Chapter 44 (1/2)

I’m always torn between my all-consuming love for one particular male lead in Lost You Forever, and my just one step below love for the other two male leads. Unlike other Tong Hua novels, there is genuinely no one I dislike among the suitors vying for leading lady Xiao Yao’s heart – I get Zhuan Xu and all his choices (probably because he was the alluded to male lead for Xiao Yao when I first met him in Once Promised), I appreciate Jing’s contrasting personality that complements Xiao Yao so nicely, and I know in my gut that there is no other choice for Xiang Liu than to keep pus.h.i.+ng Xiao Yao away.

The novel is winding down but not slowing down, as this chapter ramps up the action yet again, in an even more pressing way than Xiao Yao’s brush with death in the ocean in the last chapter. This time her heart-connected boo Xiang Liu isn’t around to rescue her (booooooo), but another person will step in when Xiang Liu/Bei can’t. Jing is still dead for all we know, while Zhuan Xu’s secret love is getting closer to being blown open and the results will be good for no one. If Xiao Yao loved him like that then so be it, but she doesn’t and it’s all because of what he did way back when to conceal his heart. Now he just has to lay in his own bed and boy does it suck to be him.

Ch 44 – A Familiar Person’s Heart Changes Easily

All the wedding decorations in Xiao Yao’s residence were taken down as if nothing had happened. No one mentioned Jing, and no one mentioned Xiao Yao’s disappearance. Xiao Yao’s life returned to the way it was before, from the Yellow Emperor to Zhuan Xu, nothing changed. But Xiao Yao knew it was all different – now when she looked skyward, there would never be a white crane carrying Jing flying towards her.

The guards increased on Xiao Yue Peak, and clearly Zhuan Xu said something to Left Ear and Miao Pu because Left Ear followed her wherever she went. He was as un.o.btrusive as if he wasn’t even there, and initially Xiao Yao thought he wasn’t even around. She would call out “Left Ear”, and then a head might pop up from the tree above, or a voice would answer from the bushes, or a sleeve would peek out from behind a corridor beam. Left Ear was like a beast in the wild, able to conceal himself into the surroundings.

Xiao Yao asked about the Tu Shan clan situation and Zhuan Xu said “It’s a bit of a mess. Tu Shan Zhen is the successor in name but the clan elders know he isn’t Jing’s real son so they are complicating things with their plotting. The Tu Shan clan is a prime piece of flesh that everyone wants a bite out of, and the world would be thrilled to see internal strife in the clan so are fanning the discord.”

Zhuan Xu never mentioned Jing actively but if Xiao Yao asked then he discussed it directly. He was like a doctor treating a patient, he didn’t hide the injury but also didn’t actively exacerbate it. He knew Xiao Yao was very sensitive to any mention of Jing’s death but he chose not to shy away from the subject now.

Xiao Yao asked “Can you get involved with the Tu Shan clan situation?”

“Of course I can’t openly, but neither can the other players. So everyone is getting involved behind the scenes.”

Xiao Yao said “As long as I am alive, I don’t want the Tu Shan clan to fall.”

Zhuan Xu asked “What do you want to do?”

Xiao Yao said “Tu Shan Zhen is not Jing’s son but he is the bloodline of the Tu Shan clan. I think the Tu Shan Grand Madam would not have objected to him being the clan leader.”

Zhuan Xu asked “His parents killed Jing, don’t you hate him?”

Xiao Yao was silent for some time before saying “If Hou was still alive I could cut him into millions of pieces, but Tu Shan Zhen is just a child and he did nothing wrong. You and I know what it’s like to grow up without parents, and his birth isn’t something good to begin with so his life is already going to be hard. If he can’t be the clan leader then others will likely harm him one day. He is the successor in name and blood, I don’t want Jing to come back one day and have Zhen gone.”

Zhuan Xu was startled into silence by Xiao Yao’s words, but after a few moments he smiled “Fine, let Tu Shan Zhen be the clan leader then.”

Xiao Yao said “Thank you.”

Zhuan Xu rapped Xiao Yao on the forehead “Why are you being polite with me? Do you want to get beat?”

Xiao Yao rubbed her forehead “Don’t think you can be mean to me now that you have power, don’t think I can’t get you back!”

