Princess Agents - 特工皇妃楚喬傳, Chapter 186, English novel translation

Princess Agents - 特工皇妃楚喬傳 

Head Notes:  Is it him, or isn’t it?   Honestly, as smart as she is, it seems unlikely for her to conclude this is anyone else.  Who else would visit the dishonored dead with the chilling north wind at his back?  The author seems to write her main heroine into a corner though, consistently seeming to be tired, sleepy and otherwise indifferent to the world around her.  However, I wonder if Chu Qiao was really fooled or if she’s pretending not to know. Yan Xun is up to something.  Considering there are only 191 chapters in this novel, whatever it is, it will be short lived.  Hopefully we will reach our happy ending without much fuss from Yan Xun.

Chapter 186: The Winds of Yan are Coming

For a moment, Chu Qiao thought she had seen Yan Xun again.  (TN: *whispers* ummm…. maybe because it’s him, yo….)

Not a single thread of moonlight was seen outside; only the whistling, snow laden wind was outside, blowing onto people’s faces like ice cold blades.  The man stood there wrapped in a cloak that only revealed a pair of deep, penetrating eyes, fixedly watching her through layers of snowfall.  The candles in the room were extinguished instantly when the door had opened, and only faint flashes of glimmering snow reflected in the heavy night, making the obscure figure even more oppressive.

It seemed a long time had passed, and yet it could have only been a moment.  The man slowly lifted his foot, lowering his head slightly, a faint hint of tiredness seeping through his step.  A rail thin, gnarled hand reached for his mouth and he coughed softly.

Someone closed the door and the three of them stood within the narrow and cramped mourning hall looking rather cramped.  The hunched-back retainer dressed in black deftly reignited the candles inside, and the faint light slowly illuminated all around.  They cast light upon the man’s white hair underneath his hood as well as the wrinkled hands beneath the sleeves of his robe.

The chair Chu Qiao had used to keep the door closed was wiped clean by the servant.  The man sat down as he coughed, body bent, and it was faintly apparent how frail and feeble the body was beneath the clothes.

Chu Qiao continued to stand there, as she did from the moment they came in, and said nothing.  She even had some doubts as to why this kind of ill and frail person would cause her to be so alarmed, to the point that she even thought it was Yan Xun.

The servant retreated, and stood beside the door.  His whole body was hidden in the shadow of the firelight, lowered his head and acted like he was a voiceless stone.

The dim light gently cast down, and the wind flowed in from the missing tiles in the roof.  It moaned as it blew, and the blinking candlelight looked as if they would blow out at any moment. 

The man suddenly lifted his head, his pair of deep, black eyes watching her, unexpectedly saying, “The snow storm tonight is really big.”

Chu Qiao was startled.  For reasons unknown she felt a trace of unspeakable tension when facing this person.  It was as if there was a steady stream of low key oppression emitting from his person, gradually filling the entire room.  (TN: face palm) Even his breathing became low.

“True.  It is indeed big,” she nodded, speaking quietly.

“It’s been so many years since we’ve had such a big snow.”   His voice revealed an unconcealed hoary and tired timbre, suggesting he was quite aged.  “It seems fifteen years ago there was also such big snowstorm.  In from of the Fu Yin Gate, even the old pagoda tree was blown down.”

Fifteen years ago….

That was the same year the House of Yan fell.  In that bitter cold winter they withdrew to a dilapidated building in the southern part of the city.  They had to burn everything within, or else be covered in frostbite.

“Was this year’s Lantern Festival lively?”

The person asked this question quite naturally, as if they were old friends who had known one another for a long time.

Chu Qiao tilted her head slightly, saying, “Heaven is uncooperative, disturbing a rather good festival.  Grandfather, did you come to see the lanterns, only to have the snow drive you in here as well?”

He laughed slightly, saying, “With this kind of body, where would I have the energy to see the lanterns?”

Chu Qiao raised her brows slightly, and asked in a low voice, “Then mister, did you come here especially to visit His Highness?”

Even though she could not see his face, Chu Qiao still imagine his silent smile.

Suddenly, the sound of a long, drawn out bell and drums reverberated from the distance.  It was the watchman’s chime for the 18th hour of the Lantern Festival, just atop TianCheng Tower of the palace.  Operated by Qin Tianjian and a renown monk, it oversaw the recitation of scripture to Buddha and the burning of incense.  They prayed for favorable weather next year, that the country be prosperous and that its people live in peace.

Chu Qiao slowly turned her head in the direction of the sound, a little lost in thought.

“This place is so bleak, and you are a girl alone in such a place.  Are you not afraid?”

Chu Qiao turned to look at the old man.  Those who could so easily come into this place without alerting Yue Thirteen and the others were uncommon.  In her heart she tried to filter out those who were able to come to this place at a time like this, but she was unable to come up with anyone in particular.  Unavoidably, it was all the more doubtful.  But she did not let her expression show it, and only lightly smiled in reply, “If your heart is benevolent, there is nothing to fear.  Compared to the hearts of people, the so-called ghosts and ghouls are more kind-hearted by leaps and bounds.”

“A benevolent heart?” The old man’s intonation slowly rose, and he quietly smiled, “In this world, how many can really live up to those words?”

“As long as I feel that I can live up to them, then it is enough.”   Chu Qiao stood up in place, her long, snow white robes beautiful and elegant in the light, her face smooth and clean, with a halo of white, she quietly said, “There are those who spend a lifetime as an honest official, faithful to gods and king, without taking an ounce from the people, and with clean hands, they are magnanimous for a lifetime.  There are those who live their entire lives attempting nothing and accomplishing nothing, scraping a meager living to support their families, yet they have never broken the law, and in their hearts they have no remorse, and no debts.  They too are worthy of those two words.  Whether peace resides in the heart (TN: 心之所安 a heart at peace with everything) is decided by oneself, and is not based on achievement.”  (TN:  Yes, Chu Qiao seems to take up the mantle of a Buddhist  philosopher here, but also, I think she is trying to explain to Yan Xun to let it go….  I remember the scene with her in front of the two-faced Yan Goddess on the mountain.  One with the face of war stood in her choice to remain with him, and the other face of the mother at peace stood in the direction of Zhuge Yue.  I see the symbolism now and how her personality has flipped)

The old man raised his brows slightly.  A gust of wind wound the ash along the floor and it fluttered down onto the hem of his cloak.  He sank deep in thought for a short while, and then slowly smiled, saying, “What you say is reasonable.”  

“It is such a big snow storm outside.  Elder, you’ve come here in the middle of the night, perhaps something disturbs your heart?”

“I am old, it is inevitably easy to ponder on things past in this fleeting life.”

A wild wind swelled and in an instant it blew open the chamber doors, and all the candles in the room were suddenly extinguished.  The servant was startled.  Even though he was already advanced in age, his hands were quite nimble, and in no time he closed the door and lit an oil lamp.

The old man raised his line of sight, staring at the row of dark coffins in the deep blackness.  His smile was restrained, and waved his hand, “This is fine.”

The chamber was very quiet, and one could only hear the sound of the wind howling above the roof.  Eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness all around.  Through the glistening snow outside, one could already see the indistinct figures of people outside. 

The elder removed his cloak and said, “He probably just doesn’t want to see me.”  (TN: I think he is making a reference here to someone resting in one of the coffins)

“I’ve brought wine, come have a cup with me.”

Without waiting for Chu Qiao to respond, the old servant came forward and spread a sturdy silk cloth on the floor, placing two wine cups on it with a shining, white, translucent jade pot that slightly glowed. In the darkness.  The cups were filled and the wine’s fragrance permeated.  The old servant offered a cup of wine to Chu Qiao.  Chu Qiao sniffed it and said, “This is qing nu jiao, wine from Qing Qiu.”  (TN: 青女娇 qing nu jiao literally means lovely green/young and innocent girl.)

 The old man smiled and praised, “Your nose is quite sharp.”

Chu Qiao smiled, “My tolerance for spirits isn’t anything to brag about, but the ability to smell wine is my expertise.”

As soon as she said it, she took a silver needle from her hair and plunged it into the cup.  (TN: silver detects most poisons by turning color)  A short while after extracting it, sniffed once in between breaths, and only then did she relax and drank down the wine, praising it.  “Indeed it is good wine.”

The old man saw how she had so overtly tested the wine for poison in front of his face, yet he was not affronted.  Instead, he said with great interest, “Lend your needle to me.”

Chu Qiao was slightly stunned, and asked, “Do you not feel at ease drinking the wine that you yourself had brought?”

“There is no harm in being a little careful.”

The old man did as Chu Qiao had done, and swept the silver hair pin into the cup.  From the folds of robe he retrieved a match book and after lighting it he looked into the cup for a long while, and only after that did he raise his head to drink. 

