The Fake Legend of Princess Mei Mei - Episode 1.8

Gekka returned home around noon.

During the charcoal burning period, the house was often empty at midday. Her father stayed up all night tending the fire, so her older sister went to help him, allowing him to rest during the day.

By the time lunch was over, their mother would have likely gone to the communal weaving hut. She had been bedridden due to illness, and now she had to catch up on her work. She wouldn’t be back until sunset.

To be sure, Gekka checked from outside to confirm no one was home. Then, she quietly slipped into her own house. She quickly moved toward her parents’ bedroom.

The box she had found yesterday was still in the same position as when she had put it back. It seemed no one had noticed she had taken the letter inside.

She opened the box again and pulled out the ornamental hairpin stored inside.

No matter how many times she looked at it, the craftsmanship was stunning.

She wrapped it carefully in a handkerchief and tucked it into her chest.

Then, she rewrapped the box and returned it to its original place before heading to her and her sister’s room.

(What do I need for a journey?)

Gekka had never gone on an overnight trip before and had no idea what to bring.

For now, she packed a change of underwear and a coat. She also took a small amount of money from her personal belongings. Since her own savings wouldn’t be enough, she decided to “borrow” some from her sister’s purse.

“I didn’t know she had saved up this much,” Gekka muttered as she transferred an amount far greater than her own allowance into her own wallet.

After stuffing her gathered belongings into a cloth bag, she stepped outside.

She had to hurry—if she didn’t leave soon, the sun would set, and her mother and sister would return.

But at that moment, she ran into Yuurin. It seemed she had come to visit.

“Are you going somewhere, Gekka?”

Seeing Gekka carrying a bag on her back, Yuurin tilted her head in confusion.

“That’s none of your business,” Gekka snapped.

She was still bitter about their recent argument, and instead of responding indifferently, she spoke sharply, pushing Yuurin away.

Yuurin furrowed her brows. “I came to apologize, you know.”

“I don’t care. We don’t have to make up.”

“What’s with that attitude?”

Yuurin was offended and reached out toward Gekka, but Gekka slapped her hand away with a sneer.

“Don’t touch me. We live in different worlds now.”

“Huh?”

Yuurin’s face twisted in confusion at Gekka’s words.

But Gekka didn’t care. She dramatically dusted off the hand she had used to push Yuurin away and smirked.

“Goodbye, Yuurin. I don’t think we’ll ever see each other again.”

With those parting words, she turned on her heel.

Yuurin scowled.

“Fine! If that’s how you feel, I’ll never talk to you again! Stupid Gekka!”

Ignoring Yuurin’s angry voice, Gekka ran out of the village, racing down the mountain path.

The sun was still high in the sky. If she kept her pace steady, she could reach the neighboring town before nightfall.

But her true destination, the capital, was still at least four days away—perhaps even longer. She had to hurry.

As she ran down the familiar mountain path, excitement swelling within her, she touched the small bundle at her chest. Inside were the stolen letter and hairpin from her mother.

With these two things, she would go to the capital and search for a man named Enki.

She would find Enki, her mother’s former lover or husband, and have him acknowledge her as his child.

Perhaps Enki himself was no longer alive. He had gone to war, after all. He might have died in battle. But surely, he had family. If they were looking for the child their relative had left behind, then Gekka was exactly who they were searching for.

It wouldn’t be easy to find someone in the vast capital with only a name to go on. The chances of success were slim.

Still, she placed all her hopes in this letter.

“If it’s a daughter, name her Houbai… I am Houbai.”

She murmured softly, almost like a song, and then let out a quiet giggle.

If Enki’s family was wealthy, she could become a noble lady. What a wonderful future that would be!

She would never have to dirty her pale, slender hands with soil, or stain them with plant juice, or cut them on thorns. Instead, she would use them to embroider silk with delicate patterns of flowers and birds, or to pick up sweet, delicious treats.

She would no longer wear faded, tattered clothes. Instead, she would dress in elegant satin and sheer fabrics. Her glossy black hair would be intricately styled, adorned with jewel-studded hairpins.

She would wear gowns even more beautiful and expensive than those of the courtesans she had always envied. And they would suit her perfectly.

“Ah, what a wonderful life it will be!”

Gekka sighed dreamily.

If she couldn’t find Enki, she could look for her mother’s family instead.

Her parents had eloped because her mother’s family opposed their marriage.

But surely, her grandparents wouldn’t reject their granddaughter.

Some families reconciled after a child was born. Even now, her mother, despite their current poverty, had once lived as a noble lady in the capital.

The expensive combs and hairpins she had left behind proved that she had come from a wealthy family.

“I should come up with a backstory.”

If she told them the truth, they would find out she had a sister.

“First… yes, Mother passed away long ago.”

She would say that, after losing her mother, she had been taken in by distant relatives who treated her like a servant. Starved and mistreated, she could no longer endure and decided to seek out her father, following the clues in her mother’s letter.

She would be a lonely, unfortunate girl who had lost her beloved mother and set out alone in search of family.

People would feel sorry for her. They wouldn’t question her too much.

“My father was never around, and my mother, who raised me alone, died of illness. I was left all alone and mistreated by my foster family, but I somehow managed to survive. Then one day, I found my mother’s old letter and, clinging to the last shred of hope, I set off to find my family.”

Perfect.

A beautiful, tragic heroine—it suited her so well.

The journey to the capital was long. To pass the time and ensure her story was foolproof, she would refine the details along the way.

With a bright, eager smile, Gekka continued crafting her tale.