Chapter 124: From Peacock to Common Hen

A goose-feather snow fell throughout the night, swirling and drifting, blanketing the sky as if it would never cease. The heavy snowfall, lasting until dawn, turned Chang'an into a world of silver, a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

Lu Liaoluo toyed with a gleaming copper coin in his hand, gazing out at the blindingly bright, snow-white world beyond. He tucked the coin into his chest as if it were a treasure and signaled to Old Hu to bring the prepared gifts, ready to depart for a banquet he had long since agreed to attend.

Since returning from his uncle, Li Linfu, Lu Liaoluo had rarely gone out for social engagements. He had been content to stay home, keeping a steady, quiet life with his two pregnant wives. The peacock that would occasionally flaunt its beautiful tail feathers had been pelted with stones until it tucked them away in shame, becoming indistinguishable from a common barnyard fowl.

His uncle Li Linfu’s lecture had been correct. Sending Beggar Sect disciples to harass Confucian scholars was futile; the scholars, who preached benevolence and righteousness, only needed to toss a few copper coins with a magnanimous air to highlight their own moral superiority over the "beggars."

Secretly instigating conflict between Princess Guangping and the Five Households of the Yang clan had only served to emphasize the absolute authority of the Emperor. It was a self-defeating move that harmed others without benefiting himself. No wonder his uncle had mocked his childish antics by tossing him that copper coin.

Before he even reached the small courtyard of Zhang Sanniang in Dayu Town, a rich, mouth-watering aroma drifted toward him from afar.

It was the scent of Western Regions roasted lamb. Lu Liaoluo, who had once traveled to the Western Regions himself, recognized it instantly. A few days ago, Zhang Sanniang had personally visited to invite him and his wives to this banquet of gratitude. Could this scent be coming from her home? Since when had the Zhang family become so prosperous?

"Fragrant, truly fragrant! This roasted lamb smells even better than the fare at the Hu taverns."

Tang Xiaoqi and Wang Liuli, both pregnant, could naturally not venture out in such heavy snow. Only Gu Xiehua accompanied Lu Liaoluo to the banquet. Smelling the roasted lamb, she nearly drooled.

The dilapidated, drafty parts of Zhang Sanniang’s courtyard had been repaired, and the snow in front of the gate had been swept clean. The savory aroma was indeed drifting from her home.

Accepting the modest holiday gifts of rice cakes and smoked meat that Lu Liaoluo had brought, Zhang Sanniang welcomed the group into the courtyard.

"I thought you were bringing your three wives; why is only Lady Gu here?" Zhang Sanniang asked, looking past Lu Liaoluo with a hint of disappointment.

"Haha! Two of them are with child, so it’s not convenient for them to travel in this weather. However, I have brought four hearty eaters along; they won't let your food go to waste." Lu Liaoluo laughed, feeling quite cheerful.

"There's more than enough! Master of the house, the guests have arrived, why don't you come and greet them!" Zhang Sanniang called out to the man roasting the lamb in the yard, her voice filled with happiness and contentment.

By the fire set up in the courtyard, a middle-aged man was basting a whole lamb with spices. He had lost a leg and relied on a wooden crutch for balance, yet his hands remained incredibly steady.

He turned to offer the guests a polite smile, but his weathered, dark face seemed to have forgotten how to smile; the expression was stiff and unnatural.

Seeing Old Hu and the other personal guards in their military uniforms, he immediately realized the guest must be an official with military rank. He wiped his hands on his clothes, stood straight, and gave Lu Liaoluo a standard military salute.

Lu Liaoluo and his four guards returned the salute with full respect. Watching this, Zhang Sanniang and Gu Xiehua felt a complex mix of emotions, their smiles freezing on their faces as they fell into silence.

Gao Xianzhi, the Jiedushi of the Four Garrisons of Anxi, had crushed the Shi Kingdom and the Türgesh, returning to the capital with prisoners of war and being granted the title of Kaifu Yitong Sansi by the Emperor. Zhang San, the man with the missing leg, had retired and returned home with Gao Xianzhi’s army.

Having spent six years away from home fighting in the Western Regions, the man was taciturn and reserved. However, the look he cast at Lu Liaoluo was filled with deep gratitude.

"War in the Western Regions is bitter; to return home with one leg less—it was worth it." These were among the few words Zhang San spoke.

As he carved the lamb slice by slice, forcing a smile for his guests, Zhang San himself took little interest in the delicious meat, drinking heavily instead. After a few rounds, the likes of Old Hu and Hu Xiaoyun could hardly keep up.

"Brother Zhang, tell us stories from the battlefield. How many enemies have you killed?" Jiao Kun, slightly intoxicated and excitable, asked.

The smile on Zhang San’s face vanished. After a long silence, he looked at Jiao Kun’s young face and said, word by word, "I hope you never have to step onto a battlefield, nor see what happens there."

People said that the Jiedushi of the Four Garrisons of Anxi, Gao Xianzhi, had looted the Shi Kingdom, offering little gold to the court while greedily keeping the livestock and goods for himself. But judging by the returned Zhang San, it seemed this great General had distributed the spoils to his soldiers. Only by treating his men this way could he win their hearts and ensure their loyalty, making his armies invincible.

It seemed the rumors of this handsome, peerless frontier general being greedy were a misunderstanding. Yet, this left one to wonder how much loyalty the soldiers would truly have left for the imperial court itself.

