Volume 3: Southern Expedition and Territorial Expansion Chapter 147: Lin Qingxue's Worries

Lin Qingxue stayed in Yelang Manor for just a single night. Early the next morning, after chatting with Li Xuerou for a while, she set off and left Yelang Manor City.

As they traveled into the region of Heishen Pass, the guards halted to rest temporarily. Lin Qingxue and Mingyu stepped out of their sedan chairs and walked together.

Lin Qingxue smiled faintly, "Does little sister have something on her mind?"

Mingyu nodded and said softly, "This concubine feels that we should not take Taoji's child. It is too cruel."

"If a person is placed in a cage and left under the sun to die slowly of exposure, or subjected to dismemberment, burned bit by bit with fire, or steamed to death in a steamer, is that cruel?" Lin Qingxue said softly.

Mingyu's expression changed, and she said in a panic, "Those are two different matters."

"You consider them different matters, but in your eyes, those are eight Han women. In the eyes of the Liao people, slaves are merely penned cattle and sheep, and those eight women are equivalent to top-grade sheep," Lin Qingxue explained.

Mingyu fell silent. Lin Qingxue continued, "If you do not want the female slaves' children, they will simply be given to others. The children born to their own female slaves are not kept by them to be raised. Those female slaves are Tian Wen'er's dowry and private property; if Tian Wen'er should die one day, those female slaves will be buried in her grave as well."

Mingyu looked at Lin Qingxue in astonishment. Lin Qingxue whispered, "The slave system of the Liao people is akin to a continuation of the ancient Shang and Zhou dynasties."

Mingyu nodded, then suddenly asked, "When the Lord takes control of Yelang Manor, will he implement Han official governance here in the future?"

"No. If Han official governance is forcibly implemented in Yelang Manor, it will inevitably make us the common enemy of the Liao people. The Lord follows local customs and lets nature take its course. As the Military Governor, he only wishes to consider how to consolidate his rule and how to pass down wealth and honor through generations; he will not have the mercy to emancipate slaves," Lin Qingxue murmured.

Mingyu nodded. Lin Qingxue added, "Do not pity those female slaves. Compared to slaves who labor in bitterness all day or Han peasant women, they are still somewhat fortunate. Had Tian Wen'er not bought them, their fates would have been far more miserable."

Mingyu nodded and said, "This concubine understands."

"I tell you these things because I fear you might chatter carelessly or, out of a heart of pity, complain to the Lord that the female slaves are pitiful. If you say such things, you will touch upon Tian Wen'er's reverse scale, and Tian Wen'er might kill you," Lin Qingxue warned.

Mingyu asked in startled doubt, "Surely not? This concubine doesn't even stay with her."

"Even if you don't stay with her, can't she kill you? Tian Wen'er is different from me; I merely assist the Lord in handling documents. Tian Wen'er is a woman who leads troops on campaigns, and her heart is decisive and tyrannical. In a fit of anger, a military order could cost you your life," Lin Qingxue retorted softly.

Mingyu nodded and said, "This concubine understands and will certainly watch her words and avoid taboos."

Lin Qingxue nodded inwardly, thinking: *The Lord has also said that if Yelang Manor is managed properly and the customs of the Liao people remain unchanged, the Yelang Wei clan may endure for a thousand years. The Lord's intention is not to sinicize the rule of Yelang Manor.*

Hesitating for a moment, Lin Qingxue looked at Mingyu and whispered, "Mingyu, would you be willing to yield that female slave's child to me?"

Mingyu was taken aback. Her beautiful eyes looked at Lin Qingxue in incomprehension as she asked, "My Lady wants that child?"

Lin Qingxue nodded and said softly, "I follow fate and do not force things."

Mingyu smiled faintly, "How could this maid be unwilling? For that child to belong to My Lady is his great fortune."

Lin Qingxue shook her head, saying, "Like you, I am merely the Lord's favored concubine. Even if the child belongs to me, he will still be of humble birth."

Mingyu murmured, "The Grand Lady should rightfully be the Lord's legitimate wife."

