Chapter 31: Want to Learn? I

The sky was blue, the clouds white, beside the green waters.

Du Gu Ru stormed angrily into the great tent.

“This Liu Lingzhu has been barking at me like a mad dog lately—do you know why?”

Li Shuang had already been waiting inside the tent; hearing Du Gu Ru’s words, he shrugged.

Who knows? Maybe he’s getting old. Competitors are natural rivals—do you think he feels threatened?

“That can’t be it—I haven’t done anything to him!”

Du Gu Ru frowned, sat down opposite Li Shuang, and demanded:

“Didn’t you say you’d help me deal with him?”

“This Liu Lingzhu is craftier than I thought. He sensed trouble and ran straight back to Yuanshen’s side.”

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

“How’s Yuanshen doing?”

“Yuanshen appears refined and gentle, but I sense he’s deeply calculating.”

Du Gu Ru, a woman, had roamed the grasslands, commanding three thousand elite Hu cavalry—she was no frail girl.

She was acutely sensitive to malice and danger.

“He constantly asks about the details of my tribe, and his gaze at me is strange.”

Li Shuang laughed upon hearing this.

“Yuanshen’s in a tough spot—Liuzhen is under pressure, Hengzhou is short on grain, he has no brave generals or fierce soldiers, and he’s surrounded by disobedient Xianbei households. He’s probably set his sights on your tribe’s cavalry!”

Du Gu Ru slammed the table, her face flushed with anger.

“Delusional!”

Li Shuang wore a sly smile, teasing:

“What, being Guangyang Wang’s consort isn’t good enough for you?”

“I don’t care for it!”

Du Gu Ru snorted, turned to Li Shuang, and suddenly understood.

“Fine, how do we deal with Yuanshen?”

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

“I wrote this overnight. Take it back, study it well—it’s enough to handle Yuanshen.”

Du Gu Ru picked up the book, frowning.

“The Green Tea Canon?”

“Yuanshen likes tea, but even if I read this, I can’t conjure up West Lake Longjing or Emei Snow Bud!”

Li Shuang leaned closer, grinning.

“This book records matters between men and women.”

Du Gu Ru’s face turned pale; she hurled the book at Li Shuang, cursing:

“Disgusting, lewd, despicable, shameless!”

Li Shuang was stunned.

“Why are you yelling at me?”

Du Gu Ru looked furious, her cheeks puffed up.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you drew—I stole a look at my sister’s medical texts when I was little; they had records of bedchamber arts. I don’t need you to teach me!”

“You’re mistaken—the book’s content isn’t…”

Du Gu Ru shoved away the book Li Shuang offered, refusing to even glance at it, shouting:

“Listen—I will never seduce Yuanshen!”

Li Shuang seized Du Gu Ru’s shoulders, pinning her in place.

The girl’s face turned as red as an apple, her eyes half-open, fixed on the earnest expression of the handsome boy before her—she froze.

“Listen—‘green tea’ is a flavor!”

???

Pingcheng.

Yuanshen, a member of the imperial clan, inherited the title of Guangyang Wang; his talent and appearance were both excellent, comparable to the famed beauty Yuan Yi, killed by Yuan Yi in the coup.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had so many romantic entanglements, even seducing Wang Yuan Hui, the princess of Chengyang.

Dealing with a grassland girl, Yuanshen felt confident.

After several meetings, Yuanshen invited Du Gu Ru to the imperial garden within Pingcheng.

The lakeside scenery was pleasant, blooming with beautiful flowers; the entire garden had been cleared of servants and attendants—only Yuanshen and Du Gu Ru remained.

“Aru, you’re so young yet inherited your father’s legacy, commanding a tribe—I truly admire you.”

The girl’s face lit up with a sweet smile, yet also held a hint of timidity.

“I’m not as good as Your Majesty says. Sometimes, when I’m alone in my tent at night, I want to cry.”

“Why?”

“I fear I’ll betray my father’s wishes, and that my decisions might lead the whole tribe to ruin.”

Yuanshen shook his head.

“Your burden is too heavy—it’s time to find someone to share it.”

“Your Majesty jests—who would want me? I’m a witch; many fear me.”

Seeing the mood properly set, Yuanshen finally spoke.

“Aru, since the first moment I saw you, you’ve been in my heart.”

The girl didn’t refuse; after a few seconds of hesitation, she whispered timidly:

“Really?”

Seeing the girl’s peach-blossom beauty, Yuanshen’s heart stirred—he nodded without hesitation.

“Really!”

“But Your Majesty is a peerless hero—even if you like me, how could I possibly be worthy of you?”

“You’re worthy! Of course you are! If you agree, I’ll send a matchmaker right away with the betrothal documents and bride price. Tell me—what do you want? Whether it’s the finest clothes in the world or precious jewels, I’ll get them for you!”

The girl shook her head.

“Your Majesty labors day and night for the court—you’re already worn thin. How could I be so childish as to ask you for things? As long as Your Majesty is healthy and blessed each day, that’s the greatest gift to me.”

At that moment, Yuanshen felt this girl was the finest woman on earth—he wanted to give her everything.

But just as he was about to speak, a scout galloped in, shattering the moment.

“What is it?”

“Your Majesty—Wuchuanzhen has fallen!”

Yuanshen reeled as if struck by lightning; suddenly, the flowers in the garden no longer seemed so lovely.

“He really went all out with these gifts!”

Li Shuang stared at the tent filled with jewels, ornaments, robes, gold, and silver, marveling.

Du Gu Ru, inside the tent, tried on a robe before a bronze mirror, not bothering to hide from Li Shuang, boasting:

“This is nothing—if Yuanshen hadn’t been busy with military affairs these days, I could’ve gotten more! Remember, you get half the value in cash.”

Seeing Du Gu Ru’s boldness, Li Shuang felt deeply satisfied.

“All that one-on-one teaching wasn’t wasted—you’ve graduated!”

Du Gu Ru picked up a pair of jade earrings, twirling them, smiling at Li Shuang.

“How do they look?”

Gazing at the girl’s breathtaking beauty, Li Shuang’s heart stirred—but then he snapped back.

“That’s cheating—I taught you how to be green tea, and now you’re using it on me?”

Du Gu Ru paused, then chuckled.

“I’m just showing you what your student can do!”

“Enough talk—Wuchuanzhen has fallen, the northern front is shifting. You must be careful.”

“I know. You be careful too.”

“Again?”

“Fine, I’ll let you off.”

After Li Shuang left, in the tent now filled with gifts yet feeling hollow to Du Gu Ru, she set down the precious jade earrings, lost in thought.

“Petty— I never meant to play you.”

…