【First Update of the Day】
Early the next morning, Chu Qiao still decided to leave this place for the time being. With the marriage alliance between Daxia and Biantang, the domestic unrest was gradually subsiding. Recently, there were even rumors that Emperor Xia would soon move back to Zhenhuang from Yundu. Once Daxia stabilized its footing, it would inevitably attack Yanbei to uphold the empire's dignity. Over the past three hundred years, the Great Xia Dynasty had never suffered such a heavy blow. If this tiger were allowed to recover, the immense fury Yanbei would face was unimaginable. Before that happened, she had to return to Yanbei and stand by Yan Xun's side in battle.
However, she couldn't simply abandon the Jing sisters. This was a fundamental principle of Chu Qiao's conduct: toward enemies, she could be ruthless and resort to any means necessary to achieve her goals, but toward family and friends, she maintained absolute sincerity and protection. Even though she had no inherent connection to the Jing family, Lin Xi's timely help in her hour of need, Zhixiang's care and support, and the fact that she now inhabited Jing Yue'er's body had instilled in her an undeniable sense of responsibility.
A qualified state agent might lack advanced technical skills, exceptional military prowess, robust physical fitness, or extensive combat experience, but they absolutely must not lack a sense of responsibility. They must maintain unwavering loyalty to their organization, comrades, superiors, and even their country, with a clear understanding of the duties on their shoulders. Only then can they preserve strong conviction and mental fortitude in harsh and dangerous working conditions, fighting on with tenacity. This was also why highly equipped and well-funded agents from Country M often fell prey to Israel's Mossad—the latter operated in a religious state where its elites possessed profound national loyalty and religious faith, making them far less likely to waver or betray their cause for money.
And Chu Qiao was precisely such a person. Though she had no religious faith, she held steadfast personal principles. No matter what she did, there was a clear bottom line, and this was the main reason she had rushed back to Zhenhuang at the last moment to rescue the Southwest Garrison Commander.
As far as Chu Qiao knew, the Zhan residence would stay in Wupeng City for two days before continuing to Tang Capital. These two days presented the perfect opportunity for her to devise a plan to rescue the Jing sisters.
Early in the morning, before dawn, there was a soft knock at the door. Chu Qiao sat up immediately, put on her outer garment, and opened the cabin door. Jing Zisu stood there, looking slightly uneasy. Behind her was a young woman, no more than twenty years old, with delicate features. Though not as beautiful as Jing Zisu, she had an excellent figure—curvaceous and tall—and even in servant's clothing, she couldn't conceal her innate grace.
"Yue'er, sorry to disturb your rest. It's a bit early," Jing Zisu said, rubbing her hands nervously and offering an apologetic smile.
Chu Qiao politely shook her head and replied, "Please come in. I've been awake for a while."
"Cai Qin went out with the Fifth Young Miss last night and hasn't returned yet. When she comes back, I'll bring her to see you."Liang Shaoqing stood to the side, watching Jing Zisu and the other woman with some curiosity. When they glanced his way, he immediately clasped his hands in a scholarly salute and said, "Greetings, young ladies. I am Liang Shaoqing, courtesy name—"
"Enough chatter. Go keep watch outside."
Chu Qiao's cold tone made Liang Shaoqing freeze. He wanted to protest, but when he saw her eyebrows arch sharply, his defiance evaporated. Muttering under his breath, "Seems you know quite a few people," he shuffled awkwardly out of the room.
Once the door closed, Chu Qiao smiled and gestured. "Please sit, sisters."
"Yue'er, this is Jin Lian from your fourth uncle's family. She even held you when you were little—do you remember?"
Chu Qiao could only respond with a vague, polite laugh. How could she remember? Not only was she an imposter who had taken over this body, but even the real Jing Yue'er probably wouldn't recall events from such a young age.
The three of them sat in silence for a moment, unsure of what to say, the atmosphere growing awkward. Jin Lian seemed particularly introverted, occasionally stealing shy glances at Chu Qiao but not daring to speak up, appearing quite timid. Chu Qiao studied her carefully—her thin frame, the faint whip marks visible beneath her collar despite her attempts to hide them with her clothing.
