Book 10 Chapter 7 - Returning To The Western Paradise
Luo Fang excitedly said, "This time our victory was an extremely close call, even I almost lose my life. Fortunately there was a mysterious scar-faced Daxia [great hero] who drew his saber to help us, attacking the bandits that their casualties are very heavy. As if he was feeling his pocket and took something out, he even took the ‘scorched earth for a thousand li' Mao Zao's severed head in the middle of magnificent army with thousands of men and horses, and thus reversing the situation of the battle.”
And then, with much trepidation he went on, "You would not have believed how thrilling the situation was. At first we thought it was just an army of two, three thousands to invade and harass us; who would have thought the bandits would cover the mountains and the plains? They attacked us that we were completely routed. Fortunately Changzhu [ranch master] and Er Zhishi [second manager] separately led their troops via two different routes to curb the enemy's main force, again with the help of that mysterious Daxia, Also Da Guanjia [housekeeper] led his troops out of the pass to face the attack head-on. Only then did we manage to resist the enemy. By the time Changzhu lured the enemy into the trap outside the village, the eastern gorge also dispatch troops to help, and so we defeated the enemy in one move, pursued and attacked them for a hundred li, and killed them until they threw off their pants. Hey! Where is Xiao Ning?”
Xu Ziling smiled and said, "Fu Zhishi [deputy manager], please sit down!”
Luo Fang acted as if he did not realize that he was the deputy manager; he was only staring blankly for a moment, before as if he had just been awakened from a dream he sat in the chair Xu Ziling pulled out for him. Looking all around, he remarked, "This house is not bad at all. Where is Xiao Ning?”
Xu Ziling sat down across the table from him. He knew that Kou Zhong knew how to coax him; hence the reason Luo Fang preferred Kou Zhong over him. He replied, "He was summoned by Princess Ning; he should be back any moment!”
Luo Fang revealed a disappointed look, but immediately returned to his excited mood. As if he was about to confer a top secret, he leaned over and lowered his voice and said, "This time it was entirely due to Er Zhishi's recommendation, because under the Third Manager, people more qualified than me can be found everywhere. Besides, the San Zhishi's [third manager] position has been taken over by Xu Lao. So now all managers and their deputies are our Er Zhishi's men, something that was unthinkable in the past. Fortunately in the battle this time I have shown a bit of performance. But I heard that it was Er Zhishi who talked to Changzhu for the whole sichen, and with Da Guanjia's support, before she finally agreed.”
Xu Lao was Xu Yang, the deputy of the Third Manager, who, like Shang Zhen, loved to smoke pipes; hence they had a good relationship.
Liu Zongdao's face, who was blind in one eye, appeared in Xu Ziling's mind; a slightly uncomfortable feeling crept up in his heart.
This man actively groomed his own power. Could it be that he had another agenda?
Speaking of which, he and Kou Zhong could also be considered his men.
Staying tranquil and calm, he asked, "Has misfortune befallen San Zhishi?”
Letting out a cold snort, Luo Fang said, "He usually did not have any regards toward others, and loved to flaunt his awe-inspiring authority. When he visited the battlefield for real, would he still be able to show off? Just in a couple of confrontations he was slaughtered!”
Xu Ziling was well aware that Tao Shusheng was executed in secret, but the official announcement was that he sacrificed his life in battle; either because the family scandal should not be broadcasted outside, or it was a method to purge the remnants of a defeated clique. The Fourth Manager Wu Zhaoru has always been breathing through the same nostril as Tao Shusheng; perhaps he was also involved in this matter.
Xu Ziling very much wanted to ask about Yuan'er's fate, but in the end he held back and asked, "Has Changzhu returned?”
Luo Fang was unsure, "She should be back in a few days. The situation outside is very chaotic. After Ren Shaoming was assassinated, not only there was a fast change of scene in the south, the turn of events north of the River is also not too encouraging.”
After exchanging some more chitchats, due to his newly-appointed post, Luo Fang had hundreds of matters to attend to; thereupon he said goodbye and left.
While Xu Ziling was still musing over the situation caused by Ren Shaoming's death, Kou Zhong, with stupefied look on his face, came back. He sat down absent-mindedly, his eyes looking straight ahead, just like two empty holes.
Xu Ziling was about to question him, Kou Zhong dejectedly sighed and said, "Finally she and I came to an end.”
Xu Ziling reached out to grab him by the shoulders and said heavily, "Not everything in life is lovely flower, round moon, blissful with everything going on as you wish. While we do not need to serve beautiful Changzhu these next few days, we might as well ask for guidance Mr. Lu, to have a bit more positive outlook.”
Kou Zhong nodded; he said, "It's critical that you tend to your injury and heal quick, don't leave the slightest amount of scar; otherwise, your scar faced Daxia will expose the fox's tail!”
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And so they passed their days like that.
Lan Gu appeared to be afraid of them that she did not dare to come and harass them; so the two boys enjoyed a free and easy life, day and night they slipped out to talk with Lu Miaozi, discussing the written notes of his lifelong learnings.
