Volume One, Chapter Eight: The Closest Brush with Death

The next morning, Liu Qi woke up early. He rose quietly so as not to wake Nong Yu and tiptoed out of the tent. However, he had barely taken a few steps before Deputy General Guan called out to him.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going?” Deputy General Guan’s tone was harsh.

Liu Qi answered truthfully, “To Lord Sima’s tent.”

“Really? You want to be a male courtesan? Can’t stand the loneliness so early in the morning and sneaking off to Lord Sima’s tent for fun?” Guan sneered mockingly.

“It’s Lord Sima’s orders,” Liu Qi explained.

“You’re General Yang’s dog, not Sima Yun’s!” Guan suddenly jabbed his spear into Liu Qi’s leg. The pain forced Liu Qi to drop to his knees.

“Lord Sima said he would inform General Yang in advance,” Liu Qi said.

Guan sneered, “Smooth talker. How could I not know if Sima Yun had told General Yang? General Yang never mentioned it to me!”

He planted his long spear into the ground, drew the sword at his waist, and pressed the cold blade against Liu Qi’s neck. The icy edge sent a shiver through Liu Qi’s skin.

“Dare to lie to me, and today I’ll cut you down!” Guan said with a chilling smile.

Fury welled up inside Liu Qi, but he knew better than to show it. He feigned innocence and spoke humbly, “Sir, everything I say is true. I have no intention to mock you!”

“Whether you’re mocking me or not, I have my ways to verify,” Guan said with a cold laugh.

“Please, test me, sir,” Liu Qi said.

Guan slashed open Liu Qi’s chest clothing and pressed the sharp tip of his sword directly against his chest.

Liu Qi’s face went pale, and he looked at Guan in panic.

“Let me cut open your chest and take out your heart to see if what you say is true or false!” Guan taunted.

Liu Qi was terrified, truly terrified this time. He knew he was nothing but a slave in the camp. Even if Sima Yun favored him, he remained a slave.

Before his status could change, even if Guan executed him by dismemberment, no one would care. Yang Yuqi would never punish Guan for him, and Sima Yun would not risk falling out with Yang Yuqi over him.

So if Guan really plunged the knife in, Liu Qi would die on the spot.

“Sir, everything I say is true! If there is a single lie, may heaven strike me down with thunder and grant me a terrible death!” Liu Qi begged desperately.

Deputy General Guan seemed to relish being begged. He laughed heartily and pressed the blade a little deeper. The sharp pain radiated from Liu Qi’s chest.

“Let me see the color of your heart. If it’s black, you’re lying; if red, then I was mistaken,” Guan mocked.

Liu Qi trembled; this was the closest he had ever been to death.

“Deputy General Guan,” at that moment, a spear-bearing attendant of Yang Yuqi approached and said, “Lord Sima has specifically requested to see him. He must not die yet.”

Hearing this, Liu Qi breathed a sigh of relief and said to Guan, “Sir, I truly did not lie!”

Guan sneered with disinterest, sheathed his sword, and said, “Then go.”

“Thank you, sir!” Liu Qi kowtowed, pressing his forehead to the ground and gritting his teeth in anger.

One day, when he gained power, he would make sure to execute this Guan by dismemberment!

Liu Qi stood, wrapped his clothes, and walked toward Sima Yun’s tent.

Inside, the tent exuded the usual fragrance, and Sima Yun’s allure was as captivating as ever.

She wore a translucent silk gown that barely covered a narrow triangular undergarment, barely concealing her modesty.

Such scandalous attire made Liu Qi blush and his heart race.

Though he harbored resentment, their time together had stirred strange feelings within him.

This woman was naturally enchanting, her waist supple, skin delicate — truly a earthly beauty. Yet, her strong desires were repressed, hidden from the world for fear of scandal.

Moreover, holding official rank, she dared not reveal her true nature, so her passions remained suppressed, unrelieved.

Though she had kept male lovers before, they were incompetent, unable to satisfy her. Whenever she reached pleasure’s peak, they failed, and in anger, she had them all castrated and sent to serve as eunuchs.

Only with Liu Qi’s arrival did Sima Yun truly experience a woman’s joy.

In the Great Qian Dynasty, as in other feudal realms, women were forbidden true happiness. Even at home, they were expected to be virtuous and gentle.

To show even a hint of dominance or desire in bed would severely damage a woman’s reputation.

In the Qian court, a woman’s lost honor meant a fate worse than death, even for those serving in officialdom.

Thus, Sima Yun regarded Liu Qi highly, even considering taking him as her personal favorite.

“Young Master, come so late?” Sima Yun’s voice dripped with seduction.

When they first met, she had not been so provocative, but with time, her hidden desires unleashed fully.

Her demeanor grew increasingly sultry.

Her complexion flushed ever more deeply.

“Your servant is to blame for being late,” Liu Qi said cautiously, immediately apologizing upon entering the tent.

Though aware of Sima Yun’s strong interest, he knew he remained a slave and must not overstep.

Sima Yun smiled faintly. “Then, Young Master, do tell me why you’re late?”

Liu Qi recounted his ordeal.

Sima Yun frowned slightly, lifted Liu Qi’s clothing, and saw the small bleeding wound on his chest.

She said nothing but quietly fetched some ointment and applied it.

At that moment, Liu Qi felt dazed—he half believed Sima Yun had truly fallen for him.

But such thoughts were quickly dismissed; to be arrogant because of favor was courting death.

“Young Master, was it that Guan who bullied you?” Sima Yun gently stroked Liu Qi’s cheek.

Liu Qi said, “It was my fault. I should have reported to General Yang first.”

“Hm?” Sima Yun suddenly frowned and slapped Liu Qi across the face.

He fell to the ground, his head ringing.

He did not understand what he had said wrong—he had carefully weighed every word before speaking—so why had he erred?

Liu Qi immediately knelt and kowtowed, not daring to hesitate.

Sima Yun crossed her arms, placed her snow-white foot on Liu Qi’s head, pressing his face into the ground, looking down at him with supreme authority.