Chapter 10

On the third day of October, Yu Han’s army camp was already on the verge of a major battle. The Emperor himself marched out, holding the reins in solemnity, his military appearance was extremely neat. His vigorous male voice pierced the sky, “Let’s go! Victory is beckoning to us!”

The response was a deafening roar, “Victory!”

The huge noise stunned up countless birds. The banner was even clouded and the smoke blotted out the sun, rolling up countless smoke and noise.

Looking at the Emperor’s retreating figure, I felt a thousand changes in my heart. In the end, I still face nothing to do, sitting idly inside the camp, thinking...

I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting. I finally stood up, moving my somewhat limp thighs, secretly opened the camp and glanced at the sky. I thought, it’s about time.

I walked back and wrote down a few words, ‘I’m going out and will visit Phoenix Pavilion. Don’t worry!’

Then I slipped into the soft cave and covered myself with those big embroidered blankets.

Sure enough, after a while, I heard Tong Jin’s voice, “Madame, I’ve brought food.” After several calls, rustling footsteps, sound of food being placed, sound of air pumping and the sound of running out of the door.

I looked through the gap and immediately climbed out, patted the dust on my body and went to probe outside—as expected, the dust spattered, horse’s hooves kicked and a large number of people and horses were running towards the direction of Phoenix Pavilion. And all the guards in front of my door were all removed!

I didn’t dare neglect. I immediately changed my clothes and prepared the human skin mask. Taking advantage of the chaos, I brought a horse, pretending to follow the crowd.

Fortunately, not many people stayed in the camp. The main troops have been transferred out to the Emperor.

I’m not good at riding, I can even hardly breathe if I walked such a long way. I was almost near Phoenix Pavilion that I heaved a sigh of relief. Although my tolerance level isn’t high, no one can see it in this chaotic situation.

I took advantage of their separate search, bypassing Phoenix Pavilion on the way and heading east to Huai Liu Ling.

Huai Liu Ling is verdant and luxuriant, the wind blows the leaves of trees, and the mountains are full of pines and waves. When I set my horse free, I wondered how to find Cui Xiu when I suddenly heard the sound of Qin(zither) coming from the foot of the mountain. I listened attentively, it turned out to be the sound I had heard in ZuiYing building. I was happy that Cui Xiu had come.

Following the sound, I walked at a brisk pace and turned to detour.

Willows waved, falling flowers mists, and the green leaves whirled. Whose lips aren’t dotted but contained red, eyebrows aren’t painted but cross-green, who isn’t but Cui Xiu?

The sound of Qin stopped suddenly. I think he saw me too!

“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!” The crisp voice has hidden joy.

I was a little overwhelmed, “Well...the Emperor forbids me to go out alone...so...”

“I know.” He came over, took my hand, put it in his mouth and kissed it. His charming eyes glowed like the stars in the lonely night.

“You’ve lost weight.” He sighed and let go of my hand. He just looked at me. The tenderness flashed between his eyebrows.

“Yes.” I found myself a little embarrassed. In the past, when faced with Cui Xiu I’m always full of words, but now I’m speechless.

“How are you doing?” It seemed he saw my eyes drift away but Cui Xiu didn’t cared and still asked with a soft smile.

“I’m good.” I dare not look into his eyes. It’s the burning breath left by the hot sun, it’s so dazzling. I’m afraid that one touch will burned up.

“You came to meet me, can I assume that you’ll come with me?” Cui Xiu’s mouth was full of joy and delight.

“No.” Upon hearing this, I looked up reflectively and saw the sourness and disappointed in his eyes.

“Qing-er, don’t you like me?”

“Like.” The past flashed in front of us in an instant. Everything was clear and fresh, simple, and seemed to exist naturally.

“Then follow me. When I ascend the throne, you’ll be my queen and I will never fail you.” He grasped my wrists firmly, for fear that I would fly away like a broken kite.

“No.” I tried to break away from his hand and refused without thinking.

At this moment, I suddenly remembered the Emperor’s words, ‘If I give you a chance, will you go with Prince Cui Ming?’

I was frightened. Now I actually answered this question with action, don’t I want to leave subconsciously?

Cui Xiu shuddered. He let go of my hand. The whole person looked like he lost his soul and his eyebrows frowned.

A short time later, he smiled bitterly, “FangQing, once drunk, he knew it’s strong; once he loved, he knew it’s heavy. Do you like Emperor Qi?”

