Sitting together with Xu Beizhi and Pei Nanwei in the carriage parked outside the alley, Xu Fengnian took off his sable hat and held it in his hand with a cheerful smile: “A tall tree attracts the wind; you cannot escape the waves and cannot withstand the storm. Yet I never thought that before, when they came to Beiliang to cause trouble, they always targeted Xu Xiao, but now someone actually dares to use me as a stepping stone. It seems my few journeys through the Jianghu were not in vain. This young man, who fans himself and paints beauties, might not have a high level of cultivation, but his eyesight is truly excellent.”
Pei Nanwei stole a glance at this Prince who was shamelessly flattering himself. She caught him handing the sable hat back to her with a teasing tone: “There are two rankings for beauty in Beiliang, and there are now four beauties in Beiliang. You, the Princess of old Jing’an who mourned her lost love, are one of them. If he paints you on a peach blossom fan and reveals it to the public, causing a stir in the court and the country, this young prince will find himself in deep water. This fellow really picked the right time. If either Xu Yanbing or Han Laoshan could have been free, he wouldn’t have gotten this far—he’d have been beaten into a pig’s head and tossed out of Beiliang!”
Xu Beizhi said softly: “We can use this opportunity to stir up the military and political circles in Lanzhou.”
Xu Fengnian immediately grasped the idea. After a moment’s thought, he nodded: “That makes sense. We’ll stage a cat-and-mouse chase with that pair of master and servant. All the ranking officers and lieutenants in Lanzhou will be involved, along with the local officials’ military and civil departments, and the You Shun and Ying Shi units will be responsible for surveillance. We’ll weave a wide net. This fellow wants fame, so I’ll give him the chance to make a name for himself! We’ll give him the opportunity, and see whether he has the skill to handle the hot potato. Whether he has reached the Zhixuan realm or not will be revealed in the test. Also, the military officers in Lanzhou can be tested—how sharp their swords are, how keen their blades. This stone sent to our doorstep will serve as a whetstone. Orange, now that you’ve said this, I’m almost reluctant to kill him too quickly.”
Pei Nanwei, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up in a soft, smiling voice: “Your Highness truly has a kind heart. You treat your subjects with care, your military officers with leniency, and even strangers from afar with the same generosity.”
Xu Beizhi began to meditate in silence.
As for this ornamental woman, specially chosen by Xu Shizi to irritate the young Prince of Jing’an, Zhao Xun, he had not the slightest affection for her.
Xu Fengnian ignored Pei Nanwei’s sarcastic remarks and continued to prod Xu Beizhi: “After you became the governor of Lanzhou, the civil officials—Deputy Governor Song Yan—have already been tamed. The three Huangnan families, including Wang Luting of the Jinlu Weaving Bureau, have attached themselves to you. On the military side, Han Laoshan serves as the deputy commander of Lanzhou, and Wang Zhi is an old acquaintance of yours. Jiao Wuyi has also been appointed as the third-ranking officer in Lanzhou. Plus, there’s that young man who defected from the Northern Deserts to Beiliang, just like you. He and Jiao Wuyi will serve as the twin guardians at your governor’s mansion. The framework is basically set. As for Dong Yueqi, Huang Bingcao, and the other veteran officers who have retired from the border, they will certainly keep a lower profile for now. I don’t expect them to suddenly become loyal to me, for the deep-rooted problems they have caused in Lanzhou have already made it impossible for them to act on impulse. Besides, their descendants, who have never tasted the edge of a blade or suffered hardship, will soon revert to their old ways. How many elders can truly bring themselves to discipline their descendants with harsh words and strict measures? Therefore, these stubborn young nobles, who used to avoid conflict, will now resent me even more for placing them on the fire. When I leave Lanzhou as its general, you will have to bear the blame.”
Xu Beizhi replied calmly: “Them? Just them?”
Xu Fengnian chuckled softly: “Anyway, I’ve handed over hundreds of official hats in Lanzhou to you. I won’t interfere with Lanzhou’s affairs anymore. I won’t stop you from killing people, of course—probably couldn’t even if I tried—but do try to kill a little less.”
Pei Nanwei recalled the man’s earlier remarks about slowly killing off Sun Yin with cold-blooded cruelty. She had no doubt that the new governor of Lanzhou would be a ruthless killer, the kind who kills without spilling blood or getting his hands dirty. Such scholars were rare in Qingzhou and Xiangfan City. It seemed that only after she left did one appear.
