Bird Crazy
As Yan Ge slowly opened his eyes, Huangfu Yuchen leaned over and kissed his lips. “Awake? If you don’t get up now, you’ll miss today’s arrangement.”
“What arrangement?” Yan Ge scrutinized his complexion, suspecting that he hadn’t slept at all last night.
Huangfu Yuchen kissed his fingers and handed him his clothes. “The rare spectacle of hundreds of birds singing in unison can still be witnessed. There’s a man in the county known for his obsession with birds. He used to be a wealthy man, but since the disappearance of the county’s birds, he has spent all his wealth building a garden that attracts various birds throughout the year. It is the only place in the county where you can see hundreds of birds singing together.”
Yan Ge asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be dealing with the bandit lair?”
Huangfu Yuchen casually replied, “What do you think I brought the Prime Minister and the Grand Tutor for? They will handle it.”
Yan Ge didn’t expose him. He wanted to see the sight of hundreds of birds singing together first, and Yang Zhuo and the others probably hadn’t figured out the situation at Sanzhu Mountain yet.
He hooked his arm around Huangfu Yuchen’s neck and playfully kissed his lips before getting up with a smile.
Seeing his good mood, Huangfu Yuchen’s mood also improved. He opened the door and instructed the servants to bring breakfast.
After having breakfast, Yan Ge, Huangfu Yuchen, Yan Jin, Jiang Gan, Grand Tutor Song, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun followed Deng Mande outside. Deng Mande held a simple map in his hand. As for Song Ruhao, he was still ill and wouldn’t appear in front of everyone for a while.
Shuangque County was slightly more lively than yesterday in the morning. The sight of villagers carrying loads and children playing and running around added some liveliness to the county.
“Young Master, Madam, it’s just ahead.”
The group entered a secluded and narrow alley and stopped at a crimson door. Green branches from the wall gently swayed, as if greeting them. Various bird calls emanated from inside the door, crisp and pleasant, rejuvenating to the spirit.
Deng Mande stepped forward and knocked on the door, and an old man answered.
The old man, around fifty years old, had an air of scholarly elegance. He was thin in stature, but his spirit was vibrant. He stroked his gray beard and appraised the group. His pant legs were rolled up, and there was mud on his shoes, indicating that he had been busy in the fields just now.
“Old Master Fan, we’ve heard if you and have come to admire the birds. Apologies for the disturbance.” Huangfu Yuchen stopped Deng Mande, who had just taken out a silver ingot, and handed him a fifty-taels silver ingot instead.
Old Master Fan calmly accepted it, opened the door, and let them in. “Since you’ve given it, I’ll accept it, young master.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Old Master, please accept it without worry. I’ve heard that you’ve spent a considerable amount to maintain this garden and have almost lived outdoors. It’s worthy of admiration. This silver are just a small token of appreciation.”
Old Master Fan appraised Huangfu Yuchen and nodded. “Hmm, you’re a thoughtful young man. You will undoubtedly achieve great things in the future.” He inexplicably had an air of an otherworldly expert.
Yan Ge chuckled inwardly, wondering how Old Master Fan would react if he knew that the person he praised was the emperor.
He took out a one-hundred-taels silver note and intentionally overshadowed Huangfu Yuchen. Of course, the real reason was that he had more money than Huangfu Yuchen and could afford to donate more. Huangfu Yuchen also had money, but most of it belonged to the state, not to him personally.
“Old Master, this is my token of appreciation.”
If anyone else dared to overshadow the emperor, it would undoubtedly be a capital offense. Yan Ge was the only exception. Song Chaobang, Jiang Gan, and the others had seen enough of Huangfu Yuchen’s indulgence along the way and were already numb to it, not even blinking an eye.
Sure enough, Huangfu Yuchen glanced indulgently at Yan Ge.
The old man looked at Yan Ge and took the silver note, saying, “You, young man, are lively and spirited. You are bound to live a long life.”
Yan Ge: “…”
Huangfu Yuchen chuckled lightly and pinched the back of Yan Ge’s neck.
As they ventured deeper into the garden, the dense tree canopy blocked the sun, and the temperature dropped slightly. However, the birdsong gradually increased, some low and resonant, some high-pitched, some rugged, some clear, some short and rhythmic like drumbeats, and some long and melodic as if beckoning. When they all came together, it created a marvelous symphony, a feast for the ears, evoking admiration and nostalgia. Looking up, several warblers were vying for warm trees, and newly arrived swallows were gathering mud for their nests. Orioles, cuckoos, wild geese, red-billed blue magpies, parrots, white doves, swifts… whether black, yellow, blue, solitary, dancing in groups, small or with gigantic bodies, they shuttled through the emerald branches, appearing and disappearing. With a rough estimate, there were at least a hundred birds in their field of vision.
