White Fox Face entered seclusion again. She had barely stepped into Tide-Listening Pavilion when the lake surface shattered completely. Not only that, the entire lake began to ripple, and countless koi leaped out of the water, leaving Yu Youwei in a daze.

Shangyin Academy taught various subjects but strictly prohibited invoking ghosts and gods. However, Yu Youwei didn’t believe the strange and bizarre scene before her could be achieved by human power. Even Jiang Ni, accustomed to seeing thousands of carp facing the sky, frowned, unable to figure out the reason.

Xu Fengnian pondered for a moment, muttered a curse under his breath, and threw the cucumber he’d been biting into the container.

Old Huang the groom trotted over with hands in his sleeves, probably just there to join the fun.

This old servant had rather special status in the Prince’s mansion. He had no relatives or friends, but because he’d raised horses for the Crown Prince and Second Princess for many years, even the gloomy Steward Shen would slow down and nod when seeing the old groom. And no matter who he saw, Old Huang always had the same simple and honest look – grinning, missing front teeth, silly smile.

Xu Fengnian gestured for Old Huang to sit down. The lake surface had calmed.

He ordered servants to prepare a covered boat to take Jiang Ni, Yu Youwei, and Old Huang to the lake center to warm wine and enjoy snow. Old Huang wasn’t very interested – besides feeding horses, he’d steal moments to drink a little wine. So he was all smiles, his old face beaming.

Once inside the boat, Old Huang lit the stove and added firewood as needed. The wine wasn’t yellow wine, but a local Lingzhou specialty, new wine brewed at a manor outside the Prince’s residence. Unsightly lees floated on the surface, slightly green in color, as fine as ants. It was called “Green Ant Wine” by some poor scholars in Lingzhou who couldn’t afford good wine. There weren’t many rules, but the Grand Pillar of State really liked it.

Green Ant Wine truly gained fame because of the opening line “Newly brewed Green Ant Wine, small red clay stove,” written by the Second Princess of the Northern Liang Royal Palace when she was ten years old. This line was highly praised by scholars in the Liang region then spread widely. It was hailed as a masterpiece by many scholars in the capital, and for a time created a trend of warming Green Ant Wine in winter.

Xu Xiao, the Prince of Beiliang, had two sons – Xu Fengnian and Xu Longxiang – and two daughters, the eldest being Xu Zhihu and the second being Xu Weixiong. The Second Princess’s name was anything but girly. She’d been exceptionally intelligent [noodles]from a young age, excelling in swordsmanship and poetry, possessed profound understanding of the world, and entered Shangyin Academy at age sixteen to study strategy and statecraft under Han Guzi. The only flaw was that while the Second Princess was brilliant, her appearance was rather plain, far less striking than the First Princess and Crown Prince.

Jiang Ni still didn’t drink alcohol. She hated Green Ant Wine and everything related to that woman – her hatred for her second only to Xu Fengnian.

Yu Youwei drank several bowls, while Xu Fengnian and Old Huang drank the rest in large gulps.

At Tide-Listening Pavilion, a tense atmosphere reigned, as if facing a formidable enemy. The Grand Pillar of State, clad in thick fox fur, saw the group board the ship and waved his hand. Six or seven shadow experts from the Prince’s mansion slowly withdrew, and three of the five tower guards emerged.

With alcohol taking hold, Xu Fengnian, eyes blurry with drunkenness, pointed at Jiang Ni, then at Yu Youwei, saying with a grin:

“You, and you too – we have no real grudge, yet you’ve made it seem like we’re mortal enemies. Kill me? Fine. Jiang Ni, take out the Divine Talisman and I’ll let you stab me. I want to see if my Black Kui Armor is stronger or your dagger sharper. How about we make a bet? If you win, the outcome is obvious. If I win, you’ll have to give me a smile, Princess Taiping. How about it – is this a worthwhile deal?”

Jiang Ni narrowed her beautiful eyes, eager to try.

The surname Jiang. A Divine Talisman. Princess Taiping.

Yu Youwei, whose mother was once the late emperor’s sword attendant and whose father was a minor official in Western Chu, trembled, eliciting a lazy cry from Wu Meiniang in her arms.

Xu Fengnian threw off the thousand-gold fox fur coat he wore, tore open his inner garment collar, revealing the dark blue armor he’d been reluctant to remove since returning from his travels, and opened his chest: “Come on, stab me.”

