The Deer And the Cauldron

Galdan smiled and asked, "Did the Emperor also train martial art? How did he know about my martial art?"

"Naturally His Majesty knows martial art," Wei Xiaobao replied, "And his skill is not bad at all. That day Your Highness fully displaying your capabilities at the Shaolin Temple, you beat Shaolin Temple's Abbot that he concede defeat. The heads of Damo Hall, Luohan Hall, Bo're Hall, three great halls, flee at the mere distant sight. Xiongdi told His Majesty everything." That day Galdan left Shaolin with his tail between his legs, yet right now hearing Wei Xiaobao tooting the horn on his behalf, giving him a lot of face in front of Sangjie, he could not refrain from showing a satisfied look on his face.

Wei Xiaobao continued, "Shaolin Temple Fangzhang [abbot] Hui Cong Dashi's martial art skill can be considered first or second best in Wulin, but Your Highness the Prince merely flicked your sleeve and Hui Cong Fangzhang could not hold his stand and fell sitting down. Fortunately when he fell, his buttocks happened to land on a putuan [round meditation mat used by Buddhists], hence he was saved from breaking a few of his old bones …" Actually, it was Galdan who was brushed by Hui Cong's sleeve that day, so that he landed on a chair and was unable to stand up; Wei Xiaobao turned the story around. He said in his heart, "Hui Cong Shixiong treatment to me was not bad, but today as his Shidi I am facing a calamity, in a moment I will die in a sitting posture [referring to Buddhism death] and leave for the Western Paradise. I have no choice but to treat emptiness as appearance, and appearance as emptiness; Shixiong's victory as defeat, and other people's defeat as victory."

While his mouth was babbling nonsense, in his heart he let his imagination run wild, his eyes looked to the east and gazed to the west. In a glance he saw Ah Qi's expression; she seemed to be smiling yet she was not exactly smiling, her pair of beautiful eyes was fixed at Galdan's face, her gaze was brimming with affection.

Wei Xiaobao had a sudden inspiration, "This wicked girl wants to be Mongolian Princess." Thereupon he said, "His Majesty said, 'Prince Galdan's martial art skill is high, his appearance is handsome; if he wants to take a Princess, he ought to marry young, good looking, as well as with high level of martial art skill Miss …" Stealing a glance toward Ah Qi, sure enough, he noticed that her face was blushing; it was obvious from her expression that she was paying full attention; hence he continued, "Although that Chen Yuanyuan is known as the first beauty under the heavens, but right now she is older; I wonder why Galdan is determined to marry her?"

Ah Qi could not bear not to talk, "Who said he wanted to marry Chen Yuanyuan? You are talking nonsense!"

Galdan shook his head, "How can there be such thing?" he said.

"That's right," Wei Xiaobao said, "I said, 'Reporting to Your Majesty: His Highness Prince Galdan has a very good lady friend, called Miss Ah Qi …'"

Ah Qi spat, but her face looked very happy; Galdan cast her a glance with a smile on his face. Wei Xiaobao continued, "… This Miss Ah Qi's martial art skill is number three in the world, she is only below Great Lama Sangjie and His Highness Prince Galdan. Compared to Your Majesty, hee hee … she is still a bit stronger. Your servant is telling the truth, Your Majesty must not take offense …'"

At first Sangjie was somewhat bored listening to his babbling, but when he heard that unexpectedly Wei Xiaobao told the Emperor that Sangjie's martial art skill was the first under the heavens, he knew perfectly well that out of ten words that this little demon said, he ought not believe even half a word; yet he could not help feeling happy and content. His nose made a snort though, hinting that he did not believe him.

Wei Xiaobao continued, "His Majesty said, 'I don't believe you. Even if this young lady's martial art was stronger, can it be that she is superior to her Shifu?' I said, 'Your Majesty did not know this, but this young lady's Shifu is a Buddhist nun wearing white clothes, her martial art skill was actually very strong, she could be considered number three in the world. However, once upon a time, during a duel against Great Lama Sangjie, she was struck by Great Lama Sangjie's palm. The Shitai could not resist, the entire internal energy in her body disappeared without any trace. Therefore, the title of number three martial artist in the world was snatched by her disciple.'"

When Ah Qi heard him exposing her school background, she was surprised and baffled, "How did he know my Shifu?" she mused.

Although Sangjie had not personally fought with Jiu Nan, his twelve martial brothers all died a violent death under her, master and disciples' hands; it was really an extraordinary shame and disappointment of his life. This moment as he heard Wei Xiaobao asserted that Jiu Nan was struck by his palm that her internal energy dissipated, he knew that Wei Xiaobao was pasting a lot of gold on his face. Previously he and Galdan were most worried that Wei Xiaobao would unmask their disgrace, and thus both of them were thinking to kill this man as quickly as possible to close his mouth; but when they heard that he had reversed their great defeat into great victory, they thought that there was no harm in letting him live a bit longer.

Sangjie turned his gaze toward Ah Qi for a moment; he thought, "This is the first time that I knew that you are the little nun in white's disciple. There is something odd here."

Ah Qi asked, "You mentioned Chen Yuanyuan; what about her?"

Wei Xiaobao said, "That Chen Yuanyuan, I have seen her with my own eyes in Kunming. To tell Miss the truth, she is quite much older than I am; however, the title 'number one beauty under the heavens' [tian xia di yi mei ren] six characters is indeed not in vain. When I saw her, immediately my soul flew out, my hands and feet ice-cold, I shook all over, my heart said, 'How can there be such a beauty in the world?' Miss Ah Qi, your Shimei Ah Ke can be considered very beautiful, but compared to this Chen Yuanyuan, her appearance and her physique, she is far too inferior."

Naturally Ah Qi knew that Ah Ke was stunningly beautiful, she was far above her; she also knew that Wei Xiaobao was 'spirit and soul upside-down' toward Ah Ke. If even he could say those words, very likely it was the truth. But in her mouth she still said she was unconvinced, "You, little kid, is a little lecher, looking at people's thirty-percent good looks, you said she was a hundred percent beauty. Chen Yuanyuan is at least forty years old this year, even if she was previously good-looking, nowadays she can't be that beautiful."

Wei Xiaobao repeatedly shook his head. "Not right, not right," he said, "Just look at you, Miss Ah Qi. This year you are no more than eighteen, nineteen years old; it's only natural that you are exceedingly beautiful. In thirty more years, definitely you will still be extremely beautiful. If you don't believe me, you and I can make a bet. If after thirty years your appearance is not beautiful, I will cut my head for you."

Ah Qi giggled. Any woman who hears other people call her beautiful will be delighted, especially if she was praised in front of her boyfriend, she would burst with joy even more. Much less she had quite a confidence in her own beauty to begin with, she believed that after thirty years, she could not possibly be a lot more uglier.

Wei Xiaobao was hoping that she would accept the bet, so that Galdan would perhaps look at his beloved's face and let Wei Xiaobao live thirty more years; when that time comes, it would not be too late to decide victory or defeat. Unexpectedly Sangjie snorted and said with a cold laugh, "Too bad you won't live pass tonight. Miss Ah Qi's beautiful appearance thirty years later, you won't have the good fortune of seeing."

Wei Xiaobao giggled and said, "That's not a big deal. I only hope that Great Lama and Your Highness the Prince will remember what I said tonight, thirty years from today, you will know that Wei Xiaobao already had the foreknowledge." Sangjie, Galdan and Ah Qi, three people, could not bear not to burst into laughter.

Wei Xiaobao said, "I went to Kunming; that was a matter of several months ago; I escorted Princess Jianning to marry Wu Sangui's son, the three of you already knew. It was originally a very happy occasion, but as soon as I entered the city of Kunming, I saw people crying and wailing loudly on the streets. Not several houses later, I saw a coffin; there were many women and children in mourning clothes, they cried until the sky darkened and the earth black."

"Why is that?" Galdan and Ah Qi asked together.

"I also felt it was very strange," Wei Xiaobao replied, "I asked Yunnan's officer, everybody hummed and hawed but nobody gave me any answer. Afterwards I sent my personal guard to make discreet inquiry, and only then did I find out. Turns out early that morning Chen Yuanyuan learned about the arrival of the Princess, she wanted to personally welcome her. When she came out of the sedan chair, more than a hundred thousand Kunming men went wild; everybody rushed forward to see her, they all said that a celestial fairy has descended to the world of the immortals. You pushed, I throng forward, several thousand men were trampled to death. At first the military officers and soldiers under Ping Xi Wang's command desperately tried to suppress the disturbance, but later on they saw Chen Yuanyuan, everybody's sword and spear all fell to the ground; their jaw dropped, their mouth watered as they have their eyes fixed at Chen Yuanyuan."

Sangjie, Galdan and Ah Qi, three people, were 'you look at me, I look at you', while thinking, "This child definitely added oil and soya paste in his speech, but perhaps Chen Yuanyuan's beauty is indeed out of the ordinary. It would be good if I can see it myself."

Seeing that the three of them were gradually convinced, Wei Xiaobao said, "Your Highness the Prince, Ping Xi Wang has a zongbing under his command by the name of Ma Bao; have you heard this name before?"

Galdan and Ah Qi nodded. The two of them went together with Ma Bao to the Shaolin Temple, how could they not know? Galdan said, "That day at Shaolin Temple, you have also met him."

"Was it he?" Wei Xiaobao said, "I don't remember. That day I was only paying attention to Your Highness the Prince's obviously marvelous skill, beating Shaolin Temple's eminent monks, I did not have time to look at other people. Even if I did have a bit of free time, I would rather steal several glances toward Miss Ah Qi's countenance of a flower, face like the moon." Ah Qi spat, but in her heart she was very happy.