Chu Qiao laughed, “When you do it like that, you are actually more insecure.”

The old man was slightly astonished, and asked, “Why?”

“Not all poisons corrode silver.  Moreover, in the process of handing you my hairpin, there are many other ways of administering poison.  Even if poison is not used, being so close to me, aren’t you afraid that I could be an assassin?”

The old man looked at her without a trace of being alarmed, and asked her in earnest, “So are you?”

“If I said I wasn’t, would you believe me?”

The old man frowned, as if he was really considering it, and after a while he finally said, “I would not really believe it.”

Chu Qiao laughed aloud, “That’s right.  The farmer wishes to eat chicken tonight, so he will not kill the pig, but that doesn’t mean he will not kill the pig tomorrow.”

“Are you comparing me to a pig?”

“No, no,” Chu Qiao shook her head.  “A man like you is 1/3 wolf, 1/3 snake; for the other part, it would do well not to inquire.”

The old man smiled and asked the old servant by the door, “See the mouth on this girl, it is comparable to the hundred poison darts of the You Shi Tribe.”

The old man seemed to be happy, and sat with Chu Qiao in a relaxed manner while drinking wine.  Outside, the snow storm was getting stronger and stronger.  Chu Qiao pulled a chair over, wiped it clean and sat down, and drank cup after cup of wine with him.  (TN:  This scene is reminiscent of a few chapters back. Chu Qiao now gets to drink with an old friend/frienemy, just as Zhuge Yue did with his.  Zhuge Yue is probably having a fit right now since she’s missing…. ^_^;)  It was a veil of darkness all around, but for the few shafts of light coming from the roof.

The wine had a tempting aroma; just in the first taste, one was lured into taking a second sip.  Thought it was not poisoned, drinking too much would lead to being intoxicated.  Without knowing how much time had passed, Chu Qiao’s head gradually became dizzy, she leaned into the chair, her arm on the armrest supported her head, and slowly she closed her eyes.  She conversed with the old man quite a bit, or not at all, and it seemed they had discussed much, but gradually she forgot it.  Her heart was tranquil, as if wide swaths of snow white waves swept across it, layers upon layers, gently brushing over her white fingers and cheeks.

It was like she had returned to the time of her childhood, methodically teaching her the Tai Zu Zhang form of martial arts, teaching her hand-to-hand field combat, and teaching her how to recognize hidden traps.  He taught her how to use a variety of weapons and daggers, and took the chairman’s quotes and had her recite them over and over.  (TN: she was raised in fictional Communist China, and in reality, Chairman Mao was known to be a literate scholar and wrote many essays and philosophies on Communism and men.  His real-life  opponent was General Chiang Kai Shek who lost the war and retreated to Taiwan.  But the general was also a renown philosopher and wrote treatises on government and men.  So, depending on how you were raised, as a pro-Communist native or a banished ex-patriot, you would either know quotes from Chairman Mao, or from General Chiang.  My parents memorized the general’s quotes as children.   I am not certain if the author here is serious when she describes Chu Qiao’s upbringing, or if she’s being tongue-in-cheek about how rigid it was and whether it’s actually a veiled jab at Communism.  After all, it was because of her rigidity, she followed Yan Xun for so many years and didn’t know how to express what she wanted with Zhuge Yue.)  Early every morning, she would stand under the party flag and swear her allegiance.  She was only a few years old at the time, but she had felt quite dignified and solemn as she stood behind her old and tough grandfather as he said loudly over and over again, “Loyalty to the Chairman, loyalty to the Party, loyalty to the people, and sacrifice your life for your people and your country if need be….”

Then the image changed, and in came the picture of a deep, freezing palace.  An enormous moon shone on the tops of their heads, and the boy stood stubbornly before her, so angry that he bit his lip as he looked at her new hairpin, spitefully silent.  She had been so scared that she hurriedly removed the hairpin, and nervously cried out to him that it was the thirteenth prince who had given it to her, and she didn’t like it one bit.  After a long while, she watched as he archly revealed an ugly hairpin in his fist, as if he had polished the copper strip himself.  It was bare; without any decoration.  His fingers were a bit raw, and a few were already bleeding and wrapped in rags.

Then, a pair of fox-like eyes emerged from the waves, and a man dressed in red brocade robes sat in a water pavilion and exaggerated a sigh.  A group of girls dressed in multi-colored dress surrounded him.  His eyes were mesmerized, as if he had drank two jugs of Red Girl wine.  (TN: if you’ve ever watched kung fu costume dramas, it seems everyone drank this wine (nǚ’ér hóng) in the ancient days ^_^;)  He noticed her from afar and suddenly stood up, waving wildly at her as he said, “Qiao Qiao!  Qiao Qiao!  Hurry up and come here—”

And then, the picture changed, and the sky filled with gleaming sunlight reflected on waves.  Ring after ring of smoke and mist hung above the old road.  Light and shadow came down in torrents, fluttering and voluminous, as if drifting through the long length of a lifetime, turning into that haughty and aloof, but handsome, man.  Again, it was the lantern festival of three years ago.  He was in a fit of pique with himself because she did not want to go with him to Qing Hai.  Breathing heavily with rage he walked in front, ignoring her completely, but not before yelling at her and calling her a blind idiot.  (TN: When did this happen…? ^_^; I don’t remember translating this scene)  Angry, she picked up a clump of dirt clod,  throwing it from behind and it happened to just hit him on the head.  He was so angry his face went livid as he turned around and glared at her ferociously.  (TN: sorry, I LOL’d here and had to stop typing for a bit)

Then, on a swaying boat, the two of them embraced amid the countless, thin and delicate strands of rain.  He murmured by her ear, “I’m so happy, I’ve never been so happy….”

Just then, a childish voice echoed in her ear, “In the end, he died, and he also died, and she was left alone and heartbroken, so she left, and in the end she died, leaving only him to remain.”  (TN: O_o wtf?)

So it was, so it was.  She was dreaming.  Li Ce had already died, killed by the hand of his own mother, dying in her arms.  She had seen a large expanse of red blood blossoming from his chest and touched his ice cold body and closed eyes.  (TN: literal translation of 紧闭的眼帘, the curtains of his eyes securely shut)  He leaned on her shoulder and died, never again to laugh and call out her name, never again to reach out and touch her cheek, never to sneak into her bedroom at night again and sift through the letters Zhuge Yue had written to her.  He was never again to look at her gently whenever she was going through a tough time, hold her close, and then say, “Don’t fret, don’t fear.  You still have me, you still have Zhuge Fourth.  Even if it’s that bastard Yan Xun, he wouldn’t really harm you.”  (TN:  …thinking back on the rain of arrows that nearly killed her….)

Between heaven and earth was the boundless and indistinct north wind, a large snowfall dyed red descended from heaven, and Zhuge Yue faced Yan Xun on a desert plain.  She saw thousands of people’s souls floating in the heavens, she heard the earth’s lamentation,  and she heard the wind’s mourning.  She saw the sky was cracked, with dense, deep red blood slowly seeping through the crevice and flowing onto the badly mangled ground.  She saw Zhuge Yue fall, his back split open.  It was the would that she had pierced in him so many years ago, but pierced with a deep, cold arrow through his body.  She saw in Yan Xun’s hand was the 3-foot blood bow, standing atop countless bloody corpses.  Thousands of arrows shot out, making a sheet of deep black that covered heaven and earth, and he stood at the pinnacle of the world.  Endless red liquid seeped beneath his feet and his body was pierced with arrows but he did not fall.  (TN: holy cow, this is some messed up, traumatic and violent dream)

Thousands upon thousands of troops and horses swept through, and all the visions were broken.  A wolf’s saber shred the map of the continent to pieces and she was again kneeling on the ice sheet of Qianzhang Lake, watching the world collapse in an instant, his voice whispering beside her ear over and over:

Keep on living, keep on living, keep on living—

Her tears poured forth in streams, across her pointed chin, dripping into the folds of her snow white cloak.

The old man stood in front of her, the smile that had just been on his face vanished, his expression became indifferent and lonely.  He turned his head towards the old servant and asked, “Is it her?”

The old hunched back servant, always in his humble appearance, said softly, “It is she.”

The old man slowly smiled, but there was no trace of mirth in his eyes, “Who’d have though we would meet again in a place like this?”

The old servant slightly raised himself, but said not a word.  The old man muttered to himself for a long time, and suddenly reached out his finger and swept it across Chu Qiao’s cheek, and touched an ice cold remnant of her tears.  He was instantly shocked and placed his finger in his mouth, his tongue slowly tasting the saltiness.

“Anfu, do people cry when they drink yellow millet wine?”

The chamber was dim.  The old slave did not see that the girl sitting in the chair was quietly crying.  He quickly lit a candle and leaned in front of Chu Qiao to look carefully.  For a moment, he was also shocked.

