Chu Qiao knew that this time she had caused a major disaster.

There were too many worrying matters: attempting to murder the Bian Tang Crown Prince? Conspiring to sabotage diplomatic relations between two countries? Disobeying military orders and defying superiors?

Any single charge pressed against her would be enough to end her life. In her entire life, she had never been so impulsive and reckless. What exactly had gone wrong? Why had she acted as if possessed?

She no longer dared to look at Zhao Che’s expression. The clamoring of those women was enough to pierce through the roof of the military tent. She stood behind Zhao Che, carefully recalling the cause and effect of the incident, yet she couldn’t find any minor detail to exonerate herself. Now, she could only hope that this matter wouldn’t implicate Yan Xun, and wouldn’t burden him with the charge of harboring malicious intentions.

“Have you all said enough?”

A cold voice suddenly resonated deeply, its tone frigid, carrying a strong killing intent. The few elegantly dressed young women were momentarily stunned. They saw Zhao Che in full armor, his face like iron, his eyes sharp as knife edges as he stared at them, enunciating each word slowly: “If you’re done, then get out!”

“You!” A woman in a goose-yellow dress suddenly pointed at Zhao Che and shouted, but was stopped by another slightly older woman: “Little E, don’t be disrespectful to the Seventh Prince.”

“Sister Fu…”

“Since Your Highness still has official duties to attend to, we won’t disturb you further. However, we will not let this matter rest. We have already dispatched messengers, and our country will immediately send envoys to Zhen Huang to address this issue. As for this young lady…” The woman’s gaze slowly circled Chu Qiao, and she said calmly: “Since Your Highness refuses to hand her over, there’s nothing we can do. We’ll ask the Seventh Prince to detain her for us for now, and we’ll settle accounts another day. Farewell.”

With that, she turned and left the tent first, and the other women snorted coldly before departing as well.

Zhao Che stood silently in the middle of the tent, watching the wind-fluttering tent curtains without saying a word for a long time.

Chu Qiao stood behind him, unable to see his expression, but could imagine how angry he must be. For Zhao Che, the best solution to this matter would be to immediately execute this treasonous woman, or at the very least, to transfer her to the Ministry of Justice for punishment. But now that he had detained her and refused to hand her over to the Bian Tang envoys, what exactly was he planning?

Chu Qiao swore that if he were to raise his fist against her now, she absolutely would not retaliate.

Suddenly, Zhao Che’s back trembled slightly, as if he had something to say but was trying hard to hold it back. Sweat slowly trickled down her forehead, her palms became moist, and her pupils contracted slightly.

What exactly did he intend to do? Would he use this opportunity to fabricate charges of treason? The Emperor had long been looking for an excuse to eliminate Yan Xun. Would she now become that excuse?

The young woman slowly clenched her fist, unconsciously reaching for the dagger at her thigh.

Zhao Che turned his head, his expression strange, his eyes intently staring at Chu Qiao. But suddenly, the corners of his mouth slowly spread open, and then…

“Hahaha!”

An enormous laugh suddenly rang out. Vice Commander Cheng and several Xiao Qi Camp commanders suddenly entered, each pounding their chests and stomping their feet as they roared with laughter. Zhao Che put his hand on her shoulder, raising his thumb in admiration: “Well done! Good job!”

What was happening?

Chu Qiao was momentarily stunned, her eyes widening in confusion.

“Li Ce, that boy, needed to be taught a lesson a long time ago.”

“What kind of Bian Tang Crown Prince is he? Like a woman, always dressed in red and green. Even I, Old Dong, find him disgusting.”

“With so many issues, someone needed to take him down a peg.”

“Little girl, you did well. Whoever dares to come after you, we’ll be the first to disagree!”

Chu Qiao stood dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long time. After a while, she cautiously cleared her throat: “Your Highness, this matter seems too serious to be treated so lightly. Although ignorance may excuse me, I did strike the Bian Tang Crown Prince. Moreover, he was here to congratulate the Emperor on his birthday. At the very least, shouldn’t I sincerely apologize?”

