Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong'er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Serpent of the Day, Fox of the Night (pass)
At the Liang Palace, A prince in his flashy red robe is walking back and forth from its wonderful palace veranda looking at the flowers and magnificent Chinese garden in view such a breathtaking sight. But the Prince cannot appreciate any of its beauty he is busy thinking of breaking some palace rules today and explore the streets again on his disguise. However, the last time he did, he almost lost his life. Thanks for the help of Chu Qiao and Sun Di who brought him back alive even if he was shot to death by deadly arrows.
The servants and eunuchs are already tired of the crown prince as they fan him to keep the cool breeze from its summer heat. They follow and walk to where the Prince moves under the strict order of Emperor Tang and if the Prince slipped their sight, the price of heads will roll and there will be no pardon. Prince Xiao Ce has been confined in the palace for long and cannot get past his heavy guards even if he threatens or trick them, he is grounded under his Father Emperor's decree. Suddenly he went inside his room and wrote a letter to someone then he flashed a foxy smile in his face and ordered: Deliver this to the Kong Sang mountain, a friend must see me.
The guard servant nodded and said: "Yes your Highness."
After Xiao Ce dispatched the letter, he already planned on how to make his escape for the day work. He called in his servants and made everyone look like they are going to be busy and impossible to follow him or even guard him. Yesterday, he had already been preparing some stuff he can carry with him to disguise himself and go out to walk on the streets. But this time he will have a companion and its been a long time since he spoke to this friend, although his friend still consider him royal for Xiao Ce he is one of the few people he would call his friend because of his unchanging time-tested loyal character he admired when he was still serving his original master. He is also skilled and all around expert in terms of the sword fight, spying, demolition work, name it all and he is able to execute it looking at his past track record.
Yuwen Yue came back to the lodge and saw his beauty is still sleeping and he can't help but give some joyful muse on that beautiful sleeping lovely face. He prepared a hearty breakfast and while waiting for the beauty to wake up he started his carpentry work. Yuwen Yue is very precise as he measures every inch of the swords size and length, he does not need to look at the sword itself but memorized them in his head. Being raised up to a noble family of Mohists, his grandfather Yuwen Gao and father Yuwen Hao, the original masters who designed the stratagems around Merlin, Castle Peak, Red and Green hills courtyard and their Empire famous repository and intelligence center the Eyes of God, one can say he has learned a lot of designs for traps and lures and other hidden skills only a Yuwen heir knows. And this carpentry task is just too easy for him to do but it'll take sometime before he finished this artful piece of work.
Yuwen Yue is not only creating one but two sword holders. The catch is, he put a unique design only him and maybe Chu Qiao would ever understand how to use it. Yuwen Yue also had in mind to put some special features, deadly add-ons to make the sword holder worthy to hold the Canhong and Poe Yue Jian swords. He also carved their names on the wood making it a personalized and one of a kind.
Chu Qiao woke up when she saw the sword. She thought she put it under their bed but then why is the sword was placed standing beside the wall? Did his husband saw the sword? Whatever is it, she hopes her husband didn't see it. She took the sword and hid it somewhere.
Yuwen Yue was just washing his hands when Chu Qiao found him and Yuwen Yue coldly threw a glance at her. Chu Qiao was just calm to see his husband as calm as the sea as if there's nothing to worry in the world. She asked him: "You have no parcels to deliver today?"
Yuwen Yue came close to her and looked at her eyes, he said: "I am on vacation today."
Chu Qiao replied: "Well, that is good news."
Yuwen Yue looking cold but happy in his eyes he said: "Come let's eat our late breakfast or shall I say lunch?"
Chu Qiao still looking for hints from his husband if he saw the Canhong sword but Yuwen Yue seems did not bring out the topic on the table. The same thing, Yuwen Yue hid the sword holder when he sensed his wife wake up, so before everything is exposed he had already placed it somewhere his wife won't discover it yet. He intends not to let her see it until the day Yuwen Yue will bring out the final test.
Both presences senses some distant unspoken cold secrets in the air, Chu Qiao was not able to hold herself she squinted her eyes for she knows someone touched the Canhong sword and his husband is not telling her. Yuwen Yue walked towards the dining table when suddenly a roof tile was about to fall, Chu Qiao pushed her husband and caught the roof tile on her hands. Yuwen Yue was not startled at what Chu Qiao did and Chu Qiao is not feeling good about it. Yuwen Yue went back to the dining table and sit quietly, he invited his wife to eat.
Chu Qiao put down the roof tile and looked above it a ray of sunshine came to penetrate their dining table. Yuwen Yue calmly said: Will you come and join your husband to eat? Chu Qiao somewhat wary about his husband's actions, she came to the table, sit on the chair and look at him. Yuwen Yue smiled at her and said: "Wife, the roof is not for you to worry, will fix it later, let's eat."
