At that time, even if Li Ce could protect Chu Qiao, it would have been impossible for him to protect the Xiuli Army unless he desired to completely fall out with the Xia empire. At that time, the Qinghai King suddenly raised the flag of the Xia Empire. Sending out missionaries, he had traveled over 4000 kilometers to defect to the Empire. It was only then that the world finally knew that the famous King of Qinghai was actually the fourth Master who was supposed to have died in Yan Bei two years ago.

  The things that resulted were very natural. After returning to the royal capital, with his immense military power and the support from the Zhuge Family, he was able to replace Wei Guang as the head of the Grand Elder’s Council, and became the Grand Marshal of the Xia Empire. With that, it was only natural that he was able to veto the military plans that were made against the Tang Empire.

  Chu Qiao refused to think about how much blood underlaid such political upheaval. After dabbling in the road of politics, she knew very well how deep the water could be. Even if it seemed to be calm on the surface, there would be countless undercurrents sweeping beneath.

  With countless lanterns floating on the lake, it seemed like a sea of golden lights. Lifting up her head, Chu Qiao’s gaze was filled with a tinge of sadness. Looking at Zhuge Yue, she quietly asked, “I heard that the Elm tree is divine, and the older the tree, the more strong its divinity. As long as you give it your treasured belongings as a sacrifice, it will be able to provide protection for your friends and family. I wonder if it is true.”


  Zhuge Yue did not speak, and merely stood there silently.

  “Do you believe?” Chu Qiao asked, quietly.

  Zhuge Yue’s long eyes narrowed. He lightly answered, “No, I don’t.”


  Chu Qiao looked on at him, gently smiling. It was impossible to tell if she was happy or sad from his response. She slowly stretched out her hand, as her porcelain-like fingers opened up with her eyes shining like the stars. Yet, her heart ached a little as she softly asked, “Do you really not believe?”


  Lowering his head, Zhuge Yue immediately saw the pair of jade ornaments that shimmered in the light. Instantly, he was dumbfounded.

  “Zhuge Yue, I thought that I no longer had the chance to see you.” Chu Qiao gently smiled, yet it felt as though one could see a gleam of a teardrop in her eyes. With her lips trembling, she continued, “I thought that I could never repay you in this life.”


  In the intense darkness of the night, Zhuge Yue’s figure seemed ever so heavy, as though he was giving an overwhelming aura that squeezed the breath out of Chu Qiao. With his jet black eyes staring straight into hers, he did not speak, and merely gazed on, as though he wanted to see through her. Suddenly, Zhuge Yue heaved a heavy sigh, before stretching out his arms to hold her in an embrace, before calmly replying to her, “Who asked you to repay?”


  Just like that, Chu Qiao’s tears fell. Obediently, she cowered in his embrace, with a myriad of emotions swirling around in her heart. Leaning on his chest, she could smell the familiar scent from his body, as warmth filled her entire body. Silently, she closed her eyes, as the night wind caressed their bodies. For the first time in her life, she felt that the joyous atmosphere was ever so close to her, as though she could feel the jubilance just by breathing.

  Lifting up her head, Chu Qiao tenderly smiled, “Zhuge Yue, it feels good to be alive.”


  After hearing that, Zhuge Yue felt an ache in his heart. Yet, none other than him could understand the meaning behind that phrase other than him. Gently lowering his head, he kissed her forehead, and repeatedly muttered, “Indeed, it feels good to be alive.”


  With the lanterns shining everywhere, the new year was imminent. In this new year, everything seemed to be new. It was almost as though that the days they lived were stolen from the heavens.

  When alone, Chu Qiao would occasionally drift off, as she quietly looked at the sun rise in the east and set in the west. With the darkness setting upon this land, again and again, the new year arrived, and soon past. Time seeped out from between her fingers, like a river water passing through her clasped hand. The initial excitement fated, as a new life begun. Looking at the birds that were flying back from the North, she saw them dashing across the sky, leaving behind a trail in the sky. She thought, “Perhaps they are going home.”