The teardrops fell in a row, rolling silently like a broken string of pearls.  Anfu’s voice was laced with astonishment, and after a long moment, he slowly said, “This slave has never heard it said that there were people who drank yellow millet and cried.  This woman presumably has much pain in her heart.”

After saying this, An Fu slightly frowned, as if he was puzzled.  

“With such an honorable status, what cause would there be for such pain?”

The old man heard this and slightly smiled, and said lightly, “The more you think you have caught happiness, the more you fear that you will lose it one day.  This is a child’s heart.  I’m afraid not even she can control that fear.”

“Your Highness, the hour is late.  We should return.”

The old man nodded, donned his cloak, and walked to the door but suddenly turned his head around, and focused on the coffins placed there.  “Shi Cheng, how many years more do you think DaXia can be blessed with its throne?”

The cold wind blew over.  His silhouette looked frail and he suddenly coughed a few times.  As he laughed lightly he opened the chamber doors, and like that, he left.

A single cup of lamp oil remained lit, emitting a pale light, swaying countlessly, but stayed unextinguished.  

The lady dressed in white leaned against the back of the chair, slightly rubbed her head, the tears flowing down in rows, quietly; tranquil like lake water.

Without knowing how much time had passed, there was someone beside her speaking.  She frowned slightly as the lantern shone like moonlight, glaring to her eyes.  Mei Xiang’s voice reached her ears, saying in a lively voice, “She’s awake, she’s awake, thank goodness.”

Chu Qiao frowned as she saw it was only Mei Xiang standing by her side.  Huan’er lifted a lantern and stood on the other side, and both of them looked nervously at her.

“Miss, what happened to you?”

Chu Qiao looked all around, any trace of the old man long gone.  Understandably she was a little out of sorts, she casually said, “Nothing.  I only carelessly fell asleep.”

Mei Xian instantly protested, “It’s so cold here, how could you possibly have fallen asleep here, Miss?”

“I think the mistress is too tired.  The snowstorm outside has already lessened.  Let’s hurry up and return to the manor.”

The group ascended the carriage; Rong’er continued to sleep soundly and Mo’er was also relaxed in Jing Jing’s arms, unable to keep his eyes open.

A blizzard had broken up and dispersed the lantern festival.  All along the road back, she saw tattered pieces of lantern everywhere, and the streets were empty and desolate.   She opened the carriage curtain to look out into the distance, only to see the chill had settled everywhere.  Not a single light was lit, and only the white lantern of the temple remained intact, unknown to anyone as to how it had survived the blizzard.  (TN: White lanterns are hung in funeral homes and temples of the dead.  FYI it is considered unlucky to light a plain, white lantern in your home.)

It was already late at night when they returned to the manor.  Yue Liu (TN: 6th Moon) stood guard at the front door, and as they came into view, quite a few of the guards gave out a collective sigh.    They stepped forward to say Zhuge Yue had returned early, and had gone out in search of her several times.

Chu Qiao hurried inside, into the main hall, removed her cloak for the servants, and walked gingerly into the bed chamber.  Returning from such a chilly place to her home, warm air rushed to greet her.  The incense burner let out a pleasant fragrance, curling vertically, spiraling upward.  The chamber was quiet, without a single sound.  She quietly walked over only to see that his face was slightly flushed, reclining like that, still dressed in his clothes, but sound asleep.  Only, his brow was held in a tight frown, as if something in his dream had made him quite angry.  (TN: maybe he is dreaming that Yan Xun actually touched her… ^_^;;)  

His breathing was heavy and there was the scent of strong alcohol in the air.  His capacity for alcohol had never really been that good.  This night he must have drank a lot of wine in order to sleep so soundly.

On the mahogany bedpost hung an exquisite and small lantern, with red eyes, long ears; it was a remarkably true to life rabbit.  (TN: awwww….)

She took off her shoes and lay beside him like that.  Inhaling the scent of his body, and listening to his low breathing, her frozen heart gradually became warm again.

She reached out a hand and wrapped her arm around his waist, driving away that despairing dream.

No, absolutely not.

They would be together, live a good life, they will have a child, and together they will leave this place, and start a new life somewhere else.

It must be like this.  It must.  (TN: jeez, when you say it ominously like that…. I will hurl this MacBook across the room if it turns out badly.)

***

—Summary—  

After the spring banquet, DaXia’s demise became more apparent.  The refugees of the west were now everywhere.  People were selling their children and wives despite the disaster relief.  But DaXia’s wars were already bleeding the coffers dry.  

The days in Yan Bei were just as dismal.  Even though their heist had saved the people through the winter, their circumstances were difficult, preventing any large-scale war at the border in the interim.

Both countries seemed at a stand still.

In March, the emperor gave Zhao Che the lands of the Northern Hu.  Though everyone knew Zhao Che was the warden of the north, that title was never officially sealed.  Also in March, Zhuge Yue’s house arrest finally ended and the Minister of War rejoined the court.

A report from Yan Bei gave Chu Qiao great concern.  There was word that Yan Bei wanted to trade with DaXia.  DaXia also needed horses and iron ore, but they had other trading partners, and laughed off the request.  Seeing that their enemy’s situation was even more dire than their own, the court of DaXia became more arrogant, and there were scattered calls to wipe out Yan Bei once and for all.  There were even requests from the distant relations of the royal family sent to Zhuge Yue to take action.

Zhuge Yue just sat back and watched the rogues of all kinds running wild with their suggestions, and could not help but sneer at them.  Behind their backs he ridiculed them and noted that Yan Xun’s tactics were not very clever, but it seemed to do the trick.  With just a few words, he sent the emperor’s entire government into a frenzy.

When he said this, Chu Qiao became terrified.  Zhuge Yue was someone who already thought many layers above and beyond ordinary people, and he knew that Yan Xun wanted to lure DaXia in for a fight.  Having lived with him for many years, she knew it was not in Yan Xun’s nature to show weakness to the enemy but she wondered if it was really worth it to Yan Xun to sacrifice his country’s well being to do this.

—End Summary—

Winter gave way to Spring, and another year brought forth Spring flowers to blossom, but the sinister, slanting cold wind slowly resisted; pushing the window open, the unchanging ice was still visible.

End notes: I’m a bit disappointed we didn’t get to see Zhuge Yue’s reaction to her delayed return, but I guess that wasn’t the point of this chapter.  At one point I thought when she insulted the old man, she knew who he was, but then, she wouldn’t have been so relaxed to have gotten comfortably drunk in front of Yan Xun.  Considering the author is trying to set up some final confrontation between Yan Xun and Zhuge Yue, Chu Qiao should be wary but she doesn’t seem to have her game face on, does she?  Let’s hope they get their HEA (fingers crossed)!!! —Kero

Princess Agents - 特工皇妃楚喬傳, Chapter 185, English novel translation

Princess Agents - 特工皇妃楚喬傳 

Translator’s notes: After going through my Game of Thrones withdrawal, I finally feel ready to tackle my other projects, including reading a bunch of romance novels on my new Kindle, cleaning my house, finishing my Regency period pelisse and finishing this translation.   (I have a lot of hobbies.)  

I think this may be the first and last novel I translate since it really is quite a task!  After a reader suggested Legend of Fu Yao to me, I thought about it because I love Fu Yao, but yeah, I think I’ll pass.  Still, I want to finish what I started here.  

So I’ve put on my iTunes Chinese soundtrack (not only drama soundtracks like 楚喬傳 but also pop music that I think sets the mood for stars/moon 星/月 inspiration) and I’m diving right in.   

I’m still crossing fingers for a 2nd sequel series of 楚喬傳 …. But until then, I’ve also started listening to a podcast that is super interesting and puts a lot of the Chinese cultural references and holidays of Chu Qiao Chuan into perspective.  Why is the author fascinated by the New Year?  Why is there a Lantern Festival?  What time period did Chu Qiao transport into?  Was this a parallel to the Chinese bronze age (B.C.E.)?

The podcast is literally called The History of China and it’s really well done.   Being raised outside of Asia (in the West), this is not something I would have studied at any time in my life since it had nothing to do with my major in university.  From the mythical beginnings to the first emperors, to the Summer and Autumn periods of the Zhou Dynasty (where I think the time period from 楚喬傳 is modeled after) it’s a really well done account of all the kings, all their struggles, and all their legends.  So far I’m in the Zhou Dynasty (3rd? dynasty with a written record) where a king (like the emperor of DaXia) tricked and executed a loyal but powerful vassal duke (like Yan Xun’s father) because he was afraid of his power.  And then later, another powerful vassal state (like Qing Hai) rose from the ashes from nothing to become the power that deposes that dynasty.   I think my mind is really twisted by Korean and Chinese TV dramas because I keep thinking every dynasty I hear about could be its own drama series ^__^;  

Every dynasty seems to have its share of greedy uncles and regents, crazy kings and concubines and exiled princes.  And, if you thought only crazy fictional ladies like Chu Qiao and Mulan put on armor and fought armies, around the time of the Egyptian pharaoh King Tut, there was once a female queen/general called Fu Hao who won pretty much all the battles she fought for her husband the emperor (reminds me of that quirky Chinese drama Oh, My General).  Why doesn’t she have a drama yet?

