Le charme d'une femme puissante se répand à travers le monde

Chapitre 22

"I never said that! Don't you guys have any sense? When have I ever ordered pigeon when we eat out? When have I ever asked the kitchen to prepare pigeon when we eat at home?" People are always irrational when they're angry, and they especially love to nitpick. "Also, why is there no wine in my glass? Wasn't it supposed to be a farewell dinner for me?"

I stared at my empty wine glass, then glanced at the wine glasses of the two men on either side of me. Good heavens, why are their wine glasses full?

"You can't drink alcohol," Fox and Erlinzi said in unison.

"Hmph, I'm really looking forward to a drink today." Without saying a word, I quickly grabbed the glass of wine in front of Fox's door, poured half into my own glass, then grabbed the glass in front of Erlinzi's door and poured half into mine as well. Now I had a full glass of wine, hehe. While the two of them were still stunned, I swiftly raised my glass high, shouted, "Cheers!", and then tilted my head back, downing the entire glass of wine.

This wine seems better than the one I had on the night boat last time. My stomach and throat are a little warm, but it doesn't have that burning sensation like last time. I swirled my empty wine glass, wanting to ask Fox and Erlinzi for more, but before I could even reach Fox's glass, Erlinzi snatched mine away. I turned and glared at Erlinzi, but Fox said, "Qianqian, you can't drink anymore. We have important matters to discuss with you."

"Serious business? Isn't it just more of the usual nagging about being careful and protecting yourself? I don't want to hear it!" I slapped away the fox's outstretched hand, then staggered over to Mu Qinglin, glaring at him fiercely. The kid just stared at me blankly, not saying a word. I simply staggered to the waterside railing of the pavilion and sat down. Looking up, I saw the fox and Qinglin standing nervously in front of me. I sighed, waved, then patted the seat next to me, smiling somewhat vaguely at them, "Never mind, never mind, come sit down, let's enjoy the moon."

Ignoring them, I turned my head to gaze at the still, inky lake. I saw the blurry reflections of trees and lights on its surface; the banquet was being held in the pavilion, and the entire garden was adorned with lanterns, especially the ring of lanterns around the lake. Against the backdrop of the night and the water, it possessed a certain charm reminiscent of the night view of Longze Lake. I looked up at the night sky. Although night had just fallen, a pale crescent moon already hung in the air, surrounded by a few scattered stars. There was almost no wind; the early winter night was cool as water.

When will the moon be clear and bright? I raise my cup to ask the heavens. I wonder what year it is tonight in the celestial palace. I long to ride the wind and return, but I fear the jade towers and crystal palaces are too cold at such heights. I dance with my shadow, how can it compare to being in the human world?

The moon turns through the red pavilion, shines low through the embroidered window, illuminating my sleepless night. There should be no resentment, yet why is the moon always full when we are apart? People experience sorrow and joy, separation and reunion; the moon waxes and wanes, and this has always been so. I only wish that we may all live long and share the beauty of the moon, even though we are thousands of miles apart.

I unconsciously hummed that song softly. Who said we'll always live under the same sky? Do my parents and sister really live under the same starry sky as me? Are they doing well now?

My face felt cool and wet, but my head was getting heavier and heavier. I wanted to sleep so badly! A pair of hands gently wiped away the tears on my face. I leaned against the person next to me, buried my head in his chest, and whispered, "Big brother, I want to go home so badly!"

In my dazed state, I felt someone pushing me, and I mumbled, "Cui'er, stop making noise."

The person then gently patted my cheek, seemingly trying to wake me. I impatiently waved my hand, wanting to slap this disturber of my sleep all the way to Siberia, but instead of being swatted away, my hand was grabbed. The person grabbed my hand with one hand, slipped the other under me, and lifted me up in one swift motion. Then, I felt myself being placed on something hard and somewhat cold, and their hands released me. Losing my balance, I fell forward, my chest hitting something, and my head slamming heavily against something hard.

