Chapter 44: Qiu Yatou [Volume 2: The Sickly Child who died Young]

“My dear, your two younger sisters will be returning to the village.”

“Third Girl won a battle, and Second Girl has earned the title of Tanhua. From now on, our family will finally live good days, and your illness will get better too.” Hua Lian gently wiped the hand of the person lying on the bed with a piece of coarse cotton cloth.

The owner of that hand slowly propped herself up. A waterfall of black hair cascaded down her back, covering parts of her thin frame.

“Mother, I can wipe myself.” Liu Qiu lowered her long, straight lashes and pressed her other hand lightly over Hua Lian’s sun-darkened, rough hand.

Hua Lian smiled. “Alright, Qiu girl can wipe herself.” She released the cloth.

Liu Qiu moved very slowly. After carefully cleaning each of her fingers, she handed the cloth back. “Mother, I’m done.”

Hua Lian washed the cloth in a wooden basin. The wrinkles on her face made her look older than her years. “Today, your father and I picked out a long dress for you in town. Qiu girl, try it on later.”

“When Second Girl returns, the commotion will be huge. Qiu girl must dress beautifully and go out to let the villagers see. You’re the Tanhua’s elder sister.”

Liu Qiu coughed softly and sat on the edge of the bed. Her skin was pale, her chin sharp, her lips holding only the faintest trace of color. “Mother, I don’t want to go to the village. The villagers don’t like me.”

Hua Lian hung the washed cloth on a rack and came over, smoothing Liu Qiu’s curled hair. “No one will dare dislike you now.” Because of her hair, Qiu girl had once been treated like a foreigner by the villagers, and their family had been forced to move to the very edge of the village.

But ever since Second Girl passed the imperial examination and became a xiucai, the villagers began fawning over them. Hua Lian had kept them all outside, afraid of disturbing Qiu girl.

It was after picking up Qiu girl that she became pregnant. Only then did her children grow up so promising.

Hua Lian’s eyes were full of tenderness. “Don’t you believe Mother anymore?” Though Qiu girl was the eldest, her body was the weakest. Compared to the other two girls, she was far more fragile, so Hua Lian loved her most.

“Qiu girl, I’ll fetch your clothes. If you feel unwell, lie down properly.”

Liu Qiu nodded. After Hua Lian left, she rose and walked to the window, looking out at the simple courtyard.

Beyond the bamboo fence lay lush green mountains, and the air was fresh with every breath.

In this world, she was no longer nearsighted. Truly, one had to protect their eyes well.

[System, this place is beautiful,] Liu Qiu praised.

The system was playing a game but still replied: [It really is. An environment that hasn’t been polluted looks like this.]

Liu Qiu sat on a chair facing the window, letting the sunlight warm her.

She summoned the task panel and examined it carefully.

[You were sickly since childhood. To keep you alive, your family found a woman to marry you to dispel misfortune. But on the very first day she married into your family, you died.]

[Did you think your family would blame the woman? No. Your sisters fell madly in love with her. Unfortunately, you did not completely disappear. You became a ghost, watching every day as your wife and your sisters entangled themselves together.]

[Ding! Plot has begun. Please complete the storyline.]

[Main mission: Obtain Green Hat Value (0/100).]

[Attention! Honorable Performer, do not let anyone discover you are an outsider~]

The system had brought her here a little early. It was not yet time for the marriage plot.

Inheriting all the original host’s memories, Liu Qiu analyzed that the original owner had been timid, yet two-faced.

She envied her two healthy younger sisters.

In front of the Liu couple, she acted weak and pure. In private, she was sharp-tongued and cruel toward her sisters.

This character would be somewhat difficult to portray.

Fortunately, she would die soon. That was far easier than the previous world.

The Liu couple treated the original host very well, but in the plot, her death was inevitable. She only hoped they would not be too heartbroken when the time came.

Hua Lian brought her a new dress, a light blue ruqun.

Liu Qiu did not refuse her kindness. She changed into it, though just the act of removing and putting on the dress left her slightly breathless.

The original body was truly frail. Sudden death would not be surprising.

Her skin was too pale. Her black curls flowed down her back, the stark contrast of black and white creating an almost burning, absurd beauty.

Hua Lian sighed in admiration. “Qiu girl is prettier than a lotus.” She could not read or write, had never attended school. Comparing her to a flower was the highest praise she knew.

Liu Qiu lowered her head slightly. “Thank you, Mother.” She had seen her own reflection. The features were still hers, but perhaps to suit the character, a mole had appeared at the corner of her eye.

