She rubbed Lotus' head with great pity. The little girl was only eight years old, but she’d already survived in these isolated woods, by herself, for almost four years!
It’d be one thing if she hadn’t run into the child. But now that she had, she wouldn’t just walk on without looking back. Her mind made up, Qin Yining addressed the child. “Lotus, can you take me to your house?”
The little girl nodded happily and reached out with a mucky hand. “Come, come.”
Qin Yining smiled and picked randomly at the remaining rabbit, tore off the legs for Lotus, and extinguished the campfire. Burying the traces of her presence, she picked up the weapons and followed Lotus further into the mountains.
* * *
1. The character for ‘lotus’ is ‘lian’.
Chapter 294: Xiaozhou (II)
Qin Yining had thought that her shelter was out of the way enough already, but Lotus' was even further away.
The two held hands and proceeded in the dark; moonlight filtering in through the trees their only source of illumination. Lotus seemed to be accustomed to this and slowed down to wait for Qin Yining. When they reached difficult to pass terrain, the child even pulled the girl up.
After an hour, a wooden house came into sight.
It was very simple, but also quite exquisite as it used mortise and tenon joints to connect semicircle logs together. From the front, it looked like two enormous wooden panels had come together to form a character that was firmly planted into the ground, and from the side it looked like a rectangle.
“House, uncle made.” Pride shone out of Lotus' dirty face.
Qin Yining stroke the child’s greasy, matted hair with a smile. “Your uncle was a very smart, great man.”
To be able to take care of a child and build a log cabin by himself, which, under careful inspection, showed that not a single nail had been used, was more than enough proof of the man’s strength and intelligence.
Qin Yining pinched Lotus' soft cheeks. This little girl must have an uncommon background.
Her caretaker wouldn’t have taken shelter deep in the woods otherwise, and neither would he have fought three enemies to death in a location four hours away from here.
Emotions assailed the Qin fourth miss.
Lotus had already tramped her way through the snow and raised the animal pelts covering the entrance. She pushed open the door, gesturing with merrily shining eyes to invite Qin Yining inside.
Coming back to her senses, the Qin fourth miss followed the child through the door.
It was pitch black inside. Lotus disappeared in the blink of an eye, and the sound of wood rubbing against each other followed shortly thereafter.
Qin Yining blew on her fire starter to light it and found the child crouched on the ground. Lotus was rubbing her hands together furiously, drilling a piece of sharpened wood into the hole of another log. Some fine tinder lined the hole. They immediately glowed with ignition as sparks leapt from the child’s friction.
Lotus carefully used two sticks to transfer the flickering tinder to an earthen cooking stove well-stocked with firewood, immediately brightening the house. The child rose and pointed at fire on the ground. “Warm, warm.”
Her eyes next widened with surprise as she’d glimpsed the fire starter in Qin Yining’s hands. ”Fire?”
The Qin fourth miss nodded and capped the fire starter with a smile, handing it over. “This is for you.”
“For me?” The child accepted it with glee and pulled off the cap. She seemed to have received an utmost treasure and stowed it conscientiously into her clothes after Qin Yining taught her how to light it. When she next looked at the Qin fourth miss, her eyes sparkled with pleasure.
Qin Yining could tell that the child genuinely liked her. This kind and unsullied little girl was bringing forth the most purest of hearts, trying her best to connect with an unkind world. Perhaps she’d spent too much time alone in the mountains and so hadn’t been able to resist extending an olive branch when finally meeting her own kind?
Qin Yining took the child’s hand and sat down together next to the fire. She was thankful that it’d been her that Lotus had run into. The child was so innocent that if she’d run into someone with nefarious intentions, it would have spelled great danger.
The hearts of men contained more evil than the hearts of beasts.
Lotus rose and rummaged in a pile of random items, emerging with a bed of dirty blanket. She offered it up to Qin Yining like she was presenting a treasure.
“Big sister, warm.”
As Qin Yining glanced at the blanket, so dirty that its original colors couldn’t be discerned, then at the child’s bright eyes, she was so gripped by heartache that she almost cried. She nodded with a smile and pulled Lotus over to her side, covering them both.
