Volume Three: Southern Expedition and Territorial Expansion Chapter 125: A Prank? Or Destiny?

The Prefect of Sizhou smiled faintly and said, "With the world in such chaos today and warlords springing up everywhere, titles of military commissioners have become countless."

Wei Fufeng smiled and replied, "How can the military commissioner titles of regional warlords compare to those appointed by the Imperial Court?"

The Prefect nodded with a smile, clearly pleased.

Wei Fufeng continued, "The ancestors of the Tian clan were once Dukes. Today, you lack a legitimate noble title from the current dynasty. Yang Duan, the Prefect of Bozhou, has been granted the title of Marquis of Bozhou by the Court. My Jiedushi (Military Governor) has expressed his desire to request a Marquis title for the Tian clan, to be hereditary in Sizhou."

The Prefect’s expression remained indifferent. "One should not accept rewards without merit. Prefect Yang of Bozhou made great contributions by recovering lost territory, so a Marquis title is well-deserved. As for the Tian clan, guarding Sizhou as Prefects is sufficient."

Wei Fufeng was slightly taken aback, thinking to himself that the Tian clan of Sizhou was indeed pragmatic. They understood that a title held no real benefit; with the Tang Dynasty’s rule declining like a setting sun, once the nation fell, a Tang Marquis title would become nothing but a joke—an awkward burden.

Wei Fufeng took out the official document and handed it to a servant standing nearby. The servant accepted it respectfully and delivered it to the Prefect. The Prefect opened and read it, then looked up at Wei Fufeng.

Wei Fufeng smiled and said, "The Jiedushi has stated his willingness to coexist peacefully with the Tian clan of Sizhou forever. He asked me to inquire whether the Tian clan can promise not to collude with other factions to infringe upon the Jiedushi’s interests."

The Prefect replied solemnly, "The Tian clan of Sizhou will not ally with the Jingnan or E-Yue armies. Please tell your Jiedushi not to worry."

"Lord Tian, it is not just the Jingnan and E-Yue armies," Wei Fufeng reminded him with a faint smile.

The Prefect looked down at the document, his expression thoughtful. He soon looked up and said, "This matter requires a decision from the Prefect himself. I will pass your message along."

"I have troubled you, Lord Tian," Wei Fufeng said with a smile.

The Prefect placed the document on the bamboo table and added, "I will send someone to inform the Prefect. Once there is a reply, I will notify you immediately. May I ask how many days you can wait?"

"I cannot wait long," Wei Fufeng said. "I must leave in two days to take up my post in Fuzhou. Please assist in hiring a boat; I have already prepared the funds."

The Prefect nodded with a smile. "Rest assured, I will have it ready."

Wei Fufeng nodded and turned his attention to the young man and woman sitting opposite him. The youth was seventeen or eighteen, with gold rings in his ears, dark skin, and a sturdy build. His somewhat youthful, round face held a look of determination, and he sat with his back straight, carrying an air of nobility.

The young girl, about sixteen, wore an embroidered headscarf and a colorful outfit adorned with silver ornaments. Her figure was slender and graceful, her oval face slightly tan, with delicate features, almond eyes, and peach-blossom cheeks—she was an enchanting little beauty.

"Lord Tian, are these two your children?" Wei Fufeng asked, taking the initiative to show friendliness and maintain his composure.

"My children. My son is Tian Yunlong, and my daughter is Tian Wen'er," the Prefect answered with a smile.

"Yunlong, this young man has a heroic bearing, truly living up to his name," Wei Fufeng said.

Tian Yunlong nodded with a mature smile. Suddenly, the girl, Tian Wen'er, piped up, "And what about me?"

Wei Fufeng was slightly startled. He looked at her and smiled, "This young sister is as bright and lovely as a spirit. If there were a chance, I would truly like to engage in a song-off with you."

Wei Fufeng’s words were a compliment, implying her beauty would attract many suitors. In the culture of the Liao people, "song-offs" were a way to court one another, unconstrained by the rigid etiquette that forbade men and women from openly pursuing each other.

"Do you like me?" the girl asked crisply.

Wei Fufeng paused, unaccustomed to such directness. But knowing he was in a precarious position and must not offend the Tian clan, he forced a smile and said, "I do."

The girl’s almond eyes scanned him with a scrutinizing gaze. Suddenly, she lifted her right hand and slapped a curved blade onto the bamboo table with a sharp *clack*. "Defeat me, and I will marry you."

Wei Fufeng’s expression changed slightly; the situation had developed beyond his expectations. He hesitated and said apologetically, "Young sister, I already have a wife."

"It doesn't matter. Our custom here allows men to have multiple wives. As long as you defeat me, I will marry you as your second wife," the girl said solemnly.

Wei Fufeng sighed inwardly. He knew the marriage customs of the Liao people in Qianzhong Circuit. Among the Liao nobility, polygamy was practiced; a daughter of a noble family who married a married man of another noble family would hold the status of an equal wife.

The situation was sudden, and Wei Fufeng knew he could not refuse outright. He feared that a direct rejection would be interpreted as looking down on the Tian clan. The Liao people were often called "barbarians," and insults were often settled directly through force.

Calming himself, Wei Fufeng said gently, "I have heard of the customs in Qianzhong Circuit—that one seeks a beloved through song. I have never heard of men and women dueling."

