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The Fan family's life returned to its old ways.

Before dawn, Fan Erniu got up to sharpen his knife, while Meng Lihua started a fire to cook.

At daybreak, Fan Erniu took his eldest daughter, Fan Changyu, to slaughter pigs and sell meat, while Meng Lihua stayed home to take care of her younger daughter, Fan Changning.

Fan Changyu's pig-slaughtering technique was incredibly swift and skillful.

She rolled up her sleeves, revealing two pale arms, and wielded the knife faster than her father.

She went up to a large, fat pig weighing several hundred pounds, made a single cut, and blood gushed out. Then she scalded the hair, scraped off the hair, and gutted it, all in one smooth motion.

The neighbors couldn't help but gasp in amazement every time they saw this.

"Oh my, Yu'er is even better at slaughtering pigs than a man!"

"Absolutely! She doesn't look like a young lady at all, she's practically a female butcher!"

"But speaking of which, Yu'er is so beautiful, why is she so fierce when she's slaughtering pigs?"

Fan Changyu didn't care what others said; all she knew was that she had to help her father share the burden.

Dad is getting old and his health isn't what it used to be. If she does more work, Dad will be less tired.

After slaughtering the pig, Fan Changyu transformed back into the gentle and quiet young girl she always was.

She would cut the pork, clean the offal, and then go home to cook for her parents and sister.

When she delivered food to Suning, she was so gentle it was almost heartwarming.

Every time Su Ning sees Fan Changyu, he can't help but think that this girl is a completely different person when she's slaughtering pigs.

This contrast amused Suning.

Seeing that their two daughters had found someone to rely on, Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua finally felt relieved.

Especially Meng Lihua, when she saw how happy Fan Changyu and Su Ning were together, and then looked at Fan Changning's innocent and carefree smile, she felt both gratified and sad.

Thankfully, my daughters have finally found good homes.

Sadly, their good days may be coming to an end.

In order to better protect the sisters Fan Changyu and Fan Changning, they had no choice but to go and bravely face their deaths.

Otherwise, their enemies wouldn't be at ease; only their deaths could resolve all the troubles.

……

That evening, Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua called Su Ning into the main room.

There was only one oil lamp lit in the main room, making the light dim.

Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua sat in the main seats, their faces solemn.

Su Ning sat at the lower end of the table, looking at them, and vaguely guessed what was going on in her mind.

"Suning!" Fan Erniu cleared his throat, his voice a little hoarse. "I called you here today because there's something I need to tell you."

Meng Lihua added from the side, "Su Ning, we've kept this a secret for sixteen years and haven't told anyone. We're telling you today because we trust you."

Su Ning nodded without saying anything, waiting for them to continue.

Fan Erniu took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind: "Actually, I am not Fan Erniu. My real name is Wei Qilin."

“…” Su Ning raised an eyebrow but did not interrupt him.

"Sixteen years ago, I was a trusted and fierce general under Xie Linshan, the Marquis of Wu'an of the Great Yin Dynasty, and also a former subordinate of the Xie family," Fan Erniu continued. "At that time, I followed the Marquis in his campaigns and made many meritorious contributions. However, the 'Jinzhou Massacre' happened later."

"The Jinzhou massacre?" Su Ning asked.

“Yes, the Jinzhou massacre.” A trace of pain flashed in Fan Erniu’s eyes. “At that time, Prime Minister Wei Yan, in order to seize power, forged a secret letter accusing the Marquis of treason and framed him for rebellion. The Marquis was wrongfully killed, and the entire Xie family was executed. I was away on a mission at the time and luckily escaped. However, Wei Yan did not let me go. He sent people to hunt me down, wanting to eliminate me completely.”

"I had nowhere else to turn, so I had to change my name and flee here. I bought a household registration and changed my name to Fan Erniu. I opened this butcher shop, which is how I temporarily escaped the pursuit."

Meng Lihua continued, "My real name is Meng Lihua. My father was Meng Shuyuan, a veteran general who protected the country. Back then, Wei Yan implicated my father in order to cover up the truth of the Jinzhou massacre, saying that my father missed the opportunity to fight, which led to the fall of Jinzhou. My father was wrongfully killed, and the Meng family was destroyed. I was lucky enough to escape and met Qi Lin. We became husband and wife, and that's how the Fan family came to be."

