Chapter 137
Book 13 Chapter 04 – Feelings
Back at the Wu residence, Teng Yi is still awake and is drinking alone in the dark.
Xiang Shaolong is sure that he is agonizing over Shan Rou’s death and sat beside him without saying a single word.
Teng Yi pa.s.sed him some wine and disclosed: "Tian Dan went to find Lu Buwei after he met you and left after a long time. He must have been complaining to Lu Buwei about you. After that, he went to find Li Yuan. A single sentence from Third Brother has terrified him so much."
Xiang Shaolong swallowed a gulp of wine and his tears begin to fall uncontrollably from his face. In a deep voice, he commented: "This is better than I expect. To comfort him, Lu Buwei will swear to kill me during the hunting festival. They will allow Li Yuan to return to Chu first and leave Tian Dan behind. After all, he wanted to see me dead before he can return to Qi with peace of mind."
Smelling strongly of alcohol, Teng Yi remarked: "I did not think about that. It must be Rou’er a.s.sisting us from Heaven to take his miserable life."
Xiang Shaolong inquired: "Has Yanran started work on the fake letter?"
Teng Yi nodded: "Yes. I got a pigeon messenger to send it back to the farm immediately. According to Yanran, Uncle Qing and his men just need one night to forge a fake letter based on the letter from Lord Chunshen to Zhao Mu. It is guaranteed to be foolproof."
The pigeon messenger is a new secret weapon Xiang Shaolong introduced to the Wu Family Elite Warriors. This will speed up communication between the farms and Xianyang City and was implemented recently.
Xiang Shaolong silently drank another two cups of wine and wiped away his tears. "Have you told Jing Jun?" he asked in a deep voice.
Teng Yi sighed: "Tomorrow! He ought to know. He was overjoyed with his Yan beauty and let’s give him another day of happiness!"
He asked: "Will Li Yuan really leave after receiving the letter?"
Xiang Shaolong coldly sn.i.g.g.e.red: "Similar to Lu Buwei using women to gain power, Li Yuan is using her pretty sister as a gift to the same effect. If he learns about Xiaolie’s condition, he will not be bothered about Tian Dan. Lu Buwei will encourage him to return immediately and execute their plan. I expect that they will try to take Lord Chunshen’s life. The Lord is so amusing and yet pitiful."
Teng Yi sighed: "Third Brother is becoming more and more formidable, covering every aspect of the plan flawlessly."
Xiang Shaolong icily laughed: "For Shan Rou and Second Brother, I will do whatever I can to kill Tian Dan. Killing Mo Ao is another crucial part of the plan. If this man continues to provide them with strategies, we may be killed by Tian Dan instead."
Teng Yi sighed: "This is my biggest worry too. If Lu Buwei sent his own warriors and escort Tian Dan all the way until he meets his own army, it will be impossible for us to act."
Xiang Shaolong confidently explained: "Remember the last time we spoke about Lord Gaoling conspiring with Zhao General Pang Nuan? If I am not mistaken, these two men will try to rebel during the hunting fair. Lu Buwei will be too busy dealing with them and will not have time for Tian Dan. As long as we misled Tian Dan that Xianyang City is an unsafe place, he will rush back to Qi via Chu as soon as possible, giving us the golden opportunity."
Speaking till here, the sky is gradually brightening up but neither man felt the least urge to sleep.
Xiang Shaolong stood up: "I don’t know what but I am pining for Ji Yanran and the ladies. Since it is still early, I will visit them at Qin Residence. Second Brother should spend some time with Sister-in-law."
Teng Yi appreciated: "You go ahead! I still want to think about some things."
Qin Qing is pruning her plants in her garden and saw Xiang Shaolong coming to her place before the sky is fully bright. Stunned, she put aside her gardening tool carefully in an intricate bronze box and instructed her attendant to bring it into the house. She simply state: "They are still asleep. I heard that Commander Xiang has the habit of sleeping late and they have inherited your habit as well. Why don’t we take a stroll?"
How can Xiang Shaolong reject her? He walked beside her and enjoyed her fabulous garden with many unique plants and the fragrances of flowers filled the air. They travelled down a zigzag path that snakes through carefully pruned trees and bushes.
Birds are chirping loudly, filling the garden with a sense of liveliness.
With a solemn expression, Qin Qing led him down the path. With a hint of blame in her tone, she asked: "Your hair is messy; your clothes are untidy and there is a dirty mark on your shoulder area. Both of your eyes are red and swollen and you smell strongly of alcohol. You must have stayed up the whole of last night?"
Xiang Shaolong did not antic.i.p.ate this and was astonished: "You only peeped once at me and you can deduce so many things?"
Qin Qing turned her head at shot him a look, scolding: "Your words are vulgar and rude. Who is peeping at you?"
Xiang Shaolong can sense the happiness in her scolding and knew that she is not really blaming him. He bitterly laughed: "I am not fully conscious yet. Ai! I really look disgraceful compared to Grand Tutor Qin. My smelly alcohol fumes has polluted your fragrant scent!"
Qin Qing abruptly stopped walking and turned around. Before she could say anything, an aimless Xiang Shaolong b.u.mped right into her.
Both of them shrieked out in fright and backed off instantly.
Qin Qing’s face is burning red and a fl.u.s.tered Xiang