Lin Wen thought her sixth brother, Lin Yuan, was strange. He was the naughtiest and oddest in the Lin family. He'd spout words she couldn't understand, often making their father so angry that he'd get a good scolding. Every night, she'd sneak to his door and watch their mother gently apply medicine on his wounds, sighing softly, "When will you stop saying such nonsense, my child?"
Lin Yuan was always mysterious, saying things like "The hearts of the people matter more than military power," "Even emperors fear subordinates who are too skilled in war," and "The world ultimately belongs to the common folk." These words would make their father's beard bristle with anger, and he'd call Lin Yuan "treacherous." Lin Wen didn't get what he meant, but she knew that though her sixth brother said he didn't aim to be a mighty general, he fought incredibly well in battles.
She adored her sixth brother. He doted on her the most and was the best at making her laugh. He'd always bring back all sorts of strange things from outside and even raised two fluffy little beasts for her: a black kitten and a white fox cub.
"This is Xiao Hei, and this is Xiao Bai," Lin Yuan would say proudly, placing them in her arms. "One day, Xiao Hei will grow into a mighty big black cat, and Xiao Bai will become a beautiful big fox."
Lin Wen pouted. "You're lying."
But whether she believed it or not, she quickly fell in love with the two little creatures. Xiao Hei was mischievous, often sneaking up to bite her ankles or jumping onto her head when she least expected it, making her shriek. Xiao Bai was gentle. It would curl up on her lap and wag its tail, which felt as soft as a feather and tickled her.
Later, she joined the family on a hunting trip. The Lin family had been soldiers for generations, and all the children trained in martial arts, including her, the seventh daughter born out of wedlock. But when she saw a rabbit get shot, her heart ached.
"Rabbits are so cute. Why eat them?" she protested with teary eyes.
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow and held out a piece of golden - brown roasted rabbit meat. "Give it a try."
She shook her head firmly. Never! But the rich scent of the meat drifted to her, making her gulp instinctively.
In the end, Lin Wen picked up a piece and took a tentative bite.
"...It's delicious."
Lin Yuan burst out laughing, slapping his thigh. "Hahaha, little rascal! Knew you'd cave in!"
Lin Wen blushed deeply and shot him an angry glare.
However, soon, everything changed. The Hu Kingdom and the Man Kingdom went to war, and the entire family joined the battle to support the Man Kingdom. The Lin Mansion suddenly felt empty. She, her third sister, her mother, and the mistress stayed at home. Every day, they listened to war reports, worried and scared.
When the war ended, her second brother never returned. She watched her third sister kneel in front of the mourning hall, sobbing uncontrollably. Her mother comforted the mistress with red - rimmed eyes, while their father stood silently in front of the coffin for a long time.
Lin Yuan didn't cry. But Lin Wen knew he was heartbroken.
Before she could talk to him much, Lin Yuan left without saying goodbye. She was so angry that she wanted to find him, but he was nowhere to be seen. There was only a short letter. It said he'd set out to roam the world and wouldn't come back. He also told her, rather mysteriously, that the mistress would have a son.
What nerve! She angrily crumpled up the letter and tossed it into the brazier.
...
Many years later, she got married. Da'en was now the dominant kingdom in the Eastern Lands, and her marriage was part of an alliance.
Inside the bridal sedan, she stared at her palm and sighed softly. "Sixth brother... when will you come back?"
"Miss, it's time for some tea," two ugly - looking maids beside her offered a tea cup. As Lin Wen reached out to take it, she suddenly felt something was off. She'd never seen these maids before.
Before she could say anything, she heard one maid whisper, "Cousin, the plan's working."
"Yep, I've already swapped the Soul - Binding Pearl," the other maid giggled. "Now we can go back to the primeval forest."
"Not so fast," the maid called "cousin" shook her head. "Let's stay with Lin Wen, take care of her for a few decades. After all, a few decades is just a blink in our lives."
Lin Wen stared at them in shock. In an instant, she seemed to see black cat eyes and a snowy white fox tail. So that's...
With her hand muffling her mouth and her eyes growing misty, she still managed a smile. "Sixth brother... where did you disappear to?"
"Haha, guess, little Lin Wen," Xiao Hei and Xiao Bai said together, their eyes friendly.
