Chapter 2: A Tall Tree Catches the Wind
In the early hours of the morning, Xu Buling sat in a small boat on Qujiang Lake, fishing rod in hand, while eight soldiers stood guard outside the waterside pavilion.
As a transmigrator, Xu Buling wasn’t fishing in the countryside for leisure or to put on a scholarly facade.
Based on the timeline, the Great [Dynasty] should fall somewhere between the Tang and Song dynasties. However, the history of this world had become convoluted after the Spring and Autumn period, leaving Xu Buling completely clueless about the future.
Furthermore, Xu Buling was the legitimate son of Prince Su. As a child, he had gained considerable fame, lauded for his exceptional physique and strength, drawing comparisons to legendary figures like Lü Bu and Xiang Yu. Growing up, he was expected to become a formidable warrior.
Not only was he famous from a young age, but his father, Prince Su, was a powerful hereditary prince who ruled over the twelve western prefectures of Liang, commanding an army of 200,000 soldiers.
He held significant military power and influence, which could potentially threaten the Emperor.
If such a powerful figure were to have an equally capable and undefeated heir, who could potentially conquer the northern barbarians, what reward could the Emperor possibly bestow?
The only rank higher than a Prince was the Emperor himself!
Perhaps due to this concern, the original Xu Buling, following his family’s tradition, embarked on a three-year journey to the capital for education. However, he was assassinated along the way.
On the verge of death, the current Xu Buling transmigrated into his body and was escorted to Chang’an City by his remaining loyal servant, still suffering from the poison inflicted upon him.
Having lived for decades in his previous life, Xu Buling could easily deduce that there was more to this assassination attempt than met the eye.
Upon arriving in Chang’an, he naturally chose to keep a low profile, avoiding unnecessary interactions and aiming to survive until he could leave the capital after three years.
However, given his identity, it wasn’t easy for Xu Buling to live a secluded life.
He wasn’t a newborn abandoned at an orphanage. Prince Su, believing his son to be young and naive, had arranged for a guardian to oversee him.
Speaking of his guardian, Madam Lu, Xu Buling found it difficult to describe their relationship.
Madam Lu, whose name was Lu Hongluan, was a woman of high status, a daughter of a prestigious aristocratic family. She was even related to the current Empress Dowager as a niece.
More importantly, Madam Lu and Princess Su, Xu Buling’s mother, were sworn sisters who shared a deep bond.
As a widow with no children, Madam Lu had ample time on her hands and devoted herself to Xu Buling’s well-being. She kept track of every detail of his life, from his waking hour to his meals and whereabouts, treating him as if he were a character in a nurturing game.
Although Xu Buling possessed the body of a young man in his late teens, his mind was that of a mature adult. Being constantly monitored by a widow was unbearable, forcing him to seek refuge by fishing outside the city.
Unfortunately, a woman’s unwavering attention, fueled by a possessiveness akin to catching a cheating spouse, was difficult to evade.
As Xu Buling pondered his predicament while fishing, footsteps approached from the banks of Qujiang Lake.
A beautiful woman in a palace attire, adorned with a fiery fox fur shawl, walked towards him. She exuded elegance and grace, carrying a vermilion food box adorned with auspicious beasts.
The eight guards bowed slightly:
“Madam Lu!”
“You may all take a break.”
“Yes, Madam!”
Xu Buling felt a headache coming on, but he managed a bright smile:
“Aunt Lu.”
Madam Lu stepped onto the boat and opened the food box, revealing a plate of longan fruit:
“Buling, when you arrived in the capital last year, you were poisoned by assassins. However, you mustn’t give up on yourself. Longan fruit can dispel cold toxins and is more effective than alcohol. It was originally intended for the Emperor, but I specifically requested it from the Empress Dowager for you. Try it.”
Upon his arrival, Xu Buling had been poisoned, his martial arts skills severely diminished. He could only suppress the cold toxins by consuming alcohol. Although the court had been investigating the matter, they had yet to find any leads.
Faced with Madam Lu’s concern, Xu Buling smiled and accepted the longan fruit:
“I haven’t given up. After the ambush at the Wei River, my martial arts skills are a mere shadow of their former glory. Since we haven’t identified the culprits, you told me to hide my abilities. I need to find something to occupy myself, don’t I?”
