It was probably because this self-proclaimed General of Lingshou was too straightforward, which made Song Yan, a seasoned official well-versed in court politics, feel both intrigued and slightly wary—an emotion the Prefect was reluctant to admit. He fell silent, his tea long gone cold while he absentmindedly toyed with the lid of his cup. Xu Fengnian did not mind such a minor breach of etiquette. A secret report had indicated that Li Fuzhen had arrived in Huangnan Prefecture, and he had no intention of meeting her, as it would be awkward for both parties. Thus, he prepared to leave this mansion that indeed felt somewhat gloomy and eerie. Song Yan did not remain complacently seated; he stood up to see his guest off at the door. Xu Fengnian informed him he would stay in the city until the next morning, and Song Yan nodded, standing still for a while before slowly returning to his seat. He gently placed his hand on the armrest of his iron Pearwood chair. The steward, who had been politely refused the honor of guiding the guest out of the mansion, stood carefully by the door, naturally filled with concern. Everyone knew that the heir of Beiliang was eccentric and unpredictable; now that he had crowned himself the General of Lingshou, who knew what mischief he might be plotting? Song Yan might end up being the first to suffer.
Song Yan patted the armrest and turned around, saying, “Go to the Wild Ape Library and sort out two thousand books, then have General Tao deliver them to the General’s Mansion in Lingshou today.”
The steward couldn’t help but ask, “Master, how should they be selected?”
Song Yan, looking as if salt had been rubbed into his wounds, sighed, “Except for the forty or so rare editions stored separately in sandalwood boxes, choose the best ones and move them out of the Wild Ape Library.”
The steward nodded and quickly left. Song Yan rubbed his temples, smiling bitterly, “Truly, it hurts more than marrying off a daughter.”
Xu Fengnian, accompanied by Xu Yanbing and Hong Shuwen, walked along the small path inside the Song residence. Huyan Guanyin had not entered the mansion and remained in the carriage outside. Xu Fengnian had chosen Song Yan of Huangnan Prefecture mainly because the Prefect was well-read but lacked the rigidity of a traditional scholar. Previously, Song Yan had deliberately criticized Xu Xiao’s inconsistent rewards and punishments in public, a risky political maneuver meant to attract Xu Xiao’s attention. It wasn’t that Song Yan misunderstood court etiquette; it was just that he had unfortunately encountered Xu Xiao, the “unappreciative” King of Beiliang, who failed to recognize his overtures. Naturally, Xu Fengnian began to suspect that Xu Xiao had intentionally left this stubborn stone of Lingshou for him to conquer.
As Xu Fengnian pondered, he looked up and saw a tall servant girl from the mansion. She was modestly dressed and, surprisingly, wore a long sword at her waist. She regarded them with a stern expression, blocking their path and demanding sharply, “Who are you people? You were eyeing us suspiciously from outside the wall earlier—why have you intruded into the backyard?”
A young man in Lingshou who wore no armor but carried a Beiliang saber could only be a reckless young noble, she thought. She had accompanied her young mistress and had seen many such sons of officials who used their family’s influence to commit misdeeds, never learning from their mistakes. This time, they had dared to swagger into the Prefect’s residence.
Xu Fengnian glanced at her, and behind him, Hong Shuwen was eager to act, his eyes cold, ready to strike the girl unconscious with the saber’s scabbard. But Xu Fengnian gave him a warning look, then smiled at the girl and explained, “I am a guest of this mansion; my carriage is parked in the alley behind the back gate. I am just leaving and have no intention of sneaking into the Prefect’s residence. The crime of illegally entering an official’s home is serious, and I wouldn’t dare cause trouble here.”
After speaking, Xu Fengnian tried to walk past her, but she stepped sideways again, blocking his path. Hong Shuwen rolled his eyes, thinking this woman truly didn’t know how to spell “death.”
The maid said stiffly, “No, you must state your name. I’ve already asked the steward and will only let you leave after confirming your identity. Otherwise, if you are thieves attempting to steal books or dangerous outlaws with ill intent…”
Hong Shuwen couldn’t help but curse, “Get out of the way!”
