Chapter 434: Bet!

Zheng Fan did not sleep particularly well that night.

His dreams kept cycling between two scenes.

In one, he carried off the Princess in spectacular fashion and returned in triumph.

In the other—

Chu archers turned him into a human pincushion on the day of the operation.

A large part of the reason he dreamed like that was because Count Zheng himself could not settle his mind.

In the past, when marching to war and charging into battle, he had actually thought far less.

This time the trouble was something he had brought upon himself.

He was unwilling to simply take a Princess who amounted to nothing more than a political prop and return home.

But he was also afraid that if he released her, he might end up slapping himself in the face—or worse, drag matters toward some far more tragic ending.

At the end of the day it came down to one word.

**Greed.**

Count Zheng’s steadily growing ambition and his survival-first creed had now become the most fundamental contradiction within him.

Finally dawn arrived.

Breakfast was simple.

A few pastries left over from the previous night.

Enough to fill the stomach.

Zheng Fan noticed the bat perched on A’Ming’s shoulder.

He narrowed his eyes.

“New pet?”

The bat’s reaction to A’Ming was rather like a zombie’s reaction to Liang Cheng.

It possessed an almost instinctive urge to call him Father.

A’Ming glanced at the Black Bat.

Then said:

“Someone else raised it.

“I intercepted it.

“It was probably sent to search for the Princess.

“The Chu imperial clan should carry some kind of special mark or aura.”

“It told you that?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you report it last night?”

“Because this subordinate felt there was no point.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

He accepted the explanation.

He did not think A’Ming had been negligent.

Because right now their side could only hide.

And had no other choice.

Outside Xiayong County City, tens of thousands of armed men from various Chu factions were searching for the Princess.

If Zheng Fan’s side was exposed their chances of survival were nearly nonexistent.

“Master intends to release this Princess again?” A’Ming asked.

“I’m considering it.”

“That’s quite the gamble.”

“I’m still deciding whether to push the chips in.”

A’Ming looked at Zheng Fan.

“Master.

“Want to hear what this subordinate truly thinks?”

“Speak.”

“No matter what, the blade falls either way.

“So why not play?”

“A’Ming.

“Have you ever considered one problem?”

“What problem?”

“The same blade means something completely different to you than it does to ordinary people.”

“That does seem true.

“But I think...”

A’Ming fell silent.

Zheng Fan looked up in surprise.

“Why did you stop?”

A’Ming drew in a breath.

He glanced toward the bright sunlight outside.

Then said:

“There’s no need for us to obsess over those things too much.

“This subordinate has always believed that staying alive is for the sake of playing better.

“For experiencing life.

“Not surviving merely for the sake of surviving.

“Besides—this choice isn’t really about whether we can survive.

“Even if we release the Princess, so long as we remain cautious, arrange things properly, and make use of the Fan Clan’s help, returning by our original route still should not be impossibly difficult.

“At worst—we lose money.

“So we lose money.

“But Master, think about it.

“If this really works—how interesting would that be?

“The Regent of Great Chu is basically the Emperor of Chu in all but name.

“And then he’d become your elder brother.”

Zheng Fan fell into thought.

A’Ming opened his wine pouch and took a drink.

Zheng Fan stood.

He walked to the pond and began removing his clothes.

Then he stepped into the water and washed himself scrubbing mud over his skin again.

Everything they had done before now looked genuinely necessary.

No matter what else happened the first priority was avoiding implicating the Fan Residence.

After bathing, Zheng Fan climbed out and changed into a fresh set of clothes.

Then he asked Siniang to pack him a large box of **wotou.**

Coarse steamed buns.

Siniang had specifically made them that morning.

The ingredients in the Fan Residence were far too refined.

If they brought food directly from the household kitchens, the Princess might taste something distinctive.

Besides that Zheng Fan also carried a bucket of water.

Floating inside the bucket was a spittoon.

And inside the spittoon toilet paper.

A’Ming walked out and saw the collection.

He sighed with admiration.

“Very thoughtful.”

Zheng Fan nodded.

“That’s why whenever I watched costume dramas in the past and saw the male and female leads locked in some prison cell for days, with not even a toilet inside—

“I always thought it was bullshit.”

“Tsk, tsk.”

A’Ming clicked his tongue.

Zheng Fan carried everything toward the artificial hill.

As he walked, he said:

“A’Ming.

“What you said earlier was right.

“When I come back up from below—

“I’ll make the decision.”

