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