Dandere General and his Lord

13. Offering A Bed Mate

Cheng Qianye stayed very late in the meeting hall. She mostly listened to them without talking rashly. 

Although these government and military affairs were strange and complicated for her, as long as she was willing to participate and study more, she would gradually become more familiar with it. 

In any case, I’m an independent working woman. I’m not like these ancient women who can’t take two steps out of their inner gates. 

Cheng Qianye encouraged herself. 

When she returned to her bedroom, she saw Xiao Xiu still waiting for her. 

“Why are you still here? Go and rest early, I don’t need you to serve me here.” Cheng Qianye wasn’t accustomed to having people wait on her everyday and help her change her clothes, not to mention that her current identity was a secret and not suitable for this. 

Xiao Xiu’s face was slightly flushed. Kneeling meekly at her feet, he clasped the hem of her robe before gently kissing it. He lifted up his head to look at her, his gaze filled with tender sentiments. 

Cheng Qianye knew that this action had a special implication. 

This was a way for a person of lower status to seek affection from a noble personage and recommend themselves as a bed mate. 

Looking at his eyes filled with expectation, Cheng Qianye felt a little awkward and sympathy towards him. This was an emotion that was destined to never bear fruit. 

She tried her best to be gentle, but left him no leeway as she said, “Go back, okay? Xiao Xiu, I’m tired.” 

I shouldn’t keep doing this. Keeping him by myby my side everyday, giving him more hope that I can’t respond to. Cheng Qianye said to herself. 

The next day, Cheng Qianye asked Mo Qiao Sheng whose injuries had already taken a turn for the better to travel to the hotsprings in the west mountain by himself and entrusted Xiao Xiu to accompany him. 

Then, she exchanged her rich and gorgeous clothing for clothes that were more convenient to move around in as she followed Xiao Jin in and out to familiarise herself with the military and political affairs. 

Currently, she and Xiao Jin had travelled on horseback with their retinue to Bian River on the outskirts of the town to look out for autumn floods. 

The roads had become muddy after several days of rain as they set out on their way back. 

Xiao Jin smiled and said, “My Lord’s horseriding skills have vastly improved.” 

This vast improvement in skill he spoke of was in contrast to the riding skill of the delicate princess who could not ride a horse before.

“I’m still not used to it. Riding for such a distance makes me sore. Minister Xiao, shall we dismount for a while?” Cheng Qianye asked sheepishly. 

After getting along these past few days, Xiao Jin’s impression of Cheng Qianye had changed by a lot. 

He discovered that she wasn’t squeamish, with a mild temperament and modest conduct, she didn’t hesitate to ask for guidance when there was something she didn’t understand and she was never indiscriminately bossy. 

If you wanted to change another person’s opinion of you, it didn’t help your case if you wallowed in self-pity. Taking the initiative and revealing your strengths was a more effective way. 

Although she had avoided the situation and lost her way for a while, Cheng Qianye was still a tenacious person who would fulfil her pledges.

Since she had recognized that her chances of returning home were slim and that some matters could not be avoided, she had made a resolution to adapt to the world before her eyes. 

The two of them led their horses as they slowly ambled forward.

There were abandoned fields on both sides of the road with wild weeds growing wantonly on the unmanned land. 

The intersecting footpaths between the fields were the only indication that these fields had once been fertile land. 

“There are so many starving people but there’s such a vast expanse of wasteland here. Can’t the refugees cultivate these lands?” 

Cheng Qianye knew that civil affairs were complex matters and that there must have been rationales behind this of which she was unaware. Hence, she used interrogative queries instead of rhetorical questions. 

“These are public fields and many wars have taken place in this area with the lords changing constantly. Cultivated lands need constant labour in addition to taxation. As a result, the populace have been forced to go into exile and no one is at ease with farming.” 

“Public fields?” 

Xiao Jin broke off a twig and drew a square on the ground. 

He pointed with the branch and said, “This is a field measuring hundred steps in each direction.” 

He drew four lines outside of the square turning it into the character for ‘well’. (井 = character for well.) 

“This ‘well’ forms nine fields which are conferred to eight households. The public field is surrounded by eight private fields, and all eight households manage the public field together. Only once you have finished tending to the public field, can you dare to attend to your personal matters.”

“It seems pretty good. As long as you finish tending to the public field in the middle, you can then plant in your own fields and generate your own income.” 

Cheng Qianye squatted beside the rough drawing and thought, this is a well field system. 

Xiao Jin found that this princess who had grown up in the inner palace was sometimes very simple and lacking in common sense, but sometimes, she was extraordinarily sharp. 

She could often pinpoint the key points of the issue at hand and also proposed some astonishingly advanced ideas.

Therefore, he couldn’t help explaining this matter in detail.

“Correct, but the prerequisite is the presence of a fixed monarch and that the nation is rarely at war. As a commoner who cultivates the public fields, not only do they have to perform miscellaneous services, they also have to bear military taxes and perform military service. And with frequent wars in addition to heavy taxation, numerous men lose their lives or wind up becoming slaves of the opposing forces.”

“This is true.” Cheng Qianye extended her hand and pointed at the 井 character. “Furthermore, they wouldn’t have any enthusiasm. They could just be lazy and resort to tricks when working on the public fields while they cultivate their own fields carefully. The land belongs to the nation and one cannot buy or sell it yourself. And there’s only so much you can grow, leaving behind many empty fields.”

Xiao Jin tucked his hands into his sleeves as he saluted, “My Lord has great insight. This subject is unable to match up.” 

“Old Xiao, don’t imitate Zhang Fu.” Cheng Qianye raised her hand with a smile and pointed. “In my heart, you are like a teacher to me. You are the only one I can trust and rely on.” 