It seemed their lives here weren't easy. Chu Qiao noted this silently, her resolve to take them away growing stronger.
Jin Lian looked around the room and suddenly let out a small, timid laugh. "Yue'er, your place is so nice. You have a bed, a window, and the blankets aren't even damp."
Zisu also smiled. "Though Yue'er is young, she's capable. When I told Jin Lian that the girl who dealt with Chen Shuang and his gang was our sister, she wouldn't believe it. Honestly, even I can hardly believe it—it feels like a dream. Yue'er, you've learned martial arts, haven't you?"
"Yes," Chu Qiao nodded. "Just a few self-defense moves."
Jin Lian gathered her courage and added, "You have no idea how happy everyone was when Chen Shuang and the others were locked up."
"Now I understand why Yue'er got to stay in the upper cabins right away—she really is skilled."
Seeing their joy, Chu Qiao felt a warmth in her heart. She asked gently, "Sister Zisu, what work do you do now? Where do you live?"
"We do cleaning and laundry, living in the lower cabins. Last month it was a twenty-person dormitory, but recently we moved to a twelve-person room, thanks to Cai Qin. She's Fifth Miss's personal maid now and quite favored."
"That's right!" Jin Lian chimed in excitedly. "She lives in the upper cabins now, just like you, sharing with three other senior maids. Fifth Miss is the kindest and most approachable of the five young ladies. With her around, we face much less bullying."
"Is that so?" Chu Qiao responded absently, humoring their enthusiasm. "That's really impressive."Zisu said, "Exactly! A few days ago, the Fifth Young Miss even gave Cai Qin a silk dress. I haven't touched such smooth fabric in years. The young miss really likes her—Cai Qin is so fortunate. Perhaps someday, if the young miss is pleased, she might arrange a good marriage for her. As long as she marries a skilled carriage driver or a cook, she'll be blessed for life."
Chu Qiao smiled gently, but a pang of sorrow suddenly welled up in her heart. Looking at the wounds on Jing Zisu and Jin Lian, she sighed softly and turned to fetch some leftover ointment from her medicine box. "Never mind others," she said. "Let me apply some medicine for you."
Jing Zisu was taken aback, awkwardly trying to hide her injuries, but the wounds on her neck and face were impossible to conceal. She forced an embarrassed smile. "I made a mistake the day before yesterday and was punished by the steward. Jin Lian even took a few hits for me. It's nothing—it'll heal soon."
Such things were everywhere: nobles oppressing commoners, commoners bullying slaves, and even among slaves, there were hierarchies. Chu Qiao didn't comment further as she applied the ointment. "Sisters," she said softly, "do you really want to be servants for the rest of your lives? Have you never thought about leaving?"
"Leaving?" Zisu stared blankly. "Where would we go? We have no identification papers, no money, and no relatives to turn to. Wouldn't we just be captured again if we left? And if we ended up in another household, it might not be as good as the Zhan family. Truthfully, the Zhan residence treats servants quite well. Aside from the First and Second Young Misses having bad tempers, the others are fine, and Young Master Ziyu is especially kind."
At this, Zisu suddenly paused and turned sharply to ask, "Yue'er, you're not planning to run away, are you?"
Chu Qiao was startled and quickly shook her head.
"That's good," Jing Zisu patted Chu Qiao's head. "Even though you're capable, don't act impulsively. You were lucky to be sold to Young Master Ziyu before, but there's no guarantee you wouldn't be caught again if you escaped. In this world, there's no path for people like us. Now that we sisters have finally reunited, we mustn't take risks. I just hope we can stay together, serve our masters carefully, and avoid major mistakes—that's enough."
"Right," Jin Lian added. "I heard that in Biantang, servants even receive wages. If the Zhan family moves back to Biantang someday, we might get paid—that would be much better than when we were in Daxia."
Just then, a commotion erupted outside the door. Chu Qiao frowned and stepped forward. As soon as she pulled the door open, a shrill voice pierced her ears.
