Chapter 1 He Decided

This sleep wasn't very restful for Zheng Fan. In his dreams, he repeatedly found himself gloriously abducting the princess, or being shot into a hornet's nest by Chu archers that day.

The main reason for these dreams was Zheng Boye's own unease.

In the past, when leading troops and charging into battle, he didn't have so many worries. This time, he was bringing it upon himself.

He was unwilling to return with just a tool-like princess,

Yet he was also afraid that after releasing the princess, he would slap himself or face an even more tragic outcome.

Ultimately,

It came down to one word—greed.

Now, Zheng Boye's growing ambition and his principle of prioritizing survival had become a fundamental contradiction.

Finally,

Dawn broke.

Breakfast was simple, some leftover pastries from last night, enough to get by.

Zheng Fan saw the bat on A'ming's shoulder, narrowed his eyes, and asked,

"A new pet?"

When the bat saw A'ming, it was like a zombie seeing Liang Cheng; it instinctively wanted to call him "Dad."

A'ming glanced at the black bat and said,

"Someone else was raising it, but I intercepted it. It's probably here to find the princess. The Chu royal family should have some special markings on their bodies."

"It told you that?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you report this last night?"

"Because your subordinate didn't think it was significant."

Zheng Fan nodded, agreeing with this statement, and didn't think A'ming was being negligent.

Because right now, they could only choose to hide. He knew that outside Xiayong County, tens of thousands of Chu armed forces were searching for the princess.

If they were exposed, there would be little chance of survival.

"Is Master planning to send this princess back?" A'ming asked.

"I'm considering it."

"That's a big gamble."

"Still hesitating whether to raise the stakes."

A'ming looked at Zheng Fan and said, "Master, do you want to hear my honest opinion?"

"Speak."

"Either way, it's a knife's edge, so let's play."

"A'ming, have you ever thought about a problem?"

"What problem?"

"That the same knife's edge means completely different things to you and to others."

"It seems so, but I think..."

A'ming fell silent.

Zheng Fan looked up in surprise at A'ming. "Why aren't you talking?"

A'ming took a breath, looked at the bright sunlight outside, and said, "We don't need to worry too much about these things. Your subordinate has always believed that preserving life is for a better life and experience, not for the sake of preserving life itself. Moreover, the trade-off here isn't about whether we can survive. Even if we release the princess, if we're careful and make good arrangements, with the help of the Fan family, the difficulty of returning the same way isn't actually that great.

"It's just a loss. So what if we lose money? But Master, think about it. If we really succeed, how interesting would that be? The Regent of Chu would essentially be the Chu Emperor, and he'd be your sworn brother."

Zheng Fan pondered.

A'ming opened his wine pouch and took a sip.

Zheng Fan stood up, walked to the pond, began to take off his clothes, and then went into the pond to take a bath, continuing to scrub off the mud.

The caution he had shown earlier now seemed necessary. In any case, the first priority was not to involve the Fan family.

After bathing, he came out and changed his clothes. Zheng Fan instructed Si Niang to pack him a large box of… cornbread.

This was something Si Niang had made especially this morning because the Fan family's ingredients were too refined. If he took the Fan family's food directly, he was afraid it would be detected.

In addition,

Zheng Fan also carried a bucket, and in the bucket was a floating spittoon with grass paper inside.

A'ming, who came out, saw this scene and sighed, "So thoughtful."

Zheng Fan nodded and said, "That's why, when I used to watch historical dramas, I found it ridiculous when the male and female leads were locked in prison for many days without even a toilet."

"Tsk, tsk." A'ming clicked his tongue.

Zheng Fan carried the things towards the rockery, saying, "A'ming, you were right just now. When I come back up, I'll make a decision."

"Yes, Master."

A'ming bent over, his arms swinging back, and saluted.

But when he stood up, he was stunned for a moment. In the depths of his being, he seemed to tremble.

"My God, no way."

A'ming smiled at the black bat hanging on his shoulder and flicked its little head.

