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00:00my mom up and sell it as pork before she died she told me to find my uncle she said
00:04he was some
00:04powerful general and he'd feed me but when i stopped him on the street he was holding my
00:09cousin he looked down at me and scoffed trash like you should just die need money tell your
00:14mom to come beg me then he took my cousin and bought her gold bracelets i'd never seen anything
00:20so beautiful on her wrists they shined brightly my uncle glared at me what are you looking at
00:26keep staring and i'll gouge your eyes out then he walked away i stared at his back unable to move
00:32i held my empty stomach and lowered my head my mom was wrong he would never feed me he was
00:37so rich he
00:38didn't even blink buying my cousin gold bracelets but when i asked for money for a bun he told me
00:43to
00:43send my mom but my mom was already dead my dad chopped her up and sold her as pork the
00:47streets
00:47of the capital were crowded but the sky slowly darkened it started to drizzle i curled up under
00:52an alley awning i rolled up my sleeve and stared at the knife scars on my wrist i thought of
00:56my
00:56cousin's gold bracelets so pretty if i wore them my dirty blood would ruin them still i wished i had
01:02one i could trade it for lots of buns mom said buns were soft and fragrant really delicious i licked
01:08my
01:09cracked lips and forced myself to stand i hadn't eaten in two days i was starving maybe selling myself
01:14was the only way to live i tried to sell myself to a rice shop the owner drove me off
01:17before i even got
01:18to the door where'd this beggar come from get out bad luck i walked through the rain numb and empty
01:22i went to shop after shop no one wanted me i didn't even want pay just one bite to eat
01:27in the
01:27end only the brothel would take me in a woman named ms lane pinched my cheek and smiled nice face
01:32you're
01:32pale and scrawny now but give it some time you might turn into a real beauty she made me sign
01:36a page full
01:37of writing she thought i couldn't read she tricked me into signing for food but i knew it all my
01:41mom taught
01:42me to read it was a contract selling myself and beside it was a plate of fresh buns
01:46ms lane tore one open the smell hit me right away what choice did i have but to sign i
01:51stared at the
01:51bun and swallowed hard my hand lifted from the red ink just as i was about to sign it someone
01:56grabbed
01:56me it was my uncle he glared at me disgusted you're just as cheap as serena same dirty tricks too
02:03disgusting how did our family end up with someone like you selling yourself to a brothel even lower
02:08than your mom now move take me to her he shook me until my vision spun i knew i'd starve
02:13if i didn't
02:13eat before i blacked out i bit off a piece of his flesh and swallowed it right after that he
02:18kicked
02:18me away i slammed hard onto the ground a sharp pain hit my chest and everything went black went quiet
02:23well at least i got to eat meat once too bad it tasted awful cold water woke me up when
02:28i opened
02:29my eyes i was in a beautifully built courtyard before i knew it a fierce old woman pinched my nose
02:34and forced sour porridge down my throat then they dragged me into my uncle's study inside my uncle was
02:39talking about me with a doctor frowning my uncle said so she bit a chunk out of me because she's
02:43starving the doctor nodded yeah any later and she'd be dead i was hauled in front of my uncle his
02:49face
02:49looked awful white bandage wrapped the wrist i'd bitten he looked at me like i was an ugly rat he
02:54turned his head away speaking without looking at me you were starving and you didn't say anything or
02:58was that revenge i looked at him quietly and softly said sir the first thing i told you was i'm
03:03starving
03:03could you give me some money for a bun he froze for a moment clearly remembering then his brows knit
03:08in displeasure why aren't you calling me uncle now i pressed my lips tight and lowered my head
03:12when we first met i called him uncle but now i didn't want to he lifted his foot and tipped
03:16my
03:16chin up mute he curled his lips coldly still want to eat if you want to eat take me to
03:22your mom i want
03:22to see what's so great out there that she stayed away for nine years now she's broke and sends you
03:27back to beg i nodded and said give me white buns i'll take you to her fresh out of the
03:32oven not like
03:33that cold sour porridge from earlier that'd mess up my stomach the old woman behind me dropped to her
03:36knees at once sir i clearly fed her hot meat porridge she's lying my uncle looked at me with
03:42even more disgust just like your mom utterly disgraceful i looked at the old woman jammed my
03:46fingers down my throat and threw up the cold sour porridge my uncle staggered back in shock
03:52i jammed my fingers down my throat and threw up the cold sour porridge my uncle staggered back in shock
03:57i looked at him calmly see that porridge in my stomach for a while and it was still cold my
04:02stomach
04:02isn't made of ice he looked at the mess on the floor and recoiled at the sour smell how could
04:07something she just ate go sour so fast the old woman was already on the floor shaking all over
04:12it's clear now my uncle snorted coldly who gave you the nerve to disobey me behind my back the old
04:17woman trembled about to speak when a gentle voice came from outside i told her to feed it serena's
04:21daughter should be grateful for a bowl of rotten food the voice arrived before the person woman in
04:25fine robes walked in servants around her when i saw her face i froze i almost called out mom but
04:31i knew she
04:31wasn't she looked a lot like my mom but softer more graceful my mom looked older and worn out she'd
