Chapter 756: You Want a Child?

Breakfast consisted of preserved-egg and lean-pork congee, fried dough sticks, sesame balls, and salted duck eggs.

Tian Tian picked up one salted duck egg and tapped its hollow end against the tea table.

Once the shell cracked, he began peeling it.

After exposing one end, he handed the egg to his godfather.

Then he picked up another salted duck egg and repeated the process for himself.

Soon... father and son were drinking congee while digging into their salted duck eggs with chopsticks.

Most of Tian Tian's habits and little daily mannerisms had been copied from Marquis Zheng.

In that respect... father and son truly came from the same mold.

After breakfast, Marquis Zheng reclined in a lounge chair and rocked gently beneath the morning sun.

Tian Tian stood nearby, reciting his lessons aloud.

The Blind Man was responsible for Tian Tian's education.

He loved the job.

No matter how busy he became, he always carved out time every day to teach the boy personally.

Zheng Fan knew perfectly well what the Blind Man was thinking.

But Tian Tian's identity was too special.

Finding another suitable teacher would be difficult.

And the lessons the Blind Man taught remained close enough to the standards of the age.

He had not turned them into anything too eccentric.

Besides... given the Blind Man's temperament as a professional rebel, a child educated by him might grow into many things.

But at least he would never become another Fusu, obediently cutting his own throat because one imperial decree told him to.

The boy's biological father had suffered far too much for Great Yan.

Since the child had been placed in Zheng Fan's care...

Zheng Fan would absolutely not allow another Tian Wujing to be raised, another man who would sacrifice himself for Great Yan in the name of righteousness.

Perhaps...

Old Tian had entrusted Tian Tian to him precisely because of that.

The Blind Man had been away recently.

But Tian Tian still practiced calligraphy and reviewed his lessons on his own.

Listening to the child's clear recitation...

Marquis Zheng closed his eyes and took a short second nap.

It helped him digest breakfast too.

Once Tian Tian finished his morning lessons, Zheng Fan rose.

Time to practice the saber.

Normally... he practiced in the afternoon.

But with both the Blind Man and Siniang away, he had no choice but to reserve part of each afternoon for reviewing government affairs.

The Blind Man and Siniang had each built their own staff over the years.

But on broader matters involving coordination between different branches, the people below still did not dare make decisions on their own.

Those matters still required Zheng Fan's personal approval.

Tian Tian excitedly hugged his little stool and followed his godfather to the Residence's small training yard.

While his godfather practiced the saber, Tian Tian sat on the stool and watched with total concentration.

Every so often... his two little hands would swing along with the movements.

His mouth supplied sound effects.

"Hah!"

"Ha!"

"Oh!"

Poor Sword Saint.

Back then, he had held Tian Tian in his arms and finally comprehended how to open Second Grade.

Longyuan flew into the heavens.

The spectacle had been magnificent beyond description.

But to Tian Tian... it probably looked no different from acrobatics.

The child still believed... his godfather's saber was the strongest.

Once saber practice ended, Zheng Fan was drenched in sweat.

Tian Tian immediately ran over with a towel and handed it up to him.

At that moment, Xiao Yibo entered and reported:

"Marquis, Second Madam and Third Madam are about to enter the city."

"Understood."

Zheng Fan went to bathe.

After changing clothes and putting himself in order, the Princess and Liu Ruqing's carriage had just entered Marquis Pingxi Residence.

Neither woman looked particularly exhausted from the journey.

Most of the route had been traveled by water.

"Greetings, Second Mother. Greetings, Auntie."

Tian Tian saluted the two women.

Originally, he had treated them equally and called Liu Ruqing "Third Mother."

Liu Ruqing herself had corrected him.

Calling her Auntie was enough.

The Princess stepped forward and scooped Tian Tian into her arms.

"Goodness. You're getting too heavy to carry."

Then she kissed his cheek.

Putting aside whatever questions of future interests or political position might someday arise... at this moment, very few women could resist an obedient, sweet-natured godson who looked like a lucky doll.

Besides, the Princess knew perfectly well that Tian Tian was the flesh of her husband's heart.

She was hardly childish enough to feel jealous of a small boy.

"You've worked hard," Zheng Fan said.

"Husband."

"Husband."

Both women saluted him.

"Go rest for a while. The journey must still have been tiring. I'm going to the front office to handle some business. Later, we'll eat lunch together."

