Although the name ‘Mao’er Slope’ sounded earthy, like a small village full of endless brown clay, in fact, it was actually very large. The flat piece of land ran from south to north, just at the junction of Dayan’s western territory and the Desert Wolf Clan. This was the tacitly recognized peace zone between the armies of both sides. After all, even though there was war and disputes, there must always be a place left for the common people to buy and sell goods and make a living.

Mao’er Slope had become even more prosperous and lively in the past two years. Cheng Suyue rode on horseback side by side with Liu Xian’an. She said: “Since the prince expelled Helian Shuo’s troops to the north of Yushan, the border has been stable, the common people have lived happily, and the trade market has been prosperous year after year. In addition to daily necessities such as firewood, rice, oil, and salt, there are also many strange gadgets that are rarely seen in the Central Plains.”

“Helian Shuo?” Liu Xian’an knew this person. He was the youngest leader of the Wolf Tribe, ambitious and proficient in war. He once led twenty-six tribes to break through Yumen in one fell swoop, causing public and government turmoil and panic among the common people. Although he was later driven out of the Dayan Dynasty by Liang Shu, he still lingered in the desert all day long like a fierce and vicious wild wolf, always coveting the fatty meat near his mouth.

“He thought he would be absolutely safe hidden out of sight, but was unexpectedly caught off guard by the prince’s magic weapon descending from the sky. The leaders of the twenty-six tribes died or surrendered. Helian Shuo himself was captured alive by Ku You and forced to re-sign the alliance with Dayan and promise that their armor would never exceed that of Yushan.”

A-Ning was curious and asked: “What if he doesn’t keep his word?”

“Helian Shuo is quite prestigious in the Wolf Tribe, and although the prince could capture him at that time, he could not kill him. However, if Helian Shuo one day breaks the alliance and takes the initiative to go south, it would be the Wolf Tribe who provoked us first. At that time, the prince will not allow him to live.” Cheng Suyue said, “Helian Shuo knows this, so he will at least not act rashly until he can gather the next wave of forces.”

As for when the next wave of forces would be enough, Cheng Suyue said with a smile: “The prince has made great efforts with the herdsmen. They are living a stable life now and are unwilling to fight, let alone drag their children to Yushan. Isn’t this because they are so full after eating?”

Therefore, the Western Region should be safe for a long time.

Liu Xian’an couldn’t wait to visit the border market, which was said to be very lively. He shook the reins in his hands, which had no effect because the little red horse was already tired from running. It panted loudly, its four hooves trampling here and there, as if it was half dead and only one li away from crashing to the ground.

Everyone saw this and sighed in unison, so lazy, this is indeed Second Young Master Liu’s horse!

Fortunately, the market was not far away at this time. The little red horse minced forward step by step and finally arrived, trembling, at its destination. A nearby servant quickly led it to rest. Liu Xian’an stood on a low slope and looked at the orderly stalls in front of him, feeling slightly surprised. Because in his imagination, the border market should be extremely chaotic, with merchants leading horses and camels through it. All kinds of things should be scattered in piles, some a little more sophisticated, and one could at best move one table at a time. The yellow sand in the west wind should be wrapped in the sounds of bargaining, quarreling, things being thrown, and people shouting out to catch thieves, enough to make everyone’s minds buzz. Wasn’t this how border towns were described in the books?

But the reality was very different from what he had imagined. This was no wilderness. Instead, many neat, tall shacks had been built and were divided into different functional areas according to east, west, north, and south. Goods were neatly stacked, and the ground was clean.

Closest to Liu Xian’an was a row of stalls selling snacks. Flavors from all over the world could be found. The fish balls were white and tender in the pots, and looked a lot more authentic than those sold in Fujian Province.

Liang Shu asked: “How is it?”

Liu Xian’an commented: “It’s so neat and orderly. It doesn’t look like the prince’s handiwork.”

“Why are you still looking down on others?” Liang Shu pinched the back of his neck and said, “I’ll give you a chance to answer again.”

