CHAPTER 103: CHAPTER 71 ENCOUNTER AT THE SECRET DOOR_1

"My lord, you had me so worried! Please, let me examine your wounds."

"They’ve already been treated, it’s fine."

"Let me stitch them for you. It’ll help you heal faster."

"No. I reckon the doctor from the marquis’s estate will change the dressing tomorrow. If he notices, I’ll have to explain everything again."

"True, you always think ahead, My lord. By the way, was that a prince who came in with you earlier?"

"Yes."

"How strange. A prince visiting a red chamber."

"Emperors have contracted venereal diseases before. What’s so special about a prince?"

"Shared battles and brothels, eh? Seems like you and the prince are on excellent terms, then?"

"He’s an idle prince with no real power, nor any hope of seizing the throne, at least for now."

"So, he’s completely useless?"

"For the moment, yes, that’s right. Oh, no, actually, he seems to be quite wealthy."

"We aren’t short of money right now, My lord."

"There seems to be an old Imperial Censorate Officer in this marquis’s estate who’s interested in taking me as his disciple."

"So, My lord, are you considering staying here?"

"I need to think about it. Deep down, I still miss Hutou City."

The mansion in Hutou City, the hot springs, the little lady, and the mornings there... Zheng Fan realized that staying in the marquis’s estate would mean completely severing ties with that decadent life.Isn’t the Marquis himself leading a life of simplicity and abstinence here?

"My lord, whatever you decide, I will follow you."

"Hmm, I’ll most likely choose to stay. After all, it’s a rare opportunity."

"Hey, you treacherous villain, are you done in there yet?"

The Sixth Prince’s voice echoed from down the corridor.

Zheng Fan and Siniang glanced at each other.

Almost in unison, they exclaimed, "So soon?"

"Hold on, almost done!" Zheng Fan shouted back, then lowered his voice to Siniang.

"Let’s make this quick... AHHHHHH!"

"Alright, My lord... AHHHHHH!"

"I probably won’t be able to return for a while. You need to go back to Hutou City and handle matters there. Also, if Blind Bei and his group return, we’ll need a contact person. AHHHHHH!"

"Understood, My lord. I’ll arrange everything, leave a messenger, and then come back to you. AHHHHHH!"

"Good. Be careful on the road. AHHHHHH!"

"It is you who must be careful, My lord! Please take good care of yourself. I will return to your side as soon as possible. AHHHHHH!"

"Alright, let’s leave it at that. AHHHHHH!"

"Yes... AHHHHHH!"

"AHHHHHH!"

"AHHHHHH!"

Zheng Fan picked up a cup of water from the bedside, poured some into his palm, and ran it through his hair to make it look like he was sweating profusely. Only then did he lift the red curtain and step out.

The Sixth Prince eyed Zheng Fan. Pointing to his own eyes, he asked, "What do you see in my eyes?"

Zheng Fan shook his head.

"Jealousy. It’s driving me insane."

"Oh, that? Well, next time, Your Highness can give the girl a bit more money, and she’ll scream longer for you."

"......" The Sixth Prince.

"Heh."

"Huh? Wait a minute. You didn’t bring any silver taels. How did you pay the bill?" The Sixth Prince realized there was a major problem.

"My skills were too good. The girl was so satisfied she waived the fee and begged me to come back often."

"......" The Sixth Prince.

After leaving the brothel, the Sixth Prince, now in a state of post-coital clarity, decided to wander around a bit more.

They arrived at the parade ground, a vast, open area, the largest of its kind within the marquis’s estate. This was where military reviews and victory celebrations were usually held.

Directly in front of the parade ground stood the marquis’s estate’s "main gate."

The destroyed archway had been rebuilt. However, being new, it still looked new and seemed somewhat out of place with the surrounding architecture.

A battered corpse hung on the archway, looking stark and desolate under the cover of night.

Perhaps because most of the people in the marquis’s estate were soldiers or their families, long accustomed to the turbulence of the north, a corpse hanging on the archway didn’t much disrupt their lives. Nor did anyone fuss about the negative impact such a sight might have on a child’s development, and so on.

The Sixth Prince sat down on a stone block, his hands resting on his knees, his eyes slightly closed.

"Do you know what I am thinking right now?"

"If Your Highness hadn’t spoken, I would have thought you were absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to cultivate."

PFFT... The Sixth Prince couldn’t help but chuckle. "I’ve been frail since childhood, so the path of cultivation was closed to me. As a prince, I’m nothing but a failure. Do you understand that feeling?"

"Your Highness, you know I’m a martial arts prodigy."

"My dear brother, must you treat me like this?"

"My dearest little brother..."

"Brother, I really want to castrate you and take you back to my residence."

"......" Zheng Fan.

