The Secret Princess – Fan Fiction by AC Chapter 79: Chain of Memories
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Chain of Memories (edited 08.12.2021)
In the soft morning light, Chu Qiao finds herself in a timeless space. She is now looking at a peasant girl sitting with a chair and table found in the middle of the green field.
The green fields swayed by the wind and the peasant girl saw her.
On her formal face, she welcomes the leader of the wind and cloud decree but on her small table and another empty chair, she continues to do her work.
Chu Qiao walked towards the peasant girl and when she was closer, she saw what the peasant girl was working at the table, she said: “I came here to ask for your intervention.”
How could I possibly help Mimi Gongzhu?
There is a man named Yuwen Yue. Chu Qiao looked at the greenfield ground and her eyes are soaking in tears.
“And why would the Mimi Gongzhu care for the man?” The peasant girl still working on the wooden table.
Chu Qiao’s lips wanted to say a lot but now seems empty of words she simply said: “I am asking you a favor to rewrite the destiny of this man in exchange for this…”
Chu Qiao suddenly went flying in the mid-air and slowly performed the wind and cloud decree at the beat of her hands.
The back was trickling with fire with small sparks of the ancient flower. The Oracle of the Higanbana flower is endlessly swirling in many Chinese letters inscription.
The beauty of the flower and its fragrance slowly left her back and suspended in mid-air it formed the red Higanbana flower.
“You are giving up your powers to the underworld realms to save him?” Asked the peasant girl.
“No. I am offering it to open another chance for the man named Yuwen Yue.” Chu Qiao still on her divine-like figure while the Higanbana Flower is suspended in the mid-air.
Is he worth it? The peasant girl started to align and carve the white rectangular marble stones in the table.
“If it is worthy to do so, then yes.” Chu Qiao in her soft voice.
“The leader of the cloud and decree is the only person who can handle both powers of darkness and light. Do you accept the consequences?”
“Even if I have to face oblivion,” said Chu Qiao.
The peasant girl took the white marbles and threw it on the air. It gently went to cover the Higanbana flower then reads the new Oracle: “The Qinghai Prince will be restored to the human realms. So it shall be done.”
At the peasant girl’s words, the remaining white marbles began to form a line in the mid-air. A light started to imprint each stone.
Another Oracle was uttered to the winds: “The Mimi Gongzhu who abandons her powers will pursue the subject of her will. She will be given in a quarter time of the Ersatz divine incense. If the time seizes, you will face oblivion and forever trapped in the Ersatz realms. Do you accept?”
Chu Qiao without hesitation cast her words to the winds and said: “I accept.”
“The decree is now sealed.”
This world is never been an easy place.
**
When the dew of the morning drops, everyone expects to meet a new beginning.
After three years, the Moon Kingdom slept like an abandoned child while the Qinghai Empire expanded its influence over the Ximeng Continent.
Grand preparations have been made for the royal state visit of the Qinghai crown prince. Every hotel around Liang State was booked, where the royal entourage would stay.
Every street corners were blocked and no one can pass except the royal guards.
Tons of Qinghai goods have been shipped through the long lines of caravans entering the Liang state borders.
***
Baskets of flowers were showered on the aisle of the Jinwu palace as the Qinghai crown prince walks towards the Liang Throne.
After passing the royal gestures and courtesies, Xiao Ce heartily accepted an old and familiar face.
This time instead of a masked prince, the Qinghai crown prince exposed his face to everyone. It broke the customs and protocols of the Qinghai empire.
And the neighboring Wei State was shocked and feels threatened but secretly traded alliances with the Qinghai crown prince.
While Yanbei remains cold and finds everything amusing, the King of Yanbei said: “Yuwen Yue how many lives you still have left?”
Xiao Ce squinted his foxy eyes and said: “Hello my old friend? How’s everything?”
Ra Yue still on his cold serious face said: “Am I really that old friend? We just met each other when you visited the Qinghai empire.”
Xiao Ce smirks and said: You can never be too old with good friends. And this is my lucky day because you accepted my invite to visit Liang state. Besides pretty girls, what can I offer you? How can I please you? Tell me.”
Ra Yue understands the reputation of the Liang Emperor to be easy going but very shrewd and foxy being afterward, he said: “Can I abuse your majesty’s kindness by visiting the Xue Fu Street?”
Xiao Ce’s eyes went big like an owl and said: “Of all the riches and pretty girls I can give, why ask for this Xue Fu Street? Tell me, is there something special in that place?
Xiao Ce lights a spark of curiosity while Ra Yue squinted his eyes he said: “I was once told a story of a deposed Queen who lived with the Empress-to-be of the Liang Empire.”
Xiao Ce swallows on his throat before answering he said: “And I was once told that a prince in the land of defectors and criminals lost his memories when he entered the Moon kingdom and left the surreal realms.”
Ra Yue downplayed it, said: “Besides Qinghai, there is no Moon kingdom or surreal realms.”
The corners of Xiao Ce’s eyes were even foxier, said: “Really? Look at me I am alive because of it.”
Ra Yue really thinks this Emperor’s mind is nuts and wanted to dismiss Xiao Ce’s half meant jokes, said: “When you find one, invite me. I will surely come.”
Meanwhile, Chu Qiao just came from the mountain temple to pray when she suddenly meets a royal envoy passing their way. Mei Xiang dressed in a fine white satin fabric, her head and face covered with a white veil while Ping’An dressed in brown sackcloth like a pauper boy, bowed to the ground. Chu Qiao slowly put her hood on her head, the taupe veil to cover her face, dropped her knees on the ground.
The royal envoy did not recognize Chu Qiao and her companions. They passed by as if they were strangers in sight. Chu Qiao somewhat at ease but suddenly finds herself in constant memory of her wind and cloud decree, she remembers the quarter incense of the Ersatz realm.