Liu Xian’an’s neck was sore from being squeezed, so he wisely adapted to the situation and backtracked. Good, very good.

Liang Shu was not so easily dealt with. Carrying his family’s lazy egg in hand, he complained as he walked about how much energy he spent in order to build Mao’er Slope, how many nights he stayed up, how many books he read, and how many people he asked before he finally overcame various difficulties and built the market’s rudimentary form. Unexpectedly, he encountered a late spring cold that hadn’t happened in the last century, and a heavy snowstorm nearly destroyed all of the buildings. In short, it was not easy.

Liu Xian’an listened and listened, and finally kissed him.

Liang Shu’s words were cut off, and he raised his eyebrows: “Huh?”

There were people around secretly looking at them, frightened out of their wits and wondering why, in broad daylight…..ah! It was said that the folk customs in the northwest were rough, but it turned out that the delicate and elegant young masters from Jiangnan were truly romantic! The soldiers following behind were also confused, because none of them expected that they would actually witness the scene of their own family’s prince being flirted with. They were all stunned, and couldn’t speak for a long time.

Second Young Master Liu stunned dozens of people around him with a casual move. It could be seen that he was indeed very powerful.

Liang Shu cleared his throat and lowered his head to invite: “Do you want a few more kisses? My northwest market is very good. You kiss more and let them all watch, lest any short-sighted people come and snatch it from you.”

Liu Xian’an didn’t kiss him, but instead spent money to buy a piece of sugar cake to coax him perfunctorily. He and A-Ning happily went to the stalls to pick out gemstones. Liang Shu smiled and took a bite of the sugar cake, indicating to the guards to take care of this person. He turned to ask Cheng Suyue: “Where is Gui Rong? Why haven’t I even seen his shadow?” 

“He is busy collecting bills right over there,” Cheng Suyue said. “It has been busy lately, so he had to come.”

Gui Rong, with the characters “rich” and “honorable,” was the supervisor of Mao’er Slope. He was originally a gang leader with the “ghost” and “weapon” characters for ‘Gui Rong,” but was later beaten to pieces by the Yan army and had nowhere to hide, so he capitulated to Dayan. Liang Shu let such a person manage the market, and it could be said to be doubly appropriate. The first reason was that he had a suitable appearance, with a meaty face and fierce eyes, and troublemakers would tuck their tails and leave after just one look at him. The second reason was that he was a native born and raised in the local area, with a broad array of connections, so it was convenient to get things done. In the past two years, he had led a group of younger brothers to make the market’s business very prosperous.

Liu Xian’an had also heard a story about this man. It was said that although Helian Shuo was defeated and left Yushan, he still refused to give up and secretly coveted this market. In order to win over Gui Rong, he even set up a beauty trap. As a result, although the beauty successfully married Gui Rong as planned, she was unwilling to help the wolf clan anymore. Helian Shuo worked hard in vain, but in the end failed to draw water with a bamboo basket and once again became the laughingstock of everyone.

A-Ning commented, he doesn’t sound like a smart person.

Liu Xian’an had no interest in Helian Shuo. He picked through the small pile of gems in front of him, picked the most beautiful ones, and planned to find someone to set a few onto hairpins for his sister. Gao Lin had nothing to do, so he came over to help. There was only one word for his aesthetics, and that was ‘big.’ If it could be big and bright in color at the same time, it was a dream stone that would catch his heart at first glance. A-Ning whispered in his young master’s ear, fortunately Lieutenant General Gao is not a girl, otherwise he would dress himself up so ugly, ah. It would be really terrible.

“Hiss!” Lieutenant General Gao raised a hand to hit him. A-Ning quickly stood up and ran away, but wasn’t paying attention to what was in front of him. With a bang, he bumped into someone’s arm. His feet slipped and he nearly fell into a mud puddle.

“Aiyo, aiyo, Young Master, please pay attention!” The person next to him promptly helped him up. A-Ning was quite embarrassed for making such a fuss. Just as he was about to apologize to the man he hit, his whole body suddenly flew backwards. He was so panicked that he quickly turned around to look, only to realize that it was a guard who had picked him up.

