Yu Shiji stepped in between Fei Yun and Kou and Xu, two boys; he tried to persuade using all possible arguments, "This is just a minor misunderstanding, two Xiao Xiongdi must not let emotions dictate your decision.”
Kou Zhong stared coldly at Fei Yun for a moment, and then he calmly said, "Xiao Ling is right, we have to go! If you insist on us, two brothers, staying, I don't even know what I might say next time we see His Highness.”
With a cold laugh Fei Yun said, "You dare to threaten us.”
Yu Shiji stared hard at Fei Yun, but at the same time he signaled him to keep calm and not be impatient, to deal with these two boys later. And then, putting up a smile he said, "Two Xiao Xiongdi did not know it, but although the account book has been given to His Highness, but as for when he will actually thumb through it, even His Highness himself did not know.”
Xu Ziling was taken aback, "So Yu Daren has not told His Highness?” he asked.
"Of course I have,” Yu Shiji replied, "But His Highness acted as if he did not hear it; he was busy kissing and petting with Imperial Concubine Xiao, and simply told us to put it down, so that he could look at it when he has time. Therefore, we still have to rely on two gentlemen. Hey! I heard from Yushan that Yuwen Huaji is your big enemy, we all have anger against a common enemy, don't be concerned over this kind of small things!”
Turning to Xu Ziling, Kou Zhong asked, "What do you think we should do?”
Xu Ziling was well aware that unless they fought the problem on their face, they would never leave this dreadful place. If it were only the two of them, they could always forcefully break through and leave it to fate. However, having to worry about Susu's safety, they could only endure and keep the tone of their voice in check.
"Very well!” he reluctantly said, "But we only want to rest, no need for any palace maids to serve us.”
Yu Shiji breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Not a problem at all. Everything will be as you wish.”
Kou Zhong lay down on a long padded bench by the window, listening to the rushing water of Yangtze River; his thoughts wandering far away, he said, "Being the emperor really knows how to enjoy life.”
Sitting by his side, Xu Ziling was leaning against the window, gazing at the starry sky of the dreary winter night. "Seeing Yang Guang like that, you still want to be the emperor?” he asked in disbelief.
Kou Zhong sprang up; he came over to Xu Ziling. Half kneeling, he also gazed upon the night sky outside. He said, "Since we have to pass this long night in the Palace, can't you let me, Kou Zhong, to reveal a little bit of my heartfelt wishes?”
"Don't lie!” Xu Ziling said guardedly.
Kou Zhong was startled, "When did I lie to you?” he asked.
Xu Ziling sighed and said, "This is at least the second lie. The first lie was ‘I, Zhong Shao, only touched Beautiful Shifu's slender lily-white hands'.”
Kou Zhong's thick face blushed; he said, "You must have asked that Poniang this kind of embarrassing question about which part of her Laozi has touched, didn't you?”
Not yielding a single step, Xu Ziling let out a cold laugh and said, "So you finally admitted that you have lied to me?”
Kou Zhong was peeved, "This kind of passionate love thing, naturally I cannot tell all the gory details to you.”
Xu Ziling said indifferently, "I don't seem to recall hearing Zhong Shao said that he likes her?”
Kou Zhong let out a bitter laugh, "Just consider me afraid of you!” he admitted, "All right! I was not totally honest, hee hee … I have never been an honest person; at least you, Ling Shao should know it better than anyone.”
Xu Ziling understood that Kou Zhong realized that he [Xu] has seen through his [Kou] heart, and knew that it was time to stop. Going back to the original topic, he asked, "So what kind of heartfelt wishes do you want to reveal to me?”
Kou Zhong roared in laughter as he stood up. Sitting on the arm of the chair, he put his hand on Xu Ziling's shoulder. His tiger eyes flashed mysteriously, he turned his gaze toward the garden scenery under the night sky outside the window. His voice heavy as he said, "Although I said those things, I do not really want to be an emperor; rather, I only want to join the hard-to-come-by game of power struggle over the world. A game where there is no rule, where the ideas of compassion, duty, propriety and integrity are only lip service, but not being used to govern real action in real life. Anybody with enough power, anybody whose fist is stiff enough, will be able to call himself a king.”
Xu Ziling was silent for half a day, finally he said slowly, "I understand what you mean; since you were young you were always unwilling to be left out, you always need stimulation and challenges, you need other people to respect you, to fawn on you. You are never afraid of anyone …”
"Wrong!” Kou Zhong cut him off, "I fear nothing in Heaven or Earth, but I am scared of you. If you became my enemy, I won't be able to sleep in peace.”
Xu Ziling said indifferently, "At that time, wouldn't you try to eliminate me by hook or by crook?”
Kou Zhong laughed so hard that he almost choked; gasping for breath, he said, "First of all, you can't possibly become my enemy, at most you'll just ignore me! Even if I, Kou Zhong, can be merciless toward anybody, but I can never be heartless toward you. Good Xiongdi, let's not indulge in flights of fancy, let's think about how to get away and go find Su Jie! Looking at that dead fatty's expression, after our business with Yang Guang is done, I guarantee that by the time we step out of the Palace gate, there will be several hundreds sabers and axes on every side, ready to chop us, two silly bugs, into minced meat sauce.”
Xu Ziling made an eye signal to him, and then he stretched and yawned, "I am dead tired,” he said, "Go to sleep!”