Fan Xudong had recently become obsessed with practicing martial arts. He trained every morning as soon as he woke up. After lunch, he would spar with Fan Zehao a few times. Every time he lost, but he didn't get discouraged. He would continue practicing after being defeated.
Fan Zehao shook his head, "This second brother Fan is clearly determined to marry a princess. I wonder if it's a good thing or a bad thing!"
"What do you think?" Zhao Jiaqi asked back.
He pondered for a moment and said frankly, "I don't wish for it to be a good thing. Going to war means losing one's head. Whether one can return safely depends on seven parts skill and three parts luck."
"If he were ordinary and couldn't become rich and noble in the latter half of his life, he would still live without worry. If he were to go to war... fate is unpredictable. Personally, I don't want him to go!"
Zhao Jiaqi took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Looking at the much more diligent Xudong, she lowered her gaze, "Since you can't change his mind, then you should teach him yourself. While father and son can't fight side-by-side, brothers can."
Fan Zehao smiled and pinched her fair, tender cheek, "I will definitely teach him, and I've also developed a few formations myself. In a while, we'll go to the mountains for drills, and I'll take him along to see how well we brothers coordinate."
"Go ahead. I'll be here at home, don't worry. If you go to the mountains, take Erlang with you. He's been listless lately, I think he misses life in the mountains!"
Or perhaps he misses Da Lang too!
Seeing that his wife missed Da Lang, Fan Zehao hugged her comfortingly, "Alright."
After embracing for a while, Fan Zehao went to the post station to accompany Wu Yi in touring the capital's scenery. However, Wu Yi seemed to have found an enemy, constantly looking for trouble and provoking him.
Fan Zehao was the type who couldn't speak pleasantries, sometimes uttering foul language, and occasionally saying something classic and alarming.
The two would fight as soon as they disagreed. In the end, Wu Yi was always defeated by his "one punch kills a dog" ability.
He had spent a long time studying this technique, but he was not naturally strong and couldn't replicate such a feat. He was dejected.
In early October, the foreign envoys who had been here for half a month left, and Fan Zehao saw them off.
He personally escorted them to the city gate. Wu Yi stopped and looked back at him, "See you on the battlefield. You won't be so lucky then. I'll let you taste my Cold Cloud Spear."
Fan Zehao scoffed and replied, "You've already tasted my 'one punch kills a dog' ability. So next time we meet, I'll let you taste the 'one punch kills a pig'!"
In terms of formations, he had never defeated Fan Zehao.
In terms of martial arts, he had never defeated Fan Zehao.
Now, even in verbal sparring, he lost to this brute. He was simply... too ashamed to show his face.
"Hmph, winning with words is not a real skill. We'll see!"
Fan Zehao shrugged and retorted, "On the battlefield, you are still my defeated opponent. A stubborn dead duck. Your luck has run out, why are you still trying? You might as well abdicate sooner. You're a typical example of someone occupying a toilet stall without using it!"
"You're courting death!" Killing intent flared in Wu Yi's eyes, and he said through gritted teeth.
"Are you threatening me! Don't you plan on leaving alive!" Fan Zehao raised his chin and met his gaze.
Beside him, a civil official, Shang Jun, tugged at the enraged Wu Yi, "General, please calm down. Don't fall into his trap. Revenge is a dish best served cold!"
"I usually get revenge on the spot. I can't wait ten years. Who knows if I'll fall off my horse and die in the next moment!"
Upon hearing this, Shang Jun's face turned dark. The person opposite him was too arrogant. He roared, "What does the Hussar General mean by that? If General Wu dies in your capital, aren't you afraid that our nation's million cavalry will flatten your Yun Kingdom!"
Fan Zehao looked down at Shang Jun, "One comes, I kill one. A pair comes, I kill a pair. I wasn't afraid when we retreated fifty li back then, let alone now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding citizens of the capital began to clap. It was so satisfying, so well said.
"Support the Hussar General, kill them all without leaving a trace!"
"Support the Hussar General, kill them all without leaving a trace!"
The cheers grew louder and louder, endless.
Fan Zehao raised his handsome smiling face and shouted, "If you dare to offend Yun, even if you are far away, you will be punished!"
"If you dare to offend Yun, even if you are far away, you will be punished!"
The wave of heat grew stronger than the last, everyone's emotions surged, shouting the same slogan. In less than half a day, this phrase spread through every street and alley, even a five-year-old child could say it.
Now, no official in the capital dared to underestimate Fan Zehao, who came from a hunter's family. The once deserted entrance of the General's Mansion became lively.
However, Fan Zehao and Fan Jiaqi were still clear-headed.
Civil and military officials should not associate too closely. In these large families, there are more schemers than honest people. They might have your back in front of you, but stab you in the back behind your eyes.
On the ninth day of October, Fan Zehao packed a few changes of clothes and went to the barracks. For the next month, he would be with the soldiers.
Zhao Jiaqi held the land deeds for the shops at the intersection of East Street and West Street. These were bestowed by the Emperor. Since they were idle, she might as well redecorate them and open the dumpling restaurant and noodle shop.
Wangcai drove the carriage and took his lady to the location. After placing a small stool, he helped her alight.
"Madam, this is the intersection of East Street and West Street. That row of shops over there is it," Wangcai pointed to the shops not far away, which were still open for business.
Qiufen craned her neck and looked over. People were coming and going, bustling with activity. Where was the sign of emptiness!
She frowned and said, "Madam, these are not idle shops! Could it be that Wangcai found the wrong place?"
Wangcai felt wronged, "Impossible. I grew up in this capital since I was young. I could find it with my eyes closed. How could I make a mistake!"
Then there was only one possibility: the original owners of these shops had not moved out.
Zhao Jiaqi fiddled with her sleeves, adjusted her hairpin, and said softly, "Let's go, we'll know once we take a look!"
She had the land deeds, and they were bestowed by the Emperor. She assumed these people wouldn't dare to make things difficult for her.
Wangcai parked the carriage and waited outside the shops.
Zhao Jiaqi wandered around the shops. It was a small tavern.
Many small wine barrels were placed on the counter, and wine jars were on the floor. The waiter saw a woman arrive, dressed ordinarily, and didn't even give her a second glance, only raising his eyelids slightly.
She walked over and asked, "How much is the wine?"
The waiter pointed to a wine jar on the floor and said, "The lowest grade wine is one hundred wen per jin. No bargaining, no credit!"
Fan Jiaqi was accustomed to being looked down upon like this. She had seen too many petty people.
"Where is the owner of this shop? Call him!"
The owner?
Call him?
Only then did the waiter open his eyes and look at Zhao Jiaqi, sneering, "You woman, you have a big mouth. Let alone the owner, even our manager doesn't have time to see you. If you want to buy, hurry up. If you're here to cause trouble, I won't be polite."
As he said this, he rolled up his sleeves and impatiently addressed her.
Looking at the world, it was time to teach her a lesson!