Chapter 238: Fire Reaches Chang'an

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When the major incident of a death occurred, Wei Feng, the master of the mansion, was initially furious, terrifying Qiushui, the maidservant who had come to report the news secretly, into silence. However, after years of cultivating his mind and body, Wei Feng was no longer like an ordinary merchant; he resembled more a scholar-official or a cunning bureaucrat. He instantly suppressed his shock and anger, telling Qiushui to lead the way. The second-rank maidservant of the manor, fearing she might delay her master's important business, walked briskly. At first, Wei Feng remained silent, jogging behind her as they passed through the first courtyard.

As they walked along the narrow, dark passageways, known as "avoidance alleys," Wei Feng coughed. The maidservant, who had been meticulously trained and sold to the Wei mansion at a high price when she was a young girl, quickly slowed her pace. She gracefully glanced back and, sure enough, saw her master deep in thought. She obediently continued forward with small, light steps. Wei Feng, who had weathered countless storms in both the business world and officialdom, used this time to weigh things carefully. According to Qiushui's somewhat fragmented account, Young Master Xu had visited the room of the old man with the cow-horn bow on his back. Soon after, this murder occurred, and it also seemed there had been a conflict with a woman named Liu Nirong from the Fish Dragon Gang.

Wei Feng rubbed his temples. As they neared the room where the body lay, he gestured for Qiushui to wait in the corridor. He then quickened his pace, entering the room with a worried expression. He didn't immediately scold his nephew, who had traveled a long distance; instead, he locked the door. Seeing the young man composed after committing a murder, he inwardly thought more highly of him. The lawless calm of a pampered scion who had bludgeoned someone to death in his own courtyard was unimpressive. But causing trouble in someone else's house indicated either an intimidating shrewdness or some powerful backing. Regardless, Wei Feng considered it a good thing. He thought, "Old Brother Qi has no sons, but he has a distant nephew worth cultivating. No wonder such a young man is leading this business deal; a 30,000-tael transaction is truly significant."

Wei Feng immediately calmed himself. He pulled up a chair and sat down, showing no sign of anxiety. He asked, "What do you need from Old Uncle Wei?"

Xu Fengnian had already prepared a plausible explanation that, while not watertight, would be enough to temporarily deal with an old fox like Wei Feng. Of course, the premise was that Liu Nirong wouldn't go mad and mess things up. He never expected Wei Feng to ask no further questions, which caught Xu Fengnian off guard. The reason he dared to inform Wei Feng immediately was that he had feigned the sensitive identity of a general's son from Lingzhou, certain that Wei Feng wouldn't dare go to the yamen and smear his reputation. As long as Wei Feng believed the matter could be resolved within his own mansion, there would be room for negotiation. Seeing his nephew's expression and gaze, Wei Feng reached for a porcelain cup brought from Jiangnan, poured some cool tea, and smiled, "Nephew Xu, let me be frank with you. Never mind a guest elder of a small gang like the Fish Dragon Gang; even if it were Liu Nirong, the gang leader's granddaughter, as long as it happens in Old Uncle Wei's house, you can do as you please. What then? Will the Lingzhou authorities dare to come to Liuxia City and arrest me? Or will the Fish Dragon Gang dare to cause trouble at the General's Mansion of the Weapons Supervisor? Even if Old Uncle Wei lent the Fish Dragon Gang ten times their courage, would they dare? Nephew Xu, Old Uncle and Old Brother Qi have a bond closer than brothers, not just polite words. 'Prostitutes are heartless, actors are faithless, merchants value money, and scholars cherish reputation' — the old saying is true. But it doesn't say that people like Old Uncle, who do this kind of business, don't value relationships at all."

Seeing his nephew rise to bow again, Wei Feng glared at him and playfully scolded, "Nephew, you learned this habit from the Lingzhou gentry, didn't you? If you want to achieve great things traveling between Lingzhou and Beiman in the future, this pedantic scholarly air is the first thing you need to get rid of. Try bowing again? See if Old Uncle doesn't kick you out of the mansion! Here in Beiman, do as the locals do; it's more endearing to drink large bowls of wine and eat large chunks of meat. Originally, Old Uncle wanted to have the servants take you around Liuxia City to enjoy some leisure, but no, forget about that. For the next two days, stay by Old Uncle's side and watch how business is done, to really smooth out your rough edges. Old Brother Qi is full of chivalry, and Old Uncle Wei, though far inferior to Old Brother Qi in wielding swords and spears, does possess other skills: he understands the ways of the world that can be converted into real gold and silver."

Xu Fengnian raised his cup and said with a wry smile, "Uncle Wei, I'll toast you with tea instead of wine, shall I?"

