Mo Sang – CH 167

Chapter 167. A Thousand Mountains and Rivers, One Cup of Wine

In Ezhou City, the residence of Commander Wu Huaiguo was right next to the Ezhou military camp.

It was originally the house of a wealthy family. After the war broke out, the family went to live with their son, who was doing business in Hangzhou. The house had been vacant ever since, and Wu Huaiguo rented it.

The house was not large. Wu Huaiguo only brought his concubine, Su, to take care of his daily needs. In fact, he was the only owner, so it was enough for him.

After seeing Wu Huaiguo off, Concubine Su went to the kitchen to check on the ingredients she had just bought. She ordered the old duck to be slaughtered and a few slices of ham to be added to make a pot of duck and bamboo shoot soup. She also ordered some shrimp wontons to be made. Since the commander would not be returning at noon, she would cook a bowl of shrimp wontons in the duck soup and blanch some spinach with a side of sesame paste.

Leaving the kitchen, she checked on the two or three cartloads of silk floss she had bought.

The weather was getting cooler; it was time to make lined jackets for the commander and his servants and guards.

After checking the front courtyard again and making sure everything was in order, Concubine Su leisurely entered the main courtyard.

Although she was currently the only one serving the General, spending her nights with him in the main room, she still had a small side courtyard furnished for her. She used this side courtyard for washing and bathing in the morning and evening, and for her daily living.

This main room belonged to the General; that side courtyard was hers. She needed her own place.

Concubine Su looked around the main room and then went to the side courtyard.

The side courtyard was bordered by the back wall on two sides, with only two east-facing rooms. In the center of a square courtyard, about ten feet in size, sat a large flowerpot about half a person’s height, planted with a vibrant red rose in full bloom.

Concubine Su pushed open the door to the side room, looked at Li Sangrou sitting at the round table, smiling at her, blinked hard, and then looked again.

Li Sangrou reached out and unwrapped the lotus leaf package on the table, releasing the irresistible aroma of roast chicken.

Concubine Su took a deep breath of the fragrance and chuckled, “I thought I was seeing things.”

Li Sangrou pushed the roast chicken to the center of the table, bent down, and picked up a small jar of wine. “This is not Jiangdu City. I did not know if you had any wine, so I brought a jar just in case.”

“I really do not.” Concubine Su took two teacups, then took the teapot from the warm nest, poured out the tea, and placed the pot in front of Li Sangrou.

Li Sangrou tore off the seal, picked up the jar, poured two cups of wine, and then filled the teapot.

Concubine Su picked up her wine bowl, clinked it against Li Sangrou’s, and drank the entire cup in one gulp. She then tore off a chicken wing.

Li Sangrou tore off a chicken leg, took a large bite, picked up the teapot, poured wine into her own teacup, and pushed the teapot towards Concubine Su.

Concubine Su poured herself some wine, took a sip, and said, “Ah Qing said you became a general in Northern Qi?” Concubine Su asked, her words slightly slurred as she gnawed on a chicken wing.

“It’s a long story. I did become one for about a month, but I stopped a long time ago.” Li Sangrou ate quickly, finishing one chicken leg and tearing off another.

“You did not eat this morning, and you did not eat last night either?” Concubine Su asked, watching Li Sangrou eat so fast.

“I did not eat enough last night, and I did not eat this morning. I traveled all night, and I am exhausted,” Li Sangrou said. She ate two chicken legs, picked up her wine bowl, tilted her head back, and drank it down, letting out a long sigh.

After finishing her two chicken wings, Concubine Su pushed the remaining roast chicken aside, washed her hands, wrung out a damp cloth, and handed it to Li Sangrou.

Li Sangrou wiped her hands, filled the teapot with wine, picked up her cup, and raised it to Concubine Su.

“Ah Qing said Old Third Wu died at your hands?” Concubine Su asked, picking up her wine bowl and taking a sip.

“Yes.”

“For revenge?” Concubine Su looked at Li Sangrou.

