Chapter 9 Posthouse

Although it was said that Xie Jin was sent by His Majesty to supervise the expedition, it was actually Empress Dowager Zhang and Geng Yun who were still suspicious of Liu Xun. Both of them wanted to make use of Liu Xun’s talent, but they were afraid that he would not completely submit.

In any case, this Xie Jin had a close history with Liu Xun. It was him who first suggested to Geng Yun that Liu Chang must be disposed. Later, when the generals in the assembly killed Liu Chang, he also did something to add fuel to the flames. Although he did not personally kill him, he could not escape his involvement in the end.

A’Shu didn’t know what was running in Liu Xun’s mind. Seeing him in the daytime, his attitude towards Xie Jin remained pleasant.

While they were taking a rest, Xie Jin pressed by way of complaining, “Because of old age, this body can’t stand the long journey anymore. Your Highness, how long does it take to get there?”

In fact, everyone knew that what he wanted to find out was where Liu Xun intended to start and where to stay.

Liu Xun refused to take the bait as usual. Smiling gently, he responded, “Please bear a little longer, Lord Xie. Nowadays, bandits are rising from all directions. If we move faster, we will be able to enter Hebei in about twenty days. When that time comes, we will reevaluate.”

“Your Highness, knowing that roving bandits are everwhere, plans must have been made as early as possible!” Although Xie Jin and Liu Xun had been in close contact for many days, he still had not found any clues. He was really worried, especially when he heard that bandits could attack at any time. “I’m afraid it will be too late for reevaluation when that time comes!”

It should be noted that bandits nowadays were rampant, and even ordinary officials were not spared. In particular, the closer to Hebei, the weaker was the jurisdiction of imperial court. Among the dozens of boxes and chests he carried were a lot of property. If people targetted him, it would not end well for him.

Liu Xun looked helpless. He smiled wryly. “Lord Xie, it’s not that I’m slacking off. With only two thousand people in my hands, any lord of a small bandit who occupies a hill is much better off than me.”

Xie Jin was so exasperated that he could not help sneering. “Truly a weakling! As Liu Boyan’s younger brother, you sure are lacking courage. What a shame to his reputation! Never mind two thousand men, Liu Boyan would certainly be able to command heaven and earth with only two hundred people!”

A sudden hush fell over the crowd.

Although most of the generals and soldiers who followed Brother Liu Chang for many years could not stomach listening to Xie Jin’s sarcastic remarks, they wanted to see Liu Xun’s reaction. After all, they were secretly dissatisfied with him for being soft to Empress Dowager Zhang who killed his elder brother.

Under their watchful eyes, Liu Xun’s smile finally became a little stiff. A haze flashed in his eyes, as if he was embarrassed by what Xie Jin had just said.

An accomplice to Liu Chang’s murder was presently prattling about this noble hero in front of his younger brother. In the eyes of others, it was really hateful and ridiculous. If Liu Xun even tolerated this, it would be deemed too cowardly.

Just when Xie Jin thought that he had succeeded in making him lose his temper, and others were eager to see how he would fight back, he regained his composure and returned to his affable manner. He shook his head and said, “I’m ashamed of myself. I really can’t compare to my elder brother, which made Lord Xie laugh.”

Xie Jin was astonished. It was unexpected that he was still as unmoved as a wooden clay sculpture!

Others were even more disappointed. Liu Chang was a hero and a highly righteous man. He had always taken his great-great-grandfathers as a model and vowed to support the Han Dynasty and reunify the world, which attracted many talents. Liu Xun was his younger brother. He was respected because he was generous and courteous, and also because he was astute and resourceful.

Liu Chang was dead and Liu Xun became the Prince of Xiao, but he was still as magnanimous as before without the air of a Prince. It was quite different from the expectation of people that he’d carry forward his elder brother’s ambition and fight back.

For a time, the morale of the troops was low, and many people even had the intention to withdraw.

If the person they were following didn’t intend to become the future Emperor, what was the use of sacrificing their lives?

Liu Xun’s hands, which were hidden in his sleeves, slowly clenched.

……

On the same day, the team arrived in Wucheng. Liu Xun, as usual, led the people to camp outside the city. A’Shu and the others stayed at the post station.

It was the eight month of the lunar year. Although it was early autumn, the weather was still hot. After the day’s journey, A’Shu felt dusty. As soon as she entered the house, she ordered people to prepare the water for bathing.

The post station was not big. It only housed a small bedroom with no special bathroom. Que-er led someone to carry the bathtub inside and fill it with water. After undressing her master, she went out to get the food.

Except for them, the post station was currently uninhabited. In the bedroom, after A’Shu stepped into the tub, she sent her maids to rest. She laid her head on the edge of the tub and closed her eyes.

She was so tired that she fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.

