In the dens of thieves in Que City, a saying had circulated for years: *Better to face the magistrate than to scale the palace walls.*
The meaning was simple: the walls of the Que City palace were far too difficult to climb. Not only were there layers upon layers of them, but they were also jagged and uneven, to say nothing of the risk of being cut down by the Inner Court guards. A thief would rather turn themselves in to the authorities than attempt such a feat.
Now, as Xiao Nanhui stood beneath the perimeter wall of the Tian estate, she felt the thieves of the capital were perhaps a bit sheltered. Compared to the wall before her, those palace walls were nothing at all.
The Tian family’s wall was roughly thirty feet high. One could see the marks where it had been extended upward time and again. The surface had been scraped perfectly smooth and coated with a layer of tung oil; even a mouse would lose its footing trying to scurry up, let alone a human. Looking up at the top of the wall, one could see a dense thicket of iron spikes, each seven or eight inches long. Not even a bird could find a place to perch, much less a person.
The Tian family had truly spared no expense. The last well in Suyan’s East City that had not yet run dry was protected by these walls as if they were made of bronze and iron. Her lightness skills were mediocre at best; she couldn't afford to take such a risk.
Was there really no crack to crawl through?
Hmph, how could that be?
Wherever there are people, there are loopholes to be found. This was a truth that remained unchanged through the generations.
Xiao Nanhui found a concealed spot across the street from the Tian estate’s back gate. She crouched there for several hours, her eyes fixed on the door, refusing to miss even the slightest movement.
Finally, the long daylight hours of the Jizhou region began to fade. At sunset, the back gate of the Tian estate creaked open just a crack.
A clever-looking young servant peered out from behind the door. After confirming no one was around, he carried a large wooden bucket out from the courtyard, set it on the steps of the back gate, and hurriedly retreated back inside, vanishing without a sound.
Xiao Nanhui waited a moment longer. Once she was certain the surroundings were quiet, she walked up to the stone steps.
As she drew closer, she noticed a string of copper coins pressed under the lid of the bucket. Though it wasn't much, in a city where everyone was destitute, it was a significant sum. Feeling curious, Xiao Nanhui lifted the lid and immediately regretted it.
A foul stench rushed at her, and she slammed the lid back down.
It was a bucket of "golden juice"—genuine liquid manure.
The smell still swirled in her nostrils, and before she could catch her breath, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the end of the street. She quickly ducked back into her hiding spot.
Within moments, a middle-aged man carrying a shoulder pole arrived at the steps. He expertly tied a sweat-cloth over his nose and mouth, emptied the contents of the bucket into the two large vats he carried, and replaced the empty bucket. Finally, he pocketed the copper coins and left, humming a satisfied tune.
Once he was out of sight, Xiao Nanhui returned to the steps. She looked left and right, then reached into a hidden pocket in her inner garment and pulled out a string of copper coins, carefully counting out a few.
This was the last string of coins she had left. Though it wasn't much, she had gone to great lengths to squeeze it out of that salt merchant; it didn't feel the same as the easily acquired silver she’d had back in Que City.
Steeling her heart, she pried two more coins from the thinning string.
To succeed, one had to be ruthless.
Xiao Nanhui tucked the remaining coins back into her pocket and placed the ones she had just taken next to the empty bucket. After a moment's thought, she picked them up again, stepped down from the stairs, and scattered the coins one by one on the ground not far from the back gate.
Night began to slowly shroud Suyan’s East City, and a crescent moon hung in the sky.
The temperature dropped considerably, but the air remained so dry that not a drop of moisture could be squeezed from it. Every breath felt like a knife cutting into her nose.
The back gate creaked open again, and the same young servant emerged. He moved to lift the empty bucket back inside as usual, but as he was about to close the door, he suddenly froze.
Under the moonlight, something was glittering on the street, which was covered in a dull layer of yellow sand.
He hesitated, looking left and right, then glanced back toward the courtyard. Finally, certain no one was watching, he dashed forward to investigate.
It really was money. There were over a dozen copper coins scattered on the ground, roughly the same amount he had previously left on the bucket.
Perhaps that manure collector had been careless and dropped the money? This was a back alley where few people came, and since it was dark, it was possible no one had noticed.
*If you were careless, you can't blame me,* the servant thought gleefully. He picked up every single coin, tucked them into his sleeve, and turned back inside. He closed the gate firmly, as if nothing had happened.
However, he failed to notice one thing.
Just as he had stepped down the stairs to gather those few coins, a shadow that had been pressed tightly against the gate’s archway detached itself from the darkness and slipped silently through the gap in the door.
****** ****** ******
Once inside the courtyard, Xiao Nanhui began to silently memorize the route she took, taking great care not to disturb anyone.
Yet as she walked, the entire estate was deathly silent. Though night had fallen, for a wealthy family who could afford oil lamps, it was far from bedtime. But in this courtyard, there was not a sign of the master, the women of the house, or even the servants. It was truly eerie.