“Not entirely.” Li Sangrou took a sip of wine. “I was not thinking about revenge then.

The connections are all interconnected, like ripples on water.

Back then, I coveted Innkeeper Zhao’s five thousand taels of silver, thinking that sending someone out of the city would be a simple matter. I never imagined that person was that Shizi, and I certainly never imagined that General Wu would also get involved.

Innkeeper Zhao is dead; we cannot go back to Jiangdu City, and we’ve offended the Marquis of Yongping’s Mansion. Do you know the Marquis of Yongping’s Mansion?” Li Sangrou asked, looking at Concubine Su.

Concubine Su nodded. “I heard the General say that the Marquis of Yongping’s family is the most prominent family in Northern Qi if the Second Prince ascends the throne.”

“Yes, they were already very prominent before the Second Prince’s ascension.

The Marquis of Yongping’s family felt that the death of the Shizi would be most beneficial to them, so they also participated in the assassination attempt.

Thanks to me, the Shizi returned alive to Jianle City, and the Marquis of Yongping’s family blamed me for his survival.”

Li Sangrou paused, a bitter smile appearing on her face. “It’s not exactly blame; if it were not for me, the Shizi would have been in grave danger.

Later, the Marquis of Yongping and his son killed Jin Mao and his sister’s entire family of six.”

“Did Jin Mao find his sister?” Concubine Su asked instinctively.

“Yes, he just found her, and it led to the annihilation of the entire Liu family.

Last New Year’s Eve, I killed the Marquis of Yongping and his son, and was sent to the army for hard labor. Later, to escape,” Li Sangrou spread her hands and smiled, “I needed military merit to atone for my sins.

After the Battle of Hefei, I left the army and returned to Jianle City.” Li Sangrou succinctly explained the cause and effect.

“Ah Qing said that the soldiers who withdrew from Hefei were terrified of you,” Concubine Su said, scrutinizing Li Sangrou.

She had never seen her kill anyone. When she was with her, it was always like this—eating, drinking, chatting, and laughing, saying whatever came to mind.

She had even wondered how this somewhat lazy girl managed to subdue that group of beggars and those lowlifes in the south of the city who were practically beasts.

“Zhang Zheng became a general. What about Ah Qing? Is he in the city too?” Li Sangrou looked at Concubine Su, changing the subject.

“Yes, the commander-in-chief went out of the city to inspect today; he’s on duty on the city wall. The Qi Army is stationed to the east and north of the city.” Concubine Su sighed almost imperceptibly. “How did you get here? How did you get here? Did you come from the Northern Qi army?”

“I saw a military report saying General Wu has arrived in Ezhou, taking you with him. So I came to see you and talk to you.” Li Sangrou raised her cup to Concubine Su.

“You came all this way just to see me?” Concubine Su looked at Li Sangrou.

Li Sangrou looked at her but did not answer.

“Just to see me and talk to me?” Concubine Su pressed.

“Yes,” Li Sangrou gave a very firm “yes.” “I will just talk to you and then leave.”

“You came all the way from Jianle City, so far away, to say goodbye?” Concubine Su was silent for a moment, then looked at Li Sangrou and asked.

“Yes.” Li Sangrou’s “yes” was as certain as before.

“So, you are planning to side with Northern Qi?” After a moment of silence, Concubine Su asked.

“Yes,” Li Sangrou replied with another firm “yes.”

“Why? We talked before about what would happen if Jiangnan and Jiangbei went to war, and you always said you’d stay out of it.” Concubine Su’s tone was full of curiosity, nothing but curiosity.

“You know, I’ve always had some ideas,” Li Sangrou said earnestly.

“Your wild ideas?” Concubine Su laughed.

“Yes!” Li Sangrou’s “Yes” was serious and solemn.

Concubine Su turned to look at Li Sangrou, then smiled after a moment, sighing as she laughed. “I really like you like this, thinking about things from thousands of years ago and taking them so seriously.”

