Chapter 16 (2/2)

Xiao Yao practiced her archery in theit away

“You’re in a bad mood today” The Yellow E stick and standing in the mulberry forest Xiao Yao walked over and helped hi up a plate of icedon it Probably in the entire vast wilderness, she was the only person who dared to sit alongside the Yellow Emperor

The Yellow Emperor said “Let me see your hands”

Xiao Yao lifted up her hands and the Yellow Emperor touched the thick callouses that had formed where she pulled the bow back “When little ladies are practicing archery, they don’t want to grow ugly callouses so ear gloves Why don’t you have one hed “Their purpose is different thanin Autumn, I want to kill people Will loves first?”

The Yellow E Bei won’t teach you their family’s entire archery skills I’ll find you another master You have weak powers so your bow and arroill need to be custoet better I’ll have a set co has no shortage of weapons forgers I’ll have my dad make me a set”

The Yellow Emperor stared at her “How does your dad treat you?”

Xiao Yao’s eyes were like the slits of a crescent rinned “No better dad than hiazed at the ence, he couldn’t not have known that Xiao Yao was… Did he have an ulterior motive then? The Yellow Edom, don’t see him as just your dad If you are born into an is to be si”

Xiao Yao sighed “Not every ruler is as anored her barb and suddenly said “Pick a good husband! Before I die I can guarantee that you can marry any man you want” He wanted to make sure Xiao Yao was happy

The Yellow Emperor’s conversation jumped topics so abruptly Xiao Yao was stunned and suddenly she felt this tenderness in her heart No randfather

Xiao Yao controlled her conflicted eoofy sed? Even someone who is your enemy?”

The Yellow Emperor stared at Xiao Yao “What kind of man do you want?” The Yellow Eht or received such an education, he was born in an ordinary fa with him, he was much more blunt that the Grand Eirl blush but Xiao Yao She really thought about it and said “Before I ca ladies are just noticing guys I was trying to just survive I was alone for so long that really I just want someone to keep me company Not someone I want to marry – I want soht and make up, I just don’t want to talk to myself anyrandfather, mom, dad, they all abandoned me before How can I trust someone won’t abandon me I took in lonely elders and orphans because I know they need me so they won’t abandon me”

Xiao Yao chuckled “People think I am kind but really I’m just weak When I’m with those who are weaker than me, I feel like I am in control and am needed so I won’t be abandoned That is when I feel safe”

The Yellow Emperor rested on the pallet and stared at Xiao Yao

She continued “When I beca is so far away and never thought about it But I know I’m scared of a man like you In your heart, there will always be choices that are more important than the woman you love”

The Yellow Emperor was expressionless and he said “Men like me are not suited to be husbands”

Xiao Yao slowly said “I a, so I would rather not have at all Unless there is a man who, no matter faced with any choice, will always pick me first, ill never abandonto spend the rest of my life with him”

The Yellow Emperor said “That’s very hard”

Xiao Yao smiled “I know it’s hard which is why I don’t think about anyable to save , I do my best to rein it in”

The Yellow Emperor said “The question you just asked me, there is actually an answer and you knohat it is If he picked another woman, that means you are not his first choice If he chose to be the enemy of Zhuan Xu or myself, then it ive you up”

Xiao Yao’s heart was jumbled and she sat with her arms around her knees and stared at the mulberry forest

The Yellow Emperor said “Actually you think too much People need to pretend to be clueless soht person, treat hiether”

Xiao Yao mulled over what he said and after a few randfather is trying to say but I’m already this way If I can’t find the kind of man I want, then I rather not marry and take in some orphans and live my life”

The Yellow Emperor had no further response and silently stared at the mulberry forest

Xiao Yao stayed at Cao Yun Peak for five days, practicing her archery in thepoisons in the afternoon, and when the Yellow Emperor had time, she would dine and chat with hiht Ah Nian to pay her respects to the Yellow Emperor

Ah Nian was very courteous and respectful, and the Yellow E how hter than Xiao Yao did Because of this, he armer to her

Ah Nian i and wheedling “I want a grandfather, too! Your oes?”

