Chapter 7

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Within Anmu City, Mu Guanghan’s lodging was at the Luonan Zhi residence. Although Luonan Zhi had left for the border in haste this time, it was clear that the west wing of the estate had been specially tidied and decorated to welcome Mu Guanghan. Carved bamboo windows, winding corridors, pebble paths, artificial hills, and bamboo groves, along with several peacocks, gave the place a refined, serene, yet lively charm.

Yet, atop this exquisite elegance, the room was unmistakably adorned later by another person with excessively ostentatious, gilded, and flamboyant decorations, utterly clashing with the previous delicate taste. For instance, the gilded, finely carved “Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea” screen at the door was obviously priceless; the purple clay pixiu on the desk, a masterpiece bringing wealth and good fortune, was clearly from a renowned artisan.

Even the wardrobe held garments of two distinct styles: half were subtly patterned, elegant and neat, while the other half… Mu Guanghan narrowed his eyes, picking up an extravagant, pearl-colored brocade robe to examine it for a moment. The taste was overwhelmingly gaudy, as if the second-generation heir himself, bedecked in jewels and finery, stood before him.

In broad daylight, as they say, “Speak of the devil, and he appears.” The second-generation heir, handsome but foolish, had come to the Governor’s Mansion seeking him. He put on airs, asking if Mu Guanghan was satisfied, if anything was inconvenient or lacking, “Please, City Lord, do not hesitate to tell me.”

Mu Guanghan replied, “If so, I shall not be polite.” “I prefer the fragrance of fruits; may the incense inside be replaced.” “The lotus pond in the courtyard is serene but lacks vitality; if it’s not too troublesome, I would like to add a few colorful koi.” “The gauze curtains are elegantly green, but I prefer red; I want them replaced with scarlet silk gauze.” “And…”

He was never particular about food, lodging, clothing, or use, but every time he voiced a request, the veins on the second-generation heir’s forehead twitched noticeably. It was not easy for anyone, being simultaneously scolded for being picky and ugly, yet forced to smile patiently while taking down every word.

Mu Guanghan used to be despised and often felt embarrassed and inferior. He always thought he was at fault and wished he could hide away. Later, he devoted himself to learning everything, just to be somewhat useful to others, so they wouldn’t so easily despise him. Fortunately, after much grinding and beating down of his pride, he gradually became numb.

Now he had learned to find amusement in unwarranted malice. For instance, at this moment, he made a list of unnecessary decoration requests as long as a sheet of paper. The more Shao Xiaoling endured, the more demands Mu Guanghan made.

At first, it was just the scarlet curtains; now he wanted two chubby, adorable little yellow chicks embroidered on each curtain panel—delicate Suzhou embroidery, with feathers distinctly detailed. No? Doesn’t matter. You are the Young Lord of Luo Prefecture; you must find a way, even if you have to hire an embroiderer on the spot.

He simply wanted little yellow chicks because he liked little yellow chicks.

Shao Xiaoling: “~~~~~”

Endure! Ugly people always cause trouble; I shall endure!

…

Mu Guanghan did not stop until Shao Xiaoling’s face was darkened with frustration.

“Alright, these will do for now. Thank you, Marquis of Luo Prefecture.”

He said casually, fiddling with the sand table beside him.

The sand table displayed a detailed topographical relief of the entire Luo Prefecture—mountains, rivers, towns—far more intuitive than a map.

Shao Xiaoling’s veins twitched violently twice more upon seeing the sand table.

Mu Guanghan said, “When I toured the mansion earlier, Chief Stewardess Shu Jinjin of the Governor’s Mansion said that all useful items in the mansion are freely available to me. I found this sand table impressive, so I moved it here. The Governor should not be stingy; what do you think, Young Lord?”

Shao Xiaoling gritted his teeth with a forced smile, “Heh heh, City Lord, please do as you wish.”

…

The Young Lord of Luo Prefecture ran into the Governor’s Mansion’s stewardess, Shu Jinjin, as he stepped out.

He dragged her to a secluded corner.

Shu Jinjin said, “It was the Governor’s order. All items and even treasures, rare objects, and confidential documents of Luo Prefecture are open for the Moonlight City Lord’s use and inspection. Since he was specially invited, trust is implicit. This matter… the Governor discussed it with the Young Lord beforehand, and you agreed, right?”

Shao Xiaoling said, “Everything else is fine, but that sand table is a rare masterpiece by Sai Luban, a precious gift from my father to my uncle’s fortieth birthday! My uncle treasured it dearly, and apart from Nan Zhi, only the finest generals of Luo Prefecture were allowed to use it for deployments and battle simulations.”

“Now that my uncle is gone, Nan Zhi often looks at it nostalgically.”

“And look at him just now—poking and moving the battle flags about at will! Nan Zhi… fortunately, he hasn’t married; if he had three wives and four concubines, would the beauties in the mansion also have to endure his meddling?”

Shu Jinjin said, “Young Lord, what strange things you say.”

“Not just the sand table, what harm in the beauties?”