So how many times have you all watched the 1st series of Chu Qiao Chuan by now?  If we’ve watched more than twice, is that something we can admit out loud?  Hang in there, everyone.  LOL

-Kero

Chapter 185: The Yan Family Memorial 

When the ShangYuan festival (TN: Lantern Festival on the fifteenth of the first month of the lunar calendar) arrived, the Royal Palace held a large banquet.  Perhaps to divert attention from the prior year’s turmoil, this night’s dinner party was especially sumptuous.  Even Zhuge Yue, who was under house arrest to ponder his errors in seclusion, had been invited.  Had it been during peacetime, he could have found some excuse and claimed to be ill, but had he done this, it would have been difficult for him to avoid the onslaught of the boundless well wishers.  (TN: ^_^; Zhuge Yue is so anti-social)  At dusk, Zhuge Yue donned his court attire and entered the palace in a very low key fashion on horseback  (TN:  the source material uses the words 轻车简骑, translated literally as light ride, single mount, but it also sounds a lot like the idiom, 轻车简从, which refers to a very distinguished person traveling with few attendants, incognito)

Chu Qiao stayed in her room.  Lately she always felt tired after a short period of time and her appetite was poor.  (TN: Omo…O_O is she pregnant??)  Eating, then sleeping, it seemed a rather indulgent, charmed existence.

A sudden creak at the door was followed by the door being pushed open and Mo’er  entering with halting steps.  He walked over to Chu Qiao’s side looking slightly nervous, his nose red from the cold.

“Mo’er, what’s the matter?”

Mo’er hesitated a bit, then turned his head to look towards the door, and after a while longer, he asked in a small voice, “Mother, are we not going out tonight?”

If she counted correctly, Chu Qiao was only about ten years older than this child.  In the beginning, hearing him call her mother all day was a bit uncomfortable.  But then, she gradually got used to it, and now she thought nothing of it.

She sat up straight and furrowed her brow, “Go out?  Go where?”

“Today is the ShanYuan holiday.  There are temple festivals and lantern viewings going on outside.”

Mo’er’s eyes lit up with excitement, and when Chu Qiao turned towards the door, she noticed the sounds of a few more loiterers outside.  

These days, since Zhuge Yue was confined, those in his manor also rarely ventured outside.  She pinched Mo’er’s cheek and smiled, “Very well.  Let’s go.”

The continent was a vast land.  By modern accounts, it was roughly 40 million square kilometers, which was near five times the size of modern China.  The land had been imparted and inherited for many years now, even through the chaos of war and the frequent unrest.  But the people had always flourished, and the city of Zhen Huang was the capital of the nation, so the population was also very dense.

Chu Qiao and her group walked along the street, only to observe brilliant lanterns in all directions, beautiful lanterns of every eye-catching color vying for their attention.  The commoners of the capital, regardless of gender, age, wealth or nobility all came out to celebrate the occasion.  A hundred stage plays were going at the same time, all the musicians were creating a myriad of sound, and everywhere the scene was bustling and lively.

This year’s ShangYuan Festival was a little more festive than the last, with the cacophony of human voices, and the deafening sound of gongs and drums.

The children were laughing heartily, but as soon as an hour passed, it started snowing.   The north wind came whistling forth, the wind stirred the level ground turning it into white tendrils of flurries and the entire scene of colorful lanterns was blown apart.  JingJing and the others cursed loudly as they got into the carriage, and the guards waved their whips to hurry back to the manor.  But the wind became stronger and stronger, and the carriage horses were unwilling to move forward further.  When they reached a more secluded area, one horse suddenly startled, and it broke away from its harness.

Yue Thirteenth ran up to tell them the storm was getting too big, and it was better for them to find a place to shelter through it.

Chu Qiao nodded in agreement, and just happened to see the image of a shadowy building ahead, and ran up to knock on the door before noticing that it was actually a temple for the goddess of Yanbei.  (TN: irony…)

Even though Yan Shicheng was born into the royal family, because he was marked a traitor to the empire, he could not be entombed in the ancestral temple.  The name of this mansion was the Temple of Peace, but it was actually a memorial.  It was not only the resting place for Yan Shicheng and his children, but it was also the resting place for a few commoners nearby.  In the beginning, DaXia had sent some guards to strictly keep a lookout, but since YanXun had returned to Yanbei, there had been no attempts by the Datong Association to steal the bodies.  Gradually, the place became more desolate, and the empire was no longer willing to justify the expense of sending soldiers to guard a pile of white bones.

Chu Qiao and the other entered the sloping antechamber. (TN: the words 偏屋 can literally mean “partial house” but the word 偏 also means slanted, and in this case, I think the words refer to the architecture.  I could be wrong, but it sounds better in English this way.)  The guards found some candlesticks and torches and the interior gradually became brighter.  It revealed a clutter of memorial tablets arranged inside the gloomy hall.  There are also over twenty coffins, shrouded under a display of pure white candles.  At a glance it was both horrible and ghastly.

Jing Jing’s face went pale, as if she was a bit scared, and she stayed close behind Duoji, tugging on his sleeve.  Her usual quick wit was absent.

MeiXiang said to her with a laugh, “Never thought there was actually something that would scare our Miss JingJing.  At one point I even thought you were a little demon incarnate, afraid of no one in this world.”

Upon hearing her playful banter, the atmosphere momentarily became lighter.

Rong’er was now one years old, constantly babbling to practice speaking, wobbling as he walked around out of doors rather like a duckling.  He was dressed all in red, rolled up in a red padded jacked.  He used his chubby little hand to stifle a yawn, and burrowed into Chu Qiao’s arms, adjusting to a more comfortable position to take a nap.

Chu Qiao stood up and handed Rong’er to Mei Xiang, saying softly, “I’m going out.”

“Miss, where are you going in a big storm like this?”

Chu Qiao mentioned the boxes of foodstuffs Mei Xiang had packed, and lit a lantern.  “I’ll just go next door and take a look.  You needn’t follow.”

As soon as she said this, she exited through the chamber doorway.

The wind outside was astonishingly strong.  In the fifteen years she’s lived on this continent, she had never witnessed such gales.  The lantern in her hand quickly extinguished.  Chu Qiao’s large, fur cloak flew upward and cold snow pelted her face in multiple pricks, as if being hit by pebbles.  Chu Qiao tightly held onto the collar of her cloak and with great difficulty she walked forward, walking for a while before stopping before a dilapidated room.  She then reached out her hand and slowly pushed open the groaning doors.

In that moment the heavy gale suddenly rushed in, it stirred up the layers of dust all over the floor.  Chu Qiao coughed a few times then quickly close the doors, pulling a chair to hold the doors in place.

The deathly quiet in this room was the same, and it seemed colder than the outside.  In several places the roof had caved in, and the wind stirred in the rafters.  All around the pitch darkness was deep enough so one couldn’t see their own fingers in front of their face, but she was well acquainted with the floor plan here.  She took out her fire starter and after several tries, managed to light all the candles around her.  Faint candlelight quietly ignited, slowly turning the room bright.  Four, deep black colored coffins were placed within without spiritual tablets, without banners or tapers, or even a single marking.  They had just been nonchalantly left there, with straw and litter all around, and a few pieces of frozen buns scattered everywhere.  Normally, this place was a temporary shelter for wandering beggars.

Chu Qiao placed the food box to one side, rolled up her sleeves and began to tidy up.  Her movements were fast and although she didn’t have any cleaning tools handy, the garbage on the floor was cleared away.  She tied the straw together to make a makeshift broom and swept the cobwebs aside and the space within looked much tidier.  Then, one by one, she took out the dishes inside the box, placed them on the floor, and knelt down, bowing deeply a few times in homage.

Indeed, these four coffins were the remains of YanXun’s father, his two brothers and his sister.  In those years before, on the anniversary of the King of Yan’s death, she and YanXun would secretly come to worship.  In those days, there were still officials and soldiers guarding here, and in coming here they would have to expend a lot of effort.  But nowadays, this place had already become so desolate.

Since returning to the capital, she never even thought about returning to pay homage here.  Moreover, she never thought she would wander here by mistake today.  Perhaps this too, was a kind of fate.

There were no incense sticks, so they were replaced by incense.  There was no paper money, so there was a silk cloth as a substitute.  There was no good wine, only one pot of goat milk and two cups of green tea.

