Chapter Sixty-Four: Pure as Ice, Untainted as Jade

“What are you two doing here? The long tables in the main tent are all set up, but as for the arrangements on top, we rough men have no idea what to do.”
Yakshi’s voice echoed like a howl.

“Shut your mouth!”
Ma Lihong stood with her hands on her hips, almond eyes wide, left hand pointing accusingly at Yakshi’s nose.
“We are the Lord’s personal... er, aides. Since when is it your place to shout and holler?”
Zhu Xiaoying, also hands on hips, delicate brows arched fiercely, jabbed her right finger at Yakshi’s nose as well.

“Troublemakers!” Yakshi rubbed his nose and bowed, daring not to provoke these two fierce women.

“Get out!” the two personal... aides shouted in unison.

“Troublemakers!” Yakshi, as obedient as a lapdog, saluted and retreated without protest.

Madam Chicken Essence and the cooks could hardly believe their eyes. Some pinched their cheeks, some their waists, and a few tugged hard on their earlobes.

It hurt—a sharp, stinging pain. They were not dreaming.

Yet the scene was unmistakable: General Yakshi, so formidable at the Lord’s side, had just been scolded and shooed out like a misbehaving grandson by these two young women.

With this kind of swagger, how could they possibly be mere personal maids? They were even more overbearing than the Lord’s own mother.

Ma Lihong and Zhu Xiaoying exchanged glances, basking in a sense of achievement.

But then a thought flashed through both their minds: Oh no, we’ve overplayed our hand! We’ve gone too far!

Who was Yakshi? Compared to him, they were nothing. If he ran to the Lord to complain, they might be dismissed without a second thought.

Not good, not good at all. This is bad—maybe it’s not too late to fix things.

“You all take care of the food. We’ll go keep the Lord company for a while,” Zhu Xiaoying said, trying to maintain her air of authority despite her inner worry.

“Just do whatever Madam Chicken Essence tells you. Whatever she says, you do. Chicken Essence, pay attention—if anything goes wrong, you’ll answer to me,” Ma Lihong added, still pretending to be in charge, though her heart was pounding.

“Troublemakers!” The cooks were still bowing and scraping their answers when the two impostor girls had already disappeared.

“Yakshi, wait for me!” Ma Lihong called out playfully as she left the cook tent.

“General Yakshi, slow down! I can’t catch up!” Zhu Xiaoying cooed sweetly.

Yakshi stopped in his tracks.

The two impostor girls hurried to catch up, each taking one of Yakshi’s arms, pressing their faces close to his shoulder, clinging to him.

“Brother Yakshi, you’re so loyal—such a great friend. Someday, let’s swear brotherhood, shall we?” Ma Lihong tried to rope him in as a sworn brother.

“General Yakshi, you mustn’t be angry about earlier. I was just teasing you. Next time, let’s become sworn siblings—we may not be born on the same day, but let’s vow to die on the same day, okay?” Zhu Xiaoying took it one step further.

Why not just say, ‘If not born in the same clothes, then buried in the same grave’? That would sound even more intimate, and would solve my basic problem, Yakshi thought fleetingly.

But with these two soft, fragrant beauties on his arms, he lost himself for a moment.

Then he remembered they were the Lord’s personal attendants, sacred and untouchable. He must not covet them. “Fine, let’s find a time to swear brotherhood. From now on, your business is my business. My business, well, that’s still my business. If you need anything, just say the word. If I need anything, I’ll figure it out myself.”

“You’re so kind, big brother. Will you protect me as you would yourself from now on?” Zhu Xiaoying had plenty of experience in such matters.

She was a bold beauty, saying whatever she pleased. Yakshi blushed, grateful that dusk was falling and no one could see. “I will!”

“We’re family now. Don’t scare us like you did before,” Ma Lihong said.

“I was wrong. My manner was too harsh when I came in earlier and startled you ladies. Don’t worry, next time something like this happens, I’ll come in smiling and leave smiling...”

By now, they had reached the entrance to the main tent. Ma Lihong and Zhu Xiaoying let go of Yakshi and slipped inside.

“Send word: all centurions returning from the hunt are to come to the main tent for dinner immediately,” Yakshi ordered, eyes lingering on the graceful retreating figures of the two impostor girls, even as he relayed instructions to the Changli guards.

“Troublemakers!” Seven or eight Changli guards responded in unison and ran off to carry out his order.

When Ma Lihong and Zhu Xiaoying entered, Lu Hu was standing by the tiger-skin seat, talking with Quan Dounan. Xiao Guanyin and Quan Zhenzhu stood by the table, watching seven or eight Changli maids set out cups, plates, bowls, and chopsticks.

Afraid Lu Hu might scold them, Ma Lihong and Zhu Xiaoying kept their heads down and joined the maids in their busy work.

The large table Lu Hu usually used for meals was set at the head, laden with gold, silver, and jade dishes. The other tables, brought in from various tents, were lined up side by side, set with ordinary tableware.

“Lord, King Shi and Centurion Shi have arrived,” Yakshi announced loudly from outside the tent.

“Let them in,” Lu Hu replied—not loudly, but his words vibrated in everyone’s ears.

Shi Zhenxiang and the others filed in to pay their respects to the Lord.

After a few pleasantries, Xiao Guanyin, following the seating arrangement discussed with Lu Hu and Quan Dounan, guided the generals to their seats.

Lu Hu took the seat of honor at the head of the table, flanked by Quan Zhenzhu and Quan Meiyu.

To the left of the main table sat Shi Zhenxiang and Yakshi.

To the right sat Quan Dounan and Xiao Guanyin.

These seven all sat at the main table.

The rest sat at a row of secondary tables: Shi Taixiang next to Yakshi, followed by the twelve centurions. Next to Xiao Guanyin sat the ministers and military officers of the Changli Kingdom.

Once everyone was seated, Lu Hu surveyed the room, a faint displeasure crossing his mind. He asked Shi Zhenxiang, “Why is there one centurion missing?”

“Lord, An Shilu’s unit went the farthest; they’ll be back a little late. He’ll be here soon.” Before Shi Zhenxiang could answer, acting Chiliarch Shi Gengxiang stood up to reply.

Lu Hu nodded.

In truth, he wanted to ask about Quan Meiyu. The wild girl hadn’t shown up all day, and he was worried, but felt too embarrassed to ask directly.

Quan Zhenzhu, cradling Little White, curled up beside him like a gentle, lovely kitten, her serene peach-blossom eyes occasionally sending him glances full of tender affection.

Xiao Guanyin’s bright, deep eyes would also gaze at him from time to time, her look full of appreciation and maternal fondness for her son-in-law.

Quan Dounan and Shi Zhenxiang, seated across the table, were deep in animated conversation.

Shi Gengxiang and the other officers chatted here and there in small groups, occasionally glancing over at Lu Hu, their faces full of reverence for the Lord.

They took the opportunity to steal glances at the pure, stunning, graceful Quan Zhenzhu at his side, and of course, to admire the bright-eyed, dignified, and elegant Xiao Guanyin.

End of section.