Volume One, Chapter Four: Let’s Create Another One
Looking at the imperial edict in Shen Ji’s hand, everyone instantly fell into a daze.
The imperial edict!
Shen Ji actually revealed the imperial edict!
Feng Min also widened his eyes in disbelief, his previously cold and stern expression replaced by shock.
Has he gone mad?
Doesn’t he realize that there are only seven days left—no, six days!—before the deadline on the edict for finding the silver expires? After today, only six days remain!
Yet he still dared to unveil the edict, as if giving himself no chance to explain.
Feng Min never even considered the possibility that Shen Ji might actually find the silver! The government had deployed so many men and searched for so long without success; if Shen Ji could find it, that would be a miracle!
This bastard is simply throwing in the towel.
Shen Ji, holding the imperial edict, walked up to Feng Min. “Lord Feng, you seemed to want an explanation from me just now, is that right?”
Faced with Shen Ji’s direct challenge, Feng Min’s face turned pale and then red.
An explanation?
How could he ask Shen Ji for an explanation now?
By revealing the imperial edict, Shen Ji was practically an imperial envoy for the next few days!
Any matter relating to the search for the silver would have to obey Shen Ji’s orders—even Feng Min himself.
If he dared to harm Shen Ji in any way now, this bastard would have every reason not to find the silver!
When the court investigates, Shen Ji would certainly lose his head, but Feng Min himself would not fare well either.
If he recklessly concocted some charge to imprison Shen Ji, Shen Ji would likely thank him for it in the end!
“My lord... you must have misheard,” Feng Min forced a smile. “I meant that I will certainly give you an explanation!”
He then hurried over to Feng Yuan and shouted angrily, “Apologize to my lord immediately!”
What?
He was beaten and kicked by this useless son, and now he had to apologize to him?
Feng Yuan was furious, shouting, “Are you even—”
Smack!
Feng Min slapped his son hard across the face and roared, “Apologize to my lord right now!”
Fool!
Not only stupid, but also insensitive to pain?
They couldn’t afford to go against Shen Ji now. Did he want to drag this out and get himself incapacitated?
Shen Ji was like a madman with only a few days left to live.
If pushed too far, he would do anything.
After the slap, Feng Yuan became obedient, swallowing his rage and painfully uttering through clenched teeth, “My lord, I’m sorry...”
Those few simple words seemed to drain all of Feng Yuan’s strength.
For him, this was an utter humiliation.
“Is this apology satisfactory, my lord?” Feng Min looked toward Shen Ji.
“No!” Shen Ji curled his lips. “A simple apology is not enough.”
Feng Min glanced at Shen Ji and then quickly said, “To show my sincerity, I’m willing to offer you one hundred taels of silver as compensation!”
Money to smooth things over!
One hundred taels to brush me off?
Shen Ji scoffed coldly, “I suspect Feng Yuan colluded with the demons of the Fire Worship Sect to rob the disaster relief funds. Tonight, I will personally interrogate Feng Yuan!”
Feng Yuan opened his mouth to curse but was silenced by Feng Min’s fierce glare.
Feng Min knew there would be bloodshed today.
He wasn’t worried that Shen Ji would torture Feng Yuan; he feared that if Shen Ji just dragged this out, the doctor wouldn’t be able to treat Feng Yuan’s injuries properly.
Feng Yuan was his only heir; he couldn’t afford any complications.
Besides, he didn’t want to provoke this madman now.
Feng Min gritted his teeth and said, “I’m willing to offer one thousand taels of silver as compensation. Please show mercy and don’t hold this against my son.”
Only then did Shen Ji smile with satisfaction. “Since you’re sincere, I won’t be particular.”
“Thank you... my lord!”
Feng Min suppressed his anger and quickly sent the steward to fetch the thousand taels, afraid that if he delayed even a moment, Shen Ji would regret it and drag them into further trouble.
Soon, the steward returned with the silver.
Feng Min respectfully handed it over to Shen Ji.
