At the beginning of the mao hour, just as the sun was beginning to peek out, loud and urgent bamboo clappers sounded in the courtyard of Nishang Court.

Bao Zhu was sleeping deeply when she was suddenly awakened by the harsh sound and roughly shoved by her roommate: “Get up quickly!”

Mi Moyan had already finished washing and grooming. He threw her a wooden comb and urged, “Hurry up and comb your hair. No need for makeup – mornings are just for dance practice, not performances.”

Bao Zhu had no choice but to get up. With great effort, she combed her disheveled long hair and braided it. Having been repeatedly grabbed and shoved by her hair yesterday, her scalp still ached today.

All the dancers in Nishang Court quickly completed their washing and grooming, gathering in the courtyard in just moments like a dark mass of people, as if driven by an invisible whip.

Aunt Zhao, accompanied by four servant women, carried a bamboo rod two fingers wide and stood under the northern building’s corridor, counting heads one by one. The dancers all held their breath in silence, appearing very fearful of her. After finishing the count, Aunt Zhao frowned and asked, “Where is Yu Hu?”

Someone on the ground answered, “Auntie, she was drinking late with guests yesterday and only returned at dawn. She’s catching up on sleep now.”

Aunt Zhao laughed coldly, “She thinks that by clinging to the young master’s coattails, she can become a concubine and escape from this courtyard. Does she not consider whether the madam would look favorably upon a dancing girl from base status?”

No one dared respond. She turned her head, raised her chin, and asked Bao Zhu, “What’s your name?”

Bao Zhu answered according to the name she had thought up yesterday. Aunt Zhao frowned with disgust, “What a strange name. August is when osmanthus flowers bloom, and the flower goddess of August is Lu Zhu. Since we’re about to hold the Golden Osmanthus Banquet, you’ll be called Lu Zhu.”

Hearing this, Bao Zhu felt extremely disgusted, as it had always been the case that superiors renamed their subordinates, never the reverse. She immediately protested, “Lu Zhu died by jumping from a tower. A beauty’s suicide, her fragrant soul scattered – it’s too inauspicious.” No one dared speak up. Mi Moyan lowered his head and tugged at her sleeve, but couldn’t stop her from talking.

Hearing her dare to argue back, Aunt Zhao actually smiled, “You lowly servant are still being stubborn about whether names are auspicious or not. Do you really think you’re Guanyin?”

She waved the gleaming disciplinary rod in her hand. Bao Zhu clenched her fists, glaring fiercely at her, thinking that if she dared make a move, she would snatch it and strike back.

After pondering for a moment, Aunt Zhao said, “Fine. She hasn’t been offered to the master yet. If I damage her skin first, that would be my dereliction of duty. However, you’re so wild that I really need to grind down your bad temper before I dare bring you out to banquets.” With that, she turned and walked into the northern building.

The dancers hurriedly followed her steps. Mi Moyan whispered under his breath, “Why did you have to argue with her? Aunt Zhao is the instructor of Nishang Court. No one has more ways to torment people than she does. Can’t you just get by peacefully for a few days?”

Not daring to delay, he hurried forward while calling out to his roommate, “Come quickly, Lu Zhu.”

Bao Zhu was so angry she nearly exploded, but couldn’t find anything handy to cause trouble with, so could only take things one step at a time.

The northern hall of Nishang Court was a large open space containing many training equipment – wooden bars for leg stretches and back bends, carpets, blue bricks, and other items used in dance practice. The dancers paired up and found positions to begin their morning lessons.

Aunt Zhao walked back and forth with her chin raised, striking anyone whose movements weren’t up to standard, specifically hitting the most painful spots on the shin bones and ankles. The practice room was silent except for occasional sharp intakes of breath from stretching and the rise and fall of music and vocal exercises from beyond the courtyard walls.

After making two such rounds, feeling she had made enough of an example, she returned to deal with the new troublemaker.

“What dances can you perform?”

Bao Zhu said, “I’m completely ignorant.”

Aunt Zhao asked again, “Can you sing?”

