Author Angel Chua

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong'er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Master Ice Cube (05.14.2021 edited)

"Lady this way please," the servants of Tai Furen let her pass through the secret passage going to Tai Furen's courtyard. Furen is waiting for her.

"Tai Shen, after 3 years here is my niece. Look at you so lady-like. I received the little note you sent" Tai Furen is sitting gracefully on her hall dressed on her light purple dress with a peony flower hairpin clipped in her head.

On top of the table, a medium size white tea basin made of ceramic, full of green tea leaves. In the middle, decorated with a pink lotus flower. She picked up a tiny ceramic teacup and a small dragon designed tong made of silver. She transferred these green tea leaves to the teacup and then took a small wooden ladle.

Tai Furen scooped the green liquid from the beautiful white tea basin then poured it to the tiny teacup. She gracefully moved the tiny teacup in front of Tai Shen. After a while, Tai Furen showed her the paper snow and its blank.

"Aunt Furen, I came because of an important thing." Tai Shen is looking at her Aunt to dismiss her servant.

Tai Furen gave a hand signal and the maidservant's understood, they retreated and closed the door of the room.

"Then speak." Tai Furen looking directly in her eyes with the perfect arched eyebrows.

"Tai Shan is currently trailing Green Hills courtyard."

"It is impossible to breach Green Hills courtyard. If he does, we all know the trip is a one-way ticket," Tai Furen said. She drank her teacup.

Yueshen unable to control herself, let go of her tears.

"What is the matter?" Tai Furen asked. She lowered her beautiful eyebrows, her eyes are full of compassion towards Tai Yue Shen.

"Tai Shan took my baby and will do all his best to deliver it to Master Yuwen Hao."

Tai Furen's eyes stared a little bit longer than usual to Tai YueShen suddenly asked: "Is it the Qinghai's son?"

"Yes." still crying but soundless, Tai Yue Shen's skirt is somewhat wet.

Tai Shan one of the excellent sword master fighters offered a dangerous escape to save the life of Qinghai baby prince. Tai Furen was actually shocked. Suddenly stood up from her seat. She went furious and scolded her niece. Tai Yue Shen knows what her Aunt is impressing something to her. Maybe it'll be the last time chance to see his brother Tai Shan.

"What have you done?!" Tai Furen raised her brow and her eyes are fierce towards her niece.

"Father advised me to do it as we were running out of time. Having no more options left," said Tai Yue Shen who is very depressed at the moment.

"The moon (codename of the baby prince) will not last tonight if Yuwen Hao sees it."

"Father hoped, the moon's fate would be different, he is childless and is in a desperate condition of having an heir to the Eyes of God."

Tai Furen walked a few steps to think what she can do on her little power as the latest Lady concubine of Yuwen Xi and said: "We have to get the moon and hide it away and that is if he is still alive tonight."

Tai Yue Shen cannot help herself but let go of her cry while Tai Furen is shaking her knees.

"You cannot stay longer here. There are illegal channel walls here. The master of the Red Hills courtyard is an animal and hedonistic woman-eater. You may not live a day if I hide you here. I will send you to the far corners of the Red Hills courtyard. To a secluded place on the northwest."

"What about you Aunt Furen?"

I will make a way to save you and your child and Tai Furen swiftly and gracefully moved to open the door in her hall. She found her servants and gave them instructions.

After a while, Tai Furen came back to her hall and went to her closet. She changed her clothes in her closet in a very quick manner then came back with her red cotton flowy dress. A black mask on her face with her hair pony-tailed at the highest middle.

"No, I cannot let you do this Aunt Furen."

"And I cannot also sit here to kill time and let the Moon and his Star be a dead meat tonight," said Tai Furen looking fierce on her assassin look escape for tonight.

"We must go now, we will pass the main inner gate at the middle of the Yuwen household. It is the fastest and shortcut way to the castle peak. There were few stratagems planted. But it is better than pass through other illegal channels. My servants will interrupt their Animal master for a while. Then we can sneak out of the Jile Pavilion . Our goal is to pass through the area of Yuwen Hao's Hall."

