Princess Agents Recap, Plot, Synopsis, Total Episodes

Princess Agents Synopsis

In the years of Western Wei, there was chaos and war, and many civilians were reduced to slaves and their lives were like grass.

A slave girl, Chu Qiao, was sent to the hunting ground for the nobles to shoot for entertainment.

Witnessing the tragic death of her elder brother and sister, she vowed to take her little sister to escape from the prison.

Chu Qiao attracted an open-minded nobleman, Yuwen Yue‘s attention. She was forced to undergo severe training while forming a deep friendship with Yan Xun.

When Yan Xun’s family was wiped out and he was in a desperate situation, Chu Qiao stayed with him and helped him to escape from the situation.

However, after returning to Xiliang, Yan Xun’s ambition swelled and he was willing to take the lives of all the people in the city as a price to claim the throne.

In desperation, Chu Qiao apart from Yan Xun.

Yan Xun traped Yuwen Yue in the ice lake, Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue fell into the ice lake and their lives are not yet known.

Princess Agents Recap

Episode 1 Recap

In a swaying prison cart, a young woman named Chu Qiao drifted in a vivid nightmare. Blood and chaos consumed her dreamscape, punctuated by voices calling out both "Chu Qiao" and "Jing Xiaoliu." She awoke, disoriented and hungry, only for a small girl called Curly to offer her half of a steamed bun. Chu Qiao introduced herself as Jing Xiaoliu, and Curly affectionately called her Older Sister Xiaoliu, admitting her fear about their unknown destination.

Chu Qiao reassured her they would be fine. The cart soon halted at a hunting ground. Soldiers roughly pulled away the white coverings and herded the girls into a tent, where new clothes were laid out. Each garment was embroidered with a different character, and the bewildered girls, uncertain of their fate, wondered what the symbols meant.

Meanwhile, in the bustling streets of the Western Wei Imperial City, several noble youths on horseback dashed through the crowd, drawing excited cries from onlookers. These were Yan Xun, the Heir Apparent of Northern Yan; Yuan Song, the Thirteenth Prince of Wei, also known as King Yu; Wei Shuye, the first son of Wei's prominent household; Zhao Xifeng, the second son of Zhao's household; and Yuwen Huai, the illegitimate grandson of Yuwen's third household.

Yuwen Huai, finding city horse racing too dull, proposed a more "stimulating" game with a prize of Princess Chun's fine wine. The group rode out to a vast hunting ground where the newly clothed female slaves were driven out of the tents and surrounded by armed guards. Each slave wore a character representing one of the young nobles' names. Yuwen Huai gleefully revealed the rules: this was no ordinary hunt.

The targets included both wolves and these "fresh beautiful female slaves." Each noble would receive a bag of arrows, free to shoot either wolves or other nobles' slaves. After one incense stick's time, marked by a sounding arrow, the winner would be the noble with the most surviving slaves under their name. Yuan Song immediately denounced the game as too cruel, refusing to participate, suggesting they find another form of entertainment.

Zhao Xifeng, however, found it exhilarating, arguing that protecting one's own slaves would be more strategic than just shooting wolves. He scoffed at the idea that they were more than mere criminals, destined for death anyway, claiming this was a chance for them to survive.

Yan Xun, recalling his father, the Marquis Northern Settler, who built his name on the battlefield, declared that while his family's swords could slay traitors and invaders, they would not stain themselves with the blood of innocent women and children. Zhao Xifeng, impatient, countered that if Yan Xun wouldn't play, his slaves should simply be killed, and then demanded the immediate release of the wolves.

Yuan Song suggested waiting for Yuwen Yue to arrive, but Yuwen Huai smirked, speculating that Yuwen Yue was likely enjoying a happy night elsewhere. At the Qingshan House of the Yuwen Manor, Yuwen Yue entered his room to find a beautiful woman named Cherry waiting for him. She claimed to have warmed his bed and tried to entice him, but Yuwen Yue remained impassive, calmly observing her. He subtly baited her, leading her to attempt an assassination.

With swift precision, he subdued her, revealing he had seen through her deception the moment he entered. Cherry confessed she had poisoned the incense burner, but Yuwen Yue coolly informed her that she was the one poisoned, implying Yuwen Huai would be disappointed. He then ordered his attendant, Yue Qi, to prepare his horse, heading towards the hunting ground. Meanwhile, at the hunting grounds, the gates opened, unleashing over twenty ferocious wolves that charged towards the screaming girls.

Chu Qiao quickly assessed her surroundings, urging the girls to abandon the open field and flee towards the rocky hills for cover. Arrows began to rain down from the platform. Girls fell quickly, but Chu Qiao, pulling Curly along, skillfully dodged both arrows and wolves, catching the attention of the nobles. When a wolf blocked their path, Chu Qiao told Curly to hide, intending to lure the wolf away.

Yan Xun, witnessing this, shot the wolf with an arrow, saving Chu Qiao. Just as she caught her breath, two more wolves surrounded her. Cornered and fighting for her life, Chu Qiao picked up a fallen arrow and plunged it into a wolf's throat. From a distant sand dune, Yuwen Yue, who had just arrived on horseback, observed the tenacious girl, internally acknowledging her as a "natural warrior."

As the number of girls in the arena dwindled, Yuwen Huai, intrigued by Chu Qiao's resilience, decided to join the hunt himself, riding into the enclosure with his men to pursue the remaining slaves. The other nobles followed, though Yan Xun continued to only target wolves, sparing the female slaves. More slaves fell as the chase continued across the barren land. Chu Qiao, clutching Curly's hand, ran relentlessly across the sand dunes, knowing that to stop meant death.

A sounding arrow finally signaled the end of the game, bringing all riders to a halt. Still unsatisfied, Yuwen Huai defiantly fired another arrow, striking Curly, who collapsed. Chu Qiao embraced her, frozen in grief. Furious that Chu Qiao, whose clothes bore the character "Yue," had survived, Yuwen Huai disregarded the game's end and fired another arrow at her. Yan Xun quickly loosed an arrow to intercept, but it only clipped a few feathers from Yuwen Huai's arrow.

In the critical moment, Yuwen Yue silently fired a crossbow bolt, deflecting Yuwen Huai's arrow and saving Chu Qiao's life. Overwhelmed by sorrow, Chu Qiao remained oblivious to the debate among the nobles over her survival. Her heart was consumed by hatred. When Yan Xun asked for her name, she coldly responded that she would tell him when she no longer had to look up to him.

Because of Yuwen Huai's displeasure, Chief Butler Zhu ordered Chu Qiao to be locked in the Yuwen family woodshed and subjected to torture. Lying injured on the ground, Chu Qiao seethed with anger, vowing that one day, she would make those nobles pay for the blood they shed in this world where human lives were cheaper than weeds. Later, the woodshed door creaked open, and a young man entered with a food box.

He immediately rushed to Chu Qiao, calling her "Xiaoliu" with a pained expression and identifying himself as her Older Brother Five, Linxi. Though Chu Qiao didn't recognize him, she tentatively accepted the bowl of rice with a piece of her favorite braised pork. She ate it tearfully, finding it the most delicious thing she had ever tasted.

Linxi told her that their sisters, Zhixiang and Xiaoba, were also in the manor and that he was now Yuwen Yue's book boy, a middle-ranked servant. He promised to get medicine for her before leaving. Elsewhere, Yan Xun sought out Yuwen Yue, asking him to help avoid Princess Chun's plan to host a birthday banquet for him. Yuwen Yue, with a cool demeanor, suggested hosting the banquet himself at Yuwen Manor to deter rumors, a solution Yan Xun reluctantly accepted.

Yan Xun returned a jade to Yuwen Yue and then playfully pressed him on why he saved a mere slave girl, teasing that Yuwen Yue must have developed feelings for her. Yan Xun described the girl as an interesting "wild kitten" from Northern Yan, with bright eyes and sharp claws, daring enough to fight wolves.

Yuwen Yue dismissed his taunts, inviting him to take the girl if he liked her, to which Yan Xun warned that he might just abduct her. Back in the woodshed, Chu Qiao lay unconscious but soon woke to find her sisters tending to her. Their care was cut short when Madame Song, the housekeeper, discovered them. Accusing them of laziness, Madame Song began whipping the sisters.

Chu Qiao, with a swift movement, used a special slingshot on her wrist to hit Madame Song's leg, forcing her to stop. Zhixiang, the eldest sister, warned Chu Qiao that such actions in the heavily regulated Yuwen Manor could lead to execution, as there were over a hundred reasons for a slave to be beaten to death. Meanwhile, at Yuwen Huai's Hongshan House, several young nobles engaged in a game of pitch-pot. A slender young woman then gracefully entered, effortlessly tossing a jade into the pot. Her beauty was striking, likened to a lotus and a willow.

Episode 2 Recap

Chu Qiao awoke from a nightmare, shivering from the cold and reliving fragments of a past where someone named Yuwen Hao wanted to kill her. Her eldest sister, Zhixiang, and younger sister, Xiaoba, tried to comfort her. Soon, Madame Song appeared, scolding them for being lazy. She accused them of stealing Chief Butler Zhu's medicine burner, but Zhixiang insisted it had been given for Chu Qiao.

When Madame Song attempted to strike Zhixiang, Chu Qiao intervened, causing Madame Song to hit herself and develop a swollen leg. Chu Qiao, despite her own injuries, offered to call a doctor, further infuriating Madame Song. Zhixiang later warned Chu Qiao about the dangers of Yuwen Manor, explaining that slaves could be executed for a hundred reasons, and mentioning the infamous Bliss Chamber where many maids had died.

She emphasized the importance of enduring hardship, revealing that their older brother Linxi had gone to ask Mister Yue for help and that their younger sister Xiaoqi would soon return. Zhixiang stressed that as long as they remained together, they could face any challenge. Meanwhile, at a gathering, Princess Chun arrived, a lively and straightforward young woman who playfully insulted the assembled noblemen, including her own brother, Prince Yu.

She even called them "pigs" except for Heir Apparent Yan Xun, whom she openly admired. Princess Chun had brought a rare jar of Jade Wine, the prize from the human hunting grounds competition, a wine personally brewed by the Marquis Northen Settler for Madame Bai Sheng, with only one jar left in the world. She proposed keeping it for Yan Xun's upcoming birthday, offering to host the celebration herself.

However, Yan Xun informed her that Yuwen Yue had already promised to host his birthday party. Still suffering from injuries, Chu Qiao was forced to work by Madame Song. When Zhixiang pleaded for more rest for her sister, Madame Song scoffed, asserting that anyone who could crawl in Yuwen Manor had to work. Chief Butler Zhu then arrived, announcing that Yuwen Yue would be hosting Heir Apparent Yan Xun's birthday party in the gardens for the royals and nobles.

He sternly warned that any mistake would result in their deaths. Madame Song assigned Chu Qiao to move flowers, but Chief Butler Zhu detained Zhixiang, implying he had been lenient with Chu Qiao and now expected Zhixiang to repay him. Just as he was about to make a move, Chu Qiao interrupted, asking Zhixiang about the orchid's location, allowing Zhixiang to slip away.

Chu Qiao later learned from Zhixiang that Chief Butler Zhu was backed by Yuwen Huai, a powerful figure in the manor who could easily crush them. Zhixiang warned Chu Qiao that any retaliation would bring disaster upon their entire family. Not far from Qingshan House, a black-robed man launched an arrow into a window. Inside, Yuwen Yue saw the copper crane on his table open its mouth, signaling a message.

He retrieved a box of arrows from a secret chamber, which were part of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes, a powerful intelligence gathering tool. Yuwen Yue's grandfather explained that due to his own illness, their branch, House One, was not favored by the Emperor, while House Three's Hongshan House was trusted due to their numbers. He lamented that the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes, without imperial backing, was like a "sword in its sheath," useless.

He entrusted Yuwen Yue with the heavy responsibility of revitalizing it, and Yuwen Yue solemnly promised to fulfill his grandfather's wishes. Later, at Heir Apparent Yan Xun's birthday banquet in Yuwen Manor, amidst music and feasting, Chu Qiao and other low-ranking slaves wearing iron bells were forced to serve, even acting as "human footstools" for the nobles.

Zhixiang strictly cautioned Chu Qiao to keep her head down and not make a sound, warning that even a loud breath could lead to ten lashes. Princess Chun, upon arrival, immediately summoned Chu Qiao to be her footstool. During the banquet, Yuwen Huai secretly instructed Jin Zhu, his spy, to put "Cold-Spreading Powder" in Yuwen Yue's wine. Chu Qiao observed this clandestine exchange. Zhixiang was assigned to serve Yuwen Yue. Sensing something amiss, Yuwen Yue refused to drink.

Yuwen Huai then mockingly suggested an ancient custom: if the guest refused wine, the beautiful maiden serving would be killed. Despite Zhixiang's desperate pleas, Yuwen Yue still hesitated. Unable to bear watching her sister become a pawn in their schemes, Chu Qiao purposely bumped into the table, spilling the wine and drawing everyone's attention. She then pleaded with the lords to spare her sister and offered to take the punishment in her place. Enraged, Yuwen Huai ordered her killed.

Yan Xun intervened, stating that as it was his birthday, he did not wish for bloodshed. However, Yuwen Huai insisted that Yuwen Manor's rules could not be broken. Yan Xun then proposed a game of chance to decide Chu Qiao's fate. He tossed his waist token, which had a dragon pattern on one side and a seal character on the other, asking Chu Qiao to guess which side would land face up.

Understanding Yan Xun's subtle hint, Chu Qiao correctly guessed the dragon pattern, narrowly escaping death, though still facing severe punishment. That evening, Chu Qiao was found hanging upside down from a tree. Yuwen Yue arrived with his men and released her, but not without a cold taunt about her stupidity for causing trouble without the ability to escape unscathed. Back in the woodshed, an ailing Chu Qiao was carried in by Linxi.

Madame Song appeared, gloating that Chu Qiao had offended Yuwen Huai and would soon be sent to the Bliss Chamber "to enjoy life," a place notorious for maids meeting horrific ends. The Jing siblings were distraught, scrambling to find a way to save Chu Qiao. Unbeknownst to them, Jin Zhu, Yuwen Huai's informant in Qingshan House, was instructed by Chief Butler Zhu to poison Yuwen Yue's grandfather.

Zhu Shun explained that Yuwen Huai couldn't easily harm Yuwen Yue directly, so he aimed to kill the old master first. Jin Zhu was given the "Thousand-Soul-Killing Powder," a poison that caused rapid death. She then pretended to help Linxi by offering him an exit pass for Chu Qiao, convincing him to present a new set of "tokens" to the Old Master as a gift from Jin Zhu. Linxi, seeking to repay Jin Zhu for helping Chu Qiao, innocently complied.

Yuwen Yue's unsuspecting grandfather, the Old Master of Qingshan House, played with the poisoned tokens and quickly succumbed to the "Thousand-Soul-Killing Powder," bleeding from his orifices. Meanwhile, Chu Qiao, having managed to escape the manor with the help of her sisters, overheard Chief Butler Zhu and Jin Zhu discussing Linxi's imminent danger. Realizing her older brother was in trouble, she immediately returned to Yuwen Manor.

To her horror, she witnessed Yuwen Yue accusing Linxi of poisoning his grandfather and then personally killing him, kicking his body into a burning pile. Chu Qiao rushed forward to save Linxi but was struck in the calf by a stone kicked by Yuwen Yue, falling to the ground and being apprehended by guards. Heartbroken, Chu Qiao tearfully accused Yuwen Yue of arbitrarily killing an innocent person, insisting her brother was not a spy.

Yuwen Yue coldly retorted that in this world, the strong prevail, and one must become strong to avoid being trampled. As a poisonous spider crawled onto Chu Qiao's arm, Yuwen Yue swiftly swung his sword, killing the spider but also cutting Chu Qiao's arm. He offered no explanation, merely stating that it was her "deserved retribution" before turning and walking away. Back in the woodshed, a wounded Chu Qiao delivered the devastating news of Linxi's death to her sisters.

Xiaoba, overcome with grief, lashed out, blaming Chu Qiao for being a jinx who had brought death to their family. Zhixiang immediately defended Chu Qiao, leading to a sorrowful argument between the sisters as their shared grief and helplessness engulfed them. Shortly after, Chief Butler Zhu, in high spirits, reported the Old Master's death to Yuwen Huai. However, Yuwen Huai expressed dissatisfaction at not seeing the body himself and declared his intention to personally visit Qingshan House.

Episode 3 Recap

The Qingshan House was filled with solemnity for a funeral. Yuwen Yue, dressed in mourning clothes, displayed a quiet sadness as he prepared to seal the coffin of his deceased grandfather. However, his command was interrupted by an uninvited guest, Yuwen Huai, from the Third Household. Disregarding the guards, Yuwen Huai arrogantly announced his intention to personally open the coffin and examine the corpse. Yuwen Yue tried to stop him, leading to a fierce confrontation in the memorial hall.

Yuwen Huai accused Yuwen Yue, an adopted grandson, of wanting to seize control of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes and Qingshan House prematurely, implying he was the murderer. Yuwen Yue, in turn, insulted Yuwen Huai by referencing his mother's past. Amidst their intense battle, a sword thrown by Yuwen Huai narrowly missed an eunuch standing near the courtyard entrance. The eunuch immediately cried out for guards, announcing the presence of the Noble Consort.

Hearing this, Yuwen Yue quickly dropped his weapon and respectfully greeted her. Yuwen Huai, realizing the Noble Consort was a strategic intervention by Yuwen Yue, also ceased his attack. The Noble Consort, in her regal attire, immediately questioned Yuwen Huai for causing a disturbance. Yuwen Huai falsely claimed that Yuwen Yue had insisted on sealing the coffin and had attacked him first. Yuwen Yue countered, explaining to the Noble Consort that his grandfather had died from a rare Western poison.

Fearing the poison would spread, he had swiftly burned all suspicious items before sealing the coffin. The Noble Consort commended Yuwen Yue's decisive action. When asked about the poisoner, Yuwen Yue stated the answer was obvious, subtly hinting at Yuwen Huai, who was responsible for procuring tributes via the Silk Road—including a two-colored-eyed cat for the Dowager Empress the previous year.

Upon hearing the implied accusation, Yuwen Huai attempted to attack his cousin again but was immediately stopped by the Noble Consort. She rebuked Yuwen Huai for his audacity and, to prevent further discord, declared she would personally inspect the body. After her examination, the Noble Consort confirmed that Yuwen Zhuo had indeed died of poisoning.

Acknowledging a past debt of gratitude to the deceased, she issued an imperial decree: Yuwen Huai was forbidden from ever entering Qingshan House again, unless explicitly invited by its master. Resentful, Yuwen Huai grudgingly complied and departed with his men. Before her departure, the Noble Consort expressed her concern for Yuwen Yue's precarious situation.

She suggested that if he could gain the Emperor's trust and reactivate the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes, she would facilitate his marriage to Princess Chun, a match his grandfather had wished for. Yuwen Yue humbly declined, stating he was unworthy.

The Noble Consort then warned him that the Spy Network was a valuable asset the Emperor would never abandon, and reminded him that he was not the Emperor's sole candidate for its control, implying he must either fully commit or face dire consequences. Meanwhile, in the woodshed, Chu Qiao regained consciousness, overwhelmed with grief. She refused the medicine brought by her older sister Zhixiang, blaming herself for their brother Linxi's death.

Xiaoba, another younger sister, harshly accused Chu Qiao of being an "unlucky star" who cursed their family. Zhixiang intervened, defending Chu Qiao and explaining that in their chaotic world, the lives of slaves were cheap and their fates were beyond their control. Encouraged by her sister's words, Chu Qiao resolved to live on for Linxi, who had died trying to save her, and drank the medicine.

In the courtyard, maids gossiped as guards carried out the body of Jin Lan, a maid sent to the Bliss Chamber who was tortured to death by Yuwen Huai after Old Master Xi rejected her. Soon after, Madame Song arrived to select more maids for the Bliss Chamber, specifically naming Chu Qiao. To save her, Zhixiang desperately begged to go in her place.

Before leaving, Zhixiang entrusted a special item to Xiaoba for Chu Qiao and urged Chu Qiao to take care of their younger sisters and to endure whatever happened. No girl who entered the Bliss Chamber came out alive, and Zhixiang was no exception. Chu Qiao, hiding with her sisters, watched in silent agony as Zhixiang's lifeless body was loaded onto a cart and taken away.

Witnessing this, Chu Qiao understood true powerlessness and vowed she would not "swallow down anything anymore." Later, after secretly burying Zhixiang, the three sisters burned paper money at the makeshift graves of their siblings. Suddenly, Madame Song, who had been punished by Yuwen Huai for revealing secrets about the Third Household's tributes, stumbled upon them. Hoping to regain favor by turning them in, she started a struggle. During the scuffle, Madame Song slipped from a bridge.

Chu Qiao managed to grab her but couldn't maintain her grip, and Madame Song plunged into the water. Terrified, the younger sisters believed they had committed murder, but Chu Qiao reassured them that Madame Song deserved her fate and promised to take full responsibility. Unbeknownst to them, a hidden figure had watched the entire incident. Back in Qingshan House, Yuwen Yue's parrot repeatedly squawked, "Bad guy is here!" just as Yan Xun sauntered in.

Yan Xun playfully circled Yuwen Yue, suggesting that if his grandfather were truly dead, he wouldn't appear so calm. Yuwen Yue replied that being too clever is not always a good thing. Yan Xun spoke of his dislike for the Yuwen family's internal strife, expressing his own desire to be a free eagle on the prairie. When asked about his own aspirations, Yuwen Yue stated that his choice had always been "no choice."

Yan Xun then warned him that the Old Master of the Third Household would personally plant spies by his side. Changing the subject, Yan Xun took a bottle of injury medicine from Yuwen Yue's desk and went to find Chu Qiao. He arrived just as guards were attempting to take her away for punishment. Yan Xun effortlessly intervened, dispersing the guards by claiming Chu Qiao as his friend.

Confused by her somber mood, he listened as she explained her recent losses and precarious situation. Understanding her plight, Yan Xun said no more, simply left the medicine, and quietly departed. Later, as Yuwen Yue oversaw the dismantling of the funeral hall, the Old Master of the Third Household arrived. He declared Yuwen Yue's adoption papers invalid because they lacked his birth father's signature. With a subtle smile, Yuwen Yue calmly produced an imperial decree, nullifying the challenge.

Undeterred, the Old Master presented Yuwen Yue with a beautiful woman to serve him. Yuwen Yue graciously accepted, declaring he would welcome not only the Old Master's gifts but also those from all other powerful relatives, signaling his intent to consolidate all power offered to him.

Episode 4 Recap

Continuing from their conversation, Yan Xun observed that Yuwen Yue's grief over his grandfather's recent passing seemed too typical, suggesting it was an act to deceive others. Yan Xun pointed out that Yuwen Yue's grandfather, despite not being his real one, was the only family he truly cared about. He then warned Yuwen Yue that Grand Uncle Yuwen Xi planned to visit Qingshan House under the guise of an elder, intending to force women upon him.

Yuwen Yue responded that he, too, had no choice when it came to women. Later, Grand Uncle Yuwen Xi arrived, reminiscing about the old days in Qingshan House. He claimed that with Yuwen Yue's grandfather gone, Qingshan House had no master, and he feared Yuwen Yue would be bullied. Yuwen Yue assured him he could still manage the household.

Yuwen Xi then challenged Yuwen Yue's status as a direct descendant of Household One, stating that his birth father, the Zhuguo Commander, had not signed the family's descendant registry sixteen years ago. He concluded that Qingshan House was no longer Yuwen Yue's to claim. Yuwen Yue, however, insisted he would still manage it due to his grandfather's upbringing. Yuwen Xi retorted that Yuwen Yue alone couldn't decide, to which Yuwen Yue countered that if the Emperor commanded it, he could.

An imperial decree then arrived, confirming Yuwen Yue's authority over Qingshan House. Despite this, Yuwen Xi continued to meddle, offering Jinxin as a bedchamber maidservant. Yuwen Yue surprisingly declared he would accept Jinxin, along with all the other women sent by his three brothers from Household Two, Zhao Jieyu from the palace, and various relatives in Chang'an, asserting that Qingshan House would soon be filled with beautiful women.

Yuwen Xi, contradicting his earlier intention, expressed concern about such a promiscuous life. Yuwen Yue then proposed a selection process for all the maidservants, including copper and silver bells from the Yuwen Manor and Hongshan House, ensuring fairness and not offending anyone. Yuwen Xi agreed, stating his satisfaction with the lively atmosphere. After Yuwen Xi left, Yuwen Yue privately fumed, wishing he could kill him if he weren't an elder.

Yuwen Yue then instructed Yue Qi to announce the selection for his bedchamber maidservant. Meanwhile, Xiaoba and Xiaoqi discussed the recent deaths of their older brother Linxi and sister Zhixiang, fearing they would be implicated in Madame Song's disappearance. They noted Yuwen Yue's coldness in holding the selection so soon after his grandfather's death and lamented their status as iron bell servants, which disqualified them from participating, though one of them even expressed a desire to seek revenge if selected.

Chu Qiao, overhearing this, silently resolved to enter Qingshan House to escape Yuwen Huai's grasp, protect her sisters, and seek revenge for her family. She believed that even as a weak plant, she could fight against sturdy rocks if she leveraged strength. Later, a guard leader attempted to arrest Chu Qiao, accusing her of being involved in Madame Song's disappearance based solely on an argument at the pond, and threatening her sisters if she resisted.

Yan Xun, the Heir Apparent, intervened, subtly mocking the guard leader's arrogance and demonstrating his own power by arbitrarily punishing his subordinate, Feng Mian, for a fabricated crime, asserting his word was also evidence. After Yan Xun saved Chu Qiao and her sisters, he playfully demanded tea, which Chu Qiao initially refused, stating their lowly status. Xiaoqi, however, went to fetch it. Yan Xun claimed to have saved Chu Qiao three times, though she corrected him to two.

Chu Qiao, still grieving her siblings, expressed her lack of humor, prompting Yan Xun to give her medicine for scars. Chu Qiao bravely went to Qingshan House, kneeling outside to participate in the selection despite being an iron bell servant. The other maids ridiculed her audacity. Yuwen Yue, upon hearing of her stubbornness, initially dismissed her, allowing her to kneel as long as she wished, though he secretly observed her resolute demeanor late into the night.

When guards later tried to remove her, Yuwen Yue stopped them. He then directly confronted Chu Qiao, asking her purpose. Chu Qiao humbly requested to be allowed to participate and serve him, stating that staying with him was her only way to preserve her life. Yuwen Yue clarified that staying meant becoming his bedchamber maidservant, which involved catering to his pleasure. He challenged her, asking about her dignity, given that he had killed her brother.

Chu Qiao replied that as a slave, she had no right to talk about dignity, only begging for a path to survive. Yuwen Yue then ordered Yue Qi to allow Jing Xiaoliu (Chu Qiao) to participate in the selection, telling her to rest for the next day. Concurrently, Zhu Shun reported to Yuwen Huai about Yuwen Yue's decision to allow Jing Xiaoliu to join the selection. Yuwen Huai immediately ordered her killed to prevent further complications.

However, Zhu Shun then reported a crucial detail from the manor's cook: on the night Madame Song disappeared, the three Jing sisters were seen arguing with her by the pond, followed by a splash sound. Yuwen Huai, enraged at the delayed report, questioned Zhu Shun's intentions. Zhu Shun, terrified, begged for mercy. Yuwen Huai acknowledged Chu Qiao's unusual nature, noting that even Madame Song couldn't handle her.

Zhu Shun then proposed a new plan: if Jinxin failed, they could use Chu Qiao as a pawn against Yuwen Yue, since she would surely seek revenge for her brother Linxi's death. Yuwen Huai agreed to this, anticipating a good show. The selection began. As the maidservants gathered, Jinxin, a silver bell maid, confronted Chu Qiao for releasing a caged parrot, calling Chu Qiao a fool and attempting to ruin her clothes.

Chu Qiao, however, deftly disarmed Jinxin, taking her clothes and leaving Jinxin disheveled. Yuwen Yue, observing the scene, noted Chu Qiao's quick reflexes and agile movements, recognizing her potential for martial arts training, despite her lack of formal knowledge. He dismissed the list of performers sent by Grand Uncle Yuwen Xi, stating he wanted a bedchamber maid, not an entertainer.

He then announced the three rounds of the competition: tea brewing, serving ink and brush, and playing Pupu chess, with elimination after two losses. The remaining participants would then compete in a final tie-breaker round. The first round was Pupu chess, which Chu Qiao admitted she did not understand, leading to a loss. For the second round, tea brewing, Chu Qiao observed the other maids.

Inspired, she fetched fresh well water and added an herb to filter out the "fiery" nature of midday water. Yuwen Yue remarked on her innovative approach, calling her bold, detailed, and quick to learn. Yan Xun agreed that Chu Qiao should win this round, and she did. The final round was memorizing and silently writing a Sanskrit Buddhist scripture. The maids were given one incense stick's time to memorize and another to write.

Chu Qiao's sisters worried, as Chu Qiao was illiterate. Despite this, Yuwen Yue's servant noted that Chu Qiao, though unskilled with a brush, had clearly figured out a method. When the results were presented, Chu Qiao's was among the best. Jinxin accused her of cheating, claiming she must have peeked at the scripture.

Yuwen Yue, however, dismissed the accusation, stating that the Avatamsaka sutra of the Huayan school had been brought by Zen Master Ba Luo Tuo the previous day and had never been revealed to the world, making prior knowledge impossible. Yuwen Yue then questioned Chu Qiao for not signing her name. Chu Qiao argued that the rules only required memorization and writing, not a signature. Yuwen Yue offered her one last chance: if she could sign her name, she would win.

Chu Qiao confirmed he would keep his word, then calmly removed a small copper bell from her hair, dipped it in ink, and used it to stamp her name onto the scripture. Yuwen Yue declared Jing Xiaoliu the winner. As he turned away, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. Following her selection, Chu Qiao was brought before Yuwen Yue. He again questioned her motive for becoming his bedchamber maidservant.

Chu Qiao knelt and explained that she had promised her older sister to care for their younger sisters. Yuwen Yue responded by saying that if she passed all his tests, he would set them free. Chu Qiao expressed her gratitude. Yuwen Yue then asked her to shave him. Chu Qiao hesitated, her hand trembling as she held the razor, remembering how Yuwen Yue had killed her brother.

She slowly brought the blade towards his throat but then gently began to shave his beard. Yuwen Yue, his voice cold, asked why she didn't strike. Chu Qiao immediately lowered the razor and bowed. Yuwen Yue then led her to the window, where Xiaoba and Xiaoqi were tending to flowers in the courtyard. He told Chu Qiao that one could only entrust a knife to another when they held that person's weaknesses.

Yuwen Yue began to train Chu Qiao, who understood little of his world, and gave her the new name Xing'er. Under the influence of incense, Chu Qiao fell into a deep sleep. Yuwen Yue watched her, lost in thought. Unbeknownst to Chu Qiao, many other maidservants in the same compound, including her sister Xiaoba, lay awake, unable to sleep due to Chu Qiao's selection.

Later that night, Yuwen Yue was found in his secret chamber, reading a confidential letter from his grandfather. The letter stated: "This woman has beast nature; use her, guard against her, discard her. . ."

Episode 5 Recap

In a secluded room, Yuwen Yue gazed intently at a message from his grandfather, who urged him to remember to use, guard against, and eventually abandon those with untamed characteristics, fearing they might cause him harm. Yuwen Yue then wrote a letter to his younger brother, Yu'er, reflecting on the tumultuous times. He noted that navigating this chaotic world, rife with dangers, was like finding a path through thorny vines, arduous and fraught with danger.

He expressed that only a free-spirited person like his brother, who moved with the clouds and sailed the Jianghu, could truly find peace. Following her selection as Yuwen Yue's bedchamber maid, Chu Qiao woke up to find him lying nearby. She screamed in surprise, prompting Yuwen Yue to calmly mock her, asking if this bedchamber opportunity wasn't what she desired.

Chu Qiao responded with fierce resistance, which Yuwen Yue used as an opportunity to teach her martial arts, engaging in close physical contact, even lifting her and spinning her around. He then questioned her why she had hesitated to make a move earlier, reminding her that he had once told her he killed her brother. She replied that she didn't dare.

Yuwen Yue then revealed that he had brought her two younger sisters, Xiaoqi and Xiaoba, to Qingshan House, easing her concerns. Yuwen Yue then explained a vital lesson: one should only hand over a sword's hilt to another if they possess that person's weakness. He then bestowed upon her a new name, Xing'er, instructing her to never again use her old name.

He taught her the importance of feigning a smile and never trembling, no matter how terrified, in the presence of a stronger opponent. Later, after resigning herself to her fate as his bedchamber maidservant, Yuwen Yue asked her to retrieve a bamboo scroll from his bed, informing her that she would face double punishment the next day.

He later demanded a full set of dining ware for his midnight fish soup, despite eating alone, insisting that not a single piece should be missing, including the plum blossom design dining set. While serving him, Yuwen Yue suddenly took her hand, instructing her to obey him unconditionally.

Their interaction grew intense, with Chu Qiao crying out in pain as Yuwen Yue seemingly put her through a form of painful training, which he cryptically referred to as experiencing the Jianghu world. The next morning, the household was abuzz with whispers about Yuwen Yue’s first bedchamber guest. Hearing commotion outside his room, Yuwen Yue deliberately displayed affection towards Xing'er, affectionately feeding her porridge while embracing her intimately, just as Jin Zhu, a silver bell maidservant, arrived to deliver soup.

As Jin Zhu departed, Yuwen Yue immediately pushed Xing'er away, his demeanor turning cold as he ordered her to wash the bed linens she had "stained." Xing'er retorted that he had intentionally dirtied them, glancing at the bloodstains on the bed. Jin Zhu, brimming with jealousy, openly mocked Xing'er for still being an iron bell servant after serving Yuwen Yue, equating her status to that of a house prostitute. Xiaoqi and Xiaoba quickly jumped to Xing'er's defense.

Jin Zhu escalated the confrontation, but Xing'er deftly used the grappling techniques Yuwen Yue had taught her to subdue Jin Zhu, proving their effectiveness. Meanwhile, Princess Chun'er, dressed in an uncharacteristically sharp, masculine attire that mirrored Yan Xun's style, gathered with Yan Xun and Royal Prince Yuan Song for a game of stick-tossing. Yan Xun, bored, dozed off, prompting Chun'er to playfully tease him with leaves. In his semi-conscious state, Yan Xun murmured about a "Little Wildcat," piquing Chun'er's curiosity.

Yan Xun vaguely dismissed her questions before excusing himself to "feed the cat," causing Chun'er to ponder his words. Later, by the river where Xing'er was doing laundry, Yan Xun approached her, teasing her about her new name, Xing'er, which he found "pretentious" when paired with Yuwen Yue's "Yue" character. He further mocked Yuwen Yue, suggesting his cold demeanor stemmed from failure to consummate his night with Xing'er due to Yuwen Yue being in a period of mourning.

Xing'er dismissed his taunts, preparing to leave. Yan Xun, however, was undeterred, playfully coercing her into leading his horse, Storm, as he preferred to walk. Yan Xun, impressed by Xing'er's spirit, later confronted Yuwen Yue, demanding to take Xing'er with him and threatening to remain indefinitely at Qingshan House if Yuwen Yue refused.

Yuwen Yue, calmly practicing calligraphy, explained that he kept Xing'er because, despite her lack of martial arts, she possessed remarkable reaction speed, agility, observation skills, memory, and resourcefulness. He highlighted her unique background as the sole survivor of the human hunting grounds, lacking any backing in Chang'an City—qualities he deemed essential. Back in the servants' courtyard, Xing'er's preferential treatment, fueled by Jin Zhu's jealousy, led to her and her sisters, Xiaoqi and Xiaoba, being ostracized and constantly troubled.

When Xing'er stood up for her sisters, Jin Zhu, full of rage, spilled dirty water on Xing'er’s laundry. She then poured honey on Xiaoqi and Xiaoba to humiliate them, attracting ants. When Xing'er confronted her, Jin Zhu unapologetically admitted her intent to bully and shame them, asserting her authority in Qingshan House. As the situation escalated, Jin Zhu even attempted a sneak attack to injure Xing'er.

At that critical moment, Yuwen Yue intervened in time to prevent Xing'er from being harmed, sternly commanding Jin Zhu to stop. Jin Zhu, however, immediately accused Xing'er of starting trouble and disrupting the courtyard's peace. Yuwen Yue, unmoved, declared that Jin Zhu had failed to learn the rules and ordered Xing'er to come with him to receive her punishment.

After they departed, Jin Zhu's followers gloated, believing Yuwen Yue's actions confirmed her favored status and that Xing'er, despite her special night, remained inferior. Xing'er, refusing to accept punishment unjustly, explained to Yuwen Yue that she simply couldn't tolerate those who twisted truth and bullied the weak. Yuwen Yue coldly told her that in a world ruled by the strong, the weak had no right to seek justice.

Unconvinced, Xing'er challenged him, asking if those who subverted right and wrong and oppressed the weak were truly the strong. Yuwen Yue, intrigued by her defiance, decided to satisfy her craving for strength. He led her to a secret chamber, instructing her to throw pebbles. Four panther heads began firing headless arrows indiscriminately.

Xing'er struggled at first, but with a warning from Yuwen Yue that Xiaoqi and Xiaoba's lives depended on her mastery, Yue Qi activated six panther heads, intensifying the challenge. Yuwen Yue explained that she needed to train to be precise, swift, and accurate, warning that if her skills were insufficient, the arrows alone would serve as her punishment for the next three hours.

Despite being repeatedly hit, Xing'er endured, her resolve hardening with the thought that to exact revenge, she must tolerate unimaginable pain and hardship. While Chu Qiao was enduring this rigorous training, Yuwen Yue returned to his bedroom for an afternoon nap, only for Yan Xun to playfully disturb him. Their playful scuffle left Yuwen Yue’s usually neat bed in disarray.

Yan Xun, using all his skills, eventually escaped Yuwen Yue's grasp, and casually brought up Xing'er, warning Yuwen Yue not to blunt the claws of such a rare "Little Wildcat." Following the brutal training, Xing'er returned injured to the servant quarters, her body aching. She was assigned to live with Jin Zhu and others, and being weak and injured, she and her sisters could only endure silently, suffering from the cold wind by a broken window.

Seeing Chu Qiao's weak appearance, Xiaoqi was indignant, but Xiaoba found it strange, noting that usually, maids who commit offenses are beaten to death, so it was peculiar for a master to personally torture someone until midnight. During a restless sleep, Xing'er seemed to recall fragments of ceaseless childhood training, which in her dream helped her devise a clever method to block the panther heads by stuffing them with pebbles.

Although she found a way, she didn't fully grasp the underlying principle, meaning her punishment would continue the next day. On a tranquil morning, Xing'er stood motionless on a large rock in a secluded courtyard, while Yuwen Yue sat below, serenely playing his flute. It appeared to be a punishment, but in truth, he was subtly imparting martial arts techniques.

Observing this, Jin Zhu, being meticulous, reported her suspicions to Zhu Shun, who, after deliberation, decided to have her further test Xing'er's capabilities. Jin Zhu soon provoked Xing'er into another fight. Thanks to Yuwen Yue's rigorous training, Xing'er's movements had become swift and agile, allowing her to easily handle Jin Zhu.

This rapid progress, however, deepened Yue Qi's suspicion, as he recognized it as the result of extensive training from a young age, a fact he, as Yuwen Yue's trusted aide, noted with concern. The following morning, in front of all the female servants in Qingshan House, Yuwen Yue personally placed a silver bell on Xing'er, signifying her promotion. He then announced that Jin Zhu's room would now be given to Xing'er.

Episode 6 Recap

Jin Zhu couldn't help but refuse, bringing up her identity as someone sent by the grand madam of Household Three, intending to use her influence to suppress others. But she got one thing wrong, this is Qingshan House, Yuwen Yue's territory, how could people from Household Three run wild here? Yue Qi coldly warned Jin Zhu to know her place, and announced that from now on, only Chu Qiao would be allowed to enter and exit Yuwen Yue's bedroom.

In the kitchen, the maidservants chatted as they worked. Chu Qiao's status was no longer what it used to be; as arrogant as these maidservants had been in bullying her before, that's how much they feared her now. Chu Qiao naturally understood their psychology. She got straight to the point, stating directly that she would not make things difficult for them, as convenience for others is convenience for oneself.

Jin Zhu came to provoke, mocking Chu Qiao for her humble origins. Using sharp words has never been Chu Qiao's style; who would win or lose would be revealed in due course. Sunlight streamed through the window into the cozy and elegant room. Yuwen Yue sat upright before his desk, dressed in a simple green robe, his face as handsome as jade, quietly reading a book.

Yan Xun, dressed in a purple robe with his black hair tied high, equally handsome and distinguished, came to invite Yuwen Yue to a banquet hosted by Zhao Xifeng and others, claiming that if he didn't go, he would regret it for an entire spring. Yuwen Yue agreed to go. Feeling pleased, Yan Xun suggested bringing Chu Qiao along so she could see more of the world. Yuwen Yue turned and asked, "Why?"

Yan Xun proposed exchanging a Ferghana horse for Chu Qiao with Yuwen Yue. Yuwen Yue maintained his usual poker face and told him he wouldn't exchange, saying he wasn't familiar with him. Yan Xun didn't like hearing that. He chased after Yuwen Yue, pressing him to tell the truth. It was still that serene and elegant courtyard. Chu Qiao stood on the swinging swing, her movements light and her progress remarkably fast. Afterwards, Yuwen Yue suddenly made a move.

When Chu Qiao held a vase, he tested her skills, and in their back and forth, their clothes became wet. Chu Qiao quickly stepped forward to wipe him dry. The white silk wiped against his plain brocade robe. The air seemed to stop flowing, and the atmosphere became indescribable for a moment. Yuwen Yue suddenly stood up and spoke harshly. Chu Qiao's martial arts improved quickly, and naturally, she felt puzzled and dissatisfied with Yuwen Yue's occasional punishments.

Yuwen Yue had his own set of explanations. As his bedchamber maidservant, the punishment of hanging from a stake was to ensure she could pour water and brew tea in one smooth motion, reducing trembling; the long jump punishment was to make her agile and graceful; and the flying stone punishment was to train her quick hands and sharp eyes, so she wouldn't seem so foolish and avoid being targeted by others.

That last sentence sounded a bit sour; he might not have even noticed it himself. Chu Qiao knew he was doing it for her own good. She generously overlooked Yuwen Yue's venomous explanation and sincerely thanked him. As dusk approached, Chu Qiao returned to her room and saw Jin Zhu holding something as despicable as "Hui Xin," intending to frame her.

Chu Qiao forcefully stopped her, raising an eyebrow slightly, and advised her that if she wanted to frame someone, she should at least use her brain. Such despicable tactics were simply not up to par. With that, Chu Qiao picked up the things Jin Zhu hadn't yet put away and threw them directly out of the room.

The contents of the small box scattered on the floor, and a pair of human skin gloves was mixed among them, which Chu Qiao happened to spot. She suspected that Jin Zhu was the mysterious masked woman on the night of Linxi's death. Jin Zhu went overnight to beg Yuwen Huai to get rid of Chu Qiao. Yuwen Huai had his own plans.

He warned her to hide the human skin gloves well, or else her own life would be in danger. Jin Zhu rushed back to her former room, which was now Chu Qiao's room, to look for the gloves. Chu Qiao instantly saw her guilty conscience, confirming that Linxi's death was indeed related to Jin Zhu. The bright moon hung high, and a feathered arrow flew into the secret chamber.

Yue Qi had already confirmed that Chu Qiao arrived at the Jing family three years ago, publicly declared as an illegitimate daughter. At the same time, Luo He's daughter disappeared. Chu Qiao's rapid progress in martial arts made Yue Qi associate these two events. Yuwen Yue listened quietly, giving no instructions for now. Ruoran invaded the border. Moments earlier, the aristocratic youths of Chang'an, who had been enjoying the hunting grounds, rushed into the palace to discuss countermeasures.

As a hostage prince, Yan Xun's status was awkward at this time, and he was mocked by Zhao Xifeng and others. Soon after, news arrived that the Marquis Northen Settler, brave and skilled in battle, had decisively defeated Ruoran. At this point, His Majesty summoned Yuwen Yue for an audience to inquire about the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes. Yuwen Yue reported truthfully that if His Majesty required it, it could be activated within three months.

His Majesty was very concerned about the large number of disaster victims flocking to Northern Yan and the Marquis Northen Settler's widespread fame. Yuwen Yue wore a blue Jin Yi, which made him appear less understated but added a touch of heroic spirit. He said that the Marquis Northen Settler's governance was effective, truly a blessing for Great Wei. His Majesty privately learned that the Marquis Northen Settler had secretly colluded with Ruoran and was very displeased.

He wanted to use the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes to investigate the truth of the matter. Yuwen Yue spoke up for the Yan family, which greatly displeased His Majesty. However, Yuwen Yue subsequently received the military seal and temporarily took charge of the Forbidden Guards' vanguard. Meanwhile, Yuwen Huai received a secret imperial edict, the content of which was unknown.

Noble Consort Wei reminded Yuwen Yue to act quickly to prevent the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes from changing hands. The secret imperial edict Yuwen Huai received only instructed him to verify whether the Marquis Northen Settler was rebelling. However, Yuwen Yue, his thorn in the side, had already gained military authority and controlled the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes, which made Yuwen Huai intensely jealous.

Yuwen Yue suffered from an innate cold illness, requiring him to seclude himself for three days each year. That would be the best time to eliminate him, and Yuwen Huai happened to hold his nemesis, the Snow Jade Dog. The old master of Household Three was uneasy, bringing up the Samsara Camp, which specialized in training assassins, saying that using assassins was much more reassuring than using a jade dog. Yuwen Huai's face revealed a ruthless expression.

This double-kill scheme was truly brilliant. In the early morning, birds chirped. Chu Qiao was dressed in a light purple dress, simple yet elegant. However, facing a fastidious master like Yuwen Yue, she couldn't help but feel a headache. She brewed cup after cup of tea, but none received Yuwen Yue's approval. Helpless, Chu Qiao had no choice but to brew ten cups of tea at once and let him choose himself. Yuwen Yue took out several paintings.

The scenes were quite profound; viewed one way, it was one scene, but upside down, it conveyed another meaning. He told Chu Qiao the story of the grievances between Zong, Heng, and Jian. The three competed in a martial arts contest, and the winner could become the master's disciple. Zong's martial arts were much superior to Jian's. Jian developed murderous intent and was expelled from the mountain by the master.

At last, Yuwen Yue took out a Jian manual from a brocade box. It was the seventy-two moves of Green Cloud Jian used in the story. Chu Qiao felt a hint of desolation from the story, and this intuition was correct. At the end of the story, Heng opened the door to find Zong dead in his room, covered in blood.

Chu Qiao initially thought Heng had killed Zong, but eventually discovered that Jian had secretly used silver needles to injure Zong's vital points during the martial arts contest, and then made it seem as if Heng was the killer. This story told Chu Qiao that what one sees is not necessarily true. She thought of Linxi's death, deep in thought. Yuwen Yue practiced archery in the courtyard. He was skilled with a bow and crossbow, his arrows never missing. Each arrow seemed to carry the force of thunder, hitting the bullseye. The last arrow made Chu Qiao, who was secretly watching from the side, widen her eyes in surprise.

Episode 7 Recap

Yuwen Yue's last arrow shot was an ice arrow. It flew towards the sky, pierced through the target's center, and the ice shattered without leaving a trace. Chu Qiao recalled the crucial arrow that saved her at the human hunting grounds that day. She couldn't help but walk out and ask Yuwen Yue if he had been to the human hunting grounds that day. Yuwen Yue remained silent, turned, and left.

Thump, thump, thump, Chu Qiao discovered that Xiao Qi actually dared to chisel a hole in the corner of the wall right under Yuwen Yue's nose. Yuwen Yue suffers from a cold illness, and many people knew that he would go into seclusion during Awakening of Insects each year. Xiao Qi, having heard some rumor from who knows where, actually thought of digging a hole to freeze him a bit.

Yuwen Yue's observational skills were astonishing; he was no ordinary person. Chu Qiao warned Xiao Qi not to play any more tricks. Awakening of Insects arrived. Yuwen Huai successfully found assassins from Wang Sheng Ying. At the same time, he had Jin Zhu offer the extremely cold Snow Jade Dog. Since Chu Qiao was suspicious, she would certainly personally take the Snow Jade Dog, and then they could just borrow a knife to kill someone.

The moon rose in the western sky. Seemingly everything was silent, but in reality, undercurrents were surging. The assassins from Wang Sheng Ying successfully tricked Yuwen Yue's capable assistant Yue Qi out using a spy's distress signal. Numerous assassins silently infiltrated Qingshan House, and a slaughter began. Misfortunes never come singly. Under the night sky, the lush green grass was crawling with slithering venomous snakes.

Chu Qiao stood silently in the courtyard, holding the Snow Jade Dog, waiting for Yuwen Yue, who was in seclusion for recuperation, to emerge. The Snow Jade Dog was an extremely cold object; without inner power, in less than a moment, cold energy would invade one's body. Indeed, Chu Qiao's body grew colder and colder, her lips turned pale, and while she was unsteady, she suddenly heard the anxious call of Mister's beloved parrot.

Chu Qiao quickly ran into the house. The room was filled with venomous snakes, a shocking sight, and Yuwen Yue had already been bitten. The Snow Jade Dog fell to the ground. Chu Qiao's eyes went wide. She struggled to grab Yuwen Yue's Jian, raised it high, and swung it down. Yuwen Yue leaned weakly against a pillar, his pupils involuntarily dilating. In an instant, the venomous snake closest to him was severed by Chu Qiao with a Jian.

Yue Qi, after realizing he had been tricked, rushed back. Fortunately, he returned in time and resolved the crisis. Although Yuwen Yue was poisoned, his inner power was profound. As long as he cooperated with the treatment, he would not suffer any serious harm. As for Chu Qiao, her internal organs were injured by the cold energy, requiring extremely cold inner power to suppress it.

At the same time, the doctor discovered that Chu Qiao's body contained astonishing inner power, but for some unknown reason, it was restrained and could not be unleashed. Yuwen Yue looked at the unconscious Chu Qiao and ordered Yue Qi to take her into the secret chamber. Yuwen Yue wanted to save her life, but given his current condition, he had to rely on the cold energy of the Snow Jade Dog.

Large beads of sweat continuously streamed down from Chu Qiao. In her unconsciousness, she recalled her childhood, when a woman who claimed to be her mother taught her the Cold Ice Skill. However, this martial art required profound inner power to sustain, and Chu Qiao's current condition prevented her from unleashing its full power. Yuwen Yue held the Snow Jade Dog, continuously channeling inner power to Chu Qiao.

The treatment completed, Yuwen Yue could no longer hold back and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. His eyes lost their luster. Although the blindness was only temporary, he had clearly paid too great a price for a mere maid. Chu Qiao's talent surpassed others, and she held too many secrets. She and Jin Zhu were equally suspicious in this attack incident. This chaotic night was destined to be turbulent.

Xiao Qi had always resented Yuwen Yue for the death of her elder brother Linxi. The chilling venomous snakes were indeed released by her. After Yuwen Yue was bitten, Yue Qi apprehended all suspects. Xiao Qi decided to take responsibility for her actions, but Xiaoba suggested that she push all the blame onto Chu Qiao, because Chu Qiao was not their biological elder sister. After dawn, Yuwen Yue had Chu Qiao and Jin Zhu confront each other in court.

Regarding the venomous snakes, Xiao Qi admitted that she released them. Chu Qiao looked deeply into Xiao Qi's eyes, telling her not to confess to something she hadn't done. Recently, Jin Zhu had placed huoshao tengjiao with a special fragrance that attracted insects and ants in Yuwen Yue's room. Linking this to the venomous snake incident, her malicious intent was obvious.

At the same time, Chu Qiao exposed Jin Zhu's private acceptance of bribes, leaving her with no way to defend herself. As for the origin of the Snow Jade Dog, Jin Zhu insisted that Chu Qiao had deliberately placed it there to harm Mister. She had just said that she didn't know what a Snow Jade Dog was, but then she said that this item would harm Mister, contradicting herself.

Under Chu Qiao's relentless pressure, Jin Zhu had no choice but to expose Zhu Shun, which was equivalent to indirectly admitting that Yuwen Huai was the mastermind. The truth of the matter came to light. Yuwen Yue ordered Chu Qiao to punish Jin Zhu on his behalf. Chu Qiao stood still, indicating that if there was to be a punishment, it shouldn't be carried out by her. Yuwen Yue lightly punished Jin Zhu, and this matter was considered settled.

Yue Qi didn't understand why they didn't take this opportunity to eliminate Jin Zhu. Jin Zhu was not a threat. Yuwen Yue kept her only to see how Chu Qiao would deal with her. Yuwen Huai's intentions were vicious. His malicious act of harming his cousin Yuwen Yue was egregious, and the emperor issued an imperial decree ordering him to reflect on his actions in seclusion.

As Yuwen Yue was unwell, he conveniently used this opportunity to decline the military authority of the Forbidden Guards. Jin Zhu had always harbored resentment towards Chu Qiao. After this incident, although Zhu Shun instructed her to calm down for a while, Jin Zhu still couldn't swallow her anger. She caught some venomous snakes and insects, secretly put them into the slave girls' quarters, and told them that the Jing family's three sisters had done it. With no proof, Jin Zhu incited them to go to Chu Qiao's room to find evidence.

Episode 8 Recap

A group of female slaves grandly barged into Chu Qiao's room, using the excuse of delivering insect repellent medicine, and thoroughly searched Chu Qiao's room. Xiaoba tried to suppress them by mentioning Chu Qiao, but Jin Zhu was overbearing and slapped Xiaoba immediately. Chu Qiao appeared outside the door in time and drenched Jin Zhu with a basin of water, making her look like a drowned chicken.

When it came to verbal sparring, ten Jin Zhus were no match for one Chu Qiao; in this confrontation, Jin Zhu was utterly defeated. Jin Zhu wondered why the snake and insect jar, which she clearly placed under Chu Qiao's bed last night, was gone. But it didn't matter, as long as these things were still in Chu Qiao's hands, she would definitely find an opportunity to dispose of them.

At this moment, in Chu Qiao's room, the Jing family's three sisters looked at the jar of poisonous snakes, insects, and ants, pondering how to deal with it. Chu Qiao knew this jar was a hot potato. Fortunately, last night she discovered Jin Zhu secretly putting things into her room in time, otherwise, she would have suffered today. For this jar, she had to devise a perfect plan. Yuwen Yue was meticulous in his thinking and had astonishing insight.

He knew all about the poisonous snakes. Regarding the jar of poisonous snakes, he subtly reminded Chu Qiao to handle it carefully. Jin Zhu had been closely watching every move of the Jing family's three sisters, and today she finally got what she was waiting for. She saw Xiao Qi, looking flustered, leave with a jar and immediately sent someone to inform Zhu Shun and Yue Qi, asking them to witness the scene of catching the culprit red-handed.

Then they would see how Chu Qiao would explain herself. The jar Xiao Qi was carrying was just a diversion. The real jar had been taken by Chu Qiao. After Jin Zhu realized she had been fooled, she chased after Chu Qiao without thinking. Finally, just before Chu Qiao was about to throw the jar off the cliff, she stopped her.

