Chapter 39
Book 4 Chap 5 – b.l.o.o.d.y battle on the long street
Xiang Shaolong met up with Wu Zhuo at an abandoned old house. This extremely reliable battle friend who went through life and death with him said, "We’ve already followed your instructions and dug a tunnel from beneath our camp to lead to a forest behind the camp. We’ve also sent men to use that tunnel and make more than 10 wooden rafts in the forest and kept them hidden next to a small river that leads to the main ca.n.a.l. If we follow the flow of the water, we will be able to reach the southern border of the state of Qi in 2 days."
Xiang Shaolong replied happily, "Lady Ya and the rest will return to camp this evening. Tell Cheng Xu to put on an act and insist on traveling only tomorrow. In that way Prince Xinling won’t be on his guard against us."
Wu Zhuo furrowed his brows, "Then how are you going to get out of the city? Prince Xinling will certainly send men to keep an eye on you."
Xiang Shaolong said, "I definitely cannot leave, or else no one will be able to escape. To use that tunnel to let everyone leave, we’ll need at least 2 hours. You will start immediately after the sun sets and make some fake men as cover ups. All armors, horses and heavy items will have to be left behind. Try to purchase some horses from the traders after we reach Qi and if you travel by night, you’ll definitely be able to return to Zhao safely. In summary success will depend on being secretive, just pretend that you’re horse thieves."
Wu Zhuo’s expression changed, "What about Grand Young Master-in-law, if I abandon you, Master will certainly take my life! At least I want to stay behind and accompany you."
Xiang Shaolong replied sternly, "This is an order, you must follow my instructions. Without you, Cheng Xu will definitely not be able to accomplish anything." He continued gently and consoled him. "I will definitely treasure my own life and I have a detailed plan as well. I’ll be able to save myself and take Zhao Qian away as well."
Wu Zhuo still shook his head.
Xiang Shaolong sighed and revealed to him the whole plan.
Wu Zhuo was silent after listening to it before saying, "If Grand Young Master-in-law does not return to Zhao within 3 months, I will kill myself to replay your kindness."
Xiang Shaolong was both touched and helpless and after discussing further some details, they parted. He managed to find Fu Bu through a series of intricate communication methods and after some secret discussion, he went back to Prince Xinling’s residence.
Prince Xinling dragged him to lunch and after the meal Xiang Shaolong returned to Flying Clouds Chamber to see Lady Ya.
Lady Ya has already received notification from Prince Xinling and has already packed. When she saw him return, she ran into his arms and cried bitterly, "Without you, Ya’er will not leave!"
Xiang Shaolong thought this to be a headache and after trying to cajole and scare her, he was finally forced to reveal his whole plan to her. Lady Ya knows that this is the only way they can survive so she had no choice but to tearfully agree.
It’s time to depart.
On Zhao Qian’s side, she and her 3 maids were hugging each other and crying bitterly, as if they are about to be parted by death, making all who witness it feel sad as well.
It was only under Xiang Shaolong’s constant urging that the 2 maids Cui Tong and Cui Lü went on their way tearfully.
Prince Xinling escorted them out of the city personally and when they reached the camp, Cheng Xu followed Xiang Shaolong’s instructions and insisted on traveling only the next day.
Xiang Shaolong pretended to be helpless and exchanged a look with Prince Xinling, finally accepting Cheng Xu’s suggestion.
Prince Xinling smiled, "Don’t worry! I’ve specially transferred a team of light cavalry to escort them on their way tomorrow morning."
Xiang Shaolong had long noticed the Wei army camp nearby and looking at the scale knows that there is at least 2000 men there. He was laughing secretly to himself as he returned to the city with Prince Xinling.
They were riding next to each other as Prince Xinling commented, "From now on, it’s best that Shaolong stays in the residence, firstly to conserve your energy and also to prevent any other accidents from happening that can spoil the grand plan. I’ve already sent men to send Zhao Qian to hide at a secret location so that Shaolong need not have any worries when you attend the feast tomorrow."
On hearing that Xiang Shaolong felt as if his heart has dropped into a bottomless pit. If Zhao Qian has really been kept by him, won’t he be totally under the control of this fiend? But he still pretended to be grateful on the surface.
Heavens! What should he do next?
Prince Xinling asked nonchalantly, "Why did Yanran look for you this morning?"
Xiang Shaolong was thinking at this point that if Prince Xinling finds out tomorrow morning that Lady Ya and the rest have all slipped away, he will certainly suspect his sincerity, then how would he deal with him and Zhao Qian? He forced out a smile and said, "I don’t know why she’s looking for me too, she was talking to me about everything and left after a while."
Prince Xinling thought to himself that as long as she has not taken a liking to him, it’s all right, and he stopped talking further.
