Chapter Three:
The Runaway Bride Meets the Blind Servant
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After lunch, Xiaoniao rushed back to his yard. His face looked horrified, and he seemed like he might pass out at any moment. Zhuque, who had been sleeping in the hay, woke up and nestled on his shoulder.
"How did it go?" Zhuque asked as Xiaoniao paced around his room anxiously.
"It turned out to be horrible!" Xiaoniao exclaimed.
Zhuque watched silently.
"I don't have much time left. Tomorrow, before sunrise, the emperor will leave the Central Plain Nation to return to the North Nation. If I don't run away tonight, I won't have another chance. Zhuque, I need to escape tonight," Xiaoniao said as he started grabbing some things and filling his bag with items he thought he would need.
"Oh yeah? And how are you planning to do that? The whole place is heavily guarded, and there are a ton of imperial guards outside. I flew around as you said, and it wouldn't be easy to get out without anyone noticing," Zhuque said, observing Xiaoniao's frantic movements.
"It's alright; I already know what to do, so don't worry. But for now, I have a job for you," Xiaoniao said, and the bird blinked its eyes, feeling uneasy.
So, that's how the poor bird ended up hanging upside down from a maple tree branch, with its left leg tied with a small thread. The annoyed bird glared at its owner, who was hiding behind a large water jug, giving an exaggerated thumbs-up and a huge smile.
The bird just rolled its eyes. Xiaoniao's "smart" plan was to attract the attention of one of the servant boys who was cleaning in Concubine Mengtao's yard.
Based on what Xiaoniao said, one of the boys, named Lixin, is Xiaoniao's friend and the one who often takes good care of him. But recently, Lixin got punished, not because he did something wrong, but because he took the punishment that was meant for Xiaoniao.
Xiaoniao stole one of the rice cakes from the kitchen, and those rice cakes were specially made for Concubine Mengtao. In reality, Concubine Mengtao urged Xiaoniao to steal it so she could have a valid reason to beat him. Sadly, Lixin didn't give her that satisfaction because he knew how rotten she was. As Xiaoniao's caretaker, he begged the Sect leader to punish him instead. In anger and disappointment, Concubine Mengtao punished him with 50 lashes and starved him for a day.
This punishment was actually normal for Lixin, as it had happened several times over the past few years, and he had lost count.
Lixin had been a companion to Xiaoniao since they were children. However, in Xiaoniao's last life, he had been ignorant of that fact and hadn't recognized Lixin's existence until five years later, when Lixin vowed to accompany him on his deathbed. By then, Xiaoniao considered him a sworn brother, along with Yangfan.
Similar to Xiaoniao, Lixin was also born with White Qi and blind.
He didn't remember much about his childhood with his parents. All he remembered was that when he was four or five years old, Young Master Peng bought him from a brothel and took him as his disciple. Life wasn't always kind, and when Lixin was almost six, his master died. Lixin vowed at his master's grave that he would protect his little master.
Xiaoniao's eyes welled up with tears as he saw a young man, not older than him, with pale mahogany-colored hair tied in a high ponytail, wearing a white bandage over his eyes. This young man gently swept the pavement, moving gracefully, like a bamboo swaying in the wind.
Xiaoniao couldn't help but clench his fists. He wouldn't leave his big brother Lixin behind. Despite his blindness, Lixin had excellent hearing, which allowed him to move around confidently.
When Lixin heard a strange rustling of leaves and a weak bird's tweet, he set down his broom and followed the sound. It led him to a small bird that some disciples had been playing with. Disappointed, Lixin untied the bird and set it free. He knew that strong people often bullied the weak, and this little bird reminded him of his little master.
Lixin gently held the bird in his palm, reassuring it that it was safe now. The bird chirped happily before flying away.
As Lixin heard noises behind him, he called out, "Who's there? Show yourself."
Xiaoniao, who had joyfully jumped out from behind a large water jug, ran over and hugged Lixin. Lixin's sensitive nose caught a familiar fruity scent, telling him exactly who the other person was.
