The carriage came to a stop outside a remote, dilapidated little courtyard.
There were three tiled rooms. The courtyard wall had partially collapsed, and the wooden gate was barely hanging together.
Two or three chickens strolled leisurely across the grass outside.
Everything looked shabby, yet it was all kept spotlessly clean, exuding a quiet sense of peace and contentment.
Cheng Yao stepped forward and gently knocked on the wooden gate. A petite, thin old woman with bound feet opened it.
Seeing Cheng Yao’s fine clothes and extraordinary bearing, the old woman grew uneasy and wary.
Cheng Yao introduced herself and explained why she had come, but the old woman still hesitated to step aside.
She had never met Cheng Yao, nor had Cheng Ling ever mentioned her. She was afraid of being deceived.
“Mother, who is it?”
Just then, another woman came to the gate.
With a creak, the door opened, revealing the thin and pale Cheng Ling.
“Yao’er, what brings you here?”
She tried her best to sound calm, but her trembling voice betrayed the excitement in her heart.
She was not as cold and indifferent as she appeared.
At the very least, she did cherish the bond of blood. She was simply too reserved, too restrained, and too skilled at hiding her feelings.
“Sister!”
Cheng Yao rushed forward and gave her a big hug.
Cheng Ling looked so much like her closest friend Chen Wen from the apocalypse.
Though the two of them had known each other for only a short time, they had trusted each other completely, shared joys and hardships, and depended on each other for survival.
Later, Chen Wen had been bitten by a zombie while saving her.
Cheng Yao had spent every last bit of her wealth to buy twenty expensive doses of medicine, but she still could not save Chen Wen.
Chen Wen had died in her arms…
Cheng Yao choked up. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Her warm tears slipped down onto Cheng Ling’s neck. Cheng Ling froze where she stood, goosebumps rising all over her body as she was shaken to the core.
After being brought back to the Cheng residence, this younger sister had been timid and taciturn. She had never grown close to anyone, and she had been especially jealous that Cheng Ling had been adored by their parents and family from the moment she was born, without ever having to endure a life of wandering and starvation. She would not even speak to Cheng Ling.
Yet now, seeing her like this, it seemed that her sister loved her too.
“I’ve really missed you.”
Cheng Yao rubbed her cheek against Cheng Ling’s neck and murmured softly.
Feeling that deep dependence, Cheng Ling’s rigid body gradually relaxed. She wrapped her arms tightly around Cheng Yao as well and began to cry.
They were sisters born of the same mother. How could she not have feelings for her younger sister?
She had merely forced them down.
The sisters embraced and wept. All the words they had left unsaid were conveyed through their tears.
Cheng Yao wiped away her tears. “Sister, you’ve suffered all these years.”
Cheng Ling slowly shook her head. “Yao’er, the hardships I endured were nothing compared to yours. I ignored how difficult things were for you and married someone else, leaving the capital. Do you… resent me?”
As she spoke, she cautiously studied Cheng Yao’s reaction.
“Sister, you were already of marriageable age. If you hadn’t married, Wang Qiuniang would have taken you in hand, and your fate would have been terrible.” Cheng Yao took both of her hands. “I have never blamed you.”
“That’s good… That’s good.”
The corners of Cheng Ling’s lips curved faintly, but tears continued to stream down her face.
Her younger sister had once been somewhat selfish and narrow-minded, yet now she had become so considerate and understanding. Cheng Ling could not imagine how much she must have suffered to change so completely.
“Sister, look.”
Cheng Yao pointed at the winding procession of carriages behind her and declared grandly, “This is the dowry Mother should have given you all those years ago.”
Cheng Ling followed her gesture and instantly froze.
“Cheng Lan exchanged marriages with me. She married the Second Prince, while I married the War King. Fortunately, the War King treated me well and accompanied me back to my family home on the third day after our wedding. Father felt guilty, so he gave me a sum of money as compensation.”
Cheng Yao’s eyes sparkled, and she spoke as lightly as if it were nothing. But Cheng Ling knew how many grievances her sister must have endured along the way, and how dangerous the marriage exchange had been. If the War King had not been broad-minded, she might not have survived.
