Chapter 71
Book 7 Chap 4 – Love and Hatred
With the strong will trained from the days in the Special Task Force, Xiang Shaolong forced himself up from bed and went to the hall to see Zhao Mu.
Zhao Mu’s att.i.tude was warm as he said, "Come! Let’s have a good talk."
Xiang Shaolong pretended to be dismayed, "Shouldn’t we be heading to Learned Lady Ji’s place immediately?"
Zhao Mu forced a smile, "This morning she sent to inform me that she’s feeling a little unwell so the appointment to see the horse will have to be postponed. Hai! A woman’s heart is most unfathomable, especially such a rare and haughty beauty."
Xiang Shaolong was secretly laughing and thinking what could be so unfathomable? Ji Yanran was just following his instructions to cancel the appointment to avoid any embarra.s.sment when they meet. It’s just that he did not expect Zhao Mu to come and inform him personally.
After asking the servants to leave, Xiang Shaolong sat down next to him and asked, "Did Marquis have a good sleep last night?"
Zhao Mu sighed, "I almost even didn’t close my eyes. Too many things happened during the feast and even when I told myself not to think about it, my brain refuses to obey." He continued in a quiet voice, "This time Li Yuan has brought with him a huge group of people. Those that can be considered experts are already more than 30 and they are all famous Chu swordsmen that he recently recruited to be his family warriors. Usually he keeps a very low profile in Chu in order to avoid raising Father’s suspicions but he’s revealing his true self once he arrived here."
Xiang Shaolong replied, "Marquis, do not worry. I am confident that he will not able to return to our Great Chu alive."
Zhao Mu was visibly touched as he looked at him and said, "Father has indeed chosen the right person to come. What is your real ident.i.ty? Why have I never heard anyone mention you before."
Xiang Shaolong already has a script long prepared so he replied calmly, "My real name is w.a.n.g Zhuo, a hunter from the Xiutu Tribe. His Highness came to hunt near where I lived once and met with a pack of wolves and I saved him. Ever since then his Highness has specially groomed me and allowed my clan to enjoy wealth and riches. He is my benefactor. His Highness wants me to help you accomplish the plan of becoming the King of Zhao, therefore he has never taken me back to the residence. My trip to Handan this time is to work together with Marquis and to act when there’s a chance. Won’t the world belong to your Huang family sooner or later? My men are all from the Xiutu Tribe and absolutely trustworthy, so Marquis can put your mind at ease."
Zhao Mu’s heart was fluttering on hearing this, thinking to himself that his Father really knows how to use people. This w.a.n.g Zhuo is not only intelligent but bold as well, not to mention his excellent swordsmans.h.i.+p. With this person’s help and with Le Cheng’s coordination, the position of Zhao Ruler will certainly belong to him. The biggest obstacles will be the two fellows Lian Po and Li Mu.
Zhao Mu said, "I’ve been thinking the whole night and finally thought of a workable plan, but now the time is not yet ripe. I will discuss with you again at a later date. As that muddleheaded King Xiaocheng has very high expectations of you, you’d better show some results as soon as possible."
Xiang Shaolong was secretly laughing that the most important part was his last sentence. He stood up and said, "Thank you for the reminder. I will immediately bring my men to the new farm outside the city to discuss how we can set up the place."
Zhao Mu’s original intention was to look for him to pay a perfunctory visit to Lord Longyang, who was interested in Xiang Shaolong, so as to avoid incurring the displeasure of this powerful man from Wei. On hearing this he had no choice but to stand up as well and said, "Don’t forget about Guo Zhong’s feast tonight, you must come back before dusk."
Xiang Shaolong acknowledged a reply and sent him off before setting off with Wu Zhuo and the rest towards the outskirts of the city.
Wu Zhuo, Jing Jun and most of the others stayed at the Hidden Army Valley where the new farm will be, setting up tents, chopping down trees, repairing bridges and roads, pretending to be preparing for everything. Actually, they are just establis.h.i.+ng a foothold, so that not everyone will be captured if anything happens and at the same time to prevent Jing Jun from losing patience and looking for Zhao Zhi on his own.
Before dusk, Xiang Shaolong, Teng Yi and 30 odd highly skilled men from the Elite team rushed back to Handan.
They had just arrived at the city gates when the official on guard duty told him, "His Majesty has orders that Mister Dong enter the Palace immediately to see him."
Xiang Shaolong and Teng Yi exchanged looks, both feeling that something is not right for the King of Zhao would not summon him for no reason.
After they exchanged a few words, Xiang Shaolong went to the Palace to see King Xiaocheng under the escort of the Zhao soldiers.
