Chapter 523: Awakening

Chapter 523 Awakening

But Zhao Changhe did not want to indulge.

It was neither the right time, nor the right place, nor the right mood... and dual cultivation was truly useless; it was no divine skill.

His rough kiss was more like a kind of... punishment, knowing she was hardly at fault, yet still wanting to chastise.

Baoqin heard the muffled groan of pain from her mistress inside the room, and despite the closed door, she instinctively covered her eyes.

In truth, the two inside parted, panting heavily. Tang Wanzhuang’s lip had been bitten through, blood seeping out.

They stared at each other with complex expressions. After a long moment, Tang Wanzhuang spoke softly, her tone calm: “I thought you would force yourself on me.”

“That would prove I’ve given up, just wanting to have fun without loss.” Zhao Changhe turned his head away, not looking at her: “Wash up and wait. I intend to play for many years.”

Such vulgar words, yet Tang Wanzhuang remained calm, watching the hearth fire with him, and said quietly: “If that day ever comes.”

Spoken in such a flat tone, no one could tell if it was agreement or mockery.

Zhao Changhe did not reply, silently watching the fire until it slowly died.

He rose to his full height, wrapped his hand in true qi, and grabbed the scorching hot clay pot directly, pouring out a bowl of medicinal broth.

Tang Wanzhuang gasped sharply, unsure if it was from the pain in her lip or astonishment at Zhao Changhe’s current strength.

This was too formidable...

It wasn’t the trivial detail of not fearing heat, but that his true qi was almost tangible, condensed and unyielding—such intensity meant he couldn’t be at the bottom of the Earth Ranking. His strength was far beyond the Human Ranking.

Zhao Changhe took a light sip of the broth, gauging its medicinal properties, then nodded and turned to hand it to Tang Wanzhuang: “Want me to feed you?”

Tang Wanzhuang pouted. If you’re going to feed me, just do it—how can you ask such a question?

Since he asked, she could only answer: “Yes.”

Zhao Changhe froze, the bowl stiff in his hand, his eyes wide.

Tang Wanzhuang sat sulkily in her chair, saying nothing. Her lip was badly cut; she couldn’t move it.

Zhao Changhe couldn’t help but ruffle her hair. She struggled a little, and he crouched down, scooped up a spoonful of medicine, blew on it, and brought it to her lips: “Ah~”

Tang Wanzhuang took it into her mouth and mumbled indistinctly: “When you see His Majesty, try to persuade him to send troops to support Hebei.”

Zhao Changhe continued scooping and blowing, listening.

Tang Wanzhuang went on: “The Wang family has been plotting rebellion for so long, meticulously prepared. Qinghe is different—Cui’s private army isn’t enough. They’ve only gathered all the garrison troops from cities under their control to Puyang, but how many can that be? Worse, it leaves all of Hebei vulnerable. If Puyang falls, it will be trouble...”

Zhao Changhe handed her another spoonful: “If the medicine can’t shut your mouth, I’ll find something else to bite again.”

Tang Wanzhuang drank the medicine sullenly, saying no more.

Zhao Changhe fed her in silence, the two of them caught between showing affection and sulking. When the bowl was empty, he stood up and suddenly said: “I’ve been thinking—having a clever strategist by my side, wholeheartedly advising me, might indeed be a very good experience.”

As if embarrassed by his own words, he turned and left: “This medicine is quite strong. Rest well. I’ll come see you tomorrow.”

Tang Wanzhuang stared blankly at his retreating figure, pondering what he meant. After a moment, she suddenly understood.

He truly had ambitions for the throne... though perhaps not as a crown prince.

And he was trying to recruit her?

Tang Wanzhuang was momentarily stunned, watching numbly as Zhao Changhe messed up Baoqin’s hair into a bird’s nest outside the door, then bolted away while Baoqin stamped and cursed behind him. The scene felt detached, distant, yet warm—like a picture from a different time and space, unreal.

She didn’t even catch what Baoqin was shouting: “Looks like a big bear, but he’s so fast—counting the time to undress and dress, was that even half a cup of tea?”

Luckily, Zhao Changhe had fled too quickly to hear...

...

“Please announce me to Brother Huangfu Shaozong. Zhao Changhe is here to visit.”

Zhao Changhe had already dashed to the Huangfu residence. This time, he didn’t get the treatment of being invited directly into the inner hall like at the Tang mansion; instead, he was shut out.

Even after giving his name, the gatekeeper remained indifferent, just rolling his eyes: “The young general is not at home.”

Zhao Changhe glanced around, understood the situation, and bowed in farewell.

He turned and slipped into a back alley, then vaulted over the wall.

Inside the inner courtyard, he heard Huangfu Shaozong’s voice: “Oh, sister, why do we have to offend Zhao Changhe for no reason? Turning him away like this is very rude.”

