Part 1: The Mountain Mist and the Wrath of the Exiled Princess
At the break of dawn over the Cloud Mountain range, thick, creamy white mist cascaded down the gorge like a waterfall of clouds, enveloping the hunter village in a tranquil embrace. The first golden rays of the sun pierced through the pine trees lining the cliffs. The scent of damp earth, mingled with the faint fragrance of wildflowers, drifted with the cold wind. The surroundings brimmed with vitality as villagers began carrying their plows to the terraced fields.
However, in the dirt courtyard in front of Grandpa Zhao's bamboo hut, the atmosphere was simmering with smoke and morning chaos.
Princess Liu Ying, clad in a dull, coarse linen garb, was squatting in front of a clay stove. She rolled up her sleeves without a care for her image. One hand gripped a tiny woven fan, desperately fanning the flames in the stove to brew medicine. But due to her lack of experience with kitchen chores, her overly vigorous fanning sent gray smoke and ashes flying everywhere like a miniature storm. Her once flawless face was now smeared with black soot, making her look entirely disheveled.
"Which ring of hell is this... Why are these flames so stubborn with me?!" the princess muttered through gritted teeth while coughing hackingly.
Ah Lan and Ah Hui, two palace maids disguised as servant girls, stood nervously behind her, trying to snatch the fan away. "Young Miss Liu Ying... Please let us do it. Tending to a fire is truly not fitting for your hands."
"Step back! Since I chose to be here, I must do it myself! I won't lose to this lump of dirt stove!" the princess retorted with a resolute voice, fanning the fire even harder.
Wei Qing, sitting on a log not far away, was using a branch to poke roasted sweet potatoes out of the ashes while laughing heartily. Watching the noble princess endure such hardship made his shoulders shake with suppressed amusement. "Go easy, Young Miss... With the ashes flying around like this, I'm afraid Grandpa Zhao's hut will turn into ashes before the medicine even boils."
On the bamboo bed in front of the house, Zhao Long sat resting and recovering, with Lin Ying carefully tending to his side. However, a new wave of chaos arrived, accompanied by the pungent smell of powdered perfume. Ah Chui, the sole daughter of the village chief, strutted in while flicking a bright red handkerchief. Behind her, two servant girls carried baskets of gifts, fawning over her as if she were the queen of the village. But as soon as she stepped in, a gust of cold wind blew the smoke and ashes from the princess's stove straight into her bright silk dress!
"Oh my! Cough, cough! What is this?!" Ah Chui shrieked, frantically dusting herself off with her handkerchief. She peered through the smoke and saw the soot-faced princess squatting by the stove. "Who is this?! Sitting here making a smoky, filthy mess like a beggar! Are you blind? Couldn't you see me walking in?!"
Princess Liu Ying slowly stood up, her eyes sparking with a fire hotter than the one in the stove. "And who might you be? What business do you have shouting in front of someone else's house so early in the morning?"
"You should know that I am Ah Chui, the daughter of this village's chief!" Ah Chui put her hands on her hips, raising her chin arrogantly. "And you, soot-faced wench... begging for scraps to survive, what kind of work are you even doing?! My dress is covered in ashes! Or do you only have a pretty face but are lazy to the bone?"
Princess Liu Ying narrowed her eyes. "You... who did you just call a soot-faced wench?"
"I'm calling you! You're just a drifter with no roots, yet you have the audacity to act so insolently towards me!" Ah Chui scoffed, pushing her way to the bamboo bed and brazenly sitting down next to Zhao Long. She then sweetened her voice to a sickening degree. "Brother Ah Long... Look here, I specially simmered premium wild ginseng with honey for you. You don't have to endure being cooped up with these lowly, pathetic people. Especially this 'vixen'... Half-dead from her injuries, yet she still has the nerve to be a burden for you to take care of. If I were her, I would have died of shame and dug a hole to hide in long ago!"
Princess Liu Ying's fury exploded in a split second!
She marched toward Ah Chui like a majestic phoenix. "Hah... I thought a princess from the imperial palace had graced us with a visit. Turns out it's just a country bumpkin village chief's daughter! Are you blind? How dare you insult me... a Princess!"
"A princess? Hahaha! Looking like a shabby, soot-faced beggar, and you call yourself a princess?" Ah Chui doubled over in laughter. "Pah! If a stray dog like you is a princess, then I'm the Empress of the Imperial Palace!"
