Princess Agents 特工皇妃楚喬傳 Chapter 162, English novel translation

Princess Agents - 特工皇妃楚喬傳 

Chapter 162: It's Good to Live

That night she slept very deeply, as if she was encompassed in warm, cozy water.

In her dream state it seemed as if she had returned to the warm dormitory of the military dwelling.  Like when she was living together with XiaoShi and Mao'er, and it had just snowed so much that morning that she was really lazy had wanted to break the rules and not get up.  XiaoShi had used her ice cold hand to lightly pat her face, telling her to get out of bed, and she frowned and hid inside the quilt.  Mao'er, that evil little brat, pulled off the quilt with a *whoosh*, and then stood aside, laughing her head off.

MinRui sat at a vanity table to one side, putting on her make-up while calling for breakfast on the phone.

At that time, the sky was so blue, they were all still so very young. Those years were so fresh it was as if they were all small fries just fished out of the sea, still skipping and jumping about.  (TN: fries like baby fish, not French fries… ^_^)

Her sleepiness finally receded a little bit.  Her face was icy cool and chilled.  She slowly opened her eyes and saw him dressed very clean and neatly as he stood before her.  Except his face was rather foul and he frowned as he asked, "Do you know what time it is?"

For a split second, she very nearly thought her eyes were fuzzy and farsighted, her mind wasn't very quick witted and she stared fixedly at him.  Her brows slightly furrowed and she looked rather severe.

Her rather severe appearance suddenly caused Zhuge Yue to swallow down the words in his mouth.  He turned around wanting to go elsewhere, but felt a tug at his outer garment, looked down, and saw a pale, small hand quietly pulling at his hem.  She held it so tightly that her knuckles were white.

Her memory of last night gradually recirculated and her face suddenly turned thoroughly red all at once. She abruptly let go and sat up in bed.  Glancing outside she could not help but be slow witted when she asked in astonishment, "Why is the sky dark?"

Zhuge Yue looked at her even more angrily, turned around to light another candle stand.

Is she still asking him this?

After parting ways last night, he returned to his inn.  This time he traveled quietly, so he did not stay in an official residence, but instead had a private residence here.  After returning, he slept through the night all the way until the morning of the second day.  However he waited and waited, but still didn't see her come knocking.  He felt so wronged that he impetuously thought, I will absolutely not go looking for her, so let's see if she comes to find me or not.  But all the way until the sun moved westward, his doorstep was still neglected, and finally he was unable to exercise any further patience, and without even bringing his retinue he walked alone to her door.  But when he pushed it open he saw she was covered to her head and sleeping soundly, dreaming to her heart's content.  How could he, who tossed and turned for a day and an evening, not be ruffled?

Chu Qiao of course had no idea what he was thinking, sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes, gathering the stray locks of hair on the side of her forehead.  Her mannerisms were a bit embarrassed but she still stiffly asked him, "Why have you come here?"

As soon as her voice fell, the room just fell into a brief silence, and Chu Qiao already knew she said something wrong, lowered her head and quietly stayed silent.

It seemed as though neither of them knew how to face this kind of utterly different relationship, and had no idea how they should answer it.

The moonlight outside the window was very clear, like mercury it spilled all over the floor and it looked like a layer of pure snow.

"What have you come to do in XiangYang?"

Zhuge Yue suddenly asked.  Chu Qiao was slightly startled, and at once her heart felt a bit panicked.  During these few years there had not been many things that made her careless.  Even in the face of DaXia's blade edge she was able to profoundly keep her cool.  Only when facing him, her calm seemed to spread wings and take flight, her heart became an anxious and fearful little rabbit.

"I…."  Chu Qiao forced herself to stay calm and coughed a bit, pretending in a low voice, "I had some things I needed to do."

"Were you able to finish?"

"A-Almost."

"Then when are you leaving?"

Chu Qiao couldn't help but continue, "The next day or two."

"One or two days? Then is it tomorrow or the day after?"

Chu Qiao was a little perturbed, and in a bad manner she retorted, "Tomorrow."

"Oh."

Zhuge Yue nodded his had, sat on top of the table and poured himself half a cup of cold tea but didn't drink it, and only lightly swayed it.

