Chapter 31: Want to Learn? I'll Teach You

The sky was blue, the clouds white, along the banks of green water.

Dugu Ru stormed into the great tent, fuming.

"This Liu Lingzhu has been like a mad dog lately, always biting at me—do you know why?"

Li Shuang, who had been waiting inside the great tent for some time, spread his hands at Dugu Ru's words.

"Who knows? Maybe he's getting on in years! The so-called saying that colleagues are enemies—does he feel threatened?"

"It can't be that. I haven't done anything to him!"

Dugu Ru, puzzled, sat down across from Li Shuang and demanded:

"Didn't you say you'd help me deal with him?"

"This Liu Lingzhu is more cunning than I imagined. Didn't he sense something was off and run back to Yuan Shenshen's side?"

Li Shuang picked up a piece of cheese from the table and began eating it, asking casually:

"How are things on Yuan Shenshen's side?"

"Yuan Shenshen looks refined and cultured on the surface, but I sense he's very deep and calculating."

Dugu Ru, a woman who could roam freely across these grasslands and command three thousand elite Xiongnu cavalry, was naturally no delicate flower.

Her perception of malice and danger was extremely sharp.

"He often asks me about the details of my tribe, and the way he looks at me is off too."

Li Shuang burst out laughing when he heard this.

"Yuan Shenshen isn't having it easy either. The Six Garrisons are under pressure, Heng Province is short on grain, he has no brave generals or fierce soldiers under him, and so many unruly Xianbei military households around him. He's probably set his sights on the cavalry in your tribe!"

Dugu Ru slammed the table in fury, an angry expression crossing her face.

"Sheer wishful thinking!"

A playful look crossed Li Shuang's face as he teased:

"What, being Wang Fei of Guangyang is beneath you?"

"I wouldn't want it!"

Dugu Ru snorted, looked at Li Shuang, and caught on.

"Tell me, how should we deal with Yuan Shenshen?"

Li Shuang pulled a book from his sleeve and set it on the table.

"I wrote this overnight. Take it back and study it carefully—it's enough to deal with Yuan Shenshen."

Dugu Ru picked up the book, frowning.

"'The Green Tea Compendium'?"

"Yuan Shenshen does like drinking tea, but even if I read all this, I can't conjure up West Lake Longjing or Emei Snow Bud, can I?"

Li Shuang leaned in closer and let out a sly chuckle.

"This book records matters between men and women."

Dugu Ru's face changed drastically at this. She flung the book disgustedly at Li Shuang and cursed:

"Filthy! Lewd! Despicable! Shameless!"

Li Shuang was a bit dumbfounded.

"Why are you cursing at me?"

Dugu Ru looked quite beside herself with anger, her cheeks puffed out in fury.

"Don't think I don't know what you drew. When I was little, I sneaked a look at my sister's medical books—they had records of bedroom arts in them. I don't need you to teach me!"

"You've got the wrong idea. The contents of the book aren't—"

Dugu Ru shoved the book Li Shuang was holding out away as if facing a great enemy, refusing to even glance at it, and bellowed:

"Let me tell you, if you think I'm going to seduce Yuan Shenshen, forget it!"

Li Shuang seized Dugu Ru by both shoulders and held her in place.

The young woman's face had turned the color of a red apple, brimming with embarrassed fury. A pair of beautiful eyes opened with difficulty, and seeing the serious expression on the handsome young man's face before her, she was somewhat stunned.

"Listen—green tea is a flavor!"

???

Take Pingcheng.

Yuan Shenshen, a member of the imperial clan who had inherited the title of Prince Guangyang, possessed both talent and good looks that could rival those of the famously handsome Prince Qinghe, Yuan Yi, who had been killed by Prince Yuan Yi during the coup.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have had countless romantic affairs, including seducing the Wang Fei of Prince Chengyang, Yuan Hui.

Dealing with a girl from the grasslands, Yuan Shenshen felt quite confident.

After meeting a few times, Yuan Shenshen invited Dugu Ru to the imperial garden within Take Pingcheng.

The lakeside scenery was lovely, filled with beautiful flowers. In the vast garden, the palace attendants and servants had all been dismissed, leaving only Yuan Shenshen and Dugu Ru.

"Aru, though you are young, you have inherited your father's legacy and command an entire tribe. I truly admire you."

A lovely smile appeared on the young woman's face, though tinged with timidity.

"I'm not as wonderful as Your Highness says. Sometimes, at night when I'm alone in my tent, I often feel like crying!"

"Why?"

"I'm afraid I'll betray my father's trust, and that my decisions will lead the whole tribe to ruin."

Yuan Shenshen shook his head.

"The burden on your shoulders is too heavy. It's time to find someone to share it with you."

"Your Highness jests. Who would take a fancy to me? I'm a shamaness—many people are afraid just looking at me."

Yuan Shenshen, seeing the mood had been built up to this point, finally spoke.

"Aru, from the very first moment I saw you, you have been in my heart."

The young girl did not refuse; after hesitating for a few seconds, she spoke timidly:

"Really?"

Gazing at the girl's peach-blossom-like, radiant face, Yuan Shen's heart suddenly stirred, and he nodded without hesitation.

"Truly!"

"But Your Majesty is a hero who overshadows the world. Even if Your Majesty likes me, how could I possibly be worthy of Your Majesty?"

"You are worthy; you are certainly worthy! If you are willing, I will have the matchmaker prepare the betrothal letter and the betrothal gifts right now. Tell me, what do you want? Whether it be the finest garments in this world or precious jewels, I will find them for you!"

The young girl shook her head.

"Your Majesty toils day and night for the court and has already suffered enough. How could I be so unreasonable and still ask for things from Your Majesty's hands? As long as Your Majesty enjoys daily fortune, longevity, and health, that is the best gift for me, a humble daughter."

At that moment, Yuan Shen suddenly felt that the young girl before him was the best woman in the world and wanted to give her everything.

But just as he was about to speak, a scout rider galloped over quickly, interrupting his mood.

"What is it!"

"Your Majesty, the Wu Chuan Garrison has fallen!"

Yuan Shen was struck as if by thunder; for a moment, the flowers in this flower garden did not seem so radiant.

"With so many gifts, he has truly gone all out!"

Li Shuang looked at the tent full of jewels, ornaments, dresses, and gold and silver vessels, and exclaimed in wonder.

Dugu Ru, inside the tent, tried on a dress before a bronze mirror, showing no hesitation in front of Li Shuang, and said proudly:

"What is this? If Yuan Shen had not been busy with military affairs these past days, I could have asked for even more! As agreed, I'll convert it to money and split half with you."

Seeing Dugu Ru so generous, Li Shuang felt very gratified.

"It was not in vain that I taught you face-to-face, hand-in-hand for so long; it seems you have now graduated!"

Dugu Ru picked up a pair of jade earrings, fiddled with them, and smiled at Li Shuang.

"How is it? Do they look good?"

Gazing at the girl's breathtakingly beautiful face, Li Shuang's heart stirred, but he immediately came to his senses.

"That's too much! I taught you how to be a 'green tea,' and now you turn around and use this tactic against me?"

Dugu Ru paused for a moment, then suddenly chuckled.

"I was just showing you the skills of your disciple!"

"Enough talk. The Wu Chuan Garrison has fallen; the situation in the Northern Frontier is about to change. You must be careful."

"I know. You must be careful too!"

"Again?"

"Forget it; I'll let you off!"

After Li Shuang departed, in this great tent filled with gifts yet making Dugu Ru feel desolate, she set down the precious jade earrings in her hand, looking somewhat dazed.

"You're so petty; I never intended to use this against you!"