Author Angel Chua
Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong'er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography
Queen by day, concubine at night (08.12.2021 edited)
Flashbacks from the war…
The drums started to run, the sound of death from the ground grumbled making everyone's heart surrender to fear or courage.
Wei's Battalion Army ground commander calmly shouted on air to release the flaming arrows to the far side and like a million-fire rain landed and burned down their own shields, their own uniform of the same Wei's frontlines on fire.
After millions of arrows on fire, reached to the far side, the archers stepped back and exchanged their position to bring on the ancient explosives and blasting weapons to annihilate at least thirty percent of Prince Yuan Yang's troops. The flammable fireballs and gun-like weapons were set like artillery to destroy the deserted defenders of the Great Summer Empire.
Like a large-scale land mine, the dramatic artillery send their own uniform troops to hell which were ignited with a fuze, immediately exploded, sounding like thunder, deafening, filled with smoke, and their front liners collapsed.
Yuan Che determined to uproot the King termite of Wei's empire, he gave the go signal to release the fireballs that caused massive damage to their troops on its west wing.
More than 9,000 soldiers killed.
Afterward, Prince Yuan Yang knowing his brother's tactics and strategy, but Prince Yuan Che did not expect his brother's latest weapon of war.
Looking at Yuan Yang's front-liners swept with black smoke and full of dead bodies, another round of archers fires small cannons, like the belt of Judas firecrackers, which was thick and thin, and contained into jars. Yuan Yang troops mounted a fuze on its mouth, lit the bow when the line of defense on the other side caught, believed it or not, the canisters exploded.
The fierce fire spread and the sizzling sound made the Seventh Prince in panic, seeing through his eyes their first line of defense blown away.
Many bodies flew on air creating several massive holes on their defender lines and many confused troops clustered withdrew from where they stood while some found dead in just a blink of an eye.
Estimating the death toll to rise at 5,000 to 8,000 armies killed instantly.
Marching sounds heard from a distance, bones trembles as the Qinghai troops silver iron uniforms started to produce noise on every march released on the ground.
They began to walk valiantly in a reversed U shape formation and quickly took the body of the Qinghai Prince and the Yan Queen as their prison.
Yue Qi tapped Zuo and passed a wooden piece of wood as a sign of authority, they moved away from the battlefield together with Xiao Yu she was looking at the little figure of the Yan King in a far distance while her hands tied, she said: "Mercy, spare some mercy."
For some reason, Yan Xun paralyzed his powerful army while the allied Wei troops were killing their own uniforms and shields. Sighting of endless black smokes spread in the air and from afar bombarded sounds of blasting heard, and the heavy smell of sulfur and charcoal were cooking the muddy battleground.
Yan Xun holding the face of ebbing breath of Chu Qiao said: "Say a word, and I will surrender this thousand army for you…" his hands were full of blood and Chu Qiao almost out of her breath whispered: "You do not have to do anything. It all ends here."
Viper watching in the distance had one tear fall on the ground, and it violently shook the land as the blood of Xia Chong continuously spilled on earth.
There is nothing she can do to save one of the Jianghu underworld spies. Viper took out something from her pocket and blew it on the wind she said: "This is not the end, it is just the beginning. Thank you for your life sister. May we meet again in another life."
Yan Xun shouted and cried hard in the rain like when he lost his family in a day, he lost everything eternally as he hugged the dead body of Chu Qiao.
For a time, he cried until all his tears are gone, and he is shaking out of his blood loss. No one dared to come closer to him without his commands.
Zhong Yu understanding the World's anguish started to defy the battlefield protocols bravely stepped in front of the wretched Yan King that suddenly passed out in the middle of the battlefield.
The other Yan generals started to flock their King and took the two bodies away from the muddy earth while the Qinghai troops watched them waived their white flags of withdrawal and sound of gongs.
The seventh Prince heard the sound of gongs from the far side and thought, they won the battle, the victory is theirs, but another Wei scout foot soldier came to report said.
"The Wei crown princess died in the battle and the Yan king withdrew his troops. Your Highness, your next command?"
Prince Yuan Yang just received the ground report and said:" I can smell the split of an empire, everyone should retreat and wait for my command!"
All Wei troops under Yuan Yang moved to follow Yanbei's military troops also seen marching, packing their saddles and retreating to the farthest north.
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Viper moving to these secret paths running like she was in a race with the Blackguard leader Princess Zama, reached Yanbei's capital.
While the Yan King and Queen away from their kingdom, dread has befallen into their land.
Many people suffered as the five strongest blackguard spies deployed and converted the land mass into land mines of human flesh destruction, smell of poison everywhere coming from those cobra snakes crawling all over the ground, strangled necks hanged on every trees and buildings, blind people in the dark walking in the empty streets, slumbered children that didn't wake up anymore while cicadas deafening and confusing people everywhere. But one spy is missing, the honey spy is nowhere to be found.
