Chapter 21: The Cause – The Encounter
Zhang Zhou sat cross-legged on the cliff's edge, gazing at the figure splashing about alone in the river below the mountain, and couldn't help but let a smile curve his lips.
Peng Hong strutted over, glanced down at the mountain foot, then kicked Zhang Zhou in the back. "You've got it good, you little bastard. Just looking at you pisses me off."
Zhang Zhou had been lost in contemplation and hadn't noticed him approaching. He was nearly kicked off the cliff, and after steadying himself, said with a racing heart, "That was close. I almost died不明不白的死在你脚下了.""
"If you'd died like that, Zhang Shun would have heaven itself to thank." Peng Hong laughed and sat down, jerking his chin toward the cliff. "When that kid begged me to bring him out, he said he'd become really powerful. I laughed so hard I cried. Never thought he was telling the truth. A few days ago, when I saw his small band of men suddenly burst out of nowhere, I nearly burst into tears. I was thinking, here I am tied up in fighting, and over there I still have to protect your crybaby. Do you think I'm a god? And then he came charging over with two bloody swords—you didn't see that scene. It was... it was..."
"Did you get a fright?"
"More than a fright. I was scared out of my soul." Peng Hong couldn't help but furrow his brow. "He performed a great service that day, and everyone was left gaping... But I still think he's better the way he used to be."
Zhang Zhou smiled faintly. "He's the same as before."
From the mountain foot came a bellow: "Tai Qingduan! You son of a turtle and bastard, you got my clothes wet, what am I supposed to wear? Screw your mother..." followed by a string of foul language.
Peng Hong burst out laughing. "Wouldn't Jin Yin faint if she heard him talk like that?"
Zhang Zhou laughed without stopping. "Talking like this is cute too. I like it very much."
"You'd like anything about him. Looks like you're tied to him for life." Peng Hong laughed and shook his head. "Pity he's not a woman."
Zhang Zhou stopped laughing. An expression of undisguised regret crossed his face.
Peng Hong could only try to comfort him: "Not being a woman is fine too. At least you can keep him by your side. Look at me—when I left, Xiu Yi cried so hard. You can still watch over the whole city, but where can I go to see Xiu Yi?"
Zhang Zhou shot him a glance and mocked: "Besides Xiu Yi, who's else are you thinking about?"
"My son." Peng Hong flopped onto the grass, staring blankly at the sky.
"What else?"
"..."
Zhang Zhou gazed at him calmly and asked: "When you left, did you tell Jin Yin not to wait for you?"
"..."
"You're really selfish."
Crown Prince Yang Daochun's Xiongzhou army had set up camp right alongside the Dudong army, and the two forces were on friendly terms.
This place called Liuping was in the north, much cooler than Xiongzhou's capital Guandu. Daochun wandered about and spotted, outside the Dudong commander's tent, a young man in gray sleepwear, looking thoroughly bored, poking at the ground with a twig and occasionally letting out silly giggles. His crouching posture was also atrociously unbecoming.
Daochun couldn't help but laugh: What's this Dudong army playing at? They actually have someone this ridiculous.
The young man heard someone laughing at him, turned his head, saw it was a stranger, and said crossely: "Screw you! What the hell are you laughing at?"
Daochun was stunned the moment he saw him. This young man had exquisite features, eyes like paintings, a face of flawless childlike innocence, yet not a trace of effeminate charm. Before Daochun could snap out of his daze, crude curses came pouring into his ears, shocking him anew: What kind of person is this kid?
Then he heard a soldier standing beside the young man like a wooden post speak up in a trembling voice: "General Xia! That's the Crown Prince of Xiongzhou. You... you'd better not..."
Daochun felt tonight was truly unprecedented: That young man is also a general? How utterly unbelievable!
Mancheng couldn't care less about whoever came, was about to curse again, but paused. The Crown Prince of Xiongzhou seemed nearly ten years older than himself, with a date-colored complexion, an elongated face, round eyes bright and warm, a mature and fierce aura hidden beneath, an imposing presence of a leader.
Mancheng took quite a liking to his looks. He wanted to say something to Daochun but didn't know how to start, so he just smiled apologetically.
