Chapter 466

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Chapter 466: The One I Love

"Miss Nalan occasionally has moments of humor."

Chao Lu giggled nervously, slightly sensitive about the topic of the mistress, she didn’t want to think too much about it or bring it up.

"I’m not joking, I think during the day and dream at night." Nalan Qingshu’s tone sounded like teasing, but also somewhat serious.

Chao Lu shook her head gently, "It’s more like a memory than a dream…"

She felt like it was something that had actually happened in the past, like someone intentionally mentioning an ancient fable to imply something.

While eating her midnight snack, Nalan Qingshu picked up a spicy skewer and took a bite. The fiery color alone made it seem like it could set a person’s mouth on fire, even the spiciest traditional Sichuan food had to be carefully considered if one could handle it or not, sometimes it was too much for humans to bear… like a ridiculously spicy egg tart.

However, it had no effect on Bi Fang, she ate these foods like snacks, purely breaking down the food into energy. The spiciness was a kind of pain stimulus, the subtle stimulation it brought to her taste buds made her feel endless pleasure.

"Princess Chao Lu, you must learn to cherish those in front of you. Human lives are short, compared to the demon clan, they are like the white dew in the night at dawn. If you don’t hold it in your hands, it will quickly return to the earth and dissipate in the air."

Nalan Qingshu’s personality definitely resembled her mother, but the younger ones who were more stable generally hadn’t experienced the blows of society or the passage of time. It was like a child imitating the way adults walked, fundamentally it was a superficial imitation. So, when faced with girls of the same age, she couldn’t help but speak in a more lively tone and chat about things unrelated to the cause of restoring the country.

She chatted confidently, "Treasure those who treasure you, it’s such a rare match."

Chao Lu couldn’t help but laugh and cry, "Does Miss Nalan also have a suitable partner?"

"No," Nalan Qingshu shook her head.

"Have you ever had a childhood sweetheart?"

"No, never."

Chao Lu asked helplessly, "Who taught you these things? Without experiencing it yourself, it’s difficult to understand my current feelings."

Nalan Qingshu was stunned, then her eyes showed hurt and she said, "I’ve heard of this before, are you referring to Versailles?"

Chao Lu asked, "What is Versailles?"

"It means showing off your outstanding qualities in a roundabout way, that’s what Versailles is," Nalan Qingshu said with a disdainful expression, "I don’t have the good luck of Princess Chao Lu, I’m just a real princess of a lost kingdom."

Chao Lu sensed the displeasure and distance in the other person’s tone, so she reluctantly explained with a bitter smile, "I’m sorry… that’s not what I meant. I meant that there really is nothing between me and Young Master Bai. I don’t really understand his intentions… I don’t know why he has helped me so much. How can I repay his kindness?"

Chao Lu looked at Nalan Qingshu, the almost-dead princess and the true-dead princess stared at each other.

Nalan Qingshu asked, puzzled, "Did you not sleep with him?"

The shocking sentence left Chao Lu speechless, how could such a young girl speak such mature words?

Bi Fang took a bite of chili, chewed it, and then tilted her head in a strange way. "What are you surprised about? Isn’t it normal for men and women to do these things?"

Chao Lu regained her senses and nodded gently. "What you said… though not entirely correct, is also not wrong."

The words of children are often simple and straightforward, and can directly point to the essence without any complications.

Nalan Qingshu was not young anymore. She had learned extensively from Master Nalan Jinghuai, the master of strategies, and had some of Yuan Tianjian’s teachings as well. She may not have traveled thousands of miles, but she had read countless books. However, she lacked practical experience, so her understanding of worldly matters remained childish. Whether it was from books or from children, she couldn’t comprehend matters of the heart.

"I don’t understand," Nalan Qingshu shook her head and said, "But my mother told me that when she married my father, she didn’t think much about it. They just liked each other and took care of what needed to be done. Then I came along. She didn’t care if the situation was suitable or not, even when many opposed it. Instead, she shut them up with the words, ‘It is difficult to raise women and small-minded men.’"

Chao Lu couldn’t help but smile as she listened to these amusing stories. She said, "After all, your mother and I are different."

"That’s because my mother’s love is always by my side, even when words fail."

"Miss Nalan…"

"Alright, alright, I won’t say it. Let’s not hit someone’s face." Nalan Qingshu acted serious for three seconds, then asked again, "Do you like him?"

Chao Lu didn’t want to talk, but she had to chat with the young girl, so as not to make it too unpleasant.

However, Nalan Qingshu didn’t let her off, and continued, "Put yourself in my shoes, if it were me, I would definitely like him."

Chao Lu said, "Do you like this person or do you like his sword?"

Princess Bai Ze placed the Crouching Tiger Sword on her knee, gently caressing the blade. She felt a slight prickling sensation on her fingertips, like stroking a tiger’s mane.

The Crouching Tiger Sword didn’t like her; every time she tried to resist, it failed. But she surprisingly liked this big cat, feeling calm and nostalgic while holding the sword. She wondered if this sense of nostalgia belonged to her or to the sword itself.

