3 Comforting My Little Sister

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Wei Jinyun’s hand holding the porcelain bowl froze as she met those tear-filled eyes.

“My sister’s hands have no strength; she... wouldn’t do these things.”

Wei Fuqu looked at the porcelain bowl in Wei Jinyun’s hands, her eyes blurred with tears, her face flushed but remarkably clear-headed. In a soft voice, she questioned, “What law? What government office? Where is my sister? Where has she gone?”

She was afraid of upsetting her grandmother and younger sister, so she dared not ask much.

The Wei sisters were twin siblings but had very different personalities. Both were clever, yet the elder sister, Wei Fuqu, was a bit more thoughtful and cautious than others her age.

Wei Jinyun had long sensed her suspicion.

Faced with such careful questioning, Wei Jinyun had no desire to keep deceiving her. She glanced at the two others sound asleep before leading Wei Fuqu out of the cabin.

“Yes, I’m not your sister.”

Wei Jinyun gently patted Wei Fuqu’s back, hesitating for a moment before saying, “Fuqu’s original sister... she left, went to become an immortal.”

She felt the figure in her arms tremble suddenly, her soft sobs growing heavier.

“But grandmother is here, and Ling sister is here too. Whatever happens, I truly want to protect your hearts. Just like now, I only want Fuqu to get better, only want you to eat this bowl of steamed lotus and ginger cake, to sweat it out and bring down your fever.”

To Wei Fuqu, she was like an uninvited guest.

She was an orphan herself; her grandparents had just passed away, so she understood the pain of losing loved ones.

Wei Fuqu said nothing.

Rain tapped on the oilcloth overhead, making the surrounding atmosphere heavy and dull.

Wei Jinyun scooped a small piece of warm steamed lotus and ginger cake with a spoon and held it out gently to Wei Fuqu. Her eyes were tender. “Fuqu, will you trust me this once? Let’s get you well first.”

Children must be coaxed.

When she was little, her own grandmother used to coax her into taking the extremely bitter medicine prescribed by her grandfather.

Now, the bowl in her hands was not bitter at all.

The steamed cake before her was smooth and fragrant. The person who looked exactly like her sister had only concern in her gaze, without any evasion.

Her sister’s health had been poor, suffering from chronic illness and taking bitter medicine for over ten years. During the recent cold, she could feel her sister’s pain and weakness.

The immense sorrow and grievance, combined with the warmth of this “sister” before her, finally broke her down. She burst into tears in Wei Jinyun’s arms, curling up. “I miss my sister...”

She was a fake, but her concern for grandmother and sister was real, as was her desire to drive away those villains.

In truth, she had long known her sister would not return.

Deep in her heart, Wei Fuqu hoped that her sister, now an immortal, would never feel pain again.

She wept for a long time in Wei Jinyun’s embrace before cautiously taking the bowl of steamed lotus and ginger cake, nibbling it bit by bit.

After eating half the bowl, she looked up. “It’s sweet.”

Wei Fuqu had eaten little today, not even finishing half of grandmother’s red bean bun.

The steamed cake was soft and dense, delicate enough not to need much chewing; the lotus seeds were sweet and fragrant with ginger but not spicy at all.

She sniffled, feeling much better.

“Of course it’s sweet.”

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Wei Jinyun couldn’t help pinching her cheek. “Tomorrow I’ll make you some ginger milk pudding, Fuqu sister. It’s sweet too.”

Wei Fuqu lowered her head to continue eating, her cheeks flushed even more from the fever.

“Thank you.”

Wei Jinyun was very pleased to see her finally willing to eat.

Children just need a little coaxing.

She would be a good sister to her.

After finishing the entire bowl of steamed lotus and ginger cake, Wei Jinyun used a handkerchief to apply cool water to Wei Fuqu’s forehead, changing it several times. Her high fever gradually subsided, and she fell into a deep sleep, her palm clutching the sleeve of Wei Jinyun’s clothing.

The boat had been traveling along the canal for several days and finally slowly approached the jurisdiction of Pingjiang Prefecture. The plum rain season was long, and here the fine drizzle was no different from Jiangning Prefecture.

Through the mist, the outline of a city gradually appeared before them.

The blue-gray city walls stretched on endlessly. Among numerous merchant and passenger boats, the small black canopy boat carrying Wei Jinyun was utterly inconspicuous.

The sound of water lapping against the boat came gently, mixed with the bustling shouts.

“Pingjiang Prefecture, we’re entering Chang Gate!”

