Chapter 62
One of the King's arm
In the stillness of the night, Yuan Song and Xia Chong gazed at each other. Yuan Song spoke softly, "I made a wish a long time ago."
Xia Chong asked, "What is your wish, Your Highness?"
Yuan Song replied, "That you and I would sit together in this secret cherry blossom garden under the moonlight. And tonight, that wish came true."
Xia Chong, wanting to tell the truth but holding back, warned Yuan Song instead: "Your Highness, if I could make one wish right now, it would be for you to free me from these shackles and return me to my land. If you don't grant it, things will only get worse."
Disturbed by her words, Yuan Song asked, "Why do you want to run away from me? This is your home now. You are the future Queen."
With firm resolve, Xia Chong responded, "This is not my home, and I don't want to be Queen. I only want a simple life among familiar people. I want to be free."
Yuan Song, feeling the weight of her words, replied, "I've heard this story before. Your former master, Yuwen Yue, who left this world, died giving you this freedom. Was it worth it?"
Though Xia Chong did not know the full story, she felt as if she were living Chu Qiao's life, fighting for freedom. She answered, "It was worth it. And I don't want you to end up like him."
As the night deepened, Yuan Song's dark eyes locked onto hers, and in a husky voice, he said, "The outcome will never be different. I will likely meet the same fate if I grant you freedom. It's a priceless thing, Xia Chong. Even a prince isn't free to do all he desires. We are bound by duty and protocol, just as we rule our empire. So if a prince cannot have freedom, what hope is there for common people?"
Tired and secure in the 13th Prince's arms, Xia Chong drifted off to sleep, while Yuan Song continued speaking to her. Looking down, he saw that she was already sleeping peacefully.
Both slept soundly, but in Xia Chong's dream, she awoke to find a man in purple robes, his face hidden behind a black mask, violently taking her away from Yuan Song. She heard the clashing of swords and saw Yuan Song leaping into battle, wielding his Cheng Yin sword against the masked man. In the midst of the fight, the man's mask fell off, revealing his face.
The 13th Prince was stunned. "Yan Xun!" he exclaimed.
Xia Chong awoke suddenly, finding herself inside the 13th Prince's carriage. Yuan Song sat beside her, waiting for her to wake up. He smiled warmly when she opened her eyes. No longer bound, Xia Chong stepped out of the carriage and beheld a stunning sight: a garden filled with pink cherry blossoms, with fog gently resting on the ground like clouds, a heaven on earth.
Yuan Song descended from the carriage and said, "This is my gift to you. From now on, this place will no longer be called the secret garden, but the Freedom Garden. Here, you are free to speak your mind without fear of judgment. You are not a princess here, but a common woman. You are my wife, and I am your husband. I will build a Freedom Palace for you, and this place will be yours."
Xia Chong wanted to leap for joy, but instead, her expression turned somber. She replied quietly, "Thank you, Your Highness. I only hope you won't change your heart toward a simple woman like me."
Yuan Song thought of Chu Qiao, once a lowly slave in the Green Hills Courtyard, and saw the same qualities in Xia Chong today. The same principles that drove Chu Qiao, the pursuit of freedom over power and riches, were alive in Xia Chong now. He felt inspired by her simplicity and strength.
But how far would this inspiration take them?
Could this be a happy ending for two people seeking enlightenment from each other? Yuan Song, searching for the happiness of his long-lost love, and Xia Chong, desiring nothing more than a simple life with a husband who valued freedom?
The truth remained: her husband, Yuan Song, was the heir to the Wei throne. Staying any longer in Wei without a bailout plan from Prince Xiao Ce would place Xia Chong in grave danger. She would never be able to return to her land of freedom, as had once been promised to her.
Xia Chong knew that, sooner or later, Yuan Song would discover she was not Chu Qiao. What awaited her then? Only a future filled with shame and possibly death.
She realized it was time to escape while she still could, for if she fell too deeply for her fake husband, she might lose her chance at freedom forever.
A pair of calm eyes looked back at the path from the remote eastern tribes, and in a flash, the memories of the Qinghai Crown Prince's tribal battles resurfaced in Yuwen Yue's mind.
