After the night banquet, Sheng Fengze was slightly tipsy. He declined to take a sedan chair back to the guest house, choosing instead to stroll through the streets of Yizhou. His guards followed at an unhurried pace behind him.
Yizhou greatly resembled the legendary Peach Blossom Spring. Surrounded by steep mountains serving as natural barriers, it had avoided the warfare of dynastic changes. This created Shu’s tranquility and accumulation of wealth. On this Lantern Festival night without a curfew, Sheng Fengze walked slowly, observing the scattered lights throughout the city and the joyful smiles of people on the streets. He couldn’t help but shake his head: “What a pity.”
The winter night wind carried the damp chill of the basin. After walking for a while, his tipsiness gradually dissipated. Now far from Sanhua Tower, the sounds of music and laughter had faded. He stopped and got into his sedan chair.
A’ning and Chihu guarded the sedan chair on either side as they proceeded. Just as the group entered a street, their path was blocked by a group of young men on horseback. Chihu instinctively gripped his sword handle, his gaze suddenly turning sharp.
The sedan chair stopped. Chihu stepped forward and called out: “This is the White King of Nanzhao’s procession. Please make way, young masters.”
The young men burst into laughter. The two Sang brothers exchanged glances, and Sang Thirteen encouraged Zhou Seven to take the lead: “Didn’t I tell you? Zhou Seven, you won’t find another black peony like this in all of Yizhou.”
Tang maidens often wore modified versions of foreign dress or even men’s clothing when going out. A’ning’s Nanzhao attire differed from the foreign dress, with the hem reaching just above her knees and colorful embroidered trim on the collar and belt. Wearing a sword at her waist, she cut a striking figure. She wore a black fox fur hat, and her clear eyes shone like black pearls.
“That’s a good description—truly a black peony.” Zhou Seven stared at A’ning lustfully. Seeing that she wasn’t shy but glared back at him spiritedly, he practically drooled.
After the banquet, Deputy Commander Niu wanted to send soldiers to escort him back to the guest house. Sheng Fengze had declined Tang soldiers’ protection, saying the guest house was in the city where Yizhou’s streets were so safe that lost items weren’t picked up and doors weren’t locked at night—what danger could there be? He truly hadn’t expected anyone would dare to block his way. The envoys had already gotten drunk and been carried back. Sheng Fengze, not wanting to miss such a Lantern Festival night, hadn’t gone with them.
The young nobles of the city plus their servants numbered over thirty people in total. Sheng Fengze had only brought eight guards. With so many people backing him, Zhou Seven grew bold. He laughed heartily: “Thirteen has good eyes! Your young master has seen countless beauties, but I’ve never been served by a female guard before.”
Chihu’s face darkened: “Mind your words, young master! Withdraw quickly, and my master will not pursue this matter. Would you dare take responsibility for damaging relations between our two countries?”
Zhou Seven urged his horse forward, completely ignoring him and smiling at A’ning: “That’s right, your young master is here for the sake of good relations between our countries. The Tang people are hospitable, and to fulfill my duties as host, I wish to invite this Nanzhao maiden to view the lanterns and scenery, to further the friendship between our nations. You black barbarian blocking your young master—does Nanzhao not wish for good relations with the Great Tang?”
Chihu was furious: “Nonsense! I’ll say it once more: withdraw immediately. I don’t want to hurt you children!”
Sang Fourteen seized the opportunity to shout: “Not only are the southern barbarians ungrateful, they dare look down on us. Brothers, what should we do?”
The group of young nobles shouted in unison: “Beat them!”
Their servants charged forward first.
Chihu drew his sword with a ring and stood before the sedan chair: “Protect the master!”
The servants were used to fighting for their masters but generally wouldn’t take lives. Nanzhao customs were different—Sheng Fengze’s guards viewed anyone attacking their master as enemies and struck to kill. After a flash of blades, servants began bleeding. Someone panicked and shouted: “Young masters, the southern barbarians are using lethal force!”
Only then did the young nobles truly become angry: “On our Great Tang’s soil, they dare kill our people! Brothers, charge!”
Over ten young nobles, relying on their numbers, charged on horseback toward the Nanzhao group.
Regardless of how fierce the Nanzhao guards were, the nobles had numbers on their side and gradually drew the eight guards away.
Yang Jingyuan, lying in wait on the roof, grinned: “Can’t fight? Let’s see how you pretend now!” He leaped down beside the sedan chair and kicked it forcefully.
“Master, be careful!” A’ning glimpsed this scene and desperately rolled across the ground. Her blade swept upward toward Yang Jingyuan’s foot.
Yang Jingyuan flipped in mid-air, avoiding her blade, kicked A’ning, and his palm struck the sedan chair.
With a huge crash, the sedan chair toppled over.
Seeing this, the Nanzhao guards abandoned the nobles and rushed back with drawn swords.
Sheng Fengze crawled out of the sedan chair, holding his head and standing unsteadily with the expression of someone just waking from a deep dream: “What’s happening? Everyone stop! Chihu!”
“Master!” A’ning shouted as she got up from the ground and ran to support Sheng Fengze. She pointed her sword at Yang Jingyuan and said angrily, “I’ll kill you!”
Yang Jingyuan watched coldly—had he mistaken the person? He crossed his arms and said with a cold smile: “We haven’t done anything wrong! My brother wanted to invite you to view the lanterns, and when you refused, you even wounded our servants. What, we’re not allowed to fight back? Aren’t you being unreasonable!”
“Right! Just a small vassal state under Great Tang’s protection, yet they dare act so arrogantly on Great Tang soil!”
“They wounded our servants—let’s report them to the authorities!”
The young nobles were practiced at turning things around, gathering closer, and becoming more indignant with each word.
Chihu tried to explain: “Master, they clearly blocked our way to harass A’ning and struck first…”
Sheng Fengze raised his hand to stop his words, saying calmly: “We are guests from afar—how can we casually wound people? Compensate them for medicine!”
Seeing the other side back down, Zhou Seven said arrogantly: “If you want to resolve this peacefully, this maiden must pour wine and apologize to your young master!”
A typical case of pushing their luck. This provoked glares from the Nanzhao guards. A’ning turned pale with anger, bowed to Sheng Fengze, and said in a trembling voice: “Master, A’ning can no longer serve you!”
This meant she would leave him, willing to bear the consequences of killing Zhou Seven.
Sheng Fengze grabbed A’ning’s hand, pulled her to his side, and stared at Zhou Seven: “A’ning is this Prince’s person. May I ask what position this young master holds, that would warrant this Prince’s beloved concubine to serve you wine?”
“Master.” A’ning suddenly looked up at Sheng Fengze, her clear eyes glistening with tears.
Sheng Fengze said coolly: “Though Nanzhao is small and a vassal state of the Great Tang, this Prince desires good relations with the Tang and wishes to avoid trouble. That does not mean we fear trouble. This Prince’s people are not for anyone to humiliate.”