Chapter 480: White Dragon Fish Attire

**Beacon Fires for the Feudal Lords**

Zhou Qin Hu somehow noticed two unfamiliar faces at the stern of the boat. They seemed to be old acquaintances of that person, so he requested two pots of warm rice wine to be brought over. Lin Hongyuan smiled, took them with both hands, and thanked him. Xu Fengnian and Zhao Zhu, who should have been complete strangers, each took a pot. They sat on the deck, leaning against the side of the boat, slowly drinking. Even with her current status as an attendant official from the Dragon Palace, Lin Hongyuan could have easily secured a seat on a Type B pleasure boat. However, since her master did not give permission, she dared not act on her own initiative. In the Southern Kingdom, which boasts the largest territory among Liyang's various vassal kings, Prince Zhao Zhu was particularly well-regarded among the common folk. He traveled incognito, once working as a wine seller on the border for half a year. Probably no one, except King Yan Chi and Mr. Nalan, knew his true intentions. At this moment, Zhao Zhu drank, his expression somewhat melancholic. After waiting for a long time, he still didn't hear the person next to him speak. He awkwardly said, "Over the years, I've imagined countless reunion scenarios. Would we cry together, hugging each other? Or would we walk arm-in-arm, discussing the world? But I never expected you, of all people, to be so ungracious."

Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "We're not that close." Zhao Zhu took a gulp of wine, slurping, and said nothing more. Perhaps only Hong Chou, the proprietress of the Jiujiu Inn in the capital, a woman who dared to threaten poisoning and glare angrily at the Zhao family emperor, knew that Dantong Pass once imprisoned a mother and child. Inside the pass, there was a restriction every ten steps, not to mention hundreds of iron cavalry patrolling outside all night. Most of the city's residents were military families. At that time, Xu Fengnian met a little beggar who was clamoring to learn swordsmanship. He was two or three years older than Xu Fengnian, but Xu Fengnian was precocious even as a child. In their interactions, it was Xu Fengnian who often lectured. It was hard for Xu Fengnian to find a peer he could talk to in Dantong Pass, and this person, despite a cold exterior, had a warm heart. Looking back at that prison from years ago, he realized that besides him, the Prince of Beiliang, there were actually several legitimate sons of other vassal kings. Liu Ying, the King of Huainan, whose eldest son died prematurely after leaving Dantong Pass, was one of them. At that time, Liyang already controlled the entire north. The court knew full well about the late emperor's decision to move south, but the pillars of the court, led by Zhang Julu's mentor, were divided into two factions. They began to dispute whether to first detour and pacify Western Shu or to march directly south to conquer Great Chu. The former option was more common, representing a conservative view, as Great Chu was powerful and difficult to defeat, its military morale stable. Confucian generals like Cao Changqing, who had shown their prowess, even intended to march north and fight outside Great Chu's borders. Therefore, many in the Liyang court hoped to delay the final battle for supremacy, believing that Liyang would have a greater chance of victory then, to avoid falling short. Otherwise, it might lead to a north-south divide lasting an entire generation. However, among the imperial princes—Zhao Bing, Zhao Ying, and Zhao Sui—along with meritorious generals including Xu Xiao and Gu Jiantang, none approved of this method. They advocated for using the nation's full strength to achieve a decisive victory. The debates in the main hall were heated, with scholars unable to reason with soldiers. The old emperor ultimately sided with Xu Xiao, making the final decision. The old Grand Tutor was so enraged after leaving the hall that he tried to headbutt Xu Xiao, a testament to the subtle tensions of that time. Although Xu Xiao won the verbal argument in court, most of these imperial princes and military generals secretly left hostages in Dantong Pass. Xu Fengnian never imagined that the little beggar would turn out to be the current Prince Zhao Zhu. No wonder after returning to Beiliang, when Xu Xiao chatted with Xu Fengnian and Li Yishan, he was sarcastic about the other vassal kings but always spoke highly and with genuine praise of Zhao Bing.

