I Shut the Door and Played by Myself

Fengtian, Marshal's Mansion, Great Green House.

In the Western-style dining room, a long table was covered with a snow-white tablecloth, and silver cutlery gleamed softly beneath the crystal chandelier.

Still, the atmosphere at lunch was rather oppressive.

The news that the Feng Army had suffered a defeat was no secret anymore.

"People say the wind in Fengtian City carries the smell of gunpowder." It was Second Concubine who spoke. She managed the inner courtyard of Marshal Mansion, and her words always carried weight.

She prodded the Western pastries on her plate with a silver fork, without even lifting her eyes.

"At a time like this, we have to keep things steady here in the mansion. Fengzhi, you need to pay more attention. Those servants below have loose tongues. Don't let them run their mouths outside and bring shame on Marshal's Mansion."

Yu Fengzhi sat beside the seat of honor. At her words, she nodded gently, her face a little pale.

How could she not be worried?

Her husband and her elder brother-in-law were both at the front. With things going as badly as they were, she hadn't slept soundly for days.

"Second Mother is right. I've already spoken to the servants."

"Spoken to them? Hmph. Which of those servants doesn't go whichever way the wind blows?" West Concubine curled her lip. She had never liked Second Concubine's affected airs. "The newspapers outside are writing truly nasty things! Saying the Feng Army is no match for anyone, that the Marshal is poor at choosing his men... It's all utter nonsense!"

"West Sister, say a little less," Third Concubine advised softly, setting down her glass of milk. "What do outsiders know? Every man in our family is a hero who can hold up the heavens. Xueliang and Xueming are both men of outstanding talent. This was only a small setback. Once they get back on their feet, just wait and see!"

Third Concubine's younger brother had once been saved by Zhang Xueming, so she was wholeheartedly on his side.

Her words warmed Yu Fengzhi's heart a little, but when she thought of her husband still struggling to deal with the Feng Army's mess, her heart clenched again.

"Exactly, exactly. Third Sister is right." The youngest, Fifth Concubine, hurried to smooth things over. Her eyes darted about, and she smiled at Yu Fengzhi. "I do have an idea. Now that the fighting is over, plenty of our soldiers must be lying in the Wounded Soldiers Camp. Shouldn't we womenfolk make an appearance and go visit them? That way, people outside can see that the Marshal's Mansion doesn't just shut its doors and live for itself."

The suggestion brought a spark to everyone's eyes.

Second Concubine gave Fifth Concubine an approving look. If they handled this well, they could both steady the troops and earn the mansion a good name.

Yu Fengzhi agreed at once. "Fifth Mother, that's a good idea. I'll make preparations right away and take some people to the Wounded Soldiers Camp in a couple of days."

She paused, then added, "By the way, Gu family's younger sister will be arriving in Fengtian in a few days. The house will probably be even livelier then."

The Feng-Shou War came to an end in a way no one had expected.

No humiliating treaty was signed. Zhang Yuting simply announced that the Three Eastern Provinces were breaking away from the Beiyang Government and would govern themselves.

With that move, he left everyone hoping to snatch the spoils standing there empty-handed.

You want to get something out of me?

Not a chance!

I'll shut the doors and play by myself!

Next came a bloody storm that swept through the entire Feng Army.

The newly established Army Reorganization Office became a razor-sharp executioner's blade in Zhang Xueliang's hands.

The words "kill the officers" were no longer a threat uttered in a meeting room. They became a daily reality.

From brigade commanders to regimental commanders and battalion commanders, one officer after another was dragged out for fleeing in the face of battle or failing to command effectively.

Those against whom the evidence was conclusive were taken outside the city and shot on the spot.

Those with mitigating circumstances but who still could not escape blame were dismissed and investigated, never to be appointed again.

In just half a month, nearly a third of the Feng Army's officers at regimental level and above had been replaced.

All of Fengtian was shrouded in this grim, murderous atmosphere.

Yet Zhang Xueming, the instigator of the storm, simply sat back and let others handle things.

He hadn't even taken a position at the Army Reorganization Office. He dumped the thankless task wholesale on his elder brother, Zhang Xueliang.

His excuse was that Father had given his elder brother a chance to redeem himself, and he shouldn't interfere.

When Yu Fengzhi entered the study carrying a bowl of ginseng soup, Zhang Xueming was bent over a map, scribbling and drawing.

"Take a break. Look at you—your eyes have been ringed with dark circles these past few days." She set the bowl beside him, concern in her voice.

"I'm fine. I'm not tired." Zhang Xueming didn't even look up. The tip of his pen drew a large circle on the map, enclosing the entire Bohai Sea.

Yu Fengzhi sat beside him. She hesitated, then finally spoke.

"Xueming, these past few days... several wives have sent people to me, hoping to pull strings for your elder brother about the matter in his hands."

Zhang Xueming's pen stopped.

He looked up at his wife's troubled expression and smiled.

"I've put you in a difficult position, haven't I?"

He reached out and pinched Yu Fengzhi's cheek. "If anyone comes to you about this again, just turn them away. Tell them you can't make the decision. Don't spare anyone's feelings."

"But..."

"No buts." Zhang Xueming's tone brooked no argument. "Those people let the war go so badly, and now they still think they can use connections to keep their official hats? Dream on!"