Total Pageviews

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Princess Agents - 特工皇妃楚喬傳, chapter 182 novel translation


Princess Agents - 特工皇妃楚喬傳 


Translator’s note:  I am really distracted by the holidays right now, haha.  I watched Ashes of Love and His Lordship’s First Love all last month and finally I’ve gotten back to Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao.  Still super curious who this chapter could be about and how this is going to play out in the last 10 chapters or so…

This is, again, a very long chapter.  I kept translating a little at a time, thinking, “OMG is this longer than the last chapter??” Lolz.  It's not.

This time, it is filled with past characters who were almost forgotten by these pages, and lot of politics.  There is no real plot line in these chapters, aside from the progression of their relationship in politically turbulent times.  There are some really tender moments between our favorite hero and heroine in this chapter, but that’s no longer the point of the story.  Slowly but surely, I am plugging away at these pages! Ha!

I head read that the actress Zhao YiLing had gotten married recently to a co-star in a different drama (Feng XiaoFeng, of Ice Fantasy fame), and that was happy news.  Too bad the rest of us are waiting for her fictional character counter-part to have some happiness in this drama!  Please let the sequel be soon…. TT__TT

-Kero


Chapter 182: Reunion with an Old Friend


This autumn went slowly, amid this sweetness and happiness.  Even though the autumn leaves were scattered, clustered of golden chrysanthemums made the old gold and jade magnificence of the Minister of War’s mansion even more resplendent and stately. The days conveniently passed.  Like a spring lake in March, the tendrils flowed from one’s fingertips, leaving behind the fragrant sweetness of springtime and hope in the center of one’s heart, lingering for a long while.

On the day of the Autumn Festival, Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue left the mansion and went thirty miles out to explore XiangZhi Mountain, and while they were there, they visited An Yuan Temple at its summit.

Even though Chu Qiao had lived in the capital seven to eight years, but she had practically never seen any of the places of historic significance or scenic beauty in the imperial city.  For one, her status forbade it, and second, she never had the inclination.  However, with this reversal of her life’s fortune, the past was in the past and she was able to relax and let herself go.  The weather that day was superb, the sky clear and fine, and even though the breeze was cold, it was even more refreshing.  Chu Xiao wore a long, moon white satin dress covered with a long satin cloak.  (TN: ^__^ Chu Qiao’s wardrobe had finally evolved into matching couple colors) She brought along a group of followers who had heard she was going out to play, the group went on the road en masse.

XiangZhi mountain lay south of the Imperial City, rising on a flat plain.  The snow-capped peaks were pure white, unmelting throughout the year, like the inverse of Wolong Mountain, lonely and cut off.  The mountainside was covered in maple trees, and today it was a vision of bright reds like fire.  The scenery was beautiful.  It was the Autumn Festival, and the large houses of the imperial capital were going on outings, and one could hear the laughter and the bustling atmosphere.

Along the road to XiangZhi Mountain, amid the rows upon rows of red maple leaves, the magnificent landscape was eye-catching and there was more beauty than one could take in.  Jing Jing and Ping An had taken Mo’er to the front of the road, loudly calling and provoking each other in a game of tag.  He Xiao, DuoJi and a group of moon guards were on either side. Yue Qi had also brought his wife Xiao Fei to take advantage of the festival and give this good wife and hardworking mother a vacation. 

Zhuge Yue held Chu Qiao’s hand all throughout the journey.  From time to time he and the others would feel inclined to recite classic poetry, talking and laughing merrily.  It was rare for this high lord to be so happy and easygoing, everyone was quick to poke fun at it, and they were like a cluster of little stars surrounding the moon as they clustered around him.  Occasionally passers by invariably cast side-long glances, wondering from which household this group of travelers were from.

Zhuge Yue had been busy all along.  He was DaXia’s grand Minister of War, after all, and he was also Qing Hai’s ruling leader and feudal monarch.  Nowadays, he had subtly become the Zhuge family’s spokesperson.  He was wearing several hats at once, managing military and political affairs, business and market decisions, all rolled into one.  Even more so it was necessary to always guard against internal attacks from Zhao Yang, and external attacks from Yan Bei.  These days, even though he returned home on time on a daily basis, accompanying Chu Qiao to eat dinner and chat and go to sleep with her, but every time Chu Qiao woke in the middle of the night he had left her side.  When she opened the window she saw that the light in his study was lit.

At time like that she pretended not to know.  She went to bed sleeping peacefully all the way through the next morning, when she would smile and ask him how he slept and watch as he stared other with clear eyes and smiled at her as he responded that he had slept really well.

His body wasn’t nearly as good as he displayed it to be.  That year he had taken a great injury, and he had traversed through the water for a long time and it was already a narrow escape from death.  That he could live on could be counted as Heaven’s blessing.  And now that the weather was getting colder, his illness was becoming more and more obvious.

The autumn rain was wave after wave of chill.  Every time it rained his facial color would become worse.  Occasionally she would wake in the night when his labored breathing was more prevalent, and she could see the fine, cold sweat on the back of his neck soaking through his bedclothes, attaching the fabric to his spine.

At times like that she always had nothing to say, only watching wide-eyed in the darkness, looking up at the glistening decorative pearls in the ceiling, her fists clenched and her lips pale blueish-white.  Little by little she would count the fine grains of sands slipping past, quietly waiting for the dawn.  Then, the next day she would desperately seek out more braziers for the chamber, and then, even using ten days’ time to direct the craftsmen to build indoor heating turning the chamber into a fire room.

While eating breakfast yesterday morning, Jing Jing and Ping An had chatted about the excitement of the Autumn Festival, and she had casually contributed a few words towards the conversation and he remembered it.  At the time he hadn’t said anything, but on the second day he had cleared his entire schedule, raised the banner of pilgrimage towards the mountain and took her out on a journey.

These many years, he had always been a stubborn and proud individual.  He had never believed in gods or Buddha, like a child’s selfish rebellion.  She poked fun at him for seemingly turning over a new leaf to worship the Buddha on the mountain, and he rushed up laughing, and said mysteriously said that other Buddhas he could get away with not worshipping, but there is one he must worship.


When Chu Qiao and the others entered AnYuan Temple, she could not help that her cheeks were a little red.  Jing Jin and the others were laughing loudly, and only Xiao Fei was bowing down to worship in earnest, even going so far as to cast a backwards glare at the group of disrespectful juniors.

The holy incenses was fragrant, the hall was solemn and the goddess GuanYin sat at the front of the temple altar with her benign countenance.  The mid-day light entered the temple from the outside, piercing through the layers of ash and smoke sprinkled throughout the empty temple hall. 

Zhuge Yue’s voice was right beside her ear, carrying with it a rich warmth and mirth as he whispered, “You must be sincere to worship.”

Chu Qiao turned her head and only say his bright, laughing eyes staring at her with traces of both sincerity and childish mischief.

She turned around with a smile, and unperturbed she knelt down, placed her fingers together, and in her heart she silently recited the wish thousands of nameless wives before her had also wished.  Then she placed her hands on either side of the cushion and bowed her head down sincerely.

The first bow, to bless him to be in good health, to be lucky in all that happens to him, and to turn misfortune into a good outcome.

The second bow, to protect our well-being and everything we protect, never again to separate.

The third bow, to protect our long cherished wish to be able to have a healthy child.

Again and again she bowed down with such piety, her face with unprecedented satisfaction and peace.

Goddess, you have blessed and protected so many people and now, I asked that you bless and protect me just this once.

In the back, Jing Jing and Mo’er were snickering and giggling so much that Xiao Fei sounded like a grandmother when she told them to be more respectful of the gods.  Outside, Yue Qi and He Xiao were discussing local news back home, of which soldier of which army battalion had been caught by his wife and was beaten by her in the street, causing all the guards to erupt in laughter.

The weather in deep autumn was a bit cold.  The sky was gleaming and lofty.  She knelt there, lifting her head to look up at the goddess, and only felt that her life was calm and well.  Her past memories of the blood rain and foul winds had long since gone far away.  Her state of mind had never been as still as it was now.

Zhuge Yue helped her up, and both his arms lightly surrounded her waist, his ice cold lips lightly kissed her brow, and just like that he lightly smiled.

Jing Jing’s eyes were sharp, and he pulled at Xiao Fei while talking non-stop, “Mrs. Qi, Mrs. Qi, look, sister and brother-in-law are the ones really committing blasphemy!”

Everyone who heard it snickered under their breath but Zhuge Yue didn’t care.  Chu Qiao’s cheeks turned slightly red and she gently pushed away from his embrace, and only her hands tightly grasped his arms underneath, refusing to loosen.

“Do you want to stay on the mountain and eat vegan?”

Zhuge Yue asked, and before Chu Qiao answered, she saw Ping An to one side of her winking and she immediately understood, and replied, “Why don’t we go back down the mountain.  Our group is a bunch of carnivores, it’s best we don’t force ourselves and mingle with the more cultivated and pose as lovers of culture.”

Mo’er smirked and laughed out loud, Ping An went exuberantly to Zhuge Yue’s side and spoke of Mrs. Qi’s many delicious dishes and Jing Jing joined him on the other side and followed suit.  Zhuge Yue flicked a boiled chestnut at Ping An’s head and chided him, “Damned brat,” and took them all out of solemn worship hall.

After paying the tithe, the temple servers prepared a clean, quick courtyard for them.  Yue Qi and the others went to prepare the horses and carriages, and left only Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao behind to sit under the full sky and maple leaves and sample the tea.

Just as they sat there for a little while, Xiao Fei came over, uncomfortable with either sitting or standing, and Chu Qiao thought she wanted to say something but was embarrassed to say it, and she pulled her over to the side courtyard.  Who knew she, with reddened cheeks, and after thinking on it for a while, until she finally said there was a fortune teller in the temple who was extremely accurate, and the pills he sold were also quite potent.  The fact that she had two sons was based on the fact she had taken this fortune teller’s elixir.   But neither Yue Qi or the master believed in that, but now that they were here, they could only secretly go and buy it.

Chu Qiao naturally did not believe it.  The fact that the woman was pregnant was due to Yue Qi’s efforts, so what did a fortune teller have to do with it?  (TN: ^_^;) But just seeing her words she could not refuse. So she called out to Zhuge Yue to let him know, and went with her to the fortune teller’s booth on Fenglin Road outside the main hall.

The fortuneteller's hair and beard were white, and he was thin and haughtily aloof, with the demeanor of a transcended being.

As soon as he saw Chu Qiao he said she was a rich and wealthy person, but her life had been dragged by many trammels.  She only had to sincerely believe in Buddha, and she will find a way to overcome disaster.  Xiao Fei nodded at his every word and strongly eyed Chu Qiao, as if to say, This gentleman is quite effective.

Chu Qiao knew this was part of the standard script for fortune tellers, for whose life wasn’t no without its troubles? And as for being rich, only look at the two ladies and what they were wearing and it would be easy to guess.

Xiao Fei sat in front of the booth, asking for many divinations, both good and bad, as if enraptured.  Bored, Chu Qiao stood to one side, and then suddenly saw a familiar figure in the distance and suddenly knelt down in place. 

After a while, she lowered her head and gave Xiao Fei a word, and then quietly followed him.

In the blink of an eye, six years had already passed.

Amid the red maples he wore white, looking unpretentious.  He was no longer that high spirited colorful immortal of the past.  The autumn wind blew over, and a signal sleeve lightly floated up, like a branchless willow tree, softly floating.

“Your Highness, will you take some water?”

An eighteen or nineteen year old attendant came forward, his voice clear and cold.  Even though he was dressed male, one could tell from her voice she was a young woman, only Chu Qiao could not make out her face from this angle.

Zhao Song turned around, and his once carefree babyface had lost weight and was now as thin as a blade.  Even though his carriage was still tall and straight, it still displayed traces of weariness and frailty.  Gone was the glory from his eyes: they were calm and without waves, like a hundred year old well.  Though he had only turned twenty at the beginning of the year, the hair at his temples had already gone white.

He shook his head, and then said calmly, “I want to walk alone.”  The girl did not move, and only slightly lowered her head, still holding the water skin in her hand as the cool breeze blew by.  It blew past the side of her face, faintly brining with it a trace of unnamed familiarity.  Her suddenly raised her head, looking at Zhao Song, and said directly, “Are you waiting for someone, Your Highness?”

Zhao Song’s expression slowly turned a bit unpleasant, and he frowned, “What are you saying?”

“Your Highness never leaves the palace. Why is it you have interest today?”

Zhao Song’s expression became more and more unpleasant, and looked deeply into her eyes, turned and left.  The young lady was surprised, and hurriedly chased after him, one hand pulling his sleeve and said sadly, “Your Highness have you forgotten what the Fourteenth Prince had said?”

Zhao Song’s sleeves dragged behind as she pulled, and he slowly turned around, his eyes like a deep pool, staring deeply at the girl dressed in men’s clothing, and said in a deep voice, “Heartless, not everyone in this world owes you.  Hasn’t your hatred gone on too long?”  

As soon as he said it, he turned and did not enter the layered maple forest.

The girl coldly stood in place with her back to Chu Qiao. Her back figured swayed, her blue silk like a willow, her figure so thin it was almost as if a sudden gust of wind would carry her aloft.  With a desolate loneliness she could not shed, it flowed from the tips of her fingers that he just cast off.  His sleeve floated into layer after layer of the forest and she just quickly stood there for a long while until finally, she used her sleeve to wipe her face.  It seemed as to she had wiped something clean, she lifted her foot in Zhao Song’s direction and followed after.

The birds in the forest fluttered and hummed and vaguely, it seemed as though Chu Qiao saw the same scene many years earlier.  He was dressed from head to toe in precious blue robes embroidered with colorful birds, beautifully brocaded flocks of them, in rather garish colors, and he held a little whip in his hand, immensely proud of himself as he said to her, “Of all the maidservants of this palace I see that you are the most pleasing to the eye.  I will name you as my goalkeeper general, what say you?”  (TN: This is a nostalgic scene from book 1, which I did not translate.)

A sudden gust of wind blew past, and she suddenly thought it was quite cold.

Xiao Fei’s voice gradually approached and she came back to her senses.  She took the still unsatisfied good mother of two children by the hand and went back.

Having explored for over half the day their group was getting tired, and they descended the mountain in carriages.  As the carriage bumped and swayed along, Zhuge Yue, saw that her mood was low, and he frowned as he asked her if she was tired.  Chu Qiao nodded and said she was, then leaned against his shoulder and drowsily closed her eyes, though she was indeed unable to sleep.

Zhuge Yue held her hand, which was cold, and he was a bit worried so he called out to Yue Qi to hasten the pace.

“In a few days, Zhao Che is going to have his grand wedding.”

Chu Qiao was surprised and slightly raise her head.  Zhuge Yue smiled and said, “He’s been unlucky these few years, and is fast becoming an old bachelor.  You don’t know the bride, but I think you will like her.  She is the youngest daughter of Donghu’s leader.  He name is Wan Yan Rou.  Though her name sounds soft she is not gentle at all.  She is an arrogant and despotic, crazy little wench but her heart is pure and kind.  When she enters the capital I will introduce you.”

Chu Qiao nodded, and she thought of something, but for a long while did not say anything after that.  (TN:  If I were her, I would have thought, "Well, dang.  Even that guy is getting married before me….” ^__^)

***

After the Autumn Festival, the sky became colder, the surface of the lake had already turned to ice and a heavy snow fell.  The space between haven and earth was plain white.  Every day their rooms were warm and toasty, which made the people inside even more lazy.

During these days the people of the Minister of War’s household came and went.  Zhuge Yue seemed particularly busy, and even Yue Qi had gone missing for a while.  According to Xiao Fei, he had been sent out by Zhuge Yue on some important business and had already been gone for seven or eight days.

One evening, Chu Qiao casually asked Zhuge Yue about it, but he mysteriously did not give a response, only saying that it was a surprise for her.

This surprise came very quickly.  Three days later, Sun Di sent someone from Bian Tang expressly, and sent over a private letter and official palace document.

It turns out that the Minister of War Zhuge Yue of DaXia had sent people ahead to Bian Tang to ask for the Xiuli monarch’s hand in marriage, and the first delivery of betrothal and gift money had already been sent to the Bian Tang royal palace. 

When Chu Qiao received this news, Zhuge Yue was still in bed and had not yet risen.  Dressed all in shiny and bright, white satin bedclothes, he propped up his head with a hand, cast a sidelong glance at her and smiled without smiling, (TN: this is an idiom, probably meaning the amusement was in his face but he didn’t smile)  as if he was still sluggish.

Chu Qiao presented herself before him, spread the letter and asked, “What is the meaning of this?”

Zhuge Yue responded unperturbed, “What is the meaning of what?  A grown man needs to take a wife and a woman should marry.  It’s rather universal.”  (TN: the literal translation of what his says reminds me of the first line of Pride & Prejudice, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” He follows with the phrase 天经地义的, which means this is a very natural progression of things.  Zhuge Yue is sneaky ^_^)

Chu Qiao frowned, “But my background is rather questionable, after all.  With your current status, are you not afraid of that the government ministers will say?”

Zhuge Yue laughed out loud, and responded rather disdainfully, “I, Zhuge Yue, am getting married.  What do other people have to do with this matter?”

Like a hot water bottle being punctured, and the warmth of the water trickled into her heart, she could not stop the smile that slowly flowed forth, and she leaned her head against his leg, and was motionless.

Zhuge Yue sat up and embraced her, bending down from his waist as his chin rubbed against her hair, whispering, “I’ve thought of this for so many years.  How could I simply let you quietly enter my household like this?  I want to tell the entire world, tell everyone, that you are mine.”  (TN: swooooon……)

Suddenly the following days were filled with people bustling about.  Chu Qiao didn’t know what methods Zhuge Yue used, but it was as if all of the royal capital’s upper echelons of society suffered memory loss overnight.  No one seemed to remember that she had helped Yan Xun try to assassinate the emperor.  No one remembered that she pushed back the forces of DaXia twice during the Northern Expedition.  No one remembered that she had killed Zhao Qi, DaXia’s third prince.

In the next consecutive days, the nobles and aristocrats of various houses came to the door, bearing all kinds of rare gifts for the Minister of War.  Even the high ministers who were not close to Zhuge Yue or Zhao Che had sent gifts for the sake of appearances.

On the third day of the twelfth month, the Holy Inner Palace sent word that the emperor’s health was in critical condition and sent an urgent request that the Minister of War enter the palace.

Logically this meant the emperor’s illness was grave, and aside from the princes and the royals, it was not appropriate to send for a minister to assess the malady.

However the emperor was gasping his last breaths, and it was touch and go.  No one knew what was going to happen the next moment. Duke Jing Xiao, Marquis Mu of LingNan, and the external princes of various regions entered the palace one after the other.  Letting Zhao Che stay alone in the palace was rather unwise.  As a last resort Zhuge Yue had no choice but to go along and express concern regarding the emperor’s illness.  Zhao Yang and the others on the wayside were uneasy about letting Zhuge Yue having unconstrained access.  It was quite a lively event at the palace, and all of DaXia’s forces were gathering.

However on the night that all the heads of state entered the palace, there was a skirmish between the Donghu soldiers garrisoned in the western quarter of the city and the personal guards of Duke Jing.  No one knew the reason why, but only when Chu Qiao was startled awake, the entire western skyline was a red glow with the sound of shouting and killing piercing the sky.  All the messengers of the various local militia were barred outside the gates of the palace, and it was clear that there were some who had intentionally planned this.

After half an hour, the clash escalated when the personal army of Marquis Mu joined in the fray, and the local army in the capital could only watch the fire from across the river bank.  No matter how those in the western quarter cried out, they had to wait for the command that could only come from above as they were blocked off. Staying on the outskirts they were standing at attention as they waited for the factional infighting to play out.

At this time, some of the larger and smaller gangs and hoodlums began looting the burning houses.  After no one resisted their small scale criminal activity, they became more and more bold. Eventually the western, southern, eastern and northern quarters of the capital were all awash with piteous cries, all its civilians shuddering in their houses lest they too, court disaster.

