Novel The Great Game - The Young Master (Ch.308) [finished]

Nothing like a long holiday weekend to disrupt a routine. My airconditioning failed when I returned, there are weird sounds coming from my car which was unused for four days, my internet connection was on the fritz and LiberSpark was down.

---

“Too soon, Executus!”
--Ragnaros the Firelord, ‘World of Warcraft’

Chapter 130 – Interrupted

Despite the light-hearted way Qiong Ying had parted ways with her bodyguards, she did not completely relax herself. After all, she was in a den of sin, and she knew better than to completely trust the foxy woman who was leading her into a private room.


Happy doses of spiked drinks, hallucinogen aromatics or a simple blow to the back of one’s head from an accomplice were all too common in a brothel. Qiong Ying had even employed such tactics herself to get rid of unwanted customers, sending them home with a suitably huge hangover to befuddle their memories.


“How should I address you, young master?” the foxy woman asked Qiong Ying.


Qiong Ying snapped her folding fan open with a smooth flick of the wrist and jutted her chin proudly to affect the mannerisms of a confident gentleman that was her Quan Lu disguise.


“You may call me Mr. Quan,” she said, giving the thickly-dressed escort one of her best smiles. A brilliant smile from a most handsome man of delicate skin, tapered chin and startling green eyes that was almost hypnotic. The effect sent the foxy woman into a daze, and for a moment she stood there drinking in the visage of this perfect ‘man’.


“I am from Tianxin City,” Quan Lu added, and the woman snapped back into reality. She quickly recovered, but Quan Lu saw the short flash in the woman’s eyes.


It was the confirmation that Qiong Ying needed: this woman was the recipient of sudden wealth talked about in the rumours, that her patron was someone from Tianxin City.


“You have come a long way, Mr. Quan,” the courtesan smiled. “What brings you to the capital?”


“To drown my sorrows!” Quan Lu said, shaking his head and patted over his heart in an exaggerated woeful gesture. “Alas, my family had joined the campaign in Wei, and now I’m the sole heir of our estate. I could not bear to stay in Tianxin City any longer, and so I’ve come to the capital to bury my grief.”


He chuckled as he jangled the money pouch tied to his belt, not showing any brokenheartedness at all. It was as if he had unexpectedly come into wealth and was not at all hesitant to use it. He then brazenly grabbed the waist of the foxy woman and leered at her lecherously.


The courtesan’s own eyes shone with avarice when she saw the gesture and heard the sound of clinking gold and silver taels within. Even though she was already wearing expensive clothing and jewellery, she cannot disguise her greed for more. The young man became an enticing prey: young, handsome, rich and dissolute.


It was simple enough for Qiong Ying to act this way, she had come across many such characters in her lifetime. It was easy to draw inspiration from the likes of the Handsome Scholar Nangong Xie back in Tianxin City. Such young men were loud, brash and shameless in spending their often undeserved wealth.


“Bring forth your finest wines and dishes, this young master wants to see and experience the best the capital can offer, so that he might forget all his troubles!” Quan Lu said bombastically.


The courtesan twisted her hips coquettishly and called for a servant to order the food and wine. Quan Lu laughed, and secretly made sure that the bottle of medicine in his sleeves was ready…


An hour or so later, both Quan Lu and the foxy courtesan had flushed faces from drinking the overpriced wine. Yet Quan Lu was still completely sober, while the courtesan was reduced to a giggling, giddy mess.


“You have the most beautiful jewels,” Quan Lu praised.


“Aren’t they lovely?” the woman gushed, holding up a hand to admire the pretty rings on her pretty fingers.


“Not as lovely as you. Where did you buy them?”


The woman laughed. “Silly, why would I need to buy anything myself?” she admonished gaily.


“So you have a secret admirer!” Quan Lu exclaimed sulkily.


“Aww, is the young master jealous?” the courtesan laughed as Quan Lu’s face turned sour.


“Who is it? Who is it that dared to covet my woman?” Quan Lu demanded.


“Your woman?” she repeated, arching an eyebrow charmingly.


“You have the best skeletal structure and most divine of bodies. I must have you, no one else must stand in my way,” Quan Lu insisted, recalling some of Huang Ming’s more ridiculous phrases.


