CH 5

V Unpredicted

♚♔

Sloppy piles of books lay before me, already defiled by yours truly. I rub my eyes and lie back onto my pillow, sighing here and there with my eyes shut. Other than reading on my bed, I could do nothing but eat, sleep, drink and apply medicine for the past couple of days. Well, either read or go off to la-la-land. 

Murong Yu’s been a nice chap though, getting me a stack of books to relieve me of my boredom but when I think of the torture he’s going to put me through once I recover, I can’t feel any gratitude towards him. 

Sigh… 

Sigh… 

I survey the quiet room blankly then grab some blankets and wrap myself in comforting warmth. 

The sunlight is just right outside. It streams through the carved windows and forms spots on the floor, making the room feel even more desolate. 

My mind starts to wander and I think, if that guy was here, I’d at least have someone to bicker with. I mean it beats lying on my bed alone with nothing to do. 

At least it’d be sort of fun. 

My chest is starting to ache with pain again. The gash that Xie Zhen left was too deep, after all. The doctor said that if it was the tiniest bit deeper and a fraction more to the right even the reincarnation of the legendary Hua Tuo could not save me.

Of course, when I’m all snug inside this cozy cotton blanket, I admit, albeit bitterly, that Xie Zhen would’ve probably had better aim if Murong Yu hadn’t invaded with his men at that time and startled him. 

I let out another sigh, flipping through the pages of the book in front of me and then wrap myself tight with the blanket. 

Fair lands lie in the southeast;

The center of the Wu provinces,

Hangzhou has always flourished.

Misty willow trees and exquisitely carved bridges;

Emerald green beaded curtains sway in the wind,

A hundred thousand residences scatter unevenly across.

Spreads of forest snake along the sandy shores;

The rugged waves crash and form snowy froth,

The endless Qiantang River protects the city.

Pearls and jewels line the markets;

The people dress in vibrant silks,

Rushing to display opulence.

The overlapping mountain peaks about West Lake are gorgeous;

There are sweet olives in the third month of autumn,

And ten li of lotus flowers.

Woodwinds play on sunny days;

Water-chestnut collectors’ songs fill the night,

Delighting old fishermen and lotus picking girls.

The ivory flag posts of a thousand men

Listen to the flutes and drums, wine in hand;

Revel in the splendid scenery, rhymes in mind.

I shall paint this landscape down one day

And display it in the Imperial court.

My stomach tightens and my arms and legs go rigid but his eyes are sparkling. “From what I hear, the women from south of the Yangtze are all graceful, agile and as beautiful as flowers in bloom; every frown, every smile, every scold and every tantrum is filled with passion—by far, much better than any hostess we have here. And let me tell you, I am a very patient man.” 

Not waiting for him to finish, I blurt out. “You’re going for South Hill Pass?” 

He sips some tea before replying. “So what if I am? It is only a matter of time. No need to be so alarmed.” 

He looks up at me with a satisfied smile. “I hope you are not planning to stay a loyal subject after all this, are you?” 

He has a casual expression but his eyes speak confidence. My mouth opens but no words come out. 

“My troops are going through some calibrating these few days. When the time comes, bringing down South Hill Pass, no, even the capital of Rui, will be a piece of cake.” 

Hearing his words makes me dumbfounded and the hairs on my neck stand up. I rush off the bed after a moment’s hesitation and stumble a few steps. I speak once I find my balance. “No way. South Hill Pass was made and kept since the establishment of the country itself. It won’t fall just because you say so.” 

He stops but bellows out in laughter the next moment. He puts the cup down and walks towards me.

The Yan have always been a tall people. I’m actually considered tall amongst Rui men but I’m still some fractions shorter than Murong Yu. With his back to the light, his expressions and features are all hidden in the shadows and yet his body emits an apparent and powerful aura that rests on your shoulders like dead weights. He comes in closer, not giving me any possibility to escape. 

He spells out. “The city might be dead but the people in it are alive.” 

I glance up a little bit and see him smirking delightfully. 

A thought flies through my mind: he’s saying…there is a spy! 

“And also,” he leans in even closer, lips almost touching my ear, “I suggest you do not even attempt to run away. You do not want to tempt me a second time. The punishment will be more than you can handle.” 

I look into his black eyes and remain quiet; his brows dance upward and a satisfied smile spreads on his face.