Chapter 257: First Volume, Chapter 257: Making You Happy

First Volume, Chapter 257: Making You Happy

Ning Hu naturally didn't want to, but under the Commander-in-Chief's intensely expectant gaze, he couldn't refuse, and reluctantly agreed.

Seeing Ning Hu agree, the surrounding officers wouldn't be outdone, pushing their own Young Masters forward, insisting Ning Hu take them along to see the world.

Half the military youth of Jingdu trailed behind Ning Hu, chatting and laughing, eagerly heading toward the Tianji Camp.

At the same time, Qin Feng squatted in the Back Courtyard, hugging his head, face gloomy, timidly looking at Jing Qianying: "Fourth Sister, don't be angry—I truly have nothing with Xie Yun'er except our betrothal."

Jing Qianying knelt on the eaves corridor, hands resting on her knees, eyes half-closed, treating Qin Feng like air.

Shen Qingci and Liu Hongyan may seem angry, but they're easy to soothe.

Jing Qianying is usually silent, but once angry, even eight oxen couldn't pull her back.

Qin Feng had no choice but to grit his teeth: "If Sister will forgive me, I'll give you a little money—buy whatever you like."

Jing Qianying's nature is cold and detached, yet she's grown increasingly fond of wealth.

Hearing Qin Feng was willing to "bleed," she finally reacted, opening one eye a sliver, glancing sideways: "How much is 'a little'?"

Qin Feng gritted his teeth: "You've saved up a good deal over the years, plus what you've taken from me—ahem, earned from me—surely at least several hundred thousand li of Silver? If you keep drawing from the Qin Family's accounts, court ministers will eventually criticize you; if someone comes to audit the books, you won't be able to explain, and trouble will follow."

"I'll set up a bank for you—your money can be deposited directly, making deposits and withdrawals convenient, and you can even profit from it later."

Jing Qianying was quite satisfied with Qin Feng's proposal: "So, how much is this 'little money' you mentioned?"

Qin Feng took a deep breath, gritting his teeth against the pain, and slowly extended one finger.

Jing Qianying raised an eyebrow: "Ten thousand liang?"

Qin Feng nodded firmly; seeing her close her eyes again, he quickly added: "Ten thousand liang of Silver is for buying property and setting up the bank; I'll give you another ninety thousand liang of Silver to buy new clothes."

Jing Qianying's cold, pale face finally thawed, revealing a rare smile: "Hmph, that's more like it."

Money cures all ills!

He spent ten thousand liang of Silver just to soothe this ancestor, yet Qin Feng's liver ached from the loss.

His long-standing question grew stronger, so he cautiously asked: "Sister, you hardly go out anymore, have no interest in pleasure, spend almost nothing—why are you so obsessed with wealth?"

At these words, Jing Qianying's eyes flickered with deep emotion, but she gave no answer, changing the subject: "Do you still remember what you said before leaving Beijing?"

Huh?

What words?

Qin Feng scratched his head, thinking hard, until he sensed the killing intent in Jing Qianying's gaze—then he remembered, face flushed with embarrassment: "You mean… marrying you?"

A faint blush crossed Jing Qianying's face!

She was Jing Qianying—she actually blushed?!

This sight left Qin Feng stunned.

Jing Qianying turned her face away, biting her thin lips: "I hate oath-breakers most of all—if you dare mock me, I'll make you unable to care for yourself for the rest of your life!"

Oh my…

In sheer ruthlessness, Jing Qianying and Li Xiaolan were identical.

Qin Feng naturally hoped something would happen with Jing Qianying, but the problem was, she'd always been detached and had zero interest in romantic matters—otherwise, all those suitors in Jingdu would've trampled the Qin Family's threshold to dust.

How had her attitude changed so drastically?

Good student rule: if you don't understand, ask!

Qin Feng smiled apologetically: "Sister, be honest—when did you fall for me?"

Hearing the word "fall," Jing Qianying flushed crimson with anger, quickly turning her face away, afraid Qin Feng would see her loss of composure.

But this panic startled her—she'd actually been thrown into disarray by Qin Feng?!

Jing Qianying was about to rage, then reconsidered: Qin Feng always spoke without restraint—she should've been used to it.

She softly said: "You know I'm obsessed with wealth—and you're an expert in the Way of Commerce. Isn't that perfectly logical?"

It was indeed logical.

But Qin Feng never expected Fourth Sister to be this direct.

