RP Chapter 1 - Chang Feng - Part 4

Chapter One - Part 4

"You didn't finish it last time. Continue now." Jiang Zaichu unfolded the map on the table and signaled the two of them to approach.

Weisang had been walking a long time and was covered in sweat. She couldn't help licking her cracked lips. She was about to open her mouth but then Jiang Zaichu passed over the black glazed tea cup in his hand, "Drink some water first and speak slowly."

Weisang took it but hesitated for a moment because it was the teacup he had already drunk from. Eventually she thanked him and put it down.

Jiang Zaichu's dark eyes swirled momentarily but then he calmed down as before.

"Commander, the eastern mountain is called Duxiu Peak. It is opposite the Zhou Street of Changfeng City. This is the one we want to flatten.”

"Aren't you delusional?" Jingyun interrupted her impatiently. “You want to imitate Yugong and move a mountain? Do you want to dig for ten or twenty years?" {Yugong is an old man in the Chinese folktale who was determined to move a mountain that blocked his family’s way in and out of the village, shovel by shovel, for generations to come. The Heavenly Emperor was moved by his dedication and sent two giants down to help him.}

Weisang ignored him, just stared at Jiang Zaichu and said lightly, "Commander, do you still remember the Dujiangyan in the Shu Kingdom?"

Jiang Zaichu said blankly, "I remember."

"Do you remember that when we went to play there, an old man told us in detail how the Dujiangyan was built?"

Jingyun's face changed and stood up: "Han Weisang! Now you want to talk about what happened back then?!"

Jiang Zaichu was extremely calm and said lightly, "Jingyun, don't interrupt, let her continue talking."

"In those years, in order to build the Dujiangyan, Lord Li Bing split a mountain that was blocking the way in order to change the flow of the Jialing River." Weisang smiled and said, "His method was very useful."

Jiang Zaichu stood up. Because he was in the inner courtyard, he was dressed very casually and was wearing a robe. His face gradually became solemn. Obviously, with just one sentence, he fully understood Weisang's intention.

"At this time, Changfeng City is dry and not rainy. Many dead trees on Duxiu Peak are flammable." He muttered. "But what about the water?"

"A few years ago, in order to relieve the drought, local villagers hired people to build a diversion channel by the mountain, which can irrigate thousands of acres of land. There is enough water."

"So how can we change the flow of the channel?" Jiang Zaichu walked to the window. He understood that Han Weisang had indeed offered up a plan. In an instant, he had thought of several possible problems.

Weisang smiled and said, "Weisang knows someone. It was this person that helped the villagers design the canal the year before last.”

Jiang Zaichu's eyes narrowed gently. Her plan was extremely well thought out.

"At this moment, he lives on Daliu Street, Qingzhou Prefecture. The Commander can send someone to pick him up." Weisang didn’t realize anything was wrong with what she was saying. “The Commander can send a few soldiers disguised as hungry refugees into Changfeng City. Send them to Duxiu Peak and have them pretend to dig for wild vegetables in order to relieve hunger. That way they can bury the explosives…”

Jiang Zaichu turned around and stepped forward suddenly, forcing Weisang to back away in surprise. "Han Weisang, how long have you prepared for this day?"

Forced by his extremely sharp eyes, Weisang stepped back half a step and said in a slightly uncomfortable tone: "...what?"

"I said, how long have you been preparing for this 'offering' day?" He suddenly grabbed her jaw and forced her to look straight at himself. "It's really a ‘bitter flesh scheme’ to approach me as a zither player and 'unintentionally' be found out." {‘Bitter flesh scheme’ is one where, in order to trap someone, you cause physical harm to yourself in order to make it look more believable. I quite like the Chinese and momentarily can’t think of a good English translation for the moment.}

Weisang was originally a little panicked. She felt that her jaw was almost being crushed. Now however, she was not afraid anymore. She let him grab her just like this and smiled ferociously: "Yes... I've been ready for a long time."

Jiang Zaichu's black eyes seemed to spit out fire, and his hands unconsciously increased their strength. He said word by word, "Han Weisang, you only ever approach me when you want to use me, isn’t that right?”

Weisang was strangled by him and could only close her eyes. Suddenly, she felt that it would be good to die like this. She didn't have to worry about anything anymore. No more responsibilities and no more need to scheme against others…

"Commander, she is dying." Jingyun took a step. He followed Jiang Zaichu for so many years and it was rare to see him so frustrated and angry... except that time.

Jiang Zaichu reacted and let go.

Weisang covered her neck with her hands and her eyes were full of stars. She stepped back a few steps and squatted on the ground, gasping violently.

"This is a very good plan. You will call everyone for a meeting tomorrow. There are still some details that need to be discussed." Jiang Zaichu suddenly turned into a different person. The violence and cruelty vanished abruptly, as if a clear and peaceful sky blue appeared after the storm.

