Chapter 302: A Dragon Robe Seven or Eight Parts

Men may conquer empires and win beauties, but no matter how valiant they are, they often find themselves defeated by women in the bedroom.

Xu Fengnian, who always gave his all, fortunately didn't meet his end in a woman's embrace. This was mainly because Hongshu couldn't bring herself to allow it, finally saying with a charming smile that she was casting a long line to reel him in slowly, intending to devour him bit by bit. Xu Fengnian, however, was utterly exhausted, lying on the small couch and gasping for breath, too weary to argue. Hongshu wasn't feeling much better; her brave words were just for show. After Xu Fengnian had pressed against her slender waist while she wore the golden dragon robe, it was inevitably full of wrinkles. With her flowing sweat, that golden robe, worn for the first time, would certainly need a thorough cleaning. Such a waste of fine material was truly regrettable.

After their passionate embrace, the robe was sticky. Hongshu took it off and hung it on the rack, then snuggled into Xu Fengnian's arms. Together, they gazed out the window at the bright full moon, suspended like a large jade disc. In Wutong Courtyard, during past Mid-Autumn Festivals, maids like Luan Er and Huang Gua, who openly vied for his attention, would accompany the young lord to admire the moon. If they won a game of rock-paper-scissors, they'd leap into his arms. Hongshu, however, would only smile softly and sit at a respectful distance, attending to her young master, who possessed such captivating eyes. The other maids adored his philandering ways, eagerly gossiping about his dalliances, then each would pout and sulk, unable to comprehend why he would seek out common courtesans in brothels when they were so close. Only Hongshu, however, was drawn to his cool, even heartless, nature. She nestled against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, smiling without a word. Her breasts, full and firm like white jade, pressed against him. One, slightly compressed, remained perfectly rounded, its pink nipple a delicate, vital touch, like the final stroke bringing a dragon to life. With her subtle, unconscious movements, it became even more erect. Her body, soft as pliant jade, turned toward her young master.

Xu Fengnian "surrendered his weapons," saying, "Please, my lady warrior, have mercy!"

Hongshu cast a playful glance below Xu Fengnian's waist, then gave a cheeky flick of her finger and chuckled, "When I first met you on Mount Liuyi, I wondered why you trained with a saber but carried a sword. Now I understand, Young Master: your sword is excellent, and your swordsmanship is even more so."

"Stop being so suggestive," Xu Fengnian retorted helplessly.

Hongshu whispered, "Thousands of miles away, where no one knows us. It feels truly wonderful."

Xu Fengnian had just sat up when Hongshu, familiar with his habits, draped a silk robe over herself. She slipped off the couch to retrieve his undergarments, then knelt by him, helping him dress, donning his purple-gold crown, and finally assisting him with the magnificent purple-gold python robe. As she tied the ribbons of his purple-gold crown, she stood before him, her eyes crinkling in a smile. "Young Master," she asked, "are you truly not going to become emperor?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head. "If I were emperor, especially a diligent one, setting aside everything else, imagine 'tilling the fields' and having eunuchs outside, paper and pen in hand, recording our every move. And if it went on too long, they'd use their uniquely shrill, duck-like voices to remind His Majesty to cherish his royal body. Wouldn't that be a terrible mood killer? But if I were a dissolute ruler, loving beauties more than my empire, once the country fell, consider the former owner of this very dragon robe. Not just the imperial concubines, but even the empress and princesses became mere playthings for that fat pig, Prince Guangling. The emperor and empress of Western Chu were only fortunate to have encountered Xu Xiao. Had it been someone like Gu Jiantang or Prince Yan Chi, the scene for you would have been utterly desolate."

Hongshu sighed.

Xu Fengnian asked calmly, "I heard Master Li Yishan say there are still 'remnants' who believe the imperial throne will one day return to our Northern Liang army. He also mentioned these individuals are both fiercely loyal and incredibly stubborn, and could become a core strength for me against Chen Zhibao. Are you one of them?"

