Phoenix Empire Diaries
Chapter 061
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Beast of the day
A pair of cold eyes, sword eyebrows, a calm face is beholding the sight of snowflakes slowly falling on frozen Chisui lake. Covered with a shining silver finish, a small red bird flew at the middle twinkling its eyes heavy of tiny snowflakes on its eyelids, wiggled its wings as white flakes of snow starts to fall from its small pair of wings, the bird closed its eyes as if meditating did not move.
The Great Summer Emperor thinking of its next move, to support a protectorate state or to tame its wild dream of putting up a stage fight, with the secret of deploying the black seal inside Yanbei.
Ever since the fake Chu Qiao and Yuan Song’s wedding day, Wei slept and had never attempted to declare war with Yanbei, never had any rescue plan for the Black Prince Zaru or open trade in between Wei and Yanbei to settle their human hostages. The Wei Emperor has thought why Yan Xun seems did not react to Chu Qiao and Yuan Song’s wedding when he thinks this would put the newbie King of Yanbei to outrage and unplanned moves to lure him to make a mistake.
Instead Yan Xun released good news on his successful marriage between Yanbei and Liang one year ago but no Yanbei heir yet despite trying out with its Yanbei Queen on their one month honeymoon, the Emperor went back to his sit and continued to play Chinese Chess called “Xiangqi” he said to Wei Guang:” Yan Xun can’t possibly give the first offspring to his Queen, but he can’t either make his General a concubine because his supposedly first Queen crossed another empire to rule and to produce an heir at his expensive enemies bed. What is more beautiful to ponder than seeing his turmoil inside and still pretends as if he does not care?”
The Emperor moves a chess piece and Wei Guang enjoying the chess match with the Emperor, his clean and calm face was slightly startled he said: “Your Majesty, is that your final move?”
The Emperor said: “If it is, then you are going to lose some face and your neck at my garrison yard today.” And the Emperor let out a big laugh Wei Guang moved his chess piece and tapping his fingers in his jaw like he is counting one two three and the Emperor read, got it.
The Great Summer Emperor favorite pastime includes what they call “Xiangqi” the Chinese chess. No one lives, if the Emperor will be put into an embarrassing situation and lose its face, death is like a crouching tiger at its contender’s bed. A player will always have to appear a loser in front of the Emperor’s face with the end goal of giving him a hint why he is losing, and the Emperor must read or decode its move to win. This is the contender’s goal to let the Emperor lose in the process, but the point is to make him win as a result and make him stick that strategy as a lesson in his head.
The Emperor tapping his finger’s on its jaw thinking and bored of the same strategy moved its “Shi” piece called Counselor across the board and Wei Guang having been shackled in its defense cannot run any piece except to give up its General or Governor.
“I lost, the Wise Emperor have figured it out.” Wei Guang faking its defeat bowed to the Emperor.
“Shi is my best piece next to Shiang.” said the Emperor squinted his eyes to his Empire’s Prime minister sending a secret message.
Wei Guang replied on his calm eyes: “Indeed, the Counselor(Shi) or the queen is the best ally and worst enemy while Minister (Shiang) or the bishop is the best mover behind a queen to protect its General(Jiang), it cannot be moved, or the entire empire will relinquish.”
Wei Guang suddenly thought something that would tickle the mind of the Emperor reported: I just heard that King Tang invited the Turkish Prince at their Daoming Palace and according to the breaking news the other day, the Polo sport champions who never lost any single game despite their Foreigner status visit in the land settled in its second place. And the new champion…
The Emperor’s cold eyes suddenly became like a bright light and asked: “Who is the beast of the day other than The Great Summer?” Lee Cecilia?
A Prince in its prime life roared and put the Chinese flag victory over the Turkish was Prince Lou. And I am thinking, what if we invite the slumbering Eastern Empire to play with your Majesty and level up the news with King Tang, it would also bring some chilling and breaking bones news to the rest of the world.
Emperor thinks this is a great idea, though he is proud to know that the Turkish envoy lost at this Polo sport game to King Tang’s interesting Prince, the Emperor is not likely to accept such fame to credit King Tang without scaling himself and match King Tang’s achievements, in terms of Foreign sport, he asked: I know the Qinghai King will make a lot of excuses not to attend but if its crown prince willing to pay us a visit, I am willing to grant him one request if he beats me in this golden board.
Wei Guang not positive about this asked: Your Majesty what if he asks for a concubine or a princess of Wei? This is not your cup of tea, you lose face, and you lose possession.
“Anyone can go except for my crown prince Yuan Song. An Emperor must honor its word. I am confident no one can beat me just like King Tang.” said the Emperor full of confident and positivity of himself.
Wei Guang thinks this is silly he shook his head from left to right, slightly lifted his Kam sleeves, do not want to fill negative vibes in the air did not say anything.
The Emperor waiting for his reply but no words came said: “In turn, if I beat the Qinghai crown prince, he will have to do me a favor.”
Wei Guang looked at the Emperor if he is somewhat drunk but the Emperor is sober he replied: I believe you will win, what is the favor, your Highness?
“He becomes a bridge to the Great Summer and the Rebel King of Yanbei, Black Prince, is the goal.”
Wei Guang shocked at this idea went to his next Question: And if it’s a Stalemate?
The Great Summer Emperor stood and looked at the Chisui lake again he replied: “If it’s a stalemate, the home court advantage will take effect and wins.”
Wei Guang said: If the Qinghai crown prince does not yield?
The Wei Emperor sure of its answers said: “The Wei crown princess will let him yield.”
Wei Guang squinted his eyes replied: “Your Majesty, the crown princess is a sacred cow. How did you know that the Qinghai Prince will yield to her and would not harm her?”
The Wei Emperor revealed: “I saw the desire in his eyes following the Wei crown princess and we will let the crown princess do its first job but concerning her body will have to be preserved or we will execute her if she fails to prove her innocence just like before the selection began.”
Wei Guang thinks this move is out of Wei’s conservative traditions, did not attempt to challenge the Emperor’s ideas and suddenly the Eunuchs already writing its instructions for action.
The sound of murky waters greeted the eyes of the 13th Wei crown prince Yuan Song at the back of his courtyard, suddenly someone from the rear view, a pair of lovely eyes silently watching him and eventually threw two stones at the koi fish pond exactly where he stood and knew it was her.
“You may report, I am alone,” said Yuan Song earlier his face was childlike and now on his formal face.
A woman dressed on his tight-fitting clothes leaped with two small hand daggers on both sides of her waist came like a frog walk she hid on the Chinese bamboo near the fishpond. Yuan Song pretended he is playing with the Koi fishes in the pond and like memorizing poem lines he uttered secret conversation: “The future is bright but when can I see the real sunlight. Every day I turn a blind eye, as my heart cannot last the day without her in my sight.”
Meng Feng suddenly responded in a secret conversation, she said: Zài yú zuǐ lǐ de píngzi lǐ liúyán, bùduàn zhuīzōng bùduàn děngdài (A message in a bottle in the mouth of the fish, keep tracking, keep waiting)
Meng Feng caught a big Koi fish and a thin bottle in her hand she inserted it to the mouth of the Koi fish. Meng Feng attached a little bell at the dorsal of the fish and threw it to the fish pond producing bell sounds as it swims. Prince Yuan Song’s earmarked the sound of the courier fish and in time a small net with a long handle on his hands catching the fish. No one suspects this his method of sourcing information outside of his palace. Yuan Song back to his childish attitude talk to the fish: ah, good catch I hope to have a delicious meal today.
His servants at the door of his palace are waiting outside, it is forbidden to look at the prince. Yuan Song beamed at the big fish, and like a meal for the day, he brought it to his secret chambers and started to cut the fish.
Yuan Song read the letter inside the bottle:
Your Highness, your sister is safe still in the bonds of Master Yuwen Huai, but lately, the palace ministers have been receiving gifts addressed to her. The giver of the gift is unknown, but the Emperor thinks, those gifts were not coming from a simple man, but it is coming from a nobleman with a high position in the land.
Master Yuwen Huai preparing to be reinstated and take over the Wei Supreme Court but the Yuwen elders and its nobleman relatives said its time to nominate a new Yuwen blood to replace him as they think he already settled a good life away from Wei empire these appointed family sent a letter of request to express their interest to amend the Emperor’s decree. However the end did not go well, the Yuwen relatives entire family was put to death.
Next, Chu Qiao has been secretly meeting the Queen of Yanbei Xiao Yu, for whatever reason, it is not clear, according to the afterlife assassins guild, Xiao Yu hired additional hands from these assassins to conceal her activities, their last raid was a little lodge near Wei and Liang borders. It has been stated that the house of the poor peddler man was destroyed. The peddler man and his wife was murdered and suspected that either the Wei Crown princess Chu Qiao or Queen Xiao Yu of Yanbei killed it.
While the Prince of Yanbei entirely abandoned Xuili Army forcing He Xiao to use up all their resources to withstand and support Meilin border pass. However something strange happened, for the townsfolk has been providing them armaments, shelter, and food with the help of a dark underworld spy and although this is only a rumor, the underworld spy is secretly helping Xuili Deputy General He Xiao with her leader from the underworld spy league she calls Mìmì gōngzhǔ.
Yuan Song putting up a list in his thoughts: “Unknown suitor, return of Yuwen Huai, Xiao Yu, peddler man and his wife, underworld spy, and their leader Mìmì gōngzhǔ.”
Yuan Song inhaled and exhaled, there are so many things in his mind however he wanted to start with his wife first. Though their marriage is in a civil war because of his immature actions, he didn’t mean to hurt her.
In the end, he thinks something or someone may have been putting a dagger in between them to wreck their relationship, and Yuan Song knows, this is not a simple problem but crises not only to his heart but for the entire Wei Empire. He understands his wife was hurt, but he cannot deny the fact that his wife is acting too strong, wild and strange towards him.
He didn’t know this side of Chu Qiao. Thus he is so eager to find out what went wrong and if they could still work it out for their marriage. The 13th Prince has a plan to take out his wife to the secret garden he has been preserving all these years and reveal to her about the story of Yuwen Yue. Though Yuan Song does not really want his wife to remember him because he thinks he will die to see her hurt, this may be the only way to make contact with her and start a good ground for conversation. Yuan Song thought: She became my wife but in the process not yet even started a life together and we were already broken apart.
Yuan Song came out of his secret chamber and pulled a bell at his south side, and it ranged. The palace servants came to him, and the 13th Prince said: “This is for you, take this Koi fish and cook it for your lunch.”
Xia Chong enjoyed the Wei crown princess life ever since she started to play the role courtesy of Prince Xiao Ce and Queen Xiao Yu. She has been acting a double agent for the two Liang royals as she thinks Prince Xiao Ce might have dropped her after they gave her a royal pass to enter Wei with Xiao Ba.
Xia Chong feels tired, and her servants came to wipe her forehead, and she suddenly played one of her servants and about to break her wrist, and the servant cried in pain.
Yuan Song watching his crown princess not far from his distance squinted his eyes and then raised his brows. He thinks Chu Qiao will never hurt humble servant like that.
Xia Chong on her evil charm smile put back the wrist of the palace maid, and she said: “do not touch me when I am tired, never!” Finished practicing her martial arts when she stepped on a thin unseen rope she is about to fall: Huh!
Suddenly a young prince rushed to caught her and on his expressionless face and cold eyes he looked at her beautiful face. Xia Chong was expecting for the prince to tell her something but it seems after the young prince caught her from a fall and did not slip her foot to the beautiful palace fountain, he just gave her that long stare and poker face and as if he didn’t know her. Then tall and proud walk slowly with its palace servants following at his back.
After that moment, Yuan Song acted like nothing happened, no smiles, no words only passing cold air, counted on his thoughts he said: “One.”
Later, the palace maids served Xia Chong’s dinner, but her mind was somewhere else was just staring blankly at the dinner table. Being one of the brightest underworld assassins under Luo He, and not to mention she really looks like Chu Qiao that even her mother Lou He shared five percent of her Kungfu of Ice powers, she is not stupid to fall for Yuan Song’s cold stare. But somehow Xia Chong felt for the first time that strong attraction in between them and is stirring her feelings towards the 13th Prince.
Xiao Ba just finished with her beauty rituals and prepare for the coming of the 13th Prince. Unfortunately, a palace servant from the 13th prince knocked at the 13th Prince harem and announced: “13th Prince will not be attending tonight.” Bland, short and cold and the palace servant is gone.
The Concubines stopped their dancing and singing, and suddenly the atmosphere became sad including Xiao Ba who stood up and ran to her room to give herself a good cry.
One woman is stirred with her feelings, and the other one feels sad for missing her prince.
Yuan Song back at his palace in his inner courtyard, dressed on his archery outfit, is testing his Crossbow and touched the silvery arrows. He shot using his right hand, his left arms appear to be somewhat normal rather than a stall cast arm. After being satisfied with the proper arm shoot, he planned another lure and trap with the purpose of making his wife fall for him, thinking how did Yuwen Yue treat Chu Qiao when she was still her low maidservant at Green Hills courtyard is all he could remember. He ordered some of his servants to secretly set-up a fight on the road with the Wei Crown princess to surprise her.
The next day, an afterlife camper shot an arrow note to the Wei crown princess palace and on their horse suddenly left and went to hide in the woods. Xia Chong still on her night sleeping robes pick it up from a wooden post, she read and surprised to see a letter coming from Xiao Yu’s summon to meet her at the middle of the forest she said: “Hmm… after a year of silence, and Her Majesty is summoning again?”
Xia Chong on the exact time of today’s twilight, left riding with her horse and when she reached the back gate she said to the palace guards: “Dare not, or I will cut your throat.” the servants nodded and let her pass, and after a while, horse hoof was heard running fast trailing the middle of the Wei-Liang forest .
Suddenly around the dark places of forest road, on her dark red hood and a dark brown prime horse is chasing towards Xia Chong’s White horse. Xia Chong suddenly felt she is not alone in the treacherous paths, she slowly pulled the reins of her riding horse and sharpened her ears by listening how far is the chasing horse running towards her.
And then Xia Chong tapped her horse when suddenly her horse hoofs were caught, and she does not have any choice but to jump sideways and saw her horse rolled down from the cliff. Xia Chong has never been scared when she sensed she is being attacked by assassins, she took out two of her daggers and reserved her short sword for the main fight later.
After few seconds, afterlife campers came down from the spot, and they surrounded Xia Chong, when the leader looked at her, she thinks she is Chu Qiao some fear crawled in her veins as she remembers how her master Yuwen Yue fought and saved for her. Xia Chong believes it is impossible to escape in front of her assassins she summoned the wind and started to stretch her feet and started to use it to inflict pain on them. Meng Feng was the only one who managed not to receive the blow and finally, she took out two of her fork like daggers and started to attack her.
Xia Chong on her calm stature did not hesitate when suddenly a man on his white fur cape, a white ninja suit, with a white band in his head came down from the air with his Cheng Yin sword vertically positioned in front of his closed eyes. The man started to counter attacked Meng Feng, and the rest of the afterlife campers activated their killer backpack weapons, but none of them was able to withstand the Cheng Yin sword.
Xia Chong for a moment was confused to know who is her hero for the man did not readily show its face as he covered it with his white fur cape. But looking at the jade band in his head speaks that he is a Prince and not just an ordinary man.
The afterlife campers faked their pains and groan, but Meng Feng did not show any slightest fear towards her enemy she said: You have been warned! And Meng Feng and the rest of the assassins quickly retreated from them.
The man suddenly pulled Xia Chong and on his loud whistle a white horse like a flash run to answer it’s master’s distress call. Xia Chong standing like a rock but swept by the man and suddenly both fighter’s of destiny is riding the white horse towards the secret garden the man said in his gentle but panting voice: “Two.”
Xia Chong unable to move but was feeling so frail at the moment, her hands tied so quick by the man. She was not able to do a lot of her martial arts, and now her knight in shining armor tied her feet in the night under the perfect moonlight, and clear skies arrived at the secret garden softly said to her ears: “Three.”
Then went to his white horse who is panting and dropping its saliva put his Cheng Yin sword in the horse saddle. He took a lantern, a matchstick and lit the fire in it.
Xia Chong felt so uncomfortable she said: What are you going to do with that lantern?
The man replied: To light up this place, it’s so dark here.
Xia Chong annoyed she asked: “Where on earth are we?”
The man slightly smiled, he answered: “in a paradise”
Xia Chong wrinkled her brows she said: “Do you know who I am and what did you just do?”
The man raised his brows and said: “How about me? Do you who I am and what I am going to do?”
Xia Chong felt her goosebumps as the cold air passed in between them, she asked: “Show yourself!” She is trying to untie her hands and feet.
A lizard-like sound came out of the man he said: “tsk..tsk..tsk. You easily forget so I am going to make you remember.”
Xia Chong replied: “Remember what?”
The man slightly raised his lantern to reveal its face and Xia Chong on a hushed voice: “13th Prince of Wei!”
Yuan Song smiled at her and said: “I hope you would forgive a husband who saved you and now stealing a wife away from a forest fight, its dangerous there. I just want to spend this night with you, away from our Empire, away from everyone, you and me, in this secret garden.”
Xia Chong suddenly became quiet, feeling so much overwhelmed she does not know what to say or do now that the 13th Prince showed its face, his knight in shining armor and in front of her asking her to spend the night with her.
On one corner of her mind, she thinks, the 13th Prince was looking at Chu Qiao and not Xia Chong. Xiao Chong felt sad she snapped herself back and said: “You are on a mission and not for a love affair.”
Yuan Song started to show its romantic side and added more thoughts for Xia Chong to think about he said: Did you remember the first time we stepped on this secret garden?
Xia Chong can’t possibly respond truthfully but if she says no, she will be exposed. On the other side, Xia Chong feeling the romance in the air, she finally let go of her heart as she owns the moment she said on her full of emotion voice: Yes and I wish I had been here with you even at the beginning of time.
Yuan Song suddenly felt confused about her response, but a flint of happiness started to spark he responded: Is this moment right at all? No one could predict who your heart chose to love. At that time, is it the prince of Yanbei or the master of the Eyes of God? Yuan Song feeling heavy on his feelings finally let go tonight.
Xia Chong did not respond right away, but after a long pause she finally said: “I wish I am the girl you really like and it was just only you.”
Yuan Song confused again on her responses, but those were the words he likes to hear he gently took Xia Chong’s head and put it in his chest but in his heart, he thought: “So Chu Qiao could feel my heartbeat.
Yuan Song overflowing with the joy of the moment, he whispered to her ears under the moonlight he said: “Don’t worry now, you are in my arms, nothing would ever hurt you or use you again.”
Xia Chong did not respond as Yuan Song hits just what she feels at the moment, she cried in his arms.
Yuan Song felt wet in his chest he asked: Are you crying?
Xia Chong did not respond, and Yuan Song continued to tell her: I also wanted to say sorry about our first night… It is all my fault.
Xia Chong out of her feelings responded: I know, you are a good man.
Yuan Song slightly tilted his head to look at her eyes he said: Then why waste our precious time in useless cold fights? Truth is Xiao Ba is a concubine by accident, I am so wrong at what I did, and I will pay my debt a lifetime if you want me to. You are my future Queen, the heir to Wei’s throne, come back to me.
If only the real Chu Qiao were listening to those words, would she yield to the 13th Prince? Seems the 13th Prince have been maturing in his own ways, but still cannot find the truth about Chu Qiao. While Xia Chong wants to surrender and tell the 13th Prince about her lies and would he forgive her or put the puppet Chu Qiao to death?
♥♥♥
Chapter 062
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
One of the King’s arm
In the stillness of the night, Yuan Song and Xia Chong together looking at each other told her: I had a wish a long time ago.
Xiao Chong asked: What is your wish, your Highness?
Yuan Song replied: That you and I will sit together in this cherry blossom secret garden under the moonlight and that wish came true tonight.
Xia Chong wanted to tell the truth to the prince but instead she warned Yuan Song: Your Highness, if there is one wish I would like to ask right now, it’s the promise to free me in this shackles and put me back to my land and if you do not grant it, things will just get worst.
Yuan Song disturbed by that wish he asked: Why do you want to run away from me? This is your home now, you are the future Queen.
Xia Chong in her strong words said: This is not my home and I don’t want to rule as Queen. I only want a simple life among familiar people. I want to be free.
Yuan Song feeling every word Xia Chong said: I heard this story before. You’re former master Yuwen Yue who left this world died giving you this freedom. Is it worth it?
Xia Chong not knowing the whole story but felt as if she was Chu Qiao where they both fights for freedom replied: It is worth it, and I don’t want you to end up like him.
As the night goes deep Yuan Song on his dark eyes, responded in a husky voice to Xia Chong: “The results are never going to be different, I will probably have the same fate if you ask for freedom, I think this is a priceless thing. Even a prince is not free to do all the things he wants to do, we are tied to our protocols and our rule to our Empire, what more if the common people asks for it?”
Tired in the arms of the 13th Prince, Xia Chong already drifted while the 13th prince is still talking to her, Yuan Song looked at Xia Chong and saw she is sleeping sweetly. Both slept peacefully but in Xia Chong dream she woke up, a man dressed in purple robes but the face is covered with black mask violently took her from the man beside her. Yuan Song leaped out of nowhere, and suddenly she heard the sounds of fighting swords. Yuan Song fighting using its Cheng Yin sword with the man dressed in purple robe finally took off its face mask and saw its face. The 13th prince astonished said: “Yan Xun!”
When Xia Chong woke up, she was already inside the carriage of the 13th Prince of Wei. Yuan Song waited for her to wake up, and then he beamed at her. Xia Chong not anymore tied of her hands and feet stepped out of the carriage and saw the pink cherry blossoms garden with fog clouds lying below the ground, a heaven on earth. Yuan Song came down to the carriage and said: “This is my gift to you. From now on, I will no longer call this secret garden but freedom garden. In here, you are free to express your opinion without being judged, you are not a princess but a common woman, you are my wife, and I am your husband. I will build a freedom palace for you, in this place will be your own.”
Xia Chong would like to leap for joy but then, she turned to a gloomy face she merely said: “Thank you, your Highness. I hope you do not change your heart towards a simple woman like me.”
Yuan Song remembers Chu Qiao as one of the low slaves at the Green Hills courtyard and sees it with Xia Chong today. The same principles lie where Xia Chong prefers people’s freedom instead of power and riches, Yuan Song is inspired. But how far would this go? Is it a happy ending for both people seeking enlightenment from each other? One looking for the happiness of his ghost love and the other one looking for a simple husband to live a common life of freedom. Truth is, her husband right now is an Heir to Wei throne, Xia Chong staying longer in Wei without Prince Xiao Ce’s bailout plan puts her into a dangerous position where she can no longer return to her land of freedom as promised to her. She knows sooner or later Yuan Song will find that she is not Chu Qiao, what good awaits her future? Only dreadful death and shame. Xia Chong thinks it is time to escape while she still can, for she won’t be able to do it if she falls deep into her fake husband.
A pair of calm eyes, look back from the path of its remote eastern tribes, suddenly flashed the events of the Qinghai crown prince tribal fights. Yuwen Yue knows it’s not an easy path but his travel turned out to be the most difficult yet fulfilling journey in his life. Yuwen Yue can still smell the fresh blood of the fighting tribesmen of weapons he had never seen in his life, long spears, unique bow and sharp arrows, versatile archers, men full of no mercy eyes, men who were born to fight but nobody was able to make him bow or even fall by his Poe Yue Jian sword, everyone nodded to surrender their arms and submit to the Qinghai, crown prince. Yuwen Yue on his impressive victory won the many hearts of the far eastern tribes but also gave him scars to live by.
His cavalry of horses lost some Qinghai men as they fought for the freedom of the small tribes who were attacked by the larger tribes who want to plunder and rule them. Yuwen Yue dressed in the different outfit wearing tribal suit thick lion’s fur, at his back is single bow made of animal’s tendon bone, wooden arrow tip made of sharp elephants ivory horn and his sword Poe Yue Jian hanging in his back slowly marching the steppes of the hills near Qinghai’s Empire gates. His eyes still calm like waters, his face like a spring breeze and are riding with its magnificent warhorse. His paladin is carrying full of different merchandises from the far east courtesy from the small tribes where they stayed for a month. Zuo and Yue Qi looks different wearing thick lion’s furs with pure white ivory necklaces a gift from the barbaric tribes of eastern China.
Another handsome and young man is riding beside Yuwen Yue, the son of the tribal leader Dongyi and some few of their tribe’s men went to Yuwen Yue for his escort and to enter Qinghai to become the representative of his father. Looking back, they learned the culture and blend into their traditions. On the other hand, another young man was riding on his horse with large chains and tied hands in front of Yue Qi. Yuwen Yue captured the son of the rival tribal leader as a ransom and eventually present to his father, where the Qinghai king decides what execution he will receive for the punishment of his crimes and for bringing discord in their neighboring tribes. Yuwen Yue cannot speak their language but thanks to the local tribesman who became their interpreter and everything turned to success, and Yuwen Yue can finally rest a bit for his next journey.
Yuwen Yue back to Qinghai, Ra Zheng went out to meet him first. The two brother’s look into their eyes and Yuwen Yue shifted it to the two young tribal warriors beside him, one looks haggard with large chains in his neck and the other one, on his bare upper chest dressed on his tribal suit bowed to the Ra Zheng Prince of Qinghai. Ra Zheng can smell their fresh blood scent but his face calm as the waters nodded but did not talk as much.
Ra Zhun is looking far but can see what’s happening as the Qinghai Crown prince envoy entering the Qinghai ground, he did not like Ra Yue’s outfit, and all his royal guards matched his tribal suit made him puke. Unable to last in this sight, he turned his face away from them and grumbles to the eunuch beside him: “Who are these animals he brought in this empire? This is not the arrangement the Qinghai minister’s agreed. What is our gain here?”
By the time Yuwen Yue, Zuo Zong and Yue Qi, two of the tribal son warriors and the rest of the cavalry entering the Majestic Qinghai Throne. A long aisle with furry red carpet is seen. A gigantic fragrant incense burner in the middle forming the heaviness and solemness of the atmosphere then another five steps stairs towards the Majesty Queen seat and beside it is an absent King seat greets their eyes. While below the five steps where princes seats, Ra Zheng walked from the backcourt to take his position at the right side before the five steps while Ra Zhun was already seated at the left side of his chair, but the center was an empty seat for the Qinghai, crown prince. Yuwen Yue walked tall and proud in front of the hundred Qinghai palace ministers scholars and nobles who are surrounding the throne talked on their backs and murmured when they heard every step Yuwen Yue takes, the hearts of everyone and even the royals pounds to their chests as the bass drums started to play in honor for the crown prince presence they said: “He smells blood, not stinky blood but fresh blood. Why is he dressed like the tribesmen, the two guards on his side, are they brothers? They both look-alike, how did Ra Yue hire two men who look like each other? Are they twins? I did not expect to see the Qinghai crown prince looks could be barbaric too but look at his brows, it did not hide the fact of his cold and godly face.
When the palace nobles talks as Ra Yue walks, his eyes looking far but straight and when he finally reached the Qinghai crown prince seat, Ra Yue did not take its place. The two guards Yue Qi and Zuo Zong stopped in front of Ra Yue seat as if they were guarding it when Ra Yue took the five steps and then kneel down in front of Queen as customary to honor Ra Yue, unsheathed his sword and lay it on the ground and bowed three times.
The Queen, on her massive head-dress and sleeves almost touching the ground did not move but look at Ra Yue with stern face enough to tell she acknowledges his presence and victory over the remote eastern tribes. While the rest of the cavalry mimic Ra Yue including two if his guards and the two tribal son warriors.
The Eunuch came in front and passed a decree to imprison the crimes of the rival tribal son warrior while the other tribal son warrior of Dongyi were rewarded with 100 taels of gold according to what is customary from the Qinghai Ministry of treasures. Every eye got excited when another legendary sword flashed in their sight, and the Eunuch with another servant in his side carrying a long tray is the shiny and shimmering tribal sword further read the decree: “From the seven thousand islands and seven thousand rising suns, called the Bat sword. It was forged in steel, and its grip handle forms the monster bat head that one palm of the hand or even fingers can spin from it, inspired from a legendary flair of fierce mountain tribes, a rare tribal sword known as”untamed or wild.” The Qinghai King hand-picked it from its long lists of the collection of swords to award it to the brave and virtuous hero of the far eastern tribes. Do you accept?”
Ra Yue stood up and gave a hand signal to the tribal son warrior to come and said: “Please come and accept your reward.”
The tribal interpreter came and whispered to the bowed head son of Dongyi, and he stood to walk, and Ra Yue handed him over the Bat sword and said: “Your time has come.”
Everyone behold their eyes as Ra Yue bestows the sword to the bowed head of tribal son warrior of Dongyi, Ra Yue on his cold eyes gave him a proud beam. After the awarding moment, all Qinghai palace ministers and nobles attended the banquet for the victory celebration but somewhere around the corner, is a man on his neat men Tang suit, one of the King’s arms observing Ra Yue and he said: “Your time has come.”
Ra Zhun on his lively fiery eyes stirred everyone’s attention to give a toast for the victory and celebration of the Qinghai empire while Ra Yue on the other corner on his cold stare waiting for someone to catch his eyes, but none of it came.
It was already deep of the night by the time the Qinghai King turned back to his human body and no longer an entity of invisible of shame, he breathed and took his seat at his Hall. Suddenly the man in his neat Tang suit came, and his shadow is seen outside the windows of the King’s hall. The Qinghai King opened the window and then turned his back when suddenly the man in Tang suit came in and leaped towards him to attack him. The Qinghai King without so much effort evaded his attack, on his cold eyes and unsheathed double-edged sword and the man in Tang suit felt satisfied stood straight bowed and clasp his hands in front and said: “Your Majesty, your son passed his first test of barbaric tribes. What is your next move?”
The Qinghai King walked his hands slowly on his back he said: “My son Ra Yue did not agree to take over the Qinghai Empire unless he proved himself first in the eyes of its Palace ministers, nobles and to whole people of Qinghai Empire. In fact, I am impressed with his chivalry and courage to face an unknown and unchartered territory. Thank you for your earnest assistance, Ra Yue started to defend the barbaric tribes, a long time pain in my rule and his next subject was to breach the Moon Kingdom.”
“Your Majesty, I believe Ra Yue is not ready to take over the Moon Kingdom although I have seen his superb Gongfu and excellent swordplay skills, he was able to let those tribes bow to the Poe Yue Jian sword. While he has the supernatural abilities and strong Chi flow in his body, he does not possess the heavenly abilities yet. To be honest, he is not ready for supernatural yet. Although he is born to possess it, his body is not trained to accept the supernatural,” said Qi Hui.
“Then what is your proposal?” Said the Qinghai King.
“Let’s open his Highness Ra Yue to the five legendary worlds.”
The Qinghai King turned to him and saw Qi Hui on his bowed head and clasps hands the King said: Hellfrost, Moon Kingdom, the Underworld’s forgotten river, the Last Valley and the Paradise of Higanbana. Then summon and arrange a meeting to call four of your brothers from the Eastern Realms. Ra Yue needs to re-train and align his meridians to reach the supernatural abilities in addition to the mortal skills he obtained from the west.
“Consider it done Your Majesty,” and suddenly Qi Hui leaped on the hall window and gone like the wind.
Yuwen Yue back to his royal chambers, after all the celebration, he is back to himself alone, he did not drink as much but thought of someone. In his lonely abandoned heart thinks of Chu Qiao and his mother. Yuwen Yue walked towards a room near outside from his chamber and went to a room full of incense and tea candles he took two incense red sticks and lightened it, then performed kowtow three times to honor his mother’s bronze spirit tablet given by his Uncle Xie Tai Shan. Yuwen Yue closed his eyes and performed filial piety to his mother.
**
The sound of horse hooves heard from a distance, and the King of Yanbei is trailing towards Xuili mountain. Viper said to Chu Qiao: “Hurry, the King must not see you, or we can visit the Yan palace since the King is heading towards here. I will lure Xiao Yu’s spies, I know all of their locations and where are their secret prisons.”
Hiya!!!
Drive!!
Another two horses set to journey to the Yan palace capital, Chu Qiao wearing his indigo scarf rode with her white horse and Viper on his red scarf rode with her black horse. But before they run away from Xuili Mountain, Viper shot an arrow with a message to Ge Qi’s quarters.
The two arrived at the Yan Palace while Yan Xun arrived at Xuili mountain with his cavalry of men. Lieutenant Ge Qi went to meet the King of Yanbei while Chu Qiao and Viper walked on the marketplace and asked some Yan locals any news about the captured Black Prince of Bathuja family. The local vendor said: He was tortured to the ground on his knees while being tied to a horse. Viper asked: What do you think of it? The local vendor said: I think it is right and just, the Yan royal family suffered most in their hands, and the Yan citizens threw to chaos, murder, rape of our daughters and became slaves. Because of the Batuha family, they have put Yanbei into an unending fight against bloodbath and killing of the innocent.
Chu Qiao twitching her hands said: But this does not mean reciprocating the enemies act.
The local vendor smiled and said to Chu Qiao: “Miss, have you ever heard the saying, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”
Chu Qiao strongly disagreed to the local vendor and said: “This is not a means to an end.”
Back to Xuili Mountain, “Your Grace, what can we do to serve the King?” said Ge Qi on his curious face.
“Where is Viper?” asked Yan Xun
We do not know your Majesty, as you all know Viper is an independent body, she is not being controlled nor can be governed by Military rules.
Yan Xun on his cold stare acknowledge this truth, he said: Very well, tell He Xiao, to come down to Yan Palace I have an important thing to discuss.
Ge Qi nodded and bowed his head to Yan Xun. And Yan Xun turned his back and sound of horse hooves is trailing towards the Yan Palace.
Yan Xun came to Xuili Mountain and saw the condition of the Xuili army. He was a little bit surprised to see that without his provisions, the regiment was able to live, he told himself, Xuili army is good plunderers and looters. Yan Xun wants to see Viper face to face from the last time they saw each other for an important task, but unfortunately, Viper’s location is unknown. Yan Xun gave Viper as much freedom she wants to roam around without Military jurisdiction to make up for the guilty conscience on the night they planned to rescue Chu Qiao but failed. After that incident, Viper started to act independently after she was put to a secret prison in Liang. It was a high strength she put in to show just put her powers on hold and pretend she can withstand the blows on her mortal body she was able to endure 50 backslashes in her body while He Xiao, on the other hand, was tied on his hands and feet. Upon Yan Xun’s order, Xiao Yu released Viper and He Xiao on one condition, the wedding must commence on the day it was announced. Yan Xun was put back to sleep and suddenly woke up on his chambers with his servants undressing him to put on his wedding gown. He did not recall what happened on the eve of his wedding day, a horrible night he was put into half sleep unable to perform his usual manly strength his muscles were somewhat paralyzed but relaxed. While his Queen to be is at his side she said: “Even these things should be done to protect you from harm and total destruction. I cannot live long to see you destroyed just like what happened to Yuwen Yue.”
Xiao Yu just like Xiao Ce, was keeping all close memory of Yuwen Yue, loved all of his close allies and even enemies. She also found out about Yue Qi, and she did not harm him while he was serving at Kong Sang mountain. Instead, she hired Xiao Qi, the seventh sister of Chu Qiao to take care of him while he is recovering. Xiao Ce objected, but Xiao Qi insisted as she does not want to stay at his side even if his sister Xiao Ba followed him. Xiao Ce granted Xiao Qi’s hard-headed decision, he released Xiao Qi to become Xiao Yu’s servant.
♥♥♥
Author’s note:
Adding about Bat tribal sword facts, I borrowed the legendary Bikol Bat Head Sword from the far North Eastern steppes tribes of the Philippines to enhance the story of the awarded sword to one of the heroes tribal warrior son of Dongyi.