Like a doomed stretch, Yanbei is not the land of freedom you can call anymore.
Viper has defended and spared the remaining cities like the Beisuo and Hong Chuan gave it's few populations she battled four of the five blackguards onslaught, she is the only underworld spy looking after the welfare of the people.
Suddenly a man in his divine Hanfu dress, long black hair like ink, calm and compassionate eyes, came to her aide, he uttered: "I cannot let you do this alone!" Wu Dao Ya butchered the necks of the cobras flying over the damned place.
Viper said: "You are welcome Master Wu, this is not your first time!"
Wu Dao Ya replied: "I missed the last time!"
Viper while chopping another cobra neck, said: "Then we can work twice as much as yesterday!"
Wu Dao Ya: "I guess so! See you later, we have work to do!"
Viper nodded, and Wu Dao Ya disappeared in her sight.
Princess Zama possessed some kind of mortal corruptness, said: "I can sense some stench resistance in this place."
A man on his dark blue, long sleeves and hair, and white Hanfu dress said: "The last time I checked you put this place into ashes. What is little resistance with your strong ability and doomsday powers unleashed?"
Princess Zama replied: "The problem with a grass dynasty, after you uproot and put it in a fire, suddenly it will grow back again. "
The man reacted, said: "You must know, the blade of the grass is the work of the stars."
Meanwhile, Viper on her head down, drenched in the rain with dripping raindrops from her fingers, standing in the middle of the grassy snowy road suddenly sensed two warm bodies crossing her path.
The whip suddenly gave a steady light, like a glow in the dark, eyes turned to black painted mask all over her face, the pupil is magnified, at first glance, you wouldn't know if she is an angel of death or an angel of light.
On the far side, a woman covered with pitch black clothes, her hands full of bloodstains holds a long spear sickle, bloody sprinkles on the ground, her eyes flashed. While the man beside her, looks familiar and at the same time intercepting the ground attacking her meridians, Viper suddenly lost her balance and forced to take a knee.
Viper's knees soft like the grass, saw the man looking at her with disgusting eyes, exhausting her last effort and vomiting blood. Softly but coldly whispered: "Sand Drizzle Master…"
Viper catching her breath while her meridians slowed down.
Princess Zama watched Viper's strength decline as her weakness controlled by Dong Fangyi dressed into a dark wizard costume, he uncovered his dark blue hood then showed his face said: "You never forget!"
Viper coughing more blood exclaimed: "And you never learned!"
"Yanbei is doomed. Why do you fight so hard?" Spoken in a calm manner, Dong Fangyi doubled his powers to control Viper.
Suddenly some snakes crawled to the snowy grassy road about to bite her when she whips the ground, and a blast of light flipped the ground.
The snakes melted like ice, and Princess Zama was impressed while Dong Fangyi told her: "Do not worry, it is a desperate act of an underworld spy."
Zama scratched her nails on the ground, and more snakes came to attack her she said: "You are a human after all, where is your master now?"
Just when Viper is about to die, Wu Dao Yao like a black midnight Raven, a fierce protector, sacred and wise, who came to purge someone old and filthy, attacked Dong Fangyi.
Sounds of fighting swords, extraordinary martial arts swept the place while dust flying in the air, a man pinned to the ground.
Meanwhile, Viper regained the power of her meridians, stopped coughing blood. Zama watching her closely came to attack her using her spear sickle.
Viper jumped twice and without warning a cold presence, eyes, and lips like hell ready to send Zama's back to hell.
Zama turned around and quickly grabbed her whip then Viper watching Zama's long fingernails burned after her whip changed its form and became a whip on fire.
Both men looked at where the direction of fire is spreading rapidly. Wu Dao Ya calm and composed about to finish Dong Fangyi when he counters attacks his sword.
When Viper displayed an intense power, the two men experienced being slowly eaten by fire from where they stood. Both men know their mortal bodies will burn on fire and the last thing you do not want to watch were bodies burning like in hell.
Wu Dao Yao dismissed his fight with Dong Fangyi while Dong Fangyi ran and took Zama away from the waves of fire, about to consume her alive.
Wu Dao Ya knows that after such display of power the underworld spy will be out of control and may lose its strength and life in its fight. He sat down in a Zen position and called the rain to fight the fire around them and hummed in peace.
The only place not consumed by fire is where Viper stands and where he is sitting. While the two fled and Dong Fangyi knowing secrets paths suddenly disappeared.
The grasslands of Yanbei burned on fire then looking in a far distance, these grasslands and wetlands releasing black smoke on air turned into a desolate place.
Viper's whip turned off like a blown candle, like a leaf, her body fell to the ground when the thin raindrops of rain started to fall.
