In the women’s military camp on the back mountain, the Ninth Princess and Qing Mulian were also awake.
Of course, they were not making babies like Jin Feng and Guan Xiaorou. Instead, they were whispering to each other.
“Wuyang, you were so bold with your words today. You even made the gentleman blush.”
Qing Mulian turned to look at the Ninth Princess beside her on the pillow. “I never realised before that you could joke like that.”
“Sister, do you really think I was joking?” the Ninth Princess asked, staring at the top of the mosquito net.
“You weren’t joking?” Qing Mulian was stunned. “You don’t seriously want to marry the gentleman, do you?”
“What’s wrong with the gentleman?” the Ninth Princess countered.
“Well…” Qing Mulian was stumped.
If marrying Jin Feng was bad, the village would not have so many girls thinking about him.
“But the gentleman already has Xiaorou and Xiaobei. He definitely won’t divorce them.”
Qing Mulian said, “You are a royal princess. Would you really become a concubine to a baron? The Imperial Clan Court and the Ministry of Rites would never agree.”
A princess’s husband cannot take concubines. He can only have the princess as his wife.
If he was already married before marrying the princess, he would have to divorce his original wife and concubines.
But with Jin Feng’s character, he would never become a Chen Shimei just to be a princess’s husband.
“I only said the gentleman is good and that I am willing to serve him. When did I say I wanted to marry him?”
The Ninth Princess turned to look at Qing Mulian.
“Then what do you mean?” Qing Mulian was even more confused.
“Sister, you have been in Xihe Bay for so long. Haven’t you noticed that many girls actually have their eyes on the gentleman?”
“Of course I have,” Qing Mulian said. “In the village it’s still alright. The girls just secretly flirt with their eyes. But according to Adie, when she followed the gentleman to Tieguan Mountain, the female workers there were really bold. They not only joked, but also touched him.”
“And did the gentleman misbehave?”
“No. Adie said the gentleman locked the door and went to sleep as soon as it got dark.”
Qing Mulian continued, “Back in Guangyuan Prefecture city, who knows how many famous courtesans offered themselves to him, but he never paid them any attention.”
“That shows the gentleman is a man of principle. He won’t casually sleep with someone. But once he does, he will treat them sincerely, just like Xiaorou and Xiaobei.”
The Ninth Princess said, “Actually, I can feel that the gentleman is still guarded towards me. If one day he is willing… that would mean he truly trusts me and accepts me from the bottom of his heart.”
“Wuyang, is he really that good? Is he worth a royal princess like you…” Qing Mulian hesitated, then said, “worth you debasing yourself like this?”
In her view, for the noble Ninth Princess to serve him without name or status, like a bed-warming maid, was nothing less than debasing herself.
“Sister, a talent like the gentleman may not appear once in a thousand years. With him, Great Kang can be revived!”
The Ninth Princess said, “As long as Great Kang can be revived, let alone serving him in bed, even if it meant dying right now, Wuyang would be willing!”
“Wuyang…” Qing Mulian hugged the Ninth Princess in heartache. “That would wrong you too much.”
“Sister, do you think marrying into Tubo, or returning to the capital to choose a husband, would be better than being with the gentleman?”
The Ninth Princess smiled self-mockingly. “Marrying into Tubo doesn’t need saying. For the first few years, I would definitely be treated worse than pigs and dogs.
Even if I return to the capital to choose a husband, it would be one of those noble young men.
You know what those people are like, don’t you?
They practically grew up in brothels!
Throughout history, so many princesses’ husbands were not allowed concubines, but how many could restrain themselves from keeping mistresses or visiting brothels?
I am already tired of scheming against those old foxes. I don’t want to deal with men’s petty affairs any more.
Compared to them, Mr Jin is completely open and above board. When he comes home, everyone eats together noisily and happily. There’s no need to guard against anyone. Isn’t that good?”
“But today you were really too forward,” Qing Mulian said. “A royal princess speaking so shamelessly.”
“Sister, you know Tang Dongdong and the gentleman clearly like each other. Why haven’t they got together? Because they are both too reserved!”
The Ninth Princess said, “When it comes to matters between men and women, if both are too reserved, nothing will happen.
Sister, you have to adapt your approach to different people.
With those who curry favour, you cannot be too casual, or they will soon take advantage.
But with talented people, you need to be warmer, or they will keep their distance.
The gentleman is already very reserved. If I keep putting on princess airs, we will never become anything, not even friends.”
“Anyway, no matter what, you always have a reason.”
Qing Mulian ruffled the Ninth Princess’s hair. “If you really marry Jin Feng, that would be good. Then you could stay in Xichuan, and we could see each other often!”
“That would be wonderful.” The Ninth Princess also hugged Qing Mulian. “I just don’t know how the gentleman will reply tomorrow.”
“If he doesn’t go to Xichuan with you, I’ll have Amei tie him up and take him!”
Qing Mulian said, “If I’d known earlier that’s what you thought, I would have had Qin’er tie him up just now. You could have slept with him and been done with it.”
“Sister, you accuse me of being shameless, but you are the shameless one!”
The Ninth Princess covered her mouth and laughed. “But your idea is good. If later he really has feelings for me but still drags his feet, I’ll just have Qin’er tie him up and bring him over.”
“Stop giggling foolishly. Come, let me apply more medicine to your legs.”
…
The two sisters had ridden horses for a whole day and night. After whispering for a while, they gradually fell asleep.
The next day, they were woken by Qin’er. Jin Feng was already waiting for them in a private room in the camp dining hall.
“Gentleman, even if you don’t want us to freeload meals, you don’t need to guard us like this, do you?”
Qing Mulian said with a yawn. “Coming so early to block us?”
“Eat your bun!”
Jin Feng stuffed a bun into Qing Mulian’s mouth.
“Gentleman, coming so early to find us, have you made a decision?”
The Ninth Princess sat beside Jin Feng and stared at him as she asked.
“Yes!” Jin Feng nodded.
“What has the gentleman decided?” the Ninth Princess asked. “Are you willing to be the guard commander and lend Wuyang your strength?”
Jin Feng looked around. The Ninth Princess immediately understood and signalled Qin’er to clear everyone else out, then closed the door.
Qing Mulian also spat out the bun from her mouth and put away her joking expression.
“Your Highness, I want to ask you, if we win the battle, how confident are you that the court won’t punish us afterwards?”
Jin Feng said, “I want the truth!”
“I dare not say too much, but at least sixty per cent confident!”
The Ninth Princess answered seriously. “As I said before, if afterwards Father blames us, or if the promised second-class military quota for the gentleman is not honoured, Wuyang is willing to follow the gentleman into banditry and be his mountain stronghold wife!”
“Alright, I trust Your Highness!”
Jin Feng slapped the table. “I am willing to be Your Highness’s guard commander and stand with Your Highness against Tubo!”
