Just as Zhuge Yue led his entourage away, another convoy of carriages slowly approached. A capable old steward jumped down from the carriage while Master Mu bowed obsequiously beside him, his head nearly touching the ground as he hurriedly said, “You’ve arrived. I have the people ready for you to select.”
The old steward was past sixty, wearing a clean blue cloth robe with a white satin belt around his waist. His hair was meticulously combed, giving him an extremely capable appearance. He remained silent with a stern expression as he walked to the slaves, his eyes scanning over their tattered clothes. After a while, he pointed at the people in the cage.
“This one, this one, this one, and this one too…”
Master Mu followed beside him, hurriedly recording the selections in a small notebook. In a short time, the old man had chosen twenty-five slaves, then turned around and said, “That’s all.”
“What?” Master Mu was stunned. “Just these? Wouldn’t the master like to look at more? I have many robust ones in the sheds behind that couldn’t be brought out because of limited space. Perhaps you’d like to take a look back there?”
“I said these are enough. Why so many unnecessary words?”
The old man frowned with great authority in his stern voice. Master Mu was startled and quickly nodded, “Yes, yes, I spoke out of turn.”
Just as the old man was about to leave, a clear voice suddenly called out, “Sir, please wait!”
The old man paused and turned around. A young man with a handsome face and scholarly air had forcibly pushed his way to the front of the slaves. His face was flushed, but his lips were somewhat pale. He nervously licked his lips and said, “Sir, I am well-versed in the eight histories and six arts. I’ve studied literature since childhood and know Tao, Qilue, Dashu, Shengyu, Lanzhi Jing, Daode Wen, Guicang Qianyi, and Yuanzonghengyu. I’m also skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, tea ceremony, and perfumery. Would you consider buying me?”
The old man slowly frowned, his voice low as he said slowly, “I’m buying slaves for manual labor, not a tutor.”
“I can do manual labor too,” Liang Shaoqing immediately replied, wracking his brain to think of what “manual labor” might include. He hurriedly added, “I can grind ink, cut paper, dry books, organize manuscripts, and oh yes, I can also make fires, fetch water, chop wood, and also…”
“Do you truly understand the Lanzhi Jing?”
A deep, mellow voice slowly arose. Though not particularly loud, it carried a naturally calm and serene quality. A slightly pale hand lifted the blue cloth curtain of the carriage. The man had fine eyebrows and long eyes, with a gaze as peaceful as a spring lake in March. His complexion was somewhat pale. Though the weather wasn’t cold, he wore a silver satin cloak with the hood half covering his face. In his blue robes, he exuded an elegant demeanor.
People flowed like water through the streets, the surroundings were a mix of high and low, carriages rumbled by, and the sharp neighing of horses disturbed someone who had been sleeping. The girl who had been unconscious slowly opened her eyes, only to see such water-like gentle eyes. Chu Qiao lay in the dry hay, weakly looking at the man in the distance. She didn’t speak or move, just quietly gazed with a far-off look that instantly washed away long-term fatigue and hardship.
“I know a little. The Lanzhi Jing is profound and vast. For me to claim mastery would truly be an insult to your noble ears.”
The gentleman in blue robes nodded. He was still quite young, only twenty-five or twenty-six, but his manner and bearing had a rare restraint and calmness. The man nodded and said, “Uncle Qing, buy him.”
“Sir!” Liang Shaoqing suddenly called out loudly, “I have a younger brother who is ill. We cannot be separated under any circumstances. Would you be willing to buy him as well?”
The gentleman in blue robes looked in the direction Liang Shaoqing pointed and immediately saw the weakened Chu Qiao lying on the ground. The young woman in male attire had a peaceful expression. Though her face was as pale as paper, she showed no sign of pain or distress. She quietly looked at the man, neither servile nor arrogant, without joy or sorrow. The man nodded and said, “Very well.”
Liang Shaoqing immediately clapped his hands with joy and ran to Chu Qiao’s side, lifting her in his arms, saying, “We’re saved! We’re saved!”
Chu Qiao was breathing with difficulty. The weakness after removing the arrowhead had left her entire body frail. Her voice was as faint as a mosquito as she softly said, “Thank you.”
Liang Shaoqing just shook his head with joy, when suddenly, as if remembering something, he leaned over and asked, “By the way, what’s your name? What should I call you later?”
Chu Qiao said, “You said I’m your younger brother, so I’ll take your surname. My original surname is Qiao, you can call me Xiao Qiao.”
“Good, my surname is Liang, given name Shaoqing, courtesy name Zhangyu.”
Chu Qiao nodded: “Bookworm.”
Liang Shaoqing was stunned, then frowned angrily, “Hey! You should call me Big Brother!”
But Chu Qiao could no longer hear him. She tilted her head and fell unconscious again. At this moment, the old man called Uncle Qing came forward, glanced at Chu Qiao once, and then said, “Quickly get into the carriage, we have a doctor traveling with us.”
The carriages rumbled away, carrying the admiring gazes of ordinary people, along with the faintly scattered smoke dust, disappearing into the thin morning mist.
Master Mu rubbed his hands resentfully. Even after the people had long vanished, he still bore some discontented grumbling. A servant approached and, unable to read the mood, smiled and said, “Master, you’ve made a fortune!”
“What fortune my ass!”
Master Mu exploded in anger, panting furiously as he cursed, “Some great household they are! As stingy as a mouse! Just a few people and they still haggled with me for half the day, damn it!”
The servant was stunned and asked, “They didn’t look like that type. Master, who were they?”
“How would I know?” Master Mu threw the account book in his hand to the side and shouted angrily, “Old Liu introduced them yesterday, and I bet even he doesn’t know. These days, clans that aren’t doing well still want to put on airs. Damn it all!”
“Pack up!” Master Mu called out irritably, “Bad luck today. What I earned this morning I’ve lost now. Damn it, what rotten luck!”
The streets were bustling, various food aromas wafting through the streets of Xian Yang City. Crowds of people came and went, stopping at places that interested them. Many out-of-town merchants looked around curiously, occasionally buying small trinkets they fancied. The small vendors at the slave market had excellent business today, making big sales since early morning, leaving them grinning from ear to ear.
Suddenly, the vendor’s eyes lit up as he became alert. He saw the elegantly dressed gentleman who had just passed by galloping back on horseback, his expression grave. Something had happened. A common person in the marketplace had few pleasures in life except enjoying a bit of excitement. Since he had no fortune to attract such a formidable figure, he was happy to watch, craning his neck to look.
When Zhuge Yue and his men rushed back to Master Mu’s slave stand, Master Mu and his subordinates had already packed up and were preparing to leave. Yue Qi stepped forward and said in a deep voice, “Please wait.”
Master Mu had encountered countless people in his life, and his eyes were extremely discerning. He could tell at a glance who had money and who didn’t, especially since this man had just bought over ten young female slaves from someone else without even asking the price. He couldn’t afford to miss this sucker who had appeared on his doorstep. He quickly bowed and scurried forward, smiling as he said, “Young master, how may I be of service?”
Zhuge Yue didn’t speak, his expression cold as he walked toward a string of slaves bound with ropes behind Master Mu.
Master Mu was stunned and hurriedly went up to him, calling out, “Hey, young master, you…”
With a “swoosh,” Yue Qi’s sword scabbard was placed against Master Mu’s neck. The man’s face was unfriendly as he said in a low voice, “Stand still. Did anyone say you could approach?”
Master Mu nervously rubbed his hands, being extremely cautious. Years of experience told him that these people were not ones he could afford to provoke.
After a while, the man in blue robes turned around, came to Master Mu, and asked in a deep voice, “Are all your slaves here?”
“Yes, they’re all here. I was about to pack up, and those from the two sheds in the back had just been brought out. Young master, do you see any that catch your eye?”
Zhuge Yue’s brows slowly furrowed, his lips cold, silent for a long time. After a while, he asked word by word, “Are you certain that everyone is here?”
Just that short question caused sweat to flow from Master Mu’s forehead. He nervously looked back and counted once more, then said, “Young master, they are all here. Even if I had the courage of a lion, I wouldn’t dare deceive you.”
Zhu Cheng had now understood the cause and effect of the situation. He carefully approached Zhuge Yue and said, “Young master, perhaps we made a mistake? With Miss Xing’er’s abilities, how could they possibly capture her?”