“Bring it on!” Zhuan Xu sa.s.sed right back.

Xiao Yao grew solemn, these days she didn’t have any energy or interest in fiddling with her poisons or concoctions.

Zhuan Xu rubbed Xiao Yao’s head “You’re on Xiao Yue Peak 24/7, you’ll get sick this way.” Last time when Jing broke Xiao Yao’s heart, she found things to busy herself with but this time she didn’t even seem to care about that.

“You have ordered so many guards to protect me, do you expect me to go shopping and have them trailing me en ma.s.se down a street? Plus there isn’t any place around Sheng Nong Mountain that I haven’t been to.” Xiao Yao smiled wanly “This is what happens when one lives for so long, at the end one has seen everything.”

Zhuan Xu said “How about this then? You can open a medical clinic in Zhi Yi Castle.”

“You can handle having me running around outside? I don’t want the medical clinic to become famous not for my skills but for having a bunch of guards around.”

“I don’t feel safe having you running around but I feel even worse seeing you like this. I’ll handle how to manage the guards, you just plan on using your medical skills to help alleviate the suffering of others.”

Xiao Yao thought about it and remembered Jing discussing with her to open a medical clinic in Qing Qiu. Xiao Yao smiled broader and said “Fine, I’ll go to Zhi Yi to open a medical clinic.” This would also help her investigate who wanted to kill her. If she stayed on Xiao Yue Peak all day long, tightly protected by guards so that no one could access her, she would also not be able to access others to figure out the attempt on her life.

Xiao Yao used her own pocket money to open the medical clinic in Zhi Yi.

She cross-dressed as a man for ease, and other than having Miao Pu and Left Ear around, the only other people working at the clinic were two young men Xiao Yao hired. She tested them personally and confirmed them to be ordinary men and not secret guards sent by Zhuan Xu.

Medical clinics are not like other businesses, patients need to trust and know the doctor, so initially business was bad. Xiao Yao wasn’t anxious, she used the time to teach the two young men to identify herbs and plants, and also teach Miao Pu and Left Ear to read.

Miao Pu was with her for years so she already recognizing some characters here and there, so Xiao Yao sometimes had Miao Pu teach Left Ear how to read and write. All Xiao Yao could hear was Miao Pu’s voice nagging and haranguing Left Ear. Miao Pu was fully aware of how strong and powerful Left Ear was, so when Xiao Yao asked her to take care of him, she would roll her eyes and snark “Who would dare be mean to him?” without acknowledging that she was being mean to him.

Because Xiao Yao’s medical skills truly were exceptional, when patients did come they left in awe of the skills of this smiling young man doctor. She charged a not cheap fee, but her prescribed treatment used common plants and made it affordable. Gradually word spread and Xiao Yao’s clinic got busier with more patients from nearby.

Xiao Yao said to Miao Pu and Left Ear “I can finally afford to take care of you two by myself.”

Miao Pu couldn’t understand why Xiao Yao insisted on earning money herself, but Left Ear smiled in rea.s.surance that he wouldn’t need to be hungry again. In his eyes, only the money Xiao Yao earned was reliable, nothing from anyone else could be relied upon.

Aside from worrying about being fed, Left Ear was even more worried about Xiao Yao’s safety. In his eyes, the guards sent by Zhuan Xu were not his so were not reliable. Left Ear asked Xiao Yao “Don’t you want to know who tried to kill you?”

Xiao Yao replied “Already investigating it!”

Left Ear stared in confusion so Xiao Yao laughed. It wasn’t clear if it was because Left Ear hung around Miao Pu all day long, but Left Ear added more expressions these days which made him seem more and more human.

Xiao Yao said “The person trying to kill me either is doing it for gain or because of hatred. If it’s because of hatred, then if the person you hated didn’t die and is instead parading around all happy and healthy, how would you feel?”

Left Ear said “I will kill!”

Xiao Yao patted Left Ear on the shoulder, sighing with the hope that one day Left Ear will stop it with this one answer to all questions.