With a bad expression, Gao Lin walked forward to look at the uninvited guest in front of him: “You are very bold.”

With a smile that wasn’t a smile, the man scoffed and reached up to take off his bamboo hat, then raised his head and said: “Xiao Wang came to join in the fun and buy some things. Lieutenant General Gao won’t have his guard up for even this, right?”

Liu Xian’an frowned slightly. Calling him Xiao Wang, was this Helian Shuo? 

He glanced at the other person. He was in his twenties, with a high nose, deep gray eyes, and thin lips. He originally had an excellent appearance, but there was a hideous scar on his face which affected the surrounding muscles when he spoke, making him appear a bit eerie.

And Helian Shuo was also sizing up this rumored once in a century genius. He once wondered what kind of person he was to actually work alongside Liang Shu. Now that he had finally seen him, he didn’t feel that it was strange anymore. Because even if all talent and knowledge was put aside, his face alone could be regarded as Dayan scenery, indeed worthy of putting in one’s sleeve and treasuring it.

He imitated the Central Plains people and gave a salute, smiling: “I have long heard that Second Young Master Liu was born like an immortal. Seeing him today, his reputation is well-deserved. No wonder His Royal Highness Xiao Wang is unwilling to accept even the most beautiful woman in the Wolf Tribe. It turns out that his vision is as high as the clouds.”

Gao Lin originally thought that this man would not be able to spit ivory from his mouth, and never thought that these words would be pleasant to the ears. So he mercifully did not let the dogs loose to expel this person, and said, go on, tell more stories about my family’s prince sitting in peace and keeping a clean mind, so that Second Young Master Liu will be happy.

“It is only that my sister did not come today.” Helian Shuo continued, “She longed for His Royal Highness Xiao Wang for many years, and because of the Huangyang Plains incident, she has resentment and hatred in her heart. She doesn’t want to see him again, and has become depressed and ill. She has seen countless doctors, but has not gotten better. If I had known earlier that I would meet Second Young Master Liu, I would have brought her to take a look. Tsk, what a pity.”

Gao Lin cried out in his heart, bad luck! What kind of nonsense was this? He really should have released the dogs earlier!

Liu Xian’an shook his head and said: “Our prince expelled the Wolf Tribe from the south of Yushan, and the wolf king has held a grudge for many years. This is human nature. It is not surprising, but you hold onto the grudge and do not express it. Instead, you push your dear sister forward in a roundabout way and make ironic remarks to provoke someone. This action is truly pointless, and it is better not to do it next time.”

He spoke neither too fast nor too slow, with his brow slightly furrowed, looking like a kind father educating his son.

A-Ning pursed his lips hard, and Gao Lin struggled to hold back his laughter. Only Helian Shuo looked stiff, and said coldly: “My sister was infatuated, but not only did Xiao Wang turn a blind eye, he even used this infatuation to hold her hostage and negotiate terms with me. Because of this despicable plot, my people had to leave the grasslands and spend the most severe winter in the desert. When they all collapsed due to cold and hunger, did Xiao Wang ever feel guilty?”

“Why would the prince feel guilty?” Liu Xian’an regarded him. “In the early years, the wolf king unified the twenty-six tribes, which made the connections between various herdsmen closer so that everyone could jointly avoid risks and seek livelihoods, which can be regarded as going with nature and the seasons. If there had not been the subsequent attack south, the north and south of Yushan would be peaceful and auspicious. Without war, naturally no herdsmen would die of cold and hunger. Therefore, those innocent souls will not seek out the prince, but will surround the wolf king all day long.”

Gao Lin spread his hands. Look, ba, he has never lost an argument.

“Second Young Master Liu is truly eloquent.” Helian Shuo was so stimulated that he smiled instead. “That’s right, I did lose. But I am a little curious. How will the history books of your Central Plains record the battle that Xiao Wang won by using a woman?”

