Vol 1 Chapter 6 (1/2)

Chapter Six (Part 1)

Chen Quan Ran and Xiao Ha merrily rode their horses back to the Chen Manor.

At the Chen Manor they received surprising news, an unexpected visitor had arrived at the Chen Manor. The visitor was a woman about between twenty-one and twenty-two years, she wore a blue uniform and had a haughty aura. Her black hair flowed freely behind her neck without ornaments, not even a hairpin.

Although she looked beautiful, between her eyelashes was the look of arrogance that most ordinary unwed women didn’t possess. When she turned her head around, she smiled joyfully.

‘Luo Yu?’ Chen Quan Ran asked.

‘General Chen!’ Chen Luo Yu greeted.

Chen Quan Ran and Chen Luo Yu smiled at each other. Although he was a married man and she was an unwed woman, they embraced each other and patted each other’s backs like sworn brothers.

‘General Chen, I missed you to death,’ Chen Luo Yu said.

The woman was indeed Chen Luo Yu, a skilful soldier under General Chen’s army. After they greeted each other, Chen Quan Ran asked Chen Luo Yu about the recent events at the army camp.

‘White Tiger and Little Pig really missed big brother. Every day the chefs and peach wine makers prepare delicious braised wine meat waiting for General Chen to return,’ Chen Luo Yu said. ‘Also, last year while pa.s.sing through Western Shanxi the two young boys who joined the army are very tall now. They are waiting for big brother to return to teach them sword fighting skills. Big brother, do you remember the group of children you rescued? They are reunited with their parents, and returned home…’

Chen Quan Ran felt a little restless listening to Chen Luo Yu talk fondly of army life, he realised he had stayed in the imperial city for a long time. On the battlefield he could display his true abilities and reminiscing good memories made him want to return to the army camp.

Even Xiao Ha felt nostalgic and remembered how happy their lives were with the people at army camp.

Mo Lan walked into the courtyard with a tray of tea while the three sworn brothers were reminiscing about army life. When a servant informed Mo Lan that a woman named Chen Luo Yu arrived at the Chen Manor, Mo Lan’s heart felt a little troubled.

But Mo Lan was the young mistress of the Chen Manor, she had to be hospitable toward all guests. A hundred rumors didn’t compare to facing Chen Luo Lu in person. Chen Luo Lu, had a carefree aura and was friendly. Mo Lan heard long ago that Chen Luo Lu was the type of woman Chen Quan Ran liked. Mo Lan didn’t doubt there would be feelings between Chen Quan Ran and Chen Luo Yu, after all the two of them have spent years together.

‘Lady Chen, I have heard a lot about you from Quan Ran,’ Mo Lan said. ‘I have heard you are a beautiful and skilful soldier. Indeed your sacrifices and contribution to the Northern Empire is immense.’

Mo Lan’s gentle praise and cups of tea were presented to the three sworn brothers. But Chen Luo Yu’s smile disappeared the moment Mo Lan entered the courtyard.

Xiao Ha noticed the tension between the general’s wife and Chen Luo Yu, he couldn’t help but cough softly. Xiao Ha remembered clearly the incident when the general’s wife overheard the general’s men compare her to Chen Luo Yu. It caused the general to endure a silent cold war with the general’s wife.

Xiao Ha didn’t know how to process the situation in front of him. A moment ago the atmosphere was joyous then the two love rivals met. But… he didn’t know who should be happy and who the real love rival was.

Chen Quan Ran heard Xiao Ha’s cough and immediately understood.

If Xiao Ha didn’t remind Chen Quan Ran, he would have forgotten not long ago his wife was jealous of Chen Luo Yu. Chen Quan Ran laughed softly at the thought of his wife being jealous. He pulled his wife next to him and introduced her to Chen Luo Yu.

‘This is my wife, Mo Lan,’ Chen Quan Ran said. ‘But my grandma and I love to call her Xiao Lan. Don’t underestimate her because of her young age, her intelligence is sharp.’

Chen Luo Yu frowned. Her eyes a.s.sessed Mo Lan, drank a sip of tea and smiled. ‘I have heard General Chen really like strong women, but big brother’s wife looks a little weak.’

