Chapter 13 - Woe and Wisdom

　　Candle shadows danced, reflecting his side shadow on the bedside Luo curtains, bright and dark. 　　I helplessly side face, do not look at him, also do not dare to struggle, let him hand to give me medicine. 　　At this time it is already late at night, the Luo curtains hanging low, the candle will end, only I and he alone in the inner room. In such a situation, I favor this unclothed appearance, more with his skin touch ...... even though there are three years of the name of the couple, I still can not suppress the moment of nervousness and panic, fingers secretly twisted tightly the corner of the coverlet. 　　Xiao Qi did not say a word, occasionally look at me, that seems to smile and not smile color more and more make my heart panic, behind the ear seems to be burning generally. 　　"Come down and walk." He couldn't help but pick me up from the bed. 　　As soon as my feet touched the ground, I felt my whole body was weak and had to climb onto his arm. 　　"You've been lying down for too long." Xiao Qi smiled, "Since my internal injuries have healed, I can walk around a little on weekdays, it's not beneficial to lie down all the time." 　　I raised my eyes to look at him, but felt freshly surprised. Since childhood because of weakness, a little wind cold fever, the surrounding people are always careful, a call for me to recuperate, no one like him like this casual, but it is very to my temperament. 　　He helped me to the window, pushed open the long window, the night wind poured straight in, bringing the fresh flavor of the soil, and the faint fragrance of grass. 　　I shrank my shoulders, and even though I felt cold, I still greedily took a deep breath, it's been a long time since I've had such a refreshing evening breeze. 　　I suddenly felt a warmth on my shoulders, but I saw Xiao Qi take off his own cloak and wrapped me tightly. 　　I froze, my whole body fell into the crook of his arm, wrapped under the thick cloak, surrounded by the unique and strong manly scent of his body. 　　I never knew that the scent of a man s body would be this ...... indistinguishable flavor, warm and full of masculinity, reminding me of the blazing midday sun, of horse leather and iron, and of miles of wind and sand. 　　I remember the flavor of my brother and Zi Tan, my brother preferred Du Ruo, and Zi Tan loved Mulan alone. Between their behavior, there was always a hidden scent. The powerful houses in the capital all have spices imported from the Western Regions, and all have beautiful young maidservants who specialize in perfumery. Even foreign men like Helan Zhen have the scent of incense on their clothes. 　　Only Xiao Qi did not, in this person, I can not see the slightest bit of softness, everything is strong, sharp and introverted. 　　The moon is white, the wind is clear, and the people are silent. 　　I seem to hear the sound of my heart thumping rapidly, and even have a slight trance. 　　"I'm not cold." I mustered up the courage to speak, trying to break free from his arms, from the panicked heartbeat of the moment. 　　He looked down at me, his gaze deep. 　　"Why don't you ask me where I've been the last few days?" He seemed to smile. 　　Just now, when I saw him come in dusty, with a weary look on his face, I had already guessed that he had returned from a long trip. 　　That was probably why he hadn't come to see me for several days in a row. 　　But if he had the intention to let me know, he could have informed me in advance, and to ask me only now is considered a test? 　　I stared back, "Your Highness is naturally busy with military affairs, is it up to me to ask about his whereabouts?" 　　Xiao Qi tugged the corner of his lips, "I don't like a woman who speaks her mind." 　　"Is that so?" I smiled and tilted my head back, letting the night breeze blow on my face, "I thought that most men who regard themselves as extraordinary like women who say what they mean." 　　He was stunned, immediately raised his voice and laughed, his cheerful laughter echoed in the silent night. 　　I also guffawed, raised his eyes to look at him quietly, the ups and downs of the heart inexplicable. 　　Looked at his jaw slightly through the azure beard, more and more feel down and out valiantly. 　　Even if you put aside the power and prestige, put aside the dazzling light put on him, just on the style and demeanor, he is also a very outstanding man. 　　If there is no year of marriage, if with him today Fang began to see, if not ever recognized Zi Tantan ...... we will not fall in love at first sight, complete this hero and beauty of the good story? 　　