While the vermilion gates reek of wine and meat, frozen bones lie by the roadside. Just as the Great Xia Dynasty loudly proclaimed its inability to support displaced foreign refugees and ruthlessly slaughtered them, the Picking Flowers Wine Market within the inner city was a scene of revelry and extravagance. Beauties with willow-like waists and jade-like skin, their alluring laughter and seductive charms, allowed the esteemed elders of Daxia, after a "hard day's work," to shed their scholarly demeanors and indulge in debauchery, forgetting all worldly concerns.
Outside, snow clung to the trees, silk ribbons fluttered, and colorful lanterns blazed brightly. It was the Lantern Festival, a time of nationwide celebration, even for these women adrift in the world of pleasure. Suddenly, the urgent clatter of hoofbeats shattered the sweet dreams of Wei Guang, patriarch of the Wei Clan. The elderly man, his long white beard still lending him an air of elegance, narrowed his slender eyes and waved away the dozen or so heavily made-up women surrounding him. At his command, the women hastily adjusted their garments and knelt, retreating on their knees without daring to look up.
Wei Guang picked up his teacup, took a deep breath, and leaned back slowly on his soft couch.
Incense curled from the burner, its fragrant smoke drifting upward like delicate dragons, veiling everything in a hazy mist.
A respectful voice sounded from outside the door: "My lord, Young Master Shu Ye has arrived."
It was about time, the old man thought, his brow lifting slightly. He had arrived earlier than expected, wasting the efforts of Lady Yu's careful attentions. In a low, measured tone, the elder said, "Let him in."
The door slid open, and a figure in a simple, almost unadorned moon-white robe—hardly fitting for a noble—entered the premier private room of the Picking Flowers Wine Market. Major General Shu Ye’s expression was dark as he blurted out without preamble, "Why?"
Wei Guang, of course, knew what he referred to. Without even glancing at him, he narrowed his eyes and replied leisurely, "Is this the courtesy I’ve taught you all these years—to neglect greeting your elders?"
Wei Shu Ye’s brow furrowed slightly. A candle in the corner crackled, its flame sputtering, as time passed in silence. Finally, the young major general lowered his head. "Uncle."
"Not everything in this world requires a clear reason to be done. This is something you must learn well from Shu You."
Major General Shu Ye’s eyebrows arched as he said sternly, "Then why send me? I promised them…"
"You are the next heir of the Wei Clan, foremost among the seven great families of Daxia. Your veins flow with the golden blood of our ancestors; you are a noble of the empire. There is no need to keep promises to a bunch of lowborn commoners. Their very existence is meant to be sacrificed at the appropriate moment for the empire. What you did was not wrong, and there is no need for guilt, much less to come here now and question your uncle."
The old man cut him off, his voice low and resolute, each word striking like shattered metal.
Shu Ye shook his head, frowning. "Uncle, you didn’t teach me this way before."
"It is precisely because I was once as naive as you that your father died in the internal strife of the clans." Wei Guang opened his eyes, their aged depths flashing with turbulent intensity. He turned slowly, fixing his gaze firmly on Shu Ye, and said, word by word, "The victor becomes king; the strong prey on the weak. That is the way of this world. Ye’er, after all these years, have you still not understood?""Uncle," Shu Ye said with a stern expression, his tone serious, "The empire needs people to reclaim the wasteland in the west. All the young men of their clan went westward because they trusted me. Why can't the Elder Council take care of their families? They followed me thousands of miles back to the imperial capital because you once promised me that you would build permanent residences for them at the foot of Hongchuan. They abandoned their homes, gave up their nomadic nature, all because I personally assured them!"
Shu Ye, growing agitated, snatched a small bundle of incense from Wei Guang's desk and said sharply, "You claim the empire has no funds to support them, but what is this? This is Huai Song's golden incense—just one bundle is worth two hundred gold coins. Two hundred gold coins could sustain their entire clan for ten years!"
Wei Guang remained unperturbed, calmly listening as Shu Ye vented his frustrations. The air grew tense, thick with the young man's fiery anger. After a long while, the elder gave a light chuckle and spoke slowly, "Ye'er, you went with General Zhilu of the appointment hall to oversee the suppression of the Shangshen rebellion, yet you returned in disgrace. General Zhilu was stripped of his rank and imprisoned in the Hall of Punishment, his fate unknown to this day. Yet here you stand, shouting at me without consequence. Do you know why?"
Shu Ye froze, his angry expression stiffening on his face, rendered speechless.
"The reason you can stand here unscathed is because your surname is Wei. I know you sympathize with those lowly commoners and reject class distinctions. But no matter how much you despise this identity, you are ultimately a direct descendant of the Wei family, my nephew, Wei Guang. Everything you have enjoyed since childhood—the food you eat, the clothes you wear, your shelter, your status—all of it was bestowed upon you by the noble family. This is something you can never change. Those who comfortably enjoy these privileges have no right to curse and despise them."
Wei Guang took a deep breath, leaning back on his couch, his chest rising and falling slightly. His voice was low, carrying a heavy sense of weariness: "Everything in this world has its reason for existence. Today, it is the Wei family slaughtering the Bianta tribe, not the Bianta tribe slaughtering the Wei people, because since the time of our ancestors, the Wei family has ceaselessly striven for the family's interests. For three hundred years, the Wei clan has defended the nation's territory, reclaimed the frontiers, served in the court, and achieved countless merits. While the Bianta people leisurely herded horses and sheep, the children of the Wei family were already learning horseback riding, archery, military strategy, and the ways of commerce, learning to evade both open and hidden attacks. Thus, after many years, the Wei family stands as one of the seven great noble houses, while the Bianta tribe faces exile to the borderlands and the annihilation of their entire clan. Child, heaven is fair; it never favors anyone. The reason they have lost is that they have not given nearly enough. No one can curse the strong for bullying the weak simply because they are weak. To avoid being killed, one must become stronger oneself. Today, you stand here sympathizing with them, but have you considered that if all the descendants of the Wei family were like you, those lying dead outside Zhenhuang City today would be your own brothers and sisters."
Shu Ye stood in place, his brow deeply furrowed. He wanted to say something but felt as if a massive boulder were pressing down on his chest, leaving him unable to speak.Wei Guang slowly rose to his feet and placed a hand on Wei Shu Ye's shoulder. "Ye'er, your uncle is already old and won't be able to protect you much longer. When I'm gone, who will protect the family? Who will ensure my children aren't killed? Who will prevent my daughter from being toyed with? Who will protect them? You?"
The main gate stood wide open, the lively sounds of music drifting in leisurely. The intoxicating fragrance made one feel drowsy. As the old man's footsteps gradually faded away, Wei Shu Ye straightened his back, feeling a burning pain in his shoulder—as if weighed down by an invisible mountain, a burden he desperately wanted to escape but ultimately couldn't shake off.
The night was pitch black, yet not as dark as the thick fog in his heart. Unseen demons roamed through his thoughts, devouring his reason. Struggling was futile; he could only let out a long sigh, speechless.
Some things were determined from birth, like bloodline, like fate.
The man slumped into his seat, picked up a wine cup, and downed it in one gulp along with all his pent-up frustration and resentment.
Just as Chu Qiao reached the city gate, she saw servants dressed in Zhuge family attire holding lanterns and looking around anxiously. When they spotted her, their faces lit up with joy as they hurried over.
"Xing'er, the Fourth Young Master sent us to wait for you here. Let's hurry back to the estate," they said.
Chu Qiao was taken aback. She hadn't expected someone like Zhuge Yue, given his temperament, to send people to look for her. She nodded and boarded the carriage they had prepared.
The carriage creaked along, moving through the still bustling and lively streets. Gradually, the noise outside faded, and quiet settled in. The child leaned against the carriage wall, her mind replaying the recent massacre—the soldiers' cold-blooded eyes, the refugees' deep-seated hatred, and Wei Shu Ye's powerless attempts to intervene.
If even someone of his status was helpless, how much more so someone as insignificant as herself? To pit individual strength against the entire imperial court was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. All she could do now was live cautiously, bide her time to seek revenge, and then leave safely with Xiao Ba. As for other matters, her abilities were too limited; she dared not hope to change anything.
The carriage wheels turned, carrying them farther away. Suddenly, Chu Qiao's senses sharpened. She abruptly lifted the curtain, glanced around, and said sternly, "This isn't the way back to the estate. Where are you taking me?"
The servant was startled, not expecting such a young child to remember the route. He quickly forced a smile and said, "The young master is at the villa, not at the main estate."
The child raised an eyebrow warily. "Which villa?"
"The one west of the lake. You wouldn't know it."
Chu Qiao frowned deeply. Years of working in dangerous situations had honed her instincts, and now they warned her that something was amiss. Testing the waters, she said, "The young master asked me to retrieve something from the estate earlier, but I haven't had the chance yet. Let's return to the estate first before heading to the villa."
The servant smiled and replied, "Don't worry. The young master just said there's no need to fetch it. He's waiting at the villa. Let's hurry—we shouldn't keep him waiting."The child slowly nodded, her expression calm as she released the curtain. The servant let out a slight sigh of relief, a trace of cunning flashing in his eyes as the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. But just as his smile began to widen, a cold dagger abruptly pressed against his throat. The child, swift as a young beast, closed in with a grim expression and said coldly, "You're not Fourth Young Master's man. Who are you really?"
"Heh heh," a hoarse, owl-like chuckle suddenly sounded from the side. A luxurious carriage slowly emerged from behind the grove. An old man with a weaselly face but dressed in splendid robes leered at the bowing man beside him and said lasciviously, "Zhu Shun, the girl you recommended is indeed not bad. So young, yet so stubborn, and her looks are quite pleasing. I'll reward you handsomely later."
Zhu Shun fawned, "It is this humble servant's duty to share your worries, Old Master. If you reward me, you would be denying me the chance to serve you loyally."
The old man chuckled and ordered the attendants on both sides, "Seize this little girl and take her back to the manor."
With a unified roar of assent, the crowd immediately closed in.
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