Chapter 38
Book 4 Chap 4 – Stealing the sky and exchanging the sun
When Xiang Shaolong returned to Prince Xinling’s residence, Ji Yanran’s calls seems to be still ringing in his ears.
When every guest of hers is trying all means hoping to stay, he is the complete opposite, running away as if afraid that she will entwine him.
But this woman is indeed unique, when he first heard of her talent and beauty, he thought that she would be the melancholy type like Lin Daiyu*, or those haughty beauties who keeps an arm’s length away from everyone else. Only after he’s seen her did he realize she’s filled with a pa.s.sion for life, always seeking facts, thirsting for a learned person to find out a good way to govern a country, or maybe to seek the perfect husband in her heart.
(*Lin Daiyu – Character from dream of red chambers, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lin_Daiyu)
But that person will certainly not be Xiang Shaolong.
For him now, he has no time and neither is it appropriate for him to start any relations.h.i.+p with any woman. He has to conserve all his energy to protect and save Lady Ya, Zhao Qian, the maids and the others, that is his responsibility. If he becomes distracted because of another beauty and made a mistake, he’ll certainly regret it for the rest of his life.
He may be a flirt by nature but he has a strong sense of responsibility as well. Besides, he’s deeply in love with them.
Making use of the light that was streaming out from the building, he made a big round and using his equipment, climbed up the dangerously sloping back mountain which was behind Prince Xinling’s residence. He then easily slipped into the residence and from the description he got, came to the top of a tree next to a building.
This courtyard belongs to Prince Xinling’s inner quarters so security is very tight. Occasionally fierce looking guard dogs can be seen patrolling with groups of men. Luckily he has sprinkled on him the powder that Lady Ya brought with her or else he would not be able to escape from these animals’ sensitive noses.
Now it’s almost 11pm at night, lights can still be seen in the building and he wondered who is not yet asleep.
According to Lady Ya this should be where Prince Xinling’s family reside in so if there’s someone down there, it’ll be difficult for him to sneak into the secret tunnel quietly.
After waiting impatiently for more than half an hour, he could not take it anymore and decided to take the risk, because he does not have the time to continue waiting any longer.
He lifted up the treasure in his hand and activated the switch, the hook flew out 3 feet across and landed lightly on the roof, hooking it tightly.
He then slid over like a flying bird and landed quietly on the roof. He found a sure footing and flipped over the roof down to the balcony on the 2nd level, which was covered by bamboo, moved to the window and looked into the room.
It was an elaborately decorated room. Besides the curtains hanging lowly on the low bed, there was a dressing table and copper mirror and things usually found in a ladie’s room. The lamp was brightly lit and from the bed the moans and pants of a man and woman coupling could be heard.
Xiang Shaolong thought to himself that since this is the entrance to the secret tunnel, the person staying here must be someone Prince Xinling trusts, maybe his beloved wife or concubines. If Prince Xinling wants accompaniment during the night, he can always summon the woman here and there’s no need for him to ‘travel’ here. Could it be that his wife or concubine is having an affair?
But there is no need to think further. Just as he was about to flip one level down, he heard voices from down below. A group of patrol guards were downstairs and they actually stopped and were quietly talking.
Xiang Shaolong was secretly lamenting and after waiting for a while, those people downstairs still have no intention of leaving. He gritted his teeth, drew out a flying needle and poked it through the gap in the window, lightly flipping up the latch on the window. He pushed open the window and flipped into the room.
A gust of wind followed him into the room.
Xiang Shaolong was secretly alarmed and before he had a chance to close the window, a man’s voice was heard from inside the curtained bed, "Zhichun you must have forgotten to close the window properly, look! That window is opened!"
The voice sounds familiar, it’s actually Prince Shaoyuan.
The woman called Zhichun replied in surprise, "That’s impossible, let me go and close it, the weather is really cold!"
Xiang Shaolong was startled. This room may be big but there’s no place to hide. The low bed is not higher than a foot and he can’t squeeze under it even if he wanted to. In his anxiety he had an idea, he rolled towards the candle, reached out his hand and extinguished the flame by pressing on the wick.
That Zhichun had just sat up and exclaimed with an ‘Ah!’, saying, "The wind has extinguished the candle!"
Xiang Shaolong dared not hesitate and rushed towards the door and tested it with a push. It opened immediately and he was overjoyed. Using the sounds of Zhichun moving around as a cover, he dashed out and closed the door.
It’s an empty hall outside with a flight of stairs down, and there are 2 other rooms.
The sound of the door opening was heard behind him and Xiang Shaolong was startled. He rushed forward and managed to hide behind a screen in time.
At this time a totally naked beauty came out from the room. She looks younger than 20 and looked delicate with fair skin and a voluptuous body, extremely captivating. When she walked her bosom bounced which made her even more alluring.
Zhichun walked towards the screen coyly.
Xiang Shaolong was alarmed and only now did he realize that at his feet there were chamber pots and such, used for relieving oneself and he hurriedly dashed out from the other side of the screen and lied flat on the ground so that the candle will not reflect his shadow. Right at this time Zhichun stepped behind the screen but he exited just as she entered so she did not manage to see him.
