Volume Two: An Abundance of Blossoms Always Feels Lonely
Pretending to Be Husband and Wife
Someone wants to get married, oh
Dare to give the emperor Mongolian sweat medicine? Truly reaching the end of life!
Li Yue picked up the jar of wine on the table and fiercely poured it over Yun Yao’s face. The rush of coolness stimulated him awake, with the wine flowing slowly down his forehead. Only then did he realize he had fallen into a trap. Just as he wanted to speak, Li Yue tapped his mute acupuncture point.
His pupils enlarged, eyes glaring angrily at Qin Junlan, not expecting that after years on the battlefield, he would be schemed against by this pretty boy. It was also his own fault for being momentarily greedy for his appearance, so careless to think that someone who seemed too weak to bind a chicken would have such skills and cunning.
“Brother Yun, all the people in this mountain are yours, and I, your little brother, am also forced with no other way. Please forgive me,” said Qin Junlan with a faint smile. Although scheming against Yun Yao, seeing him gentle tone made Yun Yao’s heart soften again. If he were to be released now, maybe he would still forgive him.
Yun Yao’s strong physique originally would have made breaking free from the ropes effortless, but today, even after using all his strength, he couldn’t break free and had his mute acupuncture point tapped. With words unable to be spoken and grievances unable to be expressed, he was truly stifled and awkward. His eyes swelled red with anger, wishing he could tear Qin Junlan apart.
“This king originally ascended the mountain this time to have a good talk with Brother Yun, but suffered from not having the opportunity.” Qin Junlan deliberately changed her tone, and Yun Yao’s eyes slightly changed.
Qin Junlan, with a strong smile, pulled Liu Qianxun over, her eyes filled with tenderness like water, even intense love. Yun Yao always felt that Qin Junlan was proud in his coolness, never having seen him gaze at someone like this. He immediately felt that the relationship between these two people was not simple.
“Jin’er, why not come over and see Uncle Yao.”
Liu Qianxun stepped forward and slightly nodded, every frown and smile charming, “Jin’er has seen Uncle Yun Yao.”
Jin’er? Yun Jin? Yun Yao’s emotions suddenly became excited, wanting to struggle to speak, but unable to emit any sound.
“Promise me not to make a sound, and I will then untie your acupuncture point,” Qin Junlan said faintly.
Yun Yao nodded repeatedly, with the previous fierce and evil spirit disappearing. Qin Junlan nodded towards Li Yue, who immediately untied the acupuncture point for him. He tried to stand up, but his body was unable to move, “You are Cheng Wang’s daughter, Yun Jin?”
Liu Qianxun nodded.
“So, you are… the Empress’s own brother, the Wise King Qin Junhao?” Yun Yao turned again to Qin Junlan to confirm the identity.
“What? Does this king not have that aura?” Qin Junlan’s kingly aura was naturally formed; apart from the imperial family nobility, who else would have such a lofty aura? How would ordinary people have such awe-inspiring presence? Yun Yao blamed himself for his dull eyes, actually failing to see Qin Junlan’s identity.
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Yun Yao saw Yun Jin many years ago; at that time, Yun Jin was only a few years old, and the Iron Guard Army had not yet been reorganized. He did not expect that now she would be a beauty of national renown. Looking carefully at her features, indeed there is one or two parts similarity with her childhood, no wonder she seemed so familiar at first glance. He thought, how could there be such a delicate and soft male in the world, when originally it was Yun Jin disguised as a male.
“Father King and the late emperor were as close as brothers, only to die on the battlefield, but after his death, all his prestige vanished, and even Uncle Yun Yao, you have betrayed the court,” Liu Qianxun directly struck at the key point, following Qin Junlan’s instructions, to explain Cheng Wang’s situation with emotion and reason.
“Heh… it is not I who betrayed the court, it is the empress who abandoned us, slaughtering my Iron Guard Army’s ten thousand soldiers! Such a big military secret, presumably the Wise King knows nothing of it, right?” Yun Yao let out a cold laugh. The Iron Guard Army was upright and honest; everyone once was a soldier, who would truly want to turn bandit?
“This matter I have slightly heard of, but General Yun, what if I tell you that the elder sister did not know about this?” Qin Junlan’s face was serious, everything was as she expected; this group of people was disillusioned with her as the emperor and resentful of the court for abandoning them.
“You are her own brother, of course, you would help her.”
