The three patriarchs of Huangnan Commandery had taken residence in the General’s Mansion of Lingshou Prefecture, all located in close proximity. Besides their trusted retinues, they had brought no other outsiders into this newly-inaugurated official residence. When the Young Prince invited them to rest for the night, Wang Xihua immediately felt uneasy. It was clear that this was a deliberate move to allow the three families ample time to communicate beforehand. Wang Gongcao, Ling Su Wang Zhenlü, and Zijin Wang Lüting had only managed to exchange a few hurried words over a hasty lunch during their journey, hastily summoned from their respective clans at dawn. While they outwardly pledged mutual support, inwardly they remained wary of each other. When the future of entire clans was at stake, even the closest personal friendships could not override the need for careful deliberation.
Wang Xihua, hailed by Yao Baifeng as possessing the talent of “three provincial governors,” dined on a modest supper without rushing to accept Wang Zhenlü’s invitation. Instead, he ventured out alone for a stroll. Not long after stepping outside, he spotted the young Wang Lüting leisurely wandering as well. Wang Xihua couldn’t help but admire the youth’s composure. As they exchanged nods and smiles while passing each other, Wang Xihua strolled slowly along a waterside corridor, his hands behind his back. The stream flowed into Jin’ou Lake, and few mansions in Lingshou had the privilege of channeling the lake’s water into their courtyards. The neighboring estate of the Governor was naturally the most prominent among them. A sudden thought struck Wang Xihua, and he turned into a narrow path hugging the wall. Through a hole in the wall, he glimpsed the scene inside the neighboring Li residence. Suddenly, he halted—on the other side of the wall stood a familiar official, also peering through. With his hands still behind his back, Wang Xihua smiled and said, “Governor Li, what a refined pastime you have! I heard you’ve found a most distinguished son-in-law—his learning, character, and background are all exceptional. Congratulations.”
He addressed Li Gongde merely as “Governor Li,” without referring to himself as a subordinate official, a clear indication of Wang Xihua’s haughty pride.
Li Gongde brushed his sleeve and chuckled in response, “I don’t need to rely on a son-in-law for support. At least I have a decently accomplished son earning genuine military merit on the border. Master Wang, you should be a bit more cautious.”
Wang Xihua nodded and said, “The border is filled with valiant men. Your son thrives both on the battlefield and in matters of the heart, truly enviable. As for my own son, he’s no talent—only good at consorting with courtesans. I can’t expect such fortune.”
It was well known throughout Beiliang that the Governor’s son, Li Hanlin, had once been notorious for his promiscuity, often accompanied by handsome young companions on his outings. Though he had since reformed and no one doubted the authenticity of his prowess as a ranger commander, his past as the infamous young rogue meant he had committed many unforgivable sins. Tonight, Wang Xihua’s veiled jab was, in a way, an unavoidable repayment of a son’s debts by the father. Li Gongde did not refute him. Instead, he bent down, and Wang Xihua, puzzled by the Governor’s unusual submission, was caught off guard when Li Gongde suddenly hurled a handful of dirt straight at him. It didn’t hurt, but for Wang Xihua, regarded as the scholarly leader of Lingshou, such an insult was unbearable. At a loss for how to respond, he simply stood frozen. Li Gongde burst into laughter, “Damn you, Wang Xihua! Always putting on airs! I’ve wanted to beat the crap out of you for ages! There’s no one else around today—just us two old enemies… Your Highness, when did you arrive?”
Instinctively, Wang Xihua turned his head at the sound, only to find no one there—where was the Young Prince? When he turned back, another handful of dirt struck him in the face. Enraged, he pointed a finger and shouted, “Li Gongde! You claim to pursue the three immortal virtues—words, deeds, and virtue. Can you claim even one of them? You’ve truly sullied the meaning of your name! You are cunning yet ruthless—do you really believe you’ll die peacefully in your bed?”
Li Gongde casually rubbed his nose and then pointed upward, scoffing, “Others may call you ‘Master Wang the Triple Governor,’ but those three governors are nothing more than the size of the official hat atop my head. Don’t spout nonsense at me. Tell me, who holds the higher rank today? And who’s been keeping you stuck at the rank of a mere Commandery Official all these years?”
Wang Xihua sneered, “To speak to you of the transmission of virtue and the cultivation of scholars is like playing the zither to a cow!”
