The fighting in Longxi ended.
Cao Rui set out for the capital, Luoyang.
Since Cao Rui had only temporarily appointed Xiahou Xian as a military adviser, he found himself without duties once the war ended and could only return to Luoyang as well.
Fortunately, his mother, Princess Qinghe, gave him a dose of reassurance.
She said that since Xiahou Xian had earned military merit on the Longxi battlefield, His Majesty would naturally reward him. He need only wait patiently.
One day, his mother suddenly sought him out after returning from outside the residence. Thinking Cao Rui's edict had arrived, he went to greet her in high spirits.
Who knew that his mother would speak of something else entirely?
Princess Anyang had invited her and Xiahou Xian to her residence for a chat.
Hmm... there seemed to be no excuse to refuse this time.
Although Qinghe was not particularly close to Anyang, they were sisters, after all, so she could only accept the invitation.
The two took a carriage to Princess Anyang's residence.
More precisely, this place should have been called the Xun residence.
Anyang's late husband, Xun Yun, had not been a good-for-nothing second-generation official like Xiahou Mao.
On the contrary, he had been very capable.
After Xun Yu died, he inherited Xun Yu's title and, through his own genuine talent and learning, once rose to General of the Household of the Tiger Guards.
Unfortunately, Xun Yun had backed the wrong side, just like his father.
In his younger years, he had been close to Cao Zhi, Prince of Chen. Once Cao Pi came to power, he naturally found Xun Yun intolerable.
Now, the Xun residence was so deserted that one could have netted sparrows at its gates.
At the banquet, Anyang warmly entertained the two.
Her little mouth was sweet indeed. One moment, she praised Xiahou Xian as a brilliant young talent; the next, she congratulated them on Xiahou Mao's appointment as Palace Attendant, making him one of His Majesty's trusted ministers.
Watching this, Qinghe had to admit that her younger sister truly had a way with words.
Then Anyang brought the conversation back to Xiahou Xian.
"Xian'er-oh, no, I should call you Fengming now."
"Now that you have earned military merit, Fengming, has His Majesty entrusted you with an official post?"
Xiahou Xian lowered his head and answered with his hands clasped, "I have yet to receive His Majesty's edict."
"Oh, there is no hurry. His Majesty will make his own wise judgment."
Then Anyang changed the subject again.
"I heard that you have studied military strategy since childhood and are well versed in poetry and the classics, Fengming. In the Longxi campaign, you also devised strategies for Great Wei. Clearly, you have put your learning to use."
"You praise me too highly, Aunt," Xiahou Xian said.
"We are all family. There is no need to be modest, Fengming. I invited you here today because I have another favor to ask."
Xiahou Xian and Qinghe both turned their eyes toward Anyang.
Biting her red lip, Anyang slowly said, "I would like Fengming to become Han'er and Yi'er's teacher. What do you two think?"
"Their teacher?" Qinghe was somewhat surprised. She had thought Anyang was merely making an offhand remark before. Who could have imagined she was serious?
"Indeed," Anyang said. "Ever since my husband passed away, no one has paid our Xun family any attention."
"Although Han'er inherited the title, he is still young. I do not want him to grow into a mediocrity. I also hope he can become a pillar of the state, like his grandfather."
"I have long admired your talents, Fengming. If you could give my Han'er plenty of guidance, he would surely become someone worth molding."
Hearing this, Qinghe considered it briefly.
Although the Xun family was declining, its lingering prestige remained.
There were still promising young talents emerging within the clan.
Xun Yi, for example, Xun Yu's sixth son.
His elder sister had married Chen Qun, the current Minister of Works, and Chen Qun admired him greatly. The Xun and Chen families were also linked by a thousand intertwining threads.
As for Xun Han of Anyang's branch, although he had yet to enter official service, her son had, after all, inherited Xun Yu's title. So long as he was not too useless, he would surely accomplish something in the future.
This would not only bring the Xiahou family another ally but also win her son a good reputation. Why not?
Qinghe soon thought it through. She first glanced at Anyang, then turned her gaze toward Xiahou Xian and said:
"This is an excellent idea. In that case, Fengming, you will be both their elder brother and their teacher. You must teach your two younger brothers diligently and hold nothing back."
She just agreed?
He had no idea what his mother had imagined, but as a man, he could tell from Anyang's eyes.
