apart. Murong Fu remarked: “The person Nephew is talking about is the same person Maternal Aunt has been thinking about. Spring river flowing water white camellia, summer valley mist rise red lychee!”

In a quavering voice, Madam Wang questioned: “Tell me, how can I meet him?” Murong Fu described: “Maternal Aunt has expended plenty of effort and resources in order to apprehend this person. However, due to one misstep, he avoided your trap. Nephew has been thinking; it is not difficult to encounter him but there is no use in purely meeting him. Ultimately, it makes more sense to capture him and make him completely obedient to Maternal Aunt. When Maternal Aunt wants him to head east, he dared not head west. If Maternal Aunt wants him to draw her eyebrows, he dared not apply rouge on her cheeks.” The last two lines are highly disrespectful but Madam Wang’s emotions are in a state of turbulence and she paid no heed to them. Sighing once, she commented: “My scheme is well-planned and brilliant, still, he managed to evade it. I cannot think of any better idea.”

Murong Fu suggested: “Despite that, Nephew knows the whereabouts of this person. If Maternal Aunt trusts me, please provide Nephew with the details of the scheme. Maybe I can add some perspective to it.”

Madam Wang explained: “After all, we are one big family and trust is never an issue. This round, my scheme is known as ‘Drunken Bee’ scheme. At Moon Flower Manor, I kept a few hundred bee hives. Besides camellia, the Manor does not plant any other flowers. The Manor is far away from mainland, so the bees on the island will not pick honey from anywhere else.” Murong Fu noted: “That is right. Except for camellia, these ‘Drunken Bees’ will develop a dislike for the fragrances of other flowers.” Madam Wang continued: “It took me more than ten years of effort in cultivating these bee hives. In the honey consumed by the bees, I gradually added sleeping drugs and other sedatives. When these ‘Drunken Bees’ sting someone, the person will be knocked out for four to five days.”

Duan Yu was shocked: “Have I been unconscious for four to five days?”

Murong Fu praised: “Maternal Aunt’s brilliant scheme is truly hard to overcome. Nevertheless, how do you get the bees to sting a specific person?”

Madam Wang explained: “You have to add a certain drug to the person’s food. This drug is not poisonous, is colourless and odourless. However, it has a bitter taste so you cannot put the entire dosage in one go. As you know, this person (DZC) himself is a master of trickery. His subordinates are all wise, highly skilled and talented in various areas. Using poison or sleeping gas against him will be futile. Therefore, I came up with this plan. By sending my staff to provide all his meals and wine, we are able to dope him in small dosages.”

Duan Yu was instantly enlightened: It turns out that along the journey, all the defective paintings were baits laid by Madam Wang to lure my Father. Once the paintings were rectified, the spies planted by Madam Wang will identify the presence of His Lordship Duan of DaLi. They will accordingly spike the food and wine before serving them.

Madam Wang bemoaned: “Unexpectedly, due to some ridiculous coincidence, that fellow skirted off elsewhere while his son stepped right into the thick of it. The little ruffian actually memorized his father’s library of poems, verses, songs and records. Of course, he is another blatant womanizer and lecherous wanderer. On his trip, the little ruffian filled up all the painting blanks correctly. As he unreservedly wined and dined, he has consumed all the drugged wine and food on behalf of his father. Finally, he arrived at the wooden house near the sea of grass. Inside the wooden house, the oil in the oil lamps is all laced with drugs. I hid more drugs in the wooden pillar, waiting for the little ruffian to break it. The different drugs and the fragrance mixed together will attract the ‘Drunken Bees.’ Ai, there is no flaw in my plans; it is the wrong person who spring the trap. This little ruffian has ruined my grand scheme! Humph, if I don’t dismember him into seventeen or eighteen pieces, I cannot appease the hatred in my heart.”

