Deep autumn had passed, and harsh winter approached, yet in the warm kingdom of Biantang, the distinction between autumn and winter remained indistinct. The chrysanthemums had withered, their dark petals clinging stubbornly to the stems. As the evening wind quickened, yellow blossoms piled across the ground, scattering and swirling lightly in the breeze.
Chu Qiao was dreaming again. In her hazy vision, her feet still trod upon the wilderness. The sun burned an intense red, and a long wind swept from the horizon, rustling as it rolled the withered grasses into waves resembling a pale yellow sea. On the twilight plains, a young man joyfully galloped on horseback, his smile as bright as she remembered from the earliest days of her memory. From the blood-soaked soil, crimson clouds of fire bloomed, swaying extravagantly beneath the snow-white hooves. Distantly, she seemed to hear his hearty laughter as he called out, "A Chu, hurry and catch up!"
Then she ran after him, the scorching sunlight bathing her entire body, the wind whipping fiercely past her ears. The path ahead brimmed with golden hope, just as she had imagined countless times over those eight years.
But just as she was about to grasp his hand, the world instantly turned pale. Heavy snow buried all beauty and aspirations. The cheerful youth abruptly matured, standing before her with an icy expression, backed by countless Yanbei soldiers clad in black armor. The soldiers aimed cold arrows toward her back. Panicked, she turned around, only to see blooms of blood bursting upon that person’s body. The icy plains crumbled, cold water surged, and she leaped into the silent, deep lake. At last, she saw those lonely eyes. He gently kissed her lips, his cold lips brushing past her temples. His hands—so large, so powerful—slowly pulled her, passing the hope of life into her grasp.
The sunlight stung her eyes, and her palms burned as if branded, as though characters were deeply carved into them.
Blood clouded her vision. Countless mountains and rivers collapsed before her eyes. Wild grasses sprouted from her memories, and the earth split into gaping fissures. Seawater gushed forth, leaving her abandoned and alone on a blazing wilderness, watching as avalanches from the sky and raging tides from the east buried her entirely.
She was exhausted, drained of all strength. Closing her eyes, she sank gradually into the dark, cold grave.
…
When she awoke, the drizzle had just ceased. Moonlight broke through the clouds, casting a soft, pale glow over the bedchamber of Mihe Residence. The autumn scene waned, and dewdrops fell upon the broad, thick leaves of the parasol trees, producing crisp, clear sounds.
The great hall stood empty and cold. For a moment, it seemed as though everything in the world had died, leaving only herself. Slowly, she sat up, her body drenched in sweat as if just pulled from water. As the wind blew, a dry chill pierced through her stiffened shell, making her acutely aware that she was still alive.
From Roufu Palace came the boisterous sounds of strings and bamboo flutes—Li Ce was hosting a night banquet for his consorts. Every evening at this hour, grand song and dance adorned the dazzling, radiant palace.
When Chu Qiao had first been rescued, the entire court erupted with fierce denunciations. Civil and military officials relentlessly petitioned with tears, threats of death, and even feigned hangings. Li Ce, glaring fiercely, argued with them for over ten days until his patience snapped. During the morning court session, he kicked over the throne in fury and roared that he would no longer be emperor—anyone who wanted the position could have it.The officials were utterly terrified and knelt outside Changxin Palace for two full days before they managed to persuade this emperor—who had already gone on strike seventy or eighty times despite having ascended the throne only a few years prior—to resume his duties. From then on, no one dared mention Chu Qiao’s name again.
Fortunately, Li Ce’s subsequent behavior truly put everyone’s minds at ease. Aside from being exceptionally attentive during her diagnosis a few days prior, he soon reverted to his carefree, philandering ways, acting like a hands-off manager once more. With small banquets every couple of days and grand feasts every three days, the censors finally breathed a sigh of relief, quietly thinking to themselves that this seductive vixen from Yanbei couldn’t have been all that captivating after all. The emperor’s rescue of her was likely just another one of his whims, as usual.
When Li Ce entered, Chu Qiao remained silent. Thinking she was still asleep, he deliberately tiptoed in, putting on the act of a petty thief, which made the young maids outside cover their mouths to stifle their giggles, their shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
Pushing aside the beaded curtain, Li Ce was momentarily taken aback to see Chu Qiao sitting on the couch. He then stepped forward with a smile, holding a delicate basket, and presented it like a treasure. "Someone sent over some pomegranates. Would you like one?"
Chu Qiao didn’t respond, her gaze distant and dazed, as if she hadn’t fully shaken off her slumber.
Li Ce sat beside her, observing her still pale and gaunt face. His brow furrowed slightly before relaxing again. He took out a pomegranate, split it open with his own hands to reveal the ruby-red pearls inside, and leaned in closer to Chu Qiao. With a cheerful expression, he brought a piece to her lips, opening his own mouth in a mimicry of eating. "Qiaoqiao, open your mouth, just like this, ah—"
"Li Ce, I’ve recovered from my illness."
Her voice was as calm and clear as water. Li Ce looked at her, and often he would have this illusion—that it was still three years ago, when she was injured and staying in Jinwu Palace, and nothing had changed. But he would quickly realize that things were different now. She would no longer confidently share her ideals and ambitions with him, no longer speak hopefully of that man, no longer brim with hope and longing for the future. Even her eyes had lost their former brilliance, shrouded in a thick fog, dim and lackluster.
"Yes, you’re almost fully recovered."
"I want to leave."
Li Ce wasn’t at all surprised to hear her say this. With keen interest, he smiled and asked, "Then where do you plan to go?"
Chu Qiao shook her head blankly and replied honestly, "I don’t know yet. But the world is vast—there must be a place for me. If all else fails, I’ll go beyond the frontier."
"What difference would it make whether you go beyond the frontier or stay here?"
"Li Ce, Daxia will not let me off. If you keep me here, it will bring disaster upon you sooner or later. I’ve killed countless Daxia soldiers, thwarted their northern campaigns twice, and personally killed the third prince, Zhao Qi. Currently, Daxia and Biantang are not at war, but once they have the chance to focus on this, you’ll be in trouble."Li Ce did not respond immediately, but quietly gazed at her. The trace of cynicism in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by calmness, composure, and a serenity as still as water. After a long while, he said in a low voice, "You made enemies with the Zhuge family for the children of the Jing family. You endured eight years as a slave in the Holy Gold Palace to repay Yan Xun's kindness. You risked your life multiple times to protect the people of Yanbei. You turned against Yan Xun for the Southwest Garrison Commander. You secluded yourself for two years because of Zhuge Yue. You completely broke with Yan Xun over the Great Alliance Society. And now, are you going to flee to the frontier just to avoid implicating me?"
The man's voice was low and cool, carrying a hint of unconcealable weariness. He spoke softly, "Qiaoqiao, in this lifetime of yours, when will you ever think for yourself?"
Chu Qiao was utterly stunned. The night wind swept through the hall, brushing against her hair and robes. Li Ce gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pressing her head against him in a natural embrace devoid of any desire. He let out a soft sigh and whispered, "Qiaoqiao, there are many ways to live in this world. One can live in poverty or in lavish prosperity, in mediocrity or in decadent luxury. Why do you always choose the most difficult path? At this rate, even an ordinary commoner would live a life less exhausting than yours."
Li Ce's voice drifted slowly into her ears. Leaning against his chest, Chu Qiao's thoughts felt frozen and rigid. She thought, isn't that true? If she were truly an ordinary commoner, she likely wouldn't have such heavy karmic ties or such deep entanglements. Even if there were betrayal and disappointment, deception and abandonment, it wouldn't be as heart-wrenching and bloody as it is now.
Moonlight quietly streamed in, casting its glow over their shoulders. Chu Qiao suddenly felt overwhelmingly tired. But Li Ce, I spent eleven years climbing a mountain. Someone told me there was a snow lotus at the summit, but when I exhausted all my strength to reach the top, I found it barren, with nothing at all. The mountain was so high, and I climbed it at the risk of my life. After such disappointment, how am I supposed to come back down?
"Qiaoqiao, hope lies in your own hands. If you won't give yourself a break, no one can save you."
Days passed one after another. Winter arrived, yet Biantang showed no signs of the season's chill. Chu Qiao eventually settled in Jinwu Palace. Though she held no official position, this palace was never short of women without status. Coupled with her formidable reputation, no one dared to provoke her.
The anticipated pressure and retaliation from Daxia never came. It seemed they too had concluded that Chu Qiao was already a spent force. All past grievances were written off, without even a single envoy sent to question her.
Chu Qiao thought this was highly unusual. Given her current status, she was almost equivalent to a Japanese prisoner of war in the past. Considering the raging anti-war sentiment in Daxia, why would they so easily pass up the chance to kick someone when they're down?
She went to ask Mei Xiang, who declared without hesitation, "If they dare come, we'll just have Commander He snap their heads off one by one."The little maid Qiusui sent by Li Ce set down a bowl of chilled snow pear soup with a beaming smile, proudly saying, "Sister Mei Xiang is right. Besides, His Majesty treats the young lady so well—who would dare to be so tactless as to make a fuss here?"
But Chu Qiao shook her head, a trace of worry in her heart. It couldn’t be that simple. Had Li Ce been forced to agree to some condition from Daxia?
Chan'er timidly spoke up, "I heard it was some Grand Marshal from Daxia who strongly advocated for peace with our Biantang, which is why Daxia isn’t causing trouble for the young lady."
Grand Marshal?
Chu Qiao frowned slightly. The Grand Marshal of Daxia was the chief elder of the Elder Council. Could it be that Wei Guang had let her off?
She hadn’t inquired about outside affairs for a long time, spending her days in a daze, secluded within Mihe Residence, seeing no outsiders—truly living the idle, uneventful life Li Ce had described.
Her entire life had been bound to Yan Xun—through dark and silent times, through storms of blood, through clashes of swords and shadows. Now, at last, she had reached a dead end, a point of utter exhaustion, with no path left to tread.
Later, she had asked Li Ce why Daxia wasn’t pursuing her. At the time, Li Ce was enthusiastically showing her a portrait scroll of this year’s selected court ladies. He looked up and winked at her, grinning roguishly as he said, "Perhaps Emperor Xia still holds some hope for me."
Even in her current state of mind, which was hardly suited for such things, Chu Qiao couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. She accompanied him in flipping through the stack of beauty scrolls over three feet high, gazing at the graceful and ethereal expressions of girls around her own age, feeling as though their eyes were looking at her from another world.
Before leaving, Li Ce stood at the doorway, suddenly turning back to smile at her and say, "Qiaoqiao, think carefully. Who in this world would treat you so well, willingly give up so much for you, risk life and death for you, spend their entire fortune for you, abandon everything for you, rescue you from peril and near-death, yet never tell you about it? Such people are few and far between. Think it over carefully, and once you’ve figured it out, tell me. I’ll prepare a dowry for you and marry you off in grand style."
Outside the window, the wutong trees blazed in red and gold, their leaves so dense they blocked the sun. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the foliage, casting a golden, intoxicating glow.
She stood in the quiet, empty hall, carefully pondering Li Ce’s parting words, meticulously analyzing the final battle in Yanbei—when to attack, when to defend, where to retreat, who would provide cover, how many troops would advance, how many would intercept, who could relay messages in time, who could appear like thunder within the borders, and, as Li Ce had said, who would treat her so well.
Long-buried thoughts surfaced bit by bit, like tendrils of ivy wrapping around her body. The moon rose, the moon shifted west, the crescent moon hung from the treetops, the moon set, the sun rose—another dazzling day began.
She remained standing like this all night, repeatedly examining and verifying her astonishing suspicion. Gradually, a fierce light welled up in her eyes, and crystalline tears fell onto her chest, rolling down in large drops, yet without a trace of sorrow. She was caught in a net of surprise and hope, her body trembling uncontrollably. In that moment, the golden sunlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating her pale face. She laughed like a carefree child, tears streaming down her cheeks as she laughed aloud.On the day Chu Qiao left the palace, the rain continued to fall. Without bidding him farewell, she rode out through Zhengyang Gate with only a simple pack. The drizzling rain sprinkled over her shoulders, yet it seemed to radiate vibrant vitality.
Li Ce remained the self-willed emperor he had always been. At that moment, he sat atop the Imperial Academy Hall, clad in a dark red gauzy robe, perched high on the upturned eaves. Below, ministers wept, shouted, and pleaded in distress, yet he paid them no mind. The fragrant breeze lifted the hem of his garment, revealing the sleeve dart patterns embroidered within. His gaze followed the distant Rose Imperial Path, where a young woman in plain goose-yellow clothing rode a white horse. Flanked by rows of lush phoenix trees, the striking scene resembled a brilliant scroll painting.
Four months—it was enough.
A faint smile touched his lips as he raised a flute and played a cheerful tune to bid her farewell. The clear, melodious notes, like the song of a lark, pierced through the palace's opulent splendor, trailing her figure as she passed through gate after gate, crossed golden thresholds, high corridors, and dark crimson walls, venturing into a vast world.
He had once shielded her at Meishan, attended gatherings alone on horseback, endured family ostracism and suppression, nearly ruining his promising future in the dust.
Defeated at Yuegong, surviving countless near-death encounters, cunning as a hare yet without multiple burrows, cornered with no escape, abandoned by his homeland, sinking among petty villains, scorned by millions, denied burial in ancestral temples, ultimately becoming the empire's foremost traitor.
Yet from desperate straits, he rose alone to reshape the world of Qinghai, his formidable might shaking Ximeng. Though the time was not yet ripe, he marched eastward solely to save a beauty on the brink of death.
While Daxia sharpened its blades, plotting against Biantang, Yanbei launched an eastern campaign to avenge the theft of his beloved. Willing to forsake his illustrious foundation, he returned to his homeland, staking a million troops to fulfill a modest wish.
Zhuge Yue, I always believed I was the most reckless person in this world, but facing you, I finally recognize my own arrogance and shallowness.
Li Ce chuckled inwardly—how could one compete with a madman?
We are all chess pieces scripted by fate, bound by roles we cannot escape—I cannot break free, nor can Yan Xun. Only you possess the courage to repeatedly break away and leap back into the vortex. In the end, I have lost to you, and I concede wholeheartedly.
The melody was exceptionally lively, starkly contrasting with the ministers' heavy weeping below, creating a scene of absurdity. Sun Di stood beneath the palace, watching the seemingly rebellious figure and listening to the joyous tune, yet he felt an profound loneliness.
The palace road stretched long and desolate, flanked by towering walls, with faint traces of the fresh, sweet scents from beyond the palace drifting in.
Under such a radiant, warm sun, whose heart rippled with gentle waves, piercing the lonely mist of each midnight hour and stirring the faint jade dust within the silent, splendid palace?
He had always been this way—viewing the world's clarity through slightly intoxicated eyes.
As night fell, the officials' voices grew hoarse from crying. Several elderly ministers had succumbed to seizures and were carried away early.
The entire palace was shrouded in extravagant lights. The gleaming palace lanterns of Jinwu Palace shone through hundreds of windows and doors, quietly illuminating the night. Memories tangled like a single thread pulled from a silk bolt—a gentle tug, and the entire splendid fabric unraveled, leaving behind only a remnant of lavish crimson.Li Ce descended the ladder step by step, while the officials crawled forward weeping, crying out for His Majesty to take care of his health and not to act recklessly and so on.
"Gentlemen, your loyalty to me is indeed unwavering. Today, I have come to a realization. My beloved ministers, please rise quickly."
The crowd immediately burst into tears, thinking to themselves that the Emperor had finally seen the light.
"In order to carefully reflect on my words and actions, I have decided to suspend court for three days. Everyone should also return home and ponder deeply, studying the ways to save the world and enrich the nation."
With that, he strode away under the stunned gazes of the many ministers. Before even leaving the Guozijian, he eagerly said to the eunuch, "Hold a banquet for three consecutive days and bring all the selected beauties to Roufu Palace."
Everyone was speechless, while the Emperor laughed triumphantly and departed.
We are all mayflies under the hand of fate, living and dying in a single day. In the blink of an eye, decades of glory and hardship flicker and fade.
Qiaoqiao, I hope you can make it out.
————Break————
Tomorrow's chapter might be a bit longer, updated at 5 p.m.
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