Bao Zhu answered, “Not very well.”

Aunt Zhao frowned and asked, “Then what talents have you actually learned?”

Bao Zhu curled her lips, “I can’t do anything. I’m lazy and do nothing but eat all day.”

The servant women, seeing Aunt Zhao’s expression change dramatically, quickly stepped forward to advise, “Like a grasshopper after autumn, she won’t be jumping around for many more days. Don’t get angry with her, Auntie. Learning just one Zhi Zhi dance will be enough anyway.”

Aunt Zhao understood, smiled mockingly, and said, “Indeed. Then go stretch with Mi Moyan first to warm up.”

Bao Zhu didn’t understand that saying. Since her mother was a top-level dancer, she wasn’t unfamiliar with these activities. She picked a carpet that looked clean and sat down, spread her legs straight, and moved around a little, her eyes still looking around for useful weapons.

After a while, a beauty with skin whiter than snow and dazzling radiance entered from outside. Her slender, beautiful eyes were full of tender feeling, and her appearance was so outstanding that even Bao Zhu looked at her twice. The beauty curtsied lightly to the instructor, revealing ten sharp red fingernails from her sleeves, then went to practice without pleasantries. Aunt Zhao sneered behind her with disdain.

Bao Zhu asked, “Why can she sleep in?”

Mi Moyan absent-mindedly bent his back, “She’s the lead dancer Yu Hu. If you dance your way up to lead position, you’ll also have some privileges.”

Bao Zhu thought to herself that she only wanted to appreciate beautiful dancing, not work hard to practice herself. Besides, no one in the world was worth her dancing to please and curry favor with. She casually shook the wooden bar used for leg stretches and discovered it was nailed to the ground and couldn’t be pulled out for use, sighing in disappointment.

Her slacking off was quickly noticed by the instructor. Aunt Zhao smiled, “You’re quite good at being lazy. This posture looks more like a spring picnic. Go help her split her legs apart.”

Without needing to say more, the servant women naturally understood. Several people surrounded Bao Zhu, each grabbing a leg and forcibly spreading them into a split.

The split was the most basic lesson in dance, something that must be learned from the beginning. However, Bao Zhu had never practiced, and her body flexibility was poor. Under this forcing, she felt as if her ligaments were being torn apart, and cold sweat immediately broke out on her back. She immediately reacted, struggling with all her strength to resist, but there was another strong servant woman behind her pressing down with her full body weight, making her unable to move.

“Add bricks,” Aunt Zhao ordered pleasantly.

The two people holding her legs followed orders, each grabbing a thick blue brick to place under her heels, stretching her ligaments even further. Excruciating pain struck like torture. Bao Zhu’s face contorted, but she gritted her teeth and refused to beg for mercy.

Aunt Zhao walked over, lifted her foot to step on Bao Zhu’s suspended thigh, and pressed down hard with slow, cruel movements. Screams immediately pierced the roof. When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves; when one suffers, others feel sympathy. The dancers looked at her with pity, but none dared speak up to stop it. Mi Moyan’s lips moved slightly, mouthing “give in.”

“I’ve handled no fewer than a hundred stubborn little girls, and in the end, not one didn’t become obedient and well-behaved. I’m being lenient with you now because I’m afraid of damaging this good skin and leaving marks that would be embarrassing to present later.”

Aunt Zhao slowly stepped on Bao Zhu’s thigh, gradually applying pressure as if enjoying her pain, smiling as she said, “This is for your own good. Not only does dancing require a flexible body, but pleasing the master requires it even more.”

Unable to endure this torture-like lesson, Bao Zhu was soaked in sweat and trembling all over. Finally, she screamed shrilly, “I have talents! I can play the pipa!”

With these words, she admitted defeat and gave in. Aunt Zhao smiled triumphantly, lifted her leg, and ordered the servants to release her. Bao Zhu lay on the ground gasping heavily, her body like a puddle of mud. After a long time, she finally felt her legs return to her body.

Aunt Zhao said, “I knew it. With skin and hair maintained so well, how could a madam not teach talents? What pieces can you play?”

