《Conquer the Castle》姬泱

2、Chapter One 2nd

　　Other people’s problems would forever remain theirs.

　　Touring the lake with a beauty by your side during the third month of the fine spring could be a wonderful thing.

　　I chose to remain unmarried as I wished to exercise moderation in such matters. People said I was an uninhibited, elegant soul, but I knew that they secretly thought I was nothing but a player. The maids in my residence were as pretty as flowers; even the servant boys were pleasantly charming. To an outsider’s eye, my life must be as blissful as that of a fairy’s.

　　“Chancellor Zhou is youthful and handsome; such romances do nothing to diminish his graceful aura.” This was what they said, but we all knew that my looks were best described as being androgynously beautiful. Even though I did not possess the seductiveness or feminine qualities of a woman, I was still a far cry from the masculine toughness that girls fall for. Even so, the public could only say that I was extraordinarily handsome. After all, with a glaring precedent at hand, no one would want to end up as a dumb freak at the borders.

　　“Your Excellency, while leaning against the railings and gazing out into the horizons, why don’t you compose a poem?” It was Phoenix Jade. She was my most favoured maiden. Not only beautiful, she possessed a sensitive mind and was well trained in literature and etiquette. We were now on our private boat, enjoying the fresh, pleasant breezes drifting across the surface of the lake.

　　“No. I lack the talent to compose a poem within seven steps, and there is nothing here to inspire me. Where is Zhou Qiao?”

　　Zhou Qiao was my trusted guardian, the one whom I sent into the Forbidden Palace with the piece of cake. We met on the streets two years ago. My horse was frightened and out of control then, and just when I was about to fall to the ground, he saved me and lifted me down from my horse. After knowing he was a lone wonderer in the imperial city, I asked if he was willing to follow me. Glancing at me, he readily agreed.

　　His original name was Yu Qiao, but I changed his name after he entered the Zhou residence. He was a quiet, reserved person, but his achievements in the martial arts were extremely high.

　　“He’s around. He doesn’t dare to be more than half a step away from you,” Phoenix Jade replied with a smile.

　　I looked back and caught him looking our way through the bamboo curtains of the ship cabin. His eyes had an undefinable feeling to them, but all these were but flashing instincts of a split second. Was it true that he did not dare to leave me? Or was it because he didn’t want to?

　　Actually, I wondered many times if my decision to accept him into my household was a wise one.

　　“Let’s go onshore, there’s nothing but water here.” I pointed towards the shore.”There are woods there with even a few peach blossom trees. It would be a good place. Zhou Qiao, remain on the boat while Phoenix Jade and I go onshore for a walk”.

　　Just as I’ve finished assisting Phoenix Jade down the boat, I noticed a group of people drinking in the woods.

　　“It’s crowded here; let’s go somewhere else.” Phoenix Jade frowned slightly after glancing at them.

　　“Yes,” I gently took her hand, and together we leisurely strolled around the lake bank.

　　“Your Excellency, the affairs these few days must have been very troubling. Look at you; you’ve lost quite a bit of weight.”

　　“You needn’t worry over me as things are hardly that serious. I’m just a little tired. The ascension of a new emperor has led to an accumulation of government matters to be dealt with. It’ll be all right after a while.”

　　“Ai,” she lightly sighed. “Your Excellency, the women envy me, saying that only I have the right to hold your hand this way. There is one sentence in the Shi Jing —‘taking your hand, aging with you.’ But I know we aren’t like that.”

　　“Don’t you believe me? We can spend our lives together like this.”

　　I made it apparent that I disliked continuing such a topic. Phoenix Jade was excessively clever, but such cleverness sometimes proved to be a burden in a woman.

　　“The birthday present for the old master is already prepared. Should I send it over?”

　　“Send it. If they do not want it, simply let them throw it away.”

　　“If you resigned now and went into reclusion, you wouldn’t suffer such a gap with the old master. Your Excellency, your heart is not here. Why do you choose to remain?”

　　“Phoenix Jade, isn’t that peach blossom tree beautiful?” I asked her while pointing towards the distance. What difference did it make wherever one is? The world had only one single facet; why would it be different anywhere else? Any kind of a life was but a life and hope for change was only futile.

　　“Yes, it’s beautiful.” She understood all too well. Sometimes a clever woman was not such a bad thing after all.

　　“My, my, this maiden is extremely fair.”

　　Suddenly, an extremely annoying voice rang out before me as we were stopped by a group of people. Even though their clothes were commonplace, I noticed the official orders hanging by their waists. It was the Emperor’s Imperial Guards. They were the ones drinking before, and now they were already a little drunk. I surveyed my surroundings and realised we were already quite a way from the shore.

　　“No, no, the prettier one is a man. I think they’re a couple.”

　　I placed myself before Phoenix Jade. “May I ask what you want of us?\\\"

　　“Yo, someone wants to play the hero rescuing the damsel in distress when he himself has such a slight frame.”

　　“Haha, he’s a beauty himself.”

　　Their approaching faces, twisted in ugly cruelty, and the unpleasant odour of wine forced us to retreat backwards in steps. When Phoenix Jade let out a sudden cry, I noticed that their members were already behind us. We were effectively surrounded.

　　“Zhou Qiao, where are you!” Phoenix Jade cried out in a high-pitched voice, hoping that he would come to our aid.

　　“Don’t bother calling. It wouldn’t work—who would dare bother us?”

　　“True, true.”

　　They were getting closer by the second. Noticing Phoenix Jade trembling behind me, I tugged her into my arms. “What should we do, Your Excellency?”

　　I understood what she meant. If I announced my name, I might be able to stop them. But the current situation was already enough to transform me into a laughing stock; it would be impossible to stand before the assembly if the world were to find out that a Cabinet Minister actually suffered being toyed with by the Emperor’s imperial guards. For the sake of my reputation, I couldn’t let them know, but judging by the current circumstances and the habitual belligerence of the guards, I had no idea what would happen if this were allowed to progress any further.

　　“Little one, don’t be so stoic, we’re only looking for some fun…”

　　His hand lightly caressed my cheek.

　　“Your Excellency,” Phoenix Jade cried while trying to slap away his hand. Unfortunately, he was trained in the martial arts and caught hold of her easily.

　　“Let her go.”

　　I gripped his wrist. He released Phoenix Jade but captured my left hand with a spin of his hand. A single flip, and I was already down on the ground. I experienced a flash of intense pain as my wrist starting swelling.

　　“Your Excellency!” Phoenix Jade flung herself on me. “All you all right!”

　　“It’s all right, all right,” I comforted her, but she was already in tears.

　　“Know your place, little one.”

　　“You…”

　　Suddenly, they backed away a few steps, leaving a larger space between us. I took a look. It was Zhou Qiao. I couldn’t help sighing in relief.

　　“Zhou Qiao, kill them. They wounded His Excellency.” Phoenix Jade’s voice had taken on a sharp, piercing tone.

　　I caught the edge of his sleeve, effectively stopping the flourish of his sword. Softly, I said, “Do not harm them, they are the Imperial Guards.”

　　Zhou Qiao’s eyes stared steadily at me, eyes devoid of any warmth.

　　“If anything happened, I fear I would not be able to protect you.”

　　After all, they were the Zheng Emperor’s trusted guards, while I was only an unfavoured, powerless minister.

　　He helped me up. “What do you want me to do?”

　　“Force them to retreat.”

　　He laughed coldly. “Forcing the enemies to retreat without killing them? Your Excellency, I didn’t know you had such confidence in my swordsmanship.”

　　I smiled briefly. “There is no other way.”

　　I had never witnessed his swordsmanship. In truth, I had no idea of how good he was.

　　Zhou Qiao stood proudly with sword in hand. The guards didn’t dare approach, which alleviated the problematic situation a little.

　　“Your Excellency, does your hand hurt?”

　　“I thank you for your concern; it’s a lot better.”

　　“Your hand…it’s…”

　　Her words vanished into her sobs.

　　“It might be broken.” I said succinctly.

　　Hearing our conversation, Zhou Qian turned around and glanced at me before spinning back to point his sword at the guard who taunted us. I knew something was wrong, but the pain had almost ridded me of all my control. My panic in Zhou Qiao’s absence was enough to enable me to ignore the agony, but with the chance for relief, now I could feel only a pain equivalent to having my bone broken.

　　His sword was already out of its sheath and directed at the man.

　　“Shall I break your arm, or shall you do it yourself?”

　　“What…” As if they have heard the funniest joke on earth, they burst into insolent laughter. “Even if we killed you today, no one would dare do anything to us.”

　　“Zhou Qiao, we must leave if possible; don’t hurt them.”

　　“Your Excellency, they harmed you! They harmed you!” Phoenix Jade cried.

　　Still cheering their comrade on, their cries resounded throughout the woods in a ruckus. Zhou Qiao had already left Phoenix Jade in my care. He himself was prepared for his first move, and so was the opponent. One single move on either side and the situation would explode into chaos.

　　“What’s happening here!” a voice came from behind them. They automatically dispersed and allowed that person to come forward.

　　“It’s Su Gong Gong ,” The man’s voice immediately took on a fawning tone as he addressed the newcomer. “We were drinking here when they came over and started creating trouble, so I asked a few brothers to teach them a lesson.”

　　“His Majesty is already nearby, stop making such noise. Who are they…oh my, it’s Chancellor Zhou, Your Excellency, what on earth are you doing here?”

　　Su Xiu led Zi Qi’s personal eunuchs . With him around, it was obvious that Zi Qi wasn’t far off. I sighed. Perhaps it was impossible to keep today’s matters a secret. Su Xiu flung himself before me and took my wounded hand in his. The pain was so great that I winced greatly, unable to stop the cold sweat from trickling down the sides of my cheeks.

　　“Heavens, it’s broken.” His voice had the unique, fine, high-pitched quality of an eunuch. “What should we do now? If His Majesty found out…what should we do—it is impossible to keep this a secret, ah…it’s His Majesty…”

　　When I finally saw Zi Qi, he was standing before me, and the Imperial Guards were already uniformly on their knees. His personal guards, numbering more than a hundred, surrounded us in the outmost circle. Zhou Qiao remained by my side, but he had already sheathed his sword.

　　“Your Majesty,” Phoenix Jade knelt before him, “Please administer justice on His Excellency’s behalf. These people were harbouring improper thoughts towards him, and later they broke his wrist when His Excellency tried to protect me.”

　　Never seeing such a dark, ominous look on Zi Qi’s face before, I unconsciously shuddered.

　　“Your Majesty, this is my companion. She has always been overly fond of your humble servant, and I fear that she has exaggerated the issue.” I smiled uneasily at him. I was sure he would not want word of this to spread. Having his Imperial Guards do something like this to me seemed a shameful affair no matter how one looked at it.

　　He said nothing, instead rolling up my sleeve and holding my wrist in his own thin, pale hand. He seemed to be testing my injury. My reaction to his sudden application of pressure on my wrist was instantaneous—my whole body trembled in pain.

　　“The wrist bone isn’t broken; it’s simply out of place.”

　　I’ve heard that the princes were required to study the martial arts from a young age. Regarding matters such as injured muscles and broken bones, he would naturally know more than an ignorant scholar like me. I hadn’t had the chance to let Zhou Qiao check my injury due to the tense situation and had simply assumed that I’d broken my wrist bone due to the crucial agony. I couldn’t help being relieved at his words.

　　“I thank Your Majesty for your kindness. Please forgive your servant for being so remiss before you.” I knew I was currently a sorry sight with all the dirt and grime on my clothes.

　　”How would you like Zhen to deal with them?”

　　“It’s only a misunderstanding. Your servant is at fault for upsetting Your Majesty.”

　　“Zhen will use against them whatever methods my Imperial Uncle used against those people who dared insult you. What do you think?”

　　“Your Majesty, you are not the person the former emperor is.” Zi Qi was worthy of being considered a wise ruler of this age. How could he be similar to the emperor who died in his own harem?

　　“Zhen is not comparable to my Imperial Uncle?” His hand tightened over mine. I had no idea why he was so angry.

　　“No, Your Majesty is understanding. Such an affair can’t be advertised. It is only wise that it be kept as understated as possible. The Imperial Guards are used to acting this way. It is their misfortune to encounter me. If they had met a normal civilian, they would be allowed to get away with their bullying; no one would care about it. They can hardly be said to be at fault—they simply picked the wrong time and the wrong person.”

　　Looking at me, he let go of my hand.

　　Zhou Qiao helped me up to my feet. After kowtowing, Phoenix Jade left with us. Zi Qi remained standing at that very spot, the Imperial Guards locked in position around him.

　　“Your Excellency, have the Imperial Guards always been so arrogant?”

　　“What is seen often becomes a habit.”

　　Five hundred years was enough to change everything. The original wisdom, the original wealth and grandeur, the original peace—these have all been consumed by the corruption and decay of the Imperial Palace. The current people and empire were nothing but an empty structure that has been severely injured but not yet fully annihilated.