The Yellow Eo ahead”

Ah Nian immediately said in the sweetest voice “Grandfather”

The Yellow E one of Lei Zhu’s bracelets to bestow on her Ah Nian heard it was a bracelet that for with happiness and immediately put it on

Xiao Yao stared with her hter as actually related to the Yellow Emperor

Zhuan Xu winked at Xiao Yao to indicate that she itnessing Ah Nian’s power now

Xiao Yao gave a thumbs up, she used to think Ah Nian was clueless with the details but ser picture She wasn’t stupid but was hot tempered and not very personable But now she realized it wasn’t that Ah Nian didn’t kno to be personable, she just didn’t care to Towards people who had no impact on her, ould she waste tiht be bratty but she also knehere the boundary ith Zhuan Xu and the Grand Emperor and she never once crossed it

A servant ca Bei is at the botto to meet with the Princess”

Xiao Yao spoke soles “I’m off to play, if I come back late don’t wait forwith Ah Nian and waved “Go on”

Xiao Yao curtsied and left with Zhuan Xu following her

Xiao Yao went to grab a winged horse but didn’t bring her bow and arrow Other than Fang Feng Bei, only the Yellow E archery and she didn’t want anyone else to know She purposely had two setsBei If others noticed, it would appear to belong to hirabbed the reins “Are you purposely avoiding Jing”

“No”

“He’s been by every day to see me these past few days He doesn’t have that much free ti Feng Bei is waiting forBei is concubine born and he has no real power in the Fang Feng fa yet I need hi the reins were blue with strength he was gripping it Zhuan Xu endured countless insults and humiliations but in this moment he felt utterly powerless and hue, don’t feel bad This isn’t a big deal I’ll go see Jing and it’s not hard and I’ it for you I actually…I actually have been mad at him”

Zhuan Xu kept his head lowered and said in ood older brother You can’t even be o and lower your head to aback into court

Xiao Yao rode the winged horse down thefor her She waved her hand and he kicked his horse and caught up to her, the two of the in unison towards Dun Wu Mountain

When they arrived, Xiao Yao grabbed the bow and pulled and arrow and let one rip hard as the arrow ehed “You’re pissed today!”

Xiao Yao said nothing and grabbed another arrow and slowly turned around and pointed it on Fang Feng Bei’s chest “Who are you?”

Fang Feng Bei said “I live in the home of my future brother-in-law, I seeFeng Bei?”

Seeing hilared “If later on I find out you lied toFeng Bei laughed “Who do you really want me to be? The friend you want to poison to death?”

Xiao Yao released her arrow and it whizzed past Fang Feng Bei and landed in the tree behind hireat teacher!”

Xiao Yao s Bei said “I can tell you’re in a bad mood today, let’s stop for now!”

Xiao Yao pulled another arrow “If I don’t practice if I’ood mood, then life is filled with too many excuses to slack off If I start then I’ll continue so why bother”

Fang Feng Bei sighed and said nothing else He stared at Xiao Yao shooting and would occasionally give her pointers

They practiced until mid-afternoon before Xiao Yao put her boay

The two of them did what they always did and went back to Xuan Yuan Castle to have lunch at a dance hall and take a nap

The two of theside each other down the streets of Xuan Yuan, and despite Xiao Yao wearing a veiled hat, she was riding a winged horse Plus Fang Feng Bei was beside her and the sot excited and pointed at her and crowds started gathering

Xiao Yao was distracted this ed horse This one was encrusted with the gold emblem of the royal family and was likely a horse that pulled the Yellow Ee

At this ti on the street which felt totally strange but Xiao Yao had no choice but to put her her best haughty Princess i Feng Bei laughed “Iyou to a dance hall in broad daylight in public hed “Thaton it” Actually she didn’t have the guts either, worried that it’ll spread back to Gao Xing and her dad would hear of it

Xiao Yao said “Let’s go to Zhuan Xu’s place He should be in Cao Yun Court until after dinner”

After they entered the residence, Xiao Yao juhed “My version of the wild Princess is so different than Ah Nian With the entire street staring atIs this a side effect of doing tooBei asked half seriously half in jest “Why don’t you not be a Princess anyled “Sure! If you can let everything go first”

Fang Feng Bei chuckled while Xiao Yao stared at him She felt like she called hi a con artist, he was likely ho his maids!

The center court here Zhuan Xu handled his business affairs so Xiao Yao led him to the side court where a pallet and meal was set up on the front part of the roo veil curtain and a pallet was inside for napping

TheBei rested against thestaring out at the courtyard viehile drinking wine Xiao Yao drowsily said “Zhuan Xu probably didn’t train any maids to dance so if you want you need to ask the maids yourself”

Xiao Yao walked into the back part of the room and pulled down the veil curtain and she was asleep before her head hit the pillow They were like this when they went to the dance halls as well, after dining Fang Feng Bei would watch the dancers outside while Xiao Yao took a nap on the pallet behind hio next

Xiao Yao are that Fang Feng Bei said so but she waved hih and her body wasn’t like the rest of the Gods After aof archery practice, if she didn’t nap she wouldn’t be able to do anything in the afternoon

She slept a bitto soht Zhuan Xu ca her head and laying there still

“I heard Xiao Yao saying the Prince will be back after dinner If you have soent, you should send word to Xuan Yuan Mountain”

“I already sent someone to Xuan Yuan Mountain”

Xiao Yao shot up fully awake That gentle raspy voice, other than Jing who else could it be?

