Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong'er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Temple of the Heart (pass)
As the summer heat plays the petals of open flower field, the warm winds across blew its dandelions princess of the lawn, roses the queen of the gardens, lotus the fairy on shallow and murky waters, and the sunflower thrives even in drought soil, it pushes all living things to grow and shine under the sun. At the heart of the summer forest, a lover's haven, the tranquil of bamboo sounds brings peace suddenly was disturbed by swarming bees and butterflies. Its sweet honey found in the heart of the lover's home as well as the bitter taste of its fruit of secrets came to unfold.
Chu Qiao for the first time had the best sleep of her life, she woke up and find her husband lying so sweet in his head, undisturbed and undiscovered, his face like the calm waters that soothes her soul. She took her slippers and went out of their room to boil some water when suddenly a man sweating on its head is walking from afar and she thinks it is heading towards their lodge.
Chu Qiao sensed the man is harmless she eventually came to relax and came out of their lodge to greet him but suddenly when the man was almost close to their home he sits on the water well and fetch a pail of water and drink it.
Chu Qiao remembering where did he met this guy was it yesterday or on her yesteryear nostalgically recalled his face.
Yue Qi not aware of her presence, he was slightly surprised to see her face and uttered on his small soft whisper voice: Xinger?
Chu Qiao same as Yue Qi somewhat perplexed he picked up the name and asked: Master Zuo? And Xinger who?
What are you doing here? Yue Qi fascinated and thinking like a child at the moment, he thinks he gets to meet the wife of his master Yuwen Yue.
I am supposed to ask you that, what are you doing here? Spying on me? I think I saw you yesterday. Chu Qiao back to her thoughts, her eyes went big and suddenly remembered: "You are one of the customers in the Kowloon house right?!"
Yue Qi sensing some stranger presence with Xinger he answered her: First question, I also lived here as my master lives here. Second, I am not a spy yesterday I am a regular customer who loves to eat noodles. Yue Qi on his corner mouth gives up that corner smile made Chu Qiao annoyed she said: "So I am right! You stalked me all the way here?"
Yue Qi thinks she is so clever that she can cut him just by her words when suddenly a cold voice answered.
"Maybe?" a fresh happy husband face from the back of Chu Qiao is slowly approaching towards them.
Ra Yue is he.. Chu Qiao not yet finished speaking when Yuwen Yue went to continue her words
Yuwen Yue secretly exchanged a glance to Yue Qi and he said: "He is my brother." Plain, short and simple introduction.
Yuwen Yue already gave some details to Yue Qi but Yue Qi did not bother to ask who is his wife.
Chu Qiao looked at Yuwen Yue and she tilted her head a bit sideways and squinted her eyes to meet Yuwen Yue's eyes she said: What's his name?
"I am Yue Qi and Ra Yue…" Yue Qi paused on that name and glanced at Yuwen Yue's cold face and continued to speak: "is my master and my brother."
Chu Qiao somewhat not a hundred percent sure but happy to meet at least one of Yuwen Yue's family of the moment she welcomed him and said: "Yue Qi, I am sorry we have not enough time to properly get to know each other like family but you are welcome to stay here with your master and your brother." Chu Qiao still lost in this puzzle of mystery thinks Master Zuo Zong will be more convincing to believe to be Yue Qi's blood brother because it resembles his face more than Ra Yue but who knows if it's true or not true at all? The fact that Yuwen Yue told Yue Qi is a family then Chu Qiao thinks, so be it.
Yue Qi dressed on his simple peasant Chinese collar dress put down the bamboo's he gathered and unloaded it from its back. In a passing glance, Chu Qiao suddenly sees multiple scars in his body.
Chu Qiao went back to their lodge when he saw Yuwen Yue already ready to leave he said: "When I come back to make sure to pack all of your things in this house and we will leave this place."
Leave this place? Why? Chu Qiao suddenly surprised at what Yuwen Yue asked her to do.
Illegal channels, walls have ears, shall I explain it later? Yuwen Yue on his cold but calm face gave Chu Qiao the assurance that everything is going the right way she said: "Okay, as long as my husband comes back later, this place is neat and clean."
Yuwen Yue came close to her and kissed her temple and said: "My wife obeys, and I will have a bright future ahead."
"You take care and will your little brother go with you?"
"Yes. See you later?" said Yuwen Yue and he went on his way while Yue Qi followed his back.
Chu Qiao did not smell any of what happened last night as the surroundings turned into a clean mess. She started to pack some of her things and suddenly she took out her Canhong sword and under the sunshine tried to practice her swordplay.
In front of her fierce eyes, the Canhong sword owner and master slowly unsheathed her dark red sword. She closed her eyes to meditate as she recollects the memories of how Master Xie Tai Shan taught her the proper grip and the proper position and poise on how previous Tai Yueshen the mother of Yuwen Yue's manner on how to hold the blade of the Canhong sword. Not to mention some bonus secrets they talked about under the bonfire of a cold forest between Wei and Liang borders.
