You've Got Mail: A Cautionary Tale

Edited by DancingDolphinsYo

Hei’er’s words stunned Wu Xingzi.

Was this… fleeing, or were they eloping? The words spun around in Wu Xingzi’s head, and he could not help but take a couple of steps backwards, uneasily turning his head towards the direction Guan Shanjin had taken.

He only just wanted to go home, and had already agreed with Rancui to go back together. Why did the journey sound so dangerous coming out from Hei’er’s mouth?

“I-I’ve spoken to Rancui already, that we’ll be going back together…” Hei’er was, after all, one of Guan Shanjin’s men. For him to continue accompanying Wu Xingzi, whether based on logic or feelings, it was not quite suitable.

“Where my master goes, I’ll follow, and make sure that you’re safe.” Hei’er still had a knee on the ground, looking at Wu Xingzi with his dark, swarthy face.

“Uhh…” Wu Xingzi was at a loss. He wanted to pull Hei’er up, but who knew that he would not be able to move even a hair on Hei’er. Instead, he nearly fell down himself, and needed Hei’er’s help to support him. “I’m just going home.”

“Mr. Wu, please pardon my directness. If there’s an opportunity, would you be willing to spend the rest of your life together with the General?” Hei’er looked up, his tanned face almost blending into the sky. Although the lanterns had yet to be lit, the intense gaze in his eyes was like stars.

“Uhh…” Wu Xingzi could not give an answer. If there was a possibility, he would most probably look forward to becoming life partners with Guan Shanjin. However, he was already so old and had long abandoned such unrealistic hopes. With Hei’er’s sudden question, he could only smile wryly and not answer.

Wu Xingzi, however, was unaware of how much his expression had revealed. Hei’er watched him calmly for a few moments. “Mr. Wu, if the General were to find out that you’ve left Bastion City, he would immediately search Qingcheng County. I’m afraid that you’ll not be able to withstand his fearsome wrath.”

Fearsome wrath? Wu Xingzi shuddered. He had never seen Guan Shanjin angry before, and for some reason, he could not help but feel a little guilty.

“Umm… But he…” Wu Xingzi sighed. “Mr. Lu and him finally have a happy ever after, so why is there a need for this substitute to be an eyesore?”

Cleverly, Hei’er did not answer this question, instead asking another question on his own initiative. “Why not let me take you to the capital for a holiday? First, it can be a distraction from your feelings, and second, it’ll be giving the General time to calm down. Maybe this matter will be glossed over in a couple of months?”

The capital? No, that did not seem right! Wasn’t Guan Shanjin returning to the capital to report on his work? If they bumped into each other… was it not just stabbing himself with a spear?

Hei’er naturally understood his concern, and continued comfortingly, “Everyone says that it’s easier to hide in a big city. The General would definitely never guess that we’ll be right under his nose.”

Putting it like this, it made sense… Wu Xingzi nodded his head unconsciously.

He had never been to the capital ever in his life, and had heard from others that the roads in the capital were paved with stone slabs, the city extremely prosperous and bustling. There were tons of delicious things to eat, and fun things to play. The most talented and good looking people too gathered in the capital. For example, there was that gongzi who was good at the qin. For all Wu Xingzi knew, he might even have the opportunity to listen to that gongzi play? They could even become friends!

Was the gongzi’s pengornis also handsome, graceful and bewitching?

Although Hei’er was not aware of what Wu Xingzi was thinking, he knew that Wu Xingzi had agreed. Only then did he stand up, patting away the dust on his knee. Cupping his hands towards Wu Xingzi, he spoke, “Mr. Wu, I’d definitely assure your safety during this trip to the capital. To avoid the General’s suspicions, and the subsequent chase, let’s depart on the day Mr. Lu gets married.”

“Many thanks for your attentiveness.” Wu Xingzi’s head bobbed continuously, his thoughts a little distracted. The world was so big, were there not pengornises everywhere? Maybe after a couple of years, he might again meet another peng— man whom he could spend a lifetime with. Even if there wasn’t, by then he would have reaped in quite a large harvest in that rattan case of his!

Thinking of it like this, Wu Xingzi was even quite delighted!

