The morning mist had lifted slightly, and sunlight pierced through the fog, showering down on Rose Square paved with marble. Silver-white armor gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight. Thirty thousand Central Army soldiers stood densely packed on the stone steps of the square. Their faces were still young, having the naivety of newborn calves unafraid of tigers. These imperial noble sons who had grown up in the comfort of the Tang capital glared with bloodshot eyes, staring viciously at the carriage forced up onto the high platform, gripping their weapons so tightly they creaked.
The sky was azure blue, the morning glow red as blood. Standing high on Rose Square, looking out at the magnificent Tang capital, those majestic city walls, the splendid golden palaces, the countless rows of civilian homes and merchant shops, soldiers with gleaming sabers, and the commoners standing at the bottom of the square, looking up in expectation…
Chu Qiao suddenly felt a calmness in her heart. The wind was strong, blowing her cloak, making the hem of her garments flutter wildly in the morning breeze, flapping like a great bird about to spread its wings. She reached out her hand and removed the hood from her head, revealing a beautiful and resilient face, and a pair of calm, steady eyes!
Instantly, a tremendous clamor erupted from all directions. A month ago, Chu Qiao’s portrait had been brought from Da Xia and plastered all over the streets and alleys. The students from the Military Academy had also repeatedly studied her ghostlike battle strategies, but now, seeing this young girl not yet eighteen years old before their eyes, everyone was stunned.
This was the Yan Bei bandit who single-handedly charged into Da Xia’s capital and took away the Southwestern Garrison Commander.
This was the new-generation military commander who led four thousand desperate troops across thousands of miles without a single defeat.
This was the newly prominent battlefield noble who fled ten thousand miles, breaking through Da Xia’s encirclements and blockades hundreds of times, the spiritual leader of Yan Bei.
Could this be the mastermind behind the secretly planned shocking “Nine-Zero-Three Incident” in Bian Tang?
“Yes! It’s her!”
Someone in the crowd shouted, and the entire scene instantly boiled over. Everyone’s fingers pointed at her, pointing at this war-crazed woman who had insulted the future Crown Prince’s consort of Bian Tang and schemed to provoke conflict between Da Xia and Bian Tang!
“It’s her! The majesty of Great Tang cannot be violated, the blood and iron of the Tang army cannot be trampled upon! Kill her! Defend the empire’s dignity!”
“Kill her! Defend the empire’s dignity!”
Frenzied roars came from all directions. The entire Central Avenue had been completely sealed off, with crowds pouring in endlessly. The long-suppressed hot blood of the young soldiers began to boil. Like madmen, they waved their weapons with bloodshot eyes, unleashing their youthful battle spirit recklessly. And those ignorant commoners, also shouting for the spectacle, raised their malnourished faces, waved their pale, thin wrists, and howled along with the soldiers in front: “Defend the empire’s dignity! Defend the majesty of Great Tang!”
Chu Qiao suddenly felt cold. Blood stains the battlefield yet unable to get a complete corpse, facing the yellow earth all day yet unable to eat a full meal, bodies covered with hoof prints of nobles and marks from blood whips, receiving small favors yet being sincerely grateful to tears. These simple commoners under slave rule, had not realized that what they loyally supported was not their interests!
Facing this passionate but ignorant anger, Chu Qiao suddenly felt so heavy. A sadness impossible to conceal rose from the depths of her heart, making her unable to utter a word in the face of those thunderous shouts.
“I am Tie You, commander of the Imperial Guard under the Crown Prince. Call out your superior to see me!”
Tie You had sustained multiple wounds, but still stood firmly with sword in hand before Chu Qiao. The young man was like a towering mountain, his gaze so steadfast, his eyebrows thick and black, standing upright. Pointing his sword toward the seething Central Army, he shouted angrily: “Tell Lu Fangshan to come see me!”
He did not know that at this moment, the high-ranking leaders of the Central Army had all entered the National Academy Hall in Golden Wu Palace to request the empire to dispatch troops to Yan Bei, leaving only mid and lower-level officers in the army.
