Chapter 142: 先生卖我几斤仁义道理

The main gate of even a moderately sized manor was not usually kept open. This was especially true for an entrenched, powerful clan like the Lu family; the main gate would not be opened for just any visitor. Even the Prefect of Huting County, let alone a high-ranking regional official like the Governor of Yang Province, might not have had such a privilege. It was only out of consideration for her status as a sister-in-law and pity for a parent burying their child that Lu Baixie tolerated such an embarrassing incident at the Lu manor.

When such a major incident as the main gate being removed occurred, a commotion significant enough to alarm Yang Province, Xu Zhihu received the news immediately, despite any restrictions she faced within the Lu manor. Only then did she confirm that her younger brother had arrived in Yangchun City. Who else but him could perform such a shocking act? Blame him? Xu Zhihu couldn't bear to! However, the Lu manor was, after all, her nominal home, and making too much of a scene wasn't advisable, especially since her father-in-law, Lu Xuanlang, would stop at nothing for the sake of his reputation—what esteemed scholar doesn't value their standing? She playfully and smilingly called out "Uncle" to Lu Baixie again, which earned her a helpless expression. Xu Zhihu didn't bother with pleasantries with the few approachable elders in the manor. She ran out of the main gate, where all the fierce light cavalry had dismounted and knelt on one knee, respectfully saying, "North Liang's Phoenix Camp pays its respects to the Eldest Princess." Xu Zhihu ignored them, looking left and right. She didn't see her brother's gentle, smiling face, which she always dreamt of, and was instantly filled with disappointment. The maid Qingniao could already manage to walk, though her complexion and demeanor were still poor. Just as she was about to kneel, Xu Zhihu, who showed a flash of fear that she quickly hid, stepped forward and supported her. Biting her lip, she lowered her voice and asked, "Where is Fengnian?"

Qingniao whispered softly, "His Highness went to Jiangxin County and said he would rush back to Yangchun City overnight."

Xu Zhihu stamped her foot, her eyes reddening as she murmured, "That fool!"

She took a deep breath and said with considerable authority, "Everyone, follow me into the manor."

Since Lu Baixie, who was of the same generation as Lu Daolin and Lu Xuanlang, didn't stop them, who would dare? Lu Baixie's prominent status as the scion of an influential family was undeniable, but his other identity was even more awe-inspiring. The Martial Arts Review specifically featured a sword evaluation, and Lu Baixie of Huting County, Yang Province, was conspicuously on the list. It was commented that his Tangxi sword intent was grand and righteous, and though his sword name contained the character for "hegemon," it was truly the sword of the benevolent king!

The Lu manor's courtyards were deep, reflecting a typical Jiangnan garden style. Although its footprint was smaller than the residences of the other three great families, its Humble Heart Garden, which had hosted six emperors, was the most renowned. The garden's lake stones and rockeries were crafted by a master landscape artist, with each hill and peak exuding vitality, and every stone and crevice meticulously placed. The former emperor praised it as groundbreaking and unrivaled in Jiangnan, a testament to Humble Heart Garden's ingenious design, given that Jiangnan gardens are considered the best in the world. Plaques, couplets, carvings of flowers and trees, and stone tablets were countless. Xu Zhihu personally led the way, briefly explaining the essence of the garden's layout to Yu Youwei along the way. Lu Baixie and his sword-holding page boy brought up the rear, with Li Chungang, Jiang Ni, and Princess Jing'an walking last. Lu Baixie, who had not drawn his sword that day, asked the old sword god some questions about swordsmanship. The old man, having had a past connection with Yang Yuzhang, a junior, didn't put on airs. And Lu Baixie, though his character reflected typical aristocratic sensibilities, was ultimately like his sword intent—not rigid or dogmatic—and they conversed happily. Lu Baixie merely cast a faint glance at Princess Pei from the corner of his eye and did not look again.

Xu Zhihu lived in the Xieyi Garden in the northwest corner. The courtyard was not small, but the maids were pitifully few, making it seem somewhat desolate. The Phoenix Camp, including Yuan Meng, was accommodated in two nearby courtyards. Upon reaching the courtyard gate, Lu Baixie bowed again before departing.

