Chapter 9: Stealing Home Right Before Their Eyes

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It was only natural that Eunuch Qian was so furious. Ever since he had learned about the perfume from this barely grown-up scoundrel, he had been eager to produce it and master the craft, hoping to rise to great heights through it. Over the past few days, he had procured many things for this wild boy, just waiting for him to finish the perfume. But now, several days had passed, and the boy still hadn’t made the perfume—how could he bear it?

“I wouldn’t dare to mock you,” Li Cheng replied, his tone seemingly reasonable. “Perfume is an exquisite craft; it can’t be made overnight. Soon, very soon. Good things are worth the wait, please bear with me a little longer.”

Yet beneath his lowered eyes surged a murderous intent. This wretched eunuch—if he ever escaped, he would repay him handsomely, or else he would never forgive today’s humiliation.

Though perfume-making was difficult, Li Cheng had succeeded in creating it back when he was in Lijiawa. Now, it was second nature. The reason it wasn’t done yet was deliberate delay. Through recent interactions, he had discerned the eunuch’s character. This eunuch was not a good man; he would let his disciples starve their master to death. He only wanted to learn the secret formula once the perfume was made.

If the secret were learned, without the carrot of perfume in front of him, Li Cheng’s days would grow all the more difficult. How could he simply produce the perfume so easily?

In truth, only a few steps remained before the perfume would be complete. But he had to stall, to whet the eunuch’s appetite thoroughly, preventing him from burning bridges once he got what he wanted.

“You understand well enough. Don’t play tricks here, or I’ll have you die a miserable death like a maggot! I’m giving you one last day. If by this time tomorrow you haven’t finished it, I’ll tear you apart and throw your pieces to the dogs!”

Li Cheng knew this was bluster from this eunuch, a threat to scare him. After all, he was personally watched over by Zhao Kuangyin himself. Unless new orders came from Zhao Kuangyin, even this eunuch dared not let him die. At worst, he could only make his life more miserable within his authority.

But by tomorrow, if the historical records were accurate, news of the Southern Tang’s fall would have reached Bianliang. If that were true, he would no longer need to endure this torment.

Li Cheng thought thus, listening to the eunuch’s usual insults. This twisted and perverse eunuch never ceased cursing whenever he spoke to him. Yet this time, after a while, there was nothing more.

Li Cheng looked up in surprise; the eunuch was no longer at the window. Curiously, he rose and peered through the window without paper panes. Just a few yards away, the same fierce eunuch who had been verbally abusing him now knelt in the snow, wearing a fawning expression.

Before him stood a young girl draped in a scarlet cloak. Beside her were a eunuch and two palace maids attending to her.

“Your Highness, it is not that this servant disrespects you, but there is a prisoner here whom I am ordered to guard. The ruler has decreed that no one may enter to see this scoundrel, nor reveal his existence…”

The girl was no more than eighteen. The vivid red cloak made her skin appear even paler than snow. Snowflakes drifted onto her hair and cloak, making her seem like a fairy in the winter landscape.

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She was slender and delicate, like a willow swaying in the breeze, occasionally covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she coughed softly. A faint, persistent sorrow lingered between her brows, causing concern that the falling snow might overwhelm her fragile frame.

“If Father commands it, then… I shall go elsewhere,” she said calmly, showing no anger at Eunuch Qian’s words. She nodded slightly and turned to leave. A palace attendant nearby tried to support her, but she gently declined.

Eunuch Qian sighed in relief. Fortunately, this noble lady was sensible and reasonable, not quarrelsome like the other servants. Otherwise, if she insisted on sitting in the Flower Pavilion, his situation would be difficult indeed. After all, she was the ruler’s beloved princess.

As he thought this, his nostrils twitched. Such a fragrant, pleasant scent! Where could it come from? Eunuch Qian’s mind stirred; he seemed to recall something. Rising from the snow, he abruptly turned to look toward the room.

That damned scoundrel hadn’t lied! He truly had made such a wonderfully fragrant perfume! Fortune was at hand! His rise to power was imminent!

The young woman who had taken a few steps forward paused and looked back. Her large eyes, appearing even larger due to her slenderness, shone with delight. In this icy, desolate world, where could such floral fragrance come from?

Following the scent, she soon spotted a figure standing behind the window to the left of the Flower Pavilion: a youth holding a porcelain bottle.

