He was just a child, and familiar faces and voices took precedence in his world.
He had never known of Chu Ling or Chu Zhao before, and hearing that name would have meant nothing to him.
But just moments ago, that name had been carved into his heart, accompanied by the shock of life and death separation.
He watched her from beneath the woodpile in the darkness, motionless.
Someone nearby rustled as they stepped forward, asking softly, "Miss Chu?"
Chu Zhao was overjoyed to see a figure rise from beside the woodpile. She hurried forward, her lamp revealing an elderly man.
The old man's hair was disheveled, his face pale and beardless, wearing an ill-fitting servant's robe that was clearly too large for him.
"I am Chu Zhao. I overheard my uncle speaking with someone," Chu Zhao said without waiting for the old man to question her. "Is the Little Highness here?"
The old man's expression shifted slightly. He understood the implication in the girl's words—"overheard," "someone else."
Chu Lan was speaking with someone else!
He looked at the girl and without hesitation moved to shift the firewood aside.
"The Little Highness is here," he said.
Chu Zhao then saw a small figure curled up beneath the woodpile. In the flickering lamplight, the child's large eyes stared fixedly at her, unmoving.
For some reason, Chu Zhao's eyes stung at that moment. She reached out her hand.
"Come," she whispered. "Come with me."
The old man seemed about to say something, but the motionless child stood up and grasped Chu Zhao's hand.
Chu Zhao pulled him close, attempting to lift him.
Though she was thirteen, she was still practically a child herself. Lifting a six-year-old was like a cat carrying a mouse—
"Let me, let me," the old man hurriedly said, scooping up the child.
Chu Zhao didn't insist, turning to lead the way out. The old man followed without question.
The backyard was pitch black. Chu Zhao illuminated the path with her dim lantern as their faint footsteps soon brought them to a courtyard gate.
"Miss," A Le's voice came from nearby as the gate swung open.
Chu Zhao led the old man and child through. A Le closed the gate behind them, sliding multiple bolts into place and propping a wooden board against it.
"Miss," she said, then noticed the old man and child but asked no questions. Instead, she unwrapped a bundle on the ground. "Everything is prepared."
Chu Zhao told the old man, "We need to go outside. There are guards out there—you'll need to disguise yourselves."
......
......
The cries and clashes of battle in the night streets seemed to have faded, but the sounds within Chu Manor grew increasingly chaotic.
Chu Tang, hiding within a crevice of the rockery, jumped in fright.
"What's going on?" she hissed angrily.
Her maid, squeezed beside her, nodded in agreement. "Exactly! At a time like this, when Miss Azhao has already risked so much to let us hide here, how dare they make such a racket!"
Despite their words, neither mistress nor maid moved an inch, neither willing to go quiet the disturbance.
"What's happening?!"
The servants guarding the gate panicked as they watched an old woman and a child push past Miss Chu Zhao.
In the dim light, the old woman—clad in a floral-patterned robe—clutched a little girl, her figure appearing swollen and clumsy yet surprisingly strong as she shoved both Chu Zhao and A Le aside.
"We need to go home! My son is still there!" the old woman cried, her voice weeping, slurred, and strangely distorted.
"It's still dangerous outside," Chu Zhao urged anxiously. "Please don't go out."
A Le fumed, "Miss, don't bother with them! If they want to die, let them! Their noise here will get us all killed!"Hearing this, the gatekeepers grew even more panicked—yes, making a commotion at home would indeed invite trouble—
They took a step back, offering no resistance as the old woman holding the child pushed the door open and dashed out.
Chu Zhao stamped her foot. "It's too dangerous—I'll go persuade them to come back."
She hurried out after them.
"Miss, don’t mind them—" A Le tried to dissuade the young lady, chasing after her.
The servants stood inside the gate, bewildered. They dared not pursue, yet dared not stay put either.
"Miss, Miss—" they clung to the doorframe, calling softly, "Come back quickly—don’t bother with them—"
The commotion stood out sharply in the dark night, drawing the attention of hidden watchers all around.
What’s going on?
"Someone’s run out."
"They’re ordinary folk."
"Chu Manor has taken in many refugees."
Whispers were exchanged, glances met, yet the night remained eerily still.
Chu Zhao had already caught up with the old woman carrying the child. "It’s truly dangerous outside. Wait until daybreak to return home."
"If you’re worried about your son, think how heartbroken he’d be if something happened to you," A Le added with frustration.
The old woman wailed, "I’d rather die with my son—"
The little girl in her arms suddenly began to cry as well.
Chu Zhao reached out to soothe them. "Please, don’t cry—"
A Le hissed, "Quiet, keep your voices down—"
The four of them stumbled along the alley, pulling and tugging, soon nearing the alley’s end, about to vanish into the night—
The stagnant gazes in the darkness suddenly stirred.
"No."
"Not a single person, not even a dog, can be let out."
......
......
Walk faster.
But also slower.
Chu Zhao told herself.
The intersection ahead was almost in sight.
"Which way do we go?" A Le whispered.
Chu Zhao gazed into the pitch-black night ahead, where distant sounds of fighting and weeping echoed endlessly.
Behind them lay the jaws of a beast, but was the path ahead any different?
"I don’t know either," she murmured softly.
Staying at home meant certain death; fleeing offered a chance, however slim—
They had escaped, yet had no destination. How despairing, how doubt-inducing. But the old woman carrying the child asked no questions, her steps unwavering as she clung closely to the girl.
The child in her arms had stopped crying.
It seemed that even if Chu Zhao were leading them into the depths of hell, they would follow without hesitation.
Weren’t they already in hell as it was?
"Miss—"
A sudden shout came from behind.
"Miss, come back quickly—the master has given orders—"
A Le glanced back and saw dark figures emerging from the estate, morphing into two silhouettes in pursuit.
Their voices sounded like concerned servants, but their movements were unnaturally swift.
A Le clenched her fists. So, even this wouldn’t work—
Chu Zhao halted. "You’ve come at the right time."
She turned to face the approaching figures, positioning herself in the middle of the road, blocking both the pursuers and the old woman.
"Quick, help me persuade them—or escort them. It’s too dangerous—"
Seeing Chu Zhao’s stance, the nearest servant lowered his hand, concealing something within his robe, and slowed his pace.
"Alright," they said. If they could discreetly bring everyone back, all the better.
It wasn’t that they feared killing—it was about preserving the chance to kill more, avoiding alerting their prey.
They bowed their heads, feigning the meekness of obedient servants, and moved past Chu Zhao.At that very moment, two short blades slipped from the girl's sleeves. Like a leaping civet cat, she struck with dual blades—left and right.
The blades pierced the necks of the two attendants. They convulsed violently, pulling knives from beneath their robes, but it was too late. All they managed was to turn and stare at the girl.
Blood gushing from their necks splattered across the girl's face and clothes. In the darkness, her pale face streaked with crimson blood gleamed with an eerie radiance.
With a clatter, their knives fell to the ground, and the two men collapsed.
......
......
In the shadows, a dark figure shifted along the street-side wall and blew a soundless whistle.
"Incredible," he murmured, his small eyes widening. "Sister A-Zhao is truly formidable in a fight."
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