“Young Master Quan, you’re drunk!” the courtesan murmured breathlessly. She was very pleased at the praise, despite the odd mention of skeletal structure. She chalked it up to something from the countryside.


“Drunk? Of course, I’m intoxicated by you,” Quan Lu said shamelessly, his emerald eyes staring deeply into the woman’s watery ones and causing her to tremble.


“Oh, you…” she slurred.


“I’ll buy out your contract, I’ll take you away from here!” Quan Lu asserted, mentioning a courtesan’s greatest desire.


“You can’t, I already belong to another. He’s already promised to take me away soon,” the woman whimpered regretfully.


“Who? Who is it?” Quan Lu whispered into her ear with urgency.


“He’s from Tianxin City as well. He’s quite rich and powerful, you should know of him,” the courtesan revealed at last.


“What is his name?”


But before the courtesan could reply, there was a loud commotion outside. Quan Lu could hear the muffled yells of Tian Zhu and Zhen Tian outside, and then the door crashed open. The two bodyguards were outnumbered and easily overpowered by a group of men.


The new arrivals then parted to make way for their leader.


“Who dares to lay his hands on my woman?” the leader demanded as he glared at Quan Lu furiously.


Quan Lu’s eyes widened.


“It’s you!”

Sent into a whirl,
It’s a small world.​

 

Damnit, once I get to know who these fking Yous are, I'm gonna boil them in water. I involuntarily said Fuck You irl when I got to the end.

Anyway, waiting to be surprised, although I do have a guess on who these two are.

 

Thanks for the chapter

 

This chapter was rough. Just as I sat down to polish the text, this happened:

"Why aren't you ready yet?"
"Ready for what?"
"We have a dinner engagement!"
"What? That's the first I've heard of it."
"Well now you've heard it. Go get dressed!"

/bleh

Forgive me, this was posted after the dinner. And yes, Chinese grand dinner... hours and hours...

---

“Annie, are you okay?”
--Michael Jackson

Chapter 131 – The War Goddess’s introspection

Zhao Sunli was bored.


She could not follow Huang Ming into the palace this time around, and she did not have any friends nor acquaintances in the capital. Qiong Ying was away as well, taking with her the two bodyguards Zhen Tian and Tian Zhu,


Sunli did not enjoy moving about aimlessly. Thus she holed up in the Li Clan residence instead of sightseeing the capital, waiting impatiently for Huang Ming’s return.


The Amazonian warrior tried to occupy herself by reading up classic military scrolls in the Li Clan’s library, but the archaic texts irritated her. They were such a far cry from the direct and novel lessons Huang Ming had given her.


Her vexation was compounded by the shy looks from the younger members of the Li Clan who thought themselves invisible. How could they resist stealing glances at the female warrior whose spear had struck terror in Wei?


Look at her! The fierce beauty Zhao Sunli sitting imperiously in the library, one hand holding a treatise while her brows furrowed in deep thought. One could almost see an aura of martial majesty emanating from the figure.


Sunli knew that they were not malicious, yet she could not help but felt pressured by their eyes. The womenfolk were full of admiration, the menfolk were in awe.


So she left the library and went to a quiet corner of the gardens with her weapons and armour, intending to clean them. What was it that Huang Ming had said? ‘If you want peace, prepare for war’. She approved of the soldierly phrase, and adopted it zealously.


The Li Clan’s garden was large and meticulously well tended. The flowers were in bloom, the grass freshly trimmed, the weather was clear and birds were singing in the trees… though the little creatures were scared off when Zhao Sunli came carrying her weapons and armour. It was as if a dark cloud had parked itself at one end of the garden, an oppressive aura that would repel any one from approaching.


Of course, she couldn’t get rid of her admirers completely. The Li Clan younglings were pretending to browse the books in the libary earlier, now they were pretending to be enjoying the fragrance of flowers and the scenery in the gardens. From a safe distance, that is.


Thus Sunli could not find any of the usual pleasure while she was cleaning her implements. All the while there was a twinge of irritation in her heart. That one stray thought about Huang Ming reminded her of her current predicament: being stuck in an ambiguous relationship state.


