The Legend of Chu Qiao - V1C16
Insomnia
The Zhuge Compound[2] was large, comprising multiple courtyards and gates, everything enclosed by four walls and a main gate. Corridors connected the various areas, but they were arranged so that the master’s inner courtyard remained private. The outer courtyard primarily served as a transitional space between the public street and the private inner residence. It functioned as a reception area for guests, a workspace for chores, and a security barrier guarded by a screen wall to block harmful spirits and prying eyes. The inner courtyard served as the private heart of the residence, providing a secure, secluded space for the master. As part of the most influential and rich family of the Xia Empire, the Zhuge Compound included several courtyards, an orchard, a beautiful garden, and a lake.
As Chu Qiao walked with her lantern, which lit only the area around her, the female dormitories were on her left and the second gate of Lan Shan's outer courtyard on her right. She heard stifled sobs. It seemed a child servant was crying near the utility yard, close to the dormitories, probably having made a mistake and being punished for it.
Chu Qiao was surprised; she had expected to spend the night in the dormitories because she believed the second gate would be locked. However, it was not; the second gate was ajar, which left her astonished. It had taken her a long time to walk to the Zhuge residence. It was the middle of the night, and aside from guards, everyone else should have been asleep and the second gate closed.
Unlike the other Young Masters, whose nights were often consumed by hedonism, Zhuge Yue cherished his sleep and security. The second gate should be closed. This was an anomaly in his routine.
Chu Qiao paused, the enormous moon hanging above casting her delicate shadow on the red wall, elongated and frail, reminding her of a time when she was taller. A wave of sadness washed over her. She grappled with the notion that perhaps she was caught in a dream—one where the corpses, fresh blood, and tears of anguish couldn’t exist.
The child's cries continued, and Chu Qiao felt helpless. How could she offer comfort to others when she herself felt so cold? Like those buried beneath the snowy plains now, her despair was useless in the face of suffering.
Chu Qiao briefly closed her eyes before resolutely entering the outer courtyard and heading straight to her room. The hall leading to the outer courtyard had two buildings on each side—one on the left and one on the right. Her quarters were on the right, aligned with a corridor that led to the Fourth Master's bedroom. Her new status as the Fourth Master's favorite servant, along with managing numerous other servants, allowed her to have her own quarters. Although modest in size, the quarters were exclusively hers, and she was completely satisfied.
As she carefully entered the courtyard, the flickering light of a lantern approached in a hurry. Huan Er[3] rushed over, grasping Chu Qiao’s hand and whispering, "Finally! Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for you all night."
Chu Qiao playfully stuck out her tongue and replied, "My horse got spooked. I just got back. Where’s the Fourth Master? Why is the gate open?"
"You lucked out." Huan Er grinned, "The Fourth Master is in his study reading. He’s been there all night and didn’t tell me to lock up. He hasn’t slept yet, so I could wait for you."
Nodding, Chu Qiao made her way toward Zhuge Yue's study. Huan Er quickly interrupted, saying, "The Fourth Master wasn’t in a good mood when he returned. I don’t know what upset him. It’s late; you can talk tomorrow. The Fourth Master didn’t ask you to go see him. You should rest; I’ll inform the Fourth Master."
Chu Qiao agreed, saying, "That works for me." She turned toward her room as Huan Er dashed into Xuan Hall. It was very late, and the courtyards were dark except for one room, where her lamp Huan Er now held lit the space.
Chu Qiao, a maid of higher status at Zhuge Yue's residence, now had her room on the same side as his quarters, visible but separated by the long corridor. This was a stark contrast to her arrival, when she had stayed for a few days in a dilapidated hut, which she later ensured was demolished, and subsequently in the dormitories with the Jing children. As she approached her door, the soft light in his study flickered out just before she could open it, leaving her in darkness.
Feeling a bit disoriented, Chu Qiao glanced back toward Zhuge Yue's quarters. As the last remnants of light vanished, the entire Zhuge residence succumbed to a deep slumber. She lingered in front of her door for a while, and as the wind brushed against her, she caught a faint scent of blood lingering beneath the ground.
The child’s muffled cries could still be heard in the distance.
Zhuge Yue seemed to have had a nightmare just after closing his eyes. When he woke up, the night and the drum indicated that it was the end of the fourth watch that had just been struck[4]. The sounds of the watchman[5] dragged on, carrying a soft, tail sound and drifting far away in the silent night.
In that instant, he thought he was still dreaming. The dream had a warm spring breeze and beautiful peach blossoms. The touch of his mother's hand was as gentle as warm spring water, elegantly brushing his hair and combing it into a neat bun. However, the cold air instantly permeated his senses, rudely awakening him. He sat up, his white underwears drenched with sweat. The windows were not fully closed, and the icy wind blew through the window slit. The teapot by his bedside was already cold. A few pieces of osmanthus cake sat in a small blue-and-white porcelain dish. Its refreshing aroma was still delectable despite the distance. He no longer felt like sleeping.
