Chapter 57: Disdain
Linjiang City.
Long Chen and Princess Di Luoxi, accompanied by Xuan Yi, Qing Yue, and Zhang Qian, arrived at the dock on a multi-decked riverboat. Li Xiannan awaited them with a contingent of officers and soldiers.
“Your Highness, I humbly welcome you,” Li Xiannan greeted with delight upon seeing Di Luoxi.
Di Luoxi leaped nimbly from the prow, landing gracefully on the bank. She smiled, “You haven’t gained weight, have you?”
Li Xiannan glanced down at her belly, giving an embarrassed laugh. “No, I practice martial arts every day. I’m keeping it under control.”
With a mysterious smile, Di Luoxi teased, “Good. If you’d gotten fatter, the gift I prepared for you wouldn’t fit.”
Li Xiannan’s face lit up with curiosity. “What gift?”
All women love gifts, and though Li Xiannan weighed over two hundred pounds, she harbored a girlish heart.
Di Luoxi grinned. “Actually, this gift was prepared by Little Dragon for you.”
Only now did Li Xiannan turn to Long Chen, booming with laughter, “My lord Long, I haven’t seen you in a year and you’re now a minister—of two departments, no less! Impressive!”
She gave him a genuine thumbs-up, truly admiring him. The last time they'd met, he was just a minor eunuch—now he outranked her.
“It’s all thanks to the Fourth Princess’s support—I hardly deserve it,” Long Chen replied awkwardly. Who on earth would prepare a brassiere for a two-hundred-pound maiden? What a peculiar taste!
“Come, let me show you your present!” Di Luoxi led Li Xiannan into the Grand Marshal’s residence.
Long Chen trailed behind. Wu Jian nodded at him from a distance, but with Zhang Qian nearby, there was little he could say.
After the last time Long Chen had accidentally blown up the residence, Li Xiannan rebuilt it according to blueprints he’d drawn, matching the old style exactly.
Entering the residence, Long Chen felt a wave of nostalgia. Here, Long Ye and the hundreds of the Long family had lived; the Long Army had been stationed here. Though he was a transmigrant, the host’s memories were indelibly etched into his mind.
Inside, Xuan Yi set a large chest on the table. Di Luoxi urged, “Hurry and change out of your armor!”
Li Xiannan began unfastening her armor, then her inner clothes—only then noticing Long Chen in the room, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Your Highness, he…”
Di Luoxi glanced up at Long Chen, saying, “He’s a eunuch, what are you afraid of? Hurry up!”
Li Xiannan thought about it and agreed. Long Chen was a eunuch, after all—they’d even bathed together before; there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
So she changed out of her armor and inner clothes. Long Chen had no interest in watching. A two-hundred-pound beauty... That’s quite a taste.
“Look! Little Dragon prepared this for you!” Di Luoxi pulled out an extra-large, pure white breastplate from the box—there was no shortage of fabric here.
Li Xiannan laughed. “So it’s this! I’ve wanted to buy one, but the ones on the market are all too small—they can’t hold me.”
Breastplates had been sold for some time; Li Xiannan had seen them and longed to buy one, but nothing was large enough for her.
“That’s why Little Dragon made this just for you. He never forgets a thing—any size he’s seen, he remembers,” Di Luoxi said, shaking the breastplate. She turned, “Little Dragon, help Xiannan put it on.”
Long Chen nearly coughed up blood. Really?
He walked over and picked up the breastplate. People always say “two heads are better than one,” but here, both heads were enormous...
Still, Long Chen was thoroughly Zen—he had no improper thoughts at all. Facing a robust, hefty woman like this, what evil could a eunuch possibly contemplate?
“Lord Long has a great memory. We only bathed together a few times, and you remember my size perfectly—it fits just right.” Li Xiannan was delighted with the custom-made white breastplate, so much so that she pulled Long Chen into a bear hug.
“No need for such gratitude, General Li!” Long Chen struggled free, nearly suffocating. Some things are best in moderation—too much and the beauty is lost.
Di Luoxi giggled. “Isn’t this your favorite? Every time we bathe, you’re always the first to offer ‘maintenance’ and ‘shaping’ for that area.”
Zhang Qian chimed in with a laugh. “Exactly! You’re always reaching for that spot, General Li has more than enough for you—how can you still complain?”
