A Farm Girl: Three Acres of Fertile Land Can Be Exchanged for a Country

Duan Fufeng continued to handle official business in his study as always. In the years since his return, despite his bad mood, he had not neglected his work for a single day. In fact, he worked even harder than before, often staying up late into the night.

Li Deming was worried that his health couldn't handle it and tried to persuade him many times, but to no avail. So he simply stayed up all night with him, serving him tea and water.

He had heard people say he was foolish, because the Southern Frontier had long since broken away from the Central Plains and become an independent country. Duan Fufeng disdained to declare himself king and continued to hold the title of prince, but in reality, he was already practically an emperor.

Li Deming was the person he trusted most, equivalent to a prime minister or a general. Most people would have started to enjoy themselves long ago if they reached that position.

After all these years, he still didn't own his own house, had no wife or children, and even though he commanded a large army, he still obediently served as Duan Fufeng's servant when he returned to the Prince's mansion, taking care of his daily life.

What's the point of this kind of life?

Li Deming dismissed the idea, saying that some people consider having many wives and concubines to be a sign of success, while others consider having many children and grandchildren to be a sign of happiness.

But he could only feel at ease when he was by Duan Fufeng's side and saw that he was healthy and safe.

Mentors are rare in this world, and Duan Fufeng was his mentor, someone he should be grateful to for a lifetime.

Tuk-tuk-tuk.

"Come in."

"Your Highness." Li Deming pushed open the door and bowed to Duan Fufeng behind the desk. "She has already received the carriage and travel expenses. Once she figures out a way to get into Phoenix City, she should set off."

Duan Fufeng paused for a few seconds as he read, then said without looking up, "Just continue protecting her."

Li Deming cupped his hands again, saying, "Your subordinate obeys."

Duan Fufeng turned a page of the booklet in his hand, glanced out the window, and asked, "Has Amu confessed yet?"

Li Deming shook his head.

"She hasn't confessed yet. This afternoon, as you instructed, I sent someone to interrogate her. I heard she fainted from the pain and is resting now. Shouldn't we wait a couple of days? Otherwise, she might not be able to endure it."

Duan Fufeng's expression was indifferent, as if he were discussing the weather.

“She’s not a very determined person, and she’s probably reached her limit right now. We absolutely cannot let our guard down at this critical juncture; we must seize the opportunity to find out who’s behind this.”

Li Deming replied, "Yes."

Duan Fufeng stopped talking and focused on the booklet in his hand, occasionally picking up his pen to make annotations.

Li Deming should have stepped down at this point, but he had some doubts in his heart, hesitated for a while, and then asked the question.

“Your Highness, since you know that the one in the manor is the fake Wutong and the real Amu, while the one outside is the real Wutong, why didn’t you just keep her in the first place? She shouldn’t have stopped you from interrogating Amu.”

Duan Fufeng didn't look up, and calmly said while looking at the booklet, "There's no need."

"Are you still blaming Wutong for being so heartless back then?"

Before he could finish speaking, Duan Fufeng suddenly raised his head, his cold and piercing gaze falling on his face, chilling him to the bone.

Li Deming swallowed hard, but did not give up. He said in a humble but not arrogant manner, "Your Highness, I have followed you for so many years, and I only want to give you a piece of advice... Some things still require you to seize the opportunity yourself, and never wait until you regret it later."

Duan Fufeng didn't speak, and Li Deming stood motionless, knowing that Duan Fufeng must have taken his words to heart.

Time passed, and occasionally a dog barked outside the window, too faint to hear.

Duan Fufeng suddenly sighed, closed the booklet, and looked up.

“I didn’t hide it from her; the answer is in that letter. I just wanted to know whether I was dispensable to her or whether deep affection was doomed to fail… Judging from the current situation, she probably hasn’t read that letter yet.”

If she really cares about him, she'll definitely want to know what he'll say to her.

Only someone who has no regard for a letter will not bother to read it.

After Wutong left the mansion, he appeared to be busy, but in reality, her image lingered in his mind.

He thought she came back because she couldn't live without him.

Now it seems he was just being delusional.

Seeing the usually aloof prince with a hurt expression in his eyes, Li Deming felt a surge of resentment towards Wutong.

But what good is resentment? Feelings are the only thing in the world that you can't ask for.

Wutong stayed in the new house for another seven or eight days, during which time she tried every means to obtain a pass, but without success.

The situation in the Central Plains was deteriorating day by day, and they could no longer wait. So she decided to take Qian Wanjin's advice and have Shan pack his bags and set off with her.

She can drive herself, and neither of them are delicate older sisters who need to be waited on when they travel together.

Therefore, Wutong left behind several old women and guards. The day before his departure, he sent someone to the Prince's Mansion with the 100,000 yuan to tell them that he was leaving Lingyun Mansion.

They waited all morning before the guard finally returned.

Shan asked nervously, "How is it? Will the prince allow us to leave?"

If he refuses, it means he still has feelings for the sycamore tree. If he does...

The guard wiped the sweat from his brow and handed over two passes.

"The prince was too busy to see me, but Lord Li said I could go. After taking the 100,000, he gave me this and said that we could carry it with us and go anywhere in the Southern Frontier without anyone stopping us."

Shan stared angrily at the two pieces of paper. "They're so heartless!"

After so many years of relationship, he didn't even try to stop her when she wanted to leave.

Wutong felt a little sore, rubbed her nose, took the pass, thanked the guards, and told them to stay here and watch the courtyard while waiting for the Prince's Mansion's arrangements.

After saying that, he picked up his bag, got into the car, and waved to Shan: "Hurry up, we have to leave before dark."

Shan sat in the passenger seat, still looking very unhappy, and said to Wutong, "Sister Wutong, let's go, and never come back. Let them regret it."

"You silly girl, they don't care about us at all. Even if they die out there, they won't regret it."

Wutong said self-deprecatingly, closed the car door, and stepped on the gas.

The car, loaded with fuel, the two people's luggage, and food and water for the roadside, drove out of the yard and onto the main road under Wutong's control.

The new house was not far from the city gate. After driving for more than half an hour, they passed the gate guards' inspection and left Lingyun Mansion.

The weather was cold, and everything outside the city walls was lush and green. Stacks of straw were piled up in the fields, and the withered yellow tips swayed in the wind, waiting to be burned to ashes and scattered back into the earth next spring.

The car was stuffy and poorly ventilated. Wutong rolled down the window a little, and a gust of cold wind rushed in, instantly invigorating everyone.

She glanced at the mountain, noticed her hunched over, and asked, "Aren't you cold?"

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