Chapter 3

After a moment of careful consideration, Dongfang confirmed that the plan had no flaws and happily walked downstairs

It has been a long time since we last met, Dong Gu.

"The Fengning Tofu Shop has been closed these past few days, and I do not know if it will reopen..." the shop assistant lamented.

Although the East does not care how many people are watching, the Qingyi quickly retreated to the dungeon steps, turned around to face outside, and strictly prohibited anyone from entering

"Go catch up with Qingyi and tell him to hold off on everything and not to take action." Dongfang Fei said through gritted teeth

"Could 'Huaizhen' have another name? Is it called 'Huaining'?"

"Sir, we are tasked with your protection. If there is any lapse, it will be difficult for us to account for it"

She stared at him, momentarily speechless. He only chose the conditions he wanted to abide by, disregarding all others. What else could she say? After several months apart, he was still as unruly as ever

"You do not ask me why I need to deal with a mere attendant?" He raised an eyebrow

The Eastern figure, with a serious expression, said, "No, please continue." He vaguely sensed something unusual. A loyal follower accustomed to corruption should not expend too much effort on the common people.

Sir, are you returning to your residence? Allow me to help you hire a sedan chair

"Brother Dongfang, my elder brother has no good feelings towards you, but if you are sincere, he will certainly not hide anything from you. You... have offended him again, haven't you?"

Willingly... He was in high spirits, intentionally not seizing control, allowing her to kiss to her heart's content. Hmph, he was overthinking it; with her temperament, how could she possibly like any other man?

"What did you say?" Dongfang Fei asked in a low voice. Sweat flowed increasingly, his heartbeat quickened, and an unsettling feeling arose within him

He squinted his eyes. "What plans could I possibly have?"

"The two of them are only loyal to you and completely disregard the county magistrate, so you disguise yourself as a man and stay by the county magistrate's side?"

"Just now, when Qingyi appeared, Yilang was extremely angry. He said, 'You are stirring up trouble for no reason, looking for a scapegoat in Lezhi County, causing such a commotion, all just to draw me out.' Although Yilang was spot on, she only dared to confirm it after seeing Dongfang Fei's expression. She said with a hint of anger, 'If you want to find me, you can do so through any means; why involve others? As long as I am in this world, even if you are far away, I will come to meet you without delay.'

"Ever since we became engaged, I have been daydreaming about it day and night," he stated bluntly

She fell silent for a moment and said softly, "Let's have a child, I want to."

The guest, unaware of his unusual behavior, continued speaking

Brother Dongfang, I remember you resigned from your official position in May, and now it is already July... I thought you had found another source of amusement.

Ruan Dong observed his expression and immediately knew that there was a problem with the elder brother in this segment. She touched her nose and said

The leader of this group, with a head of white hair, is only in his twenties, is he not

You can be more proactive

Calculating the time, Qingyi should have already received Huai Zhen's answer. Next, it is time to arrange the date for the trial. The day of the trial will coincide with the time when County Magistrate Le Zhi experiences a change in fortune

"It is precisely because it is inconspicuous that officials will pass by without lingering. Your personality is active; if you never go out, you will be bored to death. If you can settle in this county, you will not be easily recognized." Her brother-in-law truly thinks of her in every way.

Her expression was filled with gratitude towards her sworn brothers, and she said softly

"I have a lifelong promise with you, so I will certainly let you know my whereabouts. Brother Dongfang, when I left the Yingkang Ruan residence, I entrusted my elder brother to inform you that if you come looking for me, please head to Lezhi County, where Brother Yilang and the others have opened a tofu shop, and you will surely find it. Did my elder brother not mention this to you?"

There is no need to say more, it is definitely that bastard fool

She nodded. "Fortunately, County Magistrate Le did not cross over to Yingkang City, which does not count as defying the imperial decree"

Feng Yilang's face was filled with anger, and Huaining's expression also bore an unrelenting killing intent. It was evident that the intervention of the Qingyi was extremely perilous; it was likely that they were just a step away from the two sworn brothers using the county magistrate as a token to kill the jailers and rescue the person.

