"Big Brother!" Wei Shu Ye's eyebrows shot up as he shouted, then spurred his horse forward.
A sharp whistle cut through the air as a crossbow bolt shot through the sky, flashing like a meteor with a chilling gleam. It struck with perfect precision into the head of Wei Shu Ye's warhorse—piercing through the left eye and out the right. Blood sprayed, brains splattered, and a piercing whinny rose to the heavens. Wei Shu Ye nimbly leaped from the saddle, landing somewhat awkwardly amidst the swirling snowstorm.
The child crouched low, left hand pressing a blade against Wei Shu You's throat, right hand holding a crossbow braced against her shoulder blade. Tilting her head, she plucked an arrow from the small quiver on her back with her teeth. Using only her mouth and arm coordination, she swiftly reloaded the bolt. Raising an eyebrow, her cold gaze fixed on General Shu Ye as she slowly said, "This shot repays the support you showed me at Zijing Square that day. The next one won't target your horse. I advise you not to come any closer."
For a moment, everyone's gaze seemed frozen stiff by the deadly weather. Over a thousand of Zhenhuang City's most elite soldiers, scions of noble families, and outstanding officers from the empire's appointment hall all frowned at this child who stood less than three feet tall. Dressed in an obviously oversized soft leather armor, the green leather collar protected her thin, pointed face—smaller than an adult's palm. Her large eyes were clear and bright, her small nose slightly upturned, lips gently pouted. Her slender arms looked as if they could snap with minimal force, her entire being radiating an undeniable tenderness and youthfulness.
Yet this child, who appeared as if a strong wind could blow her away, this child who didn't even reach an adult's waist, had broken through the elite blockade of the Wei clan. Using her opponents' carelessness and her own sharp wits, she now crouched there fearlessly confronting thousands of soldiers, defying the Elder Council's decree, challenging the master of Shengjin Palace, and standing against the entire Daxia Empire—coolly holding the enemy leader hostage while threatening them all.
This was Chu Qiao's first open rebellion against the Great Xia Dynasty's rule, her first act of contempt toward imperial authority. Her goal was simple: she wanted to escape, to take Yan Xun with her and flee.
"Drop your weapons, open the city gates. Don't make me repeat myself." The child's voice was low as her gaze swept slowly through the crowd. As she turned, the crossbow braced against her shoulder rotated accordingly, like a bloodthirsty eye gliding over the restless hearts surrounding them.
"Attack!" Wei Shu You suddenly shouted fiercely. The pampered, high-ranking imperial nobleman couldn't bear the humiliation of being threatened by a commoner. Stubbornly raising his head, completely unafraid of the blade cutting into his neck, he angrily declared, "Seize them!"
A sharp swish sounded before Wei Shu You could finish speaking. Two of his fingers were instantly severed by the child. An ear-piercing scream tore through the air as Zhenhuang Capital's youngest-ever prefect groaned, blood pouring from his severed digits to splatter across the ground.
"Green mountains cannot block the flowing river—only those who understand the times are true heroes. I suggest you keep quiet, Young Master Wei."The child lifted her head, looked at the Wei Clan's personal guards, and sneered coldly, slowly saying, "Did you not understand my words, or are you deliberately defying me? Or perhaps, you're following the orders of another commander?" Her gaze shifted to Wei Shu Ye, circling him lightly before she sneered again, "With the biggest rival dead, some people can rightfully ascend to the position of clan head. Young General Shu Ye, who else but you is fit for the Empire's Elder seat?"
"Vile commoner!" Wei Shuyou gritted his teeth in hatred. "We brothers share a deep bond—there's no need for you to waste effort sowing discord."
"Whether the bond is deep or not remains to be seen." The child smiled faintly, her eyes locking with Wei Shu Ye's as she made a feinting motion with the knife near Wei Shuyou's neck. Her smile was sinister and bewitching, utterly unlike that of an eight-year-old.
She swiftly bound Wei Shuyou. Though she was small and not particularly strong, her tying technique and the knots were exceptionally clever, making it difficult for even Wei Shuyou to break free.
"Mount up," the child snorted coldly. "We'll trouble Young Master Wei to escort us for a while."
Thick clouds blanketed the sky, obscuring any starlight, and even the cold moonlight was hidden.
The child did not ride on the same warhorse as Wei Shuyou but confidently sat on another horse, trailing two lengths behind him. She held a small crossbow, her eyes fixed intently on the bound man ahead, ready to deliver a fatal strike if necessary.
"Yan Xun, let's go."