04:36never had a good life after being sold to my dad and aunt clara's always had it easy she walked
04:40in
04:40with a dark face the mess on the floor made her cover her nose in disgust yet a hint of
04:44satisfaction
04:44flashed in her eyes she looked at me and said you really do look like serena same little vixen face
04:49where is that bitch now i looked down and spoke quietly give me food and i'll lead you to her
04:54she
04:54snorted coldly what right do you have to make demands my uncle frowned he had servants bring in a plate
05:00of hot buns eat don't die in my house it's bad luck my aunt shot him in unhappy glare you
05:04feel
05:05sorry for this bostit my uncle shook his head he said nothing but his gaze grew heavy i was starving
05:10i grabbed a bun and tore into it so soft and sweet mom hadn't lied to me buns really are
05:14delicious way
05:15better than those dry corn cakes but i didn't dare eat too much i stuffed the rest into my torn
05:19sleeves
05:20my uncle watched me do it this frown deepening your mom didn't feed you i shook my head she saved
05:25the
05:25best food for me my uncle sneered face full of disgust then why do you still look so poor
05:29still putting on a show i didn't answer i just said let's go aunt clara snorted she told them to
05:34prepare a carriage but she wouldn't let me get on she said i made her sick wherever i went the
05:39air
05:39turned sour i watched my nicely dressed cousin get into the carriage envy rose in my chest mom rarely
05:44held me she said sometimes she wanted to strangle me said i was a mistake but when she was locked
05:49in the
05:49cellar i was the only one who stayed and she was always kind-hearted when she was in a good
05:54mood
05:54she taught me how to read she told me many stories about home she even taught me martial arts but
05:58i
05:58was useless i could never learn it well she said the women in her family were just as strong as
06:01men
06:01she once earned merit on the battlefield herself if she hadn't been framed and had her tendons cut
06:06she wouldn't have ended up like that she tried to kill herself many times but her hatred kept her
06:10going my uncle rode ahead on a tall horse he asked if i could ride on my own i shook
06:14my head what did
06:15your mom teach you are you useless yes i am useless i lowered my head i saw my mom being
06:20cut into pieces
06:20by my dad he even tried to make me eat it and i was too useless to save her my
06:25uncle laughed in
06:25anger how did our family end up with a coward like you don't call me your uncle outside i nodded
06:31he looked at me as if there was nothing he could do in the end he had a guard put
06:35me on a horse
06:35the guard couldn't refuse so he covered his nose with a cloth to block the smell but halfway through
06:40the ride he couldn't hold it and threw up my uncle frowned asking how a girl could smell so bad
06:45at a roadside inn he got a room and had his maid clean me up as soon as she stripped
06:50off my rags
06:51she screamed my uncle thought something was wrong he kicked the door open and rushed in
06:56as soon as she stripped off my rags she screamed my uncle thought something was wrong he kicked the
07:02door open and rushed in he rushed in calling out to iris asking what was wrong iris covered her mouth
07:07and looked at him tears running down her face sir please take pity on this ava miss ava she doesn't
07:13deserve it then he saw me without clothes and froze i think my back was covered in fine knife
07:17scars but i couldn't reach it or see it it's probably ugly iris seemed soft-hearted she gently
07:22touched my wounds tears falling non-stop she smells because the wounds are rotting and she's been
07:26burning with fever my uncle stared at me for a moment then realized i was a girl he quickly
07:30turned his back he took a deep breath before saying clean her wounds first i'll send for a doctor
07:35iris agreed but i shook my head and refused no need a little clay will do that's how i healed
07:40before
07:41i forgot the last two days iris stared shocked how can you use clay after my uncle left iris
07:46cleaned my wounds and put some medicine on them because treating me took extra time aunt clara's
07:51face darkened why waste time and money on her she's just like her mom always pulling tricks my uncle was
07:57about to hug my cousin but he paused when he heard that and pulled his hand back she pouted and
08:01whined
08:02uncle hug me she was only four she was the child aunt clara had long hoped for of course she
08:06adored her
08:07seeing her feel wronged aunt clara immediately got upset what are you doing can't you see annie
08:11wants a hug my uncle sighed i'm tired then he walked toward me for the first time he crouched in
08:17front
08:17of me he was really tall if he didn't crouch i couldn't even meet his eyes did your mom abuse
08:21you often i shook my head mom was good to me she got beaten more than i did my uncle
08:26froze his
08:26expression cracked how could that be she clearly then his brows knitted tightly again you're lying
08:31did your mom tell you to lie to me so i'd feel sorry for her i stared at him remembering
08:35mom's
08:35words her brother was a great hero a brilliant general wise and incredibly smart my mom was wrong
08:42again turns out her brother was just a fool if this was all just to fool him then how do
08:46you explain
08:47the old scars on my body was i beaten all my life just for this lie maybe the way i
08:51looked at him
08:52pissed him off he snorted coldly he really liked doing that as if it made him feel superior lead the
08:56way let's see what she's up to this time he didn't make a guard take me he lifted me onto
09:01the horse
09:01himself pressed me into his chest i sucked in a sharp breath in pain only then did he remember
