Today, the sun didn't shine, and dark clouds brought heavy rain all morning. Yan Xun, not tired, traveled with his sleeping companion and two horses. He set up camp in a cave, built a small fire to keep his companion warm, and waited for the rain to stop, but it didn't.
Yan Xun looked at his companion, her face still hidden under an indigo scarf. He resisted the urge to uncover it and reveal who was beneath her gentle, sleeping eyes.
He promised himself he would wait until she woke up and everything, including herself, was in order.
Though Yan Xun was excited and felt like he was on cloud nine, his self-control was a strength. He did have moments of erratic behavior around Chu Qiao, but he planned to navigate various obstacles and stratagems with Feng Mian to reach the Yuwen Household. After passing through the Red Hills courtyard's interrogation, his final destination would be the Green Hills courtyard.
Yan Xun didn't worry about the dangers and traps around the Yuwen grounds. In his younger, carefree days, he had visited her without a second thought, and now he felt like his old, happy self again.
While waiting for her to wake up, he tried to meditate in the cave, but she remained asleep. He began to worry that the three balls might have affected her more than he realized, and he feared she might not wake up at all.
To calm his anxious mind, Yan Xun attempted to meditate in a Zen position, even though he hadn't slept and wasn't likely to any time soon.
Fearing he might lose the hauntingly beautiful woman beside him, Yan Xun finally succumbed to his exhaustion and fell asleep next to her.
As heavy rain continued to fall, the world outside and the stars slept peacefully in the rocky mountain cave. After a few hours, Yan Xun awoke feeling more refreshed than he had since the frozen lake tragedy. He turned to check on the woman beside him, still sleeping sweetly, but his anxiety lingered.
He gently examined her palms and tried to feel her pulse. Suddenly, she woke up, swiftly grabbing his hands and turning them over. Before he could react, she held a cold dagger to his neck, surprising him with her strength despite her delicate appearance.
Yan Xun was initially stunned but managed a smile and said, "I'm your prisoner, and you're my warden."
Chu Qiao, ignoring his comment, demanded, "Where am I, and why are we here?"
Yan Xun, remaining assertive, replied, "First question: Where? Second: Why? Got it."
In his hoarse voice, he added, "Third: How can I answer when you haven't put down your weapon first?"
Chu Qiao tightened and pressed the cold dagger in his neck. The blade cut a tiny wound, and little dark red blood starts to appear in his throat.
"Answer! or I will cut you here and now, I am not going to regret it." Chu Qiao's voice is sure and as sharp as her cold dagger.
Yan Xun, undeterred by the dagger at his neck, said in a steady voice, "You're only able to put a knife to my neck because I'm allowing it. But what if I…"
Yan Xun, skilled in close combat, quickly reversed Chu Qiao's hand, disarming her with swift precision. He grabbed the cold dagger and threw it away. Placing his left hand over the wound on his neck, he managed to stem the flow of blood.
Chu Qiao watched unaffected, as blood trickled down his hand, her gaze fixed on his last finger—its skin a blend of metal and flesh, like jade.
Remaining calm and composed, Yan Xun did not ask for help. Instead, he retrieved a Celadon bottle from one of their saddlebags. Pressing the bottle against the wound, more blood flowed out as he applied the contents to his injury.
After tending to his wound, Yan Xun wiped it with a white cloth and applied balm from the Celadon bottle. He carried out the emergency treatment with practiced ease, never glancing at Chu Qiao.
Once he finished, he looked at her and said with a reassuring smile, "Hey, don't cry. I'm not going anywhere yet. We still have many moments to share."
His childlike smile made Chu Qiao feel both awkward and oddly familiar. She shook her head and looked down, struggling with her emotions. The sight of his last finger, with its metal and flesh blend, stirred an uncomfortable feeling in her, making her wonder if she had seen it before. She suspected it might be connected to her past.
Noticing the heavy silence, Yan Xun tried to comfort her. "Here, look at this bottle. It's the only one of its kind, the best herbal medicine for wounds, from the Far East."
With a gentle smile, he added, "I'll be fine. Tomorrow, you can cut me again if you like, and this bottle will work wonders."
Yan Xun's light-hearted words were meant to ease her guilt, as he saw the tears welling up in Chu Qiao's eyes.
