Good Sisters, One Quilt, Preparing to Establish the Federation

The courtyard gate closed in front of Lin Chen, but he did not leave.

He knew that no outsider should be present at a moment like this, but he was also unwilling to leave the two sisters alone in this silent palace compound.

So he leaned against the courtyard wall, listening to the sounds coming from inside.

First came low sobs, followed by intermittent conversation. He could not hear clearly, but he could tell that the two voices were gradually drawing closer. The tentative caution at the beginning slowly softened.

After roughly the time it took to burn two incense sticks, the courtyard gate was pulled open from within.

Zhu Zhuqing walked out. Her eyes were red, but there was a relaxed curve at the corners of her lips. Zhu Zhuyun followed behind her, her eyes equally red, but her expression far lighter than before.

"Finished talking?" Lin Chen asked.

"Finished." Zhu Zhuqing nodded, then paused. "Sister said she's willing to leave with me."

Zhu Zhuyun stepped forward, looking at Lin Chen with a complicated expression.

Her red lips parted slightly. "I often heard Zhuqing mention you in her letters. She said you had saved her many times, and that you were the man she had chosen for life."

She paused, lowering her voice. "I used to wonder what kind of person could make my sister say something like that willingly. Now that I've seen you today, I can't say I'm surprised."

"Sister!" Zhu Zhuqing's ears flushed faintly.

Zhu Zhuyun chuckled softly. Her smile was gentle, as though she had finally cast off the heavy burden pressing on her heart for years. "All right, I won't say anything more. Since I'll be leaving with you from now on... I should at least see what the man you chose looks like."