The reluctant sunset was still tirelessly flirting with the clouds; the coy clouds flushed a seductive red on their cheeks.
The Princess dismounted, tossing her horsewhip to a nearby attendant, and saw her Seventh Uncle waiting for her at the doorway.
Seventh Uncle stepped forward to help the Princess with her cloak. Though they appeared as master and servant, their relationship was more akin to that of a grandfather and granddaughter.
Despite just returning from outside, there was no trace of chill about the Princess. Seizing the moment her uncle was beside her, she began to grumble, "Seventh Uncle, look at my mother! When I lead troops, she calls it fooling around. But when she leads troops, doesn’t she cause an even bigger fuss than I do?"
These words could only be spoken to this old man who had watched her grow up. Others were not only unsuited to hear them, but they also dared not listen.
Seventh Uncle smiled faintly and said, "The Princess now is exactly like her mother was in her youth."
"Hah! My mother must never hear you say that, or she’ll go on and on about how she was such a well-bred and learned lady, and how I’m so unruly and wild in comparison."
"Deep down, the Lady is pleased. No one dislikes seeing their children resemble their younger selves."
"Is that so? Then why don’t you remarry, Seventh Uncle? Or find an heir?"
"Oh, right, Princess. That lad... he’s left."
The Princess was momentarily puzzled, then realization dawned. "He really left?"
"Yes, he departed this afternoon, taking the men he brought from Hutou City with him."
"That young man didn’t come to see you?"
"How interesting. That lad, kneeling before you, calling you ’Master’ so earnestly. And now he just slips away without a word."
As she spoke, the Princess’s eyes narrowed slightly, a cold smile playing on her lips. She said, "Could it be that lad, like those worldly people, believes our Marquisate is on the verge of collapse?"
Seventh Uncle shook his head gently. "No matter how unstable the Marquisate may seem, it’s still a significant pillar of support for him."
"He has been very close with the Sixth Prince these past few days."
"He did save Ji Chengjue, after all, so it’s natural for them to be close. But... Seventh Uncle, are you implying that lad has sided with Ji Chengjue?"
"That, I do not know."
"Ji Chengjue couldn’t possibly have failed to see what kind of person that lad is. Strange. Ji Chengjue has been playing the honest man for so long; has he finally decided to drop the act?"
"None of the imperial scions are simple."
"Father said the same thing. He used to say that among the seven princes of this generation, apart from Ji Chengsu, who is still too young, none of the other six are ordinary."
"The Lord has always been a keen judge of character."
However, sometimes, having princes who are too outstanding is not necessarily a good thing.
"Forget it, Seventh Uncle. He simply wasn’t fated for it. Just you wait, I’ll find you a more talented disciple in the future."
"There’s no need. For that lad to reach a new rank within two months proves he’s a genius. Geniuses are not suited to learn my way of the sword. Most of my life, I’ve been a mediocre Eighth Rank swordsman, with only one true chance to draw my sword. Such loneliness is unbearable for a young, talented, and ambitious mind."
"Seventh Uncle, you’ve endured much hardship."
"It’s no hardship. By the way, Princess, another Imperial Edict has arrived from the court."
"For what? Are they urging Ji Chengjue to return to the capital?"
"Not that. It’s just an inquiry into the Lady’s health and well-being."
The Princess shook her head. "It’s not that simple."
"The eunuch delivering the edict also brought a message from His Majesty."
"He said His Majesty inquired about the Princess’s birthdate."
"The Lord is also in the capital. He must have agreed to this."
"If he wants to marry me off, let him! Is there any father in this world who would toss his daughter out like a bargaining chip?"
Seventh Uncle replied, "There are many parents in this world who would sell their daughters like bargaining chips."
"Seventh Uncle, whose side are you truly on?" The rightful source is NoveI★Fire.net
"This sword of Seventh Uncle’s can only be drawn once in this lifetime."
"Seventh Uncle said long ago that this one time would be for you. Whether you want me to use it to kill your husband if he mistreats you one day, or if you want Seventh Uncle to set off for the capital today and see if this sword can kill His Majesty, it’s all up to you."
"Seventh Uncle, don’t tease."
Seventh Uncle shook his head, his expression earnest. "Seventh Uncle is serious."
After a pause, he continued, "However, to kill His Majesty... this sword of Seventh Uncle’s might not be enough. And your husband, if he were to ascend to that position one day, Seventh Uncle’s sword might not reach him either. It is Seventh Uncle’s incompetence; a lifetime spent cultivating a single sword, only to forge a useless blade."
The Princess pouted, then chuckled. "Seventh Uncle, I know you’re good to me. Ah Daddy and Mother were always busy, so you were the one who looked after me as I grew up. But honestly, I’ve always wondered, I truly have..."
"Princess, that is because you have yet to become a wife, nor a mother."
As Seventh Uncle spoke, he gazed at the distant sunset and continued slowly, "In this world, those who can live their lives with constant vigor and high spirits are, after all, a minority within a minority."
"Are they suggesting I marry the Second Prince?"
"That seems to be the case," Seventh Uncle nodded. "How could the Princess of the Earl of North Border’s house not be worthy enough to be a Crown Princess?"
