The banquet had lasted for a full half-day, with excellent wine, delicious dishes, and dozens of local officials accompanying him with smiles. However, this meal neither filled his stomach nor brought him pleasure. He also had to quietly reassure the alarmed county officials, which was quite exhausting. After the dispersal of the banquet, everyone took their leave, and Liang Feng returned alone to the rear hall.
Leaning against the railing, he accepted the tea offered by luzhu, taking a sip. In any case, today had not been a waste of their previous plans. While the Prefect was the head of the county, managing local affairs was not always smooth sailing. Besides, Shangdang had suffered hardships in recent years and was located on the front lines of the chaos. It was not the kind of place that high-ranking officials were willing to stay in. Dealing with those local magnates alone would give anyone a headache.
Now that the necessary actions had been taken care of, and the tapping and threshing had been completed, the spring plowing could proceed smoothly after the Lunar New Year. It was essential to plant more crops while the Xiongnu people and Sima Teng were in conflict. Once the flames of war reached Shangdang, there would be no such relaxed environment.
Furthermore, the students copying books in the library should not be wasted either. By the time of the Double Third Festival1, they would need to carefully select a few usable talents. The more chaotic things became, the more valuable and capable individuals would be.
While pondering this, he received a message that Duan Qin requested an audience.
They had just finished the banquet, so why was he coming to see him again so soon? Liang Feng couldn’t help but sit up straight. “Let him in!”
However, when the door opened, it was not just Duan Qin who entered but also Yiyan, Jiang Da, and a small figure carrying a large wooden box. Liang Feng raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Rong’er, how did you come here?”
Since he had official business to attend to and the academy was not in session, Liang Feng had left Liang Rong at home, planning to bring him to the county after the fifteenth day of the lunar month. He had not expected the little guy to come over like this, which left him pleasantly surprised.
Even Luzhu, who had been taken aback, hurried to take the wooden box from Liang Rong’s hands, but the boy held onto it carefully and knelt on the ground. “On the occasion of the New Year, your child presents this year’s gift from the Fourth District.”
Watching the little one’s earnest expression, Liang Feng’s heart softened. Indeed, New Year’s Day was not only a day for court officials to hold the Yuanhui ceremony but also a time for family reunions and mutual congratulations. Just to surprise him, the little one had traveled for two days from the mansion. This gesture alone was incredibly touching.
“Rong’er, you have a thoughtful heart,” Liang Feng said, standing up and walking to Liang Rong’s side. He took the wooden box in one hand and held the little one’s hand in the other, returning to the desk.
He placed the box on the table, with the little boy in his lap, and smiled as he asked, “What did you bring?”
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It had been a while since he had been held by his father, and with so many people watching, Liang Rong’s little face turned red. However, he didn’t want to leave his father’s embrace, so he blushed and replied, “There’s a glass cup, and there’s also a crossbow…”
Liang Feng opened the box, revealing two items inside. One was a three-inch-tall flat-bottomed glass cup, similar to a whiskey glass from later times, but the glass was a pale green color, indicating that impurities had not been completely removed. The other item was a small hand crossbow, even smaller than the one originally issued to the cavalry, making it look like a toy.
Looking up, Liang Feng smiled and asked Duan Qin, “Are these new products from the district?”
Even if Liang Rong had the intention, he couldn’t have prepared such a surprise by himself. There must have been the involvement of Duan Qin and others. Indeed, Duan Qin, the county scribe, smiled and said, “Indeed, these are new products. The glass cup is the first blown glassware made by the pottery workshop. As for the crossbow, it’s modeled after the Qin design and can be disassembled, with a range of fifty steps.”
He didn’t need to mention that the glass cup was clearly intended for drinks, while the small crossbow was likely a personal defense item. Liang Feng raised an eyebrow, “I’m afraid there are more surprises prepared by Si Ruo.”
With four districts in the county, how could there be only two offerings?
Duan Qin replied, “Mu District has prepared a carriage with a modified Hare Suspension system, which greatly reduces the impact during travel. As for the Book District…” He smiled and pointed to Yiyan, “That one will have to be presented by Colonel Yi.”
The Hare Suspension was a unique anti-shock module for carriages, mounted below the carriage and above the axles. With the Hare Suspension, the carriage had three support points, achieving stability and shock absorption. The carriage modification had been ongoing for almost half a year, and Liang Feng had not expected it to yield results so soon. It was another significant gain! However, when it came to the Book District’s gift, why was Yiyan involved?