“Yes, Master.”

A’Ming bent at the waist.

One arm swept backward.

He saluted.

But when he straightened again he suddenly froze.

Somewhere deep inside, something seemed to tremble.

“My God.

“No way.”

A’Ming smiled toward the Black Bat hanging from his shoulder.

Then reached up and flicked its little head.

Just now—

A’Ming had felt the sensation of advancement.

Only only the tiniest sliver remained.

Perhaps when Master returned from below and made his choice that last sliver would fall away.

Even A’Ming himself found the entire thing absurd.

**This was enough?**

“What is it?” Siniang asked.

A’Ming shook his head.

“I’m afraid if I say it out loud, it won’t come true.”

“Is it about advancing?”

“Hm?

“Was it that obvious?”

“Advancement is about the only thing we still treat with a little taboo.

“Almost superstition.

“I can’t think of anything else.”

You were a damned vampire.

What the hell were you being superstitious about?

“Aiya.”

A’Ming sighed.

Siniang pinched a cigarette between her fingers.

Then said:

“Actually, when I heard what you told Master earlier—

“I thought you had finally decided to tell Master what was truly in your heart.”

“I didn’t.

“I’ve only been drinking lately.”

“Words spoken without thinking may be the most sincere.”

“Siniang.

“I haven’t actually advanced yet.

“Don’t jinx me into failing at the finish line.”

“What belongs to you will be yours in the end.

“If you can advance now—from the current situation—it would be a considerable help.”

“I’m more than willing.”

“Then let’s wait and see.”

...

Count Zheng carried quite a few things through the passage and entered the secret chamber.

The moment he stepped inside he smelled something.

Xiong Liqing sat on the bed.

Looking at Zheng Fan.

When she saw his nostrils twitch her ten fingers unconsciously clenched the bedsheet.

Her face began flushing beyond her control.

Zheng Fan gave a soft “heh.”

Then placed the water bucket, spittoon, toilet paper, and everything else down one by one.

He said:

“People have three urgent bodily needs.

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

“Nobody ever said a Princess isn’t allowed to pee.

“Sorry.

“I didn’t think of this last night.”

“I...

“I...”

Zheng Fan placed the box of wotou before the Princess.

She did not act polite.

She grabbed one immediately and began eating.

When someone was hungry enough anything tasted good.

Zheng Fan dragged the chair over and sat.

He watched her eat.

She ate too quickly.

The Princess choked and began pounding her own chest.

Zheng Fan pointed toward the bucket.

The Princess immediately climbed off the bed.

She ran over, drank some water, and finally swallowed the food down.

“Haa...”

“Use the water sparingly.

“Part of it is for drinking.

“Part of it is for flushing the toilet.”

“Toilet?”

“The spittoon.”

“I...

“Where do I flush it?”

“Wherever.”

Xiong Liqing obediently walked back.

She sat in front of Zheng Fan again.

Only she still held another wotou and continued gnawing on it.

“That proposal of yours last night kept me from sleeping properly.”

Xiong Liqing nodded.

“Count was tempted?”

“Yes.”

“From this little woman’s position, I naturally hope Count acts on that temptation.”

“But I’m afraid I’ll take the loss.

“I captured you.

“Then I release you.

“Then you change your mind afterward.

“How badly would I lose?”

“Count.

“I hate my elder brother.

“I hate him very, very much.

“Do you know what it feels like to love someone—only for the person you love most to hand you over to another man as a bargaining chip?”

“That question is a little difficult for me to answer.”

“I hate him.”

“I know.

“But you are still a Princess of Chu.

“And you are a woman.

“In my understanding, women tend to be more emotional.

“Once I send you back—you may change your mind.”

Xiong Liqing pursed her lips.

“I will not change my mind.”

Zheng Fan said nothing.

He waited for her to continue.

Right now, this was a buyer’s market.

If Zheng Fan chose only to preserve his principal then he could simply carry her back.

She would become a puppet.

A Princess whom Chu refused to acknowledge as genuine.

In Yan, she would probably still receive decent treatment but fundamentally it would merely mean changing cages.

If Zheng Fan released her, however and she later left with Count Pingye of Great Yan on the day of her wedding then whether out of a desire to “fulfill the love of this immortal couple,” or simply to suppress Chu morale and disgust the Regent of Chu the Emperor of Yan would be perfectly willing to bestow her in marriage upon Count Pingye.

Then, she could become Madam Count Pingye.

