Chapter 155: Final Farewell with the Ruler (Part 2)
Hello readers! New update! Sorry for the long wait, uni has been quite stressful, but I will not stop translating!! Thanks for waiting, and here you go!!
I seriously hope there are still people out there waiting for these translations…….or else all this work for nothing haha
A kind reader, , has translated my English translations into Portuguese (with my permission) and has requested that I post her translations onto my blog on her behalf for any Portuguese readers to see. I will start posting them probably tomorrow. So if you like reading in Portuguese, look forward to those!!
For some reason I had issues with the spacing this time, so just ignore those and let me know in the comments if it’s an issue.
TRIGGER WARNING: There’s a lot of killing and dying here. I personally don’t find anything too graphic or uncomfortable, but I’m still just going to put this here in case anyone does have issues with that stuff.
If you didn't read the post "", I would kindly ask that you do so because it really is important. Thanks!!
Again, thank you all for waiting patiently for this update. I really appreciate it!! ❤
*****IMPORTANT: Original novel is set in some made-up dynasties in ancient China. However, I think China probably has some sort of rule where production teams can't historical dramas being set in non-existent dynasties (because it does not accurately represent Chinese history or something like that), so the production team changed it and adapted everything into the Wei/Liang dynastic era. The surname of Yuan was the actual last name of Wei rulers, and Yuwen was also the surname of a minister family during that time.
Please use the following as a key (some of these places have not yet shown up in my translations, but will soon show up):
Wei = Xia (for those who know Chinese history, this Xia is does not seem to be the same Xia as the one in Chinese dynastic order)
Yanbei = Yanbei
Liang = Bian Tang
Yuan = Zhao (so instead of Yuan Chun/Yuan Song/Yuan Che it is now Zhao Chun/Zhao Song/Zhao Che)
Yuwen = Zhuge (so instead of Yuwen Yue it's Zhuge Yue)
Xiao Ce = Li Ce (Li Ce is the ruler of Bian Tang)
Qing Hai = new place in the book created by Zhuge Yue and later ruled together by Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao
Huai Song = place in book, not in drama
*****FOOTNOTES at the bottom may be helpful for your understanding!! And remember, “Master” will always be referring to Chu Qiao.
Chu Qiao was trapped in this cage for three consecutive days and thus completely cut from all news of the outside world. She thought, perhaps Miss Yu had been wrong at that time. She had wrongly believed that Chu Qiao could put a stop to all of this, but Miss Yu did not understand Yan Xun at all. Ever since he was young, he had always been a determined and persistent person. If he wanted to accomplish something, no one could stop him, even Chu Qiao herself. Now, the overall situation had been set. All she needed to do was wait for a final result.
Since his youth, Yan Xun had been a disciple under Mr. Wu. Later, he had become a disciple under Miss Yu to learn military strategies. His martial arts and sword fighting skills all came from Chu Qiao. Now, out of the blue, he finally kicked away all those things in the past.
On the night of the third day, Chu Qiao was sitting once again on her bed, quietly letting her mind roam. Hurried footsteps suddenly sounded by the door as the lock of the door was loudly unlocked. Jing Zi Su hurriedly ran inside, her hands carrying a cloak and small bundle, and took large steps walking towards Chu Qiao while loudly whispering: "Yue'er, hurry, leave quickly!"
Chu Qiao suddenly jumped off her bed and frowned: "Tang Shi Peng wants you to let me go?"
Jing Zi Su's face was very pale and she blankly stood in place and completely froze upon hearing her husband's name. Chu Qiao suddenly understood, and asked: "Do you know what you're doing? He will never forgive you."
"Yue'er, hurry, go quickly." Jing Zi Su shoved the bundle and clothes into Chu Qiao's hands, and frantically repeated: "Hurry."
"No, this won't do. If I were to leave, it will harm He Xiao and the rest of them all."
"Your men have rushed into the city. They have already attacked the dungeons and rescued He Xiao, Ping An and the rest of them." Zi Su replied.
