Chapter 3: Send Him Back to His Sister

Where could her younger brother have gone?

At that moment, inside a luxurious carriage—

A man reclined lazily on a soft couch, idly twirling a jade thumb ring. The ring was a vibrant, translucent emerald green—clearly high-quality.

He had a tall, slender figure and wore an elegant purple robe embroidered with golden python patterns. A black jade and gold-inlaid belt cinched his waist, and a gemstone wristguard adorned his wrist. A purple mask covered most of his face, revealing only a pair of deep, icy eyes and thin lips.

Suddenly, a black-clad figure appeared before him, dropping to one knee with head bowed.
“Master, I’ve found out.”

“Speak.”

“That little boy is from a nearby village. He was sold to the town by his own sister. In a panic while escaping, he accidentally crashed into your carriage. His sister is currently looking for him.”

The man paused.
“Master, how should we handle the boy?”

He had intended to say “Leave him,” but instead, he said,
“Send him back to his sister.”

He was stunned for a moment by his own words.

Had he just… felt a trace of concern for that little boy’s sister, worried she’d be anxious if she couldn’t find him?

But it lasted only a second. The man quickly returned to his cold and distant demeanor.

The kneeling figure was shocked.

He and his master had been on their way to visit the frontier troops and happened to pass through this area. At an intersection, the little boy had suddenly dashed out and crashed into the carriage, losing consciousness.

If he hadn’t reacted in time and recognized it was a child, the guards would likely have treated it as an assassination attempt and killed him.

To be safe, the master had ordered an investigation. Too many people wanted him dead.

…

Meanwhile, Su Qingqing was still searching all over town for her younger brother, but found no sign of him.

She was exhausted, hungry, and parched—she desperately needed a place to rest.

She found a clean, neat noodle stall by the roadside and sat down on a bench.

“Weakly,” she asked, “Boss, how much for a bowl?”

The stall owner smiled honestly.
“Plain noodles, five copper coins per bowl. With meat, it’s six. Add a fried egg, and that’s one more coin. Want a bowl, young lady? My noodles are really good!”

“Just a bowl of plain noodles, please.”

“Alrighty, just wait a moment.”

Su Qingqing touched the twenty copper coins hidden on her. This was all that was left from yesterday, earned when the original owner sold her younger brother and a hand-embroidered kerchief in town. She craved meat and eggs, but her coin pouch was too light.

From her memory, this body was twelve years old. Her mother was named Liu Yue, and her father was Su Wenyuan.

Su… Wenyuan?

Hearing the name, Su Qingqing blanked out for a second—could it be? She quickly shook her head. Maybe she was just imagining things.

Liu Yue had been talented at embroidery, and the original owner had inherited her skill. Liu Yue had taught her since age three until she disappeared. The original owner’s embroidery was nearly a direct transmission from her mother—so skilled that even the embroidery shop owner in town had praised it.

Previously, her aunt-in-law, Li, had always taken her embroidery to town to sell. The original owner had tried multiple times to sell them herself but was always stopped by Li under the pretense of looking out for her.

When something sold for thirty coins, Li gave her three. If it sold for forty, she got four.

That naïve fool had believed Li was kind and wasn’t keeping any money from her. But within three days, whatever she did earn would be taken back by either Li or Old Madam Su under various excuses.

It wasn’t until yesterday, when she secretly went to town, sold a handkerchief herself, and asked the embroidery shop about prices, that she learned the truth.

Sigh… That girl was really a fool, no question about it.

She’d been completely manipulated by Li and Old Madam Su, even helping them count money after being exploited.

Forget it.

Right now, solving food and shelter came first. Only with a full belly could she plan the future.

Just then, the boss brought her bowl of noodles. The soup was milky white and steaming hot. The aroma of stewed bones filled the air, and a few scallions floated on top.

Su Qingqing eagerly slurped it all down. Within moments, the bowl was empty.

Mmm~ so good… I want another bowl.

She touched her small pouch of coins.

Sigh… better not.

Time to start thinking about how to make money.

She looked up—and froze.

Was that Su Zijin lying on the bench opposite her?!

Huh? Was she hallucinating?

She stood up and walked over.
There was no doubt—it was really her brother.

He was fast asleep, his tiny face creased with worry.

“Boss, did you see how this little boy got here?”

The boss looked up from kneading noodles.
“Huh? Whose child is that? Want me to report him to the authorities?”

“No need, he’s my brother.”

It looked like the boss didn’t know either.

Forget it. At least he’s back safely.

In the shadows, the black-clad figure watched as Su Qingqing left with the boy in her arms, then vanished silently.

Su Qingqing looked down at the little one she held.

A six-year-old child who looked barely four, small and fragile. His clothes were ragged, his hands covered in scars, and his face sallow.

Sigh… such misfortune. Why didn’t the original owner take better care of her brother? Su Qingqing muttered to herself.

She passed a bun stall and spent five copper coins to buy five meat buns—for dinner.

At the rental carriage stop, she realized she only had ten copper coins—far from enough to hire a ride back to the village.

Helpless, she had no choice but to act pitiful and miserable.

Ahhh… If I’m going to be a little rich lady in the future, I’ll need to travel with my own carriage and horses!

In the end, a kind elderly man with gray hair drove a rickety donkey cart and gave the siblings a ride home.

Su Qingqing thanked the old man warmly. He smiled kindly and rode off.

…

The sun had begun to set.

Su Qingqing returned to the Su household with her still-sleeping younger brother in her arms.

Old Madam Su and Li stared at the two siblings as if they’d seen ghosts.

Li stammered and stepped forward. “Are you… human or ghost?”

Su Qingqing didn’t even bother glancing at them. She carried her brother back to their small, dark room. Seeing he hadn’t stirred, she let him sleep.

Outside the door, Li and Old Madam Su deliberately lowered their voices:

“Mother, didn’t we give that little wench knockout powder and throw her in the mountains to be wolf food?”

“How is she back now? And she even brought that brat Su Zijin!”

Old Madam Su’s narrow eyes gleamed with venom.
“Hmph, what’s there to fear? If we could get rid of her once, we can do it again. A little troublemaker like her won’t change anything.”

“But Mother! Don’t forget—she’s good at embroidery. She’s helped us earn quite a bit over the years!”

“Hmph, I nearly forgot,” Old Madam Su sneered. “I thought she’d die for sure, so I tossed her to the wolves. But if she’s still alive, then she’s worth keeping—for now.”

Her eyes flickered with calculation.
“She’s close to you. Keep coaxing her.”

Inside, Su Qingqing had heard most of the conversation.

Maybe it was the lightning strike, but her senses had become sharper.

Heh… they really did give me knockout powder… and now they want me to keep earning money for them?

Perfect.

She made another mental note in her imaginary little notebook.

After a quick wash, she sat on the wooden bed.

She had promised her parents she’d live well, and that she would help the original owner take care of her brother and find their parents.

Looking at little Su Zijin sleeping on the bed, her eyes softened.

When she was eating noodles earlier, she’d remembered that her father in this world—Su Wenyuan—had the same name as her father in modern times.

Could it be a coincidence… or something more?

The thought made her heart race.

What if… what if it’s really him?

She was determined to find Su Wenyuan.

But—

According to memory, Liu Yue disappeared after giving birth to Su Zijin six years ago. Su Wenyuan raised him until age one, then left to search for Liu Yue. Before he left, he entrusted the siblings to his mother, Old Madam Su, and left fifty taels of silver.

It had been five years—and he never returned.

At this thought, Su Qingqing felt lost.
She didn’t know whether her father was still alive or not.