Chapter 446: Bastard

Everyone had a position of their own.

And when people stood in different positions, the scenery they saw was naturally different as well.

At this moment, on either side of the sleeping-hall doors if Eunuch Zhao, a mere servant, was not counted as a person there were four people standing there.

From the Regent’s point of view, the other three were: his younger sister, his future brother-in-law, and his real brother-in-law.

From Count Zheng’s point of view, they were: his woman, his elder brother-in-law, and the benevolent good man surnamed Qu.

From Qu Peiluo’s point of view, they were: his wife, his elder brother-in-law, and his Old Wang next door.

And finally from the Princess’s point of view, they were: the man she loved, the man who wanted to marry her, and the man she intended to marry.

Four people.

Four angles.

Four positions.

Four different lines of sight.

And four completely different landscapes.

Count Zheng had no idea how storytellers in teahouses and restaurants might dramatize this experience of his in the future.

But even from the perspective of someone personally trapped inside it, he felt this had to become an extremely interesting story.

He almost wanted to write an opera script about it himself.

No.

Even opera scripts did not dare write things this absurdly.

And finally off to one side stood the man who had not been counted as human earlier.

Eunuch Zhao.

After witnessing the scene before him, he went from shock, to fear, to trembling, to twitching.

In the end he truly could not hold it back.

He wanted to laugh.

Halfway through the laugh jammed in his throat.

Winter was cold.

He had only recently cut himself, so his resistance was still somewhat weak.

Then all the repeated shocks of the past few days had kept him tossing and turning at night until he caught a chill.

So when he forcibly swallowed his laughter, his mouth clamped shut and air blasted violently through his nose.

A huge snot bubble inflated from one nostril.

Eunuch Zhao instantly dropped flat to the ground in terror, lowering his head and covering his nose with his sleeve.

“This servant deserves death.

“This servant deserves death.”

Fortunately a chilled servant sneezing did not attract the attention of any of the great figures around him.

After all in their eyes, a servant did not count as a person.

As for Zhao Cheng himself he had originally believed castrating himself last month would forever remain one of the great events of his life.

Only now did he finally realize just how colorful and magnificent the scenery along the road of life could become.

Compared with all this splendor his severed root of descendants truly was not worth mentioning.

The Regent’s mood had clearly recovered considerably.

More precisely, there was still a difference between him and the Emperor of Yan.

The Emperor of Yan had relied on Li Liangting and Tian Wujing to sweep away domestic opposition and expand the borders abroad.

His personal authority as sovereign had already reached the summit of the Great Yan Dynasty.

Naturally, when he spoke or acted, he could do so without restraint.

The Regent was still one final step short of truly ruling Great Chu.

So by instinct he still knew how to **perform.**

“Little Sister, I really must introduce this gentleman properly.

“This is Mr. Su Mingzhe, Master Yao’s personal disciple.

“On the way here earlier, Mr. Su recited a lyric that made both Mr. Dugu and me drink several extra cups.”

Hearing this the smile on the Princess’s face became even brighter.

Count Zheng stepped forward.

First, he performed a full formal salute toward the Regent.

“Su Mingzhe, Staff Officer-at-Large serving Liang Garrison of the State of Qian, pays respects to His Highness the Regent of Great Chu.”

*Mother of mine!*

Eunuch Zhao’s heart gave a violent thump.

He was so frightened that he immediately dropped to his knees again.

Of course, he was a eunuch.

Nobody here cared whether he knelt or not.

Earlier, the Regent had not openly declared his identity.

In that case there had been no need to care about formal ceremony.

The man was traveling incognito.

That was exactly the tone he wanted.

Any intelligent person naturally knew not to pierce the veil.

But now, the Regent himself had openly called the Princess “Little Sister” before everyone present.

That meant he had personally torn through that final sheet of paper.

So the proper rules had to appear.

This was not because Count Zheng spent every waking instant thinking and acting strictly from the standpoint of “Su Mingzhe.”