Miao Pu scoffed “The person trying to kill Miss, seeing you come back fine will likely cause that person to sleep poorly and pay more attention to Miss. The happier Miss is, the worse that person will feel. Likely that person will try to kill Miss again, and if that person strikes then we find out who.” Miao Pu raised her chin and glared at Left Ear “This is what His Majesty means by seemingly doing nothing but actually doing everything. An uncouth brute like you would never understand.”

Left Ear said nothing as usual but Xiao Yao could see through to his feelings. Miao Pu saw how powerful he was yet she still sa.s.sed him around, which meant she wasn’t afraid of him or saw him as a monster. Xiao Yao coughed slightly and said in a low voice “I don’t want to tell His Majesty about this matter yet.”

Miao Pu was silent and then nodded “I understand.” After the discussion last time, she knew that between her old master and current master her loyalty could only reside with one.

Xiao Yao clapped and said with a smile “Okay, I’m going to work now. Let’s see how long that person can sit tight.”

One afternoon Xiao Yao was seeing a patient when Feng Long walked in. Xiao Yao smiled at him and continued seeing her patient. Miao Pu walked up to greet him while Left Ear seemed to do nothing but his entire body was coiled in readiness for any sudden attack.

After Feng Long drank his tea, Xiao Yao finished with the patient and walked over while the patient left grumbling about the high price of the consultation. Xiao Yao just smiled and didn’t try to explain but also didn’t lower the fee.

Feng Long said “If the patients knew the doctor they were seeing helped compile Yellow Emperor Internal Medicine Guide and the Yellow Emperor External Medicine Guide, they wouldn’t complain about the high fees.” Since the two manuals were released to the world, the doctors of the world praised it to the heavens and even the ordinary people who didn’t understand what was written in it knew that it saved lives and was invaluable. Doctors who were rumored to have worked on it could charge sky high prices for medical visits, and often couldn’t even be summoned for a consultation.

Xiao Yao explained “His illness is a common one and any doctor could have seen him. My fee was high so his complaint was valid, so next time he doesn’t need to come see me!”

Feng Long wondered “If you’re not doing charity, why open the clinic under a false ident.i.ty? But if you’re doing charity, why charge such high a consultation fee?”

Xiao Yao explained “My medical skills are so good that if the fee is low and everyone comes to see me, I can’t handle that volume. But I don’t need to use my medical skills to earn money to feed my family, but other doctors do, so I can’t do charity at the expense of ruining their livelihood. This way some who can afford it can still see me, and others go to the other doctors, and everyone gets a way to live.”

Feng Long chuckled, Xiao Yao really had a way of thinking that was always different than other people. He could never understand her thought process. Perhaps the only one who understood her was Jing, but……Feng Long’s smile turned down “The Tu Shan elders have agreed to let Tu Shan Zhen become clan leader, and will a.s.sist and support him until he comes of age. The elders handle the Tu Shan clan affairs together, and with His Majesty’s support, the Tu Shan clan can manage until Zhen grows up.”

Zhuan Xu had already told this to her so Xiao Yao didn’t believe Feng Long came all this way just to tell her this. She silently stared at him.

Feng Long said “Today I got together with old friends from the Tan and Jiang families. In the past they did whatever I wanted, but now they are even more accommodating. I felt bored so slipped away early. I was just wandering and didn’t intend to come inside, and am not even sure why I ended up walking in. What happened to Jing…..I’m very sad about it.”

Xiao Yao looked downward.

Feng Long continued “When I was small, I looked forward to growing up, being free to do many things. But now I keep thinking of the childhood days. Back then, Jing and Hou were so close I was super jealous. Hou was very active like me yet we didn’t really play together. Every time my teacher would scold me, I would run to Jing’s room to complain and talk about my grand dreams for the future. And Li Jie Chang, that dog headed b.a.s.t.a.r.d, he loved to oppose me yet also played with us. So if Jing wasn’t around, we would end up fighting. Us boys fought and played and somehow all grew up. Now when Chang talks to me, he’s got a polite smile and is very well mannered, like I’m his customer. Hou’s dead and Jing isn’t here anymore either. In the blink of an eye, I discovered that I don’t have any friends to play with genuinely anymore.” Feng Long smiled bitterly “I don’t know why I am telling you all this, likely I used to go find Jing when I was frustrated to vent so today I’m venting to you. I hope you don’t mind.”