Upon arriving at Apricot Street, even Pei Nanwei, whose ears were covered by the sable hat, sensed something unusual outside the carriage. It wasn’t overly noisy—Apricot Street was rarely quiet except late at night. But now, there was an unusual silence beyond the curtains. She lifted a corner of the curtain and saw that outside the residence of the General of Lanzhou, there was a bustling crowd of officials and military officers, all dressed in bright official robes and armor. They were making a grand show of their presence, yet even those who were familiar with each other exchanged few whispers, as if fearing that the Prince might mistake them for forming factions. As Xu Fengnian stepped out of the carriage, the forty-odd officials of the Xu family in Beiliang automatically lined up on either side, forming a solemn and imposing scene like a miniature imperial court. Xu Fengnian saw Zhou Jianshu, the governor of Lanzhou’s civil affairs, a man with little scholarly integrity but the highest rank on Wenquan Street, who alone knelt the longest. He did not see Dong Hongqiu, a cavalry officer aligned with Zhong Hongwu, or Huang Zhong, a military official. Instead, he saw Hong Yuan, who had no clear factional backing. His right hand was too unsteady to hold even a light object, so he always carried his Beiliang saber on his left waist. There were also unfamiliar faces, but judging from their official robes and armor, their ranks were not low. The last time Zhou Jianshu and others had entered the residence, they had all been honored with private audiences in the Prince’s study. This time, the Prince merely announced a banquet to reward the officials of Lanzhou, so they did not have the same privilege. Zhou Jianshu, who secretly considered himself superior to the others, almost broke into a grin as he crossed the threshold.
The great hall of the General’s residence had never been so brilliantly lit. More than twenty thick red candles, as thick as a child’s arm, burned brightly. The banquet itself was simple—plain tea, light dishes, and green ant wine. The young General of Lanzhou sat at the head of the table, facing south alone. Xu Beizhi, who was still nominally an official of Longqing County, and Song Yan, who had entered the city that day, sat at the frontmost position on the left. The Prince’s words were neither overly formal nor pretentious. But as the banquet neared its end, when the officials heard the Prince call out Song Yan’s name, they knew the real show was about to begin. They straightened their postures and turned their eyes toward the rising governor of Huangnan Prefecture. Their gazes were complex—this Song Taishou, indeed, was the favored student of the Governor, always the first to sense the direction of the wind and ride the dragon with skill beyond his teacher. As expected, the Prince announced to all the officials of Lanzhou that Song Yan would soon become the Deputy Governor of Lanzhou. Immediately, congratulations poured in, as if each speaker were celebrating their own promotion. Song Yan bowed in return, smiling with narrowed eyes as he sat down. Even those who had been at odds with him in the past were not omitted. It seemed that Song the Deputy Governor had no intention of becoming arrogant from favor.
Putting down his wine cup, Xu Fengnian leaned his elbow on the armrest of the sandalwood chair. Compared to the stiff postures of those below, his slightly slouched position seemed somewhat playful and casual. In the past, the cunning old officials beneath him would have offered flattery with their mouths, wasting words that cost no silver, but in their hearts, they would have scoffed. However, after today’s spectacle, no one dared to secretly curse Zhou Jianshu as a fence-sitter anymore. Instead, they genuinely admired the foresight of the Chief Secretary. Officials became increasingly smooth only after being taught by their mentors, betrayed by political enemies, and spurred by the success of their peers—bit by bit, they accumulated the wisdom of survival. Before they could recover their composure, Xu Fengnian dropped another heavy thunder on the Lanzhou bureaucracy: “Song Yan’s promotion to Deputy Governor of Lanzhou is one happy occasion, and Xu Beizhi will take up the post of Governor of Lanzhou. This matter has already been discussed with the Governor, and Master Li has no objection.”
Zhou Jianshu was the first to leap to his feet, vigorously shaking the sleeves of his official robe, as if addicted to kneeling. He knelt to the ground, bowing his head toward Xu Beizhi nearby, and said solemnly: “This humble official pays homage to Governor Xu!”
The Chief Secretary’s act of shamelessly setting an example inspired the high-ranking civil and military officials of Lanzhou to follow suit, kneeling to Xu Beizhi. Those who still harbored resentment told themselves it was merely a gesture for the Prince, certainly not for that foreign youth from the Northern Deserts.
The banquet ended in high spirits. As the officials rose to take their leave, neither Xu Fengnian nor the newly appointed Governor moved. Thus, Song Yan, the new Deputy Governor, had to take on the duty of seeing them off. As he walked past the grand screen wall and returned to the main hall, he saw the Prince and the Governor walking toward him. Song Yan hurried forward. Xu Fengnian smiled softly: “Deputy Song, you’ll have to stay here temporarily for half a month. Your official residence still needs time and manpower to prepare furniture and clean up. For others, a simple arrangement would suffice, but for you, Deputy Song, as a distinguished guest invited to the city by this Prince, not a single oversight can be tolerated. I hope you can bear with it.”
