Chapter 1 My Sister Didn't Die
A sudden downpour occurred in the dark night, with a strong wind sweeping raindrops across the streets at the entrance of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion in Yu State.
"Throw her into the back alley, far away, so her bad luck doesn't harm our young lady again."
The steward of the Duke of Jingguo's mansion, holding an umbrella, directed two servants to throw the bundle wrapped in rags into a corner of a back alley two streets away.
Meanwhile, a carriage was traveling along the main road toward the palace.
The torrential rain quickly soaked the tattered cloth, revealing the outline of a person. A pale little face was partially visible, and the child looked to be only three or four years old.
The little figure, soaked to the bone, was deathly pale, barely breathing, and its eyes were tightly closed, making no sound.
Her small body was curled up in the tattered cloth, her hair sticking to her cheeks.
"Steward Wang, won't she die if she does this?" a servant said, unable to bear it.
Butler Wang stared at the dying little figure for a long time before finally throwing away the cloth in his hand.
A little girl, starved for days and bled so much, couldn't possibly survive in this heavy rain. It's better not to dirty his hands.
Steward Wang snorted coldly, turned around and left without looking back: "She's just a little hussy born of a lowly slave. She was raised to be used for the young lady's blood transfusions. Now that the young lady has drunk her blood and her illness has improved, what's the point of keeping her around?"
The two servants looked at each other, then had no choice but to follow.
The back alley fell silent, with only the cold rain relentlessly pattering against Xiaoshengsheng's body.
She opened her eyes with difficulty, her voice low and sharp. The deep wound on her wrist was still stinging and bleeding.
"It hurts so much..."
An hour ago, her wrist was cut open, and her sister drank the blood that flowed out.
Why hurt Sheng Sheng? Why throw Sheng Sheng out?
She whimpered in pain, and several puppies hiding in the hole in the corner poked their heads out, looking at her with curiosity and fear.
"Help Shengsheng, Shengsheng is in so much pain..." Shengsheng was in a daze. After saying this, her head tilted to the side and she fainted. The red lotus birthmark behind her earlobe was faintly visible.
A few dogs came over: "Human, wake up! Don't die! We're coming to find someone!"
The rumbling of wheels could be heard intermittently in the heavy rain. The lead yellow dog rushed out, followed closely by the others.
A low-key yet luxurious carriage was traveling through the night when suddenly, several dogs lined up and blocked the carriage, barking urgently at it.
"Woof!"
"Woof woof woof!"
Thirteen, the driver, frowned and pulled the carriage to a stop.
"Thirteen, what happened?"
A dignified and composed voice came from inside the carriage.
Thirteen said, "Your Highness, several stray dogs have blocked the carriage. Perhaps they are hungry because they can't find food in the rain. I will go and chase them away."
"Hmm, let's give them some food."
Xie Yunchuan was resting with his eyes closed, intending to wait quietly for Thirteen to resolve this little incident before continuing his journey back to the palace. However, the dogs were barking so urgently that Xie Yunchuan suddenly felt a sudden, inexplicable pain in his heart, as if it were a premonition that something was about to happen.
This indescribable feeling prompted Xie Yunchuan to unconsciously say, "Wait."
Thirteen paused, Xie Yunchuan lifted the carriage curtain, and looked at the dogs with a puzzled expression.
The big yellow dog barked at him a few times, then ran back into the alley.
Seemingly influenced by something, Xie Yunchuan's legs had already followed his own before he could even think clearly.
In the back alley, several dogs ran back to the dark corner, circling around the unconscious man. The big yellow dog unwrapped the tattered cloth covering the little bundle, letting the newcomer see clearly.
In the pitch-black night, with torrential rain, if it weren't for the few dogs surrounding the area, it would be almost impossible to see a child wrapped in rags in that dirty and messy corner.
The little girl kept her eyes closed and didn't move. She looked no more than three or four years old.
Her thin face was terribly pale, and her long eyelashes and hair were soaked by the rain, sticking to her face in a messy and pitiful way.
"Why is there a child here?"
Xie Yunchuan frowned, held the umbrella over the little dumpling, and exposed himself to the rain.
Suddenly, Xie Yunchuan's eyes sharpened, his gaze falling on the birthmark behind the little dumpling's earlobe. He was so excited that he dropped the umbrella handle from his hand.
"younger sister!"
Xie Yunchuan, abandoning his previous composure, reddened as he brushed aside the hair behind his earlobe and touched the birthmark: "Lotus birthmark, it's my sister, it really is my sister!"
He knew his sister was alive!
Thirteen picked up the little girl's wrist, examined it, and checked her weak breathing. He said, "Your Highness, the princess's condition is extremely critical. She may not be able to hold on. We should take her back to the palace as soon as possible!"
Reminded by Shisan, Xie Yunchuan then noticed the bright red scar on the little dumpling's wrist.
Xie Yunchuan, who was immersed in joy, suddenly turned grim, and boundless anger spread through his heart.
Xie Yunchuan suppressed his anger and said,
"Return to the palace!"
The little dumpling was personally carried onto the carriage by Xie Yunchuan, while several stray dogs watched the carriage drive away in the dirty and messy back alley.
*
The palace curtains, adorned with burning incense, hung gently as palace maids moved quietly through the hall.
On the golden nanmu bed, the little dumpling lay quietly, her cheeks slightly flushed, with a damp cloth on her forehead.
A white-faced, yellow-furred four-legged creature was lazily nestled beside the little dumpling, its tail wagging happily as it patiently waited for the little dumpling to wake up.
After a long while, the little dumpling lying quietly on the bed trembled slightly and slowly opened its eyes.
Yan Hu's ears twitched, and he sat up, tilting his head to watch the little dumpling open its eyes groggily.
Sheng Sheng vaguely saw a puppy beside her. Before her eyes were fully open, she reached out and touched it, saying, "Hello, puppy."
Yan Hu wagged its tail even more enthusiastically, obediently snuggling against Sheng Sheng's hand, cooperating perfectly, and even rolling around comfortably, its affection overflowing.
The oriole standing nearby was extremely surprised. Yan Hu was His Highness's pet, usually majestic and arrogant, and never friendly to people, yet he was so fond of this little princess.
Huang Ying smiled and said, "Princess, you're awake. This servant will go and call His Highness right away."
Sheng Sheng was startled and realized there was someone else beside her. She quickly pulled her hand back under the blanket and used it to cover herself.
Noticing the little girl's fear, Yan Hu licked her cheek: "Don't be afraid, this is Yuqing Palace, it's very safe!"
Sheng Sheng has been able to talk to animals since she was a child, so having a little dog to talk to in this unfamiliar environment made her feel a bit more at ease.
"Yuqing Palace?"
Sheng Sheng seemed to understand but not quite, and wanted to ask if it knew why it was there, but Xie Yunchuan had already strode in.
Sheng Sheng immediately wrapped herself in the blanket, somewhat frightened: "Who, who are you?"
Xie Yunchuan's heart clenched painfully; the little dumpling's frightened expression was undoubtedly a heavy blow, mercilessly piercing him.
Xie Yunchuan quickly got up to comfort him, saying, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, no one can hurt you anymore."
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