[Wushuang] Chapter 84 – I’m Afraid You Would Die On My Bed
The Göktürks are people who grew up on horseback. When Khan Apa was young, naturally, he was also a renounced archer within his clan. It was only due to growing age that he descended into wine and the beauty of women, that his skills regressed and gradually he turned into an old Khan with a face full of wrinkles. However, even when at the peak of his stamina and strength, he would not have been able to leap as high as one zhang in one smooth motion, and even fought with Feng Xiao in the middle of the air, neither losing nor winning at this moment, and when one looked at his movements that were flexible and smooth, how does he look like someone who was regressing from old age?

Jin Lian was like everyone, staring at the scene in a trance, before coming back to reality only after a while. The level of that person’s martial arts, was one that was rarely seen, so it was impossible this is Khan Apa!

Qiao Xian’s reflexes were quicker than hers, so she shouted loudly in that moment, “That saboteur is the one who murdered the Khan, then stole his identity, and used it to create a disturbance in Göktürk!”

After some hustles, Feng Xiao and Yu Xiu have already crossed over ten moves.

Both of them have fought one another before, but at that time, Yu Xiu was only there for the sake of testing waters, he had never intenteded to fight with them to the death. However, this time, it was different, Yu Xiu’s plotting of this entire scheme was to sow disruption and chaos. As his scheme progressed, Fo Er was expended by the hands of Feng Xiao, and enemies were formed of Western Göktürk and the Sui Empire. All that’s left was the last step, then he could provoke fire and wars between Western Göktürk and the Sui Empire. Yet, this was ruined by Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao. Yu Xiu even had the heart to crush their bones and destroy their ashes.

Since his identity was exposed now, Yu Xiu would not hold himself back any longer. Each move he made was brutal, brimming with the intention to kill his enemies on the spot.

“I see. It is Zen Yu Xiu!” As both of them fought, Feng Xiao immediately recognized the other’s identity.

“Let me tell you a good news. Your accomplice, Gao Yun, is already dead!” Even though this enemy was multiple times more difficult to deal with than Gao Yun, but Feng Xiao did not forget to provoke his enemy. He was only afraid that Yu Xiu refused to be provoked.

“I anticipated this!” Yu Xiu laughed coldly, “That is because his skills are weak against others. However, at the very least, Gao Yun did something right!”

Gao Yun was the number one fighter of Goguryeo. However, talented people are everywhere in the Central Plains, and although Gao Yun was arguably not number one, his martial arts were still considered to be quite top notch. Although Feng Xiao has killed him, it was impossible that he did it completely unharmed.

Yu Xiu was not careless, compared to Gao Yun who underestimated his enemy, he knew Feng Xiao’s abilities clearer. Now, since his plan has failed, he could just leave. Presently, the only one who could thwart him, was Feng Xiao. Yu Xiu would rather spend more strength and brainpower to kill Feng Xiao before leaving this place.

He held a knife in his hand. That was the same knife in the yurt that the Second Prince often brought along with him. The blade shone with a blackened light, so naturally it was not made from ordinary material. Yu Xiu never used knives, but it was required of top martial artists to be a jack of all trades. In his hand, the knive was like a finger that bend at his will. It followed the flowing of qi energy, emitting an aura like sea breeze, before whirling towards the direction of his enemies.

In the midst of the knive’s brighteness, the glare of Feng Xiao’s sword looked thinner and weaker, practically overcome by the knife’s brightness.

In Jin Lian’s eyes, this was even more nervous and shocking to look at.

Yet Qiao Xian could not care much for others, she panted as she ran into the yurt and saw Cui Buqu who has fallen onto the ground.

Cui Buqu’s face was pale like paper, his breathe was faint and weak. When Qiao Xian pressed onto the other’s meridians, her face changed.

“Wake up!” She was as agigated as fire, stimultaneously infusing energy into Cui Buqu as she yelled his name.

After a while, Cui Buqu moved a little, but all he did was coughing twice, before he spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Commander!” Qiao Xian lost all her sense of direction.

“Don’t give me any more energy.” Cui Buqu said weakly, his voice was not even louder than the sound of a mosquito singing, “Did you not smell the Naihe Xiang…..”

The Naihe Xiang drug is limited. At that moment, the ceiling of the yurt was completely destroyed by Feng Xiao and Yu Xiu, so the smell had dissipated more or less. After Qiao Xian was reminded by him, her expression fell even more.

With energy flowing in one’s body, the Naihe Xiang would only escalate. This was why Yu Xiu fell into this trap so easily, because there was fear in his heart. To put in other words, Cui Buqu’s body was weak now, but not only would Qiao Xian’s energy fail to sooth his pain, it would prompt the Naihe Xiang drug to take effect even more quicker.

When they were delayed, Cui Buqu was facing an enemy that was nefarious and sly like Yu Xiu. Yu Xiu knew that the other was similiarly sly and crafty, but Cui Buqu did not know martial arts, and it difficult for Yu Xiu to not let down his guard. Cui Buqu had made use of exactly just that, added with a bit of Naihe Xiang, he turned the tides against Yu Xiu himself.

To kill a thousand enemies, and suffer a loss of eight hundred. A method like this, was only doable by Cui Buqu.

Yu Xiu had underestimated him in the end, and if not for the fact that he had to cross hands with Feng Xiao now, he would have already skinned Cui Buqu alive.

But Qian Xian can only feel heartache.

Cui Buqu has been tortured, it was difficult for him to avoid injuries. Qiao Xian never wanted to see him hurt.

“Then let me carry you out to take a seat.” Qiao Xian spoke tremblingly.

Cui Buqu, “No. You need to find Jin Lian, tell her to contact the First Prince, tell him to stabilize the situation. During the period Yu Xiu masqueraded as the Khan, he would have definitely managed to pull some people to his side, to pick at their relationship through small actions……”

He begun coughing, unable to continue speaking.

But Qiao Xian had followed him for a long time, so very quickly she understood what he meant.

Although Yu Xiu was exposed, but he had buried some nails, that would definitely prick others when they were stepped on. Now that the Second Prince was gone, the First Prince is the rightful successor. However, those old generals would use the chance to ravish the power for themselves. Because Göktürk is not a place where the son inherited the father. To the Sui Empire, the First Prince would be considered to be quite a friendly ally. With him as the new Khan, it would be beneficial to the alliance.

“Then you……” She was in a predicament, yet she dared not touch Cui Buqu, afraid that he would suffer more from the poison.

“I won’t die yet. Go!” Cui Buqu said.

Qiao Xian bit down on her teeth and rose to her feet before leaving.

Cui Buqu listened to her footsteps as she left, and the sound of fighting outside with Feng Xiao and Yu Xiu, as he slowly closed his eyes.

……

Yu Xiu enjoyed playing games.

Especially when his opponent and him had practically the same strength.

When there was great disparity between himself and his opponent, it was like a bowl of plain and tasteless water.

On the other hand, someone who had the same strength as him, was like wine made from the old days, delicious and memorable.

To speak about the nature of his heart, he did not hated Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu.

Among these two, Yu Xiu looked up to Cui Buqu, a pity that he was born sickly and weak, not having the chance to learn martial arts, but he also admired his gift for strategy and schemes, emerging from a situation of despair.

Perhaps, in another place, with another identity, both of them could have had a friendly spar.

But now, in the midst of the shadows of knives, there can only be one victor.

Both of them have already fought past one hundred moves.

One was poisoned with the Naihe Xiang drug, the other carried wounds on himself. Both of them were unable to utilize their strength to its full potential. When Yu Xiu attacked, he could only feel his energy freeze in him, his left and right limbs numb, and he could not help but hated Cui Buqu even more.

Like how he usually wouldn’t use knives. Feng Xiao did not either. A soft sword, to him, was not comparable to a zither.

However, when his swordsmanship and footsteps became one, he retained to be ethereal and godly, a martial artist peerless beneathe the Heavens.

Even Yu Xiu felt that he was a little difficult to deal with.

The glare of his sword was like rising mountains overlapping one another, like sturdy hills and pouring water, not at all resembling the gentleness of falling petals. Feng Xiao’s inner strength was endless, enough to spur him to seal up all Yu Xiu’s many routes. Although Yu Xiu did not fall behind, but he knew that, this time, it might no longer be possible for him to kill Feng Xiao.

Not only that he would be unable to kill Feng Xiao, but Cui Buqu might even live.

As his heart squeezed, the knife in his hands rose and thurst itself in front of Feng Xiao.

Naturally, Feng Xiao avoided it, yet he saw Yu Xiu knelt over, and the knife spurred out of his hand, turning into a river of rainbow light, and its target was Cui Buqu who was inside the yurt.

As Yu Xiu made this attack, he lunged himself at Feng Xiao. If the latter wished to rescue Cui Buqu, naturally he would need to expose his weak points, and if he did not wish to rescue Cui Buqu, then Cui Buqu was doomed. No matter what, he would not be at a disadvantage.

As he thought of this, Yu Xiu’s lips formed a cruel smile, thrusting a palm at Feng Xiao’s chest.

Then his smile froze at the corner of his lips.

The glare of the sword was too quick, turning into a blindingly golden light, spreading to every inch of a person’s vision. Yu Xiu felt his eyes seared with pain, so he closed them.

But as soon as he did, he could feel pain radiated from his forehead, spreading all the way to his left eye!

Yu Xiu suppressed a groan, and did not think twice before he withdrew himself and retreated his steps. From the corner of his ear rang a loud, brittle ding!

The soft sword did not use the chance to claim his life, but it instead blocked the long knife’s path, cutting it into two. The knife’s edge had practically scratched Cui Buqu’s throat, cutting through his skin and leaving a small bleeding wound behind. If the soft sword had came a little bit later, then there would be no longer Cui Buqu in this world.

However, due to this, Feng Xiao had expended all his strength, and he could only watch as Yu Xiu’s figure to leap onto the flag pole, gathering more strength, and leaped into the distance. After a while, he was lost in sight.

At that moment, everyone came to their senses. Yu Xiu’s identity was special. Jin Lian brought a few Göktürk soldiers to pursue him, but Feng Xiao knew that those people would definitely not succeed. Even if they managed to catch him on the road, there was no way that they could stop him.

Feng Xiao leaped down from the flag pole and walked towards Cui Buqu.

“Dead?” He patted Cui Buqu’s shoulder lightly.

Cui Buqu did not move at all.

Feng Xiao sighed, “Did I came too late?”

Then he knuckled Cui Buqu’s forehead.

He felt his hand touching something cold.

Feng Xiao, “Even the corpse was turned cold? This is great. Once I return to the capital, I suppose I can just ask his Majesty to disband the Zuoyue Bureau.”

Cui Buqu’s eyes flickered open, and in his heart, he said: If you’ve been lying on the ground for so long, it would be strange if a motherfucker like you didn’t turn cold.

However, he no longer has the strength to speak. Even towards Feng Xiao’s threat of disbanding the Zuoyue Bureau, he could not move a muscle to retort it.

Qiao Xian rushed over, bringing a few Göktürk maidservants and a carriage, trying to help Cui Buqu onto it.

Because she was afraid of hurting Cui Buqu again, her movements were careful, yet this made Cui Buqu furrowed his eyebrows instead.