Su Ning listened quietly, without any surprise on her face.

Actually, he had already guessed it.

Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua's demeanor was nothing like that of ordinary butchers.

Especially Fan Erniu, when he slaughtered pigs, his decisiveness and ruthlessness were clearly those of a seasoned military general.

"Father-in-law, mother-in-law, what do you want me to do by telling me all this?" Su Ning asked.

Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua exchanged a glance, then knelt down at the same time.

Su Ning was startled and quickly stood up to help them up: "What are you doing? Get up! This will shorten my lifespan."

“Su Ning, we don’t ask you to do anything.” Fan Erniu looked at Su Ning with pleading eyes. “We only ask you to protect Yu’er and Chang Ning. Wei Yan will not let us go. He will find this place sooner or later. It doesn’t matter if we die, but Yu’er and Chang Ning cannot die. They are your wife and your sister. You must protect them.”

Meng Lihua also cried and said, "Su Ning, our lives should have been returned to the court long ago. But we have survived until now for our daughter. Now, Yu'er has you, and Chang Ning has someone to rely on. We can die in peace. Only in this way will Wei Yan be at ease and stop chasing after Yu'er and Chang Ning."

Su Ning looked at them, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

He knew that what Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua said was true.

Having already understood this world through his divine sense, he naturally knew the status and methods of the powerful minister Wei Yan.

People like Wei Yan are capable of anything for power.

He wouldn't let anyone who knew the truth go, not to mention that Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua had solid evidence.

However, Su Ning was unwilling to let the couple die like that, nor would it align with his long-held principles.

"You two really want to die? And you're willingly throwing your lives away?" Su Ning suddenly asked the two of them in disbelief.

Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua were stunned; they hadn't expected Su Ning to ask that question.

"Isn't that so?" Fan Erniu gave a bitter smile. "We've been driven to a dead end. There's no other way but to die."

"Bullshit!" Su Ning suddenly cursed, "You guys are incredibly stupid! All you know is death! Does death really solve anything?"

"..." Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua were stunned by Su Ning's scolding.

"I ask you, what do you think of this court?" Su Ning looked at them and asked coldly.

Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua shook their heads.

"This court is rotten to the core!" Su Ning shouted. "The emperor is incompetent, treacherous officials are in power, and the people are suffering! Is it worth dying for such a court?"

“But…” Fan Erniu wanted to say something, but Su Ning interrupted him.

"No buts!" Su Ning stood up and paced back and forth in the main room. "Do you know why Wei Yan can control everything? It's because of people like you who only know blind loyalty and how to submit to fate! Do you think death will solve the problem? If you die, Wei Yan will only be more smug! He will continue to harm the people and oppress the loyal and honest!"

"Even if Wei Yan is gone, there will be Li Yan and Wang Yan. The fundamental problem is the emperor's incompetence and the court's corruption. The reason why the people of Lin'an Town dare to discuss the life and death of Marquis Wu'an is because they hate this corrupt court."

Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua stared blankly at Su Ning; they had never thought about these questions before.

In their view, loyalty to the emperor and love for one's country are matters of course.

Even if the court wrongs them, they cannot betray the court.

"Then... then what should we do?" Meng Lihua asked in a trembling voice.

"What do we do?" Su Ning sneered. "Rebel! Uprising! Overthrow this filthy court and create a new world!"

"Rebellion?" Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua turned pale with fright. "This...this is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!"

"Exterminate your entire family?" Su Ning sneered. "Aren't you all just waiting to die now? Instead of waiting to die, or actively seeking death, why not take a gamble? Maybe you can fight your way out!" Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua were completely dumbfounded.

They never imagined that their son-in-law would have such great ambitions.

“But…we won’t rebel,” Meng Lihua said softly.

“You won’t rebel, but I can teach you!” Su Ning looked at them, his eyes shining with determination. “Don’t you still have sworn brothers? That Governor of Jizhou, He Jingyuan, wasn’t he also suppressed and persecuted by Wei Yan? Since you are sworn brothers, why don’t you unite and raise an army together in rebellion?”