"SIGH... We’re getting off topic. Zheng Fan, I was just thinking, in the past hundred years, how many times has this land beneath our feet borne witness to the footsteps of departing and returning armies? Our Yan State was founded in this remote northern land. Before us, the Desert Barbarians sharpen their blades; behind us, the three great kingdoms watch like tigers eyeing their prey. Throughout history, there has hardly been a nation founded under more difficult circumstances than our Yan State, yet, ultimately, we endured. Furthermore, our Great Yan’s iron cavalry suppresses the northern barbarians and holds back the southern kingdoms! In all the world, the military might of our Great Yan is number one!"

Zheng Fan nodded.

This kid, Zheng Fan thought, is truly like a demon before getting his silver and a saint after.Look at him, he mused. Fresh out of the red tent, and already spouting about home, country, and the world.

"I know you’re an ambitious fellow. The Princess saw it too. Of course, you didn’t really try to hide it. Because you understand that a capable and aspiring superior doesn’t fear ambition in their subordinates. Only mediocre leaders, content with merely maintaining the status quo, would do something as foolish as ’boiling the hound once the rabbit is caught.’ So, let me ask you: do you know what ailment plagues our Great Yan today?"

"The powerful clans."

This kind of test couldn’t stump Zheng Fan.Previously, whenever he had free time, he’d often sit on the bench by the door with Blind Bei. With a pack of cigarettes and a cup of tea, they could shoot the breeze all day. Blind Bei would analyze political matters, practically predigesting them before feeding them to him. It was like taking an exam with the answer key in hand.

"Correct, it’s the powerful clans. Our Great Yan is rife with them. Once imperial decrees leave Tiancheng Prefecture, their effectiveness is greatly diminished. We clearly possess the world’s strongest iron cavalry and the most valiant generals, yet we cannot annihilate the Desert Barbarians to the north, nor can we break through to Jin and Qian to the south! Since you know the crux of the issue, do you know how to resolve it?"

Zheng Fan sat down on a nearby stone block and said calmly, "Wipe them out."

Hearing this answer, the Sixth Prince paused, seemingly surprised that Zheng Fan harbored such murderous intent and was so blatant about it.

"Did you know that my Imperial Father’s thoughts are the same as yours?"

"I..."

"STOP!!!"

"Hmm."

"You’ve taken advantage of my First and Second Brothers, that’s one thing. My father wouldn’t mind another son, but you’d better not try to take advantage of *my father*."

"Yes."

The Sixth Prince tilted his head back, gazing at the moon. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, it all dissolved into a sigh.

Zheng Fan waited nearby. The Sixth Prince was at it again, repeating his melodrama from yesterday, being overly sentimental.

"SIGH, I’m tired. I’m heading back. Oh, right, here are some silver taels."

The Sixth Prince opened his purse, took out some silver taels, and handed them to Zheng Fan.

"Please go to the market and buy some more food. After you return to the residence, deliver it to Master Zhang and Master Chen."

"Should I buy some more oranges for you?"

"The oranges here seem quite delicious. Buy some for me."

"Very well, Your Highness. I will do as you command."

"Good, I’m heading back to the residence then."

The Sixth Prince departed, his silhouette trailing a long shadow in the moonlight.

Zheng Fan, holding the silver taels, returned to the marketplace. He bought a good amount of wine and meat. Afterward, instead of going directly back to the marquis’s estate, he returned to the parade ground.

The archway still stood there, but the area felt desolate. Closing his eyes and inhaling deeply, he could almost smell the lingering scent of blood from that day.

A man, having forsaken everything, had come knocking alone, merely to demand an explanation.

Don’t laugh. When he changed clothes, Zheng Fan genuinely hadn’t thought to grab his wallet, but he had instinctively pocketed his cigarette case.

Three cigarettes were stuck into the earth. Zheng Fan lit them one by one with a tinderbox.

"Alright, according to your barbarian customs: First, to the Barbarian God. Second, to the totem. Third, to the yellow sands."

With that, Zheng Fan reached down, scooped up a handful of earth, and sprinkled it before him.

"Brother, this is an oasis. The earth here isn’t as ’sincere’ as true desert sand, so just make do with the sentiment. It’s a shame. You loved to eat, but you didn’t meet me sooner. You only got to enjoy my cooking for two days. Actually, my specialty is cola chicken wings. I just never had the chance to make them for you."

Zheng Fan raised the wine jug, poured half its contents onto the ground, then squatted down, resting his hands on his knees, silently watching the three cigarettes burn slowly before him.

Shatuo Queshi, you are the first stranger in this world whose memory I, Zheng Fan, wish to honor.

...

The moon was bright, the stars dim. A desolate night wind swept across the land, again and again. The corpse hanging on the archway swayed continuously, buffeted by the wind, its occasional impact against the stone of the archway making soft RUSTLING sounds.

When the three cigarettes had burned to their ends, Zheng Fan picked up the offerings. He took a bite of meat and a swig of wine, then gathered everything and departed.

The moonlight was impartial; it did not discriminate. Just as it had cast a long shadow behind the Sixth Prince, it now did the same for Zheng Fan.

Zheng Fan didn’t see it. To be precise, he couldn’t have seen it. On the mutilated corpse hanging from the archway, the corners of its dry, cracked lips had twisted into an unnatural arc, as if it were... smiling.