Mrs. Carter nodded in relief, but didn’t stop there—instead, she gave Lauren Brooks another long round of instructions. Lauren Brooks, troubled by her own confusion and uncertainty, kept nodding in agreement and put on a humble, attentive look, naturally managing to glean quite a bit of information and a heap of well-meaning reminders. Only after Mrs. Carter personally helped her settle in for the night and then left with a large group of people did she finally turn to face the inside and fall into deep thought.

Since she was here, she might as well make the best of it. She had already died once—what else couldn’t she accept? Besides, even if she objected, even if she resisted, could she really return to the world she once knew? In the past, she had clawed her way up from nothing; now, having landed in this seemingly splendid yet filthy place, she was even less willing to resign herself to fate!

Clenching her fist lightly, she recalled the threads she’d managed to untangle over the past few days, using Mrs. Carter’s words as a guide. It was now the Yongxi era of the Chu Dynasty. As for what this Chu Dynasty was, and what its territory looked like, she’d have to find a way to look it up in the history books later, because she couldn’t remember any such dynasty in Chinese history.

This was the capital of Great Chu, and the street where her residence was located was called Yangning Street, named after her grandfather, Marquis Yangning, Evan Brooks. Grandfather Evan Brooks had originally only been Lord Yangning, but back then, after following Emperor Wuzong to overthrow the deposed emperor and seize the throne, he was rewarded for his merits and promoted to Marquis Yangning.

Not only did Evan Brooks have outstanding military achievements, but he was also notorious for his exploits with women. After marrying his official wife, he spent years stationed outside the capital, and not only did he keep concubines in the house, he also maintained dozens of household performers, making him famous among the capital’s noble families. What’s more, he was renowned for surviving through five reigns, repeatedly falling from grace and being reinstated, yet always managing to stay on his feet, living all the way to eighty-eight.

However, despite the many women around him, his first wife died young and left no children, and his second wife, Madam Zhu, had only one legitimate daughter. Of the rest, only three illegitimate sons survived to adulthood, along with a few illegitimate daughters who had already married.

The eldest branch, that is, her father Wayne Brooks, was granted the title of Xunwei in his youth, but due to reckless behavior and repeated impeachments by the censors, all his faults were exposed after his father’s death. The title, which by seniority should have passed to him, instead went to the second branch. After that, he became even more unruly, eventually losing even his Xunwei post, and died three years ago. His wife, Madam Fang, had died even earlier, leaving only Lauren Brooks and Ian Brooks, one daughter and one son. Lauren Brooks was now thirteen, and Ian Brooks eleven.

The second branch was her second uncle Julia Brooks. After inheriting the title, he seemed content and didn’t mind holding a sinecure. He had no sons, married Madam Ma, and their only illegitimate son died of illness last year, leaving just one legitimate and one illegitimate daughter, Ivy Brooks and Yvonne Brooks.

As for the third branch… her third uncle Emily Brooks had taken a military post early on, rising from a company commander to a commander-in-chief, and was now stationed with the army in the southern borderlands. It was said he had a wide circle of friends and a reputation for loyalty and generosity. When it came to women, he was much like his father, never lacking for female company during his years away. Now, Concubine Luo was with him in the south, while his second wife, Madam Xu, and the other concubines and children were in the capital. Madam Xu’s eldest legitimate son, Quentin Brooks, died at six; her youngest son, Dean Brooks, was the sixth child and only three years old. Concubine Luo had a daughter, Sophie Brooks, and two sons, Claire Brooks and Henry Brooks. There were also two other illegitimate daughters.

No matter how you looked at it, she and Ian Brooks, this pair of siblings, were the most pitiable—an orphaned sister and a weak younger brother. Though they had a grandmother above them, she wasn’t their blood relative, and who knew how they’d managed to survive all these years. Moreover, if she remembered correctly, she used to be a timid, dough-like person, which was why her maid, Qin Fang, was also so meek and submissive. Perhaps as a contrast, Ian Brooks was impulsive and quick-tempered; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gotten into trouble while visiting someone else’s house.

As she was pondering, a rush of hurried footsteps sounded outside.

“Big sis, big sis, I’m back!”

Chapter 003: Siblings

Lauren Brooks turned over to look outside, but before she could reply, the door curtain lifted and Ian Brooks burst straight in. He must have just returned from the academy—there were still a few ink stains on his sleeve, but his face was full of joy. Seeing no one else in the room, he dragged a brocade stool over to sit by the bed, then reached out to feel her forehead, and then checked his own.

“Huh, why does your forehead still feel hotter than mine?”

Even though she had decided to accept reality, and that familiar face was indeed dear to her, Lauren Brooks still felt a bit awkward about suddenly having a younger brother. But at this moment, she couldn’t help but be amused by his self-talk, and immediately scolded him in mock annoyance, “This is an external injury, not a fever—what’s the point of checking my forehead? And did you run all the way back? Look at you, sweating all over—of course you’ll feel cool when the wind hits you. And look at your sleeve, covered in ink again. Now it’ll have to be sent out for washing…”

As she spoke, she suddenly froze. Without realizing it, she had slipped into the tone of an older sister scolding her younger brother. Just as she was feeling a bit strange about it, she heard a plaintive voice: “Sis, I was just in a hurry to see you, that’s all.”