His sword was heavy and sharp, carrying a bloodthirsty chill. More than ten soldiers who had tried to charge up were at his feet. They wore Central Army uniforms, but the sword techniques they displayed were the chopping style of the Xia State. But it was too late to mention these things now. Tie You shouted in anger: “Why are you gathered here? Are you planning a rebellion?”
More than two hundred Imperial Guards protected Chu Qiao’s sides. Most were already wounded, one with an arrow pierced through his chest, yet he did not fall but stood propped against his spear at the rear, using his body to shield Chu Qiao from the range of arrows.
“The Crown Prince has been deceived by traitors, foolishly protecting Yan Bei remnants. We are the nation’s soldiers, the empire’s blade edge. We cannot sit by and watch the empire suffer such humiliation while letting traitors escape!”
From the crowd, someone suddenly shouted, and the young soldiers who had just slightly calmed down immediately boiled over again, everyone shouting: “Right! Don’t let her go!”
“The Crown Prince is fond of women, he must have been bewitched by this enchantress!”
“Yan Bei bandits dare violate the majesty of Great Tang, they must be executed!”
“Kill her!”
The howling wind swept through, and people’s eyes had a strange light. Chu Qiao knew that at this moment, anything said would be useless. The soldiers’ anger was enough to ravage and burn everything. In Zhenhuang City, on the northwestern battlefield, she had witnessed this and knew its dangers.
She called out Tie You’s name loudly, but Tie You did not turn around. Her voice was very loud, but it seemed so feeble amidst the overwhelming shouts.
“You go! Find Li Ce! Only he can turn the situation around now!”
Tie You didn’t look back, but his voice carried the iron-blooded persistence of a soldier. At this moment, he was no longer that young father who smiled with squinted eyes when talking about his son, but a resolute soldier. He replied word by word: “The Crown Prince told me to protect you.”
With a swish, Chu Qiao drew the sword from a fallen Imperial Guard, coldly looking at the soldiers charging forward, slowly saying: “Very well, then we shall fight side by side.”
“Haha! To fight alongside the famous general who terrified Da Xia, even if I die, I, old Tie, have no regrets!”
Footsteps rumbled like muffled thunder, and the young elite soldiers of the empire let out deafening roars. Although the enemy before them numbered only a little over two hundred, they seemed to be marching onto the northwestern battlefield or the eastern plains of Liao. The silver-white armor spread across Rose Square like an avalanche so that vast one couldn’t see its end. They raised their sabers and moved forward step by step, the ground trembling violently beneath their feet. The orderly troops were like a high mountain, pressing forward inch by inch.
Tie You’s arm muscles knotted tightly as he stood firm. Drawing energy to his core, he shook his sword and shouted deeply: “Final warning, one step further, and we will destroy you!”
Over two hundred wounded soldiers raising swords against thirty thousand fully armored troops, yet still roaring about destroying them – it was truly a ridiculous scene, but no one dared show any contempt.
Tie You joined the army at fourteen, and participated in the Eastern Liao Defense War and the Southern Hill Extermination Campaign, once crossing several thousand miles of blockade lines alone to deliver war reports. He had always been a model and idol for Bian Tang soldiers. Now, standing there alone, he was like a sharp blade. People had reason to believe that any force crashing into him would pay a devastating price!
“For the honor of the empire!”
The Central Army immediately erupted with a unified charge cry. As Li Ce had said, their battle cry was indeed loud. The wave-like soldiers instantly charged forward!
Suddenly! A row of blood spray shot into the air as Tie You swung his arm, and three heads rose with the wind, falling into the crowd like rotten cabbages, trampled to human paste!
The two forces collided head-on, like two surging waves instantly splashing together, raising bloody sprays. The piercing sound of weapons clashing penetrated the clouds, shooting across the sky. The two hundred Imperial Guards formed a line, standing firm with steady steps, protecting their mission.
Although the young Central Army soldiers were numerous, most were on the stone steps, and those on Rose Square’s high platform were less than one-tenth. They crowded upward, but they were no match for the Imperial Guards led by Tie You, falling apart like paper dolls.
