Chapter 013: A Door Shut in One’s Face

“How much do you know about Marquis Fernando?” To break this awkward situation, Du Fan didn’t insist too much on the caravan issue.
“Marquis Fernando is a peripheral member of the Lionheart Family. He was granted a title by exaggerating his military achievements in the Southern Army and thus acquired a fief in the Province of Eles. He is indeed a warrior of the seventh rank, commanding as many as 100,000 private troops well-equipped with advanced weapons. That’s why the Province of Eles is the most stable and prosperous province in the south of the Gavin Empire.”
“It’s easy to understand why having many private troops contributes to stability. But what does the Province of Eles mainly produce? It’s said to be the richest province in the south. As far as I know, the richest should be the neighboring Province of Natum, since its crop yields are second only to those in the eastern provinces of the empire.” Du Fan asked in confusion—what Batie had said was completely different from what he knew in the imperial capital.
Batie, with a blank expression, quickly explained, “Indeed, Natum has the highest crop yields. But the lord of Natum, Marquis Bonadette, was originally Fernando’s deputy. He also received his fief from Fernando. So, aside from the grain paid to the empire each year, most of Natum’s finances and grain are under Fernando’s control. It can be said that Fernando is the actual ruler of both the Province of Eles and Natum. Marquis Bonadette merely holds a nominal title and enjoys life there.”
Du Fan frowned slightly. He hadn’t realized there were so many secrets in the south until now. If anyone had told him before that Fernando was just a peripheral member of the Lionheart Family, he wouldn’t have believed it. After all, the south was the stronghold of the Lionheart Family. If even Batie knew these things, how could they escape the notice of Duke Wade, the head of the family? And how could the Lionheart Family allow a peripheral member to control two provinces at once?
“Not only that, the three fortresses south of the Province of Siro, which serve as the gateway to the Gavin Empire, were also under Fernando’s control. He collected taxes on goods traded between the two countries. But Fernando disdained to get involved in other affairs of the Province of Siro.” Seeing Du Fan frown, Batie hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“Hehe, it seems things aren’t as simple as we thought. It’s getting more and more interesting.” With a slight smile, Du Fan didn’t try to find more problems—he didn’t want to add more worries to himself. But the situation was already quite clear: either the Lionheart Family had ulterior motives or they were using this deception to mislead the Gavin Empire.

Mengdesha City, the capital of the Els Province and also the largest of its few cities, was where Du Fan had been a few days ago. Back then, the city walls seemed to show no signs of damage. Du Fan had wanted to go in and take a look, but since the Fifth Prince was eager to return to the Lani Empire, he had to give up.

After traveling day and night, the caravan finally arrived outside Mengdesha City on the evening of the third day. Looking at the city walls that stood over ten meters high, Du Fan sighed. If Dahai City had walls built like these, he would have saved a lot of effort.

As the city gates were about to close, all caravans were forced to camp outside, with only Du Fan’s carriage allowed to enter. Of course, only the coachman, Old Mark, and Bati accompanied him inside.

Like the capital, Mengdesha City was well-planned. Entering through the south gate, the area to the left was immediately the commercial district, designed specifically to facilitate trade with the Lani Empire’s merchant groups.

To the right of the city gates, there were numerous shops, but these were not for trade. Most of them were restaurants and inns, meant to allow foreigners to experience the local culture and cuisine of the Gavin Empire.

Continuing deeper along the wide stone streets led to the noble district, where the rich and nobles lived. The houses there were tall and magnificent, each estate covering a vast area. Especially the lord’s mansion was extremely luxurious. Not only were the buildings opulent, but the mansion alone occupied a quarter of Mengdesha City’s land—enough to make even some nobles in the capital sigh in admiration.

“Are there no commoners here? Why are there only noble houses?” Looking at the spacious courtyards and intricately carved houses, Du Fan certainly didn’t think that commoners lived there.

“Outside the North City Gate, there are two satellite cities. One is where the commoners live. Every day before dawn, those commoners gradually enter Mengdesha City. The other is the residence for the Marquis Fernando’s personal guards and private army. Just these areas for soldiers to live in are undoubtedly many times better than those for commoners,” Barti sighed, shaking his head. He had once been one of the commoners in the satellite city. Compared to the splendid Mengdesha City, their lives as commoners were not much better than those in Doha City. Moreover, if they offended any noble, they could be beaten to death in the street with no one caring.

