Chapter 36: Childhood Sweethearts

A breeze rose, and flying petals stained their clothes. The Chu capital was surrounded by clear water, flowing leisurely to the east. The green willows on both banks were like jade, and the peach blossoms were like fire. Several river boats passed lightly through the bridge. Ye Xuanshang reined in his horse by the river. Zi Rao opened her eyes slightly and met a pair of deep, bright black eyes.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked in a low voice from behind, his sturdy arms steady and reassuring.

Huang Fei's sword had caused Zi Rao some internal injuries. There was a faint weariness between her brows, and when she raised her eyes, she added a touch of lazy charm, "Why did you make a move just now? Otherwise, Huang Fei wouldn't have suddenly changed his attitude toward you and almost put you to death."

Ye Xuanshang retorted, "And why did you enter the palace with Han Xi?"

Zi Rao's eyes rippled, and she raised her head. Their eyes met, and in the depths of her charming, watery eyes, the charming peach-colored floating shadows were reflected, and a few flying petals fell onto the man's broad shoulders. Suddenly, both of them smiled at the same time.

Ye Xuanshang asked while leading the horse slowly, "What conditions did you agree to with Huang Fei that he was willing to let us leave the palace so easily?"

Zi Rao closed her eyes slightly, "Just a small matter."

"Oh? A matter that could make Shao Yuan Jun step back in the hall is just a trivial matter?"

A faint smile bloomed on Zi Rao's lips, "Among the feudal lords of the world, the royal family is the master; among the states of the Nine Domains, the Son of Heaven is the most honored. Shao Yuan Jun is also just a minister under the monarch."

Ye Xuanshang's gaze was deep, examining the woman before him calmly. Her careless words and light, leisurely expression—did this war that almost trapped him in a desperate situation have more or less connection with her? And what exactly had she and Huang Fei agreed upon? It was not that he didn't want to understand these things, but after a moment of silence, he asked in a low voice, "If I were not a Mu State Young Master, would you have come to the Chu Palace?"

Zi Rao squinted at him, her eyes clear and charming, "If I were just an ordinary Jianghu woman, would you have followed me to Wangliang Valley?"

Ye Xuanshang curled his lips and looked down at her, "I said long ago, it doesn't matter who you are; I can accompany you."

Zi Rao said, "Really?"

Ye Xuanshang smiled, "Mountains of knives and seas of fire, at your command."

Zi Rao turned her body and looked him over leisurely, her brows slightly furrowed as if scolding or sighing, "Mountains of knives and seas of fire are not necessary. I only hope that in the future, you and I are not enemies."

Ye Xuanshang raised his eyebrows, "I don't think we will be."

"That is good." Zi Rao borrowed a little strength from his arm and floated off the horse, looking back charmingly, "Hey, in the future, if you sneak a sword into the palace again, remember to hide it well. Don't let people see it easily!"

Ye Xuanshang was stunned. The woman in front of him smiled prettily and turned away. In the wind, only a faint fragrance like a butterfly remained, and the peach-red danced...

After parting with Ye Xuanshang, Zi Rao went straight to where Qi Shi lived. On the way, she calculated how to make this old monster, who hated the royal family to the bone, fulfill his promise, while leaving behind the unique secret marks of the Mingyi Tower to contact Shi Niang and others who were already in the Chu capital.

Just as she stepped onto a white stone arch bridge, she suddenly stopped. Two teams of armored iron guards blocked the road from the bridgehead, and a magnificent carriage stopped behind them. Seeing Zi Rao, the leader cupped his hands on his horse, "I am Shan Qi. By the order of my Young Master, I invite you to the mansion for a chat!"

Zi Rao raised her eyes to examine them. The carriage had a golden roof and purple curtains, decorated with pearls and jade, elegant and graceful, extraordinary. The iron guards were all skilled in horsemanship and clearly had undergone strict military training, not ordinary guards. Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, "Did Huang Fei send you?"

Shan Qi's tone was quite polite, "My Young Master has some trivial matters delayed in the palace and cannot get away for a moment, so he ordered this subordinate to invite you."

