Chapter 10 (1/2)
Chapter 10: The Test of Three Questions
After sending off the crown prince, Jun Huang started planning on how she would take her leave of Nan Xun. She’d come to Northern Qi in order to destroy Eastern Wu for revenge. This journey would be fraught with perils. Although Nan Xun had a strong faction in Northern Qi, his enemies were everywhere. If she stayed in Prince Nan Manor, she would certainly bring untold trouble to Nan Xun.
“Is something the matter?” Nan Xun asked faintly when he saw that Jun Huang seemed to have something to say. Western Qu’s princess is indeed extraordinary. She sent the crown prince away with just a few words. Nan Xun was abruptly revising his impression of Jun Huang again.
“Just now… thank you,” Jun Huang responded. Nan Xun was a prince of Northern Qi but had openly defied the crown prince for her, a commoner. She had to express her grat.i.tude for his protection just now.
“It was nothing,” Nan Xun shook his head.
What needed to be said still had to be said. Jun Huang took a deep breath in. “Since we’ve already reached Northern Qi, Baiyu dares not intrude further. And so, I think I should take my leave today…”
“Alright,” Nan Xun responded.
“I came to Northern Qi to… wait, you said alright?” It took a while for Jun Huang to realize that Nan Xun had already agreed, and she widened her eyes in surprise.
“I know that Sir Feng is no ordinary character. You will not stay long in the Prince Nan Manor. I’d just never thought that Sir Feng would take his leave after a night’s stay.” Nan Xun explained his reaction patiently.
“Oh, I see…” Jun Huang responded absentmindedly, a bit of odd disappointment in her heart. She’d thought that Nan Xun would seek to keep her when she raised the issue of leaving, and she’d brainstormed a treasure trove of excuses already. She’d been conflicted for such a long time of how to breach the matter, but… he’d already thought of the reason for her!
The corner of Nan Xun’s lips couldn’t help but curl up when he saw how disappointed she seemed. “It’s not like we’re parting forever. You’re welcome to come find me here whenever you run into trouble.”
It was just that one sentence, but it somehow cheered up Jun Huang’s mood. She couldn’t help but blush when she realized this. What’s gotten into me? Jun Huang hastily flung out, “Then thanks!” and ran out hastily, as if there were ghosts chasing her out of the manor.
Nan Xun’s eyes followed her until she vanished outside the front door, the laughter hovering at the corners of her lips vanis.h.i.+ng. “Wuqing, Wushuang!” he commanded lowly.1
“Master.” Two shadowy figures appeared soundlessly in front of Nan Xun.
“Follow her,” Nan Xun ordered coldly. “Don’t appear unless her life is in danger.”
“Understood!” Wuqing and Wushuang responded, melting away into the shadows again. Nan Xun took a long look in the direction that Jun Huang had disappeared in, the look in his eyes complicated and hard to define.
To know one’s enemy as well as one knows thine self, that is the foundation for continued success on the battlefield. Therefore, Jun Huang had already plotted out what she would do after reaching the Qi capital along her way here. There were three princes of the blood in Northern Qi. Of the three, only Crown Prince Qi Yin and Second Prince Qi Chen could help further her plans. She’d already met the crown prince; the two had left a mutually unfavorable impression on each other. Therefore, there was only choice left, Second Prince Qi Chen.
The biggest question now was how to obtain Qi Chen’s trust. Jun Huang mused on this after leaving the Prince Nan Manor, slowly ambling her way to the Prince Chen Manor. However, she had yet to reach it when she saw a large press of people gathered in front of it from afar.
“So many answers, but not a single one chosen!”
“Isn’t that so! These three questions look simple, but there’s a wealth of knowledge in them!”
“Whoever can solve these questions is certainly a wise talent unparalleled by any other!”
Jun Huang’s eyes gleamed when she took in the chatter around her. Her feet quickened up the pace. Prince Chen had set questions for which to recruit strategists with! And here she was fretting on how to obtain his trust. This was a perfect opportunity.