Chapter 182: then translation of title

The two's reactions were indeed somewhat strange.

However, Chen Weifang, too, was a worldly person; sensing something amiss, he immediately recounted Liu Liu's background and the scenes of their several meetings.

Among them......

Naturally, this also includes the earlier incident where Yunniang eavesdropped and Liu Liu confronted her with a drawn blade.

As Chen Weifang spoke, the faces of the two before him grew uglier, until finally they were almost as black as a pot bottom.

Thus, he could barely keep his mouth shut, and asked:

"What happened outside?"

Du Shanü couldn't reply, and frankly didn't know how to.

As for the words of the Fusouzi, she certainly didn't forget......

Or rather, after the other party vanished before her eyes and she couldn't find them anywhere, she simply couldn't forget this strange person.

Strange person.

Indeed, it's the strange person.

By rights, one shouldn't believe the strange person's words, and she hadn't prepared to believe them.

But the other party not only could state her intention to rebel, but after the conversation, easily abandoned all wealth and fame......

Even now, he had predicted that beside Yunniang would appear another 'Forty-Seven'.

What is this situation?

That strange person, could it be that despite his youth he possesses genuine ability?

That prophecy he gave them earlier, could it not be......

Du Shanü need not look in a mirror to know her complexion must be terribly bad.

However, after only a few breaths, she spoke:

"Where is Yunniang?"

Chen Weifang didn't know why he suddenly asked this, but he still answered as before:

As previously instructed by the Wise Lord, Zhao Niangzi is responsible for teaching the city's women's studies; these days she is organizing usable books in the storehouse, preparing to open classes in a few days.

Du Shanü nodded slightly; in the flow of her thoughts, another decree was issued:

"These two days—no, right now—let her quickly finish organizing the books."

"As for you, immediately go search the city's household registers, tally the elderly, weak, women, and children, then dispatch people to swiftly escort the books and these people to migrate to Cang Cheng."

Chen Weifang hadn't expected to hear such an order, and instinctively froze:

"Wise Lord this is......"

Du Shanü has always disliked others explaining things to her, but the fact that An Nan covets Dun Cheng was never a secret, and now and in the future it's even less a secret, so naturally she must plan early.

Although she had already prepared to enact the 'drive the tiger to swallow the wolf' scheme, the two words 'Dun Cheng' must have long entered An Nan's mind.

If An Nan and the Zhoufu both suffer mutual defeat yet still do not forget to seize Dun Cheng, then she must also make the city ready to resist external enemies.

She is not a careless person; before the worst situation arises, she will certainly strive to keep the elderly, weak, women, and children off the battlefield.

Separated by a river, this side's terrain is broad and relatively flat, with several cities and dozens of villages, big and small.

Dun Cheng's terrain can be called a hub, leading straight to the Zhoufu.

Beyond the river, the opposite bank has only one city; entry and exit rely only on a narrow bridge far from the city and on ferries.

Precisely because entry and exit are inconvenient, during the earlier flood, many people could only flee to Dun Cheng......

When the water rises, compared to Dun Cheng, Cang Cheng is by no means easy to enter!

Furthermore, if a strong enemy truly must advance, the surroundings of Cang Cheng still have much mountainous terrain; if truly the enemy is many and we few, abandoning the city for the mountains leaves room for future plans.

Therefore, Cang Cheng's terrain is certainly more suitable than Dun Cheng's for sheltering women and children.

Now sending the people there is naturally most appropriate.

Moreover, moreover......

Du Shanü also has a private motive of her own.

"... Let Yunniang and the identity-concealing 'Liu Liu' be separated!"

Du Shanü, upon thinking of that 'Forty-Seven', felt a splitting headache for a moment:

"Yunniang resides in Cang Cheng, Liu?"

One cannot, cannot possibly take that Fusouzi's words as being even more effective than heavenly mandate, can one?

What 'fate'? Du Shanü has never believed in it.

