Chapter 0087 The Madman

Chapter 0087 The Madman

Holding the letter, Qu Yunmie returned to his tent and first removed the heaviest pieces of his armor. Then, with a loud clank, he sat down on a mat and began to write a letter to Xiao Rong, grunting as he did so.

Three days later, this letter reached Xiao Rong's hands. As Xiao Rong read through Qu Yunmie's version of "you should eat well," he narrowed his eyes slightly.

Without any detours, Xiao Rong went straight to the Buddha Son's residence and bluntly asked, "Did you betray me?"

The Buddha Son glanced at the letter in Xiao Rong's hand and, after a moment of silence, said, "To be precise, I didn't betray you; I was merely following the orders given by The King."

Xiao Rong gritted his teeth but finally just snorted coldly, "Double agent."

With that, he left. Mi Jing watched him go and, after a long pause, retorted, "Birds of a feather." ...

From that day on, it seemed that Xiao Rong's appetite had improved a little, even though he still ate small portions, at least he was eating three meals a day. Seeing this, the others in the mansion were less worried.

Xiao Rong thought they were overreacting because he still didn't fully understand the era he was in. In this time, one's appetite revealed much about their health.

In an age where medical knowledge was limited, people often fell ill for no apparent reason, sometimes dying before any symptoms appeared. To judge if someone was unwell, one first looked at their complexion and then at their appetite.

Many people grew weaker and eventually died after their appetite suddenly decreased.

Xiao Rong himself was already quite frail, which explained why everyone was particularly concerned.

Now, although they were still worried, it wasn't as intense. *

Days passed, and soon it was Mid-Autumn Festival. At this time, it wasn't called Mid-Autumn but rather Autumn Equinox, but regardless of the name, it was always a favorite holiday among the people of Central Plains due to the full moon.

With the festival upon them, even amidst the turmoil, Xiao Rong wanted to relax. He gave most of the staff in the mansion and government offices a day off, and those who weren't given a break received some silver and fruits, ensuring everyone could enjoy the holiday happily.

Zhang Biezhi invited Xiao Rong to join her sister and brother for a stroll on Treasure Street. Feeling it might be inappropriate to go alone, Xiao Rong brought along two children from the mansion, Xiao Yi and Danran. Song Shuo insisted on coming along, and Di Fazeng brought a team to ensure their safety.

Having only heard of her but never seen her, Xiao Rong finally met Zhang, a beautiful woman who had never suffered much hardship, exuding gentleness and tranquility. The two children were fine, but Xiao Rong and Song Shuo instinctively stood straighter and bowed to Zhang.

"Greetings, Lady Jian."

This was also the first time Zhang had met them. With a gentle smile, she curtsied slightly, "Greetings, Master Xiao, Master Song."

Realizing her presence made them uncomfortable, Zhang took a few steps forward and smiled at Danran, who immediately ran over to introduce herself.

Behind Zhang, Xiao Rong paused for a moment and then suddenly said, "Jian Qiao is truly fortunate."

Song Shuo shifted awkwardly and defiantly declared, "What's the big deal? One day, I'll marry someone even more gentle and graceful."

Zhang Biezhi, who had been checking her belongings, immediately responded with a sarcastic snort. She walked up to Song Shuo, scrutinized him from head to toe, and focused particularly on his head.

Then, she smirked and let out another sarcastic snort.

Song Shuo: "..."

Xiao Rong glanced at him and kindly explained, "Perhaps you didn't understand what she meant. The first snort means you're a toad dreaming of swan meat, and the second snort means, oh, there's such a short toad?"

Song Shuo: "........" They're all mean! ...

Recently, several new entertainment venues opened on Treasure Street, offering singing and dancing performances. As long as they didn't provide certain services, Xiao Rong didn't interfere with these businesses. If the performances were good, he was willing to patronize them.

However, since he had the children with him today, he wasn't sure if these places would have inappropriate scenes, so Xiao Rong and the others didn't enter.

They first visited various shops, taking advantage of discounts to buy things they liked. Xiao Rong bought a set of writing tools for Xiao Yi and a set of clothes for Danran. Danran had always worn Butuwo attire, but Agusega never let her wear Han clothing simply because none of them knew how to make it. Both the Northern Pacification Army and the Butuwo tribe had only recently become prosperous, and they wouldn't have spent so much money on clothes before.

After buying numerous items, they sent the guards back to the mansion with the packages and then headed to a restaurant.

The notice board was updated every few days with life hacks, recipes, and common knowledge. Now, the proprietors of all the restaurants would wake up early on update days to see if there were any new recipes. If there were, they would copy them down and tell their chefs.

Each restaurant had its unique take on the same recipe, and to compete, they would make special modifications. Some changes were insignificant, while others turned into entirely new dishes with excellent flavors.

Today, Xiao Rong was the benefactor, and he generously ordered every dish on the menu. This restaurant was the largest on Treasure Street and now the busiest place in Chenliu. Coincidentally, the owner of this restaurant was one of the wealthy clans.

The restaurant manager recognized Xiao Rong and immediately offered to waive the bill, knowing that Xiao Rong was their bread and butter. He didn't need to consult the owner for such a small favor, and even if he did, the result would be the same. If not for Xiao Rong forcing them to open here, they wouldn't have made so much money.

The manager knew that Xiao Gongzi was a gentleman and wouldn't want to take advantage of the restaurant. He prepared to persuade him multiple times, but then he saw Xiao Rong's eyes light up.

"Free meal? Sure, does that include drinks? If it does, bring us each a pot of osmanthus wine."

Manager: "..."

He stared blankly at Xiao Rong, who had already turned to sip tea. Zhang Biezhi, who had been smiling, became unhappy when the manager didn't leave, "What, do you regret it?"

Manager, startled, shook his head vigorously, "No, no."

Zhang Biezhi: "Then hurry up and bring the food! If you delay our show, don't bother participating in the best shop selection at year-end!"

Manager: "........"

The manager left in a daze, and the waiters quickly brought the dishes and wine. Standing behind the counter, the manager made a mental note.

Actually, it wasn't a big deal for them, even if the meal was free. However, the owner was about to open a rare goods store in partnership with a Khotanese caravan, where everything was worth hundreds of gold coins. Next time he saw the master, he needed to remind him not to be too polite with the Northern Pacification Army. Being too polite would cost them dearly! ...

Restaurants sold wine by the pot, and each pot contained only two taels. Giving each person a pot amounted to a little over a pound. Xiao Rong only took a sip to taste it, and Danran did the same. Xiao Yi had one cup, but at his age, drinking was not restricted. Xiao Rong used health as an excuse to limit his intake, and Xiao Yi, who always listened to Xiao Rong, sipped sparingly.

The rest was divided among Zhang Biezhi and the others.

Surprisingly, Zhang also drank cup after cup without showing any signs of intoxication. She even commented on the restaurant's wine, concluding that it was definitely not homemade but bought from nearby villages, blending the scent of osmanthus with earth, creating a unique flavor.

Xiao Rong: "......"

Everyone's tolerance was better than his.

After the feast, the group moved on to their next destination, the theater.

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, it also happened to be the premiere of a new play. The theater was bustling now, as they had to perform four shows a day instead of the usual two—two new plays and two old ones, scheduled in sequence.

The theater manager had been recruiting new performers constantly. Some of these newcomers had experience in singing or dancing, while others had no skills at all. However, that wasn't a problem; those without skills could learn. Historically, theater troupes operated under a master-disciple system, and they could do the same here, allowing experienced performers to choose apprentices. Those with talent could immediately take on minor roles, while those less talented would start by doing odd jobs.

Xiao Rong inquired if Southern Yong had any interest in collaborating with him. This wasn't solely about causing trouble for the Southern Yong court; his own energy was limited, and the plays he commissioned weren't just for the people of Chenliu.

Word had spread that imitations of their theater were popping up outside, with other groups performing the same plays, directly copying "Wrapped in Corpse Cloth." There was no concept of copyright or plagiarism back then. If someone played a piece of music, anyone who could replicate it was considered equally skilled, and no one would find fault with it.

Xiao Rong was more than happy for "Wrapped in Corpse Cloth" to be performed far and wide, which would save him the effort.

Today marked the sixth act of this play. In the first act, the mother died; in the second act, the father died. These two acts left many audience members traumatized, making them remember the play's name vividly. When watching the third act, everyone was on edge, fearing another death.

However, no one died in the third act, nor in the subsequent fourth and fifth acts.

After the father's death in the second act, the four siblings were devastated. The youngest, the most timid one, even suggested returning home, unwilling to continue the journey. The eldest two, who usually didn't get along, agreed that they couldn't go back; they had to survive.

The siblings buried their father beside a tree, with the youngest daughter marking the tree, saying she would come back to visit him someday. Her three brothers remained silent, knowing they likely wouldn't return.

