My focus is going to be on the XingYue ship. I would love to translate the whole novel but I do actually work for a living, lol, and that would be too time consuming.
Chapter 95 is the precursor to the bath scene (episode 44 in the drama) that I couldn't stop ogling and fangirling over. 8+ years have passed since the demise of Yan Xun's house. Xing'er/Chu Qiao is now 17-ish, taller than most girls, extremely pretty in face, but thin with no figure ^_^; (there is a chapter where she laments this, but let's move on.)
The drama and the book are essentially aligned and Chu Qiao has been biding her time on a boat with the bookworm she meets after escorting the prince and princess back to the capital. They are now slaves of the Zhan family, who bought her and nursed her back to health when she was wounded fighting off the slavers. Somehow, there are more Jing children in the world, and Chu Qiao finds out that Jing Yu'er has three living sisters on this boat sailing towards Liang/Bian Tang (that flamboyant prince's Liang Ce's/Xiao Ce's country). She plans to escape to Northern Yan (where she presumes Yan Xun is) when they dock. The news is Prince Ce of Liang will marry Princess Chun'er of DaXia, and many powers are converging in this place, including Yan Xun. She even runs into a DaXia prince along the way on this boat trip.
Somehow one of her sisters gets in trouble and ends up locked up in the city of Peng Shou/WuPeng, where the ship has docked. (Don't ask me what eventually happens to her sibs, they always end up dropping off the page, just like in the drama) Chu Qiao is contemplating her next move.
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Chapter 95: So Unlucky
As Yan Xun was gazing upon the rural outskirts of the DaXia border town, the whole Zhan household was plunged into disarray. A messenger had just come, and Zhan's Fifth Mistress was out to receive visitors, but by the docks of Pencheng City the minister's wife, the Lady Tian of Peng Shou, intercepted and detained her. No one had any clue what that was all about.
When Zhan Zhi-yu heard the news, he cloistered himself in his cabin and played his zither, consulted with Zhan Zhi-kui for a good while, before saying a single word to others.
The gentleman, dressed all in white, stayed his hand and gave a wrinkled frown.
"Zhi-yu, especially if Fifth Sister is in trouble, you have to think of a way. That Lady Tian is a scorpion…what if--?"
"All right, I know." Zhan Zi-yu closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and said, "Second sister, you may leave."
"But--"
"Go."
When the door closed, Zhan Zi-yu sighed deeply then slowly leaned back into his chair.
In the afternoon, the atmosphere on the boat was very strange. As soon as the boat docked, the prince had taken a second boat and was no longer on board. An hour later, Zhan Zi-yu, accompanied by two men, disembarked and left in a carriage that had been arranged for him much earlier in the day.
Into the evening the lamps were still lit, and it wasn't until the people down below were already gathering on deck for their meal when the driver could be heard returning in the distance.
The servants lifted Zhan Zi-yu from the carriage first, followed by a splendidly dressed Zhan Zi-ming, whose hair was a bit tousled, holding up a thick face cloth. All the servants moved away as they approached, and with the small night breeze, Chu Qiao could see the lady's cheeks were bright red under the cloth.
Zhan Zi-ming returned alone, without a single servant girl. So when her sister Jing Zisu came to her after the evening meal was finished Chu Qiao already knew what had happened.
Since the cabin was very small, her sister Zisu sat on Liang Shaoqing's bed, her eyes quietly bristling with anger. Even when Chu Qiao offered her a cup of tea, her sister was barely aware.
"Older sister," said Chu Qiao quietly. Zisu noticed the cup and took a shallow drink.
Chu Qiao took a deep breath and asked, "Sister, is there something you needed?"
"Huh?" her sister's words stumbled, "I…I…I'm fine."
The room suddenly cooled and neither of them knew what else to say. At that moment, Lian Shao-qing suddenly knocked on the door with a pot of water. "Xiao-qiao, your water."
"Mm," Chu Qiao nodded and went over to pick it up. Liang Shaoqing made a polite greeting to her sister and left.
Chu Qiao sat on the seat, with the basin on the ground and started to take off her shoes. When her sister Zhisu saw, she squat down and helped with the other shoe.
"Sister!" exclaimed Chu Qiao in surprise. "What are you doing?"
"I'll help you wash your feet."
Chu Qiao was suddenly perturbed, lifted her brow and angrily retorted, "Who said I let you do such a thing."
Zhisu was surprised for a moment, even a bit scared, and shyly withdrew her hands. Squatting on the ground her hands were still dripping as she looked blankly around her, not daring to move.
Chu Qiao put her shoes back on, frowned and said, "Sit."
Her sister Zhisu returned to her seat on the other bed with such consternation that Chu Qiao's heart soured her frown and she said, "Speak. What is wrong?"
