Wanyan Xu and Zi Liu were greatly startled. Wanyan Xu was able to restrain his anger, and just gazed at Su Yi steadily. Zi Liu busied herself with stooping over Su Yi, checking him over while questioning him: “Is General Su feeling alright? Do you have any more residual blood in your mouth? It"s best to spit it all out...” Unexpectedly, Su Yi reached out to clutch her hand tightly, not answering her questions, he fixed his eyes upon hers, with a trembling voice he demanded: “You… What you said… Is it true? Could it really be true?
Neither Wanyan Xu nor Zi Liu had ever seen Su Yi like this. Throughout his captivity, he had maintained a resolute composure; the image he presented to the world was as placid as a frozen lake, hidden under that, he had a strength of character as unyielding as iron. Never before had he appeared frantic and vulnerable. Zi Liu began to review the recent events, and understood immediately that her conversation with his Majesty must have been heard by Su Yi. This man was a loyal patriot, and had dedicated his life towards serving his country, the news he had overheard must have been tantamount to the heavens collapsing and the earth caving in.
Zi Liu"s heart softened and she couldn"t bear to speak further. Su Yi was still clutching her hand in a vice-like grip, as if holding on to the last straw that could save him from drowning, and kept on asking: “It’s… true? It’s… really true?” She cast a pleading glance at Wanyan Xu, only to see that his eyes were as hard as iron, ostensibly, he was totally unmoved. Suddenly Wanyan Xu"s hand shot out, grabbing Su Yi"s wrist, he wrenched his hand away from Zi Liu"s. He said icily: “Whether the news is true or not, do I [1] have to repeat it?”
Su Yi stared defiantly into his eyes, like a wolf preparing to engage in mortal combat. Eventually despondency slowly showed in his eyes, and he hung his head. Although Su Yi was obviously trying to force them back, the sound of m.u.f.fled sobs was subsequently audible. Zi Liu"s earlier joy now gave way to heartache, as she thought to herself: “A country ruined and their people starving, this misfortune is truly traumatic. Hopefully he will be able to get over his shock, and won"t consider self-destruction.”
Wanyan Xu suddenly lunged forward, forcefully turning Su Yi"s face up, he yelled: “What is there to cry over? Such a fatuous monarch, what has he done for the common folk? He has brought only disaster and suffering to the people, even your defeat on the battlefield, was it not of his making? Even your current predicament was caused by him, yet your heart is still capable of feeling sorrow for him.”
Beside them, Zi Liu could only subtly shake her head on hearing these words, thinking to herself: these words were obviously meant to be comforting, but why do they have a different ring when uttered by his Majesty?
Su Yi suddenly raised his head to look Wanyan Xu directly in the eye, the tears he had shed for his country"s impending doom now cleared from his face, and said coldly: “I’m crying over the fate of my country, and its storied history. How does that concern you?” Zi Liu could only heave another sigh, thinking privately to herself: really, do these two people have to be at such loggerheads all the time!
Just as she was about to leave the chamber, she saw Zi Nong returning with the evening meal, Zi Nan was also leading the Crown Prince towards the room, making sure to keep a good grip on the mischievous little boy. Turning back, she saw that the two men were still glaring daggers at each other, neither of them willing to back down.
----------------------------------Some time later----------------------------------
The destruction of Qi country was a ma.s.sive blow for Su Yi, he felt like a hole had been drilled into his heart and his blood had turn to tears. However, Wanyan Xu kept up his daily harangues, pouring frigid irony and scorching satire upon Su Yi’s pain. There were times when Su Yi was on the verge of letting Wanyan Xu prevail, such as when he was forcing himself on Su Yi. Fortunately for Su Yi, he was entirely ravaged both physically and mentally; so pale and wan that his very appearance was capable of frightening people. Ironically, this caused Wanyan Xu to have some misgivings and he did not dare to be too brutal. In spite of Wanyan Xu"s abuse, he had meat and fish served to Su Yi for every meal, as well as various health elixirs. Su Yi could not fail to recognize his vile intentions; obviously he was expecting that once Su Yi was recovered he could enjoy himself without restraint. Although he had every intention to reject the food, he couldn"t afford to defy Wanyan Xu when he again despicably used the lives of the Qi people and soldiers to threaten him. This duel was fought repeatedly over a month, to Su Yi"s chagrin, although he was still feeling unbearable anguish, his disappointing body refused to cooperate and steadily began to recover.