Lotus smiled happily and stretched out a grimy hand for warmth from the fire.
This was a much more comfortable night for Qin Yining than last night. Because of the log cabin, the fire, a filthy blanket, and a child drooling next to her, she slept with complete peace of mind. No longer would she fretfully jerk awake, afraid that wild animals were here to eat her.
Her own coughing woke her up the next morning. She felt that her cold had gotten worse, but it was still within an acceptable range.
She sat up and discovered that there were no windows in the log cabin, just a door, but it wasn’t completely dark inside. Her head lifting to follow the source of light, she discovered a skylight the size of a bowl.
Looking around, she saw no sign of Lotus. I wonder where the child’s gone to now. But really, just look at how messy and soiled the cabin was! The dust on the floor had to be at least three inches thick!
Qin Yining rose for a close inspection. Though there was no furniture, there was signs of a fireplace being started. It was still half-lined with bricks. It looked like the uncle that Lotus spoke of had died before completing this task.
Apart from the unfinished fireplace, she also found a grimy bundle bundle in the corner. Some articles of men’s clothing fell out when it was unwrapped.
Stooping down for a closer look, Qin Yining found the accoutrements of a fourth rank Northern Ji general!
The Northern Ji military uniform was exceedingly conspicuous one. A big, crimson red collar was paired with narrow sleeves, leather soft armor, and a leather belt the width of a hand.
The expression on Qin Yining’s face grew grave. It looked like the uncle that Lotus spoke of was a fourth rank Northern Ji general — that meant her background was far from simple!
The Qin fourth miss rather respected the general that had brought Lotus into these mountains.
She didn’t know when they’d come, but judging from his decomposing articles of clothing, he’d been dead at least four years. That meant Lotus had only been five or six years old when they sought shelter in the mountain.
What kind of strength did it take for a general to flee into the deep mountains with a five year old girl, build this log cabin, raise her, and protect her from being persecuted?
Qin Yining repacked the bundle and tidied up the mess in the cabin. She picked up a rag and wrapped it around some snow, using it clean after melting the liquid over the fire.
After repeated wiping and throwing away several rags, she finally restored the wooden floor to its original color.
But after cleaning away the dust, an inconspicuous crack in the ground near a corner was revealed. Mystified, she stuck a dagger into the crack and wiggled it, prying a square piece of floorboard up. There was a rectangular wooden box within.
Baffled, Qin Yining retrieved it. There was a certain heft to it, making her imagination run wild.
She opened it to see a letter, the words ‘For the eyes of Jinxuan’ on it. There was also an official seal carved into a block of jade. What set it apart was the coiling dragon carved onto it!
The seal was the size of a man’s fist, and characters carved in the stylized script of a seal — “Treasure of Northern
Ji” — delivered a bolt of lightning that was hard to recover from.
This was an imperial jade seal, and one that belonged to the destroyed Northern Ji!
Chapter 295: Xiaozhou (III)
The thoughts in Qin Yining’s mind twisted and turned, connecting all the dots that she’d gleaned about Lotus. The answer was on the tip of her tongue!
She put the jade seal back into the wooden box and opened the letter addressed to Jinxuan. The contents were brief, but very shocking.
The gist was: Pang Zhixi’s men are at the city walls, We likely don’t have much time left. We have committed innumerable evils in this life, Our death is not to be mourned. Our only regret is beloved Yongfu. The princess is young and truly innocent. Brother Liu, We implore you to come. If you render aid, We would be most grateful and repay your righteousness in Our next life.
‘Zhou Weixian’ was the signature, and a personal seal stamped next to the name.
What else would Qin Yining not understand after seeing the name?
The surname of Northern Ji’s ruling clan had been Zhou. The tyrant’s secondary name had been Weixian, a name that had drawn the ridicule of the people. The ‘wei’ in his name stood for able and virtue, but its bearer was anything but competent or virtuous.
From this, she could concluded that Lotus should be Princess Yongfu, her surname Zhou and her secondary name Xiaolian, the characters for Lotus.
