The Secret Princess – Fan Fiction by AC Chapter 36: The World and the Star
♥Author♥Angel♥Chua♥
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong’er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
The World and the Star (05.28.2021 edited)
Today, the king of the sky did not attend the horizon, dark clouds gathered and unlocked the vault of heavens and issued heavy rain for the entire morning. Yan Xun not feeling tired took the journey along with her sleeping beauty companion and his two horses at his back.
Yan Xun camped and created a small bonfire to warm his cold beauty in the cave while waiting for the rain to stop, and it did not.
Yan Xun looking at his beauty, the face still covered with her indigo scarf, he did not attempt to touch it and see who lies beneath those gentle and beautiful sleeping eyes.
He promised himself to wait for the moment that the beauty will open her eyes and finds everything including herself in order.
Yan Xun is gentleman although he is excited and on top of the clouds that sent rain today, his self-control is one of his assets.
Well, except for Chu Qiao, where he experienced erratic behavior at times he wanted to see her, he will have to steal some time and pass by stratagems around Merlin together with Feng Mian to arrive at the Yuwen Household.
Then pass the usual interrogation at the Red Hills courtyard and finally his ultimate destination the Green Hills courtyard.
He didn’t mind the dangers and killing machines planted all around the Yuwen grounds.
When he was young, and carefree Yan Xun didn’t think twice to come and see her. And right now looks like he was duplicating the same behavior and his old self once again coming alive, sunny and just happy.
Yan Xun tried to meditate inside the cave while he is waiting for the beauty to wake up and she did not. Yan Xun thought: “Did those three balls affected her too much that she has not woke up ever since this morning, he even worried himself if she still going to wake up or not, this is not what he expected to happen.”
Yan Xun tried to sit straight, in a Zen position he tried to meditate again to ease his tired mind. He hasn’t gotten any sleep yet and won’t.
Because he might lose this hauntingly beautiful woman sleeping beside him.
After a while, Yan Xun could not stand his sleepy eyes. Finally, let go of the droopy eyes and sleeps beside her company.
Heavy raindrops are falling, the world and the star sleeping sweetly in the rocky beds of the mountain cave. After a few hours, Yan Xun woke up first and thinks it is the best sleep he ever had since the frozen lake tragedy. He leaned on his side and still lucky to see the woman beside him sweetly sleeping, Yan Xun is a little bit anxious. The Prince checked her palms and tried to count her pulse when suddenly the woman woke up. The delicate hands quickly reversed Yan Xun’s hands. The other holding a cold dagger pointed at his neck in which he didn’t even understand where did the beauty hide in her fragile body.
Yan Xun was stunned but smiled and said: “I am your prisoner and you are my warden.”
Chu Qiao heard those words but did not listen to it she said: “Where Am I and why we are here?”
Yan Xun on his assertiveness he said: “The first question, where? Second why? Got it.
Yan Xun continued with his hoarse voice he said: Third is, How can I speak when you don’t settle down your weapon first?”
Chu Qiao tightened and pressed the cold dagger in his neck. The blade cut a tiny wound, and little dark red blood starts to appear in his throat.
“Answer! or I will cut you here and now, I am not going to regret it.” Chu Qiao’s voice is sure and as sharp as her cold dagger.
Yan Xun on her hoarse voice said: “You are only able to put a knife in my neck because I let you but what about if I…”
Yan Xun reversed Chu Qiao’s hand as Yan Xun is a master of close fight position, he shifted the other side quickly grabbing the cold dagger and threw it away. Yan Xun put his left hand in his neck, where the blood is slowly dripping and promptly stop the flow.
While Chu Qiao just stared at him in horror as the blood is gradually running down his hand and she focused her eyes on his last finger. Half metal and half flesh on its jade-like skin.
Yan Xun calmed himself and confident as he is, he did not ask for help. He went to one of their saddlebags and took a Celadon bottle. Yan Xun pressed the wound area in his neck, and more blood gushed out.
After it, he wiped it with a white cloth and then opened the Celadon bottle, put some balm around the wound area. Chu Qiao was just staring at him.