A clear light flashed in Zi Rao's eyes. In front of her, the iron guards formed a semi-arc to guard the bridgehead, with Shan Qi as the center, and the two sides lined up in order. It was the Crane Wing Formation commonly used on the battlefield to block enemies. Iron guards in the same attire also appeared on the other side of the bridge, unintentionally sealing off all roads.

Shan Qi added, "We know that you have extraordinary skills. In Xichuan City the other day, you came and went freely, and ordinary people are no match for you. But now it is wartime, and you are injured. My Young Master has ordered that no matter what, we must protect your safety."

Hearing him mention the Xichuan matter for no reason, Zi Rao's gaze flashed, and she smiled lightly, "You are truly thoughtful. Now that you have invited me, you may return."

Shan Qi looked to the side. Intentionally or unintentionally, the iron guards on both sides of the cavalry formation moved slowly, getting closer to the bridgehead, "If I cannot invite you, I am afraid I will not be able to report back..."

Zi Rao raised the corner of her eye, "That is your business; what does it have to do with me? Move aside!"

"Please stay, Miss!" Shan Qi led his horse forward, making a move to block her. Suddenly, he saw a flash of clothing, and a pair of enchanting, flowing eyes flashed by. Upon meeting that gaze, his mind instantly went blank, his body felt light, and he didn't know how he fell off his horse. With wide sleeves swirling, Zi Rao took his place on the horse's back, gave a delicate shout, and spurred the horse forward, plunging straight into the center of the Crane Wing Formation!

The surrounding iron guards were worthy of being from the Liefeng Cavalry and reacted extremely quickly. The first five riders protected Shan Qi as he retreated, and the wings on both sides quickly surrounded them, cutting off all paths of retreat. As the formation changed, several people leaped into the air, drew their swords at the same time, and landed, crouching down to slash at the horse's legs!

Just as the sword light in their hands exploded, Zi Rao raised her slender hand and activated the Cold Ice Heart Method. The river water under the bridge rose like a living thing, and a piece of cold light fell like scattered rain. Several iron guards cried out in pain and fell to the ground at the same time, almost losing their lives under the chaotic hooves.

The Liefeng Cavalry formation was in chaos, but the figure on the horse's back had long since disappeared. With a faint laugh, Zi Rao leaped over everyone's heads, touched the stone railing with her toes, and floated toward the bridge. Before leaving, she swept her sleeves, and several crisp sounds came from Shan Qi's body. The entire armor on his back shattered into pieces, falling all over the ground.

A small boat under the bridge drifted downstream, and Zi Rao stepped lightly onto the bow, floating several feet away in the blink of an eye. Shan Qi and the others rushed to the bridgehead, only to hear a pleasant laugh coming from afar, "Go back and tell Huang Fei that this time we are even..."

Long swords, fast horses, golden bows, red cloaks—a gust of wind swept through the long street, and a line of Liefeng Cavalry soldiers galloped over. The vermilion gates of the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion opened wide. When the leader dismounted, two rows of iron guards stood straight and saluted at the same time, their movements uniform and consistent, their momentum shocking.

The vermilion cloak flashed like fire. The generals of the Liefeng Cavalry surrounded the man and entered. As the cloak fluttered before their eyes, everyone in the mansion knelt down one after another, "Welcome, My Lord, back to the mansion!"

Several women in brocade clothes had long been waiting to welcome him. Huang Fei waved his hand casually, and the first two hurriedly caught the cloak he threw down. Two women on the left and right stepped forward to untie his armor, one respectfully held his sword, and a beautiful maid with a delicate appearance knelt before him with a silver tray, offering a warm silk towel.

Huang Fei took it, lowered his head, and sniffed deeply, then smiled, "Yun'er, you must have used Lanling incense today. It is fragrant and clear, just right for this Immortal-Retaining Skirt. Wonderful!"

Several women blushed at the same time. The beautiful maid in front glanced at him with a look that was both scolding and happy, and turned to fetch a moon-white brocade silk robe, "Young Master, you just returned from the border city and were delayed in the palace for so long. You must be tired, right? We will serve you to bathe and rest in a while."

