Chapter 529: Rouge Reviews Rouge

Sodu.

Winter had passed and spring arrived, with orioles seemingly stealing the songs of all other birds. Along the post roads of Youzhou, amidst the budding trees and shrubs, small golden orioles were often seen flitting in flocks. Unfortunately, the people of Beiliang had a rougher disposition, lacking the refined scholars who would specifically seek out the melodious calls of orioles in springtime. On the road, a carriage was slowly traveling north. Inside, a woman held an oriole's nest, plucked from a low branch, occasionally lifting the curtain to gaze at the passing scenery.

Throughout the journey, to save time, they rarely stopped in towns. Often finding themselves between villages and inns, the woman’s most awkward moments were due to nature's call. The first time she needed to relieve herself, she kept her legs tightly crossed, gritting her teeth and enduring for half an hour. He, having long noticed her discomfort, deliberately remained silent. When she finally couldn't hold it any longer and asked to get off, and after she returned to the carriage and sat down, he recounted a crude joke. He said there was once an official on a private inspection tour who got an upset stomach in the wilderness. Every time the urge struck, he'd ask his coachman to find a secluded spot so he could relieve himself. The coachman found several places, but each time the official unbuckled his trousers and squatted, the urge would pass. Eventually, whenever the official asked if a suitable spot had been found, the coachman would just say no. Finally, unable to hold it any longer, the official jumped out of the carriage, undressing as he ran, and at last found relief. Upon his return, he exclaimed that it was truly a "feng shui treasure ground."

He then added fuel to the fire by asking if she had found a "feng shui treasure ground." On her way back, she picked up the oriole's nest woven from pine needles and grass. Upon hearing his joke, she threw it at him fiercely. The man effortlessly caught the nest with one hand, smiled, and handed it back to her. To make amends, he confessed an embarrassing incident of his own: during his travels, he once went to an outhouse and heard considerable noise from the next stall. Bored, he jokingly asked, "Brother, have you eaten garlic?" A moment later, a female martial artist with an icy expression used her sword to dismantle the door of his stall. Terrified, he almost fell into the pit and quickly covered his groin. In the end, the female martial artist coldly threatened to chop off his "three legs." He thought, "Damn, truly trouble comes from the mouth!" If he hadn't reacted quickly, suddenly letting go and giving the woman a clear view of his "male prowess," which scared her away, he would have undoubtedly received a good beating.

Pei Nanwei looked at him, rarely showing such open self-satisfaction when speaking such nonsense, and was both amused and exasperated, so she didn't bother arguing with him further. If even the dignified Prince of Beiliang had experienced such embarrassment, she, a woman no longer a proper princess consort, couldn't be bothered to pretend to be a martial artist. During this journey north to the border, peregrine falcons continuously swooped by the curtains, delivering secret reports. Xu Fengnian naturally didn't discuss sensitive military intelligence, but he recounted several harmless secrets to her. For instance, Wu Lingsu, the Green City King from Qingyang Palace, had now entered the capital to receive his title, sharing half the power of the Feathered Minister of the Celestial Master's Residence. This allowed him to govern across the river, wielding significant authority and jointly overseeing the northern and southern Taoist sects.

Longhu Mountain, always aloof, seemed unable to tolerate such a slight. It quickly unveiled its ultimate trump card: it was rumored that the sect leader Zhao Danxia had mastered the most profound Taoist technique, the Jade Emperor Pagoda, and audaciously ascended to immortality with the old Celestial Master Zhao Xiyi, his father. Immediately thereafter, the imperial court permitted Zhao Danping, the Green Scroll Chancellor in the capital, to serve as the sect leader of the Southern Taoist Gate. Furthermore, as an exception, the young Taoist Zhao Ningshen from the Celestial Master's Residence was granted official status, becoming a favored imperial attendant, a 'Qijulang' (Recorder of the Emperor's Daily Life), a position even more coveted than a 'Huangmenlang' (Court Gentleman).

Another matter, unrelated to court affairs and purely a concern of the martial world, involved the nameless old swordsman, fond of swords, who finally unleashed a single strike. However, it wasn't Wang Xiezhi of Wudi City who personally blocked it, but his four direct disciples, one by one. The first three, renowned for their exceptional talent, were unable to withstand it. Finally, it was the eldest disciple, Yu Xinlang, whose brilliance had always been overshadowed by his younger brothers, who parried the sword with his saber. This event sent shockwaves through the martial world, and this saber-wielder was immediately regarded as a top master capable of giving General Gu Jiantang a full-strength fight.