Xiang Shaolong was in an extremely bad mood and returned listlessly to Prince Xinling’s residence. When he returned to his room, he got rid of the 4 pretty maids. Just as he was feeling edgy and nervous, there was a ‘plonk’, and a piece of cloth wrapped around a stone was thrown in.
Xiang Shaolong removed the cloth and it turned out to be a message from Liu Chao, generally informing him that Prince Xinling has increased the number of men to keep an eye on Xiang Shaolong, so he dared not come and meet with him. Zhao Qian has been brought to Lady Pingyuan’s residence and was being held there and they will keep a close eye on her. At the bottom of the cloth he drew a simple map, pointing out the buildings where Lady Pingyuan resides in.
Xiang Shaolong immediately heaved a sigh of relief. As long as he knows that Zhao Qian is still within the residence, there is still hope.
At the same time he guessed that Prince Xinling is up to no good and will still get Lady Pingyuan to send Zhao Qian into the Palace instead of him, thus treating him as an idiot.
By now the sky is slowly getting dark.
Xiang Shaolong decided to relax himself and allowed the 4 pretty maids to return and help him bath and change. He went out and joined Prince Xinling for dinner, keeping up pretenses all this while.
During dinner Xiang Shaolong said, "I’d like to practice my swordplay alone tonight, it’s best that no one is sent over to serve me. Hei! Without Lady Ya, and with such alluring maids, it’ll be terrible if I cannot refrain myself!"
Prince Xinling did not suspect anything at all and agreed with a laugh. He was secretly thinking to himself, as long as I send more people to keep an eye on you, and with Zhao Qian in my hands, need I worry that you’ll fly away?
Xiang Shaolong returned to his building and immediately made a small hole in the roof and ejected his rope out, grabbing on to a large tree nearby before going into his room. He was about to carry his wooden sword when a knocking was heard on his door.
Xiang Shaolong had no choice but to hurriedly remove his equipment and walk out of the room to open the door. He saw Lady Pingyuan standing alone outside the door with a glow, looking at him deeply with very confused eyes.
He thought that something must be wrong and had no choice but to welcome her in.
Lady Pingyuan walked daintily and lightly towards his bedroom.
Xiang Shaolong was immediately scared mindless. Right now his bed is full of stuff that should not be seen so how can he allow her to go in. His mind worked quickly and he dashed forward, hugging her waist from the back.
Lady Pingyuan moaned daintily and collapsed softly into his arms, tears flowing down her cheeks.
In his entire life, Xiang Shaolong has never experienced so many women crying over him before and he felt a headache coming on seeing this. He turned her around, tilted up her pretty tear stained face and pretended to be helpless as he asked, "What’s the matter!"
Lady Pingyuan closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, trying to control her sobs as she shook her head, looking utterly dejected.
No one other than Xiang Shaolong can understand her dilemma right now, wanting to harm him and send him to his death but yet can’t help but come and see him. This is the reason for her torture!
Lady Pingyuan collapsed into Xiang Shaolong’s arms, using all her strength to hug him, her pretty face buried in his wide chest as she continued sobbing.
Xiang Shaolong was secretly lamenting that with her around like this, how is he going to save Zhao Qian and if those a.s.sa.s.sins from Chu Mohism were to arrive, he might not be able to preserve his own life as well.
Lady Pingyuan calmed down a little and said quietly as she nibbled his ear lobe, "Shaolong! Carry me into the room!"
Xiang Shaolong almost wanted to cry for help, how can his room be ‘seen’? He hurriedly said, "Lady! Wasn’t it supposed to be later before we can do it?"
Lady Pingyuan stamped her feet and pouted, "I want it now! Aren’t you going to carry me in?"
Xiang Shaolong carried her up by her waist.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door again.
Both of them were equally startled.
A servant’s voice was heard from outside, "Lady, the Prince has something urgent and wants you to see him immediately."
Xiang Shaolong put Lady Pingyuan down and pretended to be helpless and sighed. However he knows that once Prince Xinling received news that Lady Pingyuan has come to look for him, he’s worried that his sister will let her emotions overrule her and spoil the plan, that’s why he sent someone here to lead her away.
Lady Pingyuan first looked furious, then her expression darkened as she replied, "Coming!"
She rushed forward and hugged Xiang Shaolong tightly, giving him a hot kiss filled with complicated feelings of joy, pain and farewell. After that she lowered her head and left, not turning back for another look.
At this point in time Xiang Shaolong doesn’t know whether to hate her or love her, because that kiss earlier is really eternally unforgettable, getting right into his bones, with an inseparable mixture of love and hate.
When Xiang Shaolong arrived at the huge courtyard that Lady Pingyuan resides in, Zhao Qian’s lonely heart was pining away for Xiang Shaolong. He has become this beautiful princess’s only hope.
On one hand she has almost blind confidence towards Xiang