Tang Ning pouted like an upset young girl, grumbling unhappily. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have kept the academy head position open. And that day after you came out of the palace, you actually scared me, making me rack my brains to figure out how to fool you. Turns out, you already knew my brother wasn’t in the capital.”
“You’re friends with my grandfather, and you’re an elder, how could you have the heart to scare a young girl like me?”
Cao Dejiang rolled his eyes at her words. “If you hadn’t tried to fool me first, would I have scared you?”
Tang Ning pursed her lips. “You didn’t even leave a hint. I thought you were as cunning as those court foxes. What if I’d caused trouble for my brother?”
“If I’d left a hint, your brother would’ve eaten me alive by now!”
“No way, my brother is kind-hearted and gentle.”
Cao Dejiang burst out laughing, exasperated. “Him, kind-hearted? I’m the one who’s benevolent to all!”
Tang Ning huffed. “Whatever, you tricked me first!”
The old man and the young girl bickered back and forth. Xiao Yan watched with a smile, not saying a word, while Shi Chang’an, flipping chestnuts with the tongs, added fuel to the fire. “The princess is right. This Cao fellow has always been shameless and loves putting on a show.”
“Mr. Shi speaks the truth.” Tang Ning put on a stern face and held out her hand. “You deliberately toyed with me. Return the rare book you took!”
“Keep dreaming!”
Cao Dejiang rolled his eyes. “You think you can take back something you gave me?”
He swatted her outstretched hand, and when she pulled it back in pain, he turned his irritation on Shi Chang’an. “You, surnamed Shi, I’ve been generous enough. Since you came to the capital, I’ve fed you, housed you, and haven’t asked for a single coin. If you keep stirring trouble, I’ll make good on our earlier bet and have you dance in public.”
Shi Chang’an set down the tongs, intrigued. “Dance what?”
A new bet? That sounded like a good deal.
Cao Dejiang said flatly, “A striptease, a seductive dance!”
Shi Chang’an silently picked up the tongs again, grabbing a chestnut for Cao Dejiang. “Lord Cao jests. I’m a scholar, dancing would be undignified and improper.”
Cao Dejiang sneered. *Tch.* As if he had any propriety to speak of?
…
The atmosphere in Yanling Residence was far warmer than anyone outside could have imagined. Cang Lang, who had thought his lord might get into a fight upon entering, relaxed when he heard bursts of laughter from inside. He quietly stepped aside, hands clasped, staring at the moon in a daze.
Inside, Xiao Yan used a cloth to lift the teapot and poured tea for everyone. The small brazier radiated steady warmth, and soon Tang Ning felt herself heating up.
Xiao Yan took a small fan from the side and fanned her gently. He glanced at Cao Dejiang, dressed lightly with a flushed face, then at Shi Chang’an, huddled by the brazier with a still-pale complexion. “Why is Mr. Shi so sensitive to the cold?” Xiao Yan asked.
Shi Chang’an poked at the coals. “Back in Beiling, I was ambushed. Lost an arm, and my body’s been ruined ever since.”
Cao Dejiang looked at Shi Chang’an’s empty sleeve, a flicker of pity in his eyes, though he kept his tone light. “Don’t let him sound so pitiful. He was ambushed, sure, but the one who attacked him didn’t fare well either. Not only did Shi blind him in one eye, he nearly killed the Beiling Khan himself.”
“Beiling had the momentum to unify years ago, but this Shi fellow stirred things up, delaying it to this day.”
Though Shi Chang’an acted out of personal vengeance, without him, the border between Beiling and Great Wei would likely have been engulfed in war long ago.
The relationship between Cao Dejiang and Shi Chang’an hadn’t always been harmonious. Both were scholars, but from different nations, Southern Qi and Great Wei weren’t exactly friendly. Their respective schools had long clashed over the title of the world’s greatest Confucian scholar.
When Shi Chang’an’s school was destroyed, and he fled to Great Wei, saved by Cao Dejiang, the latter’s initial plan to send him to Beiling wasn’t entirely altruistic. The Beiling tribes were fierce warriors, and with Xiahou Ling’s influence there, a unified Beiling could send its cavalry south. Given the state of Great Wei’s court, it might not withstand such an assault.
Emperor An was no enlightened ruler. His throne was questionably obtained, making him overly reliant on the noble families, who carved up the court’s power. Corruption festered, military leaders were sidelined, and the army was perpetually weak. If war broke out, the nation would be consumed by chaos, teetering on collapse.
Cao Dejiang knew Shi Chang’an’s capabilities and that he and Xiahou Ling shared the same mentor, making Shi the best person to understand the Beiling strategist. Seeing Shi’s burning desire for revenge, Cao helped send him to Beiling, even assigning people to protect him along the way.
But even Cao hadn’t anticipated the chaos Shi would cause. Shi not only inflicted heavy losses on Beiling’s forces, delaying their unification, but also sparked internal strife among the tribal leaders, nearly killing Xiahou Ling. Unfortunately, Xiahou Ling was too cunning and backed by a nation’s strength, so Shi ultimately failed.
When Shi Chang’an escaped Beiling, he was barely clinging to life. Cao Dejiang went to great lengths to save him, but Shi’s body remained broken. His white hair and missing arm filled Cao with guilt every time he saw them. The once-brilliant Shi Chang’an, a master of both literary and martial arts, was now reduced to this frail state.
Seeing Cao Dejiang’s sudden silence, Shi Chang’an tapped the iron rack with the tongs, irritated. “Stop looking at me like that. You’re acting like I’m about to keel over. It’s just an arm, my brain’s still here.”
“A scholar relies on wit, not strength. Even with just a head, I could still crush you.”
Cao Dejiang’s sentimental mood vanished. He spat without decorum. “When I entered office, you were still a three-year-old brat. Watch your tongue.”
“So you’re older, and old folks should admit defeat.”
“Ever heard of ‘old but steadfast’?”
“Nope, just ‘old and cunning.’”
“And you’re hiding your treachery while flaunting your charm. Believe me, I’ll kick you out to sleep on the streets!”
By the brazier, the two traded barbs, neither backing down, glaring at each other with relish. It was quite the spectacle.
Tang Ning and Xiao Yan watched from the side. After Cao Dejiang finished a cup of tea, Xiao Yan thoughtfully refilled it, earning a glare from the old man.
Xiao Yan protested innocently, “I didn’t provoke you.”
Cao Dejiang huffed. “If not for you, you think I’d put up with this guy?”
He eats my food, lives in my house, and annoys me daily.
Xiao Yan tilted his head with a smile. “Since it’s for me, we can’t let you suffer for nothing. How about Tang Ning and I take you as our teacher to repay you?”
Cao Dejiang froze.
Even Shi Chang’an, who had been enjoying the show, couldn’t help but glance over.
===============
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters)
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