"You go out first and I'll talk to Miss Han." He waved his hand.

Jingyun looked at Weisang and smiled: "Commander, it's still useful to keep her. Don't strangle her on impulse again."

After a long time, Weisang gasped, stood up and tried to smile. "Commander, what else do you need?"

"Where have you been these three years?" He said this casually, as though he’d just run into an old friend.

"I was rescued by my clan members and drifted around until... until..." Weisang smiled bitterly, "The Commander was correct… I heard that Yang Lin changed his mind and wanted to kill the Marquis of Shu and take the title for himself. I was forced to throw myself into the scheme and beg the Commander for aid.”

The smile at the corners of Jiang Zaichu's lips is a little unpredictable.

"Commander, Weisang doesn't dare to ask you for forgiveness for what she has done in the past. But now that I have come to beg you then this life, whether it is as a slave or a maidservant, is the Commander's." She knelt down again and kowtowed heavily, "Please, Commander, trust me."

"Is such a slave completely mine?" He bent down, gently raised her jaw and slowly repeated it.

"Yes."

"Then you can serve me tonight." Jiang Zaichu restrained his smile and said coldly.

A streak of panic appeared in Weisang's eyes. She immediately bowed her head in a negative gesture.

Jiang Zaichu let go of her, laughed and casually threw the bronze mirror on the desk in front of her. "Just kidding. Today's Princess Jiahui is much more haggard than in those years.

Weisang felt relieved. She still lowered her head but she could also see her pale face in the mirror. She looked down and said in a low voice: "Yes, now that the Commander has experienced the greatest beauties in the city, Han Weisang’s appearance is even more useless. She only hopes that she can help the Commander using wisdom."

"Get out." Jiang Zaichu didn't wait for her to finish and seemed to lose interest. "Let's go to Changfeng City first."

"Yes."

Jiang Zaichu watched her back fade away and the smile on the corners of his lips faded away, leaving only a trace of cruelty.

*

The old doctor threw down the bloody cotton cloth, put away the silver needles in his hand and sighed, "Girl, why didn’t you look for a doctor sooner?”

The wound was purulent and needed to be squeezed hard to release the pus after being pricked. Weisang's face turned pale. Although she tried her best to hold it in, it was difficult to hide the slight trembling of her body. After breathing steadily for a long time, she said, "I was delayed."

"Every day, I have to release so much..." The old doctor pressed hard and the thick yellow blood gushed out again. Weisang bit her lips hard and heard the doctor say, "If you want to recover, it will take a lot of time." {No antibiotics in ancient times.}

"Wait, I'm going out in two days. I can't ride a horse with this hand..." Weisang was a little panicked.

"There is also a way but you will suffer more.” The old doctor pondered for a moment, "Your nails have become ingrown. It’s slower to recover when they’re poking the flesh like this. If you want to recover quickly, it's better... It's better to pull out these two nails."

Weisang was stunned, looked at her bloody hand and immediately smiled, "Then pull it out."

"If it is pulled out, I'm afraid that the index finger and thumb of this right hand will no longer grow nails… you will no longer be able to play the zither.”

"It doesn't matter. Doctor, let's do it."

Seeing she was in a rush, the old doctor smiled: "Girl, don't worry. As the saying goes, your ten fingers are connected to the heart and pulling out your nails will hurt. I'll find some numbing agent and it will make it less painful.”

The old doctor cleaned his hands, comforted the girl with a few more words and said gently, "It's not easy to find but fortunately we are in the Commander's mansion. The Commander must have some prepared for use in battle.”.

After waiting for half an hour, Weisang saw the trembling figure of the old doctor return and saw his embarrassed face.

"Doctor, what's wrong?"

"The Manor’s pharmacy said that the numbing powder was sent to the front line a few days ago. If you want to wait for more to arrive, you have to wait until tomorrow. Girl, it's better to wait until tomorrow..."

"Then there is no need." Weisang stretched out her hand, "Doctor, can you pull it out for me?"

"Can the girl bear it?"

"I can bear it." Weisang still had no expression. She just paused and looked at the old doctor, “Doctor, do you have a cork?"

Lady Bo was walking slowly with her maid when she saw a familiar slender figure. He was standing quietly by the porch with his hands behind her back, but did not enter.

"Commander?" Lady Bo was a little surprised and called softly, "Did I come at a bad time? Do you want to discuss something with Miss Han?

Jiang Zaichu only waved his hand and said faintly, "It’s me that didn’t come at a good time. She’s treating a wound inside."

Lady Bo got up on her tippy toes and peeked inside. She saw the old doctor using a red needlestick and  steadily piercing Han Weisang's fingertips. Han Weisang bit the cork in her mouth and sat motionless, however there was a soybean-sized sweat rolling down her forehead.

"This..." Lady Bo's face was pale and she was about to cry out but her lips were covered by Jiang Zaichu. The familiar musky smell wrapped around her. Although she calmed down, her heart was still pounding.