Your Highness, I’ve come again to see you.

She got up with a few splotches of dust slightly soiling her knees.  Snowflakes fell down from where there was no roof, covering the coffin lids bit by bit.  She quietly stared at those coffins, trying hard to recall those bloody, severed heads from long ago, and it left a vast, bleak feeling in her heart.

Earlier, before LongXi experienced the snow disaster of a generation, Yan Bei had already sunk into its own catastrophe.  The people’s homeland was destroyed, and the snows that hit the Blue City was particularly bad and would affect its people for generations to come.  Thousands of livestock froze to death in the lands around ShangShen, the people were not eating, and Yan Bei was in danger.

However, while the hundred DaXia ministers were clapping in glee, Yan Bei secretly mobilized 100,000 guards from the Dragon Pass who trekked over the Lan He Plateau and the over 6,000 meters above sea level rise of Dusk Wolf Peak, to enter the territory of Da Tang.  Bypassing TangJia Pass, they suddenly attacked the Da Tang checkpoint, robbing over 200,000 sacks of food, then returning to Yan Bei with lightning speed.  The entire operation took less than four days.  When Da Tang’s border war report reached Tang Jing City, the guards from Dragon Pass had already returned to their post, and even crossed swords twice with DaXia troops who had wanted to take advantage of Yan Bei’s disaster to attack.

When word got out, it was like a drop of water dropping into a vat of sizzling oil, which set off a fierce reaction.

DaXia and Bian Tang were furious, but had no means of taking on Yan Xun.  DaXia’s imperial censor and his lot wrote passionate declarations, saying Yan Bei was born of thieves, their base nature was to burn, kill and loot, doomed to disobey the righteous path.  The old scholars of Bian Tang had even more fire in their eyes, raising a hue and cry all over the world, calling out Yan Xun’s ancestry and forefathers in a flood of invectives.

Moreover, they wrote books to lash out at the injustice, in agitation barely letting their anger pass.

But this was the only thing they could do.  The Dragon pass was an impenetrable fortress, Yan Bei’s army was cruel and ruthless.  In the current situation, as long as they did not come out and fight in open war, they could only burn the incense high.  (TN: burning incense can be akin to waiting, or letting time pass; or praying to the gods for a breakthrough) Who would dare go up to the door and provoke them?

When Chu Qiao heard the news, she couldn’t help but smile in contempt.  The soft will always fear the hard, the hard fear dying, and that was the way of it.

Fittingly, Zhuge Yue continued to disapprove, facing down the court and commons and continuing to ignore their cries to go to war.  Everyone knew that DaXia was now unable to even fend for itself, and the situation with several of its princes vying for power was already reaching its apex.  In a time like this, who had the time to go out in open war?  It was only griping.  If he had really wanted to amass the army towards Yang Ming, what those old bastards feared would really come to pass: blood three feet deep, a demonstration of sincerity by death.  (TN: traditionally, in olden days, people would commit suicide, or posture themselves to suggest they would do it, to demonstrate their sincerity and conviction in their belief.  That is what the phrase 以死明志 means.  In this case, Zhuge Yue knows it would be a pure bloodbath)

When he heard the news, he was slightly surprised, saying that he did not think Yan Xun would do such a thing.

In fact, aside from him, it was doubtless the entire continent would not have thought it either.

After all, once upon a time, he had used all of Yan Bei in a bet, positioning its soldiers and civilians as bait, leading DaXia’s army into the pass, and dispersing his own army.  Not long after that, he eradicated the dissidents to his rule and completely destroyed the Da Tong Association who had once helped him onto the world stage, taking the head of even his own teacher.

In the face of such a man, it was doubtless that no one would have thought he would do something like this for Yan Bei’s people, and at such a risk.

Even Chu Qiao couldn’t figure out what the catch was.

However, it was good that the commander of the Tanghu Pass was the son of the Bian Tang empire’s Prince Jing’an.  Even though he had aligned himself with the crown only after Prince Jing’an met his end, he held military power and oversaw critical holdings of the empire.  In the end, it was still difficult to make them completely at ease.  Every time Yan Xun went after him, it was not DaXia’s loss. 

And it was Da Tang’s grain that was lost.

Chu Qiao’s brows slowly lifted, in her mind she once again recalled living in those years on Shang Shen Plateau, and returned to the snowy mountain…. and the simple herdsmen and common folk there….

Yan Xun’s capabilities were becoming more and more impressive.  Hiding for a thousand li (TN: a li is a little over a mile), in rapid action, tens of thousands of troops were mobilized without stirring the slightest breeze, without anyone noticing, in a perfect strike.  His methods were accurate, his vision sharp, his daring strong, his men were first class in the world’s ranking.  As long as he is there, DaXia can’t imagine breaking through the Dragon Pass.  Even if Zhao Che himself attacked, there wasn’t even the slightest opportunity.  Though perhaps in tactics, military strength, intelligence, weaponry, logistics, supplies and other aspects he was slightly better.  But no matter how ruthless or how tenacious, there was no way to surpass Yan Xun’s ability.

The terrible thing about Yan Xun on the battlefield was his ability to make perfect use of everything around him to aid in his victory in warfare.  His ability to fathom the human heart had already reached great heights.

In this world, the only one comparable to him was perhaps Zhuge Yue.

Yan Xun’s strength was in his hate, while Zhuge Yue’s strength was in his cunning.

Like this, if the two of them were able to meet on the battlefield free of other worries, they might in fact have a legendary battle worthy of being recorded in the annals of war.

She shook her head slowly.  Although she had given up that lifestyle, when she was idle, her mind would still unintentionally drift towards these things.  She would take news that she had heard, take it apart and piece it together over and over, creating a rough model of the situation, and then deducing, calculating and rearranging.  Like a chess player who loves to play chess but doesn’t play anymore, she imagined all sorts of game play in her mind.

In actuality, though she and Yan Xun ultimately ended up being at odds with one another, she did not wish to see him fall.

Therefore, after knowing that he had successfully attacked Tanghu Pass, she was still a bit delighted, completely disregarding her status as Bian Tang’s XiuLi royal.  

In between the two of them, though they could not remain side by side, they also didn’t have to be at odds trying to kill each other to survive. (TN: um, girl, he tried to turn you into Swiss cheese....)

The wind suddenly became stronger, and the door groaned aloud, pushing the chair aside a bit.  She thought it was the wind and turned back to close it, but who knew that at the moment she reached the doorway, the door would suddenly be pushed open.  A man in a black cloak stood amid the flurry of snow fall, behind him, only a single escort dressed in dark clothing.

She couldn’t see his face, and momentarily, could only see a pair of eyes, black like an abyss, aiming unflinchingly at her person.  (TN: the words used here by the author remind us that Yan Xun is an excellent shot)

Endnotes:  Wow, that’s interesting! Is that really Yan Xun??  She can tie up this loose end, finally.  So many pop songs going through my head right now in songfic form.  ^_^  What soundtrack would you play for this moment?  I imagine their soundtrack would include 简单 (Simple) by Claire Kuo, 崇拜 (Worship) by Fish Leong, 很久很久以後 (A long time from now) by Christine Fan.  Maybe Irreplaceable by Beyoncé?  ^___^;

I wonder if Zhuge Yue will be upset he wasn’t there?  I doubt he would be jealous, since he knows she loves him and not Yan Xun.

I really like how the author compares and contrasts Zhuge Yue and Yan Xun in this chapter.  They had always been polar opposites in youth, and still are in adulthood.  Except they both switched places.  The young Yan Xun who was carefree died in tragedy, and in struggle he was reborn a ruthless, vengeful man of hatred.  The young and cruel Zhuge Yue was redeemed by love, and in struggle was reborn and saw a different path to live, using his cunning to achieve what was right.  They are both two sides of the same coin.  And whereas Yan Xun never really understood Chu Qiao though he knew her value, he set her aside when she became inconvenient.  Zhuge Yue always knew her value, learned how to understand her, and cherishes her as the love of his life regardless of how inconvenient.

I think that’s what makes Zhuge Yue one of my favorite fictional romantic heroes, right up there with Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice and Mr. Thornton from North and South.   —KERO

Princess Agents 特工皇妃楚喬傳 Chapter 171 English novel translation

Princess Agents - 特工皇妃楚喬傳

Chapters 169 - 170 Synopsis:  After a 3 day visit to Bian Tang, Chu Qiao decides to set out on her sojourn, taking her maid MeiXiang with her.  Li Ce looks skeptical when she tells him she doesn't know where she's going, but she wants to take a vacation and look around, though she doesn't know how long this vacation will last.  She tells Li Ce that he has to still be emperor and not go bankrupt so she can come back to mooch off him again.  He responds that he shouldn't give her a lot of money then, so that she won't come back as a toothless old woman (^_^ I love their friendship).  