"You are wrong. Our clan respects warriors; only a brave man is qualified to pursue the woman he admires. You must defeat my sister before you can engage in a song-off to pledge your love," Tian Yunlong interjected solemnly.

Wei Fufeng’s expression shifted. He looked toward the Prefect, but saw him merely lowering his eyes to drink tea, acting as if he were an outsider, fully indulging his children’s "mischief."

"Do not look to my father. If you say you like my sister, you should show the courage to face her. If you dare not fight, you may bow to my sister and admit you are inferior," Tian Yunlong continued.

Wei Fufeng frowned. Times had changed; as a regional lord, he could not act in a way that would damage his prestige. If he were to bow and admit inferiority to Tian Wen'er, he would become a laughingstock, leading to contempt from the Liao people and even his own subordinates.

"Very well. Where shall we spar?" After weighing the options, Wei Fufeng accepted the challenge.

As soon as he finished speaking, Tian Wen'er stood up and said, "Follow me."

Wei Fufeng had no choice but to rise. He bowed silently to the Prefect and followed the girl out. Tian Yunlong stood up and followed with long strides, while the Prefect remained unmoved, his expression as calm as ever.

Outside the bamboo building, Wei Fufeng followed Tian Wen'er. His subordinates attempted to follow, but he waved them off. Deep in the Tian clan’s territory, the more relaxed he appeared, the less likely he was to incite hostility.

As they walked, Wei Fufeng wondered if Tian Wen'er was intentionally trying to embarrass or toy with him. Perhaps both she and the Prefect considered him an ordinary man who would fall at a single blow.

Suddenly, Tian Wen'er ordered, "You, go call Ling'er and Yu'er over."

A Liao servant girl hurried away. Wei Fufeng followed in silence, winding their way past a dozen bamboo buildings. Suddenly, a group of women hurried over from a side path, led by two pretty Liao girls.

"Ling'er, Yu'er, I’ve found a Han gentleman. Do you like him?" Tian Wen'er asked with a wave of her hand.

Wei Fufeng was speechless as the two girls stopped and looked at him in unison. Tian Wen'er stopped and turned halfway, forcing Wei Fufeng to stop as well, standing with a calm expression.

He heard Tian Wen'er say, "Master Chu, Ling'er and Yu'er are my dowry maids. Their fathers are both clan leaders in Feizhou. They are born of concubines, while I am a legitimate daughter of the Tian clan."

Wei Fufeng was surprised. "They are part of your dowry?"

"Dowry, but not like the servant maids of the Han. They are like my own sisters. The Han call them *Yingnu* (dowry concubines). They are second only to me as mistresses, not servants. They are the daughters of clan leaders, sent to show submission to the Tian clan," Tian Wen'er explained.

*Yingnu*? That was a marriage system prevalent during the Warring States period, where nobles marrying off daughters would send sisters or nieces along as companions. In reality, *Yingnu* were akin to the noble concubines of the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Wei Fufeng felt slightly surprised but not overly shocked; the Liao customs in Qianzhong Circuit were indeed different from the outside world. The Liao practiced a form of slavery, just as the Nanzhao, Tubo, Guiguan, and Lingnan regions did.

Wei Fufeng nodded in acknowledgment. Tian Wen'er said, "Let's go."

She walked on, with Wei Fufeng and Tian Yunlong following, and a group of women trailing behind. After walking another hundred meters, they reached a bamboo-covered hillside.

Tian Wen'er turned around and looked at him. "This will do. What weapon will you use?"

Wei Fufeng glanced around. "A bamboo pole will suffice."

"Good." Tian Wen'er walked over to a bamboo stalk, drew her curved blade to cut it, trimmed it to two meters, and tossed it to him.

Wei Fufeng caught it. Tian Wen'er raised her blade and challenged him, "Whoever drops their weapon loses."

Wei Fufeng nodded silently. Suddenly, Tian Wen'er lunged forward, her curved blade carving a cold, violent arc toward him like a leopard pouncing on its prey.

Wei Fufeng held the pole in his right hand, his expression calm. Just as the cold light fell toward his face, he shifted his feet, stepped to the side, and executed a simple "Phoenix Nods" maneuver.

*Clack!* The tip of the pole struck precisely at the hilt of her blade.

Tian Wen'er let out a cry of surprise; the blade slipped from her grip and fell to the ground. Startled, she scrambled back several paces, staring at Wei Fufeng in shock.

Wei Fufeng smiled, twirling the pole. "Your blade has fallen."

"Did you get lucky, or do you really have skill?" she asked, unable to believe it.

Wei Fufeng replied calmly, "If you were an enemy, my pole would have pierced your skull or at the very least shattered your wrist."

Tian Wen'er nodded, admitting gracefully, "I lost. From now on, you are my man."

Wei Fufeng smiled awkwardly, feeling as if this were all just a game. Suddenly, Tian Yunlong said, "You actually won! Good, I will go tell my father."

Wei Fufeng watched as Tian Yunlong strode away. Feeling helpless, he turned to Tian Wen'er and said, "I am returning now."

"Don't go," she said quickly.

"Is there something else?" he asked.

Tian Wen'er’s face flushed with a hint of shyness, then she said forthrightly, "Don't go see my father. I will arrange your lodgings myself."