A Lonesome Fragrance Waiting to be Appreciated 1

54

Yangfeng seemed unwilling to look at Pingting in the eye, as she turned to face the wall. "If they do meet, who will win?" she questioned.

"Both are exceptional, the victory will depend on God. I...I don't know."

Yangfeng's face was expressionless, "God does not fight battles, only generals and their tactics. Ze Yin versus Chu Beijie. Who do you think will win?"

Pingting was still shaking her head, her eyes falling on the swaying flowers outside the window. "Do you...really want my answer? Chu Beijie is Dong Lin's best general, his army and battle skills are exceptional, outstanding. Your husband is the most celebrated general in Bei Mo, but I have never seen him myself. How am I supposed to compare the two?" She wanted to smile to cheer up Yangfeng, but she couldn't muster up any strength to do so.

Dear to the moon is outside, you don't need to be so heartless. You see the love and friendship of humanity, but you do nothing to stop the bloodshed of those people.

The candle wick sizzled and Pingting turned to look at it. The wind blew in like uninvited guests.

The light flickered, flared up, and then went out.

The silence that followed was like a heavy curtain, crushing them.

"Pingting..." Yangfeng said sadly, "Don't you have anything assuring to say to me?"

Pingting was surprised. She quickly sat up, "Yangfeng, why would you ask that?"

Yangfeng was facing the other way. Silence. Pingting could make out that she was trembling, like she was fighting back her tears. "Don't cry, we can't do anything about these battles. God will bless your husband so that he will return home safely. Yangfeng, didn't...you say that battles aren't our business?"

Yangfeng's shoulders shook even more. She was usually always so calm and collected, and Pingting had never seen her so distraught. She gently turned Yangfeng until she was facing herself.

Yangfeng suddenly sat up and looked at Pingting, her cheeks stained with tears.

Pingting was alarmed yet gently asked, "Yangfeng?"

Yangfeng didn't answer, she simply jumped out of bed and knelt at Pingting.

Pingting was flabbergasted. She too jumped out of bed to help Yangfeng up. "Why are you doing this?"

But Yangfeng had decided not to get up. She pulled at Pingting's sleeves, looking up at her indignantly, but her voice was mournful when she said, "Pingting, do you really not understand?"

Pingting was shocked, her dark eyes staring down quizzically at her friend.

"If even the Marquess of Jing-An was not able to defeat Chu Beijie, then how is Ze Yin supposed to do so?" Each word was dragged out of Yangfeng's mouth, her hands clawing at Pingting's feet as she cried, "You made a deal for five years of peace for Gui Le, so why can't you drive Chu Beijie and his troops out of Bei Mo?"

"Yangfeng, I..." Pingting took a step back and slumped on the bed. "I can't do that."

She could not face Chu Beijie, but how was Yangfeng supposed to understand that?

That man, although he was not in front of her physically, he was always there in her dreams. He had taken her soul, leaving her in a puddle of tears.

"Pingting, please, I beg you."

Yangfeng's praying eyes sent a chill up Pingting's spine. She could not bear seeing Yangfeng's gentle, wise eyes being engulfed by the colours of despair.

But she still shook her head, "No."

Both pairs of black pupils shook and their breathing seemed to have stopped altogether.

Yangfeng stared at her for a long while. She smiled sadly, "I don't blame you. Men....Military affairs...I don't even know half as much as you." She was chuckling, but more tears slipped down her cheeks as she patted her lower abdomen.

Pingting noticed that she was acting slightly differently than usual. Realisation suddenly dawned her. "Yangfeng, don't tell me you..." Her voice trailed off, her eyes never leaving her lower abdomen.

Yangfeng clenched her teeth and nodded.

Pingting sighed and leaned against the bed rail.

Those two, Yangfeng and Pingting, were never destined to be away from everything after all.

Evening came; the soft breeze left. A frosty dawn.

As the red sun rose from the east, bright colours were casted onto Bei Mo King's Royal Residence. The Bei Mo King was already awake. He hadn't slept well and had insomnia for the last couple of days. Ever since the Dong Lin troops had arrived, he slept less and less every passing day just like how the Dong Lin army pressed closer towards the capital. According to yesterday's report, Chu Beijie had begun a siege, and many Bei Mo soldiers were wounded or dead. Thanks to Ze Yin's efforts, Dong Lin soldiers haven't reached the capital yet, but the current army population certainly wasn't big enough to last another siege.

Losing Kanbu was only a matter of time.

When the Dong Lin army captured Kanbu, it would be like an expressway to capture the capital of Bei Mo. Bei Mo was in grave danger.

Yangfeng came to see him early in the morning.

"I want to tell you about someone, King." She bowed before speaking and wore a dress given to her by the King himself.

The Bei Mo King always had a good impression of Ze Yin's favourite woman, and now that Ze Yin was gone, he was even happier to see her. He smiled kindly at Yangfeng. "Oh? Who's important enough that needs you to personally introduce to me?"

Yangfeng replied softly. "King, you really are clever. This person is extremely skillful and could perhaps change the course of the war."

Yangfeng came with Ze Yin when he returned to the capital, but she was already the prettiest woman in the Royal Residence. She was born with delicate bone shapes, those that leave a lasting impression on others. He had heard about her personality from Ze Yin and knew that she did not like empty promises. She would never say something unless she was at least seventy or eighty percent sure. The King was surprised. "Who? Bring him in."

But Yangfeng wasn't so urgent. She fell onto her knees and said, "Sir, this person's surname is Bai and is named Pingting. We've been good friends since childhood. Pingting didn't want to do this at the start, but Yangfeng begged. My friend finally agreed but on three conditions."

"Speak."

"Yes," Yangfeng responded. "Firstly, help will only be given when Bei Mo is in trouble. If Dong Lin ever retreats, my friend will leave and never be involved with Bei Mo again."

The Bei Mo King couldn't care less. After all, there was no secure frontier. He nodded gladly and said, "I will not force anyone to do what they don't want to."

"Secondly, no person in Bei Mo shall identify or research Bai Pingting's past."

"This..." Ever since the four countries started fighting, each country had their own spies. If Kings need people, they would need to research their history intensively. If they didn't, wouldn't that lead to the ruin of their own country? Why was this Pingting, so secretive? The Bei Mo King was annoyed but didn't show it as Yangfeng was personally introducing this person.

Yangfeng saw his expression and quietly added, "King doesn't have to worry. My friend has had many painful moments thus doesn't want anyone to know. There won't be betrayal; I'll put my life on the line to prove that."