Asking About Love Songs

Chapter 5

The swift sword, its verses echoing across the snow-covered ground, accompanied by the sound of the zither, created a harmonious blend of music, sword, and person, as if amidst the boundless snow, a melody of sword music.

As the swordplay slowed in the snow, the zither music also came to an end with the elegant chanting, and the swordsman returned to his sword and calmed his breath.

"Alas! The sword has reached its pinnacle, but the person has become dull."

The visitor was used to these sarcastic remarks. His expression remained unchanged. He simply sat down opposite, took the wine offered by Wenruo, and drank it down in one gulp.

He put down his sword and faced his blood relative with the same face, yet with vastly different personalities. Most of the time, he listened or watched quietly as his brother, who always liked to provoke people with his folding fan and his eyes, stood before him.

Su Shaochu was handsome and elegant, with the air of a refined and gentle young master. When he was not smiling, he was dignified, but when he spoke, his words were always subtly sarcastic and witty. He wore a crown that resembled the hair of a young master from a famous family, with a light-colored crown ribbon fluttering in the wind. He wore a crescent-white robe that disliked wearing ornaments, which made him appear even more aloof and elegant.

However, this "he" grew up as a boy, and should actually be a "she". Because she was so carefree and unrestrained since childhood, even the people around her were used to seeing "him" dressed in men's clothing and being extremely straightforward. Even a tough guy like Fu Yaofeng, a famous swordsman in the martial arts world, no longer considered gender in their relationship.

"Your swordsmanship has improved by leaps and bounds every day. Even the Mingzong sword masters praise you as a rare talent. It's difficult for sword masters to praise someone, so why don't I see you showing any joy?" Su Shaochu really wanted to use some sticky glue to fix his smile so that people wouldn't think he had been in the snowy mountains for too long and his expression had become like that.

"I love the principles of swordsmanship, and my pursuit of progress is solely for self-improvement, not for the praise of others."

"Yes, yes, I forgot about my younger brother. He loves to be aloof and detached, ignoring worldly opinions. He's also incredibly talented, not only in swordsmanship but also in geomancy." Su Shaochu could only laugh at himself. "Unlike me, I feel life is meaningless without worldly concerns, and without indulging in a life of pleasure and debauchery, I feel life lacks brilliance. To be born a human being and only live a life of extravagance and debauchery is truly a pity."

"I remember the swordsman praising you for your extraordinary talent, but it's a real pity that your heart isn't in this path."

"Walking and brandishing swords all day is not to my liking; living for today and indulging in wine is much more enjoyable." I poured him another cup of wine in a toast.

"You recently chose the stronghold of the Three Wolves of Moci and even made a duel with the third one, Howling Wolf, in ten days?"

Looking at that carefree and leisurely handsome face as he sipped his wine, he asked.

"Yes, that's true."

"The third of the Three Wolves of the Northern Desert, Howling Wolf, is a master of the curved blade and should not be underestimated."

Su Shaochu nodded in agreement and earnestly advised, "So be careful during the challenge ten days from now."

"Me?" This month, I've gone to five duels in her place.

"Don't worry! I have a lot of confidence in my brother." He naturally encouraged his brother.

"What did those three wolves do to displease you?"

"The howling of wolves is mixed with the cries of children, which is unpleasant to hear." These three wolves abduct women and children, while children are easy prey. "You know, I always have an urge to do anything cute and sweet. After snatching a pair of cute little siblings, I ended up accidentally wiping out their bandit den." Su Shaochu said, sounding really troubled.

At that time, only the eldest of the three wolves of the northern desert was still there. The most important thing was that the crying of the little brother and sister was too heartbreaking. He kicked down the gate of the mountain stronghold. He didn't remember how many ambushers he killed. He only knew that after he hugged the two lovely little brothers and sisters, he realized that if he wanted to escape, he had to deal with the encirclement.

"Our family reluctantly sent us away from the Central Plains to stay away from trouble, not to stir up trouble here." In recent years, she has provoked every bandit den and gang.

"I have never forgotten my elder brother's earnest expectations for us. I hope we can grow up happily and do what we want freely. Therefore, I have always been happy to grow myself and act on behalf of heaven without restraint."