Yan Xun didn’t even bother to look at her while he was doing the emergency treatment to his shallow wound. After it, Yan Xun looked at her and said: “Ey! don’t cry I won’t die yet, we still have many moments to make.”
Like a child, Yan Xun smiled at her, and Chu Qiao feels awkward but familiar with his behavior.
Chu Qiao hearing Yan Xun’s word, she shook her head and looked down, she was having a difficult moment. She thinks she might have seen those fingers before, the last finger gives her an unpleasant feeling.
She already knows her condition of memories maybe this is connected to her past.
Yan Xun suddenly felt the long silence in the air, he assured: “Here look at this bottle, it is the only one in the world the best herbal medicine for wounds, from the Far East.
Yan Xun smiled at her and said: Ey! I’ll be alright, tomorrow, you can cut me again, and this bottle will do all the wonders.”
Yan Xun has spoken in this manner to ease her guilty feeling about what she had done noticing Chu Qiao’s eyes is like going to cry like a river.
Chu Qiao seems not worried about the wound but the last finger from this man whom she thinks she is already familiar. Yan Xun smiles at her, her mind kept flashing back like a time-lapse but cannot recall when it happened and where.
Yan Xun interrupted, and stares at her, said: “You can stare at me like that when I am asleep, I am more handsome there but when I am awake here in front of your eyes, do you even that you are with a handsome gorgeous man?
Chu Qiao was quiet and did not react.
Yan Xun wants to be spontaneous: “A penny for your thoughts?”
Not saying any words, this man does not understand what is going through her. Chu Qiao cannot even think of ways to respond to his conversation. Her lips were sealed and just wanted to observe his interesting subject whom she remembers vividly. She is sure he is the man who took her away from the smoke last night.
Yan Xun asked her: “I am hungry, how about you? Aren’t you hungry?”
Chu Qiao did not answer but Yan Xun wanting to hear more of her voice, he teased: “Are you deaf? Mute? Or is it the effect of the smoke?”
Chu Qiao still looks at him with a trace of familiarity and the only thing she cannot recall is when, when did he meet this guy? Was it in her past? Or in her dreams?
Trying to remember to connect to this moment is somewhat bleak.
Yan Xun became a chatty merchant trying to sell his charms to this beautiful lady in front of him, trying to establish a friendship ground from her tiger beauty, he said: “Okay, I know this is all new to you and if you are feeling somewhat awkward or stunned that you are with the company of the Prince of Yanbei today. Don’t feel that way and do not be afraid.”
Yan Xun continued: “We are on our journey, and nobody from the Yan Palace followed us. Unless the whipping girl followed you again? B the way, who is this whip girl who always follows you around?”
Yan Xun stole a glance to Chu Qiao and that every girl would die feeling overwhelmed.
But Chu Qiao is not getting any of it and Yan Xun seems to doubt himself of his charms and looks suddenly not useful to this lady in front of him?
Is she an alien and not human? Yan Xun can only catch a smile on those thoughts he snapped himself back to the beauty in front of him.
Chu Qiao enduring these moments with this playful Prince she said: “How can I answer your questions if You have not answered mine.”
Yan Xun happy as a clam upon hearing her voice again, he squinted his eyes and closed his mouth. He holds his lips like he is going to kiss the woman but he did not.
Instead, he said: “That is the point, I won’t answer those questions, but you will have your answers after this short period of time I stole for us to get to know better. As you are aware of, the Prince of Yanbei is betrothed to the Liang Princess and…”
The chatty moment was cut and next thing Yan Xun do not know what to say next.
Yan Xun was out of words when suddenly Chu Qiao took off her indigo scarf.
Long silence and like a statue, Yan Xun on his pale skin became a rock.
… …
The time of the World stopped as the Star shines in the dark skies.
The World is suddenly shifted in the expanse of nowhere, lost in time, convinced that he sees a ghost.
His sturdy knees frozen in time, his mind froze, his voice suddenly voiceless and the only movement allowed on his body.