Madam Lu continued peeling the longan fruit: “When I told you to hide your abilities, I didn’t mean for you to hide yourself away. Have you ever seen a young man in his late teens spending his days fishing by the lake like a hermit?”
Xu Buling picked up a longan fruit, peeled it, and offered it to Madam Lu:
“Alright, Aunt Lu, I’ll return to the Imperial Academy tomorrow and spend my evenings harassing respectable women with my lackeys.”
Madam Lu feigned anger: “Nonsense! You’re not some foolish son of a nouveau riche. Why would you harass respectable women? Hiding your abilities and feigning incompetence is a delicate art. Even acting like a spoiled rich youth requires a certain level of finesse… For instance, you could buy a fine horse and eat meat, purchase exquisite paintings and calligraphy only to burn them for warmth, engage in activities that are considered wasteful and absurd. Commit minor offenses without crossing the line, infuriating others while remaining untouchable…”
She continued her lengthy lecture.
Xu Buling nodded obediently: “Alright, alright, I understand.”
Madam Lu was finally satisfied and continued in a softer tone: “Remember, don’t act on your own accord. Behave like a frivolous prince. With your status, you can get away with almost anything, but incurring the Emperor’s suspicion would lead to disastrous consequences.”
Xu Buling nodded slightly, a smile gracing his lips.
In Chang’an City, Madam Lu was probably the only person who genuinely cared for him.
Although he had been avoiding her, he could still sense her warmth and concern.
However, her insistence on him hiding his abilities and acting like an incompetent and arrogant wastrel was a difficult task.
He had experienced being forced to strive for excellence countless times, but being forced to play the role of a good-for-nothing was a novel experience.
The poison in his body remained a pressing issue, threatening his life at any moment. However, defying Madam Lu’s wishes would be equally detrimental.
After seeing Madam Lu off, Xu Buling lost interest in fishing and returned to the Prince of Su’s residence.
Compared to the brightly lit mansions on Kui Shou Street, the Prince of Su’s residence appeared rather desolate.
It was a residence bestowed upon the Xu family by the Imperial Court. Since the family resided primarily in the western regions, the residence remained mostly empty, occupied only by eight guards, Xu Buling, and an old servant – a total of ten people.
As for beautiful maidservants, Madam Lu had strictly forbidden them, fearing that Xu Buling might be taken advantage of by unscrupulous women. Even the cooks were all men.
In a way, Xu Buling’s life as a prince was rather pitiful.
As snowflakes danced in the winter air, Xu Buling made his way through the corridors and arrived at the study. He looked up and saw an old servant sitting on the steps outside the door.
The servant, known as Old Xiao, was one of Xu Buling’s guards. During the ambush at the Wei River last year, it was Old Xiao who had risked his life to protect Xu Buling and ensure his escape.
Old Xiao rested his cane on his knees, his servant’s cap tilted at a jaunty angle. He licked his finger and flipped through a picture book, the title “Spring Palace Jade Tree Illustrations” faintly visible under the moonlight.
“Ahem—”
“Oh! Young Master is back! What a rare sight!”
Old Xiao quickly hid the picture book in his sleeve, rose to his feet with the aid of his cane, and approached Xu Buling with a flattering smile:
“I told you, Young Master, you can’t escape Madam Lu’s watchful eye. She has nothing to do at home but keep track of your every move. If she doesn’t see you for three days, she’ll send the Imperial Guards to search the entire city. You might as well stay at the Imperial Academy and study.”
“Let’s get down to business.”
Xu Buling took a swig from his wine gourd. Having such a “capable” aunt made him feel a pang of bitterness in his heart.
Old Xiao followed beside him, leaning on his cane, and chuckled:
“Young Master, the ‘Dragon Locking Gu’ poison you’ve been afflicted with is a venomous蛊 from the Miao region. It has been banned by the Imperial Court for many years, and its origins are unknown. However, a few days ago, I overheard some wandering physicians mentioning that the Investigation Bureau encountered the ‘Dragon Locking Gu’ ten years ago when they were suppressing the martial arts families. They might have some information…”
Due to the Great [Dynasty]’s emphasis on martial prowess, practitioners of martial arts were abundant. As the saying goes, “With martial arts, heroes can disrupt the established order.” With so many unruly individuals in the martial world, it naturally posed a threat to the ruling class.
