Chapter 270
Book 24 Chapter 05 - Unexpected Gains
Shan Rou wailed: "I quit!" Withdrawing her sword, she retreated.
Resting the back of the sabre on his shoulder, Xiang Shaolong chuckled: "Despite raising two kids, Madam Xie can still pack a punch."
Staring curiously at him, Shan Rou was amazed: "Stop bluffing. Why have you improved so much compared to yesterday? Every sabre stroke is beyond my antic.i.p.ation."
Xiang Shaolong is conscious that due to motivation from his predicament and hurt from his friends’ betrayal, he is now br.i.m.m.i.n.g with immense willpower and fighting spirit for the sake of his family and his own survival. He has decided to fully commit himself and discarded all non-related considerations. Treating this duel as a final showdown where he would be staring at the face of death, he managed to unleash his hidden potential.
As per his instructions, the huge crowd that was present yesterday is absent today. Exchanging blows with this beauty who used to be intimate with him, Xiang Shaolong is exceedingly alert.
Since his return last night, he surprisingly slept all the way till dawn. Before Shan Rou arrived, he had already practiced a round of Hundred Battle Sabre Play, explaining his remarkable familiarity.
He is no longer worried about Cao Cuidao’s duel that is taking place two nights later. As long as this opponent keeps his promise of limiting the fight to ten strokes, he is confident that he will emerge unscathed.
Now that he is aware of Zongsun Long, Li Yuan and the others who are plotting against him, he is mentally prepared and knows what to expect in the future, increasing his conviction level.
Perhaps now that he has finally determined his friends and foes, and admitting that Xiao Pan’s ident.i.ty crisis cannot be solved by pure luck, all his doubts are cleared and the days of wild speculation are over, allowing him to sleep in peace.
It does not mean that he has found a way to counter Lu Buwei and Lao Ai but his gut feel tells him that history will not be altered and Xiao Pan will certainly become Qin s.h.i.+huang. There is no doc.u.mentation of him, Xiang Shaolong, as a historical figure and naturally no record of him creating a fake Yingzheng. This clearly ill.u.s.trates the ability of Xiao Pan to protect his legacy but there is no indication if he, Xiang Shaolong can preserve his life in this incoming onslaught.
Somehow, the more Xiang Shaolong thought about it, the more fearful he felt. Luckily, Little Ping’er came by at this juncture, announcing that Feng Fei has invited the two of them to her main building for breakfast. Feng Fei is still unable to comprehend the relations.h.i.+p between Shan Rou and Xiang Shaolong. By right, they should be newly acquainted but their mannerism is too friendly for her to stomach. To her, Shan Rou’s lack of respect towards Xiang Shaolong is something exceptionally baffling. After all, Xiang Shaolong is currently a powerful and popular Qin Great General.
Without Xiao Yuetan and Zongsun Xuanhua around, Shan Rou is even less inhibited. Squinting her eyes at Xiang Shaolong first, she then peeped at Feng Fei before enquiring from her: "This fella is very good at seducing ladies; have you become one of his women?"
Feng Fei was so embarra.s.sed that even the root of her ears turned red in an instant, wis.h.i.+ng that she could find a hole in the ground to hide her face.
Xiang Shaolong was mortified at Shan Rou’s broaching of this taboo subject. He chided: "How can Madam Xie ask such a question?"
With a ‘Pu Ci’, Shan Rou giggled: "Why is everyone afraid of telling the simple truth? Just answer Yes or No!" With her innocent schoolgirl laughter, it is truly impossible to get angry with her.
Enduring her bashfulness, Feng Fei resumed her well-versed calm demeanor and replied in a low voice: "The relations.h.i.+p between Feng Fei and Great General is prim and proper and we are definitely not an item. Madam Xie has wronged Great General; He is a true gentleman." Pausing for a while, she inquired in return: "Are Madam Xie and Great General previously acquainted? It is rumoured that Madam Xie’s swordsmans.h.i.+p is comparable to Young Master Zongsun, gaining much glory for us females."
Shan Rou was not the least flattered and a.s.serted: "I am who I am, why must I compare myself against men for glory? Hng! I have to go, I have some errands to run in the palace." Raising her sleeve and using it to wipe her mouth, she left without even looking back.
Xiang Shaolong and Feng Fei stared at each other with a stunned expression before smiling with amus.e.m.e.nt.