Rather—

Count Zheng himself had always possessed this kind of awareness.

He could command troops.

Fight wars.

Ride a Pixiu before a battle line with saber raised and stir an entire army’s morale.

He could hold the Princess in his arms yesterday and display overwhelming dominance.

And at the same time before truly great figures he could also reveal his worldly, rule-conscious side.

Yue Wumu deserved reverence.

But if he absolutely had to choose—

Count Zheng would still rather be Han Shizhong.

The Regent was not surprised in the slightest when Zheng Fan saluted him.

In truth, he had never deliberately tried to conceal his identity.

If he truly wished to hide it there would have been no reason to let the Swordsmith accompany him.

The Regent smiled.

“In that case, Mr. Su and I may even count as senior and junior disciples of the same master.”

The Princess rose and saluted Zheng Fan.

“Liqing greets Senior Brother Su.”

Truthfully, the Princess had entered Master Yao’s school far earlier than “Su Mingzhe.”

But “Su Mingzhe” was an inner disciple.

The Princess was merely nominal.

Back then, Master Yao had been traveling through Chu and wanted a meal ticket that would let him eat and drink for free.

So he accepted this female disciple.

It was basically the equivalent of a school in later generations recruiting a sponsor.

According to the rules, an inner disciple automatically ranked half a generation above an outer or nominal disciple.

So there was nothing strange about Xiong Liqing calling “Su Mingzhe” Senior Brother.

Of course, when she said it, the smile on her face truly could not be restrained.

To outsiders, however, it probably looked like nothing more than the sincere delight of a Princess obsessed with literature suddenly meeting a senior brother from her own school.

“I often hear Master mention Your Highness.

“Master says Your Highness is intelligent, pure-hearted, well-read, and proper—a disciple he has always remembered fondly.”

That was polite social talk.

It sounded pleasant.

Nobody present would actually believe it.

Qu Peiluo remained standing to one side throughout, still smiling.

According to Chu ritual, bride and groom were not supposed to meet before marriage.

Of course, the sovereign stood above ritual.

When the ruler commanded, even the death of one’s parents could be overridden by an imperial recall from mourning.

A mere wedding taboo certainly could be suspended.

Still, there was no need for Qu Peiluo and the Princess to be deliberately introduced or encouraged to chat.

A little restraint should remain.

“Little Sister, rest inside for now.

“Your brother hurried here from Zhou County and drank only a couple mouthfuls of wine on the road.

“I’m rather hungry now.”

Qu Peiluo immediately said:

“This subject will prepare the meal at once.”

The Regent pointed toward Zheng Fan.

“Mr. Su will join us as well?”

Zheng Fan immediately answered:

“How could I refuse Your Highness’s command?”

...

Dinner did not begin as early as Zheng Fan expected.

He drank tea for more than an hour inside a side hall of the inner courtyard before Eunuch Zhao finally came over to tell him the meal was ready.

Presumably, during that interval, the Regent had set aside time to separately receive Qu Peiluo’s two uncles.

Qu Peiluo was Qu Tiannan’s legitimate eldest son.

That was true.

And the coming marriage alliance had effectively confirmed Qu Peiluo’s future position as head of the Qu Clan.

That too was beyond doubt.

After all how could the Regent’s Prince-Consort fail to inherit the position of clan head?

But for now, most affairs of the Qu Clan were still managed by Qu Tiannan’s two younger brothers.

That was only proper.

Qu Peiluo was still young.

At this stage, he truly needed two senior relatives to support him.

So when it came to the Qu Clan, the Azure Luan Army, and the court matters connected to them the two sides still had plenty to discuss.

The Regent had always shown full respect toward this great clan that had stood clearly behind him from the very beginning.

“Mr. Su.

“It is time to dine.”

Eunuch Zhao smiled as he spoke.

Zheng Fan nodded.

“I trouble Eunuch Zhao to lead the way.”

