MSW Chapter61

98

Fengqi Year Two was destined to be an eventful year, one that would occupy several pages in later historical records.

 

In this year, Ye Butong, the garrison general of Linguan, refused Qin Fengyuan entry beyond Linguan. Linguan possessed a natural defensive advantage, historically a strategic stronghold. Even with the renowned bravery of Qin Fengyuan’s northwest army, they couldn’t capture Linguan in a short time. After Xiao Zixing was ordered to garrison Bozhou, the one guarding the northern border was Xiao Zixing’s eldest son, Xiao Yunjing. Now that Xiao Zixing had died in battle, Xiao Yunjing, seeking revenge for his father, led a hundred thousand troops south, launching a surprise attack on Linguan.

 

Xiao Zixing was a famous general, and Xiao Yunjing possessed much of his father’s demeanor, not someone to be easily dealt with. Qin Fengyuan found himself caught between two fronts, and for a time, the three forces were locked in a stalemate at Linguan, bringing a sigh of relief within Liangdu.

 

When the news reached Ruizhou, Mu Peixuan was peeling lotus seeds for Duan Linzhou. A porcelain dish already held a little over half a dish of them. These were the freshest lotus pods, picked straight from the lotus flowers. The peeled lotus seeds were plump, each one tasting fresh and sweet, perfect for a taste. Since Duan Linzhou returned to Ruizhou, he had fallen ill again and he has been taking bitter medicine for several days, leaving his mouth full of bitterness. Mu Peixuan offered him sweet cakes, candied fruits, and fresh lychees, trying different ways to sweeten his mouth.

 

Duan Linzhou didn’t particularly like sweets, nor did he have the habit of using them to mask the bitterness of medicine. However, after being coaxed by Mu Peixuan for half a month, he had grown accustomed to having something sweet after taking his medicine to suppress the bitter taste. Duan Linzhou clicked his tongue at this — feeling a bit of sweetness and a bit of melancholy. Deep down, Duan Linzhou resented being controlled, but when it came to Mu Peixuan, it seemed like everything was different.

 

Mu Peixuan didn’t just bring back lotus pods; he also carried a bamboo basket full of fresh and vibrant lotus flowers. The young man, dressed in tight-fitting black attire with narrow sleeves, carrying such a basket of lotus flowers as he strode into the mansion, made the servants in Wen’an Courtyard stare in astonishment.

 

Mu Peixuan’s face was expressionless, but Duan Linzhou smiled and asked him, “Where did these flowers come from?”

 

Mu Peixuan replied, “I saw two children selling them on my way back to the mansion, so I bought them.”

 

Duan Linzhou reached out and took the bamboo basket from him, lowering his head to smell the flowers. They must have been picked recently, as dewdrops, crystal clear, still clung to the blooming lotus flowers, faintly releasing their delicate fragrance.

 

Duan Linzhou said, “It smells so good.”

 

Mu Peixuan pursed his lips and smiled slightly, saying, “There are even a few lotus pods. Let me peel the lotus seeds for you.”

 

He shook the two lotus pods in his hand and said, “Newly picked.”

 

Duan Linzhou smiled and replied, “Alright.” He then said, “Let me put the flowers in water first; otherwise, they’ll wither.”

 

Having said that, he held the bamboo basket of lotus flowers and asked Liu Guang to find two celadon-glazed, swan-necked vases to carefully arrange the flowers. He looked at them again and again, even reaching out to touch them with obvious affection, making Mu Peixuan feel a little shy, though the corners of his mouth curved upward. He said, “They’re just a few lotus flowers. If you like them, I’ll pick more for you tomorrow.”

 

Duan Linzhou chuckled softly, hooked a flower towards himself, lowered his head to kiss it gently, and said, “The flowers personally given to me by our Highness are naturally different.”

 

Mu Peixuan’s face grew warm. The Duan family was immensely wealthy, and there was hardly anything rare that Duan Linzhou hadn’t seen. His fondness for these few lotus flowers now was simply because they were given by him. Thinking this, Mu Peixuan felt even more regret that he hadn’t picked these lotus flowers himself. He cleared his throat and said, “Eat the lotus seeds.”

