Chapter 291: Chapter 284: Charmed Life
Xie Xun was also visiting Jinzhou City for the first time. The city was filled with towering buildings and bustling commerce, a lively scene. Though the clans in Jinzhou were not as influential as those in the Capital City, there were still quite a number of them. The major clans were the Zhou, Li, Lin, and Zhang families. Manager Cheng had dominated the business scene in Jinzhou for over twenty years, becoming a wealthy magnate, but even then, he could only be considered a rich gentry. The clans not only owned vast lands but also had many of their descendants serving as officials in the court. Yanyang allowed merchants to participate in the imperial examination, so many wealthy merchants tried to donate money in exchange for government positions to obtain a title. This practice was quite popular over a decade ago.
The price to buy the position of County Magistrate for a small county was roughly eight thousand taels of silver, even though the annual salary for the position was merely fifty taels. Nevertheless, many wealthy gentry donated their wealth to secure titles, and one prominent merchant in Jiangnan even ascended to second rank through such donations. After Emperor Jianming ascended the throne, the entire officialdom of Yanyang was purged under Marquis Zhenbei’s military enforcement, and the donation system was abolished. Officials who had purchased their positions in previous years were expelled from office. Otherwise, the rampant granting of titles would lead to favoritism among officials and the appointment of unqualified heirs of wealthy families as court officials—they would only seek to accumulate wealth without solving real issues.
The practice of donating for positions was most rampant in Jiangnan and the Capital City. When Marquis Zhenbei abolished the donation system, it caused a collective protest among wealthy merchants. For two years, taxes in Jiangnan were hard to collect, and Ningzhou faced a critical shortage of provisions. Eventually, a group of conscientious merchants from Jiangnan united to appeal to reason and emotion, gradually bringing some improvement to the situation.
Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, scholars were respected and held high status. Once they achieved academic honors, they ascended like fish leaping through the dragon gate, bringing glory to their family. Even holding a position as a low-ranking ninth-grade official gave them significant authority over ordinary people.
Most clans traced their prominence to ancestors who served as high-ranking court officials. Relying on generations of favor, these clans formed their own groups and networks, like the Lin Family. Within three generations, they would inevitably produce a "Star of Literary Talent," holding key positions in the court. Such families easily established strong footholds within Yanyang, and many clans operated similarly.
Clans raised their descendants with strict discipline to ensure the prosperity of their families for centuries. For years, the clans across the twelve states had entrenched themselves locally, developing their own survival strategies. They cared little who sat on the imperial throne in the Capital City, as long as their family could perpetuate and thrive.
When Xie Xun arrived in Jinzhou, the city’s four major clans sent invitations, inviting him to visit their homes.
Xie Xun declined them all.
"Since you suppressed the bandits, all of Yanyang can see your ambition for the twelve states. Next, it’s up to Yuwen Jing to decide how to respond. These clans also want to know your plans for the twelve states. Now that you’ve just arrived, there’s no need to pay them any mind. Maintain your dignity; if you rush to visit merely because you’ve been invited, people will look down on you," Fengyu said appreciatively. "You’ve learned quickly. You don’t even need anyone to teach you now."
Xie Xun’s expression was complex as he looked at the excited Third Miss, words caught on the tip of his tongue.
In truth, he was only staying in Jinzhou for two days. The silver and provisions were being loaded onto carts, and he needed to transport them back to Ningzhou as quickly as possible. He and Fengyu were about to part ways, which made him reluctant. During these two days of loading silver and provisions, he simply wanted to stay by Fengyu’s side. After their separation, who knew when they would meet again?
He was not like Fengyu. After leaving the Capital City, Fengyu had a clear goal—she had come to the twelve states. But he couldn’t bear for Fengyu to leave his side, stubbornly wanting to hold on to her tightly.
While in Ningzhou, he had angered his Second Brother so much that it triggered his chronic eye condition. Xie Xun had suffered greatly and promised Xie Jue that he would keep her in the twelve states, yet now he felt like he was riding a tiger and couldn’t dismount.
