Chapter 833

Outside the Xiamowei Inn, a refined middle-aged man appeared. The inn steward, agitated and wary, looked at the strange individual. The man introduced himself as Wu Qi and claimed he only needed to inform the King of Northern Liang to gain entry. Observing his distinguished demeanor, the steward dared not treat him lightly. However, the steward did not meet the King. Instead, the man named Xu, who served as a groom, stopped him at the small courtyard gate, and then the two walked back to the inn's main entrance. Xu Yanbing and Wu Qi stood on opposite sides of the doorway, the latter smiling, "Long time no see."

Xu Yanbing showed no intention of moving aside, his gaze cold. "Since you didn't show your face in Beimang, isn't it a bit late to claim kinship now? What, are you unhappy being a general in Western Shu?"

Wu Qi laughed heartily. "Liu Yanbing... Oh, no, I heard my brother-in-law bestowed the surname Xu upon you. Now I should call you Xu Yanbing. Whether I was in Beimang or Western Shu, are you going to stop a maternal uncle from visiting his nephew?"

Xu Yanbing sneered, "If you want to die, I won't stop you."

Wu Qi sniffed. "Quite spirited, as expected of a martial arts grandmaster who could match the King of Shu. You don't need to kill me; I'm almost scared to death."

Suddenly, the man claiming to be the King of Northern Liang's maternal uncle bellowed, "Nephew—"

With a resounding crash.

Wu Qi slid back several dozen feet from the entrance of the Xiamowei Inn.

Xu Yanbing slowly retracted his foot, then rubbed the sole of his boot on the threshold, as if his boots had gotten dirty.

Wu Qi, who had leaned back but not fallen, stood upright and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He showed no sign of anger or humiliation, and walked back to the main entrance. By this time, Xu Fengnian, having changed into clean clothes, had arrived at the doorway, and Xu Yanbing moved aside.

Wu Qi shed his playful demeanor and abandoned the thought of forcing his way into the inn. He stood just outside the threshold. "In my life, I, Wu Qi, never expected four things: my sister marrying Xu Xiao, Xu Xiao not rebelling against Liyang, you holding Northern Liang, and finally, being able to leave the Directorate of Astronomy alive."

Xu Fengnian's expression was complex. "Won't you come in, sit down, and have some tea?"

Wu Qi shook his head. "No. Whether right or wrong, I regret nothing I've done. Since I didn't show myself to you, my nephew, in Beimang back then, I'm not qualified to enter today. It's a matter of reciprocity."

Xu Fengnian asked, "So you have something to discuss?"

Wu Qi still shook his head. "I just came to tell you that your trip to Beimang wasn't in vain. Some of Li Yishan's arrangements have already begun to move. But let me warn you, even so, don't expect them to provide timely help, or even to add to what's already good. The Grand Marshal of Beimang might not be unaware of this. Beware of unseen dangers."

Xu Fengnian nodded. "Understood."

Wu Qi grinned. "If there truly comes a day when we cross swords on the battlefield, Chen Zhiba will show no mercy, and neither will I. I hope you'll be the same."

"No problem," Xu Fengnian replied.

Just as Wu Qi was about to speak, his attentive nephew thoughtfully interjected, "If you want to spit blood, go ahead and do it for a while first."

Wu Qi's face immediately darkened. He let out a cold snort, clutched his chest, and turned to leave.

Xu Yanbing glanced at his retreating back, suppressing a smile. He murmured, "My kick wasn't heavy."

"That's why I said what I did," Xu Fengnian replied with a nod.

Xu Yanbing was speechless.

That remark seemed to hit much harder than his kick.

Xu Yanbing suddenly turned to look. Xu Fengnian helplessly said, "Forget it."

The woman in the crimson robe and a certain girl, who had been eager nearby, then gave up.

Xu Yanbing chuckled, "Then I'm off to find some wine. It's scandalous that there isn't even a single pot of green ant wine in this inn."

With that, Xu Yanbing walked towards a wine shop on the street.

Unlike yesterday, when the Xiamowei Inn was packed mostly with male officials, nobles, and martial arts heroes, today, the seats in the wine shops, inns, and tea houses were almost exclusively occupied by women! There were young ladies, voluptuous women, and even many slender, blossoming girls!

When Xu Fengnian appeared at the doorway to meet Wu Qi, almost every window simultaneously had heads adorned with hairpins and clasps, all gleaming with calculated expressions, eyes wide with adoration.

Some gazed with reserved affection, some boldly sent flirtatious glances, others were timid, wanting to speak yet shy.

Even some unashamed, bold women loudly called out the King of Northern Liang's name.

Before Xu Yanbing even entered the wine shop, countless handkerchiefs, round fans, and perfumed sachets rained down on him from above, a veritable shower of fragrance.

Those women, like orioles and swallows, uttered words like, "Please, brave man of Northern Liang, give this small fan to the King," and several even ran out of the rooms, not daring to approach Xu Yanbing, but simply throwing their letters at him before turning and fleeing.

Even Xu Yanbing, a half-step martial saint, couldn't withstand this terrifying onslaught.