At this moment, a new character appeared—a neighbor from a nearby village whom they didn't know. He recorded their names and took some of their remaining food. The hot-tempered second brother thought this man was an enemy and almost punched him. After a recent incident involving barbarian raids, the uncle was also temperamental and scolded the second brother before leaving with the food. Thus ended the second act.

In the third act, the siblings continued to follow the main group numbly, with snow starting to fall again. Along the way, dangers lurked everywhere—sometimes snow, sometimes bandits, sometimes both. Only the youngest daughter remained calm, while her three brothers were on the verge of breaking down, seeing no end to their ordeal, with their food supplies dwindling.

Another encounter with the barbarians occurred, this time with even more of them. They eyed the group hungrily, not sparing them despite their poverty, as the barbarians themselves were starving. Killing them meant another meal.

In this desperate moment, the uncle returned, giving each of the three brothers a sharpened stick as a weapon. The eldest, steady but tense, held the stick tightly. The second brother, aggressive, kept a fierce gaze on the barbarians. The third brother, timid, hesitated to use the stick, prompting the uncle to punch him hard, telling him that no one would save them anymore. If he didn't fight, he and his siblings would die. Fear could wait until after the battle.

The third brother, still terrified but determined, assumed a defensive stance. A fierce battle ensued, lasting through the night until dawn broke. Everyone collapsed, exhausted. From afar came a voice, and the third brother, panting, asked what they were shouting. The uncle, also panting, replied, "We won."

Silence fell over the stage, followed by thunderous cheers. The three brothers wept with joy, even the uncle wiping his face, revealing a weathered smile. More sounds came from afar, and the brothers listened intently, though the audience couldn't hear them. The eldest repeated, "Northern Pacification Army."

The second brother added, "They're shouting, 'From now on, we are the Northern Pacification Army.'"

The third brother, confused, asked, "But... aren't we refugees? How did we become soldiers?"

The uncle burst into laughter, saying, "No one protects us; we protect ourselves. No one guards this land; we guard our home. From now on, we are the Northern Pacification Army!"

The brothers joined in the laughter, amidst the carnage around them. Despite the absurdity, it brought hope and dispelled the gloom.

The third act coincided with the Northern Pacification Army's imminent departure. Xiao Rong deliberately arranged this scene to boost morale before the army set out.

The fourth and fifth acts had less intense plots. In the fourth act, the youngest daughter befriended a woman from the Butewu tribe. In the fifth act, they reached the inner region, where the eldest and second brothers had a heated argument, and the refugee status issue resurfaced, as the people inside were less friendly than those outside.

The sixth act, performed on the Mid-Autumn Festival, was the most heartwarming. The siblings settled briefly, building a thatched hut together. On the first night, only the youngest daughter stayed in it, but even this made the brothers happy. Then, the eldest met a local woman while gathering thatch, and they fell in love and got married, bringing smiles to everyone's faces.

Xiao Rong watched the performance with great interest, having only read the script before. The live performance felt different.

When the act ended, Xiao Rong left with the crowd. Passing a table, he exclaimed, "Yaozu?"

Zhao Xingzong: "..."

Zhao Xingzong, who had been feeling happy, suddenly became unhappy.

He no longer corrected how others addressed him, standing up with a sullen face, "Mr. Xiao, Mr. Song."

Xiao Rong introduced Zhang Shi, "This is General Jian's wife."

Zhao Xingzong bowed respectfully, "Mrs. Jian."

Zhang Shi returned the bow.

Xiao Rong looked at him curiously, "Every time a new play comes out, you're always the first to watch it. You must really like this play, huh?"

Zhao Xingzong scratched his head, embarrassed, "Though the dialogue is simple, the plot is captivating. Since Mr. Xiao gave everyone a break today, I rushed over to queue up."

Xiao Rong smiled, "Thank you for your efforts."

Zhao Xingzong: "Not at all, not at all. Today's act was so heartwarming; it will keep me happy for days."

Xiao Rong chuckled, pleased that someone enjoyed his work. Seeing Zhao Xingzong's satisfied smile, he paused for a moment before warning him, "If you like it so much, I suggest you stop watching after this act. It's for your own good."

Zhao Xingzong: "…………"

Xiao Rong walked away, leaving Zhao Xingzong with a stunned expression, robbing him of his happiness.

Song Shuo glanced at Xiao Rong's smiling face and said bluntly, "You did that on purpose."

Xiao Rong shrugged, "Who made him worry me for so long? I haven't been this happy, so why should he be happier than me?"

Song Shuo: "..." Petty.