Xiao Yao said warmly “Just lending an ear, I don’t mind at all.”

Feng Long stood up “I’m off now. You……don’t be too sad. You have a long life ahead, Jing will want you to be well.” Feng Long suddenly felt rather absurd, Xiao Yao was going to be his bride and after she ran away at the wedding, he thought he would never forgive her. He once cursed her a lifetime of loneliness and pain. Who knew today seeing her like this, he actually felt bad himself.

Xiao Yao walked Feng Long to the door and casually asked “How did you know I opened a medical clinic here?”

“The Empress mentioned it.” Actually, Xing Yue didn’t just mention it, she said a lot of words in disgust, which didn’t make any sense to Feng Long. Since Xiao Yao ran off at the wedding, Xing Yue hated her guts. She called her witch and s.l.u.t all the time, so much so Feng Long got used to hearing it. Every time Xing Yue heard about Xiao Yao, she would launch into a diatribe, and one time even said Xiao Yao was a wh.o.r.e like her mother, and cursing Xiao Yao to die like her mom. Feng Long finally had enough and chastised her but Xing Yue just huffed off. Feng Long couldn’t do anything since she was the Empress now.

Xiao Yao walked back inside and silently sat there thinking. Was it really Xing Yue? But why? Feng Long said he didn’t understand how it came to this, old friends dead or scattered, even when meeting it was just superficial talk. Xiao Yao didn’t know how it came to this either, years ago she shared a pallet with Xing Yue, covering for their own brothers, worried for Zhuan Xu together……..so why did she want Xiao Yao dead so badly now?

Left Ear said “Miao Pu said he is Chi Sui Feng Long. Is it him?”

Xiao Yao replied “If he isn’t the best actor around….the it’s likely not him.”

“Then it’s Sheng Nong Xing Yue? I’ll go kill her now.”

“Stop!” Xiao Yao grabbed Left Ear and said harshly “Without my order, you don’t do anything. Got it? Otherwise I won’t let you be my bodyguard anymore!”

Left Ear’s impa.s.sive face flashed across a pout but he said “I understand.”

Xiao Yao didn’t know why she would suddenly thought of Xiang Liu pouting, which made her want to laugh and want to comfort him, so her voice turned warm “I’ll take care of this, you just need to stop thinking about killing people. A bodyguard is different than being a killer.”

Left Ear grumbled “Kill her, protecting you.”

Xiao Yao’s head hurt so she handed it over “Miao Pu, you explain to him the difference between being a bodyguard and a killer.”

Miao Pu giggled and ran over to Left Ear and started her haranguing.

Before Zhuan Xu married Xing Yue, Xiao Yao had already left Zhi Jin Summit, and since then she hadn’t visited once.

When Xiao Yao arrived at Zhi Jin Palace, no one recognized her, so she flashed the Yellow Emperor’s badge and shocked everyone while Miao Pu said “This is Ms. Xi Ling from Xiao Yue Peak’s Zhang Yi Palace.”

People had heard of this Ms. Xi Ling with unique birth background and colorful life, but even more had heard of how much the Yellow Emperor and the Black Emperor cherished her, so seeing the Yellow Emperor’s badge today confirmed the rumors. They opened the door quickly to welcome Xiao Yao inside.

When Xiao Yao left, Zhi Jin Palace was a bit desolate but that mood was completely gone now. Every inch was bright and s.h.i.+ny, every blade of gra.s.s well-tended, countless people coming to and fro. But the activity was orderly and silent, giving off a sense of silent pressure. People’s movements were tightly controlled, as if being afraid of one tiny misstep and upsetting those in charge.

Xiao Yao smiled softly, so this was the everything that Xing Yue wanted.

Today was March 3rd, a Middle Plains holiday where people went to bath in the rivers and pray to the heavens, and later that night walk through the spring foliage to admire the blooms. This holiday was as important to the people of the Middle Plains as the lantern festival on May 5th was to the people of Gao Xing.

Zhuan Xu treated all tribes the same, keeping all the major holiday traditions of Xuan Yuan, Middle Plains, and now Gao Xing. Every holiday Zhuan Xy would celebrate according to the tradition of that place, while letting the ordinary folks decide whether and how to celebrate it themselves.