Though he had agreed with his Second Brother outwardly, inwardly he hadn’t truly agreed.
He had committed to his Second Brother and didn’t want to break his word and become a dishonorable man, but his heart still worried for Xie Jue’s eyes. Both physically and mentally, he felt as though he were being torn in two—half of him wished to fly back to Ningzhou, while the other half desperately wanted to stay in Jinzhou.
With only two days, even spending every moment with Fengyu felt too little for him. He certainly had no interest in socializing with the clans.
Fengyu knew deeply that Xie Xun’s heart was still trapped in the rainy night in the Capital City. Seeing him practice swordsmanship alone in the courtyard late at night filled her with overwhelming sorrow and pain. But the demons haunting Xie Xun’s heart were something he had to overcome on his own. Staying by his side would only intensify his obsession, driving him into even deeper madness.
Separation was for the sake of a better reunion!
She buried her reluctance and yearning deep within her heart.
On the eve of their parting, Xie Xun did not lose his sanity or his composure, and Fengyu felt deeply satisfied.
"Chunlu, when I returned to Ningzhou at the age of seven, I often had nightmares at night. What kind of incense did you light for me back then?" Fengyu asked. Those incense sticks always helped her sleep better.
"It was Qiuxiang’s specially blended Qiushui Fragrance. When she went to Jiangnan, she taught me how to mix it. Since then, all the incense you’ve used has been prepared by me," Chunlu replied. "Since April this year, you’ve stopped using incense altogether, and you rarely have nightmares anymore."
Qiuxiang and Chunlu were both meticulous about her daily life.
"The Prince doesn’t sleep well at night. Blend some for him to take with him," Fengyu said.
Even an extra hour of sleep would help.
"Sure thing!"
Though Xie Xun wasn’t falling apart or losing control, Fengyu could still feel his agitation and attachment. No matter where she went, he followed closely—never leaving her side.
Since there were no urgent military matters to handle within Jinzhou City and Feiying oversaw loading the silver and provisions, Xie Xun had idle time and resembled an attentive shadow in Fengyu’s daily life.
Knowing their separation was imminent, Fengyu deliberately cleared her schedule to spend this precious time with Xie Xun. They spent their days at home, with Xie Xun teaching Fengyu the Xie Family’s swordsmanship techniques. One afternoon, Fengyu coaxed Xie Xun into planting pomegranate trees in the courtyard. While Xie Xun knew he had to leave the next day, he couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. Occasionally, his thoughts seemed to dwell on something ominous and fierce. When Fengyu asked him, he refused to share.
Fengyu silently thought to herself, "The Prince is even harder to please than the Little Marquis!"
"How about I make you Longevity Noodles?"
It was a coincidence that Fengyu and Xie Xun shared their birthdays in October—hers was in early October, and his was at the end of the month. Last October, they had despised each other, and during a violent encounter at Furong Inn, he had nearly taken her life.
This year’s birthdays would likely be spent apart.
"You know how to make Longevity Noodles?" Xie Xun raised an eyebrow and looked at her with playful skepticism. Her delicate, graceful fingers hardly seemed capable of handling kitchen work.
"I just happen to know how to make Longevity Noodles," Fengyu replied.
For years, Third Miss had been adept at making Longevity Noodles. Although she didn’t light the stove herself or add firewood, she genuinely took the effort to do the majority of the work on her own.
She kneaded the dough, adding salt and shaping it into a ball. After letting it rest, she greased the dough and began rolling it out into arm-thick shapes. Then, she let it rest again, shaped it into smaller pieces, and repeatedly rolled it until the noodles became finger-thick. Gathering them together, she let them rest once more before rolling them thinner and thinner. Greased once more, the noodles were rolled into finger-thin strands and shaped into a large mound. Xie Xun watched as her palms turned red from all the kneading and felt pity, saying, "Let Qiuxiang make it. Your thoughtfulness is enough."
"What Qiuxiang makes doesn’t taste as good as mine," Fengyu replied.
