Why do I have so many masters?-Chapter 608 - 230 Willing to be a Pawn in Front of the Horses (2/2)

The appearance of the distinguished young man did not affect the spirits of Lin Qiaofu and the others, as they enjoyed their tour, admiring the twilight over the three lakes' azure fall, rented a small boat, Old Lu stood at the bow, motionless, yet the small boat shot out far away, then gently came to a stop at the center of the lake.

Surrounding Wanling City there are the stacking emerald mountains of Jingting, Baishi, Shuixi, and Longxu, as well as the Qingyi River and Shuiyang River that run parallel to each other, with the addition of Nanyi Lake, Ping Lake, and Azure Dragon Lake, this was indeed the best place for sightseeing. On the big boat, young scholars spotted the three ladies from the Mei Family and warmly invited them over.

After witnessing Old Lu split the three-zhang-high raging waves, they were so frightened that they kept a far distance, not daring to come over and bother them again, which in turn provided some peace and quiet.

It was not until the moon was high in the sky that they returned to the Mei Family's home.

Lin Qiaofu and the other went back to their guest room, but Mei Wangsheng stopped Mei Lianhua, furrowed his brow, wanting to scold her, yet seeing Mei Lianhua's downcast eyes and her playing with the hem of her dress in a pitiable way, he found himself unable to speak. He tried to harden his heart a few times but could not bring himself to do so, ultimately heaving a sigh and saying helplessly:

"Alright, alright, do not act this way anymore."

"Just go, I will let it pass this time."

"If your father saw, you would inevitably face another round of scolding..."

Mei Lianhua stuck out her tongue and said, "Daddy is currently visiting friends outside. It will take half a month for him to return, no rush, no rush."

Mei Wangsheng could not help but smile wryly; he was over forty with no children of his own, usually only playing the zither in the courtyard, and the younger relative he most often saw was Mei Lianhua, who he somewhat treated as his own daughter.

Mei Lianhua always liked to wear hunting attire, a habit he had indulged. His unparalleled archery skills had never been imparted to a disciple, but he had exclusively taught Mei Lianhua. The most favored girl in the Mei Family did not study poetry or love the beauty of flowers and the moon, and though she was young, she was already capable of "Arrow Linking the Stars."

Once, with three arrows linked as stars, she shot through the eye of a fierce tiger over ten feet long, earning praise. People lauded her, saying her blade was as bright as snow, swiftly drawn from the scabbard, her arrows flew like rain, and her crossbow thundered. Over the past three years, she consistently took the top spot in the spring hunts, proving to be more than a match for the children of military families in Wanling City.

Mei Wangsheng gently tapped Mei Lianhua's forehead, saying helplessly:

"Alright, this should not set a precedent, go and rest."

"It's late today; there's no need to visit your great-grandfather. The old man is getting on in years; perhaps he is already resting."

"Okay, Uncle," Mei Lianhua said with a playful stick of her tongue and a dutiful nod, as she turned to leave. However, she felt something strange underfoot. Mei Wangsheng had arranged his courtyard himself, with a flat ground, yet now there appeared a foot-long imprint out of nowhere. Wearing her shoes and socks, she still felt a slight sting.

But it was not the time to ask, so she had to suppress her doubts, passing by her great-grandfather's residence, tiptoeing into her own small courtyard, and then while the servants were not paying attention, she lightly tapped twice on the wall and vaulted back in.

If asked, she would claim she had always been there, just sleeping soundly.

She called for her maidservant waiting outside to prepare warm water for washing. Having traveled a long way today, she felt somewhat tired. Removing her shoes and socks, a stark red mark was revealed on her fair foot.

Thin and perfectly straight.

Mei Wangsheng watched his niece return, standing in place, deep in thought, his gaze falling on the spot where Mei Lianhua had just stood, and speaking in a low mumble:

"A foot of ice... clouds gather over the Chu frontier, a thousand mountains snow, winds bind the Qin Huai, a foot of ice."

"Excellent sword intent."

He shook his head in admiration.