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At this moment, Yiyan had already received a two-foot-square wooden board from a servant and walked briskly to Liang Feng. “Lord, this is the topographic map of Shangdang County surveyed by the camp. It’s made of softwood by the Wood District and can be hung on the wall at will.”
Liang Feng inclined slightly and looked at the carved board. On it, the mountains, rivers, cities, and villages were meticulously depicted, as if a miniature landscape had been projected onto the wooden board. Training the military surveyors had taken nearly a year, and presenting such results was truly impressive!
“Excellent!” Liang Feng praised. The offerings from the four districts were all intricate and finely crafted. It seemed that over the past year, every artisan district in the mansion had made significant progress. This was more gratifying than any congratulatory message!
Duan Qin bowed slightly. “Although agricultural tools are not as sophisticated as these gadgets, we also offer various grains and silk and hemp fabrics for the Lord’s acceptance.”
Five wooden boxes filled with grains were presented, along with plain silk and hemp, all produced by the households in the mansion.
Jiang Da respectfully said, “Last year, the hospital recruited fifty nurses and midwives. There are now twenty-seven physicians serving in the county government clinic. When spring arrives, each county will be able to conduct epidemic prevention patrols to prevent disasters and diseases.”
This was the medical system that Jiang Da had worked hard to establish last year. The nursing staff was prepared for the army, while the attending physicians included renowned doctors and physicians from prestigious families that Jiang Da had recruited. The purpose was to assist the people and research medicine. In the past, only the imperial court could establish such a large-scale medical institution. However, because of the free distribution of “Treatise on Cold Damage,” this remote place like Bing County had ignited a wave of medical education development. Such an institution was no less than a strong army.
Liang Feng took a long breath and said, “Without all of you, there would be no prosperity in the Liang household today. This is the best gift for the New Year.”
Nowadays, it’s not the Three Kingdoms era anymore, where one could easily claim local resources as their own. The Western Jin Dynasty was a time of a unified empire, and even though the imperial court’s influence may have waned, there were still many Sima and royal families in power. Just like the region he was in, Shangdang, no matter how well he managed it, ultimately, he had to follow the orders of the Inspector, Sima Teng. Because of this political hierarchy, his personal assets and public assets had to be managed separately.
With this prerequisite, the Liang household had to develop independently. A prosperous and powerful Liang household would become his crucial support in his official career. With wealth, resources, and troops, he, as the Prefect of Shangdang, could secure his position in these turbulent times.
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And the people before him were the mainstay of the Liang household. Even though they held official positions, fundamentally, they were his loyal retainers. The title of “Lord” bound them together tightly. Gaining the trust and assistance of these knowledgeable individuals was the foundation of the Liang household’s growing strength.
Once again, Duan Qin and the others bowed, saying, “We offer our congratulations to the Lord!”
Looking at the people below him, Liang Feng smiled and said, “Official banquets can be dull; you all should stay and dine with me. Today, we won’t leave until we’re all intoxicated!”
With his command, a family feast was set up in the rear hall. The dishes included Liang Feng’s usual favorites, steaming dumplings, and the prepared pepper and cypress wine and peach soup. The pepper and cypress wine was made by steeping pepper blossoms and was traditionally consumed on New Year’s Day to wish for a long life. The peach soup was made by boiling peach twigs, leaves, and stems and was believed to ward off evil spirits.
There was also fruit wine brewed in the mansion, including plum wine, green plum wine, and pear wine. The wines were brilliantly colored, resembling golden oranges, and when poured into the glassware made of glass, they had a taste reminiscent of grape wine in a crystal goblet. Even Liang Feng couldn’t resist taking a sip. The people seated here weren’t just subordinates requiring careful handling; they were his true family.
In this atmosphere, the tightly wound heart began to relax. Not to mention Duan Qin and the others, even Liang Feng started to feel slightly intoxicated.
After they had their fill of food and drink and sent the young child back to the rear residence to rest, Liang Feng bid farewell to Duan Qin and Jiang Da. He was left alone with Yiyan and said with a smile, “Boyuan, it’s been a long time since we’ve played a game of chess. How about a match?”
