A harsh wind swept through the dense forest, like the low breathing of a beast. Before dawn, it began to rain—a torrential downpour with mud and water splashing everywhere. Chu Qiao knelt on the grass, her eyes alert like a wolf’s, gazing sharply forward through the thick trees ahead.
A group of over a hundred people cautiously approached. All wore black clothes with covered faces, their long blades unsheathed. Each step they took was careful as they glanced left and right vigilantly. Four massive hunting dogs walked at the front, leading the group slowly toward where the young woman was hiding.
At this moment, it was no longer appropriate to think about why she had been exposed despite her caution. She pushed aside all thoughts, quietly hiding, waiting for the moment of crisis to arrive.
Suddenly the hunting dogs began to bark furiously. Everyone immediately stopped, then collectively charged toward Chu Qiao’s position!
With a sharp “swoosh,” the young woman drew her sword. The cold light of the broken moon flashed in the sky, illuminating her pale yet resilient face.
“Attack!” A short, low command rang out. The black-clothed figures immediately advanced together. Cold blade edges cut through the heavy darkness, creating a desolate, grim atmosphere all around.
“Zing!” In a flash of bright sword light, two heads simultaneously flew into the air. The young woman’s movements were agile and without hesitation, like a sharp eagle in lightning, showing no sign of her serious injuries. As everyone watched in shock, Chu Qiao slowly withdrew her sword. The two headless bodies still maintained their charging posture, taking two more steps forward, passing by Chu Qiao before falling into the muddy water with a splash. Blood sprayed everywhere, staining the young woman’s long boots red.
Stepping forward, drawing the sword, chopping down, and withdrawing—there was no shouting to intimidate, no superfluous fancy moves. She was quick, clean, and delivered fatal blows with a single strike!
A thunderous crash sounded as lightning momentarily illuminated the young woman’s pale yet resilient face. No one dared to approach. After traveling a hundred miles in pursuit, these assassins who faced death daily had never felt fear before. But at this moment, facing the young woman’s resolute, cold gaze and decisive, bold moves, they were afraid.
The hesitation lasted only an instant. In the next moment, the leader gave a low command, and the hundred black-clothed assassins charged forward with weapons in hand, their eyes hard as iron.
Rolling thunder roared overhead as heavy rain poured down. Treading on bloody mud, over a hundred assassins wielding battle knives surged forward, surrounding the frail young woman. There were no shouts, no sounds of fighting—everything was covered by the thunder and rain. Yet in the cold rainwater, chaotic silhouettes flashed like lightning, intertwining as blood splattered. Broken limbs and blood clots stuck to tree trunks. Years of training and experience allowed the surrounding young woman to move like a graceful dragon. Although the situation remained completely unfavorable, she showed not the slightest weakness or submission.
The assassins’ hearts pounded wildly, their blood silently boiling. All swords were unsheathed, their footsteps moving slightly. Facing the just-concluded round of slaughter, everyone was terrified. They formed a circle, slowly backing away, their eyes watching like hawks at the young woman who stood maintaining her attack posture among the crowd. At the leader’s signal, they all reached behind their waists.
There, gleaming with silver light, was a row of half-meter-long javelins.
“Kill!” The leader suddenly shouted in a low voice, throwing his spear at Chu Qiao.
In an instant, over a hundred people struck simultaneously. Countless short spears shot toward Chu Qiao from all directions, leaving trails of silver light in the air!
The cold wind howled and heavy rain poured down. Even if this woman had three heads and six arms, she couldn’t possibly escape alive from such a decisive attack!
However, at that moment, with a “whoosh” sound, a silver arrow suddenly shot through the air, followed immediately by a black rope descending from above. Like a nimble snake, it wrapped around the young woman’s slender waist. As tremendous force transmitted through it, the young woman was lifted vertically upward just as the spears were about to hit!
The black-clothed assassins were shocked and quickly raised their heads to shoot arrows. In mid-air, a figure streaked past like a shooting star. His sword scattered light in all directions, blocking the dense rain of arrows. The hook in his hand seemed to have eyes, casting out repeatedly, carrying his body rapidly through the forest!
Lightning and thunder rolled by. As the assassins looked up, countless hooks came flying through the air, and another batch of black-clothed masked men instantly flew in, descending from the sky.
“Master must leave first!”
The leading black-clothed man cut an opponent’s neck with one slash and shouted fiercely. Several black-clothed men stepped forward to protect Chu Qiao and the man who had just landed. Blade edges flew like snowflakes, and dozens of horse hooves churned in the mud, splashing everywhere.
