Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight

Chapter 11 - Two Brothers

She grew up frail and sickly and couldn't even stand until she was three years old. Noble Consort Xie was also becoming more muddled as time passed. That year, feeding her medicine, Noble Consort Xie mistakenly overturned a cup of scalding tea on her. Yaoying, afraid of scaring Noble Consort Xie, did not dare to cry out, waiting for the maidservant to enter the room and help her clean up.

　　Later, she was left with a scar on her leg.

　　After Li Zhongqian knew about it, he took her to his side and took care of her personally.

　　At that time, Li Zhongqian was also a child himself. Obviously still rough and sloppy, but every day, he meticulously supervised and urged her to take medicine. Every day, he carried her to the courtyard to practice the Five Animal Exercises1, forcing her to eat those odd tasting tonics, and whenever the weather was cloudy, he'd give her additional clothes. He took the role of both father and mother, like a little old man.

Yaoying slowly grew up. Her health recovered a bit, and was able to leave her bed. In front of him, she was undisciplined and out of control, lively jumping and messing around. He could then relax a bit, gradually having the appearance of a teenager.

　　Then he went to war.

　　The Xie family's extermination, Noble Consort Xie's delirium; her barely nine-year-old brother with his immature shoulders had to bear all the pressure, to hold up a clear sky for her, so that she could grow up freely and without worries.

Two years later, for her, her eleven-year-old brother didn't hesitate to give up his scholarly pursuit for martial arts, picking up the pair of golden hammers he had sworn never to touch.

　　Her older brother treated her this well.

　　She couldn't watch her older brother get murdered by Li Xuanzhen.

　　He had never harmed anyone.

　　Thinking of what she saw in her dream, Yaoying's heart felt aggrieved and she gently took Li Zhongqian's arm.

　　Li Zhongqian was stunned then smiled.

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When Yaoying was small, she often coquettishly wrapped around Li Zhongqian in this way.

　　When he first brought her to his side, she was clever and quiet. Without speaking, she would blink and fixedly stare at him when was hungry or thirsty.

　　When he noticed her, she very cautiously called him: " Elder brother."

　　The voice was delicate and soft, unconsciously with a little fawning, afraid of disturbing him, afraid of annoying him.

　　He hadn't processed what she had said, and she kept looking at him quietly, waiting for him to ask her.

　　She was only three years old, and was so well behaved.

　　Li Zhongqian knew that Yaoying understood everything.

　　Her father, Li De, had never looked for her. Her mother, Xie shi, was sometimes crazy and sometimes foolish. She was sickly and fragile, and at a young age she knew how to discipline herself and not cause trouble. She could spend all day lying by herself in front of the window, looking at the garden scene.

She knew she couldn't walk, neither cried nor made a fuss. Whatever medicine you had her take, she would dutifully take, without crying that it was bitter.

　　Li Zhongqian didn't want his younger sister to be at home alone for the rest of her life, so he visited famous physicians all over the world to nurture her body.