Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Manager Zheng led the presentation: "Although we obtained Young Master Li's measurements for clothing and shoes last time, he mentioned that his body is still growing, so Madam didn't have any clothes or shoes made. Instead, she brought cotton cloth and cotton. This time, considering it's winter, we prepared more than before."

"There isn't any milk powder or cheese, as Madam found the flavors unsatisfactory and thus didn't purchase much. Regarding the butter that Young Master Li mentioned, Madam sought out a Mongolian family and has brought quite a bit this time."

Madam Ning's preparations this time were mainly focused on warmth and high-calorie food, with generous quantities. Although she claimed they were for Li Ai, it was also likely for his personal guards, as half of a commander's life in battle depends on these loyal soldiers.

As Manager Zheng described these items, he discreetly glossed over the large box filled with ointments. He would share the details about that later, when they were alone.

Fan Hong stepped forward and said, "Second Master, over here we have an array of dried meats, flavored with five spices, chili, sweet, or salty."

"Woah!" A chorus of exclamations echoed, as the group of loyal soldiers' eyes gleamed with excitement.

Li Ai felt a slight flush on his cheeks. This bunch was a bit too embarrassing. It was too late now to claim he didn't know them. With a troubled wave of his hand, Li Ai said, "Help yourselves and try some. Control your drool, will you? Don't you have any dignity?"

"Ha ha ha, Captain, it's not like you don't yearn for those dried fish too." True to their bond, the soldier exposed Li Ai's hidden desire.

Li Ai stroked his facial hair, grateful once more for his disguise.

Fan Hong suppressed his laughter. "Second Master, this side has various kinds of dried fish. Not only do we have spicy and five-spice flavors, but also salt and pepper ones. Additionally, there are bits of seaweed and dried clam meat – they add a lot of flavor to soups when sprinkled in."

Li Ai's eyes sparkled with excitement at the mention of dried fish. Without hesitation, he grabbed two pieces and popped them into his mouth. Crunch, crunch...

"Changfeng." Marquis Yongwei and his entourage stepped into the courtyard.

Li Ai's personal guards instantly became vigilant. No matter their rank as generals or commanders, in front of delicious food, everyone was a potential rival.

One of the veteran soldiers patted Li Ai on the shoulder. "Changfeng, your wife is truly remarkable. You probably don't know this, but she scolded an imperial censor so fiercely that he fainted! Impressive, isn't it? But you should be careful in the future – don't say the wrong thing! Haha!" With that, he snatched the remaining dried fish from Li Ai's hand and stuffed it into his own mouth.

Fan Hong observed Li Ai's speechless expression and lifted the lid of a large barrel filled with sugar. "Second Master, this is refined sugar. Second Lady said it's for you and your brothers to sweeten your palate. On freezing cold days, a bowl of sugar and ginger water is beneficial to your health."

Li Ai looked down and saw the vast expanse of pure white sugar filling the one-meter-wide barrel. The sweet aroma rushed to his nostrils the moment Fan Hong uncovered it.

"Wow! So much sugar?" Tu Duoshi approached swiftly, dipped in two small dried fish, and popped them into his mouth. His eyes turned green as he gazed at the white sugar in the barrel, mumbling vaguely, "Your wife really takes good care of you."

Fan Hong skipped a few vehicles before lifting another lid. "Second Master, over here, there are some dried bamboo shoots."

"Hmm? That doesn't seem right. Why aren't the lids of these other wagons opened? What are they hiding for us to see?" Curiosity got the better of someone, who promptly lifted the cover of one of the large round barrels. A sweet scent wafted out, revealing a substance that resembled snow or salt to those present.

A collective gasp escaped the onlookers, and they all froze in astonishment.

"What is this? Why is there no... sound?" One of them approached curiously, only to fall silent as well.

Li Ai appeared somewhat bewildered and also leaned in for a closer look, maintaining an eerie silence!

Others sensed something amiss and gathered around, yet they too were silenced. After what seemed like an eternity, Inspector Tu finally regained his composure and turned to Fan Hong, swallowing hard before stammering, "Are... are these massive barrels all filled with refined sugar?"

Fan Hong replied with a smile, confirming their suspicion, "Yes, they're all filled with white sugar."

Sighs of amazement echoed around the room, followed by a flurry of animated discussions: "So much sugar, Sister-in-law is truly generous."

"I say, a wife should be like her – capable and efficient, far better than those weaklings who only know how to weep and whine."

"Indeed, that's the way it should be. A woman who can stand on her own allows a man to focus on his endeavors with peace of mind."