That smile completely captivated Daochun's heart and soul. The Crown Prince of Xiongzhou, relying on his extraordinary looks and noble status, had always been a notorious libertine who had seen every beautiful woman and man imaginable. Yet now he felt everyone he'd seen before paled in comparison to this young man.
Daochun forgot his own status entirely, already lost in a trance, gazing at him spellbound.
A cry of "Mancheng!" rang out, and Dudong's son-in-law Peng Hong pushed aside the tent flap and stepped out, giving the young man a light kick on the back. With a mix of scolding and laughter, he said: "Playing in the mud again! That's disgusting!"
Mancheng hadn't noticed Peng Hong's kick and tumbled to the ground, hands covered in mud, but without a trace of anger. He wiped his hands on his clothes, saying as he did: "I poked open an ant nest! Look, isn't it fun!"
Daochun nearly fell over: Playing with ants?!
Peng Hong looked entirely accustomed to this, but noticed Daochun standing there like a fool, so he gave him a polite bow. Daochun hastily returned the gesture.
Peng Hong turned to Mancheng and said: "Wash your hands and take your medicine right now!" Then, like picking up a chick, he grabbed Mancheng by the collar and dragged him toward the tent.
Daochun walked back to his own tent as if in a dream. He hadn't even exchanged a single word with that beautiful young man, yet he was tormented by thoughts of him all night.
In the Dudong army's kitchen, there was a commotion. Someone entreated小心翼翼: "General Xia, the medicine the son-in-law ordered you to take..."
"Clatter..." Mancheng slapped the medicine bowl to the ground, jumping with rage: "I'm cured. He's the one who's sick! I'm hungry! I... a-choo..." Mancheng sneezed, wiped his nose, then spun around to yell at someone else: "Get me the cook!"
Tai Qingduan helplessly wiped the snot Mancheng had sprayed onto his face and could only say: "General, then eat some fruit first..."
Mancheng snorted, grabbed a pear from beside him and took a bite, still cursing: "Can fruit fill my stomach? Get me the cook, quick!" Before he finished speaking, there was a "squeak," something heavy landed on his head. Mancheng hadn't come to his senses yet when the pear in his hand was snatched away, and the thing on his head jumped to one side.
It was a small gray creature with a white tuft on its head and gleaming green eyes.
"A monkey?"
The monkey raised its arm, showed off the pear in its hand, and let out a "squeak!" laughing.
Mancheng was overjoyed. "Qingduan! Catch that monkey! Quick!"
Qingduan didn't dare delay and lunged to catch the monkey. But the monkey was nimble, chattering as it scampered up the flagpole. Mancheng stood below, shaking the pole. The monkey ate the pear in a few bites, then plop! dropped the core. Mancheng got hit square on the head, but instead of being angry, he laughed so hard he nearly fell over. The monkey was also grinning and chattering on the flagpole.
Mancheng shook the flagpole while coaxing the monkey: "Come down, I'll give you something delicious!" He yelled at Qingduan: "Bring fruit quickly!" Qingduan acknowledged repeatedly, grabbed a bunch of bananas and waved them beneath the flagpole.
The monkey, seeing the food, grew excited and was soon tricked down. Mancheng saw it reaching for the bananas, smiled broadly, and pounced forward grabbing its tail. The monkey was startled, turned and swiped at Mancheng's face. Mancheng dodged hastily but didn't let go. The monkey immediately scratched his arm, drawing several streaks of blood. Mancheng let out a "wa!" and instinctively released the monkey's tail.
When he looked again, the monkey had scrambled up to a tent corner, banana in hand, chattering with glee.
Mancheng flew into a rage, but instead of cursing at the monkey, he cursed the people around him: "You idiots! Catch it for me! If you can't catch it, I'll need your heads!"
Qingduan and the others promised and lunged in every direction, but that monkey seemed intent on toying with them—neither leaving nor getting close, laughing wildly as it darted about. Mancheng lost patience, raised his bow to shoot, fired several arrows, not only missing but infuriating the monkey. It bared its teeth and pounced straight at Mancheng. Qingduan and the others were no match for the monkey's speed, wanted to help but were far away, anxious and helpless. Mancheng was in a panic, hadn't had time to nock an arrow, and dropped his bow in fright, crouching and covering his head.
