The room with the open window, devoid of any artificial lighting, remained utterly dark under the meager moonlight.
Blind Bei was seated at the table, where numerous documents lay—useful ones, useless ones, piled high. He needed to sort and classify them.
Suddenly, his body shivered slightly, and his face took on a solemn expression.
A strong murderous intent suddenly emerged from the back of the house. Despite being well controlled, it was still detected by Blind Bei, who possessed mental probing abilities.
However, in the blink of an eye, this murderous intent rapidly vanished, disappearing completely without a trace.
Immediately, Blind Bei identified who the owner of this murderous intent was.
But he was not sure if this murderous intent was caught by him or if it was deliberately revealed to him.
He was also unclear whether this murderous intent was aimed at himself or at his... old father.
「The following morning,」
The first decadent ray of sunlight filtered into the room.
Then came decadently dressing, decadently washing up, decadently dining.
Even after he had left the room and entered the courtyard, Zheng Fan could still catch the decadent scent lingering on himself.
Today’s lesson is about to begin. The mere thought of Liang Cheng’s fingernails from yesterday makes my stomach churn.
Zheng Fan sneezed, his eyes a little dry.
He sniffed the air, detecting the smell of something burning. Looking up, he could even see ashes whirling in the sky.
Are they burning straw?
Never mind that it isn’t the right season. Even if it were, surely they wouldn’t pile it up in the city to burn, would they?
Just then, Zheng Fan saw Fangcao walking by with a bolt of cloth in her hands. When she stopped and bowed to him, Zheng Fan asked, "What’s burning outside?"
Fangcao was taken aback for a moment before realization dawned. She replied, "My lord, many families outside are burning spirit money."
"The Tomb Sweeping Festival isn’t now, though. Is it some kind of local festival here?"
In this world, at least in this eastern region, cultural customs weren’t too different from his original world. But an extra festival similar to the Tomb Sweeping Festival wouldn’t be too strange.
"No, my lord. The civilian laborers conscripted to transport supplies have returned."
Zheng Fan’s mouth fell open. The scene of the barbarian cavalry charging into the supply camp that night resurfaced in his mind. It all felt as if it had happened only yesterday, but in reality, quite some time had passed since that night raid.
"They’re back... How many returned?"
"Only about two to three hundred, reportedly. That’s why many families in the city started holding funerals this morning."
"Oh. Alright. You may go."
"Yes, my lord. Please call me if you need anything."
Fangcao gave Zheng Fan a slight curtsy, then left, clutching the cloth.
Zheng Fan let out a long sigh. The Earl of North Border’s estate had conscripted two to three thousand laborers from Hutou City last time, and only a tenth of them had returned. He could imagine how many households in Hutou City were currently holding funerals. Moreover, it was the breadwinners of these families who hadn’t come back. Even in modern times, it was not an easy feat for the women left behind to support a family after losing its primary labor force, let alone in this environment. For these families, it was as if the sky had fallen.
Siniang’s voice came from behind Zheng Fan.
"Phew... You startled me."
"My apologies, my lord. I had already called out to you several times. You were too engrossed in your thoughts and didn’t hear me."
"Ah, indeed. I was lost in thought."
"My lord, have you taken a liking to Fangcao?" Siniang suddenly asked.
Zheng Fan’s mind struggled to keep up with Siniang’s train of thought.
"Yes. Weren’t you just transfixed after seeing Fangcao, my lord? If you desire her, Siniang can arrange for her to be in your bed tonight, all washed and waiting."
"Isn’t she one of A Ming’s? I heard she and A Ming are quite close."
"They are indeed. The bond of a murdered father, you see."
"Besides, A Ming doesn’t care about such things. He’s not interested in women. As long as you desire her, my lord, Fangcao herself would surely be willing.
"I have a knack for judging people, you know. She’s the type who yearns to climb higher. Give her a chance, and she might just become the next Wu Meiniang or Zhen Huan.
"Perhaps she does harbor some feelings for A Ming, but he remains completely indifferent. I imagine that once she successfully enters your bed, my lord, and becomes the mistress, she’ll have a love-hate relationship with A Ming.
"At night, she’ll try every means to win your favor. During the day, she’ll maintain a dignified composure before A Ming, watching him pay respects to her as the mistress.
"Then Xue Three and the others will spread some rumors on the side, just loud enough for you to hear, my lord. As a result, you’ll grow wary of A Ming and deliberately assign him dangerous missions.
"Fangcao will feel aggrieved and tormented. She’ll lament before you, growing thinner with each passing day.
"Yet you, my lord, will remain resolute in ignoring her, perhaps even secretly ordering Blind Bei to dispose of Fangcao.
"Then, on the day Blind Bei makes his move, he’ll use his spiritual sense like an ultrasound and discover that Fangcao is..."
Zheng Fan was speechless.
Seemingly aware that she had spoken too much, Siniang quickly waved her hand, lightly slapped her own cheek a few times, then curtsied and said: