The Secret Princess – Fan fiction by AC Chapter 10: Sleeping Dragon of the North
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Sleeping Dragon of the North (09.13.2022)
Yan Xun on his usual routine offering incense and burn paper snow to appease the dead he laid it down to the snowy lake where the ice and snow melted, it became a beautiful lake as the grassy land resurfaced.
The lake was located at Yanbei winter snow mountains, and he has to journey a thousand miles to celebrate the death anniversary of A’Chu and Yuwen Yue.
Spring was over and it is almost summer.
Yan Xun looking more handsome, radiant and full of life, rode on his white horse alone felt the summer breeze. He remembers the times with A’Chu when he used the day of his wedding to escape Chang’an, when he has learned to avenge his families death using the Xuili Army who betrayed Yanbei and hand them over to Wei.
The latter opened the Hong Chuan City into slaughter.
Reuniting with Yan Xun’s father’s loyal generals Cheng Yuan who held the remnant of Yanbei’s armies, and another general’s son namely A’Jing who survived the wars inside Yanbei was necessary in order to kickstart Yanbei and build it from ashes.
A’Jing became an excellent chef that supplied Yan Xun with food while he was detained in the Oriole Courtyard. Yan Xun recovered after being poisoned from Princess Chuner’s food basket. Since then Yan Xun never trusted any food coming from Wei royal kitchen nor ate any food from sent from his closest friends other than the food sent to him in secret by A’Jing.
This made Yan Xun eat at ease and survive the poison attacks from anyone in the Wei household.
At the time Yan Xun was poisoned, Zhong Yu told A’Chu to bring Chansu (a drug extracted from a hundred skins of frog).
This Chansu is another poison that would suppress the poison inside Yan Xun’s body. The process is to give Yan Xun an acupuncture needle pressure on his wrist to slow down the pulse and to stop the poison from spreading towards the heart.
A’Chu took this job and was seriously wounded. The goal was to come back on time, but she was severely beaten by the Oriole guards. She did not mind being hit as long as she can save Yanbei’s almost half-dead prince, who has to survive hundreds of assassination attempts from Zhao and Wei household with other interested parties who plots to kill him every day at Royal Oriole Courtyard.
The emperor strategically placed him in Chang’an city he bought all the businesses surrounding it to make it look like a typical city.
But this is not the case, he sowed lots of thistles and thorns around the courtyard with the hopes, that within 3 years, in this prison facade, Prince Yan Xun would die not in his own hands but by some coincidental mishap.
Zhong Yu and A’chu proved to be the only trusted servants who protected him at that time. Zhong Yu’s talents include detecting food poisons, rich in knowledge of medicine and healing, knows lots of types of weapons. She also has the gift of attracting animals for her own disposal.
Zhong Yu has lots of connections and unknown followers which makes her hard to beat as an enemy.
Not to mention, she also possesses a powerful sky feather martial arts that can summon weather and can predict the stars. While A’chu, Yan Xun left hand was really dear and close to his heart.
Because aside from they shared the hardships that nobody had when they were detained in Wei’s Garrison prison A’Chu is good at espionage, escape innovation, infiltration, and sabotage and became Yan Xun’s lethal military strategist.
Prince Yan Xun is on his way to the Xui Xui mountains and his long ride to Longji mountains to visit Wu Dao Ya for the first time. After four years of overwhelming wars, tragedies, and the death of Yan’s entire family, his parents Yan Shicheng and Yan Bai Cheng the mother committed suicide to save the crown prince Yan Xun.
Ever since he arrived at Yanbei, all he wanted to do is to talk to Wu Dao Ya. He often summons him, but usually gets an empty response.
Wu Dao Ya was the soul of Yanbei. Without his father’s first counselor, Prince Yan Xun’s power in Yanbei is unlikely to flourish. Even if all of Yanbei’s military troops are back in strength, the differences in their interests will be hard to unite without Wu Dao Ya.
Yan Xun stopped by at the old gate, a vacation spot they usually travel to with his brothers and father when he was still young.
