Chapter 106: A Grudge Must Be Avenged

After Niu Youdao carefully explained everything, Yuan Fang understood his intention. He nodded and agreed to cooperate, but inwardly he was miserable. This was practically gambling with their heads in their hands!

What Yuan Fang really wanted to ask was: Didn’t you say we came out here to get something for cultivation?

He had spent so many years amid the mountains around Nanshan Temple that he was accustomed to peace and quiet. Now, the moment he entered the wider world, he had suddenly been swept into turmoil like this. Everything had happened too quickly, leaving him badly unprepared. He was adapting only because he had been shoved into it.

Once they had finished tidying themselves up, someone was sent to report that they were ready.

Word soon came from the rear residence instructing the two of them to go over, and someone led them there.

Yuan Fang spent much of the walk staring around. He had never seen such a luxurious residence. Thinking of the poor commoners in the mountain wilds and comparing them with this place, the difference was like mud and clouds. He could not help sighing inwardly. How could worldly wealth and splendor fail to tempt people? No wonder everyone yearned for it. He silently recited, Amitabha!

Inside an elegant reception hall, host and guests met. Yuan Fang stood expressionless and motionless, while Niu Youdao offered a formal salute.

Hai Ruyue, dressed in magnificent robes, raised a hand to dispense with the formalities. Her gaze settled on the limping Yuan Fang. “Is this the skilled physician who came to treat the illness?”

Niu Youdao said, “He is.”

Hai Ruyue asked, “May I ask the skilled physician’s honored name and where he hails from?”

Yuan Fang replied coolly, “Hua Tuo. I’m merely a rustic from the mountains.”

“Oh, so it is Mister Hua.” Hai Ruyue looked at him. “Mister Hua does not seem very pleased. Could it be that I have failed in my hospitality?”

Niu Youdao said, “To tell the truth, Grand Princess, we came here to take our leave.”

Zhu Shun, who had been standing calmly to the side, suddenly raised his eyes, a chilling look in them.

Hai Ruyue narrowed her eyes. “Are you joking with me? I did not hesitate to offend a foreign envoy to rescue him, and now, before you have done what you promised, you want to leave? Do you think that because I am a widow, I am easy to bully and easy to use?”

Niu Youdao said, “Grand Princess, you misunderstand. Mister Hua traveled thousands of li to treat the patient, only to nearly lose his life. He no longer dares remain here, for fear of encountering danger again.”

Hai Ruyue said, “That concern is unnecessary. Mister Hua need only treat the illness in peace. I give you my word: within Jinzhou, no one will dare touch you again.”

Niu Youdao said, “There is something the Grand Princess does not know. Mister Hua has a rule when treating patients: when he is in a bad mood, he does not treat them. He offended no one, yet someone injured him for no reason. Mister Hua cannot swallow that anger. His mood is very poor!”

Hai Ruyue gave a meaningful “Oh?” and asked, “Then what would allow Mister Hua to swallow this anger?”

Niu Youdao gave her eight words: “Repay kindness with kindness; avenge a grudge with vengeance!”

The hall fell quiet for a moment. Hai Ruyue’s bright eyes moved back and forth across their faces before she slowly asked, “And how exactly do you intend to take this revenge?”

Niu Youdao said, “A debt has its debtor, a grievance its source. Hand Song Long over to Mister Hua, and that will be enough.”

“Heh...” Hai Ruyue smiled faintly and stared at Niu Youdao. “Why do I have the feeling that this is not Mister Hua’s idea at all, but yours? That you want to seize the opportunity to settle accounts with the Song family?”

“This is what Mister Hua and I agreed on. There is no need for deception between people who understand one another. I will not hide it from the Grand Princess: my will is Mister Hua’s will.” Niu Youdao admitted it readily, then added, “There is no way to resolve the feud between me and the Song family, and I do not possess enough deterrent power to make them abandon it. Since that is so, only one side can live. The Grand Princess saw their position clearly enough. I had only just arrived in Jinzhou when the Song family moved against me. Then I can only take the same position toward them. If the Grand Princess helps me fulfill this wish, I will certainly relieve the Grand Princess of her troubles!”