====================
林温一直觉得,六哥林远是个奇怪的人.
在整个林家,他是最调皮,最古怪的那个,总是讲些她听不懂的话,还时不时惹得阿爹大怒,被狠狠地训斥一顿.而每到夜晚,她都会偷偷溜到六哥的房门口,看着阿娘轻轻地给他搽药,低声叹息:"你这孩子,什么时候能不胡言乱语."
六哥总是神秘兮兮的,说什么 "民心比兵权更重要" "皇帝也怕手下人太能打" "这天下终究是百姓的" 之类的话,让阿爹气得胡子都翘起来,骂他 "大逆不道".但她听得懵懵懂懂,只知道六哥嘴上说不想做大将军,可打起仗来却很厉害.
她很喜欢六哥.
六哥最疼她,也最会哄她玩.他总能变着法子从外面带些稀奇古怪的东西回来,还给她养了两只毛茸茸的小兽,一只黑色的小猫,一只白色的小狐狸.
"这是小黑,这是小白." 六哥得意地把它们递到她怀里,"小黑有一天会变成很威风的大黑,小白也会变成很漂亮的大白."
林温不信,嘟着嘴:"骗人."
可不管信不信,她很快就喜欢上了这两个小家伙.小黑总是调皮,喜欢偷袭她的脚踝,还会趁她不注意的时候跳到她的头顶,吓得她直叫.小白则很温顺,总是趴在她的腿上,尾巴扫啊扫的,像是羽毛一样让人发痒.
后来,她跟着全家人去狩猎.
林家世代从军,家中儿郎们个个习武,她这个庶出的七姑娘也不能例外.只是,当她看到兔兔被射中时,她的心狠狠地揪了一下.
"兔兔这么可爱,为什么要吃兔兔!" 她红着眼眶抗议.
六哥挑眉,把烤得金黄的兔肉递到她嘴边:"你尝尝."
她摇头,不吃!
可是兔肉的香味钻进鼻腔,她忍不住咽了咽口水.
最后,林温还是拿起了一块肉,小心翼翼地咬了一口.
"...真香."
六哥笑得直拍大腿:"哈哈哈,臭丫头,早就知道你会吃!"
林温羞得满脸通红,恨恨地瞪了他一眼.
然而,很快,日子就变了.
胡国与满国开战,全家人都上了战场支援满国,林府一下子空了许多.她,三姐,阿娘和母亲留守家中,每日听着外面的战报,心里又紧张又害怕.
等到战争结束,二哥却再也回不来了.
她看着三姐跪在灵前,泣不成声,阿娘红着眼眶安慰母亲,父亲则沉默地站在棺椁前,久久不语.
六哥没有哭.
可林温知道,他是难过的.
只是,还没等她和六哥说几句话,六哥就不辞而别了.
她气得想要去找他,可是连他的影子都没看到.只留下一封短短的信,说什么要去闯荡,什么不会回来了,最后还神神秘秘地告诉她,主母怀的是个弟弟.
这算什么嘛!
她生气地把信揉成一团,扔进火盆里.
...
多年后.
她出嫁了.
大恩如今是东方陆地的霸主国,而她的婚事也成为了联姻的一部份.
花轿里,她低头看着自己的手心,轻轻地叹了口气:"六哥...你什么时候才会回来呢?"
"小姐,该喝口茶了."
身旁的两个丑陋丫鬟递上茶盏,林温接过来,正要喝,却突然觉得有点奇怪.
这两个丫鬟... 她从来没见过啊.
她还没开口,就听到其中一个丫鬟悄悄地说道:"表姐,看来计划进行得很顺利."
"嗯,我已经掉包了生魂珠." 另一个丫鬟轻笑道,"现在我们又能回去原始森林了."
"别急," 那个被称作表姐的丫鬟摇了摇头, "先陪陪林温,照顾她,过个几十年吧,反正这点时间,在我们的生命中短如弹指."
林温惊愕地看着她们.
一瞬间,她仿佛看到了黑色的猫瞳,还有雪白的狐尾.
原来...
她捂住嘴,眼眶微红,嘴角却悄悄扬起.
"六哥... 他去哪了啊...?"
"哈哈,小林温,你猜猜看." 小黑和小白异口同声地问道,目光温和.