Queen O's Timid Fugitive A - Chapter 6

6

The summer heat was stifling. At noon, the scorching sun hung high in the sky, and the bamboo forest below drooped listlessly. The occasional breeze did little to relieve the oppressive heat, instead making the discomfort even more unbearable.

—Knock, knock, knock!

A withered, bony knuckle rapped against the wooden door as an elderly woman spoke softly, “Master, Miss Zhile is here.”

“Understood,” came the reply from inside the room—a clear voice, though lacking vigor, as if the speaker had just recovered from a serious illness.

The sound of footsteps outside gradually faded away. Harsh sunlight streamed through the latticed window, illuminating the spacious room. A pale-faced young woman leaned against the headboard, her gaze distant, her expression dazed, lost in thought.

Perhaps the long-suppressed emotions, combined with someone’s malicious provocation, had made this rut period longer and more unbearable than before. Though the antidote was right at hand, neither side was willing to yield, each wielding a blunt knife to slowly carve into the other’s flesh until both were left wounded.

And now, the instigator had already fled over the wall two days prior. The collar, a symbol of humiliation, had been removed once more and hidden away in some secret corner of the room.

As for the bruises, they had faded somewhat over the past few days, enough to be concealed beneath high collars and long robes. Unless someone looked closely, the marks were barely noticeable.

With a close friend visiting, Jiang Ciqing could no longer hide in her room as she had these past few days. She sighed quietly, feeling as if the lingering scent of agave still clung to her lips, nose, and tongue.

Bare feet, veins faintly visible, stepped onto the wooden floor as she casually picked up a loose robe.

—Creak!

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Li Zhile, who had been sitting cross-legged by the tea table, turned her head with a hint of concern.

The pale-faced Alpha stepped inside, her black hair just brushing her shoulders, her slender back straight. Dressed in a moon-white robe with silver-threaded cloud patterns embroidered along the edges, she lifted her lashes—fan-like and dark as obsidian—dispelling any trace of melancholy. She was the very picture of elegance and grace, like an orchid or jade tree.

“Ciqing,” Li Zhile set down her white porcelain teacup, her expression tinged with worry.

Jiang Ciqing nodded slightly, then waved away the maids waiting by the door. She strode across the threshold and made her way directly to her friend.

The hardwood floor was covered with soft cushions, and a low, dark wooden table held a set of white porcelain tea utensils. Jiang Ciqing swept her sleeves aside and sat cross-legged opposite her friend, then raised her eyes with a smile. “Xiaoqinggan tea?”

Li Zhile had a sweet tooth. Though tea ceremonies were highly popular in Southern Liang, and she partook in the practice, she preferred teas with a mellow, sweet flavor—Xiaoqinggan being one of her favorites.

“You…” Li Zhile chuckled and shook her head, well aware that her friend was teasing her for pretending to enjoy tea when she didn’t truly care for it.

Without hesitation, she dumped out the tea her maid had brewed earlier and set the cup back on the table, shamelessly waiting for her host to serve her a fresh pot of Xiaoqinggan tea.

The two had known each other since childhood and regarded each other as closest friends, so there was little need for formalities.

Jiang Ciqing didn’t mind. She took out a dried tangerine peel, tore it into small pieces, and dropped them into the white porcelain cup before pouring in boiling water from the red-clay charcoal stove nearby.

In the blink of an eye, the water turned a deep red, and the rich, malty aroma of tea wafted through the air.

“The tea here really is the best,” Li Zhile praised after taking a sip, cradling the cup once more.

Jiang Ciqing rolled her eyes, refusing to accept such hollow flattery. There was no tea the Jiang family could buy that Li Zhile—the heir of a trading empire with caravans spanning three nations and one territory—couldn’t obtain.

Li Zhile grinned shamelessly, utterly unrepentant. Then, shifting the topic, she asked with concern, “What happened to you these past few days?”

“It’s nothing…” Jiang Ciqing paused, unwilling to elaborate.

Li Zhile frowned slightly but didn’t press further. “Your constitution is special. Every rut period makes you suffer more than others, and this time you inexplicably endured it for a few extra days…”

“A special constitution” was Jiang Ciqing’s excuse to the outside world—that suppressants only worked 70-80% on her, making her suffer more than other Alphas during this time.

“Maybe you should find an Omega,” her friend suddenly suggested, seemingly out of nowhere.

Startled, Jiang Ciqing’s hand jerked, nearly spilling the hot tea. She laughed helplessly. “What does finding an Omega have to do with anything?”

“Mark an Omega, and you won’t have to tough out your ruts anymore,” Li Zhile raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin on her face.

“Go away,” Jiang Ciqing retorted, waving a hand dismissively.

Li Zhile chuckled. Marking was a lifelong commitment, so she had only been joking out of concern for her friend.

Warm sunlight fell onto the tea’s surface, reflecting Li Zhile’s delicate, clean features. She often wore silver-rimmed round glasses on the bridge of her nose, and her cat-like green eyes gave no hint of her merchant family background. There was none of the shrewdness or calculation one might expect; instead, dressed in a white gown, she looked every bit the refined noblewoman who spent her days in a study.

For a while, the two sat in silence, gazing at the verdant forest outside the window until their teacups were empty.

“The grasslands of Northern Di are vast, and the roads are long, with wolves and bandits lurking about. Take this knife for protection,” Jiang Ciqing set down her cup and pulled a dagger from her wide sleeve, placing it on the table.

Li Zhile froze, then looked down. It was a straight dagger slightly longer than a palm’s width. To reduce weight, the handle was wrapped only in sturdy paracord, while the Damascus steel blade was straight and ornate, its sharp single edge and deep bl00d groove gleaming coldly.

