"My marriage is not sothing my father needs to worry about," Li You imdiately refused. His gaze, however, was fixed on the Zhao Mansion, his eyes burning with fervor. Seeing this, Li Si naturally understood what his son was thinking and simply decided not to concern himself with it any longer.
「...」
「Ti flew by!」
「Zhao Territory.」
The area had not yet been divided into counties; the entire Zhao Territory was governed as two jurisdictions, with Han Fei serving as the chief official.
「Inside Handan City.」
Within the forr Chancellor Mansion, Han Fei sat amidst a mountainous pile of official docunts. Even with his talent, he was sowhat overwheld. The dark circles under his eyes made it clear he hadn’t slept well for many days.
"Sir," a subordinate official said respectfully to Han Fei, "working so hard on these docunts every day, you must balance work with rest. If you continue like this, I fear your health may not hold up."
"It’s alright," Han Fei said without lifting his head. "Just one more month of this, and the political affairs of Zhao Territory will be largely in order."
"Brother Han seems to be enjoying his days, keeping company with official docunts every day," a voice chid in just then.
Hearing the voice, Han Fei, who had been imrsed in his work, did sothing rare: he put down his docunts and looked up with a smile toward the hall’s entrance.
"Oh," Han Fei said with a bit of a tease, "isn’t this our General Zhao Feng? Why have you returned from your leave so soon?"
"If I didn’t return, how would the Wu’an Military Camp be established?" Zhao Feng replied with a smile, taking a seat beside Han Fei.
The subordinate officials in the hall were startled and hastily saluted Zhao Feng. "Greetings, Senior General."
Zhao Feng waved dismissively. "There’s no need for that."
"Thank you, Senior General." The subordinate officials imdiately stood stiffly.
"Look at those dark circles. How long has it been since you’ve slept?" Zhao Feng asked. "How about going for a drink? They’ve opened an Immortals’ Liquor House here in Handan City."
"Go? How could I not?" Han Fei laughed. "I missed your wedding feast, so you definitely can’t escape treating to the fine wine of the Immortals’ Liquor House."
Zhao Feng raised an eyebrow. "Then what are we still sitting here for?"
"Haha." Han Fei imdiately stood up, leaving the docunts behind. He followed Zhao Feng out of the hall, a clear sign of how much he valued the invitation.
「Inside the Immortals’ Liquor House!」
In a VIP room on the third floor, Han Fei couldn’t help but laugh as he looked around the elegant private room and saw the people queuing below. "I never would have guessed that you’re a top-tier VIP here. Where did you get so much money for wine?"
"My annual salary is sufficient," Zhao Feng replied with a faint smile, not elaborating further.
"VIPs get to enjoy the finest wine. I won’t be holding back today," Han Fei declared loudly. "Waiter, bring us your best wine!"
"Right away!" the waiter’s voice called back.
In a short while, several pots of wine were delivered.
"The Great King has granted the na Wu’an to your military camp," Han Fei said with a smile as he poured a cup. "That certainly carries profound significance. What are your thoughts, Brother Zhao?"
"What thoughts could I have?" Zhao Feng replied lightly, taking a sip of wine. "The only ti I’ll have any real feelings about it is when I’m actually made a Martial Lord for my military achievents."
"To be made a Martial Lord, you would first have to beco the Grand Commandant. Only after reaching a rank above Grand Commandant would you be granted such a title. Brother Zhao, I have high hopes for you," Han Fei said, raising his cup to Zhao Feng.
"You shouldn’t get your hopes up for . You, on the other hand, requested to govern Zhao Territory. After returning to the capital, you’ll be able to rank among the Nine Ministers."
Zhao Feng smirked teasingly. "Who would have thought? The once-desperate Han Fei, who seed on the verge of death, is now about to beco one of the Nine Ministers of Great Qin." He seed to be recalling Han Fei’s state in the prison cell, or perhaps how he had forced Han Fei to submit.
"Can you please not bring that up?" Han Fei looked at Zhao Feng, exasperated. When he was first captured and confronted Zhao Feng, he had truly wanted to strangle the man. It was an insult to scholars, utterly uncivilized.
"Haha," Zhao Feng laughed heartily. "I’m just reminiscing."
"Speaking of which," Han Fei said, his expression turning serious, "I still have to thank you. If it weren’t for you, I’m afraid I’d be dead by now. Not just because I had lost the will to live, but also because of Li Si. I owe you my life twice over." At that mont, his eyes filled with an indescribable gratitude.
Perhaps that was why whenever soone at court targeted Zhao Feng, Han Fei would always jump to his defense without a second thought. Their ti together had not only left Han Fei with a sense of gratitude but also the feeling of having found a kindred spirit.
"About establishing the new military camp," Zhao Feng said with a smile, changing the subject. "Two of the Main Generals are my forr Deputy Generals. Do you know who the third one is?"
"I only know your camp was granted the na Wu’an. I really don’t know anything else. Who is it?" Han Fei asked imdiately.
"Li You," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
Upon hearing the na, Han Fei’s expression shifted slightly. He took a sip of wine. "Li You. I know of him. Li Si’s son. Compared to his father, the son is quite upright. But Li Si is overthinking things. The Great King is still in his pri, yet he’s already planning for the future."
"By placing Li You under your command, he ensures that whatever happens, as long as Li You follows you closely, your character is such that you would surely protect him. Li Si... what a scher," Han Fei remarked with a faint smile.
Talking to a clever man could be tedious sotis; with just a single sentence, he could grasp the deeper aning. Han Fei had naturally seen right through it.
"Li Si is afraid that when Fusu ascends the throne, Wang Wan and Huai Zhuang won’t spare him, so he arranged for Li You to join the army. But Li Si is still thinking too much," Zhao Feng said, sounding exasperated. "Wang Wan and Huai Zhuang are so old now. I doubt they’ll even live another ten years."
Li Si was young and one of the Nine Ministers. While those two old foxes, Wang Wan and Huai Zhuang, were cunning, they were indeed old. They were already over sixty; could they really expect to live past eighty?
"Hahaha," Han Fei burst out laughing. "You’ve got a sharp tongue. If Wang Wan and the others heard that, they’d surely die of anger."
"Dying of anger would be for the best. It would save the trouble of them constantly bothering ," Zhao Feng laughed as well.
At that mont, Zhang Ming’s voice ca from outside the room. "My Lord, General Li You is on the first floor and requests an audience with Lord Han Fei."
"Li You?" Zhao Feng’s expression remained calm as his gaze shifted to Han Fei. "It’s up to you whether to see him or not."
"Let’s see him," Han Fei said with an indifferent smile. "I, Han Fei, am not so petty. Besides, his father’s affairs shouldn’t be held against him."
Zhao Feng nodded and called to Zhang Ming at the door, "Bring him up."
A short while later, Li You was brought into the room.
Upon seeing Han Fei, Li You didn’t hesitate for a mont and imdiately knelt. "This nephew, Li You, apologizes to Uncle on behalf of my father."
As he spoke, Li You kowtowed deeply, touching his forehead to the floor.
Seeing this, Han Fei glanced at Zhao Feng with a look of surprise. "Why do you apologize?" he asked calmly.
Li You lifted his head and said respectfully, "Although I do not know what my father did to you back then, Uncle, it must have been sothing unforgivable. As his son, it is not my place to pass judgnt on his actions. Nevertheless, having t you today, it is only right that I apologize on his behalf."
"Are you asking to forgive your father?" Han Fei gazed intently at Li You.
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