"Zhongda, the commotion you caused earlier was quite significant. For safety's sake, we should leave," Sima Lang said, satisfied with the calm demeanor of Sima Yi. The fact that his younger brother had grown to such a level was a great joy for him. Things like running away from home were now trivial.
"Leaving would be even more dangerous. Chen Zichuan and his people will undoubtedly scrutinize everyone leaving Fenggao after what happened. The Sima family of Henei is a noble clan, so it's not unusual for one or two prodigies to emerge. If we were to draw attention by leaving, there would be no way to conceal ourselves," Sima Yi replied calmly.
"Staying in the city isn't safe either. We travelers will certainly be the first to be investigated," Sima Lang agreed with Sima Yi's assessment but still expressed concern.
"No need to worry. The Fan family has already indicated that Chen Zichuan hails from the Chen family of Yingchuan, and the Chen and Sima families are related by marriage. If we buy a gift and present it to him as equals, there should be no issues," Sima Yi said confidently.
"Is the head of the Fan family here as well? I met him once several years ago. If we're going to do this, we might as well do it thoroughly," Sima Lang said with a smile, agreeing with Sima Yi's approach. After all, they were from noble families—why hide?
"We'll find out when we ask," Sima Yi replied with a composed demeanor.
In another room, Zhuge Jin gazed out the window at the patrols of the city guard. "These Fenggao troops are not to be underestimated. Even without a leader, they remain disciplined. Every one of them is likely a battle-hardened veteran. I wonder how Chen Zichuan managed to keep so many old soldiers alive."
"It seems Fenggao is gearing up to investigate Zhongda. His mental talent is too dangerous for any top-tier figure to ignore," Zhuge Liang said with a slight smile. While others might only see an unusually large number of city guards, Zhuge Liang could tell that Sima Yi had caused quite a stir. "The scale of this is not small."
"It won't be easy. If Fenggao had a complete household registration system in place, finding him would just be a matter of time. But since it's only just being implemented and many people aren't registered yet, catching him will be difficult," Zhuge Jin said, his long face twitching slightly.
"In an effort not to disturb the people, they likely chose this voluntary registration method. Once most people are registered, it will become mandatory. But for now, it's not feasible," Zhuge Liang observed as another patrol passed by. "Compared to the Danyang elite troops, I find these city guards more impressive."
"Indeed, they are a strong force," Zhuge Jin nodded in agreement.
"Uncle, how are you finding your stay here?" Chen Xi asked casually as he walked through a few streets to reach a secluded estate where Fan Liang and his family resided.
"It's quite comfortable, thanks to your arrangements, Zichuan. You've done well," Fan Liang said with satisfaction. "With things as they are, I'm relieved to entrust Jian'er to you."
Two years ago, when Fan Liang visited the bedridden Chen Xi, he hesitated to honor his promise to marry his daughter to Chen Xi. After all, Chen Xi looked like he could die at any moment, and Fan Liang didn't want his daughter to be branded a widow so early. He recalled the story of Cai Yan—a woman far more talented than Fan Jian, whose reputation was tarnished by the death of her husband. No one dared to marry her despite her beauty and virtue, fearing misfortune.
Now, however, Fan Liang had no such concerns. After Chen Xi recovered and met with him again, Fan Liang felt much more at ease. Though Chen Xi hadn't achieved great fame at that point, his appearance and demeanor reassured Fan Liang that his daughter would be well cared for. He didn't expect Chen Xi to be a towering figure—just stable enough to ensure his daughter's happiness.
As time passed, Chen Xi's rise surprised Fan Liang. What had been a frail, sickly young man transformed into someone with a radiant aura, indicating divine favor. When Fan Liang looked at Chen Xi now, he saw someone with an unshakable fortune—a man whose prosperity was destined, regardless of who ruled the land. Such a match made Fan Liang ecstatic. His daughter would not only be safe but also enjoy wealth and honor throughout her life.
Because of this, Fan Liang became increasingly satisfied with Chen Xi as a son-in-law. He handed over the leadership of the Fan family to another member and moved to Mount Tai with his concubines, trusting that Chen Xi would take care of everything. After all, if anything went wrong, his daughter was there to handle it.
Chen Xi could only accept Fan Liang's attitude with a wry smile. His father-in-law seemed to care only about doting on Fan Jian and making sure she was well-provided for. In other words, Chen Xi had been relegated to the role of an ideal provider.