Bai Yu's gaze moved past Hsu Fengnian's shoulder to look at the other side of Tidehark Lake. After a long silence, he slowly said, "My parents passed away while Hong Jia was on his way north. Because they were great pilgrims at Wudang Mountain, I was brought up the mountain."
Hsu Fengnian asked, "You don't hold a grudge?"
Bai Yu calmly said, "At the beginning, I held a grudge. Not to mention the commoners, even us scholars who read history, when we read about those fallen monarchs, the history books only described the treacherous officials as deceiving the Emperor. So I couldn't blame the Emperor, nor could I blame those civil officials in Li Yang's newly compiled 'Record of Loyal Officials', nor could I blame those generals who died on the battlefield. So after searching everywhere, I could only find your father, Great General Xu Xiao, nicknamed the Human Butcher. As a child, I personally witnessed the fall of my country and the fall of my family. How could I not blame him? "
Hsu Fengnian was silent.
Bai Yu suddenly sighed. "In the end, I can't blame him."
Hsu Fengnian didn't ask if he shouldn't blame him or if he couldn't blame him.
Bai Yu turned his head to look at the small path leading to the pavilion in the middle of the lake. At the end of the path was a graceful figure. She had probably walked closer and noticed them sitting in the pavilion, so she turned and walked further and further away across the frozen lake.
Bai Yu smiled apologetically. "It seems that I've spoiled the scenery. Otherwise, it would have been Your Highness and her facing each other. It wouldn't have been better to enjoy the scenery."
Hsu Fengnian glanced at that figure and said helplessly, "There's nothing between us."
Bai Yu's expression was strange.
Hsu Fengnian felt even more helpless. "It's true."
Bai Yu once again looked at that figure and joked, "That's too much of a pity."
Hsu Fengnian smiled but didn't say anything.
Just as the two of them were quietly admiring the scenery, the steward of the Wang Estate, Song Yu, quickly walked over and said that Regional Governor Yang Shenxing had come to pay a visit. Hsu Fengnian asked him to bring the recently deceased Regional Governor to the pavilion in the middle of the lake.
Bai Yu smiled and said, "Old General Yang has been suffering in the provincial capital these days. The Regional Commander's residence is being smashed up almost every day. Scholars are throwing books at the door, and commoners are throwing rocks at the walls. It's said that there are even people throwing kitchen knives. It's very lively. The servants of the residence are scared witless and see it as hard work."
Hsu Fengnian saw that Mr. White Lotus had finished speaking and was about to leave. He said coldly, "Mr. White Lotus, why don't you accompany me to see Yang Shenxing?"
Bai Yu bowed and stood up. After hearing this, he hesitated for a moment before sitting back down.
When Yang Shenxing strode up the steps, he saw the young Lord sitting there, but there was an elegant scholar of unknown identity standing there to welcome him. When he looked at him, he was smiling. It was not the kind of smile that hid a knife. On the contrary, it was very friendly and natural.
When Hsu Fengnian introduced the two of them, Yang Shenxing was shocked. Only then did he know that the person in front of him was actually the Taoist Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain who was not of the same surname as Mr. White Lotus. His heart suddenly felt warm. When he heard that Bai Yu personally said that he would go to the Regional Commander's residence to ask for wine when he was free, Yang Shenxing, regardless of whether it was true or not, and whether it was out of politeness or sincerity, felt a little closer to Bai Yu. After all, when he arrived in Liangzhou, the only reason he had closed the door to visitors was because he knew that if he took even half a step out of the door, he would become a street rat that everyone wanted to kill. Not to mention that none of the civil and military officials of Liangzhou had shown up, even the servants and maids of the residence looked at him with hostility. Yang Shenxing had shamelessly come to Mount Qingliang this time because he had previously sent a secret letter to Hsu Fengnian to greet him when he returned from outside the pass. Whether or not the old man had entered the prince's residence on Mount Qingliang, or whether or not Hsu Fengnian was willing to let this Regional Commander enter his residence, the entire Beiliang officialdom was waiting to see. If he succeeded, Yang Shenxing might not necessarily be able to hold power in Beiliang. If he failed, Yang Shenxing's future days would definitely be difficult. Yang Shenxing's original plan was to make this trip today. He did not have any extravagant hopes that Hsu Fengnian would be able to put on a grand display. It would be fine as long as he could keep up appearances. However, Bai Yu's appearance was definitely a pleasant surprise. Yang Shenxing was an old fox who had immersed himself in the officialdom of Liyang for most of his life. Now, the slightest movement in Beiliang only needed a few words from the servants in the residence for the old man to grasp the key points. For example, the choice of the main consort and the resignation of the provincial governor, Tian Peifang. The two matters seemed unrelated, but in reality, the clues and clues within were very particular. Tian Peifang was secretly expressing goodwill to Lu Dongjiang. With the precedent of the change of the provincial governor of Lingzhou as an example, rather than waiting for a year or two to be forced to abdicate to a foreigner, he might as well take the initiative to abdicate and form a tacit understanding with the Lu family, the future provincial governor of Liangzhou, Lu Dongjiang, and even the princess consort, Lu Chengyan.
The three of them chatted happily in the pavilion in the middle of the lake. They did not talk about matters of state, only about the wind and the moon.
They parted happily. Bai Yu took the initiative to send Yang Shenxing all the way out of the prince's residence.
Bai Yu stood at the door and watched as the provincial governor left. He smiled with understanding.
Since Song Dongming was the deputy administrator who held more power than Li Gongde, as long as Hsu Fengnian agreed to let Li Gongde become the provincial governor, then the entire Lu Family would be indebted to him. The Lu Family also needed someone in the imperial court in Mount Qingliang. The famous scholar Lu Dongjiang and the merchant Wang Linquan. Between the two, it was like choosing the lesser of two evils. Of course, Song Dongming would choose the former. He, Bai Yu, was in a more awkward position. He did not even have the opportunity to choose. However, now that Yang Shenxing had delivered himself to his doorstep, Bai Yu's situation was different. Right now, Yang Shenxing could not speak in Beiliang's officialdom, but that did not mean it would not be the case in the future. As long as Liang Mang was still fighting, as long as Yang Shenxing was smart enough, there would be a day when he would not be able to stand out. Thus, in the future, no matter how busy the provincial governor's estate was, Bai Yu would always be the person who 'met' Yang Shenxing. He would be the benefactor who would send charcoal in snowy weather, not an idler who would add flowers to the brocade.
Just as Bai Yu was about to step over the threshold, he suddenly pulled his foot back and turned to walk down the steps. He then turned back to look at the large door.
This Sir White Lotus raised his head to look at the imposing plaque and then at the couplets on both sides that were about to be replaced. He thought of that young man in the pavilion in the middle of the lake and muttered to himself, "Beiliang, Li Yang, in this world, with you, Hsu Fengnian, can this be considered sending charcoal in snowy weather?"
— — —
Just as Bai Yu was walking back into the prince's estate with mixed feelings, he passed by Tidehark Lake. In the end, he saw a scene that almost made Sir White Lotus jump up and curse.
He had just left, and that upright gentleman who had repeatedly said that he had nothing to do with Rouzhi and other women was already walking side by side with him on the lake.
Even more outrageous was that when that fellow saw him, not only did he not feel guilty, he even raised his hand to greet him.
Bai Yu muttered angrily in a low voice.
On the lake in the distance, Hsu Fengnian laughed heartily.
Chen Yu asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Hsu Fengnian laughed. "Sir White Lotus thinks that I can't hear him because we're so far away, but in truth, I heard everything very clearly."
Chen Yu asked, "What did Sir say?"
Hsu Fengnian said in all seriousness, "He praised me for being handsome and dashing, but he felt ashamed of his inferiority."
Chen Yu made a sound of acknowledgment and then took her leave.
She then went straight to Sir White Lotus.
Hsu Fengnian was dumbfounded.
In the end, Hsu Fengnian on Solitary Lake laughed.
Looking around, everything was serene.
In this kind of Beiliang, whether the women were as beautiful as flowers or beautiful enough to ward off evil spirits, or the men, whether they were scholars, martial artists, or commoners, were all safe and sound. The sounds of reading, peddling, hoofbeats, snoring, and quarreling were all lively and bustling.
Hsu Fengnian folded his hands in his sleeves and looked up at the sky.
Everything this young man did was for the sake of 'no longer resenting the Xu family'.
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