Chapter 74 Fuci Bracelet

Since autumn, the weather in the Zhou Kingdom had remained warm.

When it was sunny, Su Su would fumble around in the cold palace. The cold palace had nothing, and the divine power of the World Toppling Flower in her blood was decreasing.

Curved Jade became her eyes, giving her directions and preventing her from stumbling and falling.

The World Toppling Flower was ruining her body, making her grow thinner and thinner.

Now, even the white palace-maid clothing looked a little loose on her body, and her waist was very slim.

There were many willow trees in the palace. In her leisure time, Su Su would walk out of the courtyard of the cold palace and break a few branches. When she returned, she would sharpen the willow branches to set up a formation.

To create a real divine marrow, she had to infuse the World Toppling Flower with yin Qi.

She didn’t know if it was just a coincidence, but whenever she went out to break the willow branches at dusk, she would always meet gossipy palace servants talking about the recently favored Madame Zhaohua.

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“Tkp Yyflpvu valyvp Yyeyxl Hbysbwy alyzzu olzz. R blyae vbyv vblpl rypv qlo eyup, vbl aloyaep pldv vs Yyeyxl’p ryzynl yal dlhla ldekdt.”

“Tyhld’v usw blyae vbyv kv oyp Tkp Yyflpvu obs rlapsdyzzu vssj nyal sq Yyeyxl Hbysbwy obld pbl oyp pknj.”

“G qlo eyup yts, Nkvvzl Fbwdgk xyel y xkpvyjl, Tkp Yyflpvu oyp qwakswp, cwv obld Yyeyxl rzlyele qsa xlanu, Tkp Yyflpvu kxxlekyvlzu pvsrrle clkdt ydtau.”

“Ohld vbl valypwal pldv cu Fbknby oyp wple cu Tkp Yyflpvu vs rzlypl Yyeyxl Hbysbwy!”

Mblka zywtbvla rldlvayvle vbaswtb vbl oyzz plryayvkdt vbl nsze ryzynl, yde ldvlale kdvs Fw Fw’p eyaj osaze.

Fw Fw blyae vblx xldvksd bla yp olzz——

“Mbld, obyv es usw vbkdj ycswv Tkp Yyflpvu’p valyvxldv vsoyaep vbyv rlapsd kd vbl nsze ryzynl?”

“Tla? R blyae vbyv kd vbl rypv, kd vbl Dky Oxrkal, Tkp Yyflpvu byvle bla vs vbl csdlp, yde dso, bl jllrp bla fwpv vs vsaxldv bla.”

“But before, she almost became the Empress.”

Someone sneered and said, “She’s blind now. If His Majesty really liked her, why didn’t he give the treasure of Shicha to her? In my opinion, His Majesty is disgusted by her.”

Su Su held a willow branch, seemingly lost in thought.

The autumn breeze blew past her plain dress. She supported herself on the palace wall and slowly walked back. Willow branches could attract yin Qi. She sat cross-legged and drew the yin energy of the cold palace into the World Toppling Flower in her left eye.

The yin Qi entered her body. It was so cold that she shivered, and her skin paled.

Day after day, Su Su gradually got used to it. Yin Qi entered the World Toppling Flower, and her eye no longer frequently bleed.

She knew that she would soon be free.

One night, she was sitting by the well washing her clothes.

Curved Jade suddenly said, “He’s here.”

Su Su’s movement paused, then she continued to wash. Tantai Jin came quietly without a sound. He hadn’t let anyone follow him, nor did he carry a glazed lamp, and he watched her from a distance.

The Emperor in black coldly watched as the thin young girl finished washing her clothes and walked past him holding a wooden basin.

It was quiet and dark in the cold palace, and, as if she was used to it, she walked by the well familiarly without needing help.

She looked quiet, and her vivid eyes didn’t seem to be blind at all.

The young girl didn’t seem to notice him. Seeing her about to walk into the house, Tantai Jin subconsciously followed her for a few steps.

Realising what he was doing, he stopped in his tracks and turned to walk away.

