As the two men entered the county yamen, Xu Fengnian folded his umbrella. County Magistrate Feng Guan and Deputy County Magistrate Zuo Jing lived in the back of the yamen as was customary. Xu Fengnian, serving nominally as the third-in-command as the county clerk, should have had a place as well, but was driven out by Feng Guan, who took advantage of his youth and lack of background. During the previous campaign to eliminate bandits in the mountains, Feng Guan, being the top official, received a commendable evaluation at year’s end, while Zuo Jing got only a few crumbs of credit, and Bai Shangque, the county warden with a background from the scholars of Liangzhou, successfully transferred to the military of Youzhou. As they passed through the yamen, the clerks still on duty greeted them warmly. Though they held a decent impression of Xu Qi, the young clerk who had been absent for some time and lost his seat, their warm welcomes were laced with some meaningful glances, a mixture of pity and schadenfreude. From these faint clues, Xu Fengnian quickly grasped the situation. Although Xu the clerk was about to pack up and leave, upon hearing of his visit, Feng Guan did not act overly cold, after all, he was the one who had caused all this. Otherwise, Xu Qi wouldn’t have to leave Bi Shan County so soon. According to the old records of Youzhou, not only for a year or two, but for many years, many offspring of military families who served in the yamen and profited from their posts were hardly seen. Who would have thought that Xu Qi, from a minor military family with neither support nor understanding of the times, would end up like this? Who in Youzhou dares not to take roll call seriously these days? It’s said that in Lingzhou, under the governance of the grain warehouse governor, many idle aristocratic sons were disciplined to the point of being worse than grandchildren. Sitting in his study, Feng Guan was playing with two newly acquired treasures: a bamboo carving of a young lion and a bamboo yellow lingzhi jade scepter said to be crafted by the old Southern Tang Dynasty. Upon hearing the report from a servant, he originally intended to stand up and give a few perfunctory words outside the study, not even offering Xu Qi a cup of hot tea. However, when the servant subtly mentioned that Xu’s wife had also come along, the county magistrate understood immediately, sat back down on his chair, and ordered tea to be prepared for receiving guests in the study.
Feng Guan did not go to the door of the study to greet them. When he saw the young man who should have been fawning all over him just stride across the threshold without even bothering to exchange pleasantries, he was already at a loss. What was even more outrageous was that the young man had his “widowed” wife sit on a chair while he leaned against it and asked, “If I’m not mistaken, the new clerk and county warden are both scholars from Liangzhou, named Yang Gongshou and Zhu Ying respectively. They were both students at Qing Lu Cave Academy. Now that there are senior scholars like Huang Shang in Beiliang who are evaluating the writings of local scholars, Yang Gongshou once ranked first in the Youzhou assessment for half a year. Let’s not talk about him. Just tell me how Zhu Ying governs.”
Feng Guan was holding the exquisite bamboo carving in one hand and maintaining the posture of offering tea with the other, not knowing what to do.
For a moment, he dared not even look directly at the young man in front of him.
Feng Guan himself found it strange; where did this kid get such an air of authority? He had never felt such pressure even from Hong Shandong, the governor of the Yanzhi Prefecture. Feeling deeply humiliated, Feng Guan put down the bamboo carving and jade scepter, drank some tea to moisten his throat, and used the official tone he had cultivated over years of bureaucratic experience to drag out his words: “Xu Qi…”
Xu Fengnian smiled and said, “My name is Xu Fengnian.”
Feng Guan was taken aback and sneered, “I’m still Zhang Julu!”
Feng Guan suddenly realized that the chief minister had already died, and in a rage of embarrassment, he slammed the table and shouted, “Xu Qi, do you think I can’t have you arrested by the The Silk-Clad Riders for such a disrespectful remark?!”
Pei Nanwei secretly pinched Xu Fengnian’s waist with two fingers and imitated the county magistrate’s tone, saying, “Talk about the matter at hand! Hmm?!”
Xu Fengnian snapped his fingers, and Feng Guan suddenly felt a chill in the air. A tall, expressionless man in black appeared out of nowhere beside him. The man took out an ancient bronze “general’s token” from his chest and placed it in front of Feng Guan.
Feng Guan had heard that high-ranking generals in the border army all had such a general’s token. It was not used for commanding troops, but only for one purpose: when a general fell in battle, the token was passed to his deputy to take command. If the deputy fell, it was passed to the captain, then to the lieutenant, and then to the battalion chief, continuing until the entire army was wiped out.
