Chapter Ten: Pretending to Be a Big Shot

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This boastful, braggart tiger—what is he even trying to show off? He’s making a spectacle of himself and leaving others embarrassed!
Tch! What’s there to flaunt? He’s just a bit sturdier, that’s all.
Is that it? And yet he dares to parade it around like he’s something special! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah! Bah!
I’m much fairer than you, but do you see me showing off?
Yana Li blushed bright red and turned her back. She bit her delicate lip, hesitated for a long while, and only then, bashfully and slowly, took off her deerskin clothes. Still, she kept her undergarments on as she slipped into the bath.
“Hey, you little brat, are you here to wash your clothes or take a bath?” Lu Hu lounged comfortably in the tub, grinning as he teased Yana Li.
“You shameless thing! Keep your thieving eyes honest and don’t you dare sneak a glance!” Yana Li squirmed in discomfort, then slipped off her underclothes underwater.
“I’d like to behave, but my eyes have a mind of their own, rolling all over the place. I really can’t control them,” replied Lu Hu with a mock-serious face, playing the rogue.
Yana Li had no patience for such words and simply closed her eyes, ignoring him.
After soaking for a while longer, both their faces glistened with sweat. Yana Li’s delicate, oval face was flushed with a healthy glow, her beauty more pronounced than ever.
Lu Hu’s heart surged with passion; he could restrain himself no longer. With a splash, he leaped from his tub into Yana Li’s…
…
…
The next morning.
Lu Hu donned shining armor and sat astride a tall black horse, the saddle bearing the recovered saber.
Yana Li was also dressed in brilliant armor.
Early that morning, Pei Erbi had sent over a set of the latest fashionable women’s attire. When Yana Li put it on, her shoulders were half-bared, the soft white curves of her skin enticingly revealed. Lu Hu’s interest was immediately piqued; his eyes glued to her, green with envy, utterly transfixed.
When he tried to get handsy, Yana Li half-seriously kicked him a few times, sending him off with a mischievous laugh, rubbing his bruised behind.
The women of Dasheng truly know how to live—using as little fabric as possible, letting fair skin gleam in the open, dazzling men until they lose their very souls.
So Yana Li ended up putting on the shining armor.
With her beauty concealed, Lu Hu finally found the focus to prepare for their journey.
Behind them followed a two-horse carriage, reserved for honored guests at the post station—usually the wives and children of wealthy or noble families. This was meant for Yana Li, but she stubbornly refused to ride inside, so it remained empty for now.
Eighteen captured horses were loaded with goods.
The Inspector of Eastern Commandery was currently touring Danjiang County and had summoned Lu Hu for an audience.
Hukou Fort fell under Danjiang’s jurisdiction, which in turn was governed by the Binzhou Prefecture.
Pei Erbi, the Left and Right Commanders, the Chief Historian, the Military Advisor, the Captain, and other officers from the Provincial Garrison all escorted them more than five miles before reluctantly taking their leave.
That ever-ill Captain Zhang, who always had an upset stomach at the first sign of battle, even forced two bolts of silk into the carriage for Lu Hu, who could not refuse no matter how much he protested.
He said it was pin money for his sister-in-law, Yana Li: “You may not acknowledge me as your brother, but I recognize you as my brother. If you refuse, it’s as good as publicly slapping your elder brother’s face.”

