"How are we even supposed to bring her back?" Liu Moran hissed, anxiety twisting his voice. "And if we hand the Wang family a daughter-in-law with a damaged mind, won't they come after us for it?"
Li Yexin let out a cold snort. "They should be grateful we're offering them a bride at all. Honestly, who else would be willing to marry that disfigured cripple?"
Mrs. Liu nodded in agreement, her expression turning firm. "Li Yexin is right. Moran, send someone to bring the girl down from the mountain."
Following the old matriarch's orders, Moran made up his mind. The very next morning, he would send someone to the mountains to retrieve the girl.
Far up in the mountains, hidden from the chaos of the world, a young girl darted through the forest with laughter spilling from her lips and chasing after her pet. Sunlight danced on her skin, and her smile seemed to breathe life into everything it touched. Grass glimmered greener, leaves rustled as if responding to her joy, and the whole woodland felt brighter in her presence. But anyone else witnessing this scene would have dropped dead from shock, because the creature she was chasing was no ordinary pet. In fact, it wasn't even something that should be kept as a pet at all.
The so-called "pet" was a four-legged creature covered in sleek black fur, except it wasn't a dog at all. It was a full-grown panther, a beast that could strike fear into the bravest hunter's heart. Yet at this moment, it looked nothing like a fearsome predator, with its massive body crouched low and its tail flicking nervously, it scampered around like an oversized kitten, helplessly fleeing as the girl chased after it, laughing as if the whole world was her playground.
At last, the girl pounced and grabbed the panther by its tail. The beast let out a thunderous roar except the sound wasn't fierce at all. It was unmistakably a cry for help. A few meters away, the old man who had been watching the scene froze mid-step. He honestly couldn't decide whether to laugh at the humiliating sight or feel sorry for the mighty creature being manhandled like a stuffed toy or scold the girl for treating one of the most dangerous predators in the mountains as if it were her personal plaything.
Feeling a twinge of pity for the poor beast, the old man finally cupped his hands around his mouth and called out to the little girl.
"Qingyi! Qingyi!" the old man called, waving her over. "Come here, child. Let the poor thing go. Come here, I have good news for you."
"Good news?" Her eyes lit up instantly. "Really? You're not tricking me again, are you?"
"Yes," the old man replied with a gentle nod.
"Okay" she muttered, clearly unwilling. Still, she let go of the panther's tail and came over to the old man with reluctant steps.
"Your family will be coming to pick you up soon," he told her gently. Then at once, the girl's eyes sparkled with excitement, lighting up like stars.
But as the girl's face brightened, the light in the old man's own eyes quietly dimmed. He knew all too well what kind of people her family truly were. They would never come for her after all these years, not unless they had something to gain. Unease gnawed at him, and without wasting a moment, he sent a few trusted men to uncover the real reason behind the sudden summons. It didn't take long for the truth to surface as they found each and every filthy detail - The original marriage agreement between the Liu and Wang families, how the rightful bride, Wu Qingyi, had been replaced by Liu Wuxin and now, how they want to switch the bride back, simply because the groom has turned ugly and become crippled. Listening to the details, the old man's hands tightened at his sides and said in his heart, "So this is why they want Qingyi back after so many years."
At first, the old man was burned with fury when he learned the Liu family's true intentions. The audacity of trying to drag Qingyi back only to sacrifice her in place of Liu's young miss made his blood boil. But his anger gradually eased the moment he discovered who the groom was. Wang Lingxuan, a member of the Wang family, one of the most powerful clans in the entire capital. A family even the old man himself had ties with and the family that still owed him a personal favor. Remembering the pending favor that the Wang family owed him, a slow calm settled over his heart. If Qingyi were to marry into the Wang family, then perhaps her fate would not be as tragic as he feared. In fact, it might be the only way to secure her future. He made up his mind that after the wedding, he would personally visit the Wang household and call in the long-owed debt requesting them to protect his little Qingyi for the rest of her life and no matter what happened, they should make sure she was safe.
There were times when the old man wished he could keep her in these mountains forever - safe, hidden, untouched by the cruelty of the outside world. But he knew better, Qingyi didn't belong to a secluded temple or a forgotten forest. She was born with a brilliance that could shake the world. Though her mind was considered "ill," her abilities far surpassed those of any sane, ordinary person. What she could achieve, others could only dream of and that was exactly what worried him. Greedy people would see her talent, not her innocence. They would try to use her, twist her gifts and hurt her without hesitation and that was why he was willing to let her marry into the Wang family. Among the major families of the capital, the Wangs were known for their principles, their wealth, and their disciplined upbringing. If there was anyone capable of protecting his little girl from the world's ugliness, it was them. For her sake, he would trust this decision though even his heart ached to let her go.
While the old man was lost in his thoughts, the girl had already darted off, skipping through the forest, weaving between the trees, and dashing across the mountain slopes. She gathered whatever she thought would make good gifts, packed her belongings with childlike excitement, and hurried back. Moments later, she came running toward the old man, breathless and bright-eyed, announcing that she was ready to leave. Ready to go to her family.
However, the old man chose to sit down with her and explain everything in detail, warning her again and again. He feared that with her naïve, trusting heart, she might end up shielding that so-called family, the people who held nothing but sinister intentions toward her.