Hearing these secret insights that would make any martial arts enthusiast's blood boil, Pei Nanwei showed no interest, letting them go in one ear and out the other, merely treating them as amusing anecdotes.

Nearing the frontier, the carriage paused briefly in Qing’an County. Xu Fengnian specifically took Pei Nanwei to a restaurant to try the local specialty, 'Qingjing Rice'. This dish was prepared by pounding Nanzhu tree leaves, extracting their juice, soaking rice in it, and then steaming it. It had a greenish hue and an enticing aroma. However, the large blue and white porcelain bowl it was served in was nearly a foot wide at the rim, which left Pei Nanwei dumbfounded. She forced herself to eat only half a bowl before she simply couldn't swallow any more. Xu Fengnian, on the other hand, swiftly devoured his own bowl. Without ceremony, he took Pei Nanwei's bowl and continued to eat with relish.

Xu Yanbing, who had not entered the restaurant earlier, appeared later with a middle-aged man in satin casual clothes by his side. Xu Fengnian, still eating with his head down, gestured for the man with an unusual appearance to sit. After sitting down, the man softly said, "Your humble general pays his respects to Your Highness, the Prince."

Xu Fengnian set aside his empty bowl and chopsticks, leaning leisurely against the rough, somewhat uneven chair back. He chuckled, teasing, "Huangfu Ping, 'your humble general' indeed? You've already risen from Guoyi Duwei to General of Youzhou, commanding all military power in the province. Are you accustomed to the role?"

Huangfu Ping, now the new General of Youzhou, displayed none of the usual trepidation or humility of an ordinary officer. He simply stated solemnly, "I would die ten thousand deaths rather than disappoint Your Highness!"

Xu Fengnian nodded, saying, "Regarding Chen Xiliang's management of the salt administration, if he doesn't seek your help, Huangfu Ping, don't interfere unnecessarily. Let those unrestrained local magnates swagger around. Only when Chen Xiliang asks you for troops to kill, then act. And when you do, don't be soft-handed."

Huangfu Ping's rise in Beiliang was second only to Xu Beizhi, the Governor of Lingzhou, making him a true confidant of the Prince. However, the cost was chillingly steep: he had watched his entire family perish. Naturally, a man like Huangfu Ping, whose ambition for power was so extreme it seemed deranged, had a predictable reputation in Youzhou officialdom. However, Huangfu Ping's situation in Beiliang was already a desperate, no-retreat battle. Such a devious character found no one willing to associate with him or form factions. He was the perfect puppet for 'killing with a borrowed knife' – anyone could use him with confidence. Yet, in Beiliang, only Xu Fengnian was truly qualified to wield such a knife. Loose lips sink ships, and Huangfu Ping had always believed in exchanging achievements for official positions. Even with his rapid promotion, he gave the impression of being perpetually melancholic.

Xu Fengnian paid no mind to whether the Youzhou General had eaten already. He still ordered a serving of Qingjing Rice for him, saying with a smile, "You've done a good job integrating the martial forces in Youzhou. My sister's evaluation of this matter is quite high. I permit you to openly extend your influence into Liangzhou from now on. Oh, and you'll pay for the meal. Consider it your fulfilling the duties of a host."

Standing up to respectfully see His Highness the Prince off, Huangfu Ping then sat down and ravenously shoveled rice into his mouth. Finally, under the bewildered gaze of the restaurant waiter, he pulled out all his gold and silver, dumped it on the table, and walked away without looking back.

"Duties of a host!" All that gold and silver he carried bought him military control over the entire Youzhou province. Was it expensive, or cheap?

As the carriage drove out of Qing’an County, Xu Fengnian lay comfortably inside, legs crossed, burping contentedly. Pei Nanwei scoffed, "Isn't this infamous Huangfu Ping precisely the kind of person you call 'without a bottom line'? And aren't you using him quite comfortably?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "How do you know he has no bottom line? Huangfu Ping, and even Chu Lushan, are actually not as simple as outsiders think. They are certainly not good people by any stretch, but as for having a bottom line, in my opinion, they have far more of one than those so-called 'pure talk' scholars who claim to worry about the nation and its people while simultaneously engaging in pedophilia and frequenting prostitutes. Those who take themselves too seriously often fail to treat others as human. Conversely, those who don't take themselves so seriously can sometimes retain a shred of childlike innocence. To give an imperfect analogy: Wudang Mountain and Longhu Mountain are both ancestral Taoist sites. The yellow-robed and purple-robed nobles of the Celestial Master's Residence exude an air of immortality, unapproachable; only high officials and dignitaries can enter their gates. The most senior Taoist on Wudang Mountain, however, possesses no such 'immortal air,' yet he can chat freely with commoners and pilgrims. Who, would you say, is more humane? Huangfu Ping serving as my lackey, neither I, the Prince, nor Huangfu Ping himself, would deny it. But the bitterness and hardships in Huangfu Ping's life—if that General of Youzhou were to truly pour out his heart, you wouldn't even bear to listen."