It was so weird Anyti to so she knew When he was saying so false to others, he remained calm and smooth, yet when he talked with her it always felt like he was slightly tongue-tied and aard

“You’re close with the Prince?” Fang Feng Bei was checking

“The Prince gets along with everyone and is close with a lot of people” Jing’s response was seamless

Xiao Yao stood up and the twoShe went to theBei said “Xiao Yao, thean audience with the Prince I saw you were still sleeping sohim inside”

Xiao Yao lifted the curtain and walked out with a sht call otherwise I would have been a poor host for Gege’s friend”

Xiao Yao acted like she heard nothing froe is in Cao Yun Peak and I’ll have so Master is not busy, then wait here If you’re busy, then you can go back first and I’ll have Gege go find you” She actually called a maid in and told her to summon Zhuan Xu back fro “Bei and I have otherBei walked out of the roo Bei so”

Xiao Yao felt a pair of eyes on her back, it was heavy, so heavy she felt she couldn’t move But she decided on it so she forced her footsteps to be light as she laughed

When they got to the front door, she suddenly remembered what Zhuan Xu asked her earlier and stopped She didn’t knohy but she just wanted to beBei asked “What is it?”

Xiao Yao said “I suddenly re I won’t accompany you today and let’sBei stared at her and that inexplicable faain and Xiao Yao’s body tensed She felt like at anyBei would suddenly fly forward and bite down on her neck

Suddenly Fang Feng Bei laughed and said with a casual “Sure!”

He left and Xiao Yao touched her neck and felt like she avoided that one

Inside the court, it was eerily silent with noand it was unclear what he was thinking

Xiao Yao said to herself: he’s Tu Shan Jing, not the broken and battered Ye shi+ Qi that no one wants

Xiao Yao s “Do you want so’s voice was low “No”

Xiao Yao was very eager “Then you want some wine? I’ll have the maids war Qiu, and now it’s late Autumn so everyone likes warhed “Then what do you want?”

“You are here, that is enough”

There was the hint of a s’s eyes mixed with sadness But it really did appear that noas she was there then he was content

Xiao Yao suddenly felt really pointless, like pushi+ng with all herhanded a box to Xiao Yao and she opened it to find inside was a necklace with a purple ge

Xiao Yao was in disbelief “A fish amethyst?”

“I wanted to find you a red one a fish ruby but it really is hard to find and needs to be by chance Only a fish arave it but then thought you probably want to put it in your er in the water This shape is round so it’s con I’ll have it carved for you”

Xiao Yao asked “This was hard to find, right?”

“Not difficult”

“Not difficult? Even the Tu Shan clan ealth to rival a kingdoive so said nothing

Xiao Yao played with it “This is already been processed?”

“Yes”

“So if I put it in my mouth I can swim underwater?”

“Yes, I tested it already”

Xiao Yao was alem in her mouth but when she head this she quickly put her hand down and felt the ge orried Xiao Yao loved to play so est tihts But I have powers so just to be safe don’t do it for longer than ten hours”

Xiao Yaoliked quiet over activity but to test the gehts in the water

Xiao Yao suddenly flopped on the pallet and buried her head in her ar was shocked and his voice quivered “Xiao Yao, Xiao Yao, are you alright?”

“I’m fine, I just hate you a little” Every time when she steeled her heart, he always had a way of softening it Was it because she saved him and took him home that she just couldn’t be heartless with hi didn’t knohat Xiao Yao was thinking, all he kneas that Xiao Yao was very unhappy but earlier she was very happy with Fang Feng Bei

Xiao Yao was so angry she threw the ge idiot! I don’t knohy everyone else thinks you’re so s didn’t dare duck so just sat there

Xiao Yao orried she broke the ge helped her look for it and handed it to her “It doesn’t break that easily”

Xiao Yao glared at hiroused “You ca… Do you still want to end the engage ontohurried said “I want to end it! I already told !”

