El cielo sobre los ríos y lagos está despejado

Capítulo 25

I still went around selling liniment with Tie Niu and the others, taking turns getting beaten and injured, but not a single little girl squatted down in front of me and said, "Hurry up and apply the medicine, the blood is flowing onto the ground." Every time I went to Guocheng, I would have an unrealistic expectation that that little girl would still appear in front of our stall.

This went on for about six months until I met a man.

The man watched us perform martial arts for a whole morning, then came up to us and said, "Would you like to find another way to make money?"

He said his master was recruiting a group of guards, and he saw that we were all agile and had a foundation in martial arts, so he wanted to hire us. He said the starting salary was one tael of silver per month, which would increase later, and there would be rewards for merit, but we would have to go through rigorous training beforehand, which might cost us our lives. If we were willing, we could give our families a deposit first.

Tie Niu, Er Mao, Shuan Zi, and I all agreed. I was alone, and Uncle Tie had passed away three months ago, but Tie Niu had a grandmother. So the three of them went back to the village to explain things to their families, while I stayed in the dilapidated temple, waiting for that man to come and take us away.

That man is Uncle Qi.

I later learned that we were to serve Prince Rui, but Uncle Qi said that you people would be following the young master from now on.

I never imagined that my young master would be the Prince of Huaiyi of the Northern Di.

(two)

When I was seventeen, I met the young prince. The moment I saw him, I felt a strange sense of familiarity. I didn't know where this familiarity came from, but he reminded me of that little girl from years ago. The girl didn't look much like him, but there was just a resemblance. I had a gut feeling that there must be some connection between them, and this intuition kept me excited for a long time. A few months later, I was on duty as a shadow guard, standing outside his window. I saw him preparing to retire for the night, pulling a beautiful jade lock from his lapel, taking it off, and setting it aside. The way he swayed the jade lock in his hand reminded me of another similar scene.

My heart was beating a little faster.

But I still didn't know if the young prince had a younger sister. It wasn't until two years later that the young prince received a letter by carrier pigeon, a slight smile playing on his lips: "She has gone down the mountain, I wonder if she will return to Duanzhou."

As time passed, my longing for her gradually diminished. It wasn't that I no longer liked her, but rather that I thought she had grown up, perhaps already betrothed, or even if she wasn't, the difference in their social status was too great. If she was indeed the prince's sister, then we were separated by thousands of miles, and I could only look up to her. So my feelings were buried deep in my heart; she was a dream of mine, one that I could only revisit in the quiet of the night.

Another year passed, and the Prince took us back to the capital's palace, this time to participate in the dragon boat race. This was the first time I had ever done so since I started following him. When we arrived in the capital, I understood that this trip was to finalize the marriage of Princess Nihong, the eldest princess of the Northern Di, who was the Prince's twin sister.

I remember that day was the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, my twentieth birthday. After winning the dragon boat race, the beautifully dressed girl on the high platform pointed her slender finger at me.

I could hear her clear, melodious voice. Her face was pretty and delicate, quite a beauty, but I couldn't be sure if she was the same girl from back then. Only her arched eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes vaguely resembled her. Her expression was indifferent, clearly not very enthusiastic about the arranged marriage.

So even though my heart was beating a little fast, I still maintained a clear mind.

When I finally saw that stunningly handsome man again, I felt reassured. He came to the Northern Di King's residence to investigate me, asking only one question: "Are you Yi Ge? Is Wu Bao referring to you?" I answered solemnly, but didn't say much, because I didn't know what to say. But inside, I was overjoyed; she really was her.

On our wedding night, she frankly told me that she could give me her body, but not her heart.

I wasn't too devastated. As a shadow guard skilled in intelligence gathering, I already knew about what had happened to her over a year ago. Although I asked at the time, "Does the princess mean that you won't have me in your heart anymore?" I felt a desire to heal her wounds. I've never been a self-conscious person, and I believed that she would eventually come to love me.

That night, we didn't consummate our marriage; she was probably unwilling. But when I suggested sleeping in the outer chamber, she said, "No need, the bed is big, we can share." She was probably worried that my being chosen as the princess's husband as a guard was already controversial, and if I wasn't well-liked by the princess, it would hurt my self-esteem in front of the servants. They say girls change a lot as they grow up; her appearance had changed, but her kind heart remained the same. She truly was still the same person.