“Uncle Yao, the elder sister truly did not know of this matter. It was the Bai family father and son who arbitrarily decided and acted. At that time, her foundation was unstable, and she could not attend to court matters, so how could she have gone to slaughter loyal soldiers?” Liu Qianxun’s words were all revealed to her by Qin Junlan. For ordinary people, only those within the imperial family would know these secrets. Even if Liu Qianxun did not know Qin Junlan’s identity, she could guess some.
“Even so, everything is already too late. An arrow shot does not return to the bow. I, Yun Yao, and these brothers no longer belong to the court. If you want to kill or cut, do as you please.” Yun Yao was unmoved, even if Cheng Wang were reborn, it would be difficult to bring him back.
“If the emperor forgives you, would you be willing to return to the court?” Qin Junlan did not want the tragedy to repeat, nor did she want it to end in slaughter again. Since she personally came forward, she must want to use the most proper way to resolve this matter.
“Forgive? The emperor’s suspicion is so heavy, always worrying about being overthrown and betrayed, how could she leave us, this group of hidden danger troops, intact? Don’t be naive, Wise King. Do you think why you, a dignified seven-foot man, cannot become emperor, yet she, a woman, ascended?” Yun Yao’s words had already committed the crime of great disrespect. Liu Qianxun glanced at Qin Junlan and saw that she still showed no emotion, her eyes remaining calm, without being stirred.
How could she hear such offensive words and not be angry? If it were Ling Yu, the offender would likely have been chopped into eight pieces already. Why was Qin Junlan still so gentle? Truly, she is a monarch of great tolerance, embracing all rivers. Could it be that she can treat even such disrespectful rebels with tolerance? Or is it that she is too skilled at hiding herself, even not showing the slightest emotion?
“General Yun, you have a misunderstanding about the elder sister. This king will not blame you, but do not make mistake upon mistake, letting the situation develop to an irretrievable point. I ask you, where have the other people in the mountain gone?”
Yun Yao raised his eyes and looked at Qin Junlan with suspicion. He had always heard that the Wise King did not concern himself with court matters, lacking courage and strategy, a mediocre person. But the aura and mind of the person in front of him were clearly shrewd and wise, very good at understanding people’s hearts—how could the Wise King compare?
Too much wisdom must bring harm! This instead aroused Yun Yao’s suspicion, and the true and false identities of these two people still needed to be discerned. He could not just be trapped like this; whether or not these two were the Wise King couple, they were ill-intentioned visitors, wanting to be the empress’s persuaders—no way!
“You release me, and I will then tell you.” Yun Yao had already thought of a retreat.
Qin Junlan saw his eyes flicker, knowing he certainly had thought of some trick. She indeed wanted to see what else he could play out.
“Li Yue, untie him!”
Yun Yao looked again at Liu Qianxun, feeling that she indeed had some resemblance to Yun Jin’s childhood appearance, and worried that his guess might be wrong. What if she really is Yun Jin? He absolutely cannot let Cheng Wang’s orphan be harmed, especially not by his own hand.
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“This Qionglong Mountain is already an empty stronghold; the personnel have successively withdrawn. Everyone who was occupying here without action has now dispersed.”
“Dispersed?” Qin Junlan questioned, for who would believe such bluffing words? This Yun Yao is indeed not as simple as imagined. If she cannot learn what she wants to know today, she will have to force an attack on Qionglong Mountain. Actually, even if Yun Yao does not explain, Qin Junlan has guessed some parts: someone wants to take advantage of her absence in Jidu to stir up a bloody storm. Yet, with merely ten or twenty thousand troops, they vainly dream of achieving something big—simply foolish people talking dreams.
Even if she waits for them, she can pull those people out, but by that time it would inevitably lead to another slaughter. Killing her own country’s soldiers is something she ultimately feels some reluctance about, but if these people do not repent, she will not be merciful. As a future monarch aiming to unify the world, if internal unrest is not settled, how can she settle the world?
“Uncle Yao, why persist? It’s better to surrender to the court; you can still keep your position as general.” Liu Qianxun carried the demeanor of a princess, with every move exhibiting noble temperament, and even her plain clothes could not conceal her extraordinary presence.
Yun Yao retreated a few steps, shaking his head, “Everything is too late. If you are truly Yun Jin, today I will let you leave. If you are not, don’t blame me for showing no mercy.” Suddenly, he leaned back, sat on a chair, activated a button, and the chair flipped downward, leaving no trace of him.
Here, indeed, was a hidden mechanism.
“Bad!” Li Yue nervously chased forward, checking left and right, but could not find where the button was.
