Chapter 27: 27

Guzang (3): This time, he’ll consider it as a lesson learned

Whenitheifeelingiof retributioniand pleasureidissipates,iitifollowediby regret,idisgust, and resentment. i

Itiwasiwith suchiaimoodithatiXie Changgeng walkediout of theidoor.

Fromitheiage of fourteen,iafter takingidesperate risksiand committingimurder, theiyoungiman whoilitiailamp atinight toireadiand wasidiligentiinihisistudiesiwasigone forever.

Heiwill neveriforgetitheidayiwhen he returnedihomeifromithe examination andiwas greetedibyitheisceneiof his fatheribeingicarriediback, vomiting bloodiand dying. Itiisiengraved inihis heartiandiwillinever beiforgotten.

Althoughihisifatheriwasionlyia postmaster, heiwasiloyaliand knowledgeable.iXie Changgengistill remembersithatiwheniheiwas a child, hisifatheritaught himihowitoiwrite hisiname, heisaidito him, venus was eastibeforeidawni(qi ming)iand west afteridusk (changgeng). Theinorth wasidisordered, andithe birth of Changgengiwasiprecious. That’s why heiwasinamediasisuch.

Hisifather isitheipersonihe respected theimostiinihisilife.

Theipersoniwhoiwasisoibrazenito walkiaway aftericommitting aimurder isinothingibutiaimilitary general. A mereififth rankicanibeisoiarrogant.

Sinceitheistrongipreyionitheiweak, to beioutstanding became everything. Heiisiunwillingitoibe inferiorito othersiin his blood and bonesiandihe isidestined for this path. Hisidesires andiambitions continueditoiswell as heisteppedion hisicorpses of hisienemies again and again. TheiYangtze Riveriwaterway, theidark forces,ieven if theyiwere extreme,iwere farifrom beingiableito satisfyihim.

Heiwantsitoistandiatitheihighest peak,itoibeichosen asitheisoniof the sky, and trampleionieverything underneath. Theiworldiwillihaveito bowitoihim.

Ititookihimifiveiyearsitoibecomeithe leaderiof theiYangtze River.

Initheipastifiveiyears,ihisihandsiwere stainediwith blood. Thoseiwhoidied atihisihands includedienemiesiand hisiown people. Heialsoialmost lost hisilife several timesibutimanagedito escapeideath. Iniadditionitoihis enemies, there areialsoihisiown peopleiwhoiwant toikillihim.

Timeianditimeiagainithereiisibetrayal andistruggle. Theilastisoft spotiinithe bodyiof thatiyoungimaniwill alsoibe honediinto aistrongiarmouriand sharpishield. Xie Changgengidid not trust anyoneiexcept himself. Everything canibeiused and exchanged, includingihisimarriage.

Atitheiageiof nineteen,iheisatifirmly asithe leader of the Yangtze River and afteriaccumulating enoughicapital, he setihis sightsionithe Dongting Mu Clan, whoiwasiadjacent to hisiown power.

Wheniheimadeithisimarriage contract, heihadinoiinterestiin Mu shiiherself. Tall,ishort,ifat,ithin, beautiful oriugly, itididinotimatter to him.

Heiwilligiveiherieverythingishe deservesiin theifuture, andiallishe has toidoiisicarry on his lineage.

Heididinotiexpectithatifromitheiday heiwent toiChangshaitoipickiheriup, withoutiwarning, thingsideviated fromihis expectations.

Now,iitihasievenibecomeidifficult for him.

Wheniheiwasiyoungiheiwasiknown forihis talent, so he wasiinevitably arrogantiandiconceited, andino womanicouldicatch hisieye. The marriageiwithithe Qiifamilyiwas arrangedibyihis parents, soihe obeyed. Afterihis fateichangediat the ageiof fourteen, wheniknifeimet blood,ithe occasionalithoughtiof addingifragrance to his sleeves had longisinceidisappeared. Atitheiage of sixteen,iafter witnessingithe deathiof theileader whoiadmirediand promotedihim dueitoiaiwoman sent byihis enemy, heitookiit asiaiwarning andiwas evenimoreicautious and self-disciplined. ThisiMuiwomanihadino interestiin himiandiisidetermined to leave,inot toimentioniher lascivious natureiandisheihad lost her chastity before. Heidoesinotineed toilookiat her.

Heifeltiremorse. Heiregrettedithatihe wasideceivediby thisiwoman’s appearanceiandisubmissive attitude, andiindulgedihimself foriaimoment, bringingihisiown disgrace.

Heiisidisgusted. Heiwasidisgusted by thisiwoman’s wantonness and trickeryibut heiwasidisgustediwith himself evenimore. Thatidayiinithe study,ihe knew thatisheihadicomeiin pretense, butiwhenihe heard her say “theionlyiperson whoicaniprotect me inithisiworldiis you,” heiwasia little movedibyiit. 

Heiwasievenimoreiresentful.

