Chapter 249: Appetizers

It wasn't long after Xu Fengnian had finally shown a rare act of compassion, as the world saw it, that he wished he could slap himself twice. It simply wasn't fitting for a grown man to travel with a child. She was like a burdensome tag-along; when hungry, she wouldn't speak, but just blink her eyes and gaze pitifully at Xu Fengnian. When riding hurt her little bottom, she wouldn't cry or fuss, but simply turn her head to look at Xu Fengnian, her eyes welling up. If they walked and led the horse, by custom, she had to carry a heavy money pouch, containing one tael of silver that couldn't be spent. Her small hands would swell, and if she dropped it, she'd silently pick it up. If she couldn't lift it, she'd hoist it onto her tender shoulder. If she fell, she wouldn't complain or cry out in pain; she'd just get up and keep carrying it, walking and falling again. How much ground could a big person and a small person cover in a day like that? Furthermore, if Xu Fengnian were alone with his scrawny horse, he would have simply spent the night in the open wilderness. But with Tao Manwu, he had to take out two pieces of clothing, one to cushion her and one to cover her. The crucial part was that the child was restless in her sleep, always kicking. If Xu Fengnian hadn't had to feed his flying sword every hour, the girl might have frozen to death in a single night. After a few days, Xu Fengnian simply couldn't endure the stubborn little girl any longer, so he had to let her snuggle into his arms at night. He had never felt so exasperated, not even when dealing with the great demon Xie Ling.

Thus, when the Crown Prince finally caught sight of Feihu City in the heart of Longyao Prefecture, with its Hanging Sword Pavilion standing tall on the city wall, he felt a wave of immense relief.

It should be known that as a boy, the Crown Prince loved nothing more than picking up his younger brother by the feet and casually tossing him into the snow on snowy days. Or he would play "planting onions upside down" with his eldest sister. Huang Man'er clearly enjoyed this more; every time his brother pulled him out of the snow, his face would light up with a guileless smile. The three siblings never tired of these games. Only their second sister, Xu Weixiong, would stand alone at a distance, observing with a cold eye. She was precocious and intelligent, likely disdaining such childish games. However, she would occasionally engage in a snowball fight, provided it was she and Xu Fengnian against Xu Zhihu and Xu Longxiang. Xu Zhihu was relatively frail, and Huang Man'er had been told by his brother not to use too much force, so they were always soundly defeated. Only then, when Xu Weixiong was satisfied, would she lift her pointed chin, clap her hands, and with a cold expression but upturned lips, declare that she was off to read military treatises. After she left, Xu Fengnian and Xu Zhihu would exchange a knowing glance, an understanding needing no words. And Huang Man'er, who found being beaten more enjoyable than beating others, understood nothing, simply joining his eldest sister and brother in their foolish laughter.

Since bypassing Liuxia City and continuing their journey, especially after picking up Tao Manwu, Xu Fengnian often found himself lost in thought. Perhaps he would squat by the side of a widened official road, or gaze into the distance at a newly built post station, or stand on a high vantage point overlooking the vast, flat wilderness. He would even stop if he discovered an unnamed lake that had adopted irrigation tools from Jiangnan. Tao Manwu, after all, was just an innocent child of six or seven. It was already remarkable that she hadn't cried herself to death over her parents' passing. Yet, she could easily see through people, discerning the true emotions hidden beneath all disguises and darkness. She knew who harbored ill intentions and who, despite a cold exterior, had a warm heart. Living day in and day out with this "bad guy" who had adopted a new persona, it wasn't until they were outside Feihu City that she saw him reveal his inner joy for the first time. Along with that, she, too, felt an involuntary warmth spread within her.

Approaching the city gate, Xu Fengnian dismounted, lifted Tao Manwu from the horse's back, and walked towards the gate, leading the scrawny horse with one hand and the child with the other. The child's small hands were swollen like steamed buns. After he carefully pricked her blisters, they would likely form new calluses, and eventually, old ones. Xu Fengnian no longer made things difficult for this child, whose life was already so hard, and hung the travel bags on the horse's back. Seeing a cavalry troop thunder out of the city, Xu Fengnian pulled his horse aside and stood by. A young man with flowing hair, wearing an expensive mink coat, had a stern expression. Behind him, six household guards were clad in light armor, armed with broadswords, carrying well-crafted crossbows, and with quivers of densely packed arrows hanging from their saddles. Xu Fengnian noticed that the arrow fletchings were slightly worn but not enough to affect accuracy. This indicated they were neither extravagant nor mere show-offs, so he regarded this scion of a Northern Mang military family with a bit more respect. The city guards, who usually made things difficult for common folk, immediately bowed low, smiled obsequiously, and watched the troop depart. There was no hint of mockery or jealousy in their smiles, only awe.