Zhuge Yue didn’t speak, just standing still in deep thought. The morning sun broke through the mist, its golden brilliance warm as spring water, bathing the trees and flowers of Xian Yang City. The small city was surrounded by water, with a tributary of the Red River flowing through it. Travelers rowed small boats on it, slowly paddling, carefree and content, like a light ink painting.
Zhuge Yue lifted his foot and began to walk away, his gaze cold, no longer showing the earlier brilliance. But just as he was leaving, a dark-faced burly man ran out from the dilapidated sheds in the back. In his haste, he hadn’t noticed who had arrived, and called out excitedly, “Boss! That kid had a good sword on him. I think it’s worth quite a bit!”
All eyes instantly turned toward him, including Zhuge Yue’s.
His gaze focused, his eyebrows raised, and Zhuge Yue strode forward, snatching the sword, then with a “swoosh,” drew it from its scabbard!
In an instant, brilliant light flashed as everyone stared in astonishment at the supremely sharp treasured sword.
The blade was ancient blue with faint traces of blood patterns. At the top, in a small ancient seal script, were two characters: “Breaking Moon!”
Zhuge Yue’s face instantly became like ice. He walked straight forward, holding the sword level, and asked in a deep voice, “This sword, where did you get it from?”
“I, I, I… I picked it up.”
With a “swoosh,” the long sword rang out like a dragon’s cry, and a sudden gust of wind lifted Zhuge Yue’s deep blue sleeves. The man’s sword tip pointed diagonally at Master Mu’s throat as he said slowly in a low tone, “Will you tell me or not?”
“Mercy! Young master, mercy! This, this sword belonged to a slave.”
“Where is that slave now?”
Master Mu was scared out of his wits and answered every question truthfully, “Someone just bought him.”
“Bought him?” Zhuge Yue sneered, “You really won’t believe until you see your own coffin!”
“Young master! Every word I say is true, without a single falsehood! If you don’t believe me, you can ask the surrounding shopkeepers. Someone did come and buy a batch of slaves just now, including that person.”
Master Mu fell to his knees with a thud, terrified to the core, stammering loudly.
Zhuge Yue’s gaze swept across the faces of the onlookers, and then he asked in a deep voice, “Who bought them? How long ago did they leave?”
“They just left, not even the time it takes to burn an incense stick. As for who the buyers were, I don’t know, I truly don’t know!”
A gentle breeze suddenly blew from the end of the long street, swirling and raising dust from the ground. Zhuge Yue’s long robe danced in the wind, his black hair like night, his lips even more crimson. Standing amid the crowd, his eyes showed a rare bewilderment. He gazed at the rolling masses of people, his expression a mix of emotions—belated resentment, regret for his carelessness, confusion at his helplessness, and most of all, deep disappointment.
“Was she injured? How serious?”
Master Mu was extremely shrewd. If he still didn’t recognize that the young master was of noble birth, he would have lived in vain. He quickly said, “She was severely injured, with a knife wound on her left ribs and an arrow wound on her shoulder. I picked her up near the City God Temple on the outskirts last night and sought medical treatment through the night to save her life. Young master, I am foolish and didn’t recognize your eminence. I had no idea that young man was your friend and sold him as a slave. I deserve to die, I deserve to die!”
“Young man?” Zhuge Yue frowned slightly, then understood. He looked down at Master Mu and said word by word in a deep voice, “You truly deserve to die!”
Zhuge Yue’s voice was low, carrying immense murderous intent and a thick scent of blood. Master Mu was shocked and immediately lost his words. The man continued, “In this world, she has only one master—me. How dare you sell her like merchandise? You deserve to die, truly deserve to die.”
“Young master, I… I…”
“Yue Qi, I leave this to you to handle. I don’t want to see him here on our return journey.”
Yue Qi stepped forward and said solemnly, “Yes.”
Ignoring Master Mu’s desperate pleas, Zhuge Yue mounted his horse and galloped away, quickly disappearing into the bustling streets.
The hooves thundered, and in the busy marketplace, screams like pig slaughter arose. In these times, the lives of commoners were as worthless as grass, and for a slave trader like Master Mu who had committed countless evils, no one would shed a tear for him.
“Zhu Cheng, go to the water transport office and inform them that we won’t be taking the water route, but the land route instead.”