Chu Qiao's concern wasn't about the wound but about Yan Xun's last finger, which seemed oddly familiar to her. Despite her efforts, she couldn't recall when or where she had seen it before. Her mind was a whirlwind of fragmented memories.
Yan Xun, noticing her distraction, interrupted with a playful tone. "You can stare at me like that while I'm asleep; I'm even more handsome then. But now, in front of you, do you realize you're with a truly gorgeous man?"
Chu Qiao remained silent, her focus still fixed on Yan Xun's finger, and she did not respond to his teasing.
Yan Xun, eager to break the silence, asked with a hint of playfulness, "A penny for your thoughts?"
Chu Qiao remained silent, her thoughts clearly preoccupied. She couldn't find the words to respond to his light-hearted question. Her lips were sealed as she focused intently on Yan Xun, who she now vividly remembered as the man who had rescued her from the smoke last night.
Seeing her silence, Yan Xun decided to press on. "I'm hungry. How about you? Aren't you hungry?"
When Chu Qiao didn't answer, Yan Xun teased further, "Are you deaf? Mute? Or is it the effect of the smoke?"
Chu Qiao continued to look at him, her sense of familiarity growing stronger. She couldn't shake the feeling that she knew him from somewhere, but the details eluded her. Was it from her past or perhaps from a dream? The connection was elusive and difficult to pin down.
Yan Xun became a chatty merchant trying to sell his charms to this beautiful lady in front of him, trying to establish a friendship ground from her tiger beauty, he said: eager to charm the beautiful woman before him. "Okay, I know this is all new to you. If you're feeling awkward or stunned to be in the company of the Prince of Yanbei today, don't be afraid."
He continued, "We're on a journey, and nobody from the Yan Palace followed us. Unless, of course, that whipping girl is trailing us again? By the way, who is this whip girl who always seems to follow you around?"
Yan Xun stole a glance to Chu Qiao and that every girl would die feeling overwhelmed.
But Chu Qiao is not getting any of it and Yan Xun seems to doubt himself of his charms and looks suddenly felt useless to this lady in front of him?
Is she an alien and not human? Yan Xun can only catch a smile on those thoughts he snapped himself back to the beauty in front of him.
Chu Qiao, enduring his playful attitude, finally responded, "How can I answer your questions if you haven't answered mine?"
Yan Xun, delighted to hear her voice again, squinted his eyes and playfully pursed his lips as if he were about to kiss her, but he stopped short. Instead, he said with a grin, "That's the point—I won't answer those questions now. But you'll get your answers after this brief time I've stolen for us to get to know each other better. As you know, the Prince of Yanbei is betrothed to the Liang Princess and…"
His chattiness abruptly faltered, and he found himself at a loss for words. The playful moment was cut short when Chu Qiao removed her indigo scarf.
In stunned silence, Yan Xun's expression froze, and he became as rigid as a statue, his pale skin reflecting his shock.
… …
The time ofthe Worldstopped asthe Starshines in the dark skies.
The Worldis suddenly shifted in the expanse of nowhere, lost in time.
He felt as though he was lost in an endless expanse, convinced he was seeing a ghost.
His sturdy knees were locked in place, frozen in time. His mind went blank, his voice became silent, and the only movement permitted was the involuntary tremble of his body.
Mesmerized by the pure beauty before him, Yan Xun's knees gave way, and he fell onto the rocky ground, pushing himself backward as if trying to escape from the overwhelming sensation.
He was lost, grappling with the beautiful agony he felt—was it a dream or reality? The answers eluded him, and everything seemed to be suspended in time.
His eyes, now filled with fury, locked onto Chu Qiao. In a moment of cold surrender, Yan Xun grabbed the dagger he had thrown earlier and, with a desperate shout, said, "You can kill me here. That's an order!"
Heavy rain still pouring from the vault of heavens, betweenthe Worldandthe Starin silence neither of them willing to make the first move.
… …
Suddenly, Chu Qiao, overwhelmed and disoriented, fainted. Yan Xun swiftly caught her as she collapsed, her body delicate and light as a feather. She lacked the strength to comprehend her surroundings or the situation at hand.
Who the hell is this Yanbei prince who stole her from Xiuli camp?
