Logo
Home

Chapter 52: White Horse Leaves Liangzhou

Beacon Fires and Feudal Lords

Li Hanlin grumbled, "That unprincipled Yan Chi Ji, running off to the capital with his father and sister just to stir up trouble, he deserves his sister being taken fancy to by that deranged Sixth Prince. Feng Ge'er, you've always been a kind-hearted person, please, Feng Ge'er, haven't I been serving you tea and water every day? I heard you're going traveling, and this time I even stole all my father's hidden money. If I go back, he'll probably break my leg."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Your father would dare hit you? Who'd believe that? Every time he's been angry with you, hasn't he gone to whip an out-of-favor concubine instead? How many have died because of you?"

Li Hanlin pulled a long face and remained silent, feeling so depressed he wanted to drown himself in the lake.

Xu Fengnian patted his shoulder reassuringly, "To be honest, it might have been appropriate to bring you along last time, but this time it's really not. Let me tell you who Xu Xiao has arranged to be by my side this trip: there are four overt masters, plus a hundred elite armored cavalry led by a General of the Martial Code. Not to mention the covert assassins and anti-assassination deathsworn, and there’s even a top-tier master closely watching me. Do you think they're all just coming with me for a spring outing? Last time, at least, we sneaked out, but this time it's openly. Have you forgotten what happened to Kong Wuchi when he was severely injured years ago? You're the sole heir in your family, so don't get involved in this mess. If you're truly idle, I'll have Xu Xiao get you a seventh-rank Commander of the Winged Guard in the Northern Liang Army. Play around for two or three years; charge into battle is out of the question. Just treat it as a trip to admire the scenery at the border. When you return to Fengzhou, you can lead your own troops. That way, your father will also be at ease."

Li Hanlin remained glumly silent.

Xu Fengnian loosened the reins and patted the neck of the divine steed, whose coat was like white frost. This horse was the King of Wild Horses, captured by the Grand Marshal last year from the border. It took half a year to tame before it would accept a bridle and saddle, and this time, upon returning to the mansion, he brought it to his most doted-upon son. Xu Fengnian sat by the lake, and after Li Hanlin sat beside him, he picked up a pebble and tossed it into Luosi Lake, saying softly, "Hanlin, don't always be so childish. Your father had you late in life and will soon be old. If you don't mature soon, will the burden of the family still fall on your sister?"

Li Hanlin sighed, "Feng Ge'er, you've changed. My sister used to hate you the most, but if you were like this now, she might like you. But I don't like it! Who will I play with then?"

Xu Fengnian consistently tossed the pebbles into the same spot in the lake and chuckled, "Your sister is much prettier than Yan Dongwu, but also much dumber. I know she's already set her heart on someone. I was just teasing her before; sooner or later, she'll discover that the one she likes is actually a good-for-nothing, while the good-for-nothing she dislikes might actually turn out to be a bit more promising. As for who you'll play with later, it's simple: quickly marry a virtuous wife and play with her. Play enough, and you'll have children."

Li Hanlin scratched his head, "Having children is fine, but only sons. Isn't having daughters just a lot of worry and trouble? When they grow up, they can't escape being..." He trailed off.

Was his second sister, Xu Weixiong, studying the strategies of kings and hegemons and the art of political maneuvering at Shangyin Academy to suppress the formidable Chen Zhibao? Or was it to secretly win over a potential force in that scholars' holy land?

Why didn't Xu Xiao annihilate Yan Jiexu's entire family when he clearly could have? Was it truly just because Yan, the bookworm, was his close friend?

Xu Fengnian dropped the leaf and gazed at the tombstone, the Embroidered Winter and Spring Thunder blades resting on his lap. He said softly, "Mother, Xu Xiao may not have avenged your death, but Fengnian still remembers."

That year, as spring blossomed, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Xu Fengnian rode a white horse out of Liangzhou.

Back to novel Sword Snow Stride
COMMENT
Write Novel
Beyond the Divine States

12065 · 0 · 23

Qingshan

15945 · 0 · 42

I Have a Cultivation World

19426 · 0 · 24

Dragon Prince Yuan

32235 · 0 · 25

Sword Snow Stride

301 · 0 · 1