Wu Dynasty, Ming Village

Yue Calendendar

Wu - Zhuo War

3 weeks after the war

"My child is dying from hunger, how long do you want us to wait?! The village has run out of food! The King's followers promised us that they would send carriages but they are still not here! " The woman cried out from despair. The village food supply has run out empty from the war. The crops that they work hard sowing for dies from the hot weather these past few days.

Without enough supply of clean water and food the lives of the villagers became more desparate.

Now, the villagers had no choice but to complain.

As the complains of the villagers spread all over the place, a booming voice made the villagers attention focused from the man in front of the hall

"Our son's pledge their loyalty to the king, they promised to serve and protect this country, they are sacrificing themselves in front lines, fighting from the possibility of our country being eradicated from the map. Why don't we wait a little more! Don't let this war take our hopes, our complains will get nowhere! " The crowd cease in silence, this man was right..

" We send off our children from a dangerous place, a battlefield..with no certain knowledge about what is waiting for them there.. They can be tortured, they can be killed just by standing, war is unpredictable. They are our children anyways.. we know them since they came out of birth. We know their fears that's why us, parents must be strong for our children, because they are our country's last hope, all of you.. wait just a little bit more"

The villagers stood in silence, dumbfounded like they where slapped from reality. Yes, their sons had their days more difficult than them. They don't even know if their son's is still alive. What they are doing right now is plain insult but you wouldn't blame them. They are experiencing something that could end all of their lives..

As the villagers share their thoughts about Ling Que's statement, one man questioned "But now is not the case, without food we will not last for a week! We already pick all the available resources from the farm but its still not enough for us to feed the whole village " the man said helplessly as if they couldn't do anything.

"We also tried to look for food from the forest but theres nothing" the bald men added

"Then look for another solution, we must not lose hope! How about the river? Have you searched for it?"

The hall was filled of the villagers suggestions as they try to lessen the problem of the village for the lack of food . As they talk, a young girl stood in the corner beside her younger brother staring from the other kids who are eating, the young boy stomach grumbled in hunger.

The young boy bowed his head from embarrassment as he hold his stomach from grumbling any longer. Fei Wanrou laugh softly as she gaze to her young brother. She also is hungry but compared to her brothers grumbling stomach is far more worse than her's. She took out the last piece of bread that she kept for her supper and gave it to him.

"S-sister why are you giving me your food? You should keep it for yourself..I'm not hungry" Fei Zuo shove his sisters hand, not accepting his sisters food but his stomach betrayed him as his stomach grumbled even more louder

Fei Wanrou smiled "Don't worry I still have food hidden in the cottage so don't be shy" she lied but it doesn't matter she can still hold on anyway. As long as the carriages arrive she has nothing to worried about.

While both siblings are having their own conversation they didn't notice that someone was watching them from afar. Zheng Qi accidentally heard the kids conversation and couldn't help but pity them. If only the war didn't happen then the young one's wouldn't suffer and will not meet this kind of ending.

"Here. You can have this one, don't worry you need it more than me and you also can't say no. If you don't want to eat it then save it. " Zheng Qi gave a rice ball in the girls hand and left without the little girls thanks.

Fei Wanrou stared at the man's back and without a word she muttered" Thank you, Mister. " her voice was loud enough for Zheng Qi to hear with this his lip curved up a little but didn't stop walking. As the man dissappeared, she clench her hands and thought" this kindness will be remembered. "

Fei Zuo who was currently eating whispered as he look at the mans back "He's a good (munch) man (munch)" Fei Wanrou nodded in response and without a thought she pinch her little brother's cheeks that was akin to a squirrels.

"Sister! Stop pinching my cheeks already! It hurts you know!" Fei Zuo's natural flushed cheeks turns even more redder as she pinch her brother's face buttocks but you couldn't blame her, with her brother's cuteness you would also do the same.

All matter aside, Fei Wanrou was thankful that even if there is a war, her little brother remains the same..As his older sister she needs to protect his safety and innocence from this chaotic world, if only she had power then she will be able to do all of that but the time isn't ripe yet she still have more work to do to achieve all of that..

She aims to be a politician, and if someday that happens then she can finally help her family.

