Chapter 51
Fighting Beauties
Like in a trance of white snow, a woman was walking through the endless cold and fierce snowstorm.
The heavy snow was falling, and her eyes hurt from the wind. Her skin was bruised, but her determination to reach her destination lingered.
The woman saw a drop of blood gradually spreading on the white snow. Then she realized she was in a bloodbath field. Aware of it now, she spread her gaze and saw many dead bodies. Some with their necks slashed by sharp blades, others struck by arrows.
Suddenly, the girl began breathing heavily and became conscious. She ran, shouting into the distance, repeatedly crying: "Yuwen Yue!" until her voice dried up like a desert.
Like an upside-down world, she saw blocks of ice in the middle of the bloodbath field. Still distant from where she stood, she saw a man dressed in white, lying on the snow. An arrow was lodged in the left side of his chest.
Tears wouldn't stop falling when she saw the man breathing heavily. Finally, he slid down from the slab of ice.
She tried to run toward him, but no matter how hard she tried, her feet were stuck in the cold snow. All she could do was watch as the man sank into the frozen lake. She strained to see his face, but for some reason, it remained bleak.
Her tears didn't stop until she screamed in a bitter voice: "This isn't happening!" Her words echoed until she became voiceless. The place exploded in white light, and the picturesque moment faded away.
On some tiring nights, she experienced nightmares, and it all went back to that time when the man drowned in the frozen lake. No matter how hard she tried to see who the man was, Chu Qiao was always stuck, and suddenly the dream would fade into a nightmare.
Chu Qiao suddenly opened her eyes, gasping for air. She looked around the small room and found everything in order, including the man beside her, who was sleeping peacefully. Chu Qiao felt at ease looking at Yuwen Yue's face. Her husband's handsome features made her wish she could freeze that moment in time and gaze at him forever.
After half an hour of staring at her husband's face, she drifted back to sleep.
Yuwen Yue woke up first. Ever since they got married, his sleep had improved. There hadn't been days of rest this good until now.
As cold as he seemed, he looked at the beauty sleeping in his arms and felt content.
Though familiar with this feeling, he suddenly shut it off and became composed. Yuwen Yue put on his cotton robe, went to the kitchen, gathered some wood, and started a fire to boil water for tea.
He didn't need to work, but for some reason, he felt he had to continue this facade until he knew the truth. He stepped outside the back of his lodge, ensuring no one was watching or listening. He whistled, and a bird from the forest flew to his shoulder. Yuwen Yue glanced at the sunlight filtering through the tall pine trees and took a deep breath of the fresh morning air.
Chu Qiao was startled by the whistle and the noise of the bird. She woke up and noticed her husband wasn't beside her as usual. Every day, Yuwen Yue woke up first and left a note for her on the dining table.
She heard footsteps approaching and pretended to be asleep, half-opening her eyes to see what her husband was doing. Yuwen Yue walked to a nearby cabinet, took his clothes, and smelled them. "Good smell," he remarked.
Chu Qiao secretly felt happy that her husband appreciated her laundry work and continued to pretend she was asleep. Yuwen Yue took his clothes and went to bathe outside.
Chu Qiao, feeling mischievous, thought about wanting her husband to see her body and whispered to herself, "What if I make the first move?" Giggling at the thought, she added, "I have a plan."
Yuwen Yue enjoyed a cold shower in the summer morning. Afterward, he changed into fresh clothes while Chu Qiao continued to fake its sleep. Yuwen Yue returned to the room, his attention drawn to his wife's small feet and jade-like skin.
He wondered, "Did she sleep in her innerwear?" His mind filled with erotic thoughts as he stared, curious about what lay beneath.
Feeling more attracted to her, Yuwen Yue became reluctant to leave for work. His thoughts grew more intense as Chu Qiao shifted, exposing her clear skin and the small red tattoo on her back.
Yuwen Yue's gaze lingered, but he wrestled with himself, his manhood telling him to touch her, while his mind advised against it.
He snapped out of it and sat at the table to write his usual note.
He wrote to his wife: "Wifey, your hot tea is ready. You know where I am. Please do not expose your back, especially when you are asleep. – Ra Yue"
Yuwen Yue left the note on the dining table and went out.