“Go!” The man’s voice was deep, his emotions unreadable. He grabbed the young woman’s waist, jumped onto a warhorse, and rode away.
“Stop them!”
The enemy shouted. The assassins immediately moved to intercept. The man snorted coldly, piercing an assassin’s throat with his sword. Blood instantly sprayed out, splattering into another assassin’s eyes. That man was momentarily confused and before he could react, his chest was pierced by an arrow.
With a loud “bang,” the man suddenly pulled the reins. The warhorse reared up, its powerful legs kicking two assassins in the chest. Instantly, the assassins’ chest bones shattered, blood gushing out as their bodies flew more than three meters away, crashing hard into four other assassins.
Seeing they were no match, the assassin leader pulled out a cylinder from his waist and shot it into the sky. A light blue firework flew up, covering the entire area.
“Hold tight!” the man said in a deep voice, whipping the horse to gallop away.
Countless hoofbeats pursued from behind. Chu Qiao was held tightly in the man’s arms. The biting wind blew from both sides, and the rain flew wildly, but little of it hit her. Countless torches lit up along the mountain slopes in the dense forest. It was impossible to know exactly how many enemies surrounded them, nor could they distinguish which were imperial troops, and which were black-clothed assassins.
“It’s the young master!”
A short voice suddenly sounded from ahead. Black-clothed masked men passed by them, nodding respectfully as their eyes met, then drawing their weapons. Daggers gleamed coldly, swords shone like rainbows as they unhesitatingly confronted the blood-thirsty wolves pursuing from behind.
“Young master, straight ahead!”
“Young master, enemies eighty steps to the west!”
“Young master, support in the south!”
“Young master, support in the northwest!”
“Young master, support in the due east!”
Fighting all the way through, wave after wave of escorts arrived bravely. The man’s expression remained unchanged as he handled the horse with one hand while holding the young woman tightly with the other, gradually leaving the noisy sounds behind.
The dense forest suddenly disappeared, and a grassland swaying like ocean waves appeared before them. Chu Qiao’s chest immediately felt lighter. Her palm was covered in blood. Looking up, she said in a deep voice, “Your arm is injured.”
The man still had his face covered, dressed entirely in black, riding a dark horse. He looked down, his eyes narrowing into a line, and asked, “Where is Li Ce?”
Chu Qiao answered honestly, “He escaped.”
“You go first.” The man immediately jumped off the horse and said to the guard at his side, “Take the lady back to the city.”
“Yan Xun!”
Chu Qiao hurriedly dismounted, her legs going weak, and almost fell to the ground. The man quickly turned around and caught her, asking in a deep voice, “What are you doing?”
“I should be the one asking you that.” Chu Qiao frowned. “What are you going to do?”
Yan Xun’s brow furrowed as he said coldly, “I’m going to kill him.”
“Have you gone mad? The Green Banner Army and the Valiant Cavalry are in there. It’s too late now; the opportunity has passed.”
Yan Xun shook his head coldly. “You don’t need to worry. I have my ways. You go back to the city with them first.”
“No!” Chu Qiao grabbed Yan Xun’s arm firmly and said determinedly, “While Li Ce’s death would bring enormous benefits, it would also bring endless trouble. With my involvement, you would be the primary suspect, especially since you left the city so openly. One misstep and you could be bound by the Xia Emperor and sent back to Bian Tang to die. Eliminating Li Ce now does nothing to help the overall situation. You have no reason to do this, and I cannot let you go back and take such a risk!”
“He almost got you killed. That’s reason enough.”
Yan Xun’s gaze was firm, his voice deep. He reached out and tightly embraced Chu Qiao’s shoulders, then let go and said gravely, “This man is too dangerous. I cannot convince myself to let him remain in this world, especially so close to you, not even for a day. Ah Chu, go back and wait for me.”
Chu Qiao stood rooted to the spot, watching Yan Xun’s figure quickly disappear into the thick darkness with his galloping horse. She felt her heart burning like boiling water, heavy guilt and self-reproach crawling like ants through her heart and lungs.
She had never made such a mistake before. She had the opportunity to prevent all this from happening. Even after it happened, she should have been able to turn things around to her advantage, but she hadn’t. In the critical moment, she had even dragged Yan Xun into the mess. She had made a terrible mistake and regretted it deeply.
“My lady!”
The guard was suddenly alarmed as Chu Qiao nimbly mounted a horse and galloped in the direction where Yan Xun had disappeared. The guard was startled and quickly followed, calling out loudly, “My lady, where are you going? The young master instructed me to take you back to the city.”
“To retrieve the head of the Crown Prince of Bian Tang,” the woman said coldly, then whipped her horse forward. “Hya!”
