The Legend of Chu Qiao - V1C15
Prologue 1- Major Chu Qiao
Prologue 2- Time's up!
Prologue 3- The red dot on the GPS vanished
1- Royal Hunting
2- Zhuge, Wei, Mu, Jue, Che, Yan.
3- Fifth Brother
4- Without a Tinge of Regret
5- Bloody Heart
6- Bastards
7- Snakes
8- We Should All Know Our Place
9- Do You Know Who I Am?
10- Thank You, Sisters!
11- My name is 'None'
12- The Lantern Festival
13- Liar!
14- Everything Happens for a Reason
15- To escape, or not to escape?
Chapter 15
To escape, or not to escape?
Chu Qiao just walked over to the city gates when she saw the servants of the Zhuge family holding lanterns and looking around. Upon spotting her, they ran towards her, elated.
"Xing’er, Fourth Young Master asked us to wait for you. Let's go back to the house."
Chu Qiao paused. Given Zhuge Yue's character, she did not expect him to send people to locate her. She nodded and got into the carriage the servants had prepared.
The horse carriage creaked along the busy city streets. The noise outside gradually faded, eventually falling into complete silence. Chu Qiao leaned against the walls of the carriage. Scenes of the recent massacre started to flash before her eyes—the cold gazes of the soldiers, the deep resentment of the refugees, and Wei Shuye's limp resistance.
It was still pointless despite her identity. What could she, a minor player, do then? To oppose an entire empire with her skills would be like a mantis trying to stop a car—an outright failure. What she could do now was to be cautious and keep living, searching for an opportunity to exact revenge and leave with Xiao Ba. As for other matters, she couldn't hope to change anything because of her limited abilities.
The horse carriage gradually disappeared into the distance, and Chu Qiao suddenly felt a chill. She opened the curtains, looked around, and said, "This isn't the way back to the house. Where are you taking me?"
The servant froze, not expecting a child so young to understand directions. He smiled obsequiously and replied, "The Young Master is in the other courtyard, not the main residence."
Chu Qiao’s eyebrows twitched. She carefully asked, "Courtyard? Which courtyard?"
"The courtyard in the western part of the lake."
Chu Qiao frowned. Over the years in her previous life, the instability of her work had naturally made her develop a suspicious nature, allowing her to sense when something was wrong. She tested the waters and probed, "I did not manage to retrieve the things from the house that the Young Master instructed me to. Let's return to the house, then go to the courtyard."
The servant replied with a smile, "Don't worry. The Young Master just said the things that no longer needed to be retrieved. He's waiting in the courtyard. Let us go there quickly, lest he get worried."
Chu Qiao nodded slowly with a quiet expression and let the curtains fall. The servant let out a small sigh of relief. A sly look crossed his eyes, and the corners of his lips sharpened. But when his smile widened, a dagger was coldly pressed against his neck. Seizing the moment, the child quickly pounced. She coldly declared, "You're not serving the Fourth Young Master. Who are you?"
Hehe, a low-pitched, hoarse laugh suddenly erupted from the side, as rough as a night owl's. A gorgeously decorated carriage slowly emerged from the dense forest, carrying a flamboyantly dressed old man inside. He chuckled and, with a slightly sinister tone, said to the servant nearby, who was nodding and bowing to him, "Impressive indeed, such a determined temper at this tender age. Her looks are not bad, either. I'll reward you handsomely later."
Zhu Shun, flattered, replied with a laugh, "Sharing the burden of the second Grand Master is my duty. If the second Grand Master rewarded me, you would not accept my loyalty."
The old man laughed and ordered the two servants on his left and right to "Take this girl back to the house." Everyone obliged resoundingly and quickly moved forward.
Hundreds and thousands of thoughts raced through Chu Qiao's mind instantly. She realized she could use the other person's contempt and carelessness to escape by quickly injuring them. However, doing so would likely raise suspicion from others, especially Zhu Shun, who had only one arm. Even if she managed to escape by luck, it would definitely implicate Xiao Ba, who was still trapped inside the house. If she chose not to escape, she would end up in the clutches of this old pervert. At that point, considering she was just a ten-year-old girl, how could she hope to resist an entire guard force from the Zhuge residence?
To escape, or not to escape?
Chu Qiao tensed up, her mind racing as she quickly considered her options. With this chance, why not beat this old lecher at his own game and get rid of him?