Upstairs and downstairs along both sides of the street, soft whispers rippled.

"Look, look! I told you, my Young Master Xu is the most handsome man under heaven, but you wouldn't believe it! Now you're infatuated, aren't you?"

"Oh, my eyes are practically pregnant! If the King could step out of the inn and come a little closer, just to hear him speak a few words, I'd die happy!"

"All those handsome young masters in Tai'an City combined can't compare to my Brother Xu. I can't, I can't, he's just too graceful and refined, watching him from afar makes me tipsy!"

"It's a pity I couldn't sneak out yesterday, or I would have seen the King's heroic figure. Lend me your shoulder, I need to cry for a bit…"

"I've decided, I will only marry Young Master Xu in this lifetime. Well, if that's impossible, being his maid will do too!"

Xu Yanbing brushed a perfumed sachet from his shoulder and decisively turned back to the Xiamowei Inn, wondering if he should suggest that the King leave Tai'an City sooner.

Were the women of this capital a bit too overwhelming?

Xu Fengnian had already returned to the courtyard with Jia Jiajia and Xu Ying.

A figure in purple, uninvited, lay on a wicker chair under the eaves, resting with closed eyes.

Xu Fengnian also moved a wicker chair over. The woman in the crimson robe, having removed her veil, squatted beside Xu Fengnian. Hehe-niang sat on the steps, having conjured a scallion pancake from somewhere, nibbling at it bite by bite.

Xu Fengnian lay on the chair and softly asked, "Why haven't you returned to Huishan yet?"

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng said nothing.

Xu Fengnian opened his eyes and gazed at the eaves.

That year, when he first came to the capital, it was also at the Xiamowei Inn, in a wicker chair in this very courtyard.

Xu Fengnian had chatted with this "crazy woman" about unrelated topics like snowmen and ideals.

It was also that time when the clumsy fellow with the wooden sword left the martial world.

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng didn't open her eyes, asking indifferently, "All these years, were you pitying me, or yourself?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Perhaps a bit of both."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng fell silent.

Xu Fengnian said, "Thank you for helping me suppress Qi Jiajie's sword qi yesterday."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng said coldly, "You owe me 'the greatest under heaven'."

"I know, I know," Xu Fengnian said with exasperated amusement. "As long as it's a business deal, I promise fair dealings for all, young and old."

Xuan Yuan Qingfeng seemed to ponder his words, murmuring to herself, "Business, then?"

The next moment, only a gentle breeze swept under the eaves.

Xu Fengnian turned to look at the now empty wicker chair where the purple figure had been. He stood up and sat beside Hehe-niang, who again produced a scallion pancake. Without turning her head, she held it out to Xu Fengnian.

Xu Fengnian took the somewhat stiff, cold pancake and ate it in large bites.

Xu Ying, in her large crimson robe, stood in the courtyard. Xu Fengnian said indistinctly, "Turn around!"

The vibrant red mass spun continuously, a delight to behold.

Xu Fengnian's face shone with a bright smile.

After Chief Minister Qi Yanglong, dressed in plain clothes, left the Directorate of Astronomy, the elderly man was personally escorted by the Director of the Directorate of Palace Affairs, Song Tanglu, to a small hall located at the transition between Liyang's inner and outer courts: the Yangshen Hall.

The newly commissioned Yangshen Hall, though situated within the inner court, was closely linked to the outer court. With twelve Grand Academicians from the Hall and Pavilion sections now handling government affairs nearby, the Yangshen Hall, once abandoned for years, instantly became a true center of power. The Yangshen Hall was not large, shaped like an "I," typically with a front hall and rear chambers. In the hall hung a large plaque inscribed with "Upright and Harmonious" by the late Emperor Zhao Dun. Recently, the young Emperor had moved his small court assemblies here, and important officials were also granted audiences and summoned for discussions in this hall. Several newly appointed regional governors who had recently arrived in the capital—such as Tian Zong, Dong Gong, and Huang Weidong, former subordinates of the Gu faction; Hong Lingxu, the former leader of the old Qing faction; Wu Chongxuan, the general from the Southern Frontier who succeeded Lu Baixie as Minister of War; and the head of the Peng family from Liaodong, who became Vice Minister of Justice after Han Lin—had all come here to pay their respects to the Emperor.

When Qi Yanglong stepped into the main chamber of Yangshen Hall, Huan Wen, head of the Department of the Gate, and Chen Wang, Left Supervising Secretary, were already present. Zhao Youling, who assisted Qi Yanglong in overseeing the Department of the Secretariat, and Yin Maochun, Minister of Personnel—in-laws with differing political views but united by marriage—were also among the attendees. However, the two officials stood quite far apart, displaying no amicable atmosphere, but rather a sense of detached politeness. Among the six Grand Academicians of the Hall sections, only Wen Shouren, Grand Academician of the Hall of Military Glory, and Yan Jiexie, Grand Academician of the Abyss Pavilion, were present. None of the newly appointed Grand Academicians of the Pavilion sections had appeared.