While it was quiet and taciturn here, the cabin was far more lively and festive. Even Xu Zhan, who was relatively reserved, couldn't resist the successive toasts, his face flushed with a pleasant tipsiness. Their conversation with Feng Maolin and the three couples was as spirited as wine bubbling on a stove. Feng Maolin was a typical man from the northern lands, rough in speech but with an underlying shrewdness. He told risqué jokes just enough to warm the atmosphere without offending the three attractive women present. The man from the old Southern Tang gentry, surnamed Jiang, who originally prided himself on his noble status, now also opened up, speaking volubly. And the Two Huai heroes, who were close to Xu Zhan, facilitated the conversation, finding topics for Xu Zhan, ensuring no one felt left out. Ever since the Jianghu gained widespread recognition, those martial artists not recruited by the imperial court believed that Jianghu and the court were distinct entities. They kept to themselves and privately avoided discussing state affairs. When they gathered, their conversations revolved around recent Jianghu events. This particular banquet touched upon the contemporary Sword Crown of the Wu Family Sword Tomb, the mysterious rise and disappearance of Wen Busheng in the capital, the enigmatic Hanging Sword of Wudi City, and how the Prince of Beiliang, without warning, changed his appearance and suddenly became a formidable master not to be underestimated. The Xu family of Beiliang originated in Liangliao. It was only after the imperial court repeatedly dispatched high-ranking officials and important ministers to Liangliao that they finally managed to eradicate the remnants of Beiliang. With the alcohol flowing, this group spoke much more freely. Feng Maolin, in particular, took the opportunity to discuss many secrets, carefully weaving in mentions of the Feng family's close relationship with the Xu family in the past. He noted that some of their ancestors had once fought alongside the then-unestablished King of Beiliang, and that the King of Beiliang had even almost stayed at the Feng family's home on one occasion. The implication was that the Feng family also had connections to "Xu the Butcher." As he spoke of this, Feng Maolin made no attempt to hide the arrogance on his face. The Old Southern Tang gentry, surnamed Jiang, held no great ill will towards the King of Beiliang. After all, Southern Tang had been annihilated by Gu Jiantang, who had now been honored with the title of Grand Pillar of the State. When speaking of that old man who made the whole world tremble, they too felt deep fear. Towards the end, Feng Maolin carelessly wiped the wine from his mouth with his sleeve and joked that the Xu family's ancestral graves were in Liaodong. If, in the future, Prince Xu were to inherit the title of King of Beiliang, he would undoubtedly return home in glory to honor his ancestors. At that time, Feng Maolin vowed he would shamelessly go to pay his respects. As for whether the new King of Beiliang would grant him an audience, that would be up to fate.

Feng Maolin could never have imagined that his own son had recently given that fellow a solid kick by the lake. As they neared the lake's dueling platform, the group rose and went to the outer corridor to enjoy the view, hoping the winter wind from the lake would dissipate the alcohol from their bodies. Suddenly, Feng Maolin's eyes widened in fury. That good-for-nothing, who had only been allowed on board out of consideration for Xu Zhan, now had another useless fellow of the same ilk by his side. And this person had dared to kick his beloved son, even uttering the outrageous words, "If your old man doesn't teach you, I will." The kick had used skill; Feng Maolin's child seemed to fly high, but was actually not seriously injured in his vital organs or meridians. It was just that being witnessed like that was a tremendous loss of face. Deng Maolin's wife lunged forward and caught the child, her face pale with rage, her ample bosom trembling with indignation. The hot-tempered Deng Maolin wasn't idle either; he strode out, pulled out a soft whip, and lashed it at the young man, who was crude in both dress and speech. Lin Hongyuan, who could gain no advantage against the cunning Xu Fengnian and was as docile as a housecat in front of the powerful Zhao Zhu, was completely uninhibited in front of outsiders, like a different person. She moved nimbly, darting sideways, grabbed the soft whip with one hand, pulled it forward, punched Feng Maolin in the forehead, then kicked the Liaodong hero in the chest. Not stopping there, she moved in close, leaped high, delivered a brutal knee strike to Feng Maolin's chin, and then spun with a sweeping kick. Feng Maolin, unable to retaliate, fell towards the lake. Fortunately, the gentry member surnamed Jiang rushed out and barely caught his friend near the railing, preventing Feng Maolin from taking a bath in the icy cold water of Spring God Lake.

Zhao Zhu, with a clear hint of "the wicked filing the first complaint," sneered, "This brat came up to me, spewing curses. When he couldn't win the argument, he started punching and kicking me. If I were his long-lost biological father, I might have tolerated it." Feng Maolin was too busy vomiting blood to speak. The alluring woman holding the child angrily retorted, "What great skill! Attacking a child! Why don't you, you bastard, go become the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and show this old woman?!" The reason she suppressed her hatred and didn't attack was not due to her excellent self-control, but because the green-robed attendant with the tablet had acted with such ferocity that it struck fear into people's hearts.

