Jia Jinshan’s gaze couldn’t help drifting toward Feng Li again. He furrowed his brow, gave a light cough, and said, “Princess, then I’ll speak plainly.”

“In the more than twenty years I’ve been in Yi Cheng, I rose from an ordinary commoner, to town chief, and finally to the position of city lord.”

“Even if none of you will acknowledge that I gave my all, I too have done everything in my power for this city.”

“Under my leadership, Yi Cheng has developed well, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. To now hand Yi Cheng over — I cannot do it.”

“I never said you had to leave.” Feng Jiu’er shook her head. “No matter whose hands the Feng Clan ultimately falls into, each city will still need a city lord.”

“Especially someone like you, City Lord Jia, with such a talent for commerce.”

Jia Jinshan composed himself and asked, “Then what does the Princess mean by that?”

“If City Lord Jia is willing to follow our arrangements, you may bring your family and leave Yi Cheng first.” Feng Jiu’er said.

“Leaving Yi Cheng — where would we go?” Jia Jinshan asked.

“Yue City.” Feng Jiu’er lifted her teacup, holding it in her hand.

“Yue City’s city lord, Yue Jianfei, will be arriving soon. City Lord Jia, you can take this opportunity to go back with them.”

“How the war is to be fought isn’t something City Lord Jia needs to worry about.”

“If City Lord Jia lives peacefully in Yue City during this time, without spreading rumors or stirring trouble, then once everything has settled, you’ll still be the city lord of Yi Cheng.”

“The power City Lord Jia currently holds will remain unchanged by then as well. This is this Princess’s promise to you, City Lord Jia.”

Jia Jinshan said nothing. Feng Jiu’er raised her cup and took a sip of tea.

When she set the cup down, her eyes met Jia Jinshan’s.

“City Lord Jia, take your time thinking it over, no rush. Isn’t there still more than a day left before our agreed deadline?”

“What is the Princess’s relationship to Yue City’s city lord?” Jia Jinshan frowned.

“Yue City’s city lord’s wife and I are sworn sisters of different surnames, and in the near future, we’ll be in-laws as well.” Feng Jiu’er replied.

“City Lord Jia, you and your family may live at ease in Yue City.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Feng Jiu’er stood up.

“City Lord Jia hasn’t been sleeping well these two days, has he? Perhaps you should go back and rest properly tonight, and give us your answer tomorrow.”

“I really haven’t been sleeping well. How did the Princess tell?” City Lord Jia also stood up.

“I’ve studied medicine a little.” Feng Jiu’er’s lips curved slightly as she waved a hand. “Please!”

City Lord Jia’s smile was somewhat strained, but he still managed to curve his lips.

“I wanted to ask about City Lord Dai. She…”

“She used to be my father’s subordinate, and still is now.” Feng Jiu’er replied. “As for City Lord Wang, he still hasn’t shown his position.”

“If his thinking matches yours, we’ll make the same arrangement for him too.”

“But City Lord Wang’s mind runs too deep — he might have other ideas.”

“City Lord Jia is still the better one. As the saying goes, those who recognize the times are wise, wouldn’t you say?”

“Everyone knows the legends of the Feng Clan — this is also the meaning behind why, generation after generation, there will always be a Feng son and a Feng daughter.”

“City Lord Jia is clever and capable. I believe you’ll accomplish great things in the future.”

“Please!” Feng Jiu’er waved her hand. “Go back and think it over carefully before deciding.”

Jia Jinshan looked toward Feng Li, and saw that Feng Li, holding his teacup, was also looking at him.

He immediately shook his head and said, “No need to think further. I’ll do as Your Highness and the Princess say.”

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to Yi Cheng now. Once I’ve packed, I’ll set out as soon as I hear from the Princess.”

“You’re truly decided? No need to discuss it with your family?” Feng Jiu’er asked softly.

“No need.” Jia Jinshan waved his hand. “I’ll follow the Princess’s arrangements entirely.”

“Good.” Feng Jiu’er nodded lightly. “City Lord Jia, please follow me.”

Jia Jinshan knelt before Feng Li.

“Night Prince, this humble one takes his leave.”

“Go on then.” Feng Li nodded lightly.

“Night Prince, please take care!” Jia Jinshan cupped his hands, stood, turned, and followed Feng Jiu’er out.

Feng Jiu’er and Jia Jinshan went out and found Yu Jingfeng.

“Yu Jingfeng, send people to escort City Lord Jia back. He must be delivered home safely.”

“Send more people, and immediately after, bring his entire household back with them.”

“There must be no mistakes — understood?”

“This humble one understands.” Yu Jingfeng cupped his hands to accept the order and led Jia Jinshan away.

For now, Yi Cheng and Yi Cheng had no problems. The key now lay in connecting the entire Black Pond vein, keeping Yi Cheng and Yi Cheng separated in the west by Liuchuan City.

Liuchuan City’s east-west span was very narrow, but it stretched very long — connecting to Songjiang above and Black Pond below.

Its shape resembled the character “川” (river), which was how it got its name.

In the days that followed, the army spent most of its strength sealing off the riverside.

Battles along the river broke out from time to time, but because they took place on the water, each battle was small in scale and short in duration.

After more than a month, the northern and southern banks of Songjiang were completely divided, with Feng Li carving out his own domain.

At the time, Wang Yutang had feigned submission and had not left Liuchuan City.

Unfortunately, every letter he sent out to Feng Qiongcang had been swapped.

Feng Jiu’er’s forgery skills grew ever more refined.

By the time Feng Qiongcang confirmed that Feng Li and Feng Jiu’er had returned to the Black Pond vein south of Songjiang, there was nothing more he could change.

The news that a son of the Feng line had carved out his own domain quickly spread through the Feng Clan.

Though Feng Qiongcang kept suppressing it, Feng Li’s old subordinates, nearly all of them exiled, kept pushing further south.

A boundary line was soon drawn across Songjiang.

The common people on both sides were affected considerably, but at least they could still fish and catch shrimp within their own side’s territory.

That night, in Liuchuan City, at the Wang manor.

“Master, you took a risk for the court, and yet the Emperor has actually ordered—” The steward held a letter, his hands trembling badly.

“Steward Xu, what exactly is going on?” The woman beside the main seat looked at the steward and asked.

The steward glanced at Wang Yutang in the main seat, then stepped forward toward the woman.

He placed the letter in her hands and said hoarsely, “Madam, the Emperor is placing all the blame for the loss of the Black Pond vein on the Master.”

“The Emperor has ordered that our Wang family be… wiped out!”

The woman’s hands, holding the letter, began to tremble as well.

She turned her head to look at her own Wang Yutang.

“Master, what do you make of this?”

Wang Yutang said nothing, his eyes somewhat hollow.

Whether he was in despair or deep in thought, no one could tell.

“Doesn’t the Wang family still have me, my younger brother, and little sister? How could it be wiped out?” In the hall, a boy of thirteen or fourteen stood up.

“Big Brother, I want to go paint.” A girl, half the boy’s height, threw herself into his arms.

“Father, Mother, what does ‘wiped out’ mean?” Another boy, around ten years old, stared unblinking toward the main seat.

The woman took a deep breath and looked at her three children.

“Xi’er, Chun’er, take your little sister to go paint.”