 

Duan Linzhou responded, his gaze fixed on Mu Peixuan’s hands. Those hands, with their distinct knuckles, slender and strong, could draw a black iron longbow and wield a ten-foot silver spear, yet they were also exceptionally pleasing to watch as they peeled lotus pods. Duan Linzhou watched with a smile as Mu Peixuan lowered his eyes in concentration, carefully removing the green husk and the bitter core, revealing the milky white, fresh lotus seeds that exuded a delicate fragrance.

 

Mu Peixuan personally fed him a seed before asking, “How is it?”

 

Duan Linzhou nodded with a smile and said, “Not bitter, not astringent, refreshingly sweet and tender. Very good.”

 

Mu Peixuan said, “You’re not feeling well, so just have a taste. If you like it, I’ll have the kitchen make it into a sweet soup.” He then casually asked Duan Linzhou, “Do you prefer lotus flowers or lotus pods?”

 

Without hesitation, Duan Linzhou replied, “I like both.”

 

Mu Peixuan pressed further, “But which do you like more?”

 

Duan Linzhou blinked, seemingly realizing something. Fen Mo, who was standing to the side, suppressed a smile and said, “Junwang Fei might not know, but these lotus pods were personally picked for you by wading into the water at the garrison by His Highness himself. The flowers, however, were bought in front of the mansion…”

 

Before Fen Mo could finish, Mu Peixuan interrupted with a dark expression, “You talk too much.”

 

Duan Linzhou suddenly understood. He looked at Mu Peixuan, who became uncomfortable under his gaze, and said, “In a couple of days, the flowers in the lotus pond will be ruined by them, so I just picked a few lotus pods in passing—” It was just that he hadn’t thought of picking flowers at the time, focusing only on the lotus pods, carefully selecting the two with the prettiest shape and freshest appearance. When he was riding back to the mansion, he saw two children selling lotus flowers with bamboo baskets. Looking at the beautifully blooming flowers, he had impulsively bought them.

 

Duan Linzhou chuckled and said, “I like them both very much. However, I like the Xiao Junwang who waded into the water to pick lotus pods for me the most.”

 

He suddenly asked, “If you could take me with you next time, I’d like it even more.”

 

Mu Peixuan made a questioning sound, “Hmm?”

 

Duan Linzhou’s eyes were full of smiles as he leaned closer to Mu Peixuan and said, “I’ve never seen someone personally pick flowers for me before. I’d like to see it.”

 

Mu Peixuan’s ears slowly turned red. After a moment, he glanced at Fen Mo and Liu Guang, who were tactfully turning their faces away. Fen Mo jolted, grabbed Liu Guang, quickly performed a bow, and then retreated out of the room.

 

When the messenger arrived with news, he saw Duan Linzhou sitting with reddened lips and slightly disheveled robes. Mu Peixuan, on the other hand, looked refreshed and relaxed, radiating a sense of contentment.

 

The messenger brought news from Liangdu.

 

Duan Linzhou asked a few questions about Liu Sanjiu’s recent situation. Upon learning that he was well, Duan Linzhou felt relieved and dismissed the messenger, leaving only the two of them in the room.

 

Mu Peixuan hadn’t anticipated that Xiao Yunjing would lead troops to reinforce Linguan, but after a moment’s thought, it made perfect sense. With the arrival of summer, the northern border was peaceful, and Qin Fengyuan had also killed Xiao Zixing. This was an irreconcilable blood feud, the killing of a father. How could Xiao Yunjing not seek revenge? It was likely a conflict that would only end with the death of one of them.

 

Mu Peixuan said, “Although I’ve never met Xiao Yunjing, my father mentioned him when he was alive and spoke highly of him, saying that a tiger father begets no dog son. Xiao Yunjing is skilled in battle, and Ye Butong, the garrison general of Linguan, is adept at defense. With them there, Qin Fengyuan won’t be able to take Linguan easily.”

 

Duan Linzhou didn’t know much about the people in the imperial court. Hearing this, he smiled and said, “Why do I hear a hint of regret in your words? Do you wish for Qin Fengyuan to break through Linguan?”

 

With only the two of them in the room, there was little need for restraint during their conversation. Mu Peixuan pondered for a moment before slowly saying, “King Duan is a good person.”