Chapter 063
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Trickster Prince (proofread done)
A secret cave, hidden part of the Kong Sang mountain, lies the what-so-called Afterlife Nirvana hub. Zhan Ziyu gathered the Afterlife camp supervisors coming from Jian Kang city at Southern Liang and some parts of Wei state, to witness the achievement of immortality or the promotion of new supervisors and shed off the old ones. This is the second level of what they call “Ascension to Nirvana kills.” Held every ten years, where all afterlife camp supervisors compete for the control of Dengxian Pill supply.
Dengxian Pill, an important possession for an Afterlife camp supervisor to empower its spy leaders and associates. Dengxian means immortality and to achieve this state one must compete for the other leaders to kill and finally receives the honor of ten years Dengxian pill supply from their Grand Master Zhan Ziyu. While Mohists masters continue to build traps, lures, and devices to protect its people, the Celestial Dao masters concerns themselves about the transformation of matter and performs experiments, rudiments or what they call the fundamentals then attempts to convert base metals, gold, and minerals to find a universal elixir.
Zhan Ziyu, one of the descendant children of the alchemist clans, one of the original Celestial Dao Masters who formerly controlled the Royal Temple of alchemist monks. He is one of the best Alchemist Masters in Liang empire until Empress Lu Zhi was dethroned. After the First Empress downfall, all of Zhan Ziyu’s experiments and discoveries on the Immortal Pill was abandoned. The promoted Empress eventually put Zhan Ziyu’s discoveries and experiments into hearsay, a man of corrupted spirit, deceit and to cut off all of his ties, Empress Yuan ordered all Daoist temples to be closed. The original mission was to find a cure for the frailty of mortal human bodies, to achieve immortality but one day, Zhan Ziyu found all his table experiments on fire, burning in ashes.
All of Zhan Ziyu’s study and learning experiments that arrived at the premature development of the immortal pill ended in disaster. The immortal pill made of potent potions and metal solutions and the mixture of powerful ingredients was later renamed as Dengxian pill. Sourced from the liquid form of gold infused with herbal plant extracts supposed to prolong life. It also empowers the agent’s mind to carry out any government affairs especially those who were highly regarded by the Liang Empire to pursue a long-term goal in response to their pro-life advocacy to its people. The Dengxian pill was initially been administered orally to the brightest and best of Southern Liang spy agents, but today it belongs to the best of Liang’s for hire killers.
After the decline of the first Empress Lu Zhi, Zhan Ziyu is broke and lived like a hermit at Kong Sang mountain. He did not have anything left except for his knowledge and his skills. Ever since then, he withdrew from the noble society and devoted himself to meditation. He became thin and skinny until one day, a familiar figure passed by a usual route to Kong Sang mountain where she recognized Zhan Ziyu. She took him to the little town in Xue Fu. She helped him recover from malnutrition and even gave some of her treasures to help start his life.
Zhan Ziyu did not realize the importance of life until he nearly lost it. This became the starting point of his evolution being a Daoist Celestial master that turned into a cruel Killer master. Zhan Ziyu did not have a sense of poverty until he experiences it himself and took some wisdom, it ignited him to put up one of the most powerful spy networks. He built it under the foundations of no strings attached relationship, client-based system, and assassins skills for hire network. Name the mission and if the price if right Zhan Ziyu is definitely the man who can get things done. He changed his lifestyle, his appearance most particularly all his long beards, long hair, gone. You are looking at a man who no longer looks out for the good of others but looks out for the opportunity of others in exchange for money.
When Zhan Ziyu was able to set up a cruel, prosperous and stable assassins network for hire, he discovered that most of his clients were coming from the noble society who can afford to pay him taels of gold or traded him some relics that he thinks it is important for his experiments. When his golden goose laid golden eggs, he bought some lands, built a secret workroom in the Kong Sang Mountain to continue his experiments. Finally, was able to release its first potent addicting Dengxian pill and poisoned needles with hard to find the cure and difficult to find an antidote. This earned him a good reputation regarding spying, infiltration, killing a target, and hunting prey. Fascinated by some spy gadgets and killing machines, he invented the great afterlife black mouth mask and backpack killing machines, Afterlife campers two of their killing frolic trademarks.
Zhan Ziyu wanting to control Wei and Liang borders through the small water channel of Xianyang, he bought a ship primarily for his pleasure but when his afterlife camp network flourished, it became a vessel to advance his business disguised as trading goods for the two states, as well as sourcing information useful for its spy network.
One day Zhan Ziyu heard the news about the most powerful spy leader from the East captured and detained in Wei garrison prison. He is aware of their existence and supernatural powers. He even encountered them from one of their killing operations frustrating him to kill an important figure. Now he came to Wei, paid its guards with heavy gold just to get a glimpse of their leader Lou He. Zhan Ziyu even duplicated the dress of underworld spies leaders which was usually white hood covering their heads and a white scarf covering their face. Only thing, he chose the black color and black mouth mask to quickly find his afterlife camp leaders from the underworld spies leaders.
Zhan Ziyu has always been trying to catch the leader of the underworld spies and tried his best to overpower its spy agents however he always ends up losing the battle with them and suddenly gone without any trace of evidence to track their whereabouts. What he didn’t know was the fate that awaits him on that day, he said goodbye to his feet which were both paralyzed, in a blink of his eyes, he was not able to prevent the sharp ice that invisibly killed his feet. What happened next permanently left him a scar to endure in his entire lifetime.
He always wears a Jade ring in his thumb. And when he touches it, it’s like an omen that someone powerful must die or someone who is influential shall kill at any means and his next customer came to a secret location where he met the present Liang Empress and showed him a portrait.
Zhan Ziyu on his black hood covering its head and only dim light of tea candle reveals its face for the first time exclaimed: “Your Highness, this is the crown prince of Liang.”
Empress Yuan expressed her disgust and said: “I thought the rules are clear, there are no strings attached, only this..”
The Empress showed him the payment in exchange for the crown prince dead body, and her servants opened the casket, said: All riches and treasures here belong to you, shall I unload it? But after this casket becomes empty, I want his body to be placed inside and deliver it to me.”
Zhan Ziyu in a crises moment for he did not expect, his next target was his nephew. Good thing this Empress Yuan does not know who he does not even remember him. Zhan Ziyu like frozen ice did not respond to his client. For the first time in his life, he felt some conscience if he still ever have it, his next kill would be a family and the man whom he worked in the past.
Zhan Ziyu did not reveal his blood relations to the Crown Prince and did not tell about his mother deposed Empress Lu Zhi. These secrets can always make one person close to death he did not attempt to bother the crown prince life to avoid any suspicion on it. He knows that the prince grew in the lap and bosom of present Liang Empress and did not know about his real mother’s fate.
Zhan Ziyu discovering the answers on his secret long-time family rival that destroyed his useful life in the past and turned him to a monster killer now. Although, this is the road that Zhan Ziyu took, and he knows the consequences but what he did not realize is this fate of killing his own nephew, in his own hands to end his very blood for the sake of what? The power struggle of the present Empress?
Zhan Ziyu on his professional deal he asked her beautiful crouching client: “This is not a simple figure to kill. We are talking of a heavily guarded royal, an almost impossible assassination plot unless he is put on the spot to a vulnerable situation or left alone without his guards. May I know why you are doing this?”
Empress Yuan slightly raised her brow pissed off because Zhan Ziyu’s may have been digging too personal reason, she said: ” I think you are clever and know who this person in front of you and what do I want to achieve in Liang’s future. I am somewhat pissed off for asking my intentions for this simple matter I ask you to do.”
Zhan Ziyu started to play his cards, and in front of Empress Yuan, he said: “For every blood of royal killed, I Zhan Ziyu do not kill without any reason behind it. Whether it would be a petty reason or simple envy, it is not my business to ponder about it. I ask for the reason because, in a difficult mission like this, I will choose the method and appropriate poison for it.”
Empress Yuan suddenly dumbfounded but she already knows she is playing Zhan Ziyu’s card, she said: Well, if you may, an acceptable reason would be, jealousy. On the other hand, you are free to interpret further.
Zhan Ziyu laughs at her, and he said: “Jealousy, the deadliest poison of all. Consider it done your Highness.” Zhan Ziyu thought, her ambitions were quite high, and she is lucky she picked him for it. For he will smash it down like what he did to him many years ago.
Zhan Ziyu also added and told the Empress: “If it’s revenge, it can wait for a while. If its jealousy, it cannot wait. A sharp poisoned knife and a casket to bury it.”
And just like that Zhan Ziyu agreed to put on his seal on the small document the Empress prepared where he cut a little wound in his wrist, let the blood drip in a small plate and used its blood to seal the paper. Empress Yuan beamed, waiting for a paper to dry beside the little tea candle.
Zhan Ziyu was left alone, the man for the first time is thinking deeply.
After the thirty-day terms of his prison sentence inside his palace one year ago the Liang crown prince learned his lessons very well and managed to roam around his palace usually by the company of some of his finest maids. Now, he decided to go outside of his Palace. His first destination was to visit the Old lady in Xue Fu street. Xiao Ce not familiar with his new set of royal guards, he randomly chose his company, requested for Ping’An to be his close in bodyguard together with his spies all around. This time he obtained an official pass from King Tang and followed the protocols of the Empire. The King agreed but doubled his company of his royal guards and spies all around him as guardians for this rare visit. Though, inside his mind, he has another plan.
Xiao Ce on his flashy flowery orange robes with three horses in front of his horsemen driving the Palanquin, he suddenly tapped Ping’An shoulder, he said: “Your eyes on a blindfold, I am changing my clothes.”
After a while, Xiao Ce already change his clothes ready for his next getaway tapped Ping’An shoulder and said: “How do I look?”
You look so poor said Ping’An, and he smiles. Xiao Ce on the other hand slightly hit his head and said: “That is the goal I must look poor, come on put these clothes on your body.” After it Xiao Ce closed his eyes, then opened it, his dress looked like Ping’An dress V-neck sleeveless black jumper suit with a black belt in his waist and a black band also in his head, Xiao Ce thinks everyone will be convinced that he is a peasant slave.
“Now your turn. Let me see?” Xiao Ce said.
Ping’An like a dog turning to his master with his thin body dressed in Xiao Ce’s royal garments. Xiao Ce is beaming his two perfect white teeth he said: “You have to pretend you are the crown prince, and you are good at it, right?”
“Your Highness…I..I..” Ping’An not yet finished when Xiao Ce said: Hep…hep…hep…what did I told you to call me?
Ping’An on his awkward face he said: Lotus Prince…
“Hep…hep…hep… you are not a spy to call me Lotus Prince. Think of another.” Xiao Ce said vertically tapping his fingers on his head and then looking at him on his foxy eyes hoping for Ping’An to think the worst name.
Ping’An said: Yaling?
“Hmm…” Xiao Ce on a hum thought about it and said: Yǎ meaning “elegant, graceful, refined” combined with ling meaning “tinkling of jade.” Perfect slave name. (Though it does not sound like its meaning)
Ping’An just followed his prince advise as Xiao Ce does not want the entire world to see his face thinks this disguise will work. However, did not bother to transfer the jade ring in Ping’An index finger as it does not fit, he slid in it in one of his pockets.
Xiao Ce put some little powder in Ping’An face and arranged Ping’An hair to make him look like the real crown prince. While he disarranged his hair putting some bangs in his forehead now, he looks like he is going to be a disposable slave.
No one knows what is happening inside the Palaquin except the two when suddenly another cavalry is meeting their route halfway, and it stopped in the middle.
Prince Lou’s guard came to them and at once, recognized it’s the crown prince banners, and flags turn back to Prince Lou sitting on his black horse said: Prince Lou, it is Prince Xiao Ce.
The Liang royal guard turned back his horse and tapped Xiao Ce’s Palanquin he said: “Your Highness, Prince Lou is passing through what shall we do?”
Xiao Ce slightly put the cloak on his face and said: “do not let him come near me, I am meditating.”
The Liang royal guard scratched his head thought to himself: If he meditating why did he answer my question? And then he slightly shouted: “Okay, your highness, we will not allow any contacts.”
Prince Lou wants to play with his brother thought: What if I give a surprise? Prince Lou’s guard beamed and laughed: “Ha…ha…ha… I heard Lee Cecilia do not have many surprises until today.”
Sound of mighty horse hoofs ran towards Xiao Ce’s Palaquin as Prince Lou suddenly tapped his horse and nobody of his guard not even Xiao Ce’s guards were able to block him, his horse leaped so high and landed on the side of his Palaquin and said: “I know you are there, you can’t escape your brother without giving me a good sword fight.”
Xiao Ce’s guard shouted to Prince Lou: “Your Highness, the prince cannot be disturbed, he said he is meditating!”
Xiao Ce does not know what to do or react, he suddenly heard a noise of sword from its scabbard then it began to attack his window curtains made of finest silk but enough for the sharp sword to cut it. Suddenly a thin hand counter attacked it inside the Palaquin.
Prince Lou beamed and showed his white teeth said: Are you meditating or counter-attacking me?
Xiao Ce faked his response he arrogantly said: “What do you think? Do I have any other choice?”
“No, you don’t” Prince Lou laughs and changes his sword position and attacked the Palaquin window. Then another good counterattack coming from the Palanquin, he didn’t think his brother could respond to this advance sword moves.
Prince Lou thinks his brother may have improved on his swordplay he said: “Quite fast but military troops will not heed to take a knee on it,” when suddenly Prince Lou tore the silk window of his Palaquin and stunned of the view.
Xiao Ce like Mary Magdalene put a long cloak from his head down to his body, to cover his dress and Prince Lou saw his face he said: “What? Oh Come on, why do you dress like this?”
“None of your business!” said Xiao Ce on his poker face, still not looking at his brother. He wanted to turn around when Prince Lou came closer to look at his Palaquin.
“No you cannot come near,” said Xiao Ce he closed his eyes and gave him the hand signal to go.
“Ha..ha…ha..” said Prince Lou and continued: “are you hiding a girl at your feet? or are you the man pretending to be a girl?”
Xiao Ce rolled his eyes and annoyed of what he just heard said: “even if I pretend to be a girl, you still lost, you failed to counterattack my sword.”
“That’s exactly what I supposed to find out, seems your hands improved but still like a girl. I must admit I have to give double effort but looking at you like this makes me puke.”
Prince Lou has some good time to bully his younger brother like they always used to be when they are still young.
Xiao Ce mocked him too and awkwardly beamed on him, said: “It means you are getting old and you need to re-train your skills.”
Prince Lou laughed louder and said on his handsome and very straight posture sitting on his horse: “Very well, I must go, or I might let you cry, Lee Cecilia.” Prince Lou joked at his brother Xiao Ce.
Xiao Ce did not take this seriously and laughs out loud, said in his dull voice: “Go away, you are not needed here.”
“Ha…ha…ha…” Prince Lou cannot help himself but to laugh, he turned his back and gave a hand signal to his cavalry and left the place.
Xiao Ce took off the cloak in his face and tapped Ping’An under his seat, and they are back to their original plan.
Ping’An put back the sword in his waist and breathe out slowly. Xiao Ce tricked his brother again by not displaying any amount of effort and not showing his real skills.
Prince Lou white slowly walking in the woods when suddenly a cold wind blew in his face. Sensing a foreboding danger, he gave a hand signal to his cavalry, and everyone stopped. Prince Lou’s ears listening to the silence of the road beside the river sounds, he heard sounds of swords and whizzing arrows not towards them but on his back he suddenly turns around and saw the crown prince envoy shot by the arrows coming from different directions.
Prince Lou on his fast heartbeat and worried eyes tapped his horse, and all his Liang valiant men followed him when suddenly a huge iron net dropped in front of their horses. Prince Lou cried he unsheathed his sword slashed the iron net barrier but cannot cut it, his men put in the shields to cover for Prince Lou, while he sees the crown prince envoy dead men on the ground shot with cloud arrows. His cavalry took him away from the barrier to protect him, but he cried out loud because his brother might have been assassinated. One of Prince Lou’s guard activated their flare to inform Sun Di, to reinforce them with men as the crown prince met a sudden an attack.
Xiao Ce did not expect this to happen but repeatedly put into this situation, he got used to it, he already knows what to do said: “It’s party time!”
He started to deploy his tricks by saving Ping’An instead of himself. His dress is loaded with smart killing machines, he is armed with his classic weapon-the hundred flying needles that fly 360-degrees, all enemies dead in less than 60 seconds.
Ping’An somehow confused about whether to act as the Prince and follow his master’s game plan or time to test his martial arts into the outside world. But Xiao Ce said: “It would be nice if you stick to our plan, we are ready for this.”
Ping’An nodded and when Xiao Ce heard the sound of all flying arrows landed on his escorts and suddenly all quiet, he suddenly pushed a button, and their Palaquin ceiling ejected two bodies. Both Xiao Ce and Ping’An landed on the side of the riverbanks unharmed. Aware of lures and traps, Xiao Ce said to Ping’An: “Shhh…Don’t move.” Ping’ an nodded.
Xiao Ce heard the fighting started and his royal guards were outnumbered. He is trying to recognize who are these assassins who came to kill him.
Two warm bodies are walking along the riverbanks when suddenly they heard fighting of swords and battle cries. Both of them looked into their eyes and Viper climbed the tree using her whip while Chu Qiao put on her indigo scarf, her eardrums listening to the fighting sounds and ten times sharper she walked like ordinary people in the road.
After a while, Chu Qiao senses two people running towards her direction, but she did bother to look at it not even see who it is.
Xiao Ce on his foxy eyes, he beamed on the black assassin people. It did not even start to attack him, but their strides look so terrifying. Xiao Ce sees these are not men but women. At his back, he took his crossbow and hold it in his hands playing his scenario of being a hero while defending the young Prince Ping’An. Xiao Ce said: “Ping’An run and hide from the trees.”
Xiao Ce confident and armed, he boldly stopped while the two spies came closer to him.
The cobra spy and flying spy deployed to abduct the Liang crown prince but do not have time to bother themselves with his weak guardian. As they walked closer to Xiao Ce, cold air blew their spaces, they just passed by at him and did not even kill him. The two spies are looking for the boy who is running towards Chu Qiao but it still a bit far. Xiao Ce held his crossbow and released two arrows when suddenly the flying spy used its sleeves, it stretches, and the hunting wind binds the two arrows, but the flying spy did not bother to look at Xiao Ce.
Xiao Ce annoyed and looks incompetent, he kneels to aim for the two feet of the spies, this time used a different arrow, smaller than the first one and released it.
Suddenly Chu Qiao heard the voice of boy screaming for help as the cobra spy has released some Cobras from her sleeves and the cobra is crawling in the ground towards the Ping’An. Ping’An desperate for help. Chu Qiao smelled a scent of stinky blood from cobra, and she thinks it drank a poison.
The flying spy took Xiao Ce’s small arrows and threw them at the river, still no reaction from the two spies but almost reached Ping’An and Xiao Ce a bit far from him for a grab.
Ping’An does not want to blow his cover, pretended he needed him as he sees the woman walking so calm towards him, he asked for help before the cobra creeps into his body.
Ping’An short of breath and do not want to reveal his martial arts for the sake of the crown prince whom these two spies treated as no one, he is going to die any minute when suddenly Chu Qiao opened her palms and welcomed the bloody poison cobras in her hands. The two spies, surprised at what happened, suddenly looked at each other questioning who is this person? Why did she turn my cobra’s like her pet?
Chu Qiao looking at the two cobras in their eyes, she controlled them using her internal powers. She communicated to them not to go back to their spymasters and live peacefully, she tapped the two heads of the cobras, and suddenly the two fell to the ground like a dead snake. All their black colors were turned into a white one, and their eyes restored its sight went to crawl away from their master.
The two spies saw what happened and Chu Qiao started to look fierce, she took the resemblance of cobra’s eyes and even Ping’An became afraid of her. The flying spy started to strike her side using her sleeves, and she flew as high as the trees while the cobra spy is focusing on her prey, she suddenly grabs Ping’An.
Chu Qiao on her white hood dress, white boots, and her fiery blue cobra eyes, she opened her palm and touched the ground soon the flying spy’s long sleeves that went to strike her were inserted on the ground and then it was covered with ice in the surface. Chu Qiao still on her fiery eyes, she blew air towards the Cobra spy, and suddenly the air turned into a wind that strangled her neck and her color changed from yellow turning pale. The cobra spy does not want to let go of Ping’An when suddenly she took a small needle in her long fingernails and insert it at the middle of Ping’An palm. Chu Qiao got angry she twitched her hand, and the cobra’s spy strangles, the double effort turned the cobra’s spy face blue.
Suddenly the flying spy out of Chu Qiao’s sight came to attack her again and is about to sweep her body when Viper out of hidden nowhere swayed her whip and cut the long sleeves. Chu Qiao is starting to draw more of the inner powers that she has not seen or let herself use it if it becomes too much for her, she puts herself into danger.
Ping’An suddenly used his martial arts to counter the small needle but its too late it was inserted very little and yet he dozed off and his head fell to the ground.
Xiao Ce stunned at what he saw did not recognize Chu Qiao, his feet unable to walk because the flying spy caught one of his feet. He cried and shouted bitterly: “save him, Miss!!! I cannot let him die.”
Xiao Ce looked up in the sky and said to the flying spy: “Here take me instead, I have the jade ring. I am the crown prince of Liang. After the moment of truth, Xiao Ce closed his eyes.”
The flying spy came back so quick and walk so calm towards him. Her entire body covered with a red hood, her eyes on double black liners, beautiful but dark, she hushed Xiao Ce’s ears: “Finally you admit you tricked us. Impressive but not your lucky day!”
And she tied Xiao Ce’s feet so quick, Xiao Ce did not move and obeyed her with a dark plan to execute his last resort in mind.
The flying spy pulled Xiao Ce’s feet and Xiao Ce like a beaten dog being dragged while he is lying on the ground and no one dared to come near them.
Chu Qiao is controlling her powers suddenly feels weak she walked towards Ping’An and looked at his hands. Ping’An is turning pale, the needle is poisoned, it cannot wait any longer. Chu Qiao pressed his wound and used her powers to take out the poison, and the cobra spy freed from strangling like a mist faded into the trees.
While Viper said to the flying spy: “Today is your lucky day.” And she whipped her palms to frighten the flying spy.
The flying spy on her calm voice like the river said: “Get away from here, you cannot save this Prince. He is doomed to die.”
Xiao Ce thinks it’s time, he released a hundred needles weapon and Viper on her big eyes swayed her whip, and all of the needles were thrown on the flying spy, but then she went up to the sky then suddenly gone. Viper on her power was able to control the wind except for one needle inserted on her arm, she fell.
Suddenly Prince Luo came to rescue his brother, he was able to catch Viper on his arms. While Chu Qiao tried to suppress the poison inside Ping’An body, like absorbent cotton she took the poison to her body, Ping’An came back to life while Chu Qiao who was sitting beside him slowly dropped to the ground.
Xiao Ce said to his brother: Please take her, take this dark lady to the palace. After it Xiao Ce ran towards Ping’An and then to his surprise he saw the face of the woman, he took her small beautiful face and put her in his arms. After checking her pulse, Xiao Ce on his pale face full of worry, asked his guards to lend him a horse and they helped him put the damsel in distress, and his knight in shining armor climb to the horse then rode away fast. Ping’An also rescued by Xiao Ce’s royal guards and looking at his dress right now, will bear much fruit of explanation to convince the trees of the forest of the Liang Empire later.
♥♥♥
Chapter 064
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Mother’s knows best
Inside the Jian, Kang city is the magnificent Daoming Palace. This is one of the greatest achievement of Empress Yuan that made the Liang Emperor happy and fulfilled. It cannot be denied that she is a woman who rose from power and captured the eyes of the two successors of the Liang Empire. Her beauty is exquisite, a charm with no equal. Her ambitions led to the rise of the new city of the Southern state, that gave a home to foreigners who engaged in Liang’s business trades and made them prosper next to the Great Summer Dynasty.
Some said that the former Liang Emperors chose a foreign princess to marry, this led commoners to think, that Liang Emperors have a distinct foreigner features except for Xiao Ce and Prince Lou where both of their mother’s, the past and the present Empress came from the pure, noble Chinese bloodlines of the Liang Empire.
Empress Yuan already set the stage for his son Prince Lou and arranged a secret bond from her close family clan and selected a mate for his son. She secretly adopted this child and like a princess grew up in the Daoming palace with Prince Lou and Xiao Ce the three became childhood friends. A’Fu is brave, strong and not the typical daughters of the Liang Palace. Her hobbies like a boy include hunting, camping and likes to play with ball games. Later, A’Fu asked her guardian that she enlists in the military and so she was and became one of the female Lieutenant of Liang. More after that, some maidens from the nobles and commoners followed her footsteps, and she became a role model to their state and received honors from their society.
Young at heart, Xiao Ce innocently showed affections and favors for A’Fu. Xiao Ce frequently tells in front of his parents that someday he would marry her and A’Fu always gave Xiao Ce a sad face. In fact, A’Fu Xiao Ce’s puppy love though it is only one-sided love as A’Fu never responded to Xiao Ce’s affection. Empress Yuan knew this very well but did not interfere with their young hearts and confident that their young hearts can still change when they become mature. Prince Lou, on the other hand, did not show many affections to A’Fu. He is five years older than A’Fu while Xiao Ce and A’Fu have the same age. A’Fu grew up admiring Prince Lou because of his handsome face and Adonis-like body, kind-hearted, hero attitude and lots of women looks up to him as the perfect mate, husband material type.
Prince Lou did not deny that many young women fancy him, but Empress Yuan kept these women distant from him then frame up A’Fu to be his constant companion. This made Xiao Ce envy his brother and complains about it to his father. He creates a reason to grab the attention of his father and then requests for A’Fu to stay in the palace rather than go to the military and accompany Prince Lou.
Later on, these small time love triangles have come to a bigger picture. Xiao Ce’s harem is like a garden full of a foreigner and exotic beauties. Unlike his father’s concubines, these women have never been touched by the crown prince because he likes to marry A’Fu. Sooner or later Xiao Ce found out that A’Fu did not have the same feelings as he does to her and finds out that A’Fu fancies his brother more than him. Xiao Ce confronted his brother, and Prince Lou thinks this is a useless matter, he invited him for a sword fight instead to settle it once and for all. Xiao Ce agreed and said: “Whoever loses will give up A’Fu. Whoever wins will marry A’Fu.”
A’Fu on the other end saw their sword fight, Xiao Ce could not even hold the sword properly and did not even match Prince Lou’s swordsmanship. We can only guess who won on that day and Xiao Ce hurt, the crown prince envoy arrested Prince Lou.
Prince Lou was detained in the royal prison, he had to defend himself in front of Liang’s palace ministers, nobles and scholars that he did not intend to hurt his brother but merely swordplay. Prince Lou hide the fact that the sword fight was started by his brother and arrived at his life and death situation. He accepted his punishment and about to received its death. However A’Fu came to rescue Prince Lou, she faked her statement and spoke in front of Liang’s Ministers that it was A’Fu who cut Xiao Ce and not Prince Lou. Prince Lou out of danger, A’Fu received the decree of punishment when suddenly Xiao Ce came to interfere and confessed the truth.
Empress Yuan stood up and bowed in front of Emperor and begged for his sons to be spared and A’Fu. The Emperor realizing Xiao Ce’s love for A’Fu declared that A’Fu will receive her punishment by marrying Xiao Ce and be his first wife and the future Queen. While Prince Lou to stay away from A’Fu and assigned A’Fu in the palace and took her out, under the command of Prince Lou. Empress Yuan did not expect this kind of decision from the Emperor and became final she had no choice but to accept a lighter sanction. This left Prince Lou safe and retained his position as the deputy commander of Liang’s military. What Prince Lou did not know was his heart will start to love A’Fu after her absence is felt.
When it comes to heart matters, Xiao Ce’s youngster years were very immature. He was happy to hear his father’s decree, while Prince Lou was more matured and understood his young brother to protect him, he abides with rule and decree of the Emperor. But at some point, when A’Fu for the first time left his side, he felt loneliness in his life. Prince Lou having been secured with A’Fu’s blankets of friendship and love, Prince Lou began to long for her presence. One day when he can no longer cope, he asked one military guard to deliver a secret letter to Daoming palace. A’Fu received the letter, but she did not respond to it. Instead, she sank the letter in the beautiful fountain, she thinks letters are not enough to rescue her and take her out of her sinking life.
A’Fu getting closer to her wedding day, she lost her dreams and hopes to end up with Prince Lou, being restricted to enter the military, the profession she devoted her life then shifting it to marry the Liang crown prince, she did not think much of her value and her life became useless in her sight. Empress Yuan looking for a way to save A’Fu, she wrote a letter to Prince Lou. She knows this will put his son into the power struggle and may lose his position in the military, but it is the only way she can save A’Fu.
The Empress intervened, and on the eve of Xiao Ce and A’Fu wedding day, she came in secret to propose a way out for A’Fu.
“Do you love Prince Lou?” asked Empress Yuan
A’Fu on her haggard crying eyes, torn night robes, dirty and smelly mouth drinking hard liquor she said: “I loved him all my life, but all he did was to send me a letter. It is not enough.”
“Then what is enough?” Empress Yuan pities her adopted daughter she asked her sincerely.
“Prince Lou can do unimaginable things, kill, fight and destroy a nation. But why can’t he defend his heart?” A’Fu not even realizing who is the person in front of her out of her drunkenness, she talked to the Empress like she is a nobody.
Empress Yuan partly to be blamed and out of her guilty conscience she proposed: ” Take this potion, and within 24 hours you will wake up with the man you love and not the man of your nightmare.”
The Empress slowly walked at the middle, put the tiny bottle on top of the expensive carpet, said: “If you believe and trust me, remember to pour a drop in your mouth at twelve-hour midnight and I’ll do the rest.”
The Empress did not stay long and on her graceful strides walked out of her room. A’Fu left alone and ran out of any options, out of her desperation, she put a drop of the potion into her mouth and not so long, she fell into the expensive carpet.
Empress Yuan heard a slight dropping sound, she walks back calmly to the crown princes room and saw A’Fu lying unconscious on the floor. She hid the potion to wipe out the crime and ordered her guards to prepare Prince Lou and said: Tomorrow, the future of this state will attend to a funeral and not a wedding day. One woman became sleeping beauty, two prince destinies will be known. One prince will mourn, and another prince will rejoice. What she did not know was whether she intervenes or not both Prince will regret a lady whose destiny already been decided by the fault of their stars.
Like Romeo and Juliet story, wishing love to conquer all, the truth is, the secret lovers ended in a tragic story. When A’Fu suddenly came back to life, she remembered what the Empress told her. She thought she would wake up with the man of her dreams, but she woke up in a beautiful temple built on top of the Tan Jing mountains. She waited for many days for Prince Lou to come, but Prince Lou being entangled to his primary duties attended all his usual courtesies to the Empire first.
A’Fu unable to wait for his Prince, she took her life by jumping off from a cliff while Prince Lou riding on his horse with his military officials and other soldiers, they traveled for more than two days to reach the temple. Prince Lou is Deputy General stationed at one of Liang’s largest military border prefecture called Duodu, so it wasn’t easy for him to escape unnoticed especially now that the Liang Empire mourns for the death of its crown princess. Prince Lou and his men arrived at the place and found out A’Fus body being pulled by the local Tan Jing people from a cliff. When he saw her full of wounds and no signs of life, he embraced A’Fu. Prince Lou cried for days and nights then eventually arranged a proper military burial for the first young female Lieutenant who serves under his command.
Because of what happened, Prince Lou wanted to rebel to the empire by planning to deploy Coup’état through its military troops. Presently, Prince Lou holds six out of it’s eight large and small prefecture frontiers defending Liang borders. But this is still considered small and weak military arm compared to the Great Summer Dynasty’s ten thousands of military troops led by Seventh Prince Yuan Che.
Sun Di one of Xiao Ce’s childhood friend became one of its Military governors who controlled the farthest remaining two out of its eight prefectures. They said that Sun Di’s mother is a foreigner and his father is one of the Emperor palace ministers who traveled every day from dawn to midnight to attend to his office because his residence is located outside of Southern Liang but Sun Di his first-born son grew up in the Daoming palace to be educated and eventually enlisted by his father in Liang’s military academy.
Empress Yuan had born two children from Emperor Tang, Xiao Yu and his younger brother Xiao Yun and became Xiao Ce’s legitimate half-sister and brother. They were the least priority among the two princes Prince Lou and Xiao Ce, that pushed Xiao Yu to climb the royal ladder and establish herself as the Queen of Yanbei. Like her mom, with grand ambitions to rule, her dreams came true. While Xiao Yun, a youngster prince who did not concern himself in military or politics but he excelled in a ball sport called soccer. He is seen mostly at the royal soccer ball courts with Liang’s most excellent soccer players.
Even if Xiao Yu and Xiao Yun were Xiao Ce’s legitimate siblings, Xiao Ce did not put behind his brother Prince Lou. Because King Tang isolated Prince Lou, he has never been close to his half-brothers and sister except for Xiao Ce. Although Prince Lou is consumed with his anger to King Tang, he took careful consideration in planning for his revolt to the Throne would positively affect his mother and his brother. Because of that, Prince Lou did not pursue any coups after A’Fus death.
Later on, Xiao Ce found out in secret, he asked for the post-mortem of the Liang crown princess body and dugout the royal tomb in secret and confirmed that it is not the real body of A’Fu. Xiao Ce out of respect for the dead and found about his brother’s secret love that he was ignorant before and did not know about it, let the matter be buried in secret. Xiao Ce since then, put a distance to his brother and kept his discoveries quietly in his heart, forgiving himself, A’Fu and his beloved brother for he is only aware of one thing, A’Fu loves Prince Lou, but he never knew that his brother loved her too. Also, he kept a secret pile of bitterness to his stepmother who caused the death of A’Fu.
The tragic story of his puppy love, Xiao Ce would never again offer any marriage proposals. After his first heartbreak, he settled into short-term love affairs, making him the hottest playboy prince is known in China. And after a few years of playing around, his state visit in Wei made him stop his activities and started to rekindle his heart towards the path of love. This was when he met Chu Qiao and where marriage proposals started to court Xiao Ce’s heart, he remembered A’Fu, this is the type of woman he falls his knees into. Chu Qiao gave Xiao Ce’s life, a break from its chained heart. Like a light in the dark skies, Chu Qiao gave Xiao Ce’s heart to cut the rope of its past and follow a ray of hope in the future. But the glimmer of hope did not last long. Every rainbow comes to an end when Xiao Ce found out about Yuwen Yue, and he is alive, he knows he lost his only chance with Chu Qiao. He finally understood that he is never going to have Chu Qiao as his lifetime partner and gave up the road to it. Xiao Ce managed to stay at his palace, and King Tang determined to end his son long time mourn of A’Fu and agony of his vulgar open love of Chu Qiao, he added foreign concubines in Xiao Ce’s harem after Xiao Yu married Yan Xun. None of it gave Xiao Ce of what he seeks. Then King Tang also invited some beautiful women from Liang’s noble households, hoping for the crown prince eyes to catch some of these lovely ladies but none of them was able to end his broken heart.
Xiao Ce is also forced to produce an heir for the throne, the Liang palace minister’s asked him to take a concubine since the first crown princess has long been dead, the next in line would take up the responsibility to produce his offspring. Xiao Ce cannot say no, he followed the palace protocols and entered a sexual relationship with his first concubine from the noble household of Zhan, the beautiful concubine Ziming filled in Liang’s first-born grandson Li Xuiyi and the whole empire rejoiced for the first son of the crown prince who will most likely to inherit the Empire from King Tang. Then another son was born. King Tang gave its name Li Qingrong from the same mother, Zhan Ziming. By this time, Empress Yuan thinks her ambitions to become the ultimate ruler of Liang Empire is bleak. Looking at Xiao Ce’s two sons, she is most likely to grow old and die in her palace as a retired Queen.
