Someone knocked at the half-open door. The Sixth Imperial Prince stood outside — wanting to enter but not quite daring to — and could only stand there and ask, “I saw Bao Xia bringing food — does that mean Older Sister Hua has woken up?”

“I’m awake. Come in.” Hua Zhi borrowed Bao Xia’s support to sit halfway up, and looking at Little Six’s worried face, she smiled. “Your injuries don’t look too serious.”

“They aren’t — minor wounds.” Though skin had been broken and it did ache, compared to Older Sister Hua it truly could only be called minor. The Sixth Imperial Prince bit his lip, not daring to think about how heartbroken Bailin would be if he found out. Bailin’s greatest wish was to grow taller quickly, to grow up quickly, so he could take responsibility off his older sister’s shoulders and give her an easier life — yet Older Sister Hua had suffered such serious injuries in a place beyond his reach…

“Little Six.”

The Sixth Imperial Prince quickly answered.

“When we return, don’t breathe a word of this to anyone. Especially not Bailin.”

The Sixth Imperial Prince suddenly felt a heaviness he couldn’t shake. “Bailin would not want you to keep this from him.”

“I don’t want him to carry too much weight.” Hua Zhi sighed softly, not letting Bao Xia feed her, picking up the spoon herself and slowly stirring the steaming medicinal meal before her. A child not yet ten years old already bore pressure enough as it was. “Don’t say anything.”

“…Yes.”

Only then did Hua Zhi let a smile show. She began eating the medicinal meal, one spoonful at a time.

Having eaten, her spirits recovered somewhat. Having slept so much earlier, she could not fall asleep again right away. Hua Zhi had been reading a military strategy book for a few pages when she heard voices outside — it sounded like Wu Xiaoshuang. She set down the book, narrowed her eyes slightly, and said, “Bao Xia, let him in.”

Bao Xia was privately irritated at Wu Xiaoshuang’s lack of consideration — did he not know the young mistress had been injured? What matter was so urgent it couldn’t wait? She had been rather fond of the boy, yet now she shot him several sharp looks.

Wu Xiaoshuang only stood with his head lowered, feeling a quiet sadness. He knew his older sister was right there on the other side of the door, watching and listening through the crack — and yet she had not come out to say a single word on her own behalf, just as in countless instances before this, leaving him to charge ahead alone.

One grievance layered upon another, and eventually a heart would grow cold.

In the smell of medicinal herbs, Wu Xiaoshuang thought: this is the last time. This is the last time.

Without a sound, Wu Xiaoshuang knelt before the bed, placed ten taels of silver in front of him, then pressed his forehead to the floor, his voice trembling. “This servant’s older sister is unwilling to leave her hometown. This servant implores the young mistress to honor her wish.”

Hua Zhi tilted the corner of her lips slightly. “If it is your sister who wishes to stay, why are you the one here making the request? Do you also wish to stay?”

“This servant wishes with all his heart to leave. My sister is timid and easily frightened…”

“Has it not been this way countless times before? You solve every problem for her, and she enjoys every benefit.”

Wu Xiaoshuang felt the sadness in his chest deepen even further. He bit down hard on his lip and said nothing.

Hua Zhi raised her head. “Bring Wu Dashuang here.”

Bao Xia stepped out quickly, and before long she had practically herded the retreating Wu Dashuang — who for every step forward seemed to want to take two steps back — into the room. Wu Dashuang instinctively moved to stand half a step behind her brother, kneeling beside him, the picture of someone wanting to disappear into the shadow of a brother not even sturdier than herself. She huddled there, too timid and faint-hearted to utter a single word.

Hua Zhi saw the situation clearly. This was likely the pattern that had defined the siblings’ relationship for a long time. It was little wonder Shao Yao disliked her so.

“Xiaoshuang says you want to stay.”

A single “yes” so faint it barely beat a mosquito’s wing in volume. Bao Xia’s stare fixed on her made her even more frightened, and she shifted closer to Wu Xiaoshuang.

