In the city of Yan Zhi County, which borders Qing An County, Xu Xiao Feng, the county clerk of a minor district, had not visited the governor Hong Shan Dong when he first arrived in the region. Now, returning to the county city, he still had ulterior motives. This time, he did not even have a stable boy accompanying him. Xu Yan Bing had gone to You Zhou Hu Lu Kou, where he was underutilized as one of the eight border commanders of Bei Liang’s frontier. His primary role was to intimidate high-ranking officers in the border army who had ties to the military families of You Zhou. Xu Yan Bing was ranked among the fifteen greatest martial artists in the new martial world rankings, and this alone was enough to inspire fear. Moreover, he had once been a trusted retainer of Xu Xiao, the late Martial Emperor. During the Spring and Autumn Period, it was common for rulers to bestow their own surnames upon their most trusted retainers, especially those from humble origins. However, Xu Xiao had done so only rarely, and Liu Yan Bing was one of those few.
They say that with each new emperor, new officials rise to prominence. Yet Xu Yan Bing remained a trusted confidant of the Bei Liang King across two reigns. To outsiders, even the commander of the infantry, Yan Wen Luan, would have to show deference to this Xu Commander. Now, the new King of Bei Liang, ranked sixth in the world, was said to be worth two thousand cavalrymen on his own. Who would need to guard him?
When Xu Xiao Feng entered the city, he used the household register under the name Xu Qi, and with his official status recorded, he passed through without any hindrance. Upon entering the city, he saw many young men and women dressed in fine clothes, all of whom obediently dismounted and walked through the city gates. Even after passing through the gate, when they remounted their horses, they dared not gallop wildly as they once did, their previous arrogance and indulgence now gone. No one even dared to carry a Bei Liang saber in secret, likely due to the lingering bloodshed that still haunted You Zhou. The proud and flamboyant knights of Bei Liang, known for their colorful attire and bold riding, had been reduced by half.
After entering the city, Xu Xiao Feng continued to lead his horse slowly toward a rare estate that boasted both mountains and water. In Bei Liang, one could judge the status of a household simply by the amount of water it possessed—how many wells it had, how much snow was stored for winter, and whether it had the privilege of a lake. To have a lake like Ting Chao Lake at Qing Liang Mountain, where the master of the house bore the surname Xu, was beyond words.
Within Yan Zhi County, Hu Bai was a young spy, yet already held in high esteem by his seniors. It was uncommon for spies in Bei Liang to transition into officialdom, but logically, it should not have been difficult. Hu Bai was handsome, though not well-read, possessing a natural air of refinement. The spy master of Yan Zhi County, who had once been under Hu Bai’s mentor, gave him a favorable assignment—something easy but beneficial to his career. Initially, Hu Bai was reluctant to take the task of tailing a woman, but as a spy, he obeyed orders. However, after becoming the young, wealthy owner of a silk shop on the street, and after seeing the woman once, Hu Bai no longer had any complaints. He had seen many beautiful women—some as seductive as peonies, others as pure as white lotuses, even the famed courtesans of Da Qing Lou—but none had moved him. Yet this woman was different. Not only was she stunning, but something about her essence captivated him. He remained within his bounds, never daring to cross the line. He never approached her, and she rarely appeared on the street. From the moment she emerged from the silk shop to when she disappeared, it was just the length of a doorframe. Hu Bai would not even raise his head, only catching glimpses with the corner of his eye. Occasionally, at night, he would lie on the roof drinking, gazing at the dark courtyard where she lived, content just to know she was there.
Hu Bai never sought to uncover her background, content to watch from a distance, day by day, hoping for a lifetime. He only knew her surname was Pei, that she lived in seclusion, never attending banquets with the officials of Yan Zhi County. Her demeanor was always cold and aloof, giving an impression of quiet dignity that was still captivating. Many powerful figures lived nearby, and some had tried to approach her. One stormy night, Hu Bai personally knocked out over a dozen people, including a corpulent military advisor whom he lifted off the ground by the throat and slammed headfirst into a wall, knocking him unconscious. The next morning, Governor Hong Shan Dong, upon hearing of the incident, flew into a rage and hastily summoned thirty armored soldiers to drag them away. The military advisor lost his position, and his entire family was expelled from the city. After that, no one dared to challenge her openly. Some still tried to win her favor with poetry and charm, but the door never opened. Later, after the governor spoke a few words, the idle sons of noble families who liked to pretend at culture vanished overnight. The alley returned to its quiet, untouched state.
Today, Hu Bai was skillfully entertaining wealthy women in his silk shop, making easy money. In the exchanges, it was unclear who was taking advantage of whom. As he joked with two flirtatious older women, he suddenly noticed someone leading a horse outside. In an instant, he examined the man from head to toe, noting even the quality of the horse and the saddle. Finding nothing unusual, he was about to look away when the man glanced toward the shop, their eyes meeting briefly. Both smiled faintly. Hu Bai watched the man ride away, then frowned slightly. But considering the many hidden agents on the street, some even more skilled than himself, he dismissed his concerns. He smiled, thinking how handsome the young nobleman was—rare in Yan Zhi County, where beautiful women were common but handsome men were slovenly.
