When they returned to the Zhuge residence late at night, the gatekeeper was slightly surprised to see Chu Qiao. Knowing she was currently a favored servant in Green Mountain Courtyard, he didn't cause much trouble and even gave the child a lantern for light.
The Zhuge residence appeared rather cold at night, devoid of the daytime bustle and liveliness. Quiet as a dark cage, only occasional fluttering crows broke the silence, quickly shot down by the sharpshooting arrow slaves.
When the masters slept, no disturbances were tolerated—even if the offenders were mere animals.
Passing by the high walls outside Green Mountain Courtyard, Chu Qiao heard suppressed sobbing, as if some young slave girl who had made a mistake was hiding by the opposite wall, crying after being beaten.
The child's footsteps paused slightly. The moon hung large in the sky, a pale, full orb casting her small shadow against the red wall, making it appear surprisingly slender and elongated—almost like her own tall, straight figure from those bygone years. Her eyes grew somewhat dazed, and unconsciously she reached out, gradually approaching, only for her fingertips to meet cold emptiness.
A chilling sorrow welled up in her heart. Perhaps there would always be moments of daze, when everything seemed like a grand dream, and upon waking, nothing would have happened. Those fallen corpses, the flowing blood, and those sorrowful tears...
The child's crying from beyond the opposite wall continued, but she was too small to climb over. How could she warm others when she herself was still cold? Just like those bodies buried in the snowy plains, her anguish was futile.
Unexpectedly, she pushed open the gate of Green Mountain Courtyard. Chu Qiao was slightly surprised, having prepared to spend the night in the woodshed, never expecting the courtyard to be unlocked so late. Zhuge Yue was someone who valued health preservation; when not attending classes at the appointment hall, he would tend to flowers and orchids, drink tea, burn incense in the courtyard, and placed great importance on sleep—unlike other young masters in the residence who indulged in women and stayed up all night.
Just as she cautiously stepped into the courtyard, a lantern quickly approached. Huan'er urgently grabbed Chu Qiao's hand and whispered, "Oh, my little ancestor, where have you been? I've been waiting for you all evening!"
Chu Qiao sheepishly stuck out her tongue and said, "My horse got spooked, so I just returned. What about the young master? Why hasn't the gate been locked so late?"
"You're just lucky," Huan'er pouted, then smiled. "The young master has been reading in his room for most of the evening. He didn't order the gate locked, nor did he sleep, so I dared to wait for you here."
Chu Qiao nodded and was about to head toward Zhuge Yue's room when Huan'er quickly stopped her. "The young master didn't look pleased when he returned. Who knows who angered him? It's so late—whatever it is, talk to him tomorrow. Anyway, he didn't order you to report to the main study upon return. Go rest first; I'll inform the young master."
Chu Qiao nodded. "That's fine." She then turned toward her own room.
Huan'er hurried into the main study, said a few words, and came out. As the head maid of the main study, Chu Qiao's room was adjacent to the main courtyard. Just as the child reached her door and before she could push it open, the lights in the room behind her went out, plunging everything into darkness.Chu Qiao was slightly taken aback, her hand resting on the door as she half-turned to glance in the direction of Zhuge Yue's room. After a long moment, she finally stepped inside.
The lamp in the small room flickered on and off before extinguishing completely, leaving the entire Green Mountain Courtyard in serene silence.
The next morning, when she went to see Zhuge Yue, the mature young Fourth Master was not in his room. Having lost the little red horse, Chu Qiao felt she owed him an explanation. Just as she was about to go ask someone, she saw Zhuge Yue stride into the courtyard wearing a dark gold martial robe, carrying a long sword, followed by a line of attendants moving with brisk efficiency—a demeanor she had never seen in him before. Zhu Cheng, bent at the waist with a cloak draped over his arm, trotted hurriedly behind.
Huan'er and the other maids rushed forward to serve Zhuge Yue tea, offer water, light incense, wipe his hands, and prepare his bathing supplies.
Chu Qiao retreated to the side of the main door. Only after Zhuge Yue had taken a seat did she step forward and say, "Fourth Master, I lost the little red horse."
"Hmm." Zhuge Yue grunted in acknowledgment, took the tea from Huan'er, sipped it, and then said to a servant nearby, "Bring two pots of the ink orchids sent by the Mu residence yesterday. Remove this incense burner—the scent is irritating."
The servant hastily agreed and hurried away. Chu Qiao remained standing where she was. Seeing that Zhuge Yue showed no intention of punishing her, she wisely refrained from speaking further. Just as she was about to slip away quietly, Zhuge Yue set down his teacup and pointed at her, saying, "Xing'er, wait a moment."
Chu Qiao's heart sank, thinking that the inevitable had finally come. But then Zhuge Yue said, "Go with Zhu Cheng later and find a capable guard to teach you horseback riding."
"Ah?" Both Chu Qiao and Zhu Cheng were stunned, exclaiming in unison.
Zhuge Yue raised an eyebrow, his sharp brows slightly furrowed as he spoke impatiently, "What? Is there a problem?"
"No problem, no problem," Zhu Cheng, seventeen years old and having been Zhuge Yue's personal attendant since childhood, knew well his master's uncompromising nature. He quickly ingratiatingly replied, "This servant will take Miss Xing'er right away."
Zhuge Yue looked up puzzled, frowning at Zhu Cheng. "Xing'er is only eight years old. What do you mean by 'miss'?"
"Right, right. This servant will take Xing'er... Xing'er..." Usually quick-witted, Zhu Cheng suddenly found himself at a loss for how to address a child. He stammered for a long time, still failing to express himself clearly.
Zhuge Yue waved his hand impatiently. "Enough, get out. Straighten your back when you walk—don't let outsiders think all the servants in Green Mountain Courtyard are hunchbacks."
"Yes, yes."
Chu Qiao stood in place, small in stature, wearing a light yellow dress with a fox fur vest over it, looking tender and adorable. She bowed to Zhuge Yue and said in a soft voice, "Xing'er thanks Fourth Master."
Without looking up, Zhuge Yue merely waved his hand lightly.
Chu Qiao and Zhu Cheng withdrew from the hall. Zhu Cheng eyed the child suspiciously up and down, and when Chu Qiao looked up at him, he immediately put on a fawning smile and said, "Miss Xing'er, shall we go?"
Chu Qiao smiled slightly, ignoring him, and walked out of Green Mountain Courtyard ahead of him.
"Miss Xing'er, these are the men I've selected for you. They are all skilled riders. You can choose one yourself."Chu Qiao and Zhu Cheng stood at the foot of Paoma Mountain. The eight-year-old child tilted her head slightly, gazing at the burly men standing before her. These guards of the Zhuge family, who usually shouted and cursed at the young slaves, now wore broad smiles and respectful expressions. An observer might have mistaken them for genuinely kind-hearted people.
Taking small steps, the child walked past each man. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. With a meaningful glance and a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips, she pointed at one particularly flustered-looking guard and said softly, "I want him."
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