Marquis Zheng's body had not fully recovered.

But he was clearly moving back toward full strength.

Now that the women had returned... the household finally felt warm again.

Still, Marquis Zheng's eagerness to rush away and deal with official business was not because he had developed the common bad habit of men in this age, deliberately ignoring reunion with his wives to maintain masculine authority.

He genuinely had something important to handle.

Inside the office... everyone irrelevant had been dismissed.

Only He Chunlai remained.

Soon...

Gou Moli and Liang Cheng entered.

The Savage King had gone to Chu this time to smooth out relations there, develop the situation, and make the Fan Clan into a true foothold for Marquis Pingxi Residence in Chu territory, something that could be used later.

Honestly... sending both him and Liang Cheng had been overkill.

The deeper reason was simply to guarantee the absolute safety of the two ladies.

"Master."

"Master."

Gou Moli looked somewhat surprised.

He had only just escorted the two ladies home, yet the Marquis had summoned him without the slightest delay.

If this Marquis were the kind of man who always placed public duty before private feeling, that would have been one thing.

But Gou Moli knew perfectly well... the man before him was the opposite.

He did not think less of Zheng Fan for it.

In truth, a man willing to sacrifice public business for private grudges... while also holding your life and future in his hands... was actually terrifying.

The best example was Zhao Jiulang.

If Zheng Fan had been a different sort of man... or perhaps someone more like a "Little Tian Wujing"... then Zhao Jiulang would never have had his throat cut open beneath the light of dawn.

Liang Cheng, meanwhile, looked faintly excited.

He knew Master had advanced while in Yanjing.

Zheng Fan glanced toward He Chunlai.

He Chunlai handed a letter to Gou Moli and gestured for Liang Cheng to read along.

The letter came from the Blind Man.

Liang Cheng understood almost immediately.

They had found the approximate location from the prophecy.

Gou Moli, however, read it with increasing confusion.

What did this mean?

Had some blind idiot tribe on the snowfields offended Marquis Pingxi Residence again?

After discussing the matter with the Blind Man, Zheng Fan had decided to tell Gou Moli... part of the truth.

The snowfields were too vast.

The tribes there were too numerous.

Savages might now tremble whenever Marquis Pingxi Residence was mentioned, but if they wanted to march into the snowfields without consulting the Savage King first... problems could still arise.

Yes.

Marquis Zheng had decided to send troops.

He had no intention of gathering the Demon Kings and reenacting some grand "Seven Swords Descend on the Snowfields."

Personally resolving some fated duel sounded very cool.

Very jianghu.

It was also the sort of thing only someone with water in his brain would choose.

He had worked this damned hard to build an army, territory, and household.

For what?

So he could fight one-on-one?

March an army straight over there and crush everything.

Wasn't that kind of steady happiness far more fragrant?

And once troops were involved... especially an expedition all the way to the farthest north of the snowfields... not speaking with the Savage King first would leave Zheng Fan genuinely uneasy.

"I had a dream," Marquis Zheng said. "In the dream, something in the farthest north of the snowfields was cursing me. It made me extremely uncomfortable, so I decided to cut it out at the root. I sent people onto the snowfields ahead of time to investigate, and they really did discover a cult in the far north, one whose faith is completely different from worship of the stars. The map is here. It isn't precise, but at least we have an approximate area. Since we've found it, I've decided to send troops and erase it."

Gou Moli's mouth slowly fell open.

That explanation... was ridiculous.

But he understood something more important.

This was not a time to investigate whether the Marquis's dream made sense.

The Marquis had already decided to mobilize troops.

His own role was to help organize the expedition properly.

So Gou Moli went straight to the real issue.

"Master, if that's the case, this subordinate has a suggestion."

"Speak."

That was why Zheng Fan had called him here.

As for whether Gou Moli might develop some strange ideas if he learned about the Demon King prophecy... whether hidden risks might appear... those concerns could be pushed aside for now in the face of a real, concrete target.

"Master, does this cult have many people? Does it directly control any tribes?"

"Their foundation lies in the far north," Zheng Fan answered.

"Then they probably don't control many tribes."

The far north was vast.

But it was also a forbidden zone for life.

Not completely uninhabited.

Otherwise Sang Hu could never have assembled that patched-together tribe and led them south years ago.

But missionary work required a population base.

