Elder Sister

CHAPTER 1

The household of Minister Li Chengyuan's mansion is said to have a pair of beautiful daughters. The youngest one, Li Mingzhu, is said to be the most beautiful and cheerful, but also the spoiled one who likes to have everything she wants and doesn't particularly like her eldest sister. While the oldest sister, Li Yuheng, is the real beauty, unfortunately, she is 's said that in her younger days, the eldest miss was the most cheerful one and also knew martial arts and possessed great musical skills, but when she was 13, she fell while riding a horse and was crippled after that incident. The elder miss is never seen outside the house again.

3rd POV

The Li residence sat beneath a wash of early spring light, its white walls and dark eaves softened by the breeze that passed through the inner courtyard. New leaves trembled on the branches of the old osmanthus tree, and a few pale petals drifted down in slow circles before settling on the stone path.

In the centre of the courtyard, Li Yuheng sat quietly in her wheelchair beneath the shade of the pavilion. Her skirt fell in neat folds around her still form, and a blanket lay across her legs.

One pale hand steadied the book while the other turned the page with unhurried ease. She read without expression, her lowered lashes casting a faint shadow against her cheeks.

Hidden beneath the blanket covering her legs, her fingers unconsciously brushed against the calluses on her palm—calluses that should not have belonged to a crippled young lady who had spent years confined to a wheelchair.

The sunlight touched the side of her face, making her beauty all the more striking in its stillness.

The wind swept forward as if shoved by an unseen hand, and the leaves shivered softly when Li Mingzhu arrived in her sister's courtyard, her posture proud and her maids gathered closely behind her.

She laughed brightly and spoke in an exaggeratedly sweet voice. "Elder Sister, the weather is lovely today. It must be such a pity that you cannot ride out to enjoy it."

Li Yuheng, who had already expected something of the sort, only lifted her eyes from the book in her hands. "If you came only to mock me, then you may leave. I do not have the energy to entertain you today." she replied her expression remained as calm as still water, though a quiet depth lingered in her gaze.

Unable to draw the reaction she wanted, Mingzhu stepped forward and took the book from her sister's hands. She glanced at the title and let out a soft snicker. "Oh? The General Shen's Military Strategies? Elder Sister, are you serious? Even though you can no longer fight, you still read these things... Why, are you feeling nostalgic?"

"Mingzhu, enough. Do not joke around books," Yuheng replied, reaching out for the book. But just as her hand neared it, Mingzhu loosened her fingers and let the book fall to the ground. She looked at Yuheng as though daring her to pick it up, fully aware of her restrictions.

Yuheng merely gave a small smile and bent forward, but the motion stopped short as her body remained confined to the wheelchair.

Around them, the maids pressed their sleeves to their mouths to hide their smiles, none of them moving to help the eldest miss. The maids quickly lowered their heads, though amusement still flickered in their eyes.

Mingzhu's expression cooled.

"What are you staring at?"

The maids immediately bowed and fell silent.

Whatever complaints Mingzhu had about her sister, she had no intention of letting servants forget their place.

"What a waste to spend such a beautiful day cooped up inside the house, Elder Sister," Mingzhu said as she turned away with a bright smile. "I heard there is a fair in the market today. I simply cannot miss it. If I remember you, perhaps I will bring you something, so you won't have to keep yourself company with nothing but books." With that, she swept out of the courtyard, her maids hurrying after her. Each one glanced back at Yuheng with lingering amusement and contempt.

As she reached the gate, Mingzhu suddenly paused.

"Pick up Elder Sister's book."

The nearest maid froze.

"Must I repeat myself?"

Only then did the maid rush forward.

After Mingzhu had gone some distance did the courtyard slowly settle back into silence.

Yuheng watched her younger sister's retreating figure for a moment longer, her expression unreadable, and then lowered her gaze once more to the page before her. With quiet composure, she continued reading as though nothing had happened at all.