Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 62

It had to be said: this was a misunderstanding.

Xia Heng had woken in the middle of the night to discover her period had started. After a month in ancient times, she had almost forgotten the matter entirely.

It usually came at the end of the month. Perhaps it had been delayed last month and had only arrived today.

In the middle of the night, she had hastily opened the system store and exchanged points for sanitary pads. Before leaving today, she packed brown sugar and asked Chef Xiang for a piece of ginger.

The weather was cold anyway. Everyone might as well drink ginger-and-red-date tea to warm themselves.

Xia Heng pretended not to notice Cang Chuli watching her. She waited until he took a sip and said nothing, then quietly relaxed.

She handed a filled flask to Mo Qing, Mo Bai, and Chuqing, then took one for herself.

They could drink from them or carry them against their bodies for warmth.

Naturally, Cang Chuli would not reprimand her over such things.

Mo Qing and Mo Bai exchanged a glance. At last, they recognized the difference between themselves and Xia Heng.

On occasions like this in the past, they had simply asked the training ground for hot water for their master.

As for themselves, they endured. If they became unbearably thirsty, they made do with cold water.

The training ground’s kitchen was not close. By the time they carried hot water back, it was generally lukewarm.

Now, both men touched the warm flasks tucked behind their waists and despised themselves for ever questioning Xia Heng.

Xia Heng, meanwhile, was thinking about the incense another family had brought. Its smoke curled beautifully through the air and created an excellent atmosphere.

She could bring some next time.

While they worked, the other guests arrived one after another.

The Xiao Family’s pavilion stood opposite Cang Chuli’s. Madam Xiao had intended to send him hot tea, but when she saw Xia Heng’s preparations from a distance, she nodded approvingly.

Xiao Yaqing was equally impressed.

As expected of her sister. Ah Heng thought of everything!

But if Cang Chuli had been willing to release her, Xiao Yaqing would be the one enjoying Ah Heng’s company now.

She would go chat with her later. For the moment, she needed to rest and drink some hot tea.

She had stayed up late last night. She needed time to recover…

“General Cang, you never change!”

Huyan Lie looked over Cang Chuli’s pavilion and entered without invitation.

He walked straight to the chair beside Cang Chuli and sat down.

When it became clear he did not intend to leave immediately, Chuqing hurried forward to pour him tea.

Huyan Lie glanced at Chuqing, then at Xia Heng brewing tea in the corner.

“General Cang is truly blessed with women,” he said deliberately.

Chuqing had not expected such a remark. Her hand trembled, spilling several drops.

“Do the maids of the General’s Mansion not even know how to pour tea?

“Why not hand her over to me, General? After a few days of training, I guarantee she will return knowing how to serve you comfortably.”

Huyan Lie’s intentions were malicious.

Seeing Chuqing lower her head and retreat several steps with reddened eyes, Mo Bai was about to come forward.

“I don’t drink tea poured by men,” Huyan Lie said, lounging back in the chair like a scoundrel. “Tea never tastes as sweet unless a Huaxia woman pours it.”

Mo Bai clenched his fists. Mo Qing tugged him back and shook his head.

“What’s the matter, General Cang? I came to reminisce about old times, yet you won’t even give me a cup of tea?”

Xia Heng rose from the little clay stove and approached with a pot of freshly boiled tea.

With one hand, she drew out a handkerchief and wiped the spilled water from the table. Then she filled Huyan Lie’s cup, a professional smile still fixed on her lips.

Every movement was so precise that no one could find fault.

Only then did Huyan Lie lift the cup. He blew on it gently and took a shallow sip.

“This maid of yours is interesting. She reminds me of the Hancheng county magistrate’s daughter back then. At first, she was equally calm and dignified.”

Cang Chuli’s gaze instantly sharpened and shot toward him like a sword.

Huyan Lie smiled and waved a hand.

“I’m joking, General Cang. Don’t be so tense!”

“His Majesty has arrived!”

All the officials emerged from their pavilions to salute Dongfang Wei.

Huyan Lie and Cang Chuli were no exception.

