Chapter Eighty-Eight: A Drinking Game

Qi Jun was slightly taken aback after hearing this, and could not help but let out a soft sigh.

Although they had succeeded in destroying the Qiang sentry fort this time, the price they paid was immense.

Four warriors from the county government had been lost, along with six precious warhorses. If the Qiang were to seize proof of this affair, it would be no less than a political and diplomatic catastrophe for the already weakened Great Liang.

“Why would the county lieutenant take such a risk and strike at so small a sentry fort?” Even Qi Jun could not make sense of the motive behind it. Yet he was certain that if Captain Qin had followed his arrangement from the beginning, matters would never have come to this.

To deal with such a tiny outpost, it would have been enough to scout the enemy carefully in advance, then hide in the surrounding area, slip inside under cover of night, douse it with fire oil, withdraw to higher ground, and loose a volley of fire arrows.

But Captain Qin had to make things difficult for him, not only entering Qiang territory too early, but also choosing the wrong place to camp, which exposed their tracks and led to their capture.

For committing such errors of command and failing to assess the enemy properly, the county lieutenant’s dismissal and expulsion of him could already be considered lenient, given past favors and merits.

Qi Jun shook his head and decided not to dwell on it for now. He stood, dressed himself properly, and went to the table. Lifting the red cloth covering the plate, he glanced inside and felt somewhat disappointed.

On the plate lay a five-tael ingot of silver, along with several bottles of medicine for burns and knife wounds, which was meant to serve as compensation for his service on this journey.

“For all that, a county lieutenant and my injuries are only worth five taels?” Qi Jun muttered darkly as he took the silver and stuffed it into his robe. Since his face was wrapped in gauze and he wished to avoid unwanted attention, he asked one of the household servants for a gauze hat that could cover his face.

Qi Jun wanted to speak with Qin He, the former captain of the county troops. After all, they had once lived and died together, and hearing that he had been tossed aside by the county lieutenant, Qi Jun felt a measure of sympathy.

But when he followed a servant to Qin’s residence, he found that the room had already been tidied up and given to the newly appointed captain of the county troops.

“May I ask who this young gentleman is?” The new captain, seeing the servant bring Qi Jun over, promptly came out from the room with enthusiasm and clasped his hands in greeting.

“Captain Li, this is the newly appointed county magistrate for An Qiang, the one personally named by the county lieutenant...” The servant pointed him out with a somewhat proud bow.

“I was blind! So County Magistrate Qi has come. May I ask what brings you here?” Upon hearing this, the new captain immediately bowed with great seriousness.

The county troops in the county office could be regarded as the county lieutenant’s personal guards, and anyone who became their captain would certainly be one of the lieutenant’s trusted men.

Thus the new captain naturally knew of the appointment. However, he had never met Qi Jun before, and since Qi Jun was also wearing a veil, he failed to recognize him.

He understood that if Qi Jun had earned the county lieutenant’s esteem, he must surely have some extraordinary ability. On the spot, he shifted his manner, addressed him differently, and took the initiative to flatter him, hoping to form a connection.

“Uh... the imperial appointment papers have not yet come down, so I am still only a mere hired retainer,” Qi Jun said quickly, waving a hand. It was not that he was deliberately being modest; rather, he had never been one to claim as fact something not yet truly accomplished.

If this matter were to fall through in the end for some reason, then claiming such a title now would only be slapping himself in the face.

“Does Captain Li know where Captain Qin has gone?” Qi Jun asked after a moment of thought.

“Where else could he go? Back to his hometown to farm and look after his old mother, of course,” the new captain said. Then, stepping slightly aside and gesturing toward the room, he invited Qi Jun in. “I greatly admire County Magistrate Qi. Since you have honored my humble dwelling with your presence today, might I offer you tea and a few words?”

Qi Jun saw through the new captain’s thoughts and thought to himself that this man was indeed much more cunning than Qin He. Still, he politely declined the offer with an excuse and turned to leave.

