I was a child bride, sold to the Sterling family out of desperation. Julian Sterling hated me from the start. He hated that I was older than him. He hated that I tried to manage him. He hated that I ate three white buns at a meal. "When I grow up, I definitely won't marry you. Go back home!" Go home? Home meant endless beatings and bowls of watery vegetable gruel. I was terrified. Out of options, I made a deal with him: we would treat each other as brother and sister in private. Once he succeeded in life, we would go our separate ways and marry other people. Later, Mrs. Sterling passed away, and we had only each other to rely on. In our hardest year, I sold myself as a servant to a teacher so Julian could become his student. We endured. Finally, ten years later. Julian graduated top of his class from the academy, securing a bright future. But he reneged on our deal. 1 I wanted to go back home and get married. I had wanted to tell Julian this for a long time. Auntie May had sent a letter saying she found a good match for me. The second son of the town's miller. His family was well-off, and he was a decent man. He had an older and a younger brother, so he didn't need to carry on the family name and could marry into my family if needed. It sounded like a great match. But after Julian's success, he was incredibly busy. Drinking with classmates one day, attending banquets with superiors the next. I tried to find him several times, but his assistant, Ford, always stopped me. "Mr. Sterling is a man of status now. He's very busy. Please wait a little longer, Miss." After hitting a wall several times, I gave up and started packing. I didn't have much. Just like my ten years in the Sterling family, gone in a blink. My mother forced the Sterling family to buy me as a child bride. During the famine, with no way to survive, a twelve-year-old girl was sold for next to nothing. The Sterlings were once nobility in the capital. But a relative committed a crime, Mr. Sterling was implicated and executed, and Mrs. Sterling spent the family fortune to flee to the countryside with her young son. But a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. The Sterlings at least had a sturdy house and ate white flour buns. Hearing the Sterlings wanted a child bride, poor families from miles around came. My mother pushed through the crowd, dragging me to Mrs. Sterling. Right in front of her, she lifted my shirt, patting her chest and guaranteeing I could bear children. I wanted to die of shame. Mrs. Sterling, born into a scholarly family and kind-hearted, saw no choice but to buy me. Because of this, nine-year-old Julian hated me. He was already in school and knew many principles. He said women should be modest and have a sense of shame. My behavior was shameless. He hated that I was older, bossy, and ate three buns a meal. "I won't marry you when I grow up. Go back home!" I was terrified. Mrs. Sterling treated me well, never skimping on food or clothes, and even gave me pocket money. When I tucked Julian in at night, she made sure I had enough blankets. I didn't have much work. When I picked Julian up from school, I could even listen in on the lessons. Who would want to leave this paradise? Home meant beatings and gruel. I didn't want to suffer anymore. Desperate, I spent months coaxing Julian. "Treat me as your maid, or your sister." "When you make it big, I'll go home and marry someone else. We'll have nothing to do with each other. Okay?" He tormented me for months before finally agreeing. We endured for ten years. Finally, Julian achieved top honors. According to our agreement, it was time for me to go. 2 The next day was Julian's day off. He sent someone to take me to see the new house. When Julian and I first came to the capital for his studies, we were broke and rented an old house in a poor alley. A tiny courtyard, leaking roof, peeling walls. We lived there for years. After his brilliant performance in the final exams, the Emperor gifted him a large mansion. The new house was in the affluent West District. Ford led me in. A massive estate with five courtyards, white walls, and dark tiles. Pavilions and towers artfully arranged. Flowers and trees lined the winding paths. From a distance, I heard a gentle female voice. "Julian, she's taken care of you for years. She deserves a title, even if it's just for her hard work." "Otherwise, after we marry, how will she stay in the household? Although the Carter family has a rule against concubines, if you agree, I'll ask my father." Clara Carter. The daughter of Julian's mentor, Grand Tutor Carter. elegant and virtuous, she grew up with Julian. If the Sterlings hadn't fallen on hard times, they would have been married by now. Now, their families were matched in status and knew each other well. They were preparing to discuss marriage. Ford stopped at just the right spot. Close enough to hear, but hidden from view. "She" must refer to me. Julian's aunt sighed. "That girl is good. Decent looking, gentle personality. But being a concubine isn't a proper life." "I thought, after you marry, we could match her with an honest servant, add some dowry, and marry her off respectably." Clara smiled gently. "Julian is sentimental; he must be reluctant." "But Auntie's thought is thorough. A woman is always more respectable as a main wife." In a few sentences, my path was chosen. Marry me off to a servant far away. It saved the Sterling family's face and made Clara happy. Julian hesitated for a moment. That moment made Clara's face darken instantly. Seeing this, Julian laughed, a hint of mockery in his voice. "A servant girl. Is she worth all this trouble from you?" The wind picked up, chilling the sweat on my forehead. I lowered my eyes and exhaled slowly. Servant girl. Being a servant is fine. Ten years as a servant. I repaid Mrs. Sterling's kindness. From now on, debts paid, ties severed. 3 After Clara left, I stepped out from the shadows. Dusk fell, servants lit the lamps. The wind blew through the courtyard, making the lights flicker. Perhaps due to hard work, Julian was thinner. His face was handsome, his brow showing a new maturity. Seeing me, his expression stiffened slightly. But in an instant, he wore a warm smile. "Sister, you're just in time. The West Courtyard is ready. See if you need anything else." I looked into his eyes and asked directly if our agreement still stood. Julian stared at me for a long time, then laughed. "Sister, you heard Clara just now and got mad, so you're bringing up old history, right?" He was dodging the question. "The Carter family helped me greatly. Marrying Clara is repaying a debt and fulfilling a childhood bond. Sister, don't overthink it." His words made me want to laugh. Julian's reaction was within my expectations. He had been smart and perceptive since childhood, always planning before acting. Such a clever person must have already decided my fate. I knew he didn't want me to go. First, he was new to the political scene. A reputation for being heartless wasn't good. Second, he was used to me handling everything. Keeping me around was convenient. But that wasn't what I wanted. I asked again. "If the agreement is void, how do you plan to place me?" Julian's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, his eyes darkening. The candlelight reflected in my eyes like stars. He looked for a long time, finally realizing I wasn't joking. "Sister, our years together are different from others." "I said I would give you a good life." Thirteen-year-old Julian said that to me. When the local scholar took students, the tuition was thirty silver taels a year. I sold myself as a servant to the teacher in exchange for his spot. In the dead of winter, he visited me. Seeing me gnawing on a cold bun and picking at my chilblains, his eyes reddened. I teased him, asking what a good life was. He thought for a moment, eyes burning. "Sister, as long as you are with me, it's a good life." But now, his good life was a soaring career and a beautiful wife. He didn't need me anymore. I shook my head gently and took a bird whistle from my pocket. Julian froze. The year I arrived at the Sterling house, Julian hated me and refused to call my name. He used this to summon me. One blow to wash his face, two to feed him, three to carry him out to play. Occasionally four blows meant I was in trouble. He was beautiful but full of tricks to drive me away. But later, this same whistle saved him. When bandits attacked our boat, the urgent blows helped me find him underwater. An old, worn safety amulet. When locusts plagued our hometown and Julian caught a fever, I kowtowed every step to the temple to get it. And an old silver hairpin. When Mrs. Sterling died and relatives tried to seize the inheritance, I stood in front of Julian, stabbing the first person who rushed up with it. These items represented the years of bond he spoke of. Years passed, and I learned to calculate too. I wanted to use this bond to buy my freedom. He still held my indentured servant contract. My chips were few. I could only gamble that he would honor our years of interdependence and let us part on good terms. Julian was moved. He finally compromised. "The agreement stands. But one thing, Sister must listen to me." "The capital is full of talented men. With me to vet them, you will surely find a good husband." He wanted me to marry in the capital. 4 News of my search for a husband brought matchmakers to the door. Thanks to Julian's status, the list contained respectable families. He reviewed it carefully, circling several names for me to meet. But I met them all, and none were suitable. Though their backgrounds and looks were decent, they seemed frivolous. Seeing the delay, Clara got impatient. She visited specifically to tell me she found a good family. "Autumn, though you come from humble beginnings, you've been with Julian for years. You can't delay forever." A twenty-two-year-old spinster. Indeed, time was pressing. She said Commander Zhou of the Imperial Guard was looking for a caring wife. I stared at the portrait of the man with stern brows. Ethan Zhou. From the prestigious Zhou family of Hedong. Though a branch member, his talent was exceptional. He climbed to his position on his own. But rumors said he was cold and uninterested in women. Still unmarried at twenty-five. "Commander Zhou has no parents to serve, no siblings to raise. Once you marry, you're the mistress of the house. You can close the door and live your life." It was indeed a good match. High above my station. It showed how eager Clara was to marry me off. Born into a scholarly family, she was always polite and measured. She never lost her composure with me. Except when it came to love, she was assertive. From her perspective, it was understandable. I agreed.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "388173", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel