Rebirth (Bing Hu Chong Sheng)

"A Chu,"

Zhao Song handed over the golden box and said, "This is for you."

Chu Qiao was taken aback. "How can that be? It's too valuable."

"Just take it," Zhao Song insisted, pressing it into her hands. "It's no use to me anyway. You know how I am—I lose interest in things after a short while and end up giving them away. Might as well give it to you first. You're frail, and Yan Xun is such a cold-hearted person, making you run around in this freezing weather. I heard you just returned from the north, is that right?"

"Yes," Chu Qiao nodded. "I went north to handle some goods—just some small business for the Crown Prince in Yanbei."

"I have a new snow-fur coat sent by the Western Ser people in my palace. It's especially warm. I'll have someone deliver it to you later—remember to wear it."

"Alright," Chu Qiao smiled. "Thank you."

"Then I'll head back now."

Chu Qiao was surprised. "Aren't you staying for the upcoming hunt?"

Zhao Song shook his head. "The hunt lasts several days. Today is the human hunt—a bunch of people shooting arrows at a few little slaves. I have no interest in that. I only came to find you, and now that I have, I'm going back."

Chu Qiao nodded and was about to speak when a shrill voice suddenly cried out, "Oh my, my little ancestor, this servant certainly didn't mean that!"

The two turned to see two youths, about sixteen or seventeen years old, standing in front of Zhao Song's tent, shoulder to shoulder. Both had sharp, deep-set features and bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance. One had thick eyebrows and large eyes, a fierce gaze, and wore a sapphire-blue robe with a heavy fur cloak draped over it, like a robust young leopard. The other wore a somewhat worn grayish-white fur cloak that reached only to his thighs, seeming a bit short, his eyes indifferent and cold as ice. Behind them stood only a few sparse, short servants, with no carriages or horses in sight. The blue-robed youth glared coldly at a eunuch in second-rank attendant attire and said angrily, "If that's not what you meant, then what did you mean?"

The eunuch, having been kicked, clutched his nearly dislocated arm and moaned, "This servant meant that this campsite is reserved for the Thirteenth Prince, Your Highness the Sixteenth Prince cannot use it."

The youth's voice was low, and his eyes turned icy at the words. He grabbed the eunuch by the collar and snapped, "Then where have I been assigned?"

"You... you've been assigned to the woods to the west."

"Is that so?" The youth sneered. "A fine place, if I recall correctly—right next to the livestock pen."

"This... this... the servants will be careful not to let those beasts disturb Your Highness's sleep at night."

"Yu Delu!" The youth's eyes widened as he roared, "How dare you!"

"Sixteenth!" A deep voice cut in. The youth in the grayish-white fur cloak reached out to stop him and said firmly, "Don't cause trouble."

"Who's causing trouble?" the youth retorted angrily. "Fourteenth Brother, I just don't understand. We're all our father's sons, so why are some treated like stars in the center while others are shoved to the edges with the livestock? It's all because of these damned servants—they only respect those in power!""Stop talking," Fourteenth Prince turned around and said sternly to Yu Delu, "Eunuch Lu, please lead the way and take us to the campsite to set up tents."

"Yes, yes." Yu Delu scrambled to his feet and hurriedly led the way.

"Wait!"

Zhao Song suddenly called out, striding forward. When Sixteenth Prince saw him, his eyes widened and he was about to charge forward, but Fourteenth Prince grabbed him and held him back.

"Thirteenth Brother."

Zhao Song nodded at Yu Delu and said, "Eunuch Lu, I won't be participating in today's hunt. You can give this spot to Fourteenth Brother and Sixteenth Brother."

Yu Delu was taken aback, cautiously glanced at Zhao Song, then asked, "What about tomorrow? And the day after? Will Your Highness the Thirteenth Prince not be coming at all?"

Zhao Song laughed heartily and said, "We'll worry about tomorrow when it comes. Even if I have to be neighbors with livestock, it's nothing. Don't forget, I slept in a horse stable when I was a child. It's fine."

"Well—"

Just as Yu Delu was about to speak, Fourteenth Prince abruptly cut in, "Thank you for your kindness, Thirteenth Brother. Sixteenth Brother is young and doesn't know any better. This spot should remain yours. Sixteenth, let's go."

With that, he took Sixteenth Prince by the arm and turned to leave.

Yu Delu was momentarily stunned, then quickly hurried after them.

Chu Qiao stepped forward, her brow slightly furrowed as she gazed in the direction the two had departed.

"That's the Fourteenth Prince, his given name is Yang. He's the most difficult one. You probably haven't met him before. Both he and Sixteenth Prince's mothers were favored concubines presented to His Majesty by the Hanjia tribe. They come from humble backgrounds and usually stay around the Western Five Palaces, never venturing to your side."

"Oh," Chu Qiao nodded and fell silent.

"Alright, I'm leaving now. You should go find Yan Xun. Be careful around Zhuge Yue—I saw him at the banquet last night. He's not like he used to be, so stay on your guard."

Chu Qiao nodded. "I understand."

Zhao Song mounted his horse with his guards but couldn't resist turning back to add, "Don't wander around unnecessarily. Jing Han and the others have seen you before, so be careful not to give yourself away. Wei Shuyou is here this time too—try to keep your temper in check, both you and Yan Xun."

The girl sighed helplessly and urged, "I know, just go already."

"If anything happens, send someone to notify me immediately. Don't be foolish and try to handle it on your own."

Chu Qiao replied with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "If you don't leave now, it'll be dark."

"Hmph," Zhao Song turned his horse around, muttering as he rode off, "Always rushing me to leave. So ungrateful. Sooner or later, you'll realize who has the most humanity."

With a sharp "Hyah!", Zhao Song and his entourage galloped away.

Watching Zhao Song's retreating figure, Chu Qiao suddenly felt that the evening glow in the west was exceptionally warm, almost making her forget the biting northern wind.

On her way back, she happened to pass by the western woods. In the distance, she could see Fourteenth Prince Zhao Yang and Sixteenth Prince Zhao Xiang setting up tents with several servants. Chu Qiao made a mental note of this, glanced briefly in their direction, then turned and headed toward Yan Xun's camp.

As soon as she lifted the tent flap, the warm scent of orchid incense washed over her. Yan Xun didn't look up, seemingly engrossed in writing something, and said calmly, "Zhao Song has left?"

Chu Qiao looked at Yan Xun and went straight to sit by the brazier, warming her hands. "You're quite perceptive."Yan Xun let out a long sigh, placed the newly written document on the desk, set down the brush, and said, "He never had the stomach for such games since childhood, so it's no surprise he left."

Hearing Yan Xun casually refer to it as "games," for some reason, Chu Qiao felt a chill in her heart. She looked up and asked gravely, "If he couldn't handle it, what about you?"

Yan Xun frowned. "Are you asking about the past or the present?"

"Both."

"A Chu," Yan Xun stepped forward, crouched beside Chu Qiao, and said, "Do you know where my father failed back then?"

Chu Qiao lifted her face but remained silent. Yan Xun gave a faint smile—bitter, yet tinged with a faint bloody aura.

"He failed because he was too soft-hearted, too bound by loyalty. He once had the chance to depose Emperor Xia De and ascend the throne himself, bringing the Yan lineage back into the Zhao Clan's registry, but he didn't. Later, he also had the opportunity to kill the great general Meng Tian, who came to subjugate him, but again, he didn't. So in the end, Zhao Zhengde confiscated his family's assets, and Meng Tian beheaded him. From the day I entered the Holy Gold Palace, I swore I would never end up like him."

The young Crown Prince Yan rose to his feet, his posture upright, his features handsome, his eyes as dark as the deep sea. He strode toward the exit.

As his hand lifted the tent flap, the man paused and spoke in a low voice, "If you can't bear to watch, stay in the tent tonight. Don't come out to see."