Chapter 1

Chapter 1

My elder sister had only just found out she was pregnant when she said she missed me and sent someone to bring me from Nanzhou to the Capital.

The moment she saw me, she burst into tears.

Holding me in her arms, she sobbed, “Oh, it’s your sister’s fault for being so useless. I only managed to bring you here now.”

Five years ago, my brother-in-law had been posted to Nanzhou as an official. He and my sister fell in love there, and he married her.

After my sister married, there was no one left to manage the household affairs, so my father took a second wife.

My stepmother had no room for me in her eyes. She let me run wild all over the place like some little feral girl.

When I was hungry, I went to the kitchen and found food myself. When I was cold, I took my own silver and went out to buy clothes.

Sometimes, when I saw my father holding my younger brother, coaxing him to eat or teaching him to read, I would feel envious for a while.

But whenever I received a letter from my sister, my heart no longer felt so cold and empty.

My sister was afraid that if I stayed in Nanzhou, my stepmother would casually marry me off to some peddler or common soldier.

That was why she had rushed to bring me to the Capital.

Originally, my sister had planned everything out nicely. She would have me learn some etiquette and study a little.

Then she would ask the Old Madam of the Marquis’s Mansion to give me some standing and introduce me to a few respectable, refined families.

But now, all her plans had fallen through.

My sister sighed. “Oh, how could the timing be so unfortunate? The young lady cousin arrived one step before you, and she happens to be the lifesaver of the Fourth Young Master and the Fifth Young Master. The whole family is gathered around her, fussing over her every need. Next to her, you look like you’re here to sponge off them.”

Sitting in the bath barrel and playing with the water, I giggled. “But I am here to sponge off them.”

My sister flicked my forehead. “I’d like to see who dares say that about you!”

She touched my face, then sighed again. “This little face of yours is tanned pitch-black. Thankfully, you turn fair again quickly. Otherwise, with a face like this, you could turn around and go serve as Judge Bao in court.”

Then my sister looked at the scars on my body and seemed ready to turn around and write a letter scolding our uncle to death.

Feeling guilty, I kneaded her shoulders and did not dare say a word.

When I was in Nanzhou, my sister sent me money every month.

But I had used all that money to pay for my aunt’s medical treatment.

For the sake of making a living, my uncle used the convenience of his position to get me registered with the local office as a constable.

I was bold, decent at martial arts, and lucky besides.

A while ago, an important official from the Capital came to handle a case, and I happened to tag along and earn some merit.

Although I suffered a few minor injuries, I managed to get quite a lot of reward silver.

There was one more thing I had hidden and did not dare tell her.

In order to claim a sum of compensation money, my uncle told everyone that my injuries were too severe and I had died.

As it happened, I needed to go to the Capital anyway, where no one knew me. It solved two problems at once.

My sister applied ointment to my body and said helplessly, “You really did inherit more than half of Uncle’s martial arts. What a pity. People in the Capital don’t look at your martial arts when arranging marriages. They only look at learning and family background.”

I had only been here for one day, yet my sister’s mouth was already full of marriage matters. Clearly, she really was worried.

After all, I had neither learning nor family background.

Drowsy and half-asleep, I thought of the two noble people I had saved.

Actually, being highly skilled in martial arts was useful too.

Once I found those two noble people, my sister would not have to worry anymore.