The bell tolled sonorously, golden lotuses bloomed in pairs, and tiny candle flames ignited atop the Golden Tower, instantly bursting into dazzling radiance, brilliant and shimmering with iridescent colors. The grand bells resonated in unison, their sound piercing through the primordial continent, reverberating across the Wilderness of Zhuao and spreading throughout all of Ximeng.
The massive carriage procession came to a halt. Li Ce lifted the curtain, quietly gazing at the towering Golden Tower in the distance. His eyes were clear, his lips curved into a faint smile, and his narrow, peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly. In that moment, Chu Qiao was utterly convinced that this man was nothing like the debauched and unrestrained persona he projected—for she saw something different in his eyes: agitation, envy, resentment, and even a hint of wild ambition.
Yet the next moment, Li Ce broke into a carefree grin and remarked cheerfully, "The arrangement of these lights looks just like a dancer stripped bare—her figure graceful, her curves exquisite. The King of Daxia is truly thoughtful."
The soldiers of Daxia nearly choked on their own blood at his words. The lights on the Golden Tower clearly formed a coiled five-clawed golden dragon—how could Li Ce see a naked dancer instead?
"Let's move on," Li Ce said impatiently as he dropped the curtain. "There's no fun in admiring fakes."
Zhao Qi suppressed his rising fury and ordered the soldiers to continue forward.
"Is this how you disguise yourself for self-preservation?" Chu Qiao's voice suddenly cut through the silence, calm yet tinged with a hint of provocative amusement.
Li Ce turned to her, scrutinizing the woman from head to toe, then abruptly reached out to wrap an arm around her waist. "You guessed it—I'm actually brilliant and wise, filled with profound knowledge. So, are you impressed?"
The woman did not resist. A glint of honeyed light flickered in her eyes as she narrowed them slightly and replied slowly, "I've heard that if someone pretends to be a fool for too long, they might actually become one."
"Qiaoqiao, women should be more endearing. Why must you always be so confrontational?" The man smirked seductively, his tongue darting out as if to lick her neck.
Chu Qiao’s hand shot up, pressing firmly against Li Ce’s chin and forcing his mouth shut.
"Dogs that bite don’t bark, and tigers that devour don’t constantly bare their claws."
Li Ce chuckled, his warm breath brushing against Chu Qiao’s cheek. "Then tell me, am I the silent dog or the tiger hiding its claws?"
"You’re neither," the woman replied with a slow smile. "You’re more like a venomous snake, camouflaged in the grass with your patterned scales, ready to strike at any moment."
"Haha!" Li Ce burst into laughter as if he had just heard the funniest joke. It took him a while to catch his breath before he said, "Qiaoqiao, you really are amusing. I’m growing more convinced of my discerning taste."
"You’ll soon find out just how discerning your taste is."
Li Ce’s voice dropped to a low, husky whisper as he leaned closer. "How soon?"
"Very soon."
A sharp crack echoed through the air as Chu Qiao twisted Li Ce’s arm with a swift scissor-hand move, dislocating it. Before he could even cry out in pain, another series of crisp snaps followed—in the blink of an eye, she had snapped his arm back into place.
"Let me make this clear: I am not someone you can afford to provoke."The woman knelt on one knee in the carriage, one hand braced against the floor while the other pointed at Li Ce’s nose. Her expression was cold, her tone icy, as she slowly said, “I could kill you in the blink of an eye. Keeping me by your side will bring you nothing but harm. You’d better leave yourself a way out—I am not someone who will willingly be used by you.”
Li Ce blinked, then suddenly chuckled. “Qiaoqiao is so fierce, but it’s alright. I’ll win you over with my sincerity.”
Chu Qiao said nothing more and immediately turned to sit properly. She had said all she needed to say. Whatever came her way, she would face it head-on—let’s see what tricks this Crown Prince of Tang had up his sleeve.
“Third Highness!”
A clear, crisp voice suddenly rang out from outside. Tense guards immediately stepped forward and shouted, “Who dares block the way?”
Zhao Qi promptly cut off the guards’ voices, stepping forward with a cupped-hand salute. “So it’s Young Master Zhuge—ah, no, I should address you as Commander Zhuge now.”
“Third Highness, you jest. The Ministry of War’s official dispatch has yet to arrive. It’s too early to say who will take the position of Commander at the Military Affairs Bureau.”
“It’s the general expectation and the inevitable trend. Young Master Zhuge, with your exceptional talent, who else could possibly take the role of Commander? There’s no need for such modesty.”
Zhuge Yue sat astride his warhorse, dressed in deep purple brocade robes. His features were refined, his eyes like still, ancient wells—calm and unreadable, sharp yet restrained. He said quietly, “Is that Crown Prince Li Ce’s carriage behind you?”