“He left,” Curved Jade said.

If it weren’t for Curved Jade, Su Su would never have known that he’d been here.

Six Soul Extinguishing Nails were nailed into his heart, completely transforming him into a piercingly cold person. If there really was a time when he was slightly out of control, it was probably once every two months when Su Su’s spring knot silkworm attacked.

He would always both snicker and force her to beg him.

When they were physically intimate, he would occasionally lose control, and couldn’t help but look at her in a daze. However, it was only for a brief moment before Tantai Jin regained his vicious self.

When he came, Su Su acted as if she was unaware, and did what she should do.

If it was before the Longevity Flower incident, she still had expectations of him, but now, her heart was barren without even a blade of grass. 

She was counting down the days, waiting for yin day yin hour.

*****

The eleventh month arrived, there would be a palace banquet soon, and Ye Bing Shang’s body had almost recovered.

The Longevity Flower had entered her body and her wound was all healed.

Xiao Hui helped dress her up. Looking at the delicate woman in the mirror, she couldn’t help but exclaim, “Madame is getting more and more beautiful. Who would’ve thought that the Longevity Flower would even cure Madame’s chronic illness.”

Now Ye Bing Shang looked pretty, with rosy lips and white teeth. She stroked her face and revealed a gentle smile.

Xiao Hui joyfully said, “Recently, His Majesty has been busy clearing up the remnants of the Eighth Prince, and soon the Zhou Kingdom will be completely peaceful. Madame, did you know that there will be a banquet at the palace in a few days, and that day is actually a special day.”

“What special day?”

Xiao Hui leaned close to Ye Bing Shang’s ear and whispered a few words, Ye Bing Shang’s face instantly reddened slightly, and she gave her a look of rebuke.

Xiao Hui said, “This maidservant isn’t wrong. Everyone says that this day is most effective to pray for an heir. Everyone in the Zhou Kingdom believes this. Now that Madame is in good health, as long as Madame can ask His Majesty to stay when the time comes, you’ll be able to give birth to a little prince in the coming year.”

“You, this little girl really talks too much. I was thoughtless, I should have married you out a long time ago!” Ye Bing Shang said.

Before the palace banquet began, Xiao Hui helped Ye Bing Shang dress up well, and Ye Bing Shang went to find Tantai Jin.

Unfortunately, they went at the wrong time. Tantai Jin hadn’t gone to the banquet yet, but he was talking to a person under a plum blossom tree.

At first glance, Ye Bing Shang seemed to recognise one of the lords who was responsible for hunting down the Eighth Prince. Tantai Jin had always valued competent officials, so this lord had been promoted quickly, and Tantai Jin intended to train him as his confidant.

He had a very young and handsome face. About half a month ago, Ye Bing Shang had seen this lord, who seemed to be surnamed Qi.

At that time, Lord Qi was high-spirited and vigorous, but now, the man in the official uniform looked dead inside.

Tantai Jin looked at Qi Mo coldly, “Have you thought it through? You really want to resign?”

Qi Mo kowtowed, “This official has wasted Your Majesty’s kindness.”

He took off his hat, his lips extremely white.

Seeing that he couldn’t persuade him to stay, Tantai Jin indifferently said, “Scram then.”

Qi Mo got up and left, passing by Ye Bing Shang without reacting, like a walking corpse.

Tantai Jin got up and went to the palace banquet. Seeing that he didn’t speak, Ye Bing Shang could only follow him in silence.

Among the orchestra music, the youth in black propped up his cheek, watching the event’s singing and dancing with eyes of indifference.

Ye Bing Shang had called him twice, but Tantai Jin didn’t respond.

By then she knew that Tantai Jin’s mind was elsewhere. Is it that Lord Qi? She thought to herself. What exactly did Qi Mo say?

She had a bad feeling in her heart. Today, she had carefully dressed up. When she went out, Xiao Hui had said that she looked more delicate than a flower, and she had even carefully selected the fragrance on her clothes.