“You hit him?” Zhao Che raised an eyebrow, turning to address the group of men: “Who saw it? Did any of you see it?”

Everyone responded in unison: “We saw nothing, sir.”

She was immediately bewildered, looking toward Zhao Che in confusion.

Zhao Che sighed, shaking his head: “But I must say, you were quite foolish. If you wanted to beat him, you should have found a moment when no one was around.”

“That’s right!” Big-beard Dong stepped forward and said tactlessly: “His Highness had already planned with us that when this fellow was on the road, we would find a moment when no one was around, put a sack over his head, and beat him to vent our anger. We wanted to make sure he arrived in Zhen Huang with a black eye and a swollen face. We didn’t expect you to act faster than us. We were already there, watching you beat him from a distance, but we just didn’t show ourselves.”

Looking at a room full of men with gleaming eyes, Chu Qiao was truly on the verge of tears.

“Don’t worry,” Zhao Che patted her shoulder reassuringly: “Although I didn’t think much of you before, now you’re one of my people, and I won’t treat you unfairly.”

That day, the ice on the lake thawed, the winter snow cleared, and spring in the Great Xia Dynasty finally arrived on the tail end of early summer.

Night fell, and the camp was quiet, with only faint sounds of string and wind instruments coming from the eastern corner, which seemed completely out of place in the military camp at night. Vice Commander Cheng had mentioned that this was the Bian Tang Crown Prince’s habit; he couldn’t sleep without music. Now that he had suffered such a shock, the music had become even more mournful, like a palace maiden’s lovesick melody.

Chu Qiao sat on a snowy hill, playing with the long sword in her hand. Beneath the vast snowy plain, countless lights flickered. The cold moon was like frost, its light pouring down. The camp was quiet, with occasional patrolling soldiers passing by. But since this wasn’t a battlefield, there was inevitably some relaxation, with less tension and more traces of desolation. Chu Qiao sighed lightly: “So this is what they call a thousand tent lights,’ nothing more than this.”

A crisp “twang” suddenly sounded. Chu Qiao looked down and saw that it was the still-sheathed precious sword, emitting a clear ringing sound. Her brows furrowed slightly, and with a swoosh, she drew the sword from its scabbard.

This sword was uniquely forged, a full four feet long, with a blue-white blade that had faint dark red patterns on it. At first glance, it looked like undried blood foam.

“A fine sword!”

Words of admiration immediately came from behind. Chu Qiao turned her head and saw Zhao Che in a black brocade robe, walking up the snowy slope step by step, and sitting down directly beside her. He asked, “What’s its name?”

Chu Qiao was slightly taken aback, shook her head, and said, “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know the name of your sword?”

The woman shook her head: “This sword isn’t mine.”

Zhao Che nodded and didn’t ask further. He held a wine flask in his right hand, tilted his head to take a sip, then handed it to Chu Qiao, raising his chin provocatively.

The woman shook her head with a smile and said, “You don’t need to provoke me. I never drink. Drinking only leads to mistakes, or adds sorrow upon sorrow.”

Hearing this, Zhao Che was stunned. After a long while, he said softly, “I used to think the same as you, but gradually I began to think differently.”

“Zhao Che, you’ve acted somewhat foolishly today.”

“Is that so?” Zhao Che smiled lightly, tilted his head to drink, and didn’t respond.

Chu Qiao continued, “You openly humiliated the Tang Crown Prince in front of everyone, saw me hit him but didn’t show yourself, and afterward went to great lengths to protect me, making it known to all. Do you realize what the consequences would be if this gets out? Do you trust your subordinates that much?”

Zhao Che smiled lazily: “Then what should I do? Hand you over to the Ministry of Justice? I wanted to do this myself, and someone else did it for me. Why should I repay kindness with enmity?”

“You shouldn’t be like this.” The young woman slowly shook her head: “Zhao Che, you’re very different from what I imagined.”

