Chapter 1 The Younger Sister Comes Home

Qingqing(1) undressed,

1. An intimate nickname between husband and wife, usually used for couples who are intimate with one another.

The canopy bed’s red curtains overturned like waves in a river,

It was early spring, and the sun was shining brightly.

There was a carriage that halted in front of the Zhao residence’s gate inside Jinzhou City.

When Zhao Xingyuan appeared with a small baby girl covered in dust in his arms, standing in front of the Zhao residence, groups of servant girls and old maids of the inner courtyard were in an utter mess.

“This is my younger sister, Zhao Shuyu. Take care of her well.”

Zhao Xingyuan was finished speaking, and the corners of his mouth evoked a faint smile as he looked at the sleeping girl.

Everyone was startled by this flash of thunder, staring wide-eyed at the formal-speaking and conscientious Zhao Xingyuan.

The Zhaos were a renowned family inside Jinzhou City. It was not because of their ancestors’ virtue, rather, it all depended on the Zhao family’s eldest son, Zhao Xingyuan, who had gone into business at an early age and did trade with extremely beautiful commodities, thereby stabilizing the originally defeated Zhao family that was easily tossed about by the wind and rain.

In just a few years of hard work, the Zhao family had settled its footing in Jinzhou City, making connections with local noblemen one after another, basking in their moment of fame and power.

The people of Jinzhou knew that the Zhao family’s eldest son, Zhao Xinyuan, was talented and brilliant, swift and decisive, a ruthless hand, but was also a cold-hearted, unfeeling man.

The eldest son had been away on business for many years, but he suddenly brought a girl home. Everyone couldn’t help but look at each other with dismay, all of them secretly wondering, ‘Could the eldest son have brought over his illegitimate daughter?’

Although they say it was his younger sister, those at the Zhao residence had never seen other parents from the older generation, only a distant relative with the Gao family dwelling in Jinzhou City, but this couldn’t be a child of the Gao family.

Everyone was bewildered, but the eldest son’s words were golden. If he said that she was his younger sister, then she was his younger sister. How could the people below him freely comment on this matter?

As the wet nurse was about to take the small girl, after coaxing her for a bit, she was all of a sudden, mesmerized by the beauty brought by the young girl’s countenance.

Her small pink face, her long eyelashes, her large pair of grape-shaped eyes, opening them as they spun around and without a tear or fuss in sight.

This baby was truly like a jade doll as if she were meticulously carved from precious jade, making people’s hearts grow fond of her with just a look.

The wet nurse couldn’t help but think that if she was raised by the young masters of the Zhao family while also having an exquisite appearance, one day, she would surely become a sought-after beauty.

The more the wet nurse gazed at her, the more she loved this girl in her arms. Truly, this baby was able to move people’s hearts, making them cherish and love her deeply. It was no wonder that the eldest son, who had a heart of stone, was also swayed.

Zhao Xingyuan said a few words before hurriedly departing from the Zhao residence due to being busy with other matters.

The wet nurse smiled and turned around, carrying the small girl back to the house to feed her. After enjoying the bustling scene, the servants all quickly scattered.

At this moment, the five-year-old Zhao Xifan and the six-year-old Zhao Muqing slowly walked towards the courtyard wall.

After eavesdropping behind the wall, a younger sister had unexpectedly arrived. Contrary to what one might expect, the two young masters were cool-headed and especially mature for their age, appearing calm in the face of change.

“Second brother, did you hear that? A younger sister has been added to our family. It looks like I have another interesting toy.”

A ray of evil intentions flashed before Zhao Xifan’s eyes as he raised his long and narrow eyebrows, excitedly saying to Zhao Muqing.

“I’m not as bored as you. Our little sister is still a baby. If you scare her, you should be on the lookout for older brother’s questioning.” Zhao Muqing frowned from recalling the usual pranks of his third brother, immediately warning him. He didn’t have any time to waste on a baby of unknown origins.

Zhao Muqing was young but his temperament was cold, just like his older brother, Zhao Xingyuan.

Zhao Xifan saw how uninterested Zhao Muqing was of the baby, so he closed his mouth before snorting in a mocking tone, “Second brother is quite dull. Right now, that baby is still small, but when she grows up a little, she could run and jump to play. I don’t care about her now.”

Even though these words were said in this manner, Zhao Xifan would constantly run to Zhao Shuyu’s courtyard whenever he was free, shunning her left and right while also enjoying himself.