The Darker the Night, The Brighter the Stars

It was the fourth day since he appeared before her.

Zhao Yan was looking outside the window in a dazed manner. She realized that she was way too judgmental now that she knows his circumstances and upbringing.

Although she was less distrustful of him, she was unable to let go of the grievances she experienced when forced in bed by him. Still, she could not hold him accountable but that didn't mean she couldn't hate him.

She hugged herself when a cold breeze entered the room.

"My lady, why did you open the window? You're going to catch a cold!" Chun Lan nagged as soon as she saw her standing beside the window.

The fifteen-year-old girl huffed and closed the window.

"My lady, you know that you aren't supposed to let yourself get cold. It's not good for your health and for your baby."

"I'll ask the kitchen to make ginger soup." Jae Ha said upon hearing them.

"Oh, please do." Chun Lan said to the other girl before seriously looking at Zhao Yan. " Ah, my lady, really. You are already a grown woman and about to become a mother soon. Chun Lan is very worried!"

Zhao Yan laughed when she saw the girl's worried look directed at her. She was even younger than Zhao Yan but she was acting like an older sister figure while nagging.

"I'm fine. I know my body well."

Chun Lan's skeptical look made Zhao Yan laugh again.

"My lady, be honest. How old are you, really?"

"Chun Lan..." Zhao Yan tried to keep a straight face but the girl's serious look looked really funny so she couldn't help but smile.

"My real name is Li Zhao Yan but you already know that, right?" Zhao Yan asked and sat down.

Chun Lan didn't have to answer to verify.

"My lady, why did you come to this small town. I know that my lady is someone from a rich family but why did my lady chose to stay here? "

"That..." Zhao Yan hesitated.

"I am also interested. " A smooth voice sounded. Both Zhao Yan and Chun Lan raised their heads and looked at the tall figure wearing dark blue brocade with auspicious designs standing by the door.

Fu Yanqing was staring at Zhao Yan. She avoided his gaze nervously and looked at the closed window as if it was the most interesting thing there is.

Fu Yanqing's gaze then landed on Chun Lan. Upon seeing the cold stare, Chun Lan didn't delay and nervously made an excuse that she was going to check on the kitchen because it was time for lunch.

Zhao Yan tensed up when he approached her. Something heavy fell on her shoulders. She lowered her head down to look at the cloak lined with white fur around her shoulders.

A steady hand was clasping the buckle just below her chin.

"Hmm...Don't open the window again. The wind is cold today." He whispered towards her ear, only then did she realized that he was behind her.

"Okay..." Zhao Yan obediently mumbled. He patted her head affectionately before sitting down beside her.

"I told you my story. This prince is not expecting for you to reciprocate but this prince is still curious. "

Even though he said that he wouldn't ask her, either way, he was still saying it like she should tell him.

"I don't want to talk about it..." Zhao Yan chose to say. Half a year has passed since she left. Half a year of being free. The almost nineteen years she had spent trapped inside that place made her regret enduring everything.

She should have never been so foolish. Zhao Yan should have thought of running away much earlier.

In the first few weeks that she was alone and relying on herself, she would often ponder it at night... Just what was she?

Was she even a real family member to Prince Li's mansion?

The older brother she had loved and supported was only using her. Zhao Yan could still remember the inner shock and despair she felt when he and Wei Gao Xi left her alone with Tian Luo.

What if she was really a weak young miss who couldn't protect herself?

She couldn't believe her own brother didn't care about her reputation or innocence at all.

For a woman, it was very important to remain virtuous or pure. Otherwise, they'd be no different than a used rag. They wouldn't even be called human anymore.

She could understand Wei Gao Xi being completely uncaring. That woman has always been antagonizing Zhao Yan but Li Dabao...he was Zhao Yan's brother from the same mother.

And he didn't even glance back when he left her to fend for herself against Tian Luo.

He left her despite knowing what kind of character Tian Luo has.

Zhao Yan felt her eyes watering just by thinking about it. If she hadn't brought her needles with her... would she have been so lucky to avoid being ruined...?

Zhao Yan trembled uncontrollably.

A warm hand landed on her head, pressing her down to an equally warm and broad shoulder.

"Yanyan....I won't ask anymore. Don't cry. You do not have to tell me. This prince will not force you."

She buried her face on his shoulder and kept silent. She did this maybe because she was sympathizing towards his past experiences and could not help but trust him a little.

Although she didn't want to talk about her family, she couldn't really remain quiet about it forever.

It was also for her own good. Letting her frustrations out would help her relieve the burden. And it was only fair that he shares her side of the story. He was honest when told her about him so the least she could do was reciprocate.

She had nothing to lose by telling him since it's already been more than half a year when she freed herself.

"I have a brother." She began, making him tense up. Zhao Yan lifted her head to look at him.

He patted her head softly. "Continue."

Of course he knows that she has a brother... He collected every information about her but she was so discreet and low-key even as the fourth miss of a prince's mansion that there was only a few papers worth of information that were collected.

Well, they were still valuable information about his little woman so he memorized all of them including the names of all her relatives.

He had been surprised the most when he found out about her age. She was smaller than him and looked really young, he thought she was only fifteen or fourteen. If it weren't for her well-endowed chest, wide hips and narrow waist, he would have thought that with her adorable appearance she was...

He inwardly admonished himself yet again for thinking such perverse thoughts.

"As I said, I have a brother who is much older than me. I really love him a lot because he is my only brother and since young, we were taught to cherish him. Father said that my brother would be the one to carry the family's name..." Zhao Yan said softly.

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