"What?" Chu Qiao was in shock, and hurriedly asked: "Xiu Li Army have come?"
"Yes," Jing Zi Su quickly nodded and replied: "Hurry up and leave, Shi Peng is coming back very soon.
Jing Zi Su helped Chu Qiao put on her clothes and placed her cloak atop of her soldiers. Zi Su's usually looked like a fragile women, but for the first time, it seemed that a streak of enduring strength was plastered across her face. Chu Qiao grabbed her hand and asked heavily: "Sister Zi Su, do you know how he will treat you if you help me like this?"
Jing Zi Su suddenly stopped her movements. In the past few days, she had clearly lost weight, her large eyes had a very frightened look in them. After a long moment, Zi Su finally shook her head and lightly replied: "I just think that, Mr. Wu was a good person, Miss Yu was also a good person. Yu'er you are also a good person. Good people should have good payback.
Tears welled up in Chu Qiao's eyes. This entire life, Zi Su had endured the insults of others. Even though Zi Su had previously been a weak woman who had been kicked out by others, she was still able to make a decision like this in the moment of life and death purely by her heart. Yet her reason to do so was so simple: good people should have good things coming for them. But Zi Su, do you know, most of the good people in this world do not receive a good things coming for them. The world is dark and dangerous[1]; good people have long disappeared.
Gazing at her innocent and clear eyes, Chu Qiao felt as though a large mountain was pressing down on her shoulders, troubling her breathing. She took a deep breath, and then firmly replied: " You leave with me."
"I can't," Jing Zi Su shook her head and replied: "After all, I am his wife and also pregnant with his child. He won't do anything too bad towards me. You need to leave quickly."
Chu Qiao replied with a heavier tone this time: "You must leave with me."
"No, Yue'er, I am Shi Peng's wife. I will not leave him; this is my home!"
In this moment, a look of rarely-seen persistence and firmness appeared in Jing Zi Su's eyes. Chu Qiao understood, everyone had their own beliefs and things they persisted in; Jing Zi Su did as well. Chu Qiao nodded, put on her last few pieces of clothing and slowly replied: "Sister Zi Su, I'm leaving. You must take care of yourself. After I finish my task, I will come and find you."
"Yes, in four months I will give birth to a baby. You are her little aunt. When the time comes, you must come visit."
Jing Zi Su covered her stomach with her hands, and smiled shyly, her maternal smile was as warm as the sun during the spring. Chu Qiao held her hands, and promised: "Wait for me." With that, she turned around and left.
Nine-thousand members of the Xiu Li Army had come. The villagers had personally opened the city gates for them and led them down their paved roads. The entire
"What?" Tang Shi Peng angrily yelled: "So many people were guarding the Xiu Li Army. How did they get away?!"
"It's Madam[2], Madam took your badge and was able to obtain the key."
"Slut![3]" Tang Shi Peng brutally yelled, and then coldly said: "She's ruined my big plans!"
"General!" Another messenger yelled as he rode towards Tang Shi Peng. Before the messenger had even jumped of the horse, the messenger had already started yelling: "There's a fire inside Lan Building[4], and Madam is still inside. Do we need to quickly redeploy the water routes to help put out the fire?!"
"General!" Another messenger ran towards them hurriedly and yelled: "Master Chu escaped through the southern gates of the city with the Xiu Li Army. We have already organized a group, do you want us to chase after them?"
Tang Shi Peng frowned heavily, thought for a second and then firmly demanded: "Chase them!"
"General, then what about Madam?"
Tang Da Peng angrily declared: "If Chu Qiao escapes, then not one person in this entire Qiu Lan City will live. I command the entire army to chase after her!"
Armies loudly galloped away towards the southern gates of the city. In that moment, Lan Building was a spread of bright red. Fire and embers rose higher and higher, slowly swallowing the entire room. Jing Zi Su was stuck in a corner, staring at all the red in front of her and shaking in fear as bean-sized sweat droplets rolled down from her forehead. A bright trace of light appeared on her dark and ash-covered face. She covered her stomach with her hands, clenched her teeth, and in an self-hypnotizing manner repeatedley whispered: "Baby, don't be afraid. Your father will come to save us very soon."