"Hmm..." Huang Fei stretched his arms and let them take care of him. Finally, he shook his sleeves gracefully before turning to Shan Qi, who had been waiting for a long time, "Where is the person?"

Shan Qi bowed, "Reporting to Young Master, this subordinate..."

Before he could finish, Huang Fei smiled, "You didn't invite her, right?"

Shan Qi knelt on one knee, "This subordinate was careless for a moment and failed to stop her. Please forgive me, Young Master!"

Huang Fei turned and sat down, took the fragrant tea offered by the maid, swept his gaze over his face, and his brows moved, "How many were injured?"

Shan Qi paused, "Four or five brothers suffered minor injuries."

Huang Fei lowered his eyes and stirred the floating tea. His handsome face, like jade, was calm behind the curling mist, "Acting on your own." After a while, he said faintly. Shan Qi lowered his head and didn't speak, cold sweat breaking out on his back. Huang Fei took a small sip of tea, looked at him, and suddenly smiled again, "Forget it, it was expected. It's fine if you couldn't invite her."

Shan Qi was a little surprised and looked up, "Didn't you say you must bring her back, Young Master?"

"That is correct."

"This subordinate will send more people to find her!"

"No need." A different kind of smile appeared in Huang Fei's eyes, "If you could invite her, that would truly be strange."

Shan Qi was puzzled and was about to ask when he heard a commotion outside and someone shouting crisply, "Huang Fei! Come out here!"

This voice was extremely familiar. Huang Fei raised his eyebrows and knocked on the teacup helplessly. A group of guards stumbled back, wanting to stop her but not daring to. It was Han Xi who broke in without any scruples.

Huang Fei put down the teacup and sighed, "So angry, who provoked you again?"

Han Xi had changed into a pomegranate skirt of madder red sprinkled with gold, and her head was adorned with a seven-treasure peach-heart crown. Her brocade clothes and bright decorations set off her skin, which was whiter than snow. Seeing Huang Fei, her pretty eyes glared, "I ask you, what did you say to the Royal Brother?"

Huang Fei's eyes were full of smiles. He waved his hand to dismiss everyone and walked down leisurely, looking thoughtful, "Just now in the palace... I have been discussing the border war with the Great King."

Han Xi's willow eyebrows raised high, "Just the border war?"

Huang Fei walked up to her and lowered his head slightly, asking with a smile, "What else could there be?"

Han Xi looked at this charming smiling face and became even more angry, shouting, "I'm not talking about just now, but the memorial you sent before you returned! You... you actually asked the Royal Brother for a decree to grant a marriage!"

The angrier she was, the more leisurely Huang Fei became, "I thought it was something else. You and I are 'childhood sweethearts' after all, 'knowing each other's temperament since childhood, and now it is only natural.' Besides, 'it is reassuring to entrust that girl Han Xi to Huang Fei'..." Before he could finish, Han Xi spat two words through her teeth, "Huang... Fei!"

As if prepared, Huang Fei tilted his body and retreated, barely avoiding the palm she swung at him. How could Han Xi let him go? Her hands were like flowers, attacking him one after another. Huang Fei was not annoyed, carrying his hands behind his back with a leisurely expression. Although Han Xi's offensive was urgent, she could never touch even a corner of his clothes. After several moves, he flashed, suddenly broke through the reach of Han Xi's palm, and retreated gracefully to the eaves, "I haven't seen you for a few days, but your palm technique has become more and more proficient!"

"Hmph!" Han Xi's apricot eyes raised, "Don't think I can't do anything to you. If you talk nonsense again, I will tell the Uncle!"

Huang Fei smiled, "I didn't say those words. If you want to be angry, you should go find the Great King."

Han Xi said, "The Royal Brother listens to you in everything!"

"Then do you mean you want me to refuse?" Huang Fei's eyes were full of interest, "It seems you would rather marry that Helian Qi than marry into my Shao Yuan Jun Mansion?"

Han Xi was stunned, "Helian Qi? What does he have to do with it?"

