Chapter 225
Book 20 Chapter 8 – Dainty Beauty
When Xiang Shaolong and his 18 guards arrived at Drunken Wind Loft, Wu Fu came out personally to welcome him and after inviting him into the side hall and asking the servants to leave, he knelt down and kow tow.
Xiang Shaolong is long used to his flunky ways so he stood proudly and asked with exasperation, "Please dispense with ceremony, what are you up to this time?"
Wu Fu stood up in shock and said respectfully, "I wouldn’t dare to use trickery in front of Commander General. This time I have important news to report to you."
Xiang Shaolong sat down and said, "Sit down and talk!"
Wu Fu sat down and after looking left and right, as if afraid there’s someone in the side halls, he lowered his voice and said, "Lu Buwei is plotting to kill you and w.a.n.g Jian."
Xiang Shaolong chortled, "Of course he’s thinking about it, but whether he succeeds or not is another matter."
Wu Fu said tactfully, "It was only after a long period of eavesdropping that I managed to string together all the bits of information and found out about their nefarious plot!"
Xiang Shaolong remembered the metal pipes he used to eavesdrop and asked doubtfully, "Why is Lu Buwei still coming here since Dan Meimei has already become the Empress of Wei?"
Wu Fu said, "That’s what you are unaware of. Half a year ago I spent a fortune in Chu to buy over a great beauty from Yue called Bai Yaya and Lu Buwei is very much enchanted with her so he comes to Drunken Wind Loft regularly. Now Yaya has taken over Meimei’s position to become the head of the four beauties. Hai! Meimei’s departure almost cost me my life, but of course! I would never dare to blame Master Xiang, I do deserve the punishment."
Xiang Shaolong said with exasperation, "Stop beating around the bush, come straight to the point!"
Wu fu lowered his voice and came closer, "First they are going to deal with General w.a.n.g. Because General w.a.n.g is battling at the Zhao border, there are many areas which he will need to rely on the support of Du Bi and Cheng Qiao and Lu Buwei is going to make use of Du Bi to sabotage General w.a.n.g when he is fighting against Li Mu. The outcome should be expected."
As Xiang Shaolong is not aware of the situation over that side and so have never expected such a possibility, he paled and asked, "Isn’t Li Mu fighting against the Qi?"
Wu Fu commented, "That could be an evil plan to lure General w.a.n.g deeper into the Zhao border!"
Xiang Shaolong was shocked, "Why didn’t you reveal such an important piece of news earlier, even if I’m not in Xianyang, you can always tell Lord Changping!"
Wu Fu said apologetically, "Well, I only heard bits and pieces of information so I can’t be very sure. Until the day before, Yang Yu told me that Xu Shang was boasting to her that you are going to be very short-lived that my thoughts start to clear up. Xu Shang was saying that your victory in battle this time have planted the seed to your demise in future. Yang Yu was puzzled and asked him further but he only said that no matter how formidable you are, you will not be able to win Li Mu, and he did not elaborate further. That’s why I thought that only if they cause the death of w.a.n.g Chi, will you need to meet Li Mu on the battlefield in such a short period of time, that’s why…"
Xiang Shaolong suddenly stood up, "Go and tell Lord Changping that I will be there late."
He then left hurriedly and went to the Palace to seek an audience with Xiao Pan.
Xiao Pan was having fun playing chess with his beloved concubine w.a.n.g Meixiu when he saw him arriving in such haste and knew that something urgent has happened. He immediately summoned to meet him in the inner hall.
After Xiang Shaolong expressed Wu Fu’s deduction, Xiao Pan’s expression changed, "This is indeed an extremely vicious plan. It’s obvious that as long as Cheng Qiao is not eliminated, my position will always be shaky."
Xiao Pan then summoned his guard and gave instructions for him to send out a messenger with a swift horse to Shangchuan and warn w.a.n.g Chi to be on his alert.
After this matter is settled, the future Emperor Qin said seriously, "If anything untoward happens to Great General w.a.n.g, we’ll deal with Cheng Qiao and Du Bi immediately and get rid of these thorns in my flesh. By that time I’ll want to see how Lu Buwei ends up."
