The Legend of Chu Qiao - V1C11
Prologue 1- Major Chu Qiao
Prologue 2- A Storm is coming
Prologue 3- Time's up!
1- Royal Hunt
2- Zhuge, Wei, Mu, Jue, Che... and Yan
3- Fifth Brother
4- Fate is a Bitch!
5- Bloody Heart
6- Bastards
7- Snakes
8- Boundaries
9- Rocks and Plum Blossoms
10- Thank You, Sisters!
11- My name is 'None'
12- The Lantern Festival
13- Liar, Liar!
14- Everything Happens for a Reason
15- Ambushed by a pervert. Saved by a prince.
Chapter 11
My name is 'None'
My name is 'None'
One year later[1].
Chu Qiao donned a brand-new white cherry dress, complemented by white camel fur boots and two emerald jade flowers adorning her hair. She looked charming as she skipped along the lakeside in the backyard. Having just retrieved some agarwood incense from the outer courtyard, she was passing by the bamboo grove when suddenly a shadow loomed in front of her. The figure laughed heartily and exclaimed, "Haha! I finally found you!"
The young prince wore a sapphire robe adorned with bright, colorful birds, making for a striking sight. He tossed his whip playfully towards Chu Qiao, took a moment to appreciate her appearance, and smiled as he said, "What’s happening? The weather is beautiful today; let's go bird hunting!"
Seeing the young prince, now twelve, so cheerful, Chu Qiao raised her eyebrows and said, "I’m not available. I still have things to do. Please excuse me." She then turned to leave.
"Hey, don’t go," the young prince quickly moved to block her path, arms outstretched. "After searching for you for months in this garden, how about you tell me your name and which courtyard you’re from? I’ll ask Zhuge Huai to let you come with me. What do you say?"
She arched her eyebrow, turned back to face him, and asked, "You want me to follow you?"
The young prince nodded seriously, "Yes! Out of all the servants, you’re the one I find most charming. I’ll make you my chief bodyguard. What do you think?"
Chu Qiao smiled and nodded, "Alright then, I’ll tell you my name. But whether you can request me from my master remains to be seen."
"Don’t worry!" he thumped his chest and proclaimed, "Even if I had to ask for ten people, Zhuge Huai would still listen to me, so requesting just you will be a breeze."
“Okay, pay attention. My name is 'None,' and I’m part of the 'Exist' courtyard. I serve under Lady 'Tricks,' and I make clay figurines for the masters to have fun. You need to remember that.”
The Young Master’s eyes sparkled with interest as he asked, "Can you really make clay figurines?"
"Yes," Chu Qiao laughed. Seeing this adorable kid, she tiptoed and gently extended her arm to pinch him on his cheek. She smiled and said, "I have many abilities and will let you see them first-hand in the future. I still have those to run, and I need to leave now. Remember to talk to Third Master."
"Don't worry, I will." The young prince nodded and grinned. "You'd better go back and pack first. I will pick you up in a short while."
Chu Qiao walked onward for quite a distance. When she turned around, she spotted the young prince standing on a boulder, enthusiastically waving at her. Suppressing a smile, she made her way through the bamboo grove, holding her agarwood incense as she approached the Qing Shan court.
"Named 'None,' court 'Exist,' servant of Lady 'Tricks,' skilled in molding clay figurines, and visibly enjoying herself. How did you come up with those?" A distinctly male voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts. Startled, Chu Qiao looked around and up to see Yan Xun perched on a branch of a pine tree, grinning down at her.
Having shown him her true self several times and trusting that he wouldn't report her, Chu Qiao saw no reason to hide her sarcasm. She shot him an annoyed glare and scolded, “You climbed so high! Aren’t you afraid of falling?”
“That’s not for you to worry about. You’re quite the little rascal; you should be more concerned about yourself. Dark clouds are gathering, and you can never be sure if a thunderstorm will hit during winter—those guilty of wrongdoing may find their fate sealed.”
