Chapter Seventy-One: Lüliang (Seeking Monthly Votes)

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Chapter Seventy-One: Luliang (Asking for Monthly Tickets)

“By the way, I’ve always meant to ask—why did you want to kill Song Xian?”

Ning Yi had not broached this subject before, but now that they were somewhat acquainted, he finally brought it up. Lu Hongti’s eyes narrowed slightly. The sky outside the window was heavy with clouds, while the oil from the roasting chicken on the brazier sizzled and dripped. Ning Liheng stood there, blinking innocently. After a moment’s thought, Lu Hongti’s gaze softened a little, drifting into the distance.

With a sudden whoosh, rain began to pour outside, quickly engulfing all of Jiangning.

“My family used to live west of Yanmen Pass, on the Luliang Mountains,” she said after a long silence. “Ever since the loss of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, the northern tribes have raided our lands every year—murder, looting, no peace, villages emptied, people forced to farm and move from valley to valley like wandering ghosts. But the elders always said it was hard to leave our homeland... Perhaps you cannot imagine what it is like to be born there…”

Ning Yi fell silent for a moment. “Joyous days by the Fen River, haphazard lives in southern Jin, weeping in the Luliang Mountains, and in death, never crossing Yanmen Pass…”

He nodded with a faint smile. “In those early years, we’d already retreated to live in the mountains. We kept moving south, but never got far. The young would head up into the hills, becoming bandits as we had done for centuries. We were all Han, and the Wu Dynasty’s troops never came. The northern tribes raided us year after year, never seeing us as human. Whenever we ran into smaller bands, we’d fight them off; if it was a large force, we’d hide. We also robbed northern merchants—anyone passing through those mountains. If they were Han, we’d usually spare them, but the northern tribes… we killed them all.”

“The Wu court never saw us as their own either. Sometimes an official would come, speaking of amnesty. There were several such attempts, but in the end, all they wanted was to use us as cannon fodder against the northern tribes, offering nothing in return. Other times, they’d label us bandits and send troops to suppress us…”

Lightning flashed outside as the rain intensified. Ning Yi turned the roasting chicken, sprinkling some seasoning over it.

“When I was six, my father was killed by the northern tribes. I learned martial arts from my master and wandered the world. When I was thirteen, I returned to Luliang; my mother had already died. So I went into the mountains, following my master into battle every year… Heroes fighting for country and people? I never thought of it that way. We lived… less than human…”

She paused slightly. “Later… a few years ago, Song Xian led troops into the Luliang Mountains. He came under the pretense of granting amnesty, made grand promises. He gathered the villagers, surrounded them, and slaughtered them all… The Liao court claimed the Luliang bandits were within Wu territory and demanded action, so Song Xian used those heads as proof of his success, currying favor with Liao—no one spared, not even the old or the young. Then he called them ruthless bandits who killed without blinking… He was promoted for this. Relatives of some in the hills died in that massacre, including everyone from a village I knew. Some went after him for revenge and were killed as well—their blood spilled for nothing. Others wanted to go, but I forbade it, knowing only I could do it…”

“That’s why I must kill him. During the Lantern Festival, my first attempt failed, though I had some confidence. I tried again recently, but he set a trap for me instead. At that moment, I realized—if things continued like this, I might never be able to kill him… One person’s strength is, in the end, limited…”

“You wish to learn martial arts, but I, after so many years with my master, after countless battles and bodies, don’t know how many I’ve killed. There were times I crawled out of piles of corpses, not sure if I was dead or alive. Yet now, trying to kill Song Xian, I’m left wounded like this. A scholar’s talents—being able to defeat ten thousand—are better than anything. Why bother being a blood-soaked butcher…” she said, lips pressed in a faint smile.

Ning Yi thought about it and shook his head with a laugh. “I’ll still stick to my curiosity… Let’s talk about this later. The chicken’s ready.”

He took the roast chicken down, sliced it open, and a richer aroma filled the room. He passed it over with some sauce.

“How is it?”

“It tastes wonderful…”

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“It’s a new product we’re planning to launch. My skills are rather amateur, but the ingredients are well matched.”

“Doesn’t your family sell textiles?”

“It’s a friend’s business… If one day you taste roast chicken like this on the Luliang Mountains, I’ll have a gift for you…”

“Oh? What is it?”

“Some trickery… like calling the wind and rain, conjuring armies from beans, that sort of thing…”

“So it’s a promise then?”

“Yes.”

Their casual conversation was drowned by the rumble of thunder and rain. Meanwhile, at a restaurant on the other side of Jiangning, Li Pin gazed at the rain outside, conversing with Shen Miao beside him.

“…Yan Zhen has already begun making preparations. He’ll leave Jiangning for Raozhou within half a month.”

“Wasn’t he supposed to leave in July?”