The Yan family used to go camping here whenever the emperor allows the little crown prince to come and stay with his royal biological family and have fun together.
It is the place where he learned survival strategies, riding the prime warhorses, nights of bonfires, several stories from their ancestors, and many other things his father Yan Shicheng taught him.
Yan Xun remembers those days with comfort in his heart as he touches the old stuff inside the house as if the voices and sounds were real, a flashback from the happy and good memories of his childhood.
He also remembers he and his father used to cross several bodies of water and travel some hills and black forests to reach Liang state where her mother often visits especially when it is cold season, as Yanbei is covered with frost during winter seasons.
After a short pitstop at Xui Xui mountain, he rode with his horse towards the Longji Mountains where Wu Dao Ya resides.
He traveled one more day to reach his residence and met with the native Yanbei people. Prince Yan Xun was easily identified by the indigenous people of Yanbei.
A small village of farmers and local fighters with extreme powers. Yet, humbly dressed in canvass with sackcloth type of man-made materials.
They wear native hats made of dried grass and maintain long beards like an old man. Their young woman has baskets at their backs as they pick wildflowers to sell along the silk road.
“Yan Shi Zi”
Wu Dao Ya greeted him from a distance and Yan Xun waved his hands. He parked his horse in the nearby paddock. He walked closer to Wu Dao Ya feeling homey, looking tall and handsome.
Wu Dao Ya bowed to the prince his arms in front, and Yan Xun nodded and mimic the same thing as well showing a hand gesture to point where the prince would sit. He always knows even if Yan Xun came for an ambushed face to face visit, he is always ready for this.
“What can I do to our Prince?” a sad smile he gave to Yan Xun.
“Mr. Wu, it has been a year since I ask for you to come and you did not come.” Yan Xun’s casual face looking at the table drank the small wine prepared by Wu Dao Ya.
“It’s been a year, and you still burn paper snows offering incense to the dead,” said Wu Dao Ya.
“For the peace of my family, the Xuili general, the Xuili armies, and the latter Yuwen Yue.” Yan Xun’s sad eyes the voice is deep and slow.
“If she is alive, what would you do?” Wu Dao Ya began to fine-tune his flute.
“I have searched for her, and still no body was found. I still believe she is still alive but might have not come back to me because of my greedy heart, I was too consumed with my anger and gave in to my dark side.” Yan Xun said it with a tone of regret in his voice.
“If she came back to you as a different person would you recognize her?” Wu Dao Ya understands the feelings of heaviness of Yan Xun.
“I guess, I will always recognize A’Chu. We have been very close for the past three years until she died at the lake..” Yan Xun staring far, their eyes looking to the Longji mountains
Yan Xun continued: “I always have thought we have mutual feelings, I have always thought we have shared a different kind of friendship more than I can ever say I felt her loyalty and dedication to me but I messed it all up.”
Yan Xun feels regretful, that if he can only turn back the time and would know that she will die early, he would have done things a little bit differently.
Wu Dao Ya started to play his flute, and he played a sad song. Yan Xun looked at it, closed his eyes, and listened to the harmony of the flute and nature.
After few minutes, Wu Dao Ya finished an unknown music piece, and opened his eyes. Yan Xun turned to him and opened his eyes.
Wu Dao Ya started to say: “Yan Xun if you see her, you may not come near her like the way it used to be.”
Yan Xun’s curious eyes, as if Wu Dao Ya knows about A’Chu and he said, “do you know anything about A’Chu?”
Wu Dao Ya inhaled and slowly exhaled and said to Yan Xun, “before Yan was Chu Jing.”
Do you mean Chu Jing of the Eastern territories? Yan Xun raised his brows.
I was the former General of Chu Jing before I came down to serve Yanbei as your counselor.
Wu Dao Ya confessed only to the tip of the iceberg.