“Then, I shall take my leave first. Three days later, I’ll take you away. Mr. Wu, if there’s anything you need to bring along with you, please start quietly packing them up during the next few days.” Done speaking, Hei’er’s shadow flashed past, and he vanished into the night.

Dazed, Wu Xingzi stood where he was for a moment. He pressed a palm against his heart, returning to his bedroom and dug out the rattan case that stored all his pengornis drawings. Taking them out one by one to admire them, he even skipped dinner.

※※※

After leaving Shuanghe Yard, Hei’er slipped away into Man Yue’s residence. Before he even knocked, Man Yue’s voice drifted out. “Come in, Hei’er.”

“Vice General Man.” Pushing the door open, Hei’er entered. The two had known each other for many years. Other than their forms of address, they normally did not stick to having too many formalities with each other. A casual nod of the head was considered sufficient as a greeting, and Hei’er took a seat on a chair by the side, pouring out a cup of tea for a drink.

“Is Mr. Wu willing to leave now?” Man Yue put his brush down, asking with a smile.

“Yes, just as you said, Mr. Wu agreed without asking too many questions.” However, Hei’er’s words were accompanied with a sigh, and his face was gloomy.

Looking at him, Man Yue laughed aloud. “Are you feeling that I’m helping Lu Zezhi to bully Mr. Wu?”

“Uhh…” Was this not the case?

“Let me ask you, when did you start feeling that Lu Zezhi had no good intentions towards the General?” Man Yue was still buried in scrolls of reports. He had to return with Guan Shanjin to the capital to make their reports, and these few days, he had been so busy that he had no time for any proper sleep. The time for this conversation with Hei’er had been forcibly squeezed out.

“When…” Hei’er frowned, muttering to himself after a moment. “Probably the third year when Mr. Lu came to Bastion City. Was that only two years ago?”

Hei’er counted on his fingers, a little surprised.

“Before that, didn’t you too think that Mr. Lu was noble and unsullied, and very well matched with our general? Although none of us knew why they would always refer to each other as teacher and student, in your heart, did you not think that it was because our general loved him too deeply, and dared not use his name in vain?” Man Yue glanced at him, derision curling around his smile.

“Yes, at that time, that was what everyone in the general’s estate thought too. Only when the General saw Mr. Lu did he truly start to feel content. At that time, didn’t you quite like Mr. Lu as well?” Hei’er went through his memories. Two years ago, everyone in the general’s estate had believed that Mr. Lu would be the future spouse of the General. After all, Mr. Lu’s appearance was so outstanding, his aura so peaceful, when standing next to the General, the two of them were like a drawing.

“I’ve never liked Lu Zezhi right from the start,” Man Yue snorted. He tightened his grip on the brush, and the handle snapped into two. Getting fed up, he pursed his lips, changing to a new brush.

“But you’ve always been biased towards him. Just these two years alone, all your actions have been helping him.” Hei’er finally put the questions that he had in his heart into words. Actually, most of them knew about the matter of Man Yue not liking Mr. Lu, as Man Yue had never concealed his disdain for the man in front of them.

Still, whenever Mr. Lu needed something, or had any accidents, Man Yue always wanted them to attend to him immediately, and settle any issues as soon as possible. This made all of them very confused, unable to understand why he chose to do so. Even this time, after Mr. Lu returned to the estate, Man Yue had instructed Han Xiao to provoke Wu Xingzi as much as possible, erasing any of his intentions to remain in Bastion City, and that she needed to chase him away.

If this was not a plot conceived for Mr. Lu’s benefit, then who else was it for? For fun? There was no need for that!

Man Yue laughed, then asked, “How did all of you manage to see through Mr. Lu?” Rather than saying that they saw through him, it was more appropriate to say that they finally understood that Mr. Lu was only leaving Guan Shanjin hanging. Although they did not understand why, people always tend to be biased, and so no one could stand Mr. Lu’s behaviour.

As for exactly how they finally saw through him… Shocked, Hei’er looked at Man Yue with sudden enlightenment.

