But in this world, once one has chosen this path, there can be no affectation anymore.
The 2,000 construction laborers used as bait, the Chen Mansion, which vanished today with the simple utterance of "kill" by that clerk who overstepped his boundaries—here, there is countless times more bloodshed compared to the war-torn areas of the future world.
Zheng Fan took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and muttered to himself, "I can’t be a burden anymore."
At this moment, Siniang’s figure appeared before him, walking slowly toward him.
Upon seeing this, Ding Hao immediately left. He knew Zheng Fan and Siniang had a master-servant relationship, but he had also seen Siniang leave Zheng Fan’s room in the morning.
Siniang draped a cloak over Zheng Fan and said softly, "My lord, would you like me to sit with you for a while longer?"
"No need. Go back and pack. We’re leaving tomorrow."
"Okay, I’ll head back to serve you."
"Playing with needles again?"
Siniang gave Zheng Fan a reproaching look and said with a flirtatious expression, "If my lord does not wish to play with needles, we could play cards or dice—anything you like."
"Are you good at gambling?"
"Yes, I’m proficient in being the banker."
A regular person’s birthday is just a personal affair. A more sophisticated and stylish person might buy a bouquet for their mother on their birthday: A child’s birthday marks the mother’s day of hardship. Afterwards, mother and child would cry together.
Ding Hao had once told Zheng Fan that the literati of Qian State enjoyed this sort of theatrics. They would make someone’s birthday seem like a funeral, all for the sake of earning a reputation for filial piety.
Once someone’s status reached a certain level, their birthday became a holiday.
The Marquise’s 50th birthday became a holiday for the entire Beifeng Prefecture.
Around eight o’clock in the morning, Zheng Fan was waiting at the city gate with Siniang, who had altered her appearance, and Ding Hao.
Wang Duan and the other five Centurions, along with their soldiers, arrived quite punctually. They knelt and reported to Zheng Fan. They had adopted a humble stance during their first meeting yesterday, but today, it was as if they were asking, "Stance? What’s that?"
Nearly five hundred soldiers, each brimming with joy. Having received a small fortune yesterday, they were in high spirits, hoping for additional rewards from following this Lord Zheng to the Earl of North Border’s mansion today.
However, the gifts from each family were still arriving, and even by noon, they hadn’t all been gathered. With one cart after another, and servants from various families bustling about to help transport the goods, the area outside Hutou City was as lively as a marketplace.
At last, the final prepared gift was delivered.
It was a large carriage. Of course, this was just its exterior; inside was a metal cage housing a thoroughly red Snow Wolf.
Although it wasn’t a very formidable demonic beast, red Snow Wolves are indeed quite rare. This was a gift from Hsu Manor, showing they had put a great deal of thought into it.
The Snow Wolf was delicate; people were inside the carriage attending to it, ensuring it would still be alive upon arrival at the Earl of North Border’s mansion.
Finally, everything was ready. Zheng Fan, who had grown impatient waiting, immediately gave the order to set off.
When night fell, Zheng Fan ordered them to make camp.
Wang Duan and the others personally arranged the defenses, sparing Zheng Fan the trouble. Moreover, they had already encountered two units of the Earl of North Border’s cavalry patrols on their way. This indicated they were now within the direct sphere of influence of the Earl of North Border’s forces, so the level of safety was quite high.
Zheng Fan walked over to the carriage with the Snow Wolf. The two servants from Hsu Manor standing by it recognized him. Seeing him approach the carriage, they didn’t try to stop him and respectfully stepped aside.
Opening the carriage door, Zheng Fan bent down to enter. When he raised his head, he saw that a metal cage took up more than half the space. The red Snow Wolf inside the cage appeared somewhat listless and lacking in spirit, dozing on the floor.
Outside the cage, leaning against the carriage wall, a portly man sat eating roast chicken with relish.
The stench inside the carriage must have been terrible, as the Snow Wolf ate, drank, and relieved itself there. Yet, this portly man’s appetite remained unaffected.
When he saw Zheng Fan enter, the portly man even broke off a large chicken leg and offered it.
Zheng Fan shook his head and said, "I’ve already eaten."
"Heh heh, how did you know this official was here?" Hui Wenzu asked curiously.
"Your Excellency, given your build, if you wished to join the contingent unnoticed, where else could you possibly hide but here?"
"True enough. *Sigh*."
Out of the corner of his eye, Zheng Fan observed his surroundings, trying to ascertain if Hui Wenzu had any bodyguards. When these important figures went out, they were usually accompanied by experts. Even Emperor Kangxi had Faxin and Santudzi with him during his incognito travels.
While observing, he maintained the polite chatter, "You’re truly enduring hardship by hiding here, Your Excellency."
Hui Wenzu chuckled, unconcerned, "Not at all, not at all. I’ve been an official for most of my life, acting like a beast in official’s robes. Now, sharing a carriage with an actual animal is only fitting, as it should be."
"Your Excellency’s broad-mindedness is something I can only look up to."
"Heh, you’re still young. Once you’ve experienced more, you’ll understand."
"Indeed. I still have much to learn from Your Excellency."
At that moment, the carriage door opened again, and a somewhat scruffy, middle-aged man with messy hair entered.
After getting into the carriage, the man simply sat next to Zheng Fan, took off his shoes, and began to pick at his feet.
Zheng Fan glanced at the man, a chill running down his spine, instantly putting him on alert.
This must be Hui Wenzu’s bodyguard. Dressed shabbily, with messy hair, dull eyes, reeking of alcohol, utterly disregarding etiquette—picking his feet right in front of everyone and even sniffing his fingers... What was this? This was the classic image of a deeply hidden expert! Damn it, this is getting tricky.
Hui Wenzu offered the chicken leg he had previously intended for Zheng Fan to this man. The man accepted it without ceremony and began to eat.
Zheng Fan watched this unfold. It seemed the relationship between these two was highly unusual, transcending the typical master-servant boundary. Bribing him was likely impossible. To think that Hui Wenzu’s personal bodyguard could be bought off with money would be to sorely underestimate a man who had navigated the treacherous currents of officialdom for most of his life.
After finishing the chicken leg, the man gestured to Hui Wenzu for more.
Hui Wenzu chuckled and gave him the entire remaining half of the chicken.
Only then did the man, munching contentedly on the chicken, exit the carriage, releasing a horribly smelly fart as he left.
Zheng Fan immediately held his breath.
COUGH, COUGH, COUGH...
Hui Wenzu was choked into a coughing fit, his eyes even tearing up from the stench, yet he still laughed and said, "This official doesn’t mind the animal’s stink, but a human’s fart? That, this official truly cannot stand. Isn’t it laughable?"
"An animal is supposed to be smelly. If it isn’t, it must have become a spirit."
"Yes, yes, that’s the principle. One is natural, the other is not. Actually, human odor is also natural. But human life itself isn’t entirely natural. Humans have the seven emotions and six desires; they have wants, they have attachments. Animals have them too, but to a much lesser extent than humans."
"Thank you for your teachings, Your Excellency." Then Zheng Fan tentatively asked, "Shall I have someone bring another portion of food?"
"No need, no need, this official is already full," Hui Wenzu said.
"What about that gentleman just now? I doubt half a roast chicken was enough for him."
Hui Wenzu looked at Zheng Fan in astonishment and asked, "Wasn’t that fellow just now one of your men?"
Thanks to C Army Kid for becoming the 51st Alliance Leader of Magic Realm!
Thank you, everyone, for your recommendation votes and tips; Xiaolong bows to you all here. If you have any monthly passes, please consider casting them for *The Late Night Bookstore*. Mhmm, let’s keep the benefits within our circle.