Chapter 8
Book 1 Chapter 8 – Master Red Crown
While he was enjoying the earthly pleasures, Xiang Shaolong’s mind was in a turmoil.
When he arrived here, everything felt surreal, like a dream. The era he sees before him has got nothing to do with him at all, so he went all out to enjoy himself without feeling any pressure from the society or the people, because he may suddenly be captured by Crazy Ma’s machine and be sent back to the 21st century.
He’s like a child who does not need to take up any responsibility at all.
But after suffering from injuries and his wanderings, this dreamy world suddenly turned into real flesh and blood.
The martyrdom of Yuan Zong, the sufferings of Ting Fangs.h.i.+, various setbacks, all threw him deeper and deeper into this world mentally and spiritually.
Although he enjoys beauties and riches now, but he lost his most treasured freedom and independence.
In this warring states period, nothing is more valuable than a talent. One legalist Li Ke and one strategist Wu Qi, is enough to make the state of Wei a strong state immediately. Shang Yang is even more formidable, he single-handedly made the state of Qin the biggest threat to all the states in the east.
And the Xiang Shaolong now, because he stopped an army of almost a thousand ferocious horse thieves with fifty men, has also become a talent.
The various states only has 2 att.i.tudes towards talent, either to keep for their own use, or to kill without mercy to prevent them from being a powerful opponent in future.
Right now Master Wu is trying to bribe Xiang Shaolong, using riches and beauties to make him sink deeper in. Therefore if he were to reveal even a little about his intention to look for Emperor Qin, Ying Zheng, he can be sure that he’ll lose his life immediately.
To try and escape from such heavily guarded city walls is akin to a fool’s dream. If Ying Zheng’s father did not have the help of Lu Buwei, a wealthy trader similar to Master Wu, he can forget about escaping back to the capital of Qin, Xian Yang.
Even if he can find Emperor Qin, there’s no way he can get him out of the city.
Will he have to work for the Zhaos indefinitely? If Master Wu asked him to kill people from other states, what should he do?
Xiang Shaolong sighed and walked towards the hall to see Tao Fang.
Tao Fang was hugging a pretty maid in his arms, his hands roaming over her. He released her when he saw him, and warmly invited him to take a seat and to join in the scrumptious breakfast.
Tao Fang smiled slyly, "Shaolong you don’t know how much the Master likes you. Shu’er is a famed beauty from a n.o.ble family in the State of Yan, who was given to Master by the ruler of Yan. It’s obvious that he thinks of you highly since he is willing to give her to you."
Xiang Shaolong asked in surprise, "Aren’t we at war with the State of Yan?"
Tao Fang was obviously very impressed by his choice of word ‘we’, and said frankly, "If we’re not at war, why would the ruler of Yan be willing to present such a beautiful virgin. It’s precisely because he’s not doing well in the war, so he’s trying to bribe our Master with such a huge gift, hoping that our Master will help put in some good words for him in front of our King. Hei! Now Master has given the Yan beauty to you, so it’s obvious that he will not help speak up for the Yans."
Xiang Shaolong secretly thought to himself that this is such a complicated situation, and changed the subject to ask about Ting Fangs.h.i.+.
Tao Fang smiled mysteriously, "I’ve spoken to Master about this, he’ll certainly give you an answer, so don’t worry! As long as you have more accomplishments, the King would even give you his Princess, much less a dancer."
Xiang Shaolong thought that things are not going well, but he had no choice at all. This feeling of being controlled by others is extremely frustrating.
Tao Fang added, "Now I’ll take you to the Wu’s Mansion to meet Master, don’t accept any invitations from your beloved brothers tonight. There’s someone who wants to meet you, but I cannot reveal to you now who that person is."
Xiang Shaolong’s heart lurched, and he remembered that Lady Ya who was hiding behind the curtains of the horse carriage.
The Wu’s Mansion was the grandest building north of the city, it might even be more appropriate to call it a castle. Tall and thick walls surround it with a moat going around, and the only entrance is a large drawbridge. There are no residential areas outside the walls, only gardens. The grandeur of the place exceeds even that of n.o.bility.
During the journey there, it was the first time Xiang Shaolong really took notice of the people, the things in the city and the buildings.