Chapter 143: Heart-to-Heart in the Pavilion

A bloody smell seeped out of Xu Zhihu's private boudoir in Xieyi Garden. Even three purple sandalwood censers, augmented with high-grade ambergris incense cakes and balls, couldn't mask it. Xu Zhihu, her face pale, watched Li Chungang, who was taking Xu Fengnian's pulse. The Prince's upper body was bare, and he lay face down on the bed, his spine a bloody mess. The old sword god wore a look of regret. Xu Zhihu, who usually feared nothing, was so terrified that tears streamed down her face, and she covered her mouth with both hands, not daring to cry out.

Xu Fengnian, who had just had a brush with death, didn't look like he was dying. He grumbled, "I won't die." Li Chungang nodded and said, "No, you won't die. But if that hand-knife had gone just one inch deeper, not even a Great Luo Immortal could have saved you. As it is now, it's just a superficial wound. But that young female assassin who killed Wang Mingyin..."

Xu Fengnian grimly assented with a hum. He had set off for Jiangxin County with the halberd-wielding Ning Emei, Wei Shuyang, and fifty light cavalry. From the start, he had told his two escorts that they would be "luring the snake out of its hole," but he hadn't expected the "big cat" girl to be so incredibly patient. During the round trip from Yangchun City to Jiangxin County, the Prince had painstakingly revealed many vulnerabilities, yet she hadn't taken the bait. As soon as they entered the city gates, Xu Fengnian had just let out a sigh of relief when the unexpected assassin, clinging to the dark ceiling like a gecko, lightly dropped down and struck successfully. Fortunately, she seemed not to have anticipated that the Prince had already reached the fourth floor of the Great Yellow Court cultivation. If it had been the Xu Fengnian from Reed Marsh, a single stab would have shattered his spine on the spot. But after several failed assassination attempts, the infuriated "Hehe girl" immediately pursued him through the city gate's archway. Xu Fengnian climbed the side wall with his toes, and she followed closely. Just as she was about to deliver a second stab, Ning Emei had already thrown his short halberd, Wei Shuyang had sprung up like a hawk, and the White Horse Elite Guards had all raised their siege crossbows. Seeing the unfavorable situation, she didn't linger in combat. She slipped out through an inner gate opening, her slender fingers digging into the city wall as if cutting tofu, and disappeared in a few leaps.

While passing through Xiongbao County, she had waited by the stream where horses were drinking, holding her breath, and once again attacked, bursting forth from the streambed. However, Li Chungang was not far away at the time, and sword qi instantly surged towards her, denying her any chance to get close. Everyone only saw the girl vanish into the water like a fish. A dense barrage of arrows, crossbow bolts, and short halberds couldn't harm her in the slightest.

"What a persistent pest."

Xu Fengnian comforted her, "Sister, I'm really fine."

Xu Zhihu, a huge weight lifted from her heart, wiped away her tears and burst into laughter through her sobs. She smacked his bottom hard. "Fine, fine, you call this fine? With your conduct, how am I supposed to share a bed with you tonight and whisper secrets?"

Li Chungang's expression was odd. He had intended to tease them but thought better of it. Given Xu Fengnian's petty nature, if he couldn't be angry with Li Chungang, he'd likely vent his frustration on Jiang Ni instead. "Damn it, there truly is a master for every kind of person. It's unfair that this old man should have such a day!" Reluctantly, he rose and left the fragrant boudoir. Inside, Qingniao and the maid Er Qiao also tactfully withdrew, leaving only the brother and sister, who had been close since childhood. Although it was only a superficial wound, torn flesh was still painful. Just as Xu Fengnian was about to take a brief rest, he sensed something amiss. With a mix of helplessness and indignation, he said, "Sister, why are you taking off my pants? I wasn't hurt there!"

Xu Zhihu showed no sisterly restraint or decorum. She cooed softly, "Fengnian, sister isn't at ease. It's better if I check it. There are no outsiders here, why are you blushing?"

Xu Fengnian desperately grabbed his belt, determined to protect it. He turned his head and angrily said, "Sister, we're grown-ups now. Can't you be a little more modest?"

