Some things are determined at birth, like blood and destiny.
He sat down dejectedly, picked up the wine cup, and drank it all in one gulp, along with a heart full of frustration and resentment.
Chu Qiao had just reached the city gate when she saw the servants of the Zhuge family looking around with lanterns. When they saw her, they immediately ran over with joy.
"Xing'er, the fourth young master asked us to wait for you here, please go back home quickly."
Chu Qiao was stunned. She had never expected that with Zhuge Yue's personality, he would actually send someone to look for her. She nodded and got on the carriage that had been prepared.
The carriage creaked forward, passing through the still noisy and bustling streets. The noise outside gradually died down and became quiet. The child leaned against the inner wall of the carriage, the massacre that had just happened kept echoing in front of his eyes, the cold-blooded eyes of the soldiers, the deep hatred of the refugees, and Wei Shuye's powerless resistance.
He was powerless given his status, let alone a tiny person like me. Using personal ability to fight against the entire dynasty is undoubtedly like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. All she could do now was to live carefully, look for opportunities to take revenge, and then leave safely with Xiao Ba. As for other things, her ability was too limited and she didn't expect to change anything.
The wheels of the carriage moved farther and farther away. Chu Qiao suddenly felt a chill in her heart. She opened the curtain, looked around, and asked, "This is not the way back home. Where are you taking me?"
The servant was stunned. He didn't expect such a young child to remember the way. He smiled and said quickly, "The young master is in the other courtyard, not in the mansion."
The child raised his eyebrows and said cautiously, "Which courtyard?"
"The villa in the west of the lake."
Chu Qiao frowned, the caution she had developed after years of doing dangerous work reminded her that something was a little strange. She said tentatively, "I haven't had time to get the things that the young master asked me to go back to the mansion to get. Let's go back to the mansion first and then go to the other courtyard."
The man smiled and said, "Don't worry, the young master just said that there is no need to pick up the things. He is waiting in the other courtyard. Let's go quickly and don't let the young master wait anxiously."
Chu Qiao nodded slowly, her face calm, and let go of the curtain. The servant breathed a sigh of relief, a cunning look flashed across his eyes, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised. But just as the smile on his mouth widened, a cold dagger suddenly pressed against his neck.
The child followed the situation like a little beast, and said coldly with a gloomy face: "You are not the fourth young master's man, who are you?"
"Hehe," a hoarse laugh like a night owl suddenly sounded nearby, and a gorgeous carriage slowly came out from behind the bushes. An old man in gorgeous clothes smiled obscenely at the man who was nodding and bowing beside him, "It's really good. You have such a stubborn temper at such a young age, and you look good too. I'll reward you well later."
Zhu Shun smiled flatteringly and said, "It is my duty to share the worries of the Second Old Master. If the Second Old Master rewards me, it means I will not have the opportunity to serve you."
The old man chuckled and said to the attendants on both sides: "Send this little girl back to the mansion."
Everyone responded with a roar and immediately gathered around.
At that moment, thousands of thoughts flashed through her mind. Chu Qiao knew that she could take advantage of the other party's contempt and carelessness, quickly attack and injure the person, and then escape. But if he did so, it would definitely arouse suspicion from others, especially Zhu Shun who had a broken hand. Even if he managed to escape by chance, he would implicate Xiao Ba who was still in the mansion. But if she didn't run away, she would fall into the clutches of this old pervert. Then, with the ability of an eight-year-old child, how could she fight against the entire guard of Zhuge Beppu?
To escape or not to escape?
Chu Qiao's body was tense, but her mind was working rapidly. Why not take advantage of this opportunity to get rid of this lecherous old man?
In a flash, the sturdy and strong man approached her and was about to take away the dagger in her hand.
"Wait!" A clear, low shout suddenly rang out. Everyone turned their heads to look, and saw snowflakes flying on the ground. More than twenty black war horses were approaching rapidly. A young man on the horse was wearing a green robe and a white fur coat, with a handsome face. He rode his horse and rushed forward, whistling.
The horse neighed loudly, and the man stood up. His warm breath sprayed into the cool air, forming a misty fog. The young man was surrounded by guards, looking at them coldly, and said in a calm voice with wisdom and calmness that did not match his age: "Mr. Zhuge, long time no see."
Old Master Zhuge half-opened his rat-like eyes, looked the boy up and down, and smiled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, "So you are Yan Xun, the prince of Yanbei. It's a dark night with heavy dew, and the prince is not enjoying himself in the prince's mansion. What is he doing in the wind and snow?"
Yan Xun said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Zhuge. However, how can I sleep in my house when you are still so vigorous and vigorous at your age? The whole country is celebrating the Lantern Festival, and I am just here to join in the fun."
"Oh?" Old Master Zhuge relaxed his brows and said, "In that case, Prince Yan can continue to tour. I will not accompany you anymore." After that, he turned around and said to his subordinates, "Return to the mansion."
“Wait!” Yan Xun quickly rode forward and stood in front of Old Master Zhuge. He pointed at Chu Qiao and said with a faint smile, “Sir, you can leave, but you have to leave this child behind.”
The old man raised his eyebrows slightly, "What do you mean by that, Prince Yan?"
"This child just startled my horse and scared away Jifeng. I want to catch her and bring her back to be punished."
The old master smiled slightly when he heard this and said, "In that case, I will compensate you with a good horse."