She was starting her life from the place she would want to elevate its success. yet now found herself entangled with someone whose role in her life was unclear—whether she should be with him or not was uncertain.
Yan Xun, do not want to make things complicated when he was just starting his life and closing that chapter in the frozen lake to move ahead.
This moment, both fateful and tragic, was the price he paid for seeking peace. The years of hardship and sorrow he endured at the frozen lake now seemed to confront him directly, embodied in the fragile form of Chu Qiao before him.
Yan Xun muttered to himself in Mr. Wu's presence, "If I am not meant to know what happened in the past, and if I cannot go back to change it, then whatever it was, if I see her again, I won't let her go like I did at the icy lake. I want to alter the course of the present."
Now that moment had arrived, but experiencing it was different from what he had imagined. It felt as though Yan Xun had been waiting for this precise moment in his life to see A'Chu with his own eyes and touch her.
To be certain she was truly alive, Yan Xun felt that only if A'Chu were to harm him could he be convinced of her existence.
There has never been any closure from the frozen lake, this is a continuing moment from where A'Chu and Yuwen Yue left him. He was angry at Chu Qiao for drawing a clear line of whom she will choose. From his memory, she chooses to die with Yuwen Yue in the lake.
Yan Xun like double dead meat, living like a ghost this past year..
Truth is…
Yan Xun died more than he lived…
Now it seems those moments faded in time. Yan Xun has to face this woman, in front of him who appears to be out of strength every time she sees him.
Gazing at her angelic face, Yan Xun pulled her into a tight embrace. His voice trembled with emotion as he whispered, "I will not let you go. Not even a single strand of your hair will touch the ground. This is my promise."
Tears welled in his eyes as he spoke, his tone soft and gentle, a mixture of joy and misery only he could fully comprehend.
As the heavy rain finally ceased, the cave was filled with the gentle sound of dripping water. The sky cleared, and the moonlight bathed the scene in a bright, ethereal glow, creating a canvas of tranquility that seemed to transport them back in time.
Yan Xun busied himself cooking food for A'Chu while she slept peacefully. He smiled frequently as he gazed at her serene face, though he didn't eat any of the food he prepared. Instead, he sat by the bonfire, lost in thought about his next steps.
Yan Xun is very happy and does not really know what to do, will he feel about Yan first or will he believe this woman in front of him. But for now he thought of himself, now that the truth has been revealed, he is right to think that He Xiao was loyal to him.
A realization dawned on Yan Xun: A'Chu was not He Xiao's woman, and she never would be. Perhaps that was the true message of the letter he had received, meant to inform him that A'Chu was alive and had been found.
All these years, despite no body being recovered, Yan Xun had secretly held onto hope that he might one day find her.
As Chu Qiao slowly awoke, she felt the comforting warmth of the cave. Yan Xun approached her, their eyes meeting with an unspoken understanding. With a gentle smile, he spoke first, "Are you feeling better? I've placed some tea candles around to help soothe your senses."
Chu Qiao leaned slightly, taking in her surroundings. The soft glow of the tea candles, combined with the warmth of the bonfire, created a comforting ambiance. The candle display was the most romantic she had ever encountered, and the sweet aroma helped to soothe her senses. She murmured softly, "This smells nice."
Yan Xun, watching her with attentive eyes, replied, "You've been in this cave since it's been raining all day. With nightfall upon us, we'll stay here until dawn. After that, we'll pack up and leave. I've cooked a meal for both of us."
Chu Qiao did not immediately respond, her gaze fixed on Yan Xun as she silently observed him.
Yan Xun broke the silence with his husky voice, "A'Chu, do you know how happy I am today?"
Yan Xun on top of his joy, cannot contain his excited voice: "Do you realize how long I've waited for this moment, counting every passing second until you woke up?"
Noticing that Chu Qiao remained unresponsive, Yan Xun grew concerned. It seemed she was not connecting with him at all, and he wondered if something was wrong.
He asked gently, "A'Chu, do you know who you're with at this time of night?"
Chu Qiao remained quiet, listening but not responding. Yan Xun, trying to clarify, rephrased his question, "Do you have any idea who this man is in front of you?"
He was testing her memory, hoping she would recall who he was, as she looked at him with a mixture of confusion and uncertainty.