09:05my back wounds he gently helped me sit upright don't you have a mouth why didn't you say it
09:08hurt i clenched my teeth tight it hurt too much to speak so i pretended to be mute the horse
09:12moved
09:12fast two days journey was done in half a day when we reached rivermore village my dad was still
09:17selling pork when he saw the horses in carriage he froze and didn't dare look up everyone in the
09:21village knew not to look up cross someone like that and death would be the least of it but i
09:26pointed at
09:26him and told my uncle that's my dad he's selling my mom when we reached rivermore village my dad was
09:33still selling pork when he saw the horses and carriage he froze and didn't dare look up everyone
09:38in the village knew not to look up cross someone like that and death would be the least of it
09:43but i
09:43pointed at him and told my uncle that's my dad he's selling my mom my uncle's face darkened you're
09:47saying that butcher is your dad and your mom was sold by him at your age you're already lying like
09:51that i sighed ever since meeting my uncle i've been sighing non-stop talking to him was exhausting
09:56how did mom ever think he was smart i tried to get down but he held my waist tight so
10:00i shouted
10:01to my dad dad i'm back when my dad heard my voice he looked up fiercely but when he saw
10:06me on the
10:06horse being held he froze he glanced at their clothes then quickly set down the knife he smiled
10:13kindly ava where have you been i've been looking for you two days my uncle stared at his old ugly
10:17face
10:18his expression turned dark his eyes were dark full of something i couldn't understand he held my waist
10:23tight so i couldn't slide off the horse is he really your dad i nodded my dad stood below the
10:30horse looking pleased uh you fancy my girl
10:36this girl's very obedient she won't fight back or talk back ten tails of silver and she's yours
10:40my uncle sneered really didn't you just say he was selling your mom dad cut in right away she's just
10:45a
10:46kid talking nonsense no one's selling her mom i'm keeping her for myself i pointed at the meat scraps
10:51mom's right there he cut her up and sold the pieces and boiled her bones and fed me the soup
10:55i
10:55felt sick and bolted oh right that piece has three red dots that's her arm mom said that's
11:00the carter family mark when dad heard that he snapped you little brat what nonsense is that
11:06ungrateful little brat my uncle just stared at the meat he didn't say a word for a long time but
11:10i could
11:10feel his muscles tense hand trembling dad saw my uncle staring at the meat he blinked nervously and
11:15tried to smile at my uncle that's musk deer from the mountains the meat's nice and tender sir don't
11:19listen to her just then aunt clara leaned out from the carriage behind why are we still stuck
11:24here or are we there already dad turned at the sound the moment he saw her face his legs went
11:29weak
11:29then he took off running he was a butcher he was big and strong plenty of stamina but my uncle's
11:34guards were trained soldiers he barely ran before they pinned him only then did my uncle help me
11:39down he walked to the stall in silence he picked up the meat iris walked over took a look and
11:43her
11:43eyes welled up sir this is human flesh just like on the battlefield there were two slabs of pork on
11:49dad's stall too he was clever mom's meat was chopped up for extra most people wouldn't notice aunt clara
11:55came over with my cousin looking confused at my uncle in the meat stall are we there yet where's
12:00serena my uncle said nothing by the time dad was dragged back hands tied by two guards i had already
12:04taken off my coat and started gathering mom's meat it was late autumn the meat hadn't spoiled but it
12:09didn't look fresh anymore after all two days had passed my uncle watched me silently after a moment
12:13he sneered quite the convincing act fine take me to her or i'll kill you held mom's meat and nodded
12:18then led them into the village along the way the women we knew stared at us strangely some of the
12:23braver ones asked me ava what's going on why are they pinning your dad down i thought for a moment
12:28then i told them he killed my mom and sold her meat if you bought any from him please bring
12:32it back
12:33i want her to rest in peace you damn butcher how could you do that one woman leaned on the
12:38wall and
12:38threw up god i gotta tell the old man no wonder clark was so generous today he gave us a
12:43huge chunk
12:44of meat my dad's face darkened he shot me a vicious glare like he wanted to tear me apart too
12:48bad they
12:49stuffed his mouth he couldn't even curse my uncle kept his lips tight and followed me in silence my
12:54aunt seemed deep in thought her eyes kept darting around sometimes even sneering like she was secretly
12:59pleased at the gate i looked back at the yard it suddenly felt unfamiliar i'd only been gone two days
13:05but something felt different i gently pushed the gate open everything inside looked the same
13:09i tightened my grip on the bundle the cold scraps pressed to my chest chilling me to the bone once
13:14inside the yard i looked at iris and told her to get something to eat we'd been walking half a
13:18day
13:18everyone was hungry iris didn't answer right away she glanced at my uncle until my uncle nodded
13:22then she headed to the kitchen i lit a candle led my uncle and aunt to the cellar entrance i
13:28lifted the
13:28wooden hatch the smell of blood hit us i pointed into the dark tunnel mom's down there in the cellar
13:33she
13:33usually stays there my uncle's face turned cold he had them drag my dad down the tunnel my aunt held
13:38my cousin her eyes scanned the yard two huge butcher tables dark red blood everywhere she clenched her