The royal passenger suddenly felt a chill, he slowly touched the curtain of the Palanquin and stole a glance from the roadside. But the three people already somewhat far and distant. Those cold eyes were half-squinted as if he would like to command and stop the envoy to check these people again.
Yue Qi’s eyes caught the Qinghai Crown Prince glance and tapped his horse and went beside the palanquin window, said: “Your Highness, is there something wrong?”
“Nothing.” A soft cold voice was heard.
Yue Qi did not leave at the palanquin window yet when suddenly the Qinghai Crown Prince said: “Turn back, we must catch them!”
Although Chu Qiao’s powers were disintegrated in her body, yet somehow her sharp senses remained. It can still predict whether danger and threat are real. She quickly tapped Mei Xiang’s shoulder and said: “They are coming back in our way. Stay put and alert. Ping’An, do not move unless I take out my sword.”
The royal envoy suddenly turned all their prime horses and run fast towards the three people who continued to walk like normal people.
Yue Qi shouted and said: “Stop!”
Yet the three people did not stop walking and continued to walk.
Yue Qi then stopped the horses and the horse’s envoy at his back created the dust to the ground. Yue Qi seen in a target position took an arrow from the quiver. He stretched out the bowstrings with his back arms and released the arrows trailing a rainbow path.
Swoosh…
Chu Qiao footsteps suddenly halted, stopped walking, her palms are twitching.
They looked unarmed but Yue Qi cannot underestimate these types of unexpected intruders. The horse is suddenly running towards three people to inspect them.
Suddenly, the leaves on the roadside began to sway and its sounds alarmed Chu Qiao’s wrist, making her veins swell, her palms, ready for a kill.
Yue Qi focused on the lady covered with a white veil over her head and face. Yue Qi took her. Now, it began to introduce its hostile environment when kidnapping the lady dressed in white began to happen.
Chu Qiao did not fret and Ping’An did the same. Still facing ahead of the road listening to the incoming footsteps from her back, heavy, cold and still.
Yuwen Yue stepped down from the Palanquin and went to Yue Qi, he said: “Isn’t really a coincidence or an intruder spy?”
Chu Qiao at the right time to strike, leaped high from her back and on her quick act went to protect Mei Xiang. Her sword shocked the entire envoy and time stops when Yuwen Yue took out his Poe Yue Jian sword and counterattack the Canhong sword.
Yuwen Yue knew the girl dressed in white is a decoy figure.
The howling fox sounds came to Yuwen Yue’s ears as the two swords clashed in the air. Ringing his ears, it brought him back to some of his past distorted memories. The Greenhills courtyard, the Eyes of God, the Wei empire, and the rest was just forgotten rewind of memories inside his mind.
An attack after attack flashed before their eyes, yet nobody is allowed to interfere. Yuwen Yue and Chu Qiao did not stop playing their swords as if they were not fighting at all but dancing in the strange fight. Neither of them wants to stop and all of their martial arts compliment each other.
Suddenly, Yuwen Yue felt he is fighting a battle he cannot win, he finally stopped and said to Yue Qi: “Release her. We shall meet them again.”
While the Qinghai men were all down to their aching joint and bodies. Their swords were neatly piled up and Ping’An was seen clapping his hands showing an innocent face. Like he wasn’t the boy to blame. Everyone down, the job is done.
Chu Qiao her head covered with a hood looked down, she likes to hear the words of retreat said: “When we meet again, you will have to remember!”
Ra Yue did not even look at her but said: “Who do I have to remember?”
Chu Qiao heard the cold words, it penetrated her heart like a haunting pain that crept her veins. The time left is slim and dangerous. How can this cold man recognize her before the incense of time seizes, she will disappear on earth and will forever be trapped in the Ersatz realm.
Xiao Ce was happy to receive the presence of the Qinghai Crown Prince to spend an afternoon tea ceremony. In a Gazebo pond, all of the maids arranged everything as if it was a turn back of time.
Ra Yue finds himself looking at the lotus flowers scattered among the man-made lake. Suddenly a lotus flower slowly unfolded its petals and he was stunned. He thought to himself: Why do I feel I have seen this before?
“Ahem…”
Xiao Ce on his fake coughs, ready to play games clapped his hands and at the beat of his hands, a live puppet show was mounted into the middle of the Chinese Gazebo pond.
And the puppet show started to run. Ra Yue turned his back to see the stage. He saw the puppets are swinging each other and a very talented voice over telling stories of two lovers who forgot each other’s memories. Xiao Ce looks in the direction of Ra Yue then said: “Are you going to stand there forever?”
“No.” Short and a bland voice came out from Ra Yue’s lips.
“Then come over here so we can watch together.” Said Xiao Ce who gave Ra Yue a slight flirty smile.
Ra Yue wants to please his host said: “You are not so full of surprises.”
Ra Yue walked from the open corridor towards the Gazebo pond, his envoy also walked behind his back.
Two pair of lovely eyes watched the puppet show. Ra Yue did not give any slightest hint of surprise. However, inside his mind is like a flickering candle, igniting his memories of the past. At the moment, he did not give Xiao Ce any chance to look into his soul. Xiao Ce is busy thinking about the next dialogues, he asked: “Yuwen Yue how was your trip to Xue Fu street?”
Ra Yue said: “Is this the pet name you wish to call me while I am on a state visit to Liang state? Who is Yuwen Yue?”
“Oh, my brother, you wish not to remember anything about your true identity? Have you forgotten anything about Wei empire?” Xiao Ce smiled at him.
Yuwen Yue gave Xiao Ce a slight stare and said: “About the heir of Eyes of God?”
“Oh! Thank goodness you remember!” Xiao Ce threw him a glance of his foxy eyes.
Ra Yue smirked and said: “I used it to my advantage to expand my influence to Wei Empire. It was very helpful. These people really think and believe I am Yuwen Yue. The lost heir to the Eyes of God. Nobody could refute not even a single word, except that I do not want to let these hallucinations of the Yuwen noble people in Wei empire to continue or they perish.”
