PART 5. NEW BEGINNINGS

Chapter 41

Blind date


The old lady was ready to go as she arranged the crease in her fine black Hanfu dress made of cotton. She placed a beautiful hairpin in her elaborate coiffure, making her appear ten years younger. Upon seeing her companion, she exclaimed,

"Who destroyed you!?"

"Why? I like it this way."

"Hmm... I get it. A cool peacock look, but what's with the tail? Hanging, thin, and stiff?"

The fine woman wore no accessories or head-dress. Her hair was styled in a brushed-up manner, not too high, not too low. She had wrapped her long brown hair in a gel-like substance, giving it a shiny, stiff appearance, as if it might explode at any moment.

It exposed her long, jade-like neck.

The only thing that blurred the line between beauty and horror was how the hairstyle seemed ready to burst if she encountered a situation she didn't like.

She looked like a peacock, ready to unleash her killer hairstyle.

"Okay, whatever!" said the old lady, not wanting her to take another hour to change her hair.

"I like you today," said the fine woman, flashing a sly smile.

She didn't forget to hide some kind of secret weapon in her hair, a "break in case of emergency" tool.

The old lady rolled her eyes. "Is that necessary? Remember, the rules are clear: no eye contact. Just look cool, and please, please, please..." She paused.

The fine woman, awaiting the next phrase, wrinkled her lips and pouted her pink mouth.

"Do not get bored. Keep that sweet smile."

The fine woman smiled, and the old lady pinched her cheeks.

"This is your last chance. Don't ruin it."

A simple palanquin waited outside their house to take them where the old lady had directed.

After an hour, they arrived. They gracefully exited the palanquin. The fine woman wore an expressionless face, avoiding eye contact. She waited for the other party to approach her.

Two beautiful, enchanting women entered one of the finest cocktail lounges in the state. The state of Liang was known for its bustling streets. Even at night, clubs were packed with wealthy, noble bachelors.

Occasionally, if luck was on your side, you might spot a royal spending extravagantly and requesting the company of a mistress for the evening.

The fine woman whispered to the old lady, "Are you selling me here? Look at the guys around us. This isn't what I imagined in a man."

"Calm down. Here, drink some of this," the old lady replied.

"I never drink," said the fine woman.

"Just try one glass."

The fine woman reluctantly took the glass and drank slowly. Her face turned red.

She looked like she was in crisis, wanting to shout or even kick the old lady. But with a sheepish, voiceless expression, she opened her mouth, using her hands to fan herself.

Some of the eligible bachelors noticed and thought she was a lovely young woman who had had a bit too much to drink.

"What is this?" she asked.

"A spirit wine," the old lady answered.

"What? Did I just drink a spirit?"

The old lady chuckled. "No, it's whiskey."

"Oh, I think I'll order more," the fine woman said, signaling for another round.

The old lady didn't catch her words, too focused on observing the interested parties, though none came forward with their intentions.

Suddenly, the air was filled with a fragrant, flowery scent as a new guest arrived, slipping in unnoticed by the others.

He presented a VIP pass, and two disguised bodyguards entered first, securing the bar. Hidden snipers and spies were stationed around the venue, ready to strike if the location was compromised.

His presence went unannounced, and protocol was discreetly passed to the bar owner.

With a godly face and foxy eyes, he cast a bored look at the dim lighting and ordered the usual drink for the nightclub.

The old lady, now distracted, ordered two more rounds of drinks. Then this happened: holding one glass in her left hand and another in her right, she gulped both consecutively without blinking. No cheers, no chasers to balance the taste.

Done!

Now, she was visibly dizzy.

Some noble bachelors, fascinated by the display, were intrigued by the fine woman. One brave soul approached her.


In a small tavern, an athletic man wearing a brown hooded cloak that obscured his cold eyes and thin lips sat uninvited and unrestrained. He ordered a glass of beer.

He hadn't realized how excellent and addictive it tasted, not since the accident.

On rare days like these, he sought solace in the quiet nights of a simple man. As he drank, memories of his former life crept in.

He asked himself, "How many months do I have left before I finally take over...?" And with that unfinished thought, he took another drink.


The bachelor finished his drink and gracefully approached the fine woman, who was now dizzy and dull-witted as the wine took over her strong spirit.

"May I introduce myself with this?" the noble bachelor said, offering her a small handkerchief. But the fine woman, not allowed to make eye contact, remained silent. The old lady responded instead, "Thank you, your grace. We will give our answer in three days."

The man left, only for another to arrive, also offering a handkerchief. He appeared to be a reserved nobleman with good intentions. Then, unexpectedly, a man with a buff body but a surprisingly feminine voice spoke. Perhaps it would have been better if he hadn't spoken at all.

Suddenly, he threw the handkerchief, causing the old lady to laugh before accepting it. Yet another nobleman arrived to offer his handkerchief. He had hairy hands and a thick mustache. The old lady raised her eyebrows with a mischievous look but eventually took his handkerchief as well.

From a dark corner, two foxy eyes observed the situation. He noticed the men bustling back and forth to the two women as if there were a long line, which definitely caught his attention.

Curious about what was happening, he ordered one of his spies to investigate and report back.

With simple, stealthy movements, the spy went to observe. He saw two beautiful women: one was sleeping, and the other was entertaining the suitors. The spy returned to the VIP guest and reported, "The men are bidding for a blind date with the drooling, sleeping woman."

"What?" the VIP guest exclaimed. "You said drooling... did you double-check?"

"Yes, Lotus Flower."

The VIP's codename was Lotus Flower, a title used by all his spies.

Suddenly, the VIP relaxed in his chair, a sense of friskiness awakening within him. He thought to himself,How can this happen? A woman, sleeping and... drooling, receiving so many high-end proposals?

He squinted his eyes, for he was rarely surprised—until tonight. Curiosity, something that didn't usually register in his mind, was piqued. He decided to find out who this drooling girl was.

Suddenly, a gold handkerchief was tossed into the air.

The spy saw it, his eyes widening like an owl's. He quickly confirmed to the VIP.

"Are you sure, Lotus?"

"Are you questioning me or expressing concern?" The VIP's eyes flashed with anger. He made his intentions clear with a hand signal, pointing toward the two women, pouting his lips slightly, his expression stern, urging the spy to obey.

The spy, anxious at the thought of upsetting the VIP, obeyed.

Like quicksilver, he walked toward the table where the two women sat.

The old lady, now holding twenty handkerchiefs, hadn't been impressed by any of the suitors so far. She paid no mind to her companion beside her, too busy entertaining and accepting the handkerchief proposals. Meanwhile, the fine woman was still drooling and asleep.

The spy, dressed in a good-looking Hanfu as part of his disguise, approached the old lady. When he smiled, revealing a gap where his front teeth should have been, the old lady gave him a rough look and said, "Whatever it is, this is declined."

The spy glanced at the drooling woman beside her, whose snoring was growing louder and louder. He responded, "Even I cannot understand why I must do this..."

He then handed her the gold handkerchief.

The old lady was stunned, speechless.

The spy waited for further instructions and finally heard, "Tell His Majesty this is booked."

That meant all twenty handkerchiefs would be dismissed, and only the gold handkerchief would be accepted.

The old lady left the twenty handkerchiefs on the table. All the noble bachelors saw this and understood what it meant.

Suddenly, eyes from every corner of the bar began searching the room.

They knew a VIP had visited the nightclub, and now the place was compromised.

Amidst all of this, the fine woman continued sleeping soundly. The old lady noticed and quickly woke her up.

"Wake up! We need to go—we'll be escorted back by the royal guards!"


"Hurry!"

"What?"

The fine woman, still dizzy with half her eyes open and no sense of time, whispered, "Royal escort? I didn't order them to fetch me. Why are they here?" Her voice was sleepy and dull.

The old lady replied, "This place is compromised. We need to get out."

Before the bar was placed on high alert, the VIP had already left, riding in a black palanquin with three black horses in front. Soon after, the old lady accepted the gold handkerchief.

The VIP asked his spy, "How did it go?"

"Your Highness, the old lady told me, 'Whatever it is, this is declined.'"

The VIP raised his brows. "Oh, that's a first."

The spy continued, "Then she said, 'Tell His Majesty this is booked.'"

A smile crept from the corner of the VIP's eyes. "Oh, that's not so much of a first," he said with a chuckle.

"Hiyah! Hiyah!" The spy urged the horse to run faster, and the VIP returned to his palace safely.

Meanwhile, the fine woman and the old lady were escorted back to their house by the royal guards.

The next day, the old lady opened her store during her usual hours, while the fine woman went to the market to buy fresh ingredients for the day's menu.

The local gangster leader, on his third day of serving penance for his bullying acts, waited at the side of the store. At the same time, a familiar man wearing a rattan hat passed by the old lady's store and suddenly helped her.

Startled, the old lady said, "It's been three days, and I haven't seen you since that small scandal. Where have you been?"

The man, cold and distant, continued helping her set up the store's chairs and tables. "I passed by, but maybe you didn't notice. The boy can tell you."

"Oh, yes, this boy's turned good now. I think he's learned his lesson."

The man, though pleased, maintained an indifferent and stoic expression.

As they finished setting up the tables and chairs, the man dusted off his clothes as if to say the job was done. Just as he was about to leave, the fine woman arrived with baskets full of vegetables.

She gave him a cold glance as she passed, but the man didn't look at her. Instead, he took the basket from her hands and helped her as if he were a regular helper at their Kowloon noodle house. Afterward, he put on his hat and left without a word.

The kitchen chef was intrigued.

The next day, the man came again early and repeated his actions. This time, the fine woman resisted, but he insisted. Rolling up his faded peasant sleeves, he took the basket from her.

His arms, exposed, revealed perfectly sculpted muscles and a small tattoo on his left shoulder. The fine woman noticed this and looked at him, searching his eyes, but found nothing. Afterward, he put on his hat, bid the old lady goodbye, and left.

Secretly, the fine woman watched him from her small kitchen window as he walked away from their store.

She couldn't help but admire his perfect, proportionate height, his toned muscles, and his eyes. She swallowed hard, thinking to herself how familiar those tantalizing eyes were. She had never felt this way about a man's appearance—until now.

She leaned against the wall, wondering if she was going crazy or if she had met him before.

Every time he stood in front of her, those eyes stirred something in her, feelings she couldn't quite describe. Was she falling for him, or was this just a rebound from her broken heart?


One night, the old lady received a mysterious letter from a strange courier. She was surprised because the only person who usually delivered messages to their store was the man who passed by every day.

Curious, she asked the courier, "Where is the man who always passes by here?"

"I'm not sure, but I have an important message for you."

The old lady soon learned that this was no ordinary courier. He was a messenger from the Liang Palace, disguised in rugged peasant clothes.

The old lady suddenly remembered the gold handkerchief and felt her heart race as she opened the fragrant, flowery envelope. She could tell the message was of great importance. In her mind, she envisioned a royal romance beginning to bloom.

She was right. The letter contained a summons for the blind date to commence the next evening. According to the instructions, a royal escort would arrive to collect them from their residence.

The old lady hurried to her closet, where she kept her collection of beautiful dresses. As she touched them, tears welled up in her eyes. These Hanfu and imperial dresses from her youth held sweet, bitter, and happy memories. Giving one of them to the fine woman felt like passing on a piece of her history, with the hope that it might heal her broken heart.

The dresses were made from the finest silks, adorned with genuine gold and jade accessories. The old lady, though weathered by time, was once a renowned figure in the imperial court—a fallen aristocrat, now an outcast.

She went to the fine woman's room and woke her. It was late, and the fine woman was already asleep.

A large shadow appeared in the doorway, startling the fine woman awake. She grabbed a candle and shouted, "A beast! What the...?! I could kill you in an instant!"

The fine woman, her hair a mess and goosebumps on her arms, grabbed a dagger, thinking there was a monster at her door. But it was just the old lady, struggling to carry a mountain of imperial dresses, headdresses, and other accessories.

With no choice, the fine woman helped the old lady bring the pile into her room. She exclaimed, "Did you go to the night market and spend all your savings? What is all this?"

The old lady smiled. "What does it matter if I spend every dime? Here, try some of these. I know we were the same size when I was younger—maybe they'll fit."

The old lady excitedly watched as the fine woman tried on each dress, turning the night into an impromptu fashion show.

Once a fashion critic and icon, the old lady raised her eyebrows, laughed, cried, giggled, screamed, and smiled. She pouted and threw sarcastic looks until the fine woman stepped out in a flowing yellow-gold Hanfu dress, cut like a princess gown.

The old woman gave her a thumbs-up, and they decided on the dress.

After the show, the fine woman, puzzled, asked, "Why are we doing this again?"

"It's for a blind date," the old lady replied.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, I don't want to go back to that nightclub. The men looked like ugly frogs."

"They looked ugly because you got drunk and ordered more drinks than you could remember," the old lady said, looking at her with disgust.

"I want to call off the blind date," the fine woman began, but the old lady cut her off, leaving her hanging in silence.

"There are only two reasons I can think of for calling it off. Is it the courier man who stops by our Kowloon house, or is it your broken heart?"

"Neither," the fine woman said, but deep inside, she knew her heart had already chosen someone—someone she thought she had met before, perhaps nearby.

Not wanting to see her cry, the old lady remarked, "Better to die than to harbor a broken heart."

"So tomorrow night, if you refuse, you're as good as dead meat."

The fine woman squinted her eyes. "Why would I want to die tomorrow night?"

"Did I not tell you? The winner of the bid that night became ineligible when the gold handkerchief was passed. That means no one from the noble ranks has a claim, except for the royal who won the bid."

The fine woman's ears perked up, and the old lady continued, "Since that night, the royal family owns the rights to this blind date. Ignoring these rules or attempting to refuse the royal's interest is considered treason."

"I didn't know about these rules. You just told me to do my hair, dress up, and sit next to you without making eye contact."

"There are always rules and protocols. Since we expressed interest in the blind date, we can't refuse—especially not to royalty. You understand?"

The fine woman's frustration grew as she heard about the rules, protocols, and rights.

Suddenly, she felt a surge of determination. She would meet this royal and try to change these customs. It felt like a violation of her freedom to choose or decline.

"Alright, set me up. I'll teach him a lesson, even if it kills me."

The fine woman grabbed the old lady's beautiful dress and said, "Let's sleep. We've got a lot to do tomorrow."

Excited, the old lady responded, "Just pray that the royal won't ask for a second meeting after tomorrow."

The fine woman, as she collapsed onto her bed, asked, "What happens if there's a second summon?"

"It could mean an engagement."

"Go away. That won't happen," the fine woman said, hugging her pillow and closing her eyes.

The old lady let out an evil laugh. "You bet!"

The next day, the store was closed, and the old lady went to a nearby beauty salon to book an appointment, using the royal seal that had come with the letter.

The fine woman stayed at the Kowloon house, waiting as if expecting someone to appear. At the same time, a tall, athletic man with cold eyes stood outside the store and saw that the Kowloon house was closed.

The fine woman watched him longingly, noticing his gloomy eyes. The man asked their neighbor why the store was closed, then slowly walked away.

She felt as if she were losing her breath with every step he took, further away from where she stood.

By this time, the fine woman realized these feelings were not so simple.

But she couldn't let him see her today. She couldn't look into those eyes again.

She also wondered if she had met him before, but wasn't sure when or where.

She hid her emotions deep within her heart.

Time seemed to slow as her eyes followed the man until he disappeared from view.

Suddenly, the old lady tapped her on the shoulder.


Connect to Chapter 43: Dinner Engagement
Look back to Chapter 39: Breach of Chasm


Chapter 42

Tributary Hunt


The bamboo leaves were covered with white ice, and the mansion's rooftop was blanketed in snow. A man stood, staring far into the land of coldness and snowfall.

Yuwen Huai never understood the goodness of life until he retreated into his Zen Mansion. The lucky charm he redeemed from shame and loss had befallen him just like a leaf descending from the sky.

He was content and did not want to return to the world of politics or rekindle his cunning abilities. But today, on this fateful day, a paper snow letter was delivered for his eyes only. Yuwen Huai exhaled heavily.


The 13th Prince Yuan Song and two of his spies from the Eyes of God were called the Light Team, while Prince Zaru and three of his Blackguard spies were known as the Dark Team. Yuan Che was giving the final briefing, and he said:

"This is a secret and a suicide mission. Do you both understand your roles?"

Yuan Song responded first: "Brother, the instructions are simple—search and abduct."

For the Dark Team, the instructions were equally straightforward: wrap up and destroy. With a casual attitude, Prince Zaru raised one arm and shook his head.

Yuan Che looked at them seriously and asked, "What is the cardinal rule in the tributary hunt?"

Yuan Song quickly recited, "Tribute hunters must not fall into the enemy's hands."

Prince Zaru nodded.

Yuan Che was impressed with his younger brother's growth. He had never seen Yuan Song this brave or full of knowledge. He regretted not looking after his brother all these years, as he had been occupied with leading the Xiaoqi camp, one of the most massive troops, composed of Wei's elite military men—children of past heroes and those of powerful bloodlines who thrived on the battlefield.

Yuan Che preferred not to involve his little brother in this mission, but Yuan Song insisted. If not enlisted, the 13th Prince threatened to cut his wrist in front of him, proving he was unafraid of death. If he survived, he vowed to strip Yuan Che of his royalty and exile him to the streets of Wei, just like their sister Chuner.

Yuan Che laughed at his brother's dramatic threats, but it was clear that Yuan Song had envisioned the mission's end. If Yuan Che didn't comply, disaster would follow.

Yuan Song's fierce expression shifted. For a moment, Yuan Che saw his younger brother as a predator—a wolf ready to swallow a man whole.

The 7th Prince had no choice but to allow his brother to join. Prince Zaru also agreed, and they divided the teams into Light and Dark.

That night, the three made a pact, renouncing their royal jades—symbols of their thrones and powers—forsaking their princely titles to become tribute hunters.

The reward of the hunt would go to whoever succeeded in capturing the subject. Yuan Song was determined to capitalize on this opportunity, while Prince Zaru aimed to use the prize for political gain, making deals that would secure his position among Wei's protectorates, much like Yanbei had done before the annihilation of the Yan royal clan.

Looking back, Wei's Emperor had treated Yanbei differently from other protectorates. Yanbei was both a significant tributary state and a protectorate. Its crown prince had been held in Changan as a form of ransom for Yanbei's loyalty to Wei's royal family. As a result, Yanbei enjoyed privileges denied to other protectorates, including the crown prince's access to the Wei Emperor, who may have regarded him as a special son.

That night, with weapons prepared, Yuan Che's worries were alleviated by a reinforcement plan in case the 13th Prince was endangered. The same applied to Prince Zaru, the representative of the remote highlands, where his lineage as the Black Prince originated.

While the Eyes of God were temporarily inactive, the Blackguards continued their duty, acting as the Wei state's shadow power, preparing for an imminent war between the states.

The Wei Emperor disapproved of the upcoming Liang-Yanbei wedding, set for the following fall. He was unhappy with his Confederate ally, King Tang of Liang, possibly marrying into one of Wei's tributary states. The prince, once a rebel, had almost become the Emperor's son-in-law, a sacrifice for the Yanbei citizens.

Dressed in a ninja costume, Yuan Song refused the ninja sword that Yuan Che offered him, saying, "If I die on this mission, I want the Cheng Yin sword placed on my chest."

Yuan Che understood and looked at his brother with pity. He turned his back and said in a low voice, "If you do not return, I will dethrone you, even in death, and declare myself Crown Prince."

Yuan Song smiled at his melancholic brother but hid his feelings with an innocent-sounding threat: "Then be sure to do it right, and make sure you look good if I make a mistake."

With that, the two parted ways—one with a brave heart, the other filled with anxiety.

Two teams, one suicide mission. Many possibilities lay ahead. One may fall, the other may return, but one thing was certain: the cardinal rule must not be broken. The Xuili troops were not as easy to handle as before.

They had learned their lesson well from their tricks and mastered Wei's forces, including some arsenals and weapon resources, while they were commissioned by Prince Yuan Che and used as a strategic yet risky ally troop.

Recently, the Xiaoqi camp received an intelligence report warning of a grave threat: a bomb scare that could engulf the entire camp. Without contact from the Xuili troops, the camp could be thrown into chaos and reduced to ashes by a triggered mechanized switch.

The rumor spread like wildfire, threatening the highly secure state and its army of thousands. Even the 7th Prince of Wei could not fathom how it might happen, given the strict border control at the Wei Valve. An army of hundreds would seem like ants beneath a giant's feet.

Chu Qiao had orchestrated this, calling it psychological warfare. She knew she could not defeat the Imperial Palace's massive army, but she could inflict damage on their minds.

