Chapter 142 (2/2)
”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.