Outside, the mighty winds continued to blow, causing the fire to increase even quicker. The entire army of Qiu Lan City had rushed towards the southern gates after Chu Qiao. A couple of civilians saw the smoke and flames from afar and rushed into General Tang's courtyard and mansion, and blankly stared at Lan Building's raging fire.
"Ah! There's a fire. Is there anyone inside?"
All the servants replied: "Master Chu has been rescued by the Xiu Li Army. There is no one inside."
"Okay, then it doesn't matter. They're a bunch of sons of a bitch, much better to burn the entire place completely."
The civilians left one by one, leaving behind the cackling flames. Jing Zi Su struggled to cough as the smoke and ash continued to fill the air inside the room. The tips of the fire had already edged its way towards her. She frighteningly closed her eyes, yet continued to cover her stomach and repeatedly whisper: "Baby, don't be afraid. Your father will come to save us very soon."
Outside, the mighty winds continued to blow, causing the fire to increase even quicker. The entire army of Qiu Lan City had rushed towards the southern gates after Chu Qiao. A couple of civilians saw the smoke and flames from afar and rushed into General Tang's courtyard and mansion, and blankly stared at Lan Building's raging fire.
"Ah! There's a fire. Is there anyone inside?"
All the servants replied: "Master Chu has been rescued by the Xiu Li Army. There is no one inside."
"Okay, then it doesn't matter. They're a bunch of sons of a bitch, much better to burn the entire place completely."
The civilians left one by one, leaving behind the pitter patter of the flames. Jing Zi Su struggled to cough as the smoke and ash continued to fill the air inside the room. The tips of the fire had already edged its way towards her. She frighteningly closed her eyes, yet continued to cover her stomach and repeatedly whisper: "Baby, don't be afraid. Your father will come to save us very soon."
A crossbeam loudly fell from the ceiling, shutting out all other noise. Darkness was everywhere. General Tang's entire courtyard mansion and his army barracks in the west had all fallen victim to this great fire. Chu Qiao galloped out on the fields and turned her head to look back at the city she had left far behind. All she could see were red flames in the direction of Qiu Lan City, as the fire painted half of the sky with its glaring red colors, making it look like the blood of fallen soldiers.
"Master," He Xiao walked towards the front: "Let's leave quickly."
"Okay," Chu Qiao lightly nodded in agreement as she forced herself to stop thinking about ominous forebodings.
The sky and earth slowly becoming smaller, the winds rolling across the earth. A long night had just begun, and will not pass for a long time. The night was dark and heavy, with low, heavy clouds covering the sky. The winds whistled, making low and deep whining noises.
☆☆☆☆☆
"Release!" (note: as in releasing the arrows from the bowstrings)
A low voice continuously repeated the command to attack. The number of soldiers that were besieged in the mountain valley started to diminish. Fresh blood continued to flow as endless amounts of arrows were shot towards the soldiers in red armor and a desperate cry to continue attacking sounded across the battlefield. A bell chimed sharply as a call and signal for help had already been sent out twenty-something times. This valley was the southern slope of the fire mines, and should only be an hour's ride by horse to Bei Shuo. He did not understand, why had the troops from Bei Shuo not yet arrived to help them? Had Bei Shuo already been surrounded? Then who were these new unidentifiable enemies?
"Who is it?"
An arrow was stuck on Xiao He's shoulder, and fresh blood trickled from the inside of his body like a little river. His fellow comrades around him looked like wheat from the start of the autumn season, each of them had fallen down right after the other. He did not understand, he had clearly received His Majesty's commands to return to Bei Shuo and accept awards and commendations. Why were they suddenly ambushed by an unknown enemy?
