Dandere General and his Lord

12. Starting Small

Cheng Qianye folded a thick towel and placed it on the white marble beside the spring. 

“Don’t be scared. Relax and rest for a bit.” She softly touched Mo Qiao Sheng’s head and gently pressed down with the towel. 

“Trust me. I won’t let you choke on the water.” 

She patted his scarred shoulders patiently until she finally felt the tense muscles slowly relax. 

Cheng Qianye looked at Mo Qiao Sheng who was lying peacefully in the pool. She also immersed herself in the warm spring and stealthily untied the strip of cloth binding her chest. 

Sighing comfortably, she leaned against the edge of the pool as the swaying autumn leaves gently drifted down. 

That face covered with the thick black cloth was close at hand, leaning against the warm white stone. 

“Ah, so comfortable. It’s most relaxing to have you by my side. A day without fighting is a pretty good day.” 

There was a mysterious and moving sapphire blue lustre before her eyes. Clear, without any impurities and full of purity and sincerity with no trace of deception or concealment, just like that person. 

The silence from the deserted mountain and the warmth of the spring seemed to isolate all the bustle and cruelty of the world. Cheng Qianye lived like an ostrich for several days. 

The Moon Spirit Spring was miraculous indeed. Mo Qiao Sheng’s injury had recovered by a lot and he was already strong enough that he could manage to walk. 

The travelling party set off from the west mountain and reached the city walls just as the sun began to set. 

There were many civilians and soldiers repairing the city walls which had been greatly damaged in the war. 

The troops of the other lords in the city had already set off before Cheng Qianye had gone up the mountain, so these soldiers here were all subjects of Jin country. 

A simple porridge shed was set up in the open space outside the city gates to provide some food for the refugees who had lost their homes in the chaos of war. 

They had formed long lines in front of the porridge shed as they patiently waited to receive their food. Although these people were still dressed as shabbily as before, their eyes were no longer lifeless. 

Because they had hope. 

Even though it was merely a bowl of thin porridge for each person, it immediately aroused hope in them. 

Cheng Qianye lifted the carriage curtain as their procession passed by. 

“My Lord, it’s My Lord.” 

The soldiers on the wayside all kneeled in salute. 

Those commoners who were receiving porridge also knelt down on the road, one by one.

“That’s Marquis Jin Yue. He’s so young.” 

“Insolence. Address him as ‘My Lord’.” 

“Thank you My Lord for providing free porridge.” 

“It’s said that they will be providing us with temporary accommodation to pass through the winter.”

“There is hope this time for our wives and children.” 

“Our Bianzhou has received a benevolent king.” 

“There have been fewer robberies and murders recently.” 

“I’m so fortunate to be in Bianzhou.” 

__________

The sounds of the fragmented discussions spread into the carriage. 

It turns out that Xiao Jin and Zhang Fu have actually done so many things in my name. 

In this era, those holding power could change the fate of countless people. So many lives, to save them or let them perish depending on what they did and didn’t do. 

Cheng Qianye looked down at her hands that could only play music. Now, these hands held that power. 

They passed through the barracks just in time to see an open challenge arena that was set up in the field. 

There was a famous young general in the arena who had just accepted a challenge. 

He held a two meter long spear made out of pure steel and wolf’s fang. Eight rows of iron protrusions were densely arranged on to the handle and the end was fitted with a triangular drill. 

The young general had extraordinary strength. He wielded his spear so valiantly that his opponents could not resist as he remained undefeated. 

Cheng Qianye looked at the bright orange colour on his body and recognized that it was Yu Dunsu whom she had promoted personally. 

So she stopped the carriage and stood at a distance with two or three others so she could watch the battle without startling the other spectators. 

When she had first transmigrated, she had wholly relied on her instinct and only appointed people based on their colours. Now, she had gradually discovered the use of this system on her body. 

As long as she enabled the system, the bodies of all the living people within her line of sight would be shrouded with a faint layer of colourful light. 

These colours were divided into their “basic colours” and “emotional colours”. A person’s body was always shrouded with their “basic colour” which was related to their personal character and ability. But once a person’s emotions had a strong change, their “basic colours” would be tinged with their “emotional colours”, representing their inner changes. 

