Chapter 207 – Farewell to a Close Friend
Today, Feng Jin came to visit with a friend, and Jiang Pengji was at home hosting the two.
She didn’t go out to have fun; the audience in the livestream felt a bit bored.
Used to the streamer stirring up trouble every day, the sudden shift to such elegance and seriousness felt quite odd.
If there were some delicious food, they could have enjoyed the livestream as a cooking show—though they couldn’t eat through the screen, just watching would be satisfying.
Unfortunately, the food brought by the Maidservant was quite ordinary and didn’t whet their appetites much.
[Crab Roe Bean]: The food in this streamer’s era feels so outdated; it’s just… meh, not appetizing at all.
[Melon Seeds]: I expected to see dazzling dishes like Little Chef’s, something that would spark inspiration after tasting, but turns out I was daydreaming.
[Mochi Cake]: Hosting guests, it’s one thing not to serve delicacies, but couldn’t the streamer have made it a little less miserable?
[Over Rice]: It feels like a small restaurant’s thirty-buck meal; anything would be better than what the streamer brought.
Jiang Pengji felt quite wronged—how was this something she could control?
Having something to eat was already good enough; there was no leeway for picky eating!
She felt satisfied, at least it had flavor compared to those tasteless nutrient liquids she used to consume all day.
The audience in the livestream kept complaining about the subpar food, the lack of variety, and missing seasonings—how could a normal person eat this?
Clearly, both Feng Jin and Han Yu, as regular folks, thought Liu Residence made quite an effort regarding the food.
After a hearty meal, a few Maidservants cleared away the table.
Jiang Pengji turned to Feng Jin and asked, “When does Wu Ma Jun plan to leave?”
Beside her, Han Yu looked surprised; if he remembered correctly, Feng Jin hadn’t mentioned his purpose since arriving.
How did she know Feng Jin was planning to say farewell?
After experiencing similar situations multiple times, Feng Jin had grown indifferent.
“If all goes well, it should be tomorrow.”
Feng Jin understood Wu Ma Jun’s eagerness all too well; the latter had already “gained” Liu Zhi’s support, which was like having a bottomless granary in an era where food was paramount. With food in hand, one wouldn’t panic!
If he could also gain the support of the Langya Wang Clan and persuade them to back him to the throne, then all of Dongqing would be his realm.
Jiang Pengji smirked, “So eager? Looks like that Wu Ma Lang Jun is quite impatient, indeed.”
“To secure one’s life and future, it’s normal to be a bit anxious.”
Feng Jin hadn’t forgotten the perils they faced on their journey to Hejian County, the “unidentified” forces that had pursued them.
Not only had he not forgotten, but Wu Ma Jun, who had once been at death’s door, hadn’t forgotten either.
If he didn’t vie for the throne, his fate would be death!
From a prince’s perspective, Wu Ma Jun’s thoughts weren’t too surprising.
Unfortunately, this guy’s vision was limited.
What good would it do to ascend to the throne?
Would the three clans of the northern border cease their watchful eyes on Dongqing?
Would the other four nations stop coveting Dongqing’s resources?
Even more importantly, did Wu Ma Jun have the strength to curtail the increasingly powerful and unruly noble families?
Probably not.
If he had such foresight, he wouldn’t have gone after the Wang Clan.
Once he ascended the throne with the Wang Clan’s assistance, the power of the nobility would completely overshadow the imperial family, making Wu Ma Jun nothing more than a puppet emperor.
If Dongqing wanted to survive, it absolutely couldn’t allow noble families to develop and expand unchecked.
These thoughts, Feng Jin couldn’t voice, nor did he have the standing to do so; he could only bury them deep within.
Although they were parting the very next day, neither Feng Jin nor Jiang Pengji were overly sentimental; they still laughed and talked.
It was just a temporary separation, not a permanent goodbye.
Without parting, how could they enjoy the delight of reuniting with friends from afar in the future?
On the way back, Han Yu observed Feng Jin thoughtfully and said, “Hui Yu looks quite unhappy.”
Feng Jin closed his eyes, “The situation is becoming increasingly grim… I truly wonder how many more times like this we can have…”
“Hmm?” Han Yu was puzzled, not understanding the source of Feng Jin’s worry, “If the world descends into chaos, Hui Yu can showcase his talents. Just look at that Young Master Liu, not to be underestimated; perhaps in the future… you two might even have a joint affair.”
Of course, if the two ended up supporting their respective wise leaders, then they would have to govern on their own.
Upon hearing this, Feng Jin twitched his mouth, feeling that Han Yu and Jiang Pengji truly belonged together.
Neither of them had a quiet temperament and loved to stir up trouble at the slightest opportunity.
Even though the Dongqing royal family was waning, they hadn’t been wiped out yet.
Now already thinking about chaos in the world—it’s quite hard on the royal family, right?
This highlights just how hollow the Dongqing royal family is perceived in the eyes of the nobility.
A soft sigh drifted into the air and vanished.
The next day, Jiang Pengji woke up early and went to the Feng Yu Pavilion outside the city to bid farewell to Feng Jin.
The weather had started to warm, but cold winds occasionally swept through, rustling the clothes of those present.
Looking at the striking figure of Feng Jin waving goodbye, Jiang Pengji, who initially held no particular emotion, felt a hint of sentimentality bubbling up inside her.
“I wonder when we will meet again?”
Even more uncertain was whether their next meeting would be as friends or foes.
Jiang Pengji tucked away any excess emotions, placing her finger to her lips, whistling. Big White trotted over eagerly.
“Let’s go!”
She mounted gracefully, gripping the reins with both hands. In the distance, the caravan had turned into mere dots, and Feng Jin’s figure was no longer visible.
Big White snorted and galloped toward the city gates.
Since the last time they intercepted the Meng Clan’s people, Jiang Pengji had grown fonder of the feeling of riding freely.
“Second Young Master, the woodworking shop people have arrived and are waiting for you inside.”
Upon returning home, the Doorkeeper eagerly stepped forward to take the reins.
Jiang Pengji originally wore an unfriendly demeanor, but upon hearing about the woodworking shop’s arrival, her eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement, shining brightly as if filled with the most brilliant stars, making others feel joyful as well. “The woodworking shop’s people? Where are they now? Take me to them, quickly!”
Feng Jin was the first friend Jiang Pengji made in this world, and he held a unique significance. As she left Hejian County, though her face showed no signs and her lips said nothing, internally she felt a touch of reluctance. Yet these trivial emotions were nothing compared to the bigger picture!
The Doorkeeper smiled, somewhat entranced, quickly nodding, “They’ve been waiting for you inside, Second Young Master, no need to rush…”
Jiang Pengji wouldn’t listen to the Doorkeeper’s words.
Her steps quickened, and Maidservants moved aside to pave her way.
To save time, she simply said, “No need for formalities; go about your business.”
Swiftly but gently opening the door, she found several craftsmen in plain hemp clothing had already knelt and sat for quite a while.
“No need for idle chatter; just tell me how the crossbows I asked you to make are coming along.”
Jiang Pengji sat down decisively, ushering away the unnecessary formalities from the craftsmen.
The craftsmen exchanged glances before one of the lead craftsmen finally spoke on behalf of the group.
“We’ve done our best!”
Jiang Pengji’s smile suddenly bloomed, her eyes gleaming brighter, as if they could illuminate the entire room.