A woman ignored Chu Qiao standing in the doorway and craned her neck to peer inside. Spotting Jing Zisu and Jin Lian, she immediately screeched, "Shameless little sluts! So you did sneak off to find men here! I'll skin you alive!"
Jin Lian turned pale as a ghost and scrambled to hide behind Zisu. Jing Zisu also stood up, her face white, and stammered, "Sister Xiaoyun, we—we were just visiting."
"You seductive little bitches! How dare you talk back? Get out here now!"
Liang Shaoqing poked his head out from behind and frowned. "Miss, how can you speak so harshly?"Xiao Yun turned her head and shot Liang Shaoqing a fierce glare, though she didn't retort verbally. Instead, as Jin Lian passed by her, she reached out and pinched Jin Lian's arm hard, scolding sharply, "Walk faster! Do you expect me to carry you?"
Jin Lian let out a cry of pain and was quickly pulled aside by Zisu, who immediately bowed and apologized profusely to Xiao Yun. Jin Lian, tears welling in her eyes, covered her arm and shrank back, not daring to say a word.
Xiao Yun snorted triumphantly, her gaze sweeping over Chu Qiao and Liang Shaoqing's faces with a look that said, "What can you do about it?"
Chu Qiao's brows slowly furrowed, and she unconsciously took a step forward. Just then, Jing Zisu suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking her path while apologizing to Xiao Yun and secretly pressing her hand against Chu Qiao's.
Chu Qiao remained silent until Jing Zisu and the others had left. She sat on the bed, head lowered, chest heaving, and brow tightly knit.
Liang Shaoqing could tell she was in a bad mood and didn't dare disturb her.
After a long while, when it was fully bright outside and more people were on the deck, Liang Shaoqing finally asked softly, "Xiao Qiao, are we leaving today?"
"Yes," Chu Qiao replied quietly. She stood up and headed for the cabin door, adding as she walked, "Have something to eat first. I'll go bid farewell to the young master."
As she passed the deck, she saw Jin Lian kneeling on the ground, scrubbing the stern with a rag. Spotting Xiao Qiao from afar, her eyes lit up with joy, and she quickly turned away. Soon after, Jing Zisu came running up from behind, waving happily at Chu Qiao without a trace of unhappiness.
Chu Qiao stood still, waving back at them. Seeing their cheerful demeanor, she suddenly felt a heavy weight in her heart.
She took a deep breath, pushed aside her thoughts, and headed toward the upper cabin. As she climbed the stairs, she noticed a small boat moored beside the larger ship—a simple yet elegant black-canopied skiff that carried a refined charm amid the misty rain and emerald waves.
It seemed outsiders had boarded the ship, but Chu Qiao paid it no mind, assuming they might be servants from the other two large vessels reporting matters. She proceeded directly upward.
Upon meeting Zhan Ziyu's maid, Chu Qiao respectfully stated her purpose. Shortly after, the maid emerged from the inner cabin, giving Chu Qiao a strange look before saying, "Follow me."
Chu Qiao followed the maid to the inner cabin and stood outside a room. The young maid said, "The master is meeting with guests. Wait here for a while."
Chu Qiao nodded and waited quietly.
After some time, noises came from inside the cabin, as if someone was approaching the door. Then, clear voices could be heard—besides Zhan Ziyu's, there was a man's voice that sounded strikingly familiar.
Just as Chu Qiao strained to recall who the visitor might be, the cabin door swung open. She cautiously glanced up and instantly felt her scalp prickle, nearly fleeing in panic!The man was dressed in a dark green robe of fine silk, with starry eyes and a prominent aquiline nose that gave him a somewhat gloomy demeanor. Even when smiling, he gave the impression of being full of schemes. He casually glanced around and saw only Chu Qiao and the young maid outside the cabin door. Although Chu Qiao had quickly composed herself and lowered her head, she was still caught in his gaze.
The man was immediately startled, his brow furrowing tightly. He stared intently at Chu Qiao, then reached out to lift her chin, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, fixed firmly on her.
"Little Prince?" Zhan Ziyu was slightly taken aback and called out softly.
Chu Qiao resignedly raised her head, avoiding the man's hand, and bowed respectfully. "This servant pays respects to the master."