“Then what should I be like? Like those people in the Sacred Gold Palace? Every day scheming against each other, fighting for power, fathers not acting like fathers, sons not like sons, ministers not like ministers?”

“Silence!” The woman said sternly: “Do you know what you’re saying?”

“Of course I know,” Zhao Che’s voice suddenly turned cold. He gazed into the distance, his tone becoming gloomy: “Sometimes, I want to burn it all down.”

The man lowered his head and said slowly: “I’ve been scheming with others for more than ten years, calculating for benefits since I could speak. Only when I was banished to guard the border did I truly relax. Sometimes, I feel more comfortable being with these humble people than in the Sacred Gold Palace. Inside there are my brothers, sisters, parents, and relatives, but to me, they are more ferocious than floods and wild beasts.”

“Chu Qiao, I came tonight just to ask you one question. Did you come to Xiao Qi Camp to prepare a future path for Yan Xun, or do you truly wish to serve me?”

Chu Qiao’s face remained calm. She looked into the man’s eyes and finally said firmly: “I just want to live. All along, that’s all I’ve wanted.”

A gleam flashed briefly in Zhao Che’s eyes. He slowly nodded and said solemnly: “From now on, you will follow me wholeheartedly. No one will harm you again.”

The woman knelt resolutely in the snow: “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

The lights were sparse, the stars dim. By the time she returned to her tent, Chu Qiao’s clothes were almost completely soaked. Soaking in the steaming bath, all her thoughts immediately began to churn.

Everyone in Zhen Huang City was a master at acting, and so was she.

The Emperor had slaughtered the entire Mu He clan, using the power of the Third Prince, the Thirteenth Prince, and the Wei faction, yet deliberately excluded him, and sent people to test and watch him. If it were anyone else, how could they not harbor resentment?

A wise emperor could tolerate a son who was unhappy and threw tantrums but could not tolerate a disloyal minister who suppressed all bitterness in his heart, harboring deep schemes and waiting for revenge.

A prince plotting for the throne could tolerate an incompetent brother who displayed his anger openly but could not tolerate a competitor who pretended to endure humiliation while meticulously planning everything.

No one would truly believe that a mere archery instructor would dare to defy the world’s norms and beat a neighboring country’s crown prince. The mastermind behind it was almost obvious.

She had stayed there tonight, waiting for him. She didn’t believe that Zhao Che hadn’t investigated her. If he had wanted to, he wouldn’t have found anything about a slave girl of unknown origin like her. So, she had waited quietly with Zhuge Yue’s long sword for the opportunity. The Broken Moon Sword was a supreme sword, forged by the great swordsmith Feng Yazi. How could Zhao Che not recognize it?

As long as he knew about her entanglements with the Zhuge family, he would believe that her following Yan Xun was out of desperation, because she had killed the Zhuge family’s patriarch and had nowhere to go, so she had to rely on that fallen prince.

As long as he knew these things, he would naturally believe that the master-servant relationship between her and Yan Xun was only driven by interest. And only if he held such a thought would he try to buy her loyalty for himself.

Scheming against each other, deceiving superiors and subordinates. While you secretly rejoice in deceiving me, how do you know I am not going along with the flow, humoring you? Whose hand will finally hold the deer? We shall see slowly.

“Human hearts?” The cold-faced woman snorted softly, slowly closing her eyes and leaning on the edge of the bathtub: “Nothing but worthless grass.”

The long eagle soared, perching majestically on the Sacred Gold Palace gate. Yan Xun unfolded a letter: Soothing Bian Tang’s anger, keeping the overall situation stable, only beware of the Wei faction.

The palace lamps flickered, flames consuming the paper. Watching the letter burn, the Emperor’s new son-in-law, the Prince of Yan Bei, issued an order: Within three days, all memorials sent to the palace from the Wei faction were to be intercepted.

A Jing was shocked upon hearing this. This matter was of great importance; one careless move could destroy all the forces they had arranged for years. He couldn’t help but question: “Young Master, isn’t the price too high?”

“Losing A Chu would be an even greater price.”

