Chapter 66 Virtues is one foot tall, the devil ten-foot (1)
- Virtues is one foot tall, the devil ten-foot: it takes constant vigilance to stave off evil
“Lord, this Lady Chen is being serious,” Chen Hui sighed and said, “How can this Lady Chen not worry now that lord is going to such a far place without anyone to take care of lord? Lord, don’t worry. This Lady Chen won’t cause trouble for lord.”
Hearing Chen Hui’s downplaying tone as if she was talking about going to an outing with him, Li Youde couldn’t control his anger.
“Lady Chen, I let you act wilfully usually, but this is a war. People will die. Why would you, a woman, go and join the fun?” Li Youde said.
Chen Hui said, “It is not joining the fun. This Lady Chen only…doesn’t want to be separated from lord. This war may last for a few months. Not seeing lord for so many days and nights, this Lady Chen will miss lord.”
What not wanting to be separated…really…really speaking nonsense!
Li Youde’s surging anger was somehow vented. Even his tone became gentler unconsciously, “Humph, you probably look forward for me to leave for you to be left alone in the capital and do as you please!”
“Lord, this Lady Chen really doesn’t want you to leave,” Chen Hui said, “Since lord is also afraid that this Lady Chen will act too wilfully in the capital, then, you might as well take along this Lady Chen. Won’t you feel more at ease then?”
Feel at ease?
Leaving for a few months, maybe even more than that, how could he not worry? After he leaves, she alone would be the biggest in Li residence. No one would restrict her from anything she wants to do. Who knew what would happen? Her courage, sometimes it was very big! However, it was a battlefield after all. What would they consider him for bringing a woman? If others get to know about this, it will cause trouble!
“What feel at ease? I will be more worried!” Li Youde enumerated Chen Hui’s shortcomings, “You can’t carry something on your shoulder and can’t use your hands. What can you do if you follow me? You will only be a hindrance to others!”
“This Lady Chen also has things that this Lady Chen can do!” Chen Hui said, “I can’t go on the battle and kill the enemy, but I can take care of lord’s daily life…”
“You? Presumably, you can’t even take care of yourself!” Li youde humphed coldly, “Alright, don’t mention it anymore. I won’t agree.”
“Lord…just…,” Chen Hui wanted to persuade more but Li Youde already turned and waved.
“Alright, if you say one more word, I will let people throw you out!”
Chen Hui could only go back to her room, but she wasn’t surprised with this result. She knew from the beginning that she couldn’t persuade Li Youde. Moreover, when she was trying to persuade him, she didn’t do it with much sincerity. If by chance he agreed, perhaps, she would turn into the one with regrets.
In the next few days, Chen Hui didn’t bother Li Youde again, but she had nightmares for several days. Presumably, it is really one dreams at night what one thinks in the day. One day, she dreamed about Li Youde on the battlefield and he refused to listen to others. When the enemy retreated strategically, he had to bring people to chase. In the end, he became like a turtle in a jar. The commander-in-chief already hated him. Consequently, he didn’t save him on purpose. He had been taken in front of the disposition of the troops and killed, wanting to dampen the commander-in-chief and the morale of the soldiers. Unexpectedly, Li Youde was really unpopular. This action actually boosted their morale; The next day, she dreamed that he was in a conflict with the main general. And his subordinates and trusted aides helped him fight with the main general. The main general had been caught; he (LY) went to the battle himself. As a result, he who didn’t understand bullshit naturally suffered a big defeat under the circumstances that he had more people against less. When he returned, he was beheaded by the emperor; Another day, she dreamed that Li Youde couldn’t ride a horse well, but he wanted to succeed. As a result, he fell off his horse while marching and was trampled to death…These dreams were full of oddities of every description, but they all have the same ending: Li Youde’s death and she was taken back to Chen household. She was either forced to marry a crippled, rich old man or marry another blind rich old man…In short, it would be as miserable as it could be.