"The Empress, you say?!" Liu Ying sneered wickedly. "How dare you! If the heavens were so blind as to send a thick-skinned, lowborn wench like you to be my mother... I would rather bite my tongue and die! Carve this into your hollow brain: a toad's nature remains a toad's, even if you paint it with gold! How dare you compare your filthy self to the Empress!"
"Y-You! Kyaaah! You guys, go slap this stray wench's mouth right now!"
Ah Chui's servant girls hesitated for a moment, intimidated by the imposing aura radiating from the princess. But once they snapped out of it, they lunged forward. However, Ah Lan and Ah Hui stepped out to block them with eyes sharp as blades, causing the opposition to halt. "Step aside, Ah Lan! Ah Hui! I will handle this kind of trash myself!"
The princess roared. She grabbed the 'coconut broom' leaning against the pillar, wielding it like an imperial sword of execution. "So you have a sharp tongue, huh?! You really want to be the Empress, huh?! Today, I will personally sweep a piece of eyesore trash like you completely out of this courtyard!"
The princess lunged forward, swinging the broom through the air with a loud *Swish*! Ah Chui's eyes widened in terror; she dropped her gift baskets, scattering them everywhere, and turned to run for her life. The princess lifted her skirt and chased her around the courtyard, kicking up a cloud of dust like a battlefield!
The loud commotion drew the villagers who were heading to the fields to peek over the bamboo fence of Zhao Long's house. Some gaped in shock, while others giggled seeing the "village queen" being chased and beaten like a cornered dog.
"Ouchhh! My backside!" Ah Chui shrieked, her face turning green and yellow. She scrambled frantically toward the gate, aiming to flee back into the village to find her father. Yet, before crossing the boundary, she couldn't help but turn back, her eyes brimming with tears of resentment. "You! Just you wait! How dare you do this to me! I'll go back and tell my father to have his men drag all of you out of the village! Just wait and see!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Ah Chui fled desperately for her life, disappearing from sight toward the village chief's house. She left behind only the group of villagers murmuring and gossiping animatedly at the gate.
Zhao Long, who had been watching the scene from the bamboo bed, was left with his mouth agape. He slowly turned his head and whispered to Lin Ying (Ye Nian) with a face full of uncertainty. "Ye Nian... tell me the truth. Miss Liu Ying... is she truly a princess like she shouted? I mean... an actual princess from the imperial palace?"
Lin Ying looked at the princess, who was still standing defensively at the gate, and let out a long sigh. She could only offer a dry smile and nod slightly. "It is the truth... It's just that right now, she might have... momentarily forgotten her palace etiquette."
Wei Qing walked over to Zhao Long. He reached out to pat his younger brother's shoulder lightly, observing the chaotic scene before him with deep, slightly amused eyes.
"That is the real princess, Ah Long..." Wei Qing said in a deep voice laced with hidden meaning. "But what you don't know about her... is still a lot. What you see here is merely a small fraction."
Zhao Long furrowed his brows. "A small fraction?"
Wei Qing didn't answer. He simply smiled at the corner of his mouth before quickly walking straight to the gate. "Alright, I should go stop her. Otherwise, she might chase down the village chief's daughter and beat her to death."
"That's enough, Young Miss! That's enough!" Wei Qing rushed in to grab the handle of the broom in the princess's hand before she could actually charge out of the fence.
Princess Liu Ying spun around and glared at Wei Qing with resentful eyes. She forcefully yanked her wrist from his grip. "Why are you stopping me! Are you stopping me... because you're worried about me, or are you worried about that toad?!"
Wei Qing raised an eyebrow and chuckled in his throat. "Why would I worry about her? I'm worried that if you thrash the village chief's daughter until her back is striped, we might not have a place to sleep tomorrow."
"Hmph! Only an idiot would believe that!" The princess turned her face away disdainfully, throwing the broom to the ground without a second thought. "I don't care about you people anymore! I'm going to wash this black soot off. The smell of smoke is driving me crazy!" She stomped off behind the hut in a huff, leaving the men behind staring after her in a mix of awe and bewilderment.
Zhao Long massaged his temples and let out a long sigh... It seemed that the things he "didn't know" about these women were truly vast indeed!