In the mansion, Chen Shi was busy cooking in the kitchen, with other chefs assisting her. Gao Xunzhi was setting up the front hall, calculating how many chairs to bring out for the reunion dinner Xiao Rong planned for tonight.

Agusega was also helping in the kitchen, preparing dishes from her Butewu tribe. However, when the guards delivered the items Xiao Rong bought, she put down the live fish she was preparing, wiped her hands, and looked at Danran's belongings.

A moment later, she returned to the quiet courtyard with the new clothes, where Sang Yan sat in a corner, grinding herbs.

Approaching Sang Yan, Agusega showed her the clothes, "Look, Xiao Rong bought these for Danran."

Sang Yan glanced at them briefly before continuing to grind the herbs.

Agusega paused, then asked, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most important holidays in your homeland. If you celebrate it with Danran, she would be very happy."

Sang Yan's movements slowed momentarily before resuming their pace.

Her voice hoarse from disuse, she said, "She'll realize eventually that true happiness comes without me."

Agusega knew this would be her response, turned, and left. The sound of the grinding wheel gradually faded away.

Indeed, the Mid-Autumn Festival was significant to the people of the Central Plains, but celebrating it so grandly, inviting everyone to dine together, was quite rare, even for Xiao Rong.

At this time, showing great importance to a festival was not about reunion but rather sacrifice. Almost every household during the Mid-Autumn Festival was burning incense and paper offerings, devoutly placing sacrifices. Only in the Northern Pacification King's residence were they earnestly and diligently eating.

There weren't tables large enough to seat over a dozen people at this time, so Gao Xunzhi had to piece together seven or eight tables to achieve the effect Xiao Rong wanted. He thought to himself that he should have a carpenter make one in the future; otherwise, doing this every year would be too much trouble.

Xiao Rong also mentioned wanting to admire the moon, so the meal didn't start until it was dark. Everyone indulged in luxury by lighting lanterns throughout the hall, making it as bright as day. Song Shuo, sitting among them, pouted and said, "Finally, it feels like something."

Though it still couldn't compare to the imperial palace, it was no longer the most humble royal residence.

Everyone gradually took their seats. The monk bowed to everyone and then sat down at his place, where only vegetarian dishes were placed. Gao Xunzhi, who didn’t enjoy meat much in his old age, sat with him.

Lady Chen hadn't seen such a lively scene for many years. She was the happiest person today and even wanted to drink some wine. Xiao Yi initially wanted to stop her, but Xiao Rong wouldn't allow it. A little bit of wine wouldn't hurt, especially since it only happened once or twice a year.

Xiao Rong smiled warmly at everyone. In truth, he had never seen such a lively scene either, but he felt he could adapt to it.

Amidst the clinking of cups and plates, Zhang Biezhi started arguing with Di Fazeng again. Although no one could hear what they were arguing about, Danran couldn't reach a distant dish, so Ah Shu quickly stood up to help her. Seeing Ah Shu's height, Danran was momentarily stunned and later asked how old he was. Suddenly, she gained confidence in her own height.

If someone from the Central Plains could grow this tall, she had no problem either!

Xiao Yi and Lady Chen took care of each other. Xiao Yi gave Lady Chen chicken legs, while she gave him ginger slices. Song Shuo got excited after drinking and stood up to recite a poem, but no one paid attention to him. The only young woman at the table was Lady Zhang, who didn't feel uncomfortable but felt a bit lonely due to the lack of conversation.

She knew that Danran’s mother had a similar status to her, but after marrying Jian Qiao for so many years, she had only met Sang Yan twice without exchanging a single word. She didn't expect Sang Yan to break the routine today and come out to accompany her.

Moreover, quietly drinking alone wasn't bad. This was the first time she truly tasted the joy of a festival after her husband went off to war.

Her seat faced away from the door. Turning around, she wanted to see if the moon had risen, but tonight was overcast, looking like it might rain. There was no sign of the moon or stars.

Lady Zhang turned back and caught Xiao Rong looking at the sky just like her. She smiled at him.

Seeing this, Xiao Rong returned a slight smile, but in the next moment, Lady Zhang's pupils suddenly contracted.

Xiao Rong was slightly stunned and then felt something odd. Gently touching his lips, he felt something wet. Before he could figure out what it was, his insides felt like they were on fire. He fell off his chair, accidentally knocking over a wine jug and porcelain, causing a loud noise that startled everyone. They looked towards the source of the sound and saw Xiao Rong lying on the ground, spitting out blood uncontrollably.

Gao Xunzhi jumped up in shock, "Ah Rong!"

