587 A Night Visi (1/2)
Draped in a thick cloak of darkness, Gu Shenwei felt quite at ease.
Han Fen was sitting in her tent and happily sewing with a handful of rags while humming simple, merry nursery rhymes.
But the lyrics sent shivers down one's spine upon hearing them: Peel off the skin, open the chest, place the viscera in a row. Slice the flesh, cut off the head, find the heart …
She turned her head and smiled with joy as she said, ”Ehh, it's the Dragon King. How are you? I've had a little too much for supper tonight. The mutton took up too much room in my stomach. Can we find a way to get some vegetables?”
”I'll find a way.”
”Hee, that's great. Look, I made this.”
Han Fen held up what she was sewing. It was a doll over a foot tall which was nearly completed. The facial features of the doll had been drawn in advance, but the brushwork was as childish as something drawn by a three year old. It had ferocious eyes, a large bloody mouth that was most of its face, and sharp teeth that still seemed to be dripping blood.
”Not bad,” praised Gu Shenwei insincerely.
”This is the Master Commander. I'll keep it with me when it's done.”
Han Fen smiled from the bottom of her heart like a good kid who had prepared a secret gift for her parents.
”Hmm, very good. Come with me. I need your protection.”
Han Fen put down the unfinished doll and seemed to transform into a completely different person as she stood up. She started carefully observing with her peripheral vision even when standing in her own tent. She had changed roles and become the killer behind the Dragon King.
Gu Shenwei was very satisfied even though Han Fen's madness always left a deep impression on him. He often wondered how Lotus had withstood the crazy training of Waning Moon Hall while still remaining rational without showing much of a change.
They were followed right after leaving camp. After circling around for a while, the two lost their tails at the craftsmen district before moving to the slums of the livestock market, where they were still being spied on. Gu Shenwei found three hidden sentries, who were watching the trap with rapt attention.
Gu Shenwei knew what had happened without going inside. Lotus had run away with Han Xuan and Shangguan Shaomin, leaving a sign that only Gu Shenwei could read. About ten steps away, a stick was placed by the left side of the tent.
He even knew where Lotus was hiding, but there was no need to find her right now.
Next, Gu Shenwei planned to cross the entire Royal Court and go to the Flower Camp in the northernmost area. He had decided to visit the Second Consort at night. Time was urgent, and he couldn't wait for King Rizhu to make an arrangement.
As he passed through the noble district, Gu Shenwei found the atmosphere had dramatically changed. All the camps were on high alert and armed soldiers were patrolling in droves, making the whole area look like a pre-war barracks.
But it was a barracks in disarray. The different camps guarded against each other more than they did outsiders. And each time the patrolmen, who belonged to different lords, approached or faced each other, they generated 'sparks' even brighter than that of the torches nearby.
There had always been a delicate balance between the Khan's life span and the fight for the throne. King Kuari's action, however, had broken the balance. Now every royal member of the Norland was afraid that a large-scale war would break out soon.
But it was a good thing for the night-walkers. Due to the tension between the various camps, the safe paths were wider and smoother than usual. Gu Shenwei, therefore, was able to reach the northern forbidden area quickly.
The Flower Camp was located in the forbidden zone, where the guarding method had not changed. Except for a small number of the Khan's direct troops patrolling the periphery, the soldiers on sentry guard were all female.
These female soldiers were all servants of the Second Consort. They had changed into a military uniform because of their lord's whims and had only been irregularly trained for a very short time. Therefore, they could not be compared to the female archers of the Land of Fragrance.
They were even reluctant to put a helmet on their buns. Although they kept a decent watch at the guard post, they did not look out of the camp. Instead, they combed each other's hair, tidied the corners of their clothes, murmured, and chuckled from time to time.
Such a defense was futile.
But Gu Shenwei acted more carefully than he did when crossing the noble's district. This was the Flower Camp, where all the prestigious women and female servants lived. Once exposed, even if it were just rumors, his reputation would be seriously damaged.
So Han Fen replaced him as the pathfinder. She had to first make sure there were no ambushes inside the camp and then she would notify the Second Consort of the Dragon King's visit. About an hour later, Han Fen quietly came out of the camp and motioned for the Dragon King to come in. She wore a faint smile on her face as if she had really enjoyed the task the Dragon King gave her.
The tent of the Second Consort was very conspicuous. Located in the center of the camp, it was the largest and most luxurious tent in the entire camp. The outer layer of the tent was made from pale yellow silk, which glistened under the light of the fire. Even if the other prestigious women had brought better tents with them, they dared not compete with the host.
However, Gu Shenwei didn't enter the main tent. Han Fen led him to a remote small tent where there was no fire around. It was inconspicuous and easy to hide from others.
Han Fen stood guard outside.
Dressed in a loose casual long dress and no make-up on her face, she seemed to have been roused just when she had fallen asleep, but she did not look annoyed at all. On the contrary, she was full of interest, reminiscent of the scene in which Gu Shenwei had called up Shangguan Ru in the middle of the night.
”Your subordinate is really interesting.”
”She doesn't understand the rules.”
”But she's very able. She made my servants sleep like dead men and directly walked to my bed.” The Second Consort smilingly shook her head and didn't appear as panicked as ordinary women. She even looked a bit regretful, ”The whole Royal Court is like a rutting buffalo, ready to gore everyone else to death. Only, my place is like an unguarded sheepfold, and any wolf can break in. You are such a wolf.”
”In the Royal Court, only the Khan is a wolf. I'm merely another sheep looking for more of my kind to protect myself.”
The Second Consort laughed and said, ”Anyway, I have to strengthen the defenses after you leave. Why my female soldiers are not as good as those of the Land of Fragrance?”