Feng Xiao spoke curiously, “You would still furrow your brows at this? Haven’t you warmed up? Bah, so be it. They do say that one should help until the end, so I will deign myself just this once!”

As he finished speaking, immediately, he took Cui Buqu from Qiao Xian and carried him on his back, before walking towards the yurt that they lived in together before.

Feng Xiao, “Master Taoist Cui, I want to discuss something with you.”

Cui Buqu closed his eyes, lying on his side on Feng Xiao’s shoulder, as if he was in a deep sleep.

Feng Xiao, “Next time, before you decide to put your life at stake, you better tell me before that, otherwise you can pick a place where I cannot see, then we wouldn’t have to organize a funeral for you. The Jiejian Bureau do not have much money left, so I beg your understanding.”

Cui Buqu still remained silent, as if he had already fallen into a coma.

But when Feng Xiao carried him on his back, he recalled seeing the other’s eyelids moving.

“Don’t fake it. I know you are awake. Let me tell you something: the deed you owe me this time, even if you gave yourself to me thirty times, it would not be enough to repay it.”

Cui Buqu sighed lightly, finally managed to pry his eyes open.

“……How about forty times then?”

Feng Xiao snorted a laugh, “I’m afraid you’ll die on my bed. Enough nonsense, after you can walk again, let us go get the zither, Yu Yin!”

Cui Buqu, “The zither Yu Yin is one of the family treasures of the Boling Cui Sect. How can I get it just because I wanted to?”

Feng Xiao, “Don’t forget what you promised me. If you refused to keep your part of the deal, I would have a hundred ways of my own of not keeping mine.”

Cui Buqu, “If I promised, then I would keep it. Once we leave this place, let us go to Han Ping.”

Han Ping is where Boling Cui Sect was situated.

Although he got his promise, but Feng Xiao still felt that something was wrong. Although Cui Buqu has mentioned the zither Yu Yin once, but that time he never thought that Yu Xiu was such a difficult case that costed him such a big price, and in the end, all he earned was a zither. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t help feeling that he was conned.

Feng Xiao said slowly, “Since you know the whereabouts of the zither Yu Yin, then the other zithers, Hao Zhong and Jiao Wei—“

Before he could finish speaking, Cui Buqu vomited a mouthful of blood on his shoulder.

“Perhaps I cannot live long after all.” Cui Buqu said peacefully, then immediately faked death.

Feng Xiao: ……

Translator’s Notes: So this arc is mostly done. The next few chapters will just be FengCui nonsense as they returned to the capital before the beginning of Book 4. =) !

[Wushuang] Chapter 85 – Then, Perform A Monkey Picking a Peach
Cui Buqu suspected that when he passed out, someone moved him from the grasslands of the outskirts to somewhere he did not recall.

Otherwise, why would there be a beautiful woman next to his bedside?

There were a lot of beauties in the world—those that were beautiful and attractive, those that were gentle and proper, and those that were small and cute—Cui Buqu has seen aplenty. He even had a specific beauty who followed him around everyday.

Qiao Xian was considered a cherry blossom that was untouched by the filths of this world.

Yet the beauty before his eyes now was different. She was like a stream of water on the grasslands, so clear that it touched people’s hearts, a glistening beauty for the sight, different from the ice-cold charm Qiao Xian had, yet her gentleness was like one of lotus swaying in the wind, prompting anyone to hold an intense love for her.

So let alone the fact that she was looking at him dreamily by his bedside, her eyes glowing when she saw Cui Buqu waking up, she said gently, “My Lord, are you thirsty? I can fetch you some water.”

Cui Buqu watched as she raised a pot of water from the table to fill him a cup, before raising it carefully before him with both her hands.

“My Lord, please drink.”

Cui Buqu did not move.

As she was watched by him through his gaze, the beauty felt a little uncomfortable.

“My Lord, I do not hold any ill intentions towards you. Lady Qiao is boiling you a dose of medicine at this moment, so she could not come here herself. Therefore, I came over to help. You can ask me to do anything you want, just please don’t ask me to leave!”

“Anything……is possible?” Cui Buqu’s throat was dry, his voice low and hoarse, but the beauty was sitting near him enough, that she could hear him.

“Naturally, everything is possible!” Her eyes twinkled, and she edged closer to him, the scent of orchid on her body filling the air.

Cui Buqu thought and thought, “Then you can climb onto the table and perform a dance.”

The beauty, “What does my Lord wish to see?”

Cui Buqu, “Anything.”

Compared to dancing, the beauty wanted to chat with him heart to heart, but since Cui Buqu was not interested in that and insisted on watching a dance after he had just woken up, the beauty could only put down the teacup and step onto the table. The people of Kucha were skilled in dances. The beauty bent her waist and kicked up her feet, clapped her hands, in accordance with the music of the bells on her legs.

Her dress fluttered in a beautiful sight, divulging her fair and attractive legs underneath them. The only thing that was lacking was music to accompany her dance, as if something was missing from the picture.

As Cui Buqu watched, he closed his eyes. However, with each time the beauty thought he had fallen asleep and she wanted to stop and take a rest, he would open his eyes again, and she had no choice but to continue dancing.

After a few times like this, the beauty finally could not help but said timidly, “My Lord, I am a little tired, can I stop dancing?”

Cui Buqu yawned, “Then let’s not dance. We can do other things.”

The beauty offered, “What does my Lord wished to eat?”

Cui Buqu, “You do not need to move. Just stand on the table, and do a handstand.”

The beauty: ……

“My Lord, I am wearing a dress, I fear it would be inappropriate for me to do a handstand.” The beauty said timidly. She could reason with the fact that Cui Buqu was wounded and injured, so when he woke up, he had the heart to ‘do it’ but not the strength to. However, in the past even when the old Khan was in a similar situation, he would still allowed her to serve him at his side, even if she only fed him water and food, it was also another sort of romance.

Yet why did her seduction techniques failed when she used them on these two men who came from the Central Plains?

Had it not been for whose merchants from the Central Plains staring at her when they were stunned by her beauty, she almost thought that beautiful women from the Central Plains were born with three eyes and two noses.

Cui Buqu replied, “O. Now you can perform a monkey picking a peach.”

The beauty: ……

Cui Buqu, “A golden chicken standing on one leg?”

Tears began brimming from the beauty’s face.

He even said that they could do anything, but isn’t this doing nothing but dancing?”

Cui Buqu suddenly look contented, and coughed as he said, “Go out. Call Qiao Xian inside.”

From the beam on top of the room, a light little laugh sounded.

The beauty was shocked, as she watched a man in ethereal white clothes landing before her.

“A word of advice, it would be easier if you try your techniques on the First Prince.”

The beauty bit her lip as she stared at Feng Xiao, tears practically squeezing themselves out of her eyes. Yet the other did not even look at her for a second more, he simply walked to the dressing table and leaned down, looking at the shadow of a flowerpot left and right as he exclaimed in satisfaction.

“Beauty lies in your bones not your skin. With such a pearl before him, how would Master Taoist Cui’s heart be moved by you? Master Taoist Cui, am I right or not?”

Cui Buqu closed his eyes: I have a headache, and I want to vomit, it’s a pity my stomach is empty, so there’s nothing to vomit out, so I am feeling like death.

From the way the beauty saw it, these two people, the first one is narcisstic to the point that he’d admire his own shadow, putting no one in his eyes but himself. As for a second one, even when a beauty fell into his arms voluntarily, not only wasn’t his heart moved, but he had even thought of ways to pit her. Both of them were crazy.

After the beauty waited for a while and no one asked her to stay, she felt incredibly upset and could only leave them alone.

Feng Xiao, “That woman was sent here to serve the Khan of Göktürk. Since she was able to live by Göktürk royalty, then she already has the chance to live the life of high society, although it was not comparable to the luxuries of the Central Plains. Now, since the Khan is dead, and Western Göktürk has descended into a mess, she knew not where she would go, so instead of serving the new Khan, she would rather follow us back into the Central Plains. It was a pity that she chose to seduce me first, and now she wanted to get close to you, but both attempts have failed. If that silly rascal Pei Jingzhe was here, she might have gotten what she wanted.”

A moment before, Cui Buqu was also suspecting that she held ulterior motives, but now that he realized that she simply wanted to find a wealthy house to support herself, then he was too lazy to care about the matter anymore. Once he heard Feng Xiao’s words, he could confirm his theories further.

He opened his mouth and spoke, “I am thirsty.”

Feng Xiao asked curiously, “That’s your business, what does it have to do with me? I saved your life, you have not even knelt to me in gratitude, but still demand me to feed you water?”

Cui Buqu stared at him tiredly, pinning his gaze onto Feng Xiao without saying a thing.

Feng Xiao picked up the teapot, “One question, one mouthful of water.”

This was very fair. Cui Buqu agreed.

Feng Xiao poured the water into the teacup and passed it to Cui Buqu. The latter stared into the cup and watched the level of the water. It really was the exact volume of one mouthful.

“When you were with Yu Xiu, how many things did you manage to find out?” Feng Xiao asked.

Cui Buqu, “Not much.”

Feng Xiao’s lips twitched, “Just like that, and you want another mouthful of water?”

Cui Buqu, “He should be from the Yunhai Thirteen Stories, in fact, his ranking isn’t low.”

Feng Xiao, “Master One?”

Cui Buqu, “Water.”

Feng Xiao replied lazily, “This is still the first question. Don’t even think of playing tricks. Delay more, and I will stuff your mouth and tie you on the roof to blow the Northwest breeze, then let us see how long it would take for Qiao Xian to find you.”

Cui Buqu thought about it seriously and felt that Feng Xiao might actually do it, so he said, “He said he is not. In that kind of situation, he should not be lying.”

Feng Xiao was very satisfied with his performance, so he fed him water personally before asking again, “I want to know all your theories.”

Cui Buqu, “He was found, taught, and raised by Princess Qianjin. He was grateful to the princess. The Princess hated the Sui Empire, so he wanted to fulfil her wishes in her stead to usurp the Sui Empire, conveniently using Prince Jin’s identity for his schemes, as well as making it convenient for himself.”

Feng Xiao touched his chin and said in deep thought, “He wants to overturn the world and send it into chaos. The Thirteen Stories themselves are ambitious, therefore both of them are working together. However, for people like Fong Xiaolian and Gao Yun, they would not have been just been satisfied to create a mess of the world and leave it like that.”

Yu Xiu could only be doing this just to avenge the princess, but he could also be lying, but these were not important. However, the Yunhai Thirteen Stories were not simply just anybody, so they would not fool themselves along with Yu Xiu. The other must have already had a well-rounded perfect plan and this was just executing it step by step.

It also meant that, in a place where their could not see or reach, it was very likely that there was a great conspiracy going on, that was currently brewing beneath the surface of the water, and it was unknown when or where it would surface.

So, regarding the poem they found on Duan Qigu last time that did not make sense, it was most probably a very special kind of lead.

Feng Xiao felt that Cui Buqu has definitely spent a lot of time trying to crack the poem in secret, and those few things that did not make sense last time has probably already been figured out by him.

But before he could open his mouth to ask, he saw Cui Buqu has already closed his eyes and pulled the blankets up to his chin, falling asleep abruptly, practically writing the words ‘Don’t ask me’ on his face.

