The Zhen family had been loyal subjects for generations, all of them from military backgrounds. After accompanying Emperor Gaozu into the pass and establishing the Liu Kingdom, they had been responsible for guarding the southern part of the kingdom to prevent pirates from harassing the border people.
Zhen Bao, also known as the sixth child of the Zhen family, had five elder brothers. The eldest brother was calm and introverted, with excellent archery skills. The second brother was a weapon enthusiast who even stayed in the military camp forging weapons during the New Year instead of returning to the capital. The third brother had the highest martial arts skills but was also the most stubborn and reckless. As for the fourth and fifth brothers, they had the best relationship with each other but also came up with the most mischievous ideas, which gave the Zhen family a big headache.
Due to the heavy snow blocking the roads and the long distance, considering the safety of the female family members traveling, Mrs. Zhen and her daughter Zhen Bao continued to stay in the capital.
The south had been stable for nearly a decade. Except for General Zhen and his second son, Zhen Bao's other elder brothers all returned to the capital to celebrate the New Year with their mother and sister.
Watching Zhen Bao surrounded by her four imposing and heroic elder brothers, being cared for and cherished, Yun Xi couldn't help feeling a bit envious.
Although she also had a younger sister and a younger brother, they were not close because of Mrs. Jiang.
On the contrary, Yun Ni even hated her, which made her not dare to expect any sisterly affection.
The moment they saw Yun Xi, Zhen Bao's elder brothers were immediately dazzled. They always thought their younger sister was extremely beautiful, but seeing Yun Xi, they found another kind of heart - stirring beauty!
Seeing Yun Xi, Zhen Bao immediately rushed up enthusiastically and hugged Yun Xi tightly. The smile on her face couldn't be hidden:
"Yun Xi, it's been so long! I've missed you so much!"
Since becoming friends with Yun Xi, Zhen Bao always loved to stick to her, like two inseparable friends.
But during the New - Year holiday of the girls' academy, Zhen Bao had invited Yun Xi to meet several times, but Yun Xi was always busy and didn't have time to play with her, which made Zhen Bao feel very bored.
"It's only been a dozen days."
Watching Zhen Bao rubbing her head against her chest, Yun Xi was full of helplessness. She increasingly felt that Zhen Bao was like a rascal. Every time she saw her, she would cling to her.
It made her both helpless and amused.
Thinking back, Zhen Bao used to dislike her very much. Who would have thought that they could become friends!
"Sixth, that's enough. Don't trouble Miss Yun."
The eldest brother, Zhen Shaocheng, couldn't stand it anymore. He stepped forward, grabbed Zhen Bao by the back of her collar, and pulled his clingy younger sister back.
With his lofty eyebrows and a smiling look in his eyes, he said to Yun Xi:
"We often hear our younger sister mention Miss Yun's deeds. We are grateful for your care of our younger sister and have always wanted to meet you. We are honored to meet you today. We sincerely thank you."
Zhen Bao was, as her name suggested, the treasure of the Zhen family, the apple of her parents' and elder brothers' eyes.
But because of her overly straightforward personality, which was more like a man's, and her love for martial arts, she couldn't get along with the ordinary noble ladies and had few friends.
Mrs. Zhen was very worried, so she sent her to the girls' academy to cultivate female virtues.
However, Zhen Bao still did things her own way. She disliked the girls' academy very much and caused a lot of trouble. Mrs. Zhen had to go to the Princess Chang several times to plead, and only then did the girls' academy keep Zhen Bao.
Zhen Bao's attitude changed several months ago. She began to stop rejecting going to the girls' school. She even frequently mentioned Yun Xi's name in front of her family and in her letters.
She boasted about making her first confidant in life and publicized Yun Xi's glorious deeds, feeling proud of her.
When the Zhen family learned of their daughter's change, they were secretly happy. But when they learned that Yun Xi was the daughter of the 'treacherous official' the prime minister, they were on high alert! They were afraid that Zhen Bao would follow Yun Xi and go astray!
Zhen Bao strongly defended Yun Xi, saying that she was different from her treacherous father. Later, Mrs. Zhen was still worried. After inviting Yun Xi to the mansion several times, she finally affirmed that Yun Xi was a good girl.
After specifically writing to her husband, Zhen Bao's elder brothers became even more curious about Yun Xi!
And this Zhen Shaocheng was the one who had met Yun Xi once during the archery competition at the royal hunting ground.
Zhen Shaocheng was polite and solemnly bowed to Yun Xi, which made Yun Xi a little embarrassed.
Yun Xi curtsied to him in return.
"You're being too polite. Your younger sister is so likable. I've received a lot of favors from her on weekdays."
Hearing Yun Xi's words, Zhen Bao lifted her chin slightly and winked at her elder brothers proudly:
"I told you! I'm very popular in the girls' academy! I'm not always causing trouble like mother said!"
Although her elder brothers doted on Zhen Bao, they also liked to tease her. Zhen Bao didn't want to show weakness in front of her elder brothers, so she always refused to admit that she had caused trouble.
"Come on!"
"If you're popular, pigs can fly!"
The fourth and fifth brothers of the Zhen family were twins. They glanced at each other and suddenly burst into laughter.
They loved to watch the fun. After looking at the pouting Zhen Bao, they turned their eyes to the third brother, Zhen Yuanfeng, who had been silent.
They snickered. One hooked the third brother's shoulder, and the other waved his hand in front of his eyes.
"Hehe, your eyes don't even move. Are they broken?"
Although the young lady of the Yun family was indeed as beautiful as their younger sister had described, their third brother's gaze was too eager!
Hearing their teasing, Yun Xi only then noticed that the burning gaze on her since just now was from the third son of the Zhen family. She couldn't help blushing and feeling embarrassed.
However, the third son of the Zhen family didn't care. He slapped his younger brothers' hands away and even boldly admitted:
"As the ancients said: A gentle maid, a worthy man's good mate. What's wrong with me taking a look?"
Although he often stayed in the military camp, he had seen many women, such as the gentle ones from the south of the Yangtze River and the dignified ones from the north. But Yun Xi gave him a completely different feeling.
She was graceful, quiet, and serene. She seemed weak, but her temperament was solemn, as if she was inviolable.
The moment he saw her, he fell in love with her!
"Hey, third brother only knows this one line of poetry, and he used it. It's really rare!"
The two brothers didn't mind making things worse, which embarrassed Yun Xi to death:
Were the people of the Zhen family always so straightforward?
Looking at the third son of the Zhen family with his sword - shaped eyebrows and starry eyes, elegant and charming, and then at the scene of the brothers playing around and having a good relationship, Yun Xi was very envious.
But a vague memory suddenly flashed through her mind. She was shocked, and her face suddenly changed.
In her previous life, after being locked up in the manor by Mrs. Jiang for three years, her father arranged a marriage for her. Just one day before her wedding, a major event that shocked the whole capital at that time happened.
All seventy - three members of the Zhen family were executed!
How could she forget? Yun Xi looked at Zhen Bao's pretty face and her happy smile. Suddenly, her heart ached, and she staggered!
"Are you okay?"
Zhen Shaocheng was the first to notice Yun Xi's strange behavior. He quickly reached out and supported the about - to - fall Yun Xi. He said self - reproachfully:
"It's all my fault. I let my younger brothers be too noisy."
Zhen Shaocheng put his arm around Yun Xi's shoulder. Just as he was about to scold his younger brothers, a person suddenly appeared.
He snatched Yun Xi from Zhen Shaocheng's arms and kicked Zhen Shaocheng hard in the head!