Inside the carriage, Li Ce turned his head and chuckled softly. “Your old friend has come looking for you.”
Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow slightly. “Your Highness, even knowing such old details so well—how can anyone believe you’re just a frivolous, unrestrained playboy?”
Li Ce froze, realizing his slip had been caught, then chuckled without offering an explanation. He lifted the curtain and called out loudly, “Young Master Zhuge, I’ve heard your flute playing in Zhenhuang City is unparalleled. Would you grace us with a performance someday?”
Zhuge Yue stood in the shadows of the lantern light, alone on his horse, without any attendants. The long wind swept past him, stirring up dust and weeds that rustled forward. The sky had darkened, with vast stretches of fiery red clouds against the gray expanse, casting a painterly glow behind him.
The man’s gaze was not sharp—just a faint beam directed behind Li Ce, where in the dim light, the slender silhouette of a woman was softly outlined. Years of experience had made him reserved and low-key; the sharpness of his youth seemed to have been smoothed away. A dagger sheathed did not mean safety—he was like a hidden tiger, ready to burst from its scabbard at any moment and strike with deadly precision.
“Your Highness flatters me. If the opportunity arises someday, I would be honored to hear Your Highness’s masterful performance.”
“Haha,” Li Ce laughed heartily. “Easy enough, easy enough. My skills are passable—not much better than yours.”
Zhao Qi frowned deeply, as if merely standing near Li Ce was beneath his dignity, and quickly interjected, “Young Master Zhuge, it’s getting late. His Majesty has arranged a banquet—we should arrive sooner rather than later.”
Zhuge Yue smiled faintly, guiding his horse to make way. “Third Highness, please go ahead. I will follow shortly.”
“Thank you.”
The carriage wheels rolled forward slowly. As the carriage passed Zhuge Yue, a cold wind lifted a corner of the curtain. The profiles of the man and woman crossed paths, yet neither turned to glance at the other.Time passed too quickly; they were like two unrelated meteors, brushing past each other without even a moment to bid farewell before heading their separate paths.
"Ah, dear me..." Li Ce shook his head and sighed nearby: "The fallen flower longs to follow the flowing water, but alas, the water remains indifferent to its affection. Qiaoqiao, he came to see you without regard for propriety, yet you couldn't even offer a smile in return. How utterly unromantic."
Chu Qiao didn't even glance at him, continuing her silence.
"Qiaoqiao," Li Ce suddenly stepped forward with a grin and asked, "If I were to kill Zhuge Yue, what would you do?"
Chu Qiao closed her eyes and remained silent.
"Then, if I were to kill Zhao Song?"
"I'd kill you," the woman replied without hesitation, her tone cold.
"Ah, truly heartless," Li Ce sighed and pressed on, "And if I were to kill Young Master Yan?"
The woman abruptly opened her eyes, fixing a cold gaze on the man as she enunciated each word slowly and deliberately: "If that happens, I will dedicate my entire life, stake my very existence, to destroy Bian Tang and make you live a life worse than that of pigs and dogs."
The Crown Prince of Bian Tang was suddenly stunned. What had been a casual jest instantly froze the air around them.
Years later, when Li Ce recalled that moment again, he suddenly understood why he had been so disheartened. It wasn't due to the girl's formidable confidence, nor her resolute tone, nor even because he had truly believed back then that a mere girl could accomplish such a feat. He was simply struck by a sudden pang of sorrow—if he were to die, would anyone ever speak such determined words for him?
The man clad in imperial robes lifted a wine jug and drank deeply. A true confidant is always the most extravagant luxury in this world; even if you possess the entire realm, you may never attain one.
A noble head, reserved for my lord; a heart full of passion, offered only to a true friend.
The carriage moved slowly, heading toward the resplendent palace.
**
The Tinghe Trading Post closed early today, its main gate shut tight. Miss Yu spread out the terrain map of Zhenhuang City and addressed her subordinates with a grave tone: "Does everyone understand?"
"Miss?" Xi Rui frowned. "Do we really have to do this?"
Miss Yu nodded with unwavering resolve. "Since we've chosen to follow our young master, we must obey his commands unconditionally."
"But we have no idea what we're even doing!"
"Not every operation requires those above to explain the reasons and objectives in detail."
"Can't even you guess, Miss?"
"No, I cannot," Miss Yu admitted, her voice low. "But I know that something major will happen tonight."
With a loud thud, Zhao Che slammed down his wine cup and declared coldly, "Prepare my court attire. I am going to the palace."
"Your Highness," Deputy General Cheng stepped forward cautiously, "Tonight's banquet is shrouded in mystery. Didn't you previously plan to stay away?"
Zhao Che's brow furrowed slightly as he slowly turned his head, his tone somber. "I said I am going to the palace now."
