Upon witnessing the two horses being killed by Xu Long Xiang, Xu Wei Xiong summoned a pair of horses for the archers. The loyal retainer Chou, unsuitable for public exposure, was discreetly hidden away while Qing Niao drove the carriage. Xu Feng Nian sat inside the carriage while Xu Wei Xiong rode alongside.
Xu Bei Zhi sat in the same carriage compartment as Xu Long Xiang, feeling extremely uneasy. The second son of the Butcher of the North was notorious in the martial world of Bei Mang, and his prowess in leading troops into battle was unquestioned. Xu Bei Zhi genuinely feared being torn apart like a grasshopper by this sickly youth over a mere disagreement.
Xu Feng Nian lifted the curtain and said, “Originally, I was to enter through the Daoma Pass. How do you intend to proceed?”
Xu Wei Xiong replied flatly, “I am merely accompanying you for a short distance. The ten thousand cavalry my father entrusted to me are not meant for dying.”
Xu Feng Nian deliberately ignored the veiled meaning and smiled, “When we part, I’ll give you a gift.”
Xu Wei Xiong made no comment.
She escorted him for about seven or eight miles before halting her horse and saying, “Beyond the ancient Maolong Ridge, although there are no longer any Bei Mang forces numbering over a thousand, many scattered cavalry patrols remain.”
Xu Feng Nian stepped down from the carriage and handed Xu Wei Xiong a satchel, saying indifferently, “No worries. Besides Qing Niao and Chou, there’s also a dark entity roaming over a hundred miles away, and it has reached the Zhixuan realm.”
Xu Wei Xiong casually slung the cloth satchel onto one side of her saddle. Xu Feng Nian pleaded with a forlorn expression, “Please don’t discard it without even taking a look.”
Xu Wei Xiong hesitated briefly but did not immediately turn her horse around.
Knowing his elder sister’s cold nature, Xu Feng Nian said, “It’s the head of the Fifth He.”
Xu Wei Xiong furrowed her brow, “The leader of the Mountain of Soldiers, General Dong Zhuo’s father-in-law?”
Xu Feng Nian nodded.
Xu Wei Xiong asked, “How many people assisted you in ambushing him?”
Xu Feng Nian was momentarily speechless.
Xu Bei Zhi, who had followed Xu Feng Nian out of the carriage but stood a little distance away, softly said, “Second Princess, the Fifth He was slain solely by the Crown Prince. I, Xu Bei Zhi, can testify to this.”
Xu Wei Xiong sneered, “So the grandson of the Grand Chancellor Xu Huai Nan has switched sides? When do you plan to serve the Li Yang court as a triple-surname servant?”
Truly the formidable Xu Wei Xiong, who knew Bei Mang inside out, offered no explanation for her biting words.
Xu Feng Nian interjected, “Second Sister, don’t scare the orange, alright? He’s actually a good person. Not long ago, he even praised your poetry and prose for lacking any feminine timidity. He wants to exchange ideas with you on the Three Guardians’ scholarship.”
Xu Wei Xiong patted the ancient sword at her waist and laughed, “Exchange ideas? Swordsmanship? Don’t you know I like to challenge scholars with swords and commoners with literature?”
Xu Bei Zhi truly experienced the domineering nature of the second princess of Beiliang.
Helplessly, Xu Feng Nian said, “Alright, alright,” and gently slapped the horse’s rump. Xu Wei Xiong galloped away swiftly.
Xu Feng Nian and Xu Bei Zhi exchanged glances and smiled, both feeling relieved.
Xu Bei Zhi softly remarked, “She has the bearing of Murong the Female Emperor.”
Xu Feng Nian grabbed his neck, laughing and scolding, “Dare to speak of my sister like that? You want to die?”
The scholar, nearly choked by the grip, cried out, “How is that an insult?”
Xu Feng Nian released him and they both sat back into the carriage. “You’ll understand someday.”
Once seated, Xu Feng Nian tossed the sword case to the black-clad youth who had been grinning all along, “Huang Man’er, there are three swords inside—gifts for you. You were stabbed once by that Liu Yijian, right? Next time you meet, return the favor with three strikes!”