Cheng Qianye had already reached a fair comprehension of “emotional colours” and she could basically distinguish it. 

The colour she was most familiar with was the greyish tinge she often saw these days. As long as a person’s “basic colour” was mixed with this colour, it showed their inner contempt and disappointment. 

Whenever Zhang Fu looked down on her, an ashy “emotional colour” would rise from his amethyst “basic colour”. 

Mo Qiao Sheng who had pledged his loyalty and devotion to her had a sapphire blue “basic colour” with an edge of gold “emotional colour”. 

Gold signified loyalty; soft pink represented love and attraction; bright yellow symbolized arrogance; reddish purple showed pain and suffering; and greyish black meant sorrow and resignation….. 

Cheng Qianye could understand the “emotional colour” which displayed a person’s changing emotions, but the “basic colour” which represented a person’s human nature was very complex and hard to identify. 

She only had a rough concept at present. For instance, some people posed as graceful and dignified people, but their inner natures were wretched and vicious, so their “basic colour” was correspondingly muddy, like Hua Yuzhi and Han Quanlin. 

The majority of people had very common and “basic colours”, a dim and unclear mix of colour. 

For example, people with amiable and steady characters had “basic colours” of yellow mixed with a little black and green, resulting in a colour similar to olive green. Some people with more elegant characters had red mixed with a little blue. And some people who were strong had purple colours with a bit of black. 

Only when their emotions had a strong change would they have a bright “emotional colour”. 

However, there were a few individuals who possessed a “basic colour” that was gorgeously dazzling, pure and bright. 

According to Cheng Qianye’s observation during this period, these people possessed certain abilities unlike ordinary people. 

For example, Zhang Fu’s amethyst colour might be an indication of his wise and complex character. In fact, he really was very wise and a matchless tactician. 

And the earthy red colour of Xiao Jin expressed his gentle and meticulous temperament. 

The colours of most of the famous generals tended to be intense and flamboyant. Such as Feng Su; the general beside Li Wenguang, who possessed a crimson red like raging flames. And the famous general under Marquis Beigong; Gongsun Nian, who had a gleaming peacock blue aura. 

When these two generals were fighting, their bodies emitted dazzling rays of light and Cheng Qianye could hardly open her eyes. 

Now it had been proved that the general Yu whom she had picked out was indeed a warrior who was highly skilled in martial arts. 

Cheng Qianye looked at that figure fighting bravely in the arena who seemed as if he would ignite his surroundings with the raging flames burning on his body and thought, Later, I will choose people like this. 

There were two officers who stood away from the crowd talking softly. They didn’t notice Cheng Qianye and the others who stood not far behind them. 

“I’ve heard that this General Yu was promoted personally by our Lord when he was still a small soldier. I didn’t expect our Lord would have such insight.” 

“Our Lord is an amorous homosexual. I’ve never seen him do anything serious. I don’t know whether our Lord took a fancy to his face or his martial arts.” 

“Have you heard the rumours? I heard the Lord traded that valiant brown horse left behind by the old Marquis in exchange for a gigolo from the Weibei Marquis.” 

The other soldier sighed and said, “Hey, who doesn’t know about this.” He lowered his voice and whispered in his companion’s ear, “I haven’t seen the Lord these past few days. I heard that he went to the west mountain to soak in the hotsprings with two beauties on each side.” 

Before he finished, he saw his companion’s eyes bulged out before his body went flying after a punch to his abdomen, his body hitting the brick wall. 

He still hadn’t managed to react when he felt a severe pain in his arm which had been dislocated in an instant as his arm was twisted and pressed against the ground. A pair of big hands pinched like pincers around his neck. With just a twist, his life would be gone. 

Cheng Qianye only saw a dark shadow pass by her. He was raging like a storm and he had sent a man flying and taken another down in a twinkling of an eye. 

The wounded soldier spat out blood and fell against the wall while the man who was being strangled by Mo Qiao Sheng screeched as his face turned purple. 

Mo Qiao Sheng looked at Cheng Qianye, his whole body overflowing with a murderous, icy aura. 

It seemed that as soon as she nodded her head, he would pinch his hands and take away his life. 

