Chapter 426: Beautiful Hairpins

“Are you wondering why I agreed to go to the Fan Residence?”

“A little,” A’Ming replied. “It doesn’t seem quite like Master’s usual style.”

“There are three reasons.

“The first time we met, Fan Zhengwen offered to help me abduct a princess.

“The second time, he brought his adviser and laid out the operation for us—from how to strike, to when to strike, all the way to how we withdraw.

“You can call it birds of a feather flocking together.

“You can call it jackals colluding.

“Either way, from the moment I agreed to carry off a Chu princess, the Fan Clan and we had already become allies.

“From this point on, the Fan Clan’s people will move.

“San, Siniang, Jin Shuke, Keyan Dongge, and our own men will all begin acting according to plan.

“Whether it’s going into hiding so we can infiltrate that imperial villa, keeping a fresh reserve force along the escape route, or creating noise and support on the perimeter the day we seize the princess—every category, every detail, needs extremely meticulous planning.

“And truthfully, what the Fan Clan has to do is no less than what we do.

“If anything, it is more.

“They’re taking far greater risks than we are.

“So with Siniang and the others handling the actual work below, what can I do?

“I enter the Fan Residence.

“First, it shows mutual trust.

“Second, so long as I remain inside the Fan Residence, the Fan Clan can truly feel at ease.

“Because the Fan Clan has to stay in Xiayong.

“They have to stay in Chu.

“They aren’t like us.

“We can slap our horses on the ass and run.”

Zheng Fan glanced at A’Ming and continued:

“The second reason is that Fan Zhengwen is extremely good at dealing with people.

“He may even be better than the Blind Man.

“The Blind Man possesses a streak of arrogance he can never completely erase.

“Fan Zhengwen can.

“So if this invitation truly came only from Fan Zhengwen himself, then given his habits, he would never make this sort of request that might put me in an awkward position.

“That means I suspect someone inside the Fan Residence wants to see me.

“I don’t know exactly who.

“But their status should be higher than Fan Zhengwen’s.”

“Master, then why didn’t that person simply say so?”

“Maybe, in that person’s eyes, I’m someone worth seeing if convenient—but not so important that I absolutely must be seen.

“There is actually someone inside the Fan Residence capable of treating me this casually.

“Don’t you think I should go meet them?”

“And the third reason, Master?”

“The third reason is that I genuinely want to see how the truly wealthy families of this world live.”

Heaven have mercy.

Count Zheng was not making that up.

He truly had never experienced how the genuinely rich people of this world lived.

When he had first awakened, the Seven Demon Kings had run a small tavern.

Locally speaking they had probably counted as modestly comfortable.

Later, he visited the Marquis of Zhenbei Residence.

The residence was enormous.

It was prestigious.

But when one remembered that the Marquis himself had gone to Yanjing, eaten several roast ducks in a row, then run into the imperial garden to roast a lamb leg one could tell that the Marquis Residence might be noble, but it was not extravagant.

Zheng Fan had visited the Yan imperial palace too.

Unfortunately, the Emperor of Yan lived far too simply.

For a while, Zheng Fan had even wondered why the imperial princes still lived together in their Princes’ Residence like some giant dormitory.

To save money, of course.

The later they opened separate princely residences, the more years of household expenses and imperial-clan stipends the court could avoid paying.

As for the Tian Clan—

Zheng Fan should originally have had the chance to observe the decadence of a great aristocratic house.

Unfortunately, that particular night, Count Zheng only managed to mooch a decent meal among the Marquis of Jingnan’s personal guards.

He had barely eaten a few bites when Tian Wujing gave one order and Zheng Fan experienced a true **Crimson Romance**.

That night had even haunted his dreams for quite some time afterward.

When he later marched south into Qian, he had been too busy fighting to savor anything.

Even when he entered the Qian imperial palace, the Yan army was already at the capital’s gates.

Everyone inside the palace was terrified.

Zheng Fan himself, serving as envoy, had been nervous as hell.

He ate a few pastries before the Emperor of Qian and could not even remember afterward whether they had tasted sweet or salty.

The Jin capital region had already fallen into ruin.

When military chaos swept through the Jin imperial palace, Zheng Fan had only cared about looting valuables.

The “imperial palace” of the Situ brothers in Fengxin City was basically a bandit den.

