Chapter 918: Wind and Rain in Darkness, Finally Seeing the Gentleman

“Since entering the palace, I haven’t left Sui’an City by even a single step. I occasionally show myself, and have had few confrontations, and even fewer people remember them. In recent decades, that scholar named Cao Changqing was very…”

The young eunuch suddenly fell silent, as if unsure how to describe the elegant and handsome Western Chu scholar in his memory.

In the end, the young eunuch did not give a definitive assessment of Cao Changqing from Western Chu, merely passing over the topic. He looked up at Xu Fengnian and, for the first time, truly asked, "Will you usurp the throne and become emperor?"

Xu Fengnian frankly replied, "Because of Xu Xiao, I won't become emperor. But if Xu Xiao were gone, and my master could live ten more years, I would contend for it for him."

The young eunuch stared into Xu Fengnian's eyes and nodded, "You and I both show sincerity."

The sincerity of Xu Fengnian, the King of Beiliang, lay in his frankness, while the eunuch's sincerity was demonstrated by his willingness to leave the capital and come to Beiliang.

At that time, Xu Fengnian had caused a great stir both inside and outside the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. The young eunuch likely didn't intervene because the situation in the Central Plains then wasn't so critical that Beiliang's decision could instantly affect the fate of all clans in the realm.

As expected, the young eunuch chuckled, "If I had known this earlier, I wouldn't have let you leave when you were in the capital."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Even then, it wouldn't have been easy for you to keep me."

The young eunuch pondered for a moment, "Indeed, it wouldn't have been easy, with Hong Xixiang's residual soul by your side and Deng Tai'a watching the battle."

The young eunuch extended a hand.

Xu Fengnian also took a seat on the well curb.

The young eunuch sighed, "Fewer and fewer people are capable of sitting down and calmly discussing matters. I've witnessed many individuals; the higher their official position and the greater their military power, the more they lose control of their true selves. This is especially true for almost all emperors of Liyang."

Xu Fengnian said with a smile, "When you say such things, there's no hint of a murderous aura, yet a desire to kill arises. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

The young eunuch replied calmly, "Am I not also speaking about myself?"

Xu Fengnian helplessly said, "Setting aside our martial prowess, when it comes to audacity, you and I are evenly matched."

The young eunuch looked up, and in the twilight, saw dark clouds hanging low, as if a storm was brewing.

He turned to Xu Fengnian, "In Tai'an City, over these past few decades, I saw Xu Xiao when he was young, and also Zhang Julu. I didn't particularly like either of them. The first time Xu Xiao had an audience in the palace, he was still a miscellaneous general, exuding an aura so sharp he seemed capable of slaying gods and Buddhas. Zhang Julu, who served as a Huangmen Lang in the Hanlin Academy for many years, even when he was walking among the retiring court officials with a low rank, you could still perceive his proud air of purity amidst a corrupt world. I knew about Cao Changqing's three visits to the imperial palace, but I never appeared."

"In contrast, I found Huan Wen more agreeable. He was an exceptionally intelligent man who pretended to be foolish his entire life and was benevolent to everyone. That's why I met him alone in the palace twice, roughly twenty or thirty years apart. The second time, he still recognized me at a glance, but pretended not to, simply greeting me with a smile."

"Among the emperors of Liyang throughout history, the current young Son of Heaven, Zhao Zhuan, is considered the most magnanimous. Of course, this is only in comparison to his father and grandfathers."

Having listened quietly until this point, Xu Fengnian chuckled, "So that's why you made this trip to Beiliang?"

The young eunuch shook his head, "As long as they still bear the Zhao surname, whether it's Zhao Zhuan or not makes no difference."

The young eunuch then calmly stated, "Unfortunately, your surname is Xu, not Zhao."

As he finished speaking, a fine drizzle began to fall on the street, and the entire bluestone alley seemed to soften in outline.

The well was located at the corner of the street directly in front of the inn. From the inn's tower, Chen Wang, looking from afar, could just barely see the scene there.

Although shrouded by both night and rain, Chen Wang still recognized the identity of the young man standing by the well.

Chen Wang hesitated for a moment, then descended from the inn tower. However, before he could even exit the inn's main gate, he found Xu Beizhi already seated on the threshold, blocking his path.

Xu Beizhi, having found a pot of wine from somewhere, seemingly muttered to himself, "He said he wouldn't come, but he did, and then the main character didn't show up. It seems this seemingly ordinary stableman is extraordinary."

Chen Wang said in a deep voice, "Xu Beizhi, you'd best not stop me. That man's cultivation is absolutely beyond your imagination, perhaps even beyond your Lord's!"

Xu Beizhi's expression remained calm as he took a sip of wine, "Oh?"

"Xu Beizhi, perhaps Xu Fengnian doesn't need to fear anyone in this world, but the person he's facing now is an exception!" Chen Wang's tone was anxious. Clearly, for Chen Shaobao, known for his composure both in court and out, to be so flustered, it was certainly no small matter.

Xu Beizhi turned his head and asked with a smile, "Want a sip of wine to calm your nerves?"

Chen Wang was on the verge of cursing aloud, but seeing those clear eyes, he sighed heavily, took the wine pot, and took a large gulp of green-ant wine.

Xu Beizhi didn't take the wine pot Chen Wang offered back. Instead, he looked towards the end of the street again and murmured, "That guy and I fought our way back from Beimang to Beiliang, surviving many close calls, like being cornered by Fifth He of Tibing Mountain. Yet, I never doubted that I'd make it back to Beiliang alive. Deep down, I always felt that as long as I was with that guy, even if the sky fell, he'd be the first one to grumble and prop it up. In short, he'd have to die first before we would."