The first row, the second row, the third row, the fourth row…
The young soldiers fell row after row. Those young eyes were all fanatic, their blood boiling. The Imperial Guards gradually revealed desperate expressions facing their comrades. Some had softened swords, some had hesitant eyes, some were desperately shouting: “Don’t come up! Don’t come anymore!” But in that moment of hesitation, a sword was placed across his neck, and the next second, his throat was cut by his comrade.
The Central Army had gone mad. These noble soldiers who had never even killed a chicken in their lives swung their swords, charging up the high platform like locusts, stepping on their brothers’ severed limbs and blood, fearlessly offering up their lives.
Eagles screeched in the sky, huge clouds gathered, and the clear sky of early morning instantly changed to stormy. The commoners had scattered in terror, but the entire Central Avenue was blocked. How could there be any possibility of retreat or escape?
People could only shout frantically, push, trample, and search for their lost family members. All around were shouts, husbands calling for wives, wives looking for sons, children crying for mothers. Everywhere were cries of grief and wailing. In just the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the flower-filled Central Avenue had instantly transformed from a paradise to a hell of carnage!
At this moment, Li Ce had already led the Imperial Palace Guards out of Golden Wu Palace, galloping down Golden Wu Street. The Bian Tang Crown Prince, who never rode horses, rode with his long robes fluttering in the wind, his eyes sharp like a fierce eagle.
“Crown Prince!”
A scout quickly came, shouting: “Central Avenue is blocked by commoners, the Imperial Guards cannot get through.”
“Blocked?” Li Ce raised an eyebrow, coldly saying: “If they can’t get through, then walk over the corpses. Kill them all if they don’t make way!”
“Your Highness?” The scout was stunned, forgetting his place, murmuring: “Those are all commoners of the Tang capital.”
“Commoners…” Li Ce slowly narrowed his eyes, speaking in a cold tone: “Every moment we delay breaking through, one more Central Army soldier will die, one more Imperial Guard warrior will fall. They are the true wealth of the empire.”
The scout awakened to understanding, saying harshly: “Yes, please wait a moment, Your Highness. I will lead our Imperial Guard brothers to clear the way for you.”
Li Ce placed his palm on his chest, saying quietly: “Thank you for your trouble.”
“Sun Di, immediately go to the Ministry of War and mobilize fifty thousand Wolf Army soldiers to enter the city and quell the riot. Also, light the wind fire and send fast horses to notify the Northern Camp to monitor Da Xia troop movements at all times. And…” He slowly pondered for a while, as if extremely difficult to say, his brows tightly furrowed, finally speaking with difficulty: “Send scouts to the Southern Frontier to monitor the southern waterways around the clock for twelve hours, to prevent invasion from Northwestern Yan Beiern troops.”
Sun Di was startled, raising her eyebrows, asking deeply: “Yan Bei? Would Yan Bei go to war with Bian Tang?”
“Would they not?” Li Ce snorted coldly, his tone is as cold as winter night water: “If she unfortunately dies, dies on Bian Tang soil, then we’ll wait to bear the heavenly rage of Yan Xun. The lion of Yan Bei will suicidally devour those cowards.”
“And,” Li Ce slowly closed his eyes. In the clear pool among lotus flowers, the woman’s beautiful bare face like a lotus flower appeared in his mind, with sea crab apple blossoms fluttering everywhere. His voice suddenly became as thin as a mosquito’s, his brows tightly knitted, sighing lightly, his voice ethereal but firm as iron: “I will not spare them either.”
“Yes, I will attend to it immediately.”
“Also, investigate thoroughly for me!” Li Ce suddenly opened his eyes, his previous weakness and fatigue instantly vanishing. His eyes burned with angry flames, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked, saying in a cold tone: “I want all the data from this Central Army training exercise, I want confidential reports on all Central Army commanders’ backgrounds, regardless of rank, position, or the magnitude of matters. Who they’ve met these days, whom they’ve spoken with, where they’ve been, even if it’s which day they had diarrhea and spent extra time in the latrine, I want to know it all!”
