World of Hidden Phoenixes 6 – 7

Chapter 6

A mist in the mountain had dimmed vision, yet Hua Zhu Yu’s mind was suddenly crystal clear like a bright mirror.

This was obviously a killing conspiracy.

The relationship between Southern Kingdom and Northern Kingdom had not been harmonious. After taking control of West Borderland (Xi Jiang), perhaps emperor already intended to conquer Northern Kingdom. Unexpectedly, Northern Kingdom proposed a marriage alliance to establish a peace between the two kingdoms which would hinder emperor’s ambition.
Common folk longed living in peace, if there was no reason for war and the emperor insisted to engage in a war, he would lose support from them.

However, if she were assassinated once she was out of Southern Kingdom boundary, this would surely stir a huge uproar. Undoubtedly, Southern Kingdom would point the finger at Northern Kingdom. At that time, it was justifiable to dispatch troops to war with Northern Kingdom.

She was not replacing someone to marry, but to die.

Initially, Wen Wan was selected by Northern Kingdom’s envoy to be the bride, later someone should have known the emperor’s ploy, not willing to let Wen Wan die, thus she, Hua Zhu Yu was made a sacrificial lamb.

The person who knew the emperor’s ploy was perhaps Chancellor Ji Feng Li.

In Southern Kingdom, Hua Zhu Yu was known as a young lady who was unvirtuous, talentless and unappealing. If people were given a choice to choose between Wen Wan and Hua Zhu Yu, certainly they would choose Wen Wan, the first best young lady of Southern Kingdom.

Furthermore, she was daughter of Marquis of Ping Xi, Hua Mu. If she were to die, her father undoubtedly would be furious. He would lead a punitive expedition of Hua household’s army into Northern Kingdom to revenge her death. The fighting on the battlefield would be even more bold and fierce.

Hua Zhu Yu really admired this scheme of Emperor and Ji Feng Li.

It was not that she held no hatred in her heart but she did not have free time to think about this at the moment. She needed to think how to deal with her imminent assassination conspiracy.

After figuring all of this out, Hua Zhu Yu’s eyes were limpid and cold, not only she showed no sadness, but she looked even calmer. She, Hua Zhu Yu, was not just sitting and waiting for death type of person.

“Jin Se, you tell the guard who is driving the carriage at once that I am somewhat feeling unwell and need to take a rest, get him report to Xian Wang, do not let the troops enter canyon, rest for a while.” Hua Zhu Yu said to Jin Se in a low voice.

Jin Se went and did as she was told. Before long, the troops halted, turned out they stopped just right before the canyon entrance.

“Miss, what is the matter with you actually?” Jin Se asked, her eyes full of concern.

“Jin Se, don’t panic, there is someone wants to kill me, we must escape from here” lowering her voice, Hua Zhu Yu said. “Lend your arm to support me, we get off, don’t let anyone follow us, for a moment think of a way to look for a hiding place, hide first”.

The only idea for now was to hide.

Since the Emperor had determined to kill her, the Sergeant of Northern Kingdom certainly unable to protect her, because the Emperor was perfectly clear about number of Northern Kingdom troops assigned to escort the bride. The number of assassins sent certainly sufficient to work smoothly. Moreover, that grizzled, bearded Xian Wang was not skilled in Martial Arts.

Hearing that, Jin Se was startled, her face went pale white, almond-shaped eyes opened wide, she did not say a word, took Hua Zhu Yu by the arm and assisted her down from the horse carriage.

Thinking that Hua Zhu Yu needed to relieve herself, the guard let them go and tactfully did not follow them since this was not the first time they asked him to watch over and they went by themselves.

Jin Se supported Hua Zhu Yu while they walked a few paces, they turned toward cliff, Jin Se bent down, carried Hua Zhu Yu on her back and used her qing gong. The summit was covered with lingering snow throughout the year. A creaking noise sounded as they stepped on it, cold wind hit their faces. Mountain road was rugged and craggy, icy air chilled them to the bones.
The snow below their feet suddenly slid, the two people were rolling down the hillside.

They heard a sound of horses neighing coming from behind. In this dark and gloomy night, the sound was particularly ear-piercing. There was a scent of blood on the night wind, drifting from a distance. Clearly, the assassins who were hiding in the valley before had started moving.

Jin Se got up from snowy ground, was about to carry Hua Zhu Yu on her back and run again.

“Jin Se, don’t run, the moonlight is clear and bright tonight, they will discover us right away, find a place to hide first.” Hua Zhu Yu raised her eyes and looked into the distance, only to see steep mountain roadside, there was a patch of short shrubbery next to it.

