Sorry for the slightly late update. Have a great weekend everyone & Happy Memorial Day if you’re in US!!! Thanks for serving this great country…

This chapter was translated for only. And only for those people who don’t mind reading unprofessional translation that was being translated FREELY at the translator’s and editor’s own free times.

Chapter 131

Opportunity (Part 1)

The rising sun was s.h.i.+ning after the snow, the white snowflakes were covered with a touch of bright red. Under the tall plum tree, a proud figure was gazing at the morning sun, letting the falling plum and snowflakes to fall on him. She loved standing under the plum tree the most to appreciate the snow, but now, where was she?!

“Xuanyuan!” Pei Che was standing behind Xuanyuan Yi, he gently sighed and said: “It looks like Shu Qing is not in Cang Yue.” Cang Yue’s camp had been flipped over by Yan Yu, but he did not find Shu Qing’s shadow. Cang Su tried to track her down, but he did not seem to get any news either. 

Xuanyuan Yi sadly closed his eyes, he said with a low and tired voice: “I will hand over any matter in the future to you.”

Pei Che was startled, and walked to Xuanyuan Yi’s front to say: “How can this be? Even though Cang Yue has already withdrawn their troops, but they still need to discuss about surrendering, how can you go?!” These past few days, Xuanyuan Yi appeared to be insane trying to fight continuously, so it seemed that Cang Yue could not continue with the fight so they withdrew the troops and surrendered. Based on You Xiao’s style in handling this affair, he did not know if he would still have any trick when he surrendered.

Xuanyuan Yi opened his eyes, patted Pei Che’s shoulder, he seemed to say in a relax manner: “These are your specialty, moreover, the Imperial court has surely arranged someone to come, it does not matter whether I am here or not.” 

The h.e.l.l that it did not matter, since ancient times, when a country surrendered, how could the Lead General not attend to this. But looking at his extremely exhausted appearance, the words that Pei Che wanted to say, stuck inside his throat. He could not say whatever words that he wanted to say. He had not properly rest for almost three days and three nights, this definitely did not look like the previous him. In the past, he would only fiercely battle for several nights without resting, and he was still in great spirits, it did not look like now…. 

Was everything because of Shu Qing?!

Pei Che could not look at his low spirit appearance like this, so he angrily said: “What are you doing to do?” 

Xuanyuan Yi slowly lifted his head up, those pair of eyes were filled with bloodshot eyes, but there were also firm and persistent radiance in them, he lowly spat out these several words: “I want to find her!” Qing-er, no matter where you were, he wanted to find her. He would not let her to leave by herself, this was his oath to her, and his oath to himself. 

Seven days, it was already seven days. This seemed like it was the same as a seven years long suffering that could eat into someone’s bone painfully. If this was in the past, he only wanted to be with Qing-er, yearn for her, posses her, and love her. But now, he admitted that he could not be separated with her anymore, and was unable to let go of her. As it turned out, this so-called love was wordlessly intruding into his soul, overflowing in his blood, and occupying his heart.

The pain in his eyes made Pei Che to take a step back voluntarily, was Xuanyuan already unable to let go off Shu Qing?! Forget it, Pei Che strongly patted Xuanyuan Yi’s shoulder, and clearly said: “Go! Hand over everything to me!”

“Thanks!” Xuanyuan Yi finally showed his first smile after several days, even though, it was a very force (smile).

After sleeping nicely for the whole night, Murong Shu Qing finally had some energy to leave her room. Outside the room, there was a small garden, even though it was in the winter, but the plants were growing, it looked like they were full of life. The tr.i.m.m.i.n.g of the branches and leaves were very neat, and they did not look ugly, so the person who took care of them, was very attentive. After standing on the garden for a moment, she could breathe a fresh air, even though it was somewhat cold, but it made people to feel refreshed.

Walking and stopping all the way, the residence’s trail was winding, there were many type of plants, so Murong Shu Qing’s mood was very good while she was strolling around. There was no one who restricted her movement, if there was someone who was secretly following her ‘to protect her with great care’, she would feel even happier. 

After walking for about an hour, Murong Shu Qing entered a bigger garden, comparing the outside winding trail, this place was actually pithy and magnificent. In a distant place, she could see a dark blue figure who was just about to trim the branches and leaves with style and proficiently. Murong Shu Qing was just standing like this behind him, not too far away, while she was appreciating his ‘creation’!

The last dead branch was agilely cut off, so the man slowly turned his body around, and faced Murong Shu Qing who was leisurely smiling with her eyes. The man also smiled slightly, and said: “Murong Shu Qing!”

Without having the changing face appearance, she seemed to look ordinary, but without a layer of mask, her expression was even more natural and relax.

It was the young man inside the tavern. Wearing a plain clothing, he was graceful and outstanding! Murong Shu Qing slightly nodded her head, she gently smiled and said: “Zhong Yan.”