Just now, A'ming had felt the feeling of advancing in cultivation; he was just one step away.

Perhaps, when Master came back up and made his decision, it would happen.

Even A'ming himself found it a little absurd.

Just like that?

"What's wrong?" Si Niang asked.

A'ming shook his head. "I'm afraid it won't come true if I say it."

"Is it about advancing in cultivation?"

"Hmm? Is it that obvious?"

"Because apart from advancing in cultivation, we need to be a little wary and even superstitious about it. I can't think of anything else."

You're a vampire,

What's with the superstition!

"Oh, dear." A'ming exclaimed.

Si Niang, with a cigarette in her hand, said, "Actually, when I heard you say those words to Master just now, I thought you finally wanted to tell Master what was in your heart."

"I didn't. I've just been drinking lately."

"Unintentional words may be the most sincere."

"Si Niang, I haven't advanced in cultivation yet. Don't jinx me."

"If it's yours, it will eventually be yours. If you can advance in cultivation, it would be a great help right now."

"I'm very willing."

"Then let's wait and see."

…

Carrying many things, Zheng Boye walked through the passageway and arrived at the secret chamber.

As soon as he entered the secret chamber,

Zheng Boye smelled an odor.

Xiong Liqing was sitting on the bed, looking at Zheng Fan. When she saw Zheng Fan twitch his nose, she involuntarily grabbed the sheets with both hands, and her face uncontrollably began to flush red.

Zheng Fan chuckled and put down the bucket, spittoon, grass paper, and so on, one by one.

He said,

"People have three urgent needs; there's nothing to be embarrassed about. No one says a princess can't pee.

Sorry, I didn't think of this last night."

"I… I…"

Zheng Fan put the cornbread in front of the princess.

The princess didn't stand on ceremony and reached out to grab the cornbread and started eating.

When people are starving, everything tastes good.

Zheng Fan dragged the chair over, sat down, and watched the princess eat.

Eating too quickly, the princess choked and began to beat her chest.

Zheng Fan pointed to the bucket.

The princess immediately got out of bed and ran to the bucket to drink water and catch her breath.

"Hoo…"

"Save some water. Some is for eating, and some can be used to flush the toilet."

"Toilet?"

"Spittoon."

"Where… where do I flush it?"

"Wherever."

Xiong Liqing obediently came back and sat down in front of Zheng Fan, but she was still holding a piece of cornbread and continued to eat.

"Your proposal last night kept me up all night."

Xiong Liqing nodded and said, "Boye was tempted?"

"Yes."

"From the perspective of a young woman, I certainly hope that Boye acts on his temptation."

"But I'm afraid I'll suffer. I capture you, then release you, and then you change your mind. Wouldn't I be at a great loss?"

"Boye, I hate my brother, I hate him very, very much. Do you know what it feels like to love someone but be given away by the person you love most as a bargaining chip to another man?"

"That's a difficult question to answer."

"I hate him."

"I know, but after all, you're a Chu princess. Moreover, you're a woman. In my understanding, women are more emotional. When I let you go back, you might change your mind."

Xiong Liqing pursed her lips and said, "I won't change my mind."

Zheng Fan didn't speak, waiting for Xiong Liqing to continue.

Right now, it was a buyer's market.

If Zheng Fan planned to break even, he would just take her back like this. She would become a puppet, a princess who was not recognized as real in Chu. In Yan, her treatment might exist, but it would basically be a different cage.

And if Zheng Fan was willing to let her go back, and then he and the Earl of Pingye of Great Yan left together on the day of the wedding, with the idea of fulfilling this "fairytale couple" or simply suppressing the morale of Chu and disgusting the Regent of Chu, the Yan Emperor would be happy to betroth her to the Earl of Pingye.

Then, she could become the Earl of Pingye's wife. She might face a series of subsequent problems such as vying for favor and being neglected, but at least she would have the title, and her life wouldn't be too bad.