However, Feng Guan was not sure if this was indeed the general’s token. Moreover, he would never believe that Xu Qi, the former county clerk, was actually the King of Beiliang. Therefore, Feng Guan inexplicably felt a surge of boldness and loudly rebuked, “Xu Qi, you are being reckless! Do you really think I’m an easy man to fool?!”
The guard, who had followed Xu Xiao for many years, looked at his new master. Xu Fengnian waved his hand, and the expressionless shadow vanished in an instant.
Feng Guan was horrified.
Meeting such a person, Xu Fengnian was at a loss, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He reached out and grabbed the two fingers of Pei Nanwei, who struggled to pull away.
Xu Fengnian said helplessly, “Let’s not talk about anything else first. Give me the salary for those few months. My family is waiting for it to buy food.”
Feng Guan leaned back against the chair, “Let’s talk rationally. Don’t do anything rash like killing me. There are hundreds of The Silk-Clad Riders in Bi Shan County under my jurisdiction!”
He obviously believed that this former clerk, Xu Qi, was more likely a spy from the enemy’s infiltration into Youzhou than the actual Xu Fengnian, the King of Beiliang.
Pei Nanwei extended her hand and said calmly, “Give me the money. Twenty-four taels and seven mace.”
Feng Guan’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he forced a smile, saying, “These two bamboo carvings are both crafted by famous artisans from the Spring and Autumn period. They can sell for at least a hundred taels of silver. You can take them.”
Pei Nanwei sneered, “Are you going to use them for firewood? Is that enough? Besides, after you’ve touched them, they’re dirty. I want silver. Hmm?!”
Feng Guan cursed inwardly. Those two bamboo carvings, he had only played with them for a while, how could they be dirty! As for the real silver, hadn’t he even touched it yet? What a woman with long hair and short sight, truly a beauty with such a face but so narrow-minded. Xu Fengnian smiled and said, “County Magistrate, then I will go to the household department to collect my salary.”
Feng Guan was actually shaking in his legs but still pretended to be calm, waving his hand. He was thinking that as soon as the couple left, he would immediately have the criminal investigation department and the constables arrest the two. After leaving the study, Xu Fengnian picked up the two oil-paper umbrellas placed at the door. Pei Nanwei asked, “Is this how you demand your salary?”
Xu Fengnian smiled, “Well, I was afraid that reasoning wouldn’t work. Besides, with those eyes of his always wandering over you, I was afraid that before we could argue anything, I might just lose my temper and slap him to death. Killing Feng Guan wouldn’t be so bad, actually. Such an official can be replaced by anyone, and it would just make room for Yang Gongshou and Zhu Ying.”
Pei Nanwei’s expression was somewhat strange.
Xu Fengnian went to the household office in the front courtyard and collected his salary. The clerk there naturally dared not show any disdain to the clerk who had the county magistrate’s verbal “imperial edict.” After leaving the yamen, they found that the rain had stopped. Xu Fengnian spoke softly, “That Yang Gongshou isn’t much, he only knows how to write beautiful words that are actually hollow and lack any real substance. As for Zhu Ying, he wasn’t famous at all in the academy at the foot of Qing Lu Mountain, but many of his essays, which criticized current affairs, were all placed on the desk of the Fu Shui Room. In the end, even my second sister was moved to write to me specifically, saying that this person is worth a major appointment. However, compared to Chen Xiliang and Xu Beizhi, he is too sharp, sticks to principles stubbornly, and doesn’t let go once he’s in the right. Several times, even the senior scholars invited by Huang Shang for lectures were forced into a corner and couldn’t get out.”
Pei Nanwei’s face was cold. “That Yang Gongshou is no good.”
Xu Fengnian laughed. “I knew it. Is this guy bothering you? The spies from the Fu Shui Room haven’t told me about this yet. Is this something that happened in the past few days?”
Pei Nanwei didn’t look angry. “Last time I went to the yamen to collect a debt, this person came to Bi Shan County for his new post. Probably still waiting for the formal approval from the governor, he’s been idle and bored lately. Every time I go out to buy things, he shows up. He still has some shame as a scholar, at least he doesn’t come close, just stays not too far away and loudly recites poems and verses. Well, maybe his level is about the same as yours back then.”
Xu Fengnian couldn’t help but laugh. “How could that be? Back then when I bought poems from the scholars of Beiliang, I paid top prices, and the content was all quite good.”
Pei Nanwei and Xu Fengnian were just about to turn from the main street into a narrow alley when four or five ruffians who seemed to be waiting for them surrounded them with grinning faces. Pei Nanwei looked at Xu Fengnian, who frowned and muttered to himself, “Has Bi Shan County not experienced the might of the The Silk-Clad Riders? How can there still be people daring to cause trouble at this time?”
