Chapter 18
Book 2 Chap 5 – Scheming Snake
The name list was on the table. Master Wu, Wu Yingyuan and Tao Fang all looked somber. Surprising there was also Lian Jin, Li Shan and Wu Hei’s names on it as well. Besides Tao Fang, Li Shan is the closest to Xiang Shaolong among all the warriors, but who would have expected that he is the King of Zhao’s spy.
No wonder Prince Shaoyuan came asking for Su Nu at such a perfect timing, because it’s all a plot. Xiang Shaolong feels the pain of betrayal by a good friend.
Master Wu said quietly, "Although Zhao Ya is highly trustworthy, but we must still try various methods to check if this name list is authentic. Yingyuan will be in charge of this."
He then told Tao Fang, "You’ll send men to rush to Mulberry Village immediately and move Mei Canniang to a secret location. Then you’ll bribe the people there heavily and ask them to lie for Shaolong, to cover this secret that Shaolong is a descendant of a Qin."
Only Shaolong knows his own problem, because no one there knows him at all. Therefore he can only force himself to say, "I’ve always hunted and stayed in the mountains, and only went to Mulberry Village recently. I’ve always stayed at an isolated valley…"
Tao Fang patted his own chest and said, "That’s no problem, I’ll get some people to disguise themselves as villagers. I guarantee that no one will know." Xiang Shaolong felt a.s.sured.
Master Wu sighed, "It’s all thanks to Shaolong this time that we find out how dire our circ.u.mstances are now. If not for Shaolong’s victory last night, if Lian Jin marries Fang’er then it’ll be terrible. From now on, I will not look upon myself as a Zhao. Luckily we have connections with the rich and powerful in various other states, we’ll have people accepting us no matter where we run to. The problem is how can we avoid the Zhaos coming after us?" Xiang Shaolong was feeling perplexed, why is it that Master Wu seems very confident of moving the entire clan out of the city?
Master Wu showed his calmness in the face of danger and said coldly, "It’s now time to settle the accounts for autumn. I’ll take the opportunity to arrange everything when the herdsmen in charge from the various places comes and prepare to react to the situation. Since he’s unkind to me, I shall not show him any mercy either. Since King Xiaocheng wants to deal with me, I’ll drag him down at the same time."
Wu Yingyuan added, "Keeping soldiers for a thousand days, so that they can be used for a time. Now it seems like an critical time for Zhao Wuzhuo and the death warriors he trained." Master Wu agreed heartily. This King of Livestock who has always been loyal to the state of Zhao is really furious now.
Tao Fang explained to Xiang Shaolong, "Zhao Wuzhuo is Master’s G.o.dson, and he goes around especially to adopt orphans and give then rigorous training to become our main force. We have a few thousand people and they’re usually scattered around the pastures near Handan. Only the few of us know about this matter."
Wu Yingyuan said, "With them helping Shaolong, it’ll be even better. Even if the King of Zhao send his troops to attack our Wu’s castle, we can still defend ourselves for about half a month."
Master Wu said, "We’ll postpone Shaolong and Fang’er’s wedding to a month later, then on the pretext that we’re preparing for the wedding, we can cover up a lot of our movements." Tao Fang added, "I can use the excuse that I’m reorganizing Wu Hei’s men to make changes to the troops and transfer most of the spies out of here so that the Zhaos will not be suspicious."
Master Wu said with determination, "We’ll do it that way then." He turned towards Xiang Shaolong and said, "Shaolong has to pretend to be attracted by benefits and l.u.s.t, and accept Zhao Mu’s bribes. You must also pretend to be enamored with Zhao Ya’s beauty so that the Zhao people will not get suspicious. I will give you some information to leak to Zhao Mu so that they will trust you even more." Xiang Shaolong agreed sincerely.
Master Wu reached out and grabbed his shoulders and said with a smile, "Go and see Fang’er! She came over just now asking for you." Xiang Shaolong wanted to smile back, but he has lost the mood for it.
In the 21st century, when he leave his home everyday, he seldom thought of whether he can return home alive. But in this warring states period, not only does he have to worry about not coming home, he has to worry about disasters falling from the sky and affecting the whole clan. For survival, everyone must make himself become the stronger one, or rely on the stronger ones to survive.
Xiang Shaolong found Wu Tingfang who was practicing her horse riding and archery skills at the training field. After practicing with her a round of archery, he returned to his peaceful home and saw that there is a wooden sign hung outside the door that says "Hidden Dragon Abode". It turns out to be Wu Tingfang’s work.
