Chapter 154: Come Back in the Next Life and Recognize the Dimples

**Beacon Fire for Feudal Lords**

Lu Baijie and Cao Changqing arrived together at Xieyi Garden. Tang Xi’s boldness truly impressed Xu Fengnian. Even the capital viewed Cao Changqing as a fierce predator, like a wolf or a tiger. The Lu family's roots were in Jiangnan, and although it was a thousand *li* from the capital, it was ultimately not as beyond the Emperor's reach as Beiliang. Now, powerful clans were in decline, their focus shifting from independent strategic influence to internal strife. His Imperial Majesty’s control over the aristocratic families became increasingly firm and satisfying. If the Lu family were discovered to be 'implicated' with Cao Changqing, their patriarch Lu Daolin might not only lose his esteemed and influential position as Libationer of the Imperial Academy, but it would also be questionable whether he could leave the capital alive.

With Lu Baijie and Cao Changqing's arrival, the dinner at Xieyi Garden became even more lively. At this table alone, two were on the martial arts ranking list, plus Tang Xi, the Sword Immortal. News of this gathering would surely intimidate many in the martial arts world. Two-thirds of the dishes on the table were Beiliang cuisine, with one-third classic Jiangnan dishes. The bowls and plates were all fired in prominent official kilns in Jiangnan. During the Spring and Autumn period, it wasn't common to inscribe ceramics; but now, in this era of peace and prosperity, the custom of inscribing words had revived. Cao Changqing lowered his head, looking at the crimson "Heaven and Earth Share Spring" inscription on the small purple-rimmed, iron-footed porcelain bowl before him. He sighed, a hint of regret on his face. Porcelain bowls were fragile; when a bowl broke, the inscription was lost. How could that be considered an elegant affair? However, outsiders, unaware of Cao Changqing's scholarly spirit, simply saw it as the inscrutable thoughts of a profound master.

Xu Zihugu sat with Xu Fengnian on her left and Jiang Ni on her right, impartially serving both of them. Occasionally, the Beiliang heir and Princess Taiping reached for the same dish with their chopsticks. In the past, Xu Fengnian would usually have to engage in a fierce struggle to win. This time, however, Jiang Ni was like a frost-nipped eggplant; seeing Xu Fengnian extend his chopsticks, she withdrew her hand. The meal proceeded indifferently. At this table, Yu Youwei appeared the most detached and serene. Anyone with discerning eyes could tell that Xu Zihugu was not close to this woman, who was once a courtesan; after entering the Lu Residence, she hadn't said a single word to her.

After a sumptuous dinner, Xu Zihugu pulled her younger brother away for a stroll. Jiang Ni, the old Sword God Cao Changqing, and Lu Baijie remained in Xieyi Garden, enjoying the cool evening. Xu Zihugu sat in a lakeside pavilion, expressing her concern, "Cao Changqing is determined to have Jiang Ni."

Xu Fengnian rubbed his cheek. Seeing no outsiders nearby, he said calmly, "This Official Cao has declared that if I hand over his Princess Taiping, he will go and kill Chen Zhibao."

Xu Zihugu gasped, frowning, "Is that true?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Given Official Cao's standing, why would he joke with a junior like me?"

Xu Zihugu murmured to herself, "Do you think this is a path our father had long planned?"

Xu Fengnian frowned, "Sister, are you saying Xu Xiao foresaw this day? Having Official Cao, an outsider, break the deadlock? Isn't that a bit too miraculous? Xu Xiao's chess skills are truly appalling; he could barely play back and forth with Libationer Wang of Shangyin Academy. Besides, Xu Xiao might not even have a strong desire to kill Chen Zhibao."

Xu Zihugu thought for a moment, then cautiously and carefully phrased her words: "If it's a matter of whether to kill him or not, keeping Chen Zhibao allows you to slowly contend with him. If there's a strong desire to kill him, and you step forward as the executioner, it might establish your authority, but the loss to our Beiliang would be too great. Besides being an adopted son, Chen Zhibao is the second most powerful figure in Beiliang after our father. This White-Clad War Immortal is no easy opponent. He might have willingly been our father's adopted son, but he won't necessarily be willing to be your stepping stone. Once Beiliang falls into internal strife, the imperial court will have no more reservations. Zhang Julu and Gu Jiantang are mortal enemies, and they've been secretly colluding for a long time. At that point, even if Chen Zhibao only escapes alone, it would mean more than just division and shattered morale for Beiliang. Chen Zhibao might very well become a second Gu Jiantang!"

Xu Fengnian nodded with a smile. "Indeed, Gu Jiantang couldn't defeat Xu Xiao in his lifetime, but that doesn't mean Chen Zhibao, who might establish his own faction, couldn't defeat an ordinary heir like me. It seems that Official Cao's intervention aligns best with Beiliang's long-term interests. Either Xu Xiao was advised by a master like Li Yishan, or he simply made a thoughtless, unreasonable move that coincidentally worked out perfectly for him."

Xu Zihugu softly asked, "Fengnian, are you going to let her go?"

