Volume 3: Southern Expedition and Territorial Expansion Chapter 146: Growing Closer

In the blink of an eye, Wei Fufeng had been holding court in Luzhou for a month and a half, successfully streamlining the administration.

During this period, Lin Qingxue brought over the Fourteenth Lady, Mingyu, and Amber, who had been staying in Fuzhou. Together with Mingyu, she attended to Wei Fufeng.

On this day, Wei Fufeng received a report from the Dazu military garrison indicating unusual troop movements by the East Sichuan Army.

After reviewing the report, Wei Fufeng conceived the idea of going on an inspection tour to draw closer to the officers and men in the army and strengthen their loyalty.

Wei Fufeng’s grand strategy was to march south and conquer territories, with the capture of Tanzhou being a crucial step. Subsequent advances further south meant that the acquisition of Bozhou was an unexpected bonus. He wished to personally lead the campaign to annex southern territories, unwilling to let his subordinates achieve excessively great military exploits.

When Wei Fufeng discussed this with Lin Qingxue, she also expressed a desire to leave Luzhou and head to the Yelang Prefecture. Having heard Wei Fufeng explain the significance of establishing the Yelang Prefecture, she realized that rather than facing awkwardness in the future, it was better to proactively go there and bridge the gap.

Additionally, Lin Qingxue needed to meet Li Xuerou to offer an explanation; without doing so, she could not find peace of mind. Wei Fufeng had no choice but to indulge her.

Wei Fufeng and Lin Qingxue departed from Bacheng on the same day, leaving Xiaoxue behind to take charge of the official seal in Lin Qingxue's stead.

Lin Qingxue brought Mingyu along on the journey, while the Fourteenth Lady and Amber remained in Luzhou.

Escorted by a force of two thousand soldiers, Lin Qingxue followed Wei Fufeng's suggestion and traveled by bamboo sedan chair.

The roads heading south were rugged and uneven, making travel by carriage extremely distressing as they passed through Nanzhou and Qinzhou.

Two days later, they successfully arrived at Tongzi County under the jurisdiction of Zhenzhou.

After resting for a night in the county town, they set off the next day to enter the region of the Heishen Pass.

Lin Qingxue had once heard Wei Fufeng say that the Yelang Prefecture region was important primarily because of the natural barrier of the Heishen Pass, which separated the north and south into two distinct worlds.

Walking through the mountains of the Heishen Pass, Lin Qingxue acknowledged the truth in Wei Fufeng’s words. As long as the Yang clan of Bozhou steadfastly guarded their territory, the South Sichuan Army could never capture Bozhou from the outside; seizing the Heishen Pass would demand a devastating price.

Wei Fufeng’s long-term vision was to station a force of one hundred thousand troops in Bozhou and vigorously develop agricultural resources, creating a self-sufficient Kingdom of Yelang as a fallback in the event of a future military defeat.

Lin Qingxue did not find Wei Fufeng's ideas naive. The rule of the South Sichuan Army was merely that of a marginal feudal domain, far weaker than the powerful military governorships of the Central Plains.

Whether it was the restoration and rise of the Li Tang dynasty or a new dynasty founded after a regime change, any force that unified the realm would be capable of annihilating the rule of the South Sichuan Army.

Much like the era of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei’s state of Shu was the weakest, while Cao Cao, who controlled the Central Plains, was the strongest. Yet the territory of the South Sichuan Army was far smaller than that of Shu.

Wei Fufeng had once said that the Xuanwu Army, which occupied the Central Plains, was very likely to become the Cao Cao of this era, and that time would inevitably bring a war for the unification of the realm.

......

When Lin Qingxue arrived at the city of Yelang Prefecture, gazing at the well-ordered city built in the Han architectural style, the sense of alienation she had felt along the journey suddenly gave way to a measure of familiarity, as if she had returned to Yancheng in Junzhou.

Stepping through the city gate, Lin Qingxue saw that the guards on both sides were maintaining a rigorous and heavily guarded appearance. In the center stood dozens of unfamiliar women waiting to greet her, as she had sent word ahead of her arrival at the Yelang Prefecture.

As the two groups drew close, the foremost dazzling beauty smiled and asked, "Could this be Sister Lin?"

"You must be Sister Xuerou," Lin Qingxue replied with a gentle smile. Although it was their first meeting, they greeted each other with mutual goodwill.

Li Xuerou stepped forward, stopped, and smiled, "I was quite surprised to hear that Elder Sister was coming. Younger Sister Tian has led troops on an expedition and has not yet returned."

Lin Qingxue gave a slight "Oh." She had once asked Wei Fufeng about Tian Wen'er's temperament.

Wei Fufeng had answered honestly and straightforwardly, saying that she disliked beating around the bush when she spoke. Hearing now that she could lead troops into battle, she must indeed be a heroine among women.

