After a thoroughly refreshing fragrant bath, shedding the beggar refugee’s hemp shirt and straw sandals, changing into the brocade robes and jade ornaments of a great aristocratic house, and shaving off the stubble, Xu Fengnian was actually quite a handsome and eye-catching young master.

Among the six or seven most popular courtesans in Lingzhou were some with extraordinarily high standards and proud temperaments. That they fought jealously over him, willing to live or die for his favor, wasn’t solely due to the lavish rewards from the Prince of Beiliang’s Crown Prince. Though this Crown Prince often engaged in the unscrupulous practice of buying poetry with money, he was accomplished in the ways of romance – he could play go, discuss needlework, appreciate zither music, and watch dance performances. He was someone who could warm a woman’s heart.

In the Prince of Beiliang’s palace, which of the budding young maids hadn’t been groped by him? Yet though they might privately blush and grumble a few words, none truly detested him. At least this young master wasn’t the sort who would beat servants to death over a disagreement and throw them down a well or chop them up to feed the dogs.

Young Master Li from neighboring Fengzhou, who claimed to have grown up wearing the same pants as Crown Prince Xu, was precisely that sort – the Governor’s son who enjoyed the heaven-condemned pastime of throwing people into beast cages to be torn apart. By comparison, everyone in the palace was especially grateful to the Crown Prince.

If you asked who in the palace dared glare furiously at Xu Fengnian, making no effort to hide their hatred, that would be the female attendant Jiang Ni, who now kept her distance from the several smiling, fawning maids.

She’d entered the Prince of Beiliang’s palace at age twelve. That was when the Great Pillar of State had just destroyed the mighty Western Chu Dynasty. He’d been first to breach the imperial palace, but unlike the general who subsequently garrisoned Great Phoenix City and freely enjoyed everyone from the king’s consorts down to officials’ womenfolk, Xu Xiao had no interest in women or the Western Chu Emperor’s concubines. He hadn’t even prevented the virtuous empress who hanged herself alongside the Western Chu Emperor from her martyrdom. Rumor even had it that Xu Xiao personally provided the bolt of white silk.

In Western Chu, Jiang was the imperial surname, belonging exclusively to the royal family. So inevitably some suspected this young girl’s origins, but as Western Chu vanished into oblivion, such speculation faded. Dust was just dust.

Xu Fengnian of course knew better than anyone the hidden identity of this maid surnamed Jiang. He glanced sideways at the attendant Jiang ​unauthorized copy​Ni, who’d blossomed into graceful beauty, raised his hand to wave away the other maids, and only after they’d gone far enough did he say with a grin:

“What’s wrong, Princess Taiping? Disappointed I didn’t die abroad? Don’t worry, I haven’t deflowered you yet, so I’m truly reluctant to die. Tsk tsk, Princess, your chest is getting more and more mountainous. I think you should be called ‘Princess Uneven’ to suit the occasion.”

Jiang Ni, once a princess and now a maid bearing the hatred of a destroyed nation and ruined family, remained unmoved, face stern, eyes gloomy, wishing she could bite this lecher to death.

Hidden in her sleeve was the dagger “Divine Talisman,” historically praised as worth twelve cities. Given even a sliver of opportunity, though she couldn’t bear to kill even a chicken, she would unhesitatingly sever Xu Fengnian’s head. But from the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a middle-aged man in casual clothing and had to forcibly suppress the impulse to risk her life.

The man was in his thirties, nine feet tall, face heroically resolute, handsome as jade, graceful as a tree in the wind. He habitually squinted as if drowsy. This was Yuan Zuozong, the “Left Bear” among the Prince of Beiliang’s six sworn sons. With his white horse and silver spear, he’d never met his match on the battlefield. He was definitely among the top three fighters in the entire dynasty’s military, with some saying he was only a hair’s breadth from the realm of the Ten Great Masters. Facing this killing god accustomed to using human skulls as wine bowls, Jiang Ni didn’t dare make any rash moves.

