Changliu and Ye Feisheng - Chapter 10

Sangluo returned.

Travel-worn, she had barely emerged from the Pavilion of Secrets before I dragged her aside.

“What? I just finished reporting to the young mistress. Let me breathe!”

“I need you to do something.”

“What?”

“Take her medical records to Great Tan and show them to Zhu Jun’an.”

“Can’t.”

“Why not?”

“She’s given me another assignment. I don’t have time.”

“Make time!”

Sangluo rescued her collar from my grip. “Changliu, I can’t split myself in two. Unless you’d like to tear me in half? One half can do your errand, the other hers.”

“…Tsk.”

“What’s the matter? It’s only a delivery. You can’t find anyone for something that simple?”

“No. Everyone’s busy.”

“Everyone’s busy, but I’m not? Why come to me instead of anyone else?”

“Because everyone’s busy, and I thought, since you’re traveling anyway…”

“Thanks for remembering I’m a person.”

“Tsk.”

I shoved her away irritably. “Useless. I’ll find someone else.”

“With that foul temper, you’d have been beaten to death years ago if you weren’t the greatest fighter alive.”

“None of your business. What does she want you to do, anyway?”

“Oh, take Zhongli Feng on an educational journey, all the way from Great Qi to Great Tan.”

“…”

“Huh? Wait. Where did you say you wanted those records taken?”

—

Sword raised, I chased Sangluo around the courtyard.

She yelled at the top of her lungs.

“I’m exhausted! I wasn’t refusing on purpose! I’m too tired to think. I said no without thinking. Do you have to hold a grudge?”

“I’ll cut you down, you bastard!”

“Help! Young Mistress! Save me!”

Seeing our mistress wheel herself out, Sangluo threw herself behind the chair.

I lowered my sword at once.

My mistress glanced at Frostmoon Sky, then at Sangluo hiding behind her.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing. We’re only playing.”

“Who’s playing?” Sangluo shouted. “That sword cuts through iron as easily as soft clay! You’ve sliced half my hair crown off!”

I glared at her.

My mistress sounded resigned. “Enough. Put the sword away.”

“Yes, Young Mistress.”

I sheathed it immediately.

She told Sangluo, “Go and rest. You’ve worked hard.”

“You’re the only one who’s good to me!”

Whimpering theatrically, Sangluo fled.

We were alone in the courtyard.

My mistress beckoned. “Come here.”

I approached.

She looked up. “Let me guess. You wanted her to take my records to Zhu Jun’an?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t give them to her.”

“Why?” I cried. “She’s going to Great Tan anyway. It’s on her way!”

“…Give them to Zhongli Feng.”

“Huh?”

It took me a while to catch up.

“Why Zhongli Feng?”

“Because she will be Great Qi’s next sovereign. I want her to learn more, meet useful people, and gain experience handling different matters.”

“…You’ve thought of everything. Wait. The next sovereign? But she isn’t even the heir.”

My mistress laughed softly.

“If I say she will be the next sovereign, she will be.”

“True.”

Whatever she said always came true.

I had never doubted that.

I placed her medical records in Zhongli Feng’s hands myself.

Although only eight, the girl had a steady gaze and a composed bearing. After her time at Immortal Manor, she no longer carried herself like a trampled weed. Dressed in fine clothes, she was beginning to look like the imperial child she was.

“These are my mistress’s medical records.”

I handed over the brocade box. “Protect them with your life. Do you understand? Don’t let anyone who has no business seeing them sneak a look.”

Zhongli Feng took the box.

She stroked its surface, then looked up. “May I read them?”

“Yes.”

With my permission, she immediately opened it and took the records out.

She carefully read every page.

I watched curiously. “Can you understand them?”

“I’ve studied a little, but not deeply.”

She replaced each record and closed the box.

“Teacher’s condition doesn’t look promising. Changliu, Zhu Jun’an isn’t a goddess. You must prepare yourself.”

“I know she isn’t a goddess. But you must do everything you can!”

“Of course I will. These are my teacher’s legs. How could I treat this lightly?”

“Good. You’re such a sensible child.”

I patted her head.

She stared at me speechlessly.

“Changliu, that foul temper of yours… It’s a good thing you’re the greatest fighter alive. Otherwise someone would have beaten you to death long ago.”

“Has Sangluo possessed you? Sangluo, get out of Zhongli Feng!”

Zhongli Feng had no response.