Zhu Cheng was stunned, and although he had been mentally prepared, he couldn’t help but try to dissuade him, “Young master, the old master instructed us to arrive in Tang Capital early. The land route takes longer. Moreover, all the major family clans entering the border are taking the water route. Only our family is going against the current, which might cause rumors.”
Zhuge Yue didn’t respond, just turned his head to give him a cold look, his meaning crystal clear.
Zhu Cheng felt a chill down his spine. How could he not know Zhuge Yue’s thoughts? For this grand event in the Tang Capital, the water routes were restricted, and only invited clans dared to travel them. Ordinary travelers and minor clans had to take the land route. And those who could purchase people from such low-grade slave traders were unlikely to be major clan households. The young master’s insistence on taking the land route had an obvious purpose. But even if he found her, what would it mean given their current positions? After all, the young master was no longer the thirteen-year-old boy from nine years ago, and she was no longer the little slave girl with nothing to her name.
Young master, even if you find her, what can you do? She is a tiger, and even if temporarily injured and trapped, she cannot be tamed.
Zhu Cheng shook his head with a sigh and turned to walk toward the river transport office. The morning sun blazed, shining on Zhuge Yue’s deep blue sleeves, the light flowing brilliantly, dazzlingly handsome, with exceptional grace and elegance.
In the distance, the willow branches were fresh, and an old elm tree stood thick and tall, probably thirty or forty years old. It was wrapped with red cloth strips and various paper cutouts—a superstition of the country folk. They believed that elms housed immortals, and the thicker and older the tree, the more divine it was. Over time, commoners facing difficulties would come to worship, wealthy households would offer snacks and food, while the poor would tie a red string, praying for smooth affairs and the safety of loved ones.
The long wind blew, and Zhuge Yue’s clothes rippled like washing. He reached out to untie the jade pendant from his waist and casually threw it toward the elm tree. With a ding, the priceless jade pendant hung on a high branch, swaying back and forth, emitting brilliant light in the sunshine.
“Hya!”
Zhuge Yue turned and spurred his horse, leading his subordinates away with a rumble.
Summer cicadas chirped shrilly, hot winds blew, and the jade pendant between the trees swayed, casting flickering shadows.
When she awoke, it was already dusk. Golden light covered the river, and the red sun hung in the west.
Liang Shaoqing, seeing her awake, beamed with joy and quickly took up the medicinal soup beside him, carefully feeding it to her.
The medicine was very bitter, and having to drink it spoonful by spoonful was like a form of torture. Chu Qiao frowned, took the medicine bowl, and drank it all at once, then hurriedly drank a mouthful of strong tea to suppress the bitterness in her mouth.
Changed into clean clothes with her wounds redressed with medicine and bandages, half her illness immediately vanished. Chu Qiao sat up and looked around at the room she and Liang Shaoqing were in, frowning as she asked, “Where is this? Where are we going?”
“We’ve been bought.” Liang Shaoqing said with a mysterious expression what everyone in the world already knew, his face making one want to punch his head flat, “We’re on a boat now.”
Chu Qiao had a good temper. She suppressed her urge to beat him up and very calmly said, “Bookworm, can you tell me something I don’t know?”
“Oh,” Liang Shaoqing nodded and began to share the pitiful amount of intelligence he had.
The family that had bought them was surnamed Zhan, coming from Shuixiu Province on the Summer-Tang border, heading for the Tang capital of Bian. The master was a young man in his twenties, the same one they had seen in the market, named Zhan Ziyu. Additionally, this family had five young ladies, all Zhan Ziyu’s sisters. The eldest, second, and third sisters were all married, and their husbands were also on the boat, giving somewhat of an impression of marrying into the wife’s family. There were three large ships in total, with more than a hundred servants and over a hundred guards. Besides the three sons-in-law, there was only the previously mentioned Uncle Qing, who served as the chief steward.
For a single journey to bring so many people, this Zhan family appeared to be quite wealthy. However, Chu Qiao racked her brains for a long time and couldn’t recall any clan surnamed Zhan within the Great Xia borders.
Since this group was heading to the Tang capital, she was no longer in a hurry to leave. This way, she could recover well, and avoid the pursuit from Great Xia, and it also aligned with her route—a triple benefit.
Thinking of this, Chu Qiao looked up and asked, “You said they’re going to the Tang capital. Do you know why they’re going there?”
