Volume III, Real Ancient Capital, Chapter 58: Cardinals behind
by Xiao Xiang Dong'Er | Translated and Arranged by Angel Chua
The girl's face was smooth. Under the reflection of the white snow, her skin appeared as pale as jade, with eyes as dark as ink. Her thin figure, though delicate, exuded a unique sense of independence and stability. Despite her youth, her body not fully developed, a cold and unyielding temperament radiated from her, like the essence of snow and ice seeping from within.
The man's eyes narrowed, and his right hand clenched unconsciously. The blood-red sunset cast a crimson hue over the snow. On his middle and little fingers, a section of a golden finger cot was cut off, revealing strange lines.
"Call me."
The deep voice suddenly echoed through the bleak wind. The onlookers, who had been waiting, suddenly stirred as a powerful man stepped forward, his hand raised to deliver a fierce slap to the girl.
"Bang!"
However, the slap never landed. Instead, the girl dodged, and Chu Qiao looked up, expressionless, and coldly asked, "Wei Gongzi, is this how you justify the casualties among your servants—with a slap?"
"Why?" Wei Shu You's cold and unreasonable face twisted into a smile. "The reason is simple—you, a mere slave, dare to challenge my words."
"Wei Gongzi," Chu Qiao replied icily, "if your memory isn't failing you, you should recall that His Majesty granted me freedom at last month's hunt. I now hold an official position within the Xiao Qiguan camp, just like you. I respect you as the son of a prominent family and salute you. Otherwise, given your current status as a deposed official, you wouldn't be worthy of my kneeling. After all, you were recently dismissed from your post. Yet, you still have the audacity to act arrogantly in the Golden Palace?"
Her face, sharp and cold like ice and snow, showed no fear as she stood tall. "I have matters to attend to. I won't waste any more time on you."
"Great courage!" Wei Shu You spat out, his tone harsh. "Let's see who dares to stand up for you if I kill you today."
"Attack!"
As soon as his voice faded, four guards rushed forward. Before Chu Qiao could react, one of them had already drawn a long knife. The blade swung down toward her head.
Chu Qiao hadn't expected Wei Shu You to be so bold, to the point of attacking her in the Imperial Sanctuary. Yet, there was no time to think.
She moved swiftly, twisting her body to dodge the blade. With a sharp, decisive move, she grabbed the guard's wrist and snapped it with a crack. His agonized screams echoed in the courtyard. With a quick backhand, Chu Qiao seized the guard's weapon, delivering a series of powerful kicks. Her precision and strength left the guard reeling, his body crumpling to the ground as he coughed up blood.
With lightning speed, she disarmed another guard. Her ruthless blows broke bones and rendered them helpless. In mere seconds, four skilled guards lay incapacitated, groaning in pain and unable to fight.
As the cold wind howled, Chu Qiao stood amidst the fallen men, her posture tall and unyielding. Clad in her long white fur coat, she resembled a figure carved from ice and snow, untouched by the chaos. Her cold gaze fixed on Wei Shu You, and she said softly, "Let it go."
Wei Shu You paled, his fingers trembling. His previous calm and arrogance vanished, replaced by a venomous hatred. "Kill her!" he shouted.
A dozen more guards in green uniforms moved forward, loading crossbows.
Chu Qiao frowned, cautiously stepping back. Wei Shu You had entered the palace with crossbows—a clear sign that he was either favored by Zhao Qi or part of a larger power play. But there was no time to ponder. The guards fired their crossbows, the bolts flying toward her with deadly accuracy.
Chu Qiao dodged and grabbed the body of a guard she had downed earlier, using him as a shield. The unfortunate man took the brunt of the attack, his body riddled with arrows. She kicked his corpse toward the group of guards, scattering them and breaking their formation.
Seizing the opportunity, she launched herself forward, striking with speed and precision. Her movements were graceful yet deadly. Every strike landed with devastating accuracy, leaving her opponents either incapacitated or dead. The air was filled with the sounds of bones breaking and blood splattering.
Within moments, all the guards were down. Not a single one had managed to touch her.
Wei Shu You, seeing his men fall, grew even more desperate. He drew his sword, his face twisted in fury, but before he could act, Chu Qiao kicked aside his last remaining guards and lunged for him.