However, occasionally, a bird dropping would fall from above, spoiling the scenery.
Huangfu Yuchen keenly caught sight of a dropping heading towards Yan Ge’s head and quickly extended his arm to block it, then he casually took the handkerchief that Deng Mande handed over to him to wipe off the dirt from his sleeve.
Yan Ge smiled with curved eyes and secretly squeezed Huangfu Yuchen’s hand.
As they continued walking, the density of trees slightly decreased, and they came across the only building since entering the courtyard—a pair of small wooden houses surrounded by the vast garden. In front of the houses was an open space with several plots of lush green vegetables.
The old man extended his finger to his mouth and let out a whistle. The birds in the woods immediately began to chirp cheerfully, their voices dense and intertwined, like a joyful melody. The branches swayed with their flight, making a rustling sound, and the entire forest seemed to come alive!
What a spectacle of birdsong!
One could imagine the vibrant scene if the Black Demon Bandits hadn’t taken up residence in Shuangque County!
Thinking of this, both Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen felt a sense of regret and a deep disgust towards the Black Demon Bandits.
The old man extended his right arm, and in a moment, several daring birds landed and hopped on his arm, chirping and chattering as if conversing with him.
“Birds are creatures with spiritual essence. Treat them well, and they will treat you well.”
Huangfu Yuchen extended his hand and concentrated a thread of spiritual energy in his palm. Parrots were especially sensitive to spiritual energy so some leaped lightly and landed in his cupped hand, curiously looking up at him. He extended his hand towards Yan Ge.
Yan Ge reached out his hand, placing it next to Huangfu Yuchen’s hand, and replicated the same process, condensing an even denser spiritual energy than Huangfu Yuchen. The parrot turned its head to look at him and walked lightly on his palm.
The two exchanged a smile.
The sweet atmosphere made the others feel superfluous. They shifted their gaze, some looking up at the sky, some looking down at the ground.
Fortunately, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen remembered the occasion and dissipated the spiritual energy. The peony parrot flapped its wings and flew back into the woods.
Jiang Gan asked, “This is a good place. I heard there are bandits lurking around here. Won’t those bandits cause trouble in this area?”
Old Master Fan chuckled, “They seek wealth. What wealth do I have here? Only birds. If they want to see birds, aren’t there more birds in the mountains?”
After strolling through the garden and enjoying the sights of countless birds, they finally left.
Before departing, Yan Ge said, “Old master, perhaps we will come again.”
Old Master Fan smiled and replied, “Feel free to come.”
Not long after returning to the inn, Yang Zhuo and A Fei, who had gone to investigate the situation at Sanzhu Mountain, returned covered in dust.
Du Juan swiftly poured them a cup of warm tea.
Huangfu Yuchen said to Yan Ge, “Madam, I heard that the fried noodles in the county have a unique flavor. Why not taste something fresh?”
“Alright.” Yan Ge got up and left.
Du Juan and Gao Feng followed.
Ah Fei said, “Young Master, we have almost figured out the situation. Sanzhu Mountain consists of three main peaks, which is how it got its name. It is almost parallel to another neighboring mountain, with a narrow passage in between. The terrain is steep and treacherous, with numerous natural obstacles. It’s easy to defend but difficult to attack. They not only rob the locals but also ambush travelers passing through here. It’s not feasible to pass through this area, as one would have to detour over a hundred miles and cross a mountain. Initially, the government dispatched troops to eradicate the Black Demon Bandits, but as soon as the soldiers approached, the sentries on the mountaintop discovered them. The entire group then escapes, leaving behind an empty stronghold, only to return after the troops had withdrawn. The population of the Black Demon Lair has now exceeded a thousand people, with five leaders in total. The first leader, Da Dao, is skilled in using broadswords and is known as Broadsword Sister. The second leader is skilled in using axes and is called Er Fu. The third leader is skilled in swords and is known as San Jian. The fourth leader is skilled in spears and is called Fourth Spear, and the fifth leader is skilled in clubs and is called Wu Gun. Their names correspond to their respective weapons. It is said that all five of them are formidable experts and difficult to deal with.”
*Er Fu — Second Axe, San Jian — Third Sword, Si Qian — Fourth Spear, Wu Gun — Fifth Club.“Do you know anything about the backgrounds of these five leaders?” Huangfu Yuchen asked.
Yang Zhuo replied, “To avoid arousing suspicion, we didn’t dare venture deep into the Black Demon Lair. However, we have memorized the appearance of the five leaders. Additionally, the second leader seemed familiar; he should be a wanted figure in the martial world.”
Jiang Gan said, “Over a thousand people. Even if the county were to send troops to eliminate them, they wouldn’t have enough manpower.”
Song Chaobang asked, “Has the county magistrate reported this situation to the prefect?”
Yang Zhuo replied, “The county magistrate intended to report it to the prefect, but the Black Demon Bandits threatened him, leaving him too frightened to act!”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “You were tasked with finding a way to force the county magistrate to take the initiative in dealing with the bandits. Have you come up with a plan?”
Jiang Gan looked at Song Chaobang and, seeing that he had no intention of speaking, said, “May I ask, Young Master, do you want to take this opportunity to get rid of County Magistrate Shen or merely scare him?”
Huangfu Yuchen sneered and raised an eyebrow, “If we eliminate him while suppressing the bandits, the court will have to reward him. That would be too advantageous for him. We’ll just scare him and give him a profound lesson before investigating him.”
Jiang Gan said, “In that case, I have a plan, but I’m not sure if it’s feasible.”
“Tell us.” Huangfu Yuchen urged.
Jiang Gan said, “I remember Ah Fei mentioned that County Magistrate Shen, in his old age, finally had a son. He treats him like a precious gem, holding him in his hands and fearing that he might disappear if he lets go. We can pretend to be members of the Black Demon Bandits and take away his son, demanding County Magistrate Shen to bring fifty thousand taels of silver to a designated location within a day to redeem his child. County Magistrate Shen has only been in office for two years, and even if he intended to exploit the people’s wealth, it would be impossible for him to accumulate fifty thousand taels of wealth with ‘boss’ of the Black Demon Bandits present. Even if he were to borrow, he wouldn’t be able to gather this sum within a single day. If he wants to save his son, he will have no choice but to lead troops up the mountain. He is an extremely fearful individual, and he will surely bring all the military forces from the county with him. At that time, we can continue pretending to be members of the Black Demon Bandits and frighten him…”
Everyone in the room looked at him with peculiar eyes. As expected of Minister Wen, he truly deserved to be called an old fox, as he could come up with such a devious plan.
Bird Crazy
As Yan Ge slowly opened his eyes, Huangfu Yuchen leaned over and kissed his lips. “Awake? If you don’t get up now, you’ll miss today’s arrangement.”
“What arrangement?” Yan Ge scrutinized his complexion, suspecting that he hadn’t slept at all last night.
Huangfu Yuchen kissed his fingers and handed him his clothes. “The rare spectacle of hundreds of birds singing in unison can still be witnessed. There’s a man in the county known for his obsession with birds. He used to be a wealthy man, but since the disappearance of the county’s birds, he has spent all his wealth building a garden that attracts various birds throughout the year. It is the only place in the county where you can see hundreds of birds singing together.”
Yan Ge asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be dealing with the bandit lair?”
Huangfu Yuchen casually replied, “What do you think I brought the Prime Minister and the Grand Tutor for? They will handle it.”
Yan Ge didn’t expose him. He wanted to see the sight of hundreds of birds singing together first, and Yang Zhuo and the others probably hadn’t figured out the situation at Sanzhu Mountain yet.
He hooked his arm around Huangfu Yuchen’s neck and playfully kissed his lips before getting up with a smile.
Seeing his good mood, Huangfu Yuchen’s mood also improved. He opened the door and instructed the servants to bring breakfast.
After having breakfast, Yan Ge, Huangfu Yuchen, Yan Jin, Jiang Gan, Grand Tutor Song, Gao Feng, and Gao Yun followed Deng Mande outside. Deng Mande held a simple map in his hand. As for Song Ruhao, he was still ill and wouldn’t appear in front of everyone for a while.
Shuangque County was slightly more lively than yesterday in the morning. The sight of villagers carrying loads and children playing and running around added some liveliness to the county.
“Young Master, Madam, it’s just ahead.”
The group entered a secluded and narrow alley and stopped at a crimson door. Green branches from the wall gently swayed, as if greeting them. Various bird calls emanated from inside the door, crisp and pleasant, rejuvenating to the spirit.
Deng Mande stepped forward and knocked on the door, and an old man answered.
The old man, around fifty years old, had an air of scholarly elegance. He was thin in stature, but his spirit was vibrant. He stroked his gray beard and appraised the group. His pant legs were rolled up, and there was mud on his shoes, indicating that he had been busy in the fields just now.