Standing beneath the tree, she looked up and retorted coldly, “No matter how many wrongs I commit, I can’t compare to you brats who don’t even flinch at taking another’s life. You’re all swine—none of you are good.”
“How bold!” He spoke casually, despite the harshness of his words, smiling all the while. From his vantage point, he regarded her and said, “I purposely misfired my arrow to save you. To protect you, I lost the prize of eight lovely Western dancers from the Third Master. Yet you repay me with insults instead of gratitude. What’s your reasoning?”
“Reasoning is meant for people, not animals. I warned you not to bother me again, and don’t even think about turning me in as a threat. If you do, you’ll regret it.”
Once she finished, she turned and quickened her pace. After a couple of steps, she felt something hit her on the back of the head. Looking down, she saw a snow-covered pinecone. Anger flashed through her, and she glared at Yan Xun. “Are you trying to provoke me?”
“Not at all.” Yan Xun flashed a proud smile. “I’m not provoking you; I’m just bullying you.”
Chu Qiao tilted her head, suddenly turned, and walked away without a word. Yan Xun, pretending to be deep in thought with his eyes half-closed, hoped she would argue back, but her silence brought him disappointment.
Out of nowhere, a fist-sized stone flew toward Yan Xun’s face. Luckily, his martial arts training allowed him quick reflexes as he dodged the blow. Secretly thrilled, he then felt a rush of cold on his back, followed by a loud crash as snow fell from the tree, covering him.
Yan Xun jumped down, covered in snow and looking disheveled. He glanced up to see the little girl standing on the snow-dusted ground, dusting herself off. Spotting him looking her way, smirking, she raised her right arm and flashed her middle finger, grinning triumphantly before turning away.
Yan Xun frowned slightly and pointed back with his own middle finger. The thirteen-year-old royal found himself perplexed. What did that gesture signify?
Just then, thirteen-year-old aide boy Feng Mian burst out from the woods, looking determined. “Your Royal Highness, I’ll go catch her so you can punish this disrespectful servant.”
“You? Capture her?” Yan Xun scoffed, raising his middle finger again. “Feng Mian, what does this gesture mean?”
Feng Mian was taken aback but replied confidently, “It’s a sign of apology. She knows she overstepped, but as a child, she’s embarrassed to apologize directly, so she used that gesture instead.”
“Apology?” Yan Xun frowned, unconvinced. “Doesn’t seem like it.”
“It must be, Your Royal Highness.”
“Mmm”
The young prince wore a sapphire robe adorned with bright, colorful birds, making for a striking sight. He tossed his whip playfully towards Chu Qiao, took a moment to appreciate her appearance, and smiled as he said, "What’s happening? The weather is beautiful today; let's go bird hunting!"
Seeing the young prince, now twelve, so cheerful, Chu Qiao raised her eyebrows and said, "I’m not available. I still have things to do. Please excuse me." She then turned to leave.
"Hey, don’t go," the young prince quickly moved to block her path, arms outstretched. "After searching for you for months in this garden, how about you tell me your name and which courtyard you’re from? I’ll ask Zhuge Huai to let you come with me. What do you say?"
She arched her eyebrow, turned back to face him, and asked, "You want me to follow you?"
The young prince nodded seriously, "Yes! Out of all the servants, you’re the one I find most charming. I’ll make you my chief bodyguard. What do you think?"
Chu Qiao smiled and nodded, "Alright then, I’ll tell you my name. But whether you can request me from my master remains to be seen."
"Don’t worry!" he thumped his chest and proclaimed, "Even if I had to ask for ten people, Zhuge Huai would still listen to me, so requesting just you will be a breeze."
“Okay, pay attention. My name is 'None,' and I’m part of the 'Exist' courtyard. I serve under Lady 'Tricks,' and I make clay figurines for the masters to have fun. You need to remember that.”
The Young Master’s eyes sparkled with interest as he asked, "Can you really make clay figurines?"