"My prince's horse is a fine horse that the old prince just hunted back from the western desert. Can you afford to pay for it?"
"Feng Mian, shut up!" Yan Xun frowned slightly, angrily scolded the little servant behind him, and said in a deep voice, "The Zhuge family is a powerful family in the empire, and the head of the Zhuge family is one of the seven elders of the Council of Elders. They are rich and powerful, even our royal family can't compare to them. Naturally, there is nothing they can't afford to pay. But the father and son have a deep love. Ji Feng was tamed by my father himself and sent all the way to Zhenhuang. He is not an ordinary war horse, so the matter cannot be hastily resolved like this. If I can't find the war horse, I must take this child with me."
"Prince Yan..."
"Mr. Zhuge, there is no need to say more," Yan Xun interrupted the old man and raised his head and said, "With Mr. Zhuge's status, it is really not worth it to plead for a slave. I will explain this matter to the fourth young master of the Zhuge family. Come, take this child away."
The personal attendants of Prince Yan's Mansion immediately stepped forward. A tall man pushed Master Zhuge's attendant, making him stagger. He held Chu Qiao in his arms with one hand and was about to mount his horse and leave.
Seeing that Old Master Zhuge's face was turning purple, Zhu Shun immediately stepped forward, grabbed Yan Xun's reins with a flattering smile, and said with a smile: "Prince Yan, we can talk it over..."
There was a whip sound, and Yan Xun followed up with a kick that hit Zhu Shun's chin hard, knocking the man's fat body over. Zhu Shun screamed and fell to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood, including two yellowed front teeth.
"Who are you to dare to point fingers in front of me? You simply don't know your place!" Yan Xun said in a cold and hard voice with sharp eyes.
Zhu Shun was shocked and immediately knelt on the ground, kowtowed in panic. You have to know that in Daxia, the royal family does not need any reason to massacre a civilian.
Yan Xun raised his whip towards Zhu Shun and said coldly, "Today, I will let you go for Mr. Zhuge's sake. If you still behave unruly in the future, even if the head of the Zhuge family comes in person, I will kill you."
After saying that, without even looking at old man Zhuge, he shouted to his subordinates behind him: "Go!"
A group of people suddenly jumped on their horses and whipped their horses, and after a rolling snow wave splashed, they disappeared at the end of the long street.
Old man Zhuge's face turned red and his left hand was shaking with anger. Zhu Shun crawled forward on his knees, grabbed old man Zhuge's feet, and said, "Old Master, calm down, your servant..."
"Get out!" The old man was furious. He kicked Zhu Shun in the chest and shouted, "Useless trash!" Then he got in the car and left.
The heavy snow was still flying everywhere, and the long street was silent, which only made the main street more lively and prosperous.
The warhorse stopped by the Redwater Lake. The young man, who had been serious and solemn before, turned around and said with a smile: "Little girl, you owe me another favor."
The child raised his eyes slightly, and although he didn't say anything, his meaning was very clear: I didn't ask you to come here.
Yan Xun snorted in dissatisfaction and whispered, "Will you die if I say something soft?"
Chu Qiao glared at him and turned to leave.
Yan Xun was stunned and quickly stopped her, "Where are you going?"
The child raised his eyebrows, "Of course, I'm going back home."
"You still want to go back?" The young man frowned and shouted, "That dog slave won't let you go. And the old man from the Zhuge family is well-known in Zhenhuang City. Do you want to go back and die?"
Chu Qiao pushed him away and said, "It's none of your business."
Yan Xun did not let go, still holding her, and shouted, “What are you doing? It’s rare that this prince has saved you out of kindness, but you are so cold and mean to me. What’s so good about that weird guy Zhuge Yue that you would risk your life to get back at him?”
Chu Qiao raised her head. She was a little annoyed that her desperate plan to get rid of the old pervert Zhuge had been ruined. She impatiently shook off Yan Xun's hand and said coldly, "Did I cry and beg you to save me? Put away your compassion. I can't bear it."
Yan Xun was so angry that his eyes turned red. He looked at Chu Qiao's small figure walking further and further away, and suddenly shouted childishly: "It's inexplicable, you deserve to be bullied. If I control you again, I will no longer be named Yan!"
Chu Qiao didn't even turn her head, and after a while, she disappeared in the surging crowd. Feng Mian walked up carefully and took a closer look at his young master. He saw that the young master's eyes were red and he looked like he was about to cry out of anger.
Feng Mian was slightly stunned. The empire sent vassal kings to guard the imperial borders and protect the imperial capital of Zhenhuang. However, in order to restrict them, the princes of various vassal kings were taken to the capital as hostages. These children have lived in the center of the vortex of power since childhood. They are precocious and mature and always look mature. It was the first time that Feng Mian saw his master showing his emotions so clearly towards someone. He looked like... just like an ordinary child.
"Sir, shall we go back home as well?"
"Hmph!" Yan Xun snorted coldly, with anger still in his voice. He jumped on his horse and headed towards Yan Zhizi's residence with many of his followers.
"Feng Mian," Yan Xun turned around and said to the little servant boy after walking a few steps, "Go to Zhuge Mansion and tell them that my Ji Feng has been found. Ask them not to embarrass that little girl."
"Ah?" Feng Mian was stunned, his eyes widened stupidly, and said, "Prince, didn't you say that if you help her again, you will not be named Yan?"