"What about Ma Zongbing?" Galdan asked.

Wei Xiaobao sighed. He said, "Ma Zongbing was part of the problem that day. He received Ping Xi Wang's order to protect Chen Yuanyuan, who would have thought that as he looked at Chen Yuanyuan several times, unexpectedly he was also in a daze, and went as far as stroking her white and tender little hand. Afterwards Ping Xi Wang found out about it, and had him flogged forty times with army club. Ma Zongbing quietly told other people: 'I stroked Chen Yuanyuan's left hand, actually I expected Wangye to cut my hand. If I had known that I only got forty army-club floggings, I would have stroke her right hand too. Eighty floggings will not necessarily kill me.' Under his command, Ping Xi Wang altogether has ten big zongbing, the other nine zongbing were really envious. These words of him were passed on to Ping Xi Wang, in turn, he passed on a military order: henceforth whoever stroke Chen Yuanyuan's hand will have both his hands chopped. Ping Xi Wang's son-in-law Xia Guoxiang was one of the ten big zongbing, right away he had a master artisan to create a pair of fake hands. He said that every now and then he might see this fairy-like mother-in-law, just in case he could not bear not to touch her hand, he might as well make false hands first, in case when that happens he did not have time to have the hands made to order. This is called 'anticipating trouble'."

Galdan was listening with his mouth open and his eyes staring blankly as if he was entranced. Sangjie repeatedly shook his head and said, "Absurd, absurd!" But it was unclear whether he meant the ten big regional commanders were absurd, or that Wei Xiaobao's story was absurd.

"You have seen Chen Yuanyuan," Ah Qi said, "How come you did not stroke her hand?"

"There is a reason behind it," Wei Xiaobao replied, "Before I went to see Chen Yuanyuan, Wu Yingxiong came to see me first, he said that I have travelled thousands of li to deliver the Princess to be his wife, he was very grateful. From his bosom he took out something, it was shiny yellow, fully inlaid with emerald, beautiful jade, ruby and kitten eyes; turned out it was a golden manacles."

"How can manacles be that precious?" Ah Qi asked.

"That's right," Wei Xiaobao replied, "At that time I asked him what kind of toy was that; I thought he was going to give it to me as a present. Who would have thought that 'clack', he shackled my hands. I was gobsmacked. 'Prince Consort', I cried out, 'Why are you arresting me? What crime did I commit?' Wu Yingxiong said, 'Imperial Envoy Daren, you must not misunderstand, Xiongdi only has good intention toward you. You are going to see my Chen Yiniang [father's concubine], you simply must wear this manacles, in case you cannot restraint yourself and reach out to touch her. If you only touch her hand, Fu Wang [father king] may look at your face as the Imperial Envoy Daren, and may not do anything. But I am afraid you will touch her once, touch her twice, touch her three times or more. Fu Wang will inevitably commit major offense by killing Imperial Envoy Daren. While admittedly it was Daren who was being improper, our Wu family will be ruined.' I was so scared that I wore the manacles to see Chen Yuanyuan."

The more Ah Qi listened, the more she thought it was ridiculous. "I don't believe you," she said.

"Next time you go to Beijing," Wei Xiaobao said, "Ask Wu Yingxiong to show you these golden manacles, then you cannot not believe. He always has it with him, so that as soon as he sees Chen Yuanyuan he can immediately take it out and put it on. If he was one step slower, it would be desperately serious."

"Humph," Sangjie said, "Chen Yuanyuan is his shu mu [concubine mother], could it be that he has the audacity to be impolite to her?"

"Naturally he doesn't," Wei Xiaobao replied, "And that's exactly why he is carrying the golden manacles."

Ah Qi said, "He is in Beijing now, why would he want to carry it?"

Wei Xiaobao was startled; he mused, "Bad! The horn I tooted is broken." But his brain could move very fast; he said at once, "Wu Yingxiong was thinking of returning to Kunming immediately, he did not expect to stay in Beijing for long. He stayed in Beijing against his will."

Sangjie glowered at him and said, "In that case, you repaid kindness with evil. Others lent you manacles, showing you a lot of friendship, but you stopped him, you did not let him return to Yunnan."

Wei Xiaobao shook his head, "What kindness did Wu Yingxiong show to me? He and I have an enmity that we cannot live under the same sky."

Sangjie was surprised, "What did he do to offend you?" he asked.

"Why hasn't he offended me?" Wei Xiaobao said, "He loaned the manacles to me, it was more malicious than having my laozi [in this case, old man, father] killed. At that time, if I did not wear that manacles, I would have touched even Chen Yuanyuan's face. Ay, Great Lama, Your Highness the Prince, at that time, if only I could touch Chen Yuanyuan's face, which is ten thousand times more beautiful than the petal of a flower, what do I care even if Wu Sangui chopped both of my hands? Even if he chopped both of my legs to be made Yunnan's Xuanwei Ham, I consider it nothing."

Three people's thoughts flew to the southern sky, imagining Chen Yuanyuan's peerless glowing countenance; listening to Wei Xiaobao, unexpectedly they did not laugh.

Wei Xiaobao lowered his voice and with a mysterious expression he said, "I have a very top secret, the three of you must not divulge it. Actually I should not say it, but the opportunity to chat amiably with you is very rare; there is no harm in telling our own people."

"What secret?" Galdan hastily asked.

Wei Xiaobao lowered his voice even more, "His Majesty is about to move an army and send a general to attack Wu Sangui."

Sangjie and the others, three people, looked at each other and laugh; they all thought, "What kind of secret is that? If the Emperor does not attack Wu Sangui, Wu Sangui will deploy his troops to attack the Emperor."

"Do you know why the Emperor is deploying his troops to Yunnan?" Wei Xiaobao asked, "This is rather difficult to guess."

"Could it be also because of Chen Yuanyuan?" Ah Qi asked.

Wei Xiaobao slapped the table, he appeared extremely amazed. "Uh! How did you know?" he asked.

"Casual guess," Ah Qi replied.

Wei Xiaobao said, "Miss is indeed a female Zhuge, you can prophecy with supernatural accuracy. As the Emperor, His Majesty has everything; the only thing that is lacking is this 'number one beauty under the heavens'. Why do you think last time His Majesty sent me, a little child to Yunnan, and not some people of virtue and prestige, a cabinet minister who has rendered great merit through hard work? It was precisely because he wanted me to take a look, whether this woman was really extremely beautiful. He also wanted me to sound out Wu Sangui, whether he would be willing to present Chen Yuanyuan to the Palace. If he sent a white-bearded high-ranking minister to handle this matter, it would be rather embarrassing, wouldn't it? Who would have thought that as soon as I raised this subject, Wu Sangui furiously slapped the table and said, 'You deliver one Princess here, and want to have my living Guanyin in exchange? Humph, humph, even if you give me a hundred princesses, I won't give you any.'"

Sangjie and Galdan looked at each other, they both had a nagging feeling that they had fallen into Wu Sangui's ruse; turned out this matter involved this kind of beauty entanglement. When Wu Sangui 'flushed the crown in anger due to beautiful woman' in the past, it was precisely because of Chen Yuanyuan that he forfeited the Ming Dynasty's three hundred years' rivers and mountains; everybody in the world knew about it. The young Emperor was young and romantic, hence this matter actually made sense.

"One evening," Wei Xiaobao continued, "That big beard Hantiemo came to see me. He said he was sent by His Highness the Prince to Kunming to establish contact with Wu Sangui. But in Kunming he discovered that something was not right. He said that Mongolians are descendants of Geng something Khan, that each one is a hero and a warrior; why would they go to war and deliver their lives for the sake of Wu Sangui's beautiful woman? He asked me to smuggle him back to Beijing to see the Emperor, he wanted to personally tell the Emperor that Chen Yuanyuan has nothing to do with Mongolian Prince and Tibetan Lama, that Mongolian Prince Galdan has already had Miss Ah Qi, he can't possibly want to have Chen Yuanyuan. Tibetan Great Lama also has … has a lot of good-looking Tibetan girls …"

"Nonsense!" Sangjie shouted, "We, Yellow Hat

[79] Lama strictly maintain purity, rule and monastic discipline, we can't possibly have a voracious desire for beauty and lust."

Wei Xiaobao hastily said, "It was Hantiemo who said that, it has nothing to do with me. Great Lama, to win favor from the Emperor, I am afraid Hantiemo told him not to worry, he can be rest assured that you will not fight over Chen Yuanyuan."

"Humph," Sangjie said, "Next time I see Hantiemo, I will ask him clearly, whether he was telling lies, or it was you who told lies, and thus ruin my clean reputation."

Wei Xiaobao was secretly delighted, "He wants to ask Hantiemo, apparently he won't kill me right away." He busily said, "Yes, yes, next time you can tell me to confront Hantiemo. You are helping Wu Sangui to revolt, honestly you won't get any benefit. Even if the rebellion was successful, if the two of you don't have any manacles handy, you will always be fearful and apprehensive …" Suddenly seeing angry expression appeared on Sangjie's face, he said hastily, "Great Lama, you treat emptiness as appearance, and appearance as emptiness; when you see Chen Yuanyuan, naturally your heart will not be tempted, it's just that, it's just that … ay!"

"It's just that what?" Sangjie asked.

Wei Xiaobao said, "Last time I went to Kunming, Chen Yuanyuan came out to welcome the Princess, were not several thousands of people being crushed to death? These dead people's families wanted to conduct burial ceremony, but suddenly they could not invite any Buddhist monk or Taoist priest."

"Why?" Ah Qi asked.

Wei Xiaobao said, "Many of those monks who saw Chen Yuanyuan had their worldly desire aroused; in one day, several thousand monks in Kunming returned to secular life, they did not want to leave home anymore. Just think, suddenly the number of monks decreased by several thousands, naturally there was not enough monks to perform the ceremony."

