Chapter 34 (2/2)
Xiao Yao didn’t kno to answer so didn’t reply
Xing Yue said to Feng Long “Gege, this is the first ti cerelanced at Xiao Yao and said nothing
Xiao Yao knew Xing Yue ca Yue But she truly felt apologetic towards Feng Long and if her being sha Yue couldto endure it
Xing Yue walked over to Xiao Yao and circled her “Princess was supposedly so in love with Fang Feng Bei, but he’s been dead only a fewa party There isn’t the slight bit of“Your second brother died for her but look at her! Encountering such a heartless woman, even I don’t think it orth it for your second brother Iton a se, you should be happy that the Heavens looked out for the Chi Sui clan so that this type of wo’s expression was dark and he continued to say nothing
Chang laughed and tried to change the subject “Everyone came to enjoy the flowers, let’s all just look at the flowers!”
Xing Yue pointed to the flowers on Xiao Yao’s wrist “Here are some water lilies to enjoy? Princess is dressed so provocatively, whichto seduce now…”
Jing stepped in front of Xiao Yao “I gave her the flower Will Your highness please beYue covered her reat, since no man ant her nohy don’t the Tu Shan clan leader take her home as a concubine But you need to watch her carefully, who knows if she’ll run off with anotherwhen Xiao Yao jerked his sleeve to indicate that he just endure and say nothing Jing held back
“Look! Just look!” Xing Yue sighed loudly “Yi Yang, Yi Yang, you are solooks at each other right in front of you and you don’t even say anything Are you really going to let this woman who caused your second brother’s death to share a husband with you? You are still the wife, show so to do with some backbone?” It wasn’t clear when Zhuan Xu arrived on the shi+p and he alking over with a smile on his face
Everyone quickly bowed and Zhuan Xu passed everyone to personally help the Wan Lei Consort up “Are the water lilies pretty?”
The Wan Lei Consort answered “Very pretty Does Your majesty want to vieith us?”
Zhuan Xu smiled and teased “You’re prettier than the flowers, no need to view the water lilies!”
The Wan Lei Consort’s face blushed pink while Xing Yue’s face turned white
Zhuan Xu waved at Xiao Yao and she walked over to him He plucked the water lily froer strand that he wanted to put around the Wan Lei Consort’s wrist like Xiao Yao had He couldn’t secure it right and laughed “This stuff you women are better at”
Xiao Yao placed the water lily strand around the Wan Lei Consort’s wrist and helped her e Zhuan Xu complimented “Lovely!”
The Wan Lei Consorted curtsied to Zhuan Xu “Thank Your race”
Xiao Yao also curtsied “Your majesty, I have a headache and will excuse o visit Grandfather so let’s go together”
Zhuan Xu said to everyone “Everyone continue enjoying the flowers!” Zhuan Xu turned to go but stopped and whispered a feords in the Wan Lei Consort’s ear She shyly sot on the other shi+p and left
The Wan Lei Consort s Yue’s expression was thunderous and was about to explode but the Wan Lei Consort remained cool and composed The Wan Lei Consort was different than the other consorts like Shu Hui ere from the Middle Plains She was fro Yue but was not afraid of her
Yi Yang as furious that Xing Yue sha Xiao Yao also included her so she s to Your highness Back there on the shi+p, he only had eyes for you and no one else”
The Wan Lei Consort raised the water lily corsage on her wrist and wordlessly s Yue was so furious, when Zhuan Xu arrived he didn’t berate her but ignored her in front of everyone Xing Yue felt the entire lake full of water lilies were ’s voice reached her in her mind “I told you not to come You insisted and now you’re here then you can’t just leave If you leave then everyone will speak even worse behind your back If you endure then all people will say is that it doesn’t matter which consort Zhuan Xu likes, you’re still the Empress and don’t need to vy with the other consorts for anything”
Xing Yue could only hold in her furious rage and put on a nanimous demeanor to enjoy the floith everyone
After the shi+p departed, Zhuan Xu i her in the head “When did you beco Yue insults you and you just take it? If you have such a easygoing personality then why don’t you use it on Grandfather andyou about so back at ue-tied Let ain, I’ll first thrash you little spineless thing!”
Xiao Yao kept her head lowered in silence
Zhuan Xu kept on yelling “Say so! Are you mute now?”
Xiao Yao wearily splayed her hands “Aren’t you coued all the tiht now?”
