The Legend of Chu Qiao - V1C4
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- The winner is the predator
15- Ambushed by a pervert. Saved by a Prince
Chapter 4
Fate is a Bitch!
Fate is a Bitch!
Without looking back, she retraced her steps. As she entered the yard, the children rushed towards her, all injured and tearful. Chu Qiao embraced Xiao Qi, who had just regained consciousness and was positioned right in front of her. She whispered firmly, "Don’t be afraid; everything is alright now."
In this slave yard, which held the lowest tier of slaves belonging to the Zhuge household, the young female slaves were treated like animals. They could no longer contain their sorrow and fears, and broke down in tears.
When dinnertime arrived, the elderly woman responsible for the Jing family's children[1] ordered them to work first and not to eat, since the meal would only be served after their chores. Even the injured children, like Xiao Qi and Zhi Xiang, had to comply. Only Chu Qiao and Xiao Ba, who had hurt her waist, stayed inside the hut. By midnight, the other children had returned exhausted from their tasks. Each child went to wash their hands in cold water, probably a reminder of their mother’s teachings that their eldest sister insisted they follow.
After eating with large leaves, broken bowls, a light rice porridge[2] with no greens or meat, they quietly removed their dirty clothes, keeping thin underwear, and went to bed, cuddling close for warmth, since the rag blanket was too thin and old to serve its purpose. Zhi Xiang crouched next to the bed stove[3], adding firewood to keep the flames burning, which was the only heat source for the slaves. The scars on her face were red and swollen.
Silence filled the hut, soon followed by the soft sounds of children breathing in deep sleep. Dressed in the clothes Zhi Xiang had just given her, Chu Qiao sat up and whispered, "If you don’t treat the wounds on your face, you'll be left with scars."
The flickering flames in the bed stove illuminated her features. She was so thin that her eyes appeared more prominent and darker. Lifting her head, she responded, "Yu Er, slaves aren't allowed to use medicine. Last time, when Xiao Qi secretly took the medicine from Lin Xi, we didn’t realize the risks we were taking. If we had been discovered, it could have cost us our lives. We can’t take chances with my facial wounds."
As she spoke, they heard a rustling sound from above the stove. Both girls turned to see that Xiao Qi had kicked off her blanket in her sleep. Zhi Xiang quickly covered her with it, wiping the sweat from her forehead before returning to the fire.
Chu Qiao gazed at Zhi Xiang, her lips trembling, yet she stayed silent. This child, just over thirteen and the eldest of the surviving Jing family, already bore such heavy burdens. All the children in the hut were between five and twelve years old. The other eldest girls, she learned earlier, were sold to a local brothel. Why did the wealthy Zhuge family need so many young children?
"Sister Zhi Xiang," Chu Qiao whispered, getting out of the bed platform. Sitting beside her, she asked, "Have you ever been to Jiang Nan?"
"Jiang Nan?" Zhi Xiang's brows furrowed. "Where is Jiang Nan?"
"Do you know where the Yellow Mountain is? Or the Yangtze River?"
Zhi Xiang shook her head and replied, "I know that the Hong Mountain is on the west bank of the Hong River, and below it is the Cang Li River. Yu Er, why do you ask?"
Chu Qiao appeared to be in a daze, lost in thought. She shook her head and said, "It's nothing; I just wanted to ask. Oh, by the way, Sister Zhi Xiang, do you know who the current emperor is?"
"The emperor is the emperor. How could we call the emperor by his name? But I know that the Royal Highness, who is always dressed in black and frequents the Zhuge household, is the emperor's seventh son, Zhao Che[4]. He is the youngest prince in the Xia Empire to be named king."
That cold, emotionless look with a scornful expression flashed through her mind. Her eyes narrowed, and she repeated, "Zhao Che?"
“Yu Er, what happened to you? You’ve seemed off since you got back. What did you say to Lady Song? How could she let us go just like that?”