“Old Master Fan, we’ve heard if you and have come to admire the birds. Apologies for the disturbance.” Huangfu Yuchen stopped Deng Mande, who had just taken out a silver ingot, and handed him a fifty-taels silver ingot instead.
Old Master Fan calmly accepted it, opened the door, and let them in. “Since you’ve given it, I’ll accept it, young master.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Old Master, please accept it without worry. I’ve heard that you’ve spent a considerable amount to maintain this garden and have almost lived outdoors. It’s worthy of admiration. This silver are just a small token of appreciation.”
Old Master Fan appraised Huangfu Yuchen and nodded. “Hmm, you’re a thoughtful young man. You will undoubtedly achieve great things in the future.” He inexplicably had an air of an otherworldly expert.
Yan Ge chuckled inwardly, wondering how Old Master Fan would react if he knew that the person he praised was the emperor.
He took out a one-hundred-taels silver note and intentionally overshadowed Huangfu Yuchen. Of course, the real reason was that he had more money than Huangfu Yuchen and could afford to donate more. Huangfu Yuchen also had money, but most of it belonged to the state, not to him personally.
“Old Master, this is my token of appreciation.”
If anyone else dared to overshadow the emperor, it would undoubtedly be a capital offense. Yan Ge was the only exception. Song Chaobang, Jiang Gan, and the others had seen enough of Huangfu Yuchen’s indulgence along the way and were already numb to it, not even blinking an eye.
Sure enough, Huangfu Yuchen glanced indulgently at Yan Ge.
The old man looked at Yan Ge and took the silver note, saying, “You, young man, are lively and spirited. You are bound to live a long life.”
Yan Ge: “…”
Huangfu Yuchen chuckled lightly and pinched the back of Yan Ge’s neck.
As they ventured deeper into the garden, the dense tree canopy blocked the sun, and the temperature dropped slightly. However, the birdsong gradually increased, some low and resonant, some high-pitched, some rugged, some clear, some short and rhythmic like drumbeats, and some long and melodic as if beckoning. When they all came together, it created a marvelous symphony, a feast for the ears, evoking admiration and nostalgia. Looking up, several warblers were vying for warm trees, and newly arrived swallows were gathering mud for their nests. Orioles, cuckoos, wild geese, red-billed blue magpies, parrots, white doves, swifts… whether black, yellow, blue, solitary, dancing in groups, small or with gigantic bodies, they shuttled through the emerald branches, appearing and disappearing. With a rough estimate, there were at least a hundred birds in their field of vision.
However, occasionally, a bird dropping would fall from above, spoiling the scenery.
Huangfu Yuchen keenly caught sight of a dropping heading towards Yan Ge’s head and quickly extended his arm to block it, then he casually took the handkerchief that Deng Mande handed over to him to wipe off the dirt from his sleeve.
Yan Ge smiled with curved eyes and secretly squeezed Huangfu Yuchen’s hand.
As they continued walking, the density of trees slightly decreased, and they came across the only building since entering the courtyard—a pair of small wooden houses surrounded by the vast garden. In front of the houses was an open space with several plots of lush green vegetables.
The old man extended his finger to his mouth and let out a whistle. The birds in the woods immediately began to chirp cheerfully, their voices dense and intertwined, like a joyful melody. The branches swayed with their flight, making a rustling sound, and the entire forest seemed to come alive!
What a spectacle of birdsong!
One could imagine the vibrant scene if the Black Demon Bandits hadn’t taken up residence in Shuangque County!
Thinking of this, both Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen felt a sense of regret and a deep disgust towards the Black Demon Bandits.
The old man extended his right arm, and in a moment, several daring birds landed and hopped on his arm, chirping and chattering as if conversing with him.
“Birds are creatures with spiritual essence. Treat them well, and they will treat you well.”
Huangfu Yuchen extended his hand and concentrated a thread of spiritual energy in his palm. Parrots were especially sensitive to spiritual energy so some leaped lightly and landed in his cupped hand, curiously looking up at him. He extended his hand towards Yan Ge.
Yan Ge reached out his hand, placing it next to Huangfu Yuchen’s hand, and replicated the same process, condensing an even denser spiritual energy than Huangfu Yuchen. The parrot turned its head to look at him and walked lightly on his palm.
The two exchanged a smile.
The sweet atmosphere made the others feel superfluous. They shifted their gaze, some looking up at the sky, some looking down at the ground.
Fortunately, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen remembered the occasion and dissipated the spiritual energy. The peony parrot flapped its wings and flew back into the woods.