Hongshu looked up, meeting his gaze directly. Her eyes were clear as she shook her head. "This maid has not aligned with any faction or party," she said, "I only obey the Young Master."

Xu Fengnian chuckled wryly, "We just shared intimacy. Isn't talking about this a bit of a mood killer? It almost makes it seem like I'm abandoning you after I've had my fill."

Hongshu's smile was intoxicating as she shook her head vigorously. "What I like most about the Young Master is this cool, detached air," she said. "It's like drinking a bowl of iced plum soup on a sweltering summer day—chilling to the bone and incredibly refreshing."

Xu Fengnian stretched. "You're hopelessly smitten, beyond cure. Shall we go for a walk? Or will it cause a ripple effect and bring you trouble?"

Hongshu, while putting on her usual attire, replied with a smile, "It's fine. My aunt governs Dunhuang City, and she's renowned in both Juzi and Jinxi Prefectures for her 'loose exterior, tight interior' approach. For instance, under the night curfew, if a night watchman discovers someone and reports it to the patrols, they have the authority to kill on sight, no questions asked. My aunt once told me that when the curfew was first implemented, it wasn't very effective, but she didn't rush things. Later, a demon, nearly at the Vajra realm, traveled to Dunhuang City and was found walking illicitly late at night. Upon receiving the report, my aunt, far from seeking a peaceful resolution, immediately dispatched all the guards outside Juxian Palace—about five hundred cavalry. That street ambush resulted in rivers of blood, and the demon's head was later displayed on the city wall. Since then, enforcing Dunhuang's night curfew has become a hundred times easier."

Xu Fengnian and Hongshu emerged from Qingliu Study, he in his purple python robe and jade belt, she in her brocade gown with flowing sleeves, a perfectly matched pair. A cool breeze swept by as this unusual pair – a young master and his maid – strolled leisurely under the moonlight. They reached the two red walls that separated the inner and outer courtyards. Xu Fengnian ran a hand along one of the walls and suddenly asked, "How exactly did five hundred cavalry ambush and kill that master?"

Hongshu recalled for a moment, then slowly said, "Generally, renowned demonic figures in Northern Mang prefer to travel alone and don't actively provoke imperial forces. They mostly keep to themselves, and given Northern Mang's relatively lenient laws, such head-on confrontations are rare. The reason that demon fought to the death wasn't due to his stubbornness; it was because my aunt personally directed the operation, bringing several martial arts masters to ensure he couldn't escape. Dunhuang City has a population of ten thousand. Its city guards, known as the Jinwu Cavalry, are light cavalry armed with short knives and light crossbows, adept at both night and alley combat. Half are stationed outside Juxian Palace, the other half outside the city walls. Among them, forty to fifty were from the martial world, skilled fighters who had committed offenses elsewhere and, with no other options, sought refuge in Dunhuang City. My aunt treated them with respect; those who distinguished themselves were even rewarded with older palace maids.

"That street battle, broadly speaking, involved over a hundred crossbowmen positioned on the rooftops on both sides. It wasn't that more couldn't have been deployed, but due to range limitations, a hundred were ample. The remaining nine hundred cavalry were positioned at both ends of the street, three abreast. In each charge, twenty cavalry would advance from each end, led by a capable officer. After they had fought to exhaustion, volleys of arrows would rain down from the rooftops, allowing the demon no respite. When the next wave of riders charged, the crossbowmen would pause, resting their arms. One crucial detail is that besides the five hundred Jinwu Cavalry from Juxian Palace, there were also over thirty Golden Armored Warriors, specifically targeting martial artists who violated rules within Dunhuang City. These individuals, not adept at cavalry combat, were secretly dispersed by my aunt, two or three at a time, into the charging ranks, where they seized opportunities for surprise attacks and assassinations. A group was also stationed on the rooftops, permitted to retreat, functioning essentially as assassins. This strategy meant that by the sixth cavalry charge, the demon succumbed to exhaustion and was trampled into a pulp by the horses' hooves."

