Chapter 251: Don't Die in a Foreign Land

The Crown Prince, wearing a well-crafted mask, was naturally not associated with handsomeness. His phoenix eyes, which added a touch of femininity, made him, even with a saber at his side, fit perfectly with the city's ambiance as he walked through Feihu City. However, being called old by a little girl for the first time in his life left him feeling somewhat amused and bewildered. Shopkeeper Sun laughed heartily, smoothing things over, repeating twice, "Children's words are innocent, my friend, don't mind them." The little girl, likely most afraid of being treated like a child, subtly added another jab, saying he was simply unattractive.

A warm, sunny afternoon passed leisurely over several cups of tea. Fatty Sun was a good conversationalist, born and raised in Feihu City, effortlessly weaving in anecdotes and jokes about his hometown's customs and people. He wasn't the type to cling to his own insights like a frog in a well, but rather enjoyed lighthearted mockery of others and self-deprecating humor. Over a plate of boiled peanuts, he fully disclosed anecdotes and embarrassing inside stories about the city's prominent figures. The Crown Prince's sharp tongue was legendary in Beiliang; almost all border officials who came to the Prince's Mansion seeking favors had been mocked by him. However, those powerful old foxes feigned ignorance and foolishness, choosing not to take offense and daring not to get angry. Some, lacking a bit of integrity, took it not as an insult but as an honor, recounting it to friends afterward as a topic of conversation. Over time, it became such that anyone not teased or disparaged by the Crown Prince was seen as less of a confidant of the Beiliang King, and thus somewhat looked down upon. This left many accomplished young officials, who hadn't earned military merits during the Spring and Autumn periods, privately resentful and critical, feeling ashamed to be associated with the older generation of political veterans.

The young Crown Prince, who had only been indulging in verbal jabs back then, realized this later and could only offer a wry smile. Ever since his return from his first journey and coming of age, he had reined himself in considerably. Especially after his close friend Yan Chiji and his family fled from Beiliang, the Crown Prince's sarcastic and biting remarks were heard no more. This even made Li Gongde, the newly appointed Commissioner of Beiliang Dao, feel somewhat uncomfortable.

That afternoon, Xu Fengnian chatted with the older man across the table, who had no grand ambitions beyond living a comfortable life. Xu Fengnian occasionally asked questions, agreed, or offered praise, and their conversation flowed pleasantly. Shopkeeper Sun's young daughter, Sun Xiaochun, unwilling to listen to the two old men's chatter, went off to play with Tao Manwu, who was even younger than her. She thoroughly enjoyed playing the role of an older sister caring for her younger one, taking it upon herself to bring out many fruits and vegetables, and even moving some clever trinkets from her own room for Tao Manwu to play with. Their time together was equally joyful and harmonious.

As dusk approached and dinner time arrived, the restaurant's business picked up, and Shopkeeper Sun and his staff became busy. The kind-hearted old man offered to have one of his staff lead the way if they wanted to go to Pingzi Lane. Xu Fengnian did not refuse the offer. As for the underlying nuances, Xu Fengnian, who had spent many years immersed in Beiliang's pleasure quarters, chose not to expose them. Old Sun's strong recommendation of Pingzi Lane suggested it was a reputable red-light district. However, having a waiter lead the way involved certain established practices. Feihu City's brothels were renowned, seventy-eight in total, with at least a thousand girls soliciting customers. Lower-class establishments might have madams shamelessly parading girls on the streets to attract patrons. But for places like Pingzi Lane, this was unthinkable; it was too undignified, tantamount to devaluing themselves, and a major taboo for high-class brothels. Hence, their "alliance" with various inns and restaurants in the city: bringing well-heeled guests and later sharing a few taels of silver, or having the girls bring guests to the restaurant for an expensive meal under the guise of sightseeing.

Xu Fengnian, having frequented pleasure quarters for many years and being a Crown Prince with no shortage of money, naturally didn't spend his entire night fighting in bed with girls who cost a hundred gold per night. Chatting over tea with courtesans and their personal maids, he learned about these not-so-secret matters. Xu Fengnian was quite knowledgeable about the gritty, messy affairs among all walks of life. As for the scandalous and embarrassing private lives of those supposedly "upright and refined" gentlemen, if Xu Fengnian were to truly spill the beans, he could fill a dozen baskets. This wasn't hearsay; it was what the Crown Prince had personally seen and heard. The "leader of the fops" of Beiliang was no self-proclaimed title.

Xu Fengnian's disdain for wealthy scions and scholarly elites was well-founded. It was just that over the years, having traveled extensively, he no longer condemned them all outright.

When ordering dinner, Shopkeeper Sun had, after all, chatted with him all afternoon and ultimately refused to accept payment even for the tea. Thinking of this, Xu Fengnian ordered a few more expensive meat dishes, keeping only the "Five-Branch Soup," which had a genuine vegetarian flavor, from their earlier lunch. That afternoon, he had specifically asked what the "fifth branch" was, beyond mulberry, locust, willow, and peach, and learned it was the obscure Foxwood branch, from which Feihu City derived its name. Every summer, its large, snow-like blossoms filled the city's streets with an intoxicating fragrance, resembling suspended fox fur, a truly captivating sight. With the improved meal, Tao Manwu ate happily and with a good appetite, though the little girl was too shy to ask for another bowl of rice.