Sun Di was quick-witted and immediately grasped the key point of Li Ce’s words. Her expression suddenly changed dramatically as she exclaimed: “Could Your Highness mean this mutiny is not accidental?”
“Accidental?” Li Ce laughed coldly in extreme anger. He turned his head, looking fixedly at Sun Di, and said coldly from the corner of his mouth: “Zhao Chun’er’s palace chambers attacked, all officials at the court meeting unanimously siding with Da Xia, the self-inflicted injury scheme to incite the commoners at Rose Square, the Central Army happening to be training at Rose Camp, the high-ranking military officers coincidentally all absent from their troops, the imperial family’s sons so easily provoked, and they coincidentally knew Tie You’s itinerary and also knew Chu Qiao was in the carriage! With so many coincidences, don’t you find these events suspiciously coincidental?”
Sun Di stood with her mouth open, unable to say a word. Li Ce’s expression grew increasingly grim as he continued coldly: “From beginning to end, we didn’t receive even the slightest hint, not a trace of intelligence, even that old fool Dou Mingde who had long faded from politics knew while we remained completely ignorant! Such a tightly sealed scheme, such an exquisite deployment, such a step-by-step encirclement, and you still think it’s coincidental?”
The long wind blew past, and the roars ahead intensified. The Imperial Guards began to disperse the commoners vigorously, while the Feathered Forest troops with bows and arrows began shooting wildly into the sky. The commoners fled in terrified clamor. Everything seemed like a huge farce, carrying a mocking, cold smile beneath the joyous atmosphere of the Bian Tang Crown Prince’s wedding.
Sun Di and Li Ce stared at each other, dark thoughts emerging from the depths of their hearts, impossible to suppress no matter how they tried.
Li Ce nodded, saying heavily: “You guessed correctly. Death’s footsteps have entered Bian Tang. An invisible hand has already laid this net, hanging it above our heads when we weren’t paying attention. Someone has infiltrated the Central Army, infiltrated the Tang capital, even infiltrated the National Academy Hall!”
“Is it Da Xia? Or Huai Song?”
“Nalan Hongye isn’t among the guests. For such a major move, she couldn’t possibly not be present. And Da Xia’s Zhao Chun’er, her palace intrigue tactics might be adequate, but for such a precise scheme, she doesn’t have that capability.”
Sun Di frowned: “Then who is it?”
“I don’t know.” Li Ce raised his head, looking at the thick black clouds rolling in the sky above, slowly shaking his head, saying softly: “I truly don’t know, but I’ve already caught the scent of conspiracy. It’s not far from us, perhaps, right beside us.”
The long wind howled, and chaos spread like ripples in a lake after a stone was thrown, expanding outward circle by circle.
Li Ce didn’t know that just as he worried about Yan Xun’s suicidal retaliation if anything happened to Chu Qiao, Yan Xun’s carriage had just left the Tang capital. Two hours earlier, he had led the Yan Bei forces through the Tang capital, heading towards the eastern highway.
For three hundred years, Bian Tang’s emperors had guarded the national gate. Tang capital was close to the border cities of Huai Song and Da Xia. Not far to the east was the Eastern Liao battlefield, currently at war, which was Yan Xun’s true destination for this journey.
On the desolate ancient road, a team of horses galloped quickly. Yan Xun sat in the carriage, with A Jing guarding at his side, saying deeply: “Zhuge Yue has already entered the city. The lady must also be in the Tang capital.”
“Yes,” Yan Xun nodded: “After meeting Nalan Hongye, we’ll return to Tang capital. A Chu is with him, temporarily safe.”
“Will Huai Song agree to our requests?”
Yan Xun said lightly: “If she didn’t agree, she wouldn’t meet me. As long as Huai Song restrains Bian Tang and refuses to stop the war, consuming Bian Tang’s provisions, then Bian Tang cannot assist Da Xia, and we’ll have a three-fold chance of victory.”