Her strategy was designed to stop the killing of innocent children, the mutilation of the poor, and to enforce a ceasefire. This would allow aid to reach the small town of Chang'an, providing food and shelter during the winter storm, saving as many locals as possible, if any were still alive.

As the violent winds of snow blew against her face, Chu Qiao, in her faux fur hood, blinked and suddenly saw a man in a ninja suit, his arms decapitated, lying in the snow.

Chu Qiao checked his pulse. Filled with pity, she ordered her troops to take the man and place him in the carriage. They obeyed. Chu Qiao had found no one else alive in the town—not even a single child—only this man, whom they transported back in the carriage.

Chu Qiao heard a clanging noise, but when she looked around, there seemed to be no immediate threat. Her brigade resumed its normal march back to the Meilin Border Pass camp.

The Xuili troops had occupied the Meilin border pass since Yuwen Yue's death at the frozen lake. The 13th Prince of Wei was in grave danger, protected only by ex-afterlife camper assassins. Yuan Che had refrained from locking down the Yan-Wei border pass due to Yuan Song's plea. This whim of peace had cost them dearly, as Yan Xun, with the Xuili army, violently seized the Meilin border pass.

This is where Cheng Yuan, Yan Xun's revenge advocate, had stoked Yan Xun's heart with vengeance, inspiring him to return Yanbei to its warring state.

When Cheng Yuan died, Yan Xun did not hold mourning rites but instead erected a memorial in his honor, making him a hero of Yanbei. Yan Xun burned Cheng Yuan's body in the center of the Meilin Mansion as a symbol of victory, allowing his spirit to rest. Cheng Yuan's goal had been to help Yanbei capture the Meilin border pass, a key foothold for Yanbei's revenge against Wei.

This victory was the first of many for Yan Xun. With the Xuili army guarding the pass day and night, Yan Xun's fame grew, as did the insult to the Wei throne.

Chu Qiao ordered the decapitated ninja to be treated at the camp's medical facility. The ninja, pretending to be frail, had earned her pity.

The Xuili corpsmen transported him, accompanied by a few Xuili men in uniform.

By nightfall, the seemingly weak ninja had regained strength. The Xuili men who accompanied him were soon slaughtered, and the remaining personnel inside the medical facility were also killed. The attackers stripped the fallen men and donned their uniforms—white and black ninja suits.

Yuan Song, who had detached his arms earlier to appear pitiful, reattached them and began operating as though nothing had happened.

Dressed in his white ninja suit with a white headband, an expensive jade centered on his forehead, Yuan Song looked every bit the handsome killer prince. One of the Eyes of God spies tossed him the Cheng Yin sword.

It was his first time using the sword, and its legend proved true—it worked best at night or dawn. It was like an invisible blade, cutting with precision where light and shadow met. The head separated cleanly from the neck, leaving no pain—only death.

Viper sensed a disturbance. "I must go out," she said to Chu Qiao.

"Is there a grave threat?" Chu Qiao asked.

"I sense familiar energy," Viper replied. "Light and shadow. It cuts invisibly and offers no promise of life for tomorrow."

"Can you sense a breach?" Chu Qiao asked again.

"I sense both light and dark powers here," Viper said.

Chu Qiao, lost in thought, dismissed the notion. But then she remembered the children's rehabilitation facility. She hesitated for a moment, then decided to check it, despite the late hour. Donning her light garment, she went out, while Viper, like a bat, flitted from corner to corner, inspecting the camp as everyone else slept.

At the children's rehabilitation facility, Chu Qiao found the guards awake. They bowed to her as their General. Suddenly, Chu Qiao sensed something behind her and threw a knife. The Xuili guards, startled, swallowed nervously when they realized she had struck a tree nearby, not them.

Chu Qiao checked on the children, all of whom were safely asleep. Relieved, she returned to the General's quarters, but Viper had not yet returned.

Under the starry sky, the snow-covered ground lay quiet. But five men lurked in the shadows of the camp. Three dark figures dug holes around the perimeter, planting devices of doom—courtesy of the Blackguard spies.


Connect to Chapter 44: Iron Bones Encounters the White Prince
Look Back to Chapter 40: Buried in the Snow


Chapter 43

Dinner Engagement


An elegant young woman entered, wearing a yellow-gold, princess-cut Hanfu dress. Her hair was styled in a striking "peacock killer" fashion, and her fierce expression resembled that of a queen of the night. She had come to fulfill a royal blind date. The Liang Prince, who had never been caught off guard, was stunned. His usually narrow eyes widened in surprise, as large as an owl's.

"You!?"

"Yes, me."

Without waiting for an invitation, Chu Qiao sat down and propped her feet, wrapped in white socks, on the table. She toyed with her fingernails, ignoring the prince, her cold, indifferent gaze signaling disapproval of the unwanted blind date.

The usually composed Foxy Prince shook his head slightly. Wearing his ornate yellow robe, his fragrant presence filled the air as he held his breath. Then, flashing his two front teeth, he beamed at her. His foxy grin became even more pronounced, and Xiao Ce couldn't stop himself from smiling at her lovely face. He clapped his hands.

A servant appeared, and Xiao Ce ordered, "Bring me another table."

The servant quickly set up another table beside the one where Chu Qiao's feet rested. Xiao Ce gave her a charming smile while fiddling with something under the table.

Soon, Xiao Ce mirrored his guest's posture. He lifted his feet, also clad in white socks, and placed them on the table. With one hand tapping the table's corner, he rested his chin on the other, staring at her with his foxy eyes and a mischievous grin.

Chu Qiao, growing bored and irritated, sighed. This royal prince seemed as cold and aloof as the snow outside. She finally said, "I don't have time to waste. I have work tomorrow."

Still gazing at her as if he hadn't seen her in years, Xiao Ce replied, "Oh, apologies. A blind date isn't complete without dinner." He clapped twice, and a maid appeared to serve the meal.

Feeling that the prince was just as determined to annoy her as she had been for the past few minutes, Chu Qiao suddenly said, "Oh, pretty please, don't forget the whole turkey, slowly cooked and roasted..."

Her voice, sweet and husky at first, suddenly shifted into a booming tone like thunder. Staring at the prince's foxy eyes, she added, "I WANT IT WELL DONE AND ON FIRE!"

Xiao Ce's calm appearance didn't falter. He continued to smile at her with his seductive gaze. He leaned in closer, lifting her chin gently with a single finger. As he neared her face, Xiao Ce inhaled her scent and brought his lips closer to hers, closing his eyes with a smile. But then, the unexpected happened.

He suddenly pulled away, reclined in his seat, and slammed his feet back on the table. "FINE!" he exclaimed. "Your wish is my command! Bring in the turkey! And yes, WELL DONE AND ON FIRE!"

Maintaining a formal expression, Xiao Ce ordered his servants, who were frozen in place like statues, to obey. Then, he turned back to his beautiful guest with a grin, his eyes sparkling with happiness.

Meanwhile, inside the palace kitchen, the maids and staff were in a frenzy.

The sound of clanging and shouting filled the air as they desperately tried to set the turkey on fire. They knew they were in trouble if they failed.

"How are we supposed to get the turkey well done and on fire?" they whispered frantically.

It seemed like the palace was on the brink of a culinary emergency.

While the two VIPs waited in the Li Garden, the sounds of the frantic kitchen staff echoed in the background. Both continued their playful, unconventional blind date at the table.

Xiao Ce, restless, continued tapping his fingers on the table while Chu Qiao, cheeks puffed like a pufferfish, blew out a breath of air. Her bored expression was unmistakable.

This wasn't a good sign.

Her feet still propped on the table, Chu Qiao absentmindedly bit her fingernails, waiting impatiently for the promised turkey.

Unable to remain quiet, Xiao Ce finally broke the silence. "You know, I like you even more when you're upset. You look just as pretty as you did before."

Chu Qiao's mind caught on to something. "Before?" she repeated, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Xiao Ce gave no response.

Uninterested in engaging in further small talk, she replied, "You're not doing yourself any favors here."

She gestured toward a golden handkerchief lying nearby.

"And that golden handkerchief? How did it end up overshadowing all the noble privileges? What's in it for me?"

Chu Qiao rolled her eyes in frustration.

Xiao Ce put his feet down under the table, sat up straight, and grunted, "The Golden Handkerchief. Like a Golden Buzzer. It's a shortcut, baby! Why don't you like it?"

"I'm the high roller, the blue-chip, the one-time lucky dime, a jackpot prize!" Chu Qiao replied sarcastically. "Do I have to like this golden buzzer? And don't call me baby!"

Xiao Ce responded quickly, "No, but I think you should. And Icancall you baby! I'm someone others are dying to take on a date like this. Don't I deserve some praise? I waited for days, and yet you didn't come. Why?"

Chu Qiao's ears burned with anger. "I only got your invitation last night. Unlucky me—I didn't even have the chance to refuse! It's a one-way ticket, and there's more to this golden handkerchief of yours than meets the eye."

She paused, noticing Xiao Ce's twinkling eyes, and grew even more annoyed. "And... and... if I hadn't shown up..."

Xiao Ce interjected, "Surely, if you hadn't shown your face today, it would've been a case of beating the buzzer, baby!"

Xiao Ce continued to watch her while Chu Qiao shot him an awkward look.

Hmm...

The Prince, deep in thought, began to suspect someone might have intercepted his invitation. After all, he had personally chosen his bodyguard in disguise to deliver the message.

Chu Qiao snapped, "What if I kill you now so I won't have to sell my neck at your garrison yard!"

Chu Qiao's voice was still sarcastic and almost shouting, but the Foxy Prince only loved it more, becoming more attentive and energized.

"Kill me and bury me, baby. If you're the last face I see on earth, I'll be the happiest man to die."

"It's your call, baby!" Xiao Ce didn't stop his flirtatious remarks, and Chu Qiao didn't stop her trash talk to the "goat prince."

"Shut up with your smooth talk! Don't act so clueless!"

Chu Qiao's voice was still filled with irritation, but Xiao Ce relished every moment, frequently flashing his eyes and his perfectly white smile.

Inside the kitchen, the staff and maids were gossiping loudly enough to be overheard. One maid said, "I've never seen the Lotus Prince act like this before."

Another chimed in, "And I've never seen a woman like her breaking all palace protocols, with the Prince yielding to her!"

They burst into laughter, barely able to contain themselves, until Xiao Ce scoffed.

"The turkey? Do we have to wait forever?" he shouted, his low voice cutting through the noise with sarcasm. It was clear there would be some unpleasant feedback later.

The kitchen erupted into even more chaos, clanging sounds of panic filling the air.

Xiao Ce turned his attention back to his esteemed guest and asked, "Do you really want a turkey and not the royal meal that Liang's finest chefs have prepared for dinner?"

Chu Qiao, caught between irritation and amusement, secretly laughed to herself. She could see Xiao Ce was close to giving in. She knew the Prince's pleading glance was a silent request for her to cancel thewell-done turkey on firedemand.

The Liang Palace was descending into chaos, but the two continued their game of irritation and demands, oblivious to the commotion outside.

In the Throne Room, the situation had escalated to an emergency. The Jinwu Palace was now surrounded by smoke, and the royal palace guards had begun sounding alarms.

Suddenly, the sound of marching footsteps echoed through the palace. Xiao Ce, concerned, leaned to the side, trying to hear more clearly.

A squad of royal palace escorts, armed with shields and spears, headed toward Jinwu Palace. They had summoned the Head of the Kitchen Ministry. The palace corridors and courtyards were thick with smoke when a kitchen staff member rushed outside, carrying the turkey.

The royal escorts, following the trail of smoke, pursued him. Sensing the danger, the kitchen staff panicked and ran as fast as he could, but some guards intercepted him.

They found him, blocking his escape.

The guards looked displeased.

All of a sudden, they laughed at him and began to bully him.

The kitchen staff seemed trapped, with no way out of the situation. He put the burning turkey on the grassy ground, closed his eyes, and assumed a martial arts stance.

In the blink of an eye, he took all of them down.

He clapped his hands and picked up the burning turkey as if nothing had happened.

The royal guards, writhing in pain, couldn't react quickly enough and found themselves tied up. They hadn't expected that the Crown Prince's kitchen staff, despite his thin frame, would be so skilled in martial arts.

Returning to his normal posture, the kitchen staff bowed his head and said, "I'm sorry, but you were blocking my path and delaying official duties. Nothing personal. The Lotus Prince is in a life-and-death situation if this turkey isn't delivered on time. So I must go."

He quickly walked away.

The kitchen staff knelt and bowed his head before offering the whole, well-done but still flaming turkey to His Highness Xiao Ce. His face was smudged black from the turkey's smoke.

Xiao Ce, feeling proud of his kitchen staff, gave Chu Qiao a flirtatious glance, flashed a seductive smile, and asked, "Feel like marrying me now?"

Chu Qiao was about to respond when the Emperor's royal guards suddenly arrested the kitchen staff.

With his usual calm but foxy eyes, Xiao Ce turned to them, nodded, and asked, "Very well, what's the crime?"

An Eunuch from the King's palace, looking like an ugly duckling with soot on his face, stepped forward and read a decree. "The Head of the Ministry of Kitchens is hereby summoned and will stand trial to explain why the palace was filled with smoke, causing alarm as if it were on fire. The kitchen staff will be imprisoned and await the verdict within three days. This is the order of King Tang."

Tong!

The loud sound of a gong startled everyone, and they turned to see another Eunuch holding the King's palace gong.

The decree rang like music to Xiao Ce's ears, and the Foxy Prince winked.

He smirked slightly, enough for everyone to notice his relaxed composure, though the atmosphere around him remained tense.

Xiao Ce, downplaying the situation, gestured for the guards to leave. But before they did, he said, "I am the Crown Prince of Liang. Do you dare arrest my servants in front of the future Crown Princess and Queen of Liang?"

Xiao Ce's eyes suddenly sharpened, but he finished with a charming smile. Calm and composed, he shot a pleading glance at Chu Qiao, silently begging her to intervene on behalf of the kitchen staff.

Chu Qiao caught his look and said coldly, "If he is arrested tonight and I become the Crown Princess tomorrow, I won't forget what happened today."

With a fierce expression, she added, "I'll make sure to avenge him later."

Chu Qiao's intense gaze made Xiao Ce love her all the more. Always the opportunist, the Prince said, "In fact, I'm giving you the engagement ring tonight for making this the happiest night of my life. I've finally found my Qiao Qiao."

Chu Qiao, stunned, repeated, "Qiao Qiao? Who?"

She raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer from his foxy eyes.

Xiao Ce, admiring the beautiful lady before him, said, "We were supposed to be engaged. If you want to become the Crown Princess and get revenge for the poor kitchen staff, right?"

The Prince winked and flashed his charming eyes again. He took her hands and shouted to a nearby servant, "The Wild Lotus Flower ring?"

Xiao Ce opened his palms, waiting to receive the engagement ring, while Chu Qiao stared at him in disgust.

She remained still until, suddenly, a basket descended from the heavens between them.

Petals began to rain down, and the air filled with a fragrant scent. Everyone fell to their knees.

They watched as two cute rabbits approached, as if the female rabbit was expected to say yes. Xiao Ce, lost in a dreamy state, was already imagining it.

Suddenly, Chu Qiao, watching Xiao Ce with his eyes closed, gently tapped his temple and said calmly, "Try your luck next time."

Xiao Ce snapped back to reality. "Did I hear that right?"

"Yes, you did," Chu Qiao replied sarcastically.

"Does that mean I have a chance now? Tell me, Qiao Qiao, the last time I did this, I wished upon a star." Xiao Ce sounded sincere, but Chu Qiao wasn't convinced.

"I am not Qiao Qiao, or whoever she is. I'm not her," she said firmly.

Xiao Ce, now confused, asked, "You don't know me at all?"

His voice held a note of hurt.

Chu Qiao shook her head and said, "Royal Prince of Liang, it was a beautiful evening spent with you and this turkey. May I take it to go?"

Xiao Ce, still stunned, felt as though he were speaking to a stranger. He quickly regained his composure, bowed slightly, and said, "It was indeed a lovely, fiery, and splendid evening spent with you. And yes, the turkey is yours. I'll send another invitation, and you must come to meet me again."

Xiao Ce looked at his kitchen staff and, in a calm, low voice, added, "And you, next time, make sure the turkey is perfect."

The Prince stood and walked away, his finest servants following behind, scattering flower petals and diffusing fragrant scents along his path until he disappeared.

The kitchen staff handed the turkey to another servant and said, "A special 'to-go' order for the lovely lady. You'll accompany her and ensure she gets home safely with the turkey."


The blind date had ended, but the Prince of Liang couldn't stop thinking about Chu Qiao's peacock hair, her lovely eyes, and her face. He giggled like a child as he recalled the engagement ring and the burning turkey, wondering, "Of all the riches I can give, why ask for a turkey? Do I look like a poor prince?"

The Prince stared at himself in the mirror and ordered his servants to prepare the Tigers' comfort zone.

Meanwhile, on her way home, Chu Qiao asked the royal escort to stop by a street. She removed her cape and stepped out of the royal palanquin.

By this time, the turkey's skin had turned black from burning. Earlier, she had asked the servant to sprinkle a little water on it. Looking at three street children waiting for her, Chu Qiao asked them to fetch a knife. She peeled the skin off the turkey and told them, "Saturated fat isn't good for your health, so always remember to peel the skin off after it's been burned."

The kids obeyed her and ate heartily, exclaiming, "This is the best turkey I've ever eaten in my whole life. Thank you, Miss Chu."

The Liang servant, craning his neck, couldn't believe what he was witnessing. He thought it was the sweetest scene he had ever seen, deeply touched by how Chu Qiao had taken the finest dish from the Liang Palace and shared it with the poor.

Chu Qiao gently rubbed the children's foreheads and said, "I'm sorry I'm late today. See you tomorrow." She then returned to the palanquin and finally went home.

The next day, as Chu Qiao was walking, she suddenly found the street so crowded with people that she couldn't move forward.

She wondered to herself,"Did someone die or was a house raided?"

Looking around, she saw people dressed in their spring clothes, some wearing faux leather, fur capes, and thick Hanfu dresses. None of them seemed anxious or worried. Instead, they were whispering excitedly, and Chu Qiao overheard their words.

"My gosh, if I were the girl, I'd say yes."

"She's such a lucky girl. Who would have thought?"

"She's like Cinderella."

"If I were her, I'd marry him."

"A prince in love with a commoner chef, really?"

"A prince fell in love with a kitchen chef?"

"Maybe the fastest way to a prince's heart is through a turkey?"

"If only I knew, I would have cooked him the best-roasted turkey."

Ha… ha… ha…

The gossiping women and people around her kept chattering, and Chu Qiao couldn't help but hear everything. She had no idea they were describing her, but her brows wrinkled, and her cold eyes narrowed as she scoffed.

"Ahem, ahem... she can't fall just for these yellow flowers. Can I pass? Kindly let me pass?"

Her sharp gaze, like that of an owl in the slow-falling snowflakes, suddenly softened with amusement when she saw what had happened to their Kowloon Noodle House. A man had just finished decorating it and walked away.

Chu Qiao didn't catch a glimpse of his face but immediately noticed a note posted on the doorway of the Kowloon house.

It read:

"Wooing is like…"

"I want a well-done turkey on fire!"

"Suddenly, a palace in smoke and fire in spring, then sunrise came. A prince must answer to all his subjects."

"You broke my heart at first but left me a fire last night. Can't wait to see my Qiao Qiao again."

While the crowd around her was cold yet warm inside, swept up in a feeling of love, a man passing by noticed the yellow tulip flowers surrounding the Kowloon Noodle House. There was only a small space left, just wide enough for a customer to enter the main doorway.

The man observed the reaction of the fine woman. She looked somewhat shocked, as if searching for someone.

That day, the man did not reveal his face. He remained at a distance, watching the woman with a slow, cold gaze. He thought to himself:

"She's found an interesting suitor."

Realizing he had no space left for himself in her heart, he continued walking away from the scent of the tulip flowers.


Connect to Chapter 45: Graveyard of Flowers

Look back at Chapter 43: Dinner Engagement


Chapter 44

Iron Bone Encounters White Prince


Two shadows were lurking inside the General Quarters. Chu Qiao returned to her quarters when suddenly, a sack was thrown over her head.

A woman with hellish eyes and lips caught a black ninja wearing a black band, a jade in its center, and smelling ferocious. However, another bloodthirsty figure took the ninja, hypnotized him, and he fell into a trap.

A spy, disguised in a Yanbei uniform, carried a woman away from the Meilin border pass camp. He put her down, removed the sack from her head while her hands were tied behind her back.

Chu Qiao stood in the presence of the white ninja, who wore a long, majestic white cape with a hood, white boots inlaid with intricate gold designs, and a white band on its head with a jade crystal. The ninja unsheathed the Cheng Yin sword in his hand.