The women in the shop, seeing Hu Bai’s smile, became even more willing to spend lavishly. As they handled the silk fabrics, their hands brushed against his arms with slightly more force than necessary.
After moving into the estate, Pei Nan Wei kept only two diligent young maids to serve her, though they were not particularly close to her. She would occasionally joke with them when in a good mood, teasing them about having lovers and offering to play matchmaker. The maids would blush and stammer, unable to respond. Pei Nan Wei would laugh and forget about it, not truly intending to meddle. Over time, the maids came to understand their mistress’s nature. At first, they thought she was the hidden lover of some official in Yan Zhi County. But after seeing no men visit the estate, they abandoned that idea. A beauty so captivating that even women could not look away—surely no one would leave her alone for months without visiting. Today, the maid Zhu Hai heard persistent knocking at the door. At first, she ignored it, assuming it was some fool who would soon be dragged away like a dead dog. But after half a teacup’s time, the knocking continued. Zhu Hai grew curious—was there truly someone in the city so fearless? She hesitated, thinking her mistress was in the back garden and wouldn’t hear, so she decided to see who was so reckless. When she opened the door, she was stunned. It was a young man, handsome beyond belief, like a scholar from a romantic novel stepping into reality. He smiled at her, and her heart raced, thinking him even more gentle and handsome than Hu Bai, the silk shop owner.
Xu Xiao Feng spoke softly, “My name is Xu Qi. I’m the clerk of Bi Shan County. Your Miss Pei knows me. Please, young lady, go inform her.”
The maid hesitated. She knew Bi Shan County, and the rank of a county clerk, but she found it hard to believe this man truly knew her mistress. “Even if you’re handsome, that doesn’t give you the right to just walk in.”
She dared not disturb her mistress for every self-proclaimed acquaintance. If every man who claimed to know Miss Pei were allowed in, the door would have been worn down by now, and the stone steps replaced long ago. Zhu Hai stood with a skeptical expression, refusing to move. Xu Xiao Feng, slightly helpless, said, “Governor Hong Shan Dong sent me. If you tell Miss Pei and she still refuses to see me, you can chase me away with a broom. Deal?”
In Yan Zhi County, Hong Shan Dong was the highest authority. The maid understood the stakes. After a moment’s thought, she said seriously, “I’ll go tell her, but I won’t close the door. Don’t you dare step inside.”
Xu Xiao Feng nodded.
The maid hesitated as she turned away, glancing back to ensure the young nobleman remained obedient. Seeing him unmoved, she hurried to the back garden to inform her mistress. Xu Xiao Feng sat on the threshold, back to the estate, watching his horse—a decent but not exceptional steed. In the shadows, several pairs of patient eyes watched him, likely under orders not to interfere. Xu Xiao Feng could sense their heartbeats, appreciating their discipline. To outsiders, Bei Liang was known for its invincible cavalry and White Horse Scout (Bai Ma Chi Hou, White Horse Scout), but few knew of the spies and assassins cultivated by Chu Lu Shan. Though battles were rare, the covert war between Bei Liang and Bei Mang’s web, as well as Li Yang’s Zhao Gou, had never ceased.
Snapping back to reality, Xu Xiao Feng turned to see the maid, broom in hand, rushing out furiously. Clearly, she intended to chase him away. No need to guess—Pei Nan Wei had set a trap for him.
Xu Xiao Feng stood, watching the maid wield the broom like a legendary dog-beating staff from martial legends. He quickly stepped back, laughing bitterly, “Miss Pei, you win.”
The maid stood at the threshold, broom raised, then turned to see her mistress standing on the steps, smiling like she never had before. Zhu Hai realized her mistake. She turned back, eyes wide with fear, looking at the young man called Xu Qi, who had narrowly avoided being hit by the broom. He smiled, stepping up to take the broom from her hand, crossing the threshold, and glaring at Pei Nan Wei, who wore a smug expression, “Enjoying yourself?”
The once-beautiful woman, now stripped of her title as the Princess of Jing An, and no longer ranked among the beauties of Yan Zhi, resumed her cold demeanor.
Zhu Hai stood behind Xu Xiao Feng, trembling. The other maid, standing behind Pei Nan Wei, stared at the young man in plain clothes, equally bewildered. Their mistress had once refused the governor’s visit, and Hong Shan Dong, upon hearing this, left without a word. Only a governor like the one of You Zhou would dare approach her. Yet here was this young man, so young and yet so high-ranking? Even the eldest son of the Governor of Jing Liang, Li Han Lin, a reformed rogue who had earned his stripes on the border, was only a commander of the You Nu cavalry. Pei Nan Wei sneered, “Zhu Hai, Mei Shao, hurry and greet our esteemed Bei Liang King, who’s incognito in Yan Zhi County. This is your only chance. The youngest Shang Zhu Guo of the Li Yang Dynasty isn’t someone you can meet every day.”
