Chapter 21 (2/2)

”This is for you.” Zhuge Yue placed the porcelain bottle in her hands and said, ”Go back and rub it on yourself.”

After all, the attention span of the child was short and she was easily distracted. Zhuge Yue smiled coyly while looking at the child, who held up the porcelain bottle and asked doubtfully, ”What is that?”

”Medicine to heal the wound.”

Earlier, when the horses were galloping too fast, Chu Qiao's palms were scratched. The child bit her lip, nodded and said, ”The fourth young master, may Xing'er be excused now?”

The young master went back to his seat with his head down and with a expression as if he did not want to see her any more. He waved his hand while saying, ”You can go now.”

Chu Qiao was just about to open the door when Zhuge Yue suddenly shouted, ”Xing'er, the next time you see Prince Yan, don't go near him.”

Chu Qiao tilted her head and stared back at him with a puzzled look.

Zhuge Yue frowned frustratedly and shouted, ”Do you understand?”

”Understood!” The child replied loudly and turned to leave. Her small body crossed over the high door sill, causing her to almost fall over.

This child was starting to get more and more daring. The young master's face was had a gloomy face while breathing deeply.

Right after she opened the door, she saw Zhu Cheng's worried face. He hurriedly ran over, saw Xing'er's teary face and asked worriedly, ”What did the young master say? Is he angry?”

Chu Qiao looked at him, nodded her head and went back to her room.

Zhu Cheng entered the room frightened and saw Zhuge Yue with his head bowed down. He didn't dare to make a sound and just stood there quietly. After a while, something flew towards his head suddenly. Zhu Cheng was terrified. He didn't even dare to hide and thought to himself, I am dead. However, the object that hit him as soft, and hence Zhu Cheng's head did not even hurt. He looked down and saw that it was actually a dirty handkerchief with a word ”Yue” sewn on it.

”Throw it away.”

Zhu Cheng suddenly remembered Chu Qiao's teary face, and he remembered something. After a short pause, Zhu Cheng nodded and replied, ”Yes, master.”

However, as he was about to leave, he heard Zhuge Yue say, ”Wait a moment.” Zhu Cheng turned his head and waited for his instructions like a slave.

The Young Master's face turned red without any warning. Zhuge Yue thought for a long time but did not say anything.

Zhu Cheng carefully raised his head and saw Zhuge Yue's frowning expression, as if he was going to make a huge decision. Zhu Cheng recognized that this was the expression that the Young Master usually had when he was resolving a difficult problem, so Zhu Cheng became very alert, waiting for the command. Finally, an authoritative voice said to Zhu Cheng, ”Go and wash it now. Bring it back to me after it is cleaned.”

”What?” Zhu Cheng shouted, surprised.

Zhuge Yue's anger started to rise. ”What? Don't you understand me?”

”I understand. I will do it now.”

Chu Qiao walked along the corridor with her head down and ignored everybody she walked past. Right after she shut the door, her face no longer looked wronged. Her face was very calm and eyes were very bright. With her hand on her chest, she sat on a stool and poured a cup of tea but did not drink it.

At last, today's challenge was over. No matter how much Zhuge Yue trust her, it should be safe for now.

When the strong winds blew against her wet clothes, she felt a cold chill down her back. After drinking some tea, she started to calm down. She closed her eyes and gave out a huge sigh of relief.

Whatever it was, her plans had to go on as there was not enough time.

This year's winter had been extremely cold, as the winds cut the skin.

In the midst of the dark sky, the bright stars shone on the earth. Winter was here and there was snow everywhere. The Yuan festival had just passed and Zhen Huang City celebrated the start of misfortune.

Zhen Huang City was covered in ice. The roads in between the palace and the Presbyterian homes were lit up with lights and was busy with horse carriages. The army that went to the west to fight in the war was defeated and their blood could be smelt from the river flowing down from the hill. Everyone knew about the defeat.

The Quan Rong army came to provoke the country, causing the noblemen to be very angry. They felt like their power was challenged and they felt threatened, causing a new war to be started. Before that, someone needed to be responsible for the previous defeat to maintain the dignity of the empire.

The gold-plated decree was sent out from the Sheng Jin palace, past the Presbyterian homes' ruling and through Zi Wei square, Jiu Wai main street, Cheng Tian altar, Qian Kun main door towards the borderland.

The night before the chaos, the people were oblivious to the start of a war and were sleeping soundly in their homes.