Volume III, Real Ancient Capital, Chapter 66: The Water of the Missing World
By Xiao Xiang Dong'Er | Translated and Arranged by Angel Chua
Chimes rang, a small lotus candle lit up the golden tower, its bright light gleaming vividly, casting a glossy sheen across the surroundings. The ambient light flickered. Hong Zhong Dai on pitchpipe sang an ode, the sound resonating through the prehistoric mainland, stirring the field like whispers and spreading throughout the West.
A huge fleet of vehicles halted. Li Ce pulled aside the curtain, quietly gazing at the distant golden emerald tower. His eyes, sharp and towering, gleamed with clarity, and his mouth curled in indifference. His narrow peach-blossom eyes squinted. At that moment, Chu Qiao hadn't yet realized that this man, who seemed so lustful and unruly, concealed something far deeper. In his eyes, she saw throbbing emotions—envy, reluctance, and even madness.
But in the next moment, Li Ce grinned heartlessly and laughed, exclaiming, "The light arrangement really resembles the naked dancing clothes of Kyi (a brand), swaying gracefully, rising and falling. Xia Wang is truly too kind-hearted."
Da Xia soldiers heard his remark, their eyes widening in disbelief, almost choking with fury. That golden tower, with its lights shaped like a five-legged dragon, somehow appeared as nothing more than undressed decadence in Li Ce's eyes.
"Let's move on," Li Ce said, pulling down the curtain impatiently. "It doesn't mean anything anyway."
Zhao Qi suppressed his anger and ordered the soldiers to move forward.
"Do you disguise yourself this way on purpose?" Chu Qiao's voice rang out, indifferent but laced with a slight, amused smile.
Li Ce's pretense exposed, he turned, looked her up and down, and suddenly grabbed her waist. "You've figured it out. I'm actually quite wise and entertaining. Are you going to worship me now?"
The woman didn't resist. Her eyes flashed with a honeyed light, half-squinting as she said slowly, "I've heard that if a person pretends to be a fool for too long, they'll eventually become one."
"Jojo, women are much cuter when they just obey. Why are you always so aggressive?" The man's evil smile spread as he playfully stuck out his tongue, leaning toward her neck.
Chu Qiao calmly pushed his chin with her hand, forcing him to close his mouth.
"Barking dogs don't bite, and a tiger won't show its claws every day."
Li Ce chuckled, his warm breath brushing her cheek. "Then tell me, am I the barking dog or the hidden tiger?"
"You're neither," the woman replied slowly, a smile playing on her lips. "You're more like a venomous snake, camouflaged among flowers and grass. You never know when it'll strike."
"Ha ha!" Li Ce burst out laughing as though he'd heard something incredibly amusing. He paused before saying intermittently, "Jojo, you're truly interesting. I find you more and more unique."
"You'll soon learn how unique your vision is."
Li Ce's voice turned hoarse as he asked slowly, "How soon?"
"Very soon."
Suddenly, a loud "kacha" sound echoed. Chu Qiao twisted Li Ce's arm in one swift motion, dislocating it. But before he could scream, another quick movement snapped it back into place.
"I'll tell you this: I'm not someone you can trifle with."
Half-kneeling in the carriage, one hand holding Li Ce's nose, she spoke coldly, her tone chilling. "If I wanted to kill you, these fingertips would ensure I succeeded. You should be careful, or you might leave yourself no escape. I'm not someone to be used."
Li Ce blinked and then, surprisingly, smiled. "Jojo, you're fierce, but that's alright. I'll win you over with my heart."
Chu Qiao said nothing more. She simply turned away, her task completed, and signaled the soldiers. They would block any obstacles, eager to see what trick this Prince Bian Tang had up his sleeve.
"Your Highness!"
A sharp voice came from outside, followed by the hurried footsteps of a nervous guard. "Who's on the road?"
Zhao Qi interrupted the guard's report and stepped forward, saluting. "It turned out to be Master Zhuge, or rather, Commander Zhuge, as we should now address him."
"His Royal Highness is too kind," Zhuge Yue replied calmly from his horse, his dark purple clothing glowing under the dim light. "The official proclamation hasn't arrived yet, so it's too early for formal titles."
"All the same, we can't help but admire Zhuge's brilliance. You've earned this position through sheer talent. No need to be modest."
Zhuge Yue, composed and unflustered, quietly asked, "Who's in the carriage behind Prince Bian Tang?"
Li Ce, still seated in the carriage, looked back with a smile. "An old friend has come to see you."
Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow slightly. "Even in your old age, Prince Bian Tang, you've retained quite the reputation. How can people believe you're just a frivolous child?"
