At dinnertime, all the Jing family children were called out to work by the managing matron. Even Little Seven and Zhi Xiang, who were injured, were summoned. Chu Qiao and Little Eight, who had injured her waist and remained unconscious, stayed in the room. The children didn’t return until late at night, exhausted. After eating, they sensibly climbed into bed to sleep. Zhi Xiang crouched on the ground, adding firewood to the kang bed. The wounds on her face were red and swollen, looking as grotesque as a small snake.

The room was very quiet, gradually filled with the sound of the children’s sleeping breaths. Chu Qiao, wearing the clothes Zhi Xiang had just given her, sat up and said softly, “If you don’t treat your face soon, it will leave scars.”

The firelight from the kang hole illuminated Zhi Xiang’s face, which was so thin it resembled a line, making her eyes appear even blacker and larger. She looked up and said, “Yue’er, slaves are not allowed to use medicine. Last time when Little Seven secretly used the medicine Lin Xi brought, we risked so much. If discovered, we all would have lost our lives. My wound is on my face, so I can’t do anything reckless.”

Just then, a noise suddenly came from the kang bed. They turned their heads and saw Little Seven had kicked off her covers in her sleep. Zhi Xiang quickly ran over to cover Little Seven properly, then wiped the sweat from her forehead and returned to the kang hole to tend the fire.

Chu Qiao looked at Zhi Xiang, her lips moved, but ultimately she said nothing. This child was only about ten years old, yet she bore such a heavy burden. In this room full of children, the oldest was no more than ten, and the youngest was only five or six. What did the wealthy and powerful Zhuge family want with so many five or six-year-old children?

“Sister Zhi Xiang,” Chu Qiao got off the kang bed and sat beside Zhi Xiang, asking softly, “Have you ever been to Jiangnan?”

“Jiangnan?” Zhi Xiang frowned and turned her head: “Where is Jiangnan?”

“Then do you know about Huangshan? Or, do you know where the Yangtze River is?”

Zhi Xiang shook her head, “I know that west of the Red River is Red Mountain, and there’s a Cangli River under Red Mountain. Yue’er, why are you asking this?”

Chu Qiao’s expression became somewhat dazed. After thinking for a long time, she shook her head and said, “Nothing, I was just asking. By the way, Sister Zhi Xiang, do you know what the current emperor is called?”

“The Emperor is just the Emperor. How could we call the Emperor by name? But I know that the black-robed prince who often comes to our mansion is the Emperor’s seventh son, called Zhao Che. He’s the youngest prince to be enfeoffed in our Great Xia.”

A face combining coldness and mockery immediately flashed in her mind. Chu Qiao narrowed her eyes slightly and repeated, “Zhao Che?”

“Yue’er, what’s wrong with you? You’ve been strange since you returned. What did you say to Aunt Song, and why did she just let us go like that?”

Chu Qiao turned her head, smiled faintly, and said, “I’m fine, don’t worry. Aunt Song didn’t let us go; she fell into the icy lake and drowned. I watched her die with my own eyes. So, don’t tell anyone that Aunt Song came to our place.”

“Dead?” Zhi Xiang was shocked and immediately cried out loudly.

Chu Qiao covered her mouth with one hand, looked around, and seeing that none of the Jing family children had awakened, said in a deep voice, “This matter is known only to heaven, earth, you, and me. Don’t say anything outside. She was vicious-hearted and deserved to die. Now that she’s dead, let it be, and don’t worry about it.”

“Yue… Yue’er,” Zhi Xiang stammered, “You didn’t kill her, did you? She fell into the lake by herself, right? Her son is the security overseer of the front courtyard; we can’t afford to offend him.”

Chu Qiao smiled, pointing at her chest, saying, “Do you think I could kill her with my abilities? Alright, don’t overthink it. She did so many evil deeds that even if no one killed her, heaven would intervene. You’ve been tired all day, go and rest well.”

Zhi Xiang immediately shook her head: “No, I still need to tend the fire.”

“I’ll do it. I’m injured, so I can slack off tomorrow. You go ahead.”

