Chapter 228: Heaven... Unexpected Storms

“I believe Commander Zhong will also be happy to see them return,” Sun Fuling said as she finished annotating the last few words. “Now that Weicheng has been reclaimed, the city needs defenders, and the land needs to be cultivated. In three months, spring will arrive and the snow will melt. The fertile fields outside Weicheng would be a great waste if left unplanted.”

Food had always been a major issue in the Dragoncoil Barrens.

“Will the Baling people try to reclaim Weicheng again?” He Lingchuan already knew the answer.

“Yes,” Sun Fuling replied calmly. “As long as the Baling nation harbors the desire to destroy us, they will certainly attack Weicheng again.”

He Lingchuan couldn't help but sigh, then heard Sun Fuling softly say, “That's just how the world is. You always have to choose between a good death and a miserable existence.”

She carefully blew on the ink to dry it. “Alright, I’ve finished the annotations. Let’s start our first lesson.”

By the brazier, the sparrowhawk immediately buried its head in the feathers on its back, eager to sleep.

The sunlight streaming through the window grew increasingly slanted and hazy.

Sun Fuling explained with great seriousness, but He Lingchuan’s mind began to wander. They sat very close, and from his angle, her jawline appeared delicate, her lips perfectly shaped. Though her complexion was pale, her nose was straight, and her almond-shaped eyes were exceptionally lively and bright. How did that saying go? Like two black pearls set in white mercury? While other beauties might have eyes that shimmered like water, full of tender emotion, Sun Fuling’s eyes held a light that resembled the cold, twinkling stars of night, captivating and powerful. How could such a gaze appear in a young woman without considerable life experience?

Even though he knew she was the younger sister of Sun Jiayuan, He Lingchuan’s questions about her deepened.

“Do you understand?” Sun Fuling noticed his inattention and waved her pen twice in front of his eyes.

“Y-yes, I understand.” He Lingchuan forcibly suppressed the urge to yawn.

The lecture had lasted two hours! How could she speak continuously for two hours without barely needing a sip of water? She truly was a professional.

The sparrowhawk beside them was already snoring, making him terribly envious.

For the first hour, he had been able to concentrate, but by the second hour, the words seemed to crawl off the page and twist into squiggly tadpoles in his mind.

Sun Fuling also saw his guilt and stood up, saying, “Let’s stop here for today. You won’t remember any more if I keep going.”

“Yes, yes, Teacher Sun, you’ve worked hard!” He Lingchuan quickly got up, discreetly stretching his stiff lower back.

“I’m going back. Get some rest.” Sun Fuling nodded at him and started to leave.

She had been kind enough to help him; shouldn’t he reciprocate? He Lingchuan’s gaze fell on the oil-paper wrapped roasted chicken on the stove, and he suddenly remembered something he had recently acquired.

“Please wait a moment!” He reached into a flowerpot and took out a Candy Snail.

After leaving the warm, humid cave in Smoke Mountain, it had turned into a frozen item in the icy air. He Lingchuan used a toothpick to remove the snail meat, then washed the shell clean before handing it to Sun Fuling.

“I don’t have much of value, so please accept this as payment for your teaching.”

“A candy shell?” Sun Fuling took it, held it up to the light, and her voice became lighter. “Are you really giving this to me? These are very expensive; it’s enough to pay for half a year’s tuition!”

She actually recognized its value. The one He Lingchuan gave her had a grass-green central spiral, a pure black circle radiating outwards, and the outermost large circle was a vivid, gradient apple-red, perfectly beautiful in its natural state.

Candy Snails develop colorful shells depending on the food they eat, and sometimes even the sequence in which they consume it.

He Lingchuan spread his hands. “A fine sword for a hero, a beauty’s powder for a fair lady.”

Sun Fuling tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear. The light in her eyes intensified, and even her voice softened. “Thank you for such a generous gift; I really like it.”

They said their goodbyes, and Sun Fuling returned, clutching the candy shell.

He Lingchuan couldn’t help but marvel at the immense appeal of jewels to women. Even someone with Sun Fuling’s reserved nature couldn’t take her eyes off the candy snail shell.

He sighed, looking at the remaining snails. He wished he could find a cave where these creatures grew in the real world; then he would have an endless source of funds.

When he returned to the kitchen, he noticed that a package of roasted chicken was missing from the stove, and the sparrowhawk by the brazier was also gone.

The next morning, as the people of Dunyu City awoke, they learned of two major events.

First, three more people had died at the Zhan family residence during the night. Strictly speaking, it was three and a half.

Two of them had been severely injured the previous day and succumbed to their wounds by dawn; the last one and a half were the most tragic: Fourth Master Zhan’s pregnant wife had died.

Fourth Master Zhan was already fifty years old, and he had married his second wife four years ago, who was a full thirty-two years his junior. It was inevitable for an old husband to dote on a young wife.

Yesterday, the Li family’s private soldiers had stormed into the Zhan residence, knocking down his seven-month pregnant wife. Her belly struck a rock garden violently, and she immediately bled and fell unconscious.

The doctor summoned by the authorities rushed to save her, but to no avail. By midnight, both mother and child were lost. It had been a male infant, and Fourth Master Zhan was almost driven mad by the news.

Anyone who heard this news would let out a gasp of dismay and shake their heads with a sigh. However, in those times, the infant mortality rate was high, with one or two deaths out of ten births. Moreover, as one of Dunyu’s four prominent families, the Zhan family didn’t have a good reputation. When people discussed the matter, they would often add, “The elders lack virtue, and their descendants pay the price,” turning it into gossip.

