Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 848: The End of a Performance

A few minutes later, inside the clothing store, Ye Jiuyou stood before a row of women’s garments, feeling a twinge of regret.

In a moment of impulse, she had said she wanted to shop for clothes.

What even is the point of these things, really? Do any of them have the defensive strength of my dark robes? Could they augment my power? Or even enhance my abilities in the slightest? They’re all utterly useless. All they offer is superficial beauty, and what’s the point of that? Besides, I don’t think that my clothes look bad at all. Why should I cater to human aesthetics?

And this bastard! The moment we entered the shop, his eyes instantly locked onto the dudou section. And he’s sporting that lecherous grin on his face again! So this was the real reason he dragged me into this boutique, so he could look at underwear?!

Only the heavens and Zhao Changhe himself knew that he had simply been reminiscing about that time he snuck around to steal a dudou for Cui Yuanyang. The contrast between those wild, roguish days in the jianghu and the present stirred a strange emotion in him. The grin on his face was simply a result of pure nostalgia, but in Ye Jiuyou’s eyes, it looked nothing short of perverted.

“Hey, you with the surname Zhao!” Qi surged from Ye Jiuyou’s dantian in fury. “Are you here to shop or to loiter in a brothel? Where are you looking?”

“Huh?” Zhao Changhe blinked, then realized what she meant. Around them, shop assistants and noble ladies were all glaring at him with intense disdain. With perfect composure, Zhao Changhe scratched his head and replied with feigned innocence, “You’ve never worn any of this stuff before, right? And my daily life’s been tightly regulated, so I’ve never had the chance to fool around. I’ve never even seen this sort of thing before. I was just curious... What are these for?”

That one line instantly softened most of the glares around him.

“What a perfect gentleman...”

Ye Jiuyou nearly coughed up blood. “Don’t believe his nonsense!”

Zhao Changhe looked at her with eyes full of innocence. “So you’ve worn these before?”

“Of course not!”

“Well, there you go.” Zhao Changhe immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulder and steered her toward the racks. “Alright, alright, don’t be mad. I won’t look anymore, happy? Come, let’s pick out a dress.”

All around them, the ladies let out long, drawn-out oooohs. So they really are a couple, though they seem to be a bit on the conservative side. The man has never messed around, the woman has never worn a dudou... How rare. In Chang’an, where the northern barbarians and merchants from the Western Regions mingled freely, such couples were indeed a rare sight.

Ye Jiuyou snapped out of her daze and turned to protest, “I am not his—”

Zhao Changhe swiftly cut her off. “It’s true, we’re only engaged, but that’s close enough.”

“Engaged...?” someone outside echoed, suddenly struck with realization. “Hey, no wonder that man looked so familiar. Isn’t he King Zhao?”

“Right! Look at that scar... and that air about him! Who else could it be but Zhao Changhe?”

“I heard that Zhao Changhe was betrothed to a young lady of the Li clan... If he’s strolling through the Chang’an market with his fiancée, then this young lady must be that young lady from the Li Clan. No wonder she’s so stunning...”

“No wonder King Zhao would dare walk so openly into Chang’an! So the marriage is drawing near? Perhaps he’s out shopping for the bride!”

“So the engagement is real, then. And judging from how close they seem, they must’ve lived together for a while already...”

Chang’an did not have the same uptight customs as certain aristocratic families like Cui or Wang; there were no rigid taboos against engaged couples meeting before marriage. In fact, it was perfectly normal for betrothed pairs to shop together for clothes and trinkets. As for cohabiting before marriage, that would normally raise a few eyebrows here and there, but when it came to King Zhao and a young lady of the Li clan, no one would dare to speak against it. On the contrary, the rumor of their engagement was now confirmed, and the impression they gave off was one of deep mutual affection.

Ye Jiuyou stood frozen, dumbstruck.

Only now did she realize why this bastard had insisted on coming to Chang’an of all places. In any other city, such an outcome would have been impossible.

Now that word was spreading, Ye Jiuyou was faced with a choice: either abandon the identity as a young lady of the Li Clan and retreat into the abyss to resume her life as a demon god, or continue leveraging the Li Clan’s status to control Guanlong. But if she chose the latter, this engagement would become an inescapable brand. The entirety of Guanlong, under the weight of public consensus, would become her dowry. It would no longer serve as a wedge to divide the divine land.