“You know me?!” This actually made Zhong Yan feel curious, he had never met with her before, no matter whether it was in Jiang Hu or Imperial court, he was nameless, but she actually recognized him?!

“I know you!” She did not really know him, Murong Shu Qing looked around, after walking for a long time, her feet could not stand anymore so she walked to the side and sat down on the gra.s.s. Murong Shu Qing generously answered: “Legend says it that the current Emperor has Wei Hai in the open, and Zhong Yan in the dark.” She had seen Wei Hai, but she only heard about this Zhong Yan. Reportedly, this person’s whereabouts was unknown. Even though he was good in tracking a.s.sa.s.sins, and was a secret power for the current Emperor, so she did not expect that she would see him here today. In comparison, he was a lot harder to think through than the honest wooden’s Wei Hai! 

Zhong Yan looked at her again, she was casually sitting on the gra.s.s with her white dress. Zhong Yan smiled and said: “Murong Shu Qing is really Murong Shu Qing. Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.” Since he was the Emperor’s point person, he had heard about this name, Murong Shu Qing, for countless of times. But he just met the person (today), and she was really similar like her name, cozy and elegant!

Murong Shu Qing found out that the gra.s.s was exceptionally soft, it felt so good in her hand. Moreover, during this deep winter, it could still be so dark green, so she could not help but to pull out one gra.s.s to fiddle with it in her hand, while she gently answered Zhong Yan: “You flatter me. Your current responsibility is a head of the prison?”

“A head of the prison?” Zhong Yan was startled, he immediately laughed and said: “Hehe, the first time that there was someone who said that about me.” This was also the first time that he saw someone like this who was a quiet, carefree and pleased prisoner. Zhong Yan smilingly asked: “Do you regard this place here as a prison?”

Murong Shu Qing raised her head to look all around her, everything filled with dark green, impressive and unyielding tall trees, unlimited low shrubs. The scenery in front of her eyes was definitely a rarely seen one, but Murong Shu Qing took the gra.s.s & put it on her nose to smell the faint fragrance, and she answered: “A place where someone loses one’s freedom is a cage. Regardless where it is!”

Even if she seemed to be indifferent and peaceful, but Zhong Yan could still keenly feel that she was annoyed, so Zhong Yan walked to her side. He also pulled out a gra.s.s, held it in his mouth, and said: “You are very angry?!”

Murong Shu Qing took the gra.s.s and put it to the side of her mouth, and nibbled it for a while, there was no flavor, it only felt a faint gra.s.s smell that was even stronger. Continuing to hold it in her hand to play with it, Murong Shu Qing looked towards Zhong Yan, and smilingly said: “You also saved me, do you think I should be angry?”

“I saved you, but I also made you to lose your freedom. Should you not be angry?” He did not know why, but Zhong Yan felt her anger.

Murong Shu Qing lightly nodded, and said: “I should be angry, but I can take this as a brief stop over to rest.” It would be enough for her to look at the beautiful scenery in this place for a period of time!

But Zhong Yan had never seen her relax manner like this, Master went to a lot of troubles to find her, once he received the news, he rushed over here. He felt that Master would not easily let go off her this time. Shaking his head to disapprove her, Zhong Yan affirmatively said: “He will not let you leave.”

Murong Shu Qing did not lose her smile because of his solemn’s words, she even smiled more joyfully. Slowly standing up, she lightly patted her dress from the fragments of gra.s.s, stretching her waist, she lightly smiled and said: “I will not let myself to be trapped in the place forever either, head of prison, just take it that…. I am provoking you. Who wants to be in this prison?” She already knew long time ago that the women in this era would be imprisoned for being different, no matter whether it was because of power or the so-called marriage. Otherwise, she should not expend her brain greatly to control and manage powers. 

Xi Lie Yue was right, she would not compromise anything with regards to controlling her own self. Those many things that she did, were only because she wanted to control her own life in her hand. Xuan Tian Cheng wanted to imprison her, then there was no harm to try it to see who would have higher skills and more resources!

Zhong Yan was somewhat absentminded when he looked at the gra.s.s that was swaying lightly in his hand, as if when she came in, Murong Shu Qing also went away quickly. As if she was chatting with him or saying that she would challenge the Emperor to see who would endure her provocation, but he really did not feel that she was joking at all. From the inside and out, her confidence actually could not be concealed at all, so Zhong Yan slowly lowered his head, he lowly and smilingly said: “No wonder!”

Master had not met this kind of woman, there was no self-righteousness, but only believed in herself, no strange feeling in holding her own dignity, no incomparable appearance in the whole world. There was only that kind of freedom to come and go, and to fulfill her own will!

However, being in love with her was fortunate and also unfortunate!

Sian’s notes:

Murong Shu Qing’s name comes from shus.h.i.+ that means cozy & qingya that means elegant/refined. 

I love MSQ in this chapter. She’s ready to fight with Xuan Tian Cheng!!! Go MSQ…