Dressed handsomely in a red Hanfu, Yuwen Yue looked strikingly distant. He also sent Chu Qiao a gift: a red veil and a wedding gown that perfectly matched his attire.
Chu Qiao, dressed in an elegant red gown, looked like a vision from a dream.
The gown, tailored to fit her perfectly, flowed gracefully with every movement, its delicate embroidery catching the light and shimmering every step she takes.
Her red veil, adorned with intricate patterns of gold thread, framed her face, adding an air of both mystery and elegance.
And the hair was styled in a traditional topknot, adorned with subtle ornaments that sparkled like stars.
As she walked, her radiant beauty was highlighted by the deep, vibrant hue of her gown, making her appear both regal and ethereal.
Yuwen Yue could only sigh, overwhelmed by Chu Qiao's beauty, he almost cannot utter any words nor can think straight at the moment. It seems he momentarily lost the very reason why he embarked in this journey and would like to conclude that he is truly with the real Chu Qiao and not the imposter one.
His heart ached with a blend of wonder and disbelief, as if he were dreaming and yet fully awake.
While watching the love of his life from a far, Yuwen Yue's mind drifting back to the chaotic past. "Do you remember the hunting fields of Wei?" he asked, almost as if speaking to himself.
"Of course," he continued, eyes distant as he recalled the scene. "I saw Chu Qiao for the first time there. She was just a maid, desperate and fighting for her life. It was a brutal spectacle, one that unfolded like a nightmare."
His expression grew intense. "There was Yuwen Huai, renowned for his archery skills. But that day, he was off his game. His arrows were missing their targets, and for the first time met his his frustration, with only one side to accept and that is to lose in the game. It was clear he'd never expected a maid to throw him off so completely."
Yuwen Yue's gaze hardened as he remembered. "Huai's anger boiled over, leading him to challenge Prince Yan Xun. The contest was vicious. Chu Qiao, with a kind of fierce grace, evaded every single one of Huai's arrows. Yan Xun, seizing the chance to provoke Huai further, started targeting the rabid animals around her."
A grim smile tugged at Yuwen Yue's lips. "Yan Xun even made a bet—if Huai missed, he'd have to give up Chu Qiao. It was a brutal move, designed to humiliate Huai and claim Chu Qiao for himself."
He paused, reflecting on Chu Qiao's robe from that day, marked with the Yuwen Household insignia but lacking any specific designation. "That robe symbolized her risky status, caught between the Red Hills and Green Hills courtyards. It was a stark reminder of the chaos and competition surrounding her."
Yuwen Yue's voice softened, tinged with a mix of admiration and nostalgia. "Looking back, it's astonishing how far she survived. From that desperate maid in the hunting fields to the radiant figure she is now—her resilience and strength have always been extraordinary."
Yuwen Yue's thoughts suddenly caught up with the Bing Xue arrow.
In a rare and uncharacteristic move, Yuwen Yue found himself reaching for his precious Bing Xue arrow, a weapon meant solely for the Empire's most critical goals. The pulse in his palms quickened with every beat of his heart as he readied the arrow. It was a symbol of his commitment to the Empire, yet in that moment, it felt like a tool for something far more personal.
The image of Chu Qiao, vulnerable and resolute, ignited a fierce protectiveness in him, one that clearly defined his usual detached self now got entangled deeply, even if Chu Qiao is a stranger, far, and distant to him.
The memory of that day was more than just a recollection.
It was a profound realization of how one encounter could reshape his perspective.
He had been a distant observer, but that day marked the beginning of a shift in his heart.
The unexpected urge to protect Chu Qiao, to stand against the cruelty that surrounded her, was a moment of vulnerability and humanity he had seldom allowed himself.
As Yuwen Yue continued to reminisce, he felt the weight of those memories pressing down on him.
They were a stark reminder of the day he had first glimpsed the raw strength and indomitable spirit of Chu Qiao—an experience that had forever altered his understanding of duty, compassion, and the power of a single, unguarded moment.
No matter how Yuwen Yue shakes off this moment to go back into the present, it repeated the same scene earlier but this time finds Yuan Song, who had always viewed hunting as a barbaric relic rather than a sport, found himself suddenly troubled by the scene before him.
The violence, the bloodshed—it struck him with a sense of moral clarity he had not anticipated.
He was overcome with a newfound maturity, and with an earnest plea, he approached Princes Wei Shu Ye, Zhao Xi Feng, and Wei She You, begging them to halt the slaughter of maids and put an end to the senseless bloodbath.
Meanwhile, Yuwen Yue, the usually cold and detached Fourth Young Master, watched from a distance on his valiant horse. Known for his lack of interest in such brutal pastimes, he had always kept his distance from these bloody spectacles. But today was different. As he observed Chu Qiao from afar, his heart felt a strange and unfamiliar tug.
The scene was chaotic. Yuwen Yue's horse, panting heavily from the ride, was calmed by his steady hands. His gaze, steely and focused, fell upon Chu Qiao—though he was still far from her, the sight was enough to stir something deep within him. He felt a shift, an unexpected softness in his usual guarded manner.
Yuwen Yue's decision that day was driven not by duty or strategy, but by a rare, unguarded moment of compassion. He should never have been on that hill, yet there he was, compelled to act in defense of Chu Qiao, abandoning his usual detachment and disregarded his title.
From that moment on, Yuwen Yue knew, "the Star is mine." Little did he know that the love would bloom now and he is to wed her today and Xinger is now his own forever.
