Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Beginning of the Stratagem
Song Yiqiu took out some medicine and a clean cloth and carefully cleaned the wound on Qingzhu's forehead.
"Green bamboo,"
She whispered.
“They’ve already made their move, we can’t just sit here and wait to die… It’s time for your ‘madness’ to get better.”
Qingzhu suddenly looked up, her eyes still filled with anticipation.
"Miss, do you already have an idea?"
"Um."
...
On a dark and windy night, the backyard door was knocked very lightly three times—one long and two short—as a pre-arranged code.
Song Yiqiu immediately stepped forward and opened the door.
Standing outside the door were Bai Mei and Zhang Heze, whom she had brought with her. Beside Zhang Heze was a cage tightly covered with a thick red cloth, and the clucking of chickens could be faintly heard coming from inside.
Song Yiqiu quickly glanced around and whispered to Bai Mei:
“Go to the front yard and find a way to invite your older brother over. Tell him… his long-awaited ‘treasure’ has arrived.”
Bai Mei nodded and headed towards Song Tianhan's Orchid and Bamboo Garden.
Song Yiqiu then turned her gaze to the cage and reached out to lift a corner of the red cloth.
Inside the cage, a rooster with extremely bright plumage and a robust physique stood alertly, exuding the aura of an untamed raptor.
On the cage door, a delicate brass lock was prominently displayed.
Zhang Heze was dressed in a flamboyant crimson brocade robe again today, his black hair unbound and casually draped, adding to his languid and dashing air.
With a smile in his eyes, he handed Song Yiqiu a small key, his tone ambiguous:
"Here you are, General Song, the 'God of War of the Western Regions' you requested has been delivered to you. The key is here. I wonder how the General plans to... properly reward me?"
He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and his breath was warm.
"Offer yourself to me... How about you consider it?"
Song Yiqiu, expressionless, raised her hand and lightly patted his forehead:
“Speak properly. Why do you always dress like a flamboyant butterfly displaying its feathers to attract mates whenever you show up?”
Zhang Heze exaggeratedly covered his forehead, and said aggrievedly:
"General, you don't understand, do you? We're businessmen, we care about big success and good fortune! Of course,"
He changed the subject, then grinned and leaned closer.
"After you marry me, I'll wear whatever color you want me to wear, even if it means wearing a plain robe to mourn for you every day!"
Song Yiqiu twitched her lips, too lazy to pay attention to his nonsense, and said seriously:
"Stop joking around. Have you memorized your lines for the next scene? Don't mess it up."
Zhang Heze immediately dropped his joking expression, but still retained that flirtatious air. He suddenly leaned close to Song Yiqiu's ear and whispered:
"I have memorized every word of the general's orders, and know them by heart..."
Before he could finish speaking, Song Yiqiu's eyes flashed, and she suddenly grabbed his wrist and twisted it in the opposite direction!
Aww!
"It hurts, it hurts!"
Caught off guard, Zhang Heze cried out in pain.
Song Yiqiu said coldly:
"Next time you speak, stay away from me. Otherwise, you'll infect me with your sassy attitude."
Zhang Heze grimaced as he rubbed his wrist.
"Song Yiqiu! Why are you two just like Deputy General Bai? Can't you two act a little more like gentle and delicate girls? Learn from Qingzhu!"
Qingzhu stood aside, secretly laughing and shaking her head.
"I think the young lady is very gentle!"
Just then, Song Tianhan's excited voice rang out from outside the courtyard:
"Yiqiu! Yiqiu! I heard the chickens have arrived?! Where are they? Let me see!"
Before he finished speaking, he had already rushed into the backyard, his eyes searching everywhere, completely ignoring Zhang Heze beside him, and immediately locking onto the cage covered with a red cloth.
Song Yiqiu immediately went to greet him, a gentle smile on her face:
"Don't worry, big brother, the baby is fine in the cage, he can't run away."