Yuwen Yue knew the journey would not be easy, but it had proven to be the most challenging and fulfilling of his life.
He could still smell the fresh blood of the tribesmen, warriors wielding weapons he had never seen before: long spears, unique bows, sharp arrows. The archers were skilled, with eyes devoid of mercy, men born to fight.
But none could make him bow, nor did anyone succeed in defeating him and his Poe Yue Jian sword. In the end, all surrendered their arms and submitted to the Qinghai Crown Prince.
Yuwen Yue's impressive victory won him the hearts of many eastern tribes, but it also left him with scars that would last a lifetime.
His cavalry lost some Qinghai men in their battles to protect the smaller tribes from the larger ones that sought to plunder and conquer them.
Yuwen Yue, dressed in tribal attire and draped in thick lion's fur, marched slowly toward the gates of Qinghai's empire. A single bow, made from animal tendons and bone, rested on his back, along with a wooden arrow tipped with sharp elephant ivory. His Poe Yue Jian sword also hung on his back as he rode his magnificent warhorse with calm eyes and a serene face, like a spring breeze.
His palanquin carried various goods from the far east, gifts from the small tribes with whom he had spent a month.
Zuo and Yue Qi, his trusted men, looked different in their thick lion furs and white ivory necklaces, gifts from the barbaric tribes of eastern China.
Beside Yuwen Yue rode another handsome young man, the son of the tribal leader Dongyi, accompanied by several of his tribesmen. They had come to Qinghai to escort Yuwen Yue and represent Dongyi's father.
Looking back, Yuwen Yue remembered how they had learned the tribes' culture and blended into their traditions. Another young man rode behind them, his hands bound in chains. He was the son of a rival tribal leader, captured by Yuwen Yue as ransom. He was to be presented to his father, where the Qinghai King would decide his fate for the crimes and discord he had brought upon neighboring tribes.
Though Yuwen Yue could not speak the tribes' language, a local tribesman served as their interpreter, making the mission a success. Yuwen Yue could finally rest before embarking on his next journey.
Upon returning to Qinghai, Ra Zheng was the first to meet him.
The two brothers exchanged glances before Yuwen Yue shifted his gaze to the two young tribal warriors beside him. One appeared haggard, with large chains around his neck, while the other, bare-chested in his tribal garb, bowed to Ra Zheng, the Prince of Qinghai.
Ra Zheng, though he could smell the fresh blood, kept his expression calm as he nodded in acknowledgment but said little.
In the distance, Ra Zhun watched the arrival of Yuwen Yue's envoy with disdain. He did not like Ra Yue's tribal attire, and seeing his royal guards dressed the same made him nauseous.
Unable to bear the sight any longer, Ra Zhun turned away, grumbling to the eunuch beside him, "Who are these savages he has brought into the empire?"
"This is not what the Qinghai ministers agreed upon. What is our gain here?"
As Yuwen Yue, Zuo Zong, Yue Qi, and the two tribal warriors entered the Majestic Qinghai Throne, they were greeted by a long aisle covered in a red fur carpet.
In the center of the hall stood a gigantic incense burner, its fragrance filling the air with solemnity. Five steps led to the Queen's seat, with the King's seat beside her noticeably empty. Below the five steps were the seats reserved for the princes. Ra Zheng took his position on the right, while Ra Zhun was already seated on the left. The center seat was reserved for Yuwen Yue, the Qinghai Crown Prince.
Yuwen Yue walked tall and proud, the eyes of the hundred Qinghai palace ministers, scholars, and nobles following his every step. Murmurs filled the hall as the crown prince approached.
"He smells of blood. But not of rot, it's fresh."
"Why is he dressed like a tribesman?"
"Are those two guards brothers? They look alike."
"How did Ra Yue manage to find two men who resemble each other? Are they twins?"
"I didn't expect the Qinghai Crown Prince to appear so barbaric, but look at his brows. His cold, godlike face still shines through."
Despite the whispers, Yuwen Yue's gaze remained distant yet focused. When he reached his designated seat, he did not sit. Yue Qi and Zuo Zong stopped in front of the throne, guarding it as Ra Yue climbed the five steps and knelt before the Queen, as was customary. Unsheathing his sword, he laid it on the ground and bowed three times.