And so the unthinkable happens, Empress Yuan walking in slow in plotting to kill Emperor Tang and all of Li’s royal clan and establish herself as the Regent. Then finally, claim the Throne by appointing herself as the first woman Emperor. Sounds crazy but Liang State is known for its weird state laws, its ministers are not afraid to pass many unheard and turned impossible laws to possible ones. Unlike the Wei state, they follow a conservative style of governance, limit themselves to royal protocols and the law of the land with restriction of the role of woman in their society. Of course, there is an exception to the rule, when Chu Qiao was appointed as Wei’s Archer coach in Xiaoqi Elite forces Camp and became the first female to receive a high position, the Mulan title. In reality, this is to give its constituents an idea, that this is a prerogative decision the Emperor bestowed upon her and not available for another female to follow.
Prince Luo, on the other hand, became passive and stayed as General Sui’s deputy commander. General Sui is the Grand Duke of Liang that became his father figure in the absence of his older brother and same time father, Emperor Tang. One cannot imagine that these types of complicated relationships are legal in Liang’s royal clans. While Xiao Yu did the same, she became passive and did not do as much after a year of inactivity, could it be that Yan Xun did not want his father to know what happened to her? If Emperor Tang knew that her daughter was attacked by the Blackguard assassins, Yan Xun maybe put into bad shape and who knows, the Emperor might do unlikely things to charge his son-in-law or start a war with the Batuja Royal family one of protectorate state of Wei.
Chu Qiao slightly turned her head and smelled a familiar scent, she thinks she is dreaming as she slowly opened her eyes and meets the high ceiling in her sight. She rose up from the expensive bed and observed her surroundings when suddenly a young boy with a tray in his hands just came in. Chu Qiao quickly tapped the expensive carpet, and the air in the room suddenly took the young boy down, and Chu Qiao caught the tray from his hands. Chu Qiao took one chopstick and stick in the boy’s neck she asked: “I will only ask once, where I am?”
The boy not afraid of her, he looked at her face and as if waiting for her to recognize him. Chu Qiao suddenly realized he knows this boy, she put her hand and her killer instincts completely disarmed she said: Ping’An! What are you doing here?
“Master Chu, I am working here in Jinwu palace.”
Chu Qiao remembered what happened almost a week ago and asked him again: Where is Viper, did you see her?
Yes Master, please do not worry she is also safe.
While there are still speaking, Viper came to Chu Qiao’s room together with Tie You, and when she started to talk, Chu Qiao went closer to her and whispered: “Call me Chu Qiao, and do not expose me as Mimi Gongzhu.”
Tie You greeted Chu Qiao: “General Chu, how are you feeling now?”
Chu Qiao saw Tie You and said: “I am fine. Where is your Highness Prince Xiao Ce?” Chu Qiao remembers him very well, her memories are back and can respond just like the way she is before.
Sun Di is walking towards them, he consciously looked at Chu Qiao beautiful figure and angelic face, still dressed in her night robes he secretly admired her, he said: “General Chu Qiao, this is rather unexpected fate that brought you here in the palace.”
Behind him is Xiao Ce, he slightly slanted his head to see Chu Qiao and beamed at her with his perfect white teeth and foxy eyes. Chu Qiao on her usual sarcasm said: “Your Highness, thank you for taking care of us, but we have to go.”
Xiao Ce did not stop beaming at her and said: “Who said I will let the two of you go?”
Chu Qiao responded and said: “Why not?”
Xiao Ce sighed and said: “You have not changed all these years and still beautiful Qiao Qiao. What about that ring in your hand, are you engaged to somebody?”
Viper looked at Chu Qiao and rebutted: “No she is not engaged to anybody.”
Chu Qiao did not respond, she let Viper answer it for her. Xiao Ce sensing Chu Qiao’s sadness in her eyes, he said: “I am glad to hear she isn’t. Like I said before, the future belongs to those who wait.”
Sun Di interfered and also said: “how about a hearty meal for all? My treat at my Mansion, let’s all go.”
Xiao Ce agreed and said: Sure, Chu Qiao I would like to introduce Sun Di, my childhood friend and one of the Military Governor of Liang.
Chu Qiao asked: “How should I call you? Governor Sun Di?”
Sun Di replied: Just call me Sun Di, Xiao Ce and I would like to invite you for a meal. Can I expect to see you attend?”
Chu Qiao said: “Yes after I talk to Viper.”
Xiao Ce on his bright face said: “Happy to hear that.” And Xiao Ce smiled at her again on his foxy eyes. Chu Qiao somehow noticed some wrinkled lines in his eyes, and she thinks maybe the Prince has matured by face but not his attitude, she continued to display uninviting looks towards her.
Tie You also said: By the way, let me tell you Miss Chu, this palace is newly constructed and its called Yehua palace, you won’t believe the history oh how this palace was built but my master said that he saw a falling star in this place and decided to build that falling stara palace that someday if that falling star should come, this is a place she will call her own.
Everyone looked at Tie You and Xiao Ce was the one to break the silence he hit Tie You head and said: “Naaaahhh, you are telling bedtime stories again.”
Chu Qiao somehow knows what Tie You is saying, and she said: “That falling star, whoever she is, she is not just lucky to own this place but must be really favored by the crown prince itself.” Viper rolled her eyes for everyone knows, Tie You is referring to Chu Qiao where Xiao Ce cut if off, and Chu Qiao is going with the flow. Viper does not know anything about courtship, romance or even love but she thinks Chu Qiao has matured in some ways and this has something to do with the peddler man she married one year ago.
Xiao Ce smiled at Chu Qiao, a smile that meant for a new beginning waiting to unfold. A smile that spells a more mature man and woman, both of them felt they are in the right time, right place and ready to take care of the matters of their heart.
♥♥♥
Chapter 065
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Deposed Empress
“Master Tai Shan, my old friend! What can I do to help you today?” exclaimed by Lu Zhi.
“Your Highness like the beauty of lotus flower that never fades, running her humble business, how is it going so far?”
Tai Shan on his handsome face, wearing his Green Hanfu dress came and gave her a light beam. Almost at the same time, another customer came into the Kowloon noodle house wearing his black hood and formal face, and like a place of sunshine covered with darkness, the mood changed after this figure entered in the noodle house.
Zhan Ziyu looked at Tai Shan, and both of their eyes recognized each other. However, Tai Shan senses Zhan Ziyu’s killer instincts and about to strike him when Tai Shan moved backward and looked down on the floor. Lu Zhi, on the other hand, was calm and did not mind the two figure starting a small fight, she went to close the noodle house and silently went to the kitchen. Mei Xiang, her old former palace maid, replaced Chu Qiao and became the kitchen chef after Chu Qiao left the noodle house, Lu Zhi said: two bowls of ginseng soup for the two gentlemen outside.
Zhan Ziyu not letting this rare opportunity go, he started to pick a fight with Tai Shan. Knowing he is unarmed, Zhan Ziyu threw several needles. Although Tai Shan is retired in service to Emperor Tang, his martial arts skills did not. Tai Shan went to counter-attack Zhan Ziyu’s flying needles with his Kam Sleeves and flew on air and landed on one of the tables inside the Kowloon house. Zhan Ziyu nodded his head and smiled at Tai Shan when suddenly he flew towards Tai Shan and started to fight using his martial arts. Tai Shan do not have much time for this child’s play, he eventually gave Zhan Ziyu a slight but strong force to hit his temple. Zhan Ziyu was able to counter it. Unfortunately, it was too late. Zhan Ziyu felt numb for a while, and he knows this martial art well, it can paralyze his head before he can fight back at Tai Shan.
Zhan Ziyu for a second was stopped but controlled his meridians while Tai Shan smiled at him and said: “Greetings to you my old friend.” Tai Shan bowed to Zhan Ziyu.
While Zhan Ziyu is recovering and he is about to give him a counter attack, Tai Shan used the hunting wind force and formed his hand like a sword about to slash Zhan Ziyu’s neck. Just right around the corner of his neck, not even touching its neck, the force of the wind entered and spread throughout his shoulder. Zhan Ziyu was momentarily stopped again and recovering from it, he controlled its effect to his nerves.
Tai Shan bowed his head again to Zhan Ziyu and said: “Please Master Ziyu, this is a day to enjoy and not to fight, what brought you here?” And Tai Shan gave him a sly smile.
Zhan Ziyu returned to his normal state, he clasps his hands and slightly bowed to Tai Shan to recognize him and said: “You may be retired, but you are a dangerous warrior that can still put a Celestial Dao Master to a cold state.”
Tai Shan tapped his shoulders pretending that everything is okay when Zhan Ziyu gave him a blow in his stomach but Tai Shan counter attacked it and said: “I do not want to fight today my brother, if you want me to go I will come back on another day.”
Tai Shan still smiles at him even if he feels some pain and about to leave when suddenly Lu Zhi said: “Come back here, no one leaves this place without trying my ginseng soup.”
Zhan Ziyu narrowed his eyes, he gave Lu Zhi and Tai Shan sly smile and said coldly: Master Xie Tai Shan, from the humble household of Xie and Zhao bloodline, you must not take me seriously. I just wanted to be sure that you are the old master and likes to know if your skills are still bright and sharp just like the olden times. Remember in the Liang palace courts? You used to beat me, but I used to be smarter than you, how did you recover the poison in your body?”
Tai Shan stopped at the door and turned his back to face the two and walked to a chair and sat on it. Zhan Ziyu pleased, he walked towards him and set to join him on the table. Mei Xiang finished with her cooking, she served the hot ginseng soup to both men, they started to eat.
“This soup is really really good,” said Tai Shan while Zhan Ziyu looking at him he let him taste it first, and he started to scoop the soup.
“I never expect that we would see each other in this place,” Zhan Ziyu said.
Lu Zhi came and sat on the chair between them and joined the two and said: “This means we have been called by fate.”
And what do you mean by it? Asked Tai Shan.
Zhan Ziyu replied: “There are so many things happened in our past and now, today, here, we are met in this place, it’s no ordinary day.”
Tai Shan opened up and asked his old friend: “Your Highness, did the crown prince found the truth about his real mother?”
Zhan Ziyu replied: “If he did, then he would have been paying her a visit.”
Lu Zhi breathes heavily, looking at the far distance and her sad eyes, she said: I followed the advice Zhan Ziyu gave me when one day the Prince came to this place, I saw his face, and he was after a lady whom I know it was never meant for him. I did not introduce myself not even gave him a clue to take a second look into his past.
Tai Shan said: These are random chances that fate wants to open up for both of you, why did you not grab the opportunity when it came knocking here?
Zhan Ziyu interrupted and said: It is not that simple, and I am here to tell you, the life of the crown prince is in danger. According to my spy network, the last time the Prince came out of the palace he met some threat on the road and the present Empress manipulating the Eunuchs gave a report that it was the Afterlife spies who attacked him.
Tai Shan aware of Zhan Ziyu’s activities said: “Was there anyone else on that site other than the Afterlife camp spies?”
Zhan Ziyu answered: “You know the nature of my job, If I weren’t there, then the prince would have been dead by now. The rules are clear, money down first and then give me the target. In this case, I came here to tell both of you, an important figure bought his dead body in advance, and my next target is the crown prince. And I came here to ask, is this the path where my fate leads me to kill my own nephew. Is this new?”
Lu Zhi answered and said: “What is new to this world? I knew that maybe at some point and given enough time will reveal the crown prince destiny. And maybe this is the longtime answer to my questions about my fate, why do I have to suffer on behalf of my son and one day to seclude to live in this place?”
Zhan Ziyu also said: “Exactly the point, why do I have to become a monster to kill and find at this journey the chance to kill him?”
Tai Shan looked at Zhan Ziyu and answered: “If not you, then who would kill the crown prince? One way or the other, the crown prince destiny is set before us. Whether you kill him or not, fate is bound to happen. And maybe, just maybe, we are here to either let it happen or change the hands of fate into something else and alter the course his destiny.”
Lu Zhi quietly listening but in the corner of her eyes is welling some tears said to Tai Shan: “Spoken like a true master who has already seen the end of everything. The truth is, I am willing to lose everything for the sake of him. I never saw this life would happen to me, but I embraced it. I took the path of thorns so he could have the path of glory. It is never that easy, and we are all here to protect him. If not, the hope of this Empire has already sold to the enemy and already on its downfall. In the hands of the present Empress, everything will fall into chaos and swallowed by its greed.”
Zhan Ziyu answered: “Maybe just for the first time in my life I will do something right. I swore to kill and not to save a person, this is clear. But this time, I cannot seem to avoid them to turn around and follow the path to save rather than to kill. The Crown prince has not only let me turn back my evil and wicked ways once when I agreed to save a girl named Chu Qiao whom he fancies a lot. And right now, I am again once summoned to kill but look at me, I am a waste. The crown prince even not asking me to save him, this time I will have to agree to do it, not for someone else and this is the naked truth, I am saving him without his knowledge.”
Tai Shan raised his eyes and inquired: Does this mean you were in the same place where he was beaten by the blackguards and saved him by killing other blackguard assassins?
Zhan Ziyu looked into Tai Shan’s eyes and answered: “If I was too late for even a few seconds, he could have been a cold body right now.”
Zhan Ziyu looked at Lu Zhi and said: “Truth is, the crown prince for the first time after a year of his solemn silence, asked the Emperor a visitor’s past to come and visit this little small insignificant town and visit an old lady in Xue Fu Street. The crown prince doesn’t know he is drawing himself to his real mother’s presence. I always thought that one of these days, even if we continue to hide this, fate will have a way to expose it.”
Lu Zhi replied and said: “That day, I saw bird’s nest fell down from this Kowloon roof, and then it flashed to me like a vision of his face and then gone.”
Tai Shan looked at Lu Zhi and said: “It is maybe a sign that things are going to happen soon whether we like it or not like I said, we cannot ignore the signs and it is bound to happen. My old friend, Your Highness, if its time, then you must come out of your own world and reveal yourself to the crown prince. As you know, I vowed as your secret protector from the start and even to this day, I am not retired at all.”
Zhan Ziyu beamed at Tai Shan and said: And what about me? The role I am going to play is not natural. But a devil approaching another devil is the game the Empress plays. Your Highness, I will make you watch Empress Yuan burn to hell. I Zhan Ziyu, do not save but kill. I will not change that rule only will I reverse it. I will kill the client instead of its target. Do you understand it both? Zhan Ziyu looked at both Tai Shan and Lu Zhi and waiting for a response from the air.
Lu Zhi said: “Zhan Ziyu, when I saw you die in the Kong Sang road, all I wanted was to help you recover but what I am not able to help you is the path you have chosen. I cannot promise you a bed of roses after but I can help you restore your title and bring you back in the sacred Dao temple.”
Zhan Ziyu joked at Lu Zhi and said: “When it is done, I will collect the payment. For now, you do not have to worry about it or force to promise me anything yourself to pay me this golden favor.”
Tai Shan thinks the time has come to let go, he got up, and he said: “Very well Your Highness, I will be watching you closely.”
He looked at Zhan Ziyu and said: “When you pull the deadly poisoned needles, I hope you will point it to the client and not the target and watch yourself closely, for you won’t be able to run if the moment calls you for it.”
On a one beautiful afternoon, inside the Li garden, its fragrance is like no other. Emperor Tang was enjoying his usual music and poetry, and he forgot all of his burdens and responsibility to his empire he said: Li Bai, would you please write a poem regarding on happy excursion?
Your Majesty, your subject will be what?
“I would like you to start describing the northern ocean. Write about a fish named as Kun, big size fish, and then this fish shapeshifts to a bird called Peng. If the bird flies, it starts from the Southern Ocean, from the Celestial lakes. It flew for six months, mounting itself to the great winds and vast ocean skies. While on the flight the bird saw the rising white mists of spring, the snowy-dusty clouds, and the living things on earth breathing among them. The bird wondered whether the skies are really blue. Is it its real color or merely a reflection of the ocean to the sky, a result of distance without end. The bird continues to glides to the wind, and suddenly its pair of wings crashing to the ocean for the air cannot hold its heavy wings. The ocean with no sufficient depth accepted the bird it continued to journey in the south.”
Li Bai answered: A phoenix Your Majesty. Is that the story all about?
Emperor Tang smiled and added: “A cicada burrows itself inside the roots of the tree and stay for ten years before they go up and resurface in the earth. But a man to journey the depths of every oceans and mountain, he must fill his stomach first, or he won’t last. How would these little cicada’s know what a man goes through to live righteously and not wanting any in return?”
Li Bai answered: “Your Majesty, do not say those things. Your Empire is strong, what can man do to ruin it?”
Emperor Tang says: “You still don’t get it, do you? As for one who is charioteer upon the eternal fitness of Heaven and Earth, driving before him the changing elements as his men roam through the realms of the Infinite, what then, would such one have to need to depend? Thus it is said, the perfect man ignores self; the divine man ignores achievement; the true Sage ignores a reputation.”
Li Bai replied: Your Majesty, when its time, its time. No one can stop it not even the Heavens.
Emperor Tang shook his head, and he went closer to hold his shoulder, he told Li Bai: “continue to write poems, I will retire for a while.”
All the music stopped and pack up as the Emperor walked way from the Pear garden and went to his Palace.
The next day, all of Liang’s subjects, royal clansmen, palace ministers, and the royal family mourned for the death of the Emperor. Everyone in tears and Emperor Tang’s the great ended in the springtime of this year. Empress Yuan arranged its royal funeral and several Empires were also informed about his death. As the Emperor was finally laid to Li’s royal burial chamber, the Liang palace also is preparing for the herald of the next in line Emperor Xiao Ce. Chu Qiao who wears her indigo scarf all the time, (to hid her identity, witnessed all of this sad scenes of Xiao Ce’s family and she was able to help him recover from thinking about the Liang people, be prepared for the uprise of revolts and power struggles in the future.
Li Bai came to Chu Qiao and gave her all his poems and left Liang Palace for good. Chu Qiao opened it and read some of the inscriptions, and it revealed the Emperor Tang’s confessions about the first Empress Lu Zhi. She sighed and breathed out slowly.
Tai Shan and Lu Zhi went to the royal burial chamber in secret and bribed the royal guards not to tell anyone especially in the palace. Lu Zhi, the first Empress of Liang Empire, cried for several hours and then finally left the Emperor tomb a handkerchief, a token of their first meeting. Lu Zhi thank Emperor Tang for selecting her as his first Empress. Though their love story is a sad ending, she did not regret everything about the life she embraced when she gave her hand to the Emperor. After a while, both of them quietly left when suddenly Tie You came to the grave to deliver more flower and found the handkerchief with royal inscriptions “卢智” my first and last Empress.
After a period of sudden fall, the Liang Empire mourns for their dead Emperor, and it will last for one year. The entire palace is dressed in white and white flowers decorated around its corridors with black ribbons attach each post. The autumn season started to change the colors of the trees giving up their brown and orange leaves making the environment more depressing. The royal tomb open from sunrise to sundown received more than a thousand visitors coming from foreign lands except for its neighborhood Empires who have not set their foot yet to visit the Emperor’s tomb.
This autumn season also marks the Annual Celebration of Wei’s Lantern Festival to commemorate their ancestor’s hunting ground, but Chu Qiao is being pressed to come out of Liang palace and leave Xiao Ce behind. Chu Qiao on her stay at Liang is an overdue as Xiao Ce begs off her presence in his palace. Like a child and an unpredictable teenager, Xiao Ce can only sleep when Chu Qiao is around and always say to her: “I need you…please do not go away ever again. You know how much I waited for this time to be with you. Please promise you will stay and not leave.”
Chu Qiao not wanting to add burden to the Emperor to be, ends up saying yes to him. And the fondness between them grew and their friendship going stronger every day and it will be hard to break. Viper continued to spy Yan Xun’s army and provide Chu Qiao information about the Xuili Army. This time the news is not going well. Yan Xun is strangling Xuili army with his impossible and unfair conditions to abuse them. Chu Qiao learning who Yan Xun before and who is now made it difficult for her to decide whether to open Xuili army into the possibility of an exodus from their land and free them from Yan Xun’s shackles or let them fight Yan army and die with their homeland. If the latter happens, Xuili will dig out their own tombs and would not be able to recover from its bitter past. If this happens, Chu Qiao may lose all of their battle sanity and end up confronting Yan Xun which she thinks is not needed. But as the time pass by, the possibility of putting herself upfront is unavoidable. She decides to plan her course of action and ask for Xiao Ce’s permission to attend Wei’s annual Lantern festival and visit her old lady in Xue Fu street.
Thank you, Your Highness, but I do not need more companions to accompany me. I will only bring Viper and myself.
Xiao Ce replied: “Please, let Sun Di accompany you. If anything goes wrong to you, I cannot forgive myself.”
Xiao Ce took her hands and looked at her eyes, he said sincerely: “Please, take Sun Di and his envoy with you.”
Chu Qiao does not have any choice but to accept she said: “Do not blame me if your envoy complains about me.”
Xiao Ce smiled with his sad eyes, he said: “No one would dare to blame Qiao Qiao.”
Chu Qiao set on her journey, she is dressed on her simple Hanfu dress and went to see the old lady. Lu Zhi surprised she said: “What brought you here? Its been a long time we did not see each other. I heard your home was set on fire and you went away.” Where is Ra Yue?
Viper came to look at the Lu Zhi. Lu Zhi a bit startled and said: Who is she?
Chu Qiao smiled at the old lady and said: I have a lot to explain, but I can’t do it for now. Can you please excuse me for today, we came to pass by but can I come back later to have a long chat with you?
The Old lady understood said: “Oh, off you go then come back when you are free.”
Chu Qiao bid her goodbye, and the carriage drove towards the Wei. Along their way to Wei, Chu Qiao passed by the wooden cottage and remembers Master Xie very well. She came for a quick chat and suddenly bid her goodbyes, and Master Xie Tai Shan was not able to give her more details about Yuwen Yue for Chu Qiao promised to come back after the lantern festival in Wei. Tai Shan saw Sun Di too but did not speak to him.
Chu Qiao, Viper and Sun Di’s envoy are trailing the Wei and Liang borders. They continued to travel to the West.
When He Xiao from outside the Xuili Mountain is troubled by harassment of King Yan Xun, Ge Qi led the army to creep out of the mountain quietly. The entire military did not fight the Yan Army. The Xuli Army veterans with better eyes went ahead of the road, and the soldiers behind them followed one after the other. Pulling the front feet to the south, the army horses were all fastened with cloth strips, and they were all drunk all the way to the road. In addition to the sighs of breath and the buzzing footsteps, the march of 5,000 troops with their families and some of their possessions is no more.
Wu Danyu followed the soldiers who opened the way in front of them. The cold wind poured into their mouth with snowflakes began to fall. All military army have their tied some piece of cloth to the head-wound. You cannot even hear any complaints, no one said a word. Wu Danyu felt that the army seemed to have its own resilience and will to endure this dark night. Without his special command and supervision, the soldiers walk firmly and calmly. The whole team is so quiet when suddenly they saw a black like snake lady.
After walking forty miles in the night, the soldiers are marching on foot tirelessly, Wu Danyu ordered the army not to rest. Ge Qi approaching an envoy raised his hands and halted the troops to forward they stopped at their site. After eating breakfast with dry food, one short break and heading south, here comes a figure that may attack them or save them from their flight. As long as Ge Qi had been marching, all of their troops were exhausted. Their might and strength depended with their troop leaders who work hard in advance to take them to a safe journey and find reinforcements. Later, after the death march of twenty miles, the soldiers reached their limit, some of them began to fall on the road. Ge Qi and Wu Danyu ordered some men to take out those people and do not leave them, and they can rest to follow behind. He Xiao sees from a distance, suspects the figure is not a foe, the familiar figure is holding a whip. He Xiao’s army may not be able to withstand the time, finally saw the approaching envoy of General Chu, Viper, and Sun Di.
Seeing General Chu’s face means survival for them tested by time and experience, there is the General of infantry of soldiers who had won the respect of all cavalrymen. After Chu Qiao reached Xuili Army, they still maintained a strict formation. Chu Qiao meets He Xiao, and Viper on her side looked at him. Chu Qiao cannot hide the fact and sees Xuili armies head-wounds, hungry looks, and tired bodies. Other troops rushed over the porridge that Sun Di ordered for his infantry to serve, they guarded around them, and finally Xuili Army though can die of starvation still managed to have discipline and queued to receive their own food. After leaving the necessary sentry posts, Sun Di’s troop guards deployed around two teams at ten people per team surrounded the field. The swords, crossbows, and other weapons were all on their side and ready to fight. After the whole army ate, the guards took pride and look at their new comrades refueling their energy to move their troops forward.
Although He Xiao is already in his extreme starvation state, he is still willing to share the honor of the last meal with the two of the most elite lieutenants in his army Wu Danyu and Ge Qi. He Xiao cultivated a sense of honor in the military. The latest meal was qualification and reputation, which was the same as encouraging the soldiers to fight for the status of the first row of Xuili’s front liners. After Xuili Army experience, such a unique sensation about death, hunger, and exhaustion was all nothing. Survival was again like a badge mounted on their chests, they passed tonight’s last stand and endure their exodus starvation from their homeland entering the foreign land.
General Chu asked him “Is everyone ready?” said in a low-spirited manner. Like forcing these brave defenders once part of Yan Army to join forces with the Tang Army is another turnaround for Xuili army to survive. Whether this will formed from the Heavens or their own army of uniform persecuting Xuili army that forced them to get off the Hong Chuan city, it seems the act is apparent, they are joining the forces of Tang army. The look from Chu Qiao’s eyes was a bit inexplicable, and she became more and more gloomy. Many specific military orders passed by Chu Qiao and He Xiao in command are to relay and follow.
General Chu Qiao said: “Report.”
“Reporting to General Chu, are 600 old adults military officers in the army. Last fourteen (14) days, 1,352 civilian people died in the war, and almost 10,000 people could have participated in the breakout.”
Chu Qiao eyes staring at him, Ge Qi hesitated for a moment and said: “Still we have left 648 people who were injured and unable to participate in the breakout. At the end of the day, they have all been placed in the state between the borders of Yanbei and Liang to assist the Hong Chuan people of families and relatives to be safe. If we do not open the gates, having no shelter, food, and water for seven days, everyone will die in starvation.”
After the earth-shaking report, Chu Qiao looked more gloomy, and Military Governor Sun Di participated in a short military debate by other Tang official who joined their envoy. Several Military officers began to look at the situation of the Xuili army and formed opinions and strategies to welcome these ailing army. A decision must be passed.
Even if the nearest state town is part of the Liang Empire’s fortified prefectures, its city gates can only be opened through the help of Prince Lou so they can pass six more prefectures and finally reach Daoming Palace. It is the fear of rejection that concerns Sun Di, but Sun Di knows for a fact that the interim Emperor Xiao Ce can help to turn its gates and can bypass Prince Lou’s resistance. Sun Di finally decides the good of many, he will have to accompany them instead by being a warm body and open its access to the first two gates.
Chu Qiao inquired again: How about the wounded soldiers? Did you put standby soldiers to accompany them?”
Wu Danyu answered and said: “Placing our wounded Xuili brothers in the state near Yanbei is not intended to hand them over to the enemy, especially if the enemy outside the city hates the defender. If we can secure the families and relatives first, we will be the first to respond to rescue them, and we are the last to go.”
Chu Qiao heard it all knows and already predicted this situation. She played it in her mind while she in Liang palace and she already cannot turn back but to receive Xuili army and persuade Xiao Ce to accept the Hong Chuan civilian people as a refugee and open the jurisdiction of Prince Lou to take the fugitive Xuili army. Although Xiao Ce is in the state of emotional crises, the Liang Empire is a bit in the state of disorder, Chu Qiao hoped that he will begin to make decisions and can show the world this chance to prove Liang’s government pro-life advocacy. If Xiao Ce asks to trade anything in return from her, she would definitely not hesitate for the sake of the dying people, the wounded soldiers, the children, and their ailing youth.
After they parted, the long cavalry of men followed Sun Di, and its envoy guarded the Xuili army. Chu Qiao and Viper set their foot on Wei so the Yan army will be confused and follow their footsteps instead. Viper blew their paths from where they stood, and the wind like a swirl erased Xuili’s long trail of footsteps.
The guardians of the eight and seventh prefectures bowed down to Sun Di, and He Xiao is observing them. This is not his first time but Xuili men first to set on foot on Liang’s military ground. Ge Qi and Wu Danyu are also watching the defending army and their army. There are thousands of people at least living in this Tang’s army that dressed themselves to be a trader, all of whom are sturdy military men, with their horses and paladins.
During the pass through, the paladins were heavily guarded at the side. One of it is a military official dressed to battle meets Sun Di and behind him are his guards, they all bowed at him. Sun Di nodded and ask one young army to inform Xiao Ce about the arrival of Xuili army while Sun Di instructed the entire prefecture to prepare and get ready with their weapons for a possible split of forces if the interim Emperor Xiao Ce and Prince Lou does not agree on common ground.
A flagged was raised to the sixth prefecture, and the gatekeepers saw Sun Di and his cavalrymen. General Sui and Prince Lou were informed and received a military message about the arrival of the Sun Di and Xuili army. Xuili carriages were loaded with various Northland cargoes. Sun Di judged that in addition to gold and silver, he is afraid that most of the weapons that are prohibited from being held by civilians, such as powerful arrows, slow cannons, bow and arrows, various swords are not allowed.
All of a sudden, a young man one of the gatekeepers rode in the front of the brigade and scouts the Sun Di’s military infantry eventually saw the fugitive Xuili soldiers. He went back to report to his masters to confirm. The two masters looked into their eyes and know what it means. Like in the past, they never involved their military strength to take part in any stand, and this time it is going to be reminded to Sun Di and to his men.
Suddenly without any warning or dialogues, two injured crossbowmen temporarily settled in and seen defending to recover from injuries. The vacated horse allowed Sun Di to flee and defended himself by riding a tall yellow horse, which was accompanied by He Xiao. The message is clear, they can’t be allowed to pass and will face military hostility. Sun Di knows this best, he ordered to retreat all of his cavalrymen and settle at the seventh prefecture.
Empress Yuan was also informed of the fugitive Xuili soldiers while Xiao Ce sends his seal for Prince Lou to allow the Xuili army to pass. Not yet enthroned as the Emperor, Xiao Ce seeks supports from his mother, but Empress Yuan did not take a stand. Instead, she ordered a complete opposite decree to ban the entry of Sun Di’s soldiers and kill all invaders of the Liang Empire. Not so long, Xiao Ce went to his mother’s palace court and found that most of his palace ministers were having a meeting without his knowledge. Xiao Ce did not bother but took this part as strange like a hidden agenda, an indirect attack to his incoming rule of the Empire.
“Your Majesty,” Empress Yuan bowed to his son and asked: “What troubled you that let your foot travel in my palace.”
Xiao Ce a little bit pale but look into his mother’s eyes said: “I have a favor to ask.”
Empress Yuan knows what the interim Emperor will ask she said: “Your Highness, it is not possible. I have consulted our ministers for Sun Di’s actions, and this is not Liang’s responsibility.”
Xiao Ce looked at the palace ministers and said: “Have you forgotten that Xiao Yu is their Queen? Whatever we do to them will affect my blood sister.”
Xiao Ce faking his concern to his half-sister Xiao Yu who had not visited Liang Empire one year ago. Xiao Yu did not even attend her father’s eulogy and burial.
Empress Yuan responded and said: “A Chameleon army cannot be trusted.”
Xiao Ce replied: “They are not animals to be slaughtered. We should see them as human beings seeking honest help and the last time I check we have not changed our pro-life values as an Empire.”
One of Liang’s palace ministers said: “Your Highness, we have reported that the Xuili army committed treason and have joined Wei Elite soldiers and turned their backs to them again. We are not confident about their loyalty and if they will adhere to our government. Even their Yan King abandoned them, and the Yan Queen is entirely about this, and yet here we are to cradle them and spoil a fugitive army?
On his cunning and foxy abilities, Xiao Ce calmly said: “If we do not agree and settle this matter today, I suggest that all the foreign ministers of this palace shall be evicted and end their service to the Liang government. No benefits will be given and will be put to a court trial to investigate the complaints that reached my palace. Shall I go ahead and make this a decree?”
The palace minister’s murmured and anxious on air were felt. Their faces soon became pale as if the interim Emperor is already exercising his authority to his subjects. One of the foreign ministers said: “Your Highness, please we beg your words for you to take it back. We, foreign ministers, have already settled in this place and marked our graves in this land. We cannot go back to our homeland as paupers. We have served the late emperor wholeheartedly, and today, our concern is for the good of Liang empire and not for the good of the other side which is the fugitive army.”
Xiao Ce closed his eyes for a while and then opened them with a sarcastic smile in his mouth he said in an authoritative voice: “Impressive, you have already made my point. You are foreigners in this land, and yet we allowed you to stay here and even shared some rights and bestowed you the power to govern our Liang people according to our pro-life values. But now, you cannot also extend that mercy my father gave you to this fugitive army.
Xiao Ce paused before saying: “If we close our gates to them and do not accept, then who will? If we closed our gates for you and did not accept you, where would have been living by now?”
My father has taught me, on leveling off things: “Take the human body with all its hundred bones, nine external cavities and six internal organs, all complete. Which part of it should I love best? Do you not cherish all equally, or have you a preference? Do these organs serve as servants of someone else? Since servants cannot govern themselves, do they serve as master and servants by turn? Surely there is some soul which controls them all.*
“I am that soul. If you do not want to be ousted in your position, then do the same thing as my father did to you.” Xiao Ce strong with his convictions proved to his mother that he won all the votes today. The palace ministers return to Xiao Ce’s side.
Empress Yuan shivering with anger she controlled her angry voice she said: “Very well, the voice of the next Emperor is heard. No one forced you to fall from your first decision, but if things do not happen as expected, you are all free to judge the decision you have made today.”
The royal guard handed over the decree to Prince Lou. After he read, he immediately wants to abide, but General Sui stopped him and said: This is decree is not for you to follow but a chance for you to revolt and take over the throne while Xiao Ce is not yet declared as Emperor. Prince Lou caught in a surprise he replied to General Sui: He is my brother, what are you planning to do?
General Sui answered: “The Empress is planning to dethrone your brother and enthrone you to become the next Emperor instead. Time is on our side, and we can use this opportunity to invite more support from Liang troops, scholars and hundreds of palace ministers. If we are successful in this, you would only need to expect two things.”
“One, Xiao Ce to abdicate the throne and abide in your reign.”
“Two, Xiao Ce to be killed and besides you, you are the closest legitimate ruler who can replace your brother.”
Prince Lou does not like what he heard at the moment for he never planned or schemed against his brother Xiao Ce. He loved him as his younger brother, he is the only family he considered when A’Fu died. Although he learned to follow and treat General Sui as his second father, no one would beat his brotherly love for this brother Xiao Ce. Their golden childhood bank of memories he treasures it in his heart. Prince Lou is not liking this idea of Empress and General Sui plotting to put him as a puppet ruler then what?
Prince Lou remained in silence, and General Sui said: “My son, tell me what do you think? Is there anything wrong to the good future we have waited to give for all this time to harvest?”
Also, Prince Lou became wary of General Sui now that he gave him an idea of what is really happening behind all of this. He can sense that his enemy is not the Emperor-to-be but the Empress, his own mother. It breaks his heart to see it this way, but Prince Lou wants to find out everything if this is true before he can even jump into conclusion. Prince Lou knows very well that many interested parties and royal clans who want to sit on the throne and he does not want to become a tool for them to destroy his brother and his mother.
Prince Lou did not give General Sui an eye contact he answered: “No, there is nothing wrong Uncle General,” uttered in a bland voice, he kept his own insights hidden and wants to go to the Palace to warn his brother Xiao Ce.
Author’s note:
*Borrowing the original classic lines of Tang Empire Dynasties Zhuang Zhi Quotes under chapter 1-On Leveling All Things, to help our character Xiao Ce get the votes of his palace ministers and go back to the side of the Emperor and leave Empress Yuan embarrassed who have forgotten the old ways of Tang Dynasties values and foundation.
