"Are we almost there?" An impatient voice came from inside the carriage.
"Madam, we’re almost at the young master’s home. No need to worry; we’ll be there soon. I spent much effort and thoughts to gather accurate information and clues about Zhang Chen; there’s no way you’ll be unsuccessful this time," the coachman took the opportunity to show off.
"Rest assured, as long as you help me find my brother Zhang Chen, I’ll report to the Prince when we return and you’ll get your reward," the person inside the carriage promised.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chen looked at the carriage with surprise:
"A carriage? Such a distinguished person coming to this remote place?"
Seeing the grandeur of the carriage, Zhang Chen quickly stepped back to make way, not daring to bump into the person inside and cause unnecessary trouble.
For him, avoiding trouble is more important than facing it head-on; there’s no need to stir up unnecessary conflicts.
Zhang Chen wondered to himself, "This is really odd. Strange things keep happening in this small village. First, there were farmers crafting swords and armor, and now a distinguished guest has arrived. It’s getting stranger by the day."
Zhang Chen’s eyes gleamed with a golden light as he looked at the carriage. There was no aura emanating, indicating that the people inside were ordinary folks.
Zhang Chen stopped by the roadside to avoid the carriage, but when the carriage pulled up in front of his yard, the coachman suddenly pulled the reins, and the horses raised dust as they came to a halt, standing motionless as if magically frozen.
The coachman jumped down from the carriage and said respectfully to the curtain, "Madam, we’ve arrived."
The curtain was lifted, revealing a sweet face to Zhang Chen. At that moment, only one word crossed Zhang Chen’s mind: Sweet.
The lady might not be the most beautiful in the world, but she certainly exuded an extreme sweetness.
Moreover, her skin was very fair; it was somewhat dazzling under the sunlight.
A simple bun adorned her head, with a hairpin restraining her hair. Dotted with green gemstones, it added a touch of nobility.
"Which house is my little brother’s?" the lady asked.
Her voice was crisp, accompanied by a unique softness, somewhat akin to a dialect from future generations, very appealing.
"I don’t know, but there are only two households here. If we inquire, we’ll know which one," replied the coachman.
Upon hearing this, the lady swept her big eyes over the front, spotting Zhang Chen standing nearby. Her eyes suddenly glowed: "No need to inquire. I already know which house belongs to my little brother. In such an impoverished place, my brother stands out like a crane among chickens. I recognized him at first glance."
As she spoke, her gaze settled confidently on Zhang Chen. When Zhang Chen looked at the lady, he saw her wealth exuding grandeur, but the lady had the same reaction when she looked at Zhang Chen.
Previously mentioned, after shedding his skin, Zhang Chen’s complexion was snow-white without any blemishes, appearing as a pampered nobleman. His otherworldly aura made one unable to take their eyes off him.
Such a snow-white complexion, combined with this aura, cannot be nurtured by anyone but a wealthy family.
In such a poor place, aside from his own little brother, who else could possess such an aura?
"Little brother, I’ve finally found you. Ever since you left home and disappeared four years ago, I’ve been so worried," she said.
The coachman kneeled as a human stool, and the lady lightly stepped on him to alight from the carriage, landing gracefully on the ground. Dust swirled as she approached Zhang Chen with joyful steps.
"Little brother?" Zhang Chen was taken aback by the term, staring in a daze at the lady before him. A thought flashed through his mind: "Could she be my elder sister?"
Yet, the lady bore no resemblance to the elder sister he remembered.
But considering his elder sister had been away for years, leaving home without a word, it was possible she had changed. Perhaps she’d taken after their mother, whom Zhang Chen had never met.
Once Zhang Chen confirmed this was his estranged sister, his eyes reddened instantly, and he rushed forward to embrace her: "Sister~"
His voice was filled with grievance and closeness as they hugged, enveloped by a burst of fragrant scent.
The coachman glanced at Zhang Chen, furrowing his brow: ’Strange, though the young master is an illegitimate child, he’s not unlike the lord and madam at all.’
Holding Zhang Chen tightly, the lady’s tears flowed incessantly, choking her words, unable to speak from excitement.
After a bout of emotional crying, the lady finally regained her composure, patting Zhang Chen’s head: "Is this where you’ve lived for several years? Aren’t you going to invite me inside for a sit-down?"
Zhang Chen snapped out of his daze, realizing his neglect: "Sister is here; I got so excited that I forgot about it."
Opening the main door, Zhang Chen invited the lady in white into the yard.
Standing in the yard, the lady in white watched around the simple surroundings, tears welling up again, filled with heartache: "Living here for years must have been tough."
"Not tough at all. Just surviving here isn’t easy, so why talk about hardship?" Zhang Chen shook his head as he took a nearby stool to offer for the lady, but seeing the dirty stool and her luxurious attire, he hesitated a bit.
Noticing Zhang Chen’s predicament, the lady smiled softly, stepped forward to take the stool from him, sat gently, and said, "We’re siblings; don’t feel restrained. When I first left home, I wanted to send someone to fetch you upon hearing about you, but then something went wrong halfway. Fortunately, you’re alive, and I’m relieved."
Her gaze swept over Zhang Chen’s tattered clothing, causing tears to well up again: "You grew up in riches; when did you ever suffer like this?"
"I grew up in riches?" Zhang Chen was puzzled, shaking his head: "I’ve forgotten all about the past."
Upon hearing Zhang Chen’s words, the lady felt even more sympathy and quickly ordered, "Hurry up and move the things inside from the carriage."
Following her command, two men dressed in yellow descended from the carriage, carrying seven or eight food boxes, laying down a beautiful fur on the ground. They opened the boxes, displaying exquisite dishes one after another.
"Knowing you were hiding here, I reserved food at Huifeng Building for you. These are your favorite dishes from childhood, eighteen in total. Plus, your favorite snacks from Old Phoenix Hall, weighing thirty pounds. Also, there are eighteen rolls of silk, Bude Xiang shoes, ten pairs in various sizes, a sable coat, and numerous household items. I’ve brought it all for you. There’s stationery, ink, paper, and books—none missing." The lady’s eyes looked softly at him: "I’ve just established myself at Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, so I can’t take you with me for now. Stay here for a while. Give me two or three years, and once I’m firmly established, I’ll bring you to the Mansion and ask the Prince to find you a future."
The lady held Zhang Chen’s hand with a look full of self-reproach.
Zhang Chen felt bewildered, not knowing what his sister had gone through and how she’d become involved with the Prince’s Mansion.
Watching the silk, sable, clothing, and pastries getting moved into the house, Zhang Chen felt overwhelmed; it was too much.
"Sister, where did you go all those years? How did you..." Zhang Chen gestured at the items in the yard, unable to find words.
"Don’t ask. You’ll know what you need to know, and asking won’t help for things you shouldn’t know," she said humbly, then picked up chopsticks, placed a meatball in Zhang Chen’s bowl: "Try this; it used to be your favorite."