Evidently, the Ke family knew there was a lake behind Pianxiang Villa, perfect for boating.
Another guard stepped in from outside and said to He Lingchuan with a smile, "My lord, people are carrying a boat up the mountain, saying it's a gift for you! A whole crowd has gathered outside to watch."
"Oh?" He Lingchuan perked up and slapped the gift ledger. "Come on, let's go have a look!"
He and Jiao Yu headed toward the rear of the mountain, arriving just in time to meet the crew hauling the vessel uphill.
No matter how straight, level, and wide the road to Pianxiang Villa was, it was still a mountain path. The customized flatbed cart carrying the vessel had to be hauled by four colossal barbarian bull monsters, each nearly the size of an ordinary elephant.
Though Pianxiang Villa was packed with luminaries today, a gift this massive and eye-catching was truly one of a kind, drawing a sizable crowd over to watch the spectacle.
Fu Shanyue naturally came as well, accompanied by a man of about thirty dressed in brocade robes and a jade cap.
As He Lingchuan arrived, Fu Shanyue pointed at him. "Here's the guest of honor himself." He then turned to He Lingchuan. "This is the Ke family's Fifth Young Master, Ke Yanjing."
Ke Yanjing's eyes brightened slightly at the sight of He Lingchuan. "So this is He Xiao? Truly living up to your name—handsome, valiant, and spirited!"
The man's attire might not have looked flashy at a glance, but anyone who knew their wares could tell every piece was monstrously expensive. Take his slate-grey robe embroidered with crane patterns: a faint shimmer of gold peered through the grey, shifting in contrast under different lighting. People of the era called it "pond-gold." An off-the-rack version would run fifty taels of silver, and heaven only knew what a bespoke piece like this cost.
He Lingchuan returned the greeting with a smile.
Ke Yanjing turned and gestured toward the painted pleasure boat by the water. "Gifting a noble steed to a hero is a bit cliché, so my family thought a fine vessel might make a refreshing change."
He Lingchuan looked at the craft. It was exquisitely carved and chiseled, roofed with tiles, bounded by balustrades, and fitted with windows on all four sides. Put simply, an entire waterside pavilion had been built onto a boat. It was designed for refined elegance, able to hold six people at a squeeze, yet despite its small size, it was fully appointed. Not only were the table and chairs fixed securely in place, but there were also two rows of cabinets storing a chessboard, tableware, a charcoal stove, wine flagons, life-saving gear, and more. There was even dedicated space in the hold for fresh water and long-burning charcoal.
Murmurs of admiration rippled through the onlookers. Ke Yanjing looked thoroughly pleased by their reactions and asked He Lingchuan, "Shall we launch her into the water now?"
"Then I'll trouble Young Master Ke."
A fine vessel required a ceremony for its maiden launch, and today was the perfect occasion to handle it all at once.
Two quarters of an hour later, under the watchful gaze of the gathered guests, the pleasure boat glided steadily into the lake behind Mount Qilin.
The crowd broke into enthusiastic applause.
Fu Shanyue laughed. "Looks like we'll have to build a dock back here just to moor the boat properly."
He Lingchuan thanked Ke Yanjing once more before asking, "One shouldn't accept rewards without merit. Why has Young Master Ke favored me with such a lavish gift?"
The onlookers gradually dispersed. After all, those present today were wealthy and noble, not ignorant commoners. After offering a few compliments to bolster the mood, they tactfully retreated so host and guest could speak in private.
Not wearing out one's welcome was basic etiquette.
Only after the crowd drifted away did Ke Yanjing say to He Lingchuan, "My family greatly respects the way He Xiao handled matters impartially in Baishaqu, standing firm against tyranny. Would you care to visit our estate with Crown Prince Yue in a couple of days? My father is very eager to meet you."
He Lingchuan looked genuinely touched. "That would be wonderful! To refuse would be rude!"
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Fu Shanyue, Ke Yanjing headed back to the main hall.