Under the pitch-black sky, a warhorse stood on the plank road. The man on horseback wore black clothes and had black hair, maintaining the face-covering style that was particularly popular tonight. Behind him were countless black-clothed swordsmen.
The clear sound of hooves mixed with the noisy rain came from afar. A scout jumped down with a splash, knelt in the muddy water, and said in a deep voice, “Fourth Young Master, we followed the clues but couldn’t find the target. Instead, we engaged with a woman accompanying the target and suffered heavy casualties.”
The man’s sharp eyebrows immediately rose, his face turning cold as he asked in a deep voice, “What about the woman?”
The scout became nervous, stuttering, “We were about to succeed when suddenly a group of black-clothed men appeared out of nowhere. They were skilled and rescued the woman.”
“Black-clothed men?”
“Yes, not from the Valiant Cavalry, nor the Green Banner Army, nor the city defense forces or Bian Tang troops.”
The man frowned deeply and remained silent for a long time. After a while, he asked in a deep voice, “Was the woman injured?”
The soldier was taken aback and carefully answered, “This… I’m not entirely sure, but she killed more than ten of our men by herself, and more than a dozen brothers were injured. I imagine she can’t be in good shape either. Even if we hadn’t attacked, she might not have survived.”
The man was silent for a while, then suddenly whipped his horse and rode forward.
A short time later.
Thunder, heavy rain, wilderness, cavalry crossing, formations like the sea, swords and blades like mountains—magnificent and grand.
The soldiers were all covered in black clothes. The two sides faced each other without any insignias on their attire, no family army numbers. Neither side intended to step forward and introduce themselves.
Their sudden encounter on this narrow path momentarily stunned both sides. They wore almost identical clothing and had almost identical cold demeanors. But just by looking at how they were arranged and their silent expressions, it was clear that the opposing forces had come with ill intent—they were enemies, not friends.
A cold wind slowly blew between them. Time moved infinitely slowly yet infinitely quickly. Mysteriously, no one dared to draw their weapon first or utter a word. They just silently confronted each other, less than a hundred paces apart, letting the pouring rainfall between them.
A crisp “crack” suddenly sounded—someone’s weapon making noise. As if it were contagious, in the flash of lightning that followed, countless battle knives were simultaneously unsheathed. Cold bows and arrows instantly aimed at the opposing forces. Horses whinnied softly, and human voices rose slightly. After a brief moment of chaos, tensions rose, and a great battle was about to erupt!
“Whoa!”
A horse’s neigh suddenly came through. A young woman rode toward them, saw the two coldly arrayed sides, and was immediately startled. She then quickly rode toward one side.
“Who are they?”
Chu Qiao arrived at Yan Xun’s side and asked in a deep voice.
Yan Xun frowned: “Your actions today have fallen far below your usual standards. Have you now completely forgotten what I just told you?”
“Only I can find him,” Chu Qiao said gravely. “If you want to eliminate him, you shouldn’t have sent me away.”
The man’s eyes slowly narrowed as he tilted his head slightly: “If something were to happen to you, what would be the point of me killing him?”
Chu Qiao felt a pain in her heart. She grabbed Yan Xun’s sleeve and said softly, “Yan Xun…”
“Ah Chu, I’m in a very bad mood right now. Don’t speak to me. I don’t want to take my anger out on you.”
Chu Qiao was taken aback. She saw Yan Xun ride forward, his back straight but with an indescribable sense of desolation. Opposite them in the darkness still lurked a sizeable force, like bats in the night, blocking their path on this stormy evening.
The people on the other side had also seen Chu Qiao’s figure when she rejoined the group. The leading man frowned deeply, staring at the ink-like darkness opposite for a long time. Suddenly a gust of wind blew, the rain slanting, feeling ice-cold as it hit their bodies. The man’s brow tightened, and he suddenly raised a hand, lightly waving it.
All weapons immediately sheathed, arrows lowered. Sensing that the other side no longer had the will to fight, Yan Xun’s forces also lowered their bows, arrows, knives, and swords.
The two teams that had almost drawn swords upon meeting now restrained their fighting spirit. They didn’t speak but tentatively rode forward. Seeing no objection from the other side, they proceeded toward their respective destinations.
As they passed each other, the two groups observed one another but could only see pairs of sharp eyes beneath the black cloth.
“Young Master,” a guard stepped forward and said in a deep voice, “That woman just now is the one who was with our target earlier.”
“Indeed.”
The guard was startled, his face showing anxiety: “More than a dozen of our brothers fell by her hand.”
