Chapter 40.1
Chapter 40.1
Face-Slapping the Son of a Concubine and a Transmigrating Girl (14.1)
“I, I will listen to you.”
Ruan Hua was already thoroughly intimidated. She was a delicate woman and a performer. Her troubles were no more than finding the least ugly person in a group of repulsive people to play and chat. This situation was really the best– now she was on the brink of life and death.
It was a pity that she felt that there finally was a wealthy yet not repulsive noble son, but he unexpectedly came for her life.
“Write two letters. Write what I say; send one to Hu Yue and the other to Qin Zhong.”
“Okay.”
“They should come over to buy your ransom tonight. At that time, no matter who you choose, you must give the other a letter, write what I say.”
“Okay.”
“Once you have been received into that person’s house, someone will snatch you away on the second day. Follow him and as usual, leave behind a letter.”
“Yes, I will listen to whatever Young Master says, as long as you give me the antidote.”
“On the third night, another instance of snatching you may or may not happen but if it does, do not leave. Fake your death and then I will give you the first period’s antidote.”
“If, Young Master, I’m saying if, what if they do not follow your plan and come?”
Zhou Xu smiled like a spring breeze, “You only need to properly act your role. No need to worry about other matters.”
“Yes.”
Just as Zhou Xu had just finished telling Ruan Hua his plan, a pale blue figure floated into the boat. In his hands was a long sword with a dazzling gleam. This sword wielder had an extraordinary temperament. His dignity seemed inherent and it was as if nothing in the room could enter his eyes.
“And who are you?” Ruan Hua asked.
“He is my guest, it has nothing to do with you.” Zhou Xu had a smile on his face as he looked at the person who had arrived. He asked, “What, you have no trust in me?”
The crown prince’s long sword was unsheathed, but once he saw Zhou Xu, in an instant his sword light cleanly vanished, “Here to visit you.”
“I have no interest towards women, okay? Come over and accompany me to drink wine. This is Min Nan’s osmanthus wine; it tastes fragrant and rich, really not bad.”
The crown prince sat in front of Zhou Xu. Ruan Hua had no choice but to shift to a corner, pretending she knew nothing. She could not afford to offend either of them.
The two drank a few cups of wine, then began to take action.
First Zhou Xu made Ruan Hua write two letters with identical content. It was nothing more than her saying that she was suffering under the old lady and that she was unwilling to continue such a life. She wrote that she really liked the recipient and hoped that he could save her by taking her away, and she would love the recipient whether she became a concubine or a servant.
Of course, there were two recipients.
That night, the Zhen Nan King’s son carried silver to the Yi Hong building, but Hu Yue was stopped by Zhou Zong Han.
The short and stout Hu Yue actually had skill in martial arts and his strength was astonishing. Although he was somewhat slow-witted, he was a qualified general solely based on his skill.
“General, I was sent by the third prince to help you in hopes that you would have stricter self-discipline. For a girl from a brothel, you are unexpectedly breaking military rules going out late at night.”
“Ah? The third prince gave you this position to supervise me so I have to listen to what you say? Ridiculous. The Ding Min troops have followed me for four years; nobody dares to question me. Who do you think you are? Also, what brothel, Zhou Zong Han, don’t think that I don’t know that your mother is from a brothel. How do you have the face to talk about it? Ludicrous!”
What Zhou Zong Han hated the most was other people talking about his background. Gritting his teeth, he said, “General, please think carefully, otherwise I will write a letter to the third prince. At that time, your position could be in jeopardy.”
“Heh, are you serious? This is the first time that I, Hu Yue, have been threatened by a scholar.” Hu Yue raised his hand to push Zhou Zong Han to the floor. He stepped on Zhou Zong Han with one leg, “Ha ha ha, since you want to control me, then go die.”
Hu Yue turned and left. The indignance in Zhou Zong Han’s eyes became more obvious. He thought that coming to Min Nan would let him have great accomplishments, but he never expected that the head of the Ding Min troops was such a rash fellow. Other than martial arts, he could not do anything. Zhou Zong Han even questioned how General Hu Yue rose to his position.
In reality, Zhou Zong Han’s suspicions were right. Hu Yue was the third prince’s elder cousin and his relationship with the third prince was quite good since they were young.
The third prince was naturally smart. He could tell that Hu Yue was dumb despite having such expertise in martial arts, but this made him even easier to use.
Hu Yue knew that he was commanding the third prince’s private troops, but he always believed that the third prince would become emperor. At that time the private army would no longer be a private army.
Zhou Zong Han knew everything. Hu Yue’s high key methods would sooner or later expose them; he was especially anxious. Being merely a scholar who could not bear weight on his shoulders nor have strength in his arms, Zhou Zong Han was no match for Hu Yue.
