More Revelations Chapter 051-060

More Revelations

Chapter 051

♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Fighting Beauties

Like in trance of white snow, a woman was walking through the endless cold and fierce snowstorm. The heavy snow is falling, and her eyes keep hurting from the wind and her skin full of bruises but still her determination to reach some destination lingered. The woman saw a drop of blood gradually spread on the white snow, then she realized she was in the bloodbath field. Aware of it now, she spread her sight and saw lots of dead bodies with their necks cut by the sharp blade while others were shot by the arrows. Suddenly the girl breathes heavily and becomes conscious she ran and shouted at the far distance and repeatedly said: Yuwen Yue! Until her voice dried up like the desert.

Like an upside-down world, she saw some blocks of ice in the middle of the bloodbath field. Still distant from where she stands, she saw a man dressed in white, his body his lying on the white snow. A shot of an arrow in the left side of his chest. Tears cannot stop falling when she saw the man breathing heavily and finally looked down, his body slide down from the slab of ice. She ran towards the man, but her feet no matter how hard she tried were just stuck in the cold snow. All she could do is to watch the man go down the frozen lake. She decided her best to look at the face of the man, but for some reason it is bleak. But she could not understand her tears didn’t stop crying at the moment until she broke out on top of her bitter voice, she uttered desolate words: “This isn’t happening!” until she became voiceless, the place exploded in white light and the picturesque moment faded until no more.

On some tiring night, she has experience nightmares, and it all goes back to a time where the frozen lake a man was drowned to death. No matter how hard she tried to look at the who is the man, Chu Qiao is always stuck, and suddenly the dream fades that turn into nightmares. Chu Qiao, she suddenly opened her eyes, she learned as she gasps more air and look around the small room and still finds everything in order including the man in her side who is sleeping peacefully. Chu Qiao felt so at ease looking at Yuwen Yue’s face, and her husband’s handsome face somehow she would like to frame that moment in time and just look at him forever. After half an hour of staring his husband’s face, she drifted again.

Yuwen Yue woke up first and ever since he got married his sleeping pattern improved, there have never been good days of sleep until now. As cold as he is, he looked at his beauty sleeping in his arms and felt contented. Feeling so familiar with this feeling, but suddenly turned it off and became comfortable with a cold face. Yuwen Yue took his cotton robe and went to the kitchen and started to gather some woods and created fire to boil the teapot. He does not need to work, but for some reason, he needs to continue this facade until he knows the truth. He went out at the back of his lodge while no one is looking or hearing, he whistled, and a bird flying from the trees of the forest came by at his shoulders, and Yuwen Yue looked at the sunshine penetrating from the leaves of the tall pine trees, he breathes the fresh air of morning sun.

Chu Qiao suddenly startled with that whistle and noise of a bird, she woke up and finds her husband is not on her side as he used to be, he always wakes up first before her. And everyday Chu Qiao would see a note for her to read at the dining table. Suddenly she heard some footsteps coming closer, this time she pretended to be asleep, but half closed her eyes looking at what his husband is doing. Yuwen Yue went to the nearby cabinet and took his clothes and smelled it he said: Good smell. Chu Qiao secretly felt happy that his husband appreciates her laundry work, she continued to pretend she is asleep. Yuwen Yue took the clothes and took a bath outside. Chu Qiao suddenly felt that wanting her husband to see his body and what in there, said: “what if I make the first move?” Chu Qiao giggled at that thought, and she said: “I have a plan.”

Yuwen Yue took a nice cold shower under the summer morning. After it he went to his usual changing clothes and Chu Qiao still pretending asleep, Yuwen Yue came back to their room and his attention to the bed, he saw her wife’s small feet and skin-like jade and was drawn to it.

Yuwen Yue thought: “did she just sleep on her innerwear alone?” While the man’s head is full of erotic thoughts when he stares and wonders what’s in his wife’s body to enjoy. Yuwen Yue found himself so attracted and became sloppy that he does not want to go to work anymore. Yuwen Yue’s thought became more intense as Chu Qiao leans on her back exposing her clear skin and a little red tattoo looks engraved on it. Yuwen Yue on a steady look cannot understand what he feels in there, his manhood tells of touching it, but his mind says not to touch it.

Yuwen Yue suddenly snapped the moment and went to sit and write in the table and on his usual routine.

Yuwen Yue wrote his wife a note: Wifey, your hot tea is ready, you know where I am. Please do not expose your back especially when you are asleep.  – Ra Yue

Yuwen Yue left the note at the dining table and went out.

Chu Qiao now knows this is how his husbands do it every morning, she made sure the man is out, and she tip-toed her heels and went to the dining table to read her husband’s note, and her eyes went big and goosebumps all over her skin after reading it. She felt so hot and felt her husband is controlling himself; it has never been this sweeter knowing their bodies haven’t been consumed, it increased more wanting for that appetite to grow in full measure. She checked the date today, and Chu Qiao thinks it is not an auspicious date yet. She kissed the letter and put it in her chest and went happily to her usual household chores.

Chu Qiao went outside to dry her laundry when suddenly saw the Cangwu bird hovering on their lodge again. She suddenly realized the bird is also a resident to their lodge she said: Come here, I will give you some food, and Chu Qiao put down her laundry basket and got some grains of rice and throw it on the ground. The bird did not go to eat, but Chu Qiao surprised to hear the bird can speak: “Xinger, Xinger, Xinger…” for three times.

Chu Qiao felt the bird was doing it on purpose she repeated: Xinger? What is this? But the bird just flyby at the nearby trees and never came to eat the grain on the ground. She thought: “Ah what a foolish bird! Do you not want some grains from the heavens? Fine!”

Chu Qiao felt rejected on air by a bird, she took it against the bird but then she smiled again and uttered what the bird said: “Xinger?!” She was in deep thoughts then suddenly she thought: did the bird just called me Xinger? Chu Qiao suddenly thinks that is a crazy and foolish thing to believe she dismissed her thoughts and continued her chores. And suddenly the summer ground turned to dust when she began practicing her martial arts. Sounds of her moves issued on air, she threw some star darts to a nearby tree. She flew in the air to catch all of it quickly and then finished it off with a high leap, feet on the ground she bowed her head, breathe some air. Finally, after the fantastic martial arts, she went to cool down her adrenaline rush and meditated making her senses ten times sharper.

All of a sudden a woman dressed on black ninja suit threw three needles trailing her head. Chu Qiao on her closed eyes, her power so strong at that moment defied the gravity. The needles stopped and suspended on air. A moment was frozen in time. Not one of her hair was touched. Suddenly, all three needles dropped to the ground. Chu Qiao opened her eyes to see who is the intruder. Too late to find, the intruder’s presence is nowhere to be found. A little bit worried, she knows and senses the unknown intruder may have discovered her and will come back for another attack. She picked up the three needles. Chu Qiao recognized they were not poisoned, but those were like the needless which Zhong Yu has been poisoned before.

This is not Viper, she thought. Chu Qiao knows Viper won’t waste any moment to ask her for them to go back to Chu Jing Kingdom. Chu Qiao squinted her eyes and remembered the mysterious woman in black ninja suit who ambushed them at the middle of their way to the Xuili mountain and Zhong Yu went to interrupt their supposedly first meeting. Chu Qiao remembered the tone is feminine and she said to her: “I am not here to kill you but just to look at your face.” She is still puzzled who is this unknown entity following her because it never came to bug her not until today.

It is quite late in the afternoon, and the summer sunset had just arrived where the twilight started to spread to the cold forest. The husband came home while the wife prepared the husband’s clothes for him to change and asked: Did you check on the kids? How are they doing with Master Zuo? Yuwen Yue on his usual cold tone of voice he said: Master Zuo enrolled them at Liang’s Martial arts temple at Kong Sang mountain where they can be trained mentally and physically to defend themselves.

Chu Qiao surprised to hear she said: Really? Is it safe there?

Yuwen Yue said: I believe so, some of their best are absorbed by the palace and becomes the crown princes envoy.

Chu Qiao said: Wow, what a good idea and bright future ahead and then she sighed.

Yuwen Yue noticed his wife’s sigh he asked: Are you sad, you won’t see them the way it used to be?

Chu Qiao said: No, they are in good hands now, with the Temple master’s they would be able to discover their strengths and master their weakness when they grow old… but I .. I just miss those three kids and hope to see them again one day.

Yuwen Yue felt his wife’s wishes on air, he offered a solution and said: “We can visit.”

Chu Qiao on her happy face she said: “Oh husband, thanks in advance! When?”

“It is restricted yet to visit them so maybe…” Yuwen Yue look at the ceiling to think then not so sure he said honestly: “Maybe in a few months time.”

Chu Qiao shook her head from left to right she said: “Okay.. do I have any choice?”

“You do,” said Yuwen Yue.

How about this…you cook for them, and we will travel to Kong Sang mountain and deliver the food to the three kids? Yuwen Yue was waiting for Chu Qiao’s approval and lovely cheeks to say yes.

Chu Qiao looked at her husband’s eyes as if telling something in there and wants his husband to decode it.

Yuwen Yue reads those looks he said: “I know what you are thinking. It won’t happen again…” Yuwen Yue paused and added:” hopefully.”

Chu Qiao thinks of the dangers that lie ahead, just like what happened to the jewelry shop, if they travel and unpredicted dangers are coming unexpectedly, she won’t be able to control her defense mechanisms and may expose her powers and superb gongfu martial arts already leaked to his cold husband. The last time she did, Yuwen Yue closed the story by telling her what? “The walls have ears, you don’t have to explain if you don’t want to pass this through illegal channels.”

Chu Qiao suddenly can remember those words vividly as they echo through her ears, she thinks she might have heard them somewhere. And of course, the engagement ring, she thinks they are pretty in her hands, and Yuwen Yue was looking at it.

Chu Qiao left on air she replied: “You are looking at my ring, are you going to regret you will have to pay for it for a lifetime?

Yuwen Yue answered: No, I remember how did the ring come to wear those little fingers again. Yuwen Yue looking at her wants to kiss her, he was not able to keep his self-control he said: Tell me you are her… Yuwen Yue’s voice wanting and sad.. the cold air between them turned hot as Yuwen Yue came closer and took her small waist and gave her eye contact.

Chu Qiao eyes were asking… but speechless, suddenly felt some goosebumps on Yuwen Yue’s hands on her waist, she said gently: “Who? Xinger?”

Yuwen Yue heard the name, he blinked at her, but there are no words.

Chu Qiao thinks she is a crazy fool for uttering the bird’s word in front of his husband who is gazing on her eyes… aw..she thinks she is going to melt like ice.

Yuwen Yue broke the silence and erotic moment he coldly said: “Xinger? Where did you get that name?” Yuwen Yue questioning her eyes but Chu Qiao did not answer suddenly Yuwen Yue turned his back and went back to sit on the dining table.

Chu Qiao was left on the air she does not know what to tell her husband. Will she tell her husband a story of a talking bird camping on their roof? What if her husband kills the talking bird? What would her husband think of her? Crazy fool?

Yuwen Yue interrupted Chu Qiao’s deep thoughts he said: Hey! Did you happen to hear or even meet a talking bird?

Chu Qiao heard it right she admitted: “Yes.” then she thought: Oh my gorgeous husband knows the talking camping bird at their roof. Chu Qiao was waiting for Yuwen Yue to tell her more about the talking bird.

Yuwen Yue thinks, if she is Xinger, she could have recognized the bird right away and that she would realize who is this man in front of her and everything about the past will open up like a book interesting to read, but it did not. Instead, this woman is saying there is talking bird..etc.. etc.. Yuwen Yue thinks if she is Xinger, she would already know. But it seems, Yuwen Yue is with a woman who does not even know about the talking bird and who is Xing’er to him. He thinks his wife is the imposter Chu Qiao but strongly believes she is the real Xinger but why does she does not recognize him?

Until when Yuwen Yue can hold on to this set-up, he does not know, but he plans not to do anything until he proves he is the real Chu Qiao and not the imposter one. His vacation leave has been extended for quite some time, and he has an empire to rule, he needs to know before he steps on his Qinghai throne.

Yuwen Yue downplayed the moment and said it lightly: “Oh, the talking bird! Baby, you won’t mind if this little pet camping on the roof is providing some company to us right now?” Suddenly the bird came to their open window and tweeted the name again: “Xinger.”

Yuwen Yue on his back came to look at the bird with his wrinkled brow and cold eyes, the bird suddenly flew away. Chu Qiao laughed and said: Ha..ha..ha.. what have you done? You scared the bird!

Yuwen Yue looked at her, and he said: “the bird is crazy about Xinger.”

Chu Qiao answered her casually: “Maybe the original owner of the bird must be crazy about Xinger. You know birds, never forgets.”

Yuwen Yue looked at her straight and gave him eye contact as if so helpless and begging for mercy in there. Chu Qiao got those looks and said: “What did I say?”

Yuwen Yue replied: “Maybe, the owner is crazy about Xinger.”

Chu Qiao laughed and said: “Poor bird, poor owner.”

Yuwen Yue was dishing out his cards at the moment, he said in a gentle tone: “What if I tell you I am the owner?”

Chu Qiao looked at him straight and got serious she said: “Are you serious?”

Only two pairs of eyes were talking as if they were asking and begging each other to tell the truth.

Yuwen Yue said: “No I am not.” but the truth is, he is dying to let her know he is the owner and finish this day by kissing her lips and that he wants her to tell she is Xinger.

Chu Qiao suddenly laugh out loud and said: Oh Why do I have instincts to believe that you are the owner? Or else why would the bird camp in our roof?

Yuwen Yue out of words on his gentle tone said: “It’s not mine until a crazy, foolish wife told a story of a talking bird.”

Chu Qiao didn’t mind Yuwen Yue’s response and laugh out loud on a cold man and try-me-harder moment to decode a husband. Yuwen Yue is such a smart man, and you cannot beat him out of a conversation to make him admit such talking bird up to his crazy fool wife.

After their dinner, Yuwen Yue went outside on their lodge and look at the summer moon behind the forest trees shining. Chu Qiao came and gave his husband a cold tea, and Yuwen Yue looked at her and sipped the tea. Chu Qiao sat down as well and sipped her tea, and they just enjoyed the coldness of the summer air at night until they got tired and went inside to drift on their warm Kang bed.

Chu Qiao about to close her eyes but still thinks about the talking bird…and is getting jealous about the idea of Xinger she opened up and stirred her thoughts she said: “is she is real, who is Xinger to my husband?”

That night the two sleep soundly until Chu Qiao like in a dream woke up again but this time looks real. She senses an unknown entity broke into their house and she got up quietly, burned another plum incense and put it to its burner so his husband won’t wake up while she is securing the home that was put into the entire attack.

Chu Qiao put off the tea candle but the summer moon is hiding from the passing gray clouds puts on and off its light making her spot how many shadows surround the lodge. She is fearless but afraid of his husband might find who she is. This is a new life and she wanted this marriage to work but it seems her position as the General of Xuili Army, Wei state crown princess (only she escaped), secret princess of the faraway kingdom follows her back and she does not want to make this night complicated with his husband she said: “two shadows are not that much of effort for a defense she confidently said to herself when she went to strike the first.”

Chu Qiao caught the first shadow, and they danced on their martial arts. She saw how the black ninja used her Skyshadow sleeve martial arts and far from her Chu Jing Kingdom. Having been trained and sharpened on how to counter attack this skill by no other than the old woman, the Skyshadow the gatekeeper. She can still remember when she liked on the Chu Jing grounds, and her ears can still hear the drums. The other black ninja made a mistake, and  Chu Qiao took advantage of it, she cut a wound on her shoulder, and her black ninja suit fell on the ground exposing her body and face Chu Qiao looked at her face, and she looks like her. While the other black ninja who is moving through the Skyshadow martial arts took out the belt sword and revealed herself by taking off her black mask. Chu Qiao momentarily startled to see who they were.

Chu Qiao knew who it was, she finally understood but was somewhat confused on her Doppelganger. She was using her cold daggers earlier suddenly felt the need to use her Canhong sword as she recognizes who is this two woman in front of her she slowly walked inside the lodge. She calmly went to see Yuwen Yue who is sleeping and not a hint of noise came to wake him up; she said to herself: “Why I am so good at hiding just for the sake of peace for this marriage?”

She quietly went out of the room to defend the man of the house, Chu Qiao also saw the bird outside, but as if Chu Qiao assumes the bird can understand the silent gesture, she gave the bird the sign of silent gesture and the bird understood did not move. Chu Qiao went to resume the fight and finds only one person outside, calmly waiting for her, she greeted her: “Your Highness, Queen of Yanbei Xiao Yu, where is your puppet crown princess of Wei?”

Xiao Yu on her back calm posture did not see the bird, she did not attempt to strike at her and was controlling her temper while the greeting sound was impolite and harsh she said: “I believe she escaped and married a peddler man to hide her identity and my brother was just too cunning not to detect that I also joined in his plan but we have different purpose.”

Chu Qiao ears exploded when she heard what Xiao Yu said. She thinks this ex-princess, now Queen of Yanbei is in a position to wreck her marriage. She rebutted and mocked her: Look at you, a Queen of Yanbei by chance is still following the supposedly Queen of Yanbei…Chu Qiao paused to see Xiao Yu’s reaction. Xiao Yu still calm but hurting inside, Xiao Yu does not need Yan Xun to confirm if it is true but just hearing it now, it proved her assumptions right the night she inserted the needle at Yan Xun’s neck was the night where they were together. Chu Qiao’s words have put a double blade on Xiao Yu’s heart she replied: “You don’t deserve him, so I took him and that night, you were considered a traitor to Yanbei who tried to kill its King.”

Chu Qiao replied: “Who deserved who? Neither I or YOU are worthy of him. So if I am the traitor of Yanbei who is you? A hero of Yanbei? Besides I am a happily married woman now and does not follow someone around for my insecurities.”

Xiao Yu on her calm face was not able to hold her temper she raised her belt sword and attacked Chu Qiao. Chu Qiao used her Canhong sword to counter Xiao Yu and sounds of swords issued on air, the two went to a useless fight. The bird was watching so quiet in the distance and no attempt to wake up its master who is still sleeping so sweet. Xiao Yu does not know about Yuwen Yue yet nor his whereabouts. The Queen of Yanbei only knows she has tracked Chu Qiao which is her interest subject, and she silently watched her meet her brother Xiao Ce but did not think where she was staying in the old Xue Fue streets of Liang. Because she has been very busy with her duties to Yanbei at that time as their new Queen, she was confined in the four corners of Yan Palace. She does not have enough time to roam around and spy-like she used to be not until today.

Chu Qiao careful of her moves and catching some objects to prevent some noise and wake up the Lion King on his den, but Xiao Yu continued to feed her envy and angst towards Chu Qiao.

Chu Qiao suddenly felt tired of catching things, she stopped and said: YOU already had the position and in control to the King of Yanbei, I cannot understand why are you still doing this at the middle of the night.

Xiao Yu said in a gentle tone: “Its too easy if I say it plainly to your face.” Xiao Yu is preparing herself to leave she added: “You won’t have peace until I get what I want.” And just like that she disappeared and suddenly gone in the dark forests, and Chu Qiao was left alone picking up some things and covering up for this infighting’s mess.

The morning came and like back to the typical day; the husband woke up early while the wife still sleeping, he is tempted to touch his wife’s back until Yuwen Yue saw something on the floor.

♥♥♥

Chapter 052

♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Flip of Cards

Yuwen Yue froze in time he saw the Canhong sword, he suddenly confirmed and realized she is the real Chu Qiao however, there is one more test his wife has to pass before he finally believes she is the real Chu Qiao and can finally put back everything in order. Yuwen Yue full of happiness inside, he picked the Canhong sword on the floor and put it somewhere. He decided not to go to work and be a carpenter for today and create a beautiful wall mount sword holder.

Chu Qiao still asleep, Yuwen Yue looked at her face and finds everything in order he left her and went to the woods to gather some wood materials. The Yuwen parrot is flying on his back but does not go near Yuwen Yue. After half an hour, Yuwen Yue you passed by the bamboo forest 10 kilometers from their lodge and suddenly sensed some danger, a post instinct he feels happened at midnight. Yuwen Yue being an excellent Master investigator back in Green Hills courtyard, he counted the footprints, and also memorized their unique sole and counted three people. Those were not as big as a man’s sole, so it could only be three women on site last night. Yuwen Yue analyzed each footprint and closed his eyes he re-enacted the martial arts including the swordplay of the footprints which he followed its footsteps.

A swirling of bamboo leaf sounds was heard, a cold wind blew to his face he opened his eyes and saw the perfect cuts of the Chinese bamboo trees. He said: “someone was wounded, someone escaped and someone stayed.” Yuwen Yue remembered the Canhong sword he picked up earlier on their room. Yuwen Yue thinks his wife might have been hiding something that happened last night and Chu Qiao does not want him to know. Those thoughts put Yuwen Yue into doubts again, but he could not bring Chu Qiao to charge her or become confrontational towards her.

Nevertheless, Yuwen Yue put aside his doubts for the moment and continued to do his plan for the day. He thought he will surprise Chu Qiao and see if Yuwen Yue can find the truth he seeks. He hasn’t shown yet what he can do including his Poe Yue Jian sword, he believes his wife does not know anything about him at present and seems even his past is unknown to her. Yuwen Yue wonders what happened to her after the icy lake tragedy…what did Yan Xun do to her after the incident or was distressed under Yuan Song’s grandeur display. He knows Chu Qiao loathes any of those when he first saw her walking along the red carpet beautiful and brave and yet he knows her heart was sad and looking at the condition of his heart at that moment is beating the same as she does.