Over time, Sunli realized that the roguish young man was more than she had initially expected. She recalled the time when she found out about the engagement and had travelled to Tianxin City with Zhao Hongqi to investigate the salacious rumours surrounding her fiancé.


It was almost a lifetime ago.


She discovered that Huang Ming was more than just a smooth-talker, that there was a third party who literally stole him away from her. Then there was an actual war, and even little Hongqi found herself being pursued romantically.


But what about Sunli herself? She was the official fiancée to Huang Ming, yet Huang Ming was entangled with another. She recalled the uneasy compromise struck by the woman known as Qiong Ying who was seemingly more comfortable in her male persona of Quan Lu.


That third party was easily the most beautiful woman she had ever known, and to make the matter worse her disguise as a man had also easily fooled everyone. Then there was her own cringe-worthy confession…


Sunli snarled and quickly erased that memory from her mind. A few of the Li Clan juniors who happened to catch sight of clenched teeth from the fearsome War Goddess blanched and hurriedly left, leaving their ignorant relatives puzzled…


Despite the camaraderie Sunli had shared with Huang Ming during the campaign in Wei, it seemed to cool off when the war was over. They had maintained a cool and professional relationship when they were stationed at Tigertrap Pass, and Sunli learned to trust Huang Ming’s judgement and strategies. He gave her military responsibilities and authority, and actually trusted her to accomplish them instead of hovering over her like what her father General Zhao Tong had done previously.


Huang Ming.


What a difference the person was from the evil, scandalous gossip that she had heard. He had defeated her in a spar, surprised her with his military knowledge and despite her wall of ice she had put up, she found herself warming up to the young man. Especially since that night when they had scaled the walls of Tigertrap Pass and floated down into the fort under the pale moonlight…


Once more Sunli snarled to cut off her train of thought. This time more of the Li Clan juniors saw the sudden expression of fury, and even more were frightened into making hasty exits.


Huang Ming.


She had been observing him whenever she could and she still find him mystifying. Sometimes flippant, sometimes deep. Infuriating, but inspiring. Easy-going at times, unbending at others. She knew firsthand the way his mouth could run, and yet there were times like when he had bowed and made a heartfelt apology to Tian Zhu.


And his talents.


She saw how he had directed thousands of soldiers to bedevil even the mighty General Ran Wei in the battlefield, and then the way he had overturned Lord Aidi’s schemes in the very palace itself. It was as if he had done all these things before, taking decisive action with confidence.


Compared to him, what about her? She had allowed Qiong Ying and Huang Ming to dictate the parameters of their weird relationship, not knowing how long such a situation would last.


Was she really satisfied with the way things were?


The War Goddess closed her eyes and took a deep breath of fresh air. There was a slight breeze and she allowed herself to be caressed by the wind.


Suddenly Sunli had her peace and quiet.


A brief moment in time for her to forget the ridiculously embarrassing love triangle she had thrown herself into.


“Erm, Miss Zhao…” a shy voice called out, breaking the moment.


Sunli slowly opened her eyes, repressing the sigh that was about to escape from her lips. So much for a respite…


Standing before her was a shy young girl of the Li Clan.


“Yes, what is it?” Sunli asked.


“There’s a guest…”


Sunli frowned. “Huang Ming is still at the palace,” she said.


The young Li girl shook her head.


“No… it’s for you…” she said and gestured to someone behind her.


Sunli’s eyebrows raised when she saw the guest.


“You are…”

Three meetings,
Three greetings.​

 

Chapter Reaction:

Start- *mildly irritated that it's not MC again*
Middle- *sudden appreciation for harem member POV*
End- *urge to puke blood*

 

Hey there, I don't usually read english fictions, but I gave this a go and found out I really enjoyed it! Absolutely bravo on the plot and character development. I would love to contribute to you, but not on Patreon but rather an one time donation. Let me know where.

Great work!

 

“It’s you!”(MC) (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
“It’s you!”(Quan Lu) (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
“You are…”(Sunli) (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

 

Thank you for your kind words. I do have a paypal option in LiberSpark, the donate button above Patreon.

 

Cool. Donated some spare change I had. Hope you continue so this work gets the ending it deserves.
Good luck!