Mesmerizing eyes at the pure beauty in front of him, his knees dropped to the rocky ground and pushed away from himself in a backward position.
Like he was out of his mind, this beautiful agony, is it a dream? Or is this real?
No answers, everything was just frozen in time.
Yan Xun’s eyes went furious, he took the cold dagger thrown earlier, on a cold surrender the Prince shouted to Chu Qiao: “You can kill me here, that’s an order!”
Heavy rain still pouring from the vault of heavens, between the World and the Star in silence and nobody wants to make the first move.
… …
Suddenly Chu Qiao confused on the situation, passed out, and Yan Xun quickly caught the beauty who is about to fall like a thin paper. She did not have that amount of strength left to understand where she is, what is going on. Who the hell is this Yanbei prince who stole her from Xiuli camp?
She was starting her life from the place she would want to elevate its success. But what about now, spending time with someone she should or should not?
Yan Xun, do not want to make things complicated when he was just starting his life and closing that chapter in the frozen lake to move ahead.
This is both fateful and unfateful moment he set himself up, his price for coming and seeking peace for himself. All these years he spent and cried in the frozen lake were suddenly here in front of him.
Yan Xun even said to himself in the presence of Mr. Wu: “If I am not entitled 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 and would want to change the course of the present time.”
That moment has come, but to experience, it is different from what he is doing today. It seems Yan Xun was just waiting for this moment of his life where he would honestly see A’Chu in his own eyes, and touch her. h
Yan Xun has to be convinced she is alive. A’Chu can kill him now is the only way to make himself sure she is indeed alive.
There has never been any closure from the frozen lake, this is a continuing moment from where A’Chu and Yuwen Yue left him. He was angry at Chu Qiao for drawing a clear line of whom she will choose. From his memory, she chooses to die with Yuwen Yue in the lake.
Yan Xun like double dead meat, living like a ghost this past year..the truth is…
Yan Xun died more than he lived…
Now it seems those moments faded in time. Yan Xun has to face this woman, in front of him who appears to be out of strength every time she sees him.
Yan Xun looked at her angelic face. He hugged her tightly and said: “I would not let go of you, not even a single strand of this hair of yours will fall from the ground, and this is a promise.
Yan Xun welling in tears, a soft, gentle tone, full of joy and misery at the same time… only him can understand.
**
A sound of tiny drops of water heard at the cave as the heavy rain stopped, the sky is clear, and the moonlight shines so bright, like a painted canvas so is this frozen scene like it went back in time.
Yan Xun made himself busy, he cooked some food for A’Chu while she is just sleeping there, he smiled a lot looking at her face, he didn’t eat any and just sit around the bonfire thinking of his next steps.
Yan Xun is very happy and does not really know what to do, will he feel about Yan first or will he believe this woman in front of him. But for now he thought of himself, now that the truth has been revealed, he is right to think that He Xiao was loyal to him.
She is not He Xiao’s woman, it will never be. Maybe this is what his letter was all about and that is to inform him that he has already found A’Chu and she is alive.
He was right all these years since there was no dead body found, he secretly kept himself that hope, one day she would find A’Chu.
Chu Qiao suddenly slowly opened her eyes and felt the warmth inside the cave. While Yan Xun came to her and look at her eye to eye Chu Qiao did not hesitate to meet those eyes. Yan Xun opened his lips first to speak to her, he said: “Are you feeling better? I also put some tea candles around to ease your senses.”
Chu Qiao leaned her body a bit and looked around. The tea candles not only the bonfire gave her warmth.
On a beautiful candle display at the cave was the most romantic spot she has ever seen and that sweet aroma made her calm her senses she simply uttered: “This is a good smell.”
Yan Xun was just looking at her eyes he said: “You are in a cave since it has been raining all this morning and afternoon. Now its nightfall, we ought to stay here until dawn we will pack and leave. Here I have cooked and prepared a meal for both of us.”
Chu Qiao did not respond she was just observing this man.
Yan Xun cut the silence and in his husky voice, said: “A’Chu do you know how happy I am today?