In a flash, some muscular men rushed toward Chu Qiao, aiming to grab the dagger she was holding.
"Stop!" a low-pitched, distinct voice suddenly echoed. Everyone turned their heads toward the sound, only to see snow on the ground being scattered by a herd of more than twenty rapidly approaching pitch-black war horses. The young rider on one of the horses was handsome and dressed in green robes trimmed with white fur. He gave a loud whistle and galloped ahead.
The horses let out a long neigh and stood up, their warm breaths blending with the crisp, cold air to form a cloud of mist. Under the watchful eyes of his servants, the young man stared coldly at the crowd. His voice was calm; he exuded an aura of wisdom and serenity far beyond his years. In a low voice, he remarked, "Long time no see, Master Zhuge."
Grand Master Zhuge, with eyes half-closed, sized up the young man. He chuckled, revealing his yellow teeth. "Oh, it's Prince Yan Xun of Yan Bei. Instead of resting in your house, what are you doing out here braving the cold, snowy winds at this ungodly hour?"
Yan Xun said bluntly, "Thanks for your concern, Master Zhuge. How could I be sleeping soundly at home if you, at your age, still enjoy the lights so late? It's a lantern festival, and the whole country is celebrating. I just came out to see the festivities."
"Oh?" Grand Master Zhuge's long eyebrows eased, and he replied, "In this case, Young Prince Yan, continue to admire the view. I will not stay with you then." He quickly turned to his subordinates and said, "Back to the house."
“Hold on!" Yan Xun quickly ordered his horse to move forward, blocking Master Zhuge's path. He laughed softly, pointed at Chu Qiao, and said, "Master Zhuge, you can leave, but only if you leave this child behind."
The old man's eyebrows moved just a little. He asked, "What do you mean by this, your Royal Highness?"
"This child just startled my horse, Flurry, and scared it away. I want to bring her back to answer for her deeds."
Grand Master Zhuge heard these words, smiled slightly, and replied, "In this case, I will compensate you with a fine horse."
"This horse was brought back from the Western Desert by the King of Yan Bei! It is a fine, well-traveled horse; can you afford to pay for it?"
Feng Mian, shut your mouth!" Yan Xun frowned, berating the page boy behind him. "The Zhuge family is a patriarch of the empire. The head of the Zhuge family is also one of the seven elders of the Grand Elder's Council and wields wealth and power that even our royal family cannot match. There is nothing they cannot afford to buy. However, family ties run deep. My father personally tamed Flurry and delivered it to Zhen Huang from afar. It is not a typical warhorse, so I can't just overlook it. I must take this child with me.
"Prince Yan…"
"You need not say no more, Master Zhuge," Yan Xun interrupted the old Master. He lifted his head and stated, "Grand Master Zhuge, considering your high status, you shouldn't need to humble yourself to plead for a slave. As for this matter, I will answer directly to Fourth Young Master of the Zhuge family. Men, take this child away."
The personal attendants at Yan’s residence stepped forward; one of the well-built men pushed aside Master Zhuge's subordinates, causing him to stumble. He carried Chu Qiao under his arm and was ready to mount the horse.
Zhu Shun, noticing that old Master Zhuge was on the verge of losing his temper, stepped forward with a fake smile. He tugged on the saddle of Yan Xun's horse and pleaded, "Your Royal Highness, this can be discussed…"
With a cracking whip, followed by a fierce kick from Yan Xun to Zhu Shun's chin, Zhu Shun's heavy body was pushed back. He collapsed to the floor, crying out in pain, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood along with two of his yellowed front teeth.
"Who are you to gesture in front of me? You have no idea of your limitations!" Yan Xun stared sharply at Zhu Shun and said coldly.
Zhu Shun was caught off guard. He quickly kneeled and frantically kowtowed. In the Xia Empire, a member of the royal family didn’t need a reason to kill a civilian.
Yan Xun raised his whip and pointed at Zhu Shun, coldly declaring, "I will spare you temporarily because of Master Zhuge today. If you still show this unruly behavior another day, I will personally kill you, even in front of the head of the Zhuge family."
Finishing his sentence, Yan Xun didn't even glance at old Master Zhuge and told his subordinates, "Let's go!"
Yan Xun's people then mounted their horses. As snow fell around them, they disappeared to the end of the long street.