Xu Fengnian turned his head, gazing at the twilight, and murmured to himself, "If I say no, it would sound like I'm stubbornly refusing to admit defeat. Anyone can foolishly oppose Cao Changqing and at worst lose their life. I don't seem capable of that, especially since Xu Xiao is old; I can't keep adding to his troubles. Furthermore, establishing a private connection with Cao Changqing has certainly crossed the capital's red line, even if Xu Xiao dares not admit he can't bear all the consequences. This time, Cao Changqing has truly struck at my weakest point, confident that I'm not a truly ignorant or fearless heir, and has dangled the enormous bait of killing Chen Zhibao. He's probably secretly enjoying himself right now, isn't he?"

Xu Zihugu quietly asked, "Do you like that girl a lot?"

Xu Fengnian, playfully making a face, chuckled, "How could I not like her? I've watched her for so many years; she just keeps getting prettier. I never get tired of looking at her. Of course, I like her."

Xu Zihugu sighed, "Is it just liking?"

Xu Fengnian was momentarily stunned. This question, which didn't seem like a question, was one he had apparently never deeply considered.

Xu Zihugu touched her brother's brow and asked with a smile, "I'm very curious, is there anyone you fear?"

Xu Fengnian laughed, "Of course. I fear your unhappiness, and I fear Second Sister's anger."

Xu Zihugu shook her head, saying earnestly, "I'm not talking about that. I mean, someone you genuinely fear, the kind of person who keeps you awake at night."

Xu Fengnian hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "I fear the one in the capital. I fear that he might find even using others to kill troublesome, and finally reveal his true intentions by personally wielding the blade."

Xu Zihugu nodded in profound agreement. If the one in the capital were merely an enlightened ruler in the conventional sense, that would be one thing. But the situation was not simple; his diligence in governing had reached an almost pathological level. Logically, this kind of abnormal diligence in governance should only be found in founding emperors of humble origins. However, ever since he ascended the throne, his fervor for governing the realm was like that of an old farmer who had spent a lifetime saving to buy a few *mu* of land—he was utterly diligent and tireless. Last year, the Ministry of Rites had an astonishing record that offered a glimpse: in the seven days following New Year's Day, a total of over 1,500 memorials and more than 3,600 matters were received from the three central ministries, six departments, and various bureaus, both internal and external! In fact, the Imperial Study of this Emperor, the 'Nine-Five Sovereign,' was lit up almost every night until the third watch, leading to rumors that the Chief Eunuch Han Diaosi had to repeatedly risk his life to remonstrate, pleading for more attention to the imperial harem. Once, when he summoned relatives from Jiangnan to the palace, he composed a poem, in which he jokingly remarked, "While officials sleep, I remain awake; before officials rise, I am already up." It was said that after this poem was circulated, no one in the court dared to question Grand Secretary Zhang Julu's reforms of officialdom. Which esteemed official or powerful minister would not fear such an ambitious, brilliant, and extraordinarily diligent emperor? Loyal ministers fear incompetent rulers, but powerful officials truly fear enlightened rulers. The saying "one emperor, one court" merely sounds more refined and gentle than "when the cunning hare is dead, the hunting dog is cooked," but it reveals all the hidden truths. How many old officials don't end up "serving loyally" underground with their old masters?

Xu Fengnian continued, "I fear Xu Xiao."

Xu Zihugu exclaimed in surprise, teasingly, "That's strange! Anyone in the world can fear the King of Beiliang, but you fear our own father?"

Xu Fengnian murmured, "I fear... I fear Xu Xiao getting old."

Xu Zihugu fell silent.

Xu Fengnian calmly added, "And then, I fear Chen Zhibao rebelling."

Xu Zihugu nodded; this answer made sense. Chen Zhibao possessed both exceptional talent for commanding generals and moderate skill in leading soldiers. Aside from seniority, he truly conceded nothing to Xu Xiao, the King of Beiliang; otherwise, he wouldn't have earned the nicknames 'War Immortal' and 'Little Man Butcher.' When it came to ruthless methods against enemies, he even surpassed Xu Xiao. Having such a formidable figure as an ally was undoubtedly a blessing; as an enemy, it was a great misfortune. The scene at Xilei Wall, where General Jiang witnessed his wife and children being dragged to their deaths, with blood seeping from his lips, though not recorded in any official or unofficial histories, left all those in power after the Spring and Autumn period with lingering dread. The leading military strategist at Shangyin Academy once stated frankly that that if Chen Zhibao and the last remaining great military tactician, Gu Jiantang, were each given 100,000 troops, the outcome would be a fifty-fifty split. However, if each were given 300,000 armored soldiers, Chen Zhibao would have a decisive advantage. Of course, this was under the premise of not considering factors outside the battlefield, but it was enough to prove Chen Zhibao's terrifying capabilities. The imperial court dared not excessively suppress Xu Xiao, and part of the reason was undoubtedly the fear that Chen Zhibao might use it as a pretext to raise a rebellion. One must know that the one in the capital had long admired the White-Clad War Immortal.

