Chapter 912: Gunnedun Nobles, Rolling Yellow Sand (4)

Five hundred elite Tongguan cavalry escorted a carriage to the outskirts of Liangzhou City. Cavalry officer Xin Yinma, who personally led the troops, did not meet with the local garrison. Instead, two leaders from Liangzhou's Fushui Residence took over, quietly guiding the carriage into the city and heading directly for the Deputy Military Commissioner's mansion, which was overseen by the veteran general Yang Shenxing of the Spring and Autumn era.

From the carriage stepped a graceful woman wearing a bamboo-rimmed veiled hat. Unlike the refined ladies' veils in the Central Plains, which scholars affectionately called "shallow exposure," her hat appeared quite crude. She was accompanied by three burly escorts. They carried themselves with composure, exuding the self-assured presence of tigers and wolves, and their unusual hairstyles were not typical of Beiliang people. Fortunately, the street outside the Beiliang Deputy Military Commissioner's mansion was deserted at that moment, otherwise, it would have inevitably attracted unwanted attention.

The burly middle-aged man closest to the woman, after surveying the mansion's architecture, whispered a few questions to her. His face filled with anger upon hearing her reply. The woman, clearly of special status, immediately rebuked him in a low voice. The towering man still seemed discontent, grumbling ceaselessly. Beneath her veil, the woman appeared quite helpless. Qiexue guards were all direct descendants of high-ranking officials and nobles from the Northern Court of the grasslands, and the one beside her was particularly extraordinary.

She was actually somewhat curious why the young princely lord chose this location for their meeting. According to the Spiderweb Intelligence from Xijing, Grand General Yang Shenxing of Liyang was having a difficult time in Beiliang. A mansion temporarily under an old general's name should not be used for such crucial military affairs. However, since Qingliang Mountain had made these arrangements, as a guest from afar, she had no choice but to accept. In fact, the worst scenario she had anticipated was that she and her three companions might perish silently on the journey without even catching a glimpse of Liangzhou City. The fact that the young princely lord was willing to show up was already a good outcome. Her familiarity with Qingliang Mountain and the Beiliang Iron Cavalry far surpassed that of her three arrogant Qiexue guards. These three had probably only ever dealt with obsequious remnants of the Southern Dynasty, and their understanding of the Beiliang border army was limited to vague military intelligence reports.

Their guide was a gentle-mannered middle-aged man. His clothes were appropriate, not extravagant, but meticulously tailored. Beside the middle-aged man, who looked like the mansion's steward, was a young maidservant in the prime of her youth. She had a delicate face but an alluring figure with ample breasts, a slender waist, full hips, and long legs; if she were lying on a bed, she might resemble a fiery "rouge" mare. Even the veiled woman couldn't help but glance at the maid. Not to mention her Qiexue guard, who made no attempt to conceal his burning gaze, swallowing hard before letting out a chuckle, quickening his pace, and reaching out to touch the maid's slender waist. The veiled woman didn't have time to stop him, but the burly Qiexue guard didn't succeed either. His arm was gently grasped by the middle-aged steward, who had turned and stopped without her noticing. The man struggled forcefully but couldn't move, immediately becoming wary, his eyes devoid of any prior disdain. No matter how much force he applied, he couldn't free himself from the pale fingers of the steward, who looked more like a scholar.

The middle-aged steward didn't even look at the Qiexue guard; instead, he smiled at the veiled woman and said, "This isn't Beimang. We've never had the custom of giving away concubines or maids. If you can make a woman fall in love at first sight, that's true skill. If not, young lady, you'd better properly restrain your people. Otherwise, you're surely familiar with how we Beiliang have treated guests from Beimang over the past two decades."

After saying this, the middle-aged man nonchalantly released his fingers. The burly man, red-faced and caught off guard, stumbled backward. Another young Qiexue guard quietly stepped forward a few paces and helped him steady himself.

The humiliated Beimang man flew into a rage. He reached for the golden peach-skin sheathed 'White Rainbow' saber at his waist, a weapon only royal family members of the Royal Tent were permitted to carry, and was about to draw it in anger.

