Chapter 493: Dark Wind and Rain

As soon as Xu Xiao left, the miscellaneous generals, lieutenants, and commandants of Lingzhou gradually gathered outside a mansion. They submitted their calling cards and official requests to the general's gatekeeper, most of which were made from expensive gilded paper with gold writing. One could hardly expect these rough military men to possess any refined ancient style. On this street, the Grand Coordinator’s Residence usually had the most visitors and the highest threshold, but the bustling activity at the new residence of the Lingzhou General was astonishing.

Inside the mansion, Xu Fengnian was chatting with Xu Beizhi. Unexpectedly, after hearing that his request for an official position from Li Gongde was denied, Xu Beizhi was not surprised; instead, he remarked that it was only reasonable. Xu Fengnian couldn't tell if the man was praising his shrewdness or mocking his ineffective attempts at flaunting power. However, since Xu Beizhi, who was destined to become a provincial governor, wasn't anxious, Xu Fengnian decided to follow his lead and simply wait for news.

The mansion's steward, Zheng Fulu, was an old retainer from the Prince's Mansion in Qingliang Mountain, transferred to Lingzhou. Middle-aged and respectable-looking, he had previously handled all the money when the Crown Prince purchased poetry and essays, proving his reliability. Now, with a joyous expression, he scurried to the study door to report the commotion outside the mansion. He carried a large pouch of visiting cards, from which enough gold dust could be scraped off to afford a lavish meal at Lingzhou's Huqiu Tower without losing face. Xu Fengnian waved his hand at Zheng Fulu, saying, "Turn them all away. Tell them I'm not seeing anyone."

Zheng Fulu bowed in acknowledgment, not questioning or saying a word. He scurried back the way he came, announced that the Lingzhou General was not receiving visitors today, and then closed the main gate, leaving no side gate open. This clearly showed there was no room for compromise, making everyone completely give up hope. These unruly martial artists in Lingzhou, though rejected, didn't look particularly dejected or disappointed. They had merely come in groups with friends to join the commotion; who truly expected the Lingzhou General, who wouldn't hold his post for long, to help them gain promotions?

Ultimately, it was the identity of the Prince of Beiliang that forced them to humble themselves and brave this cold reception. Furthermore, in Beiliang official circles, there was an unwritten rule: Youzhou largely belonged to Yan Wenluan, while most of Lingzhou was considered Zhong Hongwu's private backyard. The two sides had always maintained a clear boundary. Most of these visitors were former subordinates of Grand General Huaihua, and some of Zhong Hongwu's most trusted confidants, who had received many favors from him, were even reluctant to show their faces. Powerful lieutenants under the deputy generals, for instance, gathered together by a stove to drink wine, tacitly complaining among themselves that the Prince was too ruthless. After disgracing old General Zhong, he still refused to back down, boldly coming to Lingzhou to further trample on the old general's already fallen reputation. They grumbled that no young man was so inconsiderate. Filled with righteous indignation, they spoke out against the injustice to the old general. One or two short-tempered lieutenants even slammed the table in anger, while others, more cunning, drank with impassive faces and grim, sharp eyes.

They wouldn't dare rebel against the Xu family even with a hundred times more courage. However, after years immersed in officialdom, they had learned many tricks. They could easily implement passive resistance and delays. Moreover, it wasn't just the military men sticking together; everyone present had some family ties with the civilian officials in Lingzhou. These seasoned bureaucrats, accustomed to working behind official desks, understood the unspoken rules. Without even a word of protest, the entire machinery of Lingzhou officialdom would grind to a halt. The crucial part was that no one could find fault with them: weren't these outsiders coming to Lingzhou to snatch their livelihoods? Taking someone's official position was far worse than the hatred of having one's beloved snatched away. The lieutenants whispered and deliberated, and when they left, sinister smiles played on their faces.