Chu Qiao turned and grinned. She said, "I'm fine, don't worry. Lady Song didn't let us go but fell into the icy lake and drowned. I saw her drown with my own eyes. Regarding Lady Song coming here, do not mention it to anyone."
"She died?" Zhi Xiang gasped as her face paled.
Chu Qiao quickly covered her mouth and looked around. Seeing that none of the children had woken up, she said thoughtfully, "No one knows about this except for you and me. Don't tell anyone else. She had an evil heart and many reasons to die. But she is already dead, and you need not worry anymore."
"Yue… Yu Er," Zhi Xiang stuttered. "You… you did not kill her. She fell into the lake by herself, right? Her son is the court's consular guard. We cannot afford to offend him."
Chu Qiao laughed and pointed to herself. "Do you think I would be capable of killing her? Okay, you must stop thinking so much. She committed so many bad deeds that even if no one killed her, God would have taken it into His own hands. You've had a tiring day. You should rest."
Zhi Xiang shook her head furiously. "No, I have to keep the fire going."
"I can do it. I'm injured and can laze around tomorrow. Go and rest."
Chu Qiao sat quietly on a small broken stool, occasionally throwing more firewood onto the flames. The fire crackled, casting a warm red glow across her face. She glanced at the children in the hut, and her heart felt heavy. It was such a shame, but there was little she could do. She had been mysteriously transported to this era, trapped in the frail body of Jing Yu Er, temporarily stripped of her martial arts skills, and reduced to a lowly status. She struggled to care for herself, so how could she possibly take care of others? Today, she repaid Lin Xi for the food he had brought her over the past three days. Afterward, she knew she had to find a quick way to leave this place.
With a slow exhale, Chu Qiao closed her eyes. She realized that no matter her efforts, her abilities would always be limited. Yet, the weight of this responsibility felt almost unbearable at that moment.
In this slave yard, which held the lowest tier of slaves belonging to the Zhuge household, the young female slaves were treated like animals. They could no longer contain their sorrow and fears, and broke down in tears.
When dinnertime arrived, the elderly woman responsible for the Jing family's children[1] ordered them to work first and not to eat, since the meal would only be served after their chores. Even the injured children, like Xiao Qi and Zhi Xiang, had to comply. Only Chu Qiao and Xiao Ba, who had hurt her waist, stayed inside the hut. By midnight, the other children had returned exhausted from their tasks. Each child went to wash their hands in cold water, probably a reminder of their mother’s teachings that their eldest sister insisted they follow.
After eating with large leaves, broken bowls, a light rice porridge[2] with no greens or meat, they quietly removed their dirty clothes, keeping thin underwear, and went to bed, cuddling close for warmth, since the rag blanket was too thin and old to serve its purpose. Zhi Xiang crouched next to the bed stove[3], adding firewood to keep the flames burning, which was the only heat source for the slaves. The scars on her face were red and swollen.
Silence filled the hut, soon followed by the soft sounds of children breathing in deep sleep. Dressed in the clothes Zhi Xiang had just given her, Chu Qiao sat up and whispered, "If you don’t treat the wounds on your face, you'll be left with scars."
The flickering flames in the bed stove illuminated her features. She was so thin that her eyes appeared more prominent and darker. Lifting her head, she responded, "Yu Er, slaves aren't allowed to use medicine. Last time, when Xiao Qi secretly took the medicine from Lin Xi, we didn’t realize the risks we were taking. If we had been discovered, it could have cost us our lives. We can’t take chances with my facial wounds."
As she spoke, they heard a rustling sound from above the stove. Both girls turned to see that Xiao Qi had kicked off her blanket in her sleep. Zhi Xiang quickly covered her with it, wiping the sweat from her forehead before returning to the fire.
Chu Qiao gazed at Zhi Xiang, her lips trembling, yet she stayed silent. This child, just over thirteen and the eldest of the surviving Jing family, already bore such heavy burdens. All the children in the hut were between five and twelve years old. The other eldest girls, she learned earlier, were sold to a local brothel. Why did the wealthy Zhuge family need so many young children?
