Chapter 13: Face as pale as a ghost, eyes as fierce as a demon

As the cousin from the Dingxi Marquis Mansion carried away the dashing General Black Feather, the steward stood there holding the calling card, caught in a dilemma.

Just as he was hesitating, he heard the eager voice of a pageboy seeing off a guest. The steward hurriedly turned around and, seeing it was Shen Linyu, a flattering smile instantly bloomed on his face as he called out, "Your Highness."

Shen Linyu paused as he passed the steward and asked, "Black Feather has been bought. What about that Speckled Rooster?"

Without thinking much of it, the steward answered honestly, "The Speckled Rooster was no match for Black Feather and sustained heavy injuries. I fear it can no longer take the stage."

"I see..." Shen Linyu nodded thoughtfully. "Have someone deliver it to the Eldest Princess's Manor."

The steward let out an "Ah?" and hurriedly shot a questioning look at Yuan Jing.

Yuan Jing was also confused. "Your Highness, what do you intend to do with the Speckled Rooster?"

"Stew it into soup," Shen Linyu replied, not finding anything wrong with his words, and countered, "What else would I do with it?"

The steward was left speechless.

These two "Generals" had a run of terrible luck today. They had fought a fierce, earth-shattering battle all afternoon, only to end up with nothing to show for it, facing being chopped and diced to go on their way together tonight.

Had they known this would be their fate, they might have preferred to be egg-laying hens in their next life; they might have lived a few more years that way.

But no matter how much he thought about it, the steward couldn't figure out if stewing fighting cocks was some kind of celestial delicacy. Why did the Marquis Mansion want it, and why did the Prince want it too?

"Your Highness," the steward licked his lips and asked brazenly, "Is fighting cock soup really that delicious?"

"I don't know," Shen Linyu said. "But since such a soup exists in this world, how could I not let my mother taste it? It is unacceptable that even an Eldest Princess has never sampled it."

Yuan Jing sighed inwardly.

It sounded perfectly reasonable at first, but upon closer inspection, it was nothing but pure sophistry.

His Highness was truly...

Whether the steward was actually fooled by the logic or not, he offered a very polite compliment: "Your Highness is so filial; the Eldest Princess will surely be very gratified."

"It is only proper," Shen Linyu murmured indifferently. He reached out, snatched the calling card back from the steward, glanced at it twice, and then stuffed it back. "After you go to the Dingxi Marquis Mansion to collect the debt tomorrow, come to the Eldest Princess's Manor. It will still be two hundred and fifty taels; I won't short you."

Having given his instructions, Shen Linyu finally stepped out.

The steward saw him out, and upon returning, he ran into the pageboy. The two stared at each other.

The pageboy's thoughts were still muddled. "Am I supposed to deliver the Speckled General over?"

"Deliver it. It is the Prince's gift of chicken soup to the Eldest Princess; it ought to be delivered," the steward rubbed his forehead and asked, "Then I go to collect the debt tomorrow?"

"You should, shouldn't you?" the pageboy replied. "It would sound quite bad if word got out that the Prince owed money to our General Workshop."

"True!"

Outside the General Workshop, Shen Linyu boarded his carriage.

The driver inquired, "Are you returning to the Yamen, or heading straight to your manor?"

"To the Dingxi Marquis Mansion," Shen Linyu finished. Seeing Yuan Jing staring at him with wide eyes, he added, "I happen to have matters to discuss with the Marquis."

Yuan Jing:...

"You don't believe me?" Shen Linyu asked, seeing his skeptical expression. "If I'm not going there to discuss matters, am I going there to drink chicken soup? Are you wondering if the defeated Speckled Rooster tastes less fragrant than the victorious Black Feather?"

A surge of indignation caught in Yuan Jing's throat. He clutched his neck and coughed heavily several times.

And he claims he's not there for chicken soup!

He's already wondering which chicken tastes better!

And he's even taking shots at his own aide!

***

An open book lay on the desk before him—a travelogue that had been highly recommended by the teachers at the academy recently.

