Chapter 41

The little girl had said she was going to leave early, but on the first day, she complained of a stomachache and decided not to go. On the second day, she said she wanted to buy some New Year’s goods for her parents, and ended up dragging the Young Master around the city for the whole day. On the third day, she lay in bed, unwilling to get up, her eyes darting around, but she couldn’t think of a good excuse. Xu Fengnian was considerate and said that the almanac advised against long journeys that day. Then she made the Young Master accompany her on several rounds up and down Cool Mountain. On the fourth day, she finally ran out of excuses. The little monk Ben Nanbei was almost driven mad, and the little girl had no choice but to sigh and walk to the carriage Xu Fengnian had prepared for her. The carriage was piled high with snacks and fruits she loved, and she even charged the cosmetics to her account, promising to pay Xu Fengnian back the next time they met. As for whether the coins in the alms bowl under her father’s bed were enough, she didn’t care.

Seeing that the Young Master didn’t seem to be getting into the carriage, she anxiously asked, "Xu Fengnian, aren’t you seeing me off?"

Xu Fengnian looked up and said softly, "No, I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist taking you back once we’re out of the city."

The little girl immediately felt happy. See, Xu Fengnian still cared about her, his confidante. If he couldn’t see her off, so be it. He was still young, and she was still small; they would have plenty of opportunities to meet again. Besides, Xu Fengnian had promised to visit her home in at most two years. In her excitement, she forgot to tell the Young Master where she lived, which temple it was, and with countless temples in the world, even the Young Master, with all his abilities, wouldn’t know where to start looking. She sat in the carriage, playing with a string of 108 sandalwood prayer beads, a sacred Buddhist relic that the Young Master had devoutly sought from a revered monk on Jiuhua Mountain. The monk’s master had passed away at the age of 108, and the monk had chanted countless scriptures while holding these beads, imbuing them with a profound and ineffable merit.

It was clear that the seemingly carefree Young Master truly cherished this little girl.

That night, the grand and stirring Northern Liang Spirit Song, which stirred the emotions of the old soldiers in the city, had the little girl inexplicably run to the Young Master’s bedside. He pulled her into his arms, and she didn’t feel shy, listening to the song and smelling the alcohol, feeling a deep sense of peace.

Before getting into the carriage, the little monk bowed to Xu Fengnian. Xu Fengnian smiled and returned the bow. The little monk was more adept at human relations than the little girl and expressed heartfelt gratitude. He had no ill feelings toward the notorious North Liang’s top playboy, perhaps because Li Zi had spoken highly of Xu Fengnian before they met, giving him a good first impression. During this time, he only saw the Young Master putting aside his dignity to play with Li Zi, and not acting tyrannically or wickedly. In the end, the Young Master even brought several rare Buddhist scriptures from a large building, which the little monk couldn’t help but admire.

The carriage slowly moved, and the little girl lifted the curtain to wave vigorously.

Xu Fengnian smiled and waved back.

Once she could no longer see Xu Fengnian’s tall figure, the little girl plopped back onto the cushion, feeling somewhat annoyed and empty.

The little monk asked, "Li Zi, why didn’t I see the coachman Old Huang you mentioned?"

The previously listless little girl immediately became animated, saying, "Old Huang? He’s the most interesting. When he laughs, you can see he’s missing two front teeth. Old Huang is most fond of an ivory comb, which he always hides, afraid Xu Fengnian will take it to sell for money. But he’s willing to lend it to me to comb my hair. After all, Old Huang and I are very good friends!"

As long as Li Zi was happy, the little monk was happy too.

Even if Li Zi was happy because of Old Huang or Xu Fengnian, the little monk didn’t mind. He was just a simple and honest person.

The little girl suddenly tapped the little monk’s head, scolding, "Who told you to call me Li Zi?!"

The little monk covered his head, saying, "Xu Fengnian calls you that."

The little girl, angry and embarrassed, retorted, "Are you him? Will it be the same?"

The little monk timidly said, "Okay, Dongxi."

The little girl gritted her teeth, "Don’t call me Dongxi either! Wu Nanbei, you simpleton!"

The little monk wisely kept quiet. She was really angry, otherwise she wouldn’t have called him by his full name, Wu Nanbei. Her master used to always pull Li Zi’s braid and earnestly teach her that monks don’t speak their names and Taoists don’t speak their ages, and that one shouldn’t call a monk by his secular name. Sigh, her master, who had few great qualities, was at least good at this.

Li Dongxi.

Wu Nanbei.

Though the little monk’s face was restrained, he was inwardly happy: You are Dongxi, I am Nanbei, as long as we are together, that’s all that matters.