Xiang Shaolong secretly thought what a close shave and crawled towards the stairs. When he heard twinkling sounds behind the screen, he went down.
Just as he reached the corner of the stairs, voices were heard from below, there were at least 4 men talking.
Xiang Shaolong stood at the corner stunned and lamented his luck. If he can’t manage to steal the ‘Secret Manual’ tonight, it’ll be even worse.
He turned around the corner and stuck his head out to look down towards the hall and saw 4 warriors sitting around a table chatting. If he were to walk down, no matter how careful he is, there’s no way he can avoid them. He was so nervous his heart almost stopped.
In his anxiety, he heard Zhichun’s crisp voice call out, "Is there anyone still around?"
Someone replied and walked towards the stairs.
Xiang Shaolong secretly groaned. He’s really stuck in the middle now with no way to advance or retreat, so he hardened his heart and pulled out a flying needle, his concentration wholly on the warrior who is walking towards the stairs and at the same time squeezed himself into the corner of the wall so that the other party won’t be able to see him from afar.
The person replied as he walked, "What instructions does Lady has?"
Xiang Shaolong realized that Zhichun is actually one of the 2 concubines he brought with him from Zhao.
That warrior came to the stairs and came face to face with Xiang Shaolong and he cried out, "Ah!" It turned out to be the other expert family warrior who is of the same status as Pu Bu, Liu Chao.
Xiang Shaolong was about to throw out his flying needle but hurriedly stopped when he saw it was him.
Zhichun’s voice called out, "Liu Chao! What’s the matter."
Liu Chao collected his thoughts and after exchanging a look with Xiang Shaolong, replied, "Nothing! I just happen to see a rat scurry past and was surprised."
Women are most afraid of small animals like these and Zhichun is no exception so she called out, "Prince is hungry and Xiaoying and the rest are already asleep. Can I trouble you to go to the kitchen and get them to prepare some food." After saying this she ran back into the room as if she’s running for her life.
Liu Chao came up and whispered, "We were just talking about Commander. Why is Commander here, is there anyway we can help."
Xiang Shaolong made up his mind and told him about stealing the ‘Secret Manual’.
Liu Chao saw that Xiang Shaolong puts so much trust in him and replied happily, "Commander please wait for a moment!"
He went back and after informing the other 3 warriors, he asked Xiang Shaolong to come out.
Xiang Shaolong instructed one of them to go to the kitchen and order some food, then he searched the hall carefully first, followed by the rooms. He found the secret entrance to the tunnel under a rug.
Liu Chao said, "Commander, put your mind at ease and go down! We’ll keep a look out for you!"
Xiang Shaolong had an idea, "It’s best that you go down with me, if there’s a need you can put it back in its original position."
Liu Chao gladly agreed and together they grabbed the copper rings and lifted up the stone slab and after walking down 10 odd flights of stone steps, came to the secret tunnel. One side of the tunnel leads towards Prince Xinling’s inner hall while the other end leads to the back of the mountain. Obviously it’s a secret tunnel that can give safe pa.s.sage to escape from Prince Xinling’s residence because no one will expect that there will be an escape route at that dangerous mountain.
Liu Chao took a lantern and after illuminating the tunnel, the two of them walked towards the direction of Prince Xinling’s bedroom.
When they came to another set of stone stairs which led up, Xiang Shaolong stopped and carefully scrutinized and knocked on the walls of the tunnel and realized that there’s something different about one of the walls.
The two of them tried pus.h.i.+ng but the wall did not move at all.
Xiang Shaolong had an idea, and started inspecting each brick and realized that one of them is slightly protruding. He tried pulling it with his strength and the brick came out immediately, revealing the keyhole inside.
The 2 of them were overjoyed and Xiang Shaolong took out his tools for picking locks and following Lady Ya’s instructions, opened the lock in no time at all.
When they pushed open the door and under the illumination from the lantern, the both of them were stunned. It turned out to be a treasure trove.
In the large underground stone room there were more than 10 chests of jewelry and money. They opened 2 of the chests and under the reflection of the lamp, the jade pieces, gold and silver all glittered and blinded.
Xiang Shaolong said quietly, "Don’t let the other 3 know about this until we have a plan to leave Daliang, then we’ll take a few pieces for our traveling expenses. Remember you must not have thoughts of greed. Men have died for wealth and we could even lose our lives."
Liu Chao is indeed a heroic man and after this reminder, he replied sincerely, "Well spoken, Commander! I understand." At the same time he felt growing respect for Xiang Shaolong as a person who is not easily moved by money.
Xiang Shaolong searched quickly and after some time he managed to find an even more secluded secret compartment at the corner of the wall and took out a rectangular metal box. He opened it, and indeed it is the ‘Lu Gong’s Secret Manual’ which was tightly wrapped in cloth that will prevent it from rot or moisture.
He unrolled the scroll for a look and was relieved, because the silk on