"Sister Zhi Xiang," Chu Qiao whispered, getting out of the bed platform. Sitting beside her, she asked, "Have you ever been to Jiang Nan?"
"Jiang Nan?" Zhi Xiang's brows furrowed. "Where is Jiang Nan?"
"Do you know where the Yellow Mountain is? Or the Yangtze River?"
Zhi Xiang shook her head and replied, "I know that the Hong Mountain is on the west bank of the Hong River, and below it is the Cang Li River. Yu Er, why do you ask?"
Chu Qiao appeared to be in a daze, lost in thought. She shook her head and said, "It's nothing; I just wanted to ask. Oh, by the way, Sister Zhi Xiang, do you know who the current emperor is?"
"The emperor is the emperor. How could we call the emperor by his name? But I know that the Royal Highness, who is always dressed in black and frequents the Zhuge household, is the emperor's seventh son, Zhao Che[4]. He is the youngest prince in the Xia Empire to be named king."
That cold, emotionless look with a scornful expression flashed through her mind. Her eyes narrowed, and she repeated, "Zhao Che?"
“Yu Er, what happened to you? You’ve seemed off since you got back. What did you say to Lady Song? How could she let us go just like that?”
Chu Qiao turned and grinned. She said, "I'm fine, don't worry. Lady Song didn't let us go but fell into the icy lake and drowned. I saw her drown with my own eyes. Regarding Lady Song coming here, do not mention it to anyone."
"She died?" Zhi Xiang gasped as her face paled.
Chu Qiao quickly covered her mouth and looked around. Seeing that none of the children had woken up, she said thoughtfully, "No one knows about this except for you and me. Don't tell anyone else. She had an evil heart and many reasons to die. But she is already dead, and you need not worry anymore."
"Yue… Yu Er," Zhi Xiang stuttered. "You… you did not kill her. She fell into the lake by herself, right? Her son is the court's consular guard. We cannot afford to offend him."
Chu Qiao laughed and pointed to herself. "Do you think I would be capable of killing her? Okay, you must stop thinking so much. She committed so many bad deeds that even if no one killed her, God would have taken it into His own hands. You've had a tiring day. You should rest."
Zhi Xiang shook her head furiously. "No, I have to keep the fire going."
"I can do it. I'm injured and can laze around tomorrow. Go and rest."
Chu Qiao sat quietly on a small broken stool, occasionally throwing more firewood onto the flames. The fire crackled, casting a warm red glow across her face. She glanced at the children in the hut, and her heart felt heavy. It was such a shame, but there was little she could do. She had been mysteriously transported to this era, trapped in the frail body of Jing Yu Er, temporarily stripped of her martial arts skills, and reduced to a lowly status. She struggled to care for herself, so how could she possibly take care of others? Today, she repaid Lin Xi for the food he had brought her over the past three days. Afterward, she knew she had to find a quick way to leave this place.
With a slow exhale, Chu Qiao closed her eyes. She realized that no matter her efforts, her abilities would always be limited. Yet, the weight of this responsibility felt almost unbearable at that moment.
·········⋆༺𓆩❀𓆪༻⋆·········
As dawn broke, the rooster crowed, and the Jing family children woke up on schedule, donning their servants' clothes in preparation for the day ahead. Although her formidable skills were gone, she remained sharp and clear-headed. Chu Qiao, no longer the elite agent of the 9th operational division, still retained the benefits of her military training. The Zhuge household was large and crowded, but for an eight-year-old girl with sharp logical reasoning and spatial awareness, it felt more like an open playground without any protection.
Within thirty minutes, she managed to escape from the slave yard and made her way toward the front garden. The defenses there were tighter, with guards wielding knives patrolling the area. The Zhuge family was not an ordinary clan, as Zhuge Huai was close to royal figures like Zhao Jue and Zhao Che.