“Are assassins afraid of death?” The man’s eyes were cold as he looked up obliquely. “You couldn’t even identify the target clearly, yet engaged in meaningless combat with others. I’m truly surprised you’ve survived until now.”
The guard was stunned and couldn’t say a word. Suddenly, a silver signal flashed above the dense forest. The leading man frowned and headed toward the forest.
Yan Xun didn’t return along the original path through the dense forest but headed toward the side gate of Zhen Huang. Chu Qiao followed behind and asked puzzledly, “Aren’t we going anymore?”
Yan Xun frowned deeply and said in a deep voice, “Didn’t you see that group just now? If even they couldn’t succeed, it would be difficult for us too.”
“Yan Xun?”
“Don’t say anymore. We’ll talk when we’re back at the residence.”
The large group arrived at the west side of Zhen Huang, where a blue-cloth carriage was already waiting. Yan Xun and Chu Qiao, along with several close attendants, quickly dismounted and entered the carriage, slowly heading toward the city gate.
People secretly assisted them all the way, helping them enter quietly through the side gate. The carriage made a turn at the largest tavern and brothel in Zhen Huang City before heading toward the inner city.
By the time they returned to the residence, it was already dawn. The edge of the sky was turning white, and the downpour that had lasted all night finally stopped as daybreak approached. Because the Crown Prince of Bian Tang had been abducted, the entire palace was deadly silent. Yet beneath such silence, how many people could truly sleep soundly was unpredictable.
Quietly entering the residence from West Tai Garden, the carriage stopped. Yan Xun didn’t even look at the woman behind him as he got out first, his face ashen. As he walked, he tore open the wet collar of his clothes, irritably pushing away the hot towel offered by a maid.
The servants were as quiet as cicadas in winter. Everything indicated the master was in a very bad mood. Everyone knelt on the ground in terror, not daring to breathe.
Yan Xun indeed had reason to be angry. He was angry that the usually cautious and prudent Chu Qiao had left the city with Li Ce, that cunning fox whose depths couldn’t be fathomed. He was angry that she hadn’t even sent someone to notify him before making this decision. He was even angrier that she had been unable to escape for so long—with her skills and experience in forest combat, why had she been injured, why had she been forced into a desperate situation? He couldn’t imagine what would have happened if he had arrived a step too late—how could she have escaped that dense array of spears?
Many words were pent up in his heart. Yan Xun was very angry. He sat in the main hall, his face ashen, lips tightly pressed, waiting for the person who had made the big mistake to walk in and explain everything that had happened last night, and to bear the anger she deserved.
This anger had been building for a long time and absolutely could not be dismissed just like that.
Yan Xun said to himself inwardly, almost reciting the lines he would say. But he waited for a long time and didn’t see the person who had made the mistake walk in voluntarily.
What had happened?
Yan Xun’s brow furrowed deeper. Could it be that she didn’t even plan to explain anything to him and had just gone back to her room alone?
After waiting for the time it took to drink two cups of tea, Yan Xun could no longer sit still. He stood up abruptly and strode out of the hall. All the servants still knelt on the ground, none daring to raise their heads or speak. He quickly walked to Chu Qiao’s room and pushed the door open, his prepared anger immediately bursting forth: “Come out here!”
There was no response. Yan Xun frowned as he looked inside—the room was empty.
He carefully walked to the bathroom and gently knocked on the door, still with no response.
The Prince of Yan Bei was truly getting angry now. After so much had happened, she hadn’t even taken the initiative to come and explain to him. Didn’t she know how anxious he had been when he learned she was caught in an assassination attempt? Didn’t she feel that her actions had seriously affected the overall situation? Didn’t she feel that her interactions with the Crown Prince of Bian Tang were a bit too close?
Corridor, study, flower hall, warm chamber, courtyard…
After walking around everywhere, he still couldn’t find her. Yan Xun’s face grew increasingly grim. Could it be that she had returned to Shang Yi Fang without even saying goodbye to him?
“Your… Your Highness…” A small voice suddenly sounded beside his ear. Yan Xun turned his head to see Chu Qiao’s maid, Lu Liu, carefully standing before him, cautiously saying, “Are you, are you looking for Miss Chu?”
Yan Xun raised an eyebrow: “Where is she?”
Lu Liu raised her finger, pointing lightly at the carriage parked in the courtyard.
Yan Xun was startled. He frowned as he walked to the carriage, swiftly lifting the curtain, and froze on the spot.
His expression gradually changed from anger to tenderness, seemingly somewhat amused, somewhat helpless, and somewhat heartbroken. Finally, he sighed, and all his grievances and anger instantly vanished.
