Translated by Dandan-mein

Edited by Jules

Even if the fourth prince was arrogant and proud, at the very least, he had read books on war before. To be pressured and beaten to such a desperate point by the Huainan King without any leeway at all to fight back showed how skilled the Huainan King was. In this moment of crisis, everyone knew that only Cheng Wang could compete with him, so the whole court supported sending Cheng Wang out to battle.

“By Zhen’s decree, the fourth prince Jing Yu will immediately hand over military power to Lu Zhanpeng, the general of Jiangnan, and Cheng Wang Jing Shao will take his personal troops to battle Huainan!” Emperor Hong Zheng took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and issued a series of decrees. He demanded that Lu Zhanpeng hold Pingjiang city while Jing Shao rushed there. He recalled the fourth prince to the capital immediately, so that he wouldn’t make a fool of himself in front of the Huainan King.

Jing Shao received the decree and just smiled before he told Duofu to prepare Mu Hanzhang’s carriage and pack their luggage. He also had Hao Dadao go to Qi county first to bring his own soldiers to the south of the city and stand by.

When Mu Hanzhang came back, he saw Jing Shao all packed and ready to go with the carriage. 

“Wawu!” Of course, there was also Xiao Huang, who followed him into the carriage of its own volition.

“Why are we bringing the tiger?” Mu Hanzhang looked at the tiger lying on the jade mat with a blanket, and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help twitching. Jing Shao and Gu Huaiqing had already settled the matter, and the battle would be just for show. Escorting Mu Hanzhang to Jiangnan could be excused since it was on the way, but what were they doing with a tiger?

“I heard that the Huainan King has a lion that is extremely fierce. Benwang is afraid that I can’t control it, so I’m bringing a fierce tiger along to fight it,” Jing Shao said solemnly.

A fierce (fierce and cute, both “meng” are homonyms with different tones!) tiger? Mu Hanzhang reached out and poked the tiger’s head. The “fierce” tiger immediately flipped onto its back to reveal its white velvety belly as it looked up at him. They could definitely count on this little rascal to hold the battle line; he would probably be able to cause the total defeat of an army (with his cuteness!!!)…

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Because the battle was tense and there was no emperor to see him off, Jing Shao ran directly to the camp in the south of the city and left with his soldiers.

The imperial edict from the capital was rushed to Jiangnan. Within three days, it was in the hands of the fourth prince. When Jing Shao arrived in Jiangnan, the fourth prince had already left with his tail between his legs, while Lu Zhanpeng was fending off the attack of the Huainan soldiers.

“You’re finally here.” Lu Zhanpeng took a gulp of tea, recuperating a little. 

Jing Shao looked at Lu Niao, who was unkempt and had scraggly facial hair, and couldn’t help laughing at him. “Why do you look like Jing Yu? A mere Huainan King is enough to beat you and scare you witless?”

“You’re the one who’s like Jing Yu!” Lu Zhanpeng rolled his eyes. “You don’t even know how incompetent that boy is and how many troops he lost! When I took over this mess, the huge battering rams of the Huainan King had already arrived at the gate!” He still had lingering fear when he recalled the scene.

Mu Hanzhang walked around the house with Xiao Huang. Their residence was the new house that Lu Zhanpeng had helped them buy. It was full of the beauty of Jiangnan. Every five steps was a beautiful scene, every ten steps was a pavilion, a small bridge over flowing water, waterside pavilions, bamboo groves or flowers. Layer upon layer, it was dazzling.

Xiao Huang took a fancy to the big flower garden and the bamboo forest in it, and rushed to stake his claim. He frightened the servants in the garden into screaming one after another. 

After driving away Lu Zhanpeng and his neverending chatter, Jing Shao wandered about the garden looking for his Wang Fei. He saw the gurgling water around the wooden waterside pavilion and a beauty in green casually leaning against the banister, reading quietly. A black and yellow tiger was at his feet, hugging one calf and sleeping soundly. The setting sun shone on his handsome side profile, and he looked peaceful and beautiful.

Jing Shao slowly walked over. The wooden waterside pavilion was polished smooth and sleek. There were no seats, but several cushions were scattered on the ground along with a low table. When he got closer, he discovered that his Wang Fei was sitting on the ground barefoot. A white and tender foot was placed on Xiao Huang’s belly. The soft fur wrapped around his foot, rubbing against it and turning his round toes a little pink.

“How’s the battle going outside?” When Mu Hanzhang saw him arrive, he put down the book he was holding.

“It’s getting late. The Huainan army went back for dinner,” Jing Shao said without much thought. 

“Luzhou is only thirty li from Pingjiang. If I go there early tomorrow morning, I’ll then be able to come back in the evening.” Mu Hanzhang shifted his leg that had gotten sweaty from the tiger’s warmth, but Jing Shao immediately caught it and pulled it to his side.

“No, wait another two days. After I drive Gu Huaiqing back ten li, I’ll go with you.” Jing Shao looked at the foot in his hands with great interest, grabbed a soft paw limp from sleep, and used it to gently scratch the soft sole of the foot.

Mu Hanzhang shrank away from the tickling. “There are officials in Luzhou who were sent by imperial father; won’t you be recognized if you go?”

“I’ll pretend to be a young servant and go have a look with you for a day. Afterward, I’ll have them move the work to Pingjiang.” Jing Shao had been planning this for a while now. “The front of this residence is still empty. It’s just right for you to use as your government office.” 

“But… ah…” Mu Hanzhang still wanted to retort, but he was carried off over Jing Shao’s shoulder.

“It’s getting late. Shouldn’t Marquis Wenyuan fulfill his duty as Cheng Wang Fei?” Jing Shao pressed down the man who was struggling to get down and slapped his ass.

The next day, Jing Shao repeatedly told Mu Hanzhang that he wasn’t allowed to go to Luzhou, before he rode Xiao Hei to the front of the troops.

There was nothing to do, so Mu Hanzhang took out a booklet to read. This was something he had Ge Ruoyi write down when he was working on the articles of regulation for maritime trade. The Ge family had been engaged in maritime business for generations and naturally knew a lot of the in-and-outs. He initially wanted to bring Ge Ruoyi along, but Lin’er was still small and the North Marquis’s household wasn’t peaceful, so he had to keep her there. 

Not long after, he heard a report that someone had asked to meet with Marquis Wenyuan.

“Do you know who it is?” Mu Hanzhang frowned. He didn’t know many people in Jiangnan.

“The man claims to be the county magistrate of Luzhou,” the servant answered honestly.

Luzhou county magistrate? How could a small county magistrate be so well-informed? Mu Hanzhang got up and said, “Have him wait in the main hall.” 

When Mu Hanzhang changed his clothes and went to the main hall to see the so-called Luzhou county magistrate, he was stunned on the spot. “Elder brother Zhaoran!”

The person who had come wasn’t a stranger; it was Qin Zhaoran, the top scholar in this year’s civil examination. Mu Hanzhang hadn’t seen him since the qionglin banquet. He had heard that Qin Zhaoran had requested to become a small local official. Unexpectedly, he became the county magistrate of Luzhou.

Qin Zhaoran looked at him fixedly for a moment. He then snapped out of it, masked the bitterness in his eyes, bowed and saluted. “This small official greets Marquis Wenyuan.”

Notes: We don’t kink shame here but Jing Shao’s attention to Mu Hanzhang’s feet a little sus