Xu Zhihu feigned a pained expression, putting on a pitiful show as if on the verge of tears. Anyone less experienced, like the scholars and literati of Jiangnan, would have been utterly captivated. But Xu Fengnian, having spent years with his elder sister day in and day out, knew all her tricks. He didn't dare to loosen his grip even slightly, fearing she would succeed instantly. The siblings were at a stalemate. Xu Fengnian pleaded, "Sister, I'm begging you, okay? No one takes advantage of an injured person like this!"

Xu Zhihu reluctantly withdrew her hand, but she didn't forget to give the Prince's bottom another pat. She chuckled, "Ooh, quite firm! Training with a saber really pays off; your physique is impressive. Once you've recovered, remember, don't let the good fortune go to outsiders. Your sister will have to enjoy it properly."

Xu Fengnian said, his head aching, "If you keep this up, I'm going to Second Sister's place tomorrow."

Xu Zhihu leaned closer, her enchanting, fox-like face near the Prince's, her breath fragrant like orchids. She hummed, "You heartless fellow! Who in this family dotes on you the most? Who spoiled you? Who wet the bed when you were little, and who secretly washed your quilts for you? Now you're turning your back on me!"

Xu Fengnian turned his head and looked closely at a face that outsiders would find hard to describe as dignified and virtuous. He softly asked, "Sister, why won't you come home with me?"

Xu Zhihu simply squatted by the head of the bed, cupping her chin, and gazed at her brother, who had unleashed such violence upon entering Yangchun City. She gently said, "This is sister's home, dear. A married daughter is like spilled water; that's why they say 'spilled water cannot be gathered.' Even if I returned to Beiliang, it would only be a visit to my relatives, not truly going home."

Xu Fengnian remained silent.

Xu Zhihu reached out and stroked the hair of this person who had not hesitated to make enemies on all sides in Jiangnan for her sake. She had looked at him for so many years and never grown tired of him. She said softly, "Our uncle, the Tangxi Sword Immortal Lu Baijie, said that your behavior is perverse and that you won't amount to anything. That's because he doesn't know how much Fengnian cares for his sister. Of course, I know you were distressed. Killing those bothersome scholars who wagged their tongues in the city, dragging Liu Liting to his death in Jiangxin County and then on to Huting County—besides wanting to vent your sister's frustration, you also wanted to force your sister to be unable to stay in Jiangnan so she would return to Beiliang with you, didn't you, you silly boy? Wherever I am, aren't I still your sister? Will I truly be happy if I return to Beiliang? Later, when your second sister returns from Shangyin Academy, won't I have to quarrel with her every day over you? Your sister can never win an argument against her, so I'm not willing to suffer that annoyance. This time, you traveled far to see your sister first. She, who gets unhappy even when you call her 'Second Sister,' must be furious!"

Xu Fengnian huffed in annoyance.

Xu Zhihu reached out and pinched his increasingly defined face. She laughed, "You're growing more charming, but you're still just a child."

Just as Xu Fengnian was about to speak, Xu Zhihu waved her hand and said, "Go to sleep, go to sleep. Don't chase your sister away. Let me have a good look at you."

Xu Fengnian fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, when the Prince woke up in the morning, he found his elder sister asleep, slumped by the head of the bed. He stood up with a wry smile. The wound on his back had already scabbed over, and the speed of his recovery was astonishing. Although still far from the Vajra realm, his body already possessed a significant advantage over ordinary martial artists. The sound of Xu Fengnian getting up didn't wake Xu Zhihu, but it did startle Er Qiao, the attendant maid sleeping next door. Most dedicated maids are light sleepers. She casually threw on an outer garment and trotted in. In the hot weather, she was already dressed lightly. Her youthful figure was graceful and curvaceous, and her delicate appearance, with the unique moist and ethereal aura of Jiangnan women, leaned towards a light and refined air. Otherwise, high officials and nobles in the capital wouldn't keep "thin horses" in every household; these "thin horses" cultivated in Jiangnan and the beauties of Western Chu were renowned as a dual perfection. Xu Fengnian put a finger to his lips, shushing the young maiden and signaling her to be quieter. She glanced at the Prince's bare upper body, her young face flushed, and quickly lowered her head, fearful of overstepping boundaries. The higher the family's status, the stricter the rules. Masters also varied greatly in temperament, so servants naturally dared not presume on favor or cross the line. Moreover, Er Qiao had heard much from her mistress about the Beiliang Prince's arrogant behavior, and with yesterday's commotion, she dared not be careless in the slightest. The little maid had originally thought that the Prince, upon arriving in Huting County, would at most visit her mistress and then go to Jiangxin County to give that henpecked Mr. Chengzai a beating. Her little mind couldn't have possibly imagined that the Prince would drag Liu Liting's corpse with a warhorse all the way from Jiangxin County to the Lu Manor!