The night servants slept deeply, unaware of his actions. During winter, they were allowed to stay indoors, between the large wooden screen[6] and the opening of his bedroom door from the courtyard. Quietly, he put on his boots, donned his furred coat, grabbed his long flute, and opened the other door to the garden, stepping out into the gentle moonlight falling on the snow.
The warm glow bathed the courtyard as a slight midnight breeze, cool and gentle, brushed his sleeves, producing a sound reminiscent of fluttering butterfly wings. As he moved into the garden, he was welcomed by a vast plum orchard where vibrant white, pink, and red mingled, releasing a delightful fragrance carried on the breeze. All the fruit trees were spread throughout the garden, while the vegetables were confined to a closed-off garden area designated for the kitchen. It was late winter, and only the plum trees were blooming in the cold weather.
At this hour, the mansion was likely the most tranquil it could be. Without the usual disturbances, it felt as if he were the only person remaining in the world. He walked slowly to the tall pavilion and meandered along the uneven stone path leading to it. Fresh frost had settled on the path, making it a bit slippery. He bent down and wandered along, seeming cautious yet deep in thought.
"Fourth Master?" A clear voice rang out from afar. He looked up to see Chu Qiao perched in a tree beside the pavilion. Dressed in jade-green, with a snow-white camel-fur ring around her neck, she fixed her large, round black eyes on him, her head slightly bowed. Her small green boots swung playfully in the air, like two dancing grasshoppers.
He raised his eyebrows slowly, curious, and inquired, "What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't sleep." Chu Qiao sounded surprised to find him awake at such an hour. She added candidly, "Fourth Master, you couldn't sleep either?"
Zhuge Yue stayed silent, his mind filled with resentment as he climbed toward the pavilion. His frustration wasn't because she was in the garden when he thought he was alone, but because she wasn't at his residence when he returned from the lantern festival. He waited a long time for her to return, and the passing moments felt heavier each time, uncertain of her safety or whether she would come back. When she finally arrived, he was in a foul mood, unable to understand why he cared about this servant at all. He also blamed her for his dream. He rarely dreamt of his mother. His mind was chaotic, mixing feelings of losing her during the lantern festival, anger that she wasn't home before he returned, insomnia, and pretending to read in his study while waiting for her. Eventually, he felt relief when she returned safely to the estate. His emotions were conflicted and unclear. He remained silent.
The Zhuge residence was initially built on a hillside, and the views from here were remarkable, offering a panorama of nearly the entire city of Zhen Huang. The hazy moonlight draped over everything like a delicate white veil, softening the harsh northern winds that had weathered the city for centuries. Even the imposing city walls, stained with the blood of many, appeared kinder in the moon’s glow.
Zhuge Yue paused and observed her silhouette, a surge of distraction enveloping him. After the earlier turmoil of his thoughts, he felt a deep sense of fatigue. He would never confess that the source of his unease was the image of a little girl, someone he had spent countless hours worrying about—whether she was safe or if she would return to his residence.
Leaning against a tree branch, Chu Qiao observed the quiet young man, noting how the wind playfully tugged at his vividly colored sleeves, resembling two large butterflies dancing in the breeze.
"Fourth Master, will you play your flute?" she asked.
Zhuge Yue did not answer, appearing oblivious to her words. The flute remained in his hands, untouched, as he stood silently for a moment before turning to walk down the hill.
Noticing he was leaving, Chu Qiao climbed down the tree to follow him, but lost her footing and slipped. In a moment of desperation, she grabbed the branch, which tore a significant hole in her clothing and cut her arm, causing fresh blood to seep from the wound.
Zhuge Yue turned and looked up, seeing what seemed to be a monkey—no, a child—clinging to a tree branch. After a moment’s hesitation, he reached out his arms.
Caught off guard, Chu Qiao questioned him suspiciously, "Fourth Master, what are you trying to do?"
Zhuge Yue replied, "Jump down."
"Oh." It took her a moment to grasp his intention. Quickly, she responded, "It's alright; Xing'er can come down by herself."
Zhuge Yue frowned slightly, looking impatient, and insisted, "Jump down."
Unable to argue further, she released her grip and, in an instant, fell into his arms. She was still short enough that her height barely reached his shoulders. Cradled in his arms, she felt like a small cat.
"Let’s go." Zhuge Yue set her down and walked ahead, with Chu Qiao immediately following. Surrounded by plum trees, they walked on petals covering the ground, leaving behind two rows of shallow footprints in the soft white "snow."
When they returned to the Qing Shan courtyard, all the night servants were awake and frantically searching for him. Zhuge Yue didn’t explain anything and went straight to his bedroom. Huan Er rushed to Chu Qiao's room, eager to ask her what had happened.
Suddenly, a cough came from Zhuge Yue's bedroom. Huan Er, who oversees the night servants, promptly assigned one to summon the family doctor, another to bring warm water, and a third to go to the kitchen and return with hot ginger, garlic, and green onion soup.
The palace began to bustle with activity. It was Yǒu hour, and Huan Er organized night servants to prepare warm water and change towels until the doctor arrived to check the Young Master’s pulse and prescribe herbal medicine. Finally, everyone could breathe a sigh of relief.