Who doesn’t know how to exaggerate and praise others? This lady is good at it too. 

Xiao Jin was very moved by this and advised sincerely, “The honourable Zhang Fu is a person of extraordinary talent. He has unparalleled wit and resourcefulness. Why has My Lord been so indifferent to him as of late?” 

“That man, although he seems to be smiling all day, he is actually very haughty and looks down on me. It’s useless for me to stick to his cold butt. It would be better to give him the cold shoulder for a while, the result might be good.” 

Wanting Zhang Fu to pledge his loyalty to me, I might not be able to achieve this in the short term.

Xiao Jin thought in his heart; It seems that not only does this princess have keen thinking and unique insight, but she also has her own eye for judging people. I only lament that she was born a daughter. If not, she could become the wise sovereign of my Great Jin Dynasty. 

At this moment in the Moon Spirit Spring in the west mountains, Mo Qiao Sheng was soaking alone in the water. 

Without his Master by his side, his heart was overwhelmed with a groundless fear of the water. He quietly stretched out his hand to grip onto the railing so that the others would not discover his anxiety. 

Xiao Xiu squatted at his side and looked at him, overcome with boredom. “Qiao Sheng I think you are very well, right? Why does the Lord send us here everyday. I don’t know which coquettish slut is accompanying My Lord these days. It can’t be those two new ugly sisters, right?” 

Mo Qiao Sheng: “Thank you for accompanying me here everyday. It’s just that the Master’s orders cannot be violated. If not, I……” 

If not, I also long to follow at My Lord’s side. 

“Xiao Mo.” Xiao Xiu surveyed the area, and upon seeing no one was nearby, he lowered his voice and said mysteriously, “My Lord, he has doted on you many times here, right?” (He’s asking whether the lord has slept with him.) 

Mo Qiao Sheng’s face turned red. He was silent for a long time before he said, “No, Master has never been intimate with me.” 

“That can’t be? Never? But My Lord spoils you so much.” 

Mo Qiao Sheng did not reply. 

“I say, you.” Xiao Xiu leaned down and whispered. “Haven’t you ever taken the initiative to serve him?”

Mo Qiao Sheng appeared bewildered. 

“Hey, you really can’t tell good from bad. I don’t know what to say about you.” 

“My Lord is a very gentle man. If you don’t take the initiative to serve him, he won’t force you. But even though My Lord is so considerate to you, do you still not know how he feels?” 

“Don’t tell me you want the Lord to take the initiative to serve you?” 

It’s no wonder that My Lord grumbled about you when I was serving him in the bedroom a few days ago. I say, My Lord hasn’t come to the hotsprings recently. So that’s what happened. You’re so stupid.” 

Mo Qiao Sheng lowered his head. “Master…. Did he really say that?” 

“You have the Lord’s favour.” 

“I……” 

When Xiao Xiu and Mo Qiao Sheng returned to the city, they saw a throng of people swarming the porridge shed. It seemed that there was a lively affair. 

When they walked in, they saw their Lord; Marquis Jin Yue, was actually handing out the porridge personally. 

Cheng Qianye’s hair was bound with a golden crown, his face like a full moon, and he was dressed in Hu clothing. He was perspiring as he busily rushed about and his handsome white face was flushed. 

The commoners who received the bowl of porridge from his were all moved to tears, many of them saluting before they left, wiping their tears. 

“My Lord is benevolent. He is truly Bodhisattva who has descended to Earth.” 

“He gives us free porridge every day.” 

“We are saved.” 

“I wish I could always be one of the Lord’s subjects.” 

Mo Qiao Sheng and Xiao Xiu caught up and went to the front to kowtow in salute. 

Cheng Qianye wiped her sweat as she helped them rise. 

“In the future, you’re exempted from kowtowing. It’s enough to just kneel.” 

Xiao Xiu stamped his foot and said, “My Lord, how can you do this sort of thing and come here everyday?” 

“Hey, I can’t do much else right now. You should do whatever you can at first.” Cheng Qianye took off her apron and passed her ladle to a soldier. “Okay, it’s almost over for today. I’ll go back with you.” 

She glanced curiously at Mo Qiao Sheng who was standing behind Xiao Xiu, his face expressionless as he was in a strange mood. 

This fellow student Xiao Mo is making mountains out of molehills again. 

There is both good and bad to this ability that allows me to see through a person, but who made his colour so fascinating, I really can’t leave him be. 

“Xiao Mo is feeling better? I’m free tomorrow and I can accompany you to go soak in the hotsprings.”

Cheng Qianye found that this sentence did not have its intended comforting effect. On the contrary, Mo Qiao Sheng appeared to be even more nervous and conflicted.

In the evening the next day, Cheng Qianye took a dip in the Moon Spirit Spring to relax her tired muscles until she was satisfied. 

She walked ashore and bound her chest before putting on her clothes. She stroked his head with his eyes covered in a blindfold and said, “You can get out.” 

It was really enjoyable. 

Cheng Qianye sat on a reclining chair by the pool before lifting a wine pot made out of white jade and pouring the amber wine into a cup, enjoying the scene of the red autumn leaves and the setting sun as she drank. 

She heard someone rising up from the pool behind her. 

After a short while, she felt someone tugging the corner of her robe.

Cheng Qianye turned her head to look and saw Mo Qiao Sheng kneeling at her side with only a bath towel wrapped around his waist, his long supple hair draped over his bare shoulders. 

His expression was flustered as he swallowed nervously, and his hand which held onto her robe trembled faintly. 

With sudden determination, he bowed his head and quickly kissed the corner of her robe.

“You…..” Cheng Qianye was dumbfounded. 

Mo Qiao Sheng turned his head, his face flushed red as he said with difficulty, “Please….. Lord, My Lord, show me mercy.”