Chapter 228: General Jia, Cool King's Robe, Loquat Tree

A splendid residence.

Originally, in the minds of the young Murong siblings, the King of Beiliang was merely an empty title. In the distant borderland of Beiliang, he commanded an unimaginable number of iron cavalry—300,000? They couldn't grasp such a figure. Such a powerful feudal lord, privately called the "Second Emperor," should have been a terrifying tyrant capable of shaking the dynasty with a mere stomp of his foot. Yet, he initially had no connection to them. That changed when Murong Wuzhu and Murong Tonghuang arrived at the princely manor, settling into Wutongyuan. Thanks to the Crown Prince's influence, they dined several times at the same table as the "Butcher." Although they never dared to look directly at him, they began to feel that General Xu was not a temperamental old man after all. On the contrary, he was remarkably accommodating in front of the Crown Prince. Even they could see that within the Beiliang King's household, the person whose words carried the most weight was not the feudal lord himself, but his eldest son, Xu Fengnian. Not only did Murong Wuzhu find this puzzling, but Murong Tonghuang was also completely bewildered. They cautiously settled into Wutongyuan. Since they were living under someone else's roof, they understood the need for constant vigilance and caution. The siblings rarely left the courtyard for leisure. Fortunately, the courtyard lacked nothing: musical instruments, chess sets, calligraphy, paintings, poetry, and ancient texts—all priceless treasures.

However, the maids in the courtyard, with their peculiar names, never showed them much warmth. The head maid, Hongshu, was amiable and gentle, but the second-tier maids like Huanghua and Luan were constantly scowling, which made Murong Wuzhu tremble with fear. As the saying goes, "A prime minister's doorman ranks as a third-grade official, and a prince's steward surpasses a prefect." How could she not be afraid? Murong Tonghuang, however, was relatively bolder, confidently asking the maids to borrow instruments or books.

To Murong Wuzhu's relief, a woman from Qingzhou arrived and also took up residence in Wutongyuan. This woman, Lu Chengyan, was said to come from an esteemed aristocratic family; her ancestor was a Grand Pillar of the Dynasty, and her father, Lu Dongjiang, was already a prefectural governor. She brought a young servant with "double pupils" into the manor. After meeting the Crown Prince, that young man with the unusual double pupils went to the border. These rumors spread quickly within Wutongyuan but were confined to that courtyard. While the Murong siblings tended to avoid conflict, this woman from a top-tier noble family openly contended with the maids. Huanghua, the maid with a fiery temper, often made sarcastic remarks about "a cuckoo occupying a magpie's nest." When the Crown Prince was present, the women maintained a superficial harmony, but as soon as he left, the atmosphere changed completely. The room full of women wielded unseen, "bloodless knives" that seemed more formidable than hundreds of flying swords. Murong Wuzhu greatly admired Lu Chengyan. Several times, she timidly observed from a distance, listening to her soft-spoken words that could, paradoxically, suffocate others. She heard that Lu Chengyan might become the Crown Prince's first concubine in the future. Murong Wuzhu thought that only such an intelligent, clever, and fearless woman deserved to be a Beiliang concubine.

The King of Beiliang entered Wutongyuan alone. Apart from Hongshu, who stepped forward to bow and salute, the other women stood at a distance, continuing with their tasks. This was an old rule. Hongshu also did not accompany him all the way. For them, living comfortably in Wutongyuan meant knowing not what to do, but what not to do. Xu Xiao went directly to the Crown Prince's room. He didn't sit down, but walked around, occasionally pausing, seemingly helping to tidy up small items. The room was truly spacious and well-lit, so much so that even filled with an array of fascinating trinkets, it didn't feel cramped. In the twilight, the desk by the window was bathed in the evening glow, casting a warm, pale yellow hue. Xu Xiao extended his calloused hand, slowly sliding it along the edge of the desk. He stopped, remaining motionless for a long time. Then, as if remembering something, he chuckled softly, withdrew his hand, placed both hands into his sleeves, and faced the window, his gaze extending from outside the window to beyond the wall.

Xu Xiao turned and looked at the elegant Lu family girl standing at the doorway, waving with a smile, "Chengyan, you're here. Come in and sit, keep Uncle company." Lu Chengyan entered the room. After Xu Xiao sat down, she carefully selected an embroidered stool and sat down, looking a little constrained. Xu Xiao chuckled, "Uncle is destined to be busy. My apologies for the poor hospitality these past days. Don't go back and complain about Uncle to Grand Pillar Lu, now." Lu Chengyan shook her head and smiled, "I wouldn't." Xu Xiao burst into laughter, then paused, falling into reminiscence. He sighed, "I remember the first time I went to the capital for an audience with the emperor. It was old Minister Lu, showing respect to the worthy, who escorted me, a young military man, to the Golden Throne Hall. We walked together. At the time, I wondered why a dignified Minister of Personnel, a second-rank official, would be willing to walk side-by-side with a newly decorated sixth-rank junior military officer. Wouldn't it diminish his standing? Now, Uncle Xu understands. I had heard that Grand Pillar Lu knew a bit about prophecies and divination. It seems he was waiting for this very day. If I had known then, I would have daringly muttered 'old fox' under my breath." Lu Chengyan, who had just learned of this old connection, smiled slightly, her eyes clear, betraying neither much reverence nor curiosity.