“There’s quite some distance to travel; better to leave early and avoid unforeseen delays… Besides, once he gets to Leping, some advance arrangements will help him assume office smoothly.”

“That makes sense.” Li Pin smiled and nodded.

Shen Miao took a deep breath. “I heard you and Yan Zhen had some disagreements recently, so I came to ask. You’ve always been friends, and it’s nothing major—I hope you aren’t taking it to heart.”

Li Pin thought for a moment. “It’s not really a disagreement. Zishan means well—I understand that. It’s not that I’m angry with him; rather, he seems to have unresolved matters weighing on him.”

Shen Miao frowned in thought. “I see… By the way, Dexin, what do you think of Yan Zhen?”

“It doesn’t feel right to speak of him behind his back.”

“Haha, it’s fine. He’s leaving soon, and we may not see him for many years. If he harbored grudges against others, I wouldn’t worry, but I’ve always trusted your character, and your judgment of people is sharp. I just want to hear your thoughts, as idle chatter—never to reach a third party.”

Li Pin considered and shook his head. “It’s nothing major. We’ve both known Yan Zhen for years—he’s knowledgeable, capable, and perceptive. Compared to him, we both have our shortcomings. But in all these years, have you ever seen him truly suffer a loss?”

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“Well, there have been a few cases, but Yan Zhen is broad-minded and never dwells on them…”

“What if I said… he’s never really suffered a loss?”

“Hm?”

“Brother Zishan, Gu Hong… he’s proud by nature. Of course, he has reason and talent for that pride. Throughout the years, his standards for himself have been exceedingly high, and often one can only marvel—such is the air of a true gentleman. Yet sometimes, his views are a bit too extreme, too focused on outcomes. Whether that’s good or bad is hard to say.”

Shen Miao nodded with a smile. “Dexin, you truly understand people—Yan Zhen does have such tendencies. Not long ago, he told me that a man should always be true to himself. I actually agree. He also said that as a magistrate, he must solve pressing problems—being cold and impartial, focused only on results. Compared to virtuous officials who are kind-hearted but shackled by rules, he’d rather be a capable administrator who disregards appearances and gets things done. That’s admirable.”

Li Pin looked at him, paused, then smiled. “Indeed, in today’s world, there are too many corrupt scholars and too few doers. If Yan Zhen holds such principles, it’s a blessing for the people…”

He did feel some admiration for Gu Yan Zhen. He vaguely sensed certain things, but if nothing truly wrong had happened, there was no need to criticize. Shen Miao hadn’t come to debate today, only to mediate. Yet, in truth, the rift was on Gu Yan Zhen’s side, not because Li Pin withheld anything, but perhaps because of the words, “I know your character.” Gu Yan Zhen had been aggressive, but perhaps Li Pin shouldn’t have said that.

Is it more important to be a king outwardly or a sage within? Both approaches have sparked debate for years. The doctrine of the mean rejects extremes—judging anything in the world is complex. In truth, capable administrators are indeed more valuable than corrupt scholars. If, in future, Gu Yan Zhen proves himself such a man, Li Pin should visit him and apologize for his words… He hoped that would be the case.

Their conversation naturally drifted along Shen Miao’s lead. At that same moment, several streets away in the main Zhujilu restaurant, Gu Yan Zhen sat quietly with a servant, sampling the dishes. The servant, tall and scarred, was his trusted attendant known as Old Six—his bodyguard in all but name. For nearly three months, this was Gu Yan Zhen’s first voluntary approach to anything related to Nie Yunzhu, and of course, he wasn’t there to cause trouble. He simply waited quietly for her to appear.

Because of the rain, business was slow and the dim storm light required them to light oil lamps, whose flames flickered in the shop.

Nie Yunzhu was inside, but as a woman, she had no need to insist on open confrontation. In these times, there was little expectation of forthrightness between men and women—though when it came to Ning Yi, she did apply a double standard. Remembering how he had taken her hand last time, she resented the idea of going out again—it was wrong of him to pull her, after all. So she waited quietly as time passed. But as evening approached and the food on the table had long since gone cold, Gu Yan Zhen still sat there, unwavering. In the end, she had no choice but to come out. Standing across the table, she offered a formal bow. “Young Master Gu.”

Gu Yan Zhen looked up at her, his smile gentle and refined as always, naturally putting others at ease.

“In a few days, I’ll be leaving for Leping in Raozhou to take up my post. I wanted to come and bid you farewell.”

Nie Yunzhu thought for a moment. “I have nothing to offer but my best wishes—may your journey be smooth and your official career flourish.”

“Your words remind me of three years ago…” He lowered his head, smiling lightly, then stood and took a deep breath as he looked at her. “If I… if I were to say once more, sincerely, that I wish to marry you, to have you come with me to Leping—would you consider it again, or perhaps nod your head?”

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