Listening to her vile words and fierce tone, Duan Yu cannot help but was frightened at her threats. He thought: Her plan is truly brilliant and all-encompassing – by hiding drugs in the pillar and luring me to fill up the missing words in the couplets; once I broke the pillar, the drugs would seep out. Ai, Duan Yu ah Duan Yu! One step at a time, you have entered a trap set by the enemy, yet, you did not detect anything amiss. You are an absolute fool.

Duan Yu then changed his thinking perspective: Along the trip, I have been filling up blanks in paintings, thereby misleading Madam Wang’s spies, giving them the impression that I am my Father. With all their attention on me, my Father was able to escape this predicament. Bearing this calamity for my Father, I have no regrets. In fact, I am grateful for this development.

As Duan Yu thought up till this point, he felt his sacrifice is not a big issue. But eventually, he cannot help but wonder: After capturing me, Madam Wang is going to dismember me in seventeen or eighteen pieces but if the person she captured was my Father, she would obediently oblige and serve him. Looks like the end consequence between my Father and I are vastly different.

Next, he heard Madam Wang grumbled with hatred in her voice: “I got this maidservant to masquerade as a deaf-mute old woman, giving her full authority to command the operations. Despite personally knowing and recognizing that person, the entire scheme fell apart like one big joke.”

The old woman debated: “Mistress, Maid (I) has already reported to you that Mister Duan (Senior) is not present in the group. I proceeded to con them out of their firestones so that they cannot put up a light. Furthermore, I used grass mats to conceal couplets on the pillars, preventing the ‘Drunken Bees’ from being lured to the house. Unexpectedly, these people are simply a magnet for trouble. At the end of the day, they still managed to light a fire and unmask the couplets.”

With a snort, Madam Wang insisted: “Regardless of what you say, you are plain useless.”

Duan Yu thought: “When the old woman cheated us of our firestones and wrapped the pillars with grass mats, she is actually doing it for our own good. I did not see that coming.”

Murong Fu enquired: “Maternal Aunt, after the ‘Drunken Bees’ have stung someone, what happen to the bees?” Madam Wang replied: “Once the bees have stung someone, they will die shortly after that. However, the bees that I have been rearing are in the ten of thousands. A few hundred dead is of no consequence.” Murong Fu applauded: “That is wonderful. First, we grab the junior, then we get the senior; the sequence doesn’t matter. Nephew has a suggestion, if we are able to retrieve a identification item from junior, either a pendant, weapon or some significant object, we can present it to Maternal Aunt’s … that… that guy. With it, we can easily lure him to the wooden house near the sea of grass.”

With an ‘Ah!’ cry, Madam Wang stood up and praised: “My good Nephew, after all, as a young man, your brain is more resourceful. When Maternal Aunt’s (my) scheme fell apart, I was disappointed and empty of ideas. It did not cross my mind to extend the scheme. You are right. The Father and son share a deep bond. If he knows his son is being detained by me, he would surely try and save him. By repeating the ‘Drunken Bee’ trap, we can still accomplish the mission.”

Murong Fu laughed: “When that really happens, even without the bees, there is nothing to fear. By adding sedatives to his wine and forcing him to drink it, he would not reject in order to save his son. In fact, when he sees Maternal Aunt’s exquisite complexion, all the ‘Drunken Bees’ and sedatives will be useless. He will be fully intoxicated by your beauty.”

With a ‘pui’, Madam Wang scolded: “You rascal, how dare you utter rubbish in front of Maternal Aunt!” But thinking of reuniting with Duan Zhengchun and drinking wine with him, she unconsciously revealed a joyful smile. Her blissful heart fluttering to the sky, she sweetly agreed: “Correct, not bad, we shall go with this idea.”

Murong Fu said: “Maternal Aunt, Nephew’s idea is pretty good, isn’t it?” Madam Wang chuckled: “If everything concludes successfully without any accidents, Maternal Aunt naturally would not forget to reward you. Our first step is to investigate the actual whereabouts of that heartless fellow.” Murong Fu disclosed: “Nephew is in possession of some news regarding his location. With regards to this, there are some complications.” Madam Wang frowned: “What kind of complications? As usual, you love to withhold stuff from others.” Murong Fu revealed: “This man is currently being detained by another captor, and his life is danger.”