She might still face future competition for favor.

Cold treatment.

All kinds of other problems.

But at the very least, she would possess formal status.

Her days would not be too bad.

Naturally, there were not only two choices.

There was a third.

She could return.

Then go back on her word.

She would marry Qu Peiluo.

Become the wife of the Qu Clan’s legitimate eldest son.

Because of her status as Princess she would become half a decision-maker inside the Qu Clan.

Nobody would dare disrespect her.

Option A.

Option B.

Option C.

If emotion was removed and only living conditions were considered for Xiong Liqing:

A was clearly the worst.

B was acceptable.

C was the most comfortable.

“Count is afraid that in the end you’ll suffer a loss and gain nothing, correct?”

“A little.”

“It is a pity.

“My body cannot be given to Count right now.”

“Hm?”

“If Count took my body, perhaps you would not feel quite so cheated.

“After all—

“I am a Princess of Chu.

“Count certainly does not lack women.

“But a princess is not someone a man can simply sleep with whenever he wishes.”

“I’m a little surprised to hear you say something like that.”

“Before the wedding, the matrons of the Qu household will inspect my body.

“I cannot lose my virginity.”

“So why tell me any of this?

“Truthfully—

“I have very little interest in you.

“Mm.

“Especially not your body.”

The one interested in you was the woman back home.

“I only want us to speak openly.”

At those words a faint curve appeared at the corner of Zheng Fan’s lips.

Xiong Liqing placed the last bite of wotou into her mouth.

She swallowed.

Then said:

“Truthfully, Count, the fact you came to see me again already proves you were tempted.

“You still want to gamble.

“I have heard stories about Count.

“You led a lone force deep into enemy territory and launched a surprise attack on Snow Sea Pass.

“One could say that if Count had not gambled successfully back then—the savages and my Great Chu’s Azure Luan Army would never have been destroyed so miserably.

“Count—you are someone who likes to gamble.

“I think this time—you can gamble again.

“The result will not disappoint you.”

“People who persuade others to sit at a gambling table deserve to be struck by Heaven’s thunder.”

“You cannot say it that way.

“I do not want to marry Qu Peiluo.

“I do not want to become his woman.

“I do not even want to remain in Chu.

“Because for the next ten years—twenty—thirty—so long as I stay in Chu, I will hear news about him every moment.”

“Then you want to marry me instead?”

“I think Count is very interesting.”

“Interesting because of all the slaps yesterday?”

“No.

“I mean that Count himself makes me feel an urge to understand you more deeply.”

“Heh.”

“Last night, I even imagined what life might be like if I became Madam Count Pingye one day.

“My future child—might become the sole surviving bloodline of the Great Chu imperial clan.”

“The sole bloodline?”

“Because my man—may very well break through Zhennan Pass and destroy Chu.”

“Oh?”

Zheng Fan shook his head.

“You certainly have confidence in me.”

“Following you would be more interesting.

“And the future would contain the greatest number of possibilities.”

“I am not some young boy experiencing his first stirrings of love.

“Words like that do nothing to me.”

“Count.

“In the end—you will agree to send me back.”

“That sounds a little overconfident.”

Zheng Fan stood.

He seemed ready to leave.

At that moment, Xiong Liqing, still sitting on the bed, suddenly spoke.

“Count.

“This place—is the Fan Residence, isn’t it?”

Zheng Fan turned.

He looked at Xiong Liqing.

No expression.

Xiong Liqing summoned her courage.

She held his gaze.

Then continued:

“Both times Count came to see me, your hair was damp.

“There was also a faint smell of wet earth on your body.

“You clearly bathed immediately before coming down.

“Every time you see me—you bathe first.

“Count is a man who commands troops and fights wars.

“You obviously do not possess some natural obsession with being unbelievably clean.

“So—the purpose must be to conceal whatever smell might cling to your body.

“I, Xiong Liqing, am merely a woman.

“Not a dog.

“So why would you need to hide your scent from me?

“That means the environment Count is staying in contains many distinctive smells.

“If I smelled them—

“I might be able to guess where I am.

“Willow Shoal?

“West Creek?

“Some shrub forest?

“Even if I guessed places like those correctly, it would hardly matter.

“So what Count is trying to conceal—must be one specific household helping you.

“If this household was important enough for Count to rely upon—then it clearly cannot be some nameless little family inside Great Chu.

“At the same time—your subordinate abducted me inside Xiayong County City.

