After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 104

The candlelight flickered as Qun Qing followed the woman upstairs into a second-floor room. The guard at the door blinked, his expression changing at once—for the moment this young woman brushed past him, the short blade at his waist had already been silently taken by her.

The cold edge of the blade pressed against Qun Qing’s arm as she concealed it in her sleeve. This was a reflex born of her years as a covert agent—when facing the unknown, a hidden weapon was her only assurance.

She sensed a trap, yet couldn’t bring herself to give up the lead about her mother. So when she saw Fang Xie, she didn’t say a word.

“Sister.”

The young man in jade crown and embroidered robe before her, Fang Xie—was none other than the Young Emperor of Southern Chu, Ling Yunuo. The guards behind him had already sealed the door, cutting off her path.

Qun Qing sobered completely. A cold sweat dampened her palms. So it was true, the Yunzhou Governor had colluded with Southern Chu.

Fang Xie’s slightly melancholic peach-blossom eyes gleamed under the candlelight as he quickly stepped forward and took her sleeve. Someone had already handed him the sachet. He placed it carefully into her hand.

“Sister, take this. This is the needlework that Aunt Zhu Ying made for you. I told you before, but you didn’t believe me. Is this enough sincerity now?”

Qun Qing lowered her eyes to the sachet, the little embroidered rabbit holding a peach reminded her of the birthday gift her mother never finished. Her nose tingled.

“Where is my mother?”

“Still in Southern Chu’s Ministry of Rites,” Fang Xie replied after a pause. “I’ve spent this time familiarizing myself with state affairs and have cleaned out the Crown Prince Zhao’s faction. Everything is finally in order. Sister, come back with me.”

Qun Qing clutched the sachet and asked, “Does the Zen Master know you’re here?”

Fang Xie froze for a second, then said, “I’m now in charge. I hold full authority. I no longer need anyone’s permission to decide who stays by my side. Sister, come back with me. You’ll never have to do dangerous missions again. Stay with Aunt Zhu Ying, live as a proper daughter. Why endure the pain of being separated from your mother?”

She faltered briefly. But scenes from her past life, the fall of Southern Chu, the chaos in Chang’an—flashed across her mind. Though the memories had begun to fade, one thing remained clear: her rank, her unfinished duties in Shangfu Bureau. She quickly regained her composure.

The Zen Master would never allow her existence. And she would not gamble her life and freedom.

“I’m already married,” Qun Qing said.

Fang Xie suddenly looked at her with a pained expression in his eyes. 

“Sister, you’re not… You can’t be married. You said you’d always stay with me.”

She had once thought that way, before leaving the palace. Now, all she wanted was to slap her younger self.

Suddenly, Fang Xie grabbed her wrist, feeling for her pulse.

That cold touch jolted a memory from her mind: Lu Huating taking her hand and guiding her to sit by the bed. Before she could react, she instinctively pulled back. She had been distracted.

“Sister, you haven’t consummated the marriage. So-called matrimony is just a stopgap,” Fang Xie said. “Even if you truly did marry, I wouldn’t care.”

Qun Qing slapped him.

“Do you know how hard it was in the palace? How many days and nights I dreamed of seeing you? I remember that day we took shelter from the rain in a cave, how you laid your cloak over my face, how it smelled of you. Why was it, of all people, you and I met when I left the temple?” Fang Xie looked down at her. “If others can marry you, why can’t I?”

At that moment, a guard pushed the door open. “The Zen Master is coming upstairs.”

The guards’ expressions tightened. Fang Xie’s face changed.

Qun Qing hadn’t expected the Zen Master to be here. Judging by their expressions, Fang Xie had acted without informing him. That meant the Zen Master didn’t know Qun Qing was here—and it was impossible to predict what she would do.

Fang Xie hesitated, still gripping her hand, as if making a decision. But Qun Qing could already hear a group of footsteps approaching the door.

To protect her life, she decisively shoved Fang Xie away and ducked under the grand canopy bed.

Just then, the door swung open.

Through the narrow gap between the bed curtains, Qun Qing saw the Zen Master enter.

She had only ever heard of the Zen Master—leader of Southern Chu’s covert agents. From An Lin, she’d learned how ruthless the Master was when punishing traitors. But this was her first time seeing him in person.

The Zen Master was smaller than the average man, his embroidered robes loose on his frame. A black veil covered his face, and his voice was barely audible. She ignored Fang Xie entirely, as if sensing something amiss. Her gaze swept the room and slowly approached.

Qun Qing held her breath. Thankfully, the Zen Master stopped several steps away and adjusted the bed drapes caught on something.

His shoes appeared just beneath Qun Qing’s lowered gaze. And upon seeing the golden chrysanthemum embroidered on them, Qun Qing froze slightly.

They were embroidered shoes.

The Zen Master was a woman.

A beat later, Qun Qing froze again. She saw a captive woman being brought in with her hands tied behind her, pregnant, and familiar.

It was none other than Xiao Yunru, who should have been aiding in the disaster relief.