Even if one day the truth were laid bare before her eyes, she would still think of how to seek a sliver of survival for herself, rather than meekly accept and let others dictate her fate.

Meek acceptance.

These four characters will never appear on her.

Du Shanü's nature is top-notch, but others...... ultimately differ somewhat.

Chen Weifang was hearing for the first time Du Shanü fully recounting her outings, and especially when hearing the Fusouzi's prophecy, his eyes could hardly conceal a fleeting look of surprise.

While Du Shanü's words ordering the migration still echoed in his ears, Chen Weifang, without leaving a trace, lifted his eyelids and looked toward the Chinu behind Du Shanü.

He had already glanced several times before, feeling that Chinu's complexion after this outing back wasn't very good......

Now upon looking, it's not merely 'not good-looking'?

Chen Weifang's movement was slight, yet Chinu still faintly sensed it, lowering his eyes and averting his gaze, not daring to meet his eyes.

This time, in Chen Weifang's eyes, there was added another hint of frustration at inability to make steel from iron.

Du Shanü said this and that, yet saw no one paying attention to her, finally realizing something was odd:

"... Afang, did you actually listen?"

How come, when the three of us stand here together, two have turned mute!?

Do I really look like someone who loves to talk too much?

Talking also drains one's vital energy!

Especially......

I suddenly remembered something: has the Wise Lord's complexion been not so good lately?

Chen Weifang withdrew her gaze, composed and tranquil, and said:

Your lips are dry and cracked, the area under your eyes dark—surely you've been worn out from your trip to Zhoufu.

I recently happened to look for talented people for the Wise Lord, sent letters to a few old friends, and when they replied they also sent me some gifts—among them is a ginseng vitality-nourishing pill... Shall I go fetch it for the Wise Lord?

Du Shanü was just thinking about her constant headaches when she suddenly heard the familiar name 'ginseng vitality-nourishing pill' and instantly perked up.

Afang is so thoughtful—great! Let me try it!

Chen Weifang nodded and withdrew; Du Shanü embraced her servant, finally regaining some ease.

I never expected such a thing to actually exist in this world—I had thought it was just something casually written in books.

When I first came here, there was a book known to everyone, titled Red Chamber, which contained this sort of thing....

Du Shanü spoke in detail, knowing that her servant always liked to hear such things, and also hoping to keep Chinu from overthinking other matters.

However, perhaps the power of 'Forty-Seven' is still too great.

Chinu has always been somewhat listless, occasionally glancing toward the direction where Chen Weifang left.

Du Shanü sighed inwardly, and only then said:

... It's really that Afang has a good temperament, otherwise she wouldn't mind my being the sort of employer who constantly makes people pay to work.

Afang followed her all the way from Cang Cheng to this place, not only receiving no monthly stipend, but daily paying out of pocket to work, and even intercepting the gifts that Afang's friends sent him.

When Afang was mentioned, Chinu finally came to her senses.

Ever since Fuzouzi appeared, a lingering sense of seclusion and melancholy has gathered in his brows and eyes.

He seemed to mutter something, but Du Shanü hadn't caught it clearly before seeing Chen Weifang reappear down the corridor.

That scholar, reminiscent of an ancient moon, had already tied his disheveled black hair behind him with a cord, stepping forward with poise—elegant, cool, and refined beyond the mundane.

Du Shanü blinked, and the wide sleeve was already before them, presenting two identical wooden boxes.

This scholar, who rarely smiled, rarely narrowed his eyes in a smile, and spoke with deep meaning:

One each for the Wise Lord and Saner......

Each must take their own, or else my sincere effort would be wasted.

Owl-heart, oriole-tongue: the heart of an owl, the song of an oriole. Metaphor for a cruel heart but honeyed words.

? Afang: a kind of poisonous husband whose appearance and nature differ greatly.

? Chinu: a kind of poisonous husband whose inside and outside are consistent.