Xu Long Xiang clutched the sword case and grinned foolishly.
Xu Feng Nian turned to Xu Bei Zhi, “The Beiliang Prince’s library is vast and rich. If you like any books, take them. They’ll be your personal collection, a welcome gift from me. What do you think?”
Xu Bei Zhi smiled sincerely, “That’s more than enough!”
Xu Feng Nian thought for a moment, “Once we reach the mansion, perhaps you should change your name?”
Xu Bei Zhi shook his head, silently thanking him. It would be unwise for the grandson of Xu Huai Nan to be openly present in Beiliang. Yet, there were some things Xu Bei Zhi refused to retreat from.
Xu Feng Nian sighed, “Xu Orange, what a festive and auspicious name.”
Xu Bei Zhi reminded him, “Your Highness, you no longer have the head of the Fifth He now.”
Xu Feng Nian merely said, “Oh,” and snapped his fingers.
Soon after, a slender, pale white hand reached through the curtain. When Xu Bei Zhi saw the face of the pale figure in red robes, he shuddered with goosebumps.
Forced into a smile, Xu Bei Zhi flattered, “Your Highness is always fully prepared. Truly worthy of being the heir to the Beiliang throne.”
Xu Feng Nian waved his hand, and the pale figure drifted away. Then, he took Xu Bei Zhi’s hand and smiled, “We truly admire each other. It’s a shame we didn’t meet sooner.”
Xu Bei Zhi’s lips twitched as he muttered, “Your Highness, didn’t you say the same to the Fifth He?”
Xu Feng Nian laughed and slapped Xu Bei Zhi’s back, sending him sprawling. Then he softly said, “I like to walk the same road again. They say there’s no turning back once you’ve walked a path, but while I still can, I’ll walk it again—it feels especially good.”
Without the pale figure’s presence, Xu Bei Zhi grew bolder and said, “Earlier, Your Highness stepped out to speak privately with that loyal retainer. Was it to arrange a secret meeting with Huangfu Ping, the commander of the Youzhou army?”
Xu Feng Nian didn’t confirm or deny but asked curiously, “You even know Huangfu Ping?”
Xu Bei Zhi nodded, “At the cottage by the Ruoshui River, my grandfather spoke of him. He said you elevated Huangfu Ping to stir up chaos in the Youzhou military. Initially, I wasn’t optimistic about him, but now I dare not underestimate him.”
Xu Feng Nian asked, “Are you ready to show your talents to Xu Xiao?”
Xu Bei Zhi smiled, “Even a pregnancy takes months before it’s visible. Talent, too, takes time to reveal itself. As for eloquence, I have some skill, but after meeting the Second Princess, I really don’t want to face the Beiliang King’s scolding. I’ve decided to request a remote county from the Beiliang King and start as a minor clerk. I can do real work and also prepare a small gift for Your Highness. It’ll take a year or two to complete.”
Xu Feng Nian was surprised, “Can you really endure years of obscurity?”
Xu Bei Zhi calmly replied, “When have I ever been famous?”
Xu Feng Nian gripped his hand tightly, “Xu Orange, a true scholar!”
Xu Bei Zhi tried to pull away but couldn’t, sighing, “Your Highness, even if it’s just flattery, at least show a little sincerity.”
Xu Feng Nian tightened his grip and nodded with a smile, “Alright, I’ll add more sincerity.”
Xu Bei Zhi, now clean-shaven and refined in appearance, winced in pain, his face flushed red. Xu Feng Nian laughed and finally let go. Xu Bei Zhi angrily said, “Bullying with martial prowess? Is that what a true gentleman does?”
Xu Feng Nian, now revealing his true face, snapped his fingers again.
Thinking the pale figure would appear once more, Xu Bei Zhi was terrified into silence.
After a long wait with no sign of the figure, Xu Feng Nian chuckled, “I was just snapping my fingers for fun. Did you really think this ghost from the Princess’s tomb was a terrestrial immortal? Without secret techniques to guide it, do you think a finger snap could summon it from a hundred miles away?”
