Chapter 720: Fiefdom

Li Banfeng followed Ayee to Gourd Village, arriving at her dwelling. Next to it was the village's largest open space, where Ayee had set up a stage.

"See this?" Ayee asked Li Banfeng. "This is the altar."

Li Banfeng examined the stage closely. It was quite large, with stone pillars supporting wooden planks, which were covered by a layer of felt.

"This is the altar?" Li Banfeng scrutinized it for a long time. "Isn't it a bit too crude?"

Ayee thought it was fine. "Why make it so elaborate? Didn't the peddler say we don't need all those formalities?"

"Come to my house, get some sleep. Tomorrow morning, you can drink with my husband, but don't drink too much. We still have something to do tonight."

Li Banfeng waved his hands quickly. "No, I can't. I have a wife too. Besides, you can't handle both of us brothers!"

Ayee snorted. "What do you think I meant? I'm taking Gourd Village to Neizhou now. We have a sacrificial ceremony tomorrow night. Go get some rest!"

The next evening, Ayee pinched Qiu Luoye's nose and calculated with her fingers. Gourd Village had arrived at the suitable location.

"What's a suitable location, Sister?" Li Banfeng asked, not understanding.

Ayee replied, "Haocheng is the suitable place. In Neizhou, only that place can generate earth. But you blew up the altar before, and Haocheng has tightened its defenses, so I can't get too close."

"However, if we're too far from Haocheng, we can't generate earth, which would be a waste of effort. So, we have to find a place that's not too far, not too close—the most suitable spot!"

Ayee calculated very meticulously, measuring every inch with firm pressure.

Qiu Luoye mumbled, "Let go of my nose first!"

Ayee quickly released Qiu Luoye's nose and said softly, "Did I hurt you? I'm especially fond of your nose. It's perfect for measuring; I get super accurate readings with it."

Qiu Luoye rubbed his nose and said, "You really need to think about a fallback plan. We almost messed up last time. If Neizhou catches us, no one in the village will escape!"

Ayee laughed. "Don't worry, I've got this route down pat. Even if Neizhou discovers us, we can run away with our eyes closed."

Having pinpointed the exact location, Ayee jumped directly from the window to the ground floor. She called Ayun and Along to gather people and prepare for the ceremony.

The ceremony Ayee prepared was much simpler than the Shang Kingdom's authentic rituals. Ceremonies were minimized where possible, and offerings consisted only of river fish and shrimp, corn, and rice.

The most important part was the dancing. Li Banfeng was quite familiar with Gourd Village's songs and dances. Unlike Baijun County, most dancers in Gourd Village were women, and their movements were very graceful.

However, today's dance was unusual. Half of the dancers were men, and the movements were vigorous and powerful.

Li Banfeng was pondering who had choreographed this dance when he saw an unfamiliar man leading the dance on stage.

This man's dance movements were the most expansive, and his rhythm was perfectly controlled, yet Li Banfeng felt there was something off about his appearance.

Activating his Golden Gaze of Discernment, Li Banfeng carefully observed for a moment, then said to Ayee, "Is this lead dancer not a living person?"

Ayee didn't like that. "Why isn't he alive? We brought him back from Haocheng, and now he's a person from Gourd Village."

Li Banfeng realized who it was: the Stone Golem.

The Stone Golem was originally a First-Rank Artifact responsible for guarding the altar. Now, having consumed the golem Ayee made for him, he had transformed into a handsome, robust young man. It was he who had taught the Shang Kingdom's ceremonial dance to the Gourd Village residents.

After dancing for over half an hour, the felt mat in the center of the stage suddenly split open, and earth gushed out like a spring.

The villagers on stage were greatly encouraged, dancing for nearly two hours until the earth had piled up into a small hill.

Qiu Luoye was delighted and shouted, "Good!"

Before he could finish the word, Ayee pinched his nose.

Qiu Luoye pushed Ayee away, rubbing his nose. "You crazy woman, do you want to kill me?"

Ayee sensed something was wrong. She told everyone playing instruments to stop, leaving a dozen people to prepare to unload the earth, while the rest went home.

Li Banfeng also sensed danger. "Sister, have the Neizhou people found us?"

Ayee shook her head. "Not yet, but they're close to finding us. We have enough earth for two hundred-mile territories. We won't be greedy today; let's retreat for now!"