Unexpectedly, the Lord wanted to keep him, and Yiyan hesitated for a moment before nodding. The two of them walked into the bedroom, set up the chessboard, and Liang Feng waved to Luzhu, “Bring some sobering soup.”
Luzhu was quite obedient and immediately understood that she should leave the room. She gracefully inclined her body and exited. With the white piece in his hand placed on the chessboard, Liang Feng said, “Bo Yuan, you’ve been quite busy these days. Playing chess with Si Ruo all day has really dampened my spirits.”
Duan Qin’s chess skills were not as good as Yiyan’s, but what Liang Feng wanted to say wasn’t about that. It seemed as if overnight, this young man by his side had become colder. He no longer circled around him, and that endearing stubbornness was gone. It was as if he had become a different person. Such a change, whether as a lord or as a mentor, warranted a question.
On his own chessboard in front of Yiyan, Liang Feng also placed a piece and said, “Bo Yuan, you’ve been quite busy these days. Playing chess with Si Ruo all day has really dampened my spirits.”
Yiyan’s chess piece landed on the board as well. He replied calmly, without any trace of change in his voice, “The cavalry and infantry are all busy with training. I really can’t find the time. Once the exercises are over, it should improve.”
His voice was steady, without any hint of abnormality. Liang Feng couldn’t help but smile and said, “From a few hundred soldiers to several thousand, it’s not easy for you.”
“The number of soldiers is secondary. If we don’t intensify our training, when the Xiongnu invade, Shangdang will be in danger. I don’t want to see another siege in Lu City.” In Yiyan’s voice, there was something extra, a hint of unwillingness and restraint.
This was the first time he had expressed concern about the current situation. Looking at the young man’s calm face before him, Liang Feng felt that the playful puppy he had raised had suddenly grown into a handsome guard dog. Loneliness was certainly there, but there was also a hidden sense of pride and gratification.
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“Ruling a whole county is no easy task.” Liang Feng placed another piece on the board. “Fortunately, I still have a capable general like you. It’s easy to get a thousand soldiers, but hard to find one good general.”
Those words seemed to hit Yiyan’s heart, causing a sudden tremor. Of course, he knew what his lord wanted to hear and what his lord cared about the most. That’s why he could hide his true self beneath military matters, quietly suppress those impurities, and become the kind of person his lord wanted, the kind of excellent general that was hard to find.
This was the path he had chosen.
Placing a black piece where it belonged, Yiyan softly said, “Lord, you should take care of your health too. Without you, Shangdang wouldn’t be in its current state.”
Liang Feng smiled; this conversation sounded very familiar to him. “With Ji En and Zhi Chuan around, they can always cure those ailments. Speaking of which, within the unit, are there any suitable young men of marriageable age? Luzhu is growing up, and it’s time to find her a good husband.”
Even though he wasn’t used to the marriage-age customs of ancient times, Luzhu was approaching sixteen, and keeping her by his side any longer might breed resentment. However, since coming to this world, Liang Feng had developed a brotherly affection for the girl who had always been by his side as his personal maid. If she were to marry, he wanted to make sure she found a husband with good character and a promising future.
Holding a chess piece, Yiyan hesitated for a moment and said, “I will look around, and if there is a suitable person, I will report it to you, Lord. But if Luzhu marries, won’t there be a shortage of people to serve you?”
“There are still many maids in the Prefectural Governor’s Mansion; I can find someone else,” Liang Feng chuckled. “And there’s also Cang Lan and Cai Wei; they are all reliable and attentive. I’m just one person; how many maids do I really need?”
Most other high-ranking noble families had a dozen or more maids attending to them. Someone like Liang Feng was the exception. However, Yiyan didn’t offer any further advice. If there was indeed a woman who caught Liang Feng’s eye and became his concubine or servant, how would he face it?
They casually shifted away from this topic, and Yiyan continued to talk about the newly appointed officers in their unit.
The two of them chatted, placing chess pieces on the board one by one. Whether it was because they had eased their minds or because they were simply fatigued from the day, Liang Feng’s pace of placing pieces on the board gradually slowed down. Yiyan didn’t exert any pressure; he simply matched his opponent’s speed, slowly playing out the game. Beside them, the candlelight flickered gently, casting a warm and soft glow over their figures.