"Exactly, if someone wrongs her, she can handle it herself without needing her husband's assistance. Wouldn't that make a man more at ease while striving outside?"

Marquis Yongwei glanced at Li Ai and said, "Look at you, take care of your appearance too. Which young wife doesn't appreciate a well-groomed husband?"

"Indeed, indeed, Changfeng, you must listen to Marquis Yongwei on this matter."

Tudusi moved closer to Li Ai, scrutinizing him with a mix of frustration and disappointment. "Tell me, how could you not know? Whenever the martial champions, the runner-ups, and the third placers ride through the streets in their triumph, they can't match the excitement generated by the scholars. Isn't it all because we men don't bother with grooming ourselves as much? You can't let your wife be unhappy, especially with such a wonderful spouse like Sister-in-law."

"That's right, a wife as excellent as Sister-in-law is hard to find even with a lantern."

Li Ai looked at the group expressionlessly. Back then, they hadn't said anything like this!

Marquis Yongwei rubbed his hands together. "Changfeng, consider this: last night, the temperature dropped abruptly, and quite a few of our brothers caught a chill. Wouldn't sipping a bowl of sugared ginger water, to induce sweating, prevent them from falling seriously ill?"

Li Ai gazed at Marquis Yongwei and asked, "Is this how you behave as a commander and elder?"

Marquis Yongwei shrugged nonchalantly, as if he couldn't care less, for there were no sweets to be had even for the commander himself.

Li Ai waved dismissively. "Tell the kitchen troops to come and collect their candies."

"Aye!" A crisp response echoed instantly, so loud that it seemed to carry for miles.

After being tantalized by thousands of pounds of refined sugar, the crowd's anticipation for what was to come only grew stronger. When they laid eyes on the dried bamboo shoots, they marveled, recognizing another fine delicacy. And finally, when the dried mushrooms appeared, their admiration reached its peak.

Marquis Yongwei picked one up for a closer look. "Is this the much-praised Maitake mushroom that His Majesty and Empress Dowager have been raving about?"

Fan Hong hurried to respond, "Yes, it's Maitake. Our Second Lady expanded her cultivation this year. Instead of selling them, she dried these mushrooms and sent them over, saying they'd be a nice change of taste for Second Master."

Patting Li Ai on the shoulder, Marquis Yongwei said, "Changfeng! You're indeed a lucky lad. Even your marriage, which was a stroke of luck for your family, has brought you such an excellent wife. You'd better spruce yourself up quickly."

"Hmm? What's in this box?"

Someone with sharp eyes noticed a tightly sealed box, clearly untouched among the others that had been opened and closed.

Li Ai glanced at Manager Zheng. Outsiders might not be able to distinguish which items were prepared by Madam Ning and which by Meng Die, but he could tell the difference.

Manager Zheng hesitated. Seeing that someone was about to open it, he had no choice but to explain, "There are some ointments inside."

"What? What's that? What's an ointment?"

"It sounds like something women use on their faces, doesn't it? I think that's the name."

Realizing something was amiss, Li Ai stared intently at Manager Zheng, who then swallowed, "Madam mentioned that the winds in the frontier regions carry a lot of sand, which can sting the face and easily cause chapping on the cheeks. Applying this ointment can prevent dryness and cracking of the cheeks and hands."

Despite Zheng's tactful words, the crowd burst into laughter once again.

Marquis Yongwei, munching on dried fish with delight, chuckled uncontrollably, "Look, look! Even your sister-in-law finds your current appearance unbearable. You'd better spruce yourself up."

The laughter echoed throughout the camp that night. The air was filled with the pungent aroma of ginger and the sweet scent of sugar, as all the soldiers learned that their vanguard's Lieutenat Li had a capable and generous wife who could earn silver. Soon, they also discovered that Li had a mother who teasingly criticized his looks.

After a mortifying encounter with his mother, Li Ai finally managed to bid everyone farewell and retreated to his inner chamber, clutching his dried fish. Only then did Manager Zheng say, "Second Master, Lady has mentioned that with your numerous battle achievements, there's no need for you to maintain a mature and serious demeanor. It's time to shave that beard."

Li Ai's lips twitched. He should be grateful that his mother had spared him the embarrassment of receiving a letter about this. Those on the front lines only received correspondence that had been thoroughly scrutinized alongside supply deliveries. The thought that everyone knew his mother had ordered him to shave made Li Ai shudder. Rubbing his beard, he asked, "Why did you mention this to my mother when you last visited?"

Manager Zheng protested, "Second Master, it wasn't me who said anything. It was one of the maidservants from Second Madam's quarters who inquired about your appearance. Fan Hong was the one who replied."