Xu Bei Zhi took a deep breath, then bent down to flip through a book he had painstakingly found in a military inn in Maolong.
Though seemingly furious, his eyes were gentle, and a faint smile lingered on his lips.
He had once feared that his lord would be an incompetent fool with grand ambitions.
But he feared even more a ruler who appeared respectful and humble, who seemed ready to share a bed and a bowl of rice with him, but who secretly regarded scholars as mere tools for wielding words like swords.
Xu Bei Zhi did not wish for his learning to be wasted on the art of reading expressions and guessing intentions. Setting the book aside, he sighed, “Before you entered Bei Mang, the Li Yang court had already begun planning to send imperial princes out of the capital, granting them titles of Princes of the Second Rank, beneath the feudal lords. These princes would have no military power but could participate in local governance. These first-generation Princes of the Li Yang dynasty after the Spring and Autumn Period, bearing single-character titles, are currently known to include the Kings of Tang, Chu, and Shu. I believe the King of Shu will most likely be Zhao Kai. The second Prince of Jing’an, Zhao Xun, clearly has a wise advisor, as he was the first to voluntarily relinquish his military authority. This will undoubtedly trouble the Princes of Yan and Guangling. I heard you had a particularly bitter feud with the old Prince of Jing’an. Xiangfan is the most formidable city in the realm, a strategic stronghold in any east-west or north-south confrontation.”
Xu Feng Nian laughed, “Zhao Xun once beat me like a drowned dog, and I took the Princess of Jing’an he secretly admired for myself. That kid must be furious enough to skin me alive.”
Xu Bei Zhi was momentarily stunned before gritting his teeth, “Wait a second—what do you mean you took the Princess of Jing’an?”
Xu Feng Nian laughed, “Her name is Pei Nanwei, one of the most beautiful women in the Li Yang dynasty. On my second journey, I happened to pass through Xiangfan and brought her back to the Beiliang Prince’s mansion.”
Xu Bei Zhi kicked Xu Feng Nian in the leg. Xu Feng Nian didn’t hold it against him, merely brushing off the dust and sighing, “She’s not your wife. Why are you so upset?”
Xu Bei Zhi glared furiously.
Xu Long Xiang, the thin, black-clad youth, didn’t seem angry at all. He could naturally sense others’ intentions, good or ill.
Xu Feng Nian dropped his playful demeanor and softly said, “ Rest assured., I’ve done enough foolish things. From now on, I’ll only stir things up within the confines of Beiliang.”
Xu Bei Zhi snorted.
But Xu Feng Nian quickly revealed his true nature, “But if any beauties come to Beiliang willingly, I’ll be more than happy to welcome them!”
Xu Bei Zhi was about to speak when Xu Feng Nian cut him off with a grin, “Why are you acting like a jealous little bride? Is this any of your business?”
Xu Feng Nian pretended to shudder in mock horror, shifting his seat slightly, “Xu Orange, you’re not secretly fond of men, are you? Let me be clear—I won’t force myself to accommodate you. If you can’t help yourself and try anything, I’ll gladly pay for you to visit a pleasure house and find a young male companion.”
Xu Bei Zhi, for the first time, cursed loudly.
Xu Feng Nian said calmly, “Xu Orange, you are the very first scholar I personally recruited. To show how much I value you, I’ll have Dan Ying stay by your side! Be honest—have I treated you well or not?”
Xu Bei Zhi lay stiffly in the carriage, covering his face with the book and pretending to be dead.
Smiling mischievously, Xu Feng Nian lifted the curtain, pulling out a bottle of green ant wine deliberately left behind by his elder sister Xu Wei Xiong. Sitting beside Qing Niao with Huang Man’er, the wind gently brushed his face, and strands of silver hair swayed softly at his temples.
Black-haired youth entered Bei Mang, white-haired return to Beiliang.
Xu Feng Nian stretched lazily, took a swig of the fiery wine, and for some reason recalled that sword strike beyond the Ghost Gate. He softly recited,
“Eyes fierce, brows furrowed like thunder,
In the Swallow River dwells a fat, evil dragon.
With a single sword strike from the sky,
One strike to leave, another to return by dawn!”
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