Galdan and the others, three people, were half believing and half-doubting; they all thought that his story was rather too unbelievable, but toward Chen Yuanyuan's beauty, they had no doubt at all. Ah Qi cast a glance toward Galdan, she said softly, "Kunming is a strange place, I don't want to go there. If you want to help Wu Sangui, you can go alone."

"Who said that I want to go to Kunming?" Galdan hastily said, "I do not wish to see Chen Yuanyuan. In my opinion, our Miss Ah Qi is not necessarily inferior to Chen Yuanyuan."

Ah Qi's countenance sank, she said, "You said that I am not necessarily inferior to Chen Yuanyuan, obviously you are saying that I am inferior to her. You definitely want to see her." While saying that, she stood up and said, "I am leaving!"

Galdan was greatly embarrassed; he hastily said, "No, no! I swear to the Heaven, in my whole life, I will not cast a single glance to Chen Yuanyuan." Ah Qi turned from anger to happiness; she sat back down.

Wei Xiaobao said, "You will not cast a single glance to Chen Yuanyuan, you are speaking correctly. No matter who, as soon as he sees her, will one glance be enough? A hundred glances, a thousand glances will not be enough."

"You little devil," Galdan cursed, "You only know how to talk nonsense. I swear not to see Chen Yuanyuan forever, and that's that. If I see her, let my eyes be blind immediately." Ah Qi was greatly delighted; she gazed at him full of tender feelings.

Wei Xiaobao said, "I listened to the young Emperor speaking, he really did not understand why the two of you want to help Wu Sangui. If it is because of Chen Yuanyuan, then nothing we can do; there is only one Chen Yuanyuan under the heavens, even the young Emperor does not have it. Other than because of this beautiful woman, whatever Wu Sangui has, the young Emperor has ten times as much. If the two of you are willing to help the Emperor, gold, silver, money and valuables, you will get whatever amount you want."

Sangjie coldly said, "Although Tibet and Mongolia are poor, we do not covet gold, silver, money and valuables."

Wei Xiaobao thought, "These two do not want gold, silver, money and valuables, they do not want beautiful women, what do they want the most?" He had a second thought, "That's right," he mused, "Lowly men cannot survive a day without money, great men cannot survive a day without power. I, Wei Xiaobao, am a little man, these two are great men." Thereupon he said, "The young Emperor said, Galdan is only a prince, his power is not high enough, if he helps me fighting Wu Sangui, I will make him the Mongolian King."

Galdan's eyes shone with delight; he said excitedly, "The Em … Emperor really said that?"

"Of course!" Wei Xiaobao replied, "Why would I lie to you?"

"There is no such thing as 'Mongolian King' in the world," Sangjie said, "If the Emperor can really help His Highness to be the Dzungar Khan [orig. 'zhun ka'er han'], His Highness will be perfectly contented."

"Possible, possible!" Wei Xiaobao said, "This title 'zheng ge'er hao' [complete/total good], the Emperor will definitely agree to grant." While in his heart he mused, "What in the world is damned 'total good'? Could it be there is another title 'half good'?"

Looking at his expression, Sangjie knew that Wei Xiaobao did not understand; he said, "Mongolia is divided into several divisions, among those, the Dzungars

[80] are the biggest. Mongolian rulers are not called 'Kings', they are called 'Khans'. His Highness the Prince is not a Khan yet."

"So that's how it is," Wei Xiaobao said, "As long as Your Highness the Prince helps His Majesty, won't become one or two Zhengge'er [complete/total] Khan be easy? The Emperor can issue an edict, send several tens of thousands troops and horses, will the other Mongolian people dare to resist?"

Hearing this, Galdan was very happy; he said, "If the Emperor is willing to do that, naturally it will be easy."

Wei Xiaobao struck his chest and said, "You don't have to worry, leave it to me, I'll accomplish it for you. His Majesty hates only Wu Sangui, one person. Although Miss Ah Qi is beautiful, as long as you keep the Emperor from laying his eyes on her, I guarantee that he won't snatch her from you. As for Great Lama Sangjie, if you help the Emperor, His Majesty can make you the grand ruler of the entire Tibet." He did not know what they called the grand ruler of Tibet, hence he did not dare to speak irresponsibly.

Sangjie said, "The entire Tibet is under the Living Buddha Dalai Lama's rule, the office cannot be casually bestowed by the Emperor."

"Others can be the Living Buddha," Wei Xiaobao said, "Why can't you? In Tibet, how many Living Buddhas are there?"

Sangjie said, "There is also Panchen Lama Living Buddha, altogether there are two."

"That's right," Wei Xiaobao said, "One sky cannot have three suns, but everything else must have three to make sense. We can ask His Majesty to grant the title Living Buddha Sangjie. Grand Living Buddha Sangjie will be in charge of Da something, Pan something, two little Living Buddhas."

Sangjie's heart was moved; he mused, "This kid talks nonsense, but he actually made some sense." Thinking about this, a smile appeared on his thin face.

This moment Wei Xiaobao was only trying to survive and escape with his life, whatever the opposite party asked, he would readily agree. Much less granting these people the titles of Dzungar Khan or Tibetan Grand Living Buddha did not cost him one tael of silver. He said, "I am not tooting my horn, whatever plan Xiongdi suggested to the Empeor, 99% he will see, hear and obey. Besides, the two of you agree to fight Wu Sangui, not only the Emperor will bestow the title to you, Xiongdi will render great merit as well, I will definitely enjoy promotion and gain wealth. As the saying goes: 'the imperial court needs good people to be the officials'. In the imperial court, Xiongdi is a high-ranking official, the two gentleman separately become high-ranking officials in Mongolia and Tibet; I'll say it would be better if the three of us do obeisance and become sworn brothers. From now on the three of us will enjoy blessing together and will face difficulty together; we are not fated to be born on the same year same month same day, but willing to die on the same year same month same day. In this world, other than the young Emperor, the three of us are the greatest; won't that be wonderful?" He thought, "To die on the same year same month same day, these words are important. As soon as the two of them nodded their heads in approval, they cannot kill me. If they do, it will be the same as committing suicide."

Before Sangjie and Galdan went to Yangzhou, they had already investigated carefully, and knew that this young Imperial Envoy was the number one favorite among the people who served in front of the Emperor, his career has enjoyed meteoric rise, his promotion was speedy; it's just that they had never imagined that he was the same youngster they had met in the past. Galdan did not have any enmity with him to begin with. Sangjie had his twelve younger martial brothers killed by his master and he, and had his ten fingers chopped because of him; originally he hated Wei Xiaobao to the bones, but after listening to his talk, he thought that his martial brothers were dead, they could not be brought back to live, his fingers were chopped and would not grow anymore. Even if he could strike this man dead with his palm, he was merely venting his anger; nothing more. If he helped Wu Sangui accomplishing his goal, he would simply exert his strength in vain, without any benefit to himself. But if he became sworn brother with him, he would absolutely reap tangible benefit, the advantage to him was really great. The two of them 'you look at me, I look at you', they both slowly nodded their heads.

Wei Xiaobao was overjoyed at the unexpected turn of events; he would have never imagined that his speech would move these two evil people's hearts. Afraid that they might change their mind, he hastily said, "Da Ge, Er Ge, Er Sao [big brother, second brother, second sister-in-law, respectively], let us swear brotherhood right now. It does not matter if Er Sao wants to join us or not, as soon as you bow to the Heaven and the Earth with Er Ge, we become one family." Blushing, Ah Qi spat, but in her heart she felt that this little kid really know how to make people happy.

Sangjie suddenly stretched out his hand and 'slap!' he broke a corner of the table. Wei Xiaobao was shocked. "What is he doing?" he mused.

He heard Sangjie said in stern voice, "Wei Daren, whatever you told me, today I believe you. But if in the future you repeatedly changing, you don't live up to your promises, let the corner of this table become your example."

Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, "Whatever Da Ge says, the three of us brothers will do it together, everybody will reap the benefit. If Xiongdi deceive the two of you, you can dispatch army from Mongolia and Tibet to give the Emperor some trouble; if the Emperor is angry, he would definitely have my head chopped. Two Gege please think, will Xiongdi dare to do you wrong?"

Sangjie nodded and said, "Well said, you are right."

Immediately the three of them arranged the red candle in the hall, kneeled down and bowed toward the outside to become sworn brothers. Sangjie was the oldest, Galdan next, Wei Xiaobao became the third brother. He bowed to the first brother and the second brother, and then also kowtowed to Ah Qi, while calling her 'Second Sister-in-law' in a very intimate way. He thought, "Now that you have become my Er Sao, next time I am fooling around with my own wife Ah Ke, I wonder if you'd feel embarrassed to do so."

Ah Qi picked up the wine pot and poured four cups; she laughed and said, "Today the three of you boys swore brotherhood, I wish from now on you will carry things through, that you will accomplish this great undertaking. Xiaomei [little sister, referring to self] toast the three of you a cup."

Sangjie also laughed; he said, "Naturally I must drink this toast." Finished speaking, he picked up the wine cup.

"Dage, wait!" Wei Xiaobao hastily said, "This wine is spoiled, it's not too clean, we must have it replaced. Waiter!" he called out loudly, "Quickly get some wine." He felt something was not right, "What happened in Lovely Spring Courtyard? It's been quite a while and I haven't seen anybody serving us." But then he remembered, "Ah right, seeing a fight, plus some government officers get killed, the brothel proprietress, the turtle slave must have run far away."

Right this moment, he saw a turtle slave came in with head hung low. "What is it?" the man mumbled.

Wei Xiaobao mused, "The turtle slaves of Lovely Spring Courtyard, which one I did not know? This fellow must be new, how can he be this without-propriety toward the guest? He must be so scared that he turned silly." He shouted, "Quickly get two pots of wine."

"Right away!" the turtle slave replied, turned around and left.

Looking at the turtle slave's back, Wei Xiaobao's heart was moved. "Uh! Who is this man? I have seen him during the day at the Chinese peony garden outside the Chanzhi Temple; how can he be a turtle slave in here? Something's strange here." He pondered deeply, and soon his back was wet with cold sweats. "Ah!" he exclaimed, and sprang up.

"What is it?" Sangjie, Galdan and Ah Qi, three people asked in chorus.

Wei Xiaobao spoke in a low voice, "This man is Wu Sangui's martial art expert warrior in disguise. He must have heard everything we said just now."

Sangjie and Galdan were shocked; they both said, "In that case we can't let him live."

"Two Gege," Wei Xiaobao said, "Please … please don't act too soon. Let's pretend we did not know, we'll see how many are they, and … and what trick they are playing." While saying that, his voice was actually trembling.

If that turtle slave was really Wu Sangui's warrior in disguise, he would not be this panic-stricken; actually, that man was Divine Dragon Cult's Lu Gaoxuan. This man was coming with him from the Divine Dragon Island to Beijing, and had been in contact with Wei Xiaobao for quite a long time. This time his disguise was extremely ingenious, his real face was completely unrecognizable; but looking at his back, Wei Xiaobao had a feeling that it looked familiar. Outside the Chanzhi Temple that day, he had not recognized him; but now at the Lovely Spring Courtyard he saw the same back once again, he felt something was not right, hence he gave it a careful thought, and only then did he realize who the man was.

If it was only Lu Gaoxuan, one person, Wei Xiaobao had nothing to fear. It seemed that outside the Chanzhi Temple Lu Gaoxuan had overheard Wei Xiaobao accidentally said that he wanted to go to Lovely Spring Courtyard to listen to songs, hence Lu Gaoxuan also came and disguise himself as a turtle slave. But since he was here, most likely Fat and Thin Toutuo were also here. Perhaps even Cult Leader Hong has also personally come. If Wei Xiaobao wanted to repeat his ruse by having Hong Jiaozhu to swear brotherhood with him, to pledge that they were going to die on the same year same month same day, it would be extremely difficult. The more he thought about it, the more he was scared. Beads of sweats appeared on his forehead.

He saw Lu Gaoxuan came in, carrying a wooden tray with two pots of wine. With his head hung low, he put the wine pots on the table. Wei Xiaobao mused, "He hangs his head low, must be because he is afraid I might see through his disguise. Humph, I wonder who else is coming?" He said, "How come there's only you in the Courtyard? Quickly call some more people to serve us."

Lu Gaoxuan let out an 'Um', and quickly turned around and left. Wei Xiaobao said in a low voice, "Da Ge, Er Ge, Er Sao, wait for my signal. If I roll my eyes and throw my head back, you must act immediately, kill whoever comes in. This man has superior martial art skill, it is no small matter."

Sangjie and the others nodded their compliance; but in their hearts they thought, "What's so amazing about Wu Sangui's warrior even if his martial art skill were higher? There is no need to make such a big fuss over nothing."

A moment later, Lu Gaoxuan came back with four prostitutes, who then separately sat by the four people's side. When Wei Xiaobao saw them, he did not recognize all four prostitutes, they were not the original Misses of the Lovely Spring Courtyard. All four of them were extremely ugly, some had drooping eyes, some had twisted mouth, or sickly yellowish skin or dark skin, or perhaps bumpy face like they had edema, or face full of scars. Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, "Lovely Spring Courtyard's girls are very pretty."

He saw the one sitting by Sangjie, a young woman with face full of scars, winked at him, and signaled him with her eyes. Wei Xiaobao saw her eyes were alive, her glance was very beautiful; he thought, "These four are from Shen Long Jiao, deliberately disguising themselves like this, but she is repeatedly signaling me with her eyes, I wonder what's her intention?" He picked the original Mi Chun wine and poured one cup each for the four prostitutes. "Everybody must drink one cup!" he said.

In the brothels, there was no such thing as the guest pours the wine for the prostitutes. As soon as the guest reaches out toward the wine pot, the prostitute would immediately pour the wine; but these four prostitutes only sat down with their heads hung low. Wei Xiaobao pour the wine for them, unexpectedly the four of them did not say a single word. Wei Xiaobao mused, "These four women masquerade as prostitutes, their skill is extremely lacking." He said, "You are here to serve the guests, how come you did not understand the custom? You must drink one cup first." While saying that, he poured another cup and said to Lu Gaoxuan, "Are you new? You can't even be a turtle. All of you are disrespecting the guest' wine; if the guest is angry, would he spend his money?"

Lu Gaoxuan and the four prostitutes thought that it was really a brothel's custom, they all replied, "Yes!" and picked up the wine and drank it.

Wei Xiaobao said with a laugh, "Now that's good. Are there more turtles and prostitutes in the courtyard? Call everybody here for me. Such a big Lovely Spring Courtyard, how come there are only the five of you? I am afraid this is rather strange."

The prostitute with swelling yellowish face signaled Lu Gaoxuan with her eyes. Lu Gaoxuan turned around and left. When he returned, he brought two turtle slaves along. With a hoarse voice he said, "No more prostitutes, but we have two more turtles."

Wei Xiaobao was secretly amused; he thought, "Prostitutes, turtles, are the terms people say behind your back; you are a turtle slave yourself, how can you say 'prostitute' and 'turtle'? Even if you are a patron of the brothel, you can't be this rude. In the courtyard, you would say 'Miss' and 'waiter'. I just tested you, and immediately you 'reveal the horse's foot'. Humph, humph, Hong Jiaozhu can prophecy with supernatural accuracy, but even in his dream he would never imagine that I, Wei Xiaobao, grew up in this Lovely Spring Courtyard."

He saw that both the two turtle slaves were big, fat and tall. One was Fat Toutuo in disguise; he could tell with just one look. The other one vaguely reminded him of Thin Toutuo, but how come he was this tall? After a quick thinking, he knew that his feet must have stepped on some elevated platform; if Wei Xiaobao had not known in advance, he could never have guessed. Wei Xiaobao poured two more cups of wine and said, "The guest tell you turtles to drink, you two turtles must drink!"

Fat Toutuo quietly picked up the cup and drank; Thin Toutuo was hot-tempered, he could not show restraint. "You, little b@stard, are a turtle!" he cursed.

Lu Gaoxuan hastily pulled his sleeve and shouted, "Quickly drink the wine! How could you dare to offend the guest?"

This time Thin Toutuo became a turtle slave, he had received the Cult Leader's strict warning. He was startled and quickly drank his wine.

"Is everybody here?" Wei Xiaobao asked, "Is there anybody else?"

"Nobody else," Lu Gaoxuan replied.

Wei Xiaobao said, "Is Hong Jiaozhu also masquerade as a turtle?" When he said those words, he rolled his eyes and threw his head backwards.

As soon as Lu Gaoxuan and the others, seven people, heard this, they were shocked; the four prostitutes rose up at once. Sangjie had been preparing himself by circulating his chi, his hands moved simultaneously and hit Thin Toutuo and Lu Gaoxuan's waists. As soon as these two fingers moved, Lu Gaoxuan fell down immediately; but Thin Toutuo only grunted before he swiped his palm in a hacking move toward Sangjie's head. Sangjie was surprised; he thought that his 'two Zen-fingers' skill could be considered unparalleled in the world. After his fingers were poisoned and shortened by one section, his movement was not as agile as before; but precisely because the fingers were one section shorter, when it hit the enemy's body, the power was thirty percent stronger than before. This moment he was very sure that he had hit the acupoint on this big and fat man's waist, why did the man act as if nothing had happened to him? Could it be just like Wei Xiaobao, he had also trained 'Jin Gang Hu Ti Shen Gong' [Vajra's (Budha's warrior attendant) (or diamond) divine skill to protect the body] to perfection?

Actually, these two did not have any 'Jin Gang Hu Ti Shen Gong' at all. Wei Xiaobao was impervious of saber and spear, because he was wearing the treasured vest to protect his body, while Thin Toutuo was standing on stilts so that he was one chi taller. Sangjie thought that he was really a tall and sturdy person, so that when he aimed his jab, his middle finger actually hit the outside of Thin Toutuo's thigh. Thin Toutuo felt a sharp pain, but his acupoint was not sealed.

By this time Fat Toutuo already fought Galdan. The prostitute with face full of scars fought with Ah Qi. Another prostitute pounced on Wei Xiaobao. Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, "Are you crazy? [the original word implies 'sexual craziness', sex maniac] Why are you dressed in ugly appearance ugly shape like this?"

He saw like a pair of claws, the prostitute's ten fingers came swiftly and viciously toward him. He was shocked; immediately he ducked down and crawled underneath the table. Stretching out his hand, he pushed the prostitute's legs. The prostitute had drunk the Mi Chun wine, by this time the drug was starting to take effect; her mind blurred, as soon as Wei Xiaobao pushed, she was unable to stand, she swayed several times before her buttocks landed on the floor, and then she was unable to stand anymore. The other three fake prostitutes also fainted one after another.

Thin Toutuo and Sangjie exchanged several moves. Thin Toutuo did not like the stilts as they impeded his movements; sending his strength to his legs, 'crack, crack', he broke the stilts. Sangjie cursed, "Turns out you are a dwarf."

Thin Toutuo angrily said, "Formerly Laozi was a lot taller than you are; I like to be a dwarf, what does it have to do with you?"