The world is a mess, this marriage, from the beginning is not complete. 　　I closed my lips tightly, those words in the heart of a thousand times, delayed can not be exported. 　　If you don't mention the past, everything from this moment on, is it too late? 　　The night wind is even cooler. 　　Xiao Qi walked to the window, closed the long window, back to me and stood, seemingly careless, said: "these two days, I went to a deserted village on the border." 　　I sat down beside the desk and table, my heart thought a little, and already understood a few points. 　　"Was it to meet a special enemy?" I frowned at him. 　　Xiao Qi turns around and looks at me with a smile, "What is a special enemy?" 　　I lowered my eyes, not knowing if I should let him know my thoughts, hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke slowly, "Sometimes, enemies can become allies, and friends can become enemies." 　　"Not bad." Xiao Qi nodded and smiled, speaking with appreciation, "This person is indeed my enemy." 　　He really went to meet Kulan, no wonder he was missing for several days, the people in the royal residence only knew that he was out on military patrol, no one knew where he was. The commander-in-chief will meet the enemy sheikhs in private, spreading the word is the great crime of collaborating with the enemy and treason, this time the whereabouts naturally can't be divulged half a point. 　　I frowned and said: "Xu Shou is dead, Helan was executed, all the evidence of the crime is conclusive, why do you still have to go through this journey?" 　　He did not answer, the bottom of his eyes is still inexplicable smile, implied a few surprises. 　　However, I really do not understand, even if that Hulan Prince hands another important evidence of guilt, he only needs a secret letter, sent to convey can, why take such a risk, personally go to see the Turkic Prince? 　　Or, he also has another calculation? 　　"You guessed half right, but guessed the wrong person." Xiao Qi laughed, "This particular enemy is not Khulan." 　　I was stunned, but I heard him faintly say, "Kulan, this person, but also brave and good at fighting, in the sand field is a rare opponent. Unfortunately, he is more than brave but less than skillful, and he is far from being a match for Helan Pro." 　　Candlelight reflected in Xiao Qi's side face, thin lips such as cutting, hidden contemptuous smile, "If not for this stupid person to send a letter report, misrepresented the illusion laid by Helan Zhen, delaying the timing of my deployment, you will not fall into the hands of Helan Zhen." 　　He snorted coldly, "If you fight with Helan Zhen in the future, I'm afraid he will die a miserable death." 　　I was so shocked that I stood up, "Are you saying that Helan Zhen is still alive?" 　　Xiao Qi looked at me sideways, the sharpness in his eyes swept past, but smiled without saying anything. 　　"You went to see Helan Zhen!" I was really shocked too much, that person broke his wrist and fell off a cliff without dying, but that was fine. What really shocked me was that Xiao Qi not only didn't send anyone to chase and kill him, but instead met him in private. 　　When I met his unfathomable gaze, I felt a chill run through my body. 　　"Not only did I meet him, but I also sent someone from my inner circle to escort him back to Turkestan and repel Kulan's pursuers." Xiao Qi's smile was as cold as frost, slowly said, "This trip all depends on his destiny, hopefully he can return to the king's city and live up to my painstaking efforts." 　　I lowered my head, my mind flashed, the cause and effect of the events through, thousands of confusing thoughts, suddenly clear - Xiao Qi originally joined hands with Prince Kulan to get rid of Helan Zhen, but also to eliminate Xu Shou's party. Now, seeing that Helan Zhen was lucky not to die, and Xu Shou has been removed, he changed his mind, not only not to kill Helan Zhen, but to help him return to the Turkic. To Helan Pro's nature, will be on the Kulan hate to the bone, the throne of the new hatred, this two tigers, Turkic will be in chaos. 　　For a moment, my heart and soul vibration, trance and back to the year on the Chaoyang Gate, the first time I saw the scene of treating the army. 　　At that time, he was majestic, the spirit of the world, Yuzhang Wang Xiao Qi's name, in my mind is just a legend. When I married him, I was alone for three years, but I still knew nothing about him. 　　Ning Shuo reunion, life and death shock, witnessed his blood to kill the enemy, only to realize that the great reputation, all iron blood cast. 　　