Meanwhile back to the Shen Jin Palace, the Wei Emperor ordered the royal eunuch to summon Yuan Song because he has not seen him after his first night with the crown princess of Wei. The news broke out that the 13th Prince of Wei, crown prince Yuan Song is drinking every night and did not sleep with the Wei crown princess but hang around his 13th Prince harem bunch of girls and sometimes invites some lovely maidservants. The Wei Emperor was thinking deeply what went wrong to his son and he is not used to seeing this kind of womanizer son who sleeps five to six woman in his bed every night. The Emperor thinks Yuan Song may have a problem with Chu Qiao not being the obedient wife or maybe too strong woman for his son but he came to think of it, he was able to achieve his goal by winning big time from Yan Xun. But did he really win? Why is Yan Xun had been silent since he has been declared as King of Yanbei and tied the knot with his Queen? Even if he is the King of Yanbei now, this doesn’t change the fact that he is declared traitor and rebel of Wei.

The Emperor also got some news even if its rumors he thinks this piece of information from Yanbei is important. Emperor whisperers say Yan Xun treats his Queen very well. Yan Xun sent heavy loads of gold, silver, and bronze to his father-in-law King Tang of Southern Liang before and after their marriage. Yan Xun also toured his new Queen Xiao Yu at XuiXui mountains on their honeymoon. The Emperor also gather some trivial rumors that Yan Xun secretly constructed a Palace near XuiXui mountains dedicated to a Lady Yan General who looks like Chu Qiao. But no one knows where is the General and the palace was closed. Only Yan Xun has access to visit.

The Wei Emperor asks himself: Who is this Yan Lady General that looks like Chu Qiao? Is she important other than Chu Qiao? Or are they the same person? The Wei Emperor trying to understand everything from rumors cannot clear his thoughts about it. Yan Xun is good at spinning news, this has been his strength since he got out of Yanbei he has mastered and controlled all information coming and out of his palace.

Yuan Song woke up and like what he used to be, five women on his bed and one woman on the floor, all half-naked on their expensive silk Hanfu dress, looks like they have gone a wild night. Xiao Ba suddenly came to the 13th Prince and looked at him in pity she said: When are you going to stop these wild parties? You honored your word and put me as your first concubine however you got worse since then.

Looking back at the time where Yuan Song excitedly waited for nine days and finally his wedding day with Chu Qiao, the Wei crown princess walked the aisle of Wei, and on her grand wedding gown, everyone was stunned. Her hair was done in the traditional Chinese style decorated and adorned with lots of gold hairpins, jade crystals and it is almost heavy to wear. Nonetheless, Chu Qiao walked tall and proud and Yuan Song his happy crown prince accepted her hand in marriage and became Wei’s crown princess. From the nobles down to the low ranks of military men were invited, three nights of continious banquet of wine and moveable feast, the sky’s the limit. The Yuwen household brought in ginormous gifts and prime war horses, the palace ministers, Shrine elders and Wei valve masters a regular attendee hold the Kampai the toasts of goblets on the air, and all followed and shouted “cheers” and greeted the new crown prince and crown princess of the Wei Empire.

While the Eastern royal guests who stayed in Wei palace after the engagement ceremony and waited until the wedding day took place, the Qinghai Queen Zhejue, second Prince Ra Zheng, sixth Prince Ra Zhun but not the seventh Prince Ra Yue and his person Zuo Zong. Since that night where Yuwen Yue breached the Wei crown princess palace, he has been silent and had not been able to act as much as he wants to talk to Chu Qiao. The Wei royal escorts have counted some men who were put to sleep that night but woke up as if nothing had happened, no one died, and no one escaped, and everything went back to normal.  Ra Yue cannot possibly hold himself seeing Chu Qiao walking down the aisle marrying the 13th Prince of Wei, so two days before the wedding he came to the Wei Emperor and apologized that he won’t be able to stay long because of his princely duties and a war was pressing on various eastern tribes under his control.  The Queen thinks it is too soon to leave Wei, and it is dangerous for the crown prince to be alone, Prince Ra Zheng and Ra Zhun believes this is an unexpected thing, but then they let their brother go with his thousand armies dressed in white and Yuwen Yue was back on his journey to Qinghai Empire. Yuwen Yue arrived at his palace and immediately wrote a letter to his Father. Yuwen Yue looks depressed, but he did not succumb to this condition. Instead, he promised himself to find the truth about his family and Chu Qiao. Questions in his mind like..How did Chu Qiao arrived at such..why does Chu Qiao does not even recognize me even for a moment of eye contact, its empty. These made Yuwen Yue believe something is wrong and he is not there to watch things happen, but something needs to be ironed out.

Yuan Song after three nights of banquet and after all traditions was met, the health ministry of the Wei Empire has selected an auspicious date for the union and consummation of the crown prince and crown princess. Yuan Song looking so groomed handsome and gorgeous full-grown man was ready and excited to meet his Chu Qiao when suddenly Xia Chong threw him a needle. Blinded by his first love Chu Qiao, Yuan Song fell where Xia Chong is standing, and Xiao Ba came in to replace her that night.

The morning came, and the flip of cards was revealed that Yuan Song found with another girl, not Chu Qiao. Xia Chong acted as if she is so consumed with jealousy and betrayed, she issued a decree that she refuses to respond if the 13th prince summons her presence. She also stated that she will not go to sleep with the 13th Crown Prince of Wei until all matters are settled. It was supposed to be their first night, but Yuan Song slept with somebody else, not Chu Qiao. Xia Chong made her acting real in front of everybody deceiving she is the real Chu Qiao and therefore used her position to defy the Wei Emperor and the 13th Prince of Wei. This made the 13th Prince very sad, and the only console was to go after the harem and find some girls to spend the night with. Xiao Ba took this opportunity to force Yuan Song to fulfill his jade promise and made her his first concubine. But Yuan Song, lost and childish was not able to stand and look at things in proper perspective. He became what he is right now where the Wei Emperor is so much concerned.

While Yuan Song is drunk in the brink of his first love and desperation to be with her, Yuan Che took the advantage to run the Empire. The Wei Emperor opened and entrusted more Wei troops to him and not to mention Yuan Yang is making competition to his brother. Yuan Yang always does the opposite of whatever Yuan Che is working to get the sweet success. Sometimes Yuan Yang sends some obstacles to make his brother give up on his ambition to the Wei Throne as he has his big interest over it as well but Yuan Che knows this very well, so he evades them and uses his military tactics to surpass them all. There is little information known with Yuan Yang but he is known to be someone who is just waiting for the right moment to take the Wei throne. the past can tell, he had already done it before when the Wei emperor temporarily handed over his seal to Yuan Yang as he is the only eligible prince at that time to take over his father’s duties while Yuan Che was away from the Wei Empire defending a pressing cold war between the outlanders and untouchables of their empire. Yuan Yang, a silent watcher of the royal throne was distant to the ministers and Yuwen nobles. He is cold and unpredictable prince where he always flips his cards depending on what situation he is currently facing, will determine his stand.

Xia Chong who replaced Chu Qiao on the night she let her escape made a huge mark by defying Wei traditions. How long she stays to fulfill or abort her mission is unknown and dependent to the foxy princes Xiao Ce orders where he provided their entrance pass to the Wei palace together with Xiao Ba. And they agreed to free Chu Qiao or Xia Chong will rot in Liang’s secret prison.

After Chu Qiao’s fake death, the two sisters became Yan Xun’s target to locate Chu Qiao, they held them in prison. Until Chu Qiao is found, they will not see any light. Xiao Ce heard this, he arranged for an assassin to breakout Yanbei’s prison walls to save the two sisters, but it was a failed mission. Xiao Ce, later on, learned someone intercepted his orders and sent another envoy that captured the two sisters and kidnapped them then was sold to a brothel. Xiao Ce blamed himself for the leak of his plans, he honestly does not know their specific location. The crown prince was angry for lacking an insight where to find the two sisters. Not so long, Tie You by accident found the two sister’s and even put Tie You’s life a trick and Xiao Ce into Liang Empire’s sweet public trial. With all of these political talks and head will roll, Xiao Ce eventually recovered Xiao Ba and Xiao Qi from the brothel street of Liang. It was too late to find that Xiao Ba was exploited by the bandits and Xiao Qi did not have any proper medical treatment led to her almost dying condition. Finding the unfortunate events for Chu Qiao sisters, Xiao Ce went furious, ordered to kill and burn down the brothel.

Xiao Ce has never been this so earnest in getting things done. He has Yue Qi, Xiao Ba and Xiao Qi and who else he is going to add-on his treasure box. As a souvenir, so did he treated these people close to Chu Qiao. Xiao Ce even tried to look for Yuwen Yue but unfortunately, Zao Baocung did not come back with positive reports to protect the new identity of Yuwen Yue.

Zao Baocung did not become honest to Xiao Ce as his loyalty flipped when he learned about the Qinghai crown prince Yuwen Yue is alive, and he kept this as a secret. When Xiao Ce learned that Yuwen Yue is really dead, he became sad knowing he won’t be able to have more hope of seeing the positive side. Those sleepless nights where he spends in Liang’s red corner district to drink some wine but never dated any women. He thinks he dated a fine archer coach from Wei’s hunting ground in Chang’an, he also thought it is enough for him to experience a good feeling and same time nursing a broken heart. Then Xiao Ce came back to his senses again after he received rumors that Chu Qiao was alive and secretly hidden in the Xuili mountains where she still runs the Xuili army. It was just a rumor and no trace of evidence where Xiao Ce loves hold concrete proof and there is none.

Then he just got some rumors again that Chu Qiao was in love with Yuan Song as the news spread like fire, Xiao Ce on his mix emotions was both happy and sad at the same time. Happy because Xiao Ce thinks he has a chance to steal her and sorry because why did Chu Qiao choose someone like Yuan Song? After the eve of Chu Qiao’s engagement and where his Pandora’s box was opened and operating under the grounds of Wei’s royal palace, Xiao Ce cannot locate where is Chu Qiao and she just disappeared and gone again. Xiao Ce cannot help but put himself to blame again, and he thinks he might have lost her forever.

Yuan Song made changes on his attitude especially the way he handles his affairs, he made sure everyone sees and knows including the fake Chu Qiao (which is Xia Chong). Xia Chong has to act firmly and used it against Yuan Song and declared a cold war with him using his first concubine Xiao Ba which is the woman who slept with him the night they were supposed to be together. Yan Xun seems silent on this news, but he thinks Chu Qiao is intentionally sending this news to be known by the world (Yan Xun’s military code name) but cannot understand if it’s a trap or another lure to kill him if he responds. Yan Xun cannot possibly act to save her because Xiao Yu might not have put poison on the needle the last night he was with Chu Qiao, but Xiao Yu put the poison in Yan Xun’s head by making him believe Chu Qiao tried to kill him that night.

Ever since then Yan Xun had a heavy heart but did not let anyone know not even to A’jing or Zhong Yu. He kept it to himself and the fruit of it became anger in his heart hungry for an act of revenge. He went back to his old self where he abandoned his duties as their king to Xuili army. Yan Xun knows that every time Chu Qiao reaps the unlucky fortune in the Wei palace throne as a married woman, he will make sure to exchange ten times lucky fortune using his marriage with the new Queen of Yanbei. Yan Xun secretly hopes that when Chu Qiao will get some news of his successful wedding including their honeymoon at XuiXui mountains where Yan Xun and Chu Qiao stayed for three nights, Xiao Yu and Yan Xun remained for a month and what else can a woman think about what do married couple does. Yan Xun hopes Chu Qiao will feel jealous and regret over everything she did to him at the night he tried his best to ask her for the last time to become his Queen. Yan Xun still feels for her but wants Chu Qiao to do her move to come back to him, and he promised himself to make Chu Qiao regret it.

How much this is going to hurt Chu Qiao was not really the case as the flip of events became complicated for them but not for her. Chu Qiao simply out of the loop became her haven of freedom. She has long been a desert empty of anything even the sands of time, her memories still trying to come back to her mortal self is somewhat undergoing a process.

And Yuwen Yue who is the only person who looked at Chu Qiao in a different view knows he had to do something, and in his heart and mind, he finally ended in this saying:

Loving you is not easy.

It will be like going to a war with no arms.

It will be like holding a bow and hand you the arrows.

So brace yourself as I come to redeem you.

As I embrace you, my heart in a bloodbath

What lies ahead should always be, you.

♥♥♥

Chapter 053

Author♥Angel♥Chua♥

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Serpent of the Day, Fox of the Night 

At the Liang Palace, A prince in his flashy red robe is walking back and forth from its beautiful palace veranda looking at the flowers and magnificent Chinese garden in view such a breathtaking sight. But the Prince cannot appreciate any of its beauty he is busy thinking of breaking some palace rules today and explore the streets again on his disguise. However, the last time he did, he almost lost his life. Thanks for the help of Chu Qiao and Sun Di who brought him back alive even if he was shot to death by deadly arrows.

The servants and eunuchs are already tired of the crown prince as they fan him to keep the cool breeze from its summer heat. They follow and walk to where the Prince moves under the strict order of Emperor Tang and if the Prince slipped their sight, the price of heads will roll, and there will be no pardon. Prince Xiao Ce has been confined in the palace for long and cannot get past his heavy guards even if he threatens or trick them, he is grounded under his Father Emperor’s decree. Suddenly he went inside his room and wrote a letter to someone then he flashed a foxy smile in his face and ordered: Deliver this to the Kong Sang mountain, a friend must see me.

The guard servant nodded and said: “Yes your Highness.”

After Xiao Ce dispatched the letter, he already planned on how to make his escape for the day work. He called in his servants and made everyone look like they are going to be busy and impossible to follow him or even guard him. Yesterday, he had already been preparing some stuff he can carry with him to disguise himself and go out to walk on the streets. But this time he will have a companion and its been a long time since he spoke to this friend, although his friend still consider him royal for Xiao Ce he is one of the few people he would call his friend because of the unchanging time-tested loyal character he admired when he was still serving his original master. He is also skilled and all around expert regarding the sword fight, spying, demolition work, name it all, and he is able to execute it looking at his past track record.

Yuwen Yue came back to the lodge and saw his beauty is still sleeping and he can’t help but give some joyful muse on that beautiful sleeping lovely face. He prepared a hearty breakfast, and while waiting for the beauty to wake up, he started his carpentry work. Yuwen Yue is very precise as he measures every inch of the sword’s size and length, he did not need to look at the sword itself but memorized every inch of it. Being raised up to a noble family of Mohists, his grandfather Yuwen Gao and foster father Yuwen Hao, the original masters who designed the stratagems around Merlin, Castle Peak, Red and Green hills courtyard and their Empire famous repository and intelligence center the Eyes of God, one can say he has learned a lot of designs for traps and lures and other hidden skills only a Yuwen heir knows. And this carpentry task is just too easy for him to do but it’ll take sometime before he finished this artful piece of work.

Yuwen Yue is not only creating one but two sword holders. The catch is, he put a unique design just him and maybe Chu Qiao would ever understand how to use it. Yuwen Yue also had in mind to put some unique features, deadly add-ons to make the sword holder worthy to hold the Canhong and Poe Yue Jian swords. He also carved their names on the wood making it a personalized and one of a kind.

Chu Qiao woke up when she saw the sword. She thought she put it under their bed but then why is the sword was placed standing beside the wall? Did his husband saw the sword? Whatever is it, she hopes her husband didn’t see it. She took the sword and hid it somewhere.

Yuwen Yue was just washing his hands when Chu Qiao found him, and Yuwen Yue coldly threw a glance at her. Chu Qiao was just calm to see his husband as quiet as the sea as if there’s nothing to worry in the world. She asked him: “You have no parcels to deliver today?”

Yuwen Yue came close to her and looked at her eyes, he said: “I am on vacation today.”

Chu Qiao replied: “Well, that is good news.”

Yuwen Yue looking cold but happy in his eyes he said: “Come let’s eat our late breakfast or shall I say lunch?”

Chu Qiao still looking for hints from his husband if he saw the Canhong sword but Yuwen Yue seems did not bring out the topic on the table. The same thing, Yuwen Yue hid the sword holder when he sensed his wife wake up, so before everything is exposed he had already placed it somewhere his wife won’t discover it yet. He intends not to let her see it until the day Yuwen Yue will bring out the final test.

Both presences sense some distant unspoken cold secrets in the air, Chu Qiao was not able to hold herself she squinted her eyes for she knows someone touched the Canhong sword and his husband is not telling her. Yuwen Yue walked towards the dining table when suddenly a roof tile was about to fall, Chu Qiao pushed her husband and caught the roof tile on her hands. Yuwen Yue was not startled at what Chu Qiao did, and Chu Qiao is not feeling good about it. Yuwen Yue went back to the dining table and sit quietly, he invited his wife to eat.

Chu Qiao put down the roof tile and looked above it a ray of sunshine came to penetrate their dining table. Yuwen Yue calmly said: Will you come and join your husband to eat? Chu Qiao somewhat wary about his husband’s actions, she went to the table, sit on the chair and look at him. Yuwen Yue smiled at her and said: “Wife, the roof is not for you to worry, will fix it later, let’s eat.”

Chu Qiao not believing his husband’s actions of indifference, she started to eat with her chopsticks and cold noodles. Yuwen Yue did the same thing, and then there is just silence in between them.

Chu Qiao suddenly stood up and said: “Fine! Ask me!”

Yuwen Yue looked at her calmly and did not utter any words to his wife.

Chu Qiao feeling so annoyed with Yuwen Yue’s coldness and calmness when in fact she knows his husband has something to say she asked: “Is there something I need to explain?”

Yuwen Yue enjoying this moment of his beautiful wife’s annoyed face she became prettier to his sight he said: “Is there anything we have to talk about my pretty wife?”

Chu Qiao blushed, but on her slightly angry voice she said: “Maybe?”

Yuwen Yue in his calm voice said: “What did I say last time? Do you remember?”

Chu Qiao thought about it, she said: “The walls have ears? Illegal channels?”

Yuwen Yue stopped eating and put down his chopsticks he looks at her, he said: “There, you said it yourself.”

Chu Qiao wanting to test his husband further, she pointed her index finger, in a snap her finger on his husband’s neck where Yuwen Yue on his closed eyes holds her delicate small hands. Their face close to each other and nobody moved.

Chu Qiao unable to move, because Yuwen Yue pressed some nerves in her little fingers, he released it and on a rush, he kissed her lips. Chu Qiao not expecting the kiss slightly moved back her face but Yuwen Yue already holding her nape and unable to control himself went for another kiss. Chu Qiao did not hesitate.

Yuwen Yue unable to move back his lips from her, he suddenly snapped himself back to his mind then he gently moves away from his hands from Chu Qiao’s pretty face. Chu Qiao suddenly felt the warm air became colder, she opened her eyes and saw her husband calm face and not looking into her, Yuwen Yue picked up his chopsticks. Chu Qiao wanting him to continue but she moved away too as if she was embarrassed. A little bit flushed, she can sense Yuwen Yue knows that she wants that kiss from him.

Yuwen Yue silent and Chu Qiao mirrored it continued to eat and not looking at each other’s face and avoided eye contact as the attraction feels so strong and Yuwen Yue thinks he won’t be able to hold any longer and ruin all his plan.

Meanwhile, a man on his handsome eunuch disguise came to the Liang Palace under Prince Xiao Ce’s orders. Xiao Ce on his back turned to see the man and beamed at him, on his little foxy eyes and fragrant presence, a red-purple robe, the man paid him the respect he nodded and greeted him: “Your Highness, what can I do for you?”

Xiao Ce came closer to him on his ears he whispered: “Yue Qi, I want you to stay here in the palace and become my temporary royal guard.”

Yue Qi nodded and said: “Yes, Your Highness.”

Xiao Ce on his foxy eyes he smiled and whispered again: “I want to stroll in the streets today, will you come with me?”

Yue Qi suddenly picked his brow, and he knows what the crown prince means he also whispered: “Your Highness, what time do you want to go?”

It is late in the afternoon, and Chu Qiao is doing her laundry work late she was not able to practice her martial arts today as the husband is in the house where Yuwen Yue is axing some wood for their supply of firewood. He learned this humble task on his travels at Woolong mountains for few months after the frozen lake tragedy and stayed in the temple learning wisdom and far Eastern empire secrets, their martial arts, and tribal warfares. This is the same Master where Zhong Yu and Wudao Ya were educated of the Datong Way, and it is where Chu Jing Kingdom was raised and shaped and still at present, influencing Yanbei’s form of government from Mr. Wudao Ya’s sphere of influence.  The couple just doing their usual chores quiet and undisturbed but in truth, they were careful not to drop any hint of each other’s secrets.

Xiao Ce was slightly feeling some pain on his healed wounds on the back of his right chest successfully slipped the royal Liang guards together with Yue Qi on their backs they landed on the cushion of green grass outside of the Liang palace walls. Both smiled for only a serpent can crawl and climbed such fortified walls undetected.

Faking Xiao Ce’s condition of a stomachache, both of them was able to pass through the royal toilet window where Yue Qi went out first, he took out his eunuch dress and disguised as one of the royal utility servants. Along the palace corridors, he is sweeping and holding a long handle broom in his hands. Suddenly he jumped sideways took out a rope until he reached the palace walls and waited on top. After a few minutes Xiao Ce on his disguised dress like Yue Qi’s dress and a backpack, he went to the wall, and Yue Qi helped him climbed the wall.

Xiao Ce and Yue Qi went to a nearby gigantic tree and undress again to put on their next disguise which is a nobles suit, a nobles hat and shoes and some cold weapons hidden on their Hanfu dress. Its is Yue Qi’s first time to stroll after two years of recovering from his multiple wounds suddenly now out in the world to find its fate.

It is almost dark while the Liang crown prince missed some good company he asked Yue Qi that they visit Zao Baocung shop to source some information. The two disguised men went to visit him, and Xiao Ce came inside the shop where he found Zao Baocung sleeping while Yue Qi closed the curtains of the shop and locked its doors.

Xiao Ce smiled and blinked his eyes, came to pinch the ears of Zao Baocung and the old man was startled on its sharp pain, said: “Go away if you do not have enough Liang gold, I am not selling any today.”

Xiao Ce beamed, a cough sound is heard: “I don’t have any gold with me, but I came in secret to visit an old servant.”

Zao Baocung opened half of his eyes saw the disguised royal crown prince Xiao Ce he suddenly straightened his back and rose to bow to the Prince he asked: “Your Highness, such a surprise visit, is there anything I can serve you today?” Zao Baoccung for the first time from the last saw Yue Qi, his eyes went big. Xiao Ce blinked his eyes and said: “Meet my companion today, remember Yue Qi?”

Zao replied and said: “Oh how can an old man forget a deadman who came back to life?” Yue Qi was quiet and standing alert inside the corner of the shop waiting for Xiao Ce’s orders.

Xiao Ce laid down his interest for the day he asked Zao: I am not here to waste time but I heard from a reliable source that a jewelry shop business was bought by a wealthy trader from the East and kept a very priceless engagement ring with a policy on it. Just recently it was raided by some goons and all of their necks were chopped and everyone dead except for their leader which is one of the supervisors from Zhan Ziyu’s afterlife camper spy league. Tell me, what do you know about this?

Zao Baocung knows this information very well because he was the one who helped Yuwen Yue the real owner to own the jewelry shop. The Jewelry shop at that time was about to close due to the original owner’s huge debt, and Yuwen Yue paid them all but on one condition, and that is to sell the jewelry shop to him. His only reason was, to store the precious ring of Xinger, a memorabilia of his heart over the low maidservant that shook his world, made his heart believe that love can thrive even in the midst of a cold-blooded empire, also if their status is unequal, even if painful death arrived that painted him an ugly ending but arrived at the beautiful beginning to start over again. Given all of Zao help, Zao does not have any idea what is Yuwen Yue’s end goal. Zao knows Yuwen Yue wants to trade in secret in Liang and learn their economic growth so that he can also offer some advice to Qinghai and improve their financial system. He does not even know that Yuwen Yue got married and he is the one who took the ring from the jewelry shop as Zuo spun the story enough for the Liang authorities to believe and find the jewelry manager who conspired in hiring goons of the shop and the ring was suddenly stolen and gone.

Zao on his quick wits and sharp trader tongue suggested to Yuwen Yue to make Zuo Zong as dummy owner if Yuwen Yue does not want himself to be exposed to the public and announce to the world he is alive. He is well known as an important official of the West one would think of many things such as will shock the world while Southern Liang’s crown prince is also very fond of him. Xiao Ce waiting for an answer from the old man while Yue Qi is just listening and vigilant in the shop, Zao again gave him false information to misinform him, he replied: “Your Highness, the ring was not of that value, it is just an ordinary ring, not even a gold that can be of value. But what makes it intriguing is the policy behind it.”

Xiao Ce asks: And what is the policy all about?

It can be loaned for a certain time, but for it to be released from the jewelry shop, one has to buy a far kingdom.

Xiao Ce repeated: “buy a far kingdom? Now that is really strange. For a ring of no value, one has to buy a far kingdom?” He scoffs and laughs out loud, and Zao Baocung grinned as well.

Xiao Ce walked and occasionally touched his chin he said: “such idiot and smart policy as well. And someone already bought it? A couple on their peasant dress?”

Zao Baocung replied to mislead the crown prince again he said: “no, it was stolen. They said that the owner of the jewelry shop was put into a hostage and as a ransom, he gave it away to the jewelry manager, anyway its just a piece of metal he thinks. And the couple, they are just victims of the rampage.”

Xiao Ce again said: “Idiot owner, what a fool. There must be a bigger picture behind its policy. Otherwise, it won’t chop some heads that day for it to be handed over to some finders keepers hands.”

Yue Qi heard what the Liang crown prince said, and he cannot help himself but to laugh a bit but then Xiao Ce looked at him on his formal face and Yue Qi back to his normal face, vigilant and serious.

Zao Baocung advised the young crown prince he said: Your Highness, may I say a thing? You did not just come here just for a quick chat of the ring, aren’t you?

“Smarty old man! How did you know?” Xiao Ce on his joking face and foxy eyes said: I also wanted to ask information about Chu Qiao.

Zao grinned at him and replied: I heard she became the Wei crown princess and not as much news about her since then.

Xiao Ce secretly laughs in the inside because that means his method was effective when he sent his Pandora’s box still sitting at the Wei Empire. Xiao Ce revealed to Zao Baocung: “Haven’t you read about the classics? Trojan Horse of Troy? Only different in style but the principle remained the same.”

Zao finally spilled more of his beans he said: I met her once when she was still a low maidservant at the Yuwen household. We crossed our paths once when I helped her complete her revenge to the Yuwen household.

Xiao Ce getting these pieces of information are vital for him.

Zao continued: “Then a news wad told I heard from the gossips of my customers, the Prince of Yanbei hid her at the Xuili mountains after the ice lake tragedy she was held at the Xuili mountain and continued to serve there as the Xuili Lady General. The rumors also say that… and Zao stopped.

Xiao Ce asking for more he said: Why did you stop?

Zao thinking he is talking to a royal and not only that, he is the King of Yanbei’s brother-in-law, but he continued: Yan Xun built a palace for her in the XuiXui mountains.

Xiao Ce heard this before, but he dismissed it because for him it is a joke and not evidence-based.

Zao continued further and said: Chu Qiao having been held in the Xiuli Mountain escaped from the borders of  Meilin, and then the news spread that he is getting engaged with the 13th Prince of Wei and now married to him.

Xiao Ce loved the way Zao Baocung conveyed the story to him, and Zao seems did not find the story of Xia Chong who replaced Chu Qiao whom he, unfortunately, lost Chu Qiao that night. Xiao Ce while on the journey to the eve of his sister’s wedding managed to sneak out and went to Wei borders disguised as a spy and waiting for the love of his life alone all by himself as he cannot trust anybody. He was all excited and thought his sleepless night will end soon and waited until the dawn came but no Chu Qiao on his sight. On his head down, heart feeling hopeless, the disguised crown prince of Liang left Wei and went to attend her sister’s wedding day at Yanbei. His plans failed to surprise everybody, and after some time went back to his drinking session activities at night, clubbing, hopping from Liang’s famous bachelor nightclubs and that’s how he copes up until one fateful night, he met two women expressing their interest of a blind date. And for the first time in his life, he used his gold handkerchief to bid for the blind date opportunity that he cannot understand why he joined, only to find in the end, the drooling woman was Chu Qiao.

He has set the stage, woo grandly ‘s at her, he thinks he had expressed that enough so obviously to the girl of his dreams and even have a one night stand with her. Only thing, nothing happened in between them as Chu Qiao sleeping in his bed is just an accident drunk woman from wine spirits. Afterwards, the best and ugliest thing that happened when they were together was when the Prince saw her reunited with her sister Xiao Ba and the next thing he is already gasping some air by a shot arrow at his back. After Chu Qiao’s visit on him, the Prince on his early spring feelings of hope and love were again put aside when he heard the news that Chu Qiao had a secret suitor who frequently visited their Kowloon house and eventually married him while he is detained in the gold prison of his JinWu palace.

Xiao Ce at that time was shocked when he heard the spies report, the prince went into deep thinking who would that man be, who could bypass his territory that he already fenced at that time and watering it with lots of love and moments to make with the girl of his dreams. Xiao Ce thinks no matter what he does, this girl is just slipping out of his arms of love. The Prince who thinks he has a good chance and has all the time in the world has to find out who is this peddler man and where do they live now as a married couple.

Back to their conversation, Xiao Ce on his sad eyes is putting his masks off a bit the limelight of his acting, finally said to Zao: “To see is to believe. But I wish when I get to see her, it isn’t true at all that she got married.”

Zao felt some pain in the Liang crown prince words, and he felt some pity for him he offered an unsolicited advise he said: “She’s a beautiful disaster to look at the moment but who knows when would fate turn the tides to splash it to your shores someday?”

Xiao Ce liked what Zao Baocung said he asked Yue Qi: hey buddy, did you hear it?

Yue Qi heard it all but remained silent, calm and assertive he answered: “Did not hear it your Highness if you don’t want me to.”

Yue Qi knew Chu Qiao very well and based from what he heard this first-hand information, he only believes one thing that somehow in his barren land of hope is a spring of rain that his Master Yuwen Yue is alive and Chu Qiao can’t possibly be with someone else other than his master. Yue Qi finally thought to himself: “Who else would be able to do such things to the Star child except for the Fourth Young master Yuwen Yue? This is not the land of dreams, but this is also a real world where everything else under the heavens can possibly happen.”

At nightfall, the summer moon appeared in the southern skies, two disguised men trailing the walls of the Liang Daming Palace and back to their home base, another sleepless night for the crown prince but full of sound wisdom he took Zao’s word he repeated it to himself: “She’s a beautiful disaster.”

He cannot help but stalk the girl of his dreams. Xiao Ce revealed and took off his mask by putting on a spy disguise and steal a chance to cancel Chu Qiao’s engagement while he also sneaks out, pretends he is busy at his sister’s wedding eve at dawn, one cannot complain about his actions. He is the master of masks, being a secret player and a secret stealer of Chu Qiao’s affection. That evil charm but a good heart is tough to resist.

His royal companion back to its eunuch disguise sealed off the day with good hopes and better days ahead.

♥♥♥

Chapter 054

♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

The art of Trespassing 

Between the perfect sunrise is the perfect blooming of flowers in the summer forest and in its heart is a small secluded lodge where a Cangwu bird lives on its roof. Late in the afternoon, when Chu Qiao on her usual household duties and martial arts practice done,  she feels she needs to have the usual woman company. She decided to visit her old lady at Xue Fu street. She cooked and brought her some delicacies, and she is really really excited to meet her.

Having Yue Qi in the Liang Palace means mobility for Xiao Ce. He asked Yue Qi to go and spy the little street known as Xue Fu. Yue Qi agreed, and on his disguised noble Hanfu dress, hat and shoes went on his way.

Xia Chong finished her cold tea, received a pigeon courier bird with a note attached to its foot, as it lands on Wei crown princess palace veranda. She opened them and read about it and took her coat and went out by herself, bypassing the security of the Wei palace and its protocols. The royal guards are already used to it. She also threatens to kill them if they do not let her pass. And if any of her secret getaways leaks out to the 13th Prince of Wei Yuan Song, she swears to cut their throat on the spot. The fake Chu Qiao like a falcon rode away with her horse and went to Xiao Yu’s usual meeting place. When she arrived, Xiao Yu gave her instructions to follow.

Yan Xun never forgets to remind himself about the last night he was with Chu Qiao. He clearly remembers all the words Chu Qiao told him including Xiao Yu’s spying on him. Yan Xun thought his Queen is doing it out of his love for him. But in fact, he does not believe it. On Xiao Yu’s way out of Yan palace, he secretly followed her, and he saw Xiao Yu met Chu Qiao. His heartbeat went fast as he looks at the two. He has never felt so angry until today knowing that the two have secret allies and meeting in the forest at twilight, he calmed himself and followed them.

Yuwen Yue on his routinary work came home almost dark at nightfall and finds their lodge in order except for a little note slid in the tiny corner of their dining table. He went past to their room and finds a shiny, shimmering fragrant bed of silk and a pearly white skin on top of it. Their bed has a thin-like curtain. On a quick glance, one can see who is sleeping in the bed. Yuwen Yue cold and uninvited suddenly glued his eyes to the beautiful woman lying in bed.

“Is it really my wife?” Yuwen Yue had a moment of thought.

He blinked his eyes just to make sure it’s really his wife. But he is momentarily disturbed when he remembered the note he read at the dining table earlier. Yuwen Yue read the letter and Chu Qiao said, she went to the Kowloon House to visit her old friend, and she won’t be back until tonight.

Yuwen Yue squinted his eyes and thinks Chu Qiao might be playing games with him to lure him. Or Chu Qiao is setting the first moves for them to consume their restrained and postponed lovemaking.

“Did I deprived her of something.” This is madness, he thinks.

But all this time, Yuwen Yue did not feel this way because Chu Qiao never came to him to make the first moves. Instead, he always thinks that he always makes an attempt to make his first moves. Unfortunately stops himself before he can go further.

“Look at her…” in his thoughts, Yuwen Yue really thinks otherwise.

Right now, his wife, like a snake on their bed is somewhat asking a husband duty to his wife. Yuwen Yue swallowed dryly in his throat and shakes off his erotic thoughts.

Yuwen Yue started to doubt his wife again but then gave her the benefit of the doubt. He walked inside their room and his usual habit he took off his peasant dress and put in his neat Hanfu sleeping robes. Yuwen Yue cannot hide that feeling of wanting his wife, his mind tickles him of the next scenes, on the other side of his mind signals some dangers and lures that his wife might have been planning to do. Being at this moment is heaven for him, but in silence, he alarmed himself. It might be his end but no. He carefully slid a small cold dagger in his innerwear.

Yuwen Yue started to walk carefully at their bed and saw no other than his wife’s curvy and sexy back. Yuwen Yue noticed there is no little red tattoo at her back. Like a flash, remembers it, he had a glimpse of it before. Yuwen Yue’s mind is racing, feeling attracted to her for the thought of having Chu Qiao is one of the best moment of his life, he instantly remembers their former times together as his bedchamber maid.

The fragrant smoke started to make Yuwen Yue feel as if he is going to fall and the woman on his bed turned to see his face. Yuwen Yue before closing his eyes saw what Chu Qiao is about to do, on her naked body he almost lost himself looking at her face, her eyes when suddenly someone dished out a clean blade and about to cut its neck.

Yuwen Yue on top of Chu Qiao’s body coldly pressing a clean, sharp blade on her neck. He faked his fall, and Chu Qiao thought he is going to pass out on the fragrant smoke. Yuwen Yue too hard to resist, Chu Qiao did not move.

Yuwen Yue told her: “I have survived a hundred assassins attempt including this honey trap you are doing right now. Who are you? Tell me why are you doing this?”

Suddenly the Cangwu bird came to the window and became noisy shouted at them: Fool, fool, fool!

And the bird called the previous name of Chu Qiao again: Xinger…Xinger…Xinger

The bird almost exhausted on top of its voice is a sign of distress call. Yuwen Yue suddenly looked at Chu Qiao and said: “If you do not learn your lesson today, you won’t last tonight.”

Yuwen Yue let go of her but the cold dagger ready to aim at her neck anytime. Chu Qiao understood what Yuwen Yue said. She stood up and walked out slowly of the bed. Like a fearless snake but looks afraid of the man’s dragon eyes.

A snake would not be able to survive this divine-human face, his calm eyes as it awakens its predatory instincts.

Xia Chong can’t possibly hold Yuwen Yue’s killer instincts any longer, she ran towards the outside of their room while Yuwen Yue was left inside.

Xiao Yu saw the man from a far distance, and she cannot barely see its face, but Xiao Yu thinks she sees a ghost and fear crept into her veins. While Xia Chong went to ride on her horse back to the Wei palace. Another pair of eyes were looking at the crime scene of no crime, Yan Xun on his horse followed Xia Chong.

When Yuwen Yue finally sees that the woman is gone, he knows that his lodge is compromised and there are eyes all around, illegal channels might have been installed.

Yuwen Yue calmed himself when he thought of Chu Qiao still on her way home. Not worried about finding the place a bit chaotic but concerned about Chu Qiao’s safety. Yuwen Yue suddenly went out of the room and looked at every corner of their lodge to find the Canhong sword. He did not find it, he thought: “she carried it.”

Yuwen Yue back to their room he arranged the bed as if nothing happened but left a mark by chance as Xia Chong followed Xiao Yu’s instructions, to wreck Chu Qiao’s marriage. Yuwen Yue left a tiny trace of blood in the bed. Like a time bomb, it will explode the moment of truth when Yuwen Yue tries not to admit that he had been unfaithful to his wife.

Yuwen Yue knows that disturb snakes will come back and will drag more companions along.

Suddenly Chu Qiao on her happy face came to knock on their door, but it seems she is a little bit feeling strange as the bird was just looking at her and not the usual lively bird that greets her.

Yuwen Yue tried his best to act on the normal, cold and uninvited he opened the door to receive his wife then went straight to the kitchen waiting for the water to boil. Chu Qiao looked at what happened inside the lodge and seems all is well.

Have you eaten your dinner? Chu Qiao asked Yuwen Yue.

Yuwen Yue responded coldly he said: Yes, I did.

“Well, the old lady gave me this, if you want we can eat again.” Chu Qiao gave him a sweet smile, but Yuwen Yue on his cold eyes replied shortly: “Sure.”

Yuwen Yue still on his adrenaline rush suddenly came close to his wife without any warning, he passionately kissed her.

For how long Yuwen Yue didn’t mind his racing mind along. Chu Qiao shocked at him, a wanting husband she thinks he is angry at something. Yuwen Yue wants her so much, that hard, Chu Qiao was being pushed harder laid her down on their dining table. Chu Qiao did not respond to that hard and hot kiss. She lets Yuwen Yue do it but it is hurting her back skin and lips.

Chu Qiao feels so nervous, and when Yuwen Yue felt it, he stopped kissing her and said: “I am sorry, I WAS carried away.” (with an emphasis on the “was”)

Yuwen Yue secretly exchanging secret words for his wife to decode without giving all the details and apologizing, this not his real nature, should give Chu Qiao a clue in advance. But Chu Qiao went clueless.

The cold charming man looking so hot, lips are wet, stopped kissing. He went to sit on their chair and looked at his wife. On his calm eyes, all of his adrenaline rushed, now released from that long passionate kiss.

“Let’s eat first,” said Chu Qiao.

Chu Qiao stared at him strangely on his eyes. She arched herself from the table and picked some of her clothes on the floor.

Yuwen Yue nodded and she watched her wife served their dinner bowls and night tea they usually drink before they go to sleep at night. And like the regular nights they were together, they went to sleep and be at peace.

As the night calls the howling of the fox in the cold and dark summer forests, the owls started to hum and issued their sounds on the air. The Yuwen parrot is half asleep but then occasionally opens its eyes and its distress have not been put away.

Several dark entities surrounded the lodge. Yuwen Yue careful not to wake up his wife stands walks outside of their house. Outside their lodge are not friendly to lucky strangers.

Yuwen Yue a former master of the Eyes of God knows sooner or later this lodge will be compromised and vulnerable to attacks. He built some repository of his only weapon almost impossible to discover except its master.

Sensing an instinct of dangers around, he put the flare beside a wooden stool near the water well. Knowing some entities are closing in, Yuwen Yue started to fetch water from the well.

He pulled the wooden pail and then like the usual way he poured the water in the ground and picked something. Then went to do it again, he fetched water in the well. While the dark entity is carefully watching him, a feminine voice she spoke: “You are about to be killed, but look at you? You are still here fetching water?”

Yuwen Yue did not look at her, but said: “How sure are you I am going to be killed tonight?”

Yuwen Yue still halfway with his wooden pail of water when the woman threw him deadly needles.

Yuwen Yue quickly detached a piece of bolo wood from the well and all needles neatly pricked to it, he used it as a shield with no effort.

“I can tell by what you are doing at the moment,” said the woman who was so impressed at what he did.

Yuwen Yue almost hit the ground of water well did not move but the woman brandished another cold dagger to aim at Yuwen Yue’s body. Yuwen Yue like an acrobat went to avoid it and swing his entire body to the well’s push and pull the lever. Almost in an instant, he is back to his same position still fetching water from the water well.

The woman is not just impressed at this moment but already annoyed at what his opponent did, she chuckled and laughed to death: “Ha…Ha…Ha… why do you look so foolish?”

“Really? Am I fool?” On his calm voice looking down on the well.

Yuwen Yue said while his hands on his third pull of wooden pail a sound of lock was unlocked issued on air and Yuwen Yue felt that the water well is like going to explode, a sword was ejected on air with some water gushing out, Yuwen Yue leaped and went to meet his Poe Yue Jian sword on air.

“Wow!”

A sudden remark and a clap of hands were heard in the distance not far. Another entity came to join their killing spree session, Yuwen Yue closed his eyes and smelled its fragrance, it cannot be a mistaken identity.

Two Liang royals came to ambush him at his lodge and both of them cannot recognize his face as his beard grew around his handsome face.

One can tell he is a mature old man, but in reality, he is just at his right age.

Xiao Ce on his foxy eyes he beamed on the corners of his mouth he showed his white teeth and made the tense situation into a relaxed environment, he went to mock them both, he said: “Sister, why are you disturbing a humble man who only wants to fetch water at his well?

Xiao Ce turned to Yuwen Yue and also said: “And you flying sword man, whatever you call that martial arts, why do you disrespect my sister by fetching water at your well and drench her wet on her sacred black ninja suit?”

Xiao Yu is wet all over her black ninja suit but shows her fearless eyes, and she took out her belt sword positioned herself and she thinks earlier was a child’s play while the real fight has just begun.

Yuwen Yue replied in a calm voice he said: “Why don’t you ask your sister?”

Xiao Ce feeling enough of his silver tongue, he went in the middle of the fight and made his body like a shot block in between them.

Yuwen Yue did not draw his Poe Yue Jian sword yet. It just got out of the water well, and it looks dirty and full of mud.

Sensing no harm, he walked back again to the water well and did the same thing.

The two Liang royals dropped their jaw and slowly losing some patience looked at him.

Xiao Yu rolled her eyes while Xiao Ce looks up and down with a hint of amusement in his brows, ready to play mischief, said: “Seriously, what are you doing?”

While Yuwen Yue’s movements were slow and unhurried, it flowed with the wind slightly blew into their faces.  The sound of the bamboo forest nearby issued a rainwater sounds and sent cold chills to their bones.

Yuwen Yue pulled the wooden pail and poured the water to the sheath of his sword. The two Liang royals still staring at what he is doing. While Yuwen Yue’s face still calm and expressionless.

Another group of dark ninja entities came to the location, and their target was to assassinate the two Liang royals suddenly rushed forward to inflict damage to Xiao Yu and Xiao Ce.

A sniper bowman shot its first double accurate target, and Xiao Ce was spared but Xiao Yu was cut by the blackguard assassins on her back. Yuwen Yue didn’t mind the environment’s complicated assassin scenario.

Divine-like eyes looking through the beautiful Poe Yue Jian sword as he wipes the sheath of his sword. Finally, in front of them all, a perfect Jian sword master eyes flashed as he slowly unlocks his sword from its sheath, it revealed a glowing sharp sword in front of them all.

Xiao Yu did not move from where she stands when suddenly another flying Blackguard came to finish her. Yuwen Yue just countered it and cut its head. Yuwen Yue’s enemy turned to an ally when he saved Xiao Yu. He carried her body dripping with blood, and Xiao Yu looked at him she said: “Was it you?”

Yuwen Yue did not answer her, she repeated the question: “Is it really you?”

Yuwen Yue looked at her back, and he said: “do not move or you will lose more blood.” Yuwen Yue put Xiao Yu near the water well to shield her.

Suddenly the sniper Bowman put down his bow and arrows, and his eyes went big he asked himself: What did he saw? Is it a ghost? Yue Qi cannot go there and just look at his face but he felt in his veins and pulse, he cannot deny the fact this is his original Master Yuwen Yue.

Xiao Ce pretending to be unskilled, he was attacked by another blackguard, and another one came. Yuwen Yue went back and forth to defend the two royals. He cuts effortless, perfect on all its pose and martial arts, chopped all of their enemies necks tonight.

On the final swing, he quickly finished the last head with a perfect cut. The fine art of how a master Jian sword does to finish the job. An expressionless handsome face, he looked down on the ground.

The summer moon quietly witnessing the bloodbath lightened up the clear skies, and a black horse rushed to the scene with its rider the black hood prince went back to the lodge to check on his Queen but its too late to see the action. Yan Xun saw his Queen lying in the well on her blood loss. He ran with his horse and quickly intrude to the scene where Xiao Yu saw him, she promptly gave her hand to him, and Yan Xun quickly grabbed her hands Xiao Yu perfectly landed on Yan Xun’s back. Yan Xun didn’t even look at who is on the scene, and he just ran fast with his horse like a flash, Blast is Yanbei’s Prime war horse unmatched to all the others.

And just like that, that night it all happened so fast, Yuwen Yue saw all of his former comrades but did not even have a glimpse of his former best friend King of Yanbei Yan Xun. He felt so at home yet he also smells the stink of blood is back as well.

When everyone is dead and safe, Xiao Ce came closer to Yuwen Yue and looked at him he is not stupid to understand he finally uttered: “WHO else? But YOU…”

Xiao Ce on his foxy eyes he added: “I did not have any mistakes at all. I knew that when they told me you’re dead that is a lie and I believed it, I believed it that it is a lie.”

Yuwen Yue saw all the dead bodies outside his lodge will need some cleaning to do and not to mention a wife is sweetly sleeping safely inside the lodge and not aware of what had just happened here. Yuwen Yue do not want to explain and go through a complicated discussion with his wife.

Xiao Ce said with so much concern in his voice, he said: “Yuwen Yue, I will clean this mess, tomorrow morning everything on a whitewash…”

Then on a sad voice, he added: “Just take care of HER, for me.”

Yue Qi on his bow and arrow wiping his face of tears, frozen up in the tree, his feet like ice, looks like he is somewhat stuck in the tree. Then Yuwen Yue called on him he said: “Come down, it is safe.”

Yue Qi came down and for the first time his eyes looking at the original master he served and sworn his life, Yue Qi bowed to Yuwen Yue.

Flashback when the Bowman shot a blackguard spy and did not aim at the deadly spot, Yuwen Yue already knows a sniper Bowman is sending a signal that he is not killing his own uniform. First of all, the bowman knows the blackguards are from Wei state and knows their serial and signet tattoed on their necks. Second, Yue Qi did not aim to kill but aim to exhaust the Blackguard’s weak spots. There could only be one Yue guard who can aim and exhaust at the same time, and that is Yue Qi, he is good at it. So Yuwen Yue became relaxed and didn’t mind a hidden cold bowman buying him some time to unsheath his sword and communicate to him using a shadow power, through his perfect Jian sword master art, that only a Yuwen heir knows and unique signature cuts different from all the others aiming at the blackguard serialized neck.

For a time, Yuwen Yue looked at Yue Qi, cold but welcoming, looking somewhat relieved in discovering his longtime comrade, brother, and the most loyal guard was unbelievably alive. As for the story, Yuwen Yue thinks, Yue Qi deserved a late drinking session, a man-to-man talk but not today.

Xiao Ce on his foxy eyes squinted sensed the former master and former servant lingering thoughts and feeling at the moment he said: “Yue Qi, from this day forward, STAY ALIVE. I do not want to be bothered by a dead body again and ask some favors from the shop owner, but you are free to visit Liang your second home, just don’t forget to bring me fresh tea leaves harvested within three days.”

Yue Qi nodded at Xiao Ce and said to him: “Your Highness, I don’t know why you gave so much value to a low servant like me. I can never repay you even if I give you seven of my lifetimes.”

Xiao Ce not wanting to feel that painful feeling of letting go and that feeling of jealousy over Yuwen Yue’s luck on their destiny as master and servant he replied: “May the Qians bless me and bring me in this lifetime someone like Yue Qi to replace a brother and a friend I just gave away today. “

Yuwen Yue felt Xiao Ce’s attachment to Yue Qi he blesses him: “Your Highness, thank you for taking care of my servant, it’s not a requirement not even worth your time, but you did it anyway. I am sure you will find someone along to replace what you have graciously given today.”

Yuwen Yue added: Since it is already midnight, I cannot let the Crown prince trail the dangerous forests but not yet finished speaking, Xiao Ce triggered his flare, and it went to lighten the skies. And all three of them knows what it means. After a few minutes, the sound of horse hooves came to fetch the Prince who is already trailing the cold forest as he runs to leave the place and remain undiscovered. Yue Qi knows the crown prince will be put to a prosecution-like meeting with Liang elders and Liang Emperor Tang and Xiao Ce to explain and defend his actions this night. A lizard sound came out of him: “tsk, tsk, tsk” indicating a hint of mischief play from the Liang crown prince sleeves and his masks turned on again when he just took it off this night.

Yuwen Yue coldly stared at the dark forests while Yue Qi a sincere smile blossomed in the corners of his mouth shaking his head from left to right.

The cold forest has a misty being strolling and on her bloodsucker eyes, lips like hell gnashing her teeth, distant from where her eyes are like questions looking for an answer she thought: “This can’t be real, they claim the heir to the Eyes of God died and despised? He is not real. No one must believe, no one must know this.”

♥♥♥

Chapter 055

♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Temple of the Heart

“Breathe”

I hear the sound, echoes beneath
Angels and skylines meet
And I’m straining to reach
The light on the surface, light on the other side feel the pages turning
I see the candle burning down
Before my eyes, before my wild eyes
I feel you holding me, tighter I cannot see
When will we finally breathe, breathe, breathe
Breathe, breathe, breathe feel the pages turning
I see the candle burning down
Before my eyes, before my wild eyes
I feel you holding me, tighter I cannot see
When will we finally

Breathe, breathe, breathe
Breathe, breathe, breathe

♠♠♠

As the summer heat plays the petals of open flower field, the warm winds across blew its dandelions princess of the lawn, roses the queen of the gardens, lotus the fairy on shallow and murky waters, and the sunflower thrives even in drought soil, it pushes all living things to grow and shine under the sun. At the heart of the summer forest, a lover’s haven, the tranquil of bamboo sounds brings peace suddenly was disturbed by swarming bees and butterflies. Its sweet honey found in the heart of the lover’s home as well as the bitter taste of its fruit of secrets came to unfold.

Chu Qiao for the first time had the best sleep of her life, she woke up and find her husband lying so sweet in his head, undisturbed and undiscovered, his face like the calm waters that soothe her soul. She took her slippers and went out of their room to boil some water when suddenly a man sweating on its head is walking from afar, and she thinks it is heading towards their lodge.

Chu Qiao sensed the man is harmless she eventually came to relax and came out of their lodge to greet him, but suddenly when the man was almost close to their home, he sits on the water well and fetch a pail of water and drink it.

Chu Qiao remembering where did he met this guy was it yesterday or on her yesteryear nostalgically recalled his face.

Yue Qi not aware of her presence, he was slightly surprised to see her face and uttered on his small soft whisper voice: Xinger???

Chu Qiao same as Yue Qi somewhat perplexed he picked up the name and asked: Master Zuo? And Xinger who?

What are you doing here? Yue Qi fascinated and thinking like a child at the moment, he thinks he gets to meet the wife of his master Yuwen Yue.

I am supposed to ask you that, what are you doing here? Spying on me? I think I saw you yesterday. Chu Qiao back to her thoughts, her eyes went big and suddenly remembered: “You are one of the customers in the Kowloon house right?!”

Yue Qi sensing some stranger presence with Xinger he answered her: First question, I also lived here as my master lives here. Second, I was not a spy yesterday. I am a regular customer who loves to eat noodles. Yue Qi on his corner mouth gives up that corner smile made Chu Qiao annoyed she said: “So I am right! You stalked me all the way here?”

Yue Qi thinks she is so clever that she can cut him just by her words when suddenly a cold voice answered.

“Maybe?” A fresh, happy husband face from the back of Chu Qiao is slowly approaching towards them.

Ra Yue is he.. Chu Qiao not yet finished speaking when Yuwen Yue went to continue her words

Yuwen Yue secretly exchanged a glance to Yue Qi, and he said: “He is my brother.” A plain, short and simple introduction.

Yuwen Yue already gave some details to Yue Qi, but Yue Qi did not bother to ask who is his wife.

Chu Qiao looked at Yuwen Yue, and she tilted her head a bit sideways and squinted her eyes to meet Yuwen Yue’s eyes she said: What’s his name?

“I am Yue Qi and Ra Yue…” Yue Qi paused on that name and glanced at Yuwen Yue’s cold face and continued to speak: “is my master and my brother.”

Chu Qiao somewhat not a hundred percent sure but happy to meet at least one of Yuwen Yue’s family of the moment she welcomed him and said: “Yue Qi, I am sorry  we have not enough time to properly get to know each other like family but you are welcome to stay here with your master and your brother.” Chu Qiao still lost in this puzzle of mystery thinks Master Zuo Zong will be more convincing to believe to be Yue Qi’s blood brother because it resembles his face more than Ra Yue but who knows if it’s true or not true at all? The fact that Yuwen Yue told Yue Qi is a family then Chu Qiao thinks, so be it.

Yue Qi dressed on his simple peasant Chinese collar dress put down the bamboo’s he gathered and unloaded it from its back. In a passing glance, Chu Qiao suddenly sees multiple scars in his body.

Chu Qiao went back to their lodge when he saw Yuwen Yue already ready to leave he said: “When I come back to make sure to pack all of your things in this house, and we will leave this place.”

Leave this place? Why? Chu Qiao suddenly surprised at what Yuwen Yue asked her to do.

Illegal channels, walls have ears, shall I explain it later? Yuwen Yue on his cold but calm face gave Chu Qiao the assurance that everything is going the right way she said: “Okay, as long as my husband comes back later, this place is neat and clean.”

Yuwen Yue came close to her and kissed her temple and said: “My wife obeys, and I will have a bright future ahead.”

“You take care  and will your little brother go with you?”

“Yes. See you later?” said Yuwen Yue and he went on his way while Yue Qi followed his back.

Chu Qiao did not smell any of what happened last night as the surroundings turned into a clean mess. She started to pack some of her things, and suddenly she took out her Canhong sword and under the sunshine tried to practice her swordplay.

In front of her fierce eyes, the Canhong sword owner and master slowly unsheathed her dark red sword. She closed her eyes to meditate as she recollects the memories of how Master Xie Tai Shan taught her the proper grip and the appropriate position and poise on how previous Tai Yueshen the mother of Yuwen Yue’s manner on how to hold the blade of the Canhong sword. Not to mention some bonus secrets they talked about under the bonfire of a cold forest between Wei and Liang borders.

Chu Qiao started to move her feet and sway it on air, moving her arms crisscross cut and her shadow shows her commanding presence, twirled and on her wrists tapped her pulse and slowly pull it down in between her eyebrows and beautiful tiger eyes and finally Shua! The sound of cutting blade and the bed started to erode like flooded soil like of that sound of water she heard a note sliding at the middle of the pure white quilted bed linen where it was cut.

She read: “Hauntingly beautiful, in your arms, in this bed, your lips became mine.”

Chu Qiao’s face became red, and her heart feels like a bomb about to explode. She thinks Yuwen Yue is cheating on him, in this marriage bed. All of a sudden, on her angry moment she smashed the bed and saw some blood under their soft rectangular long pillows, smelling on it makes Chu Qiao choke herself to death. Is it the death of her body or the death of her heart? The body can heal if cut but a heart in a deep wound, time can only tell.

Inside herself, a fire is burning her feelings and putting her trust and confidence to ashes she cannot feel her love for her husband and she would like the instant gratification of revenge. Chu Qiao on rage picked up her sword and continued her practice, only this time her practice involves by smashing the entire lodge where blade marks marked its corners and surfaces, this is not just an angry woman but a wife who felt betrayed and played.

After her anger and pain released on her outrage, she promised herself to find this girl and burn her alive and feed her body to the vultures who corrupted her husband. Chu Qiao just like an ordinary woman feels cheated and do not have any rational mind at the moment only anger and rage.

On a thick, dirty, dry weaved canvas, she wrapped her sword to conceal it. In the middle of lodge full of mess, she sat in a Zen position and meditated at the center as if nothing happened to wait for the love of her life while the short note is in her left hand, and her engagement ring and wedding ring on her right hand. No one knows what does this means except her when he faces Yuwen Yue, no one knows what’s going to happen. It is best if the Lion does not come home at his den lest he finds his den in total crackdown and mess, where the tigress beauty showing who is on top, will force the Lion to choose which hand. If there will be a mistake in choosing this could end their whirlwind romance and marriage like an unopened parcel and though not consumed can expire, it takes grace to remain kind in cruel situations.

Suddenly the Yuwen parrot hasn’t had enough sleep, somewhat disturbing, flew at their window and call her former name again: Xinger..! For three times and she looked at the bird and Chu Qiao suddenly felt a soft spot in her heart, her eyes are guilty of tears she went closer to the bird and said bitterly: “You always call me Xinger, and I am okay with that but not today, just at this moment, your master is a heartbreaker, and this time I have the right to become  selfish, I don’t want to share him not even to you…” Chu Qiao talking to the bird when suddenly said: “Yuwen Yue, Yuwen Yue, Yuwen Yue.” Chu Qiao was astonished she stopped and wiped her silent tears, for she has never uttered those names not until she heard this bird speaking it in a very clear tone.

Did you know the Fourth Young master of the Greenhills courtyard? Chu Qiao not getting answers tears fell from her eyes again and said: “In fact, I am going to that place right now and do you want to come with me? Let’s visit his cenotaph. I just have to say a few things to him..even if its the wind, may the whispers reach the heavens.

Chu Qiao has passed the test from the peak of anger to mellow feelings of being empty suddenly thinks whether to wait for Yuwen Yue or to just leave all by herself and without so many complications will just leave him a note and everything hanging on the air. Chu Qiao was deeply hurt, and she can’t wait to pour it out now emptied. For the first time in her life, she loved a man, she gave her heart and did not give many doubts. She protected their marriage, but she is Chu Qiao, who cannot settle for anything less. This is her fair share, Yuwen Yue is not a ration or a piece that must be shared. He is her world, her moon, her sun. What is just and fair is what is important to her. Chu Qiao does not even want to walk into the paths of betrayal for she does not have any idea yet what her husband did. Only traces of unfaithfulness speaks more than she could live to ask him. She died at this moment when she said: “I have survived many fights, won many wars, but right now I can no longer tell if I am still alive or have been burned. Consider me already gone of this world. Ra Yue.. what have you done?”

Chu Qiao picked up the sword, and the bird wrote her final words out of her tears she read:

The best fight is not to fight at all.

When you are ready to face the bullet of truth

and stop playing fire

maybe, its not yet too late.

Stars hiding from the moon

and the sun casts a shadow to the world

If we may cross our paths again,

til then you will know, I loved you for a lifetime

On her last step, her shadow walks out of the door she quietly walks on the forest ground while her silent tears still falling from her eyes. The bird on her shoulders is quiet too and did not mind what his new master is doing and did not feel any strange at all from her.

On the other side of Xue Fu street are streets of the hotel, the penthouse at the top is where Zuo Zong lives and Yuwen Yue’s spy quarters are installed. Yue Qi, on the other hand, pretended to be a guest where Yuwen Yue gave him a pass to stay one of its rooms without being noticed that they were allies.

Yue Qi, we have all the time in the world to talk about the icy lake, but right now we have eyes all around us as we were compromised last night.

Yue Qi replied as he used to be when they were still at the Green Hills courtyard: “KongZi, do not worry about me, please go where you must go, and I will follow.”

Then Yuwen Yue shortly paused and gave him the of a look of not wanting him to be out of his sight he said with his cold eyes: “I just found you, and I have never been so lucky until last night.”

Yue Qi beamed and said: “I am the lucky one here, and I have never had any doubts or mistakes about you.”

Yuwen Yue gave him a joyful muse he said: “Suit yourself, here take this, and you know where to find me at this building.”

Xiao Ce on the other hand, used to these general prosecution-like sessions with his Father the crown prince never been tired to speak about his escape of the palace last night on his silvery tongue even romanticized his King’s officials and turning their votes in favor of him and his escorts. King Tang issued a decree and awaiting its verdict that would depend on Xiao Ce’s reason, and disposition can pass the violations of the protocols of the Royal Palace. The entire Crown prince escorts at the moment were sacked and imprisoned as the Liang Garrison ground. The ax of the palace on display its sharp blades like an open animal mouth is ready to cut some necks today if Xiao Ce fails to explain his side.

Xiao Ce has never been so cunning to explain and the last crime when JinWu Palace was set on fire under the caprice and whim order of the metropolitan crown prince lifestyle, he reasoned out, he wanted to do experiment and try a different method on how to cook and serve turkey other than the usual menu of the crown prince palace. The Kitchen Ministry head was spared, and the thin kitchen boy who delivered the turkey on fire was freed and promoted by the King’s officials, but Xiao Ce did not agree ended up saying no. Xiao Ce intended this kitchen boy not to be exposed and like a treasure he hid him after he was bullied and thrown out of the Yan army because he used to serve General Chu Qiao. When Xiao Ce found him, he was beaten to death and about to die. Xiao Ce went to save him and asked him: You were thrown out of the Yan palace because you were Chu Qiao’s personal aide?

Ping’An nodded as he cannot speak his face is somewhat full of bruises.

Very well, will you serve me and will you tell me what happened to Chu Qiao?

Ping’An reached out Xiao Ce’s hand, and since then, the boy became an important person to the crown prince. When Ping’An recovered, Xiao Ce discovered he is excellent in martial arts and sharpshooter bowman even at his early age, an enemy should not underestimate. The Prince became fonder of him but kept it hidden and treats him his little brother when no one is looking.

Chu Qiao did not recognize him as he has grown fast and still lost with her memories she still saved him the day the Liang King’s royal escorts came to fetch him in front of the crown prince. Ping’An wanting to hug his former master but he cannot, or he will blow his identity, and that will put the prince into jeopardy, he remained silent.

Xiao Ce on his foxy eyes look at the Queen of Liang as he finishes off the romantic speech he passed the ball of contention to his stepmother: Mother, have you ever been in love?

The Queen of Liang on a long pause she finally gave her vote for the moment she said: “I was. Once.” And the Queen of Liang looked at Emperor Tang sitting on his throne, but her looks meant for the emperor to recognize she is a wife to a husband and not a subject to his throne. The Emperor pierced with those looks, sighed and said: unsack them and the Emperor looked at Liang officials, and to all their subject he has to finally cast his vote he said:

“When the moon chases the stars, and the stars chase Earth, and Earth has its own world. When the moon travels, the stars twinkle, the crown prince of Liang is arguably unreasonable and sage as well but can pass today’s verdict when he said: Oh Emperor you must understand there is more than one path before you reach the mountaintops. Seeing everything in bird’s eye view by climbing the beautiful and mighty Daming palace walls gives me an oversight which if I missed I am doomed to this house.”

And finally gave that foxy smile that everyone was waiting to see.. he slayed them all when he said: “I am bored to death, if you behead them all, then there will be no prince left to rule this country as I step out first and offer my neck, so I don’t see them die.”

Everyone’s jaw dropped, and some asked: does Prince Xiao Ce knows the consequences of acquittal?

That being said, it implicates Xiao Ce is like a child innocent of a crime, safe and sound came back to his palace and no one harmed. As a responsible adult, will continue to be grounded and pay for the price of violating palace protocols, for thirty days he will not be able to access any entrance and exits of this palace until the days are fulfilled by the numbers, he must comply. His royal escorts will be reduced to slave position and will not be allowed to serve the palace until the time of the world seizes. I, Emperor Tang retracts the decree and put away the seal of execution. Thus, it is unnecessary to behead and lose the crown prince and his pawns today said the king, and he rose from his seat and everyone followed him to his banquet hall.

Xiao Ce learning his actions only saved breath and not able to squeeze his father’s pardon, did more harm than he saved them, he heard his servants cry: “Your Highness, I want to die now because becoming a slave means also worse than death.”

♥♥♥

Chapter 056

♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥ 

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Stalemate Marriage

Inside the hotel, a man came out of his office and everyone greeted the young master. Wearing his majestic silver Hanfu dress, he became prominent and not a dummy. Same time a man came out of his room, and everyone saw the man and they were astonished the one of the hotel staff said: Did you see our boss came out with a silver Hanfu dress?

“Yes.”

Did you see another man dressed in his majestic black Hanfu dress?

“Yes.” And suddenly the manager of the hotel finds himself dumbfounded when his subordinate staff didn’t even have that strange reaction on who passed by like a flash.

He hit his head and told him: “Our young master changed his dress that quick? Are you and our boss from this world?”