Sangjie laughed aloud. While their mouth exchanged words, their hands and feet did not stop moving least bit. Both of them were martial art experts; after exchanging several moves, they both admired each other. Sangjie thought, "Unexpectedly there is such fat and short warrior under Wu Sangui's command with this kind of superb martial art skill." While Thin Toutuo thought, "Although your martial art skill is high, you have been made a hunting dog [i.e. lackey] by this little demon Wei Xiaobao; not a really good role [referring to Chinese opera]."

On the other front, after several moves Galdan proved to be no match for Fat Toutuo. It's just that Fat Toutuo had drunk Mi Chun wine, his hands and feet were not too agile, hence the reason Galdan had not been knocked down yet. Ah Qi saw that the prostitute who fought with her had very exquisite style, but after no more than several moves, the prostitute fainted; Ah Qi was baffled. Turning her head, she saw Galdan withdrew repeatedly; hastily she rushed to help him.

Fat Toutuo's vision blackened, his body swayed several times, he felt the enemy struck the pit of his stomach with a palm, but the power behind the palm was not formidable. He closed his eyes and stretched out his hands in different directions to parry the opponents' arms. The index fingers of both hands hit the enemies' armpits. Ah Qi immediately felt her body weakened and slowly slumped to the ground; she collapsed on top of Lu Gaoxuan's back. While panicked, she saw Fat Toutuo suddenly lurched forward and fell.

"Ah Qi, Ah Qi," Galdan called out, "Are you alright?" Suddenly Fat Toutuo leaped up and sent a punch toward Galdan's chest, sending him back several zhang that he heavily crashed onto the wall.

Fat and Thin Toutuo's internal energy was really deep; although they had drunk the Mi Chun wine, it was no more than ordinary knock-out drug used by the brothels, not something that was difficult to deal with. Although the two of them were dizzy, their internal strength was enough to overcome the drug's effect. By this time Thin Toutuo felt as if his eyes were covered by a veil of mist, Sangjie's shadow blurrily swayed back and forth in front of him. Each strike he sent was easily parried by Sangjie, while his left shoulder and right cheek successively ate two fists.

Sangjie's fist power was very heavy, even though Thin Toutuo's skin was rough his flesh thick, he could not endure it. He could not help but repeatedly howling before turning around and running out of the door.

Lu Gaoxuan shakily tried to stand up; the acupoint on the upper part of his body had not been unsealed, with a blurry vision he also rushed out of the door.

Galdan was hit by Fat Toutuo that he crashed onto the wall, he felt as if his back was about to break apart. In his heart he was actually scared, but he saw the enemy was supporting himself against the table with his left hand, while his eyes were closed, and his right palm constantly moving in front of the pit of his stomach, as if he was afraid the enemy would attack. Galdan seized this opportunity by leaping forward and sending a violent kick toward Fat Toutuo's buttocks. Fat Toutuo roared, his left hand reached backward to grab the pit of Galdan's stomach and raised him up. Sangjie rushed forward to help. Fat Toutuo suddenly opened his eyes; still grabbing Galdan, he rushed out of the Sweet Nectar Hall, and flew over the wall.

"Put him down!" Sangjie shouted, as he ran after him and leaped over the wall in hot pursuit. The sound of the two men shouting gradually vanished in the distance.

Wei Xiaobao crawled out from underneath the table. He saw a bunch of people sprawling all over the floor; Shuang'er and Zeng Rou lay down on the corner of the hall, four fake prostitutes fainted on the floor, Zheng Keshuang was originally slumped over the table, during the fight the chairs were pushed over that he rolled down under the table. The lower part of Ah Qi's body was draped over an overturned chair, the upper part of her body was lying on the floor. All these people were motionless; some had their acupoints sealed, some were unconscious because of the Mi Chun wine, it was as if they were all dead.

The one Wei Xiaobao most concerned of was Shuang'er; hastily he held her up. Seeing her eyes were turning and she was breathing as usual, he was relieved; it's just that he could not unseal her acupoint, hence he had no choice but to lift Shuang'er, Zeng Rou and Ah Qi, three women, up and sat them on the chairs.

Concerned over his mother's safety, he rushed toward her bedroom. He saw Wei Chunfang was lying on the floor by the bed and was greatly shocked; hastily he helped her up. He saw her body limp, yet her breathing and heartbeat were normal, he guessed her acupoint must have been sealed by Divine Dragon Cult people. In the Lovely Spring Courtyard, all the prostitutes and turtles must have had their acupoints sealed too, they should be able to wake in several sichen [two hours], hence he did not have to worry.

Returning to the Sweet Nectar Hall, he cocked his ears to listen attentively, and did not hear the least bit sign that Fat and Thin, two Toutuo or Sangjie and Galdan had returned; he mused, "The fake prostitute with face full of scar was signaling me with her eyes, apparently she was telling me to be careful. This person's conscience is good, I wonder who she is." He walked over and stooped down to wipe the woman's face several times. A layer of plaster flaked off, exposing a tender and lovely, white and soft cheek. Wei Xiaobao cheered; turned out this woman was Xiao Junzhu Mu Jianping.

Lowering his head, he kissed her face gently and said, "When all is said and done, you still have conscience toward me; you must have been forced by them to deceive me." Suddenly his heart jumped, "Who are those three fake prostitutes? Is Miss Fang among them? That little wh0re is a specialist in harming me, if this time she is not here, I will be greatly surprised." Thinking about Fang Yi, his heart was both sweet and bitter. He saw that the woman with swollen yellow face had a slim and graceful body, most likely she was Fang Yi. Thereupon he reached out to wipe the makeup from her face. The putty powder fell, exposing an attractive, beautiful and charming face; she was around five, six years older than Fang Yi, but her countenance was more beautiful than Fang Yi. Turned out she was Madame Hong Jiaozhu.

After she was drunk, her cheeks looked like peach blossom, her skin looked as if it exuded water. In the past, although Wei Xiaobao felt that Madame Hong was beautiful and alluring, he had never dared to look at her with the least bit of frivolous intention. This time she was as drunk as mud, the opportunity had presented itself. Extending his right hand, he pinched her cheek, and saw her eyes tightly closed; she did not feel the pinch at all. His heart was thumping wildly, he pinched her other cheek.

Turning around, he walked over to the other two women. These two women's bodies were obese, they did not look like Fang Yi at all. One of these women had fiercely pounced on him. Wei Xiaobao picked up the wine pot and drenched her face with the wine, and then pulling her lapel, he used it to wipe her face, exposing her real face; surprisingly she was the fake empress dowager. Wei Xiaobao was greatly delighted; he thought, "I am rendering a really great service. His Majesty and Empress Dowager wanted me to arrest this old wh0re for revenge. With thousand ways, a hundred plans I failed to arrest her, who would have thought she unexpectedly came to the Lovely Spring Courtyard on her own to be an old wh0re. It can clearly be seen that by calling her the old wh0re, all along it was a divine strategy, early on I have a foresight."

Wiping the fourth fake prostitute's makeup, he found out that behind the makeup was Fang Yi's face. Wei Xiaobao was greatly shocked, "How did her waist become so thick? Could it be that she had an illicit intercourse with a man and conceive a child? By the heaven and the earth, the old wh0re really became an old wh0re, could it be that Little Turtle Wei has indeed become a little turtle?" Reaching out, he ran his hand over her undergarment, his hand did not touch skin and flesh; when he pulled it, turned out it was a pillow. Wei Xiaobao laughed aloud; he said with a laugh, "Your conscience is a lot worse than Xiao Junzhu's. For fear that I might fall into your evil scheme, she repeatedly signaled me with her eyes. But for fear that I might recognize you, you even dare to disguise yourself as a big-bellied woman. Ha ha … you, little wh0re, become a big-bellied woman in Lovely Spring Courtyard, I will have an abortion for you. Early morning abortion or late night abortion, I will have the pillow taken out of you."

Walking out of the hall, he saw several personal guards lying dead on the ground. The courtyard was without lantern, without any flame; there was not even a whisper to be heard. He thought, "Fat and Thin Toutuo have drunk the drugged wine, in the end they won't be able to defeat those two sworn brothers of mine, but if Hong Jiaozhu and the others waiting to rescue them on the outside, the outcome will be very difficult to say. Two Gege, if today you return to heaven, please forgive Xiaodi [little brother] for not accompanying you dying on the same year the same month and the same day!"

Returning to the hall, he saw Madame Hong, Fang Yi, Mu Jianping, Shuang'er, Zeng Rou, and Ah Qi, six beautiful women were either unconscious or unable to move. Each one had her own beauty, each one had her own charm; his heart was greatly moved, he mused, "There is another good-looking young Miss inside on the bed, she is a lot more beautiful than these six persons, the one I already bowed to the Heaven and the Earth with, but have not consummate the marriage in bridal room with ornamented candles. Tonight you anxiously looked for me, if your husband did not pay you any attention, won't I be too cold and ruthless [orig. 'without any sense of justice']? Won't I wrong you too much?"

He was about to step inside when he noticed Zeng Rou's pair of pretty eyes was fixed on him, her cheeks were blushing, her expression was tender and bashful; he thought, "From Wangwu Mountain to Yangzhou, along the way you, this little girl, were always avoiding me, I can't even talk to you one more sentence. Tonight I must not be too polite to you." He carried her in his bosom into the room and put her by Ah Ke's side.

He saw Ah Ke was still fast asleep; her long eyelashes hung down, the corner of her lips slightly curled into a smiling expression. Most likely in her stupor she was having a very sweet dream, she was being intimate with Zheng Keshuang.

Wei Xiaobao thought, "Either give up, or go through to the end. I might as well have this bunch of old wh0re, fake prostitutes, good Miss, bad women, everybody moved in. This is Lovely Spring Courtyard, women came to a brothel, what good could they possibly do? It was you who came here, when you are awake, you can't blame me."