Lin Qingxue spoke softly, "The status of a legitimate wife requires the recognition of the Lord's parents. The ranking of wives in Yelang Manor does not count. When it comes to orthodoxy and parental approval, Li Xuerou fits the role of a legitimate wife, but Lady Li the Ninth and Lady the Fourteenth are established primary wives. Especially Lady the Fourteenth; she is extremely important in the Lord's heart."

Mingyu was struck dumb and did not dare to continue asserting that Lin Qingxue was the legitimate wife. She had originally been a maid by the side of Wei Fufeng's eldest mother, and being able to become a favored concubine of the Military Governor could be considered a blessing descending upon her.

Had Wei Fufeng not soared to the skies, she would have been nothing more than a secondary son's concubine, whose humble status was perhaps even inferior to a legitimate son's chambermaid.

Lin Qingxue saw Mingyu lower her head in silence, and a sense of loss welled up within her heart. One's mindset is shaped by one's status.

Ever since she became the Chief Seal Lady of the Chunan Military Governor, the mindset that once willingly accepted being a concubine had, to some extent, grown unwilling. Yet given her own circumstances, it was difficult to gain the recognition of the Lord's parents.

With her thoughts in disarray, Lin Qingxue suddenly said, "Mingyu, I have another matter that I need to discuss with the Princess. Wait here; I am returning to Yelang Manor."

Mingyu was surprised. Naturally, she could not ask too many questions. Watching Lin Qingxue lead a retinue of five hundred guards heading south, she couldn't help pondering: *The Grand Lady wants a child. Could it be that she feels herself unable to bear children?*

...

The return of the Grand Lady to the gates of the manor surprised Yu'er and Ling'er. Having specified that she only wished to see them, the two hurried out to welcome her without notifying Li Xuerou.

Outside the manor gates, Yu'er and Ling'er paid their respects to the Grand Lady.

Lin Qingxue accepted the greeting and said gently, "On my way back, I gave it some thought. The Yelang Wei clan is the family through which the Lord spreads his branches and leaves, and I ought to establish a household here. You two shall find me a residence—it need not be large, but it must be quiet."

Yu'er and Ling'er raised no objections and led the Grand Lady into the estate. In the western corner of the rear courtyard, they selected a standalone bamboo building enclosed by a patio, covering an area of about one hundred square meters. The patio courtyard was paved with bluestone and featured a water well and a flower bed.

Lin Qingxue stood in the patio, looked around, and nodded with satisfaction. Then she made a request: "I would like one of your bondmaid-concubines to bear a child for me."

Yu'er smiled and said, "Very well. Which one does the Grand Lady fancy? Come with me to pick one."

Lin Qingxue smiled faintly, "You choose one for me."

Yu'er thought for a moment and smiled, "Peony."

Lin Qingxue recalled for a moment and murmured, "Purple Peony or Tea Fairy."

Yu'er whispered, "Neither Purple Peony nor Tea Fairy is a maiden."

"It doesn't matter," Lin Qingxue said softly.

"Understood, I will make a note of it on behalf of the Grand Lady," Yu'er nodded and said softly.

"Good. I am going to see the Second Lady to discuss commerce. You two come along as well; I plan to build a residence for you in Bachen. Tell me what kind of dwelling you like," Lin Qingxue smiled and said softly.

"Thank you, Grand Lady," Yu'er and Ling'er expressed their gratitude almost in unison.

Lin Qingxue smiled, left the patio, and went to see Li Xuerou.

...

In Jinzhou City, County Magistrate Wei Xuan walked out of the county office, a look of slight anxiety on his face as he went to see his father.

By the pool in the West Garden, Wei Fufeng's grandfather sat in a bamboo cottage, a stunningly beautiful young beauty seated upon his lap.

The beauty's silk robes were half unfastened, one slender, snow-white leg bent upward, her calf pressed against the old man's left cheek.

A bony, large hand stroked the beauty's snow-white thigh and buttocks, occasionally tapping lightly on her rounded rump. The slender fingers occasionally brushed between her thighs, causing the beauty to murmur softly and twist her body, exuding a soul-stirring allure.

"Vixen," the grandfather said with a smile, rubbing his left cheek against the beauty's jade leg, enjoying the exquisite skin like soft jade.

"My Lord is the King of Vixens, so of course this slave is a vixen," the beauty teased in a soft murmur, raising a jade hand and letting her fingers brush across the old man's beard.