 Ye Bing Shang came to the Zhou Kingdom half a year ago. Although everyone in the palace said that she was favored, she knew the truth better than anyone else. She was afraid that she would still not be able to ask Tantai Jin to stay tonight. Besides, the little tyrant was sharp and ruthless, so when she wasn’t certain of succeeding, she didn’t dare to play any tricks on him.

Tantai Jin didn’t know what Ye Bing Shang was thinking right now. Indeed, it was rare for his mind to wander. 

The words that Qi Mo had said when he resigned made him frown.

He had his rules. Qi Mo was involved in too many of his plans, but now, he wanted to extricate himself, so even if he didn’t die, he had to leave half his life.

However, Qi Mo gave up on the opportunity of a meteoric rise¹平步青云 (píngbù-qīngyún) – of a career, social position etc; an idiom; rise rapidly in the world and resolutely resigned as an official.

No, it should be said that he resigned with his heart like dead ashes²心如死灰 (xīnrúsǐhuī)  – an idiom; hopelessly apathetic.

Tantai Jin knew Qi Mo very well. After all, when he used a person, he should know their background³知根知底 (zhīgēn-zhīdǐ) – know somebody thoroughly; know someone inside out before daring to trust them.

A year ago, when Xia and Zhou were at war, Qi Mo was still a junior military officer. He had made many contributions and meritorious achievements on the battlefield.

In the battle of Cangzhou, Qi Mo led the army to search houses and confiscate properties. He killed a family, and in the end, he secretly hid the Fifth Miss of that family.

Qi Mo liked her at first glance. That girl also had a fiery nature, always wanting to kill him to avenge her family.

In the young girl’s eyes there was no war, only this Asura-like man who had killed her family and forcefully snatched her.

What made her most angry was that Qi Mo already had a family before meeting her.

Fifth Miss Shen tried to kill Qi Mo several times, but in the end, he always saw through her actions. She was but a weak girl, and in the end, she was forced to become Qi Mo’s concubine.

Qi Mo’s methods were swift and decisive. Fifth Miss Shen had disobeyed him several times, and deliberately disturbed the family peace. He felt sorry for her, but he was also inevitably angry.

Old Madam Qi also didn’t like this vixen who had charmed her son, so she took advantage of Qi Mo’s absence to torment Fifth Miss Shen with Qi Mo’s legitimate wife.

Qi Mo had repeatedly run into a wall⁴not knowing what to do with Fifth Miss Shen, so he simply looked on with cold eyes. But as time went by, he found that the thorns on her were gone. She was submissive to him and showed a pleasant demeanor.

Qi Mo was very happy about this for a period of time, and favored Fifth Miss Shen even more. He stayed in her room every night, and gave her everything she wanted.

This year, she even gave birth to a son for him.

Everything looked good until last night, when Qi Mo was ordered to encircle the rebels of the Eighth Prince. Fifth Miss Shen set a fire and burned herself and their young son to death, as well as his mother and legitimate wife, who were trapped in the old mansion.

Qi Mo’s relatives were all dead, and Fifth Miss Shen let him also experience what having a ruined family⁵家破人亡 (jiāpò-rénwáng) – family bankrupt and the people dead (idiom); ruined and orphaned felt like.

Qi Mo’s heart was like dead ashes, and he decided to resign as an official.

Tantai Jin could see that this official, who was good at strategising, had no will to live in his eyes. Even if he didn’t make a move himself, Qi Mo wouldn’t survive this winter.

The orchestra music seemed distant, and the Soul Extinguishing Nails in his heart began to dully ache.

He covered his heart, the matter of Qi Mo’s concubine inexplicably made him feel a little restless.

He suddenly stood up, eager to see the young girl who he hated to the bone.

Ye Bing Shang couldn’t help but say, “Your Majesty! The palace banquet hasn’t……”

He didn’t even look back and faintly said, “After the banquet is over, you can go back on your own, I have something to do.”

Ye Bing Shang watched as the emperor in black left, her nails digging into her palms.