 

Thank you very much!

 

A very big thank you to kaitenX for his donation! A small nod to you in the following chapter.
----

“I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories Mr. Frodo.”
--Samwise Gamgee, ‘Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’

Chapter 132 – A big hug

“It’s you!”


Huang Ming and the newly arrived guest exclaimed simultaneously, pointing at each other in surprise.


It was none other than his very own brother, the one who was said to be missing, the one and only Huang Lang. Other than the new addition of a groomed mustache, the Celestial Qilin looked in perfect health. Even the moustache was not able to detract from his handsome and gallant posture, it only lent a distinguished air to his bearing. But to Huang Ming it looked disconcerting and ill-fitting, it was as if his brother was pretending to be older.


“What are you doing here?” Huang Lang asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly.


Huang Ming was speechless, then elated when he saw his that his brother was well. When Uncle Li had told him that his brother had gone missing, all sorts of dark thoughts came to his mind. The possibility of seeing his sister-in-law the graceful Cao Tianyun spending the rest of her life in tears was almost too difficult to bear.


The recent political developments and dangers surrounding his situation with Lord Aidi the Jin ambassador and Prime Minister Tong Xuan had the silver lining of distracting Huang Ming from his brother’s disappearance, but seeing Huang Lang standing before him in the depths of the King of Wu’s palace of all places… it was like a rock was lifted from his heart.


Thus Huang Ming leapt to his feet and rushed forward to hug his elder brother in joy.


Huang Lang who was famed for his calm demeanor did not resist and allowed the warm gesture, though his own arms hung out awkwardly at the sides before finally reciprocating. It was after all a little discomforting, he was never really that close to this prodigal younger brother until recent times.


The King of Wu and his daughter Princess Wu Liying watched on with their mouths agape. It was the first time that they had felt completely ignored.


Yet, they could not help but be entranced at the sight of the two brothers. The two young men were akin to a beautiful painting, a warm feeling of sunlight and flowers emanating from their heartfelt embrace.


Just as Huang Lang was still thinking about what to say, he felt Huang Ming’s hold getting tighter. It was apparent that Huang Ming’s emotional squeeze was turning into a bearhug filled with strength… and resentment.


“What are you doing?” Huang Lang asked quietly even as the pressure on the small of his back and his sides increased dramatically. Huang Ming had locked his hands together and the expression of joy on his face was replaced by gritted teeth and glowering eyes.


The aura of warm sunlight and flowers was replaced by bloodthirst and anger.


“Do you have any idea what you have caused?” Huang Ming shot back, recalling the worried countenance of his mother and Cao Tianyun as he was leaving for the capital.


“Let us discuss this calmly later,” Huang Lang said with a strained smile as he tried to push his brother off.


“You have a lot of explaining to do,” Huang Ming growled and released his hold.


“First, let me greet the king,” Huang Lang said mildly.


Huang Ming started, and turned around to see the bewildered looks of the King of Wu and Princess Wu Liying.


Huang Lang shook his sleeves and smoothed out the wrinkles caused by his brother’s hug before kneeling down reverently to the King.


“Thy humble servant greets Your Majesty,” he said in courtly fashion.


“Rise,” the King of Wu said gravely.


Huang Lang bowed his head and stood up slowly.


“Father, this is Sir Hui Tian,” the Princess of Wu introduced, a flush of excitement on her face.


Huang Ming’s own face scrunched up when he heard the unfamiliar name, and it did not escape the King of Wu’s notice.


“You two know each other?” the sovereign asked.


Huang Ming held his tongue, he did not know what his elder brother’s plan was. Perhaps he had already spoiled his brother’s hidden intentions with the hug earlier, and he did not want to worsen things further.


Then Huang Lang intervened. Yes, his little brother had ruined things, but unknowingly it too had lifted the concerns he had. After all, he had deceived Princess Wu Liying into leading him into the king’s sanctum…


“Your Majesty, I am Huang Lang of Tianxin City,” he announced.


It took a moment of silence before the full import of the revelation struck the King of Wu and Princess Wu Liying.


“You’re the one they call the Celestial Qilin? The eldest son of Great General Huang Zheng?” the king asked slowly.


