The Words of the Number One

e are going to part with each other here, Qiqi.” 

Just when the soldier was about to drag me away as well, someone spoke: “Wait a moment.” 

I watched that brocade-clothed young noble come out from the crowd, and saluted to Li Yan: “Don’t know if it is possible for Your Highness to spare this humble one an honor, and gift this maid to this humble one.”

Li Yan glanced at me.
Who he loved was only Qiqi, and I am nothing more than just an unimportant existence to him; therefore he said: “To just give a maid, Young Master Ji Yu is speaking too seriously.” 

There was an uproar among the crowd as soon as these words were said. 

Young Master Ji Yu, such a famous figure also came.
He was originally the son of the second wife of the present-day rightful emperor of the Zhou dynasty.
Five years ago, his mother and elder brother were deposed, and after the emperor established a new empress, he left the capital, Luoyang, and traveled around among the princes.
Ji Yu is a person that is very unpredictable, and does not accept an official position of any country.
Where you come from to which country you are in, is to put forward plans and ideas.
The plots are mostly related to the matters of war.
Hearing that he is gentle and cultivated, yet his words are shape and penetrating, quick-wittedly disputing to suppress others.
There was no plot that was not accepted, and after being accepted, there is nothing that is not effective. 

One does not know how many wars have been fought because of Ji Yu over the past few years, and how many nation’s rise and fall were because of him.
As soon as he was in rage, the feudal princes4Feudal prince = appointed by the king to have control over a certain area or territory   were afraid, and when he calmed down, the world would be in peace.
This is the world’s number one lobbyist5Lobbyist = also known as an itinerant political adviser, means a person who persuades others to accept a certain proposition. 

The palanquin was a little bit jolted, and I don’t know how long it had been, but suddenly it stopped.
When I stepped out of the palanquin, I saw Ji Yu standing in front, and eight maids standing far away on the side.
He was dressed in a purple attire, and was as noble as jade, perfectly fitting with his name.
He smiled charmingly with his phoenix eyes, and saluted to me: “Ji Yu has met Her Highness, the Ninth Princess.” 

I waved my hand: “I’m just a princess of a vanquished kingdom.
Your Highness, with your status, you do not need to salute to anyone.” 

Ji Yu only smiled, and did not say anything, but it was just that his smile contained a bit of contempt.

I was silent for a while, and then asked: “Why did this gentleman save me?” 

The corners of Ji Yu’s mouth hooked up: “If I did not save you, you would also have a way to get away, right? With the cleverness of the princess, it would be a pity to fall into the hands of others.” 

I laughed: “My cleverness?” 

“Everyone knows that the Seventh Princess has very good methods.
To be able to lead the four nations that were originally allies, to massacre one another.
However the monarchs of the four nations are not fools, and the Seventh Princess is just the bait.
The huge plan behind all of this comes from your hands.” 

I was stunned.
This matter is only known by me and Qiqi.
He is just someone from a foreign nation, how could he know? 

He seemed to know my suspicions, and smiled: “I have also met the Seventh Princess before.
She is indeed worthy of being the world’s top beauty, but it’s a pity that Her Highness, the Seventh Princess, has a pure heart, and is inexperienced, more like an ordinary daughter of a family.
How could Her Highness have come up with such a plan? As for the Ninth Princess, I have heard a friend mention you before, and judging from my observation this time, Your Highness is definitely not an ordinary person.” 

“So as soon as the matter with Qiqi spreaded out, you were guessing who the mastermind behind all this was.
You came to the wedding today, but in fact, your purpose for coming was for me, right?” 

“Correct.” 

“Your Highness has gone through so much trouble.
What exactly does Your Highness want?” 

“I want a maid, and also at the same time, a helper6could also be called an assistant, and refers to one who acts as a subordinate.” 

I frowned: “Why do you think I will agree to this?” 

He laughed: “Because the Ninth Princess is a smart person, and knows her limits.
There was poison in the water that you just drank, and there is no way to eradicate this poison.
Every three months, one has to take the antidote.
If one is overdue on taking the antidote by five days, they will be poisoned to death, and I am the only person in the world who knows the antidote.”  

He said the threatening words very calmly, and with ease.

But I did not feel angry either.
Since being born in this world, there would not be any assistance for no cause, and no reason.
He could not be considered a gentleman, and instead has the frankness of a vile person. 

“This maid pays respect to the young master.” I bowed my head, and saluted. 

There was a sense of approval in his smile, but his voice dulled as if stating a fact: “The Ninth Princess has died from now on.
You are a maid that I got from Jiang Qiqi, and you will be called A’zhi.”

“A’zhi understands.” 

I bowed my head.
In the corners of my eyes, I saw the edge of Ji Yu’s clothes, dark purple color silk embroidered with an inwardly flowing cloud pattern.  

Flowing clouds of the past, clouds of smoke passing the eyes.
All kinds of things in the world are nothing more than historical books that have a few lines of ink.
In the past, the grand scribe lord of the Qi kingdom had always said this to me. 

From now on, there will be no Jiang Jiuqing in this world, and no one who will warmly call me “Jiu Jiu”.
Jiang Jiuqing will be buried in the dust along with the Qi kingdom, in completely silence.
Maybe there will be someone someday who idly recalls the past of the Qi kingdom, Jiang Qiqi the beauty, the fall out between the four kingdoms, and another story a person who loves the beauty, but does not love the river and mountains7“loves the beauty, but not the river and mountains” = this means someone who loves a beauty, more than the love for power and status). 

No one will know that at the wedding banquet that shook the entire world, there was a woman named Jiang Jiuqing who died. 

(TL’s note: btw the seventh princess is the female lead’s sister, Qiqi.
It sounds a bit confusing here so I wanted to clarify it in case anyone was confused.)

Hello everyone! This is a novel that I read quite a while ago, and I remember really liking it! I will be working on this and “Capture the Jade” at the same time.
I posted a little review of the novel on NU if anyone wants to learn more about the story! 

1“lamp in dense fog” = dazed and misleading2Self-destruction, and be deeply trapped in love3tremendous stink = great fuss and displeasure4Feudal prince = appointed by the king to have control over a certain area or territory  5Lobbyist = also known as an itinerant political adviser, means a person who persuades others to accept a certain proposition6could also be called an assistant, and refers to one who acts as a subordinate7“loves the beauty, but not the river and mountains” = this means someone who loves a beauty, more than the love for power and status)