Since childhood, his lofty ambition was to open a big brothel in Yangzhou, to come to Lovely Spring Courtyard and have dinner party with singsong girls, to have the prostitutes of the entire courtyard to accompany him. This moment, although the situation was not the same as the plan he drew in the former days, actually it was quite a magnificent feat, not a small matter indeed.

Immediately he carried Shuang'er, Ah Qi, Madame Hong, Fang Yi and Mu Jianping, one by one into the room. Finally even the fake empress dowager was also brought in. Eight women lay side by side on the bed. Suddenly he recalled, "Must not take unfair advantage of a friend's wife. Er Sao, you are my older brother's wife; we are heroes and warriors, must uphold yi qi." Hence he carried Ah Qi back into the hall and sat her properly on the chair. He saw there was a considerable praise in her gaze. Seeing her lovely and pretty countenance, her labored breathing, her chest moved up and down endlessly, Wei Xiaobao suddenly felt regret, "I become sworn brothers with Great Lama and Mongolian Prince, it was not because we have affinity with each other, but simply because of a scheme, so that they won't come to kill me; those Da Ge, Er Ge are nonsense. This Miss Ah Qi is so pretty, it's a pity to call her Er Sao, I might as well make her my wife. The storyteller has told the story of 'Three Laughing Marriage Affinities, Nine-Beauty Scheme', Tang Bohu

[81] had nine wives. If I include Ah Qi, I only have eight beauties, still short one beauty. Pei, pei, pei!" he spat, "The old wh0re is old and vicious, how can I consider her as a beauty?"

Compared to Tang Bohu, he was short one beauty; it was still acceptable. But now he had to lose two beauties, he was actually quite disappointed. Thereupon he brought Ah Qi back into the room. But only a few steps later, he suddenly recalled, "Guan Yunchang escorted Huang Sao [older brother the emperor's wife] for a thousand li; he did not turn Liu Da Sao into Guan Er Sao [referring to Liu Bei and Guan Yu, Romance of the Three Kingdoms]. Wei Xiaobao escorted Er Sao for seven steps, I can't ignore yi qi too much. If I have to have two less beauties, then let me short two beauties; why afraid that I can't get it back in the future?" Thereupon he immediately turned around and put Ah Qi back on the chair.

Ah Qi did not know the raging battle inside his mind; being brought back and forth like that, she wondered what kind of trick he was playing, and was a bit surprised.

Wei Xiaobao entered the room and said, "Miss Fang, Xiao Junzhu, Madame Hong, the three of you entered the Lovely Spring Courtyard to be prostitutes on your own. Shuang'er, Miss Zeng, the two of you voluntarily came with me to Lovely Spring Courtyard. What kind of place this is, although when you came you did not know, but since little girls have come to this kind of place, it won't be right if you don't accompany me. Ah Ke, you are my wife, you came here to patronage my Mama, that is, you patronage your own mother-in-law. Your husband is going to patronage you." Stretching out his hand he pushed the fake empress dowager far away to the corner of the bed. He shook and spread the quilt to cover the remaining six women. Kicking his shoes off, with a loud shout he crawled into the quilt.

Heaven and Earth in confusion. After an unknown period of time had passed, the candle on the table went out, the room became completely dark. Also a long time had passed, Wei Xiaobao hummed the 'eighteen touches' in a low voice: "A hundred and seven touches, touching Jiejie Meimei's [older and younger sisters] seven hands … a hundred and eight touches, touching Jiejie Meimei's eight feet …"

During this 'seven-hand, eight-feet', suddenly he heard tender and gentle voice softly said, "No … don't … Zheng … Zheng Gongzi … is that you?" It was precisely Ah Ke's voice. She drank the Mi Chun wine the earliest, after sleeping for a long time, the drug effect gradually diminished, and she slowly regained her consciousness.

Wei Xiaobao was furious; he thought, "Even in your dream you are thinking of Zheng Gongzi, thinking that he is climbing onto your bed; is it good?" Lowering his voice he said, "It's me."

"No, no!" Ah Ke said, "You must not …" She struggled a little bit.

Suddenly they heard Zheng Keshuang's voice calling out from the hall, "Ah Ke, Ah Ke, where are you?" Crash! Bang! There was a lot of noise as the chair, as well as the cups and plates on the table fell down to the floor.

Since his voice was coming from the hall, naturally the one embracing her was not him; in her shock Ah Ke's mind sobered a little bit. With a trembling voice she said, "You … who are you? Why … I … I …"

Wei Xiaobao said with a laugh, "It's your own husband; don't you recognize me?"

To say that Ah Ke was mildly surprise was a gross understatement. She struggled desperately to break away from his embrace, but her body was limp and without any strength. "Zheng Gongzi, Zheng Gongzi!" she cried out in fear.

Zheng Keshuang staggered into the room, but there was not the least bit of light inside, 'Bang!' his forehead bumped onto the doorframe. "Ah Ke, where are you?" he called out.

"I am here!" Ah Ke replied, "Let me go! Little demon, what did … what did you do?"

"What?" Zheng Keshuang was baffled; he did not know that the last two sentences were addressed to Wei Xiaobao.

Wei Xiaobao was very excited and in high spirit, how could he be willing to let her go? "Good Shidi," Ah Ke pleaded, "Please, let me go."

Wei Xiaobao said, "I said I won't let go, then I won't let go! A real man gave his words, dead horses cannot pull it back."

Zheng Keshuang was startled and angry at the same time, "Wei Xiaobao," he said, "Where are you?"

With an air of complacency Wei Xiaobao replied, "I am on the bed, embracing my wife. I am in the bridal room with ornamented candles; what are you doing here? You want to disturb the bridal chamber?"

Zheng Keshuang was furious. "Disturb your Ma's bridal chamber!" he cursed.

Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, "You want to disturb my Ma's bridal chamber? Not today, because today she does not accept any visitor, unless you yourself want to be the groom."

"Rubbish!" Zheng Keshuang yelled angrily. Following the direction of the voices, he pounced toward the bed. He wanted to uncover Wei Xiaobao, but in the dark he grabbed an arm. "Ah Ke," he asked, "Is this your arm?"

"It's not," Ah Ke replied.

Since it was not Ah Ke's arm, Zheng Keshuang thought it must be Wei Xiaobao's. Thereupon he fiercely pulled with all his strength. Unexpectedly he pulled the fake empress dowager, Mao Dongzhu's arm.

After drinking the Mi Chun wine, her brain was murky, but feeling that someone was pulling her arm, instinctively her left hand went up and slapped backhandedly. It happened to strike the top of Zheng Keshuang's head. Her strength had gone about 80, 90%, this palm strike did not have any real power behind it. But Zheng Keshuang was greatly surprised; he quickly turned around to withdraw. His head happened to hit the pillar of the bed and he fainted right away.

"Zheng Gongzi, what happened to you?" Ah Ke cried out in alarm, but she heard no response.

Wei Xiaobao said, "He went to disturb the bridal chamber; he has crawled under the bed."

Crying, Ah Ke said, "He did not. Quickly let me go!"

"Don't move, don't move!" Wei Xiaobao said.

Ah Ke struck with her elbow and happened to hit his throat. Feeling severe pain, Wei Xiaobao threw his head backward. Ah Ke struggled free and hastily wanted to get off the bed. As soon as she rolled around, her body pressed the pit of Mao Dongzhu's stomach. Mao Dongzhu screamed from the pain and reached out to wrap her arms tightly around Ah Ke's body. In the darkness, Ah Ke did not have any idea who was holding her; in her abject terror, she lost all the strength in her body. Suddenly she felt that someone got hold of her right foot. She was so scared that her body was drenched in cold sweats, "There are so many men on the bed!" she thought.

Wei Xiaobao could not find Ah Ke in the darkness. "Ah Ke," he called, "Quickly make some noise, where are you?"

Ah Ke said in her heart, "Even if you chop my head, I won't make any noise."

"Alright," Wei Xiaobao said, "You won't make any noise, I will touch one, I will touch two, I will touch everywhere, in the end I will touch you." He suddenly sang the folksong, "One touch, two touches, touching the beautiful woman. The beauty's face is like melon seed, could it be that you are the old wh0re?" [The original rhymes: melon seed – guazi, wh0re – biaozi.] While his mouth was singing the folk song, his hands were busy groping.

Suddenly they heard the clamor of voices outside the courtyard, some people shouted orders, a large number of troops had several brothels surrounded; and then there were footsteps, some people were entering the Lovely Spring Courtyard. Wei Xiaobao knew that these people must be either his own troops or Yangzhou's local officials; he was very happy. He was about to crawl out from underneath the quilt, but unexpectedly the incoming people were very fast; he saw torches and very soon those people had already entered the Sweet Nectar Hall. He heard Priest Xuanzhen's voice calling out, "Wei Daren, are you in here?" His voice was filled with anxiety.

Before he could even think, Wei Xiaobao blurted out, "I am here!"

As soon as Tian Di Hui warriors found out that Wei Xiaobao had disappeared, for fear that he might be in danger, they came out to look for him. They knew that he took several personal guards toward the Ming Yu Lane area, hence they investigated that area and found out that there was a fight in the Lovely Spring Courtyard. Upon entering the courtyard, they saw several dead personal guards lying on the ground and were greatly shocked. It was not until they heard his voice replying that they felt relieved.

Wei Xiaobao heard people shouting and calling, and then everybody seemed to swarm this way. He hastily stood up to let the mosquito net down, in the process his feet were stepping on several bodies, but he could not care less on whose bodies.