“Given how you’ve conducted yourself, I could simply have you sold off.” She watched her snap her head up in alarm, then continued: “But I think highly of Xiaoshuang, so I’ll give you this on his account — I’ll grant you your freedom. Only if you agree to one condition.”

Wu Dashuang’s eyes filled with desperate hope, her heart already saying she would agree to anything.

Hua Zhi curved the corner of her mouth. “From this day forward, you and Wu Xiaoshuang are to have no further dealings whatsoever — this includes correspondence. And you are to sever your sibling bond formally.”

Wu Dashuang stared blankly, then looked instinctively toward her brother.

Wu Xiaoshuang looked back at her too, a faint glimmer in his eyes.

Wu Dashuang turned her head away. Without much hesitation, she nodded. “I agree.”

Wu Xiaoshuang closed his eyes, turned his head back, and pressed his forehead to the floor. He said nothing more.

“Bao Xia, draw up a written contract — have her press her fingerprint to it.”

Bao Xia looked at Wu Dashuang with contempt. What kind of person did she think had the right to stay beside the young mistress? The Hua household was not a place any stray cat or dog could waltz into.

Wu Dashuang pressed her fingerprint to the contract with considerable readiness. When she received back the bond of servitude, her hands were trembling — she was free. She was no longer a servant.

Bao Xia lost no time in ushering her out. A moment of silence settled over the room.

“Xiaoshuang — can you truly let her go?”

Wu Xiaoshuang answered in a hoarse voice. “This servant… can.”

Hua Zhi looked at the guarantee in her hand, then gestured to Bao Xia to bring it to Wu Xiaoshuang. “In truth, even if she had refused that condition, I still would have let her leave. Someone like your sister is not someone I would keep. This — hold on to it. Look at it when your heart goes soft. You should count yourself fortunate that your separation happened this way. If instead you two were ever to face mortal danger, she would abandon you without a second thought and run as far as her legs could carry her. Go on.”

Hua Zhi settled back into a more comfortable position. If that Wu Dashuang had refused the condition, she had meant to hand her over to the Xia Family as a gesture of goodwill on Xiaoshuang’s behalf — with the Xia Family’s patronage, the woman would have been well provided for indefinitely.

But someone so utterly devoid of feeling — she had no wish to spend that effort. Whatever life Wu Dashuang made for herself from here on, good or ill, was a matter of her own fate. Selfish people, as a rule, tended to get by just fine.

Outside, Wu Dashuang had been waiting for her brother, the silver tucked safely against her body. She had nothing to gather — even the clothes on her back had been supplied later by Bao Xia — and she dared not walk too close. When she saw Xiaoshuang emerge, she waved at him with great energy.

Wu Xiaoshuang stood still and looked at her for a long while before walking over.

Wu Dashuang pulled him along as she ran out of the inn, and once she was sure no one had followed, she said in excited, hushed tones: “I knew the young mistress would agree. Xiaoshuang, are you really not staying? If you go ask, I’m sure she’d agree to that too.”

“If that’s what you wanted to say, then I’m heading back.”

Wu Dashuang realized belatedly that her brother was displeased, and guessed quickly at the reason. She shook his hand, the way a younger sister would coax an older brother. “Aiyo, Xiaoshuang, you’re so silly — just because she said we sever our sibling bond doesn’t mean we actually have to, does it? Of course not. When I have the chance, I’ll come find you in the capital…”

“Don’t bother.” Wu Xiaoshuang looked at the familiar face, those eyes and brows brimming with smiles, and felt a strange distance rise up inside him — where he had expected to find something familiar, he found a stranger instead. “You don’t need to come find me in the capital. I won’t see you. Wu Dashuang — take care of yourself from here on. With that silver to your name, life won’t be too hard.”

He looked one final time at the older sister who had never once been apart from him, then Wu Xiaoshuang turned and walked away. No matter how Wu Dashuang called after him, he did not once look back.

The tie between siblings had reached its end here. For her sake he had given everything he had — and he owed nothing. From this point forward, they would each walk their own road.