Chu Qiao raised her brows and stared at him, asking, "What about you?"

"Me? What about me?"

"What are you doing in XiangYang?  When are you leaving?"

Zhuge Yue smiled lightly.  In the two years they haven't seen one another it appeared this little fox has practiced being even more crafty.  He didn't bat an eyelid and nodded, as he said, "I came to sight-see, but there are still a few days left before I need to leave."

As soon as he said it, he stood up and went to go outside, saying as he was leaving, "Since you're leaving tomorrow, I won't disturb you then.  Have a good rest."

"Hey!"

Chu Qia was flustered and hurriedly stood up and without thinking she cried, "Stand right there."

Zhuge Yue turned his head, his expression calm as he said, "Was there something else?"

He's doing this on purpose!

Chu Qiao glared at him, her eyes like two black grapes, and after a while she slightly drooped her head along with a whisper, "Actually, I'm not really in a hurry to go."

As if she feared Zhuge Yue would misunderstand, she hurried filled in another sentence, "Since there is nothing pressing for me at the moment if I went back."

"Oh,"  Zhuge Yue nodded meaningfully, took an outer garment hanging on the side and handed it over to her.  His facial expression carried a slight trace of a smile.  "Hurry up and get ready.  Today's Ghost Festival is even livelier than yesterday."  (TN: the Ghost Festival is usually in the 7th month or mid-year, and the Lantern Festival is in the first month of the Lunar New Year. So maybe people in the 700's clumped their holidays together?  Or maybe he's being sarcastic?   ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Just roll with it…)

She didn't know if it was true or not, but her heart happened to change and in short, Chu Qiao really felt that today's street market was indeed livelier than yesterday's. 

Flowers were pouring their fragrances into the wind and the beautiful trees were flourishing.  The breeze on both sides of the lake brought with it the scent of a lush and green water vapor making people relaxed and joyful.  Even the street jugglers suddenly became more entertaining.

They happened to come across a little beggar child on their way, and Chu Qiao went over the top in her mercy and gave the child ten gold pieces.  The little beggar took the money in shock.  This kind of money, if saved by an ordinary household, would be enough to live on for ten years.

To one side, Zhuge Yue let out an equivocal sigh, "So liberal with your money."

Chu Qiao turned around and glanced at him, tauntingly, "The richer the person the more miserly.  This girl is in a good mood today."

Even though he knew she was laughing at and poking fun at him,  Zhuge Yue's heart was at ease.  In a good mood?  Why would it be good?  He cheerfully walked forward and soon afterwards took a silver tael ticket, marked with the emblem of the "Celestial Yue Private Depository," and marked in black letters on the white paper was "200 silver pieces."  (TN: OMG he has his own bank….)

"Don't be a beggar.  Go buy a manor and become a landlord."

As soon as he said it Chu Qiao and the little beggar stared in horror as he swaggered off.

Chu Qiao hurried to catch up to him from behind, looking at him suspiciously.  Zhuge Yue glanced at her and asked, "What are you looking at?"

"I never expected there would come a time when even you would find your conscience.  What, you have so much money it's become a burden?"

"Hmph, there are many things you didn't expect."

After two more steps Chu Qiao's stomach started to growl loud and long, and no doubt because she hadn't eaten anything in an entire day.

Zhuge Yue seemed to be familiar with this city of XiangYang, and to show his familiarity with this subject, he started naming a few restaurants.  But Chu Qiao was smelling the food stalls along the side of the street and went no further.

Zhuge Yue was naturally reluctant, but before he could utter a timely protest, Chu Qiao had already sat down.  The eagerly attentive waiter ran up as she ordered two bowls of scallion noodles, half a catty of beef, a dish of shelled peanuts, and at the recommendation of the waiter agreed to a bottle of wine.  She didn't expect that the wine would have such an elegant name, 'Western Frost.'

Zhuge Yue looked at her strangely and asked, "I thought you didn't drink wine?"

Chu Qiao's hand holding her chopsticks paused, and soon after she smiled lightly and said, "Before I was afraid that I'd make a mess of my duties if I drank, but now I am completely at my leisure, so there isn't much to be particular about."

Zhuge Yue furrowed his brow and reached out a hand to seize her cup, saying in a low voice, "Don't drink anymore."