Yan Xun on top of his happiness said in a happy voice: “Do you know how much I counted every passing time and waited for this waking time of yours?”
Yan Xun wanting to have more chat but sensed she is not responding to any of it. It seems A’Chu is not connecting to him at all and thinks something is wrong with her…
Yan Xun asked again: “A’Chu do you know who are you with at this time of the night?
Chu Qiao was just hearing it all but seemed so quiet.
Yan Xun rephrased the question: “Do you have an idea who is this man in front of you?”
Yan Xun testing her memories if she could recall who he is as she is somewhat looking strange at him.
Chu Qiao finally wanting to answer that specific question, she said: “Earlier you did not recognize me but when you were saying you are about to marry the Liang Princess and I took off my scarf around my face you stopped talking.
“You asked me to kill you.” Chu Qiao said it in a polite but assertive manner.
Yan Xun was surprised with her sharpness, she remembers every second of action of what happened earlier. He further explained: A’Chu, I have to admit, at first, I did not know that the woman I took was you. But one thing is for sure before these things happened, I have already that same feeling that maybe you are A’Chu.”
Yan Xun stood up and walked a few steps further to her he continued: “I just don’t want people to look at me like I am a crazy dragon and showing where my weakness is.
Yan Xun sighed and continued to speak: “You must understand I am the World, the only sole heir and royal left from Yan Royal Clan.
Yan Xun letting go all of his repressed memories from his heart explained: “This is a title I never wanted to come in between us, but after the frozen lake tragedy, it became the symbol of power for the people of Yanbei and formation of might for the Yan army.”
Chu Qiao replied: “You call me A’Chu?”
Yan Xun feels Chu Qiao is responding positively: “Yes, I call you A’Chu.”
You revealed to me that name. It was the happiest part of my life from all its tragedies at that time.
He further asks Chu Qiao: “Did you remember the hole in the wall? You gave me your name and that nobody knows except me.”
Chu Qiao, not still feeling and remembering those memories, she tried to sway the topic and asked the Yanbei prince: “Are you getting married in a few days?”
Yan Xun turned around and went closer to her. He sat down in front of her, looking eye to eye contact, he said with irritation on his voice: “Did you listen well? I am not marrying in a few days but in a few months time.”
Yan Xun paused, he observed Chu Qiao eyes if he would like Chu Qiao to feels anything in those statements he just passed on the air.
But Yan Xun finds that pure child’s eyes he once cared, protected and loved during his youngster years.
There was just long silence and the warm air in between, Yan Xun went to break it.
Yan Xun had to ask this question with all his heart: “If I am going to marry somebody, will you be happy about it?”
The ball of the question was passed on to her and this handsome man is hard to resist his eyes and looking for answers, Chu Qiao took off her eye contact with Yan Xun.
Chu Qiao cannot possibly give an answer but feel something is there for her to seal the deal.
She felt as if she is part of it and whatever she will utter for that question, this man in front of him will define his future and hers as well.
Yan Xun understood when Chu Qiao refused to answer and looked down from their eye to eye contact.
He himself cannot say anything to continue their conversation. They just sat there and wasted time in silence watching and hearing the sound of fire as it trickles and burns, all of their feelings start to hang in the air.
Chu Qiao diverted the scene to the food in front of them, the Prince prepared for their dinner, she said: “What a delicious meal, I am hungry. Chu Qiao ate heartily and Yan Xun followed her but he is quiet and not saying any words.”
Chu Qiao felt the quietness in the air, is it because of her not answering his one million dollar question.
She would rather have him think about it first if it is appropriate for him to ask her a question like that knowing that for her.
She just met him but for Yan Xun, its as if they stow away from the world and like they were lovers before and now oppressed by some outside forces and that they just need to decide tonight?
Chu Qiao chooses to bury those question in silence and may none of these questions come out of Yan Xun’s mouth ever again.
Chu Qiao finally thought: “If he marries, then he marries.”
Without her getting on his way, a Prince is a Prince and is not dependent on her answers to his questions.
