Alone, Beautifully – Chapter 142
by Little PandaBestowing Upon You the Realm (24)
“The promise to wait for her.”
Yu Ye understood Xu Jiao’s words.
She comprehended the moving aspect of this wait – though Xu Jiao couldn’t help Yu Ye return to her own world, if Yu Ye strived for it, regardless of success or failure, Xu Jiao would wait for her arrival.
The time spent waiting always feels especially long—
Yu Ye knew that if she were someone with darker intentions and stronger possessiveness (refers to having manipulative tendencies), even if she couldn’t be with her beloved after leaving these stories, she absolutely wouldn’t tolerate seeing the other person living a good life without her.
She could simply deceive Xu Jiao into promising to wait.
But this lie might cause Xu Jiao to waste her entire life, forever living in the story Yu Ye brought to her, never able to have a life of her own.
Yu Ye’s thoughts turned like electricity, looking at the person before her, wanting to make Xu Jiao take back such a promise, but looking at Xu Jiao’s brows and eyes, she couldn’t utter a single word of rejection.
This was the person she had sought through several lifetimes and years; how could she bear to push Xu Jiao to someone else? Yu Ye couldn’t even tolerate others being too close to Xu Jiao, let alone willingly presenting her with both hands (giving her up) – that was impossible.
For a moment, she wanted to abandon those inexplicable thoughts, forget about those jumbled memories, stop investigating, and change her wish to simply following Xu Jiao forever – wherever Jiaojiao went, she would follow. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Finally.
Yu Ye raised her hand to caress Xu Jiao’s cheek, her expression exceptionally gentle, and responded softly: “At least for this battle, you must wait for my return. I will give you the Da Qi.”
Xu Jiao nodded with a smile.
The atmosphere between them was particularly warm and tender for a moment.
That night, after handling state affairs, Yu Ye stayed at the Eastern Palace but didn’t remain long. Although she had made the Eastern Palace as solid as iron (extremely secure), she didn’t even trust her own people completely. Regarding anything concerning Xu Jiao’s safety, she couldn’t put her mind at ease. So after they became close and shared their feelings, she actually visited the palace less frequently than before.
She feared others might notice something amiss.
Even though when establishing Xu Jiao as the Crown Prince, political enemies had thoughts of eliminating Xu Jiao, she hadn’t worried about Xu Jiao’s safety then. Now that her memories had returned, Yu Ye had become more cautious than before. She not only feared she couldn’t protect the other person completely when away, but also worried that Xu Jiao might be affected by external rumors before ascending to the throne.
Even though the person she worried about was actually much stronger than she imagined, and she also knew that even if something happened to Xu Jiao in this world, they could meet again in the next world.
But what reason could understand, emotions still couldn’t accept.
Yu Ye now treated Xu Jiao like “holding her in her palm afraid she might fall, keeping her in her mouth afraid she might melt” (treating someone with extreme care and precious consideration). However, when she was about to leave the palace the next day, it was Xu Jiao who tried to keep her.
The other person declared in a dignified and imposing manner: “Soon, Official Yu will be busy with warfare, and who knows when we’ll meet again. I can’t bear to part with you, so stay with me in the palace for two more days, will you?”
Yu Ye: “!”
Just this simple sentence made her wish she could tie their sashes together right then (to be physically bound together), never to be half a step away from each other again.
Until news came from the Chu country—
The Yan-Chu alliance was formed.
The day to raise arms against Da Qi was approaching.
Using some pretext from Chu’s side, both countries officially deployed their warriors to Qi’s borders. Xu Jiao personally saw off the three armies, watching Yu Ye in her cold, solemn, and gleaming armor and black cape, mounted on a snow-white warhorse, her silhouette elongated in the sunlight.
The two gazed at each other from afar. Whatever words of blessing were spoken then, Xu Jiao no longer remembered, only the heavy feeling in her heart remained, weighing there for a very long time.
When the army began to move, Yu Ye moved her lips, silently mouthing a few words to her.
Xu Jiao nodded almost imperceptibly.
Even after the horses and soldiers had traveled far, and the dust they’d kicked up had settled again, Xu Jiao hadn’t left the high platform. Her gaze remained fixed on that black and silver figure until the horse galloped away and the figure became just a dark spot.
Just as Yu Ye was about to disappear from view—
She seemed to turn back and look in this direction.
The serving palace maid Lan Yan reminded her softly: “Your Highness, the wind is strong up here on the tower. Let’s return to the palace earlier, lest you catch a cold.”
Xu Jiao gave a soft sound of acknowledgment, but still waited until Yu Ye’s figure was completely gone before turning her gaze away. After walking two steps down from the tower, she suddenly stopped and called out:
“Lan Yan.”
The palace maid responded gently: “This servant is here.”
Xu Jiao had something she wanted to ask, the words were at the tip of her tongue, but she lost interest in sharing her feelings with others. After a few seconds of silence, she changed the subject and asked: “How has the Crown Prince of Liang been doing lately?”
Since they weren’t in the Eastern Palace, Xu Jiao’s question was more subtle. Lan Yan, who had been chosen for such tasks, was naturally “as attentive as a silk thread” (extremely detail-oriented and perceptive). She immediately understood the implied meaning and casually mentioned:
“I heard that some days ago, a young palace maid at Youhuang Hall was bullied by others. She was pushed into a puddle on a rainy day, but Nie Yueyue rescued her. Later, he even requested to have that palace maid assigned to his service.”
“I guess he must have been struck by her beauty. After all, Nie Yueyue isn’t as comfortable here as he was in Liang, so perhaps he’s looking for some entertainment.”