“Mr. Su, please.”

Eunuch Zhao walked in front.

Zheng Fan followed.

At the doorway, Zhao Cheng stopped and bent halfway at the waist.

“Mr. Su.

“Please.”

“Mm.”

As Zheng Fan stepped through the doorway, Zhao Cheng lifted his head and met his gaze for a brief instant.

Then both men withdrew their eyes with perfect tacit understanding.

Su Mingzhe.

Mr. Su.

Eunuch Zhao now felt perhaps this identity was not even the true final card of this terrifying man.

But Zhao Cheng had not the slightest intention of reporting him.

Even though the Regent of Chu was sitting right inside.

Because Eunuch Zhao understood one thing very clearly: once an imperial household produced any kind of scandal, eunuchs like him—whether they exposed it or reported it—usually ended with their mouths permanently silenced.

And besides no matter how ugly the scandal became, the Princess would still remain a Princess.

She and the Regent were blood brother and sister.

What could her own brother truly do to her?

And what exactly was Zhao Cheng to the Regent?

Zhao Cheng knew perfectly well that he had already boarded the carriage.

At this point forget jumping off.

Even turning his head to admire the scenery along another road would be a crime.

He had no qualifications to keep wavering and looking east and west.

Otherwise he would truly have cut off his root of descendants for nothing!

...

The Regent occupied the seat of honor.

No dispute was possible there.

The Swordsmith, Zheng Fan, and Hero Chen sat on the Regent’s right.

Qu Peiluo and his two uncles sat on the left.

There was no enormous shared table loaded with dishes.

Instead, everyone knelt on mats with one small table before each person.

During the banquet the Regent once again recited the *Man Jiang Hong* Count Zheng had “recalled” earlier that day.

The members of the Qu Clan repeatedly praised it.

After that, Count Zheng simply accompanied the conversation.

Everyone discussed romance, poetry, and refined pleasures.

Nobody spoke about armies or affairs of state.

The atmosphere remained quite harmonious.

During the meal, Qu Peiluo asked “Mr. Su” to gift him a poem or lyric.

What he really meant was that he hoped to receive one on the day of the wedding.

Zheng Fan agreed immediately.

Originally, Zheng Fan thought the banquet might drag on for a long time.

But halfway through Eunuch Zhao requested an audience.

“Reporting to Your Highness.

“Her Highness the Princess sent this servant to ask whether the meal is finished yet.

“Her Highness says she has already waited quite some time for Mr. Su.

“Tea has been prepared in the pavilion of the inner courtyard.

“She wishes to ask Mr. Su to critique a poem she composed.

“Her Highness also said she did not originally want to disturb the banquet like this.

“But it is too cold outside.

“She is nearly unable to endure waiting any longer.”

“Hehehe.”

The Regent naturally did not become angry.

The relationship between brother and sister had always been extremely good.

He immediately turned toward Zheng Fan.

Zheng Fan displayed hesitation.

A visibly reluctant expression.

After all the other party was a Princess.

After all—

Great Qian was a land of rites and propriety that placed importance on proper separation between men and women.

After all he was Yao Zizhan’s disciple and needed to protect his reputation.

Acting lived in details like these.

The Regent smiled.

“I ask Mr. Su to grant her this favor.

“My younger sister has always loved poetry and prose to the point of obsession.

“Earlier, I was even wondering how she managed to hold herself back for this long.

“Mr. Su need not worry.

“The customs of Great Chu are simple and free, not as rigidly bound by ritual doctrine as those of Qian.

“Besides, Mr. Su is Liqing’s senior brother within the same school.

“It is only natural for fellow disciples to meet and speak.”

Then, the Regent looked toward Qu Peiluo.

“Peiluo.

“What do you think?”

Chu people loved romance and admired unrestrained conduct.

Qu Peiluo cupped his hands.

“Your Highness speaks correctly.”