“Oho, you came to their empire like a Trojan horse! Everybody was stunned to see your face but they did not expect to see you act this way! Did you know you have not changed?” Xiao Ce is teasing Yuwen Yue more.
“Really? I did not change?” Yuwen Yue glared at Xiao Ce’s foxy eyes.
Xiao Ce deeply sighed and looked at the ceiling he spoke like he is going to tell a long story.
“The fourth young master of the Yuwen household is the coldest and indifferent of all Yuwen brothers. He has eyes but chooses not to see. He has ears but chooses not to hear. He has a heart but chooses not to show his love. They used to call him Master ice cube. It is better to drown him in the icy lake than see him alive today than deny all of his family and Xinger is better when he is dead.”
“Xinger?” Ting… Ra Yue’s ears may have heard a little bell sound.
“Yes, Xinger!” Xiao Ce playing everything through the puppet show which is not taking any effect or working to his advantage did not mind to confuse the Qinghai Prince Ra Yue for a while.
Ra Yue paused for a second and said: “What do I have to remember by this name Xinger!”
Yue Qi came close to his ears enough to hear his whisper said: “Your Highness, Xinger is Master Yuwen Yue’s agent of sacrifice. She was personally trained by the Heir of the eyes of God. You have many stories to hear if you want to hear.”
Ra Yue understood and said: “Yue Qi, you are quite helpful but I don’t want you to elaborate further unless it is a command you must follow and no offense should be taken literally tonight.”
Yue Qi sensed a shame in his heart. After hearing those words, he went back to his post, stood straight, and gave everyone an emotionless face. He did not intend to offend his Master but he thinks he is not helping him either.
Xiao Ce stole the moment back to him when waived his hands, indicating to stop the fancy puppet show and said: “Very well. As this puppet show ends, I would like to open the banquet early. I am your extravagant host, Your master showman tonight. Who knows what I prepared for you?
Ra Yue couldn’t say no said: “Is there anything good that comes out of this?!” (whispering to himself)
“Let’s start the banquet early so we can also end it early. Qinghai men look tired and need rest,” exclaimed by Ra Yue.
Xiao Ce squinted his eyes showing smiles in the corners of his eyes he responded: “We have not started the day, and Qinghai men are yet drunk nor have enjoyed Liang’s finest women seems already tired? Where is the vigor? Ha ha ha”
Xiao Ce laughed out loud, enough for everyone to hear his evil laughs but the Qinghai envoy faces are serious, did not mind the Emperor’s joke at all.
Ra Yue couldn’t back down at the Emperor’s joke he simply said.
“We did not know that Liang’s Xue Fu street is full of displaced weeds. We were caught on a beautiful decoy figure to a burlap sackcloth woman who had an extreme martial art like a civet cat. Hence, the unexpected happens. The Qinghai men had to unsheathe their swords and exhaust themselves for a little while.”
“Oh! You mean the black cat, a white fairy and the match stick guy?! You’ve met the weeds on the road but was pricked by their thorns! What did you do? Or shall I ask the reverse, what did they do to you? It seems your advance party cleared the way and makes your path safety and yet you mistreated them. But what did you do?”
Xiao Ce laughed out loud again.
Ra Yue said: What? You sent them as an advance party to clear our paths and ensure safety?
Xiao Ce responded and said: ” Treacherous paths are civet cat’s playground. You can stand here because she chooses you to be alive and not dead.”
Just like that, Xiao Ce cannot stop laughing at all even when he walked away from the Gazebo pond followed by his royal maids and eunuchs. Ra Yue looked coldly at Yue Qi.
While Yue Qi did not react and followed his Master quietly when he remembered his words.
“Let Zuo Zong find out about the woman wearing burlap sackcloth with a martial arts like a civet cat. I would like to remember this woman from this day forward.”
Xiao Ce and Ra Yue arrived at the Banquet. The Emperor and the Qinghai Crown prince were facing a different audience as the Prime Minister, Elders, and Royal Liang Council and other Liang Ministry branches gathered to honor their guest and their Emperor.
Sun Di not far from Xiao Ce started to speak: “Before our banquet starts tonight, may I have the honor to present to you the finest of Liang’s musical performers and dancers to welcome our honored guest tonight Qinghai Crown Prince Ra Yue.”
***
The musical performers started to form their line and bowed to the royal guests. What caught the audience eyes the most is the musical instrument called Bianzhong. An ancient Chinese musical instrument consisting of a set of bronze bells played melodically. Hanged on a wooden frame and slowly played using a mallet.
This is not Ra Yue’s first time to see this ancient musical performance. When the graceful hands started to strike the bell to run the musical piece, like opening a petal of flowers, a set of finest women dancers came to the mounted stage.
They look like the statues of Greek gods in Greece.
They posed themselves like no one is allowed to breathe, waiting for the star dancer of the night.
The women were dressed and covered their heads with satin fabric. It must be expensive silk and the fragrance on-air suddenly spread to enhance the mood of the banquet.
The maiden’s eyes were neatly decorated with various pearls and luminous powder blushers that made their eyes shine so bright but remain hidden under the dim lights.
Indeed, Ra Yue’s attention’s playing hard to please, not until the lights were blown off and the star dancer appeared from the only light above shining so bright.
Along with the dim light, suddenly, a rain of plum blossoms slowly popped from the above.
Not so long, an expensive silk rope tied from above was thrown at the middle of the stage.
A beautiful woman on her perfect body form, tightly holding it, slowly descending from above, sparkling of lights, the entire audience and leaving their face in awe.
Like an Angel who appeared from Qians (heaven) to earth, her face glows covered with an expensive thin Kashmiri silverish silk hood. Everybody stands in awe, mesmerized with the grand entrance.
Ra Yue cold as ice cannot resist stealing a glance from this woman. Matching the music of Bianzhong, she started to dance her hands and feet gracefully.