Wanyan Xu was greatly overjoyed, although this was not because he loved Su Yi. It was because of the temperament he had cultivated from his childhood; when he wanted something he would never give up until he had it in hand. Besides being gifted with an innate intelligence, he was also born into a powerful royal family. In his entire life, with the notable exception of Su Yi, he had never met with any setbacks. Therefore he was intent on settling this score; he was determined to have his way with Su Yi. Day-by-day, as the look in Wanyan Xu"s eyes grew evermore pleased and l.u.s.ty; Su Yi grew more alarmed and vigilant around him. In his heart, Su Yi knew that to sit and do nothing but wait was not a good solution; he wracked his brain, trying to think of a way to make Wanyan Xu despise Su Yi to the point where all traces of desire would be extinguished. He would much rather have returned to the prison, even if he had to suffer all the cruel torture techniques devised in this world.
The weather on this day was mild, having been forced to go out into the sunshine by Wanyan Xu, Su Yi sat down on a lounge chair in the courtyard. Because of geographical reasons, Jin Liao had little in the way of brightly coloured flowers. Featuring jade-green trees reaching to the sky mixed with stumpy shrubs, in terms of elegance and beauty, this courtyard could not hope to compare with those in the Great Qi country. Su Yi was a little overcome by emotion, sighing out loud he thought: although this tree does not have brilliantly coloured flowers, its foliage is lush, full of vitality. In this aspect, the flamboyant but delicate blooms and rare herbs grown in the warm and nurturing climate of the south cannot compare.
Just as he was lost in these dark thoughts, he heard a cool and clear voice. Tinged with a hit of sarcasm, it recited a poem [2]: “Beauties in the Chu [3] palace sweep their brows with umber, alas, even with their beautiful maquillage, they can only enjoy the spring sunset silently, having no one to converse with. Throughout the ages the ultimate difficulty is eternal death, General Su is not the only grieving soul in this world.” Su Yi was greatly startled, turning his head in the direction of that voice, he saw a woman even more dazzlingly beautiful than Zi Nong walking at a leisurely pace towards him. Her phoenix eyes [4], filled with provocation, were gazing at Su Yi. Half-laughing, she said; “General Su, do you think my modifications [5] to the poem were appropriate?”
Su Yi was proficient in both martial arts and scholarly studies; of course he understood that she was borrowing this ancient prose to taunt him, implying that he was greedy for life, afraid of death. Studying her carefully for a while, suddenly he heaved a heavy sigh and said: “Miss, you have accompanied General Yu on his military expedition, together you have done a great service to Jin Liao by destroying the Great Qi. Your country and people are in ascendancy; in addition you have won great personal prestige through your deeds. Su Yi"s feelings are those of a defeated general, where death is now preferable to life; how could you possibly understand me?”
Realising that Su Yi had deduced her ident.i.ty, she did not seem surprised. Slowly she walked over and took a seat. Smiling, she said: “I have long heard tell of General Su"s talents, your reputation is well earned indeed. I should have known it would be so, after all, how could an ordinary person attract such attention from our king? Especially since you are a man."
Su Yi"s face grew even more somber, coldly he said: “Miss, please do not hesitate in your ridicule, your king does not care about his reputation. I too, find his behavior despicable.”
As Su Yi intended, those words served to wipe the smile off that lady"s face. She said: “Zi Yan would never dare to comment on his Majesty’s affairs, but if General Su is unwilling to receive his Majesty’s favour, there are better solutions than berating yourself and drowning in self-pity. Unless General Su intends to play a long game, loosening the reins only to grasp them better…” Before she had finished, seeing that Su Yi"s expression had begun to change, she hurried to placate him, saying with a smile: “if this humble woman has unintentionally caused General Su to take offence, perhaps I could teach you a method of provoking disgust in our King to make amends?”