Yuwen Yue had always cherished writing letters as a means of connecting with the outside world. This practice rekindled memories of a special relationship he had with Princess Xiao Yu of Liang, Skyshadow martial arts Master, and Leader of the Liang's Elite spies network, Sister of Xiao Ce and now Wife of Yan Xun, the Queen of Yanbei bond forged during their youthful years. Their correspondences was a cherished tradition, reminiscent of modern penpals, with Xiao Yu effortlessly recognizing his distinctive penmanship.
Despite being archenemies, Yuwen Yue and Xiao Yu's relationship blossomed through their letters. Both held significant titles and harbored secrets that could sway thrones, yet their mutual respect and affection grew stronger with each exchange. Xiao Yu, in particular, found herself deeply in love with Yuwen Yue, a sentiment she came to accept with time. But Yuwen Yue considers her only a friend and continued being true until today.
Her assistant, Tao Ye, was well aware of this hidden friendship with a hint of one-sided love for Xiao Yu. Tao Ye, a skilled spy courier, managed the delicate task of delivering Xiao Yu's responses to the Yuwen Household while deftly evading the numerous traps set by their adversaries. Her role was crucial in maintaining the secrecy of their correspondence and protecting her own life in the process.
Chu Qiao now knew this was her husband's routine every morning. She waited until he left, then tiptoed to the dining table. Her eyes widened, and goosebumps spread over her skin as she read the note.
Feeling a sudden warmth, she realized how much her husband was controlling himself. It had never felt sweeter, knowing their bodies hadn't been fully united yet, which made her desire grow even stronger.
She checked the date and thought it wasn't an auspicious day yet. She kissed the letter, placed it against her chest, and went happily about her household chores.
Chu Qiao stepped outside to dry her laundry when she noticed the Cangwu bird hovering near their lodge again. She realized the bird was also a resident of their home. "Come here, I'll give you some food," she said.
Chu Qiao put down her laundry basket, fetched some rice, and scattered it on the ground.
The bird did not go to eat, but Chu Qiao was surprised to hear the bird speak: "Xinger, Xinger, Xinger…" three times.
Chu Qiao felt the bird was doing it on purpose. She repeated, "Xinger? What is this?" But the bird just flew by to the nearby trees and never ate the grain on the ground.
She thought, "Ah, what a foolish bird! Do you not want some grains from the heavens? Fine!"
Chu Qiao felt rejected by the bird, taking it personally, but then she smiled again and uttered, "Xinger?!"
She was deep in thought and suddenly wondered:Did the bird just call me Xinger?Chu Qiao thought that was a crazy and foolish thing to believe, so she dismissed the thought and continued her chores.
Suddenly, the summer ground turned to dust as she began practicing her martial arts.
The sounds of her movements filled the air as she threw star darts at a nearby tree. She leapt into the air to catch them swiftly, finishing with a high leap before landing on the ground, bowing her head, and breathing deeply.
After her intense martial arts session, she cooled down and meditated, sharpening her senses tenfold.
All of a sudden, a woman dressed in a black ninja suit threw three needles aimed at her head. Chu Qiao, with her eyes closed and her power heightened, defied gravity.
The needles stopped, suspended in midair. Time froze for a moment. Not a single hair on her head was touched. Suddenly, the three needles dropped to the ground. Chu Qiao opened her eyes to see who the intruder was, but it was too late, the intruder's presence had vanished.
Slightly worried, she sensed that the unknown attacker had discovered her and would return for another strike. She picked up the three needles.
Chu Qiao recognized that they were not poisoned but resembled the needles that once poisoned Zhong Yu.
"This is not Viper," she thought. Chu Qiao knew that Viper wouldn't waste any time asking her to return to the Chu Jing Kingdom.
Chu Qiao narrowed her eyes, recalling the mysterious woman in a black ninja suit who ambushed them on their way to Xuili Mountain. Zhong Yu had interrupted what was supposed to be their first encounter.
Chu Qiao remembered the woman's feminine tone and her words: "I'm not here to kill you, but just to see your face." Chu Qiao was still puzzled by this unknown entity following her, as the figure hadn't bothered her again until today.