"Elder Sister, let us go inside the mansion to talk," Li Xuerou said with a gentle smile.

...

They walked side by side down the street, flanked by orderly shops built in the Han architectural style. Through the open doorways of the shops, one could see that the dwellings in the rear were basically bamboo stilt houses.

Almost all the people coming and going on the streets and in the shops wore the traditional attire of the Liao people, and Li Xuerou was dressed in Liao costume as well.

"Elder Sister, there are not many Han-style buildings in Yelang Prefecture; most are bamboo houses. The residence we live in was originally the prefectural office, where the Han-style structures occupy about half. Younger Sister Tian is accustomed to living in a bamboo house and has chosen her quarters on the west side of the inner courtyard..." Li Xuerou explained as she introduced the architecture within the Yelang Prefecture city.

After walking and conversing for a while, Lin Qingxue changed the subject: "Younger Sister, the main reason I came to Yelang Prefecture is to offer an explanation to you. After Younger Sister arrived in Bacheng, I did not come to meet and befriend you because I was unsure of the Lord’s intentions. Later, when Younger Sister went missing, it filled me with anguish and regret. I feared the condemnation of public opinion and could not bear the stigma, yet I dared not search for you openly."

Li Xuerou spoke with sincerity, "Elder Sister's feelings are entirely understandable to me. The Lord already wrote to explain the matter in a letter, and in my heart, I harbor no resentment toward Elder Sister."

Lin Qingxue nodded and said, "Without speaking of this to you, there has always been a heavy block in my heart."

Li Xuerou nodded, then turned to ask, "Is the Lord still holding court in Luzhou?"

"No. Word came that unusual movements had occurred within the East Sichuan Army, so the Lord went north on an inspection tour to draw closer to the troops and deepen their sense of belonging. For over a month now, the Lord has dedicated himself to streamlining the military and political administration, making adjustments among many officials," Lin Qingxue replied.

Li Xuerou nodded and said, "It is rare for the Lord to have any leisure. When he previously advanced here, he remained constantly in the military camp and refused to move into the city to live. Neither Younger Sister Tian nor I had the opportunity to wait upon the Lord. Furthermore, while in the camp, the Lord kept himself strictly restrained and did not dally with women. When it was time to leave, he merely gave a word of notice and departed directly."

"Younger Sister, the Lord is not a man devoid of feeling; to accomplish great deeds, he must simply restrain his own desires. When I return, I shall urge the Lord to come and stay in Yelang Prefecture for a time," Lin Qingxue said warmly.

"The Lord running back and forth would easily lead to important matters being neglected. Younger Sister Tian once said that we should take turns going to Luzhou to reunite with him," Li Xuerou replied.

Lin Qingxue nodded and softly said, "If you younger sisters wish to reunite with the Lord, you must go to Luzhou sooner rather than later. The Lord is unwilling to let his subordinates' merits grow too large, and he has already formed a plan to head to Tanzhou and personally lead the troops in a southern campaign."

Li Xuerou nodded and said, "Major affairs must take precedence; I am not in a rush to consummate our marriage with the Lord. However, Younger Sister Tian places great importance on ensuring there is an heir to continue the lineage, so I must ask the Lord to wait in Luzhou for Younger Sister Tian."

Lin Qingxue nodded, her mood suddenly turning somewhat heavy, though her expression remained unchanged as she conversed with Li Xuerou.

Arriving at the heavily guarded mansion and entering the front hall, Li Xuerou introduced her to Madam Yu, Madam Ling, Madam Wan, and Madam Qin.

The four concubines respectfully bowed and paid their respects to Lin Qingxue, addressing her as the Elder Madam, while Li Xuerou explained the customs regarding madams among the Liao people.

Finally, she clarified, "Younger Sister Tian recognizes Elder Sister as the Elder Madam, I am the Second Madam, and she is the Third Madam. When I brought up the Ninth Lady and the Fourteenth Lady, Younger Sister Tian was only willing to acknowledge them as part of a separate household of madams."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingxue nodded calmly without making any further comment. This matter did not conflict with her interests, and how positions were assigned was entirely the Lord's prerogative.

Lin Qingxue believed that the legitimate wife who could be recognized by the Lord's parents could only be Li Xuerou or one of the Li sisters; from the very beginning, she had never harbored extravagant hopes of attaining the status of the primary wife.

Lin Qingxue then introduced Mingyu. Since Mingyu's surname was Li, she was given the designation of Madam Ming.

Mingyu respectfully addressed Li Xuerou as the Second Madam and paid her respects, then exchanged greetings and formal introductions with the four concubines, filling the hall with a harmonious atmosphere.

Yu'er and Ling'er took the initiative to invite Lin Qingxue to take up residence in Tian Wen'er's bamboo house, explicitly stating that it was out of the utmost respect.