Dongfang stared at her. Although he had long been mentally prepared for this extremely exciting and highly challenging endeavor, he sometimes truly felt that she had remained unchanged over the years, being a complete fool in matters of love, lacking any sense of romance.

Is his left hand missing the little finger

Upon arriving at Yingkang City, the thought of spending day and night with this pair of upright siblings made his heart restless. Every morning at dawn, he would tease the blind Ruan Woqiu everywhere. He initially thought he had the upper hand, but little did he know that Ruan Woqiu would play such a silent trick! Very well, he was determined to win her over, making Ruan Woqiu unable to sleep at night, facing her brother-in-law.

Ruan Dong, being straightforward, nodded in agreement without any hesitation

She hesitated, fiddling with her hair, and said nervously, "This... this..."

What does she do in Lezhi County

This time, his unease stemmed from...

Upon reflecting on this, she seemed to feel a bit embarrassed

Ruan Dong was momentarily taken aback, and began to think seriously.

Her relationship with Dongfang Fei... seems to have not yet reached the level of deep understanding

The corners of his mouth curled slightly, exuding a hint of mischief, captivating the beauty of the lotus-like face, while his smooth tone seemed to be a temptation

The subordinate vowed to fulfill the command of the esteemed one. With a gesture, three nearby warriors swiftly filled his position.

Brother Dongfang, you are right. The promise we made to each other in our old age was certainly not a casual arrangement made for the sake of marriage. She was unsure how a husband and wife should interact, but she thought it should be like that of a brother and sister-in-law, where daily life does not display overt affection, yet there is a deep understanding in their conversations

"You came to Lezhi County alone as a companion without leaving a word, isn't it just to avoid me?" he scoffed

"Brother Dongfang, everyone in the world knows that on the day you resigned from your official position, the Emperor tried every means to retain you as the Prime Minister. Now, although you hold no official title, the Emperor has made an exception to preserve your non-hereditary nobility. The residence in the capital, granted by the late Emperor, will not be reclaimed. If you have a house in mind, the local magistrate must requisition it for you, but it must not extend beyond Tihua County to the north, nor beyond Yingkang City to the west. The Emperor wishes to consult you, the former Prime Minister, on certain matters, and you must return to the capital to report back." She sighed, looking at him. "Brother Dongfang, your resignation from this position was truly not clean." One can imagine how reluctant the Emperor was to let him go.

This is hard to say. Huai Zhen has been accused of bribery, which is a serious charge. Young master, have you heard about the major case?

"Since it is winter, you have always been quick to act. Have you never thought in your heart about being intimate with me?"

Thinking of this, he was filled with joy and said with a smile, "Since it is winter, and I have already resigned from my official position..."

A flush suddenly crept up her delicate face. Over the past few months, she had thought of Dongfang Fei numerous times, but she had not truly considered the matter of intimacy.

After gazing at her delicate and beautiful face for a while, he slowly closed his handsome eyes, reluctantly considering it an enjoyment of this kiss

"Ruan Donggu, despite the risks, chose to disguise herself as a man to serve as a companion, and there must be a reason for this. Donggu, what reason could possibly persuade your devoted elder brother, who cares for you deeply, to agree to such a course of action?" When speaking of Feng Yilang, he couldn't help but express a hint of jealousy.

She nodded in agreement, exuding an air of integrity

The Eastern figure's expression changed abruptly, and he angrily inquired:

The handsome face instantly took on a murderous aura. "Then tell me, how many quarters of an hour do I need to kill someone?"

"Hmph, I would like to experience what it feels like to have irreparable regrets!" With that, he dismissed the county magistrate and his entourage, and descended the steps of the dungeon alone.