Yan Xun cannot believe he is talking to a legend of the Eastern empire, the lost Chu Kingdom after its cruel execution by the Western Empire. The legendary kingdom was declared as if they were extinct and lost all its power through the brutal Shen Jin Emperor, the Big Summer dynasty whom his father Yan Shicheng served and has been loyal to for the last four generations.
Tell me Mr. Wu, is my Yan family, and A’Chu has something to do with these lost empires? Yan Xun digs into some more stories and the voice is as deep as the lakes at the Longji mountains. From the unseen bottom, a hazy, foggy, cold view of his eyes straight to Wu Dao Ya.
Wu Dao Ya replied: “Yan Xun, we can never go back in time, but if A’Chu is alive then you would know.”
Yan Xun seems blank and does not understand what Mr. Wu is confessing. He told him, “if I am not worthy to know what happened in the past, and I cannot go back to change it, whatever is it, if I come to see her again, I would not let her go like what happened to the icy lake. I want to change the course of the present time.”
“I am sure you did, if only,” Wu Dao Ya’s short reply.
“Mr. Wu, can you help me then know more about the lost Kingdom of Chu?” Yan Xun drank his wine and looked at him.
Wu Dao Ya replied: “You will soon come to know everything, patience is a virtue.”
Yan Xun nodded and just like talking to his father, he listened to Wu Dao Ya’s advice to wait for the right time.
“Well, I have to ride back to the plains of Yanbei the day after tomorrow, the world (Yan Shi Zi’s military codename) will change the world, and I hope when I come back, it will be the right time to tell me more.” Yan Xun is already preparing the horse to ride on it and bid his goodbye to Wu Dao Ya.
Wu Dao Ya waved his hands and bowed his head to the handsome prince of Yanbei.
Then suddenly, a little girl about eight years old came out of Wu Dao Ya’s small cottage house and asked: “Mr. Wu, who was that handsome man?”
“You will meet him very soon, but for now, lets practice again your wushu.”
Yan Xun rode down from the mountains, and he is riding alone, he passed by springs of water, black forests and several misty plains. He was like a King without an army traveling with a heart of hope and lots of thoughts about the lost Chu Kingdom.
He was right about his hunch when they were captured and detained at the royal garrison in Wei he came to ask how is she related to the exterminated noble families of the east where Chu Qiao finally reveal her name, and he gave her a nickname of A’Chu.
After two days of travel, Yan Xun arrived at the city of Yanbei at nightfall, his servants greeted him, and he acknowledges then he went straight to his royal tent quarters. A’Jing although one of the Yanbei’s Generals now, still cooks unique dishes for the prince. He brought food and drink to eat, the Prince was just too tired to do anything, so Yan Xun rested.
The next day, after a year of restrained grief, Yan Xun woke up with a bright face for the first time in four years. Back to his casual princely duties, he went straight to his repository tent, a library-like structure inside, where most of the salvaged documents and records left from the ashes of Yanbei were kept. A’Jing arrived at the shelter and greeted his master.
A’Jing was a little bit surprised when he saw the scrolls rolled down and scattered on the carpet. “The world, let me help you. Are you looking for something in particular?” A’Jing dressed in his casual Yanbei uniform shows a mature face and a low voice.
“I am looking for the secret accounts we retrieved years back from Xian Yang business group that Mr. Wu formed after my father was executed. I need the summary of the events and their details so I can review and streamline the strong financial capacity of Yanbei.” Yan Xun seems busy looking for some things.
A’Jing recited the summary to Yan Xun as he knows this well. His life was also put into danger just to save these accounts but was later accomplished by A’Chu. While Yan Xun is busy picking up the messy table which was on the carpet he listened to every A’Jing’s word.
A’Jing was the only sole witness and survivor that can tell him accurate information from the start to the sad ending for Bei Shou citizens. Bei Shou was in the northern part of Yanbei. It was put to open attack by the order of the Shen Jin Emperor of Wei with no mercy to its citizens. When the world came back to Yanbei, Yan Xun lost this Bei Shou City. No remains of people and his heart was lost to it.