Pei Nanwei blandly replied, "I don't want to hear it either."

Xu Fengnian sighed, "Every family has its own difficult scripture to read, and only the idle breeze, turning pages aimlessly, knows the truth of it."

Pei Nanwei paused, then chuckled, "I didn't realize you also indulged in melancholic thoughts about spring and autumn?"

Xu Fengnian rolled his eyes, "Don't forget, I'm a talented scholar who produces a hundred fine poems a year, alright?"

Pei Nanwei retorted, squinting, "Does buying and copying poems count?"

Xu Fengnian laughed, "If I hadn't spent a fortune buying the poems of these impoverished scholars from Beiliang, do you think they'd have enough travel money to go thousands of miles to the capital for the imperial examination?"

Pei Nanwei countered, "Has even one of them ever spoken well of you or remembered your kindness?"

Xu Fengnian pursed his lips, showing a rare hint of embarrassment. "Perhaps they did, and I just didn't hear it."

Pei Nanwei sneered, "Furthermore, Beiliang is barren, and its scholars are dwindling. Yet you've generously handed them all over to the imperial court. You, Your Highness, truly have a big heart!"

Xu Fengnian rubbed his stomach, which had comfortably held two large bowls of Qingjing Rice, and self-mockingly replied, "My capacity isn't small, indeed. But good deeds bring good returns, don't they? Aren't there now nearly a thousand foreign scholars settling in Beiliang?"

North of Qing’an County in Youzhou lay the frontier Yanzi County. It earned its name, 'Rouge County,' because the women there were famously beautiful, their renown extending even to the Central Plains. Wealthy old men in Jiangnan were proud to take concubines from Yanzi County who were in their prime. Many Yanzi women, blessed with some beauty but unwilling to endure hardship, preferred to leave the borderlands for the prosperous Central Plains, never to return. Even if many of these unfortunate women fell into prostitution, they never looked back, leading the Liyang court to mockingly describe them as 'flowers blooming inside the wall, fragrant outside.' Yanzi County also contained a district of the same name, Yanzi District, which was an even greater source of exquisite beauties. To marry a woman from Yanzi District and bring her home to a warm bed was considered a blessing accumulated over several lifetimes for a man. It was said that Youzhou officials who didn't have at least one woman from Yanzi serving as a concubine or a chambermaid felt they couldn't face their colleagues.

Pei Nanwei was likely utterly tired of her cumbersome veil. As they entered a guesthouse in Yanzi County city at dusk to spend the night, she discarded it. Both men and women who were fortunate enough to see her face were stunned by her otherworldly beauty. It was the Lantern Festival, a major celebration in Xiangfu's first year, where officials and commoners alike enjoyed the festivities and viewed lanterns together. Youzhou, unlike Lingzhou which was a granary, seemed quite different. Though the lantern market was lively, it lacked a sense of grandeur. The clothing of both men and women was mostly simple, not as extravagant as in Lingzhou. Youzhou was neither Liangzhou, where the Xu family resided, nor the relatively stable and comfortable Lingzhou. Youzhou officials often joked that their province was 'raised by a stepmother' – those with ambition and connections desperately sought to amass wealth in Lingzhou, and of course, they wouldn't forget to bring along one or two women from Yanzi County or District, purchased with heavy sums, as a stepping stone for advancement in unfamiliar official circles. Giving silver was too vulgar and might even lead to scorn if the amount was too small. Giving women, however, was both elegant and practical.

Xu Fengnian and Pei Nanwei walked side by side, a perfect match of handsome man and beautiful woman. In the night, illuminated only by the lanterns, Pei Nanwei's full beauty wasn't clearly visible from a distance, which prevented a greater commotion. However, those who had caught a glimpse of her face and figure refused to move away. Though she wasn't 'theirs,' a closer look at what was 'in someone else's bowl' was enough to satisfy their craving. A few idle ruffians, bold in their idleness, tried to take advantage of the crowd and grope her. Xu Fengnian kicked them far away. These were mere cowards who dared not speak their anger and were in the wrong to begin with, so they became much more restrained afterwards. They had initially intended to pretend to call people to gang up on the young master, but no one was willing to miss even a few more glances at the woman, who was as exquisite and celestial as a fresco painting. So, they grudgingly gave up. Besides, while the Youzhou authorities usually turned a blind eye to ordinary brawls, causing trouble at the Lantern Festival market would surely result in being arrested by the city guards and severely punished.

