Chapter 56: As a General, It is a Disgrace to Be The Only Survivor

Bai Qi gets up early in the morning. By the king’s commend, Gu Nan has to come along with him.

Abide by Bai Qi’s instruction, Gu Nan puts on her armor, which has lost its original shine.

She ties her hair into the male style, a thread of weariness leaking from her gorgeous and handsome face.

It has been only one battle, but her expression tells that her spirit has been deeply tormented.

The two figures, on the horse, cross the streets of Xian Xiang.

The return of the Qin army is different from Gu Nan’s imagination: in her mind, a victorious army should be welcomed by all citizens, soldiers lined up passing through the gate receiving the utmost respect from all those witnessing their return.

But, in reality, the army returned quietly, headed straight to its camp, and then dismissed right away. During the following short vacation, soldiers whose families are in Xian Yang can pay them a visit, while others will not have the chance to do so.

Nobody wants anything to do with the army, except for those whose family members serve in it.

The king’s palace can be seen from faraway as it stands out among the low civilian residences, lying north in the Xian Yang city.

Stopped at the perimeter, the horses are taken away by a royal guard, for which Blackie almost throws a tantrum.

The inner palace is spacious enough to run carriages, yet it is surrounded by high walls, leaving only a piece of narrow sky available to those within.

“Later when you are in his highness presence, do not speak; just listen, understood?”

Bai Qi repeated reminds Gu Nan of the necessary manners in the palace. He is not a man of many words, but whenever it comes to Gu Nan, he keeps talking as if his concern for her is endless.

“The manners in the palace are nothing like what you are used to at home: you cannot do whatever you like here. Remember, if you talk too much, you will slip for at least once. Therefore, whatever his highness asks you, you just answer with yes or no. You do not need to say anything else; your master will do the talking.”

Saying so, he watches Gu Nan with a look a sorrow and bitterness: “try to learn from this experience. The ways on the court are different from the ways on the battlefield; however, as a minister as well as a general in the future, the ways on the court is a must learn after all.”

“Master…” Gu Nan opens her mouth for the first time during this trip, but Bai Qi raises his hand and stops her: “I will make the decision, it should no longer be your concern.”

Saying so, he slightly points toward a shadow under the palace wall, suggesting that spies could be anywhere nearby and eavesdrop on them.

Gu Nan powerlessly casts her sight down onto the road beneath her feet, which leads deep into the palace.

“Hum.” She answers quietly.

“Your highness,” a maidservant lowers her head at the king’s side and whispers into his ear: “Lord Wu An and his disciple have arrived.”

“Ah, the lord Wu An is here,” the king drops the document onto the table, “just let them in. If it is the Lord Wu An, you don’t need to announce his arrival.”

This is a side palace. An old man in a gorgeous black robe trimmed with golden threads sited at the middle of the room catches Gu Nan’s attention. If not for the magnificent dress, given the peaceful and soft atmosphere around him, he can be mistaken for any regular old man.

“Bow to your highness.” Bai Qi lowers his body for a salute.

However, Gu Nan just stands dumbfounded. She rarely salutes to anyone other than Bai Qi and Wei Lan.

Well, she is not too out of place if she is in the modern era, but unfortunately this is 229 B.C.

Noticing that there is no sound of movement beside him, Bai Qi glances in Gu Nan’s way frowning, and finds out that she has not moved.

He signs. This cheeky girl just does not know to show respect.

He coughs slightly, signaling Gu Nan to snap out of it.

Gu Nan hurriedly falls to the ground: “Gu Nan pays your highness her respect.”

Bai Qi continues with a stern look: “my young disciple had been drifting around since her childhood and henceforth never educated of any proper manner. Please forgive her offense, your highness.”

“No problem.” The king of Qin waves his hand. His voice sounds delighted, even though it is frigid due to aging.

“Lord Wu An earned me a grand victory over the Zhao, and I have yet to properly award you of your great achievement. In comparison to your accomplishment, manner from you disciple is just a nuance.”