Part 2: The Imprint by the Stream and the Vow of the White Jade Hairpin
The dust from the "broom battle" was gradually blown away by the wind. The villagers who had gathered to watch at the fence began to disperse to go about their livelihoods, whispering and chuckling at Ah Chui's defeat. Wei Qing leaned against the wooden pillar, watching the bamboo gate that was still swaying, before turning to nod at Zhao Long and Lin Ying, who were still sitting on the bed.
"Well, since the storm has temporarily passed..." Wei Qing said while brushing the dust off his shoulders. "You should take her to wash her face at the stream behind the village, Ah Long. The wound on your side and Miss Lin Ying's left shoulder could use some cold water to ease the pain. I'll handle sweeping up the remnants of the chaos here."
"I'll leave it to you, Brother Wei Qing," Zhao Long replied. He gently and carefully helped Lin Ying stand up.
The two walked side by side out of the house's enclosure, heading towards the direction where the sound of flowing water carried on the wind. The path that stretched across the terraced fields looked beautiful and serene. Dappled sunlight bathed the treetops of the Cloud Mountain valley. The sight of Uncle Wang leading his water buffalo into the water, and a group of children running and playing on an old wooden bridge, painted a picture of simple life that made Lin Ying secretly sigh deeply. She was about to shatter the peace of the young man beside her with a heavy truth.
Upon reaching the quiet stream, an ancient willow tree extended its branches to touch the glass-like surface of the water, revealing the pebbles at the bottom. Zhao Long sat down on a large, smooth rock. He slowly lowered his robes to let the cold mist from the water soothe the heat of his wound. Lin Ying moved closer. She dipped a clean cloth into the freezing water and gently dabbed around the edges of the wound on his side with the utmost care.
"The wound on your left shoulder..." Zhao Long asked in a low voice. "From the arrow that day, does it still hurt a lot?"
"It's much better now... I can move it more freely," Lin Ying replied briefly, but her eyes remained fixed on her own reflection in the water.
"Who exactly are you?" Zhao Long asked directly. The eyes of the once-naive hunter were now filled with doubt. "I might seem like a fool in your eyes, but I can tell that your manners and your gaze... are definitely not those of a mere traveler who lost her way."
Lin Ying stopped washing the young man's wound. She looked at her reflection in the gently flowing water before slowly looking up to meet Zhao Long's eyes. A heavy truth trembled in her gaze.
"Ah Long... My real name is Lin Ying. I am the daughter of Grand Chancellor Lin Guang."
Zhao Long's eyes widened, his body freezing for a moment upon hearing the true status of the woman before him. Yet, Lin Ying continued speaking with a trembling but sincere voice.
"My father sent me here... to observe and verify whether the 'Heir of the White Dragon' from the widespread rumors truly exists. I came to confirm that those rumors weren't just fabricated nonsense by the royal court." She paused, raising a trembling hand to touch the White Jade Hairpin in her hair bun. "But there is one thing my father never knew. It's the secret behind this hairpin... It's an important heirloom my mother gave me before my journey. My mother told me this hairpin represents a sworn brotherhood vow between her and Uncle Zhao Wen of the Zhao family."
She looked deeply into Zhao Long's eyes, without blurting out the truth that he was that very last bloodline heir.
"Right now, the schemes of Strategist Zhuge have made everyone believe that you are the Heir of the White Dragon... and that has placed you in the greatest danger of your life. My father and the royal court will definitely not spare you." Lin Ying averted her gaze, her anguish clearly showing on her face. "But I have made a promise to my mother... No matter what your status is, no matter who you are, I will wager my own life to protect yours to the very end."
Zhao Long was stunned into silence for a long moment. He gazed at Lin Ying's face, so close he could reach out and touch it. Dappled sunlight filtering through the willow branches fell upon her smooth, delicate skin. The simply tied hair bun was adorned with that white jade hairpin. It was so beautiful and noble, yet imbued with a sense of profound loneliness.
The young man slowly reached out his calloused hand to gently grasp Lin Ying's hand. That touch was filled with a warmth that helped soothe the bitter cold in the young woman's heart.
"Lin Ying..." he called her real name with a firm voice for the first time. "I don't care what your father wants, or where that White Dragon heir impersonation scheme will lead me. But to me... you are the person I saved from an arrowhead, and the woman I carried across the mountains with my life on the line."
Zhao Long stared deeply into her face. His eyes were filled with a vow that transcended words of love. "I might just be a hunter with no roots or background. But from now on... let me be the one to protect you. Don't carry the burden of protecting me all by yourself. No matter how fierce the storm ahead may be, you will always have me standing by your side."