As they chatted, the carriage arrived at the lord’s mansion.

Without Du Fan’s orders, Old Mark jumped out of the carriage first and went to the entrance of the mansion. He said to the guards there, “Our young master is the hereditary Duke Du Fan, appointed by Prince Fischer, as well as the lord of the Siluo Province. He also holds the position of special envoy to the south. He needs to discuss matters with Marquis Fernando. Open the gates quickly.”

Actually, it wasn’t that Old Mark was being verbose. If he hadn’t mentioned Du Fan’s status, it would have been strange if those guards allowed them in.

Hearing Old Mark’s words, the guards didn’t dare neglect them. One soldier who seemed to be the leader rushed inside immediately.

Normally, if a noble came, the guards were supposed to open the gates first to welcome them before notifying the master. But Marquis Fernando was used to being domineering here, and most of those who came usually had requests of his. So the guards knew they had to wait for orders from inside before opening the gates.

After a while, the leading soldier returned, followed by an elderly man dressed in fine clothes.

When he reached the gate, the old man approached Du Fan’s carriage with a smile on his face.

“Our young master wishes to visit your lord. Please open the gates,” Old Mark said. As a servant, he certainly couldn’t let this old man, who looked like the manager, speak directly to his young master. This was part of noble tradition. So Old Mark stepped forward, bowed slightly, and smiled.

Seeing Old Mark in plain clothes, the man in fine clothes disdainfully curled his lips, pushed Old Mark aside with his hand, and said, “Get out of the way. A servant isn’t even qualified to speak to me.”

Old Mark was taken aback. Since entering Duke Green’s residence, he had encountered such treatment before—Duke Green usually treated him with great courtesy. Under normal circumstances, Old Mark would have made sure this elegantly dressed old man paid the price, but today he held back, as Du Fan had come to discuss matters with Marquis Fernando, and he didn’t want to upset his young master because of him.

But Du Fan couldn’t possibly be happy. His servant had been wronged, especially Old Mark, whom he respected—Du Fan became angry right away.

“I am Bernice, the head of the Mengdesha City Lord’s residence. I welcome Duke Du Fan, the special envoy from the south,” said the elegantly dressed old man. Though he was rude to Old Mark, he was very polite to other nobles, at least maintaining standard noble etiquette.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Bati stepped out. Seeing Bernice’s sneering face, he said coldly, “Our lord has said you are not worthy of speaking to him.”

Du Fan wouldn’t show any kindness to a servant, especially one who had offended Old Mark. So he had no intention of interacting with this so-called head.

“Duke, Marquis Fernando has gone to Natumu Province on business. Please rest in the headquarters for now. I will inform you as soon as he returns.” Seeing Bati step in, Bernice looked displeased, not even trying to hide it.

Although Du Fan’s reputation had already spread, he was merely the lord of Siluo Province, while Marquis Fernando held far greater power in the south. Even though Du Fan held the title of duke, Bernice still didn’t think he could do anything to him.

“Hmph! Go to an inn,” Du Fan said angrily. This time, he was truly furious—how dare a mere head be so arrogant? It infuriated him.

Old Mark knew his young master’s temper well. Without saying a word, he got into the carriage and headed toward the southern city gate.

“Hmph, coming here instead of talking properly. Acting like a duke—our marquis would be surprised to even see you,” Bernice sneered as he watched the departing carriage. In his eyes, only the emperor or the head of the Lionheart family might move him; otherwise, no other marquis or duke mattered at all in the eyes of Marquis Fernando.

“Reporting to the Marquis, it seems that Du Fan is angry. He didn’t go to the lodging we prepared for him but instead went to an inn by himself. Should we inform the inn to not give them a good room?” In the lord’s mansion, Bernis, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, stood respectfully in the hall and spoke to a middle-aged man with a slightly plump figure sitting in the center.

The man had an ordinary build and appearance; even the finest noble clothes couldn’t bring out any sense of nobility or elegance when worn by him. He was the owner of this mansion—the Marquis Fernando.

After pondering for a moment, Marquis Fernando said with a sinister smile, “He can still get angry. After all, he’s still a child. Heh, if we don’t temper his temper, how will he ever obey me in the future? But there’s no need to give orders to the inn. Otherwise, it would seem too petty of me.”

“Yes, my lord,” Bernis replied with a sly smile before bowing and retreating.