  She moved into Zhuge Yue’s property in Xian Yang City. There were no reasons or excuses. Zhuge Yue merely asked if she wanted to spend the new year with him. After thinking about it, she agreed.

  It was a rather mundane new year. There were no luxurious dancers, no melodic musicals, no sumptuous feast, yet there was a rare peace, serenity that came from the bottom of one’s heart.

  In the past few days, she had been to a lot of places with Zhuge Yue. They had passed by quiet alleyways, dilapidated mosques, and had eaten from roadside stores, shopped together in the crowded carnival, and even played with firecrackers on the day of the new years.

  In the cracking of the firecrackers, it was as though time had turned back to two years ago, as she stood in the crowded streets, facing the multitude of lights before her. A longing sense of peaceful satisfaction filled her as she was surrounded by light. Standing before her, he shielded her from the incoming traffic, although occasionally he would turn around to chide her like a kid. With the beautiful fireworks blooming above their heads, the reflected lights illuminated his adorable face. Indeed, the fireworks were beautiful.

  Chu Qiao’s limited vocabulary could not find any other words to describe the view she was having. She seemed to be carried away by a gust from the battlefield into this surreal world. She saw gentle sunlight caressing the civilians, warm water of the lake, happy crowds, and Zhuge Yue, who had finally dropped his guard before her. This was a man who had been angry with her countless times, someone whom she viewed as her arch nemesis for a long time, yet he had helped her so many times she had lost count, and had even made a trip to hell and back for her. Right now, he was standing before her, admonishing her for her lack of common sense. Suddenly, she felt as though these moments were all stolen from the heavens. Every second suddenly seemed ever so precious. Even with all the luxuries of the world, her eyes seemed to be filled with an obsession for only him alone.

  Like a massive amount of seawater had finally escaped from within her heart after the ice blockade melted, she felt such intense warmth that it was as though her frozen limbs were being nourished. At the end of her despair, she found a beautiful flower that blossomed on the rotting logs of the forests in her heart. Staring on the bank of the river of the afterlife, she contemplated, “Perhaps, this would be considered a new life.” Even though she was looking at that scenery, it felt as though despair was already mere memories of the distant past.

  With the door half open, he stood in the courtyard, with his bluish purple clothes that were full of embroideries of golden flowers. The silvery moon shone on his body, flickering from the clouds, it was almost dazzling. Looking at her, it seemed like he wanted to say something, but he did not talk even after a long while.

  The moonlight seemed rather faint. Yet, one could hear the sounds of the festivals from afar, raising an auspicious cacophony. Even though she could not see the scene, Chu Qiao could already feel the happiness of the civilians as they dance ecstatically.

  After a long while that seemed like a mere instant, Zhuge Yue finally spoke, “Go and sleep.”


  Chu Qiao nodded as she calmly smiled. “You too.”


  As the door closed slowly, it blocked out the moonlight as well. The sea of moonlight turned into a white belt, before turning into a strand of white hair, and eventually gave way to darkness. Standing at the door, she held down on the door. She could tell that the person outside the door had not left. The frigid wind howled, as the trees outside of the window swayed, casting a ferocious shadow on the window. As the hourglass ticked away, finally, there was a sound of footstep sounding resound. Very slowly, it faded into the distance.

  The wind suddenly got stronger. So strong that even the door could no longer hold it back, as the wind seeped through the crevices of the door bringing a bone-chilling coldness. Chu Qiao leaned her head on the door, and closed her eyes in the darkness.

  By the time Zhuge Yue returned to his residence, Yue Qi had just received a letter from Xiaofei. This young servant who had already become a general was all smiles as he kept the letter in his sleeves while greeting Zhuge Yue.

  Yue Qi stood out at the door with an exceedingly good mood, and even as he saw Zhuge Yue, he could not hide his joy.

  “Xiaofei sent letters?”


  “Yes,” Yue Qi said. “Hai’er is one month old already.”


  After the years that they had fought together with each other, even though that nominally they were master and servant, they were more like brothers already. Reminded of how Xiaofei had just given birth to another son. Seeing Yue Qi beaming in joy, Zhuge Yue could not help but to smile. “When we head back, I will prepare a gift for your son.”


