Chen Xugu's love story! (3,500-word chapter)

In fact, Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao had guessed right at the beginning. The Third Princess's childhood really had been miserable.

Things had been all right when she was little. She had yet to grow into her features and merely looked ugly, but it did not affect her life.

There were plenty of ugly people. Nobody had seen them killing themselves just because they were ugly.

As a child, the Third Princess's awkward features had kept the old emperor from liking her. And since she had been born to a noble consort, she was all the lonelier deep within the palace.

But as time passed, the Third Princess changed, beginning to develop at thirteen.

Although her features remained just as incongruous, her figure grew ever more graceful.

Especially from behind, she looked like the greatest beauty under heaven.

Word spread through the inner palace, and the siblings and imperial consorts who had never associated with her before all came to see her.

Before, she had been lonely. After thirteen, she became both irritated and lonely.

For although her chambers were bustling, not a single visitor sincerely cared for her. She could see all sorts of emotions in their eyes.

Curiosity, bewilderment, the fascination of seeing a freak, the enjoyment of a spectacle, and even mockery.

And so, little by little, she grew to hate this world more and more, and everyone in it!

When the old emperor learned of this, he came to see her once. Afterward, the provisions for her residence improved, and she grew accustomed to appearing before others in a veil.

At fifteen, because she wore a veil all day, outsiders could not make out her appearance. Whenever the old emperor took her out, every high official, noble, civil minister, and military general was astounded by her heavenly figure.

Those ministers, generals, officials, and nobles were willing to spend fortunes begging the emperor to decree that the Third Princess marry one of their sons or grandsons.

But the old emperor never gave anyone a clear answer. He merely went round in circles and laughed it off, neither refusing nor agreeing.

Still, it had to be said that during those years, the Third Princess's existence allowed the old emperor to win over numerous ministers and hold power firmly in his hands.

When she was sixteen, the old emperor fell ill and summoned eminent Buddhist monks and Daoist chiefs to the palace to pray for his recovery.

It was then that the sixteen-year-old Chen Xugu met the sixteen-year-old Third Princess in the inner palace.

The Third Princess was withdrawn and delicate, having seen all the faces people showed.

Chen Xugu was carefree and optimistic, laughing and joking wherever he went.

At their first meeting, Chen Xugu was drawn to her exquisite figure.

That was right. This, too, had begun with lust at first sight.

It's not as though our Pure Yang Daoist Sect forbids marriage. A graceful maiden is a gentleman's fair pursuit. What's wrong with that?

Chen Xugu shamelessly sought every opportunity to approach the Third Princess.

Fortunately, the prayer rites that time were to last a hundred days.

Back then, the Third Princess found him unbearably annoying. Finally, one day, she could take no more. In a fit of pique, she removed her veil before him, revealing her face in the hope of frightening him away.

She had thought Chen Xugu would be like everyone else: shocked, frightened, disgusted, and eager to flee after seeing her face.

Unexpectedly, after seeing her face, Chen Xugu showed no negative reaction whatsoever. Instead, he leaned closer with even greater curiosity, examined her carefully, and offered a perfectly earnest assessment:

"Every one of your features is exceptional on its own. Unfortunately, putting all those exceptional features on one face makes them look rather incompatible."

"What, have you come to mock me?"

Chen Xugu shook his head and said very seriously, "Why would I mock you?

"Marrying you would be the wisest thing anyone under heaven could do."

It was the first time the princess had heard anything like this, and she was momentarily stunned.

Instinctively, she asked, "Why?"

Chen Xugu laughed heartily, his handsome face full of carefree delight.

"Because you're perfect!

"As I said, each of your features is flawless on its own. You won't find another pair of eyes this perfect anywhere in the world, or another nose this lovely, much less lips this adorable.

"If I married you, I would admire those eyes that stun the world every day, study that nose even heavenly immortals would envy, and savor that one-of-a-kind mouth."

Wow!

Senior brother really had game!

As Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao listened to their sister-in-law tell this part of the story, their hearts practically overflowed with honey.

Hey, want some dog food? It's free!

Even those two grown men found those words cloyingly sweet, let alone a princess who had been lonely, isolated, and mocked since childhood.

One could imagine what a critical hit those words had dealt the Third Princess's heart.