“The wolf king need not emphasize ‘woman’ all the time,” Liu Xian’an said. “The general of Dayan will only be loyal to Dayan. It is his duty to raise his sword to the Wolf Tribe. As for whether this sword is the admiration of the wolf princess or the admiration of the wolf king himself, to the prince, there is no difference. He regarded the princess as an equal opponent, regardless of gender. The wolf king, on the other hand, has always avoided mentioning the wisdom and strategy of the princess, who was raised by herdsmen, and insists on describing her as a weakling who only has men in her eyes, crying and ill. What is the purpose of this?”

“If it wasn’t for my sister’s admiration—”

“If there is no mutual love, admiration should be hidden in the heart. There is no reason that the prince should be responsible for the princess’s admiration.” Liu Xian’an interrupted him, not wanting to listen anymore. Feeling that this person really talked a lot, he said, “If the wolf king really wants to emphasize that the princess is a woman, then as far as I know, there is a team composed of women in the Dayan army. They are equally as brave as the men, and faced off against the twenty-six tribes many times, but the wolf king did not seem to be particularly merciful toward them because of their gender. Judging from this, could it be that in the wolf king’s mind, only beautiful and passionate women can be considered women and not be hurt by men?”

His voice was like cold jade hitting ice, and Helian Shuo didn’t know how to respond for a moment. Finally, Gao Lin stepped forward and said: “Didn’t the wolf king come here to buy something? I see that the vendors are almost closing their stalls. If you want to buy something, you had best hurry up.”

Helian Shuo glanced at Liu Xian’an, turned around, and led his people away. Gao Lin clicked his tongue twice. He never imagined that one day he would be the one to smooth things over for this grandson. How magnanimous.

Liu Xian’an turned his head and looked to one side.

Liang Shu was standing in a carpet-selling shop, watching him happily.

Liu Xian’an walked over and asked: “Since the prince is here, why didn’t he come forward?”

“I wanted to hear you praise me more.” Liang Shu casually grabbed a blanket and pulled it over the person in front of him. “Helian Shuo’s liver will probably be inflamed with anger tonight.”

“It doesn’t matter, he can just take some bupleurum root pills to soothe the liver. I think he is in good health and will not easily be angered to death.” Liu Xian’an waved his hand. “I just asked the boss to cook a bowl of sweet milk wine. Will the prince drink?”

“Drink.” Liang Shu said, “First of all, when did you know about the matter with Helian Ya?”

“Know? I didn’t know, I have only heard this name. It is said that she is the princess of the Wolf Tribe and rather talented.”

“You don’t know?” Liang Shu grabbed his hair tie. “Then why didn’t you ask when you saw me now?”

Liu Xian’an replied: “Because there is nothing to ask.”

Someone admired the prince, and the prince won a battle. Weren’t these two very common things? If he asked about them one by one, he would have to listen to them endlessly. Liu Xian’an had been talking for a long time, and his mouth was dry, so he didn’t want to ask. Therefore, he got out of the blanket and took A-Ning to run and drink milk wine. Gao Lin watched them all the way and gave a silent thumbs up. As expected of Second Young Master Liu. So calm, so leisurely, and so capable of managing the prince…..ai!

Liang Shu kicked this person away and cursed with a smile, then continued to check accounts with Gui Rong. Gao Lin was lounging around alone, so he joined in and bought a bowl of milk wine to drink. He told Liu Xian’an: “That year, it was Helian Shuo who made the first dirty move and threatened the prince with several villages in the Huangyang Plains. Ku You was poisoned by an arrow saving the people, and was later snatched back from the enemy camp by the prince. His hair was also dyed white by the poison at that time.”

But even though the man was back, his life was still hanging in the balance. The military doctors were helpless, and there was no time to call a doctor from elsewhere. Gao Lin said: “Helian Shuo refused to hand over the antidote, so the prince planned to capture Helian Ya and make an exchange with him.”

“That princess, does she really like the prince?”