Zhisu chewed her lip for a while before shaking her head, "Nothing. There is nothing the matter with me." When she finished she stood up soft footed, and almost continued forward, but Chu Qiao quickly held her. Through her clothes she could feel this woman's frame, bony and jagged, thin to the point of astonishment.
Jing Zhisu went to the door, opened it and a strong gust of wind from the river tousled her already withered hair. Her sister was actually not that old, not yet twenty five, and yet she already had wrinkles around her eyes, and her skin was uncannily sallow.
"Yue'er, sleep well tonight. The night wind is strong, so remember to cover up under the quilt."
That was all she said, then she turned away and left. Chu Qiao's eyes followed her out, thin clothes and thin shape seemingly so fragile, as if a gust of wind could suddenly blow her away.
A trace of sadness suddenly rose from the bottom of her heart, and she stood in the doorway for some time, finally took a deep breath and made a very irrational decision. She obviously knew why her sister Zhisu had come. Miss Zhan Zi-ming was the only one to return to the ship, but did not bring back a single person who accompanied her. The servants had all been appropriated and were being kept in the minister's mansion. When one thought about it, Zhan Zi-yu brought Zhan Zi-ming back but likely allowed her to keep the servants to appease the anger of Peng Shou's Lady Tian.
The Zhan family would not go out of their way to retrieve the servants, so the girl Caiqin even if she wasn't half dead now she would be beaten until she was half dead. The Jing sisters would be separated once again like this, and afterwards, how the other continues to live, whether they will meet again, remains an unknown.
Zhisu had no other option, among those she knew, only this recently reunited sister seemed to have even the slightest ability to do anything about it. This sister who had won over the Zhan family and even seemed to have a flirting relationship with a prince.
Originally, Chu Qiao had no intention of interfering with this matter, having a clear understanding of her own ability, on top of being ensnared by Prince Jing Han, she could barely worry about herself let alone what's in front of her. She had no time to worry about right and wrong so she never intended to make a move. However what made her help was her sister Zhisu not asking anything, fretful sitting, trying to speak but ultimately not saying a thing, and finally leaving without a word.
Perhaps she understood the power and influence of the enemy, understood that what she wanted to ask would be difficult for even a powerful person, understood that even if she asked it would be futile, understood that this recently reunited little sister would be cursed as well.
With a frown Chu Qiao sat on the chair and put on her good leggings, inserted a sharp dagger into her boot, opened the door and left.
Chu Qiao was possibly this type of person; she could be sane, she could be rational, she could put all of her powerful relationships on the table to the forefront, but she could not stand someone being kind to her.
It was with this kind of character that made her follow Yan Xun through life and death for eight years. It was also this disposition that allowed the anxious and restless Zhisu to soften her ruthless heart.
The dark clouds blocked the moon, a vast sheet of darkness between heaven and earth, and Chu Qiao deftly dropped herself off the boat, only sparing a backwards glance at the two guards left behind by Prince Jin Han, already fast asleep, and immediately turned to run off.
An hour later, without even gods or ghosts noticing, Chu Qiao snuck into TianCheng keep, inside the manor. But for the occasional passing of sentries, and the rounds of the aggressive dogs of the watch, in the eyes of Chu Qiao this ancient manor seemed more like a large, undefended play ground.
The sound of loaches splashing under the tree, a woman quietly retreats into the back garden.
The city's manor had interconnected buildings, quite a few of them seemed to be barracks. It was said that Minister Tian was quite a well-known general, and by the looks of it, that seemed to be true. Chu Qiao's positioned her body sensitively against the rock formation, her ear listening the movement of those getting closer, and seemingly in her direction.
There was a thick grassy lawn in front, and the wooded area to the right seemed the best choice, but Chu Qiao was pretty sure that was where all the hidden guards were ready to ambush. One wrong step and a storm of chaotic arrows would pierce through her heart with nothing spared. Obviously, a bad end.
Eyes tracking the southeastern tower Chu Qiao's eyes narrowed slightly and she frowned. She dodged outwards, and using the sudden force of her feet, ran towards the right long corridor. As soon as she saw she was about to reach a pillar Chu Qiao lifted her foot to use it as leverage to hoist her body upwards in three steps. Just as she was about to lose momentum her hands reached out and grabbed the top of the tiled roof deftly, and swung her legs up in one fluid movement, just as a lantern light approached to turn the corner. Like a gecko her body quickly lay on the roof tiles.
"This way," said a sharp voice suddenly, coated in flattery and caution and obsequiousness, followed by the disjointed footsteps of about twenty people. Chu Qiao's brow furrowed tight as she lay quietly dormant, motionless.
"My lord your reputation precedes you as a martial arts superior, both wise and courageous, a dragon among men; now that I meet you in person the rumors don't do you justice and don't reach even a portion of your graceful bearing."