“The Crown Prince of Bian Tang is about to have his grand wedding. All the nobles from Bian Tang and representatives from Great Xia and Huai Song will go to the Tang capital to attend the Crown Prince’s wedding ceremony.”
“Grand wedding?” Chu Qiao was startled and immediately sat up, asking loudly, “Who is going to marry him?”
Just as Liang Shaoqing was about to answer, the ship suddenly moved violently. The boatmen on both shores shouted, and the big ship slowly set sail.
“Finally moving,” Liang Shaoqing said, “I heard a clan from Great Xia was reluctant to board, and Master Zhan didn’t dare go ahead, waiting an entire day. It seems that person still had business, so our ship has taken the lead.”
“You mentioned the Crown Prince of Bian Tang is marrying. Who is he marrying? Is it a princess from Great Xia?”
“Originally it was to be the Crown Princess,” Liang Shaoqing said, “but later, because of the internal strife in Great Xia, the original Crown Princess became a secondary consort. Since this is the Crown Prince’s first marriage, it’s inevitably grand. Moreover, the bride is the Ninth Princess of Great Xia, making it even more magnificent.”
Chu Qiao lowered her head and didn’t speak for a long time. Liang Shaoqing was puzzled and called out, “Xiao Qiao? Xiao Qiao? What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”
“No,” Chu Qiao shook her head and slowly leaned against the bed, saying softly, “I’m tired and want to rest for a while.”
“Then rest. I’ll go out and take a look.”
The cabin door opened, and Liang Shaoqing slipped out. Chu Qiao leaned against the headboard, her brows deeply furrowed, murmuring, “Great Xia has finally allied with Bian Tang through marriage. Yan Xun, what are we going to do?”
The sky was cobalt blue, clear as if washed. Liang Shaoqing stood on the deck and saw that the ship was enormous, about three yards wide, with an upturned bow and stern. It had four masts, two in front and two at the back. The ship was divided into four levels, two above the deck and two below. Chu Qiao and Liang Shaoqing were of the lowest slave status and should have been staying on the lowest level with the others. But Uncle Qing, seeing that Chu Qiao was severely injured, had assigned them a small cabin on the second level above the deck.
At this moment, a loud horn suddenly sounded from the direction of the bow. The boatmen shouted, exerting themselves as they flung their arms to open the sails. The ship caught the wind and quickly moved forward. Green mountains and azure trees lined both shores, the river surface was silvery white, white fish jumped, and birds circled above. Suddenly, the oppressive feelings in his chest dissipated, and countless impurities seemed to leave his body. Liang Shaoqing stood on the deck and slowly raised his head, and the simple scholar smiled slightly. Finally, they were heading to Tang Capital!
At that moment, on the distant shore, a group of riders was quietly watching the departing ships.
Zhu Cheng carefully approached and said, “Young master, everything has been arranged. The ships that came from Bian Tang to welcome you have also been withdrawn. The border crossing documents have been processed, and we can enter Bian Tang through Baizhi Pass.”
“Mm,” Zhuge Yue nodded, his eyes aimlessly looking at the expanse of pristine river surface as he slowly said, “No rush. Let’s stay in Xian Yang City for two more days.”
Zhu Cheng silently sighed. The young master was worried, afraid that local people might have bought that woman. He nodded and said, “Your servant obeys.”
Gentle breezes blew across the river surface, and countless mountains passed by with cliffs of blue-green. Zhuge Yue stood on the shore, looking at the departing ships, then turned around and rode toward Xian Yang City.
Fate is often full of such coincidences. Zhuge Yue did not know that the person he was desperately seeking was quietly lying on the ship that had originally been prepared for him. Just as he naturally assumed that families wealthy enough to attend Li Ce’s wedding wouldn’t be so financially strained as to purchase servants from such places. But some things just happen this way—coincidences both incredibly strange and impossibly distant. Just as the man rode away, the girl lifted the curtain of the only small window and leaned out to look outside, but could only see rolling dust from horse hooves in the thick river mist.
That day was the ninth of June. The news of Bian Tang Crown Prince Li Ce’s grand wedding had spread throughout the Ximeng continent seven days earlier. Various forces were secretly speculating, considering the political benefits this diplomatic marriage might bring.