Hai Ruyue said coldly, “And you still claim you are not trying to use me?”

Niu Youdao said, “It is not using you. It is bargaining.”

Hai Ruyue said, “It seems Shang Chaozong no longer wishes to cooperate.”

Niu Youdao replied, “If I lose my life, what difference does it make to me whether Commandery Prince Yongping and the Grand Princess cooperate?”

Hai Ruyue said, “You are already in my hands. Do you still think you have room to bargain?”

Niu Youdao said, “Your son’s life is likewise in my hands. The Grand Princess has no room to bargain either.”

Hai Ruyue sneered. “What a joke. It seems you truly are tired of living!”

Niu Youdao said, “Are you going to force us to treat him? That has only two possible outcomes: we fail to cure him, or we cure him straight into his grave. Does the Grand Princess dare gamble the patient’s life on it? In any case, under coercion there is absolutely no possibility of a cure! Of course, the Grand Princess can also kill us and let the patient continue waiting for death. Which result would the Grand Princess prefer? I will say it once more: aside from me and the Ice and Snow Pavilion, there is no one beneath Heaven who can resolve the Grand Princess’s urgent predicament!”

Anger burned in Hai Ruyue’s eyes. She had discovered that there really were people audacious enough to exploit her side and then turn around and threaten it. Yet Niu Youdao’s absolute confidence in his ability to treat the illness forced her to suppress her anger. She gave a cold snort. “Do you expect me to believe whatever you say merely because you say it?”

Niu Youdao said, “Commandery Prince Yongping knew the patient’s condition and still sent us here. The Grand Princess can consider the reason for herself. And now that we are already in the Grand Princess’s hands, if we cannot solve your problem after matters have reached this point, could we still leave alive? Song Long’s life may be valuable, but I have no reason to trade my own life for his!”

The hall fell silent again. Hai Ruyue and Zhu Shun exchanged a long look.

At last Zhu Shun spoke. “The Grand Princess cannot simply kill another state’s envoy. The State of Zhao would then have no explanation to give the State of Yan, and the State of Yan would inevitably kill the State of Zhao’s envoy in retaliation. The State of Zhao may not fear the State of Yan, but the consequences of provoking such a dispute... the people behind Jinzhou would not agree to it.”

By “the people behind Jinzhou,” he naturally meant the cultivation sect controlling Jinzhou.

His meaning was clear: they could not help Niu Youdao kill an envoy of the State of Yan.

Niu Youdao said, “What if this is merely a private feud between the Song family and me? Then it would have nothing to do with either the State of Yan or Jinzhou. I imagine it should still be possible for the Grand Princess to create an opportunity for me to act. The Grand Princess need assume no responsibility and suffer no loss, while gaining a benefit besides. Why not?”

Hai Ruyue seemed unwilling to involve herself in the matter. She turned and started away, and that action itself was an answer.

Niu Youdao called after her, “Grand Princess, please wait. I need an identity here that will serve as cover, so no one suspects a connection between the Grand Princess and His Highness.”

Hai Ruyue paused slightly and, with her back still turned, said, “I will have word put out that you are my male favorite.”

Male favorite? Her kept lover? A bead of sweat nearly broke out on Niu Youdao’s brow when he understood. He hurriedly refused. “No, no. That identity is inappropriate.”

Yuan Fang, who had been standing silently nearby, twitched at the corner of his mouth and wore an equally strange expression.

Still facing away, Hai Ruyue tilted her head slightly. “What? Afraid that being linked to a widow will ruin your reputation?”

Niu Youdao hurriedly waved his hands. “No, no. I’m afraid it would ruin the Grand Princess’s reputation.”

Hai Ruyue slowly turned around and, instead of answering that, asked, “What do you think of my looks?”

“Uh...” Niu Youdao had no idea why she was asking. He replied cautiously, “The Grand Princess is naturally a peerless beauty.”