Beiliang had few aristocratic families, so most of its clerks came from humble backgrounds. These individuals were not lacking in intelligence and were naturally adept at scheming for advancement. If high-ranking officials were like formidable kings on stage, then these clerks were the more troublesome gatekeepers. Some highly skilled clerks could even undermine officials, manipulate the bureaucracy, and reduce their superiors to mere figureheads. When Zhang Julu governed the imperial court, one of his initiatives specifically targeted the malpractice of clerks, outright labeling it a disaster harmful to the nation. However, while Prime Minister Zhang was renowned for his governance, his efforts to regulate clerks showed no improvement, drawing criticism and ridicule from many important court ministers, especially those pillars of the court who had also risen from humble origins and chose to stand by and watch.

If a court dominated by scholars struggled so much, Beiliang would naturally find it even harder to escape this fate. With nearly a thousand scholars arriving in Beiliang, their influence, though not yet robust, inevitably clashed with Lingzhou's clerks, whose tentacles permeated every corner of officialdom. Consequently, Lingzhou, at the close of the year, quickly descended into chaos. Documents piled up, gangs engaged in street brawls, prisoners in jail killed each other, and government granaries either mysteriously caught fire or had grain rotting by several inches. All sorts of trivial matters sprang up like mushrooms after rain. Not only were the county magistrates overwhelmed and worried about not having a peaceful New Year, but even Grand Coordinator Li Gongde began to feel exhausted, with subordinates visiting daily to air their grievances. In contrast, Huangnan County stood out, with all its administrative affairs clear and orderly. Longqing County, however, was the complete opposite, in a particularly miserable state, riddled with problems from all sides. It was said that Governor Zhong Cheng, who personally attended to every matter, was so busy burning the midnight oil that he had already developed several gray hairs from worry.

Lingzhou's officialdom was in utter disarray, and the entrance to the Lingzhou General's Residence was deserted, a fitting sight for the depths of winter.

A carriage silently drove out of Lingzhou city, heading towards Huangnan County. The coachman wore a short jacket of yellow wolf fur, and his burly physique only made him appear more shabby. Few would have believed that this man was a deputy general of Lingzhou.

Inside the carriage, besides Xu Fengnian, there was also the maid Huyan Guanyin. For days, Xu Fengnian had been meticulously poring over the resumes of Lingzhou officials late into the night, making numerous annotations in red ink, and had paid little attention to this young woman who, if she had come to Beiliang earlier, would likely have topped the "Rouge Ratings" list. For this trip, it was only as Xu Fengnian crossed the threshold that he decided to have Zheng Fulu call her to accompany him out of the city. Perhaps due to being unaccustomed to the climate, Huyan Guanyin was less lively and spirited than when she was in distress on the grasslands. Her complexion was dim, and her initial vitality was gone. Xu Fengnian thought that upon returning to Lingzhou, he would send her to a safe and peaceful place if the opportunity arose, as it was better than her languishing and slowly wasting away in a grand mansion. Some women aren't truly cherished by being tightly held; rather, that's a waste. Originally, if Huyan Guanyin had adapted to Beiliang, Xu Fengnian wouldn't have minded keeping her by his side. Whether she was useful or not was irrelevant; simply having her around was pleasing to the eye.

Xu Fengnian wasn't idle during this carriage ride either. He held a document detailing the backgrounds of several key officials in Huangnan County. These densely written, delicate small script notes were the painstaking effort of the second-tier maids from Wutong Courtyard, who had worked through the night to compile them. Having lived with them for years, Xu Fengnian could tell at a glance which notes were by Lü Yi and which by Huang Gua.

Xu Fengnian rubbed his brow, put down the stack of letters, and reviewed them mentally. Then he lifted the curtain, and the crisp, cold air unique to Beiliang rushed in. Xu Fengnian kept the curtain open for a long time. After leaving the city, Huyan Guanyin had become drowsy. Curled up in a corner of the carriage, she couldn't fight off sleepiness and was lightly dozing. A gust of wind suddenly woke her. She subtly glanced at his profile, then bit her thin lips, which were so vividly red that one might mistake a slight pressure from her teeth would draw a few drops of blood.

Noticing her discomfort with the cold wind, Xu Fengnian quickly lowered the curtain and said with a gentle smile, "Last night I couldn't sleep, so I wandered around the mansion like a restless spirit. I saw a pot of impatiens by your window. It's long past its flowering season, so how is it still blooming in such freezing weather?"