It was quite late in the afternoon, and the summer sunset had just arrived, casting twilight over the cold forest.
Her husband came home while she prepared his clothes for him to change. She asked, "Did you check on the kids? How are they doing with Master Zuo?"
In his usual cold tone, Yuwen Yue replied, "Master Zuo enrolled them at Liang's Martial Arts Temple on Kong Sang Mountain, where they will be trained mentally and physically to defend themselves."
Chu Qiao was surprised and said, "Really? Is it safe there?"
Yuwen Yue answered, "I believe so. Some of their best are absorbed by the palace and become the crown prince's envoys."
Chu Qiao replied, "Wow, what a great idea and bright future ahead," then sighed.
Yuwen Yue noticed her sigh and asked, "Are you sad that you won't see them as often?"
Chu Qiao said, "No, they're in good hands now. With the temple masters, they'll be able to discover their strengths and master their weaknesses as they grow… but I… I just miss those three kids and hope to see them again one day."
Yuwen Yue sensed his wife's longing and offered a solution. "We can visit them."
Chu Qiao's face lit up as she said, "Oh husband, thank you in advance! When?"
"It's restricted to visit them at the moment, so maybe…" Yuwen Yue looked up, thinking for a moment before replying honestly, "Maybe in a few months."
Chu Qiao shook her head and said, "Okay... Do I have any choice?"
"You do," Yuwen Yue replied.
"How about this? You cook for them, and we'll travel to Kong Sang Mountain to deliver the food to the kids," Yuwen Yue suggested, waiting for Chu Qiao's approval, hoping to see her happy cheeks agree.
Chu Qiao looked into her husband's eyes, as if silently telling him something, wanting him to decipher her thoughts.
Yuwen Yue read her expression and said, "I know what you're thinking. It won't happen again…" He paused and added, "Hopefully."
Chu Qiao thought of the dangers that lay ahead. Just like what happened at the jewelry shop, if they traveled and faced unforeseen threats, she might not be able to control her defensive instincts, potentially exposing her powers and her superb gongfu martial arts, which had already leaked to her cold-hearted husband.
The last time she did, Yuwen Yue closed the story by telling her, "The walls have ears. You don't have to explain if you don't want to pass this through illegal channels."
Chu Qiao suddenly remembered those words vividly as they echoed in her ears. She thought she might have heard them somewhere before. And of course, there was the engagement ring. She admired how pretty it looked on her hand, and Yuwen Yue was gazing at it too.
Chu Qiao teased, "You're looking at my ring, are you going to regret having to pay for it for a lifetime?"
Yuwen Yue replied, "No, I was just remembering how that ring came to be on your little fingers again."
Yuwen Yue looked at her with the desire to kiss her. Unable to keep his self-control, he said, "Tell me you are her…"
Yuwen Yue's voice was full of longing and sadness. The cold air between them grew hot as Yuwen Yue moved closer, placing his hands gently on her waist and locking eyes with her.
Chu Qiao's eyes questioned him, but she was speechless. She suddenly felt goosebumps as Yuwen Yue's hands rested on her waist, and she gently asked, "Who? Xinger?"
Yuwen Yue blinked at her when he heard the name, but no words came.
Chu Qiao thought she was foolish for uttering the bird's name in front of her husband, who was gazing intensely into her eyes. She felt like she might melt from the heat of the moment.
Breaking the silence, Yuwen Yue coldly asked, "Xinger? Where did you hear that name?" His eyes questioned hers, but Chu Qiao didn't respond. Yuwen Yue turned away, walking back to sit at the dining table.
Chu Qiao was left in suspense, unsure of what to tell her husband. Should she tell him about the talking bird perched on their roof? What if her husband killed the bird? Would he think she was crazy?
Yuwen Yue interrupted Chu Qiao's deep thoughts, asking, "Hey! Did you happen to hear or even meet a talking bird?"
Chu Qiao couldn't believe what she was hearing, but she admitted, "Yes." She thought to herself,Oh, my gorgeous husband knows about the talking bird on our roof.She waited for Yuwen Yue to say more about the bird.
