Chapter 65 The sword and the scabbard (1)
Chen Hui learned a part of the situation from Ah Er the next day.
A large part of the army had been stationed at the frontier previously. This time it looked like the battle was about to begin. So, Li Youde was sent there. The main task was to escort the army provision. And the soldiers who escorted the army provisions could participate in the fight when they reached the frontier. Li Youde went as a supervisor. His status was even higher than those of the generals at the frontier.
When Chen Hui heard AH Er say that he was escorting the army provisions, it couldn’t be said that she guessed wrong about delivering take away from a thousand miles away…
In the next few days, it was unknown whether Li Youde was really busy because he had to go on a journey or that he wanted to hide from Chen Hui, he was the same as before, one couldn’t even see his shadow. Chen Hui also didn’t care. Even if she was worried about Li Youde going to war, she still would go out often to play when she had nothing to do.
In fact, it was a good thing for Li Youde to leave for a few months. In a mountain without the lion, the monkey is the king. Wouldn’t that mean that she could do whatever she wanted at Li residence? But from another point of view, if Li Youde was not here, her protective umbrella would also not be here. Ordinary bigwigs may not dare to touch her, but what about Wang Youcai? She has enmity with Wang Youcai and he has the same status as Li Youde. Maybe he would really take advantage of Li Youde’s absence and make trouble for her. Should she find a place to hide during the time that Li Youde went away to the war on duty or…follow him there?
Chen Hui was shocked as soon as the last thought emerged. She didn’t even understand how she came up with this idea. There were really too many points to roast on. He went to fight a battle. It was really outrageous for her, a woman, to follow. If it was known by the soldiers that a woman was following among the troop, there probably would be dissatisfaction. Even if she could follow there smoothly, could she get used to the days at the frontier? Before, she couldn’t even eat meat, but now she not only has good food, she also has beautiful clothes and jewelry. It was really difficult to change from extravagance to frugality. Moreover, if she followed Li Youde, she would definitely be far behind the front line, but safety couldn’t be guaranteed. The moment she thought about the dangers of the war, her calves trembled.
The most important point was that it was impossible for Li Youde to let her follow. She could even imagine how Li Youde’s face of disbelief would mock and scold her for making a fool out of herself when she makes this request.
After refuting her unreasonable idea with several reasons, Chen Hui went out to play as usual when she had nothing to do. As for Jiang Bihan, she didn’t show up anymore after that day that she took the initiative to come look for her at Chrysanthemum Yard. She seemed to be living life in deep simplicity, but Chen Hui knew that she would also occasionally take a walk outside. She had once met her at the main entrance. However, the two only slightly nodded as a greeting and then became strangers again.
Because of the war, Chen Hui liked to go to places with a lot of scholars recently to listen to them discussing politics and the war. There was a place called Zhuzi Teahouse where scholars liked to go have tea and chat about current affairs. She would go early and find a corner to listen quietly. It was not that there were no women who came to have tea. So, she didn’t appear too abrupt when she comes here. She listened like this for a few days. She discovered that this Lord Li that she followed really has a bad reputation among the scholars.
Although, she also didn’t know whether they were speaking the truth or just exaggerating, since others became outrageous after hearing them and they could add more details, would it be mostly the truth? Anyway, what they spoke about was indeed very consistent with the Li Youde she knew…To sum it up, it was probably an upright high official at the court who pulled Li Youde’s trusted aide down from his position. In retaliation, he framed that official and took him to jail; another example example was, if an official didn’t evade when passing Li Youde and had been remembered by Li Youde, he would be demoted afterwards; other examples were accepting bribes, assigning his people and crimes like preying on other people…
Of course, aside from the crimes of Li Youde, the charges against the other eunuchs of the Department of Rites were also not light. Moreover, they were about the same as Li Youde. Anyway, to these scholars, there was not one good eunuch and the emperor has been deceived by these eunuchs.
