Chapter 54: Always By Your Side

Que Emperor furrowed his brows, and the general surnamed Zhao hurried out of the tent to investigate. Soon after, he returned, leading in a woman whose makeup was in disarray.

It was, of course, Chuxue.

As soon as she entered, Chuxue threw herself into Que Emperor’s arms, weeping. The general Zhao looked embarrassed and lowered his head, quietly retreating. Que Emperor gently pushed Chuxue away and asked, “How did you end up here?”

“My father wouldn’t agree, he simply wouldn’t! My brother told me to forget you, even Zihua, who grew up with me, said the same. Why can’t any of them understand me?” she cried.

Que Emperor’s frown deepened, then he ordered the young soldier outside the tent to bring hot water and clean clothes.

“This is the barracks. There aren’t any clothes here suitable for you, so you’ll have to make do for now. Later, I’ll arrange for you to be sent back." Having said this, Que Emperor started to leave, but Chuxue clung tightly to his waist.

“I won’t go. I want to stay with you.”

“Qi Chuxue!” Que Emperor pried her hands off, his face darkening. “Do you even know what this place is?”

Chuxue nodded, sobbing. “I know it’s dangerous here, but I’ll be very careful, I promise I won’t disturb you or cause you any trouble. Please, let me stay with you?”

“Why do you insist on following me? I’m no different from anyone else, two eyes, one nose,” Que Emperor sighed, his voice betraying a hint of concession.

Chuxue burst out laughing, her makeup ruined and her face streaked with tears, making her look utterly comical. Oblivious, she tugged at Que Emperor’s sleeve, smiling, “Because I love you. I want to be with you. Seeing you every day makes me happy.”

“Take care of yourself first,” Que Emperor tapped her between the brows and left the tent.

As he stepped outside, General Zhao approached, lowering his voice, “Your Majesty, how should we handle this girl?”

“I’ll be leaving today. She’ll stay in my tent for now, and you assign a few trustworthy people to watch over her. I’ll deal with her when I return. Remember, she must not be harmed in the slightest.”

General Zhao nodded and went to the other tents.

At dusk, Que Emperor rode out of the camp with two shadow agents. But before they could leave the camp’s perimeter, Chuxue appeared, arms outstretched, blocking their way.

“Enough of this nonsense.”

Chuxue stood her ground, saying, “I followed you all this way so I wouldn’t be left behind again. How could I let you leave me now? Unless you promise to take me with you, I won’t let you pass!”

“Are you asking me to send you straight back to Qi Palace?” Que Emperor’s voice dropped, anger rising between his brows.

Under the flickering torchlight, Mingyue saw the tears glistening in Chuxue’s eyes. Chuxue cried, “I said I wouldn’t leave! I promised not to cause you trouble, so why won’t you believe me?”

“Why should I believe you? You’re a delicate princess with no skills—how could I trust you to endure these rough days, journeying long distances and nights? Can you stomach coarse food and muddy tea? Go back!”

Chuxue bit her lip and wiped away her tears, her stubbornness nearly fierce. “I’ll prove it to you.”

As soon as she finished, Chuxue ran off. Que Emperor instructed a shadow agent, “Follow her, don’t let her do anything foolish. Once she’s settled, catch up.”

With a flourish of the whip, Que Emperor and his companion soon vanished into the vast night.

Thanks to her earlier training in horsemanship with Jun Xiao, Mingyue found it much easier to keep up with Que Emperor now. When exhausted, Qin Shi would carry her, and at the next rest stop, she’d get another horse, just as she did now.

“What do you think Chuxue will do?” Mingyue nestled in Qin Shi’s arms.

Qin Shi shook his head helplessly. “Most likely, she’ll follow. But she’s not entirely without self-preservation; she’ll probably cover her striking features to avoid trouble.”

“Oh? Has she ever caused you trouble? Don’t worry, even if she has, I wouldn’t hold it against you—she’s quite the beauty after all.”

Qin Shi smiled, lips pressed together, but gave no clear answer.

Seeing this, Mingyue twisted his waist. “I asked you a question—are you mute now?”

“If you don’t want to fall off, best to sit still,” Qin Shi said, cracking the whip to catch up with Que Emperor.

Mingyue grew sullen, and didn’t speak to Qin Shi again until they reached the rest stop.

The shadow agent sent to settle Chuxue had caught up as well. He whispered something to Que Emperor, whose expression immediately darkened. Que Emperor raised his whip and struck the wooden table beside him, splitting it in two.

“Qi Chuxue, come out here now!”

Soon, a dusty-faced servant poked his head out from nearby, shifty-eyed and furtive.

Mingyue couldn’t help laughing—Qi Chuxue truly had talent, disguising herself so thoroughly no one would ever suspect her identity.

Perhaps frightened by Que Emperor’s anger, Chuxue dared not approach, lingering hesitantly in place. Finally, Que Emperor strode forward, dragged her out, and demanded angrily, “What are you trying to do?”

“Follow you.” Chuxue adjusted her hat and grinned, her bright eyes still pure and clear.

Que Emperor clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. Just as Mingyue feared he’d erupt, he yanked Chuxue into his arms, nearly growling through his teeth, “How much more trouble will you cause?”

“I don’t like causing trouble. But I knew that following you as myself would only invite problems, so I disguised myself like this. I said I’d prove it to you, and I always keep my word. So, will you let me stay with you now?” Chuxue struggled out of his embrace, gazing up at him expectantly.

Que Emperor tightened his grip around her waist, eliciting a startled cry from her.

Mingyue, leaning on Qin Shi, laughed until she couldn’t breathe. Was this not surrender? Even the formidable Que Emperor was powerless against Qi Chuxue. After a while, Mingyue remembered she was still sulking with Qin Shi and awkwardly withdrew her hand. But Qin Shi leaned in, whispering, “Are you still angry?”

Mingyue pouted and looked away. Hearing Qin Shi’s soft laugh, her irritation flared, and she lashed out with her whip—only for Qin Shi to catch it.

“All right, all right, I surrender. Your temperament and mine could never collide.”

Mingyue couldn’t help but curl her lips in a smile, but she kept her face stern and snatched back the whip. “What’s it got to do with me?”

For safety’s sake, Que Emperor didn’t let Chuxue change her disguise, and the four of them headed straight for the capital of Shu. On their arrival that night, Que Emperor didn’t rest. He left one companion to look after Chuxue while he and another slipped into the royal palace of Shu under cover of darkness.

And so, Mingyue witnessed the same scene as before.

Time had passed, and she finally understood what Qin Shi had once meant when he said Jun Xiao had exhausted his courage. Mingyue had long known how much Jun Xiao valued the disciples of the Gentlemen’s Hall, especially from the care he showed for Ah Yuan. She had also learned of efforts Jun Xiao had made for his disciples while she was in the Gentlemen’s Hall.

How much must he have cared, to turn his sword against his own disciples for the sake of Qingyi’s cold blade?

Mingyue shook her head, unwilling to think further, but the somber face of Jun Xiao and the mocking smile of Jun Yi kept intruding. At that moment, Qin Shi reached over and took her hand in his own.