Author’s Note: Pei Jingzhe sneezed: Who? Even the readers have forgotten about me. Yet someone is talking bad behind my back?

[Wushuang] Chapter 86 – If I Ordered Them To Bother You
After Yu Xiu’s escape, almost everyone knew that Khan Apa has already been killed. Even the ‘Shaman’s’ body was once again mentioned by others. Everyone could not even tell whether that was the HeiYue Shaman, or was it the body of Khan Apa that Yu Xiu burned after he killed him. It was a pity that the body was ruined by fire, then burned to ash. Unless the Khan himself came back to life, no one could really provide an answer.

Although Khan Apa has worsen with age, but all these years he has maintained a stable balance. So his death had similarly astounded many people, numbing their hearts and rendering them lost. Both ambassadors from the Sui Empire spiralled from being suspects of the Second Prince’s murderer to the saviours of Western Göktürk that everybody wanted to get along with.

The Kucha beauty’s initiation to please Cui Buqu proved her intelligence. A few days after she paid him a visit, many royalties and nobles from Western Göktürk came forth to pay Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao a visit as well. They practically tore their yurt apart, and the gifts they brought piled up to a small mountain. There were even poultry meat among them.

When Feng Xiao came over, he saw Qiao Xian ordered the servants sent by the First Prince to help them organize their luggages. Cui Buqu was seated by the side, leaning on his back, and a cup of milktea in his hands, looking like he was devoid of moods, looking even paler than he was yesterday.

“I see that Master Taoist Cui could not even sleep just because he missed the opportunity with the Kucha beauty yesterday?” He never treated himself like a guest. Before the host could invite him, he had already sat down next to Cui Buqu and took the teapot in front of him to pour himself a cup.

The milk mixed with it was milked from cows. The tea was tea leaves brought by merchants from the Central Plains. During that time, people from the Central Plains liked adding star anise and salt to their tea, and this sort of drinking was quite different, for inside was sugar extracted from sugarcane, complimented with the thick taste of milk and the sweet taste of tea leaves. It would make one feel full and improve their appetite.

Cui Buqu did not slept well. Under both his eyes were deep, dark circles, and between his brows were wrinkles so deep it looked permanent on his face. A dark and dense cloud was encircling him, refusing to leave.

Although he refused all the people who sent him gifts, but there were still some of them who could not resist shouting and exclaiming loudly outside his door. That, added with the fact that the poison in his body has not yet been neutralized, these few days were hard to weather through, even at this moment, he did not even have the strength to bicker with Feng Xiao. He spoke blandly instead, “Once this matter is done, let us return to the Central Plains by the next two days. What do you think of it?”

Feng Xiao had no opinions, “You are the Commander, you make the decisions. I am only here to claim a part of the contribution, I would not cross your authority.”

As he brandished his hand to spread his fan so he could fan himself, he caught sight of the man wrapped tightly in fox pelt sitting next to him, his hand paused, turning instead to use the tip of his fan to raise the other’s chin. “If you keep getting thinner, before we arrive back in the capital, you would have already set out on your journey to the West.”

Cui Buqu slapped his fan away, “If I order them to harass you, let’s see if you can sleep at all or not! You only get to sleep because I was acting as your shield in the frontlines. What rubbish are you talking about!”

Although Master Taoist Cui’s attitude had always been foul, he was still able to fake a look of gentleness and peace on the outside during usual days. Right now, however, his temper exploded and it would only mean that his body has already reached a limit he could no longer control.

Feng Xiao kept his fan and took the other’s wrist, pressing his fingers onto his veins to check his pulse. Even if he was prepared for this, he still could not help exclaiming, “Your pulse is in a mess again, yet you could still throw a temper and scold others, this is truly one of the wonders of the world.”

“In the past two decades and more, my pulse has always been like this. It’s only that sometimes it’s better, sometimes its worse. That’s all there is to it.” Cui Buqu impatiently took back his hand and pulled the fox pelt even tighter around himself. As the weather grew hotter by day, not only did Feng Xiao changed into light clothes, but even the Göktürk people outside also took off their animal pelts. It was even hotter inside the yurt, and if Feng Xiao didn’t have martial arts on him, he would have sweat non-stop by now. “Don’t you be in a hurry to leave first. Today is the day the big Kedun and her son would pay a visit and formally request an alliance. You are the Vice Commander, you should also listen to this.”

Had it not been for his words, Feng Xiao would have already forget their goal to come here in the first place. They were not supposed to fight a battle of wits with Yu Xiu, nor did they came to expose the true identity of the fake Khan, They had came here to form an alliance with Western Göktürk to face the same formidable enemy Khan Ishbara who was ruling the other half of Göktürk.

Just as he was mentioned, a messenger really did arrive and said that the First Prince and his mother came to pay the Sui Empire’s ambassadors a visit.

This is the land of the Göktürks, so they could have just came in without any prior inform, but they have learned the mannerisms of people from the Central Plains, thus they have waited outside until they were called inside. The other was even the new Khan, and in such a situation, it was difficult for Qian Xiao not not give him his way.

After obtaining Cui Buqu’s approval, only did the First Prince, the big Kedun, and Jin Lian entered the yurt.

The First Prince even balled his fist and placed it against his heart, before bowing towards Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao.

“Had it not been for both of you, I fear that now we are still being treated like fools by that culprit, and we dare not think what a mess Göktürk would gravitate towards. I represent the whole of Western Göktürk to thank you for your help. This vast and generous deed, there is no way to repay. Therefore, if both of you need not fear to ask for anything you want, if it is within my abilities, I will definitely make sure it is done.”

Cui Buqu, “Your Highness, there is no need to be so formal.”

Feng Xiao snorted, “When we just arrived and make the intitiation to offer an alliance, everyone either tried to come out with excuses, hid themselves and refuse to see us, or glared at us with cold gazes. If we didn’t manage to expose Yu Xiu in time, I fear that we would have already been executed.”

Jin Lian translated Feng Xiao’s words, and the First Prince grew awkward as he listened to it. Although he did not approve of his ‘father’ seeking to please both Khan Ishbara and the Sui Empire before, but when Feng Xiao and his company were in trouble, it was not a lie that he had not stood out to help them, so now that Feng Xiao exposed them, it was unavoidable for him to feel that his face was a little pricky, as if it was falling off his bones.

The big Kedun said gently, “I heard from Jin Lian that the people of the Central Plains have a saying: that although the fence is broken, if one were to mend it in time, it can prevent more sheeps from escaping in the future. It was true that we were not in the right before, so today we came forth to apologize to both ambassadors. Please forgive us with your generousity, for we are willing to offer our utmost sincerity to form a blissful relationship with the Sui Empire, never to betray you.”

There was nothing in this world that would never change. Even if the First Prince’s heart was completely loyal to the Sui Empire at this moment, in the future, change would still be possible. However, these things had nothing to do with Cui Buqu. All he needed was to guarantee that the First Prince was sincere towards the alliance this time, and that they would assist the Sui Empire in the impending war, and that would be enough.

Fo Er is dead, and Yu Xiu was carrying a severe wound as he fled. If the First Prince wished to stabilize his position as the new Khan, he would only have one pillar of power to back him up. At a glance, other than the Sui Empire, there was no more choices left for him.

Without waiting for Cui Buqu’s response, the First Prince allowed someone to bring an edict, and before them, he read out the edict that he had written himself word by word, then proceeded to drip the wax onto the edict, before untying the gemstone he wore at all times and pressed a seal onto the wax.

Jin Lian spoke from the side, “This is an item of the Khan. It can only be used during events of importance. This time, the First Prince is indeed sincere, doing everything by his own hands. Master Cui, it would not be too late for you to read this edict before making your decision.”

Cui Buqu received it, he really did only read it only for a while, before passing it to Feng Xiao.

The First Prince thought that Cui Buqu was still mad at them, so he did not care to read it carefully and was a little upset by it, so he couldn’t help but said, “From me, to every new Khan after me, shall all gladly receive titles from the Sui Empire. Does Lord Cui feels this was not enough?”

Cui Buqu thought, this First Prince was definitely a lot smarter than his father. These two days, he had been learning a lot from Jin Lian, and that he knew about the offering of titles was simply just granting a name. It was impossible for the Sui Empire to actually send soldiers to them, so all the authority and power would still belong to himself. However, if he willingly received the title, it was enough to convey his sincerity, and enough to keep conducting business with the Sui Empire’s merchants. At the present, it was not a secret that Göktürk royalty can no longer live without ceramic and silk from the Central Plains, so the better their relationship is with the Sui Empire, the more tributes they would get from the Sui Empire and the First Prince could use them to pull people to his side.

However, since long, many countries have practiced this kind of thing. The First Prince was not considered greedy among them, according to Cui Buqu’s understanding of the Imperial Court, the Emperor would allow it ten out of ten.

Cui Buqu said, “I have read it. You said you wanted to accompany me back to the Sui Empire to see the Emperor yourself, to prove your sincerity. If the Emperor knew of this, he would be very glad. Allow me to write another letter of my own to have it sent back to the Emperor’s abode and announce this to him, so that they may make preparations in advance to welcome the new Khan.”

As he finished speaking, he recited the edict from the beginning to the end, with not a word missing.

Only then did the First Prince knew that it wasn’t that the other did not read it properly, but that he had a photographic memory.

He was suspicious at first, but now that all his suspicions were answered, he bowed towards them again.

“Then, everything will be entrusted to Lord Cui.”

Even if his martial arts are not comparable to others, yet in the whole of Göktürk, they would not be able to find someone as intelligent as Cui Buqu, so what more can they say to this?

They can only admire in silence.

With the help of the big Kedun and Jin Lian, the First Prince very quickly succeeded in silencing all the voices of protests in court and received his cornonation as the new Khan.

Cui Buqu and his company were incredibly welcomed as if they were one of their own. Since they were already guests of honour of the new Khan, everyone treated them like gods and dared not disrespect them. Compared to when they first arrived, it was like heaven and earth.

After the coronation, the knew Khan brought Jin Lian and proceeded towards the Central Plains along with Cui Buqu and his company.

The new Khan’s mother remained to take care of matters.

This trip back home was different from when Cui Buqu and his company came. Not only did they had a Göktürk Khan with them, but they have also brought along a group of men and horses, including Göktürk guards and all kinds of gifts. As they often said: The louder and stronger the aura, the smoother the journey. So it was impossible for them to encounter any dangers on the way.

To prove his sincerity towards the alliance, under Cui Buqu’s request, the new Khan even released most of the Han people that were kidnapped to Göktürk. These people were also among the group that travelled back. However, they refused to go to the capital, so Cui Buqu was prepared to let them settle down in the City of Six Crafts.

The magistrate of the City of Six Crafts received the news in advance, so he came himself to welcome them, bringing the Emperor’s edict with him.

Last time when Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao took down Qiemo, this news has already spread to the capital, and according to words, the Emperor was very satisfied. This time, the fact that they brought back good news from Western Göktürk, as well as brought the new Khan back to the capital, naturally, was another conquest to be included. However, since the news was still on its way back, the rewards from the Emperor was not yet determined. The edict in the magistrate’s hand were rewards from their previous conquest, offering them gold and the title of Marquis.