Presumably, Shopkeeper Sun had given a nod to a young waiter, for as the saying goes, "with warmth and plenty, thoughts turn to pleasure"—it's human nature. Seeing that Xu Fengnian's table was nearly finished, the waiter came over to greet them, clearly intending to lead them to Pingzi Lane. Moreover, the waiter seemed more excited than the patron actually paying for the pleasure. Xu Fengnian didn't want to disappoint him. As the rough saying from Wen Hua's hometown went, "a young man's buttocks can make pancakes," implying pent-up energy could lead to injury if suppressed too long. For the waiter, getting to visit a place where every "oriole and swallow" was as beautiful as a fairy, even just gazing from afar at their slender waists and peachy faces, could, upon his return, give him a beautiful fantasy to dwell on sleepless nights, couldn't it?

The sturdy waiter introduced himself as Li Liu, the sixth child in his family, and told Xu Fengnian to just call him Xiao Liu. Xiao Liu found it incredible that Xu Fengnian was taking a little girl to a brothel, but he didn't question it. "A horse without night fodder won't get fat." As long as it brought unexpected income to the inn, the shopkeeper would be pleased. Even if it didn't mean a raise, a bonus meat dish was good. Besides, those "fairy-like" women there were incredibly beautiful, even their walk was enchanting—it was unfair! Their swaying made their bottoms seem rounder and their bosoms more magnificent, enough to make his soul tremble. It was truly strange; did these ladies not only practice playing the zither and singing but also diligently train their walking? Otherwise, how could they be so captivating, like the fox spirits described by storytellers? Xiao Liu never mentioned this doubt to anyone, fearing he'd be called ignorant.

Jiaqing Pingzi Lane was also in the northeast corner of Feihu City, not too far from the inn. Before reaching Pingzi Lane, they passed a street lined with brothels, where many flamboyantly dressed, pretty girls, along with madams and panderers, were soliciting customers. Xiao Liu benefited from Xu Fengnian's presence. Although the Crown Prince was wearing a mask, due to Shu Xiu's personal preference, one mask depicted a crude brute, while several others showed refined scholars. While these were naturally far less handsome than the Crown Prince's true, softened, and more masculine face after coming of age, they were still quite striking. Furthermore, Xu Fengnian had a slender build, dressed in a clean and fresh black long gown with a white base, and possessed a carefree demeanor that Xiao Liu probably couldn't cultivate in his entire life. How could the shrewd people of the brothels, whose motto was "better to wrongly entrap than to miss out," easily let him pass? They dared not tug at the saber-wearing gentleman's sleeve, but the poor boy Xiao Liu, who lacked any pretense of bearing or style, was out of luck. It wasn't exactly "miserable"; Xiao Liu's face flushed crimson as he was pushed and nudged by the aging madam and the young girls. His arm inevitably brushed against their soft, plump forms, and he secretly enjoyed it. In his heart, the young man wished Xu Gongzi would walk slower, even slower.

Pingzi Lane, of course, wouldn't be located here, competing with common prostitutes. Instead, it comprised a row of quiet, detached buildings and courtyards by Jiaqing Lake, making it seem even more untainted by its surroundings. The trio finally managed to walk through the fragrant, powder-laden crowd. As Xu Gongzi proceeded along the lakeside bluestone path, Xiao Liu secretly raised his arm to sniff—it was truly fragrant. His mind was filled with the smiling faces and voices of those "sisters." Even though he knew they weren't respectable women, Xiao Liu couldn't help but ponder, thinking that if his future wife could have such looks, his life wouldn't be in vain. Xiao Liu saw the little girl, held by Xu Gongzi, turn to look at him a few times. Mortified, Xiao Liu could only offer an awkward smile. The little girl made a cheeky gesture, wiping her cheek as if embarrassed for him, a pure and lovely sight. Xiao Liu was shy and reserved in front of Gongzi Xu, but how could he lose face in front of a little yellow-haired girl? Xiao Liu used his fingers to stretch his mouth and nose, returning a comical "pig-face" expression. Xu Fengnian slightly turned his head, saw the "battle" between the big and small figures, and smiled knowingly, without interrupting.

On the way, Xiao Liu had mentioned that the houses along Jiaqing Lake were private residences belonging to Feihu City's important officials, in addition to their main mansions. The young man couldn't articulate the concise idiom "a golden house to keep a mistress," but that was essentially the meaning. Xu Fengnian was used to this; several prefectural cities in Beiliang had similar clusters of residences where officials kept their delicate concubines and mistresses. They would occasionally go there to relax, showering these demanding "canaries" with gold and silver jewelry. Among neighbors, all wealthy colleagues, they would visit each other, compare the beauty of their newly acquired secondary wives, and chat about various topics—it was considered a refined pastime.