Xiao He stared at the crazy setting in front of him and felt as though he had just fallen into the most frightening nightmare possible. The state of their situation was like a giant rock rolling downhill from the peak of the mountain. No one could prevent it, and anyone who had tried to extend their two hands to stop it had been smashed into ground flesh.
They had barely fought back against the enemy because they were on Yanbei soil and were also traveling to accept commendations so they did not even bring any weapons that were useful for attacking with distance. They did not bring their shields nor their bows and arrows. Five thousand of them had been stuck and caught inside this mountain valley and had been surrounded on all sides by the enemy. The bows and arrows of the enemies seemed as though they had grown eyes and had flown their ways straight towards them. They had no place to hide, no place to escape, no place to shield themselves. Any soldier who had attempted to charge against the enemy had been firmly shot down by an arrow. Fresh blood brutally flowed everywhere; corpses were piled so high they had become small mountains. Soldiers had angrily yelled:
"Who is across from us? Why are they attacking us?"
"Why are there no reinforcements troops to help us? Where are the troops from Bei Shuo?"
"The bows they are using are even crossbows; they are our own troops!"
"Who are they? Who wants to kill us?"
Xiao He's eyes reddened as his lieutenant wielded a large sword and stood in front of him, repeatedly shouting: "Protect our General! Protect our General!" And then before his lieutenant could even finish repeating his cry one more time, a sharp arrow shot straight through his throat. His voice suddenly sounded just like a wind box that had lost all air as fresh blood shot out from his wound and sprayed across Xiao He's face. Xiao He grabbed ahold of his lieutenant's body as the eyes of his thirty-something year old lieutenant widened in fear. He grabbed onto Xiao He's cloak tightly, fresh blood continuously spilling from his mouth as he stammered: "Who……who……who wants to kill us……"
Broken corpses covered the ground one layer at a time, and slowly formed into a sea of corpses around Xiao He's feet. He could no longer feel the pain in his wound. Rain started to fall, watering the ground and mixed together with the dirt and blood. Soldiers continued to resist the attacks, using the bodies of their fallen comrades as trench walls to withstand the fierce arrows of the enemy.
All around them were agonizing screams and shouting, with angry curses. After who knows how long, the offensive attack from the other side suddenly stopped, the raining of arrows suddenly disappeared. However, they continued to be quietly surrounded. No one dared make a noise and they became as quiet as a heavy boulder.
The 2nd Division of the Fire Cloud Army had almost completely died off. The soldiers that were still alive were only alive because they had one more breath than those who had died. They already had no more energy to re-attack the enemy and their heavy and coarse breathing were like that of a disabled wild dog.
Everything was quiet, too quiet, as quiet as death.
Suddenly, a low mechanical-sound slowly sounded, and all soldiers widened their eyes in surprise. They raised their heads suddenly at once, only to see a strong crossbow arrow bolt its way towards them. Its length seemed to be as long as that of a great lance, and it pierced its way straight through the trench of corpses.
"Ah!"
"Raised by a bitch, I……"
Strong and fierce shouts and curses sounded once again; however, they all abruptly stopped before they could even finish their sentences. Xiao He's body had three to four arrows stuck in it and fresh blood bled all over his body. His handsome face could no longer be discerned. He continued to wield his sword in an attempt to attack until a sharp arrow suddenly hit him, shooting straight through his shoulder and firmly pinning him against the Fire Cloud Army's battle flag.
“General!”
A soldier saw all this happen and staggered his way towards Xiao He. However, just as he was about to reach Xiao He's side, a sharp arrow shot straight through the young soldier's heart. The soldier's pupils suddenly dilated as he lowered his head in a confused manner. He reached out his hand to touch the bloody arrow that had shot through his body. His eyebrows furrowed like that of an innocent child. He fell to his knees, remained propped up by the arrow, and died just like that in front of Xiao He.
The young general burst into tears and roared like a ferocious lion.
“Protect the General!”
Soldiers continued to flock towards the enemy, and the enemy also noticed their movements and rained another group of arrows onto them.