Feng Fei state in a low voice: "I heard Madam Xie’s original surname is Shan and her family was destroyed by Tian Dan. However, she has now gained the affections of the concubines of the King and Princes who are all begging her to impart sword skills to them. In addition, Xie Ziyuan is highly regarded by the Court of Qi. Faced with her constant and direct insults, even Tian Dan has to bear with her."
Xiang Shaolong finally learned about Shan Rou’s status in Lin Zi and understood why Zongsun Xuanhua is so accommodating towards her.
Feng Fei continued: "Are we leaving here the night after tomorrow? I am getting tired of Han Jie’s hara.s.sment and desire to leave this place as soon as possible."
Xiang Shaolong wavered on the spot, unable to determine if Feng Fei can be trusted. The fluctuation of a woman’s affections is hard to grasp. Today, she can say that she hates Han Jie but tomorrow, she can leap back into his bosom. If she reveals his secrets, he would have to return to Xianyang as a blind man.
Noticing the change in his expression, Feng Fei had a shock and questioned: "Is there something wrong with our plans?"
Xiang Shaolong nodded: "Does Mistress wish to leave Lin Zi after the Qixia College performance?"
After a short daze, Feng Fei responded: "Since we are leaving, why do we need to wait another five days?"
Xiang Shaolong intentionally answered: "The main reason is for Second Mistress and the others. I would feel more at ease if we leave as a group."
Feng Fei is truly sharp. Sighing with a breath, she observed: "Looking at you hesitating and carefully choosing your words, you must be withholding some grievances in your heart."
Xiang Shaolong is conscious that if he chooses to deny, it would arouse her suspicions. Nodding his head, he professed: "I am concerned about Guo Kai. This man is a devil. If we successfully make our getaway, he may vent his frustration on Shuzen and the others."
Feng Fei was astounded: "With Zongsun Long protecting Shuzen and the others, what is there to fear?"
At his wit’s end, Xiang Shaolong firmly concluded: "Stop asking any more questions. To avoid any unwelcomed surprises, we will only leave together as a group after the Qixia College performance. Aren’t you concerned about their welfare?"
Feng Fei kept quiet and mounted a silent protest.
Xiang Shaolong realized that his tone is too harsh. s.h.i.+fting forward and hugging her fragrant shoulder, he gently apologized: "It is my fault. I beg Mistress’s pardon."
Feng Fei softly exhaled: "Why is Great General is such a bad mood today? This is the first time Feng Fei has seen you getting upset for no rhyme or reason."
Xiang Shaolong thought: How can I be in excellent spirits now? How I wish I could embark on a killing spree to vent the anger in my heart. He was about to utter a reply when Feng Fei admitted with a tinge of guilt: "Feng Fei knows that you no longer trust me because I went to meet Han Jie in secret yesterday. But since we are breaking up, we should at least formally communicate about it!"
Xiang Shaolong did not expect this amazing and accidental side effect from his moody temperament, coincidently getting Feng Fei to make a spontaneous confession about her meeting with Han Jie. Based on her words, she had initially wanted to hide it from him.
Staring at him with a melancholic expression, Feng Fei slowly hinted: "Does Great General want to know what did he and Feng Fei talk about?"
Xiang Shaolong plainly state: "Of course he would say things like you would meet a terrible ending if you choose to side with me!"
Her pet.i.te frame trembling violently, Feng Fei was horrified: "How did you know?" Observing her shyness, Xiang Shaolong decided to trick her: "Not only did I overhear your conversation, I even heard the two of you sharing a kiss."
Feng Fei was embarra.s.sed to the max. She protested: "He forced himself on me and I was the unwilling party. But it is daytime, where were you hiding?"
Xiang Shaolong continued fabricating: "Don’t you know that a human can easily conceal himself under a carriage?"
a.s.suming that he is telling the truth, Feng Fei pitifully wailed: "You should understand that I was only trying my best to appease him. Most of time, I was lying to him."
Hit by a brainwave, Xiang Shaolong recollected Lu Buwei’s visit to Zongsun Long last night and connected it to Han Jie who had lifted the information off Feng Fei. He frowned: "But it is wrong of you to tell Han Jie that we are leaving Lin Zi in two days and are depending on Zongsun Long’s a.s.sistance. Doesn’t Mistress know that Han Jie and Lu Buwei are partners in crime?"
With these words from Xiang Shaolong, Feng Fei no longer has any doubts about him spying on her meeting with Han Jie. She explained: "Han