The sharp-eyed city guards checked his travel permit, which served as proof of his departure from his hometown. Seeing Xu Fengnian's unremarkable horse, they lost any interest in extorting him and generously let him pass. As they passed through the dimly lit, cool city gate archway, Xu Fengnian instinctively looked up and smiled. He didn't even know if Young Miss Hehe was alive or dead; how could she possibly be clinging to the ceiling like a gecko, ready to spring a sudden "surprise" attack on him again? Back then, despite his annoyance, Xu Fengnian had also felt a morbid anticipation and gratitude. With a formidable figure like Li Chungang by his side, the Crown Prince generally had no need to act himself. Only Young Miss Hehe, who always regarded the world's top ten masters and terrestrial immortals as nothing, would persistently stalk whomever she wanted to kill like a festering bone-gangrene. This, in a way, served as a stimulus for Xu Fengnian. However, he still couldn't figure out why, after ruthlessly attempting to kill him in the reeds without any reservation, she ultimately bore the brunt of a karmic disaster on his behalf.

Walking through the city archway, Xu Fengnian was filled with self-mockery. Was it because he was too heartless and unrighteous that he failed to understand the subtle minds of those women, like Hong Shu from Wutong Courtyard? It was only after practicing his swordsmanship that he belatedly realized Hong Shu's true identity as a hidden assassin. He had originally thought she was merely a plump koi in Listening Tide Lake that would grow thin if not fed, and starve to death if still neglected. The truth was, she had secretly fended off countless misfortunes for him, her hands stained with blood as red as rouge. Perhaps just moments before he rested his head on her lap, she had killed several moth-like intruders in the princely manor, snuffing them out like lamp wicks.

He chose an inn in the bustling northeast corner of Feihu City, an area mostly populated by remnants of the Spring and Autumn era. The Northern Mang Dynasty's north-south division was clear-cut: the Emperor's tent in the north, officials in the south. This was just the most visible example. Across the vast territory of this dynasty, there were numerous examples of scholars achieving remarkable career successes by entering the imperial court. After the initial unavoidable turmoil, there had been countless bloody massacres where Northern Mang nobles arbitrarily killed people of other ethnicities, sometimes slaughtering dozens or even hundreds at a time. However, with the Northern Mang Empress's decrees reaching every corner of the empire, over a dozen scions of the Yelü and Murong clans died, and many powerful court officials were punished and stripped of their titles. She ruled the north with her usual iron fist and soothed the south with a rare gentleness, like an old ox licking its calf, thereby creating the current stable situation. The second-generation descendants of the Spring and Autumn remnants had begun to naturally consider themselves citizens of Northern Mang, expressing deep gratitude to their wise and mighty Emperor.

Empress Murong had once spent two years personally touring every inch of her territory. Wherever she went, especially in the grand cities and large towns, countless people would prostrate themselves in dense, dark masses.

The previous emperor of Liyang unified the Spring and Autumn states. After the new emperor ascended the throne, had he ever visited the former eight states? Had he ever come to Beiliang?

Xu Fengnian placed his luggage in the room; his important belongings were on his person, so he wasn't concerned about theft. The little girl, however, stood guard by the travel bag filled with loose silver, refusing to eat. She had probably developed an attachment to it after all the effort of carrying, holding, and lugging it along the way. If it were to disappear, she would likely be heartbroken.

Xu Fengnian said with a wry smile, "Silly girl, if it gets stolen, wouldn't you be relieved? Come on, let's eat. Your little belly has been rumbling for ages; it's not a song, and I'm not listening to it."

Little Tao Manwu had a serious expression, as if to say, "If it gets stolen, it's not my responsibility!" Xu Fengnian laughed and teased, "Don't worry, even if it does get stolen, it's not your fault. But I'll exchange banknotes for the same weight in loose silver and make you carry it again."

The little girl, who always did things meticulously, burst into tears of frustration after confirming that this "not-so-bad bad guy" wasn't joking.

If Xu Fengnian had softened at this, it would have been an underestimation of the Crown Prince's cold and unfeeling nature. He simply uttered two words: "Eat up."

Tao Manwu followed behind him, timidly threatening, "I won't sing for you anymore."

Xu Fengnian, without turning his head, replied, "Fine by me. I was originally going to be magnanimous and give you a whole bowl of rice, but now half of it is gone, and you're not allowed any dishes."

Tao Manwu immediately retorted, "Then I won't sing for you tomorrow either!"

Xu Fengnian's lips held a warm smile, and his eyes were gentle, but he said nothing.

The little girl immediately brightened, knowing he was smiling even though she couldn't see his face.

After sitting down, Xu Fengnian ordered one meat dish, three vegetable dishes, and two bowls of rice. Little Tao Manwu was very well-mannered; she ate without speaking and slept quietly. For her young age, she had a truly refined demeanor. However, it was a pity she wasn't a natural beauty; she would likely be, at best, of average appearance when she grew up. This was probably because she resembled her father, Tao Qianzhi, more in both looks and spirit, not inheriting her mother's facial features. Even if a woman was graceful and virtuous and praised for her inner beauty, it was still a regrettable shortcoming if she lacked striking physical allure. The only meat dish on the table was a black carp, prepared simply: after washing off the mud, it was gutted, a small amount of pepper and three or four cloves of garlic were placed inside, and it was cooked with soybeans. Just before it was done, a few finger-sized radishes were added, and then, sprinkled with chopped green onions, it was ready to be served. Among the vegetable dishes was a soup, a medicinal broth made from five types of tree branches; Xu Fengnian could only identify mulberry, pagoda tree, willow, and peach branches. This entire table of nourishing, stomach-friendly food, both meat and vegetables, cost only forty copper coins. This was truly excellent value for money. Knowing that one tael of silver was worth a thousand copper coins, even an average urban family could certainly afford this meal if they occasionally wanted to dine out and add some richness to their diet.