Suddenly the man laughed out loud, seemingly pleased with his own remarks, but the subject of his praise remained silent, and the yard only echoed the man's exaggerated laugh, and it seemed extremely awkward.
After laughing a while, seeing no one responding, the man laughed dryly twice and stopped. Then he suddenly seemed to think of something, and gave an insignificant smile, "This way, we're almost there. You will find someone I just bought for this occasion in XianYang, a female slave -- very unique, flirtatious and well groomed, waiting for you to enjoy her."
A deep voice slowly joined in, the speaker seemed to be suffering from a cold, his voice reduced to a dull and thick nasal sound, but it did not detract from his impressive authority.
"From XianYang?"
"Yes." The man smiled: "My Lord also knows that DaXia's rules of mingling with slaves is somewhat relaxed, and the prices there are much cheaper than in Bian Tang. Cui Sima went to XianYang for work and offhandedly gave me a few. Would you like to try?"
The aristocrat was silent for a while, then said in a low voice, "I'll go and see."
The minister suddenly brightened, smiling as he led everyone away.
Chu Qiao was a bit relieved that Minister Tian was entertaining some high level guest, so no wonder the security was a little lax. It seemed she picked the right time to come. She just wasn't sure what kind of guest required such an extension of an entire city's courtesy, not to mention he was from DaXia.
She didn't give it further thought at that point, slowly got up and walked in the opposite direction. The key tonight was to find the city prison, find where CaiQin was being kept, and rescue her.
Like a leopard blending into the darkness Chu Qiao was swift and light footed. But as she was about to cross another corridor her foot suddenly slipped forward and she frowned. She squat down deftly and her fingers reached down to touch moss.
At this height it was unlikely anyone heard, but Chu Qiao's heart accelerated just as she was thinking this when a cold voice called out: "Who's there?"
The voice was low, coming from the corridor below and she realized it was the silent aristocrat from earlier!
Chu Qiao clutched her dagger, took a deep breath, frowning silently.
Seeing that she was silent, he sneered and mounted the pillar in two steps and with a single back-handed move used one arm to hoist himself onto the roof.
An island of clouds covered the moon, amidst the veil of darkness only the man's tall stature and his clothing fluttering in the wind were visible. A long breeze blowing that blurred his sharp edges was about to subside.
Chu Qiao's eyes darted everywhere, angry from the depths of her heart, knowing that the longer she waited for him to move, the more time she allowed reinforcements to arrive. Wasting no more time, she volleyed upward leaping with dagger in hand. Her opponent was no slouch, and immediately moved to block Chu Qiao's arm, suddenly dragging her towards him, his other hand moving in to strike at her neck. Fast! So fast! The pinnacle of speed!
However, Chu Qiao's movements were also deft and she backed away just in time as they both avoided each other's offensive. After the backwards retreat in that moment with a turn of their palms, they each struck the other's shoulder. Almost simultaneously, the sound of a hiss, and Chu Qiao forcefully dragged him and kicked out despite the burning pain in her shoulder. Her kick met his with a *bang,* each kicking the middle of the leg, the opposite legs taut at the calf until numbness set in, followed by a linear retreat, cold eyes staring the other down.
Chu Qiao was holding a silk strap in her hand, and without even looking at it tossed it at her feet. When her opponent struck her in the shoulder she had retaliated with a strike to the chest, and they both struck out with their legs, neither of them gaining an advantage.
The footsteps below gradually come closer. Obviously the watch has come back around again. Chu Qiao's heart fell and she cursed silently, never thinking she would encounter a martial arts expert in this city. Perhaps he was just toying with her to let them encircle her tonight.
Eyes narrowed, he stood firm, not wanting to launch an immediate attack. His opponent's method was extremely ruthless, swift and violent, each move meant to kill!
However, her opponent was not the kind to play fair, and with a sneer he suddenly threw something in her direction, actually a folding fan.
Her offensive was caught off guard, without time to even cry out "bastard," she saw her opponent quickly moving forward, his hand twisting to catch Chu Qiao's wrist, hoisting her body upright.
Chu Qiao eyed him coldly, instantly bent her body unnaturally, her left leg coming up from behind to land a ruthless kick to his shoulder and the man let out a muffled grunt, the scent of a mouthful of breathy alcohol blown into her face.
She was however unable to force him back with her foot, and with one step he tightly grasped her waist on the moss covered rooftop and the two dropped towards the eaves and fell over together!
The corridor was not necessarily very high, but higher than a few meters, and a fall, while not fatal, could cause injury.
The two had a tacit understanding to let go of the other, and with one hand each grasped the roof. The man suddenly cross-kicked to bind her legs and just as she was about to retaliate his body recoiled, gained momentum, and landed a heavy elbow to her chest.
