Chapter 06 Part 05 - Top Secret (1/2)
Chapter 06 Part 05 - Top Secret
------------
If the House of Headmaster was the most secured building in the entire City of Di Du, then Di Lin’s estate had to be the second. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, since he had more enemies than he could remember.
That night when ZiChuan Xiu went to visit his friend, the Inspector General – Di Lin, even after he had shown the pa.s.s identifying himself as the Deputy Commander, the devoted constables on duty still gave him a thorough pat down, to the point he had nearly been violated.
ZiChuan Xiu argued angrily: “Do you want to search between my a.s.s cheeks as well?” The constable responded humorously: “No thanks, we didn’t bring gasmasks.”
It was Lin Xiu Jia who opened the door; she shouted in surprise: “Xiu! It’s you!” ZiChuan Xiu was enthralled by her gorgeous face. Other than the same youthful beauty, there was another layer of womanly radiance. He involuntarily s.h.i.+fted his gaze away and down, only then did he realize her slightly swollen belly. She was pregnant.
A surreal feeling washed over him, as if he had just woken from a dream.
He cleared his throat: “Hey! Sister-in-law.” He had no words to describe the mixture of emotions he was feeling right now.
Lin Xiu Jia seemed truly glad for his visit. She quickly led him in the house and said: “Your brother just left a moment go, why don’t you wait for him in his office? I’m sure he will be back soon!”
ZiChuan Xiu answered politely: “No need. I will wait for him in the Guest Hall.”
Lin Xiu Jia shook her head and, gave him a playful and naughty look, tilting her lips sideways towards the direction of the Guest Hall, hinting at the unpleasantness sitting there.
ZiChuan Xiu followed with his gaze. The Guest Hall was filled with people, and the medals on their uniforms sparkled under the lamp light. Even though he couldn’t recognize anyone, they were no doubt high ranking officers.
ZiChuan Xiu smiled bitterly: “Very well.” And nodded understandingly at the officers waiting in the Guest Hall as he followed Liu Xiu Jia into Di Lin’s office, completely ignoring the wall of annoyed gazes casted on his back: “Who the h.e.l.l is that kid? We waited whole day and not even a cup of tea. Why is he being allowed into the office and not us?!”
Lin Xiu Jia showed ZiChuan Xiu to his seat in Di Lin’s office, and made tea for him. She even brought him some snacks. Those were usually the work expected from a servant.
ZiChuan Xiu asked surprised: “So many of them out there. Has it always been like this?” The Di Lin he knew was a lone wolf. That was so unlike him.
Lin Xiu Jia laughed: “This is nothing! Your brother already sent a bunch of them home tonight. A messenger from the Ministry came by earlier, saying there was something urgent needing his approval. Then he left and let the rest of them wait.”
“I see. So what do they want from Di Lin?”
Lin Xiu Jiu twitched her mouth, making an annoyed face: “Who knows? Probably asking him for a favour? Ever since he became the Inspector General, he just can’t seem to get rid of them!” Even though Liu Xiu Jia constantly complained, her expression was that of a proud wife. Who wouldn’t be when her husband had all the power and respect in the world?
ZiChuan Xiu felt his cheeks heating up. Even though he knew Liu Xiu Jia wasn’t talking about him, but he did come here to ask for a “favour”.
Liu Xiu Jia was totally oblivious to ZiChuan Xiu’s awkward expression as she continued: “I’m being serious. I couldn’t get rid of them even if I tried, so annoying. And you, you are one of our oldest friends, yet I barely even see you nowadays! Even Stirling came by several times, you never visited once. It’s not like before, now you don’t even have to worry about Yang Ming Hua finding out.”
ZiChuan Xiu had no answer for her. Lin Xiu Jia clearly wasn’t told of what happened between him and Di Lin during the night of Di Du’s bloodbath. He smiled: “I was busy… see, I’m here now!”
“Fine. Let’s change the subject. Xiu, you are getting older now. So what are you? Twenty? Di Lin told me you don’t even have a girlfriend? That just won’t do. What kind of girls do you like? Tell me, I can introduce you to some.”
ZiChuan Xiu wanted to say so badly: “I like someone like you!” But the words that came out of his mouth quickly turned into: “I’m not planning to find one. You don’t have to worry about me!” Lin Xiu Jia gave him a sly look, tilting her head sideways. The kind of cunningness reminded him of when she was still a little girl, and it made ZiChuan Xiu’s heart skip a beat…
“I know; you have high standards. Not just anyone will do.” Lin Xiu Jia lowered her voice, asking: “Is it the Former’ Headmaster’s daughter? Ning? If you are too embarra.s.sed, I can help you propose!”
ZiChuan Xiu spurt out a mouthful of tea water, coughing profusely, waving his hand in denial: “Please don’t. Thanks though!”
By then a servant came in and whispered something to Lin Xiu Jia. Whatever it was, it made her frown. ZiChuan Xiu took the opportunity and said: “Sis, if you are busy, I can wait here alone.”
Lin Xiu Jia hesitated for a second, and then said: “Ok. As you wis.h.!.+ Feel free to look around. I won’t be gone for too long. Your brother should be back soon as well.”
Lin Xiu Jia left the office, closing the door behind her. She clearly trusted ZiChuan Xiu a lot.
Watching her shadow disappearing in the distance, the mix of indescribable emotions finally revealed themselves. He glanced around at the objects decorating Di Lin’s office. In the front and the most eye-catching place on his desk, he found an old painting: It was a portrait of him, Stirling, and Di Lin back when there were still in the Far Eastern Army Academy.
……
The three of them hugged together like family. ZiChuan Xiu stood on the left, a kid face full of smiles. Di Lin stood in the middle, making a cool pose and Stirling stood on the right, showing a gentle smile.