“I am yet to meet Lord Wu An’s disciple in person before, but I have well heard of her reputation. The two pieces, the Melodies of Butterflies Chasing Flowers and the one with the line if we are drunk, crouching on the battlefield, do not laugh are not restricted to common styles and are for sure marvelous. I have always wanted to take a look at her in person.”

The King of Qin narrows his eyes, his sight falls onto Gu Nan. “What an outstanding young man bearing unmatched talents.”

Silent for a while, the king waves his hand. “I just invite Lord Wu An here for a chat; you do not need to be so tense.

Saying so, the king dismisses everyone else, leaving only the three of them remaining in the palace.

“Take a sit.”

On the other end of the palace, two cushions have already been prepared, apparently for both Bai Qi and Gu Nan.

“My gratitude to your highness.”

Sitting down on her knees, Gu Nan finds it uneasy to be here, for that in the spacious palace, only three figures remain, making the sound made by every movement noticeable.

The king of Qin speaks first. “I heard that you head straight back home after you returned. You are not giving me a chance to celebrate your victory.”

It is a plain statement; however, a sense of confrontation can be heard in his words.

Bai Qi smiles: “I had been in battle for several months away from my loving wife. I had missed her so much that I could not attend to your highness. Please forgive my lack of consideration.”

“Haha, it’s not a big deal.” The king laughs as he is amused by Bai Qi: “It is not a secret on the court that Lord Wu An is scared by her wife and does not dare to trifle with her. Were you not head home first, I would begin to question your dignity.”

…

Bai Qi looks frigid and stern from his expression. Obviously, this is not a pleasant topic even for someone as experienced as he is.

As the general of an army, to be scared by his own wife is not necessarily a good reputation. Thinking so, Bai Qi flushes: “You must be joking, your highness.”

“Haha, that’s it for the fun. I will not let you lose face in front of your own disciple anymore. Lord Wu An, I have a serious question that needs you to answer.” The king takes back his relaxed smile, showing his rigid and serious side to Bai Qi.

The relaxed atmosphere in the air just a moment ago all of sudden disappears, leaving no trail behind.

Bai Qi lowers his head: “Please ask, your highness.

Chapter 56: As a General, It is a Disgrace to Be The Only Survivor

Bai Qi gets up early in the morning. By the king’s commend, Gu Nan has to come along with him.

Abide by Bai Qi’s instruction, Gu Nan puts on her armor, which has lost its original shine.

She ties her hair into the male style, a thread of weariness leaking from her gorgeous and handsome face.

It has been only one battle, but her expression tells that her spirit has been deeply tormented.

The two figures, on the horse, cross the streets of Xian Xiang.

The return of the Qin army is different from Gu Nan’s imagination: in her mind, a victorious army should be welcomed by all citizens, soldiers lined up passing through the gate receiving the utmost respect from all those witnessing their return.

But, in reality, the army returned quietly, headed straight to its camp, and then dismissed right away. During the following short vacation, soldiers whose families are in Xian Yang can pay them a visit, while others will not have the chance to do so.

Nobody wants anything to do with the army, except for those whose family members serve in it.

The king’s palace can be seen from faraway as it stands out among the low civilian residences, lying north in the Xian Yang city.

Stopped at the perimeter, the horses are taken away by a royal guard, for which Blackie almost throws a tantrum.

The inner palace is spacious enough to run carriages, yet it is surrounded by high walls, leaving only a piece of narrow sky available to those within.

“Later when you are in his highness presence, do not speak; just listen, understood?”

Bai Qi repeated reminds Gu Nan of the necessary manners in the palace. He is not a man of many words, but whenever it comes to Gu Nan, he keeps talking as if his concern for her is endless.

“The manners in the palace are nothing like what you are used to at home: you cannot do whatever you like here. Remember, if you talk too much, you will slip for at least once. Therefore, whatever his highness asks you, you just answer with yes or no. You do not need to say anything else; your master will do the talking.”

Saying so, he watches Gu Nan with a look a sorrow and bitterness: “try to learn from this experience. The ways on the court are different from the ways on the battlefield; however, as a minister as well as a general in the future, the ways on the court is a must learn after all.”