The next day, after exchanging tokens of affection, she came out again. She had the sandalwood ball I had sold her years ago hanging from her waist. She had kept it all this time, which meant she must have liked it very much. Perhaps she remembered me? I felt a little encouraged.

I didn't know much about the heartbreak she suffered until that day in Hengshan, when I witnessed that scene.

The young prince sent me ahead to Hengshan, and I hurried along the way. Our newlywed life was actually quite uneventful, but I was still eager to see her. I only saw the people from Nanfeng Fort and Baima Village when I was almost at Hengshan. Although I saw Shen Yimei, her close friend, there were many of them, and I'm not good at socializing, so I deliberately slowed down and followed from a distance. But I didn't expect to meet her outside Hengling Town. Although she might have come to welcome the young prince, I was still delighted to see her like this.

But what I saw was such a stubborn figure. Before the heartless man, her straight back and wounded yet defiant eyes instantly broke my heart. She should have been that sweet, smiling princess, not a woman so heartbroken. Without hesitation, I went to her and embraced her, standing beside her, hoping to be her support. Her soft body leaned against my chest, and my heart began to race uncontrollably. It turns out that all these years, she has always been the same in my heart.

Later, after everyone had left, she said, "Everyone's gone, there's no need to pretend to be a loving couple anymore. Thank you, Prince Consort." But in my heart, I thought, "It was all real, I didn't need to act."

Since she didn't move on so quickly, it means she's a person who cherishes relationships. So I'll silently protect her; she'll definitely see me when she turns around. Actually, as we spend more time together, I can feel her changing feelings for me. Even though her first time with me was rather rushed, I know she's already somewhat accepted me.

This wasn't my first time. When I was seventeen, Uncle Qi finished training us and sent us on a mission as a test. Those who survived were taken to Qichun Courtyard, which Uncle Qi said was to enjoy life.

So, when I sensed her awkwardness, I was also somewhat excited. The Northern Barbarians weren't as conservative as Yunyang; princesses were usually paired with a lover upon reaching marriageable age, but this was her first time. For me, this was a completely different experience from the Qichun Courtyard. Doing what I loved with someone I liked—it truly stirred my passion. In that moment of climax, I called her "Wu Bao," a name I had uttered a thousand times in my heart.

I never expected her to follow me to Duwang Village. The moment she arrived, only one thought crossed my mind: regardless of whether she had moved on or not, she still held me in her heart. I hadn't loved the wrong person, and I never wanted that to change. That day, she sat with me in front of the stove, the firelight reflecting on her face, and my heart was overflowing with happiness. Thinking of her, a princess, willing to come for me, my love for her became impossible to hide. I swore at my mother's grave that I would never let her go in this lifetime.

But my return to the village wasn't solely for tomb sweeping.

Back in Hengshan, just a few days into the martial arts tournament, I caught a glimpse of Master Gui. At first, it wasn't convenient to chase after him, but when I did, he was nowhere to be seen. Later, something unexpected happened, and his voice sounded so familiar to me, so after protecting Wu Bao back in her room, I went after him again.

I chased him for a long way before catching up with him, only to be shocked by the truth he told me. He said that not only did he come from the Ghost Palace, but my mother also came from the Ghost Palace, and I was the young master of the Ghost Palace.

So when I got back to the village, I wanted to check if my mother had left any clues about the Ghost Palace. Wu Bao wanted the Rainbow Chasing Blade, and all I wanted was for her to stay far away from those martial arts heroes after she got the blade. Wu Bao wasn't one of them.

Guiye said to me, "Your mother wants your life to be more peaceful and uneventful. Logically, I shouldn't drag you into this matter. But you are, after all, the young master of the Ghost Palace. Now that someone is coveting the Ghost Palace's treasure, you have to take responsibility."

He even said that he had contacted some of the old members of the Ghost Palace, and they all said that although the Ghost Palace had been destroyed, the people were not extinct and could not be bullied by others. Even ordinary disciples were treated this way, let alone you, the young master.

As a descendant of the Ghost Palace, I have a responsibility.