At this point, he is standing in front of me, talking lightly, like a husband and wife gossip. However, between waving his hand, has already stirred the wind and clouds overturned, set up this huge and far-reaching chess game ...... I am afraid that the border of the dynasty, the Turkic court, the people of the two countries have been put into this wind and clouds of the chess game, I do not know how many people's destiny has changed. 　　I don't know how many people's destinies will be changed. How can a martial artist do all this? 　　The person standing in front of me at the moment is not just a hero on the battlefield, but turning his hand to the clouds, turning his hand to the rain, holding the power of life and death of the feudal king, is a famous general is also a minister of power. Looking at his figure in the moonlight, as if to see a generation of heroes will reign over the world. This idea makes my heart and soul shook, the heart of the turbulence can not be suppressed. 　　However, thinking about the grievances of Helan Zhen, I can not help but say: "That person hates you to the bone, this go to the tiger to return to the mountain, I do not know in the future will come up with what vicious method to harm you." 　　Xiao Qi smiled faintly: "It is difficult to meet a confidant, and it is not a pleasure to have a capable opponent." 　　Heroes should be as such. 　　"You dare to let him go, have your own grasp of restraining him again, letting the tiger return to the mountain is not to fight the tiger, it is to tame the tiger." I sincerely exclaimed. 　　Xiao Qi smiled but did not say anything, with his hands on his back, looked at me deeply, his eyes did not hide the color of joy. 　　"A boudoir woman, to have this kind of insight." 　　The words of appreciation that came out of his mouth actually caused me to blush slightly. 　　Once upon a time, my brother always said that I was high-minded and arrogant. 　　He did not know that it was not that I was high-minded, but that I had not met anyone with enough breadth of mind to convince me. 　　Now, I have met. 　　Just as I was looking down and lost in thought, Xiao Qi came in front of me at an unknown time and reached out to lift my face. 　　"Are you worried that Helan Pro is unfavorable to me?" He held a hint of a smile, his gaze meaningful. 　　I seemed to be burned by something in my heart and scrambled to avoid his hand with a sideways glance. 　　Obviously it was still May weather, but I was inexplicably hot, and only felt that the room was suffocatingly stuffy. 　　"You, want some tea?" Under the urgency, I didn't know how to hide my panic, and answered back with this sentence. 　　By getting up to fetch the tea, I turned my back, but I could still feel his burning gaze. 　　I forced myself to collect my mind, took the cup, silently pouring tea into the cup. However, the heart thumping, actually let my wrist slightly trembling ...... This is how it is, ever since I have never been out of shape to this. 　　Suddenly, the hand is tight. 　　My hand was held by him from behind, and then realized that the wrong pot, this pot is empty, and I was confused and unaware of the pouring of a long time. 　　He smiled, did not say anything, only to remove the teapot in my hand, another teapot, re-pouring tea. 　　I was embarrassed, but he leisurely poured the tea, smiled and handed it over. 　　"It's better for me to serve the princess." His voice was low and slow, his smile warm. 　　This cup of tea was held steadily in his hand, but I didn't reach out to take it. 　　I quietly raised my eyes to look at him, wanting to discern how much of the sentiment in his eyes was true and how much was false. 　　Four eyes, a moment of silence. 　　His gaze deep, "Tea instead of wine, to make up for the wedding day, I should face to you to make amends." 　　I looked into his eyes, past events back in front of me, the bitterness remains. 　　The wedding night, is my life unforgettable shame. 　　Candle shadow flickering, reflecting on Xiao Qi's face, illuminating his complexion extraordinarily clearly. 　　His lips pursed, seemingly do not know how to speak, silent for a long time, said in a deep voice: "that day, I also apologize." 　　To this day, he is still saying that he had no choice, refused to admit that day arrogant. 　　I raised my eyes, coldly said: "Even if the Turkic invasion, eagerly waiting for you to go on the expedition, may not be just a moment and a half." 　　Xiao Qi's eyes of different colors swept through, like hearing a strange thing. 　　I was extremely angry and laughed, "How, the king already do not remember?" 　　Xiao Qi was silent, that the color of dismay also only flickered, no more traces. 　　