Sweet Beauty

The chopsticks that A’Shu just picked up fell down again, immediately disturbing the pieces on the board.

She hurriedly sat down on her knees, straightened up, and repeatedly denied, “No, Elder Brother, I can’t go back to Handan for the time being. He—he isn’t treating me badly either!”

Zhao You suddenly got up, wanting to say something, but Deng Wan tugged the corner of his coat and said jokingly, “How can there be a room for an Elder Brother like you to meddle between the affairs of a man and his wife? Besides, don’t you know your younger sister? I’m a woman but I love everything about her. What’s more so for others.”

Zhao You glanced sideways at A’Shu. Her charm was truly as dazzling as a polished pearl. More than a decade of watching her grow up and he still cherished her like a treasure.

Indeed, how could an ordinary man be unmoved by her appearance?

His breathing gradually relaxed. He slowly sat and said, “A’Shu, after the Red Turbans incident, Elder Brother can clearly see that Liu Xun is a great talent. To possess such good luck and to be able to grow stronger overnight, the man is truly blessed by the Heaven. If Elder Brother can see it, so can others. In the future, his enemies will be as numerous as his allies.

“By that time, our Zhao family will be insignificant to him. But don’t be afraid, Elder Brother will always help you. You should just remember that you never have to lower yourself. If you really want to follow him, you must first hold yourself as high as him, so that you can see each other eye-to-eye.”

AShu’s eyes dimmed with puzzlement. She nodded her head, not fully understanding his meaning.

In her two lives, she had never experienced a “smooth” marriage. Geng Yun of the previous life was satisfied with her beauty and figure, but she was only used as a plaything in his hand and as a token of his obeissance to Empress Dowager Zhang. And Liu Xun of the present life, even though he was gentle on the surface and treated her well, she could never forget his ruthless order in the hall of Changle Palace and the rain of arrows that pierced through her heart to death.

She was obviously a girl raised in the palm of her father and elder brother’s hand. In any case, she dared not show her true nature in front of him.

Aware that she did not fully comprehend his words, Zhao You inwardly sighed and rubbed her head lovingly without saying more.

……

At the same time, Liu Xun was taking a break from the camp.

After half a day’s discussion of daily routines, trainings and other matters with Wang Shu and the others, they took a little rest in the afternoon. Then, they gathered again to strictly observe the military discipline and drills. So far, a whole day had passed.

When Wang Shu witnessed how devoted he was to military affairs, he felt both respectful and ashamed. Thinking of the injured Princess Consort, he urged, “Tomorrow is the day of our departure. This place is simple and crude. Your Highness, please go back to the city and take a rest.”

Liu Xun still wanted to stay in the camp. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to return to the post station.

After all, in the eyes of others, he treated Lady Zhao very kindly. Her injuries still had not recovered, so he should go and see her more.

Afterwards, he took Liu Ji and three of his men back to the city on horseback.

It was already dusk. As he drew near the post station, he gradually slowed down his horse.

Last night’s displeasure floated in his mind. His grip on the reins tightened, his brows knitting with uncertainty and uneasiness. He couldn’t understand why Lady Zhao was so afraid of him.

Her fear did not seem to have sprang from their marriage. It looked as if even before their wedding, she had already thought of him as a voracious villain who would gobble her up at any time.

He had never done a great evil without scruples. When others mentioned him, they all praised his kindness. How could she be different from others?

He always thought that he was good at understanding people’s hearts, but he really could not read the girl’s mind.

He shook these thoughts away as he reached the gate of the post station. He handed the horse to a servant and stepped into the house.

A’Shu was playing Six Sticks with Que-er. Her delicate and charming face was shiny and rosy with pleasure. A few maidservants clustered around her to watch. It was very lively.

When she was playing with Deng Wan earlier, she always fell behind due to Zhao You’s intervention. Now that she was playing with Que-er, she regained a little confidence.

She was enjoying herself just now, but unexpectedly Liu Xun suddenly came back.

The sparkle on her face died the second she saw him. She immediately put on a docile and submissive appearance, as if she were a silly girl pretending to be serious.

Liu Xun scratched his nose, feeling like an uninvited guest wrecking the warm and cheerful atmosphere. An unspeakable depression lodged in his heart.

Still, it was the first time he saw her so lively and charming in the company of her maidservants.

Que-er quickly put away the boardgame and stepped forward to wait upon him.