“Life’s journey is like what? Like a wild goose treading snow and mud. This bottle of 'Snow Mud Trace' I gift to the destined one.”

The boy’s clear voice drifted from behind the window frame, and a gust of wind carried the perfume’s scent to the girl’s side. The aroma was several times richer than before, yet it never felt vulgar. It brought a warm hue to the frozen landscape, refreshing and uplifting.

Eunuch Qian’s expression changed drastically, his joy at the scoundrel’s success in making perfume vanishing entirely. Shock and anger overwhelmed him; he felt humiliated as if mocked.

“You vile scoundrel! An official-designated criminal dares to speak freely here? You cannot bear to offend a noble! Who do you think you are?”

Eunuch Qian, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, bristled and snarled, glaring at Li Cheng.

“That’s not true. I am indeed an official-designated person, but whether I am a criminal is another matter. If I were a criminal, why has the ruler not thrown me in prison but confined me here? Besides, whether I offend a noble is not for you to decide!”

Li Cheng chose to confront him directly, no longer indulging the eunuch.

While the Southern Tang’s fall on November 27 was almost certain according to history, and the chroniclers would not distort this fact, with the answer imminent, Li Cheng felt it best to play it safe. After all, everyone wants to live, especially since he had yet to kill Zhao Guangyi. It would be a great pity to die now.

Seeing this remarkable woman arrive, obviously of high status, Li Cheng decided to act. Giving such perfume to a noblewoman was far better than to Eunuch Qian. If Zhao Kuangyin ever wanted to kill him, perhaps this perfume would buy him some leverage.

Eunuch Qian, enraged that this lowly scoundrel dared speak so to him, felt deeply insulted.

“How dare you be so disrespectful in front of a noble? I’ll rip your mouth apart!”

He shouted sharply and strode aggressively toward Li Cheng.

“Life’s journey is like what? Like a wild goose treading snow and mud… what comes next? Is there more?”

At that moment, a somewhat chilly yet gentle voice sounded. It was the young woman who spoke.

Eunuch Qian halted mid-charge, casting Li Cheng a fierce glance but dared not speak further.

Li Cheng ignored the eunuch and said, “There is no more.”

He could clearly see the disappointment on the woman’s face.

“However, I acquired this by chance today. Within ten days, I will complete the rest.”

Of course, it was not by chance. Li Cheng knew the entire poem by Su Dongpo. But now, to survive, since this poem was even more alluring than perfume, he naturally left a hook. If things went awry and Zhao Kuangyin wanted him dead, perhaps this fragment would buy him a few more days to find another way to live.

The disappointment on the woman’s face vanished, replaced by a faint joy and expectation.

“Good. I accept this bottle of Snow Mud Trace. In ten days, I will hear the continuation. I hope it will live up to these two lines.”

“Rest assured, I will not disappoint you,” Li Cheng replied confidently. Regardless of Su Dongpo’s political stance, his poetry was superb and trustworthy.

A smile appeared on Li Cheng’s face—things were working out! The woman opposite was clever and decisive; she understood his intent and agreed readily. Given her promptness, her status in the palace must be quite high, able to speak freely before Zhao Kuangyin. He had bet correctly.

“Remove the stopper when using, dab a little and sprinkle it on hair or clothing. When not in use, seal tightly to prevent fragrance from dissipating.”

Li Cheng sealed the bottle he named Snow Mud Trace and handed it to the palace attendant who had come for the perfume, speaking loudly to instruct both the attendant and the woman.

The woman took the small porcelain bottle, brought it to her nose, and inhaled deeply, finding it refreshing. Holding it in her hand, she turned and slowly stepped into the snow.

After a few steps, a voice drifted back.

“Do not retaliate against him or deliberately cause trouble. Otherwise, I will inform Father and have him rule on my behalf.”

Eunuch Qian, who bowed his head to see the woman off, suddenly stiffened with a fierce expression. He knelt in the snow with a thud, swearing he dared not act otherwise.

Once the woman and her retinue vanished from sight, he rose and looked around cautiously. Confirming no one was near and that the group had long gone, his respectful expression instantly disappeared, replaced by ferocity and ruthlessness.

After all these years, this was the first time he suffered such a blow! If he didn’t retaliate, he would never get over this humiliation!

His face darkened as he strode step by step toward Li Cheng…

…

At the entrance to the imperial garden, Zhao Kuangyin, Zhao Dezhao, Wang Jien, and their retinue arrived, treading through wind and snow…

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