Chapter 4 A Marriage Made in the Dew of Morning.
It was early May.
The weather in the northwest was already starting to get hot and dry. After a night of rain, the grass was covered with dew, which turned into mist and disappeared without a trace when the morning sun climbed the mountain ridge.
At noon that day, a woman's figure appeared on the official road in Lintao County.
Dressed in simple clothes, wearing a blue bamboo hat, and carrying a bamboo basket on her back, she stopped in front of an inn and walked among the bustling crowd. Her silhouette was no different from the girls coming and going to buy things behind her.
The midday breeze lifted her blue robe, and the girl gently pushed open the edge of her bamboo hat with her fingertips, revealing a pair of bright eyes.
It was the morning dew that had survived a brush with death last night, escaping from the jaws of death.
Now she has washed away the blood and thorns, and her long hair is tied up with a cloth strip, hanging down her back. It is unlikely that anyone here would associate her with the blood-stained, unrecognizable woman in the Buddhist temple last night.
A silver ring hung around her neck, gleaming brightly in the sunlight.
She stroked the silver ring, recalling the nobleman's promise from the previous night. Although she had agreed to tame the beast, the nobleman's demeanor and methods of managing his subordinates were not something she could easily handle.
How could she dare to step into the gates of the Protectorate General's residence?
There are more important things to do right now—
She was tied up in the woodshed and heard the group of rough-working women say that her elder sister was now living in this "Su Xian Lou" (a building for staying immortals).
The young lady from Jingluo, despite being repeatedly treated coldly in her search for her relatives, never gave up looking for her lost sister.
I just wonder, after all this time, is my sister still alive...?
As Zhao Lu pulled down her bamboo hat, casting shadows over her face, she stepped into the inn.
“Your elder sister is very ill and has been in a coma for several days. You have come too late.”
In a guest room of the restaurant, a beam of sunlight shone through the carved window lattice, illuminating two women standing in front of the window.
Standing in the light, the morning dew was pale, clearly in the most intense sunlight, yet her whole body felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
The young woman in front of me is my sister's close friend, named Heyi. She has come to the Northwest with my sister to search for her relatives.
When Chaolu took out the jade pendant she had worn since childhood, one side was engraved with the words "Chaolu" and the other side was carved with a bird about to take flight, Heyi confirmed her background.
He Yi lowered her eyes, her sorrowful gaze fixed on the bed.
“Miss Helan has been targeting your elder sister in every way. When she learned that we were looking for our relatives, she ordered all the restaurants in Jincheng County not to take us in, forcing us to travel to various surrounding counties and cities until we finally found a place to stay in Lintao County.”
It's Helan Zhen again.
The morning dew hung at her side, her hands clenched into fists.
“Your elder sister was already plagued by illness and her body was too weak. This journey has left her physically and mentally exhausted. Three days ago, she fell into a coma, her pulse was critical, and she didn’t have much time left…”
"This letter is what she left for you."
A stack of letters was handed to me.
Chao Lu carefully took the paper. It was light, yet it felt as if it carried a thousand pounds of weight.
She looked at the bed curtains on one side, where her older sister was lying with her long hair loose.
Her elder sister was truly beautiful. Her pale skin was as beautiful as white porcelain, and her thick, black hair was as beautiful as dark clouds. Even when she was asleep without makeup, she had a decadent beauty.
Before she came, she was anxiously wondering if her older sister would like her.
My elder sister is a noble lady from the capital, so she must have been nurtured by poetry and books and received a high-class education in her youth. Every action of hers is a model of a noble lady. However, she grew up in the countryside. Her parents were busy with work when she was young, so they let her and her younger brother play freely in the fields. She even learned to read only after entering the Helan Mansion.
Will my limited knowledge and vulgar behavior shock her?
But all the unease seemed utterly powerless at this moment.
Chao Lu unfolded the letter and her gaze fell upon it.
"Little sister, it is as if I see you in person upon reading this letter. I am seriously ill and filled with worries. I do not know when I will be able to see you again?"
"We have been separated for fourteen years, and the pain of separation haunts my heart every night. I write this letter to see you on my behalf. Please do not forget what I have asked of you, remember it well, remember it well."
There were many words in the letter that she had not learned, so she could only stumble through them.
The elder sister spoke first about Chaolu's background.
Her surname was Yuan, and she came from the Yuan family in Chang'an. As carved on her jade pendant, her name was Chaolu. Her elder sister was named Zhaobi, and she was three years older than her.
The Yuan family, a family of upright officials for generations, all served the Chu dynasty in the imperial court.
Their father held the high-ranking position of Situ, one of the Three Dukes, who was in charge of agriculture, sericulture, household registration, official performance evaluation, and even national policy decisions in various prefectures and counties.
However, the Chu dynasty had been in decline since the reigns of the previous generations of rulers.