After saying this, Yan Xun sighed helplessly, slowly leaning back in the carriage, saying in a low voice: “Winter is coming, and Yan Bei’s days are not easy either. Provisions are scarce, I fear we can’t even last a month. Fortunately, we have the gold from the Xianyang wealthy households; otherwise, I truly wouldn’t know what to do. Warriors need to eat, and Yan Bei’s commoners are watching me. As long as we can purchase food and military supplies from Huai Song and open this trade route, Yan Bei will have breathing room. Just give me three years, and Yan Bei will no longer need to accommodate others.”
The wind outside was a bit cold. A Jing pulled up a blanket to cover Yan Xun, saying deeply: “Young Master, don’t worry, there will be a way when we reach the mountain. Rest now. You haven’t slept for three nights, arranging for people to stay in the Tang capital to search for the lady.”
Yan Xun leaned in the carriage, his face somewhat pale, closing his tired eyes, saying in a low voice: “For matters like provisions, A Chu is more adept. Fortunately, we’ll soon see her.”
The ancient road was desolate, with early autumn’s wild grass growing waist-high, trembling in the cold wind.
—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—
An arrow suddenly broke the deathly silence of Rose Square, like a sharp wolf’s claw instantly seizing a fatal wound. The entire army suddenly fell silent. People turned their heads back, seeing on the high imperial carriage a young woman in bright yellow robes, wearing a golden crown, her face cold as ice, standing upright, holding a golden bow, coldly pointing at the blood-red Rose Platform. Her forehead was wrapped in layers of white gauze, with fresh red blood seeping through.
“Swoosh!”
Another arrow was instantly released, shooting straight at the blood-red woman’s chest.
At that moment, Tie You let out a fierce shout, with staggering steps, leaping up violently to stand before Chu Qiao. He swung his sword horizontally but was too weak and slow. With a “thud,” the arrow instantly pierced through his chest, reflecting a cold, chilling light.
“Tie You!”
Chu Qiao shouted, about to rush forward, when a row of arrows instantly shot over, firmly embedding in the stone slabs before her.
Guards beneath the woman’s imperial carriage aimed their bows, shooting in unison.
The woman’s lips curled into a cold smile as she stepped down from the imperial carriage one step at a time. Her noble golden boots stepped on the blood-soaked ground without the slightest concern. She walked forward with a faint smile, ascending the platform step by step, finally standing before Chu Qiao. Across the sea of corpses, in a voice only Chu Qiao and her guards could hear, she smiled: “Does it hurt? But it’s still not enough.”
Having said this, she took the sword from her guard’s hand and thrust it into the abdomen of Tie You, who was already covered in wounds, exhausted but still standing before Chu Qiao!
“Puff!” Blood instantly gushed from Tie You’s mouth, his knees weakened, and he collapsed with a thud!
“Aren’t you very righteous? Don’t you hate seeing others suffer for you? Then why don’t you die now? If you die, I’ll let him go.”
Chu Qiao bit her lower lip hard, her brows furrowed tightly. She looked at the woman opposite her, her expression like an ice-sealed deep sea, quiet and frigid.
The woman laughed coldly, suddenly swinging her sword: “I can’t stand that fake benevolent look of yours!”
The wind howled overhead, vision almost blinded by blood. Chu Qiao gripped the sword in her hand tightly, every inch of muscle in her body trembling frantically. Not from fear, but from the spasms of exhaustion. But in the next second, she had already leaped up like a leopard, forcing back the woman with one sword stroke, thrusting toward her chest!
However, the opponent had not swung down that sword. Just as she made her move, the guards beside the woman instantly swarmed forward. The woman deliberately fell, her bright yellow clothes stained with blood from the ground, her golden crown falling off. She raised her head, with a pitiful expression, crying loudly: “I am the Imperial Consort of Great Tang, my body defiled. I am willing to die for my country. Kill me!”
The soldiers who had just calmed down once again burst into rage. Seeing countless swords flashing before her eyes, Chu Qiao finally could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground.
If given another chance, would you do the same? Would you let the tiger return to the mountains? Would you still be soft-hearted?
Unfortunately, in this world, there is never an “if.”
In the last moment before losing consciousness, Chu Qiao vaguely saw Tie You’s rising figure again, and heard his words that he kept repeating: “The Crown Prince told me to protect you.”