Deputy General Cheng was taken aback, then knelt with a clatter and replied, "As you command, my lord."The night wind blew from the west, sweeping over the tender sprouts of wild grass newly emerged outside Zhenhuang City. A hundred years later, someone gently opened that dust-laden scroll of history and could not help but marvel softly at Emperor Jingyun's political acumen. The entire Zhenhuang City was like a game of chess—chaotic, seemingly disjointed and unrelated—yet he casually picked up a piece from the corner, a lowly and inconspicuous one, and in an instant, it disrupted the entire board. Zhenhuang City suddenly became a scene of turbulent upheaval.
"Purple... Gold... Qian... Gate... The Crown Prince of Bian Tang has arrived..."
"Purple... Star... Thoroughfare... The Crown Prince of Bian Tang has arrived..."
"Purple... Splendor... Cloud Palace... The Crown Prince of Bian Tang has arrived..."
...
The carriage entered the Holy Gold Palace, surrounded by crimson lanterns and with red gates wide open. A row of eunuchs raised their voices in a flowing chorus, their shouts piercing the sky and soaring into the distance.
This was Chu Qiao's first time entering the Holy Gold Palace through the main hall, the main path, and the main gate. She sat upright in the carriage with her eyes closed, yet she could sense the sweet fragrance of harmony incense wafting through the air. Fate is a wondrous journey; she had always tried to help others break free from the tangled ropes of hardship, yet before achieving her great goal, she found herself entangled in the threads, gradually drawn into the fray.
Darkness swallowed the last sliver of light on the horizon as night fell and lanterns blazed brightly. In the distance, grand and ethereal music began to drift through the air.
Li Ce, assisted by palace attendants, stepped down from the carriage and greeted the woman with a smiling face—a gentle, even somewhat enchanting smile.
"Qiaoqiao, come."
Chu Qiao, still clad in light armor, did not even glance at him as she nimbly leaped down from the carriage. Li Ce laughed heartily beside her, clapping his hands and exclaiming, "Qiaoqiao, what impressive skill!"
Chu Qiao paid him no mind. The long wind swept in from afar, chilling her thin garments with a biting cold. She lifted her head to gaze at the resplendent, golden palace, feeling only a cold shiver down her spine and an icy chill throughout her body.
Suddenly, a warm gaze pierced through from behind. Frowning, she turned sharply as if guided by intuition.
Amid the dimming lanterns and the bustling crowd—countless nobles, ministers, and ladies of the court—they moved across the vast square, their fine carriages and steeds brushing shoulders and elbows. Guards in blue robes stood watch among them, chanting auspicious blessings in a flowing chorus. Her gaze sharp as lightning, Chu Qiao pierced through the layers of silhouettes and suddenly saw him. In that instant, her heart warmed, and the world fell silent.
Yan Xun stood in the distance on the other side of the square, dressed in white, his features refined and his eyes as gentle as a spring lake in March. With his hands clasped behind his back, he watched as countless people passed between them like fleeting shadows. Yan Xun looked at her, the corners of his lips lifting into a gentle smile, then he opened his mouth and silently said, "Don't be afraid."
Like a drifting soul in the deep sea suddenly spotting a lighthouse, the woman smiled gently, her eyes sparkling like stars. Pressing her lips together, she nodded slowly.
"Qiaoqiao?" Li Ce's voice sounded from behind, carrying a soft, languid tone. Chu Qiao started, and when she looked up again, Yan Xun's figure had already vanished into the sea of people. Yet, she was no longer worried.
They were together. They had entered together, and they would surely leave together. No matter what situation one faced, the other would always stand behind them at the first moment.Chu Qiao turned around, and suddenly, all fear vanished.
"Qiao Qiao, come." Li Ce's smile was both wicked and bewitching, his voice hoarse, his gaze unfocused. "Let me take you inside."
Let me take you inside, into this golden cage, into this resplendent palace, into the very heart of the vortex of power. You were always meant to be there, never destined for an ordinary life.
Let me take you inside.
Chu Qiao's expression remained calm. She glanced at Li Ce, then lifted her foot and strode ahead toward that magnificent, golden place.
In the distance, drums and horns played in unison, bronze bells chimed long and clear—everything was immersed in a clamor of drunken revelry.
If I have no path of retreat, then at the very least, I can choose to move forward.
This day was the most important in Chu Qiao's life. On this day, she, a newly freed slave-turned-instructor, stepped into the most revered place of the Great Xia Dynasty, capturing the attention of the empire's nobility under the gaze of all.
From that day onward, the world would remember this name—Chu Qiao, a sixteen-year-old girl who, in the not-too-distant future, would overturn the very heavens and earth with the strength of a commoner.
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