Due to the differences in characters, Xu Ziling held special interest in landscape design and astronomy, while due to his ambition, Kou Zhong was more interested in history, the art of war, and mechanism; each in the correct place.
On the surface, Lu Miaozi did not look like someone at the death's door; his complexion was still ruddy and bright. Yet the two boys were aware that he had reached the last brightest moment just before the flame dies.
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One evening, the two boys were just thinking of going to Lu Miaozi's place, when Xiao Juan, whom they have not seen for a few days, suddenly appeared, telling them that the Ranch Master wanted them. So they knew that the beauty has come back.
Having a guilty conscience, they could only brace themselves to go see her.
Shang Xiuxun was sitting alone in her study; she was busy reading scrolls of document piling up on her desk. The two boys stood in front of her desk and saluted, she merely uttered an ‘ehm', as if she thought looking up to acknowledge their presence was not worth doing.
After the two boys stood transfixed for quite a while, she suddenly said flatly, "Take off your clothes!”
"What?” the two boys blurted.
Tossing the writing brush in her hand, Shang Xiuxun looked up to stare at them. She spoke irately, "Take off your clothes is take off your clothes. Which part of it you don't understand? My word is your command; otherwise, house rule is waiting for you.”
Forcing a laugh, Kou Zhong said, "Other than our Niang, no other women have ever seen our innocent bodies. If we strip naked in front of Changzhu, it won't look so good if anybody ever finds out!”
Shang Xiuxun gave him a stern look; she scolded, "I did not tell you to take off your pants. Still refuse to comply? Are you waiting for the beating?”
Xu Ziling was about to argue, Kou Zhong was afraid he might unmask their true identity, he quickly cried out, "You want us to take off our clothes, we will take off our clothes!”
Seeing Kou Zhong peeling off and stripping his upper garments, exposing his refined naked thick and solid torso, and knowing that Shang Xiuxun wanted to see if they had any scars on their bodies, plus remembering that they were going to see Lu Miaozi, finally Xu Ziling relented.
Shang Xiuxun rose up to her full height, walked around the two boys for a few turns, and then returned to her desk, while failing to cover her disappointment. Waving her hand, she said, "Get lost!”
The two boys picked up their clothes, and were about to get out when suddenly Shang Xiuxun stopped them, "Get dressed first before going out. If you go out like that, are you looking for scandal?”
The two boys awkwardly put on their clothes under her shining eyes. Noticing that she looked like she was still thinking about something, Kou Zhong probed, "Changzhu! Can we get lost now?”
Shang Xiuxun's eyes looked at the two boys up and down several times. She said coldly, "Do you work out every day?”
Kou Zhong realized that she had her doubt upon seeing their perfect and solid muscles. "Of course,” he spoke without thinking, "Every day, first thing in the morning, we spend at least one sichen punching and kicking, only then will we be in high spirit.”
‘Bang!'
Shang Xiuxun's palm slapped the table; her apricot eyes grew big as she scolded them, "Nonsense! In the entire Ranch, you are the ones who get out of bed the latest; you need people to ring the gongs and beat the drums before you are willing to wake up. You dare to lie to me?”
Smiling apologetically, Xu Ziling said, "Getting up early is indeed our habit, but lately we followed Changzhu's instruction to learn new skills from Mr. Lu every night, so that our day and night are reversed. That's why we sleep late!”
Kou Zhong did not expect her to know about their everyday life; without any better option, he awkwardly admitted, "Changzhu Daren, please be magnanimous. I was merely speaking out of habit, forgetting the recent changes in our lives.”
Shang Xiuxun's eyes were growing brighter and sharper; regaining her calm and composed manner, she said, "But Liu Er Zhishi said that during the several days of travel to this place, he has never seen you two trained martial art?”
Afraid that Kou Zhong might brag, Xu Ziling hastily said, "Simply because we saw Er Zhishi and the others have superior martial art skills, how could we dare to display our slight skill before an expert? Please Changzhu understand.”
Half-believing, half-doubting, Shang Xiuxun stared at him for quite a while. Finally she sighed and said, "If one day I find out that you are hiding something from me, I will kill you with my own hands.”
Kou Zhong heaved a sigh of relief inwardly, knowing that Shang Xiuxun no longer suspect Xu Ziling to be the scar-faced strange hero. "Now can we get lost?” he asked respectfully.
With a straight face, as if she was furious, Shang Xiuxun said, "No!”
The two boys were stunned.
Shang Xiuxun pondered a moment. In the end she waved her hand and said, "Go! But every day you must report to me the old guy's condition.”
"What time do we need to see Changzhu?” Kou Zhong asked.
Shang Xiuxun replied impatiently, "I will have someone summon you. Now get lost!”
As if they had just received the Emperor's amnesty, the two boys scurried out.
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Upon arriving at Lu Miaozi's small building, the two boys were shocked.