Before his journey, Xu Fengnian had shamelessly said, “I’ll give you one chance to kill me. If you can’t kill me the second time, I’ll kill you.”

Unfortunately, that year when she’d just matured, she’d learned to apply rouge and wear fine clothes to seduce him. She’d finally managed to lure him to bed, and during intimacy stabbed down with a blade, but only struck his shoulder – piercing to the bone but not fatally. This bastard had merely slapped her once, then dressed and got up, saying two sentences. The first was, “Next time you won’t be so lucky. Don’t waste it.”

“Your Highness, Your Highness! I’ve finally seen Your Highness. These three years, this humble one couldn’t think of tea or remember meals!”

A richly dressed fat man came charging over in a run that was more accurately described as tumbling and [stolen content]crawling, face genuinely covered in snot and tears, utterly shameless.

Jiang Ni wore an expression of disgust no less than when facing Xu Fengnian. Yuan Zuozong, personally protecting the Crown Prince, turned his head away in disdain, eyes full of contempt.

This pig-like bloated fatty, able to pass through layers of strict security to reach Xu Fengnian, naturally had an extraordinary identity. In fact, like the Beiliang army’s number one fierce man “Left Bear,” he was also a sworn son of the Great Pillar of State, surnamed Chu with the given name Lushan, the “Hawk Hound” among the three dogs.

That snow-white peregrine falcon Xu Fengnian had shared hardship with for three years, “the most divine and spirited among the three hundred sixty feathered creatures,” had been trained by this fatty with more care than raising a wife or son.

This man’s reputation in the Beiliang army had always been extremely poor – honey-mouthed and dagger-hearted, lustful as life itself. Crown Prince Xu Fengnian’s first visit to a brothel had been led by him. He always said brothers are like limbs, women like clothing. In recent years, every few days he’d encourage Xu Fengnian to sleep with his beautiful concubines – truly a twisted path to unswerving loyalty that could move heaven.

“Couldn’t think of tea or remember meals? Fatty Chu, how come you look several dozen pounds fatter?” Xu Fengnian sneered, grabbing the fat man’s neck.

The fatty being choked protested with a flushed face, “Your Highness, I’ve lost weight, lost a whole circle! If Your Highness doesn’t believe me, this humble one will immediately go weigh himself. For every pound gained, I’ll cut off a pound of flesh – ten pounds gained, cut ten pounds!”

Xu Fengnian released his neck, patting Chu Lushan’s jiggly fat cheeks, laughing, “Truly good brothers.”

This Fatty Chu, who now occupied the lofty Third Rank position of Dragon-Martial General of a Thousand [Read on Jormuntl]Bulls, was having his face casually slapped. Third Rank – as long as it wasn’t one of those empty honorary titles, in any province, that was a top official. Moreover, as Dragon-Martial General holding the tiger tally commanding three thousand elite troops. Yet not only did this fatty not feel humiliated, his expression showed he felt supremely honored.

He brought his pig-head-sized noggin closer and chuckled, “Your Highness, I’ve recently taken a beautiful new concubine, delicate skin and tender flesh, so soft you could squeeze water from her. Haven’t dared enjoy her yet – been saving her specially for Your Highness. Might Your Highness spare the time to grace us with your presence? First drink some wine, listen to a little tune, then…?”

Xu Fengnian nodded. “Sounds good.”

The two exchanged a smile, looking as treacherous as could be. The ancient saying about wolves and jackals in cahoots – it basically described these two scourges.

Just as Fatty Chu was warmly inquiring after the Crown Prince’s circumstances over these three years, the Prince of Beiliang slowly approached. Within the dynasty were several Pillar of States, but Great Pillar of State was a unique position, second only to the Sky-Strategy General, which was only filled during national crises.

