Three years before Lian Yuhua coronation.
His sister's merriment was always what woke Zhaoyun up, he would run out of bed and dash out, he loves their songs so much it hurt him when he oversleeps and misses it.
The land of gods wholeness and fragment
Our future fill of mystery but in joy we walk
So let the gods hold the lantern of guidance
And let's dance behind and light in front
He had no idea of what the lyrics entails but their melodious voice always brings a smile on his face whether in sorrow or pain. "Good morning!" he shouts, hugging his eldest and climbs up her back while she giggles at his silliness.
"Good morning to you, too Wei, how was your night?" Yan is the eldest and his favorite sister, do not get him wrong he loves all his sisters but she is always soft on him when he did something bad, Han the middle among the three was the most carefree but hard to please , and she only listen to Yan even mother finds it hard with her, and then comes the annoying most stupid and wicked sister, Yun, the youngest among the three she was the only one of them to cut her hairs short and never let him farm with them calling him a weak and frail boy, he was no weak and frail boy and he was going to prove it to her.
"It was long and boring, but I made it to morning in time," he says, bringing out laughter filling the house, he loves it when she laughs— she's the only one to laugh happily here others just feign it. "Where are the others?"
"Here, we thought of leaving but knowing how much of a crybaby you have become we would like to remain ignorant at what you might have done if we left" Yun was the one to speak, see, she is always on his back and who is crying here.
"Just say my presence was needed and I know you can see the strength running down my arms and legs which is what you need in farm not someone who sits atop a tree and stares at the neighbors thinking they might steal some of our grains when in truth you're just avoiding work" sticking out his tongue he runs to Yan who shakes her head at the two.
"And what do you know of farming, you can't even walk straight with or without snow how about you learn that first before mother has these thought of you becoming a man, the farm is no place for babies" sticking out her tongue she runs to Han she hugs her while pointing a finger at Zhao who smirks at her due to Han disinterest.
"Now, let's get ready and leave before father comes at us with a stick and mother with a burning wood" Yan informs before carrying her basket on her back and walks out, making others laugh. Wei walks out after her and quickly clasps his hand with hers.
"If you are tired just tell me and I will help you carry some tools" he whispers happily, he hates to see her in pain or sad, but she keeps reminding him pain is an effect of hard work. She smiles down at him before smiling when Yun carries him on her shoulder.
"Carry yourself first, slow walker" she says
"I am not slow, you're just too tall and have long legs, but wait when I grow up just like father, your one step will be three steps of mine" he says holding both hands in the air already visioning his adult form. "Oh right! Han" he calls, and she looks up at him questioningly. "Do you still like that son of a cow?" he faces lightened up a little before going back to normal.
"This is no conversation to have with a twelve-year-old boy" she says, removing her hand fan and handing it to him, she was surprised to see that even her brother picked up her interest in Chun, one of their farming neighbors, she had no idea it was that visible.
"Why do you ask?" was Yun asking.
"Uh… first of all, I have no idea how feelings work and have no intention to know—for now of course, second of all my sister's happiness is the only thing I pray for in this world, so never be sad over someone's child, and lastly, do not cry please," he says in a series of word rendering everyone silent.
"I won't," she exclaims. In a matter-of-fact tone.
"Mother and I went to the market yesterday for our monthly saves and there I heard madame Chi saying she has a match for her son, but with all the books I saw in your table the plot always has the mother trying to separate the two lovers, so I didn't care, but I was somehow sad it might be right. Late at night I went to his house… just because I didn't want you to carry hope and with the gods help… I saw him with a woman I don't really know, she must be from another village, her tongue was inside… his" he quickly explains, her face gradually softens and her hands trembles, she looks stoic, but he knows much of his sister to know she is sad. Everyone stopped in their tracks to wait on her, were they waiting for her to cry? She pondered; it wasn't like she didn't know such a thing might happen even mother told her hopes are just like what she reads on paper.
"Thank you for telling me Zhao, and do not worry feelings come and go, some stay but I will never cry over a human that's not family" she finally says after some time, he could still see her pain, but he knows how strong she is, he smiles at her, and they all walk to their destination.
They reach the farm in no time, meet their parents and start working. This was the season where grains and vegetables come a great deal that some capitals will travel here just so they could buy some as the drought was so heavy on them. He will at times walk next to his mother for shelter while not staying too far away from Han, after a while the Chi family obviously made their appearance with the mother shouting to who wants to hear that her son was finally engage and that didn't help him at all, he was glad he could tell his sister sooner but also sad that she has to face this side of the world were not every story comes true, she walks to us— my mother, and hands her a red envelope.
"You are also invited, but eh, it is a shame one of your daughters couldn't find a suitable man this year, with how poverty strikes your table wouldn't that be good to decrease the number of chairs? Ah, but it has nothing to do with me as my son here has found a perfect girl, good family and background, with proper education" smiling. She turns to leave but stops and turns once more. "Tell that impolite daughter of yours that the stares she gave my son should stop as he now has someone to stare at"
"And tell that savage son of yours that may his eyes stay on that girl and never to look at my sister because whether you like it or not, he stared back at her and even smiled, so…" shocking the old lady, Yun rushes to her brother and carries him on her shoulder while Yan covers his mouth with her face asking for forgiveness.
"Such ill-mannered children, you should sell them off" Chi rant, walking to her son who also gave them a disgusting look.
"Why did you do that?" Yan was the one to ask
"She started!" he shouts in tears; he couldn't stand the way she spoke of them and why would she want his sister to marry men that don't deserve them.
"But she's older, you owe her some respects, where are your manners?" his mother scolds but that doesn't stop him.
"Being old doesn't make someone to respect you, you are also an adult does that make you say other parents should sell off their kids so the rest could eat!" jumping away from his sister he runs off the farm with Yan calling for him.