“And immediately afterward, this household was able to arrange my transfer here.

“That proves the family’s background is not small.

“I was taken inside Xiayong.

“The Imperial Guards around me must already be searching frantically.

“The nearby military camps must have mobilized too.

“So I do not think Count could have transferred me outside the region.

“Xiayong is not far from Mengshan.

“If you had moved me out—then I should be inside the mountains by now.

“And if I were already in the mountains—what smell would you need to hide from me?

“I believe I am being held underground.

“Which means above us—should be that household.

“And that household should be exceptionally noble and extravagant.

“Because the smells of that place alone are distinctive enough that one whiff might let me recognize it.

“I do not possess a dog’s nose.

“I am merely a Princess raised in luxury.

“So for me to recognize a scent—it must be one I am already extremely familiar with.

“Rare incense?

“Fine sandalwood?

“Or perhaps—the fragrance of flowers that can still bloom in the middle of winter?

“A heated courtyard?

“Exactly because those scents are so difficult to remove completely—

“Count has no choice but to bathe first.

“And then there is this wotou.

“Yesterday, I ate the candy Count gave me.

“It tasted excellent.

“And Count also took out that long white stick in front of me.

“That should have contained tobacco, correct?

“Sometimes the palace uses tobacco smoke to fumigate rooms.

“They say it can ward off evil and plague.

“That proves Count is someone who refuses coarse food and values refined living.

“You certainly have excellent food available.

“But you still did not bring me anything you yourself were eating.

“That means the food around Count—or rather—the food this household provides Count—is something I also cannot be allowed to taste.

“Because one bite might reveal the flavor.

“Then look at this wotou.

“Freshly steamed.

“That makes things even more obvious.

“This household—must possess clothing, food, and daily luxury beyond comparison.

“Even the wind blowing through its courtyards would carry the scent of drunken wealth.

“Enough that a Princess raised inside the imperial palace would instantly find it familiar.

“In Xiayong—only one household can accomplish that.

“The Fan Clan.”

The Princess finished speaking.

Zheng Fan looked at her.

Then asked:

“A guess?”

“A guess.”

“Evidence?”

Xiong Liqing smiled at Zheng Fan.

Then said:

“I do not need evidence at all.

“Because this little suspicion alone—would already be enough to have the entire Fan Clan exterminated.

“No matter how large their business is—the Fan Clan remains nothing more than a servant beneath the Qu Clan.

“A dog.”

Zheng Fan smiled too.

Then said:

“Have you considered that if your guess is correct—

“I become even less likely to release you?”

“This is my sincerity, Count Zheng.”

“I find this method of expressing sincerity slightly difficult to adapt to.”

“Count.

“Truthfully, you already made your decision long ago.”

“Did I?”

“Otherwise, the first time you came to see me last night—you would never have bathed.

“If you had intended to simply carry the matter through to the end and take me directly back to Yan—then whether I knew this was the Fan Residence would make no difference at all.

“You—already made your decision.

“I only understood that after thinking all night.”

With that Xiong Liqing climbed off the bed.

She walked to Zheng Fan.

Placed both hands against his chest.

Then said slowly:

“The man I will have in the future—really is manly.”

Zheng Fan lowered his head.

He looked at the Princess of Great Chu before him.

Perhaps she had been badly frightened last night.

That was why the Princess had not performed particularly impressively then.

After one night to settle herself today her true character and ability had finally appeared.

She was still born into an imperial clan.

After growing up surrounded by such people how many members of a royal house could truly be complete fools?

...

Zheng Fan walked out from beneath the artificial hill.

Outside—

A’Ming stood with his back turned.

He stared at the pond.

As though the scenery across that water was somehow extraordinarily beautiful.

Siniang leaned against the railing.

She looked at Zheng Fan.

Waiting for Master to decide.

Zheng Fan approached.

As he passed A’Ming he reached out and patted the vampire’s shoulder.

“A’Ming.

“You were right.

“Having fun is what matters most.”

The next instant—

A’Ming’s aura suddenly burst outward.

A faint blood-colored radiance began appearing around his body.

Layer after layer of crimson shadows seemed to overlap across his form.

Even the Black Bat perched on A’Ming’s shoulder curled itself into a trembling ball.

The pressure from something almost of its own bloodline had completely suppressed it.

Zheng Fan frowned slightly.

Then immediately relaxed.

He turned toward Siniang.

And said:

“We’ll change the script—and keep singing.”

————

[End of Chapter 434]