The figures of Zhu Shun and his men rushing over were vaguely visible behind them, and Jin Zhu seemed to see victory beckoning to her. Who wouldn't know how to frame someone? Chu Qiao, with quick hands and eyes, shoved the jar into Jin Zhu's hand and leaped off the cliff. When Zhu Shun and Yue Qi's two groups arrived, they saw Jin Zhu holding the jar, looking panicked and helpless.

Jin Zhu explained incoherently that Chu Qiao had framed her and had already jumped off the cliff. This kind of explanation obviously had little credibility. With Yue Qi present, Zhu Shun had no choice but to deal with Jin Zhu, sending her to the slave camp. Chu Qiao had already prepared a rope. She hung on the cliff, listening to the entire conversation. Looking around, she discovered a cave on the mountain wall hidden by vines.

Chu Qiao nimbly jumped in, never expecting such a unique place. The handsome young man leisurely reading inside was none other than Heir Apparent Yan Xun. Yan Xun had heard everything that just happened and advised Chu Qiao to stay put if she didn't want to be exposed. Chu Qiao rolled her eyes, too lazy to bother with him. Not long after they left, Yuwen Yue sent people to seal the cave.

Jin Zhu was incapable of accomplishing anything; Yuwen Huai had long seen through her. Chu Qiao, this "base slave," was so formidable that it made him want to meet her in person. Yuwen Huai captured Xiaoba, forcing Chu Qiao to come and see him alone. Meanwhile, the elder master of the Yuwen family's main branch, Yuwen Zhuo, who was rumored to be dead, woke up.

It turned out that on the day he was poisoned, he was merely on the verge of death, but Yuwen Yue promptly gave him a 'Soul Reviving Pill' to save his life. The illusion of Yuwen Zhuo's death was merely Yuwen Yue's strategy to lure the enemy into a trap. Now that his grandfather had woken up, Yuwen Yue's eternally icy face finally showed a hint of a smile, and he rushed to the secret room to see him.

When Chu Qiao was mentioned, Yuwen Yue had spent too much effort on her. Although he vehemently argued it was to cultivate an excellent spy, the elder master still perceived his grandson's unusual feelings for Chu Qiao. Revitalizing the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes carried a great responsibility, and matters of emotion would only become a stumbling block for Yuwen Yue. This time, Chu Qiao was trapped by Yuwen Huai.

Yuwen Yue originally wanted to send people to rescue her, but the elder master resolutely refused. However, he also did not want to lose an excellent spy or hurt his grandson's feelings, so he eventually had to treat this incident as a test for Chu Qiao. In the dark, damp prison cell, subtle water shadows flickered on the walls. Chu Qiao knelt on the ground, while Yuwen Huai sat high on a platform, arrogant and condescending.

Chu Qiao was neither servile nor overbearing. Yuwen Huai smiled sinisterly and ordered Zhu Shun and others to "entertain" her well. Chu Qiao's skills were formidable; these people couldn't even get close to her. Chu Qiao successfully restrained Zhu Shun, and both sides temporarily ceased fighting. Yuwen Huai produced Yuwen Yue's order to expel Chu Qiao from Qingshan House and "kindly" told her that Xiaoba had confessed all her actions. "

This feeling of being betrayed by a loved one must be difficult, right?" Chu Qiao naturally recognized Yuwen Yue's personal seal on the order, but Yuwen Yue's words instantly flashed through her mind: "Sometimes what you see is only what others want you to see; seeing is not necessarily believing." After a moment's thought, Chu Qiao proposed to see Jin Zhu alone. She knew Yuwen Huai was eavesdropping, so she mixed truth and falsehood to say a few things.

According to her, Jin Zhu had long developed a secret affection for Yuwen Yue, and the series of actions she took against Chu Qiao were merely due to jealousy.

She claimed that she had accidentally overheard a conversation between Jin Zhu and Yuwen Yue in a secret room, where Jin Zhu personally told Yuwen Yue that she was sent by Yuwen Huai to harm him, but because her heart had secretly given itself to him, she couldn't bring herself to act. Jin Zhu vehemently argued, but Chu Qiao pressed on, "If it weren't for Jin Zhu, how could Yuwen Yue possibly expel someone he painstakingly cultivated from Qingshan House?"

Jin Zhu, eager to clear herself, blurted out without thinking that the order was forged. " What a fool!" Yuwen Huai was furious and ordered his men to sell Jin Zhu to a brothel. Chu Qiao's divisive scheme succeeded; she not only learned the truth that Yuwen Yue had not expelled her from Qingshan House but also successfully got rid of Jin Zhu, that menace. Afterward, Chu Qiao provided Yuwen Huai with some information about Yuwen Yue, mixing truth with falsehood.

Episode 9 Recap

Yuwen Huai looked at Chu Qiao with a mocking expression. He had seen her intelligence and skill, and knew that keeping her around would be a problem in the future. Chu Qiao subtly brought up the idea of cooperation, but Yuwen Huai's face revealed a fierce intent, and he slashed at Chu Qiao with Jian. At the critical moment, Yan Xun arrived in time and blocked the deadly move.

Yan Xun's status was noble, and when he asked for her, Yuwen Huai had no choice but to compromise. Chu Qiao and Xiaoba came out unharmed, but Chu Qiao was indifferent to Yan Xun. But before leaving, Yan Xun still took out a bottle of good wound medicine and gave it to her. Zhu Shun then walked out of the shadows, reminding Chu Qiao not to forget her promise to Mister Huai.

Chu Qiao's face showed sarcasm, she never promised Yuwen Huai anything. After Chu Qiao returned to Qingshan House, Yue Qi immediately reported to Yuwen Yue that Heir Apparent Yan Xun had rescued Xing'er as he had requested. The night was dark and silent. A man in black quietly entered the place where Jin Zhu was imprisoned.

Seeing Chu Qiao dressed in black, Jin Zhu hated her, but at the same time, a glimmer of hope for survival ignited, and she begged Chu Qiao to save her. Chu Qiao brought up the tragic death of Linxi, and Jin Zhu told her that even if she didn't do it, Linxi would not have lived long once Yuwen Huai took an interest in him.

Chu Qiao gave Jin Zhu a package, containing some clothes and silver, hoping she would take care of herself. After Jin Zhu separated from Chu, she checked the contents of the package and scoffed. She secretly went to Yuwen Huai and told him that Chu Qiao had released her privately, hoping Yuwen Huai would show leniency.

Yuwen Huai's face was gloomy, and he found a pass in the package that Jin Zhu was carrying, something that probably only Yuwen Yue could obtain. Yuwen Huai killed Jin Zhu without hesitation, threw down a paper of amnesty for slaves, and wanted to blame the matter on Chu Qiao. Chu Qiao walked out of the shadows. She had given Jin Zhu a chance, and the current result was Jin Zhu's own fault.

Chu Qiao picked up the document on the ground, lost in thought. Yuwen Huai sent someone to inform Yuwen Yue about Chu Qiao's murder of Jin Zhu. It was late at night, and Yuwen Yue personally went to Chu Qiao's room to investigate. He opened the door, and Chu Qiao woke up groggily, wrapping herself up tightly. Yuwen Yue secretly became suspicious and asked her to come and serve him immediately.

Chu Qiao hesitated and declined, and Yuwen Yue tore off her blanket. The girl under the blanket was only wearing a simple nightgown, and her arms were as smooth as jade. Yuwen Yue immediately turned around and asked her to get ready before serving him. Chu Qiao told her two younger sisters the news of Jin Zhu's death. People do not harm tigers' hearts, but tigers intend to harm people. Jin Zhu's fate was what she deserved.

What about Yuwen Yue? Hearing Xiaoba's question, Chu Qiao was speechless for a moment. Xiaoba cleverly changed the subject. When she was captured by Yuwen Huai, she heard him say that he wanted to use Madame Song's death to deal with them. Chu Qiao thought for a moment, had an idea, and told her sister to rest assured. Yuwen Yue decided to train Chu Qiao to become an excellent spy, but he was suspicious of her origins.

The doctor had said that Chu Qiao had deep inner power in her body. He instructed Yue Qi to carefully investigate all martial arts sects for girls who had developed overbearing inner power before the age of ten. Yue Qi had already investigated, but to no avail. However, there were two more classified files that he was not authorized to access, namely the Twelve Elites secret file in the palace and the Wangsheng Camp secret file.

According to the agreement between Yuwen Zhuo and Yuwen Yue, Chu Qiao's safe return meant that she had passed the test. Yuwen Zhuo agreed to let Yuwen Yue train Chu Qiao and make her his sharpest personal weapon. After Yuwen Yue left, the old master and his confidant Zhan Mou talked about his poisoning. This poison was very special, similar to the poisoning of the Great Liang secret mansion many years ago.

The person behind the poisoning was the third branch of the Yuwen family. Although the third branch's collusion with Liang was not exposed, it made the emperor suspicious of the Yuwen family and abandon the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes. Yuwen Zhuo wanted to secretly execute the third branch, but he didn't want to use his Yue Spies, which was why he agreed to Yuwen Yue's continued training of Chu Qiao.

The matter was of great importance and had to be kept from Yuwen Yue. The weather was clear and cloudless. In a delicate pavilion, Chu Qiao sat upright at the desk, concentrating on practicing her calligraphy. She had practiced for a long time, and Yuwen Yue mercifully allowed her to rest for a while, but Chu Qiao remained unmoved, insisting on writing three hundred words before resting.

Because she didn't listen, Yuwen Yue reached out to snatch the pen, but Chu Qiao deftly dodged it. Back and forth, neither would give in. Chu Qiao suddenly had a stroke of inspiration and put an ink dot on Yuwen Yue's E. The Mister, who was always obsessed with cleanliness, scolded her for becoming more and more presumptuous. Although his voice was cold, there was not a hint of punishment in it.

Afterwards, Chu Qiao, with her eyes covered with a white cloth, hesitantly guessed what the fragrance in front of her was. Yuwen Yue sat beside her, giving her some guidance. When Chu Qiao grasped the key, he let her practice on her own. In the garden, the flowers were blooming. A young Mister in fancy clothes suddenly stood up from behind a white flower, smiling and asking Chu Qiao if she was telling fortunes with her eyes closed.

Chu Qiao didn't want to pay attention to him, but the young Mister didn't want to let her go so easily, and suggested that Chu Qiao try to find him with her eyes closed. Chu Qiao smelled the fragrance on his body and thought that it would be a good opportunity to test the results of her training. This mischievous young Mister was Yuan Song, the thirteenth Royal Prince of Great Wei.

He was here today to attend a gathering held by Yuwen Huai, but he didn't expect to meet such an interesting little girl in the garden. Chu Qiao followed the fragrance, and no matter how Yuan Song hid, she could find him. Yuan Song was curious to know her name.

Chu Qiao's eyes turned cunningly, and she became interested, telling him that her name was Zixu, that she lived in Wuyou House, and that she was a clay figures maid under Madame Dou. Yuan Song listened carefully and remembered it carefully so he could find her. After Yuan Song left, Chu Qiao stood quietly by the lake. Not far away, Yan Xun was dressed in Jin Yi, leaning casually on the high branches of a pine tree, carefree and comfortable.

Thinking of Chu Qiao's nonsense when she reported her identity just now, he couldn't help but laugh, and casually threw a pine cone at her. Chu Qiao only felt a pain in her E, looked up, and saw Yan Xun smiling triumphantly in the tree. Afterwards, Yuan Song went to Qingshan House to ask for someone. Yuwen Yue was dressed in white, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes.

His eye disease had been cured, but in order to play a part with the emperor, he didn't intend to tell anyone. Yuan Song wanted to find someone, but before Yuwen Yue could speak, Yan Xun laughed and explained that Zixu was a fictitious character. Yuan Song was annoyed when he realized he had been deceived. Yan Xun had always been too concerned about Chu Qiao's affairs, and Yuwen Yue reminded him to see the situation clearly.

Yan Xun's father, Marquis Northen Settler, held heavy troops and his prestige was increasing, which was already a concern for the emperor. Yuwen Yue advised Yan Xun to find an opportunity to return to Northern Yan as soon as possible. imperial princess Chun'er had always been secretly in love with Yan Xun. If he hurt her heart, the emperor and Noble Consort Wei would probably not let it go.

Yan Xun understood Yuwen Yue's hint, and immediately wrote a letter home, instructing his book boy Feng Mian to deliver the letter to his father as soon as possible without fail.

Episode 10 Recap

Yuwen Yue asked Noble Consort Wei to investigate a woman with profound internal martial arts. The Noble Consort did not disappoint; she searched through all the imperial secret agents and indeed found someone for him—Luo He's daughter, the new master of the Fengyun Order, but she had already drowned in the Yellow River a year ago. Inside the room, incense smoke gently rose; it was utterly silent. Xiaoba knelt on the ground, terrified and uneasy.

Yuwen Yue sought her to understand Chu Qiao's background. Xiaoba hid nothing and told him Chu Qiao's situation in detail. Chu Qiao was not their blood sister born of the same mother; she was born to her father's concubine. After being brought home, she spoke little and had a reclusive personality. Her father once read her fortune, saying she was a lone star of ill omen and would bring disaster to those around her.

She stayed at home for over a year before leaving without saying goodbye. Not long after, the village was massacred. Later, the Jing family sisters were sold to the Yuwen family. After Chu Qiao arrived, the sisters all died tragically, which made Xiaoba even more convinced that Chu Qiao was destined to be a lone star of ill omen. In Yuwen Yue's view, this was precisely what a natural-born warrior possesses.

The bamboo forest was serene, and the grass was lush green. Yuwen Yue stood quietly there. Yuwen Huai brought up the matter of Madame Song, implying something. Yuwen Yue's expression was calm; he approached Yuwen Huai and told him that he hated it most when others touched his things. Yuwen Huai's smile did not reach his eyes as he proposed a tea party, which seemed more like a Hongmen Banquet. On the day of the tea party.

Imperial Princess Yuan Chun's carriage slowly arrived. She was dressed in pink and exuded charm. As she stepped out of the carriage, a female servant accidentally bumped into her. Yuan Chun did not wish to pursue the matter further, but with that collision, the box in the servant's hand dropped open. Yuan Chun looked curious and couldn't help but reach out to touch it.

Just as she was about to touch it, a pale hand suddenly appeared and took the box away. Chu Qiao quickly covered the box with a handkerchief and told the imperial princess that it was rat poison, extremely potent, and must not be touched. Yuan Chun thought about her actions just now and still felt lingering fear. Yuan Song saw Chu Qiao, filled with surprise and joy, and shouted her name, Xing'er, as he came to greet her.

Yuan Chun heard the name Xing'er, her eyes widened in surprise, and she sized up Chu Qiao. So this was the Little Wildcat that Brother Yan Xun often talked about. She originally wanted to ask her in detail. Yuan Song noticed her intention and, laughing heartily, forcefully pulled her inside. Before Yuan Chun went in, she told Chu Qiao to follow her inside. Red pillars and gray tiles; in the garden, flowers bloomed profusely, exceptionally vibrant.

Yuan Chun saw Yan Xun, full of smiles, but Yan Xun's gaze remained fixed on Chu Qiao. Annoyed, Yuan Chun deliberately ordered Chu Qiao around, instructing her to brew tea for everyone to enhance the atmosphere. Yuwen Huai had always held a grudge against Chu Qiao. At this moment, he maliciously brought up the matter of a corpse in a forbidden lake nearby.

Subsequently, Yuwen Huai took out a box of incense, which was made from his grandfather's maiden's blood mixed with medicinal herbs from the Western Regions. To this day, the Old Master's Bliss Chamber still burns Zhixiang's blood incense. Zhixiang was Chu Qiao's older sister. Yan Xun advised Yuwen Huai not to go too far.

Not only did Yuwen Huai not restrain himself, but he became even more reckless, telling Chu Qiao to smell it and see if there was her sister's scent in the blood incense. Chu Qiao actually smelled it and said expressionlessly that she did not have such unique taste as Mister Huai. She then retreated to Yuwen Yue's side, her face extremely grim, and claimed to be unwell and left. Chun'er felt depressed and came out alone to daydream.

Suddenly, a piece of clothing was draped over her shoulders. A smile immediately appeared on her face as she excitedly called out Brother Yan Xun and turned around. When she saw that the person who came was Yuwen Huai, her smile froze on her face. Yuwen Huai cared for Imperial Princess Chun'er attentively. Chun'er did not like Chu Qiao, so he intended to make things difficult for Chu Qiao.

The Cold Food Holiday in three days would be a good opportunity. Chun'er, being kind-hearted, admonished Yuwen Huai not to go too far. Three days later, Xiaoba was working in the kitchen when she heard other maids gossiping about Yuwen Huai being about to dredge the bottom of the lake. Her heart was in a turmoil, and she ran back to find Chu Qiao to discuss a countermeasure.

Chu Qiao had already packed her belongings and carefully put away the wood bead her mother gave her. When Xiaoba came, Chu Qiao told her and Xiaoji to leave the manor that night and wait for her at the teahouse by the city gate. If she did not arrive past midnight, they should leave first. Chu Qiao was hurriedly copying something in Yuwen Yue's room and finally stamped it with Yuwen Yue's seal. Suddenly, she heard Yue Qi's voice.

Yuwen Yue and Yue Qi then walked in. Chu Qiao was already cleaning with a feather duster. Yue Qi carried a new set of clothes; these were specially prepared for Chu Qiao by Yuwen Yue. Chu Qiao changed her clothes and walked out dressed in flowing white, with a detached and cool demeanor. At this moment, outside Chang'an, a woman with her face veiled in white gauze arrived.

Looking at the bustling Chang'an, the woman thought to herself: Brother Yue, I have finally arrived in Chang'an, but not to meet you, only for slaughter. Meeting is not as good as longing. She was Xiao Yu, Princess Mingzheng of Southern Liang. Although she was just a woman, she possessed a clever and astute mind. With her was her attendant Yinxin, who had always followed her. He was highly skilled in martial arts and a qualified assassin.

Xiaoji and Xiaoba waited anxiously at the city gate, discussing Chu Qiao's background. Chu Qiao was not their blood sister, and the wood bead was the key to her true identity. Xiaoba worried that Chu Qiao, upon learning the truth, would no longer protect them. The wood bead was originally in her sister Zhixiang's hand, but what they didn't know was that Chu Qiao had already obtained the wood bead.

On the Cold Food Holiday, a white rainbow pierced the sun. This was probably a sign from heaven to mortals. The people of Chang'an discussed it animatedly. At the same time, the Emperor felt a sudden north wind rise and muttered to himself, "Could it be from Northern Yan?"

Meanwhile, Yan Xun received a letter from his father, stating that all was well in Northern Yan, telling him not to worry too much and to stay in Chang'an with peace of mind. The sky gradually darkened. Yuwen Yue and Chu Qiao, each riding a swift horse, slowly rode along the bustling streets. Passing a lantern stall, Yuwen Yue surprisingly dismounted and bought a cute rabbit-shaped lantern for Chu Qiao.

He clearly had good intentions but was too embarrassed to admit it, saying he bought it because the lantern resembled Chu Qiao. He then naturally extended his sleeve for her to hold and seriously said he was afraid she would get lost. As night deepened, Chu Qiao had been looking for an opportunity to escape. Asking Yuwen Yue for a horse earlier was also preparation for her escape.

She secretly observed the surrounding situation; many people gathered at the riddle-guessing spot. Chu Qiao pulled Yuwen Yue, saying she wanted to guess riddles. Both were dressed in white, spotless, and exceptionally striking in the crowd. A young man nearby tried to flirt with Chu Qiao using a candied hawthorn. Yuwen Yue arrogantly swatted away the candied hawthorn. Then, the two got down to business and started guessing riddles. The riddle was: "It's better to say it early than late."

Yuwen Yue looked at the riddle and said with a hidden meaning, "Some things, it's better to say them early than late; saying it late would mean losing the initiative." Chu Qiao gave him a deep look and gave the answer to the riddle, which was the character Xu. Chu Qiao won a prize. She had originally intended to use the opportunity of collecting the prize to leave and not return.

But she didn't expect Yuwen Yue would personally go to get it for her. Watching his tall figure walk away, Chu Qiao turned around and led the horse away. While walking quickly, she encountered a man and a woman, who were Xiao Yu and Yinxin, having just entered the city today. Yinxin found the rabbit lantern cute and asked where it could be bought. Chu Qiao sized up the two of them, gave the address, and then presented her own lantern to Xiao Yu.

Episode 11 Recap

Yuwen Yue took the prize, carefully moving through the crowded people, but found that Chu Qiao was no longer there, and her horse had also been led away. On the other side, Yin Xin, the moment he passed Chu Qiao, noticed that Chu Qiao's eyes strongly resembled those of the Fengyun Order Master from a year ago.

At that time, he pursued the Fengyun Order Master, severely wounded the Lady Snake escorting her, and successfully tore her clothes, discovering a fiery red spider lily pattern tattooed on her back. However, the Order Master's Cold Ice Skill had reached its peak, and Yin Xin was no match, but he was deeply impressed by her eyes. At this moment, Chu Qiao had already disappeared, and Xiao Yu told Yin Xin to chase after her to verify her identity.

Chu Qiao only felt a chill down her back, and Yin Xin's Jian had already cut her back. But Chu Qiao's back was clean, with nothing but bloodstains from the injury caused by Jian. Coupled with Yan Xun's sudden appearance, Yin Xin quickly retreated.

Xiao Yu came this time to stir up a bloody storm, having already ambushed a large number of assassins outside the city to assassinate Yan Xun, and soon after, news of the lost Northern Yan defense map would also come from the Great Wei Royal Palace. Chu Qiao and Yan Xun galloped all the way on their horses, quickly reaching an uninhabited area in the suburbs.

The assassins who had been waiting for a long time swarmed out, each move ruthless. Chu Qiao and Yan Xun dodged the assassins while galloping forward on their horses. The night was thick, and a thin mist permeated the air. The two accidentally fell into a trap set by hunters; the trap walls were smooth and impossible to climb.

Yan Xun crouched down without hesitation, letting Chu Qiao step on his shoulder to climb up, and then he would come to save himself. After Chu Qiao climbed up, she walked quickly for a distance, then suddenly stopped. Her two younger sisters were still waiting for her, but Yan Xun trusted her implicitly, and this place was remote and the night was freezing cold; if she didn't save him, Yan Xun would surely die.

Seeing that there was still an hour until the agreed time with her sisters, Chu Qiao decided to go back and save Yan Xun. Yan Xun had been freezing in the hole for some time, but after coming up, he could still smile and joke. Chu Qiao accidentally sprained her ankle, and he naturally carried her on his back and walked together. Chu Qiao lay on Yan Xun's back, asking him if he would hate her if she hadn't come.

Yan Xun shook his head, indicating he wouldn't. He told Chu Qiao that the Northern Yan grasslands would soon be covered with wildflowers, spread all over the mountains and fields, exceptionally beautiful, and invited Chu Qiao to go see them with him. In the distance, faint hoofbeats sounded. Chu Qiao lay prostrate on the ground and listened carefully, discovering many horses.

The two hid in the dark, discovering a large group of ragged refugees walking past, saying they were going to Northern Yan to make a living. Almost immediately, Wei Shuyou, the young master of the Wei clan, surrounded these people. Regardless of whether they were old, weak, sick, or young, he cruelly killed them all. For a moment, screams were incessant, but Wei Shuyou laughed wildly, saying they deserved it.

Chu Qiao wanted to step in and save them, but Yan Xun pulled her back, explaining that given their identities, stepping forward now would only bring disaster upon themselves. Chu Qiao understood the implications. At this moment, she remembered her two younger sisters and rushed to meet them. When Chu Qiao arrived at the agreed location, no one was there.

The waiter told her that they had been taken by several noble youths to a secluded spot by the city wall. Meanwhile, Xiao Qi and Xiaoba were surrounded by those dissolute youths, and Xiaoba's face was scratched. When Chu Qiao arrived, Xiaoba was desperately crying, covering her face.

After Chu Qiao drove those people away, Xiaoba suggested returning to Yuwen Manor, saying that Yuwen Yue had excellent medicine for wounds that could heal her face, otherwise her life would be ruined. Chu Qiao thought that tonight the Wei clan was extensively capturing runaway slaves, and their emancipation papers were forged. To be safe, it would be better to return to Yuwen Manor.

The three returned to the manor and found that the servants had already begun digging in the lake overnight to search for bodies. Secretly returning to Qingshan House, the maidservant told Chu Qiao that the door was unlocked, as they had been waiting for her return, and Yuwen Yue had also not slept. The moon was high in the sky, and Chu Qiao's emotions were complex.

She stood by the high bridge between the pavilions, gazing into the night in deep thought. Yuwen Yue also came into the courtyard at this moment. Chu Qiao was already standing on the edge, and she accidentally fell straight down. Yuwen Yue quickly ran over and caught her. Chu Qiao silently followed Yuwen Yue into the room. After entering, Yuwen Yue picked up a scroll and began to read it attentively. Chu Qiao stood by, occasionally glancing at the hourglass.

A short while later, Yuwen Yue suddenly asked her if she had thought of an excuse to deceive him. Chu Qiao stated that she dared not lie, but what she said was half true and half false. Yuwen Yue noticed that she had been looking at the hourglass and instructed her to light the incense. Chu Qiao complied. Yuwen Yue asked her in a cold voice why she no longer added rat poison paste. Chu Qiao answered calmly.

Yuwen Yue, step by step, laid out her plan to poison Yuwen Huai, stating that if Chu Qiao thought that rat poison paste with hot wine would kill Yuwen Huai, then she was too naive. The Yuwen family was the ancestor of spies, and identifying and distinguishing poisons was their basic skill. Yuwen Yue's insight was astonishing; he could infer the whole situation from mere fragments of information. Chu Qiao cleverly confessed the entire plan to him.

She knew that the real murderer of Linxi was Yuwen Huai, and the murderer who poisoned Elder Master Zhuo was also Yuwen Huai. From this perspective, their enemy was the same. She knelt before Yuwen Yue, genuinely thanking him for training and teaching her. When Yuwen Yue brought up Madame Song's death, Chu Qiao knew she couldn't hide it and tearfully begged Yuwen Yue for help.

Seeing her eyes red and tears streaming down her face, Yuwen Yue picked up a plain handkerchief nearby to wipe her tears. He said no more, only telling her to go back and rest. After Chu Qiao came out, her face no longer held the previous grievance and pitifulness, only a look of indifference. Returning to the courtyard where the maidservant lived, she told her two younger sisters that they were safe. Before the three had finished speaking, Zhu Shun's subordinates surrounded them.

Episode 12 Recap

One night without sleep, Yuwen Yue still looked as radiant and graceful as ever. Yue Qi came to report on Zhu Shun's accusation that Chu Qiao had murdered Madame Song. Yuwen Yue did not even lift his head, directly telling him to handle it. He casually tossed the silk handkerchief beside him to Yue Qi, telling him to throw it away. Before Yue Qi left, Yuwen Yue changed his mind again, instructing him to wash it clean and return it.

It was already bright daylight, and many household servants and maids gathered by the lake. A total of three bodies were retrieved from the lake, all badly decomposed and emitting a foul smell. One of them was a male corpse, carrying a money pouch embroidered with the character "Xie." This was Doctor Xie, who had treated Yuwen Yue on the day he was poisoned.

Although the remaining two were female corpses, they were both maids from iron bells, clearly not Madame Song. In a noble family, the death of a maid was not a serious matter, but Doctor Xie was a gentry member. Chu Qiao suggested that a coroner should be called for an autopsy. Yuwen Huai stared at Chu Qiao and said coldly, "The maid trained by Yuwen Yue has quite a stiff neck."

Zhu Shun immediately went up obsequiously, intending to chop off Chu Qiao's neck. Yue Qi stepped forward to block him, saying, "If you want to touch someone from Qingshan House, you need evidence, don't you?" Zhu Shun had long bribed the cook. At this moment, he summoned the cook, who groundlessly accused Chu Qiao. The cook's words had too many flaws. Yue Qi couldn't be bothered to deal with her and directly took Chu Qiao back to Qingshan House.

Yuwen Huai had been busy for so long, but apart from making everyone laugh at him, he gained nothing. The Third Master was extremely disappointed in him and ridiculed him greatly, saying that this generation of the Third Branch would be ruined by Yuwen Huai, this concubine-born son. Upon hearing this, Yuwen Huai's eyes turned fierce, and he secretly vowed that he would make the old man pay someday.

Xiaoba looked at the scar on her face in the mirror, secretly anxious. Yuwen Yue was very fond of Chu Qiao. Xiaoba thought that if Chu Qiao could rise in status, they would also benefit from it. She was clearly blinded by her ruined appearance and had forgotten how her sisters had died. Her words were met with opposition from Xiao Qi. Xiaoba, eager to defend herself, accidentally revealed Chu Qiao's true identity. Chu Qiao was very good to them.

Xiao Qi couldn't bear to lie to her anymore, so she told Chu Qiao that the wood bead was the key to proving her identity. Upon hearing this, Chu Qiao untied the wood bead and took out the note inside, but it was blank. Chu Qiao repeatedly studied the note. A young maid brought a box to her, saying it was from Mister. Chu Qiao opened the redwood box and was surprised to find a fine jade bracelet inside.

She immediately went to serve tea to Yuwen Yue, but after placing the tea, she turned to leave without any sign of gratitude. This made Yuwen Yue, who had been waiting for a word of thanks, unable to resist reminding her to know how to repay kindness. Chu Qiao deliberately misinterpreted his meaning, saying she would go thank Yue Qi. Yuwen Yue, annoyed, told her to hand over the gift he had intended for her to Yue Qi instead.

After Chu Qiao left, Yuwen Yue stood up and occasionally peeked outside the door. When he saw Chu Qiao return, he immediately turned away, feigning indifference. Chu Qiao pointed to the ring on her hand and, with a charming smile, thanked Mister. She said it was her size and Yue Qi couldn't wear it, so giving it to him would be a waste. Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yue's lips curled into a slight smile.

The defense map at the border between Great Wei and Northern Yan was stolen. The Emperor ordered Yuwen Huai to thoroughly investigate the matter. Yan Xun, as the Heir Apparent of Northern Yan, was listed as the primary suspect. Subsequently, the Emperor summoned Yuwen Yue and recounted historical anecdotes of loyal ministers plotting rebellion, implying something. As the successor of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes, Yuwen Yue believed in evidence and was unwilling to make unnecessary conjectures.

The Emperor was very displeased by this. The Emperor distrusted the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes. If the spies Liang had planted in Great Wei could not be quickly cleared out, the revival of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes would be difficult to achieve. Yuwen Zhuo wanted to use Chu Qiao. Yuwen Yue believed it was absolutely impossible, as Chu Qiao's current abilities were not yet sufficient for the task.

However, Yuwen Zhuo used the thing Yuwen Yue most wanted to know as a condition for exchange: if Chu Qiao could kill that person, he would tell Yuwen Yue the reason his mother went mad. In the stone chamber filled with traps, Chu Qiao was bound by two heavy iron chains, her hands tied, trapped in the middle of the chamber. Behind her was an hourglass. Once the sand ran out, all the traps in the chamber would be triggered.

Time passed bit by bit, but Chu Qiao showed no sign of breaking free. As soon as the sand ran out, multiple arrows instantly shot forth. Watching the sharp arrows fly towards her, Chu Qiao's inner energy was instantly activated. With a clang, the iron chains snapped. However, the traps had already been triggered. Chu Qiao dodged with all her might but still inevitably sustained injuries. Yuwen Yue couldn't help but intervene and rescue her.

Yuwen Yue returned to his study. Yan Xun came over and threw a bag of money at him, saying he wanted to buy Chu Qiao. Yuwen Yue, of course, refused to sell her. Yan Xun keenly perceived Yuwen Yue's motive for training Chu Qiao. He reasoned with him, saying that Chu Qiao's nature was similar to his own and she was not suited for this place.

Yuwen Yue countered, asking him if Chu Qiao wouldn't be implicated given the tense situation in Northern Yan. At this moment, Chu Qiao was continuously practicing archery in the courtyard when she suddenly saw a sleek, glossy horse slowly approaching. It was Yan Xun's beloved steed, Storm. Yuan Song arrived shortly after. He had borrowed Storm from Yan Xun, but unfortunately, Storm was too proud and wouldn't let him ride.

Seeing Storm quietly eating grass, docilely allowing Chu Qiao to stroke its neck and smooth its mane, Yuan Song was extremely envious and eagerly invited Chu Qiao to ride the horse and take him for a ride.

Episode 13 Recap

Yan Xun knew early on that Yuwen Yue would not let Chu Qiao leave, so he had conspired with Yuan Song long ago, having him hold back Yuwen Yue, while Yuan Song found a way to take Chu Qiao away. Surrounded by green hills and trees, a pink peach forest was enclosed within, where a rain of petals would fall every dusk, scattering petals everywhere, incredibly beautiful.

Yuan Song rushed all the way with Chu Qiao, just in time for the petal rain. Chu Qiao was immersed in the beautiful scenery, while Yuan Song beside her shyly expressed his affection. Suddenly, Chu Qiao glanced at a place hidden by green trees; Zhu Shun was hiding behind the tree. Afterwards, Chu Qiao excused herself, wanting water, to get away from Yuan Song, so that Zhu Shun would have an opportunity to capture her.

Chu Qiao intentionally allowed herself to be captured because she wanted to talk face-to-face with Yuwen Huai, saving him from constantly causing trouble in the dark. Yuwen Huai captured Chu Qiao simply to uncover Yuwen Yue's secrets, and Chu Qiao was now deeply favored by Yuwen Yue. This was her value to Yuwen Huai and her bargaining chip for survival.

After Yuwen Yue learned that Chu Qiao had been captured, he was furious, ordering his subordinates that no one was allowed to rescue her. He was able to remain calm, but Yan Xun could not sit still, rushing directly to the criminal slave compound to rescue her. At that time, Chu Qiao was negotiating cooperation with Yuwen Huai, using the secret of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes as a bargaining chip.

When Yan Xun burst in, Chu Qiao signaled Yuwen Huai to seize her, putting on a show for Yan Xun. After Chu Qiao was rescued, Yuwen Huai was enraged, casually killing a servant beside him to vent his anger, thinking Chu Qiao had been acting the entire time, as if he couldn't see through it. Meanwhile, Yan Xun triumphantly waited for Chu Qiao to thank him.

Unexpectedly, she still maintained a cold and distant demeanor, not mentioning a word of thanks. Yan Xun then asked for thanks, and Chu Qiao coldly asked him, "Do you want me to kneel?" This one sentence fully revealed the disparity in their status. Yan Xun's expression was awkward, and he forced a laugh to ease the atmosphere. When Yuan Song arrived, Chu Qiao was just about to leave.

Looking at her resolute departing back, Yuan Song couldn't help but sigh, "Chu Qiao is good in every way, except she has no conscience." Night enveloped the land, and the moonlight was dim. Chu Qiao was walking back when several masked figures in black suddenly appeared, blocking her path. Chu Qiao guessed immediately that they were Yuwen Huai's men. Her martial arts were not weak, and her moves were sufficiently ruthless.

The ring given by Yuwen Yue was very handy, capable of slitting an enemy's throat in an instant. But after all, two fists are no match for four hands. The enemy's chains wrapped around her limbs, and Chu Qiao was instantly pulled into the air, unable to move. Just then, an ice arrow shot through the air, dispatching all the masked men in black in mere moments.

Chu Qiao saw the silver needle left on one of the masked men in black and looked in the direction from which the arrow had come. Yuwen Yue stood tall on the rooftop, dressed in black, incomparably handsome, holding a crossbow in his hand. After all, he couldn't rest assured and had come to find her. After they returned, Yuwen Yue asked about the reason for her capture. Chu Qiao told him the truth, without any concealment.

Yuwen Yue had just witnessed the entire process of Chu Qiao being trapped. At this moment, he hand-taught her the method to break free. After the instruction, Yuwen Yue suddenly took out a liquid and dripped it into Chu Qiao's eyes. Chu Qiao instantly felt a sharp pain in her eyes and became blind. On the other side, Yuwen Huai was dead drunk.

When he heard the news of the failed assassination, he actually burst into laughter, marveling at how well the tactic of feigning to set free in order to catch, and using an enemy's plan against them, had been employed. The Third House's Old Master Yuwen Xi was excessively dissolute, ruining countless innocent young girls. An uninvited guest arrived at Yuwen Xi's Bliss Chamber tonight—Yin Xin.

Yin Xin came to see Yuwen Xi, or rather, the Southern Liang Duke, holding a special token belonging to a Southern Dynasty spy. It turned out that Yuwen Xi was indeed a Southern Dynasty spy, but this spy held a noble status, reaching the rank of Duke. However, Yuwen Huai had been in Great Wei for many years and had long forgotten his home. Yin Xin wanted the topographical map of Yuwen Yue's Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes building.

Yuwen Xi repeatedly declined, unwilling to help. But a person with a weakness is easily compromised. Yin Xin threatened Yuwen Xi with the death of Yuwen Yue's mother, forcing him to obey. Imperial Princess Chun'er's coming-of-age ceremony was in a few days. She specifically invited Yan Xun to the palace in her brother Yuan Song's name, as that was the only way to get him to come.

Just seeing Yan Xun sitting before her, Chun'er was incredibly excited, chattering incessantly like a bird just released from its cage. Her coming-of-age ceremony required many preparations, too much for one person, so she wanted to ask Yan Xun for help. Such a request should not have been refused, but Yan Xun was about to leave Chang'an and might not make it to her ceremony. Hearing this, Chun'er's tears couldn't help but flow.

The thought of not seeing her beloved Brother Yan Xun anymore made her extremely sad. Northern Yan and the Royal Court appeared peaceful on the surface, but secretly, undercurrents surged continuously. At such a time, Yan Xun was clearly not suitable to remain in Chang'an. Yan Xun's mother, Bai Sheng, personally came to Chang'an, hoping to safely take her son back.

Noble Consort Wei was entertaining Marquis Northen Settler's wife Bai Sheng in the palace when the Emperor suddenly appeared, his face displeased. He pointed out that Bai Sheng's insistence on taking Yan Xun away was creating a difficult problem for him. Bai Sheng knew this matter would not be easy to accomplish, so she thought of a compromise: she would exchange herself for her son, staying behind and letting Yan Xun return to Northern Yan.

The Emperor had not yet expressed his stance when Chun'er, pulling Yan Xun, hurriedly ran over, requesting Emperor Father to let Yan Xun stay in Chang'an for another month. This perfectly suited the Emperor's wishes. Bai Sheng had intended to decline, but Yan Xun secretly shook his head at his mother. Finally, the Emperor ordered Yan Xun to stay for another month. No one knows a son better than his mother.

Bai Sheng knew that Yan Xun's decision to stay must have a reason. She tentatively asked her son if he had someone he loved. Yan Xun's smile held a hint of shyness as he asked his mother if she would mind the difference in their statuses if such a person truly existed. Bai Sheng, of course, would not mind. Yan Xun told his mother that he wanted to wait and leave with the person he loved.

Their conversation was overheard clearly by Chun'er, who happened to be passing by. She cried tears of joy, thinking that the person Yan Xun spoke of as his beloved was herself. Yan Xun staying in this dangerous place for Chu Qiao, a mere maid, was, in Yuwen Zhuo's view, incredibly foolish. Regarding this, Yuwen Yue believed that while man proposes, God disposes.

He told his grandfather that Liang had already sent the highest-level female spy to Great Wei, attempting to instigate infighting between the Royal Court and Northern Yan. Yuwen Yue planned to send Chu Qiao to investigate. When the moon was in the western sky, in the Bliss Chamber, Yuwen Xi severely scolded Yuwen Huai as useless, ordering him to host a banquet and invite children of noble families to attend, especially ensuring Yuwen Yue was invited.

The weather was good today. Chu Qiao continued her fragrance-smelling training while blindfolded, already showing some progress. Yue Qi walked over and poured cold water on her, saying, "If you can't see, you can't see. A useless chess piece in Qingshan House is a useless person."

Episode 14 Recap

Responding sharply to Yue Qi's mockery, Chu Qiao retorted that when her eyes recovered, he would be the useless one. At this moment, Yuwen Yue walked over and asked if she resented him for injuring her eyes. Chu Qiao smiled and replied that she did not, believing that Mister would not harm her. Yuwen Yue personally removed the white cloth covering her eyes.

Chu Qiao was surprised to find that her eyesight had undergone an astonishing change; she could even clearly see a pearl in a small bird's beak. It turned out that the medicinal water Yuwen Yue had dripped into her eyes that day was Hua Tuo Qiushui, which allowed her to see things that ordinary people could not, making night like day for her.

Yuwen Yue gave her this miraculous medicinal water precisely because he wanted her to use it at tomorrow's banquet to remember everyone and everything. The day of the banquet meticulously prepared by Yuwen Huai finally arrived. Chun'er arrived late, only to find that Yan Xun had not yet arrived, making her displeased. Yuwen Huai presented the gift he had specially prepared for her.

Chun'er picked up a hairpin and marveled at it, and a smile rose at the corner of Yuwen Huai's mouth, but then he heard her say that even the maids in the palace used better ones than this. Zhao Xifeng burst into laughter upon hearing this. After mocking Yuwen Huai, Chun'er turned her attention to him, saying that he acted one way to people's faces and another behind their backs.

Wei Shuye tried to persuade her kindly, but Chun'er bluntly pointed out his mistakes. Yuan Song could not bear it any longer and told her to stop. Chu Qiao followed Yuwen Yue to attend the banquet. Yan Xun seized the opportunity to tell her that he was returning to Northern Yan.

The journey was long, so he naturally asked her what she would like to eat on the way, so he could prepare in advance, speaking as if Chu Qiao would definitely go with him. Yuwen Yue was still nearby, but Chu Qiao responded coldly, only telling him to have a smooth journey. Here, the banquet officially began, with songs and dances filling the magnificent hall. Chun'er and Yuan Song sat in the main seats.

Yuan Song watched with great interest, but Chun'er was bored; she only cared when Yan Xun would arrive. As soon as she saw Yan Xun and Yuwen Yue walking in from outside, a smile immediately appeared on Chun'er's face. Yuwen Yue suddenly stopped at the entrance, and Yan Xun took the opportunity to turn his head and talk to Chu Qiao. Seeing this scene, Chun'er became very angry and immediately stopped the dance.

Yuwen Yue and Yan Xun entered the banquet hall, specifically leaving Chu Qiao outside. Chu Qiao focused intently on every detail in the hall. A masked dancer, Fang Qin, caught her attention. As Fang Qin exited the stage, her flowing robes drifted past Chu Qiao. Chu Qiao keenly noticed that the scent on her body was exactly the same as that of the masked woman she had encountered on the street during the Cold Food Holiday.

Receiving a signal from Yuwen Yue's eyes, Chu Qiao quietly followed behind her and left. Fang Qin changed into black clothes, still masked. Chu Qiao followed her all the way, surprisingly returning to Qingshan House. Fang Qin, holding a map, walked into a secret chamber unimpeded, as if no one was there. Chu Qiao followed into the secret chamber. Fang Qin suddenly disappeared. Chu Qiao ran forward to search.

There were many passages in the secret chamber, and the surroundings were extremely silent. Suddenly, Fang Qin, in black, seemed to descend from the sky, silently landing above Chu Qiao's head. Chu Qiao sensed the danger and dodged in time. The two confronted each other and began to fight, all the way to the core area of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes. Fang Qin was highly skilled in martial arts, and Chu Qiao was about to be defeated.

At the critical moment, Yuwen Yue suddenly appeared and rescued Chu Qiao, but this gave Fang Qin a chance to escape. This was the most secret and important place of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes, the Spy Building. Since Chu Qiao had arrived here, she only had two choices: to become a spy of Qingshan House or to die. Chu Qiao naturally chose the former.

Yuwen Yue presented her with the Canhong Sword, hoping she would not disgrace its reputation. Yuwen Zhuo knew that Yuwen Xi was inseparable from this matter. What worried him more was that Yuwen Yue had the chance to capture the female spy but gave it up for Chu Qiao. Yuwen Zhuo squinted his eyes, looking into the void, his gaze fierce and resolute.

To prevent his grandson from following his old path, Yuwen Zhuo ordered Chu Qiao to be killed immediately. After Fang Qin escaped, she returned to Qingshan House. Her true identity was Princess Mingzheng of Liang, Xiao Yu. Just as Xiao Yu changed out of her black clothes, Yuwen Huai came to her temporary room. If Yuwen Huai did not know the purpose of hosting the banquet before, now he was certain it was related to Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu was very skilled at reading people. She first provoked Yuwen Huai with his most sensitive point, his identity as a concubine's son, and then extended an olive branch, promising him an opportunity to rise in status, but whether he could seize it depended on his own performance.

Episode 15 Recap

Chun'er pouted, silently standing by the river, sulking. Yan Xun and Yuan Song stood not far away, both with headaches. Yuan Song had no way to deal with his pampered sister, so he made Yan Xun responsible for coaxing her, since he was the culprit after all. Yan Xun, feeling helpless, told him not to meddle with matchmaking.

He took a deep breath and came to Chun'er's side, picking up a pebble in front of her and throwing it into the river. Chun'er looked unhappy. Yan Xun chuckled lightly, telling her not to be so petty; it was just that he hadn't prepared a gift for her, was it really worth getting so angry? Chun'er turned to look at him. She knew Yan Xun understood everything; he was just pretending to be foolish.

Yan Xun didn't spell it out because he couldn't bear to hurt her heart. Lanterns hung high by the river, illuminating the boundless night. Yan Xun told her jokes to amuse her. Although Chun'er insisted she wouldn't listen, she was still drawn in by the jokes and burst into laughter. The Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes was provoked by female spies from Liang.

Yuwen Yue meticulously gathered intelligence on the spies Liang had placed in Chang'an, and united with Jianghu sects to set a net to catch them all. Since the female spies from Liang dared to come, Yuwen Yue would ensure they never returned. Facing Yuwen Yue's counterattack, Xiao Yu had a severe headache. It seemed she had underestimated her opponent too much this time, but there was still a chance to fight back.

Xiao Yu recalled Chu Qiao, with whom she had met a few times. She keenly sensed Yuwen Yue's unusual feelings for Chu Qiao, which could be exploited. The Yuwen family was known for producing romantics; Yuwen Zhuo had crippled himself for a maid back then, ruining a bright future. It seemed Yuwen Yue was about to follow in his grandfather's footsteps.

At the same time, Yuwen Huai went to the Bliss Chamber to inquire about the true purpose of the banquet. Yuwen Xi's face showed mockery. In his heart, he had always looked down on Yuwen Huai's origins, considering him lowly and base. He cursed Yuwen Huai, calling him lowly and a good-for-nothing. Yuwen Huai stood ramrod straight, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. He would not endure such humiliation again. The next morning, Chu Qiao was practicing her sword.

Yan Xun came to find her, asking her to return to Northern Yan with him. Once there, Chu Qiao would no longer be a servant and could live a free life. Chu Qiao remained silent. Yan Xun saw her hesitation and assumed she was worried about her two younger sisters. Anyway, he wasn't returning immediately, so he could give her time to think. Chu Qiao watched Yan Xun leave, then turned to deliver medicine to Yuwen Yue.

The dark medicinal soup was served in a light green porcelain bowl, steaming. Yuwen Yue took a small sip, his brows slightly furrowed. It was unexpected that Mister Yue, who was usually so refined and elegant, would also be afraid of bitter medicine. Chu Qiao bowed to leave but was called back by Yuwen Yue. He simply looked at her expressionlessly without saying a word.

Chu Qiao guessed he wanted to eat candied fruit, or wanted to go out, or his eyes were uncomfortable and he wanted her to find a doctor? Yuwen Yue finally opened his mouth, coldly uttering the words 'escaped slave'. Chu Qiao knew he had overheard her conversation with Yan Xun, and immediately declared her loyalty. Although she was a servant, she wouldn't accept just any offer thrown her way.

Moreover, she had fine clothes and rich food in Qingshan House, and Mister treated her well, so there was no need to escape at all. Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yue's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile. Yan Xun was carrying a snow-white little rabbit to send to the Empress Dowager's palace.

It was first intercepted by Yuan Song, and then seen by Chun'er, who instantly fell in love with it and righteously declared that the rabbit would belong to her from then on. Chun'er left contentedly, leaving Yan Xun and Yuan Song feeling wronged but daring not to speak directly. Yue Qi secretly found the hiding place of the spies brought by Xiao Yu.

Yuwen Yue entered the palace to meet the Emperor, while Yue Qi took people and rushed to the inn first. Ever since the spies from Liang arrived in Chang'an, they had stayed indoors, even having their meals placed outside their door. The rooftop was covered with countless bells, making their defense so tight that it was impossible to make a move. Tao Ye was a spy Xiao Yu had placed in Chang'an.

She had always presented herself as a dancing girl. Mister Zhao Xifeng of the Zhao clan liked Tao Ye very much. On the day of Yuwen Huai's banquet, Xiao Yu had noticed the flirtatious glances between the two of them. Xiao Yu asked her if she had developed true feelings for Zhao Xifeng. Tao Ye denied it, saying her flirtation with Zhao Xifeng was only for the mission.

Seeing that Xiao Yu seemed to believe her, Tao Ye secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Chu Qiao had now become a spy of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes. Yuwen Yue brought her into the Spy Building and gave her a token to leave the residence. Currently, the spy forces in the world, besides the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes, also include the Secret Bureau and Jianghu spies.

The latter are the true rivals of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes, and their strength should not be underestimated. They are led by the Fengyun Order, and its Master Luo He was even more unfathomable. However, she was killed in an accident a year ago, and Luo He's daughter, the young master of the Fengyun Order, also disappeared a year ago. Yuwen Yue secretly observed Chu Qiao's expression but found nothing amiss.

The way of a spy includes intelligence gathering, wiretapping and surveillance, infiltration and assassination, and protection and defense. Intelligence gathering requires meticulous thought; wiretapping and surveillance require keen ears and sharp eyes, while the latter two points require strong martial arts skills. And this was Yuwen Yue's greatest concern: Chu Qiao's martial arts were still too weak for a master.

The Emperor originally intended to keep the Marquis Northen Settler's wife and Yan Xun, but Noble Consort Wei said that doing so would instead arouse the Marquis Northen Settler's suspicion and alert the enemy. Her words were reasonable. The Emperor issued an edict to send Bai Sheng back to Northern Yan. Noble Consort Wei saw the Emperor's determination to deal with Northern Yan, thinking that if one could leave, it was one less.

She could only do what was within her power. A long journey of farewell eventually comes to a parting. Yan Xun stood before his mother's carriage, reluctant to part with her. He had long known that the Emperor feared Northern Yan, and his expressions of loyalty were useless. Only by firmly grasping military power could he have a bargaining chip for his own safety. Bai Sheng watched her son analyze the situation thoroughly, sighing that he had truly grown up.

She hoped her son could soon return to Northern Yan with the girl he loved, and reunite as a family. That night, Yuwen Yue received a secret letter, read it carefully, and replied, discussing the way of survival in chaotic times.

Episode 16 Recap

The spies from Liang's visit this time is obviously not just for the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes; they are probably aiming to disrupt the situation in Great Wei and instigate internal strife. Yuwen Yue had trained Chu Qiao for a long time, and Yuwen Zhuo wanted to send her to deal with the spies from Liang. Yuwen Yue declined, citing that Chu Qiao was not yet mature, but Yuwen Zhuo insisted, so he had no choice but to agree.

Yuwen Yue clearly knew that with Chu Qiao's current ability, performing such a task would be very dangerous. He and Yue Qi came out from Yuwen Zhuo's place and saw Chu Qiao waiting at the secret passage entrance. Seeing him come out, Chu Qiao smiled and asked when the training would start.

Yuwen Yue told her that if she wanted to become a true spy, she would have to undergo real combat training, and therefore sent her to track Xiao Yu and eavesdrop on intelligence. Yue Qi gave Chu Qiao the eavesdropping divine tool - Wen Jin and the tracking divine tool - Bamboo Dragonfly. Seeing Yuwen Yue so solemnly assign the task and prepare the weapons, Chu Qiao realized the danger of this mission.

The Marquis Northen Settler sent his capable assistant Zhong Yu to Chang'an to help Yan Xun escape when necessary, and Yuwen Yue was another great help for Yan Xun's escape. Xiao Yu received the news and hastened her steps to deal with Yuwen Yue. Chu Qiao quietly released the Bamboo Dragonfly across from the inn where Xiao Yu was staying, and this was exactly the moment Xiao Yu was waiting for.

She, Yin Xin, and Tao Ye acted in concert in the room, leading Chu Qiao to Zuo Baocang's divine weapons shop. Zuo Baocang was an extraordinary person, skilled in everything from Qimen Dunjia, maps of powerful families, to divine weapons and sharp tools. If Chu Qiao wanted to smoothly enter Hongshan House, finding him was just right.

A girl in an orange dress, with her black hair tied high, had a rare heroic spirit for a woman on her delicate oval face. She walked into the divine weapons shop located in a secluded area. She saw that the shop was filled with numerous items, but most were scattered everywhere, in disarray. An old man was lying on a reclining chair, his face covered by a bamboo hat.

Zhong Yu walked in and secretly observed; Zuo Baocang was profound, witty, and humorous. She wanted to buy weapons, and Zuo Baocang was initially unwilling, but not until she revealed her identity did he become serious about doing business. A cold wind blew, and the wind chimes in the divine weapons shop swayed, making jingling sounds. Zuo Baocang saw in the bronze mirror on the wall several masked women walking aggressively towards them.

As soon as Tao Ye entered, she started fighting with Zhong Yu. Chu Qiao entered and directly faced Xiao Yu. The four of them started fighting in the narrow shop, smashing countless items. This made Zuo Baocang, who was secretly watching from behind the counter, heartbroken. Yue Qi had originally been secretly following Chu Qiao, but at this moment, he was blocked outside by Yin Xin, unable to take care of himself.

Xiao Yu sent someone to lure Yuwen Yue to come. When he arrived, he happened to save the injured Yue Qi. At the same time, Zuo Baocang watched them fighting fiercely. To avoid being implicated, he turned and fled into the secret room. Chu Qiao pursued him fiercely with agile footwork. In an instant, the battlefield shifted from the shop to the secret room.

Chu Qiao was not Xiao Yu's match; her ability to last so long was only because Xiao Yu was waiting for Yuwen Yue to arrive. As soon as Yuwen Yue arrived, Xiao Yu seized the opportunity to strike Chu Qiao into the inner room. Tao Ye took the opportunity to lower the Dragon-Breaking Stone. Yuwen Yue, without thinking, flew over, picked up Chu Qiao and moved several meters forward, and was trapped inside. Xiao Yu's plan succeeded.

Originally, she only had a fifty percent certainty. After all, Yuwen Yue had noble status and was the heir of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes. Xiao Yu did not expect that he would sacrifice himself for Chu Qiao without hesitation. Before leaving, she set fire to the divine weapons shop. By the time the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes' people received the news and rushed there, it was likely that Yuwen Yue would no longer be there.

Meanwhile, in the secret room, Chu Qiao, Yuwen Yue, and Zuo Baocang stared blankly at each other. Zuo Baocang had entered the inner room at some unknown point; now all three of them were trapped here together. This was where Zuo Baocang hid his gold, silver, and jewels. Once the Dragon-Breaking Stone was lowered, it could not be opened again.

Zuo Baocang had previously been infatuated with Tao Ye's beauty and had told her about the traps in this secret room. Now that he was trapped inside himself, it was truly a case of lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own foot. Zuo Baocang was habitually mischievous.

He insisted that Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue were a couple, saying, "Just look at the swords they are holding; Canhong and Moon Breaking Sword were originally a pair of lovers' swords." Chu Qiao did not know this, but Yuwen Yue certainly did. His thoughts exposed by Zuo Baocang, he unnaturally turned his head to look at the wall. Fortunately, Zuo Baocang shifted his attention and began to analyze the identities of the several parties who visited the shop today.

Zhong Yu was holding the Chiyu Sword; from this, it was clear that she was undoubtedly Zhong Yu, the female general under the Marquis Northen Settler. And the white-clad masked woman who came in later used the Heavenly Shadow Water Sleeves. If he wasn't mistaken, she should be a master among the spies from Liang. It must be said, Zuo Baocang was not just an empty name. The three continued to walk inside. Chu Qiao accidentally slipped.

Yuwen Yue, with quick eyes and hands, scooped her up by the waist. Their eyes met, and for a moment, there was silence. Yuwen Yue reminded her to be careful. Zuo Baocang led Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue into a stone chamber. He had stored enough food for three people to eat for half a year there. The Moon Breaking Sword was the ceremonial sword of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes' heir of the Yuwen family.

Zuo Baocang believed that the Yuwen family would definitely send people to rescue them, so he fell asleep soundly without any worries. Before sleeping, he did not forget to lament that the heirs of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes were getting worse with each generation, to have fallen to such a state for a mere maidservant. Since they couldn't get out, Yuwen Yue no longer bothered. He leaned against the wall and rested with his eyes closed.

Chu Qiao relaxed and inadvertently fell asleep as well. When she woke up, Zuo Baocang was long gone, while Yuwen Yue's eyes were tightly shut, and she couldn't wake him up no matter what. On the other side, Yuwen Xi had always been bothered by the death of Yuwen Yue's mother. Over the years, it had become a mental demon.

Xiao Yu used this matter to threaten him, and Yuwen Xi had no choice but to obediently give up his position of power in Hongshan House. He collapsed to the ground in a sorry state. Yuwen Huai entered at this moment. Seeing Yuwen Xi's pathetic state and then looking at the swaying beaded curtain, he was deep in thought. Immediately after, Yuwen Huai found the courtyard where Xiao Yu was staying. Incense smoke curled up in the courtyard, and it was extremely quiet. He suddenly realized someone was behind him, and the silver needles in his hand immediately flew out.

Episode 17 Recap

Yuwen Huai's attack was upon her, but Xiao Yu remained motionless. She was confident that Yuwen Huai would not actually strike. Indeed, Yuwen Huai withdrew his hand in time after seeing who it was. Xiao Yu told him that Yuwen Xi had been used by Liang for all these years, but unfortunately, he was an aging hero and no longer useful. Upon hearing this, Yuwen Huai knew his chance had come.

When Xiao Yu then told him to take over Yuwen Xi's position and govern Hongshan House, Yuwen Huai agreed with almost no hesitation. Tao Yeji came over with a panicked look. According to her report, a large number of Yue Spies were already heading towards Hongshan House. Xiao Yu didn't take the Yue Spies seriously at all; without Yuwen Yue, they were just a bunch of small fry.

She was about to lead her people to rush out when Yuwen Huai reciprocated by telling her about the secret passage in Hongshan House. As she walked, Xiao Yu suddenly realized something she had was missing. This item was very important to her and could not be lost. Xiao Yu told Tao Ye to go first, while she returned to look for it. Yan Xun went to the palace to greet the Empress Dowager.

Chun'er saw him and wouldn't let him leave, insisting that Yan Xun drink with her. Yan Xun, helpless, had no choice but to accompany her, drinking, playing, and joking in the garden pavilion. Noble Consort Wei saw this scene and reprimanded them, asking how it was proper for a man and a woman to frolic in the palace. After Yan Xun admitted his mistake and took his leave, Noble Consort Wei reminded Chun'er to pay attention to etiquette.

Chun'er listened perfunctorily; when she encountered Yan Xun, how could she still care about etiquette? Meanwhile, in Zuo Baocang's secret room, Yuwen Yue's cold illness flared up, rendering him unconscious. A murderous thought flashed through Chu Qiao's mind, then disappeared. She lit a fire nearby to keep Yuwen Yue warm.

At this moment, the missing Zuo Baocang suddenly ran over from a distance, carrying a jar of wine and some dry provisions, and generously invited Chu Qiao to drink and eat. Chu Qiao wanted to know the reason for Yuwen Yue's cold illness. Zuo Baocang truly didn't know, but looking at Yuwen Yue's symptoms, it was highly likely he was born with it.

The cold illness was extremely difficult to cure, but with Yuwen Yue's profound inner power, he could at least live for another twenty or thirty years. Chu Qiao was somewhat surprised by this, but more so worried. Perhaps she herself hadn't realized how much more she cared about Yuwen Yue. Zuo Baocang approached Yuwen Yue to check his pulse. Suddenly, his sharp eyes noticed the wood bead Chu Qiao was wearing. His playful smile immediately vanished, and he became serious.

Chu Qiao inquired about information from him, but had no money to pay. Zuo Baocang feigned anger, then suggested she use the wood bead as exchange. Seeing his interest in the wood bead, Chu Qiao wanted to get information out of him. Zuo Baocang mentioned Luo He, the Twelve Elites, and the Fengyun Order. Chu Qiao hadn't heard of these, but she suspected they were related to her origins.

Zuo Baocang also wanted to get information from Chu Qiao about the whereabouts of the Fengyun Order. However, Chu Qiao truly knew nothing about these things, but she was certain of one thing: she was definitely connected to the Fengyun Order. As long as Zuo Baocang could help her, she would surely remember the Fengyun Order's whereabouts once her memory recovered.

Hearing her say she had amnesia, Zuo Baocang finally had a chance to show his skills; he specialized in treating all kinds of amnesia. Zuo Baocang's method for awakening memories was called Prayer and Spell Means. Chu Qiao would drink the Prayer and Spell Soup, fall into a coma, and then he would gradually guide her to recover her memories. Chu Qiao felt uneasy about losing consciousness in front of someone she had just met.

She proposed that she would only drink the Prayer and Spell Soup if she got the map of Bliss Chamber. Zuo Baocang produced the map, which marked all the traps and secret passages of Bliss Chamber. Chu Qiao got the map and wanted to renege on her promise, but she also wanted to unravel the mystery of her origins, so she ultimately drank the Prayer and Spell Soup. She remembered that her mother was Luo He.

Her mother had taught her martial arts since she was young, and one day suddenly told her that if she didn't return after half a month, she should find a man named Jing. Once her Cold Ice Skill was perfected, she would be able to open the wood bead. Chu Qiao thus arrived at the Jing family and grew up. Until one day, Uncle Jing rushed over with a public notice, telling her that her mother was to be executed.

Chu Qiao broke through many barriers and finally reached the prison, only to discover that it was merely a trap, and the woman in the prison was not her mother at all. When she tried to break out again, it was extremely difficult, with numerous obstacles. A masked man in black, whose martial arts were exceptionally high, critically injured Chu Qiao with a single palm strike. The man in black told her that Luo He had died long ago.

She possessed a powerful force, yet she always thought of freeing slaves and ending wars, aiming for peace under heaven. Since she couldn't be used, of course, she had to be killed quickly. The man in black wanted to pin Luo He's death on Chu Qiao. At the critical moment, Lady Snake, who protected Chu Qiao, suddenly appeared and rescued her. With a clang, Chu Qiao awoke from her coma, seeing Yuwen Yue holding a sword standing before them.

Chu Qiao didn't want Yuwen Yue to realize she had recovered her memories, so she secretly told Zuo Baocang that she would return. Zuo Baocang knew there was no point in continuing to hold Yuwen Yue and Chu Qiao, so he told them the secret passage exit. After the two came out, before they could properly assess the situation on the ground, they were surrounded by a group of spies from Liang led by Yin Xin.

During the fight, Chu Qiao was pricked by a silver needle. Seeing her injured, Yuwen Yue felt anxious. He severely wounded Yin Xin, forcing them to retreat. Although he scolded Chu Qiao for being useless, the anxiety on his face was exceptionally clear. At this moment, a large group of Yue Spies arrived and told them that Yue Qi had gone to Hongshan House.

Chu Qiao wanted to take the opportunity to visit Hongshan House, but Yuwen Yue was concerned about her injuries and told her to rest well. Afterward, Yuwen Yue went alone to the inn where the spies from Liang were staying. At the same time, Xiao Yu also arrived. She returned to her room and picked up a colorful bird, which was identical to Yuwen Yue's pet bird from Qingshan House. Xiao Yu opened the nearby letter and carefully read and pondered the phrase "like a dream, a phantom, a bubble" written on it.

Episode 18 Recap

Yuwen Yue pushed open the door, the huge room was empty, the incense in the censer was still emitting wisps of white smoke. A gentle breeze blew, and the pages of the book on the bed rustled softly with the wind. Yuwen Yue returned to Qingshan House and heard that his grandfather had fallen ill with anger because he risked his life to save Chu Qiao, so he hurried to see him.

Seeing his elderly and unconscious grandfather constantly repeating "The Eyes of Heaven of the spies cannot be destroyed in my hands," Yuwen Yue felt deep self-blame. Zuo Baocang emerged from the secret passage and stretched. He looked up and saw the Marquis Northen Settler's capable subordinate, Dongfang Ji, walking towards him. Dongfang Ji always only appeared when there was something important; the last time he came to Chang'an, Luo He died soon after.

Although the two had been friends for many years, Zuo Baocang still had many complaints about him. Dongfang Ji had previously asked him to investigate the whereabouts of Luo He's killer, and was now here to get an update. Zuo Baocang told Dongfang Ji that he had found a wood bead he personally made years ago on a young girl. Dongfang Ji suspected that she was the young assassin who killed Luo He back then.

Zuo Baocang also had this suspicion, but he wanted to further verify it. If it was her, he would hand her over to Dongfang Ji to handle; if not, then Zuo Baocang decided to protect her with his life from then on, after all, she was Luo He's daughter. Yan Xun met Zhong Yu and read the family letter his father wrote to him.

He didn't expect that the Royal Court and Northern Yan's situation was already very urgent, and Zhong Yu had come this time specifically to escort him to leave soon. Even though the situation was so grim, Yan Xun still wanted to wait a little longer, until Chu Qiao agreed to go with him. Zhong Yu was somewhat troubled, so Yan Xun personally wrote a letter to his father to explain.

At the same time, various forces were all watching Yan Xun's Heir Apparent's residence. Yuwen Yue was ordered to monitor Northern Yan's every move, and the Yue Spies silently stole the family letter written by Yan Shicheng. Meanwhile, Taoye secretly intercepted Yan Xun's reply to Yan Shicheng and replaced it with their forged letter. Dongfang Ji's subordinate Jiang He had also been secretly observing; all of these developments were within Dongfang Ji's expectations.

Chu Qiao entered the Spies' Building to secretly take weapons, wanting to have a handy weapon with her when she went to Hongshan House. Suddenly hearing voices, she quickly hid behind a shelf. Yuwen Yue and the Yue Spies walked in. Yuwen Yue was holding the family letter the Yue Spies had stolen from Yan Xun.

If the content of the letter were seen by the Emperor, it would certainly cause a huge uproar, so Yuwen Yue swapped it for an ordinary family letter to present to the Emperor. Chu Qiao only saw him swap the family letter, but did not understand his intention. Dongfang Ji rushed back to Northern Yan for several days. Yan Shicheng solemnly took out Yan Xun's reply letter to show him, asking if it was true.

Dongfang Ji feigned a look and told him that it was forged by spies from Liang, the purpose of which was to make him rashly enter the capital and cause internal strife in Great Wei. Seeing that Yan Shicheng had no doubts, Dongfang Ji took the opportunity to take out his own forged letter and told Yan Shicheng that this was a letter Yan Xun entrusted him to deliver, after seeing through the tricks of the spies from Liang.

Yan Shicheng opened the letter only to find it was an urgent distress letter. Worried about his son, Yan Shicheng decided to personally make a trip to Chang'an. Dongfang Ji suggested that he must bring enough troops and horses for this trip, in case of unforeseen circumstances. Yan Shicheng wrote a memorial to the throne to inform the Emperor in advance about his visit to the capital, to avoid arousing his suspicion. Yan Shicheng was upright and unwavering in loyalty.

The Emperor could be suspicious of him, but he would never betray his country. Dongfang Ji took the memorial presented by Yan Shicheng to the Emperor and returned to his room. Looking at the memorial, he narrowed his eyes slightly. He prided himself on being intelligent and having skillful hands, but he was not content with being a mere craftsman.

He wholeheartedly wanted to assist a ruler who could conquer the world, but Yan Shicheng was not the person he wanted, so the memorial was mercilessly thrown into the fire. Dongfang Ji told Jiang He to pack their things, saying they would not return to Northern Yan again. As the saying goes, what you think about by day, you dream about at night. The Emperor dreamed that Yan Shicheng was going to chop off his head.

He awoke from the dream with lingering fear and could no longer tolerate Northern Yan, ordering Yuwen Yue and Yuwen Huai to intensify their search for evidence of Yan Shicheng's rebellion. These days, Yuwen Yue had been training Chu Qiao, personally teaching her his Icy Snow Arrow. The Icy Snow Arrow had always been unique to Yuwen Yue, and his willingness to teach it to Chu Qiao at this time was enough to show his trust and cultivation of her.

He personally taught Chu Qiao the techniques of spies for transmitting messages. Spies' secret letters were usually specially processed to prevent information leakage, using developing powder to reveal and invisible powder to conceal the secret letter's information, respectively. Yuwen Yue handed the developing powder and invisible powder to Chu Qiao, saying she would surely find a use for them in the future.

After she returned, Chu Qiao sprinkled the developing powder on the note inside the wood bead, and the handwriting appeared. Her mother told her that if she had any trouble, she should go to Northern Yan to find Master Wu; he would protect her and resolve her confusion. Chu Qiao murmured "Northern Yan" to herself, lost in thought.

Episode 19 Recap

Chu Qiao accidentally discovered that Yue Qi entered Yuwen Yue's room and then disappeared. She realized there must be a secret passage in the room. After several attempts, she finally opened one. Following the secret passage inside, Chu Qiao was surprised to find that Yuwen Zhuo was still alive. Yuwen Zhuo wanted Chu Qiao to become a 'dead spy'. This was a mission that would almost certainly cost her life.

Yuwen Zhuo said it as if it were only natural, stating that Yuwen Yue had trained her for this very purpose anyway. Hearing these words, Chu Qiao's tears flowed uncontrollably. She quietly returned to her room, lay on the bed, and couldn't help but cry bitterly. If Yuwen Zhuo was still alive, what did her brother Linxi's death amount to? He was nothing more than a sacrifice in their power struggles.

What was even harder for Chu Qiao to accept was that Yuwen Yue had trained her simply to make her a 'dead spy', yet she had almost believed him, believing that everything he had done was for her own good. Yuwen Yue was urgently investigating the whereabouts of the spy from Liang. The Yue Spies tracked Yuwen Huai and found that he had left the city.

Yuwen Yue was incredibly intelligent; based solely on this, he deduced the fact that the spy from Liang was hiding in the ancient tomb. Just then, Yue Qi suddenly came in and told Yuwen Yue that Yuwen Zhuo wanted Chu Qiao to be a 'dead spy' to deal with the spy from Liang. Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yue immediately gathered all the Yue Spies and promptly headed to the ancient tomb outside the city.

To prevent Chu Qiao from becoming a 'dead spy' and not disobey his grandfather's wishes, he had to eliminate the spy from Liang beforehand. The bright moon hung high, the wind stilled, and the trees were quiet. Yuwen Huai and Xiao Yu were having a secret conversation in the woods. Initially, Yuwen Huai was still suspicious about their cooperation. He asked Xiao Yu why she had chosen him.

Xiao Yu honestly told him that she indeed had better candidates, but none of them had ambitions as great as his, and without ambition, naturally, there would be no determination to win. From then on, Yuwen Huai's commitment to their cooperation was unwavering. Xiao Yu told him that this mission was to incite the Emperor to deal with Marquis Northen Settler. Xiao Yu, looking confident, approached Yuwen Huai and whispered a few words secretly.

Just then, Taoye suddenly came over and told them that Yuwen Yue was leading a large group of Yue Spies towards the ancient tomb. Yuwen Huai's first reaction was to take Xiao Yu and the others with him to leave. But Xiao Yu had her own plans and told Yuwen Huai to hurry and meet the Emperor. No sooner had Yuwen Huai left than the sound of continuous horse hooves came from afar.

Yuwen Yue, dressed in black, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and a cold demeanor, led the charge. Xiao Yu put on her veil and took the initiative to attack. Her hidden weapons were formidable, but she was no match for Yuwen Yue. After a fight, Yuwen Yue successfully subdued Xiao Yu and Taoye. Just as he was about to question them, Yin Xin suddenly appeared, threw a smoke bomb, and simultaneously unleashed hidden weapons.

When the smoke cleared, Xiao Yu and the other two had vanished. Xiao Yu's whereabouts were always discovered by Yuwen Yue. Yin Xin suggested eliminating Yuwen Yue to prevent him from being a nuisance. In her heart, Xiao Yu still harbored a trace of different feelings for Yuwen Yue, only saying that it was not a good time to eliminate him yet. The grass rustled slightly, and a hand quietly pushed aside the green grass blocking the view.

Almost at the same time, Xiao Yu's silver needles flew out, and two Yue Spies fell to the ground instantly. A signal flare suddenly bloomed in the night sky. Upon seeing it, Yuwen Yue hurried to the dense forest. Waiting for him were Yue Spies who had already been replaced by Xiao Yu. The three caught him off guard and wounded him with poisoned needles. Yuwen Yue defeated them, then sat down to heal his wounds and detoxify.

After her sadness, Chu Qiao got up to find Zuo Baocang. She used two cute little mice to lure Zuo Baocang out. This thoughtfulness alone greatly pleased Zuo Baocang. Last time, when Chu Qiao asked for the Bliss Chamber map, Zuo Baocang had realized she wanted to deal with Yuwen Xi. The Bliss Chamber was full of traps and extremely dangerous. Zuo Baocang asked her how many helpers she had. Chu Qiao held up one finger.

When Zuo Baocang knew she was going alone, he exclaimed that she was crazy, saying it wasn't an assassination but clearly a suicide mission. Chu Qiao's expression was cold and aloof, her heart filled with desolation. What was there to fear in death? Since learning the purpose of Yuwen Yue's training, Chu Qiao was extremely disappointed and utterly disregarded matters of life and death. Zuo Baocang was very displeased with her nonchalant attitude.

He loudly insisted that he didn't want her to die. A trace of a smile finally appeared on Chu Qiao's face, for the warmth given by this person she had only recently met. Zuo Baocang gave her a hairpin to take into the Bliss Chamber, as no other weapons could be brought in.

He also prepared many handy weapons for her, telling her that after the mission was accomplished, she should follow the secret passage to the top floor terrace of the Bliss Chamber, and by then, Zuo Baocang would have placed these weapons there for her. Chu Qiao asked him why he wouldn't go with her since he could enter.

Zuo Baocang frankly stated that he was afraid of death; not wanting her to die was one thing, but accompanying her to her death was another. He felt he had already done everything he could. Before Chu Qiao left, Zuo Baocang gave her another treasure to keep with her. After returning, Chu Qiao practiced martial arts even more diligently. Yan Xun came over and asked her if she wanted to return to Northern Yan with him.

Chu Qiao asked him if Northern Yan was really as beautiful as he described. Yan Xun understood the deeper meaning in her words and, with a smile on his face, told her that Northern Yan had grasslands full of blooming flowers and the beautiful Xiuli Mountains. After receiving Chu Qiao's affirmative reply, the smile on Yan Xun's lips never faded. He specially went to select a unique saddle for Chu Qiao.

Chun'er accidentally saw Yan Xun meticulously choosing the saddle and thought it was for her. She rushed into the shop, grabbed the saddle, and thanked her Yan Xun Gege for giving her such a good saddle. Chun'er was too excited, continuously speaking to express her joy, while Yan Xun hesitated to speak. The two came to the lake.

Chun'er asked him if he remembered giving her a saddle when they were children, saying, "From that time on—" Before she could finish, Yan Xun quickly interjected, saying that from that time on, he had considered her his sister. Yan Xun knew what she was going to say. Some words, once spoken, would only make both of them more awkward. Upon hearing Yan Xun's words, Chun'er immediately realized that she had been deluding herself all these days.

Yuwen Huai entered the palace overnight last night, claiming that a divine omen had descended upon Four Treasures Mountain: a giant pine tree had grown on a strange rock, and he wanted to take the Emperor to see it. When they reached the moat, the Emperor heard a commotion outside. A group of villagers were pushing a yellow stone past them.

The Emperor personally saw large characters written on the yellow stone: "Emperor of Wei will perish, Yan will rule the world." After returning to the palace, the Emperor urgently summoned the powerful figures of several noble clans to discuss the matter. Wei Guang of the Wei clan believed it was a trick by treacherous people. Everyone else followed his lead, but only Yuwen Huai directly pointed to Northern Yan. His words perfectly matched the Emperor's intentions. In fact, summoning these ministers was not to discuss anything, but rather to get them to provide a legitimate reason to deal with Marquis Northen Settler.

Episode 20 Recap

Under Yuwen Huai's strong guidance, several high-ranking officials understood the emperor's intentions and kept echoing Yuwen Huai, directing their accusations towards the Marquis Northern Settler. Only a General Song strongly supported the Marquis Northern Settler, and the emperor, without a word, turned around, drew his sword, and stabbed him to death.

The emperor issued an imperial decree to arrest the rebel Yan Shicheng, ordering Yuwen Huai and Wei Guang to apprehend Yan Xun, and all people on the river embankment were to be executed. Noble Consort Wei received the news and rushed to plead with the emperor. The emperor was naturally suspicious, and Noble Consort Wei found it difficult to speak too favorably for Yan Xun.

Now, the prominent clans in Chang'an had already begun to act, condemning the traitors of Great Wei. Noble Consort Wei's face was extremely grim; she knew that this matter was already irreversible. Wei Guang returned to his mansion and showed the emperor's secret decree to his grandson, Wei Shuye. Wei Shuye wanted to plead for Yan Xun, but the overall situation was set; the Marquis Northern Settler's family was doomed.

Now, his only choices were to conform to the general situation or to strongly support Yan Xun and be abandoned by his family, forever remaining an unknown wastrel. Wei Shuye clenched the secret decree tightly and made up his mind. Yuan Chun had been immersed in the pain of Yan Xun not liking her for the past two days, washing her face with tears all day long.

Yuan Song was urgently summoned back to the palace by Noble Consort Wei, who only told him that tonight would be a night of many events and advised him not to get involved. Noble Consort Wei took her son and went to her daughter, Imperial Princess Yuan Chun's palace. Today, she began to tell her children about the rules that must be observed as members of the imperial family.

As imperial royalty, they were born with glory and wealth that ordinary people could never attain in a lifetime, but at the same time, they had to pay a price: friendship and love, which were easily accessible to common people, were absolutely forbidden for them to touch. Yuan Song and Yuan Chun did not yet understand their mother consort's intention in saying these words.

Noble Consort Wei did not wish to elaborate, only telling them to stay put and not go anywhere. Yuan Chun sensed her mother consort's unusual demeanor today and sent her personal maid, Caiwei, to inquire about the news. Caiwei found out about what the emperor encountered by the moat today, and the news that he had already killed General Song. Yuan Chun realized that the emperor was going to act against Northern Yan.

She packed some valuables, intending to tip off Yan Xun and escape with him. Noble Consort Wei stopped Yuan Chun at the city gate. Yuan Chun was an imperial princess of Great Wei; now that the emperor had ordered the elimination of Yan Xun's family, Yuan Chun had to take her own stance. Yuan Chun knelt on the ground, pleading desperately with her mother consort to let her go out and save Brother Yan Xun.

Noble Consort Wei also couldn't bear to see her daughter sad, but letting her go would only harm her. Chu Qiao saw the guards of Hongshan House again looking for serving maids for Yuwen Xi. She thought the time was ripe and was about to return to Qingshan House when she discovered Yan Xun's page, Feng Mian, waiting for her on the small path she usually took to enter and exit the mansion.

Feng Mian delivered a message for Yan Xun: he would wait for her outside the west city gate at Hai shi tonight, come what may. Before Chu Qiao left, Feng Mian suddenly asked her if she would arrive on time. Chu Qiao told him to inform Yan Xun that if she didn't show up, he shouldn't wait any longer.

Afterwards, Chu Qiao returned to her room and told her two younger sisters to go to the west city gate at Hai shi tonight to wait for her. If she didn't appear, she told them to follow Yan Xun. Activities were frequent in Chang'an. Yan Shicheng had also led his people to outside the city. He planned to rest here for a night and enter the city tomorrow. Night quietly fell. The forest outside the city was extremely silent.

Yuwen Huai silently led his people to surround Yan Shicheng and his party. With the shot of a sharp arrow, both sides began to fight. Yan Shicheng had no intention of rebellion, so he brought very few people. In less than a moment, blood stained the land beneath their feet, and Yuwen Huai's sharp sword also pierced through Yan Shicheng's chest.

The Marquis Northern Settler, who had distinguished himself with military exploits throughout his life, thus died outside Chang'an, perishing under the emperor's suspicions. Meanwhile, Chu Qiao quietly infiltrated Hongshan House, blending in with the maids the guards had prepared for Yuwen Xi. She silently left fingerprints on a pillar and then feigned an accidental grasp of a guard's hand, imprinting all the red marks from her hand onto his. The Bliss Chamber was burning the richly scented blood incense.

Chu Qiao knew that this blood incense must have a mind-confusing effect. Fortunately, she had internal energy protecting her, allowing her to remain clear-headed. Yuwen Xi stepped closer to the usual pleasure pool, cruelly covering a maid's entire face with a gauze scarf, gradually applying pressure to suffocate her. With a "chi" sound, the hard object pierced flesh. Yuwen Xi turned his head back in disbelief, seeing a woman in black holding a silver hairpin stuck into his side. Yuwen Xi did not recognize Chu Qiao. At this moment, he was already so frightened by her that he collapsed into the pool.

Episode 21 Recap

Chu Qiao pressed on step by step, and Yuwen Xi, in a panic, called for a large number of guards. Chu Qiao's moves were simple yet each was fatal. Yuwen Xi gradually realized that there was nowhere for him to hide in the vast Bliss Chamber. As the last guard fell, Yuwen Xi's fear reached its peak.

Instead of delivering a quick kill, Chu Qiao delivered punch after punch, seeking justice for her elder siblings and the innocent women Yuwen Xi had harmed, making Yuwen Xi meet his end in fear, pain, and torment, finally cutting off his head. A maid in the Bliss Chamber cowered trembling to the side, witnessing the entire event.

Chu Qiao intended to frame Yuwen Yue, deliberately telling her that she was Xing'er from Qingshan House, sent by Yuwen Yue to kill the old master. When Zhu Shun rushed over with his men, Chu Qiao had already left. He heard everything from the maid, was greatly shocked, and hurried to report to Yuwen Huai. At the same time, the Heir Apparent's residence. Yan Xun gathered all his troops, planning to return to Northern Yan tonight.

The soldiers were all in high spirits; after years away from home, they were finally returning to their homeland. Suddenly, a subordinate reported that Yuwen Xi had been assassinated by Chu Qiao. Yan Xun frowned, deeply worried, and told Zhong Yu to take the men and leave first. He would join them after rescuing Chu Qiao. On the other side, Yuwen Huai ended the battle early and returned to the city with the Marquis Northen Settler's head.

Just as he was feeling triumphant, Zhu Shun rushed to report the news of Yuwen Xi's assassination by Chu Qiao. Yuwen Huai had wished Yuwen Xi would die sooner. Hearing of his death, he was only surprised that he would be killed by a lowly wench, how disgraceful. Yuwen Huai hurried back to the Bliss Chamber. By then, Chu Qiao had already entered a secret passage.

She placed Yuwen Xi's head on the ground and set up a fuse connecting the head to traps. She knew that such a small design wouldn't stop Yuwen Huai; she just wanted to slow him down. Chu Qiao, according to her agreement with Zuo Baocang, arrived at the rooftop of the Bliss Chamber. In the dark night, Zuo Baocang arrived, riding the wind, dressed in wing-like equipment, like a Roc, delivering a life-saving weapon to her.

Just as Chu Qiao put on the cloak, Yuwen Yue arrived. Yuwen Yue had been poisoned by Xiao Yu's wicked scheme and was recovering outside the city. When he returned to Qingshan House and heard the news of Yuwen Xi's death and Chu Qiao and her two younger sisters' disappearance, he understood everything almost instantly. Yuwen Yue looked at Chu Qiao, clad in black, holding a precious sword pointed at him, his eyes filled with deep disappointment.

Chu Qiao openly admitted everything she had done. She killed Yuwen Xi not only to avenge her elder siblings but also to remove a major powerful enemy for Qingshan House. From this perspective, Yuwen Yue should thank her. Yuwen Yue looked at the unfamiliar Chu Qiao before him, not understanding why his Xing'er had become like this.

Filled with resentment, Chu Qiao reached up and took off the silver bells Yuwen Yue had personally placed on her head, smashing them to the ground with a "snap." The bells shattered. Chu Qiao told him not to call her Xing'er anymore; she wasn't Xing'er at all. Yuwen Zhuo was still alive, Linxi died unjustly, and Yuwen Yue trained Xing'er to be a dead spy. All these matters would be put to an end today.

Looking at Chu Qiao, who was so agitated, Yuwen Yue was somewhat shocked, and more so, terrified, feeling that he was about to lose her. He didn't know where Chu Qiao had learned all this, but it wasn't the whole truth. Yuwen Yue anxiously wanted to explain, but Chu Qiao had no desire to listen, focused only on killing him to avenge her brother Linxi.

Chu Qiao's current martial arts were all taught by Yuwen Yue, so she was naturally not his match. Suppressed by Yuwen Yue, she struggled fiercely, then suddenly lost her balance and fell off the rooftop. Yuwen Yue held her hand tightly. Chu Qiao was determined to sever ties with Qingshan House, and resolutely swung her sword to break free. Yuwen Yue watched helplessly as she fell. In mid-air, Chu Qiao spread her cloak with both hands.

The marvel of this cloak was that it could ride the wind like animal wings, but Chu Qiao hadn't worn the cloak properly, so she descended to a low altitude and suddenly fell. Yan Xun rode out alone from the darkness, catching the falling Chu Qiao like a knight. Yan Xun's sudden appearance surprised Chu Qiao, but she was never polite to Yan Xun, coldly telling him to put her down.

Yan Xun obediently put her down, laughing that a girl like her was so good at getting into trouble, whoever had her would be unlucky, but he was willing to be unlucky. He shamelessly insisted that Chu Qiao return to Northern Yan with him. Chu Qiao had other plans for going to Northern Yan. Seeing Yan Xun's demeanor at that moment, she specifically reminded him not to get the wrong idea.

Worried about her two younger sisters, Chu Qiao swung onto the horse and rode with Yan Xun to the West City Gate. Yuwen Yue saw her leave safely, his heart torn by sadness and reluctance. He returned to Qingshan House and learned of Yan Xun's current predicament. He was then called by Yuwen Zhuo.

Yuwen Zhuo knew that Yuwen Yue valued his brotherhood with Yan Xun, and specifically reminded him that loyalty and righteousness could not coexist, and helping Yan Xun would harm the entire Qingshan House. Outside the West City Gate, it was already Hai hour, and Chu Qiao still hadn't arrived. Xiaoba only complained, but Xiao Qi worried if something had happened to her. Xiao Qi was so worried that she couldn't help but go look for Chu Qiao.

Xiaoba, unable to dissuade her, followed along. By the time Chu Qiao and Yan Xun arrived, they were no longer there. Zhong Yu brought his men over and told Yan Xun that the situation wasn't right; there were troop movements in major camps outside the city. As they spoke, Zhao Xifeng and Wei Shuye approached, surrounding them with troops.

Zhao Xifeng was arrogant and aggressive, kicking them while they were down; while Wei Shuye's eyes held sympathy, they held more determination. There were too many opponents. Just as Zhao Xifeng was about to order the encirclement and kill, Chu Qiao, quick-witted, shot an arrow through Zhao Xifeng's palm, and at the same time, swiftly moved forward to threaten Wei Shuye with her sword.

Wei Shuye dared not act rashly, and had no choice but to let them leave the city. After Yan Xun and his party left the city, they released Wei Shuye. Chu Qiao wanted to part ways with Yan Xun there, but Yan Xun didn't want to let her go. The two playfully bickered. After a brief moment of lightness, Yan Xun knew his situation was difficult and didn't want to implicate her, so he no longer forced her to stay.

Before leaving, Chu Qiao told him that if she found her two younger sisters, she might go to Northern Yan to find him. Dawn was breaking. Chun'er, worried about Yan Xun, hadn't slept all night, pacing back and forth restlessly. Seeing the maid who came to deliver food, she came up with a plan, asking the maid to take off her clothes, thinking that by changing into the maid's clothes, she could escape unnoticed.

The maid initially dared not, but Chun'er did not force her using her identity as an imperial princess. Instead, she tearfully expressed her deep affection for Yan Xun and the danger of Yan Xun's situation. The maid was moved by her and willingly changed clothes. Chun'er, having changed clothes, walked quickly towards the palace exit. She had never done such a thing, and couldn't help but feel nervous.

Seeing her Noble Consort mother approaching from afar, Chun'er dropped the plate she was carrying in a panic and was discovered. Noble Consort Wei harshly punished the maid who secretly let Chun'er out of the palace. Chun'er, being kind-hearted, pleaded for her continuously. The maid was beaten to death. Seeing her corpse, Chun'er was so frightened that she curled up on the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

Episode 22 Recap

Noble Consort Wei looked at her terrified daughter, feeling pained, but she could not be soft-hearted. Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. The Emperor punished the Marquis Northen Settler because he broke the rules, and Noble Consort Wei beating the little palace maid to death was for the same reason. If the little palace maid's death could make Chun'er feel less guilty when she remembered Yan Xun in the future, then she would have died a deserving death.

Chu Qiao found the backyard of Qingshan House, she finally saw Xiaoba, dressed in red, standing with her back to her. Chu Qiao happily went forward. The red-clothed woman turned around and shot an arrow, and Chu Qiao instantly fell to the ground. The person in red smiled triumphantly, introducing himself as Bǎibiàn Húshēng.

Yuwen Yue had earnestly told him to wait for someone here, and he had thought it would be a powerful figure, but unexpectedly he was knocked down by him with one move. Husheng easily walked forward. Chu Qiao suddenly sat up and knocked him unconscious with lightning speed. Seeing the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes signal flare on Husheng, Chu Qiao came up with a plan. Yuwen Yue saw the signal blooming in the sky and rode his horse over.

The red-clothed person was standing with his back to him, and the black-clothed woman lying on the ground was of unknown fate. Yuwen Yue thought Chu Qiao was dead, and full of sorrow, he went over to check. No sooner said than done, Chu Qiao, dressed in red, turned around and skillfully held a dagger to Yuwen Yue's neck. The two were locked in a standoff. Yuwen Yue bet that she wouldn't have the heart to kill him.

He took a step forward, and a bloody mark suddenly appeared on his neck. Chu Qiao subconsciously moved the dagger aside, giving Yuwen Yue an opportunity to snatch the dagger back. Yuwen Yue let go of Chu Qiao, turned around and walked a few steps away, wiping the bloodstains from his neck. He coldly said, 'Apprehend them.' The Yue Spies surrounded them, and Chu Qiao was overwhelmed.

At this moment, Yan Xun came to save her single-handedly, like a peerless hero. Chu Qiao unhesitatingly reached her hand out to him. Yuwen Yue intentionally let them go and did not pursue them further. The two returned to where Yan Xun's forces were camped. Yan Xun's men breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the Heir Apparent return safely.

Feng Mian, the page boy, teased Chu Qiao as if claiming credit, telling her that their Heir Apparent had risked his life to save her. The group chatted and laughed, never expecting that Yuwen Huai had been lying in ambush for a long time. Another fierce battle ensued, resulting in countless casualties. Yuwen Yue watched from a high vantage point, seeing Yuwen Huai subdue Chu Qiao, triumphantly provoking Yan Xun.

Chu Qiao, taking advantage of Yuwen Huai's inattention, revealed the sharp edge of her ring and sliced it across his chest. Yan Xun seized the opportunity and stepped forward. The two cooperated seamlessly, knocking Yuwen Huai into the pond. Just as Chu Qiao and Yan Xun were about to escape to safety, an Icy Snow Arrow fell from the sky, hitting Yan Xun squarely in the shoulder.

The two were instantly surrounded layer by layer by the government soldiers who had arrived with Yuwen Huai. On a high cliff in the distance, Yuwen Yue angrily turned around. Zhan Mou was behind him, holding an Icy Snow Arrow crossbow. The Icy Snow Arrow had always been Yuwen Yue's unique weapon. Even if he hadn't acted this time, Yan Xun and Chu Qiao would probably think he was the one behind it.

Yuwen Huai returned to the city in a high-profile manner, sitting majestically on his warhorse. Yan Xun and Chu Qiao were brought back in a cage. Yan Xun leaned weakly on Chu Qiao's shoulder, looking at her apologetically. He had originally intended for her to return with him to Northern Yan to enjoy life, but unexpectedly, he ended up making things worse and implicating her instead.

Chu Qiao didn't mind these things; Yan Xun had helped her a lot since they met. The citizens of Chang'an didn't understand the reason; they just applauded and cheered when they saw the officers capture the traitors. Xiaoqi, seeing Chu Qiao captured, rushed forward. Xiaoba, afraid of being implicated, forcibly pulled her away. In the Royal Palace, Yuan Song couldn't bear to see his sister completely disheartened, so he specially came to tell her the latest situation regarding Northern Yan.

Yan Xun was imprisoned, the Marquis Northen Settler was killed, and without the Marquis Northen Settler defending Northern Yan, it would be easily conquered. Yan Xun's family was utterly ruined. Both the brother and sister were anxious and worried for Yan Xun. Yuan Song suddenly thought of Yan Xun's mother, Bai Sheng. Bai Sheng had grown up with the Emperor, and they had a good relationship since childhood; perhaps she could still help.

Bai Sheng had been escorted back to Northern Yan by Great General Zhao Dongting a few days ago, and now it was unknown where she had reached. At this moment, the Emperor was weeping bitterly in his bedchamber, facing a box. His cries echoed throughout the entire palace, continuous and endless. Inside the box was the head of the Marquis Northen Settler, Yan Shicheng.

Yan Shicheng had grown up with the Emperor since childhood and had risked his life to save him many times. However, even the best friendship could not withstand an emperor's suspicion and apprehension. Yan Shicheng had once said he would live and die with the Emperor.

The Emperor held his head, with morbid triumph and madness in his eyes, saying that he had reserved a spot for him in the imperial mausoleum, telling him to wait until he also passed away before recounting any grievances or unwillingness. At this moment, there was another person who was equally triumphant. The Bliss Chamber had changed from its usual extravagance, now covered with white silk. Yuwen Huai was dressed in white, hypocritically observing mourning for Yuwen Xi.

This dead old man had once greatly despised him just because he was a concubine's son, calling him worthless. Now it was good; Yuwen Xi had died so miserably, and Hongshan House completely belonged to Yuwen Huai. Yuwen Yue looked at the artificial rockery and flowing water in the courtyard, his mind filled with Chu Qiao. She had many opportunities to kill him but never acted on them. Yet, he had betrayed her sincere heart and placed her in danger.

Xiaoqi and Xiaoba were full of shock upon seeing the public notice of the Marquis Northen Settler's rebellion. They couldn't help but worry about their predicament. Suddenly, someone patted Xiaoba from behind. She turned her head to look, extremely shocked.

Episode 23 Recap

The person who came was Yan Xun's page, Feng Mian. He took Xiaoji and Xiaoba to a safe place, telling them not to run around during this time. As for himself, he naturally intended to rescue the Heir Apparent. Xiao Yu's attendant Yinxin had been secretly observing the movements of the people from Northern Yan. He had tracked Zhong Yu's whereabouts. At this moment, Zhong Yu had already left the city, and she met Dongfang Ji.

For Zhong Yu and others to rescue the Heir Apparent with their strength alone would be like moths flying into a flame. Dongfang Ji, with a sanctimonious look, advised her to think twice. Zhong Yu narrowed her eyes, watching Dongfang Ji's retreating figure, lost in thought. Yuwen Huai went to Heaven Prison, intent on killing Chu Qiao. But Heaven Prison was not a place where he could do as he pleased. Yuwen Huai was unwilling to just leave like that.

Before leaving, he did not forget to threaten Lord Luo, the supervisor of Heaven Prison, to "understand the situation." Lord Luo bowed in agreement and then turned to meet Yuwen Yue. Lord Luo was an upright person and would not let Yuwen Huai act recklessly. However, if Yuwen Huai obtained official documents, it would be difficult for him to obstruct further. Yuwen Yue understood this matter and asked Lord Luo to take good care of Yan Xun.

Inside Heaven Prison, candles blazed brightly. The outside sunlight could not penetrate year-round, making it damp and cold. Chu Qiao woke up on the dried grass covering the floor. She used the small knife hidden in her boot to slowly carve a fist-sized hole in the thick wall. Yan Xun was in the room next to hers. Hearing Chu Qiao call him, Yan Xun slowly crawled over from the corner. Even now, Yan Xun still held beautiful illusions.

He believed his father would definitely not rebel, and when the truth came out, they would be able to leave. Chu Qiao looked at Yan Xun's serious expression. Although she was not optimistic about his words, she still chose to smile and say she believed him. Yan Xun had always promised to give Chu Qiao a better life. Even in the harsh conditions of Heaven Prison, Yan Xun did his best to make her more comfortable.

Heaven Prison was damp and cold, and Yan Xun himself was extremely weak. He was also worried that Chu Qiao would be cold, and insisted on holding her hand to breathe warm air onto it for her. Chu Qiao was touched by Yan Xun's heartwarming gesture and told him her real name was Chu Qiao. Yan Xun grinned and discussed with her that he would call her Ah Chu from then on.

Zhao Xifeng met his elder brother, Zhao Dongting, at the city gate tower. Zhao Dongting had recently been ordered to escort Marquis Northen Settler's wife, Bai Sheng, back to Northern Yan and had just returned. His subordinates suddenly reported that Yan Xun's elder sister, Yan Hongxiao, had escaped at Shili Slope. Zhao Xifeng had always harbored resentment over Chu Qiao cutting off two of his fingers. He held Yan Xun accountable for this.

Upon hearing this news, he volunteered to capture Yan Hongxiao, vowing not to let anyone from Yan Xun's family go. A carriage galloped not far from Shili Slope. Yan Hongxiao clutched her stomach, her face filled with obvious worry. The wind lifted the carriage curtain. Zhao Xifeng effortlessly dealt with the guards escorting Yan Hongxiao. Yan Hongxiao fell from the carriage and struggled to crawl forward, seeking a glimmer of hope.

Having enjoyed her predicament enough, Zhao Xifeng shot an arrow, and Yan Hongxiao, who had just managed to stand up, collapsed dispiritedly. Zhao Xifeng ordered his men to cut off Yan Hongxiao's head and throw the body to feed the wolves. Just as he was gloating, a sharp arrow pierced through the air, directly hitting his mount. Yuwen Yue arrived with his men in a rapid assault. Zhao Xifeng provoked him, saying he most despised sanctimonious people like Yuwen Yue.

If he dared to shoot a "cold arrow" at Yan Xun from behind, then he shouldn't pretend to have deep brotherly affection in front of him. Yuwen Yue disdained explaining himself to irrelevant people. Wielding the Moon Breaking Sword, he thrust it directly towards Zhao Xifeng's throat. Zhao Xifeng cowered and begged for mercy. Just as Yuwen Yue was about to strike, Chief Eunuch Wang from the palace came to summon Yuwen Yue to the palace.

Zhao Xifeng knew he was saved, and the wild complacency in his eyes was undisguised. Seeing this, Yuwen Yue pierced his thigh with a sword. The Emperor urgently summoned Yuwen Yue to the palace, appointing him as the deputy execution supervisor for tomorrow. He was to supervise the execution of the Northern Yan rebels. If Yuwen Yue showed any favoritism, the Emperor would ensure that Qingshan House would cease to exist from then on.

Yuwen Yue accepted the decree and withdrew. At the same time, an eunuch by the Emperor's side reported that Marquis Northen Settler's wife, Bai Sheng, was kneeling outside the grand hall. Inside Heaven Prison, Yan Xun counted the days, believing his father should have arrived by now. Once things were clarified, they would be able to leave. Then he would be able to take Chu Qiao and her two younger sisters back to Northern Yan.

Northern Yan was beautiful; in summer, green pastures were everywhere. Yan Xun smiled as he recalled the days of riding horses across the grasslands with his father and elder siblings; those memories were so beautiful. In winter, their family would move to Huihui Mountain on the Shuobei Plateau. There were many hot springs on the mountaintop. Yan Xun's mother was not in good health, and for most of the year, she lived in the temporary palace beside the hot springs.

His father would always accompany her, their affection very deep. On the land of Northern Yan, there were no 'red gates where wine and meat rot while frozen corpses lie on the road' like in Chang'an. The people there were kind-hearted and lived in happiness and contentment. If Chu Qiao was willing to go back with him, Yan Xun would take her to Xiuli Mountains to ride horses in summer and to the hot spring temporary palace in winter.

His mother was easy to get along with, and Yan Xun believed she would definitely like Chu Qiao. The future Yan Xun described was too beautiful; Chu Qiao couldn't help but be moved to tears, her heart stirred. Chu Qiao tearfully agreed, and Yan Xun reached out his hand, clasping hers tightly. Wei Shuye was inherently kind-hearted. Going against his conscience to arrest Yan Xun had already filled him with immense guilt.

Now, seeing Yan Xun unjustly labeled as a rebel, he was furious. He questioned his uncle, Wei Guang, why this was happening. Wei Guang knew he sympathized with Yan Xun and detested the conflicts between powerful families. But that was how the world was; if they enjoyed the power and prestige of the powerful families, they had to pay the corresponding price. '

The weak are prey to the strong,' and if they did not conform to the greater situation, their Wei clan would be the ones to suffer today. Wei Shuye's eyes reddened, and he refused to believe such a cruel reality. In the imperial princess's bedchamber, Chun'er took out a pair of bell-adorned small shoes and gently stroked them. Her elder brother, Yuan Song, came in, bringing her the latest intelligence.

The Emperor had ordered that today at noon, the people from Northern Yan would be executed at Jiuyou Platform. Meanwhile, Bai Sheng was kneeling outside the grand hall, and the Emperor ignored her. At this moment, Chun'er no longer placed her hopes on Aunt Bai Sheng. She ran out, hugging the box containing the small shoes.

Seeing Aunt Bai Sheng kneeling outside the grand hall, dressed in plain white, her face pale but her eyes resolute, Chun'er felt a pang of heartache, and told her aunt not to worry, that she would definitely save Elder Brother Yan Xun.

Episode 24 Recap

Yuan Chun entered the hall to see the Emperor. She knew that saying anything else at this moment would be useless. Only by playing the emotional card was there a glimmer of hope to soften her Emperor Father's hardened heart. She took out a pair of exquisite small boots. These were given to her by Marquis Northen Settler and Bai Sheng when they sent Yan Xun to the capital as a hostage.

Every stitch on them was personally sewn by Aunt Bai Sheng. Yuan Chun had always been reluctant to wear them, and as a result, over time, her feet grew too big. She still remembered when the Emperor initially ordered the various vassal kings to send their sons as hostages. All other families procrastinated, but only Marquis Northen Settler, without a second thought, sent Yan Xun, fully supporting the Emperor's decision.

She also remembered when Yan Xun was a child, he risked danger to shoot down a small leopard, just to make a leather vest for the Emperor, so he wouldn't be cold when it snowed in winter. Yuan Chun smiled as she recounted these past events, one after another, while the Emperor kept his head down, remaining silent. Time passed minute by minute, every second agonizing people's hearts. The Emperor finally agreed to see Bai Sheng.

Yuan Chun came out and quickly walked to the palace gate. She wanted to do her utmost to save her brother Yan Xun. At the palace gate, people from the imperial princess's chamber were already kneeling everywhere. Noble Consort Wei knew that if Yuan Chun wasn't allowed to see Yan Xun once, she wouldn't give up.

She agreed to let Yuan Chun go see Yan Xun, but on the condition that Yuan Chun must not make any moves that violated her status, otherwise everyone in her chamber would be buried with her for it. Yuan Chun wanted to save Yan Xun but also didn't want the people who grew up with her since childhood to die. She just couldn't understand why things had come to this. The sun slowly moved to the zenith.

Wei Shuyou was ordered to take Yan Xun to Jiuyou Tai to await his fate. As Yan Xun walked past Chu Qiao's cell, Chu Qiao grabbed his leg. Yan Xun told her to stay here obediently, promising to come back for her. Chu Qiao knew he was afraid of implicating her. She insisted on going with Yan Xun.

Two hands, bonded by adversity, clasped tightly together, walking hand in hand towards the Jiuyou Tai, where their lives or deaths were unknown. Yan Xun walked down the Heaven Prison steps one by one. He heard thirty-six tolls of the bell, which was the etiquette for the death of a royal family member. Yan Xun had a guess in his heart; it seemed what was coming could not be avoided.

Chu Qiao followed him firmly; if they couldn't avoid it, then they would face it together. Meanwhile, Noble Consort Wei took Yuan Chun and Yuan Song to a high room, from where they could see Jiuyou Tai from afar. She just wanted her children to know that no matter how noble one's status, once something goes wrong, a blood-stained blade is within an inch of their neck. Preparations were complete on Jiuyou Tai.

The heads of various noble clans and their esteemed descendants were all in place. Yuwen Yue, as the deputy execution supervisor, had to carry out the Emperor's orders even if he was unwilling in his heart. The execution supervisor Yuwen Huai stood on the high platform and read the imperial decree: Marquis Northen Settler is rebellious.

Considering that Yan Xun grew up in the capital since childhood and was not involved in the matter, he is to identify the criminals, and will be given a lenient punishment. Soldiers walked over, carrying boxes containing human heads. Yuwen Huai walked over with the imperial decree and told Yan Xun that everyone else was here, except for him and his mother. Yan Xun's eyes turned fierce.

He refused to accept the decree and desperately struggled to break free from the guards' restraint. With his hands bound, he used his head to knock the imperial decree to the ground. Yuwen Huai had been waiting for this very moment; this way, he could announce that Yan Xun defied the imperial decree, treating him as a rebel.

Among those who used to play with Yan Xun, Zhao Xifeng sat on the high platform watching the show, while Wei Shuye was extremely anxious for Yan Xun, shouting for him to pick up the imperial decree and thank the Emperor for his grace. Wei Shuye knew this was cruel to Yan Xun, but it was the only way to save his life. Noon had arrived, and Yuwen Huai began to call out names.

Yuwen Huai, laughing loudly, held up Marquis Northen Settler's head and showed it to Yan Xun. Yan Xun's anger and hatred reached their limit at this moment. His eyes were full of hatred, his gaze carrying a destructive animosity. Yan Xun broke free from the guards' restraints and desperately tried to break through the encirclement. Guards continuously swarmed him. Yan Xun was alone, his reason drowned by hatred.

He fought bare-handed, relying only on brute force, and was quickly beaten all over, falling to the ground unable to rise. Chu Qiao was suppressed to the side. Seeing Yan Xun injured, she was already in tears, her heart aching intensely.

Episode 25 Recap

Upon seeing his father's head, Yan Xun was already blinded by hatred. In his heart and eyes, there was only one belief: revenge. Even if an iron spear pierced his chest and a sharp sword cut his arm, as long as he still had a breath, Yan Xun continuously advanced towards the boxes containing the heads of his father and siblings.

Just as Yan Xun was about to approach the boxes, a large number of soldiers swarmed forward from all directions. Yuwen Yue raised his hand to signal them to stop. However, Yuwen Huai, who was nearby, had no intention of being soft-hearted; he punched Yan Xun off the high platform. Yan Xun's body, like a decaying duckweed, fell towards the large cauldron. Seeing this, Chu Qiao desperately struggled free from the soldiers holding her.

At the last moment, she leapt and collided with Yan Xun, preventing him from directly hitting the hard bronze cauldron. At the Nine Serenity Ground, Yan Xun refused to accept the imperial decree and refused to kowtow. The surrounding archers were ready. With a command from Yuwen Huai, Yan Xun, who was struggling to get up, was struck by sharp arrows and collapsed to the ground.

Yan Xun had only one belief: to advance towards his family on the high platform. He got up again and again, and was struck by sharp arrows again and again. As long as he had a trace of strength, even if he had to crawl, he would crawl over. The path leading to the high platform was covered with the bodies of soldiers and blood. Yuwen Yue could not bear to watch any longer.

He calmly blocked the archers who were preparing to deliver a fatal blow to Yan Xun, and ordered to skip the autopsy and proceed directly with the execution. How could Yuwen Huai let him have his way? Holding an imperial decree, he firmly objected. Just as both sides were at a stalemate, a firm and resounding female voice shouted, “I will perform the inspection.”

The wife of Marquis Northen Settler, dressed in white with a firm expression, appeared below the Nine Serenity Platform. On that platform were her husband and children; no one was more qualified than her to perform the autopsy. That Bai Sheng could appear here was naturally permitted by the Emperor. Even if Yuwen Huai wanted to completely exterminate Yan Xun, at this moment, he could only obediently stop.

Bai Sheng's eyes were red-rimmed as she walked step by step onto the high platform. Yan Xun's hardened heart crumbled the moment he saw his mother. They all say men do not easily shed tears, but that is only when they haven't reached the point of deepest sorrow. Yan Xun, crying, asked his mother why this was happening.

Bai Sheng told him that this world was simply like this, a world where the strong prey on the weak, like wolves eating rabbits and rabbits eating grass; there was no reason to be found. After comforting her injured son, Bai Sheng turned and walked towards the boxes. She opened the first box; it contained her husband, the Marquis Northen Settler of Northern Yan and Grand Marshal of the Northwest Armies.

The scar on his forehead was left from when he suppressed King Qi's rebellion and charged into the Royal Palace to rescue the Emperor. At that time, Yan Shicheng single-handedly charged into the Royal Palace, carrying the Emperor who was still a Royal Prince, breaking through the palace gates besieged by three thousand soldiers. He ended up covered in injuries and could only get out of bed and walk half a year later.

That year, Yan Shicheng was only seventeen years old. Looking at each scar on Yan Shicheng's head, Bai Sheng spoke sentence by sentence, emphatically narrating the origin of each scar. Yan Shicheng achieved remarkable merits throughout his life; every scar on his body was a mark of him defending his home and country. Back then, the Emperor had high-profilely announced that Great Wei and Northern Yan would coexist or perish together.

Most of the people present were moved by Bai Sheng's words, and many soldiers even shed tears of remorse. Many years passed, the Emperor's oath was blown away by the wind, leaving behind only Yuwen Huai's sharp sword ruthlessly severing Yan Shicheng's head. At the same time, the Emperor in the palace seemed to have a premonition, and his standing body trembled slightly.

