Chapter 517: How Can a Man Not Care for His Child

Chapter 518: With Someone Chatting 123

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He Xinliang

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*Sword Snow Stride*, Author: Fenghuo Xizhu Hou

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He Xinliang

Fenghuo Xizhu Hou

When Xu Fengnian returned to the residence, he did not climb over the wall again. This greatly disappointed Song Huangmei, who had been anxiously waiting at the base of the wall. Much later, she learned from the steward of the Governor-General’s mansion that His Royal Highness had walked out of the residence step by step. Miss Song exclaimed and rushed out of the Li residence. The steward, observing this, muttered to himself with some disdain, "This Miss Song is too impetuous. She's miles away from our own young lady, who is quiet and virtuous." The steward then started to indulge in wild fantasies. Everyone in Beiliang knew that the young master from Hanlin Academy and His Royal Highness had grown up like brothers. If the young lady could become the future Princess of Beiliang, tsk tsk, coupled with the fact that the Master was already the Governor-General, wouldn't the Li family then be the undisputed greatest noble clan in Beiliang? The old steward shook his head. "Alas, it's a pity that our young lady is associating with that low-born fellow, Guo De. It’s like a peony flower stuck in cow dung."

Xu Fengnian lay on a long bench in the pavilion, gazing up at the low-hanging, brilliant starry sky, pretending not to notice the girl who had stealthily slipped into the pavilion. The girl was indeed tenacious and resilient. She endured patiently, gritting her teeth and bearing the cold for half an hour without making a sound.

Xu Fengnian sat up and asked with a smile, "Miss Song, are you looking for me?"

Song Huangmei, who was huddled beside a pavilion pillar to escape the cold, was startled. Her not-so-beautiful face flushed, and she lowered her head, nervously fumbling with the corner of her clothes, no longer displaying the heroic demeanor she had shown when she drew her sword to stop him at the Prefect of Huangnan’s residence. Xu Fengnian didn't let her feel embarrassed and proactively asked, "How many years have you been practicing swordplay? Would you like me to teach you a few easy-to-learn sword moves?"

After Xu Fengnian asked, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The girl just stared at him blankly, mumbling to herself, seemingly saying that His Royal Highness's eyes were more attractive than someone else's, but she still only liked that other person.

Xu Fengnian coughed loudly. Song Huangmei plopped down on another bench, wrapping her arms around her shoulders to brave the cold. She quickly reverted to her straightforward nature and said with a playful smile, "Your Royal Highness, I know you're a master and a good person. I have someone I like, an outer disciple of a gang in Huangnan Commandery named Dou Yangguan. His greatest wish in life is to wear a Beiliang saber and marry me. But my father doesn't seem to like him very much. Could Your Royal Highness be merciful and casually bestow a saber upon Dou Yangguan? My father will surely not object then!"

Xu Fengnian knew that the girl was certainly unaware that Lotus Pond had been virtually wiped out and removed from the Jianghu of Lingzhou. However, intelligence reports had indeed mentioned a young man named Dou Yangguan who had escaped, and he was the lover of Song Huangmei, Song Yan's daughter. Not only that, but Dou Yangguan's entire ancestry had been thoroughly investigated. Xu Fengnian had made a note at the time for the Eagle Riders to cease their pursuit of this person. An outer disciple who had only joined Lotus Pond a few days ago was someone who could be killed or spared. Since he had this connection to the Song family, he might as well be considered a gift for Prefect Song's promotion to Vice Prefect of Lingzhou.

As for whether that young man would resent Beiliang or vow revenge for his sect after escaping, Xu Fengnian didn't care. In the entire Jianghu of Liyang, few could, like that young master who wielded a folding fan, have the ability and potential to fight their way to Xu Fengnian's presence. Most people would die without ever seeing His Royal Highness. If that person could stand out and make Xu Fengnian see his name in intelligence reports again, he wouldn't even mind letting him know that Zhang Ce of Lotus Pond was a Beiliang spy. Then, he would send him to the border for some tempering. Since he wanted to handle a saber, after joining the army, he could handle it until he was sick of it. However, human hearts are unpredictable. Heaven knew what path this young man named Dou would choose. As for whether Dou Yangguan and Song Huangmei could eventually be together, that was even less of Xu Fengnian's concern. He neither wanted nor could afford to care. In current Beiliang, perhaps His Royal Highness's time was the most valuable commodity.