Chu Qiao not believing his husband's actions of indifference, she started to eat with her chopsticks and cold noodles. Yuwen Yue did the same thing and then there is just silence in between them.
Chu Qiao suddenly stood up and said: "Fine! Ask me!"
Yuwen Yue looked at her calmly and did not utter any words to his wife.
Chu Qiao feeling so annoyed with Yuwen Yue's coldness and calmness when in fact she knows his husband has something to say she asked: "Is there something I need to explain?"
Yuwen Yue enjoying this moment of his beautiful wife's annoyed face she became prettier to his sight he said: "Is there anything we have to talk about my pretty wife?"
Chu Qiao blushed but on her slightly angry voice she said: "Maybe?"
Yuwen Yue in his calm voice said: "What did I say last time? Do you remember?"
Chu Qiao thinking for a moment she said: "The walls have ears? Illegal channels?"
Yuwen Yue stopped eating and put down his chopsticks he looks at her, he said: "There, you said it yourself."
Chu Qiao wanting to test his husband further she pointed her index finger, in a snap her finger on his husband's neck where Yuwen Yue on his closed eyes holds her delicate small hands. Their face close to each other and nobody moved.
Chu Qiao unable to move, because Yuwen Yue pressed some nerves in her little fingers, he released it and on a rush, he kissed her lips. Chu Qiao not expecting the kiss slightly moved back her face but Yuwen Yue already holding her nape and unable to control himself went for another kiss. Chu Qiao did not hesitate.
Yuwen Yue unable to move back his lips from her, he suddenly snapped himself back to his mind when he gently moves away from his hands from Chu Qiao's pretty face. Chu Qiao suddenly felt the warm air became colder, she opened her eyes and saw her husband calm face and not looking into her, Yuwen Yue picked up his chopsticks. Chu Qiao wanting him to continue but she moved away too as if she was embarrassed and a little bit flushed for she knows Yuwen Yue thinks she wants that kiss from him.
Yuwen Yue silent and Chu Qiao mirrored it continued to eat and not looking at each other's face and avoided eye contact as the attraction feels so strong and Yuwen Yue thinks he won't be able to hold any longer and ruin all his plan.
Meanwhile, a man on his handsome eunuch disguise came to the Liang Palace under Prince Xiao Ce's orders. Xiao Ce on his back turned to see the man and beamed at him, on his little foxy eyes and fragrant presence, a red flowery robe, the man paid him a respect he nodded and greeted him: "Your Highness, what can I do for you?"
Xiao Ce came closer to him on his ears he whispered: "Yue Qi, I want you to stay here in the palace and become my temporary royal guard."
Yue Qi nodded and said: "Yes, Your Highness."
Xiao Ce on his foxy eyes he smiled and whispered again: "I want to stroll in the streets today, will you come with me?"
Yue Qi suddenly picked his brow and he knows what the crown prince means he also whispered: "Your Highness, what time do you want to go?"
It is late in the afternoon and Chu Qiao is doing her laundry work late she was not able to practice her martial arts today as the husband is in the house where Yuwen Yue is axing some wood for their supply of firewood. He learned this humble task on his travels at Woolong mountains for few months after the frozen lake tragedy and stayed in the temple learning wisdom and far Eastern empire secrets, their martial arts, and tribal warfares. This is the same Master where Zhong Yu and Wudao Ya were educated of the Datong Way and it is where Chu Jing Kingdom was raised and shaped and still at present, influencing Yanbei's form of government from Mr. Wudao Ya's sphere of influence. The couple just doing their normal chores quiet and undisturbed but in truth, they were being careful not to drop any hint of each other's secrets.
Xiao Ce was slightly feeling some pain on his healed wounds on the back of his right chest successfully slipped the royal Liang guards together with Yue Qi on their backs they landed on the cushion of green grass outside of the Liang palace walls. Both smiled for only a serpent can crawl and climbed such fortified walls undetected.
Faking Xiao Ce's condition of a stomachache, both of them was able to pass through the royal toilet window where Yue Qi went out first, he took out his eunuch dress and disguised as one of the royal utility servants, along the palace corridors he was sweeping and holding a long handle broom in his hands and suddenly he jumped sideways took out a rope until he reached the palace walls and waited on top. After few minutes Xiao Ce on his disguised dress like Yue Qi's dress and a backpack, he went to the wall and Yue Qi helped him climbed the wall.
Xiao Ce and Yue Qi went to a nearby gigantic tree and undress again to put on their next disguise which is a nobles suit, a nobles hat and shoes and some cold weapons hidden on their Hanfu dress. Its is Yue Qi's first time to stroll after two years of recovering from his multiple wounds suddenly now out in the world to find its fate.
