December. Unrest in Shangxin in the west, turmoil at Red Water, the Wolf Star brought a killing frost, and a blanket of gold covered the land.
Within twenty days, the turmoil intensified, and tens of thousands of Shangxin civilians were caught in the flames of war. Shangxin Prefecture occupied a special geographical position, situated in the gap between the western territory of the Batuha family and the Yan Bei region controlled by the Yan Prince. In peaceful years, both sides fought to claim it; in times of chaos, they pushed the responsibility to each other. Now, despite the Zhenhuang Emperor’s control, both the Batuha family and the Yan Prince sent elite troops to quell the rebellion, but it was all just talk and posturing. The civilian uprising wasn’t relieved at all but became increasingly intense. Emergency documents were sent to the imperial capital like snowflakes, requesting the Zhenhuang Council of Elders to dispatch troops to suppress the rebellion.
On the twenty-seventh day of December, the Pojun Star appeared and Zhaoming went into seclusion. The Grand Chaplain of the Imperial Observatory issued a divination text: “Supreme emptiness, Red Water contains ice, the Pojun Star appears—great misfortune.”
The Seven Great Families discussed through the night and decided to send the Huangtian Corps to Shangxin to pacify the northwestern rebellion.
After the proclamation was issued and presented to the Golden Palace, the Emperor read it and approved: “Granted.”
In an instant, a great storm arose in the Zhenhuang imperial capital. The great households were tense, and in the pitch-black night, turbulent undercurrents surged rapidly beneath the thick layer of ice.
At this moment, Chu Qiao was busy in the withered grass near the North Pavilion, carefully searching for snake dens that hibernated during winter. Suddenly, she heard horn blasts echoing in her ears, like the cry of a white crane, deep and majestic. She slowly stood up straight, her eyes half-closed and gazed slowly toward the south of Zhenhuang. There stood the Golden Palace.
The night was thick, and the road ahead was very difficult to traverse.
In the afternoon of the next day, after the heavy snow had cleared, under the glazed tiles of Qingshan Pavilion, two adorable jade snow dogs gleamed crystal clear and brilliantly in the morning light. A heavy snow had fallen last night, piling up more than a foot thick. Servants passing by the snow dogs kept their eyes straight ahead, seeming afraid that even a glance would bring trouble upon themselves.
Jin Si wore a small padded jacket with purple sable fur, a pink flowered gauze skirt, and a soft pink waistband, standing in the pristine snow, appearing even more elegant and beautiful. This girl who served the Fourth Young Master daily was only thirteen years old, but she had already grown into a graceful beauty. Usually obedient and clever when around her master, she now appeared somewhat arrogant. With a cold tone and disgusted look, she addressed a group of children who wore only thin short tunics and tightly hugged the jade snow dogs, saying, “Hold them tight. The Young Master said this jade is alive; it becomes more translucent and lustrous when it absorbs human energy. You lowly slaves are fortunate to serve the Fourth Young Master today, but don’t you dare slack off. If I come back later and find any of you disobeying, I’ll have you all dragged to Ting Lake to feed the crocodiles.”
The children immediately nodded fearfully in agreement. Jin Si smirked and turned toward the warm greenhouse.
The weather after the snow had become even colder. Even wearing a snow sable coat and holding a warming stove, one could hardly bear it, let alone wearing only a thin tunic and standing in the snow. In no time, the children’s lips turned bluish-purple from the cold.
Chu Qiao was carrying a plate of fresh peaches from Lanshan Court when Jin Si hurriedly ran out from the greenhouse and called to her. Chu Qiao turned and stopped, her face ruddy, her appearance innocent and charming. Tilting her head, she said, “Sister Jin Si, what is it?”
“The Fourth Young Master is taking his afternoon nap. Just give me the peaches.”
Chu Qiao nodded with a pleasant smile and handed over the peaches. Jin Si smirked and turned to enter the greenhouse. But before she could settle down, a sudden angry shout came from the pavilion. Jin Si anxiously put down the peaches and ran out. Before she reached the door, a colorful shadow flew out from inside, whisking across her face—soft, cold, and with a foul, slippery sensation.
Jin Si looked down and saw it was a small snake with its head raised and its tongue flickering. Her soul seemed to fly away in fright, and she cried out as she sat on the ground.
Chu Qiao ran into the room and saw Zhuge Yue with his brows furrowed, wearing a lake-green brocade tunic, leaning against a soft couch. Black blood flowed from his wrist, clearly bitten by a snake.
The girl ran forward in a few steps, grabbed Zhuge Yue’s wrist, took a small fruit knife from the table, and cut into the wound.
Zhuge Yue was immediately angered and was about to speak when he saw that Chu Qiao had only made a small cross-shaped cut. After squeezing it a few times, she lowered her head and began to suck on the wound, then spat out twice, saying anxiously, “Young Master, please don’t exert yourself, or the poison will spread faster. This slave will go find a doctor right away.”