“Given Luo Prefecture’s current situation, even if the Moonlight City Lord wants the stars, the moon, or your body, Young Lord, we’d all have to smile and comply!”

Shao Xiaoling: “…”

Though Shu Jinjin was only a stewardess of the Governor’s Mansion, her mother was the wet nurse to Shao Xiaoling and Luonan Zhi. She had grown up like an older sister, often pulling Shao Xiaoling’s ear around. Even now, she occasionally poked his forehead with delicate fingers.

“Shao Xiaoling, others say you are too carefree, but I know you are always clear in your heart about what matters most.”

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“Anyway, we are the ones begging them; you have to hold your temper and bear some grievances. The right way is to appease them well, since we still need him to seek troops and provisions and offer strategies to resolve internal and external troubles.”

“You know perfectly well in your heart; don’t lose the bigger picture over a whim and offend the Moonlight City Lord.”

“Otherwise, not only will the people of Luo Prefecture be unwilling, but when Nan Zhi returns, he might skin you alive.”

Shao Xiaoling: “…”

What is the matter with the proud Young Lord of Luo Prefecture today?

Under the blazing sun, he went to the West Market to buy window gauze, koi fish, and pear-scented incense for the Moonlight City Lord.

After an hour of shopping, drenched in sweat, even the attendants could barely endure.

“Master, perhaps enough for now; shall we return to the Marquis’s residence?”

“Return where? East Market!” Shao Xiaoling snapped.

What he couldn’t find in the West Market, he had to try his luck in the East Market.

With Luonan Zhi gone, he was responsible for attending to the Moonlight City Lord. Who was to blame?

…

Shao Xiaoling remembered how carefree he was when his father and elder brother were alive.

He loved to sleep until mid-morning, then go out to a tavern for a good meal, listen to some music, and nap a bit, waking only as dusk fell. After a drink, it was already noon the next day.

He never imagined a day could be so long—

Early morning, disembarking from the boat, hungry and under the scorching sun, shopping in the East and West Markets, sweating profusely, rushing back to the mansion to bathe and change, then hastening to accompany the Moonlight City Lord to a luncheon.

At the luncheon, all officials of Luo Prefecture gathered.

Mu Guanghan wore the elegant, plain robe prepared by Luonan Zhi for him, with a half-gold mask.

He spoke cautiously and observed carefully.

Since the Battle of Tianchang, the old ruler of Luo Prefecture had perished, and most of his trusted generals had either died or been wounded in that battle.

Afterwards, morale dissipated.

The remaining unruly officers had long sought new masters; many talented civil officials were lured away by various factions with heavy gold, leading to a drain of capable personnel.

Now, talent was scarce.

But looking on the bright side, those who stayed through hardships were at least loyal.

Not only to Governor Luonan Zhi, who now bore Luo Prefecture’s burden alone, but even this second-generation heir’s words seemed effective.

With this, Mu Guanghan was reassured.

As a newcomer hoping to accomplish something, the last thing he feared was insubordination from his subordinates.

In a precarious situation like Luo Prefecture’s, he might not have enough time to sort things out. Fortunately, the current conditions were easier than expected.

Perhaps because the situation was so dire, no one had confidence to hold it alone; or perhaps because of the rumors about him among the populace, Luo Prefecture’s officials regarded him as a lifeline.

At the banquet, everyone expressed a willingness to follow the Moonlight City Lord’s lead.

Mu Guanghan: “…”

“Since you all trust Guanghan so, I shall not fail your expectations.”

“Do not worry about the Governor’s safety. I have a good relationship with Ji Sanyi of the Dongze allied forces and have asked him to send troops to distract Xiliang.”

The entire hall was stunned.

In this chaotic era, the world was in turmoil. Unlike Nanyue, Dongze had long been thrown into chaos, with peasant uprisings everywhere. Ji Sanyi was one of the most powerful warlords among these ragtag forces.

The lords of Dahua Hezhou’s prefectures—be it their Young Lord Shao Xiaoling or the neighboring Wei Liuyi—came from noble families of dukes and princes. Previously, no one deigned to associate with figures of unknown origin.

Those who refused before could not now rise to such heights.

Who would have thought the Moonlight City Lord had such wide connections and could even talk with this man!

Officials all showed pleased expressions.

“If the Dongze Ji alliance agrees to send troops, it will truly be a blessing from the old ruler to protect Luo Prefecture!”

“The Governor’s invitation shows true insight.”

“The Moonlight City Lord’s reputation is well deserved.”

“I raise a cup to the City Lord!”

Shao Xiaoling was amazed that this ugly man could, with just a few words, strike the core and win hearts.

But it wasn’t over.

After the luncheon, the civil officials accompanied the Moonlight City Lord on a tour of Anmu City’s defenses.

The Moonlight City Lord lived up to his reputation from the stories, having traveled widely these years. He knew how to breed and maintain the strongest battle horses from Suizhou and understood the secrets of the easily defended Qianjun city in Yizhou.