This day and night had truly exhausted Chu Qiao. Too many life-and-death struggles had drained her physically and mentally. She had suffered serious injuries and lost too much blood. If she had been barely holding on before, after seeing him, her spirit had relaxed. She had fallen into deep sleep before the carriage even entered the city. At this moment, wearing a night suit she had seized, the young woman’s face looked even paler, her shoulder stained with blood, her body soaking wet, her beautiful hair scattered over her shoulders, appearing quite disheveled. But her brow was relaxed as if she had finally returned home, no longer afraid of the storm outside.
Yan Xun’s rage had completely dissipated, with no outlet left for its release. He frowned with heartache and carefully reached out to lift the young woman. She was as light as a kitten, having retracted all her sharp claws, lying quietly in his arms, no longer resembling the fierce woman whose strikes brought instant death.
Feeling the warmth around her, with his familiar scent filling her nostrils, Chu Qiao slept even more deeply, stubbornly refusing to wake up. She moved slightly, startling Yan Xun, but she hadn’t awakened—she was just finding a more comfortable position in his arms to continue her deep slumber.
The man’s expression showed some frustration as he muttered, “After causing such a big problem, you think you can just get away with it like this?”
The woman in his arms didn’t move at all, automatically filtering out all words unfavorable to her. Yan Xun stood holding her for a long time, then suddenly sighed helplessly and carried her to her room.
He instructed the maids to prepare hot water for her bath and called for a doctor. Despite all the bustle, the sleeping woman showed no signs of waking. Yan Xun stood at the bedside of the sweetly sleeping woman, looking at the shocking wound on her shoulder. His brows furrowed with heartache as his fingertips gently slid across her cheek. He sighed helplessly: “We’ll settle accounts when you wake up—if I’m still angry by then.”
With that, he gently pulled up her blanket, brushed her bangs, and turned to walk out the door.
As soon as the room quieted, the supposedly sleeping woman immediately opened her eyes, carefully looked around, and then let out a long breath.
No one could be stripped naked, thrown into a bathtub, and remain asleep. She had awakened when he carried her from the carriage but had been pretending to sleep the whole time with her eyes closed.
Although the wound on her shoulder had been treated, it still stung painfully. She slowly sat up, her stomach growling with hunger. Getting out of bed, she walked to the table and looked around but couldn’t find a single pastry. Chu Qiao frowned as she picked up the teapot and, without using a cup, drank directly from the spout.
The liquid was cold and bitter, obviously old tea from several days ago.
Just then, the sound of footsteps suddenly approached. Chu Qiao was startled and hurriedly climbed back into bed, closing her eyes to pretend she was still sleeping.
The door opened, and the aroma of food wafted in. Yan Xun was carrying a tray with several steaming dishes and a bowl of thick soup with rice. There was a hint of realization in his eyes. He glanced at Chu Qiao’s slightly disheveled blanket, calmly placed the tray on the table, and then walked out.
“Whenever you’re willing to wake up, come find me in the study.”
The man’s voice drifted in slowly. Chu Qiao opened her eyes with annoyance and sighed helplessly.
What comes must come, and trouble can’t be avoided. She resigned herself to getting up, ate a hearty meal, and then fell back into a deep sleep.
Explanations? She would deal with that later.
Right now, she just wanted to sleep deeply.
Even the longest dreams must end. When a day passed, then a night and the sun rose again, she knew she couldn’t avoid it any longer.
With a creak, the door to the study has slowly opened a crack. Just as Chu Qiao was about to peek inside, Lu Liu suddenly called out loudly from behind her: “Miss, are you looking for the Young Master? He’s inside!”
Dark clouds gathered overhead—an inauspicious start. Chu Qiao resignedly opened the door.
The study was empty, and the inner room was completely quiet. Chu Qiao frowned as she looked around. At the bottom of the screen, a pair of white cloth indoor shoes was visible. She knew Yan Xun was behind the screen.
“Ahem,” she deliberately cleared her throat, but the person inside showed no reaction and didn’t say a word. Chu Qiao’s expression darkened—it seemed this time, Yan Xun was truly angry. She had acted independently against his wishes several times before, but after hiding for a while, his anger would subside. This time the problem seemed more serious. She gently bit her lip and slowly said, “Yan Xun, I know I made a mistake this time. I apologize to you.”