Of course, there weren't only two options. There was a third option, which was that she would go back and go back on her word. She would marry Qu Peiluo and become the wife of the eldest son of the Qu family. Because of her status as a princess, she would be able to have a say in the Qu family, and no one would dare to disrespect her.

Options A, B, and C, if you only talk about treatment without considering emotional factors, A is definitely the worst for Xiong Liqing, B is acceptable, and C is the most comfortable.

"Boye is afraid that he will end up losing out and gaining nothing, right?"

"A little."

"What a pity, I can't give Boye my body right now."

"Hmm?"

"If Boye took my body, he wouldn't feel like he was losing out too much, right? After all, I am a Chu princess. Boye certainly doesn't lack women, but a princess isn't someone you can sleep with whenever you want."

"I'm a little surprised that you would say such a thing."

"Because not only did Boye not sleep well after doing it, but I thought about it all night. Boye, before the wedding, the old woman from the Qu family will come to check my body, and I can't lose my virginity."

"So, why are you telling me this? Actually, I'm not really interested in you, um, especially your body."

The person who is interested in you is my family's member.

"I just want to be frank."

Hearing this, the corners of Zheng Fan's mouth turned up in an arc.

Xiong Liqing put the last bit of cornbread in her mouth, swallowed it, and said, "Actually, the fact that Boye is willing to see me again shows that Boye is still tempted and wants to take a gamble.

"I've heard Boye's story of going deep into the enemy's territory to raid Xuehai Pass. It can be said that if Boye hadn't succeeded in his gamble, the barbarians and my Great Chu Azure Luan Army wouldn't have been defeated so miserably.

"Boye, you are someone who likes to gamble. I think you can gamble again this time, and the result won't disappoint you."

"Those who encourage others to gamble will be struck by lightning."

"You can't say that. I don't want to marry Qu Peiluo. I don't want to be his woman. I don't even want to continue staying in Chu, because in the next ten, twenty, or thirty years, as long as I'm in Chu, I'll hear news about him all the time."

"Then you want to marry me?"

"I think Boye is very interesting."

"The interestingness that was slapped out yesterday?"

"No, I think Boye, as a person, makes me want to learn more about you."

"Heh heh."

"I even imagined last night what it would be like if I became the Countess of Pingye in the future. My future children might become the only bloodline of the Great Chu royal family."

"Only?"

"Because my man is likely to break through Zhennan Pass and destroy Chu."

"Oh?" Zheng Fan shook his head. "You really have confidence in me."

"Following you will be more interesting, and the possibilities in the future are greatest."

"I'm not a young man who is just beginning to fall in love. These words are useless to me."

"Boye, you will eventually agree to let me go back."

"You're a little too confident."

Zheng Fan stood up, seemingly preparing to leave.

But at this moment, Xiong Liqing, who was sitting on the bed, suddenly said,

"Boye, this is the Fan family, right?"

Zheng Fan turned his head, looked at Xiong Liqing, and had no expression.

Xiong Liqing mustered up her courage, met Zheng Fan's gaze, and continued,

"Boye has come to see me twice, and his hair is always damp, and his body has a faint earthy smell. Obviously, he just took a bath. Every time before seeing me, he has to take a bath; Boye is also someone who leads troops into battle, so he doesn't seem to have a natural love for cleanliness to the extreme. So, this is to cover up the possible smell on his body.

"I, Xiong Liqing, am just a woman, not a dog, so why would I need to hide the smell from me?

"This means that there are many smells in the environment Boye is currently in. If I smell it, I might guess what this place is.

"Yangliu Beach? Xixi Land? Bush forest? Even if I guessed these places, there would be no harm, so what Boye wants to hide is a specific… person who is helping him?

"Since this person can be favored by Boye, they are obviously not an unknown small family in my Great Chu. At the same time, they can immediately arrange for me to be transferred here after Boye's subordinate attacked me, proving that this family must have a significant background.