Li Sangrou smiled too. “At first I did not think about it, but then I saw so many people, like you, and I realized that so many things, so many people, are like those mountains outside Jiangdu City. From afar, they look like dense forests, but once you venture into the mountains and stand under the trees, you will see countless wildflowers of all kinds, so beautiful.

I like looking at flowers, and I just want them to bloom more and better.”

“I am also the flower you saw? Then tell me, where did I come from?” Concubine Su glanced sideways at Li Sangrou.

Li Sangrou laughed, drawing out her words, “Although… I really do not want to say.”

“Tell me, tell me, I just want to know this. I need to know what makes me different from others, what my special quality is,” Concubine Su said with a smile, sipping her wine.

“Back then, when I planned to seize that private estate in the south of the city, I thought I needed to first understand what kind of person General Wu was—not what he appeared to be, but what he was like in private.

So I sneaked into the General’s mansion.

General Wu must be very proper with the Old Madam, and I imagine he’d be equally formal with the Madam.

General Wu and the Madam were famously a perfect couple; you said they were partners.

At that time, everyone in Jiangdu knew that General Wu doted on you, spoiling you rotten, to the point of allowing Ah Qing to become a commander.

So, I thought that if I wanted to see General Wu’s true colors, I should go to your place.” Li Sangrou smiled at Concubine Su.

Concubine Su raised an eyebrow.

“The first time I came to your room, I lay on top of that big cabinet. You came in, and after a few glances, you frowned and looked around, so I did not dare look at you anymore,” Li Sangrou said, looking at Concubine Su.

“I do not remember that,” Concubine Su thought carefully and shook her head.

“Hmm, the first time, I stayed until you fell asleep, then I left. The second time, I did not see General Wu. The third time, General Wu came, and I lay on the cabinet, not looking, just listening.

You two were quite noisy,” Li Sangrou trailed off. “General Wu is indeed a fierce general, strong and energetic. You are not bad either. Later, I kept hearing you commanding General Wu, ‘Hurry! Do not move! Do not stop!'”

“You brat!” Concubine Su slapped Li Sangrou’s arm.

Li Sangrou laughed heartily.

“I thought to myself at the time, such a straightforward and clear-headed woman was truly refreshing. General Wu, who obeys orders so readily, is no ordinary person.

After returning, I killed Qing Laizi. Later, I found an opportunity to meet you.”

“You are a young lady, and I’ve never said such things to you before. I do not know how a young lady like you understands these things.” Concubine Su sipped her wine, her expression a mixture of self-satisfaction and melancholy.

“I was eleven or twelve years old. I fled with my family, but we got separated. Outside Jiangdu City, I met a madam who said she could find me a place to work and earn money, and that I could take Ah Qing with me.

That’s how I ended up in a brothel.

I lost my virginity in just a few days. It was incredibly painful. Right after losing my virginity, the price was high, and I was not allowed a single day off. Those men all loved seeing blood, even if it was not their doing. Seeing the blood on the bed made them happy, almost like losing their virginity.”

Concubine Su tilted her head back and finished her wine. Li Sangrou picked up the pot and refilled her cup.

“Later, it finally got better; the bleeding stopped, but it still hurt, unbearably painful.

The sisters chatted together, all saying it hurt, all saying it was torture, all talking about how they endured it.” Concubine Su sighed deeply. “It was truly unbearable.

After three or four years, then a traveling merchant…” Concubine Su paused, tilting her head slightly, staring blankly at the wine bowl in her hand. Li Sangrou turned her head to look at her, waiting for her to come to her senses.

After a while, Concubine Su sighed. “I’ve forgotten his name, but I remember he was quite handsome, very good-looking, with a pair of almond-shaped eyes, watery and bright. He spoke softly and gently, always whispering sweet nothings in my ear. His words were rough, but he was very gentle, and his voice was beautiful.

He was not in a hurry at all, taking off his clothes little by little, piece by piece, as gentle as warm water. That time, it was not me serving him; it was him serving me. That was the first time, and I thought it was wonderful. No wonder men like it so much.”