By the tranquil stream, there was only the sound of flowing water and rapidly beating hearts. The two gazed into each other's eyes for a long time amidst the warm mist. The bond intertwined through the jade hairpin and a half-truth was etched into both their hearts. It was a vow that would be difficult to break...
Part 3: The Warmth of the Campfire and the Oath Beneath the Moonlight
Amidst the darkness that blanketed the Cloud Mountain village, the full moon radiated a clear, soft light across the sky like a massive white jade plate. The moonlight spilled down, reflecting off the sea of mist drifting lazily through the gorges, making it look like a cool silver river. The atmosphere around Grandpa Zhao's bamboo hut tonight felt more magical and powerful than any other night. Wei Qing's accompanying soldiers, clad in light armor, stood still as statues at strategic points around the fence. The moonlight glinted off their sharp blades periodically, making the area look as secure and mysterious as a hidden fortress.
In the middle of the dirt courtyard, a small campfire crackled, Pop!, chasing away the bitter cold. Grandpa Zhao, the elder, sat on a wooden stool, patiently using a branch to poke the firewood. Ah Lan and Ah Hui, the two maids, continuously walked around, respectfully pouring perfectly boiled warm ginger tea for their masters. The scent of burning pine wood mingled with the spicy aroma of mature ginger wafted with the cold wind.
At that moment, two or three male and female villagers carrying firewood and baskets passed by the front of the house. They slowed their pace and shouted friendly greetings across the bamboo fence.
"Uncle Zhao! Your guests seem to be having a merry time tonight!" one of the male villagers called out with a hearty laugh. "Be careful, Uncle, don't go upsetting that young lady. Otherwise, a broom might come flying right to the front of my house! Hahaha!"
"You cheeky brats... You sure have a sharp tongue! Hurry up and go home to sleep!" Grandpa Zhao shouted back with a fond smile.
Another female villager turned to nod at Wei Qing's group, feeling a sense of awe at the aura they exuded. "He's right, Young Master... When I saw it this morning, I felt a chill down my spine for Ah Chui. Rest well, my lords." The group of villagers chuckled softly and disappeared into the veil of mist, leaving the courtyard in peaceful silence once more.
Wei Qing sat cross-legged on a log opposite Princess Liu Ying. He was peeling a piping hot roasted sweet potato, steam billowing from it. The thick hands adept at wielding a sword were now trying to peel the potato as meticulously as possible.
"After sweeping the courtyard for so long... a cup of warm ginger tea should make you feel better, Young Miss," Wei Qing broke the silence, glancing over at the princess who was sitting quietly, staring at the flames.
"I've already drunk the ginger tea..." Princess Liu Ying replied with a stubborn tone, though not as fierce as the morning. "But what I don't understand is why your soldiers have to look so stern. This is a hunter village, not a military camp in the middle of a battlefield."
"In the eyes of a hunter, this place might be peaceful..." Wei Qing slowly broke the golden-yellow sweet potato in half. "But in the eyes of a general like me, this peace is the very omen of a storm. Especially when two 'phoenixes' have wandered into this forest."
Wei Qing held out the best-looking piece of sweet potato in front of the princess. "Here... take it. I picked the softest piece just for you. Consider it my apology for interrupting your passionate 'broom dance' earlier."
Liu Ying glanced at the sweet potato in his hand, her haughty demeanor softening for a moment. She reached out to take it, but at that moment, her fingertips accidentally brushed against Wei Qing's thick hand. The warmth from the physical contact made the princess pause for a second. The heart of the royal maiden skipped a beat for a mere fraction of a second. She quickly pulled her hand back along with the sweet potato.
"Thanks..." she murmured softly. The face that was once tilted up in defiance now looked down at the sweet potato in her hand. Her soft cheeks flushed red, clearly visible in the firelight. "And you... aren't you eating? Peeling it for everyone else, are you going to just eat the wind?"
Wei Qing chuckled in his throat. The eyes of the young general, once fierce, now looked surprisingly gentle. "I can eat any piece. But the sweetest piece... I wanted you to taste it. So you'd know that the hardships in the wild also have a hidden sweetness to them."
Liu Ying looked up to meet his eyes for a moment before quickly looking away to hide her bashfulness. "Do you speak such greasy words to every woman in the imperial palace?"
