Vol 1 Chapter 4 (1/2)

Chapter Four (Part 1)

In the morning Chen Quan Ran and Xiao Ha visited veteran warriors’ homes.

Mo Lan supervised the maids and servants cooking and cleaning. Then she ate a morning meal and chatted with Madam in Madam’s chamber.

Mo Lan left Madam’s chamber and she unintentionally heard some of Chen Quan Ran’s men talked about her and Chen Quan Ran’s relations.h.i.+p.

‘Do you see? The general has only returned home for a few days but lady Chen sent love letters to the general saying how much she misses the general,’ the first warrior said.

The second warrior laughed. ‘It shows how attractive the general is. The general is heroic and handsome, of course he has many secret admirers. It is a pity lady Chen is stubborn, she saved all her affections for the general.’

‘I disagree. The general is brilliant and handsome. Lady Chen is ordinary. She doesn’t match the general,’ the first warrior said.

‘Listen to me, Chen Luo Du from the age of fifteen served the general. She is beautiful and from a military family. She excels at horse riding and archery,’ the second warrior said.

‘You’re right. The general likes women like lady Chen. Isn’t Madam a heroine like lady Chen? Perhaps one day the general will marry lady Chen and she’ll become part of the general’s household,’ the first warrior said.

Mo Lan felt like a boulder pressed against her chest and she couldn’t breathe.

‘But the general has an official wife. Everyone can see the general’s wife is beautiful and she is good at managing the Chen household,’ the first warrior said.

The second warrior shook his head. ‘It’s a pity the general’s wife is no one in the eyes of the general. Everyone has followed the general for many years and knows that the general hates weak and gentle women like his wife.’

‘That’s right. I remember once we were riding alongside the general and a rich court official’s daughter fell in love with the general at first sight. It’s a pity the general asked the young lady if she can ride a horse beside him and laugh. The young lady didn’t answer. Then he asked if she can drink wine jars with him and talk monkey nonsense. The young lady didn’t answer. Lastly he asked her if his legs and arms are itchy can she sword fight with him. The young lady cried and ran away,’ the second warrior said.

‘You’re right. The general’s wife is similar to the rich court official’s daughter,’ the first warrior said.

‘The general’s wife is exactly like the rich court official’s daughter. Doesn’t everyone know that year the general married his wife, he gave her a frog and she fainted? The general’s wife is a spoiled lady, how can she be regarded highly in the eyes of the general?’ the second warrior said.

‘Perhaps it’s true the general refused to come home for ten years, because he wanted to avoid his wife. But that can’t be right-’ the first warrior said.

Chen Quan Ran’s men talked and laughed but they were oblivious to Mo Lan who stood nearby and the sadness in her eyes.

Mo Lan walked away from Chen Quan Ran’s men.

Chen Quan Ran’s men’s ears were trained to hear footsteps. They heard someone walk away from them. They turned around and they saw a glimpse of the general’s wife’s back. They regretted their careless words and they knew they would face the general’s sword.

Mo Lan walked until she couldn’t see Chen Quan Ran’s men then she ran to her chamber. She wanted to avoid the truth, but she knew it was true Chen Quan Ran avoided her for ten years.

Mo Lan didn’t want to think about how much Chen Quan Ran hated her.

There was no father or mother in Mo Lan’s life. Since she turned nine, Madam raised her.

Mo Lan did her best to be a good mistress of the Chen household despite her struggles. She didn’t complain or act impulsively, because she knew in the world there was no one who loved her unconditionally and indulge her impulses.

When Mo Lan was a child she didn’t know what it meant to be married. Back then she thought she belonged to the Chen household and she could rely on her husband and her husband would be her closest family member.

Mo Lan didn’t expect the first day she entered the Chen household her husband would abandon her for a life in the army.

Mo Lan didn’t believe in the last ten years Chen Quan Ran thought about her waiting for him to come home. If he did think about her, it would be that she was a burden and he could throw her away like he would throw away his unwanted clothes.

Mo Lan knew for a woman losing her beauty wasn’t the most pitiful instead it was when a woman was in her spring prime and there was no one to appreciate her. At nineteen she had beauty and her husband would be attentive to her. But ten years later she knew her husband would lose interest in her and her existence to him would be useless.

Mo Lan felt the emptiness in her heart, as though she lost something important and she would never find it.

Mo Lan hadn’t met Chen Luo Du. But she knew Chen Luo Du had the right to stand beside Chen Quan Ran. As for herself, she knew she couldn’t bear the day Chen Quan Ran distanced himself from her and married the woman he loved.

Mo Lan clutched her hands together. When that day came she wouldn’t accept Chen Quan Ran’s charity. She wouldn’t hesitate to leave him, she would give him back his freedom and she would find a new free life for herself.

***

Chapter Four (Part 2)

Chen Quan Ran and Xiao Ha returned to the Chen manor after a hunting trip. They brought home many wild animals they hunted.