“Yes, that is correct,” Huang Lang confirmed.


“And so, you two are brothers?”


“Thy servants have the fortune to be so,” Huang Ming said snarkily, aping his brother’s courtly language.


Huang Lang wished he could reach out to pull his brother’s ear. Their mother would probably faint and their father would cough up blood if they had witnessed Huang Ming’s frivolous attitude towards the king.


“But, but-” Princess Wu Liying stammered. Obviously she was terribly taken aback by this unexpected development. All sorts of confused threads were tugging and pulling in her mind. Like the small matter of Huang Lang being considered as a potential husband to create bloodties and ensure the loyalty of General Huang Zheng.


Huang Lang bowed contritely to the princess. “I apologize for the deception, but there are too many eyes surrounding you,” he said solemnly.


The princess could only look to and fro at Huang Lang and Huang Ming, trying to convince herself about their identities.


“Yes, we’re brothers,” Huang Ming repeated in self-satisfaction, almost mockingly at the princess.


“Do not be so rude,” Huang Lang admonished.


“Rude? I’m not the one who lied to the princess,” Huang Ming pointed out, causing Huang Lang to grimace.


Fortunately, the princess was too frazzled to respond.


In contrast, the King of Wu was extremely pleased.


“We had planned and schemed to get divine assistance, and today you two appeared before us. We had thought we could restore the kingdom with the help of one, and as now we have you both, surely we will rise again!” the king rejoiced.


Huang Lang nodded. “We shall not spare any effort in ridding the villain Tong Xuan,” he said.


On his part, Huang Ming gave his brother a strange look.


Huang Lang frowned. He had expected his younger brother to voice his agreement, yet Huang Ming remained silent.


“What are you thinking?” Huang Lang asked, unsettled by the way his younger brother was studying his face.


“I’m thinking that you should shave that disgusting thing off your face,” Huang Ming said.

An unexpected reunion,
Adding to the confusion.​

---
Note:
-Hui Tian is Chinese for "Return to Heaven". In Japanese, it would be 'Kaiten'.

 

Just read it a few days ago and i'm already hooked up, especially the comedy

 

Thanks for the chapter.

 

Thanks for the chapter, can't wait for the next update!

 

Hello.... I don't know if I had ever reviewed your works for you before but just to let you know that I did read this novel a couple of times already. And I just reread it again today, from start to finish... the current chapter, I mean.

I just wanted to say, THANKS for this awesome novel~!!! I love it~!!! I especially like the BL-suggestion/parts in here. Actually, the fact that you didn't make Huang Ming outright gay or hate gay outright, was what makes me tears up. And the fact that Lin Hua and a certain someone in here is fangirls make my day~!!!

I would totally find it acceptable, and YES! Please!, if Huang has a 'wife' that's a true male. Like a prince from a certain country. How about a prince from oversea? hehehehehehe *fangirl grin on* ///_/// that would be awesome....

 

Ueuevdbfkcurjej Damned vacation taking me to a place without internet or cellular data. Thanks for the chapter! I was not expecting Huang Lang to show up with Huang Ming, but with Qiong Ying.

 

Thank you very much to Lunnear for being my first Patron! Your patronage is much appreciated!

---
“Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream.”
--Khalil Gibran

Chapter 133 – Entangling threads

“It’s you!”


Quan Lu/Qiong Ying and the newly arrived man exclaimed in surprise. Their eyes widened in recognition, but the man recovered first. He had a pencil-thin moustache and all ten of his fingers were adorned with thick rings: bands of jade and gold.


The foxy woman who was in a half-embrace with Quan Lu just a few seconds ago rose unsteadily to her feet to greet the newcomer.


“I’ve told him nothing,” the courtesan slurred. She shook her head, sensing an almighty headache. “I think I’ve been drugged…” she mumbled in disorientation.


The man frowned. “You did well, go rest,” he said. The woman nodded reluctantly but did as told, giving Quan Lu a final withering look as she was escorted out of the room.


Quan Lu sighed, partly in admiration of the courtesan. He thought he was being clever by slipping a drug into the drinks to coax information out of the courtesan, but the woman was also stalling for time. Now the bodyguards Tian Zhu and Zhen Tian were restrained outside and Quan Lu was trapped with no avenue of escape.