Chu Qiao ordered the rank and file soldiers within the manor to be on guard.  The main entrance was closed shut, and no one stepped foot outside.

He Xiao and Zhuge Yue’s private guard Yue Liu (TN: the 6th) were jointly responsible for the defenses within the manor, but after a little while, the outside of the manor was brightly lit with torches, as if they were suddenly surrounded by a large number of people.  

Yue Liu and the other Moon Guards tightly clenched their teeth, eager to fight, fittingly looking as if they wanted to risk their lives.  Chu Qiao, thinking it strange, let He Xiao go out, make inquiries and hear the  outside news.

He Xiao soon returned, smiling as he explained to Chu Qiao that they were the local government superintendent’s brigade who had come with an order from above to protect the Minister of War’s manor.

Very soon, the clamor outside lessened, and it seemed this brigade played a role in that.  But when Chu Qiao asked Yue Liu about it, the young guard scratched his head, and was doubtful that he had ever heard of such a superintendent. 

During the second watch just before midnight, there was a sudden uproar at the main entrance.  Chu Qiao had just stepped out of her chambers when she saw Zhuge Yue dressed in deep purple robes and fur hurriedly rush inside.  As soon as he saw her, he asked, “It didn’t frighten you, did it?”

Chu Qiao smiled as she replied, “Do you think I’m made of paper?  When I was out there committing murder and arson in my past life, who even knows where you had reincarnated to.”  (TN: I LOL’d when I read this because it sounded so cheeky and modern.  At first I wasn’t sure to what time period she was referring to, but if Zhuge Yue had reincarnated, then she must be referring to her modern-day “past”, so I added some words to make it clear in English)

Zhuge Yue took a sip from a teacup, forced a smile and sat down.

Chu Qiao asked, “What on earth is going on?”

Chu Qiao never made any inquiries when it came to Zhuge Yue’s affairs.  For one, it was inappropriate for someone of her status and past to know too much.  Furthermore, she no longer had the engird to meddle in other people’s affairs.  But the events of this night truly made her a bit worried.

Zhuge Yue raised his head and looked up, seeing that worried expression on her face and was faintly remorseful.  He took her ice cold hand and said, “It was the duke and his group making mischief, the southern gate had been controlled by Zhao Yang’s men.  I had come from the northern gate, that’s why I was a trifle late.”

“What good is it for them to stir up such trouble?  If it had escalated even bigger, the heads of state would have ordered their armies back to their territories, to whose benefit would that be?”

Zhuge Yue smiled coldly and responded, “That’s exactly what they were playing at.” (TN: Prince Zhao Yang and his co-conspirators wanted to empty out the capital so they could take it from Zhuge Yue’s hands)

Chu Qiao’s eyebrows twitched, reconsidered the situation and connected the crucial link to come up with the right answer.  She couldn’t help but sigh.  “That was close.  It’s lucky you were able to get out quickly.

Zhuge Yue pat her cheek and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t be outdone by such base tactics.”

Nowadays, the confrontations between the princes Zhao Che and Zhao Yang were basically pitting DaXia’s Southwestern Army with the DongHu Army .  Zhao Yang had the duke and marquis as his right and left arms, while Zhao Che had Zhuge Yue and the entire QingHai Army behind him.

Now that the emperor’s life was in the balance, almost all the territorial armies had followed their masters and were practically all camped inside the prefecture, while the territorial side armies were inside the city.  It was all strictly against regulation, and so the moment something happened, those within would have been sent back to their holdings.  However, be it Zhao Che or Zhuge Yue, their subordinates were territorial side armies, and only Zhao Yang held the Jing-Ji Riding Camp within his grip.  The 30,000 well trained cavalry was probably insignificant in terms of the battlefield, but once the territorial armies were ordered to leave, these would be the emperor’s most powerful forces within the capital.   At that point, if Zhao Che did not return north with the DongHu Army, he would fall into Zhao Yang’s hands.  If he did return to his territory, then the emperor’s successor would have been determined.

In the year that the emperor’s health was failing, it seemed DaXia was playing these kinds of games on a daily basis.  As a person who had also led troops in her own right, she naturally understood how amazing it was.

She stepped forward to soothe Zhuge Yue by saying, “You are careful in everything, you don’t need miss me.  The soldiers in the manor are brave enough.  Even if, say, 10,000 troops attacked, we could hold them off for about two hours.  Next time, you need not divide your troops to protect me.”

Zhuge Yue was shocked to hear it, and asked, “When did I divide forces and send them back to the manor?”

Chu Qiao was surprised and said, “Just now the superintendent’s forces were here, protecting us for over two hours.”

Zhuge Yue furrowed the space between his brows, thought on it for a while, and finally shook his head, saying, “Those were not my people.”

Chu Qiao looked at him doubtfully, her face taking on a serious mood.

Zhuge Yue smiled, took her hand in his and said, “It doesn’t matter.  They most likely were not malicious.”

“Was it Wei Shuye’s men then?”

“If I haven’t guessed incorrectly, I’d say it was the thirteenth prince’s men.”

It was as if a handful of snow had been scattered across her chest, and in a split second it was ice cold.  Zhuge Yue’s voice was slightly low as he said, “The emperor is in critical condition.  Almost all the power players are inside the palace.  At this time, the one who is not within the palace but nonetheless has the power to mobilize soldiers would only be him.”

An imposing expression flashed across his eyes, and he slowly said, “It’s been such a long time, I really did forget about him.”

Inside the main audience chamber the incense burned, the air warm, warm enough to allow people wear only thin gauze fabric.  However as she stood there, Chu Qiao still felt cold; cold from the tips of her fingers, spreading up to her spine and into her brain.

The thirteenth Zhao prince, Zhao Song, whose arm had been severed by Yan Xun, whose older brother had died in his arms, whose mother had been broken down by Chu Qiao and Yan Xun, and who, in that year, had been the most favored son in the capital, was now reduced to a footnote to be forgotten by collective memory.  Even as others were invited into the palace to attend the sick bed, he was not.

The fragrance in Zhuge Yue’s clothes penetrated her senses as he wrapped her up in an embrace when he saw that her face had gone white and her lips pale and it faintly made his heart ache.  He said softly, “Xing’er, why don’t I send you to Qing Hai first?”

Chu Qiao seemed to shiver, and it was as if she didn’t hear him until he said it once again.  She then shook her head hastily, nervously gripping his sleeve and cried out, “I don’t want that!”

She raised her head, unyielding as she looked at him, like an obstinate and unruly little lion.  Zhuge Yue helplessly sighed, stretching his arms to hold her close, and said in a low voice, “It will be very soon now.”

Yes, it would be very soon now.  Every time the high ministers and princes saw the emperor’s condition, upon returning to their homes they would say something like this.  Towards their subordinates and their relatives they would say, “It will be quick now,” or “The emperor doesn’t have much time,” or even “The days spent on tenterhooks will be over soon.”

However, day after day, it was said the emperor’s mouth was askew, then the emperors mind was unclear, and then the emperor didn’t recognize anyone anymore, and finally the emperor can no longer eat….. 

Hearing these things, it seemed as if the emperor was hanging only by a single breath, as if in the next second, the emperor would let go and give up the ghost.  Yet, the cold winder slowly approached, the great snowfall sealed the doors, the skies filed with silvery lights, and then the Spring Festival was once again approaching. The emperor came to day after day, and in fact, not only did he not die, it was said that he could occasionally say a few words, occasionally open his eyes, and even drink a few mouthfuls of soup.

No one knew that the old broken body was hanging on to, but it seemed as if he an unanswered wish.  It seemed as though he was waiting for someone, and so, day after day, he refused to close his eyes and die.

The tension in the capital was because of him.  Since no one had a complete certainty, and no one dared to make the first move and commit regicide.  The situation was as tense as a bow notched full of arrows, a single cry in the streets would cause people to draw their spears and knives.  Not even a baby would dare cry at night.

One early morning, when Zhuge Yue had left to attend court, along came a visitor.

The girl was dressed in a pure white fox cloak, shrouded in the silver snow, her eyes dark, her lips red, as beautiful as a painting. 

The light of winter was faint and far away, and it seemed to permeate from another world, shining coldly on the body. Chu Qiao had greeted the visitor at the door, wearing a thyme green wind cloak, and now was suddenly stunned.  She looked at her just like that, staring for a long, long time.

The girl smiled lightly, the smile was exceedingly weak, as she came forward slowly until she stood before Chu Qiao and said with a winsome smile, “Sixth Sister.  Don’t you recognize me?  I am Little Eight.”  (TN: OMG I knew it!  I knew he was not so cruel and would not have let Xiao Ba die.  Xiao Ba is literally “little eight,” so that’s how I will translate her name.  For those who don’t know, Chu Qiao was supposed to flee the capital with her, and thought she had died in the first book.  Soon after, she joined Yan Xun’s plight and left Qing Shan Manor.)

Time suddenly and so rapidly left, rather like the spring water of a river, winding its way to pass in the east, until it could no longer be traced by sight.

It was that small little child of the past, the one who had knelt beside her in her tiny body, rail thin like a little wolf cub that had never tasted milk; the one who had bowed at the graves of her older brother and sister under the cold moonlight and swore that she would take revenge for them.

In the blink of an eye, it had been fourteen years.

Chu Qiao remembered the girl’s execution.  She had hidden in the crowd, listening to the child wail, calling out her name, calling for her to save her.  But she did not dare go out, and only under the cloud covered moonlight did she wrestle the corpse from the mouth of a wild dog, and then let her sink into the clear cold waters of Lake Bi.

Fourteen years.  Fourteen years.  She had thought she had died.  She had stubbornly dreamed of her tear-streaked face for years, she annoyingly blamed herself for fourteen years, and because of her, she hated Zhuge Yue for so many years.

Her eyes flashed hot, and tears threatened to fall.  Standing by the door, reaching out her hand across the distance, a crooked smile crossed her lips.  It was so very bitter, but it also carried the joy of a survivor.  It was full like water, and little by little, it was overflowing.

Xiao Ba clasped her hand, and said with a light smile, “I am very amazing and managed to stay alive.  I bet you would never have thought it possible.”