Yan Xun still didn’t speak. Helplessly, Chu Qiao continued, “I shouldn’t have followed Li Ce out of the city. I knew there would be problems, but I ignored the potential dangers and failed to assess the situation. I only wanted to get close to him, to understand Bian Tang’s internal affairs, and to find out the Bian Tang royal family’s views on slavery. The Datong has long wanted to establish a branch in the Bian Tang capital, and I wanted to explore the feasibility. I also wanted to know the Bian Tang royal family’s attitude toward Yan Bei. If we break away from Da Xia in the future, and if Bian Tang is pleased to support us from behind, just as they supported Yunlou City’s independence before, it would be of great help to us.”
Yan Xun remained silent. Chu Qiao slightly furrowed her brow, pressed her lips, and continued, “I know that after the ambush, I shouldn’t have saved him. I should have immediately taken the opportunity to kill him. I had several chances but failed to act. I completely missed a great opportunity for Yan Bei’s revival. I involved you in risking your life to save me and mobilizing the Datong and Yan Bei assassin networks. I know I’ve caused big trouble this time.”
Yan Xun still didn’t say a word. Chu Qiao became a bit upset. She frowned and said, “Yan Xun, I’ve already apologized to you. Won’t you forgive me?”
“Miss!”
The little maid Lu Liu suddenly pushed open the door and called from the doorway, “The Young Master asks you to come for a meal.”
“What?” Chu Qiao was stunned, her expression bewildered. “He’s in the dining hall?”
“Yes,” the little maid said somewhat fearfully. “The Young Master just left. I didn’t notice.”
Chu Qiao’s face immediately darkened terribly. She strode behind the screen only to find that there was merely a pair of shoes placed there. The young woman grabbed the shoes from the floor, angrily threw them down, and shouted at the maid, “How can things be placed so carelessly? What use are all of you?”
With that, she turned and walked out of the study.
The little maid felt wronged. She picked up the shoes from the floor and said with pursed lips, “They’ve always been kept here.”
In the dining hall, Yan Xun was eating at the table. Seeing Chu Qiao storm in angrily, he slowly raised his head, raised an eyebrow slightly, and said calmly, “Awake?”
Chu Qiao glanced at him without speaking, walked to the table, and began eating, making the dishes and chopsticks clatter loudly.
Yan Xun frowned slightly: She made the mistake, yet she dared to act so defiant?
At this moment, A Jing happened to enter the dining hall, gave Chu Qiao a strange look, then leaned close to Yan Xun and whispered a few words. Upon hearing this, Yan Xun’s expression became somewhat strange, but he said nothing and continued eating.
The dishes were cleared away and fresh flower tea was served as the servants withdrew. Yan Xun took a sip of tea and slowly said, “Crown Prince Li is fine. He was found by the Valiant Cavalry and returned to the palace even before we did.”
Chu Qiao remained silent, lowering her head to concentrate on drinking tea.
“He reported to the Emperor about how bravely you rescued him. The Emperor greatly commends you, has sent many rewards, and also allows you to continue recuperating without returning to Shangyi Fang for duty for now.”
“The assassins haven’t been found yet. Zhenhuang City is now in a state of panic with guards everywhere. Even Princess Huaisong’s carriage was delayed entering the city.”
At this point, Yan Xun slowly took a sip of tea, suddenly smiled, and said in a gentle tone, “A Jing says the servants just saw you muttering to yourself in my study for a long time. What were you saying?”
“I can say whatever I want. Why should I tell you?”
Yan Xun was taken aback. This was the first time he had heard Chu Qiao speak in such a tone. He smiled lightly and said, “Ah Chu, why are you acting like a child? This isn’t like you.”
“Then how should I act?” Chu Qiao stood up abruptly and said coldly, “Always cautious, careful, and calculating every step? Everyone makes mistakes. I’m human too, Yan Xun. I’ve already apologized to you.”
Yan Xun smiled wryly: “Ah Chu, I haven’t blamed you for anything. Besides, you haven’t apologized to me.”
Chu Qiao felt stifled in her chest, appearing somewhat unreasonable as she said, “Then I’ll say it now, alright? Prince Yan, I admit my mistake. Thank you for your trouble. I’m leaving now. We may never meet again.”
“Stop!” Yan Xun suddenly shouted coldly, rushing forward to stand before her, and said gravely, “What are you making a fuss about? Ah Chu, you’ve never been like this, and you shouldn’t be like this!”
Chu Qiao felt a pain in her heart. The emotions she had suppressed all day suddenly surfaced. Her eyes reddened, but she still held her head up defiantly: “It’s precisely because I’ve never made mistakes before, I’ve never held you back—just this once, and you can’t forgive me?”
Yan Xun was stunned. Chu Qiao tilted her head up, her small face with red eyes.