As another black piece was placed on the board, there was a soft click. A white piece, in response, landed on the board. Liang Feng, leaning against the cushion, had already closed his eyes and fallen asleep.
Yiyan didn’t immediately make a move. He remained seated behind the chessboard, silently gazing at the graceful figure across from him. The distance between them was just a step, as if he could simply reach out and embrace the person into his arms. With one step, he could have what he desired, what he longed for.
He couldn’t take that step.
Gently rising to his feet, Yiyan walked over to the other side, bent down, and lifted the person into his arms. He then walked towards the nearby bed. Perhaps due to the effects of the wine, the person slept deeply and didn’t wake up from this movement. Instead, they stirred slightly, curling up in his embrace like a young animal.
With just a few steps, they reached the bed. Yiyan let out a gentle sigh and placed the person on the bed. After a moment’s hesitation, he reached out and removed the hairpin from their head. It was a jade hairpin with a simple design and excellent quality, one that Liang Feng often wore. In his own embrace, he held a jade hairpin, meticulously crafted from high-quality jade after months of careful work. It was similar to the jade pendant he had given as a gift last year.
But this year, this hairpin was destined not to be given away. It was too intimate, too affectionate, beyond the boundaries where he should have stayed. It shouldn’t have been something to present to his lord. Moreover, it probably could never compare to the map he had offered, which could win that person’s favor.
Placing the hairpin on a low table nearby, Yiyan took a step back and turned to leave the room.
Luzhu had already prepared the sobering soup and was waiting in the outer room. She raised her eyebrows in surprise when she saw Yiyan and asked, “Where is my lord?”
“My lord is intoxicated and has already gone to sleep,” Yiyan replied.
“Ah!” Luzhu didn’t dare to delay and quickly walked into the room.
As he watched her hurried figure, Yiyan lowered his gaze and didn’t linger any longer. He took large strides and left.
1The Double Third Festival (Chinese: 三月三; pinyin: sānyuèsān) or Shangsi Festival (traditional Chinese: 上巳節; simplified Chinese: 上巳节), sometimes translated as the Washing Festival, is a Chinese holiday celebrated on the third day of the third month of the Chinese calendar
The banquet had lasted for a full half-day, with excellent wine, delicious dishes, and dozens of local officials accompanying him with smiles. However, this meal neither filled his stomach nor brought him pleasure. He also had to quietly reassure the alarmed county officials, which was quite exhausting. After the dispersal of the banquet, everyone took their leave, and Liang Feng returned alone to the rear hall.
Leaning against the railing, he accepted the tea offered by luzhu, taking a sip. In any case, today had not been a waste of their previous plans. While the Prefect was the head of the county, managing local affairs was not always smooth sailing. Besides, Shangdang had suffered hardships in recent years and was located on the front lines of the chaos. It was not the kind of place that high-ranking officials were willing to stay in. Dealing with those local magnates alone would give anyone a headache.
Now that the necessary actions had been taken care of, and the tapping and threshing had been completed, the spring plowing could proceed smoothly after the Lunar New Year. It was essential to plant more crops while the Xiongnu people and Sima Teng were in conflict. Once the flames of war reached Shangdang, there would be no such relaxed environment.
Furthermore, the students copying books in the library should not be wasted either. By the time of the Double Third Festival1, they would need to carefully select a few usable talents. The more chaotic things became, the more valuable and capable individuals would be.
While pondering this, he received a message that Duan Qin requested an audience.
They had just finished the banquet, so why was he coming to see him again so soon? Liang Feng couldn’t help but sit up straight. “Let him in!”
However, when the door opened, it was not just Duan Qin who entered but also Yiyan, Jiang Da, and a small figure carrying a large wooden box. Liang Feng raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Rong’er, how did you come here?”
Since he had official business to attend to and the academy was not in session, Liang Feng had left Liang Rong at home, planning to bring him to the county after the fifteenth day of the lunar month. He had not expected the little guy to come over like this, which left him pleasantly surprised.
Even Luzhu, who had been taken aback, hurried to take the wooden box from Liang Rong’s hands, but the boy held onto it carefully and knelt on the ground. “On the occasion of the New Year, your child presents this year’s gift from the Fourth District.”