As Fei Wanrou stood upright, thinking deeply a loud bell rang through the village meaning that there is someone who is going towards the village

"The carriage is here!" the village guard shouted loudly because of the exciting news and he didn't fail for the villagers couldn't help but to jump in joy "Our lives are save!" the villagers quickly ran towards the gate to greet the coachman

"Sister! We can finally eat" Fei Zuo laugh contagiously as he literally jump in her arms which she immediately accepts "hmmm!" she nodded as her smile reach her eyes, she shift her gaze from the carriage who was getting closer and closer, without knowing why, she unconsciously stared intently to the approaching carriage and couldn't help but feel weird..

Fei Wanrou shift her gaze as if she was finding something in the carriage but still couldn't grasp the weirdness she was feeling but then finally her gaze landed to the coachman who was eeriely silent.

Sensing someone was staring intently at him, the coachman tried to locate the person until his gaze accidentaly landed to a little girl's burning eyes with that he smiled.

Fei Wanrou stilled, completely frozen as if she had seen a ghost. All she knew is that when the coachman smiled, she felt shivers running down her spine. "This man is dangerous" she thought as she grabs her little brother's hand and was ready to walk away to keep some distance from that dangerous man. With that, Fei Zuo turns his head to his sister's direction with a confused expression.

"Sister? Wha--" before Fei Zuo could talk she cut him off and explained "Today's weather is too sunny, you might suffocate in there, and if that happens, you will make this sister worry" she flick her brothers forehead and added " I, your elder sister will take care for your share of food" she looks at him softly but in her mind she was scared...

She was scared of that man, the man who gave her such a look, scared because her instinct was telling her something is wrong and to ease it up she chose to keep some distance from that man and wait to see how things will go.

Fei Zuo scanned the whole area to see a big crowd pushing each other just to get some food so he nodded "Sister is right, Zou'er will be a burden if I go with you! " he scratched his head feeling annoyed "but I will not be the same forever! When I grow up, I will help elder sister do some chores and most likely will handle the heavy stuff hehe " he laughs as he swing his and his sisters hand.

As the villagers wait outside the gate with thumping hearts, they eyed the slow-moving carriage who was getting nearer and nearer towards them and finally the carriage came to a stop in front of the gate. They held their breath as if miracle has arrived.

The Village chief who is thin and old, stood in the middle and was close to the carriage. He happily welcomed the guest. "We're all waiting for you! We thought something wrong happened but now that you are here we have nothing to worry about" said the village chief as he pats the coachman's shoulder who already descended the carriage, the coachman humbly disagreed " I'm just doing my job, we just met some trouble along the way but we're all good now" and added " The food that the king promised is here so help yourselves out" he opened the curtain that was covering the insides of the carriage. The Chief followed the coachman until he was welcomed by numerous foods such as bales of wheat,rice,fruits, breads, vegetables and also clean water that will last for one week.

The village chief became teary-eyed and was thankful that the coachman arrived when they were already in desperate condition " The people of the Ming Village is thankful that you remained safe and alive in the end when there is war, you surviving means that the carriage can carry on. "

" You don't have to worry, I am here aren't I? This man is just doing his job, so let's hurry up and take this carriage inside! We can't make the food wait any longer" the chief nodded in response as he gave a sign to one of his followers to tell people to give way. With that, the follower yelled loudly for anyone to hear "Move! The carriage is here so move!" the coachman ride his carriage once again and ventured inside of the village.

While the coachman ventures inside the village, an adult woman stood haughtily as she fan herself from the hot weather. "The carriage is here!" a certain man shouted. Hearing that Feng Lin swept her gaze to Wanrou who was leaning behind a tree

"Wanrou, the carriage is here! go fetch some food for me and your cousin. Don't forget to bring some water too" Fei Wanrou's aunt Feng Lin spat hatefully as she stared at the darned girl. This child has no future than being a mere servant unlike her daughter who is far more better than this darn girl.

Fei Wanrou who was silently staring afar sneered, with this kind of attitude, she won't be surprised in the future when one day this aunt of hers will soon receive her heavenly retribution.