Xu Fengnian picked up a mutton-fat jade bottle from the bedside table, lowered his voice, and chuckled, "Er Qiao, could you help me apply this ointment to my back? I can't reach it."

The young girl trembled as she took the jade bottle and poured some fragrant ointment onto her fingertips. She sat on the edge of the bed, her face, ears, and neck flushed, and gently applied the ointment to the Prince's back. Her delicate body trembled when her fingertips touched his skin. The girl's clear skin seemed almost to drip with moisture. However, when she saw that the Prince's back bore not only fresh wounds but also some clearly older scars, she felt horrified. She couldn't imagine why a prince from such an illustrious family would be covered in scars; who would dare to harm him? The little maid Er Qiao, living in the deep courtyards of the princely Lu Manor, especially lucky to be under Xu Zhihu's protection, could not possibly understand the treacherous ups and downs of court and jianghu. For her, if her mistress ate a little less rice at a meal, or suffered from heatstroke or a cold, it was the biggest event imaginable. If her mistress were slapped by a fierce woman, she would fight to the death to avenge her and repay the kindness. Generally speaking, Er Qiao was fortunate to have a protective widowed mistress like Xu Zhihu, so she didn't have to worry about being molested by her master's men. Among aristocratic families, how many alluring attendant maids like her could remain virgins? They would have long been secretly consumed or openly devoured until not even bones remained. Such private bedroom pleasures were something even virtuous Confucian scholars, models of morality, could not comment on.

With her help, Xu Fengnian put on a set of brand-new clothes. He quietly got off the bed and chuckled, "Er Qiao, I'm going out for some fresh air. Just wait for my sister; let her wake up naturally."

Er Qiao timidly and shyly hummed in acknowledgment. Only then did she secretly notice that the Prince was remarkably tall and slender, much taller than the men of Jiangnan.

Xu Fengnian walked out of the room. Qingniao was standing in the courtyard. Master and servant left Xieyi Garden and strolled along the lake. Xu Fengnian saw the Tangxi Sword Immortal, Lu Baijie, already sitting in the pavilion, though he wasn't sure if Lu Baijie was waiting for him. Without hesitation, Xu Fengnian walked over. Among the seven illustrious talents of the Lu family, Lu Baijie was the youngest. Because he had never married or had children, he had not established his own separate household and lived in the Retreating Garden. As the family head, Lu Daolin, held the esteemed position of Right Libationer of the Imperial Academy in the capital, the day-to-day affairs of the Lu Manor were generally handled by Lu Xuanlang. The Tangxi Sword Immortal generally did not concern himself with mundane affairs. However, precisely because of this, his words carried immense weight in major matters. Even Lu Daolin and Lu Xuanlang, both legitimate sons who held significant power in the Lu clan, had to value the opinion of this concubine-born younger brother.