In addition, there were Prince Zhao Yang of Changshan, Duke Gao Shizhi of Yan, and Marquis Song Daoning of Huaiyang. These three influential Liyang nobles were discreet figures generally well-known but rarely seen by other Liyang officials.

Compared to these grand figures who either held the reins of government or were renowned, Tang Tieshuang, the Left Vice Minister of War, despite holding substantial power, was still a junior, thus positioned further back. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Wen Taiyi, the influential figure of the Qing Faction in Tai'an City. The latter was a legend in Tai'an's officialdom, having held his seat as Vice Minister of Personnel for over ten years without moving, serving three Ministers of Personnel consecutively. Hence, there was a humorous saying within the Ministry of Personnel: "Ministers flow, but the Vice Minister is fixed." Even Elder Tantian often teased Wen Taiyi by calling him "Old Vice Minister Wen." Thus, almost everyone forgot that this "old" vice minister was not yet fifty years old!

Qi Yanglong had deliberately lingered for a moment in the corridor outside. If it were anyone else, Director Song Tanglu would have surely urged them on, but for the Chief Minister, it was a different matter. Song Tanglu quietly stood outside with the elder. From inside, Old Academician Wen Shouren's famously loud voice, full of vigor, could be heard—it was hard to believe it belonged to a septuagenarian. The esteemed elder, who led the Hall Academicians, cried out in anguish and indignation: "Your Majesty, that barbarian from Northern Liang is truly outrageous! Not only did he disgrace the Ministry of Rites, but now he has also caused chaos at the Directorate of Astronomy! What sort of conduct is this?! The court must no longer tolerate or indulge this person, otherwise, where is the court's dignity?! Your Majesty, although this old servant is merely a scholar, I still have an old bone to pick, and an abundance of old, unyielding spirit! This old servant will now go alone to the Xiamowei Inn and apprehend that barbarian. If he dares to kill, let him kill this old servant as well, only asking that Your Majesty hold him accountable for it afterward! This old servant, even in death, would have found my proper place!"

Song Tanglu kept his gaze lowered, but the Chief Minister's blatant eye-rolling from the side was too obvious for the Director of the Directorate of Palace Affairs not to see clearly.

Inside the room, Prince Zhao Yang of Changshan, of similar age to Wen Shouren, looked towards the younger Duke Gao and Marquis Song beside him. The latter two were clearly somewhat astonished. They had kept to themselves and stayed out of court politics for too many years, their social circle limited to nobility and imperial relatives, with almost no contact with external officials. They had only heard that Grand Academician Wen in the court was an unyielding figure, but witnessing it firsthand today still impressed them. Old Prince Zhao slowly withdrew his gaze, frowning. As an elder of the Liyang imperial clan, Prince Zhao Yang of Changshan had personally witnessed the beginning and end of the Spring and Autumn Wars, with significant military achievements. When the founding emperor bestowed titles upon the realm, Zhao Yang, who should have ranked among the top ten on the list of merits, due to a certain secret affair, ended up with only a virtually insulting nominal princely title. Thereafter, he spent his days leisurely tending to flowers, birds, fish, and insects, enjoying his retirement. The Changshan Prince's Estate had few male descendants, and over time, this old prince was completely forgotten. If the relatively young Gao Shizhi and Song Daoning's return to court this time hinted at significant actions, then this old prince, given his age, seemed at most to be merely contributing his remaining energies.

Grand Academician Wen, who had once gained renown across the realm for offering remonstrance while carrying his coffin, began to meticulously list the various crimes of the young vassal king since his hereditary succession. His impassioned speech filled the room with noble integrity. It was clear that this Grand Academician of the Hall of Military Glory intended to resist the Xu father and son to the very end. For many years, there had been rumors in Tai'an City that Grand Academician Wen was so prejudiced that he gave a cold shoulder to any official in the capital named Xu. Among the two biggest topics of discussion in Tai'an City in the previous six months, one was related to the Wen family: it was said that the Grand Academician's granddaughter, who was spoiled beyond measure, not only declared her intention to go to the Northwest to see the new King of Liang, but almost actually succeeded in eloping from home, which so infuriated Minister Wen that he fell seriously ill and was bedridden for nearly half a year. During this time, Jin Lantian of the Ministry of Rites alone visited him no fewer than three times. However, seeing Wen Shouren's current vigor, it seemed less likely.

Within this room, Vice Minister of Personnel Wen Taiyi, although holding the same official rank as Chen Wang and Tang Tieshuang, was well aware of the disparity in their actual influence. As one of the three pillars of the Qing Faction, the other two were gone: Grand Pillar Lu Feichi had passed away, and the Lu family had even intermarried with Northern Liang, moving their entire clan there. General Hong Lingxu of Qingzhou had moved from the provinces to the capital. Whether the Qing Faction's overall power had increased or decreased remained unclear. However, it was an undeniable trend that the current Emperor intended to re-employ Qing Faction officials. Coupled with Wei Dong, also from Qingzhou, who had just become the top figure in both the Guangling and Qingzhou navies, this speculation was solidified. Yin Maochun had not been in charge of the Ministry of Personnel for long, so it was unlikely that Left Vice Minister Wen Taiyi would become the Liyang Minister of Personnel. However, it was not impossible for him to transfer to another ministry as its head; he had some chance of overseeing the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Works, or Ministry of Revenue. Wen Taiyi's somewhat "abrupt" appearance here today caught the attention of both Zhao Youling and Yin Maochun.