Gao Lin answered resolutely, she must like him, but don’t worry, Second Young Master Liu. My family’s prince is very pure. In the past twenty years or so, he has been a chaste and virtuous man who keeps his integrity and respects his reputation. He is the most chaste, upright man in the entirety of Dayan.

A-Ning choked at “chaste, upright man,” and spit up milk for a long time.

On the other side, Helian Shuo made no other moves and took his people away soon after.

Gui Rong said: “This market is a big piece of fatty meat to him. I’m afraid he won’t let go easily.”

“With you watching, no matter how hard he bites, he can only have a small taste.” Liang Shu said, “Calculate the accounts carefully and give him some oil and water at the right time. Not too much, just enough to allow the herdsmen north of Yushan to survive the winter. Otherwise, he will be at the end of his rope and turn his attention to Dayan again.”

Gui Rong nodded: “Don’t worry, Your Highness. I know what to do.”

By the time Liang Shu and Gui Rong finished discussing the matter, the vendors had packed up and returned to their residences. Liang Shu searched around and finally took his family’s lazy egg out of a large carriage. He held him in his arms and admonished: “Why are you sleeping here? You aren’t afraid that the carriage owner will drive away and take you with him?”

“There were still people guarding outside. I wouldn’t be driven away.” Liu Xian’an stretched and said in a daze, “I bought a lot of things today, but ran out of money later, so I used some of the prince’s.”

“This cannot be done.” Liang Shu let him stand firmly on the ground. “I am stingy and love money as much as my life. Why didn’t you ask me?”

Liu Xian’an argued: “I asked.”

“Asked who?”

“The prince.”

When he asked the prince in the Three Thousand Worlds, the other prince raised his chin lazily and said, no problem, you can take as much as I have.

Liu Xian’an said: “In short, he was very generous.”

Therefore, he spent a little money with peace of mind. He bought a painting, many silver dishes, a soft carpet, a singing wooden bird, a compass, and some herbs from the west. He bought things for his parents, his brother and sister, and the miscellaneous things filled a cart.

This was also an interesting part of being in the world, and he enjoyed it.

Liang Shu asked: “You didn’t get anything for me?”

Liu Xian’an stretched out his hand and pointed. 

Liang Shu turned his head to look around, only to see a broken pitch black tree stump stuck squarely on the ground. He was deeply shocked by this unique gift, and couldn’t organize his words for a long time. Gao Lin stood aside with his hands clasped, also very emotional. With this size, it could make a lot of washboards…..enough for ten years.

Liang Shu asked calmly: “How can it be used?”

Gao Lin replied wittily, how else can it be used? Of course it will be used for washing clothes. The prince loves cleanliness so much that it is normal for the manor to spend money on washing boards.

Liu Xian’an regarded this piece of wood as a treasure, and even asked A-Ning to find a rain cloth and wrap it tightly. The rumbling all the way back to Yueya City attracted people from all over the city to come and see. They thought the prince had bought something good in Mao’er Slope, but later heard that it was a gift from Second Young Master Liu to the prince and were even more curious. A brave one stepped forward to touch it, and it was hard. When he returned home, he told his wife mysteriously that it was big, heavy, and hard. He guessed that it was probably gold bricks.

So envious, so envious.

In Xiao Wang Palace, Liu Xian’an had someone put the wood in an empty room. He took a knife and gestured left and right, wondering where to start, but couldn’t figure it out yet. A-Ning suddenly ran in happily and called: “Young Master, guess who’s here?”

Liu Xian’an raised his head, and before he had time to guess, Liu Hengchang had already stepped in from the courtyard outside. He had first returned to Baihe Mountain Village a while ago, and then went to Western Jin to collect a batch of medicinal materials. Taking everything into account, he had been traveling for more than half a year. Last month, he heard that the Second Young Master was in the northwest, so he rushed back day and night.

Liu Hengchang asked happily: “Young Master, what do you think about the medical center I built?”

Liu Xian’an replied happily: “I don’t know, I haven’t seen it yet.”