Xu Fengnian nodded. "This is very similar to how our Northern Liang army once battled the Western Shu Sword Emperor, who guarded the nation's pass with a single sword. Both employed iron cavalry and suicidal warriors, alternating between overt and covert attacks. Combined with that imperial uncle's unwavering resolve to fight to the death, it created a scene that sent shivers down the spine of the entire martial world. During the incident at Shenmen Thatched Cottage, the fundamental issue was the absence of a first-grade master to direct operations, along with a lack of coordinated skill. The number of archers and crossbowmen was too small to inflict substantial damage; otherwise, I would never have descended the mountain so easily. I'm very curious how the Wu family's Nine Swords managed to break through Northern Mang's ten thousand cavalry two hundred years ago. Are there any secret records or documents about it here in Dunhuang City?"

Hongshu chuckled, "My aunt is a martial arts enthusiast. Besides collecting weapons and rare secret manuals, she also enjoys critiquing martial artists across the land, all written down. This maid isn't particularly interested in such things, but I can certainly find them for you later."

Xu Fengnian joked, "Don't worry, I won't be leaving Dunhuang City anytime soon. I want to understand how a city operates, so there's no need to hold anything back."

Hongshu wrapped her arm around Xu Fengnian's, her impressive weight pressing against him. She smiled and said, "How could I possibly fool the Young Master?"

Xu Fengnian sighed, "This place truly feels like a grand imperial palace. I wonder what the largest one in the world looks like. If I had known, I would have asked Cao Changqing more questions back when I met him, after he had entered the imperial city four times."

Hongshu chuckled, "There are indeed palace maids and eunuchs here, though not many—only a few hundred. It can't compare to the imperial palace in Taian City. Taian City produced the 'Human Cat' Han Diaosi, who fought Cao Changqing three times to a stalemate; he's truly a marvel among eunuchs. Here at Juxian Palace, our eunuchs, old and young, are quite unremarkable, but the palace maids are all exceptionally beautiful. My aunt used to call the Sect Leader of Princess's Tomb – the fourth of the Five Great Sects – her sister. This sect is Northern Mang's largest demonic cult, primarily composed of women, exceptionally skilled at enchanting men, 'harvesting yang to nourish yin,' and the women they cultivate are truly exquisite. The Dunhuang Flying Immortal Dance practiced at Juxian Palace originated from a unique art of Princess's Tomb. Young Master, would you like to see it? I've only ever heard of countless men going mad after witnessing it; never has anyone managed to remain as calm as an old monk in meditation, let alone a Bodhisattva. Hence, it's also known as the 'Immortality Dance,' implying that whoever can remain unmoved, steadfast as a mountain, has achieved enlightenment and immortality. Unfortunately, the Dunhuang Flying Immortal Dance only captures three or four tenths of the essence of Princess's Tomb's true Immortality Dance."

Xu Fengnian said bluntly, "Why not? Even if it doesn't lead to immortality, it'd certainly be a feast for the eyes."

Hongshu smiled enchantingly, her eyes, like autumn ripples, holding no trace of resentment or coolness. This was a testament to her cleverness and wisdom.

Xu Fengnian wrapped his arm around her waist, then leaped onto a high wall. They glided swiftly along until he chose the roof of a majestic palace, situated on Dunhuang City's central axis, to lie down. The upturned eaves were beside them. Releasing his hold, he gazed up at the full moon. Xu Fengnian pointed and softly said, "When I was little, I used to ask people if immortals lived on the moon. I asked everyone I knew, and the answers varied. My mother said yes, that if you ascended, you could live up in the sky. Xu Xiao, being his improper self, also said yes, claiming that rain was immortals urinating, thunder was them farting, and hail was them defecating. Because of him, I was afraid to go out every time it rained. My second sister, like Master Li Yishan, didn't believe in ghosts or spirits and said there were none. But my eldest sister, just to contradict her, insisted there were. One Mid-Autumn Festival, she bet against my second sister in a fit of pique, holding me and declaring that after she died, she would definitely be on the moon with Mother, watching over me. She even deliberately taunted my second sister, 'You don't believe in ascension, do you? Well, when you die, you'll never see your two younger brothers again!' That almost made my second sister explode with anger. To be honest, I never understood why my two sisters argued so much back then. I was naive and even enjoyed fanning the flames, delighting in seeing them glare and puff out their cheeks. You know how proud my second sister is; only over such trivial family matters could she get truly vexed. When it came to military, state, or world affairs, she approached them with the precise calculations of a chess grandmaster, her indifference making her mental prowess unparalleled.

"I remember every snowball fight with her was a grand affair. She'd turn it into a military campaign, always leading us to overwhelming victory, and she never grew tired of it. Once, I secretly slipped a small snowball down the back of her collar. She chased me through half the prince's estate. Xu Xiao, uncharacteristically disloyal, just stood there laughing foolishly. After my second sister gave me a mild scolding, I then chased Xu Xiao through the other half of the estate to vent my frustration. It was so gratifying! Now that I think about it, how many fathers in the world endure such vexation as Xu Xiao? Probably none, right? With a good-for-nothing son like me, it's a miracle he hasn't died of frustration. After coming of age, I stopped dreaming of imperial ambitions or grand conquests. All I want is to accomplish two things: cultivate my martial arts to personally avenge my mother, and command troops to ensure Xu Xiao has a more relaxed old age."

Hongshu held Xu Fengnian's slightly cool hand, not offering any words of comfort.

Xu Fengnian shook his head, smiling. "If ascension truly exists, that would be wonderful. I'm willing to believe in the one who rides the ox."

Hongshu chuckled softly, "I heard that Hong Xixiang is the reincarnation of Grandmaster Lu. In that case, Young Master, you must be the most formidable person under heaven, having beaten the immortal Grandmaster Lu, and quite frequently at that!"

Xu Fengnian smiled.

Hongshu turned onto her side, propping her cheek with one hand. With the fingers of her other hand, she gently brushed over her Young Master's eyelashes. "Young Master," she murmured softly, "your eyelashes are so long. I used to dream of just touching them."

Xu Fengnian did not stop her small gesture. "Hongshu," he said, "when I leave Dunhuang City, you should return to Northern Liang as well. Stop being a death-sworn pawn. In the future, you will be my secondary consort. Xu Xiao will agree to this too. He has one excellent trait: he never questions anyone's origins. If Lu Chengyan, a woman from the Green Faction, can do it, why can't you?"

Hongshu shook her head.

This might have been the first time in her life she refused.

Xu Fengnian turned around, his brows furrowed.

Hongshu, seemingly gentle but with a deep-seated stubbornness, blinked her eyes. "If I become a secondary consort, a mere puppet," she said, "how will I be able to kill anyone?"

Xu Fengnian retorted exasperatedly, "You like killing people?"

She nodded without hesitation.

Xu Fengnian stared.

Hongshu snuggled into his embrace and whispered, "Does the Young Master wish to be merely a figurehead Prince of Northern Liang?"

Xu Fengnian sighed, "I understand your reasoning, empathizing with your feelings. But can't you allow me to be unreasonable for once?"

Hongshu curled up in his arms like a small cat. "It's Hongshu who's being unreasonable," she murmured. "This maid should obey her master in all things."

Xu Fengnian remained silent for a moment, then his eyes suddenly brightened. He narrowed those eyes, which women often envied, and patted Hongshu's round, shapely bottom, commanding, "Get on!"

After Hongshu straddled him, her face a picture of innocent shyness, she softly asked, "Young Master, here?"

"What do you think?" Xu Fengnian said intensely.

"You know, my aunt says I bear a seven or eight-tenths resemblance to the Northern Mang Empress when she was young."