Chapter 142

Her tender white skin was now swollen red. Zhuge Yue bellowed, “How can you still tell me it is not in pain?” Despite pouring scoop after scoop of cold water, the swelling had not reduced even slightly. Just as Zhuge Yue was about to call his servant to bring medicine, he lifted his head up, only to see how Chu Qiao’s upper body was soaked, her curves showing through the thick clothes. That, along with her messily scattered hair, was surprisingly seductive.

Noticing Zhugu Yue’s gaze, Chu Qiao leaned away with her hands covering her chest, while bellowing, “What are you looking at?”

Feeling awkward in his heart, Zhuge Yue stubbornly retaliated, “Such an androgynous figure could not rouse me even if I looked.”

Chu Qiao frowned, and was obviously angry at his humiliating comment. Seeing that Zhuge Yue was about to stand up, she sabotaged him by pulling on a corner of his clothes, and yanked hard on it while he was still unaware! The room was originally very slippy. With a loud crash, Zhuge Yue landed on the ground in an exaggerated manner, without any elegance or grace.

Seeing his state, Chu Qiao started laughing out loud, but little did she expect that Zhuge Yue countered her in the same way. Grabbing onto her calves, and taking advantage of how she was still in a relatively weak state, Zhuge Yue yanked with all his strength. And coincidentally, she crashed right into his bosom!

This shower room was constructed out of bamboo. With the roof open, one could see the stars at night while taking a warm bath that was connected to a natural hot spring. The light from the two sides was not particularly bright, faintly illuminating the entire room. The moon was especially bright and white on that night, as it hung high in the cloudless night sky. The fragrance of the blossoming crabapples was brought along by the night breeze. The veils of the door drooped down with its thin green ends lightly swaying in the wind. The night was dead quiet.

After what seemed like an eternity, the water clock sounded off, breaking this silent dream. Zhuge Yue’s warm hand were pressed on Chu Qiao’s shoulders, and his sleeves brushed ticklishly on her nape. The background was painted a crimson red by the crabapple trees. Swaying hypnotically in the wind, it seemed as though the entire scene was merely just a dream. In the foreground, one could Zhuge Yue’s jet black irises. Firmly locking his gaze onto Chu Qiao’s eyes, Zhuge Yue inched forward.

Startled by his advance, Chu Qiao struggled, wanting to break free, but suddenly she felt something hard pressing on her lower body. The burning sensation was so alien she froze up completely, and her eyes were wide open in surprise. Once she came to her senses again, she righted herself, and quickly shifted away from Zhuge Yue. The awkwardness translated into a deafening silence, covering the entirety of the room.

Chu Qiao squeezed out a retort to break this awkward silence, although her voice was brimming with anger, “Didn’t you say that I was so androgynous? Why did you still react like that?” The moment she said that, Chu Qiao turned bright red from embarrassment. The situation just took a strange turn from her words.

Zhuge Yue’s expression was also rather stiff, but nonetheless, he still kept his cool, and replied with his usual sarcasm, “Whether you are a man or a woman is unknown, but it seems like I am obviously a man.”

Chu Qiao finally reached her boiling point, as she roared, “You are so shameless!”

Looking at her from the corner of his eyes, Zhuge Yue shrugged her comment off. “You have yet to seen worse.”

After arguing like they usually did, the atmosphere somewhat normalized. With the awkwardness vanishing between them, they suddenly started to feel the chill of the night wind that had been blowing all along. This open-air bath would have really been chilly for anyone not in the water.

Zhuge Yue stood up, and asked, “Can you walk?”

Chu Qiao could walk, but with her clothes almost completely soaked, it would be rather awkward to walk around like that.

Cursing under his breath, Zhuge Yue walked up. Removing his outer robe, he walked off coolly. After walking a few steps, he realized that Chu Qiao had not followed behind as he expected her to. Frustrated, he bellowed, “Are you coming or not?”

Chu Qiao was still wearing the robe, and given her burn, her movements would naturally be rather sluggish. Hearing him chiding her, she naturally felt upset as well, as she snapped back, “Why are you so loud?”

Seeing how she was struggling to wear the clothes, Zhuge Yue walked over with a huge frown plastered on his face. With just a few quick moves Zhuge Yue helped her don the robe properly, and pulling on her sleeves, he dragged Chu Qiao towards the bedroom.

Being pulled along by him, Chu Qiao stumbled and almost fell. Annoyed, Chu Qiao retorted, “Can’t you take it slower? Have you been eating gunpowder?”

“You dare to talk about me one more time?”

“What can you do, huh?”