Recaps about Liang Empire…
While the Northern Yan was set on fire, Wei is sitting pretty at their courts and Qinghai empire sharpening their blades, Southern Liang went into various nights of coups.
Empress Yuan leading the sudden overthrow of the imperial government cracked their plan ordering General Sui, Duke of Liang and Prince Lou's cavalrymen to attack the seventh and eight prefectures forcing Governor Sun Di to withdraw farther and abandon its strongholds.
Instead, Sun Di may have already foreseen this is going to happen already planned for the counter-attack, and with the help of the Interim Emperor Xiao Ce, Sun Di wiped out the sixth stronghold prefecture and seized the armies who rebelled from the government.
Forcing their way to the fifth prefecture, General Sui did not expect that Sun Di's movement and reinforcements, came from the thousands of Xuili army under his command. The fifth prefecture ransacked and set on fire leaving only ruins and some soldiers who surrendered were spared from their blades.
Advancing his troops towards its fourth prefecture, Sun Di shot somewhat, made his cavalry slow down a bit. He Xiao who took the command, for the time being, ordered to continue the fight to avoid losing their grounds of progress.
He ordered both Xuili and Tang army men to attack and siege the fourth prefecture, saving more than 10,000 civilians and families caught in the middle of the siege.
A pontoon bridge is the only floating bridge that connects the fourth to the third prefecture. Unfortunately, General Sui ordered its most excellent archers to set it on fire. It slowed down Xuili and Tang armies to enter Daoming Palace, Southern Liang's capital.
Many Xuili soldiers following the enemy to capture them were drowned, another casualty and loss of uniform for the renowned firefox soldiers. The first prefecture was shut down leaving the second prefecture and third at the middle of isolation.
The situation in the Daoming Palace did not improve following the attempt to assassinate the interim Emperor, Chu Qiao saved him but slept for almost a month. In addition to Southern Liang's civil unrest, Xiao Ce came to discover his past about his real mother, the first Empress Lu Zhi.
Given the struggle of the present Empress Yuan to remain in power, Empress Yuan challenged the capital's palace minister's and scholars, scribes and other palace officials to amend the imperial law to support Prince Lou's enthronement and abandon Xiao Ce.
Empress Yuan even tried to kill Xiao Ce's two royal sons and Zhan Ziming pregnant with the third heir, was imprisoned due to the pressed charges against her.
Zhan Ziming became the suspect of the interim Emperor's failed assassination. Empress Yuan framed her to protect herself for any allegations, but Sun Di found out that it was indeed Empress Yuan, the one who conspired the assassination of the interim Emperor.
While Empress Lu Zhi, the real grandmother of Xiao Ce's two sons intervened, took the two royal children under her custody. Master Xie Tai Shan recalled to his royal position that served as their protector and defender for the young heirs of the throne while their father is setting the rod of punishment for their mother and their step-grandmother.
Many years have passed, but First Empress Lu Zhi remained in a staggering position, eventually moved to Liang's palace courts to once again, wear the Fengguan Dowager crown.
This marked the end of Empress Yuan's reign, while Xiao Ce spared mercy not to publicly execute the mother whom he once called his own and grew up under her care. Out of his love but just heart, Xiao Ce wrote a decree to exile the guilty Empress Yuan to live at the royal Tan Jing temple and will never step down to the capital until all of her days are over.
This is the second time Empress Yuan exiled to the same place she was ordered to live her days as a nun before Emperor Tang took her as her concubine.
She cannot accept her fate that had been written in the stars a long time ago, and that it will happen again sooner than expected. So, she began to deploy coups and escape the palace through General Sui and her son Prince Lou.
On the other hand, Prince Lou does not have any plans to harm his only brother whom he cherished and loved.
But as the time unfolds, Empress Yuan told him, he is not his real brother but his enemy to Liang's throne.
To add more injury, Empress Yuan told Prince Lou that the late King of Liang assassinated his brother's and forced their father to abdicate Liang's throne, thus proclaiming himself to be the heir and became the Emperor by force.
When Prince Lou heard these stories, he did not believe it at first. He went to see General Sui confirm and when it is not enough for him to understand, he ran away and went far.
Arriving at mountains of Tanjing temple, he visited A'Fus grave and some of his father's concubines who were forced to become Nun that lived there confirmed his mother, Empress Yuan story.
Truth is, King Tang and he are equal if he is to see him as his brother and not his father.
But due to Empress Yuan's vicious ways, the impossible happened and brought him to where he is today.
Whether his mother intervened to preserve him in power or not, his status should have been remained, equal to the late King Tang. However, Prince Lou will be a constant reminder of being a threat to his reign, which will put his own life at risk if the former concubine Yuan did not take actions and took all her golden opportunity to rise in power. Later, Empress Yuan said: "The gates of the empires cannot be knocked with faint hearts, it must be knocked with a bold heart."