Wei Feng said with satisfaction, "That'll do."

After drinking his tea, Xu Fengnian stood to pour a cup for Wei Feng. After sitting down, he slowly began, "Uncle Wei, I must speak frankly with you about today's matter, otherwise I won't feel right. The General's eldest son has always coveted the Fish Dragon Gang and Liu Nirong, intending to take her as a concubine. Originally, with the Fish Dragon Gang's strength not even ranking among the top in Lingzhou, they wouldn't have been able to secure this business deal. But since the Eldest Young Master had a personal agenda, common sense no longer applied. The Deputy Gang Leader Xiao Qiang, who accompanied us to Beiman, has a son named Xiao Ling, who was Liu Nirong's childhood sweetheart. There were rumors that when Xiao Qiang returned to Lingzhou and retired from the jianghu, he would propose an engagement between Xiao Ling and Liu Nirong. How could the Eldest Young Master let the Xiao father and son have their way? So, after leaving Daoma Pass, I, your nephew, being somewhat skilled in martial arts, followed the Eldest Young Master's instructions and fortunately ambushed and killed Xiao Qiang, then framed a few groups of horse bandits. Unexpectedly, the guest elder Gongsun Yang noticed some clues and threatened to tell Liu Nirong and the Fish Dragon Gang. This forced me to break ties and hastily set up a crude scheme. I merely told Liu Nirong that Gongsun Yang was a Spring and Autumn Period remnant, secretly colluding with Beiman. This way, I barely managed to keep the simple-minded Liu Nirong under control. Uncle Wei, are there any flaws in this? Could you help me think through it? If I ruin the Eldest Young Master's plan, even if I bring the silver back, I can forget about making a name for myself in the General's Mansion in the future. I suppose Uncle Wei also knows that the Second Young Master, though illegitimate, is quick-witted and has already made some achievements among the scholars of Lingzhou, so both he and his mother are quite favored. The Second Young Master's repeated attempts to curry favor have already made the Eldest Young Master unhappy. This trip to Beiman is both an opportunity and a crisis for your nephew. If it succeeds, everything will be fine. If it fails, I might not even have a place to stand."

A hint of appreciation for a junior appeared in Wei Feng's eyes. He nodded with a smile and stroked his beard. Even though he was clearly sitting next to a dead body, he slowly said, "Nephew, you are meticulous in small matters and far-sighted in important ones. Very good, very good, you are indeed a promising talent."

Xu Fengnian lowered his voice, looking embarrassed, and said, "Before I left home, I shamelessly asked my uncle for a letter to Uncle Wei, hoping he'd put in a few good words for me. But my aunt had barely started speaking at the dinner table when my uncle gave me a terrible scolding. He said that a man should establish himself through his own efforts, relying on his own two hands and feet for everything, and that begging for favors was utterly useless. Fortunately, my aunt slammed her bowl and said she'd cook tomorrow, which made my uncle stop scolding me."

Wei Feng burst out laughing, pointing a finger in the air at Xu Fengnian. It was the first time the old fox had laughed so heartily and genuinely. He then sighed with emotion, "Indeed, that's Old Brother Qi and Old Aunt's temperament. When Old Uncle Wei was young and down on his luck, he mooched meals from them for three whole years! Although Old Sister-in-law occasionally complained, it was out of anger at my lack of ambition and sorrow for my misfortune, hoping I would make something of myself, not because she begrudged those hard-earned bowls of rice, or because she had ill intentions or looked down on me. 'A drop of kindness repaid with a gushing spring'—Old Uncle Wei hasn't reached that level, but he wouldn't dare forget the great kindness of those three years that kept him alive, no matter how unfeeling he might seem. Over these years, Old Uncle Wei has indeed built up a substantial family fortune, yet Old Brother Qi and Old Aunt have never sent a single letter, fearing that asking for something would diminish the affection of those early years. My old brother and sister-in-law are kind-hearted, but aren't they also a bit cruel in that regard? They are both already so old, with one foot in the grave, who knows when they might fall asleep and never wake up. Why still care about these things? Now that you, this nephew, have come to Uncle Wei's house, excellent! No family letter could speak more eloquently than your presence."

Xu Fengnian asked softly, "Uncle Wei, will there be any trouble if we find a geomantically auspicious spot and give this Fish Dragon Gang guest elder a proper burial?"