Chu Qiao didn't force the issue, shrugged a shoulder and said in a small voice, "Hypocrite." 

The waiter quickly brought up their meal.  The wine was nothing special, and with a whiff they could tell it was clearly just a yellow wine that had been diluted with water, especially used to deceive tourists from abroad.  The food was average but the amount of noodles given was rather excessive, so even though Chu Qiao was starving she could only finish haft a bowl before she couldn't take anymore.

When they stood up they saw a crowd of scraggly faced little beggars staring wide eyed at the half eaten bowl of noodles, their mouths watering.  Zhuge Yue turned around and gave the owner a silver tael, saying, "Give them each a bowl."

The owner smiled and quickly promised to do so.  Chu Qiao stared at him uncertainly, and asked him with her full belly, "Have you become addicted to playing Bodhisattva?"  (TN: the reference is to Guan Yin Pusa, Goddess of Mercy)

A twelve or thirteen year old boy saw that their clothes were rather outstanding and that they were generous, since they looked like they spoke eloquently.  So, grinning widely he pressed closer in front of them, saying to Zhuge Yue, "Generous master, spare a drink."

Taking one look at the boy Zhuge Yue was inclined to be intrigued, turned his head and gave the owner some money, saying, "Give him a jug, don't dilute it.  If he can't finish it, then this meal didn't come from me.  Beat him directly and then take him to the constable.

As soon as he heard this the child readily beamed with joy, and walked off in good spirits.

Chu Qiao stuck out her tongue, "How can such a little kid drink an entire jug?"

"If you don't let him try, he won't ever know what that's like."  Zhuge Yue said lightly, "After getting some grief, in the future he'll remember it longer."

When Chu Qiao heard this she was slightly stunned, her footsteps slowed, and stayed behind him in one spot.  Zhuge Yue took two steps and saw that she wasn't following him, and then turned around and came back, frowning, "Walk, what are you thinking?"

Chu Qiao shook away her daze and sped up to catch up in front.

After getting some grief, in the future he will remember it longer.

But Zhuge Yue, how much grief have you suffered?  Why haven't you remembered it?

As she was thinking this, suddenly her cheek felt a burst of burning hot pain, followed soon after by the sound of crackling firecrackers, just over Chu Qiao's head. Chu Qiao was shocked and just as she was about to turn her head she was surprised by a strong, vigorous force from the front.  Zhuge Yue pulled her hand and skillfully, nimbly with one tug, he enfolded her in an embrace.  He took a few steps back while his tall, slender and keen eyes slightly perked up, containing a thick rage.

"How is it? Are you injured?"

Chu Qiao raised her head to look, and only saw a restaurant on the second floor setting off firecrackers with even noticing whether there were any pedestrians below.  Besides her, several people also haplessly suffered, and at the moment people were shouting indignantly but the they could not be heard over the sound of the firecrackers.

Zhuge Yue pulled her hand away from her face and saw that it was only slightly red, but faintly visible were two more distinct red marks, and he could not help but have a terrible expression.

"It's fine, it's doesn't hurt."

Chu Qiao was still not used to his attentive gaze, and with slight force, she wanted to extract her hand from the one holding it, but his hand didn't move.  It was a little bit warm, and indistinctly she could feel the swift and fierce lines as well as the callouses of his hand.

"Really, I'm fine," she said a bit awkwardly.  "It didn't even break the skin."

"A woman's face is so important, yet you don't care."  Zhuge Yue said the words neither coldly nor lightly. Though his manner of speaking was rather poor, his meaning was still good and Chu Qiao did not argue. But who knew he would also add soon after, "But with your face, whether or not it's damaged would not be a big deal."

Chu Qiao was stunned.   Who knew that not three sentences after his old eccentricity would rear its ugly head, and she cheekily responded, "Yes, only you are good looking."  (TN: she just admitted she thought he was good looking ^_^)

Zhuge Yue's appearance looked smug, turned around and faced the restaurant.  Chu Qiao was worried whether or not he would cause a fight because of something so trivial.  But he simply turned around and came back.  She moved closer to ask, "Why did you go over there?"

"To take note of the name."

Chu Qiao made a face, "You really do bear grudges!"

