Under the eloquence of Fang Chuning, the old man, seeing he couldn’t dissuade them, kindly pointed out a path. Between Gao Liang Village and Lin Village, there was a low forest, with a small path running through it. Originally, people from the two villages traveled back and forth, building this path. Now, having not been used for several months, wild grass had grown beside the path. Carefully, Xie Jue and Fang Chuning made their way through the path and reached Lin Village.
Lin Village was built at the foot of the mountain, consisting of very low earthen houses, a common sight in the north. Mainly constructed with stones and tiles, with thick straw spread over the roofs, after the Beiman settled here, they modified the building structure. So new buildings clearly had Beiman influences, making this settlent appear less tidy than Gao Liang Village. At the village entrance, a few Beiman children were playing. Seeing strangers, they picked up stones to throw at them. Several stones nearly hit Fang Chuning and Xie Jue, yelling at them to go away. Even at a young age, they had the wolfish nature of the Beiman, indicating frequent conflicts with the local residents, as even the children were filled with hostility.
Seeing the strangers not running, one younger child turned and ran back to the village to call for adults. Fang Chuning said, "Gao Bao said there are three hundred settled here, with over a hundred strong adults, all disard Beiman soldiers. If a fight breaks out, look at the situation, and if it doesn’t look good, run quickly."
Fang Chuning first raised others’ spirits while diminishing his own.
Before long, a few tall and rugged n walked out from the village, each holding a weapon. Seeing such a formation, Fang Chuning pulled Xie Jue behind him.
"Should we run?"
This is too frightening!
However, Xie Jue frowned and looked ahead, his gaze settling on one of the n. The Beiman frequently clashed with the local residents and were extrely hostile to Beining people. Fang Chuning raised his hand and said, "Wait, we’re not here to cause trouble, don’t misunderstand."
"You’re not welco here, get out!" The man’s Beining language wasn’t particularly fluent, carrying a heavy accent, but the swung weapon expressed his feelings.
The children ran behind the adults to watch the commotion.
Fang Chuning thought for a mont, just about to speak, when Xie Jue stepped out from his side, "Du Fang, why are you here?"
Though years had passed, Xie Jue instantly recognized Du Fang, who had been a strategist at the Second Prince Manor together with him. The n beside him also looked familiar, resembling the household children raised in the Second Prince Manor, now tall young n.
Back then, Xie Jue disguised himself in Beiman, never revealing his true face. Years had passed, and Du Fang found Xie Jue’s face unfamiliar, asking, "Who are you, do you know ?"
Du Fang’s Beining speech was better than the others’.
"I’m Xie Jue!"
Du Fang, "..."
The hatred of the Beiman towards Xie Jue was deep-seated, especially among those from the Second Prince Manor. One of the n instantly fud, pointing at Xie Jue, "He’s that cunning Prince Yan, how dare he co here! If not for him, the Beiman wouldn’t have been defeated. Today I’m going to kill him, to avenge our fallen brothers!"
As he spoke, he swung his longsword, wanting to seek revenge. Fang Chuning rested a hand on the longsword at his side, his expression slightly darkening. The furious man was restrained by Du Fang—Du Fang, the strategist of the Prince Manor, was resourceful and composed. Having worked with Xie Jue for over a year, Du Fang had never been seen losing temper. He was different from ordinary Beiman.
"Prince, it’s been years since we’ve t. Are you doing well?" Du Fang greeted Xie Jue straightforwardly and turned to say a few words in Beiman to his comrades. Standing too far, Fang Chuning couldn’t hear clearly, and the irritable man was pulled aside.
Xie Jue said, "I’m heading to Ningzhou, passing through Pingnan County. I heard about the deeds of the local County Magistrate, so I ca to Lin Village to understand the details. I didn’t expect to et you here."
This was the first ti Fang Chuning heard Xie Jue refer to himself as "the Prince."
The change in address also signified the change in his identity. He ca to resolve the matter on behalf of the Imperial Court, which Du Fang quickly understood.
"Since you’ve co from afar, you are a guest. It’s been years since I’ve seen the Prince; it’s a good ti to catch up. If you don’t mind, please co inside!" Du Fang stepped aside, politely making way.
Xie Jue was about to move forward when Fang Chuning stopped him, "I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with him, but it’s been years since you last saw each other, and Lin Village is full of Beiman. These people dare to oppose the Pingnan County Governnt. It’s clear they’re not simple. If you go in, you might not co out. Wait for people from Yun City to arrive before discussing further."
They ca to Lin Village mainly to see the situation there. He didn’t know Xie Jue had enmity with the Beiman; not only the irate man wanted Xie Jue’s life, but all except Du Fang looked at Xie Jue with utter hostility, eager to dispose of him.
Had he known of Xie Jue’s enmity with the Beiman, where ordinary Beiman would want him dead upon sight, Fang Chuning wouldn’t have rashly brought Xie Jue to Lin Village.
Xie Jue glanced at the hostile-looking Beiman, and Fang Chuning’s words made sense. It’d been years, yet the hatred remained unextinguished; he shouldn’t venture into Lin Village.
Du Fang seed to understand his thoughts, "The Prince is overthinking; you’re a distinguished guest. We are now ordinary citizens, trying to survive on this land; we dare not act rudely towards you. I can guarantee your absolute safety in Lin Village."
Xie Jue decided to trust Du Fang and Fang Chuning.
Du Fang invited them into his ho. Du Fang had since married, with his wife managing the household. They had two children under the age of four, living as a family of four on the eastern side of Lin Village. The house wasn’t large, with a fence around the yard. Ms. Du grew vegetables and raised chickens and ducks there.
In front of Du Fang’s house stood a locust tree, lush with branches and leaves. Under the tree were a stone table and stone benches, where Du Fang would relax and drink tea with friends. The yard was cluttered; he invited Xie Jue and Fang Chuning under the tree, serving light wine as hospitality. Du Fang’s two young children played in the yard; though young, they weren’t afraid of strangers, curiously watching Xie Jue and Fang Chuning with their bright, black eyes.
Fang Chuning smiled at the children, standing behind Xie Jue. He also noticed the group of Beiman was not far off, glaring at Xie Jue, not leaving.
Du Fang seed without hostility, yet that group was deeply hostile.
"You’re a strategist of the Prince Manor. After Prince Jingbei ascended the throne, you should be a strategist within the Imperial Court. Prince Jingbei must have assigned you to West State or Huangzhou. How co you are in Pingnan County?" Xie Jue asked in bewildernt.
Everywhere, there are class distinctions. No matter how united, the Beiman has its hierarchy. Ordinary people go where Beining arranges, and nobility and high officials of the Imperial Court are placed in slightly more prosperous towns. Many Beiman officials went to major cities in the twelve states, while ordinary people were randomly placed in various towns and villages.
"Prince, have you forgotten how you left Beiman?"
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