"Yes," Chu Qiao laughed. Seeing this adorable kid, she tiptoed and gently extended her arm to pinch him on his cheek. She smiled and said, "I have many abilities and will let you see them first-hand in the future. I still have those to run, and I need to leave now. Remember to talk to Third Master."
"Don't worry, I will." The young prince nodded and grinned. "You'd better go back and pack first. I will pick you up in a short while."
Chu Qiao walked onward for quite a distance. When she turned around, she spotted the young prince standing on a boulder, enthusiastically waving at her. Suppressing a smile, she made her way through the bamboo grove, holding her agarwood incense as she approached the Qing Shan court.
"Named 'None,' court 'Exist,' servant of Lady 'Tricks,' skilled in molding clay figurines, and visibly enjoying herself. How did you come up with those?" A distinctly male voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts. Startled, Chu Qiao looked around and up to see Yan Xun perched on a branch of a pine tree, grinning down at her.
Having shown him her true self several times and trusting that he wouldn't report her, Chu Qiao saw no reason to hide her sarcasm. She shot him an annoyed glare and scolded, “You climbed so high! Aren’t you afraid of falling?”
“That’s not for you to worry about. You’re quite the little rascal; you should be more concerned about yourself. Dark clouds are gathering, and you can never be sure if a thunderstorm will hit during winter—those guilty of wrongdoing may find their fate sealed.”
Standing beneath the tree, she looked up and retorted coldly, “No matter how many wrongs I commit, I can’t compare to you brats who don’t even flinch at taking another’s life. You’re all swine—none of you are good.”
“How bold!” He spoke casually, despite the harshness of his words, smiling all the while. From his vantage point, he regarded her and said, “I purposely misfired my arrow to save you. To protect you, I lost the prize of eight lovely Western dancers from the Third Master. Yet you repay me with insults instead of gratitude. What’s your reasoning?”
“Reasoning is meant for people, not animals. I warned you not to bother me again, and don’t even think about turning me in as a threat. If you do, you’ll regret it.”
Once she finished, she turned and quickened her pace. After a couple of steps, she felt something hit her on the back of the head. Looking down, she saw a snow-covered pinecone. Anger flashed through her, and she glared at Yan Xun. “Are you trying to provoke me?”
“Not at all.” Yan Xun flashed a proud smile. “I’m not provoking you; I’m just bullying you.”
Chu Qiao tilted her head, suddenly turned, and walked away without a word. Yan Xun, pretending to be deep in thought with his eyes half-closed, hoped she would argue back, but her silence brought him disappointment.
Out of nowhere, a fist-sized stone flew toward Yan Xun’s face. Luckily, his martial arts training allowed him quick reflexes as he dodged the blow. Secretly thrilled, he then felt a rush of cold on his back, followed by a loud crash as snow fell from the tree, covering him.
Yan Xun jumped down, covered in snow and looking disheveled. He glanced up to see the little girl standing on the snow-dusted ground, dusting herself off. Spotting him looking her way, smirking, she raised her right arm and flashed her middle finger, grinning triumphantly before turning away.
Yan Xun frowned slightly and pointed back with his own middle finger. The thirteen-year-old royal found himself perplexed. What did that gesture signify?
Just then, thirteen-year-old aide boy Feng Mian burst out from the woods, looking determined. “Your Royal Highness, I’ll go catch her so you can punish this disrespectful servant.”
“You? Capture her?” Yan Xun scoffed, raising his middle finger again. “Feng Mian, what does this gesture mean?”
Feng Mian was taken aback but replied confidently, “It’s a sign of apology. She knows she overstepped, but as a child, she’s embarrassed to apologize directly, so she used that gesture instead.”
“Apology?” Yan Xun frowned, unconvinced. “Doesn’t seem like it.”
“It must be, Your Royal Highness.”
“Mmm”
·········⋆༺𓆩❀𓆪༻⋆·········
In the main hall of Red Hill Court, Zhuge Huai, Zhao Che, and a few others burst into laughter as they overheard the conversation.
Wei Jing smiled and said, "Zhuge Huai, I didn't know you had such a clever girl here. Now, even I want to meet her."