But I know that protecting the Ghost Palace's treasure from the covetous eyes of everyone will be no easy task. Since I have agreed, I must bear the consequences of failure.

Gui Ye said, "How could we fail? You are now the son-in-law of two countries. People never fight against officials. Even if a bandit wanted to make a move, he could only do so in secret. How could the princess stand idly by?"

I was extremely reluctant to involve Wu Bao. Wu Bao is someone I want to protect, so how could I let her take risks for the Ghost Palace? Moreover, she is the successor of the Dragon Mist Sect, that legendary sect. Being associated with the Ghost Palace would bring criticism upon her, which would put her in a difficult position.

Author's Note: The extra chapter is a bit long and is divided into two parts.

Things repeat themselves, but what differs is Yi Ge's perspective on them.

Some people say that this is so awkward and unnatural. Who would be so stubborn as to refuse to speak?

But I have indeed encountered people like that in my life. They are good people, but taciturn and rarely explain themselves. Sometimes, when they can't figure something out, they won't ask, they'll sulk, get caught up in all sorts of turmoil, and engage in silent treatment—even more agonizing than Yi Ge.

In this article, Yi Ge did not mean he did not want to explain. He chose the key points, but due to time constraints, he could not explain them thoroughly. If Wu Bao were the Wu Bao before he met Bai Yifei, he would probably trust him. But now, he dares not believe him.

But this story might be a bit melodramatic. Please forgive me.

Yi Ge's Side Story: My Princess (Part 2)

(three)

I was actually quite skeptical about the legendary treasure in the Ghost Palace, but Uncle Gui seemed very certain. Although he said he hadn't ventured deep into the underground palace before and hadn't seen the treasure, he believed it existed.

Because the old palace master had previously served in the Ministry of Works in Nandan and had been in charge of the mines in the country, and Nandan was known for its jade and gold, it was said that the old palace master was a corrupt official, but one who left no evidence of wrongdoing. It was also said that the old palace master abducted the concubine of the then regent and disappeared in Nandan, and his legendary great wealth also vanished without a trace.

I don't have much desire for this wealth, but Master Gui is gathering the former palace servants. Perhaps this wealth can help them, at least they won't die like my mother did, because they couldn't afford medical treatment.

Wu Bao didn't ask many questions about my status as the young master, and aside from Zhu Hong, she showed little interest in the treasure. She was genuinely indifferent to these things, which relieved me. She only asked me what my thoughts were after learning I was the young master. I told her I only wanted to find the sword for her. That was indeed my initial thought; once the sword was found, the treasure could be used by Master Gui to settle the old members of the Ghost Palace.

Wu Bao once asked me what my wish was, and I replied that I only wished to spend three days and three nights quietly with her.

I'm telling the truth. Ever since I tasted her sweetness, I've found it hard to let go. She's like fine wine; I want to savor it, but there are too many distractions, and I can't fully immerse myself in it. For her sake, and for my own, I've tried my best to restrain myself. Actually, these past few days in the village have been truly wonderful. I only feel ashamed that I couldn't provide her with a better environment. I imagine one day, just the two of us, quietly holding her in my arms, her long, dark hair cascading down, partially covering her smooth, delicate back. I gently stroke her, taking her when I want, resting when I'm tired. No need to think about princesses and princes, no need to think about the treasures of the ghost palace, no need for servants or reports—it feels like only the two of us exist in this world.

As I approached Lingnan, I saw the mark that Master Gui had left for me. At night, I went out and began to slowly make contact with the old people from the Ghost Palace, while also training the secret guards of the Princess's Mansion.

But the situation changed as things unfolded, and having been burdened with the identity of the young master, I gradually became less in control of my own destiny. When you truly feel that the hopes of a group of people are pinned on you, it becomes difficult to break free, even if this group is not large, only forty or fifty people.

I knew my elusive nature couldn't hide from Wu Bao and the young prince, but I also knew Wu Bao wouldn't ask easily. She almost never mentioned the young master of the Ghost Palace; she was resisting, so I couldn't bother her with that. Although after arriving at Qu Shui, Master Gui repeatedly insisted on bringing the princess in to act together and seize control of the situation.

