The bell sounds resonated, golden lotuses bloomed in pairs, and small candle flames ignited atop the Golden Pagoda. Dazzling light immediately rose, brilliant and radiant with flowing colors. Great bells rang in unison, their sound penetrating the primordial continent, echoing across the Zhu’ao Plains and spreading throughout all of Xi Meng.

The enormous carriage procession came to a halt. Li Ce lifted the curtain and quietly gazed at the towering Golden Pagoda in the distance. His eyes were clear, his lips calm, and his slender phoenix eyes half-closed. At that moment, Chu Qiao was certain that this man was not as frivolous and unrestrained as he appeared because she saw something different in his eyes—there was excitement, admiration, unwillingness, and even frenzied sharpness.

But in the next moment, Li Ce grinned and laughed lightheartedly. He said happily, “The arrangement of those lights looks like a dancer who has stripped off her clothes—graceful figure, undulating curves. The King of Xia is truly thoughtful.”

The soldiers of Da Xia who heard this nearly coughed up blood. The lights on the Golden Pagoda depicted a five-clawed coiled golden dragon—how had they become a naked dancer in Li Ce’s eyes?

“Let’s go quickly,” Li Ce impatiently dropped the curtain. “Looking at fake things isn’t very interesting.”

Zhao Qi suppressed the anger in his heart and ordered the soldiers to continue moving forward.

“Is this how you disguise yourself for self-preservation?”

Chu Qiao’s voice suddenly sounded, calm yet carrying a hint of bewitching amusement.

Li Ce turned his head, looking the woman up and down, then suddenly reached out to wrap his arm around her waist. “You guessed correctly. I’m brilliant, wise, and learned. How about it, admire me?”

The woman didn’t resist. A honey-colored light flashed in her eyes as she narrowed them slightly and said slowly, “I’ve heard that if a person always pretends to be a fool, after a long time, they’ll become a real fool.”

“Qiao Qiao, women should be more adorable. Why are you always so aggressive?” The man smiled mischievously, seductively extending his tongue as if to lick her neck.

Chu Qiao’s hand pushed firmly against Li Ce’s chin, forcibly closing his mouth.

“Dogs that bite don’t bark, and tigers that eat people don’t show their claws and teeth all day.”

Li Ce chuckled, his warm breath blowing on Chu Qiao’s cheek. “Then tell me, am I a silent dog or a tiger hiding its claws?”

“You’re neither,” the woman smiled slowly. “You’re like a venomous snake, hiding in the grass with your patterned skin, and no one knows when you’ll jump out to bite someone.”

“Haha!” Li Ce suddenly laughed loudly, as if he had encountered something hilarious. After a while, he said intermittently, “Qiao Qiao, you are interesting. I’m increasingly convinced of my unique taste.”

“You’ll soon learn just how unique your taste is.”

Li Ce’s voice was low and hoarse as he slowly leaned closer. “How soon?”

“Very soon.”

A crisp “crack” suddenly sounded. Chu Qiao made a scissor motion with her hand and twisted backward, dislocating one of Li Ce’s arms. But before Li Ce could cry out in pain, another series of crisp sounds rang out, and in a flash, she had reattached his arm.

“Let me tell you, I’m not someone you can afford to provoke.”

The woman knelt in the carriage, one hand on the floor, the other pointing at Li Ce’s nose. With a cold expression and icy tone, she said slowly, “I could kill you with the flick of a finger. Keeping me by your side is detrimental to you with no benefits. You’d better leave yourself an escape route when you act. I am not someone who will allow myself to be used.”

Li Ce blinked, then suddenly chuckled, saying, “Qiao Qiao is so fierce! But it’s okay, I’ll win you over with my sincerity.”

Chu Qiao said no more and immediately returned to her seat. She had said all she needed to say. She would respond to whatever came her way—let’s see what tricks this Tang Crown Prince wanted to play.

“Third Prince!”

A clear voice suddenly sounded outside, and nervous guards immediately stepped forward and shouted, “Who dares block the way?”

Zhao Qi immediately interrupted the guards, stepped forward with clasped hands, and said, “So it’s Young Master Zhuge—no, I should now respectfully address you as Commander Zhuge.”

“The Third Prince jests. The Ministry of War’s official document hasn’t arrived yet; it’s too early to say who will become the Military Affairs Commander.”

“It’s the popular choice and the trend of events. Young Master Zhuge is highly talented—who else but you could be the Commander? Don’t be overly modest.”

Zhuge Yue sat on his warhorse, dressed in deep purple brocade garments. His features were handsome, his eyes like ancient wells—undisturbed, calm, without sharpness. He asked quietly, “Is that Crown Prince Li Ce’s carriage behind?”

Li Ce sat in the carriage, turned his head, and laughed softly, “Your old friend has come to find you.”

Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow slightly: “Crown Prince, you know even these old matters so thoroughly. How can anyone believe you’re just a dissolute, unrestrained young nobleman?”

Li Ce was stunned, aware he had been caught in his slip of the tongue. He then chuckled without explaining, lifted the curtain, and called out loudly, “Young Master Zhuge, I heard your flute playing in Zhen Huang City is unparalleled. Might I have the privilege of witnessing it someday?”

Zhuge Yue stood in the shadows of the lamplight, alone on horseback without attendants. The long wind blew past him, lifting dust and weeds from the ground that tumbled forward. The sky had darkened, with large patches of fiery red clouds in the gray sky, casting paint-like brilliance behind him.

The man’s gaze was not sharp but gentle, directed toward the shadow behind Li Ce, where the woman’s slender silhouette formed a soft line. Years of experience had made him reserved and low-key; the sharpness of his youth seemed to have been worn smooth. A dagger in its sheath didn’t mean safety—he was like a hidden tiger, and no one knew when he might leap from the scabbard and pierce someone with a single strike.

“Crown Prince is too kind. If there’s an opportunity in the future, I would certainly like to hear Your Highness’s skilled performance.”

“Haha,” Li Ce laughed loudly. “Well said, well said. My level is decent, not much better than yours.”

Zhao Qi frowned deeply, seemingly feeling that standing with Li Ce was beneath his dignity. He hurriedly said in a deep voice, “Young Master Zhuge, it’s getting late. Father Emperor has prepared a banquet; we should arrive early.”

Zhuge Yue smiled faintly and guided his horse aside: “Please proceed, Third Prince. I will arrive shortly.”

“Thank you.”

The wheels rolled, slowly moving forward. At the moment the carriage passed Zhuge Yue, a cold wind lifted a corner of the curtain. The profiles of the man and woman crossed paths, yet neither turned to glance at the other.

Time was too swift; they were like two unrelated meteors, barely having time to say a word of farewell the moment they brushed past each other before going their separate ways.

“Oh my…” Li Ce shook his head and sighed. “The fallen flower has intentions to follow the flowing water, but alas, the flowing water does not understand love. Qiao Qiao came to see you so openly, yet you didn’t even offer a smile. How unromantic of you.”

Chu Qiao didn’t even look at him, continuing to remain silent.

“Qiao Qiao,” Li Ce suddenly came forward with a smile and said, “If I killed Zhuge Yue, what would you do?”

Chu Qiao closed her eyes and remained silent.

“Then, what if I killed Zhao Song?”

“I would kill you,” the woman said without hesitation, coldly.

“Ah, how ruthless.” Li Ce sighed and continued asking, “Then, what if I killed the Yan Young Master?”

The woman suddenly opened her eyes and looked coldly at the man, saying firmly, word by word, “If that were to happen, I would spend my entire life fighting you to the death, destroy Bian Tang, and then let you live worse than a pig or dog.”

The Crown Prince of Bian Tang was suddenly stunned. What had been intended as a jest instantly made the surrounding air freeze.

Many years later, when Li Ce recalled that moment, he suddenly understood why he had lost his composure. It wasn’t because of this young woman’s strong confidence, nor her firm tone, nor did he truly believe at the time that such a small woman would have the ability to accomplish such a thing. He simply felt somewhat melancholy—if he died, would anyone speak such firm words for him?

The man in the dragon robe raised his wine flask and drank, realizing that a true confidant was always the most luxurious thing in this world. Even if you possessed the world, you could not obtain it.

One’s precious head, left for the ruler; one’s passionate blood, devoted only to a true friend.

The carriage moved slowly toward the magnificent, golden palace.

The Trading House closed early today. The gates were tightly shut. Lady Yu spread out the map of Zhen Huang City, looked at her subordinates, and said in a deep voice, “Does everyone understand?”

“My lady?” Xi Rui frowned. “Do we have to do this?”

Lady Yu nodded firmly. “Since we have chosen to follow our young master, we must follow his orders unconditionally.”

“But we don’t even know what we’re doing!”

“Not every action requires those above to tell us in detail the reasons and directions.”

“Can’t even the lady guess?”

“No, I cannot guess,” Lady Yu nodded, saying in a low voice, “But I know that something big is going to happen tonight.”

With a “bang,” Zhao Che threw down his wine cup and said coldly, “Prepare my court attire. This prince is going to the palace.”

“Your Highness,” Deputy Commander Cheng stepped forward and said carefully, “Tonight’s banquet is mysterious and unpredictable. Didn’t Your Highness previously plan to stay away?”