The maid, no less temperamental than Hong Shuwen, was furious and reached for her sword—but to her horror, no matter how hard she tried, the blade would not budge from its sheath, as if it had been fixed in place. Xu Fengnian knew Hong Shuwen lacked such arcane abilities, but for Xu Yanbing, who had once bested Wang Xiu, it was a trivial feat.
Xu Fengnian simply brushed past her, followed calmly by Xu Yanbing, while Hong Shuwen, wearing a mocking expression, strutted by. The girl, who had spent years training in swordsmanship, felt as if she had seen a ghost in broad daylight. She dared not move again and turned to watch the three men leave, checking to see if they had shadows before finally feeling relieved—she had truly feared they might be vengeful spirits from the mansion’s past.
The maid stood frozen, but another figure emerged from the shadows of the mansion, a sword flashing like a rainbow as it lunged toward them. Xu Fengnian frowned, and Hong Shuwen, delighted at the opportunity to fight, was ready to strike. However, with the Prince present, he did not go too far—he swiftly drew his saber, jabbing the scabbard into the “assassin’s” chest before delivering a kick to the abdomen. As the attacker fell, Hong Shuwen, as if feeling the punishment was too lenient, took a quick step forward, aiming to stomp harshly on the attacker’s face. But Xu Fengnian had already spoken, “That’s enough.”
Hong Shuwen retracted his boot, just an inch from the attacker’s face, and re-sheathed his saber, returning to the side of the merciful Prince.
The maid, who had failed to draw her sword, cried out, “Miss!”
The young woman, struck by Hong Shuwen’s blow, struggled to sit up, pointing to her fallen sword in the distance and calling out with difficulty to the retreating figures, “Hey, hey, you with the gray hair—don’t leave so quickly! I have something to ask you!”
But to Song Huangmei’s great disappointment, the man simply walked away without looking back, whether out of fear of her father’s retaliation or sheer indifference, she couldn’t tell. However, Song Huangmei, who had a strong sense of chivalry, did not intend to pursue the matter. She had been in the wrong for drawing her sword in the first place and did not feel that the other side had acted unjustly. She accepted her defeat gracefully. Although Song Huangmei’s face was pale with pain, her curiosity far outweighed her anger.
But her maid Tieya was not as magnanimous. She picked up the sword for her mistress and, after helping her stand, was ready to fight despite knowing they were no match for the group. Song Huangmei grabbed her arm, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace, “Tieya, don’t go. They really are guests of the mansion, personally received by my father. Ouch, it hurts too much to talk anymore…”
Tieya, in tears, said, “Miss, since when do guests act like that? I have to go and reason with Master.”
Song Huangmei, taking a sharp breath, smiled with satisfaction despite her pain, “Tieya, we’ve met true martial experts today. Come on, help me go to Fuzhen’s place. Once I recover a bit, I’ll ask my father who that man really is.”
Before entering the carriage, Xu Fengnian said to Hong Shuwen, “There are several deep-cover agents from Northern Wei that have been rooted in Huangnan Prefecture for years. Since you’re idle, tonight you’ll work with our spies. However, this won’t count toward your military merit. Remember one thing—you must follow their rules. If I find out later that you’ve gone on a killing spree, you won’t be involved in anything like this again.”
Hong Shuwen nodded vigorously, his eyes burning with excitement, licking his lips with a grin that sent chills down one’s spine.
Guo Fufeng sat alone by a brazier in the room, not feeling slighted or ignored, and even took the time to admire the room’s decor. If he lacked such composure and depth, how could he have won the affection of a rare noblewoman like Li Fuzhen of Beiliang? Guo Fufeng was quite satisfied with his current situation. He considered himself a master strategist. If his brother-in-law, Li Hanlin, continued to act like a lawless noble, it would be fine—Guo Fufeng was no rigid scholar and wouldn’t mind playing the role of a henchman to support Li Hanlin’s mischief. Now that Li Hanlin had joined the border forces, it was even better. When Li Hanlin returned in glory, he would likely rise through the ranks as a military official. A family needed two paths forward—one military, one civil—and the civil path was precisely where Guo Fufeng could fill the gap. With mutual support and guidance from Li Degong, who had recently become the Governor, the Li family’s prosperity would be assured. Guo Fufeng had even imagined how he would respond when he inevitably met the new King of Beiliang.