After entering the courtyard, Xu Zhihu asked her personal maid, Erqiao, to bring some iced plum soup. After sitting down, she asked, "What exactly happened on the way?"

Qingniao truthfully reported everything that had happened in the reed marsh.

Qingniao recounted the events calmly and slowly. The danger involved was far more intense than could be described as a simple series of twists and turns!

Xu Zhihu's expression fluctuated with the story's twists and turns. Finally, upon hearing that His Royal Highness was safe and sound, she pressed her hand to her chest and breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

Xu Zhihu turned with a strange look in her eyes towards Pei Nanwei, who still hadn't managed to sit down. Her lawless younger brother had truly achieved something; he even dared to abduct a princess!

Throughout the afternoon until dusk, Xieyi Garden remained peaceful. Xu Zhihu spent the time asking the women about Xu Fengnian, particularly enjoying embarrassing stories about him. As for the understandable stir within the Lu manor, Xu Zhihu was not in the mood to grovel or curry favor. After a sumptuous dinner, the well-mannered page boy came and gently knocked on the courtyard gate. He was from the smallest garden in the Lu manor, the Retreat Garden. His master, Lu Baixie, who was regarded as a Sword Immortal by the people of Yang Province, actually didn't live there much, spending most of the year traveling with this page boy, exploring mountains and rivers, and seeking out hermits. The maid Erqiao opened the door. For some reason, the two young people of similar age did not get along at all, and at that moment, it felt as if they were fated adversaries.

Seeing Erqiao, the page boy said coolly and stiffly, "My master wishes to see your young mistress."

The atmosphere was already awkward, and after this sentence was uttered, it became even more strained.

Erqiao snorted coldly, dropped a "Got it," and turned to leave.

Looking at her retreating back with clear eyes, the page boy secretly revealed a hint of vexation.

Lu Baixie, sitting in the lakeside pavilion, smiled slightly and murmured to himself, "The youth already knows the taste of sorrow."

Xu Zhihu walked out of the garden, came to the pavilion, and sat down. She said with some guilt, "I've caused Uncle trouble this time."

The Sword Immortal Lu, who had none of the common flaws of aristocratic scions but possessed the ancient integrity of a clan descendant, shook his head and said, "It's not really causing Uncle trouble. It's just that now, your life in the Lu manor will be even more difficult."

Xu Zhihu said indifferently, "What does that matter? All it means is that they'll smile even more falsely in front of me and more coldly behind my back."

Lu Baixie sighed. "Leaving aside the matter of Steward Lu Dongyang for a moment, His Royal Highness incited his retainers to commit murder in the bustling marketplace. No matter how poor their character, those men were still scholars of Huting County, and one was even a descendant of a service family. If the main gate hadn't been dismantled, I could have said a few words to my elder brother and had the Lu manor settle this mess. At most, it would mean giving some compensation money to those minor collateral families and a few official positions. Just buying off lives with money would invite resentment, but proper official positions would largely silence them. For such a vexing and disagreeable matter, for your sake, I wouldn't mind making an exception and stepping forward. But to dismantle the Lu manor's main gate and kill Lu Dongyang in front of all the Huting families on the street... my second brother values his reputation, and not kicking them while they're down is already his limit of endurance. The Lu clan has experienced rise and fall for centuries, and they have actually endured quite a few humiliations. It's just that the past century has seen fewer hardships, and to be so insulted today... I'm afraid the family head will be furious."

Xu Zhihu remained silent.