He gently reminded her once more, saying softly

Dongfang Fei was taken aback for a moment, then burst into loud laughter

Feng Yilang replied coldly

The accompanying samurai displayed hesitation

I know a little about it. Now, I am just waiting for good news from Qingyi. He had nothing else to do, so he simply sat on the bench and said with a smile: "In Dali Alley, Cheng's mother-in-law is suing Young Master Gao for the murder of Cheng Da. The county magistrate is about to step down, and if he can avoid taking on a major case, he will. In the end, it was still Huai Zhen who submitted the lawsuit on behalf of the Cheng family." He personally selected the Cheng case; how could he not be clear about it?

This is certainly the case. On that day, there was a promise made with white hair, and naturally, the next step is marriage

Active? What is active?

The East glanced at him coldly and sneered, "Since when did you servants stop obeying?"

The East, as if merely listening to a story, continued to ask with a smile:

A nearby table of guests overheard and interjected, "Fengning Tofu Shop"

The coroner and the constables have confirmed that Cheng Da accidentally fell into the water, and there is no suspicion of homicide; even the widow of the Cheng family has acknowledged this. What business does an outsider have in stirring up trouble here

The eastern region is not known for its words, and the thin, handsome skin is smeared with a bluish-gray hue

Later, those bandits were indeed captured, and the county magistrate achieved merit as a result. Some said that it was Huai Zhen who presented a perfect strategy, which led to their swift capture. Consequently, he took Huai Zhen as his close aide, seeking his counsel at all times

The young master is correct. I was also present during the trial yesterday and witnessed with my own eyes how Widow Cheng countered the accusation, claiming that Huai Zhen had taken advantage of her helplessness and insisted on demanding two taels of silver before agreeing to facilitate the matter. At that time, Huai Zhen was standing right next to me, and he was quite startled as well, but since the magistrate summoned him, he had no choice but to enter the courtroom

He said to go to the riverbank where Huai Zhen had a major mishap, to see if there are any clues to be found

Reflecting on this unfortunate twist of fate, which nearly led to her death at his hands... Dongfang Fei felt a chill in his heart and quickly made his way towards the county office

Thank you, Brother Dongfang

As soon as Dongfang saw this person outside the prison, he knew that this time he had finally waited for the person he had been looking for

In winter, in your heart, who is more important, your elder brother or your fiancé

The guest candidly remarked, "Young master, you may not be aware. Huai Zhen has a very good temper and is also quite loyal. I have exchanged a few words with him; although he is young, he understands things quite well when we talk. He is a very straightforward and good person."

No need to trouble yourself. By the way, Xiao Er Ge, in which direction is the tofu shop? I would like to go take a look

Dongfang Fei smiled and said: "What else?"

She looked utterly perplexed. "Brother Dongfang, I am not avoiding you."

It turns out that the tofu shop is run by Huai Zhen's elder brother. Dong Fang Fei smiled knowingly, confident in his plan. "Since that is the case, I bet it can be reopened for business." Huai Zhen could only choose the path of survival; was there any doubt that it could be reopened?

Commoners are but ordinary people, making it difficult to contend with the high officials in the shadows. The lord's moods are unpredictable, and he acts as he pleases; even if he bestows death upon innocent citizens, no one will speak out. However, in the future, when the lord takes action, please consider carefully and do not make decisions that are irreparable and will lead to deep regret

That bastard That fool

As soon as he thought of what Qingyi had done, he immediately waved his sleeve and left the tavern, summoning the warriors who accompanied him

Although Dongfang was originally annoyed that she had concealed her whereabouts, upon seeing this face he had longed for day and night, he couldn't help but smile and said

Just by listening to her stammering, one can tell that her answer will only be one. Indeed, he has not yet fully committed his energy, so how could she easily fall into his web of enchantment

What can a counterfeit county allow her to achieve? Does she dare to disguise herself as a man again, not fearing that someone will recognize her as Ruan Dongqian?