He walked out of the county lieutenant’s residence and came onto the main street.

From a servant at the gate, he learned that Feng Qinian and Axin had already gone back, and one stone in his heart finally fell.

What still troubled him now were the two sisters at Drunken Spring Lodge.

When he returned to the inn, the shop assistant saw his clothes and came forward with a fawning smile, seeming ready to support him as though worried he might not be able to walk.

“Get lost! Don’t dirty my clothes,” Qi Jun snapped, having no fondness at all for the fellow.

Thinking of how, the day before yesterday, when he had stood here, the shop assistant had treated him like a beggar, cursing and driving him away—yet today, merely by changing into fine clothes, he had instantly become a distinguished guest of the inn—Qi Jun could not help but sigh at the strange magic of money.

“Oh! Sir, it’s you?” The shop assistant froze for a moment. Even though Qi Jun wore a gauze hat and the garb of a wandering martial traveler, the assistant still recognized him by his voice.

Qi Jun glared at him but said nothing, walking straight into the inn’s main hall and looking around, yet he did not see the innkeeper’s wife.

“Where is your mistress? I have business with her.”

“Our mistress went out this afternoon and still hasn’t returned. Young master, surely you’re not...” Seeing that Qi Jun was neither here to eat nor to stay the night, and that he had instead asked after the innkeeper’s wife, the shop assistant was briefly stunned before grinning slyly and continuing, “You aren’t interested in our mistress, are you?”

“Why do you have so much to say? Mind your own business. I’ll wait for her here,” Qi Jun said impatiently. He pulled over a bench and sat down.

“All right, rest easy. I’ll bring you a pot of fine tea!” The shop assistant chuckled awkwardly, slinging a towel over his shoulder before turning back toward the counter.

Qi Jun sat at the table idly turning the teacup in his hand when suddenly he caught the drifting scent of powder from the doorway.

He looked up instinctively, and the first thing his eyes met was that graceful, full-bodied figure, all supple curves and balanced poise.

“So you’ve returned, madam! Someone is here asking for you.” The shop assistant immediately hurried forward to take the silk, rouge, and other purchases from the woman’s hands, and casually pointed toward Qi Jun.

“Looking for me?” The innkeeper’s wife frowned, glanced in the direction he indicated, and then walked over with a smile and sat down across from Qi Jun.

Qi Jun stared blankly as she took her seat before him, his mind a little dazed by the unfamiliar fragrance on her body.

“May I ask what business has brought this young gentleman here?” The innkeeper’s wife extended a hand and lightly waved it before his face, laughing softly with a tinkling sound.

“Oh... it’s nothing serious, I just wanted to...” Qi Jun came to his senses and hurriedly gathered his thoughts, preparing to explain his purpose.

“This gentleman’s voice sounds very familiar. We must have met two days ago, yes?” The innkeeper’s wife raised a finger to hush him, smiling with playful amusement. “There is no need to say more. Let us play a little game instead. I will ask, you will answer without speaking. If I guess right, you nod. Is that all right?”

Qi Jun was secretly startled. It was one thing for the shop assistant to recognize him, but he had only exchanged a few words with this innkeeper’s wife, and she had still seen through his identity.

He could not help wondering, somewhat helplessly, just how distinctive his voice must be.

Seeing Qi Jun nod, the innkeeper’s wife looked at him with a trace of smug delight and laughed again. She beckoned to the shop assistant, summoning him over. “Bring two jars of wine for this young gentleman and me.”

The shop assistant answered and fetched two jars of Drunken West Wind from the counter, setting them on the table.

“If we are only guessing riddles, that would be rather dull. Why not add a wager? If I guess correctly, you drink a cup. How about that?” As she spoke, the innkeeper’s wife set a bowl before Qi Jun and gave him a bewitching smile.

“How could I be afraid of that?” Qi Jun was stirred by her playfulness as well. He opened the stopper on the wine jar and poured himself a cup first.