The middle-aged man remained unperturbed, his face still calm and pleasant. He glanced at the burly Beimang man, who appeared to have more brawn than brains, and smiled faintly, saying, "If you intend to test our lord's limits with this, then as a humble servant, I feel compelled to advise you: this action is pointless and uninteresting."

The burly man immediately reined in his fiery expression. However, he still gripped the magnificent saber at his waist, staring intently at the unassuming martial arts master before him.

Meanwhile, the bruise on his saber-wielding wrist instantly vanished.

It was evident that the middle-aged steward possessed considerable skill. And the Qiexue guard, who had earlier feigned clumsiness, was certainly no ordinary person.

The veiled woman calmly asked, "This gentleman, you must not be the steward of this Deputy Military Commissioner's mansion, are you?"

The middle-aged man didn't try to conceal anything. He nodded and said, "I serve at Qingliang Mountain, handling various duties, welcoming guests and seeing them off."

She instantly understood, her tone gaining a hint of respect as she smiled and asked, "Are you Steward Song from the Wutong Courtyard of the Princely Mansion?"

The middle-aged man, whose family had served the Xu family of Beiliang for two generations, first gestured with his eyes for the maid to continue leading the way. Then, walking alongside the veiled woman who had recognized him, he smiled and said, "I didn't expect the Princess Consort to have heard of me."

The veiled woman was indeed Princess Consort Qingluan of Beimang, disguised as Fan Bainu. She was renowned as the foremost drummer on horseback in the grasslands. The story of Fan Bainu and the former Beiliang Protector-General Chen Zhibao, a tale of a hero and a beauty, was once widely circulated in Beiliang.

She said softly, "The King of Shu often mentioned your father, Mr. Song, during casual conversations."

Song Yu, the head steward of Qingliang Mountain, frowned but did not reply.

Even many spies and assassins who joined the Fushui Residence later in Beiliang today probably don't know that the old steward, who was always coughing, was actually a co-founder of the Fushui Residence, just like Li Yishan of Tingchao Pavilion and the current Chu Lushan. The reason the Old Demon of the Lake was imprisoned beneath Tingchao Lake was because he couldn't defeat Sword Nine Huang. But why Sword Nine Huang stayed at Qingliang Mountain as a stableman is another secret, long buried deep within the Fushui Residence's confidential archives. After Xu Xiao was enfeoffed as a king in Beiliang, countless remnants of the Central Plains and wandering martial artists, as numerous as crossing carp, flocked to Qingliang Mountain to seek revenge on the Xu family. If the "Old Cripple," the Butcher, couldn't be killed even with every tactic employed, it was because Xu Xiao had his personal guards, Xu Yanbing and Han Laoling, who were King Xiu's junior disciples. Then why did Prince Xu Fengnian, who frequently wandered the three states of Beiliang at the time, manage to stay alive and eventually inherit the title, even though his ostensible servants and escorts were barely adequate for squabbling with other idle young noblemen of Beiliang, let alone facing true martial arts masters and top assassins?

Song Yu, the steward of Wutong Courtyard at the time, an unassuming figure with a gentle demeanor and mild temper, seemed to spend all his early years paying for the dissolute Prince's indulgences at pleasure houses and presenting gold and silver plaques to the wandering martial artists who caught his master's eye. This seemingly harmless fellow, who appeared to only clean up the Prince's messes, was the true mastermind behind everything.

Before "White Fox Face" had read all the secret manuals in the Tingchao Lake arsenal, another person had actually accomplished this feat first.

This person was Song Yu. Although he had sustained severe injuries in his youth, leaving him with an incurable ailment that limited his physical cultivation to only a Second-Rank Junior Grandmaster, yet, considering his profound insight and the array of Profound-Realm secret arts he had mastered by drawing from various schools, Song Yu could truly be considered the second most powerful person in Qingliang Mountain after Xu Fengnian.

When Fan Bainu was led by Song Yu to a pavilion near a lake, she recognized the young princely lord almost instantly.

The seats in the pavilion had no distinction between host and guest, or rank. The young princely lord was surrounded by a graceful scholar in white, a tall and imposing old man, and a middle-aged man who bore a striking resemblance to the old man.