True extravagance the genuine life of high society needed peace and quiet before one could slowly savor it.

There were still more than ten days before the New Year.

Then another half month or so until the Lantern Festival.

Almost a full month.

Enough time for Count Zheng to spend a while inside the Fan Residence and live an authentic luxurious life of this world.

After hearing all three reasons, A’Ming said:

“This subordinate feels the third reason is actually the most convincing.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

“Of course.

“I came up with the first two afterward just so I could make it an even three.”

“...”

A’Ming.

A’Ming habitually glanced at his wine pouch.

Empty.

He had collected some blood from the assassins last time, but storage conditions had been poor, so he filled only one pouch.

Blood, once it stopped being fresh was even harder to swallow than stale pork.

Still, A’Ming suddenly felt Master had a point.

Even Eunuch Zhang beside Little Sixth kept a private residence outside the palace with a wine cellar for storing red wine.

The Fan Clan surely could not possibly lack good wine?

Fresh blood from ordinary people merely helped take the edge off.

High-quality red wine that was genuine enjoyment.

However, A’Ming then pointed at He Chunlai and Chen Daole.

They had also been disguised.

They had not been fortunate enough to sit on the ox cart and were walking behind it.

“Then why did Master bring those two?”

Chen Daole and He Chunlai both looked somewhat embarrassed.

They had followed Fan Li into Snow Sea Pass and barely spent a few days there.

They had not even figured out the lay of the place when they were suddenly assigned to this force and, somehow or other, entered Chu.

Then once everyone else was distributed to their duties the two of them had actually been singled out and ordered to follow Count Pingye in disguise into the Fan Residence.

Zheng Fan pointed first at He Chunlai.

Then at Chen Daole.

“Of course I have to keep Brainless and Unhappy close where I can watch them.”

A’Ming asked:

“Then what about me?”

Immediately afterward—

A’Ming added:

“Master, you don’t need to answer that.”

Zheng Fan smiled.

So he did not.

The group entered Xiayong County City.

Xiayong had long circulated an old folk rhyme:

Lady Mengshan’s household runs short of grain;
down to Xiayong she comes, to beg from Fan.

Lady Mengshan was a deity from local Mengshan folklore.

And “begging from Fan” sounded like “begging for food.”

The rhyme alone was enough to show just how wealthy the Fan Clan was in Xiayong.

In truth, more than seventy percent of the shops inside Xiayong County City belonged to the Fan Residence.

More than sixty percent of the farming households outside the walls rented Fan Clan land.

Across the entire county, more than ninety percent of the population could hardly pass through birth, aging, sickness, death, marriage, or burial without touching some Fan Clan business.

And even that was only one tiny reflection of the family’s wealth.

Its genuinely profitable trade was smuggling.

The Fan Residence stood in eastern Xiayong.

It occupied a truly enormous tract of land.

Even the rear gate used for transport caravans had its own ceremonial archway.

After entering the residence, Fan Zhengwen did not come over.

He had his own affairs to handle.

Faces he needed to show in public.

With something major approaching details outside mattered even more.

Zheng Fan and the other three men were led through the residence by a steward.

Front residence.

Middle residence.

Rear residence.

Along the way, Zheng Fan clearly detected several groups of hidden guards.

Security inside the Fan Residence was exceptionally tight.

Yet beyond that strictness the moment one entered the estate an entirely different atmosphere immediately washed over you.

Servants passing by.

Maids.

Their clothing.

The things they carried.

Every blade of grass.

Every tree.

There were not actually many obvious displays of gaudy wealth.

And yet luxury seemed to have been crushed into powder, mixed into the air itself, and blown directly into your face.

Once they reached the rear residence, the steward brought the four men to a small courtyard named **Qingfang Studio**.

The courtyard was not large.

But its layout was extraordinarily refined.

A small bridge.

Running water.

Pavilions.

Terraces.

Everything was densely arranged without the slightest feeling of crowding.

Most importantly the position of the courtyard was very convenient.

From a military perspective it possessed depth in every direction.

Roughly speaking if people came to arrest you, you could flee any way you wanted.

“This really does feel different,” Zheng Fan sighed after walking into the pavilion.

Count Pingye Residence had been decorated quite well too.

But how to put it?

The Fan Residence pursued a completely different style and had carried that style almost to perfection.

That naturally produced a wholly unusual impression.

A’Ming hit the nail on the head.