She used her body to dramatically form the perfect arches but blended it with Gongfu martial arts poses. The face remains distant and unknown.
She became the phantom of the night.
She did not have the slightest doubt in her heart but she aims to capture the heart of man in front of her who is staring so cold and indifferent towards her.
Yuwen Yue’s memories started to spark for every mallet strikes from the Bianzhong instrument.
And this woman in front of him is making him so uncomfortable, she is already affecting him.
Yuwen Yue finds another distorted memory of the past, and like a dream that fades away, it stayed for a while and like the smoke of the incense, it is gone.
He began to feel upset but to be honest, his heart is really being pulled piece by piece from the dance performance of this beautiful jade skin woman in front of him.
Her fragrance, her graceful moves is not the typical dance as Yuwen Yue reads all of her moves.
Feeling romantic at all?
No. Instead it reminds him of his Gongfu martial arts, an empire, a bed full of plum blossom incense smoke and a bedchamber maid at night.
He finally gave up his thoughts and started to utter words to the beautiful Emperor beside him said.
“The woman who is wearing burlap sackcloth earlier said I will have to remember!”
Xiao Ce who is intoxicated with the performance and whose mind was already drifting far away from Liang Empire, momentarily disturbed: “What do you have to remember?”
Ra Yue spoke again and said: “She is the woman whom we fought earlier at the Xue Fu Street, whose martial arts is extremely offensive, like a civet cat.”
Xiao Ce continuously drinking spirit wine, did not even mind his guest. He snorted a short expression of pleasure said: “Ei, really that offensive?”
Xiao Ce did not even bother to look at Ra Yue and did not look away from the dance performance when he said: “A hair of a Rapunzel, a face of an angel and a belly like a whore.”
“Is she a whore?” Ra Yue in disbelief checks the Emperor’s sanity.
Xiao Ce already drunk of the spirit wine is not in control of his silver tongue. He gave Ra Yue dreamy eyes and winked at him said.
“It is rather a compliment when we call a woman’s belly like a whore. This is not an insult when you are in Liang State.”
The woman continued her martial arts dance and suddenly faded into the audience sight.
Yuwen Yue extended his neck a bit but he can no longer see the star dancer, the heart starts to flood with so much regret.
***
Another dancer came to surprise the guests and changed the mode of the scene.
A sword in display and there is a spotlight at the middle.
The scene becomes a dramatic display and sad music that plays all along. Eventually, the star dancer came out again.
This time showing her face but a covered head.
Instead of dancing she took the sword and gave the audience a wonderful, hair-raising, spine-chilling swordplay.
Yuwen Yue was stunned, he watched every move of her hands that coordinated with her feet.
In fact, Yuwen Yue closed his eyes and imagined all moves in his mind and when he opened them, the woman was already in face to face with him, she said softly.
“You will have to remember!”
He caught her eyes and lost himself once again. In between a dreamy state or in reality, he must have said something like this.
“If I will have to remember, you will soon forget.”
Chu Qiao locked her brows and threw her sword in the air, making everyone stunned, she managed to catch her sword on the other side and said.
“I can remember anything. Try me!”
Yuwen Yue thinks he may have heard a word or have been pretending to be deaf but he said something like this.
“Whether you like it or not, you will fall for me before you even know it.”
Chu Qiao heard and his words became like a piece of music to her ears, said.
“Never let me fall, for when I do, I will make you regret it.”
Yuwen Yue cold like ice stared at her, said.
“Then make me regret because I really would like to see you fall.”
Chu Qiao sighed for a while, said: “You never learn!”
She quickly snatched the Poe Yue Jian sword bravely from a cold, handsome crown prince sitting in a Zen position.
The Crown prince wasn’t bothered with the star dancer’s misbehavior.
A calm voice slowly spoke, said.
“This is really offensive my Lady. But tonight, I will show you how you can fall because you always forget why you have fallen.”
Sounds like a double meaning from Chu Qiao’s ears when Yuwen Yue speaks like the Ra Yue Qinghai Crown Prince has known Xinger for so long.
Chu Qiao locks her brows and said.
“If I have forgotten, why do I have to make you remember?”
Yuwen Yue stared at her beautiful face, cold blinking eyes, became speechless for a time.
He moved his lips to say something but Chu Qiao said.
The walls have ears, illegal channels.”
Yuwen Yue somewhat upset, but still cold as ice started to fight Chu Qiao using his Gongfu martial arts combined with their swordplay.
While the audience in awe realized they were already watching the ancient Jian swordplay.
Some said, “it cannot be! Wow! Excellent moves! Like I live during my ancestors time.”
***
Eventually, Chu Qiao have to scale down her moves while Yuwen Yue took advantage of it, he tapped her left wrist causing her veins to swell for a moment, she lost the grip handle of the Canhong sword. Yuwen Yue did not even let it fall on the ground, swiftly took it.
To please the audience and to end this short discourse, Yuwen Yue bowed at them and bowed in front of Chu Qiao.
As a cold gentleman as he can be, he handover the Canhong Sword in exchange for the Poe Yue Jian sword.
This is not an act of surrender but a silent nudge implying the beautiful Lady.
“This is a stalemate!”
Chu Qiao bowed to the Qinghai Crown Prince and in kowtow, handover the Poe Yue Jian sword.
Xiao Ce clapped his hands and the stunned, gauche, and beautiful crowd of Liang empire followed their Emperor and clapped their hands as well.
She whispered and said.
“Do not forget you own a Cangwu bird, a lodge in the heart of the forest and empty cenotaph!”
Yuwen Yue gave Chu Qiao a cold look.
He took the sword and walked like he is deaf to every word Chu Qiao just said.
His footsteps wore the heaviness he feels in his heart. He suddenly remembers.
“Different scene, but why do I feel like this happened before.”
Chu Qiao looked at Yuwen Yue’s back with a painful stare before she took her Canhong sword and went out of their sight.
The two walked away with such beautiful awakening of unfinished business.