When she entrusts the XiuLi Army to Li Ce he responds "They're just a bunch of guys, why are you giving them to me?"  (^_^ He prefers ladies….)

She confesses a lot to Li Ce in Chapter 169.  Chu Qiao wonders if she was really too naive and where she went wrong in her beliefs.  She didn't want a utopia like DaTong, but she wanted people to have rice, to not be slaves, to have justice serve them and not only the rich and powerful.  But she realizes that she was overconfident in her own ability and power to change things and to protect others.  In the end she couldn't even protect her own family or friends and most of them died because of her.

The XiuLi Army has no beliefs, they only believe in her, but she states she is not a good leader.  Had she allowed Yan Xun to disband them, they would not have died for her time and again, and by now they could have been living good lives.  Life was not just about achieving great things, she confesses she realized too late that living an ordinary life, marrying and having kids was also a type of accomplishment, but her hands were stained with their blood and she will never wash her hands clean of it.

Li Ce tries to tell her that none of that was her fault, but she responds that there is a responsibility that she cannot shirk.  She still hears them crying to go home in the night wind, the ones she couldn't protect or bury.  Some were as young as 15 or 16, an age when they should have still been spoiled by their parents, but because of her they died on an ice field.

The amount of guilt she carries with her worries Li Ce.  She asks him to give them jobs, let them get married and have them stay away from the battlefield.  Glory stays with the generals, only death awaits soldiers.  When Li Ce agrees, he asks her whether she still hates Yan Xun, and she responds that she doesn't anymore.  He was after all the most pitiful of them all, after having suffered all of that.  His heart was filled with hatred and it was she who couldn't measure it.  There were no real rights and wrongs in the world, everyone just went along their predestined road and Yan Xun went on his.

When he asks why she didn't go with Zhuge Yue she admits that she probably loves him, but letting him go is also a way of loving him.  As he is the highest military official of DaXia she doesn't think she would be a good fit for him.  She would never ask him to give that up since he fought so hard for it, suffered to get to where he is now, and she thinks he wouldn't be happy to just let that go for her.  As a man, he has his own horizon, and one day he will be grateful that she let him go.

She confesses that she is also tired.  She's labored for ten years or more, she can't walk down a path she can't see clearly, and as a woman, she also wants to rest.  She will be an ordinary citizen and live well. Doing what she wants to do and going wherever she wants to go is a lifestyle she's wanted for some time.  She promises to come back to see him as he is her best friend. He tells her to come back before she turns 30 if she can't find a husband and she promises she will marry before she's 30.

His servant Sun Di asks if they should send people to follow and protect her and Li Ce responds no.  When Li Ce watches her leave in the distance, he thinks, Everyone has the right to choose how they will live. Go then, Qiao Qiao.

***

Chu Qiao spends the next year and half living with DuoJi, his sister Jing Jing, Mei Xiang and Ping An.  She teaches them modern military tactics and kung fu ^_^; and they open a student's inn together in LinHu.  Because she came across the kids she couldn't wander around as planned, and instead, found a scenic and quiet town south of Bian Tang near Meishan Mountain.  It was also the home of the renown scholar Mr. Chen, and the whole town was rather academic.  Students on their way to take the imperial exam would stop by to speak with the famous scholar and take in the scenery.  She opened the inn because it was a bit awkward to raise three adolescents as a single woman with her maid, so it was better they lived there rather than let people talk.

Her business was rather profitable during the exam seasons in summer and autumn, since her modern sanitary solutions, and the prime location. Though she doesn't seek news of the outside world, she gets it from guests and found out that to everyone's shock, Zhuge Yue tells everyone he already has a legitimate 'wife' in Qing Hai, and has the papers to prove it, and if the princess wants to marry him, she can only be a concubine.  This obviously is an insult to the princess, but Zhuge Yue will be no one's pawn.

Zhuge Yue supported Zhao Che in the government and together they settled the norther border disputes and together they rivaled the power of the existing DaXia government.

In the meantime, Bian Tang and QingHai had been exerting pressure against Yan Bei, closing off their trade, and preventing them from waging war with Bian Tang since it had to defend itself from both sides.

The biggest news perhaps was the wedding extravaganza of Yan Bei's king.  He had 18 ministers send their daughters and married them all to add to his harem, and on the second day the ceremonies finally ended at sunset on NaDa Palace.  Though this place was at one time gifted to the king's lover, the XiuLi general, no one had heard what happened to her since the Battle of the Three Kingdoms.  There was speculation that she married into the royal family of Bian Tang, or that she was the wife of the DaXia Minister of War Zhuge Yue, or that she had actually returned to Yan Bei and was living in NaDa Palace.

No one would have guessed that the legendary general was running an inn in a small town and going down to the lake every morning and evening to spend time with the elderly and play chess with them.  Every night, she sleeps with the jade pendant by her pillow.

When Mr. Chen's nephew presented some of DuoJi's writings to his uncle, it seemed there was some intention to recruit DuoJi into the government.  DuoJi had used his pseudonym Chu LinHui, something he had created from Chu Qiao's name, and the forest on HuiHui Mountain where he grew up.  There was nothing unusual about this until Mr. Chen wanted to introduce someone to him who seemed to be looking for Chu Qiao and they seemed to be up to no good.  She was nervous enough to take her whole entourage north to see Li Ce and ask him.

It was on this journey they they came across a group of people traveling in the same direction and encountered mishap after mishap.  It seems the gods are messing with people again…. After the rains a bridge along the way was flooded out.  They and this other group waited for the workers Chu Qiao paid to fix it.  Then the other group in the distance was attacked by a massive pack of wolves, and Chu Qiao ordered her hired guards use fire arrows and sulfur to defeat them and saved this other group who were also excellent fighters.  She was wary of this other group and when one of them came over to thank her and ask her name, she asked them to go on ahead and did not give her name.  Then they ran into them again along the road when the path was blocked by a landslide.  Coincidence or trick?  That's where we begin....

Chapter 171:  We Meet Again

However, having traveled less than half a day, another unexpected incident slowed their progress.  At this time, even the rather obtuse Ping An felt something was amiss.

On a slightly narrow mountain path, a few large trees and a pile of sludge and rubble traversed sideways along the road, about waist high, blocking any means of traveling forward.

It was all rather obvious.  It was probably due to the large storm a few days prior causing this landslide and mud flow, however, after this many coincidences none of them were willing to believe in that simple logic.

That group of people and their horses stood up front, eyeing Chu Qiao's group menacingly as they arrived after, without bothering to hide the apparent hostility in their expressions.

DuoJi and Ping An narrowed their brows with uncertainty, their hands naturally falling to their sides, but their fingers slowly feeling for their sword and knife hilts. 

The sky was blue and the clouds white, the flying birds chirped and the warm sun shined down.  For such fine weather the atmosphere was certainly off.   No one was trying to clear a path through the mud and debris, but they all stood glaring and for a while no one took a single step forward.

"What a coincidence."

The man named Cao sneered, as he said slowly.

Ping An raised his brow a notch, but DuoJi staid him with an arm.  The young man's brows slightly knit, the said with a slight smile, "It certainly is a coincidence. These past few days we've repeatedly gone through thick and thin with you, brother Cao, that even a person like me who doesn't believe in destiny can't help but say the will of Heaven is hard to fathom."

"The way I see it it isn't Heaven's will or anything like that.  I'm afraid someone with bad intentions is playing tricks."

Ping An was suddenly angry, "Who are you accusing?"

Cao coldly shouted, "Who are you people?  Draw your blades!"

"I see you as the bad guy, actually!"

Ping An shouted angrily, and with a *shuaa* he pulled out his blade, the pallid light gleaming, and he stepped forward, about to fight.

As soon as the other person saw this, he immediately drew his weapon.  At that moment a silver light abruptly shone and hit Ping An's saber hilt with a *ding.*  A rare treasure sword sang, settling on the ground with a clang.  A clear and strict female voice said faintly, "Ping An, don't be rash."

It was as though a pool of ice water was abruptly poured into water that was boiling over and in a split second the atmosphere calmed down.

Everyone present fell quiet that they could almost hear each other's breathing clearly.

The gentle breeze rustled, sweeping across everyone's countenance.  In the distance pine trees swayed in vast jade green waves.  The warbling birds spiraled in a mid-air dance.

*puff*

A sudden subtle sound came forth, like the sound of boots stepping and scraping on the stones.  The wind blew up the black curtain, and the man named Cao and his group immediately said aloud in surprise, "Master?" 

The man didn't say a word, directly walking towards Chu Qiao's horse carriage. 

DuoJi raised his brow and suddenly shouted, "Stop!"

The man didn't care to respond, and DuoJi's hand grasped his sword hilt, eyebrows angrily slanted upward and at once drew his sword.