Song Yan, deeply moved, replied: “Your Highness is too considerate. It is not that I boast, but I truly do not care about such material things. Your Highness need not trouble yourself over the matter of the residence. I am not one of those incorruptible officials with empty sleeves. Over the years, I have accumulated a substantial fortune. Even if land in Lanzhou is as valuable as gold, I can afford a satisfactory home. This is a good opportunity to spend all the ill-gotten gains at once. If, in the future, I dare to extort the people again while serving as Deputy Governor of Lanzhou, I beg Your Highness to send someone to confiscate my property, and consider it a contribution to the city’s taxes.”
Xu Fengnian laughed: “With others, I cannot say such things, but with you, Song Yan, I can be completely candid. For other officials caught embezzling, if I catch them, I won’t necessarily remove their hats or punish them, but they must return every coin they stole. However, for you, Song Yan, I can make an exception. As long as you contribute to Lanzhou, taking silver into your own pocket is not a big deal. I am not the kind of strict person who cannot tolerate even a speck of dust. I say this today, and if Xu Beizhi dares to use this against you in the future, you can come to me to complain. I will definitely support you. Also, the reason I went to the trouble of preparing this residence is not to buy your loyalty. I’m not that idle, nor are you that easily swayed. It’s just out of necessity. You already know the truth behind the two disasters in Qingrong Temple and Liantang of Huangnan Prefecture. Now that you are close to me, the General of Lanzhou, you will gain high rank and generous rewards, but also many hidden dangers. So remember to remind your daughter, Song Xiaojie, that if she goes out of the city, she should not do so too deliberately or secretly. I fear that the You Shun and Ying Shi might miss something and be unable to prevent some misfortunes. Of course, Lanzhou city is generally clean, but I just fear the slightest chance, for once there is a chance, everything could be lost.”
Song Yan clasped his hands and said with deep emotion: “Your Highness shows such kindness to the Song family. This humble official will certainly do my utmost to assist the Governor and serve Your Highness, bringing blessings to the people of Lanzhou!”
Xu Fengnian nodded. After Song Yan raised his head, he asked jokingly: “Has Song Xiaojie gone to the neighboring house to meet her female friend?”
Song Yan, who had been able to maintain some dignity in his own territory of Huangnan Prefecture, now completely lost his local lord’s air and answered respectfully: “Your Highness is wise.”
Xu Fengnian looked helplessly amused and joked: “Deputy Song, Song the Deputy, you’ve only been in the city for a few hours, yet you’ve already willingly become my servant. Can’t you show a little more of a scholar’s grace?”
Song Yan wore an expression of naturalness and leisurely replied: “If one day the Governor is promoted again, and I succeed him, I will certainly bow even lower.”
Xu Fengnian smiled with satisfaction: “That’s right. That’s exactly the Song Yan I want as the Deputy Governor of Lanzhou.”
Xu Beizhi also clasped his hands and said: “In the future, I will rely on Deputy Song.”
Song Yan hurriedly returned the gesture: “It is only right.”
After the farewell, Xu Fengnian and Xu Beizhi continued to stroll around the residence. Xu Fengnian said softly: “Now, the officials of Lanzhou view you, Xu Orange, just as they once viewed me, the General of Lanzhou. Perhaps even worse. At least I was the legitimate Prince of Beiliang, while you are an untrustworthy Northern Barbarian. That’s why I helped you gather so many people at once. Orange and Persimmon, we’re two peas in a pod. Fortunately, I can soon leave with a wave of my hand, but if you find it hard to move forward in Lanzhou, I won’t interfere.”
Xu Beizhi suddenly said: “Actually, you could have placed Sun Yin in the position of Governor of Lanzhou from the start.”
Xu Fengnian shook his head: “Regardless of who came first, based on our friendship, there’s no reason to let him take your seat. If you don’t take this annoying position of Governor of Lanzhou now, you won’t be able to take charge of Youliang Province even faster in the future, and you won’t be able to become the second Governor of Beiliang in the shortest time. As for Sun Yin’s future, it’s a happy ending for all of us.”
Xu Beizhi said softly: “Have you ever heard a saying?”
Xu Fengnian hummed in confusion.
Xu Beizhi sighed: “The ancients said that extreme wisdom brings injury, and deep emotions do not last long. Yet you have both.”