Cheng Xu personally brought him to Wenying Hall, the place where King Xiaocheng usually work in and the person accompanying him turns out to be Guo Kai and not Zhao Mu.
Xiang Shaolong saw that Xiaocheng’s expression remained normal and put his mind at east. After paying his respects, he sat down at his lower left, facing Guo Kai.
Cheng Xu went to stand behind King Xiaocheng.
Guo Kai gave him a look, indicating that he is taking care of him.
After asking a few questions about the farm, King Xiaocheng sighed and said, "About the farm, it’s best that Mister Dong slow down the progress for the moment and try your best not to reveal anything."
Xiang Shaolong was surprised and replied, "Your subordinate will certainly obey your orders, but I wonder what is the reason?"
King Xiaocheng smiled wryly, "It is a must to establish the farm, it’s just that there’s a sudden setback. Let Mister Guo relate this to you!"
Guo Kai gave a dry cough before speaking with his weird voice, "It’s all that Li Yuan’s fault. Who knows how he managed to find out that Mister Dong trip this time is to return to your home country. When he met his Majesty this morning, he said that although you are a Zhao, you’re still a subject of Chu and if we allow Mister to stay in Zhao, it will have negative impacts on both country’s relations."
Xiang Shaolong is so angry his lungs are almost bursting. This Li Yuan is obviously jealous to see Ji Yanran seated on the same table as him last night and talking to him so closely, therefore he’s deliberately spoiling his plans. Without a doubt, he must have said other bad things about him as well. Luckily King Xiaocheng is really in need of him, otherwise he may very well bind him up immediately and send him back to Chu.
King Xiaocheng said seriously, "Of course I will not take his comments to heart, it’s just that the situation now is very delicate. His sister is the beloved concubine of the King of Chu and when the time comes for the powers to unite, if he says anything to the King of Chu and advises him not to send troops to deal with the Qins, then our ‘alliance’ this time will fail. That’s why at this point of time we have no choice but to condescend to him."
Guo Kai added with a laugh, "Once Li Yanyan gives birth, there’ll be no use even if Li Yuan talks to the King of Chu."
Xiang Shaolong laughed together with them.
Of course he knows that Guo Kai is inferring that the King of Chu is someone who will never make a woman give birth to a boy, so Li Yanyan will be no exception. But he knows that the real person who did it this time is Lord Chunshen and not the King of Chu, so there’s at least a 50 percent chance that it will be a boy. Guo Kai’s a.s.sumption may not be accurate. But of course he cannot be blamed, for who would have expected such a twist in this.
Xiang Shaolong had a thought and asked, "Should I keep away for a while?"
King Xiaocheng replied, "You must not, for it would mean that I would have to act according to Li Yuan’s likings. I told him at that time that Mister Dong has not decided whether to stay or leave, and managed to drag this matter for now. That’s why now I’m asking Mister to keep a low profile for the time being and only start on the foundations after Li Yuan has left."
Xiang Shaolong was secretly overjoyed but pretended to be helpless as he replied, "In that case I’ll have to send someone out to stop the delivery of the horses which are now on their way here. But I’m afraid the earlier batch would have already arrived at the border."
King Xiaocheng replied, "If it has arrived then so be it! We do need to increase our number of warhorses, as for the rest we’ll just do according to your plan."
Xiang Shaolong was just worrying that he has no excuse to send people back to Qin to report, so he hurriedly agreed.
King Xiaocheng was silent for a moment before he asked with some hesitation, "Last night the Marquis of Julu asked Mister to stay behind after the feast, what did he say to you?"
Xiang Shaolong quietly shuddered as he secretly thought this exciting. He did not expect that King Xiaocheng would actually be suspicious of his ‘lover’, and of course that conniving devil Guo Kai must have been stirring things up so he pretended to be surprised and exclaimed, "Is there a problem with Marquis?"
Guo Kai reminded him, "You have yet to reply to his Majesty’s question?"
Xiang Shaolong pretended to be frightened and after expressing his apology, replied, "The Marquis of Julu opened his heart to me and said he’ll take care of me so that I can work my full potential. He also said, hai…"
King Xiaocheng furrowed his brows, "Even if it involves bad things about me, Mister Dong please go ahead and repeat without fear."
Xiang Shaolong replied, "It’s not really bad things, the Marquis only said that if he were to put in a few good words for me in front of your Majesty, I’ll definitely enjoy riches and wealth. Ai! I am just a boorish man and my only wish is to rear my horses in peace and to contribute some small effort to my beloved country! Not to mention riches and wealth, even life and death is of no consequence