***
Meeting the master swordsman in the borders of Liang and Wei…
A man in his old clothing is sharpening his sword outside his barracks.
The bird cages started to issue a sound of fleeting Cangwu birds when suddenly another handsome man from the high trees came to strike the old man’s back.
With the man’s old age, his experience can only speak for himself. How can the old man defend himself from such fierce, perfect Jian master swordsman moves?
Two shadows danced in swordplay in this cold morning.
The low mist gathered around and followed their fighting poses and then revealed their familiar faces into this beautiful mess.
“You have already taken off the mask in your face. Yet, you remain unseen and undiscovered in the first place.”
The old uncle spoke like he is ranting to a lost nephew finally put back the sword in its sheath and relaxed a bit. He started to light up a small roll of tobacco and smokes.
“Is there anything wrong in teaching the hard lesson to your perpetrators?” Yuwen Yue put back his Poe Yue Jian sword in its sheath as well.
“Why teach your enemies a lesson they will learn to use against you?” The old uncle sat down in his old wooden chair.
“I am not teaching my enemies for them to learn. I am teaching them to straighten their own crooked paths.” Yuwen Yue looked far and saw the misty mountains.
“After they feed your fake body to the hungry fox and denounced your name to be forgotten, why not just kill them?” The old uncle puffs his tobacco.
“Death is too easy. I must not forget who suffered, cannot even count the loss.” Yuwen Yue still looking at the misty mountains and the old man smirked a bit, continued to smoke then a bird whistle was heard.
***
Recaps about Qinghai Empire…
Meanwhile, Qinghai’s Queen Zhejue was happy to hear about the reports from the gorge spies that the Moon Kingdom will just be part of history, lying on its own graveyard.
After the Qinghai’s Crown Prince Ra Yue state visit to Liang Empire, a decree shall be passed to commence the planned extinction.
The Qinghai Queen is happy with this thinking, the Moon kingdom shall seize to rule. Hence, disprove all of its prophecies to be false.
Ra Yue had been working in reverse order. He had been using an on and off strategy to conceal everything and plays difficult-to-read moves outsmarting the Qinghai Queen Zhejue.
While the King of Qinghai still plays the role of being an absentee King, Ra Yue finally understood his curse is irreversible.
If the Moon Kingdom shall lay to ashes, his father’s body will die and rot. Ra Yue even said: “Everything in Qinghai is ruthless and enchanted. The impossible becomes possible.”
“You must not forget the Moon Kingdom is like a key to the lost Qinghai power.” Ra Zheng continued to touch his ears while talking to his secret spy hidden somewhere.
***
Lan Shuyi on her kneeling with her face covered in dark cloak appeared and said: “I have seen the Jianghu spies gathered together by whom other than Zhong Yu. It seems they were protecting a child called Huan Huan.”
Ra Zheng suddenly wanted to listen he asked: “Who is he?”
“She is not a He, my Lord.” Lan Shuyi responded short and precise.
Ra Zheng stood up and gently took Lan Shuyi’s delicate face, he said.
“Why are you giving me some thrill?”
Lan Shuyi responded back, said: “Huan Huan is very mysterious, my Lord. They said she has been raised by the Datong Way. What I know is she is very close to Wu Dao Ya and look at to him as his father after King Yan Shicheng died.”
“You have been very smart and useful in kidnapping Xiao Ba, but still cannot get any piece of information about this Huan Huan?”
Ra Zheng smirked at her then continued: “Say I would want to reveal the whereabouts of your son Hao’Er would you be cunning to find a way to break the Jianghu spies secrets or breach the Datong Way?”
“My Lord, Crown Princess Xiao Ba is an easy target. She is not a problem at all.”
“You can say that because you do not know her at all. But I do. I have seen her suffering in the cold-blooded empire of Wei. She hides a great deal of pain in her heart and loves a decapitated man. And this man sees a shadow of a ghost in her. I cannot bear it.” Ra Zheng drank the cup of tea from the small gold finish table.
Lan Shuyi was surprised for a moment when she heard the revelation of truth. She sensed deep care coming from the Qinghai’s Silver Prince.
The kidnap spree was not at all kidnap by crime.
Ra Zheng wanted to snatch away Xiao Ba from Wei Empire so the abduction was done by Lan Shuyi with Ra Zheng coming to save the damsel princess.
Before Xiao Ba could feel this was all an act of the drama, she was taken away by Ra Zheng after she was pricked with a sleeping needle during the night of the abduction.
Ra Zheng did not leave any room of mishaps.
He ordered Qinghai men to arrange the crime scene and made sure that the Great Summer will mourn for the second loss of Crown princess of Wei empire.
Before the Royal Palanquin left, he said to Lan Shuyi.
“Your ex-husband Emperor of Great Summer will fall this time. With the second loss of crown princess for the Wei Empire, the Crown Prince will not be able to recover and there will be unrest with its people. This is an act of good revenge.”
***
The next day, a young maidservant came to Xiao Ba’s royal residence and said.
“Good morning Princess, would you like to have a cup of tea?” While another older maidservant about 50 years old came in as well with a serious face she said: “What is good in the morning?”
Xiao Ba did not say anything and ask the maidservants: “How long should I stay here? I want to go back to my empire, my crown prince Yuan Song surely worried about me.”
Two pair of eyes are watching a beautiful princess staring so far from her window. And the eunuch behind him said: “The lady said, she wants to go back to Wei empire and the crown prince is surely worried.”
Ra Zheng feels upset, he bumps his hands in the wall and walk fast then left.
The young maidservant feels empathy with the lonely princes said: “When the time is right the Silver Prince of Qinghai will meet you.”
“Meet who? Silver Prince?” Xiao Ba cannot hide the curiosity in her face.
The older maidservant responds sarcastically said: “You do have to know. You should be thanking your savior and not thinking of someone who doesn’t even care about you!”
