Vol 7 Chapter 4 (1/2)
Book 7 Chap 4 – Love and Hatred
With the strong will trained fro forced himself up from bed and went to the hall to see Zhao Mu
Zhao Mu’s attitude arood talk”
Xiang Shaolong pretended to be dis to Learned Lady Ji’s place immediately?”
Zhao Mu forced a s a little unwell so the appointment to see the horse will have to be postponed Hai! A woman’s heart is hty beauty”
Xiang Shaolong was secretly laughing and thinking what could be so unfatho his instructions to cancel the appointment to avoid any embarrassment when they meet It’s just that he did not expect Zhao Mu to come and inform him personally
After asking the servants to leave, Xiang Shaolong sat down next to hiht?”
Zhao Mu sighed, “I als happened during the feast and even when I told myself not to think about it, my brain refuses to obey” He continued in a quiet voice, “This tiroup of people Those that can be considered experts are already more than 30 and they are all famous Chu swordsmen that he recently recruited to be his family warriors Usually he keeps a very low profile in Chu in order to avoid raising Father’s suspicions but he’s revealing his true self once he arrived here”
Xiang Shaolong replied, “Marquis, do not worry I am confident that he will not able to return to our Great Chu alive”
Zhao Mu was visibly touched as he looked at hiht person to come What is your real identity? Why have I never heard anyone mention you before”
Xiang Shaolong already has a script long prepared so he replied cal Zhuo, a hunter frohness came to hunt near where I lived once and met with a pack of wolves and I saved hiroomed me and allowed my clan to enjoy wealth and riches He is hness wantsof Zhao, therefore he has never taken me back to the residence My trip to Handan this tiether with Marquis and to act when there’s a chance Won’t the world belong to your Huang family sooner or later? My men are all from the Xiutu Tribe and absolutely trustworthy, so Marquis can put your mind at ease”
Zhao Mu’s heart was fluttering on hearing this, thinking to himself that his Father really kno to use people This wang Zhuo is not only intelligent but bold as well, not to mention his excellent swords’s coordination, the position of Zhao Ruler will certainly belong to hiest obstacles will be the two fellows Lian Po and Li Mu
Zhao Mu said, “I’ve been thinking the whole night and finally thought of a workable plan, but now the tiain at a later date As that h expectations of you, you’d better show some results as soon as possible”
Xiang Shaolong was secretly laughing that the most important part was his last sentence He stood up and said, “Thank you for the re my men to the new farm outside the city to discuss hoe can set up the place”
Zhao Mu’s original intention was to look for hi, as interested in Xiang Shaolong, so as to avoid incurring the displeasure of this powerfulthis he had no choice but to stand up as well and said, “Don’t forget about Guo Zhong’s feast tonight, you must come back before dusk”
Xiang Shaolong acknowledged a reply and sent hi off with Wu Zhuo and the rest towards the outskirts of the city
Wu Zhuo, Jing Jun and most of the others stayed at the Hidden Ar up tents, chopping down trees, repairing bridges and roads, pretending to be preparing for everything Actually, they are just establishi+ng a foothold, so that not everyone will be captured if anything happens and at the sa for Zhao Zhi on his own
Before dusk, Xiang Shaolong, Teng Yi and 30 odd highly skilled men from the Elite team rushed back to Handan
They had just arrived at the city gates when the official on guard duty told hi enter the Palace immediately to see him”
Xiang Shaolong and Teng Yi exchanged looks, both feeling that so of Zhao would not summon him for no reason
After they exchanged a feords, Xiang Shaolong went to the Palace to see King Xiaocheng under the escort of the Zhao soldiers
Cheng Xu personally brought hi usually work in and the person acco him turns out to be Guo Kai and not Zhao Mu
Xiang Shaolong saw that Xiaocheng’s expression re his respects, he sat down at his lower left, facing Guo Kai
Cheng Xu went to stand behind King Xiaocheng
Guo Kai gave hi care of him
After asking a few questions about the farhed and said, “About the farress for the ”
Xiang Shaolong was surprised and replied, “Your subordinate will certainly obey your orders, but I wonder what is the reason?”
King Xiaocheng smiled wryly, “It is a must to establish the farm, it’s just that there’s a sudden setback Let Mister Guo relate this to you!”
Guo Kai gave a dry cough before speaking with his weird voice, “It’s all that Li Yuan’s fault Who kno hetrip this time is to return to your ho, he said that although you are a Zhao, you’re still a subject of Chu and if we allow Mister to stay in Zhao, it will have negative impacts on both country’s relations”
Xiang Shaolong is so angry his lungs are al This Li Yuan is obviously jealous to see Ji Yanran seated on the sa to hi his plans Without a doubt, he s about hi is really in need of him, otherwise he may very well bind him up immediately and send him back to Chu
King Xiaocheng said seriously, “Of course I will not take his comments to heart, it’s just that the situation now is very delicate His sister is the beloved concubine of the King of Chu and when the ti to the King of Chu and advises him not to send troops to deal with the Qins, then our ‘alliance’ this time will fail That’s why at this point of time we have no choice but to condescend to him”
Guo Kai added with a laugh, “Once Li Yanyan gives birth, there’ll be no use even if Li Yuan talks to the King of Chu”
Xiang Shaolong laughed together with them
Of course he knows that Guo Kai is inferring that the King of Chu is soive birth to a boy, so Li Yanyan will be no exception But he knows that the real person who did it this ti of Chu, so there’s at least a 50 percent chance that it will be a boy Guo Kai’s assumption may not be accurate But of course he cannot be blamed, for ould have expected such a twist in this
Xiang Shaolong had a thought and asked, “Should I keep away for a while?”