“Both Lords must have weathered through a tedious journey, and this time you have achieved yet another conquest. After the news make its way back to the capital, surely the Emperor would deliver another round of rewards. It’s a pity that I have duties that bound me, so I cannot escort both of you to the capital. I can only prepare some wine and food and help all of you wash yourselves. So please, make yourself at home in the city!”

The smile on Magistrate Zhao’s face was even more brilliant than the fullest bloomed carnations one had ever seen. He would give anything to throw all the beautiful praises and words he’d learned in the last ten years on Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao, so much that he had forgotten the time when he watched them travel alone to Qiemo and said, ‘these two sillies would definitely not return’.

Although this city was not even comparable to the beauty in the capital, but once they entered the City of Six Crafts, it was stepping into real territory that belonged to the Sui Empire.

Although Qiemo is one of cities belonging to the Sui Empire, but it has been a long time since anyone took care of that place, so it was still like a run down city, dull and lacking of colour.

Feng Xiao could feel that once they entered the City of Six Crafts, Cui Buqu seemed to have appeared a lot more relaxed, as if a huge burden has been lifted off of him.

On the journey here, to prevent Yu Xiu from ambushing them, Cui Buqu has always been on alert. After they entered the City of Six Crafts, before proceeding further, they would be escorted by armies from the Sui Empire, so there was no longer the need for him to worry, therefore, in the days that followed, he fell ill again that he did not even show up for the banquet organized by Magistrate Zhao that night.

Journey to the West: ‘Journeying to the West’ usually means dying.

Translator’s Note:

Cui Buqu: Someone shut that peacock up already…….

Feng Xiao:

[Wushuang] Chapter 87 – Are You A Man Or Are You Not?
Magistrate Zhao regretted it, so much that his intestines had turned green.

When Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu came to the City of Six Crafts, the first had presented his identity, and the latter had used the identity of the Taoist Master of the Zixia Taoist Temple, not making himself obvious at all. Magistrate Zhao had been too busy trying to gain favours from Feng Xiao that he had neglected Cui Buqu. Later on, he got to know that his background was no more inferior than the Jiejian Bureau.

Although his post as an officer wasn’t high, but he knew very well that it was dangerous to play favouritism between two other officers who held the same power and rank, and that he had breached this rule.

According to the legends, the Zuoyue Bureau was the same as the Jiejian Bureau, that they can both execute sentences first without seeking approval.

According to the legends, the Zuoyue Bureau was established single-handedly by the Empress Dugu herself, and she was their support from behind.

According to the legends, the Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau was a mysterious person who has never showed up in court, and that not many people has seen him at all. It was even a rumour that he was a guard who stood by the Empress’ side.

According to the legends……

Magistrate Zhao has never heard of the Zuoyue Bureau, but after he read the many letters sent by his friends from the capital and heard of these rumours that might be truth or false, he could not help being shocked.

He felt that he had offended someone with monstrous authority without knowing it.

It did not matter whether the rumours were true or not, even if only one out of ten of them were true, Magistrate Zhao knew one fact from the attitude the Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau towards Cui Buqu—at least he knew that Cui Buqu’s ranking wasn’t low, otherwise it was impossible for him to sit on the same table as Feng Xiao, so when Cui Buqu did not show up during his banquet that night, Magistrate Zhao dared not be mad, instead he spent a huge deal thinking over how to make up for it.

He heard that Cui Buqu’s body was not good, and that he was also injured while he was in Göktürk, so he immediately sent a bunch of expensive herbs and supplements to the posthouse, but they were all rejected by Qiao Xian who stood outside. Her reasoning was that Cui Buqu was too weak to consume too many supplements, so other than soup, congee, and some vegetables, he was forbidden to eat everything else.

Originally, Magistrate Zhao wanted to invite some famed physicians, but once he heard that Lady Qiao was a skilled physician herself, he immediately abandoned that idea. If he called the physicians over, then he would have offended one more additional person.

As he thought here and there, Magistrate Zhao could not find anything useful, and he was so troubled that his hair practically fell off, suffering insomnia even in the night and was practically kicked down his bed by his wife.

Since he knew that Cui Buqu and his company would not remain in the City of Six Crafts for too long, and that they would be heading back to the capital in the next few days, Magistrate Zhao could only try to ask some tips from Feng Xiao.

Compared to Cui Buqu who seemed to be sealed up in a fortress, it was easier to speak to the Commander of the Jiejian Bureau.

At the very least, when Magistrate Zhao sent gifts over to him, the other party did not even reject one of them and took everything.

Because of this, when Magistrate Zhao paid Feng Xiao a visit, he had more confidence in developing a closer relationship with the other.

However, that was only until he saw that the beautiful maidservant he’s given to Feng Xiao was currently wiping a window with a piece of cloth.

Magistrate Zhao almost thought that he was blind, and for a long time, he couldn’t come back to his senses.

The beautiful maid noticed that Magistrate Zhao had came, her face was plastered with pity yet she dared not speak. Both her eyes were watery, making her look extremely pitiful.

As for Feng Xiao, he was sitting on the window sill as he read a book, as if there was a goddess in his book that looked even more beautiful than the beautiful maidservant.

Because when someone else gave him this maidservant that was as beautiful as a flower, Magistrate Zhao could not bring himself to use her. Naturally, this was also because of the fierce tigeress in his own house, but Magistrate Zhao dared to swear with his head, that one cannot find another girl as beautiful as her in the whole of the City of Six Crafts. Even if Feng Xiao, a master with high standards who has lived for a long time in the capital, it was impossible for his heart to not be moved by a beauty like her.

Yet how could he let such a beautiful women do such chores! This is just abusing the resources of mother nature!

As this scene played out before his eyes, Magistrate Zhao couldn’t help feeling a thought forming in his heart: Could it be, that Feng Xiao did not like women, because he likes……

“Magistrate Zhao, are you regretting your choice of giving me this beauty? If that is the case, you can take her back.” Feng Xiao did not raise his head as he flipped a page.

“No, no, of course not!” Magistrate Zhao immediately denied it, he waved a hand to send the beauty out of the room, before smiling and said in a low voice, “May I ask instead, my Lord, that if this maidservant was not serving you well and has displeased you?”

Feng Xiao, “Of course not. Wasn’t she making my window shine?”

But the reason he choose a beauty among thousand of others wasn’t so Feng Xiao could ask her to wipe his window! Magistrate Zhao did not know whether to laugh or cry, “But I heard that yesterday, you did not ask her to accompany you in bed, so she stood outside for an entire night.”

Feng Xiao, “Oh, so she was meant to accompany me in bed? I thought she was here to be a maid. I was even going to ask her scrub the ground.”

Magistrate Zhao said in a quiet voice, “Maiden Qi’s looks are already the best around. If you do not favour her, I can find someone else. Or, do you prefer the company of men?”

Feng Xiao sighed and pointed to his own face, “Look at my face, what do you think?”

Magistrate Zhao immediately said, “Naturally, you have the look of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix, like an otherworldly being!”

Feng Xiao, “Would you fall for someone uglier than youself?”

Magistrate Zhao: ……Good point. I cannot deny it.

He pulled a long face and said, “But my Lord, you are learned and elegant, and that woman is soft and gentle to the bone. Both of you cannot be compared, additionally, there are certainly only a handful at most of people in this world whose looks can be compared to you!”

Feng Xiao snorted, “Then stop doing these sort of trivial matters, and put more focus on your actual duties!”

Magistrate Zhao only knew then, that Feng Xiao did not even put the beauty in his eyes, and thought: Why don’t I give you a mirror instead?

His thoughts remained in his thoughts, and he dared not say such things at all. On the lips, he only gave the other a smile, “Can I still ask you something? Since you and Lord Cui are such good friends, you must know what he likes?”

“Good friends?” Feng Xiao gave him a strange and curious look, “Us?”

Magistrate Zhao said anxiously, “Was it not?”

Feng Xiao beamed a smile all of a sudden, “Not at all. We are. So you also wanted to send him gifts? Why don’t you just do the same thing: send him a beauty, wouldn’t that settle it all?”

Magistrate Zhao laughed bitterly, “You must be kidding. Lord Cui is lying on his bed now, I fear he has the heart, but not the stamina. As for money and supplements, I have sent them once, but it was rejected by that maidservant of his outside his door. It was all on me, that I delayed Lord Cui once, so now I simply wanted to make up for it, yet I do not know how or where, so I can only come here with a thick face and ask for your advice.”

Feng Xiao smiled a long smile, “Ah, then you’ve asked the right person. Cui Buqu showed everyone a forlorn, distant face, but in truth, I once saw him—“

His voice has suddenly became very soft, as he whispered into Magistrate Zhao’s ear.

Magistrate Zhao opened his eyes wide, “Are you sure?”

Feng Xiao, “Every person with capabilities would have queer habits that others do not know of.”

Once Magistrate Zhao recalled his theory regarding Feng Xiao and his disinterest in beautiful women, then he immediately nodded and agreed, “That makes sense! I will go now and patrol, thank you Lord Feng!”

After he just left, Feng Xiao waved for the maidservant.

“You, come here.”

When Maiden Qi saw him, she thought that he finally noticed her beauty, and she was happy in her heart for a moment and quickly walked into the room before bowing, “My Lord, what would you have me do?”

Feng Xiao, “Go check if Cui Buqu has woken up.”

Maiden Qi: … Just like that?

Feng Xiao, “Why are you still looking at me like that?”

Maiden Qi’s heart suddenly felt grievance, so she stuttered, “I have a stomachache.”

Feng Xiao, “Then you can go after you’ve gone to the restroom.”

The handsome Lord did not even looked at her at all! She was incredibly mad, but she could only turn and leave.

Feng Xiao stretched his back and decided to go out to take a stroll.

Although she had scolded Feng Xiao more than a dozen times in her heart, and cussed at him, Maiden Qi dared not disobey his orders. When Feng Xiao returned, she reported back to him that Cui Buqu has woken up and a bunch of people were waiting to see him, even Magistrate Zhao has gone there.

Previously, Feng Xiao was very stubborn in his actions when he was investigating a case. He acted on his own orders and ignored everyone else, offending even the Linlang Guild who had a huge support behind their backs. So he had left a deep impression of himself on everyone. That time, there were a lot of people who tried to fawn over him, going to his manor and offering him gifts. It was a pity that Feng Xiao refused them, simply waving his hand to send everyone away. Since they had learned their lesson last time, this time not many people dared to repeat their idiocy.

As for Cui Buqu, that day when he was the master of the Zixia Taoist Temple, but he had fallen from grace within a single night, then suddenly went missing. The people even said that the Master Taoist had already ascended and became one with the gods, and some of them said that he was a con man from Jianghu, and once he had enough money, he left. Yet now they all watch him suddenly appearing as an officer of the Crown who even travelled with Feng Xiao as they went to Göktürk together, received the title of Marquis together, shaking the earth with the news. People who went to Cui Buqu’s place grow even more in numbers, and not only did they sent him gifts, some of them even went there to join the crowd, and there were some who received his kindness in the past, they went to pay him a visit as his patients.

It was a pity that before those people could enter the posthouse, they were all held back by Qiao Xian. Other than Magistrate Zhao, there were not many who managed to see him.