Jin Se looked at a thick snow mantle before her eyes, bit the bullet, all of a sudden, her hand reached out and started taking off Hua Zhu Yu’s clothes.

“Jin Se, what do you want to do?” Hua Zhu Yu asked sternly.

Jin Se did not say a word. She again reached out her hands to remove a phoenix coronet on Hua Zhu Yu’s head.

Hua Zhu Yu suddenly understood what Jin Se wanted to do but she was powerless, unable to stop her, could only looked on helplessly as Jin Se changed her own clothes with Hua Zhu Yu’s wedding dress.

“Jin Se, don’t be stupid…” before Hua Zhu Yu could finish her protest, Jin Se sealed her mute acupressure point.

The night grew later, full moon was hanging upon the horizon, its light was clear and bright like water, enfolded Jin Se who wore head-to-toe red. She smiled slightly, her eyes were misty, she sniffed back the oncoming tears.

“Miss, that time, if it were not for you, Jin Se would have been abused to death by the rogues earlier, all these years Jin Se have been taken under your care. If miss encounters difficulty, Jin Se certainly should help. Hiding in the mountain can only avoid them temporary, not escape the assassins’ pursuit. Only if Jin Se disguises as Princess to die, they will stop the pursuit.” Jin Se slowly said, took a pendant off her neck and put it around Hua Zhu Yu’s neck.

“Miss, Jin Se has been wearing this thing since I was small. It is a family keepsake. Jin Se’s greatest wish is to reunite with my family. This wish, Jin Se asked Miss to fulfill it for Jin Se.” Jin Se said as she carried Hua Zhu Yu into a deep gully. Then, she continuously scooped some snow and sprinkled it on Hua Zhu Yu’s body. In a moment, Hua Zhu Yu was buried in deep snow.

Icy chill in the air was often overwhelming, yet it could not be compared to cold despair and desolation of her heart.

Jin Se

Jin Se…

Hua Zhu Yu’s lips kept opening and closing, trying to call out that name but no sound was coming out.

A clump of snow fell into her slightly opened mouth, trickled down her throat, seeped into her heart. She felt suffocating pain as if an invisible hand had grabbed her heart. She tried to reach out her hand, wanted to brush away the snow covering her body but it was futile.

Amidst a sound of chaotic footsteps could be heard faintly someone shouted “over here, the woman is over here!”

Howling wind, sound of people fighting, sound of swords clashing, soon after followed by a nasty laughter.

“Boss has given us a pretty good task ah, look at this delicate skin and fair complexion, look at these charming eyes, tonight we are really lucky.” A boorish man said.

*****

Chapter 7

Tonight, we, brothers are really lucky. We can get a taste of a young lady of capital noble family, haha…” another man said.

Even though Hua Zhu Yu was covered in snow, she still could hear wicked lust in that voice.

Her surroundings were icy cold, yet Hua Zhu Yu’s heart was burning with flame of anger.

She tried to exercise her qi¹ but her dan tian² was completely empty and she felt unbearable sharp pain in her meridians³, as if they were to explode at any time, her internal force was no more. Not willing to accept it, she tried again once more time. A burst of cold qi slowly rose inside the dan tian, in split a second it flowed all over her body, and her limbs weakened even more as a result.

¹Energy flow / life force energy.
²Natural center for human body’s qi.
³经脉 Jin Mai : any of the channels through which qi is believed to circulate round the body.

What poison is this? It is same as tendon weakening except it cannot be removed.

Hate!

She had never hated a person like this before.

She hated Ji Feng Li!

She also hated herself. She should not have let Jin Se follow her. She should have let her together with Tao Se go back. Jin Se’s martial arts were no match for the well-trained assassins.

Jin Se….

Don’t you touch her, don’t you hurt her!

She opened her mouth and was yelling in vain. Her lips were trembling violently, the sealed mute acupressure point caused her throat to issue no clear voice other than a coarse crowing sound. Both her hands were trembling, tried hardly to brush away the snow covering her, little by little.

At last, there was a bit of chilly moonlight before her eyes, she could finally get her head out of the snow blanket, but then she heard Jin Se’s miserable cry. A twinge of pain struck Hua Zhu Yu’s heart, and suddenly, blood gushed out of her mouth.

The white snow in a split second was stained red, looked like plum blossom blooming in the snow, chillingly beautiful. Her body was shaking all over incessantly and the pain in her heart nearly suffocated her.

Jin Se….

She is just a servant girl, she is innocent, why does she have to suffer such humiliating and brutal treatments for her.

Why!?

