Chapter 108
Book 10 Chapter 11 – Attacking And Defending At the Same Time
Even before he could reach the Liu Residence, Xiang Shaolong and his men had a big surprise! Horse carriages were promptly lined up in front of the residence blockading the entire street. Any empty s.p.a.ces were filled with Ji Yanran’s well-wishers and common folks who there to witness the spectacle.
Upon his sighting, everyone began pointing at him and cheering: "That is Dong Horse Fanatic!" while others shouted: "That is a true hero."
Xiang Shaolong can only laugh bitterly and got down from his horse with the rest of his men. Shan Rou laid down her conditions first: "I am not waiting for you outside no matter what you say."
Xiang Shaolong cannot win her in an argument. Instructing Wu Guo to maintain order in the streets, he squeezed into residence with Shan Rou.
The servants of Liu Residence have been informed of his arrival. They welcomed Xiang Shaolong and led him into the inner chambers. The waiting Tian sisters saw him and their eyes shone with happiness. Leaping into his bosom, they wailed in tears.
As Xiang Shaolong was busy pacifying the two girls, like a magician, Ji Yanran managed to evade all the attention and slipped in. She angrily cursed: "I am bored to death!" Scrutinizing the escort soldier next to the three of them, she recognized Shan Rou.
Embarra.s.sed. The Tian sisters left Xiang Shaolong’s bosom with their eyes swollen with all the crying.
Shan Rou showed the gentle side of her, pulling the Tian sisters to a corner and continued to pacify them.
Xiang Shaolong joked: "How did you slip away?"
An annoyed Ji Yanran responded: "I got G.o.dfather (Zou Yan) to handle them. I am not interested in such activities."
She added in a low voice: "Han Chuang just notified me that Li Yuan is leading five hundred of his family warriors to escort me back to Wei. They are waiting for me outside the city wall. What should we do?"
Xiang Shaolong coldly snorted: "Relax! He is simply using this as an excuse to leave Handan to avoid any connections with tonight’s event. After tonight, he will come back to check on the end result." He went on to share about Yan Ping.
An attendant came to report that it is time to set off.
Ji Yanran got her men to send the Tian sisters secretly into one of the horse carriage. Xiang Shaolong, Wu Guo and hundreds of city guards were leading and protecting the convoy as they rode towards the east gate.
Before noon, the entourage has left the city and proceed east towards the State of Han. The number of city guards has been boosted to over a thousand.
Xiang Shaolong instructed Wu Guo on how to deal with Li Yuan before hiding with Shan Rou in the same carriage as the Tian sisters. Together, they travelled with Ji Yanran.
After travelling for half a mile, Li Yuan and his five hundred family warriors rushed over from the west gate where they had been waiting.
Ji Yanran commanded the entourage to stop. When Li Yuan reached her carriage side, she asked with discontent: "Why is Imperial Uncle chasing me?"
Li Yuan jumped down from his horse and went to her carriage window asking: "There are many bandits on these roads and Li Yuan cannot help but be worried for Miss. Therefore, I wish to personally send you to Wei. Ai! Aren’t you going back to Wei? You seemed to be travelling in the wrong direction!"
Behind Ji Yanran’s carriage, Xiang Shaolong peeped out from his carriage. Li Yuan has an incensed look on his face and must be thinking that Yanran is deceiving him.
Ji Yanran’s sweet and gentle voice sounded from within the carriage: "Imperial Uncle is mistaken. Yanran is sending Mister Zou back to Han before going home to Wei. Imperial Uncle, please do not send us any further. Yanran is capable of taking care of herself."
Li Yuan coldly smiled: "Is Miss Ji really going home to Daliang?"
Ji Yanran’s voice turned cold and she hissed: "None of your business. Men!"
Wu Guo gave a loud reply and rode over to her carriage.
Ji Yanran calmly ordered: "Kill whoever that follows us!"
Li Yuan was ashen faced, exclaiming: "Miss!"
Wu Guo shouted his command and gestured with his hands. The carriage convoy continued to move forward while he led his men and detained Li Yuan with the family warriors.
Mad with anger, Li Yuan flew up his horse and swore: "Even if your King sees me, he has to show me some courtesy and respect. Who dares to block my way?!"
Wu Guo cannot be bothered with his antics and icily challenged: "Feel free to try your luck. But if you continue to follow us, do not blame my weapon for being merciless."
Li Yuan is so incensed that his face is turning red. He could see that Wu Guo is very determined and his army is twice as big as his own. He has no confidence of winning. After Ji Yanran and the carriages have gone far, Wu Guo yelled a new command and chased the entourage with his army, leaving Li Yuan and his men dazed at the same spot, watching the dust kicked up by the galloping horses.
Out of a sudden, Li Yuan knew that he has lost this top beauty forever.
Initially, there are gra.s.slands on the two sides of the official road to Han. After an hour on the road, the gra.s.slands are replaced by forests. Hugging the Tian sisters, Xiang Shaolong coaxed: "Be obedient and listen to Mister Zou on the road. Very soon, both of you will be back at Xianyang. From then on, we can live happily together!"
The two girls held their tears and nodded in consent.
As he spoke, the horse carriages began to slow down and came to a complete stop eventually.
Xiang Shaolong and Shan Rou got out of their carriage. Under Wu Guo’s cover, Ji Yanran is now disguised as an escort soldier and got out of her carriage as well.
Xiang Shaolong went over to Zou Yan’s side and wished: "Mister, please take care."
Opening the curtains, Zou Yan laughed: "There is nothing under the sky that cannot be accomplished by you."
The entourage started to move off again under the leaders.h.i.+p of another elite brother. Another fifty elite brothers continue to protect the carriages back to Xianyang.
Xiang Shaolong has prepared all the