With a ‘Qiang Lang’ noise, a delicate bowl was accidently swept by the sleeve of Madam Wang. Falling onto the floor, it shattered into pieces.

Duan Yu had a big shock too. If not for the walnut stuffed in his mouth, he would certainly have cried out.

In a trembling voice, Madam Wang inquired: “Who… Who is his captor? Why didn’t you say so earlier? We could have thought of a plan to rescue him.” Murong Fu shook his head: “My dear Maternal Aunt, our opponent this time possess incredible martial arts, even Nephew is not his match. We can only rely on our wits and not by force.” Hearing his tone, Madam Wang felt that Murong Fu is hardly in a state of urgency or anxiety. Slightly comforted, she continued interrogating: “How do we win by relying on our wits? What clever plan do you have?”

Murong Fu reasoned: “ We can still utilize Maternal Aunt’s ‘Drunken Bees’ scheme. We only need to change the pillars and engrave new words on them. For example, we can engrave ‘DaLi Country is presently ruled by Emperor Baoding Duan Zhengming’. When that person sees this, he would certainly rage about it. When he uses his fingers to erase the words ‘Emperor Baoding Duan Zhengming’, the drugs will seep out from the pillar.”

Madam Wang guessed: “So his captor is that fellow who is competing against Duan Zhengming for the throne of DaLi. I think his name is Duan Yanqing.”

Murong Fu confirmed: “That’s right!”

Madam Wang was petrified: “He… He… If he is in the hands of Duan Yanqing, his days are numbered. All along, Duan Yanqing has been dying to kill him. Maybe… Maybe by now, he has already… Has already executed him.”

Murong Fu coaxed: “Maternal Aunt need not worry too much. There are some critical conditions involved that you have not considered.” Madam Wang demanded: “What critical conditions?” Murong Fu elaborated: “Presently, the Emperor of DaLi is Duan Zhengming. Your Mister Duan (senior) has already been conferred with the title of Imperial Successor. Everyone in DaLi knows about this. Duan Zhengming is lenient in his punishments and taxation, practices good governance and loves his people. He is widely praised as a compassionate ruler while Lord Zhennan himself is popular with the citizens of DaLi. The monarchy is stable and established. For Duan Yanqing, killing Lord Zhennan is as easy as lifting a finger; however, the minute Lord Zhennan is killed, the Imperial Court of DaLi will be in chaos. There is no guarantee that Duan Yanqing can smoothly ascend the throne of DaLi.”

Madam Wang agreed: “What you said makes sense, but how did you come to these conclusions?” Murong Fu answered: “Some of these information are what Nephew learnt from others; while the rest are my own deductions.” Madam Wang realised: “All your life, you are thinking of becoming an Emperor. Naturally, you would spare no effort in obtaining information in these areas.”

Murong Fu articulated: “Maternal Aunt has given me too much credit. It is Nephew’s wild guess that Duan Yanqing would not execute Lord Zhennan immediately after capturing him. Instead, he should think of a way to let him ascend the throne first before abdicating and transferring the throne to Duan Yanqing himself. This method will be official and upright. Regardless of DaLi ministers, generals or citizens, no one could object to this arrangement.” Madam Wang quizzed: “Why is this official and upright?” Murong Fu explained: “Originally, Duan Yanqing’s father is the Emperor of DaLi. Due to a power tussle by corrupted statesmen, Duan Yanqing’s disappearance was engineered during a succession, allowing Duan Zhengming to become the Emperor instead. Duan Yanqing is the true blue Prince Yanqing of DaLi. This is common knowledge in DaLi. When Lord Zhennan ascended the throne and he is without an heir, it is only befitting to confer Duan Yanqing as the Imperial Successor. Therefore, this process is completely official and upright.”