Tai Furen hushed and comforted her niece, she said: "I am the third concubine of the Yuwen Household. Yuwen Hao will recognize me like what you have done when you presented your jade stone to come directly at me. This is the same manner Yuwen Hao will recognize the concubine of the 3rd branch."

Tai Yue Shen raised her hopes and a bit of fast thinking, suddenly, dried her tears and said: "I want you to have this."

"Canhong sword" Tai Furen went astonished.

"Please Aunt, take it" then Tai Furen took it and Tai Yue Shen. Tai Yue Shen joined her Aunt and they started to sneak out of Jile Pavilion.

Master Yuwen Xi was having the usual nightclub held on his own Jile Pavilion. There were young girls running behind like crazy sheep. Some were exposed, bare naked bodies, some were drunk and just laid their bodies in the pool, some were dressed in a monster like costumes and smoky like make-ups. Already somewhat drugged with the steamy foam from the T-shape like pool, Yuwen Xi is seen sitting at the middle, licking the bosom of a beautiful almost half dead young girl. The girl is not moving and just stared at the pool.

Tai Furen saw it in the hiding and with disgust, in her eyes, she spits on the Jile Pavilion. Tai Yue Shen is not believing what she sees at the moment and smelled the steamy foam hovering around the Pavilion of death. She went dizzy and forced to close her eyes.

However, when she opened them, her eyes were already caught in a dreamy state. She tried to look at her surroundings it was like a trance of nightmare. She could not distinguish if it is real or not. She saw all the young girls dead-like bodies. Some were laughing to death, other's were naked. Looking at the opposite direction, Tai Yue Shen saw Yuwen Xi like a monster licking the floating bodies found at the Jile Pavilion. Not so long, Tai Yue Shen cannot hold any longer, she went blackout.

Tai Furen was too late to know that her niece passed out. She looked at her back and finds her niece is not following her back. She tried to call her name: "Tai Yue Shen, where are you?" But no one, responded and she became nervous.

Meanwhile, Tai Furen took off her mask. She tried to look for Tai Yue Shen at the Jile Pavilion. She stayed longer than she should have not. Now, even the Third concubine of the Yuwen household was already caught in the hellish night of Yuwen Xi's Jile Pavilion.

The next day, Yuwen Hao's maidservant was walking down the market street. She saw a middle-aged woman buying seven jade stones at the jewelry shop. Just enough distance to observe the woman, she thinks she is the perfect match to her Master's request.

Judging from a distance she is cold but sturdy as an oak tree when she talked. She whispered to herself, said: "The woman is free-spirited."

She stalked the woman until she saw her went to a nearby restaurant. She was astonished when she saw the six children are waiting for her. They were talking, but the maidservant if Yuwen Hao came in front of them and did not speak.

And the woman looked at her and started to ask: "What can we do for you?"

The maidservant showed her jade stone. A rare but familiar jade stone bearing the brocade of the Yuwen family. The woman understood and she asked: "What can I do to serve the master?"

"I am not allowed to speak but can you and your six sons come with me today into the Yuwen household? The reward will be very beneficial to all of your sons and yourself but if you do not like the terms you may leave with your heads still tied up to your necks," said by the maidservant.

The woman thought a bit, then she asked: "How can I be assured that I will be safe and my sons in case we do not accept the job?"

After a few moments, the maidservant cannot think for an answer but thinks deeper, she handed them over her tassel. The tassel is like a collateral article which also means if anything goes wrong, all fingers to point at her selling her neck to the Palm ( it is now the present office of Yuwen Yue where all corporal punishments is held after fact is established and where justice is served for the victim and chopping off of head or hands for the criminal) of Green Hills courtyard.

The woman and six sons, together with the maidservant left and arrived at Yuwen household.