“Master…” Gu Nan opens her mouth for the first time during this trip, but Bai Qi raises his hand and stops her: “I will make the decision, it should no longer be your concern.”

Saying so, he slightly points toward a shadow under the palace wall, suggesting that spies could be anywhere nearby and eavesdrop on them.

Gu Nan powerlessly casts her sight down onto the road beneath her feet, which leads deep into the palace.

“Hum.” She answers quietly.

“Your highness,” a maidservant lowers her head at the king’s side and whispers into his ear: “Lord Wu An and his disciple have arrived.”

“Ah, the lord Wu An is here,” the king drops the document onto the table, “just let them in. If it is the Lord Wu An, you don’t need to announce his arrival.”

This is a side palace. An old man in a gorgeous black robe trimmed with golden threads sited at the middle of the room catches Gu Nan’s attention. If not for the magnificent dress, given the peaceful and soft atmosphere around him, he can be mistaken for any regular old man.

“Bow to your highness.” Bai Qi lowers his body for a salute.

However, Gu Nan just stands dumbfounded. She rarely salutes to anyone other than Bai Qi and Wei Lan.

Well, she is not too out of place if she is in the modern era, but unfortunately this is 229 B.C.

Noticing that there is no sound of movement beside him, Bai Qi glances in Gu Nan’s way frowning, and finds out that she has not moved.

He signs. This cheeky girl just does not know to show respect.

He coughs slightly, signaling Gu Nan to snap out of it.

Gu Nan hurriedly falls to the ground: “Gu Nan pays your highness her respect.”

Bai Qi continues with a stern look: “my young disciple had been drifting around since her childhood and henceforth never educated of any proper manner. Please forgive her offense, your highness.”

“No problem.” The king of Qin waves his hand. His voice sounds delighted, even though it is frigid due to aging.

“Lord Wu An earned me a grand victory over the Zhao, and I have yet to properly award you of your great achievement. In comparison to your accomplishment, manner from you disciple is just a nuance.”

“I am yet to meet Lord Wu An’s disciple in person before, but I have well heard of her reputation. The two pieces, the Melodies of Butterflies Chasing Flowers and the one with the line if we are drunk, crouching on the battlefield, do not laugh are not restricted to common styles and are for sure marvelous. I have always wanted to take a look at her in person.”

The King of Qin narrows his eyes, his sight falls onto Gu Nan. “What an outstanding young man bearing unmatched talents.”

Silent for a while, the king waves his hand. “I just invite Lord Wu An here for a chat; you do not need to be so tense.

Saying so, the king dismisses everyone else, leaving only the three of them remaining in the palace.

“Take a sit.”

On the other end of the palace, two cushions have already been prepared, apparently for both Bai Qi and Gu Nan.

“My gratitude to your highness.”

Sitting down on her knees, Gu Nan finds it uneasy to be here, for that in the spacious palace, only three figures remain, making the sound made by every movement noticeable.

The king of Qin speaks first. “I heard that you head straight back home after you returned. You are not giving me a chance to celebrate your victory.”

It is a plain statement; however, a sense of confrontation can be heard in his words.

Bai Qi smiles: “I had been in battle for several months away from my loving wife. I had missed her so much that I could not attend to your highness. Please forgive my lack of consideration.”

“Haha, it’s not a big deal.” The king laughs as he is amused by Bai Qi: “It is not a secret on the court that Lord Wu An is scared by her wife and does not dare to trifle with her. Were you not head home first, I would begin to question your dignity.”

…

Bai Qi looks frigid and stern from his expression. Obviously, this is not a pleasant topic even for someone as experienced as he is.

As the general of an army, to be scared by his own wife is not necessarily a good reputation. Thinking so, Bai Qi flushes: “You must be joking, your highness.”

“Haha, that’s it for the fun. I will not let you lose face in front of your own disciple anymore. Lord Wu An, I have a serious question that needs you to answer.” The king takes back his relaxed smile, showing his rigid and serious side to Bai Qi.

The relaxed atmosphere in the air just a moment ago all of sudden disappears, leaving no trail behind.

Bai Qi lowers his head: “Please ask, your highness.