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In the final moments of their lives, a document arrived for the Yan Family: exoneration and the return of their land!
The two aunts rushed back to care for their mother, but the two elders had already invited the clan's elders and local officials to mediate and established a document stating that all land belonging to the Yan Family would be left to the adopted daughter, Zhao Amiao!
The two girls wanted to argue, but even the clan members stood by my side, expelling the ungrateful daughters from the Yan Family.
With everything settled, Grandfather and Grandma passed away with smiles on their faces.
Under the care of the Yan Family's clan members and neighbors, we laid the two elders to rest. As a dutiful daughter, I thanked everyone, but soon fell ill.
Aside from exhaustion, what hurt me most was the letter left by Abao.
Who was my sister? She could express herself in this world, yet why did she bear such a disgraceful name?
The Yang Family sent letters almost every month, written by the head of the family and both sons, always referring to me as "my daughter" or "my sister," urging me to return home as soon as matters concerning the Yan Family were resolved!
Yet there was not a single word from Abao.
She still resented me for "selling" Long Yu.
I couldn't explain the circumstances; I also couldn't return to the Yang Family.
I had become an old maid. The clan leader arranged a marriage for me with a newly appointed scholar who had wasted his life in hard study; he was about my age.
Thinking it over, without Abao and Long Yu by my side, I couldn't remain alone forever, so I agreed.
However, when my future in-laws came to propose, I was displeased.
With no one in charge at home, I had to receive them myself.
The matriarch of my future in-laws had a harsh appearance and sharp words: "My son is a scholar; with someone like you, we can only offer some land as dowry for him to marry you. If he finds another suitable bride, you'll have to settle for being a secondary wife."
To my surprise, my husband nodded in agreement.
Better not to marry than to marry unhappily!
I immediately chased them all out.
Even though I had considerable land and wealth, I was still an outsider here; without a man to support me at home, many were eyeing my property, making life increasingly tedious.
I sold off my estate and bowed before the graves of Grandfather and Grandma of the Yan Family, giving money to the clan leader and asking him to send paper money for the two elders during Qingming Festival. Then I left the village of the Yan Family.
The family that raised me remained impoverished.
My father not only gambled but also drank excessively.
My beloved mother had succumbed to tuberculosis and had become nothing more than a handful of earth.
As my brother's younger sibling, my sister-in-law looked at me in disdain, dressed in simple clothes. She said, "Sister, would you stay at home for a few more days?" In reality, she wished I would leave immediately. Only my nephew had clear eyes and smiled at me while sucking his fingers. I took out a golden bracelet and slipped it onto his wrist, saying, "Grow up well and be a good person." I ignored my brother and sister-in-law's insistence to stay.
I entered the capital alone. The capital was becoming increasingly prosperous. I bought a house along the street and opened a shop selling small dishes and marinated fish to make a living. The dishes were more exquisite and varied now, with an added specialty: a large pot of mixed vegetables simmered with fragrant pork belly slices, fresh pig's blood, and tender tofu... At first, it attracted the attention of common vendors, but soon even nobles began to send people to visit.
Time passed quickly; after half a year in the city, I no longer needed to oversee the business as helpers and cooks could manage it. I thought about my Abao and Yu'er, both now fifteen. How was Long Yu doing? Did Abao still resent me?
The temple twenty miles west of the city was still there, with an even more flourishing incense offering. In the front hall, I lit incense and casually walked to the back hall, where the Buddha statue stood majestically. After wandering for a long time, Yu'er's voice from years ago seemed to echo in my ears: If I must betray her, I would rather not enter the Huang Family!
Like my own worries, for some reason, the novice's wooden fish was struck chaotically. One day, while idly sitting in the back hall, Sister He, in charge of the shop, stumbled in: "Bad news! Our shop has been surrounded by constables who are specifically looking for you!"
At this moment and place, fortune or misfortune could not be avoided; whether you stick your head out or pull it back in, it would be a knife either way—what was there to fear? Outside the shop stood soldiers with weapons drawn.
"Whose soldiers are you? What crime have we committed?" I forced myself to speak up. A military officer stepped forward: "Your hiding of a wanted criminal has been exposed!"
It couldn't be the Yang Family; they were currently thriving. Then it must be Long Yu—was he in danger now? I lost my focus for a moment.
Another black-faced general emerged from behind: "Young Son of the Late Emperor Long Yu has been hidden by you for three years. He is currently 80 miles east of the Yan Family, where you have been secretly fishing and trading together. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I don't understand what you're talking about! I don't know who Long Yu is!" I knelt down but still protested loudly.
"If you reveal Long Yu's current whereabouts, you may escape with your life and receive a reward of a thousand gold pieces. Otherwise, next year on this day will be your death anniversary—why not confess honestly?" The black-faced general was furious.