♥♥♥
Chapter 066
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Lantern Festival
The Shen Jin palace once again filled with soothing Harp and Guqin music instruments, the Emperor restless ears listen to every finger strung, it brought tranquil and inner peace in the Golden Palace. As he listens, he closed his eyes to enjoy the heavenly sound. The Emperor who looks like the father of the gods sits on his misty fragrant throne, sees his guests who have just arrived from the Eastern Empire. The princes with an assigned royal table facing each other, the Wei’s palace maids escorted the metal masked Princes looking grand on their unique fashion from the East. Everyone who joined the welcome dinner in the Golden Summer Palace came to be noticed and praised for their royal Imperial dresses.
At the same time, all of the lovely princesses of the palace prepared a royal dance to welcome the guests and capture the princes eyes to please the Shen Jin Emperor with their lifetime dance performance, the Wei princesses, like the visitor princes covered their faces with scarves to engage this visitor’s in the indulgence of mysteriousness and gracefulness. Xia Chong is one of them.
Today marks the first day of the most awaited and expensive lantern festival in the land of Wei. The trade and commerce bloomed as visitors coming from different states of China came to celebrate this year’s Festival of lights. The bustling streets filled with different lanterns, firecrackers, lucky charms, superior quality silk clothing, high-fashion, unique porcelain kitchenware’s, and ornaments, tassels made by the Wei’s local artists, delicacies including colorful moon cakes, rice cakes, and other Chinese bestseller foods beautifully decorated the streets of Chang’An and the river lake. There are also magicians and street carnival performers came to showcase their talents. Rich and poor filled the streets together and can buy as long as they have gold and those invited foreigners with visitor’s pass are also welcomed to participate and witness the event.
While the city is covered in lantern lights, looking over to a sinister mountain beam, Yan Xun saw layers of terraced fields. His view in awe, Yan Xun for a long time did not open his mouth. Looking far or near, the terrain presented to him is made up of a small basin that was surrounded by mountains. Yan Xun’s wandering eyes to the meandering river he thought of A’Chu. The west and north sides of the hills seem steep. The mountain beam that Yan Xun was stationed is also steep; his horse cannot climb down, he must use his gears and set on foot. This is the Longyin Guan terraces where Xuili army encamps but finds no trace or abandonment in these farmer villages.
The steep is covered with lush wild shrubs and thick thorny bushes. The mountain in the west of the catch basin relatively flat and some houses made of hay forms a cove-style house scattered among the place. The ambiance on the eastern side of the mountain stream is steamy and foamy. On both sides of the river, there are fields and meadows. Next, the wheat fields are groves of mulberry trees. Mulberry leaves are yellow, and some village women can see work in the fields. No trace of Xuili armies left or even wounded. As if the farmer village has the usual normal day, none of it marks what Yan Xun is searching for the moment.
A’Jing said: The world, you cannot be trusting the peace of this village and the lack of fierceness in your eyes.
Yan Xun closed his eyes and opened them with inexplicable rage getting what A’jing means; he ordered: “Search for the highest terrain house and use it as the temporary command post.”
“Take the autumn breeze air and I will come to encamp there later.”
It is done your Highness, said one of the Yan Generals.
Yan Xun is sitting in his horse greedily basking in the air with a scent of wheat and looking down at the mountains, the golden wheat waves rolling in the windy day. The wheat was ripe. It was a good harvest year.
Suddenly, from the south of the stone water, in the direction of the mountain pass, a team of soldiers wearing silverish armor appeared at the mouth of the valley. The soldiers have packed up as if the war had ended but the truth is, it is just about to begin.
The farmer villagers situated in unavoidable war route often dug hiding holes in their homes. Being acquainted with Wei’s or Yanbei’s looting armies, the villagers usually hollowed out their kitchen walls enough to stand and hide. The walls have small holes enough for observing and ventilation. Only Xuili armies served as their protectors over these years and in turn, had helped them survive above their means and beyond what they can handle.
The two scout rangers of Yan army came back to report to Yan Xun: “Your Highness, this is a late report but we found that there are two separate troops but we aren’t sure though if both are Xuili army troops. However, we found these armors heading towards our location and another traces found at TangShui border Southern plains of Liang State.”
Yan Xun is taking his time to think and then said: “These armors belong to Wei troops. If Wei troops are heading here and we arrived first, we have time to activate our mines and traps to surround this terrain. Now, go ahead and warn the other troops heading at Tangshui to prepare to siege Xuili army. Do not attack and wait for my command.”
As soon as Yan Xun finished speaking, another scout ranger came to report and said, the Yan army who went to Tangshui border lost the battleground.
Yan Xun on his fierce eyes told the young army man: “Yan army lost the battleground with Tang army in TangShui? You better clear your statements.”
General Zhong Yu came and confirmed: “Your Highness, we took some of the armors and helmets of the enemy, and this does not look like it belongs to the Tang army.”
Yan Xun looking so sarcastic, said: “Are we also fighting a new army around those borders?”
No one dared to speak. Out of desperation and rage Yan Xun wanting a clear report to draw his strategy and decision.
Yan Xun strangled the neck of the scout ranger and said: “Is it the Turkish guerillas?”
The young scout ranger answered Yan Xun: “Your Highness, we do not have an idea who are they but one thing is clear, it is not the Turkish Guerillas.”
Ra Yue, such a beautiful lake calm like no waves, just sat on the royal table and did not drink any of the palace wine. Inside his metal mask, he squinted his eyes and shook his head and he tapped Yue Qi and said: “Did you made sure that Yan Xun would know who led the Xuili army out of Yanbei through TangShui?”
Yue Qi half of his face is covered with a metal mask, whispered his reply, said: “Your Highness, by now, Yan Xun might be in a serious crises moment. Is it the Turkish guerillas, the barbarians of Bathuja clans, Yuan Che’s Wei troops, or another elite army from the east.”
On the last option, Ra Yue beamed at what he heard he said: “Awesome. Any reports about the Xuili General?”
Zuo looked at Yue Qi and Yuwen Yue and heard what they are speaking, he whispered too said: “Your Highness, I saw Viper with a woman she calls “Mimi Gongzhu.”
Ra Yue slightly felt a sharp pain; he asked: “That whip girl with someone else, the lady covered with that scarf?”
Zuo responded shortly said: “Yes.”
Ra Yue looking like a thirsty prince earlier, now heard about Mimi Gongzhu and Viper felt bland and uninterested he asked: “No trace of the Xuili General?”
Yue Qi answered: “Our troops made sure He Xiao will reach the Tang Army gates and hopefully Prince Xiao Ce would allow them to camp on their grounds and be hospitable with them. He Xiao did not mention about the Xuili Generals whereabouts. He intends to keep its location to be secret.”
Ra Yue satisfied with their responses, leaned on his seat and went back to watch the dull dance performance, again caught his eyes, this woman whom he longs to engage.
Meanwhile, Chu Qiao and Viper stepped in the Wei ground after her last. Both women disguised themselves. Chu Qiao wearing her dark brown canvas made material maiden style dress, her worn-out boots, and Viper her usual barbaric and rugged style. Their faces covered with their scarfs came to the marketplace to scout. Chu Qiao if not careful may expose her identity and the worst scenario was to be captured by Wei palace guards.
While walking Chu Qiao saw a paper posted in one of the dilapidated marketplaces and read: Chinese Chess Competition, Swordplay Competition, Archery Competition. Rewards in the following order; 1000 taels, 500 taels and 300 taels of gold. Chu Qiao shook her head because she knows she is not lucky the first time she tried to compete for Chinese Chess. A tempting reward to whoever shows himself as the contender and who will be the opponent? She only knew one person who plays and practice Chinese Chess daily, the late fourth young master Yuwen Yue, her husband whom she divorced.
Chu Qiao knows the reward is enough to repair an entire palace and wonders if the Emperor will let go of such treasure. But the rules of the game says this year’s theme is only entitled to the royals and foreign royal dignitaries.
When she was still a maidservant in the Yuwen Household, Yuwen Yue opened the chambermaid position for competition. The competition includes Chinese Chess and she quickly lost this game.
Determined to be promoted, to win for the sake her sister’s protection from bully maids of the Yuwen household, she re-invented her tea-making ceremony to win that bought her ticket to join the final test of memorizing and writing of an ancient Buddhist Sanskrit.
For Chu Qiao, she believes she is not new to this fabled Sanskrit presented at that time and this is an advantage that anyone does not know. Although Yuwen Yue and the entire household underestimated her abilities, due to her low position in the Yuwen household, she did not mind those people spitting her those bitter and skeptical looks.
In the end, Chu Qiao realized her dreams and won the contest. Aside from being promoted as the Yuwen’s bed chambermaid, Yuwen Yue also changed her status from an iron bell to a silver bell servant.
After a moment of recollection, given Xuili army condition, as Xuili General, Chu Qiao needs to re-arm her army and equip them with enough provision and supplies for food, shelter, and armaments. Without it, the survival of his ailing army will fall into six feet under.
“Viper, do you know what I am thinking?” Chu Qiao is full of light in her eyes she poked Viper.
Viper answered: “Which one?”
“I cannot win Chinese Chess, but I can win the swordplay and archery competition.” Chu Qiao proud of herself waiting for Viper’s reaction.
“Do not even dare to try, we are not here to compete Mimi Gongzhu.” Viper’s voice is solemn and looked at Chu Qiao.
All of a sudden an old man approached them and said: “Are you going to register yourself? You must read, this competition is strictly for royals.”
Viper came close to the old man, said: “If there is whip challenge like this..”
Viper took her whip and whipped it in front of the old man and the old man looks like he is about pee in his pants.
Viper continued: Then I will register, but there is none. Those competition are so easy, very basic. Yet, this is being replayed every year.
The old man stuttering said: “Miss…your whip is a scary thing, you must understand our nomad ancestors formed Wei state.”
“We hunt for food, for shelter and even for power. The Sword, the bow and arrow are two basic weapons every household keeps in this place.
“Not only that, but we also perfect those skills, you can try me now.”
Finished speaking the old man beamed at her and Viper too insulted bit her lips and showed her teeth, she is about to whip the old man for challenging her skills versus his.
Chu Qiao took Viper’s hand and said: “Hey, you do not want this. I will compete to claim our reward not to punish an old man who does not even know what he is saying.”
The old man heard, likes to intrude, said: “Again, like I said, this is for royals. Are you a princess?”
Viper about to sway her hand to whip him again when Chu Qiao caught her hand on air then going back to the old man she sarcastically smiled at him, said: “For the seniors like you we have to respect. I am not a princess in this place but in a faraway place.”
The old man laughed out loud and said: “Look at you, a pauper princess but maybe you disguised yourself right?”
The old man looked at Chu Qiao waiting for her answer and Chu Qiao did not say any. Still, the old man not convinced she is a princess said: “Very well. The competition will start in an hour. I can watch you to become the champion or watch you end up in Wei garrison prison?”
Viper wants to end this old man’s misery she said: “Watch her be your champion and smash this place.”
The old man laughed again and said: “If not, do not even think of showing your face here for you lose those beautiful faces.”
Viper so irritated, she looked up the skies and raised her brow then back to the old man’s face, she replied: “The skies already sealed our fates today. I am sure you will bow three times after you hear the news.”
Chu Qiao already put her seal to register to enter the competition.
Back to the Shen Jin palace, after the dance performance, the Emperor divinely rose from his seat and calmly said: “The competition is now open and the final match of the main event which is the Chinese chess will happen the third day.”
All the palace ministers and foreign royal dignitaries tossed their jade goblets on air and turned to each other to discuss who will enter the competition. This year’s competition is only open for the royals and foreign royal dignitaries to join. The poor people, the dog slaves, servants, traders, and the nobles can watch and be their spectators. Rules are altered as well for the safety of the royal princes or princess who will join the competition.
Ra Zheng and Ra Zhun talked to each other and Ra Zheng said: “I cannot play for Chinese Chess.” He is playing his jade goblets looking at Ra Yue who is cold and quiet.
Ra Zhun so confident of himself said: “I don’t want to go home with all small wounds in my face or arms. I will play for Chinese Chess.”
Ra Zheng insulted his brother he said: “You on Chinese Chess? I will cut my head if you win!” And he laughed out loud.
Ra Zhun twitched his palms for the insult he got from Ra Zheng said: “how about you an old useless prince who can only watch me win!”
“Woah! Look at me, I am not old. I am the most handsome young prince before your butt-wrinkled face!” Ra Zheng said and laughs at his angry brother’s face.
While the two are engaged in insultation moment, Ra Yue still quiet and Ra Zheng asked him: “Why so serious there?”
Ra Yue turned his head to look at his two brothers and said: “These might be a trap competition.”
Ra Zheng interested to listen and Ra Zhun wanted to drop his brother’s warning said: You are making things complicated again, Come on, chill! This is a competition nothing serious!
Ra Yue knows the Emperor well, said: “I will play for Chinese Chess.”
“What?!”
Exclaimed by Ra Zhun and about to complain when Ra Zheng said: “You heard the crown prince, he will play Chinese Chess.”
“What duh fudge!!! I was the first to tell, but you take my place!” And points out his finger to Ra Yue.
The Emperor saw the three Qinghai Princes and noticed Ra Zhun’s behavior he said: “Looks like there is a little chaos among the three Qinghai Princes.”
Ra Zheng replied: “I am the older brother here, I should be respected not insulted.”
Ra Zhun is acting like a child in front of his two brothers he said: “You insulted me first! I am the best Chinese Chess player in Qinghai. You will regret this!” Ra Zhun on his anger turned back and walked out of his table to mingle to other foreign royals.
Ra Yue still quiet he did not say anything and looked up to Ra Zheng.
Ra Zheng on his thoughts: “Is this Ra Yue’s strategy, real warning or just wants to play chess?”
After Chu Qiao paid the child to deliver her registration for the competition, she did not write as much in the paper but put her seal. She knows it began, this would later shock the world and she needs to transform herself as the princess from the faraway East.
“Viper I have to visit an old friend. Let’s go to Xianyang City.”
“Mimi Gongzhu, tell me first, are you doing this for Xuili army?”
“If you know the answer then don’t ask me again,” said Chu Qiao so frankly.
“Fine, who are we visiting this time?” Viper is already preparing their horses.
“We are going to transform ourselves for a while to join the competition.” Chu Qiao climb to her horse and Viper followed her, she whipped the ass of her horse and not so long, two horses brushing the autumn leaves runaway fast to Xianyang.
Yah!! Yah! Yah!
Hee…Hee..hee.
After an hour ride, they arrived at their destination. Chu Qiao slowly pulled the reins of her horse drooling with saliva and the touched the ears to calm the horse. This is a fast trip. Viper is following her back.
The two women stepped outside an old shop and put the horse reins beside the stable post. The two walked slow and Chu Qiao doubled her killer instincts because the last time she went to this place she encountered Liang spies.
Finally, they found Zao Baocung sleeping again on his rattan-made chair with some flies around his nose; the old man clapped his hands while his eyes still closed. He knows someone familiar is coming closer but pretend he is asleep.
Viper so impatient she whipped Zao Baocung’s feet.
The old man suddenly woke up and in pain rose up then complained: “Why did you whip my feet? Am I a criminal here? You are a disturbance!”
Chu Qiao broke the silence and laughed: “I am sorry to disturb you, my old friend.”
Zao Baocung cleared his eyes and looked at Chu Qiao and then said: “Is it you, Xinger?”
Yes, if you prefer to call me Xinger. Chu Qiao smiled beautifully when he heard him call his Yuwen household name.
“Aha, finally you came to visit an old friend. How are you?”
Then suddenly Zao Baocung saw Viper, he said: “Please do not pick my shop to show your fighting skills. I have seen and experienced enough. Look at my business, almost bankrupt.”
Chu Qiao laughed at Zao Baocung’s joke she said: “We came together and we will pick your shop to show our fighting skills.”
“Wait,” said Zao Baocung. “Viper is she…the…the…”
Zao Baocung unable to speak because Viper put her hands on his mouth.
Chu Qiao then came closer and whispered to Zao: “Whatever that question of yours, the answer is yes.”
Zao Baocung shows a disturbed face, and he became serious he said: “Come and follow me.”
Chu Qiao replied: “No, I can’t stay long. And no cave traps this time.”
Zao Baocung on his teary eyes answered: “As Xinger, you owe me the wind and cloud decree. But now, like the Mimi Gongzhu, I owe you a lot of stories and heal your Chibi.”
Chu Qiao said: “Look, I have not given enough time, but I need your help. We can discuss important matters after I secure Xuili army from their exodus entering Liang State. I cannot let Xiao Ce take part of it all, on behalf of my leadership as the General of Xuili army I must do something to save them.”
Zao understands Chu Qiao he said: “Okay, tell me the things you need.”
Chu Qiao asked Zao: “I need to transform and become a royal Chu Jing princess, a sword fighting suit, a bow and arrow weapon, and archery attire for my competition.”
Viper just closed the shop and Zao went to his warehouse underground to fetch Chu Qiao’s requests. After a while, Zao came out with several boxes and Chu Qiao opened them one by one.
Chu Qiao selected a white princess cut flowy dress, some accessories, head crown, and its golden glass shoes. She also took a black tight fitting dress for his swordplay competition, a burgundy colored suit and its accessories like the chest and arm guard for the bow and arrow competition. Her eyes glued to another side when she saw the black coat with a wide hood. It is chest length in front and at the back, it’s a long coat that almost touches the ground.
Zao came back again and this time a large golden box in his hand. On the table, he put down and opened the box then said: “This is called the infinite bow and arrow, an ancient Chu Jing Kingdom treasures fit for a Chu Jing crown princess. Do not use it at daytime for it is just an ordinary golden bow and golden arrow with diamond tip but when used at night, it possesses a power of unlimited light arrows. This is a gift from the God’s, use and guard it well.”
Chu Qiao fascinated by the bow and arrow, she took the finger tab and inserted in her middle finger then stretched the bowstrings. The golden arrows have diamond tips and the back quiver made of suede still smells fresh leather out of the golden box.
After some time, Chu Qiao came out to show her fashion style. Zao Baocung dropped his jaw and Viper looked at her with amused eyes.
Chu Qiao wearing a simple white silk tube princess cut dress embroidered with gold threads in the middle. Her hair simply arranged in peacock hairstyle enough to hold her crown.
She also wears a very thin stardust gold dress on top of her white imperial dress, on her arms were hanging gold stars beautifully draped on her off-shoulders making some clinging noise as she walks. On her feet, an almost invisible snow-gold glass shoes without the slightest sound one can hear and feel a gentle breeze of air as she strides. To complete the look, she topped her clothes with a wide hood and snow white cape-like coat. Two tassels embroidered in a gold thread at her back to conceal her face and keep her mysterious character as the leader of wind and cloud decree.
“What!? Chu Qiao is showing her disgusted face in front of the amused faces she asked again: “How do I look?”
“I have not seen this Imperial dress used for a long time. Make them pay for what they did to Chu Jing Kingdom,” said Zao Baocung who cannot take off her eyes with the divine lady in front of him.
Viper back to her poker face said: “You look stunning, I hope the princes won’t ask you for a date after your appearance to the competition today. Please do not forget the rules. You cannot take off your indigo scarf. And that way, my life would be easier.”
“Do not forget your crown,” said he and Zao Baocung took a clear glass-like box and presented the Chu Jing Kingdom crown princess tiara. Chu Qiao slightly bent to receive the crown on her head.
Zao Baocung added when he said: “This is the only thing I can give you. The five white jades represent the five realms of the Moon Kingdom. The small indigo crystal represents the star of the Moon Kingdom. Your indigo scarf should be worn at all times to ward off any evil and save your life from poisons.”
“Thank You, my friend, now I owe you a lot,” said Chu Qiao.
Zao Baocung beamed at her and said: “Go before you arrive late at the competition.”
Chu Qiao and Viper walked outside and climb to their horses and went back to Wei state.
By the time they arrived, it is almost late in the afternoon. The grand opening of the competition started and the city of Zhen Huang once again remembered their nomadic roots and gave tribute to their ancestors, and then the royal hunting was opened to the royal princes. The Yuwen household dressed on their hunting gears and coat of arms, they took pride in their achievements and paraded their young nobles and skilled servants. Yuan Song on her full hunting attire looks fierce and behind him a hundred servants following the Crown prince. While Yuan Yang looks at him with so much hatred in his heart he started to run with a few but skillful men, men with exceptional talent of hunting and killing. On the other side were the dazzling and stunning foreign dignitary royals who are excited to join the cold hunting ground for the first time. Another protectorate state and ally is also present in the royal hunting. The Bathuja family’s representative General Bali and Shi Da was the only royal family who came to represent the north. While the Liang state, in its recent mourn, did not send an envoy to represent its Lee Cecilia, the interim Emperor of Liang.
As the cold snowflakes start to shower the green wetlands of northwestern plains, another bloody day seemed to have been carried out brutally. The royal hunting is over, and dead bodies start to decay on the ground. The bloody rotten smell brings the royals into diverse opinions, reactions, and realization.
Some of the foreign princes even debated, retreated and condemned about this Wei culture of royal hunting. They perceived this activity is heartless, brutal and cold when innocent lives shed their blood to honor their ancestors and display their superior hunting skills.
Yuan Che and his men did not stop their military activity to force Yan’s army to leave Longyin Guan. But it is not going to be an overnight success. Yuan Che with years of experience will have to exhaust all his time-tested strategies to win from 200,000 Yan troops. Yan Xun not only has the local Yanbei citizens but hired foreign mercenaries to advance his troops and teach them new tactics and strategies to win.
Yan Xun’s heart became so bloodthirsty that he even persecuted his own Xuili army that resulted in their flight to Tangshui, the most southern part of Yanbei.
Xuili retreated from their Xuili mountains to protect the low lands who supported them where Yan Xun found out where their provisions are coming from. Yan Xun raided their crops and harvests and put enmity between them. He spread the word that Xuili army revealed their help and this is a direct attack to the Yan Throne and the citizens helping a forsaken and independent army is equivalent to treason.
The setting of the sun blazed Chu Qiao’s eyes and saw the golden to orange hues she walks down beside the clear water of the famous river and lake, serene and calm body of water. The wide river surface is bright red, the world was magnificent, the ripples were excellent throwing some stone in it, and there was an upsurge of heat in her chest.
She could not help but shout and shout, but no words ever came out of her mouth, she said softly: “Against the crown, all odds conquered and those beautiful one’s eye goes into the twilight skies, intensely grows, from eight thousand miles of road, of moon and stars, I wish you were here just like the good old days, just like when the time you said, I need you too, can you feel it?”
She idly tilts her head, empties and cuts her hopes and dreams tonight, is she holding a lantern to let go or a lantern to travel to the far side. Is she drunk with the anticipation that someone may respond to her by what she did on the lantern she said: “Viper isn’t it a fantastic light more than a hundred firecracker in the skies?”
Viper sees what Chu Qiao did to her small lanterns she shouted: “This is insane, what did you just do?”
Chu Qiao wanting to celebrate this lantern festival by herself bought thirty-six small rabbit lanterns. She also asks some kids to help her light these small rabbit lanterns and place them in a small bamboo flat floaters.
Until one by one Chu Qiao slowly put them in the river lake. After all thirty-six small rabbit lanterns are freely floating above the river lake, a strong wind blew on the river, and some of its light turned off. Chu Qiao said: “its been thirty-six months and yet have not seen your goddamn face. “Didn’t I say that if you were dead, I’d light up a hundred firecrackers to celebrate?”
Testing her golden bow and arrows, Chu Qiao put some lights to those small rabbits lanterns. At first, she was disgusted to see and experience how to use its power. Amazing stardusts filled the air. Like a hundred falling stars, one shot of her diamond arrows magically showered fire brilliance that went to burn the small rabbit’s lantern. Until one can almost smell or see the hot smoke in the distance.
Suddenly a pair of cold and distant eyes locked on a target and a whistling sound heard.
Bang!
One of the small rabbit lanterns sank in the river; its cold waters turned off its light.
Zuo shook his head from left to right he said: “Are you angry? Why did you sink the small rabbit lantern?”
Yue Qi about to rerelease an arrow but before he did, he said: “It is a pity to look at those rabbit lanterns burned by its owner, it will never reach the other side.”
Yue Qi sinking those small rabbits lantern one by one is making Zuo crazy he said: “If the owner is just around, you won’t have a chance to escape.”
“I dare not to escape, if it’s mother, I would offer to put handcuffs in my hand,” said Yue Qi.
He loaded a triple arrow with small rocks tied to its arrow shaft and then suddenly whizzed away to the river lake, he asked: “What’s the count?”
Zuo shouted: “Twelve! you have twenty-four more, can you handle it?”
Zuo mocked Yue Qi, and Yue Qi answered: “This is a triple target at one shot!”
Chu Qiao suddenly sees that one by one her rabbit lanterns is sinking in the river lake.
The light in the river lake is becoming thin, and she was curious on who might be the man sinking her burning ships she said: “The beauty who launched these thousand ships will not let go of you tonight!”
Chu Qiao hid in the distance and watched the directions of the arrows. As smart as she is, she ran and found two men standing on the other side of the river lake.
She heard them say: “That is awesome. Eighteen! Almost there! Wait I am out of arrows!”
Viper sitting in a pile of rocks somewhere besides the river lake did not mind her Mimi Gongzhu’s temporary insanity moment when she discovered the new weapon Zao gave her. Viper cut a grass stem put it in her mouth, chewing it like a rabbit. She saw their rabbit lanterns were sinking and she just shook her head in dismay.
Chu Qiao wrinkled her forehead when she saw two men making fun of her rabbit lanterns she loaded her bow and arrow and released them on air.
Suddenly the two men were hit on their butts, and they cried in pain. What’s worst was to see the fire spreading towards their backs they threw their bodies in the river lake.
While Chu Qiao hid and laughed somewhere, suddenly a man holding a large rabbit lantern, his face angry like thunder, his dark brows and his eyes is as calm as the seven seas came closer at her back.
Chu Qiao unaware of the man in her back, cannot stop laughing and the angry man took her delicate arms.
Chu Qiao quickly got one of those gold stars in her arms to cut the hands of the man and let her go.
The man sharp with his senses and sees the woman is lethal, he took out his Poe Yue Jian sword and counter-attacked it.
At this time, thin snowflakes began to fall on the river lake, and the two gentlemen sinking lanterns were sent to the river lake to wash the fire at the back of their clothes.
Suddenly heard the soft knocker coming from the other side, Viper put down her whip, wondered, then shouted: “Can’t you wait for the sun to rise to swim in this river lake? What the hell are you doing there your Highness?”
Viper thought Chu Qiao is swimming on the other side of the river lake.
It is dark and night befall the beautiful river lake, where thin snowflakes suddenly came rushing to Chu Qiao’s hot cheeks, it almost burned her skin. Chu Qiao hears the sound of crickets and cicada insects, but she is focusing on hearing the next moves of this dangerous man in front of her, who looks innocent and calm.
Yuwen Yue holding the Poe Yue Jian sword on his right hand and his left the gigantic rabbit lantern, he looks rather harmless he asked: “Why did you shoot the back of my two brothers and let them drown in the river lake?”
Chu Qiao cannot see his face in the dark, she answered him honestly: “They sank 18 out of my 36 rabbit lanterns. This is the punishment they deserve.”
Yuwen Yue on his curious handsome face, is trying to look at Chu Qiao’s face in this dark place and only a waxing moon serves as their light, realized what happened, he said: “Now if you would excuse me, I have to save my brothers and please take this lantern instead as a payment for my brothers inconvenience to a woman whose shots are very accurate and familiar with Yuwen’s bow and arrow shooting skills.”
Chu Qiao heard what the man said, she loaded her bow with arrows and about to release it when Viper shouted: “Mimi Gongzhu I found the criminals!” Chu Qiao put back her bow and looked at Viper.
Yuwen Yue heard the name finally said: “So it is you! Meeting the secret princess of Chu Jing Kingdom who just sent my two brothers in the river lake, who also took my band of brothers! You can’t escape me tonight!”
All Chu Qiao could do is to shoot Yuwen Yue but Yuwen Yue counter attacked it fast, she suddenly felt powerless in his presence. Yuwen Yue took Chu Qiao by force, he tucked her in front of his body, put the Poe Yue Jian sword in her neck and Chu Qiao like his hostage for the night to defend Yue Qi and Zuo from Viper.
Viper wet all over seems she did not think twice to swim at night and caught two big sharks and she is not letting go of the two necks. Her whip a glowed in the dark and they saw two neck cuffs. The two gentlemen are trying to move but only hurts their neck twice the pain of their small backburns.
Yuwen Yue accidentally sniffed Chu Qiao’s scarf, and the plum blossom gave the Qinghai prince an aroma of his childhood memories. It took him back on time. Senses were disarmed. Chu Qiao feeling weak in her guts, she went blackout.
Yuwen Yue caught the lethal woman, now sweetly sleeping in his arms. He thought she is dead. He gently took her head and scooped her body into his arms. Yuwen Yue ran towards his horse, and in the nearby rainforest finds refuge to stay for the night.
The Lantern Festival is like a carnival by this time. The sights of the city are magnificent were playing fire, riddles, wine and dine foods are everywhere. Playing rabbit and dragon lanterns, lantern gazing and so on. Not only will the divine palace female leave the palace to watch the lanterns fest. The Great Summer emperor will also come and be exposed in public to visit the people and enjoy music.
Viper and the two gentlemen left alone when Yuwen Yue like a flash took Chu Qiao into the woods.
“Miss Hell, “Zuo getting the attention of Viper and she turned her head to him.
“Will you please take off your whip in our necks?” Zuo on his sweet voice of plea.
Viper on her angst, do not have plans of freeing these two necks tonight, asked them: “Where did your brother take my master?”
Zuo locked his eyes to Viper and saw her lips like hell, suddenly throws himself to feel so attracted in there, he said: “Easy…I am sorry for bothering your private lantern session; my brother thinks these lanterns are a pity as they burn in the lake.”
Yue Qi also rebutted and said: “We were waiting for our brother to come. Now we did not know he bought the biggest rabbit lantern. Look at it so big!”
Zuo Zong added: “Yeah if you do not let go of our necks and miss this opportunity to put this gigantic rabbit lantern tonight, it’ll be a waste.”
Viper looked at the river lake and saw the little rabbits floating far she decided: “Okay, I’ll give you one chance to take this abandoned lantern and let it float to the river but on one condition, you will cooperate with me to find my master. If something happens to her, you will never escape my wrath.”
“Wait…” said Yue Qi and added: “My mother told me, you can make a wish or write a letter and burn it in the lantern and it will soon happen.”
Viper took Yue Qi’s neck and dragged him in front of the giant rabbit lantern and said: “Okay, as you wish, go ahead, say your childish wish!”
Yue Qi feeling so gagged in his throat said: “I do not have a wish except for my neck out of your whip!”
Zuo laughed, and Viper looked at him she tightened the whip in his throat said: “If you are thinking of deceiving me by telling me bedtime stories, you won’t last tonight!”
And the two gentlemen obeyed Viper’s permission for them to float the huge rabbit lantern and it sailed away beautifully on the calm serene river lake. Then bumped to the small rabbit lanterns. Viper is enjoying the sight while the two gentlemen still cuffed in their necks, like a dog, followed Viper along.
The indigo scarf of the secret princess only reveals a pair of swift and bright eyes. A golden kilt of plum blossom flowers wrapped a graceful figure and did not show half an inch of skin.
When Yuwen Yue approached her and spotted, her head is rising. Yuwen Yue did not look her and gave her a look of reluctance.
A bonfire has been set in the middle, and their bodies are across each other.
Chu Qiao recovered, she rose her head, her face still covered with their indigo scarf and looked at the masked metal man beside him, she quickly took her dagger out and said: “I will kill you if you do not drop your mask!”
Yuwen Yue explained: “Maybe your kind of people originally had all kinds of etiquette and killer instincts, and when they arrived at the place of the hunter barbarians, they exposed their true nature. I wasn’t entirely happy about the headlines tomorrow when the local newspaper accuses me of kidnapping a lethal princess like you. But you won’t stand a chance to escape unless…”
Yuwen Yue paused and waited for Chu Qiao to ask.
“Unless what? Then why did you take me here? This is not where I am supposed to be!”
Yuwen Yue said: “Maybe we start to take off our masks first and reveal ourselves of who we are. We missed a proper introduction earlier.”
Yuwen Yue threw a stone in the bonfire waiting for the beauty to agree. But no words came. And the cold wind blew between their space. Yuwen Yue ranting like a child said:
“After I went to buy a good evening rabbit lantern, like a madman patrolling the streets today, this is what I get? A lethal rough woman…”
Yuwen Yue paused and changed his temperament into a rug, and his long hair and face ready to be exposed.
However, the beauty in front of him had her eyes on the parade of the small rabbit lanterns and on its tail end is a floating gigantic rabbit lantern.
The forest trees stood above the south of the Golden Summer palace. The brightness of rabbit lanterns in this era is so high, so much for the awkward beauty, and the viewing of the lanterns is also a good time for these two lovers.
Chu Qiao wanting to steal some space and time told Yuwen Yue to let him look at the gigantic rabbit lantern slowly passing by their sight.
By the time Chu Qiao finished looking at the parade of the rabbit lanterns, Yuwen Yue like on his scribe-look, his long hair had fallen down, looks like a god who came down to earth at this moment, his calm eyes, most handsome face, thin red kissable lips, took off the mask from his face.
Chu Qiao’s eyes full of amusement, she isn’t sure if she was amused looking on the huge rabbit lantern or fascinated by this scribe-like man in front of her. Only the bonfire flickering lights and sound served as their beam.
Yuwen Yue still looking down, not aware of Chu Qiao, like a cold woman full of goosebumps on her skin, tamed and speechless is looking at him.
Yuwen Yue turned his head to look at Chu Qiao when suddenly Chu Qiao like a rock staring at him. Yuwen Yue feeling so nervous at her steady stare, more prolonged, and lingering…
Her delicate index finger is wearing the killer ring, she slowly took all the time to unveil her face gracefully and took off the crown in her head.
Yuwen Yue is unmoved.
Those stares they gave to each other at this moment in time, for how long, we do not know.
One thing is for sure, it surely stopped time, as if all the clocks in the world were broken, as they listen to the beats of their hearts.
Chu Qiao did not blink her eyes, she unveiled her face in front of Yuwen Yue, and revealed a white supple young skin. Her eyes full of longingness, her lips wanting the spring waters of March, her skin wishing to feel his touch…
How many years have gone by, and this feeling did not subside.
It grew colder when they were apart, but now they are near, it starts to fan that fire that kept burning the desires of their hearts.
Chu Qiao intends to flash her index finger in front of Yuwen Yue, and the man got what she is doing.
Hoping the man on his mesmerizing eyes and handsome godly face should not fail to remember Xinger and an estranged wife he married a year ago.
Yuwen Yue about to say a word but went speechless when Chu Qiao took off the cover all veil of her head and revealed her peacock hairstyle.
Yuwen Yue on his silent cold eyes is watching the beauty reveal it all under the slow fire burning, and in front of them, thin snowflakes, again, started to fall.
Chu Qiao is wanting Yuwen Yue to remember it all, she untied her hair, slowly pulling it down. She also unfastened her long white cape then took her Canhong sword from her waist and put it in front of her.
Yuwen Yue about to speak when Chu Qiao came closer to him and softly said: “Stop!”
Chu Qiao on her serious face, flashed her ring in front of him, and she broke the silence first, said:” Do I have a lifetime to know who you are?”
She paused and then spoke again: “Ra Yue the peddler man or Ra Yue the crown prince of Qinghai?”
Yuwen Yue did not answer her questions, and Chu Qiao continued to speak to him she said: “Or should I call you the fourth young master of the Yuwen Household, Yuwen Yue?”
Yuwen Yue did not speak, on his untamable lips cannot wait any longer, he grabbed her delicate face, closed his eyes and kissed Xinger passionately.
Under the moonlight, two figures shadow became one, as they kissed each other, Yuwen Yue let go of his words, stopping in between and then going back kissing her again and again and again.
And Xinger did not have the slightest hesitation, she responded well into this kiss, long and full of pain.
Yuwen Yue is saying words in between as they gasp their breaths close to each other, Yuwen Yue like a violent man gently lay her head down to the cold mossy forest ground.
Xinger prevailed on her emotions from painful to ecstatic one, Yuwen Yue did not stop to kiss her and Xinger moaned grabbing some air in between Yuwen Yue’s breathless words.
More than a lovemaking scene, an endless passionate kiss and suddenly on his gentleness, slowly let go of her sweet mouth.
Yuwen Yue again for the last kiss, gently stole one more kiss, blissfully and gracefully ended like there is nobody in the world. Only Xinger, and Yuwen Yue.
Yuwen Yue opened his eyes and stared at her, his peak of emotions gradually cool down asked her calmly: “Why did you leave me alone?”
Chu Qiao still on her closed eyes opened them, and her angelic eyes brighten and met Yuwen Yue’s handsome eyes is forcing her to give him an answer.
Chu Qiao still in the height of her emotions said: “I left because I only knew Ra Yue and not Yuwen Yue. My memories were traded in a place you are not allowed to go and saved the soul of the only man I loved I realized it too late, sank at the frozen lake.”
Chu Qiao suddenly cried, her eyes on painful tears and Yuwen Yue looked at her with so much pain but in his cold heart could feel all the thorny paths she has been through he said: “We are together and you are in yourself now. I will do my best to make you remember who is Xinger to me and who is Yuwen Yue to you.”
Hearing Yuwen Yue’s voice like this is like cold water in Chu Qiao’s dry and tired heart.
Is it wrong to be greedy, when all her life she gave her service to the people and saved the impossible persons to love?
Yuwen Yue sat in this position like when he first landed on the icy lake after he drowned in the frozen lake, leaned in the sturdy bark of fir tree, and this beautiful woman beside him, he took Chu Qiao’s head and put it near his chest.
They continued to watch the faraway rabbit lanterns floating in the glistening foggy river lake, under the hazy moonlight and falling snowflakes.
“That big rabbit lantern is huge, where did you buy it?” Chu Qiao smelled Yuwen Yue’s fresh plum blossom scent leaning in his cotton-silk Hanfu clothes and took her breath away.
Yuwen Yue replied: “That huge rabbit is made to order lantern, now I know, who bought all small rabbit lanterns in the marketplace and put it out of stock. Such a pity, you burned them all in the river lake.”
♥♥♥
Chapter 067
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Must you go to the afterlife
After that long passionate kiss, Xinger and Yuwen Yue stayed for the night and gave each other a warm company under the romantic moonlight. Under the falling snowflakes, both lovers embraced each other not knowing any sense of time closed their eyes. The two tired hearts came to rest, and not many stories told in between for they know when the sun rises, it will be another difficult tomorrow to face.
The crack of dawn formed the foggy and misty forest. A sound of silence found in the river lake Yuwen Yue touched Chu Qiao’s chin, she is still asleep. Yuwen Yue do not want to let go of Chu Qiao, he just wanted to stay there forever, looking at her delicate sleeping figure makes his heart skip a bit. Chu Qiao slightly woke up, she opened her eyes and saw Yuwen Yue’s calm eyes, she slowly rose up. Yuwen Yue eyes looking at her is giving him another hint to taste the morning kiss. Chu Qiao did not wait for him to do it, she came close to his face and kissed him in his lips. However, without any words or plans, Chu Qiao quickly took all of her belongings, her cape, her indigo scarf, her crown, her bow and arrows, and her Canhong sword. Yuwen Yue didn’t have the chance to even speak to her when Chu Qiao suddenly is now running away from him.
Yuwen Yue left sitting in the fir tree said: “Is this how the Chu Jing princess greets good morning to her Qinghai prince?”
Chu Qiao happy as a clam turned her face and look at Yuwen Yue she shouted: “You have work to do, and so I do not want to be your distraction.” Chu Qiao continued to walk while putting her bow and arrow in her back.
Yuwen Yue shouted too he said: “Is this it, after kissing, petting and then waking up just like this, suddenly walking away from me?”
Chu Qiao, a little bit far she laughed and shouted by putting her two hands in her mouth and formed an “O” she said: “I can’t be your fairytale today, back to the real world Qinghai Prince!”
Yuwen Yue did the same, he formed an “O” and shouted in the distance he said: “How am I supposed to meet you again?”
Chu Qiao back to shouting again she said: “You always seem to know where to find me!”
“Sure, I will find you again, you are lucky to walk away from me today but not tomorrow.”
“I’ll come find you again!” said Yuwen Yue and he started to rise, he put on his metal mask and walk in the opposite direction going back to the Golden Palace.
Chu Qiao fading away from Yuwen Yue’s sight, she walked to the river lake to find Viper and found her standing beside the river lake. She came forward and pat Viper’s back she said: “I am here, I am okay, you can release them.”
Viper looked at Chu Qiao and rolled her eyes said: “Where have you been? And the guy with the metal mask seems he is one of the Qinghai royal princes. Were you hurt?”
I am alright, please you can let these two go. Their master will be worried if they do not meet him now said Chu Qiao. Viper finally let go of the two necks, and they were free like a bird ready to fly.
Chu Qiao saw Yue Qi and was startled for a while she said: “Seventh Yue and Oh, another You!?”
Yue Qi looks at her face, Chu Qiao unveiled her indigo scarf.
Yue Qi little bit unknowing and surprised to see her again said: Xinger! You recognized me! Good thing!
Chu Qiao threw him a happy look she said: “Isn’t that hard not to recognize you? And who is this man beside you who really looks like you?”
Viper looking at Zuo, as far her memory can recall, they have fought few times before but has never been this close to knowing their names.
Zuo meets Xinger, said Yue Qi plain and simple.
“Hi, Xinger, I am Yue Qi’s eight brother,” said Zuo and looked at Viper as if he is going to ask her name, but he did not because he already knows her name.
Chu Qiao replied: Good to meet you. By the way, meet Viper, your lifeline keeper last night.
Zuo was the first to react he faked it, said: Aha finally, the name of the whip girl is Viper!
Viper about to whip Zuo when Yue Qi came in between and said: Miss Viper, my brother is just fond of you, please give him another chance and put down your whip, and Yue Qi beamed at her.
Chu Qiao looked at Viper as if telling her, it won’t hurt give another chance, I am with them! Chu Qiao gave Viper wink.
Viper let go and did not say as much as he hates Zuo’s face.
Today’s morning event did not stop the autumn trees to give up some of its leaves and fell on the ground, covered the Golden Palace grass from green pasture mixed yellow-orange leaves, the Banner Commander agreed to start and issued a command. Shortly, after the calling of the parade of colors, a team of black helmet cavalrymen appeared and marched across its ground. They took formation and like going in the battle stopped on their posts. For a while, standing on the stage, the Eunuch signaled the audience to listen, he shouted opened a scroll and reads in front of everybody: “Everyone’s attention, please! We will open the competition of Swordplay and Archery respectively. The Emperor is pleased to see 12 different royals from different states and countries, both men and women came to join this year’s royal theme competition. The Emperor wishes all his best luck to his players and may you win heaven’s favor.”
The players came from different China states like from the eastern empires Qinghai princes, the Han Chinese royals, Mongolian royals, Bathuja royal family and some foreign dignitaries like the Turkish princes, Pakistani and Indian royals, middle east royals, and the Thai and Malay royals also present. With their banners and royal guards paraded according to their order gave the Golden palace ground a grand parade of the world. The spectators who came to watch were seated orderly according to their status from Wei’s thousands palace officials to hundred Wei’s nobles and royals like the Zhao’s, Yuwen and Wei valve nobles, the shrine and temple elders and their selected servants, the traders and businessmen were present as well. While the dog slaves and other unlucky servants came to watch but can only hear the sounds outside of the palace walls. But still, they came and put their ears on the wall as if hearing them is as good as watching them in their mind.
The Royal concubines of the Wei palace were present as well, they decorated the Golden palace grounds beautifully, wearing their classic head-dress and imperial dresses. Xia Chong is followed by hundred palace maids while the ex-princess Chuner followed by no one and still covered her entire face using a hat with a wide veil. Zhao Song seated on his seat looking proud and saw her crown princess, his eyes mesmerized on her Imperial autumn dress walking towards him. Yuwen Huai stayed beside her lady and never left, he became the escort of the mysterious lady whom she became the talk of the town from the nobles and other palace ministers. Yuwen Huai proud and still gave these nobles an evil grin and smirks. The noble’s reactions vary from poker faces to faking smiles taking some stolen glances of the sophisticated and elegant lady beside him. Zhao Yang and his follower servants took the back corner on his usual courtesies bowed to the Emperor and seats, he didn’t pay much any attention to anybody except for himself. General Bali and Princess Zama were the most oppressive and scariest royals on site wearing their thick furs, the old Batu’s servants matched their ivory accessories with animal skin boots and animal leather uniforms and arm guards. Not to mention they smell bloody and smoky, and some of their faces like Indian warriors with black paint on their cheeks and their eyelids in full black eyeliners. Some of the royals noticed the absence of Prince Zaru, but no one dared to inquire to Zama. The Blackguards were not on site, but they were scattered everywhere ready to kill in time of disaster.
While Zhao Che the prince of sacrifice is absent, he is currently guarding every Wei borders to make sure that the palace ground is safe and protected. Yan Xun, on the other hand, knows what is going on inside Wei and have not been invited, originally wanted to have his presence felt by sending them an explosive bomb. Unfortunately, his Xuili army did not join his forces and became Yan armies distraction for a while.
A pair of foxy eyes said: “This is good. This is awesome and perfectly done.”
Xiao Ce praised Sun Di’s paperwork job, it is going to secure Xuili army’s future and establish their general to become their Empress. Nearing the end of mourn for the former Emperor, Xiao Ce will take over Liang in less than six months. And his first job was to secure his future new Empress of Liang lest he is forced to marry his own mother, so her mother’s power continues? “That is unthinkable and gross,” Xiao Ce said to Sun Di.
Xiao Ce added: “Let her retire, she has done a good job to this State and made it prosperous in her reign.”
Sun Di called Xiao Ce he said: Your Highness, Tie You has been busy this day, did he already left something for you to think about?
“About what?” Xiao Ce still looking on the papers he arranged to establish Chu Qiao a noble and his future Empress. Initially, Xiao Ce thought about this long ago, and he was motivated by his romantic feelings with her. But as time goes by, the punch prince realized, there is the much bigger picture he must play to expand his influence and rule his empire. He took the time to think and look at his palace concubines, sure all of them are beautiful and came from noble families, but none of them passed his standards to become the next Liang’s Empress. Qiao Qiao was his perfect candidate, although Xiao Ce does not know the outcome yet if Qiao Qiao will accept his proposal of marriage, it is not solely for becoming lovers, but Xiao Ce hopes to establish them both as rulers of the Liang Empire state.
But Sun Di asked him once: Is it really just for the sake of the Liang state and Xuili army’s security? Or is it a package deal your Highness?
“Marry me, and you take all including the Emperor’s heart.” Sun Di teased Xiao Ce.
Xiao Ce flushed, he smiled on his foxy eyes, said: “I am single and available, who knows this might be fate’s only chance to tie the foxy prince to a foxier general.”
Xiao Ce not wanting to expose his feelings inside but heard what he really likes to hear from Sun Di, a beam of hope rose in his heart.
The punch prince looking at every angle seems everything is taken care of. What he needs to do is to sit back and observe the Empress Yuan’s next moves. After the death of his father, the prince visited by the Jianghu spies in his palace in secret. He wasn’t surprised at all but expected their shadow to pay him a one-night visit, the Jianghu spies opened his past and revealed his future. The Jianghu spies left him a piece of jade for him to discover who is his real mother and that his imminent death will happen soon. This made the princes succumb into the sleepless night. Xiao Ce can only rest a bit when Chu Qiao is summoned to come to his palace. The Liang officials fetch her and let her enter his bedchamber. Xiao Ce sleeps on her lap, and Chu Qiao understands his condition sleeps beside the Prince and Viper looks after them at night she always stays in the roof of the crown prince palace until he dismisses Chu Qiao at dawn.
Xiao Ce sealed his lips as warned by Jianghu spies not to tell anybody if he wants not to fulfill Liang Empire’s drastic downfall. Chu Qiao trying to decode the prince who won’t tell her any about what he feels, aside from mourning from the death of his father Emperor Tang, Chu Qiao could only hope that Xiao Ce is able to surpass the waiting period until it reaches the day of enthronement.
Viper can only be Chu Qiao’s lead when Viper confessed that she has experienced discord in her internal chi flow the day the Liang Emperor died.
Viper said: Do you what this means your Highness?
Chu Qiao asked: No. What is this all about?
Viper answered: It means the Jianghu spies are just around Liang Empire.
Chu Qiao asked: Jianghu? These were the underworld spies we left at Chu Jing Kingdom.
Viper answered: After Chu Jing Kingdom’s downfall, the underworld spies divided when your Highness your mother Lou He died. The Sand drizzle is the second-best spy leader next to your mother, Luo He. Sand Drizzle took the wind underworld spies led by Zhong Yu while the cloud spies including me were under your control about to unite it again, but it did not happen. After it, you lost your memories during your cliff battle with the Yuwen Hao the former master of the eyes of God, and I have looked for you and your brothers and sisters.
Viper helping Chu Qiao recover her memories about the lost Chu Jing Kingdom said: “Viper, I cannot just go back to Chu Jing kingdom without helping Xuili army. You must understand where I am coming from.”
Viper renewing her vows told Chu Qiao: “I vowed to protect you and whatever your battles are, they’re my battles too. We secure Xuili army and save them from Yanbei’s cold king and merciless heart.” The two decided to track Xuili army by going to the west and surprise Xiao Ce to expose his heart and his feelings, his decision about this matter without the help of Chu Qiao. In this way, Chu Qiao will know Xiao Ce’s sealed lips and if he is willing to help and give temporary command post for Xuili army.
Empress Yuan never felt so ineffective after the last Bureaucrats meeting held in her palace, when the interim Emperor crashed her palace gates and ambushed all the votes in favor of Xuili army versus Liang Empire Empress seat. She felt useless in her position and failed to exercise her authority now that she has given temporary powers to bestow the seal of the Emperor.
She called one of the eunuchs and said: “I think the Bureaucrats of this empire forgot some of its principles they live by, the people are always defenseless with abuse, and heaven is even difficult to accuse. The palace ministers should know their place, they do not act as the parent of the people. It is the people who is the parent of the people, and the officials of this palace are the children, it’s the people who pay for their homage articles, including their salaries, homes, and other benefits that come from the power of their seats. They need to be reminded.”
She wrote a letter to Prince Luo to form a military revolt and help her dethrone the interim emperor on or before his enthronement date. She also revealed that if Prince Luo does not agree to help her, it will be okay, she had other means and method but did not reveal to Prince Luo. Zhan Ziyu is the dark backup plan. What the Empress does not know if she hired a killing master and not a killing machine who can still draw some emotions and conscience at the last ray of hope or mercy for Xiao Ce’s life.
It is also true that whoever sits on the throne is not an entirely happy place to grow. On the opposite, it is where the unquenchable wild weeds thrive swallowing the good seeds, it is where the hard-to-die evil vines that creep until it can fully tug the flint of power and can dictate the fangs of who will live or die on earth.
Back to Wei Empire, the sword competition started to run. Surprisingly, Ra Zheng was chosen to be one of the judges. The Emperor hand-picked him as one of the judges because he is an esteemed legendary sword master from the East. Ra Zheng and two other foreign royals came to sit in front of a massive yin-yang circle of fight. The circle of the fight made of white and black alabaster stone. Like of that yin-yang symbol, its middle a curve-line form marks two corners with two flat mini-fountain circles in the middle of each side. The fountains are turned off, making the two circles a small body of water inside the ring of the fight. The rules are clear, if one of the player’s lands on these small circles, it will score against the opponent. If one of the player’s lands outside the circle of fight, the game is over. Every player wears a light breastplate armor, and withdrawal is allowed. Lucky for those who know Gongfu, they would be able to win this competition but who knows these foreign royals may also display a different kind of talent and counter-attack Chinese martial arts.
Ra Yue and Ra Zhun left together in their royal seats were sitting beside each other. No one from the three princes joined the swordplay because Ra Zheng is one of the judges who will cut biases later. Winning each match, not one of the foreign royal dignitaries were able to sustain their games and lands outside of the circle of fight. After series of swordplay fight, Xia Chong was the first to enter to play for the championship round and waiting for the announcement of the contender. Finally, the eunuchs announced: “the crown princess of Wei versus the crown princess of far away East.”
The audience in awe, still do not have an idea who is this brave crown princess of the faraway east, though they have seen the fight she executed to her contenders, she is the least expected among all players to win, and now, finally enters the championship round. Chu Qiao on her normal fighting stance did not display much effort or impossible moves to surprise the people. She counts on one, and two strikes and the game is over. She bows to the Great Emperor she loathes and smirks to the noble crowd. Nobody recognizes her because her face covered with her white scarf.
Ra Yue squinted his eyes when he heard about the crown princess of the faraway east while Ra Zhun murmurs: What is this? Two royal women defeated all royal men? Unbelievable! And who is this crown princess who seems to represent the faraway East? Ra Zhun threw a funny look to Ra Yue and then chuckles he said: “Seems all of the royal men have soft hands and trembles their knees after they see the face of the beautiful crown princesses!”
Ra Yue still quiet, is excited and curious to see how this mysterious far away crown princess from the East covered with white scarf should break Wei crown princess. He breathes and finally uttered: “we underestimate these princesses talents long enough, did you know that behind a strong King, is always a smarter Queen? These crown princesses aren’t strong enough, but their wits and promptitude work for their advantage, and before you knew it, they have already overtaken you!”
Yuwen Yue recalled last night’s encounter with Chu Qiao when she fell on his arms like a thin snowflake, so fragile yet agile, he can’t put his guard down. But the moment of helplessness made him want to save Chu Qiao, and it seems Yuwen Yue no longer fights her. It switched to this side in which he sees himself fighting for himself. Whether he would save her or kill her no longer matters. The moment of his encounter with the Chu Jing Princess blocked all of his reasons and made him surrender to her helplessness, his gentleman side cannot hide anymore, and before he knew it, his soft spot is exposed.
The Wei Emperor looking proud for Wei crown princess victory finally enters the final match, he thinks this is working to his advantage. The Emperor’s far eyes never took it off observing Ra Yue and Ra Zhun talking. The Wei Emperor felt confident and underestimated the skills of a faraway crown princess from the East did not think of any chance for her to win this match, he knows Chu Qiao (which is Xia Chong at the moment) can’t have the slightest mistake. The 13th crown prince Yuan Song on the other side feels like he is the winner for his wife when all of the foreign royal dignitaries have one comment in common said: “She is a trophy wife, a secret weapon exposed.” It is a strong remark rather than a sincere compliment.
The swordplay starts to run, Xia Chong stands in the black side (Yin part of the circle of fight), and the far away crown princess of the East stands in the white side (Yang part of the circle of the fight). No one dared to move, and Xia Chong sensed her opponent is stronger than her, she felt the opponent controls the wind and external elements that surround them. Chu Qiao, on the other hand, knows she is the puppet princess of Xiao Yu who replaced her at the eve of her engagement. The same energy flows on her opponent and not to mention they have same facial features she thought: “No wonder why Ra Yue fell for her that night and seduced him.”
Unclear of what really happened that night between Ra Yue and Xia Chong, Chu Qiao gathered this amount of time to take revenge on both trespassers of her heart. What Chu Qiao did not know was Ra Yue the peddler man is Ra Yue the Qinghai crown prince he met on the eve of her engagement to Yuan Song. She recalls, Xiao Chong helped her escaped that night, but she is not aware of what she intends to do and whoever is behind it, will pay it big time tonight. Her thoughts are racing because aside from discovering the fact that Ra Yue is the crown prince from the East, Ra Yue also revealed that he is Yuwen Yue, the fourth young master of the Yuwen Household and seems that nobody knows except her, Yuwen Yue hiding in that metal mask. She asked herself: “how did this happen?” The mortal memories recollected that night she ordered to go back in the past that almost killed her, showed that Yuwen Yue died at the frozen lake and revealed his face, like crystal-clear water.
Yuwen Yue made her feel that passionate kiss is sincere, full of comfort and love. However, if she fails to search for the truth and settle for that fleeting moment of romance, she may lose herself again in the process and fall for him once again. What she needs is a heart made of iron, especially in this time of great caution, any mistake will cost Xuili army and even Chu Jing Kingdom. She can’t believe everything she sees and falls for him just because Ra Yue looks like Yuwen Yue. Ra Yue needs to prove himself that he is Yuwen Yue and maybe if it happens, it is the only time she is going to accept him again.
Xia Chong cannot read the mind of the opponent and cannot even predict her next moves when suddenly Chu Qiao flew to the other side and landed on her back used her Canhong sword to attack her. Xia Chong runs out of space, forced to go to the white side, back tumbled and almost lost control of her feet about to fall in the small circle water. The water inside the small circle created ripple effects and Chu Qiao’s ears ten times sharper she heard the ripples, used it to calm herself. She counted: “one.” While Xia Chong wakes up on her rage, she summoned the rain. The audience has no idea of what is going over the clouds suddenly thin drops of rain started to fall. But everyone’s eyes were still in the height of the show, nobody moved while their servants and dog slaves came to surround them and opened their umbrellas. Ra Yue did not move and Ra Zhun in a gawky face when a servant disturb him by opening the umbrella to protect his master, Ra Zhun kicked him and said: “Did I ask you to come here and disturb this ultimate duel at my sight?” The servant cried in silent pain, he apologized to his master and stood up limping. The Emperor watching in the distance stood up, and the eunuchs put on his furry coat and put on his hood and look like a scary fowl ready to scourge and devour.
Chu Qiao aware that this is not a natural rainfall, she knew her opponent possess the power of the wind. Determined not to use her kungfu of ice powers, she opted to use her Canhong sword to continue the fight. Xiao Chong started to use her sword, the sword of elegance and invisibility, her husband, lend her. This time the fight advanced into another level where both have used their magical swords, two shining blades tossed on air. The Cheng Yin sword became invisible swiftly cut Chu Qiao’s scarf but she twirled and able to hold her mask using her left hand, she knelt while her right hand holding the Canhong sword stuck in the alabaster white stone. The Cheng Yin sword fell in front of her she said: “two.” While Xia Chong haunted by the Canhong sword produced howling fox sounds and suddenly find herself surrounded by fire and half of the black circle of the fight is burning. Chu Qiao with a sarcastic smile and smirk she said: “How are you going to get your borrowed sword now when you have to pass a ring of fire?”
Xia Chong trying to deceive for a moment said: “Your grace, I am a tool used in this palace and without me, you will be in danger and will be hunted. I am not the enemy!”
The audience still has no idea, was delighted to see a magical swordplay performance and even murmured: Where did the fire come from? This is now fire swordplay. I love the fire effects, superb performance. Some of the audience clapped and rose to look at Xia Chong while Chu Qiao still kneeling looking down on the white stone ground.
While the Emperor clapped his hands and said: “This is an awesome performance, is this part of the swordplay?” And no one among his servants responded while the eunuchs looked at each other unable to answer his question. The Emperor is full of happiness in his face for the things he did not expect came out to surprise his sleepy mood. The audience cannot tell if one of them got hurt.
Chu Qiao asked Xia Chong: Are you a servant of the Sand Drizzle Jianghu spies?”
Xia Chong replied: “No your grace, I work for the lotus flower.”
Chu Qiao knew Xia Chong is telling white lies she said: “Who? Xiao Ce? Or are you under Xiao Yu’s control?”
Xia Chong is a double agent who works for Xiao Yu and Xiao Ce, however facing Chu Qiao her real master today, remembered her former master Lou He’s last words: “Protect her no matter what happens.”
Xia Chong is now turning the tables she used her energy to call for heavy rain, and the ring of fire died as the thunder and lightning came to sweep over the circle of the fight.
The audience turned to see Xia Chong, and as if she died on the surface, she did not. While Chu Qiao stood up and took out her stuck Canhong sword from the white stone and on her left hand pick up the Cheng Yin sword. Chu Qiao moved closer to Xia Chong, and the next scene made the audience marvel at what they saw.
Ra Yue stood up, in his cold eyes saw the crown princess from the faraway east. The results are clear, the Wei princess lost in this game. Chu Qiao’s face is cold but compassionate kneel beside Xia Chong and gave her Cheng Yin sword. She gave her hand, and Xia Chong accepted it and helped her stand up. Chu Qiao wasn’t really after winning the competition but winning her opponent and knowing who is behind her, she gave an example that everybody may follow.
The Wei Emperor stood up and saw the scene in the circle of the fight, sees the new champion showing them a cold but gallantry of heart he said: This is not just swordplay. The faraway crown princess from the East exemplified our ancestor’s heroism, the true blood of the heroes, a noble-minded behavior. She deserves an honor of welcome from this Empire.
Everyone’s jaw dropped outside the fortified walls were every slaves and servant listening with their ears, and the audience inside clapped their hands and welcomes their champion. Although Ra Yue pretended not to know Chu Qiao earlier when he saw her how she used her sword, took his breath away. Ra Yue knows she is Chu Qiao, the Chu Jing crown princess and it is dangerous to expose her face to the Emperor. Ra Yue walked towards Chu Qiao, but Ra Zheng came in front of him and said: “Can you not wait until the banquet to meet her later?”
Ra Yue looked at him and said: “Do we have to wait and miss this opportunity to meet her?”
Ra Zheng handsome face smiled and said: “Oh my brother, I have been looking at you in this entire competition. Truth is, I have never seen your eyes breakaway from her even for a moment. Save the moment later!”
Ra Zhun came in between them and said: “You take the faraway crown princess champion and I am taking my crown princess archer champion later!”
Ra Zheng replied: “It seems you two have a date and I am left alone. Too bad for me.”
Ra Yue joked to Ra Zheng and said: “Maybe I’ll set-up a date for you with the whip girl later?”
“Who is this whip girl?” Ra Zheng left in befuddlement, Ra Yue smiled at him and answered: “See you later my brothers!”
After the competition, the Emperor invited all guests to join their moveable feast prepared by the Golden Palace. Two chests of gold were at the feet of the Emperor’s throne ready for his disposal. The champion of the archery contest came in her Imperial dress and claims that she is a royal princess of the West and covered her face with a mask. She won on the first day by knocking off royal prince’s archery skills and her final round match with Princess Zama from the Bathuja family and won it with her equestrian and archery skills. You cannot even draw the face of Princess Zama when she lost in one point, and the mysterious princess won it so easy. Even Ra Zhun who joined the archery lost to this mysterious princess in just one point, a competition he will never forget.
When the awarding started, the Eunuch called for the princess from the West with her covered face, and she walked down at the middle, on her perfect strides she reached the feet of the throne. The Emperor wanted to see her face he ordered: Show your face to the nobles and receive your reward. The princess took off her scarf and showed her face to the nobles and everyone shocked except for Yuwen Huai and Zhao Song.
Xiao Ce monitoring Chu Qiao and Viper receives an intelligence report from his spies. He ordered Tie You to secure Chu Qiao and let Viper stay to receive the reward and tell the Emperor that the faraway princess is not feeling well and wants to travel back to her kingdom. Chu Qiao did not hesitate, Viper stayed.
Chu Qiao about to go to meet Tie You who disguised himself, the Wei valve guards did not even recognize the men came from Liang state. Their disguise worked well and was able to fetch Chu Qiao safely. The cavalrymen turned their horses and ran away from Wei valve gates with Chu Qiao. Near to Wei Valve gate but outside Chang’An city, a man with sturdy stature is waiting, he appeared and stopped the cavalrymen. Ra Yue suddenly out of nowhere stopped in front of Chu Qiao and unsheathed his Poe Yue Jian sword. While Zuo and Yue Qi was standing nearby ready for a quick response.
Chu Qiao put down her wide white hood and said to him: “An unsheathed sword is dangerous. It can kill or let me pass by in peace.”
Ra Yue on his calm face wanting to steal more time for them he said in a husky voice: “I can’t possibly let you go but won’t kill you either.”
Tie You and the rest of the spies from Liang pull their swords and ready to protect the Chu Jing princess but Chu Qiao on her powerful voice said: “Spare him!”
“I will continue to walk and will trust your sword won’t kill me.”
“Try me,” said Ra Yue twitching his hands off his Poe Yue Jian sword until Chu Qiao reached him face to face, for a moment Chu Qiao looked into his eyes but never said any words, she walked and passed through his side unharmed.
Ra Yue like a rock stood out there, catching every breath of his lungs slowly put down his Poe Yue Jian sword, time passed so is the love of his life, on his calm eyes and dry red lips he spoke at his back: “I will find you, until then, wait for me!”
Chu Qiao continued to walk at his back took those words in her heart, her eyes dropping tears as she walks away from him. Yesterday was full of an unspeakable moment of love but tonight speaks of unbreakable hearts walking away from each other.
When Chu Qiao was safe, Tie You and Liang spies put back their swords to their waists whipped their horses and continued to run into the woods with ease until they reached the Wei and Liang borders.
Ra Yue back to the royal banquet, drunk and numb, no longer has the interest of cheering the winners or even pay attention to what is happening. The crowd in awe, all their attention to the princess from the West who revealed its lovely but stern face.
Father, please forgive me said Chun’er in a gentle and soft voice. She threw herself in kowtow and remained there.
The Wei Emperor stuck on his face cannot seem to move his lips to speak.
Zhao Song at this moment expected it to happen. It is a plan that Yuwen Huai and her sister frame up their father to force him to receive his daughter again and restore her status as Wei crown princess. Though this is a dangerous situation, Zhao Song is ready to intercede if their Father will not be in their favor.
The awarding ceremony turned into a father-and-daughter forgiveness moment, and the Emperor baffled for a while cannot say no. In front of the noble crowd is a distressed shark’s tank waiting for the Emperor’s reply.
In a calm voice, the Emperor slowly said to everyone: “Can a father turn away from His daughter?”
The Wei Emperor gave a hand signal to his servants, and the Eunuchs came to Chun’er and let her rise to see the face of the Emperor.
The Emperor smiled in his eyes and gave a slight muse in his face he said: “Receive your very own champion, Princess Chun’er of Wei!”
And just like that, the ex-princess was restored back to her royal status, and all her fortune came back that night.
After that moment, the Emperor said to one of his eunuchs that Zhao Song will continue to announce the winners for the faraway crown princess to receive its award. And the Emperor stood up and without any courtesies walked away from the banquet.
***
The next morning, Chu Qiao woke up in the Yehua palace at Liang state when suddenly Sun Di came to knock at its doors to report to her, Xiao Ce was lying unconscious. Chu Qiao’s heart went fast that she would like to fly to come to see him at Jinwu Palace. Still, on her night robes, she took her horse and whipped it so hard. Sun Di followed her behind.
Chu Qiao arrive in time, unsheathed her sword, and everyone in his palace, not even his guards are able to stop her, she saw the body of the frail punch prince lying in his expensive carpet.
Chu Qiao for the first time does not know what to do. Seeing his friend like this makes her heart skip a bit. She tried to wake up Xiao Ce, but the punch prince did not respond. Chu Qiao checked his pulse, it is weak. She looked at his mouth, came closer to feel any air but smelled a poison in it. Chu Qiao cried and hugged Xiao Ce, she shouted to Sun Di, the brazier, throw it out!
Xiao Ce was poisoned using the brazier, but Chu Qiao thinks it is not yet too late. Suddenly Sun Di ordered the palace in total shutdown and seize all its palace maids and guards.
Chu Qiao ordered everyone to get out of Xiao Ce’s room and lock the door. Sun Di totally does not understand, and Tie You is confused. Chu Qiao shouted: “If you do not obey my orders, Xiao Ce may not be able to come back anymore. Go!!! All of you out!”
Chu Qiao said: “Tie You stay! On your back turn around and guard the door!”
Chu Qiao out of time tore her night robes and ordered her Hing Ba Na powers to grant her command. She did not even think twice to use it, she knows the consequences and knows where it is leading. She just gained back her memories now she is trading it again for the sake of saving Xiao Ce. She hopes Xiao Ce has not crossed the forgotten river yet. No! Whatever the cost, she will pull back Xiao Ce’s soul consciousness into the mortal world.
Chu Qiao out of the mortal world and running through the nick of time came to the underworld once again. After walking from the dark castle of underworld spies, she stepped on the most beautiful paradise slopes, and some of the flowers are swayed by divine winds. Some butterflies came to her shoulders and kissed her skin, she took one of the biggest butterflies and look at it. The butterfly as if knows what the Mimi Gongzhu is missing, it flew, and Chu Qiao understood to follow it. After a short while, Mimi Gongzhu saw two men in the river. One old and one adult man. Suddenly looked at her. In a dreamy state world, words do not matter, and only the echoes of the heart are heard. Chu Qiao reached the two men and the butterfly suddenly like stardust disappeared.
Xiao Ce saw Chu Qiao for the first time in this suspended time of nowhere took her hands. Not even a word was said, only eyes flashing at her eyes as if saying: “I am okay, this is my path now.”
Chu Qiao spoke in the stillness of her heart, without any words coming out of her lips means: “No, this is not your time yet. You cannot go. I won’t allow you to go…”
Xiao Ce out of his solemn eyes and his calm heart echoed: “Is this how you save a soul?”
The old man in the boat said: “Time is running out, the Mimi Gongzhu is coming to the other side to trade her mortal memories.”
Xiao Ce understood it looked at Chu Qiao for the last time. Chu Qiao on her compassionate eyes gave a Higanbana flower to Xiao Ce, and after it, Xiao Ce’s soul went back to the mortal world, but Chu Qiao stayed and crossed the forgotten river.
♠♠♠
After six months, Empress Lu Zhi is playing with her grandsons. She taught them some of the wisdom of King Tang and at night tell them bedtime stories. The deposed Queen, the real mother of Xiao Ce, was reinstated to her seat of power, and Xiao Ce enthroned became the rightful ruler of Liang. The handsome Emperor is quietly sitting in his garden, on his usual musing, cut some of the branches of the flower stems.
Suddenly he was mesmerized by the beautiful woman walking towards him. He stopped trimming and drop the flower stem when the beautiful woman wearing her Imperial dress said: “How lovely to see the Emperor trimming his bed of roses again. Come let’s eat, the turkey is ready and perfectly roasted on-fire.”
♥♥♥
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Chapter 068
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
The Empress impressed to the public
The mourn is over, and the Liang Empire buds into a new season under its new ruler Emperor Xiao Ce. The Liang Emperor walked around the Li courtyard and reached the golden bridge, looks at a beautiful mirror of the new moon reflection in the crystal-clear waters of the man-made lake pond. From a distance, the royal boatman slowly sailing to fetch him from where he stands, his foxy eyes smiled as he sees the colorful and decorated lantern in the mounted theater found in the middle of the gazebo lake. He smelled the cool breeze of the young night, and Xiao Ce asked his eunuch: “Did you double check if everything is prepared?”
The eunuch answered: “Yes, your majesty, everything is prepared and arranged.”
He arrived first at the beautiful almost like a dream Chinese gazebo lake pond and performers greeted him and said: Greetings your Majesty, this is your first seat. A king like a chair beside a queen like a chair is set-up in the middle of the gazebo as the night swans nearby crowded beside the crystal-clear lake pond.
The handsome and foxy presence of Xiao Ce wearing his flashy robes reveals a grand phoenix mythical bird embroidered in the golden thread at his back holds his long sleeves as he grabs the two-small bouquet of fresh ylang-ylang blossoms wrapped in a banana leaf, he sniffed and said: “What a good smell.”