You fool…
A tear flowed from the corner of Chu Qiao’s eye. She collapsed helplessly on the vast Rose Square. Under the scorching of blood and fire, she once again remembered the face of the young girl who cried loudly in the cave.
“Kill them! Kill them! Kill them!”
The roars were still in her ears, and today, she had truly accomplished it.
—*—*—*—*—*—*—*—
After sleeping for who knows how long, a bucket of cold water was thrown on her face. Chu Qiao slowly awakened to see Zhao Chun’er’s coquettish smiling face suddenly enlarged before her eyes.
“Where is Tie You?”
Her deep voice seemed to have been scalded by boiling oil. Zhao Chun’er smiled faintly, saying lightly: “Dead, I suppose. Seems he was cut into seventeen or eighteen pieces by the enraged Central Army. Strangely, back in Zhenhuang, whenever people mentioned the Tang army, they always said they were weak and incompetent. I never expected such a big difference between rumors and reality.”
Chu Qiao slowly closed her eyes, forcibly swallowing the grief rising in her chest. She nodded lightly, saying slowly: “You will pay for everything you’ve done today.”
“Really?” Zhao Chun’er smiled: “Too bad you won’t see that day.”
Chu Qiao opened her eyes, staring hard at Zhao Chun’er, saying word by word: “Yan Xun will avenge me.”
“Don’t mention him to me!”
With a “bang,” Zhao Chun’er kicked over a chair, standing up abruptly, looking at Chu Qiao tied to the pillar with fiery eyes, shouting angrily: “Mention one more word, and I’ll kill you!”
Chu Qiao looked at her contemptuously, her stiff face pulling into a faint smile: “You’re afraid?”
Zhao Chun’er’s eyes were cold, glaring venomously. Chu Qiao’s eyes slowly narrowed, like a cat, as she said in a low voice: “Even if you kill me, how do you plan to conclude this?”
Zhao Chun’er laughed coldly: “That’s not for you to worry about, but I’m still happy to tell you what spectacular events will happen in the future because you definitely won’t see them. If all I’ve done doesn’t have a good audience like you, that would be a real pity.”
“Do you know? Bian Tang will split, Li Ce will die miserably, and the court will undergo a massive purge. All stubborn forces will be eliminated. Da Xia has already surrounded Yan Bei, winter is coming, and you have no food or money, how will you survive the winter? When you’re exhausted and worn out, when you’ve depleted your ammunition and provisions, Da Xia’s army will invade Yan Bei together with Bian Tang’s army. By then, Yan Bei’s commoners will be collectively buried, Yan Bei’s army will be annihilated, and Yan Bei’s land will be submerged in blood. Whatever Great Unity Association, whatever Yan Bei Iron Eagle Army, all will bow under the empire’s feet. We will use our swords to tell you what fate awaits those who betray the empire!”
Zhao Chun’er’s eyes reddened, her expression wild as she looked at her, continuing: “By then, I will capture Yan Xun, I will make him kneel at my feet, weeping and begging me for mercy. I will gouge out his eyes, break his legs, I will use every method to torture him, I will destroy everything you built with your own hands! What, are you afraid now?”
Chu Qiao looked at her, quietly asking: “Do you think you can do it?”
“Of course, I can,” Zhao Chun’er smiled arrogantly, saying: “Of course, I can! Do you know where we are now? Let me tell you, we’re in the chamber beneath Rose Square. Soon, a pyre will be built on the square above, and you will be tied to a pillar, and burned alive by the fire. How about that, do you still hope Li Ce will come to save you? Give up that hope, he can’t come. Someone will stop him. What do you think Yan Xun’s reaction will be when he learns you were burned to death by the Bian Tang Central Army? He loves you so much, will he go mad and lead Yan Bei’s army to retaliate? Will he go to war with Bian Tang along the Southern Frontier waterway? Will he suicidally make enemies with the world?”
