At last, the banquet was over.
Zhaodi was given a beautiful room in an elegant pavilion. She gently touched the smooth silk fabric, put the jeweled hairpin in her hair, and admired herself in the bronze mirror. She could not help feeling excited.
She was a transmigrator, and she was so beautiful.
She was surely the main heroine of this world.
Her existence had an important purpose.
She did not want to replace Song Li, but she had no choice.
Because she believed she was carrying out Heaven’s will.
…
Late at night, around the third watch, Song Yannian lay on his bed without changing his clothes when Deputy General Liang came to report.
“General, just as you expected, the Charity Hall caught fire in the middle of the night. Someone poured tung oil and started the fire. The flames spread quickly, and before long the whole place was burned down.”
“Luckily, we arrived in time and rescued all the children. There were twelve boys and twenty girls. Only four of them suffered minor injuries.”
“I’ve already sent them to Shuoyang. The boys joined the army, and the girls will sew shoe soles.”
Song Yannian was speechless.
“…Did you ask what they wanted?”
Deputy General Liang nodded.
“Of course. I told them that since they had nowhere to go, they might as well serve the country.”
“None of them objected. They all agreed.”
Song Yannian was silent again.
Forget it.
“Did you see who started the fire?”
“No. They used a flaming arrow to ignite the oil. By the time we chased after them, the person had already escaped.”
Song Yannian nodded.
“For the next few days, keep a close watch on everything around us. Make sure Song Li is safe.”
Deputy General Liang’s eyes widened as he thought about the hidden meaning.
“General! Do you mean… Song Li is actually…”
Song Yannian could not explain the truth directly.
“It’s only a guess. Song Li’s poisoning was too suspicious. Both girls are good children. We cannot wrongly accuse either of them, so we’ll investigate in secret.”
“That’s true,” Deputy General Liang agreed. “One girl is kind, and the other is strong and determined. It would be great if they were both your daughters.”
“General, think again. Maybe you forgot one child?”
“Go, go!”
Song Yannian quickly waved him away.
…
After resting for three days, Song Li had finally recovered.
During those days, Zhaodi came several times to visit her, but Song Hailan always found a way to send her away.
“She was poisoned and caught a cold. What if she passes her illness to you? Little sister, you must get used to being the young lady of the family. If a servant gets sick, there are doctors. Why should you lower yourself to take care of them?”
“Come on. Brother will buy you some candy.”
Zhaodi was speechless.
Three bags of candy every day.
She even had to pretend she loved eating it.
At this rate, she would get diabetes sooner or later.
Finally, when Song Li recovered, Zhaodi came to visit her with two bags of osmanthus candy.
She still had more than ten bags of this candy.
“Song Li, you’re finally better. I brought your favorite candy.”
Song Li did not dare eat anything Zhaodi gave her. She simply placed the candy beside her pillow.
“Zhaodi, you’re so kind. You brought me out of the Charity Hall and even paid for my treatment. Just like you said before, ‘If one day we become rich and successful, we won’t forget each other.’ You really kept your promise. You’re truly my best friend.”
Zhaodi’s expression stiffened before she forced a helpless smile.
“Song Li, I’ve been very conflicted. Part of me wants to take you with me, but another part wants you to be free. So now I’ll officially ask you.”
“Are you willing to become a maid in the Song family?”
Song Li was about to answer, but Zhaodi raised a hand to stop her.
“Think about it for one day. There’s no rush. Listen to your heart.”
She gently hugged Song Li, looking extremely reluctant to part with her. She whispered into her ear.
“But remember one thing. If you enter the Song family, your life will belong to them. You won’t be able to decide your own future anymore. If the Song family wants you dead, you must die. If they order you to marry, you must marry.”
“Of course, they aren’t completely heartless. Under normal circumstances, since you don’t have any special skills, you’ll most likely become a foot-washing maid.”
Song Li was shocked.
“What? The Song family wants me to wash people’s feet?”
【Or is it YOU who wants me to become a foot-washing maid?】
【You won’t be happy until I’m dead, is that it?】
【So this is the kind, innocent, cheerful heroine described in the novel? I’m speechless.】
“Shh…”
Zhaodi pinched Song Li hard on the waist.
“Keep your voice down!”
There were four guards standing outside the door.
Song Li covered her mouth and quietly said,
“I don’t want to be a foot-washing maid. I… I can chop firewood, fight, and light fires. I know how to do many things. Could you ask your father to make an exception for me?”
The words “your father” pleased Zhaodi.
She stopped trying to frighten Song Li. Standing proudly in her new elegant dress, she finally looked somewhat like a noble young lady.
“Fine. Think about it carefully.”
“It’s better to rely on yourself than on other people or Heaven. I don’t know how long I can protect you.”
“We’ll return to the capital tomorrow. Give me your answer before we leave.”
After Zhaodi left, Song Li rested her chin on her hands and quietly thought things over.
Suddenly, the door creaked open.
She looked up and saw Song Hailan walking in.
During the past few days, the three men of the Song family had visited her often.
She guessed that her impressive first meeting with them had worked. Even though Zhaodi had shown the family token, the Song family had still developed a good impression of her.
“Big Brother Song, why are you here?”
Because they had saved her life, she had gradually become less guarded. In front of the Song family, she acted like a gentle girl next door.
Song Hailan frowned.
He had been lying on the roof and had heard every single word Zhaodi said.
That fake daughter was becoming too bold.
She actually dared say such things to his real little sister behind their backs.
Looking at Song Li’s small, lonely, and helpless figure, his heart ached.
But he still could not tell her the truth.
The three of them had already agreed not to let Song Li know they could hear her inner thoughts.
People already faced countless restrictions in life.
Their thoughts were the only place where they could be completely free.
If Song Li learned that others could hear her thoughts, then in the future, whenever she felt wronged or had private thoughts, she would not even dare think freely anymore.
Song Hailan poured himself a cup of tea and drank it before carefully speaking.
“The Charity Hall has already been destroyed. You have nowhere else to go.”
“Why don’t you come back to the Song family with us?”
Song Li made a troubled face.
“But I don’t want to sell myself to the Song family. And I definitely don’t want to kneel and wash other people’s feet.”
Song Hailan took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress the urge to tear Zhaodi into pieces.
“You’re Zhaodi’s friend. Why would we ever humiliate you like that? You’re thinking far too badly of the Song family.”
“I’m sorry. I know you’re all good people. I just mean… I don’t have any special skills. I don’t know what I could do there.”
【If I go to the Song family, Zhaodi will definitely find a way to make me become a foot-washing maid.】
【But if I stay here, that mysterious person will simply kill me.】
【What should I do?】
【Sigh… Life is so difficult.】
Song Hailan could not help taking her hand.
She was only eight years old, yet her palms were covered in calluses, and the backs of her hands were rough and full of small cuts.
“I actually came to discuss this with you.”
“I have a good feeling about you. Why don’t you become my personal maid?”
If he accepted her as his adopted sister, he could not stay by her side all the time.
But if she became his personal maid, he could protect her every day.
Wherever he went, his little sister would go too.
She would become his little shadow.
Hehe… Just thinking about it sounds fun.
Song Li’s eyes lit up.
“Really? But I don’t know anything. I don’t even know what a personal maid does.”
Song Hailan gently patted her shoulder.
“You don’t really have to do anything.”
“Just stay beside me.”
“When I practice writing, you can practice writing too.”
“When I practice martial arts, you can practice with me.”
“When I eat, you can eat with me.”
“That’s about it.”
【…】
【You don’t expect me to sleep beside you too, right?】
【Oh my goodness.】
【Why do I feel like my brother has fallen for me?】
【We’re brother and sister!】
【And I’m only ten years old!】
“Ahem… cough!”
Song Hailan quickly interrupted her wild imagination.
“Once you’ve learned enough, you can return to Zhaodi’s side.”
“I know you like being with her.”
The moment Song Li heard the name “Zhaodi,” she immediately became clear-headed.
【Becoming Song Hailan’s personal maid is the best choice right now.】
【It’ll keep me alive, and I can secretly make Zhaodi’s life difficult whenever I get the chance.】
“Okay! Big Brother Song—no, Second Young Master. I agree! From now on, I’ll be your personal little maid.”
Song Hailan let out a sigh of relief.
Finally, that was settled.
Still, this little girl had some very strange ideas.
He would have to properly correct her thinking.
“Although Song Haiming is an adopted son, he’s the eldest young master.”
“I’m the second son.”
“So just call me Second Young Master.”
“When other people are around, call me Young Master.”
“When we’re alone, call me Big Brother.”
“I truly see you as my little sister, just like Zhaodi.”
“Don’t overthink it.”
“Your monthly salary will be ten taels of silver.”
“If you do well, you’ll receive extra rewards.”
“You don’t have to sign a contract selling yourself.”
“You don’t have to wash anyone’s feet.”
“And you definitely don’t have to kneel while serving others.”
“If you have any other requests, tell me now.”
Song Li shook her head.
“That’s more than enough.”
【More than enough? This is incredibly generous!】
【In TV dramas, maids only earn a few hundred copper coins a month, but Big Brother is giving me ten taels of silver!】
【And I don’t even have to sign a contract selling myself!】
【Looks like we really do have a tiny bit… or maybe a huge bit… of sibling fate.】
【Big Brother, don’t worry. As long as I’m here, I’ll make sure you survive the deadly disaster that’s coming one year from now.】