By that calculation... the strength directly controlled by this cult should not be particularly large.

It might not even equal an ordinary medium-sized Savage tribe.

Besides... if a truly major power had emerged on the snowfields, it would have been impossible to keep the news hidden.

"Master, in this subordinate's opinion, if our Residence mobilizes its own army in force, the entire snowfields will shake. The tribes there are not a serious threat right now, but they may still panic and think Marquis Pingxi Residence intends to use winter as an opportunity to launch another campaign of tribal extermination. That could create unnecessary misunderstandings. Normally, misunderstanding would not matter. We might even welcome some fool sticking his head up so we could use him as an example. But this expedition's destination is the far north. The road is too long. This time, it would be best to suppress every possible hidden danger to the lowest level. Besides, the number of true regular troops under our Residence looks enormous, but one force must hold Zhennan Pass, one must hold Snow Sea Pass, one must defend Fengxin City, and soon another force will need to transfer into Yupan City. The only major body of troops we can freely mobilize is General Liang's Command. If that Command marches onto the snowfields... our territory here becomes genuinely vulnerable to any sudden disturbance. And there is another problem. Moving a full army requires grain, supplies, fodder, horses. Even if we smash the enemy in one battle and they create no real difficulty for us... marching that far merely to hit them once would still cost enormously. This subordinate believes mobilizing the Residence's own army in force would not be worth it."

"What do you suggest?" Zheng Fan asked.

"This subordinate believes we can order the Hailan Tribe to provide ten thousand warriors. Then..."

Gou Moli looked toward Liang Cheng.

"General Liang can lead three thousand iron cavalry to hold the line. Along the route, we issue Marquis Pingxi Residence orders requiring the various tribes to provide supplies, grain, escorts, and even auxiliary troops. That way, the tribes of the snowfields will not be too alarmed. The chiefs can remain at ease. The Residence's own expenditure will be kept to the minimum. In fact... we may barely have to spend anything at all."

Liang Cheng said:

"That is a good method."

Gou Moli smiled.

"Since the enemy is not strong, we can simply kill with a borrowed blade. Keeping our own main army inside Snow Sea Pass actually places greater pressure on the snowfields. That pressure will make them behave and work properly for us, marching north on Marquis Pingxi Residence's behalf. But if our main army itself hangs isolated deep within the snowfields, first, it cannot respond to anything at home. And if something happens..."

Gou Moli looked toward Zheng Fan.

"Master, the tribes of the snowfields are shortsighted, but every one of them still carries a wolf's shadow."

If the expedition encountered any difficulty in the far north... the immense distance of the return march would be enough to tempt certain ambitious Savages into desperate action.

Put more directly... they might link the tribes together and smother the isolated expeditionary army in the winter snowfields.

The chance was low.

But it was real.

Zheng Fan had to admit... the Savage King's suggestion felt extremely comfortable.

Eastern Jin appeared to possess mighty forces.

Marquis Pingxi seemed to possess dazzling military achievements.

But their foundation was still somewhat thin.

Their accumulation remained insufficient.

They could ignite one enormous blaze.

What they could not endure... was being slowly simmered over a small flame.

"Then we'll do it that way. But I will personally lead the army."

Gou Moli froze for a moment.

He did not object.

Zheng Fan looked at him.

"I'm a little worried about you. So you'll accompany me on this expedition."

Gou Moli smiled.

"This subordinate obeys. Truthfully... I would also like to go home and have a look."

Liang Cheng said:

"This subordinate will begin preparations immediately. I'll also have Keyan Dongge send an official order to the Hailan Tribe and make them assemble the men."

"Mm. The Blind Man and Siniang should be returning soon as well."

Zheng Fan stretched.

"Go find Third Master too. Have him leave tonight with his people and scout the road ahead for us."

"Yes, Master."

Gou Moli and Liang Cheng withdrew.

Zheng Fan remained sitting in the office for a while longer.

The reason he wanted to mobilize so urgently was simple.

He feared delay breeding trouble.

If they could strike before the other side matured... then there was no reason to waste even one extra day.

The most infuriating possibility was that you delayed... and fate punished you.

For example... you finally led your army there.

And the enemy suddenly told you:

I just woke up.

At that point, regretting why you had not moved sooner... why you had not set out earlier... would be completely meaningless.

As for whether this map might be a trap... the probability was incredibly low.