Li Ce paused, caught off guard, then smiled joyfully without explaining. Pulling aside the curtain, he shouted, "Master Zhuge, I hear you're a force to be reckoned with. Will you show me?"
Zhuge Yue stood in the dim light, alone, not responding to the banter. The wind blew dust and weeds around him as if pushing the scene forward. The sky was dark, large tracts of red clouds painting the background like a somber oil painting.
Zhuge's eyes were not sharp, but a faint glimmer of light shot toward Li Ce. Behind him, the silhouette of a woman flickered in the dim glow. His years of experience had made him restrained and low-key. Once filled with youthful exuberance, he now seemed to have sheathed his dagger. But this didn't mean safety. He was like a hidden tiger—you never knew when it would strike.
"His Royal Highness, Prince Li Ce, is too kind. If the opportunity arises, we must listen to your great wisdom."
"Haha," Li Ce laughed loudly. "My wisdom? It's adequate, but certainly not on par with yours."
Zhao Qi, growing uncomfortable with the exchange, frowned. He seemed eager to leave. "Lord Zhuge, it's getting late. My father is at the banquet. We should continue."
Zhuge Yue smiled faintly, signaling for them to pass. "Third Prince, the road is open."
"Thank you."
The carriage wheels rolled forward slowly. As it passed Zhuge Yue, a cold wind lifted the corner of the curtain. The man and woman briefly glimpsed each other but didn't exchange a word.
Time moved too fast. They were like two meteors, crossing paths without even a brief exchange.
"Oh," Li Ce sighed, shaking his head. "The water flows on helplessly. Chu Qiao, he avoids even looking at you. You don't get a single smile. You're really resolute, aren't you?"
Chu Qiao remained silent.
"Jojo," Li Ce began again with a sly smile, "what if I killed Zhuge Yue? How would you react?"
Chu Qiao closed her eyes, silent.
"So, what if I killed Zhao Song?"
"I'd kill you," the woman replied without hesitation.
"Wow, so cruel." Li Ce sighed. "What if I killed Yan Shi Zi?"
Suddenly, the woman's eyes snapped open, her gaze cold. She spoke in a serious tone, "If that happens, I'll spend my life destroying Bian Tang, making sure every one of your people suffers worse than pigs and dogs."
Prince Bian Tang was momentarily stunned. His questions had been meant as a joke, but now the atmosphere felt stifling.
Years later, when Li Cecilia (Li Ce's codename in the Wei military) remembered that moment, he finally understood why he had felt overshadowed. It wasn't because of the girl's confidence, her firm tone, or even the belief that such a small woman could accomplish so much. It was a deeper sentiment—if it were his own death, would anyone speak so resolutely for him?
Draped in long robes, Li Ce raised a jug to his lips, drinking deeply. A confidante is the most extravagant treasure in the world; even if one rules it, they cannot always have her.
With a heavy heart, he left his monarch, his body full of loyal blood, willing to offer everything for his friends.
The carriage slowly rolled forward, toward the magnificent court.
Earlier that day, inside the Ting Wo Stack, the doors were shut. Yu Girl spread out a topographic map of the true city for the group to see. She asked coldly, "Does everyone understand?"
"Girl?" Xi Rui frowned. "Are we really going through with this?"
Yu nodded firmly. "We follow the Lord, and that means following his commands unconditionally."
"But we don't even know what we're doing!"
"Not every command from above needs to be explained in detail. We'll learn why soon enough."
"Can't you, at least, figure it out?" Xi Rui pressed.
Yu's voice softened. "No, I can't. But I do know something big will happen tonight."
A loud "peng" rang out as Zhao Che threw down his wine cup, his voice cold as he ordered, "Prepare to depart. The king is going to the palace."
"Your Highness," Vice Cheng approached cautiously, "The evening banquet is full of uncertainties. Shouldn't you stay away for now?"
Zhao Che gently frowned, then turned slowly, his voice low but firm. "The king said he is going to the palace."
The deputy lieutenant was taken aback but quickly knelt and responded with a loud, "Subordinate obeys."
The night wind blew from the west, rustling the newly sprouted weeds outside the true city. A hundred years later, when historians would open this dusty chapter of history, they would marvel at the political brilliance of King Yuan. This city, once seemingly chaotic and irrelevant, had been like a chessboard. The position of each piece seemed random, yet with a simple move, King Yuan disrupted the entire game—a truly brilliant strategy.
"Purple... gold... dry... the gate... Prince Bian Tang to..."
"Purple... Wei... passage... the road... Prince Bian Tang to..."
"Purple... China... cloud... palace... Prince Bian Tang to..."
