Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 51 : Commander-in-Chief

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In the darkness, Xiao Chiye used his thumb to wipe the corner of his mouth, where there was still residual wine. He said, “One kick for one kiss. Neither of us loses out.”

Shen Zechuan turned back to look at him. 

Xiao Chiye smiled at him. “Each is a horse of a different color; let’s not confuse them. Aren’t you still going to trample on me in public in the future? Go ahead and step on me, Lanzhou. I’ll pay each debt back in full plus interest.”

Shen Zechuan used his tongue to wet the spot he had been bitten and told him, “You won’t have this kind of opportunity every single time.”

Xiao Chiye took a step closer, completely shrouding him under his own shadow. He replied, “And you won’t be able to run away every single time.”

Having said that, Xiao Chiye extended his hand to pluck the red plum beside Shen Zechuan. He rubbed the petals into mush and sent that redness into his mouth. Under his gaze, Shen Zechuan had the illusion that he himself was that red plum. In his evaluation of Xiao Chiye, he quietly added “having the determination to win” in addition to having a “keen sense of smell”.

Shen Zechuan once thought that desire would overcome Xiao Chiye and make him retreat from the setback. But Xiao Chiye’s behavior was beyond Shen Zechuan’s expectation. That arrogant character of his meant that he only knew how to march forward bravely. Any retreat or concession was only in preparation for the next time he made a better-planned attack.

He was an overwhelmingly dangerous threat. 

“Light the lamps.” Xiao Chiye turned his head to shout out.

After a short moment, the maidservants pushed the door open and entered. They moved out a small screen, cleared away the leftovers, spread a mat over the rug, and swapped to a big, square tea table with girdled waist and horse hooves’ legs. Chen Yang changed his shoes and entered. He placed the Imperial Army’s military affairs and name register of personnel on the tea table, then took over the teapot from the maidservant’s hands and kneeled at the side to steep tea for both men.

With someone else present, both men resumed the roles of upright gentlemen when they took their seats again.

Shen Zechuan had partially sobered up. Bathing in the wind had helped him break free of his earlier hot flushes and tipsiness. Only the scarlet on his face remained, further accentuated by the dim light of the lamp that enveloped him. Even Chen Yang did not dare to look straight up at him, for fear that his gaze would be an affront to both Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye, making them displeased.

Chen Yang brewed the tea and thought, no wonder Tantai Hu is worried. Shen Lanzhou is clearly born with the looks of one capable of bringing ruin to the nation and misfortune upon the commoners. What’s more, he has such a temperament. Anyone who is on familiar terms with Master, even a little, should be afraid.

What was Xiao Chiye most fond of? 

Taming horses and tormenting eagles! During the tormenting process, Xiao Chiye would not sleep when the eagle wasn’t sleeping. The harder it was to tame, the more attention he would pay it. The harder it was to domesticate, the more he would favor it. Back then, while they were fighting the Biansha Cavalry, Xiao Chiye could lay in wait for so long simply because he adored the process of domestication and torture. He inherited from Xiao Fangxu the desire to conquer and subjugate, far surpassing that of the common man. This was the most different trait between him and Xiao Jiming.