Soon, the answer revealed itself.
As the ruffians were making lewd remarks and closing in, a hero came to the rescue. Not far behind Xu Fengnian and Pei Nanwei, a graceful man in white clothes appeared, wearing a sword. He was very handsome and elegant, standing like a jade tree in the wind, and the sword he carried looked quite valuable.
When he saw Xu Fengnian beside Pei Nanwei, a flicker of sadness and disappointment flashed in his eyes, but soon this emotion turned into a surge of passion and boundless fighting spirit.
Without even drawing his sword like a dragon, he shouted lightly, stepped forward gracefully, and from seven or eight steps away, threw a palm strike. Instantly, one of the ruffians was swept by the powerful palm wind, his feet left the ground, and he crashed into the wall of the alley.
The white-clad swordsman struck again with another palm, and another person spun around several times on their own and then fell to the ground, groaning in pain.
Pei Nanwei’s mouth twitched a bit, turned her head away, and refused to look at this fool.
Xu Fengnian extended his finger to pinch her chin, gently turned her head back, and suppressed his laughter. “This chivalrous hero who came to the rescue is also working hard, you know. At least watch the show to the end.”
The white-clad swordsman was busy showing off his deep inner strength and extraordinary martial arts skills and didn’t see this scene. Otherwise, he might have made himself spit blood.
He kept striking palm after palm, beating those burly ruffians until they were rolling on the ground in pain. Some even “struggled” to get up and charged at the swordsman, but none of them managed to even touch the hem of his clothes before being swept away by his “sharp” palm wind, flying off in various spectacular poses—sideways, backward, spinning.
Xu Fengnian turned his head sideways and, with the experience of a seasoned person, quietly explained to Pei Nanwei, “Back then when I did things like this, the cost was over two hundred taels. Because at first, I had the guards from the mansion pretend to be ruffians, which was too fake. The first time doing something like this, I didn’t have any experience either. Those seven or eight guards were only supposed to verbally tease the girl, but as soon as they opened their mouths, it sounded like they were going to kill her whole family. That scared the delicate little girl so much that she almost fainted, crying and saying not to kill her and that she would do whatever they wanted. Later, I had to step in and explain. Guess what happened? That seemingly delicate little girl wasn’t even shy. She just asked me directly if I was married, which scared me off. It made me the laughingstock of Li Hanlin and a few others for half a year. After that, I hired real ruffians from the streets to perform these acts, and beforehand, I even had to tell them how to fight. For something like palm winds and fist auras, it was easier to handle, and the price was lower. If it involved knives, they would ask for more money. But back then, I just gave them silver according to my mood. I guess this guy, even if he’s stingy, probably spent at least twenty or thirty taels.”
Crouching at the mouth of the alley were Yu Dilong and Lü Yunzhang, who were also stunned.
When the swordsman, who was drenched in sweat from just throwing punches, finally finished his work, the ruffians “followed the rules” and shouted things like “Mercy, young hero” and “Your martial arts are truly formidable,” then helped each other up and left.
Pei Nanwei covered her mouth and laughed, because in her ear, Xu Fengnian had already said these exact words before they did, and the former top troublemaker of Beiliang was full of pride, “How is it? This is the exact Schemes, right? I’m the pioneer of this kind of thing. Back then in Liangzhou and Lingzhou, countless young rascals were imitating me.”
The white-clad swordsman, facing the two people with his back turned, hurriedly caught his breath. Once his breathing steadied, he smiled and turned around, walking towards Xu Fengnian and Pei Nanwei. Just as he was about to speak, two troublemakers ran out from somewhere. The taller one shouted at the annoying person next to Pei’s side, “Master and Mistress, my senior and I will just find a hotel to stay at, otherwise we can’t get used to sleeping on the same board. We’re leaving!”
Xu Fengnian saw the two little brats run off in a flash and his face looked a bit embarrassed.
Pei Nanwei sneered, “What good apprentices you’ve taken in.”