What should be done? She hasn't thought that far ahead yet. ... Is there a fiancé? This ...? ... It shouldn't be too different, right?

He entered the court at a young age in the East, never experiencing any unease, until he met Ruan Donggu, when he first tasted the flavor of unease

Long time no see, Miss Ruan... I did not know it was you before in the green attire. If I have offended you, I hope you will forgive me.

The implicit meaning of the East is that the emperor is far removed from the common people; to kill a person is as easy as turning one's hand, and the emperor, who is far away, would be unable to come to their rescue in time

In the innermost cell, there is a petite figure in male attire. The heartbeat gradually quickens, and the intoxicating sensation of tingling spreads throughout the body once again

I indeed know. She sighed, "Fortunately, today's reality is mine, and not someone else's"

Well, she does not understand, he comes, and she is always to be unconsciously subdued by him, both physically and mentally

She gazed at him for a long time and slowly asked

In the East, he truly began to invest his heart, secretly chuckling to himself, feeling even more confident in winning her one-of-a-kind affection

Hmph, speaking of this matter, I would like to ask you, Dong Gu, you have always been bold and responsible, never avoiding anything. This time, what reason has led you, as my fiancée, to deliberately avoid me

She does not play mind games, and nodded seriously, saying: "Exactly."

She, who has always been quick to take action, suddenly lifted her small face and kissed his lips. He had been kissed by her before, but the last time she had learned from him to feed her wine; this time, she willingly initiated the kiss based on her feelings.

Dongfang did not rise, but gave a glance, and Qingyi immediately opened the iron door of the cell, allowing her to bend down and exit the prison.

This group of warriors following Dongfang Fei are all elite experts personally appointed by the Emperor. They are absolutely loyal, but Dongfang Fei is ruthless, and the court is well aware of this. If he were to kill them, they would neither dare nor be able to resist.

He glanced at the weariness on her small face, no longer saying much about the matters concerning their intimacy. Instead, he spoke meaningfully: "Winter is here. Since you and I had an agreement that day, you should understand the developments that will follow between us."

No, Huaining is also the elder brother of Huaizhen. He possesses exceptional martial skills and was the one who accompanied the officials to capture the bandits. Huaizhen, being the youngest, is the most handsome and cheerful boy among them

He remained silent, opening his still damp palm, and gazed for a long time. He had encountered the situation of mistakenly killing one of his own before; a wrongful death was just a wrongful death, merely a life taken. He had never cared so much about it before.

Brother Dongfang, you have used the wrong term. My relationship with the two brothers is not that of master and servant. If you truly wish to use the term 'loyalty', then I hold the same 'loyalty' towards them as well

"Well, very good. Why don't you tell me, how many days' journey is it from Lezhi County to the capital?"

If there were no Huai Zhen, there would be no current peace. At that time, Huai Zhen beat the drum to seek justice, entering the county office to see the magistrate, who surprisingly agreed to accept the petition... Young master, what is the matter with you?

Brother Dongfang is right. Just like addressing water disasters, there must be a starting point in order to have a day of completion

Winter, do you plan to settle in Lezhi County

The East suddenly rose, his handsome eyes revealing an unmistakable anger, and he asked in a stern voice:

Upon hearing this, she did not exhibit the usual fervent joy for Chinese affairs; instead, she simply clasped her fists and smiled faintly

The East, with an air of unparalleled nobility, sat on the stool, casually lifting the hem of its garment and remarked indifferently

"Very well, let me be straightforward," he whispered with a light laugh in her ear. "Since we have made a lifelong commitment, it is only natural that there should be love between husband and wife. Over the past few years, we have spent little time together; I fell in love with you at first sight, and you have feelings for me as well. Unfortunately, we have always been just a step away from that marital love. Do you not think that now is the perfect opportunity for us to advance our relationship?"

"Intimate understanding." She said without any consideration. She felt that Ichirō and Dongfang Fei might be easier to connect with on a deeper level, every time these two engaged in their high-spirited banter, it gave her a headache.