Zhao Zhu held the wine pot by his finger, gently spinning it, and chuckled, "You want to be my old lady? Why don't you go ask my dad and see if he has the guts to agree?" The child looked very frightened. As he lowered his head, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes. He whimpered, "This bastard is talking nonsense. He said he fought an intimate battle with my mother for eight hundred rounds last night, ending in a draw, and he wants to fight again on the bed tonight." All three women, united in their hatred, glared intently at the debauched scoundrel.

Lin Hongyuan smiled. This child was truly remarkable, knowing about "intimate battles" at such a young age. And the timing for adding fuel to the fire was impeccable. The Prince never said such things, but in the current situation, even if he denied it, who would believe him? Zhao Zhu glanced sideways at Deng Maolin's wife and rolled his eyes, saying, "I only do that kind of thing with women of your caliber in the dark. Once dawn broke, I realized I'd made a huge mistake, and my mood to pay dozens of taels in prostitution fees vanished."

The man surnamed Jiang suddenly shivered, looking at Lin Hongyuan. He vividly remembered the ivory-white tablet she held in her hand, and his voice trembled as he asked, "Young lady, are you from our Southern Kingdom's Dragon Palace? Are you a Cai Li official or a Yu Du official?" Lin Hongyuan sneered, "Oh, I've met a fellow countryman. Since you know I'm from the Dragon Palace, why don't you get lost and cool down somewhere?" The plump woman holding the child cried out in grief and indignation, "Can people from the Dragon Palace run wild and lawless at KuaiXue Mountain Villa? I'm getting off this boat right now to find Yu Chi Liangfu and appeal to him! I don't believe the Villa Master will favor your Dragon Palace!"

Zhao Zhu extended a palm, his face wearing a thuggish grin, and said, "Noble heroes and heroines, relax. I am not from the Dragon Palace, nor do I know anyone named Ji Liuan, Cheng Baishuang, or Lin Hongyuan." The man surnamed Jiang almost spat blood. Ji Liuan was the Dragon Palace Master, Cheng Baishuang was its chief guest elder and one of the top experts in the Southern Kingdom, whose skill could be counted on one hand. Lin Hongyuan had always been known as the "Little Palace Mistress Lin." Any one of them was an unapproachable great figure. The Jiang family would barely have time to burn incense and worship them; where would they find the courage to provoke them? This perverse fellow kept saying he didn't know them, yet he rattled off a whole string of names so fluently, despite claiming not to know them. When important figures from the Dragon Palace traveled, attendant officials carrying tablets would clear the way. Moreover, this woman's accent was familiar, which made Mr. Jiang realize the situation belatedly. He had no choice but to warn the Feng couple not to overestimate themselves. Not only would they lose face, but it would also cause his family to face repercussions later, suppressed and ostracized until they could no longer establish themselves in Southern Tang. Who didn't know that the Dragon Palace was considered Mr. Nalan's favored "maidservant"? If word reached the ears of the god-like Mr. Nalan, a mere spit from him would be enough to drown their entire family.

Zhao Zhu pointed at the child in the woman's arms. "You want to go to Yu Chi Liangfu for justice? No problem. Leave this little brat here. Later, we'll throw his corpse in front of Yu Chi Liangfu, and then you'll definitely have a case, even if you don't."

Xu Fengnian spoke up, "That's enough."

The stern immediately fell silent. Zhao Zhu obediently drank his wine, Lin Hongyuan remained silent, and Feng Maolin, recognizing the situation and weighing the pros and cons, chose to silently endure the bitterness. He broke free from his friend's support, stumbled back into the cabin, and began circulating his vital energy according to his ancestral cultivation method, expelling the old and absorbing the new.

Xu Fengnian asked, "Zhao Zhu, how did you become a beggar back then? I remember that although the few dragon princes and descendants lived in fear, they at least had enough to eat and wear." Zhao Zhu tossed the empty wine pot into the lake, rubbed his cheeks, and chuckled, "It's a long story. Anyway, I'm sure my younger brothers privately wonder why I, their elder brother, didn't starve to death in Dantong Pass back then."

Every family has its own troubles; once you remember them, they are both awkward to speak of and heart-wrenching.