Xu Fengnian withdrew his thoughts and smiled, "Private individuals are not allowed to carry Beiliang sabers. Besides, with your father's discerning eye, do you think he wouldn't be able to tell if Dou Yangguan's saber was real or fake?"

Song Huangmei, with her naturally content and optimistic nature, simply looked enlightened upon hearing His Royal Highness's words, said "Oh," and did not press the matter further. In fact, if it were a more worldly woman, given the chance to be alone with His Royal Highness, she would surely go all out to make herself look dazzling. If she "caught" His Royal Highness, she would rather secure him than let him go, or she would seize the opportunity, using her female status to relentlessly pester His Royal Highness for promises. This was probably why Xu Fengnian was willing to chat casually with her for a few moments.

Song Huangmei didn't disturb His Royal Highness, but she also didn't leave. She sat on the long bench, leaning lazily against a pillar, gazing up at the starry sky. Xu Fengnian, being experienced, knew that the girl was likely missing the Jianghu youth named Dou. He lay down again, closed his eyes to rest, and meticulously planned the conclusion of affairs in Lingzhou. The officialdom of Lingzhou, originally far more complex than that of You and Liang prefectures, had, after Governor-General Li Gongde's declaration, finally been somewhat opened up, thanks to Xu Beizhi's abilities, even with some lingering constraints. It was almost time for him to leave. He couldn't keep occupying the position of Lingzhou General like a cuckoo in another's nest. However, if he were truly to leave, he first had to deal with the audacious young master who dared to infiltrate Beiliang.

Xu Fengnian, who had been feigning sleep, noticed Song Huangmei quietly getting up and tiptoeing away. He smiled softly. Once she was far away, he snapped his fingers and said to the silently appearing Dead Soldier Yin, "Inform the Lingzhou Peregrines to make some arrangements to temper Dou Yangguan. If he's too unyielding, smooth out his rough edges. If he's already dejected, let him meet a noble person so he doesn't lose his spirit too early."

Dead Soldier Yin was about to leave when he suddenly heard His Royal Highness ask with a smile, "Or perhaps I should go meet that Peach Blossom Fan myself?"

During the chaotic Spring and Autumn period, many people fled afar to escape disaster and seek refuge. To settle down and establish roots, they didn't hesitate to change their names, so much so that when the imperial court established a national genealogy, it discovered a sudden proliferation of new, ambiguous surnames ending in "shi." However, it was rare for someone like this Dead Soldier by His Royal Highness's side to not even have a name. This man, who seemed to have neither a past nor a future, as always, didn't utter a single extra word. Xu Fengnian waved his hand, and Dead Soldier Yin vanished in a flash.

Xu Fengnian, still sleepless, strolled along the path, counting the lanterns along the way. He was wondering if the imperial court would agree to Wang Luting taking over as the Director of Gold Thread Weaving after Li Xifeng's resignation. Because once this position was opened up, while it might be fine for Prince Huainan, Zhao Ying, and Prince Jing'an, Zhao Xun, the powerful Prince Yan Chi and the arrogant Prince Guangling would probably be happy to leverage Beiliang's influence to remove the Imperial Textile Bureau, which was a thorn in their side. Thinking of this, Xu Fengnian smiled, "What 'thorn in the flesh'? 'Thorn in the eye' is more accurate."

Walking to the north side of the official residence, facing the lake, he was surprised to find Song Yan, who had just become the Vice Prefect of Lingzhou, sitting on a large rock by the lake. This rock was a significant piece, transported from Spring God Lake to Beiliang. Renowned scholars across Liyang who feigned elegance held a special fondness for the massive stones retrieved from Spring God Lake. Besides, even an ordinary stone, weighing thousands of pounds and transported hundreds or thousands of miles, would become valuable simply due to the effort.