It is almost dark while the Liang crown prince missed some good company he asked Yue Qi that they visit Zao Baocung shop to source some information. The two disguised men went to visit him and Xiao Ce came inside the shop where he found Zao Baocung sleeping while Yue Qi closed the curtains of the shop and locked its doors.
Xiao Ce smiled and blinked his eyes, came to pinch the ears of Zao Baocung and the old man was startled on its sharp pain, said: "Go away if you do not have enough Liang gold, I am not selling any today."
Xiao Ce beamed, a cough sound is heard: "I don't have any gold with me but I came in secret to visit an old servant."
Zao Baocung opened half of his eyes saw the disguised royal crown prince Xiao Ce he suddenly straightened his back and rose to bow to the Prince he asked: "Your Highness, such a surprise visit, is there anything I can serve you today?" Zao Baoccung for the first time from the last saw Yue Qi, his eyes went big. Xiao Ce blinked his eyes and said: "Meet my companion today, remember Yue Qi?"
Zao replied and said: "Oh how can an old man forget a deadman who came back to life?" Yue Qi was quiet and standing alert inside the corner of the shop waiting for Xiao Ce's orders.
Xiao Ce laid down his interest for the day he asked Zao: I am not here to waste time but I heard from a reliable source that a jewelry shop business was bought by a rich trader from the East and kept a very priceless engagement ring with a policy on it and just recently it was raided by some goons and all of their necks were chopped and everyone dead except for their leader which is one of the supervisor from Zhan Ziyu's afterlife camper spy league. Tell me, what do you know about this?
Zao Baocung knows this information very well because he was the one who helped Yuwen Yue the real owner to own the jewelry shop. The Jewelry shop at that time was about to close due to the original owner's huge debt and Yuwen Yue paid them all but on one condition and that is to sell the jewelry shop to him. His only reason was, to store the precious ring of Xinger, a memorabilia of his heart over the low maidservant that rock his world and made his heart believe that love can thrive even in the midst of a cold-blooded empire, even if their status is unequal, even if painful death arrived and painted him a beautiful beginning to start over again. Given all of Zao help, Zao does not have any idea what is Yuwen Yue's end goal. Zao knows Yuwen Yue wants to trade in secret in Liang and learn their economic growth so that he can also offer some advice to Qinghai and improve their economic system. He does not even know that Yuwen Yue got married and he is the one who took the ring from the jewelry shop as Zuo spun the story enough for the Liang authorities to believe and find the jewelry manager who conspired in hiring goons of the shop and the ring was suddenly stolen and gone.
Zao on his quick wits and excellent business tongue suggested to Yuwen Yue to make Zuo Zong as dummy owner if Yuwen Yue does not want himself to be exposed to the public and announce to the world he is alive. He is well known as an important official of the West one would think of many things such as will shock the world while Southern Liang's crown prince is also very fond of him. Xiao Ce waiting for an answer from the old man while Yue Qi is just listening and vigilant in the shop, Zao again gave him false information to misinform him, he replied: "Your Highness, the ring was not of that value, it is just an ordinary ring, not even a gold that can be of value. But what makes it intriguing is the policy behind it."
Xiao Ce asks: And what is the policy all about?
It can be loaned for a certain time but for it to be released from the jewelry shop, one has to buy a far kingdom.
Xiao Ce repeated: "buy a far kingdom? Now that is really strange. For a ring of no value, one has to buy a far kingdom?" He scoffs and laughs out loud and Zao Baocung grinned as well.
Xiao Ce walked and occasionally touched his chin he said: "such idiot and smart policy as well. And someone already bought it? A couple on their peasant dress?"
Zao Baocung replied to mislead the crown prince again he said: "no, it was stolen. They said that the owner of the jewelry shop was put into a hostage and as a ransom, he gave it away to the jewelry manager, anyway its just a piece of metal he thinks. And the couple, they are just victims of the rampage."
Xiao Ce again said: "Idiot owner, what a fool. There must be a bigger picture behind its policy. Otherwise, it won't chop some heads that day in order for it to be handed over to some finders keepers hands."
Yue Qi heard what the Liang crown prince said and he cannot help himself but to laugh a bit but then Xiao Ce looked at him on his formal face and Yue Qi back to his normal face, vigilant and serious.
Zao Baocung advised the young crown prince he said: Your Highness, may I say a thing? You did not just come here just for a quick chat of the ring, aren't you?
"Smarty old man! How did you know?" Xiao Ce on his joking face and foxy eyes said: I wanted also to ask information about Chu Qiao.
Zao grinned at him and replied: I heard she became the Wei crown princess and not as much news about her since then.
Xiao Ce secretly laughs in the inside because that means his method was effective when he sent his Pandora's box still sitting at the Wei Empire. Xiao Ce revealed to Zao Baocung: "Haven't you read about the classics? Trojan Horse of Troy? Only different in style but the principle remained the same."
