Chapter 61
Beast of the day
A pair of cold eyes, sharp eyebrows, and a calm face beheld the sight of snowflakes slowly falling on the frozen Chisui Lake. Covered in a shining silver sheen, a small red bird flew to the center, its eyes twinkling beneath the weight of tiny snowflakes on its eyelids. It wiggled its wings, causing white flakes to drift from its feathers, and then closed its eyes, as if meditating, unmoving.
The Great Summer Emperor was contemplating his next move: whether to support a protectorate state or pursue his wild dream of staging a fight, all while secretly deploying the black seal within Yanbei.
Ever since the fake wedding of Chu Qiao and Yuan Song, the Wei Empire had remained dormant, never declaring war against Yanbei, nor attempting to rescue the Black Prince Zaru, nor opening trade between Wei and Yanbei to negotiate the return of their hostages.
The Wei Emperor wondered why Yan Xun had not reacted to the wedding of Chu Qiao and Yuan Song. He had expected the event to enrage the newly crowned King of Yanbei, hoping it would provoke him into rash decisions that would lead to a mistake.
Instead, Yan Xun had announced a successful marriage alliance between Yanbei and Liang a year ago, though no heir had yet been born despite their month-long honeymoon. The Emperor, seated at his desk, returned to his game of Chinese chess, known as "Xiangqi," and said to Wei Guang:
"Yan Xun may not be able to give his Queen an heir, but neither can he make his General a concubine, as his first Queen defected to another empire to bear an heir for his enemies. What is more amusing than watching him in chaos, pretending not to care?"
The Emperor moved a chess piece. Wei Guang, who had been observing the game, his face calm and composed, was slightly taken aback. He asked, "Your Majesty, is that your final move?"
The Emperor replied, "If it is, you'll lose face and your head at my garrison today." He let out a hearty laugh. Wei Guang moved his piece, tapping his jaw as if counting silently. The Emperor nodded, understanding.
The Great Summer Emperor's favorite pastime was "Xiangqi," Chinese chess. No one could survive the shame of putting the Emperor in an embarrassing position. Death awaited those who dared to humiliate him.
Players always had to lose in the Emperor's presence, with the goal of subtly hinting at how he was losing and allowing him to figure out how to win. The Emperor would tap his fingers on his jaw in thought, bored with the same strategies, before moving his "Shi" piece, the Counselor, across the board. Wei Guang, trapped in his defense, could only sacrifice his General or Governor.
"I lost. The wise Emperor has figured it out," Wei Guang declared, faking defeat and bowing.
"The Counselor (Shi) is my best piece next to the Elephant (Xiang)," the Emperor said, squinting at his Prime Minister, sending him a secret message with his eyes.
Wei Guang responded calmly, "Indeed, the Counselor or Queen is the best ally and the worst enemy, while the Minister (Xiang), or Bishop, protects the General (Jiang). It cannot be moved, or the entire empire will crumble."
Suddenly struck by a thought, Wei Guang reported: "I have just heard that King Tang invited the Turkish Prince to Daoming Palace. Recently, the undefeated Polo champions, despite being foreigners, finished in second place. And the new champion—"
The Emperor's cold eyes brightened. "Who is the beast of the day, if not the Great Summer?"
Wei Guang replied, "Prince Lou, a prince in his prime, led China to victory over Turkey."
Wei Guang suggested, "What if we invite the slumbering Eastern Empire to play against Your Majesty and rival King Tang's achievements?"
The Emperor, intrigued by the idea, considered it, although he was proud of the Turkish envoy's defeat by King Tang's Prince. However, the Emperor could not allow King Tang to take all the credit without matching his own accomplishments. "In foreign sports, I know the Qinghai King will make excuses, but if his Crown Prince visits, I will grant him one request, if he beats me on this golden board."
Wei Guang, hesitant, asked, "Your Majesty, what if he asks for a concubine or a princess of Wei? That would cost you both face and possession."
"Anyone may go, except my Crown Prince Yuan Song. An Emperor must honor his word. I am confident no one can beat me, just like King Tang," said the Emperor, brimming with confidence.
Wei Guang, skeptical, shook his head slightly but refrained from voicing his doubts.
The Emperor, waiting for a response, continued, "In return, if I defeat the Qinghai Crown Prince, he will owe me a favor."
Wei Guang, surprised by the idea, inquired, "And if it's a stalemate?"
The Great Summer Emperor stood, looking once more at Chisui Lake. "If it's a stalemate, home court advantage will apply. I will still win."
Wei Guang questioned, "And if the Qinghai Crown Prince refuses to yield?"