  Yue Qi smiled and replied, “Thank you, master.”


  “How is Mo’er?”


  “He is good.” Yue Qi crisply replied. Ouyang Mo who had been brought back by Zhuge Yue was currently being brought up by Xiaofei. To this kid who had lost all of his family members, perhaps this would be the best option.

  “He has been learning acupuncture from Mister Bai. He seems to be extremely talented.”


  “Master,” Fang Chu came in and informed, “letter from General Feng.” Ever since Yue Qi was made a general, Fang Chu has become the bodyguard for Zhuge Yue. He was born in Qinghai, and his ancestors were criminals who had been banished. After swearing loyalty to Zhuge Yue, he had followed along to Xia Empire. Silent and untalkative, Fang Chu was a determined person, and was definitely not any normal person. Even Yue Qi had been impressed by him.

  The seal was untouched. Zhuge Yue opened the letter and read it, before passing it to Yue Qi, before asking, “What do you think?”


  “Zhao Yang will not so easily give up. Once the seventh highness returns to the country and forms an alliance with Master, all of Zhao Yang’s efforts from the past two years will be wasted. Even as Wei Guang is old, Wei Shuye is full of ambition. He must be guarded against.”


  Zhuge Yue nodded, as he replied, “This person is brilliant, and knows what to do at the right time. Yet his judgment has been clouded as of late, and he still has such plans even at this moment.”


  “What should we do?”


  “We would follow through with the original plan. Inform Xu Yang to be more careful. At this moment, Wei Shuye cannot achieve much. We should be more worried about Yan Bei’s movements.”


  Yue Qi nodded. Zhuge Yue asked, “What about the issues about the transfer?”


  “Master, rest easy. All of Chen Yue businesses are currently in emergency operations. Lord Zhao Ming and Mister Liang have discreetly recruited large numbers of talents from all fields. The Tang Emperor is particularly concerned by the matters we suggested, and had personally sent Master Sun to assist us. In the first place, the food production had been great this year, and we no longer need to rely on the inner lands.”


  Zhuge Yue nodded, and turned around and asked, “How was it back at home?”


  The person overseeing matters in Qinghai now was Fang Guangqian, Fang Chu’s uncle, also Zhuge Yue’s subordinate back in Qinghai. Fang Chu emotionlessly replied, “Uncle just sent a letter yesterday informing that everything is well, and everyone is waiting for your return.”


  “Ok.” Zhuge Yue calmly nodded. “Inform everyone to hasten their pace. Once we have settled the matters here, we will head over.”


  Fang Chu nodded, and with his head lowered, he backed off. Seeing how Fang Chu had left earshot, Yue Qi frowned, and asked, “Master, this subordinate does not understand.”


  “I know what you are thinking about.” In the clear moonlight, the pristine moonlight gently soaked into his clothes. With a tinge of mercilessness, the man’s eyes were narrow. He lost the touch of the arrogance of his youth, and seemed calm like water in a well full of wisdom.

  “You want to ask, when I was presented with this golden opportunity that the Empire is in such a weakened state, with factions wrestling power with each other, along with such a major enemy at its border, why had I not taken this chance to take over the family, and following which, I replace the Zhao Family as the ruler?”


  Yue Qi was stunned, and immediately knelt to the ground, yet he did not mince his words. “This subordinate is insolent, but I really do think that way. The Xia Empire has not been kind to us, and our family abandoned us the moment we seemed to become a burden. Master had endured such hardships over the past two years. Why must we extend our helping hand to them now? Even if we need to, we can just return to Qinghai. The Lady is here with us anyways, and we do not need to worry about their advances. Qinghai is so big, and even if the West Meng Continent is united under one rule, we may not necessarily be scared of them.” After Yue Qi finished, yet he did not hear a response from Zhuge Yue for a long time. He daringly lifted his head to look at Zhuge Yue, only to see Zhuge Yue staring into the sky, with his originally handsome face shrouded by a thin veil of fatigue. Frowning, his expression was filled with vicissitudes of the passing times.