Chu Qiao started to move her feet and sway it on air, moving her arms crisscross cut and her shadow shows her powerful presence, twirled and on her wrists tapped her pulse and slowly pull it down in between her eyebrows and beautiful tiger eyes and finally Shua! the sound of cutting blade and the bed started to erode like flooded soil like of that sound of water she heard a note sliding at the middle of the white simple quilted bed linen where it was cut.
She read: "Hauntingly beautiful, in your arms, in this bed, your lips became mine."
Chu Qiao's face became red and her heart feels like a bomb about to explode. She thinks Yuwen Yue is cheating on him, in this marriage bed. All of a sudden, on her angry moment she smashed the bed and saw some blood under their soft rectangular long pillows, smelling on it makes Chu Qiao choke herself to death. Is it the death of her body or the death of her heart? The body can heal if cut but a heart in deep wound time can only tell.
Inside herself a fire is burning her feelings and putting her trust and confidence to ashes she cannot feel her love for her husband and she would like an instant gratification of revenge, Chu Qiao on rage, picked up her sword and continued her practice, only this time her practice involves by smashing the entire lodge where blade marks marked its corners and surfaces, this is not just an angry woman but a wife who felt betrayed and played.
After her anger and pain released on her outrage, she promised herself to find this girl and burn her alive and feed her body to the vultures who corrupted her husband. Chu Qiao just like an ordinary woman feels cheated and do not have any rational mind at the moment only anger and rage.
On a thick, dirty, dry weaved canvas, she wrapped her sword to conceal it. In the middle of lodge full of mess, she sat in a Zen position and meditated at the middle as if nothing happened to wait for the love of her life while the short note is in her left hand, and her engagement ring and wedding ring on her right hand. No one knows what does this means except her when he faces Yuwen Yue, no one knows what's going to happen. It is best if the Lion does not come home at his den lest he finds his den in total crackdown and mess, where the tigress beauty showing who is on top, will force the Lion to choose which hand. If he will have a mistake in choosing this could end their whirlwind romance and marriage like an unopened parcel and though not consumed can expire, it takes grace to remain kind in cruel situations.
Suddenly the Yuwen parrot hasn't had enough sleep was somewhat disturb went to flyby at their window and call her former name again: Xinger..! For three times and she looked at the bird and Chu Qiao suddenly felt a soft spot in her heart, her eyes are guilty of tears she went closer to the bird and said bitterly: "You always call me Xinger, and I am okay with that but not today, just at this moment, your master is a heartbreaker, and this time I have the right to become selfish, I don't want to share him not even to you…" Chu Qiao talking to the bird when suddenly said: "Yuwen Yue, Yuwen Yue, Yuwen Yue." Chu Qiao was astonished she stopped and wiped her silent tears, for she has never uttered those names not until she heard this bird speaking it in a very clear tone.
Did you know the Fourth Young master of the Greenhills courtyard? Chu Qiao not getting answers tears fell from her eyes again and said: "In fact, I am going to that place right now and do you want to come with me? Let's visit his cenotaph. I just have to say a few things to him..even if its the wind, may the whispers reach the heavens.
Chu Qiao has passed the test from the peak of anger to mellow feelings of being empty suddenly thinks whether to wait for Yuwen Yue or to just leave all by herself and without so many complications will just leave him a note and everything hanging on the air. Chu Qiao was deeply hurt and she can't wait to pour it out now emptied. For the first time in her life she loved a man, whom she just followed her heart and did not give many thoughts and she protected their marriage but she is Chu Qiao, she cannot settle for anything less and this is her fair share Yuwen Yue is not a ration or a piece that must be shared, he is her world, her moon, her sun. What is just and fair is what is important to her. Chu Qiao does not even want to walk into the paths of betrayal for she does not have any idea yet what her husband did but only traces of unfaithfulness speaks more than she could live to ask him. She died at this moment, she said: "I have survived many fights, won many wars, but right now I can no longer tell if I am still alive or have been burned, already gone of this world. Ra Yue.. what have you done?"
Chu Qiao picked up the sword and the bird wrote her final words out of her tears she read:
The best fight is not to fight at all.
When you are ready to face the bullet of truth
and stop playing fire
maybe, it's not yet too late.
Stars hiding from the moon
and the sun casts a shadow to the world
If we may cross our paths again,
til then you will know, I loved you for a lifetime
On her last step, her shadow walks out of the door she quietly walks on the forest ground while her silent tears still falling from her eyes. The bird on her shoulders is quiet too and did not mind what his new master is doing and did not feel any strange at all from her.
On the other side of Xue Fu street are streets of the hotel, the penthouse at the top is where Zuo Zong lives and Yuwen Yue's spy quarters are installed. Yue Qi, on the other hand, pretended to be a guest where Yuwen Yue gave him a pass to stay one of its rooms without being noticed that they allies.