In a moment, a large group of servants had gathered at the door. Jin Zhu rushed forward in panic, pushed Chu Qiao aside, knelt on the ground, grabbed Zhuge Yue’s hand, and cried, “Young Master, how are you?”
“Get out!” Zhuge Yue frowned and kicked Jin Zhu in the chest, shouting sternly, “A bunch of useless trash!”
Jin Zhu fell to the ground and screamed in horror. The floor was crawling with snakes and insects, at least twenty of them, looking eerily terrifying.
Chu Qiao found a candlestick, quickly lit it, and used the fire to drive away the snakes. The reptiles feared fire and immediately scattered.
The Zhuge family doctor quickly arrived, and the crowd was dispersed. The servants of Qingshan Court all knelt trembling at the door, their faces ashen.
Shortly after, one of the doctors came out from the inner room and asked the servants, “Who is Miss Xinger?”
Chu Qiao stood up from the back of the crowd, small in stature with a childish face, and raised her hand softly, saying, “Sir, it’s me.”
The doctor hadn’t expected such a young child and was momentarily stunned. After pondering for a while, he said gravely, “Come in. The Fourth Young Master said you sucked out the poison for him, and the old man should examine you as well.”
All hundred-plus servants in front and on both sides were shocked, raising their heads to look at Chu Qiao. With a fearful expression, she knelt, kowtowed several times to express gratitude for the Fourth Young Master’s kindness, and then followed the doctor into the pavilion.
In the biting wind, the servants of the Zhuge household, who were always looking to climb higher, began to think rapidly.
After a short while, Chu Qiao came out, her demeanor respectful, showing no sign of arrogance. After the doctor left, Jin Si, Jin Zhu, and several high-ranking servants entered Zhuge Yue’s room. Zhuge Yue leaned against the chair, his eyes half-closed, and said in a deep voice, “Who was serving in the room today?”
Jin Zhu glanced at Jin Si, her face ashen, and stammered, “Young Master, it was, it was this slave. This slave just now…”
“No need to explain,” Zhuge Yue said coldly. “You know the rules here. I never keep idle people who eat without working. Go receive thirty lashes, then take my letter to a certain position at the An Military Academy.”
Upon hearing this, Jin Zhu’s tears immediately flowed, and she knelt on the ground, crying loudly, “Young Master, please spare this slave just this once. This slave will never dare to do it again.”
Zhuge Yue frowned slightly, and two strong men immediately stepped forward, grabbed Jin Zhu, and walked out.
“Who was guarding the door?”
Two household guards knelt on the ground, trembling all over, kowtowing repeatedly and saying, “This lowly one is guilty. Please, Young Master, spare this lowly one’s life.”
Zhuge Yue opened his eyes and gave the two a cold glance, saying in a deep voice, “It was you two?”
Then he snorted lightly, “You’re always beating others. Since that’s the case, go to the courtyard now and beat each other with the paddle. Whoever dies first, the other will be spared from punishment.”
The room fell deadly silent. Zhuge Yue’s wrist was injured, and he was irritable. He frowned and said, “All of you get out. Looking at you makes me annoyed.”
Everyone felt as if granted a great amnesty and immediately began to withdraw. At this moment, a small voice suddenly said, “Young Master, may this slave remove those pots of fire vine from outside the pavilion?”
Zhuge Yue raised an eyebrow, “What did you say?”
Everyone turned around to see the small female slave who had just entered Qingshan Court a few days ago standing at the back of the crowd. Small in stature, she slowly said in a childish voice, “Although it’s winter now, Qingshan Court is in a special location, close to the hot springs, making the climate much warmer, with many mosquitoes and moths. Vines naturally attract these small insects, and fire vines especially emit heat, which will attract birds and mice that feed on mosquitoes, and in turn, will attract snakes that feed on birds and mice. This is common knowledge. This slave should have thought of it earlier.”
Zhuge Yue frowned deeply. After a while, he turned his head and asked in a deep voice, “Who brought these pots of fire vine here?”
Jin Si’s face turned pale, and she tremblingly said, “Young Master, these flowers were brought by Steward Zhu yesterday. He said they were specialties from the South Border and that the Young Master might like them, so he especially told this slave to place them at the base of the wall.”
“Zhu Shun?” Zhuge Yue snorted coldly, his narrow eyes slightly cold, and slowly said, “This steward is becoming increasingly overbearing. Next time, if he buys a dagger from the Western Regions and tells you to place it on my bed, I suppose you would do so without question.”
Jin Si was greatly shocked and hurriedly prostrated herself, kowtowing and saying, “This slave would not dare!”
Zhuge Yue remained silent and indifferent. As the servants were about to leave, Zhuge Yue suddenly said, “You, from now on, serve in the inner chamber.”
Everyone was stunned, not knowing who he was referring to. Zhuge Yue impatiently frowned and pointed at Chu Qiao, “Yes, you.”
All eyes immediately converged on her. Chu Qiao bowed her head respectfully and replied, “This slave obeys.”