Xu Xiao had spent his life in military campaigns. In his youth when leading armies, he’d still charge into battle personally, such that the former Emperor had specially issued an edict commanding him not to personally breach enemy lines. Later when campaigning against Western Chu, his left leg took an arrow and he was left with a slight limp.

Xu Xiao didn’t mind those scholarly elites mocking him as “Barbarian Xu,” but if anyone dared secretly curse him as “Xu the Cripple,” that was absolutely a fight to the death. Once, a beloved trusted general of the Marquis of Wu’an, who’d campaigned against Western Chu alongside him, paid the price for youthful arrogance. Xu Xiao found a random excuse to behead him publicly, hanging his head alongside a row of famous Western Chu generals’ skulls atop the Western Chu imperial city walls.

The Marquis of Wu’an dared be angry but didn’t dare speak, not even protesting a word to His Majesty the Emperor afterward. Xu Xiao with graying temples wasn’t particularly tall in stature, his appearance even more unremarkable. Middle-aged and slightly lame, now with a slight stoop, as if bearing the burden of three hundred thousand vengeful ghosts.

Fatty Chu, sharp-eyed and sharp-eared with a nimble mind, immediately restrained his expression and prostrated himself on the ground. Being equally a sworn son, Yuan Zuozong had much more backbone and spine, merely bowing according to standard etiquette.

Prince of Beiliang Xu Xiao gently waved his hand, having Chu Lushan fetch his own stool to sit on. He himself tried to sit together with his son on the wooden couch, only to get kicked in the rear by the furious-faced Xu Fengnian, forcing him to awkwardly select a bench to sit nearby.

Fatty Chu broke out in cold sweat, sitting on pins and needles, not daring to wipe it.

Yuan Zuozong smiled knowingly. Xu Fengnian blew a whistle, wrapped a piece of Shu brocade around his arm, summoned down the peregrine falcon that Fatty Chu had trained, took a glazed cup filled with grape wine, and sighed dramatically:

“Little White, oh Little White, these three years you’ve really suffered. No wine to drink, no meat to eat, nearly got killed and stewed. I’ve wronged you.”

The Great Pillar of State looked thoroughly ashamed, sighing repeatedly.

The maid Jiang Ni, whose beauty grew more devastating as she matured, let out a soft cold laugh. She thought this snow-white peregrine falcon had truly met with misfortune, just like her.

This rare flying creature only existed in the frozen lands north of Jinzhou. If hunters captured one, they’d be pardoned from any crime short of treason. Back in the day, even Western Chu aristocrats would pay any price for this spiritual creature nicknamed “Azure-White Luan,” yet they remained impossible to obtain.

The one on Xu Fengnian’s arm was even more remarkable – the finest grade of Azure-White Luan, a “Six-Year Phoenix,” even rarer and more marvelous than a “Three-Year Dragon.” Once, a [Read on Jormuntl]clan patriarch from Yongzhou in the cold lands offered a thousand taels of gold and three beautiful women in exchange for “Little White,” only to be cursed to his face with “Get lost” by the domineering Xu Fengnian. That prominent authority who could command wind and rain locally had his nose thoroughly bloodied.

Xu Fengnian hummed, “Xu Xiao, I ask you – if someone bullies your son, what should a father do?”

The Great Pillar of State replied with a placating smile and matter-of-fact tone, “Naturally, confiscate their property and exterminate their clan. If that’s still not satisfying, seize their wives and concubines as cattle and horses, squander their wealth in an instant.”

Jiang Ni, who hadn’t left Tide-Listening Pavilion, felt her gaze darken, unable to hide the bone-deep hatred in her autumn-water eyes.

Xu Fengnian pulled out a small sheet of Xuan paper from his breast, covered with surnames, families, and various martial sects large and small. Patting his father the Prince of Beiliang’s shoulder, he said through gritted teeth, “Father, don’t you always say a gentleman takes revenge after ten years while a petty man takes revenge overnight? These people are my enemies. Deal with them all immediately.”