Nalan Qingshu stared at the sword. She had never witnessed Bai Wei drawing his sword, but she knew that the last time he did was at the Small Dragon River, where the river water flowed backwards for ten miles, and he killed the renowned Tiger Guards Commander with just two bamboo leaves.

She thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it’s a sword."

Nalan Qingshu is very honest. She wants a sword more than anything else. She doesn’t understand feelings, but with a sword, she will have a better chance of reclaiming her country.

"Aren’t you?" Nalan Qingshu asked again.

"I don’t know either," Chao Lu said sadly. "I can’t figure it out."

She needed to put hope in this sword, but she couldn’t tell if she cared more about the sword or about this people’s kindness.

Even when people try to offer her kindness, it often doesn’t mean much to her. Only the weight of this sword carries enough kindness for her to care.

But because it is so heavy, she can’t distinguish what this feeling is. Is it the heavy burden of gratitude or is it the destiny of love at first sight?

Chao Lu whispered, "I used to think, if it were possible… I wish I had met him earlier, when Bai Ze Kingdom was still blooming, before I had so many heavy responsibilities as Princess Bai Ze. If I were just myself, I could face my feelings more purely, and I wouldn’t be so conflicted."

Nalan Qingshu didn’t understand. "What is there to be conflicted about? Just be with him…"

Chao Lu frowned and said, "I can give my life to repay this favor, but there are some things I cannot do in the name of gratitude."

Little Bi Fang burped and breathed out a spicy flame. "You say one thing, but your face says another."

Chao Lu touched her cheek.

Because it’s him, it’s possible; but if it’s someone else, is it not possible?

Gratitude is gratitude, liking is liking. These two things should not be confused, but now it seems they are. So, how much gratitude is there, and how much liking?

"I think I understand a little now." Nalan Qingshu crossed her legs and said with an air of wisdom, "Princess Chao Lu, you can’t keep going like this… No wonder you’re having such dreams."

Chao Lu felt uncomfortable after being criticized and asked in return, "Where did the third person come from?"

…I realized later that the third person was actually me.

This is also one of the reasons she lacks confidence. What if she’s not the empress in her dreams, but a servant girl?

‘I won’t die, you are all still my subjects.’

Nalan Qingshu pointed at herself and asked, "Am I included?"

Chao Lu said calmly and seriously, "Do you want Young Master Bai to be executed by firing squad?"

The little girl sighed and said, "That’s true… I’m still too young. Maybe in another ten years."

"Guessing is just a waste of time, after all…" Chao Lu paused.

"After all, Young Master Bai didn’t say anything." Nalan Qingshu picked up the topic, "So you’re on the passive side?"

"I’m not." Chao Lu argued, she refused to admit this, she clearly took the initiative in everything.

"But you’re acting like you’re on the passive side." Nalan Qingshu wagged her index finger.

Chao Lu gently pressed her fingertips on the Crouching Tiger Sword’s blade, "A fallen princess and a soon-to-be fallen princess, who has the right to say these things?"

"I don’t, but you might." Nalan Qingshu asked strangely, "Who said a princess of a lost kingdom can’t pursue her own happiness? What do your loved ones think? My mother patiently raised me, she never said she would give up her own happiness and life."

"But you still chose the path of restoring the country." Chao Lu said slowly, "You and I are the same, please don’t blame me."

"We are not the same, because you have a choice, but I have no way out." Nalan Qingshu said calmly and resolutely, "If the restoration fails, I will die. But even if you lose your kingdom, you still have a place to return to. You might think you don’t, but you still do. Everything Young Master Bai has done is actually to help you understand, he also hopes you won’t die and is proving to you through actions that you are not alone. Even if in the end we fail and gain nothing, you can still restart your life."

Bi Fang asked, "You and I are like grasshoppers on the same rope. If I fail, I can die, but if you fail, are you willing to die? Or would you be able to bear seeing him die in front of your eyes?"

Chao Lu didn’t say anything, but her heart felt like it was being squeezed by a hand.

Nalan Qingshu held her cheek, "Isn’t this simple? If it’s just repaying a debt, why hesitate to die? This question isn’t really that hard."

One sentence enlightened them.

Chao Lu was lost in thought for a long time, then returned to reality.

Nalan Qingshu looked at the moonlight filling the room and said, "It’s pretending not to be moved that is fake. The eloquent ones have stirred up chaos with their tongues, the warriors have divided the world with their swords, and the ambitious ones emerge endlessly. Who doesn’t tread carefully as if on thin ice? But he dares to fight a whole country alone. In the past thousand years, how many people have been able to do that?"

Chao Lu suddenly felt a comforting sensation as she leaned back against the chair, gently caressing the Crouching Tiger Sword with her fingertips. It felt soft and smooth, like stroking a cat’s fur.

"The person I love is a remarkable hero."

Bi Fang: I feel sour.

She took a bite of something spicy to balance out the taste of lemon in her mouth.

With a quick glance, Nalan Qingshu suddenly noticed the ancient characters engraved on the Crouching Tiger Sword. She paused for a moment, feeling a sense of familiarity with the words.

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