“The main reason is that our Count Residence doesn’t have many people.”

Hearing that Zheng Fan nodded.

For one thing, Zheng Fan himself liked quiet.

For another security mattered.

So even the number of servants inside Count Pingye Residence remained extremely small.

No matter how beautiful the house if nobody lived there and there was no human warmth it lacked flavor.

Naturally, there was another extremely important reason.

Inside Count Pingye Residence there were more non-humans than humans!

After bringing Zheng Fan and the others inside, the steward withdrew.

Soon afterward a group of maids entered carrying dishes and pastries.

Every item was exquisitely prepared.

Just like the decor.

Zheng Fan was not necessarily accustomed to all the cooking habits of this era.

He still preferred Siniang’s food.

But when ingredients were refined to an extreme degree the quality of the dishes still became obvious.

Zheng Fan was not especially hungry.

After eating several pastries, he went inside.

The room contained a bathing pool.

Beside it stood a tiger-head spout.

Zheng Fan experimentally pulled the ring beneath it.

A short while later steaming hot water actually gushed from the tiger’s mouth.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Count Zheng found the design genuinely astonishing.

Naturally, this could not be a water heater.

It was probably something like the bathhouse system from *Spirited Away*.

Somewhere inside the Fan Residence, there should be a dedicated service room.

Someone would constantly watch a panel of markers.

Whichever marker moved they would divert already-boiling hot water toward the corresponding outlet.

Just so the household could bathe comfortably they maintained an entire team of servants.

It was practically the same as hiring an entire staff merely to raise one dog in later generations.

Zheng Fan removed his clothes and lowered himself into the bath.

Medicinal herbs had apparently been added to the water.

A light fragrance rose around him.

A’Ming came inside.

Seeing Zheng Fan soaking in the pool, he smiled.

“Looks pretty high-end.”

“Mm.

“Want to come in and soak too?”

“No, Master.

“I’m going to find the wine cellar.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

After A’Ming left, he closed his eyes and soaked for a while longer.

He even dozed off briefly in the pool.

Once he woke, he climbed out and lay on the bed.

He had no idea what material the bedding was made from.

It was simply comfortable.

Almost like the touch of smooth female skin.

Count Zheng even instinctively reached around himself first to make sure Fan Zhengwen had not stupidly arranged some maid to sleep beside him.

Only then did he fall asleep.

That sleep was unbelievably comfortable.

Truly, unbelievably comfortable.

By the time he woke it was already late morning.

Even Zheng Fan found it strange.

This was not Count Pingye Residence, after all.

Normally, when outside, he lacked complete security and therefore rarely slept so deeply.

He was someone who had “survived countless battles.”

How could a man like that sleep like a dead pig every single day without any concern at all?

Apparently something inside the room or perhaps the bed itself possessed some special sleep-aiding property.

Zheng Fan shook his head and smiled.

One really could not underestimate the ancients.

When ancient people decided to pursue decadent luxury they were not necessarily inferior to later generations at all.

After waking, Zheng Fan pushed open the window.

Immediately he heard a group of women laughing outside.

Flowers and shrubs concealed the window.

So Zheng Fan could see the pavilion outside but the women outside could not easily see into his room.

Inside the small pavilion, a group of young women sat together as though holding a poetry gathering.

They composed verses.

Teased one another.

Every one of them was exquisitely dressed.

Some were full-figured.

Some slender.

Some elegant.

Some bright-eyed and clever.

Each possessed her own particular charm.

And all were young.

Judging from their hairstyles none seemed married.

These must be the Twelve Phoenix Hairpins Fan Zhengwen had mentioned earlier.

He had to admit the scene genuinely carried a little of *Dream of the Red Chamber*.

These were flower buds nurtured in the luxury of a wealthy household.

Their air and temperament were completely different from the ordinary women Zheng Fan had seen in Yan or Jin.

And the fact they were holding a poetry gathering here today was obviously arranged.

There was no chance Zheng Fan had only just moved into this courtyard and, by pure coincidence, all these “beautiful hairpins” gathered at Qingfang Studio to display themselves.

At that moment, Chen Daole pushed open the door and entered carrying breakfast.

As usual everything was extraordinarily delicate.

For Zheng Fan’s stomach, food like this would certainly become tiring if eaten for too long.

But in the beginning it was absolutely delightful.

