524 Invitation (2/2)
During the seaside slope battle, the whole world had been impressed by the female soldiers from the Land of Fragrance. Although they had only shot a few rounds of arrows on the slope and had not been involved in the chasing of the deserters, they were still incredible in everyone's eyes.
In the past, although a king would occasionally set up a women's army on a whim, it had never been anything more than fun. Since then, female soldiers were only a myth in the Western Region and even the whole world.
The Dragon King's move was, indeed, beyond everyone's imagination. It had also resulted in unexpected effects for him.
The King's ”Lady of Norland” mentioned by Queen Ju was not an ordinary woman. She was the esteemed second wife of the Khan. She was very interested in the women soldiers of the Land of Fragrance, so she had invited queens and princesses from all over the world to gather in the grassland. The meeting was supposedly for wine tasting and appreciating flowers, but its real purpose was to discuss war and martial arts.
Many people suspected that the topic of the party would probably end up being about wine tasting and flower appreciation, anyway, though.
”The Dragon King has forbidden me to go,” Queen Ju said, trying her best to sound emotionless. Still, she could not hide the disappointment and resentment in her voice.
”No one can change the Dragon King's mind,” said Maid Lotus.
Queen Ju did not intend to ask Maid Lotus for help. Although she had not met the Dragon King very frequently, she knew him well. She had something else to discuss with Maid Lotus. ”I guess the 'Queen' of the Land of Fragrance will attend,” she said.
”Not necessarily. She doesn't like that kind of thing,” answered Maid Lotus.
”She will go”, Queen Ju sounded even more sure, as if she knew everything about the ”Queen”, whom she had never met. ”Because the Dragon King is going to Norland,” she concluded.
Maid Lotus was amused and thought, ”She is so naive, and she is trying to use me.” She simply asked, ”That's why you summoned me?”
Queen Ju did not say anything. She could not say it directly because she was a little afraid of Maid Lotus. As the Dragon King's female guard, Maid Lotus was different from any other woman she had ever met. Sometimes, she could see the shadow of the Dragon King behind Maid Lotus and worried that her efforts to win her over would amount to nothing.
”Those two chapters of scripture are always on my mind. I swore to the Dragon King that I would never reveal a word to other people, but you are the person the Dragon King trusts most, so you are an exception. So...if you want, I can recite it to you,” Queen Ju teased.
Maid Lotus was a wise person. Queen Ju believed that she would understand her implication of ”if you want something, you must offer me something in return.”
”You're wasting your time. She won't go to Norland,” Maid Lotus answered coldly, but her interest was aroused.
Thousands of miles away in the Land of Fragrance, Shangguan Ru was thinking about the invitation, too. She, indeed, did not want to go to Norland. The Land of Fragrance was not subject to the jurisdiction of Norland. She did not have to please the wives of the Khan. In addition, she was concerned that if she accepted the invitation, people might think she wanted to be the ruler of the country. She did not want that to happen.
Old Man Mu kept his promise and stopped killing in Xiaoyao Lake. He had been released from prison. At that moment, he was standing on a chair, reading through the simple letter again and again.
”You should go”, he said in a low voice, acting as a philosopher in front of Shangguan Ru. ”Not for yourself, but for the people of the Land of Fragrance, and also for the Dragon King,” he continued.
The Dragon King was just another reason that she did not want to go to Norland. ”I've done everything I can. He is better at martial arts than I am, and much smarter than me. He doesn't need my help,” she said.
Old Man Mu shook his head while saying seriously, ”Not necessarily. The Dragon King is good at martial arts, but he is not the best martial artist in the world. He is very smart, but sometimes he can be too smart for his own good. I believe he must have made detailed plans for his trip to Norland, but I'm worried that something could happen, unexpectedly. He may fall into a trap and need your help,” he said.
”If something can trap the Dragon King, then it's beyond my help,” Shangguan Ru answered.
”If it weren't for your help, the Dragon King would have suffered a crushing defeat at the seaside slope battle,” Old Man Mu reminded her.
”That was all his idea, I just... forget it. I don't want to go to Norland,” she said.
Old Man Mu knew that the good girl could be very stubborn. He changed the strategy and said, ”Well, let's forget about the Dragon King's life. But what about the people of the Land of Fragrance? You don't care about them, either?”
”Norland's power can't reach here,” Shangguan Ru answered.
”You're right, if the Land of Fragrance was still a legend like before. But now the situation is different, and the Dragon King is to blame. He sent women to the battlefield, causing the Land of Fragrance to be famous all over the world. Originally we only needed to defend against a few wolves around us, but now lions and tigers are on their way,” Old Man Mu warned.
Shangguan Ru said nothing. Old Man Mu decided to strike while the iron was hot. ”The second wife of the Khan has invited queens and princesses from all over the world. In fact, you are the most important guest. If you don't go, you will offend powerful countries. On top of that, people will think that you are taking the time to train more women soldiers in the Land of Fragrance to help the Dragon King in the field,” he said.
” I'm not...” began Shangguan Ru.
”I said that's what other people will think. If you don't show up, they will believe that. So, you need to give a little explanation,” Old Man Mu said.
”You seem to want to go to Norland very much,” she said.
”Norland is kind of my hometown. But if you're suspicious of me, just lock me up in the dungeon again. I don't have to go with you,” he said.
Old Man Mu prayed in his heart, ”Good girl, you must take me there. My freedom for the rest of my life depends upon this trip.”
( End of this Volume )