He closed his eyes and turned around, revealing his fresh, handsome face. His plum lips appeared cold, but his narrow eyes met hers.

The White Prince opened his eyes, astonished by the woman before him. The woman, however, did not blink or show any fear, despite the silver sword in his hand, ready to strike at any moment.

The White Prince, unable to speak or move, stared at her, shocked but calm and composed. He uttered, "Are you a ghost?"

Chu Qiao did not answer but moved swiftly. She somersaulted in front of him and, using her feet, kicked the two spies disguised in Yanbei uniforms. The two spies fell, writhing in pain, experiencing the wrath Chu Qiao had unleashed on them. She returned to her calm stance and looked at the White Prince with fierce eyes, saying, "Can a ghost kick flesh-and-blood spies?"

The White Prince, now assured that she was no ghost, sensed that the woman was prepared to kill him. He raised his sword, and like magic, the blade disappeared.

Chu Qiao's back was wracked with pain as the flower tattoo on her skin began to glow. The light activated her powers, but she suppressed it by humming an ancient oracle, closing her eyes to maintain control. The wind blew fiercely, and snow began to fall on the road. The two figures stood facing each other, neither daring to make the first move.

Chu Qiao's back glowed, threatening to burn, but she was determined not to use her powers. Suddenly, she passed out, collapsing like snow falling to the ground. The White Prince's eyes widened, and he rushed to catch her. At that moment, an arrow was shot at his back, but he shielded the woman.

A white horse waited by a lonely tree outside the Meilin border pass, blinking its eyes. The White Prince whistled, and the horse's ears perked up, recognizing its master's call. It quickly ran toward him.

The White Prince managed to place the woman on the back of the white royal horse as it knelt to receive them. Though in pain, the prince tapped the horse, and like a flash, they rode away from Meilin border. After two hours, they reached the Wei Valve gate.

Two cold, distant eyes lowered a bow and white-feathered arrows. A voice said to his servant, "A'Jing, it is done. One is down, but the Star was taken by him."

"The World, you cannot announce your presence or expose yourself to vulnerability. You must remain an unknown entity. Control yourself. The young prince will either care for her or die trying. In the meantime, focus on your efforts as your wedding approaches. And remember what happened that day, on that platform."

Yan Xun, dressed in a black hood, clenched his palms until one of the feathered arrows snapped. Tears filled his eyes as he walked away, hoping for a better outcome with his Star.

The White Prince, carrying the beautiful Xuili General in her light garment, was pale and exhausted. He tapped the royal button, and the Wei Valve received the Royal Prince. They descended vertically via an elevator-like mechanism and took a shortcut to the Wei Crown Prince's palace.

Yuan Song, with an arrow lodged in his back, made his way toward his royal room. He broke protocol by gently placing the woman on his royal bed and refraining from asking for any assistance.

Like his nomadic ancestors, he viewed a hunt like this as a prize. He lit a tea candle nearby and let the thin red curtains of his royal bed drape down. Little clinking sounds echoed in the royal room.

Despite his back gushing with blood, Yuan Song ignored his injury. He stood by his bed, gazing at the woman, admiring the lovely arch of her face, her eyebrows, her closed eyes. Even though he was losing blood by the second, delaying emergency treatment, he could not tear his eyes away from her. In that moment, he felt like a god, gazing at the long-lost love of his life.

Yuan Song suddenly felt the biting pain in his back. He placed a blue royal jade beside the sleeping beauty and crawled toward the south side of his room to pull the bell, asking for immediate help. He could no longer hold on, as his blood loss flowed all over the room, and he passed out.

On the south side of the palace, the royal maidservants rushed to the 13th Prince's palace and were horrified to find Prince Yuan Song lying in a pool of blood. Thinking he was dead, they screamed for help while others ran to fetch the royal family doctors.

A few minutes later, the doctors arrived and found the prince in a gruesome bloodbath. They did not move him to his bed. Instead, right there on the expensive carpet, they cut his white ninja attire and began gently wiping the blood. The maidservants, with tears welling in their eyes, watched as the doctors surrounded Yuan Song, searching for any signs of life.

His Chi flow was extremely weak. The doctors quickly applied acupuncture to his meridians to stop the blood loss. One doctor examined the wound on his back, held him sideways, cut some white cloth, and poured spring water over the wound, preparing to remove the white feathered arrow.

Although it was winter and cold, the doctors and their assistants were sweating as they worked. They used acupuncture to insert an anesthetic into his principal meridians, and soon Yuan Song fell into a deep sleep, his groans of pain subsiding.

Several hours later, after learning of what had happened to his Crown Prince, the Wei Emperor rushed to the 13th Prince's palace. Upon seeing Yuan Song lying in bed, pale and lifeless, the emperor's face turned ashen with shock.

The Wei Emperor narrowed his brows deeply, raising them high as he scanned the room. The doctors, eunuchs, guards, and maidservants were silent, too afraid to speak. Then, the old royal eunuch stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, protocol has been broken, and someone must pay the price. But please take a look at this."

The royal eunuch revealed the blue jade resting in the center of Prince Yuan Song's bed, signifying immunity for the guest sharing the bed. The servants understood this gesture but were unsure of how the emperor would respond.

The Wei Emperor's eyes fell on the Cheng Yin sword beside his son's bed, and a fleeting expression of nostalgia crossed his face. He remembered it well. Despite his nostalgia, the emperor looked at his son's severely wounded body.

The head royal doctor approached the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, we have done all that we can. The surgery was a success, and the prince will live."

Another medical assistant stepped forward and presented the white feathered arrow to the emperor.

The Wei Emperor took the arrow, staring at it coldly. His brows creased once more as he finally spoke: "First, protocol was broken. Gather the 13th Prince's guards—they shall not live to see the sunrise." The room filled with terror at the emperor's first command.

"Second, a blue jade was presented to the traitor of Wei State, indicating immunity, honoring the seal of the 13th Prince of Wei. The woman beside him has no entitlements to occupy this royal bed. Because the 13th Prince of Wei has used his Blue Jade for the first time, its authority shall be respected for three days. Afterward, a verdict will be passed, and the woman shall face a special trial. If found guilty, she will be punished for trespassing on the 13th Prince of Wei's royal bed."

"Third, the white feathered arrow confirms that the Rebel Prince Yan Xun was the one who shot him. Summon the 7th Prince of Wei."

All of the Wei State servants, from the highest to the lowest rank, bowed their heads in submission before the emperor. Without glancing at anyone, the Wei Emperor, with his usual aristocratic composure, left the room. Outside the 13th Prince's palace, his concubines were waiting. When they saw him, they bowed, but the emperor did not acknowledge them. He walked straight to the Shen Jin Palace.

At dawn, an iron pole was erected in the middle of the Xuili camp. A Black Prince was tied to it by iron shackles and suddenly woke up, but he couldn't lower his head due to the iron neck cuff. The small, pointed spikes around the cuff resembled sharp vampire teeth standing upwards. If the Black Prince attempted to lower his head, he would risk ending his own life.

His fierce eyes glared out from behind a jade band on his head, his face marked with black ink, and his neck slightly raised. The Xuili military officials and enlisted personnel had never seen such a form of public torture. With their centurion absent, they began to whisper among themselves, surrounding the scene.

Since Chu Qiao took command of the Xuili army, General Chu had instilled her principles, including the importance of respecting the rights of enemies, especially those captured as prisoners of war (POWs). Yet, this captured prince was considered a prized catch, evidenced by the jade on his head, confirming his high status as a royal from the Northwestern territories.

This Black Prince belonged to the Bathuja family, long-time rivals of the Yan Royal clan. Their territories were in dispute with Yanbei over land, as they sought to rule Yanbei instead of staying in their cold, harsh homeland, where winter lasted year-round, and the sun only appeared once annually. The Bathuja family thrived despite these conditions and were known as the "favored Bathuja Royal Family," protectors of the Northwestern state and guardians of the Wei State's northern borders.

The story of the Yan Royal family began when Yan Schicheng, the King of Yan, was commissioned by the Wei Emperor, overlord of all the Western States, to guard the outer borders. The Yan Generals, descendants of heroes from nomadic ancestors, were the pillars of the Western regime's military might. The Yan Royal family ruled the northern lands, known as Yanbei, and claimed direct descent from the Yuan Royal Throne, brothers to past Western emperors.

However, the current Wei Emperor, in his pursuit of selfish political agendas, neglected the loyalty of Yan Schicheng. As a result, the Yan Royal household was abused and fell from grace. Despite this, the Yan family retained their skills as archers, marked by their signature white feather arrows, renowned for their precision. Their cold-blooded nature reflected in their training, where young boys were taught to hunt animals from an early age and later joined the military. While the Yan hunted animals with their cold, provincial mindset, the Wei descendants, colder still and more urban, hunted humans, their conquests spreading fear and showcasing their military might across the empire.

The Wei Emperor, seated on his throne and informed of the white feather arrow's presence, played with it thoughtfully in his hand. He had not seen the Rebel Prince for years, but he knew him well. "This act reveals more than meets the eye," the emperor mused. "The woman with the 13th Prince of Wei is not just anyone; she's the General of the Xuili Army, lying in her enemy's bed."

The Wei Emperor rose from his throne, pacing as he continued to think aloud. "The Rebel Prince escaped Changan, played the role of a rabbit for a while, became a snake to his best friend Yuwen Yue, lost his tiger, and put her into hibernation. Now, suddenly, she reappears... and with my son's life at stake. What a mess."

The emperor had been so focused on securing a marriage alliance between the Liang and Yanbei states that he had overlooked this critical development. Yan Xun had married 18 concubines in a single day after the Ice Lake Incident, but had not slept with any of them, leaving his throne without an heir. However, this action alone had garnered him wealth and allies, more so than the emperor's own princes.

Tapping his fingers against his jaw, the emperor considered another possibility. "What if I make this Xuili General the Crown Princess of Wei, marrying her to the 13th Prince? If they have a royal grandson, could this break the Rebel Prince's heart and extinguish his hopes? What could be more devastating than a broken heart and shattered dreams?"

The emperor continued, "Not to mention granting the 13th Prince's wish to marry a slave, not even a commoner, into the royal family as the next heir. And worse still, she's a traitor to the Wei State, though once recognized as the first woman to join the Wei elite forces, holding the High Order of Archer Coach, second only to the 7th Prince, Yuan Che. What would the political implications be if I allowed this change within my Imperial government?"

Realizing the magnitude of his dilemma, the Wei Emperor knew he was losing his political game, but this new move might secure his victory.

Turning to his eunuch, the emperor asked, "Is this what Yuan Che once referred to as his 'ghost love'?"

The eunuch, bowing respectfully, replied, "Your Majesty, I believe whoever the woman is, she has been the source of the 13th Prince's strength. His condition has been dire, but after the icy lake tragedy, we noticed he became stronger and his worldview changed."

The Wei Emperor reflected on the eunuch's shrewd observation about his son. He had been too preoccupied with the Rebel Prince to notice the changes in the 13th Prince's behavior. For the first time in two years, a genuine smile touched the emperor's face. "Who would have thought," he mused, "that the next queen of Wei could be the wild kitten from the bushes?"

However, the emperor was concerned about how the aristocrats and nobles would react to such a significant change. Would they accept it if a decree were passed?

The eunuch, seeing the emperor in a good mood, suggested, "Your Majesty, why not hold a contest to justify the selection? If the wild kitten gains the support of the political parties, it would secure a positive future for the 13th Prince and avoid many potential problems."

The Wei Emperor, intrigued, turned and looked at the eunuch. Bowing his head, the eunuch continued, "Pass a decree, write your propositions, and invite all the fine princesses and noble maidens for the selection of the Crown Princess of Wei. Let it be done before your time passes."

The emperor, gazing out at the serene Chisui Lake, added, "I would also like to see my first-born grandson, a future flesh and blood heir of Wei, through the 13th Prince."

A few hours later, Yuan Song woke up and saw the curtains of his royal bed. He tried to move, but his body, wrapped in silk and bandages, prevented him. Seeing a pair of beautiful eyes nearby, he joked, "Did I just give up being single and wake up with the real love of my life, instead of a ghost love?"

The woman, not wanting to ruin the moment, replied, "Maybe," and moved her eyes away, adjusting the royal blanket. "You are badly injured. You need more rest. We can talk later." Yuan Song smiled and closed his eyes, drifting back to sleep.

Three days passed, and Yuan Song was still recovering, but much had already changed within the Wei Palace. The Wei Emperor honored his three decrees: executing all the royal guards who had failed to protect the 13th Prince during the tributary hunt, putting Chu Qiao on trial for trespassing into the Crown Prince's bed, and fabricating a love story between the 13th Prince and the Xuili General.

The trial shocked everyone. It was revealed that Prince Yan Xun had shot the 13th Prince out of jealousy. The Rebel Prince, it seemed, had hidden his Tiger General for years, only for her to fall in love with the 13th Prince of Wei. The news spread, and the King of Liang was furious. Yet, Yan Xun remained silent, retreating to the Xiu Xiu mountains for three days.

Meanwhile, the Wei Emperor publicly condemned the relationship between the 13th Prince and Chu Qiao, threatening her with execution. However, Yuan Che intervened, preventing the emperor from carrying out the execution. As Chu Qiao's former commander, Yuan Che delivered a passionate speech, highlighting her chivalry, achievements, and her high rank as the Archer Coach of the Xiaoqi Elite forces. He reminded the court that the emperor himself had decreed her rank, second only to the 7th Prince of Wei, Yuan Che.

Yuan Che acted on his own accord, but the Wei Emperor knew how to manipulate everyone around him. He responded, "Well, the High Order of MU LAN is the only decree that cannot be affected by any actions of its subjects, from the time it was passed onward." The Eunuch then stepped forward before the Emperor's vast audience, which included the Wei Valve elders, Palace concubines, the Zhao nobility, and even the entire Yuwen household, and recited the decree once again:

"To govern the world with civilization and suppress rebellion with the military. Commanders and generals are the pillars of the nation and the mainstays of the government. Thus, I promote talented individuals based on ability, not background. The lady named Chu Qiao is well-educated and trained in military exercises. She is both virtuous and talented, treats her Lord with loyalty, serves the emperor with honesty, and acts like Mu Lan, becoming a model for others. She is appointed as the Archer Coach in the Qiaoqi camp. I hope you will fight with honor on the battlefield, set aside selfishness in service of the public, and not disappoint my expectations."

Chu Qiao, blindfolded and dressed in her Wei Archer Coach uniform, announced her presence before everyone. The Wei Emperor, following his custom, did not execute high-ranking officials in Wei attire, but the crowd was unaware of this. He had specifically ordered Chu Qiao to remove her Xuili General uniform and wear her former Mu Lan Archer Coach uniform, reminding all of her service in the Xiaoqi camp.

As a result, political parties, noble families like the Yuwen's, the palace ministers, Wei Valve elders, and all of noble society began to sympathize with her. The Wei Emperor, achieving his aims without even directly influencing Yuan Che, saw his plan succeed.

The murmuring nobles forgot the topic of treason, their attention diverted—until Yuan Yang, like a prosecutor, suddenly brought it back into focus, saying, "Do not forget that the MU LAN of this empire broke the Xiaoqi military code of loyalty. Treason cannot be overlooked and must be punished by execution."

Yuan Che, standing again like a lawyer, responded, "I, Yuan Che, have not forgotten the provision for pardon under the subject of treason."

"Chu Qiao, the MU LAN of the empire, may have joined the Rebel Prince Yan Xun and stayed by his side. But do not forget that the Yuwen household commissioned her as a secret agent to protect our Empire. The last time I checked, Yuwen Yue, the heir to the Eyes of God, along with his bodyguard Yue Qi, and through her influence in the Xuili army, fought to save him at the frozen lake, though they ultimately perished."

"If anyone here doubts her valor and loyalty, I, Yuan Che, open the floor for anyone to step forward and execute her now."

Yuan Che's voice trembled with emotion, his eyes brimming with tears. He couldn't help but remember Yuwen Yue, and the noble crowd, equally moved, shared in his grief. Although Yuwen Yue's name had long been forbidden, the memory of the brave young general and lost heir of the Eyes of God lingered in their hearts. They remembered him not as the man who died fighting for a maidservant but as a symbol of honor and sacrifice.

The Wei Emperor, hiding his satisfaction, felt proud of how everything was unfolding. He knew that this would infuriate the Rebel Prince Yan Xun, who would be unable to recover from the emotional blow.

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed throughout the hall. Yuwen Huai, the former Supreme Court Official, grand and powerful, approached the stage and looked directly at Chu Qiao. He untied her neck from the pole, released her hands, and removed her blindfold. The crowd gasped in astonishment at her beauty, her face radiating like a light in the darkness of their hearts.

Chu Qiao looked at the beautiful crowd, though she loathed them in her heart. She had heard everything, and her memories began flooding back. But strangely, she did not feel they all belonged to her. Much like her first encounter with Yan Xun, many of her memories resurfaced, but she couldn't react as she once had. There was still a missing piece in her mind.

As she stood there, the mention of Yuwen Yue's name haunted her. She had been searching for answers about the frozen lake, about the Rebel Prince—but what troubled her most was the Wei Emperor's tale of a love affair between her and the 13th Prince, Yuan Song.

She couldn't believe it and continued to question herself. Were they truly lovers?

The Wei Emperor, meanwhile, continued to manipulate events, his methods like a mousetrap closing in on Yan Xun. The Rebel Prince, despite his power and might, maintained a cold facade, trying to protect his Tiger General. But the situation was now out of his control. The emperor simply awaited the full recovery of the 13th Prince, after which the selection of the Crown Princess would begin.

What could be more painful than seeing the beautiful General end up in the Yuan throne's bed rather than the Yan throne? A mortal enemy might never recover from such a blow.


Connect to Chapter 46: Marriage in Crises and an Engagement not engaged

Look back at Chapter 42: Tributary Hunt


Chapter 45

Graveyard of Flowers


Looking at the yellow tulip garden outside Kowloon House became an attraction for customers and foreign visitors, who soon flocked to the street. This surge in attention caused the Old Lady's business to bloom at the corner of Xue Fu Street.

The Lotus Prince continued to woo the fine woman, and the palace dismissed it. Known as a playboy Crown Prince, King Tang remarked, "Another fine jewel Xiao Ce is adding to the palace?" and didn't bother to inquire further about her identity. Even after the palace was engulfed in smoke and fire, Xiao Ce went to his father to explain and saved the head of Liang's Palace Kitchen from the guillotine. He also freed the kitchen staff, who had saved Xiao Ce from embarrassment in front of the fine lady by delivering the smoking turkey on fire to their dinner table.

Day after day, the Old Lady and Chu Qiao were surprised to see Kowloon House devoid of the yellow tulip garden. Instead, a red carpet was spread on the ground, while carpenters worked on-site, constructing a grand imperial design around its premises.

Two royal guards stood at the entrance. Chu Qiao's eyebrows wrinkled as she realized who was behind all of this. She asked, "What is this?"

Without looking at her, one of the royal guards replied, "The Crown Prince has blocked the entire street today. No customers or people are allowed except palace servants and His Highness."

Chu Qiao heard this and felt a twinge of irritation.

"Will the Crown Prince come to Kowloon House and be our guest today?" she asked.

The Old Lady, having guessed the reason, instructed the kitchen chef, "This is an expensive visit. Don't delay; go to the market and prepare the best dish we can offer."

Chu Qiao, murmuring and showing her displeasure, obeyed the Old Lady's order. "Did I leave any footwear that night, and now this foxy Prince is coming for a visit? As far as I know, I only took a turkey, that's it."

While the fine lady rushed to the market, she bumped into a familiar face. Upset and somewhat tired, her basket full of goods flew into the air and scattered on the ground.

The familiar face, anxious, picked up the goods from the ground without looking at the fine woman.

Somehow, Chu Qiao was stunned to see his fresh face, cold eyes, and athletic build. Her world suddenly seemed to slow down.

The man continued his efforts. Afterward, he helped the fine woman to her feet, and they both stood, avoiding each other's gaze.

The man squinted and broke the silence, saying, "My fault, I must be blind today," before looking away from her. Chu Qiao, not upset, didn't even hear what he said.

She took the basket from him, her eyes never leaving the man.

The man seemed to be in a hurry and bid her goodbye. A cold breeze passed between them as Chu Qiao remained speechless, watching him walk away.

Chu Qiao walked straight to the kitchen and began cooking. She slowly sliced an onion, but her mind wandered, her thoughts fixated on the cold eyes of the man she had just encountered in the market.