Old Master Zhuge blushed, his left hand trembling with anger. Zhu Shun inched forward, still kneeling. He tugged at Master Zhuge's leg and begged, "Grand Master, please don't be angry! I…"
"Scram!" the old man bellowed. He kicked Zhu Shun in the chest and shouted, "Useless piece of trash!" Then, he boarded the carriage and left quickly.
The heavy snow kept falling. Silence now surrounded the long street, making the busy main street stand out more.
The war horse stopped by the lake. Having kept a serious expression earlier, the young man turned around with a smile and laughed, "Girl, you owe me a favor…again."
Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow slowly. Although she remained silent, her body language clearly said, "I didn't ask you to come."
Yan Xun muttered irritably, "Would it hurt to say something nice?"
Chu Qiao glanced at him and started to walk away.
Yan Xun froze and quickly stepped in front of her. "What are you going to do?"
She raised an eyebrow, "Of course, I'm returning to the Zhuge residence."
"You still want to go back?" the youngster frowned and asked, "That lowly housekeeper won't spare you! And as for that old guy from the Zhuge family, he's known for his perverted dealings in Zhen Huang city! Do you want to risk your life?"
Chu Qiao pushed him aside and said, "None of your business."
Yan Xun didn't loosen his hold and said, "What do you mean? I rescued you out of kindness, and you treat me so coldly. What do you see in Zhuge Yue, that cold guy? Is he worth risking your safety to go back to?"
Chu Qiao looked up, frustrated after risking everything to try and eliminate the old lecher Zhuge but failing. She impatiently brushed Yan Xun's hand away, looked up, and coldly said, "Did I cry for you to come and save me? Keep your kindness to yourself. I don’t want it."
"Xing’er, Fourth Young Master asked us to wait for you. Let's go back to the house."
Chu Qiao paused. Given Zhuge Yue's character, she did not expect him to send people to locate her. She nodded and got into the carriage the servants had prepared.
The horse carriage creaked along the busy city streets. The noise outside gradually faded, eventually falling into complete silence. Chu Qiao leaned against the walls of the carriage. Scenes of the recent massacre started to flash before her eyes—the cold gazes of the soldiers, the deep resentment of the refugees, and Wei Shuye's limp resistance.
It was still pointless despite her identity. What could she, a minor player, do then? To oppose an entire empire with her skills would be like a mantis trying to stop a car—an outright failure. What she could do now was to be cautious and keep living, searching for an opportunity to exact revenge and leave with Xiao Ba. As for other matters, she couldn't hope to change anything because of her limited abilities.
The horse carriage gradually disappeared into the distance, and Chu Qiao suddenly felt a chill. She opened the curtains, looked around, and said, "This isn't the way back to the house. Where are you taking me?"
The servant froze, not expecting a child so young to understand directions. He smiled obsequiously and replied, "The Young Master is in the other courtyard, not the main residence."
Chu Qiao’s eyebrows twitched. She carefully asked, "Courtyard? Which courtyard?"
"The courtyard in the western part of the lake."
Chu Qiao frowned. Over the years in her previous life, the instability of her work had naturally made her develop a suspicious nature, allowing her to sense when something was wrong. She tested the waters and probed, "I did not manage to retrieve the things from the house that the Young Master instructed me to. Let's return to the house, then go to the courtyard."
The servant replied with a smile, "Don't worry. The Young Master just said the things that no longer needed to be retrieved. He's waiting in the courtyard. Let us go there quickly, lest he get worried."
Chu Qiao nodded slowly with a quiet expression and let the curtains fall. The servant let out a small sigh of relief. A sly look crossed his eyes, and the corners of his lips sharpened. But when his smile widened, a dagger was coldly pressed against his neck. Seizing the moment, the child quickly pounced. She coldly declared, "You're not serving the Fourth Young Master. Who are you?"
Hehe, a low-pitched, hoarse laugh suddenly erupted from the side, as rough as a night owl's. A gorgeously decorated carriage slowly emerged from the dense forest, carrying a flamboyantly dressed old man inside. He chuckled and, with a slightly sinister tone, said to the servant nearby, who was nodding and bowing to him, "Impressive indeed, such a determined temper at this tender age. Her looks are not bad, either. I'll reward you handsomely later."
Zhu Shun, flattered, replied with a laugh, "Sharing the burden of the second Grand Master is my duty. If the second Grand Master rewarded me, you would not accept my loyalty."
The old man laughed and ordered the two servants on his left and right to "Take this girl back to the house." Everyone obliged resoundingly and quickly moved forward.
Hundreds and thousands of thoughts raced through Chu Qiao's mind instantly. She realized she could use the other person's contempt and carelessness to escape by quickly injuring them. However, doing so would likely raise suspicion from others, especially Zhu Shun, who had only one arm. Even if she managed to escape by luck, it would definitely implicate Xiao Ba, who was still trapped inside the house. If she chose not to escape, she would end up in the clutches of this old pervert. At that point, considering she was just a ten-year-old girl, how could she hope to resist an entire guard force from the Zhuge residence?
To escape, or not to escape?
Chu Qiao tensed up, her mind racing as she quickly considered her options. With this chance, why not beat this old lecher at his own game and get rid of him?
In a flash, some muscular men rushed toward Chu Qiao, aiming to grab the dagger she was holding.
"Stop!" a low-pitched, distinct voice suddenly echoed. Everyone turned their heads toward the sound, only to see snow on the ground being scattered by a herd of more than twenty rapidly approaching pitch-black war horses. The young rider on one of the horses was handsome and dressed in green robes trimmed with white fur. He gave a loud whistle and galloped ahead.
The horses let out a long neigh and stood up, their warm breaths blending with the crisp, cold air to form a cloud of mist. Under the watchful eyes of his servants, the young man stared coldly at the crowd. His voice was calm; he exuded an aura of wisdom and serenity far beyond his years. In a low voice, he remarked, "Long time no see, Master Zhuge."
Grand Master Zhuge, with eyes half-closed, sized up the young man. He chuckled, revealing his yellow teeth. "Oh, it's Prince Yan Xun of Yan Bei. Instead of resting in your house, what are you doing out here braving the cold, snowy winds at this ungodly hour?"
Yan Xun said bluntly, "Thanks for your concern, Master Zhuge. How could I be sleeping soundly at home if you, at your age, still enjoy the lights so late? It's a lantern festival, and the whole country is celebrating. I just came out to see the festivities."
"Oh?" Grand Master Zhuge's long eyebrows eased, and he replied, "In this case, Young Prince Yan, continue to admire the view. I will not stay with you then." He quickly turned to his subordinates and said, "Back to the house."
“Hold on!" Yan Xun quickly ordered his horse to move forward, blocking Master Zhuge's path. He laughed softly, pointed at Chu Qiao, and said, "Master Zhuge, you can leave, but only if you leave this child behind."
The old man's eyebrows moved just a little. He asked, "What do you mean by this, your Royal Highness?"
"This child just startled my horse, Flurry, and scared it away. I want to bring her back to answer for her deeds."
Grand Master Zhuge heard these words, smiled slightly, and replied, "In this case, I will compensate you with a fine horse."
"This horse was brought back from the Western Desert by the King of Yan Bei! It is a fine, well-traveled horse; can you afford to pay for it?"
Feng Mian, shut your mouth!" Yan Xun frowned, berating the page boy behind him. "The Zhuge family is a patriarch of the empire. The head of the Zhuge family is also one of the seven elders of the Grand Elder's Council and wields wealth and power that even our royal family cannot match. There is nothing they cannot afford to buy. However, family ties run deep. My father personally tamed Flurry and delivered it to Zhen Huang from afar. It is not a typical warhorse, so I can't just overlook it. I must take this child with me.
"Prince Yan…"
"You need not say no more, Master Zhuge," Yan Xun interrupted the old Master. He lifted his head and stated, "Grand Master Zhuge, considering your high status, you shouldn't need to humble yourself to plead for a slave. As for this matter, I will answer directly to Fourth Young Master of the Zhuge family. Men, take this child away."
The personal attendants at Yan’s residence stepped forward; one of the well-built men pushed aside Master Zhuge's subordinates, causing him to stumble. He carried Chu Qiao under his arm and was ready to mount the horse.
Zhu Shun, noticing that old Master Zhuge was on the verge of losing his temper, stepped forward with a fake smile. He tugged on the saddle of Yan Xun's horse and pleaded, "Your Royal Highness, this can be discussed…"
With a cracking whip, followed by a fierce kick from Yan Xun to Zhu Shun's chin, Zhu Shun's heavy body was pushed back. He collapsed to the floor, crying out in pain, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood along with two of his yellowed front teeth.