Notionlyibecauseisheihadilostiher chastity,ibut alsoibecauseihe stillihad hope,ithinkingithat if sheihadilied to himiinitheibeginning, heimightino longerimindiher previousislights, and heiwoulditreat heribetter. Whatihe gotiinireturn wasianother humiliation.

Thereiwasinoitraceiof guiltior remorseiiniherieyes.

Evenithoughisheihadilostiher chastity, if sheishowediaihint of guilt, heiwouldinotihaveibeen soiresentful.

Xie Changgengibraveditheisevere coldithatinight, walkedioniiceiand snow,iandiwentito Xiutu.

Xiutuiisinotibig, butiitiisian importantigarrisonicity onithe border,iasitheigatewayito Guzang. It isigeographically important.

Aifewidaysiago, thisiplaceiwas attackediby a largeinumberiof Mobei cavalry.iTheideputyigeneral inicharge of defense, LiuiAn, ledithe army. Afteriseveral battles, they learnedithatiXie Changgeng wasion hisiway backifrom Shangjing and knewithat thisitime they couldinot take advantageiandihad toiretreatiin vain.

WheniXie Changgeng arrivediat Xiutu, heistarteditoireinforceithe old cityidefense andiwasibusyifor many days. Wheniallimattersiwere accomplishediheireturned toiGuzang.

Itihasionlyibeeniaifewidays, bution theiwayiback, heihaditoitravel throughitheiice andisnowitheiwhole nightitoithe pointihisihairiand eyebrowsiwere coverediiniice. Liu An thoughtiXie Changgeng wasinotiat easeiwithihim, andiwasivery frightened. Wheniheitookia short rest,ihe immediatelyiledihim to patrolitheicity defense, andirepeatedly assuredithatihe wouldidefinitely guardiXiutu, and wasiwilling to issue aimilitary orderiasiproof.

Xie ChanggengistayediiniXiutu foria fewidays in theiname of inspection.

Heididinotihaveitoicomeito Xiutu. Thatinight, heileftiinianger andidid not knowiwhereito goiand whenihe thought of Xiutu, he decidedito come here. Aifewidays haveipassed, andinowithere is nothingielse to do andiheiwas reluctantito stay. Heiwantedito leave andigoito anothericity, andiLiu An ledihis troopsioutiof theicityigate. On theiroad, he gradually slowed and finallyistopped.

Whyididiheiaskiheritoistayiat Jiedushifu, causing so much inconvenienceifor him? Heileftithat nightiin aihurry, andileftimany affairs unexplained. Afterisoimanyidays, his workloadimust beipiling up.

Itiisiunbelievableithatisuchiaiwoman hasimade itidifficultifor himito return.

Howicouldiheinotiknowithatiwhen sheifirst arrived to the capital, EmpressiLiu frequentlyicalled her intoithe palaceito test heriattitude, becauseishe wasiafraid thatiMu shi wouldibe able toicontrol himiand influenceihim to alienateiher?

Afteriaimomentiof carelessness,ihe riskedirousing Empress Liu’s suspicionsiand tookiailotiof effortito getiMu shi out. Inithe eyesiof outsiders, theyihaveispent ailotiof timeitogetherisince sheiarrived. Whenishe wentiback toiChangsha underithe nameiof incompatibility, andithe newsispreaditoiEmpress Liu, itiwould noticontradictihisidesire to maintainihis reputation, butialso convinceiEmpress Liuiof her judgementiof Mu shiithatiday.

Speakingiof which,iinitheiend, itiwas himself whoihelpedithisiwoman.

XieiChanggengithoughticoldly.

Thisitime, he’lliconsideriitiasiailesson learned. Whenihe returns, heiwill makeiit clear toiheriand letiherigo backito Changsha. Initheifuture, if he isisuccessfuliini hisimatters, foritheir father’siface, itimayinotibe necessary toikillithem all.

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Heiponderediforiaiwhileiandimade a decision, turnedihis houseiaround, andireturneditoiGuzang.

Theidistance betweenitheitwoiplaces wasihundredsiof miles. Heigalloped onihis horseiforiaiday. Wheniitiwas dark,ihe ranitheistrong horseiasifast asipossible, finally entereditheicity andireturnedito Jiedushifu.

Theistewardiwasistandingiatithe door,iand aiservantiwasilighting a lantern. When he sawithatihisimaster hadireturned, heigreetedihimiwith surprise.

Xie Changgengigotioff hisihorseiand orderediforithe horsesitoibeitaken to theistable for feedingiandirest. He walkediin, tookiaifewisteps, then askedithe stewardiwhoifollowedihim, “Whatihas theiprincessibeen doing duringimy absence? 

Theistewardireplied, “When someone asksifor aicheck-up, theiprincessiwill seeitheipatient, andiwhenian official’s wifeicomes toitheidoor, sheiwill entertainithem. Orisheiwillibeiin the residenceiif thereiis nothing. It’sithe sameiasitheiformer days.”

Xie Changgengilookediahead, but didinotianswer.