The consorts in Zhi Jin Palace came from all over the vast wilderness so every holiday would be celebrated, but because the Empress was from the Middle Plains, this holiday was even more festive. For the evening’s celebrations, Zhuan Xu would be attending as earlier in the day he already went to see the Yellow Emperor and Xiao Yao.

Xiao Yao followed the servants lead into Hundred Flower Garden.

Inside the garden, there were creeks and trees everywhere, and hundreds of flowers blooming. Small winding pathways, little bridges, and multiple pavilions dotted the landscape. Consorts were sitting here and there, and a dragon phoenix raised dais was placed in the center where Zhuan Xu and Xing Yue sat together. Zhuan Xu was half reclining while Xing Yue sat very demurely upright, listening to the musicians play a lively tune.

When the song was done, everyone clapped but one consort Xiao Yao didn’t recognize said “The tune was good but cannot compare to Her Highness.”

Consort Jiang smiled and added “Rumor has it that His Majesty and Her Highness met on the Chi Sui Lake during a thick fog, and His Majesty heard Her Highness playing her zither so he joined her on his flute. They hadn’t even met yet and already played so in sync with each other. Back then they were strangers but now as husband and wife, playing together would be even more destined.”

Some other consorts added their voice to the request, while other consorts said nothing and looked rather annoyed. Xiao Yao had Miao Pu stop the servants from announcing her presence and stood under a tree to observe.

Xing Yue’s expression was a bit upset, a bit excited, and a bit blus.h.i.+ng, clearly she wanted to play the zither with Zhuan Xu. He said nothing so the chatter gradually grew silent.

Xing Yue looked around and said to Zhuan Xu “His Majesty, tell them to stop teasing and asking me to be a musician today!”

Zhuan Xu laughed “Today is a holiday so if they want you to be a musician for a day there is no harm in that. I’ll keep you company, who dare tease you.”

The myriad expression changes on the consorts faces was a sight to behold, while Xing Yue’s face lit up as a zither was placed before her and a flute handed to Zhuan Xu.

Xing Yue readied herself while Zhuan Xu walked over to the side of the creek with the flute. Xing Yue started playing first, and it was the tune she played that day with Zhuan Xu. He joined on the flute and there was dead silence all around so the music was even more audible. One was strong and forceful, the other tender and docile, one was bold and daring, the other careful and conservative, one was soaring and casual, the other followed the lead.

Xiao Yao remembered the sound of the same zither on the lake, so haughty and challenging back then, daring to compete with the flute, to grow anxious, to get so angry as to snap a string. Xing Yue gave that kind of playing up and chose this type of playing now. Xiao Yao unconsciously sighed, and it wasn’t a loud sigh but because it was complete silence all around as the Black Emperor and his Empress were playing a duet, Xiao Yao’s sigh was heard by all and came across as especially rude and insolent under the circ.u.mstances. Zhuan Xu and Xing Yue both furrowed their brows and looked over at the tree.

Xiao Yao knew she had been rude and sighed inwardly that she really wasn’t suited to behave at important events. She stepped forward and bowed to Zhuan Xu and Xing Yue, and despite the gesture being so subservient, when Xiao Yao lifted her head she made a silly face that only Zhuan Xu and Xing Yue could see that clearly showed Xiao Yao wasn’t being subservient in the least.

Xing Yue’s hand jerked so hard that she snapped a string on the zither, while Zhuan Xu was so shocked to see Xiao Yao that he stopped playing at the same moment so it appeared their tune stopped in sync and didn’t seem odd.

Zhuan Xu composed himself and asked “Why are you here?”

Xiao Yao lowered her head respectfully and said “Grandfather’s cherries are ripe earlier than expected, knowing Your Majesty is here celebrating the holiday, he asked me to bring it over.”

Miao Pu stepped forward and presented a basket of cherries. The servants received it and Zhuan Xu said “If it’s Grandfather’s gift then everyone have some!”

The servants quickly pa.s.sed out the cherries to each consort present.