I feel that the six major sects haven't grasped any important clues yet, and are just groping around. Why not observe in secret and reveal their identities when the time comes to a substantial stage?

So, I still didn't say anything.

I believe that for a man, actions speak louder than words. I'll see what I've accomplished for her first; if it's impossible, I shouldn't make promises. Therefore, even though I did consider the future life with Wu Bao after the treasure was recovered, I still didn't tell her.

If I had known that my silence had caused her so much harm, perhaps I would have consulted with her before doing anything.

I initially thought I'd talk about it later, but when I finally wanted to, things piled up one after another, and I didn't know which to talk about first—the treasure hunt or my feelings for her. I thought I'd find some free time to explain things to her properly. But I didn't expect that the further things went on, the more those people with their own agendas made their underhanded moves, and I simply didn't have time for a deep conversation with her; I just said whatever came to mind.

I know she has always been open-minded and cheerful, but I didn't expect that the hurt Bai Yifei caused her would make her so vulnerable in relationships. I saw her anxiety and insecurity, but I couldn't say anything more to comfort her. I hate my inarticulateness.

In truth, wasn't I also plagued by anxieties and uncertainties? The first time I saw Bai Yifei in Hengshan, I only felt sorry for Wu Bao. But the second time, his feigned concern for Wu Bao in the tunnel made me very uncomfortable; I seemed to have a possessive streak myself. Moreover, that day when I returned upstairs, I saw her staring blankly at two hairpins. When she saw me come back, she put the hairpins down but let me see the note. If it was truly broken, why give her hairpins? Destroying them would have been better. The third time, he tracked me and Master Gui. Qi Yi originally wanted to kill him to silence him, but I struck first, partly out of jealousy, and partly to spare his life. Even if I didn't act, with Qi Yi, Master Gui, and Chen Qiao working together, Bai Yifei would have little chance of survival. But unexpectedly, Wu Bao witnessed everything. I saw her standing beside me, protecting him, fearing that our numbers would be detrimental to him, and she stopped Qi Yi and Chen Qiao from pursuing him. My heart is in turmoil—perhaps just as he hasn't forgotten her, Wu Bao hasn't forgotten him either.

That night, Bai Yifei accused me of using Wu Bao, and it was clear that Wu Bao was very bothered by it. But I can't say that I didn't use her at all. Wasn't it only because she was a princess and a successor of the Dragon Mist Sect that Cheyu Manor, Baima Manor, and Nanfeng Fort were willing to sit down and talk with me? When I returned home late at night, I saw that she had been crying and her eyelids were a little swollen. My heart ached, but I also minded her protecting Bai Yifei like that. Seeing that she had her back to me, I helplessly turned over. But I couldn't help myself. When I felt that she had fallen asleep, I turned over and hugged her in my arms. She was even sobbing in her sleep. I felt extremely guilty.

When I woke up this morning, she seemed a little resistant to me. I wanted to explain what happened last night, but when she asked, "Do you really want to kill Bai Yifei?" my jealousy surged up. For some reason, I became very impulsive. I think I was a bit too forceful. Fortunately, she didn't mind. Maybe she didn't care about Bai Yifei that much.

My heart ached, but I couldn't express it. Wu Bao, from the beginning, said she would only give me her body, not her heart. But with her gentle words and smiles, my desires grew. Even though I loved her fragrant body, I longed for her heart even more. I thought I had it, but it turns out I was still a little short.

You can't blame her; she's trying her best. Perhaps over the past month, misunderstandings have piled up, and I've not only offered little explanation, but I've also made mistakes in my speech.

Since Mu Ying accepted her master, she frequently visited Zhilong Village, where she revealed that Wu Bao was injured and unable to conceive. Gui Ye, upon hearing this, became somewhat anxious and discussed the matter of taking a concubine with me. He further advised me, "The power of the Ghost Palace is insufficient to contend with the various sects. The only thing that can counteract it is your status as the prince consort. It's fine that you don't want the princess involved, but the potential impact will always exist. However, the Ghost Palace also needs allies and strong support; a marriage alliance is one method, especially since you truly need someone to bear your child."