Guo Fufeng gazed at the glowing coals in the brazier. This secret mission to Huangnan Prefecture required him to handle matters discreetly. Li Fuzhen, though reserved and shy, would not be enough to resolve the problems for her father. Huangnan Prefecture, being the Governor’s “birthplace,” could not afford any internal crises that might give the Prince’s Mansiona reason to criticize. Guo Fufeng believed Song Yan understood the stakes. The previous cold reception was merely a display of bureaucratic authority.
Li Fuzhen sat beside him, and Guo Fufeng, seeing no one else around, spoke softly, “I have my own plans for persuading Prefect Song. You don’t need to worry, Fuzhen. Also, according to what you said, the man your friend likes is the son of a second-rate gang in Huangnan Prefecture. If the opportunity arises, the four of us can find a quiet restaurant and have a meal together. Though I am not a martial artist, I know many martial tales and won’t be at a loss for words with him.”
Li Fuzhen suddenly asked, “Fufeng, aren’t you tired?”
Guo Fufeng smiled and asked in return, “Tired?”
Li Fuzhen turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.
Guo Fufeng hesitated for a moment before deciding not to take her hand. He placed his hands over the brazier, enjoying the warmth, and spoke softly, “There’s no such thing as tired or not tired. For the sake of a comfortable future for us both, it’s only natural that I work hard. One day, I will make sure that Lingshou, even all of Beiliang, remembers the name Guo Fufeng.”
Li Fuzhen had once gone on a hunger strike to be with him, never feeling tired then. Yet now, hearing his bold words, she inexplicably felt weary.
Guo Fufeng said gently, “Fuzhen, don’t worry. I will eventually earn the recognition of both your father and Hanlin.”
Li Fuzhen nodded.
Song Huangmei, one hand clutching her chest and the other her abdomen, entered the room and sat down. Li Fuzhen asked with concern, “What happened?”
Song Huangmei spoke mysteriously, “Nothing serious. Earlier, we saw those people full of killing intent, so I went to test them myself. Guess what? I got a good beating, but that’s not the strangest part. Tieya’s experience was even more bizarre—she couldn’t even draw her sword. That group must be true martial experts!”
Li Fuzhen asked anxiously, “Does your father know about this?”
Song Huangmei shook her head, “Not yet. I’ll wait until I’m not so battered before asking. Otherwise, my father will surely confine me for at least half a month, maybe even keep me from the Lantern Festival.”
Li Fuzhen, who had intended to keep the truth hidden, grabbed Song Huangmei’s hand and blurted out, “The leader was that Xu man—the current General of Lingshou!”
Song Huangmei was stunned, then shook her head with a laugh, “No way! Where would that Xu man get any killing intent? Him? Even with a Beiliang saber, he’s just a paper tiger. Impossible! If that man were Xu Fengnian, I’d be a swordswoman immortal!”
Unknown to them, Song Yan stood behind the three, having overheard everything. For the first time, he was furious with his daughter, shouting, “Song Huangmei, fine, fine—you’re a swordswoman immortal, huh? You’ll stay confined for a whole year! If you dare to leave, I’ll break your legs! This time, I mean it!”
Song Huangmei shrank back, whispering, “Dad, is it really that Xu man?”
Song Yan barked, “What Xu man? He’s the Crown Prince!”
It was the first time Song Huangmei had seen her father so stern. She hadn’t felt so wronged even after being beaten by Hong Shuwen, but now she felt tears welling up in her eyes as she pouted and shouted, “It’s that Xu man! Even if he stood right in front of me, I’d still call him Xu man! He’s just a good-for-nothing second-generation noble who’s only something because he was born into the right family and shares General Xu’s surname. Xu Fengnian is nothing!”
Outside the door, the Song family steward wished he could dig a hole and disappear. He swallowed hard, his neck stiff as he turned to look at the “Xu man” who had returned, wondering how to undo the damage caused by his young mistress.
Song Yan saw his daughter suddenly stop crying, realizing the presence behind her. Even a seasoned official like him, who had weathered countless political storms, felt his heart sink into despair.
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