Suddenly, she was startled by the sound of a drumroll, disrupting her reverie. Chu Qiao rolled her eyes and glanced through the small kitchen window. She knew she was right.

Xiao Ce, who had claimed the day and every corner of Xue Fu Street, announced his grand entrance.

Two white horses adorned with gold reins stood at the front, while a flashy red palanquin glittering with gold was parked on the street, still a distance from Kowloon House. The air was filled with an intoxicating fragrance, bringing the street to life.

Xiao Ce stepped down from his grand palanquin and walked on the red carpet. His finest Liang maidservants scattered flower petals along the street, and the petals fell from his face and robes as he made his heavenly procession down the small Xue Fu street.

Upon reaching the main entrance, the Prince surveyed the transformed Kowloon House and commented, "Hmm… this is quite nice."

"Welcome to Kowloon Noodle House, Your Highness," said the Old Lady, to which Xiao Ce responded with a foxy smile.

Kowloon Noodle House had been transformed into a miniature palace, matching his Jinwu Palace. Instead of small tables and chairs, a grand presidential table and a throne-like chair had been set up, with jade cups brought in from Xiao Ce's palace.

All of his palace kitchen staff were present, and for the first time, his exclusive home-grown tea leaves had been taken out of the palace under strict clearance.

The Prince settled into his chair, his foxy but calm eyes scanning the room. He clapped his hands, and the kitchen staff served his home-grown tea.

A nearby musician began playing the zither near the presidential table—Xiao Ce's typical style of courtship, which had captivated many women in his palace. However, Chu Qiao remained unaffected. Xiao Ce had yet to speak a word of his intentions, merely enjoying the atmosphere and the musician's melodies. He turned to the Old Lady and said, "I presume you know why I blocked the entire street just to see her."

The Old Lady bowed with clasped hands, her manner suggesting this was not her first time meeting the Prince. She replied, "We apologize for any inconvenience, Your Highness, and we are grateful for the yellow tulip garden you sent to our humble Kowloon House."

"Due to the transformation and high volume of customers, we were unable to respond to your summons. We understand that we must face punishment for this."

Suddenly, Chu Qiao heard what the Old Lady said. She had prepared herself for such a situation and was ready to escape, but then thought about the street kids and the poor people she cared for. How could she leave them behind?

Xiao Ce wasted no time and said to the Old Lady, "Very well, I am a democratic Prince. I listen to explanations, and if I find them reasonable, I grant second chances. However, do not abuse my kindness, or this Kowloon House will be reduced to ashes."

Although the Prince's words were more severe than he intended, he needed to maintain a stern facade to ensure the fine woman obeyed and attended the three-night banquet at his Jinwu Palace, which would begin tonight. Attendance could not be refused.

Chu Qiao did not come out to meet him, and soon, the Prince grew bored. He eventually stood and walked out of the Kowloon House.

Before the Prince's entourage left, another servant discreetly handed the Old Lady a bag of gold, compensation for the expensive meal and the time taken from them. The Old Lady remarked, "The Prince is very generous. I will make sure we attend tonight's first banquet."

Chu Qiao, relieved, could finally relax and continue her fantasies.

The first night of the banquet went smoothly, and Chu Qiao attended out of respect for the Old Lady. Xiao Ce, shifting from his usual aggressive flirtations, adopted a more laid-back approach.

From a distance, he watched her like the apple of his eye, hoping his stolen glances, secret blinks, and foxy winks would make her fall for him. As he drank wine and socialized, he occasionally showed her that he was entertaining other beautiful women, even flaunting his concubines while curling his hair around his ears to catch her attention.

Chu Qiao, oblivious to his signals, silently enjoyed the night. She laughed and drank, but this time made sure she could handle the spirit wine better than the last time, when she had passed out drooling at a high-society nightclub.

When it was time to leave, she made sure she hadn't left any of her footwear behind. She didn't want the Foxy Prince coming to retrieve it and blocking Xue Fu Street again.

In her elegant red Hanfu dress, courtesy of the Old Lady, and with her hair styled in a peacock-like signature look, she stepped into the palanquin and instructed the royal escort to take her back to her residence.

A man waited on the street but hid when the royal palanquin passed by. He waited for the fine woman to get out. Watching her, he saw her stumble—already drunk—but she managed to steady herself. His excitement calmed, and with cold, squinting eyes, he left the street.

The next day, the man returned to help the Old Lady, but Chu Qiao was unusually quiet, savoring each moment in his presence. She hadn't told the Old Lady about their encounter at the marketplace.

The man sensed a change in her behavior. Though anxious inside, he remained calm on the outside. After a few moments, he bid farewell again. This time, Chu Qiao smiled at him for the first time, giving him the sweetest look.

The man, feeling somewhat compelled to respond, returned her smile with a cold glance. His expression remained blank, leaving her with a feeling of emptiness as he departed.

Chu Qiao attended the second night of the banquet, but Xiao Ce continued to give her only passing glances and brief eye contact. She didn't care much about it.

Xiao Ce, on the other hand, wondered why the banquet seemed to have no effect on her. He expected jealous stares but got none. Instead, the unexpected happened—Chu Qiao enjoyed the night carefree and wild, gulping down round after round of spirit wine.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, the seducer Xiao Ce broke his laid-back attitude. He approached her, took her goblet, and drank from it, his eyes locked on hers. He began his smooth talk, "Ah, this spirit wine tastes so good, but it's not for a fine woman like you. You mustn't abuse it."

Chu Qiao gave him a sleepy stare and a faint smile on her lips. She seemed to be saying something, but Xiao Ce couldn't understand her words. Suddenly, she vomited on his robes. Xiao Ce, not alarmed, had kind of expected it and maintained a calm expression. Chu Qiao held onto his shoulder and was about to fall asleep, so Xiao Ce picked her up.

In front of his banquet guests and concubines, he displayed this strange guest with the weird hairdo as the apple of his eye. All eyes were on her, and her less-than-friendly behavior sparked palace rumors.

Xiao Ce carried the drunk guest to his palace and placed her in his bed.

The Liang Palace was not as strict as the Wei Palace, where the Crown Prince could entertain guests in his royal bedchamber. It was also more private than the Wei Palace, as royal guards were not confined inside the royal bedchamber.

Xiao Ce looked at her and said, "Qiao Qiao, it seems there are things I don't know about you. What happened to you after the frozen lake where Yuwen Yue died? What did Yan Xun do to you before and after his marriage? And your failed engagement with the Wei Crown Prince, Yuan Song? I am the only one left for you. Look at you now, here in my bed. I'm the happiest man in the world."

For once, Xiao Ce showed his gentlemanly side. He removed his outer robes and changed into his sleeping clothes, holding a warm silk blanket in his hands.

He looked at her lovely face, spread the blanket over her, and then chose to sleep on the expensive carpet beside his royal bed, surrounded by pillows. The sound of her snoring, filling his fragrant royal bedchamber, became music to his ears, and he drifted off peacefully.

The next day, a bell sounded, startling Chu Qiao awake. She cried out in confusion. The Liang Prince, in his loosely tied sleeping robes, exposing his chest, was taken aback.

Xiao Ce quickly stood up, put his hands on his waist, and, still half-asleep, said, "Qiao Qiao, relax! Can't you see a Prince is trying to sleep? And you're so noisy!" he complained.

Chu Qiao touched her peacock hairdo, searching for something. Xiao Ce, amused, said, "Looking for this?" as he held up a small, cold weapon that he had taken from her hair the night before.

Chu Qiao's thoughts raced. If Xiao Ce had removed her weapon, what else had this Prince taken? Her eyes then fell on his exposed chest, and she noticed Xiao Ce's mischievous expression.

Xiao Ce secretly laughed to himself, recognizing the look of suspicion in her eyes. He turned his back to her, savoring the moment, and said with a playful smirk, "If I told you something happened between us last night, would you yield to me?"

Chu Qiao, checking herself, found that all her clothing was intact, wrapped around her like a cocoon. She dismissed his teasing, thinking it impossible for anything to have happened.

Xiao Ce, letting his guard down, removed his sleeping robes, revealing his bare chest. Chu Qiao unconsciously swallowed as she caught a glimpse. But Xiao Ce's attempt at seduction was too late—the subject was already sober.

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Ce, with a playful twinkle in his eyes, slowly put on his robes from the night before. Chu Qiao noticed the traces of vomit on them, and her memory of the previous night came flooding back.

Feeling relieved, Chu Qiao watched as Xiao Ce gently lifted her chin. "After this," he said, "tonight's banquet is canceled, and you won't be sent home to the Old Lady just yet. We have someone to meet today."

Xiao Ce smirked, and Chu Qiao shot him a stern but soft look in response, countering his flirty gaze.

On the third day, Xiao Ce took Chu Qiao on one of his usual secret getaways, somewhere between the Wei and Liang States.

The Prince wrote a letter to the Old Lady, assuring her not to worry and promising to ferry Chu Qiao back to their residence the next day. While Emperor Tang disapproved of his son venturing between these borders, Empress Yuan had granted permission.

Little did anyone know, a scheme was brewing in the background to assassinate the Crown Prince. The current Empress, once a concubine to Xiao Ce's grandfather, had risen to her position after the first Empress was deposed.

Queen Yuan had given birth to Xiao Ce's siblings, Xiao Yu and Xiao Yun. King Tang, consumed by anger towards the First Empress—a distant cousin of Zhan Ziyu—had issued a decree against her, resulting in her fall from grace. As a result, the young crown prince grew up in the care of Concubine Yuan, now the Empress of Liang.

The Empress didn't see Chu Qiao as a threat. To her and the court, Chu Qiao was just another woman who might rise in status if Xiao Ce favored her. She was underestimated due to her low and unknown background, which is exactly how Xiao Ce preferred it.

For the past two nights, Xiao Ce had been wondering why Chu Qiao didn't seem to relate to him. It was as if they were strangers, despite their shared life-and-death experiences in the past.

Xiao Ce had learned to trust her pure-hearted intentions. She had saved him, never sought to harm him, and he had become an adviser during her struggles between duty and desire.

In public, Xiao Ce played the role of a flirtatious, vulgar lover, but in private, he was a sincere secret admirer. He kept this guise to protect her from drawing too much attention—whether his affection was genuine or not, Xiao Ce was a master of disguise.

Over the past few months, he had gathered information through Zhan Ziyu and kept close tabs on Chu Qiao. When he learned that the Xuili General was to be engaged to Prince Yuan Song, he couldn't just stand by. Using his resources, Xiao Ce schemed to frustrate the engagement and sent someone to break it off. In doing so, he believed he was saving Chu Qiao from a fate that would break her heart.

Because Xiao Ce knows and senses that Chu Qiao was somehow screaming for help while Yan Xun was shackled and locked away, bound to his sister Xiao Yu's wedding bells, he is deeply concerned. However, one thing Xiao Ce cannot control is the possibility of war breaking out between Wei and Yanbei as a result of this scheme.

He imagined the chaos that would ensue if the Wei Emperor discovered that the Crown Princess of Wei had been abducted by Yan Xun the night before his wedding. The world would be plunged into war. Chu Qiao's situation could be compared to that of a priceless hostage, held in the arms of Yuan Song. However, Xiao Ce's spies reported that Chu Qiao managed to escape, with the help of her right-hand ally, Viper, and the Xuili Deputy General, He Xiao.

Wasting no time, they helped her break free from Wei's clutches. There were even rumors that Yan Xun had coordinated the escape, though no one would ever admit the truth.

With little friction between them, Chu Qiao was beginning to like this playboy prince. She felt she had only met him a few weeks ago, but Xiao Ce had already purposely acquainted her with his concubines, shared trivial stories about his first love, and almost introduced her to his childhood friend Sun Di. She was also introduced to the Crown Prince's right-hand man, Tie Yuo. Chu Qiao felt like she knew him better than anyone else in his palace.

Attending two consecutive banquets in Jinwu Palace gave her a sense of belonging.

She became comfortable, and without fear of harsh judgment, she could express herself freely, without hesitation or confinement.

In comparison to the Wei Palace, where strict rules and royal protocols had to be followed, Jinwu Palace allowed her more freedom.

Chu Qiao gradually began to learn and follow the foxy Prince's wisdom and principles. Daring moments and small irritations between them increased, but this only deepened their bond.

Their relationship blossomed into something beautiful—a connection where both souls could express their true selves without the need to hide secrets or pursue personal ambitions and pride.

Unlike her relationship with Yan Xun, which had been clouded by hidden agendas and ambition, her understanding with Xiao Ce felt pure. There was no secret strategy, only open and genuine interaction.

In terms of trust, her relationship with Yan Xun had already eroded over time, especially after he became consumed by revenge. Yan Xun's only focus was on his kingdom, leaving no room for anything else.

With Xiao Ce, things were different. He never hid anything from her. In front of her beautiful face, he took everything at face value, with no hidden meanings.

The Prince could only truly rest when she was around. With her presence, he let down his guard and became his true self, without needing to wear any masks.

Xiao Ce and Chu Qiao, just like in the old days, went on a tour, visiting familiar yet painful places of memory.

They visited a site near Chu Qiao's former residence, where she had lived as a lowly maidservant in the Yuwen household. Xiao Ce, who didn't particularly love tours, had grown accustomed to putting his life in danger as the master of disguise.

The two of them dressed in ordinary clothes, walking like commoners among the memorial sites of slaves.

At nightfall, after a long journey from sunrise to sundown, they finally arrived at a graveyard. Xiao Ce, always prepared, lit a small candle. The aroma filled the air, revealing the names on the gravestones.

Chu Qiao stood still, reading the names: LingXi and Zhi Xiang. Xiao Ce took out two white roses from his backpack and offered them to the graves.

Confused, Chu Qiao thought,Why would the Prince do such a humble thing?She asked him, "Who are they? Your slaves?"

Xiao Ce, confirming his suspicions, looked at her and said, "No, they were your siblings who died."

Chu Qiao, suddenly shocked, asked, "Are they?"

Xiao Ce, in his calm and steady voice, confirmed, "Yes, they were."

Chu Qiao touched their tablets, and as her memories surfaced, she held back her tears. Xiao Ce, knowing this moment would come, let her cry freely.

After some time, another figure appeared at the slave tombs—a woman wearing a faux fur cape, a white Hanfu dress made of expensive silk, and a white hood, giving her a divine-like appearance.

Xiao Ce wasn't surprised. He had arranged this meeting in advance. Finally, the reason behind Chu Qiao's failed engagement was revealed. Chu Qiao met Xiao Ba.

Xiao Ba, with tearful eyes, saw her sister. Chu Qiao, with tears welling up, embraced her. She realized that Xiao Ba had saved her from the political engagement with Yuan Song.

Chu Qiao had been on the verge of being used as a pawn, but her sister had intervened, destroying the Wei Emperor's plans on that fateful night. How had this happened?

Who could have orchestrated such a cunning act?

Perhaps the foxy Prince had the answers.

The memorial site became a reunion for the two sisters, and another part of Chu Qiao's memories was recovered. The foxy Prince, content to see them reunited, watched happily.

The rest of the story—how it all happened—was a secret that Xiao Ce promised to unravel. With all his resources, he would continue to show his love for Qiao Qiao, ready to rescue her in any season.

A different kind of love—extravagant, expensive, and filled with the heartbeat of the foxy Prince.

Connect to Chapter 47: Ask for Wisdom

Look back to Chapter 43: Dinner Engagement


Author's note:

This is one of the deviations from the original to continue the story as it unfolds in the drama. The original novel involved many characters and complex scenarios, while this fan fiction focuses only on what is necessary to maintain the storyline. Chapters 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, and 49 are advanced readings, while chapters 40, 42, 44, 46, and 48 serve as retro chapters. I intentionally used an alternate writing style to present simultaneous events occurring together, allowing us to see all the characters come into the picture, especially the most awaited one, Yuwen Yue.

If the reader wishes to connect the dots for a broader understanding, they should backtrack to chapter 40, follow the even-numbered sections, then return to chapter 39 to follow the odd-numbered chapters. After doing so, you will be ready to read chapter 51. I hope you all enjoy these 10 chapters.

AC


Chapter 46

Marriage in Crises and an Engagement not engaged


Yanbei, in its solitary and beautiful landmass, amidst the unrest of its bloodbath, reached one of its pinnacle days to seal the positions of its King and Queen, ensuring future generations of freedom, peace, and security for its citizens.

As the wedding day approaches, so does Yanbei's promising future, but not for its royal prince, as the Tiger General has been held hostage in the land of slavery and hunting prey.

In the bosom of Southern Liang, Princess Xiao Yu, ever watchful, never tires of looking after the affairs of Yanbei's royal prince. The most beautiful, yet quietly dangerous princess, busily prepares her wedding gifts to the groom and her wedding gown, one of the best and finest, crafted by Liang's most talented designers.

The gown is wrapped in golden red, yellow, and brown—an autumn bride inspiration.

While the Liang Princess prepares for her wedding of the year, her journey has not been easy. Her subjects, dependent on her union with the King of Yanbei, await his ability to provide military might and power as his kingdom rises from the ashes of its downfall. Xiao Yu can only hope this union will protect Liang and give them access to the sleeping dragon blade, now that it has awakened.

"Your Highness, it is about to be announced, and the selection has been made."

Nearby, a cavalry has been summoned to prepare its swords and horses. The mission remains unclear, and the likelihood of returning in time for the wedding seems bleak.

Meanwhile, the Wei Empire once again displayed its splendor and might.

A grand stage was set on the north side of the Imperial Shen Jin Palace. In a few moments, the final selection for the 13th Prince's crown princess—the future heir to the throne—will be announced. Everyone is excited, from palace concubines and Wei Valve masters to Shrine Elders, the Yuwen household, and Yuwen Huai with his secret Madame (Princess Chuner, arranged by Yuan Song). Other invited protectorate states like the Batuha family, Princess Zama, and the Bathuja King (though the Black Prince Zaru is missing), Yuan Che, and his Xiaoqi Elite forces are in attendance. Most intriguing of all, a first-time visitor from the desolate land of the East is expected.

A long-time ally, who had gone silent for years, is now the most anticipated dignitary of the Wei Emperor.

A week before the election, though relations between the Wei Emperor and Southern Liang had soured, the Wei Emperor issued a decree to send an invitation to Liang, hoping for a political counter-reaction.

However, the King of Liang responded with a lukewarm reply, declining the invitation due to the entire empire's preparations for the wedding of the year—the union between Yanbei and Liang.

Thus, the Liang Empire would not be able to attend, even though the crown princess selection was scheduled the day before the wedding, with the engagement ceremony to follow.

Upon hearing about the invitation, the Crown Prince of Liang requested permission from his father to represent the empire at Wei's crown princess announcement.

Unfortunately, King Tang refused, unwilling to risk his son's life so close to the wedding. With less than a week to go, it was too dangerous. Xiao Ce, depressed, used this excuse to avoid participating in Liang's wedding preparations. He remained inside his palace for the entire week.

But in truth, he had already sent a gift in advance—a Pandora's box—as a personal offering to the 13th Prince of Wei, Yuan Song. He called it: "A classic gift, a masterpiece only Xiao Ce could give."

The Prince of Yanbei also received not an invitation, but a royal correspondence from the Wei Emperor. Yan Xun crushed the letter and refused to eat his meals that day.

With a heavy heart and cold eyes, Yan Xun made up his mind. For years, he had been cautious in his moves, believing it was the only way to protect both his Yanbei and his A'Chu. But now, the Wei Emperor had placed A'Chu in danger, forcing her to sacrifice herself for the greater good.

Yan Xun realized that the Black Prince Zaru was a key piece in the game.

If he could trade Zaru for A'Chu, he would save his Tiger General. Yet, Yan Xun struggled to keep himself from killing Zaru. For Yan Xun, Zaru's blood would help settle the deep wound in his heart and begin to repay the debt owed for the slain Yan royal family.

Meanwhile, a beautiful princess, adorned with an elaborate head-dress and dressed in imperial golden-yellow robes, was attended by hundreds of palace maids.

She looked as if she were preparing for a wedding rather than a simple selection announcement. Tomorrow, she would be engaged to the 13th Prince Yuan Song, but she had been forbidden from seeing the prince since the contest for his crown princess began.

An expensive cavalry from the East had just arrived, announcing its presence at the entrance of Wei Valve gate. A platoon of soldiers stood before the visitors, while the Qinghai Queen, her three stepsons, and thousands of cavalry waited behind them.

From a beautiful black palanquin, a figure with jade-like skin stepped down. Queen Zhejue, her face covered with a veil, disembarked, followed by her two stepsons, who each rode their own palanquins.

Second Prince Ra Zheng, dressed in a smoked silver Hanfu Imperial robe with a fur cape made of fox skin that resembled a fog cloud on the ground, carried his famous sword at his side. His face, unseen beneath a silver metal mask, radiated majesty and elegance. His waist belt, adorned with the bluish jade of the Qinghai Empire, exemplified the fashionable style of the Westerners.

