Chapter 361

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A novel by Fenghuo Xizhuhou

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Seeing the two horses vibrated to death by Xu Longxiang, Xu Weixiong had the crossbowmen bring two more horses. The assassin Chou, not suitable to show his face, was sent by Xu Weixiong to hide in the shadows, while Qingniao drove the carriage. Xu Fengnian sat inside the carriage, and Xu Weixiong rode outside.

Xu Beizhi, sitting in the same compartment as Xu Longxiang, felt completely uncomfortable. The Butcher's second son was now infamous in the Northern Wilds, and his ability to breach enemy lines as a force of ten thousand was beyond question. Xu Beizhi genuinely feared that the emaciated young man would tear off his limbs like a grasshopper's leg if they disagreed on anything.

Xu Fengnian lifted the curtain and said, "I originally intended to enter through Daoma Pass. How do you want to proceed?"

Xu Weixiong calmly replied, "I'm just seeing you off. Father entrusted these tens of thousands of cavalry to me, not for them to die pointlessly."

Xu Fengnian deliberately ignored the hidden meaning in her words and chuckled, "When we part later, I'll give you a gift."

Xu Weixiong remained noncommittal.

She escorted him for seven or eight li. After stopping her horse, she said, "Along the Gumolong line, although there are no longer organized Northern Wilds armies of over a thousand men, many scattered groups of horsemen remain."

Xu Fengnian stepped down from the carriage and handed Xu Weixiong a satchel, saying nonchalantly, "It's fine. Besides Qingniao and Chou, there's also a shadowy creature roaming a hundred li away, and it's at the Zhi Xuan realm."

Xu Weixiong casually hung the cotton satchel on one side of her saddle. Xu Fengnian pleaded, "Please don't throw it away without even looking."

Xu Weixiong hesitated for a moment, not rushing to turn her horse around.

Knowing his second sister's aloof nature, Xu Fengnian said, "It's the head of Fifth Hou."

Xu Weixiong frowned, "The Master of Tibing Mountain, Dong Zhuo's father-in-law?"

Xu Fengnian nodded.

Xu Weixiong asked, "How many people were with you when you launched the surprise attack?"

Xu Fengnian was speechless.

Xu Beizhi, who had also gotten out of the carriage but stood further away from Xu Fengnian, said softly, "Second Princess, His Royal Highness the Heir Apparent fought Fifth Hou single-handedly. I, Xu Beizhi, can testify to that."

Xu Weixiong sneered, "How did Xu Huainan's illegitimate grandson from the Northern Court change his allegiance? When do you plan to become a 'three-surname slave' for the Liyang Imperial Court?"

As expected of Xu Weixiong, who knew the Northern Wilds like the back of her hand, Xu Beizhi offered no explanation for her merciless rebukes.

Xu Fengnian tried to smooth things over, "Second Sister, don't scare 'Ju Zi' (Orange), okay? He's a good person. Not long ago, he even praised your poetry for being free of effeminacy and wanted to discuss the 'Three Defenses' with you."

Xu Weixiong patted the ancient sword at her waist and chuckled, "Discuss? Discuss swordsmanship? Didn't you tell him I prefer to spar with scholars in sword fighting and with commoners in literature?"

Xu Beizhi truly experienced the domineering nature of Beiliang's Second Princess.

Xu Fengnian, exasperated, said, "Alright, alright," and lightly patted her horse's rump. Xu Weixiong galloped away.

Xu Fengnian and Xu Beizhi exchanged a smile, both feeling somewhat relieved.

Xu Beizhi softly mused, "She has the demeanor of Empress Murong."

Xu Fengnian slung an arm around his neck and playfully scolded, "You dare talk about my sister like that? Do you want to die?"

The scholar, almost suffocating, cried out, "How is that derogatory?"

Xu Fengnian released him, and they both got into the carriage. "You'll understand later."

After sitting down, Xu Fengnian tossed a sword box to the black-clad youth who had been grinning widely. "Huang Man'er, there are three swords in there, they're for you. Weren't you stabbed once by 'Yijieliu'? Next time you see him, return three swords!"

Xu Longxiang hugged the sword box, chuckling foolishly.

Xu Fengnian turned to Xu Beizhi and said, "The Prince of Beiliang's manor has an extremely rich collection of books. There's plenty for you to read. Feel free to take any you like; they'll be considered your private collection, as a gift from me. How about that?"

