Chapter 896 – Northern Overlord (Thirty-Three)
Feng Zhen smiled and nodded, turning to reach out to the young boy.
“Come here to uncle.”
Feng Zhen had a good relationship with the child, and upon hearing this, the little one eagerly stretched out his arms with a beaming smile.
“Feng Shu Shu!” he chirped cheerfully.
That sweet voice fell on the ears of Cui Family Head like heavenly music, but all he could do was watch helplessly as his son dove into Feng Zhen’s embrace.
“I beg pardon from my lord for failing to protect the lady.”
Before the Cui Family Head could stifle the sour feeling in his heart, two familiar household servants dismounted from the cart and knelt before him.
He recognized them both; one was the steward who accompanied his legitimate wife, and the other was a maidservant who later became the child’s wet nurse.
“Natural disasters and human misfortunes are beyond what mere mortals can predict. With the recent earthquake in the capital, it’s a miracle we survived; as for San Niang… she was simply born under an unfortunate star…” Looking at their simple attire and slightly weathered faces and remembering the child’s tender cheeks and fine cotton clothing, the Cui Family Head’s heart warmed. “Thanks to your loyalty, I have the chance to reunite with my own son.”
Feng Zhen observed the Cui Family Head helping the two loyal servants back up, which slightly improved his impression of him.
Thinking of this, he playfully engaged the child in his arms. “Over there is your daddy.”
The boy’s eyes spun around before he giggled and called out “Daddy,” making the Cui Family Head’s heart melt.
The Cui Family was not without doubts regarding the child’s lineage, but when the older generation laid eyes on his face, all skepticism vanished.
As it turns out, this child resembled his father quite a bit during his youth.
The Cui Family Head’s mother kept exclaiming, calling him her precious darling.
After the child and the two loyal servants were led to the backyard, Feng Zhen reigned in his smile and cast a meaningful glance at the Cui Family Head.
Seeing this, the Cui Family Head quietly invited Feng Zhen into the main hall.
“Feng, please!”
The Cui family had long resided in Chongzhou, having prospered through trade with the northern border and Dongqing. They couldn’t have survived this long without some acumen. Now, it appeared that this young Cui Family Head was quite the clever one – a real fox in human skin, sharp-witted and astute.
Feng Zhen thought he would have to hint at his point for the other to catch on.
But now, he saw that there was no need for him to exert himself.
Feng Zhen gracefully took his seat. “Have you heard about the recent major events, Cui Family Head?”
Since the Cui Family Head was so perceptive, Feng Zhen didn’t beat around the bush anymore.
The Cui Family Head dismissed those nearby and pondered, “I’ve heard a little.”
Little? It was more like he was bombarded with information!
Having spent a lot of time with the lord, Feng Zhen had come to appreciate being straightforward.
“Since you’ve heard, Cui Family Head, do you have any thoughts on it?”
The Cui Family Head hesitated, finally saying, “I have a few humble opinions, but I fear speaking them may offend the governor.”
“Since we are in private, just say what you think. My lord is always broad-minded and open to good advice.”
The Cui Family Head sighed. “Over a decade ago, the northern tribes seized the opportunity amidst the turmoil in Dongqing to launch a surprise attack on Shangyu County, capturing and killing countless common people. Although Mr. Yuanjing has reclaimed three cities, three cities still remain in the hands of the northern tribes, and they have yet to return. As the northern tribes grow stronger, they have stationed heavy troops at the border to intimidate our citizens, causing panic among the people. Some have even taken the opportunity to spread rumors and profit from the chaos, resulting in the common folk becoming displaced… As for who is responsible, I believe you already have your suspicions. The current situation didn’t develop overnight. While things improved somewhat after Liu Xi took office, it remains merely a temporary fix…”
Feng Zhen listened attentively, showing no signs of displeasure or anger, which encouraged the Cui Family Head even more.
He cautiously stated, “The scholar families of Chongzhou have already grown quite influential, and while Liu Xi wishes to address it gradually, that’s understandable. After all, there have been some positive effects over the years, but… to eliminate cancerous growths, strong medicine is needed! Liu Xi puts in a lot of effort, but the forces within Chongzhou have already solidified their power. If external force isn’t applied to dismantle it, it will be difficult to eradicate…”
Although Liu Zhi wasn’t fond of the Cui family’s wishy-washy stance, the Cui Family Head held a good view of Liu Zhi.
Had it not been for Liu Zhi’s careful governance and maneuvering, the situation in Chongzhou would have been even worse, potentially spawning sects like the Green Garment Army or the Red Lotus Sect. Unfortunately, Liu Zhi was an outsider who preferred a gradual approach, remaining calm and biding his time to regain full control from the scholar families, but his results were too slow.
Interestingly, the patient Liu Zhi had a hot-tempered daughter who immediately slapped the Chongzhou scholars.
As he remembered Jiang Pengji’s early contact with him, the Cui Family Head became acutely aware of something.
He believed that if he seized this opportunity, it might elevate his family further.
With such a thought, he was so excited to see Feng Zhen—while the son was crucial, the future of the family was even more important.
After this conversation, he felt confident in his guess.
Jiang Pengji aimed to suppress other scholar families in Chongzhou but did not intend to offend them outright. She would undoubtedly support the forces close to her.
Otherwise, she could not appease the varying factions within Chongzhou.
While pondering this, the Cui Family Head listened to Feng Zhen say, “Because of this, the world needs people like my lord, who are committed to the people and unafraid of power, to stand up. What happened a few days ago was merely an appetizer. What does Cui Family Head think my lord is like?”
“A young prodigy, courageous and resourceful, no less than his father.”
He refrained from excessive flattery to avoid seeming overly sycophantic.
“My lord intends to rectify Chongzhou’s issues; however, he faces tremendous resistance, as there are always those who consider themselves exceptional or foolishly attempt to obstruct him.”
“That is indeed the case,” the Cui Family Head interjected. “I too have thought of helping the common people, but my capabilities are limited. Not only am I weak, but I also have the elderly and young at home to care for, so I cannot give my all. Now with someone like Liu Xi, there is hope for the people of Chongzhou.”
Feng Zhen praised, “Cui Family Head is a person of character; having such intentions is already quite remarkable.”
“Too kind, too kind. I still have not been able to help much.”
Feng Zhen then shifted the conversation. “Surely, you believe that Cui Family Head is a wise man and should know how to proceed in a way that aligns with the tide. I will not elaborate further. My lord has a particular relationship with your son, naturally making us closer to you…”
Upon hearing this, a broader smile bloomed on the Cui Family Head’s face.
He had also heard that his legitimate wife had shielded their child from being buried in the ruins—thanks to Jiang Pengji’s wholehearted rescue, they managed to save the little one.
Jiang Pengji was the Cui Family’s savior and the benefactor of their legitimate heir.
If the Cui family wanted to use this opportunity to repay Jiang Pengji’s kindness, no one could fault them.
“Speaking of which, my son has yet to be named. I am a bit selfish, thinking that since he has such a connection with the governor, I would shamelessly like to ask the governor to bestow a name. If this gets out, it would be a legendary tale. I ask for nothing more than that this child leads a smooth life in the future.”