Song Yan looked relaxed, one leg stretched out, the other bent at the knee, as he steadily drank Jiannanchun Shao, a liquor said to burn through intestines and organs after just half a catty. Only when Xu Fengnian approached the large rock did Master Song come back to his senses. As he was about to stand up to salute, His Royal Highness had already sat down cross-legged, making it awkward for Song Yan to stand up again. Song Yan, having a good grasp of the Lingzhou General's temperament, did not bother with formalities. He shook the yellow clay wine jar and simply smiled, "Your Royal Highness, it's empty."

Xu Fengnian laughed, "What do you mean 'empty'? There are clearly two big sips left. If you're reluctant to share, just say so."

Song Yan was also honest, laughing heartily, "I really am reluctant! This jar of wine was buried underground for seven or eight years. Back then, I put three jars down. After Master Li became the Governor-General, he drank one. This trip to Lingzhou, knowing I was about to get promoted and make a fortune, plus having to leave Huangnan Commandery, I thought about bringing the remaining two jars. Even though it pained me, I wanted to give one to Your Royal Highness. Unexpectedly, when I checked the backyard, only this jar in my hand was left. With a moment's thought, I knew it was my ungrateful daughter who stole it to give to someone else. It gave this humble official several more gray hairs from worry. Alas, a grown daughter can't be kept at home forever; it's the same for every family. Your Royal Highness, please don't blame me."

Xu Fengnian joked, "Master Song has already taken all the moral high ground. What more can this prince say?"

Song Yan sighed emotionally, "Your Royal Highness has not had an easy time these past few years."

Xu Fengnian was silent for a moment. After Vice Prefect Song tilted his head back and drank a large gulp of wine, he chuckled softly, "You might not believe it, but I've met Zhao Huainan, the Great King of the Northern Court, in Beimang, and also had an audience with the Emperor in the capital. Both trips involved many twists and turns. However, the most aggrieved I ever felt was during my very first clumsy runaway from home. In Hezhou, I encountered a rich young man holding a privately bought Beiliang saber upside down. That fellow actually managed to hit a large bump on my head. If that had happened in Beiliang back then, I would have set dogs on such a character long ago. It was then I realized the vast difference between having Xu Xiao, my father, by my side and not. As for suffering some losses later, I suppose I've gotten used to being treated like a rat crossing the street, so it's no longer hard to let go. If you ask what was the bitterest suffering, the hardest to endure was the saber practice before ascending Wudang Mountain. At that time, I found some desperate characters to serve as my practice dummies. I was cut by a bandit leader's saber, and the pain of flesh tearing open was so intense that I almost rolled on the ground. I didn't even dare to look down at the wound then. When the scab peeled off, I told myself to stop practicing saber. Fortunately, I gritted my teeth and persevered. After that, I've never forgotten it. Even though I've had many near-death experiences and truly suffered between life and death in recent years, I still feel that none of them left as deep an impression as that single saber cut."

Song Yan was stunned. He lifted the wine jar, sighed, and said, "This humble official has never been afraid of the schemes and tricks in officialdom. However, if someone truly held a knife to my throat and I had to watch myself bleed, nine times out of ten, I wouldn't care about a scholar's integrity anymore. 'Powerless to even truss a chicken' perfectly describes scholars like this Song Yan."

Xu Fengnian quipped, "No man is truly powerless to truss a chicken. Some courtesans, for instance, are exceptionally skilled at 'trussing chickens'."

Song Yan spat out a mouthful of wine. He looked down at his crotch and laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes, completely forgetting the waste of the last sip of Jiannanchun Shao.

After laughing, Song Yan turned to look at His Royal Highness. "Seven, eight, or nine out of ten things in life are unsatisfactory – such bitterness."

Xu Fengnian looked at the lake and smiled serenely, "But ultimately, one can still speak of one, two, or three things to others – that is fortunate."

Song Yan remained silent.

Xu Fengnian said, "Song Yan, go bury three more jars of wine. Seven or eight years from now, if we're both still alive, you give me one jar. I will repay you with a high-ranking regional official position, no less than a Governor-General."

Hide Replies:[Posted on: 2014-01-09 00:22]"Too long; didn't read. Can I give you fifteen characters and you reply to me with fifteen characters, okay?"[Posted on: 2014-01-09 00:22]"Done."[Posted on: 2014-01-09 00:22]"Interrupted."[Posted on: 2014-01-09 00:22]

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