She estimated the location of the well and began searching from the perimeter, gradually working her way toward the center of the manor. It didn't take much effort to find it. But once she reached the well, she realized she had oversimplified the problem. There was indeed a rope hanging over the well, but when she pulled it up, she found there was no bucket attached. Not only was there no bucket in the well, but there wasn't a single container capable of holding water anywhere in the vicinity.
Xiao Nanhui refused to give up and searched several nearby empty rooms, but she couldn't even find a vase.
This was no accident.
Thinking it through, the reason wasn't hard to understand. The well was right there; even if someone watched it day and night, there would always be a moment of negligence. It was better to control the vessels instead. Every courtyard in the manor likely had to request a bucket according to a daily quota, and they would have to bring that bucket to the well to draw water.
It seemed the lives of the wealthy weren't much better off.
Xiao Nanhui gazed at the clear, shimmering water in the well and the reflection of the moon within it, letting out a long sigh.
Getting a drink of water was truly no easy task.
Fortunately, she had some skills to rely on. Though it would be strenuous, it wasn't impossible.
The rope by the well was already somewhat frayed and likely couldn't support the weight of a person. Xiao Nanhui placed her bundle under a pile of rocks by the well, took out her waterskin, tied it to the rope, and lowered it down. Then, she backed her way into the well, using the strength of her arms and legs to brace herself against the walls, inching her way down toward the bottom.
The well walls were covered in moss, making them slick and difficult to grip. Several times she nearly lost her hold and fell, but she managed to hold on through sheer strength. By the time she reached the bottom, her body was aching—she felt more exhausted than she had after months of marching.
Fortunately, the water at the bottom was the clearest she had seen in days. Panting, Xiao Nanhui untied the waterskin from the rope, drank her fill, and then refilled it. She tied it back onto the rope, planning to pull the waterskin up after she climbed out.
After all that exertion, she looked up at the crescent moon visible through the well opening; it was already midnight.
If she had to do this a second time, she really wouldn't be able to take it.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, the rope hanging above her suddenly jerked.
Before she could react, the waterskin followed the rope and zipped upward. She reached out to grab it, but her hand caught only air.
What... what was happening?!
Had someone come to the well?
Xiao Nanhui didn't have time to think. She scrambled up the well walls using both hands and feet. Driven by urgency, her ascent was much faster than her descent, though her already tattered clothes suffered several more tears.
When she finally hooked a hand over the edge of the well and poked her head out, she saw a little fatty, as round as a fledgling bird, sitting in the moonlight. He was clutching her waterskin and draining the very last drop.
Xiao Nanhui didn't speak, but her breathing was heavy.
Hearing the noise, the fatty turned his head blankly. He saw a person with disheveled hair, a ghastly complexion, and an ambiguous gender staring at him with murderous intent.
The waterskin slipped from his hand. Realizing the danger a moment too late, he scrambled back half a step and fell onto his backside.
"Are... are you a person or a ghost?"
Xiao Nanhui had already climbed out. She didn't bother answering him; she simply strode over, picked up the waterskin, and turned it over to shake it. It was completely empty.
The water she had gone to such lengths to draw had ended up in someone else's stomach.
Fuming, Xiao Nanhui closed her eyes and unerringly grabbed the fatty by the ear.
"The water? Spit it out!"
The fatty had clearly realized she was human—and someone who didn't belong in this estate. He actually found the courage to shout for help.
"Help! There's a—"
He had only managed a few words before Xiao Nanhui’s "devil's claw" moved to his throat, cutting off his voice.
"It's the middle of the night. Shout all you want. Let's see if help arrives faster, or if you die faster."
The fatty’s face turned bright red, his eyes welled with tears, and his eyes began to roll back. Xiao Nanhui didn't feel like burying a body later, so she loosened her grip.
Gasping for air, the fatty knelt on the ground coughing, yet he didn't forget to mutter, "You thief, climbing over the wall to steal water... I'll tell the Master and have you bound."
Even after being bullied like this, he hadn't knelt to beg for mercy. Xiao Nanhui found him somewhat interesting and decided to make things difficult for him. "You're a servant in this courtyard. You came to steal water without your master's permission. Even if your master comes, I doubt things will go well for you."
"Will the Master believe me or you? I only need to say that you drank all the water and I happened to catch you. Naturally, no one will take your side." Knowing he couldn't escape, the servant simply sat down on the ground with a "dead pig" stance, his neck stiff with defiance. "Hmph, anyway, the water is in my stomach. What can you possibly do to me?"
Playing the rogue, was he?
With a *shing*, Xiao Nanhui pulled a dagger from her boot and wiped it on her sleeve.
*Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve held a weapon. The weight feels good.*
"What... what are you doing?"
Xiao Nanhui tossed the knife in her hand, eyeing the fatty’s stomach with a predatory smile. "The water is in your stomach. Wouldn't it be simple enough to just cut you open?"
The servant swallowed hard. Xiao Nanhui hadn't washed her face in a long time, and her expression was quite hideous; she looked every bit like a desperate female bandit. The people in this city were already crazed with thirst; they were likely capable of any atrocity.
"You... don't try to bluff me. Once water enters the stomach, how can it still be there?"
