Chapter 4: Crying

The room was quiet, so quiet that it made people feel uneasy. Everyone looked at Lian Yueyao with a mix of sorrow, anger, and hatred as they stared at Gu Mama, not knowing what had happened.

Gu Mama, seeing Lian Yueyao's expression, didn't think much of it. She assumed that Lian Yueyao was having a nightmare, so she raised her voice and asked, "Miss, what's wrong? Did you have a bad dream?"

Lian Yueyao's attention was brought back by Gu Mama's words. As she met Gu Mama's concerned look, there was disgust and hatred in her eyes. She couldn't understand how she had been so naive back then, to trust her so much, to the point of being sold off without a second thought.

Gu Mama, seeing the fierce look in her daughter's eyes, felt her heart pounding in her chest. "Did you have a nightmare?" she asked anxiously.

Seeing Gu Mama reaching out to touch her, Lian Yueyao felt a wave of revulsion. She turned her head away and said coldly, "Don't touch me."

Gu Mama's hand fell empty, feeling somewhat embarrassed. After hearing Lian Yueyao's cold words, she asked in a frightened tone, "Miss, are you being haunted by nightmares?"

Lian Yueyao also realized that her current behavior was inappropriate. She had heard too many stories in the temple about people being mistaken for possessed by evil spirits due to their improper behavior, and ultimately being burned alive. If she continued to act this way, she would also be seen as possessed, and the consequences would be dire.

Lian Yueyao knew that she needed to remain calm. She shouldn't be impulsive, as the consequences of acting recklessly would be unimaginable.

Suppressing her disgust and anger, Lian Yueyao said expressionlessly, "I'm fine. There's Muqiu taking care of me here, so you can leave!"

Muqiu was surprised. Miss had always been kind and gentle to Gu Mama, but now she not only yelled at Gu Mama but also spoke so coldly, even changing how she addressed her. She used to call her "mother" in a particularly affectionate manner, but now she didn't even call her that. Miss must be haunted by nightmares.

Gu Mama was taken aback. "Miss..."

Lian Yueyao, impatient, flashed a cold light in her eyes. She spoke with impatience, "I told you to leave, did you hear me?" No matter how patient she was, seeing this person made her unable to contain her disgust.

Upon hearing this, Gu Mama's heart skipped a beat, and she stood up with a somewhat embarrassed expression. Miss had never treated her like this before. Gu Mama knew Lian Yueyao's temperament. If she continued to pester her, she would definitely incur Miss's displeasure, and then Miss would truly despise her. Gu Mama thought it best to temporarily step back and not offend Miss. Before leaving, she carefully instructed Muqiu, then walked out under Lian Yueyao's indifferent gaze.

Muqiu tucked Lian Yueyao in with the blanket. "Miss, Mama is just concerned about you. Miss..."

Lian Yueyao knew that Muqiu was sincere, but she didn't want to say much to her. She interrupted her, "Where's Hualei?" She had two senior maids by her side, Muqiu and Hualei.

Both of them had been carefully trained by their mother and were her right-hand women. However, while Muqiu was steady but lacking in wit, she was a bit stubborn. Hualei, on the other hand, was not only steady but also very intelligent, with a keen insight. In the past, Hualei had also warned her about the malicious intentions of the Mo family, but she hadn't listened. Both of them were loyal to her, but in slightly different ways. Muqiu was bought from outside, while Hualei was born in the family's estate, with both her parents working in the estate.

Muqiu didn't feel embarrassed by Lian Yueyao's interruption, as she wasn't like Gu Mama. She spoke softly, "Miss, you've forgotten. Hualei's mother was ill. You granted her the grace to go home and take care of her mother. Hualei sent word today that her mother's illness has improved, and she'll be back tomorrow."

Hualei's parents worked on the estate, so it took them a good half day to come and go. Therefore, Lian Yueyao had granted her leave. Normally, as a first-class maid, she couldn't be away from her mistress when her parents were ill. However, this was the grace Lian Yueyao had given her. At the time, Lian Yueyao had thought that since her own parents weren't by her side, she shouldn't prevent Hualei from visiting her sick mother.

Lian Yueyao sighed softly. It had been over twenty years, and she couldn't remember these little things. She remembered most vividly the joyful days with her parents in Jiangnan, every detail etched in her memory, unforgettable. As for the matters of the Mo family, she deliberately tried to forget, and she had little recollection of them.

Looking at the familiar room, the familiar scene, and the younger Muqiu, Lian Yueyao finally showed a relieved smile. In her previous life, heaven had been so cruel to her, so she was grateful for the mercy that had given her a chance to start over. It allowed her to begin anew.

With this in mind, Lian Yueyao's heart settled. She closed her eyes and recited a Buddhist scripture. After finishing the scripture, she quickly fell asleep.

Muqiu looked at the sleeping Lian Yueyao, feeling a bit puzzled. However, she didn't dwell on it, as she wasn't one to overthink things. Seeing Lian Yueyao fall asleep, she walked over, blew out the lamp, and lay back down under the bed.

When Lian Yueyao woke up, she looked out the window to see a hazy sky, unable to discern the time. She looked at Muqiu and asked, "What time is it now?"

"Mùqiū smiled and said, 'Miss, it's already 10 o'clock in the morning.' If it were another young lady from a different family sleeping so late, her maidservants would surely be worried. Here, the young lady's waking time is strictly regulated. There's absolutely no room for sleeping in. However, given Miss Liányuè's special circumstances, Mùqiū was not only not worried but also somewhat relieved. Since the passing of the old lady, her mistress had been unable to sleep well, and even when she did, it was only a light doze. This had led to her becoming increasingly weak. Now, seeing her sleep so soundly, Mùqiū couldn't help but feel happy.

