novelraw Chapter 323 - 315: The Fallen Feng Family
Chapter 323 - 315: The Fallen Feng Family
The Prefectural Governor, who was caught in a compromising situation, did not dare voice any objections. He swiftly stamped the papers, fearing that something might go wrong and the lady would discover it. He even sent his trusted aide to escort them out of the city.
On the other side, Chu Tianyun and his group, led by Luo Yuan, snuck into a dilapidated courtyard.
They trod on the creaking snow and arrived beside a dry well. They descended using a rope and found an unexpected underground world.
Through a semi-collapsed tunnel, the narrowest part required crawling to pass. The dozen or so people exerted all their strength and, after climbing for most of the night, finally reached the surface.
From afar, the city behind them was just a blurry shadow. They had finally escaped, collapsing onto the snow, exhaling heavily.
Unfortunately, their luck seemed poor. Shortly after getting out, they encountered a snow wolf out hunting, causing them to flee in panic.
Chu Qianhe’s father-in-law provoked the snow wolf to buy time for the children to escape, holding it back from chasing after them.
At the last moment, he firmly gripped the snow wolf, urging the kids to flee.
The stunned crowd, though heartbroken and loath to part, couldn’t disregard the elder’s heartfelt wishes. Enduring internal anguish, they decisively rushed away with the children.
Not wanting everyone to be devoured by wolves, they could only run, keep running.
Chu Qianyun, burdened with heavy footsteps and a heavy heart, lost his direction in his frantic escape.
They could only continue forward step by step, cautiously avoiding any wishful thinking. Wolves are social animals; if this snow wolf called its companions, their little lives would be doomed here.
After crossing several hills, their legs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, unable to move anymore.
Especially a few of the younger kids, exhausted and teetering.
"Mother, Lian’er really can’t move anymore."
While speaking, they took an unsteady step, slipping and rolling down the hill with a scream.
Qi Fei’s team had just rounded a corner when he saw a terrified group of people.
They scrambled and stumbled down the mountain towards where the girl was, shouting loudly.
Qi Fei was startled by the sudden appearance of people running down the mountain. In this icy wilderness, did someone dare come out?
It’s not far from suicide; most of them seem to be kids. Could they have encountered human traffickers?
But it didn’t seem like it—they weren’t escorted by guards, nor bound hand and foot. Though their clothes were shabby, they didn’t have that numb look.
Qi Fei decided to go forward to inquire, but before approaching, Chu Qianyun turned to him and shouted, "Wolves are coming, wolves are coming."
They were saved. Seeing the number of people, they could likely handle even a pack of wolves.
Still, a warning was necessary.
"Are there wolves here?" Qi Fei was startled.
"Sir, we encountered a snow wolf earlier. In our frantic escape, we accidentally disturbed you; it was truly unintentional." Chu Qianyun hurriedly explained, fearing they might misunderstand.
After inquiring further, Qi Fei learned they were attacked by a lone snow wolf, sacrificing one person to escape.
The quiet group suddenly became noisy, their faces full of horror.
Some wanted to flee but feared the man on horseback was powerful, and their sale contracts were still in others’ hands. Besides, even reaching beyond the icy wilderness wouldn’t guarantee escape; the fugitive slave status held them back.
In a crowded place, there was hope for rescue. But if they escaped and encountered wolf packs, they would surely die.
"Father, the wolves are coming; should we flee?"
The young man who spoke was reprimanded by the elder with a flick to the forehead, "Flee for what? We are official slaves; not being sent to the mine to dig is already a blessing from the ancestors. Going out alone is a dead end."
"But..."
"Fifth Brother, Father is right. This is our best way out. The owner who dared buy official slaves must be someone of significance. We should be content." Feng Yuzhen spoke up, the eldest son of the Feng family’s main house.
The one scolding him was Feng Liangzheng, the Associate Officer at the Imperial Hospital, sixth rank, cautious and upright. He adopted an approach of benefit and risk avoidance, never making major mistakes since joining Imperial Doctor’s Order.
The intrigues of the Imperial Palace were all resolved under his upright guise or careful prevention.
Unexpectedly, he lost his position for diagnosing the former Empress and was sentenced to family exile.
Feng Yuyang pursed his lips, kept quiet, but internally despised his father and elder brother for being too cowardly—what about being official slaves? As long as they escape to a remote town or village and don’t interact with the government, how would they be exposed?
When the storm passes in a couple of years, they could come out to make a living again. With his father’s medical skills, would they not be able to support the family?
Besides, his elder brother’s medical skills aren’t bad; he is young and could excel.
His second brother is well-educated and could be a tutor; there are many sisters and nieces at home, marrying off a few would solve the food and drink issue.
He glanced again at his second uncle’s family at the back. The second uncle, though without an official position, has opened several pharmacies and could possibly trade in medicinal herbs.
His disdain for the third uncle was highest. He worked at the Ministry of Industry for years but was still a minor eighth-rank subordinate. An illegitimate child remains an illegitimate child and cannot be presentable.
This contempt inadvertently showed in his face, caught by Feng Yuxin.
"Fifth Brother thinks he’s the most capable." She noticed his disdainful nose-in-the-air look. Without the cushion of family elders, he would have already died several times.
Startled by the cold voice, drifting in from the snowy cold, Feng Yuyang shuddered and quickly corrected, "Second Brother, I was wrong. You’re the most capable in our family; I wouldn’t dare compare."
Feng Yuxin snorted coldly, "Know your weight and stay honest."
Among the whole family, he feared his second brother, a former second-class scholar of literary brilliance, quick-tongued, who disliked idle and unmotivated people like him.
Humph! He was born lucky.
Can’t provoke him; at least he can avoid him, right?
He then looked towards the back, seeking out which juniors might be easier to lecture.
Feng Yuxin turned away and no longer paid attention to the incompetent brother, supporting Doctor Feng, whispered, "Father, given the current tumultuous situation, with chaos rampant, protecting most clan members may not be unfortunate. Local powers are scattered, coupled with continued disasters. The entire Tianqi might fracture; surviving and prospering here in the extreme north avoiding calamity could be Heaven’s favor, enabled by our ancestors guiding us. You shouldn’t dwell on self-pity."
He knew ever since the misdiagnosis report came from the palace leading to their father’s fall and imprisonment, clan members’ misunderstanding and accusations have weighed heavily on Father’s heart. Adding the family exile sentence, the clan’s sneers and slanders have never ceased.
Father held a grudge, feeling ashamed before the ancestors, hence his generous attitude towards them. But it was enough. They should understand that the benefits and achievements from power and splendor have to be paid back eventually.
"Ah! I’m useless and old. The Feng family’s generations of effort ruined at my hands; ultimately unable to protect even the ancestral shrine. How can I peacefully face your grandfather in the afterlife?"