“Ouch! That hurts. Do you really have to hit me there?”

“Yes, because you make me look stupid. I was asking a question you answer me with nonsense words.”

“Oh, I am sorry boss! Didn’t really see our young master leave his place.”

Master Zuo Zong (the dummy owner of the hotel), on the other hand, went to the stairs while Yue Qi following at his back when suddenly an old man customer was tripped at the stairs. Zuo and Yue Qi at the same time had the same instinct of helping the old man when he fell from stairways, Zuo leaped while Yue Qi slides and jumps, ends up saving the old man together.

Yuwen Yue already left the hotel and all responsibilities are entrusted to Zuo.

Today is a fortunate day for Master Zuo Zong, he looked at the man who jumped where he also leaped. He was astonished and speechless.

Yue Qi, on the other hand, said to the old man:  “Next time be careful, so you do not fall.”

Zuo Zong, on the other hand, was looking at him so and did not take off his eyes almost immediately he said: “Thank you for your concern, but it is unnecessary.”

“The old man should have not traveled alone, and he must have a companion so this won’t happen again to him.”

Yue Qi felt corrected on the spot but responded in a matured way he said: “Helping is the action of random kindness without expecting anything in return, it returns you a hundredfold, and sometimes it also pays some of your debt in karma.”

Zuo Zong looks stiff, does not agree with his words, simply replied: “Thank you, but you do not have to remind me.”

Yue Qi replied: “I agree to disagree. Everyone once in a while needs to be reminded.”

Yue Qi looked at him, and Zuo Zong turned and left without any words.

Like the typical day, all went by their usual routine.

Yuwen Yue transformed himself to execute his final test to his wife.  From a nobody to somebody, the poor peddler man wore his white boots, his white cape fur made of fox skin, his white jade in his waist, his beautiful Hanfu dress fit for a crown prince. He rode riding in his white Palanquin alone and no horseman. Supposedly surprising his wife, but seems the world at the moment is upside down. The Qinghai Crown Prince will be surprised instead. He stepped down and sees his lodge in a total mess.

Yuwen Yue called his bird and nothing came out of the wind. He alone by himself.

Investigating the crime scene, in the crime scene, Yuwen Yue carefully traced any hint of bird feathers around his lodge. His instinct tells him no one is around, but there are small footprints of a woman he thought, no sign of bird struggle but finds footprints of amazing swordplay. Yuwen Yue’s heartbeat went fast when he sees the opened door, there are two things in his mind.

One, the wife and the bird were abducted.

Two, the wife took the bird and went somewhere.

When Yuwen Yue close at the door, his ears went tingling. The wind chimes at their door slightly issued a sound and suddenly…

Whoosh!

Outside the lodge, there are two arrows from a big pine tree. Not surprised to see an auto-crossbow made of wood and bamboo arrows were installed perfectly mounted in the big tree. Unaware of the invisible trigger, Yuwen Yue stepped on a thin thread. In an almost instant, there are bamboo arrows rushing towards his head. He quickly retreated by turning sideways.

The arrows passed before him from his left to the right side. The calm eyes followed the direction of the arrows, it shot two objects in front of him. At the same time, the two objects fell and the arrows dropped to their bed. But what is this? A bed smashed into pieces.

Yuwen Yue said: “Clever wife, a fatal blow and a foretoken to decode.”

Yuwen Yue does not have any clue on any of this. He likes to think his wife might have the same surprise as he does when the entire lodge was put into a clock-like a mechanism that will give seven pass challenge once Yuwen Yue activates it.

Yuwen Yue plans to reveal the truth about him by tearing down the lodge and hopefully his wife will obey just like what she said earlier. However, seems this house was put into an entire rework of traps and lures.

Seems that Yuwen Yue is going to do the seven pass instead of his wife. Yuwen Yue came close to pick up the two objects. As soon as he does, precisely where he stands, he stepped to another tile. Suddenly, star darts rained down above his head, he sidesteps and another tile triggered.

Yuwen Yue saw many small stones is going to hit his body. He closed his eyes and crawled on the tiled floor, until he reached the outside, near the water well.

Yuwen Yue not sure of the next traps and lures, he fetches water from the well. And when he is doing this, ones now know what happens next.  A sword ejected on air, Yuwen Yue brought the mini crossbow rope and push a bolt. A rope came out fast, he used it to lift himself without stepping the ground. He took the Poe Yue Jian sword where it exactly landed his left hand. Yuwen Yue settled himself swinging in the tree branch. Not enough tensile strength, Yuwen Yue now seen sliding down the tree branch, issuing a creaking sound in the air.

Yuwen Yue is not able to maneuver his rope, his body on a free fall to the ground. It will not force him to enter the back door. If he will repeat the course, through the entrance of the main door, the auto-crossbow installed is loaded with another two arrows ready to shoot his head. Hence, the main door becomes a useless spot. Yuwen Yue is aiming to get the two objects wrapped on a little bamboo stalk. His eyes are cold and his pulse pumping more blood to his heart. He closes his eyes he said: “Crafty housewife, well equipped, can lure a target.”

Yuwen Yue felt a lift of ego about his wife’s can-lure-a-target course, he thinks Chu Qiao deserves a clap from him.

Yuwen Yue have no other means but choose to enter at the back door. When his senses heightened, ten times sharper than before, all of a sudden the weapon sitting inside their lodge activated. The back is now opened. There have not been many options given at the moment. Yuwen Yue in his adrenaline rush put his hands on the ground and inverted his body and formed V-shape legs so the arrow could pass. It lasted for three minutes before the arrows shot were exhausted. Finally, he let down his two legs and took his sword.

“She will be a shrewd Queen, an upturn for the Qinghai empire.”

Yuwen Yue still on his muse cannot help himself but admire his wife.

Finally, Yuwen Yue walked at their bedroom and looked at it and then closed his eyes, said: “This is not just an angry woman. The cuts weren’t the same as I have seen in the bamboo forest. This is a cut of a sore heart and tearful eyes.”

Yuwen Yue stares at the wreck of their bed, he finally sensed something is not right.

He quickly opened his eyes and went to see the two bamboos but Yuwen Yue’s mind telling, he is not just going to pick one.

It seems his wife sent him a hidden message to choose one of the bamboos and whichever he chooses first, will expose the wreck of this marriage bed.

Either way, Yuwen Yue thinks, both bamboos do not give him a happy ending. He picked the bamboo on the left side. The left bamboo contains Chu Qiao’s note he read. But Yuwen Yue raised the bamboo, and another letter was inside he took it and read. Whereas, the bamboo at the right side contains Chu Qiao’s wedding ring but the engagement ring is not there. Yuwen Yue thinking what could this mean?

The wife took the Cangwu bird, left her wedding ring but took her engagement ring.

After a few hours, Yuwen Yue lost in himself and no sense of time. He was holding the wife’s wedding ring in his hands. If there is one thing that is not part of his plan, it is this wedding ring he is holding at the moment.

Although at first, he doubted his wife from time to time, he didn’t think of how this wedding ring will be out of his wife’s beautiful hands.

Yuwen Yue is already full of heartaches inside including the sad story of his mother’s. Through Zao Baocung help he was able to gather an important piece of information but not all of it. Yuwen Yue now partly understand when the Qinghai King told him:

“To my son this sword all my life, my heart seeks out a thing I cannot name. We age not by years but by stories. The pain you feel today will soon become your strength for tomorrow. May the bridges I burned to light the way and forgive a father in your heart.”

Yuwen Yue dwelled in this thought: “May the bridges I burned to light the way and forgive a father in your heart.”

He felt his coldness went colder and turned his heart to ice, numb, and cannot feel anything at the moment. He thinks his father has lots of regrets for not being able to protect him and his mother from Qinghai’s Queen envy.

A father trapped in his rule and trying to do better to live long and meet his son along. His father sacrificed more than what he should give, placing hope to his lost son, to return one day, while his empire hibernated where the common people became stagnant and did not progress at all.

And his wife just abandoned him, he complained: “What is this? The woman is walking away from his husband?”

It was already nightfall, Yuwen Yue compromised, running out of time and too late to plan to have a backup plan from this unexpected internal conflict.

He finally stepped up on his Palanquin and rode back to Xue Fu street. His heart is heavy and intoxicated with spirit wine. The wine was reserved for two people. Now he is drinking it all by himself.

Yuwen Yue drunk almost got to an accident but he was able to maneuver his horse. He would like to let it out so the man he stepped out of his Palanquin, he shouted across the mountains in the midnight air: “You don’t know what happened! You did not let me explain! You did not give any chance! Why?”

Yuwen Yue does not know how to cry, but he had already cried a river.

In reality, his heart sank at the bottom of a cold lake and died. Yuwen Yue unable to reach his wife is piercing his heart adding the high pressure of his rulership to the temporarily forsaken Qinghai throne.

While Yan Xun gave up Yanbei for a night the day, Yuwen Yue forsake the Qinghai throne for many nights just to steal a chance of knowing the truth about his mother and looking for an open place to meet Chu Qiao in Wei State. Yuwen Yue thinks, even if she is the present Wei crown princess, Yuwen Yue does not know the word quit.

In the end, between Yan Xun and Yuwen Yue, the scales are never going to be the same. There is always one man who weighs the most even and had to put real efforts in real pursuit of truth.

Yuwen Yue’s only bonus from this time set apart was to find Yue Qi alive but lost Chu Qiao along. Zao Baocung told him that one-day Yuwen Yue will meet some old company along, but Zao on his tightly sealed lips did not specifically serve to the silver spoon the name of who it is.

Yue Qi was the last thing in his mind to appear alive when Yuwen Yue definitely searched every town in Wei State under the cloak of being peddler man. He asked about his former bodyguards and found his remains near the Yuwen Ancestral temple.

He also visited Yuwen household once, when loads of grain and oil are to be delivered to the Yuwen’s granary. He was able to step again in the household he once called his own.

There hasn’t been so much change at all at the Greenhills courtyard except for its present masters, Yuwen Gao, the crippled old man still longs for his adopted grandson. Yuwen Yue saw the old man, wrinkled forehead, eyes that can even penetrate souls looking far and distant. He sees his servants pushing the old man’s chair inside his courtyard.

Yuwen Yue wants to hug and enjoy his company once again, but there isn’t much to be told he said to himself, so he turns his back to miss the opportunity given at that time.

**

Chu Qiao dressed on her brown peasant dress, ordinary brown boots and his dark brown half poncho hoodie made of deerskin, covering her delicate face and eye bugs came back to the Master Xie Tai Shan’s wooden house.

It was already nightfall, but the forest is cold even if late summer. Chu Qiao greeted him and said: “Master I came back and took this bird with me. Don’t worry he is nice and he knows Fourth Young, master Yuwen Yue.”

The Master on his simple Hanfu was startled to see Chu Qiao. After a long time, with no contact and visit, he saw Chu Qiao’s ring finger. He thinks, it is an engagement ring, but then asked for the bird, he said: “Where did you find this bird?”

And Master Xie Tai Shan, as if close to the bird, called it by whistling a familiar sound. The bird heard, instantly flies to Master Xie Tai Shan’s shoulder.

Chu Qiao sees what the bird did, she spoke: “You two also know each other?”

Master Xie Tai Shan replied: “How can the bird and his original Master who took care of the bird family do not know each other?”

Chu Qiao with happy eyes suddenly felt some hope, she asked: “The bird originally came from you? This bird belonged to you?”

In fact, I have sealed this bird a special mark on its feet. This bird was lost when he was still young and left his mother and father bird in sadness, said Master Xie Tai Shan.

“Really? This bird can talk and always utter the name of the Fourth Young Master Yuwen Yue so. So I took it along with me. It camped in our roof and stayed there for long.”

Master Xie Tai Shan said: “You said this bird can talk?”

“Yes, he can, but it is not so much often. The bird also calls me Xinger.” Chu Qiao smiles.

Master Xie Tai Shan suddenly became quiet. Chu Qiao asked the Master for him if she can be accommodated for quite some time to visit the cenotaph of the Fourth Young Master.

“Yes. You may, but after you left that day, many hunters-gatherers who passed by this route came to offer flowers and followed the arrangements you set up in the cenotaph. Visitors came more often to offer incenses, plum flowers, and candles.” said Master Xie Tai Shan.

Chu Qiao gave a blank stare to Master Xie Tai Shan for a while. She did not expect this would happen, the cenotaph became a visiting place for ordinary people and remembers Fourth Young master’s good deeds. Yuwen Yue’s gentlemanliness opposite to his ruthless cousin Yuwen Huai.

After a long stare, Chu Qiao found words to say: “Should I complain, Master Xie Tai Shan? Even a bird cannot forget its name, and the people he served what do we know about this impact he had left with them?”

Master Xie Tai Shan smiled at her and said: “Go, and come back soon, I’ll cook for our dinner.”

Chu Qiao smiled at him too, she was holding a basket of plum flowers she gathered along the way. She also packed some candles and incense sticks to offer. The Cangwu bird went back to Chu Qiao’s shoulder. Both beings slowly walked into the cold forest.

Across the skies are beautifully painted hues of orange, light blue and yellow. Now slowly devoured by the gray dark clouds. Early twinkling stars revealed, spread in the windows of darkness and light.

The fruit bats suddenly flew on swirling motion giving birth to beautiful haunting memories of her former life. The forest once again enchanted with all kinds of insects sounds. the woman walking with a candle holder, a light to guide her way trailing the empty cenotaph.

♥♥♥

Chapter 057 

♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Mysterious Ways (proofread done)

As the summer ends, autumn befalls in between the borders of Wei and Liang States. The trees start to change its leaf color from green to red, yellow-orange to brown. The leaves start to quiver and flowers, start to bloom, replacing its absent leaves from the tree branches. The cold wind starts turns the heat of the sun into cool weather while forests start to moist from the small drops of rain.

Yue Qi trailing the forest between Wei and Liang borders when suddenly he bumped into a group of nomadic hunter-gatherers, and he asked them: “To where are those flowers for?”

One of the children came to him and said: “We are going to offer it to the empty tomb.”

Yue Qi curious of an empty tomb he asked again: “May I join you?”

“No!” said their leader but you may if you help us carry some of our loads.

Yue Qi unarmed except for some cold weapons hid in the peasant dress, ordinary footwear, wears his charming face, smiled at them and help the old man carry their baskets. Together they went on their way.

When they reached the place, Yue Qi somehow tip-toed on his heels just to see the cenotaph that people are visiting and offering some candles and incense. He was curious about the name. Yue Qi can’t come near due to the flower surrounding the cenotaph and a little pathway that only one people can walk to take its turn, offer their candles, and plum flowers.

Yue Qi unable to come near he fake his unawareness, asked: “Who is this master that common people are visiting? Is he an important figure?”

One of the hunters answered: “This is the cenotaph of the Fourth Young Master of the Yuwen household.”

“What?” Yue Qi pretended he did not hear it clearly.

“Yes, you hear it right. I know what you are thinking. We had the same reaction as you at first.” said the leader of the hunter-gatherers.

Yue Qi confused he asked: “The Cenotaph is an empty tomb but how did someone on this border put up with it?”

“As for the person who put up this cenotaph it is unknown, we just saw this one stand here.”

Yue Qi still guessing why do people come here often to pay their respects asked again: “Why are these people coming and going here?”

After his death, everyone from Chang’An from small to big villages came to the Yuwen household. The claimed they were fourth young master’s fruits of kindness. While the Master was still alive, he secretly helped and saved them in times of their needs.”

Yue Qi impressed continued to hear more stories.

“Due to its popularity when he died, the Yuwen household banned his name and every mourning rites for the young master after his last stand on the frozen lake.”

The old woman was about to become sad but continued: “Eventually the Yuwen family disowning him because he is a disgrace to the entire Yuwen Clan by laying his life to humble blood.”

“According to the circulated news, he died defending a Yuwen maidservant. And the maidservant joined the King of Yanbei and eventually turned her back to the fourth young master. Now the maidservant turned his back to King of Yanbei again and married 13th Prince of Wei. She is a gold digger. After the Fourth Young Master’s favor, she went after the other.” Bitterly told by the old woman.

Yue Qi on his silence did not react to it. This circulated news was not the real thing.

After all, they are but rumors that worked to their advantage at that time but not today. It somehow got affected by it knowing that Yuwen Yue is alive.

It is not true that he came to the frozen lake for such an impulsive move.

He was there, he put his life into it.

Another poor old woman on his peasant dress added: The Fourth Young master of the Yuwen household inspired us his story of love for the fortunate maidservant. Though the end is sad, I have always thought he is the most romantic among all cold masters in the Yuwen household. Although the heir to the Eyes of God rarely seen in the outside, he possessed a soft spot for the small and poor people. Yet he did not even show its love while he was alive. When he died, we heard about this love for the poor people have grown stronger through it. Therefore making this person travel this far just to offer incense at his empty tomb.”

“And what about Fourth Young master’s bodyguards?” Yue Qi testing the waters of what have been the news for his brothers and if any of them was still alive.

“All of them, dead, except for one the rumors has it.”

Yue Qi secretly knows it’s him, he asked: “Do you know who this bodyguard is?”

They said his name is Yue Liu.

Yue Qi confirmed his name already crossed out from the book of the living and he is probably listed as dead person after two years of his stay at Kong Sang mountain. He became a Eunuch and taught the orphan houses where Prince Xiao Ce had been secretly raising kids from the victims of war.

A woman on her maidservant skirt covered her face with an Indigo scarf, and a bird on her shoulder passed by to offer incense and plum flowers to the Cenotaph.

Yue Qi did not see her face at first but looking at the Yuwen parrot, as soon as the woman offered her candles and flowers, he suddenly recognized it is Chu Qiao.

Yue Qi hid from the nomadic people to observe Chu Qiao. After it, Yue Qi followed her until he saw where Chu Qiao was residing.

A man in his late fifties is smoking outside of one of the wooden house, Yue Qi thought: “This is a strategic location and outside citizens are impossible to camp. This is the Liang royal guards barracks. It is about twenty kilometers away from Daoming Palace.” How Yue Qi could not know?

Chu Qiao lives in another wooden house that looks like a barracks while the smoking man, the feet crisscrossed is sitting in the chair. He is just enjoying life as if, there is nothing to worry in the world.

Yue Qi sat for a while and drew a map and settled in this spy location. Yue Qi is about to leave, when all of a sudden, a Master smoking in front of his face is standing at his back. He looks at him as a harmless being on his calm eyes and expressionless face. Yue Qi was trying harder to recall he had already seen this face.

“You do not have an idea of who your father is…”

The man said in a low, gentle voice without any violence even if he caught him spying in their barracks.

Yue Qi caught in the act cannot react or say a thing but does not feel he is being harmed in some way, he faked himself and said: “I am lost in the woods, I came with the hunter-gatherers and went to the empty tomb and cannot find my back home.”

“Some parts are true, but most of it is a cover-up.” And the man puffs his tobacco.

“I’ll tell you what happened. You followed her, and you are familiar with the bird.”

Yue Qi stunned at what he said he asked: “Who are you?”

Suddenly Master Xie Tai Shan took out his sword, and Yue Qi again stunned, he said: “a dull sword?”

“Who said its dull?”

Master Xie Tai Shan sat beside him and took out a triangular lime rock and started to sharpen the blade of its sword.

Yue Qi never been in fear until he asked: “Where is the animal you are going to butcher?”

“Did I say I will butcher an animal?”

Master Xie’s eyes still calm and expressionless, suddenly Yue Qi remembers Yuwen Yue.

This is the same expression of face his master does to him and Yue Qi not feeling some harm but irrational fear of the unknown and unpredictable move of this Master with the dull sword.

Suddenly a group of barbaric men surrounded them and Master Xie stood up and walked away from Yue Qi.

Yue Qi froze like ice, he was glued to his place and heard sounds of blade and ax fighting away from his eyes. He took the opportunity to leave the area and report to his master.

While in the middle of the bloodbath, Master Xie saw Yue Qi flee. He finally cut off the last neck to go without looking at his opponent, blood gushed out and splashed in his face. The fierce but calm eyes finally settled and returned the peace of the environment.

Once in a while, some of these lost barbaric men put this part of the Daoming Palace into the attack. So long as Master Xie Tai Shan lives, he occasionally patrols the border between Wei and Liang.

On his prerogatives, often restricts anyone to walk to this ground. Although this is the most vulnerable path, it is also the most difficult path to track and find. No one comes to this place and lives. The lucky escapes like Yue Qi, Chu Qiao, and the Old lady from Liang were able to survive.

Master Xie Tai Shan loves natural habitats and a bird lover, he spent all his life taking care of several birds.

One of his favorites is the Cangwu bird or the Parrot as called by the westerners. In his own language called this parrot birds as Cangwu as Cang means to conceal and Wu means a thing. As time goes by, these Cangwu birds, are intelligent bird species that can mimic or repeat human sounds based on their sharp memory.

As a result, it only reveals things rather than conceal them.

This became one of his problems as the birds do not help him conceal but rather expose him to various attacks in the past. He then created huge bird cages and inter-breed them to other birds producing mix breeds. However, he intentionally preserves one purebred family of parrot. Unfortunately, lost its male offspring but looking at it now, Chu Qiao may have taken back the lost bird. The only one of its male type while he only has the female type and did not let it inter-breed to other birds.

Looking at its haunting past, sad it may seem, Master Xie and one of the other Taichi Master, his distant cousin are the people who escaped when their small village near northeastern Wei borders when it was casted and burned on fire.

These small villages acted as the first line of hidden defense whenever an attack of barbaric tribes about to threaten the nomadic empires herds and cattle and not to mention their prime war horses breeding in their cold grounds.

The Great Summer Dynasty did not forget its nomadic roots, surrounded their empire with black and swordsmiths. These community barriers became a strategic defense from attackers and deal with these small tribal conflicts that do not need any attention from the Emperor at all.