Then a voice called out, and the monkey went still. Mancheng moved his arm aside and peeked, only to see a boy of twelve or thirteen, dressed in dark blue military clothes, with a youthful face. The monkey crouched on his shoulder, affectionately hugging his neck.
From his attire, Mancheng knew he was a soldier from Xiongzhou, but his uniform was slightly different from others. Mancheng didn't care what rank he was, rolled his eyes at him, and said: "Kid, is that your monkey?"
Seeing Mancheng acting so juvenile yet calling others "kid," Qingduan couldn't help but snort with laughter.
Mancheng turned and cursed him: "Feeling lucky?"
Then another burst of unrestrained laughter came. Mancheng was startled. Standing behind the boy was an imposing general.
The soldiers behind Mancheng all knelt and saluted: "Your Highness..."
Mancheng recognized him as the man from last night. Looking carefully, he found the person even more handsome and heroic in daylight. His anger dissipated, and he actually thought: This guy is way better looking than Zhang Zhou!
Daochun, seeing Mancheng sizing him up, magnanimously clasped his hands in greeting: "General Xia!"
Mancheng said crossely: "What?" Then his attention was completely on the monkey. The monkey was still crouching on the boy's shoulder, while the boy stared at Mancheng like a wooden block.
Daochun, having been brushed off, wasn't angry either. Seeing Mancheng's eyes darting around following the monkey, he found it amusing.
This was originally Daochun's gentle trap.
Mancheng, wanting the monkey desperately, rolled his eyes, then forced a smile: "Your Highness, is this kid your man? His monkey is so fun. Could you give it to me?"
Daochun made a surprised sound, not knowing if he wanted the monkey or the person. Just as he was about to ask for clarification, Mancheng said: "Give me both the person and the monkey!"
Daochun was speechless. This young attendant was an orphan of a fallen hero, who had followed him since childhood. Daochun regarded him as a little brother and was very protective. Moreover, though this boy was young, he could match a whole group of adult soldiers. He would certainly become a capable warrior in the future. Daochun had merely wanted to use a monkey to get close to Mancheng. Never did he expect Mancheng to actually ask for the person. He didn't know how to refuse.
Seeing Daochun's difficult expression, and not knowing the boy's background, Mancheng thought: This guy is so stingy! I already asked and he's still hemming and hawing! Hmph, this guy has backing. If we fought and I hurt him, it would ruin Zhang Zhou's big plans. Thinking this, he got up from the ground and started wheedling: "Your Highness, I'm begging you!"
Yang Daochun froze, nearly laughing himself silly.
Qingduan was about to faint, quickly whispered: "General Xia!"
Mancheng realized this trick was wrong for the situation, and flew into an embarrassed rage: "Damn it, forget it if you won't give it!" But his eyes still didn't blink, fixed on the monkey.
Yang Daochun managed to stop laughing, patted the young attendant, and said: "Sihu, General Xia thinks highly of you. From now on, stay with him!"
The boy called Sihu had been staring blankly. At Daochun's pat, he nodded repeatedly as if struck by lightning, knelt down and kowtowed to him several times, then turned and kowtowed to Mancheng.
Mancheng's anger vanished instantly. Without thanking Yang Daochun, he said to the boy: "No need to kowtow. Get that monkey over here!"
Sihu made chattering sounds at the white-headed monkey. Mancheng saw this person, though young, was about his own height. This half-grown kid was actually imitating monkey sounds—how amusing! He burst out laughing.
Sihu's face flushed red, not knowing what to do. The monkey, receiving its master's command, obediently jumped onto Mancheng's shoulder and reached up to rifle through his hair. Mancheng didn't dare move, but wore a delighted grin. He asked eagerly: "Can I touch it?"
Sihu nodded bashfully.
Only then did Mancheng reach out and take the white-headed monkey from his shoulder, cradling it in his arms, laughing happily without end, not even glancing at Yang Daochun.
Daochun was extremely frustrated: He had lost a trusted attendant but hadn't gained even a bit of closeness with him.
For the first time Daochun had been ignored like this. At this moment, he only wished he were that monkey, to win his favor and make him smile.