Li Gongde chuckled softly, “We’re like a chicken and a duck trying to talk—ultimately, we’re of the same kind. Neither of us should mock the other. Wait until you become the next Yao Baifeng before you lecture me on scholarship and achievement.”
Wang Xihua raged, “Li Gongde! Who would be of the same kind as you?!”
Li Gongde raised his hand, and Wang Xihua, having been tricked twice, immediately dodged. But he soon realized the Governor held no dirt at all. Li Gongde said with a smirk, “Tricking you, Wang Xihua, is as easy as playing with a monkey,” then turned and left. Logically, after such an unexpected skirmish between old enemies, Li Gongde should have been triumphant. Yet, despite his usual high spirits in Beiliang, he was unusually somber, his face dark with gloom. Wang Xihua’s expression shifted at first, but as Li Gongde’s figure receded into the distance, the corners of his mouth subtly lifted. Gone was any trace of anger. He murmured softly, “Li Crab, Li Crab—how long can you keep scuttling sideways?”
※※※
Xu Fengnian received the second secret letter of the day, sent by an old “turtle” in Lingshou. Even Xu Fengnian had not expected the messenger to be a martial artist of the fourth rank who had entered the General’s Mansion. Before everyone gathered at the entrance, the Lingshou Youqin had already obtained background information on most of the individuals—some brief, some detailed. Only the mysterious drunkard’s background remained unknown. Presumably, even the spies from outside considered it too reckless to brazenly enter the mansion. The letter indicated that none of the individuals raised suspicion of espionage. Most were martial artists with criminal records, which was not unusual—after all, in the martial world, to gain fame without ever fighting or being attacked was a fool’s dream.
Xu Fengnian sat in his study reading the letter carefully while the man nicknamed “Yanwang Blade” knelt motionless on the cold floor. After finishing the letter, Xu Fengnian closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time. When he opened them again, he said, “The drunkard can wait, but have Chu Luzhong investigate Liu Bozong of the fourth rank immediately, especially Sun Chong of the third rank. Their backgrounds are too clean, too meticulously documented. From birth to martial cultivation to fame, everything seems traceable and transparent. But the more so, the more suspicious they become. Sun Chong appears old but is only twenty-nine; Liu Bozong is thirty-two—the youngest among them. Although I’m not an expert in espionage, I know that with enough effort, fabricating an identity before the age of fifteen is easy. Then, with careful cultivation over a decade, one can erase all traces. I even suspect their families themselves may be problematic. Please have your Youqin pay closer attention.”
The man trembled, beads of sweat rolling down his back. He bowed respectfully and said, “Protecting the Prince’s safety is the top priority of the Youqin. It is no trouble at all.”
Undoubtedly, the man feared the young General of Lingshou’s special status, but even more so, he feared that the Prince could call out the name of the Youqin’s hidden leader. The terror of Chu Luzhong was not something that could be understood through mere rumors—it was something only those within the Youqin could truly grasp.
Xu Fengnian walked around the desk and approached the man, bending down to help him up with a gentle smile. “Beiliang has many civil and military officials, but we lack a hundred like you. Without you, Beiliang would be far less stable. Please convey a message to Chu Luzhong: this year, give the Youqin more rewards. The money will not come from him—it will be taken from Qingliang Mountain. If anyone desires martial arts manuals or other treasures, they may boldly request them. The Prince’s Mansion will do its best to fulfill their wishes. In my view, nothing in the world is more valuable than life itself. Since you’ve all pledged your lives to the Xu family, the Xu clan must never betray you.”
The man stood up, his eyes slightly red. After a moment’s hesitation, he scratched his head, looking somewhat bashful. Gathering his courage, he said, “I’m from Jinzhou, only about three hundred miles from the General’s and Your Highness’s hometown. I left Liaodong six or seven years later than the General. I once served in another army but ran into trouble and had nowhere else to go, so I followed the General. For years, I’ve worked under General Chu, but I’ve never achieved any great feats—just the kind of hard labor anyone could do. A few years ago, I married a wife and had a few daughters. This past autumn, I finally had a son. I don’t lack silver at home, but I’d like to ask Your Highness, when you have time, to give my son a name. If you’re too busy, just pretend I never said anything.”
Xu Fengnian replied gently, “Naming a child is no small matter. A bad name can affect a person’s fortune. I believe in that, so I’m hesitant to give your son a name.”