Zhuge Huai shook his head and said, "My servants aren’t smart and put themselves in a position to be ridiculed."
"What happened? Why is everyone laughing?" The young prince was flushing with embarrassment, aware that he might have been the punchline but unsure what he had done wrong.
Zhao Che chuckled. "Named 'None,' from the 'Exist' court, servant of lady 'Trick,' can knead clay figurines to play and have fun. Putting it together, it was 'no one exists, play tricks and have fun.' It was all a lie, Thirteenth Brother. She was making fun of you!"
Zhao Song's[2] small face was glowing bright red with embarrassment. He stomped his foot in anger and ran out.
A deep rumble filled the air, followed by the bright bursts of cheerful firecracker explosions that illuminated the surroundings; the sparks danced with the large snowflakes drifting down. Children laughed and played in the streets, covering their ears as they set off the less expensive 'thunder-cracker,' which made a loud bang without any sparks. They were truly enjoying themselves.
After Emperor Zhao Zhengde took the throne to preside over the New Year's celebration, the twenty-fifth lantern festival began, bringing joy to everyone as they filled the streets with festivities. The authorities provided free firecrackers to the public, heightening the lively and festive atmosphere. The master of Sheng Jin Palace praised the efforts of the local magistrate, rewarding and congratulating them for their contributions.
Chu Qiao wore a charming pink knitted dress paired with a fox-fur coat, with soft fox wool framing her face. Her hair was styled into two buns decorated with pink ribbons. She smiled as she brushed snowflakes from her cute nose and pink cheeks. Moving quickly and gracefully, she looked like a colorful butterfly that rarely stayed still. While her childhood features were still visible, everything about her suggested she would become one of the most beautiful women. Everyone noticed this at a glance.
"Xing’er, Fourth Master is calling for you," Huan Er, a young servant, called out, rushing over with her hands in the air.
Chu Qiao nodded and replied, "Let’s go." She walked confidently toward Xuan Hall, showing no signs of anxiety.
Frowning, Huan Er watched Chu Qiao walk away but soon shook her head and hurried to catch up. In contrast to her, Zhuge Yue was more relaxed. When Chu Qiao pushed open the door, she found the Fourth Master of the Zhuge clan sitting on his heated couch, deeply focused on a game of Go, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Chu Qiao checked and organized the required items before giving them to the other servants. Afterward, she poured tea and set the cup next to Zhuge Yue’s desk. Sitting upright by the incense burner, she leaned her arm on the desk and rested her chin on her hand, waiting quietly for him.
On the table lay an old book, its yellowed pages partially flipped open. Noticing it looked like a Buddhist scripture, Chu Qiao felt a surge of curiosity.
Zhuge Yue was not seen as excessively cruel or cunning; at least not when compared to his aristocratic peers, who reveled in the day's Royal Hunt. However, he maintained a certain aloofness and radiated a strong sense of arrogance. What had prompted him to alter his viewpoint and engage with Buddhist scriptures? She wondered.
“What’s written in there isn’t all nonsense,” Zhuge Yue remarked, as if he could read her mind. He picked up a black Go piece and placed it on the board while flipping through the book. “Read it aloud.”
“Living life is like walking through a bed of thorns. If you keep your heart calm, your body will naturally follow and remain steady. If your body stays grounded, you’ll avoid harm. But if your heart is troubled, your body may act recklessly, leading to injury. You may encounter the thorns—scratched, pierced, and suffering various pains along the journey of life.”
Zhuge Yue slowly raised his gaze. A whirlwind of thoughts flickered in his eyes as he looked at her intently. He finally smiled and said, “Not bad. You know quite a bit for someone so young. Who taught you?”
Chu Qiao sensed something was wrong as she read the first line, but she stayed calm and smiled. “Thank you, Young Master, for the compliment. I've been passionate about reading since I was young, and I learned from my siblings, who learned from our parents.”
“Is that so? Do you comprehend what you've read?”
