Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  On the horse, there was a woman. Although her clothes were a dirty mess, one could still see that the clothes were made of very high-quality material. The long green dress was folded into multiple layers with simple flower patterns embroidered onto it. Those simple decoration made the dress fancy but not extravagant. With luxurious black hair scattered behind her, the lady was lean and thin, with long legs and a narrow waist. From just one glance, one could tell she had the potential to be extremely beautiful. But this beauty seemed to be in a weakened state, as she was sprawled on top of the horse as though she had already fainted.

  “Eh? Looks like a sleeping beauty!” A certain person, although completely tied up, already noticed the woman. Immediately he cried to the rest, “With a lady around, do not embarrass me! Quickly, untie me!”


  Looking at him, Tie You casually remarked, “No way!”


  A breeze swept past, sweeping up the lady’s long hair. With his sharp eyes, Li Ce recognized Chu Qiao. Mouth agape, he quickly reacted. “Qiao Qiao! Come help me! It’s me, Li Ce!”


  His piercing voice came so suddenly that the crowd surrounding him all jumped in surprise. Particularly, the horse was scared out of its wits. After roaming in the quiet mountains for so long, it was suddenly screamed at and mistook the voice for a wolf. Raising its front hooves in shock, it neighed loudly. The lady on its back was thrown off, and with a crash, she landed heavily on the ground. Before she stopped rolling, the heartless horse had already galloped off into the distance.

  “Ah!” Shocked, Li Ce’s face turned pale before quickly shouting, “What are you standing there for? Go and save her, quickly!”


  Before long, the carriages of the Royal Tang family rolled out away from Yu Ping mountain. From the woods, a few middle-aged men left their hiding spots. They were all dressed like woodcutters. One opened his mouth and addressed the rest, “Go and report back to King Luo. The prince has attempted to escape his marriage six times, and is even more crazy and childish than the rumors suggest. Everything will proceed according to plan.”


  “Roger!” one of the men replied and then left. A short while later, a pitch black warhorse galloped out from within the woods. The woodcutter man flipped onto the horse and quickly disappeared into the distance.

  The two sides of the mountain road were decorated with greenery. The downpour over the past few days seemed to breath new life into this place. And along this road, Chu Qiao entered Tang Jin, the center of commerce in the entire continent. Originally intending to search for Yan Xun in Tang Jing, her poison had acted up again causing her to faint on her horse. By pure chance, she still reached her destination through this fateful turn of events.

  It was already the peak of summer. With a cooling breeze, the scent of blossoming lotuses was blown into the towers surrounding the beautiful lake. One could see two maidservants waving huge fans while half kneeling on the ground. Within some square trays placed in the room, newly frozen ice cubes sent out wisps of cold air that lowered the temperature from the searing summer heat. Behind a translucent red curtain, which was decorated with sparkling crystals, a woman dressed in a simple yellow dress could be seen limply lying on the bed. Her hair was spread out on the bed. One could see how her eyebrows were slightly furrowed. Although her complexion looked unnaturally pale, it did not reduce her beauty. A thin silk blanket with huge embroideries of roses covered her body. The roses were a dull white color, although, amidst the stitches, one could see some silvery strands interwoven within the white. Under the glow of the setting sun, the silvery strands looked like flowing water.

  The lady on the bed frowned ever so slightly as her white slender hand started to move. Like the flapping wings of a butterfly, her eyes blinked. Opening her eyes, her crystal clear iris darted around. This lady was none other than Chu Qiao. In that split second, she was overwhelmed with confusion as she observed her surroundings, trying to make sense of her location.

  “Oh! You are awake!” The maidservant was only about 13 to 14 years old. Upon seeing that Chu Qiao had woken up, she seemed really happy. Jumping up, she ran out and shouted to the people outside, “She woke up!”


  “Madam, please lie down first. The imperial doctor is coming to check your pulse.” While saying that, the other maidservant stood up and started to unroll a thick curtain to cover the bed so that Chu Qiao could rest undisturbed.

  With her sharp eyes, Chu Qiao immediately noticed that despite the fact that the room was so cool, and that even the floor matting was made out of expensive material that felt cool to the touch, the girl who was talking was drenched in sweat, with a few strands of hair stuck to the sweat on her forehead. Frowning, Chu Qiao asked, “Who is the Madam you are referring to?”


  “You!” the maidservant replied, confused by the question.

  Chu Qiao’s face turned gloomy by this strange turn of events. Carefully examining her surroundings, she questioned solemnly, “Where is this? Who are you? Why am I here?”


  The young maidservant was completely shocked by the string of questions, as she mumbled incoherent words before finally murmuring, “This is the Imperial Palace. This……this servant is called Qiu Sui. Madam, you were brought back by his highness.”


  “Imperial Palace?” Raising an eyebrow, Chu Qiao suddenly recalled a dream where she dreamt of a certain annoying person who was grinning so widely she wanted to hit him.

  It couldn’t be……

  Pushing the girl aside, she jumped down from the bed. Brushing the curtains aside, she ran out.

  “Madam! Madam! Your shoes!” The maidservant was so confused by this strange turn of events she almost started crying as she picked up the shoes and chased after Chu Qiao.

  The crimson red sun illuminated the peaceful green water of the lake. Lifting up the hem of her skirt, Chu Qiao sprinted barefooted on the polished corridors. From her angle, one could see that in the aquamarine water, there lay a curtain of lotus leaves, and within the forest of lotus leaves, there was an intricately built structure that exuded an aura of antiquity. Completely made out of unpainted redwood, one could even see the tree rings. The small pavilion was open on all sides, providing for excellent ventilation. Thin veils hung on the sides, fluttering like dancing butterflies as the evening breeze swept by.

