At the village entrance stood several old trees covered in creeping vines, their trunks twisted with age. A few mangy yellow dogs barked furiously at the sight of the unfamiliar traveler. The village was small, no more than forty or fifty households, and news of a visitor spread quickly. But moments earlier, a group of rugged cavalrymen from Daomaguan had passed through in haste, causing many timid villagers to keep their doors shut. Later, when they saw Xu Zhiniang and You Song return in a flustered rush, the more industrious women—already up and preparing breakfast—hurriedly roused their reluctant husbands from bed. Though the men on the Kang (a traditional heated brick bed in northern China)（kang）were not particularly accomplished, they at least had more experience than the women. Rubbing their sleep-deprived eyes, they peeked from behind the earthen walls for a long while, yet could make little sense of the situation.
Years ago, when Xu Zhiniang was harassed by a youth from a neighboring village, the village elders had mustered their courage and led the young men to rescue her. But now, faced with a squad of disciplined soldiers from Beiliang, none dared to play the hero. When the barking of their mongrel dogs stirred unease, fearing trouble, some impatient men rushed out without even finishing their meals, kicking the dogs who whimpered and slunk into corners, bewildered and pitiful. Through the cracks in the door, villagers glimpsed a young nobleman with a sword at his waist strolling slowly along the winding bluestone path. His appearance was strikingly handsome. Several pretty village women, though aware of their place, could barely resist the urge to tease him. A man this beautiful was a sight never before seen in their humble hamlet. The villagers, with their simple ways, had no qualms about exposing themselves during summer nights when nursing babies, caring little if someone caught a glimpse. They believed that being noticed by the young nobleman’s elegant phoenix eyes might even be a stroke of good fortune.
Xu Fengnian passed each house, admiring the Spring Festival couplets penned by the elderly scholar. He stopped at the last household, knocked gently, and entered without waiting for a reply. To his surprise yet not entirely unexpected, he found the young woman there. He halted respectfully and smiled softly, “Why haven’t you left yet?”
The anxious girl turned her head slightly, avoiding his gaze, and murmured, “With no family or friends to turn to, where could I go?”
Leaning against the cool, dew-damp gate, Xu Fengnian smiled, “I came by chance, hoping you hadn’t left too quickly so I could tell your sister-in-law that everything’s resolved. The general who arrived later is from my hometown in Lingzhou. Though we’re not old friends, he and my father have mutual acquaintances, and he wouldn’t dare act rashly. I spent some silver to buy the soldiers a feast of wine and dog meat, so the matter is settled. As the old saying goes, the King of Hell（Yan Wang）is easy to meet, but the Little ghost（xiao gui）are hard to deal with. If you still doubt me, within a couple of days, the authorities will return the withheld pension money. Then you’ll know I wasn’t lying.”
The young woman’s eyes reddened instantly, her gaze lowered. Her slender fingers—delicate but not as smooth as those of noblewomen—clutched tightly at her sleeve.
After a pause, Xu Fengnian added, “Tell You Song to study hard under the old master. There’s a golden house in books. When he comes of age, Beiliang will have changed, and opportunities for scholars will be greater.”
With that, Xu Fengnian turned to leave. He heard a child shout “Big Brother!” from the doorway, but the prince did not stop. The young widow, Xu Qing, sighed softly, “Sir, won’t you even step inside? Is it because you think it’s too dirty? I understand—widows attract trouble.”
Xu Fengnian was taken aback, turning with a wry smile, “Sister-in-law, you know I don’t mean that.”
She glared, “Who’s your sister-in-law!”
Then, softer but firm, she added, “You Song said you gave him two buns this morning. Let me prepare you a meal before you leave. We may be poor, but we still know how to show respect.”