“Haha!” Zhao Chun’er’s eyes emitted a crazy light as she spoke in a dreamy tone: “I will stop at nothing to deal with you all, I will use every method to eliminate you. For that day, I will endure, I can bear all humiliation and torture, just to see the day you fall and die! You ruined my life, what you gave me, I will take back a thousand times, ten thousand times! How about it, do you hate me? Do you regret saving me back then? Do you regret it so much you want to hit your head against the wall? But what can you do? You are such a kind person, men all over the world are enchanted by you, but so what? Won’t you still die by my hand?”
“What? Why is there cold sweat on your forehead, are you afraid? Do you know fear too? Why don’t you cry? Why don’t you scream for help? Perhaps Yan Xun can hear your last words from the Yan Bei plateau! Haha…”
However, at that moment, her voice suddenly stopped. Her pupils instantly dilated in terror as a hand gripped her face with lightning speed, and with just a light twist, a cracking sound, her jaw was dislocated!
Chu Qiao threw away the ropes she had just untied. This kind of binding, she could undo twenty of them in three minutes with her hands behind her back.
She stood up, looking at Zhao Chun’er who had fallen to the ground with eyes wide open, slowly crouching down.
“You’re right, I do regret, regret why I was so soft-hearted to save you back then. But I never harbor useless grudges. If I know I’ve made a mistake, I correct it immediately.”
The woman’s face was so cold, but her eyes were calm. She tore open Zhao Chun’er’s clothes, saying coldly: “You might have misjudged me. I’m indeed not one who kills indiscriminately, but I’m not a kind person. If you threaten me, I will show no mercy. You think you’ve scared me? Do you think you’ve succeeded? Do you think with such petty tricks you can manipulate me and Yan Xun? Can destroy us? You’re too naive and too presumptuous. In this world, countless people want to kill us, we don’t care if there’s one more of you. I don’t know if the person who can take my life has been born yet, but I tell you, that person definitely won’t be you.”
Zhao Chun’er opened her mouth, trying to shout in panic, but couldn’t utter a word.
Chu Qiao removed Zhao Chun’er’s clothes, then put her clothes on Zhao Chun’er, messing up her hair, and untying the white gauze from her forehead. Finally, she looked at her once more, saying word by word: “Zhao Chun’er, admit it, you are just useless! You can’t beat me, not before, not now, never. You shouldn’t have provoked me, because you’re too green, you simply don’t qualify!”
Having said this, Chu Qiao raised her fist and smashed it down on Zhao Chun’er’s face!
Muffled groans rose from her throat one after another. Chu Qiao’s punches were slow but powerful. In an instant, Zhao Chun’er’s nose and mouth streamed with blood, and in just a moment, her original appearance was unrecognizable.
Zhao Chun’er could no longer cry out; her throat could only make wheezing sounds, like a defeated rooster. She collapsed powerlessly on the ground, her hair falling over her blood-stained face, like a fish out of water.
Then she watched as Chu Qiao stood up, casually shaking her blood-covered hands, draping Zhao Chun’er’s bright yellow fine clothes on herself, messing up her hair, then wiping her face several times with her hands, covering it with blood. Suddenly she knelt on the ground, crying out in a shrill voice: “Someone help! Protect the Imperial Consort!”
A large number of soldiers immediately rushed into the inner chamber. Chu Qiao covered her face with blood-stained hands, pointing at Zhao Chun’er and shrieking: “She dared to ambush this palace! Kill her! Burn her to death!”
The rough soldiers grabbed the limp Zhao Chun’er, who was wearing Chu Qiao’s bloody clothes, her face covered in blood and unrecognizable, with her jaw dislocated. As they passed by Chu Qiao, Zhao Chun’er turned her head and saw the sharp eyes hidden within her thick black hair.
Chu Qiao parted her lips, silently saying: “Farewell.”
“I’m injured, take me back to the palace!”
The great wind howled in with a whoosh, dark clouds pressed down, leaves fluttered, and on the vast Rose Square, a high pyre had already been erected.
The cold wind blew on her face as Chu Qiao, covering her face, sat in the rapidly departing imperial carriage, looking back from afar, watching her formidable enemy slowly fade away.