Fei Wanrou's mother Fei Weiqin was born with a weak body that's why her mothers siblings treat her as a burden, one of those is her uncle Fei Jin, the first son. Her uncle always put her family in a dire situation. One day, because of an unknown reason she and her family were banished from the matriarch's house, with that they had no choice but to live in the mountains and the worse thing is that her mother was currently carrying her little brother Fei Zuo in her womb but luckily they found an abandoned hut. Her mother became sicker and was currently gaving birth to her little brother. In the end her mother died which devastated them. When the news reached the matriarch's home, they sent them pitiful glances as if they didn't knew that her mother didn't have a weak body..

Now, her uncle married a young woman who eventually became his favored wife. Feng Lin also gave birth to a baby girl which is her cousin, Feng Lie.

There wouldn't be a day without them taunting her by calling her a servant. Now, her aunt was taunting her again but she couldn't care less..

Fei Wanrou stared at Feng Lin with a blank face which made Feng Lin more infuriated, bursting out in anger she spat out angrily "You dare make me repeat twice you damn girl! Don't forget that I can kick you and your family out from this village! So don't dare try me" Feng Lin threatened as she eyed the petite looking girl. Fei Wanrou couldn't help but sigh, this aunt of hers is simply too stupid for her to refute but it wouldn't hurt if she joke around a little, a glint flash through her eyes as her lips curled up

"Aunt, don't scold me too much. I'm afraid that sooner or later you'll get a white hair which will not look good on you. Once uncle sees that.. tsk..tsk" she swayed her head in disagreement and added " Always remember that there are plenty of fishes in the sea that is more pleasing in the eyes so take care of your self, also try not to forget to wear thick makeup, I'm sure uncle will love it" she suggest then added "do your best making this relationship of yours last because if not say goodbye from this life of yours" said with a hint of ridicule as she swept a glance at her uncle who was busily talking to another woman, with that she sneered and compared the couple. Feng Lin is stupid and simply delusional while her husband acts like a stud horse, an easily tamed man that is also stupid. She couldn't help but wonder what a matching couple!

Her aunt ran as fast as she can then stopped in front of her uncle..

"Feng Zhou! What do you think you are doing?" Feng Lin asks with a soft voice as she stared at him teary-eyed as if she witness something heartbreaking. Fei Jin quickly answered " N-no she's just asking me about the update in war please don't misunderstand " he stuttered and was sweating as his adams apple went up and down "R-really? W-why do I feel that something is happening between the both of you?" her eyes became moist and continued to stare at him to find out the truth but then Fei Jin hug her and whispered " Don't worry darling you're the only one and will always be the one in my heart" with that Feng Lin reciprocate him with a tight hug "Okay, I will believe you then, but can you stop talking to other women? Youre making me jealous" while hugging she eventually stared at the woman who was just now having a conversation with her husband and eyed her cruelly which made the young woman scared and run away..

"Okay don't worry I will not do that again" he whispered softly, few seconds later they are both whispering sweet nothings to each other in the middle of the road..

Witnessing all of that in first hand Fei Wanrou couldn't help but shudder "Whoo! Watching all of that makes me want to vomit, Aunt's kind are really dangerous.. dangerous enough to make my skin crawl" Fei Wanrou cringed, her aunt is simply too powerful! Powerful enough to manipulate stupid people.. After that she left and muttered "Well, time to get some food now" she sighed

"Watching those two sure drained the hell out of me" but before that Fei Wanrou's forehead wrinkled seeing a long line that she need to undergo just to get some food and with that she breath out in frustration.

Fei Wanrou waited for 10 minutes until it was her turn in the front of the carriage.

She remained stoic with her slighty bowed head all the way to the front and was not aware of the one who was giving her food..

Then someone poke her up in her shoulders which made her raise her head to see the dangerous man she had seen awhile ago.. Yes she is fearless when it comes to her aunt but with someone who gave her such creeps and the instinct that this man is dangeous was different.. She couldn't help but to take a single step back

The man's forehead wrinkled in confusion "What happened? Are you okay?" the man ask directly with a worried tone

"It's very hot today and its too crowded. A petite young girl like you couldn't handle these things at the same time. I bet you're also hungry so here, take this" the coachman handed out a basket full of vegetable, fruits, bread and water that would likely last for 2 days and with that he smiled "Don't worry once the war is over you can play outside and eat whatever you want without restriction" he said with a reassuring smile as he pats her head..

After that, she left carrying a basket full of goods and while walking she remembers the man who was oddly kind, maybe she was wrong after all but her instinct was never wrong..