Luckily, Quan Lu/Qiong Ying knew who the man was. They were almost relatives, though there were no direct correspondence between them.


The man who arrived was none other than Cao Shuang. The son of Tianxin City’s governor, and the brother of Cao Tianyun. The same Cao Tianyun who was Qiong Ying’s fellow daughter-in-law of the Huang family.


The later fact in particular gave Qiong Ying a mental tweak: She together with Zhao Sunli were still just fiancées to Huang Ming and not yet actual wives, though Huang Ming’s mother had already accepted them both. But Qiong Ying could not envisage the day when she would be officially brought across the threshold like Cao Tianyun for Huang Lang and Liu Yuchun for Huang Ke. Despite what she had repeatedly told Huang Ming about her willingness to be a concubine in the shadows and allow Sunli to be the main wife in the limelight, being married in a grandiose ceremony was still a woman’s dream.


A dream.


So long as her sister Qiong Hua was still alive, it would remain just that. The Princess of Jin has destroyed the entire Qiong clan, and from what she had learned it seemed the Princess was determined to wipe out all traces of her previous identity. Unfortunately, that would include Qiong Ying.


She brushed all fanciful thoughts of marriage away. Huang Ming was more than she could ever hope for. Marriage ceremonies and wedding banquets, she did not need those when she had already snared the finest man of the age.


‘There was a more immediate problem at hand’, Qiong Ying chastised herself and quickly reasserted her Quan Lu persona.


“Sir Cao, what a fortuitous meeting. I did not expect to see you here in the capital,” Quan Lu said with all honesty.


Cao Shuang snorted. He only knew Quan Lu in passing, during Cao Tianyun’s poetry competition. Quan Lu was one of the invitees that day, but the entire event was so hectic and blurred into one headache inducing mess that Cao Shuang never really took further notice of him.


Seeing this beautiful man again brought back memories of that fateful day. First Huang Ming had stunned everyone with his thereto literary genius, then his brother Huang Lang literally stole the heart of Cao Tianyun while being cheered on by everyone present. Though Cao Shuang himself eventually accepted their union, he still did not like the fact that he was outsmarted by the Huang brothers that one time. After the wedding and the excitement and despair that rose from the attempted invasion of Wei, Cao Shuang threw himself into his various businesses, expanding everywhere throughout the country.


“What are you doing here?” Cao Shuang asked brusquely.


Quan Lu/Qiong Ying smiled roguishly. She recalled spying on Huang Ming, Cao Shuang and Liu Xiang so long ago at the Lichun Brothel; an incident that ended with the later two being slapped around with fresh fish by the former.


Cao Shuang’s mood worsened when he saw the smile on the beautiful man’s face. He felt as if he was being mocked at.


“Explain yourself quickly,” he growled, flexing his bejewelled fingers threateningly.


Quan Lu made a show of looking around to ensure their privacy before motioning with a finger for Cao Shuang to lean in.


“Your sister sent me,” Quan Lu whispered.


Cao Shuang drew back in surprise, his eyes widening with shock as the words slowly registered in his brain.


Then his nostrils flared, his pencil moustache bristled and his forehead pulsed as blood rushed to his head in anger. How dare this man drag his sister’s name through the mud?


“What did you say?” he said threateningly. He was dangerously close to laying his hands on this delicate-looking man.


Quan Lu’s smirk grew wider. “Listen, I came to the capital together with Huang Ming,” he said.


It took the wind out of Cao Shuang’s sails. The rising magma of anger within him was extinguished, and he almost collapsed onto himself.


“What did you say?” he asked again, this time with a bewildered tone.


“Your sister asked Huang Ming to look for Huang Lang. But Huang Ming was preoccupied with official business, and so I offered to help him instead,” Quan Lu answered, and then explained how he was following the trails of rumours leading to this encounter.


“I… see…” Cao Shuang muttered. Then he gave him a suspicious look. “I do not know you. Do you have any way of confirming your words? Where is that lout Huang Ming?”