Xu Beizhi smiled sincerely, "That's more than enough!"

Xu Fengnian thought for a moment and said, "When you get to the manor, why don't you change your name?"

Xu Beizhi shook his head, implicitly thanking Xu Fengnian for his kindness. Flaunting his identity as Xu Huainan's grandson in Beiliang was clearly unwise, but there were some things Xu Beizhi didn't want to back down from.

Xu Fengnian said regretfully, "Xu Ju Zi (Orange), what a festive and pleasing name."

Xu Beizhi reminded him, "Your Highness, you don't have Fifth Hou's head with you anymore."

Xu Fengnian let out an "Oh" and snapped his fingers.

Soon after, a slender, pale wrist reached into the carriage curtain. When Xu Beizhi saw the delighted face of the crimson-robed shadowy creature, goosebumps broke out all over him.

Xu Beizhi's smile was strained, and he reluctantly flattered, "Your Highness always has everything under control. You truly deserve to be the hereditary heir to the princely title."

Xu Fengnian waved his hand, and the shadowy creature Danyi floated away from the carriage. Then he held Xu Beizhi's hand and said with a smile, "With such mutual admiration between us, it truly feels like we met too late."

Xu Beizhi's mouth twitched, and he whispered, "Did Your Highness also say 'it feels like we met too late' to Fifth Hou?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled and playfully slapped Xu Beizhi down, then softly said, "I like retracing my steps. Everyone says there's no turning back in life, but it feels especially comfortable to go back when you can."

Without the deterrent of the shadowy creature, Xu Beizhi became much bolder. He revealed a secret, "Your Highness spoke privately with that assassin attendant earlier. Weren't you planning for him to arrange a secret meeting with Huangfu Ping, the Valiant Military Commander of Youzhou?"

Xu Fengnian neither confirmed nor denied, merely asking curiously, "You even know Huangfu Ping?"

Xu Beizhi nodded, "At Ruoshui Cottage, grandfather mentioned that you helped this person rise to power to stir up trouble in Youzhou's military circles. Originally, I didn't think highly of Huangfu Ping, but now I wouldn't dare underestimate him."

Xu Fengnian asked, "Are you prepared to demonstrate your talent to Xu Xiao?"

Xu Beizhi chuckled, "Just as it takes months for a woman's pregnancy to become apparent, true talent needs time to reveal itself. I am quite skilled with words, but while it works on others, after meeting the Second Princess, I truly don't want to risk being scolded by the Prince of Beiliang. I've decided that when the time comes, I'll ask the Prince of Beiliang for a county office in a remote, poor area and start as a low-ranking official. This way, I can do some practical work and also prepare a small gift for Your Highness, a gift that will itself take one or two years to complete."

Xu Fengnian asked in surprise, "Are you truly willing to endure several years of obscurity?"

Xu Beizhi calmly replied, "When have I ever been famous?"

Xu Fengnian grabbed Xu Beizhi's hand, "Xu Ju Zi, a true scholar!"

Xu Beizhi smiled as he tried to pull his hand free from Xu Fengnian's grip, but he couldn't. Helplessly, he said, "Your Highness, even if it's just superficial praise, please try to be more sincere."

Xu Fengnian tightened his grip, nodded, and chuckled, "Alright, alright, I'll give even more sincerity."

Xu Beizhi, who had long removed the disguise of a burly, bearded man and now appeared fair-skinned and refined, was flushed with pain. Xu Fengnian burst into laughter as he finally let go. Xu Beizhi said angrily, "Bullying others with your strength, is that what a true man does?"

Xu Fengnian, who had also returned to his true appearance, snapped his fingers again.

Thinking the shadowy creature was about to join in the fun again, Xu Beizhi froze in terror.

Xu Beizhi was on edge for a long time but the shadowy creature didn't appear. Xu Fengnian chuckled, "I was just snapping my fingers randomly! Do you really think this shadowy creature from the Princess's Tomb is a terrestrial immortal? Without a special technique to guide it, can a mere snap of the fingers make it react from a hundred li away?"

Xu Beizhi took a deep, heavy breath and lowered his head to read a book he had painstakingly found in an inn at Maolong military town.

Though seemingly furious, his eyes were gentle, and a smile played on his lips.

He had once greatly feared that the lord he was to serve would be an ambitious but incompetent mediocrity.

