Exiled to the Frontier, He Became the Empire’s Most Powerful Lord - Chapter 28

“This Python City has truly begun to resemble a place of everyday life!”

“It’s a pity that the people here are still too poor.”

A smile appeared on Zhou Lingfeng’s face.

However, he believed that as long as he relied on what was in his mind, the people here would gradually live a better life.

Even in Shengjing, the place hailed as the pinnacle of the Yuanwu era, only the wealthy and powerful wore smiles!

As for ordinary people, their faces showed a hurried and numb expression.

“Big brother, you’re so handsome! When Aqing grows up, will you marry me?”

A very cute five or six-year-old girl suddenly ran up to Zhou Lingfeng, holding malt candy in her hand, and smiled to reveal a small mouth missing a front tooth.

Zhou Lingfeng couldn’t help but chuckle; he never expected that a cripple like him could attract attention.

Before he could say anything, the little girl stuffed the malt candy in her hand into his.

“This is Aqing’s betrothal gift to you. Once you accept it, you can’t go back on your word!”

The little girl looked at Zhou Lingfeng with great joy.

The maltose still retained the warmth of the girl’s hand, and a sense of warmth suddenly welled up in Zhou Lingfeng’s heart.

“Young master, I’m so sorry! My daughter is still young and doesn’t know any better; she offended you!”

A woman rushed over, picked up the little girl, and apologized to Zhou Lingfeng.

This woman is dressed in coarse cloth, clearly indicating that she lives in poverty!

However, she has delicate features and possesses a certain beauty and charm.

Zhou Lingfeng put the maltose in his mouth, and the sweet taste filled his mouth.

This kind of flavor can only be found during Chinese New Year when Mom is around!

“This maltose tastes good! I can’t just eat it for free! Mo Li, here’s a reward!”

Zhou Lingfeng smiled, and Mo Li immediately took out one tael of silver and handed it to the woman.

The woman hadn’t expected Zhou Lingfeng to be so generous, giving away silver so readily.

She hurriedly waved her hands in fear, refusing, but Zhou Lingfeng’s face darkened as he said, “If you don’t accept it, are you looking down on me?”

“Sister, our young master is very concerned about his reputation. It’s unreasonable for him to eat without paying!”

Mo Li also tried to persuade him from the side.

“This humble woman thanks you for your generous gift, young master!”

The woman hurriedly left, carrying little Aqing in her arms.

The little figure perched on its mother’s shoulder was waving frantically at Zhou Lingfeng, seemingly reminding him not to forget their promise.

“He’s a promising talent!”

Zhou Lingfeng waved to her and then said.

“Yes! This little Aqing seems to have quite a talent for martial arts!”

Mo Li also said with some joy.

After her meridians were opened, she practiced the Tie family’s health preservation techniques, and her cultivation level immediately reached the fifth rank.

“I wasn’t talking about her!”

Zhou Lingfeng said calmly.

“Your Highness, that woman’s name is Jiang Chujian. When she first arrived in Mangcheng, she was seriously injured and unconscious on the street. She was taken in by an old widow who sold sweet soup. Not long after, she gave birth to a daughter. The old widow left this year, and this woman took over the sweet soup stall.”

“But the food at this restaurant is really good!”

Not long after, Hong Jiuming appeared like a ghost and reported to Zhou Lingfeng.

“This woman has likely lost her memory, and her martial arts cultivation has been sealed! I just sensed a powerful, extremely yin true essence within her!”

“This true essence should be about the same as my strength!”

Zhou Lingfeng speculated.

“This servant has also noticed! The master of that supreme Yin True Essence is absolutely no match for this servant!”

Hong Jiuming nodded solemnly.

“That’s at least the second-grade Grandmaster level!”

The thought flashed through their minds simultaneously, and after exchanging a glance, they stopped talking about it.

“Have your people secretly keep an eye on things from time to time!”