Ting Fangs.h.i.+ and the 4 maids were happily pruning the bushes and flowers, humming a song and on seeing his return, she was ecstatic. She hugged him and Wu Tingfang and took them into the house. Before they could sit down properly, a huge group of servants carrying a hundred odd large and small chests came over. Xiang Shaolong was dumbfounded while Wu Tingfang said with a laugh, "What’s so strange, Tingfang already belongs to you. Father and Mother has no objections, so naturally I’m moving in to stay with you."
Xiang Shaolong did not imagine that in this era, there would actually be cohabitation. He suddenly understood, to the Wu family talk about loyalty and piety are all unreliable words. The most reliable would be to use the Wu family’s most alluring beauty to bind his body and heart.
But he is indeed extremely fond and infatuated with Wu Tingfang, so he said with a laugh, "I have the power and the responsibility to ask you for bed tax every night before you’re allowed to sleep."
Wu Tingfang’s pretty face blushed and she stared at him charmingly before instructing the servants how she wants her things to be placed and how she wants the 2 rooms and side hall, which has been set aside for her at the East Chamber, decorated. Ting Fangs.h.i.+ came to his side and said with a laugh, "Grand Young Miss said that there’re 8 rooms in the West Chamber, the first room is mine, the rest will be for the women you marry in future. If it’s not enough, we can ask someone to build another extension." Xiang Shaolong put his arms around her waist and asked, "Happy?" Ting Fangs.h.i.+ nodded her head shyly, her expression overjoyed.
To be able to make the woman he loves happy, is a man’s greatest achievement. He thought of a matter and asked, "The beauties that came with you to Handan, do you know where they’ve gone?"
Ting Fangs.h.i.+ shook her head sadly, and said, "I heard that some of them were sent away to become camp prost.i.tutes. Besides me, none of them are in Wu residence."Only now was Xiang Shaolong’s question answered. No wonder they have to look for so many beauties in the villages, so it’s to comfort the army who have left their hometown and are now stationed overseas. He can’t help but feel pity for them.
Only by unifying the various states and establis.h.i.+ng a new law and regime, will this problem of belittling women’s rights be solved. Hai! Even if the world is unified, they still have about 2000 odd years to go before there can be some hope of civilization. This is such a far and difficult journey.
After lunch, he hugged Ting Fangs.h.i.+ as he took an afternoon nap and only woke up a little after 3pm. Wu Tingfang is still happily decorating her room at this time. After Xiang Shaolong freshened up, he went to her room and looked on with interest as Chunying and the other maids worked under her instructions.
Although it’s called a room, but the size is even bigger than the modern man’s living room. The most eye-catching item is the huge bed which took up a quarter of the room, and it can sleep 7 to 8 people very comfortably. The bed itself is like a room. The 4 corners of the bed were 4 round wooden pillars carved with flowers, with wooden beams cementing it to the roof and hung on it were huge curtains.
Once he thought of this beauty waiting obediently every night on this bed that has layers of thick blankets, with pillows all over the bed, waiting for his love, his heart began burning.
There’s even a copper mirror, huge wardrobe and chests, and soft carpet on the ground. On the table in the corner of the room there’s a copper incense burner, burning an intoxicating fragrance. This is the first time Xiang Shaolong tasted such an atmosphere. In this romantic room with the fragrance wafting around, he really does not want to think about the devious world outside.
Hai! If only he does not have to go and see Zhao Mu tonight. With Wu Tingfang around, the 4 maids were more serious and dared not flirt and joke with him as usual. Wu Tingfang came to him sweating sweetly and holding his hand, asked him, "Is Fang’er’s room decorated comfortably?" Xiang Shaolong replied with a smile, "I appreciate the huge bed the most." Wu Tingfang took a look at him and smiled charmingly, "After you return from your feast tonight, remember to climb up the bed! I’ll stay awake and wait for you." Xiang Shaolong chortled and pulled her as he walked out and said with a laugh, "Come! Let me serve you while you bath." Wu Tingfang felt her neck burning and although she said no, but her dainty little feet still went after him obediently.
That evening, Zhao Mu sent a carriage to pick him up and send him to his residence at the north of the city. Surprisingly the place was not decorated, nor were there a welcoming party. Zhao Mu received him