Author Angel Chua
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong'er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Throne of Ember (05.28.2021 edited)
The Yanbei skies are clear, an early dew of the land brings out the smell of fresh grass as butterflies visit its field of flowers, the wild horses once again runs to their course.
The owner of the land came out of the window's cabin, he raised his hands and yawn, he sees his horse fed by their servant boy, then he breathed into the fresh air thinking he woke up early and his eyes went to the opposite direction and even extended his neck to see the other cabin.
It seems like no one lived on the other side and so quiet.
Did I wake up late? Yan Xun a bit anxious, suddenly moved swiftly and after some time, he looked at himself at the mirror, look at the total package he said to himself: "If she does not fall for me then I lost my charms"
He squinted his eyes suddenly went outside to mess the other cabin.
Yan Xun walking slowly and quietly, he bent his body and went to peek at the window of the cabin when somebody pokes his back.
"Are you looking for the star?" Chu Qiao watching him peek inside her cabin and at his back when Yan Xun startled he turned around and saw Chu Qiao. Chu Qiao frowned and was waiting for answers, she squinted her eyes.
Yan Xun suddenly straightened his back, and on his princely stature, he looked at Chu Qiao, swallowed his throat, he answered: "No I thought I saw a spider went inside the window, so I was just looking where did it go."
Chu Qiao on her wrinkled brow she said: "I know what you did last night, so don't waste your effort deceiving me." and Chu Qiao left him.
Yan Xun followed at her back then asked: "What did I do last night?"
"Were you drunk? Ask for yourself!" Chu Qiao on her sarcastic voice she continued to walk.
Yan Xun on his corner smile, he said: "Okay, I know." Yan Xun suddenly grabbed Chu Qiao's arms and said: "You cannot escape today, we have many moments to make."
Chu Qiao narrowed her eyes and asked: "Like what?"
"Why should I tell, you'll see when we get there." Yan Xun smiled at her, but Chu Qiao frowned and pushed his hands away from her arms and turned back at him.
"Hey, you cannot ruin this royal trip, I have to follow my schedule and write me back to the throne report later."
Yan Xun smiled at her then he gave a signal to the youngster to gather their horses.
"I thought I woke up early but here is the little fox woke up earlier than the world." Yan Xun still smiling while taking the horse reins went to meet Blast while Chu Qiao climbed to her horse.
Yan Xun looked at Chu Qiao for a while and noticed she did not wear her metal mask, he asked: "A'Chu you have to wear the mask, it's too dangerous if anyone sees you and me together."
Chu Qiao looked at him and said: "Why? Is the Prince of Yanbei afraid of his fiancée and will kill you because you are with somebody else and not her?
Yan Xun on his male bass voice became steep he said: The last time I check my Yan ring finger, I don't still owe any loyalty to any woman. And oh, concubines doesn't count.
Chu Qiao smirked and said: So you have not given any engagement ring at all?
Yan Xun replied fast: Is it necessary?
Chu Qiao laughed at him and said: Poor fiancée if I were her, you never get any chance!
Yan Xun replied: "She's not poor, she can afford to buy one if that's all she needs, but I cannot waste Yan treasures just because she wanted an engagement ring. Anyway, the wedding is going to be grand and will there be any need for an engagement ring when she ends up with a wedding ring? Either way, she gets it all, the Yanbei Prince, a kingdom and…"
Here! Chu Qiao tapped her horse and went on the fast run, and Yan Xun came after her until he was able to catch up her back and run beside her.
Chu Qiao was given everything she needs, the old woman made sure everything was carefully followed from Prince of Yanbei's orders, she is wearing her horseback riding tight-fitting clothes and covered her face with her indigo scarf exposing only her perfect almond shaped eyes and a black hood with dark purple lining inside.
Yan Xun had the same black hood outfit, like of that Zorro on his black Hanfu dress wore his purple metal face mask, a sword in his waist and a total handsome villain-like man riding with his magnificent horse.
Yah! Yah! Yah!
After a few hours of horseback riding above the earth of the green land of Yanbei and under the blue sky with the world, they passed by a palace.
Chu Qiao gasping some air while on the horse run shouted to Yan Xun: "A Palace? At this paradise? Wow!"