The sound of her voice was very familiar, light and floating, always carrying with it traces of aloofness.

They entered the hall together.  Xiao Ba walked about the room rather familiarly, then sat down on a soft couch, took a deep breath, and smiled as she said, “Zhuge Fourth still has that habit of liking to have his room thick with incense.”

She looked around with familiarity, casually dropping what she knew Zhuge Yue’s living habits to be, and then took up a pomegranate into her hand and played with it.

Chu Qiao looked at her, a thousand words and ten thousand phrases approached her lips, but she didn’t even know where to start.

Xiao Ba smiled at her and said, “Sixth sister, don’t be astonished.  The person who died that day wasn’t me.  At the moment before my execution, your husband came to exchange me, and indeed he tased me for many years.  For him I have both enmity and gratitude, but I am not here today to force you to keep the promise you made that day to avenge your family.  Even I have given up the idea of taking revenge.

A hint of wind suddenly blew into the room, blowing the corner curtain along the wall so that it billowed as the sun shone through it.  The faintly visible dust particles danced in mid air.  Between Chu Qiao and Xiao Ba the sun glared, making her squint, but she still couldn’t see Xiao Ba’s face clearly.

Chu Qiao looked at her, and a kind of nameless feeling suddenly arose.  After thinking on it for a while, she gently asked, “Xiao Ba, have you lived well over the years?”

“More or less,” Xiao Bao said casually.  “Zhuge Fourth wasn’t bad to me.  I think I probably stained with your light.  He later took me with him to Master Wolong's school.  I followed along to study and learn how to write.  But he always limited my freedom and didn’t let me go.  I tried running away a few times, but every time he caught me.  That’s how I lived for many years, until….”

Speaking to this point, Xiao Ba opened her eyes and glanced at her. She snorted a laugh and said, “Until the outside world said he had died in Yan Bei, and the Zhuge Family kicked his people out.  Everyone in QingShan Court was kicked out of the keep.  That’s when I was free.  After that, I wandered around outside.  I was a girl, and I didn’t know how to make a living.  So that’s when I fell into the dust.  (TN: became a prostitute TT__TT). I was at the brothel for about a year, and then I met the thirteenth prince.  I still rode your coattails Sixth Sister, because I look a bit like you and that’s how I caught his eye.  I am now a servant of the palace.  Heh, heh, after all this time, I am still a slave, but I have at least been elevated a little.”

Chu Qiao listened to her careless tone, listened to her mention Zhao Xong, remembered what she had seen on the mountain, and that woman dressed in men’s clothing.  She could not help but slowly frown, and in a deep voice she asked, “You have known that I came to the capital a while back.  Why did you not come see me?”

“Why on earth would I come see you?”  Xiao Ba’s eyes swept a fierce glance and she coldly smiled.  Her young face had traces of cold disdain.  She slowly said, “Sixth Sister you are now a noble, you were both the XiuLi General of Yan Bei, and the XiuLi Royal of Bian Tang.  And now, you will soon be the wife of DaXia’s Minister of War.  How could I, a lowly slave, deign to come forth.  Wouldn’t I be an embarrassment to you, Sixth Sister?”

Xiao Ba’s expression was cold and biting, like ice, especially when she said the words “wife of DaXia’s Minister of War.”  Those eyes could have spit fire.

The incense in the burner ignited a little, and thin trail of smoke slowly rose upward, a pale golden light like a sparse stream of water.  Layer after layer it poured in, leaving traces as it splashed down onto the clean floor boards.  There was a layer of silence in the room, and Chu Qiao silently looked at her.  A warm heart, bit by bit, turned cold like this, until it reached the words in her mouth until it was swallowed resolutely back down into her stomach.  The heart was in an indistinct trance, and like the white snow in Yan Bei, it was cold and desolate.

She heard herself ask in a flat, monotone voice, “Then what business do you have here today?”

“The prince is leaving.  I’ve come to ask you to give me a bill dismissing me as a royal slave, so that I may follow his Highness.”

Chu Qiao was briefly astonished, “Where is Zhao Song going?”

“Where else can he go?  He’s going to the Yan Pass to look after the horse farms.  A grand prince of DaXia Dynasty, a prince who was born from the empress, is actually going to go guard the horses.”

Xiao Ba’s face became despondent, and she had said the words coldly while gnashing her teeth.  Her voice was so angry that she was momentarily unable to suppress it.

“Why?”

“Why else?  Isn’t it because of you, after all?”  Xiao Ba turned her head and said coldly, “Since the Yan Bei dog cut off his arm, His Highness has been living a simple life and never paid attention to the conflicts of the ruling class and its opposition, fighting over the royal lineage, each house’s princes fighting for power and no one even noticed him.  However, a few days past, he used official soldiers and horses because of you, and moreover he openly expressed goodwill towards your side.  Did you think the fourteenth prince and his ilk would still let him stay in the city after all that?”

Chu Qiao’s hands turned ice cold.  Her brain was buzzing, and she only heard Xiao Ba’s voice ringing in her ear, angrily saying “I won’t beg you to find a way to let His Highness stay in the capital.  I’m only asking you to help me get a bill of release.  His Highness will most likely not take me there so I will follow him myself.  At the very least I can serve him soup in the morning and evening and not leave him lonely on the road.  His Highness has shown me a kindness.  I will not be like others, and repay kindness with enmity, or bit the hand that fed me.”

After a long while, Chu Qiao finally lifted her head, stared at Xiao Ba’s picturesque face directly, and said faintly, “Xiao Ba, must you be estranged from my life in such a way?”

“What is Sixth Sister saying, with your ladyship’s background and Xiao Ba’s background, how would I dare climb to your level?  Furthermore….”

“If you say such words again, I will make you leave immediately.  There will not be a need to ask anything of me, for it will be as if I never had you as my little sister!”

Chu Qiao’s voice suddenly was cold with anger and Xiao Ba was instantly stunned by it.  Staring blankly at the angry Chu Qiao, in that moment, she couldn’t utter a word.

“Why do you resent me?  Why are you angry?  Are you angry that I had not means of protecting you, couldn’t bring you with me?  Or are you upset that today I couldn’t quench your long cherished thirst for revenge and I’m even going to marry the scoundrel and give myself to the enemy?”

Chu Qiao continued angrily, “All these years, you have suffered, but do not presume that I have lived happily.  I thought you were dead and I was remorseful for fourteen years.  Today you arrive at my doorstep, scorning and sneering at me, and this is what has become of our sisterly relationship?”

The noonday light shone in, scattering pieces of white light onto the ground.  Chu Qiao stood up and coldly stared at her.  “Fourteen years have already passed.  How many things have happened in that time frame?  Your head has been filled with thoughts of how you have been unlucky and hurt, and then you took all of that and blamed others for your misfortune.  I really doubt whether or not you are still my strong and brave little sister from back then.   Can it be that you no longer have a heart?”

“Xiao Ba stood in place, her face slightly pale.  Chu Qiao suddenly felt so tired, as if her entire body inside her skin from head to toe was screaming in weariness.

She slowly turned around to leave, faintly saying, “Just go.  Regarding Zhao Song, I will take care of it.”

And then, she returned to her room.

After a long while Xiao Ba finally left.  Chu Qiao watched through the window paper as Mei Xiang escorted her out of the minister’s manor.  Her figure from the back was very the, her clothing snow white, as if she was going to become one with the heavy snowfall.

Chu Qiao watched her go, and thought about what she had said; how she was placed under house arrest, how she had wandered alone when she was set free, how she had fallen….

She clenched her lips tightly, the bottom of her heart clearly becoming chilled.   There she sat alone, all the while until twilight.

From behind, Zhuge Yue embraced her, the sound of his deep voice from the back carrying a hint of reprimand, “Why didn’t you eat dinner this evening?”

Just like that, Chu Qiao leaned into his chest, and like a fish drifting in the water, she relaxed.  She held onto his hand, it was so large, it almost completely wrapped around her little hand.  She was so depressed she didn’t want to say anything, and so she just browsed over his hand, carefully counting the callouses.

“Xiao Ba came to visit?”

“Mm,” Chu Qiao nodded.  “You’ve known very early on, why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’ve wanted to tell you for some time, but never found the right opportunity.”

Zhuge Yue flashed a smile, a little helplessly he said, “Whether you believe it or not, this matter has been pressing on my heart all this time, it can be counted as anxiety.  In those days, I was not very good to her at all, and a few times she even ran away, I even beat her.  Those years my personality was very eccentric, and after I saved her I continued to hold onto her, not wanting to let her go.  When I was in a good mood, I taught her how to read and write, and even some self defense.  When I was not in a good mood, I thought she really resembled you, and I became a bit of a tyrant.  Those years on the mountain, she did not have other women around her, and I kept her close to serve me.  If her personality now is a bit strange, I think it’s because of my influence.”

“How long has she been at Zhao Song’s side?”

“It’s been two or three years now, “ Zhuge Yue responded.  “I had heard that Zhao Song really spoils her.  She once secretly had one of his lovers killed.  Zhao Song did not even pursue it.”

Chu Qiao thought on it for a long time, and then finally she said slowly, “She may be in love with him.”

Zhuge Yue let out a laugh and said, “I don’t care whom she’s interested in, as long as you’re not angry with me.” 

“What about Zhao Song?”

“Rest assured, though Zhao Yang wants to blot out the sky with one hand, he still needs to ask whether or not I will agree to it.  Only that I don’t think it’s a bad thing for Zhao Song to leave the capital.  Sooner or later this city will be a scene of chaos.  For him, leaving will be much safer.”

Chu Qiao had actually though of this as well.  She slowly frowned, “Then what can be done?”

“I intend to let him go to Qiang Hu.  For one, it is closer to the north, within Zhao Che’s sphere of influence, and second, that is the place where the Qiang people are concentrated.  The living there is comfortable, the climate is mild.

Chu Qiao nodded and said, “Let’s go with your idea then.”

“I shall arrange it tomorrow.  Do you wish to send him off, and see him one last time?”

Chu Qiao thought on it for a long time, but then shook her head, “He probably doesn’t want to see me, it’s better if I not interfere.”

Zhuge Yue said, “I really do think that you should see him.”

