Brother! China x Sister! Reader: Over the Years

200 B.C.

You were busy checking the trades that just arrived this afternoon. You made sure that no trader would trick in giving you lousy exchanged goods. Once you made sure that they keep their word, you give them what they want, which was silk. Silk was an important commodity in all of China so no matter what happens, it must be guarded at all costs especially how it was manufactured. Europeans, on the other hand, would trade you wools, gold, silver, gems, glassware, olive oil, and wine.

"Busy as always, (Y/n)," a certain Chinese man said.

You turned your attention to this man. "大哥！(Dàgē!)"

You went towards your 'brother' and gave him a huge embrace. He was always busy, running errands for the emperor. You were also busy since you check what comes in and what goes out of China's borders.

"How have you've been, 哥 (Gē)? I haven't seen you like forever!" you said with a grin.

"Well, tough times over the past years but if it weren't for the emperor's great mind, he would not have created the Silk Road," your so-called brother answered with pride.

You smiled on this. The only reason why you involved yourself with assisting with checking of the goods was because of him. You were inspired to be as hardworking as he is. You wanted to become a right-hand man of the emperor just like him. In fact, your brother had a noble job.

"It seems these Europeans liked our silk very much."

"We just don't offer silk, 哥 (Gē). We also offer spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger."

"Ah, 是的！(Shì de!) Our herbal spices! China is also famous for spices! That is good to hear that these Europeans liked our spices!"

"是的，沒錯！(Shì de, méicuò!) I don't know where they use it for but I hope they put these spices to good use!"

Both of you then continued conversing with one another just like any brother and sister would do.

Wang Yao is your brother. He was helping the emperor in planning and strategizing. He was like a counselor to the emperor. This was always your dream and you believed that one day you would become one. The only sad part was that being a right-hand of the emperor meant that no women should take the place of a right-hand unless one should be a fortuneteller or an astrologer. You were neither both but you still strive to become one.

A.D. 250

An outbreak occurred. Every man, woman and child were stricken by a disease where they experienced fever along with blisters. Almost half of the population was sick. No matter how much you wanted to help, you could not. Your brother, Yao, had quarantined you inside of the house, all windows were barricaded.

You were shivering in terror. What will happen to the people? Will they die? Or, there would be a cure for such illness?

"哥哥？ (Gēgē?)" you called out to Yao. "Will the people be alright?"

Yao lowered his head. "I do not know, (Y/n)…" He then coughed out some blood.

Being the country representation of China, he can feel his people's sufferings. As for you, you were only part of him so you were not suffering that much but there were times that you get fevers.

"大哥！(Dàgē!)" You laid Yao down as you offered him some water. You held his head up using your lap as support. You lifted his head using your one hand and helped him drink the water.

"謝謝 (Xièxiè), (Y/n)… I wanted to apologize if I am such a burden right now…" Yao apologetically said in a ragged voice.

You shook your head. "Don't say that, 哥 (Gē). I'll do anything just for you." You managed to form a weak smile in your facial features but soon replaced by a sad one for your people were in great danger.

At this rate, there was nothing you could do. It was a plague that struck your people and you did not know what cure could make it feel better. Everyday, there must be a human life wasted. All you could do was nothing…

1279

Kublai Khan crowned himself emperor of China. Yao was still, no matter who the emperor was, a right-hand man, a tactician of the emperor.

You, on the other hand, were working as a maid under a royal family. The status of women during the reign of Kublai Khan was very much arduous. Women were looked down upon. Under the Mongolian emperor's law, in marriage, parents could still give their daughters some dowry but when parents die without sons, their estates were not given to their daughters automatically so the bond between a married woman and her dowry was broken.

That was why you were once a maid of a royal family. You had been serving the only daughter of the family as a personal maid and when her parents died, she was given nothing and with your kindness and sympathy, you took care of her.

You rarely see your brother as well. Yao had been busier compared to the last years. Whatever the emperor was asking of him, it must have been tough. He does send you some letters but it takes you like forever to receive them. One news that you could remember when he sent you a letter a few weeks back was about a visit of a European traveler named Marco Polo. He was said to be a fine gentleman whom admired the Great Kublai Khan.

"我討厭我的生活。為什麼爸爸媽媽都死了？ (Wǒ tǎoyàn wǒ de shēnghuó. Wèishéme bàba māmā dōu sǐle?)" a young woman complained.

"It must have been their destiny, young mistress…" you answered kindly.

"What?! Their destiny?! Fate must not be kind to me! 我做了什麼錯？ (Wǒ zuòle shénme cue?)" the young mistress started to cry her eyes out.

"Young mistress, please don't cry. Fate was not being bad to you. LIke I said, it was just their destiny." You tried calming the young mistress down.

The young woman kept on sobbing. If her parents were still alive, she would not be in this poor state where she received nothing from her parents just because she was born female. All you could was to comfort her. She was all alone now. Even though she was living with her husband, she was stripped of her powers in the house in favor of her husband and his family. You were the only who can support her all the way.

1840

A war occurred between China and the foreign traders, especially to England. Both the emperor and Yao refused to legalize the opium trade, which resulted England to wage war against China.

"I will never allow you Europeans have any trade of opium in my land!" Yao yelled.

"You confiscated our opium! That wasn't in our agreement!" a certain English-accented male with blonde hair and caterpillar-like brows shouted back.

