The Legend of Chu Qiao - V1C8
Chapter 8
We Should All Know Our Place.
Zhuge Yue frowned, turned his head, and asked sternly, "Who brought these rattan pots here?"
Jin Cai became frightened and murmured hesitantly, "Sir, these few pots were sent by Housekeeper Zhu yesterday. He explained that they are a specialty of South Xinjiang. He thought you would like them and requested the maids place them here."
"Zhu Shun?" Zhuge Yue pondered for a while. His eyes turned slightly cold, and he slowly said, "This housekeeper has become brazen. I bet you will do as instructed if he buys a dagger and requests to put it on my bed."
Utterly shocked, Jin Cai hurriedly exclaimed, "I would not dare!"
Zhuge Yue did not utter a word. As his servants were about to leave, he suddenly said, "You will serve in the interior from now on."
The crowd stood still and wondered who he was talking about.
Zhuge Yue frowned impatiently, pointed to Chu Qiao, and said, "You."
Everyone suddenly stared in unison.
Chu Qiao respectfully responded, "I will obey your command."
After exiting the main Xuan Hall, the servants just threw Jin Zhu, covered with blood, into the cart. This weak girl was just handed thirty strokes of the cane and was about to be thrown into An Jun Hall, an insufferable place. How was she going to survive?
Jin Cai felt a sense of foreboding and shuddered at the sight. Just then, she heard a sweet voice behind her. She turned and saw Chu Qiao smiling but with icy eyes fixed on her. She sweetly said, "Sister Jin Cai, let's work together from now on. I am still young and immature. Please take good care of me!"
Jin Cai suddenly panicked without understanding why, but still tried to maintain a calm expression and replied, "We are all servants, and working together… together is a must."
"Yes." Chu Qiao smiled and replied, "Then Sister Jin Cai, don't you think you should forgive Nuan Yu and those children?"
Although feeling slightly angry, Jin Cai still nodded her head and said, "Their time here is almost up, too; they can leave."
"I shall thank you for them," Chu Qiao grinned, walking toward the shivering children. She spun around as if she suddenly remembered something and said, "If Sister Jin Zhu were as kind as you, Shu Tong and Lin Xi wouldn't have been beaten alive by the Master.”
That's why it pays to be kind. Lin Xi has only been dead for three days, and it looks like Jin Zhu is going to die, too. Chu Qiao felt a shiver of excitement as this thought crossed her mind.
Jin Cai couldn't put up a fake front anymore. She turned white with fear and glared intensely at Chu Qiao. It was frightening to think that this small child was giving off such an evil aura.
Chu Qiao edged her way forward and whispered into Jin Cai's ear, "After committing evil deeds, there is bound to be retribution. If one has yet to be served what they deserve, it's just that it has yet to come. Don't you think so?"
Jin Cai was shocked, took a step back, and hurried to leave.
Chu Qiao reacted immediately, grabbing her shoulder. Jin Cai was shocked and jumped to the side, exclaiming, "What do you want?"
Chu Qiao sighed coldly and said, without a hint of a smile, "Why are you so nervous? I merely wanted to direct you back to that dish of peaches."
"Peaches?"
"We are both interior servants now and are equal in status. I've retrieved the peaches from Nanyuan with much hard work. Don't you think I should be the one to present them?"
Jin Cai was speechless upon hearing that.
Chu Qiao turned and walked toward the flower room. She said aloud, "We should all know our place and not do what we aren't supposed to do. Then, we can become great people of our time. Some things can be said only once, and some warnings can be given only once. Reflect carefully on how you will treat people and handle matters correctly next time."
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In the afternoon, the bright sun's rays pierced the snowy ground.
This was not an ordinary day, as the court of elders decreed that the military be mobilized. The Huang Army quickly moved out to begin counterinsurgency operations. The warlords of the seven divisions fought aggressively to take control of the Huang Army. Zhuge Mu Qing, the head of Zhuge Prefecture, was away; decision-making was given to Zhuge Huai.
Also, on this day, the Fourth Young Master of Zhuge’s clan, Zhuge Yue, was bitten by a poisonous snake. Although he received immediate medical care, he still needed time to recover. Despite his young age, he was the Major General of the Huang Army, born in the hall. He had led men to fight insurgents three times and was highly skilled. In the Zhuge Family, he was the second-in-command after Zhuge Huai. The other divisions received quick updates about him from their informants. The rest soon voiced their opposition after Zhuge Huai appointed his brother as leader.
That afternoon, the imperial doctor visited the Zhuge household. The Zhuge Clan wanted to take control of the Huang Army, but he had no choice but to abandon his plan.
This action received an overwhelming response. When they heard about it, the elders of the Zhuge Clan came and took control of the Zhuge Main Residence.
The Zhuge clan staged their usual drama and rivalry on the same day because of Zhuge Yue's injury. Jin Zhu, the main servant of the Fourth Master who often bullied others, was beaten during a fight between two servants of the Qing Shan Courtyard, resulting in one death and one injury. Due to the seriousness of his injuries, he died the next day. Housekeeper Zhu received 20 lashes for a few pots that caused trouble. He was still mourning while recovering.
At the back of the mountain, crocodiles were kept in a pavilion on a lake next to the hot spring. Once again, three corpses surfaced quietly and became food for the crocodiles, but nobody seemed to notice or care.
