After descending from Octagonal Mountain and passing by a small ornamental rockery, one entered the plum forest.

Today, the prodigal sons from all the great families of Zhenhuang City were gathered at the Zhuge manor. The plum forest area was under strict guard and very quiet. Chu Qiao, with her small stature, walked through the plum forest, occasionally standing on tiptoe to pick a few plum blossoms, very much at ease.

“Hey! Come here!”

A discourteous voice suddenly rang out, childish but domineering. Chu Qiao looked up and saw a young master of about ten years old in an embroidered robe. He wore an emerald green outer robe with a snow-white ermine tail sewn meticulously on the collar with golden thread. The fluffy tail framed his face, smooth as jade. His firm little nose wrinkled slightly, and his pitch-black eyes glared at her as he shouted, “Yes, you! I’m calling you!”

Chu Qiao frowned slightly, thinking it best not to cause trouble. She bowed politely and said solemnly, “This slave has matters to attend to. Please forgive me for not being able to stay.” With that, she turned to leave.

The young master was stunned, not expecting this servant to simply leave at will. His little nose wrinkled, and he immediately raised the horsewhip in his hand, shouting, “You dog of a slave! How dare you!”

Chu Qiao heard the sound and swiftly turned around, extending her tender white hands to grab the tip of the whip firmly, her gaze piercing and cold.

How could the young master have expected such a fierce little maid from the Zhuge household? He tried hard to pull back but couldn’t move it. His little mouth pouted as he raged, “Are you seeking death? I’ll have you beheaded!”

Chu Qiao smiled coldly, her hand holding the whip deftly twisted, and the handle immediately slipped from the young master’s hand, falling into Chu Qiao’s grip. The girl was not yet eight years old, small in stature with a delicate pink face, but her eyes showed not the slightest trace of childishness. She walked forward step by step with a calm expression, saying dispassionately, “A horsewhip is used to drive horses, not to beat people.”

Having said this, she handed the whip back to the young master, handle first, and turned to leave.

The young master saw that although this little girl was smaller than him, she carried herself with great confidence and was quite nimble. He unexpectedly felt a sense of kinship. Seeing her about to leave, he suddenly became anxious, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to speak nicely. In a fit of pique, he ran forward to block her path, shouting, “Which courtyard in the Zhuge family do you belong to? What’s your name? Do you know who I am? Do you believe I can have someone drag you out and behead you?”

Chu Qiao raised her head, gave the young master a faint look, pushed his arm away, and arched her eyebrows contemptuously, “Always threatening to find others when you can’t win a fight yourself—what kind of ability is that? I have no interest in knowing what your status is.”

The plum trees swayed gently. The young master in his embroidered robe stood in the plum forest, watching Chu Qiao’s small figure gradually disappear at the end of the forest, somewhat dazed.

Returning to Qingshan Court, Chu Qiao greeted the servants walking around and went straight into the pavilion. Zhuge Yue was half-lying on a soft couch, looking indolent. When Chu Qiao entered, he didn’t even raise his head, just glanced at her with the corner of his eye.

Chu Qiao walked to a jade green vase, took out yesterday’s flowers, and then inserted the newly picked plum branches one by one. After finishing, she walked to Zhuge Yue’s side, crouched by the small incense burner, mixed the snow water brushed from the plum blossoms with orchid fragrance, then carefully poured it into the burner and gently fanned it with a small fan. The scent in the room immediately freshened. Zhuge Yue took a long breath and gradually closed his eyes.

About half an hour passed, and Zhuge Yue seemed to have fallen asleep. At this moment, a sudden commotion came from outside. The young man impatiently opened his eyes, his brows furrowing slightly.

“Fourth Young Master, the steward from the outer residence just sent someone to say that Miss Jin Si was caught at the foot of Octagonal Mountain. She was carrying a pot of fire vine and had many venomous snakes with her. She was caught red-handed and is now being interrogated at the administration office.”

Zhuge Yue narrowed his eyes slightly and said methodically, “Although Jin Si is arrogant, she is extremely timid. Would she dare to carry venomous snakes? Did you hear what she said?”

“She said…” the servant’s voice immediately lowered, glancing sideways at Chu Qiao sitting quietly in a corner, whispering, “She said she was following Xinger, and claimed that Xinger planned to frame her and Jin Zhu to avenge those children from the Jing family who died earlier.”

“Xinger,” Zhuge Yue said, “Explain yourself.”

Chu Qiao knelt on the ground and replied calmly, “In response to the Fourth Young Master, Xinger didn’t do it.”

“Then where did you go just now?”

“Xinger went to the plum garden.”

“Did anyone see you?”

The child tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, “Xinger met a young master in the garden, not from our manor, about ten years old, wearing an emerald green robe with a snow-white ermine tail on the collar. Xinger doesn’t know his name.”

“Hmm,” Zhuge Yue nodded and said to the messenger, “You may go.”

The servant was slightly startled and asked hesitantly, “What about Miss Jin Si?”

Zhuge Yue half-raised his head, closed his eyes, leaned back on the couch, and said slowly, “Those who do wrong must be punished. Let the administration office handle it.”

The man acknowledged and withdrew. The room was quiet, with only the faint fragrance of incense wafting like a cloud.

“Xinger, do you hate the manor for killing your relatives?”

Chu Qiao lowered her head and obediently replied, “Young Master, Xinger has been a slave in this manor since becoming aware. It is because of the Young Master that Xinger can sleep in a warm bed, eat hot food, and wear warm clothes. Xinger is still young and can’t hold many things in her heart. She only wants to serve the Young Master well and survive.”

“Hmm,” Zhuge Yue nodded, “It’s best that you think this way. Although you are young, you handle matters steady. From now on, you will manage affairs in the pavilion.”

“Yes, thank you, Young Master.” The child bowed her head respectfully. After a long while, she suddenly spoke, “Does the Young Master believe that Sister Jin Si framed Sister Jin Zhu?”

Zhuge Yue snorted lightly, “How much courage could Jin Si have? Even if she had it, she couldn’t have devised such a scheme. Zhu Shun is an old servant of the manor. Having made a mistake and been beaten, he couldn’t save face and wanted to find a way out—that’s not unreasonable. But he shouldn’t have cast aspersions on my Qingshan Court, creating a false impression of internal strife among the servants to clear himself. He’s lived so many years for nothing, having learned nothing.”

“Then why doesn’t the Young Master help Sister Jin Si? The administration office will beat her to death.”

“If she had done it, I would have saved her. The fact that she could so easily fall into someone else’s trap shows her foolish mind. What use is such a person still in my Qingshan Court?”

The midday sun was piercing, shooting lazily through the cracks in the window lattice. The plum blossoms smelled fresh. Chu Qiao sat on a small stool, her eyes slightly narrowed.

The time was gradually maturing; she no longer wanted to waste any more time.