The fact that Pingzi Lane could be established in such a quiet spot amidst the bustle showed it had significant backing. Xu Fengnian had six or seven hundred taels of silver notes on him, but he was there to "lock the golden cabinet" for the Great Yellow Court, certainly not to visit prostitutes. Rather, he was curious about the famous sword that could sell for a thousand taels of gold. To be precise, Prince Jing'an of Xiangfan and the "Hehe Girl" had only offered a thousand taels of gold for his life.

That night, when Xu Xiao spoke of this person, he showed rare guilt. The message he wanted to convey was quite weighty. Regarding this person, Xu Fengnian knew he had once been a military general in the Beiliang army, fighting alongside Chen Zhibao, and had distinguished himself with outstanding military achievements during the Spring and Autumn periods. Similar to his aunt Zhao Yuzhu, who wore a masked helmet, this person wore a jade mask, never revealing his true face. Apart from his unconventional military tactics, this man, whom the Crown Prince had to address as "uncle" by seniority, was also an unparalleled swordsman, second only to the Princess, whom the Thirty Iron Cavalry admired immensely, among the many talented individuals in the Beiliang army.

Even Old Man Li in sheepskin unintentionally mentioned him, saying that "this young man's sword may be dull, but his intent is not. He is the most overflowing talent I have seen in my life. Like a young master whose family wealth rivals an entire kingdom, he's too rich, so much so that he doesn't know how to spend it, and just squanders it casually. It's just a pity that his sword intent is too merciless, to the point where his swordsmanship doesn't fully manifest."

In Xu Fengnian's view, only a swordsman so highly praised by the Sword God Li Chungang was truly qualified to call himself a "romantic."

Since ordinary people were not allowed into the Hanging Sword Pavilion, he had to start with the sword that sold for a thousand taels of gold. Since this person had transformed from a handsome swordsman into a romantic idler who painted and slept in brothels, going to a brothel to inquire was a shortcut. Originally, Pingzi Lane was not as good as Fengbo Tower, but for an outsider with a child to arrive in Feihu City and immediately go to Fengbo Tower to drink himself silly would not be a good look in the eyes of meticulous observers. Being led to Pingzi Lane by the inn, and then proceeding to Fengbo Tower, was more like going with the flow. While not entirely flawless, it at least wouldn't be too conspicuous. Bringing Tao Manwu along was also a last resort; leaving her alone at the inn was not reassuring. Losing a bag of broken silver was insignificant, but losing her would only lead to endless trouble. The Crown Prince, with his somewhat indifferent nature, truly trusted no one.

In his life, Xu Fengnian had three close friends in Beiliang, practically growing up together, causing mischief and taking blame together. He had thought their friendship would last forever, but now, apart from Li Hanlin, the other two were no longer even friends, let alone brothers. Fortunately, during his three years of wandering, he had met a fellow who carried a wooden sword; otherwise, it would have been truly pathetic.

Every time Xu Fengnian thought of Wen Hua, he felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. This kid certainly had his share of quirks. His constant addressing of Xu Fengnian as "Xiaonian" (Little Nian) gave Xu Fengnian goosebumps and was even more annoying than Xu Cao Bao, the "White Fox-face." In the past, whenever they stole sweet potatoes, roasted them, and ate their fill, Wen Hua would say, "Xiaonian, how about I sing you a song?" Back then, Xu Fengnian, bored to death, naturally had no objections. Then, the fellow would squat down, stick out his backside, and, with a mischievous grin, let out a series of farts. Old Huang, who had the foresight, would be far away, grinning foolishly and revealing his missing front teeth. That rascal, even after being kicked over by Xu Fengnian, remained unrepentant, claiming that "loud farts don't stink!"

Don't let Wen Hua's clumsy swordsmanship fool you; he was an expert at climbing trees for bird eggs and catching fish and shrimp in the water. After passing through an orange grove filled with golden fruit, it was one thing to suffer from mouth ulcers after secretly eating too many, but he would also stuff two oranges into his bosom, then hold them in his hands and ask, "Are they beautiful? Are they big?" Then, with a raised pinky finger, he'd chase the creeped-out Xu Fengnian all over the grove, yelling, "Come on, young master, come on!" Only to be chased down relentlessly by the orange grove owner with a pole and a few local dogs. Or he would pester the Crown Prince, asking about the sensation of women's breasts and buttocks. Xu Fengnian was too lazy to bother with him. Occasionally, when Xu Fengnian had earned some copper coins from fortune-telling or cheating at chess, he would buy a steamer of steamed buns. Before eating, Wen Hua would always poke them repeatedly with his finger, drooling, and ask, "Is it this feeling?"

This young man, whose greatest dream in life was to become a proper swordsman, even after reuniting with Xu Fengnian and learning about his distinguished background, still traveled alone to the border, claiming he wanted to see the desolate landscape and practice his swordsmanship.

This left Xu Fengnian feeling both fortunate and regretful.

Xu Fengnian gently exhaled, composing himself. He could already see Pingzi Lane, adorned with lanterns and festive decorations, in the twilight.

"I hope that when we meet again, you'll be one of the greatest swordsmen in the world, and I'll be the King of Beiliang. Who in this world would dare look down on us, a pair of brothers who once stole chickens and peeped at women's chests together?"

"So, Wen Hua, don't die."

"Let's both not die in a foreign land."