The Yellow Emperor lived on Xiao Yue Peak and never came to Zhi Jin Summit. He also never summoned any granddaughter-in-law to go see him. Other than the Empress very rarely paying her respects, none of the wives had ever interacted with him. The consorts were so shocked and pleased at this unexpected gesture and happily ate the cherries. They thanked the Yellow Emperor, thanked Xiao Yao for bringing it over, and generally make a big to do all just to make Zhuan Xu notice, and in that moment the entire garden was lit up with beautiful women all atwitter.

Xiao Yao smiled as she looked around and Zhuan Xu plastered a smile on his face but didn’t seem comfortable, like he was doing something he shouldn’t have been and was caught by Xiao Yao. He looked over at the servant “It’s getting late, the consorts should be retiring.”

The consorts weren’t surprised, the Black Emperor seemed very easygoing but was actually quite aloof and uninterested in celebrations. Every event, he would either come early and leave early, or come late and make the event end right after, he never had the interest to partake of an entire celebration.

As the consorts were leaving, Zhuan Xu handed his flute to Xing Yue with a smile “Will the Empress please hold onto this.” All the consorts glanced at Xing Yue before looking away and hiding their own disappointment and envy.

Xing Yue smiled and took the flute with both hands, but felt a boiling rage in her heart that she could barely contain. She wanted to scream loudly “Are you guys all blind? Can’t see it? He doesn’t even care about me! He’s just using me so no one notices that he ended the celebration the second Xiao Yao arrived. He’s doing this so later on when people remember today, they will only remember the zither-flute duet and afterwards him giving me the flute. You guys are all blind as bats! He’s protecting the person he’s hidden away all this time! If you guys want to be jealous, to hate, it should be towards her!” But Xing Yue couldn’t say any of this so she just bowed low and took her leave beautifully.

Xing Yue knew she shouldn’t keep looking but she couldn’t control herself. She purposely slowed down behind everyone and then made up an excuse to circle back to look for a dropped satchel. As she got close to the edge of the creek, she didn’t dare get any closer so she couldn’t hear what Zhuan Xu and Xiao Yao were saying. All she could see was the two walking side-by-side along the creek edge.

Xing Yue thought back in her memory, since she married Zhuan Xu, she had never walked alongside him. She always walked one step behind, without figuring out whether it was his authority or her own consideration, until it became that way always. If the Empress didn’t dare walk alongside the Emperor, the other consorts would also never dare. With no woman on Zhi Jin Summit who dared walk alongside Zhuan Xu, it made Xing Yue feel like her one step behind wasn’t a problem. But tonight she suddenly realized that there was a woman who dared to walk alongside Zhuan Xu.

Zhuan Xu walked slowly and calmly, while Xiao Yao flitted from the gra.s.s to hopping on the stones next to the creek. Whether Xiao Yao was fast or slow, Zhuan Xu always kept pace right next to her. Xiao Yao stepped on a moss covered stone and her foot slipped and was about to fall into the creek. Zhuan Xu reached out to grab her so only one foot landed in the water. Her shoe and hem got wet so Zhuan Xu bent down to pick up her wet hem to dry it for her.

Xiao Yao bent over with her hand on Zhuan Xu’s shoulder so she could take off the wet shoe. As Zhuan Xu stood back up, he took the wet shoe from Xiao Yao to carry for her. Xiao Yao pointed to the creek and said something but Zhuan Xu shook his head no. His winged ride arrived and Zhuan Xu vaulted on with Xiao Yao before flying off towards Xiao Yue Peak.

Xing Yue wanted to leave but she had no strength left in her. She took two steps forward before her knees buckled and she collapsed on the ground. Xing Yue felt this moment was just like when she was a little girl and realized she wasn’t some high born lady but in truth just as hostage to keep her father in line. She could be killed at any moment and have everything taken away, so she was so scared and fearful that everything she had would be gone in the blink of an eye.

She once thought that Zhuan Xu was a fickle playboy, and wondered if she was up to enduring him trading the old for the new on a regular basis. But once she married him, she discovered that Zhuan Xu was actually very distant to all women, his focus and attention solely on governing. He wasn’t loving towards her, but he also wasn’t loving towards any other women. As long as she didn’t cross him then he also gave her due preference over the other consorts in public, letting her wield her Empress authority. She thought Zhuan Xu was this aloof so she accepted it without worry. But once she started to have doubts, then she grew more and more frightened every day, scared that Zhuan Xu wasn’t aloof or uninterested in women, he simply had given his entire all to one woman already.