A few days ago, Lu Zhi had been reading it with great interest; the vivid travelogues were far more entertaining than the dry, lecture-style essays. But tonight, he couldn't process a single line.

His mind was still on the smoke-filled battlefield.

On one side was the majestic General Black Feather, and on the other, the arrogant General Speckled.

The two generals paced, intimidated, and tested one another, until the sudden strike...

That magnificent contest was vivid before his eyes.

He clearly remembered Black Feather flapping its wings and taking flight, its claw striking at Speckled's eye, while the surrounding spectators pumped their fists and shouted—and he had been one of them.

When the Speckled Rooster finally collapsed from exhaustion, General Black Feather paced the stage with such grandeur and spirit that Lu Zhi wanted to gift it only four words: *A God Descended!*

"How thrilling!" Lu Zhi murmured.

Truly worthy of the name General Black Feather.

From the moment it first appeared at the General Workshop, Lu Zhi had been a supporter, cheering it on and never missing a single match. And Black Feather had indeed lived up to his expectations.

After the match ended, he had gone to see Black Feather. Aside from a few lost feathers on its wings, it had no other injuries; it likely wouldn't need more than a few days of rest before returning to the stage.

"The next opponent should be that White Feather Gold-Tail. That one is strong with its beak—one peck leaves a bloody hole—but Black Feather has powerful wings and flies high. It will surely evade its strength and strike from above..."

*Cluck—*

*Cluck!*

As Lu Zhi was pondering the next match, he suddenly heard a few chicken cries.

The cries were fierce and very familiar.

Was it General Black Feather?

At first, Lu Zhi thought he had misheard, but the crowing grew closer and clearer. He jumped up from his chair and hurried out of the study.

At this moment, the clouds had parted slightly, revealing the brilliant moonlight.

In the moonlight, a figure strode forward. Far behind her, two lanterns seemed to be chasing after her.

Filled with doubt, Lu Zhi widened his eyes to look closely, and only then did he recognize the newcomer.

It was A-Wei.

"You..." Lu Zhi spoke in astonishment. Hearing another crow, he followed the sound and saw that the chicken was in A-Wei's hands.

It was pitch black, blending into the night, yet the moonlight made its feathers shine like satin.

He hadn't misheard; it was indeed Black Feather.

A-Wei walked quickly up to Lu Zhi, raised her right hand, and thrust the Black Feather chicken directly at his face. "Is the fighting cock good to look at?"

Lu Zhi instinctively took a step back.

"Is this chicken formidable?" A-Wei took two steps forward, nearly shoving Black Feather right against Lu Zhi's forehead.

Suddenly seeing a chicken's head thrust before his eyes, Lu Zhi's mind went blank. He instinctively jerked his head aside and shouted, "What are you doing! Are you crazy! What is the meaning of this!"

A-Wei let out a cold laugh, her fingers tightening forcefully.

*CLUCK!!!*

In pain, the Black Feather chicken tilted its head back and shrieked, its neck thrashing as it tried to break free.

Lu Zhi was nearly grazed on the nose by the beak. He stumbled backward several steps, lost his footing, and crashed into a corridor pillar before he could steady himself by grabbing it.

"Madwoman!" Lu Zhi was both shocked and terrified, clinging to the pillar. "You crazy woman!"

He wasn't afraid of General Black Feather; what filled him with dread was A-Wei.

When he heard that this cousin had nearly wiped out the entire Yu family, Lu Zhi wasn't afraid.

When he heard that his cousin and aunt were setting up formations in Chunhui Garden, Lu Zhi wasn't afraid either.

He just thought those two were annoying and loathsome; they had caused a massive scene at the family sacrifice as soon as they returned, making him a laughingstock among his classmates at the academy.

But at this moment, under the cold moonlight, his cousin—holding a black chicken, her face as pale as a ghost, and her eyes as fierce as a demon—made the hair on his head stand on end and his skin crawl from head to toe.

"Drag her away!" Lu Zhi screamed at the approaching steward. "Drag her away!"