The second major piece of news was that the Xunzhou army had breached Hundred-Cart Ridge, tearing a long gap in General Zhao Pan’s defense line.

In ancient times, when Emperor Yuangaozu attacked Xia Province, he received much support. Wealthy gentry and scholarly families near Dunyu would send provisions and armor, and hundreds of carts frequently traveled along that ridge, hence its name.

However, the current Yuanguo army was clearly not as glorious as it once was; lacking clothing and food, and with low morale, this strategic pass was also seized by Xunzhou.

The fall of Hundred-Cart Ridge was a clear indictment of the Yuanguo court by Nian Zanli.

More importantly, the terrain south of Hundred-Cart Ridge was flat and offered no natural defenses, allowing the Xunzhou army to use it as a breakthrough point to advance south.

Upon hearing the news, the entire city of Dunyu was shaken.

The straight-line distance from Hundred-Cart Ridge to Dunyu City was just over four hundred li. What was worse, taking the official road from there would allow the army to advance even faster.

For the first time, the dark clouds of war hung so clearly over Dunyu City, or perhaps over the hearts of every resident of Dunyu.

As a result, the people of Dunyu paid more attention to the war than to the investigation of the Zhan family’s three and a half deaths.

At breakfast, Madam Ying informed He Chunhua about the Zhan family news. He Chunhua couldn’t help but lightly tap the table.

“Heaven…” He had intended to say, “Heaven helps me too,” but seeing Madam Ying’s surprised look, he abruptly changed his words to, “Heaven’s ways are unpredictable.” Yet, a lighter expression appeared on his face.

The deaths in the Zhan family would naturally escalate the conflict, making his planned aggressive measures unnecessary.

Soon after, Old Mo, the housekeeper, also came to report on the war situation in the north.

He Chunhua took a long breath after hearing it. It was as if someone had offered him a pillow just as he felt sleepy; he could hardly believe his good fortune.

To him, these two major events were truly a double blessing. What others saw as danger, he saw as a golden opportunity.

His eldest son truly was a lucky general.

Facing the rising sun in the east, He Chunhua couldn’t help but feel ambitious: his new chapter was finally about to begin.

Indeed, no sooner had he finished breakfast than Zhan Song, the head of the Zhan family, arrived with several carts of heavy gifts. With red-rimmed eyes, he added more accusations against the Li family, begging the Governor to preside over justice. Since the case of the Li family’s private soldiers committing murder would not officially open until the suspects surrendered in two days, the Zhan family’s current plea was that the punishment must be severe and strict!

He Chunhua’s face was filled with sorrow and compassion, and he stated that he would certainly not allow the perpetrators to escape justice.

The main act was about to begin. Zhan Song was also an old hand; he knew he was asking for a favor, and the target was the Li family, the supreme power in Dunyu, making the difficulty level extremely high. Therefore, his own family had to make a sacrifice. He took out a banknote from his robe and placed it on the table:

“Knowing there’s a tiger in the mountain, Lord He still chooses to face the challenge. The Zhan family admires your resolve and is willing to donate this banknote to the provincial government. With this note, the authorities can collect five thousand piculs of grain from the Zhan family’s storehouses.”

One picul equals one hundred and twenty catties, so five thousand piculs of grain amount to approximately six hundred thousand catties, providing slight relief for the urgent needs at the front line.

He Chunhua smiled slightly. “The Zhan family is too kind.” He appeared reserved, and the Zhan family head understood immediately that this was deemed too little. General Zhao Pan had over thirty thousand soldiers under his command; even without fighting, just staying put, five thousand piculs would only last ten days.

“If Heaven has eyes and my Zhan family can receive justice, we are willing to donate another five thousand piculs.”

He Chunhua rose to his full height. “Heaven’s net is wide, though its mesh be coarse, it lets nothing through. The Zhan family can rest assured and await good news.”

This was a clear statement of commitment. Zhan Song breathed a slight sigh of relief, then bowed and departed.

In the past, he would never have believed that the authorities could investigate the Li family. However, this new Governor He, who reportedly distinguished himself in guarding the western border and suppressing bandits, had only recently risen to power by taking credit for Sun Fuping’s death, and had no deep connections with high-ranking officials at court.

Walking out of the He mansion, the Zhan family head looked up at the sky and sighed softly. He had never before so desperately wished for the authorities to handle a case impartially.

Of course, his actions were observed by spies waiting nearby, who swiftly reported them to the Li family.

As for the conversation between the Governor of Xia Province and the head of the Zhan family, it didn’t even require He Chunhua to deliberately spread it; within about two hours, it reached the ears of the Li brothers.

Li Rong sneered repeatedly, “Ten thousand piculs! The Zhan family thinks ten thousand piculs of grain are enough to put an end to us?”

Despite his words, his face was as white as paper. He had barely slept for the past two days. The Li residence was generally flat, yet since last night, he had stumbled at least three times, almost falling.

Just then, a servant reported, “Sixth Young Master has returned.”

Li Rong immediately jumped to his feet. “Quick, bring him in!”

Spring had long since begun, but the lake outside Dunyu City remained frozen two feet deep.

He Lingchuan adopted the airs of a high-ranking official’s son, swapping bird-caging for monkey-walking and wolf-leading. Dressed in luxurious robes and a splendid cap, followed by Mao Tao and four or five other guards, he first went to Dunyu’s finest restaurant for a grand meal, then proceeded to Xiangyun Garden to listen to music.

Everywhere he went, he made a grand display.

In terms of prices, Dunyu was considerably more expensive than Blackwater City.