Fan Erniu's eyes suddenly lit up. In fact, they had already guessed that those bandits were sent by He Jingyuan.

"Actually, when we first met in Xishan, not long after we left, He Jingyuan, the governor of Jizhou, appeared with his men. They even wanted to come to Lin'an Town to hunt you down, but they were scared away by my Dharma Image Golden Body."

"What? You knew who we were all along?"

"I don't know your specific identities, but I can tell you must have secrets."

“But, Brother He…” Fan Erniu said hesitantly.

“He Jingyuan was forced by Wei Yan!” Su Ning said. “He didn’t want to resist because he didn’t have enough strength. But with your help and my assistance, he will definitely agree!”

Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua exchanged a glance, both seeing the hesitation and struggle in each other's eyes.

In fact, they knew that Suning was right.

However, rebellion was far too distant for them.

After all, this contradicts the education they have received for so long, and they have long been trapped in the corrupt ideology of loyalty to the emperor.

Their first thought was to offer their necks for execution, rather than to raise an army in rebellion, which shows how tragic and lamentable it was.

“Su Ning,” Fan Erniu looked at Su Ning and said seriously, “Let’s think about this matter carefully.”

Su Ning nodded: "Okay, take your time to think it over. However, time is running out. Wei Yan could find us at any moment. If you hesitate any longer, it will be too late."

"This……"

"Also, you can rest assured about the safety of Changyu and Changning. With me here, I will absolutely not let them be in any danger."

After saying that, Su Ning turned and walked out of the main room.

Only Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua remained in the main room.

They sat blankly in their chairs, Su Ning's words echoing in their minds.

rebel?

uprising?

Overthrow this imperial court?
These words are like something out of a fairy tale to them.

However, they had to admit that what Su Ning said seemed to make some sense.

Are they really going to die for a corrupt court?

Are they really going to offer their necks to be slaughtered in front of their enemies?
Even if the couple committed suicide, would Wei Yan really let Fan Changyu and Fan Changning go?
At that moment, Su Ning was standing in the courtyard, looking at the moon in the sky.

At this moment, he knew that he had persuaded Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua.

Next, we'll see how He Jingyuan reacts.

If He Jingyuan were willing to join, then the uprising would have a slim chance of success.

If He Jingyuan is unwilling, then he will have to find another way.

Anyway, I'm not stupid enough to wait for someone to kill me. To hell with loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, to hell with the emperor ordering his subjects to die.

However, Suning is not worried about any unexpected events.

Because he has the ability to change all of this.

He believed that as long as he was willing, the world would eventually be his.

The most delightful thing in the world is to have your own destiny in your own hands.

……

The oil lamp in the main room suddenly popped, startling Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua, who were still in a daze.

Meng Lihua glanced at the dark night outside the door, then at her husband, bit her lip, and whispered, "Honey, what Su Ning just said... wasn't it too arrogant? Rebellion? That's a crime punishable by death, and the execution of nine generations of your family!"

Fan Erniu didn't say anything, he just kept smoking his pipe, one pipe after another, until the pipe got too hot to handle, then he tapped the ashes on the sole of his shoe.

“Arrogant?” Fan Erniu finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse. “I don’t think he’s arrogant; he really dares to think and he really dares to do.”

Meng Lihua sighed, walked to the table and sat down. "I know Su Ning is no ordinary person. He displayed divine abilities when he encountered bandits in Xishan. But... we are all honest and law-abiding citizens. Our ancestors were loyal to the court. Do we really have to become enemies with this court now?"

"Hmph! Honest and dutiful?" Fan Erniu sneered, looking up at Meng Lihua. "Lihua, when have we ever been honest and dutiful? Back then at the gates of Jinzhou, if we had been honest and dutiful, we would have died along with the old Marquis and my father-in-law long ago! We've been hiding our identities for sixteen years, living a life of ignominy. What was that for?"

"..." Meng Lihua's eyes reddened.

"Isn't it all to protect Yu'er and Changning?" Fan Erniu asked himself, answering his own question.