Just as she grabbed him, two more guards attacked from behind, but Chu Qiao moved faster. She spun around, delivering a powerful kick to one guard's neck, sending him flying into the other. They crumpled to the ground, rolling across the courtyard like fallen leaves in the wind.
In the distance, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed—palace guards had been alerted. Wei Shu You's plan to eliminate Chu Qiao had failed, leaving him humiliated.
Suddenly, a figure in blue appeared, flying through the air. With lightning speed, the figure's hand wrapped around Wei Shu You's throat, pulling him down. The girl in white fox fur, her dark hair fluttering in the wind, stood cold and unflinching. Her gaze was filled with contempt as she looked at Wei Shu You.
"Stop!" A voice rang out from behind them. City Gate Guard Commander Song Quelled approached with his troops, his expression cold. "Who dares to be so reckless in the Imperial City? Stop at once!"
Chu Qiao's calm eyes locked onto Wei Shu You. She spoke with a hint of irony in her voice as she coldly said, "Release him."
Wei Shu You, pale and shaking, glared at her, but the sight of his fallen men and Chu Qiao's unwavering confidence unnerved him. Just as he opened his mouth to protest, a clear voice sounded from behind him.
"This sword—she's carrying it because I gave it to her."
A tall figure approached, clad in a sable fur cloak. Zhuge Yue, his expression dark, slowly made his way toward them, his voice calm but commanding.
From his horse, Zhuge Yue glanced at Chu Qiao, then extended his hand, coldly saying, "You—how long must I wait? Give me the sword."
Without a word, Chu Qiao handed the sword to him, her expression unreadable. The wind blew between them, carrying with it years of tension and unspoken emotion.
Song Quelled glanced at Wei Shu You, then back at Zhuge Yue. He bowed respectfully and said, "So this is why. There has been a misunderstanding."
Zhuge Yue didn't bother acknowledging the fallen guards. His voice remained steady as he said, "You fight with Wei Gongzi's men as if you own the place. Is this how you train your guards?"
Wei Shu You's face twisted with anger, but he remained silent, clearly humiliated by Zhuge Yue's rebuke. The cold wind blew harder, scattering snow across the courtyard as Zhuge Yue turned and rode away. Chu Qiao followed silently behind him, her figure disappearing into the swirling snow.
Wei Shu You watched them leave, his teeth clenched in rage. When they were gone, he kicked one of his fallen men in frustration, his anger burning as fiercely as the cold around him.
In the distance, the lake was covered with a blanket of snow, the landscape serene and cold. In the pavilion nearby, Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue stood facing one another.
"I didn't save you because I wanted to," Zhuge Yue said coldly, his voice indifferent. "I just didn't like the sight of Wei Shu You."
The girl looked up, her eyes just as cold. "I didn't expect your help either."
Zhuge Yue smirked. "You're still so stubborn. Seven years have passed, and it seems Yan Xun hasn't taught you anything about yielding."
"And it seems the Sage of Wolong Mountain hasn't taught you how to be humble. Still as arrogant as ever," she retorted.
Their words faded into the wind as the two figures clashed. Snow and ice whirled around them, a storm reflecting the turmoil between them.
In the heat of their fight, Chu Qiao slipped on the frozen lake, and the ice cracked beneath her feet. She would have fallen if not for Zhuge Yue's swift reflexes, pulling her back just in time.
"You're still as reckless as ever," Zhuge Yue said, his voice mocking.
But as they stood close, face to face, with the storm raging around them, their unspoken past hung in the air. Though they were enemies, there was a strange connection between them, one forged in the fires of battle and years of unresolved tension.
"Zhuge Yue," Chu Qiao whispered, her voice filled with resolve. "Between you and me, there's a sea of hatred that can never be resolved. I won't kill you today, but that's only because I don't want to hurt the swallows. But remember, as long as I live, your life is mine to take."
Zhuge Yue sneered. "You think you can kill me?"
Her eyes blazed with determination. "Yes, I can."
"Well!" Zhuge Yue released her, swung back, and picked up the red scarf from the ground. Standing under the plum tree, he said coldly, "I'll wait for you. When you have the ability, come and take the sword again."
The fierce northwestern winds swept up as Chu Qiao stood still, watching Zhuge Yue's figure gradually recede. Her palm slowly tightened into a fist.
Everything that had just transpired was merely an act.