Xiao Yunru’s eyes held a steadfast resolve. She didn’t plead, yet the dampness of her hair and her faint, hurried breathing revealed that she was clearly unwell.

Qun Qing looked at her belly and felt a trace of worry.

They lifted Xiao Yunru again, wrapping her in a heavy cloak, as if preparing to take her away.

If they were to abduct the princess consort of Prince Yan to Southern Chu, Li Huan would surely bear the grudge, vowing to repay Southern Chu someday.

Once the Zen Master had left, Fang Xie quickly approached and helped Qun Qing up.

“If I go with you, how can you ensure the Zen Master won’t discover me?” Qun Qing asked in a low voice.

Fang Xie said, “We’ll change your clothes and have you ride in the same carriage with me. There will be dark guards accompanying us. Nothing will happen to Sister.”

“I want to ride with Princess Consort Yan,” Qun Qing replied. “I heard her say she intended to stay behind as a threat to Prince Yan. The Zen Master will definitely leave her alive; if Prince Yan’s forces come after us, her carriage will be the safest.”

“Will His Highness inform the Zen Master?”

“No need,” Fang Xie looked at her with hesitation and said, “As long as Sister doesn’t lie to me.”

Qun Qing let him drape her in an outer robe, blindfold her, and lead her through corridors—downstairs, then back up—until the snort of a horse signaled their destination. Fang Xie gave her a gentle push, indicating she could board.

As Qun Qing climbed into the carriage, she felt a sharp gaze pierce through her. It was the Zen Master, seated on horseback. She seemed to sense something and turned her head. Thankfully, Qun Qing slipped into the carriage quickly, and she made no further move.

Inside, a secret guard assigned to watch over Xiao Yunru was caught off guard. Startled, he sprang to attack but Qun Qing seized his wrist, slammed him down with the hilt of a knife, and quickly subdued and bound him under her weight.

Once it was done, she cast a glance at Xiao Yunru.

With movements that clean and efficient, her disguise was surely exposed.

Xiao Yunru shrank into the corner. Surprise flickered in her dark eyes, but it was mixed more with distraction than fear.

“Madam Qing…” she murmured.

Qun Qing began untying the rope around her own wrists, only to realize she was clutching a silver hairpin. The pin had sliced into her skin; bl00d now dripped silently down her sleeve.

When Qun Qing saw the bl00d staining her belly, she instantly felt faint and clammy with sweat. She quickly tore her clothes to bandage the wound and stop the bleeding.

“Princess, why would you go this far? We’re not at a dead end yet.”

Xiao Yunru’s voice was weak but clear. 

“Official Liu must be colluding with Southern Chu. Taking me hostage is part of their scheme. If negotiations with Sanlang fail, he’ll hand me over to Southern Chu, then allow Yunzhou to descend into chaos—only to later pretend he’s suppressing a rebellion. It’s a classic case of a thief crying ‘thief’—they’ll frame Prince Yan and me as victims of the unrest. For Southern Chu, killing Sanlang and capturing me both work in their favor for the coming war.”

Her eyes turned glassy. 

“Even if I can’t help Prince Yan’s household, I refuse to become a burden.”

In peaceful times, Xiao Yunru was always poised and dignified. But now, hidden away in a carriage, she seemed weary and defeated, so unlike her usual self. Qun Qing found it strange and gently grasped her hand.

“Why do you belittle yourself?” she asked. “The Princess is not just a figurehead—Prince Yan’s household needs you. How could you call yourself a burden? I came to save you.”

The light brushed against Qun Qing’s face, making her eyes seem brighter than usual. She looked down at Xiao Yunru’s belly with a sincere expression.

Xiao Yunru’s voice softened. “What is Madam Qing’s mother like?”

“She was kind,” Qun Qing replied simply.

“My mother passed away when I was three,” Xiao Yunru said softly. “All I remember is my grandfather’s second wife. Families like that may look refined on the surface, but beneath it, there’s constant conflict and tension.”

Qun Qing nodded. “You manage the inner palace, Princess. So, you should have know the palace isn’t any different.”

Xiao Yunru replied, “I did my best to keep the order in the inner palace. If things are clear and just at the higher authority, it sets an example for those beneath. I’ve suffered my share of injustice, but if I can protect others from going through the same, then I can at least be a mother figure to them.”

Her gaze shifted to her swollen belly. “But this child… I truly don’t know how to be a mother. Madam Qing, you shouldn’t have come to save me.”

Qun Qing had many questions, but there was no time. The carriage suddenly came to a halt. She peeked through the curtain. Ahead lay an open woodland, veiled in rolling mist and from within it, several carriages appeared like ghosts, blocking the way ahead.

Prince Yan and Lu Huating had caught up.

With the city gate token in Lu Huating’s hand, it hadn’t been difficult to track the Southern Chu convoy.

The two men stood still in the fog. Qun Qing’s heart tightened. She scanned their surroundings—dense trees on all sides. It was the perfect setup for an ambush.

