Chapter 14: Morning Rise

Morning light gradually filled the room. Chun Yue woke up abruptly, rubbed her eyes to adjust to the brightness, and hurriedly climbed out of bed.

"Oh no, how did I oversleep?"

Having been a maid for so many years, she had always been cautious and dutiful; she only ever woke up earlier than the prescribed time and had never woken up late.

Perhaps it was because her dream last night had taken her back to her childhood. She had been sitting on her father's shoulders to see the lantern festival in the city. The lanterns were so beautiful; her father had lifted her so high, and she had been so happy watching them that she wanted to keep watching forever. Because she didn't want to wake up, she had overslept.

In truth, her father had never actually taken her to see the lanterns when she was a child. He had once said he would, but later her mother fell ill, the family could no longer make ends meet, and she was sold.

Actually, being sold to the Marquis of Dongyang's manor was quite good luck. She hadn't been beaten much, hadn't gone hungry, and had even been selected to be the head maid beside the Heir Apparent. Stepping out into the world, she looked more glamorous than the daughters of wealthy country landlords.

These years, one didn't just have to go to the city to see lanterns; the lanterns in the Marquis of Dongyang's manor were also quite beautiful.

But, seeing the lanterns with her father must have felt different.

Chun Yue looked at the young girl in the mirror, a smile curling at the corners of her mouth. A moment later, she composed her expression, neatly tied up her hair, and walked out briskly.

Voices were already coming from Zhuang Li's bedroom.

"Young Mistress, you are awake."

Chun Yue spoke, waving a hand to signal the little maids waiting in the courtyard, as she stepped into the room. She saw Zhuang Li, dressed in nightclothes with her hair loose, standing by the window removing a piece of calligraphy.

"Young Mistress, let me." She hurried forward.

Zhuang Li allowed her to help take the calligraphy down.

"Why isn't it hanging anymore?" Chun Yue asked. As she looked down, she let out a soft gasp. "Why is it blurred?"

The originally clear characters had become fuzzy, as if they had been bled out by water.

She couldn't help but reach out to touch the paper, finding it damp to the touch.

"Did it rain?" Chun Yue couldn't help but lean out to look through the window.

Dew was rolling off the plantain leaves outside. Perhaps it had been a light rain, and she had slept too deeply to notice.

"Put it away," Zhuang Li said. "I will write another set."

It was just a piece of calligraphy; Chun Yue cast the thought aside and nodded. "One must write often; the more you write, the better they become."

The little maids outside entered, carrying basins of washing water and silk towels.

As Zhuang Li sat down to wash up, Chun Yue brought out the dress to be worn today. Chun Hong and Chun Xiang also entered, but Xue Liu was nowhere to be seen.

"The Madam sent her to deliver the manor's new tea to Miss Ajin," Chun Xiang explained in a low voice.

Chun Yue sighed inwardly. There were so many people around the Marchioness; anyone could have gone. It was fine when there was no Young Mistress before, but now that the courtyard had a mistress, a head maid only wanted to serve someone else.

Chun Hong hurriedly added with a smile, "Mainly, it was the Madam's grace, allowing her to go home to see her parents."

Xue Liu was a household servant of the Earl of Ding'an; her parents were both there, so going back to see them was perfectly reasonable.

Zhuang Li merely gave an "mm" of acknowledgment, unconcerned. After washing and changing, she ordered breakfast to be served. Two maids went to attend to the meal, while Chun Yue led the little maids to tidy up.

"Sister Chun Yue," a little maid said suddenly, holding the discarded clothes. "The Young Mistress's clothes..."

"Just put them over there," Chun Yue said, not looking up as she tidied the bed curtains.

"No, the soles of the Young Mistress's shoes are dirty," the little maid said hurriedly.

The Young Mistress hadn't even stepped out of the room; how could her soles be dirty? Moreover, they were soft indoor shoes. What nonsense was this little maid talking? Chun Yue turned her head to look and saw the little maid holding two embroidered soft shoes; the soles were indeed covered in stains.

*Eh? This...* Chun Yue couldn't help but rub her forehead. The rain must have drifted in and dampened the calligraphy, as well as the floor. Mixed with the dust, the Young Mistress must have stepped in it while standing by the window.

"Take them to be washed," she instructed, then called another maid. "Thoroughly wipe the bedroom floor."

The little maids responded and went about their tasks.

Chun Yue went to the hall. Zhuang Li had already finished eating and was inviting Concubine Mei in.

According to the established rule of paying respects once every three days, Concubine Mei arrived on time, and Zhuang Li did not keep her waiting.

After exchanging a few words of small talk, Concubine Mei looked at the maids in the room. Seeing that Xue Liu was absent, she handed over a pair of socks and said, "Young Mistress, since I had nothing else to do, I made a pair of socks for you."

She followed this with a simple, honest smile.

"I make all of the Heir Apparent's personal clothing. I only have this little skill in needlework; I hope the Young Mistress won't disdain them."

Zhuang Li had Chun Yue take them and glanced at them. "Thank you. They are very well made."