Frequently these barbaric men who would dare to step on their land would only expect to meet and take a bath on their own blood. One will surely meet their ends at the hands of these cruel small villagers residing on it borders before they even enter or pass the immeasurable grasslands, finally reaches the fortified walls of Wei Valve.

Setting fire on one of these small villages alerts the Eyes of God immediately that passes through a system of mechanic communication underground. These would finally reach the masters of the Eyes of God and all wise empire decision will be made from it.

Master Xie one of the best swordsman, a master of blades that served the brightest of Wei ‘s Imperial army military officials gave up all of his bright future ahead to save a baby prince in his lap.

That night after he bravely breached Yuwen Hao’s courtyard, as true it may seem it is a one-way ticket that no one lives. He opened his eyes saw a different world, though he saw another empire that he thinks he has been reincarnated into another time and another place, in reality, did not.

A group of Liang’s soldiers and their vice commander happen to pass by at the forest where his almost half dead body lies they thought he was dead. Xie Tai Shan dressed in disguise, not his official Wei soldier uniform, one of the Liang soldiers took pity on him and brought him to the Vice Commander.

The Vice Commander is a man faithful and a follower of the Dao or the Way, rationalized in his mind to take him and help a brother in need that may someday become a common good to all and teaches his army of men a valuable lesson not to leave a man behind in need.

When Master Xie thought his life was over, it blossomed under the budding flower of Liang. He was taken to Liang’s Capital where he has been part of its uprising glory. He has witnessed the construction of the Daoming Palace and its enormous and luxuriant palace courtyards, including its one of the best gardens called the Li Garden or the Pear garden.

He was also invited to join of State examination held by the Liang Emperor every year where Master Xie met a lot of foreigners such as Japanese Prince, Turkish scholars, Indian scholars, and other scholars came from the neighboring countries.

Southern Liang is the home of beauty and poetry, home to various foreigners who were not allowed to enter or encamp at the conservative Great Summer Dynasty came to Tang Dynasty to enjoy arts and culture then spend their dimes on their greatest treasures. Master Xie had never appreciated this life much as his stay at the Daoming palace under the rule of the Southern Liang Emperor Tang.

His swordsman skills were later discovered, and the Emperor passed a decree to incorporate the original Jian swordsmanship to Liang’s Imperial army’s built-in eight its prefectures surrounding Liang Empire. The Southern Liang Empire followed the Imperial state of government but along it, the Emperor developed a central and regional government and settled an atmosphere of semi-democratic government, but in its real essence all powers still rely on the hands of its Emperor through a prime minister.

A retired man after 25 years of service in the Liang government. He asked the Emperor a piece of land, and it was granted by the seal of Emperor himself. He retreated in this secluded Liang border next to his homeland to which he has never stepped and crossed ever since that night of his death to life experience.

It was already afternoon when Master Xie back to his smoking habit, he sat in his favorite chair and thought of Yue Qi. A lost distant nephew from his distant cousin the renowned TaiChi master mother of Yue Qi and his six brothers. Master Xie met Yue Qi’s father when he went to Liang as the envoy of the Japanese royal prince who came to be educated with fine arts, poetry, and theater with interest to learn its great architecture lessons at that time.

Yue Qi’s father a Japanese by blood is the best assassin and spy and was not able to get back to his wife and six kids as he took Yue Qi with him in Japan. Later on, the father and sons met Master Xie and on his delight saw a little male child with him as he sees the little Yue Qi. He finally discovered that Yue Qi’s father was forced to take a Japanese wife as a gift from his Japanese Lord and borne another son and called him Zuo Zong.

Yue Qi’s name was renamed to a Japanese name, Zuo Shan. Yue Qi was too young to recall about his original Chinese mother, the Taichi Master and Master’s Xie’s distant cousin, the only two survivors from the past small village thrown into the fire can only recall their childhood memories together, and then nothing more came in between as a happy memory to linger on. After that fateful meeting, Master Xie never heard any news about Yue Qi’s father. He never saw Yue Qi until today.

Master Xie still smoking turns back his memories of his golden childhood. He once recalled a past love, while he was being trained to possess the gift of swordman’s hand. On the other side, he looks at a girl who had the gift of wind and possesses the power of martial arts called TaiChi. Later on, he learned that after his father took her to the Woolong mountains, the TaiChi master already came back to their village as a wife to a foreigner husband and a mother of seven sons.

Master Xie heart, felt the only girl who captured his heart on his early life already kept a quiet married life and missed his chance to tell her his unrequited love.

Yue Qi running across the woods on its way back to Xue Fu street when suddenly a black ninja plotted a lure that caught Yue Qi’s feet on the ground.

Yue Qi on an upside down position, suspended on air one of his foot tied to a rope and swinging back and forth.

While the black ninja’s covered face, showing him calm eyes, Yue Qi knows he is no threat to his life. Yue Qi’s time is important, he said to the black ninja to deceive him: “What do you want from me?”

Yue Qi pulled out the map in his dress but instead his jade pendant dropped.

After a while, the black ninja walked to pick up the jade pendant. Suddenly Yue Qi on his mistake he said in an angry voice: “Do not even attempt to touch it.”

The black ninja stopped and did not pick up suddenly thought: “if he is the one then he will pass this test.”

As immature as he is, the black ninja suddenly threw a star dart to cut the rope, but Yue Qi suddenly took the star dart and swinging his rope hard until his body reached to a nearby tree branch. He threw his arms and hands, like Tarzan.

Yue Qi landed on the tree branch and used the star dart in his hand to cut the rope in his feet.

The black ninja without looking at his opponent suddenly continued to walk to pick up the jade pendant. The ground is full of autumn leaves. But Yue Qi does not want the pendant to be touched by anyone else, he used the same rope to pick up the jade pendant.

Without looking, the black ninja counter attacked Yue Qi. While the black ninja momentarily distracted, he continued to walk to pick up the jade pendant.

Yue Qi lost his temper he issued the second warning said: “You don’t even know how to understand when a warning has been issued on air..”

Peng!

The black ninja became deaf, and Yue Qi stabs his chest using the star dart.

The black ninja felt its sharp pain inside his body, he started to talk, said: “I agree to disagree..” and the black ninja passed out holding the jade pendant in his hands.

♥♥♥

Chapter 057 

♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Mysterious Ways (proofread done)

As the summer ends, autumn befalls in between the borders of Wei and Liang States. The trees start to change its leaf color from green to red, yellow-orange to brown. The leaves start to quiver and flowers, start to bloom, replacing its absent leaves from the tree branches. The cold wind starts turns the heat of the sun into cool weather while forests start to moist from the small drops of rain.

Yue Qi trailing the forest between Wei and Liang borders when suddenly he bumped into a group of nomadic hunter-gatherers, and he asked them: “To where are those flowers for?”

One of the children came to him and said: “We are going to offer it to the empty tomb.”

Yue Qi curious of an empty tomb he asked again: “May I join you?”

“No!” said their leader but you may if you help us carry some of our loads.

Yue Qi unarmed except for some cold weapons hid in the peasant dress, ordinary footwear, wears his charming face, smiled at them and help the old man carry their baskets. Together they went on their way.

When they reached the place, Yue Qi somehow tip-toed on his heels just to see the cenotaph that people are visiting and offering some candles and incense. He was curious about the name. Yue Qi can’t come near due to the flower surrounding the cenotaph and a little pathway that only one people can walk to take its turn, offer their candles, and plum flowers.

Yue Qi unable to come near he fake his unawareness, asked: “Who is this master that common people are visiting? Is he an important figure?”

One of the hunters answered: “This is the cenotaph of the Fourth Young Master of the Yuwen household.”

“What?” Yue Qi pretended he did not hear it clearly.

“Yes, you hear it right. I know what you are thinking. We had the same reaction as you at first.” said the leader of the hunter-gatherers.

Yue Qi confused he asked: “The Cenotaph is an empty tomb but how did someone on this border put up with it?”

“As for the person who put up this cenotaph it is unknown, we just saw this one stand here.”

Yue Qi still guessing why do people come here often to pay their respects asked again: “Why are these people coming and going here?”

After his death, everyone from Chang’An from small to big villages came to the Yuwen household. The claimed they were fourth young master’s fruits of kindness. While the Master was still alive, he secretly helped and saved them in times of their needs.”

Yue Qi impressed continued to hear more stories.

“Due to its popularity when he died, the Yuwen household banned his name and every mourning rites for the young master after his last stand on the frozen lake.”

The old woman was about to become sad but continued: “Eventually the Yuwen family disowning him because he is a disgrace to the entire Yuwen Clan by laying his life to humble blood.”

“According to the circulated news, he died defending a Yuwen maidservant. And the maidservant joined the King of Yanbei and eventually turned her back to the fourth young master. Now the maidservant turned his back to King of Yanbei again and married 13th Prince of Wei. She is a gold digger. After the Fourth Young Master’s favor, she went after the other.” Bitterly told by the old woman.

Yue Qi on his silence did not react to it. This circulated news was not the real thing.

After all, they are but rumors that worked to their advantage at that time but not today. It somehow got affected by it knowing that Yuwen Yue is alive.

It is not true that he came to the frozen lake for such an impulsive move.

He was there, he put his life into it.

Another poor old woman on his peasant dress added: The Fourth Young master of the Yuwen household inspired us his story of love for the fortunate maidservant. Though the end is sad, I have always thought he is the most romantic among all cold masters in the Yuwen household. Although the heir to the Eyes of God rarely seen in the outside, he possessed a soft spot for the small and poor people. Yet he did not even show its love while he was alive. When he died, we heard about this love for the poor people have grown stronger through it. Therefore making this person travel this far just to offer incense at his empty tomb.”

“And what about Fourth Young master’s bodyguards?” Yue Qi testing the waters of what have been the news for his brothers and if any of them was still alive.

“All of them, dead, except for one the rumors has it.”

Yue Qi secretly knows it’s him, he asked: “Do you know who this bodyguard is?”

They said his name is Yue Liu.

Yue Qi confirmed his name already crossed out from the book of the living and he is probably listed as dead person after two years of his stay at Kong Sang mountain. He became a Eunuch and taught the orphan houses where Prince Xiao Ce had been secretly raising kids from the victims of war.

A woman on her maidservant skirt covered her face with an Indigo scarf, and a bird on her shoulder passed by to offer incense and plum flowers to the Cenotaph.

Yue Qi did not see her face at first but looking at the Yuwen parrot, as soon as the woman offered her candles and flowers, he suddenly recognized it is Chu Qiao.

Yue Qi hid from the nomadic people to observe Chu Qiao. After it, Yue Qi followed her until he saw where Chu Qiao was residing.

A man in his late fifties is smoking outside of one of the wooden house, Yue Qi thought: “This is a strategic location and outside citizens are impossible to camp. This is the Liang royal guards barracks. It is about twenty kilometers away from Daoming Palace.” How Yue Qi could not know?

Chu Qiao lives in another wooden house that looks like a barracks while the smoking man, the feet crisscrossed is sitting in the chair. He is just enjoying life as if, there is nothing to worry in the world.

Yue Qi sat for a while and drew a map and settled in this spy location. Yue Qi is about to leave, when all of a sudden, a Master smoking in front of his face is standing at his back. He looks at him as a harmless being on his calm eyes and expressionless face. Yue Qi was trying harder to recall he had already seen this face.

“You do not have an idea of who your father is…”

The man said in a low, gentle voice without any violence even if he caught him spying in their barracks.

Yue Qi caught in the act cannot react or say a thing but does not feel he is being harmed in some way, he faked himself and said: “I am lost in the woods, I came with the hunter-gatherers and went to the empty tomb and cannot find my back home.”

“Some parts are true, but most of it is a cover-up.” And the man puffs his tobacco.

“I’ll tell you what happened. You followed her, and you are familiar with the bird.”

Yue Qi stunned at what he said he asked: “Who are you?”

Suddenly Master Xie Tai Shan took out his sword, and Yue Qi again stunned, he said: “a dull sword?”

“Who said its dull?”

Master Xie Tai Shan sat beside him and took out a triangular lime rock and started to sharpen the blade of its sword.

Yue Qi never been in fear until he asked: “Where is the animal you are going to butcher?”

“Did I say I will butcher an animal?”

Master Xie’s eyes still calm and expressionless, suddenly Yue Qi remembers Yuwen Yue.

This is the same expression of face his master does to him and Yue Qi not feeling some harm but irrational fear of the unknown and unpredictable move of this Master with the dull sword.

Suddenly a group of barbaric men surrounded them and Master Xie stood up and walked away from Yue Qi.

Yue Qi froze like ice, he was glued to his place and heard sounds of blade and ax fighting away from his eyes. He took the opportunity to leave the area and report to his master.

While in the middle of the bloodbath, Master Xie saw Yue Qi flee. He finally cut off the last neck to go without looking at his opponent, blood gushed out and splashed in his face. The fierce but calm eyes finally settled and returned the peace of the environment.

Once in a while, some of these lost barbaric men put this part of the Daoming Palace into the attack. So long as Master Xie Tai Shan lives, he occasionally patrols the border between Wei and Liang.

On his prerogatives, often restricts anyone to walk to this ground. Although this is the most vulnerable path, it is also the most difficult path to track and find. No one comes to this place and lives. The lucky escapes like Yue Qi, Chu Qiao, and the Old lady from Liang were able to survive.

Master Xie Tai Shan loves natural habitats and a bird lover, he spent all his life taking care of several birds.

One of his favorites is the Cangwu bird or the Parrot as called by the westerners. In his own language called this parrot birds as Cangwu as Cang means to conceal and Wu means a thing. As time goes by, these Cangwu birds, are intelligent bird species that can mimic or repeat human sounds based on their sharp memory.

As a result, it only reveals things rather than conceal them.

This became one of his problems as the birds do not help him conceal but rather expose him to various attacks in the past. He then created huge bird cages and inter-breed them to other birds producing mix breeds. However, he intentionally preserves one purebred family of parrot. Unfortunately, lost its male offspring but looking at it now, Chu Qiao may have taken back the lost bird. The only one of its male type while he only has the female type and did not let it inter-breed to other birds.

Looking at its haunting past, sad it may seem, Master Xie and one of the other Taichi Master, his distant cousin are the people who escaped when their small village near northeastern Wei borders when it was casted and burned on fire.

These small villages acted as the first line of hidden defense whenever an attack of barbaric tribes about to threaten the nomadic empires herds and cattle and not to mention their prime war horses breeding in their cold grounds.

The Great Summer Dynasty did not forget its nomadic roots, surrounded their empire with black and swordsmiths. These community barriers became a strategic defense from attackers and deal with these small tribal conflicts that do not need any attention from the Emperor at all.

Frequently these barbaric men who would dare to step on their land would only expect to meet and take a bath on their own blood. One will surely meet their ends at the hands of these cruel small villagers residing on it borders before they even enter or pass the immeasurable grasslands, finally reaches the fortified walls of Wei Valve.

Setting fire on one of these small villages alerts the Eyes of God immediately that passes through a system of mechanic communication underground. These would finally reach the masters of the Eyes of God and all wise empire decision will be made from it.

Master Xie one of the best swordsman, a master of blades that served the brightest of Wei ‘s Imperial army military officials gave up all of his bright future ahead to save a baby prince in his lap.

That night after he bravely breached Yuwen Hao’s courtyard, as true it may seem it is a one-way ticket that no one lives. He opened his eyes saw a different world, though he saw another empire that he thinks he has been reincarnated into another time and another place, in reality, did not.

A group of Liang’s soldiers and their vice commander happen to pass by at the forest where his almost half dead body lies they thought he was dead. Xie Tai Shan dressed in disguise, not his official Wei soldier uniform, one of the Liang soldiers took pity on him and brought him to the Vice Commander.

The Vice Commander is a man faithful and a follower of the Dao or the Way, rationalized in his mind to take him and help a brother in need that may someday become a common good to all and teaches his army of men a valuable lesson not to leave a man behind in need.

When Master Xie thought his life was over, it blossomed under the budding flower of Liang. He was taken to Liang’s Capital where he has been part of its uprising glory. He has witnessed the construction of the Daoming Palace and its enormous and luxuriant palace courtyards, including its one of the best gardens called the Li Garden or the Pear garden.

He was also invited to join of State examination held by the Liang Emperor every year where Master Xie met a lot of foreigners such as Japanese Prince, Turkish scholars, Indian scholars, and other scholars came from the neighboring countries.

Southern Liang is the home of beauty and poetry, home to various foreigners who were not allowed to enter or encamp at the conservative Great Summer Dynasty came to Tang Dynasty to enjoy arts and culture then spend their dimes on their greatest treasures. Master Xie had never appreciated this life much as his stay at the Daoming palace under the rule of the Southern Liang Emperor Tang.

His swordsman skills were later discovered, and the Emperor passed a decree to incorporate the original Jian swordsmanship to Liang’s Imperial army’s built-in eight its prefectures surrounding Liang Empire. The Southern Liang Empire followed the Imperial state of government but along it, the Emperor developed a central and regional government and settled an atmosphere of semi-democratic government, but in its real essence all powers still rely on the hands of its Emperor through a prime minister.

A retired man after 25 years of service in the Liang government. He asked the Emperor a piece of land, and it was granted by the seal of Emperor himself. He retreated in this secluded Liang border next to his homeland to which he has never stepped and crossed ever since that night of his death to life experience.

It was already afternoon when Master Xie back to his smoking habit, he sat in his favorite chair and thought of Yue Qi. A lost distant nephew from his distant cousin the renowned TaiChi master mother of Yue Qi and his six brothers. Master Xie met Yue Qi’s father when he went to Liang as the envoy of the Japanese royal prince who came to be educated with fine arts, poetry, and theater with interest to learn its great architecture lessons at that time.

Yue Qi’s father a Japanese by blood is the best assassin and spy and was not able to get back to his wife and six kids as he took Yue Qi with him in Japan. Later on, the father and sons met Master Xie and on his delight saw a little male child with him as he sees the little Yue Qi. He finally discovered that Yue Qi’s father was forced to take a Japanese wife as a gift from his Japanese Lord and borne another son and called him Zuo Zong.

Yue Qi’s name was renamed to a Japanese name, Zuo Shan. Yue Qi was too young to recall about his original Chinese mother, the Taichi Master and Master’s Xie’s distant cousin, the only two survivors from the past small village thrown into the fire can only recall their childhood memories together, and then nothing more came in between as a happy memory to linger on. After that fateful meeting, Master Xie never heard any news about Yue Qi’s father. He never saw Yue Qi until today.

Master Xie still smoking turns back his memories of his golden childhood. He once recalled a past love, while he was being trained to possess the gift of swordman’s hand. On the other side, he looks at a girl who had the gift of wind and possesses the power of martial arts called TaiChi. Later on, he learned that after his father took her to the Woolong mountains, the TaiChi master already came back to their village as a wife to a foreigner husband and a mother of seven sons.

Master Xie heart, felt the only girl who captured his heart on his early life already kept a quiet married life and missed his chance to tell her his unrequited love.

Yue Qi running across the woods on its way back to Xue Fu street when suddenly a black ninja plotted a lure that caught Yue Qi’s feet on the ground.

Yue Qi on an upside down position, suspended on air one of his foot tied to a rope and swinging back and forth.

While the black ninja’s covered face, showing him calm eyes, Yue Qi knows he is no threat to his life. Yue Qi’s time is important, he said to the black ninja to deceive him: “What do you want from me?”

Yue Qi pulled out the map in his dress but instead his jade pendant dropped.

After a while, the black ninja walked to pick up the jade pendant. Suddenly Yue Qi on his mistake he said in an angry voice: “Do not even attempt to touch it.”

The black ninja stopped and did not pick up suddenly thought: “if he is the one then he will pass this test.”

As immature as he is, the black ninja suddenly threw a star dart to cut the rope, but Yue Qi suddenly took the star dart and swinging his rope hard until his body reached to a nearby tree branch. He threw his arms and hands, like Tarzan.

Yue Qi landed on the tree branch and used the star dart in his hand to cut the rope in his feet.

The black ninja without looking at his opponent suddenly continued to walk to pick up the jade pendant. The ground is full of autumn leaves. But Yue Qi does not want the pendant to be touched by anyone else, he used the same rope to pick up the jade pendant.

Without looking, the black ninja counter attacked Yue Qi. While the black ninja momentarily distracted, he continued to walk to pick up the jade pendant.

Yue Qi lost his temper he issued the second warning said: “You don’t even know how to understand when a warning has been issued on air..”

Peng!

The black ninja became deaf, and Yue Qi stabs his chest using the star dart.

The black ninja felt its sharp pain inside his body, he started to talk, said: “I agree to disagree..” and the black ninja passed out holding the jade pendant in his hands.

♥♥♥

Chapter 058

♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Watcher’s of the Night

Yue Qi held the head of the black ninja who looks so pale but breathing heavily, he took out the black ninja’s mask and finally reveal its face. Yue Qi quickly tore his clothes and looked at the wound in his chest when he found the same jade pendant like his that served as a lifesaver for the young black ninja.

Yue Qi finally remembers 12 years ago, a young brother he left at Shangxi port, Luoyang Shaolin temple. How can he forget the jade he gave to his brother?

Yue Qi left with no options but to save his brother decided to turn back at Master Xie’s wooden house. Zuo Zong’s wound is not that deep but still needs first aid to prevent further infection.

Chu Qiao after two days of staying at the Master’s Xie left the Cangwu bird to him said: Master Xie, I cannot tell you stories you would like to hear yet, but please take care of this bird for me, I will come back for it when everything is ironed out.

Master Xie on his chinky eyes did not object and took the bird, his calm eyes assured Chu Qiao everything will be alright.

Chu Qiao on her half hoodie poncho and her ordinary dress went on her way with a bomb in her heart as she hears her horse’s hoof trailing the cold forest she cannot help but think again about what she has done leaving his husband’s lodge. Chu Qiao has never been this bold and sure of herself of one thing, and that is to go back to the world of endless war and take up his Xuili General uniform and show the world who is the original victor. But at the moment, she also thought of smashing Wei and eventually lead its downfall by taking up the Wei crown princess position and ousting the puppet of Xiao Yu.