Quan Lu rolled his eyes. “Surely you have heard of his summons to the palace? I am staying at the Li Clan’s residence together, they can tell you the same thing,” he said.


“Those Huang brothers are as annoying as flies,” Cao Shuang grumbled, his earlier resentment rekindled.


Quan Lu/Qiong Ying stiffened. Of course she did not take kindly to her man being referred to as a flying insect, but she kept her temper in check.


“What about you, what are you doing here? Besides buying that courtesan’s contract?” Quan Lu asked coolly.


Cao Shuang’s eyes glowered. “Huang Lang sent me here. And she is one of our people,” he said at last.


“What?” Quan Lu exclaimed in astonishment. “Are you in contact with him? Where is he?”


“There are deeper conspiracies afoot, this is not the place to discuss them,” Cao Shuang replied.


Quan Lu nodded in understanding. The way Cao Shuang had referred to the courtesan as ‘our people’ was telling, it meant Cao Shuang and Huang Lang were working together in the capital. It was an undertaking so secretive that they neglected to inform Cao Tianyun, and by now Quan Lu had an inkling of their enterprise.


“Can you at least send a message to him? His wife… your sister is worried about him.”


“I have to first verify your identity,” Cao Shuang said curtly.


Quan Lu waved a hand in acceptance. “Send your men with my guards to the Li Clan residence to look for Li Hong, he is their uncle.”


Then he retrieved a pill from his sleeve and passed it to Cao Shuang. “Here’s the antidote for your woman,” he said apologetically.


Cao Shuang was satisfied and his countenance softened. “You can wait here in the meantime. Is there anything you need?”


Quan Lu was about to decline, but then he smiled mischievously.


“I need something to clear my hangover. Do you have any fresh fish?” he asked, savouring the look on Cao Shuang’s face.

Loose threads and strings,
Coming together in an inn.​

 

Thanks for the acknowledgment!~ I haven't been using patron so this might be the only time/month that I would patron you but I hope that a LOT of people will join me in supporting your patron~!!!

 

“There is nothing like the sight of an amputated spirit. There is no prosthetic for that.”
--Lt. Col. Frank Slade, 'Scent of a Woman'

Chapter 134 – Peerless

At the Li Clan’s residence, Sunli saw that her guest was someone familiar.


“You are…” she said hesitantly, having only seen the person once before fleetingly.


The man nodded in acknowledgement. He was tall and broad shouldered, his hair tinged with streaks of grey, his face weathered and his jaw chiselled. The small but visible signs of aging and weariness added dignity and made him appear wise and formidable; tempered by the worldly look in his grey eyes that have seen too much. This was an attractive man in his prime years: experienced, confident, yet responsible and burdened.


She hastily rose to salute him, a man who was an equal peer in rank to her father General Zhao Tong.


The person in question was General Yin Yanzhao the White Star, Wu’s pillar of defence in the north, the vigilant and powerful shield that had deterred the Jin barbarians from sweeping south outright. He was the latest in a long line of patriots that had defended the north loyally, a position passed from son to son for many generations. His father General Yin Yanxi was a Great General of Wu as well, a peer of Huang Zheng and Zhao Tong, though they had never crossed paths due to different areas of responsibility.


Unfortunately General Yin Yanzhao appeared to be the last of the lineage: his wife died in childbirth and his children later perished in unfortunate circumstances.


There were many stories and songs about the valour and sacrifices of his troops as they battled harsh winters and Jin raiding parties alike. The family tragedies served to add colour and a humanizing aspect to what was an epic saga of bravery and unflinching loyalty.


Their steadfast adherence to their duty earned lavish praises and admiration. Though the current King of Wu was distracted lately and the northern border was neglected due to Gao Fang’s misadventure in Wei, the elite soldiers of General Yin did not waver, standing fast and enduring the lean times due to the diverting of supplies and material to other fronts.


Such was the respect General Yin Yanzhao commanded that the Jins trusted in his honour to escort their Ambassador Aidi to meet the King of Wu for what was thought to be diplomatic talks. Unfortunately the result was a tempestuous royal banquet that ended with Lord Aidi being humiliated, and the threat of war with Jin did not subside at all.