Li Banfeng and Qiu Luoye returned to Ayee's house and drank a whole jar of wine.

Qiu Luoye chuckled. "Old Seven, feeling good, aren't you?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "Fantastic! Sister Ayee certainly makes things exciting!"

Qiu Luoye sighed. "Ayee is a good person. I truly respect her from the bottom of my heart. If she didn't treat me as her husband..."

"...I wouldn't mind living with her for a couple of years."

Ayee suddenly jumped in through the window and poked Qiu Luoye's forehead. "Is it so wrong for me to treat you as my husband? I care for you so much, what do you have to complain about?"

Qiu Luoye smiled and handed Ayee a lamb leg.

Ayee devoured the lamb leg in a few bites, wiping the grease from her mouth. She waved at Qiu Luoye. "Wine!"

Qiu Luoye quickly refilled her cup.

Ayee also drank a jar of wine. Full and content, she prepared to take her people to unload the earth.

Qiu Luoye said, "Are you keeping this earth in Gourd Village? How big is Gourd Village already? If you keep this up, it'll become another Puluozhou."

Upon hearing this, Ayee got angry. "You're just a woman, so gossipy and short-sighted!"

Qiu Luoye retorted, "What do you mean, short-sighted?"

Ayee put down her wine bowl. "Why am I making our home bigger? Isn't it so you can live a comfortable and luxurious life with me later?"

"Besides, I can't keep all this territory. I have an agreement with the peddler; I have to give half of it to him eventually. Thinking about it now, my heart aches!"

"This is all the family wealth I'm building for you, and yet you complain it's too much. What's the point of marrying a spendthrift husband like you?"

Qiu Luoye lowered his head and said nothing.

Li Banfeng was still a bit puzzled. "Sister, you made an altar by just setting up a stage, but so many capable people in Neizhou say that their altar can't be repaired in a year, or even three to five years. What's the reason?"

Ayee scratched her head. "I can't quite figure that out either."

Qiu Luoye laughed. "Now who's short-sighted? Neizhou is extremely particular about rituals. As the ancients said, 'Ceremony to a proper kingdom is like a balance to weight, ink to straightness, and compasses to circles.' "

Ayee exclaimed, "My husband, that's a beautifully composed poem!"

Qiu Luoye frowned. "What poem? That's from the 'Book of Rites: Explanation of Principles,' it simply means that etiquette is very important."

Li Banfeng was surprised. In his impression, Qiu Luoye's literacy was limited. How could he speak such sentences so fluently?

"Brother Qiu, when did you read 'The Book of Rites'?"

Qiu Luoye shook his head. "I can't read it, but I've heard others talk about it. When I was in Neizhou, I worked as a laborer in Haocheng, and I learned a lot of rules about ritual law."

"Neizhou places great emphasis on etiquette. They have many strict requirements for sacrificial ceremonies; it's not something that can be done by just setting up a stage."

"Since their altar was blown up, I estimate they'll have to rebuild it exactly as it was, otherwise, it would violate their ancestral rituals."

"Considering the construction methods of their altar—every brick and tile, every stroke and line—if all must be restored, three years isn't much time."

Ayee poured Qiu Luoye a cup of wine, pinched his nose, and said softly, "My husband, you're so endearing when you're studying."

Qiu Luoye drank the wine, his face a mix of emotions.

He was happy to be called learned.

But being called "My husband" still didn't sit well with him.

Qiu Luoye's explanation made some sense, but Li Banfeng felt the matter wasn't that simple.

No matter how much the Shang Kingdom cared about etiquette, Qiao Yi was ultimately a pragmatic person. New land was Neizhou's core means of controlling Puluozhou. Logically, he should have built a makeshift altar to get by.

Now, he was so stressed over the altar that he was almost sick. Couldn't there be any flexibility in this matter?

Was the information Luo Lijen gleaned from Neizhou true or false?

If false, they needed to be prepared.

If true, an opportunity had arisen!

Ayee looked at Qiu Luoye, finding him more and more pleasing. "I'm going to unload the earth now. You clean yourself up at home and wait for me to come back."

Qiu Luoye choked on his wine and shook his head. "Today is not convenient."

Ayee's face darkened. "For the past three years, you've said you weren't convenient for a single day. Then for the next three years, you'll say you're not convenient. Now that you're married, you're inconvenient every day. When exactly *will* you be convenient?"

