When the proprietress of the Jiujiu Restaurant was personally led into the small courtyard by Xu Xiao, she was greeted by a scene that left her both amused and exasperated. There sat the illustrious Qing Cheng King, perched on a tiny stool, scrubbing his opulent python robe—a garment befitting a prince of the realm.
The problem? The young man’s movements were unnervingly skilled!
Xu Long Xiang had just finished washing the robe, wringing it dry before briskly hanging it on a bamboo pole already set up in the yard. Wiping his hands, he grinned and said, “Aunt Hong’s here? Make yourself at home—though there are only two chairs to choose from.”
Then, turning to the young woman beside the older lady, he added cheerfully, “Miss Chen, we meet again so soon.”
Jia Jiajia and Xu Ying, crouched in the corridor, were engrossed in a game of Go. They barely glanced at the newcomers before resuming their play. Jia Jiajia’s pieces were stored in her upturned sable hat, while Xu Ying’s were tucked into the folds of her robe.
The proprietress settled into a rattan chair, while Chen Yu initially intended to stand beside Aunt Hong. To her surprise, the young prince lazily squatted near the two peculiar women, leaning against a pillar and waving. “Miss Chen, take a seat too.”
Aunt Hong cut straight to the chase. “Feng Nian, I heard you only demanded five hundred thousand *dan* of provisions from the court?”
Xu Long Xiang chuckled. “That’s not true. It’s just that old fox Qi Yanglong shamelessly begged me not to bleed them dry. He promised at least a million *dan* of grain would reach Qing by next autumn. The ‘fifty thousand’ figure was probably the Chief Minister’s way of saving face for the court. Since I’ll be leading tens of thousands of Qing cavalry into Guangling soon anyway, I figured I’d humor them for now. Looking back, I almost feel bad for the old man. I’ll have to apologize properly someday.”
Aunt Hong gaped, then burst into laughter after a long pause. “You shameless brat… but I love it!”
Chen Yu’s heart skipped a beat.
*Tens of thousands of Qing cavalry charging into Guangling? What does that mean?*
Xu Long Xiang, meanwhile, was distracted by Jia Jiajia and Xu Ying’s bizarre Go strategies. “Place it here, here!” he interjected, plucking a piece from Jia Jiajia’s hat to make a move, then hastily doing the same for Xu Ying under her reproachful gaze.
Chen Yu stared blankly at the board.
*Two parallel lines of stones with no interaction—since when was this considered Go?*
Between moves, Xu Long Xiang flashed a cheeky grin at Aunt Hong. “About the Qin Tian Jian incident—don’t be mad, Auntie. Anger causes wrinkles, and you’re still so young. If we walked outside together and I called you ‘aunt,’ strangers would punch me for making you sound old!”
Aunt Hong rubbed her crow’s feet, nodding vigorously. “Mhm, absolutely true.”
Chen Yu took a discreet deep breath.
Then Aunt Hong’s voice turned sweetly dangerous. “Feng Nian… am I really *your* Aunt Hong?”
Xu Long Xiang stiffened like a soldier facing doom. He scrambled behind her to massage her shoulders. “Auntie, what’s wrong? Between us—I’m actually barely holding it together. Just putting on a brave face for the court. We’re surrounded by enemies here in the capital! Every step is agony, but I didn’t want you to worry—”
Aunt Hong called out to the man at the gate. “Xu Xiao! Your prince claims he can’t walk. Carry him to my carriage—we’re going to Jiujiu Restaurant.”
Xu Xiao chuckled. “Well…”
Xu Long Xiang frantically signaled with his eyes.
But Xu Xiao boomed, “No problem at all!”
*Who was it that praised ‘what a swift spear’ at Qin Tian Jian’s gate earlier?*
Xu Long Xiang groaned. “Auntie, aren’t you afraid of trouble? I leave the capital in two days—do you want your restaurant to survive?”
Aunt Hong yanked him toward the gate. The helpless Qing Cheng King turned to the Go players. “I’ll bring back treats.”
