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