Zhou Lingfeng gave the instructions.

“Thump thump thump thump!”

Suddenly, a deafening drumbeat rang out, followed by the sound of firecrackers and fireworks filling the sky throughout the city.

The eve of the Lunar New Year in the thirty-eighth year of the Yuanwu reign has finally arrived!

The entire city of Mangcheng was filled with a festive atmosphere at this time.

The feelings that the people of Da Zhou have for the Spring Festival are indescribable!

Especially on New Year’s Eve, whether people are traveling from all over the country or on a journey, their greatest hope is to return to their beloved hometown and reunite with their parents and relatives.

Even after traversing countless mountains and rivers, enduring hardships and displacement.

But being able to get home at the most crucial moment makes it all worthwhile.

People from Zhou who work hard all year to save money will turn into money-spending angels during the Spring Festival. Even if their pockets are empty, they will still feel very happy.

Mo Li pushed Zhou Lingfeng into a small room behind the main stage.

This is the barbarian king’s private room, fully equipped with all sorts of things.

There is a passageway leading directly from this small house to the main stage, which is covered with soft sheepskin carpets.

The people of Mangcheng began to enter the viewing platform with their tickets!

The initially disorderly crowd spontaneously lined up to enter after seeing the fierce soldiers guarding the gate.

“After the event, please arrange for me to have a face-to-face chat with those girls from the brothels!”

Zhou Lingfeng has never forgotten this incident.

After all, Hong Jiuming had always felt very sorry for those girls after the Qinglong Gang was destroyed.

In yesterday’s crackdown, in addition to arresting those who provided protection, all the other small gangs were also completely wiped out.

Some uneasy individuals voluntarily came to turn themselves in.

“Eunuch Hong, the Liu family bought a full forty of the best tickets tonight, twenty more than all three of our families combined!”

In a secret room, Lei Xingmie lowered his head and reported to Hong Jiuming.

The Liu family can be considered the fourth largest family in Mangcheng!

It is said that they have a marriage relationship with a collateral branch of the Lin family in Funing.

The Lin family of Fu Ning is one of the five great clans with a history spanning five millennia!

They have been operating in the southern province for a thousand years and are deeply rooted in it.

It is said that each of the five great clans with a thousand-year history has a Grandmaster of the First Rank backing them up, so even the emperor would not dare to touch them easily.

Behind every Grandmaster of the First Rank, there is undoubtedly an unpredictable force at play.

The Lin family of Fu Ning is the Second Prince’s most steadfast supporter! This is because the Second Prince’s mother, Consort Lin, is the eldest daughter of the Lin family of Fu Ning.

As for the city lord of Funing City, he was naturally aligned with the Lin family.

Although the southern province is located in a remote area, Fuzhou City is a natural city with excellent scenery and a flourishing literary culture.

For a thousand years, the number of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) and Zhuangyuan (top scholars in the imperial examinations) produced by Fuzhou City has been no less than that of the provinces south of the Yangtze River, which is truly astonishing.

“I already knew about this! But the fact that you told me in time shows that you are truly loyal to the Prince! You three families, prepare to receive the wealth left behind by the Liu family!”

Hong Jiuming patted Lei Xingmie on the shoulder and then walked out.

“What kind of trump cards does the Prince hold that even the Lin family of Fu Ning is not afraid of?”

Seeing Hong Jiuming’s calm and composed demeanor, Lei Xingmie naturally felt at ease.

It should be noted that the Liu family has expanded rapidly in Mangcheng over the years thanks to their relationship with the Lin family of Funing.

As for the existence of the Azure Dragon Gang, it was actually established by the Liu family in Python City.

Otherwise, the Lord of Fu Ning City couldn’t possibly be unaware of the many outrageous things the Azure Dragon Gang had done.

If it weren’t for the barbarian king’s enfeoffment, which temporarily subdued the Liu family, there would probably be four major families in Mangcheng by now.