She knew that his husband was seduced and eventually fell to their traps, and Ra Yue did not even care to let her know or became honest to her and just ask her to leave the place so she would not discover what happened, needs no further explanation, she smirked and said: “Well, guess what! You will come to regret what you have done! You will soon know who your wife, showing you who she really is!”

Chu Qiao picking up herself after a good cry alone in this cold forest, although the marriage was not at all consummated, she still feels she is being lured and used by Ra Yue. In fact, she has also lots of questions about him, about his brother Yue Qi who looks like Master Zuo but she never gave herself a chance to know Ra Yue for a lifetime as his husband told him. During her short stay at Master Xie, she frequently visited the Fourth young master tomb and find some interesting stories and rumors about the Cenotaph of Yuwen Yue. She is somewhat angry for the news that spread over Wei about this maidservant Xinger whom she thinks people are linking it to Chu Qiao the present Wei crown princess. She thinks this is not what really happened because they are talking to the real Chu Qiao, in front of them and yet nobody sensed she is the real one as she did not intend to introduce herself to them. She listened tirelessly at their stories and that reminded her of her past memories, like the autumn leaves falling her memories falling into the right place even the bird at her shoulder cannot forget Yuwen Yue and Xinger.

Chu Qiao had not been better after she walked away from Ra Yue. Loads of heavy feelings came to her adding what she heard all along she wanted to believe she is Xinger, the fourth young master’s reason for his untimely death, she listened to the sad story over and over again, but somehow this is the reason why this poor people come and visits Yuwen Yue’s cenotaph, that poor people inspired and believed that as an esteemed aristocratic, important figure like him could fall for a humble blood and defend a maidservant talks a lot how the fourth Master of the Yuwen household has a different heart towards the poor and how he treats the slaves under Greenhills courtyard. Unlike his famous cousin Yuwen Huai who can be approached easily by his slaves but deals with them under his sword afterward, this cold and distant fourth young master when he was still alive was aloof and almost cannot be seen in public or hard to reach out but occasionally brings himself to his slaves request and bestows favor like what he did to Xinger.

Chu Qiao felt everything is real, desperate to end her sorrow with the fourth young master and to know who is Xinger to him, she asked herself a question: Am I really Xinger? And once again in the middle of this cold forest, she closed her eyes and eventually decides to use her Hing Ba Na powers the power to accept or decline she ordered to go back in time when the fourth young master was still alive. The flower tattoo at her back once again about to begin to disappear in the flicker of light that meant she is giving up her immortality and powers to gain back her past memory when suddenly Viper shouted at her and said: “No! Mimi Gongzhu come back!”

Chu Qiao suddenly snapped back at present, all the flickering light suspended like a red glowing shattered pieces and floating in front of her eyes she opened it, all of sudden like a swirling motion surrounded her back Chu Qiao came to watch the last stand at the frozen lake and granted her wish to flashback all of her memories with Yuwen Yue, she confirmed at this night that  Chu Qiao is Xinger and that face of the man she has been dreaming on her nightmares finally like a crystal clear eyes, she saw the face of the fourth young master Yuwen Yue. Then the red broken pieces of the Higanbana flower changed its colors to black and slowly settled at her back so is Chu Qiao losing her life and if she fails to control its powers, she will die and walk through the afterlife permanently. Chu Qiao already empties of her mortal self and oxygen in her body, she lost her “qi” flow.

Viper quickly grabbed the last piece of the Higanbana flower settling at Chu Qiao’s back, cutting her wrist, she let the blood drip into it. Chu Qiao comes back to life when the color of the Higanbana flower turned back to its red color. It restored back her “qi” flow, it went upward to regain her breath while Viper holding the last piece of the Higanbana flower the last to go, she finally blew it so beautiful as the pieces came to engrave Chu Qiao body and the secret princess revived and her body glowing from the pitch black night.

Viper’s power has been bestowed to her at the time she came to this world and occupy a mortal body. Her appearance this night transformed her true nature as one of the most powerful underworld spies and displayed her ability to help Mimi Gongzhu. It was just an instinct, she didn’t know as well until she used her blood to save Chu Qiao and used her powers to suspend the last piece of Higanbana flower before it settled in Mimi GongZhu’s back.

Viper came close to Chu Qiao to help the secret princess, she checked her pulse and somehow passed the dangerous flatline of her heartbeat, she took her and put her on her horse, and they rode back to the Xuili army.

Yue Qi arrived at Master Xie’s wooden house and on his back shoulder was his brother, Zou Zong, in a desperate whisper he called the smoking old man: “I came back, and you can kill me after but before you do, please help me save my brother.”

Master Xie already knows this is going to happen tonight waited at the branch of the tree, and like a bird, he flew to land in the forest ground and looked at Yue Qi he said: “Only a fool flees and comes back here. You saw what happened earlier, no one steps and leaves this place alive.”

Yue Qi sensing the Master’s angry voice for fleeing earlier he begged him and said: I know now, but here is my brother with me, wounded in his chest, you can kill me after, please just help him. Yue Qi on his crying voice kneel in front of Master Xie, and Zuo was gently put on the ground to rest. Zuo’s wounds were temporarily stopped by Yue Qi but needs some antiseptic to prevent further infection. Master Xie Tai Shan not wanting to be deceived again but teach Yue Qi a lesson he would remember suddenly about to strike his head when suddenly a strong cold presence came to counter attacked it with his sword. Master Xie felt the total resistance, and the cold wind blew his face and sensed a full force affected his meridians finds himself unable to strike him back.

The man on his brown hood made of canvas material, cold eyes, without looking at Master Xie but looked at the two men said: “Master, I beg you, we are in need of your urgent help. Please..” And this man’s cold eyes shifted to Zuo’s wound inspecting how long it has already been exposed the wound on sight suddenly captures Master Xie eyes, he is about to break his rules he said: How long he has been stabbed?

Yue Qi did not mind who this stranger cold presence on his villain but friendy like suit answered Master Xie’s question: “Maybe 5 hours.”

Master Xie on his calm eyes did not move but already knows his wounds are exposed to infection and may have complications, later on, he put back his sword on his waist and took the young man’s pale body in his wooden house. The two men followed his back, and Yue Qi already sensed a familiar feeling with the cold man beside him Yue Qi looked at him and still no idea of who he is.

Master Xie calmly put the patient in a wooden table, and like what he did to Chu Qiao the night she was shot by a poisonous arrow, he treated Zuo Zong using only the fresh and natural medicines at hand. Master Xie skills on cutting a wound and the way he poured out the antiseptic and how he stuffed the herbals inside the wound gave the two witness a fantastic sight and became curious how could a man living alone with the forest such have an idea of this type of treatment. Yue Qi cannot help himself said: “Amazing!”

While the cold man beside him said: “wrapped it like an alchemist’s hand, prolonging life, a Daoist master’s way.”

This type of second level treatment is simple and yet can save a life to last fifty years or more.

Master Xie suddenly stunned about what he heard his mind echoed: “Daoist master’s way.”

Master Xie suddenly unsheath his sword and waved in front of the cold man, he looked at him and said: “Tianshi Dao” reveal yourself!

The cold man unable to hide his identity slowly uncover his brown hood and revealed his face to them.

Yue Qi was startled and suddenly bowed in front of him while Master Xie stuck on his feet, cold like ice stare and dropped its sword in his presence.

♥♥♥

Chapter 059

♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Blacklisted Empire 

Two horses outside the Xuili main gate, Viper waved her red jade pass and the Xuili guards eventually opened its gate to welcome their General and Viper warned the duty guard not to spread this news yet or else they will be punished severely.

The duty guards goosebumps crept in their skin, feared her, nodded their head and the two horses slowly walked until it reached their General Quarters.

Finally, after a year from General’s Chu’s disappearance through Yuan Song’s breach and abduction, the Yanbei General back to the perimeters of Xuili mountain rested her tired soul and reflected on her true self. This time when Chu Qiao discovered who she really is, she remained there in their secret custody.

Chu Qiao let some time pass, a year or so after that night where she almost lost her life digging her past memories and Viper came to save her. Chu Qiao facing the cold and calm waters of the river in the Xuili mountain asked Viper: Why did you hold one piece of the Higanbana flower?

Viper squinted her eyes, and she answered Chu Qiao: “because if I did not cut my wrist and save your almost lifeless body, you would be lost forever and that flower in your back will grow in your body until you return your mortal self to dust…”

…and then Viper paused she went beside Chu Qiao threw a stone to the river and continued…

“If that happens, red Higanbana flowers will grow at the place where both of you last saw each other’s face and the frozen lake where you both parted will turn to a field of Higanbana flower. It shall grow and stay there forever as a sign that love died in that place, you shall never cross your path again even in your next life.”

Chu Qiao suddenly realized: “Such a sad story. I am glad you came and saved me.”

Viper looked at the calm river and did not mention to the secret princess, underworld spies are never allowed to transfuse their blood as this will decrease their powers and immortality, she will become human and can die, loses her essence as an underworld spy. Like what happened to Trailkoya, the day he sacrificed himself, spilled blood to save the Chu Qiao the leader of wind and cloud decree, Trailkoya lost his godlike powers and became human eventually died at the hands of Yuwen Hao. The underworld spies will have the full measure of its powers upon the setting of the moonrise in its darkest skies.

**

Yuwen Yue riding in a palanquin with eight people carrying on their shoulders, its windows covered with thick canvas curtain covered the back and sideways while in front of him is thin veil laid down to cover His Highness face, with rolled thick canvas curtain. Yuwen Yue’s face covered with a heavy metal mask. traveled his first official royal visit to the King of the far eastern tribes and settle its disputes around their borders. The distant eastern tribe has been reported killing all small tribes and became barbaric as they set on fire the small villages where some nonviolent tribes suffered heavy losses, and innocent blood was shed. Zuo and Yue Qi on his left and right side completed his envoy and made him able to win fights and war over the Ximeng’s vast lands to conquer and to unite people of different tongues and tribes.

It has already been a year when he left the Wei-Liang borders whom he accidentally reunited with his mother’s brother Master Xie Tai Shan. This figure completed Yuwen Yue’s missing story of his birth and how did he come to the Yuwen household. Also, this paved the way to discover Yue Qi and Zuo Zong’s long forgotten connection, like blood brothers. Yuwen Yue became one of the happiest men, and it seems everything came to light except for his gloomy heart. Yuwen Yue even saw his Cenotaph surround by many plum flowers and lots of incense and tea candles offered by the people of Wei, it warmed his heart. He also heard stories some good, and some are bad, but the people having no idea of the fourth young master’s face did not realize that they were talking and looking at him eye-to-eye.

Yuwen Yue stayed in the Wei-Liang border for almost three months enjoying the company of his Uncle where they both fish together, breed some birds together, drop-in their bonfire nights, trekked the cold snowy mountains, and just enjoying each other company together like a lost father and lost son. No amount of joyful tears can be poured to see these two souls meet in their perfect timing and only family company from his mother side and they even both practiced each other’s martial arts. Also, he stayed there hoping for his wife’s shadows to come but Yuwen Yue every night remained to wish upon a star.

Master Xie also revealed that Chu Qiao stayed with him and left the Cangwu bird, Yuwen Yue couldn’t be any happier than to reunite with his bird, his spark of hope through his darkest nights came back to his arms. Where the Yuwen parrot also bred his own family and have little five parrot birdlings next to their mother parrot. Yue Qi asked Master Xie to take care of one, but Zuo, not an animal lover did not request one for a pet. Instead, he taught the three men, how to meditate in a Buddist way, being Master Xie a Daoist master sometimes object. Yue Qi grew up in the household of Mohist Masters he is always making fun of his brother, and Yuwen Yue grew and taught by Mohists masters. He remained cold and distant but he received and was taught about Confucius way at the Woolong mountains. It happened after his frozen lake tragedy. Yuwen Yue from time to time, give them a sage piece of advice.

Yuwen Yue declined to accept the King’s rulership for valid reasons he told his father he has not been able to prove to their palace ministers he deserved to be one. Thus becoming different from all the Qinghai’s princes, where he is not in a hurry to step into the Qinghai Throne to rule, he opted to retain his status as their crown prince, an heir to the Qinghai Throne.

**

General Bali turned to Princess Zama and handed over her the paper snow and the princess read after a few minutes of staring at the letters began to fade. Princess Zama was not able to stop her tears still left her eyes staring at the Palace walls unable to do anything, all of her defense frozen and died in the snow.

From the night of the tributary hunt, Prince Zaru was left in the Xuili mountain as a prisoner of war and later was transferred at Yan Palace prison grounds while two of its blackguard spies were put into an underground prison. There was no news if Prince Zaru was still alive but the letter that Princess Zama received in the form of ode it was mentioned:

Forced to walk under the enemies painful ground

Tormented under the heat of the sun

Eat like a mouse trapped in a cats snare

Drunk the enemies eternal wrath

Yet day and night I remain cold and forgotten

Wishing death to come but eludes me like a mist in the morning

Let my name be forgotten, for I am disgrace to the blood of heroes

Who fought for the Great Summer’s fall

“I must not wait and be patient, it has been a year. We have not done anything. The 7th prince of Wei must act upon it, as one of their protectorate states, a trade must be opened. We have to know what is the Rebel king wants and see if we can comply for it” said Princess Zama on her angry but melancholic voice.

General Bali replied: “The blackguards have successfully planted the bombs around Meilin border pass, I am not sure why did the plan of demolition did not work?”

Princess Zama on her tribal Hanfu dress and beautiful droopy eyes responded: On the night we spied Xiao Yu and the crown prince Xiao Ce, I encountered a bloodsucker eyes of a spy. Do you know what that means?

General Bali replied: The underworld spies are active again?

Princess Zama walked outside their inner palace courtyard and looked at the dark skies and stared at the moon she said: When I was young, I remember father took me to a faraway kingdom, we stayed there for months and there I saw a camp of extraordinary children, saw their different powers and I fought one of them through the competition of bow and arrow, and I lost because they cracked my arm. Then I remember, I was bullied by everyone, they laughed at me when I lost because I cannot win with the girl who has the sand drizzle powers. Suddenly, another girl came to the ground, and I saw her back, she has the red flower tattoo, and everyone became quiet even those bullies who crack my arm did not dare, she holds my arms and suddenly the pain was gone, she gave that look to try again and hit the mark, she made me believe I can do it and I did. After it, everyone respected me and bowed to me, when I went to see the girl who has the red tattoo on her back she was gone and that was the last time I saw her.

So it means the underworld spies really do exists, your Highness?  General Bali asks.

“Yes, General, they are for real and it is hard to get a trace of evidence when they are at work. It is even hard to catch one of them, for it means one can only live and the other one dies,” said Princess Zama.

“You mean, your Highness, the underworld spies protect Yanbei?” General Bali questioning further.

Just like Luo He, the leader of the wind and cloud decree, she died for it.

“I heard that story before, she was hanged at the Wei garrison prison, the underworld spies suddenly came out from the dark and tried to save their leader. Is she the daughter of Luo He?” General Bali confirming the rumors he heard was true.

“That was one thing I am trying to understand for years, her daughter came to save her. Unfortunately, it’s too late. The leader of the Afterlife camp Zhan Ziyu came to visit Luo He to ambush her. Sadly, Lou He’s daughter came out, and they fought hard on the ground. I was there that day. It was the autumn season and I saw it myself how it happened. I felt the heavy power on the air, the rain did not stop. Suddenly, the thunder and gravity combined defied gravity. Eventually, the drops of rain suspended on air, like the world stopped. Sharp ice floating on air then it dropped on the ground and hit everyone did not die. After such display of power, the Afterlife camper spies learned a lesson they would never forget. Including their leader, Zhan Ziyu were all paralyzed that day.” Zama’s eyes wondering far looking at the moon above.

“Did someone saved you from the rain of sharp ice your Highness?” asked by General Bali.

“You mean the Kungfu of ice? Zaru did.” Zama cannot help herself but miss her brother whom she does not know if he is still alive.

“What do you plan to do your Highness?” General Bali estimating the Princess next steps.

“I am planning to do ask for a stage fight,” Zama replied.

“That’s a gamble, your Highness,” said, General Bali.

“In exchange for Zaru, I will do it.” Zama with a determined mind can do anything.

“And if you lose?” General Bali measuring what’s at stake.

“I won’t lose if the Shen Jin Emperor supports me, we can eventually deploy the black seal inside Yanbei.” Zama turning her cards to General Bali

“Are you saying that we…” General Bali not yet finished when Zama closed his mouth she said: “I want to see my brother even if I die doing so.”

“It is zero chance of getting back alive,” said General Bali.

“Not if I have the underworld spy who saved me before, it will be the best time to expose them. I know they are also eyeing on me. For some reason, they do not harm me whenever they see me.” Zama sounded so sure.

“When do we start?” Asked General Bali.

“We will start this fight under the winter’s moon. Where all human capacities are weak, and the Blackguard’s powers are strong. The underworld spies break out of their shell. We shall see who will stand to their last breath.” Zama back to looking at the crescent moon above the sky.

Zama turned to call on her bodyguard and said: “Shi Da, take this letter to the Shen Jin Emperor.”

Then turned to General Bali then said: “Uncle General, please keep this as a secret and I hope you would have to encourage the father to say yes, while we wait for their response.”

The blackguard spies held their black seal plan, and a delay happened when Prince Zaru was held in hostage. Therefore, it did not prevent Yanbei and Liang Union of state. While the Shen Jin Emperor change its course of the plan, he lifted the black seal as the Emperor is only relying on the move that he captured Yan Xun’s Tiger General Chu Qiao. The Emperor thinks that Chu Qiao will sit as an heir to Wei’s Throne. For the Emperor, this is an eternal scar adding to the deep wound whom Yan Xun endured from the Emperor.

**

Yan Xun gave Prince Zaru some corporal punishments as death is too easy he said to himself. One day, Yan Xun gave the Yanbei townsfolk a reason to watch the play in the middle of the giant soccer courtyard. The Black Prince Zaru was forced to walk in his knees with his head tied to the Prime war horse of Yanbei. The Black Prince endured the pain on his knees as its skin was stripped leaving his flesh exposed to the dirty grassy ground. Every Yanbei citizen mocked him, spit at him making the Prince on his dirty face unrecognizable, passed out. Yan Xun ordered his servants to take him back to Yan’s garrison prison.

♥♥♥

Chapter 059

♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Blacklisted Empire 

Two horses outside the Xuili main gate, Viper waved her red jade pass and the Xuili guards eventually opened its gate to welcome their General and Viper warned the duty guard not to spread this news yet or else they will be punished severely.

The duty guards goosebumps crept in their skin, feared her, nodded their head and the two horses slowly walked until it reached their General Quarters.

Finally, after a year from General’s Chu’s disappearance through Yuan Song’s breach and abduction, the Yanbei General back to the perimeters of Xuili mountain rested her tired soul and reflected on her true self. This time when Chu Qiao discovered who she really is, she remained there in their secret custody.

Chu Qiao let some time pass, a year or so after that night where she almost lost her life digging her past memories and Viper came to save her. Chu Qiao facing the cold and calm waters of the river in the Xuili mountain asked Viper: Why did you hold one piece of the Higanbana flower?

Viper squinted her eyes, and she answered Chu Qiao: “because if I did not cut my wrist and save your almost lifeless body, you would be lost forever and that flower in your back will grow in your body until you return your mortal self to dust…”

…and then Viper paused she went beside Chu Qiao threw a stone to the river and continued…

“If that happens, red Higanbana flowers will grow at the place where both of you last saw each other’s face and the frozen lake where you both parted will turn to a field of Higanbana flower. It shall grow and stay there forever as a sign that love died in that place, you shall never cross your path again even in your next life.”

Chu Qiao suddenly realized: “Such a sad story. I am glad you came and saved me.”

Viper looked at the calm river and did not mention to the secret princess, underworld spies are never allowed to transfuse their blood as this will decrease their powers and immortality, she will become human and can die, loses her essence as an underworld spy. Like what happened to Trailkoya, the day he sacrificed himself, spilled blood to save the Chu Qiao the leader of wind and cloud decree, Trailkoya lost his godlike powers and became human eventually died at the hands of Yuwen Hao. The underworld spies will have the full measure of its powers upon the setting of the moonrise in its darkest skies.

**

Yuwen Yue riding in a palanquin with eight people carrying on their shoulders, its windows covered with thick canvas curtain covered the back and sideways while in front of him is thin veil laid down to cover His Highness face, with rolled thick canvas curtain. Yuwen Yue’s face covered with a heavy metal mask. traveled his first official royal visit to the King of the far eastern tribes and settle its disputes around their borders. The distant eastern tribe has been reported killing all small tribes and became barbaric as they set on fire the small villages where some nonviolent tribes suffered heavy losses, and innocent blood was shed. Zuo and Yue Qi on his left and right side completed his envoy and made him able to win fights and war over the Ximeng’s vast lands to conquer and to unite people of different tongues and tribes.

It has already been a year when he left the Wei-Liang borders whom he accidentally reunited with his mother’s brother Master Xie Tai Shan. This figure completed Yuwen Yue’s missing story of his birth and how did he come to the Yuwen household. Also, this paved the way to discover Yue Qi and Zuo Zong’s long forgotten connection, like blood brothers. Yuwen Yue became one of the happiest men, and it seems everything came to light except for his gloomy heart. Yuwen Yue even saw his Cenotaph surround by many plum flowers and lots of incense and tea candles offered by the people of Wei, it warmed his heart. He also heard stories some good, and some are bad, but the people having no idea of the fourth young master’s face did not realize that they were talking and looking at him eye-to-eye.

Yuwen Yue stayed in the Wei-Liang border for almost three months enjoying the company of his Uncle where they both fish together, breed some birds together, drop-in their bonfire nights, trekked the cold snowy mountains, and just enjoying each other company together like a lost father and lost son. No amount of joyful tears can be poured to see these two souls meet in their perfect timing and only family company from his mother side and they even both practiced each other’s martial arts. Also, he stayed there hoping for his wife’s shadows to come but Yuwen Yue every night remained to wish upon a star.

