Chapter 28: Prologue – Obedience
Prologue
Zhang Zhou entered Langjing Garden, hesitated for a moment, then stepped into Jin Yin's quarters.
"Well, what do we have here? The sun really is rising from the west! Today the great king actually has time to visit? Man Du, hurry up and kowtow to the great king!" Jin Yin was leaning against the bed, holding Man Du while reading a book. The moment she saw Zhang Zhou, she coldly snorted and let loose a barrage of mockery.
Man Du paid his sister no mind. He scurried up onto Zhang Zhou's back like a monkey and whispered, "Brother came back today and immediately blew up at the servants. Didn't eat dinner either. Did you make him angry again?"
"Man Du, how can you be so disrespectful to the great king?" Jin Yin propped herself up slightly on the bed, her expression furious yet her tone remarkably deferential. "Great king, Jin Yin is feeling unwell and cannot perform the proper obeisance for you. Please don't hold it against me."
Zhang Zhou苦笑苦笑着，"Your way of speaking is becoming more and more like Sister Xiu Yi's. Sarcasm and jabs all day long. What did I do wrong this time?"
"Hmph." Jin Yin's eyes narrowed, "If you weren't feeling guilty, why would you come to my place? Ah, my poor brother is sulking alone in his room. Who would dare approach that house? As for what made him so angry—I'm really curious. Great king, do you know?"
"I..."
"Oh, those are military matters. What business does a woman like me have asking so many questions? Jin Yin is at fault." Jin Yin gestured to Man Du, complaining, "Boy, get down already. If you strain the great king's back, can you afford it? Come to Sister."
Zhang Zhou stood there awkwardly, silent.
Man Du ran back and wrapped his arms around Jin Yin's neck, giggling, "Sister, he wants you to convince Brother again."
"As if I'm that idle!" Jin Yin's pretty face turned serious, her tone as cold as ice. "Tell him to say whatever he has to say to your brother himself."
Zhang Zhou had no choice but to think to himself: This Peng Hong guy is really pitiful. How did he end up with two women who both have such sharp tongues? If Jin Yin really marries into that family, he'll have it hard夹在中间.
Jin Yin snapped, "Great king, do you have other business? If not, get out quickly!"
Zhang Zhou苦笑苦笑着: I haven't even said two complete sentences yet.
This emperor—an emperor no less—forced a smile, repeatedly apologizing before retreating out the door.
After enduring that round of mockery and sarcasm, he was now prepared to face a tirade from Man Cheng.
The moment Man Cheng saw him enter, he erupted: "Get lost, you greedy bastard! How come you always want so much! I'm not going! I'm not going! You said Huinan was the last time! Get out!"
Zhang Zhou showed no irritation. He asked, "Done with your ranting?" Then he walked over. Ignoring Man Cheng's struggles, he pulled him into an embrace and said softly, "It's not that I want to clash with Xiongzhou. You heard it today too—Xiongzhou's army took Lìqí. Without Lìqí, there'd be nothing protecting the southwest of Yuanliao..."
"Why does it have to be me? I just got back from Huinan! I just got back!" Man Cheng thrashed a few times in Zhang Zhou's arms before finally settling down.
"Only one Wutao army can't withstand Xiongzhou's forces. You know that." Zhang Zhou held him as they sank onto a chair. When Man Cheng finally fell silent, Zhang Zhou leaned in and kissed him.
Man Cheng's anger still burned. He turned his head away, but tears gathered in his eyes. "You're doing this again! I don't want to go this time, that's final."
Zhang Zhou felt a pang of frustration. He said quietly, "Man Cheng, this time you don't want to go because of another reason, don't you?"
"..."
"You don't want to face Yang Daochun, do you?" Zhang Zhou watched the unmistakable embarrassment flood Man Cheng's face and asked softly, "Man Cheng, do you still remember him?"
Man Cheng fought to hold back his tears, shame and fury mingling as he said, "So what if I remember him? I just don't want to kill him, that's all! Are you deliberately making me go? Are you deliberately trying to hurt me?"
"I never said to kill him!" Zhang Zhou rushed to explain, "As long as they surrender to Yuanliao, the Yang dynasty would remain just as it was before—merely becoming a vassal of Yuanliao..."
"Then why don't you submit to Xiongzhou?" Man Cheng cut him off, tears spilling down his cheeks.
Zhang Zhou was momentarily speechless. Then he said flatly, "Fine then." Man Cheng's heart lifted, but then heard Zhang Zhou add, "I'll just lead the campaign myself."
"No!" Man Cheng forgot his tantrum, clutching Zhang Zhou tightly. "If you lead the campaign, what happens to affairs in the capital? You've been away from the battlefield for so many years. What if you end up like that unlucky Qian De and die? What happens to me? You're using this to pressure me again. Fine, I'll go, okay? I'll go..." Before Man Cheng finished speaking, Zhang Zhou pressed his lips to his and kissed him repeatedly.