Zhuan Xu kept Xiao Yao so well protected that Xing Yue observed for tens of years and still never saw a single slip up. He went to Xiao Yue Peak every single day, rain or s.h.i.+ne, he let Xiao Yao hit him and didn’t get angry, and instead look very sad and longing when he touched the injury, he was willing to carry Xiao Yao’s wet hem and shoe……

All the women on Zhi Jin Summit competed and vied with each other, but they never realized that the one woman Zhuan Xu spent the most time with wasn’t even on Zhi Jin Summit but was instead Xiao Yao. Even as the Empress, Xing Yue at most saw Zhuan Xu once a month, but Xiao Yao saw him every single day.

Years ago when she married Zhuan Xu, Xing Yue thought she was unparallel, and the confidence came not from herself but having Sheng Nong and Chi Sui behind her. But then came Ah Nian, and she had as much as Xing Yue and even more as Ah Nian brought as her dowry an entire kingdom when she married Zhuan Xu. Everyone told her to accept it then, even her Gege went to Five G.o.ds Mountain to request the marriage alliance. She had no choice but to accept since she had no ability to fight it.

Xing Yue was furious with Ah Nian but wasn’t scared of her. Ah Nian lived on Five G.o.ds Mountain and just had the Empress name without any real power. Sometimes Xing Yue would even scoff that Ah Nian wouldn’t even be able to hack it as the Empress with real power. The White Emperor knew his daughter’s limitations so arranged it that way. But now Xing Yue was growing more and more scared, as the vast wilderness united as one, the importance of the Sheng Nong tribe was decreasing to Zhuan Xu. If Zhuan Xu would let Xiao Yao hit him, could carry her s.h.i.+rt and shoe, then whatever Xiao Yao wanted Zhuan Xu would give it to her. Down the road, forget Zhuan Xu spending time with Xing Yue, even her position as Empress might be in peril!

Xing Yue bitterly laughed – it didn’t even need to wait for Xiao Yao to want something. Just like tonight, Xiao Yao appeared and Zhuan Xu sent all the wives away so he can give Xiao Yao his undivided attention. Xing Yue knew that it was a frightening idea, to kill Xiao Yao, and if Zhuan Xu found out the consequences would be unimaginable. But if she didn’t get rid of Xiao Yao, wouldn’t her future be just as unimaginable? At that time, it would be even more unbearable!

After the holiday pa.s.sed, Xiao Yao waited for Xing Yue to make a move but nothing happened. Xiao Yao was confused, was it not Xing Yue after all? That time she went to Zhi Jin Summit, Zhuan Xu chewed her out for it, so did she get yelled at for no reason?

At the end of April, Zhuan Xu went to Five G.o.ds Mountain and ordered Xiao Yao not to go to the medical clinic and to stay put. If she was bored then to wander around Sheng Nong Mountain.

Xiao Yao promised him that she would be careful and would not leave Sheng Nong Mountain before Zhuan Xu felt a.s.sured enough to depart.

Xiao Yao got an invitation from the Li Jie Consort, the older sister of Li Jie Chang. She was inviting Xiao Yao in early May to attend the lantern release in Sheng Nong Mountain. The invitation include instructions for making beautiful flower lanterns with the opening on bottom, unlike the Gao Xing lanterns where the opening was on top. She wrote that the event would be great fun and invited Xiao Yao to attend.

The Li Jie Consort was neutral on Zhi Jin Summit, she neither supported nor opposed the Empress, so she wouldn’t be doing anything for Xing Yue. And the close friends.h.i.+p between Li Jie Chang and Jing made Xiao Yao warmer towards the Li Jie Consort, but even then there were no close ties so Xiao Yao didn’t understand why she suddenly got invited.

Xiao Yao thought about it and decided to go, it was years since she went to a lantern festival.

Xiao Yao and Left Ear set off around dusk. Left Ear hadn’t learned how to ride a winged horse yet so Miao Pu loudly mocked him for it. But then she went on to earnestly show him how to ride it.