Of the seven Lu talents, besides these three, one dedicated himself to cultivation, and another entered the Buddhist faith. The remaining two served as officials in Yangzhou, both holding the rank of fourth-grade. A fourth-grade official in the provinces was a true regional dignitary, far more influential than a fourth-grade or even a third-grade official in the capital's less prominent government offices. Although capital officials inherently looked down on provincial officials, most rising stars who truly aimed to enter the cabinet and head ministries would voluntarily serve in the provinces at the junior fourth-grade rank for three to six years, accumulating sufficient experience and prestige before returning to the capital to truly become pillars of the dynasty. Originally, with his talent, Lu Baijie could have been the Lu family's core strength, second only to the patriarch Lu Daolin. However, the Tangxi Sword Immortal had no interest in an official career; instead, he had very harmonious relationships with his six older brothers, able to speak frankly with any of them. While the other six generally maintained amiable relationships with each other, deep-seated disagreements were inevitable. For instance, Lu Xuanlang, who personally founded Baisong Academy, didn't think highly of his two brothers who served as officials. During discussions among scholars at the academy, he once led the charge in criticizing current affairs, lambasting both of them mercilessly. Thus, Mr. Baisong and his two pragmatically governing brothers could be said to be incompatible. Especially during the great Hongjia Northern Crossing, Lu Xuanlang was quite displeased with the Lu family's absorption of many obscure middle and lower-class gentry descendants, privately denouncing them as "southern scum and rats" who had "usurped the Lu family's prestige." However, since the family head was still his older brother Lu Daolin, Lu Xuanlang could only grumble.

Entering the pavilion, Xu Fengnian performed the junior's bow and respectfully said, "Fengnian greets Master Tangxi. Last night, I mistakenly thought you intended to block my entry into the manor, and in my urgency, my words were disrespectful. I hope Master will not take offense."

Lu Baijie coolly said, "Prince, you exaggerate. However, I don't have much morality or righteousness to sell. May I ask why the Prince has entered the pavilion?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "My elder sister has always spoken highly of Master Tangxi over the years. Today, I've come to ask Master Tangxi for a beating. It just so happens I've got a bit of an injury, and I thought, Master's hand might be lighter."

Lu Baijie was visibly stunned for a moment. A slight smile appeared as he said, "Prince, your roguish, hooligan temper is exactly like your sister's."

Xu Fengnian said, "My sister and I both learned from Xu Xiao."

It was the first time Lu Baijie had heard the name Xu Xiao directly from someone's mouth. Even the most uninhibited scholars and literati in Jiangnan would, at most, refer to him as "that barbarian from Beiliang." Very few dared to call him "Lame Xu," and even then, only in private. Let alone calling Xu Xiao by his full name. Lu Baijie smiled and said, "How much longer will the Prince stay? And how many more Jiangnan scholars do you intend to kill?"

Within the pavilion, sword intent surged.

Qingniao frowned and was about to step into the pavilion. Xu Fengnian waved her off, stopping the daughter of the Spear Immortal Wang Xiu. Facing the Tangxi Sword Immortal, he calmly said, "As long as they don't provoke me, it's fine. I'm not some demon who just kills people when I'm full. It's more like, when you're well-fed and warm, you think of lust, not murder."

Lu Baijie sneered, "Is the Prince not afraid of causing trouble for the King of Beiliang, who is still in the capital?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head and chuckled, "Master Tangxi, you don't understand. If I had calmly arrived in Jiangnan and then left unbothered, letting those scholars slander my elder sister, then Xu Xiao would truly be enraged. Whether it was killing Liu Liting or killing those scholars, the memorials from Jiangnan will fly to the capital like snowflakes. Xu Xiao will have a headache, yes, but deep down, he'll be very happy. Once I return to Beiliang, he might even secretly scold me for only killing so few."

Lu Baijie sighed helplessly, "Prince, your entire family..."

However, a clear sincerity now shone in the Tangxi Sword Immortal's faint smile.

Xu Fengnian looked towards the lake and said, "My sister still refuses to return to Beiliang. She says this is her home. What's so good about this home, Master Tangxi? Please tell me."

Unexpectedly, Lu Baijie burst into laughter without warning. "Not good? Indeed, it's not good at all. Unfortunately, I don't have the final say in this household. Otherwise, I would have long since told your sister to get back to Beiliang! Hurry up and get lost, out of sight, out of mind, so I can enjoy my travels without annoyance!"

Xu Fengnian's favorable impression of the Yanghzou Sword Immortal immediately doubled. He grinned, a hint of playful naughtiness, reminiscent of a junior interacting with an open-minded elder.