She Knows That I am Not Her Daughter
Xu Tian Cave was extremely large. Feng Yu Heng had already pushed Xuan Tian Ming around for at least two hours, yet she had not even gone through a third of Xu Tian Cave.
There were countless ramps along the walls of the mountain, and all of them led to a different cave. She was truly unable to continue walking and simply sat down on a set of stairs.
Xuan Tian Ming laughed at her: “I wonder who it was that pledged to stroll around the entirety of Xu Tian Cave. It’s only been a little while, yet you’re already unable to carry on.”
She frankly admitted her alarm, “Who could have thought that this place would be so big!” While saying this, she wiped away some sweat, “It’s a cold Winter day, and this is a dark and cold mountain, yet I am sweating. If this place could remain until the later generations, it could apply to be a World Heritage site.”
“What?” He could not understand. He could never understand what this girl was saying.
Feng Yu Heng quickly explained: “It’s just to say that this place is very spectacular and can attract attention from the entire world.” Having no intention of lingering on this topic, Feng Yu Heng reached out and tugged at the hem of Xuan Tian Ming’s robe, “There is a matter related to the production of steel that I would like your thoughts on.”
“Speak.” He spoke seriously.
“It’s also related to the matter of protecting the secret. Although we can have an assembly line with me personally taking care of watching over every part, I am not a professional craftsman. There are many things that I do not understand. That’s why I must have a craftsman at my side. That is to say, the method for producing steel still must be handed out to a craftsman. Only like this can the production of steel be successful. But where can we go to find this sort of person?”
Xuan Tian Ming was also thinking about what she had said, “Not only must this person be skilled, they also must be absolutely loyal to Da Shun… Do you think I could do it?”
“You?” Feng Yu Heng was surprised, “You know how to forge things?”
Xuan Tian Ming nodded, “When I was young, I was obsessed with it for a while. The blacksmith in the imperial palace taught me for a full year. After a year, I smelted my own iron and forged my own weapon. After I completed my first sword, the blacksmith who taught me actually went to my father Emperor to resign. His excuse was a prince was even better at blacksmithing than he, so he truly did not have the face to continue working there.”
Feng Yu Heng facepalmed, “What he said was right. If the master is capable of doing everything, what is the point of having servants? Could you not have left him with some wiggle room?” But… “If you know how to smith, that is great! Xuan Tian Ming, with you here, I will not need to worry about anything!”
Xuan Tian Ming nodded and very happily waited for the girl to praise him a little more. In his mind, he had prepared the words that he would say next: Heng Heng, don’t worry. With husband here, there is nothing to fear.
But his wife did not continue. Not only did she not continue, she did not even look at him. Instead, her head was lowered, as she held a strange pen that she was accustomed to using. She was also holding an odd-looking book and writing in it.
The corners of Xuan Tian Ming’s lips twitched: “Where did you bring those things out of?”
She acted as though it was natural: “From my sleeve.”
The corners of his lips twitched even more. Feng Yu Heng’s sleeve! Hmph! Sooner or later, on the day that they got married, he would definitely get a good look at that sleeve.
Feng Yu Heng continued to write. After a while, she wrote a full page then pulled out another piece of paper from her sleeve. She then raised her voice and called: “Ban Zou!”
A dark shadow appeared in a flash, as Ban Zou arrived in front of the two.
She ripped out the page that had been filled then placed it with the other two pieces of paper and gave it to him: “Go take care of these things personally. Remember, everything purchased needs to be of high quality.” After saying this, she did not forget to advise: “I’m not saying that anything expensive is good. You need to take a good look at the quality.”
Ban Zou looked at the things written on the pieces of paper. They were all tools used by craftsmen, and it looked quite professional. He pondered a little then said to her: “It would be best if I could bring a blacksmith with me.”
Feng Yu Heng nodded, “That’s fine. Go to the forge and pick one. Either way, bring these things back as quickly as possible. We must acquire all of those things.”
“Master, do not worry.” Thinking a little more, he added: “I will assign another two hidden guards to your side.”
“No need, no need.” Feng Yu Heng repeatedly waved her hand, “These days, I will not be going anywhere. I will be remaining at the military camp. I will be with his Highness at all times. With over ten thousand soldiers here, what is there to worry about?”
Ban Zou also thought that this was the case, thus he did not say anything else and left in a flash.
Feng Yu Heng said to Xuan Tian Ming: “When Ban Zou has brought those things back, I was thinking, we should try it first from the beginning. One step at a time, we will do it personally. We will take a look at your skills, and we will be able to see just how difficult it will be to produce steel.”
Xuan Tian Ming was also a little expectant. Eager, he was about to ask her what exactly was necessary to produce steel, so he could make some preparations ahead of time. But before he could speak, he saw a soldier hurriedly run over. Without any chance to salute, he urgently said: “General, county princess, quickly come and look. Lady Yao’s illness has flared up!”
The two quickly returned. When they arrived in front of Yao shi’s camp, they heard Yao shi shouting from inside: “I can’t take it anymore! Pastries! Give me pastries!”
She stopped moving, her heart aching greatly.
Xuan Tian Ming patted the back of her hand, “Quickly go in and take a look. Don’t think too much.”
She also knew that this was not the time to overthink things. Pushing the wheelchair, she entered the tent.
At this time, Wang Chuan and Huang Quan were both holding Yao shi still. People who had practiced martial arts were strong, but even if they were strong, they were still tired from Yao shi’s frantic movements. The other servants could not even get close. Qing Lan could only worry from the side while wiping away tears. There was absolutely nothing that she could do.