A-Ning: “……”

Liu Hengchang was stifled, and asked haltingly after a long moment: “B-but hasn’t the young master been in the northwest for more than two months?”

Liu Xian’an replied: “But I’ve been sleeping.”

Liu Hengchang was instantly taken back to the years he spent in Baihe Mountain Village. This laziness was so familiar and dear. Yes, ah, how could he forget that his family’s Second Young Master was a sleeping immortal just because of his time in the Southwest! Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Liu Xian’an laughed as well. He patted the wood residue on his body and said: “Let’s go!”

Thus, two months after arriving in Yueya City, the lazy fellow finally thought of going to his own family’s medical clinic. The land in the northwest was no more precious than the land in Jiangnan, so this Baihe Medical Clinic was also built very tall and spacious. Inside, it was orderly, clean, and tidy. Liu Xian’an looked around and nodded, praising: “Pretty good.”

“The medicinal cuisine restaurant across the street uses our recipes,” Liu Hengchang said. “Young Master, do you want to go over and have a look too?”

He wanted to come and take a look. Liu Xian’an followed him to the restaurant. When the diners saw this, they eagerly stretched out their necks to watch, and lowered their voices to continue their discussions. It was mostly about the gold bricks, because they were truly greedy and envious. To be fair, who wouldn’t want such a thing?

“Why did Second Young Master Liu give the prince gold bricks?”

“Why else? Of course it is because the prince likes it. When giving gifts, isn’t it about being pleasing to the eye?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, you have to be a wealthy young master from Jiangnan. Ordinary people can’t afford it!”

In the end, they unanimously came to the conclusion that they would have a happy hundred-year marriage and were a perfect match.

At a table of diners in the corner, someone gave a faint sigh and put down the wine cup in her hand.

“Princess.” The maid lowered her voice. “It is too noisy here. Let’s change to a different restaurant.”

“I won’t change restaurants.” Helian Ya said, “I also want to meet that Second Young Master Liu and see what the person who made A-Shuo so angry that he can’t eat looks like.”

Liu Xian’an looked around the kitchen and didn’t see anything wrong with the recipes. It made him feel hungry. Liu Hengchang quickly said: “I asked the boss to reserve a table. It is close to the railing on the third floor and has a clear view of the whole city. It is the best location. Young Master, please come this way.”

“It is better to change to a private room,” Liu Xian’an said. “In the hall on the third floor, close to the railing, there are members of the Wolf Tribe.”

Liu Hengchang was surprised: “The Wolf Tribe, isn’t that…..don’t we need to report to Lieutenant General Gao immediately?”

“You can report it, but I don’t think they are here to cause trouble.” Liu Xian’an said, “When reporting, add one more sentence: everyone should not be too nervous.”

Liu Hengchang made an affirmative sound and ran out to find someone. A-Ning asked in confusion: “How can the young master recognize people from the Wolf Tribe?”

“There are two maids upstairs. They were following Helian Shuo that day.” Liu Xian’an put a medicine jar back. “But Helian Shuo is not here today, and is replaced by a woman. I suppose that is his sister.”

A-Ning sucked in a breath of cold air: “Isn’t that the wolf princess who likes the prince?”

Liu Xian’an nodded: “Yes, that is her, but you don’t need to be so nervous. There are five to ten thousand people in the world who like the prince. If you are shocked when you see one, you might be shocked for three to five years.”

“…..Five thousand is too much.”

“Where is five thousand too much?”

After all, there were more than 80 million Dayan people, inside and outside. With five thousand out of 80 million, out of 20,000 people, there would be only one person who liked His Royal Highness Xiao Wang. Was this too many?

Liu Xian’an said: “It is already very restrained and reasonable.”

What’s more, the Wolf Tribe does not belong to Dayan, so if we are more rigorous and include foreign clans, there will only be more.

A-Ning was successfully circumvented, and felt that there seemed to be some truth to it. Moreover, his family’s young master never had any principles or positions when it came to His Royal Highness Xiao Wang. So five thousand was only five thousand. Not too much, really not too much.

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