The half-open door was knocked upon. The Sixth Prince stood outside, wanting to enter yet hesitating, and could only stand there asking, "I saw Bao Xia bringing food. Has Sister Hua Zhi woken up?"
"I'm awake, come in." Hua Zhi propped herself up with Bao Xia's support and smiled at the worried Little Six. "It seems the injuries aren't serious."
"Yes, just minor wounds." Though the skin was broken and it hurt, compared to Sister Hua Zhi's injuries, his could only be considered minor. The Sixth Prince bit his lip, not daring to imagine how upset Berlin would be if he found out. Berlin's greatest wish was to grow taller and older quickly so he could share his elder sister's burdens and make her life easier. Yet Sister Hua Zhi had suffered such severe injuries while he was unable to protect her...
"Little Six."
The Sixth Prince hurriedly responded.
"Don't mention this to anyone after we return, especially not Berlin."
The Sixth Prince suddenly felt extremely distressed. "Berlin definitely wouldn't want you to keep this from him."
"I don't want to add to his burdens." Hua Zhi sighed, refusing Bao Xia's offer to feed her and stirring the steaming medicinal cuisine herself. A ten-year-old child already carried enough pressure as it was. "Don't tell him."
"...Yes."
Only then did Hua Zhi smile and begin eating slowly, spoonful by spoonful.
After eating, she felt much more energetic. Having slept too much earlier, she couldn't fall asleep again immediately. Hua Zhi read a few pages from military strategy books before hearing voices outside that sounded like Wu Xiaoshuang's. Putting down the book, she narrowed her eyes and said, "Bao Xia, let him in."
Bao Xia was secretly annoyed at Wu Xiaoshuang's thoughtlessness. Didn't he know the young lady was injured? What matter needed discussing now? Though she had previously held a good impression of the boy, she now glared at him several times.
Wu Xiaoshuang kept his head lowered, feeling deeply distressed. He knew his elder sister was watching and listening through a crack in the nearby door, yet she hadn't come out to speak even half a word in his defense, just like countless times before, leaving him to face the situation alone.
One matter piled upon another until it chilled the heart.
Smelling the medicinal aroma, Wu Xiaoshuang thought, this is the last time. Truly the last time.
Silently, Wu Xiaoshuang knelt before the bed, placed ten taels of silver in front of him, and bowed to the ground, his voice trembling as he said, "My elder sister is unwilling to leave our hometown. I beg the young lady to grant her wish."
Hua Zhi's lips curved slightly. "Since it's your sister who wants to stay, why are you the one pleading? Do you wish to stay too?"
"I would give anything to leave, but my sister is timid..."
"Has it always been like this? You solve all her problems while she reaps all the benefits?"
Wu Xiaoshuang's heart ached even more, biting his lip tightly without speaking.
Hua Zhi looked up. "Bring Wu Dashuang here."
Bao Xia quickly left and soon returned, practically forcing in Wu Dashuang who seemed to take two steps back for every step forward.
Wu Dashuang instinctively knelt half a step behind her brother, as if trying to hide completely behind his not-any-stronger frame, too timid and cowardly to utter a single word.
Hua Zhi understood - this was likely how the siblings usually interacted, no wonder Shaoyao disliked her so much.
"Xiaoshuang says you wish to stay."
The whispered "yes" was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz. Bao Xia's stare made her even more fearful, and she shifted closer to Wu Xiaoshuang."Given your actions, I could directly sell you off." Watching her look up in panic, Hua Zhi continued, "But I have high hopes for Xiao Shuang. For his sake, I'll grant you your freedom, provided you agree to one condition."
Wu Dashuang's eyes filled with hope, thinking she would agree to any condition.
Hua Zhi curled her lips into a faint smile. "From now on, you must have no further contact with Wu Xiaoshuang, including letters, and you must sever your sibling relationship."
Wu Dashuang was taken aback and instinctively glanced at her brother.
Wu Xiaoshuang also looked at her, a faint glimmer in his eyes.
Wu Dashuang turned away and nodded without much hesitation. "I agree."
Wu Xiaoshuang closed his eyes, turned his head back, and bowed to the ground without another word.
"Bao Xia, draft a contract for her to seal with her fingerprint."
Bao Xia cast a disdainful glance at Wu Dashuang—someone like her wasn't worthy of staying by the young lady's side. The Hua residence wasn't a place just any stray cat or dog could enter.
Wu Dashuang pressed her fingerprint without hesitation, her hands trembling as she received her deed of sale. She was free, no longer a servant.
Bao Xia unceremoniously shooed her away, and for a moment, the room fell silent.
"Xiao Shuang, can you bear to let her go?"
Wu Xiaoshuang replied hoarsely, "This humble one can bear it."
Hua Zhi looked at the guarantee in her hand and motioned for Bao Xia to bring it to Wu Xiaoshuang. "Truthfully, even if she hadn't agreed to this condition, I would have let her leave. I have no regard for someone like your sister. Keep this document. Look at it when you feel soft-hearted. You should be grateful you parted in this manner. Otherwise, if you ever faced mortal danger, she would abandon you without a second thought and flee as far as she could. You may leave."
Hua Zhi leaned back to make herself more comfortable. If Wu Dashuang had refused the condition, she would have handed her over to the Xia family for Xiao Shuang's sake. With the Xia family's protection, her future would have been secure.
But she had no desire to bother with such a heartless person. Whether she lived or died, or what became of her, would be left to fate. Still, selfish people often managed to fare well.
Outside, Wu Dashuang waited for her brother. She had hidden the silver on her person and had nothing to pack—even the clothes she wore had been provided by Bao Xia later. Not daring to approach, she waved vigorously when she saw Xiao Shuang emerge.
Wu Xiaoshuang stood still, watching her quietly for a moment before walking over.
Wu Dashuang grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the inn. Only when she saw no one was following did she whisper excitedly, "I told you the young lady would agree! Xiao Shuang, are you sure you won't stay? If you begged, she would surely agree too."
"If that's all you have to say, I'm going back."
Wu Dashuang belatedly noticed her brother's displeasure and quickly realized why. She shook his hand, acting like a younger sister coaxing an older brother. "Oh, Xiao Shuang, how can you be so silly? Just because she said we're no longer siblings, does that make it true? How could it be? When there's a chance, I'll come to the capital to find you..."
"No need." Wu Xiaoshuang looked at the familiar face, now brimming with laughter, but felt an inexplicable sense of strangeness in his heart. "Don't come to the capital to find me. I won't see you. Wu Dashuang, from now on... take care of yourself. With that silver, your life shouldn't be too hard."After one last glance at her sister from whom she had never been parted, Wu Xiaoshuang turned and left, never looking back no matter how Wu Dashuang called after her.
Their sibling bond ended here. He had given her his all without any debt remaining. From now on, they would each walk their own separate paths.
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