Some of the citizens left, and died in famine and plague where Lui Xi happened to pass by their humble village and learned his parents already died.
Lui Xi also learned about the cruelty of the emperor to the city and saw the famine in the land. He predicts that everyone will die if no one will send aid to this city the absence of Yanbei’s leaders together with government officials like him set themselves to become refugee and migrate to Liang state.
Some fled even to their enemy’s land close to the border of Changan. A’Jing feelings take him back to the dark times of Yanbei he stopped somewhere in the middle where Yan Xun picked it up also to continue the story.
Lui Xi went back to Liang state, and he sold some of its fine properties and send provisions to Bei Shuo city to supply its food and medicine, enough to support every dying citizen in Yanbei. It was distributed to the poor. And some of the provisions even reached the world (Yan Shi Zi) at the time the world was in Oriole Courtyard surviving a hundred attempts of assassination.
Mr. Wu was informed of his voluntary good heart gaining nothing in return, while you were held by the Emperor in the Oriole courtyard, Mr. Wu took care of Yanbei in order to save what was left.
He met with him in secret and then organized the Xian Yang business group and later established Lui Xi as the leader. He carefully planned and ordered them to go back and prosper in Liang state using Mr. Wu’s strategies and the group flourished in the land. It became number one in running the business trade and commerce.
Xian Yang is a city sitting at the trade and commerce between Western Wei and Southern Liang. It is an excellent strategic location for buying stocks and reselling goods, and services to both states.
Eliminating any suspicion that its owners came from Yanbei, A’Jing finished the story by adding more about Feng Mian.
Yan Xun’s sunny face earlier turned gloomy he just kept quiet while listening to A’Jing.
Feng Mian, Yan Xun’s most trusted loyal servant, where he and Yan Xun grew up together from childhood. Feng Mian is younger than Yan Xun, and he considers him a small brother rather than a servant.
Feng Mian respects and loves the young master Yan Xun and when Yan Xun was detained in the prison, Feng Mian cried for many days and nights enduring the separation from his young master. Because of Feng Mian’s brotherly love and loyal servanthood to the Yan family, he secretly collaborated with Lui Xi to support Yan Xun while the prince was detained in the Oriole courtyard.
It was later discovered by Wei Shu Ye however, it was not exposed due to his participation in the businesses of Xian Yang City where the Wei family fortune is at stake, their companies and its chamber of commerce are involved.
Feng Mian working with Lui Xi came to be the number one in the trade industry and the wealthiest man in the city, even the Wei Guang family cannot win given his brilliant strategies arranged by Mr. Wu.
He, later on, changed his name from Feng Mian to Lord Feng. So Lord Feng can come and go out of the town without fear for his life.
What Lord Feng fears the most is the one who is inside Yanbei, the Yan Prince who bought his freedom by spilling blood in Changan city. Lord Feng is forever indebted.
He is Yan Xun’s person and revered servant of all time. Feng Mian’s death fortified the walls of Hong Chuan City by saving Chu Qiao. Advancing the Xuili army troops, Chu Qiao was about to enter its gate. Cheng Yuan, one of Yanbei’s brutal generals intended for an ambush.
Feng Mian shouted at the top of its wall to warn Chu Qiao. Someone pushed Feng Mian from the wall and then fell. Chu Qiao cried but cannot come near Feng Mian because the archers are ready to aim at her. Still, in his teenage years, Feng Mian was killed by a spear by one of Cheng Yuan’s Lieutenants. It is a sad day and Chu Qiao cannot do anything to save him. Feng Mian’s last words, he said, “finally I got to see you Ms. Beauty. Promise me to take care of the prince.”
At that time, Yan Xun was on the battlefront and cannot reinforce Chu Qiao because they were tricked by Wei Shu Ye leaving Yanbei for an open attack and Hong Chuan at the same time. Zhong Yu advised Yan Xun to come back to Yanbei, but Yan Xun refused and willing to sacrifice Hong Chuan City as Wei’s distraction in exchange for conquering Chang’An.