Feng Xiao touched his chin and decided to join the crowd.

He was living in the same posthouse as Cui Buqu, only that one lived in the west, and one was living in the east. If they did not visit each on purpose, they could really avoid seeing each other from day to night.

Obviously Cui Buqu did not miss this ‘companion’ of his who had been through so much with him. Watching Feng Xiao came in himself uninvited, not only did he refused to show gladness, he even sulked and pursed his lips.

Feng Xiao smirked at the corner of his lips, “I see Master Taoist Cui wasn’t very happy to see me.”

Cui Buqu was hugging the blanket on top of the bed, not having even a trace of welcoming him, “If I say I didn’t welcome you, would you actually leave?”

Feng Xiao, “Of course not.”

He looked left and right and asked, “I heard that Magistrate Zhao gave you some strange gifts. Can I have a look at them?”

Cui Buqu pointed to a box in the corner of the room, “He said he sent me some paintings, you can unwrap them yourself.”

Feng Xiao opened the box and really did see more than ten painting rolled up neatly in them. He was also curious if Magistrate Zhao actually understood what he said, so he unfurled those scrolls.

Cui Buqu raised the bowl of medicine Qiao Xian had left for him, and was pondering over whether he should just pour them under his bed, before he recalled that Qiao Xian’s nose was almost as sharp as Feng Xiao’s dog nose. He sighed and pinched his nose, pouring them down his throat, his eyebrows furrowing until it could squeeze mosquitoes to death.

Good medicine are bitter to the tongue, but after drinking them, the bitter taste in his mouth could not be neutralized by anything sweet at all. Cui Buqu spent half a day only did he managed to swallow that difficult, bitter taste down his throat. However, the moment he raised his head, he saw Feng Xiao’s mischevious smile.

“What did he give?” Cui Buqu asked curiously.

Feng Xiao turned the drawing around and a fully coloured painting of ‘Spring Palace’s Mysterious Game’ filled Cui Buqu’s sights.

In the painting, it was divided into the outside and inside of the room. A group of men and women in all kinds of positions. At that time, these erotic arts were trending, if it was enlarged, it could even make the most traditional thinking men go beet red.

But Cui Buqu only rolled his eyes.

Let alone having his face turned beet red, even his nose did not turn red.

Feng Xiao originally thought that although the other was sick for a long time and had a powerful authority, these people were usually more innocent, even if he wasn’t shy, he would have felt surprised, not knowing what to do. Who could have guessed that it wasn’t like how he thought it would be. Master Taoist Cui’s numb and expressionless face made Feng Xiao felt like his fun was gone.

“Are you a man or not?”

Cui Buqu said slowly, “If you are, then I am.”

Feng Xiao, “So if I’m not? Then are you not one as well?”

Cui Buqu: ……

He thought for a little while, then he knew for certain that this culprit was definitely the one who gave Magistrate Zhao those ideas to send him these.

Cui Buqu knitted his brows together, “The great Commander of the Jiejian Bureau, Sect Leader of Fajing Sect, can you not act a little bit proper?”

Feng Xiao’s fan paused for a moment.

Fajing Sect, heralded by the Jianghu province as one of the three Demonic Sects. In the past, they were at the head of their generation, and according to the rumours, many people would turn around if they saw them, and they dared not say anything to offend them. The former Sect Leader, Guang Lingsan, was also one of the top ten martial artists beneath the Heavens.

There were never many people in the Jianghu province who used the zither as their weapon, added with the capabilities of the Zuoyue Bureau, Feng Xiao was not at all surprised that Cui Buqu managed to find his identity.

He himself never had the intention to hide it from him either.

However, this identity was usually unrelated to their cases and it wasn’t awkward to go with Feng Xiao’s identity as an officer. The reason Cui Buqu never mentioned it in the past until now was only because his patience had ran out for Feng Xiao’s ridiculousness.

After all, like they say, the more incredible someone’s martial arts are, the more ridiculous they are?

Feng Xiao did not feel nervous at all, “Since you mentioned my origin and mother sect, then I should urge for my new weapon as well. This time when we go to the capital, don’t dare you procrastinate for half a month, then forget about our deal with the zither Yu Yin.”

“To invite the new Khan into the city, naturally the Emperor would have to hold a banquet, to hear about the journey to Göktürk, as well as the forming of the alliance with Western Göktürk. The Emperor would inquire most of them. So, half a month would pass after that. However,” It was as if Cui Buqu suddenly recalled that Feng Xiao had saved him more than once, so he felt guilt if he mocked Feng Xiao, therefore, he said instead, “I just obtained a lead that the Canal Transport Jiu Bang group’s Ning Shewo secretly travelled up North a few days ago, by now he would have arrived in Huai Zhou.”

The Canal Transport Jiu Bang group who monopolized more than half of the canal transports in the South. It’s leader, Ning Shewo, was considered to be quite well-known. That time, in the City of Six Crafts, in the auction event of the Linlang Guild, Ning Shewo’s adopted son Leng Dou had auctioned for one item.

Feng Xiao gave a strange look, “Did he not announced that he was going to retire next year? Was this simply going on a vacation with his wife in advance?”

Cui Buqu, “This is where it was strange. This time, he travalled in secret using a different name and brought only a few loyal bodyguards with him. He announced to outsiders that he was ill on his bed and could not leave his manor. Thus everyone still thought that he was still in Jiangnan.”

Feng Xiao was soused deep in thought for a while, then he understood what Cui Buqu had meant, “You suspect that Ning Shewo was related to the Yunhai Thirteen Stories?”

Cui Buqu, “From Fong Xiaolian, Duan Qigu, Yu Xiu these people, it could be observed that the Yunhai Thirteen Stories’ people are not restricted to just the Nothern Dynasty or the Southern Dynasty. At the present, among thirteen people, other than the false Master Ten, we know Master Eleven to Master Thirteen. So, if the numbers started counting down, these people’s ranks and abilities would only be higher, not lower.”

Feng Xiao, “That makes sense. I completely agree with your analysis. That also meant that Ning Shewo would very likely be the one to participate the gathering during Qixi.”

Cui Buqu, “That’s right. That letter on Duan Qigu was most likely received by the others as well. At that time, we can go to Boling to receive the zither Yu Yin, then go to the gathering. We might even take down the whole Yunhai Thirteen Stories all at once! Annihilating their organization!”

Feng Xiao clapped his hands loudly, “Good, very good! I support it! Just as well, I also have a lead that is related to this matter.”

Cui Buqu waited for a while, but nothing came, so he asked, “What lead?”

Feng Xiao, “Not telling you.”

Cui Buqu: ……

He glared at Feng Xiao, but the other did not feel guilty at all, “You use your news to exchange for my understanding that I will delay our trip to Boling for a while, then for this news of mine, you have nothing to exchange for, then I shouldn’t need to tell you, right?”

As he finished, Feng Xiao rose to his feet, patted Cui Buqu’s shoulder for a while and laughed, “With the Zuoyue Bureau’s capabilities, and Master Taoist Cui’s intelligence, you could even find out my background and origins, then other things are no longer secrets. Take your time thinking about them, I shall leave first.”

He did not wait for Cui Buqu to speak, humming a tune as he left.

Cui Buqu had a bad habit.

When there is a lead on a shirt, he would definitely pull the string out, even if it would tear the shirt apart.

So, he was someone with a very heavy sense of curiousity.

Since Feng Xiao gave him this little bit of suspense, then he would definitely get to the end of it.

He shouted for Qiao Xian to come and ordered her to investigate it, before the hardworking and thoughtful Commander Cui was willing to lie down and closed his eyes to sleep.

One little Feng Xiao’s head, two little Feng Xiao’s head, three little……

Cui Buqu opened his eyes, looking at the curtain above him.

He. Could not sleep.

He really wanted to wrench down Feng Xiao’s head.

Spring Palace’s Mysterious Game: One of the earliest drown porn of China in history.

Translator’s Note:

This chapter marks the end of Book 3, and soon we’ll begin with Book 4, which will finally reveal QuQu’s past. OvO It’s one of my favourite books/arc when it comes to FengCui. If you want to know if there’s an update, feel free to follow this thread on my Twitter, as I will personally update it there, or just subscribe to email notification on this blog. Although I’ve been updating on a daily basis, this actually isn’t my schedule or intention, as sometimes my work tend to be free (which is the reason why I could translate faster) but there are times when I will be busy at work as well (and so I will translate slower). My schedule remains in the ‘inconsistent‘ state.

[Wushuang] Chapter 88 – He Alone Was Draped In High And Thick Robes, As If He Was Surrounded By Autumn And Winter
On the fifth day of the fifth month, it was the Dragon Boat Festival.

This was the new capital of the Sui Empire, newly established in the beginning of the year. Not only were the roads new, even many manors and residences boasted a newly constructed air. Even normal citizens, once they moved into this new Daxing city, they radiated a fresh new air, like pride reflecting off their skins as they looked upon the new Dynasty.

If one were to gaze from the city’s Guanyin Temple or any tall buildings, they would discover that this city was expanded from Chang’an city into Daxing city. The style was different from the former dynasty, for not only did the lands they conquered expand, the palace walls heightened and the air they radiated was grander, but hawkers and markets were everywhere in the city, as many as the stars in the sky. Just like these words of old from a poem: Of a thousand residences that resembled a board of chess, and twelve streets that resembled a farm bed. From afar, the torches lined by Imperial Officers could be seen, like an array of stars that formed the great gates of the Palace.

The evening drew close to night, but the capital remained just as crowded as it had been during the day. People rushed to and from the streets. Some of them had just finished work and were rushing home for dinner, some changed into light clothing coupling with colourful silk pouches and held wormwood herbs in their hands, since they were guests on a cruise. Horse carriages roamed the streets, and the wind brought a lingering sense of fragrance, divulging the person who wore cotton clothes and jade robes, with hair in a high ponytail and jade ornaments. All of them were heading towards Dongnan.

In Dongnan, there was a district named Qujiang that was established around the same time as the capital. It used the theme of wind, water, and lotus, to draw water from lakes outside the city, sprouting a couple more new lotuses around the water tower in the garden, submerging it in lotus fragrance. They say that the current Emperor thought the character ‘Qu’ from Qujiang was unlucky, and so the assistant of the ShangShu Minister, Gao Ying, interfered, and changed its name into Furong Garden. The Emperor loved it, and thus that place was made into the scenery of the new capital. Those citizens who have yet to obtain the permission to enter the garden could only remain outside to admire its glory.

However, these people who rode on horse carriages weren’t going to the Furong Garden, but to Qingli Garden that wasn’t situated far from Furong Garden, near Qujiang.

The current Emperor’s eldest daughter Princess Leping’s most cherished daughter, Yuwen Xianzhu, would be having a birthday banquet today, where guests from all eight directions were invited.

As for Princess Leping’s background, no one in this city was oblivious to it. As the former Empress, she was crowned as Princess again by her own father when Yang Jian took the throne. Her background was a legend to many. Compared to her, her daughter whom was the child of herself and the former Emperor, Yuwen Yun, Yuwen Eying’s identity was even more awkward.