Xu Xiao took the paper. Without even looking, he first hastily praised “My son has excellent calligraphy!” He glanced generally, was about to grandly say no problem, then looked carefully, reading every character without omission. His expression turned slightly bitter:

“Son, these enemies are a bit too numerous – no fewer than a hundred! Look, this Governor of Huizhou – just because his son was a bit effeminate, traveling with a beauty at Azure Snail Lake, you spotted them from afar and want his official hat removed? And this Langya Wang clan of Guanzhong – just because household servants cursed ‘Beiliang barbarians’ a few times while drinking, you want the clan exterminated? As for this Xuanyuan aristocratic family in the martial world, what did they do to anger my son that you want the entire family exiled to Jinzhou, and specifically want the girl named Xuanyuan Qingfeng made an official prostitute?”

Xu Fengnian gazed at his beloved peregrine pecking at wine, sighing deeply, “Little White, oh Little White, you have it good – you have a master who knows how to cherish you. I have it terrible – no father’s love, no mother’s care. Living is just suffering. No point.”

The Great Pillar of State quickly laughed, “Father will do it, Father will do it, absol[Read on Jormuntl]utely no objections.”

Promise made, the decisive and vigorous Xu Xiao turned around. Facing Yuan Zuozong and Chu Lushan, he had no pleasant expression, saying darkly:

“Zuozong, prepare two regiments of imperial cavalry, await orders at any moment. This king will immediately petition above for an imperial edict – nothing more than trampling the martial world with horses once again. Lushan, give proper notice to officials in provinces along the route who have close relations with this king. Treacherous ministers and thieves on the list – kill those who should be killed. Just find some pleasant-sounding pretexts, don’t be too ostentatious. After all, we’re operating on others’ territory. No need to rush completion – I’ll give you a year and a half to plan slowly. This kind of thing is your specialty.”

Yuan Zuozong bowed. “Command received.”

Fatty Chu also rose and bent over, eyes vicious, face excited. “Luqiu’er obeys.”

Jiang Ni lamented inwardly. Were countless innocent people about to suffer calamity for an absurd reason? How many pitiful souls separated from wives and children would never understand the source of their catastrophic disaster?

But at this moment, Xu Fengnian took back the paper and produced another, with only about a tenth as many names on the list. He smiled, “Old dad, how could I really make you enemies with over a dozen wealthy clans and half the martial world? Look, this one – just making these people suffer will do. The officials are all corrupt officials, the commoners all unruly subjects. Killing them is perfectly justified, executing heaven’s will. It’ll definitely accumulate virtue, better than building seven hundred levels of pagodas.”

Xu Xiao breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Seeing his son about to get angry again, he immediately deliberately put on a serious face, solemnly accepted the second paper, and nodded. “In that case, there’s no need to mobilize forces so massively. Within one year, Father guarantees to let you be out of sight, out of mind. My son is truly filial, even knows to help Father resolve worries and accumulate virtue.”

Xu Fengnian tossed a half-peeled orange that Xu Xiao had personally peeled into stolen content his mouth, mumbling, “Of course.”

Xu Xiao gave his sworn son Chu Lushan a sharp look. The latter took the paper and immediately withdrew. Fat though he was, carrying over two hundred pounds of flesh, when he moved it was as silent as floating over grass.

Seeing his son’s complexion gradually turning ruddy, Xu Xiao felt deeply gratified. He asked gently and ingratiatingly, “Son, when Father said you weren’t his biological child, it meant you don’t look like Father – you take after your mother.”

Hearing this, Xu Fengnian merely grunted acknowledgment.

The Great Pillar of State, who’d been cooped up in the cold lands recuperating for over a decade, knew this topic wasn’t particularly pleasing, so he switched subjects. “Yellow Barbarian won’t go to Dragon-Tiger Mountain. Help persuade him – he only listens to you.”

Xu Fengnian nodded. “Got it. Go busy yourself, don’t interfere with my fishing.”