When he'd once set himself the grand goal of winning over all four sisters, he'd assumed Jing Qianying would be the hardest to crack.

And yet…

Man plans, Heaven laughs.

Even if Jing Qianying loved Qin Feng's money, he was already overjoyed—eager to marry her right now.

But remembering his betrothal, he sighed in frustration: "I understand your devotion, ahem, your unwavering vow to marry me—but Xie Yun'er loves me just as desperately. I'm caught in the middle. How about this: once my engagement with Xie Yun'er is settled, I'll marry you?"

Hearing this shameless remark, Jing Qianying sneered: "You've gotten a little color, and now you're painting a whole shop? Remember three things: First, I don't care what you do with Xie Yun'er—don't use her to bother me. Second, I'm willing to marry you, but that doesn't mean I love you—understand that clearly! Third, if you dare provoke me again, I'll still beat your teeth out!"

Qin Feng's mouth hung wide open.

He thought: Jing Qianying switches moods without warning—though she's madly in love with me, I'd better tread carefully from now on.

"Sister…"

Jing Qianying closed her eyes, cutting him off coldly: "Leave. I don't want to see you."

Qin Feng bowed his head: "Alright, bye then."

Leaving Jing Qianying's Xiaoyuan, Qin Feng finally exhaled in relief, turning back to his own courtyard.

But as soon as he opened the door, he heard a heart-wrenching sob.

Before he could react, Xiao Xiangxiang flung herself into his arms, tear-streaked and heartbroken: "Master, you're finally back—I thought you'd abandoned me!"

Oh man—I forgot about this girl.

Hmph, men are all terrible.

Qin Feng quickly patted Xiao Xiangxiang's back, soothing her softly: "Don't talk nonsense—I'd never abandon you. Look, I'm back now—stop crying."

Xiao Xiangxiang wiped her tears, sniffing softly: "Master, please never leave me alone again, okay?"

"Wherever you go in the future, I want to follow you—even if it's through fire and sword."

Hearing this, Qin Feng's heart warmed; he reached out and gently wiped the tears from Xiao Xiangxiang's face, then took a deep breath: "I promise you, I won't abandon you again."

Xiao Xiangxiang's tears turned to laughter; she nodded like a chick pecking grain, then flung herself at him again: "You're the best, Young Master."

Xiao Xiangxiang… is just too easy to comfort.

Qin Feng felt both joy and pity.

In that moment, Qin Feng understood his place in Xiao Xiangxiang's heart—he was her entire world.

Qin Feng pulled Xiao Xiangxiang tightly into his arms and refused to let go.

Xiao Xiangxiang blushed but did not resist; instead, she unusually clung to Qin Feng as if she had regained something lost.

At the same time, Qin Feng sensed a pair of sneaky eyes in the corner; he let out a soft snort: "Shu Feng, come here!"

Shu Feng, who had been hiding in the corner to spy, blushed and shuffled over nervously: "Young Master, you've returned."

Without a word, Qin Feng grabbed Shu Feng's wrist and yanked her forward, ignoring her face flushed crimson, and growled: "This Young Master has been back in Jingdu for a long time, yet I've seen not a trace of you—did you forget my words? As long as I'm in Jingdu, you must stay by my side at all times."

"You're mine now—do you understand?!"

Qin Feng grimaced, wrapped his arms around Shu Feng's waist, and pulled her closer.

Shu Feng grew so nervous she nearly fainted, gasping for breath; after a long pause, she let out a voice barely louder than a mosquito's hum: "Maid understands. Please, Young Master, forgive your maid… spare your maid…"

According to Qin Feng, women who possess martial skill always have fiery tempers.

Like Xie Yun'er.

And like Jing Qianying.

But this Shu Feng—though skilled in fists and feet—was gentle and soft as a steamed bun, utterly pliable in Qin Feng's hands.

If that was the case, how could Qin Feng possibly be polite?

He might as well vent all the resentment he'd swallowed in front of Jing Qianying onto Shu Feng.

In an instant, screams, pleas, and laughter echoed throughout the entire Back Courtyard…

Meanwhile, the atmosphere at Tianji Camp was solemn.

Xu Mo and two hundred seventy-seven guards stood waiting at the entrance of Tianji Camp.

Aside from the twenty guards left behind in Beixi County to assist Lin Quqi, over a dozen guards were wounded, their bodies wrapped in bandages.

Especially the five guards injured in their first encounter with Zhong Ling—they were badly hurt, yet still present, sitting on chairs as they waited.