"I only speak like this to women who dare to chase people down with a broom," Wei Qing playfully wiggled his eyebrows at her once, causing the princess to instinctively shoot him a sideways glare.
On the other side of the campfire, Zhao Long secretly watched the scene and smiled faintly. He adjusted the blanket on Lin Ying's shoulders to wrap her tighter against the periodic gusts of cold wind, before completely enveloping her hand within his under the thick blanket. Lin Ying didn't pull away. She simply rested her head on his broad shoulder. The firelight reflected off the White Jade Hairpin in her hair, making her look as stunningly beautiful as a dream superimposed over a heavy reality.
"Look at Liu Ying..." Zhao Long whispered. "She seems much happier when she's sparring words with Brother Wei Qing."
Lin Ying smiled faintly. "Liu Ying has a sharp tongue and a hot temper, but deep down, she yearns for fairness and sincerity... which I think your older brother has for her in abundance."
She looked up at the moon. "Ah Long... if we truly have to leave this place tomorrow, will you regret it?"
Zhao Long tightened his grip on her hand. "I will miss the peace of this place... But I won't regret leaving it. Because no matter what lies ahead, at least I won't be walking alone."
Grandpa Zhao looked at the two young couples, quietly stroking his white beard. He didn't interject to ruin the sweet atmosphere, merely continuing to add firewood so the flames would always burn brightly.
"Sweet potatoes must be eaten while they're hot, children," the old man said softly with a benevolent smile. "Happiness is like this campfire. If you don't keep adding firewood, it will die out. If you don't quickly grasp it while it's still bright... when morning comes, it will be nothing but ashes."
The guards adjusted their armor, the soft clinking of metal echoing periodically, as if to warn them that the time of peace was coming to an end. Everyone around the campfire sank into their own thoughts. Amidst the crackling of wood and the embracing mist, it was the longest and warmest night they would remember for a very long time...
Part 4: The Storm in Chang'an and Zhuge Qing's Grand Chessboard
While the campfire on Cloud Mountain slowly died down... Thousands of li away, in the capital of Chang'an, the most formidable city under the heavens, the moonlight shone down on the towering city walls. The expansive Zhuque Street divided the area neatly like a giant chessboard. Amidst the tranquility of the night, beneath the golden roofs of the imperial palace and noble estates, the winds of change were brewing.
At the Estate of Grand Chancellor Lin, the atmosphere inside the main hall was oppressively lonely. Madam Lin sat staring blankly out the window, her eyes dimmed with worry. Her trembling hands tightly gripped a handkerchief embroidered with orchids. She was thinking of Lin Ying, her daughter who had disappeared into the dangerous schemes of her own husband.
"Lin Guang... You are too cruel, sending our daughter into the fire for your own power," the Madam murmured through her tears. Little did she know that right now, the secret of the white jade hairpin she had secretly hidden away was about to become a crucial catalyst in the royal palace.
Suddenly, a palace maid walked in holding a golden decree tablet. "Reporting to Madam, Her Majesty the Empress has ordered your presence at the palace tomorrow to attend the 'Floral Viewing Banquet' at the Imperial Garden."
The Madam froze, her heart pounding with anxiety. She knew full well that the Empress's floral viewing banquet at this time was not merely for leisure. It was a trap, and the sharpest test of power in all of Chang'an.
Deep within the confines of the imperial palace, the Empress gazed at the overcast sky with icy eyes. Her Majesty was fully aware of the movements of Zhuge Qing, the brilliant young strategist who was leading Crown Prince Liu Tian back into Chang'an to initiate a critical chess match.
Zhuge Qing's "White Dragon Resurrection Plan" had begun to operate silently... He intentionally released the rumors of the Heir of the White Dragon (Zhao Long) to use as a symbol to rally the army and draw the faith of the citizens back to the Liu dynasty. This plan was forcing Lin Guang to quickly reveal his true colors in order to eliminate the thorn in his side.
The Empress muttered in a low voice, "Lin Guang... Do you think you can use Chang'an as your personal chessboard? If Zhuge Qing's plan is to fabricate an heir, I will use this very plan to crush you and your Chancellor's estate into oblivion!"
A massive storm was about to batter the capital of Chang'an tomorrow... The moment Crown Prince Liu Tian and Zhuge Qing stepped through the palace gates, the secrets everyone had tried to hide—both the white jade hairpin and the White Dragon bloodline—would be exposed amidst the fragrance of flowers that concealed the deadliest poison!