The young Emperor did not interrupt Grand Academician Wen's impassioned words, which fully displayed the integrity of a civil official. However, Qi Yanglong stepping over the threshold and the unified turn of the powerful ministers caused Wen Shouren to stop himself. He then respectfully saluted the Chief Minister along with the others.

Qi Yanglong stood in the position appropriate for the current Chief Grand Secretary. After bowing to the Emperor, he stated concisely, "I just met with the King of Northern Liang. He has agreed to depart the capital the day after tomorrow. Regarding the lifting of the ban on grain transport, the King of Northern Liang proposed that the court provide 500,000 *shi* of grain and fodder to the Northern Liang Road before next autumn."

A hint of confusion flickered in Huan Wen's eyes. He couldn't help but turn to glance at the Chief Minister standing beside him. He noticed that as Qi Yanglong mentioned the figure of 500,000 *shi*, his hand in his sleeve subtly made a turning motion in front of him.

Prince Zhao Yang of Changshan's eyelids drooped slightly, somewhat disappointed. As for the reason, only the old prince himself would know.

Tang Tieshuang, the Minister of War, who stood at the back, sneered. "You, Xu Fengnian, caused such a massive stir in Tai'an City, and yet you only dare to demand 500,000 *shi* of grain transport from the court?! Has entering Tai'an City, which isn't your territory, made you lose the courage to even make an exorbitant demand?"

The young Emperor on the couch took a shallow breath, a smile flickering across his face. He swept his gaze over the influential Liyang ministers and nobles before him, and asked in a calm tone, "My beloved ministers, what are your thoughts?"

Wen Shouren was about to jump out and vehemently denounce the new King of Liang when he heard Chen Wang, who stood in the same row as himself and Yan Jiexie, speak first: "Your Majesty, I believe that the King of Northern Liang is the King of Northern Liang, and the people of Northern Liang are the people of Northern Liang. The 500,000 *shi* of grain transport can be granted and delivered to Northern Liang Road."

Wen Shouren immediately closed his mouth, swallowing the grand discourse he had been about to unleash, word by word. The old academician could still put on airs as a veteran of three dynasties in front of Young Master Jin, but for Chen Shaobao, whom he had never dealt with before, Wen Shouren inexplicably felt intimidated. When he occasionally encountered him on the road, he would actively appear very amiable, but unfortunately, Minister Chen never showed the slightest sign of being impressed. This left Wen Shouren with a deep sense of regret and a few unspoken anxieties.

Prince Zhao Yang of Changshan, who had not spoken in court for many years, spoke with startling bluntness: "Your Majesty, the soldiers of Northern Liang fought valiantly outside the passes and deserve the reward of 500,000 *shi* of grain and fodder. In fact, even lifting the ban on a million *shi* of grain transport would not be excessive. However, this Xu Fengnian, as a vassal king, has disregarded the law in the capital. This precedent must not be set, and his arrogant demeanor must not be encouraged. Therefore, this old servant believes that not a single *shi* of grain should be given to Xu Fengnian!"

Grand Academician Yan Jiexie of the Abyss Pavilion concurred, "Your Majesty, I second Prince Zhao Yang of Changshan's opinion. While the people and soldiers of Northern Liang have merit, the King of Northern Liang has committed grave transgressions. Therefore, merits and demerits should cancel each other out, and rewards and punishments should be clear, in accordance with the court's laws."

Tang Tieshuang said gravely, "Your Majesty, I am willing to personally escort the King of Northern Liang out of the capital and the capital region today!"

The young Emperor was noncommittal. He shifted his gaze, finally locating Wen Taiyi, who stood at the very back and was more than half a head shorter than Vice Minister Tang. He asked genially, "Vice Minister Wen, do you have anything to say?"

Wen Taiyi replied without hesitation, "Your humble servant believes that regarding the lifting of the grain transport ban for Northern Liang Road, it can be granted, but should be less rather than more, and slow rather than swift."

In the Yangshen Hall, between the front hall and the rear chambers, to the right, lay a secret room. On the west wall of this secret room hung a large chart, densely covered with names of officials written in small regular script, occupying most of the wall. A young man stood beneath the wall, head tilted back, but with his eyes closed. He was a blind man, a commoner, yet positioned at the heart of Liyang's central power. Though the young blind man could not see the contents of the chart, he could feel its unspoken "aura." In the Liyang dynasty, almost all key officials, regardless of civil or military, as long as their rank reached the fourth grade threshold, would occupy a place on this chart. From the capital to various provinces, prefectures, and counties, from the Three Departments and Six Ministries to regional governors and prefects, from generals of the pacification and suppression armies to provincial generals—all were inscribed there. A select few names and their official titles also had two concise evaluations written in small black and red script, respectively: one was an assessment previously made by Yin Maochun, and the other was a secret evaluation from Zhao Gou.