  In the middle of the pavilion, a young man leaned on one of the redwood pillars. Sitting with his legs slightly bent, an intricate silver wine bottle was beside his hand. There were no cups present, although there were some freshly peeled lotus seeds that were scattered on the ground like pearls. In his hand was a jade green flute. He did not play the flute and merely spun it around so quickly and nimbly that it was almost mesmerizing to watch. The thin mist from the lake obscured his face, and one could only see his bright red clothes waving in the breeze.

  “Madam! Madam!” A dozen maidservants trailed behind Chu Qiao, each of them holding different things. From just one glance, one could identify shoes, a robe, hairpins, etc…… Their soft voices called out one after another, sounding like a bunch of birdlings chirping.

  As Chu Qiao approached, the man’s mouth suddenly broke into a wide smile. Smiling, he looked really handsome, much like a delicate painting. Putting down the long flute, he opened his arms, before smiling in fulfillment and declaring, “Come here, Qiao Qiao, let us embrace passionately in celebration of our reunion!”


  With a loud crash, Chu Qiao punched him in the chest. At that very moment, a blood-curdling scream resounded. Grabbing the man’s collar, she bellowed, “Li Ce! What are you trying to do?”


  “Ah! Protect his highness!”


  “Assassin! Protect his highness!”


  A cacophony stirred up. While coughing, Li Ce waved at the crowd, who was rushing to protect him, to dismiss the situation. “Worry not! I am fine! Stand down!”


  Still suspicious, the soldiers had no choice but to comply. After the crowd left, Li Ce bitterly glanced at Chu Qiao, before pitiably complaining, “Qiao Qiao, can you please stop expressing your feelings for me this way? It is very painful.”


  “What are you plotting? Why did you hold me captive?”


  Helplessly, Li Ce sighed, before blinking and replying, “Qiao Qiao, are you really going to give this attitude to someone who saved your life?”


  Completely unmoved, Chu Qiao firmly stated, “Speak the truth!”


  “That is the truth.” Li Ce sighed once again. “On my escapade from my wedding, I saw that you fainted. If I had not stopped to save you, I would not have been tied up and brought back to the palace by my father. Qiao Qiao, I sacrificed so much for you, yet you treat me like this, I am really hurt.”


  Still looking at him with suspicion, Chu Qiao’s expression softened up. “Are you for real?”


  Li Ce immediately raised his hand up and swore, “Definitely!”


  Frowning, Chu Qiao thought about it some more, before loosening her grip and softly apologizing, “I am sorry.”


  “It is okay!” Casually, Li Ce smiled and shrugged it off. Grinning, he continued, “I am used to beauties being touchy with me.” Just as he said that, he suddenly jumped up and nimbly pushed Chu Qiao to the back of the pillar where he was sitting previously. Following that, he sat down in the same position as before, and his face suddenly turned melancholy. While moving, he quickly informed Chu Qiao, “Don’t leave, it will be over in just a moment.”


  In the breeze, and over the ripples of the lake, Li Ce lifted up the flute and placed it beside his lips. Just as Chu Qiao thought he was about to start playing the flute, she heard some unskilled flute noises. Yet, behind her, a serene melody started to play out.

  Curious, Chu Qiao turned around, only to see a white-haired elderly squatting on the floor, playing the flute in an extremely awkward posture.

  Just as Chu Qiao was utterly confused by the scene in front of her eyes, sounds of high pitched chuckling could be heard. Turning her head, she saw a crowd of beautiful ladies who were walking by. It seemed that upon hearing the sudden sound of the flute, they all turned around, only to be captivated by Li Ce’s elegant demeanor.

  Completely unmoved, Li Ce calmly continued to maintain his act. His gaze was affixed into the distance. It was unclear what he was actually looking at. As the thin veils around the pavilion fluttered in the breeze, it added yet another mysterious touch to this prince.

  After a few minutes, the ladies walked away. Seeing a servant waving a red flag from afar, Li Ce heaved a sigh of relief, before turning to the old man hiding behind the pillar, and saying, “That is enough, you can stop.”


  After squatting for so long, the old man’s legs were already numb. Trembling, he stood up. Ignoring the sweat dripping from his head, he started to say, “Your highness……”


  “Alright, Master Yu, you may leave. I can guarantee that your son will not be sent to the Southern Border to guard the borders. I will replace him with……with……right, I will send Master Lu’s son as a replacement. You were not on good terms with him anyways. He can only blame himself that he cannot play any instruments and that his daughter is so ugly.”


  “Yes, yes, thank you, Your Highness, for helping me!” The old man thanked Li Ce profusely, before leaving while supported by servants.

  Chu Qiao strangely looked at Li Ce, before frowning. “What are you trying to achieve?”


  “Didn’t you see?” Li Ce’s eyes sparkled happily as he continued, “Within the group of ladies who passed by just now, there was one wearing a green skirt. Did you see her?”


  Frowning, Chu Qiao replied, “I was too busy watching your amazing performance, how could I notice someone like that?”


  “Oh, such a pity……” Li Ce shook his head slowly. “She is the daughter of Mister He, who was just transferred back to the capital. She is great with the flute, and looks beautiful too! But the problem is that she did not look at me despite meeting me twice!”


  “Is it rare for someone to not look at you directly?”


  “Of course!” Li Ce replied instantly as if it was a fact. “Alright, enough of that. Regardless of the reason, you coming to the Tang Empire must not have been easy. I must act as a proper host. Come, I will bring you out to play today!”


  Taken aback by this sudden proposition, Chu Qiao asked, “Play?”


  Stretching out his hand, Li Ce grabbed Chu Qiao by her shoulder and coolly smiled. “Qiao Qiao, one must not be so stiff. Besides revenge, besides Da Tong, besides killing others, there is a lot of fun in living!”