Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

“Grandma, I’ve brought two kind old men to visit you.”

Ban Dingyuan and Pei Ju found Xiao Zhao (the girl's name) in a thatched hut with one half of the wall collapsed, where she was bedridden with a woman and child.

The two glanced around the room and found it to be utterly bare.

But it wasn't as dirty and messy as I had imagined. Although there wasn't much furniture inside—just a bed, a low table, and a stool—it was all neatly organized, unlike what I expected.

The woman on the bed heard the sound and struggled to open her eyes.

Upon seeing her daughter, the woman reached out her thin, bony hand and gently stroked her cheek.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"Mom is alright, Xiao Zhao, where's the old man you mentioned earlier?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhao immediately turned to look at Ban Dingyuan and Pei Ju.

Ban Dingyuan stepped forward, leaned down to look at the woman on the bed, and said gently, "Sister-in-law, Xiao Zhao told us you were sick. We just happened to be passing by, so we came to see you."

Upon hearing this, the woman immediately struggled to sit up.

Ban Dingyuan instinctively wanted to lend a hand, but due to etiquette, he could only raise his hand in a perfunctory gesture. He was able to stand up and lean against the wall with Xiao Zhao's help.

"Grandpa, thank you so much for bringing Xiao Zhao back. It's fate that you were able to meet again."

The woman seemed to be somewhat educated. Even though she was ill, she spoke slowly and deliberately, without arrogance or impatience, trying her best to appear knowledgeable and polite, which surprised Ban and Pei.

"Madam, is it just you and your daughter at home? Where is your husband?"

“My husband passed away from a serious illness three years ago, leaving us, a widow and her children, to survive on the help of our neighbors. Now my health is deteriorating, and I fear I will soon be gone.”

As she spoke, a tear fell from the woman's eye, and she looked at Xiao Zhao with a face full of reluctance.

"Mother, you'll be alright. Xiao Zhao will go and ask the doctor to buy you some medicine."

Xiao Zhao's voice, though still childish, possessed a firmness that belied her seven years.

After saying that, he prepared to go out to find a doctor.

"Xiao Zhao, don't go there anymore. That doctor is a quack. He can't cure Mother's illness."

Xiao Zhao's tender body was stunned upon hearing this, and her eyes immediately turned red.

But she still tried her best not to shed tears.

This stubborn personality caught Ban Dingyuan's attention.

Suddenly, the woman said to Ban Dingyuan and his companion, "Gentlemen, judging from your attire, you must be foreigners, right?"

Ban Dingyuan cupped his hands and replied, "Indeed, I come from the State of Chu and have come to the capital specifically to discuss matters concerning trade between our two countries."

The woman gave a bitter smile: "I see that you two are both extraordinary in demeanor and bearing, and I suppose you come from a country of etiquette and gentlemen. Now that my time is coming to an end, I have met you two gentlemen and I have a request. I hope you can grant it."

"Please speak, Madam. If I can help, I will do my best."

Upon hearing this, a hint of relief appeared on the woman's sickly face. She turned to look at Xiao Zhao and said, "My husband and I only have this one daughter."

After I die, she will be all alone and will not live much longer. If you are willing, sir, please take Xiao Zhao in and take her away from this hell of trouble.

Ban Dingyuan was taken aback, never expecting a woman to make such a request.

"Mom, I won't leave. I want to stay and keep you company."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhao could no longer hold back her tears and threw herself into the woman's arms.

The woman gently comforted Xiao Zhao: "Xiao Zhao, your mother is unable to support you and can only entrust you to others. If your mother passes away..."

Even if you don't starve to death, you'll still be sold into prostitution. Your mother doesn't want to see your life ruined like this.

After saying that, he looked at Ban Dingyuan, who looked troubled, and said, "Uncle, I know this request is unreasonable. After all, we've only just met and we don't have any prior relationship."

It's only natural for you to refuse, but please consider it a mother's last wish. Xiao Zhao is very sensible and has even read a few books.

She's a bright child. You'd be doing her a great service by keeping her around as a maid. Please, spare her life.

Ignoring all attempts to stop him, he struggled to climb off the bed, knelt before Ban Dingyuan, and bowed deeply in worship.

Upon seeing this, Ban Dingyuan hurriedly disregarded etiquette and stepped forward to help her up, saying, "Madam, you mustn't! I... I promise you."

Upon hearing this, Pei Ju opened his mouth as if to say something, but held back.

"Thank you, sir. Xiao Zhao, from now on, you will follow me. He is your second parent."

"Mom, I won't leave, I want to stay with you!"

"Xiao Zhao, won't you listen to your mother? Your mother is about to die, and you still won't agree?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhao stopped crying, took two steps back, knelt down in front of her mother, and kowtowed three times.

Ban Dingyuan sighed, stepped forward to help Xiao Zhao up, and said to the woman in a gentle voice, "Madam, please rest assured, I will take good care of Xiao Zhao and treat her as my own sister."

"Thank you so much, sir. You are so kind-hearted, God will surely bless you."

As the woman spoke, she took out a household registration book from under the straw mat and handed it to Ban Dingyuan.

"This is Xiao Zhao's household registration. If you want to adopt Xiao Zhao, you must get approval from the local government. Sir, I'll leave the rest to you."

After saying this, he was about to kowtow again, but this time Ban Dingyuan stopped him in advance.

"Don't worry, Madam. Xiao Zhao will be fine with me."

"Now I can finally rest easy."

Seemingly, her obsession finally dissipated, and the woman collapsed by the bed, too exhausted to continue.

"Grandma!"

Xiao Zhao threw herself into the woman's arms and burst into tears.

With her last breath, the woman gently stroked Xiao Zhao's head and whispered, "Xiao Zhao, do you remember the dream I told you about?"

In your dream, you will encounter a benefactor, become a woman of exceptional talent, write books that are widely read, and ultimately leave your mark on history.

Sadly, Mom will never see this day again. From now on, you must listen to this old man, so that Mom can rest in peace in the afterlife…

After uttering the last word, the woman's hand fell limply to her side, and she left this murky world with a faint smile of relief.

"Mom~"

Xiao Zhao could no longer hold back and knelt before her mother's body, weeping bitterly.

Ban Dingyuan and Pei Ju were both heavy-hearted. After a long while, Pei Ju finally said, "I'll go and make arrangements for the funeral."

Ban Dingyuan nodded, and Pei Ju immediately turned and left.

He walked up to Xiao Zhao, gently patted his back, and comforted him softly, "Xiao Zhao, your mother is gone. From now on, you'll stay with me."

"After we've dealt with things here, I'll take you back to the State of Chu. I'll ensure you get an education and raise you to be a capable person. Now, would you like to call me 'brother'?"

"Brother!"

With tears in her eyes, Xiao Zhao knelt before Ban Dingyuan and acknowledged their kinship.

"Alright, from now on we'll address each other as brother and sister. You'll take my surname and be called Ban Zhao."

Ban Zhao looked up at the man in front of her and nodded vigorously.