Whatever side Yan Xun decides to follow, he loses either one of his precious comrades and loyal servants, another price he has to pay in advance to the troops expanding the borders of Yanbei to establish his power as a ruler.
Feng Mian his guard left his side as a valuable player especially when Yan Xun was held in three years captivity. Feng Mian had to secretly work in progress to supply whatever material things the prince needed.
When Yan family was annihilated, Feng Mian’s revenge was he expanded their wealth.
Not until Yan Xun came back to Yanbei, Feng Mian did not respond to Yan Xun’s informal invitation to come over to show his face. This is to protect the prince and their businesses at that time.
Yan Xun had to go over to Yanbei and see him, and so Feng Mian bowed to him and reported to him the chronology of events.
Feng Mian even said to A’Jing who called him Mr. Feng Si or known as Lord Feng commented about his fashion: “I fear that you will accuse me of being extravagant, but I put on such thing with a purpose, if I have known that the Prince would be coming along, I would have borrowed the garments of a servant.”
A throwback from the past, after a few surprise visits to some of Yanbei’s notable families, Yan Xun woke up his father’s sleeping allies, anyone who joined him he gives them a position but anyone who does not, meets their end through the hands of his General Cheng Yuan.
Upon the unveiling of its new signage The Palace of Master Yan, Yan Xun gave him a gift a cold dagger called the Dragon Bird once owned by Bai Qi, a cruel general from the warring period of Yanbei.
Cheng Yuan fed it with blood.
Yan Xun warned him: “whoever owns it and uses it will release the hidden demon on it.”
In the battle at Hong Chuan City where the deputy general He Xiao fought for his own city where his family resides and suffered losses, the rest of his cavalry died. Some were injured and retired, others went on furlough and Chu Qiao their general was severely injured was one of the major losses Yanbei has to suffer next to Bei Shuo City.
The aftermath of the battle took many lives of the poor, trusted servants, and the Western royals and nobles.
Another grand happening was that, stealing the seal from the Wei emperor to use its armies was known to be capital punishment. Where Princess Yuan Chun (Chun’Er) was sentenced to death for drinking the poisoned wine.
Wei Shu Ye who conspired with Chun’Er was also discharged from the position of Wei Valve master. It also cost the death of Wei’s emperor’s beloved imperial concubine Ning’Er who inflicted her death in front of the emperor, the mother of Yuan Song, and Chun’Er to stop the princess’s death and execution.
After its demise, it also forced the Wei Emperor to send an imperial decree declaring the beloved crown prince son Yuan Song to take over the Duke title of Yanbei and station himself to fight Yan Xun while Yuan Chun ‘Er was locked up in the secluded West temple.
The battle also made a startling gap between Chu Qiao and Yan Xun where Chu Qiao started to become a little bit independent from Yan Xun’s commands and began to protect the Xuili army from becoming the collateral damage of Yan Xun to pay for their betrayal in opening the slaughter of Yanbei people.
The battle evened the score and settled it with their blood, hence, the Xuili army no longer owes Yan Xun and is free to choose who will be their next leader and general. They all voted for Chu Qiao.
The Xuili Army swore an oath to follow, obey, and protect General Chu Qiao before and after the battle in Hong Chuan city. But for now, seems after the icy lake tragedy where they fought with other Yanbei soldiers, they lost their general again.
In her last battle, she was rescued and saved by both Yuwen Yue and Yan Xun. Yuwen Yue on his black mask used the crossbow to counter Chun’Ers sword about to chop Chu Qiao’s head and pushed her.
After it, Yuwen Yue’s tearless eyes, feeling as if his heart was stabbed by a hundred knives, he looked at Xinger.
He embraced her and carried her out from the middle of the battlefield. He put her outside the battlefield, where Yan Xun came in almost late to reinforce Hong Chuan.
Yan Xun saw his General and cried in the middle, he carried her back to Yanbei’s headquarters and took care of her.