Xiao Yao sat in the cloud carriage and looked at the two sitting up front. Left Ear pulled on the reins but used too much force so the winged horses neighed in discomfort. Miao Pu laughed on one hand while moving over to grab Left Ear’s hand to show him how to control the reins. As the winged horses stabilized, Miao Pu’s body was half sitting in Left Ear’s arms.

Xiao Yao watched them from behind, noticing Left Ear’s body posture tensing up as his ears turned bright red. Who knew the cold brutal killer would turn shy and nervous like this? Xiao Yao’s heart turned melancholy, her Jing was once this awkward and shy. Xiao Yao used to be so frustrated with him, thinking he didn’t like her enough, didn’t care enough, and even thought about ending the relations.h.i.+p. But looking back now, she understood it was a type of cheris.h.i.+ng, of caring too much as to be hesitant. That was so precious, because it was the first and the truest heart.

In Left Ear’s nervous and awkward flying, the cloud carriage arrived at the meeting place.

It really was an exquisite view, with a large rock that seemed to have been dropped off the air into the top of the mountain, perched precariously as if on the verge of toppling over, yet securely remaining in place. A bunch of people were gathered on the rock, chatting amiably as the party was underway.

Xiao Yao’s cloud carriage landed in one corner as another cloud carriage landed in the other. Xiao Yao and Xing Yue got out one after the other and the Li Jie Consort hurried over to greet both, with the three exchanging pleasantries.

Xing Yue looked around and said with a smile “This place is so unique, how did you find it?”

Li Jie Consort laughed “Sheng Nong Mountain is thousands of miles, even living here there are places one will never see even in a lifetime. In my free time I like to wander around the mountain since I have so much free time so found this place by chance. It’s too bad Your Highness is so busy, otherwise there are many more interesting odd places to explore.”

Li Jie Consort’s words seemed candid but a sliver of sadness was hidden within. Xing Yue didn’t continue that conversation and instead asked “Your invite said releasing lanterns, I prepared many lanterns but there is no water here so how to release the lanterns?”

The Gao Xing people lived by water so their lantern festival was releasing lit lantern the water surface. If it floated longer before sinking it meant wishes would have a greater chance of coming true. Legend had it that wishes on marriage were the most likely to come true, so when Xing Yue and the Li Jie Consort were still unmarried, they went to Gao Xing with their girlfriends to release lanterns before.

Li Jie Consort laughed “Sheng Nong isn’t like Gao Xing, if we release lanterns in water it’ll disappear from view shortly, what fun is there in that? I thought up an unique idea to release lanterns here.”

“What unique idea?”

Li Jie Consort nodded to her maid before pointing to the sky “Look!”

They were standing on the surface of a rock perched on the top of a mountain, with white clouds swirling around them. As the winds s.h.i.+fted the sea of clouds changed shapes. A maid rode her winged ride into the clouds and lit up a lantern before releasing it into the clouds. The lantern moved with the clouds as if it was on the surface of water, yet different as some lanterns were higher and others lower rather than all on the same level when released on water. The lights flickered all around them making the view even more mesmerizing.

Xing Yue nodded her head “Very unique indeed!”

Li Jie Consort smiled at Xiao Yao “What do you think?” Xiao Yao exclaimed “It’s fantastic!”

Li Jie Consort said “When more lanterns are released it’ll be even more beautiful.” She gestured “Will Your Highness please go first.”

The maids had the swallow rides ready to the side and Xing Yue said “Then I shall.” Xing Yue’s maid brought out the prepared lanterns and Xing Yue took one in hand before getting on the swallow and flying into the air. She closed her eyes to make a wish before releasing the lantern.

Everyone watched the Empress release her lantern and followed suit on swallows to release their lanterns. Some were lazy and just tossed lanterns into the sea of cloud, with some landing well and floating off but others flipping over and the light extinguis.h.i.+ng. Those with low powers decided not to be lazy and got on the swallows to release it properly into the clouds.

Everyone had different design lanterns, in various colors and shapes, and as more and more lanterns were released into the clouds the view grew more resplendent with a rainbow of glowing lights…..as if various colored gems were tossed into the clouds to glitter brightly.

Li Jie Consort asked Xiao Yao “Pretty?”