Chapter 74
Book 7 Chap 7 – Glib-tongued
By the time Xiang Shaolong returned to the guesthouse, it’s about 2 more hours to dawn. After telling Teng Yi what happened, he stretched and yawned.
Teng Yi sighed with admiration, "You’ve done this beautifully, Zhao Zhi no longer suspects that you are Xiang Shaolong. But from what I see this little la.s.s has no ill intentions towards the real you, she just wants to coerce you to deal with Zhao Mu."
Xiang Shaolong exclaimed, "Her intentions are so good that she has to use that strong bow to aim at my back."
Teng Yi replied, "You spoiled that Miss’s grand plan of a.s.sa.s.sination twice and that Tian Rou is so compet.i.tive so naturally she’ll want to put you down a little."
Xiang Shaolong remembered that he was teasing Zhao Zhi while on the way to the Guo residence, the way she halfheartedly rejected him indeed reflected her interest in him. Now that she has ‘mistakenly’ think that the person who took advantage of her is ‘Dong Kuang’ and not ‘Xiang Shaolong’, how would she feel?
He remembered when she ‘realized’ that Xiang Shaolong is actually Dong Kuang, the look of disappointment on her face is something that cannot be faked.
Teng Yi said with a smile, "Since you’re under imperial orders not to work hard, we don’t have to pretend so why don’t all of us go and have a good sleep. Who cares what will happen?"
Xiang Shaolong thought that sounded right, so he returned to his bedroom to have a good sleep. By the time Wu Guo came to wake him up, it was already past lunch and the sun is almost setting.
This is the first time in so many days that he’s slept so soundly. Wu Guo said, "Second Master is waiting in the hall for Third Master for dinner!"
Xiang Shaolong got up energetically and after was.h.i.+ng up went to meet Teng Yi. The 2 of them had a hearty meal.
Wu Guo said from the side, "Lady Ya sent someone here with a message, asking Third Master to go to her residence tomorrow night for a feast. She will send someone to pick you up and hopes that you will be able to go over to her place earlier."
Only now did Xiang Shaolong remember that she promised Li Yuan a feast last night. At that time he thought that she did not mean it, so he did not expect her to really be serious about it. He said with a wry smile, "Look why we are here in Handan, almost every night I have to go and socialize with those people."
Teng Yi said with a laugh, "It’s not difficult to deal with Teng Yi, but dealing with those women is enough to make you suffer."
Xiang Shaolong replied, "I really want to give Zhao Ya a good f*ck to ease the hatred in my heart but this way she will surely be able to recognize me. Like what you’ve said, once she uses her nose to sniff, there’s no way I can hide. Besides this expert in man is so familiar with my body."
Teng Yi shook his head and said, "I too, feel sad for your situation… oh!" His expression changed and he said, "It’s not totally hopeless. While I was feeling bored yesterday, I tool a walk at the back garden and there is a kind of plant there. If we take the sap out and smear a little on the body, it will emit a smell very similar to that of a human body. It smells quite good, and a lot more natural than the fragrances women use to suffuse their clothes. This will solve the problem of scent. If there’s not special marks on your body like moles or birthmarks, you may be able to make your way through the act if you extinguish the lights and do her in the dark."
Wu Guo who was at the side can’t help but interjected, "Third Master’s thing is certainly bigger than the average person, Zhao Ya will know once it goes in."
Teng Yi and Xiang Shaolong wrapped their arms around their stomachs and bowled over in laughter.
Xiang Shaolong said breathlessly, "You’re such a bootlicker. But I was just saying it for fun, not that I really want to do her, nor is it worth taking such a huge risk. Hai! To treat her like an object just to expend my l.u.s.t is not really very appropriate after all."
Teng Yi tried to control his laughter as he added, "But there’s no harm applying a little of the sap of that ‘love plant’, so there’ll be no problem even if you get a little closer with Zhao Ya. I’ll go and prepare it immediately."
Wu Guo was dumbfounded, "To think that it has such a nice name."
Ever since Teng Yi had Shan Lan, he became a lot happier and easygoing. He extended his hand to pat his shoulder and sighed, "Now you’ve learnt something, this kind of love sap has slight aphrodisiac properties and women all like the smell of it. Young men from the villages around Jing Jun’s age all like to apply some on their body when they go on dates with ladies. But it has to be mixed with rice water, otherwise it will cause the whole body to break out in rashes. Do you want to try?"
Wu Guo replied excitedly, "I must find a beauty to test this on once we get back to Xianyang." Xiang Shaolong asked, "Are there any other matters?"