Chen Hui felt that Li Youde has done a lot of bad things, but they probably wouldn’t be as serious as spoken by these scholars, otherwise, how could this Zhuzi Teahouse still be open? It would’ve long been invited to have tea…hiccup, she was talking about that kind of having tea.
- Have tea: be invited by the authorities and get a warning to behave ‘responsibly’.
Besides, most people were not optimistic about Li Youde going to the army as a supervisor. They say things like that Li Youde would definitely interfere with the matters of the army; by then, even a battle that could be won would lose and he may even cause everyone to die on the battlefield. A cocoon almost came out of Chen Hui’s ear from listening. If it wasn’t because she was afraid to be drowned by their saliva collectively, she might’ve rushed out and argued with them. Li Youde is indeed quite bad, but they can’t curse someone like that. Can’t they think of something nice?!
That day, the more Chen Hui listened, the angrier she got. She decided that this would be the last day that she would come here to listen to their bragging. She won’t come again in the future. Just when she was about to pay and leave, she heard something new and interesting that someone was discussing.
“…No matter how sharp a sword is, it needs a proper scabbard. A sword can injure people, it can also injure itself. Perhaps, it would injure itself when it shouldn’t. It is a great misfortunate. Hence, it is not an exaggeration to say that the scabbard is the most important and even more important than the sword.”
Chen Hui looked over. It was an unfamiliar scholar. She has never seen him during the few days that she came to Zhuzi Teahouse. Anyway, she doesn’t remember having seen him. It was rare for scholars to discuss weapons. However, when scholars talk about a certain object, they were probably pointing at other things.
Chen Hui sat back upright and was ready to hear what he had to say. However, Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu who were standing next to her moved suddenly. Xiao Liu stopped one person and said, “Gentleman, our lady doesn’t want to see you.”
Chen Hui retracted her gaze and looked forward, only to see Qi Shengwen smiling in front of her.
Chen Hui didn’t speak, but Qi Shengwen smiled and said, “Lady Chen, this humble one has something to tell Lady Chen.”
Chen Hui raised an eyebrow and said, “Gentleman Qi, you already know my identity now, right?”
Qi Shengwen was slightly startled.
Chen Hui knew that Li Youde didn’t make small movements that day at Tanmen Temple. Although, she didn’t see Qi Shengwen when she left Tanmen Temple that day, Xiao Liu had secretly told her that Li Youde had interrogated Qi Shengwen. Originally, they were almost about to fight, but her shoes happened to be found at that time, so, the matter ended like that. Therefore, Chen Hui could conclude that Qi Shengwen already knew who she is. Before, she didn’t have the nerve to say it. She is relieved now that he knows. She doesn’t want to cause harm to an innocent person.
It was just, why would Qi Shengwen still come to look for her after knowing her identity? In accordance with the attitude of the scholars towards Li Youde, he should stay away from her by his own initiative. It couldn’t be that he thought of himself as the brave hero who saves the princess from the evil dragon, right? It was indeed right that she is a princess and Li Youde could barely be considered an evil dragon, but no matter how you look at Qi Shengwen, he doesn’t seem like a brave hero. It would be more appropriate to say that he was a sorcerer who can use long-range spells…
“I have some understanding,” Qi Shengwen smiled shyly.
Chen Hui asked in surprise, “You are not afraid?”
Qi Shengwen asked puzzled, “What is there to be afraid about?”
Chen Hui said, “Lord Li is someone who watches his things very tight and can’t tolerate others coveting it.”
Qi Shengwen seemed to think about it before he understood what Chen Hui meant. He quickly smiled and said, “Lady Chen has thought too much. This humble one didn’t…didn’t covet Lady Chen.”
“But Li Youde won’t listen. It is a sin that you approach me,” Chen Hui said, “Gentleman Qi, you should go.”
Qi Shengwen stared for a long time at Chen Hui. Suddenly a strange smile appeared at the corners of his mouth as if he had found a treasure he had been searching for for a long time.
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