Chapter 32

Indeed, the old saying that the situation on the battlefield can change in an instant proved true. As Li Jinglong led his men into the castle, the roles of host and guest shifted, and the standoff resumed as before.

Xu Hao ordered the fortifications to be strengthened and the fields cleared, continuing to starve the enemy. He sent men to intercept the enemy’s supply convoys, which proved highly successful. In response, Li Jinglong ordered his men to hold their ground, but he deeply regretted that Zhang De had not taken the opportunity to capture Zhu Gaochi.

As evening approached, a heavy rain began to fall. To Li Jinglong’s horror, the castle, weakened by the rain, began to show signs of collapse. In the end, Li Jinglong made a decisive move, leading his remaining troops through a small path in the rain, hoping to escape.

However, they encountered the main force of the Xu family halfway. After a chaotic battle, Li Jinglong’s side gained a slight advantage. Xu Hao then proposed a truce, which Li Jinglong readily accepted.

On the green hill, the old man, upon receiving the latest news, snorted coldly, “What a fiasco.”

Zhu Di, however, laughed, “Any discerning person can see that it was intentional. Otherwise, with Xu Hao’s intelligence, it would not have been difficult for him to wipe out Li Jinglong’s entire army. His strategy of luring the enemy into a trap was brilliant. But now, the enmity between the two sides has grown, almost offending all the nobles in the capital.”

“This young man is cunning and smooth in his dealings, far from being a straightforward and honest person,” the old man said, his eyes deep, and he sighed softly.

“Father-in-law, you are being too harsh,” Zhu Di said with a smile, picking up a chess piece and making a move. “I think among all the grandsons of the Xu family, Xu Hao is the most like you when you were young.”

The old man was taken aback, then laughed and scolded, “Don’t try to twist my words. I was forced to play along with the Yuan army out of necessity. How can that young man be compared to me?”

In the Xu family’s side residence, the brothers, feeling their efforts had been in vain, dispersed unhappily. Xu Hao and Zhu Gaochi exchanged a smile and walked into the courtyard together.

“I appreciate your understanding of my difficulties,” Zhu Gaochi said sincerely. “My father and I, being in the outer fiefs, live in constant fear and tread as if on thin ice. We cannot afford to offend even the smallest person in the capital.”

Xu Hao found this somewhat amusing. At least when Zhu Yuanzhang was alive, the situation was the opposite. Who didn’t know that Zhu Yuanzhang was best to his own family, especially his sons?

However, he was also somewhat moved. Successful people have their reasons for success. With the power to control ten thousand elite troops, the Prince of Yan paid attention to the smallest details. Xu Hao should learn from this, no wonder the Prince of Yan could eventually claim the throne.

Xu Hao was not an unreasonable young man. Therefore, when Zhu Gaochi hinted, he deliberately let Li Jinglong off the hook, since the money and effort were all on the other side.

“I should be the one to thank you, for your generous contribution of five hundred taels of gold.”

“It’s just a small matter.”

After a while, the two parted ways. Xu Hao, exhausted from the day, returned to his quarters without eating dinner, took a quick bath, and went to bed, sleeping soundly through the night.

The next morning, Xu Hao got up, exercised, had breakfast, and, with nothing to do, took a walk in the garden. Turning around a rockery and passing through a side gate, he saw a group of girls in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, by the tea vine trellis, and beside the Taihu stones, composing poetry.

Xu Hao found it interesting and stopped to watch. Soon, the girls dispersed, some leaving in pairs, some chasing birds under the trees, some catching butterflies in the flowers, some playing on the swings, and some picking flowers to adorn their hair.

After admiring the girls’ various graceful postures, Xu Hao didn’t want to be mistaken for a pervert, so he walked past the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. Stepping on the pebbled path, he saw a half-built white wall and tall willows. Even before he arrived, the fragrance of orchids and musk wafted to his nose, the scenery here being far superior to his own home.

Xu Hao thought that when he had the money, he would build a decadent Jiangnan garden, preferably in Suzhou or Hangzhou, far from the political turmoil of the future capital, Beijing. The Jiangnan region, with its misty rain and heavenly beauty, was the best place for cultivation and self-cultivation.

As he entered the garden, he immediately felt as if he had entered a different world. Pavilions and terraces, a small bridge over a babbling stream, and flower beds blooming with various flowers. No wonder the fragrance was so strong. Not far away, there was an ancient and simple stone arch bridge. Xu Hao, admiring the koi in the water, slowly walked to the west side of the bridge.

