Chapter Fourteen: Choices
If it were in the modern age, Yang Lian would surely win an award—for his performance at this moment was so impeccable he might well be crowned Best Actor at the Golden Horse Awards.
The masked woman glared at him in anger. “Who are you calling your little wife? If you keep talking nonsense, I really will kill you!”
Yang Lian sighed, closed his eyes, and said, “If my death would make you happy, then do it.” With that, he cooperatively shut his eyes, presenting himself as someone entirely at her mercy.
The masked woman let out a cold laugh. “Do you take me for a fool? Do you think I’m that naïve little girl who knows nothing of the world?”
“I haven’t deceived you, have I?” Yang Lian replied with a smile.
She snorted and slowly withdrew her sword, unwilling to argue further, knowing all too well his silver tongue. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Perhaps only I know who you truly are. You rescued her—are you not afraid your secret will be exposed?”
Yang Lian was startled. He had long known this woman was no ordinary figure, but to realize she knew his true identity unsettled him deeply.
Suddenly, Yang Lian groaned, clutching his stomach and crying out in pain. The masked woman, suspecting nothing amiss, stepped forward with concern. “What’s wrong?”
She had barely finished speaking when Yang Lian, who had been poised to act, seized her wrist and, with a swift motion, pulled her toward him, flipping her beneath him and pinning her down.
Though the masked woman’s skills were formidable, she had not anticipated Yang Lian’s sudden attack. Caught off guard, she found herself blushing furiously, utterly unprepared to be held in the arms of a strange man.
A faint, alluring fragrance drifted from her body, intoxicating yet dangerous—Yang Lian knew well she was a rose with thorns, not to be plucked lightly. He harbored no indecent intentions; instead, he questioned her in a low voice, “How did you know who I am?”
She winced from the pain in her wrist, struggling in vain against his strength. Gritting her teeth, she whispered, “Let go, or you’ll regret it.”
“Regret? I, Yang Lian, have never regretted my actions.” He lowered his head, inhaling deeply. “What a lovely scent. I imagine a woman who smells this sweet must be a true beauty. Let me unveil your face and see for myself!”
With that, he leaned closer, gazing into her limpid, autumnal eyes.
“Courting death!” she spat coldly, and suddenly her hands trembled with inner power. Yang Lian felt a surge of force he could no longer suppress.
With a sneer, she broke free, her jade-like palm pressing lightly yet firmly to his chest. The strength seemed modest, but it was enough to send Yang Lian flying. In an instant, she slipped away like an eel.
Yang Lian landed heavily on the bed, which, luckily, was sturdy and well-padded. He wasn’t hurt in the slightest.
Sitting up and scratching his head, Yang Lian asked, “What martial art was that?”
The masked woman replied icily, “You truly have a death wish.” Her patience was running thin. If not for her promise to her grandfather, she would have killed Yang Lian then and there—or perhaps waited until she delivered him to Jinling before ending his life, which wouldn’t technically break her vow.
Resolving herself, she stepped forward and tapped several points on Yang Lian’s body. He immediately felt numb, his strength fading away.
“What have you done to me?” Yang Lian exclaimed in shock.
“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you—at least, not just yet. This is merely a small punishment.” The masked woman flushed with both shame and anger at the memory of his earlier actions. He was the first man ever to treat her so impertinently.
Yang Lian let out a breath of relief. “As long as you’re not going to kill me,” he said, missing entirely the “not yet” in her words. Not yet—meaning perhaps later—but for now, he cared little for what the future held.
The masked woman cast him a curious glance, uncertain what manner of man he truly was. He had risked his life to save Princess Huairou, yet now seemed so afraid of death? The thought passed quickly. She asked, “I came today to relay a message from my grandfather: I am to escort you to Jinling. Will you go with me, or with Princess Huairou?”
Yang Lian was dumbstruck. “You’re the one sent to fetch me?”
“That’s right,” she admitted.
“Well, this is quite the dilemma,” Yang Lian grinned, his mind made up. Teasingly, he continued, “Here I have a little beauty, there a great beauty—whom should I choose? Ah, such a difficult choice!”
The masked woman, exasperated and amused, spat, “Shameless scoundrel.”
“I suppose I’ll choose you, then,” Yang Lian said with a laugh.
“Very well. Let’s go now!” She was all fiery determination.
“Tomorrow,” Yang Lian demurred. “I’m not well today.”
“Oh? I see—you can’t bear to leave the princess.” The masked woman smiled, then caught herself, surprised at how much her demeanor had changed.
Yang Lian nodded. “You’re quite right.”
“Hmph, men are all the same,” the masked woman retorted, stepping back and leaping through the window, vanishing in a flash.
Yang Lian stood and paced to the window, lost in thought. This journey had been worthwhile, but there was one thing he couldn’t quite explain: how had he so coincidentally ended up rescuing the princess? He would need a plausible story. Pondering for a while, he began to feel drowsy and lay down again.