Zhao Che frowned slightly, slowly turned his head, and said in a low tone, “This prince says I am going to the palace now.”

Deputy Commander Cheng was stunned, then knelt with a clang and answered, “This subordinate obeys the command.”

The night wind blew from the west, passing over the newly sprouting wild grass outside Zhen Huang City. A hundred years later, someone would gently open that dusty historical scroll and couldn’t help but marvel at Emperor Jing Yun’s superb political skill. This entire Zhen Huang City was like a chess game—chaotic, seemingly separate systems with no connection to each other. But he casually picked up a corner piece, a piece in a humble, inconspicuous position, which instantly disrupted the entire chess situation. Zhen Huang City, in an instant, began to stir with activity.

“Purple… Golden… Qian… Gate…, Crown Prince of Bian Tang arrives…”

“Purple… Glory… The path…, Crown Prince of Bian Tang arrives…”

“Purple… Splendor… Cloud… Palace…, Crown Prince of Bian Tang arrives…”

…

The carriage drove into the Sacred Golden Palace. Red lanterns surrounded it, and the red doors were wide open. A row of eunuchs stretched their flowing voices, shouting in succession. Their voices penetrated the sky, echoing as they rose.

This was Chu Qiao’s first time entering the Sacred Golden Palace through the main hall, main route, and main gate. She closed her eyes, sitting upright in the back of the carriage, yet she could sense the sweet-smelling harmony incense in the air. Fate was a marvelous journey. She had always tried to help others break free from their constraints, but before accomplishing anything significant, she found herself entangled in threads, gradually being pulled in.

Darkness swallowed the last ray of light on the horizon. Night fell, lanterns blazed, and in the distance, grand music rose ethereally.

Li Ce walked down from the carriage with the assistance of palace servants, then raised his smiling face to welcome the woman—a beautiful smile that even carried a hint of enchantment.

“Qiao Qiao, come.”

Still dressed in light armor, Chu Qiao didn’t even glance at him, nimbly jumping down from the carriage. Li Ce laughed heartily beside her, clapping his hands and saying, “Qiao Qiao has such skill!”

Chu Qiao didn’t pay him any attention. A long wind came from afar, blowing against her thin clothes, quite chilly. She raised her head to look at the magnificent palace, feeling a chill down her spine and cold throughout her body.

Suddenly, a warm gaze shot over from behind. She frowned and turned around with an instinctive connection.

In the dim lantern light, among the sea of heads, countless noble lords, ministers, and young ladies of the imperial court walked across the vast square. Luxurious carriages and fine horses passed each other, shoulder to shoulder. Guards in blue uniforms protected them, flowing like water as they called out auspicious and healthy blessings. With a piercing gaze that cut through the layers of figures, Chu Qiao suddenly saw him. Her heart instantly warmed, and the world lost all sound at that moment.

Yan Xun, dressed in white, with handsome features and eyes as gentle as a spring lake in March, stood with his hands behind his back on the far side of the square. Too many people passed between them, like silhouettes. Yan Xun looked at her, gently tugged at the corner of his mouth, smiled warmly, and then opened his mouth, silently saying, “Don’t be afraid.”

Like a person adrift in the deep sea suddenly seeing a lighthouse, the woman smiled gently, her eyes like stars. She pressed her lips together and slowly nodded.

“Qiao Qiao?” Li Ce’s voice sounded behind her with a soft tone. Chu Qiao was startled, and when she looked up again, Yan Xun’s figure had disappeared into the sea of people. But she was no longer worried.

They were together—entered together and would certainly leave together. No matter what situation one encountered, the other would always stand behind them at the first opportunity.

Chu Qiao turned around, suddenly without fear.

“Qiao Qiao, come.” Li Ce’s smile was bewitching and enchanting, his voice hoarse, his gaze flitting about. “Let me take you in.”

Let me take you in—into this golden cage, into this brilliant palace, into the center of the power vortex. You were meant to belong there, never meant for a simple life.

Let me lead you in.

Chu Qiao’s expression was calm. She glanced at Li Ce, then lifted her feet and walked first toward that magnificent place.

In the distance, drums and horns played together, and the chimes rang continuously. Everything was in an intoxicated, dreamlike clamor.

If I have no way to retreat, then at least I can choose to move forward.

This day was the most important in Chu Qiao’s life. On this day, she entered the most noble place in the Da Xia Dynasty as an archery instructor who had just been freed from slavery. She entered the sight of the empire’s nobles in a way that caught everyone’s attention.

From now on, the world would remember this name. Her surname was Chu, her given name Qiao. At sixteen years of age, in the near future, she would, with the strength of a commoner, change the fate of the world.