“We can still be considered friends… even though we previously had a minor disagreement. Didn’t you call yourself a seasoned vagabond? Aren’t you experienced?”
Feng Zhen spoke to her sarcastically. “My lord is indeed still immature and inexperienced. I am a vagabond and a player. Those I amuse are ravishing and beautiful. Friendship and romance are different. Did you have some conflict with your beloved or did you provoke a close friend to anger?”
Keeping silent, Jiang Peng allowed Little White to take two steps forward. Then she said, “I do not wish to respond to that.”
Feng Zhen laughed, “Is my lord embarrassed?”
It was useless to seek advice from Feng Zhen. The fellow didn’t take things seriously.
Viewers in the live streaming room readily volunteered. Their average bits of intelligence combined could outwit a genius. With 150,000 of them ready to participate, how could they not beat him?
As they were conversing deeply, speaking of joyful events, Feng Zhen laughed hysterically. He no intention of conducting himself appropriately.
Within the horse carriage, Wei Ci lifted the curtains and opened the windows. The cold wind that blew into his face caused him to choke multiple times.
He saw the shadows of two figures riding horses in the distance, then he sighed deeply. As unknown thoughts crossed his mind, he closed the windows of the horse carriage.
Out of sight, out of mind.
After half a year of organizational efforts, the three districts of Fengyi county gradually became populated with people. The city walls and streets had been rebuilt. Yet after leaving Fengyi county, the scene outside was a ghastly sight. Skulls and bones were strewn all over the streets. There were no strong, young men within 100 miles of the place. Instead, there were only rag-covered women and children living poverty-stricken lives. As they journeyed, they found frozen corpses beneath the thick layer of snow. Every one of them was utterly skinny. The sight of them was unbearable.
Jiang Peng adjusted the cloak and hood she used to protect herself from the wind. She ordered Feng Zhen, who had a weak constitution, into the horse carriage.
Although the joke about him still stood, it wasn’t suitable for Feng Zhen to stay outside too long in such bad weather.
Little White moved along slowly. Its steps were steady, and the bell on its neck swayed along with its footsteps. It sounded rhythmical. The horse’s tail swung as it moved.
Over the past few days, due to the strong wind and snow, they could only travel in the day and had to rest during the night to get away from the blizzard.
It was all so inconvenient for them.
“Hopefully, by next year, the people of Wanzhou will have a place to settle down.”
“My lord is sure to fulfill her promises. The people of Wanzhou are blessed.”
Wei Ci was so cold that the tip of his nose was red.
A group of people took refuge in an uninhabited village. Feng Zhen drank a whole pint of beer, then wrapped himself in a blanket and went to sleep in the horse carriage.
“I hope so…”
Jiang Peng sat by the side of the bonfire. With one hand, she supported her chin and pondered deeply. With her other hand, she held a twig and poked at the flames.
She was confident that she could take down Wanzhou next year, but she dared not boast about her ability to provide food and warmth for over a million people.
The responsibility was too great. She could only promise to try her best.
“It is snowing heavily outside and the weather is unusually cold. Why don’t you stay in the horse carriage instead of suffering in the cold out here?”
She instinctively placed both his hands in hers to warm them. Her cold palms seemed to have touched a block of ice.
His expression changed. He was determined to pull his hands away, but how could he do so with his frail strength?
“My lord…” He lowered his voice and said, “Ci has been in the horse carriage all day. I am bored and wish to get out to breathe some fresh air.”
Jiang Pengji loosened her grip, then turned her attention to the bonfire and said, “Get some warmth, your hands feel cold… You should stay in the horse carriage. Look at Zi Shi. He drinks after he has had his fill, then holds tightly to his blanket, refusing to step out of the horse carriage for anything…”
The gaps within the four walls of the horse carriage were filled with insulators. Blankets knitted from sheep’s wool were hung up inside. The bedding and blankets were specially thickened by a special layer. Even without a bed warmer or a charcoal basin, one would feel very warm in there.
Without having to think about it, it was evident that Wei Ci and Feng Zhen’s horse carriage had been specially modified to stay extremely warm.
Wei Ci’s lower eyelids drooped. He pursed his lips as he focused his vision on the bonfire, seemingly dazed.
“Do you feel awkward around me recently?” Jiang Pengji suddenly asked him.
Wei Ci did not respond.
If not for self-control, he would have followed the urge to sprint away and escape.
Wearing a troubled expression, he asked, “Why does the lord say this?”
“Intuition,” she replied. “Is it because of what happened with Wenzheng last time? I specifically gave him that task because it was more convenient for him.”
Wei Ci was silent. It seemed like his answer would be wrong no matter how he replied.
“Presently… it is a rather awkward situation.” Jiang Pengji rubbed her face with both her hands. With a rather dejected and pitiful tone, she said, “There are cunning men behind the scenes. I am clueless as to who my enemies are and who my allies are. If I take just one wrong step, there will be dire consequences.”
Wei Ci willed his expression to change. “Why does my lord say this? Is someone out to harm you?”
She smiled bitterly.
“There are countless people who are after my life. Some are known enemies, others are hidden. I know who the internal spy is, but I cannot act against her. I could call her out, but I must restrain myself. Once we alert them, there will be a lot of implications. It is extremely frustrating.”
Wei Ci felt a tug at his heartstrings. Feeling at a loss, he looked towards her. Were this person’s circumstances really so dire?
How could this be?
In his previous life, when Wei Ci had submitted to her, she was already one of the few hegemons wielding mighty power on earth. She had been victorious over Wei Ci’s previous master and taken over his territories. Few could have obstructed her ascent to the throne. She remained unbeatable in the years that followed.
But the situation was already different. Wouldn’t relying on one’s aristocratic status make the process smoother?
“Therefore… Wenzheng is someone whom my lord deems worthy to entrust with her life?”
She answered, “Wenzheng is someone to whom I can entrust my assets. But you’re someone I can trust with my life.”
Wei Ci’s facial expression changed abruptly. He turned his face around and felt uneasy.
Previously, he’d sensed that the temperature of the bonfire was not warm enough. Now he felt it was unbearably hot. He found a lame excuse to disappear.
Watching him leave in such a pathetic state, Jiang Pengji rested her head on her chin. Then she mumbled, “Those ignorant people suggested that I act pitiful, but was it useful?”
Based on her observation, her act had produced its intended effect.
Viewers in the live streaming room were clueless about who Jiang Pengji had argued with, but they brainstormed together and delivered more than 10 proposals.
The most feasible action was to discreetly reveal some “miserable events” to soften another’s heart. In short, to act pitiful.
If the atmosphere was well-managed, it would certainly evoke tenderhearted feelings.
It had even more impact because Jiang Pengji’s usual demeanor was unyielding. If she suddenly appeared vulnerable, the effect would be outstanding.
The next day, Feng Zhen noticed a faint smile on Jiang Pengji’s face. She was in a rather good mood.
Feng Zhen knitted his brows together as he asked, “Is my lord in a good mood?”
“Yes.”
He could sense spring in the air.
It had snowed consecutively for three days straight. The accumulated snow could cover half of one’s calf.
Feng Zhen asked worriedly, “The snow is so heavy, will it compress and cause the houses to collapse?”
“It doesn’t matter, my lord has already thought of a countermeasure.”
Wei Ci wasn’t worried at all. As to how the accumulated snow would be handled, Xiangyang county had handled the situation very well last year. This year, the procedure would be implemented in Fengyi county.
In other areas, the accumulated weight from the thick snow may cause the houses and rooms to collapse, but the damage shouldn’t be so severe in Fengyi county.