A soldier that Xiao He had never seen before turned around and smiled at him. His eyes were clear and his gaze was carefree and bright. He smiled and said: "You guys go save Master, I will take a step first."[5]
And then he turned around and charged into the rain of arrows. Countless arrows shot straight through his chest and head; he looked just like an arrow target, standing there in place, willing to die but not to fall.
A piercing pain rose in his heart, Xiao He roared as he charged forward, his body strong and hard as he penetrated his way through the arrows.
The young general crazily wielded his sword as he hurriedly charged forwards. Arrows endlessly shot onto his body but he continued to attack without stopping. The enemies hidden in dark and invisible places were shook. A couple of enemy soldiers even slightly stopped in their actions, simply staring at the bloody general howl and roar.
And then suddenly, in that moment, a sword suddenly swept out, and landed right onto Xiao He's leg. Xiao He's body staggered, and suddenly fell the ground with one knee. He stared at the camp of the enemy that was not far away and a red but bright look appeared in his eyes. What kind of a look was that, full of despair and unwillingness and a crazy anger. His sight was like a sharp knife, scanning over the enemy soldiers clothed in black clothing and armor. Suddenly, a mouthful of fresh blood spurt from his mouth. The young general stood up once again with incredible perseverance, and roared as he charged towards them, shouting: "Who is it? Who wants to kill us?"
At the same time, numerous arrows shot forward, firmly pinning Xiao He to the ground. You could no longer see his head, and could not see his face clearly. A deep depression filled the sky and earth, cold rains continued to fall and watered onto the freezing corpses. Fresh blood meandered along with the flow of the rain, rumbling thundered rolled its way across the skies. Finally, not one corpse remained standing.
“Burn them.”
A heavy and low command slowly sounded. Soldiers lifting wooden buckets ran forwards, spilling pine oil onto the bodies of the soldiers who had just died. The smell of oil and mixed with the tangy smell of blood had a smell that could cause one to vomit. A torch of fire was thrown atop the oil-spilled corpses and a great fire suddenly rose in flames. The strong rains could not put out the fire at all. The black-clothed soldiers stood in place, quietly staring at the great flames devour all ideas of unwillingness.
Yes, killing can not eliminate thoughts and ideas, but it can eliminate the bodies that hold those ideas.
The night of rain was still dark and cold; the soldiers turned around and marched towards Bei Shuo. No one had the interest to look one more time behind them.
The stars on the horizon were rising slowly when a messenger abruptly ran forwards, loudly yelling: "Princess Huan Huan has already rushed to the city gates with her troops. His Majesty has ordered that General head there as well with your troops.
Killings had not yet concluded; everything was still continuing. "Master! There are people up in front, about three-hundred. They may be scouts from Bei Shuo. All of them are riding battle horses. Should we hide for the time being?"
Chu Qiao frowned. The heavy rains had just paused, the dark clouds were slowly dissipating. The sky and earth was now filled with misty fog as pale as milk. Chu Qiao frowned even more as she looked afar, her eyes as sharp as those of a white eagle flying across the sky.
"Master! It is Fire Cloud Army. There is a different group of soldiers chasing after them. It looks to be about five-thousand people!"
Chu Qiao raised her eyebrows, and commanded at once: "He Xiao, immediately take some men to help Princess Huan Huan and to block the troops that are chasing after her."
"Yes!" He Xiao replied and immediately organized and led four-thousand soldiers to proceed as needed.
Chu Qiao led the rest of her troops and followed from behind. The horses trotted on top of the muddy path, and faint streaks of red could be seen in the muddy waters.
The two armies quickly crossed weapons, and the defeated Fire Cloud Army was completely surrounded. From a long distance away, Chu Qiao could still see Huan Huan's red battle horse. She quickly galloped her way towards the battle, but was shook by the scene in front of her.
Huan Huan's clothes were already ripped adn tattered. Her fiery red cloack was soaked in fresh blood. An arrow had pierced into her lungs, and numerous sword wounds covered her body. She was currently lying in the arms of a thirty-something year old female general, weakly breathing in and out.