Wei Feng waved his hand dismissively, "A trivial matter, not worth mentioning. But Old Uncle Wei will speak frankly: compared to a negligible connection with the Weapons Supervisor, I value my bond with Old Brother Qi much more. So, a temporary strained relationship with Liu Nirong is fine, but you must not always neglect her. If she eventually becomes a concubine in the General's Mansion and gains favor, know that a woman's whispers on the pillow are more powerful than anything else. If you're not careful, nephew, you'll end up shooting yourself in the foot. There are countless precedents for such things, so you must be wary. As Old Uncle Wei sees it, nephew, your appearance and intelligence are both top-notch. You might as well go all the way, use some methods to win Liu Nirong's heart. If she thrives in the General's Mansion, you'll have another powerful backer. Seek wealth in risk; as long as you don't defile her, with your nephew's prudence, extracting chestnuts from the fire won't be difficult. Throughout history, those who achieve great things always have a few close female confidantes around them!"

Xu Fengnian looked surprised. Wei Feng smiled slyly, "If, before leaving Liuxia City, you, nephew, can start exchanging flirtatious glances with Liu Nirong, who hates you to death today, Uncle Wei promises you 8,000 taels of silver. Consider it your expense for building connections inside and outside the General's Mansion."

Xu Fengnian shamelessly haggled, "Uncle Wei, your nephew has a rogue's greedy nature when it comes to money. How about we round it up to a whole number, 10,000 taels?"

Instead of being angry, Wei Feng was delighted, laughing heartily, "What a bold demand! Uncle Wei likes it; I agree!"

Xu Fengnian beamed. Wei Feng rose, a playful smile on his face, "The two maidservants in my mansion, Qiushui and Chunlong, are both pure and innocent. Here in Beiman, there's a saying about 'raising horses,' but these aren't literal horses. Most are young women meticulously selected from Jiangnan in the Liyang Dynasty and bought at great expense, then taught the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, tea, and wine. After a few years, only three or four out of ten potential beauties truly develop their talents, and these two maidservants are among the finest. Outside the mansion, they would fetch a market price of fifty gold pieces. If you like them, I'll give them to you. They're not of much use staying in the Wei mansion. It would be good for you to take them back to Lingzhou; they can help you build connections and befriend those refined scholars. With these two clever beauties, you'll achieve twice the results with half the effort."

Xu Fengnian, greatly surprised, quickly laughed and said, "Thank you, Uncle Wei, for your generosity."

Wei Feng walked to the door of the room and said softly, "Old Uncle will find an opportunity to have the maidservant Qiushui convey some words to Liu Nirong. Tell her that the Wei mansion has already given this guest elder a proper burial, as per your nephew's wishes. Having the message come from someone else will appear more sincere than you explaining it yourself. Don't worry, Qiushui is very clever, and Liu Nirong is inexperienced, so she won't see through it."

Xu Fengnian praised, "Uncle Wei's plans are flawless; your nephew has learned a great deal."

"It's fortunate that the stubborn Old Brother Qi has such a sweet-talking nephew like you," Wei Feng chuckled.

Wei Feng shook his head and laughed, then, as if remembering something, casually asked, "Nephew, how much do you know about poetry and painting, and how is your calligraphy? Over the years, Old Uncle Wei has spent a fortune impulsively, buying hundreds of items, most of which were cheaply plundered from Spring and Autumn Period remnants who fled into Beiman. There aren't many learned people in the Wei mansion, and Old Uncle Wei is afraid of making a fool of himself and being laughed at by connoisseurs, so he's embarrassed to show them to others. If you, my boy, know a thing or two, please take a look for Old Uncle. If there truly is a hidden gem, Old Uncle will be in such a good mood that he might just give you a few pieces."

Xu Fengnian rubbed his hands together and volunteered, "My uncle suffered greatly in his life due to illiteracy, which is why he constantly urged me, his nephew, to study diligently and achieve fame. My calligraphy isn't bad. Furthermore, having served as an assistant to the Eldest Young Master for many years, I've had the good fortune to see and verify the authenticity of some valuable calligraphy and paintings, so I have a passable eye. If Uncle Wei doesn't mind, let your nephew take a look. Heh, I'm just afraid Uncle Wei might feel some heartache then."

Wei Feng sighed helplessly, "I should have known better than to bring that up."

As he saw Wei Feng out of the room, Xu Fengnian's lips curled up when he saw the graceful maidservant Qiushui at the end of the corridor. Qiushui, astute as she was, likely guessed that she was now destined to be the young master's possession. Her pretty face flushed, and as she left with her master, she cast a captivating glance back, her slender waist swaying subtly, revealing a different kind of charm.