In just a short moment, Xiao Rong's hair was drenched in cold sweat, and his clothes and the floor were stained with thick blood. He couldn't control himself and felt like he was dying.

His entire abdomen was in agony, and voices called out to him, filled with desperation and fear. Xiao Rong couldn't comfort anyone because he was overwhelmed with fear, terrified that he might really die.

After an unknown amount of time, which could have been a moment or the duration of an incense stick, Xiao Rong lost consciousness. He had no awareness, and if he died during this process, he might not even realize it was the end of his life.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in Gao Xunzhi's arms. Everyone was gathered around him in horror. Zhang Biezhi, Xiao Yi, and Ah Shu were crying uncontrollably, while Song Shuo and the monk looked pale, unable to utter a word.

Agusega had disappeared but soon returned, carrying a whole salt lady ginseng root, followed by Sang Yan, who had always refused to leave her room. Sang Yan carried Agusega's medicine box and looked at him with equal fear.

Xiao Rong opened his eyes, and everyone seemed frozen, afraid to make a sound. He blinked and opened his mouth, murmuring, "I need to find him."

This feather-light statement almost made Gao Xunzhi collapse. He feared it was Xiao Rong's last words before death. Recovering from the momentary blackness, Gao Xunzhi tried to support himself and comfort Xiao Rong, his voice trembling, "First, let Agusega examine you and take the medicine, then—"

Xiao Rong seemed to ignore him completely. Suddenly, he sat up, trying to stand, but the floor was slippery with his vomit, and he nearly fell again. Zhang Biezhi rushed over to support him.

The others regained their senses and tried to persuade Xiao Rong to sit down and let the doctor examine him. But Xiao Rong, hearing these voices, suddenly pushed everyone away angrily and shouted, "Leave me alone!"

"I need to find him, I need to find him!!!"

Everyone fell silent instantly.

In the past, Zhang Biezhi often said Xiao Rong had a bad temper and was fierce, but no one cared because they knew he wasn't truly hostile. Now, however, he looked like an injured beast, glaring at everyone as if they were obstacles he wished dead.

Song Shuo had never seen Xiao Rong like this. Stunned, he heard Gao Xunzhi's voice, "Okay, okay, I'll take you to find him. Ah Rong, listen, let Agusega examine you, and then we'll go!"

Xiao Rong turned to look at Gao Xunzhi, who held his breath. After a moment, Xiao Rong suddenly released his grip on the table, fell to the ground, and finally quieted down.

While Agusega examined Xiao Rong, Gao Xunzhi hurried back to his quarters, grabbed a few clothes and his weapon, and left with Ah Shu, who wiped away tears while packing things for Xiao Rong, including the now-weaponized Chi Dragon Sword.

They returned with their bundles, and Song Shuo, standing at the entrance, incredulously blocked them, "Are you really taking him to Sheng Le in this state?!"

"This is absurd! Don't you fear he'll die on the way?"

Gao Xunzhi remained silent, while Ah Shu's tears kept flowing. Sobbing, he said, "Master doesn't want to die." Song Shuo was taken aback.

Ah Shu wiped away more tears, "Master never wants to die. He's not going to die; he's going to find the King. We can't stop him."

Song Shuo felt shaken, thinking this was the most absurd night of his life. Everyone in the residence, usually rational, had gone mad.

Including him—he had gone mad too.

Because he actually stepped aside to let Gao Xunzhi and Ah Shu pass.

Besides Gao Xunzhi and Xiao Rong, Zhang Biezhi and Agusega accompanied them. It was Xiao Rong's decision, and he seemed to have calmed down, arranging everything step by step. Di Fazeng led all the guards to protect the residence and could mobilize outside troops to protect Chenliu if necessary. After Xiao Rong left, Song Shuo would be the governor of Chenliu, assisted by the monk. Their sole task was to defend the city.

When Xiao Rong made these arrangements, Song Shuo didn't even know. By the time he entered, they were already preparing to leave, leaving him no chance to question him.

As the clouds dispersed and the cold moonlight shone down, illuminating their departing figures, Song Shuo didn't understand why Xiao Rong left so resolutely without looking back at the residence or the city he had built. How could he entrust it all to him without fearing betrayal?

The sound of hooves faded into the night, bringing silence once more.

Song Shuo muttered to the front, "A bunch of lunatics."

But in the next moment, he clenched his fists tightly, turning to the monk he disliked the most, "What... what do I do now?"

Mijing also looked forward, softly saying, "Don't disappoint those who trust you."

Song Shuo frowned at the empty street, then turned and entered the residence.