The Queen, her massive headdress and sleeves nearly touching the floor, remained motionless, her stern expression acknowledging his presence and victory over the eastern tribes.
Following Ra Yue's lead, the rest of the cavalry, including his two guards and the two tribal warriors, bowed in the same manner.
The eunuch then stepped forward and passed a decree: the son of the rival tribal leader was to be imprisoned for his crimes, while the son of Dongyi would be rewarded with 100 taels of gold, as per Qinghai customs.
Excitement rippled through the room when a legendary sword was presented. Carried on a long tray, the eunuch, with a servant by his side, announced, "From the seven thousand islands and seven thousand rising suns, we present the Bat Sword. Forged in steel, with a grip that forms the head of a bat, it is designed so that even a single finger can spin it. Inspired by the fierce mountain tribes, it is a rare sword, untamed and wild."
"The Qinghai King has personally chosen this sword from his collection to reward the brave and virtuous hero of the far eastern tribes. Do you accept?"
Ra Yue stood and signaled the son of Dongyi to step forward. "Please come and accept your reward," he said.
The interpreter whispered the message to the young warrior, who approached, and Ra Yue handed him the Bat Sword, saying, "Your time has come."
All eyes watched as Ra Yue bestowed the sword upon the warrior, his cold gaze softened with a proud smile.
After the ceremony, the Qinghai ministers and nobles gathered for a banquet to celebrate the victory. In a quiet corner, a man in a neatly tailored Tang suit, one of the King's advisors, observed Ra Yue closely.
"Your time has come," the man whispered.
Ra Zhun, his fiery eyes gleaming, raised a toast to the victory of the Qinghai Empire, while Ra Yue, from another corner, scanned the room, waiting for someone to catch his eye. But no one did.
Late into the night, the Qinghai King returned to his human form, no longer a mysterious and invisible entity. He breathed deeply and took his seat in his hall. Suddenly, the man in the Tang suit appeared, his shadow cast against the windows of the King's chamber.
The Qinghai King opened the window, then turned away as the man leaped toward him, attacking with swift precision.
Without much effort, the Qinghai King evaded the attack. His cold eyes glinted as he unsheathed his double-edged sword. The man, satisfied with the King's reaction, stood straight, bowed, and clasped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, your son has passed his first test among the barbaric tribes. What is your next move?"
The Qinghai King, hands clasped behind his back, replied, "My son, Ra Yue, will not take over the Qinghai Empire until he proves himself in the eyes of the palace ministers, the nobles, and the people of Qinghai. I am impressed by his courage and chivalry in facing unknown territories.
"Thanks to your assistance, Ra Yue has begun to tame the barbaric tribes, a long-standing problem in my reign. His next task will be to breach the Moon Kingdom."
"Your Majesty, while Ra Yue is skilled in Gongfu and swordplay, and though he made those tribes bow to his Poe Yue Jian sword, I do not believe he is ready to take on the Moon Kingdom. He has a strong Chi flow, but he lacks supernatural abilities. Though born with potential, his body has not yet been trained to accept the supernatural."
The Qinghai King asked, "Then what do you propose?"
"We must open Ra Yue's path to the Five Legendary Worlds."
The Qinghai King turned to him and said, "Hellfrost, Moon Kingdom, the Underworld's Forgotten River, the Last Valley, and the Paradise of Higanbana. Summon the four brothers of the Eastern Realms for a meeting. Ra Yue needs to retrain and align his meridians to reach the supernatural level, on top of the mortal skills he has obtained from the West."
"Consider it done, Your Majesty," Qi Hui replied, before leaping out of the hall window, vanishing like the wind.
Back in his royal chambers, after all the celebrations, Yuwen Yue found himself alone again. He hadn't drunk much, but his thoughts lingered on someone from his past.
In his lonely heart, he thought of Chu Qiao and his mother.
Yuwen Yue walked to a room adjacent to his chambers, filled with incense and tea candles. He lit two red incense sticks, performed three kowtows, and paid tribute to his mother's bronze spirit tablet, a gift from his uncle, Xie Tai Shan.
With his eyes closed, Yuwen Yue performed his filial duties in silence.