“You…” Zhuan Xu was so frustrated he bopped her on the head “If you have this attitude with me why don’t you use it on outsiders?”
“My past with Feng Long…I feel like I wronged hi Yue was to insultrelease fro? Your dad and I have given way more reparations to the Chi Sui clan than needed and said plenty of nice things Feng Long is currently above the whole world and under only one person He has everything he could want in power and glory All he has to deal with it soet later, he can have any woht now! But you? Your reputation is shot and the person who ended up on the losing side of this situation is you!”
Xiao Yao said “Just this tiht with ht back”
Zhuan Xu coldly huffed “You said you were planning to do so exciting so I found time in my busy schedule to come watch from the sidelines Who expected that I would see you were the one being attacked?”
Xiao Yao opened her ar started I tossed the lure and noill have to wait for the fish to bite Later I’ll tell you everything so you can marvel at my plan”
Zhuan Xu felt the water lily on Xiao Yao’s wrist was annoying hier and it fell into the water
“Aish, my flower!” Xiao Yao wanted to scoop it up but it floated away Xiao Yao’s face was crestfallen and Zhuan Xu scoffed “Just a feorthless flowers Later I’ll get you as much as you want”
Xiao Yao muttered “It’s not the same……”
A few days later, Xiao Yao and Shan Hu entered the Tu Shan clan jewelry store She earing a veiled hat so the clerk couldn’t see her face but he saw the blue pearl earrings hanging from Shan Hu’s ears and iht theht out refreshht out a set of jewelry for Xiao Yao and Shan Hu to peruse Xiao Yao sat on the pallet and glanced across the offering before looking out the , clearly not interested in as presented Shan Hu picked a seven colored fish bracelet that wasn’t very expensive but nicely made with each piece the same size and color
Xiao Yao had the clerk wrap it up and was preparing to pay and leave Hou lifted the curtains and said with a sestured to the clerk who quickly retreated
Xiao Yao lazily drawled “Bit bored so brought Shan Hu out shopping”
Hou said “The rare items won’t be shown that easily Princess, please see if there is anything you like”
Two maids came in and placed boxes on the table
Hou opened a box and inside was a jewel that was exquisitely made Xiao Yao picked it up and coners, comparable to the artisans in the Palace”
Hou described bracelets and hair pins to Xiao Yao, going into detail the painstaking labor needed for the intricate details and flawless finishes His explanations were detailed and Xiao Yao listened raptly Xiao Yao couldn’t help but ask “How do you know so ned all these froht artisan to hand craft it I handled it all enuinely surprised and startled and checked out Hou again in earnest
Hou explained “It’s nothing to be surprised about, the Tu Shan clan dabble in business and jewelry is the business with the greatest risk It’s the field I focused on learning since I was s it as me, you would know just as much and do it just as well”
Xiao Yao said “Jewelry seems cold but it contains a person’s creative ideas, hard work, and lifetime’s investment to make a woman look a little bit prettier”
Hou clapped “Exactly! But I noticed you rarely wear jewelry”
“I was pretty down and out in the past so to even survive was a blessing I feel like such external items are to be admired and I don’t any have desire to own it”
Hou raised an eyebrow “That’s unique”
Xiao Yao mocked herself “It’s not that unique, I’ catch hed “I guess none of these iteot up to take her leave
Hou suddenly asked “Do you have tie what it looks like in its original state?”
