The four horsemen

Chu Xian took me by the arm and with a gesture of concern felt my forehead.

- Lian, you have a fever, come on, I'll take you to your room, you must rest- insisted Xian, leading me carefully back to the room I came out of.

On the way we met a beautiful girl, she looked a little older than Xian and I, I immediately recognized her, her haughty demeanor and superior gesture gave her away.

- Mei- Xian called, Mei was Xian's half-sister, she was the legitimate daughter of Minister Chu, she was a spoiled daughter so when Xian arrived at the mansion it became her sacred mission to make life impossible for her sister, and it got even worse when the prince that Mei loved fell in love with Xian.

- I heard that our dear cousin fainted, I came to see how she was- she said with a haughty voice, both looked at me questioningly, it was evident that they were waiting for an answer from me, maybe my new body was that of an educated lady from the old China but my mind was still that of a teenager.

- I'm fine, thanks- I limited myself to say, if I didn't talk too much I couldn't ruin anything, Mei arched an eyebrow, even with a couple of words it seemed that I had done something wrong, Xian was quick to interrupt.

- Lian has a fever, I'm taking her back to her room- she said kindly, Mei nodded.

- I hope you recover your health soon dear Lian- said Mei and I just nodded.

In the room Xian and my companion helped me to lie down.

-Qing'er, bring some warm water- ordered Xian, Qing'er, that was the name of my personal maid, I did a little memory recalling that in the novel Qing'er was Chu Lian's loyal accomplice in each of her crimes.

I didn't want to reattach myself and insisted on staying seated, I didn't feel bad, I needed clarity. Where was I in the novel? How doomed I was? I looked around and right next to my bed I came across an interesting object.

I took it in my hands, it was a delicate golden hairpin inlaid with pearls and a golden jade lotus, I looked at it carefully.

Chu Lian spent her whole life in love with Li Zhao, she tried by all means to get close to him, she lent her cunning and supported the prince in constructing every plan he needed to secure the title of Heir, Chu Lian believed that with her unconditional loyalty Zhao would make her his legitimate wife so her heart broke when Zhao confessed his love for Xian, if she wanted to secure her life as Chu Lian she had to stay away from Li Zhao and any conspiracy, she would be just a pretty and innocent lady with no relationship with anyone powerful.

- Lian - Xian's voice brought me out of my thoughts, her face was sweet, she was a real star, I couldn't blame any man for falling in love with her.

- Thank you Xian- I said trying to smile.

- Lian, I have only been in this house for a week and you have been the only one who treats me kindly, taking care of you is just a way of thanking you- Xian said, a week, unconsciously Xian had given me the answer, a week, that was good, it meant I was yet to interact with Prince Zhao and I was in time not to.

Here and now, Chu Lian would neither die nor fall in love with Li Zhao.

- Lian, Lian! a teenager came running into my room, I remembered him, it was Chu Wong, Chu Lian's younger brother, Wong would be fifteen now, he was a boy but dressed and looked like an adult, Wong was the only male child in the Chu family, even being the minister's nephew it was clear that if at some point Xian and Mei's father was missing, Wong would be the head of the family, one more reason not to worry about my future, if Wong was the head of the Chu family he would never leave his sister unprotected.

Wong arrived and knelt down beside me with an adorable pout.

- Lian, Grandma told me you fainted, how are you feeling, did the doctor check you yet?- asked Wong, I thought he looked adorable, I caressed his face.

- I am fine, Xian took care of me-  Wong smiled and nodded.

- Are you sick?- I didn't know how to answer his question.

- The doctor said it was due to decompensation, he prescribed some herbal teas and soups-  said Xian.

- I will talk to the servants to take care of my sister's food-  said Wong jumping to his feet. - Xian, take care of my sister- said Wong bowing sharply to Xian who smiled.

- I will take care of Lian like my own sister- assured Xian.

As Wong withdrew I returned to my recapitulation, if Xian was in the mansion for barely a week it meant that Mei and her mother had already humiliated her more than once, if I wanted to survive I had to stay away from at least four people, the four horsemen of my Apocalypse.

Li Zhao: paramount to keep me away from the prince to avoid getting involved in his conspiracies.

Chu Mei: her hatred for Xian reached dangerous levels, she was careless and at the end she dragged all her accomplices with her, no matter how small their contribution had been.

Chu Yue: Mei's mother, Minister Chu's first lady, there was nothing she would not do for Mei, she was smarter and crueler.

Liu Xen: General Liu, Chu Yue's nephew and the current head of the Liu clan, his loyalty to his family made him commit crimes against Chu Xian and against the Emperor, a ruthless killer, he would not hesitate to cut off my head if Mei and her mother or Prince Zhao asked him to.

A couple of days passed, my fainting was left as a simple nutritional decompensation, soon Qing'er prepared me the most vibrant attire she could, Minister Chu had received news of an early visit so the whole Chu clan was to receive the guest.

Qing'er finished grooming me by putting my representative hairpin in my up-do.

I headed to the main hall, I could notice how Qing'er and other servants were looking at me curiously, I didn't understand why.

In the hall I looked for a space next to Xian, Mei, her mother and grandmother were next to the minister, Wong was near them as a worthy heir.

There was a tense atmosphere, I feared I should know why everyone was so nervous, I soon found out why.

- General Liu!- introduced the servant, it could not be possible, the fourth horseman was arriving.

Liu Xen entered with an arrogant bearing similar to Mei's, he proudly wore his military uniform and waved his long black hair as if he was in perpetual horseback riding, handsome and dangerous as any predator.

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