Chapter Forty: Twenty Beauties

Li Ru hurriedly poured himself a cup of wine, raised it, and said with a smile, "I shall drink first as a gesture of respect!"

With that, he tilted his head back and drained the cup. Seeing this, Li Jue laughed heartily and finished his own wine in one gulp.

Li Ru set down his cup, glanced at Luo Ang, and said to Li Jue, "General, you really should toast the General of the Cavalry. If not for anything else, you must consider that he is now the Grand Preceptor’s prospective son-in-law!"

Although Li Jue was reluctant, he nodded, poured himself a cup, took it, stood up, and walked toward Luo Ang.

Without realizing it, the night had grown deep, and the guests began to depart one after another. Many were thoroughly intoxicated, creating a scene of boisterous, chaotic noise. Accompanied by Cheng Yu, Guan Yu, Zhang He, Cheng Lian, and Dong Yuan, Luo Ang stepped out of the main gate.

At that moment, a young eunuch approached, bowed, and said, "Marquis of Yan, the Grand Preceptor has ordered me to wait here and escort you to the residence he has bestowed upon you."

Luo Ang was somewhat surprised. He nodded and said, "Lead the way."

The young eunuch acknowledged the order. Luo Ang, Cheng Yu, Guan Yu, Zhang He, Cheng Lian, and Dong Yuan joined their personal guards waiting outside the gate, and under the eunuch’s guidance, they set off toward the east side of the Grand Preceptor’s mansion. Since the Grand Preceptor’s mansion was located just south of the Imperial Palace, the group traveled along the tree-lined road bordering the south side of the palace.

It was already midnight; the road was deathly quiet, with not a soul in sight. Only the sound of their footsteps echoed through the trees. A night breeze blew, causing most of the alcohol’s effects to fade from Luo Ang. As he walked toward the residence Dong Zhuo had given him, he pondered historical facts he hadn't learned before—after all, the history books he knew only contained basic knowledge.

A sense of longing suddenly welled up in his heart, his thoughts flying thousands of miles away to Ji County, missing Cai Yan and Diaochan, who were waiting for his return. He shook his head to suppress the feeling; after all, he had to protect these regions of Luoyang. He could not let foreign tribes invade these ancient cities, nor could he allow them to slaughter the people of Luoyang or abduct beautiful women and maidens, for that would be a catastrophe for the Chinese people.

Not long after, the group arrived before a magnificent estate. Luo Ang was secretly startled, for the grandeur of the entrance was hardly inferior to Dong Zhuo’s own mansion. He gazed into the courtyard, which was dense with trees, its vastness impossible to measure. He withdrew his gaze and looked up at the plaque above the lintel, which bore five bold characters: "Residence of the General of the Cavalry."

The young eunuch bowed to Luo Ang and said, "This is the residence the Grand Preceptor has bestowed upon you, Marquis."

He then turned, ran up the steps, and gently tapped the bronze ring on the beast-faced door knocker. A moment later, the gate opened a crack, and an old servant peeked out. Seeing the eunuch, the old man hurried out, bowed, and asked, "Eunuch, what are your instructions?"

The eunuch gestured to Luo Ang, who stood at the foot of the stairs, and said, "The Marquis of Yan has arrived! Why have you not come out to welcome him?"

The old man looked at Luo Ang, finally realized who it was, and hurriedly descended the steps. He knelt before Luo Ang’s horse and said, "I am Zhao Jue, paying my respects to the Marquis of Yan! I did not know you were arriving and failed to welcome you properly; I beg for the General's forgiveness!"

Luo Ang asked, "Your name is Zhao Jue?"

"In reply to the General, I am Zhao Jue, the steward appointed by the Grand Preceptor to manage this residence."

"Rise and speak."

"Thank you, General!" Zhao Jue stood up, head bowed respectfully.

The young eunuch stepped forward and bowed to Luo Ang: "My mission is complete, and I must now return to report. If the Marquis has no further instructions, I shall take my leave."

Luo Ang cupped his hands: "My thanks for your trouble, Eunuch."

The eunuch, feeling flattered, repeatedly insisted it was nothing, then turned and left.

Zhao Jue gestured: "Please, Marquis, enter the estate!"

Luo Ang led his party and their horses through the gates. Zhao Jue closed the doors and walked to Luo Ang’s side, bowing: "Marquis, would you like to return to your bedchamber to rest?"