Lin Hongyuan stood at a distance, relieved. Since this Xu fellow was an old acquaintance of the Prince, and crucially, anyone with eyes could see it was a genuine and solid friendship, not mere pretense, then teaching or not teaching Xu the Dragon Palace's generations-old secret technique of stone rubbing became unimportant. There was no need to worry about being caught with leverage later. However, Lin Hongyuan also felt a quiet disappointment. It seemed she could never hope to have him at her complete mercy this lifetime.

Xu Fengnian turned to look at the fellow who wasn't properly enjoying his power and prestige in the Southern Kingdom. "Are you so bored you came to be Lin Hongyuan's litter-bearer?" Zhao Zhu leaned lazily on the railing. "I haven't spent much time in the jianghu, and I'll have even less opportunity in the future. As for doing odd jobs for Lin Hongyuan, consider it me learning your ways of cherishing and protecting women. I can't just go around swaggering, saying 'I'm Zhao Zhu, heroes of the jianghu, come kill me if you dare, come kill me!'"

Xu Fengnian smiled knowingly. "I can certainly relate to that."

Zhao Zhu said softly, "I originally wanted to secretly make a trip to Beiliang, intending to offer three sticks of incense at my aunt's grave, no matter what. My father also agreed, saying he'd send his share. But it seems I won't be able to go. As you know, the restoration of Western Chu is imminent, and my father temporarily plans for me to lead eight thousand elite cavalry north to take advantage of the chaos. If you had arrived two days later, we would have missed each other."

Xu Fengnian said self-deprecatingly, "Things are going to get turbulent again. I just don't understand why Cao Changqing insists on restoring his kingdom."

Zhao Zhu looked into the distance and said calmly, "It's not strange. Just as the world doesn't understand why our Zhao family makes things so difficult for your Xu family, yet Uncle Xu still refuses to rebel against Liyang and defect to Beiman."

Xu Fengnian smiled. "Leaving aside surrendering to Beiman, and how many of those three hundred thousand iron cavalry could even be brought along, one still needs to have some bottom lines as a person."

Zhao Zhu turned and leaned against the railing, asking, "Xiaonian, do you know what I admire most about Uncle Xu?" Xu Fengnian handed the wine pot, which he had only drunk a small portion of, to Zhao Zhu. Zhao Zhu tilted his head back, took a large gulp, then tossed it to Lin Hongyuan.

Xu Fengnian said, "Is it that he didn't divide the land by the river and establish his own rule?" Zhao Zhu hummed heavily, sighing, "After I started commanding troops on my own, I often rehearsed battle scenarios with Mr. Nalan. Every time I, as Uncle Xu's side, adopted the strategy of dividing the land by the river and proclaiming myself emperor, it invariably ended in utter defeat. At first, I thought my calculations weren't meticulous enough, but even last year, I still lost. Only then did I admit that no matter how unparalleled Uncle Xu's iron cavalry was in combat strength, the reason for their defeat was that they were ultimately just an isolated army, isolated scholars, isolated popular sentiment, and isolated legitimacy. Once he proclaimed himself emperor, his military morale would also become isolated. If he didn't proclaim himself emperor, it would cool the hearts of many soldiers. Once he proclaimed himself emperor, it wouldn't be obvious at first, but as soon as the overwhelming momentum vanished, the decline would quickly become evident. When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down; there would be no hope of a resurgence. Mr. Nalan once said that for a commoner to ascend to the throne, it would only be possible after the common class had truly grown accustomed to holding power, which would require at least another three to four hundred years. Uncle Xu was born at the wrong time; otherwise, I'd be chatting with the Crown Prince right now."

Xu Fengnian fell into deep thought.

Zhao Zhu suddenly chuckled and asked, "Xiaonian, how did you become an unflappable mud Buddha? Is it because Beiliang is too cold?"

Xu Fengnian calmly said, "Back then, when Xu Xiao gathered a force and set out from Liaodong, he couldn't do it without money. So he went to many people to borrow silver. Many felt this money shouldn't be lent, that it would surely be wasted, and simply turned him away. Only the Feng family and two other families, who were rather thin-skinned at the time, couldn't withstand Xu Xiao's persistent pestering. Together, they 'donated' over sixty taels of silver. Although Xu Xiao secretly repaid them several substantial favors after he became famous, he still often mentioned those few dozen taels to me, saying they were more important than any ten thousand taels of gold he acquired later. If not for that paltry bit of silver, he almost wouldn't have had the resolve to leave Liaodong back then."

Zhao Zhu nodded, sighing, "I understand."