Xiao Rong asked, “How many replies have we received now?”

Zhang Biezhi answered, “Twenty-three. Sixteen are from the north of the Han River, and only seven are from the Southern Yong area, including the Governor of Jianning, Huang Yanjiu.”

Xiao Rong asked, “Did he say how many soldiers he would bring?”

Zhang Biezhi replied, “No, he’s stingy and cruel. Even if he brought many soldiers, most of them would probably be old, weak, sick, or disabled. He might even be bringing farmers and refugees from around Jianning.”

Xiao Rong looked at him in surprise. “How do you know? You’ve never met Huang Yanjiu.”

Zhang Biezhi said as if it were obvious, “My brother-in-law told me.”

Xiao Rong: “…”

Right, he almost forgot that Jian Qiao didn’t have any defenses against Zhang Biezhi. As long as it wasn’t military secrets, whatever Jian Qiao knew, Zhang Biezhi knew.

No wonder Danran liked Jian Qiao. They were cut from the same cloth.

Xiao Rong shook his head. It wasn’t just Huang Yanjiu, others would probably be as perfunctory about the matter. Still, this was beyond their control. Fortunately, most of these people would serve as logistics, and they wouldn’t be called upon to fight in battle, as Qu Yunmie’s forces didn’t trust anyone else’s soldiers.

Among the twenty-three forces that responded, the contributions ranged from a thousand to ten thousand. The forces north of the Han River sent more soldiers because they feared Qu Yunmie, while the Southern Yong area mostly sent just one or two thousand to fulfill their duty.

Xiao Rong was particularly surprised by two individuals. One was the governor of Shangdang, who sent all the local garrison troops and didn’t come himself, signaling that these troops would fully obey the Northern King’s orders.

The other was the King of Dongyang, He Tingzhi. He sent only two thousand soldiers, but he came himself. Upon arrival, he immediately began greeting the officers and soldiers outside the city. He didn’t just greet the generals, but also the common soldiers.

If anyone asked him why he brought so few soldiers, he would say with a mournful expression that although he had been granted the title of King of Dongyang by the late Emperor, his strength was no match for the Northern King. Recently, Dongyang had suffered heavy rains, and he had left four thousand soldiers there to help the people resist the floods. These two thousand were all he could spare.

He wiped away tears as he spoke, lamenting how embarrassing it was to be reduced to this state as the King of Dongyang. He felt like he had dishonored the late Emperor.

Selling his misery wasn’t enough, so he also mentioned that because he had so few soldiers, he was ashamed to face the Northern King’s expectations. He knew this was embarrassing, but the campaign against the Xianbei was a duty every man in the Central Plains should shoulder, so he had to come. To punish himself, he decided to stay with the soldiers, eating and living with them, and would never enter Chenliu City. Even though he, as the King of Dongyang, should have been honored in the city, he refused to step foot inside.

People were moved by his righteous demeanor and repeatedly urged him, saying that natural disasters and man-made calamities weren’t his fault. How could he, as the King of Dongyang, suffer outside the city? He should enter the city, rest properly, and return before the army departs.

He Tingzhi continued to shake his head in shame, and after three refusals, he sighed. “Fine, since you insist, I can only obey.”

…

When Xiao Rong heard about this, his mouth twitched. He asked Song Shuo what the King of Dongyang had been doing in the city. Song Shuo told him that ever since he entered, he hadn’t left Baibao Street Square.

He had been chatting with scholars, and his words weren’t inappropriate. He praised them and talked about his own matters. Anyone with eyes could see what he was up to, but this kind of open manipulation was hard to stop.

“He’s just chatting. The Northern Army can’t be so petty as to stop him from doing even that.”

Xiao Rong didn’t respond much but Song Shuo, irritated, gritted his teeth. “Pretentious, scheming little man.”

Xiao Rong glanced at him and chuckled lightly. “Being pretentious isn’t always a bad thing. I actually hope the King occasionally puts on some airs.”

Song Shuo shot him a glance. “Then you can keep hoping. I don’t think the King will ever learn.”

Xiao Rong: “…”

Others were still gradually arriving, but the Northern Army wouldn’t wait for them. If they missed the departure, they would have to join the army at Yanmen Pass.

Xiao Rong briefly checked who the King of Dongyang had brought and had someone subtly inquire whether Zhou Liang had joined him. After learning that he hadn’t, Xiao Rong no longer paid attention to this person.

The King of Dongyang’s rise depended on stricter conditions than Huang Yanjiu’s. As long as the young Emperor was still alive, they didn’t need to worry about the King of Dongyang achieving much.