My thought is that finding allies doesn't necessarily require marriage; mutual benefit is paramount. If there's treasure, we can share it; if not, the secret manuals collected by the Ghost Palace are still wealth. Currently, they're only available for sects with the manuals to copy, but exchanging manuals for alliances isn't out of the question if needed. As for the child, I said I only want the life I want. The only person I love is Wu Bao; although she's injured, she might be healable. But perhaps that's a bad thing to say, because Master Gui misinterpreted my meaning and found Mu Ying, whom he thought I would like.

After recognizing Mu Ying that day, Wu Bao's expression was a bit strange. Perhaps Mu Ying's action of rushing up and hugging my arm that day made her unhappy?

But I never expected that Master Gui would go to Wu Bao and say that since I didn't like Fang Lan'er, I should just take Mu Ying as my concubine. He thought that Mu Ying was the best choice because she was someone I liked and was on good terms with Wu Bao. He even said that I had agreed to it. Since the day I recognized Mu Ying, she has been by my side, helping me register those who came to see the martial arts manual and recording the sects that came to copy it. That day, Master Gui clearly asked me, "Would it be alright if Mu Ying stayed by the young master's side?" I thought he was just keeping her to do some paperwork. This girl is quite serious about her work, so I just said "Mmm" in agreement. I never expected that Master Gui was still thinking about taking a concubine.

When Wu Bao questioned me about taking a concubine without consulting her, asking if I liked Mu Ying, I was somewhat dumbfounded. I had simply assumed that since I had never considered taking a concubine, there was no need to discuss it with her. I wondered how she came to the conclusion that I liked Mu Ying. Could it be because she had been by my side these past few days? I hadn't thought Wu Bao was a petty woman; why would she care about such a thing? Before I could even think of an answer, she said, "Fine, I remember what I told you before. If you find someone you like, tell me, and I'll set you free. Don't worry about me losing face; it's me who will divorce you anyway. But why are you being so secretive? Aren't you afraid to admit your feelings?"

I was truly stunned by her question, and a pang of pain welled up inside me. She spoke so decisively, "divorce," truly befitting a princess? Was all the affection we shared these past few months just a facade? Yes, she has Xin Zibu and Bai Yifei by her side, who hasn't given up on her. In her heart, I am still nothing.

I wanted to say that I wasn't hiding anything, but why couldn't you see how much I loved you? Instead, the question that came out was, "Do you really not have me in your heart?" How clumsy I was with my words. I saw Wu Bao's expression change.

Later, Chunman and Helan scolded Muying, and I went down to stop them. Although it wasn't what they claimed—that I liked Muying—she was, after all, a member of the Fa family, and I vividly remembered the two days I took her in when she was young. She had been separated from her family and was crying so pitifully, which made me feel a pang of sympathy. Those two days with her felt like we depended on each other for survival, and naturally, I didn't want her to be blamed unjustly. But I made a mistake again. When I turned around and saw Wubao's pale face, I realized how it would have been to go downstairs to help Muying at that moment, and I couldn't explain myself no matter how hard I tried.

On the way back to Famen with Muying, I explained things to her, but she said she liked me and felt sorry for me, so she was willing to have a child for me in place of Wubao. I didn't want to hurt her, so I said that it would be too unfair to her, and I couldn't let her down.

Unfortunately, the words came out of Fang Lan'er's mouth and took on a different meaning. This was something Shen Yimei told me later, after Wu Bao and I came out of the underground palace.

When Wu Bao passed by me in the morning, I felt despair—both hers and mine.

Mu Ying actually told Wu Bao that she didn't want a title, but hoped to have a child for me so Wu Bao could raise it. When I saw her, I felt she was about to collapse. With so many people around, I couldn't explain further, so I just hugged her tightly and shouted, "I won't take a concubine, I don't want any offspring." After saying that, I felt a little relieved. I thought my attitude at least put her at ease, right?

Previously, Young Master Ouyang said he had made a rubbing of the mechanism of that door, but it looked like it could be opened with a key. It was a keyhole, so there should be a key. He asked me to go and see the rubbing. So that day, after I called out that name and took her back to the room, I rushed to Hengshan Village. Seeing her swollen eyes and pale face, my heart ached. I wanted to kiss her, but she dodged away.