"Little Master? What are you doing out here? Weren't you supposed to be accompanying His Majesty?" Lixin asked.
At the mention of that man, Xiaoniao's face soured. That man had done something inappropriate earlier, squeezing Xiaoniao's buttocks before walking away as if he hadn't done anything wrong.
'how disgraceful for an emperor!'
"Never mind about it, Senior Brother. The lunch meeting ended not too long ago, so I came here to see how Senior Brother is doing," Lixin smiled and patted Xiaoniao's head.
Xiaoniao's eyes twinkled like a puppy being petted. "This brother is doing fine, but A'Niao shouldn't provoke Concubine Mengtao anymore, okay? She came back today in a very bitter mood."
Xiaoniao sweatdropped. There was no way he would show his face in front of her, especially since he might be the cause of her bad mood.
"Actually, Brother Lixin, this is what actually happened..." Xiaoniao pulled Lixin aside, and both squatted behind a large water drum. He began telling Lixin what had happened that day and his plan to run away. Lixin listened attentively, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, which made Xiaoniao anxious.
"I see... Then how can I help the Little Master?" Lixin asked. Xiaoniao shook his head and held Lixin's hand.
As expected, Senior Brother never let him down. "Can Senior Brother accompany me? A'Niao is a little fool and will probably get lost or eaten by wild spiritual beasts, so A'Niao wants Senior to accompany him," he said in a childish voice, since Lixin couldn't see him making puppy eyes.
Xiaoniao couldn't directly tell Lixin that he wanted to bring him along to with him, as Lixin would flatly refuse, citing that he didn't want to burden the Little Master. So instead, Xiaoniao used the excuse of needing supervision, along with a cute voice, and, as expected, it worked. Lixin agreed.
If the Little Master ended up marrying the Emperor and becoming Empress, there were two possible outcomes: a life of suffering or a good life. If Xiaoniao could retain the Emperor's favor, he would live a good life. This was something Lixin wished for the Little Master to achieve. However, given Xiaoniao's condition, it would be disadvantageous, and he might end up suffering. It was better if his Little Master could live a normal life, away from suffering, and Lixin knew exactly where they should go.
"Alright, Little Master should meet me behind the disciplinary hall tonight," Lixin said.
***
Xiaoniao cautiously poked his head outside his door, and as expected, he spotted several imperial guards and shadowy figures lurking nearby. They hadn't been there when he ventured out earlier in search of Lixin, but now, upon his return, they awaited him anxiously.
The leader of the guards explained that the Emperor had ordered them to monitor Xiaoniao in case there was an "attempt murder" on the soon-to-be-crowned Empress. Xiaoniao couldn't help but curse inwardly. If they wanted murder, then so be it; he was ready to provide it.
Everything was already set according to his plan, and it would serve as a fitting parting gift for Concubine Mengtao. Xiaoniao changed his appearance to that of an assassin, dressed in all black, and concealed himself behind the door. He signaled for Zhuque to play his part.
Using the scent of Illusional flowers he had harvested from the backyard garden, Xiaoniao threw his outer robe to Zhuque, creating the illusion of himself standing there. This would help craft a convincing scene of an attack and kidnapping by an assassin.
After a few throat-clearing coughs and testing his voice repeatedly until Xiaoniao deemed it sufficiently pitiful, he screamed, "Ahhh! Help! Someone is trying to skin me alive! Ahhh!"
Hearing the soon-to-be Empress being under attack, the imperial guards rushed in. Suddenly, a mysterious figure in black clothing attacked them. His face was obscured, and he carried a large sword on his back. Instead of fighting them, he splashed an unknown powder on their faces and swiftly left through an open window, carrying the unconscious Xiaoniao in his arms. The Imperial guards attempted to catch him, but they lost track of him in the dense woods.
Once Xiaoniao was certain that there was no one chasing him, he quickly shed his clothes and changed into the outer disciple's uniform. He donned a mask and instructed Zhuque to inform Lixin that he would meet him in half an hour.