In the elegant pavilion, his sisters were chatting and laughing. Hmm, who are those unfamiliar faces? Xu Hao, unaware of the arrival of the Princess of Pucheng, hesitated about whether to go upstairs.

He could see his second sister, Xu Cuita, walking slowly with her hands behind her back, deep in thought, composing poetry. His eldest sister sat at a table, pen in hand, writing swiftly. Suddenly, a figure in a plain silk robe caught his eye, and Xu Hao felt a bright light.

What a graceful and refined beauty, Xu Hao thought, recalling a poem he had read a few days ago, which now seemed most fitting to describe her.

“White silk robe, woven with spring thoughts; black hair piled high, a natural painting. Light and graceful, clever and quick-witted, surpassing flowers in eloquence; fair and delicate, a water-moon Guanyin beyond the world, fragrant like jade.

A beauty like a poem, like unfolding a peach blossom scroll, writing with a spotted bamboo pen. Ink and rain arrive in an instant, and dragons are driven by the wrist in a moment.”

Compared to his stunningly beautiful cousin, this girl was less dazzling but more ethereal, each having their own charm. If it came down to personal preference, Xu Hao was more inclined towards the one before him.

He had been looking up for a while, and the girls upstairs had noticed him. Xu Cuita leaned out and waved, “Come up quickly.”

In the pavilion, Xu Cuiliu explained to Zhu Qiaqiao and the others, “My third brother is the manager of the poetry club.”

Xu Qinglian also looked up and smiled, “This is my younger brother Xu Hao, not yet of age. Since we are not outsiders, it’s fine to meet.”

“Xu Hao?” Zhu Qiaqiao asked with interest. “Is he the one who couldn’t write a poem the other day? I heard that yesterday he commanded the battle and fought the Duke of Cao to a draw. It seems his literary skills are average, but his military tactics are quite good.”

Mou, who had been silent, looked up with bright eyes, glancing towards the stairs just as Xu Hao came up, their eyes meeting.

Mou nodded gracefully and then looked away. Xu Hao smiled silently, walked to his eldest sister’s side, and said, “I didn’t know the poetry club had already started and gained new members. I’ve been negligent as the manager.”

Xu Qinglian didn’t want to introduce the girls in detail to her brother, so she said vaguely, “This is Princess Zhu of Pucheng, and this is Princess Mou of the Duke of Qian’s family.”

“Princess, surnamed Mou?” Xu Hao immediately understood. When chatting with Zhu Gaochi about Li Jinglong the day before, they had mentioned that Li Jinglong’s father, Li Wenzhong, was Zhu Yuanzhang’s nephew and later adopted son. Zhu Yuanzhang and his wife also had a beloved adopted son, Zhu Ying, who was later given the surname Mou, meaning to bathe in the emperor’s grace. He had been stationed in Yunnan and died of grief three months after the crown prince’s death last year.

Right, isn’t that the Mou family from the novel? If Wei Xiaobao could marry a princess from the Mou family, what about me?

Xu Hao looked at the two girls with clear eyes and a calm expression. Reality is reality, and novels are novels. He wasn’t so self-absorbed as to have unrealistic fantasies.

Zhu Qiaqiao smiled and asked, “I heard that Brother Hao made the Duke of Cao suffer yesterday, which I admire.”

“I don’t deserve such praise,” Xu Hao said humbly. “It was all the work of my brothers. I just joined in the fun. In fact, I can’t even read military books.”

“Is that so?” Zhu Qiaqiao became even more interested. “Then whose work was it?”

“Hmm, some strategies came from my eldest brother, and some from my second brother,” Xu Hao said, not foolish enough to speak carelessly before figuring out who this future sister-in-law would marry.

At that moment, Xu Wen and Xu Ji walked up, and Zhu Qiaqiao’s expression immediately changed, becoming dignified and cold, unlike her warm and friendly demeanor towards Xu Hao.

The more this happened, the more interesting it became. Xu Hao, like his sisters, felt the flames of gossip burning, all secretly observing the ambiguous triangular relationship and speculating on which of the three the princess would ultimately choose.

Suddenly, Xu Hao frowned, looking at Mou, who sat by the window like a painting, wondering why she was here. Could it be for a marriage alliance?

The thought made Xu Hao feel very uncomfortable.