Yuwen Yue thought to himself,If she's Xinger, she would have recognized the bird immediately. She would know who I am, and the past would unravel like a book. But instead, she's talking about a bird…Yuwen Yue pondered.If she were Xinger, she would know.
But it seemed Yuwen Yue was with a woman who didn't know about the bird or who Xinger was to him. He began to wonder if his wife was an imposter, even though he strongly believed she was the real Xinger. Why didn't she recognize him?
Yuwen Yue didn't know how long he could maintain this facade, but he planned to do nothing until he could prove whether Chu Qiao was the real Xinger or just an imposter. His extended vacation leave couldn't last forever, and with an empire to rule, he needed to know before stepping back onto his Qinghai throne.
Downplaying the moment, Yuwen Yue said lightly, "Oh, the talking bird! Wifey, you don't mind if this little pet on our roof keeps us company, do you?"
Suddenly, the bird flew to the open window and chirped the name again: "Xinger."
Yuwen Yue turned around, frowning and glaring coldly at the bird. Startled, the bird flew away. Chu Qiao laughed, "Ha ha ha! What have you done? You scared the bird!"
Yuwen Yue looked at her and said, "That bird is obsessed with Xinger."
Chu Qiao casually replied, "Maybe the bird's original owner was obsessed with Xinger. You know, birds never forget."
Yuwen Yue gave her a helpless, pleading look. Chu Qiao noticed and asked, "What did I say?"
Yuwen Yue replied, "Maybe the owner is the one obsessed with Xinger."
Chu Qiao laughed again, "Poor bird, poor owner."
Yuwen Yue decided to reveal more and said gently, "What if I told you I'm the owner?"
Chu Qiao looked at him seriously and asked, "Are you serious?"
Their eyes locked in a silent conversation, as if they were begging each other to reveal the truth.
Yuwen Yue hesitated and finally said, "No, I'm not." But the truth was, he was dying to tell her he was the owner, to end the day by kissing her and hearing her admit she was Xinger.
Chu Qiao laughed out loud, "Why do I have this instinct to believe you are the owner? Why else would the bird camp on our roof?"
Yuwen Yue, at a loss for words, replied in a gentle tone, "It's not mine until my crazy, foolish wife tells the story of a talking bird."
Chu Qiao ignored his comment, laughing heartily at her cold and mysterious husband. She knew he was clever and wouldn't admit anything easily, even about a talking bird.
After dinner, Yuwen Yue went outside to look at the summer moon shining behind the trees. Chu Qiao brought him a cup of cold tea, and Yuwen Yue looked at her before taking a sip.
Chu Qiao sat down beside him, sipping her tea as they enjoyed the cool summer air together, quietly soaking in the peaceful night until they grew tired and returned to their warm Kang bed.
As Chu Qiao was about to close her eyes, thoughts of the talking bird and Xinger stirred in her mind. She couldn't help but wonder,If Xinger is real, who is she to my husband?
That night, they both slept soundly until Chu Qiao, feeling like she was in a dream, woke up again. This time, it felt real.
She sensed an intruder had entered their home. Moving quietly, she lit another stick of plum incense and placed it in the burner to ensure her husband wouldn't wake while she secured the house from an imminent attack.
Chu Qiao extinguished the tea candle, relying on the light of the summer moon, which flickered on and off as clouds passed overhead, revealing shadows surrounding the lodge.
She was fearless, but she feared her husband discovering who she truly was.
In this new life, she wanted her marriage to work, but her past as the General of the Xuili Army, the Wei State crown princess (escaped though she may be), and the secret princess of a distant kingdom followed her like a shadow. She didn't want this night to become more complicated.
"There are only two shadows, this won't take much effort," she thought confidently as she prepared to strike the first.
Chu Qiao engaged the first shadow, and they danced in combat through martial arts. She observed the black-clad ninja's moves, Skyshadow Sleeve martial arts, a technique foreign to her Chu Jing Kingdom.
Her training allowed her to counter these attacks. She recalled learning this skill from none other than the old woman, the Skyshadow gatekeeper.
The memories of Chu Jing grounds echoed in her ears, and she could still hear the drums.