Long Chen was speechless. The location might be the same, but you have to consider the person. Di Luoxi was a princess—of course it was acceptable; Xuan Yi and Qing Yue were beauties—who wouldn’t like them? As for Zhang Qian, her baby-soft plumpness was the most comfortable—at night, resting a hand on her was the best sleep aid imaginable.
But Li Xiannan... best not.
Li Xiannan let out a hearty laugh, clapped Long Chen on the shoulder, and said, “How could I compare to Her Highness? You’re all so beautiful, and I’m not.”
Li Xiannan had a masculine temperament and understood Long Chen’s thoughts—she didn’t mind at all.
Long Chen could only force out a few awkward chuckles.
“All right, let’s discuss the current situation.” Returning to business, they all sat down.
Di Luoxi took the central seat, with Li Xiannan and Long Chen on either side. Xuan Yi, Qing Yue, and Zhang Qian stood nearby.
“To our southeast is Caishi City, where Shangguan Wei is training new recruits. I’ve sent scouts—there are 300,000 new troops, 100,000 veterans, 400,000 in all.”
“As for commanders, the three Shangguan men are all in Caishi City. No other major generals have been spotted for now.”
“Jinling continues to send supplies and weapons to the city. Our cavalry scouts frequently encounter enemy spies outside the walls; we’ve arrested many within the city as well.”
“In my estimation, they’ll attack soon, though I’m not sure what method they’ll use.”
“On our side, the city holds 200,000 troops—170,000 veterans, 30,000 new recruits.”
“In terms of numbers, we’re outmatched, but we have the city’s defenses. So it’s about even.”
Li Xiannan clearly laid out the strengths and weaknesses of each side.
Di Luoxi nodded slightly and said, “Last time, Shangguan Mu took an arrow from Long Cheng’en—his left arm is nearly useless now. He’s no longer a threat. That leaves Shangguan Wei and Shangguan Xiu.”
“In a head-to-head duel, I’ll take on Shangguan Wei. Long Cheng’en, you and Xiannan will deal with Shangguan Xiu. Zhang Qian and the others will surround Shangguan Mu. Everyone else will defend the city.”
Hearing this, Li Xiannan looked surprised. “Your Highness, if Lord Long and I attack Shangguan Xiu together, I’m afraid…”
She meant it would be a stretch—Shangguan Xiu was at the Martial Emperor level, and Li Xiannan was no match. What help would Long Chen be?
Di Luoxi replied, “He’s already broken through to the King level.”
Li Xiannan stared at Long Chen in shock. “Last time he was barely at Grandmaster level, wasn’t he? How so quickly?”
Long Chen’s rate of cultivation was enough to astound anyone.
“Isn’t it? And he still complains that his progress is slow lately, moping all day,” Di Luoxi said, glancing at Long Chen.
Long Chen chuckled, “Eunuchs are always quick to cultivate, since they have no distractions.”
After all, the Sunflower Manual was created by a eunuch.
Li Xiannan nodded. “Is that so? First I’ve heard of it.”
Di Luoxi said, “That’s the general plan. You know the city’s defenses better than I do, so I’ll leave the details to you.”
As Linjiang’s defender, Li Xiannan knew the fortifications best. Di Luoxi’s deference was appropriate.
“I accept my orders,” Li Xiannan replied.
Di Luoxi stood up. “I hear there’s a hot spring here—let’s go for a soak.”
It was late autumn, the air cool—the perfect time for a hot spring.
“General Li, you still have city defenses to oversee,” Long Chen interjected, leaving Li Xiannan a little stunned. Was his aversion so obvious?
“Xiannan, you’re coming with us,” Di Luoxi insisted.
Li Xiannan protested, “No, I need to patrol the city.”
Di Luoxi stopped her. “No, you’re coming. We’re all going—without him! How dare he dislike my Xiannan!”
With that, Di Luoxi and the others headed for the hot spring, leaving Long Chen to smile awkwardly.
Zhang Qian hesitated. “Your Highness, I should protect Lord Long.”
Di Luoxi waved it off. “No need today—we’re off to the hot spring.”
With that, the women departed, leaving Long Chen alone.
He watched them go, then quickly turned and left the Marshal’s residence in search of Wu Jian.