Mythical Three Kingdoms

That very day, after the troops had settled in, Wang Yi turned left and right and eventually appeared beside Fa Zheng’s carriage, but she did not see Fa Zheng.

”May I ask, is Fa Xiaozhi here?” Wang Yi cut to the chase, unwilling to waste time with a brat like Lul Xun.

”Prime Minister Fa has some matters to discuss with General Zhao and is not here. If you have any business, I can help relay the message,” Lul Xun glanced at Wang Yi but did not perceive any danger. Generally speaking, girls tend to be inherently confusing.

”You can relay it?” Wang Yi was first slightly disappointed, then she glanced at Lul Xun again, noticing his proper attire and recalling his reasonable behavior earlier, her eyes lit up—it seemed worth a try.

”Please do tell,” said Lul Xun, putting down the tools in his hand and standing up.

”Are you sure?” Wang Yi raised an eyebrow, ”Do not promise something you can’t deliver.”

”If I say I can do it, I definitely can,” Lul Xun said discontentedly.

”Oh, that’s good, I was quite worried you couldn’t do it,” Wang Yi nodded.

”Speak, my time is also very precious,” Lul Xun said, patting his hands.

”Take me to see Fa Xiaozhi,” Wang Yi revealed a hint of triumph.

Lul Xun was taken aback, then gave Wang Yi a deep look, ”Follow me.”

”Thanks a lot,” said Wang Yi with a light chuckle, ”Little brother, sister thanks you. I’ll treat you to some pastries later.”

Lul Xun internally cursed; momentarily inattentive, he fell for Wang Yi’s bait and switch. Since he agreed to it, he could only lead Wang Yi there—after all, in Lul Xun’s view, his word was resolute.

Seeing that Lul Xun seemed displeased but said nothing else, Wang Yi knew that he was also a person of firm resolve, so she followed Lul Xun, speaking with a smile, ”Little brother, don’t be mad. How about this, sister will tell you her name—that’s only fair. Sister shouldn’t have tricked you, but sister needs to see him urgently.”

”I’m not angry,” Lul Xun regained his composure and glanced back at Wang Yi.

”Although your face shows no anger, that doesn’t mean you aren’t annoyed. Behavior sometimes represents one’s feelings more accurately than expressions,” said Wang Yi cheerily.

Lul Xun, who had been pacing swiftly, suddenly slowed down, then completely calmed down and turned back to face Wang Yi, ”All good now, I’m not angry anymore. I didn’t expect myself to be so emotional. I am the unworthy Lul Boyan, I have seen the young lady.”

”Pretty impressive,” Wang Yi clicked her tongue slightly. She hadn’t expected Lul Xun to regain his composure so quickly. Since he was being formal, she wouldn’t neglect the proper courtesies either, and, bowing slightly, she said, ”From the Wang Family of Fufeng, Wang Yi.”

”Fufeng?” Lul Xun lifted an eyebrow slightly, now having some idea—after all, Fa Zheng was a person of Fufeng.

”What of it?” Wang Yi smiled broadly, seeing Lul Xun’s expression she knew he’d made the connection to Fa Zheng. That was exactly what she wanted, so there was no need for her to explain further. Actually, Wang Yi wasn’t someone who acted haughtily. Her previous behavior was only to see Fa Zheng sooner and settle matters.

”There’s nothing wrong. Come with me, he’s in the military camp—don’t speak recklessly once inside,” Lul Xun said with a sullen face, he had always been outmaneuvered by Wang Yi.

Soon Lu Xun brought Wang Yi to the military camp’s outskirts. Although the entire caravan was protected by the army, they were still stopped from entering the military camp.

”Who goes there?” the guard inquired, but not in a particularly strict manner.

”Prime Minister Fa’s companion,” Lu Xun sighed, then produced the Command Talisman given to him by Fa Zheng. After a round of verification, the two were allowed to enter.

”It doesn’t seem very strict, I can actually be brought in,” Wang Yi said in surprise. She had felt downhearted when she saw Lu Xun taking her toward the military camp, as the military camp strictly forbade the entry of women.