Watching the little one’s earnest expression, Liang Feng’s heart softened. Indeed, New Year’s Day was not only a day for court officials to hold the Yuanhui ceremony but also a time for family reunions and mutual congratulations. Just to surprise him, the little one had traveled for two days from the mansion. This gesture alone was incredibly touching.
“Rong’er, you have a thoughtful heart,” Liang Feng said, standing up and walking to Liang Rong’s side. He took the wooden box in one hand and held the little one’s hand in the other, returning to the desk.
He placed the box on the table, with the little boy in his lap, and smiled as he asked, “What did you bring?”
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It had been a while since he had been held by his father, and with so many people watching, Liang Rong’s little face turned red. However, he didn’t want to leave his father’s embrace, so he blushed and replied, “There’s a glass cup, and there’s also a crossbow…”
Liang Feng opened the box, revealing two items inside. One was a three-inch-tall flat-bottomed glass cup, similar to a whiskey glass from later times, but the glass was a pale green color, indicating that impurities had not been completely removed. The other item was a small hand crossbow, even smaller than the one originally issued to the cavalry, making it look like a toy.
Looking up, Liang Feng smiled and asked Duan Qin, “Are these new products from the district?”
Even if Liang Rong had the intention, he couldn’t have prepared such a surprise by himself. There must have been the involvement of Duan Qin and others. Indeed, Duan Qin, the county scribe, smiled and said, “Indeed, these are new products. The glass cup is the first blown glassware made by the pottery workshop. As for the crossbow, it’s modeled after the Qin design and can be disassembled, with a range of fifty steps.”
He didn’t need to mention that the glass cup was clearly intended for drinks, while the small crossbow was likely a personal defense item. Liang Feng raised an eyebrow, “I’m afraid there are more surprises prepared by Si Ruo.”
With four districts in the county, how could there be only two offerings?
Duan Qin replied, “Mu District has prepared a carriage with a modified Hare Suspension system, which greatly reduces the impact during travel. As for the Book District…” He smiled and pointed to Yiyan, “That one will have to be presented by Colonel Yi.”
The Hare Suspension was a unique anti-shock module for carriages, mounted below the carriage and above the axles. With the Hare Suspension, the carriage had three support points, achieving stability and shock absorption. The carriage modification had been ongoing for almost half a year, and Liang Feng had not expected it to yield results so soon. It was another significant gain! However, when it came to the Book District’s gift, why was Yiyan involved?
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At this moment, Yiyan had already received a two-foot-square wooden board from a servant and walked briskly to Liang Feng. “Lord, this is the topographic map of Shangdang County surveyed by the camp. It’s made of softwood by the Wood District and can be hung on the wall at will.”
Liang Feng inclined slightly and looked at the carved board. On it, the mountains, rivers, cities, and villages were meticulously depicted, as if a miniature landscape had been projected onto the wooden board. Training the military surveyors had taken nearly a year, and presenting such results was truly impressive!
“Excellent!” Liang Feng praised. The offerings from the four districts were all intricate and finely crafted. It seemed that over the past year, every artisan district in the mansion had made significant progress. This was more gratifying than any congratulatory message!
Duan Qin bowed slightly. “Although agricultural tools are not as sophisticated as these gadgets, we also offer various grains and silk and hemp fabrics for the Lord’s acceptance.”
Five wooden boxes filled with grains were presented, along with plain silk and hemp, all produced by the households in the mansion.
Jiang Da respectfully said, “Last year, the hospital recruited fifty nurses and midwives. There are now twenty-seven physicians serving in the county government clinic. When spring arrives, each county will be able to conduct epidemic prevention patrols to prevent disasters and diseases.”
This was the medical system that Jiang Da had worked hard to establish last year. The nursing staff was prepared for the army, while the attending physicians included renowned doctors and physicians from prestigious families that Jiang Da had recruited. The purpose was to assist the people and research medicine. In the past, only the imperial court could establish such a large-scale medical institution. However, because of the free distribution of “Treatise on Cold Damage,” this remote place like Bing County had ignited a wave of medical education development. Such an institution was no less than a strong army.
Liang Feng took a long breath and said, “Without all of you, there would be no prosperity in the Liang household today. This is the best gift for the New Year.”
