Imperial City; Liu Garden Residence

　　It was late in the evening by the time Liu Ti醤 Q� sat down with Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 and her two daughters. The family had eaten and rested a bit. Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 even took the time to put her young son to sleep and to freshen up before sending word to Liu Ti醤 Q�.

　　Liu Ti醤 Q� also took the opportunity to freshen up and eat. Liu Ti醤 Q� had changed into a silk cobalt blue Zhiju hanfu, the collar and cuff of the robe was intricately embroidered in an elegant style in white and blue. The cobalt blue sash was trimmed in white. SMng H� P韓g also helped Liu Ti醤 Q� to redo her top knot.

　　Upon Liu Ti醤 Q�`s arrival to the courtyard where Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 was staying, Liu Ti醤 Q� was quickly escorted in by one of the servants assigned to assist the family. In a sitting area of the guest courtyard, Liu Ti醤 Q� joined Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 and her daughters at a long low table.

　　After the servants served tea, Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 dismissed all the servants from the room.

　　Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 waited until Liu Ti醤 Q� finished taking a sip of tea before she began.

　　"First, I would like to thank Young Master Liu for not only allowing my family and me to rest here. I would also like to thank Young Master Liu for paying attention to even the smallest details. That is a very rare trait to find in many men, which is what makes me appreciate it all the more." Sincere gratitude filled the eyes of the skin and bones young mother.

　　Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 was referring to the additional three large trunks that were unloaded from the carriage and taken to the courtyard Lady Wu Y衝 R醤`s was guesting in. Along with the three trunks of clothing Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 bought from the clothes maker.

　　Liu Ti醤 Q� had stopped at several vendors who were packing away their goods and almost bought out their stock. When the other nearby vendors who had already packed away their goods saw this, some immediately hurried over to Liu Ti醤 Q� and unpacked their goods in front of her and vigorously began hawking their goods to her.

　　Liu Ti醤 Q� ended up buying tons of body oils, bathing oils, hair oils, bathing salts, facial creams, body creams, scented soaps, makeup, lip coloring, nail guards, hair ornaments, jewelry, combs, mirrors, perfumes, toys for the toddler, toys for the girls, she was even able to buy shoes. Since she didn`t know the sizes to buy, she bought several different sizes.

　　She bought accessories of all kinds, earrings, bracelets, rings, sachets, parasols, handkerchiefs, fans, lady daggers, and many other odds and ends. Somethings she bought, she was even sure what they were or what uses they had.

　　Liu Ti醤 Q�`s goal was to fill three large trunks. Liu Ti醤 Q� didn`t know much about traveling nobles in ancient times. However, in every drama, she watched about nobles traveling. They traveled with a ton of stuff. Forget traveling nobles of ancient times, in Liu Ti醤 Q�`s previous life when her wealthy friends traveled. They traveled with so many suitcases Liu Ti醤 Q� would often wonder if they bothered to leave anything in their closets at home.

　　So, In Liu Ti醤 Q�`s opinion, six trunks for four people were too little. However, she didn`t want to go overboard either. Liu Ti醤 Q� knew servants gossip. In fact, when it suits her needs, she even encouraged it.

　　The wealth of the Wu Family of Leandore Border Garrison City was a rumor she wanted to cultivate amongst her servants. She planned, later on, to give the okay to the gossiping servants of her residence to tell the servants of other manors. She wanted it to reach the ears of the Noble Women of High Society.

　　More and more vendors had crowded around her and energetically hawked their wares practically shoving them on her. So she bought, and bought, and bought until the three large trucks were full.

　　When the Eldest Miss saw the admiration, deference, and respect in the eyes of the maids who helped them to unpack everything, only then did she fully understand how important first impressions where.

　　She had enough of people looking at her family with eyes of pity, disregard, sympathy, or even embarrassment. The Eldest Miss hated it the most to meet the eyes of someone who felt so sorry for her family that they felt embarrassed on their behalf. She was well aware that that is what would have happened.

　　Had her family showed up in Liu Residence with her mother wearing rags and the dirty clothes that she, her sister, and brother wore earlier, claiming to be nobles. They would have been looked down on by the servants of Liu Residence. Even later on, when their circumstances improved. The servants of Liu Residence would always remember how she and her family showed up dirty and in rags.

　　Even the slaves in Liu Residence was dressed better than they were dressed earlier. It was only now the eldest daughter understood. First impressions were critical. Dignity must be upheld, and appearances kept. Not just for herself, but for the wellbeing of her family. Especially her impressionable younger sister, who was a bit unruly but very sensitive.

　　"I would like to exchange it for your story. Will you tell me your full story?" Liu Ti醤 Q� asked. She was aware of what she was asking. However, her curiosity towards this young mother and her children were very deep.

　　Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 silently nodded and began, "As my Eldest daughter told you my name is Lady Wu Y衝 R醤. I hail from the Wu Family of Leandore Border Garrison City. My ancestor Wu Ji鄋g Xi髇g was a General and the Commander of the Leandore Garrison. Long ago, during the war with Leandore, somehow, the warriors of Leandore Garrison were poisoned. It was suspected that the enemy bribed a servant of the garrison. It was said that the servant poisoned the water of the garrison before disappearing."

　　"The warriors of the garrison began dying by the scores. Every day hundreds of warriors died. My ancestor was able to send a message to the emperor. The problem was it would take time for reinforcement to arrive. Leandore had joined hands with Josper. Josper also began attacking the Tolling Lands as well. The Emperor sent a message promising my ancestor that if he could hold the garrison for three days. Help will arrive on the third day."

　　"To this day, no one fully knows how my ancestors did it. For three days, General Wu Ji鄋g Xi髇g led the last three thousand warriors to battle against Leandore and held the garrison. Both day and night during the three day period, Leandore constantly attacked fiercely."

　　Liu Ti醤 Q� sat enraptured, hanging on to every word of Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 `s. She looked as if she was watching a very good drama on T.V.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

　　"The warriors were already poisoned, they had no rest, but somehow they keep the lights of Leandore garrison lit and held on until reinforcement arrived. The Grand Commander during that time arrived on the third day with reinforcement of one hundred and fifty thousand warriors."

　　Liu Ti醤 Q� was unaware of the deep look of interest in her eyes or the look that was on her face as she leaned forward lost in the story, waiting to see what happened next.

　　"The Grand Commander had arrived late night on the third day under the cover of darkness. However, what was strange is that as soon as the Grand Commander arrived with reinforcement. To a man, my ancestor, along with the three thousand warriors that held the garrison, all dropped dead where they stood. Simultaneously every Tolling Torch on the walls of the garrison went out. When the bodies of the warriors and my ancestor was inspected, it was said that they shouldn`t have been alive."

　　`Aiya, they all died?! What a shame` Liu Ti醤 Q� though in disappointment. Right away, she wanted to know how they did it.

　　"How did they do it?" The question had involuntarily burst out of Liu Ti醤 Q�`s mouth.

　　Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 shook her head, "Every single warrior in the garrison had died, so there was no one to get answers from." Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 answered before she continued telling her story.

　　"When the Tolling Torches on the wall went out, Leandore immediately attacked. However, the Grand Commander was able to use that to lure the Leandore warriors into a trap and almost annihilated them. Word of General Wu and the three thousand quickly spread. When the Emperor received the war reports and found out, my Wu family was granted many rewards and nobility."

　　"That`s why to hear that my nephew was convicted as a traitor and executed. Followed by the news that my brother committed suicide, was such a shock. I don`t know what went wrong, but no one can convince me that something didn`t go wrong. We, Wu, are no traitors. Loyalty to our Emperor and country runs deeply in our blood. Something definitely went horribly wrong."

　　"My nephew was an orphan. However, he was the most loved child that you could ever find. My brother raised him on his own. My brother even refused to get married because he didn`t want my nephew to be mistreated. My nephew was his life, and he gave his whole heart to my nephew," Tears began to pour unchecked from Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 eyes and run down her boney, skull-like face.

　　Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 took a moment to wipe her tears with a beautiful silk handkerchief. She also took a sip of tea to calm herself and to wet her parched throat before continuing.

　　"My father was Lord Wu, and my mother was the maid of Lord Wu`s wife. One night Lord Wu got drunk, and my brothers were the result of that night. Nothing my mother said could convince Lord Wu`s wife that my mother didn`t intentionally set out to seduce Lord Wu. Lord Wu`s wife`s family was very powerful. She used the power of her family to prevent Lord Wu from making my mother a concubine."

　　"Eventually, he ended up setting up a house on the outside for my mother after his wife attempted to kill her while she was pregnant with my older brothers. Later on, I was born sadly. I never knew the love of my mother. She died under suspicious events after giving birth to me. Shortly after that, my father and his wife died in a carriage accident. My brothers and several momo`s raised me."