Huangfu Qing’s lazy voice replied: “What of it? He doesn’t have spies planted in the mansion. As long as you don’t go blabbing outside, how would he know you’re here? Do you really think he’s some master detective?”

“...I think you’re the one treating him like a fool. With his current standing in the martial world, even if I were truly away, the family should have sent word to call me back.”

“Oh? He’s that impressive now? I hadn’t noticed.”

“Sister, you... ah! This palace maid looks very unfamiliar...”

“Scram! If your eyes keep wandering, I’ll gouge them out!”

Huangfu Shaozong slunk out, shaking his head in bewilderment.

From inside came Huangfu Qing’s cold laugh: “What a vixen—wherever she goes, men stare like they’ve lost their minds...”

Before she finished, the window was pried open, and Zhao Changhe slipped in.

Then he too stared, dumbfounded.

Why was Xia Chichi here, dressed as a little palace maid?

Huangfu Qing grew even angrier: “See? Every man stares at her like that.”

Xia Chichi looked up at the sky. She didn’t know why she caught the eye of so many young men these days. Yue Hongling had roamed the jianghu for years without such trouble. Maybe it was natural beauty—that red-clad one was so tacky.

Or perhaps there was some mystical factor: Wang Zhaoling, Yang Bugui, and Huangfu Shaozong were all from official families, and she was a princess.

Thinking this, she replied lazily: “When it comes to vixen skills, some people can’t compare... Married, yet sneaking out to steal a man—and the man is your nominal stepson.”

Huangfu Qing said: “Didn’t the Venerable tell you to obey me while playing the palace maid?”

Xia Chichi retorted: “There’s no one else here. Why should I indulge you?”

“If you don’t get into character now, you’ll slip up in front of others. I might as well report back to the Venerable and cancel this mission.”

“...” Xia Chichi swallowed her pride: “Your Highness, a thief has entered the house. Let me drive him away for you.”

The little palace maid clenched her fists and charged at the thief, only to be caught and held in his arms the next moment—a free gift.

Huangfu Qing: “?”

Damn it. She had wanted to snub him for going to Tang Wanzhuang first, but this traitor just surrendered, making the whole cold-shoulder pointless.

The Four Symbols Sect had no family honor.

“Why are you here?” Zhao Changhe had no mind for such romantic entanglements: “This outfit... you plan to see him?”

“I don’t know... I don’t know what meaning there is in seeing him.”

Zhao Changhe didn’t know either. He didn’t even know what meaning there was in seeing Xia Longyuan, but he just wanted to see him, or he’d feel stifled.

Maybe that was husband and wife sharing the same heart.

“Bang!” The sound of a teacup slamming onto the table jolted them awake. They turned to see Huangfu Qing’s face like frost: “Zhao, is this how men act once they’ve gotten what they want?”

The jealousy was so open, so unrestrained, so righteous—much more satisfying than when she was the Vermilion Bird. Huangfu Qing suddenly felt great!

Zhao Changhe quickly said: “It’s just that Chichi’s matter is a bit sensitive...”

"Sensitive? What's sensitive? Are you referring to certain parts of her body?"

The old woman who had been through things was brazen with her dirty jokes. Xia Chichi's face flushed red, and she was about to retort when she heard Huangfu Qing continue: "It's just a matter of background, isn't it? What, are you dropping the act now? Openly revealing before me that Xia Longyuan's true child is the Saintess? Or do you think you've got me figured out, that I won't leak this?"

Zhao Changhe sighed: "Since the Vermilion Lord allowed Chichi to enter the palace with you, he must have already known. But I didn't expect the Vermilion Lord to be so magnanimous, knowing that Chichi is his child, yet showing no suspicion at all."

Huangfu Qing felt even more pleased. Of course the Vermilion Lord had magnanimity, foresight, and breadth of mind. Praise him a bit more, quickly.

Then Zhao Changhe continued: "Actually, by now, I think there's no point in hiding this identity anymore."

Huangfu Qing was somewhat curious this time: "Why?"

Zhao Changhe said calmly: "If he doesn't die, no one can do anything. If he dies, with the current instability of Great Xia, no matter who becomes the crown prince, they won't be able to hold the realm. At that point, who ascends has nothing to do with this identity; only by having strong troops and horses can one achieve it."

Huangfu Qing looked at him quietly for a while, then suddenly said: "Did you awaken something after pinning down the Spirit Clan's Saintess in Miaojiang and playing with her?"

Zhao Changhe was stunned: "You... how do you know?"

"Pfft, the judgment of the Chaos Chronicle on Xiang Simeng—anyone who knows you and knows you were in Miaojiang would understand what that's about."

Zhao Changhe was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Maybe it's related... but more importantly, I can't stand it anymore."

Huangfu Qing smiled brightly: "I knew it. You were destined to be the Room Fire Pig of the Four Symbols Sect."