"When you asked me to spare the White Crane Gang, why didn't I say I wasn't convenient? When you asked me to help you protect Seven Autumn City, why didn't I say I wasn't convenient? I'm telling you, if you say you're not convenient today, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Qiu Luoye drained his wine bowl and said to Li Banfeng, "Old Seven, you heard that. If I lose my life here today, you must get justice for me later!"

Seeing that both of them were serious, Li Banfeng quickly urged Qiu Luoye, "Brother Qiu, just go along with it."

Qiu Luoye waved his hand. "Don't get involved in this. It's not what you think. You have no idea what she wants to do!"

The next day, Li Banfeng left Gourd Village. As he went downstairs, he saw Ayee washing clothes.

Qiu Luoye was injured and temporarily confined to bed.

Ayee also felt wronged, complaining as she washed clothes, "What's the point of marrying a husband if you can't touch him?"

Li Banfeng quickly departed. He truly couldn't understand the dynamics there.

Leaving Gourd Village, Li Banfeng went straight to the General Security Office. He needed to get a clear answer about the Three-Way Fork matter.

"Chief Commissioner Liao, you sent so many people to the Three-Way Fork. What are you doing?"

Liao Zihui poured Li Banfeng a cup of tea. "Is this question from Director Li? Or Seventh Master? Or my brother?"

"Brother Liao, please tell me the truth."

Liao Zihui smiled. "Brother, the reason I sent people to the Three-Way Fork is because I heard something happened in Neizhou."

"What happened?"

Liao Zihui sipped his tea. "The Haocheng altar was blown up, and Qiao Yi is overcome with rage, now gravely ill. It's feared he won't last long."

Even the outer states had learned of Qiao Yi's condition; it seemed this information was true.

To gauge how much Liao Zihui knew, Li Banfeng probed slightly. "Qiao Yi was actually pushed to such a state? If the altar is gone, why doesn't he rebuild a new one?"

Liao Zihui shook his head slightly. "I don't know much about this. Logically, as a Prince of Neizhou, you should know more."

"I think Qiao Yi definitely wants to rebuild an altar, but he might not be able to control the situation. Neizhou is probably about to change."

"New officials bring new policies. I'm afraid if Neizhou gets a new master, they might target Puluozhou. I sent people to the Three-Way Fork to tighten security. I've also added personnel at Iron Bowl Ridge."

Liao Zihui, that old fox, was truly far-sighted.

Qiao Yi was losing control of the Shang Kingdom's situation.

"This might actually happen!" Li Banfeng smiled.

Liao Zihui was taken aback. "Brother, what's going to happen?"

"Good things!" Li Banfeng smiled even more broadly.

Back at his Portable Abode, Li Banfeng picked up Red Lotus. "Hua Jiuer, help me make a contract. The harshest one."

Red Lotus unfurled her lotus leaves, caressing Li Banfeng's cheek. "Such a contract is difficult to make."

Li Banfeng touched Red Lotus's heart. "I know it's difficult, but if you do it well, I'll definitely reward you handsomely."

Red Lotus smiled. "I trust you. Wait three days for delivery."

Hong Ying, watching nearby, felt a pang of discomfort. "Xiaowan, are they getting together?"

The gramophone merely smiled, unconcerned.

Tang Dao also chuckled. "My lord's yang energy is insufficient, so even if they 'get together,' nothing will come of it. It's just a pity for Marshal and General; their lives might be difficult from now on."

Hong Ying was silent for a moment, then kindled a fire and placed Tang Dao over it, heating it until it was red-hot.

Li Banfeng took out several blank papers and drew a guide map.

"Niangzi, can you understand this?"

The gramophone examined it for a long time, then used its needle to clarify the ideas on the map. "My lord has excellent methods, but there are still some hidden dangers."

Li Banfeng nodded. "There are indeed hidden dangers. The key isn't beforehand, but after the deed is done."

The gramophone agreed wholeheartedly. "It will indeed be difficult to handle afterward, not difficult for my lord, but difficult for them to resolve. Please allow this humble servant to think carefully."

That night, Li Banfeng returned to Yuezhou.

He didn't go to the Dark Star Bureau; he went back to his own residence.

In the dim room, several wandering spirits were playing cards to pass the time. Seeing Li Banfeng return, they quickly put away their cards.