Luo Ang nodded. Zhao Jue led the way, guiding them across the square in front of the main hall, bypassing the unlit hall itself, and entering the rear courtyard through a side archway. Once inside, they were met with dense groves and winding corridors that seemed to stretch on forever.

Suddenly, a shimmering reflection caught Luo Ang’s attention. He looked closely and saw a large lake bordered by corridors. A small hill rose from the center of the lake like a pavilion, giving the secluded setting a mystical, ethereal quality.

Seeing this, Luo Ang dismounted. A guard immediately stepped forward to take the reins. Luo Ang walked to the lakeside, looking at the landscape, feeling a sense of unreality. Is this a dream? He never expected he would one day own a home as grand as a park.

Then, a few lights on the opposite shore caught his eye. He looked toward them, hearing the faint sound of women’s voices, and pointed, asking, "What place is that? Who is there?"

Zhao Jue hurried forward and bowed: "In reply to the Marquis, that is the estate’s music pavilion. Not long ago, the Grand Preceptor gifted you twenty beauties, and they are staying there!"

Luo Ang was stunned, then gave a bitter smile: "Is this entire residence just you and those twenty beauties?"

Zhao Jue quickly replied, "Apart from this old servant and the twenty beauties, there are over a hundred servants and maids, but since it is the middle of the night, they have all retired. Would you like me to summon everyone to pay their respects to you, Marquis?"

Luo Ang waved a hand and smiled: "No need. Just lead me and my wife to our quarters."

Dong Yuan’s cheeks flushed at Luo Ang's words, and she lowered her head.

Zhao Jue bowed and led the group along a slate path winding beside the lake. After passing through several groves of trees and bamboo, and crossing a babbling brook, an exquisite courtyard nestled among towering trees appeared.

Luo Ang found it hard to believe; it seemed the scale of this bedchamber alone rivaled the inner quarters of his official residence in Ji County. He told Zhao Jue, "You need not serve me; take my men to their quarters. Yun-chang, send someone to bring the rest of our people from the relay station."

Dian Wei and Zhao Jue bowed in acknowledgment. Dian Wei dispatched a guard to the relay station, while Zhao Jue led the others toward the guards' quarters.

Accompanied by Cheng Yu and Dong Yuan, Luo Ang entered the small hall of the courtyard. Cheng Yu found the oil lamps, struck his flint, and lit them, instantly brightening the room. Seeing the furnishings, Luo Ang was struck dumb; the level of luxury far exceeded his expectations. He sat in the seat of honor, pondering the events of the day’s banquet.

Cheng Yu stepped forward and said with a smile, "The Grand Preceptor truly spares no expense for you, my lord! This residence was likely a secondary palace; to think he would be willing to gift it to you!"

Luo Ang came to his senses and asked, "A secondary palace? Zhongde, how do you know?"

Cheng Yu gestured to the furnishings: "These palace lamps, these yellow silk curtains, and these paintings of flying immortals—these are all items found only in the Imperial Palace. Since this estate is right next to the palace, it must be a secondary palace."

Luo Ang laughed: "My father-in-law is certainly generous with other people's property!"

Dong Yuan said, "After all, you are my husband!"

Luo Ang looked at her: "Yuan’er, go and get some rest; it is already the middle of the night!"

"Understood," she replied. "Husband, you should rest soon as well."

Luo Ang nodded. Dong Yuan then retired to their room.

Cheng Yu cupped his hands: "My lord, although today's appointments by Dong Zhuo are beneficial to you, you must not let your guard down."

Luo Ang nodded: "I know. Li Jue being left as my deputy may be for 'assistance,' but I fear the intent is surveillance. The same goes for those twenty thousand central troops from the Great General’s office. If I am loyal to Dong Zhuo, they are my strength, but if I harbor any ulterior motives, they will be my executioners."

Cheng Yu showed a look of admiration and bowed: "Knowing that you see through this, my lord, I am relieved. However, this is likely not Dong Zhuo’s idea, but Li Ru’s scheme."

Luo Ang nodded: "This Li Ru—do we have a grudge from a past life? Why is he always playing these dark tricks on me?"

Cheng Yu smiled: "In official circles, people always fear and resent those who might threaten their position. You are a man of exceptional talent, favored by Dong Zhuo, and his beloved son-in-law; it is only natural that you would attract such jealousy."

Luo Ang nodded: "Zhongde, you should go and rest as well. It is very late."

"As you command," Cheng Yu replied and withdrew.