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The two of them went back and forth, arguing and dodging, neither willing to back down, but in the end, Lu Hu couldn’t bring himself to offend him in public and had to accept.
After all, it was two months’ salary…
“Big pighead, what’s this ‘pin money’ thing? Is it something to eat?” Yana Li, a natural beauty born in a harsh land, had never known the meaning of cosmetics.
“Mm-hmm, it’s delicious! When we get to the county town, I’ll buy you some to eat. Eat as much as you want, and when you’re full, I’ll eat you.”
“If it’s so good, you should eat it too—why eat me? You’re such a big pighead, so bad!” she giggled.
“That’s specially for girls. If I eat it, people would laugh at me. I’d lose face.”
“Oh!” Yana Li pondered deeply, trying hard to imagine what kind of delicacy this ‘pin money’ could be.
They chatted and joked along the way, bickering and laughing, until before they knew it, they reached the edge of the county town.
Danjiang was one of Dasheng’s frontier counties, surrounded by earthen walls.
But Dasheng, confident in its military might, had built only simple, loosely stacked walls, not particularly sturdy.
A handful of soldiers lounged lazily at the city gate, perfunctorily checking all who passed.
But when they saw this group arrive with a carriage, horses, and laden packs, they suddenly perked up, as if injected with energy.
“Hey, stop! Stop for inspection! Show your entry permit,” the petty officer commanded with arrogant authority.
“Lu Hu, the Captor General, on official duty to see Inspector Gao.” Lu Hu knew their habits well and immediately played up his status, hoping for an easy passage.
“I don’t care who you are or who you’re seeing—by law, you must show your permit to enter.” The petty officer’s face said it all: ‘On my turf, not even the king can pass without my say-so.’
Lu Hu handed over his badge and permit.
The petty officer scrutinized the permit for ages before snapping it shut and slapping it against his palm. “The permit only says you’re to see the Inspector. It says nothing about a pack train. Are you using official business as a cover for smuggling?”
To pass here, you had to pay a bribe—they played dumb, always ready to make trouble!
This abuse of power made Lu Hu’s anger boil over. He glared coldly and replied, “The horses and goods are war spoils I captured, to be presented to Inspector Gao as military provisions. If you have any doubts, come with me and ask him yourself.”
Think you can squeeze a bribe from me? Dream on!
But the petty officer was still unwilling. Ordinary travelers never carried much worth extorting, but merchants could be squeezed for something.
It had been days since he’d had a good haul, and now, faced with such a rich caravan, he was loath to let it pass without some profit.
“Does that little officer have a badge? Look at him—so fair and pretty! Even more beautiful than the best courtesan in Binzhou. Could he be a spy sent to seduce someone?”
Several soldiers jeered, “Get down, let us have a feel—see if you’re a man or a woman.”
“Look at those cheeks—soft enough to pinch water from! Must be a girl. If he’s a boy, he’s a pretty boy, heh heh…”
With leering grins, they closed in to drag Yana Li from her horse.
“Ah…” A shriek rang out. One soldier had barely touched Yana Li’s thigh when she drew her blade and cut him down.
“Murder! Murder! Treason! General Lu Hu is rebelling!” the soldiers shouted as they scurried into the city like startled rats. With a bang, the inner guards slammed the gates shut.

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On the wall, several soldiers poked their heads above the parapet, bows drawn, arrows aimed.
“Darling, stay close to me,” Lu Hu called, galloping toward the city gate. He snatched up his saber and, with a mighty swing, split the gate open and charged inside.
Yana Li followed right behind, blade flashing, the packhorses thundering after them.
The post driver cracked his whip, bringing up the rear.
They raced down the main road toward the county office, scattering pedestrians left and right—none dared stand in their way.
As they neared the county office, a squad of city guards rushed out to meet them. Leading them was a martial officer in dark armor, mounted on a mottled horse, a swallowtail shield on his left arm, a battle axe in his right. He shouted, “Rebels! Surrender at once!”
Oh, my God—why did that voice sound so familiar? Isn’t that my father? Lu Hu was stunned.
His father should be in Binzhou—how could he be here? Was his mind playing tricks on him?
No, it was him. That voice, so familiar since childhood, unmistakable.
Lu Hu reined in his horse, thrust his saber into the ground, removed his helmet, and called out loudly, “Father! Father, it’s me! It’s your son!”
He leapt from his saddle and knelt.
Lu Song reined in his horse, pointed his axe at his son, and barked, “Seize this scoundrel!”
Several guards rushed over and bound Lu Hu.
Yana Li’s temper flared—he was kneeling to his father, and yet the old man still ordered his men to tie up her beloved. This old man was truly wicked.
If she wanted to save her husband, she’d have to capture the leader first. With a cry, she raised her blade and charged at Lu Song.
Lu Song blocked her strike with his shield and swung his axe at her.
But Yana Li was quick—twisting her waist, leaning forward, she swept her blade and severed Lu Song’s wrist at the root.
Lu Song screamed as his axe flew from his hand—his severed hand still clutching the handle.
Bound, Lu Hu was just being dragged to his feet and witnessed the scene in horror. He cried out, stomping in panic, “Princess, stop! That’s my father! That’s your father-in-law! Ah—!”
Yana Li was stunned, her mind momentarily blank.
The guards, never very brave to begin with, were terrified by her ferocity and unorthodox fighting. They waved their weapons and shouted, but dared not attack.
Lu Song clutched his arm, howling in pain.
Lu Hu broke free from the guards and rushed over. “Darling, save him, quickly! He’s my father!”
Yana Li’s face turned deathly pale. She dropped her blade and gripped Lu Song’s severed arm with both hands.
Blood still gushed from the wound.