These wandering spirits had been brought back by Li Banfeng from the demonic cultivator Jin Shunying. They had been living in Li Banfeng's home for some time, occasionally going to the black market to do odd jobs for Tang Changfa.

Li Banfeng gestured for them to relax. "Keep playing. Xi Zhaofu, come with me for a moment."

Upstairs in the room, Li Banfeng took out two Golden Essence Pills and handed them to Xi Zhaofu. "I have an important matter I need your help with. This is your advance payment."

Xi Zhaofu looked at the pills, her face full of surprise. "This is an advance payment? Seventh Master, how can I accept this?"

"You can accept it. This task is quite difficult. First, let me show you this person's characteristics."

Li Banfeng first had the projector play a video.

After three days in Yuezhou, Xi Zhaofu had been trained quite well.

Li Banfeng was picking out some details and guiding Xi Zhaofu's practice when the projector produced a makeshift phone. It was a call from Ma Wu.

The Luo sisters invited Li Banfeng to Boundless City again, saying they had important matters to discuss.

Li Banfeng already guessed what it was about. He had Tang Changfa get a top-grade ghost servant vessel from Yin Siniang. He then took Xi Zhaofu and went to Soda Kiln.

Upon arriving at Boundless City, Li Banfeng met Nian Shangyou again.

Compared to their first meeting, Nian Shangyou had changed considerably. His cheeks were gaunt, his wrinkles deeper, and he looked somewhat haggard.

The light in his round eyes had dimmed significantly, and his thick, long beard hung down, giving him a much humbler demeanor than before.

"My Lord, I conveyed your asking price to my master. He said there's room for negotiation," Nian Shangyou's way of speaking had also changed, becoming much more direct than before.

Li Banfeng sat in a chair, pinching his chin, and nodded. "Then let's negotiate."

"Three First-Rank Artifacts can be agreed upon."

"That's good," Li Banfeng was pleased.

"Twenty plots of new land still need to be arranged. Before the matter is concluded, we'll give ten plots to Your Lordship. The remaining ten will be supplied after the matter is done."

"Can be considered," Li Banfeng was slightly displeased.

"Regarding Eunuch Huoche, it's truly impossible. This concerns the safety of the Grand Shang's foundation. We ask Your Lordship for your understanding."

Li Banfeng frowned. "How do you want me to be understanding?"

Nian Shangyou lowered his head and softly said, "Could you propose a different price?"

Although Li Banfeng's expression was displeased, this was actually within his expectations. To exchange for Eunuch Huoche, Li Banfeng's leverage was not quite enough.

He had prepared for this, but he still put on a show of careful deliberation.

After about ten minutes, Li Banfeng spoke. "Since I am the Prince of Pingyuan of the Shang Kingdom, it's not too much to ask for a fiefdom, is it?"

Nian Shangyou's heart tightened. This was quite an excessive request.

The title of Prince of Pingyuan was originally meant to restrain Li Qi. Now, Li Qi demanding a fiefdom was like tearing a piece of flesh from the Shang Kingdom.

But this was still much better than releasing Eunuch Huoche. Nian Shangyou nodded slightly. "This humble subordinate will note it down and discuss it with my master tomorrow."

Li Banfeng waved his hand. "Don't rush. I haven't said which fiefdom I want yet."

Nian Shangyou's beard trembled. "My Lord, which one do you want?"

Li Banfeng said, "I want Xiaocheng."

"Xiaodu?" Nian Shangyou's mouth hung open, all eight whiskers trembling simultaneously.

Xiaocheng, once the capital of the Shang Kingdom, was an immobile city, not far from Chaoge or Haocheng.

"My Lord, can you reconsider this place?"

Li Banfeng didn't want to change. "Is there something wrong with Xiaocheng?"

"Well—" After a long hesitation, Nian Shangyou spoke his mind directly. "My Lord, it's one thing to drive a nail, but you can't drive it into the eye! Xiaocheng was once our capital!"

Li Banfeng thought it was quite suitable. "It's no longer the capital now. Bestowing it upon a prince like me seems quite fitting."

"That can't be called fitting—" Nian Shangyou's voice trembled. "How about this, would you consider a mobile city, like Boundless City?"

"A mobile city isn't bad," Li Banfeng nodded. "That can be discussed."

