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