Chapter 62

Jing Yuan County's Prefect Jin Lanting, though from a local aristocratic family, had more of a scholar's temperament than an official's, and was not particularly eager to climb the ranks of the bureaucracy. He preferred to compose poetry from high places, raise geese, and pick chrysanthemums, often engaging in poetic exchanges with the famous courtesans of Yongzhou. However, upon hearing that the eldest son of the Prince of Beiliang, Xu Fengnian, would be staying in Jing Yuan, and with his old family friend Zheng Hanhai dropping such a big favor, Jin Lanting's heart became unusually agitated. Jing Yuan was not like other counties in Yongzhou; it was closer to Beiliang, and while it did not entirely rely on the Prince of Beiliang, it still had to consider his influence in many matters. Being able to befriend the Crown Prince was a great blessing, but despite this, Jin Lanting, who had many quirks, still had his household's beauties and concubines leave the residence under the pretext of a spring outing, fearing that if the Crown Prince, who had a poor reputation, took a fancy to any of them, he might end up with several green hats from unexpected misfortunes.

After having the residence thoroughly cleaned and arranged, Jin Lanting went out to welcome the guests thirty miles outside the city, but a heavy rain doused his enthusiasm, and the group did not even catch a glimpse of the Crown Prince! Upon returning to the city, he was even blocked by a maid at the courtyard gate, almost being laughed at by a group of martial men led by Tang Yishan. The old face of Zheng Hanhai, the deputy secretary of Yongzhou, could not bear the humiliation and left on the spot. Jin Lanting, a scholar with a reputation for poetry in Yongzhou, also wanted to maintain his dignity, but where could he go since the residence was his? Fortunately, the cold maid later brought a message inquiring about the fine paper on the old pear wood desk, which was a well-known story in Yongzhou. Jin Lanting immediately felt a deep appreciation for the discerning eye of the Crown Prince.

Jin Lanting did not sleep well that night, and with his favorite concubines and maids away from the residence, the long night was unbearable. By morning, his eyes were bloodshot. Early in the morning, the steward came to report that the oldest and strongest peach trees in the backyard had been cut down. The maid from the Crown Prince's side said that the peach wood from Jing Yuan was excellent and was to be used to make peach wood swords. Jin Lanting, who was dressing, gritted his teeth and endured it, instructing the steward not to interfere. However, before Jin Lanting could swallow his frustration, a steward in charge of raising white geese burst in, sobbing and recounting the Crown Prince's act of slaughtering and roasting the geese. Jin Lanting clutched his chest, and this frail scholar, known for his poetry in Yongzhou, was so enraged that he grabbed a decorative ancient sword hanging on the wall, his face turning purple, ready to confront the Crown Prince. The two stewards, seeing their master almost lose his mind, quickly restrained him, one grabbing the sword and the other holding him by the waist. Jin Lanting, weak like a woman, struggled, stomped his foot, and threw the expensive sword to the ground, sighing and looking dispirited.

Just when he thought his bad luck had reached its peak, a senior maid rushed into the courtyard, whispering that the two ladies had been invited back to the residence and were now roasting geese with the Crown Prince. Jin Lanting fainted on the spot, and the servants hurriedly carried him into the house. The Crown Prince, who looked like a refined gentleman, was truly a demon and a scourge. This one night of peace had left the elegant Jin Lanting bedridden. The chief steward, after some thought, decided to seek advice from the old grandfather in the old residence, as the Crown Prince did not seem to be leaving Jing Yuan anytime soon, and he could not let the residence be ruined.

The chief steward finally waited for his master to regain consciousness and saw the maid from the Crown Prince's side standing outside the room, saying calmly, "His Highness wants Jin Lanting to bring some fine paper over, to teach the two ladies how to write the 'Cooking Goose Scroll.'"

The poor Jin Lanting, half-dead, shouted, "Zheng Hanhai has ruined me!" and fainted again.

By the lakeside, the Crown Prince was engaged in the act of burning a zither and cooking a crane. He had personally chased a group of Jin Lanting's beloved white geese from the shore into the lake, making a deal with Jiang Ni, who rowed a boat in exchange for reading a thousand characters. Xu Fengnian then skillfully knocked out the two fattest geese with a wooden oar and brought them back to shore. The lake, once peaceful with a group of geese, was now filled with the noise of geese and scattered feathers.

On the shore, the two beautiful ladies, who had been invited back to the residence early in the morning, were speechless. One was slightly older, with the charm of a young wife, a lady from a noble family in Yongzhou. The other had recently joined the household, a young and beautiful girl, though young, with a well-developed figure. Her background was mysterious, but the free-spirited nature of scholars was always a topic of interest among the common people. Talented scholars and beautiful women were always a good match, and which great scholar did not have a few red-haired beauties who could warm his bed and bring him honor?

