Chapter 15 Six Sticks

What was he talking about?

A’Shu was mystified at first. It took a moment before it occured to her that he still suspected her in spite of her initiative to retrieve Liu Chang’s body for him.

She wanted to defend herself, but after deliberating for a long time, she still didn’t know how to start. She smiled wryly. “Since Lord Xie is here, what else is this concubine for? Your Highness is astute, provident and can come up with plans that ordinary people can’t think of. This concubine can only admire and will never hinder Your Highness.”

Liu Xun stared at her for a long time. Suddenly, the expressionless face smiled. “What a glib tongue. Who taught you this skill of flattery?” He thought of his younger sister at home. She was wayward and naive, and her words had never been as gentle as Lady Zhao’s.

Still, he may not believe everything she said about Xie Jin. As a Household Councellor, although Xie Jin was said to be a close minister of His Majesty, he was actually Geng Yun’s henchman. At present, the Empress Dowager and Geng Yun might be of the same mind but each had their own plans. He had yet to figure out what the Empress Dowager had arranged on her own.

Since he just got out of the tiger’s jaw, he decided to trust this woman for the time being.

Unfortunately, she seemed to think otherwise.

“This concubine dares to ask, did Your Highness expect that Xu Guang would seize this concubine as hostage?”

Her slightly raised eyes were filled with timidness. Moisture swirled in her eyes, reminding him of a baby deer, innocent and pitiful.

Liu Xun’s eyebrows rose. So this is what it’s all about.

Surprisingly, she mistakenly thought that he had counted her in, allowing the bandits to take her as a hostage.

What a big misunderstanding! He knew for himself that he was not a gentleman. His approach of dealing with people, especially those who touched his bottom line, was underhanded. Although his counterattacks weren’t instant, he would certainly get even in the future. For example, Xie Jin had been treating him disrespectfully these past several days and even slandered him from time to time. Knowing how grueling it was to ask for food, he deliberately gave this task to Xie Jin, teaching him to brazen his face and be looked down upon, unable to do anything but to seethe secretly.

As for her being seized and assaulted by Xu Guang, it was never in his plan. Originally, he only intended to offer himself as a hostage. Who would have thought that Xu Guang would seize Lady Zhao first!

“Of course not. If I can foresee everything, would it not make me a God?” His face softened as a feeling of guilt washed over him. He sighed helplessly, “I know that you have suffered a lot of grievances. This is indeed my negligence. I will not let it happen again.”

A’Shu looked at him doubtfully. Repeatedly, her lips opened then closed, as if she had something to say but dared not.

Liu Xun only felt that this little girl’s suspicious nature was even worse than his own. Just when the gentle look on his face was about to drop, he heard her say, “Your Highness, why don’t you just allow this concubine to return home to Handan with her Elder Brother? That way, this concubine won’t be dragging Your Highness down…”

Under his glacial eyes, she somehow felt that she had spoken wrongly. Her voice faltered. She hung her head and dared not look at him again.

She really dreaded being used as a pawn. If she were to follow Liu Xun, it was bound to happen sooner or later. It would be better for her to take the initiative to return home to avoid hating each other in the future.

But Liu Xun did not think so.

Since his marriage, he had treated Lady Zhao with courtesy regardless of her predecessors. Especially in front of people, he never hesitated to show affection. It took several months to let others think that he and his wife were very harmonious. If she was sent home in less than a year, wouldn’t it be like telling the world that he was already bored?

This bride, specifically, represents the face of the royal family.

At present, his power was identical to that of a newborn calf which needed a good nurturing. With Lady Zhao’s prophecy, not only was he free to make great achievements but at the same time, he could evade accusations of treason and conspiracy.

For a moment, several emotions flickered through his cold and deep eyes. Finally, a gentle smile eased itself across his mouth. He reached out and caressed her soft dark hair, as if she was a treasure held in his palm. “How can the Princess Consort drag down this orphaned one? This orphaned one has just said that it will never happen again in the future so the Princess Consort can rest assured. These words such as returning to Handan must never be mentioned again in a fit of pique”

He spoke very tenderly, with a trace of indescribable doting and intimacy, as if he was a good husband facing his troublesome wife. A’Shu’s back felt cold and her whole body stiffened. She could not stop nodding her head.

He was quite satisfied with her obedient appearance. The hand stroking her dark hair slid down on her shoulder and arm to her injured hand. He raised it front of his eyes and examined it carefully. The delicate hand, which was as tender as green onions, looked very delicate in his broad palm.

Feeling the slight trembling and coolness of her fingertips, his lips pursed into a smile. This woman could not help but be frightened of him.

“The wound is not yet healed, so remember to apply medicine. We’re setting off the day after tomorrow. There are a lot of things to deal with in the army. I can’t stay long. Please rest early.” After speaking, he got up, put on his robe and stepped into the night again.

A’Shu stared at his departing back. In addition to shock, fury rose from the bottom of her heart. For a moment, she could not vent her anger. She could only pull the quilt aside and twist it hard.

It was only then that Que-er led two young maids into the chamber, holding a copper basin and a handkerchief. However, Liu Xun’s people had long since disappeared. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and wondered, “Why did His Highness only take a bath and leave again?”

A’Shu twisted the corner of the quilt, picked up a pillow and threw it on the ground. With her lips full of dissatisfaction, she snapped, “It’s good that he’s gone. I can finally have peace!”