"Brother's words seemed to be just one sentence: 'Don't worry about anything in the Central Plains, just live our lives peacefully and happily.' Why are you interpreting it in so many ways?"

"Brother's words have a deeper meaning; one needs to understand them to appreciate Jin Hua." The fan pointed at him, giving him a look that suggested he was not good enough to be taught.

Since he couldn't respond to such smooth talk, he mostly just let her say what she wanted.

"I have not forgotten the Su family's tradition of upholding righteousness and justice in the martial world, and the principle of helping those in need." His handsome face, which had been mischievous, was now devoid of any playful glint, and he said in a resounding voice, "I will never forget my family's traditions, nor will I ever forget the importance of righteousness. Therefore, if the road is smooth, I will choose to make it rugged; if a person is hypocritical, I will always expose their flaws. One should not seek to temper oneself through hardships in life."

"Your trials involve having someone smooth out the rough roads for you, and the scars you break open are caused by pushing someone out to take the hits for you. You haven't seen the 'hardships' actually affect you." And the one who smooths out the roads for her and takes the poison of the scars is often him.

"Yes! Hardships can be divided into two aspects. You've faced the surface, but I can handle the most complex inner part." Su Shaochu poured him another cup of wine, smiling gently. "Besides, I prefer a challenging path, so training together as a couple will give you a sparring partner."

From childhood to adulthood, Su Shaochu has always taken full advantage of being a twin.

"You're not afraid of causing danger one day at all."

"Oh! With you here, this word really feels unfamiliar." He tapped his forehead with the fan handle, not knowing what that feeling was for a long time. "I think, my dear little brother, I believe you would not be able to bear to see me helpless and in danger. Even if you don't show it, you would feel sorry for me."

Taking the drink she offered, he asked, "Where is the duel with the Three Wolves of the Northern Desert?"

Su Shaochu rested his chin on the fan handle, smiling as if he had gotten a good deal and was being smug.

"Heh, with you here, I truly am a lawless devil of the Su family!"

Recalling the past, his thoughtful eyes grew even more somber, as he remembered what the princess had mentioned when they met…

"Chu'er was struck by the Yin Liang Palm of the Demon Xi Cult, and is using the Qi of Heavenly Spring and Earthly Fire to heal her internal blood and qi." The Princess couldn't help but tear up, deeply worried about Su Shaochu, who had been missing for half a month. "This child carries a poisonous ailment, and without the Lan Chi Stone from Yu'er to suppress the toxicity, he'll suffer terribly if the poison takes hold. Where is he now?"

"Is the Lan Chi Stone on Zhu Yu?"

Having lived in the borderlands for many years, he only had a few encounters with this third prince when he was young, but in the Su family, this name became the biggest taboo because of Su Shaochu.

"Is that the string of red beads on his ear?" I vaguely remember seeing that.

The rare Lan Chi Stone is rarely seen. He only knows that it grows where the earth's energy rises, and its characteristic is that it cannot be separated from the energy for too long. Therefore, the owner must carry it with him at all times and nourish this rare object with human energy.

Zhu Qingping nodded, then paused, as if struck by a thought. "Could it be... that Chu'er's disappearance is related to Yu'er?!"

It's related to Zhu Yu! When Lu Yu was urgently summoned back to the Central Plains by his family, Yan Shanshan, the young mistress of the Lu family, told him all the information she had collected.

"Judging from the situation, and considering what Feng Chuo'er said, the Shao Chu they saw that day was facing Feng Yan's pursuit. It is highly likely that Shao Chu has fallen into Zhu Yu's hands. However, there is no evidence, and despite using all their connections, they have not been able to find any trace of Shao Chu hidden in the Three Emperors' Mansion. But the zither music that has been coming from the Three Emperors' Mansion in the past ten days has indeed been played by Shao Chu."

Yan Shanshan frowned and said, "There must be some secret room or passageway in the Three Emperors' Mansion. Since you can hear the zither music, it shouldn't be a closed secret room like the one underground. I guess this place is not too far from Zhu Yu's courtyard, or even in his courtyard. Because according to the people who investigated, Zhu Yu's daily routine is normal, and he has not lingered in other parts of the mansion."