Nowadays, it’s not the Three Kingdoms era anymore, where one could easily claim local resources as their own. The Western Jin Dynasty was a time of a unified empire, and even though the imperial court’s influence may have waned, there were still many Sima and royal families in power. Just like the region he was in, Shangdang, no matter how well he managed it, ultimately, he had to follow the orders of the Inspector, Sima Teng. Because of this political hierarchy, his personal assets and public assets had to be managed separately.
With this prerequisite, the Liang household had to develop independently. A prosperous and powerful Liang household would become his crucial support in his official career. With wealth, resources, and troops, he, as the Prefect of Shangdang, could secure his position in these turbulent times.
Advertisement
AD
And the people before him were the mainstay of the Liang household. Even though they held official positions, fundamentally, they were his loyal retainers. The title of “Lord” bound them together tightly. Gaining the trust and assistance of these knowledgeable individuals was the foundation of the Liang household’s growing strength.
Once again, Duan Qin and the others bowed, saying, “We offer our congratulations to the Lord!”
Looking at the people below him, Liang Feng smiled and said, “Official banquets can be dull; you all should stay and dine with me. Today, we won’t leave until we’re all intoxicated!”
With his command, a family feast was set up in the rear hall. The dishes included Liang Feng’s usual favorites, steaming dumplings, and the prepared pepper and cypress wine and peach soup. The pepper and cypress wine was made by steeping pepper blossoms and was traditionally consumed on New Year’s Day to wish for a long life. The peach soup was made by boiling peach twigs, leaves, and stems and was believed to ward off evil spirits.
There was also fruit wine brewed in the mansion, including plum wine, green plum wine, and pear wine. The wines were brilliantly colored, resembling golden oranges, and when poured into the glassware made of glass, they had a taste reminiscent of grape wine in a crystal goblet. Even Liang Feng couldn’t resist taking a sip. The people seated here weren’t just subordinates requiring careful handling; they were his true family.
In this atmosphere, the tightly wound heart began to relax. Not to mention Duan Qin and the others, even Liang Feng started to feel slightly intoxicated.
After they had their fill of food and drink and sent the young child back to the rear residence to rest, Liang Feng bid farewell to Duan Qin and Jiang Da. He was left alone with Yiyan and said with a smile, “Boyuan, it’s been a long time since we’ve played a game of chess. How about a match?”
Unexpectedly, the Lord wanted to keep him, and Yiyan hesitated for a moment before nodding. The two of them walked into the bedroom, set up the chessboard, and Liang Feng waved to Luzhu, “Bring some sobering soup.”
Luzhu was quite obedient and immediately understood that she should leave the room. She gracefully inclined her body and exited. With the white piece in his hand placed on the chessboard, Liang Feng said, “Bo Yuan, you’ve been quite busy these days. Playing chess with Si Ruo all day has really dampened my spirits.”
Duan Qin’s chess skills were not as good as Yiyan’s, but what Liang Feng wanted to say wasn’t about that. It seemed as if overnight, this young man by his side had become colder. He no longer circled around him, and that endearing stubbornness was gone. It was as if he had become a different person. Such a change, whether as a lord or as a mentor, warranted a question.
On his own chessboard in front of Yiyan, Liang Feng also placed a piece and said, “Bo Yuan, you’ve been quite busy these days. Playing chess with Si Ruo all day has really dampened my spirits.”
Yiyan’s chess piece landed on the board as well. He replied calmly, without any trace of change in his voice, “The cavalry and infantry are all busy with training. I really can’t find the time. Once the exercises are over, it should improve.”
His voice was steady, without any hint of abnormality. Liang Feng couldn’t help but smile and said, “From a few hundred soldiers to several thousand, it’s not easy for you.”
“The number of soldiers is secondary. If we don’t intensify our training, when the Xiongnu invade, Shangdang will be in danger. I don’t want to see another siege in Lu City.” In Yiyan’s voice, there was something extra, a hint of unwillingness and restraint.
This was the first time he had expressed concern about the current situation. Looking at the young man’s calm face before him, Liang Feng felt that the playful puppy he had raised had suddenly grown into a handsome guard dog. Loneliness was certainly there, but there was also a hidden sense of pride and gratification.
Advertisement
AD
“Ruling a whole county is no easy task.” Liang Feng placed another piece on the board. “Fortunately, I still have a capable general like you. It’s easy to get a thousand soldiers, but hard to find one good general.”