“I have a basic understanding,” Chu Qiao replied. “Could you explain it to me, Master?”
Zhuge Yue smiled faintly but did not answer. He lowered his head and returned to his Go game.
·········⋆༺𓆩❀𓆪༻⋆·········
A deep rumble filled the air, followed by the bright bursts of cheerful firecracker explosions that illuminated the surroundings; the sparks danced with the large snowflakes drifting down. Children laughed and played in the streets, covering their ears as they set off the less expensive 'thunder-cracker,' which made a loud bang without any sparks. They were truly enjoying themselves.
After Emperor Zhao Zhengde took the throne to preside over the New Year's celebration, the twenty-fifth lantern festival began, bringing joy to everyone as they filled the streets with festivities. The authorities provided free firecrackers to the public, heightening the lively and festive atmosphere. The master of Sheng Jin Palace praised the efforts of the local magistrate, rewarding and congratulating them for their contributions.
Chu Qiao wore a charming pink knitted dress paired with a fox-fur coat, with soft fox wool framing her face. Her hair was styled into two buns decorated with pink ribbons. She smiled as she brushed snowflakes from her cute nose and pink cheeks. Moving quickly and gracefully, she looked like a colorful butterfly that rarely stayed still. While her childhood features were still visible, everything about her suggested she would become one of the most beautiful women. Everyone noticed this at a glance.
"Xing’er, Fourth Master is calling for you," Huan Er, a young servant, called out, rushing over with her hands in the air.
Chu Qiao nodded and replied, "Let’s go." She walked confidently toward Xuan Hall, showing no signs of anxiety.
Frowning, Huan Er watched Chu Qiao walk away but soon shook her head and hurried to catch up. In contrast to her, Zhuge Yue was more relaxed. When Chu Qiao pushed open the door, she found the Fourth Master of the Zhuge clan sitting on his heated couch, deeply focused on a game of Go, his brow furrowed in concentration.
Chu Qiao checked and organized the required items before giving them to the other servants. Afterward, she poured tea and set the cup next to Zhuge Yue’s desk. Sitting upright by the incense burner, she leaned her arm on the desk and rested her chin on her hand, waiting quietly for him.
On the table lay an old book, its yellowed pages partially flipped open. Noticing it looked like a Buddhist scripture, Chu Qiao felt a surge of curiosity.
Zhuge Yue was not seen as excessively cruel or cunning; at least not when compared to his aristocratic peers, who reveled in the day's Royal Hunt. However, he maintained a certain aloofness and radiated a strong sense of arrogance. What had prompted him to alter his viewpoint and engage with Buddhist scriptures? She wondered.
“What’s written in there isn’t all nonsense,” Zhuge Yue remarked, as if he could read her mind. He picked up a black Go piece and placed it on the board while flipping through the book. “Read it aloud.”
“Living life is like walking through a bed of thorns. If you keep your heart calm, your body will naturally follow and remain steady. If your body stays grounded, you’ll avoid harm. But if your heart is troubled, your body may act recklessly, leading to injury. You may encounter the thorns—scratched, pierced, and suffering various pains along the journey of life.”
Zhuge Yue slowly raised his gaze. A whirlwind of thoughts flickered in his eyes as he looked at her intently. He finally smiled and said, “Not bad. You know quite a bit for someone so young. Who taught you?”
Chu Qiao sensed something was wrong as she read the first line, but she stayed calm and smiled. “Thank you, Young Master, for the compliment. I've been passionate about reading since I was young, and I learned from my siblings, who learned from our parents.”
“Is that so? Do you comprehend what you've read?”
“I have a basic understanding,” Chu Qiao replied. “Could you explain it to me, Master?”
Zhuge Yue smiled faintly but did not answer. He lowered his head and returned to his Go game.
[1] Chu Qiao is 10, Zhuge Yue is 16, and Yan Xun is 15.
[2] Zhao Song is the Thirteenth Royal Highness, son of the Emperor and Prince of Xia. He is 12.
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