Only then did Song Tianhan notice Zhang Heze standing beside him, dressed in eye-catching clothes. He seemed vaguely familiar and hesitated before saying:
"You...you're not the one from Doushengzhuang..."
Zhang Heze immediately adopted a polite businessman's smile, cupped his hands, and said:
“It is I. Young Master Song has a good memory. I have received some favors from General Song before. This time, since the general asked me to find this rare bird for my brother, I will do my best to deliver it to you personally.”
Upon hearing this, Song Tianhan was overjoyed and patted Song Yiqiu's shoulder forcefully, causing Song Yiqiu to secretly frown.
"Good sister! I didn't expect you to be so capable, actually managing to get one of Dousheng Village's prized possessions! Hahaha, let's see how Fatty Wang and Skinny Li will brag to me now. With this, I'll be invincible in the next cockfight and dominate the entire arena!"
He rubbed his hands excitedly, about to lift the red cloth and open the cage door.
When he saw the sturdy brass lock on the cage door, he panicked and grabbed the cage, shaking it.
"Where's the key? Where's the key? Quickly let my 'Invincible General' out for some fresh air! What if it gets suffocated!"
Song Yiqiu quickly pressed him down:
"Brother! Don't worry, this is a top-quality fighting rooster from the Western Regions, it's very precious! It's new here and not used to the climate, it needs to rest and adapt for a while. We're keeping it locked up to prevent it from getting startled and flying around, damaging its wings. This is all so that our 'Ever-Victorious General' can perform better in the future and win every battle!"
Zhang Heze nodded in agreement with an air of seriousness:
“Young Master Song, General Song is absolutely right. This chicken is the 'Chicken King' of our estate, with the purest bloodline and the most ferocious fighting power. It is priceless and ordinary people can't even see it.”
"Only with careful protection can it be invincible on the battlefield. As for this key... I will keep it for now. When the time is right and it has fully adapted, I will personally present it to you."
Chicken King...
Song Yiqiu twitched her lips; this guy was being way too exaggerated.
Song Tianhan's mind was filled with the words "victorious in every battle." Although he was extremely anxious, he also found their argument reasonable after hearing the two of them talking in unison.
He had no choice but to suppress his impulse, marveling at the cage as if he could already see himself winning the entire capital.
"Alright, alright! Yiqiu, you can keep this here for now, but make sure you hide it well and don't let Mother find it!"
He instructed, his eyes still glued to the cage.
"The 'ever-victorious general' must inform me immediately once he has recovered! Do you hear me?!"
Song Yiqiu smiled and agreed:
"Don't worry, brother, I will definitely take good care of it for you."
Song Tianhan looked at the cage several times with lingering reluctance before leaving, turning back every few steps.
Watching his foolish appearance disappear into the night, Zhang Heze crossed his arms, clicked his tongue twice, and shook his head:
"Tsk tsk, every time I see that genuinely harmless smile on the general's face, I know someone's about to be in big trouble."
Bai Mei returned after seeing someone off, just in time to hear this, and glared at him irritably:
"Lieutenant Zhang, why are you talking so much? Just deliver the goods and get going! If someone sees you, I might just punch you!"
Zhang Heze exaggeratedly clutched his chest, feigning sadness:
"Little White Plum, how cruel you are! Am I just a tool for you to summon and dismiss at will?"
Bai Mei clenched her fist and sneered:
"I can let you experience right now what it means to have a fist that is 'summoned at will and dismissed at will'!"
Zhang Heze immediately raised his hands in surrender, then, as if remembering something, a playful glint flashed in his eyes as he looked at Song Yiqiu:
"By the way, I heard... Miss Song is hosting a grand flower-viewing tea party in three days? I wonder... if I might have the honor of receiving an invitation and joining in the fun?"
Song Yiqiu raised an eyebrow at him:
"Want to come? You're most welcome. Perfect timing... to watch a good show."
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