66 The Siblings

It was a couple of days during Suyin's stay with Zhelan and Zheng An. Although Suyin mostly rested during this period, she had learned a couple of advice and help from Zhelan, who taught her poison remedies.

Zhelan, in return, had become interested in understanding herbal treatments from Suyin, who diligently gave him proper guidance from her mentor (Wansun) and her studies. Zheng An would come in the house only for a couple of hours and she would head out.

Suyin was thankful that the siblings had saved her, otherwise, she would have been dead. As Suyin slowly regained her strength, she would go outside of the little run-down home, sit down on an old wooden barrel at the side of the little house, and stare at the bright moon every night.

The run-down home was abandoned but was in decent shape. Although the walls seem old and dusty, it looked as if the siblings had taken good care of this home. There was a wooden gate surrounding the home, but most of the wood decayed due to age. Surrounding the home was a plain green grass field surrounded by trees that lined a path to the large, highly defensive walls of Shu Qin. West of this area leads to a large forest. One can barely see from afar because of the distance. Everything else was either grass fields or trees surrounding this area.

Suyin looked up at the moon, her hair falling against her right cheeks. She wore a simple light-blue hanfu, borrowed by Zhen An. On her right shoulder, embroidery of a white three-petal flower had reflected from the moon.

Suyin was there to take a breath of fresh air, but the cold breeze suddenly reminded her of Qin Fuhua.

How was he doing? Would Areum be fine without her, knowing she (Suyin) had disappeared?

Suyin couldn't leave right now, even if she wanted to. If she could, Suyin would leave and tell everyone else that she was fine. Her heart whispered to the moon, wishing that it would tell those that she held dear that she was alive and doing well.

Qin Fuhua's face suddenly popped out in her head. With her eyes closed, she imagined his warm embrace against her cheeks.

"Wait," Suyin whispered under her breath. She suddenly opened her eyes, feeling the cold wind brushing upon her face. The winds danced as the moon stared back at her as she snapped back to reality. "Why am I thinking of him?" Suyin began to slap her cheeks lightly, trying to wake herself up from a nonsense idea.

"Miss Suyin!" Zheng An called out from afar. Zheng An was riding a horse with a lantern attached to it so that she could see the pathway. Zheng An arrived upon the wooden, broken gates at the front. Suyin carefully walked to the front and greeted Zheng An.

Young and beautiful, Suyin believed that Zheng An could win the beauty pageant if she were to be in the present as well as Zhelan. Zheng An had long, beautiful black hair, although it was tied up in a high ponytail. Her eyes were sharp, her skin white as snow, and her lips red like a crimson phoenix. Zhelan, on the other hand, was a male, tall and slender, and white like snow just like his sister. He had long, beautiful hair, his hair was always down instead of a bun, and he looked fragile as if a single touch could hurt him.

Suyin smiled, walking towards Zheng An, who was in a dark-red top and black pants. She was often dressed in clothing proper more for men (during this age) instead of a woman, although she had some just in case.

"How are you feeling?" Zheng An questioned, looking at Suyin's shoulders before taking a step back.

"I'm fine, how was the trip to Shu Qin?" Suyin asked.

"Nothing much, there's just the usual trades. I got some food for tonight though!" She grinned, showing Suyin meat packed in brown paper wrapped with a thick rope.

As the two were going to head inside the house, they heard a crowd of horses' footsteps from afar, as if a large party was on their way to Shu Qin. A large announcement was made, on the way to the walls of Shu Qin.

"The young Princess is arriving at Shu Qin!"

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