Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Time can change a great many things, including people’s faces and minds. But there are exceptions. As Fan Xian walked into Si Lili’s carriage, the first thing he saw was a gaunt, pale, but still beautiful woman. She had been in prison for the greater part of a year, but it didn’t seem to do any damage to the complexion that she flaunted on the pleasure boats of the Liujing River.
When she saw Fan Xian enter, Si Lili felt a slight joy, her eyes frenetic. It seemed that she didn’t know how to address him, nor was she sufficiently prepared for this encounter.
Fan Xian calmly looked the young woman in the face. Her eyebrows were still as supple as willow branches, and her dark eyes still darted around the room, but her lips had no color to them, looking somewhat pale.
When the two of them had first met, Fan Xian was the illegitimate son of a noble who had just entered the city for the first time. Si Lili was the most popular young woman on Liujing River. That night, they had caressed each other to the point of madness, and though it was not true ecstasy, they had essentially performed the most intimate of acts between a man and a woman.
But he had not expected Si Lili to be a Northern Qi spy planted in the Kingdom of Qing; by way of the Second Prince’s invitation, she plotted Fan Xian’s assassination with Wu Bo’an. Fan Xian was lucky to escape with his life. Finally, he had entered the Overwatch Council, and now had received the duty of returning Si Lili to Northern Qi.
He calmly looked her in the face, his gaze going from her eyes to her nose to her lips. Somehow, he found himself recalling her touch that night on the pleasure boat; although it did not give him pause, he still felt something indescribable. After all, before he had gotten married, and apart from a couple of servant girls in Danzhou, she had been the woman with whom he had been the most intimate.
A few days ago, I was passing by the Liujing River on horseback.
Fan Xian gently broke the silence in the carriage.
I saw that pleasure boat.
Si Lili was somewhat taken aback. She hadn’t expected this handsome and elegant young man to start off with that sort of opening remark. She had fully believed that what was to follow would be a solemn conversation.
Fan Xian laughed.
It’s already in ruins, but I don’t think you much cherish the memory of the place anyway.
Si Lili smiled, a little embarrassed.
We are but duckweed, adrift on the waters. Please, do not mock your servant, sir.
I do not like to hear the words ‘your servant’.
Fan Xian looked into her bright, intelligent eyes and smiled.
Some things in life are truly remarkable. You once wanted to kill me. Such was your mission. Although I cannot forgive you, I also have no prejudice against you for this. I told you in the prison of the Overwatch Council that if you provided me the name of the mastermind behind it, I would find a way to let you live. But I must tell you clearly, I made no effort to have you returned to Northern Qi. So there is no use in thanking me.
Slightly startled, Si Lili raised her head, her lips slightly parted, wanting to speak but saying nothing. She was less and less sure of this young man – at one moment pure and amiable, the next cold, dark, and frightening. Why did he want to say such things?
From the day you left prison, we became colleagues.
Fan Xian sat down beside her and leaned in relaxation against the side of the carriage. He could smell a faint fragrance, and he knew that it was her own bodily scent. He inhaled it, appreciating it.
I do not know what agreement you have with Chen Pingping. But since he believes you are trustworthy, then I trust you. I hope that you can trust me, and we can carry out Operation Red Sleeve.
Si Lili grasped the green sleeves of her garment with her hands and softly bit her bottom lip, unsure what to say.
Will you massage me? I’m on edge every day. I don’t know when that old bastard in the front carriage might explode. There’s a lot of psychological pressure.
Fan Xian wasn’t lying. He really did look exhausted.
Si Lili let out a slight noise of acknowledgement and leaned to one side, kneeling on a soft floor cushion. She carefully placed her supple, gentle hands on Fan Xian’s head and began to slowly knead his temples.
Fan Xian closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of comfort radiating through his skull and the gentle touch of Si Lili’s fingers. Unthinkingly, he sighed.
What is it? Do you feel heavy, sir?
He didn’t know what methods Chen Pingping had used, but Si Lili seemed completely unlike she had been in the prison – desperate and stubborn – and instead had returned to the way she had been in the pleasure boat: tender and charming. Her voice penetrated Fan Xian’s heart.
I was just thinking of punishments,
Fan Xian said gently.
In truth, I was worried what damage they could do to a young woman’s beautiful hands.
Si Lili’s fingers stopped at his temples. After a long while, she spoke quietly.
People who have had a hard lot in life are not so easy to break.
There is no need to be resentful. It’s of no benefit to our agreement in Shangjing,
said Fan Xian calmly, his eyes still closed.
You wanted to kill me, I only wanted to punish you. When you look at it, you owe me.
Si Lili gently bit her bottom lip once more. The points of her pearly white teeth pressing down on her lip looked utterly beautiful. There was a soft light in her eyes.
Your s… I do owe you, sir. You could take me back at any time.
Take you? Like I did on our first night?
