CHAPTER 7 No Pain, No Gain

The rain dripping on the ground, clip-clop, clip-clop. Chill weather and it is a perfect time for sipping a cup of hot tea. The chirping sounds of birds could be heard from afar, singing to the rhythm of the falling rain. Tianqi unfolds a map on a big table and shows it to Zhang Liang. Zhang Liang comes closer.

"Your Highness, this is the current map of the Su Empire."

Zhang Liang smirk.

"Good! This will help us in the future. No need to be rushed, we still have a lot of time."

Tianqi bowed.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Zhang Liang folds up the map and put it inside a drawer.

"She might be brilliant, but everything in this world has its limits. Let's see how long you can stay on the top."

* * * * *

The lady was in her room, still thinking about what happened. Long black hair with silver gray irises. She couldn't get him out of her mind. Although she couldn't remember his face clearly, she could still feel his gentle touch. She loosened the handkerchief on his right wrist slowly, placed it on the table and looked at the handkerchief.

"What a beautiful Golden Phoenix design."

She took off her Golden Phoenix hairpin and put it on the handkerchief. Suddenly, she saw some writing on the handkerchief.

"Is this, a poem?"

(Quickly read the writing on the handkerchief)

On the mountain high,

With dried grasses.

"This is...a poem of loneliness?"

She tries to recall their conversation again.

"...It is my handmade handkerchief for emergency bandages if I'm injured on the battlefield..."

She tossed her body onto the bed and put the handkerchief on her chest.

"Could it be it is his poem?"

* * * * *

The rain getting heavier and the temperature became colder. Chun Xiao and Anli were shivering. Zhang Ruyi took off her cloth and put it on Chun Xiao.

"It's too cold. You'll catch a fever."

"Bi...Bixia. It's okay! I'm strong enough for this." Said Chun Xiao

"Silly girl. It's not good to let a lady get cold." Replied Zhang Ruyi

Anli glanced at Zhang Ruyi. ("Aren't you also a lady?" - talking to himself)

"A-hem! Bixia,...I'm feeling cold too..." He mumbled in jealousy.

Zhang Ruyi looked at him.

"You're a male. You can stand this cold."

Anli snickered and tossed an apple to Zhang Ruyi. Zhang Ruyi caught it.

"What is this?" - Zhang Ruyi

"An apple, of course." - Anli

"I know it's an apple but...what it is for? Eating apples in cold weather?" Asked Zhang Ruyi.

"It's not bad." Anli replied.

Zhang Ruyi flipped the apple.

"Then give one to Chun Xiao too." - Zhang Ruyi

"Nah...I'll only give Bixia." Said Anli while biting the apple in his hand.

Chun Xiao was amused by them.

"Huh? Why?" - Zhang Ruyi

"Because Bixia is the apple of my eye." - Anli speaks with a naughty smile

Chun Xiao giggled.

"Stop fooling around." - Zhang Ruyi, while walking down from the carriage.

Anli was stunned. Chun Xiao looked at him and shook her head with a mocking smile.

"Ruyi...why are you so naive...my heart shattered." (Anli, talking to himself)

Noticing that Anli still standing there, Chun Xiao waved her hands at his face.

"Lord Anli, Lord Anli!"

Anli startled.

"Wh-what is it?"

"What do you think about Bixia today? Doesn't Bixia looks great?"

"Hmm.." - He rolled his eyes.

"I changed Bixia's hairstyle. I think the new hairstyle looks good on Bixia. I also try a new makeup style for Bixia." She added.

"Hmm..." - Anli (slowly left Chun Xiao alone)

"Eh? Lord Anli, Lord Anli!" - Chun Xiao

Anli stopped for a moment and turned around, tossed an apple to Chun Xiao. Chun Xiao caught it. When Chun Xiao looked at him, he already left.

* * * * *

"Bixia, the bath water is ready!" Said Chun Xiao.

Zhang Ruyi stopped her writing.

"Thank you. I'll be there soon. Can you please make a ginseng soup for me after this?"

"Sure, Bixia."

Chun Xiao left her and quickly went to the kitchen to make a ginseng soup but before she go too far, Zhang Ruyi called her name.

"Wait, Chun Xiao! I changed my mind. Ask the other maid to make the ginseng soup for me."

Chun Xiao stopped and turned around. She tilted her head.

"I want you to rub my back."

* * * * *

"Tianqi! Come."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Zhang Liang leaned over the chair while playing with his brush.

"I have an order for you. I want you to go to Jinan and find this special thing."

Zhang Liang held out a piece of paper with writing on it.

"Soul Devourer Poison?!" Tianqi widened his eyes.

Zhang Liang stood with a crossed hands at his back.

"Correct! It is said that this is the rarest poison ever to exist, and so does the antidote."

Tianqi scratched his head.

"Your Highness, if this is the rarest poison ever to exist, it must be hard to get it too. Am I right?"

Zhang Liang comes closer to Tianqi.

"Exactly! In Jinan, there is only one place you can get it. It is a forbidden poison. This poison comes from purple fungi that grow on dead bodies. The fungi grow at dusk and wither in the morning."

Tianqi nodded his head.

"I get it! So these fungus must be grown in rural areas where there were no humans live."

"Yes. In Jinan, there is a mountain called Burial Mountain. It is a grave for executed criminals. Their corpses will be thrown there and it becomes a home for the soul of the dead."

Tianqi gulped.

"It has been said that nobody ever survives when entering the Burial Mountain. The soul of the death will scatter the living person's soul if they trespass on the area."

Zhang Liang looked at Tianqi. He knew Tianqi was scared.

"But you don't have to worry. It's just a rumor. You don't have to enter Burial Mountain to get the fungi. The fungi will grow in any spot in the mountain area, as long as the soil has the blood of the dead bodies."

Zhang Liang took the paper and burnt it in the fire.

"Since this task is very difficult, I'll give you more time to get the fungi. You may start to collect them tomorrow."

"Sure, Your Highness!"