The war occurred by sea and it was a naval war between the British and the Chinese.

As for you, without Yao knowing, there were men knocking forcefully through your door. They were saying about, "Sir Arthur will take good care of you, young lady!"

Whoever this 'Sir Arthur' is, you do not like to be taken away from your own brother. You were only part of him and not anyone else's. You heard your door slammed open and you wanted to scream. But, you kept quiet and stayed in your hiding place, crying quietly in fright. You wanted your brother to be here so that he could comfort you. You were helpless right now and hoped that they would not find where you are…

1857

Another war emerged. It was another opium war. Yao could not protect you. Arthur Kirkland, the country representation of England, was able to seize you and your land.

"(Y/n), you have to at least eat something. You can't forever rebel against me. You do not want me hurting your people," Arthur said with a warning at the end of his statement.

You had your knees close  to your chest. Everyday, you had been sobbing. You missed your brother. You have been pleading Arthur to at least give you a chance to see Yao but the English country refused to such agreement. As a result, you would not eat anything and isolated yourself in a room offered to you.

"Oh, 哥 (Gē)… I'm so lonely here…"

1895

Yao signed a treaty with Kiku Honda, the country representation of Japan. Unfortunately, in one of the agreements of the treaty, you were one of those agreements. Yao had no choice. If he wanted peace in his land, he had to agree to whatever agreements written in the treaty. You understood this and went with it. After all, as you have heard, Yao and Kiku go way back. Yao was actually happy that Kiku had grown into a very strong country but he was just dejected that Kiku had to be this aggressive to even engaged in war against him and even take you away from him.

"I know you to be a good man, Kiku. Do take care of (Y/n) for me," Yao asked a favor to the Japanese country.

Kiku smiled and nodded, "I will."

"I'm sorry this has to happen, 哥 (Gē)…" you apologized as tears were about to form.

Yao patted your head. "This had nothing to do with you, (Y/n). I know Kiku. I was the one who taught him everything. He is a good man. I am confident that he will take care of you."

You weakly smiled and hugged him. Over the past years, you have been held captive by France and Russia and you were recently returned to Yao but that did not take long when Japan was now going to take you away.

"Take care, 哥 (Gē)…" you finally said.

1989

Kiku married you as a result of being overprotective. He also allowed you to see Yao every once in a while. During your visit to China, there was a declaration of martial law. Millions of demonstrators were rallying for freedom and end of China's communist dictatorship.

"(Y/n), you must get out of here! This is no time for you to be visiting me!" Yao was almost yelling because of the screams of the protesters and shot of rifles in the air as the two of you went through an alleyway.

Yao was wearing  a military uniform. He was one of those soldiers who will stop the barbaric protesting people. 

"哥 (Gē), why are you helping the government?! You should stand with your own people!" you also yelled but with slight irritation. How can your brother be one with the corrupt communist government?

"(Y/n), this is no time for the two of us to argue! 去！ (Qù!)" Yao gestured you to go somewhere safe for the meantime.

You just stared at him and rage filled your heart. You walked away as you tried not to get caught and find a safe place to stay until the riot was over.

Present day

News Flash!

China surpasses America as world's largest trading nation!*

China has overtaken America in terms of annual trade in goods. Described as "a landmark milestone", China passed the $4 trillion in annual trade in goods last year, after exports increased 7.9 percent to $2.21 trillion and imports increased 7.3 percent to $1.95 trillion. China is considered as the world's second largest economy.

As you watched the news, you could not help but smile. Your brother had come a long way. He had protected his traditions and morality from foreigners in the past and now, he had opened his arms to trade from almost all parts of the world. Though, you did hear that he was still being bullied by Alfred (the country representation of America or the United States), Arthur, Francis (the country representation of France), and Ivan (the country representation of Russia). But, you always knew Yao to be a very confident country for he was the oldest country who have walked this Earth.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"I'll go get it," Kiku volunteered. You were still keeping your ties with the Japanese country even in the present day.

"您好！ (Nín hǎo!), Kiku! It has been awhile! Is (Y/n) around?" a certain Chinese man greeted happily.

"Ah, brother Yao! It is nice of you to visit! (Y/n) is just watching news about your success. Both of us are very proud," Kiku complimented with a small smile.

Yao chuckled sheepishly. "谢谢 (Xièxiè), Kiku. Have you not also grown to be strong as well? I am also proud of you, 小弟 (Xiǎodì)!"

"哥 [Gē], I have missed you!" You stood as you heard Yao's voice and went towards him to give him a big hug. It had been a long time since you had seen him again. It was an amazing moment for him to visit you.

"(Y/n)! I hope Kiku is treating you well," Yao said with a laugh.

You laughed as well. "Of course, he is, 哥 (Gē). Kiku is such a good husband~"

Kiku blushed. "P-please do make yourself at home, brother Yao. I'll go prepare some green tea."

"哥 (Gē), come! You and I shall have some long conversation with one another!" You gestured him to come along in the small yet neat living room.

"是的，这是真的。(Shì de, zhè shì zhēn de.) We have been through a lot in the past years but here we are, still clinging to each other like family."

With that, the three of you enjoyed drinking green tea and conversing with one another.

Over the past years and next more years to come, you and Yao will always still be brothers and sisters no matter what.

END.