Chapter 43: A Lifetime as Your Little Sweetheart

Trying to mediate did no good; as long as those two powder kegs didn’t explode, it was better to feign ignorance and wait for things to settle naturally. Fortunately, the sisters Pearl and Jade were gentle and gracious, showing no interest in bickering with the two maids, leaving them with nothing to stir up.

Lost in thought, Lu Hu placed Little White on the table and began feeding it. After the meal, he said to Zhu Xiaoying, “Go give that wretch Sun Zi something to eat. Don’t let him starve to death—he’s still useful.”

Sun Zi had spent the entire night shackled by both hands and feet, unable to sit or lie down, forced to stand leaning against a pillar—he was already tortured beyond recognition.

Lu Hu didn’t dare let Malihong feed him. This hot-tempered woman could lose her temper at any moment, and if she unleashed another round of her deadly, whirlwind twin kicks, the wretch might not survive the additional injuries.

Malihong called in two cooks to clear the table. Lu Hu asked her to fetch brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Just as they were busy, a sudden wail came from Sun Zi.

Everyone turned to look, and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Sun Zi’s face was covered in blood, his body doubled over as he wailed like a ghost. Outwardly, Zhu Xiaoying seemed taciturn and honest, but inside, she was far more ruthless. Sun Zi, utterly exhausted and aching all over, found eating difficult with the heavy stocks around his neck—soup and porridge dribbled down his chin, soaking the wood and trickling into his collar.

Disgusted to the point of retching by the froth at his mouth, Zhu Xiaoying suddenly recalled the humiliations he’d forced upon her in the past: not only making her knead his legs, but even rubbing his filthy feet...

Anger surged, boldness followed. She plunged the small spoon into the bowl, curled her fingers into five pointed claws, and raked them savagely down his face.

With a vicious swipe, her nails dug so deep that shreds of raw flesh clung beneath them, leaving five bloody welts across Sun Zi’s face.

He gritted his teeth in silence, fearing even worse torments lay ahead.

Zhu Xiaoying grew even more enthusiastic, feeding him a spoonful with each scratch—vertical, horizontal, relentless. Before long, Sun Zi’s face had blossomed into a swollen, crimson flower.

Within a day, he’d tumbled from paradise into hell. Overwhelmed by humiliation, Sun Zi shed bitter tears.

You old dog, accustomed to lording it over others, still dare to cry? I’ll see you choke those tears down, Zhu Xiaoying thought fiercely. Gnashing her teeth, she gathered her strength in her right arm and seized his flabby belly with a death grip, squeezing and twisting as if playing with steel balls.

Sun Zi could endure no more; he howled in agony.

Having seen their father so cruelly tormented, the sisters Pearl and Jade hated Sun Zi to the core. Witnessing his current plight brought them immense satisfaction and gratitude towards Lu Hu, to the point of wishing they could pledge themselves to him.

Sun Zi’s piteous cries only fueled their hatred further—they longed to rush over and vent their anger with a few blows themselves. But their upbringing as proper ladies held them back from stooping to scratch and claw.

Not so for Malihong, who, unburdened by such scruples, leapt into action again—brisk and tempestuous, she dashed over and delivered a flying kick, landing squarely on Sun Zi’s nose.

Though a woman, her strength was enough to send blood streaming from his nose, though at least his face wasn’t flattened.

With her supple waist and legs, Malihong unleashed a theatrical barrage of kicks. The damage may have been mild, but the area she covered was wide—and at least half of her flying feet, whether by accident or intent, landed on Zhu Xiaoying’s face.

Zhu Xiaoying suffered these silent blows, ending up battered and grimy. She realized Malihong was seizing the opportunity to get at her and began plotting revenge, her grip on Sun Zi’s belly loosening naturally.

Sun Zi finally breathed a sigh of relief; he could grit his teeth through any other torment, but the pain of having his belly pinched was truly unbearable.

Zhu Xiaoying, having dressed herself up with care that morning, now found her lovely face smeared and bruised by Malihong’s relentless kicks, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. She could do nothing but crouch on the floor, clutching her head.

It was an opportunity not to be missed. Quick as a flash, Malihong raised her leg high and brought her heel down hard on Zhu Xiaoying’s crown.

With a single scream, Zhu Xiaoying was knocked out cold.

Malihong also cried out, collapsing to the floor and rubbing her bruised heel.

A wild, self-destructive scuffle, leaving both sides worse for wear.

And so, the real beneficiary was the old scoundrel Sun Zi.

“You two have played enough. Don’t kill the wretch—help each other apply some healing ointment to your wounds, then get on with your duties,” Lu Hu declared, and the chaos was quelled.

...

Ink, brush, paper, and inkstone were laid out on the table. The Pearl sisters seated themselves behind it, ready to write.

“You two, stand on either side and grind the ink,” Lu Hu instructed the maids, then called out, “Someone, come in!”

Yakeshi and Shi Zhenxiang, who had been standing outside the tent, lifted the curtain and entered.

