Back in her own work tent, Murong An sighed as she read the new reports. Her fingers tightened around the corner of the scroll, crinkling its edge. Compiled by a group of spies she and Yang Guiying had sent out months ago, the reports painted a ragged picture of the opposing warlord’s capital.
She set it aside, atop the pile of other reports, and pulled out a still half-complete scroll. Dragging her candle closer, she blinked the dryness in her eyes away. Quill in hand, she began her work. A complete exposé. It detailed the warlord’s failures as a lord, including a few dark secrets. She’d outlined each misguided law the warlord implemented to the economy, judicial system, power structure, education, innovation, and more. Out of ‘kindness,’ she even provided solutions for each problem while urging the populace to roll up their sleeves, seize their destiny, and better their situation.
As she continued, her tone shifted into one far more personable. She tried to ally herself with the people as she exposed the warlord’s... marriage habits. Murong An copied down the testimony from several of the high-ranking concubines.
[“He presents us well. Dresses us in expensive clothes and feeds us plenty of food. But this is to maintain appearances.”
“Behind closed doors, he’s a completely different person.”
“Every night, he chooses a group of us. We’re forced to strip down and... present ourselves to him.”
“Nobody’s allowed to see their families, and many of us weren’t brought in willingly.”
“There’s an iron law of women being subservient. We’re not allowed to talk without permission, leave our rooms without permission, or even dress without permission...”]
As she copied down the quotes, Murong An’s face scrunched up. Her stomach turned. It hardened her resolve. Swallowing back the yawn, she scolded herself before working deep into the night—and all the way until morning.
She ended up handing it off during breakfast time. Attached to the scroll, she included a note: [I want you all to make as many copies as possible, I’ll grab a light meal before coming to join you.]
Sleep might’ve eluded her, but responsibility did not. Plus, with the base report already done, copies flowed out of the tent like water.
Hours later, Murong An and her team sent off an entire flock of sparrows to the nearby capital city. As scrolls decorated the streets, changed hands, and spread through the population, whispers of insurgency sprouted deep in enemy territory—especially among the nobles.
“I sent my daughter to that pig of a man! How could I?”
“I thought our dear would be living a good life with the Fifth Warlord of the East!”
“Why do we listen to him anyway? If he’s squandering our funds like this?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to defect to Yang Guiying? We all know about the prosperity blossoming in the western regions right now.”
As the whispers in the capital intensified, and as each noble house mobilized their own private forces, the lord burned with humiliation. His army split, and began fracturing with defectors. Everyone could tell the end of his regime was fast approaching. Either he’d step down or get taken down.
After Yang Guiying and Murong An waited for days with bated breath, the guards woke them up to a stunning sight. In the cover of darkness, the enemy camp began disassembling their camp. On guard, they stayed up through the night, but... by morning, the camp across the way had disappeared. Each tent, each wall, and each mark of life had been cleaned up and carted off. Only a lone flag sat atop the hill, waving in the wind.
Leading the scouting party, Yang Guiying, Murong An, and Long Fei took cautious steps up the hill. Not a hint of life could be seen, though, and a scroll sat at the flagpole’s base.
[I’d like to declare my formal surrender. Come find me at my capital city.]
[I’ve... failed in my duty, and must return home to tend to my family. So I will surrender my territory and army to you. Though you might’ve exposed the truth, I still love each of my women with all my heart.]
“Sure, sure,” Long Fei laughed as Yang Guiying’s face darkened with rage. “We definitely believe you. C’mon, let’s go beat his ass.”
“... Indeed, let’s do some freedom fighting,” Yang Guiying growled, tossing the scroll to the ground. One stomp later, and mud caked the scroll’s exterior.
---
“Well done, well done,” Zhang Jingsong clapped. “Li Feiling, stunning as always. Take a break to gather yourself, you’ve been working hard lately.”
“Thank you,” Li Feiling sighed as she crouched down and massaged her eyebrows. As a yawn left her lips she dabbed a tear out from the corner of her eye. “What’s the next scene, Director Zhang?”
“We’re jumping around,” Zhang Jingsong leaned over, happy to double-check the schedule on his clipboard. “Yeah, we’re doing a speech scene next. The one to the crowd after the first victory against Warlord Cao.”
“Ah... I see,” Li Feiling pushed herself up with a lurch. “Similar setting I guess, no wonder we’re doing this next.”
“Yes, I’m glad you understand,” Zhang Jingsong smiled. With Li Feiling as his star actress, he was reminded every day as to how easy directing could be. “Alright, Wu Linjie, Xia Ruyun, you two are going to be standing behind Li Feiling, so once you three are rested and ready to go, we’ll start shooting the next scene.”
The three stars on set gave him a thumbs-up as they took a moment to calm down and rest. Around them, other actors and actresses shuffled on and off set. The sound of wood creaking filled the air as a weathered wooden platform was carried onto the set as well.
“How are you two feeling?” Li Feiling managed a smile as she took three bottles of water from a nearby assistant. After handing one to Wu Linjie and the other to Xia Ruyun, she cracked it open and took a sip. She took a few slow breaths with her eyes closed before forcing her eyes open once more. “I’m pretty much ready for the next scene. I need to glance at the script real quick though.”
Xia Ruyun flashed an ‘ok’ hand sign while checking over her costume. After a second, she mustered a “We’re both not talking anyway.”
“We’re just there for the atmosphere,” Wu Linjie agreed before pausing. He waited for a few seconds until a faint empty space formed around them. “Li Feiling, can I talk to you sometime? Private, just the two of us? I just want to have a chat about some uh... feelings.”
“... Sure?” Li Feiling raised an eyebrow. She flashed a knowing glance towards Xia Ruyun who returned an eyebrow raise of her own. “Just find me after shooting, we can find a time and location then.”
“Thank you,” Wu Linjie nodded before striding down the mock hill.
As for the two who stayed on top of the mock hill, they stood there in silence for a few seconds before breaking into conversation.
“It’s definitely a confession isn’t it...” Li Feiling cradled her face in her hands. “This is such a pain in the ass, in the middle of shooting too? What should I do, Xia Ruyun? I’m so tired right now...”
“Turn him down nicely?” Xia Ruyun ventured while keeping an eye on Wu Linjie. Watching him pay the makeup artists a visit, all the words she wanted to say crammed into her throat—yet refused to come out.
Why is my anxiety about speaking flaring up now? Of all times...
At least Li Feiling will understand.
Patting the star actress on the shoulder, she nodded, and mustered a “good luck,” before falling back to silence.
“I’ll need luck for sure,” Li Feiling groaned. She stared off into space for a couple moments before pulling Xia Ruyun in for a half-hug. Resting her head against Xia Ruyun’s shoulder, she murmured, “Thanks for your kindness, and for being willing to listen to my blabbering all the time. I know you struggle to speak, but you don’t struggle at all with listening.”
“... Of course.”