Feeling proud, Yan Xun suddenly pulled the ropes of his horse and turned around, Chu Qiao did the same. Yan Xun reached the horse paddock, went down from his horse and hung the horse reins, but Chu Qiao did not go down from her horse as she beholds the beauty of the marvelous palace.
Yan Xun came close to her and gave his hand without any words he just looked at Chu Qiao and with those real little eyes makes Chu Qiao trust him, she gave her hand.
Beside the Palace are a beautiful fall and an evergreen forest on its autumn trees. Chu Qiao cannot believe herself she is walking down at this fantastic place. Yan Xun just looking at her is a joy to his heart. Finally, his dreams came true, all of his hard work paid off.
Chu Qiao left staring at the beautiful falls and forgot about the passing time but Yan Xun cannot go and overlook her, he turned to Chu Qiao's face and looked straight into her sparkling eyes. Yan Xun cannot help himself but to give this moment its chance, he closed his eyes to kiss her, but Chu Qiao is not feeling at the moment she slightly turned her face sideways.
Yan Xun sensed the beauty is not welcoming, on his emotionless face, he turned his face to see the beautiful falls, inhaled then said: "Once upon a time, I met a girl at the bloody hunting field, as deadly as she is fierce, she swept all of her bloody battles, when I thought she died, but then she lived.
She did not know a prince like a dog behind followed her and gave its best shots to block all the arrows that thugs her breath away.
The prince did not let go until their servants took her to a safe place, a cold owner who won her in the game of the generals, who broke all the rules and snap the hunting price from the pack of the fox, today. Here she stands and does not understand.."
Yan Xun clenched his fist and remembers it once again, his past, his slain family…and he can't continue to speak.
Chu Qiao interrupted and said: What do I have to understand?
Yan Xun turned to her face and almost teary eyes he said: I asked you once, now I am asking it again..Did you ever love me?
Chu Qiao is totally clueless she said: "I knew nothing about this.." Feeling a heart of heaviness, she looked down.
Yan Xun revealing all that is hidden in his heart: "Then let me say this once, once upon a time you said…"
"I don't know if my feeling for you is love or not
I only know that
I cared for you
I couldn't stand people hurting you
I regarded your dream as mine
I regarded your home as mine
your standpoint, your safety
your gain and loss
have always been the most important things in my heart for these years
My biggest dream is to come back to Yanbei with you
to see you return to your homeland safely and get what you wanted
I lost my families, my memories
All these years, you are the most important person to me. You are the meaning of my existence
But I am not sure now if everything I have done is worth it
Do I really know who you are?
Yan Xun, from the moment you started to go back to Yanbei you began to become suspicious of Miss Yu, Mr. Wu and me, you have become wary of every person and became a slave of power, your revenge, your hatred is born because you're off your selfish motives. I don't blame you for killing Yuwen Yue
I just loathe your shabby trick
You should not tread on my loyalty to you
You should not tread on my feelings for you.."
Yan Xun stopped right there not wanting for her to recall it all and neglect that part of Yuwen Yue for it pierces his heart more than he can ever bear right now in front of her.
Chu Qiao slightly closed her eyes and recited:
"Now as you wish I am going to find Yuwen Yue
This is my last warning if Yuwen Yue dies in Yanbei. I will never forgive you."
Chu Qiao started to cry, she suddenly recovers those memories, but she doesn't feel she owns them all.
This morning was a beautiful, perfect day but all this afternoon became dark and unpredicted thunderstorms is about to fall on them, as tears come out of their eyes suddenly another rain came without warning.
The two just standing there, one makes him remember the past, and the beauty recognizes but does not seem to own it.
While the two were totally soaked in the rain, Yan Xun took her hands while there are still tears in their eyes suddenly Yan Xun turn to a cold face, he bit and wrinkled his lips on anger and pulled her beauty away.
Chu Qiao startled, her feet seem to ride away with his runaway prince, they landed on the main entrance of the Palace.
The weather outside continues to bring more rain, lightning, and thunders like what happened yesterday, they were once like a kid but now a little more grown-ups, Chu Qiao does not really understand her feelings, but she can relate to Yan Xun's past his "Star girl" but really, is this what she is to him? She started to question her identity is she Xinger or his Star girl?
Yan Xun opened the door of the palace empty of servants, on its two sides were two lion heads carved in rare limestones, with precious stones in its eyes and looks revolting on-site painted in rose gold.