"Do you know which pieces of music have been heard recently?" he asked.

Yan Shanshan raised her eyebrows slightly, as if she understood his thoughtful nature beneath his silence.

"You also think this is a key point?" She took out a letter. "Here are my notes of the music played on the zither every night at the Three Emperors' Palace."

"The melodies of her youth are beyond the comprehension of others. She always liked to create them for her own amusement. Unless you and I listen to them personally, who can understand the meaning conveyed in her music?"

He could only sigh silently. Shao Chu, who was carefree and easygoing, yet loved to play games within games, even her music during her leisure time reflected her personality.

"Zhu Yu is extremely interested in Shao Chu. Although she won't harm her and will try to cure her of the poison, given Zhu Yu's personality, she probably won't let her have an easy time, and might even..." Yan Shanshan suddenly sighed. "We all know what kind of person Zhu Yu is. After all, Shao Chu's true identity is a woman."

Chapter Three

...No matter what, Shao Chu's true identity is a woman!

These words made him close his eyes, furrow his brows, and clench his fists.

Born into a bond of siblinghood that will last a lifetime. The bond between twins is even more special than that between ordinary siblings. No matter how different their personalities may be, their unspoken understanding remains constant. He knows very well that these are not the things he should worry about or care about.

"Shao Chu's thoughts cannot be fathomed by the average woman's mindset. Even if something happens, she... will be fine." Her eyes, when opened again, were clear and resolute. "These things don't trouble Shao Chu. She never considers these matters important. To her, worldly affairs are something to be viewed with amusement. These are merely a part of worldly life. She focuses on the big picture and is not bound by her own limitations."

"So, have you never considered another possibility?" Yan Shanshan pointed out the key point: "Shao Chu is an extremely intelligent person. Even though she is poisoned, she knows very well what kind of person Zhu Yu is. With her abilities, she wouldn't confront him head-on, and escaping shouldn't be difficult either. For so long, she has successfully avoided Zhu Yu. Why would she give Zhu Yu an opportunity this time? What I'm worried about is something else."

"Another thing?"

"She used herself as bait to lure this demonic Third Prince. When Shao Chu decided to take action no longer, she was ruthless and unscrupulous." Shan Shan said with concern, "I hope this is just speculation. Power and environment have shaped Zhu Yu's extraordinary personality and mentality. Using such methods only doubles the danger she brings to herself."

"Shaochu is capable of anything; whatever she wants to do, I will let her achieve it."

"So, if the guess is true, Shao Chu must have a purpose. What that purpose is, we'll see if you, who are most in tune with her, can figure it out."

The sun was already setting in the west, casting a magnificent glow.

Looking into the distance, the Longjiang River on the left and the Pujiang River on the right seem to descend from the sky and converge at the foot of Zixiao Peak in the capital.

"A lifelong bond of brotherhood, a tacit understanding that never changes no matter how far apart we are."

Standing amidst the frost and snow, he hastily removed his cloak, drew his sword, and uttered a deep, resonant chant that echoed with the sword's language.

"Sword held horizontally in the air, slicing through the falling frost!"

The sword light drew a rainbow in the air, and what seemed like a tiny point of light suddenly multiplied into thousands in the blink of an eye. It radiated outwards from the swordsman as the center point, and the points fell into the snow, causing snowflakes to splash up and swirl around.

"Pick up the remaining snow, melt a thousand frosts; break through the swift wind, transform into a sharp glint—"

The almost invisible sword shadows transformed even more rapidly, from a hundred to a thousand, from a thousand to many. In an instant, flames burst forth, rainbow light pierced through the sword, and the sharp edge shot out, disappearing into a snow-covered cliff in front of them!

He coldly watched the sword energy disappear into the air, held his sword behind his back, and stood proudly atop the snow-capped peak, his eyes deep and focused, as if he had locked onto something.

"The double perilous river converges at Zhongguan, the earth's surging energy gathers at the intersection of Yin and Yang, the source of heavenly springs and earthly fires—"

With a shout, he hooked one foot and slammed down heavily to the ground, an invisible force rushing through the earth!

A resounding crash of snow-covered cliff face, a deafening collapse, and the sword light pierced through the front, causing the seemingly snow-covered cliff to instantly crack open, the frost and snow disintegrating and collapsing!