The Sixth Prince, Ra Zhun, dressed in a red Hanfu and matching fur cape, appeared like fire on the cold snowy ground. His face, covered with a rose gold mask, seemed to flow like flames. Two swords hung at his waist, and his red jade belt encircled him. His striking features, including compassionate eyes and lovely arched eyebrows, strongly resembled Wei Shu Ye, the late Wei Valve master, making it seem as if Wei Shu Ye had come back to life.

The Seventh Prince, Ra Yue, arrived late.

As the three royals from the East entered through the Wei Valve gate, the Seventh Prince of the East, Qinghai's Crown Prince Ra Yue, stepped down. His face, concealed by a golden mask bearing the Qinghai Crown Prince seal, signified to all that he was an honored guest, nearly equivalent to the King of Qinghai himself. The unsheathed Poe Yue Jian sword rested at his side.

The cold wind blew against his face, and he inhaled deeply, exhaling a heavy breath. In his heart, though cold, he felt as if his feet had returned home. Wearing a white fur cape made of white fox skin, he seemed to float rather than walk on the ground. Snowflakes clung to his cape, emphasizing the coldest presence among them all. Ra Yue, like a silent man yearning for his homeland, stood tall in his Imperial dress with intricate gold designs along the hem.

Clad entirely in white and as cold as the snow falling around him, his royal belt, adorned with pure white jade, shimmered as he walked slowly and deliberately. Behind him, thousands of white foot soldiers marched, and beside him stood the handsome Zuo Zong.

The crowd, in awe, welcomed him, but in reality, Ra Yue had conditioned himself to believe that his past was over. Now, he was nothing more than an empty vessel returning to the brutal empire that had once assassinated his character and easily disowned him. Weaklings and aristocrats, afraid to face the truth, perhaps saw him as a ghost.

For the Queen of Qinghai, this was her first visit to the Wei Empire, and the nobles and the crowd were astonished by her presence. She remained a mystery behind her veil, with many imagining that beneath it lay the most beautiful face they had ever seen.

The palace concubines, however, glared at her fiercely, as if they had already seen her face and were envious. Even the Wei Emperor was stunned as he gazed at her.

All the Wei Emperor could see was a thin veil and a stance that suggested unparalleled beauty, far beyond comparison to his concubines.

Breaking the silence as Queen Zhejue sat on her throne-like chair, the Wei Emperor spoke: "Greetings, welcome to the Wei Empire. The King of Qinghai never fails to surprise me."

With a calm voice, Queen Zhejue replied, "My pleasure. Your Majesty, the King is unwell, so he sent his Queen and three of his princes, including his crown prince, Ra Yue."

The Wei Emperor's eyes widened. "I did not expect this! The Crown Prince of Qinghai, hidden for so many years, has finally arrived?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. As we speak, he is walking at this moment. He is the man in the middle of the red carpet," Queen Zhejue said proudly, admiring her son's ability to awe the crowd. He needed no further training, she thought to herself.

The Wei Emperor's gaze shifted, locking onto the Seventh Prince walking slowly across the splendid palace grounds. As palace maids, nobles, and ministers bowed, Ra Yue made his way to an empty royal seat. Queen Zhejue, cold as ice, showed no reaction. Zuo Zong stood tall behind him, and the Yuwen household was confused and astonished.

Yuwen Gao, unable to look away, exclaimed, "The Poe Yue Jian sword!"

On the other side, the Wei Valve household and its cavalry murmured as they watched the Sixth Prince, who had just presented his face to the stunned Wei Empire for the first time.

Breaking protocol, the Sixth Prince removed his rose gold mask, revealing his face to everyone, stealing their attention from Ra Yue. Princess Chuner, her face also covered by a thin veil, slightly lifted it to look at the Sixth Prince, her gaze locking with his for a moment. Yuwen Huai, looking between them, grew anxious and jealous of the look the Sixth Prince gave her. He gently reminded his Madame, "Princess, did you forget the 13th Prince's instructions?"

Chuner, still stunned, did not lower her veil but continued to stare at the Sixth Prince. He finally shifted his gaze away from her and turned to the crowd, raising his hands to acknowledge their applause while the Wei household remained in shock.

What if Ra Zheng also removed his mask and revealed his face to the crowd? Would they accept the unfolding events, or would they rejoice in seeing someone who resembled two of their esteemed warriors and brave generals?

Yuan Che, observing the Sixth Prince, couldn't help but wonder: Was this really Wei Shu Ye? How could someone who had been buried in their ancestors' temple, stabbed to death by the Wei Emperor's royal guards for defending his childhood friend and first love, Princess Chuner, now stand before them?

This grand appearance was bound to have a significant impact on their empire. Was there something hidden beneath the surface, a truth yet to be uncovered that would confirm Wei Shu Ye's death or reveal this man to be someone else entirely?

Finally, Ra Yue took his seat beside his stepmother, near the Wei Emperor on his right hand. Yuan Che sat on the left of the Emperor, while the seat to the right remained empty, awaiting the arrival of the 13th Prince of Wei, Yuan Song, and just below that, the seat for the selected crown princess.

Ra Zhun and Ra Zheng sat near Yuan Che, while Zuo Zong stood by Ra Yue—the only man permitted to remain beside the Eastern royals.

Ra Yue, aloof and emotionless, maintained an intense gaze as the 13th Prince of Wei, Yuan Song, finally arrived. Yuan Song, looking handsome and grand despite his handicapped arm, exuded reason and valor in his Imperial robes, which matched the dress of the crown princess. Today, he would finally learn the identity of his future wife, as the official announcement of the crown princess was about to be proclaimed.

The contest had lasted three days, with the Emperor himself selecting the crown princess. Chu Qiao couldn't understand why she remained at the top of the list. She lacked the skills needed to navigate social graces or behave as expected.

In a war, she could form strategies to win, but this felt more like a beauty contest. She didn't know how to wear Imperial dresses or apply makeup. She had done everything in her power to avoid meeting the standards for becoming the Wei crown princess.

Yet, despite her efforts, the Wei Emperor seemed to love her defiance. Now, a hundred palace maids trailed behind her as she walked through the palace corridors. Her calm eyes hid a heavy heart as she made her way to the north side of Shen Jin Palace.

Another woman had sneaked into the crown princess's room, stealing all her belongings and hiding behind the palace, waiting for the inevitable chaos.

Chu Qiao finally reached the palace grounds and saw the people of Wei, from nobles young and old, to palace concubines, ministers, Shrine Elders, the Yuwen household, and various political figures. She also noticed new faces, masked with metal, but didn't bother to look closely.

She searched for familiar faces but found none. Sharpening her senses, she clung to a faint hope. She thought of the poor and the crowds outside, shouting and fighting to see and hear the name of their next crown princess. These noises strengthened her resolve to walk on without fainting. Behind the palace doors, she knew the fate of the poor rested in her hands, should she become the future wife of the Wei heir. This was a twist of fate she had never anticipated.

Not even her own preference to serve, as she had vowed to help Chu Jing and Yanbei citizens. However, after a few weeks of staying in Wei, she realized that whether they were Wei citizens, Yanbei citizens, or Chu Jing citizens, they were all the same people in need of help. In big or small ways, she felt compelled to assist.

She learned to share her fortune when she secretly visited poor villages. Whenever there was extra, she gave it away—providing shelters, food for the needy, and additional hands to care for the sick living on the streets.

During her short stay in Wei, Chu Qiao was again reminded of the harsh realities of the slavery system, which stretched from the Royals down to their dog slaves. The nobles exploited the distribution of goods, while merchants controlled prices, gradually increasing the cost of basic commodities such as grain, coal, wood, cotton, silk, and food.

Merchants often justified their high prices to the poor by blaming the heavy taxes imposed by the Imperial government. These taxes supposedly supported Wei Empire projects and infrastructure, which ultimately benefited only the royals and ministers.

Meanwhile, outside merchants smuggled goods from other states and sold them at exorbitant prices in Wei, as though they were gold. These merchants became rich in a short period, and without much effort, all the wealth flowed into their pockets, leaving the poor in even worse conditions.

Unfed, unsheltered, and forced to sell their bodies for a bowl of porridge, the poor suffered as long as Wei imported goods from these opportunistic merchants. The merchants, in turn, refused to buy Wei's exports, deeming it impractical to spend money on expensive local goods.

In the end, the merchants who knew how to manage greed went home with massive profits, leaving their conscience behind. Gold and money respected only those who could handle profit-loss trades. Those who knew how to multiply wealth at the expense of others' misfortune reaped even greater rewards.

Southern Liang benefited from these circumstances, as they were experts in trade, while Yanbei, reliant on Liang, saw its economy grow. Yanbei was often paid twice, thanks to the interest earned from exporting its gold and other resources to support Liang's production.

For example, the famous silk road of Yan made the trade between fine silk and grain equally important—sometimes more valuable than even eating or living well. Chu Qiao felt a strong desire for change, especially within Wei's slavery system. But she understood that such change required influence at the Throne, whether through military might or persuasive diplomacy.

She told herself, if there was no hope left for her, she would accept her fate and instead become a beacon of hope for others.

The elegant crowd held their breath, mesmerized by the unexpected sight of a beautiful woman walking towards them. She was the last person they expected, as rumors had spread that she had violated countless laws and broken nearly all palace protocols. Yuan Song, with proud eyes, had heard all of this.

He was pleased with his father's patience toward her. Often, he would try to influence his father, suspecting him of being complicit. But the Wei Emperor, more experienced and seasoned in Imperial leadership, led his son to believe they were on the same side. In reality, everything had already been arranged.

Chu Qiao had not seen the 13th Prince Yuan Song since her trial—it was strictly forbidden. The Wei Emperor knew of his son's tricks and bypass routes, so he ordered close security around the prince, locking down his palace. One day, in defiance of his father's strict orders, the 13th Prince revolted, leaving his palace maids fearing for their lives.

Yuan Song even went on a hunger strike just to see Chu Qiao. Upon hearing this, Chu Qiao, not wanting to engage with a dying prince, wrote him a letter. She bribed one of the palace guards to deliver the message to the pale and almost dying prince. Yuan Song received the letter and, like a child, was blind to the truth.

The 13th Prince never realized that his father had orchestrated everything, forcing Chu Qiao to write the letter to Yuan Song.

Out of unselfishness, Chu Qiao simply wanted the prince to live, yielding to the pressure from her soon-to-be father-in-law.

Yan Xun, though not officially invited to Wei's grand event, infiltrated its walls. Who better to know its secret paths than the rebel prince who had grown up within them? Despite his growing power, Yan Xun could not bring his army to attack Wei Valve—his empire was still too small compared to Wei's tens of thousands of soldiers.

The rebel prince assembled a group of Yanbei's military stars, including He Xiao, Ge Qi, and the Xuili army's dark spy, Viper, to join him on this mission.

However, selfish as he was, Yan Xun changed his mind about trading the Black Prince for General Chu.

Yan Xun intended to keep the Black Prince, breaking his promise to trade him. He told his servants, "If I have to spill more Yan blood to buy her freedom, I will. But I won't trade Zaru. If I must meditate again on the Yan-Wei road, as I did before the bloodbath at JuWei Street, then so be it." Yan Xun closed his eyes, then opened them, calm yet bold.

Xiao Yu, informed by one of her spies that Yan Xun had left the Yanbei border, shattered a ceramic in her hand. She trembled upon hearing what he had done and wanted to confront him, but her spy advised her, "Princess, you cannot let him know you are watching him. Let him figure it out on his own. Stay as his invisible eyes until the union of the two states is a success."

Xiao Yu sighed, agreeing, "You're right. I must be patient and not rush into things. I already lost my pen pal, Yuwen Yue, because of her. I won't lose my true love, Yan Xun. Keep me updated. Keep tracking them."


At sunset, on the eve of the engagement day, a man snatched a woman from her palace. She struggled, but when he refused to let go of her hands, she unsheathed her sword. The man, his cold eyes gleaming, drew his sword as well, respecting her readiness for a fight. Suddenly, two shadows danced across the expensive palace tiles.

Whooshing blades left marks as they moved from one place to another, until another woman appeared, leaving the man confused. The first woman struck him on the head and ran.

Without looking back, she walked away from the man and the woman, who looked and dressed like her.


As dawn arrived, all returned to normal. A princess, dressed in her wedding gown, stood beside the Prince of Yanbei, who wore a handsome but fake smile. It was his final goodbye to his princehood, and with the acceptance of his new queen's hand, he welcomed his kinghood.

The guests celebrated, but as joy and social pleasantries faded, fox-like eyes around the room seemed to be thinking of someone else.


The engagement was finalized, and the wedding day was set. The winter bride, veiled in red, was followed by a hundred palace maids and forbidden from revealing her face for nine days. The crowd, eager to see their new crown princess, would have to wait. For now, they settled for wine and the extravagant feast at Wei's banquet.

Meanwhile, the Prince of Yanbei would be married within nine months, while the 13th Prince of Wei had only nine days before settling into his nest of love.


Connect to Chapter 48 Broken Star

Lookback to Chapter 44 Iron Bone encounters White Prince


Chapter 47

Ask for Wisdom


A man once believed he had plenty of time to waste in the world, but now he isn't so sure. Feeling cold and somewhat anxious about the Prince of Liang's advances toward the apple of his eye, he set out on a journey to the Woolong Mountains. He promised to return after seven days to find himself and seek advice.

The man arrived at Woolong Mountain to consult a master who had taught him for almost a year, mending his wounded heart and spirit.

"You've come. It must be urgent," the master said, seated in a Zen position. Though he did not look at the man, his sharp senses had detected his presence. The master remained still.

"Yes, master, it is I. This will be a short visit."

The master responded, "A short visit? Then why do you carry supplies enough for a week?" Yuwen Yue, with his cold gaze, said nothing.

The master asked, "Have you found her?"

Yuwen Yue inhaled deeply and replied, "No, master, I have not."

The master pressed further, "Then why are you here?"

Gazing into the vast mountains, Yuwen Yue answered, "I came to find myself."

The master mused aloud, "This time, have you lost yourself again?"

Yuwen Yue admitted honestly, "I think so."

The master replied, "Then you must have found someone."

Yuwen Yue responded shortly, "Maybe."

The master concluded, "Maybe it's a yes, and maybe it's a no."

Yuwen Yue, uncertain, asked, "Master, once you told me an ode:

Her artful smiles, with their alluring dimples. Her beautiful eyes are so clear. The unadorned face is like a canvas ready to be painted. What does this mean?"

The master responded, "*Very few go astray who comport themselves with restraint."

He continued, "*The gentleman wishes to be slow to speak but quick to act."

"*Virtue is never solitary; it always has neighbors."

Finally, the master said, "Yue, learn this lesson and understand it tenfold. Now go. You are not doing what you need to. Return once you can explain what you've understood ten times over."

Yuwen Yue's journey from Woolong Mountain was cut short when the master suddenly sent him home to find his path to happiness. Yuwen Yue couldn't hide the spark in his eyes as he realized it was time to set his heart toward goodness, free of ill intentions.

Back in Xue Fu, a small town in Southern Liang, Yuwen Yue lived a humble life, with no trace of his aristocratic roots. Zuo, his distant spy, who lived apart from him, occasionally reported to him, allowing them to scout the area and observe the people and government.

As after the frozen lake incident, Yuwen Yue blended seamlessly with the Liang people, avoiding suspicion about his high status. He was so adept that he even managed to evade the sharp eyes of Xiao Ce and outwit Xiao Yu, the astute royal spy leader of the Southern State.

After meeting with Zao Baocung from the Thousand Caves, Yuwen Yue returned to Qinghai Palace to study the literature and poetry of his empire. He also resumed his princely duties, and his father issued a decree for him to accept the throne. However, Yuwen Yue wrote back, asking for time to adjust and better understand his subjects and royal family before assuming power.

The King of Qinghai gradually came to admire his son's approach to the Eastern Throne, gaining confidence that Yuwen Yue would become a great king. He expected his son to achieve even more than he himself had for the empire, uniting its political structure with the sage tribal leaders and overcoming the challenges of a patrilineal leadership.

Yuwen Yue also visited the Wei state under his metal mask when an invitation was extended to his stepmother, Queen Zhejue, to attend the proclamation of the chosen crown princess of Wei. Learning of the alliance between the Wei Emperor and his stepmother, Yuwen Yue grew distant and silent. His heart skipped a beat when he first saw Chu Qiao walking on Wei grounds, looking like a true princess. How had this happened? Had Yan Xun, after the frozen lake tragedy, used her again to further his own ambitions?

Yuwen Yue was flooded with questions. He could barely speak or look at anyone else, his thoughts consumed by Chu Qiao. No matter how much he wanted to approach her for a quick conversation, she was closely guarded, as if she might vanish at any moment.

Resisting the urge to act, Yuwen Yue appeared cruel and cold behind his metal mask. He knew people were watching him because of his Poe Yue Jian Sword and Zuo Zong by his side. He was a magnet for attention.

Even as the Sixth Prince of Qinghai, Ra Zhun, frequently revealed his face to the crowd, drawing attention from the Wei palace concubines, the Yuwen household, Wei Valve masters, Shrine Elders, and other political figures (except for Liang and Yanbei), Yuwen Yue's eyes remained fixed on Chu Qiao like a loyal dog. However, his metal mask kept his stares unnoticed by most. But Chu Qiao, with her usual sharp instincts, sensed his gaze and grew wary.

As Yuan Song took her hand, they walked together like a real couple, but Yuwen Yue couldn't shake the feeling of cold rebellion in the air. He sensed that Chu Qiao loathed being paraded in front of the nobles. He overheard rumors circulating about her past as a former lowly maidservant of the Yuwen household, and his palm twitched in frustration. Zuo Zong whispered to him, "Your Highness, what is wrong? I've never seen you this agitated."

On the eve of the engagement, Yuwen Yue disguised himself as a palace guard, wearing the same uniform and carrying the Poe Yue Jian Sword. His metal mask made him hard to identify. When he reached the Crown Princess's palace, he removed his mask and resumed his usual noble look as Yuwen Yue, the heir of the Eyes of God. He knew the Wei palace well and needed no guide, which allowed him to find Chu Qiao easily.

No matter the consequences, Yuwen Yue was unafraid. He was determined to seize Chu Qiao and end this charade, to save her from the cold-blooded empire. At that moment, he was willing to break every rule, exposing himself to greater danger.

Entering the Wei princess's palace, he swiftly incapacitated several royal guards.

After that fateful night, Yuwen Yue awoke in a Wei palace bed, as if nothing had happened. But he remembered his final encounter with Chu Qiao. Just then, Zuo Zong entered and greeted him, "Your Highness, is something wrong?"

Yuwen Yue replied, "Did you just..."

Not yet finished with his inquiry, Zuo said, "I followed you, Your Highness, because earlier, you looked like a crazed Prince of Qinghai breaching the Wei crown princess's palace."

Zuo, clearly impressed by his master, Yuwen Yue, continued to recount the earlier scene with a corner of a smile on his face. "You walked through the palace like you knew all the routes and then broke a few necks just for the Wei crown princess. I wonder, are you planning to steal her and start a war at her engagement tomorrow?"

Yuwen Yue, coming back to his senses, straightened his back and replied, "No, I was just... having some fun tonight, testing if the Wei crown princess is truly interested in the Wei crown prince. It seems she's looking for someone else and isn't too happy about the engagement."

Zuo gave him a sly smile and said, "Really? I heard she was a lowly maidservant who rose through the ranks with the help of her master, Yuwen Yue."

Yuwen Yue, unable to hide the truth from the clever Zuo, who needed no further explanation, finally admitted, his cold eyes revealing a sad expression. "I was just... hoping for a chance to say goodbye."

Not convinced, Zuo pressed further, "Really, Your Highness? Is this how you end your tragic story? After you showed yourself at the frozen lake in front of your rival and ignored all the warnings from Yue Qi, your former bodyguard, who, as I've heard, really looked like me?"

He continued, "Tell me... Are you after Xinger, the woman whom you once called your heart?"

Zuo, eager to confirm his suspicions that Xinger was the chosen Wei crown princess, watched as Yuwen Yue stopped making excuses, silently confirming Zuo's suspicions.

Zuo said with conviction, "Master Brother, whatever happens, I won't let the frozen lake tragedy happen to you again. Nor will I let myself meet the same fate as Yue Qi. Everyone knows you're better than this, yet you disregarded it all. Yue Qi was brave enough to walk that selfless path with you. If I could turn back time, I would've defied your orders to protect you. But Yue Qi's loyalty was never in question."