After having some soup, she took her leave. Chu Qiao was preparing for bed when she heard a knock on her door. She opened it to find Huan Er outside, with an elder who seemed to be over fifty. Huan Er said, "Xing’er, the Young Master mentioned you were injured. Since the doctor is here, let him examine your wound."
Chu Qiao hesitated for a moment before letting the doctor attend to her laceration. Once he was finished, Huan Er added, "Also, the Young Master said he would sleep in tomorrow, so you don’t need to rise too early to work."
Chu Qiao nodded in agreement, and Huan Er exited her room, looking visibly cheerful and pleased that the Fourth Master was in a much better mood than before Xing’er’s return. She had no idea about the reasons and simply accepted the change.
The night and the snowstorm have ended. As a new day dawns, a beautiful light appears on the horizon. Chu Qiao, tired, removed her underwear and slid into her warm kang bed, covering herself and closing her eyes. She fell asleep within minutes.
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SiHeYuan multiple courtyards with garden, orchard, and Lake
(Unofficial Zhuge residence)
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1. Main Gate, generally painted in red, with two lions in granite or marble 2. Servants' dormitories (females) 3. Servants' dormitories (males) (fiction created for the novel) 4. Main door court between the outer courtyard and the inner courtyard. Behind it, a large wall is decorated and carved to maintain the residence's privacy. 5. Main Hall (Novel: Xuan Hall | Historically: Master and first wife quarters, individual rooms) 6. Master quarters (Novel: Study, living room | historically: Elders quarters) 7. Kitchen (historically: it was also the place for concubines' quarters) 8. Orchard, food garden 9. Master garden, lake, pavilion, and plum (fruits) trees 10. Main servants' quarters, which serve the master directly, corridor between 16 & 10. (Historically, for the heir and his family) |
11. Guests' quarters (Historically for the other sons and their families) 12. Utility court (kitchen chores, storage) 13. Utility court (daily chores such as laundry and storage)(not shown in the picture) 14. Side gate for deliveries (corridor straight to the kitchen) 15. Horses' stables, guards' quarters/dormitory (Historically: horses's stables were indeed close to the main gate entrance) 16. Master bedroom (with a courtyard/garden at one gate and the garden at another gate) (fiction created for the novel) 17. Guest/family courtyard (wall between 12 & 17)(fiction created for the novel) 18. Livestock next to vegetable & herb garden (such as pigs, chickens, pigeons, etc.) (fiction created for the novel, they would most likely be at 12) Not seen in the picture: Along high walls on both sides, from 14 to 12, a path large enough for a small delivery carriage runs straight to the kitchen. A gate, strategically installed between 11 and 14, with guards standing to protect the back entry of the residence. |
[1]A residence or mansion is the English name. In Chinese, they call it Fǔ (府) (Mansion) and Dǐ (邸) (Lodging/Residence) and Zhái (宅) (Estate/House). The vast majority of these noble residences were built in the Siheyuan (四合院) style—a traditional courtyard house enclosed by buildings on all four sides. Layout: Noble siheyuan were distinguished by multiple courtyards in depth, featuring elaborate doorways, glazed tiles, and decorative stone-screen walls.
[2] In ancient China, mansions and residences were known as SiHeYuan ("si" (four), "he" (gather/enclose), and "yuan" (courtyard), meaning a courtyard surrounded on four sides). If the family expanded, a new SiHeYuan (courtyard) was added for the additional family members.
[3] Night servant. In ancient China, the practice of a servant guarding their master at night was a routine aspect of life for both the imperial court and wealthy households. This role involved varying levels of security, personal service, and intimacy, depending on the master's status. Personal maids (or eunuchs) typically slept on small couches or mats just outside the master's bedroom door or within the room itself. They were expected to remain "eyes and ears out," ready to respond instantly to any summons or noise. Beyond protection, they managed nightly needs such as preparing tea, tending lamps, and handling chamber pots.
[4] Timekeeping: The night was divided into five watches, each lasting roughly two hours.
- First Watch (7 p.m. - 9 p.m.): Watchmen reminded residents to extinguish cooking fires and candles, often shouting, "The air is dry, beware of fire and candles".
- Second Watch (9 p.m. - 11 p.m.): City gates closed, and curfews were strictly enforced. · Third Watch (11 p.m. - 1 a.m.): Known as the "deep midnight," this was the quietest time, when watchmen were most active.
- Fourth Watch (1 a.m. - 3 a.m.): The coldest part of the night.
- Fifth Watch (3 a.m. - 5 a.m.): The final patrol before dawn, signaling the start of preparations for the day.
[5] In ancient China, night watchmen, known as denun or dun, served a vital role by patrolling cities and villages to ensure public safety. They functioned as timekeepers, striking gongs or bamboo clappers to divide the night into five distinct watches, while also serving as early fire alarms and a deterrent to thieves.
[6] Folding Screens (Pingfeng): Originally used as "windshields" to block drafts at doorways, these multi-panel screens evolved to divide rooms or offer privacy.
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