Chu Qiao raised her head and stared at him with a frown.  Zhuge Yue laughed it off, and said, “Don’t look at me like that.  I don’t have any other meaning, only that I don’t want you to continuously blame yourself like this.  What happened that year cannot be blamed on you.”

That year?

Chu Qiao’s line of sight gradually drifted, and her mind flashed back to the day on the mountain.  The man stood tall, his clothes swaying, his ink black hair frosted at the temples,  and only empty sleeve, like a willow’s rootless catkin.  (TN: a catkin is a flower cluster that droops from a branch)

The memory had long been sealed with dust, and now it ripped open.    The scenery remains the same but the people have changed.  Only the layers red maple leaves were the same as that year.




Translator’s afterward:

This chapter was bitter sweet, and it seems the author is trying to find some closure for Chu Qiao before the end.  It turns out Zhuge Yue was eccentric but not evil, and he knows how to ask for forgiveness.  I would have been more than a little mad, but Chu Qiao has matured.

I’m not sure how I feel about this last incarnation of Chu Qiao, having followed her all the way back in Book 1, it’s a stark contrast to where she’s been.  I feel she’s very nonchalant about most everything.  Aside from that flash of temper she unleashed on Little Eight, we haven’t gotten much of a reaction from her about anything because she really has no interest in anything that goes on around her.  She even pretends to not see that Zhuge Yue's health is failing.  I'm no sure why this girl consistently feels like she needs to suppress everything....

I was, however, wondering whether he intended to marry her out in the open and he did not disappoint… but alas, so many other things are still getting in their way….. SIGH. 

Like the end of any series, these chapters feel long and drawn out, like the author doesn’t know how it will end, but it must end, after all.  I don’t know when I will translate the next chapter, and I finally had a day off for Christmas, but like you all, I intend to read to the end.  -K







Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Princess Agents - 特工皇妃楚喬傳 English novel translation, chapter 181




Princess Agents - 特工皇妃楚喬傳 

Translator’s notes: I can’t believe I’ve been obsessed with this for almost a year now.  That’s pretty amazing since I am easily distracted by new dramas and novels.  ^__^  I figured I would get another chapter out though I am still training in my new job and lately I’ve slept early to wake up early and start the day.  So, my late night translation sessions have vanished and the only time I have is briefly after dinner or weekends.  Before I start another drama or novel, let’s get more chapters out and get this novel finished! -K


Chapter 181: Autumn Wind and Dewdrops

During the deep night it rained.  The sound of its pitter-patter against the planks of the small ship was light and quick.  The waterway churned back and forth through the surrounding overlapping mountains and lofty mountain ranges.  They could faintly hear the rushing of the wind and traces of the deep autumn rain. Streaks of rain stuck the core of the cold and quiet river.

Chu Qiao woke up late into the night.  Her black hair fell scattered to one side of her neck. Her cheeks glowed charmingly red.  Her eyes were sleepy, her skin like white satin.   Lying amid the heavy beautiful brocade quilt she reached out her slender arm, then with her hand she felt around only to find the other side ice cold.

She was shocked, her sleepiness completely disappeared and she immediately got up.  She only saw that the room was empty with only her in it.  Outside the window was still pitch-black, and she didn't know when it had actually started to drizzle. 

She was suddenly a bit flustered.  She climbed over the bedding to get out of bed, however as soon as her toe touched the ground she felt her knees were immediately weak, and there was a dull pain in her lower body; a distinct message transmitted over her entire body to remind her that everything had changed.

She donned a set of clothing with a water blue dress, embroidered with white blossoming flowers and exuberant foliage.  The embroidered threads were thin, with peach colored centers.  Each stroke outlined her slender waistline paired with a plain skirt and a long-sleeved shawl.  She took a bamboo green umbrella, opened the door and went outside.

It was a bit cold outside, the light rain was like silk threads, like the thick and fine rain of early spring.  It blew in sideways with the wind, and even with an umbrella it would from time to time continue to rain onto her plain skirt, circling around in slim and graceful movements.  She rapidly ran across the deck, her skirt already wet, her carriage lithe.  The darkness filling the sky rushed her from all sides, the mountain peaks on both sides of the strait towered over, and occasionally one could hear the clear cries of the hidden wildlife.

Just like that he was standing at the bow of the ship, as if he had been standing there for a while.  He was dressed all in long white robes, standing tall and handsome.  In the shadow of twilight there were faint traces of constrained, deep heaviness.

As soon as he heard her footsteps he turned his head around and looked at her without any surprise.  He extended his hand towards her and softly said, "Come."

Chu Qiao quickly ran over, raising the umbrella over his head.  Even though the rain was light but standing in it for a long time would also get him soaked.  His clothes were already damp, the fine misty rain was cold.  She furrowed her brow and said, "Don't you see that it's raining right now?"

The mountain wind strained mournfully between them and their billowing sleeves slightly bulged.  He held her hand, the tip of his elegant index finger strong.  He suddenly embraced her close to his chest without saying a word, quietly holding her. Though he did not use force, it was still as if she was caught with the strength of steel bars so that she didn’t dare make even the slightest movement.

“Zhuge Yue?”

Time flowed quietly, and she called to him in a whisper, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

His voice was calm, as if it were water in a placid lake.  Not having seen him in a few years, the bossy, jumpy man of yesteryear seemed to have grown up, his visage now at peace.  Occasionally a trace of cold stillness would flash across with the vicissitudes of worldly experience.  His voice would carry a gentle tranquility, but there would always be the secret layers of ice emerging from the darkness hiding there.  He would not show whether he was happy or angry, and it was unclear as to what he was thinking about.

“Xing’er, I’ve wronged you.”

He suddenly said just that and Chu Qiao frowned as she puzzled over it, “What are you talking about?”

“I owe you.”  The corners of Zhuge  Yue’s mouth lifted, silently smiling, and as if he was speaking to a child he gently patted her cheek and said, “In the future I will definitely make it up to you.”

“Zhuge Yue, what’s wrong with you?”

Chu Qiao was a little tense as she pulled on Zhuge Yue’s sleeve, raised her head and asked, “I’ve not been wronged. I was willing.”

Zhuge Yue smiled a bit, with that same peerless grace and elegance, stretched his arms out to hold her against his chest and rest his chin on the top of her head.  He held her just like that, without using much force, as if he were embracing a piece of porcelain.  

There were words he did not say, and like that they followed the breath of the affectionate breeze dispersing the mist over the river.

He had always thought he was so much better than Yan Xun and that Chu Qiao need only have him by her side to have true happiness and security.  But in matters such as this, he didn’t even compare to that person.  In the ten years he guarded her, Yan Xun was indeed a gentleman. While he, on the other hand, had a selfish heart.

But what could he do about that?

With her, he had never been confident.  He tread with the greatest of care, as if skating on thin ice.

The closer he was to happiness, the more afraid he became.  So his selfish heart wanted to possess more, just a little more, and a little more.

There were times he ridiculed himself.  Never thought you would come to this, did you, Zhuge Yue?

Yet often afterwards his heart became more worried with gains and losses. He was such a free and unrestrained person, with the achievements of a feudal overlord on the imperial map, and he possessed all the riches of the world.  She was the exception, and was a chess game that he would never able to break free from in his lifetime.

Chu Qiao continued to speak softly under her breath into his chest, as if she was trying to relieve his conscience, she repeated, “It’s not a problem. I myself was willing.”

He covered her mouth with a hand, picked her up horizontally, then proceeded towards the cabin.

“Hey!”  Chu Qiao cried out as her bamboo umbrella fell to the deck.  The icy cold, drizzling rain touched her cheek and she buried her face in his chest and suppressed her voice as she protested, “Put me down, it would be awful if MeiXiang and the others saw this!”

Zhuge Yue lowered his head and said forcefully, “Shut up.”

Chu Qiao furrowed her brow, and her disposition went along with the urgency of the situation as she retorted, “As if!”

Zhuge Yue smiled slightly, continuing with his ever consistent expression.  The corners of his mouth pulled apart, but he said nothing further.  He lowered his head and simply took her lips into his mouth.  His kiss twisted and passed through her barriers as it drew from a deep sentimentality.  He just stood in front of the hatch door, under the curtain of night, ostentatiously kissing the sweetness of her mouth for a very long, long time.  He kissed Chu Qiao until her whole body was bereft of all strength and she was panting, and then finally he released her from captivity.

He eyed her smilingly, with slight traces of being pleased with himself in his provocation, “I have a means of making you shut up.”

Chu Qiao hurriedly used her two hands to cover her already red and swollen little mouth, and he waited until her pair of dark eyes were opened wide, and furiously glared at him, showing her silent protest.

Zhuge Yue let out a laugh and carried her back to the room.  Thankfully it was already deep into the night, everyone had already fallen asleep, and they encountered no one along the way.

As soon as they made it back to the room, Chu Qiao hastily leaped down and made a defensive stance, glaring at him like a tiger at its prey.  (TN: LOL, poor Chu Qiao, being in love is not quite like being in battle… ^__^;).   Seeing that he was very comfortably undressing in front of her, her face could not help but turn red up to her ears.

Zhuge Yue smiled lightly and suddenly leaned forward, his warm breath against her ear as he whispered, “Does it still hurt?”  
[TN: (///O__O///) He is doing this on purpose…]

Chu Qiao turned even redder.  She was always like this.  She was clearly a general who would kill all her enemies and she had been a commander of a million troops, yet, when facing this kind of situation, she became as shy and sensitive as grown woman who had never left the doorstep.  (TN: i.e. inexperienced or over protected woman who had never left her parents’ household; her face so thin skinned “脸皮薄” her embarrassment is clearly written there) With a single sentence she was rendered at a loss to the extreme.

Zhuge Yue embraced her from behind, his two hands wickedly sliding downward.  In surprise Chu Qiao stayed his wandering hands firmly attached to her searing hot lower abdomen.

“Hmm?”  Zhuge Yue said, “I asked you a question.  Does it still hurt?”