Madam Wang was bewildered: “He… He… He obviously has a son. Why did you say he is heirless?” Murong Fu laughed: “Maternal Aunt, have you forgotten your earlier words? Didn’t you say you are planning to dismember the surnamed Duan fellow into seventeen or eighteen pieces? I don’t think he can still become an Imperial Successor when he is in seventeen or eighteen pieces.” Madam Wang cheerfully exclaimed: “Right! Right! This b@5tard which came out of the cheap lowlife Dao Baifeng. His living existence only serves to annoy me.”

Duan Yu thought: This time round, it looks like my life is in extreme danger. I wonder where is Yuyan? If she begs for mercy on my behalf, maybe Madam Wang will spare my life.

Madam Wang declared: “Since his life is not in immediate danger, I am relieved. I will not allow him to become the pointless Emperor of DaLi. He must accompany me to Moon Flower Manor.” Murong Fu reasoned: “After Lord Zhennan has abdicated, he would naturally accompany Maternal Aunt to Moon Flower Manor. Even if he remains in DaLi, there is nothing for him there. Duan Yanqing will not appreciate his presence too, for Lord Zhennan could be a source of trouble for him. Nonetheless, it is necessary for Lord Zhennan to ascend the throne. Let him enjoy the throne for ten days or even up till two weeks. Once we have the upper hand, we will show no mercy. Otherwise, Duan Yanqing would not agree.” Madam Wang dissed: “Pui! Whether he agrees or not, it has nothing to do with us. Once we have captured Duan Yanqing and rescued Mister Duan (senior), we can simply kill him. Who cares about his consent?”

Murong Fu let out a sigh: “Maternal Aunt, I forgot to mention something. Before we could capture Duan Yanqing, there is still a big hurdle we need to overcome.” Madam Wang commented: “You already knew where he is. My good Nephew, Maternal Aunt fully understands your character. When the mission has been accomplished, what kind of reward do you want from me? Let’s get this issue out of the way first. Feel free to make your most daring request.” Murong Fu rejected: “We are relatives. For Nephew to assist Maternal Aunt, no reward is necessary. Nephew is just doing my best and have no desire for any benefits.”

Madam Wang indicated: “If you say so. In the future, if you bring this up again and I refused your request, don’t you dare to be upset.”

Murong Fu guffawed: “Since Nephew has declined any reward, I will stick to it. In the future, when you are really feeling generous, feel free to reward me with a few thousand taels of gold or a few martial arts manual from Langya Jade Cave. That will suffice.”

Madam Wang snorted once ‘Humph’ and remarked: “If you need gold for your daily expenses and come to me for them, why would I reject you? If you wanted to browse the secret manuals in Langya Jade Cave, you are more than welcomed! I am only worried if you waste your life away and do not seek to improve yourself. I really have no idea what is going through your mind. All right! Regarding the capture of Duan Yanqing and the rescue of hostage, what is your idea?”

Murong Fu began: “The first step is for Duan Yanqing to escort Lord Zhennan to the wooden house by the sea of grass, am I right?” Madam Wang nodded: “That is right. How do you plan to lure Duan Yanqing to the wooden house by the sea of grass?” Murong Fu responded: “This is easy. For Duan Yanqing to become the Emperor of DaLi, he needs to accomplish two tasks. First, he needs to apprehend Duan Zhengchun and force him to abdicate. Second, he needs to kill Duan Yu, making Duan Zhengchun heirless. After all, ‘Among the three failures, heirless is the gravest.’ With his capture of Duan Zhengchun, Duan Yanqing has completed the first task. Duan Yu that fellow is still alive in this world. We will bring an identification item of Duan Yu and show it to Duan Zhengchun. Duan Zhengchun would obviously want to save his son and Duan Yanqing will escort him here. Therefore, when Maternal Aunt has captured the Duan junior fellow, it is not a mistake at all. Because of the captured Duan Yu, we now have a fragrant bait to catch the golden tortoise.”