“For a day and a night, I didn’t know how to speak to you. I hated myself too, for being so careless, for being so soft and hesitant. I nearly ruined everything. I nearly got you killed. I missed a great opportunity. I was wrong. Yan Xun, I know I was wrong. I should have helped you, but instead, I made things worse. When I think about it, I regret it so much I want to bash my head against a wall. I don’t know how to face you, how to face A Jing and the others. How could I have made such a mistake?”
“Ah Chu, stop!”
“Many people died, and surely some suspect you. You’ve hidden yourself so well all these years, yet now it’s almost all for nothing. I—”
“Ah Chu!” Yan Xun suddenly embraced Chu Qiao, his expression grave, brows tightly knit, his chin resting on top of the woman’s head as he said solemnly, “It’s my fault. I should have checked on you earlier and not let you worry so much.”
Chu Qiao leaned against Yan Xun’s chest, feeling the warmth flowing from his shoulders. Her eyes were red and swollen, almost on the verge of tears.
“Ah Chu, I don’t blame you. I’m not afraid of danger or suspicion—none of what you mentioned frightens me. I was angry, but only angry that you allowed yourself to be injured, angry that you let yourself fall into such a predicament, angry that you didn’t consult with me before acting and instead ventured into the tiger’s den alone. Ah Chu, we’ve faced life and death together for many years. How could I hold any grievance against you? I’m only angry at myself for not being capable enough to protect you, for letting you be bullied, for not being able to shield you at the first moment.”
“I didn’t mean to trick you, nor was I angry with you. I haven’t slept well all day. I was just afraid—what if I had arrived a moment too late? What if those people had killed you? What would have happened to me? But I couldn’t figure it out. I know that if that had happened, I wouldn’t have been able to control my emotions. I can’t imagine what I might have done in that situation. Ah Chu, you scared me. When I saw those spears pointing at you, I truly wanted to kill everyone.”
Chu Qiao pressed her lips together and wrapped her arms around the man’s waist, her voice somewhat muffled: “I’m sorry for lashing out at you.”
Yan Xun sighed: “I understand. You just feel guilty. It’s my fault for not telling you sooner—no one was killed last night, and only a few people were slightly injured. We retreated in time, and no one knew I left the city. You needn’t worry.”
Chu Qiao stepped away from Yan Xun’s embrace, suddenly feeling embarrassed. It had been many years since she had behaved like this. The momentary loss of emotional control just now was somewhat inexplicable. Yan Xun was right—ever since the ambush, she had been filled with regret and guilt. She feared involving Yan Xun, feared him leaving the city to find her, and feared exposing the Datong organization. Yet everything she feared had happened one after another. Her loss of control may have been because she couldn’t face her failure. In such an environment, failure equaled suicide. She could commit suicide, but she couldn’t drag others down with her.
“Yan Xun, I’ll be more careful in the future.”
Yan Xun smiled helplessly and put his arm around her shoulders again: “Don’t go anywhere. Just stay honestly by my side and wait for me to take you away.”
Chu Qiao looked up at Yan Xun’s eyes, momentarily feeling dazed. The night of fighting had left her extremely exhausted. Now, having put her worries aside, a heavy fatigue swept over her. But no matter how tired she was, she couldn’t rest. After all, they hadn’t left this place yet. This heavily guarded imperial city was full of hidden arrows and bombs that could pierce one’s heart at any moment. She could never allow herself to make such a basic mistake again.
“Alright, let’s make peace. Can we eat properly now?”
Chu Qiao was startled: “Didn’t we just finish eating?”
“I finished. You hardly ate anything.”
The wounds on Chu Qiao’s body still hurt, and her appetite wasn’t good. She shook her head and said, “I can’t eat anymore. I’m done.”
“You have to eat even if you can’t.” Yan Xun ordered the servants to bring another table of food and sat beside Chu Qiao watching her eat.
Chu Qiao felt uncomfortable under his gaze and frowned, asking, “Don’t you have anything else to do?”
Yan Xun smiled: “Everyone in the city is busy today, except for me who is most leisurely. This morning, Princess Huaisong entered the city, and all civil and military officials went to welcome her.”
“Princess Huaisong Nalan Hongye?” Chu Qiao murmured. “Have you met her?”
Yan Xun nodded: “Many years ago. I met her once.”
“I’ve heard she’s quite formidable.” Chu Qiao remarked softly, saying no more.
Yan Xun picked up a piece of meat and placed it in her bowl, saying, “Eat more. You’re too thin.”
The young woman smiled slightly, her mood much lighter, and she took a few more bites of food.
Just as they finished eating, a sudden commotion arose outside. Chu Qiao frowned, and A Jing hurriedly ran in saying, “Young Master, the Emperor has summoned you to attend a banquet in the front hall.”
