1 Prologue

"Miss Sun, wake up. It's your big day today. You are so lucky to be able to marry someone you love," said Xiao Hua as the girl placed a tub of water on the table for her miss to wash her face with.

The girl on the bed woke up, her eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes, she stretched and yawned, finally awake. With long ebony hair, and a small peach like lips, she was a beauty, well-known around town.

The young woman was none other than YuQiao, the daughter of General Sun who protects the city and the Lord.

YuQiao was all smiles and butterflies, as she remembered the fact that she was getting married today to YongSan, the boy whom she met and fell in love when she was just still a child, growing up together. He was not from a noble or equal status house, but due to his hard work he climbed into ranks and showed his talents in the army and was soon promoted. YongSan later proposed to her family and her father finally agreed. It was a joyous occasion.

Meanwhile, as YuQiao was getting ready, her mother and her nanny, Madam Pang were walking towards their room with a tray of breakfast, it contains all YuQiao's favourite food.

"How many years had it been since she joined our little family?" asked Mistress Sun.

"It's been twelve years already Mistress," replied Madam Pang.

"It seems like fate when I looked upon her face and I felt such a deep bond and love towards the little girl and adopted her as my child. It is all thanks to you for bringing her to me," said the mistress as she held the old maid's hands.

"It is not me, but fate. I too was led there by chance, meeting her and bringing her here," replied Madam Pang with a smile. "I am glad it all turned out well."

"We took turns taking care of her despite the high fever that might have robbed her of her life. I do not have any more I wished from this world, but the hope that all my children will lead a happy life, especially YuQiao. She had bought me so much joy. I hope for the rest of her life, she would lead it happily as well," stated Mistress Sun.

"We all hope she does, especially the Master who was still do not wish the miss to marry and saying that her baby is going to be married. He loves the miss the most out of all his children," said the old maid.

And they both let out a little laughter.

Mistress Sun could still recall the fond memories of how the little girl had charmed her way into her father's heart. The girl was interested in studying, writing, and reading so the family had hired a tutor for her. She attended the lessons, but at night she would still look for her father.

It was the only free time he had, being the general and the lord he was busy patrolling and training the soldiers in the daytime. Usually everyone was already asleep when he came home except for his wife and now his little girl.

Mistress Sun could remember how the little girl would climb onto his lap and sat on it, telling him stories and events that happened during the time when he was away.

And sometimes, he would also read to her or teach her how to write using the brush, slowly guiding her small hands as Mistress Sun stood next to them adding oil to the burning lamp illuminating quietly from the corner of the table.

But that was not the only reason he loved her. She was unlike other little girls. She spoke like a boy and acted like a boy, and it made her father very happy as the man could do everything with her which he could not do with his son as he has a weak constitution since birth.

The little girl was like a son he never had. So, whenever he was free, he often bought her out with him on trips to the outskirts of the city where he taught her how to shoot arrows and ride horses in the vast field. They would spend hours and hours on end outside, hunting rabbits and birds, secretly against her mother wishes. "Girls should always act like girls," said Mistress Sun when they came home, but she was never serious about it. She knew how enjoyable the time they had spent together.

However, as a lady should, she was given lessons in sewing from her mother every day. Her aunt on the other hand, taught her singing and dancing, which she loved very much as well. However, unknown to everyone, her aunt was very good in martial arts as well, and she taught them to YuQiao.

As the years went by, she excelled more in martial arts than any other skills she learned. She often had duels with her brothers and even won over them. She learned every stance and mastered them after seeing them once. Although, he never boasts about her, but her father, Master Sun was very proud to have her as his daughter, a daughter that was more talented in more ways than an average person. He often joked that he would pass his lordship to her.

Before they reached her room, YuQiao was already outside her room, practicing her sword, it was her morning routine, and even though it was her wedding day, she did not miss it. Furthermore, it calmed her.