Jiang Ni hesitated, waiting for her chance to strike, like a young leopard.

Old Huang wasn’t worried about bloodshed. The young master suffered from lack of experience during those first three years and was in rather sorry state. But the more time passed, the more cunning he became.

In the end, she gave up the tempting opportunity and sneered, “You would do a losing business? I’d rather believe a ghost than you.”

Xu Fengnian quickly dressed and put on his white fox fur coat again, laughing, “Thank goodness, I was scared witless. Really shouldn’t drink too much wine. Old Huang, go row the boat. We’re going back. We’ve escaped death.”

Jiang Ni’s eyes filled with frustration.

Old Huang kept laughing along with the young master.

Once ashore, Jiang Ni walked away in anger.

Instead of wearing the mink coat he’d sent to the courtyard, Yu Youwei handed over the fox fur coat she wore – the only one of its kind in the entire palace – and casually patted Wu Meiniang’s head, saying:

“You learned Fengzhou dialect to deceive others, but in the Banana Courtyard, a small test exposed you. On the boat, a half-real, half-fake Princess Taiping of Western Chu tricked you into revealing your true colors. Youwei, you’re really not suited to be an assassin or death warrior. From now on, just be a caged canary. See, I didn’t lie to you – there is extremely beautiful snow scenery here.”

After saying that, Xu Fengnian shouted the bandit slang “The wind is blowing hard, let’s get out of here,” and ran away with his servant Old Huang.

Yu Youwei, draped in fine fur, stood frozen in place, [Read on Jormuntl]her body indistinguishable between the white fox fur and snow.

In the sixth year of the Qianyuan era of the Liyang Dynasty, on the twenty-eighth day of the lunar calendar, Xu Xiao, Prince of Beiliang, and his heir Xu Fengnian set off at dawn. Except for Chen Zhibao and Chu Lushan who weren’t in the procession, the other four sworn sons accompanied them. Three hundred iron cavalrymen marched in grand procession to Jiuhua Mountain in Kunzhou.

Although this mountain was the sacred site of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, the Liyang Dynasty had always revered Daoism and suppressed Buddhism. Furthermore, Jiuhua Mountain was located remotely with no large temples or Buddha statues to worship. Most importantly, in recent years the Grand Pillar of State had intentionally driven away idle believers, making Jiuhua Mountain appear particularly isolated.

At the mountaintop stood Thousand Buddha Pavilion with a huge bell on its roof. There were many rules for striking the bell – 108 times daily, not more, not less. Morning and evening bells were struck 18 times each, then 18 times slowly, then 18 times at moderate pace, repeated twice daily for 108 total strikes. This corresponded to the twelve months’ 24 solar terms and 72 climate periods of the year. In Buddhism, it symbolized eliminating the 108 roots of affliction.

After the princess passed away, Xu Xiao, who’d never taken a concubine in his life, made up his mind never to remarry. Moreover, every year on Qingming Festival, Double Ninth Festival and the 29th day of the lunar calendar, he’d personally come to Thousand Buddha Pavilion atop the mountain to ring the bell twice daily, morning and evening.

Before even entering the mountain gate, everyone tacitly dismounted and removed their armor. Xu Xiao and Xu Fengnian walked side by side, while the four sworn sons – Yuan Zuozong, Ye Xizhen, Yao Jian, and Qi Dangguo – kept their distance, not daring to overstep.

Among the four, “Left Bear” was a vanguard general who could take a general’s head from midst of vast army as easily as taking something from a bag – a first-class warrior, also outstanding in military strategy and tactics.

Ye Xizhen was a scholar-general, skilled in open strategies and planning behind scenes, completely opposite to Luqiu’er who preferred underhanded schemes.

Yao Jian was from a side branch of the Daoist sect, skilled in finding auspicious dragon veins and observing landforms. He always carried a well-worn Geographical Classic and liked to squat and taste soil when he had nothing to do.

Qi Dangguo was the banner bearer of the Xu-character King’s Banner of the Beiliang Iron Cavalry.

As for Chen Zhibao, leader of the noodlessix known as “Little Butcher,” his life’s achievements could be roughly gleaned from that single nickname.