Que-er and the others looked at each other. His Highness was clearly a kind man. How could A’Shu be so angry?

……

Outside the post station, Liu Ji and the other three men who hurried to the army camp with Liu Xun were also confused.

They thought that His Highness was worried about the Princess Consort, hence, he came back late at night to see her. Believing that they would stay at the post station for the night, they took off their armors and prepared to rest.

However, not only were the beds not been made yet, but the Prince suddenly called them to rush back to the camp.

Although the three men were shocked, they also admired and sympathized with Liu Xun.

The Princess Consort was beautiful and graceful, but it so happened that she was also the daughter of the Empress Dowager. This journey did not allow them a chance to get close and be intimate. He could only devote himself to official duties. This Prince of Xiao really had it hard.

Only someone like Liu Xun, who could endure and do what ordinary people couldn’t, could afford to pick up the mess left by the Son of Heaven.

Thinking of the sudden expansion of the army, the three people looked at Liu Xun, who was riding in front of them, with a little more awe.

Previously, Liu Xun’s talent was concealed behind his elder brother’s shadow. Although he had a good reputation, he was inferior to Liu Chang. In the past, all people defected to Liu Chang. Now that he was dead, Liu Xun’s reputation would surely spread far and wide, setting off quite a few waves in Jizhou.

By the time they returned to the camp, most of the soldiers had gone to bed. Only a few of them were on patrol.

Liu Xun ordered Liu Ji and others to go to rest. He took out a map of the Han empire and laid it on the table. Holding an oil lamp, he took a careful look at Jizhou and inwardly assessed its layout.

Just then, Guo Qu, who had gone to settle the Red Turbans, came in and held hundreds of woven bamboo strips with the names of the Red Turbans. He said, “Your Highness, more than ten thousand people of the Red Turbans have been enlisted in the army and registered. Tomorrow, we will teach them the military rules. After a little training, we can start on the road.”

Liu Xun laid down the map, glanced over the neat volumes of bamboo strips, and nodded at Guo Qu. “Junqing is really talented. In just a few hours, he can sort things out.” His impression of Guo Qu sky-rocketed ever since he advised him to accept the marriage. Recently, he discovered that Guo Qu was a rare counselor, so he intended to test him. “However, although this orphaned one said that we would set off in a few days, it has not yet been decided where to start in Jizhou.”

Guo Qu and Liu Xun had been under the Brotherhood sect for three years but he had never been given important positions. At this moment, he was suddenly asked about such an important matter. His eyes lit up. After thinking for a moment, he made a gesture of obeissance and said, “Qu is stupid. He dare not speculate on the Prince’s thoughts and only give his humble opinion.”

After speaking, he stroked his beard and took two steps forward. He pointed at a tunnel in Jizhou on the map. “Although Jizhou does not cover a large area, it is the first of the nine provinces and has always been a fortress connecting the north and the south. Due to the commandery-state parallel system, all lands under Jizhou have been made into commanderies except for the dependent state of Zhending. In addition to commandery administrators, the influence of the powerful clans in each place and even the forces of the roving bandits are immeasurable.”

His two fingers gradually pointed to the middle part of Jizhou in the picture. “In this minister’s humble opinion, it would be better to associate first with the Prince of Zhending, who is of the same clan as Your Highness. Although Zhending is a small country, the Prince has tens of thousands of soldiers in his hands. His strength must not be underestimated. However, it’s still insignificant compared to surrounding counties. If Your Highness will not use this as a basis, he must use all his strength to crush his enemies on all sides.”

Liu Xun’s face showed approval. This person was really good. Although it was slightly different from his calculation, it was very original.

“What you said is very reasonable. Let me think about it and make a decision.”

He then ordered Guo Qu to withdraw, and he himself stood on his spot and deeply pondered for a long time.

Zhending was no doubt the key. He would meet and get to him first, but his vision was not limited to this.

……

The next day, Liu Xun stayed in the army camp.

After all the hectic events in the past several days, A’Shu finally had the time to relax. She opened the door of the house, and together with Deng Wan, she called Que-er and the other maids to sit around. The maids were engaged in needlework while A’Shu and Deng Wan were playing Six Sticks.

After two hours of happily taking turns playing with chopsticks, the game locked in a dead heat. When Zhao You came back from outside, he saw his wife frowning and thinking hard.

Smiling, he sat beside Deng Wan and watched the boardgame carefully. Without saying a word, he made a move for her.

A’Shu stared at the board for a moment, threw down the jade chopsticks in her hand and whined like a spoiled brat at Zhao You, “Elder Brother is helping Sister-in-law again. You two are bullying me!”

Deng Wan covered her lips and chuckled. After glancing at Zhao You’s move which suddenly reversed the situation, she reached out and pinched A’Shu’s fair face and said, “If Little Sister thinks it’s unfair, why don’t you invite His Highness to play for you? In this way, it won’t be unfair to work together.”

At the mention of Liu Xun, A’Shu immediately withered, her radiant and beautiful face just now wilting a little. She said slowly, “His Highness is very busy. How can he have the time to play Six Sticks with me?”

Zhao You’s eyes had always been sharp. He paused and observed her reaction. Recalling the subconscious fear emanating from A’Shu when Liu Xun was mentioned not long ago, his doubts rose again. He frowned and asked, “Little Sister, is he not good to you? Don’t be afraid. If he treats you badly, Elder Brother will take you back to Handan right away. We don’t need to suffer indignities here!”