He then looked around the courtyard, made up his mind, turned, and walked toward Wang Anfeng's place. By the time he arrived, Wang Anfeng had just bathed, her black hair hanging down her back. She was sitting quietly in the courtyard with a wooden box on the table.

In her left hand was the exquisitely crafted Seven Phoenix Hairpin, and in her right, a light-colored silk. She was lost in thought. The Great General Jue Que was not behind her. When Mei Wangsheng stepped within three feet of her, Wang Anfeng came back to her senses, put the hairpin back, stood up, and said,

"Scholar Mei San... "

Mei Wangsheng bowed respectfully and said, "Young Marshal, there's no need for you to stand on my account, I don't deserve such treatment."

Wang Anfeng pursed her lips, then invited him to sit down. Mei Wangsheng's gaze had been fixed on the Seven Phoenix Hairpin in Wang Anfeng's hand ever since he entered the courtyard, only returning to the present when a cup of clear tea was placed in front of him.

He thanked her, lifted the cup to drink and steady the currents of thought and the faintly improper emotions in his heart. The complexity of the Seven Phoenix Hairpin was not something ordinary ornaments could match, and in his life, he had only seen it a scarce handful of times.

Once, when they breached the enemy's nation, and the Divine Martial Mansion carried the coffin back to the capital seven hundred times, Heavenly Capital City's Heavenly Sect gates swung open, and The Emperor led officials and consorts to greet them thirty miles out. He had seen it in the Empress's hair, who at that time was still only the Princess Consort.

The second time was when the Capital City's Laughing Tiger traveled half a day to cover thirty thousand miles, his face pale, half-kneeling in front of Wang Tiance in a military salute, hands holding the rosewood box. Wang Tiance opened the box, first with a grunt of approval, then without much care, placed it in his lady's hair.

After looking at it for a while, he casually said the hairpin was not bad.

It was worthy of his lady.

The Laughing Tiger was dumbstruck, and confusedly said it was a token of affection from him and his wife, that the Seven Phoenix Hairpin was precious and perhaps better used on the wedding day. But Wang Tiance couldn't be bothered to listen, saying finally that there was no reason in the world to use someone else's gift at one's wedding.

Neither the Dukes nor Marquises had such a custom, so neither did they.

Besides, the man had said it was just a token of affection, and how could that be enough? In any case, he had to present a bushel of affection before considering whether to listen to your advice.

At that moment, the eunuch Laughing Tiger, already granted the python robe, was gobsmacked and wanted to speak again, but Wang Tiance already glared at him.

Speak another word, and I'll throw you out.

He didn't finish the harsh words before laughing himself. Everyone joined in the laughter, including the disappointed Laughing Tiger, who couldn't help but smile. Li Qidao shouted for wine, and everyone in the mansion drank wildly. Having gone through life and death together, everyone knew that every meeting hence would be one fewer.

At that time, both the lady and the Mansion Master wore only simple clothes, but he felt as though the Seven Phoenix was about to take flight.

Looking at the hairpin, Mei Wangsheng was almost moved to tears. Feeling that he had lost composure, he set down the teacup, raised his sleeve to wipe the corner of his eye, and said,

"Moved by the sight, I must have amused the Young Marshal. I just never thought I would see this Seven Phoenix Hairpin again."

Wang Anfeng gently touched the Phoenix Hairpin and said,

"Mr. Mei San, who among those in power today gifted this hairpin?"

Mei Wangsheng nodded and said,

"Indeed, it was given by His Highness, no, by now it should be referred to as a gift from the Emperor."

"This hairpin is an antique of over a hundred years, originally one of the rare treasures in the Imperial Palace. Created by a grandmaster craftsman before his passing three hundred years ago, each of the seven phoenixes is unique, with the phoenix and luan calling to each other. Although there are seven phoenixes, it possesses the grandeur of all birds paying homage to the phoenix."

"The Emperor's birth mother presented it to the Empress, who had been betrothed to the Emperor since childhood, and it was later passed on to the Great Marshal."

His voice paused slightly, and Mei Wangsheng seemed a bit lost in thought.

He remembered that once, Wang Tiance had said with a smile that it was worthy of his wife.