Chu Qiao was extremely embarrassed, carelessly shaking her head, like a panicked little rabbit.  (TN: the rabbit analogy again.  He is the rabbit in the moon, and she is his little rabbit wifey…? ^_^ so cute)

Zhuge Yue chuckled a bit, and across his face slid a trace of perverse expression, and he deliberately whispered in her ear, “Does it really not hurt anymore?”

She nodded quickly.

“Then let us continue.”  TN: (X__X)  *translator passes out from bloody nose *

“Huh?” Chu Qiao said in astonishment, her mouth wide enough to stuff an egg into it.

As soon as Zhuge Yue saw it he burst out into laughter, sweeping her up into his arms and laying her onto the bed.  Chu Qiao had no idea what was wrong with her.  Where were her skills?  What had happened to her martial arts?  Where were all her nimble reflexes?  Why was it every time he was near, her body became soft and weak without a trace of strength?

Dumfounded she looked at his face magnified before her eyes.  The dashing bridge of his nose, his slight smile, so beautiful and elegant it could turn all living creatures topsy turvy.

She was so shocked in disbelief that she allowed this someone to take possession of her pretty red lips.  A burst of shuddering climbed up her spinal cord like an electric shock.  Her neat rows of teeth were pried open and his skillful tongue began its exploration.  His kiss turned from gentle to fierce and she also started from her slow-witted daze to gradually probe her own acquiescence. Her body was slightly trembling, her breathing disorderly, until she finally succumbed and retreated due to her opponent’s flirtatious moves.  Softly leaning against his chest, she was rather like a lake that has been disturbed by spring water, its joined ripples rising to all directions, with no one able to control it.

She had no idea when her clothing had been shed, with only short undergarments remaining, showing her long, slender legs and her white lotus arms.

At that moment, he smiled as he pulled up a quilt, wrapped her into it, gave her face a light kiss, then reached out his arms and held her to his chest. His voice was a bit hoarse as he smiled and said, “All right then, go to sleep.”  (TN: LOL wut)

Chu Qiao was stunned, and for a moment she had no response, but then asked the silly question, “To sleep?”

“What?” Zhuge Yue propped his head up and from his side looked at her fully flushed face and smiled, “You don’t want to sleep?”

“I do!!” Chu Qiao immediately said in a loud and exaggerated voice.  She even forced a yawn as if to show she was indeed very tired.

Zhuge Yue lay down again, and just held her like that.  At first he hand’t though of doing much of anything, since it was Chu Qiao’s first time after all. She should not go through another trial of lovemaking so soon.  But just then he almost very nearly couldn’t control himself any longer, so all he could do was close his eyes.  “Sleep then.”

But someone was getting restless in his arms.

First she repositioned her arms, then her posture.  Like a restless puppy moving this way and that, the wisps of her hair made him want to sneeze. 

Zhuge Yue furrowed his brow slightly, the fire in his chest rising and jumping.  He tried to restrain himself, but in the end he could no longer hold back.

He frowned as he asked, “What are you doing?”

“You, why aren’t you going back to your own room?”

Chu Qiao raised her head and looked at him pitifully, her cheeks red as she said, “What if Mei Xiang and the others see us tomorrow, then what? Ping’An Jing Jing and the others are still young, they are still children.”

Zhuge Yue continued to frown: “They’re already so old, how are they still children?  Have you forgotten that you very nearly forced yourself on me in Wu Peng City when you were that age?”  (TN: *translator spits out her tea*)

“When did I do that?” she suddenly retorted in defense of her personal reputation.  “That is malicious slander!”

“Are you sure about that?”  Zhuge Yue scoffed, “You pretended to be the harlot Minister Tian gave me, presenting yourself in front of me in clothes that swayed to and fro and covered nothing.  Weren’t you trying to take advantage of me?”

“Zhuge Yue, you little—!”

“If you shout a bit louder, in a moment you won’t have to wait until tomorrow for all of them to know.”

Chu Qiao quickly lowered her voice, glaring at him with intense fury, gnashing her teeth as she said, “At that time, I was trying to save someone.  Who knew that you would be there.  You were pretty clear on what would come of it all, so don’t feign ignorance with me.”

“Hmph!”

Zhuge Yue glanced at her with clear impatience, his expression as if saying, “I knew you were going to say that.”

Seeing that he was silent, she panted fiercely for a bit until she finally gave him a push and said, “Hey! Go back to your own room.  This bed is so small, I can’t sleep like this.”

Was this bed really small?  Four people lying side-by-side would not feel crowded.  Zhuge Yue pretended he didn’t hear a thing, and continued to close his eyes to sleep.

“Hey!  Go back to own room already, why are you still hanging about here?”

Seeing Zhuge Yue was about as stoic as a mountain, Chu Qiao sat up angrily, taking her clothes with her as she was about to leave.  But just as she was about to climb over Zhuge Yue, her waist was immediately pulled back down, her elbow suddenly lost support, and she fell forward and leaned onto Zhuge Yue’s chest.

A few flames flickered in the man’s eyes, a dark, mesmerizing inference in one long fissure.  He cast a sidelong glance at her and said coldly, “I see you are quite energetic and do not wish to sleep.”

“That’s not true! Absolutely not!”

Even that little think Li QingRong knew how to read expressions, and as an adult, Chu Qiao knew her own discretion and limitation.  (TN: the phrase “高低深浅” literally means “height, depth, deep, shallow,” or relative superiority or inferiority, as well as sense of propriety)

Sure enough, she soon knew that whatever protests and hopes of escape were unrealistic.  So she hurriedly, and obediently, lay down in her spot once more.  Her back faced Zhuge Yue, who was silent, his breathing steady, as if he had already fallen asleep.

All was quiet and still, all around a thick, inky pitch-dark.  The rain seemed to be getting bigger, its pitter-patter sound striking against the ship's boards, making a clear and melodious sound. 

A hand stretched out from behind her and hugged her waist.  She felt the man’s warm breath gently behind her ear, and her neck went limp and numb.  He embraced her, gently kissing her earlobe, his tone deep as he said, “Xing’er, from now on I want to hold you like this every night, so don’t always push me away.”  

(TN: *translator cleans up the mess on the floor that was her heart melting like chocolate…*)

Her heart suddenly went so soft, like a pond of water the color of light green jade, buoyant and floating.

It was hard to imagine someone like him would say something like that to her in such a tone.  Her heart ached a little.  She reached over and took his finger in her hand, which was a bit cold, slightly pulled it up to her lips, lowered her head and gave it a light kiss.

The night was still so long, and she actually fell asleep like this, lying in his arms.  In her dreams it was as if she could see a clear blue sky, a jade green lake, a bright green field of grass.  A group of children wearing white dresses stood on the spacious lawn and danced; their mouths singing a warm melody.

Zhuge Yue, you are mine, the sunshine that I will never give up.


***

That it would be late in the morning was almost a certainty.

After a burst of pounding on the door, she opened her eyes in a panic, only to see Zhuge Yue was already neatly dressed and standing in front of the window.  In his hands he held a simple dress ensemble of mixed blue and white and chuckled as he said, “Mei Xiang has already called a few times.  If you don’t get up, she will likely burst through the door.”

Chu Qiao practically dressed with fear and trepidation, and then moved ever so slightly, creeping towards the door, reached out her hand to open the door just a crack.  Then she stuck her head out and let out a silly laugh, “Heh, Mei Xiang, good morning.”

“Miss, it’s already noon.  We will be docking in a little bit.”

Mei Xiang stook at the doorway, with a hand on her waist in a very imposing manner.  Jing Jing was holding Li Ce’s little son and at the moment was trying to peer around surreptitiously, as if suddenly interested in Chu Qiao’s room.  Rong’er stretched out his small, fat hand, pinching at Jing Jing’s cheek, babbling at her incoherently.

“Oh?  Is it?”  Chu Qiao forced a laugh, “Wow, I must have been really tired, I actually overslept.  Strange, isn’t it? Ha, ha…”

“It is, actually, quite strange.”  Jing Jing smirked as she laughed along, her face like a little imp.

“Miss, why are you still standing there?  I’ve already washed up, aren’t you going to wash up too?”

Chu Qiao took up the bucket on the floor, and said rather loudly and unnaturally, “I shall do it myself.”

Mei Xiang frowned, “Miss, what is wrong with you?”

“I’m very well actually.  I just see that you look very tired.  Why don’t you go meet with the others first?”

Mei Xiang very faithfully and dutifully continued, “I still need to get your things in order.”

“No need! There’s no need. I am feeling very well rested today, so I can do this myself.”  As soon as she said it, she wouldn’t let Mei Xiang get a word in edgewise, she took the bucket and retreated back into the room, then soundly shut the door.  Then like a little thief she put her ear against the door, listening carefully to the movements outside.

After she waited until Mei Xiang and Jing Jing left, she let out a long sigh.

Zhuge Yue lay sideways along the bed, and said in a very leisurely and carefree manner, “Look at you, just like a little thief.” 

Chu Qiao glared at him, she came forth to pull on his arm, “While no one is about, go back to your room.”

“Don’t want to,” Zhuge Yue simply refused.  “Not unless you wait upon me, and wash my face.”

Chu Qiao asked in defeat, “Why?”

“If you don’t do it, I won’t go back.”

“Zhuge Yue, you little —" 

Chu Qiao gnashed her teeth for a long while, until finally, she finally walked over to the basin, poured out the water and washed her own face.  Then she walked in front of him, showing her arm as she pulled up her sleeve, with a posture that didn’t seem like she was about to help someone wash their face, but rather like she was about to come to blows with someone.

She crouched in front of him and rubbed his face hard.  His brow slightly furrowed, but he said nothing, and continued with his silly ear-to-ear grin.  Chu Qiao suddenly felt as though she could not retaliate against him, and after letting out a sigh, her hands became more gentle.  

The sunlight permeated through the open window illuminating the two, and it was as if time reversed itself back ten years.  They were still in the courtyard of Qing Shan Pavilion where every morning she rose very early to carry a deep basin of water for him, wait upon him to rise from bed, wait upon him to don his clothes and shoes, and wait upon him to eat his breakfast and drink his tea.

“Look at me.  I’ve wasted so much effort only to come back full circle to where I started,”she smirked ruefully.