Soon, he was surrounded by guests like stars circling the moon.
A generous man with deep pockets was welcomed wherever he went.
Fu Shanyue crossed his arms, watching him walk away, and asked He Lingchuan, "Do you know why his family sent you a gift?"
He Lingchuan shook his head. "Not a clue."
What need did the Ke family have to curry favor with him?
"You traded blows with Fan Sheng twice and held your ground both times," Fu Shanyue explained, unraveling the puzzle. "The second time, you even held his face in the water and rubbed it raw, grinding away every scrap of his dignity."
"So..." He Lingchuan caught on after a moment's thought. "The Ke family has bad blood with the Fan brothers?"
"Fan Bao killed a member of the Ke family."
He Lingchuan let out a long "Oh!" "So that's it!"
Fan Bao was a giant bear monster, capable of swatting a man dead with a single paw.
"Sixth Young Master Ke went out hunting and ran right into Fan Bao... How could that have ended well? Even though it was later ruled a misunderstanding, a grudge formed between the two families that's never been resolved," Fu Shanyue chuckled. "When you beat Fan Sheng, the Ke family felt avenged. And now that the Ke family has sent you a gift, other nobles will follow suit. Hmm, the Tongxin Guard will receive word of this soon enough as well."
He Lingchuan let out a long sigh.
Just then, he spotted a familiar figure among the guests. Excusing himself with a nod to Fu Shanyue, he ambled over.
The moment he drew near, the man sensed him and spun around immediately.
Reflexes honed on the battlefield were truly different from ordinary men.
He Lingchuan cupped his fists with a smile. "General Nian, we meet again."
The man stood tall and straight, though his brow held a gloomy cast. It was none other than Nian Zanli!
He had not come uninvited.
In keeping with Lingxu City's traditions, Fu Shanyue had sent invitations far and wide to celebrate his move. At He Lingchuan's suggestion, Nian Zanli had been included on the guest list.
The Governor of Xunzhou smiled as well. "Young Master He, have you been well?"
"Thanks to your blessing, staying alive hasn't been easy," He Lingchuan said with a wry smile. "Ever since we arrived in Lingxu City, there hasn't been a single day of peace."
The Chiyan Crown Prince's recent experiences in Lingxu City had been the talk of the town over the past few days, dominating every conversation. How could Nian Zanli not have heard?
He had spent a long time in Lingxu City, striving painstakingly and currying favor everywhere, yet he hadn't managed to make even a ripple in this vast ocean. He could only lament how deep the city's waters ran.
Yet the moment Fu Shanyue and his entourage arrived, they stirred up stormy seas, drawing every eye directly to them.
Nian Zanli truly envied such prominence, but having to offend so many powerful court factions as the Chiyan Crown Prince had done was something he neither wished nor dared to do.
Sympathy showed on Nian Zanli's face. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Let us hope the elixir of immortality case comes to light soon."
Once the major case was cracked and the dust settled, with arrests and executions carried out as due, the Chiyan envoy would naturally be safe.
He Lingchuan smiled. "May your auspicious words ring true, General Nian."
The two exchanged a knowing smile, as though sharing mutual respect.
He Lingchuan cleared his throat lightly. "General Nian, might we have a word in private?"
"Oh?" Seeing his hesitant manner, Nian Zanli suspected the topic was rather sensitive. "Of course."
He Lingchuan glanced around, and seeing the pleasure boat moored by the water, he pointed toward it. "Come, let us step aboard." He instructed a maidservant to bring over a small jar of fine wine and a plate of pastries.
Though there was no dock, both possessed cultivation and vaulted onto the vessel with a light leap.
He Lingchuan set the pastries on a low table, grabbed a long oar, and pushed lightly against the shore, sending the pleasure boat gliding out across the water.
He played the boatman convincingly enough, maneuvering the craft out into the lake in just a few deft strokes.
