Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Li Ce would rarely talk about serious matters like that. Following the flow of the conversation, Chu Qiao inquired, “What kind of important things?”


  Counting his finger, Li Ce listed, “For example, window shopping, buying some clothes, trying out some makeup, and maybe listening to some music, wearing some pretty clothes. Maybe you can find some entertainment for these long nights, and maybe spanw some offspring to enrich your current life…… Wait, what are you doing? I am very serious about what I am saying!”


  “Why did I expect you to actually say something sensible!” Chu Qiao retorted.

  Li Ce chuckled. “Isn’t it still your fault? We had already bit farewell over a dozen times, yet you insist on staying here to listen to me blabber on. Why? You can’t bear to bid me adieu?”


  “Bullsh*t! I……I just want to stand here a while more, to take a better look at the mountains of the Tang Empire. What’s wrong with that?”


  “Fine, nothing is wrong with that. You can stay here and slowly look all you want. Go ahead.” Li Ce grinned happily, as though trying to taunt Chu Qiao. With that, he actually stopped talking.

  Chu Qiao bit her lower lips, and her frown furrowed deeper instead of going away.

  “The air in the Tang Empire is so clean.”


  “Is it? I heard that in Yan Bei, with the snow around for all seasons, the air is even cleaner than here.”


  “Have you decided to marry the Xia Princess?”


  “Anything goes for me. The two countries are still discussing. I delegated this matter to my servants. Considering how there have been repeated incidents stemming from this marriage, I hired two famous Feng Shui experts to examine the geomancy, and predict the future of the two countries. Beginning from the ancestors of the Xia Princess, all the way to all the living relatives between the two royal families, we will end the decision with a vote from all the officials in the Tang Empire. I estimate that we will need a good three to five years for all that to be completed. By the time all that is over, the princess will likely be past the prime age of marriage.”


  “Your plot is too evil. You are delaying her marriage.”


  “How can you say it that way? I am considering the prosperity of the two nations.”


  “Where did Zhao Chun’er go?”


  “I don’t know. The Xia envoy fetched her away, but she was not sent back to Zhen Huang. She might have been sent to watch over some other province.”


  “What about your wounds? Have you recovered?”


  “It was no big deal. If you had not given me a good beating just now, I would have recovered even faster.”


  “Sure. Your hairstyle looks pretty good today.”


  “Is it? It’s been messed up by the wind. I would not say there is any hairstyle left.”


  “Your clothes also look pretty good. What material are they made of?”


  “Shennan Silk. You should have worn it before.”


  “Actually, your belt looks pretty good too. Is that jade a type of Heluo Jade?”


  “No, you’re wrong. It’s not even jade, I merely picked it up from the riverside. I had lost a bet to Tie You, and had no money to pay up. He took the jade from me as compensation.”


  “What about your perfume? Is it a special aromatic oil?”


  “No, actually, before I came here, I was drinking with the others. Sun Di drank too much and vomited on me, and I did not have time to change before coming.”


  “Oh, I see. Are you planning to go back to Tang Jing later?”


  “I have no intentions of following you back to Yan Bei.”


  “What happened to him?”


  “He is fine. I believe he went back.”


  The wind suddenly became stronger, as Chu Qiao’s expression dulled. Silently sitting on the back of her horse, she stopped talking. Li Ce stared on at her, and maintained his gentle smile, as though from the beginning they had always been talking about clothes, accessories, and various unimportant matters.

  “Li Ce, do you think I am very shameless?” Chu Qiao suddenly broke the silence.

  Li Ce lightly smiled. “I have over 3,000 beauties in my harem, and have slept with countless women. If you are shameless, then wouldn’t I be even worse?”


  Chu Qiao shook her head, “This is not the same.”


  “Qiaoqiao, do not think too much.” Li Ce stretched out his hand, and lightly patted her shoulder, “You need not feel guilty. He is a smart person, he will be fine.”


  “I hope so too.” Chu Qiao bitterly smiled. “When did he leave?”


  “Last night, he left with his men shortly after you left. He did not even inform me.”


  “Are you two very familiar with each other?”


  “We are not exactly familiar. We have known each other since a long time ago, but we only truly interacted with each other during this period of time.”


  Chu Qiao lowered her head, and stopped the conversation there. Li Ce, however, started to ask, “Qiaoqiao, were you touched by his actions?”


  Chu Qiao lifted her head, with a slight smile on her face, she said, “If I said I was not, would you believe me?”


  “I would.” Without skipping a beat, Li Ce nodded.

  Chu Qiao’s volume dropped one whole notch as she solemnly described, “I really owe him too much. Perhaps I will not get the opportunity to pay him back in this entire life. I am afraid that his family will make things difficult for him.”


  “If you really do not want to owe him anything, you should not bother with him even if you know that he is in trouble. I am sure that even without your assistance, he will be able to pass through the problems without much trouble. Some debts are impossible to clear, and the more you try to return the favor, the messier the situation becomes.”


  Slightly taken aback by this profound analysis, Chu Qiao lifted up her head, only to see Li Ce’s gentle smile that seemed like a light shining through the mist. She nodded and said, “You are right.”


  “Qiaoqiao, the situation in Yan Bei is becoming increasingly complicated. Be careful there.”


