Chapter 410: New and Old Strategists in the New and Old Temple

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Feng Huo Xi Zhu Hou

(This chapter is a bit shorter.)

It was the last Start of Winter before Liyang changed its regnal year. A propitious snowfall heralded a bountiful harvest, promising that if the wheat fields were covered by three layers of snow this winter, people would sleep on steamed buns next year, assured of plenty to eat.

There was no morning court that day. The Emperor led an even more grand procession of civil and military officials to the northern suburbs for an altar sacrifice. Freed from the burdens of morning court, the officials were all refreshed. The common folk who flocked along the route to witness the official and aristocratic splendor were greatly impressed. Some commoners, distantly related to high-ranking officials in the procession, proudly boasted about how solid their connections were. Their neighbors, who knew the full story, naturally smiled without comment, while some people from several streets away listened with wide-eyed surprise. Sixty percent of the populace had come to see the newly appointed Minister of War, Chen Zhibao, while another thirty percent were curious about what kind of young man the Prince of Beiliang was. This is how the common people are: even if their ears had calluses from hearing bad things about the Prince, when he actually performed the feat of tearing up a hundred zhang of ground on the imperial road, despite their suspicion, they were still deeply shaken. Even though the various Taoist masters in the capital's temples claimed it was done with the help of dark spirits and was nothing noteworthy, in their hearts, the common folk still unconsciously held the Prince of Beiliang in too high regard. There might not be a hundred thousand, but at least ten thousand, playboy scions in Tai'an City who dallied with swords and knives—but which one of them possessed such ability? It seemed this white-haired young man from Beiliang was not someone to be easily trifled with.

While muttering amongst themselves, the common people also harbored their own calculations. They wondered if, in the future, they should be more reserved and accumulate good karma when joining in to criticize Beiliang. What if their words reached the ears of the Prince of Liang and his son? Wouldn't they be inviting disaster?

Chen Zhibao, clad in a vibrant red python robe, was regrettably not carrying his signature pole with plum wine. In the procession, the Emperor had specifically arranged for him to ride almost alone, giving him a solitary prominence. Women throughout the capital, from noble ladies to common maidens, whether unmarried or already wed, were utterly captivated by him.

Nearby, the six vassal kings of the imperial clan—Prince Yanchi Zhao Bing, Prince Guangling Zhao Yi, Prince Jiaodong Zhao Sui, Prince Huainan Zhao Ying, and Prince Jing'an Zhao Xun—found their splendor almost entirely overshadowed by Chen Zhibao alone.

The imperial princes, all clad in imperial yellow python robes, deliberately kept a distance from the white-haired prince who wore a conspicuous white python robe.

A young blind man, assisted by his maid Xinghua, came to the roadside. Instead of trying to push his way into the crowd, he quietly stood on the outer edge of the thick throng of onlookers. When Xu Fengnian rode past on the street, Xinghua gently prompted him. The blind man Lu Xu, who had traveled from Xiangfan City, "looked up" with a solemn expression. The ten games of Go they played face-to-face in Yongzi Lane, from noon until dusk, were unforgettable for a lifetime. Xinghua carefully reached out to shield this scholar, whom the old Prince Jing'an had instructed her to protect even at the cost of her own life. The old prince had only said he wanted him to live. She hoped that one day the new prince would not want him dead, and at the very least, he should not die by her hand. Xinghua and he shared an unspoken understanding, conversing freely. She gently asked, "Young Master, do you know the Prince of Beiliang?"

Lu Xu did not hide it and smiled, "I am blind, so I can hardly claim to have met him face-to-face. When I gambled at Go for a living in Yongzi Lane, I won quite a few copper coins from Prince Xu. Over ten games, I earned a total of one hundred and ten cash."

Xinghua laughed, "He plays Go too? And he wasn't utterly defeated by you, Young Master?"

Lu Xu shook his head, "His Go skills are quite remarkable, though he makes many illogical moves. I didn't win easily either."

After lingering for a moment, the master and servant were about to leave when Xinghua suddenly turned around, staring intently at an old scholar walking in the distance. A scholar whose true age was indistinguishable was not inherently frightening, but the hidden qi emanating from him made the trained assassin Xinghua feel as if she faced a formidable enemy, like a vast ocean surging towards her.

Lu Xu patted her arm, bowed, and asked, "Is that Master Yuan?"

The newcomer chuckled softly and indistinctly, "I am Yuan Pu, a junior compiler at the Hanlin Academy."

Lu Xu stood firm, his expression composed, showing no surprise, delight, or fear.