Xu Fengnian smiled faintly and entered. The room was small, dominated by an octagonal table. To the left was a sleeping alcove; to the right, the kitchen. You Song brought the only chair, sitting himself on a small stool, gazing up at his hero with wide eyes. The young woman cooked skillfully, soon serving a basin of fragrant rice porridge, a bowl and chopsticks, and a dish of pickled cabbage. Xu Fengnian, without ceremony, began eating. The cabbage was crisp and tender, perfect with porridge. He chewed slowly, finding it the most satisfying meal in days.
Xu Qing and You Song sat side by side on a long bench, its red paint mostly worn away. The child nestled beside his mother, grinning innocently. Xu Qing, touched by his joy, smiled gently, perhaps finding it amusing how much this nobleman enjoyed such humble fare.
Xu Fengnian didn’t eat quickly, finishing three bowls before setting down his chopsticks contentedly, “Delicious.”
Xu Qing smiled warmly, “Eaten every day, it loses its charm.”
Xu Fengnian nodded, then shook his head, “Better than feasting on delicacies. At least it nourishes the stomach. Besides, the truest flavors are simple. I only realized this after traveling.”
Xu Qing, composed, patted You Song’s head. The boy dutifully gathered the dishes and returned them to the kitchen. Only then did she ask hesitantly, “How much did you spend, sir? Let me owe it to you. I’ll repay it bit by bit when I can.”
Xu Fengnian smiled silently.
Xu Qing, naturally shy, blushed under his gaze.
Xu Fengnian said calmly, “In Beiliang, a family like yours struggles to save ten or twenty taels a year. Even with your embroidery skills, selling pretty sachets to wealthy girls, how many could you sell in a place as small as Daomaguan? If you bought expensive silk scraps but couldn’t sell the sachets, you’d lose money. Even if business were good, you’d work the fields by day and embroider by oil lamp at night. When you fall asleep, the lamp burns uselessly—don’t you feel guilty? You might even prick your fingers in frustration. Even if you add the pension money, repaying thirty taels a year would take decades. And for an official higher than a Deputy Captain（fuwei）, a few hundred taels wouldn’t even fill a tooth gap. Would such a man accept your gratitude? So, don’t even mention repayment. I don’t need the money. Consider it a good deed.”
Xu Qing lifted her head, biting her lip, her eyes clear, “I will repay!”
Xu Fengnian laughed, “Repay? Fine. Five hundred taels at least. And do you think every official accepts bribes? The favor I called in with the general—how much is that worth? A thousand taels? Call it fifteen hundred. Repay me over fifty years?”
Xu Qing said calmly, “Then You Song will repay you.”
Xu Fengnian chuckled, this stubbornness must be in her blood.
Xu Qing suddenly whispered, “I know you’re not rich either. I can’t let you bear this burden. It pains me.”
Xu Fengnian was surprised, “Why say that?”
Her cheeks flushed as she murmured, “When you took the chopsticks, I saw the calluses on your palms and fingers.”
Xu Fengnian paused, his smile turning odd.
Misreading his expression, Xu Qing feared she had wounded the scholar’s pride. She had heard that city scholars valued face above wealth, that righteousness outweighed gold. Though she didn’t fully understand, she admired it. Had she embarrassed this traveling scholar? She felt clumsy, pinching her thigh, her eyes welling with tears. Even in hardship, she had never been this fragile.
Xu Fengnian hesitated, then gestured to You Song hiding behind the kitchen door. He handed him the Chunlei sword, his expression serious, “Whatever you think, hear me out. If you insist on repaying, wait until you’ve saved enough and come find me in Lingzhou. Otherwise, consider me too ashamed to accept your coins each time. Even if my hands are calloused and my family modest, as a scholar, I must uphold my dignity. Those born into noble families, like you, are stubborn about money.”
Xu Qing sighed, not daring to stubbornly insist, fearing the kind nobleman might leave in anger—her and You Song’s great benefactor.
