How bold Shuihan was! Hadn’t until Qin Yunuan said anything, a teacup fell to the ground with a clear clatter. Maner and Ting Xue put aside the curtain and hurried out but see no one. They were wondering who the person was running that fast.
“It must be Leng Shuang.” Qin Yunuan stood outside the curtain. Leng Shuang must have been trembling under such snowy cold weather. But it had no comparison with her disappointment. Ice-cold, ruthless Heiying opened her locked heart. Her heart was also smashed into pieces because of him.
“Let me replace Shuihan to look after Hei Ying.” Maner volunteered. She didn’t want Leng Shuang to suffer from heartbreak anymore. Shuihan pretended to be weak and soft. When Maner and Ting Xue happened to figure out she was feeding the medicine for Heiying mouth to mouth, Shuihan shyly crouched her neck like she was the poor victim. She contended that it was the convention to serve a patient in her hometown. This was the first time Shuihan regarded her behavior as kind. But even Maner, a woman who got married, couldn’t stand her behavior.
“No, we should make it natural.” Qin Yunuan shook her head, “It will be awkward if we take actions recklessly. But you should pay more attention to it. Do remember why I arrange both of you to work in the wounded camp.”
Maner and Ting Xue nodded to back off. Qin Yunuan went behind the folding screen and caught the sudden appearance of Leng Changxi. He sat there straight, looking at Qin Yunuan with a smile. The tenderness in the corner of his eyes warmed her up like spring.
Qin Yunuan’s already got used to Leng Changxi’s sudden appearance and disappearance, so she only got shocked for a moment then walked behind Leng Changxi with a smile. She was kneading his aching shoulders due to wearing armor and said sweetly, “My General Leng, you’ve finally finished all of your business. Now you have time to call in this small woman.”
Leng Changxi turned around his head and looked at Qin Yunuan’s breast. He nodded, “Hum, indeed, not big.” He then narrowed his eyes to enjoy Qin Yunuan’s royal service.
Qin Yunuan punched her fist on Leng Changxi’s shoulders and thumped his arms, “Stop teasing me! You must be very tired today. Have you got any ideas about the strategy?”
“Haven’t yet,” Leng Changxi shook his head. “West Xia doesn’t practice Bagua strategies. Since Sima Ray arranges miraculous traps the first pass, he has quite a clear insight into our weakness. We have so many old generals to help us solve it out, but nobody can see through it. Plus, I always have a strange feeling about this map.”
“It’s fake?”
“No,” Leng Changxi shook his head, “It is not written as we normally do, but I cannot tell the difference.” He was extremely tired today. He had to deal with elderly generals’ critique towards the strategy of using miraculous traps. At the same time, he had to persuade rash young generals like Tuoba Wuyu, who shouted to smash those stones into debris.
“Miraculous traps.” Qin Yunuan murmured. Suddenly an idea struck her. She signed with emotion, “I remember the person who knew the strategy of using miraculous traps the most in Qi was the one who built the Imperial Mausoleum for His Majesty. His surname was Cang, quite a rare one. My father once said the site selection of the imperial mausoleum was superb. But because of a landslide, the orientation of the head of the dragon was changed. The previous auspicious place, therefore, turned to an ominous place. It had already been five years since the construction began. Mountainous of manpower and material resources had been consumed. In such a dilemma appeared a person named Cang Shigu. Only by building several pavilions on hillsides and placing several huge stones, he changed the Fengshui of the Imperial Mausoleum. He was worshipped as the first state teacher of Qi by the emperor. Unfortunately, three days over, he passed away due to an illness. People admired him the most because he chose a marvelous place for his burial, where he blessed his descendants with a prosperous and promising future. I’ve heard that his single grandson did build his career.”
Qin Yunuan sighed with emotion. Leng Changxi smiled but said nothing. Suddenly, something struck Qin Yunuan. She turned her head and asked, “Changxi, since his grandson was serving the emperor in the Royal Palace, have you ever heard of him? This person must have inherited from his grandpa more or less.”
Leng Changxi smiled, “You are right. I knew him.”
“What’s his name and position?” Qin Yunuan questioned closely.
“His family name was Cang, and his given name was Mu.” Leng Changxi answered in a flat tone, “He has a relatively high position: the second-rank personal bodyguard of His Majesty with numerous houses. But he lives in danger every day, even doesn’t he have a chance to enjoy good wine and beauty.”
Through Leng Changxi’s description, a face emerged in Qin Yunuan s’ mind.
“Heiying was an alias, isn’t it?”