As the anthology neared its end, the third question still hadn’t been answered perfectly. This was normal, considering it was a couplet with a legendary reputation. Xiao Rong had deliberately placed it last to ensure no mistakes, but even after just a few days, some people couldn’t even come up with a flawed response.

Xiao Rong initially thought the third question wouldn’t matter, but it turned out to be useful because it revealed the true nature of some people.

Some, unable to answer it, became furious and accused the questioner of deliberately insulting them. The couplet described the feelings of a widow, and they were all educated men, so they refused to engage in such trivial tasks.

—Sent to the Hakka, lonely in the cold window, guarding a widow.

This was the first couplet, and indeed it was written by a widow. However, the talent of this widow had outshone countless arrogant scholars for centuries, proving the saying true: ‘only defeated dogs bark loudly’.

Xiao Rong couldn’t be bothered with them, so he had someone compile a list of their names, and then checked the top three against what had been agreed upon. Finding no duplicates, he felt relieved.

No one was able to answer all three questions, and there was significant controversy over the first two, so the promised ten thousand gold couldn’t be awarded. However, to avoid demotivating everyone, Xiao Rong still announced the top three and gave out rewards. Each received a house, with the first-place winner getting two thousand gold, the second one thousand gold, and the third five hundred gold.

Even though it wasn’t ten thousand gold, a thousand gold was still a considerable amount. Moreover, the top three were invited to the King of the North’s residence that same night. No one knew exactly what they went through, but they saw them come out dizzy and disoriented, and they didn’t have to stay overnight. News quickly spread that they had dined with the King of the North, who personally toasted them. The King’s right hand Young Master Xiao Rong and many other important figures accompanied them. The music played throughout the night, and the King of the North even promised that if they wished, high positions and wealth would be immediately available to them.

Being invited to feast with the King of the North felt completely different from winning the competition and being invited afterward. The former was hardly known, while the latter gave a sense of ‘I worked hard, and this is my deserved reward.’

The vanity of these three was greatly satisfied. The next day, two of them came to confirm their acceptance. The remaining one was from Jinling and had come just to join the fun, never expecting things to escalate this far. He couldn’t directly refuse, but he also dared not accept alone, as he had his family to consider.

Upon learning of his dilemma, the Grand Chancellor kindly told him that this invitation was always valid, and even if he declined the King of the North, they wouldn’t blame him. Instead, they would just hope he would change his mind.

“The gates of Chenliu will always be open to talented individuals like you.”

“…”

He was so moved. After returning, he would surely try to persuade his family!

…

The three were happy, but the others weren’t as thrilled. Many were jealous or dissatisfied, and a few days later, a new notice appeared on the bulletin board: ‘The Thousand Scholars Anthology for the year had ended, and preparations for the next year’s anthology are underway, with the prize still set at ten thousand gold. The King of the North looks forward to the day when someone will win the ten thousand gold.’

When they saw that there was still a chance next year, the group’s morale rose again. They had just been unprepared this year, but next year they would make sure to redeem themselves!

After swearing silently in their hearts, they all left, leaving only one person standing in front of the bulletin, staring at the handwritten “XX Year.”

This was the traditional way of marking years, but people were more accustomed to calling it the Sixth Year of Shengde. Only when it came to fortune-telling did they refer to it as XX Year.

Gradually, the era name in people’s minds was being blurred, and the presence of the small Emperor of the South would gradually diminish.

Even such subtle matters were being corrected—was this a sign of natural attentiveness, or was it, like him, a determination for dynastic change?

＊

Once the Competition concluded, only two days remained before the army’s departure.

The closer the time came for the campaign, the more uneasy Xiao Rong felt.

This time, it wasn’t the system at play, he was simply unable to shake off his worries. Historically, the downfall of Qu Yunmie began with the campaign against the Xianbei. All the accumulated negative impacts burst forth in that war, and afterward, he plummeted like a crashing plane, never to rise again, falling into utter defeat and destruction.

Xiao Rong couldn’t go with them. First, he didn’t know how to fight, second, someone had to stay behind to guard, and third, he didn’t want another situation like the one outside Huaiyin City.

Unable to assist Qu Yunmie in the battle, Xiao Rong could only do his best to plan everything before the departure, ensuring all necessary supplies were packed. Only enough supplies for the defense of Chenliu would be left behind.

He also had Zhang Biezhi summon Jian Qiao and earnestly share his concerns with him.

Jian Qiao: “…”

He looked at Xiao Rong and felt that he must have forgotten what he had said at the beginning.

At first, Xiao Rong had been angry when the King said he wouldn’t bring him on the campaign.