Li Ai choked. How could he have forgotten about that? With this reminder, his gaze wandered, and he picked up his teacup for a sip, wondering what Meng Die looked like.

Manager Zheng, being an experienced individual, understood all too well. He quickly added, "Madam often remarks that our Second Madam comes from an educated family, with a gentle and refined demeanor, kind and benevolent in appearance."

Coughing, Li Ai spat out the tea he had just sipped. Choked by the liquid, he continued coughing violently. "Kind and benevolent?" Was she referring to the kind and benevolent look that could render someone unconscious?

Steward Zheng promptly explained, "Indeed, our Second Lady is very compassionate. After accumulating wealth, she established an orphanage, and now it houses dozens of orphans. This year, several northern provinces suffered severe droughts, causing many to flee to the capital in search of refuge. Second Lady's manor offered generous wages to employ these people for work. It's well-known throughout the estate that the tasks at Second Lady's manor are not urgent; one can choose to do them or not."

Li Ai was somewhat surprised. "I suppose I had a narrow-minded perspective."

Steward Zheng chuckled. "It's not that Second Master has a narrow mind, but those gossiping rumors are too one-sided. Our Second Lady is truly first-rate, with no faults when dealing with superiors or subordinates."

Li Ai nodded. "Mm, you may go rest now."

After dismissing Steward Zheng, Li Ai stroked his thick sideburns and beard, sighing. They say that a person without whiskers cannot be trusted, and young people, lacking experience, are naturally viewed with skepticism. Especially in a front-line setting where lives are often on the line, who would trust a barely grown, inexperienced youth?

In order to appear solemn, Li Ai had meticulously prepared this false beard and even selected some cosmetics to darken his face. After his transformation, he had successfully achieved the appearance of a second Zhang Fei. Recalling his mother's earnest plea, Li Ai decided to put away the beard for good.

The next morning, Li Ai emerged from his chamber after grooming himself. He began by practicing a set of martial arts forms in the open courtyard, warming up his body. Many of his personal guards gradually rose and started their own ablutions.

"Who are you?" The shout drew a crowd of onlookers.

Li Ai looked at him with a hint of amusement. "Don't recognize me?"

"You—Who are you really? How did you get in here?" As the soldier spoke, he reached out to seize Li Ai.

With a swift move, Li Ai apprehended the man, pinning his arm behind his back. The soldier, leaning sideways, cried out, "Ouch, ouch! Brothers, grab your weapons!"

"Scram." Li Ai released him, pushing the man forward and adding a swift kick to his backside. "What kind of eyes do you have? You can't even recognize me after I've shaved?"

Li Ai: "It was me. No wonder none of you can master archery; with such poor eyesight, how could you possibly excel at it?"

"Excuse me, are you truly the head of this all?"

Li Ai gazed at him with a cheerful smile. "Why don't we head to the martial practice grounds and test it out? Let's see if I truly am your superior."

"No, no, no," the soldier shook his head repeatedly, circling around Li Ai. "Boss, how come you look like a different person after shaving your beard?"

"Indeed, you resemble a young maiden."

"Even more attractive than one."

Li Ai's face darkened. "Do you know how to speak properly? If not, just sew your mouths shut and be mute."

The group erupted into giggles, but at Li Ai's half-closed eyes scanning the crowd, they all shrunk back in silence, not daring to make a sound. None of them wanted to become the boss's punching bag.

"Captain, Lord Hou has summoned us to the Commander's residence to discuss the allocation of military provisions. He claims that the quality of the recently delivered supplies is subpar," one of the soldiers reported.

Li Ai nodded, popped a steamed bun into his mouth, and strode purposefully towards the Commander's residence.

Once Li Ai's figure was out of sight, the group of personal guards began to chatter.

"Do you think our Captain shaved for his wife?" one of them wondered aloud.

"Of course, does that even need to be asked?" another replied.

"Yet, I never would have imagined that beneath our leader's beard lies such a appearance. Even the most beautiful village maiden in our hometown can't hold a candle to him."

All present nodded in agreement.

"Well, do you think our leader, with that face of his, will be able to enter the Commander's residence without being thrown out?"

Not a soul could recognize their leader, and the band of personal guards couldn't help but indulge in an unkind laughter.

Upon Li Ai's entrance into the main hall, he was not physically assaulted; however, the moment he stepped in, the previously bustling hall fell silent as abruptly as if a switch had been flipped. All eyes were instantly glued to Li Ai.