“Have Shi Gengxiang bring in the seven Xiangs. Each of you state your own and your men’s achievements. We’ll record them and later assign rewards and promotions,” Lu Hu ordered before returning to his tiger-skin seat to play with Little White.

One by one, the likes of Shi Taixiang and Shi Henxiang gave their names. Pearl and Beauty snickered quietly as they wrote, finding the “Divine Lord” endlessly amusing for coming up with such unforgettable names...

There were over twelve hundred soldiers, to be organized into twelve companies of a hundred. Five company commanders were still needed, and soon five were chosen based on their merits.

Lu Hu mused: No more names with “fragrant” in them, but An Shizhu was memorable enough. Let’s name them after that.

“You five, the Divine Lord bestows new names upon you: An Shima, An Shiniu, An Shilu, An Shiji, and An Shitu,” he announced, assigning them each an animal name.

He thought: powerful names like Tiger or Leopard are reserved for the gods—these men aren’t qualified to use them.

The animal kingdom, indeed! The five new company commanders thanked him delightedly.

Each of the twelve commanders selected ten squad leaders, who were all registered by the Pearl sisters—a laborious process.

“Kexi, Zhenxiang, Gengxiang, take the twelve commanders and organize the companies. Once the units are formed, assemble them before me,” Lu Hu ordered.

“Yes!” came the chorus of replies as they marched out.

Pearl and Beauty, holding the freshly written rosters, approached Lu Hu’s tiger-skin throne with graceful steps, presenting the papers with both hands.

Each of the twelve pages listed a company commander at the top, with the names of their squad leaders neatly below, each man’s merits noted in small characters—clear and orderly.

Their delicate calligraphy flowed like clouds and water, fresh and elegant.

“Excellent—your writing is as graceful as your person. With you two as my secretaries, how could I fail?” Lu Hu praised sincerely.

“Divine Lord, then let me be your secretary for life, always by your side. Is that alright?” Pearl’s bright, almond-shaped eyes gazed affectionately at Lu Hu, filled with longing.

I fear your parents might object, and even more, I fear upsetting Yana Li. Not wishing to sadden the gentle girl, Lu Hu blurted, “Alright, alright!”

“You must keep your word, Divine Lord. Your promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold—you’re not allowed to tease me,” Pearl pressed, nailing down his assent.

“Come, let’s visit your parents,” Lu Hu said, changing the subject.

Seeing Lu Hu enter with their daughters, Lady Guanyin—seated by the bed, speaking with her husband—rose quickly and curtsied gracefully. “Your humble woman, Guanyin, greets the Divine Lord!”

Her beautiful face bore a look of eager flattery, with none of yesterday’s haughty demeanor.

Lu Hu was taken aback. Guanyin had called herself a humble woman—had she lowered her own status of her own accord?

Quan Dounan tried to struggle up, but Lu Hu hurried over to gently press him down. “No need for such formality, Your Majesty—mind your injuries.”

Quan Dounan gripped Lu Hu’s hands tightly, his gaze full of the pride an elder feels for an exceptional son-in-law. “Divine Lord, you not only saved my life, but my entire family’s. Please, don’t call me emperor anymore—my tribe is so weak that I am deeply ashamed.”

He sighed heavily.

“If you would not abandon us, our tribe would gladly follow you and obey your every command,” Lady Guanyin added earnestly, her tone nearly pleading.

The couple had discussed it: after years of wandering, relying on others, suffering countless humiliations, the dream of restoration was far away—at this rate, even survival was uncertain. The Divine Lord was capable and magnanimous—following him might be their tribe’s only chance to grow and prosper. They just didn’t know if he would accept them. Quan Dounan, as a man, was too embarrassed to ask, so Lady Guanyin seized the moment and humbled herself to make the request.

They’ve come to me—I could hardly refuse. Lu Hu nodded. “Very well. Let’s join forces and carve out a realm together.”

What a fine son-in-law! I’ll slaughter a fat hen for you later, Lady Guanyin thought, seizing Lu Hu’s hand, unable to express her boundless joy.

Overjoyed, Pearl forgot her parents and sister were present. She threw her arms around Lu Hu from behind, stood on tiptoe, and showered his cheeks with kisses.

Such frank affection before any formal betrothal left both prospective in-laws a little embarrassed, but their hearts brimmed with delight.

“Uncle, Auntie, I have military matters to attend to in the main tent. Please, uncle, take good care of yourself,” Lu Hu said, blushing as Pearl clung to him.

He didn’t even call them Father and Mother, or at least Father-in-law and Mother-in-law—just Uncle and Auntie.

Lady Guanyin kept her thoughts to herself, smiling as she waved him off. “Go, my good child—don’t tire yourself. Let Pearl and Jade help you more.”

Pearl wrapped both arms around Lu Hu’s arm, clinging to his side, and replied solemnly on his behalf, “Mother, your good child is off to work now.”

This lively, adorable girl was so uninhibited that Lu Hu’s heart brimmed with affection. He let her lean on his shoulder and hang from his arm, smiling sweetly as they departed.

Jade comforted her father with a few words, then quickly followed after them.

Outside the tent, the guards of Changli Kingdom were also assembling...