That night, the six spent the night at the ancient temple atop the mountain. On the morning of the 29th day of the lunar calendar, Grand Pillar of State Xu Xiao rang the bell 108 times. Before descending the mountain at dusk, Xu Xiao and Xu Fengnian stood in Thousand Buddha Pavilion’s corridor. The Grand Pillar of State said softly, “After your coming-of-age ceremony, you’ll be the one to ring the bell.”

Xu Fengnian nodded and hummed agreement.

As mountain breeze suddenly rose, the sea of clouds dispersed in twilight, making surrounding mountains resemble fairy islands in the sea. The breeze rose again and they were once more hidden in waves of clouds, creating a majestic scene. Occasionally, a dozen thick mushroom-shaped cloud pillars would rise into the sky from the sea of clouds, slowly falling and dissipating, turning into wisps of drifting clouds – a unique sight of Jiuhua Mountain.

Xu Xiao pointed to the mysterious scene and said:

“Very few people can have a smooth life for decades. Ups and downs are the norm. Even those veterans of three dynasties in court who have one foot in the coffin are no exception. Your father’s glory was earned through countless high-stakes gambles, so he was most afraid of people saying the higher you climb, the harder you fall. He was afraid that if he fell, he’d drag you all down with him. Being a military general and being enfeoffed as a prince of different surname is already the pinnacle. Being a civil official and being Grand Pillar of State is also the ultimate achievement. Such extraordinary honors can be counted on one hand in the four hundred years of the Liyang Dynasty.”

In the father and son’s view, the scene was like surging ocean waves or like a snowball rolling on ground.

The Grand Pillar of State’s voice was mellow and upright, revealing the unique intensity of Green Ant Wine.

“It’s just you and me, father and son, with maybe your mother in heaven. There are no outsiders here. So I’ll be frank: Li Yishan is right. Success is easy, but retreat is difficult. I’m already in a bind.

Three years ago, the court intended to summon you to the capital. His Majesty even intended to bestow his most beloved twelfth princess upon you in marriage. At that time, you’d have to go to the capital to become a prince consort – prestigious title but in reality, a hostage. However, I politely declined and sent you to travel three years on foot for six thousand miles to silence the court. But this was still only temporary.

I’m waiting. If His Majesty still refuses to give up, humph! Xu Xiao killed someone with a blade at age ten. After forty years of military service, I haven’t read many moral essays. Then you can’t ​visit our site​blame Xu Xiao for being disloyal and unjust! Under command of Prince Xu, who among the three hundred thousand Beiliang iron cavalry dares to fight him head-on?”

Xu Fengnian smiled wryly, “Father, I have no interest in the throne. You’re too old for that. Don’t waste time and effort fighting for the throne so your son can become emperor. It’s foolish. Even if I became emperor, it wouldn’t be as comfortable as being crown prince.”

Xu Xiao glared, “Then are you willing to become a worthless imperial son-in-law? To be a caged bird like that woman surnamed Yu?”

Xu Fengnian rolled his eyes, “Even if you rebel, you can’t become emperor. The cold lands have never had feng shui to produce dragons. When has it ever had someone who unified the world?”

Xu Xiao sighed, “Li Yishan said the same thing. If you were just a good-for-nothing like Li Hanlin, I wouldn’t care. Being a prince consort wouldn’t be a problem. Even if living under someone else’s roof, at least you’d be under the palace eaves.

The words your second sister said to me before she went to Shangyin Academy were spot on. A family that appears prosperous and elegant on the surface is useless – most are hollow inside, especially worried about having no successors. The more wealthy and powerful a family, the worse it is when each generation of children and grandchildren deteriorates compared to families struggling to make ends meet.

So your father isn’t afraid of your extravagant spending at all. But Fengnian, you’ve given your father a huge problem. Tell me the truth: do you have any plans to hold the Northern Liang military command in the future? With your second sister as strategist, Yellow Barbarian leading the charge for you, and your father’s six sworn sons, even if your father dies, the three hundred thousand iron cavalry won’t be thrown into chaos or scattered.”

Xu Fengnian countered, “What do you think?”

Xu Xiao retorted, “Your father is getting on in years and has worked hard to build up such a large family fortune. You unfilial son should at least leave your father something to remember him by, shouldn’t you?”

Xu Fengnian said boldly, “Well, no problem at all. It’s just squandering money – that’s my specialty.”

In that instant, the Grand Pillar of State’s hunched back seemed to quietly straighten.