They arrived at Red Hills courtyard in the afternoon. It is almost twilight. Before anything they have to pass the guards interrogation before they can enter the Green Hills courtyard.

The maidservant on her silver tongue explained by deceiving the guards. Well, the guards are not really listening to her but looking at her beautiful face.

Eventually using her charms, they let her pass the safe way, without turning on the stratagems planted around them.

The maidservant and the woman together with her six sons met the Master of the Eyes of God. Yuwen Hao we're at his back when they arrived.

Still, on his back, Yuwen Hao dismissed her maidservant who bowed at his presence. Then Yuwen Hao turned to see the woman and her six sons.

The woman bowed in kowtow position and her six sons mimicked their mom. The woman is dressed in neat presentable earth tone color, canvass-made materials and its Chinese collared shirt with Chinese buttons, long and has slits at each side and light beige pants and black flat shoes.

The six sons mimicked her too and were so cute to look at and Yuwen Hao though does not smile, and on his aristocratic face he beamed for the sake of the kids bowing in his front and even one of the little was having a hard time doing it.

Yuwen Hao was more pleased to even see more male kids coming into his Green hills courtyard. On his gentleman's tone Yuwen Hao, said: "You may stand." and all of them stood including their mother.

Yuwen Hao called in his kitchen servants by pulling a string and the bell ranged in the kitchen.

Time to serve the dishes and the kitchen staff of the Yuwen household serve the early dinner and the servants led their guests of the house into the dining area. The woman and her six sons ate and her sons cannot believe in front of the their eyes are wide variety of Chinese foods like: steamed herb chicken feet, braised beef, Cuapao ( small siopao's), Wonton soup in canton noodles, some stir fry seafoods, steamed fish with herbs and spices, some black mushrooms, delectable sauces served in tiny plates, steamed Siomai served in a small round bamboo with round lid, Hainese rice, other pickled fruits like cucumber, pears, plum, and fresh fruits such as persimmon, passion fruits (like that of pomegranate), and star apples and fresh green tea after their meal.

After it they were ushered back to Yuwen Hao's hall and only the woman came back leaving his six sons playing outside the courtyard. The woman saw Yuwen Hao playing with a baby.

"Master, thank you for the best meal me and my son had for our entire life."

Yuwen Hao answered: "You will have more of it if you accept the task."

What is the task master? then after a pause, she said: "and if I choose not to accept it your maidservant gave this to me" Yuwen Hao already know the woman is smart.

Yuwen Hao looked back to the baby whom he regards as his son, told the woman: "My son is your task, do you wish to accept?"

"It such a great honor your Master said the woman but I am not fit to accept the task for your son like you are of noble blood and I am not."

Yuwen Hao getting more impressed with this woman not only smart but is humble and knows her place. Yuwen Hao responded:" You won't directly take care of my son you will become the servant of one of the Lady of the house at Green Hills courtyard that will balance her aristocratic side into your humble blood. Do you wish to accept?"

"What about my six sons master? What do you plan to do with them?" asked by the mother.

"They will grow and stay here to accompany my son. I will personally allow to train them and raise them up to become the servant of the next master and heir of the Eyes of God." Having said that, you could only expect a good future of your sons as they grew up educated and will serve the master of Green Hills courtyard for the rest of their life," said Yuwen Hao in a gentle voice, slow manner enough for the mother to understand what is at stake.

"Master, the goodness in your heart is above the heavens. May the Qians (means heavens) bless you."

"We have nowhere to go. Our household was burned down and literally just surviving the streets by the little household chores we do for people. If we do not work as slaves of the slaves, my sons won't even eat a dog meal."

After saying this, the mother accepted the task.

Yuwen Hao understood and taking the opportunity, made her sign a contract.

Do you understand what you and your sons will do from now on? Asked by Yuwen Hao, just to make sure, the mother understood its means.

"Yes my Lord." And the mother performed kowtow.

