"Mother is so good."
Madam Liu hugged her daughter.
She hadn't really liked this daughter before. Ever since she fell ill and woke up, she had become particularly clingy.
She was about twelve years old that year. Such a small person actually knew her unhappiness. Her husband's concubinage was painful for her. She held her daughter all night and talked with her, which prevented her from breaking down and going mad.
Slowly, she had become an indispensable part of her life.
As long as she snuggled into her embrace, all her worries disappeared. She didn't seem so miserable about her husband taking concubines and remarrying.
From then on, as long as her daughter was happy, she was happy. If her daughter suffered even the slightest grievance, her heart ached, which was why she was so angry this time.
Seeing her daughter still hiding in her arms and acting spoiled as before, she suddenly felt at ease. A smile appeared on her lips, and she no longer cared about what her husband had done.
Madam Liu smiled, and a huge stone pressing on Prime Minister Liu's heart was finally lifted. Ever since his daughter entered the palace, his life had been difficult. He hoped he could sleep peacefully from now on.
After all these troubles, he suddenly felt old. He decided to let the children handle their own affairs from now on.
"Has Liu'er eaten dinner yet? You must be hungry."
When Liu Liu heard her father's words, she didn't feel very hungry. She was feeling unwell and didn't have much appetite. Now, she wanted to see how her brother was doing.
"Mother, is my brother alright?" her small, palm-sized face was etched with worry as she looked up at her mother.
Madam Liu smiled and shook her head. Although Ting'er's buttocks were beaten until they bled, it was not a serious injury for a man, and he would recover quickly.
"He's fine. He received twenty heavy planks from the Emperor, and his buttocks are split open."
"Ah?" Liu Liu's face turned pale as soon as she heard her mother's words. She broke free from her mother's embrace and said with great heartache, "I'm going to see my brother. Mother, please send some food over."
"Alright," Madam Liu nodded dotingly. Liu'er and Ting'er had always been close, and she knew Ting'er's feelings. However, Liu'er was his sister; that was an undeniable fact.
Liu'er had always treated Ting'er as her brother. They didn't want her to know things she shouldn't.
Liu Liu led the little maidservant and hurried out of the hall, following the winding corridor towards her brother's courtyard. The little maidsservants along the way bowed respectfully.
"Second Miss is back."
This address made Liu Liu feel a sense of closeness, and there was no blame in their tone. How she wished she could remain the Second Miss of the Liu Mansion forever.
Outside the corridor pillars, the bright moon cast a gentle glow on the delicate flowers, making them even more enchanting.
A cool breeze blew, the night was deep, and the surroundings were silent. Only the sound of Liu Liu and the little maidservant Cui'er's footsteps on the stone slabs could be heard as they walked to the entrance of Hengqiang Courtyard. A servant exclaimed in surprise.
"Second Miss is back."
The voice, carried through the open window, reached the room. Liu Ting, who was lying on the bed, heard that his sister had returned and eagerly tried to get up. Unexpectedly, he agitated his wound, groaning softly and gritting his teeth in pain. Liu Liu had already walked in.
She saw her brother wearing a white inner garment, lying on the bed. His handsome face was still familiar to her. At this moment, he looked at her indulgently, as if his injuries caused him no pain at all. Liu Liu's nose stung, and she walked over, crouching by her brother's bed.
"Brother, are you alright?"
"It's nothing. What's a little hardship for a man? Look, I'm perfectly fine!" The handsome Liu Ting, to reassure his sister, patted the bed forcefully as he spoke.
In reality, any movement aggravated his wound, and he broke out in a cold sweat from the pain. Fearing that his sister would notice, he forced a smile.
How could someone as intelligent as Liu Liu not see through this? She gently took Liu Ting's hand.
"Brother, stop pretending. I know you're in pain. If you're in pain, just cry out. It will make me feel better. Otherwise, I'll be heartbroken." Liu Liu's voice was choked with emotion, her long eyelashes slightly damp, and her eyes clear and misty.
It seemed that if Liu Ting pretended any longer, her tears would fall.
Prime Minister Liu's eldest son, Liu Ting, was handsome and dignified, possessing his father's demeanor. His appearance and meticulous way of handling affairs were all exceptional.
However, because Prime Minister Liu held a high position as a high-ranking official, he had arranged for his son to work in a lower position, only moving within the Censorate and serving as a minor official with a sixth-rank position.
In fact, Liu Ting did not blame his father at all. This was because the Liu family could not be too conspicuous, as it would only attract jealousy and lead to the family's demise.
Although the Emperor had mentioned several times the possibility of transferring Liu Ting to a higher position, Prime Minister Liu's decree was that only if he resigned his position as Prime Minister could Liu Ting be promoted. This was a tacit understanding between father and son.
In the room, candlelight flickered, casting a bright glow. Liu Ting's chiseled features fit perfectly on his face. His skin was smooth, and his dark pupils contained two flickering sparks of fire, intense and caring.
The woman before him was his most beloved sister. She was of a flower-like age and should have been showered with affection, but instead, she was sent into the palace and subjected to such treatment.
The thought of this made his heart filled with unwillingness. If possible, he would rather take care of his sister for a lifetime than let others defile her.
From the moment he first saw the tender Liu'er, his heart was lost. When Liu'er was young, the red birthmark on her face was only the size of a copper coin.
The ignorant child he was, he always pestered his mother, asking why his sister had a copper coin on her face. He thought she would be very rich in the future.
What a ridiculous thing to say! He never expected his words to come true. Liu'er had actually entered the palace to become Empress, but she was an unfavored one.
"Brother, what are you thinking?"
Liu Liu reached out and held her brother's hand. Although she knew her brother doted on her immensely, she had never imagined his love for her was so deep. It was so deep that he couldn't bear to hear a single word said against her. He had even dared to strike the Emperor. He was truly her good brother.
Liu Ting smiled with a gentle disposition. His smile was only ever seen by her. In front of outsiders, he was always cold and unapproachable.
Only his most doted-upon younger sister and his family could see his soft side. He reached out and clasped Liu'er's small hand, holding it tightly. His warm breath enveloped Liu Liu, just as it had when they were children, never changing.
"Brother is fine. Liu'er, don't be sad anymore."
Liu Liu beamed a brilliant smile. Her brother loved to see her smile the most; it made his heart happy. Her eyebrows were like crescent moons, her eyes like stars, and when she smiled, she was as beautiful as flowers illuminated by the moon. Every movement of hers captured Liu Ting's gaze, and his eyes always followed her.
The brother and sister's gazes intertwined. The world outside faded away, and only their concerned smiles remained. The sparks in their pupils flickered.
Cui'er and another little maidservant entered with trays, breaking the silence in the room. "Your Highness, it is time for dinner."
"Mm, put it down," Liu Liu released her brother's hand and stood up, gesturing for Cui'er to place the dinner on the carved table in the room. She turned to look at Liu Ting. "Brother, have you eaten dinner?"
Liu Ting smiled and nodded. He had only eaten a small bowl of rice. The pain in his buttocks made it difficult for him to swallow, but he didn't want his sister to worry. "I have eaten. Liu'er must be hungry. Sit down and eat quickly."
"Alright," Liu Liu nodded and sat down to eat. The room fell silent again. Liu Liu originally wanted to check her brother's wounds, but the injury was on his buttocks.
No matter how close she was to her brother, as a young lady, it would be awkward to see her brother's buttocks. She could only lower her head and eat quietly.