Xu Fengnian returned to his room and sat down, all traces of a smile gone from his face. The long conversation had seemed pleasant, and had a girl like Liu Nirong been present, she would likely only have perceived a benevolent elder and an obedient junior. However, the underlying power struggle and subtle machinations would have been entirely imperceptible to her. When the topic of the family letter came up, Xu Fengnian knew as soon as he spoke that there was a slight, though not critical, flaw. According to the General's Mansion's records concerning the Qi clan's guest advisor, this person was barely literate and certainly incapable of writing a letter. However, His Royal Highness the Young Master had indeed intended to test the old fox Wei. If Wei Feng had simply dismissed it with a few words, it would prove he was absolutely convinced of Xu Fengnian's identity and trusted him enough not to nitpick over such a small detail. But if he couldn't resist, it would mean Wei Feng still harbored doubts. As expected, just as His Royal Highness set a small trap, the old fox subtly laid a bigger one before leaving, by mentioning the calligraphy and paintings for authentication. Fortunately, His Royal Highness would never trip up in such a minor ditch.

Furthermore, Wei Feng's discernment was not poor; he recognized that this nephew was a valuable commodity, which was why he was so generous with both money and maidservants. He was simply thinking that if Xu Fengnian could rise swiftly in Lingzhou in the future, his own business would naturally receive substantial returns. If the old fox were only remembering their past brotherhood, he certainly wouldn't have been so extravagant.

How could a naive young woman like Liu Nirong avoid being bullied in a jianghu where either jackals and wolves ran rampant or foxes gathered in packs?

Xu Fengnian quietly waited for Wei Feng's confidants to retrieve the body. Standing by the window, he murmured to himself, "The jianghu is dangerous, and human relations are complex. Senior Gongsun, if you were alive, wouldn't you think 'out of sight, out of mind'? Rest assured, if this Young Master returns alive to Beiliang, the Fish Dragon Gang will receive some covert support. If I die in Beiman, then you and that cautious Miss Liu will have had your great revenge. If I weren't His Royal Highness the Young Master, given Senior Gongsun's temperament, we could have had a close friendship despite our age difference. Knowing that you, Senior, would never betray anyone, and considering that pouch of green ant wine from back then, I chose not to be the villain who used torture to extract a confession. But to know of your connection with Beiman and then turn a blind eye would be too difficult for this Young Master. I believe you, Senior, will understand even in the afterlife, and perhaps curse me less."

Watching with his own eyes as two direct retainers from the Wei mansion carried away the corpse, which was cooling like tea, Xu Fengnian returned to his room and saw Liu Nirong's door tightly shut, thinking to himself how difficult it must have been for that straightforward girl not to have fought him to the death on the spot.

It was strange. She was indeed an outstanding woman with inner beauty. Yet, in His Royal Highness's memory, the most vivid impressions were not of her single-handedly fighting enemies in the Daoma Pass inn, nor of her leading the way on horseback through the desert sands, but rather of her sitting on a hillside, knees clasped, lost in thought, and her dry, bleeding lips before she drank water by the well at Yan Hui Pass.

Qingming Festival was approaching; how could it be without the sorrowful rain that breaks the hearts of travelers?

It was only when the path to the graves was muddy that descendants would take an extra step, and in doing so, think a little more about their ancestors.

In the twilight, the heavens generously showered down drizzling rain. Xu Fengnian opened the window; a chill permeated the air as he listened to the raindrops patter on the lotus flowers. His expression, however, remained indifferent, making it uncertain if His Royal Highness truly perceived the desolation and sorrow.

Back at the Beiliang Prince's Mansion, a puppet with a similar physique, adorned with a meticulously crafted mask by Shuxiu, was carefully impersonating His Royal Highness.

Xu Fengnian leaned on the windowsill, his gaze remarkably firm, devoid of any confusion.

At the entrance of Daoma Pass village, he had wanted to draw his blade for the first time but ultimately didn't. On the battlements of Yan Hui Pass, he had wanted to draw Chunlei but couldn't.

Xu Fengnian appeared to be enjoying the scenery, but in reality, he closed his eyes, formed hand seals, and repeatedly cleansed the vital energy within his body.

"True Yang must rise from the roots, Yin symbols descend to the Yellow Court from upstream. The spirit remains firm like an endless stream; this is the true master's great refining of form."

Xu Fengnian stood perfectly still for a full hour, then slowly exhaled a surge of sword energy, formed from practicing according to the 'Sword Qi Rolling Dragon Wall' technique. It shot out with a bang, pulverizing a lotus flower in the pond, instantly turning it to dust.

However, in the vast darkness and veil of rain, who would notice this astonishing detail?

With a sense of relief, Xu Fengnian said, "So this is what the Great Yellow Court refers to as 'breathing out the embroidered cosmos, igniting the fire to gain Chang'an'."