Except for the Yan Bei regime, which had completely broken away from the Great Xia Dynasty, all forces on the continent suddenly rushed toward the capital of Bian Tang. Major families, tribes, and vassal princes all sent high-ranking envoys to represent their forces and improve relations with Bian Tang, while also taking the opportunity to probe the attitude of this most stable power on the continent toward the internal strife in Great Xia. Thus, the True Huang Night Banquet, which had previously ended in discord due to internal conflict, once again appeared on the streets of the Tang Capital. In this ancient and mysterious land of Bian Tang, crowds gathered, creating a lively atmosphere.
However, on the same day, Yan Bei finally received news that Great Xia was pursuing Chu Qiao throughout its territories. The new ruler of Yan Bei, Heir Apparent Yan Xun, flew into a rage and ordered a full-scale attack on Xia. He commanded his subordinates Wei Jing, Xi Rui, Bian Cang, Lv Fang, Du Ci, and others, under the leadership of military strategist Wu Daoya, to launch a major invasion into the Western Northern Batu Ha family territory. They left no prisoners in each battle, causing old Batu to wail in distress. In just three days, he lost one-third of his territory, while the remaining two-thirds were still precariously supporting themselves amidst internal civil unrest. Rescue letters like snowflakes rushed toward the imperial capital of True Huang and the auxiliary capital of Yun, filled with the concerns of the Northwestern Batu Ha family and the blood of the warriors who delivered the messages.
In an instant, the entire Great Xia Dynasty was in turmoil, with various forces fearing they would become the first victim under Yan Bei’s iron cavalry. The lion of Yan Bei had announced that if Chu Qiao lost even a single hair in anyone’s territory, the leader of that area and his entire family would pay with their lives. They should pray that this woman pursued across ten thousand miles, wouldn’t catch a cold or get a fever or have a runny nose. Otherwise, the day news of Chu Qiao’s misfortune spread, Yan Bei’s army would arrive at their gates the next day, showing no mercy!
This was no empty threat. The Great Harmony Society assassination teams hidden throughout Great Xia mobilized, beheading the prefects, frontier inspectors, and provincial governors who had participated in large-scale manhunts. Within two days, the list of first-level officials reported dead to the empire reached over thirty.
In an instant, scouts and pursuers sent from various regions were withdrawn. Yan Bei’s formidable strength made everyone fearful. While Yan Xun might not yet have the strength to confront all of Great Xia, he could destroy a province, a fiefdom, or a prefecture, and more terrifyingly, quietly eliminate individuals. Who knew if, when disaster struck, the empire would stand by and watch as they had once done? And who could guarantee that the blind fortune-teller at the door, the aunt selling pancakes at the street corner, the new farmhand at home, or the newly acquired concubine wasn’t an assassin sent by the Great Harmony Society to take one’s head?
Better safe than sorry. Building achievements are good, but compared to this, one’s own life is more important.
Of course, Chu Qiao did not know that at the moment the ship set sail, the situation behind her had already changed so dramatically. She lay quietly in the cabin, waiting for her wounds to heal while pondering what political disadvantages the Tang-Xia marriage alliance would bring to Yan Bei. She hoped that after entering Tang Capital with the fleet, she could head south along the waterway to quickly return to Yan Bei and discuss this matter with Yan Xun.
She did not know what storm awaited her ahead. That magnificent, splendid ancient capital was like a huge net, slowly opening its giant mouth to capture all the forces of the world. The great storm gradually approached, with warm winds from the south carrying the scent of Bian Tang’s flower pollen and rouge, gently causing muscles and bones to soften, imperceptibly drawing people in.
Some gazes are destined to meet, some fists are destined to clash, and some figures are destined to overlap in the bustling prosperity of a golden age. Even if one escapes momentarily, one can never escape for a lifetime. It is a fated entanglement—either both stars fall together, or swords are drawn against each other, or they shine together over the nine provinces.
Two days later, Zhuge Yue organized his troops, left Xian Yang City, entered through Baizhi Pass, and set foot on the land of Bian Tang.
At the same time, a group of riders secretly left Yan Bei, rapidly heading toward the southeast of the Ximeng continent. Hooves rolled, and dust flew.
The grand play in the imperial capital of True Huang, which had been interrupted by Yan Bei’s independence, was finally about to raise its curtain again and continue its performance in the capital of Bian Tang.