The young blind man "looked" at this chart as if he were looking at the entirety of Liyang.

When he heard Wen Taiyi's ten-character strategy, "less rather than more, and slow rather than swift," the young man smiled knowingly, with both strategic approval and a hint of playful mockery.

The young Emperor spoke, "The matter of the grain transport quantity will be discussed again tomorrow. Today, I wish to consult with you all about the selection of the Military Commissioner for Jing'an Dao."

Almost everyone understood instantly. So that was it. No wonder Vice Minister Wen made an unprecedented appearance today.

There was nothing more to discuss. Currently, on matters of official promotion, the young Emperor wielded immense authority, his word virtually law. Chief Minister Qi Yanglong and Huan Wen of the Department of the Gate had never raised objections. Coupled with Chen Wang, who never missed a small court assembly, and Minister Yin Maochun's consistent tacit understanding, various appointments proceeded unimpeded. Therefore, even if Wen Taiyi, a native of Qingzhou, were to be appointed as the leading civil official of Jing'an Dao—a slight departure from Liyang's etiquette—no one would quibble with His Majesty over such a trivial matter. Moreover, Wen Taiyi had been the second-in-command of the Ministry of Personnel, responsible for distributing official caps, for over ten years. Who would want to offend this deeply entrenched future "young" Military Commissioner? Under fifty years old, jumping from Vice Minister of a Ministry to a regional Military Commissioner, it was clear he was set to return to court, with a promising future! Perhaps within ten years at most, the capital would gain another high-ranking official of the second grade.

Wen Shouren soon righteously proposed Vice Minister Wen as the optimal candidate.

Who in Tai'an City didn't know that the "Big and Small Wens" were famously inseparable?

After His Majesty the Emperor's final decision, Wen Taiyi naturally knelt to express his gratitude, tears streaming down his face.

After Wen Taiyi, about to return home in glory as the Military Commissioner of Jing'an Dao, rose, a tall old general in a second-grade military official's robe strode powerfully into the room. After saluting and requesting forgiveness, he stood silently near Tang Tieshuang. Gao Shizhi and Song Daoning exchanged a subtle smile. It was surprising that the Minister of War could resist complaining on the spot. Perhaps most people present, except for the two Grand Academicians and the newly promoted Wen Taiyi, were already aware of the turmoil at the Southern Military Camp in the capital region. The direct lineage troops of the General Who Conquers the South had suffered heavy casualties. All they knew was that two martial arts grandmasters who used spears had engaged in a fierce fight, but as to who they were, no one had even seen their faces.

Next was a lukewarm exchange between ruler and ministers. The young Emperor focused on asking Wu Chongxuan about the recent situation of the war in Guangling Dao.

Half an hour later, this profoundly significant small court assembly concluded. Only Qi Yanglong, Huan Wen, Chen Wang, and Wu Chongxuan remained.

Emperor Zhao Zhuan led the three civil officials into the secret room. The two elders were surprised to see the young man. Zhao Zhuan smiled and introduced him, "This is Lu Xu, from Qingzhou. He possesses vast knowledge. My original intention was for Mister Lu to serve as one of the chief instructors in the Diligent Study Hall, but Mister Lu declined. So, I had no choice but to let Mister Lu teach in the Diligent Study Hall for now, without holding an official position."

The blind Lu Xu stood beside the Emperor and said frankly, "Greetings, Your Excellencies."

Huan Wen nodded, smiling silently. Qi Yanglong's face was expressionless, and he emitted a low "Hmm."

The Diligent Study Hall, where the imperial princes and grandchildren studied.

Was this preparing the way for a commoner to become a chancellor?

Huan Wen suddenly looked at Qi Yanglong and asked, "Chief Minister, since we are here, shall we speak frankly?"

Earlier, Qi Yanglong had, in front of a large group of people, stated that Northern Liang "begged" the court for 500,000 *shi* of grain transport. Of course, he intended to help the young Emperor save face. Foolish scholars like Wen Shouren would take it seriously, and many others were half-believing, half-doubting, but Elder Tantian would definitely not believe it.

Qi Yanglong feigned bewilderment, looking around. "Where is this skylight you speak of?"

Huan Wen bristled with indignation, about to settle scores with the Chief Minister.

Zhao Zhuan smiled and spoke, "I intend to lift the ban on a million *shi* of grain transport for Northern Liang, and moving forward, this matter will be entirely handled by Wen Taiyi, who is stationed in Qingzhou. Mister Qi, Elder Tantian, is this appropriate?"

Qi Yanglong nodded. Huan Wen pondered for a moment. "It has to be so."

Zhao Zhuan turned to the Minister of War, whose body exuded a fierce aura. "General Wu has been wronged. I will have the matter of the Southern Military Camp in the capital region thoroughly investigated. I will certainly provide an explanation to the General before he returns to Guangling Dao."

Wu Chongxuan cupped his fists. "The fact that Your Majesty has this consideration is already enough for this humble general. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, this humble general is not an unprincipled subject."

