Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Killer Queen: Tyrant, Please Die! - Xiao Jue's Side Story Collection

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[Bonus Chapter 1] Snow in the North

Timeline: Winter of the first year of Jinghe - Xiao Jue's first entry into the Northern Territory

That winter, the snow was particularly heavy.

Standing on the northern city wall for the first time, gazing at the vast snowfield, Xiao Jue had only one thought in his mind—

It's fucking cold here.

It was much colder than he had imagined.

Behind him, the old general patted him on the shoulder: "Kid, scared?"

Xiao Jue turned around and looked at the gray-haired Prince of Zhenbei—his father.

"I'm not afraid," he said. "I just didn't expect the snow to be this heavy."

The old general smiled.

That smile contained relief, but also a hint of complex emotions.

"That's what your mother said back then."

Xiao Jue was taken aback.

His mother...

The woman who died when he was five years old, the woman who always held him and sang Xiling folk songs, the woman who held his hand before she died and said, "Jue'er, protect this land for your mother."

She is from Xiling.

They are the most unpopular "barbarian tribe" in this land.

But she married a general from the Central Plains, gave birth to him, and then spent her whole life protecting this once hostile land.

"Father," Xiao Jue asked softly, "Did Mother... ever regret it?"

The old general remained silent for a long time.

Then, pointing into the distance.

"Do you see that snow-capped mountain?"

Xiao Jue looked in the direction he was pointing.

On the horizon, the snow-capped mountains shimmered silver in the sunlight.

"That's your mother's hometown," the old general said. "Whenever she missed home, she would stand here and look at that mountain."

"But she never went back."

Xiao Jue's heart clenched.

Why?

The old general turned to look at him.

"Because this is her home."

"What she's protecting is her husband, her son, and her...new home."

Xiao Jue fell silent.

for a long time.

He turned around and looked back at the snowfield.

"father."

"Um?"

"I'll keep watch for my mother."

The old general looked at him, his eyes slightly red.

"Okay," he said, "Let's guard it together."

That year, Xiao Jue was seventeen years old.

He didn't know that this act of guarding would last a lifetime.

-

[Bonus Chapter 2] A Letter from Jiangnan

Timeline: Spring of the third year of Jinghe - First Encounter at Qihuang Garden

Xiao Jue first met Shen Qingci at Wangjiang Tower.

That night, dressed in black, she climbed in through the window and landed silently.

He thought to himself: This woman is a master.

Later, he handed her the blank secret edict from the late Empress Dowager.

She accepted it and glanced at him.

That glance was calm and sharp, yet it also concealed a very faint hint of... weariness.

He suddenly remembered his mother.

His mother often looked at him with that kind of gaze when she was alive.

It's as if it's saying: I'm tired, but I can't give up.

"Young Master Xiao?" Her voice rang out.

He came to his senses.

"Thank you," she said. "I'll remember this kindness."

He shook his head: "No need. This was left to you by the late Empress Dowager."

She nodded, turned around, and disappeared into the night.

He stood by the window, watching the figure grow smaller and smaller in the distance.

Suddenly, I really wanted to ask her—

Are you tired?

But he no longer had the chance.

-

Later, he went to the North.

She stayed in Jiangnan.

They began communicating.

Initially, it was just business.

Military intelligence in the north, business news in the south, and movements in the imperial court.

Later, other things gradually appeared.

She would mention Bao'er in her letters—the little one who had just learned to walk.

"Bao'er turned Jinshu's medicine box upside down today. Jinshu was so angry that she chased after him. He ran and laughed, laughing so hard that he drooled."

He read the letter, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his face.

He would send her snow lotus from the North.

"This item can be used in medicine and is also for ornamental purposes. The northern border is bitterly cold and there's not much of value there, so this is passable."

She replied:

"I received the snow lotus. It's beautiful. Thank you."

He stared at the words "thank you" for a long time.

That's not what he actually meant.

He wanted to say—

Has spring arrived where you are?

Are you tired?

Is there anyone you can lean on?

But he never wrote a single one of these words.

Because he is Xiao Jue.

He is the heir apparent of the Prince of Zhenbei.

Yes... someone who can only stand at a distance and watch her forever.