Chen Xugu's words had been like a nuclear bomb exploding in her heart!

And it was not just his sweet talk that moved her.

What truly moved her was that Chen Xugu had actually studied her face.

When others saw her face, they only thought it hideous and would not look a second time. Even her imperial father deliberately averted his gaze when he saw her.

So nobody studied her appearance. A single glance frightened them all away.

Only Chen Xugu had seen what was unique about her features!

It took the Third Princess a long while to recover from that sweet critical hit before she asked in a voice as faint as a mosquito, "Didn't you say they looked awkward together?"

Her chest rose and fell as she breathed hard, terrified that Chen Xugu would say something hurtful.

But Chen Xugu straightened his back and declared confidently, "How could this humble Daoist be the same as those ordinary mortals?

"I'm a Daoist who intends to become the Pure Yang Daoist Chief, surpass every chief before me, and stand shoulder to shoulder with Patriarch Lü.

"If your features look awkward together, can't I simply avoid looking at them together?

"Looking at each individual beauty, I could never admire it enough!"

The Third Princess had known her problem since childhood. Her figure and features were all excellent; it was only their combination that had created this flaw.

Everyone looked at the whole and then recoiled in disgust.

Only this young Daoist had told her to learn to look past the flaw and appreciate perfection.

Their feelings quickly deepened, and they arranged to meet there every day.

Chen Xugu told her about the world outside the palace, the strange curiosities among the common people, and the interesting tales of the martial world. The knot in the Third Princess's heart slowly began to loosen.

Every day, she looked forward to Chen Xugu coming to see her and telling her those delightful stories.

But happy days always vanished in the blink of an eye. Never before had the Third Princess felt three months pass so quickly.

The emperor recovered. The three months of prayers had ended, and their parting drew near.

They promised to write often and keep in touch.

Chen Xugu returned to the Pure Yang Palace, and the two exchanged letters every month.

Alas, there was too little paper, and brush and ink fell too short.

Happily, her Daoist never forgot, and month after month they remained close.

When he was twenty, Chen Xugu said he was going to venture into the martial world. He would turn his travels into stories and tell them to her.

After descending the mountain, Chen Xugu first wiped out the Four Fiends of Central Province, then met companions, helped a hero take revenge, destroyed a major sect, and even went alone to the Carefree Sect to challenge its people to duels... For a time, his fame soared.

The two kept corresponding by letter. Although the Third Princess had never left the imperial palace, she knew his journey through the martial world like the palm of her hand.

Zhang Qingyuan: Are you sure you knew it like the palm of your hand?

Zhang Junbao: Are you sure he told you everything?

Both: Did he mention the Joyous Union Sect's holy maiden too?

Until one day, Chen Xugu received a letter from the Third Princess.

The letter read: Little Daoist, Daoist Chen, I wonder whether you've become the Pure Yang Daoist Chief yet?

Do you still remember telling me that year that if you married me, you would admire my eyes, nose, and mouth?

Unfortunately, you won't get to admire them now, because I'm getting married!

My imperial father has betrothed me to the Feng Kingdom's eldest prince. I'll be the Feng Kingdom's empress someday.

We might not be able to write to each other anymore, but you can make an even bigger name for yourself in the Qian Kingdom. That way, I'll be able to hear your stories even in the Feng Kingdom.

If you marry, remember to find someone with a nicely shaped face. Then you won't have to stare at just one spot. You can take in the whole picture, haha.

Don't pine for me... Chen Xugu.

Written by Li Yangzi.

For some reason, after reading that letter, Chen Xugu felt as though something were lodged in his throat.

Nor did he know why, when her tone was so cheerful, there were several dried tear stains on the paper.

That year, they were both twenty-eight.

Several days later, news spread like wildfire through the martial world that the Qian Kingdom's mysterious Third Princess would marry the Feng Kingdom's eldest prince in a marriage alliance.

Chen Xugu went to the capital, and only after making inquiries did he learn the truth.

It turned out the old emperor had always maintained the Third Princess's mystique. Apart from those within the palace, nobody knew exactly what she looked like. Outsiders merely guessed from her outward appearance that she was as beautiful as a heavenly immortal, as lovely as polished jade.