Running into little Monk Liaofan had been completely accidental.

The kasaya had remained with that settled Savage tribe and had been used by one of their nobles to wrap a piece of jade.

What if the man had given it to a lover instead?

Or torn it up to make clothing?

If someone could still design all of that as part of a trap... then fate itself had arranged the whole damned thing.

And even if it truly was a trap... fine.

He would simply fill it with human lives.

Five hundred not enough?

Then one thousand.

Two thousand.

Three thousand.

Even ten or twenty thousand if necessary.

Let's see how large your appetite really is.

Marquis Zheng rubbed his face with both hands.

Then rose and left the office.

...

The rear residence.

The Princess had already settled her luggage.

Her courtyard had been cleaned long ago, so it did not feel dusty or disordered despite having stood empty for some time.

Tian Tian rode atop the green python as it circled around the pond in the courtyard.

Perhaps Tian Tian's childhood had no bamboo hobbyhorse to ride.

But the toys he possessed... were not things any ordinary child could dream of.

The black cat and fox stood nearby, watching without blinking.

They were terrified their young master might slip and fall.

"Tian Tian."

The Princess called him.

The green python stopped.

Tian Tian climbed down.

As he walked over, he carefully straightened his clothing.

"Second Mother, you called me?"

"Come. Second Mother brought fruit back for you from Chu. I'll peel one and let you taste it."

Great Chu's marshlands produced more than the tea Marquis Zheng had long coveted.

They also produced all kinds of rare fruits.

Harvesting them was extremely difficult.

For the common people living around the marshes, gathering such things was a trade done with their lives.

Of course... the powerful had long since grown accustomed to savoring sweetness drawn from the blood of those below them.

Tian Tian accepted one fruit and took a bite.

The flesh was sweet.

A little like an orange.

But not sour at all.

Extremely refreshing.

"Good?"

"Very good."

Tian Tian nodded.

"Come. Second Mother will peel another."

"No, Second Mother. Save them for you and Father."

"Don't worry. There's more than enough for him. Besides, only after you've had your fill will he agree to eat any, won't he?"

The Princess tapped Tian Tian lightly on the nose.

Sometimes even she found herself thinking:

What if my own child in the future isn't as obedient as this one?

After this boy had raised her expectations of what raising a child could feel like... would she someday dislike her own child for being too troublesome?

"Have you fallen behind on your lessons lately?"

"Mr. Bei went away. Tian Tian has been reviewing the books by himself."

"And your painting?" the Princess asked.

"I've kept painting. Just as Second Mother instructed before leaving, one painting every five days."

The women of Marquis Zheng's household were all highly accomplished.

Even Liu Ruqing understood some music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

The Princess was even more skilled.

The Blind Man handled Tian Tian's formal lessons.

The Princess and Liu Ruqing taught him painting and music.

In this era, musical skill was one of the standards by which people judged whether someone belonged to the upper ranks of society.

After all... only those freed from worrying about food and clothing had the leisure to study music.

"Our Tian Tian is so obedient. Come. Second Mother will test you. Paint this fruit for me, all right?"

"All right."

Tian Tian nodded.

He did not fear being tested on his lessons.

Someone testing him meant someone was standing in front of him... talking to him.

But he knew his godfather was very busy.

So he never said that he sometimes felt lonely.

"Perfect. Second Mother brought back a new painting set from Chu too. Someone, bring it out."

"Yes, Madam."

A brand-new and expensive painting set was brought over.

The servants unfolded it and arranged everything.

Tian Tian did not use a paperweight.

Instead, he placed the red stone on the paper.

He was accustomed to having Big Sister beside him whenever he practiced calligraphy or painting.

"Someone."

"Madam."

"Go tell the Marquis that Tian Tian is with me. Ask him to come here tonight so we can have a small family reunion dinner together."

"Yes, Madam."

"Be good and paint, Tian Tian. Second Mother is going inside to change."

"Yes, Second Mother."

The Princess carried an embroidered box into the inner room.

She opened it.

Inside... lay a bright golden pill.

The moment she saw it... expectation appeared in her eyes.

In truth... the rare fruit from earlier had only been an appetizer.

This pill... was the true thing condensed from the blood of an entire tribe.

And at that moment... the red stone Tian Tian was using as a paperweight... trembled once.

[End of Chapter 756]