Home with Chiyin (1)

The mid-afternoon sun hung high in the sky, bathing Yinyue with its warm embrace. She strolled along with her steed through the walled entryway of her stronghold in the mountains.

The uneventful travel home from the inn through the forest provided a rare relief from the events of the past few days. It felt good to be home again.

A loud crack spoiled her momentary peace. On entry into the stables, she saw three stable boys running around a whinnying horse, while she led her war steed inside. Their frantic actions made the horse more agitated.

Water had spilled everywhere, freezing into a slippery sleet of ice. Her steed grunted and snorted at the ruckus, kicking its front hooves in displeasure at the mess.

The stable keeper hurried to her side and muttered his apologies, which she ignored. She handed him the reins and went to investigate the commotion.

Sudden shouts from the two of the stable boys drew her attention to the third waif of a stable boy who stood frozen with his eyes wide open.

The culprit, a large brown horse, reared up on its hind legs, towering over the boy. Its powerful muscles tensing to deliver a fatal blow.

The boy raised his thin arms instinctively to shield himself. If he didn't move, the horse would trample him to a sure death. Without a thought for her own safety, Yinyue sprung forward.

"MASTER!"

Yinyue heard 02's shout but didn't hesitate. Her battlefield instincts pushed her to protect her own. Her legs took flight towards the waif. She aimed for the boy's arm and grabbed it, pulling him from the horse before its hooves landed.

She flung his body onto the pile of hay nearby. Her foot pushed off the ground using her qinggong skills. The momentum gave her lift to scale and jump onto the ledge of a wall. Right in time, before the horse stomped its front hooves on the ground.

Her men, the stable keeper and the stable boys stared up at her, with their mouths agape.

She looked down at their faces from the ledge. They lowered their heads. Yinyue pointed at the snorting horse, who kept shaking its plaited mane in frustration.

She opened her mouth to ask, but thought of the plaited mane and closed her mouth. The horse and her exchanged looks, as though the horse knew the trouble it caused. Her finger wagged at the petulant horse, who tossed its head at her with sheer defiance.

Only one person would own such an unruly horse.

The horse kicked the wooden separators, spooking the other horses in the stable. It pulled the hay from the wooden feeder, scattering yellowish grass all over. She noticed the large pieces of the broken clay trough kicked aside by the devil of a horse.

After the violent tantrums it threw, the horse laid down on its bed.

Like horse, like owner. The character of his animal resembled Chiyin himself - a big troublemaker. Her mood darkened.

"Where's my uncle?" She demanded with a sweep of her sleeves.

The stable keeper hurried and bowed to her, "Your highness, he's been staying here for a day in your guest compound."

"Calculate all the damage caused by his dung coloured horse and send it to me." She scowled, hopping off the ledge and landing on the ground with a certain grace.

She straightened herself up from the landing, walking past the cowering stable boys prostrating before her.

"Get up," she said with ire. Kneeling and prostration were pointless.

She glanced at the two trembling boys helping the injured boy up. The injured boy's clothing had hay stuck all over while he bit his lower lip, trying his hardest not to wince.

Most starving Yandi families opted to send their sons and daughters into the military for food to tide the harsh winter. Yinyue created that alternative to reduce slavery in the region. Better to have them serving the military with loyalty than in slavery.

Half of the failed revolts in the Dayan Empire's history started with disgruntled slaves. Especially in times of natural disasters, like famine caused by crop failures.

However, these three boys ended up in her service. They looked no older than twelve or thirteen, an optimal age to train with the border troops. Their thick padded clothing hung off their small frames of mere skin and bones.

"Why are they here?" She asked the stable keeper.

He fell to his knees and prostrated. "T-they w-were brought over from the local magistrate's office of punishment in Bian town."

"Crimes?"

"S-stealing food. T-the magistrate s-said the prison was overcrowded…and their crimes minor."

Stealing food was a minor crime, depending on the amount stolen. Yet the three boys huddled together, unsure of her reaction.

"Where're your families?" She threw a glance at the injured boy, who was holding his arm. In her haste to pull him, she may have dislocated his shoulder. He was holding back tears from the pain.

One boy stood forward and prostrated in front of her. "They died on the way to Bian. Our village was starving in the winter. Our families just wanted to see if there's…any job in the town to do for food."

"Get up, all of you." Yinyue sighed. There was nothing she could do about their situation. She can still afford to feed and clothe three extra mouths.

"02, check his shoulder," she said, tilting her head at the injured boy. "If you can fix it, fix it."

02 bowed and went to check on the boy. His hands touched his joint, then moved along the arm. "This will hurt a lot."

No sooner had he finished speaking, his hand gripped the shoulder and the other, the arm. One upward thrust and the boy howled in pain.

"Done," 02 replied. "Still need the physician to look at him."

"I'll get the residential physician to look at him," the stable keeper offered, while careful not to look at Yinyue.

"Get the residential physician to check him and send the total cost of his treatment fees to me. Spare no expense." She walked towards the stairs, intending to make Chiyin pay.

Chiyin could treat the boy's injuries for free, but she felt it better to teach him a lesson by sending him a large bill. Besides, he would whine non-stop about making him see a 'simple' case.

"Quick. Thank the Grand—"

"Shut up! Get the physician," 02 cut the stable keeper off before the boys could kneel.

Yinyue was not in a mood to deal with the formalities and, 02 knew. She continued up the stairs, away from the stables. He followed behind her, waiting for further orders. Her steps had slowed down, and she stopped.

"Also, find out which village those boys came from. Send others to check on the surrounding villages and report their situation. If there are bodies, give them a decent burial."

02 acknowledged her instructions with a slight nod. Without a clear dismissal, he continued to walk behind her.

Distracted by the thoughts of her uncle's arrival, the recent events in the Black Mountain and the winter problems afflicting the villages in Yandi, Yinyue didn't pay further attention to 02.

Troubles with Chiyin's horse came second to the troubles in her territory. With Chiyin in her residence, she won't be able to escape meeting face to face with him.

She still needed to consult with him. Better him than her grandfather, she comforted herself. Chiyin was easier to talk to, unlike the authoritative Hua Dushen.

Only problem with Chiyin was his incessant chatter, taking up her time from more important matters.

Yinyue rubbed her shoulder and rotated it while walking past the bowing servants and guards up the stairs towards the path leading to her main residence. Every part of her body felt stiff from the tensed, aching muscles.

If not for the horse carriage ferrying the injured 01, their group would have arrived earlier in her residence, instead of suffering longer on the saddle. And if not for the incident with her uncle's horse, the soreness may not be so bad now.

"Well, well, look who's back!"

A familiar voice spoke near her ear.