After some time, Sun Di reported to Xiao Ce through a bird courier that out of eight prefectures, only two remained to be hostile territory.
Xiao Ce also learned that his deposed stepmother Yuan was their primary source of strength and support including the steady supply of food and military supplies.
Together with Prince Lou and his Uncle Duke, General Sui, they continued to be fierce and threatening as they soaked themselves into the pot of rebellion.
Outside Liang's first prefecture, are sharp Watcher-Archers ready to shoot any living thing that moves or creeps at the surface of its soil? It became the first line of defense from defectors and renegade troop leaders.
Xiao Ce put a policy on its stone walls that no one lives to tell, and no one dies without spitting out information useful for their military strategy and tactics.
Xiao Ce ordered the royal guards to close the borders making it harder for the trapped military battalions inside the second and third prefectures.
With lots of attempts to send their spies to obtain information or supplies for their camp, it is always a failure for the other side.
Xiao Ce too cunning to build lures and traps around its walls, he made sure that everything is deadly and not so much friendly.
The same is true for any assassins who would dare to try to sneak at the Emperor's gate, not only the order is to shoot to kill, whether it be animal or human, it is already assumed dead.
Meanwhile, Sun Di recovering from his wounds did not spend his time to sleep or rest.
Instead, he gathered and ordered a group of builders to scout the mountainous terrains and construct another pontoon bridge out of sight.
It will serve as another alternative route to cross the rocky and long river that divides the two territories.
It took six months before the project was completed and it became a secret but dangerous passage because every time he orders his soldiers to walk on it, fell, from the cliff pontoon bridge making it impossible for everyone to cross due to its steep trails and rocky landscape formations.
Sun Di later concluded, it is not a safe route to pass through given a thousand of troops, it cannot guarantee a safe pass.
On Yuwen Yue's recovery…
"Master, please wake up, its time for you to drink your medicine."
Yuwen Yue recovering from his back wound, leaned on his bed to drink the concoction prepared by Zao Baoccung.
Suddenly a sharp pain came over his back, Yuwen Yue cried quietly and Yue Qi looking worried asked him, said: Master, are you alright?
"Yue Qi, is there anything you have to do? I am fine," said Yuwen Yue.
After drinking his medicine, Yuwen Yue look outside the window and saw the beautiful wetland terraces, it has been two months since he escaped from the bloody battle.
"Can you please call on Zuo," said Yuwen Yue.
Yue Qi nodded and said: "Sure master, please be at ease."
Yuwen Yue tried to stand and gaining more of his mortal strength can now walk straight. He immediately took out something from his table and sat on one of its chairs waiting for Zuo.
Zuo came in and bowed to his Highness and said: "Master brother, what can I do for you?"
Yuwen Yue asked: What is the situation? How bad it is?
Yuwen Yue knew that Xia Chong died in the hands of Xiao Yu to defend him. It is both sad and enlightening, he thought.
While Yuwen Yue managed to save Prince Zaru, he was not able to stop the war between Yanbei and Wei neither do Xiao Ce who agreed to help but failed. However, he managed to stop Princess Zama when he sends an arrow message to Wu Dao Ya and Longyi Guan Mountains to help Viper on her mission to stop the black seal.
Yuwen Yue met Wu Dao Ya on his way to Woolong mountains after the ice lake tragedy. It is where he has educated with the same Master that Wu Dao Ya learned his wisdom.
Both enjoyed a good company but have a different outlook at Yan Xun.
Zuo Zong answered: Prince Yuan Yang and Prince Yuan Che split Wei empire's military strength while the crown prince Yuan Song grieved at Xia Chong's death.
Viper came to Yuan Song and restored his senses and remembered Xia Chong's last words. He knew that Xia Chong is not Chu Qiao. Nonetheless, he grieved without proper royal burial when Yan Xun took the body of Xia Chong and buried somewhere in the Xui Xui mountains. Both empires grieved from her untimely death while everyone believed she is Chu Qiao, the Queen of Yanbei still waiting for your Highness to talk to her.
Back to Wei, when their palace protocols took effect, immediately the first concubine took the place of Xia Chong to comfort Yuan Song during the night. But problems started to surface when Prince Ra Zheng saw the Imperial Concubine Xiao Ba
Zuo paused…
Yuwen Yue went to ask the next question: "What about my brother's? How are they?"
Zuo answered: "While the Wei Empire grieved at the sudden death of their crown princess, Ra Zhun and Ra Zheng paid their respects on the empty coffin. A royal envoy came from the East to share their condolences and asked about your Highness. The Emperor reasoned out, you went on your way first and the two princes stayed behind to enjoy for their vacation at Beijing capital where lots of wine and women are there to pursue."
