Chapter 83: Huang Chengyan Seeks Refuge

Ganning handed the booklet to Huang Yueying, who at first had no intention of accepting it.

However, by chance her eyes fell upon a set of drawings on its pages.

The illustration depicted a certain component of a ship, and its design was nothing short of ingenious.

Unable to suppress her curiosity, Huang Yueying took the booklet from Ganning’s hand and examined it closely.

At first, she had no particular expectations, but the more she read, the more astonished she became.

The booklet was filled with blueprints for military warships—over a dozen different types, ranging from small to large, each more advanced than the last. Huang Yueying’s eyes grew wide as she pored over the pages.

While Huang Yueying studied the booklet, Su Ming’s gaze was fixed upon her.

It is often said that a man is most handsome when he is focused, but surely, a woman is never more beautiful than in a moment of deep concentration.

Huang Yueying’s eyes were naturally large, and when widened, they seemed to shimmer like sapphires.

History records her as a pale-skinned, blue-eyed, blond woman considered unattractive.

But in truth, this reputation was undeserved.

After all, Zhuge Liang hailed from a noble family, renowned for his prodigious intellect and scholarly accomplishments. His own appearance was dignified and elegant. If Huang Yueying were truly ugly, would Zhuge Liang have chosen her?

In the eyes of ordinary people, Huang Yueying was deemed unattractive simply because their standards of beauty differed.

Zhuge Liang, however, was no ordinary man. His knowledge spanned the heavens and the earth, and there was little that could elude his understanding.

Upon seeing Huang Yueying in person, Su Ming could only marvel: "Liang, your taste is impeccable."

Huang Yueying was no ugly woman—she was a Westerner.

At this time, the Western Regions were what would later be known as Xinjiang.

With her features, she could be called the "Three Kingdoms’ Dilraba," a blend of the legendary beauties Dilraba Dilmurat, Gulinazha, and Tong Liya.

The era’s people only considered her unattractive because their aesthetics were lacking.

In the Qing dynasty, Zuo Zongtang went so far as to carry his own coffin to conquer the Western Regions—do you think it was merely for the raisins?

Just as Huang Yueying finished skimming the booklet, she looked up to find Su Ming regarding her with an intense, almost predatory gaze.

Her fair cheeks instantly flushed crimson.

“Hmph!” She snorted coldly, tossed the booklet back to Ganning, and said angrily, “Even if I could build these things, I would never help you!”

Could she really build them?

To Su Ming, the first half of her statement was what mattered; the rest was of little consequence.

As long as Huang Yueying and her father Huang Chengyan had the skills to bring these designs to life, their unwillingness to serve him was a problem he could solve.

Su Ming stroked his chin and ordered Ganning, “Since they refuse to serve me, there’s no use keeping them around. Xingba, drag the old man outside and chop him into eight pieces for the dogs, and as for the girl, tie her up in my room so I can savor her properly.”

No sooner had Su Ming finished speaking than Ganning seized Huang Chengyan as easily as one would grab a chick.

At that moment, Huang Chengyan was scrutinizing Su Ming’s "Dragon-Slaying Emperor’s Aspect."

He was well-versed in physiognomy and the principles of fate; he knew exactly how formidable this Emperor’s Aspect was.

There were many kinds of imperial physiognomies, but none as powerful as the one before him.

Other imperial aspects might set a fixed term for their bearer’s rule, but this Dragon-Slaying Emperor’s Aspect had no such limit.

A man with this aspect could absorb the fate of others like him through conquest, founding a dynasty stronger than any before.

Huang Chengyan was pondering how such a man could serve under Cao Cao, when suddenly, his feet left the ground and he was hoisted up.

Only then did he realize that, with his daughter having refused Su Ming, he was about to be executed.

Huang Chengyan was bewildered.

He thought, "My daughter declined, so why should my head roll? Shouldn’t you at least ask my opinion? For all you know, I might agree!"

Xu Shu’s judgment of people was keen. He had once described Huang Chengyan as a cowardly man afraid of death.

And indeed, Huang Chengyan feared death.

But there is no shame in that.

Who among us does not fear death? It is only human nature.

“My lord, please don’t kill me!”

“I, Huang Chengyan, am willing to serve you!” he cried out desperately as Ganning hauled him away.

At this moment, Huang Chengyan no longer cared about saving face.

Better a shameful life than a glorious death—and besides, if this man truly possessed the Dragon-Slaying Emperor’s Aspect, he could well become the next Qin Shi Huang or Emperor Wu of Han.

To serve such a master was the highest aspiration for any strategist.

The only flaw was that Su Ming was currently under Cao Cao’s command.

However, Huang Chengyan reasoned that a man with the Dragon-Slaying Emperor’s Aspect would never remain subordinate for long.

Thus, he did not hesitate to pledge his loyalty.

“Put him down!” Su Ming ordered hurriedly when he heard Huang Chengyan’s declaration.

Ganning set him down, but then turned to Su Ming and said, “My lord, this man has agreed so readily. There must be some trickery afoot!”

Ganning found his compliance suspicious—who could submit so quickly unless they had ulterior motives?

Hearing this, Huang Chengyan was stunned and protested, “A trick? What trick could I possibly have? Besides, isn’t my daughter here as well?”

Ganning glanced at the father and daughter. With a hostage in hand, he reasoned they could hardly cause trouble.

Still, he pressed on, “I forced your son-in-law to his death. Do you not resent me?”

After all, it was Ganning who had driven Zhuge Liang to leap into the river. By all rights, Huang Chengyan should hate them.

“Alas!” Huang Chengyan sighed, “The wedding rites hadn’t even been performed yet before you spirited him away. Strictly speaking, Kongming was not yet my son-in-law.”

“His death grieves me deeply, but he leapt of his own accord in a moment of rashness. It was not your doing.”

At that moment, a burst of laughter came from behind the screen.

“You are truly magnanimous, Huang Chengyan. But know that Kongming did not die.”

“Since you have pledged yourself to our lord, you should send a letter to the Zhuge family to annul the marriage without delay.”

The speaker was none other than the strategist Xu Shu.

Huang Chengyan, on seeing Xu Shu, showed no surprise, as if he had long known an old acquaintance was present.

“So it’s you, Xu Yuanzhi!”

“I suspected as much—that I would certainly find an old friend here,” he replied with some exasperation.

(End of chapter)