Chu Qiao finally spoke, her voice calm yet firm. "Earlier, you didn't recognize me, but when you mentioned your engagement to the Liang Princess and I removed my scarf, you suddenly stopped talking."
She continued, her tone polite but assertive, "You even asked me to kill you."
Yan Xun's expression shifted as he processed her words. The reality of the situation settled in, and he could see the depth of her confusion and the weight of his earlier actions.
Yan Xun was surprised with Chu Qiao's sharpness, realizing she remembered every detail of their earlier encounter. He took a deep breath and continued, "A'Chu, I must admit that at first, I didn't recognize you as the woman I had taken. But deep down, I had a strong sense that you might be A'Chu."
He stood up and walked a few steps closer to her, his tone earnest. "I didn't want to reveal my vulnerability or appear like a mad dragon, exposing my weaknesses to others."
With a sigh, Yan Xun added, "You must understand that I am the World's only sole heir and the last royal of the Yan Clan. This position comes with immense pressure and responsibility."
Yan Xun, with a heavy heart, began to unburden himself, revealing his deepest feelings. "This title," he said, his voice filled with regret, "is something I never wanted to come between us. But after the tragedy at the frozen lake, it became a symbol of power for the people of Yanbei and formation of might for the Yan army."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "The responsibilities that come with this position have overshadowed everything else in my life, including my personal desires and relationships."
Chu Qiao sending the heaviness in Yan Xun's heart, eyes softened as she responded, "You called me A'Chu?"
Yan Xun, feeling a glimmer of hope from her response, nodded and replied softly, "Yes, I call you A'Chu."
Yan Xun voice held a trace of bittersweet nostalgia as she said, "You revealed that name to me. It was the happiest part of my life amidst all its tragedies."
Yan Xun, encouraged by her response, pressed on, "Do you remember the hole in the wall? You gave me your name there, a secret known only to us."
Chu Qiao, struggling to connect with those memories, shifted the topic. "Are you getting married in a few days?" she asked, her tone more focused on the present.
Yan Xun's expression darkened as he answered, "Yes, I am. The wedding with the Liang Princess is approaching, but…" His voice trailed off, revealing the conflict between his duty and his feelings for Chu Qiao.
He then turned and moved closer, sitting down directly in front of her. His gaze locked with hers as he spoke with a hint of irritation, "Did you hear me correctly? I'm not getting married in a few days, but in a few months."
Yan Xun paused, scrutinizing Chu Qiao's eyes for any sign of reaction to his statements. Yet, he was met with the same pure, childlike gaze he had once cherished, protected, and loved during their younger years.
The sight of her innocent eyes stirred something deep within him making his current conflict even more intense.
There was just long silence and the warm air in between, Yan Xun went to break it.
Yan Xun asked with all his heart, "If I were to marry someone, would you be happy for me?"
As Yan Xun's question hung in the air, his intense gaze made it almost impossible for Chu Qiao to meet his eyes. She looked away, struggling to find a response.
The question stirred a deep, unresolved feeling within her, leaving her with the sense that there was something crucial she needed to confront, even if she couldn't yet put it into words.
Chu Qiao cannot possibly give an answer but feels…
… something is there for her to seal the deal.
She felt as if she is part of it and whatever she will utter for that question, this man in front of him will define his future and hers as well.
Yan Xun understood when Chu Qiao refused to answer and looked down from their eye to eye contact.
He himself cannot say anything to continue their conversation. They just sat there and wasted time in silence watching and hearing the sound of fire as it trickles and burns, all of their feelings start to hang in the air.
To break the tension, Chu Qiao glanced at the meal Yan Xun had prepared. "This looks delicious, and I'm hungry," she said. She began to eat heartily, and Yan Xun followed suit, though he remained quiet.
Chu Qiao sensed the stillness between them and wondered if the silence was due to her not answering his crucial question.
Chu Qiao preferred to let Yan Xun reflect on whether it was appropriate to ask such a question, given their situation. Though they had just met, it felt as if they were pulled from their separate worlds, as if they had been lovers before, now facing external pressures that demanded a decision.
She chose to bury these questions in silence, hoping that they would never have to address them again.
Chu Qiao finally thought: "If he marries, then he marries."
Without her getting on his way, a Prince is a Prince! She exclaimed to herself!