After their meal, Chu Qiao fixed it and went a distance from Yan Xun to sleep. Yan Xun didn’t bother, he is also keeping himself in control so as not to ruin his plans for this entire journey.
That one fateful night, they sleep together and one cannot know what is their status, are they strangers like a fool, or born enemies, more than friends not even lovers under the moon.
Yan Xun closed his eyes first while Chu Qiao did not sleep right away and let Yan Xun sleep first and then she drifted.
**
The next morning, Yan Xun woke up first and was all dressed in his White Hanfu and purple robe and graffiti stitches on its hem looking so handsome and hard to resist. Yan Xun prepared all the things her princess will use to dress herself including one of the pairs of metal masquerade mask that matched both of their suits.
Yan Xun still on business and this means his heart was on top of his mind last night but this time his mind on top of his heart, he will continue his plans regardless of the revelation last night.
Chu Qiao woke up and look at her surroundings first and her eyes searched for Yan Xun. Then beside her are divine Calla Lily flowers symbolizing humility and devotion, youth and rebirth while lilies of the valley are given every 2nd wedding anniversary. As the flowers most often associated with funerals, lilies symbolize the soul of the departed has received and restored innocence after death.
For Yan Xun, it should have been their second year wedding anniversary if Chu Qiao after the frozen lake tragedy were alive but unfortunately, things turned out to be different and she chooses the path of thorns.
Another is the princess costume Yan Xun prepared for her and another gold box on top of it as the highlight of the dress. Chu Qiao does not have any choice but to accept this lovely gift and just follow the Prince of Yanbei no instructions, just read between the line actions.
Yan Xun was standing looking at the mountains and waiting outside and he sensed the woman scent approaching him and he slowly turned his back and suddenly stunned by what he sees at the moment.
A’Chu wore the princess cut costume and a purple robe to match his Highness. Except for her indigo scarf she put in her face, still matched their outfit and both can claim they were a couple, judging from their dress alone.
Yan Xun with his hands at his back, without words, walked towards her divine princess whose dress was floating in the wind, such a breath-taking view.
Yan Xun stopped in front of her exposing only her eyes was a moment to die for and this is how Yan Xun feels for her. One of his hand slowly took off her indigo scarf and gave it to Chu Qiao’s hand but, only their eyes were talking and no words in between.
Yan Xun on another hand he surprisingly showed Chu Qiao the metal masquerade mask and put it in her delicate face. Next thing, the Prince of Yanbei came closer to her, it electrified the Prince body.
He cannot resist sniffing her scent. He cleared his thoughts and controlled his desires as he tightens the lock of the metal mask. Chu Qiao feeling some kind of familiarity but same time almost catching her breath. She calmed herself and let Yan Xun finished what his hands are doing at the back of her head.
Yan Xun soon finished, he went back to look at Chu Qiao’s face and gave her eye contact.
Yan Xun squinted his eyes on her and the sparkle in it expressed everything he feels at the moment.
He knows Chu Qiao does not want him to get married soon even if she is not saying anything.
Yan Xun has matured in ways unlike the first time he was forced to marry Princess Chuner and he told A’Chu, the little fox did not say anything except for advising him to be careful on his next moves. Yan Xun did not understand its sense, not until today.
Deep inside Yan Xun knows, what Chu Qiao feels for him.
He always thought they were mutual on their feelings for each other. And yet Yan Xun never learned how to verbalize it and not even express it in a way she would understand the real status between them.
Yan Xun on his eccentric ego and heart full of revenge at that time did not have ample time to search his heart’s desire not until now.
Today, Yan Xun looks at her like a red wildflower. If only Yanbei’s world is simple, he could simply pick this moment, and declare her as his life partner.
But would it be even better if he already thought about this before?
Or back to the frozen lake, think about her more and less of himself and if he hadn’t been so stubborn and selfish at those times?
Yan Xun may not have even lost his best friend Yuwen Yue.
Instead of inviting him to a death squad party, Yuwen Yue should have been invited to Yanbei’s wedding of the year.
♥♥♥
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