Though she appeared gentle and scholarly on the surface, Li Zhile had been traveling with her father’s merchant caravans since she was thirteen. She had weathered sandstorms and towering waves, crossed deserts and grasslands—her bones steeped in wild, untamed bl00d. Combined with an Alpha’s innate reverence for strength, the sight of the dagger made her eyes light up with excitement. She immediately picked it up to examine it.

Overcome with excitement, the seemingly refined girl couldn’t help but curse in delight before asking, “Why the sudden gift? Aren’t you busy? I’ve heard the line of people begging you to forge blades stretches from Southern Liang to Eastern Xia. How did you find time to make one for me?”

The words were decidedly ungrateful.

Jiang Ciqing poured herself another cup of tea, ignoring the remark.

Li Zhile swung the dagger through the air a few times before realizing what she’d said. Smiling awkwardly, she scratched her head. “I didn’t mean to criticize. I just didn’t want to trouble you, so I never dared ask Master Jiang for a blade. Besides…”

She hesitated, then admitted sheepishly, “I actually came today to ask you for a knife.”

“Oh?” Jiang Ciqing raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Though they had been friends for years, Li Zhile had never taken advantage of their relationship to request a blade. This time, however, was different.

Setting the dagger down, Li Zhile grew serious. “Do you remember last year, when my caravan was ambushed by bandits on our way back from Eastern Xia?”

“Yes,” Jiang Ciqing nodded. This was precisely why she had decided to gift Li Zhile a self-defense weapon.

“The one who led troops to rescue me was General Chen Ya—the one requesting the blade now. I owe him a favor, so…”

She paused, her tone growing heavier. “You know how my Li family’s caravans span the imperial capital, with plenty of guards. Ordinary bandits steer clear of us.”

Another pause, then a vague addition: “The ones who attacked us… their skills and weapons were beyond what ordinary bandits could muster.”

Jiang Ciqing’s expression darkened as countless conjectures flashed through her mind.

Li Zhile smiled bitterly. “Even though the Li family keeps to trade and forbids its members from meddling in politics, some still can’t tolerate our existence.”

“General Chen was willing to send troops to save us under such circumstances. I can’t refuse his request. Besides…”

She clenched her teeth, a complicated emotion flickering in her eyes. “He wants the blade for the battlefield.”

“What?!” Jiang Ciqing’s head snapped up. Scalding tea splashed onto the back of her hand, but she barely felt it.

“Ciqing, Southern Liang is about to fall into chaos,” Li Zhile said grimly.

Silence fell between them.

Jiang Ciqing stared down at the dark red tea, her eyes unreadable.

To everyone, the impending war in Southern Liang was already an open secret.

The imperial capital was divided into three nations and one territory: Southern Liang, Eastern Xia, and Northern Di kept each other in check, while the barbarian lands—a constant threat harassing their borders—were kept in line by Xu Fusheng and his band of ruthless outlaws. Though the three nations despised Xu Fusheng, none dared send troops to eliminate him for fear of provoking the others. As long as the three nations remained inactive and the monstrous beasts of the barbarian lands were kept at bay, the imperial capital enjoyed unprecedented peace.

But all of this was shattered when Xu Fusheng pledged allegiance to Southern Liang.

Before this, the two had debated whether the ruler of Southern Liang would dare accept such a hot potato. The three nations were already hostile toward one another, their strengths evenly matched—any move would be costly.

Now, Xu Fusheng’s allegiance was a blatant declaration to the other two nations: Southern Liang is about to surpass you. After all, Xu Fusheng brought not only his elite soldiers—each capable of taking on ten—but also years of accumulated monster cores from the barbarian lands.

A regular blade could become a peerless weapon with just a sprinkle of monster core powder, capable of piercing even the toughest monster hides. With so many cores delivered to Southern Liang, how could the other two nations rest easy?

Add to that the fact that the Jiang family—renowned as the foremost blade-forging dynasty—was also in Southern Liang. It was the Jiangs who first discovered how to incorporate monster cores into blades, and their research in this field still far surpassed that of other smiths.

With materials and technology both on their side, accepting Xu Fusheng’s allegiance was tantamount to painting a target on Southern Liang’s back.

The two had theorized many scenarios but never expected the ruler of Southern Liang to accept the offer so readily.

“He’s grown old after all…” Jiang Ciqing murmured.

A fading emperor sought either the elusive promise of immortality or achievements that would immortalize his name.

But immortality was a fantasy, and compared to the accomplishments of his predecessors—Emperor Wu of Liang, who led armies to proclaim himself king; Emperor Ming of Liang, who persuaded the last ruler of the fallen dynasty to surrender and established the capital; or Emperor Wen of Liang, who stabilized the nation and encouraged technological progress—the fourth emperor had only mediocrity to his name.

So mediocre that court officials had long since chosen a crown prince, eagerly awaiting his death so they could install someone more capable.

“He’s in too much of a hurry…” Li Zhile added, then clarified, “He doesn’t have much time left.”

That was why he had so eagerly accepted the allegiance, desperate to secure a legacy before his death—even at the risk of destroying his nation.

“Tell General Chen to come see me in person. If he wants a blade, he’ll need to specify his requirements,” Jiang Ciqing shook her head, pushing these thoughts aside.

Seeing her agree, the worried Li Zhile finally brightened. “I’ll notify him as soon as I get back,” she said cheerfully.

Then, solemnly, she added, “Thank you, Ciqing.”

Jiang Ciqing waved her off. “None of that.”

Li Zhile grinned, tucking the gratitude away in her heart.