The Chu emperor of ten years ago was even more incompetent and foolish, who indulged in licentious policies, which led to the invasion of the Hu people, the fall of Chang'an, and the spread of war to the northern prefectures.
Before the edict to relocate the capital was even issued to the various prefectures and counties, the Chu emperor had already abandoned his subjects and fled eastward with his concubines to avoid disaster.
On that day, everyone in Chang'an, from noble families to commoners, fled eastward.
As I write this, my sister's emotions seem to tremble suddenly, just like the words I write.
The letter stated that their father risked his life to remonstrate with the Chu emperor, but was instead punished and imprisoned, and the eldest branch of the Yuan family was also demoted. Their mother set off with her two daughters, aged six and three, but on the way to the east to move the capital, they were separated from their companions and carriage, and subsequently encountered bandits and soldiers.
He Yi whispered from the side, "Your elder sister saw with her own eyes that your mother was killed by bandits. Later, she fled with you. On the road, the dust and smoke blocked out the sun. She was hungry and thirsty. She hid you in a pile of grass by the roadside to find water. When she came back, she found that you were gone. It seemed that you had been kidnapped. Her feet were bleeding from running. She cried until she had cried all her tears. She couldn't catch up with you no matter what she did. There were refugees everywhere on the road. She was really scared... Over the years, whenever she thinks about this, she feels sorry for you. She lost you."
But Chaolu had absolutely no recollection of any of these things.
Her fingertips traced the tear stains on the letter; the uneven texture of the paper reached her heart, as if she could feel the sorrow in her sister's heart when she wrote those words.
But my older sister was only six years old at that time.
How could I blame her?
He Yi continued, "At that time, she was wandering alone in the wilderness when her teacher's wife happened to pass by while practicing medicine. She took pity on her, an orphan with no one to rely on, and kindly took her in."
Chaolu asked, "How has my elder sister been doing in Jiangnan all these years? Why hasn't she gone to the capital to look for the Yuan family again?"
He Yi said, “Go back? The Yuan family made a grave mistake. After the previous dynasty moved the capital to Luoyang, the Chu emperor even labeled your father a rebel. If she went to the capital, she would only have one fate: death. How could she go back? Fortunately, her teacher’s wife was a famous doctor in Jiangnan who passed on all her knowledge to her, allowing her to stay home for more than ten years.”
As He Yi spoke, her eyes turned red as she looked at the person on the bed.
“Your elder sister has said more than once that Heaven has eyes and will set things right, and in the end the Xiao family overthrew the tyrannical Chu... The Xiao royal family is related to you by marriage. The new dynasty has exonerated your father and restored the Yuan family’s innocence.”
Morning Dew's gaze returned to the letter.
The Yuan family, the Xiao family, the new emperor, cousins...
One word after another jumped into her eyes.
Even ordinary people, as fleeting as morning dew, knew about the change of dynasties.
The old Chu dynasty had long suffered from chronic illnesses, like a giant, lifeless worm.
With enemies to the north and constant uprisings within, the country was only able to survive by relying on the Xiao family to quell the rebellions.
At the end of the dynasty, armies from all sides rushed onto the battlefield like hungry wolves, trying to get a share of the spoils, fighting until almost every inch of the land was soaked in blood.
The last emperor relied on the Xiao family, but the chaos of the world had driven them to such madness that the flames of suspicion eventually reached the Xiao family, and they were gradually targeted.
Forced into a desperate situation, five years ago, Emperor Taizu, on the advice of the current emperor, finally raised his arms and declared independence. With tens of thousands of troops, he rose up like a giant dragon.
That bloody era ended with the Xiao family.
Those figures who were once unattainable and seemingly untouchable are now intricately connected with her.
She should have been overwhelmed with emotion, but perhaps those figures were too distant, and all her feelings were dissipated by her sister's illness on her bedside.
She gently called to the person on the bed, "Sister."
The beautiful woman lay peacefully asleep in the cloud-like blanket, like a tranquil lotus flower, undisturbed by anyone.
He Yi said from the side, "Did you see the last part of the letter? It was about your marriage."
Morning Dew whispered, "I saw it."
"Your elder sister originally wanted to tell you about your marriage in person, but she was afraid that she would never wake up again, so she instructed me that if I could find you, I should persuade you to go to the capital immediately."
"As for your past in the Northwest, she has also found a way to cover it up for you. It is a respectable past of being taken in by a kind family, completely erasing your time as a slave in the Helan family, so that it won't hold you back..."
Chaolu interrupted, "Why is my sister so ill? Is there really no way to cure her?"
She has no interest in wedding matters right now.
He Yi stared at her face, remaining silent for a long time, before saying, "The doctor outside is your elder sister's senior apprentice. He and she studied under the same renowned physician, and he's known as the 'ghost hand' capable of bringing the dead back to life and healing bones, yet even he couldn't cure her illness..."
Before she passed away, she instructed her senior brother Cen Xiu to take good care of her funeral arrangements. Her body cannot be returned to the capital, so it is better to bury her in Longxi. After you arrive in the capital, you only need to say that she died of illness.
Morning Dew shook her head.
My sister traveled thousands of miles to Longxi just to find me. Even though she was thwarted time and time again, she never gave up.
Even when she was seriously ill, she wrote that letter with tears of blood, making arrangements for her future.
If she leaves like this, how is she any different from that cold-hearted and unjust person?
Even after years of slavery, the instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm was almost ingrained in their very bones.
But there are some things she cannot do.
He Yi said, "But even if you stay here, she may not wake up. This is Helan family territory. The longer you stay, the more dangerous it becomes."
Morning dew gently traced the face of the beautiful woman on the bed, as if trying to etch her features deeply into her mind.
When did my sister fall into a coma?
Three days ago.
"Okay, then I'll wait for her for three days."
He Yi was taken aback, realizing something was amiss.
“Once the Helan family finds out you escaped, they will come here sooner or later. If you fall into their hands again, that would be the last thing your elder sister wants.”
“I know, but I want to talk to her and spend some more time with her.”
At Helan's house, she gritted her teeth and refused to shed a single tear, not wanting them to see her vulnerability. Later, when facing those officers, she did shed tears, but those tears were all fake; she was only trying to earn a way to survive.
At this moment, tears truly welled up in my eyes.
She spoke softly, "Just three more days, let me stay with her for three more days, okay? If my sister can't wake up by then, I will obediently listen to her and leave as soon as possible."
She has persevered all this time, driven entirely by her unwavering desire to see her older sister.
After fourteen years of separation and turmoil, we have finally reunited. How can we part ways after only one meeting?
"Don't worry, Sister Heyi. I will set off for the capital at dawn three days from now."
He Yi stood quietly for a long time, and seeing her sorrowful gaze lingering on the person on the bed, she finally nodded: "As you wish."
It was past midnight.
The plain candle on the desk had burned down to almost nothing, its flame flickering gently, casting a long and short shadow of the person sitting by the bed.
Chaolu leaned against the bedpost, gazing at the letter in her hand. She had been keeping her sister company from the afternoon until midnight and should have gone to rest much earlier.
But inside the tent, there was a faint fragrance emanating from my elder sister.
Her heart seemed to be immersed in the fragrance, gradually calming down.
I want to stay in this peaceful place and never leave.
She never let go of the letter in her hand for a moment. Although she was not literate, she had a general understanding of it after half a day of studying it.
She read the letter's last part, particularly the section about the marriage, several times.
The letter said that before her arrival, her elder sister had brought up an old contract with the new emperor on her behalf.
Their biological mother and the late Emperor Taizu of the Xiao family were cousins. They had made a marriage agreement when they were young. Although the marriage was later called off, Emperor Taizu, out of consideration for his cousin relationship with his mother, granted permission for the marriage between their descendants.
Therefore, from a young age, it was destined that one of them would marry a member of the Xiao family.
But my sister had been betrothed to someone when she was in Jiangnan.
This marriage thus fell to Chaolu.
"The Prince of Yan is of the same lineage as the Emperor, born of the Empress Dowager. He is of outstanding character, handsome, and has a reputation for virtue from a young age. As for his skills in riding, archery, and horsemanship, they were all taught by His Majesty himself, and he is highly valued by the Emperor."
The King of Yan.
The morning dew caressed the ink characters on her fingertips.
Back in the Northwest, the Helan family could easily disrupt and shatter her family's peaceful life with a mere pinch of their fingers, as if crushing ants.
It's because they have no power.
Only those who wield absolute power can stand against the powerful Helan family.
Only by climbing higher can I avenge my parents.
She entered the capital, returned to the Yuan family, and married the Prince of Yan.
This is a perfect opportunity to present it to her.
The candlelight was dim, and her beautiful face was half hidden in the shadows and half in the light. Her eyes, filled with tears, were quietly staring at the words "Prince of Yan".
A slight noise came from my side.
"younger sister……"
Hearing the sound, Chaolu looked up and saw the beautiful woman on the bed with her eyebrows furrowed and muttering incoherently.
The beautiful woman weakly opened her eyes.
When Yuan Zhaobi was in a daze, she felt someone whispering in her ear. She subconsciously thought that her sister had returned and reached out her hand. Suddenly she woke up and realized that it was another dream.
But this time, my fingertips touched a warm, soft palm.
Someone firmly grasped her hand, their fingers intertwined.
A clear voice reached her ears, like morning dew falling on a lotus leaf, making her heart tremble: "Sister, I'm here."
A note from the author:
----------------------
Chaolu is a little illiterate right now, but she will work hard to learn to read later [shy]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