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【Extra 3】Looking north

Timeline: Autumn of the fourth year of Jinghe - after the great victory in the northern border

That battle was extremely fierce.

Xiao Jue took the lead and charged ahead.

An arrow grazed his ear, a blade sliced ​​across his cheek, and blood splattered all over him.

He had his own, and he had his enemies.

After the battle, the lieutenant bandaged his wounds, his hands trembling.

"General, you're pushing yourself too hard..."

Xiao Jue remained silent.

He just kept looking south.

The lieutenant followed his gaze and sighed.

"General, if you miss her, why don't you go back and visit her?"

Xiao Jue turned to look at him.

The lieutenant shrank back: "This humble general has spoken out of turn."

Xiao Jue remained silent.

He simply continued to gaze south.

Want to?

miss you.

I'm going crazy.

But he can't go back.

Because she was the empress.

Because he is standing here, he is protecting her.

Protect her kingdom, protect her children, protect the prosperous era she desires.

This is enough.

Really.

enough.

-

That evening, he received a letter.

Her own handwriting.

General Xiao:

"I heard of the great victory in the North, where you led the charge and were wounded."

Take care of yourself.

"This will always be your home."

"Qingci"

He held the letter and looked at it for a long time.

Then, place it close to your body.

Continue gazing south.

-

[Bonus Chapter 4] Snow Lotus

Timeline: Spring of the fifth year of Jinghe (620 AD) - After the Xiling incident was resolved

On the day the matter in Xiling was resolved, Xiao Jue stood on the snow-capped mountain, looking at the enormous snow leopard.

The snow leopard was also looking at him.

The man and the leopard stared at each other for a long time.

Suddenly, the snow leopard turned around and walked in one direction.

After walking a few steps, I looked back at him.

It's as if it's saying: Follow me.

Xiao Jue followed it to the edge of a cliff.

Below the cliff lies a sea of ​​snow lotus.

Thousands upon thousands of snow lotuses swayed in the wind.

Xiao Jue was stunned.

The snow leopard crouched beside him, emitting a low growl.

It's as if it's saying: This is for you.

He suddenly understood.

This was given to him by the snow leopard on behalf of Bao'er.

Bao'er...

The little child called him "Uncle Xiao," put the snow lotus in his hand, and said, "I hope Uncle Xiao is safe and sound."

He squatted down and picked a flower.

It's very small and very white.

It was exactly the same as the one he sent to Jiangnan that year.

He suddenly laughed.

As she laughed, her eyes welled up with tears.

-

After returning to the North, he planted the snow lotus in his yard.

Water it every day, check on it every day.

The lieutenant asked him, "General, what is this?"

He said, "It's just a thought."

The lieutenant did not ask any further questions.

Only occasionally, when passing by, would I see the general squatting in front of that flower, lost in thought.

It looks like it's been a long time.

-

[Bonus Chapter 5] Family Letter

Timeline: Jinghe Ten Years - Mid-Autumn Festival

It's Mid-Autumn Festival again.

Xiao Jue stood on the city wall, gazing at the moon.

The moon is very round.

It was as round as the mooncakes they ate together in the capital.

He didn't know what kind of filling they were eating.

It's probably lotus seed paste.

Yao'er likes to eat sweets.

Heng'er likes to follow his older brother; whatever his brother eats, he eats too.

Bao'er... Bao'er probably doesn't eat sweets much anymore.

He's the crown prince now, he needs to be composed.

As he thought about it, the corners of his mouth curved into a smile.

The lieutenant ran up behind him.

"General! A letter has arrived from the capital!"

He took the letter and unfolded it.

The letter was written in Shen Qingci's handwriting:

General Xiao:

"Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, and the children are all thinking of you."

"Yao'er asked, 'Isn't Uncle Xiao lonely all alone in the Northern Border?'"

"Heng'er said that Uncle Xiao has the giant snow leopard we gave him to keep him company!"

"Bao'er said that Uncle Xiao is guarding the frontier, not playing around."

He's right.

"You are guarding the frontier."

"We are guarding our home."

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.

"Qingci"

He looked at the letter and smiled.

As I laughed, my eyes welled up with tears.