Hai Ruyue said, “Do you think a beautiful widow sitting in my position can possibly have a good reputation? Every kind of rumor has probably been flying outside for years. Rest assured, that sort of reputation means nothing to me.”

Niu Youdao’s expression stiffened. He waved his hands again. “I came here under His Highness’s orders. It would be better to avoid such a story if possible. Why not make it simpler? Say that I came under His Highness’s orders to offer birthday greetings to his aunt. Our territories border each other, and His Highness is in a weak position. It would be perfectly reasonable for him to seek favor with you.”

By generation, Hai Ruyue did indeed count as Shang Chaozong’s aunt.

After meeting this princess, Niu Youdao had discovered that the Shang bloodline was rather good-looking in certain respects. One could see it in the appearance of this Grand Princess and in Shang Chaozong himself. Of course, in Niu Youdao’s opinion, Shang Shuqing was an exception.

“Discuss the details with Zhu Shun.” Hai Ruyue said nothing more. Leaving those words behind, she departed with the long train of her dress trailing after her.

After watching her go, Niu Youdao emphasized to Zhu Shun once more, “The birthday-greeting identity is better.”

Hai Ruyue’s suggestion had genuinely set his nerves on edge. If rumors spread that he was having an affair with Shang Chaozong’s aunt, he feared there would be no explaining himself when he next saw the Shang siblings.

“That will do.” Zhu Shun nodded.

Niu Youdao immediately cupped his hands and prepared to take his leave, leaving Zhu Shun’s side to consider how best to create an opportunity against Song Long.

But Zhu Shun raised a hand, signaling that there was no need to hurry away. He reminded Niu Youdao, “Song Long cannot conveniently meet with an accident here. Whether we mobilize troops or use cultivators, it will alert the people behind Jinzhou, and they will not agree because they do not want this trouble. Assassination will not work either. By convention, envoys enjoy protection in every state. If that protection fails, we bear responsibility. Therefore, whether openly or indirectly, the Grand Princess cannot involve herself. No one is a fool. Anyone would be able to see through it.”

So they did not want to help after all. Niu Youdao slowly asked, “What exactly do you mean, Steward Zhu?”

Zhu Shun waved a hand. “I will arrange for you to move into Liufang Guesthouse immediately. Find your own way to make the move.”

Niu Youdao’s face darkened. “There are so many experts around him. How am I supposed to act?”

“We cannot help you,” Zhu Shun said, “but there are people inside Liufang Guesthouse who can. Whether you can seize the opportunity is up to you...”

Not long afterward, Niu Youdao and Yuan Fang were escorted out of the Provincial Inspector’s Residence and moved to Liufang Guesthouse. Fang Zhe was released as well.

Once they had settled into a small courtyard at Liufang Guesthouse, Niu Youdao did not rest at all. He immediately went to call on one of the honored guests staying there.

In the study of the Han Lodge, Zhuge Xun sat beneath a lamp reading documents.

An attendant hurried in and reported, “My lord, there is a visitor outside named Niu Youdao who requests an audience.”

“Niu Youdao?” Zhuge Xun looked up in puzzlement. “Who is that?”

The attendant explained, “The man you saw earlier, the one who came out of the Yan Lodge. My lord even ordered us to investigate his identity.”

“Oh!” Zhuge Xun immediately became interested. An envoy’s work, after all, was diplomacy; diplomacy meant going abroad to build relationships for the interests of one’s state. He set down the documents in his hands and chuckled. “Invite him in at once!”

Before long, host and guest met in the main hall.

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhuge Xun gestured for Niu Youdao to sit and take tea. Smiling cheerfully, he asked, “Brother Niu, what brings you here? What guidance might you have for me?”

Niu Youdao did not waste a single word. He went straight to the point. “I want to kill Song Long, envoy of the State of Yan. I hope Brother Zhuge will lend me a hand!”

“...” Zhuge Xun was struck speechless, almost stupefied.

What is wrong with this man? I do not even know who you are, and the first time we meet you dare ask me for something like this?

[End of Chapter 106]