I and my mother sat in this cramped carriage full of goods and supplies. The smell of wheat and rum strike my nose in these last five days. I don't mind our condition. Actually this is better than most family servants who walk.
My mother is Dian Yuanli's concubine. With that status, my mother and I are slightly higher than the servant. Because I am a girl, one day I will be married to a man from another noble family. Yeah, that's my fate. A tool for a political marriage. A mere chess piece.
If only I was born as a boy, would my mother be recognized as Lord Father's wife? I heard he at first didn't marry someone from noble lineage. Stepmother Mu also came from an ordinary family. And she eventually became father's legal wife, albeit for a short period of time. Lord Father married seven women and then decided to determine his legal wife to who first gave birth to a son.
My mother and the first six stepmothers were pregnant almost at the same time. Stepmother Yi gave birth to Eldest sis Lianyu. Stepmother Han gave birth to Second Sis Ruyen a week after that. And after two days, I was born.
Five days passed, Dian Zhangnan was born from stepmother Mu. It was the first baby male. Thus, her position as the father's legitimate wife was determined. And sometime after that, the other sisters were born.
Unfortunately, little brother Zhangnan died several months later. According to the family physician, Zhangnan's death was due to lack of nutrition and also because he was born with Yang Qi deficiency. I don't know what that means, it sounds complicated and alien for me.
Stepmother Mu was dispirited after that. Her own son died, of course, she would feel sad. But father didn't think like that, he felt that his first son's death was caused by the incompetency of Stepmother Mu and her servant as a mother and caretaker. Father couldn't scold Stepmother Mu, so he vents all of his anger to the servants.
There was also hearsay that circulated around the servant. They said Zhangnan's death was intentional. A conspiracy. Someone tried to kill baby Zhangnan and gain something from it. But that rumor didn't spread too much and never went outside.
After this incident, the father stopped coming to Stepmother Mu chamber in the night. I know what that word means just recently, but I guess it's bad for a woman to stop receiving her husband's love. That's not the worst part, father took a new concubine.
His new woman was from the House of Liu, Liu Beiwei. Liu Beiwei is Liu family princess who should be wed into Yang Ming of Yang family. However, after the Yang family losing a war of attrition in Awen City, Liu family canceled their marriage agreement.
Liu Clan Patriarch then sent Liu Beiwei to Lord Father. Not long after she came into this household, she's already pregnant. And after arduous nine-month, Liu Beiwei gave birth to Dian Xianli. This, however, strip legal wife status from Stepmother Mu and pass it into Liu Beiwei.
Dian Xianli, a rascal who does as he pleases. I'll be frank, I really hate this young devil. This little monkey has no cuteness at all. He was always so selfish. I started hating him maybe because I saw he bully a little servant girl just because he displeased with her work.
Maybe it because her mother spoiled this boy too much since childhood. Or perhaps it's run through his blood. After all, the Liu family could also be considered as 'noble'. Different from other concubines who comes from humble origins, Liu Beiwei is from noble lineage, they always do what they want to do, and there's nothing wrong with it.
She just a pitiful girl not older than him, but he lashed her with a stick mercilessly. I stopped him and scolded him. And that ..., that's made me and my mother lives in Dian family clan become miserable like this.
Liu Beiwei as the legal wife has the authority and says the end in everything that happens in the father's harem. When she found out about what I had done to her son, she released her anger at my mother.
In the Lord Father's inner court, the treatment of a daughter depends on how Lord Father's attention to the mother.
When Madame Liu told father about this issue, he started to distance himself from my mother. And of course, sisters whom their mother joined Liu Beiwei camp also bullied me, while some of the servants also talked behind my back.
I was in this supply carriage also because Dian Xianli has not forgiven me for what happened at that time.
Heihh ..., thinking about it was useless.
After all, he was still a young boy. When he had grown up a little bit he would change for the better.
Thinking about that past matter at this time when our family is in predicament is somewhat strange. What will happen to us if Lord Father couldn't survive? Even though I can't think of him as a good father, he is still my father.
When I sighed once again after recalling that matter, my mother wakes up from her nap.
"Mother, you awake?"
"Ee ... where are we?" in a lazy voice mother asked.
"I think we have arrived at the outskirt of regency."
"Is that so? Hmmm ..., Xinyue, why is it so noisy outside?"
"Huh ...?"
Eh ...? What happened? Why didn't I notice that there was this shouting and metal clashing outside?
"We're under attack!?" I shouted.
"Why are you so surprised?"
Mother seemed calm as if nothing major had happened. What was that? Did she put that much trust in family warriors? Or has she given up?
This was the second time our convoy ambushed. Five days ago, a band of bandit attacked us in the Kaliora Valley. The attack separated us from father. Even now there is no news about father well-being.
"Mother, what should we do? If ... if they somehow kill all our people, what will we do?"
I panicked a little. The main strength of the family soldier was with my father, and the few soldiers we had here were only new inexperienced recruits. I cannot entrust my safety to them. It was not that I didn't believe in their loyalty, I doubted their abilities.
