Chapter 1763 – The Lord Has Returned
Instinctively, she placed her hand on her flat belly, and as moisture gathered in her eyes, tears began to roll down her cheeks.
She had lost all hope, yet unexpectedly, heaven gifted her with such a delightful surprise.
“Lady! My dear lady!”
Feng Zhen intended to embrace Wan Xiuer, but halfway through, he stiffened, retracting his hand in fear of shattering this porcelain doll.
As soon as Feng Yi received the news, he hurried back, only to find his father sitting alone in the corridor instead of his mother.
“I’ve shunned Cold Food Powder for many years, but now I’m feeling a bit tempted. However, that stuff is off-limits, so I’ll just bring some wine,” Feng Zhen said, pointing to a mat next to him, inviting his son to sit and share a drink. “Son, the Feng family has another new sprout.”
Feng Yi smiled and said, “Congratulations, Father.”
Having drunk some wine, Feng Zhen didn’t dare to enter the house and smoke Wan Xiuer with his drunken breath; he could only linger outside, suppressing his overwhelming joy.
His hands and feet trembled slightly as he spoke, revealing how excited he truly was.
He rubbed his icy face with both hands, trying to calm down and slowly descend from the clouds of happiness.
With half a jar of wine down, a rosy blush began to color Feng Zhen’s cheeks.
“When I first confirmed that your mother was pregnant, I was overjoyed and relieved at the same time,” Feng Zhen said. His approach to parenting was quite modern, markedly different from feudal upbringing, leading to a close relationship with his son where no topic was off-limits. “I may look sturdy, but I’ve suffered quite a bit when I was younger. Having a brother or sister would be nice for the future…”
Feng Yi replied, “Father, you’re still in your prime. Isn’t this a bit premature?”
Feng Zhen laughed, “Not too early. You’ll be marrying soon—how can I pretend I’m still young?”
The father and son fell into a moment of silence before Feng Zhen suddenly brought up an old story.
“Do you know about Cold Food Powder?”
Feng Yi nodded, “Yes, the teacher at the academy warned that it’s harmful; while it can treat cold illnesses, its drawbacks are severe and should not be used excessively.”
Feng Zhen said, “This stuff was once all the rage in noble circles. I was hooked for a while too, but I was forced to quit by the Lord. Quitting Cold Food Powder was no easy feat; the withdrawal felt like a million bugs gnawing at my bones. Without a bit of willpower, no one could endure. I was…”
“How did you manage to hold on?” Feng Yi asked.
Feng Zhen chuckled, “The Lord’s various strategies helped, but so did you.”
“My efforts?”
Feng Zhen explained, “During the withdrawal, it was unbearable. I wavered between reality and hallucination, confused and thinking that I was still using it, floating in euphoria, until… it seemed I heard the steward say, ‘The Young Master has passed away.’”
“The Young Master has passed away?”
Feng Yi was startled.
Wasn’t the Young Master him?
Feng Zhen continued, “…I don’t know how long it was before the wonderful taste of Cold Food Powder faded away. When I opened my eyes, the entire house was draped in mourning cloth, a coffin standing in the mourning hall, and there you were inside it. The steward said that the Young Master saw me unconscious from taking Cold Food Powder and mistakenly thought something had happened to me. He rushed out to find me but slipped on some moss and fell into the pond, catching a chill and passing away…”
That was the most critical and painful time of quitting Cold Food Powder. Even with Jiang Pengji’s help, Feng Zhen still couldn’t endure it.
He was in such agony that he couldn’t tell fantasy from reality, mistaking his son’s passing illusion for truth.
Once he finally managed to quit Cold Food Powder and regained his clarity, he realized that his son was very much alive.
Feng Yi said, “But I’m here, alive and well in front of you!”
Feng Zhen took a sip of wine and chuckled, “Yes, in the blink of an eye, that scrawny little brat has grown up and is about to start a family!”
Feng Yi replied, “Father, not only will you witness me starting a family, but you’ll also need to plan marriages for future siblings!”
“Planning is not that hard. Just look around and see who has a suitable boy or girl, and learn how to swoop one home like you did.”
You see, Feng Yi’s marriage was never a worry for Feng Zhen; the daughter-in-law he got was top-notch.
That’s what you call skill—he’s clearly more capable than his father.
Feng Yi grinned, “But what if the one I take is the wrong choice?”
Feng Zhen replied, “Remember to back your sister up; if anyone dares to bully her, give them a solid beating!”
Years later, reflecting on that conversation, both would end up with swollen faces from slaps of reality.
Be it future daughters-in-law or their mothers, not just Feng Yi, even Feng Zhen wouldn’t dare voice dissent in front of them.
#What a truly ungrateful world this is#
As the saying goes, people are particularly spirited during joyful events. Recently, Feng Zhen walked about with a beaming smile, all day filled with good vibes.
“Has Feng Langzi turned over a new leaf?”
Xu Ke teased lightly; Feng Zhen’s recent behavior was remarkably aligned with his future in-laws, Feng Jin, growing ever more gentlemanly.
Feng Zhen laughed, “I’m about to be a dad; I ought to set a good example for the child!”
Xu Ke inquired, “Isn’t it still a bit early for that? Isn’t your lady still in early stages?”
Setting an example this early might be pushing it.
Feng Zhen replied, “It’s not too early; children can sense the outside world while still in the womb. That’s what Rong Li taught, and it worked remarkably well.”
Xu Ke: “…”
He felt that Feng Yi’s current state had nothing to do with this father; he could only credit survival instincts for that.
Feng Zhen suddenly remembered something and asked Xu Ke how old his son and daughter were.
Xu Ke, sharp as he was, immediately recognized Feng Zhen’s ulterior motives, laughingly closing off any doors that could be pried open, leaving not even a crack.
Feng Zhen had developed a new hobby of subtly inquiring about the children of familiar folk.
Ultimately, the love-struck Feng Zhen set his sights on Fu Wang’s pair of twins.
If his own was a girl, he’d snatch Fu Wang’s son.
If his own was a boy, he’d seize Fu Wang’s daughter.
If he ended up with twins himself, then he’d take them both and create a lovely story.
A mere few years of age was nothing to fuss about.
If Fu Wang ever caught wind of Feng Zhen’s thoughts, he’d likely curse at him.
Why was this rascal so fixated on his own brood?
Just after the New Year, a certain convoy quietly entered the city.
Jiang Pengji, with a flamboyant personality, wasn’t one for grand displays of celebration. She returned merely to take care of some business, having no need for the common folk to line the streets in welcome, which would disrupt traffic and daily life. So when she and Wei Ci appeared, everyone was left dumbfounded.
For example, Feng Zhen, who had just wrapped up at work, was laughing and discussing what color flowers to choose for the baby’s clothes with Wan Xiuer.
“Ahem—who are you talking about?”
Feng Zhen’s face turned pale.
The newcomers repeated, “The Lord has summoned you quickly.”
The Lord?
Wasn’t he down in Nan Sheng?
Feng Zhen quickly got up, almost tripping over his own hem in his haste.
“Quick, let’s go now!”
Oh no, what a timing to return!
He had just been trying to sneak an early leave!
Wan Xiuer watched Feng Zhen dash off like his tail was on fire and sighed inwardly.
One maidservant knitting alongside Wan Xiuer muttered, “Why is the master in such a hurry?”
Wan Xiuer shot her a glare.
Who would say something so thoughtless?