The Regent immediately said:

“Mr. Su, you see?

“Even Peiluo agrees.”

Qu Peiluo said to Zheng Fan:

“This Qu also hopes to receive Mr. Su’s guidance in the future.”

With the words pushed this far—

Zheng Fan could only rise.

He acknowledged the Regent.

Then Qu Peiluo.

And said:

“In that case, this Su will go look over Junior Sister’s poem.”

Zhao Cheng, who had delivered the message, stood nearby with a perfectly calm expression.

Inside he was already laughing himself breathless.

All this pushing back and forth truly looked convincing.

But once Zheng Fan walked past him, Eunuch Zhao immediately bowed and followed him out.

Truthfully the Regent was not ignorant of proper boundaries between men and women.

Nor was Qu Peiluo completely unworried.

Rather both of them knew one thing very clearly.

When a core member of Great Chu’s imperial clan received Fire Phoenix Essence Blood, that person simultaneously raised a demon beast at their side.

This depended on luck.

Fire Phoenix Essence Blood was used as the lure.

The person waited near the edge of the Great Marsh for a demon beast to approach.

How strong that beast would be depended entirely on fortune.

Qu Peiluo knew his future wife possessed a Green Python guarding her.

Unless the Princess herself was willing anyone who dared harbor improper intentions toward her would be swallowed by that python.

Hero Chen saw Zheng Fan leave and also rose, preparing to depart.

The Swordsmith waved him back.

“Don’t rush.

“Come with me.

“I’ll repair the sword pattern for you a little more.”

“Many thanks, Sir.”

And so only the Regent and members of the Qu Clan remained inside the hall.

At that moment, Qu Peiluo’s third uncle, Qu Tianhua, spoke:

“If Your Highness values that young Mr. Su, you could recruit him into Chu and put his talents to use for Great Chu.

“This subject has heard that over the past two years, the Emperor of Qian has reversed the old policy of elevating civil officials and suppressing the military.

“Many Qian scholars are deeply dissatisfied.”

The Regent chuckled.

“Yes.

“Even the Emperor of Qian now knows what they did wrong before and is trying to change it.

“And I’m supposed to imitate their old mistakes?”

“...”

Qu Tianhua.

This was what it truly meant to slap the horse’s leg while trying to flatter it.

The Regent sighed.

“Inside the carriage today, that young Mr. Su said something that stayed with me:

“Of all useless things, the scholar is the most useless.

“They are all around the same age.

“All young men.

“But in my heart— ten Su Mingzhes still cannot compare to one Count Pingye of Yan.”

...

“Achoo!”

“Has Mr. Su caught a chill?”

Inside the pavilion, the Princess smiled while pouring tea.

Count Zheng pointed toward the incense burner beside the tea table.

“You’ll need to change this habit in the future.

“At home, I never burn incense.”

The Princess lifted her cup of spent tea and poured it directly over the incense.

The smoke died.

Count Zheng nodded in satisfaction and sat opposite her.

“Can we speak freely here?” Zheng Fan asked.

He knew some genuine experts could hear voices from a considerable distance.

The Princess clapped her hands.

A Green Python rose from the pond beside the pavilion and glanced at Zheng Fan.

“With it here, outsiders cannot hear what we say,” the Princess said confidently.

Count Zheng nodded, finally relaxing.

Then he immediately pointed at the python.

“Is that thing looking down on me?”

The Princess did not deny it.

“A little.”

“I ride a Pixiu.”

The conversation sounded very much like two people discussing what kind of carriage each household would provide before marriage in later generations.

Hearing this, the Princess said:

“I very much want to see it.

“The imperial clan of Chu has always enjoyed raising demon beasts.”

“No problem.

“You can raise that Pixiu after we go home.”

Count Zheng sold the Pixiu without the slightest hesitation.

And there were even free gifts.

“Oh, right.

“There’s also a cat spirit and a fox spirit back home.

“I’ll give those to you to play with too.”