He also asked his servants to harvest all of the Ylang Ylang budding trees planted around his Jinwu palace and saw the baskets full, the Liang finest palace maids started to scatter around the lake pond. Xiao Ce loves these fragrant flowers because of its evanescent perfume used for highly aromatic essential oils. Not to mention it can kill bacteria and purifies the air around his palace. Aside from that, the “Ylang” word also means “wilderness” as described by his late father the sea star flower that sailed from seven thousand seas before it came to China. For him, his Empress-to-be can be compared to this flower, these little star flowers grow wild in a sturdy tree. One has to climb the tree to pick it and gather its blossoms. When it comes to his Empress-to-be, Xiao Ce always looks at Qiao Qiao like one of these star flowers.
Xiao Ce also saw some spy sniper markers around the lake pond. Whenever the Emperor is out, all its invisible forces deployed to protect him and his Empress-to-be. A flare was released on air indicating the arrival of the lady Qiao Qiao, and Xiao Ce’s heart starts to beat fast.
Not so long, Xiao Ce holds his breath as he looks at the beautiful woman slowly approaching from the royal oriental Chinese boat. She is simply adorned with a small jade hairpin in her hair, pristine eyes, delicate face, an umbrella over her head took Xiao Ce’s breath away. Overlooking the horizon, a dark red and orange post-sunset silhouettes with dark thin wispy clouds hovering the skies.
This is not a surprise treat but rather, an agreed long overdue date with lady Qiao Qiao. As the boatman docks the boat, the Emperor flashed his foxy eyes, full of happiness and a flirty smile he said: “Lady, give me your hand.”
This is the moment Xiao Ce said, but instead of giving her hand, Qiao Qiao threw a small basket to him. Xiao Ce caught it on air and flashed her foxy smiles he said: “What is this?”
“It is your favorite. Muqing (Mother Empress Lu Zhi) asked me to send this as a midnight snack for you.”
Xiao Ce back to his perfect stand took the hand of Qiao Qiao and gently let the Lady get out the boat.
Qiao Qiao surprised with the mounted theater and the yellow-green flowers scattered in the lake pond she yawned and almost fell asleep with the smell, said: “What is this? A fairyland?”
“This is the world of ylang-ylang,” Xiao Ce answered.
“Wow,” Qiao Qiao bend a little to catch some of the star flowers floating in the lake pond.
Earlier Viper is behind her back, she opted to stay in the boat nipping a stalk of stem grass. She rolled her eyes to the overwhelming fantasy Xiao Ce is giving his lady Qiao Qiao tonight, she thought: Six months ago, thirty-six small rabbit lanterns and one gigantic rabbit lantern floating in the river lake. Now baskets full of ylang-ylang blossoms are endlessly pouring out in this lake pond. What now?”
The smell almost made Viper slumber on her seat, so she covered her mouth with her thin red scarf and waited in the boat.
Qiao Qiao after playing with the ylang-ylang flowers suddenly sees something, like a monster lurking in the quiet lake. In the blink of an eye, those horrific eyes were gone.
Xiao Ce asked her again said: Give me your hand. Qiao Qiao looked at him and gave her hand and together slowly walked towards their seats before they sat he said: This is for you and those flowers in the lake pond is for your eyes to enjoy. Xiao Ce gave the two bouquets of ylang-ylang flowers to her.
“Xie Xie,” said Qiao Qiao and took the flowers she said: I didn’t think that banana leaves can wrap a flower so beautiful like this.
Xiao Ce replied: ”In addition to the fragrant ylang-ylang scent, the banana leaves scent is the second fragrant scent I cherish. Smudging the banana leaves is best paired with undying ember coal. The aroma will put your heart from darkness into light.” Xiao Ce pouring all his secrets to his Empress-to-be and Qiao Qiao will have to remember them all from this day forward.
What do you mean when you said: “The aroma will put your heart from darkness into light.” Qiao Qiao asked.
Xiao Ce replied: “I asked for sage advice when you went to sleep for almost a month, the soft wooden smell of the coal compliments the sweet, floral aroma of the fresh banana leaf. Your soul from the darkness came to light. At first, I thought you would not come back, but I never gave up, searching for undying ember of coal found at one of the secret palaces in Xiu Xiu mountains of Yanbei. I burned it day and night in Yehua palace until one day you woke up and look for me and you told me, you would not let me go…”
Xiao Ce turned his eyes to the stage, he clapped his hands and said: “Roll the performance.”
Qiao Qiao on her droopy eyes and excited soul, asked Xiao Ce: “What is this?”
“See for yourself” Xiao Ce on his sexy, foxy eyes.
Qiao Qiao watched the performance in the mounted theater. Suddenly her tears fell, and Xiao Ce gave her the golden royal handkerchief. She took it to wipe her tears. The performance acted the very first time they met. When Qiao Qiao threw him out of his horse when he became the punch prince Lee Cecilia on his visit to the West, when Qiao Qiao protected her out of the blackguard’s assassins and got wounded, when Xiao Ce rescued her with his Black Palanquin, the turkey on fire, and finally the frozen lake. This is Xiao Ce’s way of letting Qiao Qiao remember their past memories. But on one particular scene, at the frozen lake made Qiao Qiao gloomy. She does not remember but somehow feels the pain she tearfully said: “Yuwen Yue…”
Xiao Ce giving her this moment to reconnect to her old self Chu Qiao. He isn’t jealous or afraid because he felt her pain is coming from there. Qiao Qiao may have recovered from darkness to light. Back to her mortal self, in this mortal world but the desolation of her soul did not improve her current condition, and Xiao Ce finally knows why Chu Qiao does not remember him the first time he met her again after the frozen lake. Xiao Ce came back to life, but he never forgot what happened to the afterlife world where his soul traveled and saw Chu Qiao cross the forgotten river before they parted. He realized this is the reason why his soul came back to the mortal realms but sacrificed Chu Qiao’s mortal memories. He hopes that by this small theater performance would somehow give her a review of her past life before she enters the Liang palace courts to become the Empress of the Liang Empire.
Xiao Ce still does not believe, that dreams do come true, it is just a matter of a few hours, and his dreams would be realized. Qiao Qiao finally taking the crown of the Phoenix Empress seat is a faraway dream he didn’t expect the heavens would grant him. On the other side, he also knows that for every dream come true, another tragedy awaits him. He is ready for the dream to come true but for the tragedy, he did not bother to make any plans because, for the first time in his life, he wants to free his heart and become Qiao Qiao’s lifetime partner. He does not want to restrict his ruling partner to follow the protocols of the empire and lock her out in her palace as the Empress of their empire. Instead, he wants to see Qiao Qiao happy and free in his arms whether its love or hate, Xiao Ce would live to appreciate it all.
After the night of remembrance, the two retired to their palaces. Qiao Qiao staring at her mirror thought: “I am Chu Qiao, the leader of wind and cloud decree, crown princess of Chu Jing kingdom, the General of Xuili army, and tomorrow I will wear the crown of the Phoenix Empress of Liang Empire.”
She stared blankly at the mirror, and suddenly tears started to fall from her eyes she said: “Tomorrow if no one comes, then why should I wait.”
Xiao Ce standing out of the window staring at the twinkling stars in the bright southern skies of Liang, thought: “Yuwen Yue if you do not come tomorrow, do not get angry with me and there is no more chance left for you. She is mine forever.”
The Liang palace ground once again dressed in its grandeur and magnificence, despite its civil war with its six out of eight strongholds, came to unite and celebrate an important part of their history. After six months, Xiao Ce enthroned to become the Emperor of Liang. He waited for another six months to seal the position of its Empress, and today the Phoenix state of the south will witness two events. The stepping down of the present Empress and the enthronement of the next Empress.
Two powerful women who did not give up helping the present Emperor to reform the Liang government despite its civil wars with its palace ministers and officials, the military, the scholars, foreign and local servants, slaves and other outside parties involved. The news has been circulated and released to every empire, and foreign dignitary visitors started to arrive.
Nothing is left to chance, a grand White Palanquin followed by hundreds of silver-gray armies uniform snappy and steady, entered the Liang palace gates. He was an esteemed royal dignitary from the East. Liang’s royal guards ask his royal pass and name said: “The Lord of Qinghai.”
The world will shake when another Purple Palaquin came to the park at the entrance of the Liang palace gates. The Liang palace guards went to ask his royal pass, and name said: “The World and its Queen.”
The Liang palace guards looked at each other and about to say something when the beautiful angelic face of Xiao Yu came out of the Palanquin and gave the royal guards the Truce jade pass. Suddenly the two royal guards fell down to bow at the Queen and said: “Forgive us, Your Majesty, you may pass.”
Xiao Yu on her usual graces said: “Thank you and with her straight back and heads up closed the Palanquin window and entered the gates.”
Yanbei’s envoy consisted of some rare personalities displayed in public that were allowed to witness this transition of power includes: General Zhong Yu, Yan Schicheng’s military adviser Dong Fangyi, Xiao-Qi Seventh sister of Chu Qiao and several Yan military generals. Their black eagle cavalry was left to the seventh prefecture under the wings of military truce commander of Sun Di. As part of the truce, Xiao Ce and Yan Xun agreed and arranged to attend this historic event.
While everyone is busy welcoming the Queen of Yanbei, Yan Xun twitched his palms and wore his formal face. It wasn’t until now that he will come to see the face of A’Chu again, after the night he tried to rescue her from to become Wei crown princess. There are a lot of blind truths that these two Liang royals have done in between only to let them break away from each other. Yan Xun found out the truth and had so much regret with what he did to A’Chu the only girl whom he cared and loved. Like in the past, when Yan Xun pretended to be Lui Xi, the wealthy leader of the Chamber of commerce in Xianyang. They say Lui Xi was killed by Yan Xun and the rest of Lord Lui Xi’s most trusted associates Lord Ouyang were killed too that left the child Mo’er as an orphan. It was one of the darkest nights of Yan Xun, he had to cover himself doing vile things out of his revengeful heart and unearthing Yanbei’s fortunes from the miry pit. Because aside from Yan Xun conflicts outside of Yanbei, he also found conflicts inside the secret traders of Yanbei.
The former General of Yan, Cheng Yuan reported to Yan Xun: “Your Highness,”
Yan Xun with some of his anxious face asked Cheng Yuan: “Why is it loud outside?”
Cheng Yuan replied with delight in his eyes: “We have found the boy from the Ouyang household. However, two people are trying to save him.”
Yan Xun was still in his gloomy face. Cheng Yuan continued: “They have been following us. I think they are subordinates from Ouyang clan.” Cheng Yuan throwing Yan Xun into a suspense mood, added: “They want to take revenge. They are putting the deathbeds on struggle outside the camp.”
Yan Xun stood up and walked with fierceness in his eyes, said: “They are certainly brave enough.”
While the infighting continues outside, Chu Qiao finally calls out to Lui Xi inside the camp and said: “Lui Xi get out of there.”
A’Jing said: “it sounds like Miss Chu.”
Yan Xun changed his fierce eyes into an anxious one and sat on his throne-like seat while Cheng Yuan about to command the army outside said: “I shall handle them,” and Feng Mian said: “Wait a second. Wear a mask. We are going to meet them sooner or later.”
Cheng Yuan said: “Is that really necessary?” Yan Xun is thinking quietly and heard the angry voice of A’Chu again she said: “Lui Xi you are a traitor. Get out of there! I am going to kill you.” Yan Xun feels numb but guilty as well.
On that time, Chu Qiao is like a mad woman looking for a body to slaughter went closer to the tent of Lui Xi and Yuwen Yue like a foolish warrior continued to chop the necks of their enemies while the child Mo’er blindfolded in his back does not have any sense of what was happening at the moment.
Suddenly a series of thunder struck the tent, and the cold winds blew as Lui Xi went out of the tent with his subordinates all of them wear a black hood to cover their heads and a part of their faces. Chu Qiao sensed this is an unusual way of an enemy’s treatment to them and Yuwen Yue stop chopping some necks and felt strange and familiar at the same time.
Yan Xun like a lonely werewolf, eyes are not fierce, but desolation starts to creep in his soul, in front of Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue, faked his voice and sounded like it would haunt nine generations, he uttered: “Let them go.”
Feng Mian repeated what Yan Xun said: “Our master lets you go now.”
Yan Xun on his haunting voice again once said: “You have one hour. Go!” And the thunder struck the tent again like a place full of haunting ghosts so is their faces look at them.
As the killing squad retreats to let the two brave souls go, Yan Xun cannot help himself anymore revealed his natural voice when he said: “Do you want to die here? Go!”
And the two brave souls suddenly felt familiar and strange, Yuwen Yue broke the hunting wind of silence he said: “Someday if I catch you, I will let you survive as well.” A true nobles act must be repaid in a noble way, Yuwen Yue uttered a noble promise.
Yuwen Yue paused and looked at Chu Qiao in front of him and said: “Let’s go.”
Yuwen Yue knows their chances of survival is slim, and he knew as well that Lui Xi is a pretending person and Yuwen Yue felt the chill in his bones and knows that Yan Xun is pretending to be Lui Xi. Yuwen Yue’s conception cannot be mistaken, his thoughts went creepy because Yan Xun’s ways are even crueler than what he has experienced himself. Yuwen Yue walked out in peace, and so is the child at his back. And Chu Qiao sensing some creepiness in the face of her enemies turned her back and followed Yuwen Yue.
After the confrontational situation, Yan Xun’s guard quickly went down, catching a few breaths, lets the desolation of his soul flow when A’Chu finally turns her back in front of him he thought: “A’Chu I finally saw you, standing in front of me safe and sound. However, I can’t face you right now.” When the world is in pain the sound of thunder issued under the clouds shouts retribution to earth.
His heart died again that day, and no one knows why. If its jealousy over Yuwen Yue when A’Chu followed his back or did he see himself with that child Mo’er he left as an orphan. Yan Xun reminded the heavens about mercy that was never granted to him until that day, he cried in his thought bitterly: “God never gives me any mercy.”
True to what he said before he wasn’t retired at all. Master Xie Tai Shan is standing and waiting for Empress Lu Zhi and also looking to see who this Lord of Qinghai is. Is it the King of Qinghai or crown prince Ra Yue?
There was a period of unrest after the eastern princes visit to Wei’s lantern festival and losing the third day of competition, and the Wei Emperor himself won the game. Ra Yue already suspected the Wei Emperor set up a trap competition and he should have left too when Chu Qiao left on the second day and avoided the path of exposure. However, he did not leave Wei because of Viper. He intended to follow Viper when Chu Qiao left her in Changan to know her whereabouts. On the contrary, it did not let Ra Yue chase after Xinger but encountered Dong Fangyi in Yanbei, who forced Ra Yue to expose himself as Yuwen Yue. Yan Xun and Yuwen Yue fought in Yanbei. It was a bitter fight that made Xiao Yu decide to kill the apple of his eyes. In the end, the fight left Wei to suffer but saved the Prince of Bathuja family Prince Zaru.
After his exposure, Ra Yue did not come back to Qinghai. He escaped through the help of Xiao Yu. He camped and stayed at the Long Guan terraced mountains to heal from his wounds he got from his fight with Yan Xun where Yan Xun shared the same pain especially when the Yan Xun’s apple of eyes died. Yuwen Yue helped Xuili army fight from two opposing troops of Wei and Yanbei. Of course, with the significant help coming from Xiao Ce, who is also fighting the civil unrest inside Liang state to accept the fugitive Xuili army. It wasn’t easy. Not to mention Xiao Ce has to protect and take care of himself and Chu Qiao slept like a dead beauty in Yehua palace. Yuwen Yue enduring these darkest nights of his life had to face all this battle including the Eyes of God and the Yuwen household. What happened there is hard to understand, and even a pen is not able to describe to write it all down. It needs time to heal and wisdom to carry it on.
During those days, Chu Qiao remained in Yehua palace as she recovers herself. Many times, Yuwen Yue came to visit her, but as a ghost in her past, she did not recognize him at all. All Yuwen Yue could do is to look into Chu Qiao’s eyes and then pass her by like they didn’t know each other and his heart grew colder in pain. Xiao Ce on the other side looks at Chu Qiao in pain, he feels happy and unhappy looking at this two and yet Yuwen Yue continued to visit her even if she seems empty into his eyes. Happy because Xiao Ce knows he has all the reason to tell Yuwen Yue to stop visiting her. Unhappy because every time Yuwen Yue visits her, Chu Qiao is in agony of wanting to remember it all, but she could not and turns away from Yuwen Yue and runs back to Xiao Ce’s arms. She even told Xiao Ce: “Are you giving me away because you are not sure that what we have is real?”Does it mean Xiao Ce words came true when he said: “The future belongs to those who wait?” Is it true after all?
The punch prince heart wanted to burst in happiness and become greedy to tell Yuwen Yue: “Your time is up. I am the final man in the story.” But Xiao Ce knew in his heart if Chu Qiao didn’t sacrifice her mortal memories in exchange for his soul, he should not be getting this chance of happy ending that left Yuwen Yue to the barren land of hopelessness. What about Yan Xun? Repeatedly dying in front of the world, can he still take it when she sees the real Chu Qiao becoming the wife of Emperor Xiao Ce. Can he accept his former general, a former confidante, almost his Yan Queen to become his relative today?
There was a time when Yuwen Yue visited Chu Qiao in his sad, soft voice, said: “What more pain should I take under this world? But the pain of losing your memories of me over and over again for the sake of someone, I can no longer bear. Xinger, I am Yuwen Yue. Come back to me, please… I need you.”
Time cannot wait, and the moment has arrived. The Lord of Qinghai in his usual musing and searching eyes, stopped when he heard the eunuchs announces the arrival presence of the Liang Emperor. Xiao Ce dressed in his bright red Imperial robe walked into the aisle with his finest beautiful maidservants following at his back and holding a thick and uber long cape lying flat in the expensive golden carpet. His cape embroidered a pair of an ancient dragon that hugged Xiao Ce’s frail body and its head is like a blazing fire that runs along its long tail, symbolizes eternal flame and fire of his reign. A shimmering crown held up high in his head, and as he walks, the fragrance started to issue on air and ylang-ylang fallen blooms started to fill the aisle. This handsome young Emperor was a beauty to die for. To gaze upon his lovely foxy eyes cannot hide a hint of delight and happiness. It was the happiest moment of his life, solemnly sits on the Liang Emperor’s throne.
This long golden aisle is waiting to receive its Empress. The eunuchs started to announce the arrival of Empress Lu Zhi and began to walk the aisle until she reaches the Empress seat. And on the last call, drums began to roll, here comes the most awaited princess to step on the aisle as the Empress Dowager crown ready to meet its owner.
Yan Xun held his breath when the glorious harmony of music began to play. Chu Qiao enters with an empty head of any adornments but wears a radiant face, she closed eyes and opens it to the reality of the moment that cannot be turned back in time. The Lord of Qinghai for the last time looked at her radiant, calm and delicate face, his eyes full of sadness and welling in tears that he even forgot he is present in this place and time started to walk away. The Emperor saw this man and said to his thoughts: “Is there anyone else but who?” He knew it was Yuwen Yue.
Her gown shines like the real phoenix bird adorned with beaded pheasants, pearls, and other gemstones. The back design resembles the wings of the mythical Phoenix bird that hung around her shoulders. She walked in the path of stars and the royal and noble crowd looked like they saw eternity. Xiao Ce proud and happy gave her a wink and foxy smile. Finally, Chu Qiao reached the Throne seat, Empress Lu Zhi on her side gave her head the Fengguan Empress Dowager crown. By this time, a man on his shadow came out of the Daoming Hall, took its horse and run fast as he could.
Xiao Ce satisfied with the beauty’s crowd stood up to hail his Empress when suddenly a beautiful fine woman came in front put down her white hood and said: “You cannot become my family!”
Bang!
Blood splattered, and a body spirally fell on the floor. The glorious ceremony ended with ugly chaos and suddenly the crowd in panic, the royal guards closed the Daoming palace entrances and started to unsheathe their swords.
Bang!
And another body is lying dead on the expensive floor. A man in his wheelchair gave everyone a surprise kill.
Xie Tai Shan unsheathed his sword to protect Empress Lu Zhi and did not allow her to come near Xiao Ce’s body.
Chu Qiao on her Fengguan crown bent down. She was shaking as she scoops the bloody and gloomy face of the Emperor.
Xiao Ce said: “I was about to whisper; the Lord of Qinghai is waiting for you…”
Chu Qiao hushed him and said: “I don’t know who this person is, calm down, Tie You called the doctors to take care of you.
Xiao Ce coughed blood and looked into his bloody hands he smiled and looked into Chu Qiao’s eyes he said: “This is the happiest moment of my life. You chose me over Yuwen Yue. It’s really a dream, and it remains there forever.”
Chu Qiao sees Xiao Ce’s turning pale due to blood loss, says: “You must hold on…” and she started to cry.
Xiao Yu look at her mother’s eyes and she touched her sleeves to pull out the needles she said: do not move, it may quicken the poison to spread out in your body.
“Xiao Yu” soft and struggling breaths came out of her mouth, said the former Empress Yuan. Xiao Yu caressed her beautiful face said: “Mother, I will revenge you. Please stay alive.”
Yan Xun still cannot recover from this bloody mess stood still while other Yanbei officials were surrounded by Liang guards. Sun Di ordered to seize them.
Zhong Yu unsheathed her sword and said: “I cannot allow the World to be captured here.”
Viper struggling not to leave Chu Qiao’s side must face her sister, she stood and went closer to her said: “And I cannot allow the criminals to go like nothing happened.”
Peng! Sounds of sword and whip started to engage in a fight. Dong Fangyi looked at the two and said to his thoughts: “Finally, the remnant warrior whip girl. I have seen your face today. She is guarding the Mimi Gongzhu, the one who killed her own mother, Lou He.”
Zhan Ziyu realizing Viper is an underworld spy started to bring his wheelchair in front and said: “You must die!”
When she was about to receive the needles that Zhan Ziyu dished out, a ninja warrior came down from above and counter-attacked it. Viper is safe. While some unknown afterlife camp spies were also present came to protect their leader when Zuo about to smash Zhan Ziyu’s face.
Yue Qi on his sniper eyes ready to shoot triple in a row sniping around his brother Zuo fighting the afterlife camp spies to protect Viper.
Xiao Ce still aware of the tragedy in Daoming palace said his last words: Please do not come to the forgotten river. Do not trade your mortal memories for the sake of my soul for I know I cannot live to see you go..this is better for me.
And just like that Xiao Ce breathe his last… (i cried like a river here)
Lu Zhi cried aloud and struggled to come near his precious son she said: “Your Highness, my son! You cannot die.”
Everyone’s fighting stopped when the Emperor died, and the unblinding light exploded. It starts to envelop the place. Chu Qiao’s phoenix dress opened like the sun burning on fire lifted Xiao Ce’s body and hugged it tightly.
Everyone in awe including Yan Xun and Xiao Yu looks at her and nobody dared to move their feet. All eyes on her as the place was slowly being eaten by the cold ice. The weather outside became dark and hails of fire started to fall. Everyone eyes received its terror.
The palace walls slowly ate by ice, now covered with ice but the hail fire consumes its surface and emits waves of fire.
Viper knows if Mimi Gongzhu power goes far everyone will die in this palace including her. She is the only entity not affected by the snow of hail and fire while humanity is struggling to survive.
Yan Xun’s lips full of snow became purple and extremely pale he whispered and said: “A’chu let go of the world.”
Chu Qiao still suspended on air heard Yan Xun while her eyes were closed she said: “Who wants to hear the world?”
Chu Qiao looked at Viper with her compassionate eyes she said: “I must save the emperor.”
Viper’s eyes turned big like an owl, and she shouted: “Come back Mimi Gongzhu!!! You cannot save a soul twice!”
Suddenly Chu Qiao still hanging on air fell like a thin snowflake…her body held by the wind. Like of that autumn leaf, her body slowly reached the white and fine snow ground. The Higanbana flower at her back like a firefly turning off its light piece by piece until the light died.
This is not Liang palace anymore, this is a realm of no return, a place that no one enters and lives to survive. Chu Qiao is lying unconsciously on her lifeless, helpless body.
♥♥♥
Chapter 069
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Check the Pulse
Yah! Yah! Heee…!
A man and a horse continuously driving towards the vast open field of snow. Thick snowflakes began to fall heavily making the open field a zero visibility in sight. Suddenly the white horse stopped pounding its hoofs and formed white snow hoof prints laid its body on the cold snow. The owner has been so tired and reckless threw a godly figure to the open snowfield. Is Yuwen Yue blindered, hidebound and frozen with his soul? Does he still care or do not want his eyes to look at the naked truth? Heavy snow came to cover his eyelids. Yuwen Yue too tired to move gradually fell asleep.
Flashbacks of random memories started to become vivid, the swirling winds came to sweep his eyes. One year ago, at the lantern festival, he met Xinger. But on the second day, Yuwen Yue let her go. On the third day, nobody expected that the Wei Emperor is the ultimate player to beat in the Chinese chess competition. The foreign dignitaries started to pack up to leave Wei, but the Qinghai princes stayed to fill the Wei Emperor’s caprice and sudden silly wish to do something. Ra Yue already knew something isn’t quite right but have to stay in order not to appear as an enemy and do not let Emperor become suspicious. The competition was done privately, and the invited nobles were carefully selected to witness the event includes, the palace ministers such as Wei Guang, Zhao nobles, Yuwen nobles, high-ranking military official Meng Tian and Wei valve elders. The Chinese chess board called crossing a river is like life and death sentence. Three rounds to win and the score was even for Wei Emperor and odd for Qinghai Princes. Two wins and one loss, the Wei Emperor cooked the game, he can already smell the sweet victory over them.
To ensure that victory is real, the Emperor passed a decree that the three princes are mandatory to join the competition and lost it except for final the match. On the third match, the Wei Emperor lost the game to Ra Yue forcing him to lose face in front of many officials, made the Wei Emperor angry. It did not show its fangs until the next day.
“Did you know that an Emperor should always win?” The Wei Emperor speaking in a calm like a manner met Ra Yue. On his back, he spoke and suddenly turn around to look at Ra Yue’s masked face.
Ra Yue bowed and remained in this gesture waiting for the Wei Emperor’s next words. Inside his mask, he squinted and sensed dark clouds hovering them.
“Come let’s walk for a while.”
The Wei Emperor invited the Qinghai crown prince in the highest peak of his palace.
Standing still, pointed its finger to the far side and said: “Look! should I do a horrible thing if you do not do as I wish?” The Wei Emperor looking at Ra Yue’s bowed face, calm as the ocean water eyes, he sighed.
The blackguard archers are situated in areas where they can shoot his two brothers, and the blind spy is ready to play on fire with the Qinghai troops. What the Wei Emperor does know is that Yue Qi and Zuo Zong knows this information first hand and already told Ra Yue in advance.
Like a dagger dished at Yuwen Yue’s head, he will have to respond smart and answer this head of the state monster, quick. Calm, composed and confident he asked the Wei Emperor instead: “State your wish, Your Majesty.” Yuwen Yue twitched his palms waiting for the Emperor’s words.
The Wei Emperor turned back from Ra Yue and said on a very soft, calm voice: “I lost face yesterday and I want to take it back. Can you tell what my wish is?”
Yuwen Yue, a former master of the eyes of God, knows what the role of activating the dormant state of blackguards squad is. The black seal is deployed, and it has been mounted there for years while the Eyes of God was turned off for the shame that the Yuwen family was not able to prevent and exposed its weakness. The damage control left Wei to shut it off, not to mention to build it from ashes, replaced it with the darkest bloodthirsty hunters and callous preys. This is blackguards edge, it does not work to show any mercy or exercise the virtues of the empires noble’s past. Their vilest operations include outside offensive warfare, to deliver torture, prepare the empire’s graveyard, bury it and convert an empire to its desolation state.
They are scattered in the Wei palace and ready to destroy any state who comes on its way. Yuwen Yue knows the Bathuja family is missing Prince Zaru because aside from Princess Zama, the Batu royal prince did not appear when the competition opened on the first day. According to Yue Qi’s intel, the Batuha prince was detained in Yanbei but cannot confirm if he is still alive or dead.
The Emperor waited for an answer, but Ra Yue continued to keep quiet, and his head still bowed in front of him.
The Wei Emperor broke the silence and said: “You are a bright prince, and I think you are capable of giving a solution to this pain in my neck. It has been around there for quite some time, and I am tired of it.”
The Wei Emperor paused and then continued to speak: “Enough of your bow! Listen to my wish.”
And the Wei Emperor continued: “You must go to Yanbei to find Prince Zaru and put him back to Wei. Until then, your troops and brothers will have a good vacation here.
The Wei Emperor turned his back again and look farther he said: “Only then, I would be able to recover from the face you took away from me when you make me lose my face in front of this Golden empire.” And the Emperor turned back his face to Ra Yue and gave him an evil grin.
Ra Yue nodded and said: “Your Majesty before I accept, will you please grant your Wei crown princess to join this mission?”
“I would be surprised if you do not ask.” The Wei Emperor paused and said: ” I know you have been after her all this time and you will bring her as your company and Princess Zama with the blackguards to go inside Yanbei. You must return three royals unharmed and in order.”
“Lastly, do not let your brothers know this is a deal between us or you would not want to slaughter your own blood and troops inside Wei Empire.”
Ra Yue took the oath and said: “It shall be done, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor looked at his eunuch and ordered: “Gather the princesses and the blackguard spies.”
Meanwhile, two spy women have been lurking in the high tower of the palace and saw each other’s faces suddenly were gone like a ghost. Meng Feng was not able to catch her, she let go of her and went down to report the information through fish koi at the 13th Prince palace. Yuan Song couldn’t possibly hand over Xia Chong for this mission, but if he does pretend that he does not know anything, his cover-ups will be exposed. The 13th crown prince is in deep thoughts said: “I cannot withstand the crown princess to go and rescue Prince Zaru and be with the Qinghai prince.”
The second spy hid behind the 13th Prince’s palace bushes. Viper saw how Meng Feng the ex-afterlife camper providing information to the 13th Prince, she looked away and said: “A fish kill to relay information?”
Finally, Yuwen Yue can make plans, now that the Wei Emperor’s intentions were exposed. He knows that the only way he can let Yan Xun open to negotiation if Xia Chong comes in between. Yuwen Yue’s plan is simple. Trade and kill if he must, and bring Xia Chong, Princess Zama, and Prince Zaru come back to Wei.
Qinghai princes extended stay would also mean that Yuwen Yue can take advantage of the chance to meet his Yuwen grandfather in secret. But it will only happen after he finishes the mission and his brothers can use this extra time to study Wei Empire to look for its weak spots. He can only hope that his brothers would discover the eyes of God and the blackguard’s spies then plan their own escape with or without him. But Yuwen Yue knows this is impossible to happen because it will start a war. It will somehow create chaos rather than a peaceful departure. If this becomes unavoidable, Yuwen Yue has the backup troops stationed at Long Guan mountains. He can only push hard that Yuan Che does not discover their existence that secretly helped the escape of Xuili army to enter Tangshui of Liang. He knows that by this time, Yan Xun already scouted the Qinghai troops aside from suspecting they were Turkish Guerillas or Korean assault troops he can only maintain a safe distance not to wake up the Yan army to avoid exhaustion of Qinghai troops.
The unavoidable fate is bound to happen so why delay it? Yuwen Yue thinks its time for him to meet Yan Xun, not as a loyal friend but one of his lethal enemies.
“It’s time to pay it forward, you must answer and settle the blood you owe to your friend.” Yuwen Yue’s thoughts woke up like a warrior who is going to judge every deed of the past, Yan Xun can only meet it with a brave heart to face it.
Specific instructions passed on to Yue Qi who will lead the 10,000 Qinghai troops and will form an intimidation offense that would look like it will attack Yanbei but it won’t unless a grave threat has been issued.
“You could wait until the creature actually gets to act. The creature is immune to fear” said Yuwen Yue to Yue Qi.
Yue Qi replied: “Master, this is not my first time but for such move will it reduce the power of effect if we wait on the other side?”
Yuwen Yue answered: “How about this, tell the troops to straight up, making it easier to strategize and cooperate. Or say anything in between just to make sure that it does not slow things down. I know you can handle a killing squad perfectly. This time I am giving you the Qinghai troops to lead while Zuo and I pounding the ground of negotiation.”
“Let’s go.”
Yan Xun surrounded by armies, he will finally meet an opponent of which he has no clue except for the battle gears left behind with the purpose of intimidating 20,000 Yan army in advance and frighten their state of mind.
Suddenly the battleground accompanied by thunder-like hooves, like a black cloud rolling to destroy everything standing in front of it, Yan Xun stood and looked at the stage, the momentum of the sprints of the horses was rather alarming and overwhelming.
Yan Xun laughs and throws an insult to the masked prince in front of him he said: “I generally discourage intimidation if there isn’t anything flimsy that can be used. You want to intimidate the vampire? You better brandish holy water or a wooden stake. You want to intimidate the local magistrate? You’d better let it slip that you know a few of his indiscretions. And if you want to intimidate a King, you better take a flimsy figure in front and urge him to submit?”
Yuwen Yue talks like a faceless god, looked at Chu Qiao (This is Xia Chong who pretended to be Chu Qiao) and made sure that Yan Xun hears what he has to say: “If the creature is already committed to a fight, it will take a hell of a display to intimidate him into submission.”
Instead of displaying hell, Yuwen Yue opened the heavens and answered Yan Xun’s prayers. The white horse advanced its footsteps, came in front of the masked prince. While the white arrows were loaded and ready to shoot, the white horse continued to walk towards Yan Xun. Suddenly white arrows released on air is now trailing towards the frail body of a woman, and Yan Xun displayed a colder face. Ra Yue moved fast, throws its body in the wind took out one of the Yan soldier’s sword and out of his horse countered attacked all white arrows. All of it crashed the ground, and Yuwen Yue threw the sword in front of Yan Xun. Their distance is just three steps away when Ra Yue suddenly pulled down the woman’s scarf and revealed Chu Qiao’s face (This is Xia Chong who pretended to be Chu Qiao).
While two women lurking around the battle perimeters continued to spy and collect information for the big killing event, the two spies have separate interests. Meng Feng around the bamboo trees nearby ready to save Chu Qiao while Viper climbs a tall tree observing below shook her head in dismay, and suddenly sees Yan’s military adviser Dong Fangyi. About 10 miles from the battleground, a White Prince standing and Yuwen Gao’s servant holding the famous Bingxue (means snow) arrows loaded into the mini-crossbow ready to aim Yan Xun’s heart.
Nobody opened its mouth or even dared to move. Almost in a blink of an eye, Yan Xun like a disarmed mortar turned pale and blue. His steel heart turned into clay. But before everyone forgets this is a battlefield and not a reunion, Ra Yue calm uninviting looked at Yan Xun, as if giving him a secret message: “This isn’t a bluff but rather a deception followed by intimidation to exploit the intention of an impression. Is she a flimsy figure? Call me when your eyes are no longer blind, and your mind is no longer foolish. I am open to negotiation.”
Viper looking below said: “Impressive if the threat is obviously real then you can just skip intimidation straight.”
Yan Xun is somewhat familiar with this masked figure’s gestures and manners forced to raise his hands to stop Yan army loading their bows with arrows. He looked at Chu Qiao and said: “I will enter into a negotiation that will not include peace to the Batuha family but rather an exchange of hostages.” Nobody dares to move a single arrow, or I will cut its head.
Yuwen Yue took the horse of Chu Qiao, and both walked away from Yan Xun’s shaking hands, teary-eyed face. The 20,000 Yan troops faded in his sight, and he would like to scream out her name loud: A’Chu…. but the truth is, he became speechless seeing the apple of his eyes walking away for the nth time.
Zhong Yu knew this is not Chu Qiao, but she pretended she did not understand at all and kept her mouth shut.
After a while, Yanbei’s military counselor’s heart hardened like steel put up the crossbows like a gun in front of the horses were already somewhat loose. While a few dozens of arrows were sparsely sent out could not delay the speed of impact of the running horses. On the contrary, the soldiers holding the bows were rushed.