The one who’d died to protect Zhou Xiaolian must be General Liu Jinxuan.
Her expression grave, Qin Yining placed the letter and seal back into their original positions. She’d thought that Lotus' background wouldn’t be simple, but she’d never imagined that the child would be the princess of the previous dynasty!
Them meeting in the mountains was an indicator of their shared destiny; Qin Yining could never abandon this adorable girl to perish in the woods. Danger and wild animals lurked around every bush. She herself had once lived in the mountains and knew full well how difficult this kind of life was.
This child had fended for herself in the mountains since the age of six and somehow made it to nine years old. She subsided on half-raw food and likely often went hungry. She looked like a little savage, but hadn’t been eaten by wild animals or died of illness. This was already a miracle in and of itself!
Qin Yining couldn’t promise Zhou Xiaolian’s string of luck would continue if she remained on the mountain. I’m taking her with me!
But the most difficult part of this all was the child’s identity. Her father was the tyrant that had doomed Pang Xiao’s father.
Pang Xiao had overthrown the tyrant and ended the ludicrous reign of Northern Ji in the name of revenge for his father. He was a hero in the people’s eyes, but an enemy in Zhou Xiaolian’s.
And in his, Zhou Xiaolian was the daughter of his enemy. Not to mention she possessed the imperial seal of Northern Ji.
Great Zhou had surely hunted for this seal since the founding of the nation.
Qin Yining really couldn’t say with surety that Pang Xiao would let Zhou Xiaolian live after he learned of her identity. And even if he did, would the Zhou emperor show mercy? The others?
No, no!
Such a young child shouldn’t bear the sins of her father! Since Qin Yining had met the girl, she wouldn’t stand by idly. She would take Zhou Xiaolian with her and protect her. No one would find out about the child’s identity, even Pang Xiao.
Just as thoughts ran rampant in Qin Yining’s mind, rustling in the woods sounded outside the cabin.
The door was pushed open to admit Zhou Xiaolian carrying a bloody wild hare and a net full of small sparrows still frantically trying to flap to safety. Dirt and grime covered her all over as she called out happily, “Big sister, eat!”
The cleanliness of the cabin seem to strike her in the next second. The floors were the cleanest they’d ever been. The child hastily backed up, threw out the bleeding prey, and scuffed at the bloody marks on the floor with her animal pelt boots. She smiled bashfully at Qin Yining.
Her uncle had taught her before that dirty things shouldn’t enter the house, that their quarters should be kept clean. Even though she’d been very young then, and even though she hadn’t been able to follow the rules once she started living by herself, the sight of the tidied up floors reminded her of what her uncle had once said.
Qin Yining walked over with a smile and pulled Zhou Xiaolian next to the fire. Patting the matted hair—I wonder how long it’s been since she’s washed her hair—the Qin fourth miss smiled gently. “You went hunting, Lotus ? You’re so amazing!”
The child grinned with happiness from the compliment. “Big sister, hungry. Eat little birds.”
“Alright, stay here and warm up. I’ll clean them up.” Qin Yining rose to handle the prey.
Zhou Xiaolian couldn’t sit still and followed the older girl out. The two walked further away and dug a hole in the snow first before gutting the wild hare and sparrows. They washed everything with snowmelt and buried everything in the snow before returning to the cabin.
Qin Yining discovered a moderately sized iron pot in the cabin, as well as a small bag of coarse salt. She washed the pot clean, set it up over the fire, and filled it with snow to brew a pot of rabbit stew. The sparrows were strung up to be roasted.
Zhou Xiaolian remained crouched by her side all this time, staring at the food with sparkling eyes.
“Lotus, do you remember what your home was like?”
The child started and narrowed her eyes in thought. She responded slowly, “Many people, at home. Live big house. Little brothers. Little sisters. Play with me. Have candy, lotus congee, big yard. Lotus flower in vat. Many vats in yard. All with lotus.”
Qin Yining smiled. “Do you remember your daddy?”
Zhou Xiaolian nodded. “Daddy, tall. Have beard. Beard pokes me. Lets me pull.”