It wasn't that he felt no guilt or regret for killing Yan Shicheng, but compared to the majestic imperial power, these feelings seemed insignificant. Noble Consort Wei watched everything happening on the high platform from afar, her face full of pity and sympathy. Regarding Yan Shicheng's family, it wasn't that she didn't want to help, but simply that she was powerless. As for Chun'er, she was already in tears as soon as she saw Yan Xun injured.

After fruitlessly begging her mother-consort, her heart turned to dead ashes and she collapsed to the ground. On the Nine Serenity Platform, even with immense pain in her heart, Bai Sheng still had to continue the autopsy. She opened the boxes one by one, confirming identities. Her sons were all brave and skilled in battle, going to war and killing enemies, never flinching. Such fine men, so young, yet innocently died under schemes and struggles.

Her daughter, Yan Hongxiao, seven months pregnant, bravely rescued her mother, only to be shot dead by Zhao Xifeng's arrow. Bai Sheng finished examining the bodies with tear-filled eyes. She looked up and scanned around; all the soldiers bowed their heads in silence, while the clan aristocrats sat steadily on the high platform, some moved, others showing cynical smiles.

Following Yuwen Yue's command for execution, the boxes containing the heads of Northern Yan's fine sons and daughters were all thrown into the large cremation cauldron. Yan Xun's eyes filled with despair; he got up and rushed towards the cremation cauldron. Bai Sheng forcefully stopped her son, telling him that men of the Yan family shed blood and sweat, but no tears.

After receiving Yuwen Yue's assurance not to harm Yan Xun, Bai Sheng forcefully pushed her son away, then turned and headbutted into the cremation cauldron. Yan Xun was pushed and fell below the high platform. He watched with utter despair as his mother resolutely crashed into the cremation cauldron, her head bleeding profusely, falling to the ground and unable to get up.

Episode 26 Recap

In an instant, on the Jiuyou Platform, the situation shifted dramatically, and thunder suddenly rose. Yan Xun struggled to crawl towards his mother. Bai Sheng weakly caressed her son's face, telling him he must live on, even if barely surviving, he must not give up, for the people of Northern Yan and the departed souls of the Yan family were all waiting for him.

Bai Sheng had originally thought she loved the landscapes of Liang the most, because it was warm like spring there, but now she knew she was wrong. As she lay dying, what flashed before her eyes were all the beautiful sceneries of Northern Yan. A moment later, the imperial decree finally arrived, pardoning Yan Xun from the death penalty. Upon hearing this news, Chun'er fainted in excitement. But Yan Xun seemed not to have heard, immersed in sorrow and despair.

Heaven seemed to sense his sadness, as pouring rain began to fall, and thunder rolled. The corner pillar standing firmly on the high platform suddenly collapsed with a crash, toppling the cremation cauldron that was burning with raging fire. After the eunuch who delivered the decree returned to the palace, he reported what he had seen and heard to the Emperor. The Emperor, already filled with guilt, trembled and almost fell.

At the same time, Chun'er returned to her bedchamber disheartened. She collapsed onto the ground, repeatedly muttering "I'm sorry." Yuwen Yue knew that although the Emperor had temporarily pardoned Yan Xun, Yan Xun was still in danger of his life. He could not prevent the tragedy of the Yan family, but he was determined to protect Yan Xun's life. After the Jiuyou Platform incident, Yan Xun and Chu Qiao were sent back to the prison.

The Emperor's attitude towards Yan Xun was unclear, but various noble clans were eyeing him covetously. Wei Guang of the Wei clan wanted to harm Yan Xun in prison. Wei Shuye wanted to send a warning, but was confined to his home. He had no choice but to entrust someone to send a message to Yuwen Yue, hoping it would be in time. The Wei clan did not intend to fight alone.

Wei Shuyou incited Yuwen Huai and Zhao Xifeng to attack Yan Xun together. But Yuwen Huai was not as brainless as Zhao Xifeng. Yan Xun was someone the Emperor intended to protect; acting rashly would only backfire. However, if Yan Xun were to get out safely, the situation would be even worse, as they were the enemies who had killed his entire family. Yuwen Huai pondered for a moment and decided to seek Xiao Yu's help.

Almost at the same time, Yuwen Yue learned of the movements of various forces. He instructed Yue Qi to ensure the safety of Minister Luo's family, who was in charge of the Heaven Prison. As long as Minister Luo was not threatened, Yan Xun's life would have an extra layer of protection. But it was not enough, Yuwen Yue instructed Yue Qi to prepare horses. Dazzling light streamed in, and Chun'er woke up with a splitting headache.

Ignoring her discomfort, she called her maid Caiwei to help her bathe and change. Chun'er knew that Yan Xun's situation was still not optimistic. Looking across the entire Chang'an city, probably only Yuwen Yue could save him. She had planned to seek help from Yuwen Yue, but unexpectedly, he came to find her first. Night fell, and darkness enveloped the land, concealing all illicit activities within the boundless night.

The major noble clans were hesitant to act for fear of spoiling something, but Xiao Yu was not afraid of escalating the matter. Entering the Heaven Prison was not difficult; there was no need to target Minister Luo's family, wouldn't it be more convenient and quicker to just kill him directly? Moonlight shone through the small window into the prison cell. Yan Xun was too heavily wounded and had been unconscious since being brought in.

Suddenly, a prison guard approached, claiming to be a subordinate of Minister Luo. Minister Luo had once been a subordinate of the Marquis Northen Settler, so it was reasonable for him to show concern for Yan Xun at this time. The person handed Chu Qiao a bowl of hot porridge, saying that hot water and wound medicine would be sent later. Chu Qiao sharp-sightedly noticed some bloodstains on the hem of the person's clothing.

She glanced at the porridge in her hand, and with a flick of her wrist, poured all the porridge onto the ground. A moment later, rats in the cell stole and ate the hot porridge, and quickly died on the ground. The prison guard from earlier was a shadow operative under Xiao Yu. After killing Minister Luo, he broke in to commit violence.

Seeing that Chu Qiao didn't fall for the trick, he revealed his true colors, approaching with a crossbow, intending to strike directly. From his manner of action, Chu Qiao judged that he was not an official; he must be a Jianghu person. Chu Qiao mentioned the Fengyun Order, originally only intending to probe, but unexpectedly, the other party was genuinely interested. It seemed the Fengyun Order was indeed a valuable item that everyone desired.

Chu Qiao calmly approached the prison cell door, and with swift action, applied a chokehold. The shadow operative's eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe he had died like this. On the rooftop, a spy under Xiao Yu secretly watched, and quietly departed after everything was over. At the same time, Yuwen Yue and Chun'er devised a bold plan. Given the current situation, they could only do their best and leave the rest to fate.

Suddenly hearing the news that Minister Luo had been assassinated, Yuwen Yue quickly departed on his horse. At the same time, Zhao Xifeng also received the news and made his move. The two in the prison cell were completely unaware of everything happening outside. Yan Xun remained unconscious. Chu Qiao leaned by his bed, gazing at the prison door. She knew Yan Xun wasn't unable to wake up, but simply didn't want to.

Chu Qiao herself was a maidservant, a slave, but she never gave up. Anything owed to her, she would definitely claim back. The same went for Yan Xun. He carried heavy hatred and the expectations of too many people. None of this allowed him to remain dejected. Yan Xun's heavily scarred hand gripped the straw beneath him. He finally opened his eyes, swearing with hatred and determination to cleanse Great Wei with blood and revitalize Northern Yan.

On this night, various forces were stirring, ready to make their move. Zhong Yu formulated a detailed plan, intending to take action tonight to rescue Heir Apparent Yan Xun. No matter how great the sacrifice, she had to preserve the Marquis's last remaining bloodline in the world.

Episode 27 Recap

Zhong Yu had already arranged three groups of people. After rescuing Yan Xun, they were to rendezvous at Vipin Pavilion on Vermilion Bird Street, then split into three groups and exit the city from the east, west, and north directions. After leaving the city, they would set fire to the city gates to buy time for their escape. The moon was high in the sky, and the cold was biting.

Zhong Yu led her people to the Heaven Prison and found Zhao Xifeng approaching with a team. She immediately changed her plan, intending to act at once. At the same time, Xiao Yu arrived with her people. It was a case of enemies meeting on a narrow road; Zhong Yu and Xiao Yu's people started fighting first, allowing Zhao Xifeng to successfully enter the Heaven Prison.

Seeing Yan Xun lying on a pile of withered grass, scarred and utterly disgraced, Zhao Xifeng almost clapped his hands in glee. Zhao Xifeng had eaten every delicacy imaginable, but he had never suffered a loss. Chu Qiao had injured two of his fingers, and Zhao Xifeng had always remembered it. Yan Xun was now a homeless dog, reviled by everyone.

Zhao Xifeng was not afraid to tell him that the Emperor had actually ordered Yuwen Yue's Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes to keep an eye on Northern Yan, ready to strike at any moment. Yuwen Yue had even called Yan Xun his sworn brother, yet he had not told him such an important matter.

That last arrow that hit Yan Xun when he was escaping was not even shot by Yuwen Yue, but he had spread the news throughout Chang'an city to claim credit. Zhao Xifeng ridiculed Yan Xun to the best of his ability. He wanted to deal with Chu Qiao. Chu Qiao's martial arts were excellent, and the ruffians he brought were no match for her.

However, Yan Xun was too weak, so Zhao Xifeng stepped on him to threaten Chu Qiao, forcing Chu Qiao to surrender. Zhao Xifeng triumphantly wanted to cut off Chu Qiao's fingers for revenge, but Yan Xun would rather cut off his own fingers than see Chu Qiao injured. Watching Yan Xun point the knife at his own finger, Chu Qiao was panicked. She felt that she was not worth Yan Xun doing such a thing.

Yan Xun had his own judgment. He had chosen Chu Qiao, and cutting off a mere finger for her was nothing. With a swift cut, his little finger was severed. Ten fingers are connected to the heart, but Yan Xun endured it without making a sound. No matter how strong Chu Qiao was, she couldn't help but shed tears at this moment.

She felt heartbroken for this man who had lost his family and home, and who had even cut off his finger for her. Outside the Heaven Prison, Zhong Yu's people arrived and told her that the cavalry camp was approaching. They were outnumbered and outmatched, so Zhong Yu had to abandon the rescue attempt. Seeing Zhong Yu leave, Xiao Yu also withdrew.

At the same time, Zhao Xifeng received news that someone was trying to break into the prison and led his people away first. Yuwen Yue rode swiftly to the Heaven Prison. The guards reported everything that had happened there to him. When Yuwen Yue entered, Chu Qiao was tying Yan Xun's hair. Facing his former good brother, Yan Xun couldn't believe he would betray him, verifying word by word the news he had heard from Zhao Xifeng.

Yan Xun asked him if the arrow that hit him on the day of his escape was an Icy Snow Arrow. Yuwen Yue clearly knew that saying yes would make Yan Xun misunderstand that he was the archer, but he still said yes without hesitation. He could not expose that the person behind it was his grandfather, Yuwen Zhuo, who was considered dead in the eyes of outsiders. Yan Xun was heartbroken by their decade-long friendship.

The Emperor had long wanted to move against Northern Yan, yet Yuwen Yue had not said a single word to him. Chu Qiao asked Yuwen Yue if he had stolen the letter Marquis Northen Settler wrote to Yan Xun. Yuwen Yue was surprised she knew about it but did not explain that he did so to help Yan Xun conceal his plan to escape. Dawn gradually broke, and Yuwen Yue left the Heaven Prison.

The Emperor had learned of the fight between the two groups outside the Heaven Prison early in the morning. He had originally planned to send Yuan Song to purge the Marquis Northen Settler's remnants, but this son was too soft-hearted. The Emperor then thought of his seventh son, Yuan Che, who was the most suitable person for the job. Lord Luo had been killed, but the Emperor did not immediately send someone to take over the Heaven Prison.

Chun'er heard her brother Yuan Song mention the matter and couldn't help but her eyes redden, secretly anxious. The Emperor clearly did not truly intend to pardon Yan Xun. His delay in sending someone to replace Lord Luo was a way of telling everyone that the Heaven Prison was an ownerless land. Every night, waves of people attempted to enter the Heaven Prison. Yuwen Yue stood guard not far away, killing anyone who came.

Inside the Heaven Prison, Yan Xun was weak. Chu Qiao asked the jailer if there was anything to eat. The jailer was very polite to her. Yuwen Yue had instructed that Yan Xun and Chu Qiao's food and drink should not be withheld. When Yan Xun received the hot porridge, the first person he thought of was Chu Qiao. One bowl of porridge, shared by two people.

Yan Xun had originally wanted to take Chu Qiao to Northern Yan to live a good life, but he never expected to implicate her in his suffering. Chu Qiao knew Yan Xun blamed himself, but he had already been good enough to her. Chu Qiao would not blame him for anything.

When Yan Xun was the Heir Apparent, she did not think highly of him, and now that he was down and out, Chu Qiao did not look down on him either. She was friends with Yan Xun for who he was, not for his status or background. To comfort Yan Xun, Chu Qiao cheerfully envisioned returning to Northern Yan in the future; she could open a martial arts school, or ride horses in Xiuli Mountains. . .

Listening to Chu Qiao's beautiful visions one by one, Yan Xun smiled faintly, remaining silent. Leaving aside whether they could even get out, even if they did, with the deep blood feud he carried, it would probably be difficult to provide Ah Chu with a stable home in a short time.

Yuwen Yue's beloved pet bird flew in, stood on the prison door, and haughtily called Chu Qiao a fool, then reluctantly called out Xing'er's name before turning and flying away. Yuwen Yue and his beloved bird stood far away, guarding the Heaven Prison securely. From a distance, corpses were already strewn across the ground outside the Heaven Prison. The Emperor had learned early that someone was secretly protecting Yan Xun, but he did not know who it was.

With Marquis Northen Settler dead, someone needed to take over Northern Yan as soon as possible. The Emperor no longer wanted to use the children of Chang'an noble families, fearing another Marquis Northen Settler, Yan Shicheng, would emerge and threaten his imperial power. Based on the recommendation of his confidant, Grand Eunuch Wang, the Emperor planned to send Li Xian, Jiang Wei, and Yang Ye, all from commoner backgrounds, to guard Northern Yan.

At the same time, Yuwen Yue was also guessing the personnel who would be sent to guard Northern Yan. After layers of screening, the three selected were precisely the three recommended by Grand Eunuch Wang to the Emperor. Yuwen Yue immediately told Yue Qi to spread the news and inform Chun'er for an inside-outside coordination.

As long as this news was released, the various clans would definitely try to win over these three in order to seize control of Northern Yan. The situation in Northern Yan was turbulent, urgently requiring someone to guard it. The Emperor had finally gotten rid of Marquis Northen Settler and certainly would not send any more noble family children to Northern Yan.

However, the commoner children recommended by Grand Eunuch Wang were now siding with the major powerful families, greatly angering the Emperor. Yuwen Yue's goal was achieved. He wanted the Emperor to realize that it was impossible to control Northern Yan by bypassing the powerful families, and this was Yan Xun's only chance to survive. Chun'er had grown up in the deep palace and knew little about political schemes, but she was willing to trust Yuwen Yue this once.

Grand Eunuch Wang and the people he recommended were all from Huaibei. To say he had no selfish motives, no one would believe it. Yuwen Yue told Chun'er to use this point to persuade Grand Eunuch Wang to help.

Episode 28 Recap

Yuwen Yue instructed the imperial princess Chun'er to use both carrot and stick on Chief Eunuch Wang, persuading him to recommend Yan Xun to inherit the title of Marquis Northern Settler after the emperor's anger had subsided. With Yan Xun's entire family gone and only him left, he posed no threat and could be confined in Chang'an indefinitely, effectively keeping Northern Yan under the emperor's control.

The emperor didn’t want Northern Yan to fall into the hands of the noble families, and this was the best solution for now. Yuwen Yue had calculated every detail, ultimately carving a path of survival for Yan Xun through thickets of thorns. The emperor’s decision to assign Yuan Song to guard the Heaven Prison had already made his stance clear. When Yuwen Huai received this news, he was furious.

He had hoped the noble families would eliminate Yan Xun, allowing him to reap the benefits, but since Yuwen Yue was going to such lengths for Yan Xun, he shouldn’t blame Yuwen Huai for showing no mercy. Yuwen Yue clearly valued his maid Xing'er greatly—so she would be the perfect target. Yuwen Huai had already prepared an order to extract Chu Qiao from the Heaven Prison, aiming squarely at Yuwen Yue.

Since Yuan Song wouldn’t assume his post until the next day, Yuwen Huai took advantage of the temporary lack of authority in the Heaven Prison to forcibly remove Chu Qiao and take her to his slave penitentiary. Sensing the situation was amiss, the jailer secretly reported to Yuwen Yue. Returning to the slave penitentiary, Yuwen Huai sat high on his platform as before, while Chu Qiao knelt on the ground, disheveled.

By the time Yuwen Yue arrived, this was the scene that greeted him. The fact that Chu Qiao had killed Yuwen Xi was indisputable, and with Yuwen Huai having officials from the Royal Court present, Yuwen Yue couldn’t openly intervene, no matter how much he wanted to save her. This was exactly the effect Yuwen Huai wanted—seeing Yuwen Yue in pain brought him inexplicable joy.

Yuwen Huai gripped Chu Qiao’s throat, studying Yuwen Yue’s expression, hoping to see agony on his face. Yuwen Yue remained expressionless. With a single needle, he struck a critical pressure point on Chu Qiao, causing her to vomit blood and collapse. As he coldly declared that a woman he couldn’t control might as well be dead, Chu Qiao’s gaze at him in her final moments was filled with sorrow and despair.

Since Chu Qiao was still technically a member of Qingshan House, Yuwen Yue had every right to reclaim her body. However, the emperor suddenly summoned him, forcing him to leave for the palace. Before departing, he ordered Yue Qi to take Chu Qiao’s body back and await his return for disposal. Kneeling in the grand hall, Yuwen Yue waited, but the emperor remained silent. As time passed, even his usually impassive face began to show signs of urgency.

The needle had struck Chu Qiao’s Guanyuan acupoint, simulating death, but if she wasn’t revived in time, she would die from obstructed blood flow. The emperor had summoned Yuwen Yue due to reports accusing him of secretly raiding the Heaven Prison—a baseless claim that Yuwen Yue quickly refuted. The emperor expressed his trust but casually proposed transferring control of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes to Yuwen Huai and sending Yuwen Yue to the border for training.

A man like Yuwen Yue had his own principles and was hard to control. While the emperor didn’t distrust him, he had no intention of granting him greater authority. Rushing back to Qingshan House, Yuwen Yue learned that his grandfather’s trusted subordinate Zhan Mou had already discarded Chu Qiao’s body in a mass grave. With only half an hour left, Yuwen Yue was frantic, galloping toward the burial site.

On the way, Xiao Yu intercepted him, but Yuwen Yue struck mercilessly, killing Yin Xin with a single slash to the throat. By the time he broke through and reached the mass grave, he was told that the female corpse in prisoner’s garb had just been cremated. Yuwen Yue ordered the fire extinguished immediately and sifted through the ashes, finding the ring he had once given Chu Qiao.

Remembering her radiant smile when she first received the ring, Yuwen Yue was overwhelmed with grief. He drowned his sorrows in wine, while Yuwen Huai mistakenly assumed his distress was due to losing the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes and gloated. Yuwen Yue took Yuwen Huai to the heart of the network—the Spy Tower. But all Yuwen Huai found were stacks of worthless papers.

What he truly wanted were the secret registers of the Hidden Zong, the assassination manuals of the Killer Zong, the poisons of the Military Zong, and the treasures of the Silver Zong. Yuwen Huai knew nothing of the real Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes. Yuwen Yue casually retrieved a classified document, revealing countless unspeakable secrets of the royal family and noble clans. As Yuwen Yue recited them, Yuwen Huai’s mood soured completely.

He never expected that the network he had schemed so hard to obtain would become a death warrant—so many secrets that only the dead could keep. Yuwen Yue then showed him the tower’s self-destruct mechanism. He had often considered activating it himself, but now, he was free of the burden, leaving the dilemma to Yuwen Huai.

Seeing Yuwen Huai’s growing fear of the true network, Yuwen Yue provoked him further, hinting that the answer to whether Yuwen Xi was his grandfather or biological father also lay within the Spy Tower. Enraged, Yuwen Huai swept the documents off the table and punched the self-destruct mechanism. Traps activated, and flames erupted from the surrounding bronze statues. Yuwen Yue thanked his elder brother lightheartedly for destroying the cage that had confined him for years.

Realizing he had been manipulated, Yuwen Huai staggered out just before the tower exploded, utterly humiliated. When the emperor learned of Yuwen Huai’s destruction of the Spy Tower, he wasn’t particularly shocked. It seemed Yuwen Huai had been thoroughly frightened—hardly someone to rely on. The emperor ordered Yan Xun’s release, confining him to the Yingge Garden.

He knew keeping Yan Xun alive would one day make him a formidable threat, but without him, the other noble families would carve up Northern Yan. For now, the emperor preferred Yan Xun—a lone man with no power. Finally stepping out of the Heaven Prison, Yan Xun wore a plain green robe, his face gaunt, his once-carefree eyes now heavy with solemnity.

Zhong Yu had been waiting outside for a long time, accompanied by a veiled woman—Chu Qiao, who had neither died nor fled after regaining consciousness, choosing instead to return to Yan Xun’s side. The three headed to Yingge Garden, where the conditions were crude, a far cry from Yan Xun’s former life. But what was even more suffocating were the layers of surveillance outside. According to Chu Qiao’s observations, there were at least eighty visible guards—and likely even more hidden ones.

Episode 29 Recap

Walking all the way back to Yingge Garden, Chu Qiao discovered that countless guards, both visible and hidden, had surrounded the entire small courtyard like an iron bucket. Zhong Yu analyzed that Northern Yan was now a land without a master, and many powerful families were eyeing it covetously. With Yan Xun there, they could only watch. If Yan Xun was gone, they would definitely attack together and divide Northern Yan.

Yan Xun was currently in an extremely difficult situation, and the three-year confinement period would be difficult to endure. Yan Xun listened to Chu Qiao and Zhong Yu's analysis without any expression, his eyes becoming more and more profound. It didn't matter which power moved first; he would kill anyone who dared to come. As night fell, Chu Qiao and Yan Xun sat on the corridor chatting.

Yan Xun was very concerned about how Chu Qiao had escaped from Captain Yuwen Huai. Chu Qiao's eyes deepened. She had completely misunderstood Yuwen Yue. She thought Yuwen Yue had killed her first out of fear of being implicated. Afterward, she was sent to the mass burial ground, fortunately rescued by Zhong Yu. The large Yingge Garden only had Yan Xun, Chu Qiao, and Zhong Yu. Chu Qiao and Yan Xun slept in the same room, with only one bed.

Neither of them wanted the other to sleep on the ground. Chu Qiao suggested taking turns guarding the night, so they might sleep more soundly. Chu Qiao was on guard duty in the first half of the night. She gradually leaned against the screen and fell asleep, but her vigilance was still high. As soon as Yan Xun approached, Chu Qiao sharply blocked him, only relaxing when she opened her eyes and saw it was him.

Yan Xun felt sorry for Chu Qiao and picked her up and placed her on the bed, sitting down in Chu Qiao's original position to guard the night. Yan Xun became more and more taciturn. Chu Qiao understood his pressure. She said to Yan Xun, "We survived." No need to say more, they both understood that as long as they were alive, there would be hope.

Chun'er was worried about Yan Xun and couldn't visit him personally, so she could only ask Wei Shuye to take care of Yan Xun for her. If there was an emergency, please notify Yuwen Yue in time. In fact, even if Wei Shuye didn't notify him, Yuwen Yue was always watching Yingge Garden. Yuwen Huai wanted to kill Yan Xun, but his men were intercepted by Yuwen Yue on the way.

If they dared to assassinate, Yuwen Yue dared to intercept. Anyway, they were all shady dealings, and they suffered in silence. No one dared to bring it out into the open. The next morning, Zhong Yu discovered that the water in Yingge Garden had been poisoned. They were in the open, and the enemy was in the dark. There were thousands of ways to harm people, and it was impossible to guard against them.

Zhong Yu suggested that everything they ate and drank should be tested on mice first. Only after the mice were fine for two days could they eat. Chu Qiao frowned. The weather was hot now, and food couldn't be kept for two days at all. Zhong Yu looked grave. She had no choice. Eating spoiled food was better than dying.

The four sisters who had rescued from Heaven Prison with Zhong Yu a few days ago decided to stay and protect Heir Apparent, hoping that one day, Heir Apparent would lead them to avenge their grievances. Zhong Yu was moved by the four sisters' insistence. Since she wanted them to stay, she had to be responsible for them. From now on, they would share life and death.

Another night of undercurrents arrived, and a group of men in black arrived silently. Yan Xun and the other two attacked sharply, each move fatal. The men in black were all dead before the guards protecting Yingge Garden arrived late. Ignoring the bodies on the ground, they asked Yan Xun and the other two to hand over their weapons. The night was not over yet, and they didn't know if there would be a second wave.

Fortunately, last night was a Ping'an night. The men in black last night were sent by Xiao Yu. One got away and escaped back. According to him, one of Yan Xun's maids was ruthless, but used the Yuwen family's martial arts. Xiao Yu had suspected that Chu Qiao was not dead, and this time she finally confirmed her identity. Yuwen Huai and Xiao Yu were in cahoots. The next morning, he and Wei Shuyou went to Yingge Garden.

Wei Shuyou was arrogant and domineering, ordering people to turn Yan Xun's room upside down, scattering things all over the ground. He just wanted to bully Yan Xun openly. A fallen phoenix is not as good as a chicken. Yan Xun was no longer the majestic Heir Apparent he used to be. He could bully him as he pleased. Yuwen Huai mainly came for Chu Qiao this time.

Although Yan Xun kept saying that Chu Qiao was just one of his maids, her face was scratched last night and it was not suitable for seeing people. But what kind of person was Yuwen Huai? He thought that such a reason could fool him? He was simply daydreaming. He directly ordered someone to drag Chu Qiao out of the house, throwing her on the ground without pity.

Seeing that Chu Qiao's face was wrapped in gauze, Yuwen Huai insisted on letting her uncover it to see. Chu Qiao's identity must not be exposed, otherwise, if Yuwen Huai used it to make a big deal out of it, Yan Xun's situation would only become more difficult. Yuwen Huai was unrelenting, and Yan Xun clenched his fists, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. Seeing that the scene was about to get out of control, Chun'er arrived in time.

She was an imperial princess of Great Wei. In front of her, Wei Shuyou and Yuwen Huai had no choice but to obey. Everyone knew that Chun'er liked Yan Xun. She just wanted to support Yan Xun, what could others do to her? Yuwen Huai had been secretly in love with Chun'er. He couldn't bear to see her protecting Yan Xun so much, so he stepped forward to persuade her. Chun'er had always looked down on the vicious Yuwen Huai.

Moreover, he had always been against Yan Xun, so she couldn't help but speak harshly to him, directly forcing Yuwen Huai to leave with a flick of his sleeves. Chun'er happily went into the house. Since the Northern Yan incident, it was the first time she had been so close to Yan Xun. Seeing Yan Xun's serious face and expressionless appearance, Chun'er felt a pang of heartache and just wanted to make him happy.

Chun'er's intentions were good, but she had been simple-minded since she was a child, and she couldn't understand the pain of Yan Xun's family being destroyed. She was the Emperor Father's most beloved imperial princess, also Yan Xun's enemy. Yan Xun looked at Chun'er, who was trying to smile, and didn't want to make things difficult for her because of their many years of friendship.

Yan Xun showed forbearance and told Chun'er to leave quickly while he still had a trace of humanity. Chun'er pretended not to understand his words. Her Emperor Father had been sorry for Yan Xun about Northern Yan, and she wanted to make up for it as much as possible. When Yan Xun heard her mention the Northern Yan incident, the anger in his heart was indescribable. Chun'er tried her best to please Yan Xun, bringing him his favorite pastries.

Seeing her eagerly looking forward to it, Yan Xun finally tasted one. After Chun'er left, Yan Xun looked painful. Zhong Yu discovered that he had been poisoned with three-legged turtle poison. Chun'er wouldn't harm Yan Xun, so someone must have used her. This kind of poison can only be treated with poison. At the moment, a medicine is urgently needed - Toad Venom, but this medicine is generally not available in pharmacies.

Zhong Yu used silver needles to delay Yan Xun's illness, and Chu Qiao went out to find medicine. The night was deep and the dew was heavy. Chu Qiao finally found a pharmacy that had the medicine, but the boss asked for an exorbitant price. Chu Qiao didn't have time to talk nonsense with him, so she directly forced him to hand over the medicine with a knife. Chu Qiao was anxious.

On the way back, she was accidentally discovered by the guards, who punched and kicked her, forcing her to ask why she went out. Chu Qiao silently endured the beating and remained silent. She knew she couldn't fight back, otherwise, if things got out of hand, Yan Xun would be implicated.

Episode 30 Recap

Yan Xun finally woke up after a night of unconsciousness. Seeing the injuries on Chu Qiao's face, he felt heartbroken and guilty. If it weren't for him, with her personality and skills, she wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state, with her face black and blue. Yan Xun drank the hard-won medicine, deeply moved. Yingge Yuan was filled with warmth at this time, while in the Qingshan House on the other side, the atmosphere was extremely somber.

Yuwen Yue had always thought Chu Qiao was dead, feeling guilty and heartbroken. His usually expressionless face was filled with unspeakable sorrow. He walked into the room where Chu Qiao once lived, her image filling his mind. He went to the courtyard to practice sword fighting, practicing the moves he had personally taught Chu Qiao. On the Moon Breaking Sword hung the silver bells he had personally put on Chu Qiao.

Broken bells could be repaired, but a lost person was truly gone forever. Chu Qiao's death had become a wound in Yuwen Yue's heart that ached whenever he thought of it. The weather gradually turned cooler, and the food left in Yingge Yuan for two days was no longer so unpalatable. But Yan Xun knew they couldn't continue like this. Their three people's energy was limited; guarding against thieves for a thousand days would eventually lead to an oversight.

The emperor kept Yan Xun because he didn't want the various powerful clans to meddle with Northern Yan. If he knew that the powerful clans were trying every possible means to eliminate Yan Xun, he would surely find ways to protect him. The problem now was how to let the emperor know about Yan Xun's predicament.

Yuwen Huai was determined to kill Yan Xun, but he couldn't do it himself, after all, Yan Xun was someone the Emperor wanted to protect. Wei Shu You, as the legitimate son of the Wei clan, had always been undervalued. Yuwen Huai used this to provoke him, saying that killing Yan Xun would be helping the Emperor relieve his worries. This way, would his father Wei Guang still fail to see his merits?

Wei Shu You believed Yuwen Huai's words and couldn't wait to prepare people to assassinate Yan Xun. Yuwen Huai's tactic of using another to commit murder was brilliant. That night, Wei Shu You gathered a group of men and brazenly attempted to assassinate Yan Xun. He thought that a large number of people would ensure success, but he severely underestimated Yan Xun.

In a short while, the men brought by Wei Shu You had all been dealt with by Yan Xun and his two companions. Wei Shu You was forced to enter the fray, but how could his amateurish skills be a match for Yan Xun? After a few moves, Wei Shu You had already fallen to the ground, unable to get up. Just then, the guards of Yingge Yuan suddenly entered.

Chu Qiao and Zhong Yu saw the situation and hid inside the house, while Yan Xun was taken away. It was uncertain what would happen to Yan Xun now; the Emperor was fickle and easily instigated, making the situation extremely unfavorable for Yan Xun. Chu Qiao suddenly remembered someone—Princess Chun'er. She should be able to save Yan Xun's life in a crisis.

Zhong Yu bribed the gate guards to pass on the news of Yan Xun's abduction and their plan to Chun'er. After hearing this, Chun'er rushed to make arrangements. Meanwhile, upon learning of Wei Shu You's failure, Yuwen Huai sent Zhu Si Liu to secretly transport and bury the assassins' bodies. Chu Qiao quietly appeared in the alley, intercepting Yuwen Huai's men. Moments later, the guards dispatched by Chun'er arrived and took over the assassins' bodies.

As soon as Zhu Si Liu realized his failure, before he could make any further moves, he was pierced by a sudden silver needle and fell to the ground, unconscious. Yuwen Yue had arrived with his men. Yan Xun's incident caused a big commotion, and the Emperor interrogated him overnight. Yan Xun and Wei Shu You each presented their side of the story.

Wei Shu You claimed that Yan Xun tried to escape and that he was merely fulfilling his duty but got injured. Yuwen Huai chimed in at the right moment, producing the testimony of the Yingge Yuan guards to prove Wei Shu You's words were true. Yan Xun appropriately feigned weakness, and Noble Consort Wei spoke on his behalf. But Yuwen Huai was relentless, vowing to corner Yan Xun.

Yuwen Huai dared to be so audacious because he relied on Zhu Si Liu having already disposed of the bodies. But he didn't know that the bodies had already been taken by Chun'er. Yuwen Huai originally had victory in his grasp, but Chun'er suddenly rushed over, stating that there were assassin bodies as evidence, proving that Yan Xun's words were true. The assassins were house slaves Wei Shu You often kept by his side, and many people had seen them.

Yuwen Huai, with his silver tongue, insisted that these people were spies that the late Marquis Northen Settler had planted in the homes of powerful nobles long ago. No matter how resourceful Yuwen Huai was, he couldn't fill the pit dug by his incompetent teammate. Wei Shu You often took Wushi Powder, and during the tense confrontation, his addiction flared up. Yan Xun's defense enraged Wei Shu You, who then blurted out the truth without thinking.

Wei Shu You could no longer escape his crimes. Noble Consort Wei knew that Wei Shu You was always easily swayed and provoked. She explained the situation to the Emperor, with implications. At this moment, Yuwen Huai was kneeling on the ground, his heart filled with panic.

Episode 31 Recap

The matter between Yan Xun and Wei Shuyou was clarified. The Emperor ordered Wei Shuyou to be given twenty heavy strokes and confined to his home for two years as punishment. Chun'er felt indignant for Brother Yan Xun, but her imperial concubine mother secretly shook her head as a signal. Even if she was unwilling, she could only swallow her opposing words. After leaving the main hall, Chun'er and Yan Xun walked together.

Yan Xun was injured, and Chun'er couldn't get justice for him, but she could give him the greatest care. She had prepared excellent wound medicine, but Yan Xun did not accept her kindness. Chun'er's hand, holding the medicine bottle, awkwardly paused in mid-air, making her feel helpless. Seeing Yuwen Huai approach, Chun'er sternly warned him not to harm Brother Yan Xun again. Yuwen Huai had long seen that Yan Xun did not like Chun'er.

He reminded Chun'er not to help the wrong person, lest she end up heartbroken. Yan Xun safely returned to Yingge Courtyard. Chu Qiao and Zhong Yu's anxious hearts finally relaxed. Zhong Yu heard about the Emperor's punishment for Wei Shuyou and couldn't help but frown, thinking it was too hasty. In fact, the Emperor's actions were understandable. If the punishment were severe, the powerful clans would not dare to act against Yan Xun in the future.

The Emperor merely wanted to use Yan Xun to control Northern Yan. An Yan Xun whose fate hung by a thread made him feel more at ease than a secure Yan Xun. Returning to the room, Yan Xun discovered that Chu Qiao was injured. It didn't matter how severe his own injuries were, but he couldn't bear to see Chu Qiao suffer even the slightest harm. He turned to go find Chun'er for medicine.

Chu Qiao held him tightly, reminding him that countless assassins were lurking outside. They had barely survived, and they had to endure. Yuwen Yue went to see the grand madam of Household Three at Hongshan House to inquire about the truth of his mother's death years ago. Yuwen Huai was not there, and the guards dared not let Yuwen Yue enter.

The two sides confronted each other for a moment, and the Yue Spies and the Hongshan House guards broke into a fight. Yuwen Yue then walked into Hongshan House. The secret chamber was full of traps. Relying on his years of experience as a spy, Yuwen Yue entered the inner chamber with surprising ease. Yuwen Yue held a dress in his hand, one his mother had worn when she went to the Bliss Chamber.

At that time, everyone said it was a peony skirt worn by the lowest-ranking concubines. However, two months ago, when Yuwen Yue obtained this dress at the Bliss Chamber, he discovered that it was actually a peony flower dress worn by the main wife. Peony and herbaceous peony were inherently similar; this dress had been deliberately stained, and his mother had been framed and implicated with Yuwen Xi because of it.

The grand madam of Household Three was paralyzed in both legs and had been confined in this dark, sunless secret chamber. She was originally the daughter of the Xie family from Wuyi Alley in the Southern Dynasty, and she was Yuwen Yue's mother's paternal aunt. That night, Yuwen Yue's mother came to visit her. Happy, the two drank some wine. Yuwen Yue's mother, unable to hold her liquor, became drunk and had to stay overnight at Hongshan House.

The grand madam of Household Three knew Yuwen Xi's character. To protect her niece, she specifically had her change into her own dress and entered the secret chamber together. But she never expected to still suffer at Yuwen Xi's cruel hands. She had been confined there for a full sixteen years, isolated from the world, attended only by two mute maids.

The reason Yuwen Xi did not kill her was because she possessed evidence of Yuwen Xi's private communication with Liang. Yuwen Huai returned to Hongshan House and found his people dead all over the courtyard. Yuwen Yue stood leisurely on the steps. Yuwen Huai's eyes turned fierce; if Yuwen Yue dared to provoke him, he would make Qingshan House run red with blood.

Yuwen Yue ignored Yuwen Huai's threat and told him that he had taken the grand madam of Household Three away. If he was not afraid of the unspeakable secrets of Household Three being exposed, then he was welcome to try. Yuwen Huai was not afraid of family scandals being exposed, but Yuwen Yue also possessed evidence of his private communication with Liang, which was equivalent to holding his lifeline. Yuwen Huai had no choice but to yield.

Yuwen Yue wanted exactly this effect. The Emperor had sent him to guard the scorching, sand-blown border, while Yuwen Huai took every advantage, comfortably enjoying his leisure in Chang'an. This made Yuwen Yue, who never suffered losses, very uncomfortable. He gave Yuwen Huai three days to report to the Emperor and request to guard the imperial tombs; otherwise, he would send him to keep Yuwen Xi company.

Although Yuwen Yue spoke so arrogantly, what he truly thought was merely that he did not want Yuwen Huai to remain in Chang'an and cause trouble for Yan Xun. Yuwen Huai had finally achieved a comfortable and successful position, but now Yuwen Yue had him in a difficult situation, which made him very displeased. However, with his lifeline seized, he had no choice.

At the same time, Noble Consort Wei received the news that the grand madam of Household Three from the Yuwen family had moved to Qingshan House. She smiled knowingly, finally understanding the reason why Yuwen Huai was going to guard the imperial tombs. After Wei Shuyou's assassination attempt on Yan Xun, the Emperor finally took the safety of Yingge Courtyard seriously.

He replaced the guards with a capable group and also allowed everyone except Yan Xun free access to Yingge Courtyard. Yuan Song entrusted the Guard Commander to bring Yan Xun's former personal Jian, saying it was being returned to its rightful owner. After the Guard Commander left, Zhong Yu smiled happily. It seemed the intelligence report that Yuwen Yue and Yuwen Huai were about to leave Chang'an was true, and the Yuwen family would not cause trouble for now.

While it was certainly gratifying to be rid of the formidable threat of Yuwen Huai, they were still in a perilous place and could not relax their vigilance. A-Jing, the son of General Menghe, a Northern Yan general, came to Yingge Courtyard. His father had died in battle on the Northern Yan battlefield and, before his death, had told A-Jing to seek refuge with Yan Xun. A-Jing was honest and loyal, so Yan Xun kept him as his personal guard.

Under the hazy moonlight, Chu Qiao and Yan Xun buried a jar of wine together. Three years would pass quickly, and they needed to make some preparations in advance, hoping that they could drink heartily from the wine buried today when the time came. Time flew by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the day Yuwen Yue was to leave Chang'an. He prepared a cenotaph for Chu Qiao.

Standing before Chu Qiao's tomb, Yuwen Yue's mind flashed with every little detail of their time together. Chu Qiao's voice, appearance, and smile were deeply etched in his mind. Placing the Broken Rainbow Jian before her tomb, Yuwen Yue turned and left. Before leaving, he instructed Yue Qi to look after Yan Xun. Dongfang Ji abandoned the Marquis Northen Settler and placed his hopes on Yuan Che, the Seventh Royal Prince, Prince Xiang of Great Wei.

Yuwen Yue's destination for this journey was precisely Yuan Che's military camp. Yuan Che had guarded the border for many years and his impression of the clan disciples in Chang'an was that they were dissolute young men with no real talent or learning. Yuwen Yue rode at top speed and finally arrived at Yuan Che's large camp.

Yuan Che did not beat around the bush; he stated directly that he would not hand over his troops to Yuwen Yue, but he also did not object to Yuwen Yue forming his own forces. Yuan Che tossed his token to him, telling him to use it to recruit soldiers. Whether he could recruit anyone would depend on Yuwen Yue's ability. Chu Qiao paid respects to her brothers and sisters.

Unexpectedly, next to their tomb, she saw the tombstone Yuwen Yue had erected for her. Standing before the tombstone, Chu Qiao recalled scenes of Yuwen Yue training her and caring for her, but she also could not forget the fact that he cruelly tried to kill her. Yuwen Yue's Xing'er was dead; the one alive now was Chu Qiao. Before leaving, she took the Broken Rainbow Jian that had been placed before the tomb.

Episode 32 Recap

Time flies like a white steed flashing past a narrow crevice; a year passed in the blink of an eye. During this year, Chu Qiao ran around for Yan Xun, preparing for their return to Northern Yan. Yan Xun also diligently practiced martial arts day and night, waiting for the moment to return to Northern Yan. At the same time, Yuwen Yue had also stayed at the border for a year.

He had completely transformed from a noble Mister of a powerful clan into a general guarding the frontier. On this day, Yuwen Yue wore a silver battle robe, looking heroic and dashing, but his handsome face bore a solemn expression, and his brows were tightly furrowed. The enemy's sudden attack was very unfavorable for Yuan Che. Yuwen Yue led his small team of only five hundred men, bravely fighting the enemy, vowing to carve a bloody path for Yuan Che.

A war resulted in countless casualties. After successfully repelling the enemy, Yuwen Yue and Yuan Che stood on a high platform, overlooking the land. After a year, Yuan Che had come to view Yuwen Yue with new respect. He knew that Yuwen Yue possessed true talent and learning. The border was not his battlefield; as the heir to the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes, Yuwen Yue should return to Chang'an.

Now, spies from Liang were active frequently, which was very disadvantageous to Great Wei, and it was also time for Yuwen Yue to return. In the new year, it was time for Imperial Princess Chun'er's birthday again. No matter how lively the banquet, without her beloved Brother Yan Xun, it felt dull and tasteless. Chun'er left behind a group of people who came to celebrate her birthday and specifically went to Yingge Garden to find Yan Xun.

She still remembered how kind Yan Xun was to her when she was a child, but after growing up, he was not as good to her as he was in childhood. Chun'er couldn't understand why, but even so, she still liked Brother Yan Xun, and had for over a decade. Yan Xun took out a gift he had prepared in advance. Chun'er opened the box and was happy and touched to see the gift.

This was the tail of her rabbit, Huanhuan. This rabbit was snatched from Yan Xun's hands, and she cherished it especially. But a few days ago, Huanhuan accidentally bit her, and was beaten to death by Noble Consort Wei. At this moment, seeing Yan Xun specifically cut off Huanhuan's tail as a gift for her, Chun'er was deeply moved. It seemed Brother Yan Xun still had her in his heart.

After Chun'er left, Yan Xun immediately took off the outer garment she had touched and had A Jing take it to be burned. Once upon a time, the upright and straightforward Yan Xun had transformed into his current self, deep in thought and cunning, presenting one facade while hiding another. Yan Xun's three-year period of imprisonment was about to end.

Wu Daoya, a former subordinate of Marquis Northen Settler, was recruiting soldiers and horses in Northern Yan to prepare for Yan Xun's return, and had also made deployments in Chang'an. Zhong Yu told Yan Xun these messages. These were matters of life and death. Zhong Yu hoped Yan Xun would not tell Chu Qiao; she did not trust Chu Qiao enough. But Yan Xun clearly did not think so. He trusted Chu Qiao enough and had nothing to hide.

Chu Qiao was ingenious. She crafted divine weapons, a three-link crossbow, specifically modified according to the terrain of Yingge Courtyard, with immense power. She had always dedicated herself to researching traps and weapons, intending to help Yan Xun. Wei Shuyou, who was confined for two years for attempting to assassinate Yan Xun, was finally released. Not only did he show no remorse, but he even wanted to cause trouble for Yan Xun.

But the current Yan Xun was no longer the weak and destitute Heir Apparent who was at the mercy of others two years ago. Wei Shuyou was asking for trouble. Wei Shuyou had made some progress this time, not appearing in person. The assassins he sent were all killed by Yan Xun and his people. This time, he got off easy. There were still three months until the three-year term expired.

The various powerful clans would not allow Yan Xun to return safely to Northern Yan. Rather than passively taking a beating, it would be better to take the initiative and attack. However, this would mean Yan Xun and his group would have to deal with the three powerful clans—Yuwen, Zhao, and Wei—simultaneously. Chu Qiao pondered for a moment and thought of the late Emperor's imperial tomb.

Yuwen Huai was in charge of guarding the imperial tomb, the Zhao family was responsible for its construction, and the Wei family provided the building materials. If the imperial tomb were stolen, none of the three powerful clans could escape responsibility. Yuwen Huai had guarded the imperial tomb for nearly three years. Given his personality, he would certainly not wholeheartedly perform night duty guarding the tomb, which gave Chu Qiao an opportunity to act.

Night fell, and a thin mist spread, perfectly suitable for action. Chu Qiao and Zhong Yu, dressed in neat night clothes, quietly entered the imperial tomb. Upon entering, Chu Qiao discovered that groundwater was seeping in. This could be greatly exploited. Just imagine: the late Emperor's imperial tomb robbed, treasures sold off, and the late Emperor's coffin even soaked by seeping groundwater. What kind of frantic things would the filial Emperor do? Let's wait and see.

Plans couldn't keep up with changes. Chu Qiao and Zhong Yu were just about to take the imperial tomb treasures when they suddenly heard footsteps. The two split up. Zhong Yu set a fire, and Chu Qiao lured away the person who came. The person was highly skilled in martial arts, and Chu Qiao only managed to escape after several maneuvers. No sooner had Chu Qiao and Zhong Yu left than Yuwen Yue chased out from the tomb.

Only when he reached a clear spot did he realize that what he held in his hand was the Canhong sword, whereas he had clearly taken the Moon Breaking Sword when he entered. They must have mistakenly picked up each other's swords during the previous fight. Not long ago, Yuwen Yue returned to Chang'an with Prince Xiang Yuan Che. He had not expected such a surprising discovery while exploring the imperial tomb tonight.

It must have been Chu Qiao who fought him just now. Yuan Che had previously been depressed about being out of favor and banished by his Emperor Father to the border to fend for himself. Now, years of military life had broadened his mind and made his thinking more open. Rather than a life of deception and intrigue in Chang'an, he preferred the exhilaration of galloping on the battlefield and defending his homeland.

The Emperor summoned Yuwen Yue and Yuan Che. This time, they had defeated a strong enemy with fewer numbers, and the Emperor was very pleased. He specifically appointed Yuwen Yue as the Deputy Commander of the Valiant Cavalry Battalion, to continue assisting Yuan Che and serving the nation loyally. The Emperor also summoned Yan Xun. The three-year period was almost up, and the Emperor wanted to probe Yan Xun's true intentions.

Yan Xun had handled things flawlessly over the past three years. The Emperor relaxed his guard and bestowed upon him a jade pendant that allowed him to move freely in Chang'an, as a reward. Envoys from Rouran were soon to arrive at court. The Emperor planned to host a hunting expedition in the suburbs. Upon Yuan Che's recommendation, the Emperor entrusted the task of guarding the hunting expedition to Yuwen Yue. Yan Xun stood aside.

Hearing about the hunting expedition, his gaze deepened. From the grand hall, Yuan Che and Yan Xun exchanged a few pleasantries when they suddenly heard a guard report that the imperial tomb had caught fire last night, and the guard, Yuwen Huai, had already been arrested by the Ministry of Justice. Immediately after, the Emperor called Yuan Che back to discuss military power. Only Yuwen Yue and Yan Xun remained in the corridor.

Yuwen Yue, with a hidden meaning, asked if Yan Xun had been well lately, and if Chu Qiao was well. Yan Xun, without any change in expression, told him they were all well.

Episode 33 Recap

The Emperor was naturally suspicious. This time, he specifically called Yuan Che over to discuss military power and the past handling of Yan Shicheng's affairs. On the surface, he claimed to be very at ease with Yuan Che holding military power, but the intelligent Yuan Che knew that his Emperor Father was warning him not to follow in Yan Shicheng's footsteps. In the quiet and elegant small house, Yuwen Yue and Yan Xun sat at the table drinking tea.

Yuwen Yue wanted to explain the misunderstanding from back then. But the tragedy had already occurred, Yan Xun did not want to hear any explanations. He got up to leave, and before he walked out, Yuwen Yue finally asked the question he had always wanted to know: Xing'er is not dead, she has been by your side, right? Although it was a question, his tone was very certain. Yan Xun retorted: Do you want to kill her again?

This sentence pierced Yuwen Yue's heart, hitting the nail on the head. Back in Yingge Yuan, Yan Xun carefully helped Chu Qiao treat a slight scar on her neck. He told Chu Qiao that Yuwen Yue already knew she was not dead. Chu Qiao had already guessed this when she discovered she had taken the wrong sword, but what did it matter? She was Chu Qiao now, not the little maid serving by Yuwen Yue's side.

The bright moon hung high, and the night was deep. After Yuan Che came out of the Royal Palace, he went directly to Qingshan House. For more than two years, he and Yuwen Yue had bravely fought enemies together, sharing life and death, and had come to regard each other as brothers through thick and thin. Yuan Che told Yuwen Yue about the Emperor's praise for him.

After hearing this, Yuwen Yue raised an eyebrow slightly and asked Yuan Che if he believed that the Emperor's words were sincere. Yuan Che sneered, saying that while the Emperor recalled him, he also recalled his arch-rival, the Third Royal Prince, to counterbalance him. What sincerity could there be in the royal family? Yuwen Yue's return this time was a success, and he had befriended Yuan Che, who held real power.

This greatly pleased Yuwen Zhuo, as it seemed the revival of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes was just around the corner. Dongfang Ji returned to Chang'an with Yuan Che. He reminded Yuan Che that killing Yan Xun would be more appropriate; otherwise, letting a tiger return to the mountains would lead to endless troubles. This coincided with Yuan Che's thoughts. Dongfang Ji reminded him to guard against Yuwen Yue causing trouble.

Yuan Che knew Yuwen Yue's deep brotherly affection for Yan Xun and only hoped that he would not betray his trust. Verdant mountains and lush greenery, birds singing and flowers fragrant. At the suburban hunting ground, Yuan Song directed people to set up the area. Seeing Chu Qiao approaching with Yan Xun from afar, Yuan Song's face instantly lit up with a smile, and he galloped over to meet them.

He mysteriously pulled Chu Qiao aside to talk, and walking to a secluded spot, Yuan Song happily told Chu Qiao that in three months, his Emperor Father would grant him permission to establish his own manor and office. By then, he would be able to marry a princess consort, and he would let Chu Qiao come to his manor.

Chu Qiao looked speechless after hearing this, asking what she would do at his manor, become a servant living in brocade clothes and jade articles? These words really hurt Yuan Song's heart; when had he ever treated her as a servant? Chu Qiao had other matters and did not want to say more. She was in a hurry to leave, and Yuan Song looked worried, reminding her to be careful.

Chu Qiao walked into a dense forest and found a rabbit injured, kindly helping it treat its wounds. A domineering voice came, as Zha Ma and Zha Lu, the younger generation of the Batuha family, were having an archery competition, and this rabbit was their prey. Seeing Chu Qiao at this moment, Zha Ma changed her mind, thinking wouldn't shooting a person be more interesting?

She pointed an arrow at Chu Qiao and told her to run fast, and Chu Qiao indeed obediently ran ahead. Seeing an arrow shoot at her feet, Chu Qiao knew that her two legs could never outrun their fine horses. She stopped and said that playing like this was boring. If she were riding a horse and Zha Ma shot at her, wouldn't it be more exciting and prove her archery skills better?

Zha Ma's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she gladly agreed. Chu Qiao got on the horse, hardened her heart, and directly stabbed the horse with a dagger. The horse galloped wildly, and only then did Zha Ma realize she had been tricked, while Chu Qiao had already run almost out of sight. Meanwhile, in Yan Xun's large tent, he received a gift from Yuan Song for Chu Qiao.

The servant boy who delivered the gift specifically stated that Chu Qiao should open it herself. After the servant boy left, Yan Xun approached the gift box, opened it casually, and found it was a piece of high-quality brocade clothing. He was displeased, picked up a cup, tilted his hand, and poured all the remaining water onto the clothes. Yan Xun instructed A-Jing to bring the clothes he planned to give to the imperial princess.

After Chu Qiao returned, Yan Xun gave her the clothes, and at the same time showed her the clothes sent by Yuan Song. Chu Qiao touched it and surprisingly found the clothes were somewhat wet. Connecting this to the clothes Yan Xun had just given her, Chu Qiao smiled faintly; he must have been jealous. Just then, Zha Ma came looking for them, and Yan Xun and Chu Qiao came out.

Seeing Yan Xun, Zha Ma's face was full of scorn, mocking him as a homeless dog. She wanted to teach Chu Qiao a lesson, but how could Yan Xun let her have her way? Not to mention her, even if it were the Emperor, Yan Xun would not let anyone touch a single hair on Chu Qiao. Zha Ma laughed, saying that Northern Yan had another lovesick fool.

Back then, Yan Shicheng offended the Emperor for Bai Sheng and ended up in such a state. Now, Yan Xun offended her for Chu Qiao. It seemed the Yan family was utterly hopeless. Yan Xun adamantly refused to back down. On someone else's territory, Zha Ma had no choice but to temporarily cease, but there were still many days left in the hunt, so there would be plenty of opportunities.

Yuan Che learned of this matter and was curious about who Chu Qiao really was, to be protected so much by Yan Xun. Yuwen Yue knew he couldn't hide it and told him she was a former maid of his. Hearing this, Yuan Che looked thoughtful and noticed that Yuwen Yue's sword had been changed. A grand banquet would be held tonight.

Yan Xun feared Zha Ma would come back to cause trouble, so he asked Chu Qiao to go with him and specifically had her wear the clothes he sent. The news about Chu Qiao had spread widely. Zhao Xifeng knew Chu Qiao was not dead, sneered, and planned with Wei Shuyou to kill her. After Zhao Xifeng left, Wei Shuye reminded Wei Shuyou not to go too far.

Yan Xun had already obtained the Emperor's permission to freely enter and exit Yingge Yuan, and targeting him excessively would only displease the Emperor. The reason Wei Shuye said this was because he still cherished the brotherly bond he had with Yan Xun, but Wei Shuyou was never someone who would listen to advice. The moon quietly climbed into the night sky, and the bonfire was already lit. Chu Qiao, in women's attire, stood gently and charmingly beside Yan Xun.

Yuan Song saw that Chu Qiao was not wearing the clothes he sent, and looked unhappy, telling her to quickly change into the one he sent, as the one she was wearing now did not suit her at all. Perhaps Yuan Song was right, after all, Yan Xun had originally intended to give it to the imperial princess, and it simply didn't match Chu Qiao's style.

At such an occasion, Yan Xun was bound to socialize, while Chu Qiao stood waiting for him. The bright moonlight illuminated the entire hunting ground. The banquet was packed with people, bustling with noise, but Yuwen Yue spotted the person he had longed for day and night in the crowd at a glance. She had clearly dressed up specially today, wearing a splendid dress and with exquisitely styled hair and makeup.

Yuwen Yue walked straight towards her, asking Chu Qiao if she still didn't remember him, wishing so much to hear "I remember" from her lips. After three years, Chu Qiao no longer felt the disappointment and heartache she once did when facing Yuwen Yue, only offering insincere congratulations on his rise to power. Her warm smiles for Yan Xun contrasted with her coldness towards him, which abruptly ignited a spark of anger in Yuwen Yue's heart.

He told Chu Qiao to inform Yan Xun not to cause more trouble, or he would be the first to not let him off. Though he said this, Yuwen Yue actually just didn't want to see anything happen to them.

Episode 34 Recap

Wei Shuyou and Zhao Xifeng stopped Yan Xun to pick a fight. Yan Xun was not to be trifled with. Wei Shuyou couldn't gain an advantage verbally and was angered by him. Fortunately, Wei Shuye stopped him, preventing trouble. Zha Ma put on a grand equestrian show, earning continuous applause and cheers. The Emperor wanted to reward her, and Zha Ma proposed to compete in martial arts with Chu Qiao.

Yan Xun repeatedly declined, but he had little say, and with Wei Shuyou and others pushing for it, the competition was inevitable. Zha Ma had just finished her performance and suggested resting, asking Chu Qiao to first compete with her warrior, Shida. Shida was tall and powerful. Zha Ma didn't really want to rest; she just wanted Shida to teach Chu Qiao a lesson. But unexpectedly, Chu Qiao knocked Shida down with one move and even dared to provoke her.

Zha Ma, left with no choice, proposed an archery contest with Chu Qiao, where each person would shoot three arrows at the other to see who shot more accurately. Zhao Xifeng suggested that Zha Ma use normal arrows, while Chu Qiao use blunt arrows, so that Princess Zha Ma would not be injured, and if Chu Qiao, a mere slave, got injured, it wouldn't matter. Chu Qiao didn't mind; blunt arrows it was.

Chu Qiao and Zha Ma stood on opposite sides, holding their arrows, the air seeming to freeze. Each shot an arrow. Chu Qiao suddenly shifted her body, catching the arrow Zha Ma shot. She then made a sharp turn and shot the arrow back, severing Zha Ma's bowstring with one shot. She casually nocked two more arrows, ready for anything. Seeing the situation, Zha Ma didn't try to be strong and surrendered immediately.

Chu Qiao brought glory to Great Wei, and the Emperor rewarded her with ten thousand taels of gold. Zhao Xifeng then suddenly pointed out that Chu Qiao was originally a slave of Qingshan House, but was now following Yan Xun, and should be considered a runaway slave. By law--he hadn't finished speaking when Yuwen Yue interrupted him.

He reported to the Emperor that he had already prepared the emancipation papers, but was in a hurry to leave the pass three years ago and didn't have time to give them to her. Zhao Xifeng gained no advantage today, but it didn't matter. He and Wei Shuyou had already set up an inescapable trap for Yan Xun; tomorrow would be his demise.

At the same time, Chu Qiao and Yan Xun had also made their arrangements, but it was a pity that Yuwen Huai was the only one missing from their group. Regarding the imperial tomb robbery, Yuwen Huai found a scapegoat, and he himself was demoted three ranks, completely unqualified to attend such a high-level banquet. The sky brightened, and the hunt officially began.

Yan Xun rode his horse into a patch of woods, which was not quite what Zhao Xifeng and others had expected. Their reinforcements hadn't arrived yet, and they were unfamiliar with the woods ahead. But Zhao Xifeng relied on his numerical superiority; even if reinforcements hadn't arrived, it was still a nine-to-one situation, so he wasn't afraid of Yan Xun. However, Wei Shuyou was timid and didn't dare to follow him in.

Yan Xun galloped ahead, with Zhao Xifeng hot on his heels. His strong desire to win made him unaware that his retreat had been quietly cut off, and the men and horses following him had also been secretly dealt with by Chu Qiao. By the time he caught up to Yan Xun, he was left alone. Zhao Xifeng shouted that he would die with Yan Xun.

As he drew his sword, Chu Qiao shot two arrows simultaneously, and Zhao Xifeng fell to the ground. Zhao Xifeng lay disheveled on the ground, looking at Yan Xun's furious eyes. Zhao Xifeng brought up Yan Hongxiao, Yan Xun's sister, who had died by his hand seven months pregnant. The reason he dared to provoke Yan Xun like this was his certainty that Yan Xun feared the Zhao clan and wouldn't do anything to him.

But he underestimated the power of hatred. Yan Xun stabbed Zhao Xifeng to death with a sword, tossing aside the jade pendant the Emperor had given him. After the hunt, only Zhao Xifeng did not return. When he was found, he was already a cold corpse, with a jade pendant beside him. The Emperor caressed the jade pendant, listening to Yan Xun's explanation.

Wei Shuyou insisted that Yan Xun was the murderer, but Yan Xun said he had accidentally lost the jade pendant, and that Wei Shuyou had previously argued with him, so perhaps he killed Zhao Xifeng to frame him out of revenge. Listening only to Yan Xun and Wei Shuyou's one-sided accounts, it was impossible to determine the killer. The Emperor sent Yuwen Yue to investigate the matter.

As the matter was far-reaching, Yuwen Yue requested that Prince Xiang and Prince Yu lead the investigation. Yuan Song never knew how to handle such affairs, so the matter was entrusted to Prince Xiang Yuan Che to lead the investigation. Yuwen Yue discovered that Zhao Xifeng and his three attendants had all died from spiral arrows. The arrowheads of spiral arrows were very special and had always been Wei Shuyou's exclusive arrows.

Yuan Che questioned Wei Shuyou, who admitted to habitually using spiral arrows, but he also cleverly left himself an out, stating that while spiral arrows were difficult to forge, it was not impossible for someone with malicious intent to imitate them. On the day of the hunt, Wei Shuyou went out with Zhao Xifeng, but only he returned, and Zhao Xifeng died from spiral arrows. Yuan Che brought people to inspect Wei Shuyou's residence.

Wei Shuyou appeared composed, confident that nothing would be found. So, when Yuan Che discovered the Northern Yan military preparation maps in a box, Wei Shuyou was completely dumbfounded. Subsequently, in the solemn and majestic great hall, Yan Xun and Wei Shuyou knelt below. Yan Xun accused Wei Shuyou of killing Zhao Xifeng and framing him, and furthermore, the Wei clan had repeatedly sent people to break into Yinggeyuan to assassinate him. Now, coupled with the Northern Yan military preparation maps personally searched out by Yuan Che, the Wei clan's ambition towards Northern Yan was clearly revealed, and Wei Shuyou was speechless.

Episode 35 Recap

No matter how much Wei Shuyou argued, the evidence of his killing Zhao Xifeng was conclusive. Seeing that the emperor did not intend to show mercy, Wei Guang, in order to preserve the family's interests, picked up the spiral arrow from the ground and personally stabbed his son to death. The emperor ordered Wei Shuyou's corpse to be exposed for three days as a warning to all.

Yan Xun walked on the road leaving the palace, recalling the entire process of how he designed the killing of Zhao Xifeng and framed Wei Shuyou. He personally killed Zhao Xifeng, and Chu Qiao then placed the Northern Yan military readiness map into Wei Shuyou's camp tent. They cooperated seamlessly, leaving no flaws. However, this was only the first step of Yan Xun's revenge. Wei Guang personally killed his son.

He was cold and merciless in front of others, but behind closed doors, he could no longer pretend to be indifferent, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Wei Guang had marked down Yan Xun's grudge. As the sun hid in the clouds, about to quietly set, in the distance were green mountains and verdant slopes, and the hillside was covered with lush green grass.

Zhong Yu and Wu Daoya sat on the grass, gazing at the faint twilight in the distance. Wu Daoya was once an important minister under the Marquis Northen Settler. He was skilled in strategy and planning. After the Marquis Northen Settler's death, he had been actively preparing for Yan Xun's return to Northern Yan. He reminded Zhong Yu that the Wei clan would never give up.

In moments of crisis, they must protect Yan Xun's life even if it meant sacrificing all their internal contacts on Vermilion Bird Street. Zhong Yu's expression was firm, without the slightest hint of retreat. For the Heir Apparent, these sacrifices were all worth it. Wu Daoya reached out and held Zhong Yu's hand. They had always been so deeply connected.

Yan Xun received news from the young attendant Feng Mian that the Wei clan was heavily buying off merchants in Xianyang, a crucial location in Northern Yan, attempting to cut off Northern Yan's economic lifeline without bloodshed. It seemed the Wei clan had to be dealt with. At this moment, Supervisor Zhao from the Royal Palace arrived to convey an imperial decree summoning Chu Qiao to the Royal Palace.

The emperor's intention for this summons was unclear, but if it was fortune, it was not disaster; if it was disaster, it could not be avoided. Chu Qiao followed Supervisor Zhao into the Royal Palace and waited outside the palace hall for the summons. Yuwen Huai suddenly appeared. Seeing Chu Qiao, he was itching with hatred.

Upon seeing Chu Qiao holding a precious sword, he ordered his men to seize Chu Qiao, citing her unauthorized possession of a weapon in the Royal Palace. Chu Qiao naturally would not surrender without a fight, but it was not appropriate to shed blood in the Royal Palace. Her footwork was agile as she dodged, aiming not to harm anyone, but this only put her at a disadvantage, trapping her in a dense encirclement.

At the critical moment, Yuwen Yue suddenly appeared, claiming that what Chu Qiao held was his Moon Breaking Sword. As a dignified Junior Commander of the Cavalry Battalion, it was perfectly proper for him to bring a sword into the Royal Palace. Instead, it was Yuwen Huai who had been demoted three ranks; who allowed him to bring weapons into the Royal Palace privately? Yuwen Huai had originally only entered the Royal Palace to see Chun'er.

He just happened to run into Chu Qiao and decided to make things difficult for her. Now that Yuwen Yue had come to back her up, Yuwen Huai had no choice but to give up. Yuwen Yue led Chu Qiao to an empty, deserted area and coldly told her to return his sword. Chu Qiao was no longer Yuwen Yue's maidservant. She simply disliked Yuwen Yue speaking to her in a commanding tone.

If he wanted the sword, then he should return her sword first. Yuwen Yue mocked her, saying she spoke tough enough. The two immediately started fighting at the slightest disagreement, exchanging swords during the struggle. Chu Qiao wanted the slave liberation document. How could Yuwen Yue give it to her easily? He proposed a condition: Chu Qiao would be his maidservant for one more day in exchange.

If she couldn't get the slave liberation document for another day, Chu Qiao would be controlled by Yuwen Yue. She didn't want to be bound anymore, so she had no choice but to agree. The Emperor had to deal with important matters in the northwest and no longer had time to summon Chu Qiao. Returning to Yingge Pavilion, Chu Qiao said nothing, deliberately piquing Yan Xun's curiosity. Yan Xun was not anxious and just joked with her.

When they had enough fun, Chu Qiao told Yan Xun that the emperor had no time to see her, but she had met Yuwen Yue in the Royal Palace, and she could only retrieve the slave liberation document by being his maidservant for one day. Chu Qiao and Yan Xun had an understanding beforehand that they must not deceive each other, so she honestly told Yan Xun about this matter.

What she had decided, Yan Xun would not obstruct, even if he was unwilling. Early the next morning, Chu Qiao walked into Qingshan House early. After three years, returning to this place full of memories, Chu Qiao saw her former room had been cleaned spotlessly. She recalled the days when Yuwen Yue taught her martial arts hand-in-hand. If not for the subsequent events, they wouldn't be in such a state now.

Yue Qi told Chu Qiao that after she left, Yuwen Yue sent people to clean her room every day. He had clearly been looking forward to her coming, but when she arrived, he didn't treat her well. Yuwen Yue naturally ordered Chu Qiao to serve him tea and pour water. After drinking the tea, he then called Chu Qiao stupid, saying she didn't even use such a good opportunity to poison him.

Yuwen Yue had always called Chu Qiao Xing'er, because Xing'er was his personal maidservant, completely belonging to him. But Chu Qiao always emphasized that her name was Chu Qiao. Chu Qiao was a completely independent identity; this way, she would not exist by depending on anyone, and thus could interact with Yuwen Yue on equal footing. Yuwen Yue missed the days when they practiced sword-fighting together.

Today, returning to the backyard to practice sword-fighting with Chu Qiao, the feeling of the past seemed to have returned. Chu Qiao accidentally stepped on loose gravel and was about to slip. Yuwen Yue quickly moved forward. Chu Qiao instinctively used her sword to block, and the sharp sword tip instantly cut Yuwen Yue's palm. At the same time, he caught Chu Qiao with his other arm.

The two had lunch together, both eyeing a piece of braised pork, neither willing to give way. But it was tough on that piece of meat; it was snatched back and forth between them and accidentally fell to the ground. Chu Qiao continued to guard the plate of meat, not letting Yuwen Yue eat it. Yuwen Yue, having no choice, turned to eat the green bamboo shoots next to him, while Chu Qiao happily ate the meat.

Unexpectedly, they were still at loggerheads in the morning, yet now they could sit together so happily and eat. Night fell in a blink of an eye. Chu Qiao made the bed and went to find Yuwen Yue. Yuwen Yue showed her the Thousand-Soul-Killing Powder. It was refined from the venom of Persian poisonous spiders, and it was said that one drop could kill a thousand people.

This was precisely the poison that Yuwen Yue's grandfather had been poisoned with on the day of his feigned death. At that time, Linxi also suffered from this poison, but there was only one Revival Pill. Linxi was in unbearable pain and asked Yuwen Yue to kill him. Chu Qiao felt indignation for Linxi's innocent death. Yuwen Yue, however, felt pity for her, thinking she shouldn't live only for others—previously for her so-called family, and now for Yan Xun.

Watching Chu Qiao's retreating figure, deep reluctance appeared in Yuwen Yue's eyes. Before Chu Qiao left, Yue Qi explained to her how Yuwen Yue had acted back then, using the needle-pricking method to make her feign death. Chu Qiao instinctively clutched the slave liberation document in her hand and left without hesitation. Returning to Yingge Pavilion, Chu Qiao lay on the bed, holding the Canhong Sword.

Remembering the scene when Yuwen Yue "killed" her, she found it difficult to fall asleep for a long time. She had not expected the truth to be like this. The imperial mausoleum was leaking, and Supervising Minister Wei Guang could not shirk his responsibility. The emperor dispatched Yuwen Yue to thoroughly investigate the matter. Among the stolen items from the imperial mausoleum was an object called the White Jaded Cauldron.

Placed on the imperial mausoleum's feng shui line, it could protect all directions and enhance the nation's fortune, making it extremely important and something that must be recovered. Additionally, the emperor reminded Yuwen Yue to clearly understand his position and not to be confused regarding Yan Xun's affairs.

Episode 36 Recap

Chun'er was worried all day. The three-year period was almost up, and she knew that the Emperor and other powerful clans would not simply let Yan Xun return to Northern Yan. Just then, Yuan Song came over. Chun'er told him that she had come up with a clever plan to save Yan Xun from harm, which was to make him an imperial son-in-law.

Yuan Song smiled, only treating it as a joke, and reminded her that her Emperor Father must not hear this, otherwise he would surely think Yan Xun was unruly. Chun'er clearly didn't think so. Believing it was a good idea, she excitedly went to find her mother, Noble Consort Wei. Noble Consort Wei was embroidering the Auspicious Clouds painting to be used for Chun'er's wedding.

In a while, Crown Prince Xiao Ce of Liang was coming to Chang'an, and the Emperor intended to form a marriage alliance with Liang. Among the imperial princesses of Great Wei, only Chun'er was of marriageable age. But she heard that Xiao Ce was licentious and was not optimistic about the marriage alliance.

Chun'er breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and took the opportunity to tell her mother that she only wanted to marry the one she loved and live a peaceful life. Chun'er had originally come to talk about Yan Xun, but now it seemed it was not a good time. The Emperor wanted to use Yuwen Yue's hand to warn Wei Guang. The Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes had many informants.

Yuwen Zhuo took out a spy token and gave it to Yuwen Yue, saying it was time to activate the agents planted around Wei Guang back then. Wei Guang sent people to carefully investigate the big fire at the imperial mausoleum. Although the fire was large, it didn't burn the interior, and there was serious water seepage inside the underground palace. It was clearly done intentionally. Wei Guang suspected that Yan Xun was behind it.

He sent people to investigate the source of the burial objects on the black market, vowing to put Yan Xun to death once any clues were found. Yan Xun was far more intelligent than his father. Wei Guang sent people to start the investigation from Xianyang. Wei Guang drove everyone out of the room, leaving only Wei Shuye.

Back then, he had done something that could wipe out the entire Wei family: he placed the white Jaded Cauldron, which symbolized the fate of the nation, in Wei Shuye's grandfather's tomb. Wei Shuye was astonished to hear this; it was a matter of beheading and clan extermination. Now, apart from the uncle and nephew, only Liu Shen, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Constructions, knew about this.

As long as they got rid of him, it would be flawless. What Wei Guang didn't know was that this matter had been quietly overheard by two household servants hiding outside the window. They were Yuwen Yue's and Yan Xun's people, respectively. A short while later, both Yuwen Yue and Yan Xun learned of this news. They knew that Liu Shen was the key figure to bring down Wei Guang.

Liu Shen had taken the blame for Yuwen Huai's affairs before, and now he was ready to flee. Looking at the map in front of her, Chu Qiao decided to intercept Liu Shen halfway. At the same time, Yuwen Yue was also looking at the same map. He was determined to get Liu Shen. Wei Shuye had also prepared to kill to silence him. The three parties were dispatched one after another. Wei Shuye's people arrived a step earlier.

Liu Shen's attendants fell one by one, and black-clad assassins holding sharp swords approached him step by step. Chu Qiao suddenly appeared, forcefully joining the battle. She fought against multiple well-trained black-clad assassins while also protecting Liu Shen, and accidentally got a sword cut on her arm. Yuwen Yue finally arrived. He and Chu Qiao joined forces, working together seamlessly, and eliminated the black-clad assassins in no time. Wei Shuye hid to the side.

During their chaotic battle, he quietly followed Liu Shen, who was planning to escape amidst the confusion. Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue discovered Liu Shen was gone and hurried to look for him. In the nick of time, they rescued him from Wei Shuye's sword. Yuwen Yue didn't want to make things difficult for Wei Shuye and let him go. Now only Yuwen Yue, Chu Qiao, and Liu Shen remained. Quiet returned to the forest.

Yuwen Yue discovered Chu Qiao was injured. He forcefully pulled her arm to bandage it for her, and no matter how Chu Qiao struggled, it was useless. Chu Qiao was furious and declared that if Yuwen Yue didn't let go by the count of three, she wouldn't be polite. Yuwen Yue gave an indifferent look and told her to count to a hundred, by which time he would probably be done bandaging.

Liu Shen, standing by, chimed in to support Yuwen Yue, but was knocked unconscious by a palm strike from him. While the two of them were bickering, Liu Shen, the big third wheel, was too undiscerning. Yuwen Yue rightfully wanted to take Liu Shen away, claiming that this was the most reasonable course of action.

He also said that he knew the imperial mausoleum robbery was carried out by Chu Qiao and others, and the reason he hadn't exposed it was all for Chu Qiao. He spoke with deep affection, but Chu Qiao sneered upon hearing him, as if she had heard a huge joke. She probably thought he also wanted to take the opportunity to get rid of Wei Guang. Yuwen Yue didn't want to argue with her; whatever she said was fine.

Since she wanted to know about Wei Guang's affairs, he could also tell her about them. Liu Shen was brought before the Emperor. Wei Guang knew the tide had turned. Noble Consort Wei knelt outside the grand hall, pleading with the Emperor for mercy. Considering that Wei Shuye was not bad-hearted, Yuwen Yue specifically had him accompany him into the palace to testify against Wei Guang.

Only in this way would the Wei family be spared from having their entire clan beheaded. Wei Guang confessed to his wrongdoings without evasion and was sentenced to immediate execution by beheading. Considering Wei Shuye's meritorious report, the Emperor ordered him to take charge of the Wei family. After they left, the Emperor picked up the pearl hairpin on the table, looking thoughtful. It was sent by Noble Consort Wei to persuade him to spare the Wei family.

Noble Consort Wei had always been kind to Yuwen Yue, but today, Yuwen Yue could not help with the Wei family's affairs. Noble Consort Wei was reasonable and did not blame him. She only hoped that Yuwen Yue could look after Wei Shuye more. The Emperor's thoughts were inscrutable. He issued an imperial decree ordering Chu Qiao to become the archery instructor of the Elite Cavalry Camp. Yuan Che was now in charge of the Elite Cavalry Camp. Chu Qiao, being a mere female in a military camp full of men, made Yan Xun somewhat worried about her.

Episode 37 Recap

Chu Qiao knew Yan Xun was worried about her. She smiled and comforted him, asking, isn't it just the Cavalry Camp? She's been through so much over the years, she's never been afraid of anything. Yan Xun knew her thoughts. He is no longer the Yan Xun of three years ago, and he will never let her suffer any grievances. The loud shouts in the military camp echoed through the sky.

Chu Qiao, dressed in a sleek dark blue tight-fitting outfit with her ink-black hair tied high, looked exceptionally heroic and spirited. Chu Qiao was the female drillmaster personally appointed by the Emperor. Yuan Che personally received her. The loyalty Chu Qiao showed by not abandoning Yan Xun during his difficult times greatly impressed Yuan Che. He received a note, and after reading it, he asked Chu Qiao to take up a post in the Xiuli Army.

After Chu Qiao left, Yuan Che immediately called Yuwen Yue. The note just now was written by Yuwen Yue, who hoped Chu Qiao could serve in the Xiuli Army. Most of the people in the Cavalry Camp were Chang'an nobles, all unruly. For Chu Qiao, a woman who had just escaped slavery, to gain a foothold among such a group would probably be harder than ascending to heaven. But the Xiuli Army was different.

They were from Northern Yan and did not contribute to the matter of Marquis Northen Settler, feeling guilty towards Yan Xun. Chu Qiao should not be troubled there. Yuwen Yue considered Chu Qiao so thoroughly. Yuan Che also noticed that Chu Qiao's sword was the Canhong Jian, which perfectly matched Yuwen Yue's Moon Breaking Sword. He teasingly asked Yuwen Yue if he really liked Chu Qiao. Yuwen Yue did not intend to answer this question.

Seeing that Yuan Che had no important matters for him, he turned and left. Chu Qiao searched along the way and happened to see Xiuli Army Junior Commander He Xiao being tied up and bullied by Commander Xue Zhileng. The soldiers knelt on the ground begging for mercy. He Xiao was unyielding with his tough bones. Xue Zhileng used "shaking military morale" as an excuse to execute him.

Just as He Xiao was about to be taken away, Chu Qiao, who had been watching for a long time, suddenly spoke up and said: "Wait." Chu Qiao was just a newly arrived archery instructor. Xue Zhileng was handling his own soldiers and told her not to meddle. Chu Qiao advised him to report the matter to Yuan Che, the commander of the Cavalry Camp.

The person he was about to kill was not an ordinary deputy general, but a general of the Xiuli Army. The Xiuli Army was a heavy troop defending Chang'an, not his Xue Zhileng's private army. Xue Zhileng was speechless, choked by Chu Qiao's words, and unwillingly left with his men. The Xiuli Army all came from Northern Yan. They had been branded with the infamy of ingratitude because they failed to save Marquis Northen Settler three years ago.

He Xiao lay on the bed recuperating from his injuries. His subordinates Ge Qi and Wu Danyu discussed whether they could contact Yan Xun through Chu Qiao to show their loyalty. As they spoke, Chu Qiao knocked and entered. She brought high-quality wound medicine to He Xiao. Thanks to Chu Qiao today, He Xiao was spared. He was curious how Chu Qiao knew him.

Yan Xun was returning to Northern Yan, and Chu Qiao had already thought through all the potential helpers she could secure, and the Xiuli Army was among them. However, she did not tell this to He Xiao and the others. Night fell. In the quiet small forest, He Xiao played the bìlì alone. Chu Qiao came over. He Xiao knew she was someone close to Yan Xun and spoke to her about his private matters.

Since the incident three years ago, they had inexplicably been labeled as traitors. He was expelled from his family by his elder brother, and his wife was killed by bandits because of him. Upon hearing this, Chu Qiao righteously offered to help him avenge. He Xiao saw hope in her. If Yan Xun was willing to trust them, the Xiuli Army could get rid of the traitor's infamy.

In fact, the Xiuli Army also bore some responsibility for being labeled as traitors; they reacted slowly back then, allowing others to exploit the loophole and directly attack the strategic stronghold of Northern Yan. Chu Qiao told him that whether Yan Xun currently believes the Xiuli Army are not traitors is not important. Yan Xun's period of confinement was almost over, and what the Xiuli Army did then would be the most important.

Yan Xun had already made full preparations for leaving Chang'an. They had extensively laid out flammable oil in Chang'an. The path out of Chang'an was bound to be extremely dangerous. They were well prepared, only lacking a suitable opportunity. Yuan Che had grown up beside Noble Consort Wei since childhood and regarded her as his birth mother. Noble Consort Wei did not want to marry Chun'er to Xiao Ce and wanted to arrange her engagement earlier.

She asked Yuan Che to come because she wanted to discuss a suitable candidate with him. Yuan Che came out from Noble Consort Wei's place and happened to meet Chun'er in the imperial garden. He slightly hinted about the engagement to her, giving her a heads-up. Chun'er was concerned about the candidate for the consort. Yuan Che only said it was someone he knew well.

Yan Xun knew Chu Qiao was in the Xiuli Army and decided to go see her. At this time, in the Cavalry Camp, Yuwen Yue was dining with Yuan Che. Yuan Che teased Yuwen Yue about Chu Qiao. Yuwen Yue laughed at him, saying a dignified Royal Prince was so gossipy. Yuan Che reminded him that Chu Qiao and Yan Xun had shared joys and sorrows, and their bond was extraordinary.

Yuwen Yue understood all this in his heart, and hearing it stated so plainly made him feel even worse, but he had already prepared himself psychologically to watch Chu Qiao find happiness from afar. Yuwen Yue stood on the high city wall, gazing into the distance. Where his gaze rested, Yan Xun and Chu Qiao stood. Yan Xun came to see Chu Qiao and thoughtfully prepared hand protection cream for her.

The two talked and laughed, and the atmosphere was excellent. Subsequently, Chu Qiao taught archery on the training ground and personally demonstrated, shooting two arrows at once, both hitting the bullseye. The soldiers applauded continuously. Just then, Yuwen Yue walked over and, seeing the arrows on the target, coldly asked who shot them. Hearing his tone, as if thinking they were shot poorly, Chu Qiao quietly replied that it was her.

Yuwen Yue understood, raised his hand, and also shot two arrows, hitting the bullseye, drawing continuous cheers from the crowd. Yuwen Yue saw that the Xiuli Army's bows and arrows were old and proposed replacing them with a new batch, asking Chu Qiao to follow him to get the token. He said all that just to be alone with her. In Yuwen Yue's room, he sat motionless behind the desk.

Chu Qiao didn't want to waste time with him and asked him to quickly write the token. Yuwen Yue sat there unmoved, saying he couldn't write without grinding the inkstick. Chu Qiao had no choice but to step forward and grind the ink. Yuwen Yue was delighted in his heart, but sarcastically mocked her for contradicting herself, asking who had said just a few days ago that she would never serve him again.

Upon hearing this, Chu Qiao threw down the inkstone and refused to continue. Yuwen Yue knew when to stop, reminding her to stay out of trouble. He said that Yan Xun was planning something too big, and he had already resolved the matter of Wei Guang for them, but only this once. He hoped they would take care of themselves. Noble Consort Wei arranged for Chun'er and Yuwen Yue to eat together, her intention was self-evident.

Chun'er's reluctance was fully expressed on her face. Noble Consort Wei left them alone. Both knew each other's thoughts. Seeing Yuwen Yue looking cold, Chun'er started to joke, asking if he regretted not being able to marry such a beautiful and generous imperial princess like her. Yuwen Yue insincerely played along, saying he regretted it, which completely amused Chun'er.

Episode 38 Recap

Chun'er escorted Yuwen Yue out. Yuwen Yue knew her little scheme to seize the opportunity to leave the Royal Palace and exposed it without mercy. He certainly did not want Noble Consort Wei to think they got along well, and then ask the Emperor to bestow a marriage. This was not the result Chun'er wanted either, so she had to stop in place and watch Yuwen Yue leave the Royal Palace with longing eyes.

Back at the Elite Cavalry Camp, Yuan Che, with a gossipy look, asked how he and Chun'er got along. Yuwen Yue knew from his tone that Yuan Che and Noble Consort Wei were colluding. Yuwen Yue did not want to marry Chun'er simply because of Chu Qiao. Yuan Che advised him to see the facts clearly as soon as possible.

Chu Qiao was indeed a good girl, but how could Yuwen Yue, the son of a dignified Grand Pillar State, the eldest son and legitimate grandson of the Yuwen clan, marry a woman who had been a slave? Furthermore, Chu Qiao had been living with Yan Xun day and night in Yingge Pavilion for three years; as an unchaperoned man and woman, what should have happened must have already happened.

It was absolutely not worth Yuwen Yue doing this for her. Yuwen Yue did not want to hear him continue, and turned to leave. Seeing his indifference, Yuan Che had no choice but to tell him that he did not intend to let Yan Xun leave Chang'an alive. Yan Xun was full of hatred and malice; if he were allowed to leave, Great Wei would never know peace, and Chu Qiao would inevitably be implicated by then.

Yuan Che reminded Yuwen Yue to understand his own identity. The Emperor sent Yuan Che to welcome Crown Prince Xiao Ce of Southern Liang. This was not an easy task. It was said that Xiao Ce would not touch anything that had been handled by a man. Even the vegetables and fruits he ate since childhood were grown on a fertile piece of land cultivated in the Royal Palace by young maidens.

Such incidents were countless; he was not an easy person to deal with. A soldier reported that Xiao Ce was ill and planned to turn back. Moreover, Xiao Ce had stated beforehand that he found Yuan Che, who had just returned from the front lines, had too much malevolence on him, and was unwilling to meet him. Yuan Che had no choice but to send Chu Qiao with a group of people to welcome him.

Chu Qiao and her people waited early on the road Xiao Ce was sure to pass. Xiao Ce's maidservant was arrogant and overbearing, whipping and injuring a soldier. When it came to wielding a whip, Chu Qiao was an expert. With one whip, she forcefully pulled the maidservant sitting on the edge of the carriage directly onto the horse's back. The horse, startled, ran wildly with the carriage. Chu Qiao rode her horse behind.

Suddenly, a man in a red robe with two small braids on his head galloped over on his horse. His face was fair as jade, his features were delicate, comparable to a woman's, and he wore a roguish smile. This was Crown Prince Xiao Ce of Southern Liang. When the two horses were close, Xiao Ce, with a leap, landed on Chu Qiao's horse, then conveniently put his arm around her waist. Chu Qiao hated strangers touching her the most.

After throwing a few punches, she directly threw Xiao Ce off the horse. The Crown Prince, who had just been charming and dashing, fell heavily to the ground, looking disheveled. He lay pitifully on the ground, accusing Chu Qiao of being heartless. With the Crown Prince having been beaten, his maidservant insistently demanded that Yuan Che punish Chu Qiao. After returning, Chu Qiao knew she had caused big trouble and willingly confessed her wrongdoing to Yuan Che.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Che actually praised her for doing a good job. Military people disliked an effeminate troublemaker like Xiao Ce the most. Even if Chu Qiao hadn't made a move, Yuan Che had already planned to give Xiao Ce a good beating. However, the matter of Xiao Ce being beaten could be a big or small matter. Yuan Che gave orders that no one should leak the news, and they should wait to see what move Xiao Ce would make.

Subsequently, Yuan Song, with a look of utter despair, went to complain to Older Brother Qi, Yuan Che. Xiao Ce had tormented him terribly. Yuan Che only cared if Xiao Ce had mentioned being beaten by Chu Qiao. Only then did Yuan Song realize that Xiao Ce's panda eyes were from Chu Qiao's beating, which was truly satisfying. A waft of floral scent drifted over, and Yuan Song caught Xiao Ce's scent.

Two maidservants were seen carrying flower baskets, swaying their slender waists and scattering petals. Xiao Ce then strutted over, walking on a path of petals, and immediately asked where Chu Qiao was. As soon as Chu Qiao came out, his hand naughtily touched her waist. Chu Qiao couldn't hold back and hit Xiao Ce again. Who knew Xiao Ce was into this sort of thing and insisted on Chu Qiao becoming his personal guard to protect his safety.

Xiao Ce was to enter the Royal Palace to meet the Emperor. Chu Qiao rode in the same carriage as him, personally escorted by Yuan Che and Yuan Song. In the luxurious and comfortable carriage, Xiao Ce looked at Chu Qiao with great interest, while Chu Qiao was cold as ice, having no intention of paying him any mind. But she couldn't stand against the Crown Prince's familiarity. After knowing her name was Chu Qiao, he affectionately called her Qiaoqiao.

Seeing Chu Qiao close her eyes to rest, looking unapproachable, Xiao Ce suddenly said his hands were cold and wanted her to warm them up for him. Then his hand gradually reached towards Chu Qiao's chest. Just as he was about to succeed, a pig-like scream came from inside the carriage, and Xiao Ce embarrassingly flew out of the carriage and fell to the ground. However, he was thick-skinned enough.

After getting back into the carriage, he held a medicine bottle and asked Chu Qiao to apply the medicine for him. They finally arrived at the Royal Palace. Two rows of beautiful women stood on both sides of the road to welcome them. Xiao Ce walked through them with Chu Qiao, showing no interest in these common beauties.

Since both countries had the intention of a marriage alliance, the Emperor, to show goodwill, let Xiao Ce choose his marriage alliance partner himself. Xiao Ce excused himself by saying this matter was up to his Emperor Father, but he had taken a liking to someone and hoped the Emperor would grant it. That person was Chu Qiao, standing beside him. Before the Emperor could speak, Consort Lan, whom he had recently ennobled, couldn't sit still.

She excused herself by saying that Chu Qiao was a talented general chosen by the Emperor without sticking to convention, and was not suitable to be given away, hoping Xiao Ce would understand. Chu Qiao returned to the Elite Cavalry Camp. When she saw Yuwen Yue, she pretended not to see him and walked directly past him. She wanted to leave, but Yuwen Yue wouldn't let her.

Chu Qiao asked him in a strong tone if he was trying to cause trouble. With such a sharp tone, Yuwen Yue questioned how she dared to speak to him like that. Chu Qiao felt that this person must have gone crazy. She had almost killed him several times, so speaking like this was not surprising, right? These words somehow struck Yuwen Yue's funny bone. His habitually expressionless face actually showed a clear smile.

Seeing her so audacious now, it seemed she had latched onto Xiao Ce and gained confidence. Chu Qiao mocked him, saying he wasn't bad looking either, and perhaps if he tried a bit harder, Xiao Ce might also notice him. Meanwhile, Consort Lan knelt before the memorial tablet privately set up for Luo He. Luo He had saved her life, which was why she had stopped Xiao Ce today. However, Chu Qiao seemed not to recognize her.

Consort Lan didn't know whether or not she should go see her, as she was pregnant now and had to be cautious in everything she did. Now, both Xiao Ce and Xiao Yu were in Chang'an. As the imperial princess and Crown Prince of Liang, they should meet no matter what. The brother and sister were outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds, constantly engaged in open and covert struggles.

However, they both had a common goal: to instigate a great war between Great Wei and Northern Yan. Whoever accomplished this would gain the appreciation of the Emperor of Liang. Xiao Ce had finally managed to leave Liang. Free from his Emperor Father's restraints, he would definitely make Xiao Yu pay.

Episode 39 Recap

Xiao Yu and Xiao Ce's thoughts coincided surprisingly; both wanted to create some trouble for the other. Xiao Ce looked down on Xiao Yu's ambition, while Xiao Yu had always wanted to eliminate Xiao Ce and have her own brother become the crown prince. In the palace, Lan Shuyi indirectly inquired with the Emperor about Chu Qiao's identity. She wanted to help Chu Qiao, but first, she needed to understand Qing's situation.

The Emperor told her that Chu Qiao was someone close to Yan Xun, and he was also curious as to why Lan'er, who usually paid no attention to matters outside the palace, was interested in Chu Qiao. Lan Shuyi smiled and said that she didn't want to see a good girl like Chu Qiao marry a playboy like Xiao Ce. Speaking of Xiao Ce, the Emperor intended to arrange a marriage between Chun'er and him.

Although Xiao Ce was a bit of a playboy, if Chun'er married him, she would become the mother of a nation in the near future, so the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. The palace maid who was fanning the Emperor immediately told Chun'er about the Emperor's plan to arrange her marriage. Chun'er was alarmed upon hearing this and hurriedly went to the main hall to find her Emperor Father; she didn't want to marry a playboy.

At the same time, the head of the Zhao feudal family was advising the Emperor, saying that the three-year deadline was approaching and they must not let Yan Xun return to Northern Yan, otherwise, the consequences would be endless.

Of course, the Emperor didn't want to let Yan Xun go either, but for the past three years, he had been proclaiming to the world his benevolence towards Yan Xun, saying that he would let him return to Northern Yan when the deadline arrived. He didn't want people to think of him as a ruler who didn't keep his word.

Upon hearing the Emperor's words, the head of the Zhao feudal family came up with a plan, suggesting that they offer Yan Xun benefits that would make him want to stay in Chang'an, keep him there first, and then discuss the matter further. However, it was difficult to determine what benefits would make Yan Xun want to stay. Just then, Chun'er came, begging the Emperor not to marry her to Xiao Ce.

The coincidence of these two events gave the Emperor a good idea that would kill two birds with one stone: he could keep Yan Xun and satisfy Chun'er's wishes. The three-year deadline was approaching, and Yan Xun knew that the Emperor would not let him leave easily, but he didn't know what tricks he would use to stop him. At this time, someone suddenly came from the palace, summoning him to the palace to meet the Emperor.

Yan Xun dropped his guard and went to see the Emperor with an obedient appearance. In the main hall, Chun'er stood beside the Emperor. The Emperor suddenly asked about Yan Xun's age, not knowing what he intended to do. Yan Xun told him that he was twenty-three years old, and the Emperor then said that he was of marriageable age.

And Chun'er and Yan Xun had been childhood sweethearts since they were young, so it would be perfect for them to get married. Yan Xun was surprised by the Emperor's ruthlessness. To keep him, he was willing to bet on Chun'er's marriage. Yan Xun immediately said that his status was not worthy of the noble imperial princess and wanted to reject the marriage.

The Emperor didn't like it when others disobeyed him, so he used Chu Qiao to threaten Yan Xun into submission. It must be said that the Emperor accurately grasped Yan Xun's weakness, forcing him to agree. Chu Qiao was suddenly summoned by Lan Shuyi and was a little confused. When Lan Shuyi saw Chu Qiao, she couldn't help but think of what happened back then.

At that time, Luo He was killed, and she was violated by a group of soldiers while trying to protect Chu Qiao. Lan Shuyi mentioned Luo He, but Chu Qiao didn't react. Hearing Chu Qiao say that she had lost her memory and that her martial arts skills were taught by Yuwen Yue, Lan Shuyi instantly relaxed. She knew that Chu Qiao was telling the truth and wasn't deliberately hiding anything. She had always been grateful for Luo He's kindness.

As long as Chu Qiao didn't know her own background and didn't endanger her child, she would protect Chu Qiao even at the cost of her own life. Lan Shuyi's sudden goodwill confused Chu Qiao. After coming out of her place, she happened to meet Yuan Song. Yuan Song told her that Lan Shuyi was very scheming.

In just three years, she had become the Emperor's most beloved concubine, and she was very likely Yuwen Huai's person, an illegitimate daughter of the Yuwen family who was not on the family tree. Hearing him say this, Chu Qiao was thoughtful. As they were talking, Chun'er and Yan Xun walked around the corner. Chun'er happily told her brother that she was going to marry Yan Xun and that the wedding date was set for ten days later.

The reason for the rush was also because Yan Xun would be returning to Northern Yan soon. Chun'er naively thought that after marriage, she would return to Northern Yan with Yan Xun. She happily asked her brother to come to Northern Yan in the future so she could entertain him well. Chun'er knew that Chu Qiao had been by Yan Xun's side for many years and must know his preferences very well.

She wanted Chu Qiao to enter the palace to help her prepare for her wedding. Yan Xun's face had been very ugly since Chun'er announced that they were getting married in front of Chu Qiao. Now that he saw that she actually wanted Chu Qiao to help prepare for the wedding, Yan Xun quickly walked up and coldly rejected the idea for Chu Qiao. With Yuan Song chiming in, the matter was dropped.

Yuan Song escorted Chu Qiao out of the palace. He thought that Chu Qiao liked Yan Xun and tried his best to comfort her. Chu Qiao's feelings for Yan Xun were not romantic love. She had been by his side because they were the same kind of people. Yuan Song was overjoyed to hear this, thinking that he would have a chance.

Chu Qiao was curious about what love felt like, and Yuan Song told her that liking someone meant that your heart would beat faster when you saw him, and you wouldn't be able to eat or sleep when you couldn't see him; it was like being sick. Chu Qiao was thoughtful, and Yuan Song took her hand, wanting to know what she felt about him. Chu Qiao frowned, and Yuan Song had to give up.

Wei Shuye heard from Chun'er's maid, Caiwei, that Chun'er was about to marry Yan Xun. He felt that this was absurd. Yan Xun was full of hatred; how could he be sincere to Chun'er? He wanted to go to the Emperor immediately to stop this.

Caiwei stopped Wei Shuye, saying that the imperial princess was aware of all the things he was worried about, but she still held a glimmer of hope, fantasizing that Yan Xun could let go of his hatred and be sincere to her. Wei Shuye suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. He was willing to do anything for Chun'er, but he couldn't bear to shatter her self-deceiving fantasy.

After returning, Yan Xun went to see Chu Qiao that night, wanting to explain the wedding matter to her. Chu Qiao naturally knew the hidden secrets behind the marriage. The Emperor was going to make a move against Yan Xun, but sacrificing his own daughter's happiness was too cold-blooded and ruthless. In Yan Xun's opinion, this was not surprising; emperors were inherently ruthless. The Emperor had arranged Chang'an like an iron bucket. If they wanted to escape, disguises wouldn't work.

Only a strong attack could win a glimmer of hope. In this situation, obtaining the defense map of the troops stationed outside the city was of utmost importance. The road back to Northern Yan would be fraught with danger. If they could survive, Yan Xun wanted Chu Qiao to never leave him. Chu Qiao smiled and only said that there was no need to say these things between them.

Yan Xun suddenly received a message carried by a pigeon, saying that it was an old friend of Zhong Yu, inviting them to meet at Zuixian Restaurant. The person who invited them was Xiao Yu, who was looking for Yan Xun to discuss cooperation.

Episode 40 Recap

Xiao Yu had previously stopped Zhong Yu from rescuing Yan Xun many times. She said she wanted to cooperate, but Zhong Yu was skeptical. Times had changed; at first, Xiao Yu made things difficult for Yan Xun because she wanted to instigate a civil war between Great Wei and Northern Yan. Now that Yan Xun was trapped in Chang'an and unable to leave, a civil war couldn't start, so how could she reap the benefits?

From this perspective, some of Xiao Yu's and Yan Xun's goals aligned, and the prerequisites for cooperation were already met, making their alliance logical. Chun'er happily prepared for her wedding, but Yan Xun didn't even look at the guest list she drew up. Her maid Caiwei felt it was unfair to her. Chun'er, of course, knew that Yan Xun was not marrying her out of true affection now, but she believed he still had feelings for her.

After they got married, with the passage of time, Brother Yan Xun would definitely realize how good she was. Noble Consort Wei came to Chun'er's palace and immediately slapped her. Noble Consort Wei could not understand why her daughter was so foolish. Her Emperor Father had killed Yan Xun's entire family, so how could Yan Xun be sincere with her? How would she manage once she married him? Chun'er did not want to consider any of this.

Marrying Yan Xun was her childhood dream, and now that dream was about to come true, no one could stop her. Chun'er was determined to protect Yan Xun, thinking that if he became the imperial son-in-law, no one, not even her Emperor Father, could harm him. Noble Consort Wei was surprised by her daughter's innocence and naiveté, and could not bear to shatter her beautiful fantasy.

So be it, she only hoped her daughter would not regret today's decision in the future. On the vast training ground, only Chu Qiao was practicing archery. The day to leave the city was getting closer, and she was restless, frequently making mistakes while shooting. Yuwen Yue walked over and mocked her, saying she had lost both the wife and the soldiers, having accompanied Yan Xun for three years in vain, only for him to marry someone else now.

Chu Qiao was not in the mood to argue with him at the moment. They were going to escape Chang'an, and Yuwen Yue couldn't possibly be unaware. The Yuwen family was a Great Wei noble family, and Yuwen Yue held a position in the imperial court, so it was fine if he didn't help. But if he tried to stop them, Chu Qiao did not know what she would do.

Yuwen Yue warned her not to even think about disturbing Chang'an; if Chang'an fell into chaos, he would certainly have to intervene. Yu Wenhuai had coincidentally saved Lan Shuyi back then, intending to send her into the palace as an informant. Now that Lan Shuyi had gained power, she actually turned against him and disowned him. Yu Wenhuai's eyes turned fierce, clearly plotting something.

In the serious and orderly military camp, Xiao Ce held a bouquet of vibrant flowers, trailing behind Chu Qiao to flirt with her, rambling on and on, annoyingly persistent. Chu Qiao could no longer tolerate it.

She hated how Xiao Ce wore flamboyant clothes and constantly swayed in front of her, hated how he feigned madness and idiocy to fool everyone all day, and hated his foxy eyes and his sweet talk hiding treachery, as if he feared the world would not fall into chaos. Xiao Ce continued to pester, but Chu Qiao, with a raise of her hand, knocked him to the ground. Yuwen Yue happened to come over.

Xiao Ce's maid was relentless, insisting that he punish Chu Qiao. Yuwen Yue, of course, would not make things difficult for Chu Qiao. Neither would Xiao Ce; he got up from the ground without a care, insisted he had fallen himself, and then, as if nothing had happened, ran to Chu Qiao, vigorously inviting her for an outing.

He said there were too many soldiers outside the city, and they had made the air stink, so it would be great if Chu Qiao could go. Hearing him mention outside the city, Chu Qiao thought it would be a good opportunity to get a map of the troop deployment outside the city. They went to Xiaoguan, where the forest was dense. Xiao Ce and Chu Qiao each rode a fine horse along the forest path.

Chu Qiao suggested going to the hunting grounds, but Xiao Ce looked disgusted. He said he heard that Great Wei even had "human hunts," where people were treated as prey and wantonly slaughtered, which was truly too cruel. He did not like killing people; he only liked creating people, and it would be even more wonderful if he could create people with the woman he loved. Chu Qiao had grown accustomed to Xiao Ce occasionally uttering shocking words.

A slight disturbance came from the forest. Chu Qiao, with her excellent hearing, tackled Xiao Ce just before an arrow shot past. Instantly, arrows rained down densely from all directions. Everyone Xiao Ce brought with him was hit; this was the great gift Xiao Yu sent him. Chu Qiao quickly blocked the arrows coming from all sides while also dragging Xiao Ce, who was a liability, making the situation perilous for a while.

The two of them escaped into the dense forest, where ancient trees reached the sky and vines were abundant, suitable for hiding. The enemy's numbers were too great, and Chu Qiao was injured. In desperation, she took Xiao Ce with her and jumped into a deep pool. Yan Xun received news of Chu Qiao's distress and was impatient, determined to go to Xiaoguan to save her.

Moreover, with the Crown Prince of Liang being attacked, killing him would surely cause chaos in Chang'an, providing a perfect opportunity for their escape. Meanwhile, Xiao Ce and Chu Qiao, who had jumped into the deep pool, were already ashore. Chu Qiao was unconscious, but Xiao Ce was unharmed.

Looking at Chu Qiao's unconscious state, Xiao Ce put away his usual cynicism and chuckled, asking her why she was so foolish, genuinely not knowing that killing him was the best choice for her and Yan Xun. After being unconscious for a long time, Chu Qiao finally woke up. Xiao Ce still wanted to test her; he logically analyzed the real culprit behind his assassination, concluding that Yan Xun had the greatest motive.

Upon hearing this, Chu Qiao's eyes darted around as various thoughts flashed through her mind, but ultimately, she told him to shut up. The assassins caught up. After several rounds of fighting, Chu Qiao eliminated those who pursued them, and she herself finally collapsed due to a waist injury. Suddenly, one of the black-clad killers who had fallen to the ground stood up again. Chu Qiao narrowed her eyes, deciding to let Xiao Ce kill him.

Xiao Ce raised his sword and managed a few moves against the black-clad killer before stumbling and falling. The killer's sword went straight for Xiao Ce's throat. At the critical moment, Chu Qiao's heart softened after all; she threw a knife, taking care of the killer. Chu Qiao was too severely injured to move. There were at least a dozen more killers; what should they do? Xiao Ce suggested he would lure the killers away.

Chu Qiao truly helped him, and Xiao Ce was not ambiguous either. Before leaving, he handed Chu Qiao a self-defense weapon that his Emperor Father had specially made for him. Once the traps are activated, poisonous needles will shoot out. After Xiao Ce left, Chu Qiao's wound pain became unbearable, and she collapsed. Several killers gradually approached her. Chu Qiao struggled to pick up the weapon Xiao Ce gave her, dealt with them, exhausting her last bit of strength.

Yuwen Yue had already gathered all the Yue Spies and rushed over as soon as he learned that Yan Xun had disguised himself and left the city. He knew the only reason Yan Xun would risk leaving the city was that something had happened to Chu Qiao. There was a shortcut to Xiaoguan, which was to descend from the cliff; it could save a lot of time, but the dangers were unpredictable. For Chu Qiao, Yuwen Yue unhesitatingly chose this path. Because of this, when Chu Qiao woke up, Yuwen Yue was sitting beside her.

Episode 41 Recap

Chu Qiao finally woke up, finding Yuwen Yue leisurely sitting by her side, watching her. Chu Qiao knew her situation was difficult and didn't want to implicate him, but what she said was to tell him to mind his own business. How could Yuwen Yue be such an obedient person?

She wanted him to stay far away, but he deliberately wouldn't; she hated owing others, but he deliberately made her owe him a great favor, one that she could never repay in her lifetime. There were too many assassins, and Yuwen Yue was busy dealing with them, unable to divide his attention. Yan Xun seized the opportunity and took Chu Qiao away.

Yuwen Yue saw from a distance that it was Yan Xun, so he did not pursue, but instead chose to find Liang's Crown Prince Xiao Ce. Xiao Ce wanted to use Yuwen Yue's hand to eliminate Xiao Yu and her subordinates. He feigned seriousness and took out a piece of paper, claiming it contained assassin information.

Yuwen Yue saw through Xiao Ce's intention at a glance, but eliminating the spies from Liang was also his idea; he was merely going with the flow. Following the address Xiao Ce provided, Yuwen Yue found Xiao Yu's capable assistant, Taoye. Taoye was an excellent spy who remained silent until Yuwen Yue used mind control on her. Only then did Taoye reveal the detailed deployment of the spies from Liang in Chang'an.

Subsequently, Yuwen Yue swiftly purged the spies from Liang, shops, and other establishments in Chang'an, clearing them out completely, leaving no one behind. At the same time, Xiao Yu also received the news and ordered those who could retreat to do so immediately, hoping to preserve what they could. It was night, the moon was cold like water, and the clear moonlight spread across the land. Yan Xun looked at the unconscious Chu Qiao, his heart aching deeply.

Xiao Ce suddenly arrived, bringing with him the military deployment map outside the city that Yan Xun had always wanted. Xiao Yu had previously planned to cooperate with Yan Xun, but now she could barely protect herself. Xiao Ce seized the opportunity to win over Yan Xun, not only providing him with the urgently needed military deployment map outside the city, but also knowing the troop distribution from Chang'an to Northern Yan like the back of his hand.

This was Xiao Ce's bargaining chip for cooperation. Yan Xun assessed the situation and chose Xiao Ce, but he also warned Xiao Ce that there would be no next time. Yan Xun's words were ambiguous, but Xiao Ce understood: Yan Xun was warning him not to put Chu Qiao at risk again.

On their way back, Xiao Ce's personal bodyguard Tiedou reminded him that Yuwen Yue had already learned some of Yan Xun's arrangements from Taoye, asking if it would be detrimental to Yan Xun. Xiao Ce looked speechless; he was not Yan Xun's father, so there was no need to worry about him. If Yan Xun couldn't even leave Chang'an, he wouldn't be able to contend with others even if he returned to Northern Yan.

If that were the case, Chu Qiao would be pitiful. The sky gradually brightened. Yan Xun had stayed by Chu Qiao's bed all night. Chu Qiao coughed and woke up. Yan Xun breathed a sigh of relief. He told Chu Qiao that Xiao Ce had visited and brought the garrison map. Chu Qiao had a "just as I expected" feeling; she knew Xiao Ce was not simple.

Chu Qiao felt some regret; Yan Xun had already left the city yesterday, and it was a pity he didn't seize the opportunity to escape. Yan Xun didn't think it was a pity; Yuwen Yue had already fixed his eyes on them, so leaving would be anything but easy. Chu Qiao then brought up the Xiuli Army.

Regardless of whether they were sincere, it was an undeniable fact that the Xiuli Army had opened the gates of Northern Yan for Zhao Dongting back then. Yan Xun needed to reconsider. It was another cool night. In a bamboo forest, a small thatched hut was hidden. Yuwen Yue sat in the courtyard, seemingly waiting for someone. Soon after, Yan Xun arrived under the moonlight and sat opposite Yuwen Yue. Yuwen Yue took out a jar of Jade Wine.

When Yan Xun had his birthday years ago, Chun'er had brought out a jar of Jade Wine, claiming it was the only one left in the world. Now, Yuwen Yue brought out another jar; he merely wanted to illustrate that some things are not absolute, hoping to persuade Yan Xun to stop. Yuwen Yue knew that Yan Xun had no intention of marrying Chun'er. He named several officials who were helping Yan Xun.

Under their arrangements, Yan Xun, with a single lapse in judgment, could very likely flood Chang'an. At that time, the 500,000 innocent civilians of Chang'an would suffer. Yan Xun was indifferent to this, asking how innocent the people of Northern Yan were who died under the Royal Court's iron cavalry back then. Seeing his firm attitude, Yuwen Yue asked him if Chu Qiao knew about these arrangements. Yan Xun did not answer; the answer was self-evident.

Yuwen Yue had control over Yan Xun's military strength and cut off his escape routes. Zhong Yu wanted to deploy the Xiuli Army. Before she could speak, Yan Xun interrupted her. How could Yan Xun not have thought of what Zhong Yu thought of? He simply could not forgive the Xiuli Army's actions back then. After much deliberation, Yan Xun went to the palace to see Chun'er. Chun'er was busy making wedding arrangements and was overjoyed to see him.

The Emperor suddenly arrived, hypocritically stating that Chun'er was his most beloved imperial princess and telling Yan Xun not to bully her. The journey back to Northern Yan was long, and the Emperor planned to send Yuwen Yue to escort them. Yan Xun repeatedly declined. The Emperor dangerously narrowed his eyes and asked Yan Xun if he had recently met Yuwen Yue. Yan Xun insisted he had not, which only made the Emperor more suspicious.

Chu Qiao's physical condition was good, and her wounds healed extremely quickly. Zhong Yu told her that Xiuli Army general He Xiao was accused of privately possessing military weapons and had been arrested. This batch of bows and arrows was gifted to the Xiuli Army by Yuwen Yue that day. He Xiao accidentally lost his warrant, but the warehouse staff claimed to have seen the warrant and that the bows and arrows had already been taken.

The problem was that this batch of bows and arrows was not seen among the Xiuli Army. On the training ground, the sun scorched the earth, causing an inexplicable sense of anxiety and unease, just like the mood of the Xiuli Army soldiers present. He Xiao knelt on the ground, tied up. The then commander of the Xiuli Army, Xue Zhileng, stood by, pointing out He Xiao's private possession of military weapons.

He Xiao admitted to losing the warrant but refused to admit to privately possessing military weapons. Seeing his stubbornness, Xue Zhileng ordered the execution. How could the Xiuli Army soldiers bear to watch He Xiao be beheaded like this? They protested and pleaded. Chu Qiao arrived at this moment.

Episode 42 Recap

Regarding He Xiao's embezzlement of military supplies, Chu Qiao suggested that someone might have impersonated him. But Xue Zhileng did not buy it. Someone had to bear the consequences for the lost military supplies. Seeing Xue Zhileng insisted on the execution, Chu Qiao had no choice but to kneel down with He Xiao, claiming that Yuwen Yue personally handed her the warrant, and she was the one who lost it.

Xue Zhileng was not foolish; naturally, he did not believe her. His authority was challenged, and in a fit of impulse, he even planned to punish Chu Qiao as well. Chu Qiao dared to step forward, naturally having already thought of a countermeasure. She was the savior of Crown Prince Xiao Ce of Liang, and Xiao Ce had already requested commendation for her from the Emperor, but the Emperor's decree had not yet arrived.

Upon hearing this, Xue Zhileng, though unwilling, had to temporarily stop. In fact, the warrant was in Xue Zhileng's hands. He had taken the batch of bows and arrows to profit from them and also wanted to take the opportunity to eliminate He Xiao. But now, having calmed down, Xue Zhileng felt that someone was setting him up. However, he did not plan to let Chu Qiao and He Xiao go just yet.

He would make them kneel for a day first. Under the scorching sun, Chu Qiao already had injuries. After kneeling for a long time, she became increasingly unable to support herself and finally fainted on the ground. Previously, Yuwen Yue had received a note from a stranger informing him of Chu Qiao's situation. Just as Chu Qiao fainted, Yuwen Yue finally arrived. He gently carried the extremely weak Chu Qiao into his tent.

While in a coma, Chu Qiao was tense and slept restlessly. She suddenly grabbed Yuwen Yue, who was about to release her. Seeing Chu Qiao holding onto his arm tightly, Yuwen Yue sat down on the edge of the bed. At the same time, Zhao Dongting, who had been closely monitoring all developments, reported this situation to the Emperor.

The Emperor recalled that he had previously suggested that Yuwen Yue escort Yan Xun back to Northern Yan, but Yan Xun had refused in every possible way. Now, it seemed that Yan Xun was subtly protecting Yuwen Yue. He seemed very afraid of Yuwen Yue leaving Xiaoqi Camp. Was it because without military authority, Yuwen Yue would not be able to help him? Chu Qiao woke up in the morning.

Before her mind was fully clear, she felt something unusual beside her. She released the arm she was holding and looked up, only to see that the elegant Mister sleeping soundly next to her was none other than Yuwen Yue. Chu Qiao screamed in horror, asking someone to tell her what was happening. Yuwen Yue was woken up by her. He frowned and sat up.

Just then, Yue Qi came in to report that Noble Consort Wei had learned of the Emperor's suspicions about Yuwen Yue and had specifically sent someone to warn Yuwen Yue. Yuwen Yue's expression instantly turned grim. He thought this was a conspiracy between Chu Qiao and Yan Xun, and that he had foolishly fallen into their trap. Yuwen Yue spoke vaguely and suddenly became cold towards Chu Qiao. Chu Qiao was confused, not knowing what was wrong with him.

Meanwhile, Chu Qiao had not returned all night, and Yan Xun was extremely worried. He ignored Zhong Yu's attempts to stop him and wanted to go look for her. Chu Qiao walked in at this moment. Seeing her safe and sound, Yan Xun's worried heart finally settled. Chu Qiao brought up the Xiuli Army. During her time in the army, she genuinely felt the Xiuli Army's loyalty to Northern Yan and their desire to return to Northern Yan.

She hoped Yan Xun could give them a chance. Since Chu Qiao had said so, Yan Xun agreed to meet with the Xiuli Army's Northern Yan generals that evening. Before that, Yan Xun warned Zhong Yu not to use Chu Qiao for anything anymore.

He told Zhong Yu not to think he didn't know that Zhong Yu had stolen He Xiao's warrant and given it to Xue Zhileng, then arranged for Chu Qiao to save He Xiao and become the Xiuli Army's benefactor. At the same time, Zhong Yu informed Yuwen Yue that Chu Qiao was in trouble, and once Yuwen Yue rescued Chu Qiao, it would inevitably arouse the Emperor's suspicion.

This multi-pronged plan was clever, but it caused suffering to Chu Qiao, which was what Yan Xun least wanted to see. At the appointed time, Yan Xun met with He Xiao, the deputy commander of the Xiuli Army, and Ge Qi and Wu Danyu, the commanders of the left and right. Yan Xun sternly reprimanded the Xiuli Army for not fighting alongside Northern Yan back then, but instead wearing the enemy's robes and joining the enemy's ranks.

However, since they also had their reasons back then and showed remorse, Yan Xun immediately forgave them and permitted them to return to Northern Yan with him. Walking back to the camp, He Xiao and the other two felt that things had gone a bit too smoothly. Yan Xun's family had been destroyed and he had experienced the tragedy of Jiuyou Platform back then. This was immense hatred; how could it be forgiven so easily?

Chu Qiao detected their distrust of Yan Xun in their words. He Xiao did not refute it; he had to be responsible for his Xiuli Army brothers as he would lead them back to Northern Yan, and Yan Xun's attitude was crucial. Chu Qiao told them that Yan Xun would not go back on his word, and with her there, the Xiuli Army would not suffer any losses. With that assurance, He Xiao felt much more relieved.

Lan Shuyi's son was secretly taken out of the palace by Yuwen Huai. Ever since he was rejected by Lan Shuyi that day, Yuwen Huai had held a grudge. He was the one who brought Lan Shuyi into the palace; now that she wanted to turn her back on him, there was no way. Taking her most cherished son out of the palace was to show her what he could do. What Lan Shuyi cared about most was her son.

She immediately sent someone to invite Yuwen Huai into the palace. Yuwen Huai was originally going to see her, but on the way, he received an imperial summons and went directly to see the Emperor. The Emperor summoned Yuwen Huai and Zhao Dongting to come together. He gave them a secret edict and told them it could only be opened on the day of the imperial princess's wedding. Yuwen Huai was once again heavily relied upon.

He no longer had to eagerly wait for Lan Shuyi to speak well of him. After leaving the main hall, he returned directly to Hongshan House. Lan Shuyi received the news and was anxious. She even planned to leave the palace secretly to see Yuwen Huai. But after all, she was only a Shuyi, and there was still Zhao Jieyu watching her closely. Any slight mistake would be seized upon.

Under the repeated objections of her personal maid, Lan Shuyi had no choice but to give up the idea of leaving the palace and wait to see how things unfolded. Xiao Ce was about to leave. Chu Qiao went to see him, and Xiao Ce looked delighted to see her. Chu Qiao brought up the ambush from a few days ago, saying she was worried about the capabilities of Xiao Ce's guards.

She took out a list and asked Xiao Ce to choose from it the people who would escort him away. The people on the list ranged from twelve to eighty years old, yet Chu Qiao praised them all as brave and mighty, which was truly difficult for her. Xiao Ce was naturally as shrewd as a fox. He knew whom Chu Qiao wanted him to choose: Yuan Che. Yuan Che was excellent in leading troops and fighting battles.

With him in Chang'an, it would only be harder for Yan Xun to escape. At the same time, Yuan Che, in Xiaoqi Camp, was analyzing the reason why Yuwen Yue was suddenly transferred into the palace for a position, suspecting that he had probably fallen into someone else's trap.

Episode 43 Recap

Yuan Che was preparing to enter the palace to understand the reason why Yuwen Yue was transferred into the palace. Before he could leave his tent, he received an imperial decree stating that he was to escort Xiao Ce back to Liang tomorrow. Yuan Che understood that his departure would be the best timing for Yan Xun to leave. He specifically asked Dongfang Ji to try every possible means to prevent Yan Xun from returning to Northern Yan.

Dongfang Ji readily agreed in person, but how could he be a person who kept his promises? He was eager for Yan Xun to return to Northern Yan, as only then would Great Wei fall into complete chaos, and the Wei Emperor would then reuse Yuan Che. At that time, Dongfang Ji would be able to achieve his ambitions under Yuan Che. At this point, Dongfang Ji remembered Wudao Ya.

Wudao Ya had always longed for a peaceful and prosperous era, but how could Yan Xun be that enlightened ruler? Climbing out of hell would only turn one into a malevolent spirit. Wudao Ya was probably going to be disappointed. After Yuan Che left Dongfang Ji, he went directly to the Wei Mansion. He did not trust Dongfang Ji, so he specifically asked Wei Shuye to keep a close eye on Yan Xun, ensuring he did not leave Chang'an City.

If the situation became urgent, killing Yan Xun would not be out of the question. At the same time, inside Yingge Court, Chu Qiao, Yan Xun, and Zhong Yu were verifying the escape route out of the city on the day of the wedding. Their manpower was limited, so they had shrewdly chosen the route.

On the day of the wedding, Yan Xun would depart from Yingge Court, follow Shuncheng Street, pass through Chang'an Prefecture and Mulberry Leaf Pond directly to the Ancestral Temple. After completing the ancestral worship, he would return to the palace via Zhuque Street. It was impossible for the Emperor to openly execute Yan Xun, so the most likely place for an attack would be the remote and desolate Ancestral Temple.

At that time, the Xiuli Army would control Xue Zhileng in advance. On the eve of the wedding, approximately one hundred people would be arranged to ambush near the Ancestral Temple, waiting for an opportunity to rendezvous with Yan Xun. On the day of the wedding, four hundred people would be arranged to control the East City Gate to assist them in leaving the city. Chang'an City had numerous garrisons, and their plan was quite risky.

However, upon careful analysis, since different armies had different responsibilities, only the Wulin Guards, Bing Su Guards, and Elite Cavalry Camp were most likely to be deployed. Yuan Che and Yuwen Yue were not in the Elite Cavalry Camp, so it was not a concern. Now, they only needed to paralyze the central organizations of the Wulin Guards and Bing Su Guards.

Zhong Yu said that at that time, a large fire would be set, and they could escape in the chaos. It was only then that Chu Qiao learned about this step of setting a fire, and she specifically reminded them not to harm the common people. After leaving the city, they would use the pre-built pontoon bridge to escape. In a blink of an eye, it was the day Xiao Ce was to leave.

Chu Qiao went to see him off as promised. Chu Qiao knew that Xiao Ce was no ordinary person, and she wanted to know if Xiao Ce would favor one side if Great Wei and Northern Yan went to war. Xiao Ce promised not to interfere. After spending these days together, Xiao Ce truly admired Chu Qiao and invited her to visit Liang if she had time.

Chu Qiao smiled and sincerely invited him to come to Northern Yan to ride horses freely if he had time. In a blink of an eye, it was three days before the wedding. Yan Xun and Chu Qiao drank the wine they had buried three years ago; it was time for a desperate battle. This battle was extremely perilous. For Chu Qiao's safety, Yan Xun quietly arranged for Zhong Yu to have Chu Qiao leave the city first.

Two days passed in a flash. Chun'er specifically wore a set of Northern Yan clothing, smiling brightly, hoping Yan Xun would like it when he saw it later. Yuwen Yue waited on Chun'er's inevitable path. He hoped Chun'er could dispatch someone to help him guard Cuiwei Palace, and that person was Chu Qiao. The wedding day was approaching, and only by having her by his side could Yuwen Yue feel at ease.

Chun'er agreed to help, and Chu Qiao was subsequently summoned into the palace. On the day of the wedding, Lan Shuyi took the opportunity to leave the palace to find Yuwen Huai and demand her son. For her son's sake, she did not hesitate to betray Chu Qiao, telling Yuwen Huai the news that Chu Qiao was Luo He's daughter and the successor of the Fengyun Order. At the same time, the palace was filled with joy.

Chun'er was dressed in her elaborate attire, happily waiting for Yan Xun to come and pick her up. Yuwen Yue, having gained an advantage, still feigned innocence, smiling and asking Chu Qiao why she hadn't left the palace yet, wasn't she afraid that Yan Xun would abandon her? Chu Qiao ignored Yuwen Yue. Yuan Song saw them and went up to them. He happily told Chu Qiao that he was Chun'er's escort, and would go with them to Northern Yan.

Yan Xun was also in grand attire, but his face was as cold as frost as he set off for the Ancestral Temple to worship his ancestors. In the grand hall of the palace, the Emperor announced that Yan Xun was the new King of Northern Yan. He also hypocritically hoped that everyone would forget about the Marquis Northen Settler's rebellion years ago and not make things difficult for Yan Xun.

He truly wanted to kill Yan Xun yet also gain a good reputation. After Yan Xun departed, Zhong Yu announced the commencement of their operation. Their people, ambushed throughout Chang'an, exerted their utmost to complete their tasks. On the way to the Ancestral Temple, they passed Jiuyou Platform. Yan Xun recalled how his family's blood had stained Jiuyou Platform three years ago, and his heart surged with overwhelming hatred.

Just then, Zhao Dongting arrived with a troop of soldiers, claiming that Yan Xun's Yingge Court contained a large cache of weapons, indicating an intention to rebel. He Xiao led the Xiuli Army and the generals and soldiers of Northern Yan to rescue their lord. The Xiuli Army soldiers were filled with fighting spirit, and in less than a moment, they captured Zhao Dongting.

Yan Xun stepped down from his carriage with heavy steps, and with a sword, he struck down Zhao Dongting, avenging the Northern Yan soldiers who had died by Zhao Dongting's hand years ago. At this time, the streets were already covered with the corpses of Great Wei soldiers, and blood flowed like rivers. Having waited for three full years, Yan Xun was finally able to wipe away his humiliation today, shouting the words, "I, Yan Xun, have rebelled!"

and vowed to break out of Chang'an at all costs. Chun'er kept waiting for Yan Xun but he did not arrive, feeling restless, she anxiously went to the gate tower to look out. Suddenly, a soldier came to report the news of Yan Xun's rebellion. Chun'er's face instantly turned ashen, as if she had lost all vitality. She pretended to feel chest pain and took the opportunity to kill the soldier.

Chun'er used to grieve for a long time even when a palace maid died for her, but now, for Yan Xun, she dared to kill someone. Although still trembling with fear, Chun'er told her maidservant Caiwei to tell Yan Xun that she would no longer force him to marry her, and only hoped that he would not rebel.

Episode 44 Recap

Chun'er stumbled into the main hall. Her hair was disheveled from running. She knelt down and begged her Emperor Father to retract his order, saying she no longer wished to marry Yan Xun. But how could the Emperor allow her to go back on her word? He ordered the guards to take Chun'er away.

Chun'er broke free from the guards, ran back, and knelt down again, kowtowing until her head bled, shouting hoarsely that she no longer wished to marry Yan Xun. Poor her, she had always thought Yan Xun rebelled because he didn't want to marry her, and that her Emperor Father allowed her to marry Yan Xun out of love for her.

But she could never have imagined that she was merely a sacrifice in the struggle between her Emperor Father and Yan Xun. Yuwen Yue sat upright in the main hall and suddenly noticed Chu Qiao was gone. He took the opportunity to rush out and, sure enough, caught Chu Qiao, who was trying to escape, by a secluded palace wall. Yuwen Yue had long seen through Yan Xun's true colors. He knew Yan Xun had changed, becoming unfathomable and terrifying.

Chu Qiao would definitely be disappointed. Chu Qiao hadn't yet realized Yan Xun's change. She stubbornly believed that Yan Xun was still the benevolent Yan Xun who would not indiscriminately kill innocent people. Chu Qiao insisted on leaving, so Yuwen Yue no longer stopped her. Chu Qiao rode her horse along Chang'an's main street.

What she saw were countless civilian casualties, young children who had lost their parents crying helplessly, and evil criminals taking the opportunity to rape, kill, and plunder innocent civilians. Chu Qiao killed one evil criminal after another who was taking advantage of the chaos, her heart aching. Chang'an city was completely in chaos. Even the palace was infiltrated by Yan Xun's people, who started large fires to disrupt order. The news of Yan Xun's rebellion finally arrived.

The Emperor ordered that whoever killed Yan Xun would be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold. Yan Xun led his troops to welcome Chu Qiao. At the same time, Chun'er rushed over from the palace desperately, crying and begging Yan Xun not to rebel, saying she wouldn't marry him, couldn't she just not force him anymore? Yuan Song arrived with his men shortly after. He watched his sister desperately begging Yan Xun in such a pathetic state.

Even now, she still thought Yan Xun was rebelling simply because he didn't want to marry her. Yuan Song told Chun'er that Yan Xun was seeking revenge. Chun'er looked shocked; she had always thought Yan Xun had put his hatred aside. Yuan Song spoke mouthfuls of righteousness and morality, mentioning the Emperor's lenient treatment of Yan Xun, and thought Yan Xun's rebellion was an act of ingratitude. To Yan Xun, these words were a joke.

The Wei Emperor killed his entire family; he and Great Wei were irreconcilable. Yuan Song saw that Yan Xun was determined to rebel, and Chu Qiao was fighting alongside him. He drew Jian and severed ties with them, declaring that they would be enemies if they ever met again. Chun'er crawled to Yan Xun's feet, begging him not to rebel. In this matter, Chun'er was the most innocent, but Yan Xun could no longer spare her a thought.

Subsequently, Chu Qiao left the city first to rendezvous with Zhong Yu. She rode her horse across a pontoon bridge. Chu Qiao worried that such a simple bridge would not be able to withstand so many Xiuli Army soldiers crossing, but Zhong Yu said it was Yan Xun's decision and should be fine. Yan Xun led the Xiuli Army towards Shangwu Hall. Shangwu Hall was where Great Wei trained its officers.

If Shangwu Hall was massacred, Great Wei would not have generals capable of leading troops for at least ten years. Yuwen Yue had long foreseen Yan Xun's intentions, so he was waiting outside Shangwu Hall early. Yan Xun had found out that three years ago, when he was in prison, Yuwen Yue had guarded him day and night. To repay this favor, Yan Xun gave up on massacring Shangwu Hall.

With debts and favors settled, from then on, if they met again, they would be enemies. The Xiaoji Camp troops would arrive soon. Yan Xun ordered the Xiuli Army to stay and block them. He led his people out of the city first. When they reached the East Gate, the people Zhong Yu left behind were waiting there, and the Xiuli Army soldiers who had previously attacked the city gate had all died in battle.

Yan Xun ordered them to leave the city and immediately seal the city gate after exiting. The Xiuli Army soldiers still in the city would bravely fight the enemy and die in Chang'an city for Northern Yan. He Xiao led the few remaining Xiuli Army soldiers and successfully delayed the Xiaoji Camp's advance.

When they fought their way out and rushed to the East Gate, they found that all their brothers had died in battle, and their only way out, the East Gate, had already been sealed. Only then did they realize that Yan Xun had not forgiven the Xiuli Army. The pleasant demeanor he had shown earlier was merely to use them. Despair filled the hearts of the Xiuli Army soldiers. Now it seemed they had not only failed to receive forgiveness but also could not return home. They were the army abandoned by Northern Yan.

Episode 45 Recap

Facing such a desperate situation, He Xiao felt utterly desolate, but he still mustered immense courage. Three years ago, due to their oversight, the Northern Yan battlefield was lost, and Marquis Northen Settler's entire family was killed. Although it was not entirely their fault, what they owed the Yan family, the Xiuli Army would repay with their lives today. From then on, they were no longer cowards, nor traitors, and could return to Xiuli Mountains with a clear conscience.

The entire army shouted "return to Xiuli Mountains," their fighting spirit soaring. On the other side, after Yan Xun crossed the bridge, he immediately shot fire arrows to burn the floating bridge. Chu Qiao watched the untrustworthy Yan Xun, shocked. Yan Xun had hatred in his heart, she didn't blame him, but since she had promised to bring the Xiuli Army back to Northern Yan, she would not break her word. Chu Qiao agilely mounted her horse.

The fire had been burning for a moment, and one end of the floating bridge was already destroyed. Chu Qiao rode her horse back a few steps, then suddenly exerted force and leaped across with her beloved horse. The Xiuli Army suffered heavy casualties, with only a few remaining. He Xiao was also severely wounded and fell to the ground, unable to rise. They had embraced the certainty of death.

Just then, the tightly closed city gate suddenly opened, and a person and a horse rushed in amidst the setting sun's afterglow, as if a peerless hero, saving them from dire straits. Chu Qiao leaned sideways on her horse to pick up the fallen battle flag from the ground, then led the way, blocking in front of the heavily wounded Xiuli Army.

She raised the Northern Yan battle flag high and loudly told the Xiuli Army soldiers that Northern Yan had not abandoned them, and she had come to take them home. Chu Qiao's original intention was to let the Xiuli Army retreat first, but the Xiuli Army soldiers vowed to live and die with her. This time, it was Yuwen Huai who came to obstruct the Xiuli Army. Yuwen Huai already harbored a deep hatred for Chu Qiao.

Today, relying on his numerical superiority, he dashed forward to fight Chu Qiao one-on-one. Yuwen Huai was skilled, but he was no match for Chu Qiao, who had experienced countless battles and frequently walked the line between life and death. After several rounds of fighting, Chu Qiao sharply turned and swung Jian, Jian cut through Yuwen Huai's neck. The Wei army commander was dead. Under Chu Qiao's leadership, the Xiuli Army Ping'an exited the city.

Chu Qiao did not immediately rush to rendezvous with Yan Xun but instead led the Xiuli Army to repeatedly block the Wei army pursuing them out of the city. After another victory, Chu Qiao ordered a retreat. They could not be blinded by the immediate victory. She believed that soon the Wei Emperor would concentrate his forces to fiercely deal with them.

The delay had been long enough; she believed Yan Xun had reached a safe place, and it was time to retreat. At this moment, the Xiuli Army soldiers felt a sense of loss. Yan Xun had abandoned them, and they were homeless again. Chu Qiao immediately denied their conjecture. She could not let the Xiuli Army, after experiencing cruel wars, discover that the person they had sworn allegiance to had abandoned them. This would be unfair to the Xiuli Army.

She claimed that she was sent by Yan Xun to rescue them, and facts proved that she had done so. Chu Qiao's actions earned the deep admiration of the Xiuli Army, and they decided to follow Chu Qiao to their deaths from then on. In a dense forest outside the city, Chun'er wore a lake-green dress, which was the Northern Yan attire she had specially bought the day before her wedding. Chun'er used to live a pampered life.

This time, traveling alone, she ended up covered in dirt. Carelessly, she tumbled down from a high slope. She struggled to climb up, only to find the rabbit tail Yan Xun had given her had fallen below. She turned to retrieve it, slipped, and rolled down again. When Chun'er finally climbed up again, she saw Yan Xun's encampment. Before Chun'er could even be happy, the scene before her filled her with deep regret.

Yuan Song thought Chun'er had been taken by Yan Xun. He infiltrated Yan Xun's army and, when Yan Xun was unprepared, stabbed Yan Xun in the abdomen with a poisoned dagger. He wanted to stab deeper. Yan Xun originally did not want to harm him, but for self-preservation, he had to draw Jian and cut off Yuan Song's arm. This was the scene Chun'er witnessed. Yan Xun was poisoned and fell unconscious.

Before losing consciousness, he told Zhong Yu to send people to escort Yuan Song and his sister back to Chang'an. Zhong Yu was worried about Yan Xun's injuries and only said he would send ten people to escort them back, but he did not personally select the individuals. Little did he know that this oversight would lead to such severe consequences. All ten people escorting Yuan Song and his sister back to Chang'an harbored a blood feud with Great Wei.

They feigned compliance but secretly disobeyed, knocking out Yuan Song midway and defiling Chun'er. Chu Qiao and the Xiuli Army happened to be marching to a dense forest and sent Captain Wu Dan-yu to scout the path. He Xiao knew that Chu Qiao's words about being sent by Yan Xun to rescue them were merely to comfort them. He worried that Yan Xun still wouldn't tolerate them upon their return.

His worry was not unfounded, but the Xiuli Army was no longer what it used to be. Previously, in Yan Xun's eyes, they were traitors, but after battles big and small these past days, they had successfully cleared their names as traitors and transformed into a brave and skilled army. Consider such an army; how could Yan Xun still harbor murderous intentions towards them?

Chu Qiao assured He Xiao that since she had brought them back, she would definitely ensure their safety. He Xiao was not one to worry needlessly. Chu Qiao's words convinced him, but his loyalty was not to Yan Xun, but to the heroic woman before him who disregarded danger and came alone to rescue them. The other Xiuli Army soldiers shared He Xiao's thoughts, but Chu Qiao firmly disagreed, stating that Northern Yan could only have one master, Yan Xun.

Superficially, the Xiuli Army acknowledged Yan Xun as their lord, but in their hearts, their true spiritual leader was Chu Qiao. Suddenly, a soldier reported that Wu Dan-yu was fighting with a group of unidentified people. Chu Qiao and her companions quickly rushed to the scene, only to find that the opponents were Yan Xun's personal guards. The soldier claimed they were performing a mission, and his stammering made Chu Qiao suspicious.

Yan Xun had already retreated, and it was unreasonable for only ten of them to stealthily return to Chang'an. Under Chu Qiao's forceful questioning, the person finally spoke the truth: they were escorting Yuan Song and his sister back to Chang'an. He glanced at the cave not far away, looking worried. Chu Qiao entered the dark cave, and the scene before her was appalling. Two Northern Yan soldiers were getting dressed.

Chun'er lay on the ground, her clothes torn, her face ashen, while beside her was Yuan Song, bleeding from the scalp and unconscious. Chu Qiao was outraged and immediately executed the two soldiers. She helped Chun'er sit up, but Chun'er bit her hand, weeping in despair. Seeing Yuan Song's severed arm, Chu Qiao's heart ached greatly. The ten soldiers escorting Yuan Song and his sister believed they had done nothing wrong and showed no remorse.

Chu Qiao ordered the execution of those ten soldiers and told He Xiao to take the Xiuli Army ahead to rendezvous with Yan Xun, while she would personally escort Yuan Song and his sister back to Chang'an.

Episode 46 Recap

In the Qingshan House, filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, Yuwen Zhuo learned that Chu Qiao had escaped. He earnestly warned Yuwen Yue not to waste all his thoughts on one woman. Yuwen Yue told his grandfather that he understood this principle, and was already planning the pursuit of Yan Xun with Yuan Che, who was returning to Chang'an. Yuwen Zhuo shook his head and sighed, taking out a handwritten letter from Yuwen Yue's father.

He told him that the smartest thing to do at this time was to remain inactive. Although loyalty to the master could earn a good reputation, after the crisis, he would inevitably be feared by the emperor. His fate would be no more than another Yan Shicheng. Yuwen Yue understood all this, but he did not want to be such a person, nor did he want to be manipulated by his father. Many years ago, Yuwen Yue's mother died tragically.

He was adopted by his father into the main branch of the Yuwen family. From then on, Yuwen Yue no longer held any illusions about this father. Yuwen Zhuo saw his grandson in such pain, and a flicker of tears appeared in his eyes. Things were not as he thought, but the truth could not yet be revealed. Yuwen Huai was dead.

Now no one in the Yuwen family could shake Qingshan House, and Yuwen Zhuo no longer had to live hidden in a dark secret room. Yuwen Yue properly arranged for his grandfather, then turned and left. In the past, Yuwen Yue had always followed his grandfather's instructions and lived a repressed life. Now that Yuwen Huai was dead, all power of the Yuwen family had returned to the main branch.

Yuwen Yue felt he had done right by his grandfather, and from now on, he wanted to live true to his own heart. Knowing that Chu Qiao was safe and sound, Yan Xun ordered the entire army to set out and return to Honghuan City immediately. Regarding the Xiuli Army, Yan Xun still could not let go. In his heart, traitors could never be forgiven.

He ordered that when the Xiuli Army returned, their entire army would be incorporated into the vanguard camp, which was Northern Yan's way of dealing with death row prisoners. Chu Qiao escorted Yuan Song and his sister back to Chang'an along the way. They spent the night in a dilapidated thatched hut. Chu Qiao knew that Yuan Chun did not want to see her, so she deliberately stayed outside the door.

When it rained, she merely walked into the shed to rest with her beloved horse, Meteor. Inside the hut, Yuan Song was unconscious and muttering incessantly. His repeated words were all about worrying about Chu Qiao. After dawn, Yuan Song woke up. In his current state, the last person he wanted to see was Chu Qiao. He spoke harshly to Chu Qiao, just wanting to drive her away.

Chu Qiao knew his intention and did not take his words to heart. She still diligently escorted them. Chu Qiao got caught in the rain and developed a high fever one night. Chun'er took care of her by her side. Chun'er had always disliked Chu Qiao, but she would not let Chu Qiao die. If Chu Qiao died, who would escort them? After several days of continuous travel, they finally arrived outside Chang'an City.

Yuan Song bid farewell to Chu Qiao. This was probably the last time he would speak calmly with Chu Qiao. If they met again, it would be as if they had never known each other. In his eyes, anyone who betrayed Great Wei was on a dead-end path. Chu Qiao looked at this man who had always been kind to her, but for whom she had no way to repay.

Even if they met again, she would not attack Yuan Song. Yan Xun had offered her a helping hand when she was in despair. The moment Chu Qiao stood with him on Jiuyou Platform, her current opposition to Yuan Song was already destined. She had always been distancing herself from Yuan Song, but Yuan Song evidently did not realize her intentions. Everyone knew the emperor would not let Yan Xun go. Only Yuan Song deceived himself, unwilling to believe.

That was why he was so furious when Yan Xun rebelled. Although Yuan Song outwardly resented Yan Xun's rebellion, what truly mattered to him and made him incredibly disappointed was that Chu Qiao unhesitatingly abandoned him to stand by Yan Xun's side.

Although Yuan Song repeatedly denounced Yan Xun, Chu Qiao knew that Yan Xun would not have cut off one of Yuan Song's arms if he hadn't been severely injured by Yuan Song; and if Yan Xun hadn't been so gravely wounded as to fall unconscious, he wouldn't have let those ten people escort Yuan Song and his sister. Chu Qiao's deduction was astonishing, and Yuan Song did not deny it. He told her that Yan Xun was dying soon.

Even so, Chu Qiao did not regret coming to escort them. She mounted her horse and galloped away. Not long after, Yuan Che arrived with his men. Chun'er blamed all their misfortunes on Chu Qiao. She pointed in the direction Chu Qiao had left and told Older Brother Qi, Yuan Che, to make sure to capture her. Yuan Song instinctively pointed in the opposite direction, but between him and Yuan Chun, Yuan Che chose to believe Yuan Chun.

Yuan Song's finger, pointing in the opposite direction, could only drop powerlessly. Seeing his son and daughter suffer such a tragedy, the Wei Emperor was furious. He ordered a nationwide manhunt for Yan Xun and Chu Qiao, to be killed without mercy. The Emperor had always doted on Yuan Song and Yuan Chun. In contrast, Lan Shuyi's child held almost no weight in his heart.

The child had been missing for a long time, yet the Emperor merely offered Lan Shuyi a few simple words of comfort, showing no sadness himself. Yuwen Huai had been dead for a long time. Lan Shuyi's child, whom he had locked in a box, could not possibly have survived. When Lan Shuyi saw the tragic state of her young son's death, she nearly went mad. She blamed all of it on Chu Qiao.

If it weren't for wanting to help Chu Qiao, she wouldn't have offended Yuwen Huai. What Lan Shuyi cared about most was her son. Now that her son was dead, the only belief sustaining her life was revenge.

Episode 47 Recap

Yan Xun, ever since deciding to return to Honghcuan City first, sent A Jing with men to secretly search for Chu Qiao. Today A Jing returned; he did not find Chu Qiao, but along the way, he heard news that on the day Chu Qiao escorted the Yuan siblings back to Chang'an, the Emperor of Wei issued a warrant for Chu Qiao's arrest nationwide, with orders to kill without mercy. Hearing this, Yan Xun's eyes hardened.

He regretted still holding onto old affections, letting the Yuan Song siblings live, and that Ah Chu had meticulously escorted them all this way. They were actually repaying kindness with enmity like this. Yan Xun issued an order, proclaiming to the world that if Chu Qiao lost even a single hair on anyone's territory, he would make sure that person died without a burial place. After Yuan Chun returned, she locked herself in her room.

Wei Shuye, who had always liked her, specifically went to see her. Yuan Chun's face now lacked its former innocence. She exploited Wei Shuye's affection for her, using the condition of being with him to make him do things for her. On the other side, Yuwen Yue was about to leave. On this trip, he planned to round up all the spies from Liang spread across Great Wei.

The Marquis Northen Settler case and the Chang'an rebellion back then both had the presence of spies from Liang; keeping them would lead to endless trouble. Yuwen Yue's reasons were unassailable, but Yuwen Zhuo knew that a large part of his reason was to find Chu Qiao. Today, Yuwen Yue no longer concealed his affection for Chu Qiao. He used the example of Yuwen Zhuo breaking his own legs for a maidservant back then, hoping his grandfather could understand him.

And it was precisely because Yuwen Zhuo had experienced similar things that he did not want his grandson to fall deeper and deeper. The consequence of his headstrong actions back then was that he became crippled early on, his future completely ruined. Even so, if he went back many years, Yuwen Zhuo would still do the same thing. This was also why Yuwen Yue helped Chu Qiao again and again. Love is love, it asks for nothing in return.

In a forest, a scholar, full of classical phrases, rode his horse through the area. He held an umbrella in one hand for shade and a scroll in the other, reading aloud. It was truly pleasant. Suddenly, he heard the sound of fighting not far away. The scholar, with a 'mind your own business' attitude, intended to slip away, but the horse beneath him didn't give him that chance, heading straight for the battle scene.

These were Wei soldiers besieging Chu Qiao. With the sudden appearance of this man and horse, the two fiercely battling sides stopped. Dozens of eyes stared intently at the scholar. The scholar, forced into action, lectured them with words of benevolence and morality. Chu Qiao faintly saw those Wei soldiers gripping their broadswords tightly. She told the scholar to quickly shut up, hadn't he seen that they were already impatient? The Wei soldiers' broadsword was thrown directly at the scholar.

Chu Qiao, with quick reflexes, knocked the sword away, sprang onto the scholar's horse, and galloped off. The scholar's books, travel expenses, and travel documents were scattered all over the ground. Once in a safe place, the scholar wanted to part ways with Chu Qiao and go back to find his belongings. Chu Qiao was surprised by his bravery. Was he tired of living? What if those soldiers took him for her accomplice, wouldn't he be in danger?

Chu Qiao reminded the scholar that having a sense of justice was good, but one still needed to use one's head. She had lost his belongings and wanted to compensate him with money. Unexpectedly, the scholar believed that since she was being hunted by officials, she must not be a good person. He refused her silver even if it meant death, and proudly pulled his horse away. Yan Xun was about to arrive at Honghcuan City.

The closer he got to Northern Yan, the more emotional he became. Years ago, to uphold his father's loyalty and righteousness, he resolutely went to the capital as a hostage. Many years had passed since then, and on his return, things were no longer the same. Yan Xun sent invitations to the leaders of various tribes in Northern Yan to discuss important matters. However, three days after the invitations were sent out, no one came.

Yan Xun had openly rebelled, and the tribal leaders feared the Emperor of Wei's wrath, so none dared to interact with him. Yan Xun had originally hoped that these old subordinates of his father would share his hatred for the enemy. It seemed he had thought too highly of people's hearts. Today, the Huotu Tribe held a grand banquet, and leaders of all tribes would be present.

Agutu, the new tribal chief of the Huotu Tribe, was the younger brother of the former chief, Enge. Enge and the Marquis Northen Settler were sworn brothers back then, and Enge was killed by Agutu on his way to rescue the Marquis Northen Settler. Agutu had bullied his elder brother and sister-in-law, and murdered his elder brother's children, making him a notorious bully on the prairie. Yan Xun planned to personally go to the Huotu Tribe to meet this bully.

Before leaving, he hung a plaque symbolizing the Northern Yan Royal Residence on the gates of Honghcuan City and bestowed the battle saber Longque upon General Cheng Yuan, who supported him, as a reward. At this moment, Agutu was drinking and chatting happily with the tribal leaders. He not only showed extreme contempt for the Marquis Northen Settler, incited the leaders to stand by and watch Yan Xun with cold eyes, but also mocked Yan Xun as a weakling.

It was at this moment that Yan Xun walked in. Agutu did not recognize him and stepped forward to question him. Yan Xun said nothing, directly stabbing Agutu in the shoulder with a short knife. After sitting down, he domineeringly told the clearly startled tribal leaders that he was Yan Xun, their new king, and then slit Agutu's throat with a single stroke, making an example of him.

Three secret strongholds planted by the Liang secret government were discovered in Xianyang City. Yuwen Yue rushed there with all haste to rendezvous with Old Luo, a spy from the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes in Xianyang, but he was still a step late. He went to check the largest stronghold. Relying on his keen intuition, he captured a female spy from Liang and at the same time rescued a child.

Yuwen Yue learned from the female spy about an organization called the Xianyang Chamber of Commerce. Three years ago, this chamber suddenly appeared and gradually monopolized the oil, grain, rice, and flour businesses in the surrounding area. The visible owner of the chamber was a merchant named Liu Xi, but legend had it that the true master was an underworld figure known as Master Feng Si. Yuwen Yue had been secretly investigating Chu Qiao's whereabouts.

At the same time, Xiao Ce was also looking for Chu Qiao. He asked Zhan Ziyu, the head of the powerful Zhan family, to help him find Chu Qiao, offering the whereabouts of a person named Xia Chong, whom Zhan Ziyu cared about most, as an exchange. Chu Qiao disguised herself as a man, wearing a dark blue robe and specially attaching a small mustache, portraying the identity of a Jianghu figure vividly.

Passing through the Xianyang market, she unexpectedly saw an acquaintance. The scholar she had encountered a few days ago was miserably confined in a cage, being peddled by human traffickers. Chu Qiao, remembering that he had once helped her, kindly bought him out. Unexpectedly, the scholar's integrity was high, and he didn't want to associate with her, so he turned and left.

Not long after, when Chu Qiao passed through the market again, she saw the scholar once again confined in a cage and being peddled. This time, the scholar had learned his lesson, temporarily cast aside his so-called integrity, and pleaded with Chu Qiao to rescue him. After Chu Qiao rescued him again, the scholar's impression of her subtly improved. Late at night, the two spent the night in a dilapidated temple.

The scholar introduced himself, telling Chu Qiao his name was Liang Shaoqing. Of course, Chu Qiao already knew this. It turned out that Liang Shaoqing had already introduced himself during their first encounter.

Episode 48 Recap

Faint and fragmented footsteps were heard. Chu Qiao looked out sharply, and within a moment, a large number of soldiers entered. Liang Shaoqing was weak and helpless, and Chu Qiao had to deal with so many people alone. Seeing that the soldiers were about to release arrows, Chu Qiao had no choice but to throw Jian to stop them. The other side had a large number of people, and the effect of blocking was minimal.

Without a weapon, Chu Qiao was hit by an arrow in an instant when the sky was full of flying arrows. He could only rely on Liang Shaoqing to carry her and run away frantically. Arriving at a deserted place, Chu Qiao keenly noticed that someone was lurking in the dark. In order to protect Liang Shaoqing, Chu Qiao showed that she disliked him as a useless scholar and drove him away. The person in the dark came out.

It turned out to be Boss Mu, a trafficker from the market. He brought people, and Chu Qiao was seriously injured and unable to resist. At this time, Liang Shaoqing suddenly ran over from a distance holding a bamboo basket, intending to save Chu Qiao. He was still loyal, unwilling to abandon the injured Chu Qiao and returned. Seeing that Chu Qiao was in trouble, he did not flinch and rushed forward desperately.

It's just that the uselessness of scholars is indeed the case from some perspectives. Liang Shaoqing was instantly knocked to the ground by two strong men beside Boss Mu. At the same time, Yan Xun secretly arrived in Xianyang with Cheng Yuan and others. Master Feng Si of the Xianyang Chamber of Commerce was Feng Mian, Yan Xun's former bookboy. Liu Xi, the nominal president of the Chamber of Commerce, was a righteous scholar and official.

He resigned because he disdained the Emperor of Wei's behavior. He knew Wu Daoya and was full of sympathy for Northern Yan. Therefore, he became the president of the Xianyang Chamber of Commerce. Except for Liu Xi, the entire Chamber of Commerce was carefully selected by Wu Daoya from Northern Yan. The Chamber of Commerce gradually grew, and in the face of huge profits, some people became greedy.

They had already been suppressed, but after the news of Yan Xun's defection came, Liu Xi felt that Yan Xun was too murderous and refused to hand over the Chamber of Commerce's account books to Feng Mian. Some unwilling people began to stir again. It is said that Liu Xi gave the account book to the teacher in his mansion and asked him to send it to the shop in Wupeng City. Feng Mian has already sent someone there.

At the same time, Yuwen Yue also learned about the account book of the Xianyang Chamber of Commerce. Wei Guang, the head of the Wei family, had been fighting with the Xianyang Chamber of Commerce for years. The current head of the family, Wei Shuye, asked the Emperor of Wei for permission to come to Xianyang to rectify the Chamber of Commerce. It seems that this Xianyang Chamber of Commerce is really a piece of fat.

Not only Wei Shuye came from Chang'an, but also people from Wangsheng Camp. Lan Shuyi hated Chu Qiao so much that she spent a lot of money to let the people from Wangsheng Camp hunt her down. Since Chu Qiao and Liang Shaoqing were taken away by the trafficker Boss Mu, they have been kept in cages and put up for sale.

Liang Shaoqing took out an account book, saying that it was entrusted to him by his master for safekeeping. He also knew that he was weak and powerless, so he handed the account book over to Chu Qiao for safekeeping. This should be the account book that Yan Xun was looking for, but unexpectedly, it ended up in Chu Qiao's hands by chance.

Yuwen Yue was walking in the Xianyang market and saw rabbit lanterns being sold at a roadside stall. He remembered that he had also bought a rabbit lantern for Chu Qiao before, and she looked very happy holding the lantern. Suddenly, he heard the cries of slave traders. Yuwen Yue turned his head and looked, as if he saw Chu Qiao locked in a cage, isolated and helpless.

After seeing clearly, he realized that the people he wanted to see were not among them. Yuwen Yue, thinking of the plight of these trafficked female slaves, bought them all. Less than a moment after Yuwen Yue left, the seriously injured and unconscious Chu Qiao and Liang Shaoqing were bought. It turned out that the butler of the Zhan family had been doing business with Boss Mu. He had previously told Boss Mu to buy a severely injured maid.

Chu Qiao was pre-ordered, so she was not in the cages sold outside, and therefore missed Yuwen Yue. Soon after, Yue Qi discovered Jian in the market and learned from the sword vendor that Jian was found. Yuwen Yue knew that Chu Qiao would not drop Jian for no reason. Since she was in Xianyang, wasn't what he just saw not an illusion? Yuwen Yue hurried back to the place where the slaves were sold just now.

Under Yue Qi's coercion, Boss Mu revealed that there was indeed a slave they described, but he had been bought by the Zhan family's steward an incense time ago. Yuwen Yue found out that only two groups of people had left the city today, both going to Wupeng City. He hurried over on horseback. At the same time, Chu Qiao woke up on the Zhan family's large ship. She saw Zhan Ziyu on the deck.

Chu Qiao could guess from Zhan Ziyu's clothes, food, and utensils that he was a wealthy person, but even if he had money, he shouldn't spend a lot of money to buy a severely injured maid and treat her with good medicine, right? After all, judging from Zhan Ziyu's style of insisting that his subordinates sail upstream, he was not a person who cared for his subordinates.

Chu Qiao revealed everything and secretly took a small knife in her hand, asking Zhan Ziyu who was instructing him to do this. Zhan Ziyu admired Chu Qiao's observation skills and did not want to hide it from her, telling her that the person behind it was Prince Xiao Ce of Liang. Xiao Ce just wanted to save her and did not want to restrict her freedom. Therefore, Chu Qiao and Liang Shaoqing disembarked in Wupeng City.

Chu Qiao was chased all the way, and the danger was heavy. She didn't want to put Liang Shaoqing in danger, so she reluctantly drove him away again. Not long after Liang Shaoqing left, Chu Qiao remembered the account book he had left with her and chased after him in the direction Liang Shaoqing had left.

At this time, Liang Shaoqing had been found by the soldiers, who were arresting him, the teacher from Liu Xi's mansion in the Xianyang Chamber of Commerce. Chu Qiao arrived just as Liang Shaoqing was being taken away. On the other side, Cheng Yuan, a subordinate of Yan Xun, also saw this scene not far away. Chu Qiao knew that she couldn't fight head-on and had to find another way to save Liang Shaoqing.

Late at night, she sneaked into the city guard's mansion in Wupeng City and saw Commander Tian walking out of the lake pavilion in the mansion with Yuwen Yue. In a hurry, Chu Qiao entered a room, knocked out the woman in the room, and changed into her clothes. Chu Qiao never expected that this room with a hot spring was specially prepared by Commander Tian for Yuwen Yue, who suffered from cold diseases, to please him.

Commander Tian had stated early on that dancers had been prepared in the room, so Yuwen Yue did not think much when he saw the woman kneeling behind the gauze curtain with her head down. Seeing that Yuwen Yue had no intention of communicating with her, Chu Qiao was about to leave quietly. Just as her hand touched the doorknob, Yuwen Yue's lazy voice came, asking her to give him a massage. Chu Qiao frowned and reluctantly walked towards Yuwen Yue.

Episode 49 Recap

The hot spring pool was filled with mist, with a few petals floating on it. Chu Qiao walked over step by step and carefully massaged Yuwen Yue for a moment. When he relaxed his guard, Chu Qiao quietly reached for her head. Concealed by layers of dark hair, an exquisite small knife was hidden there.

Chu Qiao brought the knife down, but unexpectedly Yuwen Yue blocked it with one hand, even taking the opportunity to throw her into the hot spring pool. As Chu Qiao touched the water, she kicked water at Yuwen Yue's face. The two instantly began fighting in the hot spring pool. Chu Qiao didn't want to prolong the fight and sprinted forward. Unfortunately, Yuwen Yue grabbed her clothes from the back.

Chu Qiao was wearing the dancer's clothes, which were originally cool camisole attire. With such a strong grab from Yuwen Yue, the clothes were completely torn. In desperation, Chu Qiao had no choice but to tear a nearby gauze curtain and wrap it around herself. Yuwen Yue then came out of the hot spring pool, and the two continued fighting all the way to the bed. Perhaps to create a romantic atmosphere, the bed was heavily draped with curtains.

During their fight, Yuwen Yue lost his balance and fell directly onto Chu Qiao, coincidentally kissing her on the lips. Chu Qiao's eyes instantly widened, furious, and her attacks became even more ferocious. The two fought intensely, creating a lot of noise. Yue Qi heard the sound and rushed in without hesitation. Yuwen Yue quickly covered Chu Qiao with a blanket and coldly told Yue Qi to get out. Yue Qi came out bewildered.

The other Yue Spies, however, were pleased to see it, thinking that Mister had finally gotten enlightened, and the woman inside seemed to have some skill. Yue Qi regained his senses amidst their teasing, a bit doubtful if that was truly his own Mister. Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue quietly listened to the conversation of the Yue Spies outside. Chu Qiao mocked Yuwen Yue, saying that if the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will be crooked.

Yuwen Yue, always sharp-tongued, scoffed that she could even climb onto a man's bed, so her beam must be very straight. Wanting to get some clothes to wear, Yuwen Yue opened the wardrobe and the half-awake dancer fell out right at him. He pushed her hard, and the poor dancer fell unconscious back into the wardrobe. Chu Qiao had not expected Yuwen Yue to suddenly open the wardrobe. When she spoke to warn him, the scene had already unfolded.

Chu Qiao was about to leave when she heard the voice of City Guard Tian from outside. It turned out Wei Shuye had arrived, and City Guard Tian came to ask if Yuwen Yue wanted to see him. Of course, Yuwen Yue would not go to see Wei Shuye, so that Chu Qiao could take the opportunity to sneak away. Moreover, he was certain that Wei Shuye came at this time specifically to capture Chu Qiao.

Wei Shuye had admired Yuan Chun since childhood, and Yuan Chun hated Chu Qiao to the bone. Chu Qiao's current situation could be described as perilous. Waking up early in the morning, Chu Qiao ate breakfast with great interest. Yuwen Yue curiously asked her the reason for coming to the City Guard's mansion. Of course, Chu Qiao would not tell him the truth, only saying that she was short on money and came to steal some.

She didn't say, and Yuwen Yue wouldn't force her, but merely played along, telling her to steal more. Northern Yan was poor, and going there would only bring hardship and suffering. Chu Qiao didn't mind. Northern Yan was Yan Xun's home, which meant it was her home too. These words were extremely jarring to Yuwen Yue's ears. The journey to Northern Yan was fraught with danger.

Yuwen Yue told her that even if she was injured or died, she should not let him know, especially in places he couldn't see, touch, or help. He couldn't bear such a helpless feeling. This was the first time Yuwen Yue had expressed his feelings for Chu Qiao so directly. Chu Qiao was momentarily stunned. Yuwen Yue was usually a very disciplined person, but this time he stayed in the room with a dancer until late morning.

It was likely that the dancer was not an ordinary person. Wei Shuye wanted to enter the room to investigate, but with Yue Qi there, he wouldn't let him in no matter what. Wei Shuye had no choice but to invite Yuwen Yue to meet at the subsequent luncheon, specifically asking him to bring the dancer to see. Yuwen Yue took Chu Qiao to the banquet, personally choosing a pink dress for her.

Wearing a beautiful dress and light makeup, she fully displayed her feminine charm. Over the years, Chu Qiao had been running around for Yan Xun, wearing only black or white, paying no attention to her attire. Yuwen Yue felt pained for her. Before leaving, Yuwen Yue put a veil on Chu Qiao, one that women in this place would wear for concealment. Chu Qiao silently rolled her eyes.

Why make her put on makeup if she had to wear a veil? It was simply redundant. At the luncheon prepared by City Guard Tian for Yuwen Yue and Wei Shuyou, Wei Shuye tried every means to probe Chu Qiao's identity. However, with Yuwen Yue present, he would not succeed. Wei Shuye's official reason for coming this time was to reorganize the merchant guild.

The Xianyang Merchant Guild was Yan Xun's economic lifeline, and the ledger in Liang Shaoqing's hands recorded the shady dealings among Xianyang's wealthy merchants, making it crucial. Liang Shaoqing had just been handed over to Wei Shuye when he was hijacked by several masked men in black. Chu Qiao was very worried about him. Yuwen Yue had originally planned to leave tomorrow, taking Chu Qiao with him.

But Chu Qiao couldn't wait; she had to rescue Liang Shaoqing as quickly as possible. Sneaking out without Yuwen Yue's knowledge, Chu Qiao rescued Liang Shaoqing, and the two escaped together. The pursuers quickly caught up, so Chu Qiao had no choice but to let Liang Shaoqing go first. The one leading the pursuit was Cheng Yuan, Yan Xun's newly promoted capable assistant. Unfortunately, he and Chu Qiao had not yet met and did not know each other's identities.

When Chu Qiao fled, she accidentally dropped the ledger. She turned her horse back to retrieve it. At the same time, Cheng Yuan also happened to arrive. In a narrow encounter, Chu Qiao only managed to get part of the ledger before being blocked by Cheng Yuan with a Jian. They had more people, so Chu Qiao had to abandon the ledger. In the blink of an eye, it was night.

Chu Qiao was anxious to escape, traveling day and night. When she reached a forest, Yuwen Yue caught up. Knowing the path ahead was perilous, how could Yuwen Yue let her go alone? The horse Chu Qiao stole for her escape happened to be Wei Shuye's horse. Fortunately, Yuwen Yue discovered it, otherwise she wouldn't even know how she died. As expected, Wei Shuye quickly caught up. They hid in the dark and only came out after Wei Shuye left.

At the same time, assassins from the Samsara Camp arrived. Unexpectedly, the seemingly gentle Zhan Ziyu was actually the master of the Samsara Camp. Even though the target to be killed this time was Chu Qiao, whom Xiao Ce intended to protect, Zhan Ziyu would not miss this opportunity to make money. Among the assassins trained this time, there was a very outstanding newcomer. This assassination would serve as an experience for him.

When the Samsara Camp assassins arrived, Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue had already detected them. Unexpectedly, the outstanding newcomer Zhan Ziyu spoke of was actually a female assassin. Unable to defeat Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue, she had to release hidden weapons and escape. Seeing the hidden weapon flying towards Yuwen Yue, Chu Qiao instinctively blocked it. The poisoned silver needle instantly pierced her arm.

On the other side, Yan Xun had been unable to find Chu Qiao's whereabouts for a long time and was extremely anxious. Since Cheng Yuan had obtained the ledger, Yan Xun planned for a quick decisive battle. Tonight, he would thoroughly reorganize the Xianyang Merchant Guild in Chaoxi Pavilion.

Episode 50 Recap

When evening came, Feng Mian hosted a grand banquet at Chaoxi Pavilion for the various shopkeepers of Xianyang Chamber of Commerce. These shopkeepers, accustomed to a life of fine clothes and rich food for years, knew that Yan Xun was rebelling, and they didn't want to take risks, so they all wanted to withdraw.

They didn't even consider that the wealth they had accumulated over so many years was entirely dependent on Northern Yan's support, and that Northern Yan's financial taxes had also been appropriated by them. Under such circumstances, how could Yan Xun possibly let them escape unscathed? Feng Mian arrived with Cheng Yuan and others. Cheng Yuan's methods were ruthless; he killed the most arrogant Shopkeeper Xu to make an example of him.

The account books Cheng Yuan obtained contained financial transactions between the various shopkeepers and Northern Yan; if these were exposed, Great Wei would certainly not let them off. Those who could become shopkeepers were all shrewd individuals who understood how to assess the situation. For a time, they all became polite to Cheng Yuan, abandoning their thoughts of secretly transferring assets and escaping. Afterwards, Feng Mian and Cheng Yuan talked on a wooden bridge deep in the forest.

Feng Mian only then realized that the account books Cheng Yuan had brought back were only half complete. However, these shopkeepers were now intimidated and should not have second thoughts. Cheng Yuan sneered, saying that even if they had second thoughts, they probably wouldn't get the chance, as Wei Shuye had already investigated them and would not give up easily. Feng Mian was surprised that since he knew all this, why he didn't warn those shopkeepers.

Cheng Yuan laughed at his naivety, stating that if Yan Xun wanted to protect these people, he wouldn't have sent him, Cheng Yuan. Yan Xun had once bestowed upon Cheng Yuan a Dragon Sparrow Blade. The Dragon Sparrow is a legendary blade said to be possessed by evil spirits, and Cheng Yuan was the Dragon Sparrow Blade in Yan Xun's hand.

Late at night, Cheng Yuan led his men to slaughter the entire families of these shopkeepers, leaving no one alive, not even chickens or dogs. At that time, no one noticed that a child from the Ouyang family had secretly escaped. By the time they discovered it, the child was already gone. On the other side, Yuwen Yue brought Chu Qiao and blended into a security escort agency.

They traveled with the agency to Jiankang, the capital of Liang, under the guise of a married couple. During a rest stop, Yuwen Yue and Chu Qiao sat on a large rock, eating hard, dry rations. Watching the Mister, who was usually accustomed to a life of fine clothes and rich food, eating simple flatbreads, Chu Qiao couldn't help but tease him. Yuwen Yue simply smiled.

He was no longer the noble Mister of three years ago; three years of life on the frontier had lowered his demands for food. At the same time, witnessing lives treated as mere grass, he also came to understand Chu Qiao's long-held dream of equality. Yuwen Yue had already persuaded his grandfather to free all slaves before he left.

Hearing him say that, Chu Qiao felt as if a great weight had instantly been lifted from her heart, and her mood brightened significantly. It was truly wonderful that Yuwen Yue could understand her. Yuwen Yue had always called Chu Qiao Xing'er because the first time he saw her, her eyes were as bright as stars. Chu Qiao's heart blossomed with joy, but she still wouldn't give in, insisting on being called Chu Qiao. "

Chu Qiao it is then," he thought, "anyway, in Yuwen Yue's heart, she has always been his Xing'er." Suddenly, hearing a sound, Yuwen Yue found a little girl under a nearby carriage. The girl told them her name was Xingxing. Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yue looked displeased, thinking, "Who let her have this name? This name is exclusive to Xing'er." Xingxing saw the flatbread in Yuwen Yue's hand and couldn't help but swallow.

Knowing Yuwen Yue wouldn't eat it, she excitedly called Mo'er out. Mo'er was the child who had escaped from the Ouyang family. He had always been kind to Xingxing, and hearing that his entire family had been killed by bad people, Xingxing chivalrously helped him. She hid Mo'er behind their family's carriage, but he was accidentally discovered by her father.

Their family were house slaves of Mister Liu Xi, and her father dared not hide Mo'er for fear of implicating himself and Mister Liu. While her parents were cooking, Xingxing ran out with Mo'er. Liu Xi's convoy was traveling ahead of the security escort agency. At this time, both groups were resting together. When Xingxing came out, she happened to meet Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue.

Xingxing could no longer take Mo'er back, so Chu Qiao agreed to look after him. Looking at the simple flatbread, Mo'er asked if they could add some meat. He also wanted abalone soup, Snow Swallow soup, or even Roast pigeon. Yuwen Yue coldly told him there wasn't any. Mo'er thought this older brother was really poor. Chu Qiao smiled; when had Yuwen Yue ever been called poor? How embarrassing for him. That night, the three slept together.

Mo'er told them he hadn't slept with his father and mother for a long time. They always said they had things to do, and now he would never have the chance to sleep with them again. Mo'er innocently asked Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue if they would drive him away to "do things." Yuwen Yue originally had no interest in listening to a child's words about missing his parents, but suddenly hearing this question, a mouthful of wine choked him.

Children's words are without taboos. They were just about to go to sleep when sounds of fighting and screams suddenly came from outside. Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue went out to check. The scene had already been cleared, but they effortlessly found clues and soon dug up Xingxing's body from the loose soil. The child who had been laughing with them during the day was now a cold corpse. Chu Qiao was furious.

She chased after the perpetrator, shooting down a black-clad assailant with an arrow. According to the black-clad assailant, all these killings were ordered by Elder Liu Xi. Liu Xi was from Northern Yan. Since he had committed such heinous acts, Chu Qiao intended to clean up the mess within the faction, and Yuwen Yue accompanied her.

Episode 51 Recap

Outside Liu Xi's camp, Yuwen Yue and Chu Qiao observed in secret for a moment. Mo'er recognized the clothes of these people and told Chu Qiao that these were the ones who killed his entire family. Hearing this, Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue no longer hesitated and rushed out directly. Before rushing out, Yuwen Yue sent out a distress signal. The two sides started fighting. Chu Qiao shouted for Liu Xi to get out.

However, there was no Liu Xi in the camp at this time, only Yan Xun and his party. Yan Xun heard Chu Qiao's angry voice and dared not come out to acknowledge her. He knew that Chu Qiao disliked indiscriminately killing innocent people. Yan Xun had many people. When Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue rushed to the main tent, they were already heavily surrounded, and the situation was precarious.

At the critical moment, Yan Xun suddenly ordered them to be released. Yuwen Yue, hearing this, frowned slightly instead, and told the person in the tent that if he ever fell into his hands in the future, he would also let him live. At the same time, Chu Qiao also looked at the main tent thoughtfully. Then the two of them left with Mo'er. The three of them settled in a cave in the forest.

Yuwen Yue thoughtfully went out to find food for Chu Qiao and Mo'er. After Yuwen Yue left, Chu Qiao earnestly instructed Mo'er to follow Yuwen Yue well in the future. Mo'er's entire family was killed. If he were to do anything wrong because of hatred in the future, Chu Qiao would forgive him, just as she would forgive Yan Xun.

As early as outside Liu Xi's camp, when Yan Xun spoke to let them go, Chu Qiao and Yuwen Yue had already guessed that the person inside was Yan Xun, but no one pointed it out. Yuwen Yue returned to the cave and saw that only Mo'er was there, so he knew Chu Qiao had left. He then found a note left by Chu Qiao in the forest.

She stated that she must find Yan Xun to stop him from making more mistakes. Yue Qi and Wei Shuye discovered Yuwen Yue's distress signal. Yue Qi knew that Mister would only send out a purple signal in an emergency. At the same time, Wei Shuye received news that Yan Xun's whereabouts had been discovered.

Yue Qi wanted to go with Wei Shuye to apprehend Yan Xun, but Wei Shuye did not want Yue Qi to interfere in his affairs, only telling him to go find his Mister. Yan Xun had already received the news before Wei Shuye arrived. He had intended to stay and wait for Chu Qiao to explain the matter of killing the wealthy merchants to her, as Yan Xun knew Chu Qiao must have guessed it was him.

However, it was too dangerous to stay there. Feng Mian suggested that he stay and wait for Chu Qiao, letting Yan Xun leave first. Although Yan Xun wanted to see Chu Qiao, the place was indeed full of dangers, and he still had a great revenge to avenge, so he could not take the risk. After failing to assassinate Chu Qiao, the female assassin Meng Feng from the Samsara Camp fled back to her base camp in disarray.

The camp leader, with his face covered by a black cloth, his appearance completely obscured, leisurely played the zither behind a desk. Meng Feng knelt on the ground to confess her crime. The rule of the Samsara Camp was to commit suicide by poison immediately after a failed assassination, but she was unwilling and asked the camp leader for another chance. Moreover, she had not entirely failed this mission. She had poisoned Chu Qiao with the 'Dengxian Pill' poison.

Without an antidote, Chu Qiao would not live much longer. The reason she did not use a fatal poison that would kill upon contact with blood was because Meng Feng intuitively felt that keeping Chu Qiao alive would still be useful to the camp leader. The camp leader had always been ruthless, but seeing that Meng Feng was not only skilled but also very intelligent, he provisionally spared her life.

The Samsara Camp's Nirvana Grand Examination was about to begin again. Each time, only three people could achieve nirvana and become "Reborn Ones"; the others would die in the examination. The camp leader anticipated Meng Feng's performance in this grand examination. At the same time, Chu Qiao did not go directly to Yan Xun, but returned to erect a tomb for Xingxing. In front of the tomb, she confessed to this innocent little girl.

Yan Xun was the one who killed Xingxing's entire family, and Chu Qiao could not avenge her, feeling very guilty in her heart. Wei Shuye failed to capture Yan Xun. Unexpectedly, he encountered Chu Qiao on the way back. This was truly a blessing in disguise. Chu Qiao did not expect to encounter Wei Shuye. Wei Shuye was determined to kill her. Chu Qiao struggled to break through the encirclement, ran to a cliff edge, and jumped down without hesitation.

Chu Qiao was not blindly fleeing, nor did she intend to end her life there. She was prepared beforehand, pulling out a rope she carried with her and hanging it on the cliff, intending to descend slowly. But Wei Shuye was not that easy to fool. He saw that Chu Qiao did not fall directly and ordered arrows to be fired.

Meanwhile, on the small road beneath the cliff, a carriage sped over and shot arrows towards Wei Shuye and his party. Seeing the unfavorable situation, Wei Shuye shot an arrow at Chu Qiao's rope, and Chu Qiao fell straight down. Just at the critical moment, the top of the carriage suddenly opened, and the person inside pulled Chu Qiao in. Yuan Chun sent a letter inquiring about the progress.

Wei Shuye had his subordinate reply, falsely claiming that Chu Qiao was dead, to appease Yuan Chun. At the same time, he also planned to return to Chang'an. Yuwen Yue brought Yue Qi and came aggressively to find him. Since it concerned Chu Qiao's safety, Yuwen Yue no longer avoided suspicion and directly demanded her from Wei Shuye.

Wei Shuye told him that Chu Qiao had jumped off the cliff, her life or death unknown, and at the same time warned Yuwen Yue to recognize his own identity and not collude with rebels. Yuwen Yue took Yue Qi to check the cliff. He did not find a body at the bottom of the cliff. Yuwen Yue was relieved that Chu Qiao was still alive and immediately sent people to find out where she went.

Yue Qi saw his Mister being so concerned about Chu Qiao and couldn't help but remind him that since Chu Qiao chose to leave, it meant she had chosen Yan Xun. Mister was a Great Wei general, while Chu Qiao was a rebel. Yue Qi was worried that Mister would be implicated. How could Yuwen Yue not think of what Yue Qi was worried about? But he just couldn't let go of Chu Qiao.

Yan Xun had already left, and Chu Qiao was alone, facing the relentless pursuit of Great Wei's numerous troops. If he didn't protect her, who would? Soon after, news of Chu Qiao finally arrived, and Yuwen Yue rushed over. The one who saved Chu Qiao was Xiao Ce, the Crown Prince of Liang. Chu Qiao weakly woke up, looking extremely haggard. She was already poisoned and had been tormented for days, finally unable to hold on anymore.

Seeing her awaken, Xiao Ce showed a big smile and asked her what she wanted to eat, immediately ordering someone to prepare it. At this moment, a subordinate reported that Yuwen Yue had arrived. Xiao Ce sighed that Yuwen Yue came really fast, as his letter had not been sent out long ago. Yuwen Yue entered the room and saw Chu Qiao's pale face, feeling a pang of heartache.

Only after taking her pulse did he realize that her poison was severe enough to be life-threatening. Hearing Yuwen Yue describe the process of Chu Qiao being poisoned, Xiao Ce guessed that the assassins were from the Samsara Camp, and the mastermind camp leader was very likely Zhan Ziyu, the owner of Xianyang City's largest shipping gang.

Seeing Xiao Ce's extensive knowledge of the Samsara Camp, Yuwen Yue knew that Xiao Ce intended for him to help eliminate the Samsara Camp. As long as it benefited Chu Qiao, Yuwen Yue was willing to help with this favor.

Episode 52 Recap

Yuwen Yue decided to set off to find Wangshengying. Before leaving, he specifically reminded Xiao Ce to take good care of Chu Qiao and to control himself, not to harbor any intentions towards Chu Qiao. Yuwen Yue immediately dispatched Tianyan spies to investigate the address of Wangshengying and the person Zhan Ziyu. The spies caught a person named Xu Liang, who was a major assassin of Wangshengying. Xu Liang was the youngest son in his family.

Just after he passed Wangshengying's Great Nirvana Examination, his home inexplicably caught fire, and all his family members died. Xu Liang suspected that Wangshengying was behind it, but he never had any evidence. The clever Tianyan spies fabricated a piece of evidence that was convincing enough to be mistaken for real, hoping to pry open Xu Liang's mouth with it. In a dim secret chamber, Xiao Yu was leisurely lying on a sleeping couch.

In a cage not far away, a woman named Xiacong was imprisoned. Xiacong was the real killer of Luo He back then and had also met Luo He's daughter. Xiao Yu wanted to find Luo He's daughter through her to obtain the Fengyun Order, so she could control the Jianghu spies with it. But Xiacong was very tight-lipped; Xiao Yu couldn't get any useful clues from her.

Xiacong was not afraid of retaliation from Luo He's people, but Xiao Yu didn't believe she wasn't afraid of Wangshengying. Xiacong was originally a member of Wangshengying. Wangshengying was always cruel to assassins who fell into enemy hands, so Xiacong was indeed afraid of returning to Wangshengying and had no choice but to speak to Xiao Yu.

Back then, she was ordered to assassinate Luo He, but at the last moment, she gave up because she saw kindness and warmth in Luo He's eyes and was influenced by it. Xiacong bore some resemblance to Chu Qiao. Luo He imparted a portion of her Cold Ice Skill inner power to her, hoping she could impersonate Chu Qiao and help Chu Qiao escape the enemies' killing.

After Wangshengying's master discovered the fact that Xiacong and Chu Qiao looked alike, he wanted to kill Xiacong and frame Chu Qiao for Luo He's death. The master originally intended for Xiacong to die under the pursuit of Luo He's people, but he didn't expect her to be controlled by Xiao Yu. Xiacong suspected that the master had known Luo He all along.

If Xiao Yu wanted to further understand the relationship between the master and Luo He, she would probably have to go to Wangshengying herself, as these matters were all recorded in secret documents within Wangshengying. The mysterious Wangshengying was located on Kongsang Mountain. Meanwhile, Yuwen Yue caught an assassin from Wangshengying. He coerced and enticed the assassin to speak, then led his people towards Kongsang Mountain. At this time on Kongsang Mountain, Wangshengying's triennial Great Nirvana Examination had also begun.

The Great Nirvana Examination was extremely cruel. Only a few steamed buns were hidden in various corners, and the assassins had to kill each other to obtain food and survive. Meng Feng re-entered the Great Nirvana Examination. With her previous experience, she easily found the steamed buns. At the same time, several assassins surrounded her. Meng Feng didn't want to fight with them and directly gave them the steamed buns, but unexpectedly, these people actually threw the steamed buns away.

Meng Feng grew suspicious. She killed one person and observed carefully. She discovered that these people were not from Wangshengying at all; they had tokens on them, and green silk threads on their right wrists. Meng Feng realized that someone had infiltrated. She reminded her own people to stop competing and unite against the outsiders. Meng Feng's guess was not wrong; those with silk threads tied to their wrists were Xiao Yu's people.

At the same time, Yuwen Yue also arrived with his people. Wangshengying was filled with numerous traps; one careless move and they would be shot full of holes by sudden arrows. The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense, and Meng Feng encountered Yuwen Yue head-on.

Episode 53 Recap

Yuwen Yue easily subdued Meng Feng. Meng Feng and all the assassins from the Resurrection Camp had been given the Dengxian Pill by the Camp Master. Yuwen Yue's purpose on this trip was to obtain the antidote for the Dengxian Pill. Meng Feng knew that even if she won the Nirvana Grand Examination again this time, the Camp Master would not give her the antidote. To get the antidote, cooperating with Yuwen Yue was the best way.

So, when Yuwen Yue offered to help her, Meng Feng quickly agreed. With Meng Feng leading the way, they easily avoided the traps and took fewer detours, heading straight for the Camp Master's secret chamber. The Camp Master of the Resurrection Camp had actually already arrived at Kongsang Mountain. He didn't take the intruders seriously, instead thinking it would make this grand examination more interesting.

When Yuwen Yue and the others arrived, faint zither music emanated from the Camp Master's secret chamber. After they entered, Meng Feng immediately challenged the Camp Master. After all, the Camp Master was highly skilled in martial arts, and Meng Feng was simply not on the same level as him. Meng Feng was forced back several steps by a palm strike from the Camp Master. Fortunately, Yuwen Yue lent a hand, preventing her from falling.

Yuwen Yue then made his move, and the Camp Master was surprisingly easily killed by him. At this moment, Xiao Yu and her female spy also arrived at the Camp Master's secret chamber. They had already disguised themselves as assassins from the Resurrection Camp.

At this point, Xiao Yu saw the Camp Master killed and, not wanting to conflict with Yuwen Yue, directly blended in with the assassins to follow Yuwen Yue's orders and gather at the center of Kongsang Mountain's secret chamber. After the people from the Resurrection Camp left, Yuwen Yue carefully observed the Camp Master he had killed, suddenly realizing something was wrong. This Camp Master must have been fake; otherwise, he couldn't have been killed so easily.

However, the immediate priority was to find the antidote. All traps shared similarities, and Yuwen Yue easily found the antidote for the Dengxian Pill with his years of spy experience. But there was only one bottle of the antidote. He also wanted to save the many assassins from the Resurrection Camp outside. Assassins were also human; if not for being forced, no one would willingly choose this path. Yuwen Yue, by scent, identified three of the ingredients for the antidote.

Only one more was missing, which should be a spice, but he had no clue for now. Just then, a Yue Spies member curiously picked up a small purple flower nearby and sniffed it, instantly falling to the ground. Seeing this, Yuwen Yue carefully examined the purple flower and discovered it was Hu Ci Flower, extremely poisonous, and also the fourth ingredient for the antidote.

Yue Qi expedited the preparation of the antidote and distributed it to the assassins of the Resurrection Camp. At first, they all hesitated. Only Meng Feng picked up the antidote without hesitation and consumed it; she intuitively felt that Yuwen Yue would not harm them. Seeing that Meng Feng had no discomfort after taking the antidote, the others then picked up the antidote one after another and consumed it.

Xiao Yu and her companion blended in, and forced by the situation, they had no choice but to pretend to eat. What kind of person was Yuwen Yue? No one could play tricks in front of him. Xiao Yu's ploy was easily seen through by Yuwen Yue, but he did not immediately expose them. Yuwen Yue announced that the Camp Master of the Resurrection Camp was dead and that the Resurrection Camp was disbanded from then on.

Xiao Yu and her companion left with the other assassins. Only Meng Feng and a few others remained. They had been trained as assassins in the camp since childhood and had no idea where to go after leaving the Resurrection Camp. Yuwen Yue had helped them, and his way of doing things was very popular. Meng Feng and a few others wanted to follow him from then on.

Yuwen Yue originally didn't want to take them in; he helped them without expecting anything in return. But Meng Feng told him that someone had hired them to kill his woman, and since they were assassins, they could help him kill people. As it concerned Chu Qiao, Yuwen Yue agreed. After Xiao Yu exited the central secret chamber, she did not leave directly but continued to search for the secret records there.

Persistence paid off, and they finally obtained the secret records without much difficulty. Xiao Yu recalled the traps she encountered along the way, always finding them strangely familiar. When she was little, someone had given her a small wooden horse. That person was proficient in the art of mechanisms, and the horse he made could travel a thousand li a day. Xiao Yu suspected he was connected to the Resurrection Camp. Just then, Yuwen Yue found them.

He guessed that Xiao Yu was a spy from Liang. Xiao Yu no longer concealed it and generously admitted it. Part of the reason Yuwen Yue left Chang'an this time was to clear out the Liang spies within Great Wei, and at this point, he naturally wouldn't let Xiao Yu go. During their fight, the Cangwu bird doll that Xiao Yu always carried fell out.

Xiao Yu was distracted for a moment and was stabbed in the left shoulder by Yuwen Yue. Fortunately, her female spy seized the opportunity to release a hidden weapon, allowing her to escape. Xiao Yu knew that she would face Yuwen Yue head-on one day, but when that day truly came, she still couldn't help but feel sad. She harbored affection for Yuwen Yue in her heart. In the pouring rain, Xiao Yu cried helplessly.

The matter of the Resurrection Camp concluded. Yuwen Yue rushed back to Jiankang as quickly as possible, his heart longing to see Chu Qiao. When Xiao Ce informed him that Chu Qiao had already left, Yuwen Yue was very disheartened. Chu Qiao had left him once again. He walked out dejectedly, and when he saw Chu Qiao in the courtyard, it was as if a withered tree had come back to life in an instant.

Yuwen Yue held Chu Qiao tightly in his arms, his anxious heart finally at ease. In the elegant and serene room, Chu Qiao told Yuwen Yue that she was leaving. Yuwen Yue, as a Great Wei general, had always helped her, a Northern Yan rebel. Chu Qiao was worried that he would get into trouble upon returning to Chang'an. Aside from this, Chu Qiao said nothing else. Yuwen Yue, in a fit of pique, mocked himself for being self-delusional.

He stood up and was about to leave. Chu Qiao called out to stop him. How could she not feel Yuwen Yue's affection? But she had her own ideals; Yan Xun needed her, and she had to help him. Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yue suddenly turned back and kissed her, showing her through his actions that he also needed her. Chu Qiao froze for a moment.

Yuwen Yue couldn't bear to see her in a difficult position and turned to leave. From day to night, Chu Qiao stayed in the room, her heart torn by countless emotions, feeling extremely uncomfortable. Xiao Ce came in to counsel her. There were two paths before her now: one thorny, one filled with flowers. But since she had chosen to walk the thorny path with Yan Xun, she must steadfastly continue on it.

As for Yuwen Yue, he would understand sooner or later. Yan Xun's people had already arrived. After Xiao Ce's guidance, Chu Qiao also came to a realization and decided to leave with Yan Xun's people tomorrow. At the same time, on a grassland in Northern Yan, He Xiao discovered that several Xiuli Army soldiers were missing. This area was close to Honghcuan City, so they were probably homesick and couldn't resist sneaking home to see their relatives. He Xiao took Wu Danyu and a few others into the city to look for them.

Episode 54 Recap

In their familiar hometown, the missing soldiers were not found, and the others who came with He Xiao also couldn't help but want to go home and see. He Xiao, considering their strong desire to return home, agreed to give them an hour to go home and see, despite the risk. Wu Danyu secretly hid outside his home, watching his wife and son, and couldn't help but get teary-eyed.

He Xiao went to see his father, seeing that at his old age, he was still being criticized because of He Xiao's past actions. He Xiao felt an unspeakable bitterness in his heart. Another soldier, Zhang Yu, returned home, only to be told by his brother that their mother had died. When she was ill, she couldn't even get medicine because of him, her traitorous son. Zhang Yu was overwhelmed with guilt and committed suicide on the spot.

When He Xiao arrived, he happened to witness this scene. Heartbroken, he carried Zhang Yu's body out of the city. Just as the Xiuli Army was immersed in Zhang Yu's tragedy and feeling low, a group of Northern Yan soldiers suddenly arrived. The officer leading the team claimed to be General Cheng Yuan's deputy under Yan Xun. He was ordered to escort the Xiuli Army to Beiguan to guard the border.

The word "escort" made He Xiao realize that Yan Xun had not forgiven the Xiuli Army at all; allowing them to return was merely a perfunctory gesture towards Chu Qiao. The deputy repeatedly called the Xiuli Army traitors and sneered at them. He Xiao couldn't help but strike the deputy. The deputy, shouting that the Xiuli Army was rebelling, fled in a dishevelled manner. He Xiao understood that this was the effect Yan Xun wanted.

Now, the Xiuli Army was literally facing enemies on both sides: Great Wei would not let them off, and Yan Xun would not let them have an easy time. The only current plan was to hide their tracks in the vast Northern Yan grassland, seeking a glimmer of hope. In Honghcuan City at this time, Yan Xun was discussing solutions for the grain and fodder issue with his generals.

The Eight Tribes of the Grassland seemed to have submitted to Yan Xun, but within just a few days, Cheng Yuan had already intercepted three batches of letters they sent to Chang'an. It seemed these people had not truly submitted; if Yan Xun's grain and fodder did not arrive, they would not send troops to fight Great Wei. One general proposed using the troops from Beiguan, but Zhong Yu felt it was absolutely impermissible.

Once the Beiguan troops were deployed, the barbarian tribes outside the pass would certainly invade, and by then, only the innocent civilians of the grassland tribes would suffer. General Xia, an old subordinate of Marquis Northen Settler Yan Shicheng back then, now proposed reforming the military regulations. Given Yan Xun's many responsibilities, he had already drafted the rules and was just waiting for Yan Xun's review and approval.

General Xia's action showed he simply did not take Yan Xun seriously; he prided himself on being an old official, throwing his weight around, and looking down on everyone. It wasn't until Cheng Yuan brought up his embezzlement of goods from the Xianyang Chamber of Commerce that General Xia fell silent and toned down his arrogant demeanor. Yan Xun watched the people arguing before him with no expression.

Afterwards, returning to his room, he hung up the armor his father once wore. The bloodstains on the armor reminded him of the profound blood feud. When Yan Xun was in Chang'an, he greatly missed Northern Yan; everything in his memories of Northern Yan was beautiful. But upon this return, he found that no one welcomed him, nor did anyone truly pledge loyalty to him.

Yan Xun swore that all of this was temporary; he would take revenge and possess absolute power, sparing no cost to achieve this. The Emperor of Wei appointed the Third Royal Prince Yuan Qi as the Grand Marshal for the suppression of Yan, and Wei Shuye as the Grand General for the suppression of Yan, dispatching 200,000 troops directly towards Northern Yan. Upon receiving the news, Yan Xun immediately ordered the Heiying Army to depart and resist the enemy.

Before leaving, he left Cheng Yuan behind and secretly gave him some instructions. In a forest, Yuwen Yue was resting here with the Yue Spies and Meng Feng, carefully examining a map in his hand. He already knew about Great Wei's troop dispatch and Yan Xun's resistance, and that the two sides were getting closer, with a major battle imminent.

However, Yuwen Yue discovered that Yan Xun's target was not the 200,000 Wei troops; what he truly wanted to attack was Chang'an. Yan Xun had previously stockpiled a large amount of grain and fodder, indicating that this expedition must be a long-range one. Wei Shuye and Yuan Che simply did not understand Yan Xun, and would never imagine that he would abandon Northern Yan to attack Chang'an.

But Yan Xun was a person eager for revenge; as long as he could capture Chang'an, he wouldn't care about Northern Yan. Chang'an was in danger, so Yuwen Yue decided to immediately return to Chang'an. After Chu Qiao returned, Yan Xun did not let her go to the battlefield, but instead had Chu Qiao go to Blue City to await his victorious return. Chu Qiao sat silently in the carriage.

Cheng Yuan stood on the high city tower, watching Chu Qiao's carriage depart into the distance. Chu Qiao was Yan Xun's weakness; it was better that she left, so she wouldn't obstruct Yan Xun's path to dominance. Feng Mian and Zhong Yu were ordered to escort Chu Qiao to Blue City.

During a rest stop, Feng Mian voiced his concern: Chu Qiao, Mister Wu, and Zhong Yu were all great generals in the army, yet at this moment, none of them were in Honghcuan City. If Cheng Yuan weren't still there, Feng Mian would even suspect that Yan Xun intended to abandon Honghcuan City.

Although Feng Mian said with a laugh that it was just speculation, Chu Qiao knew that Feng Mian's guess was likely true, and she decided to immediately return to Honghcuan City. Chu Qiao encountered the Xiuli Army on her way back to the city. He Xiao knew she had returned.

The Xiuli Army was in a difficult situation; the soldiers in the army originally wanted Chu Qiao to intercede with Yan Xun on their behalf, but He Xiao did not want to put Chu Qiao in a difficult position. Yan Xun was determined to kill them, and if Chu Qiao spoke up for them, it would only harm her relationship with Yan Xun. Chu Qiao saw them just as He Xiao was saying these words.

She understood the Xiuli Army's predicament and felt immensely guilty towards them. However, as Honghcuan City was in a critical moment, Chu Qiao still hoped the Xiuli Army could defend Honghcuan. The Xiuli Army, of course, felt it was their bounden duty; Honghcuan City was their home. For this reason, He Xiao even wanted to hand over the Xiuli Army's military authority to Chu Qiao, for her to lead everyone in defending their homeland.

In Chang'an City, the Emperor of Wei secretly dispatched the Seventh Royal Prince Yuan Che to investigate a matter. The Emperor of Wei had sent 200,000 troops to suppress Yan Xun, leaving only 150,000 to defend Chang'an, but suddenly discovered that the military tally had been stolen, and the 150,000 troops had been secretly transferred away. At this moment, Chang'an was defended by only a weak force, utterly vulnerable.

With the military tally stolen and Yuan Chun missing, Yuan Che suspected that she had stolen it. The current Yuan Chun was capable of doing anything crazy. At the same time, Yuan Che received a secret letter from Yuwen Yue, learning that Yan Xun was going to attack Chang'an. It was truly a case of 'what you fear most comes to pass'. It was indeed Yuan Chun who took the military tally. She took it and went to the army suppressing Yan. Her only thought now was revenge, and for that, she would spare no cost.

Episode 55 Recap

Seeing Yuan Chun, who was reckless for revenge, Wei Shuye was heartbroken. Yuan Chun was the imperial princess of Great Wei. If Chang'an fell, what would she have left? Yuan Chun now completely disregarded her country and home; she only wanted revenge. She demanded that Wei Shuye immediately attack Honghcuan City. The only person Wei Shuye could never refuse in his life was Yuan Chun, the girl he loved.

Chu Qiao led the Xiuli Army to the outskirts of Honghcuan City, where she saw a large number of civilians trapped outside, with the city gates tightly shut. At the same time, Chu Qiao received news that Wei Shuye's army was about to arrive. The situation was critical. Chu Qiao shouted that they were reinforcements and urged the soldiers guarding the city gates to open them quickly.

Cheng Yuan received the news and claimed there were no reinforcements at all, and that those outside the city must be Wei army spies, ordering them to be shot and killed with arrows. Cheng Yuan actually knew that it was Chu Qiao outside the city, but it was Chu Qiao whom he wanted to kill. He disregarded the people of Honghcuan City. Chu Qiao would not let him go, so he had to strike first to protect himself.

Feng Mian found a way to enter the city and told Cheng Yuan that Chu Qiao was outside, asking him to open the city gates. Cheng Yuan gave a sinister smile. One of his generals had led soldiers to set up an ambush inside the city, and a large number of soldiers with bows and arrows were poised on the city walls, ready to shoot arrows at Chu Qiao and her companions at any moment.

Feng Mian realized Cheng Yuan's trick and desperately rushed onto the city tower, shouting that there was an ambush and telling Chu Qiao to run. Cheng Yuan's general, seeing that Feng Mian had revealed their plan, stabbed Feng Mian in the waist with a spear. Chu Qiao watched helplessly as Feng Mian was stabbed, lost his balance, fell from the city tower, and died spitting blood. Feng Mian died tragically, and Chu Qiao was heartbroken.

Meanwhile, the Wei army was less than forty li away from Honghcuan City. Cheng Yuan received the news and fled with his subordinate general Jiang Teng and the garrison soldiers through a secret passage. At this moment, the four Xianwan sisters, subordinates of Zhong Yu, arrived to support Chu Qiao. Two of the four sisters infiltrated the city and coerced a general inside to open the city gates.

Chu Qiao led the Xiuli Army into the city, but they were not welcomed by the city's residents, who still believed the Xiuli Army were traitors and did not trust them. Chu Qiao explained clearly to the people what had happened with the Xiuli Army back then, only then gaining their understanding. At this point, the Wei army had already arrived outside the city gates. Countless arrows rained down on Honghcuan City.

This was merely a show of force; if the city gates were not opened tomorrow, they would surely attack the city. When Cheng Yuan fled, he took a large amount of weapons and equipment, leaving nothing for the Xiuli Army. The Xiuli Army was already small in number, and now the battle to defend the city became even more difficult. Chu Qiao took out her improved weapon designs and ordered them to be urgently manufactured.

The weapons she improved had immense destructive power. Chu Qiao believed that if they could hold out for seven days, Yan Xun's reinforcements would surely arrive. At this time, Yan Xun was outside Meilin Pass, gazing towards Chang'an. He was intent on capturing the capital of Great Wei, having long disregarded the survival of Northern Yan. With a major battle imminent, He Xiao patrolled at night and found Ge Qi standing on the city tower.

He Xiao remembered that it was not Ge Qi's turn on duty tonight. Ge Qi missed his family in his heart and found it difficult to sleep, wondering if his parents at home were safe and sound, whether his young wife had given birth to a boy or a girl, or if she had already remarried. Bearing the name of a traitor, Ge Qi dared not return home to see them.

He now only hoped that tomorrow's battle would clear the Xiuli Army's name as traitors, so he could return home honorably to reunite with his family. At the same time, Chu Qiao was also inspecting various parts of the city. As she walked down a street, she noticed a boy hiding behind a pile of straw baskets, peeking at her, thinking he hadn't been discovered.

Chu Qiao smiled faintly and told him to come out, "You're hiding so obviously, who wouldn't see you?" The boy was a child Chu Qiao had saved on the street when she left Honghcuan City previously. At that time, the boy was beaten severely because he had no money but wanted to buy medicine for his sick mother. Fortunately, Chu Qiao passed by and had Feng Mian give him some silver.

Chu Qiao saw that even at such a young age, he knew to be filial to his mother, and asked for his name. The boy told her his name was Du Gouzi, and he was fifteen years old this year. Chu Qiao couldn't help but laugh at such a handsome child having such a crude name.

Du Gouzi also felt his name wasn't pleasant to hear and asked Chu Qiao to change it for him, but he still had to keep the surname Du. Chu Qiao took a deep breath and said, "Then let's call you Ping'an. I hope you can always stay safe and sound in this chaotic world." Dawn was gradually breaking, and a battle between Honghcuan City and the Wei army was inevitable.

Chu Qiao ordered the four Xianwan sisters to set up an ambush in the dense forest to cut off the Wei army's grain and heavy machinery. Although the four sisters were women, their agility was no less than that of men. They set fire to the Wei army's grain supplies, prevented heavy machinery from reaching the battlefield, forcing the Wei army to dispatch a portion of their forces to support the rear.

Even under these circumstances, the four sisters still did not fear the powerful enemy, releasing poisonous smoke to disrupt the Wei army's formation, seizing the opportunity to rush into the battlefield and slay enemy soldiers. Chu Qiao stood sternly on the city tower, shooting an arrow into the Wei army's large flag, clearly signaling her intent to fight. The people of Northern Yan were unyielding and would never surrender without a fight.

A large number of flaming rocks were thrown from inside the city, and arrows were simultaneously loosed. Instantly, flames erupted and smoke billowed. Taking advantage of this offensive, Chu Qiao charged ahead into the enemy ranks, breaking through like a hot knife through butter, heading straight for Yuan Qi, the Royal Prince and commander of the Wei army. As the saying goes, to catch the bandits, first catch their leader.

Chu Qiao's movements were agile; she leaped into the air and instantly landed on Yuan Qi's war chariot. Yuan Qi's sword had just been raised when Chu Qiao's sword slit his throat. With their commander dead, the Wei army collapsed into disarray, suffering a crushing defeat in this battle. After the battle, looking up, the flames of war had not yet extinguished, bodies piled up like mountains, and blood flowed like rivers. The four Xianwan sisters had sacrificed themselves at some unknown time.

Episode 56 Recap

Chu Qiao stood high up, leading the entire Xiuli Army to kneel, paying tribute to the Northern Yan soldiers who sacrificed their lives for this battle. The victory of this battle marked Chu Qiao's first battle defending Northern Yan. However, a temporary victory was not enough to make people rejoice. A large number of Wei troops were still stationed not far from Honghcuan City, and the situation remained grim.

Chu Qiao returned to the city and told the grim truth to the city's residents. People are full of spirit and unwilling to surrender to others. The choice between dying in humiliation or fighting a dignified battle against the enemy was self-evident. Chu Qiao announced that she would take over Honghcuan City on behalf of Heir Apparent Yan.

Although Yan Xun cruelly abandoned the people of Northern Yan, Chu Qiao did not want him to bear the notorious reputation of being ruthless and be spurned by the people of Northern Yan. She ordered the women and children in the city to immediately leave through the West gate and head to Blue City for refuge; men aged fifteen to fifty would defend Honghcuan City with the Xiuli Army. Everyone shouted slogans: "Defend Honghcuan City! Defend Northern Yan!"

Their fighting spirit soared. After this battle, the Xiuli Army's stigma as traitors was finally removed, and they were re-accepted by their fellow villagers. He Xiao could also now honorably visit his father. He Xiao's father was a blacksmith. At that moment, he was forging weapons with all the city's blacksmiths. Seeing his son, he felt deeply relieved. Chu Qiao sat high on the city tower, gazing at the land.

She was toying with the suona Yan Xun had given her, but felt a sense of desolation in her heart. Would Yan Xun send troops back to reinforce them? Chu Qiao herself couldn't be sure, and she truly didn't know if they could hold out for seven days. As she played the suona, tears unknowingly streamed down her face. Du Ping'an was reciting a poem not far from her. Chu Qiao recognized it as lyrics between lovers.

Du Ping'an told her it was written by his mother, who was originally a Liang musician. The reason their whole family moved to Northern Yan was that there was no slavery here; coming here meant they could escape their slave status and live with dignity. Yes, Northern Yan was originally a land of happiness, but now it had fallen into such a state. Chu Qiao felt utterly desolate in her heart at this moment.

Yan Xun's army swept through like a storm, slaughtering cities and seizing grain along the way, acting with ruthless ferocity. The Emperor of Wei sat in his palace, his heart like dead ashes, filled with regret that he had not acted differently in the past, now that this day had come. Yuwen Yue finally rushed back to Chang'an to meet with Yuan Che. Yan Xun's offensive was too strong.

Yuan Che wanted Yuwen Yue to take the people from the Wangsheng Camp to Yuan Chun to retrieve the military tally, so that 150,000 troops could return for reinforcement. However, Yuan Chun had many skilled experts by her side, and even if he used the people from the Wangsheng Camp, Yuwen Yue was not confident he could retrieve the military tally. Yuan Che's resolve hardened. If it didn't work, then Yuan Chun should be killed.

Yuwen Yue had already sent Yuan Song to persuade Yuan Chun. He still valued their past relationship and did not want to go to extremes. In fact, the most effective way to resolve Great Wei's crisis now was to kill Yan Xun. Yuwen Yue dispatched people from the Wangsheng Camp to investigate the location of Yan Xun's main camp. In Wei Shuye's army, Yuan Qi had already died in battle.

Wei Shuye urged Yuan Chun to stop, stating that what they were doing now was already a capital offense. At this moment, Yuan Song arrived and also hoped Yuan Chun could let go of her obsession and send troops back to reinforce Chang'an. He told Yuan Chun that Yan Xun had already led troops to break through Meilin Pass, directly threatening Chang'an. Yuan Chun looked shocked upon hearing this.

She had never imagined that Yan Xun would abandon Northern Yan and Chu Qiao. In that case, she could even less withdraw her troops now. She wanted to occupy Northern Yan and kill Chu Qiao to satisfy the hatred in her heart. From beginning to end, Yuan Chun blamed all her misfortunes on Chu Qiao. Yuan Song and Wei Shuye were shocked by Yuan Chun's ruthlessness and indifference.

She would actually disregard the people of Great Wei and the Great Wei's empire for personal revenge, not to mention her Emperor Father and the empress who deeply loved her, who were still in the Wei palace. Meanwhile, Yan Xun received news that Chu Qiao had not gone to Blue City but was leading the Xiuli Army in a desperate defense of Honghcuan City.

Yan Xun was resting, but upon hearing this news, he instantly stood up and instinctively wanted to rush out. Ah Jing stopped him. They were now pressing directly towards Chang'an, and victory was within reach. Moreover, Honghcuan City had secret tunnels, so even if the city fell, Chu Qiao could escape through them. Yan Xun calmed down.

He knew that given Chu Qiao's nature, she would certainly not abandon the people of Honghcuan City, but he was ultimately unwilling to give up the victory that was so close. He sent someone to deliver a letter to Zhong Yu, instructing her to make sure to take Chu Qiao to Blue City and ensure her safety. Late at night, Chu Qiao was in her camp studying strategies to defeat the enemy.

Song Qifeng, under Zhong Yu's command, came to deliver a message: Zhong Yu had arranged to meet her in a dense forest outside the city. Honghcuan City's days were numbered. Zhong Yu proposed taking Chu Qiao away immediately. Chu Qiao knew from Zhong Yu's demeanor that she had known about Yan Xun's plan all along but had not stopped him, allowing the Wei army to sweep through Northern Yan and Cheng Yuan to massacre the people.

Hearing Chu Qiao's repeated questions, Zhong Yu clenched her fists. She felt pain for the people, but was powerless to stop any of it. Northern Yan was harsh and barren; if Yan Xun had held out desperately in Northern Yan, there would have been no way out. Only by taking them by surprise and attacking Chang'an could they find a glimmer of hope. Facts proved Yan Xun was right. Now, the situation had turned around.

Yan Xun had seized the initiative instead of passively taking blows. Wasn't this much better? Chu Qiao never expected that Yan Xun's initial target was Chang'an. She had thought Yan Xun only wanted to attack Meilin Pass to tie down the Wei army, but she never imagined his ambition was so great that he would not hesitate to use millions of Northern Yan soldiers and civilians as bait to tie down the main Wei forces.

No wonder he had always emphasized attacking Meilin Pass, and no wonder he didn't keep her by his side. Such deep scheming and ruthlessness made Chu Qiao shiver involuntarily. Was this still the Yan Xun she knew?

Episode 57 Recap

Even if Yan Xun gave up Northern Yan, Chu Qiao would not give up. She asked Zhongyu to tell Yan Xun that she would wait for him on the city walls of Honghuan City. Zhongyu watched Chu Qiao's departing figure, tears in her eyes. She felt incompetent, unable to turn the tide for the people of Northern Yan, but she knew letting Chu Qiao go back was the right thing to do.

Zhongyu sent someone to tell Yan Xun that Chu Qiao was holding fast to Northern Yan. If reinforcements did not arrive within five days, Northern Yan would surely fall, and no one would be spared. She hoped Chu Qiao's safety would draw Yan Xun's attention, prompting him to send troops back to reinforce Northern Yan. As dawn broke, the Xiuli Army searched everywhere but could not find Chu Qiao.

The soldiers murmured amongst themselves, wondering if they had been abandoned again. He Xiao was furious and told them to shut up; he knew Chu Qiao would not give up on Northern Yan. Sure enough, when He Xiao led his soldiers onto the city wall, Chu Qiao, clad in armor, stood resolutely on the city wall, her slender figure firm. That night, the Wei army attacked Honghuan City under the cover of darkness.

Rockets and heavy cannons rained down on the dilapidated Honghuan City. Chu Qiao led her army in resistance, vowing never to surrender. On the other side, Yan Xun had already captured Meilin Pass. If the situation continued like this, taking Chang'an of Great Wei would be just around the corner. But at this critical moment, Yan Xun received news that Chu Qiao was holding out in Honghuan.

Honghuan City had weak defenses; if there were no reinforcements, it certainly wouldn't last long. Yan Xun was well aware of Honghuan City's predicament. He slammed down the celebratory wine he had intended to drink early, and immediately decided to abandon the attack on Chang'an and lead his troops back to reinforce Northern Yan.

Even though everyone felt it was a pity to give up at this moment, and even though Cheng Yuan tried to persuade him with the deep blood feud of the Yan family, nothing could stop Yan Xun's determination to go back and save Chu Qiao. A city lost could be retaken, but if a person was gone, everything would be lost. In his life, Yan Xun could let go of anyone, except Ah Chu.

At the same time, Yuwen Yue received news that Yan Xun had withdrawn his troops for Chu Qiao, and learned that Chu Qiao had been defending on the city wall of Honghuan City for five days and five nights, her situation precarious. Although Yan Xun had already withdrawn his troops for reinforcement, Yuwen Yue was still worried about Chu Qiao's safety and decided to go personally. Outside Honghuan City, large numbers of Wei troops were arrayed.

Yuan Chun, dressed in a red gown, looked enchanting and sinister. She told Wei Shuye that he must capture Honghuan City today; she wanted to personally kill Chu Qiao. The Wei army launched a fierce attack. Chu Qiao and the Xiuli Army resisted desperately. Even if they fought until the last man, they would never give up. The Wei army stormed into the city. Flames of war raged everywhere, and the once prosperous city was now filled with ruins.

Chu Qiao told Du Ping'an to escort the common people out of the city through a secret passage to Blue City, telling them not to return once they left. The war was too cruel, not something they should have to bear. Seeing a burly man enter the city, Chu Qiao gripped the sword in her hand and went to meet him. The opponent was tall and strong.

Compared to him, Chu Qiao was at a great disadvantage in terms of strength. Fortunately, the burly man had ample strength but lacked agility. Chu Qiao constantly changed her attack direction. While injuring him, she was also hit, instantly spitting out a mouthful of blood. Seeing the broadsword about to fall, Chu Qiao mustered her last bit of strength, used her sword to block it, and at the same time drew another sword, ending her opponent's life.

Chu Qiao collapsed weakly to the ground and fainted. Yuan Chun entered the city with the army. Seeing Chu Qiao lying on the ground, she walked over, holding a sword. The triumphant look on her face appeared hideous and terrifying. She could no longer control her emotions, gnashing her teeth, wanting to kill Chu Qiao to make Yan Xun's life a living hell, to let him also taste the bitterness of losing a loved one.

Just as the sword was about to fall, Yuwen Yue, his face covered by a black scarf, suddenly appeared. While saving Chu Qiao, he also injured Yuan Chun. He tenderly picked up Chu Qiao, his eyes filled with heartache. At the same time, Yan Xun marched rapidly day and night, finally making it back. As soon as Yan Xun's army arrived, Wei Shuye forcibly led Yuan Chun and withdrew their troops.

As Yuan Chun left, she loudly shouted that she would kill Chu Qiao. The Wei army was no match for Yan Xun's cavalry and collapsed instantly. The war ended in less than a moment. After many days, Yan Xun finally saw Ah Chu, whom he had been thinking of constantly. He picked up the unconscious Chu Qiao, filled with tenderness. Yuwen Yue quietly left after ensuring Chu Qiao was safe.

When he heard that Chu Qiao had been defending Honghuan City for five days and five nights, he decided to immediately go to Northern Yan. In his eyes, nothing was more important than Chu Qiao's safety. He rescued Chu Qiao but did not selfishly take her away, because Chu Qiao had already made her choice, and he would not make things difficult for her. After this battle, the Xiuli Army suffered heavy casualties.

Left Commander Ge Qi bravely sacrificed his life. He Xiao went to his home to offer condolences and saw Ge Qi's young wife for the first time. She had not remarried and had given birth to a beautiful and lovely daughter for Ge Qi. Ge Qi had long wanted to know about his family's situation, but burdened with the stigma of being a rebel, he had never dared to see his family.

Now that the stigma was finally cleared, all that returned was his ashes. His strong young wife hugged the urn, her face streaming with tears. She had always believed that her husband was not a rebel.

Episode 58 Recap

Everywhere in Honghcuan City was already dilapidated. He Xiao's father also died in this war. He tidied his father's iron shop, thinking of his father's words to him to guard Northern Yan during his lifetime. The pain in his heart was unspeakable, but he only became more determined in his belief to guard Northern Yan. Ah Jing went to Xianwan's tomb to pay respects. Xianwan had accepted him before. Unexpectedly, after parting, their reunion was in such a state.

Yan Xun retreated his troops. Yuan Che handled post-war matters and instructed that the sacrificed soldiers must be buried with honors. It was just that Yuwen Yue disappeared after Yan Xun retreated his troops. Yuan Che believed that Yuwen Yue was certainly not a rash person and he would make the right choice. From a distance, he saw a person on a horse galloping towards them from outside the city.

It was indeed Yuwen Yue, who hadn't been seen for many days. A smile appeared on Yuan Che's face. Yuwen Yue returned to Qingshan House injured. Yuwen Zhuo knew he was injured because of Chu Qiao. Yuwen Zhuo saw his grandson's deep affection, but he still couldn't help but remind him that he and Chu Qiao belonged to two different factions and he still needed to be mindful of his status. Yuan Che then came to visit.

Great Wei's current situation was worrying. Yan Xun was coveting like a tiger, and Liang was also not to be underestimated. Yuwen Yue sighed, saying that war was inevitable, and only innocent civilians were getting hurt. After Chu Qiao was unconscious for a day and a night, she finally woke up. Du Ping'an had been taking care of her by her side. Yan Xun cared about Chu Qiao, but he dared not go to see her.

He knew Ah Chu was blaming him. Yan Xun was meticulously carving a piece of jade, planning to give it to Chu Qiao once it was carved. He thought of his father's skillful hands and mind; a pair of hands that held knives could brew wine and carve jade ornaments. He left home early and learned nothing. Ah Jing saw Yan Xun's deep affection for Chu Qiao and suggested that he propose to Chu Qiao.

How could Yan Xun not want to? But he was now just a rebel and traitor who had found a temporary peace in a corner. If Ah Chu married him, she would be the wife of a rebel and traitor. This was something Yan Xun did not wish to see. Zhong Yu went to see Chu Qiao. She thanked Chu Qiao for saving the people of Northern Yan.

Chu Qiao, in turn, thanked Zhong Yu for her insightful and clever mind, who mediated and made Yan Xun understand her determination to defend Honghcuan City, and finally withdrew his troops to reinforce. Having just experienced a war, Honghcuan City was in ruins, waiting to be rebuilt. Walking on the dilapidated streets, Chu Qiao saw a little boy practicing with a scarecrow.

Zhong Yu told her that the little boy's family had all died in the war, and the little boy was diligently practicing martial arts simply to avenge his family. When would the cycle of vengeance end? What did the common people do to deserve this? The Emperor of Wei did not trust Yuwen Yue and made him stay idle at home. This was all thanks to Wei Shuye who impeached him after returning from Xianyang.

But Wei Shuye was not doing much better. After the war in Northern Yan, he and Yuan Chun returned to Chang'an. Wei Shuye was stripped of some power, and Yuan Chun was thrown into prison for stealing the military tally. Noble Consort Wei and Yuan Song went to the prison to visit. Yuan Chun showed no remorse at all.

Listening to her imperial mother repeatedly say she was Great Wei's most noble imperial princess, Yuan Chun revealed a cold smile on her face. What imperial princess or not imperial princess? She was now just a big joke. On the day of her marriage, the groom rebelled. It was ridiculous that she had still planned to pursue him persistently, only to be humiliated by his soldiers. Aside from revenge, Yuan Chun now sought nothing else.

Noble Consort Wei knew that her daughter was no longer the naive and innocent imperial princess she once was. Before leaving, she earnestly hoped that Yuan Chun would grow up and become more mature.

Episode 59 Recap

In the Emperor of Wei's bedchamber, he planned to bestow poisoned wine upon Yuan Chun. Just as Grand Supervisor Wang was about to deliver the wine, Noble Consort Wei suddenly burst in. She saw Grand Supervisor Wang holding the poisoned wine and knelt on the ground in a panic, begging Emperor of Wei for mercy. The crime Yuan Chun committed was too great, and what's more, a Royal Prince had died due to her mistake.

This forced Emperor of Wei to harden his heart and punish her. Noble Consort Wei saw that the emperor's mind was made up. She claimed to be Yuan Chun's mother and that the wrong committed by her daughter should naturally be borne by her. Without another word, she drank the cup of poisoned wine. Emperor of Wei was greatly shocked. He stumbled off his seat to catch Noble Consort Wei, who was swaying and about to fall.

Noble Consort Wei's poison took effect, and she vomited fresh blood. She held on with her last breath, recalling the first time she met the emperor. She respected him, loved him, and said so much, just hoping the emperor would remember their past affection, show leniency beyond the law, and release Yuan Chun. When Yuan Song brought Yuan Chun from the dungeon to Noble Consort Wei's bedside, the Noble Consort had already passed away.

Yuan Chun cried uncontrollably, and the emperor, heartbroken, fainted. He then announced that considering Yuan Chun's youth and ignorance, her imperial princess title would be stripped, she would be moved to the West Courtyard, and would not be allowed to leave the palace for the rest of her life. Yuan Song was conferred the title of King of Northern Yan, and from that day forward, he would lead troops to Northern Yan to quell the rebellion in Northern Yan.

Yuan Chun sat lifelessly in the spacious room. Sunlight streamed in through the window. Her face was pale, her eyes seemed unfocused, and she neither ate nor drank. Caiwei, Yuan Chun's personal maidservant, saw the imperial princess's plight and went to seek help from Wei Shuye. Noble Consort Wei had previously enjoyed great favor and had made many enemies in the palace.

With her death, it was inevitable that someone would secretly disadvantage Yuan Chun, and Yuan Song was about to leave Chang'an. Now, only Wei Shuye could help Yuan Chun. Wei Shuye was also worried about Yuan Chun, but he could barely protect himself. Although the emperor did not hold him accountable for his defeat on the battlefield, he had only just been released from prison and was asked to preside over Noble Consort Wei's funeral.

Under these circumstances, Wei Shuye was powerless, even if he wished to help. Caiwei handed Yuan Chun the Ping'an talisman that Noble Consort Wei had sought for her during her lifetime. Looking at this Ping'an talisman, Yuan Chun remembered that day in the dungeon when her mother had given it to her. What had she done then? She had thrown it away expressionlessly. How heartbroken her mother must have been then.

Holding the Ping'an talisman, she watched Wen Shan, a female official from her mother's palace during her lifetime, kneel on the ground and urge her to cherish herself. Yuan Chun clutched the Ping'an talisman in her hand and instructed her maidservant to prepare for washing. Her life was saved by her mother at the cost of her own, and she could not waste it like this. Meanwhile, in Hongchuan City, Chu Qiao and Cheng Yuan confronted Yan Xun.

Cheng Yuan insisted that he had not shot Chu Qiao. His only fault was handing over the duty of defending the city to his subordinate general Sun He in advance and going to Meilin Pass to help Yan Xun. And Sun He even claimed he had done nothing wrong. He was ordered to defend the city. Chu Qiao led the Xiuli Army and came, demanding entry into the city, but the Xiuli Army had a prior record of being traitors.

How was he to know if they were genuinely defending the city this time? Chu Qiao never expected these people to be so shameless, to talk so grandly about massacring common people and shooting friendly forces. Chu Qiao was furious and drew her sword to face them, but was stopped by Yan Xun's shout. Sun He took the opportunity to sow discord, saying, "Who doesn't know that the Xiuli Army only recognizes Chu Qiao as their master?