Chu Qiao sat quietly on the small stool, occasionally adding a piece of firewood to the kang hole. The firewood crackled as it burned, casting a red glow on her face. She raised her head and looked at the roomful of children, suddenly feeling a sourness in her heart. Unfortunately, what could she do? She had mysteriously arrived in this unknown dynasty, trapped in Jing Yue’er’s tiny body, lost all her martial skills, and held such a lowly status. She could barely take care of herself, let alone rescue others. Everything she had done today could be considered repayment for Lin Xi’s kindness in bringing food for three days. Next, she must leave immediately.

Chu Qiao slowly closed her eyes. In life and actions, one must act according to one’s capabilities. Right now, she did not have the strength to carry such a heavy burden.

At dawn, Chu Qiao quietly slipped out of the door.

As the rooster crowed and daylight gradually brightened, the Jing family children woke up on time, put on their servants’ clothes, and began preparing for the day’s work. Chu Qiao watched them leave with smiles, feeling a pang in her heart.

Taking out the travel money and food she had just stolen, Chu Qiao took a deep look at Little Eight, who was still lying unconscious on the kang bed, then resolutely turned to leave.

Although her agile physical abilities had disappeared, her clear mind remained. Chu Qiao might not be a super agent like 003 from Action Department 9, but she was still a professionally trained national soldier. The Zhuge residence, despite its vast area and numerous people, was like an unguarded playground to someone small in stature, not yet eight years old, but possessing superior logical analysis abilities and spatial awareness.

In less than half an hour, she had quietly walked out of the servants’ inner courtyard and arrived at the front courtyard, where security became relatively stricter, with armed guards visible everywhere. The Zhuge family was different from ordinary great families—just seeing how Zhuge Huai could be on familiar terms with royal children like Zhao Che and Zhao Jue was enough evidence. Chu Qiao straightened her back, her small body like a little tree tidied her clothes, raised her chest and head, and walked forward.

“Stop! Are you seeking death? Is this a place you can wander around freely?”

A tall guard suddenly stepped forward, his face full of flesh, his body fat. Chu Qiao stopped, and raised her head, her small face tender and adorable, her autumn-water eyes divided between black and white. In a sweet, childish voice, she said, “Big brother, I’ve been ordered to go to the Old Master’s outer residence. The messenger said if I don’t get there within an hour, he’ll have my head.”

The guard frowned, looking Chu Qiao up and down, secretly wondering when the Old Master had changed his preferences to favor such an undeveloped girl. He asked doubtfully, “Who sent you? Do you know where the Old Master’s outer residence is?”

“I have the address,” the child rummaged through her little bundle, took out a white paper, and gesturing with her tender white hands, murmured, “From the mansion, turn left at the third intersection, where the Fuuxiang Restaurant is ahead…”

“Enough,” the guard impatiently snapped, “Who told you this, and why isn’t anyone accompanying you?”

The child answered honestly, “Aunt Song told me. She was supposed to take me, but when we were just passing the stone bridge, she accidentally fell off the bridge and broke the ice surface. I watched her sink, and I guess she probably can’t take me now.”

“What?” The guard immediately shouted. The man was shocked, grabbing Chu Qiao’s shoulder and yelling, “Who did you say fell from the stone bridge?”

“Aunt Song, the manager of the servants’ back courtyard.”

With a slap, the man’s palm immediately struck the child’s face heavily. He cursed, “You little brat, why didn’t you say so earlier? Come on! Follow me to rescue her!”

Chu Qiao was knocked to the ground, her ears ringing. Watching everyone rush away in chaos, the child’s lips curled slightly, revealing a faint, cold smile.

This slap, she would remember.

She quickly stood up, picked up her bundle, and headed for the main gate without looking back. The three-man-high golden-inlaid vermilion gate was flanked by majestic stone lions, with vermilion-painted eyes, exuding a strange, oppressive aura. The three golden characters “Zhuge Residence” were carved on the doorframe, splendid and dazzling to behold.

Chu Qiao took small steps, laboriously crossing the threshold, standing with one foot outside and one foot inside. The bright sunlight shone on her body, and the air seemed to become fresher. From now on, life would have a different starting point. The humiliation suffered, the blood and tears shed—she would remember forever. She would slowly seek out sweet soil favorable for survival, then quietly wait for the day when she would have the power to strike back.

The child pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and lifted her back foot, about to step out of this rotten cage.

Just then, a familiar piercing scream suddenly rang out, its sound shrill, cutting through the sky.

Chu Qiao’s whole body trembled, and she immediately turned her head back fiercely!