13:44jaw and stepped into the cellar at the end of the tunnel was a large cellar almost every house in
13:48the
13:49village has one but ours had a much longer tunnel the cellar wasn't under the yard it stretched into
13:54the mountain dad said it keeps the sound out no one would hear a thing the cellar was huge there
13:58were
13:59all kinds of supplies and a carved wooden bed my mom's skeleton was hanging on the wall her flesh
14:04was already gone only her head still looked the same all those years of suffering made her look
14:10nothing like her twin sister see mom's right here i set the minced meat by the skeleton's feet and raised
14:16the candle so they could see her clearly see i didn't lie my aunt quickly covered my cousin's eyes
14:21she gagged and turned to leave then two stone slabs dropped the cellar was sealed even the guards
14:27couldn't push it open what's going on my aunt screamed then she realized something and glared at
14:32me you lured us in here on purpose what are you planning before she finished she got dizzy her legs
14:38gave out she collapsed my cousin hit the ground hard she burst into tears my uncle rushed to pick
14:43her up but before he reached her his legs gave out he could only watch as her crying faded away
14:49he and my aunt stared wide-eyed their eyes filled with terror i looked at them faint smile curled on
14:54my lips
14:54relax she just took too much she's just knocked out i looked at the three on the floor the candle
15:00flickered on the damp wall stretching the shadow of mom's skeleton like a lone bird with its wings
15:04spread guarding this dark corner all these years i crouched down and brushed my fingers over her wrist
15:10there was a faint mark there mom carved it when she taught me my name with a small knife
15:14ava my name is serena it means peace all i want is peace in this life why is that so
15:20hard i was just a
15:22kid back then i didn't see the sorrow in her eyes i only knew her hands were warm the mark
15:25she carved
15:25on the bone was like a tiny flower now that flower stays with her bones weeping silently in this cellar
15:30i turned to my passed out dad when he chopped mom up did it hurt so bad she couldn't even
15:36scream
15:36remembered every time dad beat her she'd hold me her voice hoarse ava hang in there when i get the
15:42chance i'll take you away we'll go find your uncle he'll help us but he never did i stood up
15:47and walked
15:48to the corner a small wooden chest was hidden there mom treasured it most i dragged it out
15:53it was locked but i knew where the key was mom hid it in a crack under the bed she
15:57said it was all
15:58she had left i dug out the key and opened the chest inside was a layer of blue silk a
16:02few yellowed
16:03letters lay on it and a silver hairpin a magnolia was carved on it just like mom taught me to
16:07draw
16:07picked up a letter and read it by candlelight it was from mom to my uncle the writing was neat
16:12but trembling felix i know you resent me but i never touched clara's husband clara set me up
16:17she was jealous dad said i was the most promising one and you always protected me so she got peter
16:21drunk then put me next to him to make dad think i wasn't pure felix i wasn't promiscuous dad drove
16:26me out he said i shamed the carter family he even wanted my legs broken i had no choice i
16:30could only
16:31run i ran to rivermore village and traffickers sold me to the butcher clark he's a devil he beat me
16:35every day but i couldn't die i have ava now i'll raise her myself let her return to the carters
16:39let
16:39her know her mom wasn't a slut my tears fell and blurred the ink on the letter so mom was
16:44telling
16:44the truth she wasn't the loose woman uncle called her or the homewrecker aunt claimed she was framed
16:49driven away by her own sister and dad and my uncle this so-called hero hated her for nine years
16:56over
16:56a few words never even giving her a chance to explain uh dad groaned softly his eyes slowly opened he
17:02had
17:02just woken up his gaze was still foggy but when he saw the skeleton his face turned pale like he'd
17:08seen a
17:08ghost ghost there's a ghost he struggled to get up but i stepped on his chest dad look closely
17:13that's no ghost that's mom my voice was soft but ice cold the same mom you chopped up and sold
17:20as
17:20pork dad started shaking his eyes filled with fear no that's not true ava don't listen to them
17:25she she died of illness he's still lying just like before when he made me drink mom's bone broth not
17:30a
17:31hint of shame she died of an illness i laughed through tears then tell me why is mom's skeleton here
17:36why do the scraps on the meat stall have the carter family's three red dots and why does your
17:40soup smell so foul it reeks i crouched down and grabbed his hair i shoved his face toward mom's
17:46skeleton look you'd better look carefully his screams echoed in the cellar he shook his head wildly his
17:52teeth rattled i didn't mean to she wouldn't listen she kept trying to run wanting to find the carters
17:56i beat her but she never gave in i had no choice i let go he crashed onto the ground
18:02so you killed her
18:03is it because she wanted to escape you because she wanted me to live enough a shout came from
18:08behind uncle had woken up he struggled to get up but the drug hadn't worn off yet his legs gave
18:13out
18:13he collapsed back down his eyes were full of shock and anger staring at me ava what are you doing
18:18he's
18:19your dad i turned to my uncle a mocking smile on my lips i turned to my uncle a mocking
18:25smile on my lips
18:26general don't forget my so-called dad killed your own sister chopped her up and sold the meat back then