"Such a wonderful creature," the grandfather muttered, stirred to intense desire, and was just about to mount and charge into battle when a maid suddenly came running to report.

The grandfather frowned, slapped the beauty's rounded rump with a large hand, and said indifferently, "Go."

The beauty rose in silence, walked behind the rear curtain of the bamboo cottage, and left. The grandfather waved his hand to give an order, and the maid hurriedly turned and left. A short while later, Wei Xuan walked over.

Arriving at the bamboo cottage, Wei Xuan paid his respects to his father and sat down, speaking directly, "Father, this child has heard that Fufeng has established a Grand Protectorate in Bozhou, claiming it to be the Yelang Wei clan. This child is acting far too recklessly without a sense of propriety."

"Who said that?" the grandfather asked with displeasure, his pleasure having just been interrupted.

"Second Brother... Second Brother worries that Fufeng has strayed onto a wrong path, causing disunity within the Jinzhou Wei clan," Wei Xuan had no choice but to answer; in his heart, he had not wanted to mention his second brother.

The grandfather frowned and said, "Fufeng reported the matter of establishing Yelang Manor to his father; you have no need to worry."

Wei Xuan felt a weight lift from his heart and said, "So Fufeng did report it to Your Excellency. It is just that Fufeng's proclamation of the Yelang Wei clan is truly inappropriate."

The grandfather shook his head and said, "You people... Fufeng has always acted with caution and wisdom. He grandly established a Protectorate and proclaimed the Yelang Wei clan, and all you can see is that it is inappropriate?"

Wei Xuan paused and smiled bitterly, "This child is dull-witted; please instruct me, Father."

The grandfather said, "The purpose of establishing a Protectorate is to acquire the righteous justification of acting on behalf of Heaven, allowing Fufeng to legally and reasonably appoint officials."

"Legally appointing officials—is there any difference?" Wei Xuan asked in incomprehension.

The grandfather said, "A vast difference. This realm is still the Great Tang empire, and officials not appointed by the court belong to illegal rebels. How can rebels posing as officials command lasting obedience? Various regional governors all petition the court to appoint prefects and other local official posts to obtain legitimate and reasonable justification."

The grandfather paused, then continued, "However, high-ranking local officials appointed by the court are a double-edged sword for the military governors of various towns.

Within the same military domain, the military governor, prefects, deputy military governors, and defense commissioners are all officials of the Great Tang. Once a military governor's subordinates possess legitimate power, they may not necessarily be willing to remain loyal to the military governor for long. Everyone is a subject of Tang; betrayal is only natural."

Wei Xuan listened with a thoughtful expression. The grandfather continued, "Internal strife often occurs in regional domains, and instances of subordinate generals murdering their lords happen repeatedly. For example, Yan Huaiyu, the Prefect of Fangzhou—our army and he are both subjects of Tang. His betrayal of us to pledge allegiance to the court instead makes him a great and loyal minister whose name will endure in history."

Wei Xuan was startled and said, "Yan Huaiyu wouldn't betray us, would he?"

The grandfather smiled and said, "Betrayal requires conditions. Fufeng showed Yan Huaiyu the grace of knowing him, and the court is moving toward restoration—Yan Huaiyu might possibly betray us. But while the court is tottering amidst wind and rain, how could he dare to betray?"

Wei Xuan nodded and said, "Yan Huaiyu is a conscientious and capable official. I have heard that Fangzhou is governed very well."

The grandfather nodded and said, "Therefore, our army is unwilling to remove him, nor have we sent anyone to hold an official post to constrain him."

Wei Xuan nodded and said, "Could the Protectorate established by Fufeng be intended to prevent his subordinates from rebelling?"

The grandfather nodded and said, "Well said. The Protectorate legally and reasonably appoints officials, which is equivalent to making all the officials under his rule into the Lord's house retainers, severing their direct subordinate relationship with the Great Tang court. Fufeng's actions faintly establish the embryo of a kingdom, independent of the Great Tang court."

Wei Xuan was shocked upon hearing this. After thinking for a moment, he worriedly asked, "Can the court tolerate Fufeng's actions? Perhaps someone will report him to the court."