One could see that the horses are getting closer and closer to the crossbow lineups. Yuwen Yue holding the torch of hope can only watch while his heart is thrashing to the sound of the ground. The horse’s initiative is to evade sharp objects, but in truth when he sees running horse and loose formation, his horse turned back to where he stands.
Dong Fangyi is like the unpredicted storm that crashed the bloody reefs. Seeing that Yuwen Yue can no longer catch up, all the soldiers of Yanbei shouted and swelled. Dong Fangyi looked around at his soldiers. They were all relieved expressions of a dead escape.
After a while, Yuwen Yue, Zuo, and his squad were surrounded by Dong Fangyi’s army. This is an unexpected emissary that crossed their paths and captured Xia Chong. Dong Fangyi turned Xia Chong like a golden card, and Yuwen Yue switched his strategy from offensive to defensive one, he cannot lose Xia Chong for it will ruin all of his plans.
Yuwen Yue entering the second negotiation, this time using defensive stance he said: “What a fine afternoon to see you again General.”
Dong Fangyi responded: “It is indeed a beautiful afternoon and an exquisite jewel is about to be killed today. Dong Fangyi is looking indignantly and about to caress Xia Chong’s face when suddenly a stray arrow was shot at Dong Fangyi’s hands.
Yuwen Yue was a bit startled, he thinks this is not Yue Qi’s style but definitely one of the Yuwen’s crossbow arrows, he thinks someone from the Yuwen household is following them nearby. While Dong Fangyi faces still calm but angry like a bear, he took Xia Chong’s neck and pointed his sword to cut it.
Yuwen Yue still calm under his metal face mask, can still feel the pulse of hunting wind, the smell of the Yuwen’s crossbow about to cross and shoot again at Dong Fangyi, he came in front of the two bodies and counter-attacked the quick and fast arrows trailing towards them. Nobody moved, and the arrows crashed on the snowy ground.
Dong Fangyi slightly smiled but showed an angry eye he said: “No one can counter attack the Yuwen household bingxue arrows except a Yuwen heir!” and then cut Yuwen Yue’s metal mask.
Yuwen Yue’s face was exposed, but he did not stand there looking at the surprised face of Dong Fangyi and stricken his sword and took Xia Chong. The Yan army and another familiar troop rained down arrows to stop Yuwen Yue and Xia Chong from their running horses but Zuo counter attacked them all and to his surprise Viper jumped to sweep them with her whip alone. Another tidal wave of arrows rained on them, but Yuwen Yue, Xia Chong, Princess Zama and the rest of their squad were already out of range while Zuo and Viper defended their path of escape.
Zuo a bit surprised while he is counter-attacking all the arrows he still managed to tease the dark lady he said: “Are you stalking me?”
Viper annoyed at what she heard said: “No after I’m done with these arrows, I plan to kill you!”
Zuo smiled in the corner of his eyes and said: “It’s just a plan, after all, it might still change later.”
Viper annoyed he whipped the wave of arrows to Zuo, but Zuo leaped high with the pine trees and evaded it all, gibberish smile threw to Viper.
The two fighters counter-attacked all the raining arrows until Dong Fangyi raised his hands and said: “Save your arrows for the real target.” He knows that an underworld spy is at work and would only exhaust their arms and won’t be able to chase their target for as long as the underworld spy is helping.
Dong Fangyi picked up the half metal mask, he smirked and said: “I am good at knowing my enemies. This is a good catch!”
Meanwhile, Yan Xun ordered his men to fetch and prepare Prince Zaru like cattle to be slaughtered. It will take about a day to travel to Yanbei and return back to Longyi Guan mountains.
Surprisingly, another familiar Prince came to Long Guan command post to visit the anxious Yan Xun who asked for the coalition of forces for the brewing battle ahead he said: “Cracking the code of our coalition troops would mean defeat for Xiaoqi camp under Yuan Che’s command.” The Yan army did not allow the Prince to come near the door tent and they stood up straight with their chin up, their spears crisscrossed not allowing entry to “The World’s” command post.
Yan Xun without looking waved his hands twice to allow the royal visitor to come in his tent. Yan Xun looked at him, and he replied: “I guarantee the defeat of Xiaoqi camp and the head of Yuan Che.”
The face of the handsome Prince came in, settled in one of Yan Xun’s royal chairs in front is a table with a brewing tea kettle and two teacups, he poured in the tea waiting for a toast, calm and composed he said: “But I will be treated as a traitor’s son to the Emperor.” He looked at Yan Xun waiting for an answer.
“You will have Prince Zaru as your escape reason, the emperor will think of you as a traitor for a while but while you can reason, try to win his favor.” Said Yan Xun who took the teacup and slightly raised it for a toast.
Yuan Yang still calm but the stern face he told Yan Xun: “Didn’t you meet the crown prince of Qinghai yesterday and agreed to trade Zaru for your Tiger General Chu Qiao?”
Yan Xun not thinking any better he said: “I don’t care who this Qinghai prince who holds my Xuili General is, I need to get her back and your coalition troops will be an added help.”
Yuan Yang is not pleased with Yan Xun’s disposition, and Yan Xun felt the Prince is after the Wei Throne he reasoned out: “If Yuan Che dies, the Emperor would only depend on you and Yuan Song not capable of handling an army, he is an easy prey after the seventh prince death.”
So are you saying you will trick the Qinghai Prince and do not have any plans of giving him Zaru after all? Yuan Yang waiting for his reply. Yan Xun estimating his ally he responded: “There are no permanent enemies, only real traitors.”
Yuan Yang understood he laughed a bit and said: “Yan Shi Zi, we never had anything good during our childhood days. In fact, I really thought we were born enemies, but look at us now, we are becoming allies.” Yuan Yang tossed his teacup to Yan Xun.
Yan Xun squinted at Yuan Yang’s meaningful response and reminisce those early childhood memories. Back to their childhood days, Yuan Yang was in a silent competition of winning Yan Shi Zi’s friendship. For instance, when Yuan Yang found Yan Xun secretly went out of his palace to hunt a rabbit without the emperor’s permission, he was reprimanded for going back to the Wei Palace to explain his misdemeanor of breaking Wei palace protocols. Just when he arrived at the Shen Jin palace Hall, Yuan Yang was also coming out of the Hall. Their eyes met, staring eyes, a hint of mischief and playfulness from Yuan Yang’s presence, he stopped and squinted his eyes then looked away. Yan Xun being arrogant and airy did not look at him and the two-youngster passed by each other as if they are like a ghost. Yan Xun already knew that it was Yuan Yang who caught him and reported him to the Emperor.
After the Emperor’s father figure talk and scolded Yan Xun’s actions, Yan Xun came out of the Wei palace hall with a discipline rod of not being able to go out of his palace to hunt. Afterward, Yuan Yang is indeed confusing because he ordered his little gangster servants and tied Yan Xun’s palace guards for the crown prince of Yanbei to continue his hunting adventure. Feng Mian excited to go back to the hunting grounds went with Yan Xun, and Yuan Yang silently joined them, had a little competition of shooting a passing hare. Hare is more of a wild rabbit with longer limbs and longer ears, Yuan Yang missed his target only to find out that Yan Xun on his white feather arrows shot the hare neat and clean.
That day, Yuan Yang started to see Yan Xun as an enemy but wanted to win his friendship for him to be superior from his brothers. But Yan Xun refused to bow down to him and instead developed a closer association with Yuan Che and Yuan Song. Yan Xun, Yuan Che, and Yuan Song are almost like real brothers not to mention their royal sister Yuan Chun’er the sweet princess who gave unique eyes and attention to Yan Xun. Chun’er treats him as his childhood sweetheart. Yan Xun could not deny the fact because fondness grew between them as time goes by.
Most of all, Yan Xun visited the Yuwen household more often than the Wei palace. Everyone knows that Yan Xun’s favorite hangout palace was the Yuwen household. Though full of traps and stratagems around Merlin Mountain, this did not stop him to reach and see his ice cube best friend, Yuwen Yue. Yan Xun knew Yuwen Yue than anybody else. The bloody cold pact between them forced Yuwen Yue to swear his premature allegiance to the Crown Prince of Yanbei. Yan Xun is good at it. The two-youngster enjoyed friendship than anyone else. This made Yuan Yang became aloof with Yuwen Yue and would always devise strategies to fail the heir of the Eyes of God, but always ends up the disaster himself. He never succeeded Yuwen Yue nor won Yan Xun’s favor, not until today. While Yuwen Yue still maintains a colder heart and expressionless face, he did not want to help anybody nor take side except when Yan Xun forced him to do so. Yan Xun could still remember like it was just yesterday, he said to Yuan Yang: Did you remember the cracked ice in the Chisui lake?
Yuan Yang slightly tilted his head and said: How can I forget, it is the day you forced the heir of the Eyes of God to choose a side and the same day I swear to kill you if I live today.
Yan Xun remembered how it felt like and said: “I never thought he has a soft spot for dying people. He promised his friendship if I save you first.”
Yuan Yang replied: “You tricked him to believe I was dying when I was drowned at the lake. He was also dying, but you managed to save us both, and I hate you for it.”
Yan Xun responded and said: “Yes, we became enemies, but on the other side I won Yuwen Yue’s friendship. Why do you want him to die when he asked me to save you first?”
Yuan Yang replied: Because I knew even at the last breath, he is cold-hearted, he agreed to your terms because he is only doing it for the sake of his role. It would just be the accident and failure that Yuwen Yue would answer to my father. The Yuwen household is careful in their ways. Framing one of their mishaps is hard.
Yan Xun asked: “Are you saying, you should have died, and Yuwen Yue should have been executed?”
Yuan Yang replied: “No, I am saying, he tricked you in return, used you to save himself and not me.”
Yan Xun sighed and said: “Ah, why do you always twist the truth?”
Yuan Yang did not answer the question. Instead, he wanted to clarify something, he asked: “When you were at the frozen lake, why did you not spare any mercy?”
Yan Xun stood up and turned his back on Yuan Yang, he cannot answer his question.
Yuan Yang leaned a bit from his chair and whispered: “Is it because of the lowly maidservant or he belonged to the family responsible for the execution of your family?” Yan Xun still quiet and Yuan Yang back to his normal sitting, he beamed and asked: “Is it for vengeance or jealousy?”
Yan Xun twitched his palm, he answered: “Both!”
Yuan Yang said: “What an unfortunate event, your wrath versus your brotherhood. You looked at him as someone who can settle Yuwen debts under your veins of revenge. You threw your pact of loyalty by killing him. I thought Yuwen Yue is the cold master, but I was very wrong. You turned into a colder master, and that is why, I, Yuan Yang willing to join your forces. I cannot possibly become a friend of a weak empath prince like you used to be. You have proven your worth.”
Yan Xun did not take this word wrong. Instead, he welcomed Yuan Yang as they squinted their eyes, both knew what it means to unite their forces. Yan Xun told him: “That weak empath prince is gone.”
Then I am looking at who? Yuan Yang slightly teased Yan Xun.
You are looking at what a “notorious World” now said Yan Xun.
Meanwhile, the sound of hooves was heard when a Purple Palaquin appeared running towards the open field of Yanbei’s wetlands while the passenger inside closed her eyes and foresaw the shadow of a peddler man. She opened her eyes and on her general musing thought about it.
Xiao Yu had been quite for two years after her encounter with the blackguard spies and the peddler man whom she saw thinks that it was Yuwen Yue. She had been confined in her Yan Palace spending the rest of the time recovering from her deep back wound. Not to mention the hallucinations she suffered due to the effect of the poison from the Blackguard’s swords, she screamed almost every night and cried until dawn. The Queen of Yanbei looks hopeless, but Yan Xun eventually sought the help of far northern Shaman tribes to help his Queen recover from blackguards dark attack. Xiao Yu did not even know his father already passed away, her brother Xiao Ce took the Throne, her mother Empress Yuan had been dethroned, and Southern Liang’s prefectures have been divided into two, putting the entire state into civil war.
At that time, Yan Xun worried of his Queen’s condition, he agreed to trade his undying coals of ember to be used for Chu Qiao’s recovery in exchange for Xiao Ce’s Dengxian Pill whom he risked his life obtaining it from the afterlife camp supervisor. The Dengxian pill was the only known medicine to cure Xiao Yu’s condition for the time being but the adverse effects are unlikely to be stopped, and the Queen was succumbed into drug substance addiction making her situation far worse.
While Xiao Ce needs the supply of the undying ember coals to wake Chu Qiao, Yan Xun continued to ask for Xiao Ce’s help to source the required antidote to help reverse its effects and bring back Queen’s Xiao Yu’s stable mind. Xiao Ce still clueless where to find it asked the deposed Empress Lu Zhi’s help. Unfortunately Xie Tai Shan and Zhan Ziyu once again came to a place where they could negotiate for the antidote, but Zhan Ziyu did not agree when he heard the name of Xiao Yu. Zhan Ziyu told Master Xie Tai Shan to rot as long as he lives, but he will never give any antidote for Xiao Yu. Hence, this is one of Xiao Yu’s hardest battles and had to endure, as she fights her inner self and stops her hallucinations. On the other hand, Xiao Ce was not able to provide Yan Xun about their exchange of goods, Yan Xun stopped providing the undying coal ember without realizing who needs it at that time, Xiao Ce did not have a choice but hopes for Chu Qiao to wake up before his supply of ember coal runs out. On the other hand, at one time, Xiao Yu even attempted suicide because she cannot see herself recovering from her mental madness and the thought of Yuwen Yue being alive left her sleepless nights and nightmares.
“The World, the Queen of Yanbei…”
The royal guard not yet finished speaking, Xiao Yu on her masked face and beautiful gown stepped into Yan Xun’s command post and saw the Wei Prince Yuan Yang.
“I guess I have to leave so you both could talk,” said Yuan Yang.
Xiao Yu gave a passing glance and looked at the side of Yuan Yang who is about to leave. Xiao Yu bowed to Yan Xun and Yan Xun surprised did not reject his Queen but said: “What brought the Queen at this time of the night?”
“It is rather urgent. I want to warn you about what Dong Fangyi’s report.”
“What is Dong Fangyi’s report? Tell me.” Yan Xun on his relaxed face wanted to hear the reason for his Queen’s sudden visit.
Xiao Yu turned her back and breathe then said: “He said that he saw Yuwen Yue and Chu Qiao together.”
Although Yan Xun could just tremble and wanted to ask more about the report, his face became pale a bit, and his veins turned blue. He cannot possibly believe these statement reports coming from the unstable mind of the Yan Queen, and maybe the effect of the Dengxian pill is stirring her Queen’s mind and speech at the moment he said: “Really do you have anything to prove he is Yuwen Yue?”
Xiao Yu turned to him, on her calm face and eyes said: “No proof, except for this.”
Xiao Yu gave him a piece of metal mask.
Yan Xun took and looked at it, surprisingly confirmed: “This is the metal mask of the faceless prince who took Chu Qiao and opened the table of negotiation for Prince Zaru.”
Xiao Yu replied: “My King, do not fret, the woman is not General Chu Qiao. She is my double agent Xia Chong. The masked prince is Yuwen Yue, please do not harm him. Did you remember the night when the blackguards attacked me? That peddler man was Yuwen Yue who saved my life from the Blackguard’s attack.”
Yan Xun already heard this story over and over again. Xiao Yu never got tired of telling that she saw Yuwen Yue that night and rescued her from the Blackguard’s spies. He kept on telling her that Yuwen Yue died three years ago and the dead does not come around walking at night to rescue her. Yan Xun told her again and again: “I was the one who rescued you that night and not the peddler man.”
Convinced that Xiao Yu is still experiencing the adverse effect of the Dengxian pill, Yan Xun told his Queen to rest, and he will look into these matters carefully. And he also took note of Xia Chong, who is she? Yan Xun can only ask himself.
Xiao Yu did not object, and before she goes out of the command post, she looked at the metal mask and asked Yan Xun if she could keep it.
Yan Xun said: “You may.”
Xiao Yu took the metal mask and went out of the command post. Xiao Qi is following behind her back.
Yan Xun ordered his spies to send a note to General Dong Fangyi’s camp.
Dong Fangyi read the spies note, touched his beard and with his evil grin he thought he will have the opportunity to mask his fake loyalty to Yan Xun while continuing to report to Xiaoqi camp under the command of Seventh Prince Yuan Che.
“Two strong birds in my hands, not bad,” said Dong Fangyi.
What Dong Fangyi didn’t know, Prince Yuan Yang’s coalition of forces would eventually lead Dong Fangyi chose to abandon one master and continue to follow the other.
The night had fallen while daybreak awaits for the fate of the foolish acts. It will be a long day as the battle takes place, will Yanbei suffer in the hands of dark spies and annihilate their budding breathe who have just recovered from the miry pit.
Princess Zama ordered the operation of the black seal to be deployed in secret, the two blackguard spies to surround the Longyi Guan command post while three blackguard spies surrounded Yanbei. These spies were the darkest and destructive weapons of mass kill that would be activated after Prince Zaru is released. Yuwen Yue unaware of the wicked plan but reads it through Zama’s change of behavior, he followed her in secret. Xia Chong looked for Ra Yue but could not find him. Suddenly she ran to escape until someone caught her arms.
A white Prince dressed on his white cape, battle gear and his Cheng Yin sword on its waist bumped on her face. He isn’t thinking about manners or what, Yuan Song kissed her lips. Xia Chong stunned with the kiss, she pushed the White Prince. Xia Chong not even aware who is this handsome man in front of her for it is still dark, she reversed their positions and in a quick glance, her hands were already about to crack the veins of his neck.
“Chu Qiao, please do not kill me, I am not your enemy,” shouted by Yuan Song.
Xia Chong heard his familiar voice, she recognized Yuan Song barely breathing on her hands strangling his neck. Yuan Song seems harmless and even ready to die in her own hands.
Xia Chong, calmed by her senses, she took her hand away from Yuan Song’s neck and said in a hoarse voice: “I am sorry, what are you doing here?” Xiao Chong sat down feeling exhausted and drained, she just let go of her silent tears. Yuan Song saw the love of his life, his heart skipped a bit and came close to touch her pale cheeks he said: “Don’t worry I am here now when the morning comes, this is not the world your eyes would see.”
Spoken by a gentle Crown Prince who just promised Xia Chong a different life from now on, Xia Chong could not help herself but fall into silent tears.
Yuan Song standing in front Xia Chong said: “Come, let’s go back to the Empire. I will explain to the Emperor, and surely he will not abandon the crown princess of Wei.”
Xia Chong sitting on a child’s pose her head down on her hands on top of her knees without looking at him said: “Go away Crown Prince, you do not understand what is looming ahead.”
Yuan Song hearing every word she said, pierced a hundred knives in his heart: “What do I have to understand? That you should go away from me and live in hell like this?”
Xia Chong feeling her emotional distress, she does not want the Crown Prince to be involved in this battle, took the courage, to be honest, said: “Please leave…I am not Chu Qiao.”
Yuan Song got angry, on his low male voice said: “What are you saying? Do not do this to me. No! Not this time.”
“Did you hear it? I am not Chu Qiao!” Xia Chong looked at Yuan Song standing in front of her holding a torch of fire, did not move.
Yuan Song could not believe what he just heard, but it seems there is truth to all the lies, decided not to leave her behind, he asked on a very sharp voice holding back his emotions: “If you are not Chu Qiao, then who are you?”
The sun rises, a group of marching men formed on the Longyi Guan grounds, around 20,000 Yan Army came to witness the historical exchange of hostages. Just as what the Qinghai Prince asked, Yan Xun came to arrange and fulfill the deal. Prince Zaru looking thin, dirty and full of wounds, the face is barely unrecognizable. The aristocratic prince of the Batuha family is on his bended knee and tied hands waiting for the arrival of Qinghai Prince, Chu Qiao and their mysterious envoy horrible faces covered with black sackcloth.
The Qinghai Prince Ra Yue who is the same as the late Yuwen Yue the heir of the eyes of God of the Yuwen household, on his usual demeanor, came in late. Just because he has to take care of other pressing matters that took place before he came to face this epic battle with a former friend and comrade.
Two hours earlier, Viper attacked Yuan Song and put a sack on its head. While Zuo took Xia Chong and tied her hands. Yuan Song was not able to quickly react as he is in the height of his emotions violently fought Viper. Using her whip, Viper tied Yuan Song’s feet and hypnotized him, putting the crown prince of Wei to sleep.
Yuwen Yue on his expressionless face coldly looked at Xia Chong, and Xia Chong threw him a piercing glance she said: “Do not even dare to hurt him. Or you will not have successful trade today.”
Yuwen Yue did not respond. Instead he took the sack out from Yuan Song’s sleeping head.
Viper, take the crown prince back to the Wei Palace.
“No!” Suddenly a loud voice behind their back sounded.
Meng Feng and the rest of ex-afterlife campers came down from the nearby trees ready to fight them.
Yuwen Yue on his half metal face startled a bit to see his former spy servants. He stepped in front of them and took off his mask.
Meng Feng surprised, threw a frozen stare, and her goosebumps started to spread on her body. The rest of the ex-afterlife campers feared Yuwen Yue’s presence and fell down on their knees.
Yuwen Yue took out his sword and showed it to Meng Feng. Convinced that she does not see a ghost, Meng Feng was the last to go, disarming her killer instincts, she dropped on her knees and silently cried, said: “Master, we have searched for you everywhere. I have not stopped looking for you on every town and empire until your body was found. The Yuwen household pronounced you were dead.” Another entity came closer to touch Yuwen Yue, and he said: “Master! You are alive!” Yue Lui sobbed and went down on his knees to cry in front of Yuwen Yue.
Yuwen Yue remained cold in front of his crying former spy servants, one cannot contain their emotions being reunited with their master, he let them empty their feelings.
Zuo momentarily interrupted them and asked: Master brother, where are Princess Zama and the rest of our envoy?
Yuwen Yue on his cold voice he said: Do not expect them to cooperate, they have planted the black seal around Yanbei.
Yue Lui knows what it means stopped crying he said: “Then we are all doomed to die.”
Yuwen Yue came to him and said: Stand up, you need to find Yue Qi and inform him of the brewing disaster. Here, take this flare, and Yue Qi not far from here will know we need earnest help, or we won’t be able to survive out of this place.
Viper smirked and intrigued, she interrupted and asked: “Really? Is the blackguards the most powerful spy in the world?”
Yue Lui ears exploded when he heard about his brother Yue Qi, he asked: Master, Yue Qi is alive?
Yuwen Yue answered Viper first: Isn’t? In the mortal realm, they are buried underneath earth only to come out to destruct and inflict a mass kill. Who can defeat them?
Yue Lui answered: “Only a Yuwen Heir.”
Yuwen Yue turned to him and said: “Go and warn Yue Qi.”
“Meng Feng take the crown prince back to Wei palace, he is not supposed to be harmed, or my brothers and Qinghai troops will suffer in the hands of the emperor.”
Meng Feng understood and obeyed Yuwen Yue’s orders, took Yuan Song then Viper said: “He won’t wake up until he smells the plum blossoms. And when he wakes up, he won’t be able to remember anything happened here.”
The three groups went on to their separate ways, they took their horses and run towards their own path except for Viper.
The Prince of Qinghai and Chu Qiao is riding two separate horses while Zuo on his disguise was the only envoy left at their back facing 20,000 Yan armies. Yan Xun slightly smirked and underestimated the far side. Happy achieving today’s goal, Ra Yue intends to deceive his mighty opponent. The Yan Generals waived their black eagle flags and sounded their drums as Chu Qiao, and Ra Yue walks at the middle with his Poe Yue Jian sword on his waist.
Some Yan soldiers helped Prince Zaru stand up to walk, and after reaching a distance, the sound of a mighty black horse is running behind his back. Prince Zaru weak and dying was tripped but everybody far away from him, nobody was able to help him stand up. His face was down to the ground and blood gushed out from his mouth.
Yan Xun the strong, handsome, healthy but full of scars from his past victories walked tall, sovereign, and Lord of all rode proudly on his black warhorse. Taking what Xiao Yu told him, whose names he did not forget, Xia Chong and Yuwen Yue but all he can see in the far distance is the frail, burnout Chu Qiao dressed in neat white Hanfu and pale face. Behind Chu Qiao is Ra Yue. The Qinghai Prince is wearing a torn metal mask, his presence exudes divine power like a faceless god, cold and unrelenting.
There is a constant whine on the battlefield. At this time, twenty thousand cavalrymen had stretched far and wide to the wings to overrule the broken pawn Prince Zaru. On the other side, the outer hinterlands were occupied and outstretched by 10,000 cavalrymen, spearmen, silver swords, crossbows archers, bow and arrows neatly lined up on their Qinghai heavy uniform led by Yue Qi.
Ra Yue not worried of Xia Chong’s safety, he knows that Yan Xun’s is forever blinded with the interest of Chu Qiao he looked up to the skies and said: “May the heavens forgive me, but if you have some mercy left, please spare us through giving us rain.”
Ra Yue deceiving Yan Xun while using Chu Qiao’s resemblance is an unforgivable crime. But this situation again did not leave him any better options to choose. Just like when he was the former spymaster of the eyes of God, he is aware of everything and yet only tried to imply to his former best friend Yan Xun about what was happening before the execution of his entire family to fulfill the order of Shen Jing Gong. Again, this time, for the sake of Qinghai empire, his family and troops, the trade must be seamless. Ra Yue does not have plans of saving Xia Chong, knowing Xia Chong will be in good hands after the trade. This is also giving her freedom. A one-way ticket to run away from Wei’s cold, bloodthirsty empire. And if there is one thing left to worry, Princess Zama out of his sight, shoveled Yanbei’s graveyard in advance and only Yuwen Yue can stop and can bring everyone to their eternal escape.
Yue Qi looking far but somewhat near picked the most favorable spot to watch his master’s vengeance. Ready to aim and counter-attack, his offensive stance is undoubtedly unbeatable and highly undefeatable. He remembered everything about the frozen lake, his dying day, in the icy lake where he lost his master and lost his life. In silence, he uttered: “You only die once where the Legends are born in the valley of death.” Yue Qi positioned and hearing every beat of his pulse is now ready to aim at Yan Xun’s heart.
On the west wing was Dong Fangyi’s cavalries, ready and steady are witnessing Chu Qiao walking towards Yan Xun says: “The tiger general meets the Xiaolong King again.” Another cold presence is observing the spectacular yet horrific view, Princess Zama tears fell looking at her unrecognizable brother like a dead man buried in the ground. She cracked a pill, a code wherein she entered the superhuman state and started to unleash her chi flow. Her fingernails grew, her hair extended so long that it can sweep an entire army, her face as black as ink, she is devoid of any emotions and humaness, opened her burning yellow eyes and saw a desolate place.
Chu Qiao stopped and saw Prince Zaru breathing heavily. She saw his face and did not felt anything. Yan Xun stopped his horse waiting for a few more steps to reach Chu Qiao, his fierce eyes beginning to swell some tears he holds it back and breathe out. Ra Yue stopped his horse and went down. He walked in slow motion, feeling his pulse and the cold hunting wind at his face, he finally reached and took Prince Zaru. When Ra Yue turned his back, Xia Chong turned her back to see him for the last time. Zuo shouted so desperately and ran towards Ra Yue.
At the far side, Yuan Che (same as Zhao Che) arrived at the battlefield with his 50,000 Wei foot soldiers. The battlefield is surrounded with layers of reinforcements never stopped surprising each other’s expectation when Prince Yuan Yang and his cavalry of 30,000 brightest and fearless soldiers on foot met their own uniform, not as an ally but archenemy.
Estimating their range Yuan Che ordered to shot an arrow and reached Yuan Yang’s front liners, he shouted at them: “You are the Wei Empire’s termites! You deserve to die ten times for committing treason!”
Yuan Yang responded to his brother and said: “Enough of your flowery words! You betrayed father first by joining Dong Fangyi’s ally for the longest time. Who betrayed father better? Between us who? Isn’t the Great Yuan Che?”
A white feather arrow whistled and ring a shot landed at Yuwen Yue’s back, he used his body to shield Prince Zaru’s wasting body. Yue Qi welling in tears doubled the strength of holding back his bow and arrow for he cannot wait for his Master’s command any longer, he closed his eyes and let go the long-range triple shots. Two arrows landed at Yan Xun’s Blast warhorse feet, forcing it to drop to the ground, while Yan Xun aching received the shot at his upper left chest. Blast managed to move a bit missed to shot Yan Xun’s heart on the spot. Yue Qi felt relieved, anger and mighty courage roused his spirit, loaded another triple arrow in his bow. The echoes of the bowstring stirred Yuwen Yue’s ears, he raised his hands indicating a strong message to hold it on air.
Yuwen Yue opened and closed his palms and blood gushed out from his wound, though he felt the pain at his back did not give the slightest idea on Prince Zaru eyes then he said: “You must hold on, help is coming.” Prince Zaru thin face, wasting away, obeyed him and looked at him as a god, nodded.
Everyone in awe no one dared to move as the Lord of the land dropped his body to the ground. He saw the skies looming under the dark clouds and then an angel appeared in his sight. Chu Qiao without emotions and wordless mouth looked at him and helped him get up. Yan Xun took her hand and felt ten times stronger, although blood loss is evident his lips turning purple, he did not order his cavalry to finish the Qinghai Prince and Prince Zaru. Yan Xun knows he was tricked by the Qinghai Prince who was surrounded by the strong presence of his reinforcements standing nearby. Yan Xun also saw the cracked ground that crept his warhorse in fear and slightly moved from where he stands before the arrow was shot, missed his heart. He already knew the presence of Blackguards and possibly operating led by Princess Zama.
Yan Xun stood up still proudly waiting for one-on-one stage fight, and the skies started to show its flying birds across cirrus clouds.
Yuwen Yue trying to stand up on his feet dropped on the ground while Zuo came to receive Prince Zaru’s body and saw his Master brother’s eye of regret he said: “if you must finish it here, then go and never regret it!” Ra Yue cold but Zuo read what is in his heart, took his word of approval. He stood up once again, holding his old left chest wound, took a deep breath. He unsheathed his sword looking straight at Yan Xun.
Yan Xun threw his bow and arrow, unsheath his Xiaolong sword and put it down. He started to walk slow, piercing the ground with the tip of his sword. Yuwen Yue closed his eyes and began to put the sword in the middle of his chest slowly walked until he ran fast. Two wounded bodies clashed, two swords met in the air with great force and passion for killing, today must end in a bloody feat. In this world, the two cannot co-exist. Either one must die, and the other shall live.
The great Yan, Wei, Qinghai armies watched as the two bodies collided and used their martial arts to defend its life with its blades. Yan Xun twirled his Xiaolong sword and brandished needles trailing Yuwen Yue’s wrist. Yuwen Yue caught off guard, and his pulse was pricked. Yuwen Yue’s Poe Yue Jian blade fell like an ordinary sword, he fell in the presence of the World.
Yue Qi does not hesitate to let go of the triple shots defying his Master’s command, tearfully closed his eyes when suddenly a woman in his black ninja suit came to rally and aide Yuwen Yue she said: “Enough!!!” Yan Xun caught by her voice was interrupted for a moment.
Yue Qi with great strength hold back his arrows while Zuo Zong is confident with his Master brother’s ability to fight back Yan Xun’s attack, he stood still watching a timeless duel. Yuwen Yue faking his weakness caught Yan Xun’s sword and threw it away forcing him to level up to a man-to-man fight. Suddenly Yuwen Yue gave Yan Xun’s face a quick blow. Finding a bloody nose, Yan Xun vomited blood, he responded it with a kick at towards Yuwen Yue’s gut. Yuwen Yue must have already felt the mortal pain, he laid his body on the ground, his body in rapid blood loss like of that in the icy lake, he remembered it once more. Yan Xun’s lips turning blue looked at Yuwen Yue soaked in his own blood, he walked a few steps and took his Xiaolong sword. He raised it high about to finish the godly figure and did not even think to uncover his mask.
By this time Xiao Yu not far from the bloody body of Yuwen Yue took Chu Qiao (this is Xia Chong at the moment who pretended to be Chu Qiao) she said loud and clear: “Stop!”
“Didn’t I ask Your Grace not to harm the heir of the eyes of God?” said calmly by Xiao Yu and Yan Xun was a bit stunned.
Xia Chong in front of Xiao Yu’s sharp dagger pointed at her neck is already dripping with blood, she summoned the rain. Nobody dared to move, and sudden thick water drops started to fall into the bloody ground. Yuwen Yue can no longer stand his blood loss washed into the ground, closed his eyes flashed a memory of happy Chu Qiao inside the Castle peak courtyard he said: “So is this how it’s going to end? Is this what you call freedom?”
Xiao Yu let go of Chu Qiao’s neck, and Chu Qiao like an autumn leaf slid her body from Xiao Yu til her body lying unconscious on the ground. Yan Xun cried and shouted her name: “A’Chu!” dropped his sword and ran towards Chu Qiao.
Xiao Yu drenched in the rain, emotionless, stood still, looked in the direction where Yuwen Yue’s body is lying and bathing in his own blood. What she feared happened and she lost her strength and dropped into the muddy ground. Spreading her eyes, Xiao Yu saw how Yan Xun cried bitterly and scooped Chu Qiao’s bloody neck from the muddy ground. Xiao Yu’s heart died but not her hope, she crawled from the ground to reach the body of Yuwen Yue.
Yue Qi and his troops already close to where Yuwen Yue’s body is lying, while Zuo Zong secured Prince Zaru came back with Yue Qi. The Yan army generals about to shoot Yuwen Yue but Xiao Yu stood up and offered herself to shield and protect the remaining breath at Yuwen Yue’s body.
Yan Xun raised his hands to halt the Yan army while he is busy crying, he will have to order the army to stop shooting his Yan Queen. This is madness, chaos and not written in the books. Yan Xun can only stop his army for a while but also wanted to finish his enemy and go home victorious. What is a victory if he lost the very essence of his soul, is this what you call freedom? The road to victory means Chu Qiao and Xiao Yu to die at the same time in this battlefield for you to call it a victory?
Yan Xun powerfully waived his hand that paralyzed the entire Yan army making reinforcement useless in efforts to win the battle. His only option left was to lose it so you could still call it a win-win or stalemate to be exact. He cannot afford to lose two of his chess piece at the same time.
The Qinghai troops suddenly lined up and surrounded Xiao Yu and Yuwen Yue’s body. With their crossbows already pointed towards Yan Xun and the dead body of Chu Qiao and Xiao Yu in their capture, Yan Xun should be raising both of his hand to surrender. Yue Qi knelt and hold Yuwen Yue’s palm to check for any signs of life, he is glad to feel his pulse, but it is weak. While Zuo Zong slowly took a piece of clean cloth to wrap Yuwen Yue’s bloody back to stop it from leaking more blood while the Qinghai troop silver shields formed above their heads to cover and protect the body of the Qinghai crown prince.
Bloody skies started to pass its dark clouds in a timescape lapse while the muddy ground cries for the life of the slain innocent, justice must be served. Yanbei wrapped in horror as the blackguards started to blast the black seal inside, a dark lady lurking finally used her powers to disarm the five blackguard spies. Suddenly Viper finds herself in a hard to pass to fight Princess Zama and Dong Fangyi she found an underworld spymaster, she called his name: “Sand Drizzle Master?”
♥♥♥
Chapter 070
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Queen by day, concubine at night
Flashbacks from the war…
The drums started to run, the sound of death from the ground grumbled making everyone’s heart surrender to fear or courage. Wei’s Battalion Army ground commander calmly shouted on air to release the flaming arrows to the far side and like a million-fire rain landed and burned down their own shields, their own uniform of the same Wei’s frontlines on fire. After millions of arrows on fire, reached to the far side, the archers stepped back and exchanged their position to bring on the ancient explosives and blasting weapons to annihilate at least thirty percent of Prince Yuan Yang’s troops. The flammable fireballs and gun-like weapons were set like artillery to destroy the deserted defenders of the Great Summer Empire. Like a large-scale land mine, the dramatic artillery send their own uniform troops to hell which were ignited with a fuze, immediately exploded, sounding like thunder, deafening, filled with smoke, and their front liners collapsed. Yuan Che determined to uproot the King termite of Wei’s empire, he gave the go signal to release the fireballs that caused massive damage to their troops on its west wing. More than 9,000 soldiers killed.