A hole collapsed where the sword light entered, revealing that this was not a cliff face, but rather a thick layer of ice covered by vines and layers of frost and snow, which eventually covered the narrow mountain path that was originally the entrance!

Thick white smoke billowed out from the collapsed opening. He stepped into the mountain path, and the steaming vines and burning smoke rushed towards him, dispelling the severe cold. Ten steps away, he heard the gurgling sound of a spring. In his eyes, a spring was gushing from the steep cliffs, gathering below, and then flowing gently downstream.

A natural mountain hot spring, surrounded by exotic flowers and rare herbs, is like a paradise on earth.

Looking into the distance, another cold mountain spring hangs down from a higher cliff, running parallel to this warm stream. However, due to the winter cold, the flow is slow. Near the downstream, they meet at a common point, then diverge and flow down the mountainside ahead.

"The source of the Heavenly Spring and Earthly Fire is indeed in the capital."

Arriving at the rushing spring of passion, he took out a golden red leaf from his bosom and placed it in the hot spring stream. Watching the red leaf drift away with the current, he closed his eyes and asked softly.

"Will you fall into Zhu Yu's hands... or... how can you catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger's den!"

Thinking back to that confident smile and witty words, from her frail health at birth to her days in Nanyuan after the palace calamity, she seemed to have shed the shackles of the past and grown up completely.

"Leaving aside whether Shao Chu had ulterior motives, the shadow of her childhood still lingers when it comes to Zhu Yu. Now, facing someone who once tried to kill her when she was young, can Shao Chu really remain unmoved?"

He recalled the scene inside the palace, on the winding path of the red walls, where a six or seven-year-old boy, soaking wet and trembling, clung to him. His face was pale with fear, unlike anything he had ever seen before, and there were red marks around his slender neck where he had been strangled. He pursed his lips tightly.

"No matter where you are, I will find you. The sixth son is a member of the Su family, and will never be a member of the Tian family. With me here, you can always be the lawless Su family ghost."

***Exclusively produced by Fengmingxuan*** ***

The lingering steam from the hot spring filled the room with mist and smoke. Even though it was frosty and snowy outside, a secluded garden deep within the Three Emperors' Mansion was shrouded in a hazy mist due to the steam rising from the natural hot spring.

This secluded garden is located beside a hot spring stream at the foot of a steep mountain cliff. Normally, the clear spring water from the mountain stream flows down the cliff, but at this time, due to the winter cold, frost forms on the cliff. Only the frost on the wall closest to the hot spring below is evaporated.

Snowflakes drifted down from the towering cliffs above, and as soon as they landed in the hot spring stream below, they were instantly melted by the rising steam.

A stream flows out, with plum trees supporting the path. Stepping on the jade steps piled up by the stream, one can see pavilions carved from snow-white jade. At the other end, a winding slope covered with green grass is framed by maple trees. The warm and misty atmosphere makes this "Snow Jade Pavilion" seem like a fairyland in the clouds.

In summer, the mountain streams and waterfalls cascade down the thousand-foot cliffs, their waters scattering like mist and clouds, mingling with the warm spring water below. Regardless of the season, this intimate garden, a blend of human ingenuity and nature, remains warm in winter and cool in summer, offering unique scenery in each season.

Beneath the plum tree, on a couch by the stream, an elegant figure lay relaxed, her eyes closed in meditation, her face refined and graceful. Her hair, usually styled like that of a noble young master with a traditional crown, was now casually tied back with ribbons. Her elegant robes remained unchanged.

The scent of the setting sun lingered beside her, and as she gazed at the languid figure reclining on the couch, the radiance of the setting sun shone on her ethereal face. A few strands of her dark hair fluttered gently, and in the light mist, her graceful figure seemed like a phantom.

I never imagined that he would quietly watch someone, carefully observing every change in the light and shadow that lingered on that person's figure.

She wasn't exceptionally beautiful, nor did she possess a seductive figure, yet she couldn't hide the carefree and ethereal quality in her demeanor. Of all the stunning beauties in the world that Zhu Yu hadn't slept with, none had ever made him so bewildered as the woman on his bed.