It was only after the little girl and the little monk left the city that Xu Xiao could finally show his face in his own mansion, sitting with Xu Fengnian in a pavilion by the lake, just the two of them, without even Chen Zhileao present.

The Great Pillar of the State had six adopted sons: Chen Zhileao, Yuan Zuozong, Ye Xizhen, Yao Jian, Qi Dangguo, and Chu Lushan, each with distinct personalities. The relationship between the Young Master and each of them was subtle. Xu Fengnian had never gotten along with Chen Zhileao since childhood, and he had no good feelings toward the two invincible warriors Yuan Zuozong and Qi Dangguo. However, their relationship had improved significantly in the past year, and they had shared several drinks. As for the scholarly general Ye Xizhen, his relationship with the Young Master remained average. On the other hand, Yao Jian, who was skilled in geomancy, had always been able to converse with Xu Fengnian. The young prince had always found it amusing to watch Yao Jian study the earth and locate acupuncture points. As for the rotund Luqiu, he was so obsequious that no one doubted he would hesitate to kill his own family if the Young Master asked.

Xu Xiao proudly said, "I met your second sister near the city gate. She didn’t scold me this time, isn’t that impressive?"

Xu Fengnian was frustrated, "She didn’t scold you because she’s mad at me. She doesn’t take you seriously at all."

The Great Pillar of the State, Xu Xiao, acted like a country farmer, saying, "I don’t care about that."

Xu Fengnian was angry, "Why didn’t you stop her and at least have her stay for the New Year at home?!"

Xu Xiao pouted, "Wouldn’t that just invite more scolding?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head, feeling a deep frustration, took a deep breath, and asked, "Is there any trouble with the forbidden performance I arranged a few days ago?"

Xu Xiao awkwardly said, "No, no trouble. It’s not like the emperor dies every time."

Xu Fengnian huffed.

Xu Xiao had to force a smile.

When Xu Fengnian was fourteen, the previous emperor died unexpectedly, and during the mourning period, the Young Master actually held a grand performance at the Yellow Crane Tower, shocking the entire Northern Liang. The Great Pillar of the State, covered in dust, rushed back to the mansion to cane this rogue son, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Instead, he had the two hundred performers beheaded and displayed. The newly enthroned emperor showed leniency, only verbally reprimanding Xu Fengnian, citing his youth and ignorance, and suppressing the criticism from the court and the scholars. Three years later, there was even an intention to marry the unruly Northern Liang Young Master to a princess, causing a stir of confusion across the empire.

Xu Fengnian asked, "How is Second Sister’s swordsmanship now?"

The Great Pillar of the State laughed, "She’s still a bit behind the Southern Palace Master you brought in."

Xu Fengnian was surprised, "I knew Second Sister’s swordsmanship was good, but this good?"

The Great Pillar of the State proudly said, "Weixiong, that girl, always strives to be the best. That nickname Huanglongshi, that bastard, will eventually be used as a stepping stone by your second sister."

Xu Fengnian, leaning on the red-lacquered, gold-embossed dragon pillar, lazily said, "Why not pair Second Sister with White Foxface? Thinking about it, they seem to be the most compatible."

The Great Pillar of the State rolled his eyes, "If you say that to either of them, you’ll get a beating. One Redchi, one Chunlei, you’ll have a hard time!"

Xu Fengnian sighed, "I can’t fight them, indeed."

The Great Pillar of the State lowered his voice, "I have a high-level expert. If you have the ability, you can recruit him."

Xu Fengnian frowned and asked, "How high?"

The Great Pillar of the State held up both hands, "Truly one of the top ten in the world. Forty years ago, he could have been in the top three. Twenty years ago, definitely in the top five."

Xu Fengnian smiled bitterly, "Even higher than Old Huang?"

Xu Xiao smiled.

Xu Fengnian asked, "Where have you hidden him?"

Xu Xiao pointed to the Tingchao Pavilion and said mysteriously, "He’s suppressed beneath the pavilion. The reason I built this pavilion and why your master is here is all because of this once-in-a-century old monster."

Xu Fengnian shook his head, knowing his limits, "With my current three-legged-cat skills, I’d be going to my death."

Xu Xiao nodded, "Not yet. The old monster’s malevolence hasn’t been fully worn down. Anyone going now would indeed be going to their death."

Xu Fengnian muttered to himself, "Then I won’t dare go to the Tingchao Pavilion anymore."

Xu Xiao laughed, "You can go."

Xu Fengnian firmly said, "No way, I won’t go even if you beat me!"