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