Behind him, Nian Zanli had already poured his wine. The two sat facing each other and raised their cups.
It was late autumn. The maples tucked along the shore were dressed in vibrant red, while the tall parasol trees shed golden leaves.
"Drifting on the lake, the scenery of mountain and water is indeed quite different from viewing it from the shore," Nian Zanli praised. "Fifth Young Master Ke is truly a man of exquisite taste."
"Indeed," He Lingchuan smiled. Exquisite taste my foot! Ke Yanjing had chosen to deliver a pleasure boat right when nobles and dignitaries were gathered at Pianxiang Villa solely because it was large and eye-catching. The Ke family had probably grown accustomed to commanding attention wherever they went. Otherwise, had they wanted to give something truly remarkable, they could have offered a mustard-seed boat crafted by Songyang Mansion—larger than this pleasure boat, yet capable of shrinking into one's robes.
That was a true treasure.
Having weathered plenty of social posturing himself, He Lingchuan saw right through it:
Whether Ke Yanjing gave a grand toy or a small trinket, neither counted as particularly valuable given the Ke family's immense wealth and stature.
Evidently, the Ke family's assessment of He Lingchuan was clear: a Chiyan envoy who had humiliated the Fan brothers. Although he had stirred up a tempest in Lingxu City, no one knew how things would end after he offended so many factions.
For now, establishing friendly ties was enough.
Had he not defeated Fan Sheng, the wealthiest family in Lingxu wouldn't have spared him a second glance.
The two toasted each other and chatted about amusing gossip from Lingxu City. Among it were tidbits and rumors He Lingchuan had obtained through the squirrel from Old Ge—minor indiscretions that posed no real harm to the elites, yet were embarrassing enough to keep quiet.
The longer they talked, the more convivial the mood grew, the cabin ringing with merry, hypocritical laughter.
If Nian Zanli knew the man before him had killed his son, he would probably draw his blade and strike on the spot, wouldn't he?
The thought made He Lingchuan's smile even more cheerful.
He went on to describe the investigation in Baishaqu. Coming straight from the person involved, the account was packed with solid facts and vivid details, far more exhaustive than the secondhand rumors Nian Zanli had heard.
Even a man of broad experience like General Nian was visibly moved as he listened.
Having spent two months in Beijia, he understood Lingxu City's aloof ruthlessness better than anyone. For the Chiyan contingent to press forward under the sheer weight of the name "Lingxu City" entailed risks and difficulties beyond ordinary imagination.
Even he couldn't help sighing from the heart, "You've truly had it rough."
He Lingchuan gave a rueful smile. "What choice did we have? Crown Prince Yue's path to becoming crown prince today was full of hardship. In truth, the candidate the Ruler of Chiyan favored most was Fu Shanji."
Nian Zanli nodded. Fu Shanyue had recently achieved great fame in Lingxu City, and rumors regarding his past—how an unfavored firstborn son had turned the tables against the wind to soar to prominence—had been embellished to no end across the city.
Even if Nian Zanli hadn't paid attention initially, some of it had reached his ears. Gossip, after all, was essential currency in the arena of fame and fortune.
Naturally, he wasn't foolish enough to ask how Fu Shanji had died.
Both understood without saying a word.
A brief silence fell over the pleasure boat.
Both knew it was time to address real business.
He Lingchuan looked toward the tall reeds in the distance. "General Nian, the reason I invited you aboard today was actually to apologize."
Nian Zanli's expression darkened slightly; he had already guessed what was coming.
"Even the various demon kings cannot dispatch crack troops to attack a foreign realm without the Emperor's consent." He Lingchuan poured him another cup. "Since parting at Dun Garden, His Highness has pondered the matter for days... Alas!"
He shook his head. "Thus, he asked me to apologize on his behalf."
After spending two months currying favor across Lingxu City, Nian Zanli had grown accustomed to rejection, and at this moment, he didn't feel particularly disappointed.
Chapter 601