She is my martial aunt.
When she was exiled from Jianzhang Palace, she never imagined that Xie Tiao would treat her this way.
She assumed that Xie Tiao had at least received some of Xie Lang's instructions and would distance himself from her. After all, even Gu Yi, who wielded far more power than him, was no longer insisting on recognizing her as his successor.
Therefore, when she saw Xie Tiao again, she dared not utter the words "senior brother" or even refer to herself as "your subject".
After all, Xie Lang was already showing leniency by not labeling her a traitor. If she were to submit to him now, she would be a "criminal subject."
But to her surprise, Xie Tiao came to see her without any resentment, seemingly unaware of the reasons behind her expulsion.
In his heart, her place has never changed.
Xie Tiao helped A Qiu up, and only then did he have time to notice Consort Chen not far behind A Qiu, and he also showed a look of surprise.
Consort Chen had already sheathed her sword, but before she could speak, Xiao Chang'an said, "It must be that Sister A Qiu broke into Huihe Palace at night, which alarmed Consort Chen to come and protect the Crown Prince."
Xie Tiao felt relieved again and immediately bowed to Consort Chen, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for still caring about my safety at this time."
Xiao Chang'an's words were a mixture of truth and falsehood. At least Consort Chen was indeed there to protect Xie Tiao's safety, even though the enemy was not A Qiu.
Consort Chen remained silent, only nodding once.
A Qiu immediately untied the Ancestral Dragon Sword from his back, raised it high with both hands, and said, "A Qiu has come to return the sword. The Ancestral Dragon Sword is a national treasure, but it was accidentally taken out of the palace by someone. I happened to find it and have come to return it to Your Highness."
In reality, the person she should have retaliated against was the current emperor, Xie Lang, not the crown prince, Xie Tiao.
But everyone knows the current situation. If she were to go to Xie Lang's door carrying the Ancestral Dragon Sword, she would likely be punished for multiple offenses. Breaking into the palace at night is one, forcibly returning to the palace is another, and stealing the Ancestral Dragon Sword is yet another.
Therefore, finding Xie Tiao is the only way for her to resolve this matter amicably.
Xie Tiao glanced at the Ancestral Dragon Sword and then instructed Xiao Chang'an to take it. He said with a sigh of relief, "That's great. After this sword was lost, the whole palace was searching for it, and many palace servants were punished as a result."
He didn't ask a single question about how the sword was lost, nor how A Qiu got it back.
A Qiu was extremely grateful, yet also surprised: although the Ancestral Dragon Sword was precious, it had been almost completely ignored in the past. Apart from Emperor Xie Lang, no one would touch or look at the Ancestral Dragon Sword for no reason, and Xie Lang would not carry the sword around the palace without a reason.
Especially since he's been seriously ill lately, he probably can't even lift a sword. Logically, no one else would have the time to care about the sword's whereabouts. A Qiu guessed that this was also why Chu Yuanyi was able to steal the sword so easily.
It took only a day and a night for her to bring the sword back to this place after it was stolen, but according to Xie Tiao, the palace not only discovered it, but also made quite a commotion after a series of inquiries.
Why has no one cared about this sword for so many years, yet it caused such a commotion the moment it was lost?
Although she had questions in her heart, it was someone else's business and none of her concern. Remembering Sima Yao's request, she said, "A Qiu has come here for another matter."
Xie Tiao looked at her and asked only, "Now that you've come back, you're not leaving again, are you?"
A-Qiu was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and was speechless, unsure how to respond.
It turns out that neither Xie Lang nor Gu Yi had ever told Xie Tiao the truth about his departure from the palace.
At this moment, Consort Chen came to her rescue. She stepped forward and said calmly, "That depends on the Grand Master of Music's official duties. At this moment, the fate of the nation is precarious, and even if she is outside the palace, she is not idle."
With a single, understated sentence, Ah Qiu's current identity and situation were vaguely explained.