The man had not expected much, so he was not disappointed. Suddenly, Xu Fengnian smiled, “However, Xu Xiao doesn’t believe in that. When I go to Liangzhou this time, I’ll have Xu Xiao name your son. If the name is bad or sounds terrible, you can always use it as a nickname.”
The man wanted to kneel again, but Xu Fengnian held his arm, sighing, “Enough. Even if you kneel a few more times, I can’t give your son multiple names. besides, your son doesn’t need them. Names aren’t silver coins—you don’t need to collect more and more.”
The man smiled sheepishly, no longer the sharp and cautious figure he had been before, but now showing a touch of genuine sincerity.
“After you leave, send a message to Xu Beizhi in Longqing Commandery, telling him to come to the General’s Mansion.”
After saying this, Xu Fengnian walked to the window. The joyful man did not disturb the Young Prince’s thoughts any further and quietly left the study. Xu Fengnian gazed at the pot of fuchsia flowers brought by Huyan Guanyin, his mind wandering far away.
The strength of Liyang lay in its unification of the Central Plains. After the old Grand Chancellor Sun Xiji, the highest-ranking civil official, led a large group of former Western Chu loyalists to submit to Liyang, the struggle for legitimacy was completely settled. As long as the court was willing to employ talent, it was virtually inexhaustible. These talents had various specialties—some focused on moral writings, others on practical achievements, and many more on the dirty and arduous tasks. If Liyang was like a vast field of fertile farmland, capable of treating its customers with arrogance, then Beiliang was like a small plot of land where one had to be creative. Master Li Yishan had spent many years making do with little, like a skilled cook with no ingredients. Xu Fengnian had once joked privately, whether with Xu Xiao or his two sisters, that even if he could become an emperor, he would never sit on the Dragon Throne. He had known early on how difficult it was to govern a region. Yet, when he truly began to lay out his plans himself, he felt that even as the heir of Beiliang, doing anything was like being trapped in a square cage. Any slight movement would hit a wall. This cage had been painstakingly built by countless figures throughout history, and it was simply called “rules.”
Xu Fengnian returned to his desk and wrote the loosely structured phrase “Zhi Gao Shi” (Only Tell the Corpse). Then, beside the character “Zhi,” he added a radical to complete the character “Zhi” (Weave). Putting down his brush, he tucked his hands into his sleeves and walked aimlessly through corridors and pavilions. At a waterside pavilion, he encountered Wang Lüting, who was hopping around to keep warm. This young man, once known alongside Li Hanlin, Wang Yunshu, and another troublemaker from Emei Commandery as the “Four Tyrants of Lingshou,” was not someone to be underestimated like Wang Xihua. Compared to the gloomy and lifeless head of the Lingsu Wang clan, Wang Zhenlü, Xu Fengnian found Wang Lüting, the new head of the Zijin Wang clan, far more intriguing. Due to hereditary succession, Beiliang was currently in a period of unavoidable upheaval. The old guard had already faded, and the new generation had yet to rise. Many families were maneuvering with the tides, though the timing varied. Zhong Hongwu, a general from a military family, had his only son Zhong Chenxin pursue a civil service career—that was a change. Wang Xihua, a scholar himself, had Wang Yunshu pursue a martial path—that was also a change. However, most of these individuals had good fathers, making their tasks easier. Xu Fengnian knew that the Zijin Wang clan had not produced any great talents for generations. He had assumed that Wang Lüting’s generation would continue to decline. Yet, this time, the young man had the courage to come to the General’s Mansion. If he returned empty-handed, the first family to be targeted by the Governor would not be Wang Xihua’s or Wang Zhenlü’s, but the Zijin Wang clan, whose foundations were unstable. It was clear that young Wang Lüting carried a heavy burden.
When the Young Prince approached, Wang Lüting merely turned his head with a smile and continued hopping.
Standing beside him, Xu Fengnian listened as Wang Lüting joked, “Knowing that Your Highness is a straightforward person, I’ll speak plainly. This time, following behind the two elders, I came here to beg for a favor from Your Highness. It’s a desperate move—if I don’t get some official post, when I return to Huangnan, the old men will mock me behind my back. Your Highness, have mercy on poor Wang Lüting?”