Huyan Guanyin blinked and softly replied, "When this servant first arrived at the mansion, I saw a few flowers by the corner of the wall that didn't seem to be cultivated by the estate. So, I bravely transplanted one into a small pot. I didn't know it was called impatiens, nor did I know its flowering season."

Xu Fengnian nodded and smiled, "Ah, that flower is like the clerks in Beiliang who are causing me trouble right now—they're not of a high class. But don't let its delicate appearance fool you; it can grow anywhere, even in a barren place like Beiliang. In summer and autumn, women who can't afford makeup often use its flower juice to dye their fingernails; it's quite striking. Although scholars from Jiangnan, who admire famous chrysanthemums and peonies, dismiss it as a 'common plant' and even give it the harsh nickname 'chrysanthemum's maid,' I think regardless of whether it's a 'chrysanthemum's maid,' if it can be admired and dye fingernails, then it's serving its full purpose. I actually like it very much. We have many of them back home, growing everywhere and impossible to stop with other famous flowers and trees. But I've never seen it bloom in winter. It must be because no one bothers to pot it and bring it indoors. You've accidentally prolonged its flowering season. Oh, and impatiens are very hardy. My second sister nicknamed it 'Short-Tempered.' Under the blazing sun, a gust of wind, or even a pinch with your fingernail, will make its seeds shoot far away. When I was little, whenever I made my second sister angry, she would give me the silent treatment for days, not saying a word. I always used to flick the 'Short-Tempered' seeds at her face. I'd rather she turn on me and scold me than ignore me."

Seeing Huyan Guanyin staring intently at him, Xu Fengnian awkwardly said, "You haven't done anything wrong, so how could I bear to scold you? Besides, I simply have too many things on my hands right now, which is quite upsetting, but it's not that I don't want to pay attention to you. I can write the four characters 'control anger and self-reflect' quite well, almost as good as a famous calligrapher, but unfortunately, I've always been bad at actually doing it, often taking my anger out on others. You haven't seen me furious with my father. When I was young and foolish, if anything displeased me, I'd direct my anger at him, even chasing him with a broom for miles and miles. But looking back now, childish as it was, I don't feel too much regret. After all, he's my father, my closest relative, right? Besides, back then, his legs were still nimble, and he ran incredibly fast. Everyone else respectfully called him the King of Beiliang and the Grand General, but I insisted on calling him 'Runaway General.'"

Huyan Guanyin watched him grin, and her smile was surprisingly innocent, like a child's. She lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes.

Xu Fengnian saw her timidly withdraw and felt a bit self-deprecating. Did he look like a villain with "lecher" carved on his forehead? He remembered how her entire tribe on the grasslands regarded him as a deity. Had he revealed his true nature so quickly? Xu Fengnian pulled his thoughts back, lowered his head, and picked up the stack of letters on his lap, quickly focusing. He had given Grand Coordinator Li several days, and perhaps the sudden bleakness in Lingzhou's officialdom had kept "Uncle Li" busy with state affairs, temporarily preventing him from attending to Xu Beizhi's promotion.

Although it wasn't to his liking, Xu Fengnian was willing to bear with it a little longer. Back then, the Yan family had chosen a small path to flee Lingzhou overnight, and if he hadn't hinted to Xu Xiao, Yan Jiexu might not have left Beiliang so smoothly. Xu Fengnian warned himself never to be so soft-hearted again. Huangnan County was where Li Gongde had made his fortune. Although Li Gongde's reputation as an official was not good, he was skilled at recognizing and utilizing talent. While nepotism was natural for him, several of his protégés were considered competent officials in Beiliang. If not for these individuals helping him save face, Xu Xiao would not have been generous enough to make Li Gongde a Grand Coordinator, second only to himself, solely based on the long-standing friendship between the Xu and Li families.