That banquet was also the venue where Sunli had seen General Yin Yanzhao. The general had escorted Lord Aidi and his gigantic female bodyguard into the banquet, but after the brief introduction he was all but forgotten. Thinking back, Sunli thought it was not right for such a distinguished military man to be treated as a mere valet. As one of those who had forgotten about General Yin due to the dramatic events of that day, Sunli felt mortified.


General Yin Yanzhao returned the salute, giving her the proper respect as a fellow soldier deserved.


That one gesture was enough to move Sunli: it was not until she had encountered Huang Ming that her skills and dedication as a soldier were truly appreciated. But after all that was said and done, Huang Ming was not a career soldier himself.


Even her father General Zhao Tong treated her with kid gloves despite her martial skills. It was only the desperate necessities of the campaign in Wei that she was given actual combat responsibilities, and she performed it with aplomb and finally earning a fearsome reputation.


Still, there were still whispers and doubt spoken of her actual prowess. For instance, her battle honours and combat citations from the campaign in Wei were acknowledged as almost an afterthought by the King of Wu. The monarch was far more interested in Huang Ming. Though Sunli did not begrudge her fiancé for it, it would be a lie to say that she was completely immune from thoughts of envy.


What was it Huang Ming had said? ‘For a woman to do a man’s job she has to do it twice as well to be thought as half as good.’


Furthermore, General Yin Yanzhao the White Star was an accomplished warrior and looked upon as a role model for soldiers. To receive something as innocuous as a proper salute with all the accorded esteem and honour from him was inspirational and it filled her with pride.


“Zhao Sunli, yes?” the general queried despite knowing the answer.


“Yes sir,” Sunli replied, still tense.


General Yin Yanzhao smiled benignly. “You are a veteran in your own right, no need to be so formal,” he said. He gave a once-over at her weapons and armour strewn on the ground.


“You were conducting maintenance?” he asked.


Sunli nodded as she felt her cheeks heat up, and she hoped it wouldn’t show up in her tanned complexion.


“So you’re not beneath doing your own cleaning,” he said, raising an eyebrow.


“They are my weapons sir, I am responsible for them,” she replied.


General Yin Yanzhao nodded with approval, pleased by her attitude. Then his lidded, grey eyes stared directly at Sunli, as if studying her as she stood as taut as a drawn bow.


“Not bad, you have great form. You truly live up to your reputation, and you are a credit to your illustrious father,” the general praised.


Sunli did not feel uncomfortable from his frank stare, rather she stood straighter and her chin rose higher. How often can one brag about being personally commended by General Yin? There are countless stories about the general, like his father before him; sharing weal and woe with his elite soldiers of the north, treating them as if they were his sons and brothers.


“The general is too generous with his compliments,” she said modestly, inwardly gleeful with the assessment from such a celebrated military man.


“Let us be at ease,” the general said gently, yet there was an authority in his voice would not brook any dissent.


Sunli exhaled and stood at ease with her feet apart.


“Sir, if you are here to see Sir Huang Ming, he has been called to the palace,” she said, trying her best to maintain a stoic mask.


A shadow flickered over the general’s face and he shook his head.


“No, I’m not here to see him, though it would be nice to do so at another time,” he replied wistfully.


“Sir?” Sunli asked.


“No, I’m here to see you, Zhao Sunli,” the general said. “I have heard stories of you, and I want to see for myself the one they call the War Goddess.”


This time Sunli knew she could not hide the blush from her cheeks.


“I did not give myself that nickname,” she said in what she hoped to be her most neutral tone.


“That is what makes it all the more praiseworthy,” General Yin Yanzhao chuckled. Then he bowed his head slightly and looked away, as if embarrassed.


“If you care for it, perhaps we can discuss the campaign in Wei over a meal?” he asked softly.


It was as if a thunderbolt had struck Sunli, her eyes widened as she stared at the general.


“Unless, of course, you are busy,” the general added, giving the weapons and armour on the ground another look.


“No, of course not,” Sunli said quickly. “It would be my honour to accompany the general,” she added with all seriousness.


General Yin Yanzhao smiled.


“No, it would be my pleasure,” he said.

The son of the north,
An invitation did he bring forth.​

 

Thanks! He's not going to try and steal sunli is he?