Xu Fengnian looked toward the narrow stream, its ripples barely visible within the confines of “rules,” and said calmly, “Tell me what position you want. If it’s too high, I can’t grant it. If it’s too low, I can’t offer it either. If I give you a meaningless post, those old men will still drown me in their scorn.”
Wang Lüting laughed heartily, “Not too high—just the post of Textile Commissioner of Beiliang Dao. The two Textile Bureaus in Jiangnan Dao are prestigious fourth-rank posts. Our Beiliang’s Jinlü Textile Bureau is only fifth-rank. The old commissioner, Li Xifeng, has served for twelve years already. It’s time for him to retire.”
Xu Fengnian said without changing expression, “Fifth rank is no small matter.”
Wang Lüting, indeed thick-skinned, stopped hopping and cupped his hands, exhaling warm breath into them. Turning his bright smile toward the Young Prince, he said, “Lüting knows it’s hard to get an official post, so I’ve also come to buy one from Your Highness. The Zijin Wang clan is willing to offer 180,000 taels of silver—all in ready cash. If that’s not enough, we also have rare antiques and calligraphy paintings that can be converted into silver. If Your Highness has some time, we might even manage another 100,000 taels. We can’t compare to the other three Wang families of Huangnan in wealth. The Zijin Wang clan is poor.”
Xu Fengnian sat on a bench, gesturing for Wang Lüting to sit beside him. He smiled and said, “I can sell you the post of Jinlü Textile Commissioner for 180,000 taels, but there’s a condition.”
Wang Lüting laughed, “Your Highness, my sister is indeed known for her virtue, but she is only average in beauty, and she’s already betrothed. Please don’t have any such thoughts.”
Xu Fengnian was taken aback, smiling wryly. “You little rascal, don’t be so flippant with me. Let’s be serious. I know you have a close friend from a humble background who serves as a tutor in the Zijin Wang clan. Even the great Confucian scholar Yao Baifeng said that if this person were to take the imperial exams, he would surely be the top scholar in Lingshou, and possibly even the top in the entire Northwest. He might even become the triple champion. Huangnan’s Lu Yuyuan, who recently passed the palace examination and was granted the status of a Jinshi, apparently benefited from your friend’s essay techniques. Otherwise, he would have barely passed the county and provincial exams—let alone the palace examination, not to mention the metropolitan one. If you can persuade this person to come forward, I’ll grant you the post of Jinlü Textile Commissioner. If not, then go back to Zijin Wang quietly.”
Wang Lüting burst into laughter.
Xu Fengnian remained unmoved.
Wang Lüting stopped laughing, his expression sly. “Your Highness, rest assured. This fellow has already been forcibly brought to the city by me. Shall I have him brought here now?”
Xu Fengnian shook his head. “No need to meet him. Just tell him to stay in Lingshou City after the New Year. I have an official post waiting for him.”
Wang Lüting sighed, “People truly envy each other to death. I have to spend my entire fortune to buy an official post, while this fellow gets it for free.”
Xu Fengnian suddenly said, “You are neither the legitimate son nor the eldest son. To become the head of the Zijin Wang clan must have been no easy feat.”
Wang Lüting’s playful expression faded, but he did not deliberately sit upright. Instead, he said softly, “Compared to Your Highness, it was much easier.”
Xu Fengnian smiled, “You haven’t even gotten the post yet, and you’re already flattering me?”
Wang Lüting laughed again, “I’m just getting some practice. Since I’m going to be under someone’s roof, how can I not watch their expressions? In the future, Your Highness must give Wang Lüting more opportunities to flatter you.”
Xu Fengnian teased, “Then you’d better start by apprenticing under Chu Luzhong.”
Wang Lüting hesitated.
Xu Fengnian knew he was a clever man, so he spoke directly, “I know what you’re thinking. Indeed, Chu Luzhong’s flattery, whether seen by me or others, has always been nauseating. But there’s one thing many people fail to see—Chu Luzhong only flatters one person. That’s called loyalty to the end. That’s why he and Governor Li….”
He paused here, then stood up and left without finishing.
Seemingly relaxed and at ease, Wang Lüting had been secretly tense all along. At first, he didn’t dwell too deeply on those strange words. After all, he had obtained everything he came for—more than he had expected. Relieved and excited, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy. But when he later reflected on those words, he felt a chill run through his entire body. Could it be that with Beiliang’s changes, the neighboring mansion would soon have a new master?
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage