#18: The Victor

After getting his personal promise, Yan Chu finally felt at ease. The two of them did not say another word, and Xi Lingjun ordered an envoy to send her back to the Prince’s residence. As she walked through the main gate, Yan Chu noticed that the atmosphere was different from usual, it was particularly sullen and miserable. The servants were coming and going cautiously, and even their voices were lower than usual.

Could it be... Yan Chu’s mood lifted, and the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl up slightly. So soon...

In the main hall, Liuyu was indeed weeping in Xiao Qi’s arms, her eyes red and swollen.

“I don’t believe it! Could there be a mistake, Xiao Qi?”

“Yu’er, please calm down first...”

“With so many people, how could it be big brother? I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!”

...

Yan Chu deliberately walked past the door and looked inside in confusion.

“It’s her!” When Liuyu saw her, she became extremely agitated and pounced on her like a madwoman. “I know! This is all your doing! You killed my big brother! You vicious woman!”

Yan Chu frowned and dodged, not hiding the look of disgust in her eyes.

Xiao Qi immediately grabbed Liuyu. “Yu’er, what are you talking about!”

Liuyu shook her head and cried, “If she hadn’t revealed the news of the diplomatic mission to the Ice Kingdom, how would I have let big brother go? She deliberately let me hear it! It must be her!”

Xiao Qi glanced at Yan Chu and said, “Didn’t you say it was Xiao Yan?”

“No, she said it,” Liuyu blurted out. “She deliberately said it that way to get a maid to tell me!”

Yan Chu laughed inwardly.

She must have been so angry that her head was spinning, she didn’t even hide the fact that she had arranged for spies in Maple Garden. Wielding power in the back courtyard, Xiao Qi, take a good look at your “gentle and kind” beloved.

As expected, Xiao Qi’s expression was not good, and he was hesitant to speak.

At this moment, Liuyu no longer cared about a slip of the tongue. She glared at Yan Chu viciously. “My big brother was just a deputy. Why would they target him and not the envoy? It was you! You sent the people!”

Xiao Qi ordered the maids to forcibly take her back to the back garden, and then he turned to Yan Chu, a hint of guilt in his eyes. “I didn’t know she had people in Maple Garden.”

She wasn’t the only one who had people arranged, Yan Chu didn’t expose her. “What happened?”

Xiao Qi said, “The diplomatic mission to the Ice Kingdom was ambushed on the way, and General Qin Chuan was killed while protecting the envoy.”

Yan Chu said “oh” and said without changing her expression, “Prince Ding, you should console her more. I’m going back to Maple Garden.”

“Was it really you?”

“Do I have to act sad for you to not be suspicious?”

“I didn’t mean that.”

Yan Chu looked at him for a moment and smiled. “Just angry words. I just... remembered my big brother.”

Xiao Qi was stunned and looked away with difficulty. “I...” He couldn’t say another word.

Yan Chu walked away slowly.

In the distance, Xiao Yan was half-sitting on the railing of a curved bridge, one leg stretched out on the ground, and his foot was stepping on a person.

“Miss, Miss, save me!” Hong Ye’s face was ashen, but when she saw Yan Chu, it immediately regained its luster.

Yan Chu was unmoved and walked over.

Hong Ye grabbed her skirt. “Princess Consort, I’m Wan Feng! Princess Consort, save me!”

Yan Chu looked at her coldly. “Wan Feng?”

Hong Ye looked ashamed and said tearfully, “It was the Prince’s order. He said that you might be the amnesiac Princess Consort and told me to test you. My parents and siblings are still at home, and I didn’t dare to disobey. He also personally promised not to harm you, which is why I agreed. I never meant to harm you!”

Yan Chu leaned down and asked, “Then am I the Princess Consort?”

Hong Ye was silent.

“Forget it. Now is not the time to cause trouble. It’s not easy to explain to Xiao Qi if I kill her.” Yan Chu gestured to Xiao Yan.

Hong Ye stood up and said in a low voice, “Thank you... Miss, but what should I do about the Prince?”

“Just say what you should say. You’re a maid, how could you know everything?” Yan Chu said. “There won’t be a next time. You should take care of yourself.”

“Wan Feng understands.” Hong Ye bowed and left.

After she left, Xiao Yan said, “You heard the good news. How do you feel?”

Yan Chu leaned against the railing and said softly after a long time, “Xiao Yan, we’re the same kind of people. We’re both rotten to the core.”

“I’m eager to know one answer now,” Xiao Yan leaned in closer, his evil tone tinged with a hint of schadenfreude. “Do you still trust Xi Ling Feng Qi, my dear master?”

Yan Chu did not answer.

It was that easy trust that had made her lose her vigilance and her guard against the Eternal Realm, which led her to Jing Mountain and harmed Qiu Ying. As a bystander, this demon could always see things so clearly.

Xiao Yan said, “The purple fungus grows in the Fire and Wind Marsh, a dangerous place.”

Yan Chu said, “Can it really cure blood paralysis? Did you remember correctly?”

“You want to believe, but you’re suspicious. Master, you’re just looking for trouble,” Xiao Yan blinked. “Besides me and Xi Ling Feng Qi, who else in the world knows the whereabouts of the purple fungus?”

The more serious he was, the harder it was to tell if he was telling the truth. Although Yan Chu was not as wary of him, to say she fully trusted him was nonsense. She stared at his eyes cautiously. “According to your calculations, the purple fungus will ripen...”

“Next month,” Xiao Yan said. “How do you plan to get away?”

“I have my ways,” Yan Chu said thoughtfully. “The Fire and Wind Marsh is where the flame veins vent. It’s burning with evil flames all year round. I have an ordinary Yan Kingdom constitution, so it might be difficult for me to go deep inside.”

Xiao Yan said, “I have an evil flame spirit, so I’m the most suitable person to go. Your intention is too obvious, Master.”

Yan Chu said, “I’m only asking for your help this one time.”

Xiao Yan was puzzled. “No one has blood paralysis. Why do you want it?”

“In any case, I must get it. If you’re not willing...” Yan Chu was silent for a moment and smiled bitterly. “Forget it. Even if you don’t want to help, I won’t blame you.”

Xiao Yan said, “Really?”

Yan Chu said “hmm” and leaned into his arms.

Xiao Yan looked down at the hand on his chest. “The ‘Cold-Inducing Needle.’ Such a clumsy method.”

Yan Chu raised her eyebrows and pushed the needle in a little more. “You’re still being controlled.”

Xiao Yan said, “But you’ve forgotten that there’s not much difference between life and death for me. How much of a threat can you pose?”

Yan Chu let go of him. “You really won’t help me?”

“When freedom is right in front of me, I won’t take any risks. I hate the feeling of being controlled,” Xiao Yan sighed. “You hate it here too. Why don’t you come with me?”

Yan Chu smiled. “Where to?”

Xiao Yan said, “You don’t have much time left. Why be so persistent? Why don’t you spend a few years with me? I’ll use this brief moment of freedom to take you all over the five spiritual realms and give you a happy life. Then we can reincarnate separately. Wouldn’t that be better?”

Yan Chu said, “You know that’s impossible.”

Just as she finished speaking, a maid called out from a distance, “Miss, an envoy from the Eternal Realm has arrived.”

The person who came was the envoy Lan, a leisurely-looking man in a white robe, sitting alone in the main hall and drinking tea. When he saw the two of them, he quickly stood up and bowed. Yan Chu had just said goodbye to Xi Lingjun, so she was surprised by his arrival. She invited him to sit down again, while Xiao Yan obediently stood beside Yan Chu.

“Thank you for your trouble, Envoy,” Yan Chu said politely, then asked, “What are Xi Lingjun’s instructions?”

The envoy Lan did not answer but looked at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan, not having a clue, asked, “Why are you looking at me?”

The envoy Lan was quite embarrassed. Helpless, he bowed to him. “The Lord has instructed me to speak with Miss Yan Chu alone. I would like to ask the Lord to please step aside for a moment.”

Xiao Yan thought for a moment and asked, “If I don’t step aside, can you force me?”

The envoy Lan was stunned. “How dare I force the Lord.”

“Since you don’t dare, then let me listen.”

...

Yan Chu tried to suppress a laugh. “Xiao Yan, please go out for a bit.”

Xiao Yan simply leaned on the armrest of her chair and said, “You should trust me.”

The envoy Lan frowned almost imperceptibly and said with a smile, “Alright. The Lord has ordered me to bring the Grass Flower Pill for the miss.”

The pill was in a clean white jade bottle. When the cork was opened, a fragrant aroma filled the air. The Grass Flower Pill was a legendary life-extending elixir, refined from the essence of a thousand herbs. It was said that a dying person who took one could have their life extended by ten years. This pill was extremely rare and probably only existed in the Eternal Realm.

Xiao Yan blinked, leaned over, and whispered in her ear, “This is not a gift, but a scheme.”

Yan Chu did not accept the medicine. “I appreciate Xi Lingjun’s kindness, but I cannot accept it without having done anything to deserve it. Please take it back, Envoy Lan, and thank him for me.” She was not angry that he was protecting Fu Lian Wan Yu. He could protect her in front of Emperor Yan, so he could naturally protect others. She wanted to avenge Qiu Ying, and Fu Lian Wan Yu was a person of the Eternal Realm. Neither of them had a reason to back down. She just didn’t want to owe him any more favors, because all debts of kindness had to be repaid.

The envoy Lan looked at the two who seemed intimate and reminded her tactfully, “Miss, you should accept it. You might need it...”

“Escort the envoy,” Yan Chu instructed Xiao Yan and left.

Xiao Yan was in high spirits. “She doesn’t want it, so can I have it?”

The envoy Lan did not dare to get entangled with him. He said, “The Grass Flower Pill was personally refined by the Lord with countless spiritual herbs and a lot of effort. I can’t decide on my own. If the Lord really wants it, I will ask the Lord when I return...”

“You’re cunning,” Xiao Yan leaned in closer. “If I want it, can you stop me?”

“You...”

“I’m just teasing you.”

After the servants escorted the envoy Lan away, Yan Chu waited for Xiao Yan in the corridor, her expression not very good. “What are you trying to do?”

Xiao Yan said, “He gave me a flower that can’t bear fruit. He’s too cunning.”

“You were the one who agreed to it. He didn’t force you,” Yan Chu was silent for a moment and lowered her eyes. “You shouldn’t anger him. You know I’m his person, and you deliberately...”

“You are your own person, Master,” Xiao Yan said. “Still not willing to come with me?”

Yan Chu shook her head. “I will never leave until I have my revenge. Even if I were willing, he wouldn’t let us go. Aren’t you afraid of his retaliation?”

Xiao Yan smiled. “I’m very interested in seeing what he looks like when he’s angry.”

Yan Chu said, “You’re seeking your own destruction.”

“Destruction?” Xiao Yan said. “You’ve forgotten that for me, there is no life or death, let alone destruction. If there is, it’s something to celebrate.”

Yan Chu muttered “unreasonable” and went into the garden alone.

The flowers had withered, and the grass had died. The sound of the wind was full of autumn. Xi Lingjun sat on the seat and played chess with the Earth Master. Two envoys stood ten feet away, occasionally coming up to replace their hot tea.

The envoy Lan had rushed to Yi Ya to report back. Seeing this scene, he didn’t want to disturb them and quietly retreated to the side.

Knowing that he had something to report, the Earth Master wisely stood up to take his leave. “I have disturbed the Lord for two days. It is time for this old man to return to the Land of the Five Colors.”

Xi Lingjun did not try to keep him and instructed the two envoys, “Escort the Earth Master.”

After the Earth Master left, the envoy Lan, seeing that no one was around, came forward and told him what had happened, and then relayed Yan Chu’s original words. Seeing that he had no reaction, he took out the jade bottle and placed it on the chessboard.

Xi Lingjun looked at the chessboard and suddenly asked, “Was the Evil Flame Lord there too?”

The envoy Lan hesitated for a moment and replied, “Yes.”

Xi Lingjun looked up at him.

The envoy Lan said, “I saw that he and Miss Yan Chu seemed to be... quite close. Although the Lord had an agreement with him, the Lord is unpredictable and may not keep his word.”

A wide sleeve swept over, and all the black and white chess pieces on the board fell into the bowl.

The envoy Lan quickly bowed his head, not daring to speak.

After a long time, he finally heard him speak again. “You may go.”

Yan Chu was also worried about what had happened during the day. She went back to her room and sat in silence, thinking of a solution. Before long, there was a commotion outside. Liuyu, holding a long sword, barged into the Maple Garden. The maids followed behind, neither daring to stop her nor wanting to be punished by Xiao Qi later, so they were all in a panic.

“Yue Xiluo, I’m going to kill you!” Liuyu’s face was streaked with tears. She swung her sword around with red eyes. “If anyone dares to stop me or report this, I’ll kill them. Get out, all of you!”

Just when she wanted to get away, an opportunity came so quickly. Yan Chu glanced at Hong Ye, who was not far away, and smiled as she instructed everyone, “You can all leave.”

Hong Ye understood and quickly walked out of the garden.

Her voice was calm and conveyed her status. The maids looked at each other, knowing that although Xiao Qi doted on Liuyu, he actually tolerated the person in Maple Garden more. If they stayed here now and something happened, they would be even more to blame. Since they were all going to be implicated anyway, they might as well obey her. This way, when Xiao Qi came to blame them, they would have someone to speak for them. So, everyone bowed and retreated.

Liuyu pointed her sword at Yan Chu and said sternly, “Yue Xiluo, I know you hate me. You were the one who killed my big brother!”

“He just died. What’s the rush?” Yan Chu said nonchalantly. “My big brother, my father, and the Yue army have made countless contributions to the Yan Kingdom. Their lives are much more important than a nominal general’s. Besides, a sister having a secret affair and ruining the family’s reputation just shows that General Qin Chuan was incompetent at managing his family. It’s better that he died.”

Her words insulted the brother she revered the most, and Liuyu’s hand holding the sword trembled with rage. “You evil woman, I’ll kill you!”

“Doesn’t this evil woman look familiar?” Her tone suddenly changed. Yan Chu stood up and said, “Qin Chuan Liuyu, I’m doing what you did back then. Have you forgotten?”

Her secret was exposed, and Liuyu’s expression changed. “You... what are you talking about!”

Yan Chu spat out one cold word. “The letter.”

Liuyu dodged her gaze. “What letter? I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“You’re good at playing dumb,” Yan Chu took a step closer to her. Her phoenix eyes were filled with bone-deep hatred, and her voice was chilling. “Who replaced the letter? Who sent people to intercept the urgent report, causing my father and brother to go deep into the enemy lines without reinforcements? Qin Chuan Liuyu, you have such a short memory. I have to use today’s events to remind you.”

Liuyu’s face showed a look of triumph. “What does the death of your father and brother have to do with me? You can say whatever you want, Xiao Qi won’t believe you.”

“Xiao Qi?” Yan Chu actually laughed and stopped the topic. She looked her up and down slowly, her gaze falling on her lower abdomen. Her red lips parted, and she said the most vicious words. “You’ve been having a secret affair with him for a century, and you’re still not pregnant. He married a hen that can’t lay eggs. As the mistress of the household, I’m truly worried for the Yunze family.”

“He didn’t marry me before because he was afraid of ruining my reputation,” Liuyu’s face turned red. She raised her eyebrows and said, “Yue Xiluo, he never touched you because he always loved me. Don’t you get it?”

“Is that so,” Yan Chu covered her mouth. “So having a secret affair makes you so proud. No wonder you can only be the little one.”

“You!”

“You’ve been married for a few months. Is there something wrong with Xiao Qi? Or is it you?”

Liuyu snorted and bit her lip involuntarily. She knew the other person was deliberately saying these things, but she was still shaken. This was also a source of distress for her.

“It turns out you really are foolish,” Yan Chu said leisurely. “You still can’t figure out whose problem it is? Xiao Qi doesn’t want you to get pregnant at all because he still wants my forgiveness. I am his true wife, and the future Prince Ding will be our son. As long as I stand by his side, the Yue army will be loyal to him, and the Yunze clan’s glory will never fade. Since he could marry me for the sake of the bigger picture, he will naturally abandon you for the sake of the bigger picture.”

“You don’t need to try and provoke me. I won’t believe you,” Liuyu gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. “I know him. He’s not that heartless.”

Yan Chu said, “He is full of love. He has always cared about me.”

Liuyu spat. “He’s just feeling guilty about you. Don’t dream. You’ll never get him!”

“He’s just a man,” Yan Chu lost interest and waved her hand casually. “If you want him, take him. I’m not going to fight you for him.”

Liuyu was stunned.

She hated Yue Xiluo the most because Yue Xiluo had openly occupied the position of Princess Consort, and Xiao Qi had always shown his indulgence towards his wife in his words. Even when they were intimate, she could feel his reservations, which made her even more angry. She had always thought that Yue Xiluo had come back to take Xiao Qi away and get revenge on her, but she never expected her to say such a thing.

“You think I still care about him? Qin Chuan Liuyu, our score is not settled yet. You want to kill me?” Yan Chu used her finger to push the tip of her sword away. “You can’t beat me at all. If I kill you now, no one in the Qin Chuan clan will stand up for you. As for Xiao Qi... what can he do to me? Kill me for revenge? He won’t. He owes me. The Yue family suffered such a fate because of him. For the sake of that guilt you mentioned, he will tolerate anything I do. He will abandon me for you, but he won’t harm me. At most, he’ll feel guilty for a hundred years for you. Oh, no, maybe a little longer. He’s a man full of love.”

