Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 587: Chichi’s Clever Plan for Peace

Chapter 587: Chichi’s Clever Plan for Peace

Shelly, with her rather slow wit, was simply unable to understand how Vermillion Bird could keep things secret for so long, while she herself had gotten exposed after just a few hours.

She could not even blame Zhao Changhe—she was the one who insisted on a kiss.

We’re both venerables, so why do I have it so much worse?

Shelly absolutely refused to admit that it was because she was too impulsive, unlike Vermillion Bird, who knew when to bend and stay hidden and who would instead let herself be teased by Chichi but never make an inappropriate move. Of course, with Vermillion Bird being so patient and careful, it would be much more difficult for her to be exposed. On the other hand, when it came to Shelly... She wore no mask, had no alias to hide behind, and was casually fooling around right in the same area. Despite that, she still dared to act recklessly.

Is it all because I don’t have a mask as an extra layer of cover?

Or is it that Chichi, whenever she’s dealing with me, suddenly becomes much sharper? Was she pretending to copy the book while secretly tailing us? And since when was Chichi so skilled at concealing herself? Why must she pick on me...

While Lady Three was still in a daze, Zhao Changhe, trying to retreat, had his collar grabbed by Xia Chichi, who yanked him back. “Why are you hiding? Keep kissing! You were happy enough to kiss her with that pig snout of yours, but now you’re avoiding me?”

Zhao Changhe, holding up the half-carved bow in front of his face, said, “No, Chichi, listen to my excuse... I mean, I can explain... Listen to my explanation...”

As soon as the two started talking, Lady Three finally snapped out of her daze. She immediately threw down the arrows she had been making and bolted away.

Her speed was astonishing. While she was a tortoise at rest, she was much more like a dragon or snake when in action. In the blink of an eye, she was out of sight.

This was the terrifying might of the seventh on the Ranking of Heaven!

Xia Chichi did not bother chasing after her. She knew that she had no way of catching up. She folded her arms and sneered. “Venerable Black Tortoise, where can you even run to? Even if I can’t catch you here, once we’re back at the cult, I can call for a council and maybe even ask Venerable Vermillion Bi—”

Lady Three, who had already run quite a distance, suddenly stopped in her tracks. “Ask who? No! Don’t!”

Xia Chichi: “...”

Wait, why does it seem like you aren’t afraid of this matter being discussed by the cult but rather of Master finding out?

Lady Three then reappeared slowly, walking back with a casual stride. “Saintess, um, I just remembered something. You’ve got the wrong person. Everyone knows it’s normal for the four idols to have five entities, like how the Black Tortoise is the fusion of tortoise and snake...”

Is it too late to start making a clone like the Fire Serpent of Yi?

Xia Chichi nearly laughed in anger. “So what you’re saying is, you’re not Venerable Black Tortoise?”

Lady Three nodded vigorously. “No, I’m not Venerable Black Tortoise. I’m her little sister, Unvenerable Lack Tortoise[1].”

Zhao Changhe facepalmed.

Xia Chichi felt a mix of anger and amusement. Her anger was almost dispelled by Lady Three’s absurdly serious nonsense. Of course, Xia Chichi was not one to let things go so easily. She soon began cracking her knuckles as she walked over. “Oh, where did this imposter come from? I don’t remember there being any venerable like you in the Four Idols Cult.”

Lady Three said, “I already told you that I’m unvenerable. Who said anything about me being a venerable?”

Xia Chichi responded, “If you’re not a venerable, but claim to be from our cult, then why aren’t you kneeling before the saintess?”

Lady Three froze. She realized she could not bring herself to be as shameless as Vermillion Bird.

How could this be? Am I really more concerned about saving face than Vermillion Bird?

Oh, right... Vermillion Bird was moving as the Fire Serpent of Yi back then, and Chichi assumed that to be true. So Vermillion Bird hasn’t technically lost face yet. But how can I just kneel? Chichi knows full well that I’m Black Tortoise!

Wait... Since she knows I’m Black Tortoise, what’s the point of continuing this act?

Lady Three finally realized and snapped. “Xia Chichi, you’re getting bold, disrespecting me like this! Who should be kneeling to whom?”

Zhao Changhe nearly buried his face in his hands. He wished he could just disappear right now.

“Oh? Dropping the act now, huh?!” Xia Chichi snapped with even greater rage. “All that fake guidance, making me practice, punishing me by making me copy books—it was all just so you could sneak around with my man?! You’re unworthy of being a venerable of our cult. I had so much respect for you! Have you no shame?”

Lady Three instinctively wanted to cover her face but forced herself to stop. “How is he your man? Have you married him?”

Xia Chichi was livid. “Why do you think I haven’t married him yet? Do you really not know? You keep talking about tradition, but it was all just to steal him from me, wasn’t it?!”

Lady Three, knowing she was in the wrong, could only try to deflect. “When did I stop you from doing anything? Go blame whoever did! Was it me who got in the way?!”

Far away in the capital, Huangfu Qing suddenly shivered.