“What happened?” Chu Qiao jumped off her battle horse and half-kneeled in the mud. She frowned heavily as she checked Huan Huan's frightening wounds. Chu Qiao turned her head and loudly shouted: "Army doctor! Where is the army doctor?"
“Master Chu!” The female general looked at Chu Qiao as tears filled her eyes. She cried: "The Emperor wants to kill our Princess. General Xiao He has already died in battle and Princess has also been ambushed……"
“Xiao He……” A weak voice suddenly sounded. Following the movement of the lungs, a mouthful of fresh blood spurted from Huan Huan's mouth. The female general quickly pressed her hand over Huan Huan's chest wound, but simply could not stop that fresh, red liquid from flowing.
"Xiao He……" Huan Huan painfully frowned as she continued to lowly call out. Her face pale and her mind was still unclear.
Suddenly, she seemed to be dreaming one dream after another. She seemed to see Xiao He's happy and hearty face, to see Xiao He telling jokes to her crying self as he carried her on his back across the snow plateau and repeatedly comforted her, saying: "Huan Huan, you won't die, you won't die. Whoever dares to come kill you, I will bite him."
"Xiao He, Xiao He……"
Tears fell from the corner of Huan Huan's bloodstained eyes. Following her heavy breathing, fresh blood continued to bleed out as though it were a fountain that could not be stopped. She helpless cried in her unconscious state, Xiao He has died, Xiao He has died, Xiao he was killed by him!
"Princess! Princess!" The female general held her as she sobbed like a mother bear whose bear cub had died.
………
"Huan Huan, what are we going to do once the war ends?"
"When the war ends? Well, my older brother is the Emperor, so I must be a princess. When the time comes, I can choose anyone in the world to be my future husband, so I'm going to find the most talented man to be my husband, haha!"
"You love-struck fool! You Ungrateful person, go find your man then!"
………
Sharp pains repeatedly attacked her body, and her heart and lungs felt as though they had been firmly pinched by someone. She could not breath and blood foam clogged her throat. She opened her mouth, but could only vomit more blood. She semi-consciously opened her eyes and gazed around with a confused look. She saw the vast skies, bright red flowers, and pale white eagles flying across the sky.
Yanbei, Yanbei……
I have struggled and fought for you my whole life. But why, why did you end up abandoning me?
The puzzled young woman frowned and slowly turned her head around, and finally saw Chu Qiao. Her mind suddenly seemed to awaken, and she stretched out her hand with great effort, seeming to want to grab onto something. Chu Qiao suppressed her tears and hurriedly grabbed ahold of Huan Huan's hand and choked out: "Huan Huan, you have to hold on. A doctor will save you."
Huan Huan held Chu Qiao's hand with all her strength, and then suddenly lowered her head and ferociously bit onto Chu Qiao's wrist. Fresh blood immediately filled her teeth and the subordinates on both sides panicked and shouted. Chu Qiao numbly stared at her, only to see endless hatred in Huan Huan's eyes.
"Why? Why?" Huan Huan howled, her mouth full of fresh blood, her eyes red, angrily shouting towards her: "Why kill us? Why kill us?"
"Princess! Princess! That's Master Chu!" The female general loudly yelled as she held her. But Huan Huan could no longer hear her as she crazily shouted: "What did we do wrong? Why kill us? Devoid of gratitude! Ungrateful bastards!"
Chu Qiao blankly stared at her as a sharp pain throbbed in her wrist wound. Her face pale as she recalled how Huan Huan looked when she first met her. A young woman had cuddled against her body, generously giving her a gift. She had waved her fist around saying that when they had won the war, she wanted Chu Qiao to accompany her to Biantang, and had pointed at A'Tu's horse asking A'Tu[6] to remember this moment as evidence for the future. Her appearance seemed pampered and simple-minded, but she was as carefree as the winds on Yanbei's high plains.