The Wei Emperor replied confidently, "The Wei Crown Princess will ensure he yields."
Wei Guang squinted and asked, "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is sacred. How do you know the Qinghai Prince will yield to her and not harm her?"
The Wei Emperor revealed, "I saw the desire in his eyes for the Wei Crown Princess. We will let her handle the situation, but if she fails to prove her innocence, we will execute her, as we have done before."
Wei Guang, unsettled by this departure from Wei's conservative traditions, chose not to challenge the Emperor's ideas. The eunuchs were already drafting the necessary orders.
The murky sound of water greeted the 13th Wei Crown Prince, Yuan Song, as he stood in his courtyard. Suddenly, from behind, a pair of lovely eyes silently watched him, and soon two stones were thrown into the koi pond, landing exactly where he stood. He knew immediately that it was her.
"You may report, I am alone," Yuan Song said, his once childlike face now assuming a more formal look.
A woman dressed in tight-fitting clothes leaped into view, small hand daggers at her waist. She moved swiftly, hiding among the bamboo near the pond like a frog. Yuan Song pretended to play with the koi fish in the pond, reciting lines like poetry in a secret conversation: "The future is bright, but when can I see the true sunlight? Every day I turn a blind eye, for my heart cannot last a day without her in sight."
Meng Feng responded in a hushed tone:Zài yú zuǐ lǐ de píngzi lǐ liúyán, bùduàn zhuīzōng bùduàn děngdài("A message in a bottle inside the mouth of the fish, keep tracking, keep waiting").
Meng Feng caught a large koi fish and placed a thin bottle into its mouth. Attaching a small bell to its dorsal fin, she threw the fish back into the pond, the bell jingling as it swam. Prince Yuan Song listened carefully for the sound, then used a long-handled net to catch the fish.
No one suspected that this was his method of receiving secret information from outside the palace.
Back in his playful mood, Yuan Song spoke to the fish: "Ah, a good catch. I hope to have a delicious meal today."
His servants, waiting outside the palace doors, dared not look at the prince. Yuan Song beamed at the large fish and, carrying it, retreated to his secret chambers to cut it open.
Inside the bottle, Yuan Song found a letter:
"Your Highness, your sister is still safe in the hands of Master Yuwen Huai, but recently, palace ministers have been receiving gifts addressed to her. The sender is unknown, but the Emperor believes the gifts are from a nobleman with a high position in the land.
Master Yuwen Huai is preparing to be reinstated and take over the Wei Supreme Court, but the Yuwen elders and noble relatives are seeking to nominate new Yuwen blood to replace him. They believe Yuwen Huai has already settled into a comfortable life outside the Wei Empire. However, their petition to the Emperor did not succeed, and the entire Yuwen family was put to death."
Chu Qiao has been secretly meeting Queen Xiao Yu of Yanbei, but the reasons are unclear. According to the Afterlife Assassins Guild, Xiao Yu has hired additional assassins to conceal her movements. Their last raid occurred at a small lodge near the Wei and Liang borders.
The house of a poor peddler was destroyed, and both the peddler and his wife were murdered. It is suspected that either the Wei Crown Princess Chu Qiao or Queen Xiao Yu of Yanbei was responsible. Meanwhile, the Prince of Yanbei has abandoned the Xuili Army, forcing He Xiao to exhaust their resources to defend Meilin border pass.
However, something strange has occurred. The townsfolk have begun providing arms, shelter, and food to the army, aided by a dark underworld spy. Rumor has it that this spy, in secret, assists Xuili Deputy General He Xiao. The spy's leader is known asMìmì gōngzhǔ(Secret Princess).
Yuan Song reflected on the matters at hand: "An unknown suitor, the return of Yuwen Huai, Xiao Yu, the peddler and his wife, the underworld spy, and their leader, Mìmì gōngzhǔ."
He inhaled deeply. Though many issues occupied his mind, he decided to focus on his wife first. Their marriage had been strained due to his immature actions, but he never meant to hurt her. He suspected that someone or something had driven a wedge between them. Yuan Song knew this was not just a personal matter but a crisis that could affect the entire Wei Empire.
He understood that his wife was hurt, but he could not ignore her growing strength, wildness, and strange behavior toward him. He never knew this side of Chu Qiao, but now he was eager to find out what had gone wrong and whether their marriage could be salvaged.
The 13th Prince devised a plan to take his wife to the secret garden he had preserved over the years and tell her the story of Yuwen Yue. Though Yuan Song feared the memories might hurt her, he believed this might be the only way to reconnect with her and start a conversation.