However the sword was only pulled out halfway before they heard a sudden pause.  The man's hands were abnormally fast, and in the blink of an eye DuoJi was disarmed, his sword conveniently tossed onto the ground.

DuoJi's face was suddenly red, and he made an angry sound as if he wanted to rush forward but the man kept his cool without any apprehension, took quick steps to the front of Chu Qiao's carriage.  He reached out his hand to grasp the curtain.

With a *whoosh* a fresh wind suddenly blew in, the noonday sun was so bright it glared.  Chu Qiao's hand held a miniature cross-bow pointing at the carriage opening.  But as the sunlight reached her eyes she froze in that second.

DuoJi rushed forward from the back, his five fingers becoming claws, about to grab the man's neck.  Having studied under Chu Qiao for more than three years, in that moment, the move could definitely be fatal for his enemy.

However, the man did not evade.  He was dressed in celestial white robes with white cloud patterns, with dashing eyebrows and eyes like stars, cleanly handsome like such, standing in place unperturbed.  His eyes lightly gazing at her.  For a moment, it was unexpectedly difficult to say if he was happy or angry.  His expression was like a deep pond, or a secluded and lonely winter lake. 

*Shou*

An arrow was let loose and passed the man's ear, closely brushing against DuoJi's arm, as straight as a peak, bringing with it a portion of a swift and fierce, deadly aura.

"DuoJi, stand down."

Chu Qiao spoke calmly, without any indignation, but with a discouragement that should not be questioned. 

DuoJi's eyebrows lifted in surprise, and asked, "Miss?"

Chu Qiao slightly raised an eyebrow without saying more, and only looked at him faintly. DuoJi was a bit startled, but slowly retreated.  But his eyes continued to watch the man in front of the carriage with dissatisfaction.

The southeasterly wind was as if it was drunk, the weather was so good it made people flustered.  A row of brightly colored orioles settled on a nearby tree branch, chirping sweetly.  The tree stretched, like a woman's newly drawn eyebrow.  To the side, the forest was lush and green with various colors of blossoms in the gaps to inspire admiration, astonishingly elegant and extraordinarily beautiful, just like a painting.

As the wind passed, the man's hem lightly blew up without the scent of perfumed incense like that of ordinary noble sons of great houses.  Instead it was a faint scent exclusively his, sweet like irises and orchids.  He possessed a clean and pretty quality, rather like snow held in both hands. 

"Hey!"

JingJing, who had been sitting behind Chu Qiao suddenly pointed at the man's waist.  "His jade and big sister's jade are exactly the same!"

It was shining and white, clean and smooth, full and transparent. The wind blew against the man standing there, and the jade pendant hung on his waist, swaying and blinking with a faint splendor.

Chu Qiao's expression gradually relaxed.  While everyone around her was still and silent, speechless and noiseless, she reached out and took hold of the man's shoulder, and jumped down from the carriage.  She smiled gently at Ping An, DuoJi and the others with an order, "Don't just stand there.  Hurry up and open up the road ahead."

"Huh?" Ping An opened his eyes wide, looked at Chu Qiao, and then looked at the man, then he asked rather densely, "Sister, you two know each other?"

"Mn."

Chu Qiao's expression was relaxed as she nodded, and it looked as though there was a trace of happiness.

Ping An really wanted to ask who this man was, but who knew that before he could even open his mouth the man's eyes lightly floated over, not strict, but it was certainly like icy, cold like snow, expression of indifference, as if he really didn't want to suffer this fool of a lad's idle chatter.

When Cao and the others saw this, they suddenly lowered their heads and stepped back, retrieved their tools and went to start wok on the road.

Chu Qiao turned to the man and said, "Come with me."

As soon as she said it she started walking away.

"Miss!"

DuoJi suddenly ran up in front and barred Chu Qiao's path forward, saying in a low voice, "What are you doing?"

Chu Qiao responded, "DuoJi, don't worry, this is my friend."

Duo Ji looked in the man's direction, unconvinced, but saw him slightly frown, lightly sweeping his eyes over him, his expression just as a mirrored lake frozen over, unusually apathetic.

It was not a common indifference and coldness, but it was repeatedly cultivated.  Moreover it was a product of the elite class, an aloofness that was trained into the bones.  DuoJi suddenly felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, and his spine couldn't help but shiver. In that daze, Chu Qiao and the man had already walked far away.

The weather here was really fine, bright and limpid like the water of a jade green lake, the day's light like gold, and soon the two walked, one forward, one behind, to reach a small secluded ridge.  A waterfall from the top of one peak flowed down to the bottom into a cold pool, splashing a large bloom of water.  The clear particles of mist set off the resplendent daylight in five dazzling colors.

Chu Qiao turned her head and looked at the man in front of her.  Not having seen him for over a year it did not appear that he had changed.  He maintained his usual appearance.  As she began to speak, thousands upon thousands of words were on her lips, but she didn't know where to begin, until finally she let out a trace of a simple smile spilled over the corner of her mouth.  She didn't know if she was laughing at herself or laughing at him.

"What are you laughing at?"

Zhuge Yue continued that manner, his brawls slightly knit together, as if he was very impatient to be standing there with her.

"Nothing." Chu Qiao shook her head, continuing to smile as she said, "It seems every time I see you it's always under the strangest circumstances.

Zhuge Yue turned his head and his eyes looked elsewhere, but in that familiar, awkward air.

"What are you doing here?"

Zhuge Yue gave her an incomparably standard and yet ambiguous response: "Business."

"Oh."  Chu Qiao nodded her head, and asked, "So you're leaving now?"

"Yeah."

And then, the two stood there in place, neither of them speaking again.  (TN: face. palm.)

In the blink of an eye, it was almost two years.  These two years he'd been in the government stirring up trouble, exchanging the world, and becoming the most powerful person in the land.  In her remote corner of the world she did occasionally hear news of this with a kind of unusual sense of distraction.  Sometimes she even would suspect whether the person she actually knew and that rumored killer who felled his opponents, swiftly, fiercely with courage and resolution were one in the same?

She had heard some rumors of QingHai in succession.

It was rumored that though the country is marginally affiliated with DaXia, it self selects it bureaucrats as opposed to choosing them from the clans, that the selection is through testing, and even commoners have the ability to participate.  It was rumored that the news laws encourage farming, building water conservation, protected businesses, and those merchants who had the guts to go into QingHai have already done business there.  It was said that slavery was abolished , and though large houses could still buy slaves, their slaves were able to buy their own freedom and they could shed their slave status.  And even if they were slaves, they could not be randomly killed, otherwise there were be severe legal punishments.  The rumors were that it was no longer the desolate wasteland of legend, but a land that was vast, like another world, people were flourishing there, and now, there were many rich and prosperous towns…..  (TN: Just like the ones Chu Qiao had built.)

There were also rumors that the QingHai king's infamy was widespread, and he was known as the Bandit Minister of War.  Every year he would steal money and grain from the royal court, and he was in contention for every kind of good, and all kinds of materials, flowing continuously into far away QingHai.  Every month, Qing Hai reported catastrophic drought or flood or ice age, where there were not enough clothes to cover commoners' bodies or where there was not enough food to eat, doing its utmost to request the government to give money and give grains to save the refugees.

However these goods would blatantly come out into the market, piling up large sums of real money and silver, funneling into the QingHai center of government.  Now, nearly half of Yan Bei's military strength was contained by Qing Hai, so DaXia did not dare turn on him and they just let him do what he wanted.

This man was rumored to be called 'father sovereign' by the people of QingHai.  He was called a robber by the people of the continent.  He was called a blood sucker by the officials in DaXia.  Even his good friend and ally, the seventh prince Zhao Che, was said to have tactfully urged him: "More or less is fine.  You can eat meat, just give them a mouthful of soup."

It was rumored that the people of the continent hated him to the bones, but nowadays, the gutsy were secretly preparing to move.  CuiWei Pass was overflowing with people on a daily basis, filled with commoners who want to steal into the country with their entire families.  The elders of DaXia's government complain that the guards at CuiWei Pass intentionally turn a blind eye and let the people of the continent flow into QingHai.

The response was that he was innocent of being slack, of course, Yan Bei's military might was too extreme, and they didn't have soldiers to spare.   In order to effectively limit these occurrences the Board of Revenue should urgently allocate 10,000 gold to Qing Hai so they can expand the Qing Hai Navy….  (TN: he's become a clever extortionist ^__^;;)

There were so many rumors, but in that moment when Chu Qiao looked at him, all those rumors suddenly disappeared like a puff of smoke in her mind.

He was still him, not any king of QingHai or Minister of War, or extremely admirable 'sovereign father' of Qing Hai who had recently come into his own. Nor was he the cunning and shameless DaXia vampire.  He remained that same indifferent, proud and aloof, as well as slightly awkward and headstrong man.  The one who time and again went through life and death situations with her, a few times saving her from disaster: the young master Zhuge.