Zuo's eyes suddenly brightened as he said, "What if we do a role-play? Say I am Yue Qi, and we turn this empire upside down!"

Yuwen Yue gave a cold laugh and said, "Enough. We're on a business trip, and tomorrow is a big day. Who knows? I might just decide to kidnap the Wei crown princess." His tone grew more serious as he emphasized the last part of his sentence.

Zuo, still smiling, replied, "I'm with you all the way, but I can never truly understand why Yue Qi was willing to do everything to protect both of you, only to meet his tragic end."

Yuwen Yue, calm but cold, remembered Yue Qi and their final stand at the frozen lake two years ago. His thoughts drifted back to Chu Qiao, recalling how she had drawn her Canhong sword against him. During their sword fight, he had slipped a few times, noting that she had greatly improved her martial arts skills. His distraction had come from another woman who resembled Chu Qiao in both face and age.

Confused by the encounter, Yuwen Yue, hidden behind his metal mask, struggled to distinguish who the real Chu Qiao was. He had been caught off guard but was saved by Zuo's quick thinking.

Back on Xuefu Street, Yuwen Yue calmly walked by, looking for the beautiful face he had longed to see. He entered and asked the old lady, "Where is your chef today?"

The old lady replied, "Oh, she's on vacation. Come back tomorrow." Yuwen Yue, with his cold gaze, politely said his goodbye. But before leaving, he turned back to the old lady and said, "Can you tell her I'll be away for a while, but I'll return in seven days?"

The old lady, sensing something more, asked, "Oh, where are you going?"

Yuwen Yue replied in his usual calm, cold voice, "I'll be meeting someone, but I need to trek through the mountains to reach them."

The old lady, believing his words, said, "Go, and come back safely. She'll be fine here, and maybe she'll miss you when you return." She wasn't looking at him as she said this, instead writing something on her table. Yuwen Yue gave a slight smile, feeling a sense of hope as he left.

The old lady, with a twinkle in her eye, watched his tall figure until he disappeared from sight.

Less than a week after his journey to the Woolong Mountains, Yuwen Yue returned sooner than expected. On his usual morning routine, he walked through the streets of Xue Fu, delivering parcels. He passed by the old lady's Kowloon Noodle House, noticing it had opened earlier than usual.

Entering, he remarked, "You've opened earlier than usual."

The old lady replied, "You're back, Ice-Cube Man. Did you meet your someone?"

Chu Qiao, the woman Yuwen Yue had been looking for, happened to pass by as they spoke. Yuwen Yue looked at her as though he hadn't seen her in decades.

He replied to the old lady, but she noticed his eyes locked with Chu Qiao's. In that brief moment, Yuwen Yue said, "I just did."

Chu Qiao overheard him. She almost wanted to laugh, wondering if he was referring to her. But then, doubt crept in—was he engaged or happily married abroad? She brushed it off, assuming her stern look as she returned to her kitchen.

Yuwen Yue, momentarily caught in the moment, turned back to the old lady, who asked, "Oh, what does that mean? Are you going to visit us less often now?"

Yuwen Yue, squinting his eyes slightly, replied, "In fact, I plan to visit more often, and I'm here to ask for your permission."

The old lady was stunned by his words. She never imagined that this cold man would ask her for permission.

She joked, "Be clear with your intentions. Who exactly are you visiting here? Don't forget I'm single too—always available. Or is it the Tiger Beauty in the kitchen den?"

Yuwen Yue, now the target of her teasing, squinted his eyes and, with a slight smile, said, "My father would be very pleased with you. Just to be clear, I'll be visiting the Tiger Beauty more often and becoming a part of her kitchen den."

The old lady, her beautiful smile lighting up her face, approved of his request. As Yuwen Yue was about to leave, Chu Qiao came out with two baskets in her hands. Yuwen Yue casually offered to help, and she handed them over. Their hands touched, sending a spark through her.

She managed to play it cool, but after not seeing him for some time, she almost wanted to embrace the cold man.

After a whirlwind event involving the Prince of Liang, who was wounded and now resting in his palace, Chu Qiao was still trying to put her life back together. Her royal friend was nearly lost, and the experience had been far from what she had expected.

What truly happened remained a mystery. The Crown Prince of Liang had much to explain to the palace. As for Chu Qiao, she found herself, once again, defending herself, but this time, Xiao Ce revealed that he was also skilled.

Together, they had killed more assassins than during their previous battle at Chang'an's hunting grounds.

This time, Chu Qiao's martial skills were sharper than ever. Though Xiao Ce was wounded, this was his first real encounter defending both himself and the woman he cared for. He activated a secret weapon that alerted his spies, and his hidden army rushed to his aid, escorting him back to the palace.

Sun Di, the Viceroy General, explained the situation to King Tang. Chu Qiao, devastated by the sight of the once-playful prince in such a condition, refused to leave his side—until today.

Chu Qiao asked Yuwen Yue, "Will you help me deliver this to the Liang Crown Prince's palace?"

Yuwen Yue heard her clearly and, though hesitant, managed to keep his cold expression as he replied briefly, "Sure."

Delighted by his response, Chu Qiao said, "Alright, here's the payment. Where's your horse?"

Testing her, Yuwen Yue said, "I don't have a horse. I walk to deliver parcels."

Chu Qiao responded, "Oh, is that so? We can walk, then."

Chu Qiao thought to herself that this was going to be a fine day, longer than usual, with the man she believed she had feelings for at that moment.

Yuwen Yue took one of her baskets as Chu Qiao hesitated with the second. Their eyes met, and in that brief moment, some of their feelings were silently exchanged. They left the Kowloon Noodle House and quietly walked under the early morning sun.

Two souls walking together on peaceful, unknown grounds, far from the chaos of their empires, was the perfect retreat. Under the spring sky, with plum flowers blossoming around them, the air was filled with the scent of new beginnings. It was a breath of fresh air, a budding romance at the perfect moment in time.


Connect to Chapter 49: And it begins, late again
Look back to Chapter 45: Graveyard of Flowers

Author's note:
(*) The lines marked with an asterisk are borrowed from the classical readings of Chinese philosophy, specifically Book Three of the "Analects of Confucius," featuring dialogue between Master Kongzi and the Ji family of ancient China. Enjoy reading, and I will continue with the next chapter.


Chapter 48

Broken Star


"Let go of me!" Chu Qiao hastily said.

"No!" Yuwen Yue replied in his cold voice.

Chu Qiao didn't think twice. She unsheathed her sword, and the man released her hands, battling within himself whether to remove his metal mask or not. But before he could decide, Chu Qiao struck him. Yuwen Yue countered her attack, clearly controlling the swordplay. Suddenly, another Chu Qiao appeared in front of him, leaving Yuwen Yue bewildered.

"Who are you?" Yuwen Yue asked coldly, his voice clear to Chu Qiao.

"It doesn't matter who I am," said Xia Chong. "I am the real Chu Qiao, and she is the imposter."

Xia Chong was protecting Chu Qiao as she whispered, "Go! And don't ever come back!"

Yuwen Yue heard Xia Chong's words when suddenly Xia Chong struck his head, dazing him as his metal mask remained on his face. But just then, a handsome young man appeared to counter Xia Chong and defend Yuwen Yue. Zuo was quick and precise. He managed to escape from the Wei Crown Princess' palace without alerting any guards, as Yuwen Yue had already incapacitated some of them.

With fierce eyes, Xia Chong settled herself and meditated for a few minutes. "The plan must continue," she said. Suddenly, another woman emerged from hiding and revealed her face—it was Xiao Ba. Both women exchanged a glance and nodded.

Chu Qiao walked past Yuwen Yue, glancing at his metal mask. She couldn't ignore him, already suspicious of him earlier at the banquet, and now his cold voice added to her wariness. Suddenly, a flood of memories flashed before her as if she were watching a movie.

The Poe Yue Jian sword he wielded, with its silver bells ringing during their fight, heightened her awareness. The rhythm of the bells pumped her blood and synchronized her movements with the air around them. Although she was an amateur compared to Yuwen Yue, this time, she was able to counter his attacks.

As Chu Qiao walked along the corridors, she couldn't shake the earlier scene, the masked man, and the Poe Yue Jian sword. "Who is he?" she wondered aloud. "I think I've met him before, but I can't recall where."

She paused, remembering the woman who told her to leave. "She looks just like me," Chu Qiao thought. "Is she my sister?"

Chu Qiao continued to walk through the long palace corridors heading north, where the banquet had been held earlier. Suddenly, a man raised his eyebrows, jumped down from a nearby tree, and spoke.

"What would the world get if the star is lost in the heavens?"

Chu Qiao's ears perked up in sudden glee. She turned around but saw no one. Then, Yan Xun approached her from behind, and after holding back his emotions for so long, he kissed her.

Chu Qiao didn't close her eyes, nor did she respond to the kiss. She was stunned by the Prince of Yanbei's actions. After a moment, she pushed him away, and Yan Xun let her go.

Breaking the silence, Yan Xun said, "That kiss was for all the days I restrained myself from seeing you at the Xuili Mountains and secretly walking through the Meilin border. It's not open to interpretation."

With a tearful gaze, Chu Qiao asked, "Why are you doing this?" She lowered her head, letting the tears fall. Earlier, in front of the entire Wei Empire, she had walked tall and brave.

Yan Xun suddenly took her hands and said, "I don't have much time to answer your questions, but please, hold my hand if you must. I won't force you to come. You're free to decide whether you want to go with me to Yanbei or become the Wei Crown Princess tomorrow morning."

Chu Qiao looked at him with tearful eyes and asked, "If I come, what will happen to you? Will you be the next King of Yanbei tomorrow morning?"

In a rush, Yan Xun replied, "I will be the King of Yanbei whether you come or not. That won't change." Taking her hands, he continued, "I just want to be clear. I want you to come, but I also want to stay here."

Yan Xun lifted her small, beautiful face and said, "Then come." But feeling uncertain, he moved back, squinted at her, and asked, "Don't tell me you've fallen in love with the 13th Prince of Wei and his cold-blooded empire?"

Chu Qiao didn't respond, and Yan Xun could only cling to her initial answer: that she would come. The Prince of Yanbei carried Chu Qiao and ran toward a secret pathway. A few minutes ahead, two shadows trailed them, where Yuwen Yue slept, walking shoulder to shoulder, assisted by Zuo.

Yan Xun saw the two figures but was in too much of a hurry to address them. Reaching the first stratagem, Chu Qiao stood back on her feet and suddenly remembered the place. She used to pick plum blossoms here for... for…

"Fourth Master Yuwen Yue," she whispered, regaining memories.

Unaware of her condition, Yan Xun replied, "Yes, you used to come here, and I used to play here." He told her a brief story. "We banged our heads in that cave, and we're going to do it again today. Hold on tight!"

The Merlin landscape remained unchanged, even at night. A master skilled in navigating its stratagems could bypass all obstacles and safely exit Wei State, reaching the Yan-Wei road.

The night worked to their advantage, especially under the bright moonlight.

Yan Xun tapped two sturdy vines, handed one to Chu Qiao, and held the other himself. "On three, we swing and jump into the cave," he instructed.

At the edge of Merlin Mountain, Chu Qiao nodded and smiled, having recovered some memories of Merlin, including a flashback of Castle Peak and the man who had saved her.

"It must have been the Fourth Young Master," she thought to herself.

Chu Qiao swung through the air and landed just as Yan Xun had said. He followed shortly behind her.

"This is where I met you after the hunting field. Do you remember?" Yan Xun asked.

Chu Qiao, distracted by her fragmented memories of the Fourth Young Master, replied, "I can't remember."

Frustrated, Yan Xun grabbed her and said, "Tell me not to marry, and I won't!"

Chu Qiao met his gaze, and Yan Xun held her by the waist. She didn't resist but looked directly at him. Another long look, another pitying stare, but no words.

Impatient, Yan Xun, like a ticking bomb, pressed her for an answer. "You don't have to tell me you love me. Just order me, and consider it done."

He waited for her to speak, but only the cold air passed between their lips. Not a single word was said.

Chu Qiao continued to gaze into his eyes, her emotions in confusion. A prince was with her on the eve of his wedding, yet her mind wandered, lost in thoughts of the Fourth Young Master of Castle Peak.

It was unfair.

Indeed, life is unfair.

As they navigated the narrow paths of the cave, Chu Qiao suddenly recalled fragmented memories of being trapped in the cave with Yuwen Yue.

She couldn't help herself. Yan Xun finally reached the end, and they emerged from the cave. Trying to rekindle her memory of their past, he said, "Do you remember this road? This is where I meditated, and you came so fiercely in front of the Wei Valve troops. You even called me the Kang Prince because I was like a prince ready to make Yan-Wei Road a Kang bed and sleep on it."

Chu Qiao remained silent but felt compelled to speak. "Yan Xun," she said, "I want you to become the King of Yanbei, to serve its people, and to change the world. That's the dream I've had, which is why I came to Xuili."

Yan Xun stopped walking, then turned to her and said, "Then be my queen."

Chu Qiao, thinking of her empire and the poor people of Wei, responded, "I can't."

Yan Xun's face darkened with anger. "That means you want to be with me, but for some reason, you can't? Why?"

Chu Qiao replied, "I don't want to be the reason you can't serve your people, and the Princess of Liang would be heartbroken. I've seen her spying around, and even from a distance, it's clear she loves you. She'd sacrifice her life for you. After I went missing for almost a year, you already built a life with her. I can't let you lose that just because I'm here, still lost in my memories."

Yan Xun, his voice firm, said, "A life with her? No."

"I never had a life until I saw you again. I never thought I'd find you alive. I don't care about your lost memories. We can make new ones. We still have many moments to create."

Putting everything on the line—his pride, his people, his honor, and his emotions—Yan Xun pressed her to decide.

Chu Qiao, her voice hoarse, didn't want to say these words but knew she had to in order to let him go. With her head lowered, tears welling in her eyes, she said bitterly, "Don't do this, Prince Yan Xun. It makes me hope we have a chance together when, in reality, we never had one at all. You have a responsibility to your people, and that's why I came to help you. After you marry the Princess of Liang, consider me gone. I won't trouble you, not even a strand of your hair. Thank you for your support with the Xuili Army and your continuous sponsorship of the Children's Rehabilitation Facility. But with the new Queen of Yanbei, Xuili won't survive the new regime. Consider it my last request: release the Xuili Army. They've suffered enough and paid their debts. Let them retire to the mountains of Xuili and live as free men, not as traitors to Yanbei, their homeland."

Suddenly, Chu Qiao saw needles flying toward Yan Xun's back. She quickly used her Canhong sword to deflect them, but Yan Xun was snatched away by black-clad ninjas and disappeared.

A woman in a black ninja suit inserted a tiny needle into Yan Xun's neck, causing him to fall unconscious, while Chu Qiao was struck by a needle in her right arm. She ran into the woods searching for Yan Xun but soon became drowsy and collapsed in the cold forest.

Later that night, an old lady passed by the forest and saw the fine woman in her imperial nightgown, still clutching her Canhong sword, its sheath just out of her grasp.

Checking if the woman was still breathing, the old lady ordered her servants to carry her into the palanquin.

"She won't survive the day if we don't stop by an old friend," the lady remarked.

The old lady brought Chu Qiao to her old friend near the Wei and Liang border states. "She must have been poisoned and needs an antidote," she explained. "I can't stay long, but I'll return for her in a week." Her old friend nodded, offering no words, only a smile.


Yan Xun woke as if from a dream, disoriented. His servants came to undress him and prepare his wedding robes, and he didn't object, though he looked at them as if they were strangers. Then A'Jing entered and said, "Your Highness, Princess Xiao Yu will arrive shortly. You must pay exaltation to your ancestors before the wedding rites begin."

Meanwhile, Viper and He Xiao had been imprisoned by Xiao Yu, who had ordered her spies and servants to lock them in a secret prison in Liang.

"Where am I?" Chu Qiao asked, glancing at her bandaged arm. The old friend of the old lady, with a half-spent cigar in hand, puffed smoke into the air, saying nothing. Growing curious, Chu Qiao rephrased her question, "Master, what am I doing here?"

Master Xie squinted his eyes and walked away. The deafening silence made Chu Qiao uneasy. She tried again, "I'm supposed to attend a prince's wedding." After a pause, she corrected herself, "No, I'm supposed to be engaged today."

Master Xie Tai Shan smiled faintly and pointed toward a path. Chu Qiao soon realized that the master was mute, unable to speak. She followed him until she saw her Canhong sword beside two moss-covered cenotaphs. She reached out to touch the sword and brushed its surface.

Her eyes widened in shock as a sudden realization struck her. "Master... is this... is this..."

She couldn't finish her sentence, stunned by the sight of the mossy cenotaph. The man in her memories—had he passed into the afterlife?

She looked at the master again, and he nodded, his face expressionless.

Suddenly, the mute Master, sitting near the cenotaph, spoke: "The man in your memories died two years ago, and you, Chibi, haven't improved."

"Master, I thought..." Chu Qiao began, but Master Xie Tai Shan interrupted, "I've been mute until today."

Chu Qiao, shocked, asked, "Who are you?"

"It does not matter who I am, but I am the person who brought him to the house of the nobles. His mother, my sister, died at their hands."

Chu Qiao touched the cenotaph with engraved Chinese inscriptions, silent tears filling her eyes. "The Fourth Young Master and..."

"His mother," the old Master finished, as Chu Qiao turned her gaze to the second cenotaph beside it.

"He was the Fourth Young Master of the Yuwen household, am I correct?" she asked.

"Yes, he was. And the owner of the Poe Yue Jian sword. He also gave you the Canhong sword."

"I remember both swords," she said softly, picking up her Canhong sword beside the cenotaph. But she still couldn't understand why the Fourth Young Master died at such a young age.

"Tell me what happened to him, Master. Why did his life end?"

The Master recalled Yuwen Yue's fateful end at the hands of Yan Xun. "The Fourth Young Master gave the benefit of the doubt, despite warnings from his best guards who told him it was a trap, a dead-end road. Some say he went to face the Prince of Yanbei to save a maidservant he cherished. Some say he was a fool for doing so, a disgrace to the family he had served all those years, a failure to the Empire who didn't deserve a decent grave."

The Master pointed to the empty tomb. "Here lies his empty tomb. May his good deeds be remembered, especially by the woman standing before me, who should realize the life he gave up for her and live it well."

Chu Qiao fell to her knees. "He is the man in my memories. I can't be wrong. His face may have faded from my mind, but his deeds, though wrapped in coldness, never went to sleep. I feel them every night, and I long for his presence."

The Master continued, "Now that you know his story, you should move on and live your life. Carry these memories with you, and when all is finally whole, this place will be here for you."

He stood up and left Chu Qiao alone.

Sobbing, she touched the Fourth Young Master's empty tomb, clutching her heart in pain. She felt that time could never be reversed. She was lost in the dark agony of her memories, haunted by questions without answers.

Had she allowed this to happen, leading to his death? This gray shadow in her heart remained undiscovered.

"I swear, if there is another lifetime for both of us, I won't waste it like this," Chu Qiao vowed through her tears, unaware of how long she had been there until night had fallen.

For seven days, she stayed in the small wooden house in the forest with the Master. Each morning, she gathered fresh plum blossoms and brought them to the empty tomb. Soon, the cenotaph was surrounded by flowers, and she found she could no longer approach it. So, she created a pathway to come closer, touching it as tears streamed down her face—until one day...

"Fine woman, do you want to waste your life at this empty grave?"

Chu Qiao awoke from her usual routine of sleeping beside the tomb, realizing it was already dark. She returned to her feet and made her way back to the little wooden house.

Across from her small home, the Master's house was always there. He had taught her the art of sword fighting and how to wield the Canhong sword in accordance with its traditions and powers under the bitter moon. Chu Qiao had learned and remembered everything under his guidance.

"Who are you?" Chu Qiao asked, her voice stern.

The old lady replied, "You won't be able to repay me if you knew who I am. Trust me on this, this is not where you're supposed to be."

The old lady gave her a compassionate look, knowing she was mourning for a man she wasn't even sure was truly dead.

Realistic and practical, the old lady believed that empty tombs were merely memorials. As long as a person's body was not found, the story remained open-ended, only fools believing otherwise.

"Call me your old lady," she said. "I am offering you a lifetime of goodness. Come with me, and I will help you put your life back together. Get up and ride with me. I've already asked my old friend to take you with me."

Chu Qiao saw sincerity in her eyes and replied, "I'll go with you on one condition."

"What is your condition?" the old lady asked.

"Let me live my life in service to the people," Chu Qiao said. "That's all I ask."

"Of course," the old lady agreed. "You are free to roam and serve the people."

Chu Qiao then bid farewell to the Master, who waved as she shouted, "One day, I shall come back to visit you. Thank you!"