“Young Master?”

“A Jing,” the young man in light robes, with a jade-like face, raised his eyebrows slightly: “You just need to remember that A Chu’s life and death are more important than anything else.”

A Jing’s voice rose: “More important than Yan Bei?”

Yan Xun smiled faintly: “If she’s not here, what use is Yan Bei to me?”

A Jing was greatly shocked, kneeling firmly, saying solemnly: “Young Master is the heir of Yan Bei, the young lord of Da Tong, the hope of the common people. How can you abandon public duty for private matters? How can you indulge in romantic feelings?”

Yan Xun laughed coldly: “When I was thrown into hell, where was Yan Bei? Where was Da Tong? And which of the common people lent me a helping hand? My years of hardship, enduring humiliation for survival, firstly for revenge, and secondly to protect those I cherish. The world’s common people are no more than dust and dirt to me.”

A Jing frowned tightly, angrily saying: “If that’s the case, why did Young Master let her fall into someone else’s hands? Why not keep her under your protection?”

The young man slowly raised his head, his eyes determined as he said: “Because I believe in her.”

I believe she is an eagle soaring in the sky, a blade that never bends despite a hundred hardships, the only one who can understand me, who can stand beside me, weather storms together, and fight alongside me.

“A Jing, I hope that the Da Tong Guild will serve her as loyally as they serve me, protect her as they protect me. Because with her here, I am the leader of your Da Tong Guild, the hope and blessing of the world’s common people. If she is not here, I will surely become a demon!”

A Jing’s body trembled, looking at Yan Xun in disbelief, looking at this man whom the guild had served wholeheartedly for many years. They had thought he would be like Lord Yan Shicheng, loving the people as his children, and advocating for great unity, but today, in this flickering lamplight of the study, he suddenly realized that all his previous thoughts were so wrong.

They were making a huge gamble, with sky-high stakes, yet it could be overturned in an instant!

“No need to panic,” Yan Xun smiled faintly: “I dare tell you, I’ve never feared Da Tong’s betrayal. Yan Xun is not Yan Shicheng. He is not a pawn, not a puppet. He fights only for his own heart.”

A Jing lowered his head, his tone already cold and detached: “Young Master’s words deeply disappoint me.”

“No matter,” the window was suddenly blown slightly open, the cold wind scattering Yan Xun’s sideburns. His eyes gazed far away, his voice gradually becoming distant, yet still firmly delivering each word to A Jing’s ears:

“I must first be a man before I can be your young lord.”

The cold wind was like iron, and he seemed to smell the scent of armor and weapons.

All of this was presented to Miss Yu’s desk an hour later. Xia Zhi stood beside her, frowning: “Miss, this woman is Young Master Yan’s weakness. She will cause big trouble sooner or later.”

“Yes,” Bian Cang said solemnly: “One who aims to achieve great things cannot indulge in romance or disregard the bigger picture.”

“Miss, should we report this to those above, or perhaps, first keep this woman under our control?”

Miss Yu’s face was indifferent. She turned to look at Xi Rui and slowly said: “What do you want to say? Keep her under control, or kill her to prevent future troubles?”

Xi Rui was stunned, immediately lowering his head and saying: “I had no such intention.”

Miss Yu snorted coldly, slowly saying: “What do you know about being strong? The strength of weapons can only face a hundred enemies, the strength of schemes can only face a thousand enemies, and the strength of power can only face ten thousand enemies. True strength lies in a strong heart, invincible and unyielding through a hundred hardships. Only with such an iron will can one be undefeated, fearless of any danger, and ultimately reach the peak, achieving what others cannot. And what counts as true inner strength? Being heartless and without attachments? Or having firm beliefs and no greedy thoughts? Neither. All people have selfish desires. The so-called purity of white lotus is nothing but a legendary tale. Truly strong people must have something they are determined to protect with their lives.”

The woman put down the letter, slowly sighing: “I finally need not worry about the young lord anymore. He has grown up. From now on, just follow his instructions; there’s no need to come to me for guidance.”