When it came to bloodline, Yuwen Eying was Yang Jian’s granddaughter, but her father’s kingdom, the Kingdom of Zhou, was also ravished from his grasp by Yang Jian. When Yang Jian laid his eyes on her, it was impossible for him to not feel like he owed the Yuwen Imperial family, so he was very distant with this granddaughter of his.

But because of her mother, Princess Leping, the Emperor and Empress never treated Yuwen Eying badly. Although she was not gifted with many jewelry in the palace, and Yuwen Eying did not have the title of Xuanzhu, she had the authority of one. Everyone also addressed her with ‘Yuwen Xuanzhu’.

Today was Yuwen Eying’s fourteenth birthday, and she had just moved into the new capital. Princess Leping decided to hold a huge banquet for her, so she chose Qingli Garden that was on the shores of Qujiang. Then, all at once, the Emperor and Empress granted her gifts, all the young masters and nobles and royalty all came to attend her banquet, turning Qingli Garden absolutely crowded.

As Gao Ying came down from the carriage with his friends, he immediately saw the crowd that had gathered before the Qingli Garden’s gate, thus inside would be even more crowded. Both of his servants walked inside the garden and discovered that the tree branches, halls, and bogus mountains all were decorated with lanterns that looked like lotuses, swaying in the wind like a thousand lights. Although the sky has not darkened yet, it was enough to astound everyone.

Two young women, one was the ShangShu Gao Ying’s daughter, and the other one, whose father was also a high-ranking officer in court, were not people who hadn’t seen the world, yet they both hung their chins down and stared agape at the sight. Even their footsteps slowed down.

Yan Yun stuttered, “How many lights did they need to use so they could create this scenery of a sea of lanterns?”

The servant that was their guide who walked in the front smiled, “The Xuanzhu has prepared nine hundred and eighty nine lanterns and hang them all over the garden. She said she wants to create a banquet of a thousand lanterns, so that the guests could enjoy the night and temporarily forget their troubles, to party throughout the night.”

Gao Yin sighed unaware, “Just now when I entered the door, I heard the music of a lute, now that I’ve came into the garden, the sound of the lute is still faint, in fact it is still playing the same song. Logically speaking, this music should not have travelled far.”

The servant’s tone sounded a little proud as he said, “There is something you do not know. These musicians were specifically trained. They are located everywhere and would play the entire song from the beginning of the banquet until the end. With every time they finish a song, they would pause to count the seconds, and although they were located far from each other, they can still play in sync. No matter where the guests walked, they would hear the music.”

Gao Yin was very surprised, “How long does it take to make such a majestic arrangement?”

Naturally, the servant could not answer her, so he only smiled.

Gao Yin and Yan Yun exchanged glances and decided in unison that this was far too luxurious.

But since this was the Emperor’s granddaughter, the princess’ daughter, it was not their place to judge.

The banquet is about to begin, and the guests have nearly all arrived. During these sort of banquets, men and women mixed among one another, and they weren’t too fuzzy about proper protocols. It was more carefree and simple compared to banquets held inside the palace. Young men and women all came here to play, so it was a good opportunity to get to know new friends as well.

Gao Yin and Yan Yun caught Prince Jin sitting on a table with one look. Although Prince Jin was a prince, he wasn’t very much older than his niece Yuwen Eying. At that moment, he was sitting crossed-legged, happily chattering away with others, showing no pride at all.

However, the one who attracted their gazes wasn’t Prince Jin, but the one who was chatting with him.

The other wore a white robe with his hair in a high bun, his face handsome and beautiful, a pair of sharp eyes with long tail ends looking like morning dew of the next sunrise, carrying a bright smile.

He was like the moon and stars in your arms, radiating an energy like the might of jade mountains. Yan Yun had always thought that these were simply bombastic descriptions, but now that she had seen him with her own two eyes, only did she realize that there really is such a man.

Prince Jin himself was also considered a man of elegance and grace, yet when he was beside this person, he could not help but appeared a little bit inferior.

“Who……is this person?”

Yan Yun stared in shock for a while, her sleeve was lightly tugged by Gao Yin only did she return to her senses.

Gao Yun said softly, “I do not know if you have heard of the Jiejian Bureau? That is its Second Commander, Feng Xiao.”

Yan Yun inhaled a breathe, then she mimicked Gao Yin’s tone, “It was him!”

The capital was a place of luxury, it was not the same as the lives of normal people. Even these women have also heard of the Jiejian Bureau and the Zuoyue Bureau, that these two agencies reported directly to the Emperor and Empress, so to the outside world, its members were also quite secretive.

Feng Xiao wasn’t like Cui Buqu who hid himself up like a hermit and only appeared scarcely. He has attended public banquets before. It was only because Yan Yun’s family had just returned to the capital, so she had never seen Feng Xiao in person before.

Gao Yin laughed and said, “Lord Feng’s looks are extraordinary, it was not strange that you lost yourself. When I saw him for the first time, I wasn’t much better than you. However, even though his lordship hasn’t married yet, someone had already chosen him. I heard that Princess Lanling’s heart had always yearned for him, and that she wanted to ask the Emperor for a betrothal.”

“Is this for certain?”

“I’ve also heard it as a rumour……”

Both of them spoke quietly, while Prince Jin and Feng Xiao were discussing a wholly different topic.

Prince Jin was not a young maiden, so it was impossible for him to be jealous of Feng Xiao’s handsomeness. Instead, he was actually very respectful and polite towards this confidant of the Emperor.

“This time you guys not only took back Qiemo, but you have already formed an alliance with Western Göktürk, and brought back the Khan. These are not trivial matters nor conquests. The Emperor is glad, so he is preparing to raise your ranks and fief. The decree shall be announced soon, so here, I will congratulate Marquis Feng in advance.”

“Many thanks, Prince Jin, for your wishes. During that time, when we were in the City of Six Crafts, we met a monk whose name was Yu Xiu, after that he got to know that……”

Feng Xiao’s voice was light and slow as he recited everything—from Yu Xiu’s background and origins, to how he changed his face and mask, playing everyone for a fool to create chaos of Western Göktürk.

It has been almost half a month ever since Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu returned to the capital from the Western Regions.

The Göktürk Khan has already been graciously treated, and the Emperor had sent a team of men to escort him back. There was no need for Feng Xiao to go himself.

As for Yu Xiu, when Cui Buqu was granted for an audience with the Emperor, he had already told him everything. Logically, there was no need for Feng Xiao to repeat everything to Prince Jin again.

However, Feng Xiao still told him. Prince Jin also listened very intently with not a flicker of impatience nor anger shown towards Feng Xiao.

After he finished, Prince Jin even apologized, “I’ve only known that Yu Xiu came from a prestigious sect, skilled in the ways of Buddhism, and was smarter than most men, and I have retained him by my side because of that to assist me. I had no idea that he was in league with the Yunhai Thirteen Stories. Ey! I have admitted my wrongs to Lord Father and Lady Mother. It was thanks to Marquis Cui and yourself, otherwise, I do not know how much of a trouble that Yu Xiu would have created!”

His tone was strong and his gaze was sincere, proving that he had never held enmity in his heart.

Originally, Feng Xiao simply wanted to test him, to see whether he knew or not of Yu Xiu’s background, but now he felt that he has been suspicious for naught.

Whether Prince Jin knew about this previously or not, or he knew but did not report it, now he has already pushed everything off of himself.

Feng Xiao waved his fan and casually said, “Prince Jin has a generous and wide heart. I, Feng Xiao, deeply admire your Highness.”

Prince Jin smiled, “Marquis Feng is indeed understanding, therefore I am at peace. Truthfully, you should not speak to me here, because there is someone whose heart yearns for you all the while.”

Feng Xiao gave a surprised look, “Yuwen Xuanzhu? I have only met her once, and we have never spoken to each other.”

Prince Jin noticed that he was pretending to be oblivious, so he did not say more, merely tapped him with his finger and laughed, “His Majesty wants to make a match of you both. Fifth sister was also very willing, yet you are the one who isn’t willing. So be it, these are matters belonging to both of you, so I will not interfere too much.”

Feng Xiao twitched the corner of his lips, as if he wanted to say something, but abruptly, the subject was switched, and his tone became even more light and filled with laughter.

“Today really is a gathering of talents. Even a familiar who seldom shows himself has appeared!”

Just as Feng Xiao said this, Yan Yun and Gao Yin who sat not far off also raised their heads to watch the servant guiding the new guest down the stairs.

It was summer, and everyone only wore light clothing and wide dresses—all but him and him alone, was draped in high and thick robes, as if he was surrounded by autumn and winter.

Among all the talented people in the city, he alone was different.

ShangShu: Meaning classic literature. ShangShu Officer would mean an officer in charge of the classic literature department.

Xianzhu: translated as “Princess of a County” or “Princess of the Fourth Rank”. It was usually granted to the daughter of a junwang or shizi. Also called duolun gege (多倫格格) or junwang gege (郡王格格), lit. “lady of a prince of a commandery”.

Gao Yin: The correct pinyin is also ‘Gao Ying’, but it’s changed to ‘Gao Yin’ to avoid confusion with her father’s name. In Chinese, the Chinese characters for both ‘Ying’s are different.

Translated by Joan
Edited by Zozet

From the team:

Please enjoy Book 4! It will be updated around 3 times a week, as I try to improve my translations as I go. Haha. Also, big thanks to Zozet for helping me to edit out any grammatical errors. We will work together in the future to provide better translations for Wushuang 🙂

As usual, please free to drop me a message here or on Twitter if you spot any errors!

[Wushuang] Chapter 89 – Why Are You Avoiding Me For The Past Half Month?
Cui Buqu seldom appeared in banquets or formal events, regardless whether they are organized by members of royalty or famed figures, even for national banquets organized by the Imperial Court, he almost never showed himself.

Compared to Feng Xiao’s bombastic theatrics, he was more like the shadow of a tree in the light. When he was not needed, he could fully vanish, rendering his presence completely surreal.

So let alone Yan Yun, even Gao Yin has never seen him before.

He did not have that glower of handsomeness like Feng Xiao when others looked at him, neither was he an ethereal figure that emerged from dust and sand. On the contrary, his complexion brought a hint of being ill, and his gaze was plain and empty.

However, he still attracted the gazes of those two young women.

It was nothing related to looks.

Not only Gao Yin and Yan Yun, but many gazes also fell upon Cui Buqu.

Yet he looked as if he did not notice them, lightly treading in the direction of the banquet.

One wave of breeze came after the last, and the faint smell of medicine floated into Yan Yun’s nose. She could not help but mustered the courage to speak:

“My Lord, there is an empty seat here……”

Before she could finish, Prince Jin had already sent someone to invite him to his table.

A lot of people were interested in Cui Buqu, and there are even more people who knew nothing of his identity. They only found it unbelievable that the proud Prince Jin who was loved and spoiled often, would clasp his hands and bowed to the other, full of politeness, with the both of them looking incredibly close. It elevated their curiosity even more.

Yan Yun could not help it and asked Gao Yin, “Who is he?”

Gao Yin shook her head and replied hesitantly, “I have not seen him before. Perhaps someone from a noble house?”

“He is the Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau, his name is Cui Buqu.” Someone next to them answered her question.

Both of them turned around and immediately stood up to bow.

“Yuwen Xuanzhu!”