Ruan Dong, feeling increasingly confused, decided to lay it all out clearly:

"Is this your way of seeking my promise, Winter?"

Is it thrilling to the utmost extent

With his palms clenched, he ignored the other inmates in the prison and walked straight to the end.

He looked coldly at Feng Yilang and mocked him with a sneer

The figure lost in thought was taken aback, turning around to see him, and a faint smile of mild joy blossomed on her face

"This Huai Zhen indeed possesses a certain degree of intelligence." Dongfang Feidao squinted his handsome eyes. What had he overlooked? What was amiss?

Look at her kiss, it is no different from the last time. A twenty-five-year-old young woman, with no other men in her heart, is unlikely to think about intimacy at all, truly... what a challenge!

She frowned and said seriously

"Thank you, my lord, for promptly sending someone to stop this." Feng Yilang said respectfully, yet his expression was filled with severity and resentment

The Eastern figure let out a slight laugh, refraining from further comment, and simply remarked: "This brother's aspirations are truly worlds apart; while the elder brother sells soft tofu, the younger brother chooses to engage in bribery as a personal attendant."

I have said that what I want is not merely a bed warmer. You are free to do as you wish, and I will not stop you, but I do not desire a wife who treats me with formal politeness and regards me as a stranger once she leaves the room

Indeed, my elder brother is a renowned merchant in Yingkang, and officials often come to visit. It was unsafe for me to stay there. Later, I heard that there were bandits in Lezhi County, so the three of us decided to come over early... At that time, I merely beat the drum to present the petition and conveyed my elder brother's brilliant plan to the magistrate, hoping to achieve success and withdraw. However, the magistrate valued my elder brother's intelligence and Huaining's skills, insisting on keeping them as his close aides...

He slowly opened his palm and was astonished to find that his palm was actually sweating.

He smiled and said, "Even if you plan to settle in Yanmen Pass, I have no objections. Alright, I will live here in this county as well, and you can continue to be your own attendant until the county magistrate steps down"

"Traveling day and night, it has been approximately twenty days." The accompanying warrior replied.

These three brothers are not biological siblings, and their aspirations are naturally different. They passed through this county over four months ago, during which the county suffered greatly from the torment of bandits. The county residents reported their grievances to the authorities several times, but their complaints were forcefully suppressed.

For more than seven months, he has been thinking of her at all times, imagining how they would meet on multiple occasions, but no matter how he thought about it, he never anticipated that he would almost kill her.

"In the East, one does not need a reason to deal with someone."

He carefully searched her expression, confirming that she had no intention of forcing anything. Suddenly, he felt a surge of joy:

Aren't you the man she praises as a genius? How is it that this time you cannot save her either

The East let out a light hum, not wishing to engage in much debate on such matters, simply stating:

Upon hearing this, the person in the blue attire turned away and took a step back

"Alright, this small promise is not something I cannot afford. As you said, from now on, if you disappear from my sight, I will not create trouble because of you. Winter is here, now that your fiancé has arrived, what do you plan to do?"

Instead of gritting his teeth and waiting quietly at the tavern for news, Dongfang walked towards the county office in the east. His expression was a mix of annoyance and anger, completely losing his usual composure

What do you think is the most important aspect between a husband and wife

"Last night, I went to his shop to order tofu and happened to see his elder brother writing a legal document. Out of curiosity, I asked his brother whose document it was. He replied that it was for the widow of the Cheng family, who could not read, so he was drafting it on her behalf. I then asked him where Huai Zhen had gone with his other sworn brother. He only said..."

"Winter, are you implying that I, the master, should leave all the sordid business of murder and arson to those below? When you made the vow with me, did you not know that I am such a person?"

And then? What is the connection between these three brothers and the bandits of County Lezhi?