The last six words hit the bottom of Xiao Ba’s heart, she felt gloomy when she heard the unkind remarks.
Ra Zheng on his uncontrolled emotions towards Yuan Song, out of a jealous heart makes him order the standby servants: “My bow and arrow! Now!”
The servants calm but seen in the fast move likes to please the Silver Prince and immediately took off his princely garment and the servants put on his warrior armor. After a few minutes, the Silver Prince came out with a mad but more handsome face, who looks like a hungry fox ready to devour his prey.
The old Eunuch bows at him and said: “My Lord, don’t you think its time to meet your old familiar childhood guest?”
Ra Zheng quickly tucks some buttons in his chest and shouts angrily: “No!”
The old Eunuch not affected at his rude behavior did not fret and said: “You have all the time in the world, my Lord.”
***
Ra Zheng went out and rode on the prime horses waiting outside his palace corridors with some of his royal guards ushering him to the royal garrison.
A quiet yet loud beats of the chest, he held his breath then…
Swoosh…
Released the silver arrows fast with the perfect arc.
“Missed!”
A sudden low bass male voice spoke and the handsome man standing on his panting horse, wearing his velvet red hunting garments, came out of the woods.
The target hare was shocked ran fast.
Who invited you to disturb?!
Ra Zheng on his cold and handsome emotionless face loaded another arrow into his bow and pointed it to Ra Zhun’s horse!
Ra Zhun felt the excitement from his veins said: “Do you think you are challenging a beginner?”
Ra Zheng replied: “No, I am challenging a weak spot, color-blind brother!”
Ra Zhun loves to wear red because he was born with a curse in his eyes. He cannot identify the yellow to red and brown colors. Ra Zhun has to train his eyes to wear these colors every day and hopes to get his cure.
Ra Zhun responded with a glee tone in his voice: “Oho, you are seeing improvement, my brother! You do not want to try me!”
A mock was passed into the air and Ra Zheng venting out of a jealous heart and frustrated target did not hesitate to let go for another silver arrow.
The Qinghai Velvet Prince like a storm suddenly leaped in the mid-air and took off his two Persian Shamshir swords and with great agility tapped the butt of the horse and the horse went on a fast run. Ra Zhun executed a Persian style art of swordplay rejected the silver arrows with great precision just a few inches to kill himself in his chest.
“Hmm…Impressive! Yet even close to death!” Ra Zheng praised but mocked him still would not want to Ra Zhun to grow on his overconfidence and airy attitude towards everyone.
Ra Zhun not happy to hear the mocking said: “You praised me so much and yet insulted me more than what you do not like to see and hear.”
Ra Zhun quickly brandished small daggers towards Ra Zheng in spiral form, forced Ra Zheng to leap from his horse. For a moment, his feet touched the ground suddenly flew on air and back tumbling.
Now a tree is creaking with some noise, slowly cut from its bark, dropped to the ground. The royal guards were dispersed from their defensive position.
Ra Zheng laughed out loud and said: “Oh my brother! This is child’s play! Look at what you’ve done? Poor pine tree!”
Ra Zhun happy with the outcome he said: “It cannot be undone! I did what I have to do!”
Ra Zheng heard a happy brother said: “You do not have to force nature to do your damage! Is this what all Father spent in Persian Empire to train you? This is worst, do you know?!”
Ra Zhun absorbing all the insults gave him a big laugh: Ha..ha..ha.. Are you jealous or mad at me because I am able to bring more delight to Father than you? Your hunting ways are so outdated! Your ancient ways do not match my new methods!
“Do not be overconfident with your new ways, the ancient ways are still the best ways. Always trust the tried and time tested ways.” Ra Zheng is whistling to call his horse.
“I am the future and you will be the past. I am fast forwarding and you are rewinding? What can you earn from it!” Ra Zhun also called his horse by whistling and both horses came to their sides.
Qinghai Queen Zhejue lovely as the rising sun is seen bathing in the pool of light. It was called the cone pool of light because the pool is formed in a circle shape like that of the human eye.
There is a thin line waved form in the middle that separates the hot and the cold water. Underneath is a cone-like structure clear cut pool mounted like a diamond on top of the ground base tiles of the Qinghai Queen’s Palace. It was told that the deeper one swims to perfect shape cone, no one lived to make it back to the top.
The Queen’s servant palace rumors tell that the lover of the Queen turns out to be a Merman. He was imprisoned inside the pool of light by the Queen because of his unfaithfulness to her when the Merman came back to Qinghai with another woman.
The story of the Merman was no other than the Queen’s version of the punishment she bestowed to the King of Qinghai. To her wit and smart tongue, she managed to cover everything in her own twisted truths and hid the truth from the entire empire.
Turning all back to normal at the crucial time of chaos, the Moon Kingdom was shut off and wrapped in poisonous vines. From thereon, the Qinghai Queen hid everything behind her bitter heart. Until now, her endless revenge is unquenchable. Pity and mercy do not exist in Qinghai.
And the Queen wants to conquer the entire Ximeng continent by using Ra Yue, she thinks the son of the Qinghai King can be useful as she believes they are both cold, ruthless to unite the tribal bones and political grass empires.
Only Qinghai will remain strong and stand alone.
The Qinghai Empire had never been recovered after the King was cursed and his body almost considered to be long dead after the Moon Kingdom was destroyed.
The Celestial warfare ended it all. It made the Yuwen blood a hero and sweep the Jianghu spies defeated while the half-bred underworld spies took different roles in life.
The heap of ruins would not let the Qinghai King’s body die and no peace is granted until the curse is freed. It can only be freed with the lover’s sword Poe Yue Jian and the Broken moon sword.
The beauty of pain can only be realized when the ugly door of happiness opens.
**
Reports of Jianghu Spies…
A group of spies gathered into a secret cave from the farthest steppes of snow-capped mountains of Yanbei. Everyone dropped a snow paper in the stone pot suspended in the middle of the star shape fireplace.