Actually, this could be put another way:
Whichever prince married the Princess of the Earl of North Border’s house would become the Crown Prince!
If he didn’t become the Crown Prince, then one would have to ask if the three hundred thousand soldiers of the North Border Army would agree to their future young master-in-law not ascending the Dragon Throne!
"The Second Prince is too straightforward."
"No prince is truly straightforward."
"Pretending to be straightforward is the most tiresome act of all."
"Princess, it’s getting chilly. You should go back to your room and rest. I’ve already instructed someone to prepare some porridge."
The sun, having had its fill flirting with the coy clouds, vanished without a trace, leaving only a dazed moon in the sky.
The company had already set up camp. It was the same one that had departed from Hutou City, now returning under Zheng Fan’s leadership.
The company was short one centurion, but with so much having happened recently, no one truly cared about him aside from his own subordinates.
Zheng Fan sat in the tent, rubbing his hands together, while Siniang prepared hot pot.
They had restocked seasonings at the market outside the Earl’s house. In the desolate chill of winter, hot pot was a particularly fitting meal.
Liang Cheng sat beside Zheng Fan. The little wolf cub crouched opposite Siniang, its eyes fixed intently on the bubbling beef tallow hot pot.
"So, My lord is planning to follow the Sixth Prince’s advice and head south?" Liang Cheng asked.
Zheng Fan nodded. He blew on his hands to warm them, rubbed them together again, and said, "The waters must be muddied for us to have a chance to fish in them. This murky pond of Beifeng Prefecture is about to be dredged. There won’t be any space left for us to splash around freely."
Warlords springing up in chaotic times – this was the previous state of Beifeng Prefecture.
Various military leaders, prominent clans, and powerful families were entrenched like nails in the land of Beifeng Prefecture, their relationships deeply intertwined.
Annexations and conquests were commonplace, an environment ripe for the growth of new powers.
Zheng Fan had no desire to be like Song Jiang, rebelling only to ultimately accept amnesty.
Nor did he want to emulate those loyal ministers and skilled generals, for whom ’both the sovereign’s wrath and favor’ were considered blessings.
What Zheng Fan wanted was to carve out his own domain with blade and spear. If preparations went well in the future, he might even emulate the King of Chu and inquire about the weight of the Nine Tripods!
Having been reborn after suicide, if he were to live a stifled life again, it would be a true injustice to himself.
"My lord has only to decide," Siniang chimed in. "If we go south, the climate will be better, the population denser, and life more comfortable."
"By the way, has Shatuo Queshi gone to Mei Village?"
Zheng Fan was quite concerned about this matter.
It wasn’t until he regrouped with Liang Cheng and Siniang that he learned they had managed to intercept Shatuo Queshi.
It was truly like snatching a tooth from a tiger’s mouth. The risk was unimaginable, but the elation of success was equally so.
"Blind Man and Xue Three should be in Mei Village by now. It shouldn’t be a problem, My lord," Siniang replied.
With Blind Man there, Zheng Fan was confident any issue would be handled promptly and effectively.
"Right, Liang Cheng, there’s something I need to ask you."
"Please speak, My lord."
"Shatuo Queshi now..." Zheng Fan pointed to his own head. "Does he still retain any of his own thoughts?"
"If it were an ordinary person, becoming a zombie would essentially be a new existence. At most, they might retain a special sense towards their living relatives."
This is also why, upon reanimation, a corpse might seem to attack its own relatives.
They are actually trying to get close to their relatives, to feel that connection. But it’s like an elephant trying to be affectionate and play with you – it might playfully pounce on you, trying to lift you high...
"But someone like him, a true expert in life, with a will of iron, plus being summoned by a barbarian sacrificial ritual after death... I believe he should retain some memories and sense of self."
"You’re quite something. Does every zombie in the world have to call you ’Ancestor’?"
Liang Cheng shook his head and said, "My lord jests. This has little to do with me; I merely relayed a message. I believe it was your bond with Shatuo Queshi that led him to forgo returning to the Royal Court and instead wait for us at Mei Village."
"It is merely that you are too modest, My lord."
"Enough, enough. Can we just talk normally, please?"
"By the way, this child... is he the young master of that convict tribe?"
"Where is his family?"
At that moment, the boy seemed to understand they were discussing him. He immediately stood up, dagger in one hand, and knelt on one knee before Zheng Fan.
"BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH..."
Zheng Fan looked at Liang Cheng and said, "Translate?"
"He says his father had grown old and fallen ill, no longer able to lead their people. So, he killed his father on his sickbed, took up his duties, and seeks a new future for his tribe."
Zheng Fan looked with interest at the boy, who appeared to be no more than five or six years old.
Then, shaking his head, he said with a sigh, "When we get to the South and choose a residence, we’ll have to get Blind Man to check the feng shui properly. It must be the feng shui that’s off; otherwise, why do I keep picking up these paragons of filial piety?"
As he spoke, Zheng Fan couldn’t help but take the stone containing Mo Wan from his pocket. He sighed and said, "Thank goodness my Mo Wan isn’t ."