Zao finally spilled more of his beans he said: I met her once when she was still a low maidservant at the Yuwen household. We crossed our paths once when I helped her complete her revenge to the Yuwen household.
Xiao Ce getting these pieces of information are important for him.
Zao continued: "Then a news wad told I heard from the gossips of my customers, the Prince of Yanbei hid her at the Xuili mountains after the ice lake tragedy she was held at the Xuili mountain and continued to serve there as the Xuili Lady General. The rumors also say that… and Zao stopped.
Xiao Ce asking for more he said: Why did you stop?
Zao thinking he is talking to a royal and not only that, he is the King of Yanbei's brother-in-law but he continued: Yan Xun built a palace for her in the XuiXui mountains.
Xiao Ce heard this before but he dismissed it because for him it is a joke and not evidence-based.
Zao continued further and said: Chu Qiao having been held in the Xiuli Mountain escaped from the borders of Meilin and then the news spread that he is getting engaged with the 13th Prince of Wei and now married to him.
Xiao Ce loved the way Zao Baocung conveyed the story to him and Zao seems did not find the story of Xia Chong who replaced Chu Qiao whom he, unfortunately, lost Chu Qiao that night. Xiao Ce while on the journey to the eve of his sister's wedding managed to sneak out and went to Wei borders disguised as a spy and waiting for the love of his life alone all by himself as he cannot trust anybody. He was all excited and thought his sleepless night will end soon and waited until the dawn came but no Chu Qiao on his sight. On his head down, heart feeling hopeless, the disguised crown prince of Liang left Wei and went to attend her sister's wedding day at Yanbei. His plans failed to surprise everybody and after some time went back to his drinking session activities at night, clubbing, hopping from Liang's famous bachelor nightclubs and that's how he copes up until one fateful night, he met two women expressing their interest of a blind date. And for the first time in his life, he used his gold handkerchief to bid for the blind date opportunity that he himself cannot understand why he joined, only to find in the end, the drooling woman was Chu Qiao.
He has set the stage, woo's her in a grand way, he thinks he had expressed that enough so obviously to the girl of his dreams and even have a one night stand with her. Only thing, nothing happened in between them as Chu Qiao sleeping in his bed is just an accident drunk woman from wine spirits and then the best and ugliest thing that happened when they were together was when the Prince saw her reunited with her sister Xiao Ba and the next thing he is already gasping some air by a shot arrow at his back. After Chu Qiao's visit on him, the Prince on his early spring feelings of hope and love were again put aside when he heard the news that Chu Qiao had a secret suitor who frequently visited their Kowloon house and eventually married him while he is detained in the gold prison of his JinWu palace.
Xiao Ce at that time was shocked when he heard the spies report, the prince went into deep thinking who would that man be, who could bypass his territory that he already fenced at that time and watering it with lots of love and moments to make with the girl of his dreams. Xiao Ce thinks no matter what he does, this girl is just slipping out of his arms of love. The Prince who thinks he has a good chance and has all the time in the world has to find out who is this peddler man and where do they live now as a married couple.
Back to their conversation, Xiao Ce on his sad eyes is putting his masks off a bit the limelight of his acting, finally said to Zao: "To see is to believe. But I wish when I get to see her, it isn't true at all that she got married."
Zao felt some pain in the Liang crown prince words and he felt some pity for him he offered an unsolicited advise he said: "She's a beautiful disaster to look at the moment but who knows when would fate turn the tides to splash it to your shores someday?"
Xiao Ce liked what Zao Baocung said he asked Yue Qi: hey buddy, did you hear it?
Yue Qi heard it all but remained silent, cool and assertive he answered: "Did not hear it your Highness if you don't want me to."
Yue Qi knows Chu Qiao very well and based from what he heard this first-hand information, he only believes one thing that somehow in his barren land of hope is a spring of rain that his Master Yuwen Yue is alive and Chu Qiao can't possibly be with someone else other than his master. Yue Qi finally thought to himself: "Who else would be able to do such things to the Star child except for the Fourth Young master Yuwen Yue? This is not the land of dreams but this is also a real world where everything else under the heavens can possibly happen."
At nightfall, the summer moon appeared in the southern skies, two disguised men trailing the walls of the Liang Daming Palace and back to their home base, another sleepless night for the crown prince but full of good wisdom he took Zao's word he repeated it to himself: "She's a beautiful disaster."
He cannot help but stalk the girl of his dreams. Xiao Ce revealed and took off his mask by putting on a spy disguise and steal a chance to cancel Chu Qiao's engagement while he also sneaks out, pretends he is busy at his sister's wedding eve at dawn, one cannot complain about his actions. He is the master of masks, being a secret player and a secret stealer of Chu Qiao's affection. That evil charm but a good heart is really hard to resist.
His royal companion back to its eunuch disguise sealed off the day with good hopes and better days ahead.