You Song, cradling the Chunlei sword—unknown even in Beiliang’s Prince’s Mansion（fu）—knew not of its fame. Only the maids of the Phoenix Court（Wutong Yuan）knew of it and its twin, Xiudong. Yet even there, though the Yuan（yuan）seemed harmonious, the prince never enforced rules, but the servants dared not disobey Prince’s Mansion（fu）customs. Any whisper of the prince, however trivial, reaching outsiders meant death. Beiliang King Xu Xiao treated his son with unusual gentleness, but servants who broke rules were beaten or fed to dogs—mercy indeed. Commander Huangfu Ping learned of the sword only after overhearing a casual remark from Xu Fengnian and his father one night. You Song, awestruck, asked, “Big Brother, you could beat those Daomaguan soldiers, right?”
Xu Fengnian smiled, “I could fight them, even kill a few. But some matters are like family disputes—killing solves nothing. Better to reason first. If that fails, then fight. You Song, studying is good, but sometimes you must speak with fists. Take Zhang Shun. The old scholar has knowledge and wisdom, but when Zhang clashed with him, who ended up on the ground? Of course, the scholar has a Juren title and doesn’t kneel to county magistrates. Zhang, a illiterate ruffian, usually dares not provoke him.”
Xu Qing pondered silently.
You Song nodded fiercely, “I want to study to honor my mother, but also to travel like you, helping the oppressed!”
Xu Fengnian tapped his forehead gently, “How many bowls can your belly hold? Learn the Four Books and Five Classics first before dreaming of adventures.”
You Song suddenly said, “Big Brother, my father was a hero.”
Xu Fengnian’s voice was calm, but his eyes softened, “I never met your father. I don’t know if he was a hero. But You Song, you and your mother are wonderful.”
Just that.
Even the eloquent prince could say no more.
Looking outside, Xu Fengnian gazed at the rows of cabbages drying by the wall and murmured, “I have a big family—much bigger than yours. There’s my father, stewards, maids, guards, gatekeepers, servants, grooms—so many people I’ve never met. Each has their own agenda, working for their own small families. Managing this household isn’t as simple as punishing someone I catch misbehaving. Even a stable’s feud can’t be resolved by simply replacing someone—it might make things worse. Many outside want to plant spies, pretending to help while hollowing us out. When I was You Song’s age, I stayed in my courtyard, thinking the sky wouldn’t fall. But growing up, I learned even my father, who built this vast estate, eventually grew weary. He had too many concerns—those who entered the house with him, and the neighbors who depend on us. Everyone contributed, and though my father was ruthless, he had to turn a blind eye sometimes. Punishing once works, but repeated actions only make others cleverer, hiding their schemes better. My father grew more troubled. At first, I resented being sent away, but later I understood—seeing how others live is vital. This journey, though called a scholarly tour, is really about observing how Beiliang’s people live. Like a novice repairman, I must mend broken windows and patched walls before storms come. But patching alone isn’t enough. I must find the root cause to heal the disease. A family, like a person, cannot wait until it’s too late to beg for help. My task now is not to act rashly but to find capable subordinates to act as fishermen and menders, working ahead of me. This is wiser than confronting each issue myself. Once I saw a man named Xuan Yuan purge his household too thoroughly, nearly turning it upside down. A cousin of mine, a man named Chen, might do the same. But I won’t repeat that mistake.”
The child, holding the sword, didn’t understand but sensed his “Big Brother’s” family was vast.
Xu Qing, simple-hearted, listened in a daze.
Xu Fengnian stood. Xu Qing patted You Song’s shoulder, and the boy hurriedly returned the Chunlei sword.
Xu Fengnian smiled and said something she would never fully grasp, “Helping you today was really my father’s fault. If such things happen again in Beiliang, you and You Song can blame me.”
They saw him to the gate. As he hesitated, Xu Fengnian added softly, “By the stream, I reached out without thinking. Don’t blame me.”
Xu Qing’s face flushed crimson.
At that moment, she had rushed forward, and his arm had met her full bosom.
Seeing her near tears, the prince, realizing his unnecessary apology, smiled sheepishly and strode away, leaving the village behind.
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