The carriage rolled into the Golden Palace. The lights around the red Zhu doors were wide open, and a row of eunuchs, their voices clear as throats being rinsed with water, called out loudly, their sounds echoing through the sky.
This was the first time Chu Qiao entered the Sanctuary through the main entrance. Sitting in the carriage, she closed her eyes. She could smell the fragrance in the air, a blend of sweetness and bitterness. Fate is a marvelous journey. She had spent years helping others escape from the ropes that bound them, never realizing that, one day, she herself would become entangled in these threads.
As the last ray of light disappeared, darkness consumed the horizon. The night fell, and in the distance, the lights shone divinely as grand, ethereal music played.
Li Cecilia (Li Ce's codename in the Wei military) descended from the palace carriage with a smile. Meeting the woman's gaze, he looked confused yet enchanted by her beauty.
"Jojo, come."
Chu Qiao, still in light armor, didn't glance at him. Without hesitation, she leapt down from the carriage. Li Ce smiled and clapped his hands. "Jojo, such skill!"
Chu Qiao ignored him. The wind blew from afar, chilling her thin clothing. She looked up at the magnificent palace, a shiver running down her spine as the cold settled over her body.
Suddenly, she felt a warm gaze from behind. Frowning, she instinctively turned around.
Amidst the dim lights and crowded heads of princes, ministers, and noble daughters, the vast square bustled with activity. Carriages passed by, people brushed shoulders, and escorts in Tsing Yi exchanged auspicious greetings. Then, through the sea of silhouettes, Chu Qiao saw him. Her heart warmed as her gaze locked on his.
Heaven and earth seemed to fall silent in that instant.
Yan Shi Zi stood far across the square, his gentle eyes as calm as a spring lake in March. His hands clasped behind his back, he watched her, his mouth curling into a soft smile. Quietly, he spoke, "Don't be afraid."
Like a drifter in the deep sea finding a lighthouse, Chu Qiao laughed softly, her eyes bright as stars. She bit her lip and nodded slowly.
"Qiao Qiao?" Li Ce's voice broke the moment, his tone soft. Chu Qiao, momentarily surprised, looked up to see Yan Shi Zi's figure fade into the crowd. But she was no longer worried.
They had come together, and they would leave together. No matter what trials the other faced, they always stood by each other's side.
Chu Qiao turned around, her fear gone.
"Jojo, come," Li Ce's voice, full of charm and confusion, called again, his hoarse tone drifting through the air. "Let me take you in."
Let me take you into this golden cage, into this bright palace, into the heart of power. You were meant to be here, not living a dull, quiet life.
Li Ce led the way, and they walked in.
Chu Qiao's face remained calm as she watched him take the first steps into the magnificent grandeur of the palace.
From a distance, drums beat in unison, bells chimed, and all noise faded into the eerie quiet of a dream.
If I have no way back, then at least I can choose to move forward.
On this day, the most important day of Chu Qiao's life, she stepped into the most honorable place of the Great Xia Dynasty, no longer a servant but a woman of power. She now entered the heart of the empire, where the eyes of the world would soon turn toward her.
From this moment on, the world would remember her name. She was Chu Joe (another codename for Chu Qiao), and twenty-eight years later, she would, with the strength of a common woman, change the course of history.
AC Afterthoughts
This chapter paints a vivid picture of power, destiny, and the weight of personal relationships in a complex political landscape. Li Ce, a man who masks his true feelings with charm and mischief, is revealed to be grappling with a deep sense of loneliness and longing for a confidante he knows he cannot have. His questions about death and loyalty hint at a vulnerability that belies his seemingly carefree demeanor.
Chu Qiao, in contrast, is the embodiment of resilience. Her calm composure and unwavering loyalty to those close to her, like Yan Shi Zi, emphasize her quiet strength. She carries the burden of her past while moving forward, her resolve growing stronger as she steps into the heart of power.
This chapter sets the stage for what is to come, foreshadowing the significant role Chu Qiao will play in shaping the future of the empire. Her transformation from a servant to a central figure in the empire's political power struggle reflects not only her own growth but also the shifting tides of history.
The interactions between Chu Qiao and Li Ce are particularly telling. Li Ce's attempts to engage her in banter or charm her are met with indifference, highlighting the contrast between his lightheartedness and her seriousness. This dynamic hints at the complex, layered nature of their relationship, where both characters hide their true feelings and intentions beneath a surface of playful exchanges.
In conclusion, this chapter beautifully captures the convergence of personal ambition, political intrigue, and the bonds that tie the characters together, all while advancing the plot toward a pivotal moment in Chu Qiao's journey.