As the dark, starry night loomed, Chu Qiao received the last bunch of notes and gradually placed them in the rattan pot.
For a few days, Jin Cai has been unable to focus. Every time she sees the child from the Jing Family, a chill runs up her feet, leaving her with a loss of appetite and a feeling of a fishbone stuck in her throat.
From early in the morning, when the weather was clear, the servants cleared the snow from the courtyard and continued with the rest of the day's work in an orderly fashion. While preparing a meal, news arrived from Red Hill Court: Master Mu Yun of the South of the Five Ridges, Master Wei Shuye, Seventh Royal Highness Zhao Che, Ninth Royal Highness Zhao Jue, Thirteenth Royal Highness Zhao Song, and Royal Highness Yan Xun were gathered in the glass hall of Red Hill Court. The Old Master also joined them, while the Third and Fifth Masters arrived there. The Fourth Master was asked to come if he had recovered enough to join the crowd.
Zhuge Yue was more introverted. He rarely attended gatherings with his siblings, preferring to stay in the Qing Shan Courtyard to read or eat alone. He lacked enthusiasm; if not for his coldness, he was known to keep to himself. He received the news while lying in bed and told the messenger he wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be coming.
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Chu Qiao gently fanned the incense. Upon hearing the news, she raised her eyebrows but stayed silent. After a while, as the food was being delivered, she quietly followed the servant bringing it and then retreated.
Jin Cai took a slight glance but kept her thoughts to herself, and after some effort, she made her way out.
Although called a hall, it was actually just a pavilion. It sat atop the octagonal mountain in Red Hill Court. Below, a green lake spread out. Since it was midwinter, the lake was frozen over with layers of snow. Red and white plum trees flanked both sides, breaking up the bright white landscape and adding vibrant color.
Behind the plum trees was the Zhuge Family's horse racing hill. The expansive plains were fully covered with pastures maintained by Zhuge Family members, mainly for raising high-quality horses. This large piece of land rarely saw visitors because servants were not allowed to enter, which kept it quiet and peaceful.
Small in stature, Chu Qiao cleverly evaded the guards' watchful eyes and quickly climbed onto the plains of the horse-racing hill without being noticed. Chu Qiao's small size has both advantages and disadvantages. For example, when she had to move the pots right now, she needed to put in extra effort.
As Chu Qiao was about to leave, she noticed a suspicious-looking shadow creeping around. She bent down and waited until the person moved away before slowly approaching. She saw a dark horse tied to a pine tree on her way down. The horse looked strong and well-groomed, but did not react despite noticing her presence. She was puzzled because this seemingly well-trained horse should resist a stranger's approach. Lowering her head, she saw a bundle of buckwheat that hadn’t been finished yet. She tiptoed forward, held the horse's head, and stared at it for a long time, but the horse did not respond.
Ready to depart, she turned her head and saw a few dozen white-feathered arrows in the bag attached to the horse. She took one out to examine the pure white arrowhead and noticed a carving of "Swallow" forcefully etched on its surface.
The leaders of the different divisions were feasting in the hall while admiring the plum trees. Chu Qiao ran along the empty trail on the edge of the octagon-shaped mountain. She placed the burning rattan on the trail and poured a few snakes from her bag.
"Ha! I knew you were the one causing trouble!" A shrill voice suddenly sounded.
Chu Qiao turned around and saw Jin Cai smugly standing there.
Jin Cai scolded, "I will tell Fourth Master this time, and that's it for you!"
"Is that so?" Chu Qiao tilted her head and slyly smiled. Upon hearing footsteps in the distance, she shook her head and said, "I don't think so." She instantly leaned back and fell over the edge.
"It's there!" Voices in the distance sounded in unison.
Jin Cai couldn't yell out her surprise before getting ferociously pinned down by a group of burly men.
Zhu Shun glared at her and muttered, "Jin Cai, now that you've been caught with the loot, what have you got to say?"
Jin Cai was taken aback and hurriedly defended herself, "It's not me, it's Jing Xing’er! I just followed her here!"
"Nonsense, I saw you were lingering around suspiciously and going to steal that pot of rattan from Housekeeper Zhu, yet you still dare to accuse others!" A crisp voice sounded.
Jin Cai turned and saw a familiar little girl standing beside Zhu Shun. Suddenly, it clicked, and she realized the situation, shouting, "She's estranged from Jing Xing’er, Housekeeper Zhu. Don't believe her!"
Zhu Shun was sitting in a padded chair lifted by four burly men. After suffering from beatings a few days ago, his bottom was still swelling. After being told, he frowned and spoke lowly, "You said you were here with Jing Xing’er, so where exactly is she?"
"She jumped off the cliff."
"What?" Zhu Shun was angry and instantaneously snapped, "You think I'm an idiot? You mean the lass from Jing household set you up and jumped to her death after that?"
"I…"
"A bunch of nonsense," Zhu Shun shouted. You were here for four or five years, and I have always treated you well. Your fight with Jin Zhu in Qing Shan Court is your own concern. Why did you drag me into it? What are you trying to do now? Are you trying to get me into trouble in front of the various Masters?
"Housekeeper Zhu, please believe me."
"Guys! Teach her a good lesson!"
A shrilling scream sounded.
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