Jiang Gan asked, “This is a good place. I heard there are bandits lurking around here. Won’t those bandits cause trouble in this area?”
Old Master Fan chuckled, “They seek wealth. What wealth do I have here? Only birds. If they want to see birds, aren’t there more birds in the mountains?”
After strolling through the garden and enjoying the sights of countless birds, they finally left.
Before departing, Yan Ge said, “Old master, perhaps we will come again.”
Old Master Fan smiled and replied, “Feel free to come.”
Not long after returning to the inn, Yang Zhuo and A Fei, who had gone to investigate the situation at Sanzhu Mountain, returned covered in dust.
Du Juan swiftly poured them a cup of warm tea.
Huangfu Yuchen said to Yan Ge, “Madam, I heard that the fried noodles in the county have a unique flavor. Why not taste something fresh?”
“Alright.” Yan Ge got up and left.
Du Juan and Gao Feng followed.
Ah Fei said, “Young Master, we have almost figured out the situation. Sanzhu Mountain consists of three main peaks, which is how it got its name. It is almost parallel to another neighboring mountain, with a narrow passage in between. The terrain is steep and treacherous, with numerous natural obstacles. It’s easy to defend but difficult to attack. They not only rob the locals but also ambush travelers passing through here. It’s not feasible to pass through this area, as one would have to detour over a hundred miles and cross a mountain. Initially, the government dispatched troops to eradicate the Black Demon Bandits, but as soon as the soldiers approached, the sentries on the mountaintop discovered them. The entire group then escapes, leaving behind an empty stronghold, only to return after the troops had withdrawn. The population of the Black Demon Lair has now exceeded a thousand people, with five leaders in total. The first leader, Da Dao, is skilled in using broadswords and is known as Broadsword Sister. The second leader is skilled in using axes and is called Er Fu. The third leader is skilled in swords and is known as San Jian. The fourth leader is skilled in spears and is called Fourth Spear, and the fifth leader is skilled in clubs and is called Wu Gun. Their names correspond to their respective weapons. It is said that all five of them are formidable experts and difficult to deal with.”
*Er Fu — Second Axe, San Jian — Third Sword, Si Qian — Fourth Spear, Wu Gun — Fifth Club.“Do you know anything about the backgrounds of these five leaders?” Huangfu Yuchen asked.
Yang Zhuo replied, “To avoid arousing suspicion, we didn’t dare venture deep into the Black Demon Lair. However, we have memorized the appearance of the five leaders. Additionally, the second leader seemed familiar; he should be a wanted figure in the martial world.”
Jiang Gan said, “Over a thousand people. Even if the county were to send troops to eliminate them, they wouldn’t have enough manpower.”
Song Chaobang asked, “Has the county magistrate reported this situation to the prefect?”
Yang Zhuo replied, “The county magistrate intended to report it to the prefect, but the Black Demon Bandits threatened him, leaving him too frightened to act!”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “You were tasked with finding a way to force the county magistrate to take the initiative in dealing with the bandits. Have you come up with a plan?”
Jiang Gan looked at Song Chaobang and, seeing that he had no intention of speaking, said, “May I ask, Young Master, do you want to take this opportunity to get rid of County Magistrate Shen or merely scare him?”
Huangfu Yuchen sneered and raised an eyebrow, “If we eliminate him while suppressing the bandits, the court will have to reward him. That would be too advantageous for him. We’ll just scare him and give him a profound lesson before investigating him.”
Jiang Gan said, “In that case, I have a plan, but I’m not sure if it’s feasible.”
“Tell us.” Huangfu Yuchen urged.
Jiang Gan said, “I remember Ah Fei mentioned that County Magistrate Shen, in his old age, finally had a son. He treats him like a precious gem, holding him in his hands and fearing that he might disappear if he lets go. We can pretend to be members of the Black Demon Bandits and take away his son, demanding County Magistrate Shen to bring fifty thousand taels of silver to a designated location within a day to redeem his child. County Magistrate Shen has only been in office for two years, and even if he intended to exploit the people’s wealth, it would be impossible for him to accumulate fifty thousand taels of wealth with ‘boss’ of the Black Demon Bandits present. Even if he were to borrow, he wouldn’t be able to gather this sum within a single day. If he wants to save his son, he will have no choice but to lead troops up the mountain. He is an extremely fearful individual, and he will surely bring all the military forces from the county with him. At that time, we can continue pretending to be members of the Black Demon Bandits and frighten him…”
Everyone in the room looked at him with peculiar eyes. As expected of Minister Wen, he truly deserved to be called an old fox, as he could come up with such a devious plan.
