Baoyue looked slightly embarrassed and said vaguely:
"It was a chance encounter."
Xiao Luan simply watched his daughter and asked patiently:
"What sort of chance encounter?"
Baoyue had meant to brush him off, but first, she needed a favor; second, she feared arousing unnecessary suspicion; and third, she thought this might be another good opportunity to kindle her father's appreciation for talent. So she told him how a young hero had turned from guest to master amid a standoff between barbarian tribes. A folding fan stirred gently, concealing a tiger's roar; a few words shattered courage and struck terror into barbarian chieftains! Obey and live, defy and die-life and death lay in his hands! The allegiance of two tribes turned with a handful of words! His work was done amid laughter and conversation-what need had he for armored horses trampling the hills?
As Baoyue described the scene in the tent, every detail stood vividly before her eyes, as though it had happened yesterday. Her eyes shone, her beauty radiant! Carried away, she used her chopsticks as a fan and imitated Wang Yang's expressions and movements. Her brows took on a heroic air as she pointed the chopsticks forward and deepened her voice:
"Today, I invite you two Tribal Lords to join forces with our Great Qi and point our swords at the Wuning Barbarians! Tell their Chieftain-"
Baoyue's face danced with expression as she acted, bringing the scene to life in a truly splendid performance. The marquis watched in a daze, forgetting to drink the tea he had raised and simply holding it there.
For a man of Xiao Luan's standing and self-possession, such a lapse in composure was rare indeed!
Growing enthusiastic, Baoyue even did something unusual and drew her father into the telling:
"Father, do you know how