Chapter 198 – Petty Man
“What a petty man,” Yan Xiaosi muttered to herself, then said to Tian Dazhuang, “Brother Dazhuang, let’s just go with them. I’m sure the War King isn’t the kind of person who can’t distinguish right from wrong. Once our identities are verified, he surely won’t trouble us.”
Knowing that ordinary people shouldn’t contend with officials, Tian Dazhuang had no choice but to surrender. Under the escort of Long San and Long Si, they quickly entered the military camp at Tongluo Plain.
Long Yi was waiting at the camp entrance. Seeing Long San and Long Si escorting Yan Xiaosi and Tian Dazhuang, he approached them and glanced at Yan Xiaosi, “The general has ordered a personal interrogation of this young man.”
Seeing that Yan Xiaosi was being taken away by Long Yi, Tian Dazhuang became anxious. “What about me?”
“You’ll come with us,” Long Si replied.
Tian Dazhuang, very concerned, grabbed Yan Xiaosi’s arm. “Officers, can I go with Xiaosi? We are villagers from a place near the Four Sisters Mountains. I can explain to the War King.”
Long Yi glanced at Tian Dazhuang holding Yan Xiaosi’s arm and frowned slightly. Knowing that the master’s anger stemmed from Tian Dazhuang’s involvement, letting Tian Dazhuang go with Yan Xiaosi to meet the master would only make things worse.
“The general only requested to interrogate this young man.”
Realizing it was getting late and any further delay would mean returning after dark, Yan Xiaosi, worried Ms. Zhong and others might be looking for her, hurriedly reassured Tian Dazhuang, “Brother Dazhuang, I’m an honest citizen. I’ll just explain things to the War King. Don’t worry about me. You go with these two officers.”
She forcefully freed herself from Tian Dazhuang’s grip and followed Long Yi to the commander’s tent.
“Master, Young Master Yan has been brought here.”
“Let him in.”
Hearing the voice from inside the tent, Long Yi stepped aside and politely gestured for Yan Xiaosi to enter. “Young Master Yan, please come in.”
Yan Xiaosi glared at him. “You do remember me, Long Yi. What does your master want by bringing me to the camp?”
Not daring to speculate or speak out of turn about the master’s intentions, Long Yi replied, “Young Master Yan, my master is inside. If you have any questions, please ask him directly.”
Realizing Long Yi wouldn’t say more, Yan Xiaosi kept quiet, lifted the tent curtain, and stepped inside.
The spacious tent contained only Long Yu. He was dressed in a dark robe with a subtle floral pattern and wore the same exquisite mask, but his demeanor was more somber in the military setting.
“Commoner Yan Xiaosi greets the War King,” she said, approaching Long Yu to offer a salute.
Long Yu was studying a tactical map, holding a small flag for marking positions. Hearing Yan Xiaosi’s words, he unintentionally clenched his hand, snapping the flag in two.
Yan Xiaosi thought to herself about Long Yu’s pettiness. This man took offense because she had mentioned his kidney deficiency in front of Tian Dazhuang and that they used to bathe together in the same pond.
“Yan Xiaosi, come here,” Long Yu commanded through gritted teeth, tossing the broken flag onto the sand table and sitting down on a soft couch at the far end of the tent. He beckoned Yan Xiaosi over.
Seeing his seductive demeanor, Yan Xiaosi’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the War King had realized she was a girl?
Considering the situation, she thought it unlikely. Previously, to counter Yan Bozhang, she had dressed as a girl, but her feminine features were still underdeveloped. To disguise her gender, she had even stuffed buns into her chest. Having played the part so convincingly, she doubted the War King would suspect her true gender.
“War King, what do you want to do? I don’t engage in homosexual relationships.”
“Homosexual relationships?” Long Yu frowned, not understanding the term.
Yan Xiaosi chuckled, “Homosexual relationships mean what people call ‘the passion of the cut sleeve.’ I don’t have such inclinations, War King. You should find someone else.”
Understanding the meaning of ‘homosexual relationships,’ Long Yu’s expression twisted under his mask.
“Yan Xiaosi, you’re too full of yourself. You don’t have a shred of meat on you; what could possibly attract me to you? Rest assured, I’m not so desperate.”
Relieved, Yan Xiaosi patted her chest and said, “War King, your wisdom and bravery are admirable. Indeed, there’s nothing appealing about me.”
After his sarcastic remarks, Long Yu expected to feel better, but seeing Yan Xiaosi patting her chest only twisted his mood further.
“My leg pain has flared up. Yan Xiaosi, come and give me a massage.”
Yan Xiaosi, noticing the time, was reluctant. Treating the War King would mean returning late.
“War King, if your leg hurts, you can summon Murong, the divine doctor. He’s renowned in Great Chu and surely better than me. It’s already afternoon, and I need to get back.”
“Murong Xiaojian doesn’t know massage techniques. My legs are in severe pain. If you relieve it, I will immediately let you leave. Otherwise, given your suspected status as barbarian spies, you won’t be leaving the camp tomorrow morning.”
Biting her lip, Yan Xiaosi coolly replied, “War King, you have a way with words. Didn’t you just say I was an honest citizen?”
“If I say you’re an honest citizen, then you are. If I say you’re a barbarian spy, then you are,” Long Yu declared.
Yan Xiaosi’s face darkened halfway. What an unreasonable man.
“Yan Xiaosi, are you coming over, or will you keep standing there?”
Yan Xiaosi glared at the man clothed in luxury, feeling infuriated but smiling outwardly. “War King, since you hold me in such high regard, I’m certainly willing to serve you.”
Forcing down her anger, she approached Long Yu with a smile and squatted in front of him, placing her hands on his knees and gently applying pressure.
After a while, Yan Xiaosi said, “War King, your legs seem to have some coldness. Lie down, and I’ll give you a proper massage.”
Accustomed to long hours on horseback, Long Yu did have some chronic issues in his legs. Feeling relief from her initial touches, he complied and lay down on the couch.