Those words seemed to hit Yiyan’s heart, causing a sudden tremor. Of course, he knew what his lord wanted to hear and what his lord cared about the most. That’s why he could hide his true self beneath military matters, quietly suppress those impurities, and become the kind of person his lord wanted, the kind of excellent general that was hard to find.
This was the path he had chosen.
Placing a black piece where it belonged, Yiyan softly said, “Lord, you should take care of your health too. Without you, Shangdang wouldn’t be in its current state.”
Liang Feng smiled; this conversation sounded very familiar to him. “With Ji En and Zhi Chuan around, they can always cure those ailments. Speaking of which, within the unit, are there any suitable young men of marriageable age? Luzhu is growing up, and it’s time to find her a good husband.”
Even though he wasn’t used to the marriage-age customs of ancient times, Luzhu was approaching sixteen, and keeping her by his side any longer might breed resentment. However, since coming to this world, Liang Feng had developed a brotherly affection for the girl who had always been by his side as his personal maid. If she were to marry, he wanted to make sure she found a husband with good character and a promising future.
Holding a chess piece, Yiyan hesitated for a moment and said, “I will look around, and if there is a suitable person, I will report it to you, Lord. But if Luzhu marries, won’t there be a shortage of people to serve you?”
“There are still many maids in the Prefectural Governor’s Mansion; I can find someone else,” Liang Feng chuckled. “And there’s also Cang Lan and Cai Wei; they are all reliable and attentive. I’m just one person; how many maids do I really need?”
Most other high-ranking noble families had a dozen or more maids attending to them. Someone like Liang Feng was the exception. However, Yiyan didn’t offer any further advice. If there was indeed a woman who caught Liang Feng’s eye and became his concubine or servant, how would he face it?
They casually shifted away from this topic, and Yiyan continued to talk about the newly appointed officers in their unit.
The two of them chatted, placing chess pieces on the board one by one. Whether it was because they had eased their minds or because they were simply fatigued from the day, Liang Feng’s pace of placing pieces on the board gradually slowed down. Yiyan didn’t exert any pressure; he simply matched his opponent’s speed, slowly playing out the game. Beside them, the candlelight flickered gently, casting a warm and soft glow over their figures.
As another black piece was placed on the board, there was a soft click. A white piece, in response, landed on the board. Liang Feng, leaning against the cushion, had already closed his eyes and fallen asleep.
Yiyan didn’t immediately make a move. He remained seated behind the chessboard, silently gazing at the graceful figure across from him. The distance between them was just a step, as if he could simply reach out and embrace the person into his arms. With one step, he could have what he desired, what he longed for.
He couldn’t take that step.
Gently rising to his feet, Yiyan walked over to the other side, bent down, and lifted the person into his arms. He then walked towards the nearby bed. Perhaps due to the effects of the wine, the person slept deeply and didn’t wake up from this movement. Instead, they stirred slightly, curling up in his embrace like a young animal.
With just a few steps, they reached the bed. Yiyan let out a gentle sigh and placed the person on the bed. After a moment’s hesitation, he reached out and removed the hairpin from their head. It was a jade hairpin with a simple design and excellent quality, one that Liang Feng often wore. In his own embrace, he held a jade hairpin, meticulously crafted from high-quality jade after months of careful work. It was similar to the jade pendant he had given as a gift last year.
But this year, this hairpin was destined not to be given away. It was too intimate, too affectionate, beyond the boundaries where he should have stayed. It shouldn’t have been something to present to his lord. Moreover, it probably could never compare to the map he had offered, which could win that person’s favor.
Placing the hairpin on a low table nearby, Yiyan took a step back and turned to leave the room.
Luzhu had already prepared the sobering soup and was waiting in the outer room. She raised her eyebrows in surprise when she saw Yiyan and asked, “Where is my lord?”
“My lord is intoxicated and has already gone to sleep,” Yiyan replied.
“Ah!” Luzhu didn’t dare to delay and quickly walked into the room.
As he watched her hurried figure, Yiyan lowered his gaze and didn’t linger any longer. He took large strides and left.
1The Double Third Festival (Chinese: 三月三; pinyin: sānyuèsān) or Shangsi Festival (traditional Chinese: 上巳節; simplified Chinese: 上巳节), sometimes translated as the Washing Festival, is a Chinese holiday celebrated on the third day of the third month of the Chinese calendar