The mosquito net had just come down, Priest Xuanzhen and the others already entered the room. Each person had a torch in his hand; in one glance they all saw Zheng Keshuang fainted in front of the bed, and were very surprised. Someone called out, "Wei Daren, Wei Daren!"

Wei Xiaobao called back, "I am in here. Don't open the mosquito net."

Hearing his voice, they all cheered. Everybody 'you look at me, I look at you', with smiling expression on their faces; they all thought, "Everybody was worried, you are actually here to have fun."

Under the torch light Wei Xiaobao put on his clothes, found his hat and wore it, and then crawled out of the bed. While putting on his shoes he said, "I used some trick to capture quite a few offenders, they are all on the bed. This time everybody's merit is not small."

They all felt very strange, but they knew for some time that the way he worked was like 'gods appear and devils vanish'; for the time being it was inconvenient to ask too much.

Wei Xiaobao ordered the men to have Zheng Keshuang bound, and have Ah Qi carried to the field headquarters on a sedan chair. He also had the edges of the mosquito net squeezed firmly underneath the bedding, and then asked for ten personal guards and ordered them to take the big bed back to the Imperial Envoy Field Headquarters. The captain of the personal guards said, "Reporting to Daren: the door is too small, we cannot lift the bed out."

"Idiot," Wei Xiaobao cursed, "Can't you tear the wall open?"

The captain understood immediately, he repeatedly said 'yes', and shouted his order. The personal guards set to work immediately, tearing the three walls of Lovely Spring Courtyard open. About a dozen personal guards fetched six or seven sedan chair poles and set the poles at the bottom of the bed, and then they lifted up the big bed, level and steady, and brought it out of the room.

By this time it was already daylight, the big bed was paraded through the main streets and marketplace of Yangzhou. The personal guards carried the 'do not panic' and 'step back' signs, with a gong and herald to clear the way, while the rest of the party marched behind the bed. When the common people of Yangzhou saw it, none of them did not click their tongue in amazement.

The big bed arrived at the He Garden, the gate was still too small. Learning from experience, this time the captain of the personal guards did not wait of the Imperial Envoy Daren's instruction, he immediately ordered his men to tear the wall open and brought the big bed into the reception pavilion, and set it down in the middle of the hall. Wei Xiaobao passed on his order: the captured offenders on the bed were not a small matter, he ordered several dozen higher-rank military officers to lead the troops with bows strung, with sabers unsheathed, to form a tight perimeter around the garden. He also had Xu Tianchuan and the others guarding outside the room, to prevent Thin Toutuo and the others from coming in and seizing the prisoners by force.

Although there were multitude men guarding all around the reception pavilion, in the hall itself Wei Xiaobao was left alone with the big bed. He thought, "In the Lovely Spring Courtyard a moment ago, it was such a good opportunity, but out of seven beauties, apparently I only embraced less than half. Besides, in the darkness I did not know which one I already embraced, and which one I have not embraced. I'd better start anew, from the first line of 'one touch'." Thereupon he hummed softly, "One touch, two touches, touching Meimei …" pulling the mosquito net open, he threw himself onto the bed.

Suddenly his braid tightened, followed by a sharp pain on his throat; someone pulled his braid and lifted it up, the person's left hand fingers were wrapped around his neck. It was none other than Madame Hong. After all these time, the effect of Mi Chun wine had disappeared. Madame Hong, Mao Dongzhu, Fang Yi, and Mu Jianping, four women, had already awakened; while the acupoints on Shuang'er and Zeng Rou's body had gradually unsealed. It's just that the bed was carried along Yangzhou's streets, the bed was surrounded by numerous officers and soldiers, so that the seven women on the bed did not dare to move, they did not dare to make noise. This moment Wei Xiaobao wanted to enjoy tender, amorous good fortune, as soon as he climbed onto the bed he was grabbed by Madame Hong.

Madame Hong had a 'smile, yet not a smile' look on her face; she sternly said in low voice, "Little demon, you have the nerve to amuse yourself even with me!"

Wei Xiaobao was so scared that his soul flew to the outer space; with a forced laugh he said, "Madame, I … I did not amuse myself; this … this …"

"What song did you sing?" Madame Hong asked.

Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, "That was something that I heard randomly in the brothel, you must not take it seriously."

Madame Hong said in a low voice, "Do you want to live, or do you want to die?"

Wei Xiaobao said with a laugh, "Subordinate White Dragon Envoy respectfully wishes Madame and Jiaozhu to enjoy immortal good fortune forever, your long life the same as the heaven's. Madame's order, subordinate will receive and obey without delay."

Madame Hong noticed that he was speaking those words frivolously, without any respect or sincerity. She spat and said, "You must remove the officers and soldiers around the hall first."

"Very well," Wei Xiaobao said, "Won't that be easy? Let me go, I will issue the order."

Madame Hong said, "Issue the order from here."

Wei Xiaobao had no choice, he loudly called out, "Everybody outside, Zongdu [governor general], Xunfu [inspector general], Ministry of War Shangshu [department head], Minister of Revenue Shangshu, listen up: all officers and soldiers must withdraw, no one is allowed to remain here."

Madame Hong pulled his braid and shouted, "What Ministry of War Shangshu, Minister of Revenue Shangshu? Rubbish!" While saying that, she pulled his braid again, hard.

"Aiyo!" Wei Xiaobao screamed, "I am dying!"

When the officers and soldiers outside heard him calling Zongdu, Shangshu, and so on, they were already suspicious, as soon as they heard him crying in pain, several dozen men with sabers and spears in their hands immediately rushed into the hall. "Imperial Envoy Daren," they asked, "What is it?"

Wei Xiaobao called out, "No … nothing! Aiyo, Mama!"

The officers looked at each other in dismay, they were at a loss of what to do.

Madame Hong was furious; she raised her hand, 'slap!' she heavily struck Wei Xiaobao's face. Wei Xiaobao cried out again, "Mama! Don't hit your son!"

Although Madame Hong did not know that when Wei Xiaobao called someone his mother, he was actually cursing her as a prostitute, yet seeing his mischief, she raised her palm again to strike. Suddenly the 'tian zong' [heaven reservoir] and 'shen tang' [divine hall] two acupoints behind her shoulder went numb, her right arm went limp and dropped down. Madame Hong was startled; she quickly turned her head around to see who had sealed her acupoints. But the person closest to her back was Fang Yi.

"Miss Fang," she said with a cold laugh, "Your martial art skill is not bad at all!" Her left hand swiftly moved toward Fang Yi's eyes.

"It wasn't me!" Fang Yi cried out, while leaning her head sideways to evade.

Madame Hong was about to attack again, suddenly two hands behind her back reached out and grabbed her left arm; it was Mu Jianping. "Madame," she called out, "It was not my Shijie who sealed your acupoints!" She saw that it was Shuang'er who sealed Madame Hong's acupoints.

Mao Dongzhu raised her hand to strike Mu Jianping, fortunately she lost her internal energy that Mu Jianping did not suffer any injury. Mao Dongzhu's second palm strike came, Fang Yi stretched out her hand to block.

Seeing the four women were fighting each other, Ah Ke turned around, she wanted to get down of the bed. Her right foot had just stepped out of the quilt, "Ah!" she cried, and immediately pulled her foot back. Wei Xiaobao was pulling her left foot. "Don't go!" he said.

Ah Ke struggled hard and cried out, "Let me go!"

Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, "You guess: will I or will I not let you go?"

Ah Ke panicked; she turned around and sent out a punch. Wei Xiaobao ducked, 'Bang!' her fist landed on Zeng Rou's left cheek. "What did you hit me for?" Zeng Rou shouted.

"I … I'm sorry … Aiyo!" Ah Ke said, but she was hit by Fang Yi's palm.

In an instant the bed was in great confusion, seven women beating and twisting randomly. Wei Xiaobao was greatly delighted; he mused, "This is called 'the whole country in rebellion, the heroes …' no, 'the heroines

[82] fight each other in muddled battle!'"

While he was thinking to fish in troubled water, suddenly 'crack, crash!', the big bed collapsed. Eight people 'you press on my hand, I push down your leg'. Seven women screamed together. Witnessing this scene, the officers and soldiers were dumbstruck. Wei Xiaobao roared in laughter while crawling out from among the crowd. But someone grabbed his left leg and twisted it. "Everybody, let go!" he shouted, "Officers, arrest all my wives, young and old!"

The officers stood in circle, but nobody dared to make any move. Wei Xiaobao pointed to Mao Dongzhu and said, "This old wh0re is a criminal, you must never let her escape."

The officers felt strange, "You said these women are all your wives, young and old, how come one of them is a criminal, and two of them dressed as personal guards?" Immediately some of them pointed their sabers and spears to Mao Dongzhu, while some others dragged her out. 'Click, click!' they put manacles on her hands.

Wei Xiaobao pointed to Madame Hong and said, "This Madame is my superior, but we'd better put her in shackles as well."

The officers were even more surprised, but they put manacles on Madame Hong's hands anyway. Madame Hong's martial art skill was high, but her acupoints were sealed by Shuang'er, half of her body was numb and aching, it would be difficult for her to resist.

By this time Shuang'er and Zeng Rou managed to extricate themselves from the crowd. Recalling last night's experience, they were blushing, but also found it very amusing.

Wei Xiaobao pointed to Fang Yi and said, "She is my first concubine!" Pointing to Mu Jianping he said, "And she is my second concubine. First concubine needs to be put in shackles, second concubine does not need."

The officers put manacles on Fang Yi's hands. The Imperial Envoy Minister's strange words and weird speech came out one after another, but by this time the officers had heard a lot, hence nobody thought it strange.