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Shaking his head, he continued,

"But the Great Marshal didn't appreciate the Emperor's kind gesture. During his grand wedding, he didn't use the second most prestigious Seven Phoenix Hairpin in the world."

"He used a jade hairpin that he made himself, selecting the material and polishing it. We watched as the Great Marshal crafted it bit by bit, chafing and breaking his palms many times, yet it still turned out ugly."

"Yet the lady loved it, claiming it was the best in the world."

Wang Anfeng murmured softly, "The best..."

His voice was quiet but then firmly and confidently, he answered,

"That must indeed be the best."

He had long expected something of the sort in his heart. Since his father was once the Mansion Master of Divine Martial Mansion and shared a formidable bond with the Emperor, various unofficial histories described that the relationship between the Divine Martial Mansion's Great Marshal and the current Emperor used to be exceptionally good, even regarded as a perfect example of monarch and subject.

However, later on, the Mansion Master of Divine Martial Mansion left Capital City in dejection, seeking seclusion somewhere.

Looking at it now, even after leaving, the relationship from those days had been exceptionally good, so much so that he was willing to gift the Seven Phoenix Hairpin as a present. Who then, was targeting him? What exactly had happened back then, and why did his father pass away so young? Why did he choose to live in seclusion in Great Liang Village?

Mei Wangsheng looked at Wang Anfeng, his gaze drifting away from the jade plaque at his collar, weighed his words, and said,

"Young Marshal, back then the Great Marshal had outstanding military achievements, unprecedented in the last three hundred years. Great Qin awarded the Great Marshal the hereditary title of Duke of the State and turned the 'Supreme General' title used by His Majesty in his personal campaigns into 'Divine Martial Great Marshal,' bestowed upon the Great Marshal."

"Now, the position of Divine Martial Great Marshal remains vacant, and without significant merits such as expanding the realm by over three thousand miles, no one could claim such a premier military honor. Yet the Former Emperor conferred upon the Great Marshal the title of Duke of the State, ranking him alongside the princes of Great Qin."

Gazing at Wang Anfeng, he spoke slowly,

"Duke of the State, honored with military contributions, the title handed down without end."

"After the Great Marshal left the Capital City, the Emperor once decreed that the position of Duke of the State shall remain vacant for him, or for the Great Marshal's descendants. Even centuries down the line, as long as Great Qin endures a single day, this order shall remain unchanged."

Suddenly, Mei Wangsheng fell silent.

A hereditary title without replacement—right now, if Wang Anfeng would only speak up, if he wished to enter the Capital City, declaring himself to be Wang Tiance's descendant, he could ascend to the highest ranks overnight. From a commoner, he could become a Duke of the State matching the princes of Great Qin, donning a python robe, entering the distinguished and bright Duke of the State Mansion in Heaven Capital City.

Ordinary dukes are ranked alongside regional kings, but the term 'Duke of the State' is different, equivalent to a prince.

Once the Emperor has spoken, no one can take it away.

That belongs to them.

Mei Wangsheng held his breath, watching Wang Anfeng closely.

Wang Anfeng, however, just smiled lightly, pointing to the teacup on the table, and joked,

"Mr. Mei San, can one get drunk from tea?"

Speechless, Mei Wangsheng paused his words, then Wang Anfeng restrained his smile and said,

"I won't pick up something that my father scorned and discarded, even if they beg me to take it."

"My home is just a wooden house in Great Liang Village."

Mei Wangsheng stayed silent.

Wang Anfeng quietly said,

"But I will reorganize what he refused to let go of until his death."

"Not one will be missing."

Brilliance burst forth in Mei Wangsheng's eyes, his heart pounding heavily, eventually settling down.

Taking a deep breath, he stood up and bowed respectfully, saying,

"I'm willing to be the vanguard once more."

Wang Anfeng placed a hand on his palm, shaking his head with a smile,

"We can talk about that when the time comes..."

It was late, and the conversation was not suitable to continue, Mei Wangsheng raised his cup to drink the tea. The dryness dispersed, and with a meticulous bow once more, he then turned and left, returning to his room where he paced back and forth and downed three jars of strong wine before drunkenly falling asleep.

PS: The second update for today...