Back then, Jian Qiao had thought that the King’s refusal was a suicidal decision. Why have things changed now?

Jian Qiao wasn’t like Zhang Biezhi. He still had some emotional intelligence, so he didn’t voice this question but silently listened to Xiao Rong’s words. As he listened, he suddenly sensed something wasn’t quite right.

Xiao Rong actually told him that if anything happened in the army, he should act first and kill whoever was involved, without hesitation. If Qu Yunmie didn’t question Jian Qiao, he could blame everything on Xiao Rong when they returned to Chenliu.

Jian Qiao was stunned. “The army… will there be a change?!”

Xiao Rong replied, “Not necessarily, I’m just being cautious.”

Jian Qiao felt like he was going crazy. “Master Xiao, have you discovered something? Are there traitors around the King?!”

Xiao Rong said, “No, I already said, it’s just a precaution.”

Jian Qiao didn’t believe him. There were plenty of things that required caution, but why was Xiao Rong specifically bringing this up? However, seeing that Xiao Rong didn’t want to explain, Jian Qiao slowly shut his mouth. After a while, he cautiously asked, “Can Master Xiao tell me who you suspect?”

Xiao Rong thought for a moment and replied, “You can trust Wang Xinyong.”

Jian Qiao: “…”

In other words, Yuan Baifu and Gongsun Yuan couldn’t be trusted.

Yet, these two were Jian Qiao’s friends, and Wang Xinyong had always been excluded by them.

Jian Qiao felt it was absurd and ice-cold, a stark contrast to his feelings with Li Xiuheng. Those two… those two…

At that moment, Xiao Rong suddenly called his name. “General Jian, this isn’t the time to think about your emotions.”

Jian Qiao froze, and Xiao Rong looked at him with furrowed brows. “I’ve said it’s just a precaution. It might happen, or it might not. In the Northern Army, besides the Grand Chancellor, you are the person I trust the most. The more it’s like this, the more you need to protect the King’s back. If nothing happens, everyone will be happy. However, if something does happen, don’t panic. You’ve already prepared for it. When the time comes, all you need to do is stop the King and remind him that not everyone is betraying him. There are others standing by his side. Then—take care of the traitors.”

Jian Qiao: “…”

Xiao Rong’s tone was so lighthearted that it eased the seriousness in Jian Qiao’s heart. He still couldn’t accept it, but just as Xiao Rong said, the King was the most important right now. Any emotions could wait until after they returned.

Seeing Jian Qiao looking utterly defeated, Xiao Rong couldn’t help but say, “You don’t have to be like this. I’m just considering all possibilities. There’s a ninety percent chance it will all be peaceful.”

Jian Qiao remained silent. He thought Xiao Rong still didn’t understand. Even if there was only a one percent chance… for those of them who had shared life and death for many years, it would be a blow of catastrophic proportions.

He agreed to Xiao Rong’s request and turned to leave. As he took a step, Xiao Rong suddenly stood up again.

“Wait.”

Jian Qiao turned back, and Xiao Rong gave him one final reminder, “If nothing happens, don’t tell the King. This matter is known to Heaven, Earth, you, and me. I hope it’s just my suspicion.”

Jian Qiao looked at him, then suddenly turned back and bowed deeply, a gesture he shouldn’t have made.

Xiao Rong was stunned for a moment, and after Jian Qiao finished, he turned and left.

…

After Jian Qiao left, Xiao Rong remained silent for a long time. Although Qu Yunmie had someone unreliable by his side, Yuan Baifu, he also had someone like Jian Qiao, who would never leave him no matter what.

However, people always seem to notice only the harm done to them, yet they fail to see those who have always protected them.

Xiao Rong pursed his lips and suddenly stood up. He knelt beside the bed, raised his backside, and pulled out a bundle from under the bed.

The dean’s big sword was still hanging on the wall, and inside this bundle were the clothes and wig he wore the day he came through.

He kept the wig on until his hair grew to a certain length, and then took it off. Ah Shu was shocked and asked him why his hair was so short now. It was just around the time they encountered bandits, and Xiao Rong explained that the bandits had cut his hair. In truth, the wig and his real hair were completely different in texture and thickness, but Ah Shu would never have guessed that Xiao Rong was wearing a synthetic wig. He thought Xiao Rong’s hair had suddenly thinned out because of his bad mood after being attacked.

…

After applying makeup and performing on stage, all these events seemed like they belonged to a past life, along with the other days he had never really cared about. They disappeared so abruptly, without giving him any psychological preparation, and the thing Xiao Rong hated the most in this life was being left unprepared.