After the servant brought the medicine for the burns, Zhuge Yue picked up Chu Qiao’s injured hand and deftly applied the layers of the cream onto her still red and swollen skin with a brush.

“Rub the cream twice every day; once in the morning and once at night. It will heal in just a few days. Do not let it touch water, and avoid spicy food.”

The brush was made using thin animal fur, and was particularly ticklish when in contact with the skin. Zhuge Yue was sitting on a chair that was slightly higher than the bed. With his clothes giving off a soft gleam from the candlelight, his handsome face seemed rather absent-minded, but he carefully dipped the brush in the cream, and applied it evenly over the swollen area.

“Zhuge Yue, I need to go, I really need to go.”

Lifting up his head, Zhuge Yue fixed his gaze on Chu Qiao. With her face completely serious, Chu Qiao looked at him firmly, her eyes crystal clear with resolve.

“I know that just saying thanks does not mean anything. You helped me so many times and endured so much risk and stress just to help me out. All the sacrifices you made for me, I will remember them well.”

While listening to her, Zhuge Yue did not speak, as he put down the brush, and slowly replaced the lid of the medical cream.

“But I have no way of repaying you, and I could not even repay you in the first place. So I can only say thanks. Do you understand?”

Still not responding to Chu Qiao’s monologue, Zhuge Yue stood up, and got ready to leave the room. Chu Qiao grabbed his hand, and loudly pleaded, “Zhuge Yue, please, let me go! I suspect that this incident is not so simple, and Zhao Chun’er could not have created such a scene just by herself. There must have someone else behind the scenes manipulating this incident. They intentionally used the hatred between the Xia Empire and Yan Bei to create such a ruckus, and used me as the trigger. If Yan Xun knew that I am in Tang Jing, he would very likely step into someone’s trap. The mastermind of this incident could also drive a wedge between the Xia Empire and the Tang Empire, creating a huge war. The mastermind was truly calculative, as he made Zhao Chun’er the dummy target for people’s suspicion. Having lost much face for the Xia Empire, if the Xia Emperor entered a rage, he would certainly invade Yan Bei with all the strength he could muster. With winter coming, Yan Bei still lacks food and clothing, and this could be fatal with the instability of the Da Tong Guild. Without me around, the Southwest Emissary’s Garrison may revolt. There are so many things that need…”

“Are you nuts?” Zhuge Yue suddenly turned his head around. His eyes were bloodshot. Tightly gripping Chu Qiao’s chin, he snapped, “Look at your situation now. You were just surrounded by enemies and almost died a few times. With wounds all over your body, you are still sick. There are so many people looking to capture you outside. With the exception of Li Ce, there are Tang officials who want to capture you for their own agendas, and there are also spies of the Xia Empire, along with Zhao Chun’er’s guards. There are even some who are just after the reward of capturing you! At this very moment, you are still planning to head out? Do you really believe that with his entire court’s protests, Li Ce could still protect you? Do you believe that Yan Xun would really give up everything for you? Don’t you know that the moment you are placed on the negotiation table, even the Tang Emperor has to start considering the Xia Empire’s opinions? The moment you land in someone else’s hands, you have absolutely no chance of survival. Are you nuts?”

“I am not!” Chu Qiao loudly protested. “I know what I am doing!” With her chest heaving up and down vigorously from her overflowing emotions, Chu Qiao’s eyes brimmed with an indescribable determination. “I have always been this way. The entire world is my enemy. From the start, when I entered the Sheng Jin Palace with Yan Xun, I expected such a day to come. But so what? There are so many people who want to kill me, but what do you expect me to do? Hide forever? Hiding will only make me even weaker, and they would find it even easier to chase after me! At least heading out now will give me a chance to eventually protect myself one day. Zhuge Yue, I told you before, I have my own faith!”

“To hell with your faith!” Zhuge Yue roared, his voice was filled with pure rage and oppressed feelings. With his eyes pitch black, he gazed into Chu Qiao’s eyes, and with a tone that bordered on madness, he bellowed, “Faith? Is that important? Even more so than your life?”

“Yes!” Chu Qiao replied without even skipping a beat, “You do not understand! This is my only reason for living. There are people in need of me. I have to go!” At that moment, it was as though a raging wind blew across his otherwise messy mind, clearing away his last bit of restraint. Zhuge Yue was like a repressed beast as he suddenly closed in and pushed Chu Qiao down. With a complicated mixture of feelings consisting of intense rage and passion, he pressed his lips against hers!