Back home, Lu Liaoluo sat in his study for a long time, letting out a long sigh.

His uncle, Li Linfu, had been appointed Jiedushi of Shuofang, commanding the three armies from afar, yet the old man could not find a shred of joy in it. While outwardly glorious, it actually paved the way for frontier generals to enter the chancellery. It appeared the Emperor intended to have a general holding significant military power serve as the Left Chancellor to check Li Linfu, the Right Chancellor who held absolute authority. Currently, the Emperor's favored candidate seemed to be An Lushan, who had just taken on the role of Jiedushi of Hedong, holding power over three frontier regions.

However, an incident on the twentieth day of the first lunar month made Li Linfu burst into laughter, repeatedly muttering, "Foolish woman, what a foolish woman!"

That day was the birthday of An Lushan, Jiedushi of the three northern regions. Consort Yang had summoned An Lushan to the palace, wrapped him in elaborate brocade like a giant infant, and had palace maids carry him in a colorful palanquin. Emperor Xuanzong, hearing the laughter from the inner palace, asked the reason, and his attendants told him it was the Consort’s "three-day bathing ceremony" for her "infant" Lushan. The Emperor went to watch as well. An Lushan, swallowing his rage, returned home with a forced smile.

"A true man, subjected to such humiliation—how could he not harbor resentment? Yang Guozhong spent so much effort trying to win over An Lushan, only for Consort Yang’s mockery to ruin it all. How can one not be amused?"

Li Linfu, who had been worried for many days, finally revealed a smile.

Ji Wen, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and a nimble fence-sitter, seeing An Lushan’s favor, abandoned Yang Guozhong and turned to the highly favored An Lushan, swearing brotherhood and plotting to help him ascend to the chancellery.

Li Linfu used a subtle trick, leveraging the King’s respect for him to intimidate An Lushan. In their conversations, Li Linfu would often state An Lushan’s thoughts before he could, leaving the general terrified and never daring to compete with him again.

"My Guigu school of strategy excels at reading the human heart. However, you must remember: the minds of clever men are the easiest to fathom; put yourself in their shoes, think their thoughts, and desire what they desire, and you can naturally guess their intentions. It is the loyal, brave, and simple-minded that are often hard to grasp; no one can predict what they might do next."

Li Linfu shook his head helplessly, sighing. Lu Liaoluo nodded, deep in thought.

Over these days, Lu Liaoluo had changed significantly. He no longer desperately tried to showcase himself, eager for recognition to prove his talents. Instead, like a sponge, he kept absorbing knowledge by Li Linfu’s side.

Time slipped by until the fourth month of the tenth year of Tianbao.

During this period, the Emperor prepared to appoint Gao Xianzhi as Jiedushi of Hexi, replacing An Sishun. An Sishun secretly had the Hu tribesmen cut their ears and scar their faces in petition to keep him; the Emperor eventually issued a decree allowing An Sishun to remain. The great General Gao Xianzhi returned to the Western Regions with his guard.

To move closer to the chancellery and increase his leverage, An Lushan prepared to leave the capital to launch another offensive against the Khitan in the north.

An Qingxu sent word to Lu Liaoluo, who decided to host a farewell banquet at the Tianxian Pavilion.

"Ah, I’ve lived in the capital for so long, but seeing you is truly difficult!" An Qingxu sighed, draining his cup with a look of dissatisfaction.

"Sigh!" Lu Liaoluo breathed out. "I have no great backer behind me. As a minor seventh-rank official in the Directorate for Armaments, I must be cautious, never daring to take a wrong step. I keep my doors shut and rarely go out."

"A few days ago, I wanted to find an opportunity to introduce you to my father. But after he returned home on the night of his birthday, he fell into a rage and smashed many things, so I didn't dare bring it up. Later, after my father met with the Right Chancellor, Li Linfu, he became restless and fearful, making it even harder to find a chance. My eldest brother, An Qingzong, was betrothed to the daughter of the Crown Prince, Princess Rongyi, and settled in Chang'an. It looks like a favor, but in reality, he has become a hostage. This capital, Chang'an, is truly deep water; it is not easy to live here!"

As Lan'er refilled his cup, An Qingxu sighed repeatedly, draining it again.

"Brother Qingxu, since your departure is imminent, let’s not talk of such depressing things. How about I join Lady Yela in a duet to see you off?"

Lu Liaoluo saw Gu Xiehua, dressed in men’s clothing, walking in from the door, and he stood up with a smile.

"Haha!" An Qingxu laughed aloud. "To hear Lady Yela play before leaving Chang'an—this trip has not been in vain."

A woman performing arts on stage naturally seems more beautiful than usual, and Yela, in her male attire with a focused expression, possessed a unique charm. Any man who caught sight of her found it impossible to look away, captivated by her presence.

Prince Guangping, Li Yu, was hosting a banquet for young nobles serving in the Thousand Bulls Guard at the Tianxian Pavilion. Hearing the melodic harmony of the zither and flute, he moved over, watched from outside the window for a long time, and then slowly walked back.

Hearing Wei Yingwu and a group of young men discussing how they could "abduct" Yela from the Tianxian Pavilion, he smiled slightly, tapped a few of the boys on the head, and returned slowly to his seat. He picked up a cup of fine wine, drank it, and savored the aftertaste for a long time.