Yuan Song in denial and angry for the death of Xia Chong planned to rebel on the Emperor.
The Wei Emperor expected this case scenario and therefore planned ahead of time to the patch the death of the pawn crown princess he said to Wei Guang: "Chu Qiao died in their hands after all. I won. It is beyond repair and eternal agony."
Wei Guang immediately summoned the Wei valve elders and palace minister's to directly vote for Xiao Ba as the next Imperial Concubine to attend to the 13th Prince needs and respond to the shark tank empire, underwent into a great depression and political struggle.
The repercussion wasn't realized until 13th Prince sudden hostile behavior towards the Shen Jin Gong. He no longer believes in the values he was taught and raised up but wanted to kill anyone involved with the death of Xia Chong and suspects Xiao Ba is involved.
Suddenly the next scene, Xiao Ba behind her back were being followed by hundred palace maids.
Though she isn't equal with the position Chu Qiao left with Wei empire, she became the most revered Concubine in the land of Wei that would produce an heir to the Wei, crown prince.
Yuan Song on his smirking face said: "So I guess you reached your dreams after all?" Xiao Ba with her head bow to the crown prince, silent and innocent did not spoke any word to answer.
Xiao Ba's heart was pierced so deep, and watery eyes understand Yuan Song's grief at the moment.
Yuan Song squinted his eyes, cold and uninviting took Xiao Ba by force then threw her in the Imperial bed said: "Do not expect me to treat you the way I treated the crown princess, after all, you were just a slave woman who went to filthy beds with various men at the brothel!"
Xiao Ba surprised at what she heard, did not expect Yuan Song to dig her bitter past as prostitute at the brothel streets of Liang.
Yuan Song did not understand what happened to her after Chu Qiao's ice lake tragedy and her big sister Xiao Qi. They were living inside the Yanbei camps, but they were kidnapped by some unknown men who disguised themselves as Prince Xiao Ce's royal guards to save them from Prince Yan Xun's threat.
Without any consent from Chu Qiao's two sister's, they were violently kidnapped and tricked, they were later sold to a group of bandits running a brothel business in Liang.
At that time, Xiao-Qi got ill that lasted for almost a year. Xiao Ba had to take care of herself and took care of her sister to recover from her sickness. Started as a waiter at the international brothel business run by the bandits she worked hard day and night without a wage.
Time passed by some men noticed her fair skin and beautiful face and figure.
They started to ask for her price in exchange for her company and pleasure. At first, Xiao Ba tried to struggle to face her fate. Bearing the bandits daily whip on her back Xiao Ba does not have any choice at the moment and do not have any better way to save her ailing sister.
One day she cried so hard and with a heavy heart, but a strong mind started to accept her fate. Xiao Ba can still remember her dark past and went into a short memory timescape.
The bandit leader came to the darkroom and said: "Get out! Make yourself clean! If you do not treat this customer very well, I will make sure your sister does not live to see another day!"
With no words left to speak, Xiao Ba came out and showed herself to the light.
The bandit leader was stunned to see her daring, sexy and harlot way of looking at him, she pushed him and gave him a lustful stare, she runs her fingers from his chest down to his pants.
The bandit leader was very curious at the same time swallowed his throat and groaned for a while when Xiao Ba hold it there. Xiao Ba meant to torture him, cut this dirty crash course and said softly in his ears: "Where is the room of customer?"
After her first experience of the brothel worldly pleasure, she became the most sought-after whore.
How Xiao Ba did it, did not matter but when a customer gets out of her bed at night, spells a happy and well-satisfied patron in the morning.
The bandit's guilty pleasure business flourished and eventually became prominent courtesan house where nobles and other royal guards started to flock their red gates seeking the fleeting pleasure of the woman called: "the fallen snowflake."
Not until one day, Tie You and other men from Liang's royal guard circle came to the courtesan house to drink and whine.
The bandit knew they sneaked from the palace in secret and Tie You do not even have any idea where he is because he was very drunk and was seduced by other women to spend more dime ended up in bed with Xiao Ba.
The next morning, Tie You was startled with the beautiful lady beside him. He peeked for a while looking at her luscious skin, he was attracted to her instantly.
On his lustful thoughts, he immediately covered her body but glanced at her beautiful neck. Tie You waited for her to wake up but he did not expect the woman is lethal.
"Easy, easy.. " said Tie You calmly and asked: "What do you want?"
Xiao Ba using her manipulation in exchange for Tie You's future breaths pointed a sharp dagger in his neck.
I want your jade pass in exchange for this… said Xiao Ba looking straight into his eyes.