"Then what else can I do? I'm terribly thirsty and I can't afford to care about that. I've heard that beneath a person's thin layer of skin, all the moisture is in the blood. I'll just give you a random stab and drink a bit to make do. It should last me a day or so."
As the saying goes, it's better to be killed outright than to be tortured. Being stabbed here and there, and perhaps ending up with one's guts spilling out while still breathing—that would be too miserable.
"Big sister! Great Lady! My dear ancestor! Please spare me! I didn't know, that's why I drank your water!"
The chubby servant lunged forward and hugged Xiao Nanhui’s leg, wiping his tears and snot onto her trousers. Xiao Nanhui grabbed his thick double chin and pushed him away with disgust.
"I will ask, and you will answer. If you hesitate, we go back to the previous step."
The servant swallowed and nodded vigorously. Xiao Nanhui sheathed her knife.
"What is your name?"
"Wu Xiaoliu."
Xiao Nanhui’s knife was out again with a *shing*. Wu Xiaoliu looked like he was about to cry. "Heroine, I know the name sounds made up, but it's absolutely real. My parents weren't educated; they just picked something..."
Xiao Nanhui glanced at him and slowly wiped the blade. "What are you panicking for? I didn't say anything. How long have you worked at the Tian estate?"
"It will be five years soon."
"How many people are in the Tian household now?"
"One Master, three young masters, sixteen female relatives, and fewer than thirty maids and servants."
To support such a large family in a place where not a drop of water could be squeezed out—this Tian family was certainly not simple.
"And do these Tians have any dealings with the people in West City?"
When Xiao Nanhui asked this, Wu Xiaoliu clearly hesitated. He shot a quick glance at her face. "There weren't any before, but recently..."
Xiao Nanhui noticed his hesitation and raised an eyebrow. She was from Jizhou in the southwest, and her features were naturally sharp. When she was laughing or joking, she simply seemed upright and spirited, but now that she exerted a bit of pressure, she appeared quite formidable. After a brief struggle, Wu Xiaoliu told her everything.
"Recently, I heard West City isn't stable either. People have come from Bijian, saying they want to 'borrow' the land to fight a war. Everyone reckons that once it's borrowed, it won't be returned. Suyan will belong to the Bai family from now on."
Wu Xiaoliu spoke in a low voice. Xiao Nanhui listened, her face expressionless, but her heart was racing.
The Bai family knew of Tiancheng’s intentions; they were planning to strike first. Although Suyan was impoverished, it was a strategic stronghold. Because of its harsh climate, it had been a contested land since ancient times. Now that the two sides were clashing, the Sun family was caught in the middle. They would have to pick a side sooner or later; it was better to decide early to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
"I only heard this by eavesdropping, but they say the Tian family is marrying a daughter to the Sun family in West City. It’s supposed to happen in the next few days." After Wu Xiaoliu finished, he peeked at Xiao Nanhui again.
"The Tians are marrying off a daughter? Why hasn't there been any commotion in the city?"
Wu Xiaoliu shook his head, looking regretful. "She’s going there as a concubine. What pride is there in announcing that? They’d rather no one knew. It’s a pity for that girl; she’s in the flower of her youth and so beautiful, yet she’s being thrown into the tiger’s den."
A wedding, no matter how low-key, would require a large group of people to travel from the East to the West.
She had been worrying about how to get past the Sanmu Pass; now, it seemed heaven was helping her.
"So even the Tian family has to sell a daughter to save themselves and seek refuge in West City. It seems the way the wind is blowing is quite clear."
Wu Xiaoliu didn't understand Xiao Nanhui’s words. He only wondered if he could leave. He forced a smile. "Heroine, um... if you have nothing else to ask, can I go?"
Xiao Nanhui didn't nod. Instead, she looked him up and down until he felt hair stand on end. After a long silence, she uttered a terrifying sentence:
"I don't think you should go. You're coming with me to the Sun family."
Wu Xiaoliu stood there like a stunned chicken. "To the Sun family?"
"Yes. Neither of us can get enough to eat or wear in this East City, and we can't even get a drink of water. Why not go to the West to seek a living? Who knows, maybe we'll strike it rich." Xiao Nanhui spoke with a grin, but her eyes held no room for negotiation.
Wu Xiaoliu looked miserable. He spoke with difficulty, "Heroine, I think... whether one strikes it rich or not, one needs to be alive to enjoy it. If you ask me, even though we suffer in East City, it's better than entering that tiger’s den to be tortured. Life is about being free. If my life isn't in my own hands, I might not even be able to die when I want to."
Xiao Nanhui slid her dagger back into her boot and lowered her head as if in deep thought. "You do have a point..."
Wu Xiaoliu nodded frantically. "Exactly, think about it carefully..."
"No need to think. It's settled. Since the Sun family is so dangerous, it's all the more reason for you to come with me. If it really comes to that, at least there will be someone to finish me off. Of course, if you end up in a state of living death, I certainly won't hesitate either. Well? What do you think of my proposal?"
Wu Xiaoliu said nothing. He knew that whatever he said now was useless. He only glared resentfully at the shriveled, empty waterskin on the ground, cursing himself for ever drinking that bag of water.