"Servant?" The man looked Chu Qiao up and down, then suddenly laughed. "What a pretty servant!"
Zhan Ziyu said, "Little Prince, you flatter me. I will relay your words to my younger sister when she returns. I apologize for making you come all this way for nothing."
"You're too polite, Young Master Zhan. Speaking of which, I haven't had the chance to see you off since your return to Tang. Meeting on the river like this must be fate."
"I am but a commoner. How could I trouble the Little Prince to see me off? You honor me too much."
"Haha," the man laughed heartily. "Young Master Zhan has always been a man of refined tastes."
The Little Prince glanced sideways at Chu Qiao, who stood with her head bowed, and asked, "Little servant, what is your name?"
Chu Qiao kept her head down and replied calmly, "This servant is named Xiao Qiao."
"Xiao Qiao, Xiao Qiao," the Little Prince chuckled. "A fine name."
With that, he turned and strode away.
The crowd immediately gathered on both sides, respectfully seeing him off. Only when the surroundings had completely quieted down did Chu Qiao slowly raise her head, her forehead beaded with cold sweat, and let out a long sigh.
She knew that all her plans had to stop immediately. She had to leave at once, no matter the reason, no matter who needed her help. She had to go now.
Because the person who had just left was none other than her old acquaintance—Little Prince Jing, Jing Han.
When the others returned, everyone wore strange expressions. Present earlier were not only Zhan Ziyu but also the elder brother-in-law Gu Gongen, the eldest young lady Zhan Zifang, and the sixth young lady Zhan Ziyun. Now, accompanying them back was even the second young lady, Zhan Zikui.
Zhan Zifang was the first to ask, "Do you know Little Prince Jing?"
Chu Qiao frowned and could only brace herself to reply, "No, I don't."
"Then why did he treat you differently?"
"This servant does not know."
"Could it be?" Zhan Zikui frowned as she looked at Chu Qiao, pondering for a moment before saying gravely, "Could the rumors outside be true?"
Zhan Zifang was startled. "What rumors?"
"That Little Prince Jing has a preference for men!"
Upon hearing this, Chu Qiao felt her throat tighten. Then she heard Gu Gongen chime in, "If that's really the case, we need to change our strategy. Fifth Sister may not be enough to entertain him."
As soon as these words were spoken, all eyes instantly turned to her. Chu Qiao felt a chill run down her spine, her entire body turning cold.
"Um, I came... to bid farewell to the young master. The young master promised me that once the ship docks, I would be free to leave."
"No!" Zhan Zikui was the first to object. "Why should we let you go?"Zhan Ziyu frowned and said, "Second Sister, this matter was my decision."
"Circumstances have changed," Zhan Zikui replied. "Prince Jing actually caught up with us. It was improper that we left without bidding him farewell. Now that we're returning to the capital, we urgently need a patron to rely on. With such an opportunity presenting itself, how can we not seize it?"
"They were merely casual remarks. Why take them so seriously?"
"Even if they were casual remarks, by fulfilling the formalities we demonstrate our respect for him," Zhan Zifang said, then turned to look at Chu Qiao. "You, go back and pack your things. After we disembark, you'll accompany me to visit Prince Jing."
Chu Qiao slowly furrowed her brows, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the people before her. The anger she had suppressed all morning simmered within her. What were they trying to do? Offer her as a gift to Jing Han?
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. The same maid from earlier rushed in breathlessly, pushing the door open as she gasped, "Young Master, Eldest Miss, Second Miss, Eldest Brother-in-Law, Sixth Miss... that... that young prince has returned!"
"What?" Everyone stared in astonishment. Gu Gongen asked gravely, "What does he want now?"
"He brought large and small packages with many servants, saying... saying he wants to stay on our boat and travel to the capital with us!"
Clatter! The teacup in Zhan Zifang's hand fell to the floor. Everyone looked at each other in surprise and delight. After exchanging glances for a long moment, they finally turned their gazes toward Chu Qiao's face!
In that instant, Chu Qiao felt dizzy and faint. She knew—her escape plan had completely fallen through.
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