Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 26 - 16 Signals of War

As soon as Fengyu stepped out of the courtyard, she was stopped by Feng Ling. "Fengyu, my mother scolded you for your own good. You are ungrateful and made her look so embarrassed. Is your heart made of stone? Uncle and Aunt are not at home, and my mother has taken good care of you and Second Sister, yet this is how you repay her?"

Fengyu's face was cold as she said lightly, "If she had shown my mother an ounce of respect, I wouldn't have embarrassed her."

In Lady Feng's courtyard, Feng Wan and Nanny Li were comforting her. Lady Feng was in tears after being hit where it hurt.

Nanny Li said, "Madam, why bother with Third Miss's accusations? She always talks about merchants' daughters. Third Miss is very protective. She surely feels you disrespect Second Madam, so it's only natural she's upset. I've said before, Village Chief Wang is deceitful and it can't be hidden forever. You should neither associate with him nor accept his gifts. When it's exposed, it'll only bring disgrace upon you."

Feng Wan said, "Mother, did you really accept Village Chief Wang's silver?"

"What silver? It's just some tokens received during holidays. If Fengyu accuses me of conniving with Village Chief Wang, I will never admit it." Lady Feng was so angry her chest was heaving, "That wretched girl looks like a saint laughing to everyone but her words are so venomous they make me want to crawl under a rock. Never in my life have I been so insulted by a younger one."

"I was also foolish, I shouldn't have brought up the matter of merchant daughters following Mother's words..." Feng Wan said.

"Su Yuejiao is just a merchant's daughter who's not fit for the stage. Second Master is a fool, knowing nothing and was deceived into a private agreement for life. He insisted on marrying her." Lady Feng had been ridiculed by many for having a merchant's daughter-in-law, and couldn't bear it, "Your marriage... was supposed to be to the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion."

"Mother!" Feng Wan's eyes reddened, "Stop it."

"Poor child, you've been wronged. Mother will find you a good marriage." Lady Feng hugged Feng Wan with heartache, saying angrily, "Second Uncle has no sons. Feng Shu and Fengyu can't take away all of their dowry. Sooner or later, it will all be Wenrong's. Mother will also find you an excellent marriage. Let's see how long they can be prosperous."

"That's the right way to think, Madam." Nanny Li saw her calm down and persuaded. The eldest son of the Feng Family, Feng Wenrong, is excellent in his studies and became a jinshi three years ago, having already been appointed as an official. Sooner or later, he will be transferred to the Capital City.

Fengyu also realized her emotions had been slightly out of control. She returned to Meiyuan, watching the sea of flowers to calm down gradually. After the guards' deaths and the assassination attempt, she was understandably frustrated. Lady Feng's mention of merchant daughters was scornful, and Fengyu couldn't control her temper. The sisters were raised under the Old Madam's watch, and usually, Feng Wan, Feng Ling, and she got along fairly well, with only minor disputes. One year when the borders were peaceful, Feng Changqing and his wife returned home to reunite with their daughters. Fengyu then learned of Lady Feng's disrespect toward her mother and was very displeased, finding it laughable at a young age. What could Lady Feng have to look down on her mother?

If she truly looked down on them, she shouldn't use even a copper coin from the second house; Fengyu would be satisfied with that.

Qiuxiang returned to the courtyard and instructed the maidservants to be more careful. Since Chunlu was injured, Fengyu gave her a few days off. Qiuxiang put Ginkgo in charge of the small kitchen affairs.

After bathing, Fengyu changed into clean clothes. When Zhang Da returned, she handed him a letter, "Take this yourself and give it to Nuanyang of the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion; he knows you."

"Yes!"

Marquis Zhenbei Mansion.

Xie Xun was drinking with Lin Cheng, the eldest young master of the Minister of War's family, in the pavilion. Lin Cheng, two years older than Xie Xun, was already serving in the Ministry of War, overseeing the Forbidden Army. Xie Xun often frequented the Ministry of War after returning to the Capital City, and they became acquainted over time. Lin Cheng, tall and muscular, had the makings of a military general, though his grandmother feared the battlefield's risks and urged him to join the Ministry of War instead.

The Minister Lin's Family and Elder Lin's Family were from the same clan. Elder Lin's father and Minister Lin's grandfather were full-brother siblings, and the families separated after the parents passed away. The Marquis Zhenbei Mansion and Minister Lin's Family were also relatives, with closely tied bloodlines. However, Minister Lin's Family dared not get too close to the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion, so there was little contact between the two growing up. Only after Xie Xun became a cripple did Lin Cheng dare to associate with him.

"Little Marquis, recruiting soldiers is tough nowadays. Those who wish to fight have already gone to Ningzhou. Those who stayed just want a peaceful life." Lin Cheng, slightly flushed from alcohol, continued, "It's understandable that Ningzhou wants to replenish its troops, but with frequent movement in Sannan, the southern defenses must be reinforced, and each town's border defense needs staffing, we can't just pull everyone to Ningzhou. Now, the Capital City has only eight thousand stationed troops, half of which are noble sons. Without mandatory conscription for those over thirteen, we can't recruit enough. And who dares force it? Otherwise, with enemies still at the gates, internal chaos could break out, and who would take responsibility?"

Xie Xun furrowed his brows, gripping his cup tightly, worry creasing his face, "Winter has come to Ningzhou. Without troop reinforcements and insufficient supplies and logistics, for my father to win this battle is as hard as reaching the sky."

"The Marquis is courageous, undefeated in battle. The Beiman will eventually be subdued." Lin Cheng chuckled, "Everyone in your Marquis Zhenbei Mansion seems to care about Ningzhou's military status."

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"My father and brothers are on the battlefield." Xie Xun lowered his eyes, hiding the gleam in them, "If it weren't for my leg issues, I should be there, fighting alongside them."

Lin Cheng patted his shoulder, shaking the wine pot and pouring another drink, "Stop thinking about it. If the sky falls, some people will hold it up. Come, drink."

Xie Xun intentionally exaggerated the dire situation in Ningzhou to him. Others knew little about the Ningzhou front, and Emperor Jianming didn't dare send supervision. Ningzhou faced supply shortages and had suffered defeats in several battles, but the core strength of the Northern Iron Cavalry was intact. The whole army was united in aiming to resolve the Beiman before spring. Yet, those in the Capital City were unaware of the reality, with some even hoping for Marquis Zhenbei's defeat in Ningzhou to lessen his influence on the court.

Xie Xun had been frequenting the Ministry of War to seek recruits and boost forces. He also visited the Ministry of Revenue, monitoring the military provisions, creating a scenario where the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion was presented as if it had depleted supplies in Ningzhou.

His efforts led the Ministry of Revenue not to falsify the next quarter's military logistics planning, although securing grains was becoming impossible.

"You shouldn't always go to the Ministry of Revenue. That batch of military grain is under the Crown Prince's supervision. If thoroughly investigated, no one's face will look good." Lin Cheng sincerely advised, "Brother, heed my advice, retreat a step and the seas and skies will be vast."

Xie Xun sneered, "The frontline troops fight with empty stomachs and bare clothes, yet the court meddles with military rations. If Ningzhou falls, the Beiman will have open plains to advance, and reaching the Capital City would only be a matter of time."

"With the Marquis there, Ningzhou won't fall!"

"He is flesh and blood, not a deity." Xie Xun found it utterly laughable, "Even he needs troops and supplies. He's over fifty, how much longer can he defend Ningzhou?"