Nian Shangyou's face lit up with joy. "You agreed?"

Li Banfeng considered it seriously, then agreed. "As a Prince, one fiefdom is indeed a bit few."

"I'll take Xiaocheng, and I'll also take a mobile city. Only then would it be fitting for the status of a Prince."

Nian Shangyou slapped himself across the face.

Li Banfeng was stunned. "What are you doing?"

Nian Shangyou gave a bitter laugh. "Nothing, my palm was itching, so I scratched it with my own face. My Lord, is there really no room for easing this?"

Li Banfeng picked up his teacup. "If you don't want to give me a fiefdom, then release Eunuch Huoche. Haven't I offered enough leeway?"

Nian Shangyou cupped his hands. "Farewell."

Watching Nian Shangyou leave in frustration again, Luo Lijen didn't know how to persuade him.

Luo Yanjun, however, was more understanding. "Sister, there's no need to persuade him. He'll definitely come back."

Luo Lijen was puzzled. "What makes you so sure?"

Luo Yanjun looked back at the East Courtyard. "I'm not sure, but Brother Seven is."

Luo Lijen shook her head. "What certainty could he have? He's just making exorbitant demands. He doesn't even know whose subordinate Nian Shangyou is!"

Luo Yanjun said, "I think Brother Seven already knows."

Qiao Yi, Zhu Jin, and Xie Gong arrived at Haocheng by boat.

Upon reaching the Nine-Fold Gate, Qiao Yi glanced at the altar and nearly fainted.

Compared to his last visit, the altar was still a pile of ruins, almost unchanged.

He had planned for decades to take Puluozhou, and new land was key to that endeavor.

Now, the altar was blown up; he had accepted this fact.

But he had ordered the altar to be rebuilt, and the Ministry of Works had not yet begun construction. This result he could not accept.

"Is the Ministry of Works openly defying my orders?"

Zhu Jin remained silent.

Xie Gong explained, "The Ministry of Works has done quite a bit. They've inventoried the stone materials, surveyed the land, and even found the construction methods used when the altar was originally built..."

"How truly diligent of the Ministry of Works!" Qiao Yi gritted his teeth in anger. "Tell the Minister of Works to come see me in Haocheng."

Zhu Jin bowed his head, saying nothing.

Xie Gong said, "Brother, don't you remember? The day before yesterday, you summoned the Minister of Works, and he said he had caught a cold and didn't come to see you."

"A cold?" Qiao Yi smiled. "This excuse is so casually made; he must think little of me!"

Xie Gong sighed. "With the altar destroyed, many in court have been critical of you, Brother."

"It's not their place to criticize me, it's not!" Qiao Yi coughed for a long time, then fainted.

Xie Gong and Zhu Jin each took control of half of his body and returned to their residence.

After dismissing the others, Zhu Jin said to Xie Gong, "Second Brother, has this altar matter gone a bit too far?"

"If we didn't push things, would you have seen this letter?" Xie Gong handed the letter to Zhu Jin.

Last night, while Zhu Jin and Qiao Yi were asleep, Xie Gong was awake. Nian Shangyou had entrusted someone to deliver the letter to him.

After reading the letter, Zhu Jin frowned. "Li Qi is being insatiable. We cannot indulge him!"

"What can we do if we don't indulge him? Is there anyone else who can get this done?"

Zhu Jin was startled. "Second Brother, are you really going to bestow Xiaodu upon him?"

Xie Gong's face was expressionless. "What else? Should we let Eunuch Huoche escape? If he takes away several First-Rank Artifacts, how will we contend with Puluozhou in the future?"

As he spoke, Xie Gong coughed a few times.

Zhu Jin pondered for a moment. "I think this matter still needs long-term deliberation."

Xie Gong angrily retorted, "Long-term deliberation again? He's so insistent on this matter. If we delay any longer, our lives will be in danger!"

As he spoke, Xie Gong's breathing became shallow, and Zhu Jin also felt dizzy.

Due to Qiao Yi's condition, their physical state was extremely precarious.

"Fine, I'll listen to you, Second Brother. But after the deed is done, how will we face the court officials?"

Xie Gong gasped for a moment. "After it's done, we'll first use illusions to conceal it for a while. Once we ascend to the throne, and we brothers jointly govern the kingdom, then the officials won't have much to say!"