Tie You, a skilled royal guard knew how to reverse their position but looking at the flawless undressed woman in front of him, he thought to himself: "she's not a woman on her thirties, she has a body of a delicate girl, very tempting, beautiful…
Tie You's mind is racing on lustful thoughts got lost on the view in front of his eyes.
Xiao Ba knew the man in front is looking at her bare skin said: "The jade pass!"
By this time Tie You not only lost his senses but bewitched with her angry eyes he started to undress. A thing that is forbidden to be handed over to anyone else but in this case, he can reason out: "My life was in danger, and my manhood was provoked."
Tie You started to take off his Hanfu dress but did not take off his eyes at Xiao Ba's, while Xiao Ba's steady dagger did not waiver.
The only thing left was his innerwear and finally took something inside.
His royal jade pass that contains all of his authority and duty to the Liang Empire Tie You threw it to the floor and said: "There you go, do you have anything more to ask?"
Xiao Ba slowly bent down to reach for the royal jade pass and quickly took something from the nearby table, without the slightest hesitation to slit his neck she said: "I want you to hand this over to the royal crown Prince Xiao Ce."
A letter for a jade pass? How cruel! Is this it? Tie You chuckled looking at it, and Xiao Ba replied: "Is there any problem if I put this on fire?"
Tie You suddenly stiffened his facial gestures and became serious he said in a low male voice: "No! Do not do this fallen snowflake!"
Xiao Ba smirked and said: "Wrong answer! You guys do not feel any threats unless your source of livelihood is burned like this…"
Xiao Ba about to drop his jade pass when Tie You shouted in an angry voice: "Fine! I do not take orders from anyone else except for the crown prince! But I promise to deliver your letter to your Highness!"
Xiao Ba happy with what she heard still pushed the test for him to swear further: "Really? How can I be sure?"
Tie You on his steady angry voice shouted: "If you do not see His Royal Highness arrive here in three days, I am dead by then. Keep the royal jade pass, and buy yourself a free life…"
On the last sentence, Tie You with a sad voice sincerely meant it. Aside from he is attracted to Xiao Ba, for the first time in his life, wants to give away his jade pass even if means digging up his own grave.
Tie You and his circle of royal guards went out of the courtesan house like it was just an ordinary day.
But it seems Tie You had a different lightness of heart. He smiled instead of feeling anxious even if he knew, he wouldn't be able to enter the Daoming palace if his jade pass is not on hand.
This again will put the crown Prince Xiao Ce into a serious Imperial meeting with Liang's dreaded prosecutor and investigator of the royal house, with his neck ready to be disposed at their garrison yard.
After passing snappy dialogues and press conference with the bureaucrats, prosecutors, and investigators, Xiao Ce went furious with Tie You he said: "What on earth did you do to your jade pass?"
Tie You on his bowed head asked for pardon he said: Forgive me, your Majesty, I was momentarily lost in a paradise of a fallen snowflake and she gave me this.
Tie You speaking in secret terms to his Highness handed over the letter to Xiao Ce.
Xiao Ce curious went to open the letter and read:
Your Majesty, unless you wanted a scandal, you may want to redeem one of your treasured belonging at the courtesan house. Your escorts sneaked out of your palace in secret. I am sure, he is your person.
Until then, your escort knows where to find a former maid from the Yuwen household.
"The Fallen Snowflake."
Xiao Ce threw the letter on the floor and went on deep thinking he said: "Fallen snowflake, scandal, redeem, treasure, courtesan, Yuwen household, coincidence." Decoding the letter, the Prince knew, the courtesan is asking for desperate help.
Xiao Ce's eyes went big like an owl and took the collar of Tie You's military uniform and said: Take me to this brothel in secret, or I will be the one to cut your head!
Lastly, bring all treasures and put them all in the Palanquin this is an urgent order! said Xiao Ce.
After a while, the excited Prince walked to the palace windows and said to himself: "If my guess is right, it could be my lucky day!"
Tie You do not understand His Majesty's behavior scratched his head and said to himself: One moment he is furious, now he is like an excited child wanting to buy a brothel!
Xiao Ce disguised himself in his usual getaways chose a crimson hood to cover his face and like normal person walked beside Tie You at night. Since Tie You does not have his jade pass, Xiao Ce used his own, and when the royal palace guards saw it, they knew it was the crown prince.
Suddenly they straighten their backs and avoid looking to these horrific hoodie pals spoke: "The crown prince of Liang is forbidden to come out at night, the decree of the Emperor."
Irritated by what he heard, he took off his crimson hoodie and said: "Seriously, are you blocking my way?"
All of a sudden, the royal guards were quiet, saw a glimpse of his face then Xiao Ce blinking his foxy eyes somewhat angry but cool face, raised his brows. He went closer to their faces, and nobody dared to move, unexpectedly hit them one by one, said: "Who dared to look at my face?"
