548 Threa (1/2)
At last, Gu Shenwei turned down.
He did not want to offend the bigwigs in Norland. According to his rule, he never took actions unless he was confident in his plan. He would rather be called a coward than break this rule.
In the meantime, he regarded Shangguan Ru's request as a personal test. He reminded himself that she was his foe's daughter. Although he could trust her, he could not cross that invisible and subtle line.
Refusing Shangguan Ru's request reminded him of that boundary. It was Gu Shenwei's personal struggle.
”I cannot help you. This is Norland. I cannot take the risk,” he said to her.
Shangguan Ru glared at the Dragon King angrily. Before she lost her temper, she overcame her anger. After all, she was not the Tenth Young Master or a little girl anymore. She composed herself as she said, ”Why did you risk stealing the horse?”
”That was different,” Gu Shenwei replied, as he tried to find a good reason to explain, but failed. In fact, the two matters were very different, indeed.
”I forgot that you are the Dragon King. You never help anyone or do anything unless it benefits you or the Dragon Army,” said Shangguan Ru, as she took a deep breath and looked up.
”You're right,” Gu Shenwei responded, as he did not want to explain. What Shangguan Ru said was the real reason that he refused her request.
”Fine,” Shangguan Ru said as her eyes turned cold. ”What about the archers from the Land of Fragrance? Aren't they are useful to you?” she asked.
Gu Shenwei was stunned and asked in a panic, ”What... do you want to do?”
”Even without your assistance, I will use a thousand female archers to save her,” announced Shangguan Ru.
Gu Shenwei had not expected that Shangguan Ru would threaten him with the archers from the Land of Fragrance. He kept silent for quite awhile. Shangguan Ru tightened her lips and looked at the Dragon King with resolute eyes.
The first ray of sunshine broke into the sky.
”You do not own the Land of Fragrance,” Gu Shenwei retorted, though he knew his argument was weak.
”I know. Neither the Land of Fragrance nor those archers belong to me. They are part of the Dragon Army, and I am just a... coach. However, if I ask them for help, they will not refuse me as you did,” she said confidently.
To those female soldiers, Shangguan Ru was not just an archery coach. She was their savior, guardian, and ruler. She could be the Queen of the Land of Fragrance anytime she wanted, with their support.
Gu Shenwei did not think that Shangguan Ru would take the Land of Fragrance from the Dragon Army. However, he could not ignore her threat, for he knew she was serious.
”This is not a game,” he said.
”I'm not a little girl anymore. I am... a married woman,” she said. Shangguan Ru had never admitted that she was the wife of the Fifth Young Master Meng before. Now she announced it deliberately to irritate the Dragon King. She continued, ”You killed my husband, so you owe me a debt.”
They had never talked about this before. Both of them were aware who had killed the Fifth Young Master Meng. In Gu Shenwei's eyes, Shangguan Ru was the one who owed him a debt in this matter.
”Have you made up your mind to save Shaomin?” he asked.
”She is only sixteen. She was terrified when she learned that she would be married off to Norland. If she falls into the hands of Fu Yuan.. she'll die,” she explained.
”I need to see her first,” said Gu Shenwei.
”Are you referring to Shaomin?” asked Shangguan Ru.
”Yes. Some people have said that the Shangguan family members are wolves. I need to know what kind of person she is,” he answered.
Gu Shenwei's words were angry and sarcastic, but Shangguan Ru did not get upset. ”I promise that she is a little lamb,” she answered with a bright smile on her face.
Gu Shenwei doubted Shangguan Ru's judgment of people. He said with a snort, ”You try to buy me some time. I don't have a plan yet, so I need to observe for a couple of days first.”
”Shaomin is safe up until the beginning of the Tournament of the Royal Court. Third Brother... Shangguan Yun will not hand her over easily until he gets Fu Yuan's promise,” Shangguan Ru replied.
It suddenly occurred to Gu Shenwei that he could utilize this opportunity to find out the true identity of this yellow-faced servant. He warned Shangguan Ru, ”Do not act rashly. Keep an eye on Old Man Mu and do not let him out in public. This is Norland, and he has many enemies here.”
”I will not act rashly,” Shangguan Ru replied seriously with a nod, ”I will arrange for you to meet Shaomin.”
It was almost dawn. They returned to their encampments the same way they had come. Gu Shenwei took the lead, and Shangguan Ru was ten steps behind him. He could not help but turn around to look at Shangguan Ru, for he thought that she was acting strangely.
She seemed to have turned into the confident, spoiled and innocent girl who aimed to achieve her goals at any cost.
Gu Shenwei still remembered that. When Shangguan Ru was told at Xiaoyao Lake that her parents planned to sacrifice her, she was depressed. Her sad mood didn't go away, even when she first set foot in the Land of Fragrance.
When he had met Shangguan Ru on the grassland, she looked better, but still seldom spoke. At that time, she would have never threatened the Dragon King.
”There must be something that changed her,” Gu Shenwei thought. He did not want to ask her this, but he was very curious about it. When they reached the border of the Royal Court, he stopped and turned to her to say, ”You've learned how to threaten others. It must be Old Man Mu's doing.”
Shangguan Ru seemed to be insulted by his words. She raised her head as she replied with a grave expression, ”I will never learn from him.” Then, she pretended to put on an evil look as she added, ”Be careful. I could become more wretched if I wanted to.”