Chapter 1441: This Is the Fan Family That Rules All

Feng Fuce smiled faintly. "You might not know her, but I’ve heard some rumors about this Fan Family lady."

Bai Zhi’er’s interest was immediately piqued. She straightened up and asked, "What is it?"

Just then the carriage arrived outside Feng Fuce’s Mansion. He helped her down. "We’ll talk inside. Go change your clothes first. You were leaning on the window watching the rain just now, your shoulders are damp—careful you don’t catch a cold."

His Little Demon Pet was so delicate that Feng Fuce was afraid she’d get chilled.

Fortunately, for this trip, Qingmei had prepared quite a few changes of clothes for Bai Zhi’er.

In this residence Feng Fuce kept in Peng City, there weren’t many servants. Counting the gatekeeper, there were only seven in total.

Not even a single maid.

While Bai Zhi’er was changing, Feng Fuce waited at the door.

"Brother Fu Ce, hurry up and tell me." She was changing and still thinking about the rumor Feng Fuce hadn’t finished.

Feng Fuce crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, letting out a quiet laugh. "You’re that curious?"

"It’s actually nothing that strange. It’s just that this Governor’s Wife, her husband, Master Ke, married into her family."

Bai Zhi’er’s surprised voice floated out from behind the door. "Married in?"

"Mm." Feng Fuce’s eyes were calm as he gazed at the rain falling in the courtyard, but his ears were tuned to Bai Zhi’er’s movements. "In Peng City, the Fan Family is a great clan."

"Back when the Emperor had not yet ascended the throne, the Fan Family was already the most powerful force in Peng City. They kept their own guards, practically soldiers in their own right."

"Because Grandmaster Fan was once an old General, the Fan Family cultivated both civil and martial skills, with deep foundations. After the Emperor took the throne, their family pledged allegiance to the court and continued to be heavily employed."

"So the Fan Family not only controls all the vital lifelines of Peng City, they also hold the whole of Yuzhou in their hands."

"Their sons are involved in both government affairs and commerce. The salt, grain, and iron you see in Peng City all have countless ties to their family."

Bai Zhi’er was even more shocked. "Salt? Without the court’s approval, privately mining salt is against the law!"

Feng Fuce wondered why Bai Zhi’er was taking so long to change.

He glanced sideways at the doorframe and smiled faintly. "That’s why I say the Fan Family is capable. After they pledged allegiance, the Emperor let them continue to manage Peng City’s salt mines."

Bai Zhi’er felt her own father was truly clever.

"The Fan Family has always been in charge of the salt mines. If the government were to forcibly intervene—well, as they say, a Strong Dragon cannot suppress the local snake—the court might run into all sorts of trouble. Better to keep using the Fan Family; neither side loses out."

Feng Fuce made a soft sound of agreement. "Exactly. So, the current governor, Master Ke, was the third place in the imperial examinations ten years ago."

"Grandpa Fan chose a son-in-law from the list and arranged this marriage for his daughter. After Master Ke married into the family, in just a few years he was promoted from Hanlin to garrison commander, and not long after that he became governor. You could say his official career has been smooth sailing."

Bai Zhi’er clicked her tongue in amazement. "He rose through the ranks so quickly. What takes an ordinary person ten or twenty years, he did in just a few. To become governor that fast—his wife’s family is formidable; Master Ke is basking in the Fan Family’s glory."

As she spoke, the ties that fastened behind her neck just wouldn’t knot properly and kept slipping down.

Not only that, but Bai Zhi’er accidentally got the ribbons tangled in her hair.

She frowned, turned her back, twisted around, and tried to fix it in the mirror.

It was not only a struggle, but after fussing for a while it got more and more tangled, and she worked herself into a light sweat on her forehead.

Usually it was Sister Qingmei who dressed her. This outfit was complicated, though very pretty.

It was a purple-to-blue gradient butterfly style; if the ribbon at the neck wasn’t tied tight, the sleeves would slip right off, making it impossible to wear.