Xu Xiao chuckled, “Let me stay a bit longer. Haven’t talked with you in three years.”

Xu Fengnian glared. “If you knew this would happen, why did you drive me from home?! Get lost!”

That single “Get lost” carried the force of a dragon.

Poor, pitiful Prince of Beiliang immediately greased his heels and didn’t dare stay longer.

For some reason, every time Jiang Ni faced the Great Pillar of State, who before Xu Fengnian seemed no different from any ordinary wealthy patriarch who failed to discipline his sons properly, her entire body would turn cold, leaving only bone-piercing iciness. Toward this man more worthy of hatred than Xu Fengnian, she didn’t dare reveal half a thread of killing intent.

At first she thought herself cowardly, but as she grew older and bolder, she dared even less to act rashly. It was as if this butcher of men who’d been entirely encased in black armor when first charging into the palace on horseback was the most terrifying person under heaven.

Only later did she learn that the dynasty’s former Emperor had personally promised to treat the Western Chu royal house well, even to enfeoff her father the Emperor as king. Yet Xu Xiao had still, right before young Jiang Ni nestled in her father’s arms, run her father through with a sword – that kind Western Chu Emperor who loved poetry but not warfare – then tossed a bolt of white silk to her mother the Empress.

Princess Taiping Jiang Ni, whose true name was Jiang Si, never could understand the butcher Xu Xiao who’d told her mother, who initially harbored thoughts of survival, “If you don’t want to become a plaything beneath someone’s crotch, then kill yourself.”

But karmic retribution never fails – this ruthless and merciless man had two worthless sons. One was a fool, one a dandy without great ambition.

The fool had divine strength, but even so, he couldn’t be the backbone of Beiliang’s three hundred thousand cavalry. So Jiang Ni would kill Crown Prince Xu Fengnian, who would inherit the princely title. That way, no matter how powerful Xu Xiao was in life, how much he stood below one and above ten thousand, he couldn’t avoid the day when everything would collapse and his followers scatter. So Jiang Ni was willing to wait, willing to live in degradation.

Xu Fengnian shook his arm, dismissing the Azure-White Luan from his hand, tossing aside the small piece of Shu brocade ​stolen content​punctured with holes by sharp talons. He smiled at Yuan Zuozong, the Martial God of Beiliang who’d stood respectfully to the side throughout, “Third Brother Yuan, go rest.”

Yuan Zuozong, who’d never heard such an intimate form of address, froze for a moment, hesitated, then bowed and departed.

Tide-Listening Pavilion was finally quiet. Looking out, everywhere was picturesque scenery.

Xu Fengnian didn’t pick up the fishing rod but instead reclined on the couch, saying softly, “Jiang Ni, if you have the chance, you should go out and see the world.”

The fallen princess, not probing deeper into the meaning, laughed scornfully, “This journey of the Crown Prince will bring unwarranted disaster to a whole group of people. What grand gestures, truly worthy of being the Great Pillar of State’s son.”

Xu Fengnian turned his head and smiled. “If not for this, could I have erased your virgin mark?”

The corner of Jiang Ni’s mouth curved in disdain, stirring up towering hatred. If it could be weighed on a scale – a thousand pounds of hate, ten thousand taels of resentment.

Xu Fengnian smiled. “Do you know? When you’re angry, you look exactly the same as when you occasionally smile happily – you both have two little dimples. I love this about you most, so delay killing me a bit so I can look a few more times.”

Jiang Ni replied expressionlessly, “Just ​Read on Jormuntl​wait. Next time I kill you, I’ll smile most happily.”

Xu Fengnian sat up straight, grabbed a handful of fish feed from a phoenix-carved glass basin, and tossed it toward the lake beyond the railing, attracting countless koi to leap from the water. Watching this lively scene, the Crown Prince with his back to Jiang Ni sighed, “That will surely be the most moving scenery under heaven.”