Lu Baixie frowned. "Zhihu, here and now, with just the two of us, I'll speak plainly. As His Royal Highness's younger brother, why are your actions so reckless? Do you truly not care at all about how the capital views this? You must know that even though your father's power is at its zenith, he has ultimately created political enemies like Zhang Julu and Gu Jiantang, who could become pillars of the dynasty. Furthermore, he is pushing the four great clans of Yang Province into opposition against North Liang. Empress Xu was demoted to the cold palace because of you. If it was the Emperor's own decision, it might be fine, but if it was the Empress's intention, how much goodwill do you think the Xu family will have left in the Emperor's heart? Besides, don't you know who Empress Xu is? The Gumu Xu clan has almost poured all their resources and manpower into paving her way over the years. Now that she has suffered this devastating calamity, the Gumu Xu clan, which was originally closely related to my Lu clan among the four clans of Yang Province, even if they don't part ways, are destined not to advance or retreat together as they did before. It's exactly like the sudden death of Quan'er back then; you'll have to bear the blame again."

Xu Zhihu looked up and smiled, "I'm used to it."

Lu Baixie said bitterly, "Oh, you."

Xu Zhihu leaned against a red lacquered corridor pillar, gazing into the distance, and said softly, "My brother went to Jiangxin County to stir up trouble for Liu Liting."

Lu Baixie said in a deep voice, "Is he still going to cause trouble? Is he truly not afraid of things getting out of hand? If someone with malicious intent fans the flames, it won't just be opportunists who emerge; one move could affect the whole situation, and even the entire Jiangnan region could erupt. Haven't you seen through the Jiangnan scholars' obsession with reputation over life all these years?!"

"Of course, I know, I've seen through it long ago," Xu Zhihu replied. "Qing Province values profit, and Yang Province values reputation. Which scholar in Jiangnan doesn't admire my father-in-law's old saying, 'Where righteousness lies, death is heavier than Mount Tai'?"

Xu Zhihu narrowed her eyes and smiled, "But my brother, perhaps because my father is the King of Northern Liang, doesn't much care about things many people desperately cling to. Yet, he cares most about things even poor families might not value much. Uncle, he probably won't listen to these very reasonable words of wisdom from you."

Lu Baixie, who held the reputation of the Tangxi Sword Immortal, sighed. "If I had stopped him from entering the Lu manor, your future life here would be easier. But if I had truly tried to stop him, setting aside whether I could have succeeded, you would definitely be the first to turn against me."

Xu Zhihu laughed heartily, disregarding etiquette. "Uncle, being a Sword Immortal is truly pitiful."

Lu Baixie looked at her smiling face, his eyes showing a hint of sadness.

The woman he admired back then also had such a natural smile. If he had been more resolute, less concerned with his stated morals and the bigger picture, would he have had no regrets?

But where in the world are there so many "ifs"?

Lu Baixie closed his eyes.

Not far away, the page boy and the maid were squabbling, clashing like needle points against wheat awns. Would these two children also only understand, years later, the extraordinariness of what they once took for granted as "ordinary"?

After Lu Baixie left, Xu Zhihu remained seated in the pavilion, waiting wearily until deep into the night.

When His Royal Highness appeared outside the Lu manor, a white horse dragged a cold, already bloodied and mangled corpse.

Evidently, it had been dragged all the way from Jiangxin County to Huting County.

Lu Baixie, who was guarding the entrance, even though he had anticipated it, was still utterly astonished by the sight.

After dismounting, Xu Fengnian looked up at Lu Baixie. Because of his elder sister Xu Zhihu, he held no ill will towards the Tangxi Sword Immortal. But seeing Lu Baixie with one hand on his sword hilt, using the ancient Baxiu sword as a staff on the ground, Xu Fengnian said expressionlessly, "Master Tangxi, are you trying to preach morality to me?"

Lu Baixie snorted coldly and turned to leave.

In his heart, besides shock, there was also doubt.

How did the Crown Prince of Northern Liang come to be so severely injured?

Xu Zhihu ran all the way, leaving her maid Erqiao far behind. She rushed out of the Lu manor's main gate, stopped very close, and said with a smiling face, "Oh dear, my brother and I have caused trouble again."

She did not notice the large expanse of fresh blood soaking Xu Fengnian's back.

As he rode, dragging the corpse through the city gate, an assassin, who had clung like a gecko to the top of an opening, lying in wait, struck successfully, almost shattering his spine.

But Xu Fengnian merely stared at her with reddened eyes and said softly, "Sister, let's go home, okay?"