Qiao Chu

Compared to the busyness of local government offices, the court was relatively more leisurely.

Xiao Yu thus found himself with half a day free and happily took up his longbow.

"Last time, Sister said my arm strength was too weak and told me to practice more," he said. "I'm going to ask Sister to guide me."

Seeing the Emperor about to rush out the door, Qi Gonggong quickly stopped him under the pretext of adjusting his robes, whispering, "The Empress is not in the palace."

Xiao Yu lowered the bow in his hand and asked, "Has Sister gone home?"

He wouldn't have said such things before—home, this was Sister's home—but now he knew it wasn't.

Qi Gonggong looked at him with affectionate eyes: "When the Empress went out, she specifically came to see Your Majesty, but you were discussing state affairs with the court ministers, so she didn't disturb you."

A smile appeared on Xiao Yu's face as he looked at Qi Gonggong: "Qi Gonggong, you don't need to worry. Even if Sister doesn't come to tell me, I know she's thinking of me."

He raised the bow in his hand.

"Let's go, we'll go play at Sister's place. That way, others won't notice she's not here."

Qi Gonggong also smiled and said, "Your Majesty is indeed clever."

Xiao Yu replied, "Qi Gonggong, don't humor me. I'm not a child anymore."

Qi Gonggong followed him out, saying, "In this old servant's eyes, Your Majesty will always be a clever and adorable child."

Xiao Yu laughed heartily, slung the longbow over his back, and strode toward the rear palace.

"Should we ask the Empress if you'd like to visit Young Master A Jiu as well?" Qi Gonggong couldn't help but whisper again. "After all, he is your uncle."

Xiao Yu glanced in the direction outside the palace and shook his head: "Uncle has never wanted to be my uncle. Let's not disturb him."

This time, Qi Gonggong looked at the young man, solemnly bowed, and acknowledged the command.

Xiao Yu withdrew his gaze from outside the palace: "Let's hurry. We'll go wait for Sister to return." He then smiled slightly with pride. "Uncle is recuperating from his injuries—he definitely won't be able to accompany her in archery."

...

...

In the autumn garden of Chu, the pond water rippled as a plump fish swam swaying away.

Chu Zhao lifted her fishing rod: "This fish is too well-fed—it doesn't even care for the bait."

There was no response beside her.

Chu Zhao turned to see Xie Yanlai lying in the shade behind her, eyes closed as if asleep, with sunlight filtering through the leaves and dancing lightly across his face.

She pursed her lips into a smile, removed the hook, and cast the fishing line toward him.

Just as the line flew over, Xie Yanlai reached up and caught it without opening his eyes.

"Can't catch fish, so you're fishing for me?" he said.

Chu Zhao laughed: "Because the fish are too clever to catch."

"That's because you're too clumsy," Xie Yanlai retorted, still with his eyes closed as he wrapped the line around his hand and gave a sharp tug. Chu Zhao tumbled toward him.

Xie Yanlai said nothing more, tossing the fishing rod aside and simply holding her hand, keeping his eyes shut.

Chu Zhao half-sat, leaning against him, one hand letting him hold it while the other followed the dancing sunlight across his face—over his broad forehead, high nose bridge, smooth chin, then down to his distinct Adam's apple, tracing along it downward—

Since they were at home, Xie Yanlai was dressed casually, and his collar slipped loose easily.

Just as her restless fingers were about to slip like a fish into his chest, Xie Yanlai raised his hand to stop her.

"Be proper!" he said, opening his eyes.

Chu Zhao laughed and leaned against his shoulder: "This is already very proper. If I were being rough, it would be like—rip—"

She tried to mimic tearing clothes, but both her hands were held firmly by Xie Yanlai and she couldn't move.Although she couldn't tear his clothes open, leaning against his shoulder from this angle still allowed her to glimpse his chest through the collar - pale skin marred by ferocious scars.

This was his chest, right over his heart.

"I just wanted to see your wounds," she said softly.

Through numerous life-and-death battles, Xie Yanlai's body had become covered with scars.

But he wouldn't let her look.

"What's so interesting about wounds?" Xie Yanlai said. "You're not allowed to look."

Chu Zhao raised her head, arching an eyebrow. "Then what about our wedding night? Won't you let me see then? Are you saying you won't even get completely naked during our wedding night?"

Why was she becoming increasingly unrestrained in her speech? Xie Yanlai laughed in exasperation. "I'll turn off the lights before getting naked, how about that?"

Chu Zhao thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No, I could still feel—"

As she spoke, she broke her hand free and made as if to touch Xie Yanlai's body.

Xie Yanlai pulled her into an embrace, and as Chu Zhao fell against him, she could feel his chest shaking with laughter.

Why were they discussing their wedding night? And turning off lights, getting naked?

"Don't worry," Xie Yanlai said with a laugh, holding her while gently patting her back. "There's no need to feel sorry for me. I don't even feel sorry for myself about these wounds. I don't care about this body of mine. In fact, I feel happy during battles, even looking forward to being killed."

That way, he could shed this skin branded with the blood of the Xie family.

Then he could simply be his mother's child.

Chu Zhao understood his meaning - he didn't cherish himself at all, having gradually turned into nothing but a ferocious beast who only knew how to fight within the Xie family's cage.

In that previous life, that was exactly how he died.

She hadn't even known he existed in this world.

Chu Zhao held him tighter. "But you can't be like this anymore. From now on, your body doesn't belong only to you - it's mine too."

It still sounded somewhat strange. Xie Yanlai snorted. "Aren't you the same? Haven't you repeatedly thrown yourself into death without regard for consequences?"

Chu Zhao coughed. "Actually, that wasn't throwing myself into death without regard - it was just bad luck I couldn't avoid."

She raised her head to look at Xie Yanlai.

"I didn't want to die back then either."

"And I want to die even less now."

"I can't bear to leave you."

Xie Yanlai said, "I was talking about before. Later, when I fought desperately, it was to survive. Because the thought of being separated from you by life and death, never to see you again, terrified me. A Zhao, I can't bear to leave you either. I've decided - if we can't live, then let's die together."

Chu Zhao had been quite moved, but hearing this made her laugh despite herself. She spat, "Can't you think of something better? After all the suffering we've been through, can't we just live well?"

Xie Yanlai snorted. "I think you just don't want to live and die with me."

Chu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Why should I live and die with you? I haven't even seen your body yet—"

How did the conversation circle back to this again? Xie Yanlai choked on a laugh, his chest shaking, then he flipped the girl over, laying her on the ground before kissing her.

By now, their kisses were no longer awkward, no longer leaving them both nearly suffocating.

Yet they still left one dizzy and shattered, wanting to break and meld together into one.

Chu Zhao intended to become true husband and wife with him.

Although she had suffered from love before, that was because she hadn't understood love. Now that she understood, she loved without hesitation.

Only, Xie Yanlai's injuries were too severe, requiring a long period of recovery.Feeling the man's heated response against her, Chu Zhao, still dizzy, leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Let's go back to the room."

The next moment, he lifted her up—but instead of heading toward the bedroom, he set her down on her feet. Xie Yanlai patted her back gently, helping her calm down while steadying himself as well.

"I'm planning to leave," he said.

Chu Zhao flared up in anger. "Leave for where?"

Xie Yanlai chuckled and pulled the bristling girl closer. "Back home, of course. Now that Deng Yi is no longer there, I intend to renovate his house and make it ours. That way, our home will be even bigger."

Chu Zhao collected herself, relieved yet still annoyed. "Why bring up renovating all of a sudden? What’s the rush with that?"

Xie Yanlai gazed at her intently. "I’m in a hurry to marry you."

He lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her brow.