The leader hasn’t arrived and has never given any advice to anyone in the league.
Whenever the leader arrives, it is always an ambush visit.
The heads all covered by white Hessian burlap fabric, the faces like an angel, and the eyes were heavily wearing white eyeliners.
They looked divine when they call for a gathering, but looks atrocious Ninja’s if they are a spy at work.
Jianghu spies do not reveal themselves to ordinary people.
But they always intervene for the good of the side they chose to follow.
They often visit the leaders of the state, the Emperors in secret to foretell the future, send forewords about a warning or a threat if Emperor does not listen.
Jianghu spies balance good and evil.
They break or make an empire. Unlike the underworld spies who are half-bred human with supernatural powers, they are full human flesh and blood and no supernatural powers.
However, they possess human superior skills and also belong to the league of non-governmental spies. Unlike the Afterlife Camp spies who work as assassins for hire network, Jianghu spies do not work for money but for a secret code.
If the mission is a complete success, the secret code is tattooed into the body to complete the Nirvana cycle.
This is very important for them to liberate one human state into the repeated cycle of karma. It is the highest form of freedom from suffering which will lead to the attainment of true peace.
The Lesser leader arrived not revealing an inch of her face while the Greater leader shadow has never visited them for a long time.
The Lesser leader came to sit in front of the star shape fireplace.
No one dared to speak, no one dared to look at her.
Her origins were not known to them, but the Jianghu spies follow her commands at her will.
She began to stir the stone pot and took the first snow paper. She sprinkled the appearing powder then read: “Misery”
A Jianghu spy stood up and said.
“Misery is everywhere, as long as misery torments and devours the people, the pain (or the curse of poisonous vines) will never cease to flow through their veins. The Moon Kingdom have suffered long enough to protect its Sun. The Sun (Qinghai) Kingdom wants to swallow the Moon. There can never be any hope. The leader of the wind and cloud decree has given up.”
The Lesser leader said.
“To understand misery is to delay death. But death always marks a new beginning. This time we cannot stop it. The Moon must come to its full moon or the new crescent moon would not rise. Hence, misery transforms the full moon into a new moon.”
Everyone was delighted to hear what they have to hear.
The Lesser leader sprinkled the disappearing powder in the snow paper and the snow paper was put into a wooden flask bracelet. She handed it over to the Jianghu spy who spoke about misery and picked another snow paper from the pot.
The appearing powder was sprinkled in the snow paper and the Lesser leader spoke.
“After Misery, here comes, Wisdom.”
Another Jianghu Spy stood up and spoke.
“With ignorance, the people are always a victim of their own self. Forgetting one’s wisdom and prudence can lead someone to Chibi (means short). If you become short with wisdom, you can forget anything, your memories will be traded in a place of oblivion, a place of amnesia. It is the worst enemy of Sun (Qinghai) Kingdom which the Moon Kingdom contains and controls it. Aside from being blinded by the truth, they also forgot the ancient ways. The Underworld realms which are the keeper of all evil is being suppressed by the Sun Kingdom. While the Moon kingdom who serves as the scales of the Qinghai Kingdom to weigh good from evil will be overthrown. If this happens, who will balance the scales? Can wisdom still teach the hearts of those people who forgot?”
The Lesser leader opened her mouth and spoke about Wisdom.
“Wisdom is the most elusive of all virtues. While Misery is always the path to avoid, Misery does not avoid anyone. Misery forces itself into all life forms. It does not respect anyone or please someone. Wisdom is different. The path to wisdom is like a young lover who pursues a beautiful lady and its desire to own it shall burn day and night. It is not gained by mere listening or studying.”
“Wisdom can only be cultivated and developed. In order for wisdom to become part of those people who forget, one must display the act of strong courage to own it. However, if Wisdom pledges its form to you, you must nurture it to grow. Wisdom places a high value of itself. It is always ready to leave if people take it for granted. To those people who have forgotten its ways, it will have difficulty finding it again unless one finds the Teacher who carries peace and good heart, wisdom chooses to reside. People can only hope if they can find the Teacher whom Wisdom favors to reveal its ways.”
Every Jianghu Spies, closed eyes, tapped the middle of their nose and the middle of their foreheads. No one knows why they have to display such gesture.
But it is said that it is a sign of inviting insight to breathe within them and let them stay in their temporal minds.
Again, the Lesser leader sprinkled the disappearing powder in the snow paper and the snow paper was put into a wooden flask bracelet. She handed it over to the Jianghu spy who spoke about Wisdom and picked another snow paper from the stone pot.
When another snow paper was picked from the stone pot, the Lesser leader suddenly was astonished. A violent wind came to shake the place and the stone pot was swaying.
The last snow paper flew at the stone hedge door slab of the cave. Suddenly all heads bowed.
The Greater leader has a strong presence and unexplained autocracy, the plum blossom scent brings good memories to every Jianghu spies. Her beautiful body form from a thin satin covered the head to the delicate footwear in its feet, the face is beautiful, eyes is calm, came for an ambush visit.
A delicate hand, full of beautiful white ornate florals, hand painted henna tattoos, picked up the last snow paper from the ground.
Having no appearing powder to sprinkle in it, suddenly crumpled it.
Everyone was shocked.
No one dared to move when they saw the wooden bracelet hanging in the wrist of the Greater leader.
The wooden bracelet was recognized by everyone.
It is a gift of Dong Fangyi to Lou He.
Dong Fangyi was a secret admirer of Lou He. He stirred the emotions of Lou He and Lou He fell for it.
The bracelet was given to Lou He as a pledge of their undying decree as a promise to each other to defend the Moon Kingdom even against the Sun Kingdom and free its curse from the Qinghai Queen.
However, Dong Fangyi took a different path and Lou He was left alone standing for the decree. Dong Fangyi betrayed Lou He causing her untimely death.