The sound of horse hooves echoed in the distance as the King of Yanbei made his way toward Xuili Mountain. Viper turned to Chu Qiao and urged, "Hurry, the King must not see you. Or we could make our way to the Yan Palace since the King is heading this way. I'll distract Xiao Yu's spies. I know where all of them are hidden, including their secret prisons."
"Hiya! Drive!"
Two horses set off toward the Yan Palace capital, Chu Qiao, wearing her indigo scarf, rode her white horse, while Viper, in her red scarf, rode her black horse.
Before leaving Xuili Mountain, Viper shot an arrow with a message to Ge Qi's quarters.
By the time the two arrived at the Yan Palace, Yan Xun had already reached Xuili Mountain with his cavalry.
Lieutenant Ge Qi went to meet the King of Yanbei while Chu Qiao and Viper strolled through the marketplace, asking the locals for any news about the captured Black Prince from the Bathuja family.
A local vendor responded, "He was tortured, forced to his knees, tied to a horse."
Viper asked, "What do you think of that?"
The local vendor replied, "I think it's just. The Yan royal family suffered the most at their hands. Our people were thrown into chaos, with murder, the rape of our daughters, and countless of us made into slaves. Because of the Bathuja family, Yanbei has been trapped in a cycle of bloodshed and the killing of innocents."
Chu Qiao, twitching her hands in anger, said, "But that doesn't justify responding with the same brutality."
The local vendor smiled at her and said, "Miss, have you ever heard the saying, 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?'"
Chu Qiao strongly disagreed, shaking her head. "That is not a way to find peace."
Back at Xuili Mountain, Ge Qi greeted Yan Xun. "Your Grace, how can we serve the King?"
"Where is Viper?" Yan Xun asked.
"We don't know, Your Majesty. As you know, Viper acts independently. She cannot be governed by military rules," Ge Qi explained.
Yan Xun acknowledged this with a cold stare. "Very well. Tell He Xiao to come to the Yan Palace. I have something important to discuss."
Ge Qi nodded and bowed, watching as Yan Xun turned and rode off with the sound of horse hooves echoing once again toward the Yan Palace.
Yan Xun had visited Xuili Mountain to check on the condition of the Xuili army. He was mildly surprised to see that, despite the lack of provisions from him, the regiment had survived. "They must be skilled plunderers and looters," he thought to himself.
He had hoped to see Viper in person since the last time they had met for an important task. Unfortunately, her whereabouts were unknown.
Yan Xun had given Viper the freedom to roam without military jurisdiction to ease his guilty conscience from the failed rescue of Chu Qiao. After that incident, Viper began acting independently, especially after being imprisoned in Liang.
Viper had endured intense suffering, pretending to be strong while her body endured the blows. She had withstood 50 lashes, while He Xiao was bound hand and foot. Upon Yan Xun's orders, Xiao Yu eventually released Viper and He Xiao, but only on the condition that the wedding proceed as scheduled.
On the eve of his wedding day, Yan Xun had been put into a strange half-sleep. He couldn't remember what had happened, only that he was dressed in his wedding garments by his servants, his muscles strangely relaxed but paralyzed. He felt powerless, unable to summon his usual strength.
As he lay beside his bride-to-be, Xiao Yu, she spoke softly, "Even if certain things must be done to protect you from harm and destruction, I will do them. I cannot bear to see you fall, like Yuwen Yue."
Xiao Yu, like Xiao Ce, kept a close connection to Yuwen Yue's memory. She cherished both his allies and enemies. She had discovered Yue Qi's identity but spared him, even as he served in Kong Sang Mountain.
Instead of harming Yue Qi, Xiao Yu hired Xiao Qi, Chu Qiao's seventh sister, to care for him during his recovery. Although Xiao Ce objected, Xiao Qi insisted on staying by Yue Qi's side, even if it meant defying her brother. Xiao Ba, who had followed Xiao Ce, also objected, but Xiao Qi's determination won out. Xiao Ce eventually gave in, allowing Xiao Qi to serve Xiao Yu.
Author's Note:
Incorporating elements of cultural significance, I have drawn from the legendary Bikol Bat Head Swordof the far northeastern Philippine tribes to enhance the story of the awarded sword to Dongyi's tribal warrior son.
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