This gossip-like retelling had already conveyed the key information to Xu Jiao.
Xu Jiao understood – this meant their planted person had successfully gotten close to Nie Yueyue. She merely smiled faintly and said offhandedly: “Don’t spread rumors about things you haven’t seen yourself.”
Lan Yan widened her eyes innocently: “This story has spread throughout the palace. They say that Nie fellow flew into a rage for the sake of a beauty. Since he came to our Da Yan, we’ve rarely seen him protect anyone like this.”
Xu Jiao showed a contemplative look.
Would someone as clever as Nie Yueyue really expose his weakness so readily in a foreign land?
Would he trust an unfamiliar woman so easily?
On the way back to the palace, she kept pondering this question. When no one else was around, she instructed Lan Yan: “Tell them not to let their guard down. Nie Yueyue isn’t that simple. If we fail now, it will be harder to place someone else next time.”
Some tactics can only be used once.
Especially with someone as cautious as Nie Yueyue.
He was the typical “once bitten by a snake, spent ten years fearing rope” type (extremely cautious after a bad experience).
Lan Yan carefully noted all her instructions. Xu Jiao almost wanted to summon that woman and teach her personally how to entice Nie Yueyue, but then she realized – since the woman’s life and future prosperity were in Da Yan’s hands, she wouldn’t dare be negligent.
As for what happened next, it would depend on fate.
Unless absolutely necessary, neither Xu Jiao nor Yu Ye wanted to confront Liang too early. At least before Qi and Chu were taken, they couldn’t let Liang notice any of this.
Xu Jiao sat down in her study, looking at the memorials on the desk, her fingertips lightly tapping the table as she looked outside—
She was looking in the direction where Yu Ye had departed.
There are many things that only those deeply immersed can understand, like how she never knew before what it meant to love someone so much that one’s attention would be completely focused on another person, even willing to entrust one’s life, love, and spirit to them.
After all, she had been cautious even in liking someone, choosing a person who would never return, because that way
it was safe enough – she would never be disappointed, and that person would only exist in her mental world.
But…
But now she had fallen in love with Yu Ye.
She didn’t feel like she was trying particularly hard to love, yet naturally, that person had filled her heart and eyes (to occupy one’s thoughts completely).
In the past, she had never been so distracted in her study, seeming unable to muster enthusiasm for anything. After sitting for just a moment, she actually asked the System:
“How far away is she from me now?”
The System, which had been muted for a long time: “…???”
Was this how its protagonist danger detection module was meant to be used?
After holding back for a few seconds, it said: “The female protagonist is not in any life-threatening danger.”
Xu Jiao: “I know, I just want to know how far she has gone from me.”
System: “…”
Fine then.
It truthfully reported the distance, and Xu Jiao nodded before picking up her brush to review today’s memorials.
Days passed slowly as Xu Jiao kept asking the System “How far has Yu Ye’s army marched?”
The court officials of Da Yan thought the first news they would receive would be of Yu Ye’s victory, but instead, what first reached the palace was an urgent military report at midnight – delivered by “800 li express courier” (urgent military communications system) –
Qi was besieged and had appealed to Da Liang for help.
Liang, intending to rescue their previously sent prince, had agreed to aid Qi, and had now entered through Qi’s territory, directly advancing their troops to Da Yan’s borders from the rear.
They took an intimidating stance, demanding Da Yan return their crown prince.
Xu Jiao was summoned to the Imperial Study late at night, where she heard officials heatedly discussing how to handle the situation. Some of the more moderate ones proposed returning Nie Yueyue, arguing that since Da Yan’s War God wasn’t in the country, by the time Yu Ye could come to their aid, only the capital might remain.
Others took a more aggressive stance, believing both Nie Yueyue and Liang were dangerous. Since the Liang King valued this son so much, to avoid having a powerful enemy in the future, they suggested simply executing Nie Yueyue to cut off future troubles, while sending troops to guard the borders against Liang’s assault.
Xu Jiao sat formally and listened for a long time, when suddenly the System’s long-absent, hesitant voice sounded in her mind:
“I wanted to say this last time…”
Xu Jiao: “What?”
The System said: “Your promise to wait for Yu Ye looks exactly like raising a death flag.”
Xu Jiao suddenly curved her lips, responding leisurely: “Wrong.”
System: “?”
Xu Jiao watched the ministers before her, showing no trace of panic, as if the country being threatened by Liang’s forces at the border wasn’t even hers: “When supporting characters make wishes, they’re called flags. When the protagonist makes wishes, they’re called beautiful prospects.”
The officials watched as the Crown Prince suddenly smiled, unconsciously turning their attention to her.
The discussions gradually quieted.
Perhaps they hadn’t even realized that their actions had already tacitly acknowledged Xu Jiao as the future ruler.
Under everyone’s gaze, Xu Jiao said with a smile: “Da Yan’s cities are easy to defend and difficult to attack. Though Liang’s soldiers are valiant, to think they could breach our Northwestern Cloud and Tiger cities in a short time is a fool’s dream—”
“They’re not the only ones who can make threats.”
“Relay my orders: increase the guards at Youhuang Hall tenfold. Tomorrow, send some of Nie Yueyue’s hair to Liang’s commanding general. Tell them if they don’t withdraw their troops, we’ll chop their precious prince into meat paste and make meatball soup to reward our armies.”
Seeing her smile while delivering such words, the hall fell completely silent.
Cold sweat secretly broke out on some people’s backs.
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