Yue Qi, we have all the time in the world to talk about the icy lake but right now we have eyes all around us as we were compromised last night.
Yue Qi replied as he used to be when they were still at the Green Hills courtyard: "KongZi, do not worry about me, please go where you must go, and I will follow."
Then Yuwen Yue shortly paused and gave him the of a look of not wanting him to be out of his sight he said with his cold eyes: "I just found you and I have never been so lucky until last night."
Yue Qi beamed and said: "I am the lucky one here, and I have never had any doubts or mistakes about you."
Yuwen Yue gave him a joyful muse he said: "Suit yourself, here take this and you know where to find me at this building."
Xiao Ce on the other hand, used to these usual prosecution-like sessions with his Father the crown prince never been tired to speak about his escape of the palace last night on his silvery tongue even romanticized his King's officials and turning their votes in favor of him and his escorts. King Tang issued a decree and awaiting its verdict that would depend on Xiao Ce's reason and disposition can pass the violations of the protocols of the Royal Palace. The entire Crown prince escorts at the moment were sacked and imprisoned as the Liang Garrison ground. The ax of the palace on display its sharp blades like an open animal mouth is ready to cut some necks today if Xiao Ce fails to explain his side.
Xiao Ce has never been so cunning to explain and the last crime when JinWu Palace was set on fire under the caprice and whim order of the metropolitan crown prince lifestyle he reasoned out he wanted to experiment and try a different method on how to cook and serve turkey other than the usual menu of the crown prince palace. The Kitchen Ministry head was spared and the thin kitchen boy who delivered the turkey on fire was freed and promoted by the King's officials but Xiao Ce did not agree ended up saying no. Xiao Ce intended this kitchen boy not to be exposed and like a treasure he hid him after he was bullied and thrown out of the Yan army because he used to serve General Chu Qiao. When Xiao Ce found him, he was beaten to death and about to die. Xiao Ce went to save him and asked him: You were thrown out of the Yan palace because you were Chu Qiao's personal aide?
Ping'An nodded as he cannot speak his face is somewhat full of bruises.
Very well, will you serve me and will you tell me what happened to Chu Qiao?
Ping'An reached out Xiao Ce's hand and since then, the boy became an important person to the crown prince. When Ping'An recovered, Xiao Ce discovered he is excellent in martial arts and sharpshooter bowman even at his early age, an enemy should not underestimate. The Prince became fonder of him but kept it hidden and treats him his little brother when no one is looking.
Chu Qiao did not recognize him as he has grown fast and still lost with her memories she still saved him the day the Liang King's royal escorts came to fetch him in front of the crown prince. Ping'An wanting to hug his former master but he cannot or he will blow his identity and that will put the prince into jeopardy, he remained silent.
Xiao Ce on his foxy eyes look at the Queen of Liang as he finishes off the romantic speech he passed the ball of contention to his stepmother: Mother, have you ever been in love?
The Queen of Liang on a long pause she finally gave her vote for the moment she said: "I was. Once." And the Queen of Liang looked at Emperor Tang sitting on his throne but her looks meant for the emperor to recognize she is a wife to a husband and not a subject to his throne. The Emperor pierced with those looks, sighed and said: unsack them and the Emperor looked at Liang officials and to all their subject he has to finally cast his vote he said:
"When the moon chases the stars and the stars chase Earth, and Earth has its own world. When the moon travels, the stars twinkle, the crown prince of Liang is arguably unreasonable and sage as well but can pass today's verdict when he said: Oh Emperor you must understand there is more than one path before you reach the mountaintops. Seeing everything in bird's eye view by climbing the beautiful and mighty Daming palace walls gives me an oversight which if I missed I am doomed to this house."
And finally gave that foxy smile that everyone was waiting to see.. he slayed them all when he said: "I am bored to death, if you behead them all, then there will be no prince left to rule this country as I step out first and offer my neck so I don't see them die."
Everyone's jaw dropped and some asked: does Prince Xiao Ce knows the consequences of acquittal?
That being said, it implicates Xiao Ce is like a child innocent of a crime, safe and sound came back to his palace and no one harmed. As a responsible adult, will continue to be grounded and pay for the price of violating palace protocols, for thirty days he will not be able to access any entrance and exits of this palace until the days are fulfilled by the numbers, he must comply. His royal escorts will be reduced to slave position and will not be allowed to serve the palace until the time of the world sizes. I, Emperor Tang tracks the decree and put away the seal. Thus, it is unnecessary to behead and lose the crown prince and his pawns today said the king and he rose from his seat and everyone followed him to his banquet hall.
Xiao Ce learning his actions only saved breath and not able to squeeze his father's pardon, did more harm than he saved them, he heard his servants cry: "Your Highness, I want to die now because becoming a slave means also worse than death."