Zhao Zhuan's expression showed satisfaction.

Huan Wen hesitated, then finally couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, both Wen Taiyi and Prince Jing'an Zhao Xun have old grievances with the Xu family of Northern Liang. What if they prioritize personal grudges over public duty and delay important state affairs?"

Zhao Zhuan smiled. "Prince Jing'an Zhao Xun's loyalty is beyond doubt. Wen Taiyi's scholarship and accomplishments are well-regarded. After undertaking this important responsibility, I believe he would not dare to be careless in the matter of grain transport."

Huan Wen continued, unceremoniously relentless, "Our Liyang grain transport is divided into North and South. The Southern route primarily uses the Guangling River, while the Northern route uses several canal sections. This has also given rise to two stubborn factions. Wen Taiyi had a deep-seated grievance with the head of the Southern transport route in his early years. My fear is that while Wen Taiyi may sincerely try to do his work, the Southern grain transport system, from top to bottom, will create all sorts of difficulties. And General Hong Lingxu of Qingzhou, who could originally counterbalance the grain transport army of over ten thousand, is now in the capital. It is likely that the matter of transporting a million *shi* of grain into Liang will not be without friction. In this old servant's opinion, if Wen Taiyi is appointed Military Commissioner of Jing'an Dao, a deputy commander of no less prestige should also be dispatched. Besides deterring the 'snakes and insects' in the central plains, this would also be a good opportunity to clear out the long-accumulated silt and corruption of the Southern grain transport system!"

Although Huan Wen was somewhat aggressive, Zhao Zhuan nodded with an unchanged smile. "Since that is the case, Elder Tantian, what do you think of General Ma Xianliang of Andong taking on the role of deputy commander outside the capital?"

Huan Wen was somewhat surprised.

Chen Wang was about to speak.

Ma Zhongxian's ability to lead troops, his reputation in the army, and his family background were all impeccable. His promotion from the third-rank, powerful General of Anxi to a second-rank deputy commander within a vassal king's jurisdiction, and a promotion within the military official system, was essentially faultless. However, as the son of Ma Lulang, Ma Zhongxian's deployment would be sufficient to suppress the unwieldy grain transport officials. Perhaps he truly could centralize the authority over grain transport from various nobles back to the court. But this might inevitably contradict the original intention of ensuring smooth grain transport into Liang. Wen Taiyi was at odds with the Xu family of Northern Liang, and wasn't the Ma family even more so?

Just as Chen Wang had prepared his words, he suddenly felt someone tug his sleeve. He turned to look, and Lu Xu was "gazing" forward, as if he hadn't reached out to stop Chen Wang at all.

Chen Wang, being extremely cautious, quickly abandoned the idea of offering advice.

At the same time, Chen Wang was somewhat shocked: how did the blind Lu Xu know he was about to speak?

Another half hour later, several ministers exited the secret room. Wu Chongxuan smiled, bid farewell to the other four, and strode away first.

Qi Yanglong and Huan Wen walked side by side. Chen Wang, as an "elder" of the Diligent Study Hall, led the newcomer Lu Xu there.

The two elders and the two newcomers walked in opposite directions, turning their backs to each other.

Chen Wang whispered, "Thank you."

Lu Xu's expression was indifferent, as if he hadn't heard.

Over there, Huan Wen, who didn't need a eunuch to guide him through the palace, unexpectedly sighed, "Things are different."

Qi Yanglong uttered a disrespectful remark, "What, is Elder Tantian unhappy now that His Majesty isn't just a puppet emperor?"

Huan Wen retorted angrily, "Nonsense!"

The Chief Minister theatrically sniffed the air. "The autumn air is crisp and filled with the scent of osmanthus, truly refreshing. Where could such nonsense come from?"

Huan Wen snorted coldly and quickened his pace, clearly unwilling to continue walking alongside the Chief Minister.

Qi Yanglong did not stop him, but also hastened his steps, chuckling softly. "At the Directorate of Astronomy, the King of Northern Liang personally praised my scholarship as unmatched under heaven, Elder Tantian, what do you think of that?"

Huan Wen turned his head to look at the beaming Chief Minister, scoffing, "Who are you trying to fool?"

This time, it was Qi Yanglong who took long strides forward.

Huan Wen looked at his retreating back and murmured, "Is that kid blind? Or does that old man have a beautiful granddaughter whom that kid has taken a fancy to?"

When the proprietress of Jijiuguan entered the small courtyard, personally led by Xu Yanbing, she was met with a scene that left her both amused and bewildered: the esteemed King of Northern Liang was sitting on a small stool, scrubbing his exceptionally luxurious imperial robe.

The surprising thing was that the young man's movements were very skilled!

Xu Fengnian had just finished washing the clothes, wrung them out, and quickly hung them on the bamboo pole already set up in the courtyard. He wiped his hands and chuckled, "Aunt Hong, you're here? Make yourselves at home, there are only two chairs anyway."

Then Xu Fengnian also smiled at the young woman beside the proprietress. "Miss Chen, we meet again so soon."