Her originally innocent eyes were now tinged with something else.

At that moment, a rough voice sounded outside. “A Lian! Third Girl is back!”

Hua Lian’s face lit up with joy. “Third Girl is back. Qiu girl, do you want—”

“Or you can rest first. I’ll have Third Girl come see you.”

Liu Qiu’s chest itched and she could not help coughing. “Mother, go ahead. I’ll rest.”

Hua Lian nodded and hurried out.

Liu Qiu sighed, removed the long skirt, and lay back down in simple white inner garments.

She let down the bed curtains and closed her eyes, planning to rest. In the previous world she had been nearsighted. In this world she was weak. Would there ever be a healthy body for her?

Liu Huang suddenly tightened the reins. The fierce horse beneath her neighed loudly, its front hooves rearing high.

Her black hair was tied in a high ponytail, swaying through the air. Dressed in red with black hair flowing, long brows framing phoenix eyes that burned brightly, a bold smile curved her lips. Youthful and unrestrained, she radiated unstoppable sharpness.

Liu Huang dismounted cleanly and bowed to Hua Lian and her husband, Liu Tieniu. “Mother, Father, I’m back.”

Hua Lian looked at Liu Huang, now taller than herself, tears glistening in her eyes. She grasped her daughter’s hand and examined her carefully. “It’s good that you’re back. Good.”

“You’ve grown taller. And darker.”

Liu Tieniu was not good with words, but his eyes were also red. “Third Girl must be tired. Come inside and eat something.” Liu Huang had left to join the army at fifteen. Five years had passed. Now she was taller than him.

In Li Kingdom, both men and women could join the army and take imperial examinations. One daughter excelled in letters, the other in martial arts. Truly, their ancestors must be blessing them.

Liu Huang followed her parents into the simple main hall and patiently recounted her experiences over the years.

She had ridden back at full speed alone, which was why she arrived a day early.

“Father, Mother, His Majesty granted me a residence. When Elder Sister returns, we’ll bring you both to the capital.”

Hua Lian smiled and shook her head. “You child, have you forgotten your Sister Qiu?”

“Your Sister Qiu has been thinking of you. Go to the small room on the right and see her.”

“You haven’t seen each other in five years. Your Sister Qiu is very beautiful now.”

Liu Huang’s smile did not change. “Since Mother says so, I’ll go see Sister Qiu.” The sickly one still hasn’t died.

Five years had passed. It seemed their parents liked Liu Qiu even more now.

She did not like Liu Qiu. A two-faced wretch, feeding off their parents while showing no gratitude.

Back then she had been young and unable to expose Liu Qiu’s true face. Now things were different.

If Liu Qiu dared bully her again, she would make sure the sickly girl suffered.

Besides, how good could a skeleton wrapped in skin really look?

At this moment, Liu Qiu had no idea that the long-absent younger sister of the original host was approaching her room.

She was not asleep. Opening her eyes simply made her feel exhausted. For her now, the most comfortable thing was lying in bed and emptying her mind.

The door creaked open, signaling someone had entered.

Liu Qiu slowly opened her eyes and yawned softly. Tears pooled in her eyes, making them clear and shimmering like spring water.

Had Mother come again?

She called softly, “Mother.”

A light laugh sounded outside. “Sister Qiu, I’m not Mother. Don’t call randomly.”

A young voice. Liu Qiu instantly recognized it. Third Girl, Liu Huang.

In the original host’s memories, she did not get along with her sisters. But because she was weak and good at acting pitiful, the Liu couple never suspected discord among them.

Now she was the original host. She would treat her sisters the same way the original host had.

Liu Qiu let out a cold laugh. “Who told you to come in? The air in this room has become dirty.”

The sharp words were exactly the same as five years ago. Revolting.

Liu Huang remained expressionless and stepped toward the window, staring at the white bed curtains. “Sister Qiu, I rushed back with great difficulty. Is this how you treat me?”

Her voice was close now. Liu Qiu felt nervous. According to Hua Lian, Liu Huang practiced martial arts. Please don’t hit her out of anger.

Liu Qiu sneered. “What are you pretending for? Don’t you hate me just as much?”

Liu Huang replied calmly, “Sister Qiu, I forgot to tell you. Mother is right behind me.”

The movement behind the curtain froze. Then a foot shot out and accurately kicked her knee.

“Get lost! Mother didn’t come in at all!”

Liu Huang lowered her gaze to the delicate foot pressed against her knee and narrowed her eyes slightly.

The sickly girl’s courage had grown. She dared kick her directly now.