18:31you hated my mom and said she shamed the carters but now look who really brought shame it's you
18:35uncle you never even knew the truth that aunt who framed her own sister and this beast of a father
18:40my aunt woke up too she covered her nose looking into the cellar her face twisted with disgust and
18:45fear you little bastard how dare you treat your dad like this and serena even dead she's still
18:49causing a mess look at this disgusting mess what a curse curse i walked up to her and threw mom's
18:53letter to uncle in her face and take a good look see how you framed my mom see how you
18:58made uncle
18:59hate her for nine years mom believed till her dying day you were her sister she always hoped
19:03the truth would come out one day but you you wanted her dead my aunt picked up the letter the
19:07more she read the paler she became no that's not true serena was the shameless one she seduced my
19:13husband first this letter is fake she kept arguing like someone cornered and losing it fake i pointed
19:19at my mom's skeletons can her skeletons be faked can dad's confession be faked can the villagers
19:23be faked too you thought your plan was flawless but you forgot mom had three red marks on her arm
19:28assign only the carter's bears you forgot my dad sold meat with her skeletons mixed in my uncle
19:32picked up another letter it was written to the carter ancestor it detailed how my aunt framed her
19:37and the suffering in rivermore village the more he read the darker his face became his hands clenched
19:42the letter and his knuckles turned white clara it really was you his voice was hoarse filled with
19:46shock and pain no it wasn't me felix don't listen to this bastard she's turning us against each other and
19:52getting revenge on us my aunt screamed and rushed at me but i easily dodged mom taught me some basic
19:57skills i was never very good but dealing with a pampered woman like her was easy my cousin woke
20:02up too seeing everything she burst into tears she ran into my aunt's arms mom i'm scared i want to
20:07go home i want uncle to hold me my aunt held her tightly tears streamed down her face not from
20:12regret
20:12but from fear annie don't be scared i will take you home we'll go home right away she looked up
20:17at
20:17my uncle felix let us out this little bastard is crazy she wants to kill us my uncle said nothing
20:22he
20:23walked over to mom's skeleton and slowly knelt down serena i was wrong his voice choked tears fell onto
20:28the cold skeleton i believed others too easily i never looked for you and i let you suffer for so
20:32long he knelt and bowed three times each bow was hard his forehead soon swelled red serena don't worry
20:37i will avenge you i will clear your name he stood up his eyes turned firm he looked at dad
20:43and aunt clark
20:44you killed my sister cruelly i will make you suffer before you die clara you framed your own sister you
20:49ruined her life i will send you to the clan temple you will live there as a nun dad collapsed
20:54in fear
20:54he couldn't say a word and my aunt screamed no felix you can't do this i'm your sister annie is
21:00still so young she can't lose her mom you still remember annie can't lose her mom i said coldly
21:04what about me i grew up without a mom dad abused me uncle despised me you called me a bastard
21:09what did
21:10i ever do wrong just then loud banging came from the cellar door my uncle's men had arrived general are
21:15you inside we're here to save you my uncle took a deep breath he shouted toward the entrance i'm fine
21:20wait outside without my order do not come in the banging stopped my uncle turned to me ava i know
21:26no matter what i do i cannot make up for what i did to you and my sister but i
21:30hope you can give me a
21:31chance let me do something for you what do you want wealth or status or the carter's inheritance i can
21:36give it all to you i shook my head looking at mom's skeleton i said softly i want nothing i
21:40just want
21:41my mom to rest in peace and those who hurt her to pay the price all right my uncle nodded
21:46i'll give
21:46my sister a proper burial clark and clara will face the harshest punishment then will you come back to
21:51the carter's with me i will treat you like my own daughter give you the best education you will be
21:56the real miss carter i hesitated mom's greatest wish was for me to return to carter's to know i was
22:01not a bastard but a member of the carter's but when i thought of the carter's of my uncle's past
22:05indifference and my aunt's cruelty i felt uneasy i i want to keep vigil by my mom's grave so in
22:11the
22:11end i refused after mom's matters are settled i'll decide where to go my uncle didn't force me he
22:15nodded all right i respect your choice whenever you want to return you'll always be welcome in the
22:21following days my uncle sent people to handle the cellar dad was thrown into the county jail my uncle
22:26ordered no food for him let him starve to death just like what he did to mom and me my
22:30aunt was sent to
22:31the clan temple she shaved her head and became a nun she would never stir trouble again mom's remains
22:36were carefully collected uncle had a fine coffin made her skeleton and the scattered flesh were
22:41placed inside when the villagers knew the truth they all pitied her many came to her funeral miss
22:46jane held my hand and cried ava your mom had a hard life now she can finally rest in peace
22:51mom was
22:51buried on the hill behind rivermore the view there is beautiful i can see the whole village my uncle
22:56personally set up her headstone it bears her name serena carter beside it are smaller words sister clara
23:00brother felix in mourning i stayed by my mom's grave for three months during those months my
23:04uncle often visited me he brought food and supplies he had tutors teach me reading writing and martial