 

Qin Fengyuan was a renowned general of Daliang, and Mu Peixuan had heard of his exploits, harboring a degree of admiration for him. Moreover, when he was trapped in Liangdu in the past, King Duan had helped him out of a difficult situation. When King Duan died tragically in prison, Qin Fengyuan was enraged and directly rebelled against Liangdu. To say something treasonous, he would be happy to see Qin Fengyuan pierce the sky of Liangdu and overturn that filthy and corrupt imperial court.

 

Duan Linzhou seemed thoughtful and said, “It seems Liangdu probably won’t relocate.”

 

Mu Peixuan said, “After the previous dynasty relocated its capital, it lost half of its territory. From then on, one step back led to a hundred steps back, ultimately resulting in national demise. The lessons of the past are still there. Furthermore, with Xiao Yunjing and Ye Butong blocking the northwest army, the imperial court won’t easily relocate the capital. However—” He placed the empty lotus seed pod aside, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and said, “King Xin is not someone easy to deal with. If Qin Fengyuan is defeated, King Xin will definitely enter Liangdu and usurp power.”

 

“If Qin Fengyuan wins, if he wins—”

 

Duan Linzhou interjected, “He will bring the young emperor back to Yuzhou, using the emperor to command the other lords.”

 

Mu Peixuan smiled and said, “King Xin wouldn’t dare to directly confront Qin Fengyuan’s forces head-on. Once he engages Qin Fengyuan in battle, win or lose, he will definitely suffer significant losses. How then would he compete with the other lords?”

 

Mu Peixuan was naturally astute. Although young, when discussing serious matters, he possessed a composure and calmness beyond his years. Duan Linzhou looked deeply at Mu Peixuan. When he initially chose Marquis Annan Mansion, aside from personal feelings, what he valued was the name “Marquis Annan Mansion” and the southern army it represented.

 

However, he had never imagined that Mu Peixuan was far more decisive, ambitious, and capable than he had thought.

 

The Duan family and Marquis Annan Mansion were now inextricably linked, truly sharing in each other’s prosperity and ruin.

 

Seeing Duan Linzhou staring at him, Mu Peixuan subconsciously touched his face and asked, “What are you looking at?”

 

Duan Linzhou chuckled, “Our Highness is so handsome, can’t I look at you a little more?”

 

Mu Peixuan’s skin was thin, and he couldn’t withstand such teasing. His gaze circled Duan Linzhou’s lips, causing Duan Linzhou’s lips to instantly feel faintly numb, as if they were being held in Mu Peixuan’s mouth again, swollen and breathless. He coughed lightly, straightened his posture slightly, and said, “I was wondering, with Your Highness having accomplished such a great feat, what reward will the imperial court bestow upon Your Highness?”

 

Mu Peixuan said, “Just some empty titles.”

 

In the seventh month, an imperial envoy from the court arrived in Ruizhou, along with Jiang Zhen, the newly appointed governor of Ruizhou.

 

Just as Mu Peixuan had said, Liangdu bestowed upon Mu Peizhi the title of Prince Annan, hereditary and without substitution, with his eldest son Mu Jinyu inheriting the peerage. Mu Peixuan was granted a fief of a thousand households[mfn]Fyi, a fief of a thousand households refers to a feudal reward in ancient China where a noble or official was granted the rights to collect taxes or income from 1,000 households.[/mfn], and there were also gold, silver, and precious jewels, not to mention other things. Besides the rewards for Marquis Annan Mansion, all the officials and soldiers who had contributed to the campaign were commended, including Zhou Ting, Xu Ying, Li Yue, and Zhou Zijin.

 

Xu Ying had naturally been promoted in the military, but he was very dissatisfied with the rewards Liangdu had given to Mu Peixuan. He said, “It was said to be a thousand households, but if you really count it, having half of that would already be generous. And look where the fiefdom is — right outside Linguan! Qin Fengyuan’s troops are stationed there.”

 

Mu Peixuan wasn’t surprised by this.

 

Prime Minister Lin and the court still harbored deep apprehension towards Marquis Annan Mansion. Although they had now elevated Mu Peizhi to Prince Annan, he was already dead. The one inheriting the title was a seven-year-old child, who naturally wouldn’t pose much of a threat.

 

Mu Peixuan didn’t care about these rewards. What concerned him more was Jiang Zhen, the newly appointed governor of Ruizhou, who had been transferred here this time.

 

Without a doubt, this was an eye planted in Ruizhou by Liangdu.

 

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The “Nourishing the Body and Cultivating the Land” arc begins.