Lin Qingxue had never lived in a bamboo house before, but facing the invitation, she naturally accepted without refusal.

The family proceeded to the inner courtyard, passing through the ceremonial gate where they bid each other farewell and parted ways.

Yu'er accompanied Lin Qingxue forward while Ling'er walked behind, holding Mingyu's arm in a familiar and close manner as they entered a residential compound consisting primarily of bamboo buildings.

Inside the courtyard ran a pathway of dark green stone leading directly to a spacious bamboo building some thirty to forty meters wide.

Flanking the pathway were garden stone paths adorned with grotesque rocks, a water well, a small pavilion, and neatly trimmed bamboo and flowers, making it easy to imagine that the master of this place was a man of refined tastes.

On both sides of the garden stood rows of orderly bamboo houses, in front of which dozens of maidservants stood at attention, forming a line that stretched all the way to the main bamboo house in front.

As Lin Qingxue approached the front bamboo house, all the lined-up maidservants silently knelt and prostrated themselves on the ground, creating a scene of the utmost reverence.

Lin Qingxue paused slightly and ascended the steps with Yu'er to enter the bamboo house.

The interior of the bamboo house was spacious, measuring about sixty square meters, with doors on the left and right leading to side chambers. Everything was visible at a glance. Hanging inside was a massive bamboo curtain, in front of which dozens of square meters of animal pelts were spread, holding three bamboo tables.

"The Elder Madam has arrived. Come out," Yu'er called out in a clear, sweet voice.

As her voice fell, movement stirred behind the massive bamboo curtain. A few seconds later, a line of enchanting beauties emerged from the right side behind the curtain, each clad only in a colorful bellyband, some cradling various musical instruments.

Their skin was fair, their figures exquisite, and their faces as lovely as flowers. Swaying their waists and hips, they stepped forward on jade legs and white feet, resembling a troop of celestial maidens and jade nymphs.

Lin Qingxue and Mingyu were momentarily stunned and lost their composure, with Mingyu even raising a jade hand to cover her lips.

"Elder Madam, these are all the dowry concubines and maids of my mistress," Yu'er smiled and explained.

Lin Qingxue quickly regained her composure and smiled gently, "Younger Sister Tian's dowry companions."

Yu'er nodded and said, "It is a pity the Lord has never come; my mistress wanted to give the Lord a surprise."

"Indeed, the Lord will surely be fond of Younger Sister Tian's thoughtful gesture," Lin Qingxue said with a light, breezy smile, showing no signs of displeasure.

Lin Qingxue's clear eyes swept over the line of enchanting beauties standing gracefully—there were eight in total.

"Yu'er, their appearance... they all seem to be women of Han descent?" Lin Qingxue remarked softly after observing them.

"Yes, Han women. My mistress has always admired Han gentlemen. Originally, she prepared two Han maidservants as part of her dowry. After the marriage alliance was settled, wanting to make the Lord even more fond of her, she went to the slave markets to purchase more Han maidservants to accompany her. Unexpectedly, she ended up buying the Second Madam and two other maidservants as well," Yu'er replied.

She then pointed to two of the beautiful maids and said, "This one is Hongxing, and that one is Furong. They used to be the Second Madam's maidservants. Now that they have become my mistress's dowry concubines, their lives are bound together in companionship and their deaths in the same tomb; my mistress cannot return them to the Second Madam."

Lin Qingxue nodded. The two women possessed different charms—one delicate and refined, the other with a face as pretty as peach blossoms—both were beauties of the highest order.

Hongxing and Furong wore forced smiles on their faces, and at Yu'er's gesture, they swayed their waists and hips in a deliberately alluring manner.

"Elder Madam, the Second Madam once said that any children born to the Lord by Hongxing and Furong shall belong to the Second Madam," Yu'er added casually.

"Oh? Can they bear children for the Lord?" Lin Qingxue murmured.

Yu'er shook her head and said, "No. They can only bear children for the madams."

With that, she walked over to the leftmost side and pointed to the maidservant on the extreme left, saying, "Elder Madam, this concubine is named Taoji. Sister Wan saw her and took a fancy to her, and my mistress agreed to let her give the daughter born by Taoji to them."

Lin Qingxue nodded calmly. Ling'er turned her head and smiled, "Sister Mingyu, if Taoji bears a son, he will be given to you as your legitimate-line son of a concubine."

"No, no, how could I possibly accept such a thing?" Mingyu flurriedly shook her head in refusal, feeling entirely out of her depth amidst the unfolding scene.

Unexpectedly, Lin Qingxue turned her head and said softly, "Mingyu, it would be good for you to accept."

Mingyu was momentarily startled, then nodded and said, "This handmaid accepts."

"Then it is settled," Ling'er smiled, while Mingyu offered a forced, perfunctory smile and nodded in agreement.