And the old emperor had used precisely that mystique to draw in those civil ministers and military generals with promises, keeping power firmly in his grasp.

But she was already twenty-eight. How could she remain unmarried?

The final opportunity to make use of her had arrived.

The Feng Kingdom came seeking a marriage alliance.

They specifically requested this mysterious Third Princess, even offering a city's worth of territory.

The old emperor feigned reluctance, and the envoys assumed he wanted to raise the price.

Recently, the two sides had reached an agreement and signed the documents.

The old emperor declared that they had insisted on this marriage themselves, and had offered the terms themselves. Once the treaty was signed, there would be no backing out!

The Feng Kingdom declared that they would never back out!

Afterward, the Third Princess departed to be married with a grand procession. Before she boarded the carriage, the Feng Kingdom's eldest prince was fortunate enough to glimpse her figure and was beside himself with joy.

That day was the Feng Kingdom's eldest prince's wedding day, and peace filled Fengtian City.

That day, a Daoist wandered alone through Fengtian City in a daze, sword in hand.

That night, the drums sounded the second watch, and wedding candles burned in the bridal chamber.

At that moment, outside the Eastern Palace, the Daoist came killing his way in.

The prince lifted the bridal veil and cursed the Qian Kingdom for breaking faith, calling Li Yangzi an ugly shrew.

Chen Xugu's Pure Yang True Qi lit up the imperial palace, blood mingling with sword light.

The experts within the Feng Kingdom's palace surrounded him. However talented Chen Xugu was, at that moment he was no match for them.

Just as the storybooks described, the hero broke through in battle when driven into a desperate corner.

That night, Chen Xugu entered the Dao.

His Dao was one of love, seeking only to reclaim a single person.

After entering the Dao, Chen Xugu's power increased greatly. Yet even with his Dao heart in its rightful place and his swordsmanship reaching Profound Comprehension, he could not withstand the several thousand imperial guards and several hundred experts within the city.

Who knew how many people he killed, or how many blows he took? Wounds covered his body.

He killed to his heart's content, venting the anguish within him.

The imperial guards, too, grew afraid of his killing.

Although he now seemed like a lamp with its oil exhausted, nobody dared take the risk. They merely waited for him to bleed dry.

Meanwhile, the eldest prince brought the Third Princess over, and she threw herself into Chen Xugu's arms, sobbing.

Chen Xugu gently stroked her hair and wiped away her tears, saying with a grin:

"This humble Daoist doesn't like taking in the whole picture. I still prefer studying one spot."

That night, they should have died there.

But for some unknown reason, the old emperor ordered that they be allowed to leave.

His reason was that the future empress could not be someone unfit to show her face!

Furthermore, a princess of the Qian Kingdom had been rescued by the Qian Kingdom's Pure Yang Daoist Sect. They ought to use this to negotiate terms.

In truth, there was another reason. That night, besides Chen Xugu entering the palace, someone else had entered Fengtian City.

It was an old Daoist. He did not enter the imperial palace, but went alone to see Fengtian's state preceptor, the high priest whose status equaled the emperor's.

Nobody knew what they discussed. All anyone knew was that the high priest ordered that they be allowed to leave.

Even Chen Xugu knew nothing of this.

He merely thought it was because of the eldest prince's disgust, and the filthy politics between the two kingdoms.

The story ended.

The two fellows listened, utterly spellbound.

Only after a dozen or so breaths did they finally recover.

Chen Xugu asked, "Well? Now you understand our feelings for each other, don't you? Stop using your narrow minds to speculate about my past."

"Brother, you haven't told the whole story, have you?" Zhang Qingyuan said.

"What did we leave out?" their sister-in-law asked curiously. "Xugu and I filled in the gaps for each other. That's everything, isn't it?"

Zhang Junbao narrowed his eyes, his face full of sly amusement. "Brother, are you sure you've told us everything? Nothing missing?"

Zhang Qingyuan added, "The Purple Bamboo Grove..."

Before Zhang Qingyuan could finish, Chen Xugu suddenly stood and said solemnly:

"Didn't you say we were going to spar? This is the perfect chance for this humble Daoist to see what his two junior brothers can do!"

Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao exchanged a glance. Was this fellow changing the subject?

"Beat him up!"