The traces of a few sighs suddenly rose from her heart, gradually suppressing the initial excitement and joy of their meeting.  She looked at him, and even though he was still as handsome as ever, and he continued to have the cold indifference of a chunk of ice, the corner of his eye now carried the trace of a line, and if she looked closer, his expression was a bit weary from working so hard.

She quietly licked her lips and whispered, "It's only been a year or so that we haven't met, but you've become old."

As soon as he heard it Zhuge Yue was suddenly stunned.  The trace of hardship in his expression was stripped away, and he looked down towards her and saw that her face was the same, perhaps a bit thinner.

He was only 26 this year and under no circumstances could he be considered old.  However these past few years of struggling and burning the candle at both ends, these years full of ups and downs, rolling the dice and going on punishing expeditions, the bloody massacres that splashed onto the corners of his brow, could all be associated with that word, 'old.'  Like a surging tide it flowed over his eyes, eyes that had seen how time brings great change.

After setting off a variety of grandstanding, it was long restless hours with the lamps lit throughout the night, it was the lonely shadow under the cold moon by the western window cutting the taper, it was the hardship of passing through many places through the night without sleep, it was loneliness of facing the whistling wind head-on and alone.

On the surface it remains the same, my heart is weary.

How could I not age; and what does not age.  

(TN: this read like a really pretty verse, so I put it in Zhuge Yue's first person perspective)

He looked at her.  The anger of this past year or so suddenly disappeared, and even that childish willfulness left with that simple word, 'old.'

"I take it you've been good this past year or so."

"There was nothing good or not good about it, I am still alive."

Zhuge Yue said it lightly, and even though the words were not pleasant to hear, the tone lacked the previous cold indifference.  Chu Qiao did know that he wasn't bickering with himself, but with his true emotions.

Maybe only people like them could understand because they've lived it.  There was nothing good or bad about it, living was really good enough. 

"I am also doing well."

Zhuge Yue didn't ask, and Chu Qiao volunteered, "I opened a student's inn, I've lived quite comfortably."

"I know."

The man lightly responded and Chu Qiao was shocked, raising her head to look at him.  "You know?"

"I've stayed there three times."  (TN: hahahahahahaha)

Chu Qiao was thoroughly astonished, and she heard Zhuge Yue say in a low voice, "It's been a year.  Have you thought it through?"

"Thought..?  Thought what through?"

The man slowly frowned and looked as though she really knew how to feign ignorance.  "You really plan on opening an inn for the rest of your life?"

Chu Qiao opened her eyes wide, silent like a mute.  Actually, she really did think that…. (-__-;)

"Or do you plan on choosing some random person to marry before you're 30?"

Chu Qiao gaped, "Who told you??"

"Who else could it be?"  Zhuge Yue said, "Naturally it was Li Ce.  Didn't you know? He opened the Spring Rain Drinking House opposite yours.  The Four Oceans Inn horizontally behind yours is mine."  (TN: they had to keep an eye on her…. hahahahaha)

In a flash she thought of the two other establishments that were almost always deserted.  Before this, she had always been rather pleased with herself thinking it was her own inn that stole away their customers, but it was actually due to the largesse of these two masters in the art of subterfuge.

Taken like this, Li Ce should be well aware of the scholar's town, and know it inside and out, and concerning those people's movements, he had likely already made his preparations long ago.

Suddenly thinking on this, she raised her head and asked, "Then, you knew our identity from the start?"

"I did not."  Zhuge Yue said.  Seeing that Chu Qiao was unconvinced, he added impatiently, "Even though I've been there, I had never seen any of you."

It was true, she lived in near seclusion there for over year, and she rarely ever came out.

"What are you doing out here this time?" 

Chu Qiao didn't know what to say, it was after all having to do with Li Ce's internal state affairs, so she said ambiguously, "I was going to Tang Jing."

"Hmph----"

Zhuge Yue grunted coldly.  A green jade tree on the side was twined with a wisteria and a pear tree and light fragrance faintly came over, like a pool of floating clouds.

"Young master."

The man called Cao said from far away.  "The road is cleared, we can go now."

Zhuge Yue didn't say a word, quietly stood there for a long while.  As if he was impatient with this kind of pressured atmosphere, he turned around to leave.

"Zhuge Yue!"

Chu Qiao suddenly called out, "Next time you come back to the scholar's town you can come see me."

"I don't have the time,"  Zhuge Yue coldly responded.  He slowly turned around with a steady countenance he said, "I am returning to Qing Hai now.  Are you coming with me or not?"  

He said that sentence just like that, as casual as an acquaintance asking if you've eaten.  Chu Qiao stood there stupidly dumbfounded.  She was always like this.  In every other situation she could respond calmly, except when she was facing him, she would lose all her wisdom.  She stared at him woodenly, as if she wanted to see another mouth on Zhuge Yue's face to prove that he wasn't the one who just asked her that question.

"Li Ce said you were stubborn, and at that time you had encountered huge changes in your life, and momentarily you couldn't think it through.  He urged me to give you a bit more time."

Zhuge Yue's face was unperturbed as he asked her again, "Have you thought it through now?  Are you coming with me or not?"

"You…You're DaXia's Minister of War? And also your clan is…."

"You don't need to concern yourself with those things."  Zhuge Yue frowned and said in a low voice, "You only need to say whether or not you'll come with me."

A flock of birds flew overhead, then two more groups flew over, and then many birds from the forest took flight overhead.  Still, Chu Qiao was speechless.

Zhuge Yue was suddenly indignant and said in a stern voice, "Are you coming or not?!"

"I'll go, I'll go, I'll go!!"

Chu Qiao replied loudly, and the two of them were flush with agitation from shouting at one another.  The echo of their voices resounded in that place and then slowly faded away.

"It's good that I met you here, it saved me another trip to come ask you."  The man intentionally pretended not to care, as if everything had been in his grasp all along, and not thinking on whether his personality was usually this talkative. 

"Don't wander around aimlessly anymore.  Go home and stay there.  Wait until I'm finished with the things I need to do and I'll send people to escort you."

As soon as he said it, he dashingly turned around to leave.

"After all, if I go to QingHai I can still open an inn."  (TN: face palm….)

That voice suddenly spoke behind him, and Zhuge Yue fiercely turned around to come glare at her unwaveringly, with a near murderous expression.

The white clouds on the horizon floated. The birds poked their heads out from behind the tree foliage, as if also wondering that the things in this world could not be measured with common sense.

When she was back in her carriage, Mei Xiang was waiting for her and grinning ear to ear, as if exuberantly happy, so much so that she could barely hold her tongue.

Chu Qiao was naturally clear about her intention, but she was not willing to talk about it. Everything that happened today was so outrageous.  Chu Qiao sat down quietly, her heart still pounding erratically.

Was she being too impulsive?

"Miss."

Mei Xiang smiled and added a cushion for her as she said, "Not everything in the world can be handled with reason.  I had once thought that the way you were before was too calm.  Being impulsive just once is not necessarily a bad thing.

Chu Qiao turned her head to look at her in surprise, astonished that Mei Xiang had such sharp insight.

Mei Xiang laughed out loud.  "Miss don't you know, who you are now, everything is written on your face.  Compared to the lady you were before, Mei Xiang thinks this version of you is much more likable."

The carriage started rolling, DuoJi frowned as he asked, "Miss, are we going to go with those people?"

"Together, of course together!" JingJing pulled open the curtain and cried, "We will go together! And in the future we will continue to go together, hehe!"

As soon as it was said the curtain fell again with more giggles.

Mei Xiang poured Chu Qiao a cup of ginseng tea, and said with a soft sigh, "Miss, not everyone will wait year after year for another person.  If you don't take hold of something at the time, and some other misfortune happens, you will regret it."

The warm, fragrant wind happened to slightly stir the carriage curtain, like a mother's gentle fingers.  The sky was a vast clear blue, and faintly in the distance an eagle soared high. 

Translator's notes:  

This author always likes to describe the weather or nature before we get  to the romantic parts…. lol.  Does anyone else think that nature is trying to get these two together?  A series of natural disasters bringing these two to the same spot, the birds singing, the blossoms blowing fragrances everywhere when they meet. I half expect Disney critters to come break out in song.  

And of course, if it's not the weather we dive into politics… Hardly the food of romance T__T …. I think the author was trying to convey that no matter how powerful and how notorious he became, he did not leave his people in the dust and he himself did not change, unlike Yan Xun.  So who he was in the beginning was his true self no matter what happened to him, and that is all he has ever shown her. With her influence he has become better version of himself to match her.

Also, if that was a proposal to elope, that was the most god-awful proposal I have ever read…  ^__^;;;   
 -Kero