Xiaoniao made his way to the kitchen hall, and it happened to be perfect timing as the chef asked him to deliver desserts to Concubine Mengtao's quarters. Without hesitation, he complied. Upon reaching Concubine Mengtao's quarters, he noticed that no one else was around. Only a lone maid remained, who informed him that the lady was taking a bath in the hot spring, and the other servants had followed her. With a nod, Xiaoniao entered the room.
He placed the tray of desserts on the table and surveyed the surroundings. Once he was certain that there was no one nearby, he approached the woman's vanity table. Xiaoniao carefully selected some of her jewels and her most cherished hairpin, which Sect Leader Shen had given her as a token of love.
A look of disgust crossed Xiaoniao's face as he completed his pilfering. He stashed all the items he had taken inside a hidden pouch in his sleeves. Before leaving, he retrieved a neatly folded letter. Xiaoniao toyed with it for a moment, crumpling it slightly, before placing it on the woman's desk, amidst a pile of books and scattered papers.
As he exited the room, he passed by the maid. He glanced at her briefly before flicking his finger. The woman collapsed to the ground. Xiaoniao continued on his way as if nothing had happened.
A few moments later, when the maid regained consciousness, she couldn't remember what had occurred just minutes earlier. She shrugged it off and resumed her duties as though nothing out of the ordinary had taken place.
After leaving Concubine Mengtao's quarters, Xiaoniao's next destination was one of the disciple's rooms. This particular disciple was known for frequently bullying him. What made matters worse was that this disciple was having an affair with Concubine Mengtao, despite the 15-year age gap between them. Xiaoniao clenched his fists as unpleasant memories resurfaced.
In his previous life, Xiaoniao had been accused of committing adultery with one of the Imperial guards. This accusation led to further disdain from the emperor, and to punish him, Concubine Mengtao had suggested the gruesome idea of dismembering Xiaoniao. To seek forgiveness for their sect's mistake, Sect Leader Shen sent his daughter as act of repent to the emperor.
Xiaoniao had been completely unaware of their plan until his death. In this life, he was determined to ensure that Concubine Mengtao face the same fate.
He envisioned the shock and shame she would feel when everyone discovered that the woman with the pristine image of a wife was, in fact, a rotten person involved with a younger man.
Upon entering the disciple's room, Xiaoniao discovered that the disciple was nowhere to be found. He discreetly placed a bag beneath the person's bed and removed some of the stolen jewelry, tucking it under the pillow.
"Oi! Wake up! The sect leader has ordered us to gather in the meeting hall. There's news of an assassin getting in!" Suddenly, a knock from another disciple startled him.
It appeared that his plan had worked. The commotion he had caused would buy him enough time to make his escape.
The disciple knocked a second time, but with no response, he eventually decided to leave. When no one was around, Xiaoniao sneakily slipped out of the room. He was on his way to the meeting area when he suddenly spotted the Bamboo Yard.
This was where the emperor currently resided. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should go in to check on the egg. In the end, he decided to enter, just in case. When he confirmed that the emperor was nowhere to be seen, he slipped in through the window.
Xiaoniao cautiously looked around until his eyes fell upon the egg resting atop the bed, cradled in a red satin fabric. Taking a deep breath, he approached the egg. Each step seemed to slow as he reached the egg, and he crouched down, a sad smile on his face as he gently took the egg into his arms.
"A'xiao," he softly called, and the egg seemed to emit a bright glow as if in response to his call.
"Forgive mommy, okay? Mommy has to leave, and I can't take you with me. But don't worry, mommy will be okay, and so will you. You might not even remember mommy when you grow up, but I hope you can find a better mommy than me. Maybe, next time, we can meet each other again. But for now... goodbye," Xiaoniao bid farewell to A'xiao before kissing it. Unbeknownst to him, he accidentally transferred some of his qi to the egg.
Xiaoniao carefully placed the egg back in the basket and left. Unbeknownst to him, the egg began emitting a golden light and started growing bigger.
When he arrived at the meeting place, Lixin was already there with Zhuque resting on his shoulder.
"Senior brother," Xiaoniao said.