Chen Quan Ran sat on his horse and he handed the wild animals to some servants. ‘Carry them to the kitchen. Tell the cooks to prepare dinner dishes using these fresh animals.’

The servants carried the wild animals to the kitchen.

Chen Quan Ran’s horse kicked its hind legs and it neighed. He patted his horse’s head. ‘Xiao Lang, you were good when we were hunting. Now that we’re home why are you restless?’

Chen Quan Ran jumped off Xiao Lang. He pulled the rein, Xiao Lang neighed and he knew Xiao Lang didn’t want to go back to Xiao Lang’s enclosure.

Xiao Ha followed the general to the stables. ‘Xiao Lang is a war horse. He’s used to wide pastures. It’s likely in a short period he can’t adjust to being a pampered horse in a smaller enclosure.’

Near the stables Madam walked with her staff in one hand and Xiao Lan supported her other arm.

Madam heard her grandson’s horse neighed. ‘Quan Ran, are you certain you didn’t steal your horse? Since your horse arrived here, there hasn’t been half a day of peace.’

Chen Quan Ran smiled and he walked toward Xiao Lan. ‘Xiao Lang is my precious darling I raised for many years. He fought many battles with me against enemies. He saved me during dangerous situations. He has good intuition. If anyone tries to steal him, he will kick them to death.’

Mo Lan looked closely at Xiao Lang. ‘It’s hard to meet a rare treasure like this horse once every hundred years.’

‘Xiao Lan, what do mean?’ Chen Quan Ran asked.

‘If my guess is correct, judging from this horse’s appearance he’s from Western Quyu and he’s a purebred ferghana horse. This horse is a strong and an enduring horse. He was born fearless, no wolf or lion can scare him. On the battlefield his strength and prowess is no less than a human,’ Mo Lan said.

Chen Quan Ran couldn’t keep his eyes off Xiao Lan.

Mo Lan gently stroked Xiao Lang’s forehead and muzzle. ‘If this horse loses its freedom it’ll be restless. I think he neighs continuously because he’s not used to living at the Chen manor.’

Xiao Ha was in awe of the general’s wife’s knowledge about Xiao Lang’s origins.

Madam saw pride in her grandson’s eyes, he was proud to be Xiao Lan’s husband. Her grandson was intelligent since he was a child and there were few people who he regarded highly. She felt her decision for Xiao Lan to marry her grandson was the right decision. She knew Xiao Lan was intelligent the moment she met Xiao Lan, and she thought Xiao Lan was the right woman to tame her grandson’s arrogance and stubbornness.

‘Xiao Lan, I didn’t expect you read many different books. Each day I see a different side of you,’ Chen Quan Ran said.

Chen Quan Ran misjudged Xiao Lan. On the outside Xiao Lan looked weak, but on the inside Xiao Lan was wise and she knew about different ways of life. He felt being with Xiao Lan wasn’t a bore and she always made him curious to see the different aspects about her.

Chen Quan Ran thought Xiao Lan would be happy to hear his praise. He didn’t expect her to be indifferent.

‘I don’t have any talented sides for General Chen to see. I’m only a weak young lady. I can’t carry anything heavy on my shoulders and my hands can’t wield a sword. If I’m not careful I can be unexpectedly killed. I faint at the sight of a frog. I’m no different from a useless young lady,’ Mo Lan said.

Despite Chen Quan Ran’s intelligence he didn’t understand the meaning of Xiao Lan’s words. He looked at his grandma for help, but his grandma smiled and she walked away.

‘Xiao Lan, what do you mean?’ Chen Quan Ran asked.

Mo Lan glanced at Chen Quan Ran’s confused face then she moved closer to Xiao Lang.

Chen Quan Ran wanted to stop his wife from touching the temperamental Xiao Lang, but unexpectedly Xiao Lang let his wife hug its neck. He didn’t expect his wife who glanced coldly at him was smiling with Xiao Lang and she was whispering in Xiao Lang’s ear.

Chen Quan Ran looked at Xiao Ha for help but Xiao Ha shrugged his shoulders.

Chen Quan Ran saw Xiao Lang shook its tail and rubbed its muzzle against Xiao Lan’s cheek. Xiao Lan rubbed its neck and she laughed.

Chen Quan Ran and Xiao Ha felt like they witnessed a miracle. Apart from Chen Quan Ran, Xiao Lang didn’t let anyone else touch it. They couldn’t believe Xiao Lang let Chen Quan Ran’s wife touch it and hug it.

‘Xiao Lan, how did you calm Xiao Lang? Can Xiao Lang understand you?’ Chen Quan Ran asked.

Mo Lan hugged Xiao Lang’s neck and she rubbed its muzzle. She turned to look at Chen Quan Ran and her smile disappeared. She spoke coldly. ‘General Chen, did you not know in this world there are animals who can understand human speech?’