- A turtle in a jar: to be trapped
Chen Hui was woken up every day from fright and she couldn’t sleep anymore. She may not truly like Li Youde, but she likes to stay in Li residence now and live a good life under his protection. She really didn’t want her peaceful and good life to be disrupted. With Li Youde’s personality, it was really hard to say whether he would do anything. It was one thing to be able to please the emperor, but it was another to be able to recognize one’s own ability. People like him seem to have an inexplicable self-confidence in certain things. Li Youde said that the battlefield was not suitable for her to go as a woman. At that time, he didn’t seem to have thought what use it would be for him, a eunuch who didn’t understand anything to go. She didn’t see him be afraid or worry. On the contrary, he seemed like he looked forward to it. The more he was like this, the more she was afraid of him doing bad things.
Chen Hui recalled what Qi Shengwen said. At that time, she felt that he was speaking nonsense, but thinking about it now, he seemed to somewhat make sense. Sometimes, Li Youde was domineering, but sometimes he was also not so courageous. He lacked someone who could say truthful words that are unpleasant to the ears. Ah Da and Ah Er won’t do. It was already thanking the heavens that they didn’t go along with what Li Youde said. Those soldiers from the army? If those coarse guys adopt a confrontational posture, causing Li Youde to lose face, he would surely not distinguish between right and wrong and arrest the person. What about those who are reasonable? Li Youde was not someone who would be reasonable. Moreover, he is a court eunuch. Those who could be reasonable have studied for a few years and were cultured. Presumably, they would look down on a court eunuch like Li Youde. It was natural for them to dislike each other. Hence, it would be a strange thing if he could accept the reasoning of someone he dislikes.
Comparing like this, it seemed that she was the only one who could take up this role of loyal advice jars on ears. She isn’t afraid of Li Youde. She really felt that she should stop him when he acts mindlessly. Besides, she now had a wealth of experience in fighting with Li Youde. If one time won’t do, she will try another one. She wasn’t afraid of not succeeding. She only knew a few tricks regarding war. She didn’t understand the strategies and tactics of war, but there was no need for her to understand either. She only had to know that she should leave the professional matters to the professionals. Hence, her task was to not let Li Youde interfere with the leadership of the generals. Plus, Great Liang has a well-trained and powerful army now. Li Youde only has to stay at the back and reap where he has not sown. In fact, there was not much danger if she followed…The premise was that she has to succeed in persuading Li Youde to not run energetically to the frontline and toss around.
Chen Hui thought about all kinds of powerful relationships. In the end, the more she thought about it, the more she felt that she should go. Bet on the possibility that Li Youde wouldn’t cause trouble? She couldn’t afford to bet. Although she was unwilling to go along with Qi Shengwen’s wish, as long as it benefitted her, those small emotions would disappear with a few deep breaths.
After making up her mind, Chen Hui started to pay attention again to the time Li Youde would return. Now, it was less than five days before he would leave the capital. She must persuade him in bringing her as soon as possible.
While Chen Hui was waiting restlessly, the porter handed her a letter. The letter was not signed but the recipient was Chen Hui. She opened it and saw that the words in the letter were as vigorous and distinguished as those on the envelope. There was no exchange of conventional greeting in the letter. It only used the tone as if reporting news to say that the Ministry of War has already decided that the commander-in-chief of this time to pacify the north is sir Lang Yu. He is the right assistant minister of the Ministry of War and has had some military accomplishments in the past. However, there was animosity between him and Li Youde.
Just with a turn of her thought, Chen Hui knew that this letter came from Qi Shengwen. He let her understand that Li Youde, this nasty person who holds grudges was bound to make trouble when there was a rift between him and sir Lang. At this moment, Chen Hui was somewhat curious about Qi Shengwen’s identity. He didn’t seem to be from a rich and noble family. She tried to look at him as objectively as possible except for the part that he schemed against her. His knowledge and style of conversation were not ordinary. He would certainly be someone who does something big in the future.
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