He slept until the sun was high. When he awoke, his nose was tickled—opening his eyes, he found Princess Huairou teasing him with a stalk of foxtail grass. She had changed into fresh clothes, her youthful spirits undampened by the previous day’s ordeal.
Seeing Yang Lian awake, Princess Huairou exclaimed brightly, “Ah, you’re awake!”
“Aren’t you hungry? Lüshang, bring the rice porridge!”
“Are you in pain? You lost so much blood yesterday.”
She chattered on, overwhelming Yang Lian with her barrage of questions.
Soon, the maid Lüshang arrived with rice porridge and several small dishes. Yang Lian, truly hungry, was eager to eat. But Princess Huairou stopped him. “Brush your teeth first.”
Toothbrushes, of course, existed—a simple wooden handle, bored with two rows of holes, ten in total, each filled with pig bristles. Much like modern toothbrushes, only the materials and craftsmanship differed. Dipping it in a mixture of willow twig and salt water, Yang Lian brushed his teeth, leaving his breath fresh. He rinsed with well water before finally sitting to eat.
As Yang Lian ate, Princess Huairou watched intently, making him somewhat uneasy. But then he thought, what was there to fear from a little girl? So he ate at a more leisurely pace.
He had just finished his porridge when Chen Keyan and the eunuch entered, bowing to Princess Huairou. “Your Highness.”
“No need for such ceremony,” she replied cheerfully, glancing at them before turning her gaze back to Yang Lian.
Under her scrutiny, Yang Lian quickly finished and said, “Your Highness, I’m well now and plan to leave today.”
“What? You’re leaving?” Princess Huairou’s face showed her surprise. “Where are you going?”
“I haven’t decided—perhaps Jinling, perhaps Kaifeng, or even Suzhou.” Yang Lian smiled.
“Kaifeng is so far, what’s there for you? And Suzhou is on the brink of war; the people of Wu and Yue are all villains—why go there? Come with me to Jinling. My father will thank you handsomely,” she urged.
Yang Lian waved her off. “I have other matters to attend to. I won’t be going with you.”
“Come on!” Princess Huairou pleaded coquettishly, leaving the maid Lüshang stunned—the princess, acting spoiled?
“No.” Yang Lian’s refusal was firm and absolute.
“You—!” Princess Huairou erupted in anger.
Maid Lüshang, sensing trouble, frantically signaled Yang Lian not to antagonize her further. But he paid no heed, and Lüshang closed her eyes in resignation.
Sure enough, Princess Huairou slammed the table—her hand showing no sign of pain—and pointed at Yang Lian, shouting, “I show you kindness, and you repay me with insolence! Guards! Tie him up!”
Chen Keyan and the eunuch exchanged uneasy glances; the guards also hesitated, uncertain whether to actually bind Yang Lian at the princess’s command.
Yang Lian burst out laughing, strode forward, scooped Princess Huairou into his arms, and gave her two hearty smacks on the bottom before setting her down and striding out. At the door, he called back, “Not bad—quite springy. If you disobey again, I’ll spank you once more.”
Chen Keyan and the maid stood in shock, gaping as Yang Lian strode away with long, confident steps.
Princess Huairou was even more stunned—how could he dare strike her, and in front of everyone? Fury and embarrassment overwhelmed her, and by the time she recovered, Yang Lian was gone. Wait—what had he said? He’d do it again? She fumed, longing to have him executed.
“You all saw nothing, isn’t that right?” Princess Huairou barked.
“Yes!” replied the guards.
Chen Keyan and the eunuch also hurried to respond, dreading the possibility of being implicated.
Princess Huairou stamped her foot in anger, her face flushed. “Bring him back! I’ll show him what I’m capable of!”
“At once!” Chen Keyan said, hurrying out.
Several guards struggled to suppress their laughter—at last, the spoiled princess had met her match.
“Out! All of you, out!” Princess Huairou’s mood was foul, and everyone scrambled to leave.
Meanwhile, as Yang Lian stepped outside, he ran into Wang Qu, the proprietor of the Delight Inn, accompanied by several attendants carrying trays.
“Greetings, Hero Yang! Thank you for your valiant rescue,” Wang Qu said gratefully. He had been suspected of colluding in the princess’s abduction, but thanks to Yang Lian’s efforts, it was clear to all that the true culprits were men from Wu and Yue, and he was exonerated.
“Master Wang, that’s unnecessary!” Yang Lian quickly helped him up, feeling unworthy of such deference.
“You saved my whole family, sir. It is more than deserved,” Wang Qu insisted. He stepped aside and lifted the cloth from the tray, revealing its contents. “This is but a small token of my gratitude. Please accept it.”
Yang Lian drew in a sharp breath. This was no modest gift—on the tray lay at least five gleaming gold ingots, each weighing no less than ten taels, for a total of fifty. Such generosity from the innkeeper was astonishing.