Madam Wang giggled: “You are saying the Duan junior fellow is a fragrant bait?” Murong Fu laughed: “I think he is half fragrant and half stinking.” Madam Wang asked: “Why so?” Murong Fu explained: “Half of him from Lord Zhennan is fragrant. The other half from the lowlife Zhennan Princess must be stinking.”

Madam Wang burst out laughing and remarked: “You little sweet-talker; you really know how to please Maternal Aunt.”

Murong Fu chuckled: “Nephew might as well work on this immediately. The earlier we finish, the earlier Maternal Aunt can begin a life of happiness. Maternal Aunt, please summon that fellow.” Madam Wang updated: “After he has been stung by the ‘Drunken Bees’, he would only regain consciousness in about three more days. This kid is in the next chamber. If he is awake, based on our loud voices, he would have overheard everything. There is something else I wanted to ask you. This… This Lord Zhennan may be a heartless cad but he is a righteous hero after all. How is Duan Yanqing going to force him to abdicate? Is he going to use methods of torture and cause him… cause him plenty of suffering?” As she spoke till this point, her voice is full of deep concern.

Murong Fu sighed once and advised: “Maternal Aunt, regarding this, you should not probe any further. If Nephew told you, you would certainly be angered.” Madam Wang anxiously demanded: “Quickly tell me. Quickly tell me. Stop hiding things from me.” Murong Fu sighed: “When I say the DaLi Duan fellow is heartless, I am entirely correct. With Maternal Aunt’s breathtaking beauty, academic background and martial arts skills, even if someone carries a lantern and search throughout the lands, there will not be a second one available. This Duan fellow must have accumulated plenty of good karma in his previous life to win the love of Maternal Aunt. By then, he should have stayed loyal and cared for you. However… Ai, to think that such a muddle headed fool actually exists; ignoring the bliss right before his eyes. Instead of loving the Moon Goddess ChangE, he chose the sow rolling in the mud…”

Madam Wang was incensed: “You are saying he… he… that heartless cad is involved with other women? Who is she? Who is she?” Murong Fu advised: “These lowlife and cheap women; they are not even fit to carry the shoes of Maternal Aunt. Those women beside him are only the wife of Zhang San* and the daughter of Li Si*. Maternal Aunt must maintain your prestige. There is no need to get upset over these kind of women.”

(derogatory term for anonymous women)

Madam Wang blew her top and slammed the table several times ‘Pong! Pong! Pong!’ She bellowed: “When he dumped me and returned to DaLi and become a Lord, I do not hold it against him. He is married with a wife; I also do not hold it against him. It is my own bad luck for meeting him after he got married. But he… But he… You say he has been hanging out with other women? These women, who are they? Who are they? Speak!”

In the next chamber, Duan Yu heard her throwing a huge tantrum and he could not help but was traumatized as well. He thought: Yuyan is such a gentle and easygoing person; why is her mother such a fearsome character? It must be quite tough for Father to date such a woman.

Duan Yu then realised: All of Father’s old girlfriends have weird tempers. Aunty Qin ordered her daughter to assassinate my Mother. Aunty Ruan gave birth to a daughter like Sister Ah Zi; her own temperament cannot be any better. Aunty Gan has obviously gotten married to Zhong Wanchou and yet she is still entangled with my Father. The wife of Beggar’s Sect Assistant Chief is crazily obedient. Even my own Mother is peculiar. Instead of cohabiting with Father, she chose to be a nun in a temple outside the city. Even Imperial Uncle and Imperial Aunty cannot persuade her to change her mind. Ai, why did I list my Mother among the old girlfriends?

Murong Fu comforted: “Maternal Aunt, there is no need to lose your temper. Please catch your breath and Nephew will slowly tell you everything.”