Leng Changxi looked at Qin Yunuan with disdain, “Have you ever heard about anyone using Hei as his family name?”
Qin Yunuan shivered. She stopped kneading her hands, “So Heiying is Cang Mu, the grandson of Cang Shigu?”
Leng Changxi rose his head with joy, “What do you expect? I struggled to persuade Heiying to join us. What do you think was it all for?”
“You did it.” Qin Yunuan guessed a lot. She got many things right. Like a specific connection between Heiying and Cang Shigu; also, like Leng Changxi knew Hei Ying’s true identity. The truth told that she still left something out of the account.
“My dear husband, you have ways to contact people of Qi?” Qin Yunuan asked one question after one with anxiety, “What about our family? What about Baochuan and my father? Prince Fu and Yuzhao, what if they…”
The more Qin Yunuan said, the more she got worried. Things were as usual when message was blocked. Once contact was possible, people would get into a flap whether they knew the message or not.
Looking Qin Yunuan overexcited, Leng Changxi stood up immediately. He hugged Qin Yunuan’s trembling body into his arm. He put his jaw onto Qin Yunuan’s forehead, lowered his head to kiss her, and said gently, “Don’t worry, everything is fine. I got the message this morning. Father sent it by all means from the Royal City. With father, nobody has the nerve to attack Baochuan and Prince Ning’s Mansion. Prince Fu and Qin Yuzhao, on the other hand, are safe. Anyway, Prince Fu is Sima Ray’s own younger brother. Sima Ray holds power and dares not to harm him. Also, Prince Fu has always been a no-threat fool to Sima Ray. Prince Fu’s Mansion is safe, too. Recently there are too many things for you to worry about. You are much thinner than before. When you sleep at night, you scream as a nightmare has haunted you. It’s my bad. I’ve promised you a peaceful life. But now I couldn’t even bring you your favorite Glutinous Rice Balls.”
As Leng Changxi soothing her, Qin Yunuan calmed down. She wiped her tears away placidly and said, “Thank goodness, everything is all right. I just miss Baochuan too much. Since he’s born, we’ve been together and never separated. I’m afraid that he takes revenge for us impulsively, yet I’m also afraid that he is too timid to fall asleep. I’m such a contradictory fool.”
Leng Changxi smiled and kissed on Qin Yunuan’s lip corner, “If you are a fool, it must be a kind one. I heard what you said to Maner and Ting Xue, and I agree with you. Currently, the best way is not match-making Leng Shuang and Heiying, is letting them realize each other’s mind.”
“We only have to wait for him waking up, right?” Qin Yunuan lay her head onto Leng Changxi’s chest and murmured. She was determined and decisive alone outside. But in front of Leng Changxi, she would put down all her disguise. Leng Changxi was her long-stay harbor when she got tired. And he would be there always.
Heiying was minor injured due to excessive loss of blood. According to Maner’s report, after being simply treated, Heiying could open his eyes the next morning. At noon, when everyone was busy, Shuihan came in and reported with great joy, “General, Heiying wakes up! He can move now, so he says he’d like to pay a visit to you.”
Shuihan had a sweet voice. When she was talking, Qin Yunuan obviously noticed that Leng Shuang got stiff.
Surprisingly, Leng Changxi didn’t make any sarcastic comments on Shuihan. Instead, he smiled, “Your hard work does you credit. I’ve heard that you took care of him a day and a night.”
Hearing Leng Changxi’s words, Leng Shuang’s expression was frozen.
“If you are uncomfortable, just speak it out.” Qin Yunuan was watching the maps and graphics on the table. She said to Leng Shuang at her right side, “Suppression will bury you.”
“Madam, you worry too much.” Leng Shuang said coldly, “I don’t feel any uncomfortable thing. Heiying gets well so that he could help us solve the problem out. I rejoice for our army and general.”
Qin Yunuan said in a low voice, “that would be the best.”
Leng Changxi stopped Heiying, who recovered from the illness from walking around freely. Heiying was moved to a relatively comfortable tent with confidential files. Shuihan was waiting outside. She watched into the tent with pity. Leng Changxi banned anyone from entering the tent without permission, including her.
“How I wanna know what does Heiying feel right now.” Shuihan rubbed her fingers. Concerns ran over her eyes.
Leng Shuang standing guard at the door with Shuihan glimpsed her and said nothing. Until Qin Yunuan left the tent, Leng Shuang moved to put on a cloak on her body.
“Madam.”
“We shall leave tomorrow,” Qin Yunuan said to Leng Shuang, “Go and pack yourself up. Tomorrow we will head to the rock gates in the valley.”