Wu Zhuo answered, "Headmaster Zhao of the Martial Arts School has sent someone over with an invitation, saying that the Sword Meet tomorrow has been postponed to noon the day after and asked that Third Master must attend."
Xiang Shaolong told Teng Yi, "The other conniving devil Li Yuan is too detestable, maybe I will teach him a good lesson."
At this time someone came in to announce, "Lord Longyang is here to see Third Master and is waiting at the outer hall right now."
Xiang Shaolong was taken aback and asked Teng Yi with a dry look, "Are there any sap called ‘Demon Riddance" to make him run to the other end of earth once he smells it."
Teng Yi guffawed, "This is the first time that I will not envy Third Brother’s luck in love!"
On seeing the outstanding horse fanatic Dong Kuang striding out, Lord Longyang stood up gracefully with a pose that ‘he’ thinks is the most beautiful and even greeted him in the way a lady should greet.
Xiang Shaolong has no idea whether to laugh or cry and was secretly lamenting to himself but he pretended to smile and welcome him, "Lord is showing me such favor by coming here personally."
Lord Longyang’s expressive eyes flitted towards him as he replied with a slow smile, "I came today to look for Mister Dong because something is troubling me and I won’t feel happy until I say it."
Today he’s gone back to dressing as a man but his clothes and accessories are still very colorful. If he’s a real woman, Xiang Shaolong would certainly compliment her for her grace but now his heart is palpitating. If the things that he won’t feel happy unless he says it are lovey-dovey words, heaven knows how he should deal with that.
After the both of them were seated, Lord Longyang said seriously, "I think that Mister Dong’s decision to return to Zhao is really too rash."
Xiang Shaolong was taken aback, but also secretly relieved as he asked in bewilderment, "Why would you say that?"
Lord Longyang saw that there’s no one around so he continued gently, "I admire Mister Dong’s talent, that’s why I’m speaking my mind with no restraints. The state of Zhao is now like a well that is almost drying up, so no matter how strong Mister is, how perfect and ample is your tools for filling and fixing the well, if you try to protect this well faithfully, ultimately you cannot escape the fate of the well drying and you dying."
Xiang Shaolong was secretly startled. All along he has little regard for this high ranking fellow who got his position from using his male charms to entice the King of Wei but now that he has heard his expressive a.n.a.logy and how he has ill.u.s.trated the state of Zhao straight to the point, he can’t help but see him in a different light. He pretended to be surprised and said, "The Zhaos have recently gained a huge victory over the Yans, so how can they be a well that’s almost drying?"
Lord Longyang said with a smile, "A dying person will have times when there’s a surge of energy before they pa.s.s on, and the sun is the most beautiful right before dusk. And this is because Zhao still has 2 famous generals to hold the fort. Once these 2 are gone, do you think Zhao can produce any elixir to prolong her life?"
Xiang Shaolong asked, "Are you referring to Lian Po and Li Mu?"
Lord Longyang replied, "Exactly these two. Lian Po is getting old, he can still defend but will have problems attacking. Recently there are rumors about his incapability in attacking Yan. King Xiaocheng has all along been suspicious of him so now there’s talk in Handan about changing generals, no one knows if history of exchanging Lian Po with Zhao Gua will repeat itself."
Without giving him time to interrupt, Lord Longyang continued smoothly, "As for Li Mu he is loyal and straightforward but doesn’t know how to flatter others and not glib enough. If he is under an able ruler, he will become a formidable general who can conquer the world. Pity he is under King Xiaocheng, a person who is overly suspicious and only craves stories of success. With the Marquis of Julu at the side navigating his thoughts, he will not come to a good end. A pity that he is not afraid of death and is stoutly loyal, refusing to leave, otherwise everyone in Great Wei, from the ruler to the officials, will all welcome him with open arms."
Once he said that Xiang Shaolong knew immediately that the Weis must have made contact with these 2 famous generals. Li Mu has rejected, but he wondered what is Lian Po’s reply. This Lord Longyang is indeed formidable, if he is able to remove the 2 huge military pillars of Zhao with just some words, won’t the state of Zhao be under the mercy of the Weis?
Lord Longyang saw that he was engrossed and thought that he has shaken his stand and tried to entice him further by saying, "Mister Dong may be wondering why am I so bold as to criticize the Zhaos in their capital. Firstly I do not hold them in regard at all and I bet they won’t dare to do anything to me. Most importantly I really admire Mister Dong very much and does not wish to see your hard work go down the drain in future, or even ending up as a slave from a defeated country. Besides, the Qins and the Zhaos have deep enmity and will never let them off. A good bird will choose a good tree to nest in, so if Mister is willing to come and work for Great Wei, I guarantee that the houses and gifts offered will be something that the Zhaos cannot