“Miss?” Bian Cang was startled, hurriedly calling out.

“Be thankful,” the woman closed her eyes, sighing sincerely: “Years of imprisonment haven’t completely erased his trust in human nature. If today he were a gloomy and ruthless madman, filled with hatred and without a shred of trust, none of the people here would be able to return alive to Yan Bei.”

“This little girl called A Chu is truly a hope and treasure bestowed by heaven upon Da Tong!”

Originally, they had thought that the Bian Tang Crown Prince would not let the matter rest. Zhao Che and others had even prepared for a prolonged standoff. Who would have thought that early the next morning, Li Ce would be clamoring to go to Zhen Huang, not wanting to stay with the army for even a moment longer?

Although they weren’t afraid, Chu Qiao still secretly breathed a sigh of relief at this turn of events. Regardless of how this Li Crown Prince might accuse her once they reached Zhen Huang, at least he was walking, which lessened her crimes by a degree.

Three days later, the Bian Tang Crown Prince’s carriage finally entered Zhen Huang City, escorted by the Xiao Qi Camp!

This was the first time in many years that the two countries had sent royal family members for such diplomatic exchange. The Great Xia Dynasty attached great importance to this, with the Third Prince Zhao Qi leading hundreds of officials to personally welcome them ten miles outside the city.

Along the way, flags were raised, drums were beaten loudly, civilians came out of the city to watch, and iron-clad troops escorted them. The grandeur was comparable to an imperial tour.

However, as soon as the Bian Tang carriages arrived, the carriage curtain was lifted, and the Bian Tang Crown Prince, dressed in bright yellow brocade robes and wearing a large yellow fur coat, stepped down from the carriage with steady steps and a high chin. If not for his black and blue swollen face, everything would have been even more perfect.

The expressions of Zhao Che, Chu Qiao, and others instantly became as ugly as could be. Even the Bian Tang envoys wore funeral expressions.

They had never imagined that the Crown Prince would dare to appear in public in such a state!

Pity the Third Prince Zhao Qi and the civil and military officials of Great Xia, who had no psychological preparation. Everyone was shocked and in a state of panic. But seasoned courtiers were indeed seasoned; their reactions were quicker than each other. The head of the Wei faction, Lord Wei Guang, was the first to bow and exclaim: “I have long heard that Crown Prince Li Ce is a man of elegance and extraordinary handsomeness. Today, seeing the Crown Prince’s golden face, he is indeed radiant, comparable to the sun and moon.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone rushed forward, with civil officials composing poems and responding to each other, directly praising Li Ce to the heavens, declaring him the most handsome man since ancient times. The military officials didn’t have so many flowery words, but they were equally flattering, giving thumbs up and combining all the words they could think of: beautiful, gorgeous, too handsome.

Li Ce laughed heartily, suddenly pulling at the wound on the corner of his mouth. While exclaiming “ouch” in pain, he waved to the crowd, repeatedly saying, “Thank you, thank you.” He accepted all the praises with a clear conscience.

One wonders what the Bian Tang Emperor and Empress would think if they were present.

After much persuasion, the Tang Prince got into the carriage. All the way, horns were blown, and they marched grandly toward Zhen Huang City. But after just a few steps, Crown Prince Li Ce objected: “Why does the horn sound like we’re going to war?”

Zhao Qi was stunned, feeling once again fortunate that he hadn’t personally gone to receive him. These horn melodies had ceremonial rules: there were specific tunes for going to war, for triumphant returns, for imperial outings, and for welcoming guests according to their rank. Now everything was according to protocol, so what was Bian Tang dissatisfied with?

After negotiating for half an hour, Great Xia had to make concessions. Instantly, soft music sounded, and amidst the soft string and wind music played by a group of finely dressed young women, the army once again slowly set off.

Li Ce didn’t mind the injuries on his face at all, and kept lifting the carriage curtain to wave at the civilians below, with a friendly smile, appearing approachable.