Concubine Mei became even happier. "As long as the Young Mistress doesn't disdain them. I used to make them for the former Young Mistress as well, but she was only used to Xue Liu's." She spoke with animated gestures. "But Xue Liu's needlework really is better than mine; she is truly remarkable. I cannot compare to her."

Chun Yue gave a light cough from the side. "Concubine, do not belittle yourself."

Concubine Mei hurriedly lowered her head sheepishly. "I just talk too much."

*It's more than just talking too much; she's even trying to sow discord,* Chun Yue thought helplessly.

Zhuang Li's expression remained normal, whether she hadn't understood or chose not to, she did not engage in the conversation regarding the former Young Mistress and Xue Liu. She simply said, "Concubine, you needn't work so hard on needlework; the household has a sewing room."

Concubine Mei said no more, only gratefully thanking the Young Mistress for her thoughtfulness. When Zhuang Li finished her tea, she obediently took her leave.

Chun Yue asked softly, "Shall I call the people from the sewing room now?"

Many new clothes had been sent previously, but some did not fit well; she wanted the sewing room staff to come and make alterations today.

Zhuang Li shook her head. "In the afternoon. I will rest for a bit this morning."

*Resting right after waking up? Is the Young Mistress mentally exhausted?* Chun Yue didn't ask further. She signaled the maids to withdraw, but before stepping back, she smiled and asked, "Did the Young Mistress sleep well last night?"

Sitting by the window, Zhuang Li nodded. "I slept very well. I even had a dream."

As long as one slept well, the heart was at peace. Chun Yue breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but say, "This servant also had a good dream."

Zhuang Li smiled at her. "That is good. Having good dreams is very pleasant, isn't it?"

Chun Yue nodded, gave a shy smile, and withdrew. Standing in the courtyard, she looked through the window and saw Zhuang Li resting her chin on her hand, appearing to be lost in thought.

*What is the Young Mistress thinking about?*

Zhuang Li was thinking about last night's dream.

Although she hadn't reached the intended destination, being able to enter the dream again was a good thing.

The corners of her mouth curled slightly.

Then, she thought of Lady Zhuang's words.

"You must not be reckless. It is already a blessing that you survived."

The corners of Zhuang Li's mouth sank. It was indeed a blessing that she had been able to live again, but if she tried to turn back into a dream, she feared her soul would dissipate.

But so what?

She had survived because she was unwilling to let go. She wanted to ask and find out the truth; otherwise, what was the point of living!

Zhuang Li sat up straight, her wandering gaze focusing on the books on the table that she hadn't looked at much for several days. The characters in the books were neat and orderly, but as her gaze fell upon them, the orderly characters seemed to burst into flames, and then transformed into countless sharp arrows, piercing toward her eyes.

Burning, stinging—Zhuang Li felt as if her eyes were going blind. But she widened her eyes, facing the fire and the arrows, using her gaze to gather the leaping characters back into form, reading them line by line, absorbing the essence of the ink.

The two little maids playing in the courtyard remembered Chun Yue's instructions and glanced inside from time to time. Seeing that the Young Mistress, who had been sitting motionless by the window, had picked up a book again, they continued playing with peace of mind.

The Young Mistress read very slowly; once she started, she would read for half a day.

...

...

As soon as Xue Liu entered the Earl of Ding'an's manor, she was escorted to the Old Lady's side, surrounded by people asking all sorts of questions. Naturally, they were all asking what the new Young Mistress of the Marquis of Dongyang's manor was like.

Although Lu Jin had met her, she was not like Xue Liu, who served by her side.

"She's nothing special, just like that," Xue Liu said with a smile.

The Old Lady of the Earl of Ding'an snorted and pointed at Lu Jin beside her. "Is she like the children of our family?"

Xue Liu called out, "Grand Ancestor! Who could compare to a child raised by your care!"

The Old Lady laughed, but remembering how Zhou Jingyun stubbornly refused to accept another child raised by her, the smile on her face turned into anger. "Ungrateful. I'd like to see if he can even manage his life."

Lu Jin fed a piece of melon to the Old Lady and nodded vigorously. "He won't be able to manage. Grandmother, please don't be kind enough to interfere with him again."

*That's right. Her only thought in choosing another granddaughter to marry to Zhou Jingyun was out of pity for him, wanting someone by his side to attend to his needs, not because she coveted anything from him. Acting like a ghost, so ungrateful for good intentions!* The Old Lady of the Earl of Ding'an gave a heavy, cold snort, but her expression softened.

While the atmosphere here was just fine, it was somewhat noisy outside. Someone seemed to be saying something about calling a doctor and a death. Being elderly, the Old Lady of the Earl of Ding'an loathed hearing such things, and her face immediately darkened again.

The head maids in the room hurried out, and before long, the outside returned to silence.

"Do not worry, Old Lady, it is just a little girl who is ill," the head maids reported.

The Old Lady of the Earl of Ding'an frowned. "What illness? If it's no good, move her out early."

To be sick and in pain at such a young age—how unlucky.

(End of Chapter)