If Chu Qiao hadn't defended the city, Northern Yan would probably no longer bear the Yan surname. As for me, Sun He, I have always been loyal. During the three years Yan Xun was trapped in Chang'an, I always followed Mr. Wu to quell rebellions throughout Northern Yan." Sun He knew Chu Qiao wouldn't let it go. He suddenly drew his knife and committed suicide.

Before dying, he told Cheng Yuan not to forget the oath they had made and not to forget how their parents and relatives had died. Sun He died, and the matter was thus settled. Chu Qiao walked through the military camp, feeling vexed. Suddenly, a soldier holding a dagger tried to assassinate her. He was kicked to the ground by Zhong Yu.

The soldier kept accusing Chu Qiao of being a demoness, claiming that if it weren't for her, Yan Xun wouldn't have returned, their cavalry would have broken through Chang'an city gates, and the blood vengeance for their parents and relatives would have been avenged. Only now did Chu Qiao realize that the soldiers in Yan Xun's army viewed her in such a way. Yan Xun sat on the river pier, playing the suona.

His figure was lonely, and the tune was mournful. Chu Qiao watched from afar, her heart a mix of emotions, unsure what to do. Yan Xun did not trust her and did not bring her with him when attacking Chang'an. While she firmly defended Hongchuan, it led to the sacrifice of countless soldiers, blood staining the mountains and rivers, and bones scattered.

As a general, she felt resentment and unwillingness; but as someone who had shared life and death with Yan Xun and could obtain Yan Xun's friendship, as heavy as a mountain peak, Chu Qiao felt there was nothing to be unwilling about. Even so, she always believed that war could devour everything, but it could not devour people's faith and conscience. Meanwhile, Yuwen Yue was wholeheartedly practicing his martial arts, making rapid progress.

He was about to go with Yuan Song to Northern Yan to guard the border. Yuwen Zhuo was worried that Yuwen Yue would be sidetracked by Chu Qiao and specifically reminded him not to abandon his great future for Yan Xun's woman. Yuwen Yue assured his grandfather that this trip was not for personal romantic affairs. After he left, Yuwen Zhuo wrote a letter and had Yue Qi deliver it to the Seventh Royal Prince Yuan Che. At the same time, he performed a divination and discovered that his grandson would face a calamity on this trip.

Episode 60 Recap

The night was dark, the moonlight cold. Zuo Baocang, dressed in black, stumbled along the deserted street, constantly looking behind him as if someone was chasing him. In his haste, he accidentally fell. Zuo Baocang covered his bleeding wound and stood up. Several soldiers suddenly appeared before him. At this critical moment, fortunately, Dongfang Ji suddenly appeared and dealt with the soldiers. However, Dongfang Ji was clearly a more vicious viper or beast than the soldiers.

Dongfang Ji had always sent people to follow Zuo Baocang, discovering that he was killing, setting fires, poisoning, and causing trouble in this area, guessing that he was protecting someone. That person should be Luo He's daughter, Chu Qiao. Since Chu Qiao's surname is Chu, it means Luo He married a man named Chu back then. Zuo Baocang couldn't stand Dongfang Ji mentioning Luo He; he was utterly unworthy.

Don't think he didn't know; Dongfang Ji was simply jealous of Luo He back then. Before he could finish speaking, Dongfang Ji slit his throat with a sword. It seemed Dongfang Ji was very afraid to face the matters concerning Luo He from back then. Under the scorching sun, in a desolate forest, Yuan Song sat in a simple carriage. Yuwen Yue rode on horseback beside him. Only dozens of people followed them.

Suddenly, the flag-bearing soldier walking in front silently collapsed to the ground. Yue Qi stepped forward to check his breathing and found that he was beyond saving. Yuan Song had the soldier's body lifted onto the carriage and placed beside him. Yuwen Yue and his party traveled for days, passing through dense forests and desolate deserts. At night, they set up camp in the forest. Yuan Song looked at the bonfire burning before him, feeling downcast.

His mother was dead, and Yuan Chun was like that. It was not an exaggeration to say he was now a solitary individual. Suddenly, Meng Feng brought over an old man and a child. These two had stolen their food. The old man and the child had not eaten for a long time; they wouldn't have resorted to stealing if they weren't desperate. Yuan Song was kind-hearted and distributed grain to the refugees.

Yuwen Yue sighed, saying that they could save these people temporarily, but they couldn't provide them with long-term sustenance. As long as the war continued, refugees like these would only increase. On the other side, Cheng Yuan privately mentioned Chu Qiao to Yan Xun, emphatically assuring him that he had no intention of killing her, trying to gloss over the truth. But Yan Xun was someone who could see through his thoughts at a glance.

Not punishing him was because he was still useful, but a timely warning was still necessary. Cheng Yuan was slightly startled. Suddenly, a soldier reported that the Thirteenth Royal Prince Yuan Song had arrived and was camped outside Meilin Pass, claiming to be the King of Northern Yan, but he had only brought a dozen old, weak, and disabled soldiers, which was very strange. Afterward, Cheng Yuan returned to the military camp, caressing the Dragon Sparrow Blade in his hand.

He ordered his subordinates to give Sun He a proper burial and select a few agile individuals. He planned to kill Yuan Song that night. Yuan Song and Chu Qiao were close friends; he wanted to eliminate anyone close to Chu Qiao. That night, with the moonlight cool as water, Cheng Yuan stealthily led his men into the Grand General's mansion where Yuan Song was located. He saw Yuan Song sitting alone in the courtyard.

Cheng Yuan waved his hand, signaling his followers to act, but found that no one made a move. It turned out that the men he had brought had already been quietly eliminated by Yuwen Yue's people. Seeing Yuwen Yue, Cheng Yuan knew things were bad and turned to flee. Yuwen Yue did not intend to kill him; he merely shot him twice with arrows and let him go. After dawn, Chu Qiao and He Xiao walked through the military camp.

Her brows were tightly furrowed. Cheng Yuan was heavily favored by Yan Xun, and his prominence even surpassed that of Master Wu. When the Wei army had severely defeated Honghcuan City and Beishuo in Northern Yan, countless people in Northern Yan had died or been injured. Soldiers whose families had died in that war only followed Cheng Yuan's lead. But Cheng Yuan's intentions were not righteous, and Chu Qiao was very worried.

Before coming to Northern Yan, Chu Qiao had learned from Yan Xun that Northern Yan was picturesque. After arriving, however, she only felt the biting cold winds of Northern Yan. He Xiao heard the desolation in Chu Qiao's words and could only encourage her with their ideals, saying that as long as they didn't give up, Northern Yan would one day release slaves, stop war, and become prosperous and peaceful.

From afar, Chu Qiao saw Cheng Yuan limping into the main camp. Her sharp eyes noticed that the two arrows in his leg were from Qingshan House, and she fell into thought. After a brief rest, Cheng Yuan went to meet Yan Xun and told him that he had scouted the Grand General's mansion at night and discovered that Yuwen Yue had actually come with Yuan Song.

Hearing this, Yan Xun looked at Chu Qiao on the high platform, gazing into the distance, his brows tightly furrowed. Under the clear blue sky, with gentle ripples on the water, a large ship sailed on the surface. The two figures on the deck were none other than Dongfang Ji and Zhan Ziyu. Dongfang Ji never visited for no reason.

He knew Zhan Ziyu wanted to obtain the Fengyun Order, so he specifically offered the whereabouts of Luo He's daughter as an exchange, asking Zhan Ziyu to disrupt the situation in Northern Yan to help him achieve his great ambition. This was a win-win transaction. Zhan Ziyu had no reason to refuse.

Everyone wanted the Fengyun Order, but how could they know that the Fengyun Order was actually the Other Shore flower that appeared on one's body after mastering the Cold Ice Skill? To establish a firm foothold at Meilin Pass, seizing power was the first step. Yuwen Yue had Yue Jiu of the Yue Spies administer medicine to Zhao Ji, the general originally stationed at Meilin Pass, making him believe he had a terminal illness.

Zhao Ji immediately wrote to the Emperor, requesting to return to Chang'an for recuperation. Before the Emperor of Wei's reply came down, the cowardly Zhao Ji hastily set off with his men to return. Yuwen Yue took over the defense of Meilin Pass. The top priority was to train troops; only with an elite army would he have the right to speak.

In addition, Yue Qi, upon arriving at Meilin, had already contacted the spies of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes stationed in Honghcuan City, in case of need. At this moment, in Honghcuan City, A Jing was sending people to move grain. Grain store owner Old Chen pitifully begged to keep some for his daily life. Although Old Chen feigned such grievance, A Jing knew that he must have his own connections to hoard so much grain during wartime.

Therefore, A Jing not only emptied his grain but also gave him a warrant, allowing him to leave the city to procure more grain. However, A Jing could never have imagined that Old Chen was actually a member of the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes. Old Chen took the warrant he was given and then left the city.

Episode 61 Recap

Chen Laoban walked to a quiet bamboo forest, where thin mist permeated, making it exceptionally serene. Meng Feng had been waiting there for a long time. Seeing Chen Laoban arrive, Meng Feng took out the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes token, which represented Yuwen Yue's identity, and showed Yuwen Yue's warrant to him. Then, they agreed to meet at the Honghcuan City gate early tomorrow morning.

Early the next day, Meng Feng changed into a peasant woman's attire and, with several Samsara Camp brothers similarly disguised, waited at the city gate. Meng Feng was anxious and tried to enter the city before Chen Laoban arrived. The soldiers guarding the gate immediately became alert upon seeing that they had no permit, suspecting them to be spies. Meng Feng clenched her fists, claiming the permit was not on her.

Just then, Chen Laoban hurried from inside the city and showed the soldier the permit A Jing had given him yesterday. With the permit, Meng Feng and her group smoothly entered the city. Immediately after entering the city, they encountered Chu Qiao and He Xiao. Chu Qiao saw them transporting several carts of goods and asked what was in them. Meng Feng had already prepared for this situation and showed them the rice in the carts.

Seeing nothing unusual, Chu Qiao let them pass. Meng Feng obtained a map of Yan Xun's military camp from Chen Laoban and planned a night raid on Yan Xun's camp, targeting his granary. Chen Laoban thought it was inappropriate, considering the plan too reckless and needing more careful deliberation. At that moment, Chen Laoban received a secret letter, learning that a Southern boss would deliver grain tonight, and the grain would be sent into the warehouse overnight.

With people constantly going in and out, it would be inconvenient to act. Meng Feng led her people to survey the situation and happened to see Zhan Ziyu's carriage approaching. They dared not get too close and could only sporadically hear some of Zhan Ziyu's conversation with A Jing. Zhan Ziyu had personally delivered the grain this time, and A Jing thanked him for his kindness in transporting grain from afar, preparing an inn for his rest.

After Meng Feng returned, Chen Laoban told her that Zhan Ziyu was the big boss of the Southern Shipping Gang. With his help, Yan Xun would be an unstoppable force. Chen Laoban intended to kill Zhan Ziyu to eliminate future troubles. However, Meng Feng strongly objected, intuiting that Zhan Ziyu was not a simple character.

That evening, Cheng Yuan hosted Zhan Ziyu at the inn, claiming that Yan Xun had gone to Blue City for inspection and could not see him immediately. Zhan Ziyu didn't mind. He seemingly casually mentioned Yan Xun's return to reinforce Honghcuan. Cheng Yuan sighed and irritably told him that it was all because of a woman. Zhan Ziyu understood, realizing that Chu Qiao was indeed there.

Having achieved his goal, he did not wish to stay longer and left early the next day. Meng Feng wrote a note instructing Chen Laoban to immediately send someone to deliver it to Yuwen Yue. They acted cautiously; the note changed hands several times before finally reaching a beggar. However, they didn't know that they had already been targeted by Chu Qiao. The beggar had just received the note when he was caught by Chu Qiao.

She followed the trail and apprehended Chen Laoban, the head of Yuwen Yue's spies in Honghcuan City, and all the other spies. No matter how He Xiao whipped and interrogated him, Chen Laoban remained silent. But Chu Qiao had intercepted their note and already knew they would act that night.

She imitated Meng Feng's handwriting and wrote a note to Yuwen Yue, stating that the action would take place tonight and she would return by Hai hour, asking Mister not to worry. It was this very note that made Yuwen Yue realize something was amiss, prompting him to immediately order Yue Qi to inform Meng Feng to retreat. Meng Feng and her people had already reached outside the granary when they suddenly saw a retreat signal appear in the sky.

Meng Feng immediately ordered a retreat. But it was too late; Chu Qiao had been waiting at the city gate for a long time. Seeing them approach, He Xiao led his men to shoot arrows. Meng Feng suddenly counterattacked, unexpectedly firing several arrows at He Xiao, seizing the opportunity to leap out of the city gate with her companions. Although Meng Feng was hit by an arrow, she was not seriously injured.

This time, it was thanks to Yuwen Yue seeing through Chu Qiao's plan; otherwise, it would be uncertain if Meng Feng could have made it back. Yue Qi was curious how Yuwen Yue had managed to do it. Yuwen Yue recalled how he had taught Chu Qiao to write. Chu Qiao had a unique small habit when writing, one she didn't even know herself, but it had long been noticed by Yuwen Yue.

It was this small habit that made Yuwen Yue realize that note was written by her. In the Honghcuan City prison, Chen Laoban and his group were quietly released. The iron chains and shackles that confined them showed no damage at all, clearly indicating they were opened with a key. Cheng Yuan coerced the prison guards to standardize their statements, saying that a masked woman had released the people.

After Chen Laoban and his group came out, they were immediately transferred by Yuwen Yue to a safe place. According to Chen Laoban, the one who released them was a black-clothed masked man. In the main hall of Yan Xun's residence, Yan Xun sat in a high position, listening to Zhong Yu's report: the Emperor of Wei was seriously ill, and all matters of Great Wei were now in the hands of the Seventh Royal Prince Yuan Che.

No matter who controlled the government, Yan Xun would not give up his plan to attack Great Wei; his determination could be seen from the urgent food collection during these days. Zhong Yu believed that Yuan Che acted prudently and always prioritized the bigger picture. Whether he was a threat to Northern Yan was temporarily unknown, implying that she was asking Yan Xun if he could delay sending troops. Cheng Yuan was eager to provoke war to get revenge.

Hearing Zhong Yu say this, he was naturally displeased and sarcastically asked Zhong Yu how she knew Yuan Che so well, wondering if they had a very close personal relationship. Cheng Yuan's baseless slander was easily refuted by Zhong Yu. Cheng Yuan then brought up to Yan Xun the matter of Chen Laoban and others being rescued. The chains and shackles were undamaged, indicating it was an inside job.

Cheng Yuan claimed that the prison guards reported it was a woman's doing, directly pointing the finger at Chu Qiao. Zhong Yu did not believe Chu Qiao would do such a thing and spoke up to defend her. Yan Xun told them both to stop bothering with this matter; he would handle it himself. On the plank bridge by the river, Chu Qiao sat quietly, daydreaming.

Yan Xun came over and directly asked if she had done it, saying he would believe whatever she said. Chu Qiao sneered, telling him it wasn't her, but in her heart, she couldn't help but feel disappointed with Yan Xun. If he truly trusted her, why ask this unnecessary question? Yan Xun insisted on starting a war, and Chu Qiao advised him many times that the people of Northern Yan could no longer withstand the devastation of war.

In Chang'an Palace, Zhao Jieyu died inexplicably, leaving behind a still young Royal Prince, Yuan Yang. For royal princes and princesses who lost their birth mothers in the palace, life was exceptionally difficult; Yuan Chun was a living example. Yuan Chun, with an innocent look, played with Yuan Yang, and their laughter and joyful sounds were continuous. Suddenly, an order came from Eunuch Wang, saying that the Emperor wanted Yuan Yang to dine at Lan Shuyi's palace.

Yuan Chun, while helping Yuan Yang wash his hands, earnestly told him not to casually eat things given by others, explaining that her beloved little rabbit had been poisoned to death by eating random things.

Episode 62 Recap

Yuan Yang half-understood his Imperial Sister's words, and nodded obediently. In Shuyi's palace, Lan Shuyi asked the Emperor why he wanted her to cook for Yuan Yang herself. The Emperor's health was deteriorating day by day. Lan Shuyi had no children, and Yuan Yang's birth mother had just died. He wanted Lan Shuyi to be Yuan Yang's adoptive mother.

Unexpectedly, when Yuan Yang came, he refused to eat anything Lan Shuyi made, crying and hiding in the Emperor's arms, saying he didn't want to be a little rabbit. The Emperor soothed Yuan Yang's emotions and gently asked him who he wanted to take care of him. Yuan Yang had been playing very well with Yuan Chun these days, so of course he wanted her to take care of him.

Yuwen Yue received a letter from Yuan Che at Meilin Pass. The letter mentioned that the Emperor's health was weakening day by day, and he did not have much time left, but he was still greedy for power and constantly guarded against Yuan Che, his son who held military power. The Emperor had recently been paying more attention to the little Royal Prince Yuan Yang, showing signs of wanting to pass the throne to him.

Yuan Chun also noticed the Emperor's motive and held onto Yuan Yang tightly, her intentions utterly obvious. Yuwen Yue understood Yuan Che's situation and wrote back, suggesting that he might as well volunteer to fight Yan Xun and secretly dispatch troops to garrison outside Chang'an city. This way, on the surface, Yuan Chun could relax her vigilance, but if she made any unusual moves, Yuan Che would be able to checkmate her in time.

From afar, Yuan Chun watched Yuan Che lead his troops away from the city tower. Once Yuan Che was gone, Chang'an would be hers. At night, the Emperor suddenly awoke from a dream, coughing incessantly, and loudly called for Wang Dajian and Lan Shuyi to bring him medicine. In the quiet imperial bedchamber, only the Emperor's low coughs were exceptionally clear. The medicine arrived, but it was Yuan Chun who delivered it herself.

At this point, she wanted to know if her Emperor Father had used her marriage to lure and kill Yan Xun. The Emperor generously admitted it, telling her that it was also an act of necessity. Yuan Chun sneered upon hearing this, finding it laughable that she had once wholeheartedly believed her Emperor Father genuinely wanted to marry her to Yan Xun. Those days were almost the happiest of her life.

The more joyful she was then, the more intense her hatred was now. All of this was thanks to her Emperor Father. Yuan Chun vehemently denounced the Emperor's actions. Because of suspicion and jealousy in his heart, he killed Marquis Northen Settler. Temporarily pardoning Yan Xun was merely to display his benevolence and morality. He was cold-blooded and ruthless, watching Noble Consort Wei, who had accompanied him for many years, drink poisoned wine without stopping her.

Yuan Song, who was kind-hearted, was sent by him to guard the frontier. Yuan Che, who had great ambitions, was suspected by him and never entrusted with important tasks for fear of threatening his throne. Now, he even wanted to pass the throne to an ignorant and naive child; it was utterly ridiculous. The Emperor was already gravely ill. Hearing Yuan Chun's profound accusations at this moment, anger surged through him, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Yuan Chun took out a bottle of poison and poured it into the medicinal soup under the Emperor's gaze. The Emperor saw her intention and, panicking and terrified, begged for mercy, attempting to exchange the throne for his life. Yuan Chun approached the Emperor step by step, holding the bowl of medicine. What use would the throne be to her? Besides, after Yuan Yang ascended the throne, her assistance from behind the scenes would have the same effect.

Just as Yuan Chun was about to force the Emperor to drink the poison, Yuan Che suddenly appeared and stopped everything. Although Yuan Che harbored much dissatisfaction with the Emperor, the constraints of being a subject and a son compelled him to protect the Emperor. Seeing her plan fail, Yuan Chun burst into tears. She was then confined by the Emperor in a temple, awaiting judgment.

The Emperor handed over state affairs to Yuan Che, while he himself remained in his imperial bedchamber all day, saying nothing. It seemed Yuan Chun's actions had deeply shaken him. Yuan Che wrote a letter informing Yuwen Yue of all this, thanking him for his excellent strategy. At Meilin Pass, Yuan Song strolled to a farmhouse and saw the brother and sister of the family happily playing hide-and-seek, a smile unconsciously appearing on his face.

He told Meng Feng that he and Chun'er also often played like this when they were children, but unfortunately, those happy days were gone forever. Meng Feng saw that he was homesick and used the straw at hand to tie up a scarecrow. Yuan Song saw how skillful she was and thought that the people in her village must like her very much. However, Meng Feng told him that everyone in her village had died. She had escaped at the time by making scarecrows in the fields, and when she returned home, her parents and brother had already died tragically.

Episode 63 Recap

Yuan Song sighed heavily, not expecting Meng Feng's story to be so tragic. Meng Feng said these things because she wanted Yuan Song to persevere like her; only by letting go of the past can one embrace the future. While speaking, the scarecrow was ready. Yuan Song inserted two red dates for its eyes. From then on, he would be the scarecrow of Meilin Pass, devoted to guarding Meilin Pass.

Yuwen Yue had always sent Meng Feng and others to secretly observe the Xiuli Army. Although Meng Feng couldn't discern Mister's intentions, she diligently led people to observe from the shadows. Cheng Yuan arrived at the Xiuli Army's station with a large contingent of soldiers, clearly intending trouble. As expected, he brought Yan Xun's hand order, instructing the Xiuli Army to guard the Xiuli Mountains. The news came suddenly. He Xiao asked Chu Qiao if she knew about it.

Cheng Yuan sneered repeatedly, telling He Xiao to see clearly that this was Yan Xun's hand order. Chu Qiao was merely a subordinate of His Highness; what did it matter if she knew or not? Cheng Yuan mockingly told He Xiao that once the Xiuli Army reached the Xiuli Mountains, they would be integrated into the local garrison and have their designation removed.

As if that wasn't enough, he ordered his subordinate Jiang Teng to immediately take down the Xiuli Army's army flag, claiming that this flag was the Xiuli Army's greatest disgrace. Although the army flag was just a flag, it was the soul of the Xiuli Army. He Xiao, of course, would not let Cheng Yuan touch their army flag like that. He Xiao and Cheng Yuan each held one side of the army flag, refusing to yield.

In a fit of anger, Cheng Yuan cut the army flag into two halves with a sword. This was too much. He Xiao and the Xiuli Army soldiers could no longer restrain themselves and began fighting with Cheng Yuan's men. At this moment, Yan Xun was meeting Zhong Yu. Yan Xun had arrested Mister Wu on charges of disturbing military morale, and Zhong Yu came to plead for him after receiving the news.

To prepare for war, Yan Xun had been collecting grain everywhere. However, Blue City suffered a major flood this year, and that grain was the people's life-saving food. Wu Daoya, being benevolent and kind-hearted, stopped collecting grain because he could not bear to see the common people suffer. Zhong Yu mentioned that Wu Daoya and the Old Marquis Yan Shicheng were old acquaintances, and that Wu Daoya had devoted himself wholeheartedly to Northern Yan over the years.

Zhong Yu mentioned these things hoping that Yan Xun would consider their past relationship and let Wu Daoya go. Upon hearing this, Yan Xun told Zhong Yu to take Wu Daoya and leave Northern Yan, never to return. Suddenly, Cheng Yuan brought people in to report.

Cheng Yuan vehemently claimed that the Xiuli Army had rebelled; when he went to deliver orders, not only did the Xiuli Army refuse to obey, but they also continued to revere Chu Qiao and even fought with his men. Yan Xun was already displeased with the Xiuli Army; if not for Chu Qiao, he would not have kept them until now. At this moment, the Xiuli Army openly defied his orders, which made Yan Xun very unhappy.

On the training ground, a fine drizzle fell. Yan Xun sat in a high position and had all the Xiuli Army soldiers who conflicted with Cheng Yuan arrested. He Xiao tried his best to explain what had just happened, but Yan Xun was determined to convict them; the truth of the matter was simply not important.

Chu Qiao was recuperating in her room when suddenly Du Ping'an came over with a note, saying that a Mister had sent someone to deliver it. Chu Qiao opened it and saw that Yuwen Yue was informing her that the Xiuli Army was in trouble and asking her to go rescue them. Chu Qiao hurried there. When the Xiuli Army saw her arrive, they seemed to see hope.

To everyone's surprise, Chu Qiao dismounted and quickly walked towards He Xiao, suddenly slapping him hard across the face. She claimed that she had only told him to preserve the Xiuli Army's designation and army flag, and questioned how he had handled things, even getting into a conflict with His Highness's men. Chu Qiao appeared to be scolding He Xiao for his incompetence, but in reality, she was taking all the blame for the Xiuli Army onto herself.

Chu Qiao advised Yan Xun that the Xiuli Army had no intention to offend, nor any intention to rebel; they were merely following her orders. Cheng Yuan seized upon a loophole in Chu Qiao's words and instigated trouble, asking what orders the Xiuli Army was following, since Chu Qiao held no position in the military. Chu Qiao sternly told Cheng Yuan to shut up, staring directly at Yan Xun, waiting to see what he would say.

Yan Xun told Chu Qiao to ask herself whether the Xiuli Army was loyal to him or to her, Mister Chu. Chu Qiao insisted that the Xiuli Army's loyalty to Northern Yan was witnessed by heaven and earth. But Yan Xun's mind was made up; no matter what she said, he would punish the Xiuli Army.

A Jing, seeing Chu Qiao isolated and helpless, and feeling that the Xiuli Army did not deserve such punishment, intended to plead for them but was pulled back by Zhong Yu. In this situation, saying more would only cause Yan Xun's displeasure. Those in the Xiuli Army who had conflicted with Cheng Yuan were all subjected to military law. Chu Qiao, seeing her brothers suffer such injustice, was consumed with anxiety.

She suddenly knelt on the ground, begging Yan Xun to retract his order. Yan Xun not only remained unmoved but also intended to punish He Xiao for mismanagement. Chu Qiao was powerless to change anything. She stood up and rode away, taking one last look at Yan Xun before leaving. This cruel and violent man was no longer the Yan Xun she knew. Chu Qiao left. Cheng Yuan breathed a huge sigh of relief.

What he feared most when framing the Xiuli Army was that Yan Xun would soften when Chu Qiao stood up for them. After Chu Qiao returned, she stayed silently in her room. That night, Yan Xun came and spoke to her from outside the door. He told Chu Qiao that he did all of this only to give her the world. Although she might not necessarily want it, he just wanted to give her the best.

Moreover, he was already alone; Chu Qiao must not leave him. Yan Xun never entered the room from beginning to end. Upon hearing this, Chu Qiao felt a desolate sadness in her heart. She knew that she and Yan Xun could never go back to the past. Yan Xun then went to warn Cheng Yuan. Although he had granted Cheng Yuan's wish today, it did not mean he was unaware of the truth.

Yan Xun knew that Cheng Yuan was targeting Chu Qiao and specifically came to warn him not to interfere in Chu Qiao's affairs anymore. Cheng Yuan bowed in assent, but before Yan Xun left, he couldn't help but call out to him, saying that everyone in the army was saying Yan Xun was foolish for giving up a great empire that was within his grasp for Chu Qiao, and that he wouldn't even have a good death in the afterlife.

Upon hearing this, Yan Xun stopped. If one couldn't live well, why would they care about death? Yuwen Yue learned the full details of the Xiuli Army incident from Meng Feng, his brows slightly furrowed. He knew Chu Qiao must be heartbroken. Seeing Mister so worried, Meng Feng asked him why he didn't take Chu Qiao away. Yuwen Yue certainly wanted to do so, but he feared Chu Qiao would be unwilling.

Thinking this, he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed: she was so heartbroken, so why wouldn't she leave? Yuwen Yue received a letter from Yuan Che, stating that he had already persuaded the Emperor to consider the common people and the state and bring about a cessation of war. Additionally, the Emperor intended to grant Yuan Chun death, but Yuan Che, remembering their sibling bond, did not want to see her come to such a plight.

In Chang'an City, the Emperor granted Yuan Chun a cup of poisoned wine. Yuan Chun sat before the mirror, neatly dressing her hair. She was a Great Wei imperial princess; she would die with dignity. In her hand, she held the rabbit tail Yan Xun had once given her, gently stroking it.

Episode 64 Recap

Yuan Chun took responsibility for her actions, telling the person who brought the wine not to make trouble for her maid, Caiwei. Just as Yuan Chun was about to drink the poisoned wine, a pebble knocked the wine cup from her hand. Wei Shuye arrived with his men. He desperately led Yuan Chun in their escape, but during the escape, he was unfortunately shot by an arrow.

He knew his time was running out, and he had already prepared a boat for her at the dock. Wei Shuye had always been deeply infatuated with Yuan Chun, and only dared to boldly declare his love for her just before his death. If he had been braver then, they wouldn't have ended up like this. Wei Shuye died. Yuan Chun hugged his body and cried bitterly.

Fate had never been fair to her; all the people who were good to her had left her one by one. Yuan Che arrived with the Forbidden Guards, slaughtering all of Wei Shuye's men, but out of brother-sister affection, he spared Yuan Chun. In Honghcuan City, Northern Yan, Yan Xun was meticulously carving a jade pendant he intended to give to Chu Qiao.

Meanwhile, the Xiuli Army was sent to patrol the Ice Lake by Cheng Yuan, under the pretext of discovering enemy activity. Chu Qiao couldn't see any sign of the Xiuli Army anywhere in the camp. Worried, she went to find Jiang Teng, a junior general under Cheng Yuan. Chu Qiao asked about the whereabouts of the Xiuli Army.

Jiang Teng had a smug look, saying that Chu Qiao was no longer a general of the Xiuli Army, and he had nothing to tell her. Chu Qiao sneered, drew her sword, and placed it against Jiang Teng's neck. Jiang Teng, fearing for his life, told Chu Qiao that the Xiuli Army had gone to the Ice Lake. Cheng Yuan had always harbored ill intentions.

Chu Qiao feared the Xiuli Army would be trapped by his schemes, so she galloped there at full speed. Meanwhile, Jiang Teng told Cheng Yuan about Chu Qiao's visit. Cheng Yuan had known all along that Chu Qiao would look for Jiang Teng. He designed to lure Chu Qiao and the Xiuli Army to the Ice Lake, intending to use the group of people from Meilin Pass to capture them all in one fell swoop.

Although the plan was good, Jiang Teng was afraid that Yan Xun would be difficult to deal with if he investigated later, as they all saw how much Yan Xun cared about Chu Qiao. Cheng Yuan no longer cared about the consequences. He only knew that Chu Qiao, as a general, was not suitable for Northern Yan, and as a woman, her heart was not with Yan Xun.

As long as Chu Qiao was around, Yan Xun's reign would be difficult to achieve. Although Cheng Yuan's methods were despicable, he saw things with exceptional clarity. Chu Qiao arrived at the Ice Lake and saw He Xiao standing safely in front of her with the Xiuli Army. She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Chu Qiao was worried that the Xiuli Army would be ambushed, and indeed, they were ambushed.

Yuwen Yue walked out from behind Chu Qiao, accompanied by Yue Qi. Left alone, Chu Qiao asked, "Have you been well?" Seeing Yuwen Yue remain silent, Yue Qi took over, playfully saying that he was doing very well, eating and sleeping well, and his martial arts had improved significantly.

Chu Qiao smiled faintly, but Yuwen Yue told Yue Qi to check on Meng Feng, as there were many wild beasts and traps here, and he didn't want her to get hurt. Yue Qi chuckled teasingly, "Mister, you're being tsundere. Meng Feng herself is like a wild beast, how could she get hurt?" But he wisely walked away anyway. On the vast icy surface, only Yuwen Yue and Chu Qiao remained.

Yuwen Yue told Chu Qiao that someone had deliberately lured them here, and it was likely Cheng Yuan's conspiracy. Yuwen Yue knew that Cheng Yuan had been making things difficult for Chu Qiao, but why didn't Yan Xun stop him? Chu Qiao looked at the chilling lake surface and told him that the hatred in Yan Xun's heart was probably deeper than this icy lake. Chu Qiao squatted by the lake.

She told Yuwen Yue that she initially only wanted to leave. Later, when she met Yan Xun and heard him talk about Northern Yan, Chu Qiao felt her heart come alive, but now she realized she had been too presumptuous. The Xiuli Army's faith was in her, and she had promised to bring them home, yet she had allowed them to suffer countless casualties in battle after battle. Now, they were even ostracized and in a difficult situation.

Chu Qiao couldn't help but wonder if it would have been better if she had obeyed Yan Xun and let the Xiuli Army leave back then. Yuwen Yue asked her, "Do you regret it?" Chu Qiao stood up. Her life had been rough; some things she did were right, some were wrong, but she had never regretted anything. She was just a little tired. Yuwen Yue knew that Chu Qiao was too disappointed in Yan Xun.

The Xiuli Army's current predicament was not her fault. Success was never achieved overnight, and people like Cheng Yuan would always exist; if not him, it would be someone else. Northern Yan was not as simple as she thought; not everyone would eagerly await their rule. Wherever there were people, there would be disputes. No one who reached the pinnacle didn't emerge from a sea of schemes and bloodshed. But once a choice was made, one must persevere.

Chu Qiao was surprised that Yuwen Yue would say such things to her. Didn't he not want her to return to Northern Yan? Hearing this, Yuwen Yue looked at her seriously. Rather than keeping her by his side, Yuwen Yue wished to see Chu Qiao freely pursue her own dreams. Chu Qiao turned away, tears streaming uncontrollably. She never owed anyone anything, but to Yuwen Yue, she owed too much.

Chu Qiao was heartbroken, but she still decided to return to Honghcuan City, to Yan Xun's Prince Yan's mansion. Zhong Yu came to bid farewell. They stood on the city tower, gazing into the distance. Zhong Yu felt guilty for not pleading for the Xiuli Army that day, but she didn't regret it.

On that day, Yan Xun's killing intent was already resolute; if she had pleaded, it would have been counterproductive and would have implicated those she wished to protect. Speaking of Wu Daoya, if Yan Xun had truly punished him severely, it would only have disheartened all the old ministers. Looking at the patrolling soldiers, Zhong Yu no longer found them familiar.

Of those she knew, some had died in battle, some had left, and perhaps it was time for her to leave as well. Chu Qiao understood Zhong Yu's choice and helplessness, and she also understood Yan Xun's choice. Everyone had their own persistence and choices; although she didn't agree, she wouldn't turn into an enemy.

In this world where lives were as fleeting as dust, what she could pursue and even sacrifice her life for, besides freedom and love, was only faith. And her faith had already remained on the Northern Yan Plateau. Chu Qiao decided to leave with Zhong Yu.

Episode 65 Recap

Zhong Yu knew Chu Qiao was joking, she could not let go of Yan Xun. It was the same for Yan Xun; as long as he wished, he could destroy everything, but he was powerless against Chu Qiao. Zhong Yu hoped Chu Qiao would not give up on Yan Xun, and not let him be deceived by people like Cheng Yuan. Chu Qiao smiled faintly, and proposed to meet Wu Dao Ya.

Green mountains surrounded them, a gentle breeze wafted, and occasionally, a few bird calls could be heard. It was Chu Qiao's first time seeing Wu Dao Ya since she came to Northern Yan. Wu Dao Ya was known as the Marquis Northen Settler's top strategist, but when the Marquis Northen Settler was killed, Bai Sheng died by hitting the cauldron, and Yan Xun was trapped in Chang'an, several times facing life-and-death situations, he was absent.

Chu Qiao had to wonder if his heart was still in Northern Yan. Wu Dao Ya listened to Chu Qiao's words with a constant smile, not refuting, knowing Chu Qiao had lost her memory, and his purpose in meeting her today was to clear her doubts. Chu Qiao's memories were fragmented. She only remembered her mother often leaving when she was little, staying away for months, leaving her to practice martial arts alone.

Once, her mother was about to leave again, told her that her return date was uncertain, and led her into a secret room to pass on the Cold Ice Skill internal cultivation to her. Her mother was late in returning, so Chu Qiao went to the Jing family according to her mother's message. The Jing family couple treated her very well, and Chu Qiao grew up in the Jing family, her kung fu improving steadily.

One day, Father Jing suddenly showed her a notice about her mother's arrest. Anxious to save her mother, Chu Qiao rushed into the prison recklessly, only to find that the person tied in the center of the cell was not her mother at all, but a woman who looked quite similar to her. Chu Qiao realized there was a trick, and hastily retreated. At that moment, a large group of soldiers came, and she had to hide first.

Then she saw the woman who looked like her, disguised as her, rush out, only to be knocked down by a group of men in black. The leader of the men in black loudly claimed that Chu Qiao had murdered her mother. It was thanks to that woman's delay that Chu Qiao was able to escape. Wu Dao Ya told Chu Qiao that the woman who looked similar to her was named Xia Chong.

Chu Qiao's mother was Luo He, the leader of Jianghu spies. Luo He's philosophy was to free slaves and end war, which conflicted with the interests of noble clans in various countries, so they all wanted to eliminate Luo He. The ones who made a move back then were Yuwen Hao from the Great Wei clan and the spy from Liang, Yin Xin, but the one who truly killed Luo He should have been a traitor by her side.

Luo He knew that her fate was uncertain that time, and had already passed on the Fengyun Order to Chu Qiao in advance, Chu Qiao just didn't know it herself. The Fengyun Order was actually the mark of the Amaryllis flower on her body after mastering the Cold Ice Skill. At this point, Chu Qiao was a bit confused; she didn't have the mark of the Amaryllis flower on her body.

Wu Dao Ya guessed this might be related to her amnesia, or perhaps the Cold Ice Skill within her could be activated in extremely cold environments. Back then, Yuwen Hao also wanted to completely eliminate Chu Qiao. Her maid, Lady Snake, desperately protected Chu Qiao. Lady Snake, with her valiant and righteous spirit, grateful for Luo He's past kindness, fought with all her might to hold back Yuwen Hao, nearly losing her life.

Later, another person escorting Chu Qiao, San Jie Wu Zong, also desperately held back Yuwen Hao, allowing Lady Snake to protect Chu Qiao's escape. Unexpectedly, they encountered the spy from Liang, Yin Xin, and Lady Snake fell down severely wounded. In a fit of rage, Chu Qiao knocked out Yin Xin, killed Yuwen Hao, and inadvertently fell into the Yellow River herself.

Lady Snake later found Wu Dao Ya; they searched for Chu Qiao for dozens of days at the Yellow River but couldn't find her. It now seemed she had been picked up by slave traders. Chu Qiao arrived at Yuwen Manor having lost her memory, killed three generations of the Yuwen Third Branch, and then followed Yan Xun back to Northern Yan. Luo He had also protected Northern Yan during her lifetime; this could be considered destiny.

Northern Yan now was vastly different from before, no longer suitable for Wu Dao Ya to stay. He invited Chu Qiao to leave with him. Chu Qiao shook her head; she had to stay by Yan Xun's side, unable to watch him be so blinded by hatred. Meanwhile, ever since Xiao Yu parted ways with Yuwen Yue on Kongsang Mountain, she had been dejected and left by herself.

Her personal maid, Qing Wei, finally found her not far from Meilin Pass. Xiao Yu had found it hard to let go ever since she knew Yuwen Yue was the Moon Brother she had longed for. The Liang Secret Bureau and the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes were natural enemies, and as the leaders of these two organizations, she and Yuwen Yue could not possibly be together. But Xiao Yu's feelings for Yuwen Yue were deeply rooted.

Qing Wei naturally understood Xiao Yu's pain, but now was a time of turmoil, and Xiao Yu, as an imperial princess from Liang, had responsibilities she had to bear. Yuwen Yue had been at Meilin Pass for many days, focusing on training troops. Yan Xun had kept his forces still for days, leading Yuwen Yue to believe there was hope for peace talks, so he specifically wrote a letter for Yuan Che to decide.

Yuwen Yue's secret letter was intercepted halfway by Xiao Yu's people. For Liang, reconciliation between Great Wei and Northern Yan absolutely could not be allowed. Xiao Yu and Yuwen Yue had corresponded for a long time, so it was not difficult to forge a letter by imitating his handwriting. At the same time, Xiao Yu decided to arrange a meeting with Yuwen Yue; it was time to reveal their identities to each other.

Yuwen Yue received a letter from Yu Di, inviting him to meet tonight. The moonlight was strong, and thin mist filled the dense forest. Yuwen Yue arrived at the agreed-upon location, only to discover that Yu Di, with whom he had been corresponding, was actually Xiao Yu, a spy from Liang. They had previously been unaware of each other's true identities, treating each other as close confidants. But from then on, everything before would be wiped clean.

Yuwen Yue turned to leave, but suddenly his body went limp, and he fell to the ground. Xiao Yu had already laid out drugs here. She took out a curved saber; only by killing Yuwen Yue could she calm her mind and focus on her grand cause. Xiao Yu showed a look of pain, but ultimately threw away the knife.

She had grown up amidst various schemes and conspiracies, and Moon Brother was a pure land in her heart; she simply couldn't bring herself to do it. Yuwen Yue had not actually been affected by the hallucinogenic smoke at all. His thoughts were consistent with Xiao Yu's, but after today, they could only serve their respective masters. Xiao Yu was still unwilling. Could it be that different factions meant they couldn't be together?

She had obtained the secret scrolls of the Samsara Camp and knew that Chu Qiao was the young master of the Jianghu spies. Given Yuwen Yue's intelligence, he should have discovered this fact long ago. Jianghu spies and the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes were equally hostile parties, so why was he different towards Chu Qiao? In fact, everyone knew the reason, but Yuwen Yue was unwilling to say it aloud.

Back at the General's Residence in Meilin Pass, Yuwen Yue recalled every bit of time since Chu Qiao came to his side. He had long discovered that Chu Qiao possessed internal cultivation, and also learned through various channels that she was Luo He's daughter, the mistress of the Fengyun Order. But so what? Love was simply love. Yuan Chun, dressed in plain clothes, rode alone to Meilin Pass. Yuan Song was overjoyed to see his sister, who had escaped death. He advised his sister to let go of the past, but Yuan Chun seemed not to have heard his words.

Episode 66 Recap

Yuan Chun looked around. The environment here was impoverished. She asked her brother if he could adapt. Yuan Song seemed at ease. Although it was poor here, it was simple and free. He hoped his sister could also let go of everything from the past and start anew. Yuan Chun smiled indifferently. She now had nothing, but what she needed to do, she understood more clearly than ever before.

She pretended to be hungry, asking her brother to treat her well. Yuan Song, with a doting expression, wanted to cook for her himself. While Yuan Song was busy cooking, Yuan Chun quietly left, leaving only eight characters on the ground: "Brother and sister's affection, to be continued in the next life." In the end, she didn't get to eat the meal her brother cooked. Yan Xun's headaches were getting worse, his head splitting.

A Jing invited a doctor named Shui Xiang, who was said to be very skilled in this area. Shui Xiang wore plain clothes, her face covered with white gauze, completely wrapped up. Her voice was low and hoarse, which caught Yan Xun's attention. Shui Xiang told him her voice was ruined in a fire. Shui Xiang offered acupuncture treatment for Yan Xun. When the needle bag was opened, a dagger appeared.

At this time, Yan Xun was already lying on the sleeping couch with his eyes closed. He heard that Shui Xiang's massage skills were excellent, so he suggested a massage first. Shui Xiang had no choice but to put away the needle bag. Yan Xun asked her why she didn't show her true face. Shui Xiang told him that her appearance was also ruined in a fire. After chatting for a moment, Shui Xiang again suggested acupuncture.

She tightly gripped the dagger in her hand, preparing to stab Yan Xun who was resting with his eyes closed, when a maid suddenly entered and, seeing this, screamed. Yan Xun immediately rolled up, pulled out the sword next to him, and cut open Shui Xiang's veil, only to discover that this person was actually Yuan Chun. Yan Xun tried his best to suppress the hatred in his heart.

Between his deep-seated blood feud with Great Wei, Yuan Chun was innocent, but he could only say sorry to her and let her leave. Yuan Chun left in silence, without saying a word. Before leaving Northern Yan, she threw away the rabbit tail Yan Xun had once given her, finally completely letting go of her feelings for Yan Xun. In Chang'an City, Yuan Che received a letter from Yuwen Yue forged by Xiao Yu.

Although the handwriting and phrasing were in Yuwen Yue's style, it was not difficult to see that it was a forgery, and the forger likely had no intention of hiding it from him. Dongfang Ji had deployed many spies in Northern Yan, and naturally knew that the content of this letter was not true. However, he knew that Yuan Che aimed for the world, but lacked a suitable reason to send troops. This letter just gave him that reason.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Che no longer hesitated and decided to send troops to Northern Yan. At Meilin Pass, Yuwen Yue had several small-scale battles with the Northern Yan army during this period, winning with fewer numbers each time and killing the opposing generals. Yan Xun furiously counterattacked, slaughtering almost all the spies Yuwen Yue had planted in Northern Yan. Among them was the Zhuang Qing family. Zhuang Qing had entered Northern Yan territory following Yuwen Yue's orders.

Now, Zhuang Qing and his wife were dead, leaving only two children fleeing with Yue Jiu. Yuwen Yue decided to personally go and bring them back. A light drizzle fell from the sky. Chu Qiao walked through the forest with an umbrella. Soon after, she arrived at a mountain temple. She walked in casually. Yuwen Yue and a large group of Yue Spies were sitting around eating hotpot. Seeing Chu Qiao appear at the entrance, the Yue Spies wisely retreated.

Yuwen Yue unhurriedly put vegetables into the hotpot and invited Chu Qiao to come in and eat with him. Chu Qiao sat opposite him and asked about the purpose of his trip. Yuwen Yue was displeased that she directly stated her intention as soon as she arrived, and told her that he was certainly not there for her. Upon hearing this, Chu Qiao smiled inwardly.

Yuwen Yue had repeatedly won battles, and she heard that the noble young ladies of Meilin Pass were very fond of him. Yuwen Yue raised his eyes to look at her, saying that his taste was poor and he didn't fancy fair-skinned, beautiful noble young ladies, and the person opposite him knew very well who he could fancy. Chu Qiao boldly picked up the wine bottle and drank directly. Yuwen Yue brought up the Xiuli Army and her situation.

Chu Qiao was unwilling to show weakness, only saying it was internal friction. Which organization didn't have internal friction? Even he, Yuwen Yue, hadn't always had smooth sailing, enduring ups and downs to reach his current position. She heard that Yuwen Yue had subdued the Reincarnation Camp, adding a great boost to the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes. Although Chu Qiao said this, there was no hint of admiration in her words.

Having finally met, Yuwen Yue didn't want to argue with her and told her that he was only here for some private matters. Yuwen Yue knew that Yan Xun had already given Chu Qiao a betrothal gift before, and he asked her with a rather bitter tone if she would be called Princess Yan next time they met. Chu Qiao didn't want to answer, and Yuwen Yue didn't really want to know the answer. He neatly stood up and left.

Chu Qiao tightly gripped the Canhong Jian in her hand, stood up, and chased after him. She and Yuwen Yue belonged to two opposing major camps, and meeting on the battlefield was inevitable in the future. Chu Qiao hoped that Yuwen Yue would not show mercy then. Yuwen Yue frankly told her he couldn't do it. Chu Qiao silently sighed in her heart. If one does not act recklessly, one does not move, nor does one feel pain.

If one does not act recklessly, one will not be hurt. Then Yuwen Yue, in Chu Qiao's heart, had already been pierced countless times. Watching Yuwen Yue's lonely departing figure, Chu Qiao stood rooted to the spot for a long time, her brows furrowed. Yan Xun was furious when he learned that Yuwen Yue had met Chu Qiao in Xiuli Mountains.

Cheng Yuan took the opportunity to sow discord, saying that after so many events, Chu Qiao was no longer the same person she once was. Now that Yuan Che was sending troops to Northern Yan again, Cheng Yuan reminded Yan Xun to be more vigilant.

Episode 67 (Ending) Recap

Facing Cheng Yuan's instigation, Yan Xun was unfazed, knowing that Chu Qiao would not betray him. However, Cheng Yuan's concern was not just Chu Qiao; Yuwen Yue's threat also could not be underestimated. Ever since Yuwen Yue arrived at Meilin Pass, he had managed the place in an orderly manner, repelling multiple attacks from the Northern Yan army. His presence was a great threat to Northern Yan.

Hearing this, Yan Xun ordered the assembly of all Yan Guards to pursue and kill Yuwen Yue. At the same time, Yuan Che led his army outside Meilin Pass, where Yuan Song had been waiting for a long time. He was kind-hearted and could not bear another war. Both sides had been actively negotiating for peace, and Yuan Song did not understand why a war was suddenly being launched again. Once it started, only innocent common people would suffer.

But Yuan Che's mind was made up; nothing Yuan Song said would be of use. Seeing the situation, Yuan Song bypassed Yuan Che and, with his frail body, blocked the tens of thousands of troops. Ultimately, Yuan Che's army encamped fifty li from Meilin Pass. Yuan Song understood that if Yuwen Yue could not return, Yuan Che's army would surely sweep across the land of Northern Yan. Now, the Northern Man people were invading, and Liang was eyeing them covetously.

If Great Wei and Northern Yan were to fight again, the world would be in utter chaos. That night, the moon was cool like water. Yuwen Yue led his men on a night raid. Passing a forest, he stopped. People who lived constantly on the edge of life and death had an instinctive perception of danger. Yan Xun had long been waiting there. Arrows shot out from the dark simultaneously.

Yuwen Yue and the Yue Spies resisted for a while, then escaped into the forest. Cheng Yuan and Yan Xun split their forces. Upon receiving the news that Yuwen Yue had escaped into the forest, he specifically ordered men to create an opening in one place.

At the same time, he sent people immediately to Xiuli Mountains to falsely deliver Yan Xun's verbal order, claiming that the Xiuli Army had rebelled and that Chu Qiao was to be captured and brought back to Honghcuan City for questioning. Cheng Yuan had long ago placed a spy, Zhou An, within the Xiuli Army, just so he could relay the message to Yuwen Yue.

Jiang Teng, under Cheng Yuan's command, worried that Yan Xun would blame Cheng Yuan if he found out. But Cheng Yuan did not care about his own life or death. He only knew that as long as Chu Qiao was alive, Yan Xun would not be able to make up his mind to attack Wei, and sooner or later, he would die at Yuwen Yue's hands.

Cheng Yuan's greatest wish while alive was to avenge his family members who died at the hands of the Wei army. For this, he would stop at nothing. Zhou An successfully found Yuwen Yue. He claimed to be the commander of the Xiuli Army, and that the original commander, He Xiao, had already died in battle.

He told Yuwen Yue that the Xiuli Army had been falsely accused of colluding with the enemy leader, and that Chu Qiao was about to be brought back to Honghcuan City for questioning. Yuwen Yue would not easily believe Zhou An's one-sided story. Zhou An apparently knew this too. He appealed to his emotions, stating that he had already said too much, going against Chu Qiao's wishes, as Chu Qiao did not want Yuwen Yue to fall into danger.

Zhou An appeared to feel guilty towards Chu Qiao and committed suicide on the spot to atone for his actions. Yue Qi and Yue Jiu both felt that there was a trick involved and advised Mister to think twice before acting. Yuwen Yue also knew that something was fishy, but as Chu Qiao's safety was at stake, he returned without hesitation. At the Xiuli Mountains encampment, Chu Qiao received Yan Xun's verbal order to arrest the Xiuli Army.

The messenger was one of Cheng Yuan's men. Chu Qiao did not believe it. She personally led He Xiao and twenty Xiuli Army soldiers to Honghcuan City to understand the truth. After riding hard for a while, Chu Qiao suddenly realized something was wrong. Yan Xun's target should be Yuwen Yue. She decided to split up with He Xiao and rush to Honghcuan City via two different routes. Chu Qiao happened to meet Yan Xun on the way.

She asked about Yuwen Yue's whereabouts, and Yan Xun told her that he had killed Yuwen Yue with an arrow. Chu Qiao did not believe Yan Xun's words. She did not blame Yan Xun for wanting to kill Yuwen Yue, but his methods were too despicable; he should not have used Yuwen Yue's feelings for her to set a trap. Facing Chu Qiao's repeated questions, Yan Xun only asked if she had ever loved him.

Chu Qiao also did not know if her feelings for Yan Xun were love. She only knew that she felt great pity for Yan Xun, treated his home as her own, and considered his deep-seated blood feud as her own, striving to avenge it with all her heart. But what about Yan Xun? Ever since returning to Northern Yan, he had gradually weakened Chu Qiao's power, sidelined Zhong Yu and Mister Wu, and completely became a slave to power.

He was no longer the Yan Xun he once was, which deeply pained Chu Qiao. At this moment, on the vast ice lake, goose-feather-like heavy snow was falling; it was cold and desolate. Yuwen Yue had been fighting Cheng Yuan's men for a long time. Cheng Yuan's forces outnumbered them. Yue Qi was stabbed twice by him and fell to the ground, unable to get up. When Chu Qiao arrived quickly on horseback, she witnessed this scene.

She leaped forward to fight Cheng Yuan. Under the seasoned Chu Qiao, Cheng Yuan had no power to resist and was killed by Chu Qiao with his own Dragon Sparrow Blade, which he often used to kill people. Yue Qi lay weakly on the ground nearby, using his last bit of strength to tell Chu Qiao that Yuwen Yue was on the ice lake and urged her to go quickly.

No matter how skilled Yuwen Yue's martial arts were, he could not withstand the attrition of a continuous battle. His plain brocade clothing was already covered in bloodstains. Corpses of soldiers lay everywhere around him. Yuwen Yue had already been struck by an arrow from Yan Xun earlier. After finally killing the leading general, he was severely wounded and could not stand steadily. His tall body crashed down onto the ice, kneeling.

Chu Qiao grabbed a bow and arrows and frantically sped over. Her archery skills were learned from Yuwen Yue; every arrow hit its target, killing all the soldiers within her sight. Chu Qiao rushed to Yuwen Yue, cradling his blood-stained face in her hands, weeping uncontrollably. Yuwen Yue's voice was already extremely weak. He told her to leave quickly. Chu Qiao trembled as she kissed his forehead, then shook her head firmly. She would never leave him again.

Yan Xun watched this scene from afar, clutching the jade pendant he had intended to give Chu Qiao. He was so oblivious that he didn't even realize his hand was bleeding. Chu Qiao had always said he had changed, but in fact, she simply hadn't truly understood him. Yan Xun waved his hand, and another group of soldiers charged forward. Chu Qiao, with tears in her eyes, told Yuwen Yue to wait for her.

She wiped away her tears and went to deal with these soldiers. The ice surface, having endured the previous battle, was already extremely fragile. Yan Xun ordered arrows to be fired. Arrow after arrow struck the vulnerable ice, causing it to crack little by little. The ice floe where Yuwen Yue was located gradually drifted away from the main ice surface and broke into pieces.

Chu Qiao turned her head and saw this scene, her voice hoarse with desperation, she shouted Yuwen Yue's name and jumped into the ice lake after him. After Chu Qiao jumped in, the spider lily on her shoulder faintly appeared. She sank down next to Yuwen Yue, holding onto him tightly. Yuwen Yue told her to live on. Chu Qiao shook her head, forcefully kissed his forehead, and said she wanted them to live together.

The two turned over a few times in the water. Yuwen Yue pushed Chu Qiao upwards with a palm, while he himself sank deeper due to the recoil. Chu Qiao gradually rose, and the spider lily on her back was vividly red, as if dripping. The setting sun's afterglow illuminated this vast and boundless ice lake; silence was infinite. (The End)