Man Cheng instantly forgot all his reservations and complaints. He clung to Zhang Zhou, drunkenly sucking and biting on those lips he'd dreamed of for so long. His hand slipped into Zhang Zhou's clothing.
Zhang Zhou had been abstinent for months. Now his patience snapped. He flipped Man Cheng over, laying him back on the chair. "Man Cheng... Man Cheng, I love you so much."
Just hearing these words was enough for Man Cheng. But he still muttered, "Who knows how many people you've said this to."
Zhang Zhou smiled slightly. "What do you think?"
Man Cheng suddenly flared with anger, demanding hotly, "Do you say this to everyone you sleep with?"
Zhang Zhou laughed, enjoying Man Cheng's furious expression with great interest.
Man Cheng burned with jealousy. He tried to jump up and break free from Zhang Zhou's embrace. Zhang Zhou quickly held him tight, soothing him, "Don't be angry! I've only ever been with you. Who else would I be saying it to?"
Man Cheng froze. "You're lying."
"Man Cheng..." Zhang Zhou gently kissed his tear-filled eyes, saying with infinite tenderness, "From the very beginning until now, there's only ever been you. I'm not lying."
Man Cheng didn't know whether he was moved or guilty. Tears streamed down his face. "You... are you blaming me?"
Zhang Zhou's heart ached as he wiped his tears. "I'm not blaming you. I only blame that I don't have time to be with you. You're not a woman—how could I demand anything from you?"
Man Cheng sobbed, "Don't tell me you're not blaming me! Zhang Zhou... why do you have to be so busy? Zhang Zhou, can't you take me away? We could leave, you wouldn't have to worry about these matters anymore, and I... I wouldn't have to hurt people anymore... I'd only belong to you. Wouldn't it be wonderful to go back to our old life? Weren't we happy in Anqing?"
Zhang Zhou's brow creased tightly. He sighed softly. "How could that be possible? Man Cheng, stop being childish!"
Man Cheng stopped begging. He didn't want to waste a single second. He gave himself over completely, doing his best to accommodate him, satisfy him.
When did even a night together become such a luxury? If he didn't thoroughly comfort him now, when would be the next time?
Life rose and fell like a dream, finally coming to a gentle rest.
Zhang Zhou stroked Man Cheng's perpetually furrowed brow, saying gently, "Man Cheng, please don't beg me like that anymore. Every time you do, my heart aches..."
Man Cheng curled up in his arms, dispirited, wordless.
Zhang Zhou苦笑苦笑着 too, and fell silent. Watching the person in his arms slowly drift into sleep, he himself couldn't close his eyes all night.
Man Cheng entered Langjing Garden's medicinal kitchen. Steam filled the room, heavy with the bitter-sweet scent of Chinese herbs. Physician Li was alone inside, preparing medicine.
Man Cheng knocked on the door. When Physician Li saw him, he hastily bowed and offered greetings.
"These past few months, Physician Li, you've personally prepared herbs for my sister. Thank you for your hard work."
Physician Li quickly said, "I wouldn't dare. It's my honor."
Man Cheng's expression was unreadable. He coldly laughed. "Very well. With your care, I can rest easy about going to Xiongzhou." He pulled out a prescription and tossed it over. "They say your prenatal tonic is the best in the entire city. Take a good look at the medicine you've personally prepared!"
Physician Li nervously grabbed the floating paper. Man Cheng continued, "I took these herb residues to a pharmacy in the city to have them analyzed. This medicine is a folk remedy—one misstep and both mother and child would die..."
Physician Li took one look at the prescription and began kowtowing repeatedly. "General Xia, spare my life! I was forced to do it in secret! I know full well how dangerous this labor-inducing medicine is, but—the princess ordered me to do it! I had no choice!"
In truth, Man Cheng had suspected all along that this was Jin Yin's own arrangement. Whose child was it? There were only a few men who visited Langjing Garden regularly. It couldn't be any of them.
Sister goes out often. Who is she meeting?
"I've already placed people near your home. I doubt you'd have the nerve to flee! When I return and see that they are both safe, there will be rich rewards. No matter how dangerous this medicine is, if anything goes wrong, even the Emperor himself couldn't protect your entire family." Man Cheng looked at Physician Li, kneeling on the ground trembling. He squatted down to face him and smiled, his expression innocent and pure. "I hear Physician Li is very blessed—recently welcomed a grandson and granddaughter. Dragon and phoenix twins are rare indeed."
He rose, leaving the terrified Physician Li behind, and walked straight toward Jin Yin's room. From inside came Man Du's voice: "Brother! You're leaving again? Ah... no..."
"Be good. I'll be back soon..."