Chapter 190
Book 17 Chapter 08 – Expressing Love
The next day, Xiang Shaolong went to pay his respects to Lu Gong and Xu Xian before entering the palace to see Xiao Pan to report his duel with Guan Zhongxie. Finally, he went to see Qin Qing at the Qin Residence.
Qin Qing is in her garden admiring the snow and was delighted to receive him but shy at the same time. Hesitating to look straight into his eyes, she simply swept him off his feet.
Strolling in the snow shoulder to shoulder, there were no intimate actions but they can both feel the intimacy in each others’ heart.
Xiang Shaolong gently revealed: "At Lu Buwei’s birthday dinner next month is the day I will fight Guan Zhongxie to death."
Shocked, Qin Qing wailed: "You! Why did you have to fight him?"
Xiang Shaolong answered: "This man is talented, intelligent and is holding the post of the Imperial Infantry Commander. If I do not eliminate him, we will have many days of trouble in the future."
Lowering her hood, Qin Qing halted and whined: "If you lose... Ai! I am so worried."
Xiang Shaolong turned around and leaned his head towards her, scrutinizing her flawless beauty and smiled: "If I happened to forfeit my life during the duel, what will you do?"
Her face becoming pale, Qin Qing shook: "Please do not speak like this. Do you think I am not frightened already?"
Xiang Shaolong insisted: "Grand Tutor Qin has yet to reply me."
Qin Qing shot him a look and lowered her head, replying softly: "I will join you in death! Happy?"
Xiang Shaolong was shaken: "Grand Tutor Qin!"
Qin Qing shook her head and sighed: "To think I will actually say such things to a man. But I know you will not lose, right? Xiang Shaolong!"
Xiang Shaolong smiled: "Of course I will not lose! If I am not confident, I will just admit my loss. What can he do about it?"
Pausing, he added: "I am here today to sincerely invite Grand Tutor Qin to stay at the farm for a month. Because I need to disregard everything and focus on training to prepare for the duel next month. But I know I cannot forget about you and to avoid the pain of pining for you, I have to request that you be by my side."
In an instant, even the root of Qin Qing’s ears is completely red. Lowering her head embarra.s.sedly, she clarified: "Xiang Shaolong, do you know that by making this request, it is as good as asking me to marry you?"
Xiang Shaolong reached out and held her white and tender shoulders before gently replying: "Of course I know. Please forgive my callousness but I want to win both your heart and your body. If either one is lacking, I will not accept it."
Qin Qing struggled slightly and wailed: "Are you treating me like a piece of merchandise?"
Xiang Shaolong leaned forward and kissed her cheek, slowly saying: "Whatever. I just want you. We need not deceive ourselves any longer in the future and live life with so many restrictions. Some opportunities are lost forever if they are missed. I have thought very carefully and thoroughly before I come looking for you."
Qin Qing’s head is so low that it is almost touching her chest. Whispering as soft as a mosquito, she asked: "When are you leaving for the farm?"
Xiang Shaolong was overjoyed: "Early tomorrow morning."
Qin Qing softly pleaded: "Can you release me first?"
Stunned, Xiang Shaolong released his grip on her.
Qin Qing floated away like the breeze and finally stopped at a distance ten feet away from him. She officially state: "I will wait for you here tomorrow! See you then."
Giving him a romantic and emotional look, she turned around and sashayed away.
An intoxicated Xiang Shaolong stared at her until she disappeared among the flower beds before composing himself and headed towards the Command Centre.
At the Command Centre main door, someone dashed out and detained him. It turned out to be Ying Ying and from her haggard expression, she must have had a bad night’s sleep. She started: "Official Xiang, I must speak to you privately."
Xiang Shaolong has just expressed his love for Qin Qing and gotten the most wonderful answer. In a great mood, he nodded: "Let’s talk more inside!"
Ying Ying stubbornly shook her head: "No! Let’s take a walk outside the city!"
Alarm bells begin to ring in Xiang Shaolong’s head. With Xu Xian and Lu Gong dead, he is the man Lu Buwei wanted to kill next. Will this be a trap laid by Guan Zhongxie but executed through Ying Ying?
He decided otherwise because no matter how muddle-headed Ying Ying becomes, she will never harm him. He agreed: "All right!"
Turning around, he was about to instruct the Guardians to wait for him at the Command Centre when Wu Yan Zhu stated upfront: "Master Xiang, please forgive us for being unable to comply. The Madams have strictly instructed us to never leave your side."
Xiang Shaolong was taken aback and relented: "Fine! You can follow behind me."
He proceeded to ride with Ying Ying out of the city.
Riding out of the city gates, his spirits lifted considerably.
The rolling meadows have become a blanket of white snow and they spread out as far as the eye can see. Mother Nature is completely silent and only the snow is s.h.i.+mmering.
The Eighteen Guardians were riding two hundred steps behind them and were taking precautions against any ambushes.
Xiang Shaolong a.s.sessed Ying Ying.
Her charming body is even more mesmerizing which is probably due to Guan Zhongxie’s nourishment.
Xiang Shaolong wondered how will the already peerless beautiful Qin Qing turn out after his own nourishment?
With this thought running through his head, Xiang Shaolong is more certain than ever than he is only interested in Ying Ying as a friend and not as a lover.
Ying Ying softly asked: "Xiang Shaolong! Please do not fight Zhongxie. As long as you publicly announce that you do not wish to marry Lu Niang Rong and thus rejected the duel, no one will say that you are afraid of him."
Xiang Shaolong agreed that this is an excellent solution. Moreover, he did appear superior during the hunting fair and with marriage as an excuse; no one will think that he is trying to avoid this fight. The problem is that he and Guan Zhongxie has already reached the point of no return, where neither can tolerate the presence of each other.
Just like him and Lu Buwei, only one man can continue living.
Not receiving a reply from him, Ying Ying raised her voice angrily: "You do not love Lu Niang Rong, what is the use of fighting over her?"
Xiang Shaolong was admiring the snow acc.u.mulated on the branches of the trees along the official roads. He lightly sighed: "Miss is really protective of Guan Zhongxie. Whatever you do is in his best interests."
Ying Ying noticed the sarcasm in his voice and was incensed: "Do you think I am not looking after your interests too? While you are away for the past six months, Zhongxie has been practising his sword every day and was waiting for the day he could kill you. Do you think you can still defeat him?"
Xiang Shaolong did not take her words to heart and smiled: "So who do you think will win?"
Ying Ying was so angry her entire face is completely white. She cursed: "I wish both of you are dead."
Xiang Shaolong laughed loudly: "Let’s return back to the City. You need not say any more."
Stopping her horse, Ying Ying’s face is completely green by now. Staring at him furiously for some time, she softened and intimately coaxed: "It is all my fault for being indecisive. No wonder you are treating me like this. Please listen to me this time, ok?"
Xiang Shaolong seriously state: "Ying Ying, you better come back to your senses and look clearly at the harsh realities in front of you. This is not a personal feud but a fight that concerns the power struggle of the Qin Court and a compet.i.tion between Qin natives and foreigners. The losing party will stand to have their families annihilated. To Guan Zhongxie, you are just one of his p.a.w.ns but you are only good at disobeying your brothers’ orders to restrict you for your own good. Did you ever spare a thought for them? You are only stubborn, wilful and want others to pander to your selfish needs."
Pausing for a while, he proudly remarked: "Death and defeat is common during fights and this is not the first time Lu Buwei and Guan Zhongxie are trying to kill me. But you only choose to live in your fantasy world and ignore genuine concerns. If you ever marry Guan Zhongxie, you better pray that Lu Buwei can successfully rebel but that would mean a tragic death for both your brothers. If Lu Buwei fails, you may be spared but all your kids with Guan Zhongxie will be executed. This is the truth and Crown Prince Zheng will not waver. All these circ.u.mstances are born out of Lu Buwei, Guan Zhongxie and Mo Ao’s schemes. Mo Ao is dead so now Guan Zhongxie is trying to kill me. Do you understand?"
Not paying any more attention to her, he left and re-entered the city.
Before he reached the Command Centre, Xiang Shaolong’s mind is already filled with Qin Qing. Imagining that he can get close to her physically tomorrow, his heart is burning with pa.s.sion and he wished that time could pa.s.s faster.
At the Command Centre, Teng Yi whispered: "Tu Xian will meet you at the usual place later."
Xiang Shaolong was elated: "I was about to look for him!"
Sitting down, Teng Yi reported: "After winter, Meng Ao will