng Jin Hao from the Feng family’s collateral branch.

Orphaned early, he was raised by the Feng family’s second branch and grew up under the care of Feng Shan’s concubine, Guo Shi. He was shrewd and cunning, pretending to be a delicate scholar, which deceived everyone in the family, including the discerning second matriarch of the Feng family, Hua Shi.

“Good. With this, Fourth Young Master will certainly gain favor with the Ninth Prince and have a promising future!” Accompanying him was Uncle Zhuang, a confidant nurtured by Guo Shi. After Guo Shi’s death, Uncle Zhuang had remained loyal and reliable.

“This is a timely opportunity with the northern Di invading. It disrupts the Second Aunt’s investigation of internal spies and allows me to take advantage of the situation to understand the status of the mines. Once I secure the position of family head, Uncle Zhuang, I will avenge my late mother.”

The mention of her mother caused both master and servant to display deep hatred.

Guo Shi was kind-hearted and never competed or bickered in the back courtyard. She treated him as her own son, saving the best for him. Yet, a mere cold had taken her life!

The head of the family, Feng Shan, and the matriarch, Hua Shi, were indifferent and dismissive, which led to her untimely death. Since they never valued the mother and son duo, he would turn their world upside down and disrupt their lives. When disaster struck, she would go to the underworld to atone for her mother.

The pigeon flapped its wings a few times, walking calmly in the courtyard, unaware of the message it was carrying, its eyes devoid of emotion.

In the Eastern Capital, Feng Hai had been recovering at home after being injured. It had been over half a month, and he was nearly recovered, but he claimed to be still in danger and was not yet meeting anyone.

His eldest son had been sent to Jiangnan by his father-in-law, leaving him behind in the capital to scrutinize the records of all the grain transported to the government. He meticulously examined every clue, determined to find evidence of corruption by the Duke of Wei and the Inspectors of the two Zhejiang provinces and thirteen cities.

He had a habit of keeping a copy of the annual grain transport records at home, which had been a practice for nearly ten years since his appointment as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Therefore, the study was filled with backup ledgers.

When Madam Feng brought him some fruit, she saw him frowning and marking many places in the ledgers with red ink.

“Sir, eat some fruit before continuing. You need to take care of your health; what if you overwork yourself?”

Although Madam Feng could not assist with official duties, she took great care of his health, interrupting his work every hour to let him rest.

“Dear, don’t worry. I’ve had fruit two or three times today already. If I eat more, I might have indigestion.” Feng Hai chuckled, knowing that his wife was only thinking of his health, but he really couldn’t eat more.

“Oh, I’m just worried about you overworking yourself. I don’t understand official matters, but sir, it’s not urgent in these few days. The ledgers won’t run away. Take a break and look at them again.”

Feng Hai, feeling helpless, knew he couldn’t refuse since his wife had insisted so. He closed the ledgers and walked over to her to enjoy the freshly made lily soup.

Seeing him eat with relish, Madam Feng was pleased, feeling her efforts were worth it.

“Sir, let the official matters rest for now. The family matters are more urgent. After the spring exam, if Xiao Er passes, I’m thinking of proposing to the Xu family. What do you think?”

“The Xu family? The one with the rejected marriage?”

When Madam Feng heard this, she gave him a discontented look. “The Liang family is a broken-down household unworthy of such a fine girl. It was Heaven’s mercy that made them cancel the engagement. I’ve looked into the Xu family several times and spoken with my sisters-in-law. Everyone praises the girl. I’m just afraid the Xu family might look down on Xiao Er due to his previous reputation…”

It was not uncommon for a rejected engagement to be reconsidered, but it was rare to see it happen so quickly. Usually, families would wait for a year or more to let things settle before reconsidering.

Madam Feng, fearing that Xu Mingyue might become a sought-after match, wanted to settle the matter as soon as possible to be at ease.

She didn’t care what others thought; she only knew that if the Feng family could marry Xu Mingyue, it would be a significant elevation.

Feng Hai did not know Xu Mingyue well, but he respected her grandfather greatly. From humble beginnings, with only average in-laws, he had risen to his current position purely by his own ability. This was impressive!

Had the Feng family not repeatedly suffered misfortune and lost both their sons, the Xu family would probably be the most prestigious household, and the Liang family would never have dared to break off the engagement.

Seeing his wife’s earnest eyes, Feng Hai pondered for a moment before saying, “Since you like that girl, let’s keep in touch with the Xu family. However, it’s important that the two children like each other; otherwise, a match, no matter how good, is useless if there’s discord at home.”

“That’s natural. Don’t worry, sir. I’m not one to insist on parental arrangements alone. Otherwise, how could Ah Xu have married Wen Shi? I would have caused a scene!”

Recalling the matters in the back courtyard involving their eldest son’s family, Feng Hai sighed. Fortunately, the storm had passed and clear skies were ahead. This was likely a trial they had to endure. Once they got through it, they could grow old together in peace.

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