It was already evening when Liu Xun entered the house.

The door was unmanned. He pushed it open and entered the room, only to be met by silence. Behind a screen by the door, a few wisps of water vapor wafted up.

His heart jumped. After closing the door, he could not help but lighten his footsteps as he bypassed the screen to enter.

On the other side of the screen, a beauty was reclining against the bathtub. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head. Her eyes were lightly closed. Her pink face was full of spring. A long neck and two thin shoulders were exposed. Along the lustrous and clean skin, countless shiny water droplets were slowly gliding down the looming snow-white soft curve, which was partly hidden by the edge of the bathtub.

His feet halted, his hands shook.

The beauty in the bathtub didn’t notice his quiet arrival.

Aware, finally, that he had lost his composure after staring for a long time, he quietly retreated outside the screen and coughed twice.

A’Shu woke with a start. She saw the fuzzy and familiar figure outside the screen, and realized that he had entered the room.

Seeing that there was no maidservant around, she timidly said, “Your Highness, please wait.” She quickly got up and stepped out of the tub, and wiped her body with the prepared towel. She was about to reach for her clothes when she remembered that they were taken by Que-er to be washed and starched, and the change of clothes were not yet brought in.

She stood still. Wrapped in a towel, she hesitated whether to ask for help. Just then, she heard the door opening and Que-er’s voice, “A’Shu, clothes –“

Que-er gawked at the sudden appearance of Liu Xun. Unsure how to advance or retreat, she hesitated whether to salute first. Liu Xun unconsciously shifted his eyes, coughed twice, lowered his head and strode out of the door.

Que-er uncertainly took the clothes to A’Shu. While helping her get dressed, she wondered, “His Highness lived outside the city a few days ago. Why did he come to the posthouse today?”

Blushing with shyness, A’Shu felt relieved when he walked out. She wasn’t paying attention to Que-er at all, her mind wandered off to other matter.

This room was very narrow. Apart from a small bed, there was only a very short chair. How could Liu Xun share this room with her?

After walking around the post station for several times, Liu Xun felt that the time was just about right. This time, he did not push the door directly, but knock on it slightly. The servant opened the door for him, and he carefully stepped in.

Inside the room, A’Shu’s long hair hung low. She was staring at the narrow and short chair in a daze.

Liu Xun looked at her glossy face. As if imagining the naked appearance in the bathtub just now, his ears burned and his eyes quietly turned away. He followed her sight and looked at the couch. A faint frown crossed his face. The unusual movement in his heart just now almost disappeared.

Yes, in the past few days, he had slept outside the city together with his soldiers. But today, he’d be resting at the post station. It looked like she was very reluctant to share the room with him.

“I have to inconvenience you today.”

These words were said in a cold tone.

A’Shu was a little shy. After listening to the icy voice, she suddenly remembered that he was observing filial piety for his elder brother so he would not touch her. Again, she was relieved.

……

In the middle of the night, after grooming, A’Shu suddenly thought of Xie Jin’s words. Finally, she could not help but carefully asked, “Your Highness, don’t you really have any plan for the next step?”

At this time, Liu Xun had already sat on the bedside. Suddenly, his face sank as he seemingly recalled something unpleasant. He looked up at her and said in a biting voice, “Why, do you also think I am lackluster, weak and incompetent?”

A’Shu was stunned, then, it dawned on her that he must have thought that she was no different from those who deliberately speculated about him earlier. Sure enough, the words and the judging eyes of those people did not left him untouched, but he was just keeping it hidden.

She shook her head and said, “No, no. How dare this concubine? This concubine just cares about Your Highness.”

How could she suspect that his future was in jeopardy? It was merely a casual question.

Seeing that his face was still dark, she cautiously said, “Your Highness is not weak and incompetent. He is merely more benevolent and virtuous than his late elder brother. One should know that although heroism is important, a true gentleman is someone who convinces people with reason and virtue.”

Liu Xun stared blankly at her for a moment. Suddenly, he chuckled and asked, “Do you really think so?”

A’Shu hurriedly nodded.

With a strange gleam in his eyes, he said meaningfully in a low voice, “I’ll show you tomorrow. I’m afraid that this ‘benevolence’ you speak of will cost me many soldiers.”

After uttering such mysterious remark, he took off his shoes and socks, laid down in the quilt and closed his eyes to sleep.

A’Shu was puzzled. Since he knew that he would lose many soldiers, why would he still do so in this way? As she was trapped in Geng Yun’s mansion in her previous life, she did not pay much attention to court affairs. Thinking about it now, although she knew very little of his arduous campaign, she was sure that he would truimphantly go all the way to Chang’an in the future.

She stood beside the bed and stared at him for a long time. Finally, she extinguished the lights and slowly climbed into the bed.