But the foot was beautiful—round, neat toes, nails trimmed like tiny crescents, the tips flushed faint pink, lines smooth and slender with a fragile elegance.

Liu Qiu felt guilty. She had only meant to gesture to show her bad temper, not actually kick.

As she tried to withdraw her foot, a firm grip seized her ankle. The rough, heated palm made her skin tingle. Her toes curled instinctively.

Realizing what was happening, Liu Qiu struggled. Her voice rose, but years of illness had left her weak; even shouting sounded feeble. “You! Let go of me!”

Liu Huang laughed mockingly. “Sister Qiu, do you still think I’m fifteen?” Back then all the meat in the house went to this sickly girl, leaving her and her twin smaller than their peers. Now things were different.

The once tall Liu Qiu now seemed pitifully small. Her ankle was so thin it seemed it might break with a squeeze.

After struggling for a while, Liu Qiu grew tired. This body was not suited for any intense movement.

Still, she maintained professional dedication. No fatigue showed on her face, even though the bed curtain concealed her.

But the grip on her ankle tightened, lifting her leg higher. Pain flashed across her face as she abruptly sat up and flung the curtain aside.

A faint fragrance wafted out. Liu Huang’s grip tightened further.

“I told you—” Liu Qiu’s words caught in her throat when she saw the tall, long-legged Liu Huang before her.

In the original host’s memory, Liu Huang and Liu Feng, the twins, had been skinny and short. How had Liu Huang grown into such a tall, striking beauty in five years?

Liu Huang forced Liu Qiu’s knee against her chest and leaned down with a wicked smile. “Sister Qiu, what should you call me?”

Her body loomed over Liu Qiu completely. Liu Qiu averted her gaze, clutching her sleeve. “I said take your filthy hands off me!”

Liu Huang was no longer the ignorant girl from before.

The sickly one was clearly frightened yet still pretending. Ridiculous.

Mother had not lied though. The sickly girl was indeed beautiful.

Skin white as snow, yet the corners of her eyes faintly red, making the mole there appear even more vivid. Her thin body wrapped in white clothing revealed only slender collarbones. Her black curls resembled those of foreign tribes seen on the battlefield, giving her an exotic beauty.

Her face looked weak and harmless, even her eyes drooping innocently. Yet the mole at the corner of her eye and the irritation in her brows gave her a vivid, almost decadent charm that stirred darker impulses.

Liu Huang’s gaze remained emotionless, but her hand never loosened.

She had said it before. If Liu Qiu dared bully her again, she would not let her off easily.

She pressed Liu Qiu down onto the bed. The overwhelming presence stunned Liu Qiu into momentary stillness.

Liu Huang’s fingers closed around her slender neck as she laughed softly. “Sister Qiu, you’d better not provoke me.”

“Your medicine money was earned by my sister and me.”

Her calloused hand scraped against Liu Qiu’s skin, causing a sharp sting.

Liu Qiu flushed with anger and grabbed Liu Huang’s wrist, trying to pry it away, but it did not budge.

Tears welled in her eyes. “You brat! Let go!”

[Host! That was excellent acting!] the system praised enthusiastically.

Liu Qiu ignored it. This emotionally volatile persona clashed heavily with her real temperament. It required effort.

At that moment, Hua Lian’s voice sounded outside. “Third Girl, are you in your Sister Qiu’s room?”

Liu Huang withdrew her expression and simultaneously released her neck and ankle. The sickly girl truly had delicate skin. She had barely used force, yet her neck was already red.

Liu Huang stood up and flashed a bright smile. “Mother, I’m in Sister Qiu’s room.”

Liu Qiu lay half propped on the bed, glaring at Liu Huang. But the moment Hua Lian stepped in, her expression changed, pitifulness flooding her features.

“Mother, you’re here.”

Hua Lian hurried over, seeing the tears in her eyes. “Qiu girl, what’s wrong?”

Liu Qiu bit her lip. “Mother, Third Girl just…” She glanced at Liu Huang, lowered her lashes, and spoke softly. “She bullied me.”

Her hesitant look made Hua Lian turn to Liu Huang. “Third Girl, what happened?”

Liu Huang replied calmly, “Nothing, Mother. I just missed Sister Qiu and wanted to hug her.”

“She didn’t seem to like it.”

Hua Lian comforted Liu Qiu. “Qiu girl, Third Girl only wanted to be close. You haven’t seen each other in five years.”

Liu Huang’s smile widened slightly. Back then, Liu Qiu had used this exact method to get her scolded. Now she would not be so foolish as to simply say, “She bullied me,” like before.