Walking ahead of Xu Fengnian and Pei Nanwei were three scholars. Their accents suggested they were Central Plains scholars headed for Liangzhou, most likely drawn by the rumors of countless beauties in Yanzi County, available everywhere. They came hoping for a chance encounter, as Beiliang women had a bold demeanor, so they might just find a fleeting romance. The three young scholars had long noticed the stunningly beautiful woman of a mature age behind them. Hindered by propriety and self-importance, they didn't dare to approach her directly. Instead, they slowed their pace and deliberately spouted grandiloquent remarks at the top of their lungs, as if competing to see who could utter the most astonishing words. One claimed to be related to a certain official in Lingzhou and would soon take up a post in the county yamen. Another stated that the Liyang Dynasty had always maliciously enjoyed Beiliang's troubles, but now with Western Chu's restoration imminent, Beiliang could finally sit back, crack melon seeds, and watch the imperial court become a laughingstock. Yet another claimed to have yearned for the military life of the frontier since childhood, aspiring to be a scholar who becomes a Marquis, which was why he had given up easily attainable fame to enlist in this impoverished land.

Xu Fengnian heard one scholar incessantly babbling about the decisive factor in Western Chu's restoration. He smiled, quickened his pace, stepped forward, and proactively asked, "Young master, how do you know that Western Chu's restoration is doomed to a dismal end within six months?"

The scholar, who indeed possessed a certain refined elegance, did not answer Xu Fengnian. His response was completely irrelevant. Glancing at Pei Nanwei, he introduced himself, "This humble one is a descendant of the Fan family from Huansha County, Jiangnan Province."

Xu Fengnian, playing along, feigned surprise and exclaimed, "The Fan family of Huansha County! That's the most renowned aristocratic clan from the southern part of the old Northern Han. I never imagined Young Master Fan's family background to be so illustrious! There are barely a handful of families in all of Beiliang that can compare. Even our Governors in Beiliang would surely treat you as an honored guest. It's an honor, truly an honor to meet you, Young Master Fan!"

Another scholar quickly announced his family background: the Shi'zao Zhou clan from Dongyue Province. The remaining scholar, likely due to his humble origins, remained silent, filled with resentment. In reality, the Huansha Fan and Shi'zao Zhou clans, while numerous during the Spring and Autumn period, were not unapproachable first-tier aristocratic families. If one simply bore the surname Fan or Zhou in those localities, they could usually claim kinship, and no one would truly take it seriously. These two, it was clear, had come to the less discerning Beiliang to boast of their family names and pass themselves off as more important than they were. In an era where even servants in wealthy households could discern a family's deep background from a mere belt, such crude tricks were hardly worth mentioning. They had clearly underestimated the cunning of Beiliang's officials. Beiliang might be poor, but only its common people, toiling in the fields, were truly impoverished. Its officials were certainly not.

Xu Fengnian had originally intended to extract information and amuse himself, but he hadn't anticipated Pei Nanwei's utterly astonishing retort: "Who you are and what your name is is none of this old woman's business! This old woman only likes strong men weighing over two hundred pounds. All three of you, get lost and cool off!"

The three scholars looked as if struck by lightning, then didn't dare utter a word, scurrying away discomfited.

Xu Fengnian gave Pei Nanwei a thumbs-up. She smoothed the hair at her temples, and when she turned her head, a rare expression, as if to say 'If I don't act, fine, but when I do, I'm invincible,' played on her lips.

Xu Fengnian, ever one to bring up an awkward topic, clicked his tongue in admiration, "Beiliang is truly a geomantic treasure land. Sister Pei has even adopted its heroic spirit!"

Pei Nanwei glared at him, then kicked the top of Xu Fengnian's shoe, twisting her foot with all her might.

Xu Fengnian, who preferred gentle persuasion to force and was impervious to pain, muttered to himself, "Only half a year? Cao Changqing and Sun Xiji, two great remnants of Western Chu, working together shouldn't be so ineffective, should they?"

Pei Nanwei said coolly, "Many people will die."