Yuwen Yue saw how Yan Xun moved her in his arms and he was just there unable to say or do a thing or else he would blow up his undercover as he came in on his double interests, his personal and his military interest.
Yan Xun at that time came from seven days of travel and siege in Changan and was just on time to scare Wei Shu Ye and Princess Chun’er, and they retreated.
Everyone was downcast as if the last hope of getting things right was again taken away from Xuili.
It is much more painful this time than the first time they allowed the Wei soldiers to open the gates of Hong Chuan.
Because at this present, from the icy lake tragedy, they fought their own uniform. They killed more Yanbei soldiers than those Wei soldiers who tricked Xuili army.
Ever since then, the renowned firefox watchdog of Yanbei became a disgrace and betrayer of Yanbei people and still carries its history of reputation until now even if they have already paid it all in full measure. Since there is no body found, He Xiao continuously searches for the lost general Chu and has never replaced her since then.
♥♥♥
Pingback: Secret Princess – Fan fiction by AC Chapter 09: Future King of the West | Angel Chua
Pingback: The Secret Princess – Fan Fiction by AC Chapter 11: ♥Flower of Paradise♥ (raw – for editing) | Angel Chua
Pingback: The Secret Princess – Fan Fiction by AC Chapter 12: A Sword and its past | Angel Chua
Pingback: The Secret Princess – Fan Fiction by AC Chapter 01-10 – Princess Agents
Pingback: 该秘密公主 (The Secret Princess) by AC 改编自Princess Agents剧集 原创小说 楚巧传 潇湘冬瓜 – Princess Agents
Pingback: The Secret Princess Excerpts | Angel Chua
Hello. impressive job. I did not anticipate this. https://bzp65.com/
Like
I regard something genuinely special in this site.
Liked by 1 person
I really like your writing style, fantastic info , thanks for putting up : D.
Like
With thanks! Valuable information!
Like
Greetings! I’ve been following your weblog for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Houston Texas! Just wanted to mention keep up the fantastic job!
Like
You are a very clever individual!
Like
I used to be suggested this web site by means of my cousin. I’m now not positive whether or not this put up is written by him as no one else realize such certain approximately my problem. You’re wonderful! Thanks!
Like
What i do not realize is actually how you are not really much more well-liked than you may be now. You’re very intelligent. You realize therefore significantly relating to this subject, produced me personally consider it from so many varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it’s one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs outstanding. Always maintain it up!
Like
I am always searching online for articles that can aid me. Thanks!
Like
whoah this blog is wonderful i love reading your posts. Keep up the great work! You know, lots of people are hunting around for this information, you could aid them greatly.
Like
Hey! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
Like
Howdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
Like
Hi there, just changed into alert to your blog via Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am going to be careful for brussels. I will appreciate for those who continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Like
It’s actually a cool and helpful piece of info. I’m happy that you shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
Like
I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I was looking for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
Like
With thanks! Valuable information!
Like
Hi there just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different browsers and both show the same outcome.
Like
You got a very great website, Gladiolus I found it through yahoo.
Like
Hey there, You’ve done a great job. I will certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I am confident they’ll be benefited from this website.
Like
Hello There. I discovered your weblog using msn. This is a very neatly written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to learn more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.
Like
Hi there, I found your website via Google while searching for a related topic, your website came up, it looks good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Like
obviously like your web-site however you need to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I to find it very troublesome to inform the reality however I’ll certainly come back again.
Like
I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic information I was looking for this information for my mission.
Like
Thanks for every one of your effort on this blog. My niece loves managing internet research and it is easy to understand why. We know all relating to the powerful form you convey powerful information on your web site and therefore inspire response from some other people on the topic so our simple princess is without a doubt studying a whole lot. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the year. Your doing a fabulous job.
Like
Its fantastic as your other content : D, thanks for posting . “Always be nice to people on the way up because you’ll meet the same people on the way down.” by Wilson Mizner.
Like
Outstanding post, you have pointed out some superb details , I also believe this s a very good website.
Liked by 1 person