Chapter 356 – Ups and Downs in the Capital (Part 13)
“Hey, a scrawny little guy like you wants to stand up for this wimp?”
Fatty Fang bared his teeth, swinging his fist threateningly.
The handsome young man with red lips and white teeth didn’t flinch at all, seemingly oblivious to the massive fist.
“Fight? Jue definitely can’t beat you.” Feng Jue was accompanied only by a book boy; although he had learned archery and swordsmanship, he could only defend himself and didn’t pack a punch. “But for Fang Langjun to use numbers to bully the few, that’s a bit too much.”
“Pfft! If you can’t win, just scram. Don’t chatter in front of me. Either watch him get beaten or join in on the fun. We’re in the capital—who hasn’t heard of my name? A sour little scholar dares to stir up trouble here!”
Feng Jue relaxed his brows, casually saying, “Though Jue isn’t a match for Fang Langjun, it doesn’t mean there’s no one who can handle you.”
Fatty Fang made an “oh” sound, maliciously retorting, “You don’t want to go home to plead with your grandpa for help, do you?”
“No need for that,” Feng Jue suddenly flashed a wicked grin, like a pure white canvas splashed with brushstrokes of dark ink. “Dare you gamble with Jue? If you win, I’ll let the matter with Lord Huang slide. If you lose, we’ll consider it settled?”
Fatty Fang snorted; despite his piggish looks and empty head, he wasn’t really a pig.
“This wager has no benefit for me,” he said, his beady eyes sizing up Feng Jue before lewdly suggesting, “How about we change the stakes? If you win, it’s settled. If you lose, you spend a night with me. How about that?”
At this, everyone’s expressions shifted, and Feng Jue’s youthful gaze flickered, revealing a chilling bloodlust.
Fatty Fang felt a chill run down his spine under that gaze, his legs turning a bit wobbly, but he still held his ground and puffed out his chest.
Eunuch Huang’s grandson seemed surprised that things had escalated this way and quickly scolded Fatty Fang.
“Shut up! Do you have any idea what you’re saying? Jue is the third son of the Feng family of Shangyang; he’s not afraid of making enemies!”
He stressed the “Feng family of Shangyang” as if to make a point.
Jiang Pengji listened in, covertly sizing up Feng Jue, thinking—so this is Feng Jin’s younger brother?
Feng Jue’s outfit may have seemed simple, but the materials were undoubtedly exquisite, hinting at a high status. Fatty Fang never anticipated that his opponent had such a prominent background. Although the former Minister Feng Ren had long retired, the Feng family’s reputation in Dongqing was still formidable.
Fatty Fang felt a twinge of retreat, but he didn’t want to show an ounce of fear.
Feng Jue smirked coldly, “Alright then.”
“Jue, wait!”
Eunuch Huang’s grandson looked regretful; had he known it would come to this, he wouldn’t have dragged Feng Jue into this mess.
Fatty Fang cursed inwardly; since Feng Jue wasn’t giving him an exit, everyone was in it together now.
“What are we betting on?” Fatty Fang asked.
Feng Jue pointed casually, surprisingly indicating Jiang Pengji, who was watching from the sidelines.
“Whoever can snatch an intimate item from this gentleman wins. How about it?”
Jiang Pengji looked completely bewildered.
The viewers in the live stream suddenly realized—this is a scheme!
【Maltitol Gum】：No way, Feng Jin’s little brother is this devious? Is he setting up the streamer?
【Linglong Secret Lock】：What a sly move, the streamer is really caught in the crossfire this time.
【Noodle Shop Uncle】：Yikes, why do I feel like this ‘Jue’ has already recognized the streamer’s identity and is trying to signal for help? Feng Jin knows the streamer; he must’ve mentioned his terrifying combat skills—he could take down a hundred of them!
Everyone was also bewildered by the contents of this wager.
Fatty Fang was the first to react, nearly infuriated to the point of jumping up and down.