He then smiled and said quietly, "The Crown Princess is expecting!"
Only now did Xiang Shaolong suddenly realize that he has indeed grown up, and congratulated him from the bottom of his heart.
Xiao Pan said worriedly, "Given the opportunity that Lu Buwei and the Dowager are both not in Xianyang, it’s best to give the child a good name first so they won’t have the chance to change it. What suggestion does Tutor have?"
Xiang Shaolong blurted out, "Then it must be Fu Su."
Xiao Pan looked at him in shock for a few moments and just when Xiang Shaolong was secretly cursing himself, this future Emperor Qin nodded his head, "This is quite a unique name. But I’ll need a name for a girl as well, so no matter if it’s a boy or girl, there’s already a name."
Xiang Shaolong heaved a sigh of relief, "I only thought of a boy’s name, seems that this must be a baby boy so there’s no need to think of another girl’s name."
Xiao Pan silently mumbled the name Fu Su a few times and said happily, "If it’s really a son, then let’s call him Fu Su!"
Xiang Shaolong felt a little awkward, knowing that he has influenced history with his own knowledge of history. The took the opportunity to take his leave and by the time he rushed to Drunken Wind Loft, he’s already more than an hour late.
Besides Lord Changping and his brother, Li Si, Huan Qi, Jing Jun, w.a.n.g Ling, Wu Guo, Zhou Liang etc, he did not expect to see w.a.n.g Wan, Cai Ze, Ying Ao and Ying Lou as well and obviously these people have leaned towards Xiao Pan’s political faction. Teng Yi came only for a while because he wanted to spend time with his wife and child.
Yang Yu, Gui Yan and Bai Lei were all there with the prettier ladies of Drunken Wind Loft, providing one to one service, with each lady attending to a person and the atmosphere was lively.
Xiang Shaolong was given the seat at the head of the table and the Yue beauty Bai Yaya have been waiting a long time for him to arrive. This lady was dressed in Chu garb, about 18 years old and indeed very pretty, comparable to Dan Meimei. Not only is she refined but most enchantingly, she is very gentle, her pretty eyes filled with intense feelings. Her voice is sweet and soft and indeed she is a rare treasure. No wonder Wu Fu can use her to handle Lu Buwei, who had suffered the loss of Dan Meimei.
But when he thought of how ultimately, her fate may end up to become Lu Buwei’s concubine, he felt sad.
Before Xiang Shaolong could even warm his seat, he was made to drink 3 cups of wine as punishment and raised his arms in surrender, "If I go on drinking, I’m afraid I’ll have to be carried out immediately. Everyone, please have mercy on me and let me off this time!"
w.a.n.g Wan laughed, "Last night Lord Xiang only collapsed after drinking more than 20 cups, so tonight you must at least drink another 7 cups before we forgive you for coming late."
Just as they were arguing, Bai Yaya smiled delicately and said, "Then let Yaya drink a few cups of punishment wine in Great General’s place."
Everyone shouted their agreement.
Cai Ze said with a smile, "But this punishment wine must first go into Great General’s mouth first before our Yaya can drink on his behalf.
There was another uproar of agreement.
Bai Yaya whined as she fell into Xiang Shaolong’s arms, her pretty eyes half-closed and her sweet face blus.h.i.+ng, like a little bird leaning towards him.
Although Xiang Shaolong has long gotten used to such lascivious styles in this Warring States Period but because this youthful beauty is so hot and fresh, he felt excited and making use of his slightly intoxicated stage and the cheers of everyone, he enjoyed her fragrant lips thoroughly.
Only then did they let him off.
Ying Ao said with a smile, "I heard that after Pang Nuan lost in the war, the other states in the coalition army all berated him for being careless and stretching himself too far and lost this great opportunity to defeat us Qins and now his reputation is in tatters. Seems that it will be quite impossible for them to come together again."
Ying Lou added, "After the defeat, everyone is trying to push the blame to others. At the battle of Zuicheng this time, the ones who left the earliest were the Chus, so