The second black ninja made a mistake, and Chu Qiao took advantage of it, wounding her shoulder. The ninja's suit fell to the ground, revealing her body and face. Chu Qiao looked at the face, she resembled her.
The other ninja, practicing Skyshadow martial arts, drew a belt sword and revealed herself by removing her black mask.
Chu Qiao momentarily froze, startled by their identities.
Chu Qiao knew who it was. She finally understood but was still somewhat confused by her doppelgänger.
Earlier, she had been using her cold daggers, but now she felt the need to wield her Canhong sword. As she recognized the two women in front of her, she slowly walked back inside the lodge.
She calmly went to check on Yuwen Yue, who was sleeping soundly, undisturbed by the commotion. Not a single noise had woken him up. She thought to herself,Why am I so good at hiding, just to maintain the peace in this marriage?
Quietly, she left the room to defend the man of the house. Chu Qiao spotted the bird outside, and as if the bird could understand, she gave it a silent gesture. The bird understood and didn't move.
Chu Qiao resumed the confrontation and found only one person outside, calmly waiting for her. She greeted her with a sharp tone: "Your Highness, Queen of Yanbei, Xiao Yu, where is your puppet crown princess of Wei?"
Xiao Yu, standing with a calm posture, did not notice the bird. She didn't strike and kept her composure despite the harshness of Chu Qiao's greeting. "I believe she escaped and married a peddler to hide her identity. My brother was too cunning not to detect that I was also involved in his plan, but we had different purposes," Xiao Yu said.
Chu Qiao's ears rang with Xiao Yu's words. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.This ex-princess, now Queen of Yanbei, is trying to wreck my marriage,she thought.
She rebutted, mocking Xiao Yu: "Look at you, a Queen of Yanbei by chance, still following the supposed Queen of Yanbei..." Chu Qiao paused, watching for Xiao Yu's reaction.
Xiao Yu remained calm, though clearly hurt inside. She didn't need Yan Xun to confirm her suspicions, but hearing it now proved her assumptions right, the night she had inserted the needle into Yan Xun's neck was the night they were together.
Chu Qiao's words cut like a double-edged sword into Xiao Yu's heart. Xiao Yu replied, "You don't deserve him, so I took him. That night, you were considered a traitor to Yanbei for trying to kill its King."
Chu Qiao retorted, "Who deserves who? Neither you nor I are worthy of him. So, if I'm a traitor to Yanbei, what does that make you? A hero? Besides, I'm a happily married woman now and don't follow people around because of my insecurities."
Xiao Yu, still calm but no longer able to contain her anger, raised her belt sword and attacked Chu Qiao. Chu Qiao countered with her Canhong sword, and the clash of swords rang through the air. They fought a useless battle as the bird watched silently from a distance, making no attempt to wake its master, who was still sleeping peacefully.
Xiao Yu had no knowledge of Yuwen Yue's presence or his whereabouts. The Queen of Yanbei was only interested in tracking Chu Qiao, who had long been her target. She had silently watched Chu Qiao meet her brother, Xiao Ce, but had never considered where Chu Qiao was staying in the old Xue Fu streets of Liang.
During that time, Xiao Yu had been too preoccupied with her new responsibilities as Queen of Yanbei, confined within the four walls of Yan Palace. She no longer had time to roam or spy as she once did until tonight.
Chu Qiao, careful with her movements, caught various objects to prevent making noise and waking the "Lion King" from his slumber. But Xiao Yu fed her envy and resentment, continuing her attacks on Chu Qiao.
Chu Qiao, growing tired of catching things and fighting, finally stopped and said, "You already have the position and control over the King of Yanbei. I don't understand why you're still doing this in the middle of the night."
Xiao Yu, now calm again, replied in a gentle tone, "It's too easy if I just say it plainly to your face." Preparing to leave, she added, "You won't have peace until I get what I want."
With that, she disappeared into the dark forest, leaving Chu Qiao alone to pick up the scattered items and cover up the mess from their fight.
The morning came, and everything returned to normal.
Yuwen Yue woke up early while Chu Qiao was still sleeping. He was tempted to touch her back, but then he noticed something on the floor.
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