“…Liu Yao, Sai Shang, Po Zhen, Yu Lin Ling, Jiang Lou Wang Yue, Yin He Heng Du – any piece you can name, I can play.” Bao Zhu hung her head, hiding the fierce expression on her face.

Aunt Zhao smiled, “Now you’re willing to tell the truth. Go get a pipa and let me test Lu Zhu’s skills.”

A servant woman went out and shortly returned with a somewhat worn pipa. Bao Zhu held the pipa horizontally in her arms, testing its weight, and recognized it as rosewood – the material was solid and sturdy, giving her an idea.

She picked up the plectrum and produced a string of clear arpeggios. Not rushing to play a piece, she first pretended to adjust the tuning pegs and calibrate the string tones, her movements focused and calm, looking quite professional.

“I used to think the pipa was just a musical instrument. Later, after encountering a terrifying woman, I learned that instruments can be used for other purposes.” She deliberately lowered her voice to say this.

Aunt Zhao couldn’t hear clearly and instinctively moved closer, asking, “What are you muttering about?”

Bao Zhu said quietly, “I’m explaining to Auntie why my nails are so short – because drawing a bow and nocking arrows won’t allow long ones.” Just as Aunt Zhao leaned close, her expression suddenly changed. She quickly grabbed the neck of the pipa and, using all her strength like swinging a sledgehammer, smashed it fiercely toward Aunt Zhao’s head.

“Demon! Experience my musical skills!”

With Bao Zhu’s furious roar, the rosewood body collided with skull, producing a dull and terrifying sound. Aunt Zhao’s head immediately caved in, and she fell to the ground without even managing a scream.

Seeing the enemy’s whole body convulsing and still seeming to move, Bao Zhu stepped forward, planted her foot on her chest, and swung the pipa for another strike. Blood splattered, strings snapped, and the sound lingered.

The thirty-plus people in the practice room were stunned like wooden chickens, terrified by her tiger-like “talent.” Both strikes had aimed for vital points with deadly force. Aunt Zhao had no power to fight back and immediately fell unconscious, her life or death unknown. Time seemed frozen in that moment.

After knocking down the leader, Bao Zhu didn’t linger in battle. Gripping the pipa neck, she ran toward the exit. Passing Mi Moyan, she paused briefly and asked urgently, “Are you coming?”

Mi Moyan’s face was deathly pale. He shook his head gently and took half a step back.

Bao Zhu hesitated no more, abandoning him and striding toward the courtyard gate. The rosewood was heavy and hard. After cracking Aunt Zhao’s skull, she again swung the pipa to smash the lock on the main gate. After striking more than ten times with all her might, she finally broke it open, kicked the gate panels open, and ran out.

Unexpectedly, outside the gate was another square courtyard with almost exactly the same layout. A group of musicians holding konghou, bamboo flutes, hand drums and other instruments looked in surprise at this girl carrying a broken-stringed, damaged pipa.

Bao Zhu was completely lost and randomly asked a drummer, “Where is this place?”

The person stared blankly and answered, “This is Jinshi Court.”

Hearing the shouts of pursuers from Nishang Court behind her, Bao Zhu didn’t dare linger and immediately ran away again. Breaking through another door, the pipa couldn’t bear the abuse and its neck snapped in the middle.

Next to Jinshi Court was still not the free world, but a group of singing girls practicing voice exercises under an instructor’s direction.

“Where is this?!” Bao Zhu shouted in panic.

“It’s… it’s Qingge Court.”

In her dazed state, she seemed to have stepped into a nightmare, trapped in an endless cycle like hitting a ghost wall. One tightly closed gate after another, one courtyard after another filled with performers. Layer upon layer of high walls, rows of iron locks – just in these few places she had fled past, there were over a hundred performers and courtesans. What exactly was this place?!

More than ten guards armed with long spears and wooden clubs chased after her. Bao Zhu once again found herself in a desperate situation, surrounded on all sides and weaponless.

Author’s Note: The Runaway Princess of Canyang Court (Extra)