Zhuge Yue raised a brow, "What are you thinking?  I smelled the heavy fragrance of the wine inside and I plan to eat there tomorrow."  

Chu Qiao felt a bit gloomy.  It wasn't like this before.  Why was it that every time she spoke to him she was at a disadvantage?  She frowned as she followed behind him and she did not see in front the man's facial expression upheld a trace of self-satisfaction.  (TN: he's playing with her…. ^_^)

The night wind was quiet, except for the vendors on both sides coming forward to hawk their wares from time to time.  There were also little girls selling flowers who came up to praise Chu Qiao's beauty from time to time and swayed Zhuge Yue to buy some flowers for his wife.  

Zhuge Yue accepted the misunderstanding of their acquaintance with equanimity and altogether bought three baskets in succession, and then gave them all to Chu Qiao to hold.  While he walked ahead in a carefree manner, Chu Qiao was rather like his maidservant, carrying large and small items as she followed behind.   (TN: ^__^ he's doing this on purpose….)  The pedestrians could not help but fix their eyes.  Gradually the little flower girls no longer came over, and presumably, she had fallen from her position as a wife to a mere footman.  The surrounding commentary floated on the air and reached Chu Qiao's ears: 

"Look at that aristocrat, he's so good looking.  Even the little maidservant he brought with him has such delicate features!"

Chu Qiao's dark mood furrowed her brow.  Did she really look like a maidservant?  It's been over ten years, how was she still his maidservant?!

The wind along the lakeshore was a bit gusty, and they walked along the lake embankment where it was now peaceful and quiet.  Not many people were present and their footsteps became slower and slower.  Neither of them spoke, as if they didn't want to break this slice of hard to come by tranquility.  From last night to now, neither of them mentioned what had happened in the two years they were apart.  Life had unexpectedly allowed them to meet here in this place.  Far from DaXia, far from Yan Bei, without politics and battles, without mutual deception, life here was calm.  Just like a fine spring day, even the air had a rare to come by pure and fresh quality, and even their vitality relaxed.  No one wanted to mention those evil people or emotionally upsetting things.

The lake surface rippled with the wind, the moonlight stretched thinly, and gathered in a layer of glowing light reflecting back.

Without even thinking they had come back under the old elm tree.  Zhuge Yue's footsteps stopped involuntarily, and looked up to gaze at the large canopy.  In these few extraordinary years he had passed through many places, and they each flit across the surface of his mind, staggering, he never thought he would come back to this place.

Chu Qiao watched him, only thinking the man was standing tall and straight, his facial features of a delicate beauty, but that the space in his eyes did not have the grave and stern, neglectful haughtiness of the past.  In exchange he put on his customary calm, collected bearing and elegance.  What was now dimly visible at the bottom of his eyes was a faint trace of the reversal of fortune and its struggles.  As he carefully gazed in the distance it had already become conspicuous.

After narrowly escaping a hopeless situation, having his country abandon and turn its back on his infamy, he could do nothing else but lower himself into that ferocious land.  For those two years he had pieced back together his inheritance, so how could he just casually say, "I haven't died yet" like it was nothing?

These past few days she had gradually heard about that situation.

After she returned to Bian Tang with Li Cie, Da Xia had indeed sent seven messages to Bian Tang, formally requesting that Li Ce hand over Chu Qiao.  Yan Xun had also sharpened his knives towards Bian Tang, dispatched troops and fought a few battles with them in the northwest.  In the end Wei Guang of the Wei vassal family personally came out, taking with him the newly formed Southwestern Army and headed for Bian Tang, putting some pressure on Li Ce.  Even though the world knew that DaXia would not dare to war with Bian Tang and have a open military conflict with them at this juncture, Bian Tang's inner government however was exceedingly discontent with Li Ce.  Some of them even stormed into the palace a few times to seize the troublesome woman Chu Qiao and hand her over.  At that time, even if Li Ce could forcefully protect Chu Qiao, he had no means of protecting the XiuLi Army unless he wanted to publicly break with DaXia.