Jia Jiajia and Xu Ying, squatting in the corridor playing chess, paid no attention to the proprietress and Chen Yu, looking down and continuing their moves. Jia Jiajia's chess pieces were in her inverted mink hat, while Xu Ying's were held in her voluminous robe.

The proprietress sat on a wicker chair. Chen Yu had intended to stand beside Aunt Hong, but unexpectedly, the young vassal king chose a spot near the two strange girls, lounging lazily against a veranda pillar, waving and smiling, "Miss Chen, please sit too."

The proprietress cut straight to the chase. "Fengnian, I heard you only asked the court for 500,000 *shi* of grain and fodder?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "That's not true. It's that old fox Qi Yanglong, being shameless and disrespectful of his age, asked me not to be too harsh. He promised that a minimum of a million *shi* of grain transport would reach Liang before autumn next year. As for the 500,000 *shi* figure, I suppose the Chief Minister wanted to save some face for the court. Anyway, I'll definitely lead tens of thousands of Northern Liang cavalry into Guangling Dao then, so I figured I shouldn't be too excessive now, and just casually agreed. Looking back, I actually feel quite bad for the old man. If I get the chance in the future, I must apologize to him in person."

The proprietress was dumbfounded. After a long silence, she finally laughed and scolded, "You're truly shameless... But Aunt Hong likes it!"

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat.

Tens of thousands of Northern Liang cavalry heading straight for Guangling Dao? What did that mean?

Xu Fengnian glanced at Jia Jiajia and Xu Ying's wildly imaginative chess moves, shouting "Play here, play here," and then took a chess piece from Jia Jiajia's mink hat to help her make a move. Noticing Xu Ying's resentful gaze, he quickly muttered "Play here, play here" again, and helped her make a move as well.

Chen Yu widened her eyes, somewhat dazed.

They were clearly playing two "you mind your business and I'll mind mine" long lines of pieces. Could that even be called a game of Go?

While playing chess, Xu Fengnian took a moment to say playfully, "Aunt Hong, don't be angry about the Directorate of Astronomy matter. Being angry is bad; it causes wrinkles. Aunt Hong is still young! If we go out together and I call you 'sister,' passersby might think I'm calling you old and might even angrily punch me."

Aunt Hong chuckled, rubbing the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, nodding vigorously. "Mm-hmm, that's true."

Chen Yu subtly took a deep breath.

Aunt Hong suddenly asked softly with a smile, "Fengnian, am I really your Aunt Hong?"

Xu Fengnian looked as if he was facing a formidable enemy. He immediately got up and ran behind the proprietress, carefully massaging her shoulders. "Aunt Hong, is something wrong? To be honest, don't let my lively appearance fool you. I'm just pretending nothing's wrong for the court's benefit. After all, I'm in the capital, surrounded by enemies. If I show any weakness, it'll be dangerous! I'm actually having great difficulty walking, but just so Aunt Hong doesn't worry..."

Aunt Hong called out to the man standing at the courtyard gate, Xu Yanbing, "Your King says he can't walk. I'd like to invite him to Jijiuguan. Or will you carry our King to the carriage?"

Xu Yanbing chuckled, "Well..."

Xu Fengnian quickly gave him a meaningful look.

But Xu Yanbing still replied heartily, "No problem at all."

Who was it earlier at the Directorate of Astronomy's entrance who said, "What a fast spear"?

Xu Fengnian said with a crestfallen face, "Aunt Hong, are you really not afraid of causing trouble? I'm leaving the capital the day after tomorrow. Do you still want to keep Jijiuguan open then?"

Aunt Hong abruptly stood up, pulling Xu Fengnian toward the courtyard gate. The helpless King of Northern Liang turned to the girls playing chess and said, "I'll bring you back some delicious food."

As the group walked out of the Xiamowei Inn towards the small carriage, even Aunt Hong and Chen Yu could hear countless screams from the distant main street.

Some of those screams were truly heartbreaking and soul-stirring.

Xu Fengnian, who had originally intended to ride a horse to Jijiuguan with Xu Yanbing, immediately abandoned the idea. Then he heard Aunt Hong chuckle, "See? Won't Jijiuguan's business boom in the future? When that happens, the seat you sat on, Aunt Hong will charge a hundred taels of silver to start, whoever bids highest gets it, and they can only sit for half an hour! How about it?"

Xu Fengnian's smile looked awkward. "Aunt Hong, I suddenly feel a bit unwell. Tomorrow! I will definitely come to Jijiuguan to find you tomorrow, Aunt Hong!"

Aunt Hong glared at him fiercely, then pulled him into the carriage without a word. Xu Yanbing rode alongside, escorting them. Watching the frantic women crowding the windows and doorways, many of whom had even rushed onto the street, Xu Yanbing felt for the first time that the road ahead was truly difficult.

Aunt Hong and Chen Yu sat side-by-side, while Xu Fengnian huddled awkwardly in the opposite corner.

Aunt Hong teased, "Fengnian, haven't you thought about picking a few charming wives to bring back to Northern Liang?"

Chen Yu turned her head away, looking out the curtained window.