23:08skills he said mom was the carter's most talented daughter skilled in both arts and combat he hoped
23:12i would carry on her legacy so i studied very hard because i knew this was what mom wished to
23:16see when
23:17mom first taught me to read she said ava girls must study too learn many skills only then will no
23:22one
23:22bully you now i finally have the chance to fulfill her wish three months later someone from the carter's
23:26arrived he was my uncle's dad and mom's own dad he was already very old his hair and beard were
23:32white
23:32he leaned on a cane but his eyes were sharp when he saw me tears filled his eyes girl you've
23:36suffered
23:37your mom suffered too it was my fault i wrongly believed clara back then your mom was wrong he
23:42brought me a carter token a jade engraved with carter only heirs of the carters may carry it he asked
23:47me to return to the carters reclaim my place and inherit everything i looked at mom's grave softly i said
23:52mom
23:53grandfather came for me should i go back to the family a gentle wind passed leaves rustled softly
23:57as if she was answering me ava return to the family and live with dignity make me proud i nodded
24:03then followed grandfather and uncle back the carters are a powerful family the estate was
24:07enormous even grander than uncle's general mansion grandfather arranged a grand ceremony for my return
24:12so everyone would know i was serena's daughter a true young lady of the carter's on the day of the
24:16ceremony the carter's was decorated in celebration many guests arrived they looked at me with
24:21curiosity scrutiny and even awe i wore a splendid dress and a jade hairpin from grandfather standing
24:27before everyone i still felt uneasy i was used to the rough clothes of rivermore used to the damp
24:32darkness of the cellar this kind of wealth felt unfamiliar to me grandfather held my hand and
24:37introduced me this is my granddaughter ava her mom was my daughter serena from today on ava is the
24:43eldest lady of the carters no one may bully her everyone voiced their agreement but i could feel some
24:47looks of disdain and contempt they still remembered i was the girl from the countryside the little beggar
24:53abused by dad and scorned by uncle but i didn't care i only wanted to live well and live a
24:57wonderful
24:57life for mom during my days in the carters every day i studied and trained the teacher who taught me
25:02was a learned old scholar he taught me the classics poetry and painting the one who trained me was my
25:08uncle's officer he was highly skilled and very strict with me at first i struggled when studying
25:12the difficult texts drove me crazy and the training left my body sore but i did not give up i
25:18remembered
25:19what mom told me in the cellar the suffering she endured for me and i found the strength to keep
25:23going my uncle often visited me he was no longer cold there was guilt and care in his eyes sometimes
25:28he trained me himself and told me stories about mom your mom was once the pride of the carters my
25:33uncle
25:34sat beside me his eyes lost in thought she followed your grandpa to war at 15 and won great victories
25:39even i could not match her swordsmanship but she was framed by clara and she ended up like that
25:44listened quietly my admiration for mom grew even more so my mom was an amazing woman
25:50ava i'm sorry my uncle suddenly spoke his voice was full of guilt back then i shouldn't have believed
25:55clara i shouldn't have been so cold to you and your mom if i had found you earlier your mom
25:59wouldn't
25:59have died and you wouldn't have suffered so much i looked at him and gently shook my head it's in
26:03the
26:03past but deep down i still resented him if he had believed mom back then if he had given me
26:08just
26:08one meal mom wouldn't have died and i wouldn't have endured so much suffering but i also knew
26:12hatred solves nothing it only brings more pain the days went by i gradually grew used to life in the
26:18carters my knowledge deepened my martial skills improved grandpa was very pleased with me he said
26:22i had mom's spirit my uncle saw me in a new light he said i was the carter family's future
26:26but i knew
26:27i did all this for mom i will live a wonderful life for her would prove that serena's daughter
26:33wasn't worthless but a person who stood tall one day my uncle told me dad starved to death in prison
26:38he died miserably like trash i felt neither sad nor happy it was simply his fate a few years later
26:45i
26:45grew up into a graceful young woman grandpa entrusted me with part of the business i managed it well
26:50everything in perfect order even better than uncle grandpa often said if mom were alive and saw me like
26:56this she would be very proud i often returned to rivermore to visit her grave every time i went i
27:01brought
27:01fresh steamed buns it's mom's favorite food and what i once longed for most i would sit by her grave
27:07and tell her how i'd been lately what i had learned and how kind the carters were to me
27:11one time i returned to rivermore i met mr taylor who once bought the meat when he saw me his
27:16face
27:16filled with guilt he dropped to his knees ava i'm sorry i didn't know it was your mom if i
27:21had known
27:21i would never have bought it i helped him up and said softly it's over my mom wouldn't blame you
27:27in truth the villagers were innocent they were deceived by my dad i asked them to return the meat
27:33only so my mom could rest in peace after returning from rivermore i heard some news
27:37my aunt had gone mad in the family hall every day she muttered my mom's name she said mom came
27:42for
27:42revenge i never went to see her i felt this was her fate she ruined mom's life in the end