Dongfang Wei told them to dispense with ceremony, delivered a few opening remarks, then announced the start of the day’s contest.

“In that case, I’ll return to my place. I hope the general will show us mercy later!”

Only then did Huyan Lie take his leave. Before departing, he gave Mo Bai a smiling glance.

“I nearly couldn’t stop myself from punching him!” Chuqing said furiously.

Xia Heng stared at her.

“What? Your eyes were so red, I thought he had made you cry.”

“Cry from anger? No. Restraining myself from hitting him took every bit of strength I had.”

Chuqing glared at Huyan Lie’s retreating back.

Mo Bai relaxed too. He had also thought Chuqing was about to cry.

The first contest was jiaodi wrestling.

It resembled modern wrestling, with two contestants pitting their strength against each other.

A square arena had been marked out with rope in the middle of the training ground. The contestants entered from the east and west sides.

“Batu,” Mo Qing said with a frown.

Xia Heng tugged Chuqing closer and quietly shifted over.

“Who’s Batu?”

“Tujue’s strongest warrior and their finest jiaodi wrestler. Zhao Huo is in danger.”

Prince Zhao looked at his younger son below and grew furious.

Cang Chuli had lured the boy away when he was barely in his teens. Now he had grown tall, handsome, and admirable in every respect—except that he never wanted to come home!

How long had Cang Chuli been back in the capital?

Yet his son had returned home only once. He had not even stayed two full days before rushing back to the army, claiming he could not afford to fall behind in training.

His wife had suggested sending a woman to whisper persuasion into Cang Chuli’s ear. The woman had returned in less than a day, and Prince Zhao had even been forced to pay three hundred gold taels!

That was the heir of Prince Zhao’s household!

The younger son of the Cang Family had spirited him away years ago. Now the boy refused to return of his own accord!

How was Prince Zhao supposed to answer to the boy’s mother?

“Batu, champion wrestler of Tujue, versus Zhao Huo of the Zhenbei Army’s Lion Division!”

The referee announced the contestants.

Hearing his son introduced by his military title, Prince Zhao felt indignant—yet a secret pride slowly filled his heart.

The two men entered the arena bare-chested and wearing only long trousers, then took their stances.

At the command to begin, both charged toward the center and grappled.

Zhao Huo was not as large as Batu. He lowered his center of gravity and planted himself firmly, meeting Batu’s strength with his arms while looking for a chance to sweep his legs.

Batu crouched in a horse stance like a small mountain. His right hand reached for the belt at Zhao Huo’s back, but Zhao Huo twisted aside and evaded him.

The battle in the arena was fierce, and the audience watched with mounting tension.

Prince Zhao could not help sweating for his son.

Before joining the army, the boy had loved nothing more than composing poetry and painting. When had he ever done anything like this?

“The difference in weight is too great,” Mo Qing murmured.

“Not necessarily. Zhao Huo is more agile,” Mo Bai countered.

One careless movement allowed Batu to seize Zhao Huo’s belt.

Batu wrapped both arms around him, hoisted him into the air, and prepared to throw him over his back.

Zhao Huo pushed off in the same direction as Batu’s momentum and flipped straight over his shoulder!

“Excellent!”

Prince Zhao finally shouted aloud.

After vaulting over Batu, Zhao Huo hooked a foot toward his leg. Having failed to throw him, Batu hurriedly steadied his center of gravity.

The two fell into another stalemate.

Cang Chuli drank some ginger-and-red-date tea and glanced toward Huyan Lie.

Huyan Lie was watching the arena with the same smiling expression. Cang Chuli withdrew his gaze.

They remained locked together for a quarter of an hour.

At last, Zhao Huo began to tire. Batu found an opening and hurled him out of the arena.

“Excellent!” Huyan Lie shouted as well.

“The first jiaodi match goes to Batu of Tujue!”

“It’s all right, son! Come home and eat more! You can still grow!”

Zhao Huo looked up at his father shouting from the stands and smiled in embarrassment.

“Excellent!”

Thunderous applause swept the training ground.

Zhao Huo had lost, but the two men had given everyone a rare and spectacular wrestling match.