Xu Fengnian's gaze turned cold as he slowly said, "Yes, many people will die. But you must also understand that there are so many Western Chu remnants who shaved their heads to escape the world, who willingly shut themselves in cellars, who fled into the mountains to become hermits, or who went mad, wandering the city at night, shouting about ghosts. They live a life worse than death. These lonely spirits, still clinging to the memory of the Western Chu Dynasty, would gladly die a heroic death, taking their families with them. How do you even begin to evaluate such foolishly loyal remnants?"

Pei Nanwei said bitterly, "If they want to die for their cause, no one is stopping them. But they shouldn't implicate innocent commoners who only wish for peaceful lives and undisturbed sleep!"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "I used to think you were always gloomy, like a female ghost in human skin haunting ancient temples in deep mountains. Only today did I realize you can still speak like a human. Why don't you stay in Yanzi County? Perhaps in the future, you'll truly become a vibrant living person. If you ever miss the reed marshes by Tingchao Lake, you can always go back and see them."

Pei Nanwei replied without hesitation, "Good."

Xu Fengnian was momentarily lost in thought. That casually spoken word, it seemed, he had once said to someone else as well. However, Xu Fengnian quickly returned to normal, nodding with a slight smile, "Then I'll just have to flaunt my status as the Prince. I'll inform the Governor of Yanzi County and arrange a private residence for you where you won't be disturbed."

Xu Fengnian asked for directions to the Governor's mansion. As luck would have it, the Governor himself had gone out with a large retinue of family and staff to join the commoners in the Lantern Festival celebrations. The gatekeeper, who had cultivated sharp eyes, recognized Xu Fengnian's impressive demeanor and invited him to wait in a small side room. Xu Fengnian waited for a full two hours, during which even the gatekeeper came to admire the young man's patience, offering tea and water multiple times with polite concern. This attention, of course, was due to Pei Nanwei's renowned beauty, listed in the 'Yanzi Spectrum'. When Governor Hong Shandong returned, still in high spirits, he rubbed his eyes. Though he had once visited the Prince of Beiliang's residence and failed to recognize the young master, he did recognize the 'attendant' who could only stand: Xu Yanbing, the Grand General's personal bodyguard! Years ago, when the Grand General toured the border, passing through Yanzi County city, Hong Shandong had the honor of meeting Xu Yanbing, who was even allowed to sit and dine with the Grand General. That memory remained particularly vivid. If Xu Yanbing had to stand, then who was this young man casually sitting and drinking tea? Hong Shandong was no fool. He immediately composed himself, swept his sleeves, and dropped to his knees, paying respects to His Highness the Prince who had graced his humble abode. A crowd of Hong family descendants, squeezed outside the small room, stared wide-eyed. The older ones, more aware of social nuances, showed some trepidation, while the younger ones, with their innocent eyes, were full of childlike curiosity. Although the threshold of a Governor's mansion, as the 'parent official' of a county, was not low, the highest-ranking official ever received there was merely the previous General of Youzhou. How high-ranking was the Prince? When this young man eventually donned the imperial yellow python robe and became the King of Beiliang, everyone in Liyang would know just how significant he was.

During their confidential discussion in the richly scented study, Hong Shandong never dared to glance at Pei Nanwei. Upon learning that this woman, without a clear title, would reside in Yanzi County, he felt alarm rather than delight. While he wouldn't mind treating her like a revered female Bodhisattva—which he felt was his duty, not necessarily a great merit—it was an ancient truth that beautiful women could bring disaster. If even a tiny mishap occurred, his otherwise smooth official career could come to an abrupt end. But since His Highness the Prince had given his word, Hong Shandong had no choice but to grit his teeth and force a smile as he accepted. That very night, the Governor managed to procure an elegant residence with both hills and water. Xu Fengnian also subtly instructed the Death Warrior Yin to discreetly contact the spies in Yanzi County. Death Warrior Yin, a highly experienced and formidable spy himself, was well-versed in such dealings and could ensure everything was handled flawlessly. Then, Xu Fengnian abandoned the now superfluous carriage and, with Xu Yanbing, rode out of the city that very night, galloping towards the familiar Daoma Pass.

When Pei Nanwei alighted from the carriage, she didn't forget to carry her veil. At the quiet residence, attended by only two elderly maids, she stood silently in the courtyard. Before going to bed, she tossed the veil into the courtyard. Inside, glancing at the dressing table, she saw several exquisitely crafted boxes of expensive rouge and sneered, "All burdens."

Among seemingly valuable objects, how many are truly valuable?