Outside the main hall of Qingshan Pavilion, the servants had just thrown the blood-covered Jin Zhu onto a carriage. How could a weak woman survive after receiving thirty lashes and being sent to a place like the An Military Academy?
Jin Si felt a chill down her spine, her hands and feet almost trembling. At this moment, a sweet voice suddenly sounded behind her. She turned around to see Chu Qiao smiling at her with a sweet expression, saying, “Sister Jin Si, from now on we’ll be working together. I’m young and don’t know much, so please take care of me!”
For some reason, Jin Si suddenly felt uneasy. She looked at Chu Qiao and said, trying to remain composed, “We are all servants, it’s right that we, we should take care of each other.”
“Is that so?” Chu Qiao smiled and said, “Then those children warming the jade over there, does Sister Jin Si think they should be given some leniency?”
Jin Si felt a flash of anger but still nodded and said, “Their time is about up, they should disperse.”
“Then I thank you on their behalf.” Chu Qiao walked over with a smile, letting the children whose faces had turned blue from the cold disperse. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned around and said, “If Jin Zhu had been as kind-hearted as Sister Jin Si, the page boy Lin Xi wouldn’t have been beaten to death by the Young Master. So, being kind-hearted is important. Look, Lin Xi has only been dead for three days, and Jin Zhu is already following him. Thinking about, it sends chills down one’s spine.”
Jin Si could no longer maintain her composure. Her face was deathly pale as she stared at Chu Qiao with wide eyes, feeling that this small child exuded an eerie aura that was frightening. Chu Qiao slowly approached, stood on her tiptoes, and whispered in Jin Si’s ear, “As the saying goes, good and evil will be rewarded in the end. It’s not that retribution hasn’t come; it’s just that the time hasn’t arrived yet. Don’t you agree?”
Jin Si was startled, immediately stepped back, and turned to leave. Chu Qiao, quick of hand and eye, grabbed her shoulder. The young woman was greatly alarmed, jumped away, and shouted, “What are you doing?”
Chu Qiao snorted coldly, her face no longer showing any smile, and said in a deep voice, “What are you so nervous about? I just wanted to ask for that plate of peaches back.”
“Peaches?”
“Now that we are both inner chamber maids, with no distinction of high or low status, don’t you think it would be more appropriate for me to personally present the peaches that I worked so hard to bring from the South Court?”
Hearing this, Jin Si was immediately speechless.
Chu Qiao turned and walked toward the greenhouse, saying indifferently as she walked, “The green mountain cannot hide it, the great river flows east. The wise know when to adapt. Some words can only be said once, some warnings can only be given once. How to act and how to behave in the future, you should consider carefully.”
On this winter afternoon, the sun was strong, its bright light reflecting off the snow, painfully dazzling to the eyes.
This day was not an ordinary calm day. The Council of Elders had proclaimed to exterminate the bandits of Shangxin, and the Huangtian Corps was about to set out to suppress the rebellion. The patriarchs of the Seven Great Families were all desperately competing for the position of commander of the Huangtian Corps. The head of the Zhuge family, Zhuge Mu Qing, was not at the manor, and all matters big and small were left to Zhuge Huai. In the court of the Great Xia Dynasty, the gleam of sword and spear reflected a scene of peril.
Also on this day, the fourth son of the Zhuge family, Zhuge Yue, was bitten by a venomous snake. Although he received timely treatment, he still needed time to recuperate. Though young, Zhuge Yue was a junior general of the Huangtian Corps, born from the Hall of Generals, and had led troops three times to suppress rebellions in Shaman in the northwest. Highly skilled in martial arts, he was one of the outstanding members of the Zhuge family apart from Zhuge Huai. The other Great Families had extremely well-informed sources and quickly learned of this news. Just after Zhuge Huai had presented a petition for his brother to join the battle, objections from various families were immediately sent to the Golden Palace. That afternoon, the imperial physician entered the Zhuge manor for a short stay, and the Zhuge clan’s ambition to control the Huangtian Corps had to be quietly abandoned.
One thing leads to another. The branch family patriarchs of the Zhuge clan all came to visit, and the main Zhuge residence was instantly overwhelmed.
On the same day, due to Zhuge Yue’s injury, the usual power struggles were playing out within the Zhuge manor. Jin Zhu, the head maid of the Fourth Young Master’s residence who had always bullied others, died under the lash, and two guards from Qingshan Court beat each other severely—one died and the injured one also succumbed to his wounds early the next morning. The head steward of the Zhuge manor was given twenty heavy lashes because of the potted plants that had caused the trouble and was still moaning and recovering in his room.
In Ting Lake by the hot springs at the back of the mountain, where crocodiles were bred, three more corpses silently sank, left to be consumed by fish and shrimp, with no one to care.
The night was deep, without starlight. Chu Qiao took the last string of spirit money from Little Eight’s hand and placed it in the fire basin, murmuring, “You watch.”