"You may rise," said by Yuwen Hao.

This means she will be serving the Green Hills courtyard for the rest of her life and her six sons.

Yuwen Hao arranged all things that night. He wrote to his Father Yuwen Gao and told him about what happened. The old Yuwen Master read the last lines: "Grant it, Father, consider it my last wish."

Not known to anyone, if the Old Yuwen Master would not accept his wish, Yuwen Hao is ready to abandon his title, nobility and return the Eyes of God to his Father's care. He is desperate of a son, and now that he has the baby, he will do everything to achieve his goals and redirect it all to the purpose of the heir of Eyes of God.

Yuwen Gao responded positively that same night. While the old Yuwen Master informed immediately the Lady who is living at the inner temple of the Yuwen ancient palace. She is the beautiful grandmother of Yuwen Hao and mother of Yuwen Gao.

At the deep of the night, Yuwen Hao remembered the black silk hidden in his secret repository. When Yuwen Hao took it, he touched and felt the grade of the fabric.

Yuwen Hao closed his eyes and tried to remember where this silk came from. Sad to know, he cannot remember the name. It is the most expensive silk in China and its quality is the best fabric of all. He untied the black silk and opened the sole belonging of the baby sleeping sweetly at his bedchamber.

A pair of lovely eyes was astonished, Yuwen Hao found a sword. He has never seen this sword before. Judging from its appearance, it is somewhat a belonging from a noble or from a royal family.

When he took out the sword, a snow paper fell on the floor. He took it but saw it blank.

Yuwen Hao knows that the baby might have not been dropped accidentally by the person who sneaked out from his house the other day. He took a powder from a small bottle of celadon and sprinkled it in the snow paper and it appeared:

上帝眼中的主人宇文豪

这是我的儿子,我正在照顾你,因为我相信你是一个配得上我儿子血的继承人,他的名字叫悦。 剑是他的,不应该出鞘,直到他的时间来统治你的家庭来。 这是我最后的愿望。

岳神夫人

Yuwen Hao was right this baby he is taking care off. is a son of the royal but he does not know who is Lady Yue Shen what is her background, from what empire did she came from. She is not so well-known.

Yuwen Hao also examined the sheath of the sword and cannot unsheathe, it has some mechanism of sort that unlocks and locks the sword itself. Not wanting to ruin the sword, he did not force to unsheathe it.

At the corner's of his eyes, is a bright smile when he thought: I plan to give it on his 30th day stay at Yuwen household. His birthday would be the day the baby came to Yuwen household and their tradition was to officially 'locked' the child to the world where family and friends provide gifts of silver and money, meant to help with the child's upbringing.

The Lady at the temple was quietly stunned upon seeing the baby boy, hungry for a grandchild she immediately took it from the arms of Yuwen Hao and played with him.

The Lady who is somewhat aristocratic but beautiful and gloomy changed her aura from chinky eyes to her sunny face that she did not even pay attention anymore to Yuwen Hao's instructions and the servant mother he hired was just brushed off to the other side. The lady told him, we will call him master ice cube and she chuckled with the baby also beamed and their eyes locked.

Thirty days have passed, as what Yuwen Hao planned, he introduced the child to the Yuwen Family and fabricated a story of his own to conceal the child's past and regarded him as his son from a mother who is not known to the Yuwen family. The Yuwen family did not even listen to Yuwen Hao's introduction and all eyes and full attention to the child who is looking like a god. They are like magnetized on him and forgets about their family affairs for a little while. They rejoiced and showered him lots of silver wares and coins.

After the celebration has ended he bestowed the Po Yue Jian sword in secret then he said to the child: "You will be the master of snow, strong and cold, yet will be gentle in the inside. You will know the depths and layers of being the heir to master of the eyes of God, and this sword from your mother, I bestow it upon you to defend the master code of snow and expressions to be formed under your upbringing. Then Yuwen Hao hid the sword back on its black silk and put it a secret repository."