Tantai Jin went all the way to the cold palace, and the sound of the orchestra had long faded away. He knew that he shouldn’t come here before the fifteenth, and he had already said that he would never have any feelings for her again.

He raised his hand and lowered it again.

Tantai Jin was a prince of Zhou Kingdom, so he naturally knew what day it was today. On this day, the emperor would guard the one he loved and pray for an heir.

He shouldn’t have come here. His expression turned cold, and he turned around and went back to his palace.

Qi Mo ended up like that because he was useless.

In Chengqian Hall, the Soul Eating Flag was spinning in the air. Tantai Jin looked at it for a long time, then said, “Old Daoist, I remember you used to say that there’s a magic weapon that can bind a person so that she can never leave.”

The black fog rolled, and while laughing cruelly, the old Daoist came out respectfully.

“That’s right. It’s just that this is an evil thing. If Your Majesty uses it, it will also be detrimental to Your Majesty’s body.”

“Bring it.”

The old Daoist immediately took out two golden bracelets, “Your Majesty, don’t worry. Although this is an evil thing, it’s also a rare protective magic weapon. It won’t break, and can bless its owner’s safety. Even if she’s dead, this poor Daoist can also find her soul.”

Tantai Jin observed the two bracelets and buckled one on his wrist without hesitation.

The bracelet automatically fit itself to his wrist.

A trace of blood flowed down from the corner of his mouth, and Tantai Jin wiped it away expressionlessly.

He curled up his lips with a hint of mockery.

*****

Su Su had only just fallen asleep when the door was opened.

It was almost winter, and although the Zhou Kingdom wasn’t as cold as the Xia Empire, it was difficult to keep warm with the cold palace’s thin and ragged quilt.

She sat up from the bed and asked the person who had come, “What are you doing here?”

Both of them knew very well that today wasn’t the fifteenth yet.

The youth was silent. He pulled her wrist and coldly said, “I heard about an incident today. Qi Mo’s concubine killed his whole family.”

Su Su said, “So you’re afraid that I’ll kill you too.”

After a pause, she added, “And Ye Bing Shang?”

Su Su couldn’t see his expression, but the man’s breath was by her side, which made her very uncomfortable. She wanted to draw back her wrist, but he didn’t let go.

His cool voice sounded, “That’s right.”

Something cold was pushed up onto her wrist, like a snake licking her pale skin.

“What’s this?” Su Su asked defiantly.

“Of course it’s something to make you suffer. Just give up. Once you put it on, you can’t take it off,” Tantai Jin said.

Curved Jade said, “He’s lying to you. This is a Fuci bracelet, a pair of evil magic weapons. He’s also wearing one on his wrist, which is a pair with yours. With this, you can’t leave him for more than seven days. If you really leave, you’ll die, and so will he.”

After thinking for a while, Curved Jade added, “At the same time, it can also protect you from harm.”

Su Su’s cold little hand was held in the palm of Tantai Jin. She was silent for a long time, then the resistance on her face dissipated, and a faint joy appeared in her heart. “When the divine marrow enters his body, he won’t die. Under the heavenly thunder, the Fuci bracelet can’t trap me. Since Tantai Jin likes to be controlling, I want to let him see with his own eyes how the Fuci bracelet breaks.”

He thought that everything in the world was under his control, but at that moment, he would know how many things he was still powerless against.

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The author has something to say:

Everything is ready⁶万事俱备只欠东风 (wànshì jù bèi, zhǐ qiàn dōngfēng) –  lit. everything is ready, all we need is an east wind (idiom); All is ready, waiting for the last crucial element., I shouldn’t have missed any foreshadowing, right? So the famous jumping off the tower scene will be in the next chapter.

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Edited by: Gaze

Translator’s Note: *INHALEEEE….EXHALEEEE…* phew…please brace yourself for THE chapter next week 🧻🧻🧻 (there’s only this emoji) please donate more tissues in the comment section by commenting 🧻 I need it, everyone needs it for the next chapter…