But he feared even more encountering a ruler who appeared respectful and humble, pretending to be so close that they'd share a bed and eat from the same bowl, yet secretly regarded scholars as mere executioners wielding pens.

Xu Beizhi didn't want his knowledge to be wasted on reading expressions and guessing intentions. Xu Beizhi put down the book, his mind heavy with worry. "Before you entered the Northern Wilds, the Liyang Imperial Court had already begun planning to send imperial princes out of the capital, enfeoffing them as 'Princes of Commandery'—one rank below 'Princes of Vassal States'. These Commandery Princes would have no military authority but could participate in local provincial and commandery affairs. The first generation of these Commandery Princes in the Liyang Dynasty, after the Spring and Autumn period, are granted single-character titles. Currently, we definitely know of three: the Princes of Tang, Chu, and Shu. I think the Prince of Shu will most likely be Zhao Kai. The second Prince Jing'an, Zhao Xun, clearly has a brilliant strategist advising him; he was the first to proactively offer to surrender all his military power. This is bound to give Prince Yan Chi and Prince Guangling a major headache. I hear you had a particularly bad falling out with the old Prince Jing'an, and Xiangfan is one of the empire's foremost strategic cities and strongholds, a crucial battleground regardless of whether the confrontation is East-West or North-South."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "I've beaten Zhao Xun like a stray dog before, and I also took the Prince Jing'an's consort whom he secretly admired. That brat must be itching to flay me alive and pull out my tendons to get even!"

Xu Beizhi paused, then grit his teeth and asked, "Wait, what do you mean you 'took' the Prince Jing'an's consort?"

Xu Fengnian laughed, "Her name is Pei Nanwei, one of the most beautiful women in our Liyang Dynasty. During my second travels through Xiangfan, I conveniently abducted her and brought her to the Prince of Beiliang's manor."

Xu Beizhi kicked Xu Fengnian's shin. Xu Fengnian didn't mind, dusting off his leg, and said helplessly, "She's not your wife, why are you so worked up?"

Xu Beizhi glared at him.

The sallow, emaciated Xu Longxiang, dressed in black, didn't get angry at the sight; he was naturally perceptive of others' goodwill or ill intent.

Xu Fengnian put away his frivolous demeanor and whispered, "Don't worry, I've done enough ridiculous things. From now on, I'll only cause trouble within the small confines of Beiliang."

Xu Beizhi snorted.

Xu Fengnian quickly revealed his true colors, saying, "However, if a beauty comes to Beiliang and throws herself into my net, I certainly won't refuse!"

Xu Beizhi was about to speak, but Xu Fengnian's next words made him swallow his reply: "Why are you acting like my newlywed wife, trying to control even this?"

Xu Fengnian feigned horror and shifted his weight. "Xu Ju Zi, you don't have a fondness for men, do you? Just so we're clear, I can't force myself on this. If you can't control yourself and decide to make a move, I can pay for you to visit a brothel and find a young male companion."

For the first time ever, Xu Beizhi uttered an expletive.

Xu Fengnian said calmly, "Xu Ju Zi, you are the first renowned scholar I personally recruited. To show my regard, I will arrange for Danyi to be by your side! Ask yourself, haven't I been good to you?"

Xu Beizhi lay stiffly in the carriage, covering his face with the book, pretending to be dead.

Xu Fengnian mischievously lifted the curtain, picked up a pot of 'Green Ant' wine that his second sister, Xu Weixiong, had deliberately left behind, and sat with Huang Man'er behind Qingniao. A gentle breeze brushed their faces, and Xu Fengnian's silvery temples swayed softly.

Set out with black hair for the Northern Wilds, return with white hair to Beiliang.

Xu Fengnian stretched, took a gulp of the spicy, strong liquor, and for some reason recalled that sword stroke outside Ghost Gate Pass. He softly recited, "With brows furrowed, words like thunder, a fierce dragon fattens in Yanzi River. Wielding a sword, one strike into the sky, depart at first watch, return at second!"

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Getting recognized in the front row. Remember, this man has become superhuman! _____I play 'Moon Reflected on Er-quan Spring' on the erhu, but to your ears, it sounds like 'Most Dazzling Folk Style'.

It's unscientific that this wasn't deleted.

Furious interjection...

Amazing move!

More interjections.

Reply to 'Shift Worker Bored': You didn't take me along...

Sweated a lot! Phew!

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