Xiao Yu, now a married woman, approached her husband on their first night. Yan Xun, standing with his back to her, gazed at the reflection of the moon on the river at Xui Xui Mountains. He wasn't in the mood to make any first moves. Xiao Yu, dressed in her elegant Hanfu lingerie, came to him and said, "May I say something?"

Startled, Yan Xun, ever the gentleman but with a poker face, responded, "What is it, my queen?"

"Please don't be upset," Xiao Yu began, "but I think Chu Qiao was trying to kill you on the eve of our wedding day. I saved you, but I saw her run into the forest. We also captured her right-hand, Viper, and her deputy general, but I let them go because it seemed they weren't in league with Chu Qiao but with the Prince of Yanbei that night. Ge Qi finally confessed."

Yan Xun paused, confronted by this revelation. Xiao Yu lowered her gaze, awaiting his response. "And if I confirm this is true, what will you do?"

Xiao Yu answered, "Nothing. I just wanted to know the whole truth, even if it means this marriage is not off to a good start."

Yan Xun, offering a white lie, said, "That night, I came to Wei to save her so she could serve the King and Queen of Yanbei. Don't forget she is one of Yanbei's generals, the leader of the Xuili Army. Many citizens of Yanbei follow her. If there's one ally we must have, it's her."

Xiao Yu, content with this answer, said, "My King, thank you for sharing that. I won't forget this frame of mind. I want to be open with you and not let emotions govern this marriage. I'd like us to have honest conversations, especially on matters of state. Liang has become a vassal state that submits to your authority, and you, the King of Yanbei, have vested authority in me as your Queen."

Yan Xun nodded. "I understand, my Queen. Shall we end this night with more talk of the state, or enjoy the moonlight over the river?"

He turned back to gaze at the golden light in the middle of the river and thought to himself,A'Chu, it should have been you. Why did you try to kill me, and now leave me no choice but to marry the Princess of Liang? Is this what you wanted for me?

Xiao Yu felt a pang of hurt, realizing that their first night together would be spent watching the moon over the river in silence. She tried her best to join her King in quiet reflection until they both drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Xiao Yu awoke alone in their honeymoon bed. She looked around, searching for any signs of what had transpired during the night, but everything seemed normal.

Meanwhile, Yan Xun was busy in the royal kitchen, preparing breakfast for his Queen. He believed this was the best revenge he could exact on Chu Qiao, who, in his mind, had returned to Wei and chosen to become the 13th Prince Yuan Song's crown princess instead of the Queen of Yanbei.

Yan Xun vowed to make Chu Qiao regret her decisions as he pretended to show affection to his new Queen.

Later that day, as they arrived in the Xui Xui Mountains, Xiao Yu, unfamiliar with the place, opened the royal palace windows and gazed upon the white, snowy grounds of Yanbei's grasslands—ten times colder than those of Liang.

She wrapped herself in a cloak and took a deep breath, comforted by His Majesty's warm embrace from behind. She was stunned but found herself liking it very much.


Yuan Song had never been drunk before, and he had never set foot in his untouched 13th Prince's harem. Now, in his sober mind and eyes, he was shocked to find himself lying next to a girl.

"Whoah! Who are you?" he exclaimed.

"I am your servant, Your Highness," the girl replied. "You were so drunk last night. You picked me from all the ladies and gave me this..." She showed him a jade token.

Yuan Song's eyes widened. "No! It was a mistake."

"I thought you looked like her, but I never intended to give you this jade," he said, his voice heavy with regret.

The girl, realizing an opportunity, attempted to blackmail the 13th Prince. "Then the 13th Prince of Wei has no word of honor," she said. "I shall take my life right now."

In tears, with her torn dress and half-naked body, the girl ran to the open window of the palace harem, preparing to leap to her death. But Yuan Song reacted quickly, grabbing her arm and suspending her in midair.

The girl continued to cry. "Let go of me! If I cannot be yours, it is better to die than end up on the streets," she sobbed.

Yuan Song, realizing the girl's desperation, hastily said words he would later regret. "No, you can keep the jade and become my first concubine after I wed the Wei crown princess. Just don't do this. My wedding is only a day away, and I cannot let this news escape my harem."

The girl, hearing his plea, smiled through her tears. She wiped her face as Yuan Song pulled her back into the room, where she landed on his chest. Yuan Song exhaled loudly and laughed. "I never expected to have a concubine in my bed before a crown princess! Ha... Ha... Ha."

The girl leaned closer to his face and whispered, "You will soon choose me over her, or vice versa. Forsake her, and choose me instead."

"What makes you so sure?" Yuan Song asked coldly, raising his brows.

"Because I'm simply good at whatever a partner wants or wishes for," the girl replied confidently.

"That will come later," Yuan Song said, his usual childishness surfacing. He wasn't worried about this little mishap. "So, this incident must remain secret. The Wei crown princess must never know. And you need to understand your place. She is my first love—no one else."

The girl laughed mockingly. "Let's see who will end up crying and coming to me for comfort," she smirked.

Annoyed, Yuan Song gently pushed her off his chest and stood up, regaining his composure. With his hands behind his back, he walked tall, his chin up, as if nothing had happened.


Ra Yue returned to his Qinghai Palace and ordered Zuo to send a letter to his father, requesting an extended leave before assuming the throne. He cited valid reasons, such as his need to seek enlightenment and to learn more about his royal family on his own terms.

The Qinghai King agreed and sent a response, which Ra Yue received. A spark of hope ignited in his heart—a hope to find himself, to let go of any emotional burdens that might hinder his rule. He wanted his heart to be whole when he took over the kingdom, ruling with justice and freedom.

He had learned much from Chu Qiao and the common people—the poorest of the poor. With his plans set, Ra Yue prepared to leave behind his crown and splendor, embarking on a journey back to Wei, in search of his heart.

In the absence of any leads on how to breach the Moon Kingdom, Yuwen Yue resolved to wait for the right moment for the Skyshadow woman to assist him. He had received word that his band of brothers were being treated well, under orders from the Secret Princess before her departure. She had left for a journey, with no clear time of return.

Ra Yue, with the help of Zuo Zong, the 2nd Prince Ra Zheng, and, on rare occasions, the 6th Prince Ra Zhun, had been slowly uncovering the mysteries and secrets of the Chu Jing Kingdom. The 6th Prince occasionally visited to irritate Ra Yue, constantly challenging him.

Yuwen Yue, now ready, shed his royal garments and returned to his former life as a pauper. Disguised, he left the palace unnoticed, with Zuo following him closely. He had given specific instructions to contact the others only in an emergency.

Yuwen Yue slipped under the Queen's radar, evading her watchful eyes, and began his journey back to Wei.

Despite the engagement of the Wei crown princess, Yuwen Yue had lingering questions. He was surprised by Chu Qiao's changed behavior towards him—distant, unlike before. What intrigued him most was that he had seen two women who looked exactly alike. One had wielded the Canhong sword, while the other had struck him on the head.

Could they be twin sisters? The thought tormented him. Yuwen Yue had not found peace since the day he witnessed two identical women. He was determined to uncover the truth—whether this was one of Yan Xun's traps, or if something more complex was at play.

Using the lessons he had learned from the frozen lake, Yuwen Yue promised himself he would conceal his identity, blending in with the common people by growing a beard and wearing ragged clothes. Having lived this life before, he was ready to do it again.

Zuo remained on standby, keeping a close watch. Together, they made their way to Wei, disguised as peddlers delivering parcels as far as the southern state of Liang.

Yuwen Yue, a handsome man, did not go unnoticed by the women of Liang. One, in particular, caught his attention: a beautiful woman who lived on Xue Fu Street. She was a fine chef, known for serving every customer with a sincere heart before retiring to the streets at the end of the day. Her noodle house, the Kowloon, was famous for its bowl of ginseng soup, and many customers returned for both the food and the chance to glimpse her beautiful face.


Connect to Chapter 39 Breach of Chasm

Lookback to Chapter 46 Marriage in Crises and Engagement not engaged


Chapter 49

And it begins, late again


The gates of the Jinwu Palace opened. Yuwen Yue did not bother to enter but let Chu Qiao pass using the Liang Prince's jade stone pass, which the royal bodyguards accepted, allowing her inside. Yuwen Yue turned his back, but suddenly, he spotted a spy. He gave the spy a cold stare and continued walking. Yuwen Yue typically walked unarmed, with icy daggers hidden somewhere in his clothing. Not to mention, Zuo was always watching over him from the shadows, as if they knew each other. Occasionally, they would meet at taverns where Yuwen Yue provided a unique signal: a trigger mechanism that created a vertical column of smoke before flaring up and lighting the skies.

The Jinwu Palace was full of green vines and bushes growing around its walls. As Chu Qiao passed by, she caught the scent of fragrant, fresh flowers. It was a heavenly-scented palace where Xiao Ce resided. She suddenly stopped walking when she saw the back of the Prince. For the first time that morning, the Prince had risen from bed. Dressed in his royal red robes, he stood beside the Yin-Yang topiary in the garden of a hundred flowers, looking grand and elegant.

Xiao Ce turned and gave her a gentle glance with his foxy eyes. He said, "Why do I feel like you're now in love with this gorgeous Prince standing before you?"

Chu Qiao's expression turned stern as she replied with a question of her own, "Why do I have to endure insults from an ugly Prince who keeps talking about love?"

Xiao Ce, still gazing at her with his foxy eyes, said, "I see a sparkle in your eyes." He looked to his left and right before continuing, "As far as I know, I'm the only man in front of you. Are you in love with me now, feeling as if you'll miss your chance of a lifetime to marry me if I die?"

Chu Qiao hit his shoulder, causing Xiao Ce to wince in pain. "Ouch... I haven't completely healed there."

Chu Qiao flashed a smile, showing her perfect white teeth. "Sorry about that. I'll make sure to double it next time you tease me."

Xiao Ce always felt good when she was around. He said, "Hey, are those two baskets for me?"

"Here's some good soup for you, to help you heal and recover your strength."

Xiao Ce looked at her, clapped his hands, and said, "Bring tables and chairs to the garden and serve the food here."

A servant came, took the baskets, and began setting up a garden dining area in the middle of the Yin-Yang topiary garden with tables and chairs.

The two sat down and ate together, enjoying each other's company. Xiao Ce apologized to Chu Qiao, saying, "I'm sorry I won't be around much for a while. Once my father's anger subsides, I'll be able to come out of the palace and roam freely again."

Chu Qiao understood and said, "I'll come visit whenever you want to chat with a friend. You know where to find me."

Xiao Ce's heart leaped with joy, though he didn't show it. He smiled and said, "The future belongs to those who wait."

Chu Qiao arched her brows and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"Who cares? You'll know in time," Xiao Ce replied, his foxy eyes flashing as he sipped the ginseng soup Chu Qiao had made. "Ah, this is the best in town. Not even the Kitchen Ministry can cook like this. Should I issue a decree to have you replace the head of the Palace kitchen?"

Chu Qiao laughed and said, "Look at me—so thin! Do you pity your friend or are you trying to kill me?"

Xiao Ce laughed too. "Ha… Ha… Ha… Sorry, I forgot that, Qiao Qiao. Such a frail body but a beautiful face. Even if you didn't cook at all, just seeing your pretty face fills my stomach."

Chu Qiao could see that the Liang Prince was recovering well, and she laughed along with him. "Ha... Ha... Ha... Now that I see you're alive and kicking, my visiting pass expires today."

Xiao Ce joked, "Should I invite more stabs to my body just to have the tiger beauty visit me more often like today?"

Xiao Ce laughed, but Chu Qiao gave him a formal expression, which made Xiao Ce cough. "I'm just joking," he said. "I didn't mean it like that."

Chu Qiao's serious expression shifted to laughter, and she suddenly said goodbye to the Liang Prince.

"Why are you leaving so soon?" Xiao Ce asked, his face flashing with anxiety.

"I have things to do, so I'll be going," Chu Qiao replied, standing up and slowly walking away.

Xiao Ce shook his head with a foxy smile on his face. His father, King Tang, passed by and saw his son's joyful expression, which warmed his heart. The King had never seen his son's face bloom with such happiness.

Chu Qiao finally reached the gate and walked back home to Xue Fu Street. She wondered, "Where is the peddler man? Why didn't he wait for me?"

It was already nightfall, and Yuwen Yue had returned to his small lodge. He stared up at the sky, watching the stars shine in the darkness. He gazed at them as if he would do so forever and thought,"She should know me, but why does she act like I'm a stranger? I have only a month left before my vacation is over. I must find out if she's the real Chu Qiao or an imposter."

That night, Yuwen Yue let his thoughts linger on the fine woman. He decided he needed to test her to uncover the truth.

Chu Qiao, looking at the same stars Yuwen Yue was gazing at, thought to herself,"Why do I feel this way? Is this the first time, or has it happened before? Why do I feel something different with this peddler man, as if I'm on top of the world when I'm with him?"She left the thought hanging in the air and drifted into sleep.

The next day, Yuwen Yue walked along Xue Fu Street, but the Kowloon house was still closed. Chu Qiao was on her way to the market when Yuwen Yue, like a ghost, followed quietly behind her. She suddenly turned and was startled to see him. "Hey! You're like a ghost!" she exclaimed.

Yuwen Yue said nothing and continued walking. After a moment, he turned to her and said, "I'll help you with your shopping and carry your baskets for free." Chu Qiao secretly giggled but responded indifferently, "I don't need your help. I can manage."

Yuwen Yue, running out of time, insisted. "If you don't accept my free help, I'll make sure to bother you 24/7."

Chu Qiao, stunned by his statement, asked, "Are you serious?"

"Why not? Everyone else asks for my help at a cost, but I'm offering it to you for free," Yuwen Yue replied.

Chu Qiao considered the benefit and agreed. "Okay, stop right there."

Yuwen Yue, momentarily surprised, stopped in his tracks. Chu Qiao handed him two baskets, which he accepted. Then, she placed another bag across his body.

Determined to teach him a lesson for insisting on helping, Chu Qiao decided to test Yuwen Yue's endurance. She bought a large amount of vegetables, each bigger than the last. Yuwen Yue occasionally shot her cold glances with a hint of mischief. Chu Qiao, putting on a stern face, asked, "Why are you looking at me like that? Are you giving up?"

Yuwen Yue straightened his back, though his cold eyes betrayed a touch of rebellion. His hands were full of large vegetables, and his back was aching. Chu Qiao patted his shoulder and said, "Come on, you're better than this, right?"

Yuwen Yue replied coldly, "Who said I wasn't?"

Chu Qiao gave him a sly smile. "Fine!" she said.

She turned to the vendor and asked for the largest wintermelon. "The biggest one, please," she said, glancing at Yuwen Yue with a grin. "For my wintermelon shake later."

The vendor, looking sympathetically at Yuwen Yue, handed over the enormous wintermelon and asked, "Can he carry it?"

The wintermelon was impossibly large for one person to handle. Chu Qiao came closer, tapped Yuwen Yue's shoulder, and said, "This is the strongest peddler in town," before looking at him expectantly.

Without a word, Yuwen Yue set down the baskets and, with a cold stare at the vendor, picked up the giant wintermelon as if it weighed nothing. He placed it on his shoulder and walked tall, showing no signs of struggle.

People in the market stared in awe as the two walked by, whispering among themselves.

"The peddler is incredibly strong! I couldn't carry that wintermelon in my lifetime!" one person exclaimed.

Another chimed in, "He must be crazy in love with the beautiful woman… No, she's his boss… No, he's being punished by the gods!"

Chu Qiao, hearing the gossip, laughed to herself, feeling victorious as if she had found a slave. However, she quickly composed herself when Yuwen Yue turned to look at her.

Yuwen Yue occasionally glanced back to ensure Chu Qiao was still carrying the two baskets. Despite her frail appearance, she managed the heavy load with ease. He secretly admired her strength, though his own back was aching from the giant wintermelon.

Day after day, Yuwen Yue returned to the Kowloon noodle house, helping Chu Qiao with the same silent determination, never complaining—just a cold face.

The old lady who ran the noodle house began to notice the unspoken feelings between them. One day, Chu Qiao secretly followed Yuwen Yue and discovered he was also feeding street children, just as she did. This act of kindness touched her heart, and she decided to confront him.

That night, unable to sleep, Chu Qiao knocked on the old lady's door. "May I come in?" she asked.

The old lady, surprised, said, "What are you doing awake at this hour?"

"Muqin, I've stayed with you for a long time, helped your business thrive, and learned what life is about. Tomorrow, I need to find out what the man is after."

"How do you plan to do that?"

"I'll ask you to close the business tomorrow. I'll cook for him, and then we'll sit down and talk."

"Alright, consider me on a trip tomorrow. I'll visit my distant cousin, Zhan Ziyu. It's been a while since I've seen him."

"Thank you. I'll keep the Kowloon house safe."

The next morning, Chu Qiao closed the noodle house but kept it open for Yuwen Yue. Knowing his routine, she waited outside. For some reason, Yuwen Yue was late. When he finally arrived, he looked at her with his usual cold face but said nothing.

Yuwen Yue stared at her, noting her expensive Hanfu dress and simple plum flower hairpin, which highlighted her eyes. She looked beautiful and alluring, though not overly extravagant. He blinked and gave her a cold look, though inside he felt drawn to her.

Chu Qiao broke the silence. "Ahem, are you just going to stare at me, or do you have any questions?"

Yuwen Yue replied coolly, "No, but I am curious why the Kowloon house is closed today. Is it a holiday?"

Chu Qiao felt frustrated. She thought he looked aristocratic despite his plain clothes, as though he didn't belong in the life of a peddler. She didn't answer his question.

She had seen his actions the day before, feeding the street children. It revealed a side of him that was far from cold and aristocratic. Chu Qiao entered the Kowloon house, still puzzled by Yuwen Yue's apparent contradictions. She admired his consistency in appearance but whispered to herself,"Really? The same clothes every day?"

Chu Qiao, thinking about Yuwen Yue's simple attire, wondered if he wasn't earning enough to buy new clothes from the Hanfu boutique. With this thought in mind, she asked, "Is someone taking care of you?"

"What do you mean?" Yuwen Yue replied.

Following her into the Kowloon house, Yuwen Yue wrinkled his brows at the closed windows, a table set for two in the middle, and the dim lighting. Suddenly, lightning flashed outside, and a few seconds later, a loud clap of thunder echoed. They both looked into each other's eyes.

Feeling somewhat awkward, Yuwen Yue said, "Whatever this is all about, I really wanted to talk to you, but I have to go."

Chu Qiao, feeling similarly, replied, "Me too. As much as I want to ask you something, I have to leave," and she grabbed her coat and blankets.

Raindrops began to fall, and soon, heavy rain accompanied by sharp lightning and loud thunder filled the air. Both walked out of the Kowloon house. Chu Qiao started walking fast, while Yuwen Yue remained standing outside. Then, suddenly, he ran after her and began walking beside her.

Startled, Chu Qiao asked, "Why are you here? I thought you had something important to do."

A loud thunderclap struck nearby, and Yuwen Yue instinctively embraced Chu Qiao. The tiger beauty, slightly annoyed, said, "I think you're delaying me."

She looked into his eyes, then down at her body, noticing their proximity. Yuwen Yue, blushing slightly, with red cheeks and ears, gently pushed her aside and said, "I thought you were about to be struck by lightning. And it seems we're headed in the same direction. Let's go together."

Maintaining his cold stance, Yuwen Yue brushed off his awkward gesture and distanced himself from her.

Chu Qiao didn't say anything, but she knew that earlier, when they were still inside the Kowloon house, they had both been thinking the same thing. They walked separately, drenched in the rain, and arrived at the same street, looking for the street kids.

The rain was still heavy—it was the first spring rain of the year. Thunder and lightning filled the air, but the two fearlessly searched the streets for the children.

Yuwen Yue scanned every corner where the little ones might be seeking shelter, while Chu Qiao did the same. Suddenly, Yuwen Yue spotted three kids hiding under vegetable pallet containers and shouted, "I found them!"

Filled with joy, Chu Qiao ran toward them, and like a family, they embraced the children, trying to keep them warm. The streets were empty, and all the shops were closed, leaving them alone in the storm.

Hours passed, and the rain didn't stop. It became clear that this was no ordinary rain—it was a storm. The wind howled, and the trees and dilapidated buildings swayed dangerously.

One of the youngest children began to cry at the loud thunder and flashes of lightning. Yuwen Yue, looking at their makeshift family, suggested, "We won't last the night out here. We need proper shelter and a warm meal. Let's go to my lodge. It will be your temporary shelter."

Yuwen Yue took two of the kids, while Chu Qiao carried the youngest, and they headed to Yuwen Yue's lodge.