She had been aware from the start that this engagement was not as meaningless as it appeared. Karma, once set in motion, would always stir up trouble. And sure enough, in front of someone like Zhao Changhe—someone who had already begun to play with karma—it was bound to unravel into something bigger.

Standing before a row of ready-made garments, Ye Jiuyou stared coldly at the dresses, her eyes like frost. “So this is why you brought me shopping in Chang’an? I have to admit, you’re quite the proficient schemer. Do you truly think I can’t break free of this net?”

Zhao Changhe admitted it with unflinching honesty. “Yes, I chose Chang’an for this very reason, but I wasn’t the one tugging at the strings of karma. Before we came, I was prepared: If someone recognized me, so be it. If not, so be it. I left it to fate. I never hinted at my identity to anyone. On the contrary, you’re the one who called my name out loud at the cotton candy stall. Thankfully, no one noticed at the time.”

“With results like these, do you really expect me to believe it wasn’t intentional?”

“It truly wasn’t. If I had meant for things to explode, I wouldn’t have chosen this particular moment.”

“And why not?”

“Because I genuinely wanted to see you in a beautiful dress. But now, you probably won’t want to anymore. What a pity.” Zhao Changhe sighed. “Had I known, I’d have kept my mouth shut. Who would’ve thought one casual line would reveal my identity? It seems that I’ve underestimated just how famous I’ve become.”

Being ranked first on the Ranking of Heaven certainly brought fame, but cosplayers of Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling were still everywhere. Who would have thought that in this era without photos or the internet, he would be recognized so easily? He had not even brought his signature saber....

Ye Jiuyou gave him a strange look. “With everything you still have to accomplish, why would you care about something as trivial as buying a new outfit?”

“So you think the situation in Guanlong is the only thing worth my concern?”

“Isn’t it?”

Zhao Changhe chuckled. “I thought it was obvious to everyone by now: in my eyes, beauty outweighs kingdoms. And besides, as long as we can stall you, Guanlong’s downfall would be a matter of a snap. It’s not even worth the effort. Do you really think I’d go through all this scheming for something so trivial?”

What exactly is considered trivial... Ye Jiuyou was speechless. “Yet you admit you did come to Chang’an with that intention?”

“The intention wasn’t to subjugate Guanlong,” Zhao Changhe replied, turning to meet her gaze, eyes bright with purpose. “It was to deepen the karma between us. I want our ties to become so deep that breaking them would come at a price. Guanlong may not be all that important to me, but you are.”

Ye Jiuyou’s heart once more skipped a beat, but she forced a cold sneer. “And buying me trinkets, clothes, and cotton candy, treating me like some ordinary woman, that’s your grand design?”

“If you truly think it’s all meaningless, then there’s no reason to refuse, is there?” Zhao Changhe spoke lightly, but his eyes were still scanning the garments on display. Suddenly, he reached out, and a set of violet robes hanging on the wall flew neatly into his hand. “I gave it some thought. If you just switch to a pale color directly, they might not suit you. This set should work, and it’s about the right size too. Why don’t you try it on?”

Up to this point, their conversation had been conducted via transmission, inaudible to outsiders. But this last line was spoken aloud, and someone immediately chimed in enthusiastically, “Miss Li would look amazing in that. It’s perfect for her temperament!”

Ye Jiuyou instinctively glanced at the outfit. It was a silk gown—unadorned and simple in design, predominantly violet, with just a few flame-shaped blue patterns as accents. It resembled the ceremonial robes of a martial sect more than the elegant wear of a noble lady. Still, in a world governed by martial arts, it was quite normal for ready-made shops to carry martial-style designs. And to her dismay, she had to admit that she also thought it would look good on her.

A girl behind her urged her, “Miss, please try it on for us! I don’t believe our Li Clan’s young lady could be outshone by that Tang Wanzhuang.”

Ye Jiuyou, who had originally intended to decline, was provoked by the comment. With a snort, she snatched the clothes and slipped into the changing room.

A minute later, the entire store echoed with a collective gasp.

Zhao Changhe’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the figure emerging from within, momentarily unable to look away.