Xu Xiao's tone softened. "Uncle Xu has heard a few things here in Beiliang. The moment you, my dear girl, set foot in Beiliang, those old fellows Wen Taiyi and Hong Lingxu started stirring up trouble in the capital. Remember how often you visited their homes when you were little, Chengyan? Those two old men truly have no regard for past friendships. If they can't bully the old, they bully the young. They've lived so long, yet they're regressing. If Grand Pillar Lu hadn't supported the overall situation in Qingzhou these past years, not only would the Green-eyed Scoundrel have caused trouble, but the Qing Faction would have long ceased to exist. But speaking of family, we don't mince words. If old Minister Lu were to grit his teeth and hold on, the Qing Faction might survive for a few more years, but your Lu family would be completely suppressed by Wen and Hong. Old Minister Lu would never have let you come to Beiliang if he hadn't completely given up on the Qing Faction that he himself built. As it is, the Qing Faction has drawn its last breath." Lu Chengyan softly said, "My ancestor said that at his age, he has enjoyed all there is to enjoy, and it's time to seek blessings for his descendants." Xu Xiao finally smiled and nodded. "I like that old Minister for being honest and speaking his mind. Frankly, Uncle has never held much ill will towards the Qing Faction. They're straightforward about wanting fame, profit, power, and office. They put everything and everyone on the scales, and whatever weight comes out, that's what they'll deal with, no ambiguity. Dealing with such people is actually less trouble. Those two old immortals, Wen and Hong, learned none of the good from Zhang Julu and Gu Jiantang in the capital, but all of the bad. The Qing Faction never had any capable administrative talents or strategic policies to speak of. A disunited Qing Faction couldn't withstand a few challenges from others; it would just fall apart. What a pity." Lu Chengyan naturally dared not interject. Xu Xiao chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Why am I telling you all this? Uncle originally just wanted to chat casually with you. Ah, when a person gets old, they become muddled." Lu Chengyan blinked and gently asked, "Uncle Xu, could you tell me about the Crown Prince's childhood?" Xu Xiao made a subtle waving gesture, not to dismiss the Lu family girl's suggestion, but to signal the hidden assassins to withdraw. Only then did he smile at Lu Chengyan and say, "Once I start talking about that, there's no telling when I'll stop." Lu Chengyan smiled brightly and said, "Until Uncle Xu gets tired of talking!" Xu Xiao beckoned, clearly in excellent spirits, and chuckled, "Come, come, sit closer and talk. Uncle loves to ramble about this. Fengnian won't let me talk about it when he's around, and in the past, Uncle couldn't find anyone genuinely willing to listen. Luckily, I've caught you, my dear girl. It's perfect."

As time passed, Lu Chengyan realized that Uncle Xu was actually a very talkative old man. When speaking of the Crown Prince's childhood anecdotes and embarrassing moments, his sparse, grizzled brows were filled with doting affection and pride. At this moment, Uncle Xu was no different from her own kind old ancestor at home, reluctant to use a harsh tone when speaking of accomplished descendants. During this time, Hongshu, the head maid, brought in a food box filled with exquisite pastries and thirst-quenching fruits. The old man, fully engrossed in his tales, showed no pretense whatsoever, personally peeling sweet tangerines for Lu Chengyan several times. The Crown Prince's living quarters were not lit by ordinary oil lamps or bright candles at night. Instead, there were many ingenious mechanisms on the ceiling beams of the room. Hongshu somehow activated them, revealing numerous embedded luminous pearls, making the room as bright as day. Crucially, the light was soft, so staying in it for long periods did not cause eye strain or fatigue. Lu Chengyan did not witness the kind of ordinary lavishness people imagined in the Beiliang King's household, with its chiming bells and lavish feasts. Instead, she observed Beiliang's profound heritage and grandeur in countless small details. It was only when Hongshu handed her a beautifully embroidered velvet cushion that Lu Chengyan, seeing the warmth in the first-tier maid's eyes and the slight curve of the voluptuous beauty's lips, realized that she had, at this moment, tentatively integrated into Wutongyuan.