With a loud "bang," I quickly looked up, opened my eyes, and glanced around for ten seconds before realizing what was happening. My forehead hurt so much, it almost brought tears to my eyes. Ugh, I was sitting on a stool in my room when I bumped my head on the table, and who else could it be but Fox who carried me off the bed and put me here? But besides Fox, Erlinzi was also there!

I rubbed my forehead with a pained expression. It was still a bit dark. I asked them blankly, "What are you doing here?" Then, I belatedly looked down at my clothes. Thankfully, nothing seemed amiss.

"We're about to go to court. Qianqian, wake up, we have something to tell you." The fox patted my cheek again, his expression grave. He handed me a piece of paper and a jade token from the table and continued, "Qianqian, the list on this paper is of the people I've placed in Tianqing Kingdom. If you need help there, just take this jade token to them, and they will take care of everything according to your request. Also, never act recklessly, be careful of your words and actions, and always prioritize safety. Remember, if there's any danger, go to them, and they will protect you and bring you back safely. You must come back alive and well; that's the most important thing, understand?"

I opened my innocent-looking eyes and nodded hastily. The fox was really making a fuss. What do you mean, "coming back alive"? Did you think I'd die in the Land of Azure? Those ancestors who traveled to various states during the pre-Qin period, which one didn't return home in glory? Even if they encountered a foolish ruler who wouldn't listen to their advice or believe them, they'd just slink home. Surely they wouldn't lose their lives.

"Also, before you see the King of Tianqing, do not reveal your identity. We will take care of everything for you along the way." Erlinzi took a bundle from the table and handed it to me, then slipped a seven-colored glass bracelet onto my wrist: "Take your time to look at the things in the bundle on the road; they will be useful. Remember, never take this bracelet off. In an emergency, blow on the clasp, and the people secretly protecting you will come out to protect you."

I opened my eyes wide and nodded innocently. Seeing the reluctance and deep longing on their faces, I immediately stood up, pulled Fox and Erlinzi to their feet, and pushed them away, saying as we walked, "Big brother, second brother, let's go quickly, or we'll be late for the morning court. I also need to leave early. Take care of yourselves while I'm gone. I'll be careful. I'll go home as soon as I successfully complete the mission, so don't worry about me."

As we reached the doorway, all three of us involuntarily stopped. The sky outside was already turning a pale white; it would be bright soon. A sudden wave of reluctance washed over me. I threw myself into the fox's arms, nuzzling him and wiping away my tears. When I looked up again, my face was beaming. "Big brother," I said, "my second brother and I won't be by your side. You have to be extra careful. Be careful with everything you eat, wear, and use, whether you go out or not. Although the assassins from last time disappeared without a trace, you can't let your guard down, understand?"

Sigh, the fox is already dangerous enough with his stunning beauty, but he also possesses an empire, making him even more dangerous. Plus, he doesn't seem to know any martial arts. He's truly a worrying child.

Then there's Erlinzi. I walked up to Erlinzi and put my arm around his waist. "Second brother, you're in more danger than us on the front lines. Please take good care of yourself. I will definitely persuade Tianqing and Hanxing to form an alliance. When that happens, Second brother, you will lead your troops to conquer Wangyue Kingdom. My eldest brother and I will host a banquet to welcome your triumphant return!"

I hugged Erlinzi tightly again. He was going to have to fight this battle, so Erlinzi, you must come back safely.

(End of Volume 1)

Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Asleep (Revised Edition) Volume Two: The Sky is Vast, the Waters Wide, Where Are We? Even If We Meet, We Would Not Recognize Each Other (Part One)

Chapter word count: 3619 Update time: 08-12-20 15:54

Even if we met again, we wouldn't recognize each other. (Part 1)

The carriage sped along, and it was several days later when we arrived at Qiqing Pass, the border between Longyao Kingdom and Tianqing Kingdom. I felt quite ashamed. Before, I had judged Erlinzi's character with my petty mind, looking down on the four horses pulling the carriage with disdain, doubt, and complaints. But as it turned out, I was really not cut out to be a talent scout. Those four horses were incredibly agile, no less so than Liu Xiang, the Chinese speedster, and their stamina and endurance were no less than that of Sister Junxia back in the day.

I was holed up in the carriage, doing nothing but eating and sleeping all day. After leaving the capital, the road conditions deteriorated significantly, and the carriage bounced and jolted along. When I got tired of being jolted, I'd lie down for a bit, then get up and sit down again, repeating this cycle endlessly. I was so busy, it made Hong'er, sitting opposite me, panic. She kept telling Yun Hui and Yun Yao, who were driving, to slow down and be more steady. Ugh, how come I didn't notice this before? This carriage is a slow torture! I suspect that if it keeps bouncing like this, I won't even reach Tianzhou, the capital of Tianqing Kingdom. Either I'll be shaken to pieces halfway there, or I'll be shaken to death in the back carriage when the horses finally set foot on Tianzhou soil. Ugh, I brought this on myself!

I lay back on the soft couch, fiddling with the seven-colored glass bracelet on my wrist, lost in thought and lamenting the boredom of life. To avoid drawing attention and ensure a secret and safe arrival in Tianzhou, the capital of Tianqing Kingdom, I only brought Hong'er, Yunhui, and Yunyao with me. I left the tearful, snotty-nosed Cui'er at Qianzui Residence. After all, I was nominally still recuperating there, so how could her, my personal "servant," not be there to take care of me? Therefore, I felt particularly lonely and bored around Hong'er, because she was far less cheerful and lively than Cui'er, and more importantly, she wasn't as talkative. Most of the time, I could only talk to myself. As for Yunhui and Yunyao, I didn't expect anything from them. They wouldn't even dare to take turns sitting and resting in the carriage, let alone chat with me to relieve my boredom!

I used all my spare time to thoroughly search the bundle that Erlinzi had repeatedly told me to keep. Wow, I never expected Xiao Mu to be so thoughtful and considerate! This bundle was like a treasure chest, containing not only life-saving medicine but also deadly poison, armor for self-defense, and a dagger for ambushes. What pleased me most was that there were even a few valuable treasures inside. Haha, Erlinzi truly understands me! It was kind of Erlinzi to write out the instructions for these items on several pages. To express my gratitude and excitement, I decided to wear whatever I could, hide whatever I could, and keep whatever I could hide in the bundle.

Then I examined the things the fox had given me. Although they were significantly less numerous and heavier than Erlinzi's, their quality was by no means inferior. I understood the weight of that list, so I studied it carefully, then hung the jade pendant, supposedly a token of trust, around my neck and hid it inside my clothes. This elaborate change of clothes, accessories, and concealment made my normally agile movements feel sluggish. I felt extremely uncomfortable sitting in the carriage, inwardly grumbling at the fox. He was so stingy! Not only did he not give me anything else, but he didn't even bring any silver notes! I was supposed to be on official business abroad; didn't you see how rushed I was, and I forgot to withdraw some money from the national treasury? Or did this miserly fox think that the expenses for my trip shouldn't be covered by public funds? Oh dear, luckily the Yun family has plenty of money, otherwise I might have "died before even starting my mission," starving to death on the road. Stingy bastard, hmph!

Right, the list! This is no joke. I racked my brains, pondered deeply, and thought and thought... I meticulously imagined (abstract and concrete), compared (vertical and horizontal), pondered (objective and subjective), and studied (whole and part) countless ways to destroy this list, from top to bottom and left to right and front to back, three times over. I couldn't help it; I was just too bored. If I didn't kill some time on this little problem, I was afraid I would really suffocate. Finally, with immense pain, I made a decision and shouted towards the carriage curtain: "Yunhui, Yunhui!"

Seeing that I was frowning and deep in thought just a second ago, and then suddenly shouting "Yunhui!" with a red face and thick neck, Hong'er thought something had happened and hurriedly went to lift the carriage curtain. She had only lifted it halfway when Yunhui appeared in front of her with a nervous look on his face, and said respectfully, "Young master, what happened?"

I waved to him, "Come in, I need to talk to you."

The young man hesitated for a full two seconds before sitting down opposite Hong'er with great fear.

"Uh, it's nothing serious. Um, Yunhui is a guard, right?" I put my voice in the most friendly tone, looking at his nervous expression, as if I were a man-eating tiger and he was the legendary cute little white rabbit. Sigh, what a failure! I, the fake prime minister of the mighty Longyao Kingdom, dare to shout at the real emperor, and habitually order the current general around, how come I have to be so careful with my own maid guard?

“Young master, I became a guard in the West Maple Garden of the Yun family when I was only sixteen.” Yun Hui’s expression went blank for a moment. When he came to his senses and answered, he looked at me as if I were an alien.

"He's a guard, he should know martial arts, right?" I asked excitedly. This kid thinks I've lost my memory? My previous questions were just a prelude to this one. A prelude, you know? But I could have just asked that question directly, why did I have to ask a few questions to warm up first? Looks like I'm really bored.

"Young master, although my skills are not yet proficient, I will protect you even at the cost of my life." Yun Hui made a gesture as if to kneel down.

I quickly moved closer and stopped him from kneeling halfway down. Sigh, in the limited space of this carriage, there's always someone who wants to cause endless trouble: "Yunhui, stop kneeling and kowtowing all the time. How many times have I told you? There are only four of us traveling together, so don't stand on ceremony."

It's strange, really. Is it common practice in wealthy families of Longyao Kingdom for their servants to kneel and kowtow to their masters at the drop of a hat? I thought this was only seen in the imperial palace and the homes of royalty. But the Yun family is clearly a nouveau riche family. At most, they've barely managed to join the ranks of the newly rich in the last six months thanks to my perfect acting skills and outstanding personal talent. Yet, it seems their servants have been behaving this way for a long time. *Sigh* Anyway, old man Yun is an oddball. A normal person like me definitely can't understand some of his dark thoughts. So the best way is to ignore him, treat him like he's invisible, and disregard him.

“You know martial arts, then use your inner strength to turn this paper to ashes.” I reached out and handed the crumpled paper to Yunhui; it was the fox’s list.

Although Yunhui was somewhat confused, he still took the crumpled paper in his hand without hesitation. He focused his mind for a moment, and in less than two seconds, he opened his hand, leaving only a pile of ashes.

I was immediately dumbfounded. Yun Hui's movements, his stance, his speed—it seemed no less impressive than Er Linzi's! But Yun Hui was just a lowly guard in the West Maple Garden of the Yun Manor, and only twenty years old this year. If his martial arts were already like this, what about the other guards in the Yun Manor? What about Zhang De? What about Yun Feng? I looked at Hong'er again. The girl blinked at Yun Hui, but her face didn't show any particular surprise. This is all so confusing! It seems there are still many secrets about the Yun Manor that I don't know. And is the Yun family really just a simple wealthy business family?

I waved to Yun Hui, dismissing him, then lay back down on the soft couch, focusing intently on my thoughts, listing each question on my fingers: Who exactly is Old Man Yun? What is he busy with every day? Why was Yun Feng poisoned? Why is Old Man Yun so determined to get someone into an official position in court? The airtight Yun mansion, the loyal servants, the highly skilled guards, the ever-flowing wealth—what kind of business does the Yun family run? And just how large is it? How rich is the Yun family? What are Old Man Yun's motives or ambitions? Does the Yun family have any close relatives or friends? Why have I never seen any guests visit? The Yun mansion seems like a secluded, isolated place…

So many questions, I can't even count them all on one hand. Connecting all these questions, I feel like there's a huge hole in the puzzle, and the answer seems almost within reach, but in the end, my head aches from thinking so much, and the answer just keeps elusive. I shake my head—I'm really dizzy!

Hong'er looked at me with concern, but dared not utter a sound. When she saw me look up at her, she cautiously said, "Young master, it's almost dusk. Would you like some snacks?"

I touched my belly, and before I could even nod, the carriage stopped. Hong'er lifted a corner of the curtain, looked outside, and then lowered the curtain again, saying to me, "Young master, we have arrived at Qiqing Pass. After the guards inspect the pass, we will leave Longyao Kingdom."