27:47her guilt drove
27:48her mad years later grandpa fell gravely ill he held my hand and said ava my time is up the
27:54carters
27:55will depend on you remember this no matter what happens be as strong and brave as your mom
28:00i nodded tears ran down my face grandpa don't worry i will he smiled then he slowly breathed his last
28:07after grandpa passed away my uncle handed the power to me became the head of the family took charge of
28:12everything i launched a series of reforms the carters businesses flourished i also formed a women's army
28:18so women who suffered like i did can learn to protect themselves my reputation grew people began to say
28:23the carters now had an amazing female leader but i knew everything i achieved came from mom's strength
28:27one day i received a letter from the frontier it was from my uncle he said the border was in
28:32danger
28:33he would lead the army himself asked me to guard the carters keep things stable at home i agreed
28:37without hesitation i wrote back to him leave things at home to me go fight without worry after my uncle
28:43left for war i managed the businesses while keeping an eye on the frontier i knew the burden on him
28:47was
28:47heavy i couldn't let him worry a few months later good news came from the frontier my uncle had won
28:52the
28:52battle i led the carters to greet him seeing him return safely i finally felt relieved when he saw
28:57me his face was full of pride ava you've worked hard i smiled uncle it's what i should do that
29:03night
29:03the carters held a victory banquet at the feast my uncle raised his cup today i want to toast my
29:08niece
29:08ava if it weren't for her running the household i wouldn't have won ava you are the pride of the
29:14carters and your mom's pride too everyone raised their cups to me i stood up lifting my cup toward the
29:19distance it felt like i saw my mom's smile mom can you see i did it i lived a brilliant
29:24life for
29:25you and proved your innocence after the banquet ended i walked into the courtyard alone moonlight
29:30fell over me soft and bright rolled up my sleeve and looked at the scars on my wrist like rings
29:35of
29:35time they're etched on my body and in my heart these scars hold every hardship i've endured they
29:40also mark how far i've come they are my greatest treasure they remind me never to forget the past to
29:46cherish the present and face the future bravely memories of my childhood returned i remembered
29:50how my dad butchered my mom my uncle's cold gazes my aunt's cruel words and the sickening smell of blood
29:56in that dark cellar those memories are scars too etched into my life never to fade but i no longer
30:01hate
30:02hatred solves nothing it only brings pain so i chose to let it go and move forward carrying my mom's
30:08hope
30:08and my scars i will live well and make a life of my own another late autumn came i returned
30:14to rivermore
30:14weeds covered mom's grave i knelt down and slowly pulled the weeds away then i placed fresh magnolias
30:20there they were mom's favorite flowers just like the one on her hairpin the wind rustled through the
30:24leaves as if mom were smiling at me i stood up and looked into the distance sunlight fell over me
30:29warm and bright i know i still have a long way to go but i was no longer afraid because
30:35i knew mom
30:35would always be with me in my life and in my heart never leaving i turned and walked away my
30:41steps
30:41steady and calm knew i would grow into a woman as strong and as brave as my mom will make
30:46something
30:46of my life people who hurt us would never dare to look down on us again that winter a rare
30:51heavy snow
30:51fell the city was wrapped in silver the rooftops of the carters were heavy with snow from afar they
30:56looked frosted white i was checking the accounts in my study when iris spoke from outside her voice
31:01hesitant miss carter a girl is asking to see you she says she's from rivermore i sat down my pen
31:05my
31:06fingers brushed over the crowded lines in the ledger rivermore always stirred something soft inside
31:10me let her in moments later a thin girl followed iris into the room she looked about 13 her hair
31:17was dull and a bruise still marked her forehead her eyes were full of fear her hands clutched her
31:22clothes tightly shivering from the cold miss carter my name is mina miss jane told me to come at the
31:27mention of her i remembered the kind woman in rivermore so i asked gently did miss jane send you here
31:32for
31:32help tears instantly filled her eyes my dad my dad lost money gambling now he'll sell me to an old
31:38bachelor to his debt miss jane said you're a good person who might save me her voice faded it trembled
31:44with despair i don't want to marry him i want to study i want to live looking at her i
31:48saw the girl
31:48i once was huddled under a cold eve hungry and freezing the same helplessness the same hope for
31:53one chance to survive i stood and walked to her taking off my fur cloak and placing it on her
31:57shoulders
31:57it was a gift from grandpa the warm fur wrapped around her frozen body she flinched slightly and
32:03looked up at me eyes full of surprise don't be afraid i said softly now that you're in the carters
32:07no one will force you again i arranged a room for mina called a doctor for her wounds and hired
32:12a
32:12tutor to teach her reading and writing but a few days later the steward came to report that several
32:15elders were displeased they said i shouldn't have taken in some stray girl wasting the money they said i
32:21was still too rough not fit for the family that afternoon several white-haired elders blocked the hall
32:26leading them was my second grand uncle the most senior of the family leaning on his cane he said
