RP Chapter 1 - Chang Feng - Part 3

Chapter One - Part 3

When Weisang woke up the next day, she felt confused. She stumbled up, poured herself a cup of cold tea and drank it in one breath. The skin of her lips was dry and cracked, and her body and face were very hot. She guessed she probably had a fever.

Sunlight filtered in from outside the window and she touched her neck. The sword mark had scabbed over and the several wounds on her right hand had stopped bleeding. However, they had not been bandaged and were red and swollen, probably about to become infected. She calculated the time and estimated it was about noon. She had not eaten anything in the last day and night. She did not feel hungry but was afraid that she would not have much energy for a while.

Just as she was thinking about it, the door was pushed open and two maids carried a large bucket of water in. The leading maid put a set of clothes on the table, bowed and said: "My Lady, after you take a bath, please go and see the Commander."

It was spring. Although it was not very cold, it's definitely not warm.

Weisang walked to the bucket, touched it and found that the water was cold to the bone. She was not surprised and returned the bow slightly: "I understand."

The two maids looked at each other and slowly withdrew.

Weisang took off her clothes and stood by the barrel for a while. Finally, she made up her mind and half-stepped into the barrel.

As soon as her toes touched the cold water, goosebumps appeared all over her body. Every inch of her  nerves felt like they had been cut by a sharp knife, making her shiver with cold. But she stepped in with determination, wiped her body with a soaked coarse cloth until her skin turned red and then stepped out of the barrel again. She suppressed the trembling of her body and put on her clothes.

The silk clothes obviously should have been soft but instead they felt like rough linen, rubbing against every inch of her skin. With red and swollen fingers, she picked up the comb, arranged her hair bit by bit and finally managed to tie it into a bun. Weisang looked at herself in the mirror. Her complexion was gray and only her cheeks were extremely red. The purple scars were clearly visible, streaking across her neck. She walked to the table and drank the entire pot of herbal tea in one go. Then she walked calmly to the door and said to the maid, "Sister, please lead the way."

Xiyuan, the General's Mansion. {Xiyuan is the name of the abode. Translates approximately to ‘Western Garden’. Also I've called Jiang Zaichu "Commander" because in Chinese it's "Shang Jiang" which is something like "High General" to differentiate him from all the other Generals. But his residence is just called General's Mansion or General's Residence. Occasionally he's also just referred to as "General", I think it depends on the context and who's talking to him. Like his household members generally just call him "General" however I've just kept it as "Commander" all the time to make it consistent.}

Lady Bo sat in front of the bronze mirror, slowly painting her eyebrows. She asked the maid softly: "How did it go?"

"This servant watched her take the cold bath and now she has gone to the Commander's study."

Lady Bo raised her beautiful eyes slightly then looked at the inner chamber. She touched her lips with her slender white fingers and said with a smile, "Shh, the Commander is still taking midday nap."

Just as she spoke, a lazy male voice sounded from the inner room and it was slightly sleepy: "What time is it?"

"Three ke past the nian hour." {Around noon.} Lady Bo quickly stood up and went to the young general with a cup of hot tea . She said softly, "Commander, sleep a little longer. You didn't rest at all last night."

Jiang Zaichu took a sip from her hand and smelled the light aroma with his nose. He raised his starry eyes slightly and suddenly smiled. He said, "What naughty thing did you do again?"

Lady Bo pursed her lips. Her beautiful face was like a blooming peony but she appeared slightly displeased. She said coquettishly: "You brought a strange girl back last night. Do you think I don't know?"

Jiang Zaichu smiled slightly, leaned down and came closer. Ignoring her struggle, he kissed her lips deeply and half forcefully. It took a long time until the beauty in his arms was breathless, then he let her go and said in a low voice: "But I am still here right now."

Lady Bo's eyes were about to water. She lay in his arms and said intermittently: "I... didn't do anything."

He said nothing, let go of her and walked aside. The attendant quickly stepped forward and helped him put on his clothes.

"It's just that I was so angry that I asked someone to change the water she bathes in with cold water..." Lady Bo took the jade crown he usually wore from the attendant's hands, trimmed his long hair gently and meticulously. She said with a smile. "The Commander looks great wearing this jade crown."

Jiang Zaichu lowered his starry eyes, hearing that she deliberately downplayed the bad thing she’d done. Finally, he smiled indulgently, stood up and said calmly: "Ah-Man, it seems that I really dote on you to the extreme." {Man is probably a character in her first name. ‘Bo’ is her surname.}

Lady Bo pouted and stood aside without saying a word. However her eyes were as clear and fearless as those of a child, probably knowing that he would never be truly angry at her.

