Chapter 92
Due to Da Chu’s mountainous topography, settlements could be found in the valleys. This valley where they were hiding was secluded and unpopulated, making it a prime spot for a hideout. It was Yue Nan who had sent men to bring them here.
However, Bai Yu did not meet her older cousin there. Ouyang Feilong seemed to have predicted it already, he immediately called his and Yue Nan’s men to a meeting in order to form an escape plan after obtaining the magic hare.
Bai Yu did not join the meeting. Apart from the location of the magic hare, she knew nothing. Furthermore, she was restless unlike how she outwardly appeared, so she excused herself to go outside and wait until they had a plan formed.
In her last life, she was an only child. The only man she loved the most was her father, but then she was let down when he had a mistress and caused their family to fall apart. The next person was Li Wenrou, who she had loved wholeheartedly. She gave both her heart and her life to him, yet everything was all for nothing. In the end, it was that man who made her unable to continue to live.
Though Bai Yu in this life also loved Bai Han, the hurt her mother felt that she had witnessed since she was young made it impossible to fully love and trust her father. And so, she had only her brother Bai He. The only man who devoted all his life to her. The only man who willingly trampled over others in order to grant her wish.
How could Bai Yu remain calm?
She was just a person, a person who was losing the only man who truly loved and cared for her. She was an ordinary woman. She was not born ready to face any hardship in life. And even though she knew the future, she did not know Bai He’s...
In the story, the only injured person was Ouyang Mingxian. But right now, her brother was gravely wounded as well. Was it possible that her attempts at changing her fate had caused it to happen?
.....
The winter breeze in this valley was much colder than Da Yang’s. When the crisp wind blew against her skin, Bai Yu had to hug herself. Her dark eyes gazed at the bright round moon, praying that the injured person could endure and wait for her a little longer.
A white fur cloak was put on her shoulder. Its length covered her whole body, its warmth perfectly protected her from the wind. Bai Yu used the back of her hand to wipe the corner of her eyes before turning to thank the owner of that cloak.
“You...” A word of thanks was caught in her throat and turned into confusion when she saw the appearance of the man in front of her.
Blue eyes. Silver hair. Was this the goddess of fate?
No! That god was a woman. Even with a veil covering her face, it was clear enough to see that she was not the same person as this man. Bai Yu searched her memory.
“Bai He has always been worried about your health ever since you’re young. How come you’re out in the cold like this?” His low voice did not reflect any particular emotion, yet his eyes showed a gentle smile. Bai Yu curtsied to him before speaking familiarly.
“Yu-er has made biaoge worried.”
‘Yue Nan’ only slightly smiled, then he turned to look at the moon that she had just pulled her gaze from. Bai Yu turned back to it again.
There was only silence between the two relatives who should have started talking and catching up after not seeing each other for many years.
Bai Yu recalled that the last time she saw Yue Nan, Yue Huiling’s older brother, was when she was ten. At that time, he was an eleven-year-old boy, with black hair and black eyes. Somehow, he had changed to the point that she almost could not recognize him. He had become much taller, and the color of his hair and eyes had changed.
At that time, she was too young to understand what kind of place the divine valley was. She did not know that a senior from the valley came to take Yue Nan to teach him the magic stronger than anyone. And that had changed him to the point that he looked like another person.
But no matter how much his appearance changed, the calmness he exuded and the gentleness in his eyes told her that this was the same Yue Nan. That was why Bai Yu could remember her biaoge from the body’s memory.
“Originally, I intended to send people here to help guide you to this valley. But I had a feeling that you need help, so I came.” His low voice sounded amidst the quietude.
“Biaoge’s men are already a great help to me.”
“I’m not talking about manpower.”
“Biaoge, what do you mean?” Bai Yu turned from the scenery in front of her to the man who was like a second older brother to her.
Moonlight shone on his oval face. Her biaoge was not as beautiful as Ouyang Feilong, nor as dashing as Bai He. Instead, he seemed to have a certain gleam when moonlight reflected on his silver hair. Those rare blue eyes further enhanced the ethereal air around him, it was as if this man in white possessed a strange glow that did not belong to this world.
His blue eyes stared into hers. “You must have met the goddess of fate.”
The change in his gaze. His words. They made Bai Yu’s eyes widen. How could he possibly know that?