"Don't make a sound." He appeared very calm. It was only that it seemed like he didn’t know what to do with his other hand and could only hold it at his side.

Lady Bo turned her eyes and saw the Commander holding something in his hand. She was curious for a moment and gently reached for it.

It was a light yellow coarse cloth, smelling faintly of a medicinal fragrance. She was about to put it under her nose to sniff it but it was pressed by Jiang Zaichu's hand.

Lady Bo only felt a slight dizziness in her mind and realized: "Numbing powder?"

Jiang Zaichu smiled and didn't answer.

"Why... not give it to Miss Han?"

"She can bear it, so why use it on her?" Jiang Zaichu's eyes were calm but he sneered silently to himself: Han Weisang, it turned out that you could be so cruel to yourself.

At this moment, the old doctor had pulled out a half-moon-shaped nail and threw it on the ground. He primed the second piece with his hands. At this moment, he looked at the girl in front of him. She bit the cork in her mouth hard. Her temples were half wet with sweat but she didn't make a sound, as if her body was not her own.

"Girl, hold on." Before he even finished speaking, the old doctor exerted force and the second nail was plucked out. The blood that surged along her arm fell down like a steam.

Weisang had bitten the cork in her mouth until it was wood chips. However, the pain was still so severe that she felt everything go black in front of her eyes. Her breathing stopped and the pain made her heart twitch. No wonder, this is one of the most well-known forms of torture. 

Breathing a little unsteadily, the pain came more soberly and deeply, overwhelming her and there was nowhere to hide.

"Doctor, will I have a fever?" Weisang asked with a sigh.

"When this nail is pulled out, it's like pulling out the lesion. I don't think you will have a fever again." The Doctor laughed and said, "But actually it’s better if you have a fever. You will become dizzy and disoriented and won’t suffer so much pain."

"No, no matter how painful it is, it’s better to recover faster." Weisang spat out the sawdust. Her shoulders were still shaking but she still tried to smile.

"Girl here, this is the medicine. Apply it for two days and new flesh will begin to grow. It’s just that the pain for these few days will be difficult."

The old doctor left and walked along the corridor in the other direction.

"What are you doing here?" Jiang Zaichu's eyes fell on his favored concubine.

"This concubine heard that Miss Han will go on an expedition with the general in two days. There are few women in this Manor so I sewed a few sets of clothes for her."

Jiang Zaichu looked at Lady Bo and suddenly laughed out loud. This was truly a woman. She didn’t know anything about weapons and horses, and only thought about beautiful clothes and embroidery.

"She has injuries on her hands. Just send the maid to give it to her. Yesterday some gifts were sent to the Manor. You go and take a look at those.”

Lady Bo's pupils looked at Han Weisang through the window lattice. She bowed softly and turned away.

Jiang Zaichu bypassed the blood-stained cotton cloth and slowly walked to Weisang's side and sat down: "Is your hand all right?"

"Commander." Weisang struggled to stand up, but was pressed down on her shoulders by Jiang Zaichu, signaling her not to move.

"New meat will grow in two days. I should be able to leave on time with the Commander.”

Jiang Zaichu leaned over, held her right hand and looked at it for a moment: "You can’t play the zither in the future.”

"No." Weisang lowered her eyes.

"Actually, you don't care whether you can play the zither or not." Jiang Zaichu smiled, let go of her hand and sat down on the edge of the desk. "Han Weisang, your heart is getting harder and harder day by day."

Weisang looked up. Her fingers seemed to be poked by ten thousand needles and she couldn’t muster up the usual energy to hide her feelings. She only smiled and said, "What the Commander says is true. Zither playing is something that’s for pleasure and enjoyment. Weisang wasn’t born to be able to enjoy such blessings and so it doesn’t matter if she can’t play anymore.” She glanced at the clothes given by the maid and there was a trace of doubt in her eyes.

"It’s from Ah-Man. She wanted to apologize for making you take a cold bath that day.

"Madam just misunderstood. Weisang doesn’t dare to make her apologize.” 

"Everyone in the household says that I spoil Ah-Man too much." Jiang Zaichu laughed abruptly.

Weisang didn't say anything for a moment. She only looked at the elm desk and whispered, "I think if there is someone in the world for whom one wants to indulge wholeheartedly, then they won’t feel too lonely."

"Is that so?" Jiang Zaichu squeezed his lips and smiled. His long hair fell on his cheeks and his smile was roguish. "So if there was someone willing to indulge you wholeheartedly, I don't know what Miss Han would do?"

Weisang was stunned. The smile on the corners of her lips condensed in one place. For a long time, she was silent and there was no reply. Eventually she said, "Weisang was not blessed by such a person and so naturally doesn’t know.”

Jiang Zaichu's lips curved, as if he didn't care about this. "You will accompany me to Changfeng City in three days."

*

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