As their party exited Xiamawei Posthouse, even Aunt Hong and Chen Yu could hear distant screams from the main street—some so passionate they bordered on tragic.
Xu Long Xiang, who’d planned to ride with Xu Xiao, instantly reconsidered. Aunt Hong beamed. “See? Business will boom! I’ll auction your seat—starting at a hundred taels per half-hour! What do you think?”
He forced a smile. “Auntie, I’m suddenly feeling unwell. Tomorrow! I’ll visit tomorrow!”
Ignoring his protests, she dragged him into the carriage. Xu Xiao rode escort, watching in dismay as frenzied women flooded the streets, swarming toward them. For the first time, the warrior felt true dread.
Inside, Xu Long Xiang hunched in a corner opposite Aunt Hong and Chen Yu.
“Feng Nian,” Aunt Hong teased, “not picking a few pretty wives to take back north?”
Chen Yu turned to study the curtains.
Xu Long Xiang massaged his temples. “Auntie, have mercy.”
Outside, the carriage inched forward as waves of “*Brother Xu!*” echoed through the streets. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead—this time, genuine.
Aunt Hong grew serious. “Did you destroy both formations at Qin Tian Jian?”
Surprised by her knowledge, he nodded. “Mostly. The Duke of Yan gave me something that preserved Liyang’s vitality, thwarting Xie Xie’s scheme. But he didn’t escape unscathed—I smashed his bowl, then Deng Tai’a chased him south past Guangling River. Liyang’s fate still holds, but it’s shifting. Oddly, the emperor hasn’t confronted me about it—probably Xie Xie’s meddling again. I’d planned to storm the Heavenly Gate when the Longhu Mountain founder tried to return, to slash a few more immortals… Had I known the ‘ox-rider’ would come to Tai’an City, I’d have chased Xie Xie for miles instead.”
Aunt Hong sighed. “Just like your father—recklessly bold.”
Noticing Chen Yu’s intense gaze, Xu Long Xiang joked, “What, Miss Chen doesn’t recognize the horse-leading beggar from years ago?”
She met his eyes. “I truly don’t.”
At Jiujiu Restaurant—unusually empty—Aunt Hong declared, “Closed for lunch! Today, I’ll cook for you myself.”
As she locked the door, Xu Long Xiang spotted a veiled woman nearby. He rushed over. “Auntie! Why come here? Even with the Imperial Secret Service in chaos, this place might still be watched.”
The woman removed her veil, revealing a bronze mask—Zhao Yutai, his mother’s swordmaiden from years past, who’d given him the Violet Sandalwood Case containing the Great Liang Sparrow sword during his second wanderings.
Her voice was rough. “I shouldn’t have asked, but… I needed to see you.”
Xu Long Xiang beamed like a child. “If I can stroll in and out of Qin Tian Jian, I’d meet you even in the palace!”
Aunt Hong ushered them inside. “Enough standing! Talk while I cook. Half an hour.”
When Chen Yu offered to help, she was gently shooed away. Zhao Yutai began mentioning her puppet master Wu Lingsu, but Xu Long Xiang excitedly cut in: “Auntie, when are you coming back? Huang Mian’er’s grown so tall! There’s this Northern girl—absolutely smitten with him, won’t take no for an answer! She’s high-born too, not that I care, but I had to play the stern big brother, you know? Scared her silly at first—oh, it was priceless! Second Sister misses you terribly. If I brought you home—”
As he rambled, Zhao Yutai removed the mask she’d worn for twenty years, revealing her ravaged face. Neither flinched.
When Aunt Hong called them to eat, Zhao Yutai whispered, “I must keep watch over the Wu family. Their schemes can’t be abandoned now.”
Xu Long Xiang shook his head fiercely. “Come home. Qing doesn’t need their tricks anymore.”
She sighed. “After all these years of planning…”
He smiled brilliantly. “Auntie… who’ll stand as family at my wedding?”
Behind the kitchen curtain, Aunt Hong—holding a dish—burst into tears.
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