Xia Chichi, however, suddenly smiled, her tone turning sweet. “So, you’re not against me finding a man, right, Aunt-<aster?”

“I... I...” Lady Three stammered. Ultimately, she forced herself to say, “I never stopped you!”

“Well, that’s wonderful then.” Xia Chichi immediately spun around and slipped into Zhao Changhe’s arms, standing on the tip of her toes with lips puckered. “Kiss me.”

Zhao Changhe, his face frozen with awkwardness, could not even begin to move.

Xia Chichi’s eyes gleamed dangerously. “Hmm? Have you really changed your heart? Fine then, enjoy being with that old woman. I’m leaving.”

Hearing this, Zhao Changhe could not hold back any longer and leaned down to kiss her.

Xia Chichi wrapped her arms around Zhao Changhe’s neck, whispering seductively, “You were supposed to kiss me right in front of the venerables of the cult, making them furious yet having no choice but to relent... Although the way things have turned out is a bit strange... so strange I almost want to bite you... I guess you did somewhat accomplish what I had in mind...”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Technically, that might be true, but still, this feels really weird...

He stole a glance at Lady Three. He saw her face turn completely green with anger, and steam was practically rising from her head.

This really is “making them furious yet having no choice but to relent...” Fuck, Chichi is ruthless.

Luckily, despite her mischievous streak, Xia Chichi was still a young maiden. Even though her mind was running wild with the idea of having Zhao Changhe take her right there, she could not bring herself to say it out loud. Deep down, she was still wary of Vermillion Bird finding out... She kissed Zhao Changhe passionately for a while, casting sidelong glances at Lady Three, who looked so angry she had seemingly shut down. Finally, Xia Chichi pulled back a little and asked, “So, venerable, do you understand how I felt now?”

Lady Three finally came back to her senses. “Why would I share the same feelings as you? Do you think I’m so dependent on a man? Ridiculous.”

With that, she turned and began walking away.

Zhao Changhe panicked, ready to call out to her, but Xia Chichi shot him a look, smiling slyly. “Go on, then, have your way with me.”

Lady Three paused mid-step, steam rising from her head.

That victorious tone—is she really suggesting that I’ve just become some defeated dog? Is she declaring she’s won? This is unbearable!

But she had just thrown out the words, “Do you think I’m so dependent on a man? Ridiculous.” How could she possibly swallow her pride and turn back after that?

Xia Chichi kept giving Zhao Changhe meaningful looks.

In a flash, Zhao Changhe used his movement art to appear right in front of Lady Three, blocking her path. “Lady Three...”

Lady Three’s heart leaped, but she kept her face stern with a scowl. “Why are you stopping me? Go be with your little white tiger. She was with you first anyway!”

Zhao Changhe immediately embraced her. “I know that you can do without a man, but I can’t do without you, Lady Three.”

Lady Three did not resist, but she shot a glance at Xia Chichi as if challenging her. “And what about her?”

Zhao Changhe knew Lady Three did not care how many women he had. When they had first gotten together, she had even asked him who was prettier between her, Vermillion Bird, and Xia Chichi, and occasionally brought up Yue Hongling and Tang Wanzhuang. She knew exactly how many women he had, but she had never been bothered by it. If anything, her problem was not sharing him with others—it was getting caught red-handed and losing her dignity. Xia Chichi’s smug attitude did not help make her less angry either.

So he just needed to say the right thing: “Chichi was my first moonlight, and she always will be, but you are my partner—the one who built a little home with me, side by side. Lady Three, if you leave me now, I’ll never sleep soundly again...”

“Even with her by your side?”

“...Right.”

Xia Chichi, as if right on cue, snapped, “Zhao Changhe!”

Lady Three chuckled, hooking her arm around Zhao Changhe’s, letting his arm sink deep into her bosom. “This is my top general, saintess. You can’t raise your voice at him whenever you want. Since you’re his moonlight, I shall make an exception and loosen the rules, allowing you to be together for a while. I won’t hold it against you.”

Xia Chichi stared blankly at where Zhao Changhe’s arm was nestled, then reflexively glanced down at her own chest. Originally, this whole act was to help Zhao Changhe get Lady Three’s acceptance, to ease the venerable into having her around as well, preparing for the future... but right now, she could not help but feel a pang of jealousy. Her expression darkened.

Lady Three, basking in her satisfaction, held Zhao Changhe close and puckered her lips. “Kiss me.”

Poor Shelly had completely forgotten that just a few hours ago, she had said, “Don’t you dare kiss me with the same lips you used to kiss her...”

1. This made me laugh out loud. Unfortunately, the meaning isn’t carried over as easily in English. Anyway, here’s a simple explanation of the name: Mystic Tortoise (??) is a combination of Black Tortoise (??) and Shelly (??)—take note of the first Chinese character in Black Tortoise (which means “profound, mystic, dark” and either Chinese character in Shelly (which is basically “turtle-turtle”). Funnily enough, the term ?? actually does mean “dark tortoise,” while ?? (Xuanwu) doesn’t—the name comes from an association with the god named Xuanwu. Meanwhile, the names for the other three idols are translated literally. ?