Xu Beizhi grinned, "Just like that guy won't tell me how much the Liyang court values me, I won't tell him these things either."

Suddenly, Xu Beizhi slapped his thigh, "Damn it! That time in Longjing County, Lingzhou, when I arm-wrestled with Zhong Hongwu, I got so drunk I passed out. He carried me back! Don't tell me I blabbed everything while drunk!"

Chen Wang was speechless, both amused and exasperated. At a time like this, are you still worrying about such things?

At this moment, Chen Wang recalled a trivial detail about Xu Beizhi, easily overlooked in the Ministry of Revenue's archives: in Beiliang, Xu Fengnian and Xu Beizhi, despite their extremely close relationship, never addressed each other as brothers. Instead, Xu Fengnian was the persimmon, and Xu Beizhi was the tangerine.

If their relationship wasn't confined to Beiliang but played out in the imperial court, it could probably be called a model of a harmonious ruler-subject relationship.

Chen Wang thought of the current Son of Heaven.

He smiled knowingly.

He also sat on the threshold and began to drink the wine on his own. It was a very unfamiliar taste; after all, he hadn't had this kind of hometown wine for over ten years.

But he still felt that Beiliang, his hometown, had nurtured him; the Liyang court had recognized his talent.

How could one find a way in this world to satisfy both, to be loyal to both home and country?

Would he end up failing both?

Just as he had failed her?

Chen Wang abruptly tilted his head back and drained the pot of green-ant wine in one gulp.

Xu Beizhi suddenly chuckled, "Minister Chen, you know, perhaps one day you'll return to your roots."

Chen Wang gripped the wine pot tightly and said softly, "Never again."

Regrets in this world often begin with the word "farewell."

And fortunate occurrences in this world often lie in truly meeting again later.

Unfortunately, regrets are many, and good fortunes are few.

Chen Wang repeated, "Never again."

The young eunuch slowly stood up, placing one hand on the well's windlass. "Your father, Zhang Julu, Cao Changqing, and you—along with those forgotten elders from Liyang's former dynasty—are actually all the same kind of people. I don't like any of you, but if I'm honest with myself, the reason I dislike you is actually envy."

The young eunuch fell into reminiscence. "The Diligence Chamber, where the Zhao imperial children were taught, existed for as many years as Liyang has been founded. A long time ago, I greatly admired scholars, so I often went to listen to their reading. I've forgotten much of what I heard, but for some reason, I still remember fragments: 'The wind and rain are cold, the wind and rain swirl, the wind and rain are dark, since I saw my lord...'"

Since I saw my lord!

The young eunuch, snapping back to reality, looked down at the young princely ruler who was still seated on the well curb and smiled, "In my heart, Cao Changqing and the others are gentlemen, and so are you. Therefore, whether in life or death, I am very pleased."

The raindrops on the small street grew heavier, and the young eunuch's smile deepened. "Perhaps being considered a gentleman by an unknown eunuch isn't something particularly worth celebrating, is it?"

Xu Fengnian stood up. "Of course, being considered a gentleman is worth celebrating. It's just that seeing you, I can't feel happy."

The young eunuch smiled faintly, "If you're not happy, how about a fight?"

Xu Fengnian replied with a smile, "Just as I wished. If something can be resolved with fists, it's best not to blabber. If we can't beat each other, then we can sit down and continue talking sense."

The young eunuch's eyes showed admiration. "No wonder you said our audacity was comparable. I've witnessed it."

Xu Fengnian looked up at the gloomy sky. "Someone once taught me that when navigating the jianghu, if you're not thick-skinned, you won't get far."

Just then, in the distance, Fan Xiaochai seemed unable to bear being a mere spectator. Slowly, she drew the Liang Saber from her waist and began to sprint wildly in the rain.

Mi Fengjie couldn't stop her at all.

If one looked closely, they would see Fan Xiaochai's clothes, soaked and dripping from the splashing rain. Her initial forward lean seemed light and gentle, but after only a dozen steps, it was as if a mountain pressed down on her head, forcing her to bend at the waist and rush forward.

On this street, every raindrop was a manifestation of true intent.

Drop by drop.

Blood began to seep from Fan Xiaochai's seven orifices, but the stubborn woman continued to charge forward frantically. With each step, the sound of her feet hitting the ground became heavier and more sluggish.

Xu Fengnian, with his back to Fan Xiaochai, casually flicked his sleeve, and she was instantly sent flying backward, colliding with a wall.

Against the wall, blood and rainwater mixed and trickled down her back.

Mi Fengjie looked back at Fan Xiaochai, who had returned only to be repelled, his eyes filled with helplessness and dread.

The young eunuch extended an arm horizontally and opened his palm. All the raindrops that fell into his hand did not become water; instead, they bounced up one by one, not straight, but spinning in arcs repeatedly, eventually gathering into a circle.

The young eunuch chuckled, "I'm not really good at fighting, but... I've never lost."

This time, Xu Fengnian directly pressed his left hand against the Liang Saber at his waist. "I'm not as old as you, but I've certainly been in more fights, and I... have never died."

"Never lost" naturally conveyed a subtle dominance.

"Never died," on the other hand, sounded like a joke, but one that absolutely no one could laugh at.

A small street, two Land Immortals.

One the youngest, one the oldest, due to an age gap of several hundred years.

The wind and rain are dark, since I saw my lord.

Yet, they still had to fight.

The old eunuch couldn't help but feel an urge to stomp his feet and curse. Didn't they say gentlemen use words, not fists?!