Fan Xian opened his eyes, filled with mischief.
Si Lili opened her eyes that fixed on him with a tenacious, unyielding look. There was a long silence. She looked at this handsome and elegant young official, and found herself somehow recalling the shameful events on the pleasure boat. She felt a sudden weakness in her body, and slowly leaned to one side onto Fan Xian’s shoulder, her fingers still massaging him.
All the women of the world have had a hard lot in life. I don’t know how you are preparing to take me.
That night on the pleasure boat, Fan Xian had used knockout drops and aphrodisiacs, and Si Lili had reacted strongly. It was engraved in her memory to this day. Then, in the prison, Fan Xian had punished her without even a hint of remorse, his heart full of hatred and many other odd feelings.
Fan Xian became aware of the softness on his right shoulder, and knew, without thinking, that it was Si Lili’s soft bosom. He presumed that she wanted to seduce him, and he took a deep breath to calm himself. As he did, he unexpectedly inhaled her faint scent, and his heart skipped a beat. He turned his head with a smile.
So where did that Si Ling end up?
Still locked up in the capital.
There was no expression on Si Lili’s face. It appeared that Si Ling was not a true friend of hers.
Fan Xian was increasingly curious as to what Chen Pingping could have done to make Si Lili heed the orders of the Overwatch Council. He thought for a moment, then frowned.
You are not pathetic, young lady. At least the young Emperor of Northern Qi still always keeps women in mind.
Si Lili creased her brow and sighed.
One cannot win people over with beauty forever.
That’s something I doubt too,
said Fan Xian with a smile.
I don’t know if you’re able to speak of your past with Emperor of Northern Qi in detail. It is best if we arrange for you to enter the palace after we have arrived in Shangjing.
This so-called Operation Red Sleeve, as Fan Xian saw it, was merely copying the story of Xi Shi entering the Kingdom of Wu. From the terms of this secret agreement, he could see that the Emperor of Northern Qi and Si Lili truly had some feelings for each other; otherwise they would not have stressed the importance of her return. But Si Lili was of low birth – even if Northern Qi respected her service to the country, they could only show respect, nothing more. Compared to the Kingdom of Qing, Northern Qi placed even more importance on one’s bloodline and the circumstances of one’s birth. They could never allow a woman who had once been a prostitute to enter the palace.
Si Lili seemed unwilling to discuss matters of her past. She simply lowered her head.
Do not worry, Master Fan. Simply get me into Shangjing. Everything after that will be for the Emperor of Northern Qi to worry about.
Silence fell upon the carriage once more. Fan Xian sat by her side, smelling her faint scent. For some reason, he felt some regret at separating from her touch. He sat in silence for some time before he finally spoke.
You had best get some rest.
To his surprise, she suddenly spoke at the same time.
Sir, do you want me to massage you some more?
That would be fine,
replied Fan Xian quickly.
Very well.
There was a trace of disappointment in her response.
After this odd exchange, they both found that a strange atmosphere had fallen upon the carriage. It seemed they could both vaguely sense something. A warm darkness began to ferment in the air.
Si Lili bit her lower lip once more and kneeled on the pillow, her hands kneading Fan Xian’s shoulders, secretly using her strength. She did not want to be alone in the carriage, and so she was willing to debase herself in attending to… this enemy.
There was a slight smile on Fan Xian’s face as he enjoyed the soft touch of the woman behind him. Not only did she not hold a grudge, she made great effort to fawn on him. Why? Could it be… she had fallen for him? As soon as he thought of it, he immediately wanted to slap himself around the face. Although he was Pan An, he reminded himself, he was not the kind of brute to release an aphrodisiac into the air. [1]
Why did he want to stay in Si Lili’s carriage? Fan Xian frowned, and tried to think of a persuasive answer. Perhaps he was uncertain about this trip to Northern Qi. Perhaps it was because Xiao En was not easy on the eyes. Perhaps… it was really nothing. He was an ordinary man, and Si Lili was a beautiful woman whose naked body he had once touched. It was only normal to want to stay with her.
Fan Xian did not linger too long in his fantasies. He knew he was a lech, but he was also a person of unswerving determination. He would not allow himself to be trapped by tenderness, unable to free himself. He let Si Lili massage him, just to rid him of some of his fatigue, then he left the carriage.
Wang Qinian came to greet him, and accompanied him as he walked to the rear of the convoy.
Sir, be wary of who may be listening or watching. After all, we want to deliver Si Lili to the Emperor of Northern Qi. If you are going to spend so long in her carriage, then make sure the subordinates are dispersed first, so as not to allow rumors to spread throughout Shangjing. It will have an effect on your future plans.
Fan Xian knew that his aide had gotten the wrong idea, but he explained nothing, and simply rubbed at his temples.
[1] Pan An, a young prodigy and poet, known for being one of the most handsome men in Chinese history.
