March, 231 BC
"Miss, please stay out of the cold. Don't forget to drink your medicine, eat your vegetables...remember to listen to your Grandfather," Nanny Gu said the last part quieter as she wrapped the fur shawl around me.
"Please take care of yourself, Nanny." I grasped her hands, unsure when the next time I could see her again. I observed the wrinkles at her eyes as she smiled at me with assurance that she'd be okay.
"Thank you for your hard work all these years," Qi Yuan, my cousin, nonchalantly came up to us. "Our family's gratitude. It should be enough to retire you and set up your sons' life," he dropped a bag into her palms.
"Young master, my late Lady had already given me enough from her will. Please keep it for our Young Miss."
"If you say so." He walked away, but I saw him in the distance putting the same bag into her chest.
A month had passed since the funeral. Snow had started to melt, so today was the day I officially depart from the Lu household; everyone from the Qi family were to move out including Nanny. However, she was indeed too old to travel into the cold north of Qin where the headquarters of the Qi's mercenary group was.
"Jia Yue, come," my grandfather commanded from the window of his carriage.
I looked down at the snow piling on my boots and slightly dipped at the knee to nod 'yes' in response. As my head turned, I saw servants closing the gates of the Lu household.
No one came.
Nanny held my hands and helped me into the carriage. I squeezed them once more, meeting her eyes in silent thanks.
Warmth engulfed me as I entered and sat across from Grandfather.
Silence.
"Child."
I tightened the grip on my sleeves.
"You're a proud granddaughter of our Qi Family. Sit up tall." He said so firmly that commanded my instincts to comply.
"Yes, Grandfather," I meekly responded.
"Grandfather," my cousin's voice traveled from outside the carriage, "are you scaring the lady of the house already?" He peeked through the window.
"Don't be scared. He's forgotten how to speak to girls since auntie left...sorry," he trailed off and cleared his throat. "The trip will be five days worth. Let me know if you start feeling sick or need to rest okay? I'll be riding beside you guys. Here-" He placed a warm satchel into my hands. "They're filled with hot stones. Should keep you warm before nightfall," he smiled at me.
Qi Yuan visited me everyday while I was recovering. He talked a lot while I listened. He shared his excitement now that he's got a little sister like his friends, his new training regiments, his father—my uncle's—plan for his leadership, and more.
Today, he stood tall and lean, shoulders carrying a quiet confidence, and dark eyes that observed me with a mix of gentleness, concern, and a flick of amusement.
"Thank you...Yuan-ge."
He flashed me a bright smile and patted my head.
"Close it, it's cold." Our grandfather's voice directed. I obeyed.
The road was not smooth, and my body was not taking it kindly.
I tried distracting myself by napping, but really, just closing my eyes as Grandfather had done the entire time. It didn't help.
I peeked my eyes open trying to ignore the sourness that was threatening to make an exit.
Grandfather looked past his prime, but nothing about him said that he's frail and weak. He was wearing light armor with his sword beside him. His back was fully against the wall with his arms crossed.
I wondered if he's comfortable wearing that in here.
Nanny reminded me the Qi family were masters of Tianlang Wei—the Heavenly Wolf Guard. Wolves that even kings feared.
Their name was spoken throughout the streets when Qin Shi Huang united the seven kingdoms, but whether they stood beside the emperor or against him, I couldn't remember. A lot was still a blur as I tried to reconnect the pieces of my past memories.
What I did know was this: now that I left the Lu family, nothing about my future was going to predictable. I had the month to make peace with it. I had to cling onto hope that this was a start of something 'not worse' to stay sane.
If I keep my head down and diligently help with the household, perhaps they would let me live quietly in the shadows. That's all I needed.
Daylight began to dim as we stopped and men began to set up camp. I was instructed to sit in the carriage, but nausea was climbing up my throat more dangerously once we stopped moving. My choices were: disobey orders and possibly face the consequences or vomit here in the name of following orders and force Grandfather to sit in the smell for days...
I grimaced at the thought.
My head peeked out of the carriage and spotted my grandfather talking to my uncle afar . There were two guards a few feet away who got distracted when another two came up to talk.
My toe tipped out to the ground and I could've sworn it spun a little bit before I found stability from the black horse that was still attached to the carriage. He snorted, and I whispered a shh..
My body only allowed a few steps before everything came up. Liquid splattered and the bitter acid overwhelmed my mouth.
"Mei-mei! Are you okay?! Guards!"
I didn't have time to respond as my dizziness got worse with each surge of vomit. Footsteps began to crowd around me, but I didn't have the luxury to look up yet.
"Miss!"
"Master, the lady!"
Many called out in the backgrounds.
A strong hand stroked my back, soothing my body from the dry heaving. "Here," a piece of ginger candy sat between my lips.
Color already drained from my face, and my vision dotted with familiar black spots.
"I'm sorry…"