Chapter 113
Book 11 Chapter 04 - Exhausted
Xiang Shaolong fetched Ji Yanran and Zou Yan to the Empress Dowager palace before he went to find Xiao Pan and w.a.n.g Ben. He got them to duel with each other first and then instructed them to attack him at the same time.
The two boys are thrilled to hear this and raised their wooden swords to attack him like in a real fight. Having inherited his father’s strength coupled with a good martial arts foundation in swordsmans.h.i.+p, Little Ben is especially excited. Unless it is Xiang Shaolong, otherwise, it will be hard to fight both of them without hurting them.
Xiang Shaolong s.h.i.+fted to the side and evaded a thrust from w.a.n.g Ben. He returned a thrust which w.a.n.g Ben hastily avoided by retreating. It was a false retreat. As Xiang Shaolong parried a blow from Xiao Pan’s wooden sword, w.a.n.g Ben leapt towards him and chopped down heavily on Xiang Shaolong’s head.
"Good move!" Xiang Shaolong cried and met his blow head on. Piak! w.a.n.g Ben’s entire arm went numb. w.a.n.g Ben was about to press on with another attack when Xiang Shaolong raised his right foot, pretending to kick out. A shocked w.a.n.g Ben fell back, sheathing his sword with his face full of indignation.
Xiang Shaolong stopped the fight and smiled at w.a.n.g Ben: "Are you angry that I did not follow the rules and tried to kick you?"
w.a.n.g Ben’s face reddened. Lowering his head, he replied: "I dare not!"
Xiang Shaolong softly asked: "If you are fighting a war, will you blame the enemy for kicking you?" His voice turned fierce at the last line.
w.a.n.g Ben quivered with fright. Kneeling down on the floor, he shouted: "I understand!" Xiang Shaolong is satisfied with his reply and roared: "Then you better get up and attack now!"
w.a.n.g Ben shot up from his kneeling position and advanced very quickly with his wooden sword thrusting at chest level.
Xiao Pan is spurned on and attacked Xiang Shaolong from the other side.
Xiang Shaolong laughed and kicked the blunt side of Xiao Pan’s wooden sword. He continued to evade w.a.n.g Ben’s powerful strike and tripped him. w.a.n.g Ben fell flat on his face and lost hold of his wooden sword.
Xiang Shaolong noticed that Xiao Pan is undefended and thrust his sword towards him.
Just when Xiao Pan is about to be stabbed, w.a.n.g Ben somersaulted up and used his body to s.h.i.+eld Xiao Pan.
Xiang Shaolong frantically withdrew his thrust. Staring at w.a.n.g Ben, he simply asked: "Is Little Ben planning to use his body to absorb this blow?"
w.a.n.g Ben proudly declared: "Father has taught me to protect Crown Prince even at the cost of my life."
Xiang Shaolong was very moved. Smiling, he asked again: "If you did not lose your sword, you can use it to deflect my attack right?"
w.a.n.g Ben excitedly praised: "Grand Tutor is great! Father will never kick me in a swordfight."
Xiang Shaolong laughed: "This cannot be compared. Come! Let me teach you how to withstand blows."
Xiao Pan recalled the days when he was tripped heavily by Xiang Shaolong. Losing his composure, he cheered: "Ah! That’s wonderful..."
Catching a stern glare from Xiang Shaolong, he quickly shut up.
A round of applause can be heard from the side. Under the escort of her palace maids, Zhu Ji came up to them and giggled: "Can Grand Tutor spare a few minutes to chat with me?"
Xiang Shaolong looked to the disappointed Xiao Pan and w.a.n.g Ben who had not fought to their heart’s content. Sighing to himself, he nodded: "I will not dare to disobey Empress."
Sounds of Xiao Pan and w.a.n.g Ben’s clas.h.i.+ng and shouting can be heard from the practice grounds. Xiang Shaolong, Zhu Ji are seated in a pavilion within the royal gardens while the palace maids and palace guards are situated away from them.
Every time he faced this graceful, elegant, charming, cunning and intelligent Qin empress, Xiang Shaolong felt uneasy and anxious. He has to constantly remind himself to observe the boundaries of men and women and suppress his urge to disregard all the rules. Zhu Ji seems to be facing the same problems.
He is certain that Zhu Ji’s devotion for King Zhuangxiang is a mixture of grat.i.tude and love. Between himself and Zhu Ji is an exciting and wild pa.s.sion. After all, they had met under extraordinary circ.u.mstances. Suppressing her emotions, Zhu Ji looks especially charming.
Zhu Ji plainly gazed at him and lightly sighed: "I have barely seen you a few times when you have to leave again, making me melancholic. Ai! How can I ever repay you? You have saved us both mother and son and taken revenge for me with Le Cheng and Zhao Mu!"
Xiang Shaolong dare not look straight at her. He respectfully said: "That is my responsibility! If Empress has other wishes that I cannot fulfil, it is my fault and not yours."
Zhu Ji reproached: "Even you are playing games with me. Everyone is respectful and fearful of me now. If you, my confidante, are really afraid of me, who else can I pour out my sorrows? Lu Buwei is avoiding me like the plague and you are following his example!"
Xiang Shaolong sighed: "The most fearful place in the world in the royal palace. Doesn’t Empress know that someone is trying very hard to replace you mother and son?"
Zhu Ji’s mouth curled up in a smile. She casually mentioned: "In terms of scheming, I have my fair share of experience. Grand Tutor Xiang need not be worried."
She giggled: "Do not behave as if I am always trying to seduce you! Although life in the palace is boring, I am satisfied to just watch Zheng’er grow up and do not care about other things."
If this discussion carries on, something bad will happen. Xiang Shaolong changed the topic and asked: "Who is actually coveting this throne?"
Zhu Ji batted an eye at him. After a short moment of reflection, she replied with disdain: "Most of the Qin officials are amiable. Only those in Lord Gao Ling’s camp and Lord Yangquan’s camp are hostile towards us mother and son. The others are either bribed by Lu