The maids, too terrified to question, knelt instantly, especially Zhu Hai, who had just brandished the broom.
Xu Xiao Feng said gently, “Stand up. Don’t listen to your mistress.”
The maids refused to rise, fearing for their lives. If this truly was the new King of Bei Liang, the butcher of men, wouldn’t killing them be as easy as breathing? All of Bei Liang whispered of the King’s sixth-place ranking—wasn’t he the kind to either send his cavalry or kill with his own hands?
Xu Xiao Feng placed the broom down and said to Pei Nan Wei, “I’m the clerk of Bi Shan County now. I need someone to cook. Interested?”
Pei Nan Wei replied firmly, “No!”
Xu Xiao Feng smiled, walked over, and threw her over his shoulder, heading for the door. Pei Nan Wei, ever the troublemaker, screamed, “Help! Someone’s kidnapping me!”
No one responded. The maids stole glances, watching their usually cold mistress scream like a madwoman. Though young and innocent, they sensed something in the air. They dared not rise, watching helplessly as their mistress was carried away by the young man who might, perhaps, truly be the King of Bei Liang.
Outside, Xu Xiao Feng tossed her onto the horse and led it out of the alley.
Spy Hu Bai passed the alley, glancing at the silent woman on the horse. He lowered his head and continued walking.
A wish arose in his heart, only to die before it could bloom.
Xu Xiao Feng looked back at the lonely figure, saying nothing.
Leaving the city, he mounted the horse behind Pei Nan Wei and galloped through the night back to Bi Shan County. Soon, the entire county knew the clerk had a wife of unparalleled beauty. “A fallen noble finds love where he cannot find favor in the bureaucracy!” they joked.
Deputy County Magistrate Zuo Jing heard the gossip and finally gave in, bringing wine to visit the humble home. He was stunned by her beauty, though she wore simple clothes, clearly a waste on Xu Qi, a fallen noble’s son. If it were him, he’d treat her like a goddess. But the woman, seemingly a new bride, ignored everyone. For the first two days, she accompanied Xu Qi to buy groceries, then settled into quiet domesticity. When guests came with ulterior motives, she barely showed herself, only tending to potted plants and feeding chickens in the corner.
Zuo Jing, ever cunning, arranged for Xu Qi to handle minor cases at the county office. The woman would arrive with a lunch box, wait while he ate, then leave. Yet even this simple act drew the eyes of every official, who wished to be trampled by her feet.
Even County Magistrate Feng Guan, known for his arrogance, began chatting with Xu Qi at noon, but would leave when the woman appeared. As for Deputy Magistrate Bai Shang Que, he still avoided Xu Qi, though he changed clothes daily.
No one knew who started it, but someone called her “Madam Xu,” and she smiled in response. Soon, the entire county office echoed with the term. Thanks to Madam Xu, the clerk finally looked like an official. Invitations to drink poured in, and Xu Qi accepted all, returning home drunk every night.
On the day of the summer solstice, Xu Xiao Feng returned to the courtyard, seemingly drunk but with clear eyes. He sat at the table, eating the simple, mostly vegetarian meal with her. These days, they spoke little during the day, and at night, they did not share a bed. Xu Xiao Feng slept on the floor. If word got out, many officials would rejoice.
Xu Xiao Feng sat in the courtyard cooling off. Pei Nan Wei, after tidying the dishes, lay on the cool bamboo bench beside him, gently fanning herself with a reed fan.
Pei Nan Wei said, “Summer solstice already?”
Xu Xiao Feng nodded.
Pei Nan Wei paused the fan and asked, “In Guang Ling, many will die?”
Xu Xiao Feng remained silent.
Pei Nan Wei lifted her head, gazing at the evening sky, and laughed softly, “History paints the good as flawless saints and the evil as never doing a single good deed. If you die one day, will anyone write a kind word about you?”
Xu Xiao Feng squatted on a small stool, still silent. He took the fan from her hand, fanning more generously than she ever did, sharing the cool breeze.
Pei Nan Wei turned to him, watching closely, and said, “You’re the sixth strongest in the world. Can you conjure an acre of reeds for me? If you do, I’ll let you sleep in the bed tonight.”
Xu Xiao Feng replied calmly, “Even if I were a land-bound immortal, I couldn’t do that. Besides, if I sleep in the bed and you sleep on the floor, what’s the difference?”
Pei Nan Wei burst into laughter, then winked, “You, for all your sixth-place strength, are a waste.”
Xu Xiao Feng smiled, “Who says not.”
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