The First Clues

Chen Ye followed behind Gao Qiaoniang, passed through two winding covered corridors, and turned into a narrow alley he had never visited before.

The courtyard walls on either side changed from gray brick to blue brick.

Neatly aligned roof tiles capped the tops of the walls.

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

The alley had no side paths. At its end stood a four-sided courtyard.

Gao Qiaoniang stepped forward, placed both hands against the heavy wooden doors, and shoved.

The hinges let out a dull scraping sound, as though the doors had not been opened in a long time.

Chen Ye followed her into the courtyard, using his bowed head as cover while taking in the surroundings from the corner of his eye.

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

The east and west sides extended symmetrically, their doors and windows shut tight.

The ground was paved with blue bricks and swept clean. It didn't look like anyone came here often.

He also noticed that the courtyard had no side gate. There was only the one they had just entered through.

"Guard Zhang said this is where you'll be training from now on."

Gao Qiaoniang's clear voice came from ahead.

Chen Ye withdrew his gaze and nodded.

It was a little strange to arrange such a secluded place for a servant who had only been practicing Stance Training for seven or eight days.

But he didn't ask any questions.

During the pause in their conversation, Chen Ye took a close look at the young woman in front of him.

Today, Gao Qiaoniang wore a light green short jacket, made of slightly finer fabric than the stewards' clothes.

Chen Ye knew she was the Gao Family head's daughter by a servant girl, half slave and half mistress.

If the family head acknowledged her, she was a young lady. If he didn't, she was merely a household-born slave.

For now, her status remained undecided.

Chen Ye looked away and said politely, "Sorry for the trouble, Miss Qiao."

At that moment, someone pulled open the carved wooden doors of the main room from within.

A young man stepped out.

He wore a plain hemp robe with a brocade sash at his waist. Though slender, he moved with steady steps.

An innate elegance and nobility seemed to suffuse him from head to toe.

A figure like Zhang Tieyi stood half a step behind him, bent at the waist, as though even his breathing had been deliberately restrained.

"Eldest Young Master, this man's Root Bone is passable, and he's quite perceptive. He should pick things up quickly."

This was the Gao Family's Eldest Young Master?

The taut string in Chen Ye's heart tightened another notch.

Zhang Tieyi had selected him just moments ago, and now the Eldest Young Master had come to see him in person.

Was a servant who had practiced Stance Training for seven or eight days really worth this kind of attention?

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

"Not bad. Cultivate him well. In a month, Lord Xie of the Inspection Bureau will enter the capital. Not a single thing can go wrong."

"This subordinate understands. I won't let you down, Young Master!"

Zhang Tieyi turned to Chen Ye. "This is the Eldest Young Master of the household. He heard you were a promising martial arts student and happened to be passing by, so he came to take a look. Why aren't you stepping forward to pay your respects?"

Chen Ye lowered his eyes and tugged the corners of his mouth upward twice, shaping his face into an expression that was cautious, obedient, and faintly delighted.

"This humble one is Chen Ye. I pay my respects to the Eldest Young Master."

Gao Yunheng told him to rise.

Chen Ye had barely steadied himself when the other man tossed something over with a casual flick of his hand.

A money pouch landed on the blue bricks at his feet with a weighty thud.

"Take it. Train hard. The Gao Family never shortchanges those who apply themselves."

Such a casual reward carried a certain condescending air. It was somewhat disrespectful, but Gao Yunheng seemed entirely unaware that anything was amiss.

After all, Chen Ye was a lowly servant who depended on the Gao Family for his livelihood. Receiving a reward from him was already a blessing.

Chen Ye looked down at the bulging money pouch.

The first thought that popped into his mind was that Gao Yunheng had brought the money along specifically to give it to him.

What a crude way to buy someone's loyalty. He couldn't even be bothered to put any thought into how he handed over the money.

Chen Ye bent down and picked up the pouch. It felt quite heavy in his hand.

He piled on a grateful smile and said, "Thank you for your generous reward, Young Master! This humble one will give it his all!"

Gao Yunheng gave a few brief instructions about the remaining matters, then strode lightly out of the courtyard.

Watching the slender figure disappear from view, Zhang Tieyi straightened his back.

He turned to Chen Ye and said solemnly, "The Young Master came to see you in person and even gave you a reward. That shows how benevolent the Gao Family is. From now on, you'll put every bit of your strength into training in this courtyard! Master your skills as soon as possible, so you can serve the Young Master."

Chen Ye clenched the money pouch in his hand. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Guard Zhang, may I ask what arrangements will be made for me if I master my training?"

"Boy, you've got good luck."

A faint smile tugged at Zhang Tieyi's face.

The smile looked somewhat out of place on his fierce features.

"Lord Xie of the Inspection Bureau in the commandery and our Eldest Young Master will be entering the capital before long. They're short of capable hands. If you prove yourself, you can go with them. It's even possible you could enter officialdom one day, bringing honor to your ancestors! Train hard."

Chen Ye lowered his head. The look of overwhelmed gratitude was still plastered on his face, but the wariness in his eyes could no longer be suppressed.

The Inspection Bureau. The capital. A connection to the Xie Family, a high-ranking household of the second rank?

There was no such thing as a pie falling from the sky.

As he pieced together what had happened recently, a nearly dangerous intuition took shape in his mind.

Zhang Tieyi hadn't noticed Chen Ye's distraction. He lifted his chin toward Gao Qiaoniang, who stood silently to the side. "From now on, Qiaoniang will be responsible for your daily needs. Go to her if you need anything."

Chen Ye glanced at Gao Qiaoniang from the corner of his eye.

He lowered his head slightly and answered, "Yes."

"Go back and get settled. Let me know when you're ready, and we'll begin your training."

With that, Zhang Tieyi said no more. He turned and strode back into the main room.

The courtyard fell quiet.

Gao Qiaoniang remained where she was, making no move to leave.

She turned to look at Chen Ye, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. She seemed to want to say something, but held back.

"Miss Qiao?" Chen Ye spoke first.

"...It's nothing." Gao Qiaoniang shook her head, let out a quiet breath, and turned toward the west wing.

When she reached the doorway, she paused and glanced back. "I'll bring your meals over later. There's a kitchen in the courtyard, so you won't have to collect food outside anymore."

Chen Ye stood where he was, watching until she disappeared from sight.

He felt the bulging money pouch inside his sleeve, then slowly surveyed the secluded courtyard.

"They've deliberately separated me from the other three..."

Chen Ye stood alone in the courtyard for a while, then walked toward his room in the east wing.

With a creak, he pushed open the wooden door.

The room's furnishings were extremely simple: a bed and a table.

A large square window was set into the stone wall. Afternoon sunlight poured through it, making the entire room exceptionally bright.

He walked over to the window and peered outside.

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

They were too far away for him to make out what they were saying.

But they were positioned right across the entrance to the alley.

To leave, he would have to pass between the two of them.

Chen Ye watched them for a moment, then opened the door and returned to the courtyard gate.

The gate was shut tight.

He lifted the crossbar and pulled.

The door didn't budge.

It had been locked from the outside.

Just then, he heard a door open behind him.

Zhang Tieyi stood in the doorway.

"What are you doing?"