Madam Wang professed: “Even if you are unwilling to speak, I already guessed as much. Duan Yanqing must have captured a cheap woman who is accompanying the surnamed Duan fellow. This is to force him to abdicate after becoming the Emperor. If he refuses, the cheap woman will be subjected to torture. Am I right? The silly character of the surnamed Duan fellow, don’t I know him well enough? No matter how you force him, even if you put a steel knife to his neck, he would rather die than comply. But if you are threatening a woman that he loves, he is willing to agree to anything, even sacrifice his own life. Humph. How does the cheap woman look like? That foxy vixen, I wondered how did she seduce him? Speak quickly, who is this cheap woman?”

Murong Fu warned: “Maternal Aunt, I will say it out. Please do not be angry. There is more than one cheap woman.” Shocked and infuriated, ‘Pong!’ Madam Wang heavily slammed the table once and shouted: “What? There are two of them?” Murong Fu sighed once and slowly replied: “There is more than two of them!”

Madam Wang is completely filled with disbelief and rage: “What? In his trip, he is still busy womanizing? One is insufficient, he needs two, even three companions?”

Murong Fu shook his head: “Presently, there are four females accompanying him. Maternal Aunt, there is no need to be upset. In the future, when he becomes the Emperor, his harem will be filled with beauties. Although DaLi is a small country and cannot be compared with Great Song or Great Liao, even if he does not have three thousand concubines, he would at least have three hundred ladies at his beck and call.”

Madam Wang scolded: “Pui! Pui! That is why I forbid him from becoming the Emperor. Speak, who are the four cheap women?”

Duan Yu was puzzled as well. He only knew about Qin Hongmian and Ruan Xingzhu who are accompanying Father. Where did the other two ladies come from?

Next, he heard Murong Fu started: “One is surnamed Qin, one is surnamed Ruan…” Madam Wang cursed: “Humph! Qin Hongmian and Ruan Xingzhu; these two vixens are intertwined with him again.” Murong Fu added: “There is one more but she is a married woman. I hear them calling her Madam Zhong. It appears that she is looking for her daughter. This Madam Zhong kept a respectful distance and her relationship with Lord Zhennan seems to be platonic. Lord Zhennan treated her respectfully in return but he always lovingly addressed her as: Baobao, Baobao!” Madam Wang berated: “It is Gan Baobao the cheap woman. What respectful behavior rubbish? It is all fake and putting up a show for others. If they are indeed prim and proper, they should be miles apart. Yet, they are sticking together. Who is the last cheap woman?”

Murong Fu clarified: “Number four is not a cheap woman. She is the official wife of Lord Zhennan, Zhennan Princess Consort.”

Both Duan Yu and Madam Wang were utterly astounded. Duan Yu thought: Why is Mother here as well? Madam Wang let out a ‘Ah!’, as this is beyond her expectation.

Murong Fu chuckled: “Does Maternal Aunt find this strange? Actually, if you think deeply about it, it is nothing extraordinary. Lord Zhennan has left DaLi for more than a year. Central Plains has countless beauties. Since there are attractive women like Maternal Aunt, there would surely be h0rny (horny) vixens like Qin Hongmian and Ruan Xingzhu. Surely Zhennan Princess would be worried about Lord Zhennan, right?”

Madam Wang went ‘Pui’ and chided: “How dare you compare me with those h0rny vixens! These four women, are they all still with him?”

Murong Fu laughed: “Maternal Aunt can rest easy. After a vicious battle on a red sand beach near Double Phoenix Station, Lord Zhennan’s side suffered a complete loss at the hands of Duan Yanqing. Regardless of male or female, the acupoints were all sealed and everyone became a prisoner. Duan Yanqing was busy fighting Lord Zhennan and his companions, failing to detect me, who is hiding nearby and witnessed everything. Nephew rode tirelessly and now I am about 50km ahead of them. Maternal Aunt, time is of the essence. Let’s prepare the ‘Drunken Bees’ and the sedatives. At the same time, let’s send someone to lure Duan Yanqing…”

When he said the word ‘Qing’, suddenly, from afar, there came a sharp and ugly sounding voice, saying: “I have been here for some time already; there is no need to lure me. You should prepare the ‘Drunken Bees’ and sedatives instead.”