Huang Fei brushed his sleeves and raised his eyebrows, "You think Helian Yiren was competing with me like that today just for that Mu State Third Young Master? He asked for the Princess's hand for his eldest son, Helian Qi, a few days ago. The Great King sent a fast horse to inform me, and I traveled thousands of miles back to solve this trouble for you. Is this how you thank me?"

Han Xi said angrily, "Do I need you to worry? If he asks, will I marry?"

Huang Fei shook his head helplessly, "The Helian family has generations of meritorious service. If the Great King wants to refuse, he must have a reasonable excuse."

Han Xi said, "Even so, I don't need to marry you and compete for favor with your mansion full of concubines and maids!"

Huang Fei's lips curled, revealing a handsome smile, and he said slowly, "To be honest, you are so fierce that even if you wanted to marry, I might not want to marry you."

Seeing Han Xi about to flare up again, he raised his hand to stop her in time, "Haha, alright, alright, it's just a small matter, no need to tear down my mansion. It's just to find a suitable excuse for the Great King to refuse Helian Yiren. In the future, with me in front, who would dare to have designs on you, Princess Han Xi? When you meet your ideal husband, I will naturally prepare a generous gift to congratulate the Princess on her marriage. Although Fei admires the Princess, alas, the falling flowers have intention, but the flowing water has no heart. In the future, I will have to secretly grieve and leave regrets..."

Seeing him speak as if it were true, Han Xi couldn't help but burst into laughter, and her previous anger had long since vanished without a trace, "You have a point, but you must make it clear to the Royal Brother, lest he takes it seriously!"

Huang Fei smiled and walked with her into the hall, "Have you sneaked out of the palace again recently? Did you have fun?"

Hearing him ask, Han Xi immediately began to talk excitedly about what had happened in the past few days. She was articulate, talking and laughing, and soon told him how Ye Xuanshang and Zi Rao entered the valley, how they fought with Zhu Jiuyin, and how they met the Shufu and Uncle, etc. The girl's voice was crisp and jumping in his ears. Huang Fei sat at the desk, playing with the teacup and listening with a smile. At the end, he suddenly asked, "She calls the Shufu 'Uncle'?"

Han Xi said, "Yes! Although the Uncle doesn't admit it, he didn't say he wasn't. If not for this, how could the Shufu agree to give the snake gall to someone to treat an illness?"

"Her brother?" Huang Fei whispered to himself, and then asked, "You said the bead string on her hand is Tourmaline Spirit Stone?"

Han Xi nodded, "Yes, that's why she could break the Da Qimen Jiugong Array. Hey, is the Tourmaline Spirit Stone more powerful than my Xiangfei Stone? Find a string for me to play with!"

Huang Fei glanced at her, couldn't help but sigh again, and said, "Among the spirit stones, the Obsidian owned by the royal family has the strongest spiritual power, followed by the Witch Clan's Tourmaline Spirit Stone and the Phoenix Clan's Golden Phoenix Stone. Below this, our Chu State's Xiangfei Stone, the Rouran Tribe's Ghost Stone, the Jiuyi Tribe's Moonlight Spirit Stone, the Blood Linglong in the hands of King Xuan, the Purple Crystal Stone once owned by the Mu State, and the Ice Blue Crystal, which has been missing since the fall of the Houfeng State, are all on par. Hundreds of years ago, there was a rumor that when the nine stones appear, the world will be one. The Nine-Turn Exquisite Stone is related to the general trend of the world. If one can possess them all, one can control the power to overturn the Nine Domains. For these years, all countries have been secretly paying attention to this. Where is it something that can be found just by saying so, or something that can be taken to play with?"

Han Xi curled her lips, "What does it matter to play with it? When the Mu State was defeated at Bishan, didn't they send the Purple Crystal Stone to seek peace? Just take it and let me see!"

"Hmm, okay." Huang Fei didn't take her seriously. While answering casually, he sipped his tea slowly, lowering his eyes to ponder. A moment later, a very deep smile flashed in his eyes.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 37 =====