“They’re holding a poetry gathering outside?” Zheng Fan asked with a smile.

Chen Daole nodded.

“They’re young ladies from the Fan Residence.

“Some are from the various branches.

“Others are daughters of relatives.”

“Talked to them?” Zheng Fan asked.

“Yes.

“When they first arrived, we exchanged a few words.”

“Why didn’t you stay and join the poetry gathering?”

Zheng Fan picked up a pastry and placed it in his mouth.

“You’re a talented young master of the Chen Clan too.”

“Before the Count, this subordinate would never dare call himself talented.”

Chen Daole had read *The Zheng Treatise on War*.

Zheng Fan nodded without the slightest shame.

“True.”

Chen Daole smiled as well.

“Count, there is one matter I have always wanted to say.

“I do not know whether Count—”

“Mm.

“No rush.

“No rush.

“Would this matter affect our current operation?”

“No.”

“Then there’s no need to hurry.

“Wait until we return and tell me then.”

“But, Count—”

“That settles it.”

Zheng Fan stood beside the window.

He watched the bright young ladies at their poetry gathering while eating breakfast.

This was probably what people meant by **a feast for the eyes.**

Truthfully, Count Zheng could easily have walked over, plagiarized a few poems, and shown off in front of the girls.

He had imagined scenes like that countless times in dreams years ago.

But now that he genuinely had the opportunity he suddenly felt there was no need.

Watching was enough.

There was no reason to force himself into the gathering and ruin the atmosphere.

...

“Pretty?” A’Ming asked from the roof.

He drank grape wine while sitting beside He Chunlai, who was drinking yellow wine in the middle of the morning.

“Pretty.”

He Chunlai answered with complete honesty.

The girls in the pavilion each had their own character.

Each possessed her own air.

In this age, when men took wives, age was not as heavily emphasized as it would be in later times.

Large age gaps between husband and wife were commonplace.

Everyone here was already an adult.

Nobody thought there was anything improper or sinister about marrying an unmarried young woman.

“But Master probably won’t like them,” A’Ming said.

A Demon King truly understood his Master.

“Why?”

He Chunlai did not understand.

He was not stupid.

He knew perfectly well that today’s poetry gathering could not possibly be as innocent as it looked.

The “beautiful hairpins” themselves might not know they had been placed on a shelf for display.

But Fan Zhengwen’s meaning was obvious:

*My lord may pluck as many as he wishes.*

Choose one.

Choose a pair.

Either was fine.

The Fan Residence would be delighted to build several additional ties beyond its connection through the Sixth Prince.

Especially to Count Pingye who clearly still stood aboard the Sixth Prince’s ship.

“Not Master’s taste,” A’Ming said.

“Taste?”

“Master’s literary talent is extremely high.

“If he wanted to, he could walk over right now and plagia—

“No.

“Compose several peerless poems.

“But Master didn’t.

“That proves none of them caught his eye.”

“Oh.”

He Chunlai nodded.

A’Ming drank another mouthful of grape wine.

Beside him sat another bottle filled with ice.

Even the ice came in several different flavors.

It demonstrated just how refined the Fan Clan’s lifestyle truly was.

“So many kinds of wine.

“The Fan Clan is damned rich.”

“I heard the Sixth Prince’s wedding in Yanjing revealed wealth on an even greater—”

“That’s different.

“The Sixth Prince’s money wasn’t truly his own.

“That was money meant to buy his life.”

“Oh.

“Sounds complicated.”

“Mm.

“Hm?”

“What?”

“Look below.

“See who’s coming.

“If Chen Daole has any sense at all, he should be leaving right about now.”

...

Chen Daole did leave.

The moment he saw her approaching.

The newcomer wore a white cloak over a red padded jacket.

Neither could conceal the fine shape of her body.

When she walked she carried vivid, seductive grace.

When her eyes moved they were filled with delicate softness and flowing charm.

This was a beauty who possessed face, figure, and temperament together.

And all three complemented one another with astonishing harmony.

In A’Ming’s eyes this was the first woman he had ever seen in this world who could genuinely stand beside Siniang.

One could not say who was more beautiful.

Siniang lacked the fragile, melancholic softness between this woman’s brows.

They were simply two different flowers.

Each beautiful in her own way.

Most importantly this woman had clearly already been someone’s wife.

“Sister Liu, won’t you join us and compose poetry?”