Then, Fan Erniu, growing increasingly agitated, slapped his thigh violently. "We're doing this for the children! But think about it, if we die, will the children be safe? You know Wei Yan better than I do. He's ruthless and eliminates all threats. If we commit suicide, it might be a quick death, but what about Yu'er and Changning? They'll become orphans. How will they survive in this world? If they're captured by Wei Yan's men, it will be a fate worse than death!"

Meng Lihua trembled, tears streaming down her face: "Then...then what do you suggest we do? Are we really going to listen to Su Ning and rebel?"

"Why not?" Fan Erniu stood up and paced back and forth in the room, becoming more and more agitated as he spoke. "Su Ning is right, this court is rotten to the core! The emperor is incompetent, and treacherous officials are in power. We serve the court, only to end up with our families destroyed and our lives ruined. We follow the rules, but we'll still be forced to our deaths. Since we're going to die anyway, why not take a gamble?"

He walked up to Meng Lihua, grabbed her shoulders, and his eyes shone with an alarming light: "Lihua, think about it, if we win, this world will be ours! We can elect Su Ning as emperor, Yu'er as empress, and Changning as a member of the imperial family! Who would dare to bully them? Who would dare to hunt down those two sisters?"

Meng Lihua was somewhat tempted by his words, but she was still a little scared: "But... we no longer have military power, so who will listen to us two butchers?"

"Of course, we can't do it alone, but we have He Jingyuan!" Fan Erniu pointed to the direction of Jizhou on the map. "Brother He has troops and supplies. He's the governor of Jizhou, commanding 30,000 border troops! Those are truly elite soldiers! Moreover, he has a grudge against Wei Yan, who has been trying to reduce his military power. He's been holding back his anger for a long time. As long as we provoke him, and with Su Ning's connections, this might just work!"

Meng Lihua hesitated and said, "But Brother He, although he is generous, is still blindly loyal to the court. Can he really agree to that?"

"Hmph! Blind loyalty?" Fan Erniu sneered. "That's because he wasn't driven to the brink! Brother He was also an insider in the Jinzhou massacre back then, and he was almost killed by Wei Yan. The reason he swallowed his anger was because he had no excuse and no way out. Now we're giving him an excuse and a way out, plus the intimidation from Su Ning's extraordinary abilities, I don't believe he won't be tempted!"

Meng Lihua remained silent for a long time before finally raising her head, her eyes hardening: "Husband, you're right. It's better to live a glorious life than to die a cowardly death. We were given this life in the first place, and now, for the sake of our child and for revenge, we'll fight!"

Fan Erniu grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth: "That's right! We'll go find Brother He first thing tomorrow morning. But..."

He paused, his face darkening again: "This matter cannot be rushed; we must proceed slowly. Although Su Ning is capable, he is ultimately ignorant of military strategy. We must first consult with Brother He and see what he thinks. If he is willing to do it, we will put him in charge; if he is not willing, we will think of other ways."

Meng Lihua nodded: "Okay, I'll do whatever you say. But, about Su Ning..."

“I’ll talk to Suning,” Fan Erniu waved his hand. “Since he dares to say that, he must be confident. If we can get He Jingyuan involved, we’ll be halfway there.”

Once the couple had discussed and agreed on the matter, they felt more at ease.

The heavy feeling of impending death suddenly disappeared, replaced by an unprecedented excitement and tension.

Meng Lihua blew out the oil lamp, and the two lay on the bed, but neither could fall asleep.

Meng Lihua turned over and asked softly, "Husband, do you really think we can make it work?"

Fan Erniu stared at the ceiling in the darkness, chuckling, "Whether it works or not, we have to try. The worst outcome is death anyway, and we should have died long ago. Every extra day we live is a bonus."

Meng Lihua laughed and pinched him, saying, "You old fool, you're getting bolder and bolder."

Fan Erniu grabbed her hand, holding it tightly: "That's right, don't you know who I am? You're willing to risk your life for the child, how could I, Wei Qilin, back down?"

Outside the window, the wind howled, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.

Meanwhile, the couple inside were plotting how to stir up this storm and turn the world upside down.

...(End of this chapter)