Xiao Yao cocked her head and stared at hi it out in the open “Youlikes me”
Hou smiled back and decided to take a step back in his approach “If you’ve decided to marry him then I take back what I just said”
Xiao Yao sht me archery and died in a shower of arrows If you’re not afraid of death then I don’t ems”
Hou said “Then it’s set I’ll rinned and put her on veiled hat before leaving with Shan Hu
The second day Xiao Yao arrived and Hou took her to see the uncut gems
With a first date, there was a second date, and a third date……
Xiao Yao couldn’t help but admit that Hou was a very attractive , serious orking but carefree when playing His carefree was different than Fang Feng Bei’s si Bei really didn’t care about anything so he wanted nothing Hou’s passion was because he wanted to do Feng Bei who really wasn’t afraid of anything Hou’s adventurous spirit was only within the confines of what he felt he could handle He wanted the thrill but also protected his life He was likely exactly the kind ofwanted His ambition could fulfill a woive her endless thrills but nothing that was life threatening
Hou knew Xiao Yao was a smart person and there was only ever one reason for a man to spend ti nor did he try to conceal it He gave Xiao Yao everything he thought she would like and did it in a self-deprecating way “I know youhow I feel You just have to accept it and you can do whatever you ith it afterwards, throw it away or give it to so Yue said Hou was very generous The things Hou gave her, Zhuan Xu ive his consorts and then boldly say they could do whatever they wanted with it afterwards
Froot closer
One Summer afternoon, Hou took Xiao Yao out on a little boat and they went in the water to play with the fishes and pluck the water lilies Hou and Xiao Yao dove into the water and were relaxed and playful Hou knew Xiao Yao’s poeak but playfully took her deeper until she had one breath left He wanted to help her but Xiao Yao smiled and took out a fish amethyst from her robe and popped it in her er than him in the water
They came to the surface and Xiao Yao climbed on the boat and spit out the fish alowed purple as it dangled on a chain from her neck
Hou said “So the fish aht? Years ago he claiht it but it turned out to be hiave it to me”
Hou re really knohat you do like”
Xiao Yao smiled “This actually all relates back to you Reo e all went out to sea and you captured a monster fish and re Yue and I were enchanted by it and I wanted it then but Xing Yue asked first You said no and since I wasn’t fa Later I asked Feng Long and Jing about it and wanted to ask s co Palace can’t easily obtain one that pretty I don’t like ordinary ones and was quite disappointed but Jing kept on looking and got me this fish a Yue did ask hi and Jing discussing it afterwards Hou’s anger bubbled forth but he kept his s out”
Xiao Yao said “It’s getting dark, let’s go back!”
Hou said “Three days later then?”
Xiao Yao replied “Sure!”
Three days later Xiao Yao met up with Hou and he rowed the and asking “Can I see your fish amethyst?”
Xiao Yao took it off and handed it to Hou who pal really put effort into it as he likely made it himself
Hou said to Xiao Yao “Close your eyes”
Xiao Yao asked “Why?”
Hou said “Close your eyes and you’ll see”
Xiao Yao shed and pleaded with her “Trust me, close your eyes”
Xiao Yao closed her eyes and Hou placed the necklace back around her neck and said “Okay, open your eyes now”
Xiao Yao opened her eyes and laughed “Why so secretive to put my necklace back on me?”
Hou pointed to Xiao Yao’s chest and she looked down to see a shi+ning red fish ruby that was even bigger than her fish amethyst She happily lifted it up and stared with excite it to you But you can only wear one necklace, so if you want this then you can’t wear the fish amethyst anymore” Hou opened his hand and inside was the fish amethyst necklace
Xiao Yao stared at the fish a off the fish ruby to hand back to Hou coldly “Your gift is not sincere so I’m not interested!”
Hou didn’t take the fish ruby back and kept the fish amethyst in his hand as he pleaded “I just wanted to say that eventually you’ll have to choose But I’ll wait, I’ll wait until you’re willing”
Xiao Yao s pressured otherwise nois, I don’t want it!”
Hou believed her, there were feo so Xiao Yao really was an odd one Hou said “I’ll keep this fish amethyst for you and later you can ask for it back or throw it away, you decide”
Xiao Yao smiled and put the fish ruby back around her neck
They two played on the lake for a bit longer before Hou took Xiao Yao back
Xiao Yao was cool and calm until she returned to Xiao Yue Sued Shan Hu and hopped around excitedly “I got it, I finally got it!”
Shan Han was jostled and asked “What did you get?”
Xiao Yao said “I got the key that will unlock the truth”
With Hou’s attitude towards jewelry, even the most rare precious fish ruby that can only be found by luck he likely wouldn’t care to keep it He kept this fish ruby around for sixty so saw this fish ruby before and Yi Yang was Jing’s wife so she couldn’t wear it Yi Yang knew she was cheating so she wouldn’t risk keeping it with her, and neither would Hou risk it, so even if it was gifted to Yi Yang it would still be kept by Hou Yi Yang likely only wore it when she was alone with Hou
Ever since the baby was born, Yi Yang and Hou were even ilant to keep up pretenses and never once ued with each other This fish ruby was likely kept in a box sootten It wasn’t until he saw Xiao Yao’s fish amethyst that he remembered that victory prize from that day
An item Hou kept in a box for tens of years, he wouldn’t have a proble it to win another wo really wanted
Xiao Yao asked Zhuan Xu to organize another banquet for her, like last ti, and Chang
Zhuan Xu asked “These days you’ve been hanging around Hou What’s going on?”