“Ugh, this person must be someone you know! This is cheating!”
Feng Jue feigned innocence, saying, “Jue doesn’t know this gentleman at all.”
Jiang Pengji frowned in annoyance, her hands itching, and she retorted, “I don’t know him either.”
Fatty Fang grinned maliciously, “Since you don’t know each other, then this wager just got a lot simpler. Kid, if you don’t want to suffer for no reason, just obediently hand over an intimate item— the closer to the skin, the better! This wager is certainly mine to win, surround him!”
The young servants immediately obeyed the order, quickly surrounding Jiang Pengji while keeping Feng Jue at bay.
As long as Fatty Fang snatches an intimate item from Jiang Pengji before Feng Jue, he wins the wager.
Jiang Pengji smirked, suddenly asking loudly, “Feng Huaiyu, are all your younger brothers this deviously wicked?”
At that moment, a clear, mature voice resonated from a private room on the second floor.
“My younger brother is rather unruly; please forgive him, Lan Ting.”
As the voice fell, a young man wearing a jade crown and a water-colored scholarly robe lifted the beaded curtain of the room and strolled down the stairs.
Upon closer look, it was indeed Feng Jin, Feng Huaiyu, whom he hadn’t seen in years!
The young man was remarkably handsome, and while he resembled the boy from before, side by side, it was clear they were brothers.
“Even so, he shouldn’t gamble like this. What if he loses? What then?”
Jiang Pengji was puzzled; in her view, the Feng family’s upbringing could only produce elegant gentlemen like Feng Jin. How could they raise Feng Jue, who went against the grain, reckless, and bold enough to accept such a wager? This kid had quite the temperament!
“There’s nothing to worry about while Jin is around.” After years apart, the childishness and impetuosity of Feng Jin had been tempered away with time, replaced by a smoothness and clarity as if he were a polished pearl, shining without being blinding.
“What about reputation?”
While there wouldn’t be any personal repercussions, this reputation could turn nasty if word got out.
Feng Jin’s lips moved slightly, his eyes reflecting a hint of helplessness. “Too many debts to worry about.”
Among the Feng family’s three brothers, only Feng Jue was the odd one out, his rebellious spirit unknown to whom he had inherited it from.
Realizing this, Jiang Pengji understood.
While she caught up with Feng Jin, Fatty Fang felt ignored and not at all pleased; he was about to throw a tantrum!
Jumping up and down, Fatty Fang pointed a chubby finger at Jiang Pengji, his expression somewhat twisted. “Who cares who you are? Grab this kid and strip him clean! You wanted an intimate item? I’ll take everything; let’s make sure this wager is a guaranteed loss!”
Feng Jin shot Fatty Fang a pitying glance, unaware of his own fate.
Feng Jue’s gaze darted back and forth between his brother and Jiang Pengji, seemingly pondering something.
“Take good care of my account; if he loses even a single hair, Huaiyu, you’ll be in trouble.”
Jiang Pengji tossed the sandalwood fan she was holding into Feng Jin’s arms, casually entrusting Xu Ke to him as well.
Meanwhile, Princess An Yina shot a flirtatious glance at the dashing Feng brothers, her eyes sparkling—a sight to behold!
It was unclear what background Liu Xi had, but he sure knew how to make friends with such fine young talents.
Feng Jin smiled nonchalantly, “I’ll ensure Xiaoyu is unharmed.”
The viewers in the live stream could no longer bear to watch; the upcoming scene was bound to be bloody, and they couldn’t face it.
“Hehe, figured it out?” Fatty Fang, oblivious to his imminent doom, thought Jiang Pengji was just scared and wanted to back down, “Strip!”
“Do you know who my father is?” Jiang Pengji asked.
Fatty Fang erupted with anger, “I don’t care who your father is!”
“True, you don’t need to care who my father is, but you better know who I am!”
Without any warning, Jiang Pengji swung a fist directly at his left eye.