The Princess handed Zheng Fan a freshly brewed cup of tea.

Zheng Fan accepted it, drank once, and immediately said:

“Great Marsh Fragrant Tongue.”

It was rare for him to encounter a tea he could actually identify.

So Count Zheng deliberately spoke as though he drank it all the time.

“What happened?” the Princess asked.

He had clearly been Count Pingye of Yan.

Then he took one little trip outside.

And when he returned he had somehow become Master Yao’s disciple.

As for the *Man Jiang Hong* the Regent had specifically ordered copied and delivered to the Princess before dinner, Xiong Liqing did not find that strange.

She already knew this man possessed literary talent comparable to his achievements in war.

Count Zheng hesitated briefly.

Then said:

“I missed you.”

The Princess began:

“I don’t—”

“I know you won’t believe that.

“Let’s just call it luck.”

The Princess took a sip of tea.

She seemed to have no intention of continuing to interrogate him about the matter.

Instead, she said:

“If...”

“Mm.

“Go ahead.”

“If you went to my imperial brother right now, told him your true identity, and then told him you wanted to marry me— do you think my brother would choose you or Qu Peiluo?”

“It’s late.

“The moon is beautiful.

“Why ask such a pointless question?”

The Princess leaned slightly forward.

She looked directly at Zheng Fan.

Her red lips parted.

“I think my brother would definitely choose you.

“The Qu Clan would be angry for a while, but in the end they would swallow it and continue following my brother.

“Meanwhile, if Count Pingye of Great Yan were willing to surrender to Great Chu, that would be an enormous joy for my brother.

“When that happened, Zhennan Pass and Snow Sea Pass would both be in our—”

Count Zheng lifted his teacup.

**Splash!**

He threw the tea directly into the Princess’s face as she leaned toward him.

The Princess closed her eyes.

Tea streamed down her cheeks.

A tea leaf remained stuck beside her lips.

She did not become angry.

Did not flip the table.

She simply maintained the same posture in silence.

Count Zheng picked up a handkerchief lying nearby.

He began wiping the Princess’s face.

Carefully.

Gently.

The Princess spoke:

“So you disagree.”

Zheng Fan continued wiping as he answered:

“Be good.

“Don’t be naïve.”

Once her face was clean—

Zheng Fan sat back down.

The Princess also settled back into her seat.

The two faced one another across the table.

The Princess slowly said:

“Do you know— if my imperial brother had spoken to me even slightly more gently today, I might have sold you out?

“I might have made the famous Count Pingye spend the rest of his life imprisoned in Chu.”

Zheng Fan looked at the Princess calmly.

Then said:

“Do you know that every time you say something like this— you are consuming the favor I feel toward you?”

“Favor?”

“Even if I don’t like you.

“Even if you aren’t some kingdom-toppling beauty.

“You’re still pretty and pleasant enough.

“If you abandon everything, say nothing, climb onto my horse, and follow me home— then as a man, I owe you a favor.

“But every time you bargain.

“Every time you indulge in fantasy.

“Every time you act naïve and romantic— you grind away at that favor.”

“And if it is all ground away?”

“Then someday, don’t kneel before my memorial hall crying and screaming at my coffin, asking why my final edict did not name your son as successor.”

The Princess drew in a deep breath.

She had truly been angered by this even more shameless and fantastical statement.

A long time passed.

Finally two words emerged from her mouth.

“Bastard.”

Zheng Fan reached for a pastry on the tea table.

He took a bite.

Then frowned faintly.

“This is too sweet.

“Eat too many and you’ll get fat.”

The Princess closed her eyes.

A mocking smile tugged at her lips.

“What now?

“If I get fat, will you change your final edict because of that too?”

“Hehehe.”

Count Zheng laughed.

“No.

“No.

“Only hotheaded young brats like skinny women.

“You— would actually be better with a little more flesh on you.”

——————

[End of Chapter 446]