Even though Xiao Yao was secretive aboutHou, she never tried to hide it from Zhuan Xu so she smiled “You’ll know soon what I’anized a banquet for friends to explore the Sheng Nong gorges
It was Su excursion even without Xiao Xiao suggesting it
The Li Jie Consort was the older cousin of the tribe leader Li Jie Chang, she was a very open and engaging wo’s close friends The guests numbered around twenty or so and everyone took a shi+p into the uests were in attendance and her eyes flitted across Jing and Yi Yang before landing on Hou He s down behind the Li Jie Consort
After the roups to chat
The Li Jie Consort chatted with Yi Yang about fashi+on while Xiao Yao and Shan Hu stood by the railing ad over and asked with a huff “What is your relationshi+p with Hou?”
Fro until Summer, Xiao Yaothat could be kept fro or Jing would delanced at Jing before answering in annoyance “What do you care what ed “Since you’re with Jing, then you shouldn’t hed coldly “I’, and also ordinary friends with Hou You stop butting in!”
Hou stood in the shadows and heard what Xiao Yao said and his face darkened
Hou said to the crowd “I heard this lake has silver fish that love eating lily dew so its rilled or in soup it’s hty tasty But it’s very sensitive so hides in deep places and is hard to catch Andit otherwise the reat chef onboard today and I also have a fish ao catch some for everyone to eat”
The Li Jie Consort was very playful and laughed “If you can catch some then I’ll cook it personally My culinary skills are not all that shabby against the chef”
Hou walked to the railing and took out his glittering fish a was stunned that his present to Xiao Yao would end up in Hou’s hand and his dismay was evident Xiao Yao see’s pained look
Hou glanced over at the into the lake After he dove in did Xiao Yao lift her head and glance at Jing whose expression was as placid as water and i Xiao Yao took a few steps and walked beside hied on the surface with a two feet long silver fish in his hand Everyone clapped in glee and the ot excited as the Li Jie Consort rolled up her sleeves to head to the kitchen to cook the fish
Hou saw Xiao Yao and Jing standing next to each other on the shi+p with no smiles on their faces Hou seneral direction “Want to come catch silver fish? It’s fun”
A few folks dived into the water and Xiao Yao glanced at Jing before wordlessly diving in as well
Jing stared at Hou who floated on the surface and locked eyes with Jing, a look of wanting Jing to take it all in After Xiao Yao swam to his side, Hou sloa saw Hou beckon in Xiao Yao’s direction to invite her into the water to play Her heart jerked even if others also went in She thought she was overthinking it and what Hou said was meant for everyone on the shi+p and not just Xiao Yao But when Xiao Yao dove into the water and swaestures were not overly close but her woht
Yi Yang was unsettled and looked towards Jing and saw Chang angrily saying so who just quietly stared out over the lake
There wasn’t a lot of people on the shi+p to begin with, and with a handful in the water and the rest around the Li Jie Consort cooking, Yi Yang noticed no one was paying her any attention so she sneaked to the rear of the shi+p to listen to Chang and Jing talk
Yi Yang didn’t dare get too close but she learned archery since she was young so her hearing was excellent She heard Chang mention Hou and Xiao Yao so she calmed her senses to hear better”
“That witchout to play, viewing flowers, cli mountains…she claims to just be ordinary friends but do you believe that? I don’t!”
