The maid absentmindedly complied and came to stand behind her, asking: “What hairstyle would you like, miss?”
“The men’s, of course, since I’m wearing men’s clothes. By the way, speak to the servants and tell them that only a young man had come here, never a young lady.”
Puzzled, the maid asked, “Why, miss?” But she immediately thought of the reason and quickly complied, “Aye.”
Before long, Chen Rong had been disguised as a young, dashing man. In reality, her male disguise was ineffectual. Her features were too exquisite and her body was too well-endowed. No matter how large the robe, there was inevitably some degree of femineity. The battle was soon to come, nevertheless, and she couldn’t afford to care about these details.
Chen Rong glanced at herself in the mirror once more before striding out.
When she left, she did not see too many people on the streets. She occasionally saw a few servants who were also dashing about, both hurried and tumultuous. It appeared that the calmest place in the entire mayor’s estate was still Wang Qilang’s courtyard.
After walking for a while, Chen Rong saw a servant from the Wang house and quickly asked, “Where’s Qilang?”
The servant was in a hurry and didn’t look to see who was asking him. He waved his hand: “On the watchtower.”
“Thank you.”
Chen Rong strode to the tower.
Before long, she saw Wang Qilang standing on the tall tower in his snowy robe that was always spotless and pure.
It was the strangest thing. There were obviously people in front of and behind him; there was obviously an uproar outside the city. But when he stood there, the sky seemed cloudless, and Chen Rong thought she only saw him stand alone.
She walked to stand behind him. But instead of looking to the horizon as he was, Chen Rong looked down at the Hu below the city walls.
This was the south gate where the Hu numbered tens of thousands. Tens of thousands of Hu were crouching below the city walls, cooking or laughing in small groups. They appeared to be disorderly at first glance, but at a closer look, Chen Rong immediately found that these tribesmen had organized into disciplined formations. They were armored and their weapons never left their side.
She stared below for a while and then suddenly said, “Qilang, I think we can leave from this gate!”
Wang Hong roused at her words. He turned around and lit up when he saw Chen Rong, a faint smile playing on his lips. He tilted his head and quietly stared at her, then suddenly outstretched a hand: “I’ll gladly hold your hand!” He had said this with a strange tone and an unusual expression, as if he was making her a promise.
Of course Chen Rong didn’t give him her hand. She smiled instead, looking into his eyes and saying in seriousness: “Qilang, let’s break our way out from the south gate.” She turned to look at the gate below. “Look Qilang,” she pointed and said, “isn’t there something different about the left and right sides, as well as the middle and rear of the Hu force?”
When she didn’t hear a reply, she turned around.
Wang Hong was tilting his head staring at her.
Under the sunset, Chen Rong’s beautiful face was blanketed by a layer of golden light. Her eyes were so bright and her youthful skin was so vibrant that even though her figure was hidden behind the large robe, she maintained a sense of passion and vivacity all the same.
Wang Hong withdrew his gaze to also look below. “It is odd. What do you think, Ah Rong?”
She was about to answer him when a series of footsteps approached them. A bright laughter accompanied these footsteps. “Is Qilang here? Eh? And who might this young master be?” He sounded somewhat suspicious of her.
Chen Rong turned around and came to face with the charismatic and nonchalant mayor of Mo’yang.
Even when war was imminent, when the city was awaiting its fall and people would be dying, his smile was ever present and it seemed as though he wasn’t facing life and death, but a banquet or poetry meet.
Chen Rong stepped forward with the intention of offering an answer.
Before she could speak, Wang Hong walked behind her, held out his hand and so very naturally placed it onto her shoulder, smilingly saying: “This is my love, who has come to die with me.”
Chen Rong’s smile froze on her face. The greeting she wanted to say was lodged in her throat. She didn’t expect Wang Hong to give that kind of an answer!
The mayor’s eyes lit up. He gave Chen Rong an appraising look, stroked his long beard, nodded and lamented: “What a virginal, beautiful face. With a sweetheart like you, it’s no wonder the famous Wang Qilang is willing to love men.”
He looked to the barbarians below and murmured, “You’re doing better than me, Qilang. I haven’t anyone to join me in the afterlife.”
He proceeded to sigh, not noticing that Chen Rong had been stunned speechless, that her legs had gone soft and her entire body was threatening to keel on the spot.
Just as Chen Rong fell backward, Wang Hong came to catch her. He lovingly held