It was at this time that the King of Qing Hai, being the outsider of the continent, surpassed all expectations and flew the banner of DaXia, dispatched an emissary, and took over 8,000 miles and threw in his lot with the royal court.  Up until this time, it was only then that the knowledgeable people of the world understood that the self-titled King of QingHai, who had influence over the continent, was none other than the fourth young master of the Zhuge House, Zhuge Yue, who had supposedly died in Yan Bei two years earlier.

Everything that happened afterwards seemed very natural.  Zhuge Yue returned to the capital, with an extremely large army and with the backing of the Zhuge valve, he put pressure on Wei Guang, replaced the elder at the seat of honor in the government and became DaXia's Minister of War, and spontaneously suppressed any further strategies against Bian Tang.  (TN: A carefully crafted coup d'etat, but Zhuge Yue and his family did not want to be emperor.  Zhuge Yue just wanted to keep Chu Qiao and her army safe)

She had no desire to think about how many reigns of terror were hidden underneath these short simple market talks.  As a matter of expediency they were all people shed from this political landscape, keen on this escape route because they knew how deep this water was.  Even if the surface appeared calm, at the bottom in contrast, it was filled with intense currents.

The lake was filled with the remains of the lanterns, the colors now blazing.  Chu Qiao raised her head, her eyes carrying a faint trace of grief, she looked at Zhuge Yue and said in a low voice, "I had heard this elm tree was able to convey the intention of the gods.  The more years an old tree has, the more effective its power.  You need only give something you treasure as an offering and you can get protection for loves ones, safety for your friends. I don't know if it's true though."

Zhuge Yue continued to stand there quietly, without saying a word.

"Do you believe it?"

Chu Qiao whispered.

Zhuge Yue's long and slender eyes slowly narrowed, and he said steadily, "I don't."

Chu Qiao gazed at him, her mouth slightly smiling, unable to say whether it was happy or sad. Does he not believe? 

Slowly she stretched out her hand, the slender and fair palm slowly opened, her eyes shining like stars, the corner of her mouth carrying a hint of pain, and asked softly, "Do you really not believe?" 

Zhuge Yue lowered his head, and in a glance he saw the two shiny white and clear jade pendants, and he pierced through the years to suddenly nail his figure to this spot.

"Zhuge Yue, I had originally thought I would never have a chance."

Chu Qiao smiled warmly, her eyes curved, with twinkling, glistening teardrops in them, and her lips faintly trembled as she said, "I thought that in my lifetime I would never have the opportunity to repay your kindness."

The dark night was thick.  Zhuge Yue's figure from the behind seemed to sink into it. Leaving her breathless his two eyes gazed directly at her, a pair of unfathomable black.  He said nothing, only straightforwardly gazing at her, as if he wanted to pierce through her and look through her.

Suddenly  Zhuge Yue let out a heavy sigh, extended his arms and embraced her shoulders, quietly saying, "Who wants you to repay it?"

Chu Qiao's tears fell just like that, and she obediently submitted to snuggle up into to his arms.  Many indescribable emotions lingered in her heart.   She was stuck there on his chest, his body floating the indistinct but familiar fragrance, a gentle warmth spread through her entire body, and she calmly closed her eyes.  The night wind swayed on them.  In the distance was the cheerful atmosphere of the innumerable crowd.  For the first time in a lifetime, happiness was unexpectedly so close.  So very close, that within the span of a breath, they could touch and experience joy.   (TN: author did not use pronouns here, except for the wind blowing on 'them,' so I don't know whose happiness this is referring to, maybe both?) 

"Zhuge Yue," Chu Qiao suddenly raised her head, and like a weeping beauty (TN: literally "a pear blossom bathed in rain") she perked up the corners of her mouth towards him and smiled, "It's good to live."  

As soon as he heard it Zhuge Yue felt a pain in his heart.  In this world it was possible that no one but they could understand more the meaning behind these four words.  He gently and softly lowered his head to kiss the side of her face, repeating the words in a murmur, "Right, it's good to live."  (TN: TT__TT reference to frozen lake scene when he told her to 'keep on living')

A colored glaze of illumination lay in the distance. The New Year was close to the city of XiangYang, and in this New Year, everything was new.

Translator's notes:  OMG finally, my ship sails! Bon voyage my ship!  Such a sweet chapter. They are finally happy for once.  I've waited so long for this moment! (passes tissues all around)  Too bad they can't be together yet….  -Kero