He stood still, neither moving his feet nor stretching his arms. He simply looked at her.

The maidservants swung their eyes at her.

Since the wedding day, he never allowed her to approach him, so she never took the initiative to change his clothes and wash his hands and face again. The maidservants did everything for him.

Today, he wanted her to wait upon him herself to dispel the atmosphere that totally excluded him.

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A’Shu felt cornered. Biting her lip, she walked two steps in front of him and slowly raised her eyes. Two uncomfortable rosy glow swam across her cheeks. “This concubine will help Your Highness change clothes.”

Liu Xun looked at her awkward and pitiful appearance. He slowly raised his arms and let her untie his belt for him.

Their bodies were so close that when she lowered her head, his breath brushed the skin of her nape. The hair all over her body stood up.

Liu Yu looked down and saw the tiny goosebumps on the spotlessly white smooth skin. His heart undulated inexplicably, as if an invisible hand had brushed it lightly.

He retracted his gaze, his Adam’s apple bobbing. After taking off his robe, he went to take a bath.

The bathroom was simple and crude. Only a screen was separating it from the inner room, hence even the tiniest movement could be heard outside.

The dryness and gloom of autumn seemed to have influenced Liu Xun’s unfathomable restlessness. He carelessly scooped some water in the bath bucket and quickly finished washing. After he came out, the maids went in to tidy up and were surprised to see the wet floor.

By now, everyone knew of his penchant for cleanliness

In the middle of the night, the candles were extinguished. The couple were lying on the bed together. The room was quiet.

Although exhausted from all the day’s work, Liu Xun his spirits running high at the moment. He stared at the roof, unable to sleep.

The restlessness in his heart still lingered, like a trapped wild animal trying to break through the shackles.

He looked sideways and saw that the woman beside him seemed unaware of his abnormality. Her breathing was light and long. Through the dim moonlight, her graceful curves were soft and supple. He frowned.

His hand stretched out on its own accord and stroked her chin.

The skin under his fingers was as smooth as silk.

He extended his hand again.

However, before his fingers touched the face, she suddenly pouted and turned away with her eyes closed.

Liu Xun’s heart jumped wildly. He stared at the dainty figure before him, and dared not stretch out his hand again.

……

The next day, the team set off again.

The joy of acquiring the Red Turbans gradually dissipated in the past two days, to be replaced by uncertainty and fear.

More than ten thousand men entered Hebei, wondering if they could conquer three counties.

The east side of Shexian led the way to Weijun. Liu Xun did not rush in. Instead, he turned the team south along the periphery of Jizhou.

Xie Jin was still reeling from the sudden change a few days ago. Seeing that Liu Xun was not in a hurry to take the next step, he began to press him again every day.

Just when everyone was feeling hopeless, a troop of about five hundred people suddenly appeared before them. The leader was Chen Wen, the administrator of Xindu.

Chen Wen was appointed by Emperor Cheng’s consort kins during his last years of reign. The Prince of Liang later became the Emperor and the ruler of Chang’an. In those five years, Jizhou had been divided into various forces. When the imperial decree failed to arrive, Chen Wen still held onto the position of administrator of Xindu.

Everyone was wondering why he suddenly appeared. After shouting his own name from afar, he rode to Liu Xun by himself. He dismounted his horse, went straight to Liu Xun and saluted. “This minister is here to especially welcome Your Highness to Xindu!”

It turned out to be an ally!

Worried of a possible trick, Liu Ji and others looked around vigilantly.

Liu Xun, however, returned the obeissance gesture. He dismounted his horse to personally helped him up, and addressed him familiarly, “Yunde, you have really come!”

Yunde was Chen Wen’s courtesy name.

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Xie Jin fiddled with his beard, his small potruding eyes widening in disbelief. “Could it be that Your Highness and Gentleman Chen are old acquaintances?”

Chen Wen did not know Xie Jin, but he replied, “Wen was once favored by His Highness when he was the Magistrate of Puyang. After hearing that His Highness is coming to Jizhou, Wen has been waiting for several days to express his intention of joining the Prince’s army and serving His Highness faithfully.”

So he was indeed casting his lot in!

In this way, if they could use Xindu, they didn’t have to worry about shelter for the coming days.

The army immediately rejoiced once again. The Prince of Xiao was really like a magnet. He could draw people to his side, as if it was Heaven’s will!