The Greater leader knew everyone was looking a the wooden bracelet. She walked gracefully towards the star shape fireplace, then took out the bracelet in her hand.
The Lesser leader on her calm face assisted the Greater leader by bringing her the ash of appearing powder. The Greater leader took the snow paper inside the wooden bracelet and sprinkled the appearing power, it revealed: 自由
It means Freedom.
**
“Skyshadow, you are not going to disturb me!”
Zao Baocung is meditating, momentarily opened his eyes and saw the woman as cold as ice in her beautiful Hanfu fighting garment, a sword on her waist, she is a killing machine.
“You will need to bring a lot of calmness and indifference to this!” Sky Shadow handed a piece of paper snow to Zao Baocung.
“Wait, where are you going?” Hurriedly said by Zao Baocung.
“Rectify the situation!” Said Skyshadow who has her own mind and will. She acts according to what is needed at the moment and does not need any permission to do it.
“When the enemy is strong, make them closer than your friends.”
Zao Baocung reads the paper snow. He is not surprised to see it coming this fast. The Jianghu spies were all gathered to work overtime as their Greater leader declared the sacred word Freedom that cost her life. He knows as well the Lou He had been pronounced dead by the present time but he didn’t believe it was all true.
***
A turn back of time where Lou He was imprisoned and about to be executed. . .
“Call me Li Yul.” The enemy sneaked into the Wei garrison grounds and took Lou He’s hand dripping with blood and wrapped with a soft cloth to stop the profuse bleeding.
Lou He out of blood loss but a dangerous state of human life was taken out of the Wei Garrison yard by an unknown dark entity.
Xia Chong came in too late found an empty prison cell.
She tried to call Lou He’s name.
Suddenly a group of chanting monks from the dark prison cell came to encircle her and started to frighten her.
They started to cast a spell on her. Xia Chong tried all of her best to counter the spell chant cast upon her. Her underworld powers were not enough when they tied her up with the chains of her Greater leader Lou He.
She asked for help but the last chanting monk cursed her. Xia Chong felt betrayed with her Greater Leader Lou He started to curse Lou He’s name.
The group of dark unknown entities suddenly came out of the prison cell and took Lou He and went out of sight trailing a secret path.
Meanwhile, Viper was waiting outside and sensed Xia Chong did not come back yet, she continued to spy on the Wei Garrison yard.
Trailkoya was waiting outside the Black Palanquin and started to sense some strange entities dressed in monkish attires. Trailkoya knows who they are, he said: “Did you come to die?”
One of the monks dressed on monkish attire introduced his ruffian presence spoke: “We came to save an enemy.”
Suddenly, their surroundings produced an unusual rain of ice needles and their stage fight was interrupted.
Trailkoya let go of the Monks went to awaken the horse and start to run the Palanquin.
Exactly where Viper was waiting, Trailkoya took Chu Qiao and gently laid her body inside the Palanquin.
Chu Qiao is wasted and looks dying. Viper pulled the reins of the underworld prime horses in the fast run towards the Moon Kingdom.
While Zhan Ziyu and the afterlife camp spies were injured, another shadowless spy came for a double work that night. Xia Chong was captured by Tao Ye.
“Stop!!!”
The Skyshadow leader was about to kill Xia Chong but Tao Ye stopped it.
“Master, she can still be of good use. Why kill her today?” Tao Ye slightly counter attacked the belt sword of Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu thought for a while and said: “She is a dangerous underworld spy! We must finish her!”
“Master! You cannot kill her yet until she spits out the underworld spy secret network.”
Xiao Yu thinks, Tao Ye is right, she put down her belt sword and back to the calm beautiful face, she said: Tie her up and imprison her and send her to Liang’s secret prison. She must be taken as captive!”
“Nuo.” (means promise) said by Tao Ye.
Deep of the night was over, and the dawn has finally come.
♥♥♥
Valuable information. Lucky me I found your website by accident, and I am shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
Liked by 1 person
Wow! Thank you! I constantly needed to write on my blog something like that. Can I take a portion of your post to my website?
Liked by 1 person
whoah this weblog is fantastic i really like reading your posts. Stay up the good paintings! You know, many persons are searching around for this information, you could aid them greatly.
Like
Please let me know if you’re looking for a author for your weblog. You have some really good posts and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me an e-mail if interested. Cheers!
Liked by 1 person
Lou He is alive!
Liked by 1 person
Normally I don’t read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice article.
Liked by 1 person
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
Liked by 1 person
Spot on with this write-up, I truly assume this website wants much more consideration. I’ll in all probability be again to learn much more, thanks for that info.
Liked by 1 person
Aw, this became an extremely nice post. In thought I would like to devote writing such as this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… but exactly what do I say… I procrastinate alot and by no means find a way to get something completed.
Liked by 1 person
I wish to point out my respect for your kindness giving support to people who need help with in this idea. Your special commitment to passing the message all around was especially effective and has frequently made associates like me to reach their ambitions. Your amazing interesting suggestions can mean a lot a person like me and extremely more to my peers. Best wishes; from each one of us.
Liked by 1 person
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely comeback.
Like
You made some clear points there. I did a search on the topic and found most individuals will consent with your blog.
Liked by 1 person
Pingback: The Secret Princess – Fan Fiction by AC Chapter 78: Bring me out of the dark | The Secret Princess
Thanks so much for giving everyone an exceptionally pleasant possiblity to read in detail from this website. It is always very cool plus jam-packed with fun for me and my office mates to search the blog more than three times in 7 days to see the newest things you have got. And indeed, I’m just usually contented with your awesome secrets served by you. Some 2 points on this page are completely the most beneficial we have had.
Liked by 2 people
Oh my goodness! an amazing article dude. Thanks Nevertheless I am experiencing difficulty with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting equivalent rss problem? Anyone who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx
Liked by 1 person
Pingback: The Secret Princess excerpts and editing status – The Secret Princess
Pingback: The Secret Princess – Fan Fiction by AC