The white-clad swordsman in front of them was none other than Yang Gongshou, the newly appointed county clerk of Bi Shan County. He watched helplessly as “Xu Qi” stood by the side of the woman he admired, his heart breaking. He had heard of the beauty of the Yanzhi women before, with sayings like “A man should marry a woman from Lingzhou, and take a concubine from Yanzhi.” At first, he thought it was just vulgar talk from old lechers in official circles. But when he caught a glimpse of the woman who appeared at the yamen, his soul was gone. Later, when he heard she was already married, he did have a painful inner struggle, but in the end, he couldn’t control himself. Yang Gongshou didn’t really have any intentions, he just worked hard to find opportunities to appear in front of her. Later, when he found that poetry and literary talent didn’t work, he thought maybe his approach was wrong. Since the customs in Beiliang were fierce, perhaps she liked the route of martial heroes, hence this performance.
Xu Fengnian reached out and wrapped his arm around Pei Nanwei’s slender waist with a smile, saying, “This martial hero, he must be a martial arts master in the jianghu. I wonder if he has a famous title that’s well known?”
Yang Gongshou slightly opened his mouth; he had indeed forgotten this point. However, he was truly talented, otherwise he wouldn’t have gained fame at Qing Lu Cave Academy. He smiled and bowed his fists, saying, “My name is Yang Gongshou. In the jianghu, people call me ‘Poetry and Sword’…”
Not far away, a young scholar clapped his hands lightly and walked over, laughing loudly, “Brother Wenshu, back then when we both climbed Qing Lu Mountain, you were already out of breath halfway up the path. I wonder how you’ve become so accomplished today. Could it be that there’s really such a thing as a heavenly being possessing someone?”
Yang Gongshou, having his old secrets exposed, wished he could dig a hole to hide in. Fortunately, the Pei lady had already left with that man.
Yang Gongshou’s face turned red with anger. He finally couldn’t say anything harsh and just let out a heavy snort.
The scholar stood beside Yang Gongshou, watching the two walk into the alley, and softly laughed, “A refined lady, a gentleman’s ideal match. Brother Wenshu, in the past, you and I didn’t get along, but from today onwards, you might dislike me even more, while I have developed some liking for you.”
Yang Gongshou flicked his sleeve and strode towards the county office in big steps.
The man shook his head with a smile, “Yang Gongshou, Yang Gongshou, do you really think those two didn’t see through your clumsy trick? I’m actually saving you from being laughed at further.”
Walking through the alley, Xu Fengnian laughed, “Perhaps Yang Gongshou won’t appreciate it and will think Zhu Ying is just undermining him.”
Pei Nanwei, once ranked on the Yanzhi Beauty List, felt no emotion towards this farce, and said, “Zhu Ying probably isn’t suited for the bureaucracy, right?”
Xu Fengnian sighed softly, “If he were in Liyang, unless there was a wise and tolerant mentor, Zhu Ying would probably never rise in rank. Scholars have one bad trait.”
Pei Nanwei asked, “Acting on impulse?”
Xu Fengnian nodded, “Scholars have more feelings than ordinary people. The more they read and write, the more history they know, the heavier their hearts become. The more learned they are, often the less sense of proportion they have. They don’t like to calculate carefully, or rather, they disdain it, unwilling to engage in pretense with people and matters. When looking at people and doing things, they tend to be either black or white, which is what you call acting on impulse. Therefore, in history, those literary giants with great talent often don’t hold high office. This strange phenomenon cannot be fully explained by the phrase ‘high aspirations but low abilities.’ Fortunately, this doesn’t matter much to them. Emperors and generals will eventually become dust, but only those who drink and write poetry will be remembered. Writing famous works to drown sorrows in wine, isn’t that delightful? Thousands of years later, they are naturally more memorable than emperors, generals, and high officials.”
When they returned to the courtyard, Pei Nanwei brought out two small stools and placed them under the eaves.
She looked at him sitting quietly beside her.
She said, “It’s hard to imagine you’re the same young prince who killed people in the reed marshes back then.”
He remained silent.
She casually asked, “I heard people on the street say there’s a turning point in the Guangling Road. The Western Chu suffered a defeat. Do you think Cao Changqing will take action? Or will he wait until the Prince of Yan moves north?”
He shook his head, “The Prince of Guangling should soon join the Prince of Huainan. Then the army of the Prince of Yan will confront Cao Changqing.”
She asked, “You came this time and said so much, are you leaving your last words?”
He didn’t speak again.
The two remained silent for a long time. In the night, there wasn’t much to see.
She looked at the sky and finally spoke, “It’s rare for a powerful man to see women as equals, isn’t it?”
He whispered softly, “Perhaps not many, but certainly quite a few. It’s just that you’ve had bad luck and haven’t met any.”
Pei Nanwei rested her chin on her knees, murmuring, “But, isn’t it also not good for a man to not see women as women all year round?”
After she said this, she got up and walked into the house.
Her figure was graceful.
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