“You’re talking nonsense!” Liuyu took two steps back and said tremblingly, “If you dare to harm me, he will definitely kill you! You... you wouldn’t dare!”

Yan Chu looked pleased. “The time I spent with him was short, but he has some feelings for me. He wants to protect you and me. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as having it all in this world.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t kill you now. You’ll know what I want to do soon enough.”

Liuyu stared at her for a moment, and a cold smile appeared on her lips. “I won’t let you succeed! Who is more important, you or me? Do you think you can win against me?”

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly cried out and swung her sword towards her own wrist.

Yan Chu quickly stopped her.

At that moment, a cold light flashed from her sleeve!

Noticing the abnormality, Yan Chu seemed to hurriedly retract her hand to block. Liuyu was not a martial artist, so her strength was limited. But the two of them were too close. Even after being blocked, the dagger still stabbed straight into her abdomen. Blood immediately gushed out from between her fingers and dripped down.

Yan Chu bent slightly and laughed softly, just loud enough for the two of them to hear. “As you wish.”

The hatred in Liuyu’s eyes grew stronger. She pulled out the dagger and tried to stab again. This time, before she could succeed, her wrist was gripped tightly by someone.

“What are you doing!” Xiao Qi was clearly furious. He threw her to the ground and then went to hold Yan Chu to check her injury. He said to the maids who had followed him, “Go and get the imperial physician!”

Liuyu came back to her senses. “Xiao Qi?”

Xiao Qi also knew he had been too rough, but now that she had caused such a scene, there was no turning back for the three of them. He was anxious and angry, and worried about Yan Chu’s injury, so his tone became even harsher. “Why are you just standing there? Get back to the back garden!”

“Yunze Xiao Qi!” Liuyu climbed up from the ground, tears streaming down her face. “What are you doing? Telling me to get lost? You’re treating me like this for her!”

Xiao Qi endured it. “General Qin Chuan was killed by an assassin from the Mu Feng Kingdom. I know you’re grieving, but please calm down!”

“What assassin? It was her! She came back to get revenge on us! She killed my big brother!” Liuyu’s heart ached over her brother’s death, and she was afraid because of Yan Chu’s words. She grabbed his arm tightly. “She’s trying to harm us! You can’t save her! I want to avenge big brother!”

“Qin Chuan Liuyu!” Xiao Qi was so angry that he waved his hand and pushed her away.

“Qin Chuan Liuyu?” Liuyu suddenly let go of his hand, her face as pale as paper. “Good, Qin Chuan Liuyu. Xiao Qi, you’ve never considered me as a member of the Yunze family, have you? If you touch her again today, I’ll leave right now!”

Xiao Qi also knew he had misspoke and said helplessly, “Stop making a scene!”

“Do you want her or me?” Liuyu retreated to the edge of the pond and laughed miserably. “Can’t you see? She has martial arts skills. How could she get hurt? She did it on purpose!”

“If you hadn’t come here looking for trouble, how could she have done it on purpose!” Xiao Qi finally became enraged. He handed Yan Chu over to a maid, went over, and grabbed Liuyu’s arm, throwing her to the maids. “Send the consort back.”

Liuyu struggled. “I want to avenge big brother! Kill this bitch! Let go of me! She’s here to harm you, Xiao Qi! You’ll regret this!”

Her voice was already hoarse from crying, and her desperate shouting now sounded even more like a ghost, making her appear even crazier. Xiao Qi stood there with a livid face, sighed after a long while, and warned the maids to guard her carefully. When he turned back, he saw that Yan Chu’s face was as pale as snow and she was about to faint. He quickly went to hold her again and said in a cold voice, “Where are the people who serve in Maple Garden? Get out here now!”

Yan Chu gently pushed his hand away. “You don’t need to get angry with them. I was the one who told them to leave. You still haven’t forgotten to punish people at a time like this.”

Every time he punished a servant back then, she would try to stop him like this. Xiao Qi lowered his eyes, picked her up, and whispered, “Why do you have to do this?”

“She was pretending to harm herself,” Yan Chu said with a weak smile. “I saved her just to prevent you from misunderstanding, but I was careless for a moment. With my skills, I shouldn’t have been injured.”

Xiao Qi didn’t say anything else. He held her and walked quickly towards the room.