Chi Chi took the silver, but her hands trembled slightly.
Ignoring the strange looks from everyone, Shen Ji took the imperial edict and walked to Chi Chi, lifting a silver ingot from the tray to examine it carefully. “This isn’t a bribe from the demons of the Fire Worship Sect, is it?”
Feng Min’s face twitched violently as he screamed silently in his mind.
Shen Ji! Damn you!
What kind of slander is this?
He had already been reprimanded several times for failing to investigate the robbery of the relief funds. If rumors spread that he was involved, he could very well be made the scapegoat!
“My lord, you must not say such things,” Feng Min hurried to shake his head. “This is money I’ve saved from years of salary and rewards from the court!”
“Is that so?” Shen Ji smiled grimly. “From today onward, I take full responsibility for the investigation into the robbery of the relief funds. If I fail to solve it, then it will be because Lord Feng deliberately obstructed and refused to cooperate.”
Hearing this, Feng Min shuddered.
This was clearly giving up and trying to drag Feng Min down with him!
“I will fully cooperate with your investigation, my lord,” Feng Min said, forcing a smile. “Today’s incident was truly my son’s fault. Please show mercy!”
He no longer cared about dignity.
Shen Ji was now alone and desperate.
But Feng Min still had his whole family to think of!
The theft of the relief funds had enraged the emperor.
If Feng Min were even slightly implicated by Shen Ji, he would be doomed.
“Assign one hundred elite county soldiers to serve under me, and order Captain Chen to report to my residence first thing tomorrow morning! Also, the fact that I revealed the imperial edict must remain a secret for now. I will announce it myself tomorrow.”
With that, Shen Ji took the imperial edict and Chi Chi and left.
“Yes, yes!” Feng Min replied repeatedly.
He hurriedly ordered Li You to take his men and protect Shen Ji.
Now that Shen Ji had revealed the imperial edict, he was practically a half-official imperial envoy!
If anything happened to Shen Ji, Feng Min, who had clashed with him, would be the prime suspect.
The court might actually believe he was involved in the robbery!
Of course, this was also to keep an eye on Shen Ji, lest he use the edict as an excuse to escape.
Once Shen Ji and the others left, Feng Min immediately dragged his son into the house.
The next moment, forgetting his son’s injuries, he launched into a furious assault.
Dragon-slaying slaps, crippled-leg kicks, and more—all landed on Feng Yuan.
Lady Feng tried to stop him but was roughly pushed aside.
As he beat his son, Feng Min shouted in anger.
“Are you a pig?”
“Confessing to coveting Song Qingluan right to her face? And daring to deploy county soldiers on your own?”
“Now Shen Ji is targeting you. He’ll drag us down with him even if he dies. Are you happy now?”
Feng Min was furious!
This was a baseless catastrophe!
How did he end up with such a rebellious son?
“I’m useless! What trouble could I possibly cause?” Feng Yuan cried out in pain and anger.
“Even useless, you’re still better than you!” Feng Min glared fiercely.
“Listen well. Shen Ji is a mad dog biting anyone in his way! Before he’s executed, if you dare see Song Qingluan again, I’ll break your legs!”
Feng Min wasn’t done. He added furiously, “Both legs and the third!”
What a fool!
How dare he call Shen Ji useless?
“You...” Feng Yuan roared in frustration and sorrow, “Are you even my father?”
“...” Feng Min was so angry he raised his hand to strike again.
But in the end, he didn’t hit.
“Sigh...” Feng Min lowered his hand and looked at Lady Feng. “Wife, how old are you this year?”
“I’m thirty-nine,” Lady Feng replied, puzzled. “Why do you ask all of a sudden?”
He didn’t even know his own age?
So busy, he forgot even that?
Feng Min glanced at Feng Yuan with disappointment and sighed softly. “I’m only forty-four. Let’s try to have another child.”
“...” Feng Yuan and Lady Feng stood there dumbfounded for a long time, speechless...