Without turning her head, her voice echoed coolly in the air, carried by the wind. Yan Xun narrowed his eyes, then the corners of his mouth lifted into a happy smile. He lazily climbed onto his horse and led his subordinates forward without a care for the enemy soldiers beside him. Chu Qiao rode at the forefront. She appeared too young, but the chilling aura emanating from her small frame was impossible to ignore. Wherever she passed, the dense ranks of Zhenhuang garrison troops parted like receding floodwaters.
The western gate creaked open with a loud groan. Torches blazed fiercely, painting the world in fiery red. The beacon fires in the north of the empire still burned, the war having affected tens of thousands of Daxia's commoners, their blood staining every inch of the Shangshen plateau. At this very moment, in the heart of the empire, Yan Xun, the son of the Yan King whom the empire had deemed the ringleader of the rebellion, openly exited the northwestern Triumph Gate of Zhenhuang's capital. The most elite army of the Great Xia Dynasty could only watch helplessly, unable to take any action to reverse the situation.
History changed at this moment. A tiger cub had been released from its cage, and no one knew if it would grow into a formidable dragon dominating the northwest.
Zhuge Huai's lips curled slightly in an almost imperceptible faint smile.
For the Zhuge family, whether the Heir of Yanbei returned to Yanbei was not important. What mattered was that Shengjin Palace had entrusted this task to the Wei Clan, and they had failed to accomplish it.
"There could be no news more delightful than this," Zhuge Huai thought to himself. He turned to his attendant and said, "Go inform the Fourth Young Master to return to the residence immediately. I have matters to discuss with him."
Zhu Yong stepped forward and bowed. "The Fourth Young Master has left the city."
"What?" Zhuge Huai was taken aback, his voice deepening. "Left the city?"
"He just exited through the northern gate, saying... he was going to capture a runaway slave from the residence.""Escaped slave?" Zhuge Huai frowned. "What kind of escaped slave would require him to personally give chase?"
"I'm not entirely clear on the details either. I'll investigate immediately."
Zhuge Huai lifted his head, squinting at the pitch-black night as he murmured, "I hope he doesn't cause any trouble."
Snow fell heavily. Half an hour later, on the desolate ancient plank road, Young Master Yan Xun, clad in white fur, ordered his men to untie Wei Shuyou's ropes. In a cold voice, he said, "Since I promised to release you, I won't go back on my word. Go."
Wei Shuyou shot a fierce glare at Yan Xun and the child behind him before turning around and heading in the direction of Zhenhuang City.
"You shouldn't have let him go," the child's cold voice rang out from behind. "Didn't you see the look in his eyes? Keeping him alive will only create a future threat."
Yan Xun shook his head, watching Wei Shuyou's receding figure as he slowly replied, "If we kill him, then Yanbei will truly be branded as rebels. I can't take that risk."
After speaking, the young man turned to look at the child and said, "What are your plans? The Zhuge family won't let you off. Come back to Yanbei with me."
The child lifted their face and smiled faintly. "Thank you for your kindness, but I still have matters to attend to."
Yan Xun frowned deeply and said in a serious tone, "You're just a child. What matters could you possibly have?"
Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow as she looked at Yan Xun. "After all this time, where exactly do you see me as a child?"
Yan Xun was taken aback, opening his mouth to defend himself but then realizing that this person indeed didn't resemble a child in any aspect. The Crown Prince of Yan furrowed his brows in thought for a long moment before stubbornly grabbing Chu Qiao's hand and insisting, "I see it everywhere I look. Look at these hands, these small arms, small legs, small head, and short stature - you're clearly a child. Even if you're ruthless, you're still a child."
Chu Qiao shook off Yan Xun's hand and muttered with a frown, "You're being unreasonable."
"Hey!" Yan Xun urged his horse forward, blocking Chu Qiao's path. "Are you really leaving?"
"I must go."
"What matters are so important that I can't have someone handle them for you?" The Young Master of Yan asked angrily, his pride wounded.
Chu Qiao turned to look at the young man's clear eyes, took a deep breath, and said solemnly, "Yan Xun, we were never the same kind of people to begin with. Having traveled this far together is already enough."
Yan Xun sat silently on his horse.
"Since we've become acquainted after all, and the road ahead is unpredictable, take good care of yourself." The child spoke these words in a low tone, like an elder, before turning their horse around and galloping away.
Under the starless, moonless sky amidst the swirling snow, the solitary child on their lone horse gradually disappeared into the storm. Yan Xun suddenly came to his senses and urged his horse forward a few steps, but it was futile. The young man in white fur sat on his horse and shouted toward the child disappearing in the snowstorm, "Hey! If you ever need anything in the future, come find me in Yanbei!"
His voice pierced through the wind and snow, echoing in the vast darkness of night. The night was far from over - dark, deep, and bitterly cold.
OpenNovel