I grew up with my grandmother.

Grandma said my mother passed away right after I was born, and my father's whereabouts are unknown.

She only wished for my safety, so she named me Ping An (Safe and Sound).

Because I didn't have breast milk when I was young, my body was much weaker than the other children in the village, and I fell ill frequently.

Therefore, they didn't play with me, except for Wang's daughter Cuihua, who was willing to be with me.

She was very pretty, with a sweet smile, but a bit thin, probably always hungry.

Yet, she always secretly brought me food.

She must like me!

I liked her too. I picked flowers from the mountain, touched two bird eggs, and decided to express my feelings to her, telling her that when I grew up, I would marry her and bring her home.

After coming down from the mountain, I happily walked towards home. Just as I reached the village entrance, I saw a group of people riding tall horses and waving knives as they charged into the village.

They wore masks, so I couldn't see their faces clearly.

But I clearly saw them rush into my house. Grandma had just stood up when a sharp steel blade pierced through her chest, and her blood stained my eyes red.

I stood frozen in place, trembling all over.

Suddenly, someone ran over, grabbed me, and ran outside.

As I regained my senses, I looked up and saw Wang, with Cuihua and his son beside him. I struggled hard, "Wang, let me go, I need to go back and save Grandma!"

Wang's face was stern, a seriousness that was not there before appeared on his usually kind face, "Young lady, it's too late, you must go quickly."

I didn't understand why he called me a young lady today when I was a girl, nor did I understand why Cuihua, who was usually gentle, pulled out a dagger from her sleeve.

The pursuing thugs forced me to run away with her.

Seeing them relentlessly chasing us, Wang handed me a jade pendant, pushed me behind a tree, took his son, and ran in another direction.

Cuihua's eyes shimmered with tears, and I felt a sudden panic. After a moment, she pulled me up to continue fleeing for our lives.

My inner fear kept growing. I stammered, "Shouldn't we wait for them?"

Cuihua held my hand tightly, not looking back, "They won't come back."

I trembled all over, tried to speak several times but dared not ask again. The bird eggs in my arms suddenly fell to the ground and shattered with a "crack."

When we reached the town, Cuihua hid me in an alley. After a while, she came back with mud.

She smeared mud on my face, made me change into dirty clothes, pretending to be refugees from the north, and we walked outward.

"Where are we going?" I asked with a choked voice.

Cuihua squeezed my hand tightly, "To the capital, to find your father."

"Princess Zhaoping wants to kill you, we need Marquis Hou's help."

I was completely puzzled, looking at her in confusion.

From her, I learned that my mother was the only daughter of Lady Shen of Qinghe, and my father, Xiao Run, was married into the family.

Shortly after my birth, my mother passed away due to childbirth complications.

My father, in his grief, grew even more fond of me and kept me by his side all the time.

Before long, my father caught the eye of Princess Zhaoping, who was visiting Qinghe.

The princess wanted him to be her husband, but he refused.

The next day, I disappeared from the mansion. When I returned, there was a letter in my small package.

The blatant threats in the letter forced my father to compromise for the safety of the Shen family and for me.

While he dealt with Princess Zhaoping, he had Granny He take me away from Qinghe.

Later, Granny He moved us into the village.

Over the years, my father gradually established himself in the court through his abilities and is now titled Marquis Ping An.

Cuihua said that my father received a letter before the New Year, intending to bring me back to the mansion.

Unexpectedly, just after the New Year, the assassins came. It must be that Princess Zhaoping discovered something.

They were not villagers but sent by my mother's family to protect me.

I trembled, "Then what about me..."

"The day after the princess entered, the Shen family faced a disaster," Cuihua's face was expressionless, but her eyes held a hint of murderous intent, "My mother was among them."