I've always harbored a deep suspicion of the Ouyang family, because the appearance of the Westerners and the coercion of the eldest son were highly suspicious, but I haven't been able to produce any concrete evidence. According to Master Gui, the Grand Protector of the Ghost Palace, who was originally skilled in mechanisms, died in that battle. He wasn't very familiar with the Ghost Palace's mechanisms, but the Ouyang family was someone he had to rely on.

That day, I asked Young Master Ouyang for the model. Upon closer inspection, my heart stirred with emotion. The design was exactly the same as the sapphire my mother had left me. But I frowned and remained silent, pretending not to recognize it. I said I wanted to show it to Master Gui and the leader of the Famen Sect to see if they recognized it.

I showed it to Grandpa Gui, who frowned and said, "Isn't this the totem of our Ghost Palace, the Mountain Spirit? I also had this engraved on the gift I gave the princess." Then it must be true; the sapphire my mother left behind also has this engraving. If both that sapphire and the blue crystal Grandpa Gui gave Wu Bao have this, does that mean the Ghost Palace's token is the key? But now both of these things are in Wu Bao's hands.

Sun, the sect leader of Famen, said, "We should discuss it with the princess. After all, it's a token of the Ghost Palace, and it's going to be useful soon, so it's best to take it out first."

If I told Wu Bao that the token I gave her might be the key to a door, she would definitely follow me into the underground palace to open that door. However, I have a feeling that once that door is opened, it will likely lead to a bloody massacre. I don't want her to get involved. If I succeed, perhaps I can help her find Zhu Hong. If I can't stop those greedy hands, then at least she will be safe outside.

I've decided that news of finding the key must be kept strictly confidential. If possible, only the Ouyang family, the Famen sect, and our Ghost Palace should know. Any further spread should be limited to the six major martial arts sects. Although others cannot enter, offering a reward at the end should appease their emotions.

I first summoned the guards from the gate and the secret guards originally built for the princess's residence to stand guard at the various entrances to the Shura Hall and the Crimson Demon Hall. I secretly allowed people to leave but not enter, while outwardly saying that too many people had recently entered the underground palace to copy books, and some books were missing, so an investigation was needed. Only then did I plan to return to the wooden house to ask Wu Bao for the sapphire. According to the rubbing of the model, it should be oblong-oval, which is exactly the outline of that sapphire.

But along the way I was struggling with how to say it so that I could get the sapphire without letting Mist Baby follow me.

I encountered Wu Bao on the way, but she came from Zhilong Village. Was she looking for me or Mu Ying? A thought suddenly flashed through my mind: this was the only way.

So I asked Sect Leader Sun if he had already told her, and vaguely asked her to return the token to me. She was indeed very perceptive and asked if it was for another purpose, to which I vaguely replied yes. Hearing her slowly say "okay" twice, my heart ached, but it would only be a matter of today or tomorrow; this matter would surely be resolved, and then I would definitely have a proper talk with her.

I returned the half of the jade pendant she had given me; it was the token of the princess's secret guards. I instructed Qi Yi to guard the entrance to the underground palace. If I couldn't get out, Qi Yi would lead the secret guards to protect her.

She had clearly misunderstood; heartbroken, she snatched the jade pendant and ran away. I stood there, wanting to chase after her and explain, but I held back.

But I never expected that Wu Bao would disappear like this.

I never imagined the Ouyang family was so much greedier than I thought.

That afternoon, the second young master of the Ouyang family found me and told me that they already knew I had found the key and that I had better open the underground palace now, otherwise I would not be able to see the princess. They offered to exchange the treasure for the princess.

Upon hearing this, my heart pounded, but I calmed myself down and asked him, "How can you convince me that she's in your hands?"

He took something out of his pocket and placed it in front of me. It was a peach blossom hairpin that I had put in her hair on her birthday, a hairpin that I had meticulously carved myself, and it was still in her hair when I met her today.

I suppressed my trembling and sent someone back to the cabin to fetch the princess, but instead Chunman and the young prince arrived. Chunman said, "Prince Consort, didn't the princess go looking for you? Didn't she say you were going to Laichun Town?"

I said, "The princess did not say she was going to Laichun Town."