She strived to crawl out of the deep gully, however, she had no strength left, she only felt her weak body was light as a feather. The icy cold of snow remnant covering her melted, soaked her clothes and froze her conciousness….

Didn’t know how much time passed, she was awakened by a faint sound of people speaking.

“Your highness, there is one person still alive here, hey, it is a woman” said a man’s voice, surprised.

Hua Zhu Yu felt herself was being dug out by a pair of arms of the snow. Hua Zhu Yu just realized then, she was unconscious before.

How long have I been unconscious? How about Jin Se?

Hua Zhu Yu’s breathing suddenly grew hurried, chilly moonlight shone on her face, the black eyebrows-coloring mark on her left face was soaked by melted snow, her face was smeared black, under the black color was actually deathly pale.

Her line of sight swept over some people there and landed on distant snowy ground.

Not a soul in sight there, only blood. Dark red blood and snow blended together.

Under rays of moonlight, that scene was striking and horrifying.

That was Jin Se’s blood.

Hua Zhu Yu felt her head spinning, everything before her now seemed to appear bloody red. At once, the round bright moon seemed to be brilliant red. That was distorting red, shattering red and maddening red.

Red light and shadow flitted across Jin Se’s delicate and pretty face.

She didn’t have any siblings, in her heart, Jin Se was like a sister to her. Although Jin Se was always indifferent and appeared aloof, but only she knew, in her heart was so warm. Even though she encountered misfortunes since she was still a child, she never resented heaven and laid blame on others⁴. On the contrary, she was kind-hearted, many times, she helped starving beggars.

⁴Yuàn Tiān Yóu Rén 怨天尤人 Blame everyone and everything but oneself.

She is only seventeen years old ah!

Jin Se is in the prime of her life

cannot see her anymore, cannot see her soft, shallow smile, cannot hear her cold and indifferent words

Tears blurred Hua Zhu Yu’s eyes.

Jin Se died for her!

“Who are you? Are you Princess Mu Yun or that servant girl?” a voice asked uncertainly.

Hua Zhu Yu’s eyes widened as she was taking a clear look at the person who just spoke.

Over 50 years of age, a grizzled beard was stained red, likely blood. A pair of bright piercing eyes were looking at her, filled with anticipation.

This is….?

“Wangye, could it be that you have never seen the princess?” an imperial guard beside him asked cautiously.

“According to Southern Kingdom’s customs, the bride’s wedding veil is meant to be removed by the bridegroom in the bridal chamber, therefore Benwang have not seen her” that Wangye who stood before her said calmly.

It seems this person is Northern Kingdom’s xianwang.

He is actually not dead?!

That’s right, to put a blame on Northern Kingdom for this assassination, xianwang must not die.

“You are Pincess Mu Yun, right?” Xianwang stepped forward hurriedly, asked anxiously.

In her ears suddenly sounded a cold snort that sounded like indifference, sounded like arrogance, sounded like disdain….

Hua Zhu Yu slowly turned her head, only to see a man stood on a hillside, tall stature was wrapped in chilly moonlight. He gave off an endless cold air that caused people affraid to get close. His face was hidden in moonlight shadow, could not be seen clearly, only felt a pair of shining intimidating eyes, his majesty and imposing arrogance.

He stood there in a high and mighty manner, like a monarch overseeing his people.

“It is not good to stay longer here, save the person first and talk again after we return.” The man spoke with deep and low voice. The faint tone was like a light wind that brushing gently, but it could freeze just like frost.

Hua Zhu Yu opened her mouth to speak, still no sound came out, and when a guard at her side saw this, he lightly patted her body, unsealed Hua Zhu Yu’s acupressure point for speech.

“Don’t go, (I) beg you to find her, must save her” Hua Zhu Yu crawled on snow-covered ground.

It was the first time in her life, she felt low as dust. For the first time in her life she was begging for a favor.

Even if Jin Se was dead, she still had to find her, she could not let her corpse be left in this desolate hill. This was the only thing she could do for now.

The man heard her plea, the intimidating eyes dully swept over her body, chilly gleaming waves in his eyes were like river streamed, yet the eerie coldness of his eyes could not be concealed. This kind of imposing look gave people a feeling of suffocation.

He merely casted a glace at Hua Zhu Yu, coldly commanded his mans “You don’t take the person to leave quickly.” finished saying that, he turned and left.

The guard picked Hua Zhu Yu up off the ground, carried her on his back, and went down out of the mountain.

Looking at the moon, she chuckled as tears were streaming down her face.

Jin Se, I cannot do anything for you now, but one day I will settle this account for you.

*****