"The left minister ...... father in law did not tell you anything else that day?" He asked in a deep voice. 　　"What does the king mean by this?" My heart jumped and I looked at him fixedly. 　　His brows were tightly locked and his gaze was deep and intimidating, "After that, the Left Minister has always said the same thing?" 　　These words, along with his expression, caused chills to run through my heart. 　　I tilted my head up and tried my best to calmly meet his eyes, "Forgive Wang Ingenuity's ignorance, please speak more clearly, Your Highness." 　　The room steeply fell into a stagnant dead silence. 　　I looked at him with all eyes, neither of us opened our mouths, but we could feel his gravity. 　　The candle wick suddenly peeled with a bang, bursting out a little spark, abruptly reminding me of that night when the red candle burned empty. 　　A heavy sadness surged up from the bottom of my heart, weighing me down. 　　Xiao Qi looked deeply at me, the color in his eyes was puzzling, "You really want to hear me say it all?" 　　"Yes." I pursed my lips and looked straight at him. 　　He slowly said, "Also, whether you are willing to accept it or not, it is always fairer to know the truth." 　　I bit my lip and nodded. 　　He paced to the window, stood with his back to me, and slowly said, "Have you ever thought that on the wedding day, if there was no oracle from the left minister, how could I mobilize the garrison guards of the capital controlled by Wang's family and leave the capital overnight?" 　　It was as if I had been suddenly whipped, my heart pumping tight. 　　"Speak on." I straightened my spine and stared fixedly at the candle flame in front of me. 　　His voice was calm, as if he was talking about a piece of insignificant gossip, "The emperor is dissatisfied with the prince's obstinacy, the power of the foreign relatives, and has long had the intention to change the reserve. The crown prince relies on the power of the Wang family, if you want to change the crown, it is necessary to abolish the foreign relatives. Over the years, the queen and your father has held half of the dynasty, only the right minister wen zongshen and the royal family pro party, force rejected the relatives interfere in politics, secretly support the emperor easy reserves. Two factions of forces, has been held up, the dynasty in the valve family, have been caught in the fight, do not care about the military affairs of the border, guarding the territory to open up the frontier rely on me and other cold martial arts force. Until I pacified the border, sole control of 400,000 troops, the court began to know fear. Right Minister Wen Zongshen strongly advocate cutting off the military power of the military, but also afraid of shaking the border, do not dare to take action. He does not know, the empress and the left minister, has another measure." 　　He paused, but I already understand what he said. 　　As if a bucket of snow and ice poured down from the top of my head, I was suddenly chilled to the bone - it turned out that at that time, they had already thought of the marriage plan. 　　No wonder my aunt has always opposed my love affair with Zi Tan, and no wonder my father has always rejected those who propose marriage. Many of them were from the most prestigious families in the capital, even the Marquis family, which was on par with the Wang Clan. At that time, my mother once laughed and sighed, "I'm afraid that in your father's eyes, except for the prince, no one is worthy of his pearl." 　　At that time, I also think so. But I didn't know that the son-in-law that my father had been eyeing for a long time ago wasn't Zi Tan, who had an honorable status, and that even if Zi Tan were to take the throne in the future, my father wouldn't be satisfied with the empty name of the abbot of the country. 　　Even more so, her aunt would not tolerate a bystander taking away her son's throne. 　　The Wang Clan needed to have greater power, and in addition to the imperial court and palace exams, they needed support from the military. 　　From the very beginning, they already had their eyes on Xiao Qi, and Xiao Qi had his eyes on Wang. 　　I actually wanted to laugh, and while laughing, I looked at Xiao Qi, "Having the Emperor bestow the marriage, was it your idea, or was it the Empress' authorization?" 　　Xiao Qi turned around and met my gaze, with some intolerance in his eyes, "It was agreed upon when I met the Empress and the Left Minister in secret." 　　He did not need to speak bluntly, I already understood that there was nothing more to support the remaining pride. 　　"Then on the day of the wedding, how was it?" I spoke slowly, word by word, trying my best not to let my voice tremble. 　　