“Let’s go take a look.” Feng Jiang’s manner remained as indifferent as ever.
“My lord, Master Lei said you should bring Doctor Long along,” the guard reminded him.
“Whether she goes or not isn’t mine to decide.” Feng Jiang glanced at the guard and turned back inside.
“Prepare the carriage. We leave in a quarter hour.”
“Yes.” The guard cupped his hands in response.
Feng Jiang walked through the main gate, and Yang Sheng returned to his post by the door, looking every bit the guardian.
Toward the man who had saved his life, there was nothing Yang Sheng could offer in return.
Yang Sheng felt that the one thing he could do was give Qiao Mu a peaceful environment in which to recover.
A quarter hour later, Feng Jiang and Feng Jiu’er boarded the carriage together.
The carriage moved forward, with Jian Yi riding alongside on horseback.
Before long, the carriage and the two horses passed through a grand gate.
Once inside, aside from a single great road, there was grassland stretching out on both sides — vast, sprawling grassland so wide it was nearly impossible to see where it ended.
On the grassland, a number of horses could be seen grazing.
Anyone who knew horses could tell at a glance that these were all fine, top-grade animals.
Lei Shenbao was without question among the wealthiest of the wealthy — even the horses kept on his own grounds had spacious grassland on which to run free.
Most households kept their stables in the back courtyard, or out behind the hills somewhere.
But someone like Lei Shenbao, where the moment you walked through the front gate you were greeted by a sweeping grassy plain — that truly wasn’t common.
“This grassland isn’t just for raising horses,” Feng Jiang said, glancing at Feng Jiu’er, who had lifted the curtain to look outside.
Feng Jiu’er let the curtain fall and looked back at him, asking quietly, “For defense?”
“Mm.” Feng Jiang nodded slightly. “This entire estate is surrounded by grassland. Unless you’ve been invited in, getting inside isn’t easy at all.”
Feng Jiu’er withdrew her gaze, the corner of her mouth curving slightly. “Master Lei truly is unlike ordinary people.”
The carriage continued along the main road for quite a while before passing through another large gate.
Inside, lush greenery and trees grew thick and verdant.
Beyond the shade of the trees, an immense, magnificent building came into view.
Its grandeur rivaled that of a palace.
It was said that Lei Shenbao’s eight wives were housed in a great quadrangle compound behind the main residence.
Lei Shenbao had his own quarters as well — vast, and truly spectacular.
This palace-like building of his wasn’t a place just any woman could enter.
Those capable of it, of course, could.
Other women — whether his wives or various beauties — only those he intended to favor that night had the qualification to stay in his quarters.
Lei Shenbao had wealth and power, and beautiful women were never in short supply for him; he was an enthusiastic devotee of the pursuit.
So to describe this man as someone who changed women the way others changed clothes wouldn’t be unfair at all.
The carriage came to a stop before the main hall.
The steward lifted the curtain, and two guards hurried over.
“Mister Bao, please!” the guards said, gesturing.
Feng Jiang got down from the carriage, and Feng Jiu’er followed behind him.
The two of them followed the guards forward, while Jian Yi was stopped at the entrance.
“My apologies! My master said the ones he invited were Mister Bao and Doctor Long.”
Feng Jiu’er heard the guard’s words and turned to look at the man behind her.
“He’s my personal bodyguard. Wherever I go, he must go too.”
“Let him in,” came a voice from not far off, as a man of about thirty approached.
“Yes, Deputy General Lei,” the guard said, nodding and stepping back two paces to clear the way.
“Mister Bao, Doctor Long, please!” Lei Ming came before Bao Lei and Long Jiu’er, gesturing them forward.
Feng Jiang gave a slight nod and stepped forward.
Jian Yi and Feng Jiu’er followed behind them.
Only after walking across a spacious open ground did everyone truly arrive within Lei Shenbao’s home.
This grand building, looking very much like a palace, was vast and expansive.
Had she not come in herself, Feng Jiu’er wouldn’t have known just how wealthy Lei Shenbao really was.
Compared to this, the residence of Yue Jianfei, the wealthiest man in Yue City, fell far short — by area alone, Feng Jiu’er reckoned the Yue residence might only be a tenth the size of this one.
She took all of it in, and the ambition she harbored — to one day replace Lei Shenbao and reclaim Li City — grew stronger by the moment.
No one else knew what Feng Jiu’er was thinking, but Feng Jiang could see right through her.
He gave a light cough and walked toward the seat Lei Ming had arranged for them.
Feng Jiu’er only then “snapped back to attention,” turned, and followed after Feng Jiang’s footsteps.
The main seat was decorated in a way nearly indistinguishable from a throne, and the one seated upon it was none other than Lei Shenbao.
He was rather pleased by the look Feng Jiu’er had just given the place.
People, after all, become easy to manipulate once they’re greedy for wealth, once they have ambitions of their own.
Clearly, in Lei Shenbao’s eyes, this sort of ambition wasn’t the kind ordinary people had.
“Doctor Long seems to be quite taken with my home,” Lei Shenbao said with a smile.
Feng Jiu’er had only just sat down. She looked at him, a touch of bitterness in the curve of her smile.
“My apologies! Master Lei, I truly haven’t seen such a luxurious estate before. I’ve been rude.”
“It’s nothing,” Lei Shenbao said, waving a hand. “Anyone has the right to pursue beautiful things.”
“But whether you can actually obtain them — that depends on whether you’re willing to put in the effort.”
Feng Jiu’er reined in her expression of “greed,” her lips curving slightly.
“From the way Master Lei puts it, are you willing to give this humble woman a chance to grow rich?”
“Heh heh… Doctor Long has talent — what’s there to fear in not being recognized?” Lei Shenbao shifted his gaze, looking toward the man in the middle of the hall.
“Bring out the fine wine and delicacies. I have a gift to give to Lei.”
“Yes, my lord.” A man nodded and turned to leave.
Lei Shenbao turned back, looking at Feng Jiu’er.
“Doctor Long, I have a matter to deal with first. Once it’s done, we’ll have a proper chat.”
“Master Lei is too courteous!” Feng Jiu’er cupped her hands toward him. “To receive Master Lei’s invitation is this humble woman’s great fortune.”
Lei Shenbao nodded, his gaze settling on Bao Lei.
“Lei, that matter — I’ve finished investigating it. As I said, I’d give you an explanation.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Lei Shenbao clapped his hands twice.
Several guards wheeled out something that looked like a special “prisoner’s cart” — part chair, part cart.
On the prisoner’s cart sat a man, bound tightly in iron chains and shackles.
The man’s appearance was rather handsome, his skin pale and smooth as jade, looking every bit like someone who’d been pampered since childhood.
“Lei Shenbao, have you lost your mind?!” The man on the prisoner’s cart glared fixedly at the one in the main seat.
“My father won’t let you off! Lei Shenbao, release me at once, or my father will kill you for certain!”
“Lang Yu.” Lei Shenbao looked at the man on the cart. “You think that within my Li City, you can do whatever you please?”
“Hmph!” The man in the cart showed not the slightest hint of remorse.
“A few worthless commoners — if I want them to live, they live, and if I say they die, they have no right to see tomorrow’s sun.”
“Lei Shenbao, if you have the guts, kill me! Just watch — won’t my father raze this place of yours to the ground?”
“Hahaha… ha…”
The still-laughing man gave a sudden gulp, swallowing something down his throat.
Lang Yu turned his head to look at Feng Jiang, anxiety unmistakably creeping into his eyes.
“You worthless wretch — what did you just feed me? Give me the antidote, now!” he struggled with all his might, but couldn’t break free.
“Worthless wretch, hurry up and give me—”