Surprised, Chu Qaio wrenched a leg free with an deathly glare, if this man attacked in such an underhanded way, she would make sure he could not call himself a man for the remainder of his lifetime. [TN: CQ may be aiming below the belt at this point ^_^;] Sure enough, the aristocrat saw Chu Qiao's intent and changed positions in midair!
The two muffled grunts at the same time as they struck one another, the sharp pain instantaneous as he ruthlessly elbowed Chu Qiao's shoulders and she delivered a merciless kick to his thighs.
They continued to pummel one another like the strikes of a hammer, the dagger clattered onto the ground as they fell from the top of the sloping corridor.
It was too difficult for Chu Qiao to get up, her feet not yet firmly grounded, and like a gust of wind lifting the tip of her brow, a roundhouse kick came flying in her direction. When faced with such extraordinary skill, it was spine tingling. Before she could even grunt, he came closer with one hand. While one dextrous hand countered the move, his other hand grabbed Chu Qiao's chest! [TN: O_O;]
In that moment, they both stood dumbfounded.
Soft and not too tall, amazingly flexible and surprisingly skilled!
Even without seeing it with his own eyes he knew the gender of the assailant. He was so suddenly shocked not only did he forget the next covert follow through strike, he completely forgot to retract his hand.
"Do you want to die," Chu Qiao hissed coldly. With the lift of one hand she grasped his belt and followed through with a whirlwind side kick directly in the middle of his waist.
Her opponent let out a bleak grunt and backed away. Just as Chu Qiao was going to redouble her effort she heard the footsteps of the guards hurrying in their direction. Leaving him with only a gleaming glare, she deftly turned and with a few leaps she jumped up and over the corridor, taking advantage of the fact the guards had not yet arrived and disappeared into the darkness.
The city guards in pursuit were climbing up ladders to get over the corridor, while Minister Tian came tottering forward, wiping the cold sweat from his brow, and carefully inquired, "My lord, who was that?"
Surrounded by climbing soldiers and torches everywhere, the handsome aristocrat with dark eyes, dressed in a plush purple robe but oddly missing a piece of cloth at the chest, looked dangerously attractive, right down to his red vermillion lips.
"Assassin," he replied slowly and quietly.
Minister Tian suddenly shouted in exclamation, "Ah! There are assassins! Alert the guard, go catch the intruders!"
Giant gongs sounded throughout the city keep and the whole city was awakened at this burst of sound and soon the streets were instantly lit with torches, and it was bright as daylight in the mansion.
"Minister Tian," the man turned to look at him. "Notify your guards that they must catch the assailant alive, and not to pierce the intruder with arrows or knives." Minister Tian looked a bit surprised for a moment, then replied, "As you say, my lord."
The night breeze stirred the man's fine clothes, and he looked in the direction Chu Qiao had disappeared, recalling her moves and gestures before leaving the noise behind with a quiet frown.
Chu Qiao was in a pickle. The entire outdoors were now brightly lit, full of walking soldiers and horses. Even if she used her skills it would still be hard to escape. Just then remembered the evil aristocrat who had impeded her, and muttered through clenched teeth, "You better not let me see you again." She held his diamond-shaped jade, something she had pulled down from his waist as she was fighting him. Though she did not see his face, with this trinket she could identify him. All she had to do was ask around about the dinner tonight, those working inside the mansion would know, and his identify would be revealed.
When she remembered how he had grabbed her chest, Chu Qiao's face turned a livid green.
This conflict was at an end.
A sudden, charming voice approached Chu Qiao as she was hiding behind a screen in a magnificent room. It was obvious that this chamber was occupied by a female who was just waking up. The woman was half naked, legs long and white as flowers as she lazily stretched, then proceeded towards the screen.
Chu Qiao suddenly panicked, as she had no time to escape, and the woman stared wide-eyed down at her as she looked up squinting.
The woman opened her mouth about to scream, but before she could make a sound Chu Qiao quickly struck at her neck. The woman's eyes rolled back, and collapsed softly onto the floor, fainted.
It seemed Chu Qiao would be staying here for the night.
Just as she finished binding the woman, she heard the sound of approaching footsteps outside. She was surprised in that moment that she kept hearing Minister Tian's repulsive voice outside.
"My lord, the room where I keep the new slave I bought, but I am an honest man, she has not yet been touched. I hope you enjoy her well."
F***!
Stunned, Chu Qiao could only watch the light outside, her eyes stupefied.
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TN: The hardest part of translating a novel like this is the martial arts. There are so many fists and legs flying, so many icy glares and too much wind blowing, that it makes it difficult to determine who is doing what when the phrases are gender neutral. There are also a lot of complex words that have no English translation that I could find that made sense in the context of the scene. That's where my language skills are limited. Idioms at least I could look up. All in all, I hope I got the gist of who was doing what and when/where. - K (2/27/18)
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