Perhaps it was all preordained. Somehow, their position in the portrait had predicted the cruelty waiting in stores for them.
The background was a forest of peach trees. It was spring, pink leafs were everywhere, and some were still falling.
ZiChuan Xiu seemed to recall, it was also during that spring, when they first met Lin Xiu Jia.
On the back of the portrait was Stirling’s poem: “Flower blossoms in spring, people blossoms while young!” It was strongly written. Below it, were his, Stirling’s and Di Lin’s signature.
Both ZiChuan Xiu and Stirling had a copy of the same portrait. ZiChuan Xiu never knew Di Lin cared about it so much to put it in the center of his desk. A wave of warmth began to spread outwards from the deepest part of his heart.
ZiChuan Xiu didn’t touch any of the doc.u.ments lying on Di Lin’s desk. Instead, he walked towards the window and raised the curtains. He quickly found himself admiring Di Lin’s beautiful garden under the moon light.
The lamp light of the office spilled into the garden. From afar, ZiChuan Xiu could see two shadows conversing under the cover the darkness. One was Di Lin, the other caught ZiChuan Xiu by surprise. It was the Black Banner Army Commander – Fang Jing.
Both of them were well trained fighters, as they quickly caught the glimpse of light coming their way.
Di Lin didn’t seem to be bothered by the light coming from his office. He turned his gazes back on Fang Jing and continued.
ZiChuan Xiu carefully dropped the curtains, but that moment of panic on Fang Jing’s face had already left a deep mark on his mind.
Why was he here? Didn’t he say he was ill and would be resting at home?
After a long while, ZiChuan Xiu heard the noises coming from outside. Many voices said the same thing:
“Aah. Welcome back, Inspector General!”
“Working overtime until this late! You must be exhausted!”
“Take care, Sir! We will…”
Di Lin responded to each and every guest with a smile, while Lin Xiu Jia helped him out of his thick army coat. She complained: “Where were you? Look how late it is! Don’t see you how many people have been waiting for you?” then quickly whispered: “Get rid of them quick, Xiu is waiting for you in your office.”
Di Lin raised his head, speaking to all the guests at the same time: “I’m terribly sorry to have everyone wait for so long! But unfortunately, there are still urgent businesses coming from the Headmaster in need of my immediate attention…”
The guests quickly took the hint and replied: “No worries. We are not in a hurry at all! Naturally, Headmaster’s tasks take priority!” And soon, everyone left.
Di Lin entered the officer, and smiled apologetically to ZiChuan Xiu, saying: “Sorry.”
ZiChuan Xiu teased him back: “Nothing of the sort! Inspector General carries the fate of the entire House, I’m sure you have been very busy!”
Di Lin shook his head: “It was better before, but lately I’ve been very busy indeed! Mostly because of those new recruits, they have no understanding of the word discipline at all. Some of them spent all day drinking or brawling. Some even engaged in the act of stealing and s.e.xual hara.s.sment. Three words, a complete disaster! The monthly crime rate of Di Du has increased by five hundred percent compared to the last month… You may or may not already know, but every time a soldier commits a crime, those lazy a.s.ses in the Police Corp would hand the cases over to the Ministry!”
ZiChuan Xiu declared with a burning sense of righteousness: “Then you should go after their commanding officer! And hold him responsible!”
Di Lin answered casually: “Well said! The unit that causes the most trouble is the one called ‘Xiu’s Company’. They alone are responsible for over half of the crimes committed in the City… I will have a talk with their commanding officer first thing in the morning!”
ZiChuan Xiu instantly shut up.
Lin Xiu Jia laughed so hard she could barely stand straight. Di Lin took her in his arms and gave her a kiss. Lin Xiu Jia pushed him away, feeling slightly embarra.s.sed: “Don’t, Xiu is watching! You are being a bad example!”
“What is there to be embarra.s.sed about? Xiu is family! Besides, it is not like he hasn’t seen it before?”
ZiChuan Xiu cried out: “C’mon, get a room! My pure mind cannot take this anymore!”
“f.u.c.k off, stop your innocent act with me! Did you forget all the p.o.r.n mags you used to have were all mine to begin with?”
Lin Xiu Jia listened happily to their conversation: “You guys have fun. I will make something for you to eat… Xiu, have you had something to eat yet?”
Di Lin: “I ate already.”
ZiChuan Xiu: “I haven’t.”
Di Lin reminded her: “Remember, one set of sticks is enough!”
ZiChuan Xiu quickly followed up: “Oh, right! And I prefer to use knife and fork!”
Food was quickly prepared for them. Di Lin turned to Lin Xiu Jia: “It is late. You should rest. You don’t have to keep us company. In case some idiot who hasn’t even emptied his half gla.s.s claims to be drunk and use it as an excuse to take advantage of my wife!”
ZiChuan Xiu argued: “How could you distrust me like that?”
Di Lin answered resolutely: “I never trusted you!”
Liu Xiu Jia smiled like a flower: “I have not seen Di Lin having so much fun for so long! You guys talk. Let me know if you need anything else.”
Watching Lin Xiu Jia leaving the office, the smiles quickly disappeared from both of their faces.
Di Lin spoke slowly: “You saw?”
A strange question that didn’t quite make sense, but ZiChuan Xiu knew instantly he meant the conversation he was having with Fang Jing in the garden. ZiChuan Xiu shook his head in a wide arc: “Nope. I saw nothing!”
“You saw.” The question had turned into a statement.
ZiChuan Xiu had no choice but to come clean: “Yes. I saw.” Looking around alarmingly: “This is not a trap is it? Do you have three hundred a.s.sa.s.sins hiding outside the room, waiting for you to smash your gla.s.s as the signal?”