“All my magic was bestowed by that god. And so your fate has always been within my sight...” Yue Nan explained.
“Because you came here to change your fate and to help the god of war return to heaven, your fate could not follow the same path as before. From now on, your fate and the fate of some around you would change into something you have never known.” Yue Nan paused. “And this is only the beginning.”
Bai Yu took a sharp breath. She let herself voice her suspicion. “That means big brother’s injury...”
“It is his fate, which you also have a part in.”
“Then what should I do?”
Those eyes did not show the same gentleness she was used to. Right now, his blue eyes seemed as if Yue Nan was unshackled from all earthly affairs. Was this what it looked like to have the power blessed by the goddess?
“You cannot always blame the fate destined for you. Sometimes, it is your own actions that dictate your fate.”
Yue Nan’s low voice echoed throughout the valley. The wind scattered his silver hair. Yue Nan closed his eyes and became silent for a brief while before opening his eyes again. When he looked at her, Bai Yu saw that the gentle glint had returned.
“You...” Bai Yu was speechless. She did not know who this man and his changing gaze were anymore.
“Magic had altered this hair. The sight had transformed these eyes.” Yue Nan seemed to have sensed Bai Yu’s uncertainty. “But no matter how much has changed, I am your biaoge all the same.”
Bai Yu nodded, trying to make sense of everything. People of the divine valley like Yue Nan would naturally be different from ordinary people. Bai Yu might not know much about them, but she could at least guess that it was normal for these people to have unusual appearances.
“Then you also know that I’m not your biaomei.” Now that he knew her identity, Bai Yu recalled this problem.
“Yu-er.” The familiar name was uttered from the all-knowing man. “...It doesn’t matter from which life you came from, you are still my sister.” He lightly stroked her hair. “While Bai He is not here, this biaoge will take care of you. Is it all right with you, biaomei?”
Bai Yu smiled, finally relieved.
“Big brother will recover, right?” Bai Yu looked at him with hopeful eyes. She hoped that he would tell her the future too.
Yue Nan paused. He retracted his hands and held them behind his back. His kind voice spoke as he gazed at the moon.
“He will be fine.”
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‘Chu Zhaoran’ was the second prince born from the Emperor and Huang Gui Fei*. The royal family only had the first princess, born from the Empress. Thus, he was the most appropriate to receive the title of Taizi.
Because the prince preferred living outside the palace, he volunteered to watch over the border and command the troop stationed there as general. He lived in the white jade palace, putting the third prince in charge of royal affairs and leaving the seat of Taizi empty as it waited for the stubborn second prince to come back, while at the same time slowly being taken over by the third prince.
Though he possessed both rank and military prowess, the second prince had a fatal flaw: He was too obsessed with enjoying women. And it was this flaw that allowed Bai Yu to infiltrate his palace, with the help from Yue Nan. She had to come here in the morning in order to prepare herself for the performance that night.
Originally, the Emperor had invited Yue Nan to divine the fate of the nation. No one knew of his background, they only knew him as ‘the three-eyed seer’. Yue Nan had intentionally spread fake news that he had business near the border, and when it reached the second prince’s ear, he immediately invited the seer to his banquet.
Since Ouyang Feilong had been at the border for a long time, he already knew of Yue Nan’s influence in Da Chu. That was why he had asked for Yue Nan’s help, and it was also why he could attend Chu Zhaoran’s banquet under the disguise of being the three-eyed seer’s follower.
Because the black dragon had never taken off his mask, Chu Zhaoran could not recognize his appearance.
According to the plan, Bai Yu had to perform a dance, then Ouyang Feilong would attract attention and create an opening for Bai Yu to steal the magic hare from the prince’s bedchamber.
Yue Nan decided to come all this way here because he knew that something unexpected could happen. However, he kept the premonition to himself and chose to visit the palace as the three-eyed seer.
This mission might expose him as a master of the Yue family, but Bai He was an important person that he could not leave behind. Destiny was forged in heaven, it could not be revealed. Yue Nan could only hope that the future he could vaguely see would not contain anything too dangerous.
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*Huang Gui Fei: The highest title of royal consort, second only to the Empress. The order of royal consorts is Huang Gui Fei, Gui Fei, Shu Fei, De Fei, Xian Fei (these titles is the reference for only this novel)