This woman has ill intentions.
But refusing at this point was impossible, so he said, "Though I lack talent, Mother, I will certainly do everything I can."
"Good." Seeing Xiahou Xian agree without hesitation, Anyang was filled with delight.
"Very well. We shall settle on a date."
Qinghe had essentially settled the matter, but Anyang said, "It is rare for you two to visit my residence. Why wait for another day?"
With Anyang putting it that way, Qinghe could not refuse. But it was not appropriate for her to involve herself in matters among the younger generation, so after a little more idle conversation, she returned home.
After Qinghe left, only Anyang and Xiahou Xian remained in the hall.
For a time, the atmosphere grew somewhat awkward.
"Fengming, come with me." Anyang rose and led Xiahou Xian toward the rear courtyard.
The Xun residence's rear courtyard was very quiet, with only a handful of servants. Whether it was always like this or Anyang had deliberately arranged it, he did not know.
Xiahou Xian followed Anyang down the long corridor, doubts stirring in his heart, but he also fully prepared himself.
Just as they reached the rear courtyard, two little boys suddenly ran out.
"Mother!"
"Mother!"
"Han'er, Yi'er, this is your elder brother Fengming. From now on, he will be your teacher."
That left Xiahou Xian at a complete loss.
I really am going to be their teacher?
But he quickly composed himself and said solemnly, "Brother Han, Brother Yi, you must study diligently from now on. As your elder brother, I will answer everything I know."
"Brother Fengming, we will both faithfully obey our teacher's instructions!" The two cupped their hands and bowed with proper form. It seemed they had been taught beforehand.
Anyang suddenly reminded them, "You may call him Brother Fengming in private, but it would be better for you both to address him as Teacher."
"I will remember, Mother. This student greets his teacher." Xun Han, who was a few years older, bowed again.
Come to think of it, these two sons of the Xun family were also Cao Cao's maternal grandsons. Xiahou Xian and the two of them could be considered real brothers with different fathers and mothers.
Great Wei's web of relationships was just that wondrous beyond words.
And so, Xiahou Xian formally began teaching.
Naturally, he did not begin with military strategy, but with the Analects and the Book of Songs.
These were essentially compulsory subjects for Great Wei's aristocratic clans from childhood. Whether through the original owner of his body or his soul from a later era, Xiahou Xian could recall their contents.
Though most of the time, he simply taught straight from the books, adding a little "reading comprehension" at most.
After the day's lessons ended, Xiahou Xian went to bid Princess Anyang farewell out of courtesy.
He had intended merely to offer his respects outside her door, only to find it standing ajar.
Just as he was puzzling over this, Anyang's soft, sweet voice came from inside. "Come in, sir."
Xiahou Xian swallowed and steeled himself before walking inside.
Anyang was now dressed in thin pink gauze, her curves faintly visible beneath it, and her makeup also seemed carefully applied. She sat leaning forward on a mat and beckoned Xiahou Xian over.
"Sir, how did serving as a teacher go today?"
Xiahou Xian's mind went completely blank, and he immediately said, "Try it? Try what?"
Anyang smiled. "Did I say anything about trying it?"
Xiahou Xian eventually left, but on the way, he recalled the earlier battle.
A wisp of mist seemed to shroud his eyes.
The mist blocked his vision, and he involuntarily brushed it aside.
His thoughts instantly flew back to the earlier battlefield at Ji Valley.
Through the faint, drifting mist, as the Shu soldiers came into view, the Wei officers and soldiers grew increasingly excited.
Mounted on his warhorse, Xiahou Xian led the cavalry in a charge against the Shu army. The Wei State cavalry cut an imposing sight, moving with ease through the enemy's battle formations, charging back and forth.
That battle had been decided from the moment it began.
The Shu army soon fell back in defeat. At the sight, some Shu soldiers who had not seen battle for a long time could only wail, either casting aside their helmets and armor or laying down their weapons in surrender, utterly stripped of their earlier imposing air.
At the critical moment, the cavalrymen raised their heads to gaze at the mountains on either side, about to launch their final charge, determined to deal the enemy a fatal blow!
At Xiahou Xian's command, the Wei State cavalry broke through the Shu army's defensive line and stormed into Ji Valley.
The Shu army fled in rout.