Qiuxiang mustered her courage to retort, "Miss, ... it seems like you’re fibbing."
Xie Xun, "..."
Should he even anticipate this bowl of Longevity Noodles?
Fengyu stretched the finger-thick noodles into long, thin shapes. After boiling water, she carefully placed the noodles into the pot. The noodles didn’t break during cooking and retained their thin and long form. Once cooked, they were scooped into a bowl with just one entire strand intact. Fengyu used the leftover boiled water to mix in seasonings and blanched a bit of green vegetables. A simple bowl of Longevity Noodles was ready.
Since Xie Xun was still observing mourning rituals, abstaining from meat for a year, Fengyu refrained from even frying an egg for him. She only added some basic seasoning to the noodles. When it was her turn to eat, Fengyu shared his simplicity, avoiding meat and opting for the same greens.
Qiuxiang and Chunlu exchanged looks. The dish seemed unappealing—a clear broth with sparse vegetables.
"Consider this our early joint birthday celebration," Fengyu said.
Looking at the plain Longevity Noodles in front of him, Xie Xun’s expression was hard to discern, teetering between gloom and sadness. He thought the Liangma Road repairs might be completed before October’s end, allowing him to ride swiftly to Jinzhou and celebrate Fengyu’s birthday with her.
From her words, however, Fengyu seemed disinclined toward celebrating together.
Just as he grew anxious, Fengyu suddenly said, "I’ll come to Ningzhou for your birthday."
"Really?" The icy edge in Xie Xun’s eyes melted, his mood instantly lifted by Fengyu’s words. "You’ll come to Ningzhou?"
"Yes, I’ll come to Ningzhou!"
As long as nothing unforeseen happened.
Fengyu raised her wrist, showing the Soul Suppressing Pearl. "Zhixu, we have the Pearl. With it, we can meet anytime."
"That doesn’t count!" Xie Xun protested.
"Why wouldn’t it count?" Fengyu argued. "You’re inside me, and when you look in the mirror, don’t you see me?"
Xie Xun, "..."
He found himself unable to refute her!
Longevity Noodles symbolized long life, and the way they were eaten carried meaning too. Both of them ate their entire strand in one continuous slurp. Fengyu eagerly asked, "Did it taste good?"
"It tasted good!" Xie Xun replied.
"I thought so too!" Fengyu said cheerily.
Seeing her smile, Xie Xun felt the agitation in his heart gradually ease. She had become more cheerful, more prone to laughter. These Longevity Noodles might not have been particularly delicious, but they weren’t bad either—they were at least edible.
During his time with the Left Wing Army, Xie Xun had eaten soaked rations in the rain, so he wasn’t picky.
For the evening meal, Longevity Noodles remained the main course. Fengyu instructed the kitchen to create a full table of vegetarian dishes prepared with tofu and other ingredients that mimicked the appearance and texture of meat. The dishes looked like ribs and beef, and their taste was remarkably similar, though entirely vegetarian.
Xie Xun had never eaten vegetarian dishes with such authentic flavors resembling meat.
Since he was in mourning, Fengyu would never trick him into consuming real meat.
Fengyu said, "You don’t believe in gods or Buddha, and you rarely visit temples. At Xiangguo Temple, they prepare plenty of dishes like these—very diverse and rich. Eating vegetarian doesn’t mean only boiling plain greens."
"I’ve learned something new," Xie Xun replied.
Having eaten his fill, Xie Xun considered taking Fengyu out for a walk to enjoy the lively night in Jinzhou City. However, Nuanyang entered with an unusual look on his face.
"Master, those clans..." Nuanyang hesitated, then glanced cautiously at Third Miss before biting his lip and continuing, "They sent over four young and beautiful women... claiming they were here to serve the Prince."
Xie Xun, "..."
Fengyu raised her brows slightly, revealing that familiar smile—the one Xie Xun remembered vividly from their first meeting. "Oh... The Prince certainly enjoys considerable romantic luck."