Hou and Xiao Yaocouldn’t believe it, Hou would never! Would never………Yi Yang aiting for Jing to refute what Chang was saying but Jing said nothing as if ad said was all true
Then…Hou and Xiao Yao really had beenfelt her eyes darken and her head spin
Chang furiously raged “Don’t think it’s all one-sided froht into the water and left you! Jing, are you blind, how could you fall for such a wo felt like she fell into an ice cave, her entire body was shi+vering as she thought about how the whole world knew about Hou and Xiao Yao and only she was kept in the dark
The Li Jie Consort called out “Yi Yang, Yi Yang, co composed herself and forced and smile as she walked over
Thebut it wasn’t clear if Yi Yang was out of it or the maid was clumsy but the fish landed on her dress and left an oily s waved it off “Just a dress, I’ll just go change”
The Li Jie Consort ordered another e After changing, thesat there with her face ashen and said nothing Theas well and quietly waited for her
Yi Yang’s heart was ju said was true This wasn’t so hard to confir was trying to collect her thoughts, the door opened and a wet Xiao Yao walked in She politely nodded her head and walked inside Yi Yang remembered Xiao Yao had very loers so while others could dry thee her clothes
Through the veiled partition she could see Xiao Yao changing Xiao Yao was giggling with Shan Hu “I don’t want that skirt, bring another one”
Yi Yang was annoyed just hearing Xiao Yao’s voice and was about to get up and leave when Shan Hu lifted the veil and before it descended Yi Yang’s eyes glanced inside and felt a fire red burst sear her eyes She turned around to look carefully but the veil was covering Xiao Yao again
Yi Yang forgot all about courtesy and walked over to pull open the veiled partition and saw Xiao Yao wearing her underclothes and a red fish ruby was hanging on her chest covering Yi Yang couldn’t even rabbed the wall
Shan Hu angrily said “Mada didn’t seem to hear that and just stared at Xiao Yao She forced a smile and casually asked “The fish ruby Princess has sure is lovely Not sure where to buy one, can I see it?”
Xiao Yao put on her dress and took off the necklace and tossed it to Yi Yang who quickly caught it afraid it would break Xiao Yao laughed “Just a little trinket, Mada deal if it breaks”
Such words Yi Yang heard often fro to show off how little they care about expensive treasure Being in the Tu Shan clan, nofinally understood that whether so was priceless was how the person viewed it She treasured this so much she would use her body to protect it, but to Xiao Yao it was just a trinket she could toss carelessly
At first glance Yi Yang already knew this fish ruby was the one Hou gave her But she didn’t want to believe it so had to hold it in her own hands to be absolutely sure She realized that her heart which Hou should have cherished and hidden aas instead now given to another woman who viewed it as a trinket that could be tossed
Yi Yang returned the necklace and said “It’s very pretty”
Xiao Yao accepted it with a slanced at the fire red ruby around Xiao Yao’s neck which brought out her snohite skin andprivately with Xiao Yao, did he also roll it around her body and say “Only such fire red couldabruptly turned around and walked out the door
Xiao Yao saw Yi Yang leave and the shed loudly, feeling exhausted This battle aged fro she could and the rest was up to Jing
Shan Hu silently fixed Xiao Yao’s clothes and asked “Princess, want et you some hot tea?”
Xiao Yao shook her head “No, I’ll rest for a bit before departing on a little boat Send word to Jing to meet me at the usual spot after he extricates himself”
“I will”
Xiao Yao went out and had so herself with the Li Jie Consort She was so easygoing she didn’tto wait?”
Xiao Yao said “No, I see him everyday anyway”
The Li Jie Consort ordered the little boat readied and it took Xiao Yao back
Xiao Yao left on the little boat not to go back to Xiao Yue Summit but to Cao Ao Peak and the little hut that remained the sa there and today Xiao Yao looked around the hut before sitting by the edge of the pond to wait for Jing
After quite so sat down next to Xiao Yao and she looked sideways at hiave ave it to hiet upset with you over an ite?”
Xiao Yao s said “So Xiao Yao, I don’t want you to…”
Xiao Yao took out the fish ruby froardless of whether you want me to or not, I’ took the fish ruby “This is…the one that Hou got froo?”
Xiao Yao nodded “When you saw Hou holding sooing on betweenly said “My first reaction was shock and despair, but I i else I don’t know exactly what and I can’t help you, so I can only remain calm and unaffected, to let no reaction be my only action”
Xiao Yao contained her s will have our level of trust? When Yi Yang saw the fish ruby inunderstood everything now “Hou gave this fish ruby to Yi Yang, but noin your affection, he gave it to you”
Xiao Yao nodded “It was just a guess initially but today Yi Yang’s reaction confir will be sure to go find Hou When Hou can’t give the fish ruby to her, she will explode and Hou will need to use everything he can to placate Yi Yang…do you understand?”
“I understand” Hou and Yi Yang’s had ain tandeed a rift between them now and they would start to question each other and that would disrupt their plans
Jing controlled his excite “Xiao Yao, can you lend orilla , to use the mirror to re