Ha ha, in winter, now that the sky is high and the emperor is far away, no matter how many conditions there are, it has nothing to do with me

The guest was taken aback by his imposing presence and blurted out, "Young master, have you seen Boss Feng?"

The imperial laws clearly stipulate that robbery cases must be reported to the county office, and if the county magistrate fails to apprehend the robbers after accepting the case, it is tantamount to undermining his own official authority, and he must be punished. Therefore, while the various regions of the empire may appear peaceful on the surface, the true state of public order can only be fully understood by the local county magistrates.

She nodded and said with a bitter smile, "I understand your difficulties"

Considering this, she scratched her head, pondering how to take this step.

This Ruan Donggu, this Ruan Donggu... truly makes him both angry and resentful, wishing he could imprison her, but if he were to truly imprison her, she would no longer be the Ruan Donggu in his heart

What a beautiful autumn, what a beautiful autumn!

Brother Yilang does not agree, but there is nothing he can do. Five months ago, when we passed through this county on our way to Yingkang City, I only felt that this was an unremarkable small county, hardly worth mentioning in terms of prosperity. However, I noticed that both Brother Yilang and Huaining particularly liked this place... Brother Dongfang, do you also guess why they both like this county?

Ruan Dong smiled faintly and said

Although the East did not anticipate her dull nature and had some reservations in her heart, it was precisely to his advantage. Hmph, even if her elder brother is exceptionally talented, how could he possibly teach her how to fall in love with a man?

She looked at him for a moment and smiled sweetly at him

The blue-clad figure does not open the prison door, but instead brings over a round stool

"In winter, this kind of marital relationship always requires cultivation," he said enticingly

"...If you want to make such a metaphor, that's fine. So?" He said with great interest, deliberately brushing his fingers over his beautifully shaped lips, clearly intending to provoke.

Brother Dongfang, it has been a long time since we last met

"This young man did not turn around and run away, which can be considered as having some courage," said Dongfang Fei casually

This... I cannot be certain. His left hand seems to be injured, wrapped in white cloth. Now that I think about it, this wound has indeed been lingering for quite a while

Considering this, he felt quite pleased and summoned the figure in green who was stationed at the dungeon stairs

It's her again

Ah, in fact, which public office does not accept bribes? Huai Zhen is quite conscientious, but under the watchful eyes of the public, the magistrate has no choice but to proceed. I still remember what Huai Zhen said at that time: 'I have indeed accepted money and should be guilty, but the case must continue to be tried. I hope the magistrate will handle it impartially and not dismiss the case!'

The small face has already turned red.

In other words, she would rather he come to harm her than to hurt innocent people. He gazed at her weary little face; she had always been full of vitality and spirit, never showing her exhaustion even when her body was tired, yet now she... Hmph, who is Dongfang Fei? Even if he accidentally harmed his own people, he would not feel guilty! How could he feel guilty!

"Brother Qingyi, it has been a long time since we last met" she said with a smile, clasping her fists together

"Dong Qian, Dong Gu, Huai Zhen, who will be next?" He spoke, his tone slightly cold

Huaizhen has been imprisoned, and now his two elder brothers should be busy arranging everything. If I had known earlier, I would have bought more tofu to take home a couple of days ago

"Brother Dongfang, you have guessed Brother Yilang's strategy, and he has also guessed your plan; the two of you truly have a tacit understanding." She sighed. Sometimes she would think that if Dongfang Fei and Brother Yilang could become confidants, they could work together for the welfare of the people.

The county magistrate feared that someone would seek revenge after his term ended, thinking that by keeping you by his side, your sworn brother would also follow. Little did he know that he was instead being used. In these last six months, you took the opportunity to intervene in official matters, and when the new and old officials transitioned, the three of you siblings disappeared for a while. By the time you reappeared, the county magistrate had long since left Lezhi County, correct

The East has never been a person of the officialdom, and naturally understands that this phenomenon exists in various places, which is not surprising

The accompanying samurai changed his words and said