At this moment, a maidservant dressed in lake-green attire entered. Her round face looked quite cheerful.

Liányuè looked at the maidservant who had just entered, momentarily taken aback. She then softly called out, 'Huālěi?' It's no wonder Liányuè was caught off guard. She felt guilty for Huālěi's fate. Huālěi had often advised her, but she hadn't listened, and in the end, Huālěi had lost her life for it. Even her family had been implicated.

Huālěi felt relieved to hear that Liányuè was still asleep. Seeing that Liányuè looked a bit brighter than when she had left, her spirits lifted. When Liányuè called out to her, a smile appeared in her eyes. 'Miss, it's me. I'm back. You look much better today. If only you could be like this every day.' Thanks to Miss's favor, she was able to stay home for five days. It was the first time in many years that she had spent such a long time with her family. She was very grateful.

Her mother was fine now, and she wanted to come back to take care of Miss as soon as possible. It was already a great favor that Miss had allowed her to return home to nurse her. Once her mother was better, she naturally had to come back. She just hadn't expected that in these few days, Miss's condition would actually start to improve. Had Miss finally come to terms with everything?

Liányuè listened to this and couldn't help but smile bitterly in her heart. With her parents passing away one after the other, she had suffered greatly, to the point of seeking solace in transcribing scriptures all day long. But now, more than twenty years had passed, and while the grief was still there, it wasn't as deep as it had been in the beginning.

Suddenly, Liányuè remembered the portraits of her parents stored in the study. She could hardly remember what her parents looked like. Thinking of this, she immediately went to the study.

Neither Mùqiū nor Huālěi could stop her.

In the eyes of everyone, Liányuè was a bit stubborn and difficult. She couldn't be opposed; everything had to go her way. Otherwise, she would throw a tantrum. In the past, the old lady was there to guide her. Now, with no one to teach her, her temperament had become even more difficult.

As soon as she stepped out, she saw Gǔmāma about to come in. Gǔmāma saw that Liányuè was only wearing thin clothes and became annoyed. 'Miss, you really don't take care of yourself...'

But Liányuè avoided her hand as if Gǔmāma were something dirty. Then, without even looking at Gǔmāma, she went straight to the study.

Gǔmāma's expression darkened. Since last night, Liányuè had been avoiding her. And now, this morning was no different.

Gǔmāma keenly felt that Liányuè was becoming more distant from her. What was wrong with Liányuè? Gǔmāma glared at Mùqiū, thinking that this wretched maidservant had said something bad about her to Liányuè. She had always seemed honest before, but now, just like Huālěi, she was up to no good.

Mùqiū lowered her head.

But Huālěi's face showed a hint of mockery. It seemed that Liányuè had finally realized that her nursemaid couldn't be trusted. Huālěi also sighed. When the old lady was still around, Gǔmāma had taken good care of Liányuè. It was just that the old lady didn't like Gǔmāma being too close to Liányuè. Gǔmāma didn't dare to annoy the old lady and didn't dare to overstep her boundaries. Liányuè had always been good to Gǔmāma. But who would have thought that as soon as the old lady was gone, Gǔmāma would ally herself with the main house. Huālěi knew what the main lady was up to. If the old lady were still around, Gǔmāma wouldn't dare to have any other thoughts. In the end, Liányuè had become a lonely girl who had to rely on the main house. That was why Gǔmāma dared to betray her own mistress.

Liányuè searched the study for a long time before finally finding a portrait. It was a portrait she had painted herself, depicting a loving family of three.

Liányuè looked at the portraits of her parents. She remembered the hardships of her past life. She knelt in front of the portraits, crying bitterly, 'Father, Mother, I miss you so much. I really miss you...' If her parents hadn't passed away so early, she wouldn't have had to suffer so much.

Mùqiū and Huālěi, who had followed her in, also couldn't help but cry. The room was filled with sorrowful wails. Outside, Gǔmāma heard the crying and walked in to see Liányuè holding the portraits of her parents, crying her heart out. Gǔmāma tried to console her, but Liányuè paid her no attention.

Huālěi was the first to wipe her tears and went to help Liányuè up. 'Miss, you mustn't do this again. If you harm yourself, your father and mother in the afterlife won't be at peace. Miss, you must take care of yourself.'

After much effort, they managed to stop Liányuè from crying. A maidservant immediately brought in water. Liányuè wiped her tears and cleaned her face. Her clothes had gathered dust from kneeling on the floor.

Mùqiū brought Liányuè a half-new plain blue garment to change into. Huālěi helped Liányuè to the dressing table, where she combed her hair and tied it into a simple bun, leaving a few strands to braid and securing it with a blue hairpin that matched her clothes. Liányuè was still in mourning and couldn't wear colorful clothes or jewelry.

Watching Huālěi's deft hands, Liányuè felt a sudden realization. Huālěi was the most reliable person by her side, but in the third year after her return, she had met with an accident and died.

Looking back now, it was ridiculous to call it an accident. It was likely that Mǒshì was worried that she would be influenced by Huālěi, especially since Mǒshì couldn't have been unaware of Huālěi's comforting words. Mǒshì was afraid that she would become wary, so she had gotten rid of Huālěi early, eliminating any potential threat. In the end, she had even sold off Huālěi's entire family. Huālěi's family had been loyal to her, but in the end, they had met such a fate, and she owed them that.

Seeing Liányuè lost in thought, Huālěi asked, 'Miss, do you not like this hairstyle? If you don't, I can change it for you.'

Liányuè shook her head. 'No need, this is fine.' She was still in mourning, so simplicity was enough. There was no need for extravagance."