Officials listened as if hearing celestial music, desperately taking notes.

His golden words were a timely aid, truly like a godsend, moving them to tears!

Before the evening banquet, Mu Guanghan actively invited Anmu City’s military generals to the Governor’s Mansion for a sand table simulation.

Shao Xiaoling had never liked reading but possessed a natural talent for warfare.

In the simulations, Luo Prefecture’s generals often fell within a single incense stick’s time under the Moonlight City Lord’s command. As seasoned veterans, they knew he was no empty name. Though frustrated and unwilling, they admired him greatly and eagerly sought his guidance.

Only Shao Xiaoling, not reading military texts, had his own style.

His elusive maneuvers managed to salvage some face for his generals.

Mu Guanghan looked at him, “The Marquis of Luo Prefecture is truly a master of war; I admire that.”

“Of course!” Shao Xiaoling said proudly.

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Though he ultimately lost, he had held out half an hour and was so praised that he felt elated for a while, only becoming secretly irate halfway through dinner.

He was a favored son of heaven, talented beyond ordinary.

To be praised by this ugly man? Praised by this ugly man???

…

After such a tiring day, Shao Xiaoling felt utterly exhausted.

But recalling Shu Jinjin’s advice, he forced on the smile of a regional lord and dutifully escorted Mu Guanghan back to the Governor’s Mansion after the banquet.

At the gate, the lanterns were just lit.

“Young Lord, please wait.”

“…”

Shao Xiaoling took a deep breath; what was bound to come would come.

The Moonlight City Lord had shown off his talents to him all day; now it was time for the final reveal.

Today was the day he, as lord of the prefecture, would stand resolute and sacrifice with regret.

With fate sealed, Shao Xiaoling comforted himself that at least he was not the first to sell himself for favor with the Moonlight City Lord.

Not to mention the neighboring Wei Liuyi, who had done so—obsessively, tangled in resentment and unable to let go. And not just Wei Liuyi; the Nanyue King Gu Sufang sent large ships to escort him, and even Ji Sanyi from Dongze was willing to send troops. Why?

What exactly did these people want…

Why did they all behave so, not as the stories said—rejecting him for his ugliness—but rather as if still emotionally attached and eager to please?

Oh, and there was also a stray dog guard.

That man now stood quietly at the Governor’s Mansion gate beneath the lantern light, holding a paper lantern. Mu Guanghan, facing away, could not see what Shao Xiaoling saw—the man’s calm, restrained, cold, and profound gaze.

“I will kill you.”

“…”

Shao Xiaoling snorted coldly, raised an eyebrow, then suddenly wrapped his arm around Mu Guanghan’s waist.

At the same time, he provocatively curled the corner of his mouth toward the guard.

Some lowly, foolish creature had no idea whom he was provoking.

Many years ago, when Shao Xiaoling and his father Shao Zijian were in Wuheng for a meeting, they had rescued a ridiculously ugly little kitten from a tree at the mansion.

The cat was so ugly and lame in one leg that Shao Xiaoling despised it and threw it to the servants, then forgot about it.

A day later, he found Wei Liuyi holding that lame kitten, calling it adorable.

This was astonishing.

What he had so thoroughly despised and refused to look at, Wei Liuyi wanted, so suddenly he wanted it too.

Back then, the two young lords had a big quarrel over the ugly cat and were both punished by their father.

In the end, Shao Xiaoling won the cat.

He raised it until it died peacefully a few years ago, and every year he would hold it up to Wei Liuyi’s face to flaunt.

Now history repeated itself.

Mu Guanghan did not understand why the Young Lord of Luo Prefecture, late at night… was possessed by something unclean?

Why suddenly embrace him and then abruptly pinch his chin?

With the usual disdainful face.

He truly did not understand this second-generation heir, who could be ignored if one wished, yet insisted on getting close. Just as he was about to push him away, the other suddenly leaned in and kissed the corner of his lips unexpectedly.

Mu Guanghan: “…”

Mu Guanghan: “…………”

The paper lantern of Chu Danxi went out, leaving only darkness and silence.

At this moment, Mu Guanghan’s mind was filled with a single word: regret.

He had been rash, truly. Even to avoid Wei Liuyi, he should not have boarded that brightly decorated bridal ship.

Was it not obvious the ship’s owner had a problem with his head? Why did he risk himself?

Yet,

At this moment, he was too weary to be angry.

Probably because it was pointless to be angry at fools, he sighed, “Young Lord, I called you earlier to discuss—among those expected today, one important person claimed illness and did not come.”

General Lu Tingyun of Luo Prefecture, commanding half of its military power.

Though Mu Guanghan had a pleasant conversation with most civil and military officials today, the absence of the old man was a thorny problem.

He intended to discuss this with Shao Xiaoling, assuming the Young Lord would be equally troubled. After all, the current state of Luo Prefecture and the Governor Luonan Zhi’s previous letters showed exhaustion and anxiety.

The Young Lord should be so worried he could neither eat nor sleep.

But this second-generation heir!