Afterward, Prince Yuan Yang knowing his brother’s tactics and strategy, but Prince Yuan Che did not expect his brother’s latest weapon of war. Looking at Yuan Yang’s front-liners swept with black smoke and full of dead bodies, another round of archers fires small cannons, like the belt of Judas firecrackers, which was thick and thin, and contained into jars. Yuan Yang troops mounted a fuze on its mouth, lit the bow when the line of defense on the other side caught, believed it or not, the canisters exploded. The fierce fire spread and the sizzling sound made the Seventh Prince in panic, seeing through his eyes their first line of defense blown away. Many bodies flew on air creating several massive holes on their defender lines and many confused troops clustered withdrew from where they stood while some found dead in just a blink of an eye. Estimating the death toll to rise at 5,000 to 8,000 armies killed instantly.
Marching sounds heard from a distance, bones trembles as the Qinghai troops silver iron uniforms started to produce noise on every march released on the ground. They began to walk valiantly in a reversed U shape formation and quickly took the body of the Qinghai Prince and the Yan Queen as their prison. Yue Qi tapped Zuo and passed a wooden piece of wood as a sign of authority, they moved away from the battlefield together with Xiao Yu she was looking at the little figure of the Yan King in a far distance while her hands tied, she said: “Mercy, spare some mercy.”
For some reason, Yan Xun paralyzed his powerful army while the allied Wei troops were killing their own uniforms and shields. Sighting of endless black smokes spread in the air and from afar bombarded sounds of blasting heard, and the heavy smell of sulfur and charcoal were cooking the muddy battleground.
Yan Xun holding the face of ebbing breath of Chu Qiao said: “Say a word, and I will surrender this thousand army for you…” his hands were full of blood and Chu Qiao almost out of her breath whispered: “You do not have to do anything. It all ends here.”
Viper watching in the distance had one tear fall on the ground, and it violently shook the land as the blood of Xia Chong continuously spilled on earth. There is nothing she can do to save one of the Jianghu underworld spies. Viper took out something from her pocket and blew it on the wind she said: “This is not the end, it is just the beginning. Thank you for your life sister. May we meet again in another life.”
Yan Xun shouted and cried hard in the rain like when he lost his family in a day, he lost everything eternally as he hugged the dead body of Chu Qiao. For a time, he cried until all his tears are gone, and he is shaking out of his blood loss. No one dared to come closer to him without his commands. Zhong Yu understanding the World’s anguish started to defy the battlefield protocols bravely stepped in front of the wretched Yan King that suddenly passed out in the middle of the battlefield. The other Yan generals started to flock their King and took the two bodies away from the muddy earth while the Qinghai troops watched them waived their white flags of withdrawal and sound of gongs.
The seventh Prince heard the sound of gongs from the far side and thought, they won the battle, the victory is theirs, but another Wei scout foot soldier came to report said: “The Wei crown princess died in the battle and the Yan king withdrew his troops. Your Highness, your next command?”
Prince Yuan Yang just received the ground report and said:” I can smell the split of an empire, everyone should retreat and wait for my command!” All Wei troops under Yuan Yang moved to follow Yanbei’s military troops also seen marching, packing their saddles and retreating to the farthest north.
Viper moving to these secret paths running like she was in a race with the Blackguard leader Princess Zama, reached Yanbei’s capital. While the Yan King and Queen away from their kingdom, dread has befallen into their land. Many people suffered as the five strongest blackguard spies deployed and converted the land mass into land mines of human flesh destruction, smell of poison everywhere coming from those cobra snakes crawling all over the ground, strangled necks hanged on every trees and buildings, blind people in the dark walking in the empty streets, slumbered children that didn’t wake up anymore while cicadas deafening and confusing people everywhere. But one spy is missing, the honey spy is nowhere to be found.
Like a doomed stretch, Yanbei is not the land of freedom you can call anymore. Viper has defended and spared the remaining cities like the Beisuo and Hong Chuan gave it’s few populations she battled four of the five blackguards onslaught, she is the only underworld spy looking after the welfare of the people.
Suddenly a man in his divine Hanfu dress, long black hair like ink, calm and compassionate eyes, came to her aide, he uttered: “I cannot let you do this alone!” Wu Dao Ya butchered the necks of the cobras flying over the damned place.
Viper said: “You are welcome Master Wu, this is not your first time!”
Wu Dao Ya replied: “I missed the last time!”
Viper while chopping another cobra neck, said: “Then we can work twice as much as yesterday!”
Wu Dao Ya: “I guess so! See you later, we have work to do!”
Viper nodded, and Wu Dao Ya disappeared in her sight.
Princess Zama possessed some kind of mortal corruptness, said: “I can sense some stench resistance in this place.”
A man on his dark blue, long sleeves and hair, and white Hanfu dress said: “The last time I checked you put this place into ashes. What is little resistance with your strong ability and doomsday powers unleashed?”
Princess Zama replied: “The problem with a grass dynasty, after you uproot and put it in a fire, suddenly it will grow back again. “
The man reacted, said: “You must know, the blade of the grass is the work of the stars.”
Meanwhile, Viper on her head down, drenched in the rain with dripping raindrops from her fingers, standing in the middle of the grassy snowy road suddenly sensed two warm bodies crossing her path. The whip suddenly gave a steady light, like a glow in the dark, eyes turned to black painted mask all over her face, the pupil is magnified, at first glance, you wouldn’t know if she is an angel of death or an angel of light.
On the far side, a woman covered with pitch black clothes, her hands full of bloodstains holds a long spear sickle, bloody sprinkles on the ground, her eyes flashed. While the man beside her, looks familiar and at the same time intercepting the ground attacking her meridians, Viper suddenly lost her balance and forced to take a knee.
Viper’s knees soft like the grass, saw the man looking at her with disgusting eyes, exhausting her last effort and vomiting blood. Softly but coldly whispered: “Sand Drizzle Master…” Viper catching her breath while her meridians slowed down.
Princess Zama watched Viper’s strength decline as her weakness controlled by Dong Fangyi dressed into a dark wizard costume, he uncovered his dark blue hood then showed his face said: “You never forget!”
Viper coughing more blood exclaimed: “And you never learned!”
“Yanbei is doomed. Why do you fight so hard?” Spoken in a calm manner, Dong Fangyi doubled his powers to control Viper.
Suddenly some snakes crawled to the snowy grassy road about to bite her when she whips the ground, and a blast of light flipped the ground. The snakes melted like ice, and Princess Zama was impressed while Dong Fangyi told her: “Do not worry, it is a desperate act of an underworld spy.”
Zama scratched her nails on the ground, and more snakes came to attack her she said: “You are a human after all, where is your master now?”
Just when Viper is about to die, Wu Dao Yao like a black midnight Raven, a fierce protector, sacred and wise, who came to purge someone old and filthy, attacked Dong Fangyi.
Sounds of fighting swords, extraordinary martial arts swept the place while dust flying in the air, a man pinned to the ground. Meanwhile, Viper regained the power of her meridians, stopped coughing blood. Zama watching her closely came to attack her using her spear sickle. Viper jumped twice and without warning a cold presence, eyes, and lips like hell ready to send Zama’s back to hell. Zama turned around and quickly grabbed her whip then Viper watching Zama’s long fingernails burned after her whip changed its form and became a whip on fire.
Both men looked at where the direction of fire is spreading rapidly. Wu Dao Ya calm and composed about to finish Dong Fangyi when he counters attacks his sword. When Viper displayed an intense power, the two men experienced being slowly eaten by fire from where they stood. Both men know their mortal bodies will burn on fire and the last thing you do not want to watch were bodies burning like in hell. Wu Dao Yao dismissed his fight with Dong Fangyi while Dong Fangyi ran and took Zama away from the waves of fire, about to consume her alive.
Wu Dao Ya knows that after such display of power the underworld spy will be out of control and may lose its strength and life in its fight. He sat down in a Zen position and called the rain to fight the fire around them and hummed in peace. The only place not consumed by fire is where Viper stands and where he is sitting. While the two fled and Dong Fangyi knowing secrets paths suddenly disappeared. The grasslands of Yanbei burned on fire then looking in a far distance, these grasslands and wetlands releasing black smoke on air turned into a desolate place. Viper’s whip turned off like a blown candle, like a leaf, her body fell to the ground when the thin raindrops of rain started to fall.
**
Recaps about Liang Empire…
While the Northern Yan was set on fire, Wei is sitting pretty at their courts and Qinghai empire sharpening their blades, Southern Liang went into various nights of coups. Empress Yuan leading the sudden overthrow of the imperial government cracked their plan ordering General Sui, Duke of Liang and Prince Lou’s cavalrymen to attack the seventh and eight prefectures forcing Governor Sun Di to withdraw farther and abandon its strongholds. Instead, Sun Di may have already foreseen this is going to happen already planned for the counter-attack, and with the help of the Interim Emperor Xiao Ce, Sun Di wiped out the sixth stronghold prefecture and seized the armies who rebelled from the government. Forcing their way to the fifth prefecture, General Sui did not expect that Sun Di’s movement and reinforcements, came from the thousands of Xuili army under his command. The fifth prefecture ransacked and set on fire leaving only ruins and some soldiers who surrendered were spared from their blades. Advancing his troops towards its fourth prefecture, Sun Di shot somewhat, made his cavalry slow down a bit. He Xiao who took the command, for the time being, ordered to continue the fight to avoid losing their grounds of progress. He ordered both Xuili and Tang army men to attack and siege the fourth prefecture, saving more than 10,000 civilians and families caught in the middle of the siege.
A pontoon bridge is the only floating bridge that connects the fourth to the third prefecture. Unfortunately, General Sui ordered its most excellent archers to set it on fire. It slowed down Xuili and Tang armies to enter Daoming Palace, Southern Liang’s capital. Many Xuili soldiers following the enemy to capture them were drowned, another casualty and loss of uniform for the renowned firefox soldiers. The first prefecture was shut down leaving the second prefecture and third at the middle of isolation.
The situation in the Daoming Palace did not improve following the attempt to assassinate the interim Emperor, Chu Qiao saved him but slept for almost a month. In addition to Southern Liang’s civil unrest, Xiao Ce came to discover his past about his real mother, the first Empress Lu Zhi. Given the struggle of the present Empress Yuan to remain in power, Empress Yuan challenged the capital’s palace minister’s and scholars, scribes and other palace officials to amend the imperial law to support Prince Lou’s enthronement and abandon Xiao Ce. Empress Yuan even tried to kill Xiao Ce’s two royal sons and Zhan Ziming pregnant with the third heir, was imprisoned due to the pressed charges against her. Zhan Ziming became the suspect of the interim Emperor’s failed assassination. Empress Yuan framed her to protect herself for any allegations, but Sun Di found out that it was indeed Empress Yuan, the one who conspired the assassination of the interim Emperor. While Empress Lu Zhi, the real grandmother of Xiao Ce’s two sons intervened, took the two royal children under her custody. Master Xie Tai Shan recalled to his royal position that served as their protector and defender for the young heirs of the throne while their father is setting the rod of punishment for their mother and their step-grandmother.
Many years have passed, but First Empress Lu Zhi remained in a staggering position, eventually moved to Liang’s palace courts to once again, wear the Fengguan Dowager crown. This marked the end of Empress Yuan’s reign, while Xiao Ce spared mercy not to publicly execute the mother whom he once called his own and grew up under her care. Out of his love but just heart, Xiao Ce wrote a decree to exile the guilty Empress Yuan to live at the royal Tan Jing temple and will never step down to the capital until all of her days are over. This is the second time Empress Yuan exiled to the same place she was ordered to live her days as a nun before Emperor Tang took her as her concubine. She cannot accept her fate that had been written in the stars a long time ago, and that it will happen again sooner than expected. So, she began to deploy coups and escape the palace through General Sui and her son Prince Lou.
On the other hand, Prince Lou does not have any plans to harm his only brother whom he cherished and loved. But as the time unfolds, Empress Yuan told him, he is not his real brother but his enemy to Liang’s throne. To add more injury, Empress Yuan told Prince Lou that the late King of Liang assassinated his brother’s and forced their father to abdicate Liang’s throne, thus proclaiming himself to be the heir and became the Emperor by force. When Prince Lou heard these stories, he did not believe it at first. He went to see General Sui confirm and when it is not enough for him to understand, he ran away and went far. Arriving at mountains of Tanjing temple, he visited A’Fus grave and some of his father’s concubines who were forced to become Nun that lived there confirmed his mother, Empress Yuan story. Truth is, King Tang and he are equal if he is to see him as his brother and not his father. But due to Empress Yuan’s vicious ways, the impossible happened and brought him to where he is today. Whether his mother intervened to preserve him in power or not, his status should have been remained, equal to the late King Tang. However, Prince Lou will be a constant reminder of being a threat to his reign, which will put his own life at risk if the former concubine Yuan did not take actions and took all her golden opportunity to rise in power. Later, Empress Yuan said: “The gates of the empires cannot be knocked with faint hearts, it must be knocked with a bold heart.”
After some time, Sun Di reported to Xiao Ce through a bird courier that out of eight prefectures, only two remained to be hostile territory. Xiao Ce also learned that his deposed stepmother Yuan was their primary source of strength and support including the steady supply of food and military supplies. Together with Prince Lou and his Uncle Duke, General Sui, they continued to be fierce and threatening as they soaked themselves into the pot of rebellion.
Outside Liang’s first prefecture, are sharp Watcher-Archers ready to shoot any living thing that moves or creeps at the surface of its soil? It became the first line of defense from defectors and renegade troop leaders. Xiao Ce put a policy on its stone walls that no one lives to tell, and no one dies without spitting out information useful for their military strategy and tactics. Xiao Ce ordered the royal guards to close the borders making it harder for the trapped military battalions inside the second and third prefectures. With lots of attempts to send their spies to obtain information or supplies for their camp, it is always a failure for the other side. Xiao Ce too cunning to build lures and traps around its walls, he made sure that everything is deadly and not so much friendly. The same is true for any assassins who would dare to try to sneak at the Emperor’s gate, not only the order is to shoot to kill, whether it be animal or human, it is already assumed dead.
Meanwhile, Sun Di recovering from his wounds did not spend his time to sleep or rest. Instead, he gathered and ordered a group of builders to scout the mountainous terrains and construct another pontoon bridge out of sight. It will serve as another alternative route to cross the rocky and long river that divides the two territories. It took six months before the project was completed and it became a secret but dangerous passage because every time he orders his soldiers to walk on it, fell, from the cliff pontoon bridge making it impossible for everyone to cross due to its steep trails and rocky landscape formations. Sun Di later concluded, it is not a safe route to pass through given a thousand of troops, it cannot guarantee a safe pass.
**
On Yuwen Yue’s recovery…
“Master, please wake up, its time for you to drink your medicine.”
Yuwen Yue recovering from his back wound, leaned on his bed to drink the concoction prepared by Zao Baoccung.
Suddenly a sharp pain came over his back, Yuwen Yue cried quietly and Yue Qi looking worried asked him, said: Master, are you alright?
“Yue Qi, is there anything you have to do? I am fine,” said Yuwen Yue.
After drinking his medicine, Yuwen Yue look outside the window and saw the beautiful wetland terraces, it has been two months since he escaped from the bloody battle.
“Can you please call on Zuo,” said Yuwen Yue.
Yue Qi nodded and said: “Sure master, please be at ease.”
Yuwen Yue tried to stand and gaining more of his mortal strength can now walk straight. He immediately took out something from his table and sat on one of its chairs waiting for Zuo.
Zuo came in and bowed to his Highness and said: “Master brother, what can I do for you?”
Yuwen Yue asked: What is the situation? How bad it is?
Yuwen Yue knew that Xia Chong died in the hands of Xiao Yu to defend him. It is both sad and enlightening, he thought. While Yuwen Yue managed to save Prince Zaru, he was not able to stop the war between Yanbei and Wei neither do Xiao Ce who agreed to help but failed. However, he managed to stop Princess Zama when he sends an arrow message to Wu Dao Ya and Longyi Guan Mountains to help Viper on her mission to stop the black seal. Yuwen Yue met Wu Dao Ya on his way to Woolong mountains after the ice lake tragedy. It is where he has educated with the same Master that Wu Dao Ya learned his wisdom. Both enjoyed a good company but have a different outlook at Yan Xun.
Zuo Zong answered: Prince Yuan Yang and Prince Yuan Che split Wei empire’s military strength while the crown prince Yuan Song grieved at Xia Chong’s death. Viper came to Yuan Song and restored his senses and remembered Xia Chong’s last words. He knew that Xia Chong is not Chu Qiao. Nonetheless, he grieved without proper royal burial when Yan Xun took the body of Xia Chong and buried somewhere in the Xui Xui mountains. Both empires grieved from her untimely death while everyone believed she is Chu Qiao, the Queen of Yanbei still waiting for your Highness to talk to her. Back to Wei, when their palace protocols took effect, immediately the first concubine took the place of Xia Chong to comfort Yuan Song during the night. But problems started to surface when Prince Ra Zheng saw the Imperial Concubine Xiao Ba
Zuo paused…
Yuwen Yue went to ask the next question: What about my brother’s? How are they?
Zuo answered: While the Wei Empire grieved at the sudden death of their crown princess, Ra Zhun and Ra Zheng paid their respects on the empty coffin. A royal envoy came from the East to share their condolences and asked about your Highness. The Emperor reasoned out, you went on your way first and the two princes stayed behind to enjoy for their vacation at Beijing capital where lots of wine and women are there to pursue.
**
Yuan Song in denial and angry for the death of Xia Chong planned to rebel on the Emperor. The Wei Emperor expected this case scenario and therefore planned ahead of time to the patch the death of the pawn crown princess he said to Wei Guang: “Chu Qiao died in their hands after all. I won. It is beyond repair and eternal agony.” Wei Guang immediately summoned the Wei valve elders and palace minister’s to directly vote for Xiao Ba as the next Imperial Concubine to attend to the 13th Prince needs and respond to the shark tank empire, underwent into a great depression and political struggle. The repercussion wasn’t realized until 13th Prince sudden hostile behavior towards the Shen Jin Gong. He no longer believes in the values he was taught and raised up but wanted to kill anyone involved with the death of Xia Chong and suspects Xiao Ba is involved. Suddenly the next scene, Xiao Ba behind her back were being followed by hundred palace maids. Though she isn’t equal with the position Chu Qiao left with Wei empire, she became the most revered Concubine in the land of Wei that would produce an heir to the Wei, crown prince.
Yuan Song on his smirking face said: “So I guess you reached your dreams after all?” Xiao Ba with her head bow to the crown prince, silent and innocent did not spoke any word to answer. Xiao Ba’s heart was pierced so deep, and watery eyes understand Yuan Song’s grief at the moment.
Yuan Song squinted his eyes, cold and uninviting took Xiao Ba by force then threw her in the Imperial bed said: “Do not expect me to treat you the way I treated the crown princess, after all, you were just a slave woman who went to filthy beds with various men at the brothel!”
Xiao Ba surprised at what she heard, did not expect Yuan Song to dig her bitter past as prostitute at the brothel streets of Liang. Yuan Song did not understand what happened to her after Chu Qiao’s ice lake tragedy and her big sister Xiao Qi. They were living inside the Yanbei camps, but they were kidnapped by some unknown men who disguised themselves as Prince Xiao Ce’s royal guards to save them from Prince Yan Xun’s threat. Without any consent from Chu Qiao’s two sister’s, they were violently kidnapped and tricked, they were later sold to a group of bandits running a brothel business in Liang. At that time, Xiao-Qi got ill that lasted for almost a year. Xiao Ba had to take care of herself and took care of her sister to recover from her sickness. Started as a waiter at the international brothel business run by the bandits she worked hard day and night without a wage. Time passed by some men noticed her fair skin and beautiful face and figure. They started to ask for her price in exchange for her company and pleasure. At first, Xiao Ba tried to struggle to face her fate. Bearing the bandits daily whip on her back Xiao Ba does not have any choice at the moment and do not have any better way to save her ailing sister. One day she cried so hard and with a heavy heart, but a strong mind started to accept her fate. Xiao Ba can still remember her dark past and went into a short memory timescape.
The bandit leader came to the darkroom and said: “Get out! Make yourself clean! If you do not treat this customer very well, I will make sure your sister does not live to see another day!”
With no words left to speak, Xiao Ba came out and showed herself to the light. The bandit leader was stunned to see her daring, sexy and harlot way of looking at him, she pushed him and gave him a lustful stare, she runs her fingers from his chest down to his pants. The bandit leader was very curious at the same time swallowed his throat and groaned for a while when Xiao Ba hold it there. Xiao Ba meant to torture him, cut this dirty crash course and said softly in his ears: “Where is the room of customer?”
After her first experience of the brothel worldly pleasure, she became the most sought-after whore. How Xiao Ba did it, did not matter but when a customer gets out of her bed at night, spells a happy and well-satisfied patron in the morning. The bandit’s guilty pleasure business flourished and eventually became prominent courtesan house where nobles and other royal guards started to flock their red gates seeking the fleeting pleasure of the woman called: “the fallen snowflake.”
Not until one day, Tie You and other men from Liang’s royal guard circle came to the courtesan house to drink and whine. The bandit knew they sneaked from the palace in secret and Tie You do not even have any idea where he is because he was very drunk and was seduced by other women to spend more dime ended up in bed with Xiao Ba.
The next morning, Tie You was startled with the beautiful lady beside him. He peeked for a while looking at her luscious skin, he was attracted to her instantly. On his lustful thoughts, he immediately covered her body but glanced at her beautiful neck. Tie You waited for her to wake up but he did not expect the woman is lethal.
“Easy, easy.. ” said Tie You calmly and asked: “What do you want?”
Xiao Ba using her manipulation in exchange for Tie You’s future breaths pointed a sharp dagger in his neck.
I want your jade pass in exchange for this… said Xiao Ba looking straight into his eyes.
Tie You, a skilled royal guard knew how to reverse their position but looking at the flawless undressed woman in front of him, he thought to himself: “she’s not a woman on her thirties, she has a body of a delicate girl, very tempting, beautiful…
Tie You’s mind is racing on lustful thoughts got lost on the view in front of his eyes.
Xiao Ba knew the man in front is looking at her bare skin said: “The jade pass!”
By this time Tie You not only lost his senses but bewitched with her angry eyes he started to undress. A thing that is forbidden to be handed over to anyone else but in this case, he can reason out: “My life was in danger, and my manhood was provoked.”
Tie You started to take off his Hanfu dress but did not take off his eyes at Xiao Ba’s, while Xiao Ba’s steady dagger did not waiver. The only thing left was his innerwear and finally took something inside. His royal jade pass that contains all of his authority and duty to the Liang Empire Tie You threw it to the floor and said: “There you go, do you have anything more to ask?”
Xiao Ba slowly bent down to reach for the royal jade pass and quickly took something from the nearby table, without the slightest hesitation to slit his neck she said: “I want you to hand this over to the royal crown Prince Xiao Ce.”
A letter for a jade pass? How cruel! Is this it? Tie You chuckled looking at it, and Xiao Ba replied: “Is there any problem if I put this on fire?”
Tie You suddenly stiffened his facial gestures and became serious he said in a low male voice: “No! Do not do this fallen snowflake!”
Xiao Ba smirked and said: “Wrong answer! You guys do not feel any threats unless your source of livelihood is burned like this…”
Xiao Ba about to drop his jade pass when Tie You shouted in an angry voice: “Fine! I do not take orders from anyone else except for the crown prince! But I promise to deliver your letter to your Highness!”
Xiao Ba happy with what she heard still pushed the test for him to swear further: “Really? How can I be sure?”
Tie You on his steady angry voice shouted: “If you do not see His Royal Highness arrive here in three days, I am dead by then. Keep the royal jade pass, and buy yourself a free life…”
On the last sentence, Tie You with a sad voice sincerely meant it. Aside from he is attracted to Xiao Ba, for the first time in his life, wants to give away his jade pass even if means digging up his own grave.
Tie You and his circle of royal guards went out of the courtesan house like it was just an ordinary day. But it seems Tie You had a different lightness of heart. He smiled instead of feeling anxious even if he knew, he wouldn’t be able to enter the Daoming palace if his jade pass is not on hand. This again will put the crown Prince Xiao Ce into a serious Imperial meeting with Liang’s dreaded prosecutor and investigator of the royal house, with his neck ready to be disposed at their garrison yard.
After passing snappy dialogues and press conference with the bureaucrats, prosecutors, and investigators, Xiao Ce went furious with Tie You he said: “What on earth did you do to your jade pass?”
Tie You on his bowed head asked for pardon he said: Forgive me, your Majesty, I was momentarily lost in a paradise of a fallen snowflake and she gave me this.
Tie You speaking in secret terms to his Highness handed over the letter to Xiao Ce.
Xiao Ce curious went to open the letter and read:
Your Majesty, unless you wanted a scandal, you may want to redeem one of your treasured belonging at the courtesan house. Your escorts sneaked out of your palace in secret. I am sure, he is your person.
Until then, your escort knows where to find a former maid from the Yuwen household.
“The Fallen Snowflake.”
Xiao Ce threw the letter on the floor and went on deep thinking he said: “Fallen snowflake, scandal, redeem, treasure, courtesan, Yuwen household, coincidence.” Decoding the letter, the Prince knew, the courtesan is asking for desperate help.
Xiao Ce’s eyes went big like an owl and took the collar of Tie You’s military uniform and said: Take me to this brothel in secret, or I will be the one to cut your head!
Lastly, bring all treasures and put them all in the Palanquin this is an urgent order! said Xiao Ce.
After a while, the excited Prince walked to the palace windows and said to himself: “If my guess is right, it could be my lucky day!”
Tie You do not understand His Majesty’s behavior scratched his head and said to himself: One moment he is furious, now he is like an excited child wanting to buy a brothel!
Xiao Ce disguised himself in his usual getaways chose a crimson hood to cover his face and like normal person walked beside Tie You at night. Since Tie You does not have his jade pass, Xiao Ce used his own, and when the royal palace guards saw it, they knew it was the crown prince. Suddenly they straighten their backs and avoid looking to these horrific hoodie pals spoke: “The crown prince of Liang is forbidden to come out at night, the decree of the Emperor.”
Irritated by what he heard, he took off his crimson hoodie and said: “Seriously, are you blocking my way?”
All of a sudden, the royal guards were quiet, saw a glimpse of his face then Xiao Ce blinking his foxy eyes somewhat angry but cool face, raised his brows. He went closer to their faces, and nobody dared to move, unexpectedly hit them one by one, said: “Who dared to look at my face?”
“Who?” Xiao Ce’s voice calm like the waters, look at his palms then told them: “Look what you’ve done to this palms? Looks like it hurts and wants to kill somebody today.”
The royal gatekeepers were shaking and trembling in fear, quickly opened the door and their heads bowed at him.
Tie You slightly chuckled at his back, this is the first he saw his master intimidating his fellow royal guards, and Xiao Ce caught it, he said: “Why are you laughing?”
Tie You answered: “Pardon me, your Highness?” Tie You looked at his back to look for someone to blame.
Xiao Ce put back his crimson hoodie and walked tall and proud, freed to roam around at this time of the night.
Instead of going to his usual club hopping activity, Xiao Ce came to the brothel and ordered a round of drinks. With Tie You and the toothless afterlife camp spy sat on one of the empty table observing the floor show of the brothel, started to play the ancient Chinese drums, bells, percussion, gong. The crown prince came unarmed, but around the brothel, perimeters were surrounded with Liang’s for hire killers, the afterlife camp spy snipers.
Lotus flower, the bandit leader is now ready to talk. Xiao Ce on his bowed head slightly turn up its head revealing only his eyes from his crimson hood he said: “Did you make sure he will accept the taels of gold?”
“Yes Lotus flower, it is sure.”
The bandit leader and its bandit group came so airily and threatening, the leader sat in front of the regular guest, unaware of his royal title but he was told earlier knew that it is forbidden to look at his face. The bandit leader skin suddenly felt creepiness in his presence, he started to shiver, but the man in front of him suddenly grabbed his hand, and the bandit leader received the static energy got electrified, suddenly stood up.
“Sit!” Xiao Ce’s voice of horror issued on air and the bandit leader quickly obeyed.
“Who are you?”A shivering voice heard from the bandit leader.
Xiao Ce replied and lied: “Does it matter when I tell you I am the head of the Palace Eunuchs?”
The bandit group behind the leader chuckled suddenly Tie You give one of them a blow felt the most painful punch in his gut saw traces of blood, said: “Aw.”
“Behave!” Tie You said, showing his fingers wearing the metal punch ring with thorns on its top. Everyone quiet like a tamed Labrador dog obeyed Tie You.
Suddenly Xiao Ce chuckled and then back to his poker foxy eyes moved closer to the bandit leader face said: “Is this how I should be treated? Look, I am wasting time here.”
Xiao Ce tapping his fingers in the table produced sounds of a bored customer, waiting for the bandit leader to open the table of negotiation.
“Ahum…” the bandit leader started to talk, said: The fallen snowflake is forbidden to render external services. She is limited to this brothel because she is our golden egg.
Xiao Ce still tapping his fingers to the table, looked at him, as if he did not hear any word spoken suddenly said: “Double the asking price!” The toothless spy threw another bag of gold in the table.
The bandit leader took it and look at it inside and then look at the man in front of him said: “Not enough.”
Xiao Ce leaned his back at his chair and laughed: “Toothless spy, what can you offer?”
The toothless spy said: “Come and see it for yourself.”
A bandit member followed the toothless spy and went outside the brothel and stunned at what he saw. After a moment, they went back to the brothel and whispered to their leader.
The bandit leader raised his brow and said: “Go! This is a deal, I promise to let the Fallen Snowflake perform at your Li (pear) garden.”
Xiao Ce clapped his hands, on a poker face and a firm voice said: “Since you just entered into a do or die negotiation, those dark forces will not leave this place until the Fallen Snowflake comes out of this place.
Xiao Ce put back his crimson hoodie and before he left, he gave his final instructions to the bandit leader said: oh, I need the sister of the fallen snowflake to perform as well by special request, she needs to go with her or this place will be called, “The place of Ashfall.”
“It will be done your grace, I will make sure that two sisters will attend tomorrow night at your Li garden,” said the bandit leader and suddenly all of them humbled, everyone bowed at him after he left.
The bandit leader twitched his hands and looked outside and sees dark forces continued to wrap the brothel in terror.
The brothel ladies noticed no customers came to dine and whine, started to pass a gossip that a royal palace eunuch has just visited the brothel. Xiao Ba heard and knew it was a secret visit from Xiao Ce.
Not so long, the bandit leader knock loudly on the Fallen Snowflake dark room, Xiao-Qi was so afraid, but Xiao Ba did not open the door.
Fine! You don’t want to open this door? The bandit member gave the leader its keys about to open it when suddenly the door opened. Her fragrant scent issued on air, Xiao Ba on her off-shoulder Hanfu dress exposing the luscious bare skin of her chest came out and look at the men with his usual lustful looks, and everyone was disarmed with her tempting beauty. In front of the bandit group, Xiao Ba feeling no shame played her fingers on the bandit leader chest and ran her fingers below his waist. The bandit leader swallowing his throat ordered his men to get out.
The bandit leader enjoying a moment of dirty pleasure groaned, but Xiao Ba cut it there again looking at his tortured face, he grabbed her and turned her back, he tore her clothes. Xiao Ba closed her eyes, and like a pro, she let the bandit leader do his thing but ended up punching the walls of the dark room.
Insulting the bandit leader, Xiao Ba on her emotionless face, said: “You cannot make anyone happy with this.”
Xiao Ba knowing how to push the button of the bandit leader weakness, an emasculated man, she whispered in his ears: “You will never have me!” This is her way of revenge and killing me softly strategy to pound the bandit leader confidence to suffer.
The bandit leader composed himself and said: “Tomorrow night you are summoned to perform at the Li garden. Your sister will go with you to perform too. If you do not abide, I will chop your head and feed your dead bodies to the dogs.” The bandit leader left.
Xiao Ba hugged her sick sister, but Xiao Qi pushed her and said: “I am not your sister!”
Xiao Ba understood her sister’s reaction to the steamy moment earlier, stood up, straightened and turned her back from Xiao Qi. Unable to control her emotions, she freed her tears for a while then she wiped her face and went back to face Xiao Qi, on her poker face she said: “I do not have to explain.” Xiao Ba closed her eyes and whispered her prayers across the heavens.
Above the sky, the passing gray clouds moved to cover the shy crescent moon as flying birds, and the stillness of the lake painted a picture perfect canvass framed under the Daoming palace skies.
Xiao Ba and the sick Xiao Qi fetched by the palace convoy, arrived at the magnificent Palace.
Looking at the grandeur, Xiao Ba spread her eyes and saw the lantern lights. For the first time, she would like to dream of herself to be part of Li’s courtyards and become a royal princess. Xiao Qi looks agitated with her sexy, daring dress, she looks pale and short of breath.
Xiao Ba took a deep breath after almost a year of living in the dark room underground of the brothel finally saw the beam of moonshine in her life.
A handsome foxy prince, turned around as the palace maids finally put his royal robe to face the sisters of Chu Qiao. Tonight, he had it all planned in his mind.
A fragrant and romantic mounted dance stage meets Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba’s eyes. Xiao Ba started to admire and touch the sculptures and poetic figures scattered around the ground. On the west wing are the royal palace musical instruments such as ancient Chinese Guqin, Chinese Zither, percussion, drums, bells, and gongs. The musicians started to arrive and fine-tune their instruments. They waited for a while.
Xiao Ce arrived with his grandest robe, and fragrant presence, Xiao Ba and Xiao Qi started to rise and bow to his Highness.
He did not even look at them yet, Xiao Ce took the long sleeves of his robe and sat on his throne-like chair. The Musical maestro began to signal and compassed his hands. Music started to fill the air, calm and inviting, the two sisters wore half masks on their face. Both sisters began to perform the dance, and Xiao Qi mirrored her younger sister’s dance moves. The crown prince of Liang impressed with this dance performance, he had never seen such a graceful mirror dance before.
After a few hands and body strokes, Xiao Ba came closer to the crown prince to unmask her face. Suddenly Tie You quickly came in front and put a dagger in her neck said: “It is forbidden to come close to the crown prince.”
Xiao Ba gracefully took out Tie You’s hands and unmasked her beautiful face. Tie You silenced by this beauty in front of him while Xiao Ce rebuked him and said: “Stay aside! I want to see her face.”
Tie You obeyed, and an angelic face came to satisfy Xiao Ce’s eyes. Xiao Ce thought she saw Chu Qiao, on this magical spell of Xiao Ba’s face resembled her sister Chu Qiao. However just when Xiao Ce about to say something…
Peng! A sound was heard, a body was lying unconsciously on the floor. Xiao Qi lost consciousness. The performance turned into an emergency situation. The crown prince did not fret walked towards Xiao Qi and unmask her face. Eventually, he ordered his servants to prepare a place for the two courtesans to spend the night in his Jinwu palace. It is forbidden to welcome such low-class woman but Xiao Ce ready to answer the Liang palace ministers when the sun rises. He also ordered the afterlife camp spies to burn down the brothel to avenge the two sister’s bad fate and balance the scales of justice.
**
The beautiful Imperial Concubine stared at Yuan Song, her eyes welling in tears, she cannot hold them anymore sat in the corner of the Imperial bed and silently cried then said: “I cannot undo the past…”
Stars twinkling above the sky, Yuan Song still bitter and broken said: “You may be the Wei’s future Queen at day, but you will always be the Wei’s concubine at night!”
Bang!
A sound of closing door heard. The Crown prince of Wei went out from his Imperial room angry and full of rage just abandoned his concubine. Yuan Song made sure Xiao Ba feel rejected forever.
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