Just as that thought crossed her mind, one of the carriages in the convoy slowly rolled out of formation and onto the grassy field. A secret guard from Southern Chu shouted from a distance, 

“Princess Consort Yan is in this carriage! If Prince Yan wants to save her, he’ll have to take her place!”

Before the words had even finished echoing through the fog, Qun Qing saw the curtain at the rear of their group part slightly. A pale hand emerged, gripping a bow. With a sharp twang, an arrow shot forward and struck the middle carriage with deadly precision. Bl00d sprayed into the air, and one of the wheels shattered. Lu Huating had just killed the decoy hostage with a single arrow.

Panic rippled through the Southern Chu camp before they could even react. But the hidden archer wasn’t done. Without hesitation, he adjusted his aim and loosed another arrow. This time, it flew straight toward the carriage carrying Fang Xie and the Zen Master.

Fang Xie managed to dodge the first shot, but before he could retaliate, another arrow whistled through the air and embedded itself in his hair. Even at such a long range, the archer’s aim was frighteningly precise. It came dangerously close to striking the young emperor.

That single arrow seemed to signal the start. From all sides of the forest, Southern Chu’s ambushers launched a volley of arrows, thousands of silver streaks tearing through the heavy fog like a storm of needles.

The ambush had clearly been laid to assassinate Prince Yan. As the barrage began to slow, Zhu Su and the others charged in with shields raised, clashing with Southern Chu’s secret guards in the chaos.

Qun Qing seized the moment. She slipped a whistling arrow from her sleeve and fired it through the curtain.

Jian Su caught sight of the blossoming signal overhead and his eyes widened. 

“That’s Madam Qing’s whistle arrow! Over there, in that carriage!”

A rider broke from the treeline.

It was Li Huan—already formidable on foot, but even more terrifying on horseback. He charged through the rain of arrows without flinching, a blade in hand and fury burning in his eyes, heading straight for Qun Qing.

The carriage curtain was flung open. Qun Qing instantly sensed the killing intent and shoved Xiao Yunru to the back. When she saw the veiled figure of the Zen Master climb inside, dread surged through her.

Fang Xie caught up quickly and grabbed the Zen Master by the arm, only to be struck across the face in a flash. He staggered back, covering his cheek, and was swiftly hauled away by two secret guards, his expression dark.

If Fang Xie hadn’t insisted on taking her, Qun Qing wouldn’t have had the chance to rescue Xiao Yunru. She couldn’t see the Zen Master’s face clearly, but the cold murderous aura rolling off her made it clear—she wanted her dead.

“Princess, get down and hold tight!” Qun Qing’s gaze flicked to the side, then lunged forward—just as the Zen Master shoved her out of the carriage. She hit the ground hard, rolled, and flung a hidden needle at the horse’s flank. As the carriage bolted toward Li Huan, she caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of her eye before turning her focus to the Zen Master.

She was incredibly skilled. Qun Qing barely managed a few moves before she was overwhelmed. Her gnarled fingers closed around her throat—calloused and strong, like rough vines coiling tighter and tighter, choking the breath from her lungs.

She reached for her hidden knife, but it had slipped from her sleeve in the scuffle. Before she could react, she saw a flicker of white light—the Zen Master had picked it up. She gripped the knife, tip pointed down. In a fight like this, even a split second’s delay could mean death.

At that moment, she thought she heard the faint jingle of a small bell. Her fingertips brushed against the sheep’s-head sachet that had fallen from the Zen Master’s body, and she instinctively clutched it.

She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but the Zen Master’s movements seemed to falter for a brief second—then the knife slipped from her hand.

Qun Qing closed her eyes. Her robes were soaked in cold sweat, and an uneasy feeling stirred in her chest. The blade had landed, half-buried in the grass, just inches from her neck.

Bl00d dripped onto the back of her hand—it was from the Zen Master’s shoulder. She’d been hit by an arrow.

Qun Qing didn’t waste time thinking. She snapped off the arrow shaft with her bare hands and shoved her away. The Zen Master, clearly wounded, retreated. But before disappearing, she flung a handful of silver needles in a final counterattack, then rolled and scrambled onto a carriage with the Southern Chu forces.

Jian Su rushed over and helped Qun Qing to her feet. She looked toward Prince Yan, who was now surrounded by several guards, and asked urgently, 

“What happened to His Highness?”

“When he was rescuing the Princess, he was struck by one of Southern Chu’s hidden weapons,” Jian Su replied. “The physician managed to stop the bleeding. Don’t worry, my lady.”

Qun Qing made her way toward the carriage. Lu Huating stood nearby, watching her silently, his black and white eyes fixed on her face, expressionless.

She hesitated. How could she explain why she had been in the Southern Chu convoy? A sudden thought crossed her mind—did he suspect she had colluded with them and caused Prince Yan’s injury?

But Lu Huating said nothing. Instead, he turned, took the bundle of brocade from Jian Su’s arms, and said softly, 

“Please load the remaining ten bolts onto the carriage for the lady.”

Qun Qing glanced at him. 

“Did you win the wager?”

Lu Huating paused, then the corner of his mouth lifted.

“I have never lost.”