Zhuge Yue grinned, and said, “As the saying goes, ‘the Heavens cast a wide net, and nothing escapes.’  You were destined to be mine.  It was never something you could escape.”

Chu Qiao glared at him, and rebuked, “What a damnable metaphor.”

Teeth now brushed, attire in order.

Chu Qiao pushed Zhuge Yue’s arm and pushed him all the way to the door.  “Hurry up, just go!”

Zhuge Yue turned his head around, lancing her with his eyes, “Damn woman, one night of marriage turns into a hundred days of hatred!  You switch your attitude every other day!”

“Hurry up and just go!  Go back to your own room!”

“Young master!”

A crisp and pleasant voice suddenly transferred through the air.  Chu Qiao was scared out of her wits and abruptly turned to see Yue Qi standing outside of the window, all smiles.  Seeing her, he even rushed greet her with a chuckle.  “I had gone to the master’s room early this morning but saw that he was not in.  So I had guessed my master had gone to bed in your room last night, Miss.”

Ping An was standing behind Yue Qi, and begin him there were even more people.  From a distance it was unclear as to whom he was speaking with but in his voice there was a hint of boundless joy in his voice when he said, “My sister can now be considered married, now I don’t have to listen to her nag me.”

At this point the door burst open and Mei Xiang came in with Jing Jing and the others into the room.  As they saw Zhuge Yue they bowed ceremoniously, and very courteously called him Fourth Young Master.  Then immediately went to Chu Qiao’s bed, thinking to pack.

Chu Qiao suddenly remembered the bloodstain on the bed could not see the light of day, and just as she tried to block the way, Jing Jing carried a bowl of soup to her, leaned into her ear and whispered, “Mei Xiang specifically told the cook to make this.  It will stop the bleeding and nurture the qi.  Hurry up and drink it, sister.”  

Chu Qiao’s eyes went black and her cheeks were as if they were stained with blood.

Zhuge Yue came over, took the medicine bowl and held it up to Chu Qiao’s lips.  There was a trace of smile on his lips as he said, “That is indeed good stuff.  Xing’er, hurry and drink up.” (TN: bwahahahahahaha…..)

***

That afternoon, the ship docked at Lan Ling Prefecture to replenish their stocks of food and then continue on their way. After another two days, they finally arrived in Hu County.

Everyone went on shore. Even though they had already reached DaXia territory, Yue Qi and the others took to guarding Zhuge Yue with increased rigor.  When they first arrived at the ferry, there around about five-hundred or more guards watching over the place, the woman all changed into men’s attire, and they were all corralled into a carriage in a very secretive and careful manner.

Chu Qiao saw that among the men guarding Zhuge Yue many of them had tattoos on their face.  She knew that most of them were exiled sinners from Qing Hai, and she was able to relax a little.

Most of these people had been exiled due to their ancestors, and they did not possess a sense of belonging to the continent.  Year after year they relied on physical strength to survive in Qing Hai, and they were extremely loyal to Zhuge Yue.  With them present, Zhuge Yue’s safety was not an issue.

When they reached BaoLin Prefecture, three-thousand armored Qing Hai forces clearly guarded the place openly.  Among them, one-thousand wore blue leather armor, looking very fierce.  They were swift killers, from every angle they were tough and tensile, having gone through a spectrum of hardship.  Even with a glance she could tell they were all skilled in martial arts.

Yue Qi, very pleased with himself, told her that all under his command were among the elite seven division of the Qing Hai forces.  Here was only a small part, as most of them were still stationed in Cui Wei Pass, and the capital city.

They took respite in BaoLin Prefecture, then on the second day they reached the capital city proper, and finally saw the hustle and bustle of city life.

The vast earth, a scene of rustling in the air, the rolling wilderness, the withered grass wind borne.

This was still the weather in DaXia.  This was DaXia’s wind, DaXia’s cool autumn.  Chu Qiao opened the curtain to the carriage and looked at the towering city gates up ahead.  The iron red walls in the light of the setting sun gave off a bloody and tragic color.

She faintly recalled those days of youth.  In those days, she and Yan Xun depended upon the other for survival living in a huge cage, hating everything that was here, wishing that a flood of water would come and turn everything into rubble and flying ash.  They had worked hard to forge a bloody road for themselves to leave, forcing their way out of a place that had fenced them in for eight years.

But today, she willingly, step by step, made her way back through these suffocating city gates.

Six years ago, she had left this city for a man.  Six years later, she returned to it for another man.

Fate was a strange and wondrous thing.  Always between thousands of twists and turns, one step out of bounds could lead you to who knows what, leading you to some unknown outcome.  The only thing you can do, is keep on going.  (TN: there is wisdom in these words….)

Her fingertips were a little cold, and the wind brushed against her ear in a low moan.

A hand suddenly came from behind, and embraced her.

Zhuge Yue’s voice sounded beside her ear, in a light, calming tone. 

“Don’t be afraid.  You have me.”  (TN:  ladies/gents, go find yourself someone like this and be deliriously happy, just don’t tell the rest of us because we’ll all be jealous….)

Chu Qiao smiled slightly.  He always seemed say that.  Her body leaned back against his chest, took a deep breath, and then slowly closed her eyes.

Only she held his hand, every so tightly, as if she would never let it go.

Today’s capital city was no longer the prosperous splendor of yesteryear.  The sky was not yet dark, but the people walking the streets were very few.  As they saw Zhuge Yue’s carriage approach, people had more cause to avoid it.  The crowds and splendor of the Lantern Festival of that year were long erased.

The carriage passed XuanHua street and tuned into BaiWei road, all the way heading west into the city.  Chu Qiao slowly frowned and asked, “Do you not go to Zhuge Manor?”

Zhuge Yue let out a laugh, “I am already the Minister of War in DaXia.  Naturally, I would have my own minister’s manor to return to.”

When she heard this Chu Qiao’s heart suddenly relaxed, and she could not help but smile.

Zhuge Yue poked fun at her, “How can such an expression be worthy of the title, XiuLi Queen?”

“What need do I have to pretend in front of you?”

Chu Qiao had said it very naturally, and Zhuge Yue was slightly shocked.  He immediately held her, and praised, “Well said.”

There were very few people on the street, and so the carriage proceeded a little faster now.  In a little while, there were already in front of the Minister of War’s manor next to Bi Liu Lake, in the western part of the city.

Chu Qiao had seen this house before.  It was one of the side courts of the royal family.  The beautiful and magnificent structure was imposing, it’s pinnacle simple and bold.  The carriage did not stop and brought them all the way through the door, and into the inner court. The soldiers and guards went one after the other, and only then did Chu Qiao follow Zhuge Yue off the carriage.

At a glance she saw a pair of eyes belonging to the servant girl Huan’er, standing just outside of the courtyard.  As soon as she saw Chu Qiao, tears fell down her cheeks.

Even though they were not in the courtyard of the past, these were the same people from that time in her life.  The bottom of Chu Qiao’s heart felt sorrow and grief.  She slowly reached out her hand, and the maid hurriedly rushed over, picking up her skirt and greeted her by kneeling down, head to the ground.

Chu Qiao quickly reached out to help her up, and Zhuge Yue pulled her back, saying, “You are the future Lady of this household.  It is proper for her to bow to you in greeting.”

Having said this, the servants and maids of the manor also bowed their heads to the ground, and cried out, “Greetings, my Lady.”

Chu Qiao helped Huan’er up.  Not having seen her for so many years, her appearance had changed a bit. She grew tall and graceful in appearance, and now she was the head maid of Zhuge Yue’s household, overseeing 180 maids altogether. 

Huan’er wiped her tears away as she cried and said, “Your servant knew that my Lady would come back sooner or later.  I have already tidied up my Lady’s room, and I have been keeping it for you all these years.”

Having them call her ‘my Lady’ left Chu Qiao feeling slightly embarrassed, but Zhuge Yue bore it all with equanimity. From beside her, he cut in, “Empty out that room, take her things and move them directly into my room.”

When they heard it, everyone suddenly grasped the situation.  Huan’er hurried to direct the maids to move Chu Qiao’s luggage.  Mei Xiang and Jing Jing also joined in, and the entire group of people worker fervently in the eyes of their master.

“Let’s go.”

Zhuge Yue spoke beside her ear, and then without so much as a ‘by your leave’ he took her by the hand and led her forward.

The compound in the dusk, the dim light of of the night sky vast.  Far in the distance a crescent moon hung in the sky, emitting a thin but clear and bright light.  The lamps on both sides were burning, reflecting on Zhuge Yue’s navy blue cloak. His hand was very warm, and he said nothing, only quietly walking.  The wind blew from both sides, carrying with it the lake water’s cold dampness, but there was indeed also the pure and fresh scent of the veil of night.  The arrow pattern of his cuffs were thick and from time to Tim they would scrape against Chu Qiao’s spotlessly white cape, making a brushing and swishing noise. 

There was a very light aroma that wafted up to her face, not very strong, but it was everywhere.  It was a type of grass derived from irises and orchids, with a hint of the sweet smelling birch-leaf pear.

Zhuge Yue has always been someone who knew how to live.  Perhaps it was cultivated in his bones from being raised in wealth.  The accumulation of wealth over hundreds of years differentiates the great houses from the nouveau riche.  Every inch of soil and every plant here had its own rare and precious value. 

Pushing open the nanmu wooden door that was hollowed out and carved in patterns, he revealed an elegant sleeping hall.  It was not quite splendid and sumptuous but it was refined and comfortable enough that even the pickiest person would have nothing bad to say about it.  There was soft, thick carpet on the floor.  Stepping onto it gave a light and buoyant feeling.  With a writing desk with a small tea set, antique calligraphy and paintings, it transcended the earthly in its refined simplicity.  

Eighteen luxurious white silk gauze curtains were hooked by ethereal golden birds leading all the way into the inner chamber.

“Tired?”

He stood before her, lowering his head to look at her and asked softly.

Chu Qiao shook her head, covered her stomach and said, “I’m just really hungry.”

To one side, a little servant girl in red uniform hastened to say,  “The dishes will be ready soon.  Would my master and his wife like to go into the dining hall first?” 

Zhuge Yue shook his head and said to Chu Qiao, “I still have some things to do, so I can’t accompany you at dinner.”