Upon seeing Fan Bainu and her retinue, the young princely lord slowly rose, walked to the top of the steps, and, smiling, greeted the enemy princess who had quietly infiltrated Liangzhou.

For some reason, after witnessing this scene, Fan Bainu not only felt no relief but instead grew to despise the young man named Xu even more.

She didn't know why this was. Perhaps it was because he forced Chen Zhibao to leave Beiliang. Perhaps it was his identity as Xu Xiao's eldest legitimate son. Or perhaps it was the lingering effects of the brutal Battle of Hulukou, news of which had reached the Beimang Royal Tent. Or perhaps it was the recent news of Hong Jingyan's death.

Fan Bainu quickly suppressed her feelings of aversion, trying her best to remain calm. After all, even a slight hint of abnormality in front of a martial grandmaster like Xu Fengnian would be noticed.

Although the four men had initially been drinking, there was a small, exquisite huanghuali tea table in the pavilion, complete with a full tea set. This was likely Beiliang's way of treating female guests who were not on the battlefield.

As expected, the curvaceous and beautiful maidservant followed Fan Bainu up the steps, her eyes downcast, her steps light. She sat down beside the tea table and began skillfully preparing tea.

With the conclusion of Hong Jia's northern flight, many Spring and Autumn era remnants of noble birth brought the refined elegance of the Central Plains to the Beimang nobility, like a spring breeze and nourishing rain. Tea drinking was one such custom. Before this, Beimang's impression of Central Plains tea drinking was simply putting in tea leaves and pouring water. Now, even elaborate rules like the 'Seven Prohibitions and Twelve Appropriatenesses,' which were even more fastidious than those of the Great Feng era, had become established practice, and they were followed impeccably.

Xu Fengnian sat down again, facing Fan Bainu, who had removed her veil. He introduced the others: Mr. Bailian from Longhu Mountain, Yang Shenxing (the current Deputy Military Commissioner of Beiliang), and Yang Huchen (Yang Shenxing's son, currently serving as Deputy General of Jizhou). Finally, he added that none of them were outsiders, and Princess Consort Qingluan could speak freely.

As Fan Bainu carefully weighed her words, Xu Fengnian suddenly looked at the three Beimang Qiexue guards outside the pavilion, then turned his gaze back to her and slowly said, "If I'm not mistaken, the golden peach-skin sheathed 'White Rainbow' saber was commissioned by the Yelü imperial family thirty years ago. Only sixteen were ever made. Excluding a few kept in the royal armory, only nine were bestowed throughout Beimang. Huang Songpu, Liu Gui, and Yang Yuanzan all received one. The most recent two were given when Dong Zhuo became the Great King of the Southern Court and Zhong Tan was promoted to Xiazhabo. For someone outside the pavilion to carry such a saber, and clearly an old one worn for many years, I believe their status cannot be lower than that of a princess consort. Why don't they join us in the pavilion for a drink and try some of our Beiliang's 'Green Ant' wine?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Fan Bainu's eyes, and she was about to speak. But the young princely lord's next words almost made her rise in indignation.

"The reason I know the origin of this saber has nothing to do with extensive knowledge or erudition. It's simply that Tingchao Pavilion already possesses an actual example of this saber. It seems Xu Xiao personally took it from the waist of a Yelü prince on the grasslands years ago. And last year, Yang Yuanzan left another one at Hulukou."

She sneered, "Your Lordship's military achievements are naturally illustrious, no less than your ancestors'. But there's no need to use this battle saber to remind outsiders."

Xu Fengnian shook his head and chuckled, saying, "Princess Consort, you're overthinking it. If I wanted to flaunt my power to you, I wouldn't have received the four of you here. Since you came from Youzhou, wouldn't it have been simpler and more convenient to send you directly to Hulukou?"

Fan Bainu abruptly stood up.

Xu Fengnian ignored her, and as he reached for his wine cup, he calmly said, "After traveling thousands of miles to Liangzhou City, if the Princess Consort leaves her seat and then wishes to sit down again, it won't be as easy as before."