Different from my panic, my mother put on an always-smiling face.
"There's nothing we can do for now. Let them protect us, it's their job. We don't have the strength to help them. Even if we tried to help them, I'm sure we will only hold them back."
Yes, that's what I'm afraid of. Do nothing and just waiting for them to do their job. If only ..., if only I have slightly better talent in cultivation like eldest sis Lianyu or Lanyan.
"Moreover, even though our family has become a new noble, the foundation we have is not comparable to that status. The strongest cultivator in the family is only Lord Husband and he is only a Elder Warrior. If only Lord Husband rejects the peerage from that bastard villain king, I know it won't end up like this."
Mother bad-mouthed the King while she still put on her smiling face.
Someone come into supply carriage. He is the butler Luze that supposed to protect Dian Xianli. What is he doing here?
"Third Madame, Young Mistress Xinyue. It's getting dangerous. I hope you two will go and take shelter in the Seventh Madame's carriage."
"Can we? Did you ask for Young Master's permission?"
"I have not ..., however, the situation is urgent. I hope Madame place safety first and other things later. I'll plead the Young Master if he asks later."
After carefully reading Luze's expression mother nods and said.
"I trust butler Luze. Xinyue, let's go!"
"Wu ...? What, oh okay."
In the midst of a chaotic battle between bandits and family soldiers, mother nonchalantly goes to the luxurious carriage with me follow her like a little chick to the mother hen.
"There! Boss, that's the woman I saw yesterday!"
I heard someone shouting ..., was that ugly mofo pointing at us?
"Oh, what a great beauty. Yoshhaa! You stupid lot! Attack and kill those who have meat stick in the crotch! I'll give the women for you to enjoy later on, of course, your turn will be after me. What d'ya say!?"
"Orraaa?!!"
"Shaaa!?!"
"Kruaaa!!?"
Wh ... what is that! Why are their eyes turning red? Why do they look excited like they just drank a bottle of Kratingdaeng?
"Captain Lugao! The enemy! They are crazy!"
"What should we do ..., they, they don't fear death!"
"Keep in position! Don't panic! They are just a bunch of bandit! Do they pose a threat to you, who are you!? I asked, who are you!?"
"We are the proud Flowing Thunder Legion of Dian family! We fear nothing in this world besides the landlord and our mother!"
"Then bring me victory!! For the glory of our Lord!"
With Captain Lugao's encouragement, the soldier was excited again. They look fearless. Different from bandits that are in a crazed state, they are determined. A persistent warrior who is not afraid to die.
We arrived in the Stepmother Qian carriage. Stepmother Qian or Seventh Madame is Lord Father's concubine and she has a good relationship with mother. The carriage door opened and a graceful lady in yellow robe gazed at us with a worried face. Behind the lady is a beautiful teenage girl that is also my little sister.
"Sister Qian!"
"Elder Sister Yun, Little Yue quick! Get inside!"
We get into the carriage. What a soft and comfortable couch, different from that wooden plank in our carriage.
"Sis, what happened! I can't see what's going on with the thick reeds and bushes."
"Bandit attacks. They sent twenty people to attack the rear. But of course, they are nothing in front of the strength of our family forces." mother proudly said.
What a contradiction, she said that there is nothing we can do to help them. She also said that the foundations of our family are not strong enough. And now she says that the strength of the bandits cannot surpass our warriors?
Did she say that to calm Stepmother Qian? After hearing the mother's reassuring word, Stepmother Qian sighed in relief.
Yes, as I thought. After all, the mother is still not sure if the bandit that attacked the rear is their full force. If I am the attacker then I will do a gradual pincer attack. First attack the rear to incite confusion in the guards, after that I'll send my troop to attack the front and lastly harass them from the side. I hope they are not that smart to think of such a strategy.
"Bruaaa!"
"The front! The front side is under attack!"
When I thought about that kind of thing ..., I hear a loud scream from the front side of the convoy.
This ... Don't tell me they really set up another ambush and do a pincer attack! What to do, If I'm in this situation. What will I do ... damn, why can't I think any countermeasure?
"Sister Qian is that ... Young Master Xianli?" my mother asks with uncertainty. Her eyesight worsened recently, and she can't see far away more than two meters. She can see the blurry figure but can not recognize it.
"What! Why he comes out from the carriage! It's dangerous with all of this battle! And where is old Luze? Why didn't that old man protect Young Master?" Stepmother Qian worried.
I still don't know why she cares so much for Dian Xianli. This is mysterious to me who hates him because of his attitude.
"We met Old Luze in the back, in fact, he was the one that told me to come here." mother explained, she looks at me and said. "Xinyue, you go to the Young Master. Bring him back to the carriage if it's possible. No matter what happens and who's your opponent, protect him!"
Strong authoritative tone, I shivered hearing mother said that.
Why me ... Is it because I reached a higher stage in cultivation than you three? Though, I couldn't ask that to her.
I sighed and said in a cold tone. "I understand, mother."
I couldn't argue with my mother, especially when she was like this. I opened the carriage door and went to that little devil's place.