Xiao Yao lowered her head and said nothing

Jing continued “All these years, Yi Yang spent by ree to letThis ti wanted to corandmother said the clan owed her for me to treat her like a little sister”

Xiao Yao played with the gerandmother spoils me, I will be able to convince her”

Xiao Yao said “I’ll accept this fish amethyst!” She put the necklace around her neck and then tucked the pendant into her robe

Jing noticed and his heart skipped a beat and he lowered his head

Xiao Yao said “I’ Bei who offered to teach ’s heart soared and he said with a sht to ask you to explain Just now, you coh”

But she didn’t co, she came back because of Zhuan Xu! Xiao Yao felt this pressure in her heart, was her relationshi+p with Jing also subject to being used? Xiao Yao said “Do you re me not to hurt Xuan?”

“Yes”

“I don’t knohat e wants to do, but if it doesn’t har warmly said “If it’s this request, you need not even ask I actually ca with Zhuan Xu”

“If you didn’t have so to discuss, then you wouldn’t have co heart skipped a beat and he explained “Feng Long asked er and ca first? I’ve been in Xuan Yuan Castle for twenty h what Xiao Yao said and he felt she meant he came too late But he couldn’t quite believe she would h each word and really wished she would say it again so he could hear her tone of voice

Xiao Yao was silent and then sighed, standing up to walk away

Jing grabbed her and stammered “Xiao Yao, you…you…you want to see me?”

Xiao Yao stared at him and he said with uncertainty “I know I’ assury”

Xiao Yao felt like she was looking at shi+ Qi again and her heart softened “Do you want to seenodded very soleht of an idea and convinced Feng Long and then dragged Feng Long and Xing Yue thousands of miles to come to Xuan Yuan Castle to convince Zhuan Xu

Xiao Yao was angry “Why didn’t you cohed “How can you be so certain I won’t let anothershook his head, he was so uncertain

Xiao Yao was so exasperated “You…are so stupid!”

Jing was taken aback, co charm, he really was too dull and staid

Zhuan Xu and Ah Nian walked in and greeted the slanced at Ah Nian and Zhuan Xu understood and said to Ah Nian “After a day with grandfather, you s to discuss but they didn’t see miffed but didn’t show it and just sweetly said “Okay”

Seeing Ah Nian leaving, Jing said to Zhuan Xu “In a bit Feng Long and Xing Yue will arrive and they will sneak to coht, they won’t ever ain”

Zhuan Xu heard this and suave a few orders He didn’t ask Jing what it was and just had thesome food and wine “Let’s dine and wait for them” He turned to Xiao Yao “You can join as well”

Xiao Yao sat down and was bored with their chatter so started drinking Zhuan Xu laughed and patted her on the head “If you get drunk, Feng Long and Xing Yue will think you’re an alcoholic and if word gets out you’ll never hope to get roused “Who said I wanted to drink all alone Don’t you kno to play? Play , I can’t say I can play Ask hi said “I haven’t touched a zither in over ten years”

Zhuan Xu was shocked and then apologized He sat down at the zither and started to play, and it was a song Xiao Yao heard before She sighed

Suddenly Jing said “Feng Long and Xing Yue are here, Xiao Yao go inside”

Xiao Yao quickly went inside

The tune finished and Feng Long and Xing Yue walked in “To wait until you finished, we stood outside for a bit”

Xing Yue stared at Zhuan Xu and her face was red

Zhuan Xu welcoreet the elders later and best not s said “I had the servants slow the cloud carriage down and I rode ht us only a little bit of time so let’s cut to the chase”

Zhuan Xu said “Between us, say whatever you want”

Feng Long asked Zhuan Xu “You caht for the crown, but your uncles have thousands of years of ruling experience over you What do you have to compete with theht now I’m barely able to stay alive here If you have another idea, please share”

“Since Xuan Yuan Castle belongs to your uncles and cousins tight control, why don’t you give it up?”

“Give up Xuan Yuan Castle?” Zhuan Xu’s face changed

Feng Long stood up and waved his hand and a water based map of the entire vast wilderness appeared “Look at the location of Xuan Yuan Castle Long ago, when the Yellow Edo its capital, they selected this place because it can control the Northwest The Castle is ringing on all four sides by et in and out which dom couldn’t ever vanquish Xuan Yuan But now thousands have years have passed and Xuan Yuan is no longer a little kingdoot the Northeast, the due South, the far North, and the entire Middle Plains All such great lands belong to Xuan Yuan!”

Feng Long pointed to the entire Xuan Yuan map and where Xuan Yuan Castle was located in the re the capital of such a vast kingdom, and it’s location would becohout all its controlled territories

Feng Long said “Zhuan Xu, do you see clearly? THIS is the entire world that you will rule over one day”

Zhuan Xu’s hand was shaking “I see it clearly!”

Fe