“Yao’er…”
Cheng Ling did not know how to comfort people. She could only keep crying.
“What are you crying for? I’m much stronger than I used to be.” Cheng Yao brushed it off. “All right, Sister, stop crying. Come and see what I brought you.”
She pulled Cheng Ling over and lifted the curtain of one of the carriages.
“This is all Shu brocade.” Leaning close to Cheng Ling’s ear, she whispered, “I bought a great deal of it. Before long, the price of Shu brocade will skyrocket. You can sell it for several times what you paid, then leave the capital with Brother-in-law and live a peaceful life.”
“Yao’er!”
There was so much information packed into those words that Cheng Ling was utterly stunned and did not know where to begin.
Cheng Yao continued, “Sister, don’t overthink it. Whatever I give you, you should accept. I want you to leave because the Emperor is suspicious of the War King. I’m afraid that if something happens to us, you’ll be dragged into it.”
Cheng Ling closed her eyes for a moment, sorting through the chaotic information. When she opened them again, she was much calmer.
“Yao’er, you need this Shu brocade more than I do.”
“No. If that damned emperor moves against the War King, we may not be able to keep a single coin.”
Cheng Ling was horrified. “Then what will you do?”
“Sister, listen to me. My lord and I have already made arrangements to deal with it. Don’t worry about us. All you need to do is take care of your own little family.” Cheng Yao glanced toward the courtyard. “Sister, where should they unload the brocade?”
Seeing that Cheng Yao had made up her mind, Cheng Ling gathered her scattered thoughts. “Have them move it into the cellar.”
They would be selling it in a few days anyway, so there was no need to worry about the dampness in the cellar.
“All right.”
Cheng Yao went over to speak with the carriage drivers and paid them twice the agreed amount.
The sisters went inside to talk. There, Cheng Yao met her brother-in-law, Fu Qingshan.
He was handsome and refined, with a tall, lean figure like a green bamboo and an unyielding bearing. His eyes were filled with affection whenever he looked at Cheng Ling. He took the pair of exquisitely pretty children away so that the sisters could have some private time together.
Cheng Ling’s mother-in-law was quiet and taciturn, but she treated Cheng Ling with respect and asked what she should prepare for the meal.
If not for the tragedy that would occur several months later, Cheng Ling’s life, though poor, would have been peaceful and comfortable.
Thinking of this, Cheng Yao once again urged her sister to leave the capital.
“You’re only thinking of me. What about yourself?” Cheng Ling looked at Cheng Yao worriedly. “Can the plan you and the War King have truly ensure that you both escape unscathed?”
Cheng Yao took her sister’s hand and said firmly, “Sister, don’t worry. We’re confident in our plan. And no matter what happens to us, don’t worry about us or try to investigate or contact us. Once we’ve settled down, I’ll come find you.”
Hearing the danger hidden in her words, Cheng Ling’s eyes reddened again.
“Yao’er, I hate that I’m so helpless. I can’t do anything to help you.”
“I’ll be fine. There’s another carriage filled with gold, silver, and other valuables. Hide them well and keep them for emergencies.”
Cheng Ling did not answer. She wept until she was drenched in tears.
Her sister was trapped in danger, yet she had still made such thorough arrangements for her. As the elder sister, Cheng Ling felt utterly useless.
“Sister, do you trust me?”
“I do.”
“Then you must persuade Brother-in-law to leave the capital. The sooner you go, the better.”
“All right.”
After the meal, Cheng Yao tearfully bid farewell to Cheng Ling.
Two days later, the proprietor of the Brightmoon Cloth Shop came to see her and told her that the Zhan family had agreed to sell the Shu brocade at half price.
Cheng Yao refused.
That very night, the Brightmoon Cloth Shop was robbed, and every item in the store was looted.
The case was reported to the authorities. There had been no carts carrying goods away and no strangers entering or leaving the premises. Everything had vanished into thin air, leaving behind not the slightest clue.
When the news reached her, Old Madam Zhan smashed her favorite tea set.