Xu Fengnian suddenly chuckled, his eyes narrowing as he softly said, "Lastly, I fear Old Huang."

Xu Zihugu was completely bewildered, a look of confusion on her face.

Xu Fengnian smiled faintly. "When I traveled with him, I was constantly on edge, terrified he would die. Without Old Huang, how could I have traveled six thousand *li*? I would have died of exhaustion, starvation, or boredom after six hundred *li*."

Xu Fengnian looked at Xu Zihugu and said, "We endured six thousand *li*. Old Huang didn't die, I didn't die, neither of us died. So why did Old Huang end up going to that damn Wudi City just to die?"

Xu Zihugu naturally had no answer.

Xu Fengnian raised his head and said, "It would have been fine even if he died in Western Shu. At least that's his hometown."

Xu Zihugu cried.

Xu Fengnian let out a wry chuckle and helped wipe away her tears. "Sister, why are you crying? Back then, when Old Huang fed your horse, you never showed that old fellow with the missing teeth a pleasant expression."

Xu Zihugu glared at him.

Xu Fengnian finally said, "Jiang Ni... I remember the first time we met, she was such a tiny girl, already burdened with national and family enmity. Actually, she didn't really understand national enmity, but for family hatred, to make her seek revenge against Xu Xiao... how could a coward who was afraid of thunder and ghosts dare to do that? She looked around with wide eyes, and who else but me, this unscrupulous, unvirtuous, and lecherous heir, would be easiest to deal with? If not me, who else would she pick? Beyond her identity as Princess Taiping, what was so special about her? Her hands would get cold building a snowman, she'd be afraid of getting tired doing laundry, and after seeing me practice swordsmanship on Wudang Mountain, she was terrified of the hardships of martial arts training. That simple girl wasn't too stupid either. With my backing, she dared to relentlessly pester Princess Sui Zhu, truly acting as if everyone was an equal princess. Later, fearing she'd become soft-hearted, she wrote a vow to kill, but then Second Sister, back in Beiliang, harshly reprimanded her. Didn't she still hold a grudge against me? She was not only simple-minded but also petty, secretly counting copper coins when she had nothing to do. But saying she was petty wasn't entirely right either, as she gave away the divine talisman just like that. Ultimately, she was just a simple, ordinary girl. All those little schemes she thought she hid so well, I could see them clearly. I never pointed them out; I just found it amusing. When I was little, Mother once held Jiang Ni's hand, pointed to the girl's cheeks, and told me that those two small dimples meant she had passed through the Gates of Hell and the Yellow Springs Road to reach the Bridge of Helplessness, but because she couldn't bear to forget someone she cared about from her previous life, she didn't drink Granny Meng's Elixir of Forgetfulness. Instead, she jumped into the River of Oblivion beneath the bridge, enduring ten lifetimes of being submerged in water and scorched by fire before being reincarnated, all just to find the person she cared about. I was young then too, and vaguely thought, 'Isn't that me standing right in front of her?' So I decided that no matter what, in this life, I would never let this girl with the two dimples on her face be bullied by outsiders."

Xu Fengnian narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Looking at it now, if she could regret it, she'd surely have decided on the Bridge of Helplessness that she wouldn't recognize me in her next life."

Xu Zihugu said helplessly, "You believe that story?"

Xu Fengnian nodded, "What Mother said, I believe it all."

Just as Xu Zihugu was about to tease him, she saw Jiang Ni fidgeting outside the pavilion, hesitant to enter. She stood up, walked out of the pavilion, and gently nudged her up the steps. Xu Zihugu shook her head with a smile, then left directly.

After Official Cao's interference, the two, in a subtle atmosphere, remained silent.

Xu Fengnian was the first to speak, impatiently, "What, here to collect a debt? Should I pay up so we can part ways amicably?"

Jiang Ni turned her head away, extended a small hand, and huffily said, "Two hundred and twelve *liang* of silver and seventy-two *wen* of copper coins."

Xu Fengnian sneered, "Alright. I'll convert it all into individual copper coins and let you carry them out of here in a large sack."

Jiang Ni snorted coldly and turned to leave.

As she walked out of the pavilion, she turned her head and saw him facing the lake, his back appearing somewhat desolate.

After a long while, Xu Fengnian spoke, "You're not leaving yet? No matter how powerful Official Cao is, if you push me too far, at worst, we'll all perish together. Who lives and who dies will depend on whether he or Li Chungang is more formidable."

Jiang Ni's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum: "If I leave, will you not be able to kill me?"

Xu Fengnian turned and chuckled, "Of course not. With Official Cao and the old Sword God, two masters, teaching you, perhaps in a few years you'll be able to kill me. Go on, go on. That way you won't have to wander around in front of me every day. When you're gone, remember to notify me before you kill me, so I can sleep soundly. I'll get whatever years of peaceful sleep I can."

Jiang Ni bit her lip and said, "Then I won't leave!"

If Official Cao, with his exceptional talent and charisma, were to hear that, wouldn't he spit blood?!