  Chu Qiao graciously smiled. “Thank you very much. Worry not. I am not going to be alone. Yan Xun will be with me too.”


  Li Ce was slightly taken aback, and following that he broke into a smile. “I am so stupid. You are already going to marry, why am I still saying so much nonsense to you?” Shaking his head, he seriously stated, “Alright, when you are getting married, inform me. I will make sure I bring some presents for you.”


  “Haha! That would be expected! Since you are so rich, I expect an extra large red envelope from you! Don’t even think about finding an excuse not to give it me!”


  “Oi! Don’t give me that. I am a poor man. The allowance that Father gives me each month is not even enough for me to spend a night at the brothel.”


  Chu Qiao was lost for words.

  With the wind starting again, the sun gradually rose from beyond the horizon. The mist on the grass plains started to vanish, as Li Ce pointed to Yan Bei’s forces, claiming, “You should take your leave soon. If Prince Yan gets impatient, he will come after me.”


  The sunlight of the morning shone onto Chu Qiao, giving her face a soft glow. Lightly licking her lips, she smiled sincerely, “Li Ce, thank you. I am leaving.”


  Chu Qiao was just about to turn her horse around when a hand suddenly stretched out and blocked her. The man’s expression looked a bit different from usual, as he gazed at her. Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow, and asked, “Is there anything else that you need?”


  “Oh, it is nothing much.” Li Ce absentmindedly shook his head while smiling. “If there comes a day when Yan Xun suddenly becomes enlightened, and takes multiple wives and concubine while ignoring you, you can come here and look for me for a place to live.”


  Chu Qiao laughed. “Such a day will not come.” Lifting up her hand, she gestured a cutting motion across her neck, while continuing, “If he dares to do that, I will first get rid of that bunch of women before killing him. Then I will declare myself king, and take over his property.”


  Li Ce clicked his tongue, and patted his chest while pretending to be very scared, “Wow, such a scary woman.”


  “I am leaving!”


  “Go! Go! If you still do not go, the sky will turn dark already.”


  Chu Qiao laughed, and with a yank on the horse, she rode away.

  “Qiaoqiao! Remember to always be careful! Do not be too trusting!”


  Chu Qiao waved her hand back, calling out, “Yes yes! You are saying too much!”


  “This brat! Eat more meat! Your figure is too flat. It is nauseating!”


  On the Nanqiu Grass Plains, the wind intensified as the birds soared in the sky, welcoming a new day. The sun had completely emerged from the horizon. Looking at the black crowd in the distance, a young lady rushed forth.

  The army of Yan Bei quietly lined up in their columns in wait of instructions from their master. A man in black sat upright on his horse. Although he was still far away, one could feel his cold aura, as though he was the embodiment of a sharp sword.

  “The women now really have bad taste. Why would she chase after someone who is so pretentious and forever seems so serious? On the other hand, someone as handsome as me does not have anyone pursuing him. What kind of logic is that?” a certain man muttered, before turning around. With the wind brushing back his hair, his robes fluttered in the wind. “I hope you can find a path that is suitable for you!” With that said, Li Ce whipped his horse, and quickly disappeared into the distance.

  Sun Di and the gang were surprised by their Crown Prince’s sudden departure. Hurriedly, they picked up the silver that was lying around and chased after him.

  “Your Highness! Wait for us!”


  “Why did his highness run off alone? And he is running so fast!”


  Lu Yunxi scolded, “Idiot! Did you not hear what his highness said at the end? If we do not run, we will be torn up by the Yan Bei army!”


  “What? Right! Everyone, run for your lives!”


  “Faster!”
……

  Rushing back to Yan Xun’s side, she halted her horse. Wearing a black robe, his features had not changed in the slightest, with his sharp brows that were always frowning. His expression, however, was extremely complicated, as he stared at Li Ce’s vanishing figure from the corner of his eye. Grimly, he asked, “What did he shout at the end?”


  Chu Qiao was instantly lost for words, as her face blushed red. Trying to feign innocence, she blurted, “What? I cannot remember. I did hear it clearly.”


  Knowing that she was trying to sidestep the question, Yan Xun continued, “Why did you speak for so long? Were you very close to him?”


  After being with a certain person for so long, Chu Qiao naturally learned a thing or two about talking her way out, as she responded, “We were not exactly close. We were just discussing future cooperation between our countries, and imagining the blueprints for tomorrow.”


  Unfortunately, Yan Xun was not so easily fooled, as he snorted and walked off. Waving to the group of soldiers, the army started moving off. Then, he turned around and told Chu Qiao, “Tell me everything that happened during this trip. Everything. Do not hide anything from me.”


  “What?” Chu Qiao’s guilty conscience acted up, as she quickly countered, “But there will be so much to talk about!”


  “It is alright, we have plenty of time since it will be a long journey back to Yan Bei from here.” Yan Xun turned around with a gentle smile. But that smile was no longer the innocent smile that he had donned back in Zhen Huang City. In fact, there were some traces of cunningness and mystery hidden within his expression.

  “Yan Xun,” Chu Qiao lost her confidence to lie, and asked instead, “why do I feel that you have changed?”


  “Is it?” Yan Xun casually responded, “That is because I realized that some people are trying to snatch something away from me. And in fact, that thing seems rather popular. If I do not watch over it, there is a good chance I will lose everything.