What? If I ever struck by lightning, I wouldn’t return to my mind for a long time. Simple words, bland tone, but marked my heart with a shocking trace.

Do I like the Emperor? Do I really like the Emperor? Memories lingered bit by bit and many feelings gradually emerged. The meditations of the past, the worries of today and the unpredictability of the future are all flooding at this moment.

I am at a loss.

Seeing me didn’t respond for a long time, Cui Xiu smiled. He gently caressed my hair like a fine silk satin.

“Can you play a tune with me, just like before...” Cui Xiu’s face converged lightly, he took my hand and sat down slowly.

“Okay.” I remembered playing the Qin with Cui Xiu before. I played a tune and he connected. How happy it was then.

“It’s still the same song we played before,” Cui Xiu said. He plucked the strings with a ‘zither’ sound. In a split second, the melodious sound and the clear rhyme suddenly rose, like a neon light dance and a new warbler singing.

Cui Xiu leaned over to my ear, exhaling the heat from the red lips, “FangQing, do you know the sound of a thousand miles?”

A thousand miles? I’m shocked!

The sound of internal force can spread for thousands of miles. Its sound is demonic, which can disturb people’s mind and spirit! But this sound has long been lost for a hundred years, why did Cui Xiu suddenly mention it?

The soft voice, but spit out on Cui Xiu’s lips has unquestionable courage.

A stream of heat suddenly ran up my back. My fingers quivered. The music suddenly changed, like it rained down on plantains, beads fell on jade plates and the Qin clanged endlessly.

All of a sudden, my ears seemed to be dancing with hordes of horses, and my heart was pounding with the sound, as if it were going to pop out of my throat. I trembled and tried to stop the music, but Cui Xiu held it down.

He thought for a moment and said, “FangQing, have you used ‘zero smoke’?”

At this time, my heart was filled with blood surging and I couldn’t wait to get rid of this speechless dilemma. Cui Xiu’s question immediately reminded me of the ‘zero smoke’ the Emperor gave me.

“Yes, the Emperor gave me.”

When Cui Xiu heard it, he snorted with a smile, “That fool Emperor Qi, doesn’t he know that ‘zero smoke’ cannot only abolish martial arts forever but also add decades of skills to those who can’t practice martial arts?”

What? Hearing this, I was frightened again, the blood inside my chest rolled even more violently.

“Don’t be afraid.” Cui Xiu watched me crumbling and soothes me calmly, “Before, you couldn’t play because no one cleared the meridians. Now I use a thousand miles to channel this energy into the right track. In a few days, you will not only be fine, but also be able to practice martial arts. Even in terms of skill, you will not be inferior to your father.”

I was tongue-tied. The Emperor casually stuffed me with a pill that was comparable to my father’s decades of skill. Are you kidding me?

“Also, Qing-er, how can you be obedient to Emperor Qi? It’s better to defend yourself with one skill than a thousand gold in hand. You have to resist more or less. Training martial arts is a good method ah!” Cui Xiu continued to speak softly in my ear, but the air flow from my shoulders was getting heavier and heavier.

“Ah!” I finally couldn’t bear it, a mouthful of blood spat out.

The sound of Qin screeched to a halt, and I fell softly.

A pair of slender hands caught me, then a warm tears fell on my face.

“Why are you crying?” I raised my weak hand and gently wiped away his tears.

I looked at the weeping beauty in front of me and couldn’t say a word.

“I have lofty aspirations, only to walked in the gale and torrential rain. Only this feeling, but nothing.” Cui Xiu looked bleak, like a fire after burning coal. Although it’s gray, it still radiates the heat of silk and a faint red light.

“FangQing...the one looking for you is here.” Cui Xiu suddenly stood up with a wry smile, “It seems like the sound of Qin can be heard for thousand of miles.”

“Then you...” I looked up at him, feeling his disappointment and injured pride. I stood up, swaying badly.

He smiled at me softly and confidently, “You go back.” He touched my face and gently dropped a kiss, “I hope you will become a real top master the next time I see you again.”

As he said, he pulled himself out and floated away.

He, is he leaving?

I was shocked, my heart contracted invisibly. I blurted out, “Cui Xiu, will we meet again?”

Cui Xiu smiled and didn’t answer, he walked through the green forest like a swallow.