Yuwen Eying was only thirteen to fourteen this year, the perfect youthful age when one blooms into a teenager. Although her background was a little awkward, she grew up under her mother’s protection ever since she was little. The hatred sowed between countries was far away from her, and she was like a normal young girl from a noble house, without a care or worry over her, even her face did not carry any sign of being ambitious.

Yet it was because a teenage young girl such as her, she would not have posed a threat to the Sui Empire’s current Emperor. The Emperor was also willing to grant his daughter’s wishes, often rewarding this granddaughter of his.

“Rise!”

Yuwen Eying was more familiar with Gao Yin, so she reached both her hands out to help her up and smiled towards both of them, “Just now I was talking to Lady Fang and the others. Why did both of you not come with us? No wonder they said they could not find either of you—you were here sneaking glances at handsome young lords!”

Gao Yin laughed, “How can this be called sneaking? We were simply making use of Xuanzhu’s birthday banquet to glare at them proudly!”

Yuwen Eying blinked, “Then did anyone catch your eyes? Don’t tell me it’s Feng Xiao. He’s already belonged to my Fifth Aunt. I cannot help you if it was him. As for my Second Little Uncle……He already has a wife. With both your backgrounds, you should not be concubines. Other than that, perhaps I may be able to help.”

The way she spoke was dauntless, even Gao Yin could not help but quickly said, “Not at all. Don’t guess blindly. Everyone holds the heart for admiration of beauty, we are only simply looking. Other than Lord Feng, there are a lot of gentlemen of quality, perhaps I could even find another gentleman whom is worshipped and admired by young maidens!”

Yan Yun said in a small voice, “Dare I ask Xuanzhu, what is the background of the Lord currently speaking with Prince Jin?”

Yuwen Eying turned her head to look, “Oh, that is Cui. Marquis Cui.”

Yan Yun was waiting for the rest of her words, but despite all the things Yunwe Eying said just now, right now she seemed to be stuck.

The three of them stare at each other.

Gao Yin said curiously, “Marquis Cui? Was he the one who escorted the Göktürk Khan into the Imperial Court?”

Yuwen Eying, “Yes. Because of that, he was knighted as a Marquis. Now he also leads the Zuoyue Bureau, his rank is equivalent to that of the Six Ministries.”

As they spoke, Yan Yun couldn’t help but turned her gaze towards Cui Buqu once more.

The other’s back was faced towards her, and the light of a thousand lanterns in the garden reflected on his back, giving off a contour of gentleness.

However, looking at the silhouette of that back from behind, it seemed to be a little forlorn and cold.

He was young and he held such a high rank, but from the looks of it, it seems that his body wasn’t quite in a prime state.

Yan Yun counted the seconds in her heart and remembered the name ‘Cui Buqu’.

Cui Buqu did not care how many people were looking at him, nor did he care whether these gazes were kind or nefarious. After Prince Jin spoke two sentences, he covered his mouth as he began to cough.

“The wind here is huge. Let us sit while we speak!” Prince Jin invited all of them to sit, before raising wine cups and honoured both of them, “Today, it’s a pleasant coincidence that Commander Feng is also here, so I can borrow the wine of my elder sister to thank both of you for exposing Yu Xiu’s true identity, to prevent me from nursing a wolf in my house.”

While he spoke, he did not forget to say, “Master Cui’s body is unwell, so it wouldn’t be good for him to drink. I will drink mine, but the rest of you may make yourselves at home.”

After he drank, Cui Buqu really did only raise the wine cup to touch his lips before putting it back down.

“Your Highness praised us too highly.”

Prince Jin smiled and said, “I have already borrowed Furong Garden from his Majesty and was prepared to organize a Furong Banquet after ten days. Perhaps both of you could find the time to attend?”

Of all the five princes, sons of the current Empress, the one who received the most doting wasn’t the eldest, nor was it the youngest, but it was the second prince, Prince Jin. Ever since he was little, his journey had been smooth. Whether it was his parents that were above him, or his subject that were beneath him, it was very seldom that someone rejects his requests.

Naturally, Prince Jin also seldom acts like this, where he invites others to his own parties personally.

Had it been anyone else, they might have accepted the invitation on the spot, but Cui Buqu said plainly, “Many thanks to Prince Jin’s good intentions, but I fear I do not have the time to attend.”

The servant behind Prince Jin was sweating furiously for Cui Buqu’s condition, but Prince Jin’s expression did not change, he even nodded his head, “Your Lordship is of course burdened by many duties. I understand. It’s because of people like you that this empire can stand as stable as it is today.”

“Er Lang!” Princess Leping and a bunch of noble women came over, waving at Prince Jin from afar.

Prince Jin rose to his feet, “I shall take my leave and not disturb both of you.”

He clasped his hands together to both of them, before turning his body towards Princess Leping and left. In the middle of his journey there, someone else leaped out and bowed to Prince Jin. Prince Jin recognized the other as a random officer he met before in the Imperial Court, so he nodded his head.

The other smiled, “I heard that his Highness wishes to organize a Furong Banquet, I am skilled in poetry, perhaps I could request for an invitation?”

Prince Jin replied unenthusiastically, “We can discuss this later.”

Then he walked forward and did not even look back at him.

Feng Xiao watched this scenario from the beginning to the end, then turned towards Cui Buqu, “What drug did you give Prince Jin? Why is his attitude towards you so different from others?”

“How was it different?” Cui Buqu replied in a non-committal way, before picking up a mandarin and started peeling its skin.

Feng Xiao took his fan and pointed at the little officer that was left behind by Prince Jin, “Didn’t you see? Prince Jin’s performance just now was his true colours. Although he was also polite towards me, it’s different to how he behaves with you—careful and wary, as if he’s afraid of provoking you?”

Cui Buqu, “So?”

Feng Xiao, “So, Prince Jin’s affections for you are one-sided, and he cannot stand not having you on?”

Cui Buqu snorted a laugh, “After not seeing you for half a month, Commander Feng, is your brain now all overgrown with wild grass?”

Feng Xiao laughed, “Haha! It’s fine if you hadn’t mentioned it, but now that you did, I want to ask you: Why are you avoiding me in the past half month?”

Cui Buqu’s expression did not change, “Since when was I avoiding you?”

Feng Xiao raised a hand and began to count, “From the audience with the Emperor, every time I dispatch a man to the Zuoyue Bureau, they either say you were sick in bed or that you have gone out. After that, I visited personally, and you dared to hide yourself refusing to see me. Why? Master Taoist Cui, how cold you are. We were married as a couple, we’ve hugged. Now you want to burn the bridge after crossing the river?”

Cui Buqu laughed a cold laugh, “So it was because of that you harassed the Zuoyue Bureau with every moment you have. Three days ago, you complained that our tea is too salty, and our desserts are not delicious enough, that our maidservants are too ugly. Two days ago, you broke all the flower pots in the front hall of the Zuoyue Bureau. You even let in a few stray cats to create chaos. Yesterday, you picked a fight with Zhangsun. So tomorrow, are you going to gather a group of homeless people to crash the gate in front of the Zuoyue Bureau?”

Feng Xiao closed his fan with a slap, “Good idea! Then I’ll just add with a ‘Cui Buqu is a heartless, cold, and traitorous husband, so his pregnant wife is here in the capital looking for him!’ How does that sound?”

Is your brain now all overgrown with wild grass: Full of nonsense.

Burn the bridge after crossing the river (过河拆桥): Ignoring or disposing of someone once they’re no longer of use.

[Wushuang] Chapter 90 – Drink More Warm Water, Take Care Of Yourself
Feng Xiao was undoubtedly a skilled and reliable partner, but at the same time he was also a very draining rival.

Although both of them have been through life and death, that was in a scenario where both of them were on the same boat; they either succeed or fail together. Now that they’re back in the capital, with all their threats annihilated, their relationship returned to the way it was before.

The Emperor and Empress were a loving couple, but competition also existed among themselves. The Jiejian Bureau and the Zuoyue Bureau depended on benefits, so the idea of them treating each other as if loving comrades was even more impossible. Just like how Feng Xiao held a great degree of interest in Cui Buqu, and Cui Buqu was also often unable to determine what Feng Xiao was thinking.

Both of them behaved like friends and they behaved like enemies, yet in truth they were neither. They often tested one another, then realized that their bottom lines go beyond their imagination, so they took a step forward, and continued testing. Especially for Feng Xiao, who was incredibly engaged in these games, he could play with them all day and never get tired.

In fact, the Zuoyue Bureau’s location was a secret and no one knew where they were located. If Feng Xiao really did gather a bunch of homeless people to crash the gate outside the Zuoyue Bureau, it really could give rise to some trouble.

Feng Xiao smiled as he fluttered this fan, enjoying the sight of Cui Buqu in a headache, so he edged closer to him and said in a low voice, “You never attend these banquets. Even when Prince Jin invited you, you refused, so there’s no need to say about Yuwen Xuanzhu’s birthday party. Be honest with me. Why did you come? Are you brewing some sort of bad intentions?”

Cui Buqu laughed coldly, “Even if my bad ideas are endless, when compared to skin like your that is even thicker than the Great Wall of China, I am just a clown!”

Feng Xiao reached out to hold his shoulder, preventing the other from struggling as he ignored him with a ‘friendly and brotherly’ look, and said affectionately, “Look at you. Ever since the outskirts, we have wallowed in the same distress, lived in the same haunted inn and have been through life and death that practically ended up with both of us dead. We are arguably kindred spirits; how can you keep such a small matter away from me?”

Cui Buqu only felt that there was a fly buzzing around endlessly in his ear. He scrunched his eyebrows, glaring at Feng Xiao and recited in his heart: This person really does have the best face, the only thing not beautiful about him is that he can talk. If there is a day when I can sew his lips shut and only admire his face, then it would be perfect.

“I came to arrest someone.” His face was plain, but it was enough that he gave away a little bit of information.

Cui Buqu’s elbow was on top of the table, his knees were in front of it, his body slightly bent. Half of his face bathed in the light, and the other half in the shadow. Under the veil of darkness, it would only make him look gentle, but once he said these words, that gentleness morphed into a strong killing intent.

Feng Xiao did not know what those two women were thinking of before, but it was as if his mind was in sync with the other, he automatically understood the entire meaning of his words.

“Arrest who?” Feng Xiao asked.

Cui Buqu glared at him, “The Zuoyue Bureau and the Jiejian Bureau both have their own duties. They have never interfered in each other’s business. Commander Feng is asking too much.”

Feng Xiao snorted, “When I am of use to you, you couldn’t help but hug me all over. When I am useless, you burn the bridge, pretending you didn’t know me at all. Such a cold and ungrateful person you are! I fear every person in the world would run away the moment they see you!”

Yan Yun had just mustered her courage to bring Gao Yin over to greet Feng Xiao, but accidentally heard those words instead, she couldn’t help but be shocked.

Gao Yin coughed, “Good day, both lords.”

Cui Buqu nodded.

Feng Xiao wriggled his eyebrows and said nothing.

He has seen many women who would leap into his arms on their own will. Prior to this, no matter where he goes, there would be a lot of women who offered themselves willingly. Had it not been for the fact that Feng Xiao’s qinggong was extraordinary and they couldn’t manage to chase him, it might have created a scene where all the women threw fruits to the man they admired.

