After Marrying the Disabled Fourth Prince

Chapter 23

The door creaked open, and Feng Xiang stood at the entrance, squinting inside. His vision wasn't great due to his age; he only saw Xu Guang's burly silhouette and didn't catch his menacing expression. "Oh," he said, "Yongjia, I've been calling you for ages. Do you have a guest?"

Feng Yongjia, clearly anxious, glanced nervously at Xu Guang, fearing he might say something incriminating in front of his father. He hurriedly tried to get Feng Xiang to leave, "Dad, can't it wait until tomorrow? I'm busy with a guest right now."

"My guest is even more important," Feng Xiang insisted. "Yongjia, he's our benefactor. He needs to leave, and his legs aren't good. You should take him."

Feng Yongjia, barely hiding his impatience, lowered his voice, "We have so many servants. Let them do it. I'm busy."

"You unfilial son!" Feng Xiang scolded, but softened his tone immediately, "Everything you have now is thanks to that benefactor. Don’t be disrespectful. Go and help him."

Turning to Xu Guang, Feng Xiang bowed, "Honored guest, I apologize for the poor hospitality."

Xu Guang sneered, "Your old man’s got a good heart. Too bad he raised a wastrel."

Feng Yongjia, keeping his head down, muttered apologies. Feng Xiang, hearing this, was puzzled. How was his son a wastrel?

Before he could ask, Feng Yongjia suddenly stood up and quickly ushered his father out, "Dad, just give me a moment to finish talking. I'll be right out."

As Feng Xiang left, Feng Yongjia shut the door with a bang. Turning back to Xu Guang, he swallowed hard, pleading, "Sir, please give me a few more days. Five days, at most. I'll definitely get the money together for you."

Xu Guang leaned back in his chair, tapping his whip against his knee, and raised an eyebrow, "Alright."

He then stood, getting close to Feng Yongjia's face, and whispered menacingly, "If you don't, I'll cut off a few parts of you to sell for wine money."

Feng Yongjia's face went pale, and his legs nearly gave out beneath him.

Xu Guang grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up, "Let's go. I want to see what your father’s benefactor looks like."

...

Bao Ning and Pei Yuan sat in the carriage, the door open, allowing them to see outside.

A brown mare was harnessed to the carriage, while Saifeng stood a few steps away, flicking its tail impatiently. The mare leaned over, trying to nuzzle Saifeng, who glanced at her and then walked away with a clatter of hooves.

The mare’s eyes lingered longingly on Saifeng, looking a bit disappointed.

Bao Ning thought to herself, the master trains the horse to be just like them—aloof and proud.

Remembering Feng Xiang’s earlier words about the horse farm being under Pei Yuan’s care, Bao Ning's curiosity got the better of her, and she leaned over to ask, “Is that old man, Feng Xiang, an old friend of yours?”

Pei Yuan, looking down at his nails, replied, “You could say that.”

After a pause, he continued, “Feng Xiang was my old stableman.”

Bao Ning was surprised, “And the horse farm…”

“I gave it to him.” Pei Yuan’s head remained lowered, making it hard for Bao Ning to read his expression. His voice was calm as he explained, “When my estate was confiscated, he protected something very important to me and got injured in the process. I had nothing else to give him. He loves horses, so I gave him the horse farm, hoping he could enjoy his old age in peace.”