King Xiaocheng replied, “Youto Li Yuan’s likings I told hi has not decided whether to stay or leave, andMister to keep a low profile for the ti and only start on the foundations after Li Yuan has left”
Xiang Shaolong was secretly overjoyed but pretended to be helpless as he replied, “In that case I’ll have to send someone out to stop the delivery of the horses which are now on their way here But I’m afraid the earlier batch would have already arrived at the border”
King Xiaocheng replied, “If it has arrived then so be it! We do need to increase our nu to your plan”
Xiang Shaolong was just worrying that he has no excuse to send people back to Qin to report, so he hurriedly agreed
King Xiaocheng was silent for a ht the Marquis of Julu asked Mister to stay behind after the feast, what did he say to you?”
Xiang Shaolong quietly shuddered as he secretly thought this exciting He did not expect that King Xiaocheng would actually be suspicious of his ‘lover’, and of course that conniving devil Guo Kai s up so he pretended to be surprised and exclaimed, “Is there a problem with Marquis?”
Guo Kai reminded him, “You have yet to reply to his Majesty’s question?”
Xiang Shaolong pretended to be frightened and after expressing his apology, replied, “The Marquis of Julu opened his heart to me and said he’ll take care of me so that I can work my full potential He also said, hai…”
King Xiaocheng furrowed his brows, “Even if it involves bad things about o ahead and repeat without fear”
Xiang Shaolong replied, “It’s not really bad things, the Marquis only said that if he were to put in a few good words for me in front of your Majesty, I’ll definitely enjoy riches and wealth Ai! I am just a boorish man and my only wish is to rear my horses in peace and to contribute some small effort to my beloved country! Not to mention riches and wealth, even life and death is of no consequence to me”
When King Xiaocheng heard how Zhao Mu tried to bribe hi ‘bared his soul’ in the end, he looked touched and kept nodding his head, expressing his admiration
Xiang Shaolong continued, “The Marquis even wanted to make me stay at his residence and help ht that business is more important and adamantly refused”
Guo Kai said, “His Majesty is very impressed with Mister’s devotion to work, but for the next few days you’d better just go around enjoying yourself We have a few fa you there to join in the liveliness tomorrow!”
After so instructed him not to reveal the contents of their conversation to Zhao Mu before Guo Kai acco Hall
As he walked on the fas can’t help but well up as he thought of the tragic Lady Ni He didn’t even concentrate on Guo Kai’s continuous babbling next to him
Guo Kai saw that he looked distracted and thought that he was unhappy about Li Yuan so he consoled hi, don’t be affected by people like Li Yuan That’s right! Don’t you have to attend Guo Zhong’s feast tonight?”
Xiang Shaolong was startled awake, secretly repris at this point in ti as well?”
Guo Kai smiled, “I’ve already rejected the invitation Ever since the arrival of the important officials from the eastern states, I’ve been so busy that I can’t breath Just the writing of the proposal for his Majesty is enough to make me lose sleep for a few days”
Xiang Shaolong was about to reply when a group of horsee slow rode towards them from the road on the left
A lewd look appeared on Guo Kai’s face as he said quietly, “Lady Ya is here!”
Xiang Shaolong had already recognized Zhao Da and his roup past first
Zhao Da and the rest all paid their respects to Guo Kai
Just as the horse carriage was about to turn into the square, the curtains of the carriage was raised, revealing a pale and tired looking Zhao Ya who is obviously lacking sleep When she saw Xiang Shaolong, she did not reveal any look of surprise, as if she already knows that he is in the Palace She cried out daintily, “Stop the carriage!”
The carriage and her men stopped
Zhao Ya’s pretty eyes, which were still alluring, first landed on Guo Kai’s face as she said with a smile, “How are you, Official Guo!”
Guo Kai was captivated as he replied, “How can I be good when I have not played the zither or chess with Lady for such a long time?”
Xiang Shaolong was livid on hearing it and wished that he could give Zhao Ya a tight slap for she is really not showing any self-respect at all
Zhao Ya saw Guo Kai flirting so outrageously with her in front of this horse fanatic and replied with e” Her eyes turned towards Xiang Shaolong’s face and asked gently, “Is Mister Dong going to the Guo residence If you don’t ether with Zhao Ya!”
Xiang Shaolong replied icily, “Thank you Lady for your kind invitation, but I feel like walking alone so that I can think about some matters”
Guo Kai thought that he was still troubled over Li Yuan’s uessed that he was taking revenge on her because she had rejected hi this person for being so stubborn, which is so
Her heart softened as she said lightly, “In that case I will not force Mister”
The horse carriage slowly rode towards the gates of the Palace
Xiang Shaolong rejected Guo Kai’s suggestion of taking the sa horses, and can only feel safe and satisfied on a horse’s back Mister, please ask your guards not to follow me, let me stroll around on my own and at the same time think about some matters”
Guo Kai asked with doubt, “It’s the first tio to the Guo residence?”
Xiang Shaolong was secretly startled, for he knows that it’s easiest to let the cat out of the bag with inconsequential details such as this so he replied offhandedly, “Please do not worry, I have already asked for directions”