Her answers should not trouble a Prince!
After their meal, she cleaned up and distanced herself from Yan Xun to sleep. Yan Xun, maintaining his composure, respected her space and kept his focus on his plans for the journey ahead.
That one fateful night, they sleep together.
One cannot know what is their status.
Are they strangers like a fool, or born enemies, more than friends, not even lovers under the moon?
Yan Xun closed his eyes first, while Chu Qiao stayed awake a while longer, letting him drift into sleep before she drifted.
The next morning, Yan Xun woke first, dressed in his elegant white Hanfu and purple robe adorned with intricate graffiti stitches. He looked strikingly handsome and irresistible.
He prepared everything Chu Qiao would need to dress, including a pair of matching metal masquerade masks for both of them. Despite the emotional turbulence of the previous night, Yan Xun's focus remained on his plans. His heart had been at the forefront of his mind, but now, with his mind guiding his actions, he was determined to continue with his intentions, after last night's revelations.
When Chu Qiao awoke, she first scanned her surroundings, her gaze seeking out Yan Xun. Beside her lay divine Calla Lilies, symbols of humility, devotion, youth, and rebirth. These lilies, often linked with funerals, represent the soul's restoration of innocence after death. They were a touching reminder of what might have been—a second wedding anniversary that never came to be due to the tragedy at the frozen lake.
Next to the flowers was a princess costume that Yan Xun had meticulously prepared for her, with a gold box placed prominently atop it. Chu Qiao had little choice but to accept this beautiful gift and follow Yan Xun's lead, reading between the lines of his actions rather than waiting for explicit instructions.
Yan Xun stood outside, gazing at the mountains, when he caught the faint scent of Chu Qiao approaching. Slowly, he turned around, and his breath caught at the sight before him.
Chu Qiao had donned the princess costume, complemented by a purple robe that matched his own attire. Her indigo scarf, still draped over her face, harmonized with their outfits, making them appear like a distinguished couple, at least by their attire.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Yan Xun walked toward her, captivated by the breathtaking view of the divine princess, her dress billowing in the wind.
Yan Xun stopped in front of Chu Qiao, their eyes locking in a wordless exchange that conveyed more than any spoken words could. He gently removed her indigo scarf, placing it in her hand, their silent conversation lingering in the air.
With his other hand, Yan Xun presented a metal masquerade mask, carefully positioning it on her delicate face. As he adjusted the mask, he was electrified by the proximity, unable to resist inhaling her scent. He fought to clear his thoughts and suppress his desires, focusing on tightening the mask's lock behind her head.
Chu Qiao, feeling an unsettling mix of familiarity and breathlessness, remained calm. She allowed Yan Xun to finish his task, trusting him as his hands worked deftly at the back of her head.
Yan Xun stepped back, his gaze locked with Chu Qiao's. The sparkle in his eyes spoke volumes, revealing the depth of his emotions. He knew, even without words, that Chu Qiao harbored feelings about his impending marriage.
Reflecting on how much he had grown since their last encounter, Yan Xun remembered the time he was forced into a marriage with Princess Chuner. Back then, he had sought advice from Chu Qiao, who had merely warned him to be cautious. At the time, he hadn't understood the full meaning of her words. But now, it was clear.
Deep down, Yan Xun was aware of Chu Qiao's feelings for him. Her silence and subtle reactions were more telling than any declaration. He was no longer the young man he once was; he had matured in ways he had not fully appreciated until now.
He always thought they were mutual on their feelings for each other. And yet Yan Xun never learned how to verbalize it and not even express it in a way she would understand the real status between them.
His ego and thirst for revenge during those turbulent times had overshadowed any chance he had to fully explore his own desires.
Now, as he gazes at Chu Qiao, she seems like a vibrant red wildflower to him—beautiful and untamed. If only the world of Yanbei were simpler, he would seize this moment to declare her as his life partner without hesitation.
But he can't help but wonder if he should have realized this sooner. Reflecting on the past, especially the events surrounding the frozen lake, he questions whether he could have prioritized her over his own ambitions. If he had been less stubborn and more selfless back then, perhaps he wouldn't have lost his best friend, Yuwen Yue.
Instead of inviting him to a death squad party, Yuwen Yue should have been invited to Yanbei's wedding of the year.