Reading was only worthwhile if it could bring wealth and beautiful women to one's bed. Unfortunately, these words were just the Crown Prince's nonsense and should not be taken seriously.

Not only was the Crown Prince skilled at roasting geese, but he could also roast fish and sweet potatoes. Besides slaughtering the white geese that scholars loved to raise, he had also sent someone to the peach garden early in the morning to find the best peach wood, seemingly determined to make Jin Lanting's flattery backfire. Qingniao brought several sheets of fine paper, and Xu Fengnian handed the task of roasting the geese to Jiang Ni, earning her a few coins. He then took out a sheet of paper, wiped his hands, and the two ladies watched with a mix of concern and affection, as Jin Lanting was not stingy with money but was particularly fond of these elegant items. This man was truly different.

Xu Fengnian looked at the older lady, whose chest and hips were naturally more developed, and smiled, "What is the origin of this fine paper? I've never seen it before, and it feels very smooth and fine. Lady, tell me about it."

"Your Highness, this paper is called Lanting Paper. My husband personally selected the green mulberry bark from Xishu and had it made by a local papermaker who has been in the business for generations. Initially, the paper was not suitable for heavy brushstrokes, but my husband continuously improved it by adding hemp to the pure bamboo pulp, resulting in this 'Lanting Supervised' paper, which is as white as snow and as soft as cotton. Scholars in Yongzhou now love this paper, and even the governor has praised it for its fine texture and lack of noise when shaken." The young wife, though older, was bolder than the younger lady. Though she lacked the natural freshness of youth, her charm was like fine wine, refined over time.

Xu Fengnian squinted, "Lady, is it really as white as snow and as soft as cotton?"

"Of course, Your Highness. If you don't believe me, try it for yourself." The young wife looked panicked but deliberately avoided Xu Fengnian's gaze, focusing on the fine paper with a seductive look, not showing the fear one would expect from being teased.

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "I tried the paper last night, and you were right. But there are some things... How about we try them tonight?"

The young wife's lips curled, but she remained silent, her meaning clear.

A lady from a noble family, with a refined and graceful demeanor, was not to be compared with the young lady, who was too naive. The young lady was so frightened that she did not notice Xu Fengnian's lewd remarks about the older lady's chest. She was only afraid of being taken into the courtyard by the Crown Prince during the day to do something shameful. He was the son of Xu Rantu, a military official with the title of Prince and a civil official with the title of Grand Pillar, the two highest honors in the empire. If the Crown Prince were to act improperly, what could she do? Jin Lanting must have heard the news but had not shown up, perhaps tacitly agreeing. What should she do? Her heart raced as she stole a glance at the young and handsome Crown Prince, who wore a pair of beautifully crafted but simple-looking twin swords, had a slender build, and was dressed in fine silk. Compared to Jin Lanting, he was more graceful and physically robust. If she were to be held and pressed by the Crown Prince... The thought made her face flush with shame, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at the handsome young man who seemed to make her want to misbehave with just a glance.

Jiang Ni, hearing Xu Fengnian's flirtatious banter with the shameless old woman, felt nothing. This was the true nature of the big fool and little devil of Beiliang. If he had always been the Xu Fengnian who practiced swordsmanship in a trance, she would have found him strange.

The old sword god, Li Chonggang, appeared by the lake, took a half-cooked goose leg, and chewed it, surprised by Xu Fengnian's skill. He rarely praised anyone, but this time he said, "Kid, you don't need to scare Jiang Ni with your sword. If you switch to running a roast meat shop, your business will boom."

Xu Fengnian smiled, used to the old man's crude remarks.

The two ladies, not knowing the old man's identity, did not dare to act rashly. The young lady, with a simple mind, only hid her instinctive disdain for the old man. If she were not so naive, she would not have been favored in the inner chambers, and the young wife from the Xu family of Yongzhou would not have treated her kindly. The young wife, however, forced herself to smile gently at the old man. Anyone who could speak so freely to the Crown Prince deserved some respect, even if it was fake. Without this discernment, how could she maintain her position in the inner chambers without having children? Unfortunately, she encountered the most un-sword-like old man in the world. The one-armed Li Chonggang, lacking in manners, chewed on the goose leg and glanced at the young wife's ample chest, saying, "Look at those breasts, so big and rare. Do they make walking difficult? If so, let me rub them for you tonight."

The young wife was truly terrified. Being flirted with by the charming Crown Prince was one thing, but being bullied by this ragged old man would make her a martyr. She looked to the Crown Prince for help,