Chapter 1

The first time I met her I was only a child, but I guess so was she. When I was only six my poor parents tried to sell me to a brothel in a small town. No matter how much I resisted they were ready to hand me over to the greedy Old Madame. Even from the outside I could hear women giggling while the men made inappropriate remarks about them. I held onto my mother and cried, but my tears did not seem to affect her at all.

"Xin Yi," Mother said. "We cannot afford to feed you. You must accept your fate."

Father only got angry. "Why must you make things so difficult? Just hand her over!" he yelled.

Just as father pulled me away from mother, he suddenly collapsed and someone else in turn pulled me away from him. It was a pair of hands that were probably as big as mine. The length of the person's arms was not one of an adult. When I came back to my sense, my father was on the ground and I was standing beside a young man.

I remember the youth clearly, he wore black robes and his hair was held up in a silver cuff. Almost like a silver moon in the dark sky. He only stood a few inches above me, but his firm stature made him look very noble. He was still very young, possibly only a year or two older than me. Yet, his stern face was all that was necessary to form fear in people.

"You brat! Give her back to me!" Father cried.

As father got up and sped over, he was immediately stopped by two tall men also dressed in black. "How dare you try to harm our young master!" one of the men hollered. "Do you not know that this is the son of General Meng?"

Father's knees suddenly grew weak and the anger on his face was replaced with horror. I did not understand, but even mother seemed to be scared. The Madame of the brothel also quickly ran inside upon hearing the name.

"Why must you force her?" the young man finally spoke. His voice was smooth like a flowing river, neither light or rough. "Even if you cannot afford her, why commit her to such a shameful life?"

Father's lips quivered, but no words came out. Mother continued to stay silent and looked down at the ground with shame. The young man tossed a large silk bag over to my mother, making her body jump a little. Turning his jade-like eyes to me, the youth pulled out his hand. "Instead of staying here, would you like to come home with me? I promise, I won't mistreat you like how they would here."

At that moment, I knew mother and father no longer wanted me. Perhaps they would try to sell me off a different way after this. If so, then what difference did it make now for me to follow this person? There was also comfort in what the young man offered me, a home he said. Thus, I decided to hold onto the soft hand and leave with him. I never looked back.

After getting into an elegant carriage, the young man introduced himself as Yu Zhen. He admitted that he did not need a maid at home, but had only wanted to help me at that moment. However, he would like to continue to have me around for he had a sickly Grandfather. It would be nice to have someone else besides the old servants to keep his Grandfather company.

I was not sure how my life would be with this person, but I truly did not expect this twist. Once we came upon the Yu Zhen's big estate after hours in a carriage ride, he ordered the maids to set a bath for us. I had expected a separate bath, but instead it was an extra-large basin filled with steaming water. Yu Zhen began to strip while I covered my innocent eyes. I was young but I knew the difference between men and women. Even though we were still young I was not accustomed to such things.

"Why are you still in your dirty clothes? Take them off." Without any warning Yu Zhen pulled down my hands and my eyes caught a glimpse of something strange. Then immediately I noticed the absence of a certain structure, instead; it was quite similar to mine. It was then I came to a realization that it was actually a girl before me.

As it turns out, Yu Zhen was forced to take the role as a male since she has no brothers. It did not help that her mother died after childbirth and the previous General Meng died in battle. Thus, in order to keep her delusional Grandfather happy, Yu Zhen decided to humor him along with the rest of the world.

My first meeting with Grandfather Meng was enjoyable, even the servants did not seem to mind me. Since I was the youngest in the estate, they all said I have brought new laughter into the old place. Soon Grandfather Meng started to call me his little daughter-in-law. Who would have thought that as the years grew by, this title would actually start to warm my heart.

Yu Zhen slowly took on the new role as the new General Meng and would spend most of his time in the Imperial Palace or in the camps. However, it's the days like this that takes the longest for her return. It's already been a whole two months, and her figured has still not walked through the front gate.

"Ah Zhen, come home…"I whispered as I stared through the window to the unopened gates..