She smiled faintly, turned, and said something in the Beimang language to the Qiexue guard with the saber, whose identity was hidden. The latter strode towards the pavilion, and she calmly took her seat again.

Xu Fengnian asked directly, "I'm curious, which important figure facilitated the Princess Consort's journey south?"

She replied straightforwardly, "It was His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince."

Xu Fengnian showed little surprise, uttering an "Hmm." "So, what price did he offer to buy your Beimang Emperor's throne?"

Fan Bainu shook her head and said, "Your Lordship's words are biased. Who sits on the Beimang dragon throne in the future will indeed be significantly influenced by the decisions your Lordship makes today, but it won't reach the extent implied by your Lordship's words."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Not to that extent? Then why would the Princess Consort risk execution to come to Beiliang? To drink the northwest wind?"

Fan Bainu hesitated, as if about to speak but then holding back.

The maidservant, who had been focused on brewing tea with her gaze fixed downwards, had finished pouring. She should have served the tea, but she hesitated, not daring to interrupt the two parties.

Xu Fengnian intervened at the right moment, saying, "Princess Consort, this is this year's new tea from Lake Chunshen. Have a taste. However, Liangzhou isn't like Lingzhou; there isn't much well water, let alone sweet mountain springs, so please make do with what we have."

Fan Bainu used three fingers to take the seven-tenths-full teacup and took a sip, lowering her head.

Her posture remained perfectly straight.

She was, of course, a captivating beauty, exuding an inviolable, cool demeanor.

This aura, capable of keeping ordinary people at a distance, was precisely what appealed to certain high-ranking individuals.

It's likely that almost any man, given the choice between the Princess Consort and the maid, would choose the former.

However, Xu Fengnian's gaze remained clear. He paid no attention to the Qiexue guard standing behind Princess Qingluan, his hand on his saber, watching them with an imposing air.

After she gently set down the teacup, Xu Fengnian said, "I originally thought this was Yelü Dongchuang's instruction. After all, before he returned to Beimang, he specifically came to Wudang Mountain with Deng Mao to meet me, and he offered a price then. When Hong Jingyan's Rouran Iron Cavalry were able to leave Hulukou with their formation intact, it was partly because he wisely avoided battle, and partly because the Rouran Iron Cavalry were mentioned in that deal. Additionally, our main target was Yang Yuanzan's primary army, and we didn't want to waste troops on the Rouran Iron Cavalry. Since I'm being so candid, and there's a Beimang Crown Prince with even greater influence than Yelü Dongchuang standing behind the Princess Consort, I believe the next offer shouldn't be lower than Yelü Dongchuang's."

This news struck the Beimang Princess Consort like a thunderbolt.

It wasn't surprising that Yelü Dongchuang harbored ambitions. But for him to brazenly make a deal face-to-face with the King of Beiliang so early, even before the first great Liang-Mang war had fully settled – if confirmed by the Royal Tent on the grasslands, would undoubtedly spark an unprecedented bloodbath between the two already estranged surnames.

As a result, Xu Fengnian's next jest didn't strike her as funny at all; instead, it sent chills down her spine.

"For instance, back when I was still the idle Crown Prince, I would greatly admire those wandering martial artists who mistakenly thought they were grandmasters. If they accepted too little silver, I wouldn't be pleased; in fact, I'd be angry, feeling they were disrespecting my status as the 'Crown Prince'. So, since your Crown Prince has sent the Princess Consort to Beiliang this time, make sure you bring enough 'silver'."

She exhaled softly, gazing at the young princely lord for the first time—or rather, truly looking at him for the first time—but she did not rush to speak.

Suddenly, Xu Fengnian looked up at the two expressionless, ordinary Qiexue guards outside the pavilion. "Hmm? There's killing intent."

Princess Qingluan was startled at first, then her expression drastically changed, and she immediately turned to look.

But under the gaze of everyone in the pavilion, both Qiexue guards appeared bewildered.

In an instant,

Someone in the pavilion drew a saber.

With a single strike, its power was no less than Gu Jiantang's 'Inch Thunder'.