Standing tall for her small stature, Chu Qiao resembled a tiny tree. She smoothed her clothes and stepped out with confidence.
"Stop! Are you looking for trouble? Do you think you can wander around here freely?" A burly soldier approached her, his chubby face betraying his heavy build. Chu Qiao halted and, looking up at the guard with her fair, adorable features and dark, watery eyes, said sweetly, "Oh, big brother, I have orders from the old Master to go to his outer quarters. I was told that if I'm not there within the hour, they'll kill me."
The guard frowned as he scrutinized little Chu Qiao. Who knew the old Master preferred such young girls? He wondered. "Who sent you there? Do you even know where the old Master's outer quarters are?" he asked, puzzled.
"I know the directions," she responded. "Once I leave the house, turn left at the third junction. Fu Xiang Restaurant will be right in front…"
"Fine," the guard replied, irritated. "Who told you this, and why isn’t anyone escorting you there?"
The child replied earnestly, "Lady Song told me this. She was meant to take me, but when we crossed the stone bridge, she slipped and fell into the lake, breaking the ice. I saw her drowning, so I guess she can't take me anymore."
"What?" the guard shouted, gripping Chu Qiao by the shoulders. He yelled, "Who fell off the stone bridge?" Lady Song was in charge of the slaves in the backyard.
With a sharp slap, the guard's hand struck the child's face hard. He yelled, "You little brat, why didn't you tell me sooner? Hurry, everyone, we have to save her!"
Chu Qiao fell to the ground from the impact, her ears ringing. Watching everyone rush out in a panic, her lips went thin, and a cold smirk appeared on her face. She would remember this slap.
Quickly getting to her feet, she grabbed her bag and headed to the main gate without looking back. The gates were enormous and adorned with gold. Fierce stone lions flanked either side, their eyes painted red, giving off an intimidating aura. The name of the Zhuge household was etched onto the door, gleaming in the sunlight.
Chu Qiao moved briskly, struggling to climb over the threshold. As she reached the center of the door, sunlight poured over her, and the air felt much fresher. From that point on, her life would begin anew. She would never forget the humiliation and suffering she had endured.
She pressed her lips together and took a deep breath, raising her leg to step out of the wretched prison. Just then, a familiar, piercing cry echoed from the well near the right side of the front garden, followed by the chilling wails of a child. The gates on the right side swung wide open, and the dull thud of boards hitting a child's exposed body filled the air.
Servants passing by stole glances at the scene, curious about who had drawn the "misfortune" of that moment. Chu Qiao stood at the main gate, so close to escaping the brutal courtyard, but the incessant screams rang in her ears. With her brows furrowed, she finally halted her advance and dashed to her right. Fate often offers a choice, and a single step can change everything.
[1] Jing family: Zhi Xiang (10), Fifth Brother/Lin Xi (9), Yue Er/Sixth sister (8), Xiao Qi/Little seventh (7), Xiao Ba/Little eighth (6). Three older girls were sold to a brothel, making a total of eight children in the Jing family.
[2] Meals: Slaves in ancient China typically ate a simple, low-cost diet similar to that of poor peasants, centered on staple grains like millet in the north or rice in the south. Their meals often included vegetables, soybean products, and occasionally fermented or unfermented milk or wild plants. Meat was rare, and they rarely ate fine flour or delicacies. Variations (South China): Congee, Jook (Cantonese), or Rice Porridge. Regional Differences: In the north, slaves often consumed wheat noodles and steamed bread, while in the south, rice was more prevalent.
[3] Bed stove is named kang (ç‚•) is an ancient Chinese heated platform that integrates a bed, a stove, and a home heating system. Primarily used in the cold, dry climates of northern China, it serves as a workspace and social area during the day and a warm bed at night. Origins: Evidence suggests the prototype dates to the Spring and Autumn period (722–481 BC).
[4] For easier reading, you may refer to the list of characters.
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