Hu Yue arrived at the Yi Hong building. It was already late and Ruan Hua had already been taken away by the Zhen Nan King’s son, Qin Zhong. Hu Yue only received a letter Ruan Hua had left behind.
After he finished looking through the contents, Hu Yue never expected that Qin Zhong would directly snatch people away and that Ruan Hua liked him so much. He unconsciously seethed in anger. When he thought of Ruan Hua’s delicate appearance, the fire in his heart only burned more vigorously.
When he became a bit more composed, Hu Yue saw that behind the letter was a few words. The handwriting was sloppy and it was obvious that it had been written in a hurry. Those words were: you must come and save me.
His heart that had just calmed down surged with fresh rage, its fire able to set a prairie ablaze. Hu Yue grabbed his broadsword and shouted for ten odd subordinates, then fearlessly and energetically headed to the Zhen Nan King’s manor.
The Zhen Nan King was already old and could not handle affairs, thus the family matters were always done on his behalf by Qin Zhong. Qin Zhong was not one to be easily dealt with. Knowing that it was Hu Yue smashing at the door, he called for even more family guards before opening it.
The moment the door opened, Hu Yue was stunned. He only brought some ten odd people and never thought that Qin Zhong would fetch a hundred people to fight him.
He barely had any time to think before Qin Zhong’s team attacked them.
There was no suspense as to who won.
Hu Yue was thrown out, littered with injuries.
Gritting his teeth, Hu Yue returned to the barracks. His temper was completely out of control. He had never been beaten this badly.
He called for three hundred soldiers to arm themselves with the intention to charge into the Zhen Nan King’s manor. However he was again stopped by Zhou Zong Han.
In a fit of anger, Hu Yue kicked Zhou Zong Han away and left with his soldiers.
That night, the Ding Min troops warred with the Zhen Nan King. The Min Nan residents joked that the two were fighting over a beauty.
On one hand, Hu Yue fought with the Zhen Nan King and on the other, he secretly asked people to save Ruan Hua. By the time Qin Zhong realised this, he only had the letter Ruan Hua left behind.
Qin Zhong held the letter then and looked again at the hundred-odd people who had died in the manor. He finally made the decision to war with Hu Yue.
Hu Yue hugged Ruan Hua and whispered all sorts of sweet nothings to her. Zhou Xu and the crown prince wore black robes and found the General’s office. Only the both of them did not expect that there would be someone else there.
The two had already entered the room from above when their line of sight collided with the person quietly sitting in one corner.
All three were shocked. The person in the corner wanted to shout, but a long sword immediately reached his neck. His mouth that was half-opened could only shut again.
Zhou Xu took off the black cloth that acted as his mask. His black clothing served as a foil to his clear and fair complexion. Faintly laughing, Zhou Xu said, “Zhou Zong Han, long time no see.”
The crown prince also took off his mask. Zhou Zong Han’s facial expression changed like there was a sudden change in situation.
Zhou Xu’s mood was quite good; he really liked to see people suddenly turn hostile.
“What, it can’t be that Young Master Zhou won’t greet the crown prince? Maybe kneel on the ground to beg for forgiveness or raise your hands in surrender?”
“Since we are at this point, it doesn’t matter whether you kill me or dismember me.”
The crown prince put away his sword and said, “Zhou Zong Han, looks like you won’t admit defeat even at death. Since this is the case, then I will let you see something.”
The crown prince looked to Zhou Xu. Zhou Xu took out a letter and passed it to Zhou Zong Han.
That letter was precisely the one the third prince sent to Hu Yue alone. Inside it was a strand of Qi Lan’s hair and his child’s frequently worn bracelet.
After he read the letter, Zhou Zong Han’s two eyes went vacant.
Zhou Xu smiled faintly and said, “What, you find it unbelievable? Zhou Zong Han, the world has always been like this. There are people who are born with power and those that are born with nothing. You may not agree, but your life is your own to live out. I only want to ask you, having arrived at this point today, have you ever thought about what your initial wishes were?”
Zhou Zong Han was unable to believe it. He had thought that he could rely on the third prince to achieve a meteoric rise in his career, but never expected that the third prince had only used him. If any problems arose, he was the one who would have taken the blame. This crime would have been able to sentence three generations of his family to death.
Zhou Zong Han suddenly thought of Qi Lan; he had not spoken to her in a long time. Even before coming to Min Nan, he had not spoken to her.
And his son. He never hugged him more than a few times.
Zhou Zong Han’s tears suddenly started falling. He slowly knelt down.
Translator’s Note:
part one is up! has ZZH really repented? see you on monday