Better to Return Home (Farming)

[Blurb]

Deng Ci is the top strategist under Prince Yi, the governor of Yongzhou. With his plans and foresight, he helped Prince Yi secure the thirteen connected cities of Yongzhou without spending a single soldier, setting his sights on the Eastern Palace.

Yang Xuan is the maternal uncle of the Crown Prince and the younger brother of the Empress. He serves the Crown Prince tirelessly, offering advice and protecting his nephew's place on the throne of the Eastern Palace as his power shakes the realm.

Everyone knows that the strategists behind these two princes, Deng Ci of the north and Yang Xuan of the south, are born enemies. They have made the realm their chessboard, facing off and plotting against each other for half their lives.

One year, after once again being suspected and called to account over the emperor's schemes, Deng Ci finally could not take it anymore. He refused his salary, took off his official's hat, and submitted his resignation, writing only four words: "I'm done with this."

That same day, dressed in coarse clothes and looking utterly down on his luck, he walked out of the palace. Suddenly, he turned back and shouted to the officials in their fine robes inside the hall:

"Yang Zicong, come with me! Let's go home and farm!"

Everyone laughed at him for being crazy and foolish. The Crown Prince was about to ascend the throne, and Yang Xuan, also known as Yang Zicong, was the Crown Prince's most trusted maternal uncle. His future was bright. How could he be stupid enough to go farm with his lifelong enemy?

Half a month later, Yang Xuan resigned and retired from public life. The officials were in an uproar.

His resignation letter also had only four words: "Better to go home."

[Little Scene]

At midnight, the stars shone sparsely over a farmhouse courtyard, where gardenias scented the air for miles and cicadas and frogs called out.

Deng Ci tapped the chessboard, gazing at the handsome, thoughtful face of the man across from him. He smiled. "Zicong, after competing with me for half your life, do you regret spending these dull, idle days with me in this little courtyard?"

The man across from him placed a piece on the board and replied coolly, "Once a piece is played, there's no taking it back. We may no longer be fighting in court, but we're hardly idle. We battle over the chessboard every day."

Deng Ci smiled slyly. His hand, never one to behave, had already crossed the board to caress the other man's lapel.

"It's late. Zicong, come back to our room with me and let's have another round."

"Three thousand honors turn to dust. Better to go home and return to the fields."

"Though you may be close at hand, you seem a world away. Where you return, the breeze stays gentle and the wine stays fragrant."

Reading guide: Purely about farming, no awful characters, no scheming, no children, no imperial examinations.

Theme: Stay true to your ideals and beliefs