Jiang Zaichu looked at her fearless expression and was stunned for a moment before he said calmly: "You don't have to wait up for me tonight."

As soon as the doorman opened the door, Jiang Zaichu saw a girl who was half leaning on a chair, wearing an ordinary light green silk skirt. Her long hair was simply pulled into a bun, her eyes were closed and she seemed to be sleeping. He didn't wake her up, he just leaned against the door and looked at her dry lips, the sword marks on her neck and her red and swollen fingers.

Weisang vaguely felt a gust of cool wind blowing in. She had not slept peacefully, so she woke up immediately. When she saw the young general in the jade crown and black clothes, she immediately struggled to kneel down and said hoarsely: "Commander."

Jiang Zaichu didn't tell her to get up and only said: "Tell me how to take Changfeng City."

Weisang was kneeling but she raised her head stubbornly, "What about what the Commander promised?"

Jiang Zaichu held a written letter casually between his fingertips, "The life of the Marquis of Shu depends on this piece of paper. I will dispatch it with haste to the Shu Kingdom. Once Yang Lin receives it, he will  naturally know that there is a Jiang Zaichu behind the Marquis of Shu. Even if he wants to establish himself as a Marquis, he has to consider my opinion."

Weisang kowtowed three times and whispered: "Thank you Commander."

Jiang Zaichu just looked at the map and pursed his lips in silence.

Han Weisang stood up slowly, walked to the map and said softly: "Changfeng City is surrounded by mountains on three sides, which forms a natural moat. Since ancient times, if traditional military strategists want to capture this city, they must attack from the south gate. The former Emperor Tianbao wanted to capture this city. The 600,000-strong army attacked the city day and night without rest for three whole months before it was captured. I think the Commander would not want to use this method at this moment."

Jiang Zaichu looked at her side face and saw that although her long eyelashes were trembling slightly, her voice was gentle and calm, as if she had a well-thought-out plan. He said, "Continue."

"Commander, have you ever thought about attacking Changfeng City from here?" Weisang suddenly pointed to the side of Changfeng City.

"Changfeng City is surrounded by mountains on three sides. The east side you are pointing to is, as you just mentioned, lined with mountains and ravines. Among the large armies, the cavalry cannot ascend it and the infantry can also not climb it. How do you plan to attack from there?" Jiang Zaichu smiled coldly.  "Is this the method you’re talking about?"

Weisang only said one sentence: "Commander, what if this mountain is leveled?"

Jiang Zaichu closed his eyes slightly. In front of his eyes it seemed as if the mountains outside Changfeng City were undulating, and the pines and waves were shattering. But such a thing requires heavenly power, how can humans accomplish it?

Weisang took a step closer to him and was about to explain in detail when she suddenly felt dizzy and involuntarily fell down. In panic, she reached out and grabbed the long sleeve of the person next to her.

Jiang Zaichu turned sideways. A hint of coolness flashed across his eyes. He pulled away his hand and watched her fall heavily backwards.

The room suddenly became quiet. The only sound was her heavy breathing, which sounded like a small fan. Jiang Zaichu leaned over and looked at her red face. Her long eyelashes cast a dense shadow under her eyelids.

Is this still the Han Weisang he knew?

It seems to be, but it is also not anymore.

He calmly rolled his sleeves and stood up, calling for his attendants. "Take her out and ask a doctor to come take a look."

When the attendant lifted her up, he saw her struggling for a moment and slurring her words: "Ah-Zhuang, don't be afraid..."

"Wait a minute." Jiang Zaichu suddenly stopped the attendant and walked to her side. He saw her turn  over uneasily and she murmured, "Ah-Zhuang... just wait a bit longer..."

The light spring sun came in and he saw a dense layer of cold sweat on her forehead. Her fine velvet hair stuck to her temples and her struggling appearance was exposed right before his eyes. He reached out his hand, took Weisang's curled up body and walked towards the pavilion in the back garden.

This embrace was really familiar. The people and things she had been thinking about melted away like the first snow. As long as this embrace was still here, that person is still here...and those nightmares were  really just nightmares.

Weisang only felt coolness and bitterness on the tip of her tongue. She slowly woke up from the heat and restlessness.

Only then did she realize that she was sleeping in a bed. A maid was feeding her medicine. Her limbs were limp and she had no strength at all. It was difficult to even move her fingers. She swallowed the concoction with difficulty and her eyes gradually became clear.

