Chapter 3: Shou Ta Yi Bing "A Tale of Love and Loyalty"
FlamingoBees
Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)
Shou Ta Yi Bing "A Tale of Love and Loyalty"
Chapter 3:
Help!
Pei Qing ran out from the side door of Yang Ju Palace.
With Meng Chuang and the other Imperial Guards stationed at Yang Ju Palace, Xiao Jing still had a chance of survival. But in Han Ning Palace, only Zhi Lan and Xiao Ji'an were left. Distraught and panicked, Pei Qing nearly tripped over her own feet but refused to slow down. She discarded her usual grace and elegance and ran down the secluded path.
The cold wind and snow whipped against her face and neck, and the sounds of the battle on the other side of the palace walls were terrifyingly intense.
When she returned to Han Ning Palace, Zhi Lan was tightly shielding Xiao Ji An, who was holding a wooden sword. It was his practice weapon. Perhaps inheriting the talents of his mother and uncle, Xiao Ji'an had advanced far beyond his peers in his training.
Pei Qing had often thought that if her husband were well and if she were still alive, Xiao Ji An would have become a great emperor under their careful guidance.
But now, she knew that what she could only hope for was not the future of the crown prince or the great dynasty, but how to save this child’s life.
"Mother!" The palace was dim, with no lights burning, but Xiao Ji'an still saw the somewhat disheveled Pei Qing at a glance.
He broke free from Zhi Lan's grasp and ran over to throw himself into Pei Qing's arms. "Mother, don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you!"
The eyes that had dried from the cold wind were wet again.
"Your Majesty, we must escape quickly while the enemy hasn’t arrived yet!" Zhi Lan said urgently.
Pei Qing nodded, but before she could speak, an arrow shot through the air from outside the palace, barely missing Pei Qing’s head and embedding itself in the ground.
Zhi Lan screamed in fright, and the next moment, a swarm of soldiers poured into the palace, surrounding the three of them.
Loud laughter came from outside the palace: “The child is indeed here! The sword and spear are merciless—if anyone hurts the young prince, they’ll be punished!”
Pei Qing held Xiao Ji'an tightly in her arms and pulled Zhi Lan behind her for protection.
Stepping into the main hall of Han Ning Palace was a trusted confidant of Prince Xiao Yu of the Xiao clan. His sword was still dripping with blood, and his gaze, without restraint, moved slowly from Xiao Ji'an up to Pei Qing’s face.
Why were the past two Empresses of the Great Pei clan from humble backgrounds? Was it not because of their faces, which made every man who saw them harbor malicious thoughts, and their delicate figures hidden beneath the Empress's attire?
The naked and thinly veiled intent made Pei Qing's heart chill. At that moment, Zhi Lan rushed out from behind her and stood resolutely in front, shouting, “How dare you! This is Her Majesty the Empress, the mother of the nation! If you dare to act rashly, you will be condemned to extinction and face a wretched end!”
Xiao Ji'an looked up in confusion, not understanding why Zhi Lan, who usually spoke softly to him, was now shouting fiercely.
But the soldiers were not children and would not be deterred by a mere maid. The leader of the group wiped the blood from his knife and raised it high, shouting, “How dare a lowly maid interfere in matters of men!”
Pei Qing's heart trembled as she screamed and tried to pull Zhi Lan away. The men's laughter and the woman's cries were intertwined as the blade descended without hesitation.
Everyone was shocked by the loyalty between the mistress and her maid. Pei Qing was protecting the prince, which was understandable, but now she was also shielding a maid. The onlookers murmured, expecting the blade to sever Pei Qing’s arm.
Unexpectedly, there was a loud crash as the big knife was thrown away. Then, a muffled groan followed, and the large man at the door collapsed to the ground.
An arrow had pierced through the back of his head, exiting from his forehead. The sharp tip was stained with red blood and white...
Pei Qing quickly covered Xiao Ji'an's eyes.
In the dusk, with the blizzard raging outside Han Ning Palace's main hall, a figure lowered his bow and crossbow.
The sky was too dark for Pei Qing to see the person’s face clearly, but she could tell he was riding a tall warhorse, his figure imposing and exuding a menacing aura.
Is... is it him?
But the man, despite seeing the Empress and the young prince in Han Ning Palace, remained mounted on his horse and lazily issued the command, “Arrest them.”
Hearing his voice, Pei Qing shivered, but the renewed sounds of battle made her focus on other matters. Prince Yu's men, who had been so confident just a moment ago, were now dead, their bodies horribly mutilated within the Han Ning Palace.
The two women and the child huddled in a corner until the entire hall fell silent.
At this point, a thin man threw aside a bloody knife and stepped forward. “The enemies in Han Ning Palace have been dealt with. Your Majesty and the young prince need not fear.”
“Thank you, thank you very much.” Zhi Lan helped Pei Qing to her feet. Pei Qing adjusted her skirt and bowed to the man along with Xiao Ji'an and Zhi Lan.
The man was taken aback and quickly took a few steps back. “Your Majesty, please do not bow!”
Pei Qing gently replied, “The grace of saving our lives must be acknowledged. May I ask who you are?”
The man wiped the sweat from his face and bowed to Pei Qing. “I am Chu Li, the General of the South River Army, sent by Prince Nan Chuan to protect the Empress and assist in the defense.”
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
•••
https://ko-fi.com/flamingobeestranslations
https://twitter.com/FlamingoBee2009
Thank You For Reading <3
Comments
Post a Comment
What did you think of this chapter?