Though not extravagant, the gown had its flourishes and it was far more flattering than her usual all-black ensemble. With it on, she exuded the aura of a goddess—both majestic and enigmatic. But beyond that, it was clearly tailored to accentuate the wearer’s form: long legs, a slim waist, elegant curves. She was, in a word, stunning.

The sapphires decorating her neck only added a touch more allure to the overall impression.

Meeting Zhao Changhe’s somewhat dazed gaze, Ye Jiuyou could not help feeling a flicker of pride. Coldly, she asked, “Alright, so how do I compare to Tang Wanzhuang?”

None of the onlookers had ever seen Tang Wanzhuang, and even if they had, they wouldn’t admit to anything. Naturally, they piled on the flattery. “There’s no way Tang Wanzhuang could ever match up to you, Miss Li!”

But Ye Jiuyou was only watching Zhao Changhe.

He could only answer tactfully, “You each have your own strengths.”

Tang Wanzhuang, after all, would not wear something this body-hugging; ladies of noble birth rarely did. Her usual flowing sleeves and drifting sashes spoke of a different grace altogether. If one truly wanted to compare, it was like judging between a celestial herb and a demonic flower born of hellfire.

Seeing that Zhao Changhe would not even lie on her behalf, Ye Jiuyou’s expression soured. She snorted again and walked toward the door.

My true rival is Ye Wuming. Why should I care what some mortals say, constantly comparing me to a mundane woman?

She had entirely forgotten how, not long ago, when laying out her southeastern strategy, she had been full of praise for Tang Wanzhuang. Now, her regard for the woman had plunged to rock bottom.

Poor Tang Wanzhuang was minding her business in the capital, yet she was catching so many strays she probably looked like a sieve.

Back inside, Zhao Changhe had just handed over a gold ingot to the shopkeeper and was just about to give chase when the shopkeeper slipped him a small parcel with a secretive smile. “A humble gift for the young lord.”

Zhao Changhe weighed it and found that it was soft and light. “What is it?”

The shopkeeper leaned in and whispered, “A dudou... I accidentally overheard you saying the young lady has never worn one.... This is the most we can do to support Your Highness...”

“Ahem.” Zhao Changhe righteously accepted it. “Thank you. If anyone gives you trouble, use my name.”

With that, he dashed out. But even though he had stepped onto the street prepared for a heated chase, he found Ye Jiuyou had not gone far. She stood quietly to the side, gazing at a fast-approaching group of riders.

A dozen figures approached at speed, then dropped to their knees in unison from a distance. “Young lady!”

Ye Jiuyou lifted her gaze to the horizon. The bustling market had fallen eerily silent. Bystanders hugged the walls; many stalls were packed up in haste. Some vendors had been knocked over in the commotion but did not even dare to retrieve their wares.

Seeing the stark contrast, Ye Jiuyou suddenly felt a wave of discomfort. Her voice was cold as she asked, “Who told you to come?”

“The King of Qin heard that you were here, Young Lady, and he sent us to serve at your command and ensure your safety.”

“The first on the Ranking of Heaven is right here beside me. Do you lot think your presence makes a difference?”

The guard captain wiped the sweat from his brow. “Even with King Zhao present, we dare not be lax. Dusk approaches, and the King of Qin asks whether you and King Zhao would care to join him at the palace for dinner.”

Ye Jiuyou’s gaze passed over them, landing on the cotton candy stall in the distance. Her eyes lost focus for a moment before she replied, “No need. King Zhao and I still have matters to attend to. You may all return.”

“Yes.”

“Wait.” She halted the guards just as they were about to withdraw. “There’s a human trafficker at the street corner. King Zhao injured him earlier, and he’s still lying there. Bring him back for questioning, and if there’s a group behind him, wipe them out.”

“At your orders, Young Lady!” The squad quickly departed, but the marketplace failed to regain its earlier liveliness.

Zhao Changhe said nothing; he just silently helped a few toppled stalls back on their feet.

Ye Jiuyou also remained silent, wandering over to the cotton candy stall. She bought two more sticks, handing one to Zhao Changhe without a word. The two of them munched on the fluffy sugar, turned in unison, and walked out of the city together.

The sunset painted the sky in brilliant hues. A breeze whispered past, lifting the hem of her dress.

