Chapter 1

I was only ten when I was brought to the Zhou household.

My uncle held my hand as he did his best to convince the servants that I had an auspicious destiny.

He said I was born to bring good fortune, making me especially suitable for a marriage meant to drive away illness. That was also why my price was so much higher.

A plainly dressed woman watched me coldly without a word.

For some reason, she readily paid him, despite so obvious a lie.

She put a piece of silver in my uncle’s hand, bought me, then politely asked him to leave.

I neither cried nor struggled. I simply watched my uncle sell me.

Once he had gone, the woman approached.

I smiled up at her, my eyes curving.

She frowned, looking stern and unapproachable.

“What are you called?”

“Luhua, madam,” I said with a bright smile. “Mother said the reed blossoms were drifting everywhere like snow when I was born. That’s why she called me Luhua.”

She cut me off coldly.

“No one here cares how you got your name. And I am not the lady of this house. I am the young master’s wet nurse. You may call me Aunt Xing.”

I nodded obediently, entirely undeterred, and beamed at her. “Yes, Aunt Xing.”

At that unfortunate moment, my stomach growled.

The corner of Aunt Xing’s mouth stiffened. After a long pause, she turned away with an indifferent air and fetched me a cake.

I looked at her to make sure it was meant for me, then carefully accepted it and put it in my mouth.

It was filled with chestnut paste, delicate and sweet, its fragrance filling my mouth with every bite.

I had never eaten anything so delicious.

Aunt Xing watched me finish with a look of distaste, then spoke flatly.

“Done? Then I’ll take you to meet the young master.”

The young master’s name was Zhou Zhixu. He was the owner of this house.

Aunt Xing told me he was two years older than I was, naturally clever, widely read, gentle, courteous, and handsome. Everything about him was excellent.

Everything except his health.

His parents had been famous for their devotion to each other, a perfectly harmonious couple. But while out with their family, they had been attacked by roving bandits.

His father had died beneath the bandits’ blades while protecting his wife and son. His mother, refusing to submit to violation, had fought desperately and lost her life as well.

Only the young master had been rescued, barely breathing, by the soldiers who arrived.

He had survived, but ever since, he had been frail and prone to sudden changes of mood.

His right leg had been broken in the attack. By the time it was treated, it was beyond healing.

Aunt Xing had found him many doctors. None had been able to help.

Since then, he had spent almost every day lying in bed, staring at the dim bed curtains.

Buying me was probably the Zhou household’s last resort.

Aunt Xing had someone wash me and put me in clean, soft clothes, then led me down a long, winding corridor.

She stopped at the room at its end. Just as she reached up to knock, she turned back and gave me an earnest warning.

“Remember, the young master cannot bear anyone mentioning his leg or his illness. You must keep him company and make him happy. Don’t say anything you shouldn’t.”

I nodded furiously.

Only then did Aunt Xing knock and take me inside.

The room had carved railings and painted beams. Sandalwood incense burned, but all was silent, as though no one were there.

I looked around curiously, seeing many neatly arranged books and lengths of beautifully patterned cloth and brocade.

Aunt Xing spoke with care. “Young master… about the matter I mentioned before. I’ve brought her.”

There was no response.

I looked up at Aunt Xing. She seemed to have expected this. Lowering her gaze, she sighed and tried again.

“Even if you won’t think of yourself, think of your late father and mother—”

Porcelain shattered behind the curtains, followed by violent coughing.

All caution forgotten, Aunt Xing hurried into the inner room and rushed to the bed.

“Young master!”

I followed her through the curtains.

The inner room was in some disorder. Tables and chairs lay overturned, cups and dishes were scattered everywhere, and dark stains of varying shades marked the carpet. They looked like spilled medicine.

I stopped, bewildered and unsure what to do.

Then a pillow was thrown feebly at my feet.

Layers of curtains kept out the drafts, hiding the person inside so that I could see only a blurred shape.

“Get out, all of you!” he said between coughs. “I told you, I don’t need this!”

“Young master…”

“Don’t you understand, Aunt Xing? I don’t need anyone to keep me company, and I certainly don’t need a marriage to bring me luck. Someone like me shouldn’t drag anyone else down. I should just die!”

I blinked, went over to pick up the pillow, then lifted the curtain.

Aunt Xing evidently hadn’t expected me to walk straight in. She froze, then shouted, “What are you doing in here? You ill-mannered girl! Get out!”

But I was looking at the young master on the bed, unable to turn away.

Zhou Zhixu was close to my own age and still looked very much a child. He wore only a thin, snow-white robe, and his face was as pale as the cloth.

His chest heaved with anger, and his fine features were flushed the pink of crabapple blossoms.

I had heard everything he had just said.

He seemed to dislike me very much. He didn’t want me to stay.

And I had tried so hard to be good and obedient.

I bit my lip. My mouth crumpled, and for the first time I couldn’t hold it back. Tears welled in my eyes, and my voice shook.

“Are… are you going to send me away?”