How could I forget that the ocean could be quiet and tranquil in one moment, and cold and violent in another? 

She suddenly understood the lustre around Mo Qiao Sheng. 

“Stop, Qiao Sheng.” She said hastily. 

Mo Qiao Sheng released the man and returned to Cheng Qianye’s side. He knelt down on one knee and raised his head, looking at her with fear. He was worried that his master was discontent with his lack of restraint and his arbitrary actions. 

Cheng Qianye looked at his watery eyes which had been cold and filled with killing intent just a moment ago.

He’s scared right now only because he cares about what I think. In his opinion, human life is a worthless thing. Sigh. These things can slowly be taught to him later. 

Why am I still a little bit happy in my heart. Cheng Qianye stroked her chin. My three views must have been knocked askew by these ancient people. 

“Get up. Don’t kneel. Their faults aren’t worthy of death, you’ve punished them enough.” Cheng Qianye touched his head before pulling him to his feet and turning around. 

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be resting in the carriage? Is everything okay? Did your wound split open?” 

Mo Qiao Sheng lowered his head and shook it. “Nothing’s wrong, I….. I’ve never rested for so long after being injured before. Besides, I just used my fists. I didn’t use any leg strength.” 

Cheng Qianye found that his face was slightly flushed. 

Such a shy man who speaks so little is unexpectedly so unwavering when he wants to kill someone. This perverted era really creates such conflicting characteristics of human nature. 

After such a big commotion, everyone had discovered that Cheng Qianye had arrived. 

Yu Dunsu jumped out of the arena and was the first to dash to her side. He set aside the spear before kneeling down on one knee and cupping his fists in salutation, “This one has seen My Lord.” 

His voice was loud and resonant, full of excitement. 

Oh, he wants to be praised. 

“You did well. You haven’t lost my face.” Cheng Qianye began to carry around a king’s lordly airs. “Continue to make persistent efforts, don’t let other people say I have bad vision behind my back.” 

“This one will live up to My Lord’s expectations!” 

Cheng Qianye looked at the young general with sparkly eyes in front of her. The proud orange colour on his body lit up with a bright golden edge. 

Oh! Loyalty and devotion. 

What a pleasant surprise. 

The party returned to the encampment. 

The gates of the government office were streaming in and out with countless busy people. There were officials holding documents and soldiers carrying military supplies. 

Everyone was bustling about in a hurry. 

Cheng Qianye felt somewhat ashamed after hiding in the hotsprings for several days. 

She tidied herself up before going to the meeting hall. Xiao Jin and Zhang Fu were discussing something softly when they saw her arrive. They rose to their feet and saluted her before greeting, “My Lord.” 

Cheng Qianye stroked her nose, feeling a little embarrassed. “I just returned to the city and saw the situation in the city is already much better. You’ve worked hard.” 

Zhang Fu smiled and bent his waist in salute. “This subject is merely doing one’s duty. If this one can make any achievements, it is all due to My Lord’s trust.” 

In Zhang Fu’s mind, this “young master” was quite easy to handle. His thoughts were all written on his face and he could be seen through at a glance. 

He had been mediocre and incompetent since he was young with a violent temperament. Recently, he didn’t know whether he had become a little timid and cowardly due to repeated strikes but he even flattered and fawned over a subject like himself. 

Cheng Qianye looked at Zhang Fu and decided not to avoid his mocking attitude. 

She looked Zhang Fu squarely in the eye as she pointed at the chair beside her and bluntly spoke her mind, “I know, all I need to do is sit in this position and not cause any trouble. Then I can at least play a role in stabilising the people’s will.” 

She used two fingers to draw an analogy. “But I think I ought to do more. I think i can do a little more than that.”

“Although I don’t understand anything right now, I would like to learn.” 

Zhang Fu raised his eyebrows slightly, his expression revealing a bit of surprise.. 

Cheng Qianye turned to face Xiao Jin and made a sincere salute. “Brother Xiao, please instruct me. I’m willing to start small. Let me go to the city gates and serve porridge.” 

Xiao Jin revealed a gratified gaze as he kneeled to return her salute. “It is my great fortune to serve a ruler such as My Lord.”