This made Xu Fengnian, who had seen all the prices on the bamboo slips at the counter, fall into deep thought. The phrase "the will of the people" was something Confucian scholars of every dynasty tirelessly urged emperors to heed. However, how many were willing to lower themselves to haggle over the price of a single meal or dish? Emperors probably wouldn't want to listen either; discussing such matters with their key ministers as if they were vegetable vendors or old farmers—wouldn't that become a laughingstock among scholars everywhere if it got out from the Golden Palace and Imperial Study? Xu Fengnian glanced at Tao Manwu, who was eating with her head down. She had originally intended to pick up a fragrant piece of black carp, but upon seeing the "bad guy's" gaze, she silently withdrew her chopsticks. Xu Fengnian picked a tender piece of fish for her and said plainly, "From now on, use your own chopsticks."

He didn't forget to add a reminder: "Watch out for bones. If you get a fishbone stuck, I won't be happy to spend money on vinegar."

The little girl looked up and smiled.

Xu Fengnian laughed, "Taozi, have some backbone, alright? You're going to be bought off by just one piece of fish?"

Openly, he and she had agreed that he would call her by her newly chosen nickname, Taozi. At first, the little girl protested with silence. Then, Xu Fengnian, with a heart of stone, made her walk instead of riding, having her carry the money pouch for half a day. She then tacitly agreed by nodding after Xu Fengnian called her Taozi once more. Only then did Xu Fengnian pick her up and put her on the horse to continue their journey. The little girl, her shoulders burning with pain, bit her lip and sobbed for a long time.

Xu Fengnian ate quickly, leaving a calculated amount of leftover food for Tao Manwu. He then patiently waited for her to slowly and meticulously fill her belly. Leaning against the window frame, he gazed at the bustling market, counting grain shops, cloth stores, and pawnshops. Only when the little girl had eaten every last bit of her meal and said "Done" did Xu Fengnian come back to himself. He was not in a hurry to leave, and asked the waiter for a pot of tea. This made the inn owner, sitting behind the counter, beam with delight. A pot of tea wasn't very profitable, but seeing the young master's demeanor, it was clear he would spend a good deal of money at the inn. This was called "a steady flow of small gains," something essential for small businesses, which couldn't hope for overnight riches and relied on these small incidental windfalls. The waiter, well-versed in his boss's calculations, understood implicitly, and his face was wreathed in smiles as he served tea and water.

As Xu Fengnian drank his tea, he softly said, "Strike the Golden Beam."

Tao Manwu obediently closed her mouth and tapped her teeth thirty-six times.

"Tap the Heavenly Drum."

The little girl gently raised her hands and tapped her temples eighteen times.

"Bathe the face."

The little girl, sitting upright, her eyes slightly closed, rubbed her palms together until they were warm. Then, with her fingers pressed together and her little fingers touching the sides of her nose, she pushed her palms and fingers upwards, past her glabella, moving up to her hairline, then rubbing outwards towards her temples, and slowly downwards over her cheeks, stopping at her jawline. This process was repeated a total of six times.

By the time Xu Fengnian finished his cup of tea, Tao Manwu had meticulously completed all three exercises, doing them perfectly.

Xu Fengnian was skilled at multitasking; otherwise he would never have dared to wield dual swords in front of Bai Huer Lian ("White Fox Face"). After the little girl finished these introductory Daoist health exercises, he continued to gaze at the bustling market scene while contemplating his thoughts.

In the Northern Liang Royal Manor, no matter how many bloody reports came in from the spies, both dead and alive, hidden in Northern Mang, they only saw cold numbers and words. These reports detailed how many cavalry troops Northern Mang controlled, the distribution of their cities, and the increasing state of their warhorses. But these most minute details and side issues before his eyes were what the unparalleled strategist Li Yishan said the Crown Prince should personally experience. This chief strategist of Northern Liang, who had confined himself to this region for twenty years, had no children of his own. Though he never said it, he truly regarded the Crown Prince as his own flesh and blood. Yet, he still approved of the Crown Prince exiling himself to Northern Mang. Even the refined Li Yishan cursed vehemently, gritting his teeth, saying, "To hell with gentlemen not standing beneath a tottering wall! Northern Liang needs a *true* gentleman as its King in the future!" This showed the extreme extent of his vigilance against Northern Mang. Xu Fengnian still clearly remembered that after he handed over his hand-drawn geographical maps, Li Yishan, who never acknowledged being his master, fell silent. Already critically ill with only a few years left to live, he eventually said, "Go fetch two pots of wine. Today, we shall drink with this three-thousand-li stretch of rivers and mountains as our accompaniment." This was a man who, alongside Zhao Changling, had once considered half the country as mere appetizers for their wine.