The boatwoman shouted at the top of her lungs.

Wei Wuling leaned on the boat’s edge, supported by Wang Qiulan, her small mouth rounded in awe. Wei Fuqu was also stunned by the scene, gazing around curiously.

Wei Jinyun stared unblinkingly at the city ahead, her heart pounding like a drum — this was what her hometown looked like a thousand years ago.

The boatwoman pointed out, “This is Chang Gate, the waterway’s throat, meant to connect the energy of Changhe. It’s always bustling!”

Wei Jinyun scanned the scene; boats lined up like dragons near Chang Gate, soldiers shouting orders to inspect them.

Nearby stood the symbolic landmark of Suzhou — the Bao’en Temple pagoda. In the past, grandmother enjoyed visiting the temple during Buddha’s birthday festivals, and sometimes Wei Jinyun accompanied her for walks and rest.

She only wished she had a camera in hand.

Around them, all kinds of shops clustered tightly.

Next to a cargo boat unloading goods was a grass rope shop with its door wide open. Young clerks busily sold bundles of new grass rope to boat owners eager to repair their vessels. There were countless stables renting out mules and horses and providing fodder for traveling merchants.

Fish sellers were abundant, wooden tubs filled with lively fish and shrimp jumping and splashing.

“Such big fish, even bigger than Ling sister,” Wei Wuling marveled at the river fish being carried by two vendors still flapping wildly.

People of Wu region mainly ate rice; piles of hemp sacks stood before rice shops, clerks carrying sacks in and out.

Further inside, many small eateries catered to coolies and boatmen, bustling with business. Tables and stools spilled onto the street; big bowls of soup and pancakes were served alongside coarse wine amid constant noisy chatter.

During the plum rain season, vendors hawking straw sandals, bamboo hats, and raincoats set up small stalls wherever there was space, their calls rising and falling.

“Reach out.”

While admiring the prosperity of Pingjiang Prefecture, Wei Fuqu tugged on her sleeve and whispered, “For you.”

A few candied lotus seeds were placed in her palm.

“Sweet.”

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Wei Fuqu ate one herself but seemed to choke slightly, coughing lightly and turning her face away.

Had she been accepted? After more than a month in the Song dynasty, she had finally won over her aloof younger sister.

Wei Jinyun laughed and stuffed all the candied lotus seeds into her mouth, chewing happily.

The candied lotus seeds had no lotus core, coated in layers of sugar powder.

The sweetness given by her sister was genuine.

Overwhelmingly sweet.

Ahead, a long line of boats waited; Wei Jinyun’s eyes blurred from watching, but finally, their small boat was called to dock.

After so many days on the water, the passengers were all sore and restless. Since entering Chang Gate, they had been eagerly staring ahead just like her.

Now that the boat stopped, everyone pushed forward.

“Move aside, blind fools!”

A burly coolie barreled through, carrying a heavy sack.

“Ah! My bundle, don’t push me! Don’t push me!”

People behind stumbled and screamed as they were jostled.

Wei Jinyun’s attention was fully on protecting her two younger sisters and steadying her grandmother. She was pushed so hard she could hardly breathe.

She was shoved from both sides, stumbled, and stepped on slippery green moss on the boat’s deck. Her foot slipped, and her body fell uncontrollably backward.

Of all people, she was the chosen one to land on that patch of moss!

Fortunately, she didn’t fall into the water. Instead, her back hit something cold, which promptly and decisively shoved her back onto the deck.

She instinctively turned around but could only catch a tall, slender figure in the hazy mist—a man dressed in tight-fitting red clothing, his hair tied neatly in a high ponytail.

He moved without hesitation, not even looking back to check if she was safe. Agile and alert, he instantly targeted a sleazy character attempting to pickpocket passersby in the chaos.

“Inspection Office! Stop right there!”

A clear, cold shout rang out, carrying a chill that instantly drowned out the surrounding noise.

Wherever the dazzling red figure passed, the chaotic crowd instinctively parted to create a path.

Wei Jinyun roughly understood what had saved her.

The longsword was held firmly in that figure’s hand.

A chill ran down her spine, cold sweat breaking out. Luckily, the sword was still sheathed.

Otherwise, compared to breaking in two, she would rather have fallen into the water.

“Oh my heavens, you scared me to death!”

A woman nearby, who had nearly been bumped by Wei Jinyun, patted her chest, face pale. “Thanks to Officer Lu, or else this young lady would have fallen in and gotten soaked.”