Xie Tiao was relieved and said, "So you took a break from your busy schedule to come back and see us. Alright, you said you had something to do earlier, what was it?"
Taking this opportunity, A Qiu immediately said, "A Qiu has learned a sword technique outside the palace, which I think is very suitable for Your Highness. At this time, the palace is also in a period of great turmoil. Your Highness may wish to practice this sword technique, which can also be used for self-defense."
Xie Tiao only realized at this moment that A Qiu was acting strangely, because she kept referring to him as "Your Highness the Crown Prince," which was clearly not as intimate as before.
But he could only think that perhaps because of the presence of the elder Consort Chen, A Qiu did not want to adopt a sycophantic attitude.
He had his doubts, but he only asked, "What kind of sword technique is it?"
A Qiu hesitated for a moment, but felt it inappropriate to openly reveal that it was the Emperor's Sword Technique passed down from the First Emperor, taught by Sima Yao. Given the current instability of the imperial throne, it was uncertain whether the Great Yan Dynasty could continue to exist. If he were to openly teach Xie Tiao the Emperor's Sword Technique at this time, Xie Tiao might be accused of possessing a treasure even though he was innocent, and would become an object of covetousness.
She then said, “The special thing about this sword technique is that it requires the Ancestral Dragon Sword to be used. Once mastered, it is extremely powerful, and ordinary assassins cannot get close to it. I think it is perfect for Your Highness to defend yourself.”
She had only spoken halfway when Xie Tiao interrupted her, saying, "This is absolutely impossible; I cannot practice it."
A Qiu thought he was worried that his martial arts foundation was too poor and that he would have difficulty even wielding the Ancestral Dragon Sword, so he immediately said, "Even people with ordinary martial arts foundations can achieve twice the result with half the effort and greatly increase their power if they learn this sword technique. That's why I suggested that Your Highness practice it."
She thought Xie Tiao was probably worried that she was overstepping her bounds, since the Ancestral Dragon Sword was the Emperor's sword, and at present he was at least the Crown Prince and not the Emperor. So she said, "If you are afraid of overstepping your bounds, you can ask His Majesty for permission. But His Majesty only has one son, and the Ancestral Dragon Sword is almost never used. If you borrow it to practice your sword skills, His Majesty will certainly not refuse."
Xie Tiao looked troubled, while Xiao Chang'an smiled and said, "Sister, it's not that His Highness is unwilling to listen to you. You know he always listens to you, his junior sister. It's just that this Ancestral Dragon Sword has been recorded in the list as a state gift to be presented to the Northern Qiang for their surrender. It will soon be sent north with the delegation."
He pondered for a moment and then said, "Moreover, the shape and size of this sword are not so easy to imitate. Otherwise, we could make one based on the design for Your Highness to practice with."
Xie Tiao waved his hand and said, "There is absolutely no time. The delegation must depart in two days. Where can we find craftsmen to make a replica?"
A Qiu was surprised that Xie Tiao valued her suggestion so much, and was touched. She couldn't help but say, "If that's the case... Your Highness can learn it when the opportunity arises in the future."
She figured the sword technique was already within her; she just didn't have a sword. There would always be a chance in the future.
Xie Tiao finally realized and said, "So, Junior Sister, your trip to the palace last night was to return this sword to me and teach me swordsmanship?"
Xie Tiao wasn't stupid. Seeing that A Qiu was dressed in night clothes, carrying a sword, and hadn't gone anywhere else but had instead stormed into his Huihe Palace, and that both matters she spoke of were related to him, he naturally understood that she had come specifically for him. Otherwise, she could have simply entered the court through the central gate as an official.
But the fact that she was hiding her face and carrying the Ancestral Dragon Sword that had been lost in the palace the night before suggests that there must be many unspeakable secrets behind her actions.
In a moment of reflection, even though he still didn't fully understand, he could sense the sincerity and care behind A-Qiu's late-night visit.
A Qiu simply smiled and said, "The sword has been delivered; I shall take my leave now."
She had originally intended to ask Xie Tiao for a favor. But seeing that Xie Tiao knew nothing about her situation, she felt she shouldn't involve him in her affairs.
Otherwise, what kind of person would she be in the eyes of either Gu Yi or Xie Lang?
Xie Tiao tried to persuade her to stay, but Consort Chen said, "In that case, I will see you out." This meant that she had already rejected any possibility of Xie Tiao trying to keep her.
Consort Chen is the most important person in the inner palace and was a former member of the Flying Phoenix Vermilion Bird Guard. Although the security and vigilance of the palace are no longer her primary responsibility, she has been alerted tonight and has rushed here. A Qiu's nighttime entry into the palace is also a violation of palace regulations. Even though Xie Tiao is the Crown Prince, he dares not linger any longer.
He could only say, "Junior sister, although I don't know what you've been busy with out there, please... take good care of yourself."
A Qiu smiled at him, cupped her hands and said, "Senior brother, please take care of yourself and always remember that your safety is paramount." She then looked at Xiao Chang'an with earnest concern.
Xiao Chang'an, however, laughed and said, "I know! Why is my sister so long-winded after just one trip out of the palace? She's not like herself at all."
Ah Qiu thought to himself, "That's because I've experienced the pain of separation and death several times, and I know very well that no encounter or meeting between people is ever forever."
While the other person is still around, you must cherish the moment with all your might. Because once you turn away, you may never see them again.
Consort Chen led A Qiu away from Huihe Palace.
The moonlight was perfect, its cool glow spilling onto the pebbly path. Everywhere, the fragrance of flowers and trees filled the air, making it hard to believe that a catastrophe was imminent.
A Qiu had many feelings in her heart, but she didn't know where to begin.
On the very first night she entered the palace, she met Consort Chen at Qiwu Palace. At that time, Consort Chen was dressed in bright yellow, her hair tied up in a high bun, and she was so graceful and beautiful that she seemed to have stepped out of a painting.
Consort Chen was just like she is tonight, listening to and monitoring everything happening in the palace day and night—but it was for the safety of everyone, and nothing else.
She ignored everything else that was neither her concern nor her knowledge, acting as if she didn't see it at all.
For so many years, she has been working tirelessly day and night to protect the harem and its inhabitants, never slacking off for a moment.
At this moment, she finally realized that Li Lanxiu was not only the Consort Chen in the palace, the former Flying Phoenix Guard, and the Left General of the Tiger Guard of the Great Huan Dynasty, but also had another identity that was of great significance to her.
A former assassin of the Lanling Hall, a spy hidden in the palace, and the junior sister of her former master, Wan Qiqing.
He was also her senior martial uncle.
She finally understood why Li Lanxiu had ignored her every time she appeared in front of him.
Besides Consort Chen's kindness and gentleness, the real reason for this is that she is her martial aunt.
Wanqiqing never mentioned to Aqiu that there was such a senior uncle in the palace.
That must have been Wan Qiqing, who had also considered the idea that since they were on different paths, they should let each other go.
However, Mo Yimingyue's assassination attempt has finally pushed the conflict between Li Lanxiu and Lanling Hall to an unavoidable point.
In fact, the same contradiction applies to A-Qiu as well.
Only after they had left Huihe Palace far behind did Consort Chen speak: "Do you remember when I once said that I wanted to leave the palace?"
Once she left the gathering, Consort Chen regained the gentle and eloquent manner she used to speak with A Qiu, as if A Qiu had never left.
A Qiu was taken aback when she heard her bring up this topic, and then she remembered what had happened.
At that time, Xie Lang suffered a mental breakdown due to the loss of Gu Yi's true energy suppression. In addition, there was a rebellion in Wu, and the Shangguan family, the mainstay of the family, had the intention to retire. Xie Lang was at his wits' end and, despite his illness, came up with the idea of making Zhao Lingying the empress. However, because Consort Chen spoke up for Shangguan Yuqi, who had caused trouble, she was confined to the Vermilion Bird Palace.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