Ten years ago, when the new Emperor ascended the throne, he dispatched troops to suppress those who defied the Imperial Court. The Investigation Bureau was established during that time, specifically tasked with handling such matters, as well as monitoring the various princes and noble families. They were ruthless and efficient, earning them the nickname “Wolf Guards.”
Upon hearing that the Investigation Bureau might have information about the ‘Dragon Locking Gu,’ Xu Buling frowned:
“The Investigation Bureau has been in Chang’an for a year and hasn’t found any clues. If they’re deliberately withholding information, asking them wouldn’t be of any use. Is there a way to infiltrate the Investigation Bureau and investigate?”
Old Xiao shook his head: “The Investigation Bureau holds immense power. They constantly monitor the various princes and noble families, including our Prince Su. It would be difficult to infiltrate them.”
Xu Buling furrowed his brow: “What about planting a spy?”
Old Xiao stroked the handle of his cane: “That’s certainly possible… There are a few new Wolf Guards in the Earth Dog Battalion of the Investigation Bureau. One of them is a young girl, only sixteen years old. I’ve been observing her for a few days, and she seems quite naive…”
“… A few days ago, I planted some information for her, leading her to investigate the Fu Lai Restaurant in Daye District. The Fu Lai Restaurant has some powerful backing and is not to be trifled with. The girl is bound to run into trouble, and we can simply wait for the opportunity to intervene.”
“How powerful is the backing of the Fu Lai Restaurant?”
“I don’t know, but it’s definitely not as powerful as you, Young Master.”
Xu Buling nodded, retrieved his sword, and headed out.
Although he hadn’t ventured outside the city during his year in this world, he had a good understanding of Chang’an.
Each of the 108 districts had a designated official, and in addition to the regular Imperial Guards, each district had three Wolf Guards stationed there. There was no curfew at night, and it was common to see bustling markets and lively entertainment in the prosperous districts.
Daye District, located near the Imperial Palace, was a renowned entertainment hub, filled with brothels, tea houses, cloth shops, jewelry stores, and other such establishments. The Dragon’s Roar Pavilion on Zhuangyuan Street was even said to be a place where “one enters as a son of wealth and exits with empty pockets.”
Xu Buling rode his horse through the crowded streets of Daye District, arriving at the backstreet. He looked up and saw a female constable sitting at a tea stall outside a restaurant.
She wore the standard black uniform, a badge hanging from her waist, and a goose-feather saber resting on the table – the typical attire of a Wolf Guard. Her large eyes sparkled with intelligence, her head covered with a scarf. She appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old, with a well-developed figure and a charming appearance.
“Young Master, that’s the girl.”
Old Xiao leaned on his cane, observing the female Wolf Guard in the distance and muttering:
“I’ve done some investigating these past few days. Her name is Zhu Manzhi, from the Fen River region. She comes from humble origins. After her parents disappeared, she became a constable and was transferred to the capital last month.”
Xu Buling observed her for a moment, then frowned slightly:
“A greenhorn. How long will it take to groom her to the point where she can access the archives and examine the records?”
Old Xiao pondered for a moment:
“The archives are a restricted area, and even members of the Investigation Bureau can’t access them freely. There are three thousand Wolf Guards, divided into 108 units under the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Only the Wolf Guards belonging to the Heavenly Stem units* can access the archives…”
“… The job of a constable is ultimately to apprehend criminals. With significant achievements and exceptional skills, she could be promoted to the Heavenly Stem units quickly.”
“How significant do these achievements need to be?”
“She would need to capture at least a few of the notorious figures on the Investigation Bureau’s wanted list, those with bounties of a thousand taels of silver or more. Then, with a little bribery of the supervising officer, it should be enough.”
Xu Buling nodded and waited patiently near the tea stall with his sword, while Old Xiao pretended to be a storyteller, weaving tales to pass the time.
What followed was the classic scenario of a damsel in distress being rescued by a heroic prince, with a touch of arrogance thrown in to fulfill Madam Lu’s instructions…
****
Heavenly Stem units: The “Heavenly Stem” units refer to a system of counting and categorization used in Chinese astrology and numerology. The Heavenly Stems are a set of 10 symbols
Source : Scribd
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Illustrations:
Lu Hongluan:
Anime Chibi version: 
Zhu Manzhi:
Anime Chibi version:
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