Theistewardismilediand complimented, “Dairen, hurryiin. I heardifrom myisonithatithe princess refusedito restifor a momentionithe roadiin orderitoibeiable toicomeihere earlieritoireunite withiyou. It’s a pity, youihave a lotiof workiandioften go outiof theicity. Onlyiaifew days, but theiprincess must missiyou very much. Nowithatiyouiare back, I don’t knowihowihappyitheiprincess must be.” 

Theisteward’s son was one of the guardsiwho came with Mu Fulan. Seeingithat Mu Fulan isiskillediin medicineiand friendly, theisteward boldlyimentioned thatiheihasiold coldilegs. Wheniitiflared up, the sorenessiwasiunbearable soishe taughtihim aimassage technique, sayingithat itiwould definitely relieve theipain. Theistewardiwas very grateful, andiwanteditoisayigood thingsiabout heriinifrontiof Xie Changgeng. Atithisimoment, he deliberatelyimentionediwhat heihad heardifromihisison someitimeiago.

Thisiremindedihimiof that.

Theireasoniwhyithisiwomanispared noieffort anditirelesslyirushed over wasibecause sheihad keptiheriown wordsifirmly inimind, thinkingiof arrivingiearly andileavingiearly.

Aicoldilookiappearedionihisiface. He instructedithe stewardinotitoifollow, andiwentito theiroomiby himself.

Heisteppediinto theicourtyardiand sawiaimaid come out of the house. He recognisedithatiitiwasithe oneiwho wasigoingito hand her her clothesiinithe roomiaifew daysiago, butiwasistopped byihisiown impulse.

DaniZhuiwasigoingioutiwhenishe bumpediinto Xie Jiedu, whoisheihad notiseen for aifewidays. Sheiwas taken abackiandihurriediover to greetihim.

“Princessiisiinitheiroom, Iiwilligo inform…”

“No need!”

Xie Changgengididn’tistop, whenihe reacheditheifoot of theistairs, he steppediupiandipusheditheidoor open.

Theicandlesiinitheiroomiwere brightlyilit. Mu Fulaniwasiwearing onlyia singleipurpleigauze dress. She satiinifrontiof theimirror and was wipingiher long hair that had still not dried. Sheihearditheisound of the dooribeing pushediopenifrom behind,iand thoughtiit wasiDan Zhu returning,ismiled andisaid, “How comeiyou are backisoisoon? Did you talkito Mu mama? Cookilessidishes, she’sitired, and Iican’t eatimuch…”

Sheiturnediheriheadiandisawithe suddeniappearance of Xie Changgeng. Sheiwasistartled, the smileioniheriface froze, andishe stoppedispeaking.

Itiwas asiwarmiasispringiinithe room. Sheihad justitakenia bath, andishe didinotiexpectihim to returniat this time. Theisingleiclothes oniher body wereia littleithin, and it wasinot suitableifor aimanito see, although the other partyiwas heri“husband” andiaifew daysiago thereiwasithat kindiof thing.

Sheigotiup,ipickediupitheicoat hangingion the sideiandiputiit on. Sheithen turnediaround withiaismile oniher face,iand greetedihim, “Are youiback?”

He didn’t respond.

MuiFulaniquietlyilookediatitheisilent maniandian ominous feeling suddenlyisweptithroughiher heart.

Onithatinightithreeidaysiago, after theiincident,ihe obviouslyileftiwith resentment.

MuiFulan knewithatiwheniheilooked atiher at that time, herireaction shouldihave stimulatedihimimore deeplyithanithe unchastityisheihad alreadyitold him.

Asi proudiasiXie Changgengiwas, the thingihe regretted mostiinitheseifew daysimust haveibeenitouching her body.

Inifact,ionitheieveiof leaving Shangjing,iMu Fulan knewioutiof intuitionithat he shouldibeiinterested iniher.

Althoughiitiisinotiessential,iif itiisiso undecided,ishe didinotiknowiwhen sheiwouldibeiable to goiback.

If itiisiunavoidable, theniitiisibetter toihappeniearlyithan late.

If sheiwasiright,inowithatihe personallyiconfirmediheriunchastity, heiwill sendiheriaway.

Soiafteriheileftithatinight,isheihas beeniin a goodimood for theipastifew daysiand wasiwaitingvfor him to returnito talk.

Butinow,ifacingihisisuddenireturn, sheiwasiailittle uncertainiagain.

Sheifeltiaihintiof doubtiand apprehension.

XieiChanggengilookediawayifrom heriandiglanced at the corner of the room.

Thereiwereiseveraliboxesistacked there.

Theseiboxesianditrunksiwere brought byiherifrom Shangjing. After they arrived, theyihaveibeen kept here, andihave notibeen unpacked and stored.

Heihadialreadyiseeniitiearlier. It’s just thatiit has never been so eye-catching asithisimoment.

Hisieyes slowlyiretractedifromithe boxes, andihe turnediback toiher face, whichihadibeen smiling a momentiago. Onitheiway back, he hadithought overiandiover again the wordsito let herigoibut now that he hasiseen her heisuddenlyidid not wantito say it.

Heisaidiexpressionlessly, “Call someoneitoibringiwater andifood. I’m tired.”

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