As dusk deepened, Xu Xiao finally stood up. He declined Lu Chengyan's escort and walked directly out of the room. Upon reaching the courtyard, he called out to Hongshu. The two walked together towards the courtyard gate. Xu Xiao said calmly, "My original intention was for you to go with Fengnian, so he'd have someone familiar to look after him. But first, he didn't agree, and second, this courtyard can't do without you." Hongshu softly replied, "Qingniao." With a hint of helplessness in his voice, Xu Xiao chuckled, "That stubborn girl, she knelt for a whole night waiting for my nod, then took the Flash Spear and went off on her own. I still haven't dared to tell Fengnian about this, for fear he'd rip me a new one." Hongshu smiled. Among the maids in Wutongyuan, she was the one who could speak most freely with the King of Beiliang standing before her. Apart from the father and son, no one else knew she was a loyal retainer left behind by the King's late wife. Xu Xiao sighed softly, "Since Zhihu passed, you've been like Fengnian's elder sister." Just as Hongshu was about to speak, Xu Xiao waved his hand. "You and the Lu family girl are similar. Take good care of her in the future. The climate and customs of Beiliang are completely different from Qingzhou. Even the cleverest woman won't adapt in a short time. We can't just transplant a beautiful Qingzhou peony into Beiliang soil and then abandon it. But remember, in a few days, send her a message saying that the 'double-pupiled' boy has died. Observe her reaction. If she passes this test, then you and Chu Lushan can begin preparing for her marriage into the Xu family. If she doesn't pass, then she is not destined to be a concubine." Hongshu nodded. Xu Xiao walked to the courtyard gate and asked with a smile, "Do you think, after our talk today, she will become arrogant due to favor, or remain unperturbed by both favor and disgrace? You are a woman, you understand a woman's heart better." Hongshu hesitated, then shook her head, "This servant dares not speak carelessly." Xu Xiao didn't press the Wutongyuan head maid further and walked out of the courtyard alone. In Wutongyuan, Lu Chengyan should have been overjoyed, yet her hands and feet were icy cold. Even she didn't understand why.

Xu Xiao went to Tide-Listening Lake for a stroll and saw Princess Jing'an, Pei Nanwei, sitting in the lakeside pavilion. With her was Shuxiu, who, by Xu Xiao's orders, remained inseparable from the Princess. The two women were about ten paces apart. Shuxiu's duty was merely to observe Princess Pei's every action and expression. For truly masterful disguise, outward form was technique, inner spirit was method, and only by combining both could one achieve great success. Shuxiu had to commit to memory every one of Pei Nanwei's laughs, pouts, fits of anger, moments of infatuation, every furrowed brow, pursed lip, bewildered stare, and surprised gasp. At first, Pei Nanwei resented being constantly watched and observed by this Beiliang attendant. However, Shuxiu wished for Princess Pei to show as much genuine emotion as possible and thus didn't care if Pei Nanwei resented or was angered by her. In the Beiliang King's household, what kind of princess was a Princess Jing'an anyway? Later, Pei Nanwei simply ignored Shuxiu altogether. For some unknown reason, upon arriving at this gloomy princely manor, which was feared by both the imperial court and the martial world, she genuinely found peace. She resided in an elegant lakeside garden. The Crown Prince, with his meticulous nature, had specifically arranged for a few acres of reeds to be planted so she could enjoy the view from her window. While it couldn't compare to the boundless reed marshes outside Xiangfan City, which only brought a hint of joy to the feigned calm and indifferent Pei Nanwei, no matter how vast the reed marsh, it ultimately wasn't hers. But these few acres of reeds in the Beiliang King's manor, no matter how small, the Crown Prince had explicitly stated, were hers. Xu Xiao walked into the lakeside pavilion. Shuxiu had already silently knelt. Pei Nanwei quickly rose and bowed, softly saying, "This humble woman greets General Xu." "No need for such formality." Xu Xiao jested, "It seems to this King that you and that effeminate Zhao Heng should switch roles. You should be the King of Jing'an, and he the Princess of Jing'an." Pei Nanwei wore a bitter expression. Xu Xiao did not sit down. He said, "Pei Nanwei, from now on, your entry and exit from the manor will have no restrictions." Pei Nanwei instinctively rose and bowed again, respectfully saying, "Thank you for your grace, General." Xu Xiao smiled, walked out of the pavilion, and mumbled, "This daughter-in-law of mine, too many rules." Pei Nanwei's face was stunned, then her pretty face flushed crimson. Shuxiu's eyes were filled with intense envy.

Xu Xiao slowly ambled back to his own room. Besides his two sons and two daughters, no outsider was ever permitted to enter here. Even his adopted sons, like Chen Zhibao, when they had matters to report, would only speak from outside the courtyard gate, then accompany him to a nearby Anecdote Pavilion study to discuss military affairs. In the courtyard, there was only a loquat tree. In the deepening night, Xu Xiao stood beneath the tree, lost in thought. He returned to his unspacious and unluxurious room, which was simple and unadorned. In the outer room, there were two clothes racks. Xu Xiao bent down and pulled a box from under a table. When opened, it contained no rare treasures, but a box full of cloth shoes. Xu Xiao took out a half-sewn pair of thick-soled cloth shoes and a sewing kit. After lighting a candle, he skillfully bit the needle, wrapped the thread around his finger, and began to sew the shoe. Not far away, on the two clothes racks, hung a set of general's armor and a Beiliang King's python robe. Outside the window, a loquat tree stood in the courtyard. It was planted by my wife in the year she died. Now it is tall and leafy, like a canopy.