Zhou Xiao Lian bit her lip as she looked at Qin Yining. She could see Qin Yining’s care and sincerity toward her, and finally nodded: “I, I will listen, to sister’s words.”

“Good.” Qin Yining smiled and said, “Then from now on, you must promise to always listen to sister’s words. After we go out, you’ll stay by my side. I’ll teach you to read and how to live in the outside world. You must also promise sister not to leave my side, alright?”

“Alright.” Zhou Xiao Lian nodded emphatically.

Qin Yining thought for a moment and said: “One must not forget their roots. From now on, you’ll be called Lian Xiao Zhou, okay?”

“Lian Xiao Zhou?” Zhou Xiao Lian widened her eyes. “Lotus seed porridge.”

Qin Yining said with mixed laughter and tears: “It’s the ‘lian’ meaning connection. If anyone asks you in the future, just say your surname is Lian, your father was a hunter in the mountains who has now passed away, and I encountered you by chance in the mountains and brought you out. Your name is Xiao Zhou, which is the Zhou from your original surname. Actually, sister just reversed your name.”

“Surname Lian, my surname is Lian. Father, was a hunter, I’m called, called Xiao Zhou, lotus seed porridge, lotus seed porridge is delicious, called lotus seed porridge.”

Qin Yining felt she was defeated by her.

This child had a deep obsession with lotus seed porridge.

But since she liked it, what was wrong with calling her Lian Xiaozhou?

The Northern Ji Kingdom had already perished, so Princess Yongfu no longer existed in this world, nor did the tyrant’s most beloved little princess Zhou Xiao Lian.

Those heavy memories from the past were like shackles for this child.

Since they had decided to start everything anew, taking a name unrelated to the past and letting her forget those memories might not be a bad thing for her.

“Alright then, from now on you’ll be called Lian Xiaozhou—Lian for connection, Zhou for porridge.”

Zhou Xiao Lian, who should now be called Lian Xiaozhou, nodded emphatically and smiled with crescent-shaped eyes.

Qin Yining smiled: “Alright, let’s eat first. After we’re full, sister will heat some water to give you a bath.” She had discovered a large wooden basin behind the house, which should have been specially prepared by “Uncle” before.

Lian Xiaozhou chewed the roasted sparrows that were perfectly salted and drank the rabbit soup, nodding repeatedly.

Qin Yining didn’t know how this child had lived all these years, but when the bath water was ready and the child got in, the water immediately turned completely black.

Just washing her hair took three large basins of water, not to mention scrubbing her body.

In any case, Qin Yining kept adding firewood to the earthen stove and continuously brought snow back. When the water in the basin became dirty, she would have Lian Xiaozhou wrap herself in her cloak and wait until she heated more water to continue washing.

After such commotion until the afternoon, a fair and tender beautiful child was standing before her.

Due to malnutrition, the nine-year-old child looked only seven or eight years old. Her hair was somewhat yellowed but very soft and smooth. Her face was white and tender, with a pair of round cat-like eyes that were moist and bright. When she smiled, her eyes became crescent-shaped, and she had a pair of small dimples on her pink cheeks just like Qin Yining’s.

If one didn’t know better, saying that Lian Xiaozhou was Qin Yining’s biological sister would probably be believed.

Qin Yining found several of “Uncle’s” single garments from the bundle and temporarily dressed Lian Xiaozhou in them, then wrapped her securely in her own lined jacket, letting her play in the house by herself. She then washed the clothes Lian Xiaozhou had originally worn from inside out until they were completely clean and hung them outside to dry, then thoroughly cleaned herself as well.

After finishing all this, it was already dark.

Qin Yining heated the rabbit soup, and the two ate together. Then Qin Yining used her five fingers as a comb to style Lian Xiaozhou’s hair.

The child’s hair was soft and smooth, very easy to manage. She braided two plaits for Lian Xiaozhou, removed the light blue silk ribbons decorating her skirt, and tied two beautiful butterfly bows at the ends of the braids.

Lian Xiaozhou happily played with her own hair, simply unable to put it down.

When sleeping that night, Lian Xiaozhou burrowed into Qin Yining’s arms, hugging her and refusing to let go, constantly saying: “Sister is good, I like sister.”

Qin Yining’s heart melted hearing this, and she became even more determined to keep her background completely secret and not allow anything that could threaten her safety to happen!

After another two days, Lian Xiaozhou’s clothes had dried completely. Qin Yining dressed her properly, then wrapped her in the cleaned animal fur. No longer afraid of the cold, Lian Xiaozhou took Qin Yining hunting in the mountains.

When Qin Yining and Lian Xiaozhou were active, she constantly observed the surrounding situation, checking whether anyone had left footprints, confirming that the pursuers hadn’t tracked to the vicinity. She used several trips outside to bring back the remains of “Uncle” and the other three Zhou Dynasty soldiers and buried them in the forest downwind behind the house.

“Xiaozhou, we should leave this place.”

This morning, Qin Yining solemnly said to Lian Xiaozhou: “Before leaving, I must burn everything here, along with all your past secrets, because I can’t let anyone have the opportunity to investigate your past.”

Lian Xiaozhou nodded. She had no objections. These days with Qin Yining had been very happy, and she knew Qin Yining truly cared for her.

Qin Yining then packed their belongings with Lian Xiaozhou.

Finally, Qin Yining burned the letter the tyrant had written to “Uncle.” Using the cleaver, she dug open the frozen earth at the corner of the wooden house, expending tremendous effort to dig a deep pit, buried the jade seal inside, then set the wooden house on fire.

Lian Xiaozhou held Qin Yining’s hand and pointed at the wooden house somewhat anxiously: “Sister, it’s on fire.”

“Yes. Don’t be afraid. The snow is heavy now. Although the fire will burn, it won’t destroy the entire forest. Moreover, I’ve observed that the wind has been blowing from the northwest recently. As long as we go upwind, the fire won’t reach us. Sister has been in the mountains for so many days—people outside must be looking for me. The bad people who wanted to capture me must have retreated by now. When sister’s family sees all this smoke, they’ll know I’m here. We just need to wait nearby.”

Lian Xiaozhou understood only half of this but still obediently nodded.

Qin Yining watched as the wooden house was completely engulfed in flames, and the forest where she had buried the four bodies also caught fire. Finally, she could feel somewhat at ease.

Although causing a mountain fire was very unfair to the small animals in the mountains.

But to save Lian Xiaozhou’s life, she had to destroy all evidence that could expose her past.

Including Uncle, including those three soldiers, including those military uniforms, that letter, and that jade seal.

The jade seal couldn’t be burned, and Qin Yining couldn’t possibly carry it with her.

If it wasn’t needed in the future, then letting the jade seal remain in this mountain forever wouldn’t be a bad thing.

If it was needed someday, finding the origin of this burned area wouldn’t be difficult—digging at the site of the wooden house would yield the jade seal.

Qin Yining had planned everything thoroughly, confirmed there were no omissions, then hid with Lian Xiaozhou.

At the same time, Pang Xiao, who had been leading people in searching these continuous mountains for five or six days, looked toward the direction of the rolling black smoke and could finally show a relieved smile.

“Huzi, fire the signal arrow. We’ve found her.”