Concubine Su laughed.

“Later, I realized that this matter was not just torture; it was something you had to figure out.

The General was willing to bring me into his household because he was happy being with me; he was happy, and so was I. Saying I am favored because I am good at serving people, a real vixen, is not wrong.”

Li Sangrou raised her wine cup and gestured towards Concubine Su.

“I never imagined that you thought I was like a flower because of this.” Concubine Su tilted her head back and drank her wine, pouring more as she laughed.

“Do you remember that time in the General’s mansion when a drunk neighbor entered the wrong house and ended up in the wrong bed in the dark?” Li Sangrou asked, looking at Concubine Su.

“I remember. You said then that if it were two men, it would just be a matter of wiping their faces.” Concubine Su nodded.

“That maidservant was beaten half to death by her husband. Everyone who knows her speaks of her as if she were crippled after that incident, worse than losing a leg or half her body.

But that drunkard treated it like a speck of dust on his clothes—he dusted it off, laughed it off, and it was over.

That’s unfair; it should not be like this.

Women should be like men. If in this matter it’s just a speck of dust for the man, he can dust it off, and so can women.

Just like you, in bed, the man finds pleasure, and so do you. The man directs you to please him, and you direct them to please you.

That’s the right way,” Li Sangrou said slowly.

“How could that be?” Concubine Su sighed.

“Why not? Slowly, little by little, it will become possible.” Li Sangrou took a sip of wine and smiled.

“I really like you like this. Everyone else sees you this way, but you insist on seeing things differently. Even seeing a fox spirit like me, you think it’s good.” Concubine Su leaned back in her chair, looking at the vibrant red flowers in the courtyard.

“It’s precisely because you are a fox spirit that you are good.” Li Sangrou picked up the wine pot; it was empty. She bent down, picked up the wine jar, and poured another pot of wine.

Neither of them spoke, sitting opposite each other, drinking. After a long while, Concubine Su sighed, “I came here with the General this time of my own volition.”

“Hmm?” Li Sangrou looked at Concubine Su.

“The General said I was fearless. I am not fearless; I am just tired of everyone in this mansion. I want to rest, to catch my breath.

Here, you see, I only need to be with the General. His mind is all on the war; he’s out early and back late, often not even at night. Most of the time, it’s just me alone in this little courtyard, walking around, looking at this and that. It’s very relaxing.

In Hangzhou and Jiangdu, every day was the same: sleeping, getting up, eating, paying respects everywhere, smiling and flattering Xiao Yi’er, serving the General, serving the Madam, and playing mahjong with the Old Madam.

I felt like a puppet being manipulated, and I did not even know who was holding me. Often, in a daze, I felt like I was not myself anymore, floating in the air watching myself laugh, watching myself play mahjong.

It seems like only when I am talking to you am I myself, not Concubine Su.

Before I met you.”

Concubine Su paused, lost in thought for a moment.

“I do not remember; it seems like it was after I met you that I often thought, if I could do whatever I wanted from a very young age, how would I live my life? What would I do?

If I could do whatever I wanted now, what would I do?

The more I think about it, the more I feel that living like this, day after day, is becoming more and more blurry, blurry to the point where even the features are gone.”

Concubine Su lowered her eyes, sipping her wine slowly.

“This wine is good. I did not expect there to be such good wine in Ezhou City.” Li Sangrou raised her cup to Concubine Su.

“Yes, it is indeed good, although this is a farewell drink.” Concubine Su held the cup up to her, looked at the wine in it, and drank it all in one gulp.

“Then, farewell.” Li Sangrou finished her wine and placed the cup on the table.

“From now on, shall we start again?” Concubine Su picked up the pot and poured herself some wine.

Li Sangrou turned around, looked at Concubine Su, smiled, raised her hand, waved earnestly and solemnly, and then turned and left. Concubine Su remained seated, picking up her wine and sipping it slowly.