Master Xie also revealed that Chu Qiao stayed with him and left the Cangwu bird, Yuwen Yue couldn’t be any happier than to reunite with his bird, his spark of hope through his darkest nights came back to his arms. Where the Yuwen parrot also bred his own family and have little five parrot birdlings next to their mother parrot. Yue Qi asked Master Xie to take care of one, but Zuo, not an animal lover did not request one for a pet. Instead, he taught the three men, how to meditate in a Buddist way, being Master Xie a Daoist master sometimes object. Yue Qi grew up in the household of Mohist Masters he is always making fun of his brother, and Yuwen Yue grew and taught by Mohists masters. He remained cold and distant but he received and was taught about Confucius way at the Woolong mountains. It happened after his frozen lake tragedy. Yuwen Yue from time to time, give them a sage piece of advice.

Yuwen Yue declined to accept the King’s rulership for valid reasons he told his father he has not been able to prove to their palace ministers he deserved to be one. Thus becoming different from all the Qinghai’s princes, where he is not in a hurry to step into the Qinghai Throne to rule, he opted to retain his status as their crown prince, an heir to the Qinghai Throne.

**

General Bali turned to Princess Zama and handed over her the paper snow and the princess read after a few minutes of staring at the letters began to fade. Princess Zama was not able to stop her tears still left her eyes staring at the Palace walls unable to do anything, all of her defense frozen and died in the snow.

From the night of the tributary hunt, Prince Zaru was left in the Xuili mountain as a prisoner of war and later was transferred at Yan Palace prison grounds while two of its blackguard spies were put into an underground prison. There was no news if Prince Zaru was still alive but the letter that Princess Zama received in the form of ode it was mentioned:

Forced to walk under the enemies painful ground

Tormented under the heat of the sun

Eat like a mouse trapped in a cats snare

Drunk the enemies eternal wrath

Yet day and night I remain cold and forgotten

Wishing death to come but eludes me like a mist in the morning

Let my name be forgotten, for I am disgrace to the blood of heroes

Who fought for the Great Summer’s fall

“I must not wait and be patient, it has been a year. We have not done anything. The 7th prince of Wei must act upon it, as one of their protectorate states, a trade must be opened. We have to know what is the Rebel king wants and see if we can comply for it” said Princess Zama on her angry but melancholic voice.

General Bali replied: “The blackguards have successfully planted the bombs around Meilin border pass, I am not sure why did the plan of demolition did not work?”

Princess Zama on her tribal Hanfu dress and beautiful droopy eyes responded: On the night we spied Xiao Yu and the crown prince Xiao Ce, I encountered a bloodsucker eyes of a spy. Do you know what that means?

General Bali replied: The underworld spies are active again?

Princess Zama walked outside their inner palace courtyard and looked at the dark skies and stared at the moon she said: When I was young, I remember father took me to a faraway kingdom, we stayed there for months and there I saw a camp of extraordinary children, saw their different powers and I fought one of them through the competition of bow and arrow, and I lost because they cracked my arm. Then I remember, I was bullied by everyone, they laughed at me when I lost because I cannot win with the girl who has the sand drizzle powers. Suddenly, another girl came to the ground, and I saw her back, she has the red flower tattoo, and everyone became quiet even those bullies who crack my arm did not dare, she holds my arms and suddenly the pain was gone, she gave that look to try again and hit the mark, she made me believe I can do it and I did. After it, everyone respected me and bowed to me, when I went to see the girl who has the red tattoo on her back she was gone and that was the last time I saw her.

So it means the underworld spies really do exists, your Highness?  General Bali asks.

“Yes, General, they are for real and it is hard to get a trace of evidence when they are at work. It is even hard to catch one of them, for it means one can only live and the other one dies,” said Princess Zama.

“You mean, your Highness, the underworld spies protect Yanbei?” General Bali questioning further.

Just like Luo He, the leader of the wind and cloud decree, she died for it.

“I heard that story before, she was hanged at the Wei garrison prison, the underworld spies suddenly came out from the dark and tried to save their leader. Is she the daughter of Luo He?” General Bali confirming the rumors he heard was true.

“That was one thing I am trying to understand for years, her daughter came to save her. Unfortunately, it’s too late. The leader of the Afterlife camp Zhan Ziyu came to visit Luo He to ambush her. Sadly, Lou He’s daughter came out, and they fought hard on the ground. I was there that day. It was the autumn season and I saw it myself how it happened. I felt the heavy power on the air, the rain did not stop. Suddenly, the thunder and gravity combined defied gravity. Eventually, the drops of rain suspended on air, like the world stopped. Sharp ice floating on air then it dropped on the ground and hit everyone did not die. After such display of power, the Afterlife camper spies learned a lesson they would never forget. Including their leader, Zhan Ziyu were all paralyzed that day.” Zama’s eyes wondering far looking at the moon above.

“Did someone saved you from the rain of sharp ice your Highness?” asked by General Bali.

“You mean the Kungfu of ice? Zaru did.” Zama cannot help herself but miss her brother whom she does not know if he is still alive.

“What do you plan to do your Highness?” General Bali estimating the Princess next steps.

“I am planning to do ask for a stage fight,” Zama replied.

“That’s a gamble, your Highness,” said, General Bali.

“In exchange for Zaru, I will do it.” Zama with a determined mind can do anything.

“And if you lose?” General Bali measuring what’s at stake.

“I won’t lose if the Shen Jin Emperor supports me, we can eventually deploy the black seal inside Yanbei.” Zama turning her cards to General Bali

“Are you saying that we…” General Bali not yet finished when Zama closed his mouth she said: “I want to see my brother even if I die doing so.”

“It is zero chance of getting back alive,” said General Bali.

“Not if I have the underworld spy who saved me before, it will be the best time to expose them. I know they are also eyeing on me. For some reason, they do not harm me whenever they see me.” Zama sounded so sure.

“When do we start?” Asked General Bali.

“We will start this fight under the winter’s moon. Where all human capacities are weak, and the Blackguard’s powers are strong. The underworld spies break out of their shell. We shall see who will stand to their last breath.” Zama back to looking at the crescent moon above the sky.

Zama turned to call on her bodyguard and said: “Shi Da, take this letter to the Shen Jin Emperor.”

Then turned to General Bali then said: “Uncle General, please keep this as a secret and I hope you would have to encourage the father to say yes, while we wait for their response.”

The blackguard spies held their black seal plan, and a delay happened when Prince Zaru was held in hostage. Therefore, it did not prevent Yanbei and Liang Union of state. While the Shen Jin Emperor change its course of the plan, he lifted the black seal as the Emperor is only relying on the move that he captured Yan Xun’s Tiger General Chu Qiao. The Emperor thinks that Chu Qiao will sit as an heir to Wei’s Throne. For the Emperor, this is an eternal scar adding to the deep wound whom Yan Xun endured from the Emperor.

**

Yan Xun gave Prince Zaru some corporal punishments as death is too easy he said to himself. One day, Yan Xun gave the Yanbei townsfolk a reason to watch the play in the middle of the giant soccer courtyard. The Black Prince Zaru was forced to walk in his knees with his head tied to the Prime war horse of Yanbei. The Black Prince endured the pain on his knees as its skin was stripped leaving his flesh exposed to the dirty grassy ground. Every Yanbei citizen mocked him, spit at him making the Prince on his dirty face unrecognizable, passed out. Yan Xun ordered his servants to take him back to Yan’s garrison prison.

♥♥♥

Chapter 060

♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Phoenix Crown Empire

A sound of horse hooves woke up the Liang Palace grounds, as the Turkish Prince envoy finally announced its arrival to enter one of the five gates of the majestic Daoming Palace. The Daoming palace is set apart from all the palaces in China, it was constructed by the present day Empress of Liang, the second wife of Emperor Tang.

The Turkish Prince occasionally visits the Tang Empire to improve their trades and widen their political relationship. As a token for the visitors, the Chinese palace ministers greet them with warm hospitality and their military hosts the Olympic ground for one of their favorite games the horseback riding or what they call the Polo sport.

The Emperor of Liang sat on his throne-like chair along with Prince Xiao Ce at his right and to his left is the Turkish Prince who has deep-seated green eyes, exudes strong male charismatic charm, woody masculine scent, and a beard all over his face make him so manly on his well-defined square jaw and white small teeth and two-bladed swords in his waist, round and straightforward thick gold medal around his head. To complete the look, a white A-cut dress and a gold sandal in his feet. In his arms as half cast gold medals and a gold belt adorned with some of Persia’s beautiful jewels sitting in its waist.

Xiao Ce feeling left behind on his metropolitan style as the Liang palace maids were pouring all of their eyes to the Turkish Prince and the Turkish Prince being flirty and feeling so handsome at the moment, he put his hand on his jaw emphasizing his perfect lips and jawline and the palace maids cannot help it. The maids continued to watch and catch those sweet glances the Turkish Prince throws at them and some whispering giggles can be heard beside their foxy, sexy Prince. And again, on his flashy robes felt some moment of insecurity in the air.

The Liang crown prince foxy eyes suddenly shifted from the Turkish Prince to his palace maids, and all of them stopped their whispering giggles and chuckles. Xiao Ce’s eyes narrowed thought he looks angry this kind of face became more handsome as he grabs one of the gigantic fan made of cats’ fur almost covering his entire half body. Xiao Ce used it to fan it to his face. The Prince suddenly uncomfortable, covered his entire face, eats some of the cat’s fur. Now he cannot stop to spit these furs in his side, the palace maids with some worried face when they saw the Prince suddenly is like choking to death.

After a while the Turkish Prince saw what was happening to Prince Xiao Ce he asked: Is something wrong with you?

Xiao Ce on his poker face behaved and back to his social graces he said: “Nothing is wrong, only your flirty face.”

The Turkish prince displayed a wondering face he touched his jaw and said: You mean my beardy fancy face?

Xiao Ce back to choking but hid it to the Turkish Prince face he said: “Will you excuse me, I will have to take my fresh morning tea to rejuvenate my body and to prevent growing hairs around my handsome face.”

The Turkish Prince on his slight muse nodded to Xiao Ce and again displayed that flirty eyes and face to one of  Xiao Ce’s palace maids and Xiao Ce loathes it. The Prince on his big yellow flowery long robes stood up and walked away slowly while the palace maids threw some rose petals in the air and cleared the wind in his pathway by some diffusers.

Emperor Tang had a little laughing moment when his crown prince walked out of this sweat and dusty game as he always complains it’s not his cup of tea. Emperor Tang raised his hands as he officially gave the signal to open the game. The Turkish envoy reputation is known to many empires, and they have never lost any single game, they always win. But this time Emperor Tang wants to see their chance of winning, his palace ministers prepared twenty-four Chinese horsemen. They say that to fight four Turkish horsemen, the ratio is 1:4, for every one Turkish polo player it is equivalent to four Chinese men playing horseback riding sports. Emperor Tang wanted to prove this is false and so he took four weak men to start the game and strategically positioned the game. Adding its four men on the average, and on the final game, the release the stronger ones with the purpose in his mind: To defeat the Turkish is a victory to celebrate and gain equal respect from these royal dignitaries.

The Turkish players showed whose at the pro league, and who is not, looking like a bullied fellow, the starting four were not able to score not even once. Already at the middle of the game and the erected pole that tallies the score for every flag attached to it signals a winning moment, but Emperor Tang may have to admit defeat and reward the Turkish visitors with 10 taels of Li gold dragon head as the reward for their mighty and unbeatable horsemen. This means Emperor Tang needs to train more of his horsemen as they became Lee Cecilia (codename of Xiao Ce/Li Ce to Wei army during his state visit to Wei) unable to withstand the dust and blows, every Chinese polo player down to the ground.

At the last round of the match when the Turkish Prince already smells the sweet victory but turned to his side to get a glimpse of a prime warhorse slowly marching the Liang palace ground with three more Chinese players riding at their prime war horses following his back. Riding in it, is a young man of his early 30’s, wearing a blue cape and golden armor all over his body, his face covered with a shining golden metal mask, his black ink long hair tied at the middle of his head arrived in his cold, handsome face and commanding presence.

The Turkish players may have already been spent but here is another set of players ready to break some bones and cuddle their tired horses. Emperor Tang suddenly rose from his seat when he saw the man in a distance and clapped at them,  just when he thought he has no hope to win this match and feels downcast, he rose up to cheer for the last set of players to seal the fate of this match.

The Turkish Prince feels impossible to lose, still confident of his men, he started to drink the early wine served on the small royal table and he begins to cough when he saw how this tall Chinese man came to sweep the polo ground and scored their first. Another swing of the mallet and the man with the golden armor powerfully leaped and controlled the warhorse landing where dust and one of the Turkish players accidentally bumped into and fell from the Turkish horse. The pole scored another point, and a golden flag was attached horizontally to the Chinese pole. The match went for hours trying to steal the lead of the game when finally the lead was bounced to the Chinese team.

Emperor Tang frequently rose from his chair to cheer for his team, while Xiao Ce was seen walking towards them this time on his sportsman dress like he is going to archery match, not a polo match. The Turkish spirit re-awakened when at the last field goal, wants to fight back and bring back their lead from the Chinese team. Horse hooves continued to run around the ground as it sprays dust to the Turkish eyes but they never surrender attitude put them to last but like a battlefield already won by the Chinese and another Turkish man suddenly down on the ground, yet the other side seems still intact.

The Turkish Prince suddenly saw Xiao Ce and scoffs in front of him like a brother to his younger one he said: “What happened to your lovely face?” teased by the Turkish prince he laughs out loud, one cannot help but comment on his dirty, ugly face.

This spoiled brat crown prince thinks he is going to win over today’s look by copying the look of a tribal hero, a black band in his head with a black jade at the middle, Xiao Ce on his foxy eyes came out with his smudged cheeks of black ink makeup on his face. But rather than looking like a fearless hero, he looked like a clown. Nonetheless, he went to sit on his chair beside his father. The Turkish Prince frequently looking at him Xiao Ce beamed, and on his foxy eyes he asked: “Are you a pervert?”

The Turkish Prince annoyed he said in his formal face and low tone of voice: “of course no, I have 50 wives and 200 concubines back at my harem.”

Xiao Ce cannot fight back as he cannot match the Turkish Prince appetite for women, he said: “What about a contest of archery later? I am sure you are not going to decline a royal request.”

The Turkish prince about to respond when suddenly the match is over, finally announced who won looking at the two erected poles, the Turkish team lost the game to the Chinese side. Emperor Tang was pleased and overwhelmed as the results were legitimate, and with no further questions, the Turkish team stood up and bowed to the Emperor of Liang,  while the Turkish envoy was eyeing for the man who has the golden mask, they ask for the man to reveal its face. The handsome man on its prime life climb down from his horse and bowed to the Emperor first and nodded to the Turkish Prince while he blinked his eyes to his younger brother Xiao Ce.

Emperor Tang introduced Prince Lou, whom he did not claim he is a son but rather the son of the late Emperor his father and Prince Lou’s mother the present day Queen Yuan of Liang his wife. One may say this is a complicated scenario to think about and any minds would have to think twice and careful to address who is this Prince in front of everyone who brought victory to the Chinese team.

Before Prince Li Yuan renamed himself later as Emperor Tang to sit onto Liang Throne, he forced His father to step down from Liang throne by killing two of his own brothers that would then leave him the only heir. His early beginnings include a reliable form of the Imperial government and its success but not his relationship with his father. Although Emperor Tang allowed his father to live and forced him to support his regime, he did not leave his father behind. No matter how Emperor Tang please the late Emperor, the father always rejects his son and always choose the opposite direction of whatever his son decides to do.

After the late Emperor abnegated his throne, following the ritual and traditions of the Liang empire all of his concubines pack up and must travel to Kong Sang mountain to serve the temple and become a nun. Except for one woman, Concubine Yuan expressed his interest not to leave the capital. Looking back to their silent past, while she was still serving as the Emperor’s duty to produce a male child, Emperor Tang itself had already developed feelings on her but were not pursued until he sat on the Liang Throne.

The Concubine Yuan of the late emperor cannot possibly accept such fate while she is still young and have dreams to pursue and does not want to leave his son behind, she wrote a sad love letter and sent to Emperor Tang. While the Concubine Yuan starts to slowly walk, tearful eyes and pastel-colored nun dress, she prayed that heavens would hear her plea, in the middle of the Liang Palace ground, a far away man on his simple robes is running towards where she is. Suddenly when the man finally closer to Yuan, the man said: “If you reach the gate and it doesn’t open, it means that is not your door you are allowed to step out.”

Concubine Yuan felt speechless on the Emperor’s romantic speech, she hugged him, and they hugged, and the Emperor had a little amnesia forgot his title and etiquette, kissed the love he has been waiting for in his life. After all, was put into proper place, Emperor Tang on his seal passed a decree to promote her as the Imperial Concubine one of the highest position next to Empress Lu Zhi.

Emperor Tang already married by the time she became her Imperial concubine, his first Empress Lu Zhi who bore Xiao Ce and held him as the sole heir to his throne. Unfortunately, the Empress suffered baby blues after giving birth to the crown prince. The Empress is a first-time mother went through sleepless nights for weeks, unable to respond to his husband’s needs, and almost abandoned her mother instincts not to mention a temporarily forsaken throne.

The Eunuchs who were assigned to Empress gave reports to the Emperor that she is not getting any better, they tried to send her to the Royal Temple to recover her spirit and soul. Unfortunately, when the Empress feels she was being locked up to the temple and forced to perform some rituals, she refused and ran to the Imperial Concubine palace. The baby prince was brought to Imperial concubine Yuan to care and nourish while the Empress is sent for her recovery. Everyone was horrified when they saw the Empress barefoot and went to cuddle the baby prince then suddenly took it and ran away from the palace.

The Emperor heard the news and immediately ordered the Imperial guards to seize her Empress. They marched to the ground and closed every gate, eventually found the Empress with her child.

The Eunuch went close to the Empress and said: “He is the crown prince, an heir to the Throne, what are you going to do with him? Your Majesty, hand over the baby prince to me.”

Suddenly the Empress realized what she did was wrong and finally gently kissed the forehead of the baby prince sweetly sleeping in her arms.

The Empress aware of her crime knows that she will face the Emperor and explain herself said: “How can I explain this crime when I don’t even understand why I feel this way?”

The Empress came close to the Eunuch and handed him the baby prince and on her barefoot, came back to her sanity but the crying face she ordered the royal guards to take her back to the Royal temple, and they all bowed to her.

The baby prince back to the Imperial Concubine, aside from being the Emperor’s impossible love supposed to be forbidden love, one of the reasons why the Emperor favors her Imperial Concubine more than her Empress was due to the Empress condition. The eunuch was also partly to be blamed because they are the one whispering to the Emperor’s ears about her through the hidden agenda of the Imperial Concubine. She learned how to manipulate the Eunuchs and looked at it as an opportunity to break their relationship, and she played this part very well. As the Emperor and Empress’s relationship grew colder, the Imperial Concubine came to fill it with the heir of the throne under her care, she did not mind being a tool for their divorce.

After the crucial moment of Empress Lu Zhi, she stayed for few years in the Royal Temple, and she has never felt any better knowing that she was banned to even see or take care of her son as a consequence of what she did to the baby prince. But she obeyed the Emperor’s order’s and suffered for her actions she didn’t understand herself at that time. Now, back to her healthy self and sanity ready to go back to her position. Due to the gap piled up for years, she was not able to go regain her position again to the Emperor especially when the Imperial Concubine rose up not to only assume her position in her absence for the sake of obligations and duty to the Empire.

The worst nightmares of the Empress Lu Zhi life happened when eventually, a decree was passed on to her to become a deposed Queen. Reasons are not clear but one thing was for sure, someone made the arrangement behind it.

Eventually, the Empress now a deposed Queen packed up her own possessions and was given enough treasures to live a life separated from the Throne. The Emperor on his grace did not strip her entitlements being the biological mother of Prince Xiao Ce, but this act will, in turn, affect and change the destiny of the Prince. As the Empress finally steps out of the Palace, the only royal palace maid as her companion slowly looked forward when she heard the Liang Palace gates slowly closed before her eyes and only a silent teardrop fell along its path.

Prince Lou, on the other hand, grew up mighty and strong while the Imperial Concubine his mother, crowned as the new Queen, took the next highest position in the Liang Empire equivalent to his husband, Emperor Tang. Her ambitions for the Throne is unquenchable that she refused to move to the Palace of the Deposed Queen Xiao Ce’s mother. She later proposed to build a new palace which later became China’s center stage for cultural arts and center for trade of commerce and industry.

Queen Yuan on her cunning abilities blended her two sons in one courtyard, these two powerful princes made a pact on their brotherhood and were cultivated with wisdom and ability to think out of the box. The Queen frequently educated the two to have strong values about how to rule the Empire when their time comes. Later did they know, that though they were born as blood brothers but was never destined to become loyal to each other in the pursuit of who will sit in the throne. Xiao Ce learned to mask himself and show a facade of being immature in front of his brother Prince Lou so Prince Lou can also share some privilege he has whenever he sees his father bestowing favor at him than his brother. Xiao Ce knows how to control envy inside his family and preserve family love and brotherhood intact even if the crown was already in his head he did not ever use it to take advantage of Prince Lou.

Xiao Ce is ten times wiser than any one of his brothers and sisters, maybe because, during his primary life, he grew up at the lap of a cunning and shrewd Queen. It is a high advantage. However the most vulnerable position and he is aware of it, one mistake could end his life, and the people of this empire will fall into chaos given an empty sit for the future Liang crown prince, everyone with interest will seize and turn to their beastly nature.

The only thing, the Emperor, never balanced the father figure between the two, he made sure that Prince Lou will always have to bow down to his younger brother Xiao Ce. Therefore depriving Prince Lou of a father figure and like a cup will always play the role of taking up his younger brother burden’s and sacrifice his own dreams.

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