She had originally planned to meet Zhao Changhe that evening, but somehow, they had spent the entire day together, and it was only now reaching dusk. She had nearly forgotten the original purpose of their meeting.

The air between them was still, and neither of them spoke.

Ye Jiuyou had always been surrounded by silence, accustomed to solitude and quiet. But somehow, this silence felt different. And she did not know why.

By all rights, she ought to have detested the clamor of today’s events, and the oppressive solemnity brought on by the guards’ arrival should have felt familiar. Yet, strangely, her emotions were reversed. The dissonance in her heart kept her from speaking.

She simply continued licking her cotton candy, letting the sweetness dissolve across her tongue. The white fluff grew smaller and smaller until it turned amber, and with one final chomp, she bit the last of it off the stick.

The two bamboo skewers dropped simultaneously onto the grassy outskirts of the city.

Both glanced down at them.

Zhao Changhe finally broke the silence, “Back in Zhao Family Village, littering like this would be seen as shameless. But here, I’ve grown used to it. Just now, I even tossed one inside the city.”

Ye Jiuyou looked at him, baffled. Why even bring this up?

Zhao Changhe said, “Why did you tell them to investigate the traffickers? That was something I had intended to suggest myself, and yet you beat me to it. I’ve been puzzled about it ever since.”

“That’s why you’ve been so quiet?”

“Among other things. Well, I just never expected it from you. I didn’t think you were the kind of person who’d even consider such things, let alone act before I did.”

Ye Jiuyou gave a faint smile. “When it comes to how mortal societies handle such matters, I probably understand it better than you do. I’ve simply never cared to think about it. But since you insisted I try living as a mortal, I’ve been making an effort to play the role of Young Lady Li. I suppose this is part of that.”

“You knew my intention today was to get you closer to mortals?”

“Of course. I have to say, though... It’s a bit childish.”

“I disagree. If you truly intend to break free of the definitions and restrictions imposed by the Heavenly Dao, then you’ll need to breathe a little of the mortal world’s air. This is a world ruled by human principles now. You know... Piaomiao retained many of Yangyang’s memories, so I won’t go into that, but do you know where Ye Wuming used to live?”

“Where?”

“In a university district, on a street where students usually waste time after classes. I don’t suppose that means anything to you, but you should know that it’s probably one of the most vibrantly human places in the myriad realms.”

Ye Jiuyou looked up at the sunset, saying nothing for a long while.

Zhao Changhe spoke again. “You said all this won’t achieve anything major. You’re right, I know it won’t win you over, but I had other reasons.”

Ye Jiuyou turned her gaze toward him.

Zhao Changhe was looking at her too, his eyes slowly trailing from head to toe. “I just wanted to see you at your most beautiful. And I don’t think we’ve even reached the peak of that yet.”

Ye Jiuyou gave a derisive laugh. “That’s only your opinion. It means nothing. This little trial is over, and don’t expect me to humor you again.”

Zhao Changhe did not respond to that. Instead, he said, “I’ve seen the way you dwell in that dark abyss, alone. I don’t know how many millennia you’ve spent like that. I won’t pretend it’s heartbreaking, I am not that dramatic, but I still have to say that it made me feel very uncomfortable.”

Ye Jiuyou gave no reply.

Zhao Changhe went on, “A peerless beauty should be admired and envied in the light, like today. She should not be merely listening to wailing winds, watching over a lonely Soul-Capturing Mirror, never knowing whether what she sees is human or ghost.”

Still, Ye Jiuyou said nothing.

At that moment, the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving only a faint glimmer of light. The moon rose in the east, stars filling the sky.

Zhao Changhe finally stopped walking. “You’re probably not going to invite me over again tonight, so I’ll head to the Heavenly River. I still have matters to discuss with the others. Tomorrow, I’ll bring them to see you so that we can talk about the White Tiger, the Sword Emperor, and everything else.”

Ye Jiuyou had been meaning to say “what’s so weird about visiting me at night, that was the plan anyway,” but just as the words reached her lips, she swallowed them. Instead, she retorted, “I don’t want to see too many people. I might not be able to restrain myself. If there’s something to discuss, you can come alone. Can’t you speak for them?”

Zhao Changhe smiled faintly. “I can.”

Silence fell between them again.

Then, without another word, they both vanished beneath the starry sky, each teleporting to different corners of Kunlun.

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