"I hate you all!" Huan Huan yelled as another mouthful of fresh blood suddenly sprayed from her mouth. Huan Huan sobbed, her voice becoming lower and lower as she lowly called out: "Xiao He, Xiao He……"
Xiao He, Huan Huan wants to marry you, but where have you gone?
Xiao He, I've come to find you, you have to walk slower, my leg is injured, you have to carry me on your back.
Xiao He, I have not eaten breakfast yet, can you roast a leg of lamb for me to eat?
Xiao He, Xiao He, Xiao He……
Huan's Huan's voice slowly faded away as she lied on the freezing surface of the ground, her fiery red dress like a flirtatious flour. This year, she was still so young, only twenty years-old. The eyes of the young are always bright, their skin pale as milk. She just fell asleep like this, forever asleep on the grounds of a place she had spent her whole life fighting for.
Chu Qiao's heart was so numb that it felt dead. Tragedy after tragedy had hit her and cut her into thousands of broken pieces. She bit her lip as she stood there, staring at Huan Huan's corpse, her entire body feeling as though it had been thrown into a freezing abyss.
Yan Xun, what have you done?
"Master!" He Xiao walked solemnly towards her, his face expressionless and heavily said: "He has arrived."
She no longer wanted to call him His Majesty, even just once more. Chu Qiao turned her head slightly, and her army opened the way like floodwater for her to pass through. The bright morning sunlight shined on the magnificent army across from them. The young Emperor was situated in the center, surrounded by his army. He wore black robe with gold embroidered line pattern, his dark hair tied up, his eyes as cold as frost, his nose tall and straight. His eyes squinted as he gazed at her from afar.
Two years had passed and she finally saw him again. But why, did Chu Qiao feel as though she had never known him. The person in front of her was so unfamiliar, his face, his status, his actions, his smell, all seemed so unfamiliar. Suddnely, she seemed to understand. The person in front of her was already the Yanbei Emperor; he was no longer the young lad from Zhen Huang City who had depended on her and she on him when they had nothing.
"A'Chu," a deep, low voice accompanied by cold winds blew itself into Chu Qiao's ears.
Yan Xun stared at her, the look in his eyes like the deep pools of an ancient well. Two years time had passed by the two of them, the world has changed. They meet once again, but in this type of occasion.
Perhaps, there was nothing to do with fate, nothing to do with the world. Their hearts' opinions towards human persistence and their attitude on life had already destined them to come across a path where they would face opposite of each other. Yan Xun's heart suddenly turned into an empty wilderness, and great winds were noisily blowing inside it. He looked at Chu Qiao, wanting to say something, but eventually, swallowed his words. Instead, he used the stature of an Emperor to slowly ask: "Are you going to be enemies with me just for these irrelevant people?"
Irrelevant people?
A cold and sarcastic smile rose slightly at the corners of Chu Qiao's mouth.
Without Mr. Wu, how would you have been able to obtain full monetary support from Yanbei and power that had been cultivated for eight years, while you were still being held captive in Zhen Huang?
Without Miss Yu, how would you have escaped from Zhen Huang? How would you have escaped from that freezing prison cell, and firmly sit upon the Yanbei throne, becoming one of the most powerful rulers in the world?
And Huan Huan, she was your last blood-related family member. She believed in you and followed you for many years. She was your most loving and dearest younger sister.
Would it be that one day, I, Chu Qiao may stand in front of you and also become an irrelevant person?
She smiled coldly. Aside from smiling coldly, she did not know what other reactions she should do. She was like a doll whose heart had been teared into pieces, her gaze coldly staring at him, staring at this man who she had previously used all her heart and blood to love and protect. But now, the past all seemed like an unrealistic dream.
She had used her loyalty and love in exchange for the present situation. The man who had previously promised to love her and protect her for life had now raised a butcher knife above her head. Watching her, suspecting her, using her, pushing her out; this was all he had paid her back with. He had thrown all sorts of wealth and status towards her, using these temptations to allure. But he did not know that in her eyes, all that was simply soil and grass. The beliefs and aspirations that she chased after and fought for were only a dismiss-able illusion in his eyes and were simply excuses and scams to blind ignorant civilians.
