NFBE Chapter 181 Seeds of Doubt
Chapter 181 Seeds of Doubt
Chapter 181 Seeds of Doubt
Feng Jingxuan stood at the city gate, braving the cold wind, his gaze determined. The situation in Nanyang Prefecture was complex and volatile, and he was fully aware of the heavy responsibility he shouldered. As the crown prince of the Prince of Zhennan, protecting Nanyang Prefecture's safety wasn't just for the glory of the Feng Family Army; it was also a matter of life and death for hundreds of thousands of civilians. He had to personally stabilize the situation, lest the city fall into further chaos.
He quickly issued orders, arranging for his men to register and properly house all surrendered enemy soldiers, while those captured refugees were brought back to the barracks for surveillance. To ensure the Third Prince could not escape, he dispatched his trusted confidants to capture him and his entourage. However, the Third Prince's guards refused to yield and fiercely resisted. Feng Jingxuan realized that these guards were extremely loyal to the Third Prince and could not be easily dealt with, so he ordered his guards to use force to forcibly subdue them.
After a fierce battle, the Third Prince and his men were finally captured, and Feng Jingxuan felt relieved. Although the situation had temporarily stabilized, he understood that this was only the beginning, and the challenges ahead would be even more daunting. He quickly arranged for the 30,000 Feng family troops to camp at the site and prepare for defense to prevent any unforeseen events.
Feng Jingxuan mounted his warhorse and led a small group of guards towards Nanyang City. He went there in person because the situation in the city was complicated and only by observing it with his own eyes could he formulate the next plan.
When he arrived at the city gate, he reined in his horse, looked up at the city wall and shouted loudly: "Nie Yuan, open the door for me!"
Upon hearing the voice, the soldiers guarding the city walls nervously peered out. A moment later, a figure stepped onto the wall. It was Nie Yuan. Seeing Feng Jingxuan, his expression tensed, and he immediately bowed respectfully, "Prince, what brings you here?"
Feng Jingxuan nodded slightly and said in a firm tone: "I want to go in and see the situation in the city." His eyes were sharp and his words revealed unquestionable determination.
Nie Yuan paused, a hint of hesitation crossing his face. He pondered inwardly: The situation within the city was still not completely under control. If the prince came in person, and something unexpected happened, the responsibility would be grave. However, thinking of Feng Jingxuan's status and prestige, he decided to proceed. "Prince, please wait a moment. I'll open the gate immediately." He waved to the guards behind him, signaling for the gate to be opened.
With a creaking sound, the heavy city gate slowly opened, and Feng Jingxuan rode into the city with several personal guards.
Entering the city, Feng Jingxuan immediately sensed an air of unease. The streets were deserted, save for a few pedestrians hurrying by, their faces filled with fear and wariness. The soldiers within the city patrolled with tense expressions, seemingly waiting for any moment for a sudden disaster to strike.
Feng Jingxuan couldn't help but frown. The situation in the city was more serious than he had imagined. Nanyang Prefecture was a key city within the jurisdiction of the Prince of Zhennan. If peace couldn't be quickly restored, the entire situation would fall into turmoil, and he would face even greater pressure.
He glanced around thoughtfully, his gaze finally settling on a young man. Standing beside Nie Yuan, the young man stood tall and straight, his eyes sharp yet calm, exuding an indescribable sense of majesty. Feng Jingxuan's heart skipped a beat; this man looked no ordinary staff member.
"Who is this?" Feng Jingxuan asked softly, his tone cautious.
Nie Yuan immediately replied, "Sir, this is Yichen, the eldest son of Taoyuan Villa. Thanks to the support of Taoyuan Villa, Nanyang Prefecture's food supply was maintained and a famine was avoided. He is currently serving as an advisor to Lord Wen."
"Taoyuan Villa..." Feng Jingxuan repeated the name thoughtfully. He had heard of Taoyuan Villa's reputation in the martial arts world, but he had never imagined they would be involved in the affairs of Nanyang Prefecture. This young man exuded a calm and composed demeanor, clearly more than just a simple staff member. His background might be more complex than meets the eye.
Feng Jingxuan's gaze fell on Gu Yichen again, and he felt a surge of vigilance. Although this man seemed friendly, his intuition told him that Gu Yichen was not simple, and perhaps he was hiding some unknown purpose.
Gu Yichen seemed to feel Feng Jingxuan's scrutiny, but he did not show any discomfort. Instead, he smiled slightly and bowed respectfully, saying, "Yichen greets the prince. I am willing to serve you."
Feng Jingxuan nodded slightly, his tone cold: "No need to be so polite."
Although he temporarily suppressed his doubts, Feng Jingxuan knew that facing such an unfathomable opponent, he must always remain vigilant. The situation in the city was so complicated that he could not trust anyone easily.
Then, Feng Jingxuan followed Nie Yuan and continued walking towards the city. The atmosphere in the city became increasingly solemn. Soldiers were on high alert, and pedestrians were in a hurry. It seemed as if the entire city was shrouded in a layer of tension.
"Nie Yuan," Feng Jingxuan suddenly stopped after walking for a while, looked at him sharply, and asked, "Where are Wen Yuan and Xinying now?"
Nie Yuan was stunned, clearly not expecting Feng Jingxuan to suddenly mention these two people. He hesitated for a moment before replying, "Lord Wen and Miss Xinying are currently handling matters at the prefect's residence. They are doing their best to appease the people and prevent the situation in the city from getting out of control."
Feng Jingxuan felt a small sense of comfort at this answer. Wen Yuan was a trusted advisor he had grown up with, and Xinying was someone he never doubted. The two of them were undoubtedly his strongest support. In these precarious times, with their help, the situation in Nanyang Prefecture might be able to turn around.
"Okay, take me to see them." Feng Jingxuan nodded, his tone tinged with urgency. He knew that he had to unite all the forces he could rely on to face the huge challenges that were coming.
Nie Yuan followed his orders and headed towards the prefect's residence with Feng Jingxuan and Gu Yichen. Along the way, Feng Jingxuan's thoughts raced. He needed to quickly devise a strategy to deal with the current situation, not only to appease the city's inhabitants but also to prevent interference from outside forces. However, Gu Yichen's appearance sowed doubts in his mind: was this mysterious young man truly as harmless as he appeared?
In the turbulent world of Nanyang Prefecture, anyone could harbor unfathomable motives. Feng Jingxuan knew that only by remaining calm and rational could he emerge victorious in this life-or-death struggle.