This fellow, if not a cunning fox, must be a genuine fool.

Chu Qiao secretly sighed, riding on horseback with the Xiao Qi Camp, escorting Crown Prince Li Ce into the Sacred Gold Palace.

Zhao Che and Vice Commander Cheng accompanied him into the palace. Chu Qiao returned to the Xiao Qi Camp with the other soldiers. Just as they reached the entrance, she suddenly saw a black eagle circling in the sky. An archer saw it, drew his bow from his waist, and shot at it. However, an arrow came from behind, deflecting his shot.

Seeing this, the large eagle became even more arrogant, screeching loudly, and circling everyone several times before finally spreading its wings and leaving.

“Instructor Chu! Why did you deflect my arrow?”

Chu Qiao looked at the soldier with cold eyes, snorted, and rode into the camp.

After days of hard work, they finally had time to rest. As soon as everyone returned to the camp, except for the sentries on duty, all fell into sleep.

Chu Qiao wore ordinary casual clothes and quietly walked out through the side door.

The weather was getting warmer, and the Red Water Lake had thawed. Looking into the distance, she saw a man standing tall on the lakeshore, dressed in white, the breeze making him look indescribably elegant and handsome.

Chu Qiao stepped forward with a smile and said: “Who are you posing for there?”

Yan Xun turned around, smiled warmly, looked Chu Qiao up and down, and said: “Were you scared?”

“No,” the woman smiled mischievously: “I never learned how to write the word ‘fear’.”

“Stubborn.” Yan Xun laughed: “The entire palace knows now. You’ve become quite the notable figure.”

Chu Qiao was surprised: “The entire palace knows? Hasn’t anyone reported it?”

“Zhao Che said he didn’t see you hit anyone, the entire Xiao Qi Camp has a unified story, and even that Bian Tang Crown Prince doesn’t admit to being hit by you, insisting he fell. When even the victim doesn’t pursue the matter, what can the Emperor do?”

Chu Qiao covered her mouth and laughed: “Had I known, I should have hit him harder.”

“A Chu, are you adapting well to life in the military?”

“It’s alright,” Chu Qiao nodded: “Zhao Che doesn’t trust me and has tested me several times, but the situation isn’t bad. Everything is under control.”

Yan Xun nodded silently, slowly saying: “Yes, be careful. If things become untenable, don’t force yourself.”

“I understand, don’t worry.”

“I won’t keep you any longer. This token can command the people of the Da Tong Guild to serve you. You might need it outside.”

Chu Qiao took the wooden token, which was of an ancient style with a large sea eagle carved on it, and the character “Tong” written on the back.

“I’ll go first.”

“Yan Xun!”

The man turned his head, looking at her in confusion. Chu Qiao was also surprised by her momentary loss of composure. She smiled awkwardly: “Be careful on your way.”

Yan Xun smiled, his smile as warm as the spring willow breeze, his clothes fluttering as he rode away.

Chu Qiao stood silently for a long time. Only after his figure had disappeared did she slowly walk back towards the Xiao Qi Camp.

“Whoa,” Yan Xun jumped down from his horse and solemnly asked the few people who came forward: “What’s happening?”

A Jing quickly replied: “Wei Shuyou has sent people overnight to collect information about the lady beating the Bian Tang Crown Prince, and has bribed two soldiers from the Xiao Qi Camp as witnesses. They’re about to head to the Sacred Gold Palace.”

“Wei Shuyou?”

Yan Xun stopped, slowly saying.

“Young Master, what should we do? Although the Tang Crown Prince is afraid of losing face and isn’t pursuing the matter, once it’s brought to light, the lady will still be doomed.”

Yan Xun’s eyes turned cold, and he said solemnly: “Notify the Night Group to handle it.”

A Jing was stunned, murmuring: “Young Master, do you mean…?”

“Kill Wei Shuyou.” The man’s eyes instantly became more ferocious than a wolf’s, with not even a fraction of his earlier gentleness. His tone was gloomy as he slowly said: “He has lived long enough.”