This situation was now akin to an asymptote—a line that approaches a curve but never touches it. How could there be time for disputes with Zhuge Yue? He had let her go, choosing not to expose her identity, yet sacrificed a small pawn to cover his tracks. The return of his "God Grandpa's" assassin signaled the beginning of another crisis.
Let him wait for revenge. As long as he didn't make the first move, she would avoid exposing her identity and buy Yan more precious time.
Whether he believed it or not, it was a risk worth taking.
A man as beautiful as blood in full bloom faced the thin woman standing on the open lake. Though she appeared fragile, she stood with unwavering strength.
Zhuge Yue didn't look back. His brows furrowed, his deep eyes locked in silent contemplation. Within him, conflicting emotions clashed violently.
"This person cannot remain alive."
Walking away from the west, Zhuge Yue raised his face slightly, enduring the snowflakes that fell onto his cheeks.
Time was running out. He could no longer wait passively for events to unfold, nor could he allow others the time and opportunity to grow and develop further.
"Star child, do you think Zhuge Yue is still the fourth young master from seven years ago?"
Seven years of tempering, surviving with a heart hardened by cunning and bloodshed within the clan's power struggles, had made him anything but naive.
"Master," Zhu Cheng stepped forward and presented a sealed letter.
Zhuge Yue tore the envelope open. After reading it, he tossed the letter into the fire. As the flames consumed the paper, he coldly asked, "What did he say?"
"He said he wants to ally with you, as long as the alliance benefits Zhuge."
"Oh," Zhuge Yue sneered. "That little wolf, still sitting in the mud, dreaming of divine rewards. I'd rather support Zhao Che than let him rise to power."
"However, we can use him to separate Zhao and Muhe's alliance."
Zhuge Yue raised an eyebrow. "My father suggested that?"
Zhu Cheng nodded. "Yes."
"Good." Zhuge Yue discarded the burned ash and muttered, "Zhao Xun, Emperor Fourteen..."
"Master," Zhu Cheng called out as Zhuge Yue turned to leave. He hesitated before saying, "Star child, she..."
"Keep an eye on her. If anything changes," he paused slightly, "follow the original plan."
Zhuge Yue continued forward. Zhu Cheng stood frozen in place, his mind racing. The original plan—was it to kill her?
Suddenly, Zhuge Yue stopped, turned back, and said in a low voice, "Remember, keep her alive."
Startled by his thoughts, Zhu Cheng immediately knelt down and shouted, "Your servant obeys."
The gale howled as Zhu Cheng looked up, only to find that Zhuge Yue had already disappeared from sight.
Chu Qiao stood silently for a while before leaving the plum garden alone. On the other side of the blue lake, beneath the swaying flower trees and towering pine and cypress forest, a refined figure emerged slowly.
"A'Jing, did you notice anything when you brought Zhuge Yue to Xuanmen?"
"No," A'Jing replied firmly. "Everything was done carefully."
Yan Xun nodded, his voice steady and deliberate. "That's good."
"Your Majesty," A'Jing frowned, clearly puzzled, "why are you so certain that Zhuge Yue would help rescue the girl?"
Yan Xun smiled faintly. "I imagine even Zhuge Yue is perplexed by the same question. Why did he help A'Chu?"
Yan Xun spoke cryptically, saying words that few could fully comprehend: "In this world, perhaps I am the only one who truly knows him and understands why he would act this way."
"A'Jing, once the energy wanes, pursue him. The Zhuge family is deeply involved now, and the situation has grown more complex. Double the vigilance, and if anyone is discovered, they will be dealt with swiftly."
A'Jing was momentarily taken aback. "Kill them if they're found—is that the plan?"
"Don't worry," Yan Xun replied confidently. "No one will dare speak out, even in death. The deeper the chaos, the better it will serve us."
Yan Xun looked up at the gray sky, his eyes narrowing as he muttered to himself, "It is time to begin."
AC Afterthoughts Zhuge Yue, Yan Xun, and Chu Qiao
This chapter presents a gripping and multifaceted interplay between three deeply complex characters: Zhuge Yue, Yan Xun, and Chu Qiao. Each character is entrenched in their personal struggles, shaped by their pasts, yet propelled by very different motives. Their interactions in this chapter reveal the delicate balance of power, trust, and manipulation that defines their relationships.