Xiao Qi frowned and looked at me with a hidden guilty look, his gaze lingering on my face for a long time. 　　I tilted my head and looked at him obstinately, waiting for him to continue. 　　"I to pacify the southern border of the merit, the imperial court to marry Wang's daughter, got the Empress personally promised, the emperor has no choice, when the court to give marriage. The right prime minister's party was restless, so he plotted with the emperor, wanting to take advantage of my return to the capital to get married, secretly transfer others to Ningshuo, to take over the military power. After the wedding, the emperor will leave me trapped in the capital, empty of military power. This matter is the emperor and the right phase of the joint efforts to plan, secretive and swift, until I learned of the wind, already is the wedding day. The left prime minister immediately decided to deploy the forbidden army, open the city overnight to let me leave the capital. Coinciding with the Turk's northern invasion, God's will to help me, so that the court cut the power of the plan to fall through. So since then, I will use the reason that the Turk disturbed the border, fixed Ningshuo, three years do not return, and the left prime minister inside and outside the corresponding, so that the emperor can do nothing." 　　I recalled his every word in a trance, trying to find a loophole to refute him and prove that it was all a lie. 　　But no use, not only can not find loopholes, on the contrary, the more I think the more clear, many forgotten details, at this time to think back, actually with his words one by one match. Even, some things, when I also had secretly questioned ...... just then, I would never think, all this is from my close to the family of the most trusted. 　　I would not, nor dare to think so. 　　Father and aunt, how could it be that they deceived me - lied to me, using me, to this day still hide me, put all the blame on Xiao Qi, so that I will always sink into loneliness and resentment, as another aunt, there is no one dear to me, can only be forever attached to the family, loyal to the family, until the whole life will be dedicated to the family. 　　However, it is them, it is them. 　　Others can lie to me, but I can no longer lie to myself. 　　Everything is clear and transparent. 　　The weather in May, but I was like immersed in ice water, so cold, so cold that it chilled my bones. 　　Xiao Qi took me by the shoulders and held me tightly. 　　His embrace was warm, as was his voice, full of compassion, "You're shivering." 　　I looked up, the stubbornness that erupted from the bottom of my heart caused me to steeply develop strength, breaking away from his embrace, "Who said I'm shivering, I'm not ...... don't touch me!" 　　I felt pain, my whole body ached, and couldn't tolerate anyone touching me one more time. 　　"You, get out." I braced myself against the edge of the table and managed to stand still, unable to hold back the shaking in my whole body any longer. 　　He looked at me without a word, that apologetic, guilt-ridden gaze cutting into me more and more like a knife. 　　I turned my head, no longer look at him, disheveled: "I'm fine, let me rest alone." 　　He was silent, and it was a long time before I heard him turn away, his footsteps heading for the door. 　　I couldn't support myself any longer, and disheveledly fell down in front of the case, burying my face deep into my palm. My mind was empty, I couldn't think of anything, nor could I speak, only tears broke the bank. My body suddenly warmed up, I looked back and forgot to wipe away my tears. 　　Xiao Qi leaned over and draped the cloak over my shoulders, only saying, "I'll be right outside." 　　Watching him turn and leave, I was abruptly terrified, only feeling that the sky was covered with loneliness. 　　"Xiao Qi ......," I called him in a mute voice. 　　He turned back around and suddenly embraced me in his arms. 　　"It's all in the past." He stroked over my temples, "Those things, it's all in the past." 　　He held me so tightly that his arm pressed into the injury. 　　I held back the pain and didn't say a word, lest if I made a sound, I would lose the warm embrace. 　　His chin touched my cheek, the slightest hint of whiskers zinging me lightly, tingling yet peaceful. 　　"Even though it's in the past, you'll have to face it eventually, you can't hide under the family's wing for the rest of your life." He gazed into my eyes and said word by word, "From now on, you are my crown princess, the woman who will share this life with me, I forbid you to be weak!"