He thought, "She became my wife, but we haven't even begun our life together, and we are already falling apart."
Yuan Song left his secret chamber, rang a bell in the south side of the palace, and the servants appeared. "Take this koi fish and prepare it for your lunch," he ordered.
Xia Chong had enjoyed playing the role of the Wei Crown Princess, courtesy of Prince Xiao Ce and Queen Xiao Yu. She acted as a double agent for the two Liang royals, though she feared Xiao Ce might abandon her after giving her a royal pass into Wei with Xiao Ba.
Feeling tired, Xia Chong allowed her servants to wipe her forehead. Then, in a sudden outburst, she grabbed one of the servants and nearly broke her wrist. The servant cried out in pain.
Yuan Song, watching from a distance, squinted his eyes and raised his brows.This isn't Chu Qiao,he thought.Chu Qiao would never harm a humble servant like that.
Xia Chong, with an evil smile, released the servant's wrist and warned, "Do not touch me when I'm tired, ever!" Finished with her martial arts practice, she stepped on a thin, unseen rope and almost fell. "Huh!" she gasped.
A young prince rushed to catch her before she could fall into the palace fountain. His expression was cold, and his eyes were emotionless as he stared at her.
Xia Chong had expected him to say something, but instead, he gave her a long, silent stare as if he didn't recognize her. Without a word, he walked away, tall and proud, followed by his palace servants.
Afterward, Yuan Song acted as if nothing had happened. No smiles, no words just cold air passing between them. In his thoughts, he silently counted: "One."
Later, palace maids served Xia Chong dinner, but her mind was elsewhere as she stared blankly at the table.
Xia Chong was not only one of the brightest assassins under Luo He, but she also bore a striking resemblance to Chu Qiao. Even her mother, Lou He, had passed down some of her Kungfu of Ice powers. Yet despite this, she felt an unexpected attraction to the 13th Prince.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ba completed her beauty rituals in anticipation of the 13th Prince's arrival. But a palace servant knocked on the door of the 13th Prince's harem and announced, "The 13th Prince will not be attending tonight."
The announcement was brief, cold, and final. The concubines stopped their dancing, and the atmosphere turned somber. Xiao Ba, heartbroken, ran to her room and wept.
One woman was stirred with feelings, while the other was saddened by the prince's absence.
Back in his palace courtyard, Yuan Song, dressed in archery gear, tested his crossbow, carefully adjusting the silver arrows. Using his right hand, he practiced his aim, his left arm now appearing more normal after being previously injured. Satisfied with his shooting, Yuan Song planned another trap, hoping to make his wife fall for him. Remembering how Yuwen Yue had treated Chu Qiao when she was his maidservant in Green Hills Courtyard, Yuan Song instructed his servants to arrange a staged fight along the road to surprise the Wei Crown Princess.
The next day, an Afterlife camper shot an arrow with a note attached toward the Wei Crown Princess's palace, then galloped off into the woods.
Xia Chong, still in her sleeping robes, retrieved the arrow from a wooden post. Surprised, she read a summons from Queen Xiao Yu, asking her to meet in the middle of the forest. "Hmm... after a year of silence, Her Majesty is calling again?" Xia Chong murmured.
At twilight, Xia Chong left on horseback, threatening the palace guards at the back gate: "Do not dare stop me, or I'll slit your throats."
They nodded and let her pass. Soon after, hoofbeats echoed through the Wei-Liang forest. From the shadows, a rider on a dark brown horse, wearing a red hood, chased after Xia Chong's white horse.
Feeling the presence behind her, Xia Chong slowed her horse and sharpened her ears, listening to the distant hoofbeats. When the time was right, she tapped her horse, but its hooves became entangled, forcing her to jump aside as the horse rolled down a cliff.
Xia Chong was unafraid, having sensed the presence of assassins. She unsheathed her two daggers and kept her short sword reserved for the main fight.
Moments later, Afterlife campers surrounded her. Their leader, upon seeing her, mistook her for Chu Qiao and felt a shiver of fear, recalling how Yuwen Yue had fought to save her.
Xia Chong believed it was impossible to escape from her assassins. Summoning the wind, she stretched her legs and began using them to inflict pain on her attackers.
Meng Feng was the only one who evaded the blows. She pulled out two forked daggers and started attacking Xia Chong. Despite the calmness in her stance, Xia Chong didn't hesitate. Suddenly, a man in a white fur cape and a white ninja suit, with a white band around his head, descended from the air with his Cheng Yin sword held vertically in front of his closed eyes.
The man immediately counterattacked Meng Feng, and the rest of the Afterlife Campers activated their deadly weapons, but none could withstand the power of the Cheng Yin sword.