”On the contrary, this military camp is very strict; without this talisman, we definitely couldn’t enter,” Lu Xun said discontentedly. ”Fa Xiaozhi once served as the Central Army Sima for the three armies, holding the responsibilities of a military strategist, and to this day that status has not been revoked. This talisman is the symbol of his identity.”

”He was actually a strategist for the three armies?” Wang Yi was astounded.

”Yes, he was. During the campaign against the Yellow Turbans, he was the strategist,” Lu Xun said with a curl of his lip, recalling how Fa Zheng, bored out of his mind, had told him about his glorious achievements in that battle.

It was indeed a dilemma for Fa Zheng. After all, Fa Zheng did hold a noble title. To be precise, several who took part in the campaign against the Yellow Turbans obtained noble titles and rewards; even if not from that campaign, they would acquire titles later on.

It was actually last year when Fa Zheng became the National Chancellor of Qi State that he received his title of Marquis within the Pass. In other words, Fa Zheng did hold a noble title and was a bona fide marquis, although being a Marquis within the Pass is considered less prestigious, but a marquis is a marquis nonetheless, in name and honor!

The biggest difference between a Marquis within the Pass and other marquises lies in the fact that other marquises, besides the benefits that a Marquis within the Pass enjoys, also possess a fief. However, during times of chaos and war, even if you have a fief you wouldn’t be able to claim it, rendering it meaningless in practical terms. Yet, as a symbol of status, the stubbornly fixated Fa Zheng was reluctant to admit he was a marquis, insisting that unless he obtained the title of a full marquis, he would not call himself one.

This is why even to this day, Fa Zheng’s father is unaware that Fa Zheng actually holds a title. Because of this, his father sometimes wonders how, in the Great Han Dynasty, a rank of two thousand bushels would require a noble title, so why could Fa Zheng become the National Chancellor of Qi State? Why indeed?

Fa Yan, Lu Xun, and others had the preconceived notion that Fa Zheng did not have a noble title. Wang Yi, however, deduced according to the laws of the Great Han Dynasty without understanding how Fa Zheng obtained his title, since the Han Dynasty had a law stating that one could only be ennobled for military merits!

But now that Lu Xun had disclosed Fa Zheng’s participation in the campaign against the Yellow Turbans of Qingzhou, Wang Yi thoroughly understood and smiled bitterly. At this point, she could only do her best, realizing that ever since leaving Fufeng, Fa Zheng had seemed like a flood dragon breaking free, soaring to the skies, transforming with the wind—it was a gap so large that now Wang Yi could only vow to do her utmost.

”What’s the matter with you?” Lu Xun, noticing that Wang Yi, who would occasionally tease him, had suddenly fallen silent, couldn’t help but stop and ask.

”Just a bit of reflection, that’s all,” Wang Yi said with a helpless look on her face. She felt an impulse to turn and walk away. The Wang Family and the Jiangg Family had struggled for so many years, proclaimed to be among the top local tyrants of Fufeng, yet they hadn’t produced a single marquis. The highest official in their ranks was no more than a city guard, incomparable to Fa Zheng.

The struggle of two families over a hundred years couldn’t match the effort of one youth over five years, making it impossible for Wang Yi not to feel reflective. What did it mean to misjudge? Probably if Jiangg Ying’s father knew Fa Zheng’s current circumstances, he could only sigh that he had failed to recognize a gem from the Jing Mountains and unknowingly cast pearls before swine.

”We’ve arrived, I’ll take you this far. The rest is up to you,” Lu Xun pointed towards the command tent and said.

”Boyan, since you’re here, come on in,” Zhao Yun with his keen hearing, naturally heard the commotion outside and greeted with a smile.

”It seems you don’t have to wait any longer,” Lu Xun lifted the flap of the tent and walked inside.

[Alas, Sister Ying, I’ve done all I can, the rest is up to fate.] Wang Yi let out a long sigh, [At this point, whether it works out or not is no longer a matter of my wisdom, the only thing left to do is to see how the other party feels about you.] (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian ), as your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)