　　Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 got lost in thought for several seconds. Liu Ti醤 Q� didn`t disturb her. Instead, she silently sipped her cold tea as she waited. Finally, Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 released a long sad sigh before continuing.

　　"I fell in love with my previous husband and got married at the age of fourteen. My Eldest brother, who was the twin of my second brother, had already died. My second brother hated my husband and refused to allow me to marry him. My husband never loved me, he only wanted to use me."

　　With a bitter smile on her face, Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 said, "My second brother must have seen through my husband long ago. However, I was too in love to take heed to my second brother`s words and ran away with my husband. My husband only married me to gain access to my Wu family. However, my second brother denied him that."

　　When my husband and I returned after running away to get married, my second brother greeted us. My second brother sat us down and even served us tea." Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 recounted with a faraway look in her eyes.

　　"After serving us tea, my brother told me that the doors to our family`s manor would always opened for me. He told me that when things get too hard, I could come home whenever I wanted to. However, he made no qualms about telling my husband that the Wu family would never support him or help him in any way. Then my second brother unceremoniously chased my husband`s way."

　　Liu Ti醤 Q� glace over to Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 daughters, the cold hard look in the youngest daughters eyes surprised her. That was something she expected from the eldest daughter, not the youngest daughter.

　　"When my husband saw that, he gained nothing by marrying me. That was when his true colors began to show. It was only after he bought me home that I found out he already had two wives and many concubines. I grew so dishearted I decided to return home to my brother. That was when I found out that I was pregnant. Since I was pregnant, my husband refused to let me leave. He only did it out of spite. Believe it or not, he already had eleven children."

　　"My life became hell, but because I had a child to protect, I had to compromise," Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 said meaningfully. "My husband had undesirable habits. However, I did not hesitate to compromise." It was the look in Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 eyes that helped Liu Ti醤 Q� fully understand what she meant when she said she had to compromise.

　　"My children and I were treated very horribly. Every day was a struggle to get through. However, because my husband feared my second brother, he never went too far," Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 said cryptically before glancing at her two young daughters whose eyes were filled with sadness and sorrow.

　　"Liu Ti醤 Q� nodded and said, "I understand," and she did.

　　Lady Wu Y衝 R醤`s husband didn`t force her to stay because he loved her. He made her stay because he had a dirty habit that Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 allowed him to use on her in exchange for protection, food, and clothing for her daughters and son. However, because he feared Lady Wu Y衝 R醤`s brother, he never went all the way with his habits. Had he gone all the way, he would have probably killed her.

　　"When news came that my nephew was convicted of treason and my brother committed suicide. My husband grew terrified. He was afraid that the news of a nine familial extermination would follow on the heels of the news of my brother`s and nephew`s death. Recently many people in Hou Shi City have been dragged out of their homes and killed due to nine familial exterminations. So, quickly my husband presented me with a Bill of Familial Separation. He allowed us to take one sack of food, one sack of clothes, he gave us a half-dead horse and chased us away."

　　"From since young I loved to sew and make clothes, I immediately begin looking for a job making clothes. I did this to support myself and my children. However, my husband made things too difficult for me to stay in Hou Shi City. I decided to come to the Imperial City and see if I could find a job to support myself and my children in the Imperial City. Sadly before we reached the city, our horse died, and that is where we met young master Liu."

　　"Had there been anything left for us in Leandore, although it would have been a major risk to do so. I might have attempted the journey back to Leandore. However, when a person is convicted of treason. Everything they own is seized, and all titles and privileges are lost. I thought heavily on attempting the journey anyway to inquire about what went wrong. However, that journey is too arduous for the children to make, and my health is poor. If I expired along the way, that would put my children in extreme danger."

　　"What was the name of your brother and nephew? Maybe I could have a friend of mine looks into the situation to see what went wrong. At the very least, you would know what had happened." Liu Ti醤 Q� offered after she had silently listened to the tale of Lady Wu Y衝 R醤.

　　"My brother`s name was W� Qi醤g Ji�, and my nephew`s name was W� Y+ Di蝞. I am in no position to go looking for answers. However, I want to know what went wrong. I would appreciate it if Young Master Liu can find out what happened my second brother and nephew for me." Lady Wu Y衝 R醤 said and bowed.

　　The news of the sad tale of the Wu uncle and nephew had yet to spread to the Imperial City. So Liu Ti醤 Q� knew nothing of the Wu uncle and nephew. However, there was one thing that she did know. It was that Wang F鑞 Y襫g had gone to Leandore. So she decided to ask him if he heard of the Wu uncle and nephew, and if so, what happened with them?