Song Yan, the Governor of Huangnan County, was an outstanding example among them. Without prominent mentorship, he was self-taught, employing a combination of law, tactics, and influence. Had it not been for his frequent disagreements with Xu Xiao and his inability to get along with Li Gongde's other "lackeys" and offer mutual support, he would certainly not have been limited to being a mere county governor. The reason Li Gongde was genuinely concerned and anxious this time was precisely due to the unusual situation in Huangnan County. Normally, this would have been a shining administrative achievement, but with the newly appointed Lingzhou General bogged down in difficulties, wouldn't Huangnan County become a glaring anomaly, like a bird conspicuously flying out of the woods? While the Crown Prince was mired and making no progress, what business did you, Song Yan, have perched high on a branch? Even if you remained silent, observant individuals would find your success grating. Li Gongde felt for the Lingzhou Governor, and playing dumb was no great sin. His real fear was that, because of Huangnan County, he might incur the resentment of the Crown Prince, who was making his first public appearance in Beiliang.

Xu Fengnian exhaled, narrowed his eyes, and fell into thought. If all went as expected, Song Yan would certainly have received one or two earnest, secret letters from the Grand Coordinator, urging his protégé to quickly tarnish his own reputation.

His subordinates were too good at playing politics and being officials, to the point where they neglected their actual duties. What a headache! Now, with Zhong Hongwu as a cautionary example, no one would foolishly confront him, the Lingzhou General, head-on. Instead, they employed evasive, subtle tactics that were all the more disgusting. That Xu Beizhi wasn't very loyal either; after failing to secure the Lingzhou Governor position, he went back to Longqing County to watch the show.

A copper coin, no longer in circulation, slowly rolled between Xu Fengnian's fingers. Huyan Guanyin watched it intently, as it monotonously flipped back and forth, yet she seemed utterly fascinated. So engrossed was she that she didn't notice when Xu Fengnian looked up at her.

Xu Fengnian put away the copper coin that the Crown Prince of Yan Chi had returned to him and quietly said, "I need to go back to Liangzhou before New Year's Eve. You can leave Lingzhou with me then. Do you want to return to the Beimang grasslands, or would you like to see Jiangnan?"

Huyan Guanyin, as if only just realizing, asked, "With you?"

Xu Fengnian couldn't help but chuckle. "Of course, you'll be on your own. I won't be able to get away."

She blinked, then lowered her head again.

Xu Fengnian playfully tapped her head with a finger, chuckling exasperatedly, "The entire Lingzhou officialdom is conspiring against me. What, are you also learning to play dirty now? Do you believe I'd kick you out of this carriage?"

She looked up, but remained silent.

A thought suddenly struck Xu Fengnian. He paused, then quietly asked, "You just want me to talk to you?"

Huyan Guanyin's pretty face flushed crimson.

Xu Fengnian burst out laughing, then reached out and gently pinched her delicate, flawless cheek. He said helplessly, "Should I call you silly or foolish? You're such a quiet person, so naturally, I thought you weren't happy by my side, which is why I thought of sending you to a place where you could be cheerful. You know, on the grasslands, you dared to willingly enter the tiger's den, riding on me and acting wild. But look at you now, so lifeless."

She hesitated, too shy to speak. Xu Fengnian sighed, then had her sit sideways on his lap, one arm wrapped around her rounded shoulder, his chin resting on her head, and continued to flip through the letters.

This is what they call a sage's composure amidst temptation.

It would be an outrage if I can't become a land immortal in this life.

The woman, seated sideways, leaned forward, her chest pressing against one of his arms.

At first, Xu Fengnian didn't pay much attention, assuming she was just uncomfortable. But as his arm increasingly felt her restless, graceful curves, he quickly became self-aware, realizing it might not be so strange if he couldn't become a land immortal after all.

Xu Fengnian placed the stack of letters on the ground, picking up just one. His other hand slipped into her collar, and, through only a thin layer of satin, he grasped something smooth and full, his fingers sinking slightly.

Huyan Guanyin tilted her head back, resting it on the arm that held the letter. Her eyes, like silken threads, looked up at him, bewildered, as she let out a soft, delicate hum from her nose.

Xu Fengnian maintained an appallingly sanctimonious and composed facade.

The naive young woman bit down on a slender finger to keep from making a sound.

This natural allure was utterly captivating.

Xu Fengnian looked down, asking himself, "Perhaps I shouldn't aim to be a land immortal today?"