"Who?" Xiao Ce's voice calm like the waters, look at his palms then told them: "Look what you've done to this palms? Looks like it hurts and wants to kill somebody today."
The royal gatekeepers were shaking and trembling in fear, quickly opened the door and their heads bowed at him.
Tie You slightly chuckled at his back, this is the first he saw his master intimidating his fellow royal guards, and Xiao Ce caught it, he said: "Why are you laughing?"
Tie You answered: "Pardon me, your Highness?" Tie You looked at his back to look for someone to blame.
Xiao Ce put back his crimson hoodie and walked tall and proud, freed to roam around at this time of the night.
Instead of going to his usual club hopping activity, Xiao Ce came to the brothel and ordered a round of drinks.
With Tie You and the toothless afterlife camp spy sat on one of the empty table observing the floor show of the brothel, started to play the ancient Chinese drums, bells, percussion, gong. The crown prince came unarmed, but around the brothel, perimeters were surrounded with Liang's for hire killers, the afterlife camp spy snipers.
Lotus flower, the bandit leader is now ready to talk. Xiao Ce on his bowed head slightly turn up its head revealing only his eyes from his crimson hood he said: "Did you make sure he will accept the taels of gold?"
"Yes Lotus flower, it is sure."
The bandit leader and its bandit group came so airily and threatening, the leader sat in front of the regular guest, unaware of his royal title but he was told earlier knew that it is forbidden to look at his face.
The bandit leader skin suddenly felt creepiness in his presence, he started to shiver, but the man in front of him suddenly grabbed his hand, and the bandit leader received the static energy got electrified, suddenly stood up.
"Sit!" Xiao Ce's voice of horror issued on air and the bandit leader quickly obeyed.
"Who are you?"A shivering voice heard from the bandit leader.
Xiao Ce replied and lied: "Does it matter when I tell you I am the head of the Palace Eunuchs?"
The bandit group behind the leader chuckled suddenly Tie You give one of them a blow felt the most painful punch in his gut saw traces of blood, said: "Aw."
"Behave!" Tie You said, showing his fingers wearing the metal punch ring with thorns on its top. Everyone quiet like a tamed Labrador dog obeyed Tie You.
Suddenly Xiao Ce chuckled and then back to his poker foxy eyes moved closer to the bandit leader face said: "Is this how I should be treated? Look, I am wasting time here."
Xiao Ce tapping his fingers in the table produced sounds of a bored customer, waiting for the bandit leader to open the table of negotiation.
"Ahum…" the bandit leader started to talk, said: The fallen snowflake is forbidden to render external services. She is limited to this brothel because she is our golden egg.
Xiao Ce still tapping his fingers to the table, looked at him, as if he did not hear any word spoken suddenly said: "Double the asking price!" The toothless spy threw another bag of gold in the table.
The bandit leader took it and look at it inside and then look at the man in front of him said: "Not enough."
Xiao Ce leaned his back at his chair and laughed: "Toothless spy, what can you offer?"
The toothless spy said: "Come and see it for yourself."
A bandit member followed the toothless spy and went outside the brothel and stunned at what he saw. After a moment, they went back to the brothel and whispered to their leader.
The bandit leader raised his brow and said: "Go! This is a deal, I promise to let the Fallen Snowflake perform at your Li (pear) garden."
Xiao Ce clapped his hands, on a poker face and a firm voice said: "Since you just entered into a do or die negotiation, those dark forces will not leave this place until the Fallen Snowflake comes out of this place.
Xiao Ce put back his crimson hoodie and before he left, he gave his final instructions to the bandit leader said: oh, I need the sister of the fallen snowflake to perform as well by special request, she needs to go with her or this place will be called, "The place of Ashfall."
"It will be done your grace, I will make sure that two sisters will attend tomorrow night at your Li garden," said the bandit leader and suddenly all of them humbled, everyone bowed at him after he left.
The bandit leader twitched his hands and looked outside and sees dark forces continued to wrap the brothel in terror.
The brothel ladies noticed no customers came to dine and whine, started to pass a gossip that a royal palace eunuch has just visited the brothel. Xiao Ba heard and knew it was a secret visit from Xiao Ce.
Not so long, the bandit leader knock loudly on the Fallen Snowflake dark room, Xiao-Qi was so afraid, but Xiao Ba did not open the door.
Fine! You don't want to open this door? The bandit member gave the leader its keys about to open it when suddenly the door opened.
Her fragrant scent issued on air, Xiao Ba on her off-shoulder Hanfu dress exposing the luscious bare skin of her chest came out and look at the men with his usual lustful looks, and everyone was disarmed with her tempting beauty.
In front of the bandit group, Xiao Ba feeling no shame played her fingers on the bandit leader chest and ran her fingers below his waist. The bandit leader swallowing his throat ordered his men to get out.