After a long silence, Xiao Rong stuffed everything back, including the bundle, and pushed it to the deepest corner under the bed.

＊

On the night before the army was to depart, Qu Yunmie stood before his armor, unsure of what he was thinking.

Attacking the Xianbei had been his wish since he was fourteen, and over time, it became more of an obsession than just a wish.

It was like someone who dreamed of getting rich—they would think about what to do once they got rich. Qu Yunmie also thought about what he would do after avenging himself, after his enemies had all been dealt with.

In the past, he had no answer. Probably every day after that would be drifting with the current, continuing to be the Northern King, protecting everyone around him, just like his father and older brother had done. He had thought there was no problem with living like that, and he didn’t care how long he could live like that.

Even now, he still had no answer. Whether he was being a confused Northern King or a clear-headed one, it seemed the same to him. The only difference was that this time, he hoped it would last a little longer because Xiao Rong had given so much, and he didn’t want all that to go to waste.

Qu Yunmie furrowed his brow absentmindedly. Normally, he wouldn’t think this much before going to war. What has changed? Has it been so long since he had killed someone that he was starting to soften?

…

Before Qu Yunmie could figure it out, there was a knock at the door.

It was Xiao Rong.

In an instant, Qu Yunmie discarded all his thoughts and quickly walked to the door. He opened it to find Xiao Rong holding two jars of wine and staring at him without blinking.

Qu Yunmie: “…”

“Is this wine made by you again?”

Xiao Rong tilted his chin and motioned for him to move aside. Qu Yunmie did so, and after Xiao Rong entered, he answered, “No, this is made by the general.”

Qu Yunmie said, “The army is about to leave. I can’t drink.”

Xiao Rong slammed the jars onto the table, then turned to him and said, “I know. That’s why this wine is for me.”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

He liked drinking with Xiao Rong, not watching Xiao Rong get drunk. Besides, Xiao Rong’s drunken behavior wasn’t cute at all, he would even curse at himself.

Still, once Xiao Rong made a decision, he didn’t care about Qu Yunmie’s opinion. He poured the wine for himself and, feeling a bit hindered, took off the sword he had strapped to his waist.

Only then did Qu Yunmie notice that Xiao Rong had brought the Chilong Sword. He was confused.

Wasn’t Xiao Rong someone who never wore a sword?

Then he heard Xiao Rong say, “Does the King remember what you said a while ago? You said that when giving a gift, it should be something the person likes.”

Before Qu Yunmie could respond, he heard a swoosh of air, and Xiao Rong had already rushed toward him. He anxiously asked, “Are you giving me that sword?”

Xiao Rong: “…”

He turned around with a sharp tone, “What a nice thought! If you want my sword, step over my dead body first!”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

Well, fine, no sword. No need to be so aggressive.

He sat beside Xiao Rong, confused, and asked, “Then why did you bring the sword?”

Xiao Rong glanced at the pattern on the hilt before saying, “You’ll know in a while.”

He then took another cup and poured tea for Qu Yunmie, clinking his wine glass against the tea. He slowly began, “Tomorrow the King will set off. Today, I toast to the King with three cups of wine, in case there’s no chance left to do so.”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

You always say I don’t know how to speak, but you’re not much better.

Xiao Rong continued, “This first toast is to thank the King for not killing me. Before I arrived in the North, I had prepared myself for the possibility that the King might want my life. Who would’ve thought that it wasn’t needed.”

After saying that, he downed the whole cup, not caring what Qu Yunmie’s face looked like.

Next, he poured another cup. “The second toast is to thank the King for recognizing me. I might have been a bit smug, as I know it wasn’t my eloquence that convinced the King, but the King was still willing to listen to me. I should thank the King, not the other way around.”

Qu Yunmie was stunned for a moment, watching Xiao Rong down the second cup, then pour himself a third.

“This third toast is to thank the King for saving my life. Maybe the King doesn’t know how important it is for me to stay alive. I might be one of the people who least wants to die in this world. It was the King who protected me, even when you didn’t know I existed.”

Qu Yunmie quietly watched him.

He thought Xiao Rong was referring to chasing away the Hu people. On this matter, all the people of the Central Plains owed Qu Yunmie a life.

Xiao Rong’s face had already turned red, and his hand holding the cup wasn’t as steady. He stared at the wine for a moment, then raised his head and drank it.

Qu Yunmie didn’t comment on the three toasts. He simply swirled his tea, drinking it as if it were wine, before he spoke up to mock Xiao Rong, “Look at you. If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was poison. If you don’t like drinking, then why drink?”

