The heavy pouring rain was accompanied by rumbling thunderclaps, the strong wind blew the rickety, broken windows lurching unsteadily from side to side creating such a racket!
The place had no lights, the occasional flashes of lightning illuminated the ruined temple, these sword-like lightning flashes, each lightning flash seemed to strike into the ground, giving off a glaring white light, the startling, deafening sound of accompanying thunderclaps, seemingly made the youngest girl cower in fear.
Lightning flashed one after another, eventually the faces of the women could be seen, the three are blooming beauties, each is elegant, absolutely their left faces are stunning which can make other women jealous, and men adore. Unfortunately, on their right cheeks, were slashed two deep knife marks, nearly destroying the entire right side of their faces, amidst the thunder and lightning in the night, the cuts looked quite grim.
[1] Hao Yue (皓月) means bright moon; the kingdom where the Qing sisters come from
Slowly lifting her head to lean on Qing Feng’s shoulder, Qing Mo wisely comforted her sister, whispered: “Second elder sister, do not be afraid. I heard that you’ll marry Prime Minister Lou. He’s a rare, modest nobleman. Both his political and military achievements are outstanding. He should not treat you unfairly.” Eldest sister is the most pitiful. To be sent to the emperor’s palace. It is said that the ruler of Qiong Yue[2] is temperamental, bloodthirsty and tyrannical. How will gentle, quiet and refined eldest sister bear it?!
Qing Feng scoffed, “Who cares!” She turned around, one hand holding her elder sister’s hand, one hand holding the young girl’s hand, Qing Feng growled fiercely: “I quite hate it! Why should Qiong Yue country’s ruler in a word, at once can do whatever he pleases?! Why did the Qing family have to take responsibility for our king’s incompetence?! Why did he kill our parents, we even have to be bestowed as gifts, as his tribute to flatter Qiong Yue!”
Fate never rests in their hands.
Looking at her second elder sister’s stubborn back, seeing the eldest sister’s anxious face, Qing Mo timidly said: “Even these faces that everyone admires, we are already ruined, yet they still want to bring us to Qiong Yue! Second elder sister, we simply don’t have the means to change anything, right?”
Qing Ling was startled, anxiously asked: “Feng Er[3], what do you want to do?”
Slowly turning around, Qing Feng clenched her hands into fists, firmly said: “Elder sister, I will stay in Hao Yue. I’ll stay in the side of father and mother, even if what I have to leave behind, is my dead body!”
Tightly clutching the hands of Qing Feng, Qing Ling suddenly felt relieved, lightly laughed: “Yes! Elder sister will accompany you. Anyhow, to keep on living is already meaningless to me.” Perhaps it’s a kind of relief not to think about everything to face in the future!
Qing Ling wavered. She lovingly looked at the face of innocent Mo Er. She probably does not understand the meaning of death. She’s only fifteen years old!
Watching three pairs of overlapping hands together, Qing Ling suddenly felt warm in her heart. As if to convince herself, Qing Ling forcibly nodded and said: “Yes! It’s best to have a family reunion!” The three people looked up and glanced at the top of the temple beams. With tacit understanding, they looked at each other and laughed. This is after the death of their parents, their first laugh, because after today, they will not anymore separate!
Qing Ling looked around and glanced at her sisters on her side. Closing her eyes, she whispered: “Feng Er, Mo Er, in the next life, we will also be sisters!”
Three people holding each other’s hands proceeded to kick the square table lightly. The red silk bands suddenly tightened as three bright lives gradually passed away.