Chapter 10
Book 1 Chapter 10 – Spending the night together
Tao Fang spoke to Xiang Shaolong quietly through the carriage window, "I know that Shaolong has long guessed that it’s Lady Ya who wants to see you. Ever since her husband Zhao Kuo died in the battle of Chang Ping, that wanton has been hunting handsome men everyday to become her intimate guests. If she’s satisfied after trying them out, she’ll keep them as her lover, and Lian Jin is one of them."
Xiang Shaolong asked quietly, "Does her brother Emperor Xiaocheng know about this?"
Tao Fang replied, "The whole city is full of spies, how could his Majesty not know. It’s just that in the past his Majesty was tricked by Fan Ju from the state of Qin, and replaced Lian Po* with Zhao Kuo, refusing to listen to the advise of the then Prime Minister Lin Xiangru. He sent Zhao Kuo, who can only talk but doesn’t know how to strategize a war, to fight the Qin soldiers at Changping, and caused the 400,000 brave soldiers to be almost totally annihilated. Zhao Kuo died in the battlefield, and only about 240 survivors returned. His Majesty felt guilt towards his sister, so he condones her actions. Therefore Lady Ya holds a certain amount of influence over his Majesty, so don’t you offend her." He signaled the footmen to start the journey.
*Lian Po - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lian_Po
Xiang Shaolong felt that the entire situation was hilarious.
When he reached Wu An initially, he had thought of becoming a gigolo to earn money for traveling expenses. Who would have expected that now he would have no choice but to really become a gigolo, and his customer is that Lady Ya.
He has suffered enough setbacks and anguish, and has no mood to enjoy the changing scenery outside the window because his heart is in turmoil.
His thinking in the past was quite naïve, thinking that with his military training he will be able to excel in this era. But he did not expect such complications, and like the same across all eras, brute strength is not enough to accomplish anything.
If he wants to control his own fate, he’ll have to use extreme measures, and step on everyone else so that he will not have to be led around by the nose.
The most important thing right now is to defeat Lian Jin. But in the earlier fight with him, this person’s swordplay is truly at his peak. Even if he were to include wrestling in the duel, he might still not be able to win.
Besides, what Lian Jin said was correct, he has only learnt the Mozi swordplay for a few months, and is not that experienced yet, so how can he win him.
When they dueled earlier, Lian Jin was exceptionally calm and composed, just like what Yuan Zong said a true swordsman should achieve. But he on the other hand was rash and impulsive, if he can’t change this, he will certainly lose, so what should he do?
Suddenly he had an idea, and thought of that extreme beauty Wu Tingfang.
If he can win her heart, what kind of a blow will it be for Lian Jin who thinks the world of himself? When it comes to wooing ladies, it has always been his forte, so there’s no way that hateful babe Wu Tingfang will be able to reject him. The problem is that in ancient times there’s no such thing as phoning to arrange a date, so how can he get to her himself?
By now the carriage has gone pa.s.sed a huge mansion, with guards standing at the door. He saw people wearing clothes that doesn’t seem to be usual outfit for the Zhaos walking in and out so he asked the footman who was driving the carriage.
The footman replied, "That’s the house in Handan which belongs to people from other states."
Xiang Shaolong was secretly overjoyed, and thought that maybe the Qin Emperor Ying Zheng is staying in there, and he can’t help but feel uplifted.
The horse carriage turned right into another main road made from cobblestones, and proceeded towards a huge mansion.
Xiang Shaolong collected his composure and told himself, "Xiang Shaolong! This is the time for you to change, you cannot be so trusting towards others anymore or let feelings rule your head."
Fine!
Then let me try something, and conquer this Lady Ya first to give Lian Jin his first heavy setback.
After changing into a set of fitting warrior’s clothes with a cloak, matched with a long sword at his waist and his hair combed neatly into a crown, Xiang Shaolong followed 2 lovely maids and stepped into Lady Ya’s grand mansion.
The pretty maid invited him to sit on the rug and gave him scented tea before leaving him sitting alone in the s.p.a.cious hall.
Xiang Shaolong was bored and started observed his surroundings.
The hall was exquisitely decorated, with a silk painting on palace people on the wall, the colors vibrant.
There was a large rug in the middle of the hall woven with pictures of clouds, the color clean and simple, very pleasing to the eyes. The few cupboards against the wall were full of playthings. If he can just take any one of them back to the 21st century and put it up for auction, he’ll be rich for the rest of his life.
Right at this time, he had a feeling of being watched.
Xiang Shaolong glanced nonchalantly at a large folding screen on his left which was made up of 8 paintings, and seem to see from the gap in between the reflection from an eye. He was secretly laughing, and knew that this must be Lady Ya who has come to inspect the goods.
If he appears to be uneasy or do anything embarra.s.sing while waiting impatiently, this wonton Lady Ya who loves toying with men will surly despise him. Once he thought about this, he became mischievous and stood up, sweeping his cape aside to reveal his manly body that can intoxicate any female. He stretched and walked to a large window and looked out so that Lady Ya can just see his chiseled left profile.
He stood straight like a mountain, one hand behind him, the other hand resting on his sword, a look of deep thought in his expression, very immersed in his acting.
He did not bring his wooden sword, because that’s his secret weapon and he did not wish to reveal it to anyone before his duel with Lian Jin.
The garden outside the window looked especially pretty and calming under the rays of the setting sun.
A gentle breeze blew, uplifting his spirits.
For a moment he forgot that Lady Ya is peeping at him, and remembered his own era.
In that era, the rule of strong eating the weak has not changed, but there are still laws, and regulations between
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The night pa.s.sed like that.
She is no longer a lady of n.o.ble birth, but a shameless woman in heated desire enjoying her lover’s ministrations.
Every second is filled with fiery desire.
The joy between a man and a woman drove into Lady Ya wave by wave, making her delirious. She cried out the name of this lovely yet hateful man madly, touching and hugging this perfect male body, feeling his explosive strength and his seemingly endless intense attacks, reaching the fiery peak where soul meets desire time and again. In the past when she was with other men, she’d always chase them away immediately after the act and sleep alone, even Lian Jin was no exception. But tonight she has no wish to leave this man’s embrace even for a moment.
But only for tonight.
Everything will be different tomorrow, no man will be able to make her surrender.
She only wants to capture men, but does not wish to be captured, because that would be too torturous.
She fell into a deep sleep in her daze, and when she woke up it’s already late in the morning.
Xiang Shaolong is already gone, only leaving behind on the blanket a yellow chrysanthemum freshly plucked from the garden.
Lady Ya clutched tightly at the stem, a sweet and satisfied alluring smile appeared on her pretty face.