For a moment, Xia Chong was confused about who her rescuer was. The man's face remained hidden under his white fur cape, but the jade band on his head revealed he was a prince, not an ordinary man.
The Afterlife Campers, realizing they were outmatched, faked their injuries and groans. However, Meng Feng did not show fear. She said coldly, "You have been warned!" before she and the assassins retreated.
The man swiftly pulled Xia Chong onto his horse and whistled loudly. A white horse, like a flash of light, responded to its master's call. Xia Chong, frozen like a statue, was suddenly swept up by the man. Both destined fighters rode the white horse towards the secret garden. The man, his voice gentle but panting, said, "Two."
Xia Chong, unable to move and feeling frail, realized her hands were quickly bound by the man. She could no longer perform her martial arts, and her so-called knight in shining armor had tied her feet under the moonlit sky. As they arrived at the secret garden, with clear skies overhead, the man softly whispered into her ear, "Three."
He then returned to his white horse, which was panting and dripping saliva, and placed his Cheng Yin sword in the saddle.
He took out a lantern, a matchstick, and lit the lantern's fire.
Feeling uncomfortable, Xia Chong asked, "What are you going to do with that lantern?"
The man replied, "To light up this place. It's so dark here."
Annoyed, Xia Chong asked, "Where on earth are we?"
The man smiled slightly and answered, "In paradise."
Xia Chong wrinkled her brows and said, "Do you even know who I am and what you just did?"
The man raised his eyebrows and said, "And what about me? Do you know who I am and what I am going to do?"
Xia Chong felt goosebumps as the cold air passed between them. "Show yourself!" she demanded, trying to untie her hands and feet.
The man made a clicking sound with his tongue. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. You forget too easily. I'll help you remember."
"Remember what?" Xia Chong asked.
The man raised the lantern slightly to reveal his face. Xia Chong's breath caught in her throat as she whispered, "The 13th Prince of Wei!"
Yuan Song smiled at her and said, "I hope you can forgive a husband who saved you and now steals his wife away from a fight. It was dangerous out there. I just want to spend this night with you, away from the empire, away from everyone just you and me in this secret garden."
Xia Chong suddenly grew quiet, overwhelmed. She didn't know how to respond now that the 13th Prince stood before her, asking her to spend the night with him.
In one corner of her mind, she thought the 13th Prince was looking at Chu Qiao, not Xia Chong. Feeling a twinge of sadness, she snapped herself back to reality and said, "You're on a mission, not chasing a love affair."
Yuan Song, showing his romantic side, added more thoughts for Xia Chong to consider. "Do you remember the first time we came to this secret garden?"
Xia Chong couldn't answer truthfully. If she said no, she would expose herself. But feeling the romance in the air, she let go of her doubts and, with a voice full of emotion, replied, "Yes, and I wish I had been here with you from the very beginning."
Yuan Song, confused by her response but touched by a spark of happiness, replied, "Is this moment right at all?"
"No one can predict who their heart will choose to love."
"At that time, was it the Prince of Yanbei or the Master of the Eyes of God?" Yuan Song, weighed down by his emotions, finally opened up.
Xia Chong didn't respond immediately. After a long pause, she finally said, "I wish I were the girl you truly liked, and that it was only me."
Yuan Song, again confused by her words, nonetheless found comfort in them. He gently took Xia Chong's head and rested it against his chest, thinking to himself,So, Chu Qiao can feel my heartbeat.
Overflowing with joy, Yuan Song whispered under the moonlight, "Don't worry. You're in my arms now. No one will ever hurt or use you again."
Xia Chong remained silent, as Yuan Song's words struck at the heart of what she was feeling. She began to cry in his arms.
Feeling the wetness on his chest, Yuan Song asked, "Are you crying?"
Xia Chong didn't respond, and Yuan Song continued, "I've also wanted to apologize for our first night… It was all my fault."
Through her tears, Xia Chong replied, "I know. You're a good man."
Yuan Song gently tilted her head to look into her eyes and said, "Then why waste our precious time with useless, cold fights? The truth is, Xiao Ba became a concubine by accident. I was wrong, and I'll spend my life making up for it if you'll let me. You are my future Queen, the heir to Wei's throne. Come back to me."
If only the real Chu Qiao had heard these words, would she yield to the 13th Prince? It seemed the prince had matured in his own way, but he still hadn't found the truth about Chu Qiao.
Meanwhile, Xia Chong wrestled with the urge to confess her lies to the 13th Prince. Would he forgive her, or would the puppet Chu Qiao face death?
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