Marquis Yongwei scrutinized Li Ai from head to toe, feeling a strange sense of familiarity yet unable to recall where they might have met. Given how strikingly memorable this person's appearance was, he was certain he would not forget someone like that if he had seen them before. So why did he feel as though he knew him?

In the blink of an eye, an image flashed through Marquis Yongwei's mind.

Someone in the hall, finally recovering from their astonishment, asked the question on everyone's minds, "Who are you?"

Marquis Yongwei ventured a guess, "Changfeng?"

Li Ai raised an eyebrow, looking at Marquis Yongwei with a touch of surprise, "It's me."

Incredibly! It's Li Changfeng? That bearded brute who looked to be in his thirties? This transformation is more surreal than a magic act!

Everyone gathered around Li Ai, asking, "Could it really be Changfeng?"

"It can't be, right?"

"He was a filthy and stinky brute just yesterday. How did he become like this today? He even looks better than a young maiden!"

Veins popped on Li Ai's forehead. He had been rough, but he had never been dirty or smelly. And what did they mean by 'looking better than a young maiden'? Did these people know how to speak or praise someone properly? He was handsome, dashing!

Marquis Yongwei leaned back in his chair, finally realizing why the man seemed familiar. When Li Ai had run away from home, the Marquis Yongyi's estate had specifically sent him a letter and a portrait, asking for his assistance in locating the young man.

Given the amicable relations between their ancestors, Marquis Yongwei had taken the matter seriously back then. Moreover, the legitimate heir of the Marquis Yongyi had indeed died on his watch, even if it wasn't directly his fault. It would still be a scandal, potentially causing offense to the Marquis Yongyi's household.

In his heart, he admired Li Ai. He understood why the young man had chosen to conceal his identity and come alone to the frontlines. Which commanding officer would dare assign dangerous missions to descendants of noble families like them? Trying to earn military merit without taking risks was wishful thinking. In a nutshell, wealth and honor were sought amidst peril.

Despite his admiration, he still had to search for Li Ai. With the portrait in hand, he spent nearly half a year combing through the entire camp, but to no avail – not a single person resembled the image. Frustrated, he cursed the young rogue for being so adept at hiding.

Just as he was about to forget the matter entirely, Li Ai reappeared at the end of last year. By then, he had shed the facade of being the Marquis Yongyi's legitimate grandson, proving himself with his own abilities and accumulating enough military achievements. He had also gained a group of brothers willing to risk life and limb alongside him. Now, superiors no longer hesitated to assign him to perilous missions due to his background.

Upon confirming that the person before him was indeed the legitimate grandson of Marquis Yongyi, Marquis Yongwei cursed inwardly once more. In this era, there was no term for "photo deception," but after seeing Li Ai, he glanced again at the portrait that the Marquis Yongyi's residence had sent earlier. He instinctively understood the concept of "painting deception."

The portrait and the man in front of him couldn't be more different – they were practically unrelated. The painting depicted a handsome, elegant youth, while the man standing before him was a rough, middle-aged fellow who looked to be around thirty. Who could have imagined they were one and the same?

It was precisely because of this that when he first saw the name Li Changfeng, he didn't give it much thought. In reality, Li Ai had clearly stated his identity.

"Ai" implied lush vegetation, and "Changfeng" derived from "Changlin Fengcao," also denoting abundant growth of plants, with an underlying connotation of seclusion. Wasn't this an obvious attempt at concealment?

If Li Ai's appearance hadn't been so drastically different, Marquis Yongwei would have been suspicious of the name upon hearing it. Now, all he wanted to do was scoff. He had misunderstood the Marquis Yongyi's household – the portrait wasn't deceptive, but rather, this young rascal was too cunning and adept at hiding.

Captain Hong suddenly recalled the portrait: "Ah, that's right! Marquis, she looks almost exactly like the person in that painting." Back then, many generals had examined the portrait in their search.

Another general nodded fervently, "Yes, yes, yes. When I saw the portrait before, I almost thought it was a young maiden. Now, she has blossomed into a young lady."

Li Ai could no longer endure it and executed a swift throw, sending the man crashing to the ground.

The others burst into laughter.

Marquis Yongwei intervened, "Alright, alright, let's distribute the provisions. Due to the great drought in the north, we barely managed to gather enough supplies, and many of them are of poor quality. You all figure out how to allocate them fairly."

"Report!" A soldier entered, "Marquis, a small band of enemy troops, numbering around three thousand, has been spotted one hundred miles away from the city walls. They seem to be patrolling in that area."

Marquis Yongwei frowned. "They're only patrolling there? Not advancing?"