Chu Qio nodded, “If you have something to do, then go do it.”

“They are preparing my horse, there is still time.”

As soon as he said it, he held Chu Qiao, the embroidered cloud patterns on his chest pressed into Chu Qiao’s face and it was rather itchy. 

His voice reverberated from within his body, with a little sullen tone, “Xing’er, you’ve finally come.”

Chu Qiao smiled and hugged him back.  In her heart was a contentment she could not describe in words, and her body was sluggish, not wanting to say anything.

In the chamber, good incense was smoking, making her sleepy to the point she wanted to close her eyes and take a good nap.

“Tonight, you just wait here for me.”  (TN: the implication is that he wants to be with her again tonight… ///O__O///)

Chu Qiao’s cheeks blushed slightly and she looked up to smile at Zhuge Yue, “Then you must come back earlier.”

She gave him a nod.

At this time, his horse was saddled and prepared, then Zhuge Yue said, “I’m going over to visit the seventh prince.  Eat first, and rest early.”

“Mm,” Chu Qiao stood on the tips of her toes, and gave him a light peck on his lips, and said with reddened cheeks, “Be careful on the road.”

A trace of delight slipped through Zhuge Yue’s eyes, and he hugged Chu Qiao firmly before he turned around and left. 

Chu Qiao followed him to the door, where the wind was a bit strong, and it blew her snowy white cape.  She watched Zhuge Yue disappear into the dense night, smiling as she leaned against the door frame.

Actually, the capital was not as scary as she thought it was.

In the distance there was the sound of a pair of voices belonging to Jing Jing and Ping An, making a fuss about something or another, followed by a group of them laughing heartily.

The corners of Chu Qiao’s mouth curled up involuntarily.  This place was actually pretty good.  Not bad at all.

After eating her dinner, she bathed with the help of maid.  

Mei Xiang and the others were tired enough from traveling. Rong'er could not be separated from her so Mei Xiang took his two nursemaids with her to take care of the child.  The others in the household did not know the truth, thinking that Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao had had a baby together on the outside, and they treated him with great care.

The bathing chamber in Zhuge Yue’s house was a very large, clam shaped tub carved in white jade.   The rim was inlaid with hundreds of white pearls. With a single candle’s light, the entire chamber glowed bright.  The hot water came from the spring under the Cang Mountain, blended with floral essence and herbs only meant for the emperor, the scent was arresting.  The bottom of the pool was designed to prevent slipping and it was even carved with blossoms upon blossoms of roses, a very extravagant affair.

Huan’er told her that when the emperor had given Zhuge Yue this house, he himself had first inspected it, and when he was finished he said, “When you leave, this house will fetch a good price.”

When she heard it, Chu Qiao smiled slightly.  It seemed the rumors of the Vampire Minister were not false.

When she was done bathing, she donned white, woven silk sleeping clothes, and returned to the hall with bare feet.

At first, Huan’er was still a bit discomfited, but gradually, as she saw how amiable Chu Qiao was to her, she opened up to her and boldly called her Xing’er.  Again and again she relayed the mundane details of Zhuge Yue’s life these past few years.  But no matter what she said, it was always good things.  In brief, it was just, Xing’er you knew to repent and be saved, to promptly return to our master’s side was very wise of you, all the gods and saints are envious of you.

Chu Qiao smiled as she listened, listened to her tell of how these past few years Zhuge Yue had maintained his purity, how he never took any lovers, and how he frustrated the daughters of those large houses to no end and forced them to gaze upon him from a distance. She listened to how Zhuge Yue would miss her every day, how he was always concerned about her, and every time he heard news of her or received her letter how happy he would be, how ecstatic; how he would be unable to sleep at night, and how he would eat a few more bowls of soup.  She also heard her speak of how gloomy and dismal Zhuge Yue’s days were in the earlier years, how he was disparaged, how weak and ill his body had been, how he had no standing among his family.

Gradually, the little maid started to cry, on the one hand prattling on about Zhuge Yue’s good traits, and on the other hand sorrowfully and eagerly telling her, Xing’er you absolutely must not leave the master, the master really loves you. 

At the same time, the room was filled with pleasant fragrance, and Chu Qiao sat on the soft bed, listening to point after point of past events.  She could only feel that time was like the scenery of mountains and oceans on a boat as she passed through it.

The way she saw it, he loved her, and all the world knew.  Even a maid servant could see it so clearly.  But she, after going through such lengths, and over the course of so many years, only then could she understand.  

After a little while, someone knocked lightly on the door, and servants came to report that General Yue Qi’s wife had come.

Huan’er hurriedly ran out and in a moment a beautiful woman came in.  Her eyes were clear, she wore a light yellow skirt, and looked very elegant and delicate.  When she smiled she showed two dimples. She held hands with a child a little older than ten, and when she saw her she moved to kneel down in greeting.

Chu Qiao hurried to support her arm, smiled and said, “I never though Yue Qi would have such good fortune to be able to find such a pretty wife.”

Xiao Fei smiled slightly, revealing a pair of adorable protruding canine teeth, and said to the child, “Mo’er, hurry and greet your mother.”

The child looked up at Chu Qiao, was shocked for a while, and suddenly threw open his arms to hug Chu Qiao’s let, crying loudly, “Sister! You’ve come to see me!”

Chu Qiao was surprised, lowered her head to get a closer look, but only saw the child was delicate and adorable.  He wore a small suit of pine green armor, his eyes were glittering as he exuberantly gazed at her and cried, “Sister, you don’t recognize me? I’m Mo’er.”  (TN: OMG this kid is still so cute ^_^;)

Chu Qiao suddenly recalled.  This was OuYang Mo’er whom she and Zhuge Yue had encountered on the road to Tang Jing.  In a blink, six years had passed, and that little squirt from that time past had now grown up so big.

She hurried to embrace the child, pleasantly surprised as she said, “Mo’er you’ve grown so tall, I already didn’t recognize you.”

Mo’er affectionately hugged her and said, “Sister, where did you go?  It’s been so many years and you didn’t even come see me?  If it wasn’t for Father mentioning you every day, Mo’er would have forgotten you, Sister.”

“Father?”

Chu Qiao furrowed her brow, and looked at the two others doubtfully.

Xiao Fei quickly said to the boy, “Don’t call her that, you must call her Mother.”

Mo’er looked at Chu Qiao and asked, “Sister, have you married my father?”

“Who is your father?”

“My father is DaXia’s Minister of War.  Sister, don’t you know him?”

Huan’er quickly explained from the side, “When young Master returned he later claimed master Mo’er as his adopted son.”

Chu Qiao was stunned to just discover, after chatting with Mo’er and Xiao Fei for a while, that Xiao Fei had already given birth to two children with Yue Qi.  This girl and Yue Qi had completely different personalities.  She was always rather bashful, after saying a few words her face would redden, making her so likable.

Since Chu Qiao had only just returned to the palace, they did not want to impose and after talking a while longer, Xiao Fei took Moe’er to go.  Before departing, Mo’er repeatedly wanted Chu Qiao to promise that she would see him when she had time, as if he was afraid she would turn around and leave again.

When everyone had gone, Zhuge Yue had still not returned.  Chu Qiao was a bit tired and so she dismissed the servants and climbed into bed for some rest.

Chu Qiao’s body had all along not been good these past years.  These past days she had busily rushed about, and her energy was, in short, not good.

The bed was warm and soft.  Chu Qiao lay upon it, closed her eyes and then fell into a deep sleep.

She didn’t know how much time had passed, but she woke up drowsily to the feeling that someone was kissing her.  She stubbornly refused to wake up, and groaned, then rolled deeper into the bed.

An ice cold arm suddenly embraced her, warm breath touching beside her ear, as if in a light laugh. 

Something tickled the nape of her neck, and she furrowed her brows and opened her eyes.  She saw Zhuge Yue, wearing light purple sleepwear, lying sideways on the bed, his dark sparkling eyes fixed on her, smiling as he said, “With this type of vigilance, having someone take advantage of you without you even knowing, how is this like the Xing’er I know?”

Chu Qiao reached out her hand and pulled at his nape, saying, “This is because the little thief’s skill is too good.  He comes without a shadow or footprint, so I cannot catch a trace of him.”

Zhuge Yue let out a light laugh, lowered his head to kiss her and asked, “Did you sleep well?”

“It was all right.”

Chu Qiao leaned into his chest, and pouted, “If you hadn’t come back I would have slept even better.”

Zhuge Yue laughed and scolded, “Not having fought for three days, the wife starts to take off the roof tiles. (TN: he uses the phrase 上房 to allude to her, which literally means the principal rooms of a house, symbolic of the first wife/legal wife, as opposed to the side rooms of the concubines.) It seems I must give you at taste of the household punishment.”

As soon as he said this, he raised his hand and Chu Qiao heard it and suddenly closed her eyes.  But after waiting a while she saw that none of his so-called household punishment had followed.  She opened her eyes and saw Zhuge Yue remained calm and composed as he gazed at her, but she couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you going to implement your household punishment?  Why aren’t you starting?”

Zhuge Yue embraced her, lowered his head to kiss the hollow of her neck. With a slight movement of his arm the tie around her waist was undone and her clothes were slipping down her shoulders rivaling her snowy white skin.

The strength in Zhuge Yue’s arms gradually increased, his body slowly covered over her, and in a low voice he slowly said, “How could I be willing?” (TN: he cherishes her so much he would never ‘punish’ her, no matter what she did)

The coiled dual cranes engraved on the candle holders held a pair of red candles quietly burning, and the scarlet lantern covering over them let only a faint red light seep through.

On this first night Chu Qiao returned to the capital city, the long night was noiseless, and it warmly lingered, as it slowly passed.


Translator’s notes:  This was a very LONG, very sweet slice of life  transition chapter for Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao.  We’ve caught a glimpse of what their happiness together would be like.  We see how much he cherishes her and how long he has loved her.  We see how she is starting to realize that she will be married to a man who loves her deeply and how she cares for him.  They are both very new to this and will probably be challenged by outside forces, but this chapter was fan service for those of us who had been waiting since Chapter 95 in WuPeng City.  -Kero