"Are you awake?" The man sitting in the room said coldly. He stretched out his hand to wave the maid away. He said sarcastically, "This illness chose just the right time to act up.”

Weisang looked at Jingyun who had a solemn expression. She managed to sit up, "General."

"The three armies are all waiting for Princess Jiahui to come up with an idea on how to capture Changfeng City." Jingyun said coldly, holding his sword across his knees.

"Yes, I'll go see the Commander right now." Weisang lifted up the brocade quilt and got up.

Jingyun played with the long sword in his hand, his thumb against the scabbard. He said word by word, "Princess, you'd better behave yourself this time. If you try anything, no matter what the Commander says, I will definitely... kill you with one stroke."

"Did the Commander ask General Jing to warn me?" Weisang paused and spoke expressionlessly.

Jingyun snorted coldly.

"Whether the Commander believes it or not, today's Han Weisang is no longer the Princess Jiahui of the past. Today's Han Weisang hopes more than anyone else that the Commander will bring peace to the world." Weisang slowly raised her eyes. Her misty gaze made it hard for people to discern whether or not she was telling the truth. "General Jing may doubt this but the Commander knows it better than anyone else."

Jingyun was silent for a while, then stood up and left. However, he paused just as the corner of his clothes disappeared at the door. He spoke without looking back. "Back then, in just one swordstroke, the dynasty was toppled. Han Weisang, do you feel satisfied now?"

Han Weisang coughed lowly but did not answer.

Jingyun didn't wait any longer. He slammed the door and was about to leave.

"Wait a minute -" Weisang suddenly stopped him, "Take me to see the Commander."

Jingyun turned around and there was a strange smile on his face. He said in a slightly protracted tone: "You want to see him right now?"

"I don't dare to miss the March deadline."

"Then follow me."

Jingyun's footsteps were extremely fast. After Weisang became seriously ill, she was a little weak and couldn't keep up.

In about the time of a stick of incense, they arrived at the Xiyuan of the General's Mansion. Jingyun did not look at the girl next to him and simply said: "Right now the Commander’s favorite is Lady Bo, so he resides in the Xiyuan."

Weisang said "Oh" and frowned. She only looked at the deep courtyard in front of her, with its carved beams and painted pillars. It was unknown what she was thinking.

The maid who reported their arrival hurried back, "Commander says to please come in."

When the two of them walked to the door, they heard a woman's voice from inside the house. She was  asking delicately: "Commander, do you want Angelica dahurica or spikenard?"

They heard a man's deep voice reply with a laughing tone: "Let them prepare it, whatever you like..."

Angelica dahurica and spikenard are fragrances used in bathing. It was clear that the room was a place of intimate charm. Weisang couldn't help but hesitate a little, wondering whether she should go in or not. But she heard Jiang Zaichu’s voice through the door. He said calmly: "Since you are here, why don't you come in?"

The two pushed the door open and went inside only to hear an "Ah!" sound. A young woman wearing a goose-yellow breast-length skirt with slicked-up hair stood up and said coquettishly: "Commander, why do you let people come in so casually to the inner courtyard?"

"Ah-Man, don't be rude." Jiang Zaichu put down the book in his hand and straightened his slightly wrinkled robe casually. There was a fond smile on his lips, "You know Jingyun. This Miss Han is my Military Advisor."

Weisang raised her eyes and looked at this young girl. She had been accustomed to seeing beauties since she was a child, but still she found the one in front of her truly stunning. Song Yu said that a true beauty is someone who, when someone tried to compare themselves against her, would be too tall if one inch taller than her and too short if one inch shorter than her. {Song Yu is a writer from the Warring States Period. This quote describes a woman who is physically perfect. She is just the perfect height - hence if you’re taller than her, you’re too tall, if you’re shorter than her, you’re too short - and also the perfect color and shade - if you’re more powdered than her, then you’re too white and if your blush is heavier than her, then you’re too red. 东家之子，增之一分则太长，减之一分则太短，着粉则太白，施朱则太赤.}

"Madam." Weisang bowed and saluted.

Lady Bo smiled and said, "Please rise." The young girl in front of her was so thin that she almost appeared withered, and her body and hands were covered in scars. Lady Bo now felt that playing tricks and being jealous of her over the last few days was really unnecessary.

"Commander, I'll retire now." Lady Bo's beautiful eyes flirted with the general, then she turned around and left.

*

Index > Next Chapter