“No need to chase; words end here. Li Yue, send the signal.” Qin Junlan had given him the last chance; it was he himself who gave it up, leaving no room for further maneuver.
“Yes.” Li Yue immediately left to make arrangements.
Originally, the plan was to use the softest feelings in Yun Yao’s heart to influence him, but over the years, he must have been brainwashed many times, and his thoughts are no longer as they were before. In those years, Cheng Wang Yunze was brave and skilled in battle, having countless military achievements, he was then bestowed the title and held the military power of the Iron Guard Army. Later, he deeply loved Princess Yi Qingyu and was granted marriage by the empress dowager. Back then, the Yi family’s power also grew stronger with Cheng Wang’s influence, allowing Yi Qinghuan to overcome difficulties, surpass the group of concubines, and finally support Qin Junlan to ascend the throne, which was based on the foundation laid by Cheng Wang’s early power. Unfortunately, he died on the battlefield, and the cause of death remains a mystery.
In this way, Qionglong Mountain can only be taken by force. To minimize casualties among the remaining people, they must be made to surrender quickly, with a swift and decisive battle. After Li Yue’s signal is sent, Jiang Wei will surely lead people to come, using the ignition of black gunpowder as the signal to launch the attack.
“You had already planned everything, just wanted to give him one last chance, but he was obstinate and uncomprehending, disregarding your good intentions.” Liu Qianxun, having been in Shura Sect for many years, always did things without leaving a retreat path for others. Ling Yu wanted her to kill someone, she would kill without any reason; as long as it was a task, it had to be completed. Only now does she know that there are many ways to handle world affairs, not necessarily to utterly eradicate.
“No matter, at least I know his heart, and also know that deeply ingrained thoughts cannot be changed, let him go.” To Qin Junlan, Yun Yao’s thoughts and recognition represent this group of people, who have harbored such resentment here for years, only to be used by villains.
“Wise King, an illustrious name~~” Liu Qianxun placed both hands at her waist and performed a lady’s courtesy.
“Xun’er, don’t tease me, isn’t this a special circumstance?” Qin Junlan’s tone instantly became gentle as she walked forward and carefully examined her face. “If not for letting you pretend to be the Wise King’s consort today, I would never have noticed before how you two actually have some resemblance.”
“I, a mere common woman of dust and wind, how can I compare to the noble and elegant Wise Consort of our dynasty? Please do not damage the Wise King’s consort’s reputation.” Liu Qianxun did not want to continue with this topic; she had unspeakable secrets in her heart and did not want anyone to touch them.
She changed the subject and pretended to scold Qin Junlan, “I never expected that one day, without three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts, I would just marry myself off in this deep mountain forest.” Liu Qianxun turned and walked out, her face showing a shy demeanor yet filled with resentment, like a beautiful maiden waiting for marriage, expressing dissatisfaction with her beloved.
This charming demeanor made Qin Junlan’s heart fill with joy. She stepped forward and embraced her, all the tense nerves relaxed, leaving only infinite tenderness. If she could forever keep the person in her arms protected, it would be such a happy thing.
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During the southern tour these days, she wished time could stop. Clearly, she was in a den of tigers and wolves, yet it was brimming with a warmth she had never felt before, like the sweetness of long-awaited dew that always unintentionally struck her heart. However, she did not want to show too much and did not want her thoughts to be guessed by others.
Regarding Liu Qianxun’s identity, there was still a knot in her heart. She did not want to reveal too much, nor was she indifferent. Her brows and eyes gently rose, her pupils like a clear spring, transparent and bright, “So someone waiting in the boudoir wants to get married?”
“You…” She had originally wanted to tease her a bit but did not expect to be countered. Liu Qianxun instantly regained her calm, her brows and eyes slightly arched, her eyes blurred with a hint of mystery, as profound as an abyss.
She stood alone with her back to Qin Junlan. Under the elegant blue shirt, her slender figure had the emptiness of a solitary sail’s distant shadow against the blue sky. After a while, she slowly said, “My whole life… I will not marry.”
She is the Tower Master of Shura Sect, Ling Yu’s top expert. She is also the leader of wise and brave spies and a killer with countless murders. If one day, the truth is revealed, how would Qin Junlan tolerate her in the world?
If that day comes, how would Qin Junlan be? Her life is already like this, for Ling Yu, for Shura Sect, and also for the Yu Kingdom. And she does not have Ling Yu and Qin Junlan’s broad mind for the world, nor a heart full for the country.
She just wants to hold one person’s hand and not part. Why is that such a luxury?