Yuan Pu, or rather Yuan Benxi, took a few steps closer. Ignoring Xinghua, who was like a tigress ready to pounce, he continued in his somewhat indistinct yet authentic Beijing accent, "Young Master Lu, you are truly underutilizing your talents by limiting yourself."

Lu Xu shook his head, "A new temple has a new atmosphere. No matter how small the temple, there won't be too few worshippers or too little incense. No matter how big an old temple is, it leaks when it rains and lets in wind. Even if you made me its abbot, I wouldn't want to go. Furthermore, old and large temples, regardless of their incense offerings, are destined to have many disputes. One wouldn't even know when they might be expelled from the temple. Moreover, although I, Lu Xu, am blind and cannot see people, I know my own capabilities and don't wish to become another member of the Song family."

Yuan Benxi seemed amused. Even with Nalan Youci, whose wisdom was comparable to his own, he didn't have such an inclination to speak. He said, "Young Master Lu, don't forget why the old master of the Song family died, and why the old temple of the Song family collapsed."

Lu Xu calmly replied, "Ordinary wealthy families harm their descendants with their riches. The Song family killed future generations with their scholarship; they deserved to die long ago. Furthermore, Master Yuan, don't forget who borrowed my blade to support the fledgling phoenix of the Song family."

Yuan Benxi smiled faintly in understanding, then sighed, "I selected over ten potential prime ministers, and Song Keli was the least conspicuous among them. This scheme, I fear, Nalan Youci himself would only conceive after leaving the capital."

Lu Xu shook his head again, "Master Nalan's schemes are not focused on the capital, nor even on the imperial court. He and Master Yuan each follow their own distinct paths, so naturally, he wouldn't spend much thought on these matters, and omissions are inevitable."

Yuan Benxi fell into contemplation.

Yuan Benxi slowly asked, "The Prince of Beiliang showed you the kindness of introduction. How will you respond?"

Lu Xu retorted, "To fulfill one's duties in one's position—is that not the fundamental principle of a strategist?"

Yuan Benxi chuckled, "If others spoke such high-sounding words, I wouldn't believe them at all. But coming from you, Lu Xu, I believe seven or eight parts of it."

Xinghua was merely a trained assassin confined to a corner of Xiangfan. Even if her intelligence was not low, she would never have imagined that the old scholar conversing with Young Master Lu was the chief strategist of the Liyang Dynasty, above ten thousand people and below only one. However unworldly she might be, Xinghua still knew of Nalan Youci's formidable reputation. Setting aside the rumors of Nalan's alleged homosexual relationship with Prince Yanchi, Nalan himself was undoubtedly a top-tier strategist of the Spring and Autumn period. Xinghua's current headache was how to explain the day's events to Prince Jing'an Zhao Xun, how to do so impartially, yet ensure that Young Master Lu would not incur the slightest suspicion from the new Prince Jing'an.

Yuan Benxi asked, "Why didn't you go to Beiliang?"

Lu Xu smiled, "I wanted to go, but Xu Fengnian didn't take me out of Yongzi Lane."

Yuan Benxi burst into laughter, then turned to Xinghua and directly revealed a name even Lu Xu hadn't known: "Liu Lingbao, you can report everything I discussed with Lu Xu truthfully to Zhao Xun. However, if you wish to live a few more years alongside your young master, do not mention this particular sentence."

Xinghua's face turned pale.

Yuan Benxi said, "Let us part here."

Lu Xu hesitated, then said to Xinghua, "Thank Master Yuan for bestowing a ten-year life-preserving talisman."

Xinghua was utterly confused, but still performed a respectful curtsy like a woman from an ordinary household.

Yuan Benxi waved his hand and turned to leave.

Xinghua's lips trembled as she softly asked, "Young Master, a life-preserving talisman? What does that mean?"

Lu Xu candidly explained, "Our Prince Jing'an is inherently suspicious. Before he rose to power, he could endure in silence, but once he achieves great influence, he will inevitably become complacent and settle old scores. Master Yuan, however, is someone he would never dare provoke, no matter how powerful he becomes. This gentleman's visit today was to bestow upon me a life-preserving talisman, and what he gives to me, he naturally gives to you as well."

Xinghua said with a pale face, "This sentence will also remain unspoken. Please rest assured, Young Master."

Lu Xu suddenly ruffled Xinghua's hair and softly chuckled, "Liu Lingbao, that name carries good fortune."

Xinghua suddenly beamed, "I'll take that as a good omen, Young Master."

Lu Xu "looked" around and murmured to himself, "Beiliang..."