The bandit leader enjoying a moment of dirty pleasure groaned, but Xiao Ba cut it there again looking at his tortured face, he grabbed her and turned her back, he tore her clothes. Xiao Ba closed her eyes, and like a pro, she let the bandit leader do his thing but ended up punching the walls of the dark room.
Insulting the bandit leader, Xiao Ba on her emotionless face, said: "You cannot make anyone happy with this."
Xiao Ba knowing how to push the button of the bandit leader weakness, an emasculated man, she whispered in his ears: "You will never have me!" This is her way of revenge and killing me softly strategy to pound the bandit leader confidence to suffer.
The bandit leader composed himself and said: "Tomorrow night you are summoned to perform at the Li garden. Your sister will go with you to perform too. If you do not abide, I will chop your head and feed your dead bodies to the dogs." The bandit leader left.
Xiao Ba hugged her sick sister, but Xiao Qi pushed her and said: "I am not your sister!"
Xiao Ba understood her sister's reaction to the steamy moment earlier, stood up, straightened and turned her back from Xiao Qi. Unable to control her emotions, she freed her tears for a while then she wiped her face and went back to face Xiao Qi, on her poker face she said: "I do not have to explain." Xiao Ba closed her eyes and whispered her prayers across the heavens.
Above the sky, the passing gray clouds moved to cover the shy crescent moon as flying birds, and the stillness of the lake painted a picture perfect canvass framed under the Daoming palace skies.
Xiao Ba and the sick Xiao Qi fetched by the palace convoy, arrived at the magnificent Palace.
Looking at the grandeur, Xiao Ba spread her eyes and saw the lantern lights. For the first time, she would like to dream of herself to be part of Li's courtyards and become a royal princess. Xiao Qi looks agitated with her sexy, daring dress, she looks pale and short of breath.
Xiao Ba took a deep breath after almost a year of living in the dark room underground of the brothel finally saw the beam of moonshine in her life.
A handsome foxy prince, turned around as the palace maids finally put his royal robe to face the sisters of Chu Qiao. Tonight, he had it all planned in his mind.
A fragrant and romantic mounted dance stage meets Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba's eyes. Xiao Ba started to admire and touch the sculptures and poetic figures scattered around the ground.
On the west wing are the royal palace musical instruments such as ancient Chinese Guqin, Chinese Zither, percussion, drums, bells, and gongs. The musicians started to arrive and fine-tune their instruments. They waited for a while.
Xiao Ce arrived with his grandest robe, and fragrant presence, Xiao Ba and Xiao Qi started to rise and bow to his Highness.
He did not even look at them yet, Xiao Ce took the long sleeves of his robe and sat on his throne-like chair. The Musical maestro began to signal and compassed his hands.
Music started to fill the air, calm and inviting, the two sisters wore half masks on their face. Both sisters began to perform the dance, and Xiao Qi mirrored her younger sister's dance moves.
The crown prince of Liang impressed with this dance performance, he had never seen such a graceful mirror dance before.
After a few hands and body strokes, Xiao Ba came closer to the crown prince to unmask her face. Suddenly Tie You quickly came in front and put a dagger in her neck said: "It is forbidden to come close to the crown prince."
Xiao Ba gracefully took out Tie You's hands and unmasked her beautiful face. Tie You silenced by this beauty in front of him while Xiao Ce rebuked him and said: "Stay aside! I want to see her face."
Tie You obeyed, and an angelic face came to satisfy Xiao Ce's eyes. Xiao Ce thought she saw Chu Qiao, on this magical spell of Xiao Ba's face resembled her sister Chu Qiao. However just when Xiao Ce about to say something…
Peng!
A sound was heard, a body was lying unconsciously on the floor. Xiao Qi lost consciousness.
The performance turned into an emergency situation.
The crown prince did not fret walked towards Xiao Qi and unmask her face. Eventually, he ordered his servants to prepare a place for the two courtesans to spend the night in his Jinwu palace.
It is forbidden to welcome such low-class woman but Xiao Ce ready to answer the Liang palace ministers when the sun rises.
He also ordered the afterlife camp spies to burn down the brothel to avenge the two sister's bad fate and balance the scales of justice.
The beautiful Imperial Concubine stared at Yuan Song, her eyes welling in tears, she cannot hold them anymore sat in the corner of the Imperial bed and silently cried then said: "I cannot undo the past…"
Stars twinkling above the sky, Yuan Song still bitter and broken said: "You may be the Wei's future Queen at day, but you will always be the Wei's concubine at night!"
Bang!
A sound of closing door heard. The Crown prince of Wei went out from his Imperial room angry and full of rage just abandoned his concubine. Yuan Song made sure Xiao Ba feel rejected forever.