Chu Qiao was surprised by how simple and organized his lodge was. She couldn't help but admire him, though she maintained her cold look. Yuwen Yue gently placed the two children down—one from his back and the other from his chest—and gave them blankets to warm their cold, wet bodies.

Like a real family, they instinctively worked together. Yuwen Yue started boiling water, while Chu Qiao undressed the children and wrapped them in dry blankets Yuwen Yue had provided.

Without a word, they both knew what to do. Yuwen Yue quickly did laundry for the kids' clothes and placed them near the Kang bed to dry. He then retrieved thick blankets from his closet and handed them to Chu Qiao. She arranged the quilts on the tiled floor, covering the children and keeping them warm while their clothes dried.

While Yuwen Yue was still busy in the kitchen, Chu Qiao entered, noticing how drenched he was from the rain. His rugged hair and fresh face gave him an effortlessly clean-cut look, as if nothing in the world could bother him. Yuwen Yue looked at her as well and said, "You're soaked. Unfortunately, the only dry clothes I can offer you are my own Hanfu."

Chu Qiao nodded, and Yuwen Yue set down the knife he was using. He went to his suitcase and handed her his only unworn Hanfu. Chu Qiao took it and closed the Chinese divider to change her wet clothes.

While Yuwen Yue continued cooking porridge for his "instant family," Chu Qiao, now wearing his loose Hanfu, returned to the kitchen. Yuwen Yue couldn't help but notice how she looked in his clothes.

Chu Qiao, seemingly unbothered, said, "Change your clothes. You're dripping wet and making the place messy."

Yuwen Yue nodded and, not in his usual cold manner, left the kitchen to change. Unfortunately, he only had three sets of Hanfu: a gray one, a dark blue one, and the white one Chu Qiao was now wearing. He was left with only the gray, as the dark blue one had been soaked earlier in the rain.

After changing, Yuwen Yue placed his wet clothes on the Kang bed to dry. He then increased the fire in the bed to warm the room where the children were still shivering. "Don't fall asleep on an empty stomach," he told them. "Wait for the hot porridge, and then you can rest."

Chu Qiao was quick with her cooking, and the porridge was soon ready. The delicious aroma filled the lodge, and Yuwen Yue's hunger grew. He returned to the kitchen and was pleased to see that Chu Qiao had already set the table with tiny bowls for the children.

She had even boiled hot tea for him. Yuwen Yue, grateful, wrapped the children in blankets and helped them eat first.

After some time, when the kids were done eating, Yuwen Yue checked their clothes to see if they were dry. They were, so he helped the three kids put their clothes back on while he stood there, barely covered on his upper body. Chu Qiao couldn't help but frame this memory in her mind, watching Yuwen Yue care for the children like a father, while she felt like the mother of the house.

Suddenly, Yuwen Yue was beside her, waking her from her thoughts. "Hey, I know you're hungry. Let's eat."

Chu Qiao, startled, responded, "Yes, this is for you."

The rain continued to pour heavily outside, the wind howling, and thunder and lightning roaring above the rooftop. As they ate their dinner, their eyes met across the table, exchanging silent glances.

They finished their bowls together while the three kids slept, their heads resting on Yuwen Yue's warm blankets. After eating, neither Chu Qiao nor Yuwen Yue stood up. Neither felt tired, and they just sat there, staring at each other under the dim light, as if waiting for one of them to speak.

Finally, Chu Qiao broke the silence and asked, "You didn't answer my question earlier."

Yuwen Yue, remembering, maintained his poker face and coldly replied, "Wasn't it obvious?"

Chu Qiao thought for a moment. "You're single and living in this secluded lodge."

Yuwen Yue didn't respond but continued looking at her. Chu Qiao persisted, "I'm going to ask you something, and I want you to answer me honestly."

Yuwen Yue's heart raced, but he looked away, still finishing his porridge. "What is it?" he asked.

"Do you really like me?" Chu Qiao asked bluntly.

Yuwen Yue, hearing her question, replied coolly, "Isn't it obvious?"

Frustrated, Chu Qiao's face turned stern. "I'm asking you politely, but all you say is 'Isn't it obvious?'"

Yuwen Yue, still maintaining cold yet calm appearance, said, "What do you want to hear? 'Marry me?'" His voice was calm, but his heart raced as he avoided looking at her, unable to resist her kissable lips under the dim light.

Suddenly, Yuwen Yue stopped eating and wiped his mouth with a cloth.

Chu Qiao was startled. A marriage proposal had just been uttered when she was only asking if he liked her.

Yuwen Yue leaned closer to her and repeated, "Marry me, or don't—it won't change the fact that you want me, too."

Chu Qiao, testing his resolve, asked, "How are you so sure that I want you?"

"I saw you following me around," Yuwen Yue said matter-of-factly.

Chu Qiao's cheeks flushed, and her ears turned red in embarrassment. Yuwen Yue continued, "I won't ask a third time. If you don't say yes now, I'll take it as a no."

Chu Qiao, not wanting to let go of the moment, asked, "And if I say yes?"

Yuwen Yue, sensing her seriousness, looked at her closely and coldly replied, "Tomorrow will be a fine day to wed."

Chu Qiao was taken aback, her mind racing. "Huh? Are you crazy?" she asked, stunned.

Yuwen Yue, with his usual cold voice but a heart beating fast, replied, "Are you worried?"

Chu Qiao shot back, "Of course not. Why would I be?"

Yuwen Yue straightened his back, moved closer, and said, "Then marry me."

Taking her long pause as a yes, Yuwen Yue confidently added, "Tomorrow morning, we're getting married."

Chu Qiao felt conflicted, torn between wanting to be with him and the fear that if he discovered who she truly was, he might leave her or blame her for not revealing the truth earlier. She responded in a calm but cold voice, "Just so you know, you weren't really asking—you already decided we're getting married, so be it."

Yuwen Yue, hearing her acceptance, imagined himself kicking over the table, breaking chairs, and jumping in joy, but he restrained himself and simply replied, "Alright, consider it done."

"Wait," Chu Qiao said, "I don't even know your name or who your family is."

Yuwen Yue, hiding his true identity, replied, "My name is Ra Yue, and I'm a peddler. You'll have a lifetime to discover who my family is. And your name is Qiao Qiao, right?" He faked his response, wanting to see if Chu Qiao would reveal her true identity, signaling that he was now on a path to uncovering the truth.

Irritated, Chu Qiao corrected him, "No, my name is Chu Qiao. Remember that." Her introduction was brief and to the point.

Yuwen Yue, quiet for a moment, said, "Alright, Chu Qiao. Tomorrow morning, you'll be Mrs. Ra Yue."

Chu Qiao felt that everything was happening too fast, and though it felt both right and wrong, deep down, she wanted to be with him. So, she didn't argue.

The next day, Yuwen Yue had everything arranged. With the help of Zuo, the wedding preparations were quickly completed. Yuwen Yue had been planning this strategy for months, ever since he left the Qinghai Empire.

Dressed in his red Hanfu, Yuwen Yue looked handsome but maintained his cold stance. He sent a red veil and wedding gown to Chu Qiao, matching his own attire.

The wedding reception took place at the Kowloon house, where the old lady, caught off guard by the sudden event, simply offered her place. At the end of her busy day, she remarked, "I went away for a night and came back to a wedding. This is happening so fast."

The wedding was kept low-key, with only a few invitations sent out. It almost seemed unplanned to everyone but Yuwen Yue, who had been preparing for this since he left Qinghai. Even the Liang crown prince's spies missed it. When they finally confirmed Chu Qiao's marriage, the prince was furious.

"Married to whom?" Prince Xiao Ce asked his spies.

"To a peddler," the spies replied.

"What?" Xiao Ce's eyes widened in disbelief. "Did you double-check?"

"Yes, Your Highness. He's a poor peddler who lives in a secluded lodge near the borders of Wei and Southern Liang."

Xiao Ce, in denial, tried to sneak out of the palace, but the heavy guard prevented him from leaving. He was unable to attend Chu Qiao's wedding.

As the day ended, Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue followed all the customs and traditions of a Chinese wedding. They bowed to their family and friends, with Zuo disguised as a wealthy merchant acting as Yuwen Yue's sponsor. The two men exchanged knowing glances, while Chu Qiao and the old lady looked on, blinking in surprise. The old lady realized her friend had finally moved on from her past heartbreak and hoped Chu Qiao could do the same.

Following tradition, Yuwen Yue had to wait three days before taking his bride to their home. During that time, he sent a dowry to the old lady, including gifts of gold and money he had earned from his honest work as a peddler.

On the third day, the couple left Xue Fu Street to stay at Yuwen Yue's lodge. What followed should have been their "happily ever after," but it was only the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Both would have to face their future together, as husband and wife, with new challenges ahead.


The look back at Chapter 47 Ask for Wisdom


Chapter 50

First Installment


Yuwen Yue, a man who 's known to be a slow to quick thinker, calm like still waters and cold-blooded, but romantic at heart, did not put much effort into consummating their first night together as husband and wife.

Chu Qiao felt the same and did not trouble her husband for a honeymoon, so their bodies remained untouched.

Chu Qiao, careful not to let Yuwen Yue know of her superb gongfu martial arts, could only practice when her husband was not around.

Yuwen Yue's lodge was secluded, meaning she could practice near the trees and on the spacious grounds. She would tumble three times to pick up the laundry, toss it into the air, then gracefully catch each piece one by one until she reached the lodge door.

Content with her martial arts, she smiled and noticed an adorable Cangwu bird flying around the trees.

They lived simple lives, where Chu Qiao stayed at home to cook, do laundry, and wait for her husband to return from work. Both were content until one day, Yuwen Yue asked Chu Qiao to accompany him to a jewelry shop. He had devised a plan to discover if she was truly Chu Qiao.

Zuo, the new owner of the jewelry shop, had bought the entire business.

Yuwen Yue took his wife to the famous jewelry shop in Liang, with Chu Qiao following behind him. She said, "This is not a place for the poor. What are we doing here?"

Yuwen Yue did not answer but told her, "Wife, wait for me for a moment."

The jeweler came and, looking at Yuwen Yue and his wife with cold eyes and an arrogant attitude, said, "Everything here is custom-made, and only royalty can afford it."

The jeweler, putting on a condescending face, remained quiet, but Chu Qiao heard his words. She looked around and, faking a sweet voice, said to Yuwen Yue, "Honey, I want this, this, and that... and even the necklace that man is wearing. I want it all."

With a fake smile spreading across her pretty cheeks, Chu Qiao's eyes turned fierce as she added, "Let's buy it all, or else things might get unpleasant."

Chu Qiao waited for Yuwen Yue's reaction, expecting him to be angry at her sudden change in behavior and her lavish desires, especially considering their humble status. However, Yuwen Yue asked the jeweler, "Do you have any layaway plans, including the necklace you're wearing?"

The jeweler, shocked by the request, called for the guards to remove them from the store. Suddenly, Zuo Zong, dressed in orange Hanfu robes, entered like a boss and asked, "What's the situation here?"

The jeweler, stunned by the owner's unexpected visit, explained, "These two want to buy our custom-made items, and this man insulted me by asking for a layaway plan. This is not a cheap store!"

Zuo, twitching his palms, smiled fiercely and said, "But they are customers. How do you know they aren't dressed as peasants but are actually wealthy lords or even royals?"

Looking at Yuwen Yue, Zuo said, "My apologies for the poor service. Please, choose what you like, and we'll arrange a layaway plan for you."

The jeweler's eyes widened in disbelief, but he could not argue with the owner. "Certainly, Young Master Zuo. I'll arrange it now," he replied.

Chu Qiao, with a playful smirk, said, "Honey... remember the necklace on the man's neck."

Zuo laughed and said, "We'll include that for you, madame."

Chu Qiao, using her social graces, replied, "Thank you, Master Zuo. You never fail to support us, and you were also the biggest sponsor at our wedding."

Hearing this, the jeweler suddenly felt trapped. He handed over the necklace reluctantly, said, "Here, take it. I never wanted it anyway."

Chu Qiao accepted it graciously and said, "Thank you, sir. You've learned your lesson well."

Yuwen Yue, calm and serious, began looking for a ring. "I forgot to buy my wife an engagement ring, and I can't wait any longer," he said. He pointed to a ring in the display case. "I'll take this one."

This was no ordinary ring. If touched, an alarm would trigger, unleashing a hundred blades, making it nearly impossible to steal. Zuo had planted it months ago, and it had become the shop's central attraction. Zuo quickly ordered the jeweler, "Deactivate the alarm and fulfill the request immediately!"

The jeweler, still prejudiced against the couple due to their modest clothing, reluctantly complied. He read the policy on the ring: it stated that the ring could only be loaned for a specific time, and to own it, one must purchase... What?

"What?" Yuwen Yue asked.

"A far kingdom? This sounds absurd," the jeweler whispered.

Yuwen Yue looked at Zuo, confused. "This wasn't part of the original policy we agreed upon."

Zuo stepped forward to explain, "Sir, please understand. This prized ring already attracted interest from a mysterious customer in a black hood who has been trying to buy it for some time. We cannot set a value on it until you purchase a far kingdom. That's the only condition stated in the policy. Then the ring will be yours."

Yuwen Yue asked, "So, you're telling me I need to buy a far kingdom to own this ring?"

"Yes," Zuo replied, adding with a playful smirk, "Or, you could just steal it."

Zuo exchanged a secret glance with his brother, hinting at something more.

Yuwen Yue, calm on the outside but cold within, suddenly noticed a group of goons entering the jewelry shop. The place appeared normal, and the jeweler emerged, saying, "The alarm has been deactivated, sir. This ring can be yours, but only on one condition, now that you're aware of its policy?" The jeweler, back to his airy attitude, confidently assumed that Yuwen Yue could not possibly own the ring.

Chu Qiao, noticing her husband's interest, stood frozen as memories of the ring's former deadly owner flashed through her mind.

Yuwen Yue, sensing the change in Chu Qiao's behavior, realized something was happening with his wife. However, he was momentarily distracted as the goons began asserting their rough presence.

Yuwen Yue and Zuo Zong exchanged fierce glances, as if waiting for the other to make the first move. Yuwen Yue was unarmed, while Zuo Zong had hidden his sword inside his majestic Hanfu robe.

Chu Qiao sensed the dark atmosphere around them. She glanced at Yuwen Yue but hesitated. If she made a move, she risked exposing herself to the man before her, who appeared cold and uninviting.

She couldn't possibly ruin this marriage. Chu Qiao was torn between relying on her defensive instincts or allowing her husband to protect her. But how could she expect her husband to defend them when she believed he was just a simple peddler, delivering parcels to various customers?

How could she rely on him to defend their lives? Chu Qiao closed her eyes, bracing for the moment of attack. She triggered the alarm.

Snatching the ring, she quickly grabbed Yuwen Yue's shoulder, pulling both their bodies to the ground.

Holding the ring, she swiftly flicked it towards Zuo's temple. Zuo staggered, then collapsed unconscious in a spiral motion. He fell to the ground, suffering only a minor injury to his forehead—better than having his neck severed by the flying knives. Everyone else stood still.

Suddenly, a hundred flying knives began to whirl around the jewelry shop in relentless motion.

Yuwen Yue, watching Zuo, questioned him silently, while the jeweler, now crawling across the expensive tiled floors, cried, "I'm sorry! I pressed the wrong button! I didn't deactivate the alarm; I activated the goons instead!"

Yuwen Yue, amazed by his wife's abilities, thought to himself,This agility, flexibility, and accuracy are incredible.He realized that her skills far exceeded what he had trained Xinger, his former maidservant who became his bedchamber companion. He couldn't believe that Chu Qiao and Xinger were the same person.

Chu Qiao was, in fact, the current Wei state crown princess. Yuwen Yue had been seeking the truth ever since he was struck on the head, just as Zuo had been moments ago.

Yuwen Yue allowed himself a brief moment of doubt before dispelling it again.

Zuo, recovering from the sharp blow, placed the ring back inside his Hanfu. He had to wait for the flying knives to cease, just like Yuwen Yue, the true owner of the famous jewelry shop. Yuwen Yue gave Zuo a silent signal that seemed to ask, "Did I tell you to hire goons for this shop?"

Zuo responded with a look that said, "No, I didn't. I only added an extra condition to the policy you mentioned."

Yuwen Yue suspected they had been compromised by the jeweler. Calmly, he dropped to the floor and glanced at Chu Qiao.

Chu Qiao, still waiting for the hundred flying knives to stop, watched them silently as they continued to sever the necks of the goons—except for one, their leader, who remained outside watching the chaos unfold within the shop.

Yuwen Yue looked toward the door and saw a figure with a black mask covering most of his face, except for his sharp, slanted eyes. The masked man didn't enter and vanished like the cold wind.

After half an hour, the knives finally stopped, and Zuo was the first to stand up and search for the jeweler. But the jeweler had escaped through the back door and was nowhere to be found.

Yuwen Yue calmly rose and offered his wife a hand, but Chu Qiao picked herself up, staring at the severed necks. "This needs an explanation to the authorities," she said to her husband.

Yuwen Yue replied, "We won't need to, but you have some explaining to do." Chu Qiao avoided Yuwen Yue's gaze, knowing that her actions were far beyond those of a simple wife.

Master Zuo returned and said to Yuwen Yue, "Apologies for what happened here. You're an innocent customer and had no knowledge of this bloodbath. Take the ring—it's yours now. Let's end the story here. I'll report to the authorities about the jeweler, who conspired in this, and he will be held accountable."

Yuwen Yue accepted the ring and placed it in his pocket.

Chu Qiao pondered why the ring intrigued her husband so much. And what about the strange policy—before the necks were severed—requiring the purchase of a "far kingdom"?What kingdom?she asked herself.

It was already dark when they arrived home, and Chu Qiao resumed her usual cooking. Her husband, resting at the dining table, remained still, looking serious and deep in thought.

Yuwen Yue believed it was time to reveal some hidden truths. His face, expressionless as always, suddenly became sharp as he threw a cold dagger with lightning speed. Chu Qiao, sensing the rush of air and pressure, instinctively countered it with her paring knife.

Clang!The sound of metal echoed like a bell, and the force of the attack dissipated in the air.

Two cold daggers fell to the tiled floor, ringing as they hit the ground.

So precise,Yuwen Yue thought, then raised his brows before his face returned to its usual calm.

Chu Qiao sensed that her handsome husband was cold, yet somehow, even at this distance, she could predict his every move.

She sat down and placed a large bowl of ginseng soup between two small ceramic bowls. Without looking at Yuwen Yue, she picked up her chopsticks, gently taking small cubes of soft tofu floating in the soup and placing them in his bowl.

Casually used to Yuwen Yue's cold, expressionless stare, Chu Qiao broke the silence and said, "Husband…"

Yuwen Yue cut her off with a rushed tone: "The walls have ears. You don't have to explain if you don't want to pass this through illegal channels."

Back at Greenhills Courtyard, Yuwen Yue felt a sense of familiarity, as if he were back in a familiar bedchamber with Xinger. Everything felt real, and the woman before him seemed to be the same "star" child, Xinger.

Yuwen Yue added, "Before we eat, I want you to have this…"

Chu Qiao listened carefully, though she didn't fully understand everything her husband said. She took the ring and asked, "If I heard it correctly, this ring can be yours on one condition—buy a far kingdom?"

Chu Qiao was beginning to realize that Yuwen Yue had many secrets beyond being a simple peddler. She started to doubt him but reminded herself,I have a lifetime to know him. But why do I feel like I've known him for so long? And this ring... it looks like it belonged to a maidservant from a noble's house. Am I recalling memories again?

Yuwen Yue, noticing his wife staring at the ring, said, "Go ahead, don't be afraid to take it. It has always been yours."

Chu Qiao asked, "Itwasmine?"

Yuwen Yue, decoding her response, said, "Itwasall yours—until today." Emphasizing "was," the two exchanged a silent understanding.

Yuwen Yue picked up some soft tofu and brought it to Chu Qiao's lips. His gaze lingered on her red, wet, and kissable lips, and he thought he might not be able to resist kissing her for another second.

Chu Qiao, sensing both the coldness and longing in her husband, opened her mouth and accepted the tofu, eating it as if nothing unusual had happened.

Yuwen Yue, still cold and expressionless, felt his adrenaline subside, and he returned to his usual calm. He began to eat.

After their sumptuous dinner, a card was revealed. Later, on their bed, with thin curtains surrounding them, the fresh scent of plum blossoms from the spring breeze filled the room. Yuwen Yue inhaled the scent, which transported him back to his childhood and Greenhills Courtyard.

He ended the day with his wife sleeping sweetly beside him. As he thought about the star child, Yuwen Yue drifted into the land of memories and dreams.