The floor is the grandest where there is two dragon emblem on top of its thick red carpet made of gold material.
Around the palace are Jin Bu(gold fabric) curtains, tea candles at the top hanging on a square like a countertop, and all its walls have a torch of fire burning all day and night.
There is a medium distance aisle and looking above, a 6 steps stairs, and finally, a stage, an old brick of stones mounted above the stage and on top is a jade stone that sparkles at the middle is the main focal point one can see a dark red sword.
From the stage another elevated slope with three wide steps stairs and above it, cannot be seen with physical eyes, is the divine's, most sacred full of burning incense, one can find, the World's called the Throne of Ember.
Where one can only see the foothold of the King but not his mercy-seat of his Ember Throne.
Chu Qiao look at Yan Xun, and only their eyes are talking, a glance from the Prince allowed her to run towards the aisle and reached the stage and saw a dark red glistening sword, the Canhong Sword, well-preserved. While Yan Xun slowly walked at the aisle like a king with no crown, a dark king with no servants, a king without a heart, he continued to walk in slow motion dripping on his black hood suit, on every step he takes, it echoes to Chu Qiao's heart and took her breath away.
Chu Qiao still dripping from her wet outfit did not mind it all along, all eyes focus to Yan Xun.
Yan Xun reached where Chu Qiao was, and he stopped for a moment, sudden cold air came to follow but Yan Xun on his stern and aristocratic hidden face from its black hood. A face full of tears did not even look at Chu Qiao. He passed by, in front of her, like they have never met or known each other for so long.
The Prince suddenly continued to walk until he reaches The Throne of Ember where its burning incense received Yan Xun's body and suddenly were gone like ash, his whole body sits on the throne where his presence beholds, revealing only a foothold that can be seen below.
Like a piece of heaven in the world, is the King of Yanbei's throne, rose from the Embers and burning incense day and night, The World to rule Yanbei kingdom from ash to its remnant embers, will never seize to seek justice for the slain and seek peace for the entire land.
Chu Qiao for a time froze, from where she stood, felt the majestic presence of Yan Xun she understood. She took the Canhong Sword and walked like a princess towards the Throne of Ember, and she raised her hands with the Canhong Sword towards the Throne of Ember and bowed to the Throne. Yan Xun on his face full of tears he said: "Is this what you really wanted?"
Chu Qiao responded in full tone: "Yes, Your Grace."
Yan Xun controlling himself, his head held up high, proud and not looking down. His hidden eyes betray him in the dark, are sincere tears falling.
Whatever it is, it's not for everyone to know, suddenly for the first time, broke the protocol of the Throne of Ember. He went down and showed his face.
He lifted Chu Qiao's face, opened her hood and took off her indigo scarf.
Yan Xun wondering what it feels to kiss her lips for he has never found any courage not until today. He slowly draws his face went closer to kiss her lips. Yan Xun on his tears closed his eyes, basked in her scent and his lips as close to hers…
Chu Qiao is calm like the waters, did not hesitate this time, let alone Yan Xun feel what she feels. She closed her eyes but remained cold and uninviting. She is emotionless and feeling nothing.
Yan Xun wanting her for that moment, suddenly, did not seal her lips a kiss. He slightly moved his face away and breathe, inhaled deeply continued to shift from Chu Qiao's lips. Realizing something, on his smooth control did not go further.
Yan Xun momentarily lost his mind for that lovely little face, for the only woman she loved… against the Throne of Ember should have been put to death, at any moment Yan Xun breaks his throne protocol is graveyard waiting ahead…
And so, gaining back all of his senses, his majestic presence, and lordship, he walked back to the Throne of Ember and after a while, a silence…
Chu Qiao opened her eyes, feeling forsaken, not aware, her tears fall down from her lovely face.
She took the Canhong Sword and her indigo scarf she put into her face and stood up to walk away from the Throne, her eyes soaking in tears.
Yan Xun felt she is fading away, he is stronger and capable to hold his emotions he suddenly found the words and spoke at her: "A'Chu, on this Throne of Ember, is the King of Yanbei. Time after time, we can no longer find this moment if we let it go. The next time you see me, whatever you feel in there…it'll be just the face of the King and not a lover."
"Remember that…"
May Connect to Chapter 40 Buried in the Snow
or click next.
