The recent days of Liu Wu Sheng's life has left him feeling as if he'd been cast in a blazing fire, ready to suffer the flames. Luo Qi must have known their pre-arranged deal with Si Ma Zhu Xie, if not, the battle would not have turned out this way. How could Luo Qi have known? Liu Wu Sheng couldn't get to the bottom of it, but he believed that the chances were high that Luo Wei had a hand in ruining their plans. Before he left the capital, his father Liu Shuang s.h.i.+ especially instructed him to be wary of Luo Wei. This person had pretended to be a fool, following Long Xuan around for years, who knows how much he knew of Long Xuan's plans! Liu Wu Sheng pa.s.sed along the information that Luo Wei was at Ye Qie to Si Ma Zhu Xie, aiming for two things. First, to let Si Ma Zhu Xie take Ye Qie, and thus be able to access Mount Wu's old route to retreat, and second, to get rid of Luo Wei with Si Ma Zhu Xie's help.

What Liu Wu Sheng hadn't expected was that Luo Wei was actually able to hold the city. This made the already flighty Liu Wu Sheng even more anxious. Luo Wei came back alive, and what was he supposed to do now?

“General Liu, what are you thinking about?” A clear and gentle voice dragged Liu Wu Sheng back to reality from his chaotic thoughts.

“Third young master,” Liu Wu Sheng looked at Luo Wei before him. The winter wind was cutting and cold, but this person looked to be no less comfortable.

Luo Wei smiled, “We've been talking everything over for a while now, does General Liu have nothing to add?”

Liu Wu Sheng's expression was frozen and rigid. Looking at Si Ma Zhu Xie and Si Ma Qing Sha sitting opposite them, what else could he possibly contribute to the conversation?

Si Ma Zhu Xie's expression didn't look any better than Liu Wu Sheng's. His features were similar to Si Ma Qing Sha's, but was a little more broad, possessing the height and strength common to people from the northern nations.

Si Ma Qing Sha's face betrayed neither joy or sorrow, it was impossible to tell what this guy was thinking about.

Luo Wei turned his head at the water next to them, already at a boil, and said to Liu Wu Sheng, “General Liu, why don't you prepare some tea for the two princes, the water's ready.”

Liu Wu Sheng lowered his head and poured out four cups of tea, leaving two on the little desk in front of Luo Wei, then took two to Si Ma Zhu Xie and Si Ma Qing Sha.

“Hold on,” Luo Wei stopped Liu Wu Sheng, reaching with his left hand and flicked at the tea in one of the cups with his middle finger, “There's a little bug in there.”

Si Ma Qing Sha remarked rather coldly, “Looks like even the bugs in Mount Wu know how to appreciate the finer things in life with the way they like to get into tea.”

Luo Wei lifted his cup and sipped at it himself first, “I've always heard that Mount Wu was a desolate mountain, but looking at the snow and ice of this thousand year glacier, I find myself thinking that it's worth the view.”

Si Ma Qing Sha tossed a cold look at Luo Wei, downing the tea in his cup in one gulp, then addressed Si Ma Zhu Xie, “Imperial brother, you ought to taste this tea from Greater Zhou, it's nothing compared to our clear teas from Northern Yan.”

Si Ma Zhu Xie looked at Liu Wu Sheng, the young man a picture of anxious nerves. How could Long Xuan send trash like this? Si Ma Zhu Xie cursed inside, but followed Si Ma Qing Sha's lead in downing the tea.

Luo Wei smiled from across the desk, “How could an army travel with the best teas on a campaign like this? Perhaps at another time, when our countries have once again found peace with each other, I would gladly make an offering of our best teas to the two imperial princes.”

Si Ma Zhu Xie changed the subject, “We understand all of third young master Luo's conditions, and will provide an answer in three days.”

Luo Wei responded, “I don't think our conditions and requests are too difficult, I hope that crown prince Zhu Xie would consider them carefully.”

Si Ma Zhu Xie rose and left his seat. He hadn't been in a hopelessly stupid situation like this before, and had already cursed Long Xuan half to death inside but pity that he couldn't say any of it out loud.

Si Ma Qing Sha followed Si Ma Zhu Xie closely behind. After tossing a look at Luo Wei, who had not moved from his seat, Si Ma Qing Sha followed his older brother out.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTES:
YOU GUYS!!! your words make me so happy, and I will keep it in mind in case things get difficult again. like i said before in previous posts, im living alone in a not exactly good situation. im looking to change my job soon (hopefully with more pay and steady hours), and then maybe start translating and writing my own novels sometime. <3 thank="" you="" guys="" so="" much="" for="" all="" your="">