Even in banquets such as this, Feng Xiao also often encountered scenarios where young women came up to him to ask after himself. Once or twice this yielded a fresh feeling, but after countless times of the same event, he was long numb to it.

He was waiting for those two to say what he expected them to say, but the other didn’t continue, so Feng Xiao knocked on the table with his fan.

“I am catching up on old times with an old familiar, do both of you have business with us?”

Yan Yun was pushed aside by Gao Yin, who walked two steps forward shyly and told Cui Buqu, “Lord Cui, can I have a private moment of your time?”

Feng Xiao felt a little bit surprised, then he smiled, “In such a beautiful scenery where all the skilled and talented meet, Brother Cui, there is no reason for you to not go?”

With the lady’s eyes blinking and shining, and Feng Xiao encouraging on the side, Cui Buqu still remained unmoved, only said plainly, “I apologize.”

Yan Yun: “…”

With just two simple words, he grounded a young lady’s heart into dust.

Yunwen Xuanzhu, who saw this behind them, could not stop herself from stepping forward to speak for both of them, yet her footsteps stopped when Cui Buqu raised his gaze.

When their gazes met, the look in Cui Buqu’s eyes was even colder than the night’s breeze.

Suddenly he smiled at Yuwen Eying, and raised the peeled mandarin in his hand.

“Xuanzhu, have some mandarin?”

Yuwen Xuanzhu did not respond, she even took a step back.

Feng Xiao could sense something was unusual.

Yuwen Eying should not know who Cui Buqu was, and both of them have not shown anything that proved they knew each other before. Although Cui Buqu was cruel and cold, there was no reason for him to do anything to a little lady, since, Yuwen Eying’s identity was not related to Cui Buqu in anyway.

However, the way she behaved really made him curious.

Just now, Prince Jin tried all he can to get close to Cui Buqu, as if there was a different story cooking in the background.

Feng Xiao was completely interested.

He felt that Cui Buqu was like a massive maze, even after layers and layers have been peeled, there were even more secrets underneath him.

Before he can analyse it further, Princess Lanling’s maidservant came, and when she saw Feng Xiao, her eyes sparkled as she ran towards him.

“Lord Feng! The Princess of my house invites you!”

Feng Xiao smiled, “I apologize. I am joyously catching up with my old familiar, I fear I do not have the time to go over.”

It was outrageous that the imperial Princess, Princess Lanling, a daughter of the proud heavens with the grace of an orchid, could not even move a man from his place.

This year, the capital had really changed. Gentlemen had somehow bore hearts of steel?

Yan Yun felt startled, looking at Feng Xiao in shock as he rejected a princess’s invitation right then and there.

Had it been someone else who did such things, the maidservant would have already been furious, but when presented before Feng Xiao’s face, she was only vaguely furious, “Lord Feng, my mistress is unwell. Why don’t you just pay her a visit?”

“Then you can tell your princess to—“ Feng Xiao thought for a while, “Drink more warm water, and take care of herself.”

The maidservant: …

She glared at him for a while, before turning around to leave.

Yuwen Eying couldn’t help saying, “Commander Feng! My fifth aunt was neither proud nor stuck-up as a daughter of the Emperor, she is kind and gentle. With your rank in court now, if you can get married to a princess, this is your glory!”

Feng Xiao did not wish to argue with a young lady, so when he saw the mandarin Cui Buqu has peeled on the table, he made himself at home. He took it, divided it in half and put one half into his mouth.

Cui Buqu furrowed his brows. He took back the remaining half and gave it to Yuwen Xuanzhu.

“Xuanzhu, you want some mandarin? It’s sweet.”

Yunwen Xuanzhu looked at the mandarin in Cui Buqu’s hand and forced a smile, “There is no need.”

Then she turned around and left.

Gao Yin and Yan Yun exchanged glances. They only felt strange and awkward before they also left.

Feng Xiao, “Look, another one. Prince Jin tried to please you, but that could be interpreted with him attempting to garner talents, or trying to pull the Zuoyue Bureau to his side. But for Yuwen Xuanzhu? The way she behaves with you was thirty percent wariness, thirty percent enmity, and forty percent fear. Why?”

Cui Buqu, “Guess.”

Feng Xiao smiles, “I am guessing…that you are Princess Leping’s lover?”

Cui Buqu gave him a look that said ‘Are you stupid?’, “If I am the lover of Princess Leping, then what for do I need to defy the Linlang Guild. Shouldn’t I be able to deal with it with just an order?”

Feng Xiao closed his fan and clapped his hand one, “Right, then are you Empress Dugu’s lover?”

Cui Buqu lost his patience, “Why don’t you just say that I have an affair with the Emperor?”

Feng Xiao gave a look of seriousness, “That’s impossible. If the Emperor is interested in men, rumours would be everywhere.”

Cui Buqu took the mandarin and spilt it apart, before playing with them on the table, unaware that he himself was following along Feng Xiao’s nonsense, “Perhaps I might even be a bastard of the Emperor, who knows?”

Feng Xiao laughed, “Haha! With Empress Dugu’s techniques, before you are grown up, you would have already reincarnated!”

As both of them spoke nonsense, all the guests have arrived as they all squeezed in the same hall. Princess Leping, along with the Crown Prince, Prince Jin, Prince Qin, Princess Lanling, and all their brothers and sisters came to be seated themselves.

Because of the birthday of their niece, every single child of the Emperor and Empress have arrived. This was truly giving pride to the Emperor.

Perhaps this might also be because Princess Leping herself went to invite them personally, to give her own daughter some sense of pride.

She treated her daughter like pearls, even if her daughter’s identity was awkward, she did her best to gather all the pride for her. Such are the hearts of parents.

Many royalties tend to use this chance to look for a suitor for their sons and daughters. Even young men and women also gathered together, or sat next to each other. They chatted, discussed about their interests to find each other compatible, and exchanged cups.

The music of the lute travelled across the air. The ballet did not take place in a fixed location. Their bodies were adorned with ribbons, and they danced from here to there, in the air in a carefree manner, slow and graceful like goddesses, adding a touch to the crowd in the hall.

Many people confessed in their hearts that Princess Leping really did her best for her daughter’s birthday. After today, no one could ever hold another banquet as grand as a Thousand Lantern Banquet.

Among them, a few people also wanted to use the chance to prove themselves in front of the Crown Prince and the rest, so they suggested a game of riddles. Even Yuwen Xuanzhu came to join the crowd. She pulled out her jade hairpin and said that if the winner is female then she will be rewarded that jade hairpin as a gift, and if they are a male, then he will be rewarded with a sword from the treasury of her own house.

The Crown Prince smiled, “So be it. Let me be the first one to give a riddle.”

As everyone listened, naturally, the atmosphere brightened. They brushed their hands together, prepared to take the riddle.

Yet at this moment, there was an accursed fool who dared ruin the mood.

“Dare I ask Xuanzhu if the sword you speak of was an item from the former dynasty? The former Emperor had once used this sword as his own, but when the new dynasty was established, his Majesty had ordered men to organize a list of items within the palace with no tolerance for mistakes. I was there when it happened, and thus I have seen the list myself. No such sword was recorded on it, so it was assumed that it was lost then. In the records of the former Dynasty, there was nothing written about the sword being bestowed upon to anyone as well, yet here, it has showed up in the hands of Xuanzhu. Perhaps your Highness might consider offering an explanation?”

Cui Buqu sat there quietly and did not move, but his tone was light and it made others hated him more, especially Princess Leping and Yuwen Xuanzhu both, whose faces had changed.

Silence. Everywhere was silence.

With just a few words from Cui Buqu, he managed to hit Princess Leping’s rawest spot. Ever since she was little, she was taught to love and be loyal to her country, yet in the end, she had turned into an accomplice of treason, and the one who committed treason had been her very own father, so how was that not mocking her?

No one dared to speak.

Everyone exchanged glances and felt that Cui Buqu had really gone mad, otherwise, the only reason was that he shared a vast hatred with Princess Leping, or else what reason is there for him to ruin someone else’s banquet?

Princess Leping grew furious very quickly, “What is the meaning of your words? Are you saying that I stole the sword and kept it for myself? This sword has been drifting about for years, after that someone found it, they gave it to me as a gift. So what wrong is there?!”

Cui Buqu, “Naturally, there is nothing wrong about that. However, can your Highness confess who was the person who gave you that sword?”

Princess Leping, “Cui Buqu, do not think that just because you head the Zuoyue Bureau and had mother’s support, that I would be afraid of you! Regarding the origin of this sword, at most I can report it to the Emperor myself. You ruined my banquet, this matter cannot be excused. Men, take him down!”

Princess Leping had already heard of the matter regarding the City of Six Crafts, where Cui Buqu caused a scene in the Linlang Guild’s hall. She hated Cui Buqu for not knowing how to give her face, yet at this moment, there was nothing she could do to him, so she could only put this mark in her book. Who could have guessed that Cui Buqu even dared to stir trouble in her banquet, thus, this can no longer be tolerated!

The Crown Prince was furious, “Marquis Cui, your return from a journey makes you a contributor to the nation, but this does not mean that you can do whatever you wish. Everyone was enjoying themselves in the princess’s banquet, but you alone spoke in disrespect. So please watch your words!”

Prince Jin coughed lightly, “Elder Brother, perhaps Marquis Cui has his reasons. Why don’t we let him speak and see what he has to say?”

Who knew that Cui Buqu shook his head, “I have no reason, only curiosity, but I am terribly sorry for ruining the Princess’ mood.”

Silence fell upon everyone, their hearts saying: Aren’t you just here creating a scene for no reason?

He sat there unmoving. Even the servants dare not pull him away.

When Princess Leping saw the way he spoke so fearlessly, she could not help but feel her temper boiling to her head.

Prince Jin’s laugh filled the hall, “Since this is all a misunderstanding, then let us continue. Come, drink some wine. My niece here has grown so much, within the blink of an eye, she is already so grown! Who would be the lucky guy who would marry her in the future?”

Yuwen Xuanzhu felt a little shy, and quickly bowed to her uncle.

With his words, the atmosphere returned. Princess Leping wanted to interrogate Cui Buqu, but she did not wish to ruin her daughter’s banquet, so she could only stomach it for the time being, preparing to deal with it after the banquet is over.

The game of riddles began from the start, but there were already a few people who were displeased at Cui Buqu, and were getting ready to take revenge.

All but Feng Xiao who sat in one corner, watching as Cui Buqu used the mandarins on the table to form a word.

Kill.

So he really didn’t come here to attend the banquet, but to ruin it.

He knew it. On normal days, this man whose surname is Cui hid himself in his room even more secretly than the daughters of noblemen, refusing to leave the main gate or step over the door of his room. How would he decide to socialize all of a sudden and come to attend the birthday party of a Xuanzhu?

Feng Xiao waved his fan, getting ready to watch a brilliant show unfold before his eyes. All of a sudden, he found his mood had greatly improved.

He couldn’t be the one who gets pitted all the time, could he? All things must be evenly distributed.

Author’s Notes:

Regarding the awkward identities of Princess Leping, Yang Lihua, and her daughter Yuwen Xuanzhu, they have already been addressed before in chapter 88. So I will not mention here again. If readers have forgotten, they can go back and take a look ~