"Whether you want to kill or torture me is up to you; I do not know who Long Yu is!" I remained defiant as he drew his sword and pressed it against me.
"Sister!"
"Sister!"
The two voices came simultaneously, one pale as jade and the other round as a pearl.
They both knelt before me, gazing into my eyes.
"Long Yu! The officials are pursuing you; how dare you show yourself now!"
"Abao! How did you get entangled with Long Yu and put the entire Yang Family in danger?"
I was in a panic.
"Cheng Xiu, what else do you have to say?" I saw Long Yu shake off my hand, and that dark-faced one also knelt before me, saying, "Sister, it is Cheng Xiu who is the villain!"
I had completely entrusted my shop to Sister He.
I no longer took a single coin from daily earnings; all the ruffians who used to disturb me had fled far away, and those who used to eat for free returned their past silver: "Sister, please forgive us!"
Long Yu turned out to be the current closest brother, Long Yu. When disaster struck, Imperial Guard Commander Cheng Xiu took the young master Long Yu out of the imperial city. To evade pursuit, he led the pursuers elsewhere, leaving no time to care for Young Master. Fortunately, afterwards, Yu'er was taken in by me for over three years.
Yu'er's brother is now on the throne, having restored the country and revitalized the Yang Family.
Visiting with the late emperor's former ministers, Long Yu accompanied Abao and reunited with Yu'er.
Abao cried while holding Long Yu: "Did Sister not sell you for fifty gold?"
Long Yu explained: "Sister sent me to my imperial brother; how could there be talk of selling me? This matter is too significant; she did not dare speak of it!"
But Abao cried even louder: "I wronged Sister and betrayed her!"
Cheng Xiu took the two little ones to Yellow River Ferry's porridge shed, to the Yan Family estate, and to the Yan Family fish pond searching for me in vain, not realizing I had entered the capital city.
That day at the temple, a novice recognized me and immediately reported to the abbot, who then informed Cheng Xiu.
Cheng Xiu, a martial man, still did not believe that a weak woman like me could be so loyal; he threatened me with military might but turned respectful when he saw I would rather die than reveal Long Yu's whereabouts.
At Yang Manor, Elder Brother and Second Brother—one a Flowering Scholar and the other a Top Scholar—came out to greet me at the door, while two sisters-in-law came up to help me down from the carriage.
Inside the inner chamber, Mother held me and wiped her tears: "It's all Abao's fault; she got you into the capital without coming to see your mother."
Father commanded: "The eldest daughter has returned; prepare a feast!"
Yu'er had followed me for three years and naturally stayed for dinner, but I wondered why that black man who had once tried to kill me and just threatened me with a sword did not leave. He kept stealing glances at me with suspicious eyes.
At night, Abao and I slept in Mother's room.
The mother murmured, "Abao is in love with Prince Yu, and the Emperor has already arranged a match... It is said that they will marry on New Year's Day."
However, Abao insisted, "My sister is much older than me; I will wait for her to leave before I do."
I scolded her, "Sister is already over twenty; who would still want to marry? You will get married, and I will serve our parents!"
Cheng Xiuna Heisi arrived with the Emperor's decree: summon the eldest daughter of Yang Manor into the palace!
I did not know why, but I felt anxious as I followed along.
The palanquin took us straight to the inner palace, where my mother sat with a dignified demeanor.
Long Yu stood by her side, bowing slightly and saying, "Mother, this is Sister Qingmiao. If it weren't for her back then, there would be no son!"
The Empress Dowager stood up and pulled me up: "From today onward, you are also my child!"
There was a meal prepared in the palace, with Sister-in-law accompanying us.
On my wedding day, I left Yang Manor. The Empress and Sister-in-law sent me off with bridal gifts according to the Princess System.
Abao and my mother personally covered my head with a veil, while Elder Brother and Second Brother donned red to escort me.
Husband? He was the one who had once tried to kill me in the temple and later threatened me with a sword—Cheng Xiuna Heisi.
He was favored by the Emperor primarily for his loyalty.
This man was quite stubborn; his original wife was his childhood sweetheart. However, during childbirth, she faced complications and both mother and child perished. Since then, he had refused to remarry regardless of the Royal Family or Nobility.
But that day on the long street when he threatened me with a sword, my fearless demeanor captured his heart.
He pleaded with the Emperor, then with Yang Family Patriarch and Mother, swearing that in this life he would only have me and would not take another wife.
I agreed.
Soft Canopy, red candles, Mandarin Duck Pillow.
In the Wedding Chamber Bright, we danced lightly together.
Amiao was over twenty; today she became a bride.
(The End)
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