Xu Fengnian said, his head aching, "Aunt Hong, please spare me."

Along the entire Xiamowei Inn street, the carriage crawled like a tortoise, and outside the window, constant cries of "Brother Xu!" rose and fell.

Xu Fengnian touched his forehead; this time, there was genuine cold sweat.

Aunt Hong suddenly asked, "Are both great arrays at the Directorate of Astronomy destroyed?"

Xu Fengnian didn't know how Aunt Hong had learned such a secret, but he nodded. "Most of them were destroyed. Because the Duke of Yan Sheng gave me something, it actually preserved Liyang's vitality and prevented Xie Guanying from succeeding. However, that Xie fellow didn't have an easy time either; his broken bowl was shattered by me, and then Deng Taia set his sights on him. That sword strike probably sent Xie Guanying fleeing all the way south of the Guangling River in one breath. Overall, Liyang's fate is still intact, but there have been changes. If nothing unexpected happens, the leader of the Northern land qi refiners has already informed the young Emperor. This is also where I find it most puzzling: he didn't even raise an army to question me about it. Perhaps Xie Guanying was causing mischief there again. At the time, I didn't expect that... cow-riding fellow to come to Tai'an City. I had planned to take advantage of the opportunity that the first patriarch of Dragon Tiger Mountain thought he could return to the Heavenly Gate, and then directly break through the Heavenly Gate to slay more immortals. So I didn't pursue Xie Guanying. If I had known this, I should have chased him for hundreds of miles."

Aunt Hong sighed, "You're so carefree, just like your father."

Xu Fengnian grinned.

Noticing Chen Yu gazing intently at him, Xu Fengnian joked, "What, doesn't Miss Chen recognize the beggar who used to lead horses years ago?"

Chen Yu admitted frankly, "I can't quite recognize him anymore."

Upon arriving at Jijiuguan, they found it unprecedentedly deserted. Aunt Hong chuckled, "We closed for lunch. Didn't feel like serving those big shot guests. Today, Aunt Hong will also break tradition and personally cook you a good meal."

Unlocking the door and entering, Aunt Hong quickly closed the door, when Xu Fengnian suddenly saw a veiled woman standing not far away.

Xu Fengnian paused, then quickly approached her, saying softly, "Aunt, why are you here? Although Zhao Gou is overwhelmed and can't cover many places, Jijiuguan is bound to still be under surveillance."

The woman removed her veil; her face was still covered by her mask.

She was Zhao Yutai, Wu Su's former sword attendant.

Xu Fengnian had met her during his second journey through the martial world, at Qingyang Palace on Qingcheng Mountain.

The zitan sword box containing the Great Liang Dragon Sparrow sword was also personally given to Xu Fengnian by her.

Her voice hoarse, she said, "I shouldn't have let you come, but Aunt just wanted to see you."

Xu Fengnian said childishly, "About the Directorate of Astronomy, I went when I wanted and left when I wanted. So, even if Aunt wants to see me in the imperial palace, I can still go!"

Aunt Hong chuckled, "Alright, aren't you two tired? Sit down and talk. I'll go to the kitchen. Wait for half an hour; you two can chat leisurely first."

Chen Yu wanted to help, but Aunt Hong pushed her back from behind the curtain. Chen Yu had no choice but to choose a long bench and sit down quietly.

Just as Zhao Yutai was about to speak about Wu Lingsu, her puppet on a string, Xu Fengnian happily interrupted, "Aunt, when are you coming back to Northern Liang? Huang Man'er has grown up now, he's shooting up like a weed! Aunt, I'll tell you a secret: there's a girl from Beimang who has truly good taste; she took one look at Huang Man'er and fell for him. She's shamelessly persistent about becoming his wife; you can't stop her, and you can't make her leave! Heh, her background isn't simple either. Of course, I don't have any prejudice based on social status, but I'm just happy for Huang Man'er. As Huang Man'er's elder brother, of course, I couldn't be too polite to her when we first met. Otherwise, what if Huang Man'er can't control her later, right? So I deliberately put on a stern face and was picky, which left the girl stunned, haha, that feeling was really good, I couldn't stop secretly laughing... Second Sister misses you too, Aunt. If I can bring Aunt back this time, she'll definitely be overjoyed..."

Listening to his rambling, Zhao Yutai removed the brass mask she had worn for over twenty years, revealing her terrifyingly ugly face. But she didn't care, and neither did he.

When Aunt Hong called out from behind the curtain, "Dishes are served!", Zhao Yutai softly said, "Aunt still needs to keep an eye on the Wu father and son. They're the kind of troublemakers who need constant supervision, we can't fail at the last step."

Xu Fengnian shook his head, his gaze resolute. "Aunt, come home with me. Don't worry about them anymore. We in Northern Liang don't need such schemes now."

Zhao Yutai also shook her head. "So many years of planning, it would be too much of a pity to give up now."

Xu Fengnian smiled brightly. "Aunt, when I officially get married, what will I do without any elders at home?"

Hearing this, Aunt Hong, who was holding a tray in one hand and lifting the curtain with the other, burst into tears.