Huang Wen took Xia Yue to a small clearing. A shallow creek ran through the clearing. It was night. The sky was clear and from their place, they could see millions of stars and the moon.

Huang Wen didn't let Xia Yue off of his arm, rather he chose a spot to sit, with Xia Yue still in his arm.

He didn't wear his clothes. His clothes not covered Xia Yue's back, but it was unbuttoned. Rather than wore it, it rather like a blanket. It covered Xia Yue's back, but not her front. Xia Yue couldn't hid her embarrassment and hid her face on his shoulder.

Huang Wen caressed her and whispered at her ears, "I'll made you forget all the bad things that just happened."

And he started taking his time in kissing her.

At first, Xia Yue couldn't help but reminded of the men who harassed her and Huang Wen's touch made her shiver. But each time Huang Wen kissed her, Xia Yue felt how precious she was in his heart. Within no time, she already forgot all the bad things that just happened long ago. In his arm, she felt secured. With the fear gone, nothing remain but pleasurable sensation.

She forgot everything, Zhang Xuan, her parents. She just there, drowned in absorbing this new experience.

--- o ---

Meanwhile, back at the log cabin in that little forest, Chen Fang and Xia Bao were looking at the mess that was left behind by Huang Wen.

"This is Xia Yue's.", said Xia Bao as he took the torn clothes.

He found the torn clothes on the bed when he investigate the room. Chen Fang was never good at hiding his feeling. Xia Bao saw his expression and sighed.

"Back in the time of Liu Bei and Guan Yu, haven't you read of a hunter who killed his wife and took her arm, to cook something for Liu Bei?", Xia Bao asked.

Chen Fang shook his head, "Sometimes I can't understand how I could end up to be your brother."

Xia Bao turned away and said, "It's not like I sacrifice my daughter's life. I believe she'll be happy with him, that's why I go this far to set up this plot."

"But you're gambling with your daughter's life. What if he's late?", Chen Fang argued.

Xia Bao took a look at the torn clothes and then the room.

"He almost late, but he's not. There was no trace of semen on the bed or anywhere within this cabin.", said Xia Bao.

Chen Fang angrily grabbed him and turned him around, "That's not the point! Damn it!"

He wanted to say harsher words when he saw the pained expression on Xia Bao's face. Chen Fang knew Xia Bao more than anyone else. He might be cold to his wife and children, but he loved them. Putting his own daughter in a risky gambling wouldn't be an easy decision for Xia Bao.

"You're crazy son of a...", Chen Fang kept on sighing and shaking his head.

Xia Bao shrugged Chen Fang's hand away and snorted, "She'll live... better this than losing your head later. If Brother Zhang turned into Emperor Qin Shihuang, something like this is nothing."

"Brother Xia... I...:", Chen Fang wanted to apologize.

"Never mind... Let's go back.", Xia Bao smiled bitterly and patted his back.

--- o ---

Huang Wen and Xia Yue returned very late that night. It was about 3 AM when Huang Wen secretly brought Xia Yue to her own room and left her there. Xia Yue took time to wash and dress nicely before she went to see her parent. She needed times to calm her racing heart. It wasn't until the sun rise when she finally gathered her courage to see her parent.

Huang Wen on the other hand rested peacefully that night. He even hummed a song as he took a bath.

But there was a gleam in his eyes, when he thought about Xia Bao.

The next day, Xia Bao and Chen Fang went to see him. Nothing seemed unusual, they entered the room and the guards outside closed the door for them. But usually, Huang Wen would already greet them warmly by now. This time, he still sat on his chair and read something, ignoring their presence. Xia Bao and Chen Fang of course noticed the change and exchanged look.

"Huang Wen thank you, you...", Xia Bao tried to break the silence and thanked Huang Wen for saving his daughter, but Huang Wen lifted his hand and stopped him.

Slowly Huang Wen lifted his head from the book he was reading, his eyes stared at Xia Bao. He said nothing and took his time to get up and walk toward Xia Bao and Chen Fang. Both men were much older than Huang Wen, but under his stare they felt like they were facing someone of their own age. Xia Bao opened his mouth again to break the silence, but Huang Wen silently shook his head.

Xia Bao and Chen Fang were standing there awkwardly. Huang Wen still said nothing even after he stood right in front of them.

