The Beginning

Chen Ye followed behind Gao Qiaoniang, passing through two winding corridors before turning into a narrow alley he had never visited before.

The courtyard walls on both sides shifted from grey brick to blue-black brick.

The tops of the walls were capped with neatly arranged roof tiles.

Gradually, the clamor of the outer and middle courtyards faded, replaced by a profound silence.

The alley had no side paths, ending at a single quadrangle courtyard.

Gao Qiaoniang stepped forward, pressed both hands against the heavy wooden doors, and pushed with force.

The door hinges emitted a dull, grinding sound, as if they had not been opened for a very long time.

Chen Ye stepped into the courtyard behind her, keeping his head bowed while using his peripheral vision to take in the scene.

The courtyard walls were high, at least three feet taller than those in the outer yard.

The east and west sides extended symmetrically, with all doors and windows tightly shut.

The blue-black brick floor was swept clean, not appearing as though anyone frequented the space.

He also noted that this courtyard had no side gates, only the one they had just entered through.

"Guard Zhang says this will be your training ground from now on."

Gao Qiaoniang's crisp voice drifted from ahead.

Chen Ye withdrew his gaze and nodded.

For a servant who had only been practicing stance training for seven or eight days, being assigned such a secluded spot was somewhat strange.

However, he did not ask further questions.

Taking advantage of the pause in conversation, Chen Ye observed the young woman in front of him at close range.

Gao Qiaoniang was wearing a sage-green short jacket today, the fabric of which was of better quality than that of the stewards.

Chen Ye knew she was the daughter of a concubine and the head of the Gao Family, existing in a state between servant and master.

If the head of the family acknowledged her, she was a young lady; if not, she was merely a house-born slave.

At present, her status remained in limbo.

Chen Ye pulled his gaze back and said politely, "Thank you for the trouble, Miss Qiao."

At that moment, the carved wooden door of the main room was pulled open from the inside.

A young man walked out.

He was dressed in a plain linen robe with a silk sash at his waist; his frame was slender, yet his gait was steady.

His entire bearing exuded an innate, refined nobility.

A figure like Zhang Tieyi stood half a step behind him, bowing his waist as if he were deliberately restraining his very breath.

"Eldest Young Master, this person's foundation is acceptable and his comprehension is excellent; he should pick it up quickly."

This man was the Eldest Young Master of the Gao Family?

The tension in Chen Ye's heart tightened another notch.

Zhang Tieyi had selected him, and the Eldest Young Master had come to see him in person immediately after.

Was a servant who had only practiced stance training for a week worth such attention?

Gao Yunheng's gaze swept over Chen Ye, as if he were confirming the quality of an object.

"Not bad. Train him well. Lord Xie of the Inspection Bureau arrives in the capital in a month; there must be no mistakes."

"This subordinate understands! I will certainly not fail the Young Master's trust!"

Zhang Tieyi turned to Chen Ye and said, "This is the Eldest Young Master of the manor. Hearing that you are a promising talent for martial arts, he stopped by to see you. Why haven't you stepped forward to pay your respects?"

Chen Ye lowered his eyes and tugged at the corners of his mouth, pulling his expression into one of caution, submissiveness, and a hint of surprise.

"This lowly one, Chen Ye, pays respects to the Eldest Young Master."

Gao Yunheng gestured for him to rise.

Just as Chen Ye stood steady, the other man tossed something casually.

A money pouch landed on the blue-black bricks at his feet, hitting the ground with a heavy, muffled thud.

"Take it and train hard. The Gao Family never treats those who work diligently unfairly."

Such a casual reward carried a sense of condescending arrogance, bordering on disrespect, yet Gao Yunheng seemed entirely unaware of any impropriety.

To him, the other party was merely a low-status servant living under the Gao Family's grace; receiving his reward was already a favor.

Chen Ye looked down at the bulging money pouch.

The first thought that jumped into his mind was that Gao Yunheng had come specifically to find him today, money in hand.

However, this method of buying loyalty was truly crude; he hadn't even bothered to put any thought into the gesture of giving the money.

Chen Ye stooped to pick up the pouch, finding it quite heavy in his hand.

A grateful smile bloomed on his face as he said, "Thank you for your generous reward, Young Master! This lowly one will certainly give his all!"

Gao Yunheng gave a few final instructions regarding the remaining matters before stepping out of the courtyard with a light gait.

Watching that slender figure disappear, Zhang Tieyi straightened his back.

He turned to Chen Ye and said solemnly, "For the young master to visit you personally and even bestow a reward shows the benevolence of the Gao Family. From now on, you must put your heart and soul into your training in this courtyard! Master it early so you can serve the young master well."

Chen Ye gripped the money pouch in his hand, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Guard Zhang, if I may ask, what arrangements will be made for me once I have mastered it?"

"Kid, you've got good luck."

A faint smile tugged at Zhang Tieyi's face.

Given his fierce features, the expression looked somewhat out of place.

"Lord Xie of the Inspection Bureau and our eldest young master will be heading to the capital soon, and they are short on capable hands. If you can prove your worth, you might be able to go with them. It's not impossible for you to enter officialdom and bring glory to your ancestors in the future! Train hard."

Chen Ye lowered his head, maintaining a look of overwhelmed gratitude, but the wariness in his eyes was becoming impossible to suppress.

The Inspection Bureau, heading to the capital, and getting involved with the second-rank noble Xie Family?

There is no such thing as a free lunch falling from the sky.

He pieced together the recent events in his mind, developing a near-dangerous intuition.

Zhang Tieyi did not notice Chen Ye's distraction and gestured with his chin toward Gao Qiaoniang, who was standing silently to the side. "Qiaoniang will be responsible for your daily needs from now on. If you need anything, look for her."

Chen Ye caught a glimpse of Gao Qiaoniang out of the corner of his eye.

He bowed his head slightly and replied, "Understood."

"Go back and tidy up first. Tell me when you're ready, and we'll begin the training."

With that, Zhang Tieyi said no more and turned to stride back toward the main room.

The courtyard fell silent.

Gao Qiaoniang did not leave immediately.

She turned to look at Chen Ye, the corners of her mouth twitching as if she had something to say but stopped herself.

"Miss Qiao?" Chen Ye spoke first.

"...It's nothing." Gao Qiaoniang shook her head, let out a soft sigh, and turned to walk toward the west wing.

Reaching the doorway, she paused and looked back. "I'll bring your meals over later. There's a kitchen in the courtyard, so you won't need to go outside to collect them anymore."

Chen Ye stood where he was, watching her figure disappear from sight.

He squeezed the bulging money pouch in his sleeve, then slowly surveyed this isolated courtyard.

"Separating me from the other three on purpose..."

Chen Ye stood alone in the courtyard for a while before heading toward his room in the east wing.

With a creak, he pushed open the wooden door.

The room was furnished simply, with only a bed and a table.

A large, square window was embedded in the stone wall, and the afternoon sun shone through, illuminating the entire room.

He paced to the window and looked out.

At the end of the alley, two guards were squatting on the ground, laughing and chatting.

They were too far away to hear what they were saying.

But their position blocked the mouth of the alley perfectly.

To leave this alley, one would have to pass right between them.

Chen Ye stared at the two men for a moment, then opened his door and returned to the main gate of the courtyard.

The gate was shut tight.

He moved the latch and pulled.

The gate didn't budge.

It was locked from the outside.

Just then, the sound of a door opening came from behind him.

Zhang Tieyi was standing in the doorway.

"What do you think you're doing?"