32:31grimly miss carter we are a noble family how can you take in a stranger we don't even know her
32:35if
32:35trouble comes who will be responsible i stood on the steps the cold wind lifted my skirt and the scars
32:40on my wrist began to ache i looked at them in their eyes i saw doubt and the same disdain
32:45i had seen
32:45years ago from those who called me a bastard but i was no longer that helpless beggar girl i said
32:50calmly
32:51grand uncle iris is not a stranger she is a child from rivermore she has suffered all her life like
32:56me
32:56the carter's wealth may come from our generations but our family creed has always been
33:01to help those in need if someone had helped my mom when she fell on hard times it wouldn't have
33:05ended this way i know what it's like to go hungry and be bullied i know the despair of having
33:09nowhere
33:09to go now that i have the means i just want to give girls like me a way out isn't
33:14that what the
33:14carters should stand for grand uncle froze the other elders exchanged looks i continued mina is bright
33:19and eager to learn in just days she memorized over 1 000 words one day she may become someone useful
33:24money is never wasted when it's spent where it matters as for trouble if anyone dares bring it
33:28to the carters i'll handle it my voice was calm but unwavering years of sword training had
33:34strengthened my body and given me the courage to face whatever comes the elders fell silent
33:38grand uncle sighed leaning on his cane he turned away you are the head of the carters now this
33:43decision is yours after they left iris handed me a cup of hot tea softly she said miss carter you
33:48looked just like your mom from years ago holding the warm tea my fingers felt its heat but my heart
33:53ached mom do you see i can finally protect others just like you protected me back then
33:58days passed mina grew more cheerful she studied hard and even learned bookkeeping from the accountant
34:04she improved quickly before long more suffering women came some were abused by their husbands others
34:09abandoned by family i took them all in i placed them in the women's guard and trained them to fight
34:14so they could defend themselves and serve the carters when spring arrived i brought iris and several
34:19sisters back to rivermore before mom's grave the magnolias had bloomed white petals against green
34:24grass pure and graceful i placed steamed buns by the grave and said softly mom i brought the sisters
34:30to see you they were once like me but now they have peace and the strength to protect themselves
34:34mina said miss serena deeply before the headstone with tears in her voice iris said miss nina thank you
34:39for your daughter she gave us a second life a gentle breeze passed petals drifted down like mom's soft
34:44reply i crouched down and traced the words on the stone my fingers felt cold i remembered mom
34:50teaching me to write i remembered her holding me and saying ava be strong i remembered her last wish
34:54to find my uncle now i had not only survived i had become the person mom hoped for i was
34:58not consumed
34:59by hatred instead kindness and mercy i did not forget the suffering i turned it into the strength to move
35:04forward after returning from rivermore news came again from the frontier the northern enemy had
35:08returned my uncle's army was trapped at yanel the news threw the carters into panic some elders
35:14panicked some proposed peace others suggested moving the capital i sat at the head of the hall
35:18watching them argue endlessly yet inside i was completely calm i remembered what my uncle said
35:23before he left for war ava leave things at home to me i trust you remembered mom's bravery on the
35:27battlefield and our daughters are just as formidable everyone please stay calm i stood up my voice was
35:32clear and steady yanel is easy to defend my uncle is resourceful being trapped may not be a bad thing
35:37what we need now is not panic but supplies and reinforcements for my uncle i immediately ordered
35:43half of the granaries opened and carts sent to yanel from the women's guard i selected a hundred of
35:48the most skilled would lead them to the frontier myself before leaving i returned to mom's grave and
35:53bowed three times mom i am going to aid uncle do not worry i will protect myself i will protect
35:58the
35:59carters and our homeland the day we departed the sun shone bright the convoy rolled out of the capital
36:04i rode at the front wearing the armor my mom once wore it was found among her belongings the armor
36:09still carried the faint scent of gunpowder i traced the patterns on the armor it felt like mom's presence
36:14the scar on my wrist ached with every jolt of the horse it was a mark of growth a source
36:19of strength
36:19i knew the road ahead would not be easy the battle at yanel would be fierce but i was not
36:24afraid
36:24because i knew mom was watching from above our ancestors were watching too and the women i had helped
36:28were watching as well i ava am no longer that helpless beggar i am the one who leads the carters
36:34i will
36:34stand for my homeland the road ahead is long and the journey won't be easy but i will carry mom's
36:39love and her hopes along with my scars and strength i will keep moving forward i will show the world
36:43that the women of the carters are never weak i will also show mom that her daughter did not fail
36:48her
36:48last wish i will live with honor and walk in the light wind swept the grasslands hooves thundered i
36:53look toward yanel with unwavering eyes i will give everything to protect my country and the carters and
36:59to protect women like me who long for light and freedom so they will never again be bullied or suffer
37:04you
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