Chen Luo Yu was a direct woman and often spoke without thinking deeply. Unlike most women, her bluntness was influenced from years of army life. In her eyes General Chen was a strong and handsome man who treated everyone under him equally. He was the ideal husband to many women. Although he had an official wife, his wife was weak. In the past he had spoken about wanting a strong wife who could be alongside him during battles. The contradiction to his desires made her confused why he would introduce his official wife that he neglected for ten years to her. She felt like something precious was taken from her and inwardly she laughed gloomily.

Mo Lan wasn’t oblivious to the provocation visible in Chen Luo Yu’s eyes. But Mo Lan wasn’t angry and maintained a smile.

‘Anyone would be envious of a strong woman like Lady Chen, including myself,’ Mo Lan said. ‘If Lady Chen won’t refuse, you have travelled a thousand Li to be a guest at the Chen Manor and as the young mistress of the Chen Household of course I will welcome your stay.’

Mo Lan’s emphasis on ‘young mistress,’ caused the provocation in Chen Luo Yu’s eyes disappear.

Chen Quan Ran and Xiao Ha stood on the side and looked at each other while Chen Quan Ran’s wife and Chen Luo Yu exchanged sparring words.

Xiao Ha winked a few times to let General Chen know the tension between General Chen’s wife and Chen Luo Yu wouldn’t be resolved easily.

Chen Quan Ran looked at Xiao Ha to say that Xiao Ha appeared to be enjoying a good performance, and berating Xiao Ha for not informing Luo Yu’s visit earlier and caused his wife and Luo Yu to meet under tensed circ.u.mstances.

Xiao Ha protested with innocent eyes to say their unplanned meeting had nothing to do with Xiao Ha.

Xiao Ha looked away from General Chen and slowly enjoyed drinking tea.

Chen Quan Ran sighed, his mood wasn’t bad. Tu Lang’s situation was resolved and released the heavy boulder from his heart. It reminded him how blessed and undeserving he was to have an extraordinarily wise wife. He felt foolish for not appreciating his wife and wasted ten years. His heart shook, he pulled his wife closer to him and whispered in her ear. ‘Sun Can’s family was avenged because of my impressive wife.’

Mo Lan was sparring with Chen Luo Yu when Chen Quan Ran suddenly pulled her to him and made her ear turn bright red. Mo Lan thought Chen Quan Ran couldn’t see the situation in front of his eyes and daringly behave intimate with her… she took out her anger by pinching his waist and glaring at him. ‘There are others here, can’t you behave?’

Chen Quan Ran smiled and appeared to look obedient. ‘Yes of course, what my wife says is always reasonable and suits the situation. Let’s slowly discuss it in bed together.’

Chen Quan Ran was busy for many days before finally having free time. He began to miss his wife’s alluring soft body.

Although Chen Quan Ran whispered softly to his wife, Chen Luo Yu and Xiao Ha were highly trained in martial arts so it was hard for them not to hear Chen Quan Ran’s whispers.

After Xiao Ha heard the general’s whispers, he immediately wanted to flee. Xiao Ha couldn’t believe the general could whisper about a husband desiring his wife in bed without blus.h.i.+ng or gasping for air. Instead the general appeared nonchalant while whispering unsuitable desires in front of others.

Chen Quan Ran’s whispers affected Chen Luo Yu differently, it made her face turn cold and discomfort in her heart. According to General Chen’s taste in women, he hated women like Mo Lan. But she couldn’t understand why he was being intimate with Mo Lan in front of others.

***

Chapter Six (Part 2)

Chen Quan Ran, Xiao Ha and other soldiers took Chen Luo Yu sightseeing to many places in the imperial city.

They lived together for many years, which was why they were comfortable around one another. After a few days of sightseeing, the emperor summoned Chen Quan Ran to the palace to discuss important matters and Chen Luo Yu was forced to part with Chen Quan Ran.

The past few days Chen Luo Lu occasionally visited General Chen’s grandma. But General Chen’s grandma loved to meditate and Xiao Ha was a.s.signed to protect Chen Quan Ran.

After Chen Quan Ran left for the palace, Chen Luo Yu felt restless. That afternoon she practiced sword fighting and overheard Mo Lan talking with a maid. Truthfully, she secretly a.s.sessed her love rival closely. Mo Lan appeared weak, but Mo Lan was strong on the inside. If Mo Lan wasn’t a capable woman then everyone in the Chen Household wouldn’t regard Mo Lan highly. But Chen Luo Lu didn’t think Mo Lan was deserving of General Chen. What Chen Quan Ran needed was a woman who could fight, not a maternal woman to manage the Chen Manor.

Chen Luo Yu’s eyes shone confidently.

‘A young mistress is indeed busy day and night,’ Chen Luo Yu said scornfully.

Cheng stood beside her mistress Mo Lan and clearly heard the scorn in Chen Luo Yu’s voice. But Cheng was happy Mo Lan was finally reunited with General Chen and Mo Lan’s years of waiting and hard work was acknowledged and rewarded. Cheng didn’t expect Chen Luo Yu would suddenly appear and attempt to put discord between Mo Lan and General Chen. Chen Luo Yu shamelessly demanded General Chen’s attention and asked General Chen to take Chen Luo Yu sightseeing all around the imperial city. If Chen Luo Yu was inside the Chen Manor, Chen Luo Yu purposely talked about army life with General Chen to exclude Mo Lan. Cheng felt it was unjust and disrespectful toward Mo Lan. But Mo Lan didn’t complain to General Chen about Chen Luo Yu’s behaviour and let Chen Luo Yu continue to treat Mo Lan badly.

‘Lady Chen if you’re free today why aren’t you sightseeing?’ Mo Lan asked.

‘Today the emperor summoned General Chen to the palace, General Chen isn’t free to go sightseeing with me,’ Chen Luo Yu said and smiled. ‘It’s been tiring sightseeing with General Chen for the last few days. Today is a good opportunity for me to rest my legs a little.’

Mo Lan wasn’t angry and smiled politely. ‘Quan Ran treats all his men equally. It’s rare for Lady Chen to visit the imperial city, of course he would take Lady Chen sightseeing.’

Chen Luo Yu heard Mo Lan’s implied message that even if Quan Ran had brotherly affections toward Chen Luo Yu, Quan Ran was still Mo Lan’s husband. Chen Luo Yu didn’t want to admit defeat and retorted. ‘But General Chen said after being away for ten years the imperial city has many changes. Like places where he played as a young boy feels different and distant to him than in the past.’

Chen Luo Yu smiled. ‘The other day General Chen remembered he loved to eat tanghulu (Chinese candied fruit on bamboo skewers). Truthfully General Chen usually doesn’t like to eat sweets. Big brother is selective and in the past it has always been me who cooked for General Chen. If I didn’t cook food for him then he wouldn’t even glance at the cooked food.’

Chen Luo Yu paused but kept smiling. ‘Also, before General Chen sleeps he would read about war strategies and weapons. If he doesn’t read them before he sleeps then he’ll feel he lost something important and can’t sleep. Although he’s an adult, he’s actually no different than a child.’

Mo Lan heard Chen Luo Yu’s familiarity with Quan Ran like the palm of Chen Luo Yu’s hand, it made Mo Lan’s heart uncomfortable. But she refused to let Chen Luo Yu’s words deflate her own self-worth.

‘Honestly I’m feeling frustrated. What is the purpose of Lady Chen saying all this to me?’ Mo Lan said.

Chen Quan Ran didn’t expect Mo Lan to ask her directly and her complexion looked a little uneasy. She especially noticed Mo Lan’s maid Cheng was looking at her in disdain. She was disappointed Mo Lan didn’t react the way she expected and spoke bluntly. ‘I’m only warning young mistress that I and General Chen have been together for many years, fighting together, eating together, laughing and riding side by side while hunting in Da Tao Huang.’

Chen Luo Yu continued provoking Mo Lan. ‘General Chen and I share the same interests and dreams. Besides, General Chen highly praises my skills and said if he didn’t have me in his army then he wouldn’t know how many of his men would have been killed.’

‘Ah, is that so?’ Mo Lan asked calmly and laughed softly. ‘If Quan Ran sees you as someone that special to him then when did he say he wanted Lady Chen to marry into the Chen Household as his second wife?’

Chen Luo Yu was surprised by Mo Lan’s question and didn’t know how to answer.

‘Then let’s a.s.sume Quan Ran wants to marry Lady Chen as his second wife,’ Mo Lan said. ‘Lady Chen have you thought about in the Chen Household, Quan Ran has an official wife? If Lady Chen enter the Chen Household then by status, I’m Quan Ran’s official wife and you’ll only be his second wife.’