"Yes, this group was detected at dawn today. Since reaching the hundred-mile mark, they've been lingering in that vicinity."

Marquis Yongwei: "Changfeng, take a detachment to investigate. If they engage, fight back. But if they retreat, don't pursue too deeply, lest it be a trap."

"Aye, General, I'll comply." Li Ai swiftly left and returned to his residence, selecting ten personal guards and five thousand infantrymen. He donned his armor, mounted his horse, and led his troops away like a gust of wind.

Fan Hong, having just risen from his seat, witnessed the scene with a foolishly bewildered look in his eyes. Who was this person? The back view seemed familiar, but he had never seen their face. How could someone hold such authority in Second Master's residence when he hadn't encountered them in the first half of the year?

Zheng Manager saw everything clearly as well, his eyes glowing like a 200-watt light bulb. Oh my goodness, it was their Second Master! Their elegant and charming young master had returned.

Fan Hong asked, "Manager Zheng? Who was that person who just passed by? I've never seen them before."

Zheng Manager's eyes gleamed even brighter, seeing a perfect opportunity to clarify, "Didn't recognize him, did you? That's our very own Second Master!"

"Aah?" Fan Hong's mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg. "Second Master?"

Steward Zheng explained, "Let me tell you, Old Fan, this is the true nature of our Second Young Master."

Fan Hong blurted out, "He doesn't resemble the Crown Prince or Lady at all." His face paled, and his heart leapt to his throat. He didn't dare look at Steward Zheng's reaction. Could he have said that?

Seeing Fan Hong's anxious expression, Steward Zheng quickly reassured him, "Yes, he doesn't resemble them. Our Second Young Master has never looked like the Crown Prince or Lady since he was a child. Can you guess who he takes after?"

Fan Hong mentally reviewed the Marquis Yongyi, the Marquis' wife, the Crown Prince, and Ning Lady. He even recalled the portraits of Li Sanzhu and his wife displayed in the ancestral hall. After much deliberation, he was certain that the young lad did not resemble any member of the Yongyi Marquis household.

Steward Zheng continued, "When our Second Young Master turned one month old, our distant ancestors doted on him so much that their favoritism was known throughout the capital." This was why when Li Sanzhu fell ill, Meng Die expressed her intention to visit, and Ning Lady did not object. Li Sanzhu genuinely favored Li Ai. Because of that incident, the two branches of the family had not severed ties.

Supervisor Zheng lowered his voice. "Our branch's ancestor was the youngest brother. Our own ancestor doted on him greatly and bestowed many treasures upon him, even those from the previous dynasty's palace." Who among the warriors didn't take something valuable when they stormed the imperial palace?

Fan Hong nodded; he had heard of this before.

Supervisor Zheng continued, "Our ancestor favored Second Master. He gave him items like the jadeite nine-linked rings, the small teacups and bowls made of chicken blood stone, and the rosewood top, and so on. Back then, not only were the descendants from the main branch envious, but even his own offspring were filled with longing."

"At that time, people assumed our ancestor liked Second Master because of his good looks. Later, when our great-aunt came to Beijing, it was her last trip from Ganzhou to the capital. All the grandchildren from the three branches bowed to her. When it was Second Master's turn, she embraced him tightly, calling him her darling. She adored him and showered him with countless gifts."

Supervisor Zheng gave an expression of 'you get it now.' "Guess who our Second Master resembled?"

Fan Hong instantly understood.

Madam Li had three sons and one daughter. None of her children or grandchildren resembled her, nor did the great-grandchildren in a row. Yet, out of the fifth generation, it was Xuan Sun Li Ai who strikingly took after her.

Back in her day, Madam Li was a renowned beauty in the neighboring villages. Her looks were exceptional, and considering she engaged in laborious farm work daily, it was evident how strong her genes were.

For Li Xiaohua, seeing how even those with fathers and mothers could sell their daughters, let alone a widow like her own mother, Madam Li's determination to raise her was admirable. Li Xiaohua's affection for her mother was unwavering. Li Sanzhu, living at home with Madam Li, relied on each other for support, and their bond was equally profound.

Upon encountering Li Ai, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Madam Li, how could they not favor or dote on her? In this era, genetics wasn't a concept, so they perceived this as a remarkable act of fate.

After recounting the old tale, Manager Zheng lowered his voice further: "They say there's a resemblance of around sixty to seventy percent. The remaining thirty to forty percent difference is because the Matriarch was a woman with a gentler visage; Second Master is a man, thus his features are more chiseled and sharp."

Fan Hong came to a realization: "That explains it. He takes after the Matriarch."