With the intense kiss igniting some kind of fire within her heart, Chu Qiao was completely stunned. The familiar smell filled her nostrils, as his scent wrapped around her in a gentle embrace. It was no longer a simple kiss. There were so many emotions being transmitted in that short moment, overflowing, and overwhelming Chu Qiao’s ability to process information.

Chu Qiao mustered all her strength to resist, and before long, his grip on her loosened, and his gaze spoke of helplessness, desperation, and sadness. Self mockingly, Zhuge Yue laughed, “Haven’t you realized it yet? I also need you!”

Chu Qiao was once again stunned. The heavy atmosphere circulated within the room. The candle on the stand had already been burning for almost half the night, with trail after trail of candle wax silently flowing down, like a sculpture. Her throat felt as though it was blocked by something, and even her breath was no longer smooth, as Chu Qiao struggled to find the words to speak.

Zhuge Yue gazed at her, his eyes were deeply sorrowful. Not speaking any further, he seemed to have been immersed in the memories of a distant past. Those childish emotions that he did not know how to express, those days that would never return, and that arrow that shot out and caused them to forever be separated.

Taking a deep breath, Chu Qiao started to conceal the surprise, the weakness, and other emotions that had surfaced in her eyes. Finally, she swallowed her last remaining hesitation, and pleaded once again, “Please…”

The candlelight remained bright as ever, but the entire room seemed to have dimmed. Concealed by layers of thin veils, the man’s face could barely be seen as the light was shining from behind him, but one could still tell that his well-defined features made for a handsome face. Even then, his expression was more solemn than ever.

Deftly getting up, he scoffed, “At the end of the day, it was just me thinking too much. The door is wide open for you to leave anytime you wish. I will take my leave.” With that said, he hesitated no more, and walked off.

Looking at the gentle moonlight and the sparkling stars, Chu Qiao sat atop the bed. Suddenly, she was overcome with exhaustion. Heaving a heavy sigh, she was full of bitterness and uncertainty.

“I must be strong!” in the silence, the lady quietly whispered to herself. In the loneliness of the night, that voice seemed ever so forlorn and desolate, as she spoke out yet again, “Time will wash away all these feelings. Hang on, and everything will pass.” Nodding as though she was trying to convince herself, Chu Qiao stood up and looked to the northwest. Firmly, she nodded, “I am going to Yan Bei.”

Just as she stepped out of the door, she saw Yue Qi standing there in wait for her. Seeing that she came out, Yue Qi informed, “Master has already found the trails of Yan Xun, and instructed me to bring you to him.”

Hearing that, Chu Qiao was taken aback. Subconsciously, she looked into the distance, only to see a vague silhouette in a pavilion concealed behind vegetation and mist. The figure was holding an umbrella, gradually walking into the layers of ornamental mountains decorating the compound. The figure seemed so close yet so out of reach.

“Miss Chu, please follow me.”

The wind on the open fields was quite strong, continuously battering against their faces. After roughly two hours of traveling, Yue Qi, along with a few of the guards, stopped in a barren field. The young guard dismounted his horse, and notified Chu Qiao, “Miss Chu, I sent men to inform Prince Yan. It seems that Crown Prince Li Ce is also in his tent. Please wait here for a moment, they will arrive here shortly.”

Chu Qiao nodded in appreciation, “Thank you so much.”

Yue Qi replied, “You do not need to thank me. I was merely following the orders of Master.”

Chu Qiao lowered her head, and hesitated for a short while, before lifting her head up and saying, “Please go back, and thank him on behalf of me.”

“Alright.” Yue Qi nodded. “We can only take you here. Prince Yan is about to arrive. We will leave first.”

“Ok, please take care.”

Clenching his two hands together, Yue Qi saluted his farewell. “May we meet again.” With that, he flipped back onto his horse, and left quickly.

The winds of the barren fields caressed Chu Qiao’s clothes. The rumbling of horses could be heard from afar, with a cloud of dust informing her of their arrival. Yet when this warm wind blew upon Chu Qiao’s eyes, she only felt her tear glands being stimulated, as she lowered her head and whispered in a voice that even she could not hear.

“Please take care…” Then, taking a deep breath, and slowly exhaling, it was as though she wanted to expel all those emotions out along with the breath. With that, she strode towards the incoming group of people, leaving behind this exciting capital of Tang.

Far away, on the peak of a mountain, a man gazed at her departing figure. Gulping down one last cup of wine, he descended the mountain on his horse. The mountainous breeze pelted his violet robe, as the sunlight shone on his charming face stretching out an elongated shadow.

With the setting of the sun, the birds returned to their nests. Everything was reset to the beginning, to the point where it all began.