"Who are you to gesture in front of me? You have no idea of your limitations!" Yan Xun stared sharply at Zhu Shun and said coldly.
Zhu Shun was caught off guard. He quickly kneeled and frantically kowtowed. In the Xia Empire, a member of the royal family didn’t need a reason to kill a civilian.
Yan Xun raised his whip and pointed at Zhu Shun, coldly declaring, "I will spare you temporarily because of Master Zhuge today. If you still show this unruly behavior another day, I will personally kill you, even in front of the head of the Zhuge family."
Finishing his sentence, Yan Xun didn't even glance at old Master Zhuge and told his subordinates, "Let's go!"
Yan Xun's people then mounted their horses. As snow fell around them, they disappeared to the end of the long street.
Old Master Zhuge blushed, his left hand trembling with anger. Zhu Shun inched forward, still kneeling. He tugged at Master Zhuge's leg and begged, "Grand Master, please don't be angry! I…"
"Scram!" the old man bellowed. He kicked Zhu Shun in the chest and shouted, "Useless piece of trash!" Then, he boarded the carriage and left quickly.
The heavy snow kept falling. Silence now surrounded the long street, making the busy main street stand out more.
The war horse stopped by the lake. Having kept a serious expression earlier, the young man turned around with a smile and laughed, "Girl, you owe me a favor…again."
Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow slowly. Although she remained silent, her body language clearly said, "I didn't ask you to come."
Yan Xun muttered irritably, "Would it hurt to say something nice?"
Chu Qiao glanced at him and started to walk away.
Yan Xun froze and quickly stepped in front of her. "What are you going to do?"
She raised an eyebrow, "Of course, I'm returning to the Zhuge residence."
"You still want to go back?" the youngster frowned and asked, "That lowly housekeeper won't spare you! And as for that old guy from the Zhuge family, he's known for his perverted dealings in Zhen Huang city! Do you want to risk your life?"
Chu Qiao pushed him aside and said, "None of your business."
Yan Xun didn't loosen his hold and said, "What do you mean? I rescued you out of kindness, and you treat me so coldly. What do you see in Zhuge Yue, that cold guy? Is he worth risking your safety to go back to?"
Chu Qiao looked up, frustrated after risking everything to try and eliminate the old lecher Zhuge but failing. She impatiently brushed Yan Xun's hand away, looked up, and coldly said, "Did I cry for you to come and save me? Keep your kindness to yourself. I don’t want it."
✦•······················•✦•······················•✦
Yan Xun's eyes burned with anger. Watching Chu Qiao's small shadow fade into the distance, he shouted childishly, "Stupid girl! It serves you right that you got bullied. If I care about you again, my surname will no longer be Yan!"
Chu Qiao did not look back and disappeared into the crowd after a while. Feng Mian carefully approached and examined Prince Yan. He noticed that his eyes were bloodshot, as if he was about to cry from anger. Feng Mian paused briefly. The empire appointed feudal lords to govern neighboring territories and defend Zhen Huang, its capital. However, to keep them in check, their sons were held hostage in the capital. These children grew up amid the chaos of power and matured quickly. It was the first time Feng Mian had seen his master show such clear signs of joy and anger toward someone—just like a normal child.
Your Royal Highness, shall we go back to the house?
"Ugh," Yan Xun grunted coldly, his voice hinting at a touch of anger. He mounted his horse and led his assistants to Yan’s residence.
"Feng Mian," Yan Xun, having barely taken two steps, turned back and instructed his apprentice, "You take a trip to the Zhuges' residence and tell them that I found Flurry. Also, tell them not to make things difficult for that girl."
Ah?" Feng Mian froze and widened his eyes, visibly mocking his master. "Your Highness, didn't you say that your surname wouldn’t be Yan anymore if you helped her again?"
Yan Xun blew up in anger, kicked Feng Mian while riding his horse, and yelled, "Idiot! I dare you to say that again!"
Feng Mian yelped in pain and quickly turned around, running toward the Zhuge residence. He dared not repeat those words, realizing he had overstepped his boundaries.
Yan Xun huffed angrily. Seeing all his subordinates staring at him, he yelled, "I do what I want!"
Everyone quickly looked away and hesitated to glance at Yan Xun again, all sharing the same thought and quietly sighing. After all, he was a prince, so it was understandable if he occasionally threw a tantrum.