"I was captured by Boye's subordinate in Xiayong County. The palace guards around me will definitely search for me frantically, and the soldiers in the nearby military camps will definitely be mobilized, so I don't think Boye was able to transfer me out. Xiayong County is not far from Mengshan. If I were transferred out, I should be in the mountains now. In the mountains, what is there to avoid?

"I should be locked up underground, so the top should be that person's house. That person's house should be extremely noble and extravagant, because the smell of their house may make me smell it as soon as I smell it.

"I don't have a dog's nose. I'm just a princess who has been pampered. The smell that I can smell must be something I'm usually very familiar with;

"Expensive incense?

"High-quality sandalwood?

"Or the scent of pollen that can be emitted even in winter?

"Greenhouse?

"It is precisely because this smell is difficult to completely get rid of that Boye has to take a bath.

"In addition, this cornbread,

"Yesterday I ate the candy Boye gave me. The candy tasted very good, and the long white strip that Boye took out in front of me yesterday should be tobacco, right? Sometimes the palace will use it to fumigate the house, which is said to ward off evil spirits and eliminate epidemics.

"This proves that Boye is someone who doesn't mind eating fine food.

"You must be eating very well, but you didn't bring your own food down to feed me;

"This means that the food that Boye has around him, or the food that this person provides for Boye, is something that I can't eat. Once I eat it, I may taste the taste.

"Speaking of this cornbread, it was just steamed, so it is obvious.

"This person's food, clothing, and daily necessities are all extremely luxurious, and even the wind blowing past his house has the atmosphere of extravagance, which can be very familiar to me, a princess who grew up in the palace.

"Xiayong,

"The only family that can do this is the Fan family."

The princess finished speaking,

Zheng Fan looked at the princess and said,

"Guessing?"

"Yes, guessing."

"Evidence?"

Xiong Liqing smiled and looked at Zheng Fan and said,

"There is no need for any evidence at all, because my suspicion is enough to destroy the entire Fan family.

"The Fan family, no matter how big their business is, is just a servant, a dog, under the Qu family."

Zheng Fan also smiled and said,

"Have you ever thought that if you guessed right, I would be even less likely to let you go back?"

"This is my sincerity, Zheng Boye."

"The way you express this sincerity is not easy for me to adapt to."

"Boye, actually, you have already made your decision."

"Is that so?"

"Otherwise, you wouldn't have taken a bath when you first saw me last night. If you planned to do it once and for all and take me back to Yan, then what difference would it make if I knew this was the Fan mansion?

"You have already made your decision. I thought about it all night last night and finally understood it."

Speaking of this,

Xiong Liqing got off the bed, walked to Zheng Fan, put her hands on Zheng Fan's chest, and said slowly:

"My future man is really manly."

Zheng Fan lowered his head and looked at this Great Chu princess;

Perhaps because she was frightened last night, this Great Chu princess's performance was not particularly exciting. After a night of precipitation, today, she showed her true colors and level.

After all, she was born into the royal family. Under the influence of her surroundings, how many of them are pure idiots?

…

Zheng Fan walked out of the rockery,

Outside,

A'ming turned his back and looked at the pond, as if the scenery in the pond was so beautiful.

Si Niang leaned against the railing, looking at Zheng Fan, waiting for Master to make a decision.

Zheng Fan walked over and patted A'ming on the shoulder as he passed by.

"A'ming, you are right. The most important thing is to have fun."

The next moment,

A'ming's aura suddenly vented out, and his body began to show a faint blood light, as if there were layers of blood-colored shadows superimposed on A'ming's body.

Even the black bat on A'ming's shoulder was so frightened that it curled up at this time, obviously completely intimidated by this almost-same-race pressure.

Zheng Fan frowned slightly when he saw this, but then he was relieved,

Turned to look at Si Niang,

Said:

"Let's change the script and continue singing."

————

Saying good night is to prevent everyone from staying up late, and then, ask for monthly votes and recommendation votes.