What about being the emperor? What about being the most respected person among thousands? In her eyes, he would always be someone she had previously wholeheartedly loved but had now completely failed her and let her down.
He blamed her for transferring her affections elsewhere and for her changing heart. But he did not know that if not for his coercion and planning, she would always be the A'Chu who loved and respected him. She would never had had a change of heart and looked elsewhere. It was he who had personally thrown her out step by step, forcing her to clearly see his true self. How could this count as betrayal?
Yan Xun, I used ten years time to clearly see you, and also to clearly see myself. Everything in the past has already drifted away like the eastern winds. To you, I no longer have any concern for. All that is left, is countless bitterness and regret.
Chu Qiao smiled coldly, and raised her brow in disdain, and lightly replied: "Since you have already abandoned our former dreams, then why should I continue to hold my promise to you?"
Yan Xun felt as though a sharp arrow had pierced his heart and cold wind had blown its way inside, bringing throbs of pain.
Finally, she had said such words like these. In the past, no matter how unwilling or how angry, she would always hide those feelings within her heart, and quietly face everything about him. But now, the world had turned lonely and miserable, and she finally said such words in front of his face.
"Yan Xun, from today onwards, we shall part ways, with nothing to connect us. Whether you die or live, win or lose, none of that will have anything to do with me. Works the same way for me. My problems, will no longer need you to interfere with.
In that moment, Yan Xun suddenly realized, that perhaps he was bound to lose her forever. This thought stirred and uncontrollable panic inside him as he asked in a heavy voice: "A'Chu, must you be so heartless?"
"Yan Xun, do not speak of the word 'heart'," Chu Qiao indifferently gazed back at him, and calmly replied: "You do not deserve to."
[insert some transition here; there are a like two small paragraphs that still have to be translated but there was no dialogue in them and a lot of it was describing scenery and surroundings LOL I will translate them in the next few days, for now I’m going to pass out and sleep]
Yanbei, in the end, you are not the place that I shall rest peacefully in. I struggled and fought for you, exhausting all my efforts. But in the end, I was only able to transfer you from one fire pit to another.
Great winds blew, causing the small hairs in front of the young woman's forehead to move upwards. Everything had become ethereal and blurry. The world was so large, why keep one's line of sight stuck in one place? If the heart is cold, then who can hurt you?
A'Chu, I will protect you……
Once upon a time, someone had whispered quietly by her ear?
A'Chu, believe in me……
She closed her eyes, suppressing the last bit of her tears. When she opened them again, everything was clear and bright.
Yan Xun, farewell.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The phrase here used was "魑魅横行, 魍魉安世" which exceeds my translation ability lol and even when I searched Baidu to look for a good explanation, I still had a hard time translating it into English. But in my opinion, "the world is dark and dangerous" sums it up well enough for now.
[2] Madam here refers to Jing Zi Su, wife/Madam of Tang Shi Peng.
[3] The Chinese characters used here are "贱人" which has a very bad connotation in Chinese and when I stuck it into Google Translate and Pleco Dictionary, they both gave me "slut" as the translation so I decided to use that.
[4] Lan Building is the room that Chu Qiao was being held hostage.
[5] “I will take a step first” was translated literally from the phrase that was written here “我先走一步了” and what the soldier meant was that he was going to take the first step towards death. “I will take a step first” is basically synonymous to “I will die first.”
[6] A’Tu is not important. Just someone who worked under Yan Xun’s family.
Hoped you all enjoyed this update!! Again, apologies for updating this so late. I appreciate all your comments, love, and support!! ❤
This was really long for me to translate, but I was like, I must get this out before Christmas!! So……happy early Christmas present?? 😀 It’s like halfway into the night……I feel like I’m going to fall asleep any moment now LOL
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—springbreeze