Suddenly his hand flew and slapped Xia Bao right on his face.

"Huang Wen !", Chen Fang shouted angrily, as he quickly caught Xia Bao who reeled from the hit.

Both Chen Fang and Xia Bao were taken aback by his sudden anger. Although both had these premonitions, the moment they entered the office. Huang Wen ignored Chen Fang and kept at staring to Xia Bao.

"Explain now, why you two plot something against my relation with Zhang Xua? And how you dare to use your own daughter that way?", said Huang Wen coldly.

Chen Fang muttered, "So you know..."

Xia Bao's eyes didn't run away from Huang Wen's stare. They looked at each other, straight in the eyes for few seconds. Huang Wen's eyes expressed his anger, while Xia Bao's eyes seemed to look for hints behind those eyes.

Finally Xia Bao sighed and then answered, "Brother Zhang Hu is changing ... and we need someone in power. Just in case he turn into some dangerous tyrant."

Huang Wen frowned. He was expecting such answer, but his mind still needed some time to process that information when he actually heard it from Xia Bao. If two of Zhang Hu's closest friends chose to side with him, it would greatly change the balance in power between him and Zhang Hu.

"And that justify your decision to put your own daughter in danger, as a bait an went through all the humiliation?", he asked coldly.

"I know she is infatuated with you and it's not like you're a bad guy either. Of the risk ..., I time everything. At worst... well ... it's turn out okay, isn't it?", Xia Bao answered.

Chen Fang quickly added, "Brother Xia loves his family very much. He might seem cold or too calculating for those who don't know him well. But I know him well, despite all the facade, I know it pained him to do such thing."

Huang Wen snorted, "And what make you so sure that I won't be just another tyrant?"

Chen Fang couldn't answer that, he turned to Xia Bao.

Xia Bao smiled bitterly and said, "I thought, I will be able to carefully control you or at least have influences over your decisions. But maybe I was wrong."

Huang Wen said nothing for a long time. He carefully tried to judge both men's characters.

After a while he said, "Don't try to plot behind me anymore. Of Xia Yue, I will marry her after I talk about it with Zhang Xuan. Of course, I will marry Zhang Xuan first."

Like a poker player whose card already seen by his opponent, Xia Bao seemed to lose his will to argue and could only gratefully nodded his head, "Thank you..."

"Now, about Uncle Zhang, let me hear it.", said Huang Wen as he walked back to his chair.

Sitting on his chair like a boss, Huang Wen listened to Xia Bao's and Chen Fang's explanations of Zhang Hu's character that seemed to change from the old Zhang Hu they knew in the past.

"So you think the power get into his head?", Huang Wen asked.

Xia Bao nodded his head but added, "But, it's not like he is a tyrant already. I still have high hope in him, that he won't change too much but history shows how power could corrupt people."

Huang Wen took a letter and showed it to them, "This morning, before you came, someone from Nanping came to see me and deliver this letter."

Xia Bao took the letter and read it.

"So Zhang Xuan managed to give you this town.", said Xia Bao as he gave the letter to Chen Fang for him to read.

Huang Wen nodded his head and then said, "But it's a bit strange that it also mentioned of Aunty Zhang's plan to come and give us a visit."

"Probably it's to talk of your relation with Zhang Xuan.", said Chen Fang, he returned the letter to Huang Wen.

"But why they aren't ask me to come with my family to Nanping and propose her instead?", Huang Wen asked.

"It's not that strange, perhaps Sister Zhang want to talk to you and arrange everything before you formally propose her.", said Chen Fang.

Xia Bao nodded, "It's just feel strange because you already have suspicions to Brother Zhang."

"Hmm... perhaps you're right.", said Huang Wen.

He had no reason to think differently, but in his gut he felt that Madame Zhang's visit hid something more than just a visit. He said nothing more about their plot and turned to discuss the administration of the town. From a glance, they seemed to return to their normality, but of course something was changed in the relation between the three of them.

When Xia Bao and Chen Fang left his room, Huang Wen asked them to tell the guards outside, to not let anyone disturb him that day.

Huang Wen read the letter once again and talked to himself, "Hmm... I'm sure there is something going to happen when Aunty Zhang give us a visit. I wonder what it is..."

Next : Chapter 102.