By this time, only Ah Ke was left sitting on the floor. They saw her hair was in a mess, her clothes was in disorder, she was wearing men's clothes, nevertheless her countenance was bright and outstandingly beautiful; her hands were holding down the hem of her long gown tightly to cover her naked legs. Her head was hung low, her cheeks were blushing. The officers and soldiers all thought, "Of all Imperial Envoy Daren's wives, young and old, this wife is the most beautiful."

They heard Wei Xiaobao said, "She is my officially wedded wife, let me help her up." He took two steps forward and said, "Niangzi [wife (formal)], please rise!" while extending his hand to help her up.

Suddenly there was a 'Slap!' sharp and clear, the Imperial Envoy Daren's face was heavily slapped. With head hung low, Ah Ke cried and said, "All you can do is bully me. Just kill me. I … even if I die I don't want to marry you."

The officers looked at each other in dismay; they were all shocked. The Imperial Envoy Minister was beaten in public. As the officers, it was their official duty to protect him with all their might. But the person beating and disgracing him was the Imperial Envoy Minister's own lawful wife; they could not step forward to stop her with force, but shouting to berate her also did not seem to be the proper thing to do. For a moment they were at a loss.

Caressing half of his face which was hit, Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, "How can I be willing to part with you by killing you? Niangzi needs not be angry, otherwise I'll have my men kill Zheng Gongzi." He raised his voice to ask, "Where is the man arrested at the Lovely Spring Courtyard?"

A Zuoling [Company Commander] replied, "Reporting to Dutong [Commander]: this fellow has his hands and feet shackled and is being guarded well."

"Very good," Wei Xiaobao said, "If he wants to run away, chop his left leg first, and then cut his right leg …"

Ah Ke was scared. "Don't … don't … cut his legs," she called out anxiously, "He … he won't run away."

Wei Xiaobao said, "If you want to run away, I will chop Zheng Gongzi's hands." Sweeping his gaze on Fang Yi, Mu Jianping, and the others, he said, "If these first concubine, second concubine of mine ran away, cut Zheng Gongzi's ears and nose."

Ah Ke anxiously said, "You … you … what do these women have to do with Zheng Gongzi? Why do you put the blame on him?"

"Naturally they have something to do with him," Wei Xiaobao replied, "My women all have countenance of a flower, face like the moon, while Zheng Gongzi is a sex maniac. If he saw them, he would definitely harbor evil designs."

Ah Ke thought, "It's still not his responsibility." But she knew that this person spoke without reason; it was useless to argue with him. In her anxiety, she broke into crying again.

Wei Xiaobao said, "The women with manacles, take them away and guard them well, put fetters on their legs. Tell the kitchen to set up a banquet, the good Miss without manacles are to accompany me drinking wine in here." The personal guards complied with loud voice.

Still crying, Ah Ke said, "I … I don't want to accompany you to drink. Just put shackles on my hands."

Without saying anything Zeng Rou walked out with her head hung low. "Hey," Wei Xiaobao called, "Where are you going?"

Zeng Rou turned her head around and said, "You … you are really shameless! I don't want to see you again!"

Wei Xiaobao was startled. "Why?" he asked.

"You … you still ask me why?" Zeng Rou said, "Others are not willing to marry you, you compel them to. You are a high-ranking official, do you think you can bully common people like this? Previously I thought you were a … a hero, who would have thought …"

"Who would have thought what?" Wei Xiaobao asked.

Suddenly Zeng Rou broke into crying; covering her face, she said, "I don't know! You … you are an evil man, not a good person." While saying that she ran toward the door.

Two military officers raised their saber to block; they shouted, "You insulted Imperial Envoy, you must not leave. Wait for Imperial Envoy Daren's decision on how to punish you."

Reprimanded by Zeng Rou like that, the happiness in Wei Xiaobao's heart immediately vanished into the thin air; he thought that what she said actually made a lot of sense. Being a Tatar high-ranking officer, he was relying on force to bully others, thus he was no different from the treacherous court officials and evil tyrants that the storytellers were talking about. He thought, "I can't be a hero; that's fine. But I must not be a treacherous court official."

Heaving a deep sigh he said, "Miss Zeng, please come back, I want to say something."

Zeng Rou turned her head and boldly said, "I offended you, you might as well chop my head."

Shuang'er had a good relationship with her; she hastily urged, "Zeng Jiejie, don't be angry, Xianggong can't possibly kill you."

Wei Xiaobao low-spiritedly said, "You are right, if I force them to marry me, I am like the painted face treacherous court official (in the opera) seizing common people's daughter, just like the Tiger Wang kidnapping the bride in the 'Three Laughing Marriage Affinities'."

Pointing to Ah Ke, he said to the Zuoling, the captain of his personal guards, "Take this Miss out, also release that man surnamed Zheng, let them go and be husband and wife." When speaking those words, he was extremely grieving. He also pointed to Fang Yi and said, "Take her manacles off, release her as well, let her go find her beloved Liu Shige. Ay, my lawful wife loves her lover, my first concubine also loves her lover. Damn it, what kind of Imperial Envoy Daren, Dutong Daren am I? I am a double cuckold Daren."

Seeing Wei Xiaobao was throwing a fit, the Zuoling was so scared that he stood with head hung low; he did not dare to make any noise. Wei Xiaobao said, "Quickly take these two women out." The Zuoling complied, he escorted Ah Ke and Fang Yi out.

Wei Xiaobao looked at the two women's back; in his heart he was really reluctant to let them go. As they walked out, Fang Yi and Ah Ke did not even turn their heads; there was not a word of thanks, there was not a single grateful glance.

Zeng Rou took two steps forward and said in a low voice, "You are a good person! You … please punish me." There was a deep regret on her tender face.

Wei Xiaobao's spirit was immediately aroused; he was beaming with joy as he laughed and said, "Right, right! I must punish you. Shuang'er, Xiao Junzhu, Miss Zeng, the three of you are good women. Come, let us go in and talk."

He was about to take the three women into the inner hall and had some intimate time with them when a military officer walked in and said, "Reporting to Dutong Daren: there is someone outside, saying that he was sent by Hong Jiaozhu, asking to have an audience with Daren."

Wei Xiaobao was scared out of his wits; he hastily said, "What Red Jiaozhu, Green Jiaozhu [the word 'Hong' sounds like 'Red', different characters]? I don't want to see, I don't want to see! Quickly kick him out."

The officer bowed and said, "Yes!" He took a step backward, and then said, "That man also said that they have two men in their hands, they want to trade them with two women in Dutong Daren's hands."

"Trade with two women?" Wei Xiaobao said. His gaze swept on Madame Hong and Mao Dongzhu's faces; he shook his head and said, "He must be joking! Such good merchandise, why do I want to trade?"

"Yes," the military officer said, "Let lowly officer drive him away."

Wei Xiaobao asked, "What kind of men he wanted to trade with? Damn it, what's so good about men? Trading men for women, I will suffer too much loss."

The officer said, "That man is talking nonsense, he said one was a Lama, the other was a Prince; they both are Dutong Daren's sworn brothers."

"Ah!" Wei Xiaobao exclaimed; he thought, "Turns out Sangjie Lama and Prince Galdan are caught by Hong Jiaozhu." He said, "A Lama and a Prince, what am I supposed to do with them? Go tell that fellow, these two women, even if he offered two million men, I don't want to trade." The officer repeatedly said yes, then he withdrew.

Wei Xiaobao cast a glance to Zeng Rou; he thought, "Previously she said that I am an evil man, not a good person. I have to let my own wives go, to let them marry their lovers before she considered me a good person. Humph! To be a good man, the capital is indeed not small. Sangjie and Galdan, two men, have already sworn brotherhood with me, if I don't trade them back, Hong Jiaozhu will definitely have them killed. Even if I keep Madame Hong, what do I do with her? Although she is extremely beautiful, she won't agree to enjoy immortal good fortune together with me, to have live as long as the heaven's with me. Damn it, paying more attention to a lover than friends is not a hero!" "Hold on!" he shouted.

"Yes!" the officer replied. He bowed to await the order.

Wei Xiaobao said, "Go tell him: have Hong Jiaozhu release those two men, I will return Madame Hong to him. This Madame has countenance of a flower, face like the moon; she is better than Xi Shi and Yang Guifei

[83], she is the world's priceless treasure. Originally even if he killed me I would not want to release her; to have me trade his two men with her, actually it is greatly advantageous to him. As for the other woman, although she is disappointing, I can't let her go." The officer complied and withdrew.

All along Madame Hong maintained a wooden expression; only this moment she showed a smiling expression as she said, "Imperial Envoy Daren really knows how to compliment others."

"Madame," Wei Xiaobao said, "You are seriously beautiful, why be modest? We must be good people to the end, if I have to eat into my capital, then so be it. Deliver the goods first, receive the payment later. Guards! Quickly open my boss' manacles." Receiving the key, he personally unlocked Madame Hong's manacles and walked her out.

When they reached the main hall, they saw the officer was talking to Lu Gaoxuan. Wei Xiaobao said, "Mr. Lu, you must serve Madame well on her way back. Madame, your subordinate respectfully sends you, Senior, off in a triumphal return, wishes you and Jiaozhu will enjoy immortal good fortune forever, your long lives will be the same as the Heaven's."

Madame Hong giggled tenderly; she said, "And I wish Imperial Envoy Daren promotion and wealth, a life as long as Mount Nan, lovely wife and beautiful concubines, and to be rewarded nobility titles as Duke and Marquis for ten thousand generations."

Wei Xiaobao sighed; he shook his head and said, "To be promoted and gain wealth is easy, to have lovely wife and beautiful concubines, that will be difficult." Raising his voice he ordered, "Play the music, send the guest off, prepare a sedan chair."

Amidst the sound of music, he personally walked her off to the main gate, and watched as Madame Hong climbed onto the sedan chair.