Xiao Rong replied, “Because I’m a vain person. There are some things I wouldn’t do while sober.”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

How honest.

Speaking of which, last time when Xiao Rong got drunk, he answered every question, but halfway through, he started saying flattering things to coax him. Qu Yunmie didn’t know which version of him was truly drunk.

After thinking for a moment, Qu Yunmie decided to ask, “What did you curse me for in your mind last time?”

Xiao Rong lowered his eyes, his eyelashes fluttering slightly. He looked at the person who spoke, his cheeks flushed, staring at Qu Yunmie before breaking into a smile. “Do you know what regret I have in my heart?”

Qu Yunmie was stunned. “I don’t know.”

Xiao Rong chuckled lightly. “Of course, you don’t know. You’re a hamster-headed person.”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

Although he didn’t know what a hamster was, the fact that it had “rat” in its name probably meant it wasn’t a good thing.

Xiao Rong gently closed his eyes, inhaling lightly as if savoring something. He then spoke slowly, “I practiced this dance for a long, long time. Nearly four months. Among everyone, only I could truly wield this sword, which is why the Dean chose me. I practiced every night, and no one had ever seen me dance except the teacher. I’ve never received the applause I deserved. This is my regret.”

Qu Yunmie was stunned. What martial arts? Xiao Rong could fight?

At this point, Xiao Rong had already stood up. He took the sword and performed a flawless flourish with it in a way Qu Yunmie had never seen before. After taking a few steps, he turned and beckoned with his slender index finger. “Come, I’ll show you. Don’t you want to see?”

Qu Yunmie realized this wasn’t the kind of martial arts he thought it was, but he couldn’t think it through. He just stood up and followed Xiao Rong outside.

The moon was bright, and the weather was clear. There were no guards in the courtyard because Xiao Rong had sent them away when he came in. Xiao Rong held the sword behind his back as he gazed at the moon overhead, its light casting a pale glow that illuminated his face.

It was as though even the moon favored him, its light shining only on him, wrapping him in a soft glow—a spotlight created by the heavens, solely for Xiao Rong, and this beautiful scene was forever etched in Qu Yunmie’s mind.

“This dance is called ‘Breaking the Formation’, created to punish rebels, boost morale, and praise heroes, all in celebration of peace.”

After saying this, Xiao Rong turned around, facing Qu Yunmie. He smiled briefly, then turned the long sword in his hand, holding it across his chest. One hand grasped the hilt, the other the scabbard. He gently drew the blade, closing his eyes again.

He had practiced to the same tune for four months. Even when the sound system was turned off, the song would still echo in his mind, and though the hallucinations had disappeared, the music still accompanied him whenever he wanted to recall it.

Qu Yunmie had seen dancers perform, but never a man. He couldn’t believe someone could blend strength and flexibility so perfectly. Each strike was powerful, and every sheath of the sword effortless. Xiao Rong’s robes fluttered as he danced, twisting and turning with the sword, even leaping into the air after a flip, spinning one and a half times before landing gracefully.

Qu Yunmie couldn’t hear any music, but from Xiao Rong’s movements, he could feel the urgency of the battle and the increasing number of enemies. Xiao Rong danced on and on, until with a final twisting move, he merged with the sword. It spun in a large circle, like a windmill harvesting the heads of enemies, increasing the chances of victory. Finally, in a burst of drums, he sheathed the sword, breaking the formation, and the music ended.

…

Xiao Rong’s hair was damp with sweat, and he breathed heavily. His eardrums rang, and his heart pounded. He had practiced this dance for so long, but it had also been a long time since he last practiced.

Now, he felt like a beginner again. His arms and legs felt like they were filled with lead, and he could taste the faint coppery blood in his throat. His head spun, and this dizziness wasn’t caused by the system anymore.

With a loud thud, he threw the sword, which he never allowed anyone to touch, onto the ground, then turned and walked toward Qu Yunmie, his steps unsteady but determined.

Xiao Rong’s expression was cold, no longer as friendly as before. His eyes were slightly red, staring at Qu Yunmie. Qu Yunmie couldn’t look away, lowering his head to meet Xiao Rong’s gaze, feeling as if Xiao Rong hated him.

“Qu Yunmie, I came for you.”

Staring at his own reflection in Qu Yunmie’s eyes, Xiao Rong couldn’t tell if his words were meant for anyone else. “I gave everything for you. I danced for you. You can’t let me down. Do you understand?”

Qu Yunmie didn’t say whether he understood or not.

Silently, he lifted his hand and brushed aside the strand of hair that had ruined Xiao Rong’s current beauty, then gave a faint smile.

“Mm, I’ll come back.”

 

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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