Yes, in the past, Man Yue did not have any interaction with Mr. Lu. He was very indifferent towards him, treating him lukewarmly, and only observed everything from the sidelines. At that time, none of them could understand why Man Yue always kept a distance from Mr. Lu, who was so very good. However, later on, Man Yue’s attitude had changed. He was vocal about his detest for Mr. Lu, but was very conscientious over Mr. Lu’s matters, and even helped to bring Guan Shanjin and Mr. Lu together. With such developments, it took no time for most of the people to comprehend the situation. It was true that Mr. Lu had feelings for Guan Shanjin, but his attitude towards him was rather indifferent. Rather than saying that Guan Shanjin, due to his love, was unwilling to profane by using Mr. Lu’s name, it would be better to say that it was the attitude Mr. Lu put on that made Guan Shanjin unable to get closer.

As such, everyone’s attitude gradually changed.

“It was you… I see…” Hei’er nodded his head a few times, unsurprised. He just did not expect that Man Yue could have done this without leaving a trace. “So, that time when Mr. Lu fell from the horse and broke his leg, you refused to let me suppress the information, and wanted me to make the General return as soon as possible?”

“If all of you had suppressed the news, do you know what would have happened?”

What could have happened? Hei’er watched Man Yue give a frank laugh, and dared not answer too easily.

“Here, let me explain it to you. No matter how Mr. Lu had fallen from the horse, whether it was deliberate or not, in the end, he still had fallen. Could the general’s heart not ache? Breaking a leg is, after all, no small matter.” Man Yue crooked his finger at Hei’er, and Hei’er immediately handed him a cup of tea to wet his throat. After a few sips of tea, Man Yue continued, “At this time, if you were to suppress the news, and inform the General a few days later, would his heart not ache even more over Mr. Lu? He’d even punish all of you.”

“What you’re saying is…” Enlightened, Hei’er nodded his head continuously, but a frown appeared on his face the next moment. “Then this time, why did you have to urge Mr. Wu to leave in such an indirect manner?”

“Number one, it’s because of something to do with the capital. Don’t ask about this now, once Mr. Lu’s wedding is over, I’ll explain it to you. As for the second reason…” Man Yue’s round, fleshy chin wobbled, and he spoke wearily, “At the end of the day, it’s still for the benefit of our general. Did Rancui mention that the General now still hasn’t had any true affection for Mr. Wu?”

Rancui did. Hence, Hei’er could only nod.

Exactly how did the brains of these smart people develop? Every one of them had such complicated and twisty thoughts, and they could even stir up a storm despite the very simple matter.

“I grew up with the General, and I can be considered to understand what sort of person he is very well. In his life, he had never taken any love or feelings to heart. He knows how to pamper a person, but there’s a motive for his pampering. Look at how he pampers Mr. Lu, what is he trying to do? If he really wants to be with Mr. Lu, do you think that Mr. Lu can resist? He’s just playing around!” Man Yue then sighed, “Let me put it this way for you. When Wu Xingzi falls for the General, and only has him in his heart, the General would very quickly lose interest in him.”

“If it’s going to be like this, then why don’t we just separate the two people completely?” An image of the slight sorrow upon Wu Xingzi’s face flashed past Hei’er’s brain. How could he let this honest adviser’s heart be hurt?

“That’s impossible.” Man Yue waved his hand. “Guan Shanjin has already liked him. Do you dare snatch a person away from him? How many lives do you have? Huh?”

“But…”

“You think I’m happy to do these things? Why must I make myself so exhausted?”

“Yes, why?”

“Let me put it this way. The General is truly outstanding and talented, and well versed in both military and literary affairs. However, that’s only with regards to court matters as well as the battlefield. His brain has never been open to anything else, and has always been tightly shut since birth. Hence, he lacks a little of the emotions ordinary people should have. I’m only helping him chisel open that brain of his.”

Hei’er gasped slightly. “We’re breaking his head open?”

Man Yue choked, glaring at Hei’er. “Put your words better! This is called opening his eyes! If he doesn’t experience a freezing winter, would he be able to understand why the scent of a plum blossom is so lovely? He likes Wu Xingzi, but doesn’t know that he has already fallen for him. Are you willing to drag down Adviser Wu?”

“Oh…” Hei’er sighed, recalling the words Rancui had spoken to him.

Was all this done to bring the two people together?

That exquisite smile of Rancui made Hei’er shudder violently.