"Um... Here, I've got everything we need ready. Also, there's a horse waiting for us at the end of the woods, along the path we will take to reach the Frost Gate Outpost, where we'll stay for the time being," Lixin explained.
In this world, there were five nations, each represented by five sects, named after the direction they belonged to. Xiaoniao's birth nation was the Central Nation, located in the central borderland between the North, South, East, and West nations. Besides these five nations, there were also four independent cities, each located in the borderlands of the respective sects. For instance, there was the Frost Gate Outpost, nestled in the frigid foothills, guarding the passage between the North and West Nations. Its people were hardy and skilled in mountain survival.
Unlike the five nations, the Borderlands cities had no sects, so they relied on neighboring nations for protection and other resources. Most of the inhabitants in these cities were powerless mortals, making it an inconspicuous place to hide.
In Xiaoniao case a place to hide for a runaway bride.
Nodding in agreement, Xiaoniao followed Lixin's lead. Lixin suggested they change their clothes to appear as merchants. With their attire adjusted, they continued their journey with high spirits.
"By the way, Zhuque, I forgot to ask," Xiaoniao said.
"Asked what?" Zhuque replied.
"Are you a girl or a boy?" Xiaoniao asked.
"Isn't Zhuque your spiritual beast? How could you not know?" Lixin inquired.
"How would I know? I just got Zhuque this morning, and a lot of things have happened, so I forgot to ask," Xiaoniao explained.
Zhuque remained silent.
"Oh," Lixin acknowledged.
"So, what are you, Zhuque? A little wife or husband?" Xiaoniao teased.
Zhuque couldn't decide whether to cry or bonk Xiaoniao on the head. To end the conversation quickly, Zhuque clarified, "I can make other birds lay eggs, is that clear enough?"
Xiaoniao nodded his head. "Yes, I understand. You are a little wife."
That statement finally broke whatever restraint Zhuque had, and he vehemently corrected, "No, you little bird! I'm a male! A male!" And so, the argument continued for the rest of the night.
***
"Your Majesty, there's still no sign of His Majesty the Empress. All we found is this clothing not too far from the river," the Imperial guard bowed and presented the emperor with the piece of clothing Xiaoniao had worn when he was kidnapped. The emperor clutched the fabric tightly and smirked.
"Little wifey wants to play hide and seek, I see... alright. Husband will play along," Ju Long muttered, his eyes glistening with joy.
"Alright, I want you to conduct an investigation into who is behind the attempted murder of the Empress. Is it somehow connected to the Shen Family, given the treatment they gave him, they won't admit but base on their reaction i doubt" he muttered the last part
"I want the results by tomorrow, and I want to announce a decree that whoever can find the Empress's location will be greatly rewarded," Ju Long ordered. The imperial guard bowed his head and left.
"This Xiaoniao is pretty impressive. I did not expect him to dislike you this much and run away," the Prime Minister remarked, sitting leisurely and sipping tea. The emperor simply hummed happily and turned around, patting the infant-sized egg in his arms.
"This Xiaoniao is very entertaining." Ju Long Said.
Earlier, when he had visited the shack himself to see the crime scene, he noticed a faint smell of illusionary flower. Upon careful examination, he indeed found shredded petals among the hay. It might be impossible for a standard-level cultivator to notice, but for someone like Ju Long, who had already ascended to the Immortal Realm and received the blessing of the Dragon of the North, it was child's play.
When he returned to his temporary chambers, he could feel a distinct presence of someone who had been in the room not too long ago, and the sudden change in the egg confirmed his suspicions.
Without hesitation, Ju Long crouched down, gently placing the jade-white egg on the floor. It glistened as he patted it, wearing a smile.
"Make sure you bring back your mother to us," he said before opening the door, and the egg rolled around happily, reacting to the mention of 'mother'.
"Are you sure you're supposed to be sending out your son to find his mother?" The Prime Minister asked Ju Long, who just smirked.
"Kids without their mother get fussy. I don't want to be stressed," Ju Long replied, leaving the Prime Minister to roll his eyes.
***
Up next: That Fool is Wanted! Let the search began!
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*Note* this is Raw unedited chapter
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