“Yes, Sister Liu, come play with us!”

“Pin’er wrote an excellent poem just now. We’ll recite it for Sister!”

The woman they called Sister Liu smiled.

“You girls play first.

“Grandmother ordered me to come here and invite the physician to examine her.”

“Then Sister Liu should hurry.

“Grandmother’s health is more important.”

“We’ll play together later.”

The woman dipped into a slight curtsy.

She signaled for the maid and older female servant behind her to wait outside.

Then she pushed open the door and entered alone.

Before going inside her gaze briefly passed over Chen Daole, who had just emerged.

Only after Chen Daole lowered his head and took half a step backward did she confirm that this young gentleman was not the principal guest.

The woman entered.

By now, Count Zheng, who had previously stood at the window enjoying the young ladies’ poetry gathering with his breakfast had already returned to his chair.

He was even holding a book.

The book was not upside down.

At the same time—

Count Zheng had placed the crimson meteor stone on the floor beneath one boot.

The woman walked in.

Saw Zheng Fan.

And at the same time—

Count Zheng slowly raised his head.

He looked at her.

The woman immediately recoiled two steps in fright.

That reaction was not feigned.

Her life had been fortunate.

And unfortunate.

Fortunate because she married into the Fan Residence while still young.

Originally, husband and wife had lived harmoniously.

Unfortunately, her husband fell ill and died not long after their marriage.

She became a widow.

People inside the residence occasionally gossiped.

But the Fan Matriarch cherished her.

Her sister-in-law treated her kindly.

The young ladies respected her.

Her days were not actually bad.

Her misfortune was that she had been destined to guard an empty bed for the rest of her life.

She also had a younger brother from her birth family living nearby.

Her own life might be comfortable enough.

But with her status, helping her younger brother rise was difficult.

After all a married daughter was water poured from the household.

Using Fan Clan wealth to support her natal family violated convention among commoners and nobles alike.

And this woman’s fear of Zheng Fan was genuinely not an act.

Ultimately she had grown up inside her natal family, then married into the Fan household.

Her entire life had been wrapped in comfort and wealth.

A fallen leaf could stir melancholy in her heart.

When had she ever encountered a man like Zheng Fan?

Count Pingye.

Chief Commander of Snow Sea Pass.

After several years of tempering and rising step by step—

Count Zheng genuinely possessed an aura that could command fear without anger.

It had been shouted into existence by thousands upon thousands of soldiers.

Built from piles of enemy corpses.

It was still not quite the natural, effortless bearing Tian Wujing had possessed when Zheng Fan first met the Marquis of Jingnan.

But the distance between them was no longer especially great.

Most importantly—

Tian Wujing’s aura had always been natural.

Count Zheng’s still contained a small measure of deliberate performance.

The woman became somewhat frightened.

Her pearly teeth pressed lightly against her lip.

Count Zheng forced himself not to lick his own lips.

Because truthfully there was something about this woman’s every movement that could pluck directly at a man’s heart.

As though seductive charm had been born into her very bones.

Madam Ke back home was beautiful too.

But she truly did not possess this woman’s posture and expression.

The instant one saw her the phrase **gentle grave of heroes** immediately entered the mind.

A softness capable of dissolving ten thousand measures of hardness.

Even A’Ming sitting on the roof the vampire the Demon Kings routinely mocked for having no interest in women had acknowledged her beauty.

So Count Zheng’s heart stirring just a little was perfectly normal, was it not?

Finally the woman steadied herself.

She gave Zheng Fan a slight curtsy.

Her voice still trembled.

“This daughter-in-law of the Fan Residence’s Fourth Branch, Liu Ruqing—pays respects to Uncle~”

Count Zheng instinctively shifted in his seat.

Then asked:

“What... did you call me?”

“Uncle~~~”

“Hiss...”

Zheng Fan.

The crimson stone beneath Zheng Fan’s boot began stirring restlessly.

Because the Demon Child had discovered this woman posed a serious threat!

But Zheng Fan pressed down harder with his foot.

Forcibly pinning the stone in place.

At the same time he adopted an indifferent expression and said:

“Didn’t hear you clearly.”

Liu Ruqing believed him.

But under Zheng Fan’s direct gaze, her body still could not stop trembling faintly.

So she called again:

“Uncle~~~”

————

[End of Chapter 426]