I stood there blankly, smiling at the city, smiling at the country, which may refer to my state right now.

“Madame Consort...” An urgent cry. As soon as I turned around, I saw a group of guards coming out of the camp looking for me, running over and kneeling on the ground.

Watching them looked excited and ecstatic, I suddenly felt the urge to cry.

Why do I want to cry? I don’t know. The immersive emotions made me silent and speechless.

At this time, Tong Jin came and saw the blood on my mouth. He saw the Qin that Cui Xiu had set aside. After a while, he asked, “Madame, are you hurt? Did you play the Qin just now?”

I nodded and said after a long time, “I’m tired. Let’s go back!”

Along the way, everyone was afraid of tiring me and dare not urge me to go quickly. It was such a journey that takes half a day to walk.

As soon as I arrived at the camp, I asked people to tie up the horses. I just wanted to go in and have a rest when I suddenly heard the shaking of the sky and the sound of a large disordered hoof breaking the spring thunder. A group of troops swept through like lightning, with distinctive flags and waving banners, headed by the Emperor.

He rushed in front of me, dismounted and smiled, “Qing-er, we won the battle! Although it’s a little mysterious...”

Suddenly the Emperor’s words stopped, perhaps because he saw the Qin in my hand. He froze a moment before hesitantly asked, “Qing-er, did you play the Qin just now?”

“Yes!” I nodded, suddenly reminded of Cui Xiu again, I murmured unconsciously, “A thousand miles to spread the sound...”

Although the voice was low, almost everyone heard it, at least the practitioners have heard it.

Everyone froze like a bodhisattva in the temple!

I looked at the people who are like wood carvings, and at my hands. Didn’t Cui Xiu gave me decades of capability? Why doesn’t everyone move?

But I didn’t have time to delve into it, because I immediately felt the sky was spinning. The Emperor actually picked me up and spun around. He added noise attacked and his laughter went straight to heaven, “Qing-er, Qing-er, you’re really my victorious war god... Haha...”

Then I heard the cheers of the soldiers, resounding through the clouds.

This time, Ling Kai stepped out and gave me a deep salute, “I thank Madame here at the end to help our troop win the battle.”

However, his words were accompanied by cheers from the soldiers, “Long live the Emperor! Long live Madame!”

The sound of crashing applause and the long neigh of steeds spread to thousands of miles and reverberated for a long time.

I stared in the Emperor’s arms. Please, would you like to tell me what happened first?

Finally, I heard Tong Yin and Tong Jin said that the Emperor could win a great victory this time, mainly because of the soldiers’ psychological victory.

Because when the two armies were at war and facing each other, suddenly there came a sound of Qin, like the sound of dawn, it happened that it was a song of homesickness in the moon state. Originally, the troops of the moon state were far away from countryside. They had come all the way to Yu Han. They were already exhausted and had no desire to fight. Suddenly they heard the song of homesickness on the battle, they became even more moved and deeply hurt. This led to the floating of people’s minds in the moon state and the Xizhi and their uneven hearts, which also led to Yu Han’s preemptive struck against the enemy.

In this way, in this war, Yu Han’s troop swept and defeat the moon and the Xizhi bound.

And I, somehow, became the God of victory in this war. Since then, the Emperor asked me how I can make such a powerful martial arts. But I smiled and gave him an answer implicitly, “It’s because of the zero smoke you gave me!”

“Then your martial arts is restored?” The Emperor was shocked.

“Oh...this, it will take some time.”

Not a lie. Cui Xiu used ‘thousands of miles to transmit sound’ to guide the Qi in my body to the right track, which is indeed because of zero smoke.

However, I have gained several decades of skills for no reason, and perhaps I will become a peerless expert in time!

“Qing-er, I never understood. Are you smart or confused?” At the crucial moment, the Emperor also asked the usual question.

I blinked and smiled at him, “Is that important? I am me!”

The Emperor was shocked then hugged me and kissed me affectionately, “Yes, you are my Qing-er.”

I rolled my eyes. Ah! Why does the Emperor always say something that everyone already knows!

In early October, Yu Han completely defeated Xizhi. After that, they sent envoys for peace.

Consort Qing became famous in the first world war. In November of the same year, he was conferred the title of ‘Holy Consort’ and became the head of the harem.

At the beginning of March, the imperial palace of Cui Ming took over the throne. His brother Yue Jingshen was imprisoned.