Xu Fengnian laughed loudly, slinging an arm around Xu Beizhi’s shoulders: “The ancients also said that good men don’t live long, but villains survive for a thousand years. What’s there to fear?”
Xu Beizhi smiled.
Xu Fengnian exclaimed, “Hey! Orange, this is the first time you’ve praised me. No, I have to go set off firecrackers to celebrate!”
Xu Beizhi broke free from Xu Fengnian’s arm with an annoyed expression: “Go to hell.”
And the Prince truly ran off in a flash.
After meeting with Governor Li Degong on the evening of the fourth day of the first lunar month, Xu Fengnian did not return to his study again, nor did he allow anyone to enter—not even the daily visitors, not even Huyan Guanyin, who always looked at the begonia flowers by the window.
Outside the study, Xu Fengnian, who had been so carefree in front of Xu Beizhi, now wore a solemn expression. He pushed open the door. The secret letter remained untouched on the desk. Xu Fengnian’s face twisted with pain and fury, which he forcibly suppressed. He pulled up a chair and sat facing the letter, silently. He had originally agreed with Li Xifeng to enter the city on the third day of the first lunar month but delayed until the fourth, hoping that Li Degong, after reading the secret letter written by Zhang Julu, the Chancellor of the imperial court, would have a change of heart and choose to stay in Beiliang instead of wavering between Beiliang and the court. Later, out of a moment of weakness, Xu Fengnian had mentioned three secret letters, giving them to Xu Xiao, Chu Lushan, and Huangfu Chong, unnecessarily adding the words “three letters” to give Li Degong, who had secretly kept one of the Chancellor’s letters, a chance to reconsider. But this Uncle Li, who had never been treated poorly by Beiliang, still did not change his mind and simply walked out of the General’s residence. As for why Li Degong “unnecessarily” mentioned that Li Hanlin had been lured to the Southern Court of the Northern Deserts, complicating matters, Xu Fengnian was initially puzzled. But soon, the border intelligence reports explained everything. He had calculated against the court, against Zhao Gou, against Zhang Julu and Huan Wen, but the enemy had not been merciful either. They had seized the opportunity and struck back, catching Beiliang off guard. Many of the deep-cover agents of Liang had surfaced, including one who had even become a junior officer commanding three thousand troops in the Southern Court, just to successfully bring Li Hanlin to the capital. If Xu Yanbing had not rushed to Youzhou to support Huangfu Chong in an emergency, Xu Fengnian might have truly ended up hurting himself with his own stone.
Xu Fengnian stared blankly at the dust-covered secret letter.
Was Beiliang really so unloved?
Xu Fengnian suddenly stood up, the chair beneath him shattering into four pieces. He roared in anger: “So you, Li Degong, are never satisfied with what you have?!”
Hearing the commotion, Han Laoshan was about to rush into the study but stopped immediately upon hearing this accusation.
Xu Fengnian’s voice was low and dark with laughter: “Who doesn’t want to be emperor? If you can’t be emperor, who doesn’t want to be the number two man, the highest-ranking official under heaven? If it weren’t for your own meddling, Li Degong would have waited until Xu Xiao’s death before rebelling. Jinlu Weaving Bureau’s Li Xifeng wouldn’t have dared to act.”
Xu Fengnian took a step forward, gripping the secret letter so tightly that it wrinkled in his hand.
Suddenly!
Xu Fengnian’s eyes widened in disbelief.
The seals on the two letters had different weights. This one was clearly the so-called genuine secret letter, but Li Degong should have handed over the one with the lighter seal.
Xu Fengnian rushed out of the study, leaping over the high wall between the two large mansions as he left the corridor.
He landed silently in the garden of Li’s residence.
He met the gaze of two figures he had seen from above, and the two women were startled.
Xu Fengnian asked calmly: “Where is Uncle Li?”
Li Fuzhen, one of the two women, opened her mouth but could not respond. The younger girl, Song Huangmei, who had been practicing martial arts since childhood, looked at him with admiration and respect, swallowed hard, and smiled: “Your Highness, I told you that the Prince is a peerless martial expert full of killing intent, and he must have killed many people. You didn’t believe me! Now you believe me, right? Just the Prince’s ability to appear and disappear like a ghost, without the realm of a minor master of martial arts, could never be achieved. I think the rumor that the Prince personally killed the leader of the Tianshan Sect, Diwu Mo, must be true! I should take the opportunity to learn martial arts from the Prince before I’m driven out of the General’s residence. Even if it’s just serving him tea and water, I would be happy!”
Compared to Song Huangmei’s animated excitement, Li Fuzhen lowered her eyes, her heart heavy with sorrow.
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