A mix of emotions roiled in Qin Yining’s heart. People all said that the tyrant of Northern Ji was violent and merciless. Who would’ve thought such a heartless, evil tyrant would let his daughter climb all over him and pull his beard?
“Lotus, big sister’s going to go home after a few days. I’d like to take you with me. You’ll be with me from now on, alright?”
Lotus froze at the words and fat droplets surged out of her eyes, streaking two trails down her dirty cheeks. “Big sister don’t go. Sister, don’t go.”
Qin Yining quickly pulled the child over when she started crying and wiped her tears away.
“Don’t cry, I’m not leaving you behind. It’s just that I have a family too. I have my daddy, my mommy, and they’ll be sad if I disappear. Come home with me. You can be my little sister in the future and I’ll take care of you, alright?”
Zhou Xiaolian choked out, “Uncle, say, no go out. Bad people outside.”
The Qin fourth miss hugged the sobbing child. “Don’t be scared. You’ll be with me in the future, and I’ll protect you! My daddy is very strong too, he’ll protect you. Come with me, change your name, don’t tell anyone about your daddy or home, and definitely not your uncle. No bad people will come find you then.”
“Really?” Zhou Xiaolian wiped her face with her sleeves, smearing a mess of tears and snot and dirt around, but making her eyes seem brighter in the process.
“Of course, I wouldn’t lie to you.” Qin Yining looked at her seriously.
Chapter 296: Xiaozhou (IV)
Zhou Xiaolian bit her lip and studied Qin Yining. She could feel the big sister’s affection and sincerity. The child nodded in the end. “I, I will, listen to big sister.”
“Alright.” Qin Yining smiled. “Then you must promise to always listen to big sister in the future. You’ll remain by my side after we leave. I’ll teach you how to read, how to live in the outside world. You also have to promise that you’ll stay close, okay?”
“Okay.” Zhou Xiaolian nodded heavily.
Qin Yining thought for a moment. “We cannot forget our roots. Your name shall be Lian Xiaozhou in th
e future, alright?”
“Lian Xiaozhou?” Zhou Xiaolian widened her eyes. “Same. Sound. Lotus congee.” [1]
Qin Yining didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “It’s the character for the surname Lian, not lotus. If anyone asks you in the future, say that your surname is Lian. Your father was a hunter in the mountains, but he’s passed away. I ran into you in the mountains and brought you out with me. Your name is Xiaozhou, the Zhou of your original surname. Big sister actually just flipped your name around.”
“Surname Lian, my surname Lian. Daddy, is hunter. I am, Xiaozhou. Like lotus congee. Lotus congee is yummy. I am Lotus Congee.”
Qin Yining felt utterly defeated. Just how much did this child like lotus congee?
Well, since she liked the name, what harm was there in going along with it? Since Northern Ji lay in ruins, Princess Yongfu no longer existed in this world. The little princess that the tyrant so doted on was no more.
This heavy past would only be chains and shackles for the child. Since they were starting anew, then it’d be best to use a name that had nothing to do with the past. Forgetting those memories might not be such a bad thing for her.
“Alright then, so you’re Lian Xiaozhou in the future. Lian of the surname Lian, Zhou of well, congee.”
Zhou Xiaolian, or rather Lian Xiaozhou at this point, nodded emphatically, her eyes crinkled in a smile.
This drew an answering smile from Qin Yining. “Alright, let’s eat first. When we finish lunch, big sister will boil some water for you to take a bath.” She’d discovered a large, wooden tub in the rear of the cabin—likely specially prepared by the ‘uncle’.
Lian Xiaozhou munched busily on the perfectly seasoned sparrows, nodding rapidly when she drank rabbit stew.
Qin Yining had no idea how the child had survived the years. When the latter slipped into the readied bathwater, the water instantly turned black.
Just washing the hair took three large tubs of water, to say nothing of wiping off the body. All Qin Yining knew that she kept piling more firewood into the clay stove and repeatedly fetched snow back. When the water grew dirty, she wrapped Xiaozhou in her cape and had the child wait until the new tub of water heated up.
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