He folded the letter and kept it close to his body.

Then, I continued to gaze at the moon.

The moon is very round.

It's round like a home.

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[Side Story 6] The Last Dream

Timeline: Winter of the 40th year of Jinghe - Before Xiao Jue's death

Xiao Jue is old.

I'm really getting old.

He lay in bed, gazing out the window.

Outside the window, snow was falling heavily.

Winter in the North is as cold as ever.

Beside the bed, the deputy general—now an old general—held his hand with red eyes.

"General, is there anything else you'd like to say?"

Xiao Jue thought for a moment.

"Take good care of that snow lotus for me," he said.

The old deputy general paused for a moment, then nodded frantically.

"Your humble servant remembers! I will take good care of them!"

Xiao Jue smiled.

Then, close your eyes.

He had a dream.

In his dream, he returned to Jiangnan.

The flowers in the courtyard of Qihuang Garden are in full bloom.

She sat on the stone bench, holding a cup of tea in her hand, and looked up at him.

"You're here?"

He nodded.

"sit."

He sat down.

The two sat facing each other, neither speaking.

Only when the wind blows do the petals fall.

a long time.

She asked softly, "Having guarded this place your whole life, aren't you tired?"

He thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Not tired," he said. "It was worth it."

She smiled.

That smile was exactly the same as it was back then.

"Xiao Jue".

"Um?"

"Thank you."

Women's eyesight.

Those eyes were still so bright.

It shone as brightly as his eyes under the moonlight when he first saw her.

He suddenly felt that his life had been worthwhile.

"You're welcome," he said. "It's my choice."

She nodded.

Stand up and extend your hand.

"Let's go home."

He stared at her outstretched hand, momentarily stunned.

Then, I laughed.

Reach out and grasp it.

That hand was warm.

It was as warm as when his mother held his hand and taught him to walk many, many years ago.

"Okay," he said, "Let's go home."

-

Outside the window, the wind and snow had stopped.

Sunlight streamed in, illuminating his serene face.

A smile played at the corners of her mouth.

-

The old deputy general knelt by the bedside, tears streaming down his face.

"General... General, may you rest in peace..."

Outside the gate, the soldiers of the Northern Frontier knelt on the ground.

No one speaks.

Only the wind blows gently.

The wind blew past the snow lotus that had been planted for thirty years.

The petals swayed in the wind.

As if to say:

He went home.

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[Side Story 7] Later Generations - A Stele in the Northern Border

Many, many years later.

The northern border town.

A young traveler stumbled upon a stone tablet.

The stone tablet is very old, and the inscription is faded and mottled.

He crouched down and examined it carefully.

It is engraved on it:

"General Xiao Jue guarded the north here."

"As it has been for thirty-seven years"

"Never returned south"

"But my heart is always in the South."

The traveler stared at the words for a long time, stunned.

An old shepherd was passing by and stopped when he saw him looking at the monument.

"Young man, do you recognize the person depicted on this monument?"

The traveler shook his head: "I don't know him. Who is he?"

The old man smiled.

"He is the guardian deity of our northern border."

"I've stayed here for thirty-seven years, and I've never left for a single day."

"But in his heart, he always longed for the South."

The traveler asked curiously, "What's in the South?"

The old man looked into the distance and said slowly:

"There are people he wants to protect."

"There's something he's willing to cherish for the rest of his life... a thought he's willing to hold onto."

The traveler fell silent.

He looked at the monument and suddenly remembered a sentence.

What I read in the book:

Some people never say "I love you" in their entire lives.

"But he loved his whole life."

He bowed slightly.

He turned and left.

Behind me, the wind blew across the grassland.

That monument stands silently.

She stayed by that person's side for a lifetime.

Now, I'm guarding that person's place.

Holding onto that unspoken truth—

deep feeling.

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[Xiao Jue's Side Story - End]

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postscript

Xiao Jue guarded three things throughout his life.

The North, the land, and her.

He never said "I love you".

But he spent his whole life proving love.

Some people don't need to be told.

Because he was standing there, he was the answer.

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"General, do you regret it?"

No regrets.

Why?

"Because the act of protecting itself is happiness."

——Xiao Jue