Xu Mo stood upright, while these five guards sat—making them feel distinctly uncomfortable.

But this was Xu Mo's order, so the five guards had no choice but to comply.

The two new armies had just finished training and were resting nearby on the Jiaochang; seeing the valiant, imposing guards, their eyes burned with admiration.

"Who would've thought? These guards mostly came from the City Patrol Bureau—they weren't even Regular Army, yet because they followed Young Master Qin early on, they've now become the Elite Troops of Shedynasty. Truly enviable."

"Tsk tsk—isn't it just the Elite Troops of Shedynasty? In my view, these three hundred guards' tactical advantage may be unprecedented and unmatched across Heaven. According to Commander Xu, the hundred cavalrymen who accompanied the Young Master never fought together, never split into two groups, never operated in squads of ten. That means, in every battle, only dozens were ever engaged."

"Dozens of guards wiped out two hundred Beidi Elite Raiding Cavalry—this kind of strength is truly terrifying."

"Young Master Qin once said: in individual combat, these guards must not yield to the Palace Guards; in tactical mastery, they surpass Colonels; in morale, they outshine the Imperial Guard. They've absorbed the strengths of a hundred schools. In military value, these three hundred guards may already rival an entire brigade."

Hearing the murmurs behind them, every guard wore an expression of pride.

From their first appearance at the Qingyi Ceremony, shocking everyone, to the brutal training and the annihilation of Zhong Ling, the strength of the three hundred guards was now undeniable.

Recalling Qin Feng's bold words from the beginning, every guard believed them wholeheartedly!

At that moment, a burst of noise drew everyone's attention.

A group of people was approaching Tianji Camp.

Sharp-eyed observers recognized them as Noble Youth from Jingdu, and at the center of the crowd was Ning Hu.

Seeing Ning Hu, both guards and New Army alike were filled with fighting spirit.

After all, the feat of slaying Zhong Ling was too great to ignore.

Unbeknownst to them, Ning Hu was inwardly seething with frustration.

Originally, only dozens of military youths had accompanied him to Tianji Camp.

But as they walked, more and more youths joined—even sons of civil officials and scholarly families came to gawk—until the crowd swelled to over a hundred.

Since Qin Feng had issued no order, no "outsider" was permitted to enter Tianji Camp without authorization.

So when they reached the Door, Ning Hu told the youths to wait outside until Qin Feng arrived to decide whether they could enter.

Ning Hu strode straight to the gate and bowed to Xu Mo: "Brother Xu, we've finally met again."

Xu Mo returned the bow; though his eyes sparkled with excitement and admiration, a tinge of gloom lingered.

After all, Ning Hu had been appointed as a Thousand-Household and earned extraordinary merit, winning the admiration of Jingzhong's Noble Youth.

In contrast, Xu Mo, left behind at Tianji Camp, had achieved nothing.

Xu Mo's inner imbalance was only natural.

But remembering that as long as he stayed by Qin Feng's side, more chances for merit would come, Xu Mo let go of his resentment.

The youths gathered outside the gate stared at Tianji Camp and chattered loudly.

"Tsk tsk—how long has it been? Tianji Camp has already been fortified like an Iron Barrel; from outside, you can't see a thing. In defense, it may already rival any of the major camps."

"That's not right! The major camps in Jingdu are solely for military defense. But Tianji Camp combines military, commerce, and workshops—it's absorbed the strengths of a hundred schools. I say, in no time, Tianji Camp will become Jingdu's premier camp."

"Exactly! My father said the New Army and guards of Tianji Camp possess extraordinary tactical advantage—far surpassing other camps, even the Imperial Guard can't compare. And the wealth it holds makes the Jingdu Merchants' Guild look pale. As for the Gongfang—the weapons and gear used by the guards are all designed and forged by the Tianji Camp Workshop; even the Ministry of Works is envious."

"Hehehe—even if Tianji Camp achieves greatness, won't it still become the Saint's possession in a few years? My father said Qin Feng gained so many privileges because he knows how to give. Whether business or military, it's all built for the Saint—otherwise, why would the Saint keep giving him favors?"

"But then again—why are all these guards gathered at the gate? Are they waiting for Qin Feng?"

"Who knows? Just watch."

At this critical deadline, a faint, crisp "ding-ding-ding" of bronze bells drifted from afar.

The guards, who had stood straight, instantly grew utterly solemn.

At the same time, a carriage emerged from the Jingdu Gate and sped toward the camp…