Zhuge Yue: A Conflict of Heart and Mind
Zhuge Yue is portrayed as a man walking a fine line between cold pragmatism and suppressed emotion. His position as an aristocrat and warrior demands that he remain composed and calculating, but his interactions with Chu Qiao hint at a deeper internal conflict. On the surface, he appears indifferent, even cruel at times, but there's a subtle tension between his actions and his true feelings. His decision to let Chu Qiao go, despite having every opportunity to kill her or expose her identity, suggests a level of compassion or personal investment that he's not willing to admit openly.
The line where Zhuge Yue says, "I'll wait for you, when you have the ability, take the sword again," is particularly telling. It encapsulates his respect for her strength, but also his belief that they are on different paths that are destined to cross again. His strategic mind is evident as he contemplates the broader political landscape, yet there is always an emotional undercurrent when it comes to Chu Qiao. In this chapter, Zhuge Yue's character reflects the dichotomy between duty and personal feelings, making him a figure caught between honor and desire for something deeper, though possibly unspoken.
Yan Xun: The Calculating Strategist
Yan Xun's role in this chapter is one of quiet control and foresight. His cryptic statements and calculated actions paint him as a master strategist, always playing the long game. Unlike Zhuge Yue, whose conflicts seem more internal, Yan Xun is entirely focused on external outcomes—positioning himself and his allies to emerge victorious amid the chaos that surrounds them.
What stands out about Yan Xun is his ability to manipulate events and people, including Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao. He knows exactly how to push Zhuge Yue's buttons, predicting his actions with unsettling accuracy. His statement, "In this world, maybe only I know him well enough to understand why he would do it," speaks volumes about his deep understanding of Zhuge Yue, which he uses to his advantage. Yan Xun thrives on chaos, believing that the more disorderly things become, the better positioned he will be to gain control. His character represents the cold, calculated ambition of a man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, even if it means creating—and thriving in—an atmosphere of betrayal and destruction.
Chu Qiao: A Survivor with Reluctant Loyalties
Chu Qiao remains the embodiment of strength and independence, yet there's a sense of her being pulled in different directions by forces outside of her control. Her interactions with Zhuge Yue reveal a complex relationship filled with unspoken tension, mutual respect, and unresolved emotions. Zhuge Yue clearly sees her as an equal, or at least someone with the potential to be his equal in the future, and his decision to spare her shows his acknowledgment of her strength. However, Chu Qiao's internal conflict is palpable. She is deeply aware that her survival depends on maintaining her independence, yet there's an undeniable pull toward Zhuge Yue, despite the sea of hatred she claims stands between them.
Chu Qiao's loyalty to Yan Xun, on the other hand, is also complicated. Though she trusts him and shares in his broader goals of survival and vengeance, there's a sense that she is beginning to see the cracks in his character—the ruthlessness with which he operates and the lengths to which he'll go for power. Chu Qiao's journey seems to be one of navigating these conflicting loyalties, torn between Zhuge Yue's quiet pull and Yan Xun's more overt manipulation.
The Triangle of Power and Tension
The relationship dynamics between Zhuge Yue, Yan Xun, and Chu Qiao create a triangle of power, tension, and unspoken feelings. Zhuge Yue and Yan Xun are foils to one another—one driven by internal conflict and the other by external control. Chu Qiao, caught in the middle, must decide where her true loyalties lie as both men pull her in opposite directions, each representing different aspects of her past and potential future.
The chapter leaves readers with a sense of inevitability—that these three will continue to clash, each step they take drawing them closer to a reckoning. Zhuge Yue's reluctance to let go of the past, Yan Xun's manipulative ambition, and Chu Qiao's fierce determination to survive and rise above it all set the stage for future conflict. Yet, despite their differences, all three share an unbreakable bond forged by their shared histories and the blood they've spilled on the battlefield. Their destinies are intertwined, and the tension between them—rooted in love, hatred, and ambition—will only grow stronger as the story progresses.
In conclusion, this chapter serves as a pivotal moment for these three characters, showcasing their strengths, weaknesses, and the intricate web of power and emotion that binds them together. Each is a survivor in their own right, but their survival depends not just on their individual skills but on how well they can navigate the complex relationships between them. The storm has just begun, and the true battle lies ahead, with Zhuge Yue, Yan Xun, and Chu Qiao poised at its center.