Chapter 170: Chapter 91: The Inner Residence Settles, Brush Paints an Illusion
At the entrance of Xiongshan County, the entire Li family came out to welcome them, then returned to the county together.
As for the Prime Minister’s residence, Yan Fujing had already arranged for someone to purchase a house and completed the renovations. At this moment, it was just the right time to move in. He then instructed his family to have frequent interactions with the Li family and began handling affairs.
Being away from the political center of the capital, if he wanted to maintain power, he needed to be even more meticulous and careful.
The calm air and clouds, seated high, as if fishing—it has always been a scene only in others’ eyes. For those involved, it has always required utmost caution.
The first thing Yan Fujing did was to count the number of people.
This number doesn’t only include those who came with him, but also those in Great Yin who still follow his commands.
It must be known that Xie Feng’s rebellion was by no means solitary.
As the former heir to the Prime Minister, the "once number one master of Great Yin" had quite a rich network and a large group of followers.
...
At this moment, late autumn...
The west wind swept across, and the fallen leaves rustled.
Yan Fujing sat quietly in the small pavilion of the new residence.
A young boy was by his side brewing tea, the tea was already hot, steaming with "gurgling" sounds.
When Yan Fujing was young, he was a poet. Hence, although he was in the power cage, his heart still yearned for the life of a hermit in the mountains and forests.
And the foremost matter for a mountain hermit is tea.
He loved tea, loved flowers, loved beauties.
He felt that if life could allow for a few more cups of tea, a few more flowers to be seen, and a few more beauties to be gathered, it would be without regret.
Unfortunately, fate brought him to this position.
Yan Fujing’s wives and concubines were all beauties, not only from Great Yin but also from Great Yong. Alas, the once worlds-toppling beauties couldn’t withstand the ravages of time.
And he was no exception.
Although relying on the mysterious pills obtained from the Bronze Plain’s mysterious market to maintain his vigor, perhaps due to overwork, he lacked strength in matters of men and women. Therefore, he never followed the path of other nobles, who in their seventies and eighties still took young maidens as concubines.
He inhaled the air.
Though the air was brisk, it was mixed with the fragrance of earth.
Yan Fujing instructed, "Winter is coming, and the snow in Xiongshan County is not small. Remember to take the jar to the hall to catch the snow, not under the eaves.
Snow is the essence of the five grains, best for brewing tea. However, fresh snow has some earthy tone, which is unavoidable."
In the distance, the young boy brewing tea respectfully responded, "Yes, Your Grace."
Yan Fujing continued, "The new courtyard walls are bare and not beautiful. Remember to plant some vines.
Oh, and prepare some fishy water, remember to sprinkle it on the walls after spring arrives so the vines can climb the walls."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Also, when I arrived, I saw an empty piece of land. Originally intended for planting a hundred flowers.
But I changed my mind, have someone plant some banana trees. Bananas are easy to grow, shading within one or two months. Serene like bamboo, not vulgar."
"Yes, Your Grace."
The young boy respectfully replied, taking notes.
Yan Fujing wanted to say more, but from a distance came the distant sound of a flute.
His expression changed slightly, and he gently waved his hand.
The young boy withdrew obediently.
At that moment, from the back courtyard came a woman in a yellow gown.
This woman was Yan Fujing’s unmarried youngest daughter—Yan Fangbai.
Yan Fangbai was a beauty, a kind of gentle beauty, yet without appearing weak. She was tall, with deep-set eyes, sometimes charming, sometimes icy, sometimes violent...
Of course, these many expressions were unseen by outsiders.
To outsiders, Yan Fangbai was the Prime Minister’s most pampered youngest daughter, also the one the Prime Minister kept as a son in his mansion.
It was said that the Prime Minister intended to seek a son-in-law for this daughter.
But as time went by, in the blink of an eye, Yan Fangbai was already twenty-one, and her marriage became increasingly mysterious. It was said that the Prime Minister was troubled by this, yet in the end... Yan Fangbai remained unmarried.
Why?
The reason was straightforward.
Yan Fangbai was not really the Prime Minister’s daughter, but his son.
Years ago, the Prime Minister yearned for a son, tried all methods, and eventually had a son. Sadly... this son was congenitally castrated.
The Prime Minister pondered the cause, possibly related to the mysterious pills he consumed.
The offspring always inherit some significant traits of the parents.
The potent effects of the medicine in his body apparently affected his descendants so that those not females were congenitally castrated.
Fortunately, although Yan Fangbai was congenitally castrated, he possessed some talents his sisters did not have.
He was a terrifyingly gifted martial arts prodigy.
The powers-that-be in the imperial palace thought Xie Feng was the "number one under heaven in Great Yin," yet were unaware... Xie Feng didn’t even know this Yan Fangbai existed.
Why?
Because Yan Fangbai was born with a frightening ability—he could make his presence so insignificant that people wouldn’t notice him.
This was somewhat like a demon.
Although not the most formidable demon, it was demon enough.
Thus, Yan Fujing’s true card was not the four great masters, but his youngest son.
He had power in the open, but secretly... the real power was in the hands of his youngest son.
This power was called the Dark Web.
Yan Fangbai lowered the flute and moved to appear in front of Yan Fujing, speaking in a somewhat neutral voice, "Li Jingfei has defected with Xie Feng. Pang Wuyue and Yan Beige remain loyal to our Yan family."
"Hmm." The Prime Minister showed a thoughtful expression.
Yan Fangbai continued, "Of our Yan family’s forces in the three paths and six provinces of Great Yin, two or three tenths have been seduced away by Xie Feng."
"I withdrew from the capital, and Wang Baxian began studying Secret Martial Arts, which in itself can make many people’s hearts sway.