Upon seeing Feng Yu Heng return, everyone let out a long sigh of relief, as Wang Chuan said: “Young miss, quickly take a look at madam. There is truly nothing that us servants can do.”
She lightly sighed. In truth, there was nothing that she could do either, but she could not say that.
Huang Quan asked: “Madam has been awake for a while and already ate a bit. How about having madam continue sleeping?” She knew that Feng Yu Heng would usually give Yao shi a type of injection. After the injection, Yao shi would drowsily fall asleep. In that state, she could remain asleep for at least a few hours.
Feng Yu Heng did not say anything. Walking forward, she pulled out a needle and its case from her sleeve. Like normal, she gave the injection then placed the needle and its case back in her sleeve.
Nobody thought about how she could stick such a large case into her sleeve. Everyone was waiting for Yao shi to fall asleep as usual. But this time, for some reason, Yao shi was still alert long after being given the injection. She continued to shout and cause a fuss, but her madness had died down from earlier.
Wang Chuan was puzzled and thought that Yao shi’s illness had become even more severe, asking with concern: “Can madam not be made to fall asleep?”
Feng Yu Heng shook her head, “It’s not that the injection did not work. It’s that I did not give mother an injection to make her fall asleep.”
“Huh?” Huang Quan was a little shocked, “But if she does not fall asleep, how can we allow madam to continue like this?” She said this while going forward to wipe away some sweat for Yao shi, but she ended up having her hand bit by Yao shi.
Feng Yu Heng quietly sighed and shook her head, “Even if it’s not good, she must remain awake. Having her remain asleep is not good. Her body will not be able to handle it.” She gritted her teeth and gave an order to the two: “Wrap her up in a blanket then tied her down to the bed!”
The two servants could not react and stared blankly at Feng Yu Heng. Helpless, she could only repeat herself; however, Huang Quan objected: “How can we do that!”
“It must be done like this.” This time, Feng Yu Heng’s attitude was very resolute. “I will tell you, in order to get over the effects of spirit-altering drug, this is the most direct method. Quickly get moving. That last injection will only relieve her symptoms for a while. After the effects of the medicine have worn off, you won’t be able to tie her down.”
“Let’s listen to young miss.” Wang Chuan took the initiative to say, “Huang Quan, go get the blanket.”
Huang Quan brought over a blanket and forcibly wrapped Yao shi up. She then used a rope to tie her down on the bed. A look of horror flashed through Yao shi’s eyes, but they quickly became muddy. She continued to struggle desperately; however, she could not escape the tightly bound rope.
Feng Yu Heng walked over to the bed and sat down. She continued to speak to her about life in the Northwest and going back to the Feng manor. She spoke of the weak familial ties of the Feng family and how Feng Jin Yuan really was not a person. She spoke of how the Emperor had already permitted the Yao family’s grandchildren to participate in the imperial examinations, and she spoke of how Feng Zi Rui was at the top of his class in every subject at school. In the end, she said: “A-Heng thought about it. When mother gets better, I will send you to Xiao Zhou, so you can be with Zi Rui. That way he can take care of you and make you happy.”
Upon hearing mention of Zi Rui, Yao shi’s eyes visibly cleared up. Feng Yu Heng took advantage of this opportunity to urgently say: “Mother, this is the best way to deal with spirit-altering drug. You must endure. After this stretch, everything will be better. Mother, for Zi Rui’s sake, you absolutely must get better!”
Yao shi’s reactions became more and more intense, as she desperately tried to speak with her already hoarse voice: “Really, I can go to Xiao Zhou to accompany Zi Rui?”
She nodded, “Really, as long as mother is able to endure this time, A-Heng guarantees that once you get better, I will order someone to buy a residence in Xiao Zhou and send you over.”
This belief was like a cardiotonic injection into Yao shi’s heart. Her mind was not clear, but she was still able to clearly say “accompany Zi Rui.” Her mind was filled with this thought, and her heart was filled with the desire to accompany Zi Rui in Xiao Zhou. Her earlier endless struggling came to an end. “Fine, for Zi Rui, for my own child, I will definitely endure.”
Feng Yu Heng could see that she was enduring and holding herself back from having a fit. Her entire body was trembling, and her jaw was tightly shut. Blue veins even appeared on her forehead.
She continuously encouraged Yao shi: “Right, just like this. Mother is doing very well. The current hardship will come to an end sooner or later. When you are well, we will go to Xiao Zhou!”
Roughly one hour later, this round of drug withdrawal symptoms was finally repressed. Yao shi could no longer endure and fell asleep.
Feng Yu Heng let out a sigh of relief and advised the servants to take good care of her. She did not stay behind, as she pushed Xuan Tian Ming out of the tent. Only when she had a chance to breathe the cool mountain air did she feel her heart calm down a little.
Xuan Tian Ming could see that something was wrong: “Your heart seems to be unhappy.”
“Un.” She did not hide it and nodded, admitting it.
“Because madam is thinking about Zi Rui?” He was a little puzzled, “That is your own little brother. What are you feeling jealous for?”
Feng Yu Heng smiled bitterly and helplessly. Walking over to a small sack of sand in front of them, she sat down and said: “I am not jealous. I am also thinking of Zi Rui. If possible, I hope that he can stay at her side. That child is adorable. Aside from the Feng family, who doesn’t like him? It’s just that mother’s words caused me to suddenly remember a truth.” She raised her head and looked at Xuan Tian Ming seriously, suddenly saying: “So mother knew that I am not her daughter…”