"What do you want?"
"This child is going to save Father."
"Nonsense, this is clearly aimed at our Feng family. You're walking right into a trap now? After raising you, how can your brain still be so foolish!"
Madam Hua, who never usually scolded her son, now berated him fiercely.
Feng Jinhua was upright and acted with great energy. He was an excellent vanguard during the family's prosperity, but when the family faced hardship, such a temper could bring him great harm.
Therefore, Madam Hua had to be strict, hoping it was not too late.
"The immediate priority is to discuss countermeasures with General Xiao, not for you to rush to the General's mansion! If they arrest you as well, how will the Feng family survive in the future?"
Madam Hua calmly dealt with everything before her. She had weathered many storms with Feng Shan and would not panic at such a time.
So, as mother and son went to the military camp to consult with General Xiao.
In a small courtyard of the Feng family, Feng Jinhao was tending to his flowers and plants. As his long, slender fingers gently stroked the vines and leaves, they seemed both fragile and capable of ending their lives at any moment.
"Fourth Young Master."
"Any new news?"
"As Fourth Young Master predicted, after Feng Shan was captured, Madam Hua took Feng Jinhua to see General Xiao."
"Their strength is insufficient to deal with the Ninth Prince, it's harder than ascending to heaven. Naturally, they must seek support. Since that's the case, let's have someone plant some evidence of assassination in the residence of the Su clan people. This will further solidify Feng Shan's crime!"
"Yes!"
Uncle Zhuang's eyes revealed a look of determination.
They had long since pledged allegiance to the Ninth Prince and Duke Wei's faction, making it easy to deal with the Feng family from within and without.
For instance, the assassination attempt by the Su clan people was his idea.
It not only gave the Ninth Prince an opportunity to deal with Feng Shan but also resolved his predicament.
Otherwise, he didn't know what had gotten into Madam Hua, but she had actually discovered some clues regarding the mole.
If her attention wasn't immediately diverted, she might soon investigate him.
He still had important matters to attend to; how could he be ruined by Madam Hua?
With a gentle pinch, the vine snapped, and a faint green liquid flowed out, looking like poison and causing alarm.
Madam Hua, rushing to the military camp at this moment, had no idea that the mole she had been searching for was Feng Jinhao, whom she had raised for many years.
His appearance as a pale scholar, timid and frail, was truly an excellent camouflage.
In the military camp, Xiao Ji invited Madam Hua and Feng Jinhua into the main tent.
Their expressions were grim. Madam Hua immediately knelt before Xiao Ji and said mournfully,
"Please, General, uphold justice for our master. The Su clan people have always lived peacefully; why would they assassinate the Ninth Prince?"
"Madam Feng, please rise. I certainly believe in Brother Feng's innocence. I am currently doing my best to find evidence to prove his innocence."
"Before I came here, I had already instructed the steward to investigate if any of the Su clan people are missing. I believe we will have an answer soon. If we know who the assassins are, we might have a way to deal with this."
Xiao Ji nodded, his eyes showing admiration.
Madam Hua was indeed worthy of being the mistress of the Feng family. She remained calm in the face of adversity and could quickly devise solutions to cope. It was no wonder she held the reins of the Feng family, and Brother Feng never doubted her.
"Ultimately, this matter is due to angering the Ninth Prince over the tribute. If he were only after wealth, the Feng family would have to shed a layer of skin."
"General, please rest assured. As long as my master is safe, I would sacrifice the Feng family without hesitation. Money can be earned again, but if a person..."
Before she could finish, the tears she had been holding back began to flow.
She needed to remain composed in front of her son.
But now, she could barely hold back, fearing that Feng Shan might suffer misfortune.
Then the genius of her Feng family would collapse.
Soon, the steward delivered the news.
"Madam, all seven hundred and thirty-nine members of the clan are accounted for. Not a single person has left or disappeared without cause."
Upon hearing this, everyone present fell silent. To frame Feng Shan with such a clumsy excuse, yet not make any of the Su clan people disappear, weren't they afraid of being found out?
"Mother, with this result, it proves Father is being framed, doesn't it?"
"There must be something we've overlooked. I don't believe everyone around the Ninth Prince is incompetent."
Madam Hua's firm reply was acknowledged by Xiao Ji and Xiao Muqian.
"The blacksmith, it's that blacksmith!"
Madam Hua suddenly exclaimed. Except for Feng Jinhua, Xiao Ji and his nephew both reacted.
It was indeed possible!
He was a member of the Shu clan and had not pledged allegiance in Liangzhou City. They didn't know where he had gone in the end, making him the most likely suspect.
General Su had the secret guards of Prince Ding, so his intelligence was exceptionally keen.
They quickly revealed the blacksmith's identity.
"Do you know a Su clan person named Nie He?"
"We do! He was the blacksmith who refused to stay at that time. We were busy settling the other Su clan people, so we didn't know where he went."
Madam Hua replied hastily.
An Li had mentioned his name before; she remembered it!
Upon hearing Madam Hua's answer, General Su revealed all the information he had about him.
"Nie He is not from the Su clan, but from the He Yu family of Ling Gui Kingdom. Many years ago, he traveled between Da Jin and Ling Gui Kingdom with his parents' merchant caravan, trading silk and tea. It is said his family was very prominent. Later, for some unknown reason, their caravan was robbed, and both his parents were killed, while he disappeared for many years. The current patriarch of the He Yu clan is his full cousin, who has been trying to find his whereabouts. Little did they expect him to be mixed in with the Su clan people. He bears a mark of the He Yu family, which is how his identity was confirmed."
"Someone from the He Yu family?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ji and Xiao Muqian were both surprised.
The He Yu family held considerable status and influence in Ling Gui Kingdom, practically being a wealthy family that could control the imperial power. Whichever prince they supported was destined to ascend the throne, hence the He Yu family members were called the "underground emperors."
Could the unremarkable blacksmith be from the He Yu family? Then why did he wander abroad and refuse to return?
Could it be that the He Yu family deliberately caused his family's ruin?
Another series of mysteries.
"Now that the person is identified, what should be our next step?"
Madam Hua asked, though she already had a plan in mind: to sort out the Feng family's finances upon returning and find a way to raise a hundred thousand taels of silver, hoping to redeem Feng Shan.
One hundred thousand taels of silver would allow an ordinary family to live a prosperous life for several lifetimes.
Unfortunately, she was unaware that the Ninth Prince was targeting the Feng family's mines. This mere hundred thousand taels of silver was far from enough!