Yan Xun raised an eyebrow: “A welcoming feast?”
A Jing nodded: “Yes.”
Yan Xun stood up and said, “Ah Chu, you rest well. I’ll be back later.”
“That won’t do. The Emperor specifically named the young lady to accompany you.”
“Me?” Chu Qiao was surprised. She hadn’t expected the Emperor would summon her personally. It was well-known how strict the class system was in Da Xia. If not for Li Ce’s persistent interference last time, she would never have had the opportunity to enter the front hall in her lifetime.
“It must be because you saved the Crown Prince of Li Tang. Ah Chu, will your wound be alright?”
Chu Qiao stood up and nodded: “I must go regardless. I’ll go change my clothes first.”
An incense stick’s time later, Chu Qiao and Yan Xun boarded a carriage and slowly headed toward the front hall.
The heavy rain from days before had adorned the Sacred Gold Palace with a fresh look. New willow sprouts had emerged, showing tender green everywhere. Chu Qiao wore a palace dress with a moon-white base and light blue crescent patterns—neither luxurious nor shabby, perfectly fitting her status as a female official.
Yan Xun sat beside her. Seeing her slightly uncomfortable expression, he smiled gently, took her hand, and said softly, “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”
Chu Qiao smiled. Just as she was about to speak, the carriage suddenly shook, and she fell into Yan Xun’s arms.
Yan Xun was startled and quickly helped her up, asking anxiously, “Did it hit your wound?”
Chu Qiao shook her head. Yan Xun looked up and asked in a deep voice, “What happened?”
A Jing’s voice came from outside the carriage: “Young Master, it’s Princess Huaisong’s procession.”
Yan Xun was surprised: “A Jing, make way.”
The sound of hoofbeats gradually approached. Though Huaisong wasn’t a powerful country, it was prosperous and had always been an object of Da Xia’s wooing. Their relationship with Da Xia was even closer than that of Bian Tang, as evidenced by the size of Princess Huaisong’s caravan.
In a moment, the carriage caught up. Yan Xun’s carriage pulled to the side of the road to make way. Unexpectedly, Princess Huaisong’s carriage suddenly stopped, and an envoy stepped forward saying, “Our Princess asks, is that the Prince of Yan Bei in the carriage opposite?”
A Jing was about to reply when Yan Xun lifted the curtain and said to the envoy, “It is I. I apologize for not being able to welcome the Princess personally. Please convey my regrets to Her Highness.”
“Prince Yan, there’s no need for such formality,” a gentle voice slowly sounded. The curtain of the opposite carriage was slowly raised. The woman wore a veil in front of her headdress, obscuring her face. Her voice was as gentle as water, quite different from the decisive and sharp demeanor the Princess was rumored to have.
“It has been ten years since we parted. The Prince still maintains his elegance. Hong Ye is deeply gratified.”
“A decade apart, yet Her Highness still remembers me. I am truly honored.”
Nalan Hongye smiled faintly and said, “Anyone who has seen the Prince’s golden face would find it hard to forget. Why does the Prince belittle himself so?”
Yan Xun bowed respectfully: “The Princess is too kind.”
Nalan Hongye nodded and lowered her carriage curtain. An attendant stepped forward and said, “Our Princess requests Prince Yan’s carriage to proceed first.”
Yan Xun shook his head: “Those who come from afar are guests. The Princess’s status is noble. How could I dare to go first?”
After a while, the attendant came forward again and said, “Our Princess says thank you to Prince Yan and will express her gratitude in person when the opportunity arises.”
With that, the carriage slowly departed after some time.
Chu Qiao remarked, “That Princess Huaisong certainly has a lot of pleasantries.”
Yan Xun shook his head: “The Hundred Schools of Thought all originated from the land of Song. Huaisong has always been a land of etiquette, placing great importance on propriety.”
Chu Qiao wasn’t convinced: “I think she has a special regard for you.”
Yan Xun smiled without replying, only ordering the carriage to continue forward, maintaining a certain distance from the procession ahead.
Just then, a sudden shouting came from behind. Chu Qiao and Yan Xun both frowned as they heard a sharp call coming from behind, clearly with a hoarse, broken quality: “Carriage ahead, wait a moment!”
A Jing peered in, his face grim, and slowly said, “Your Highness, Miss, Crown Prince Li is behind us.”
Chu Qiao’s brow immediately tightened, and Yan Xun’s expression also turned unpleasant. As Chu Qiao was about to speak, Yan Xun pressed his hand on her shoulder and said gravely, “Wait for me here. I’ll go meet him.”