Chapter 3: As if in a Dream

The Seven Clever Ones chuckled: "Miss, you used to say you were afraid of the dark and couldn't sleep without lighting a candle. How come it's the other way around today?"

The voice of Ba Xiu suddenly came from under the bed, just as Qi Qiao had climbed onto the bed, waking her up. She happened to hear this sentence and couldn't help but interject.

Without disturbing the two girls, she quietly got out of bed. While putting on her shoes, she accidentally bumped her elbow against the bedpost, making a soft sound. Ba Xiu was sound asleep and remained unaware, but Qi Qiao suddenly woke up and hurried over to support her.

If I remember correctly, in about half a month, the people sent by the family from Rongchang Hall will arrive. They originally intended to take her to stay at Rongchang Hall for a while, with the intention of mending relations between the two halls. However, due to her falling into the water and falling ill, her condition has not improved for a long time. Her mother is unwilling to let her go, and she herself has stubbornly scolded the family representatives, which has led to a complete break between Rong'an Hall and the family from Rongchang Hall.

It is precisely because of you that one feels uneasy

This wretched girl, clearly I told her to be more alert, yet she sleeps so soundly. If a thief were to enter the house one day, she wouldn't even know.

She insists that the tragedy must not be repeated; she cannot allow her mother to suffer any further harm due to her own stubbornness

Miss, do you need to get up at night

Hehe, I also saw it. How can someone as grown as you still cry like a child?

Shh, don't wake Ba Xiu, let her sleep

Zhuo'er is not afraid of hardship, Zhuo'er will definitely listen to Liu Mama's words. He obediently replied to the book "Hua Zhuo".

"There is light, I cannot sleep. You either extinguish the candle and go back to your own room, or sleep with me," Hua Zhuo thought of an excuse

With one eye closed and then opened, she thought she would return to the underworld, but to her surprise, she saw her mother again. Hua Zhuo believed she was dreaming and secretly pinched herself hard, the pain almost making her cry out.

Mother, mother, where is my younger brother? Is my younger brother here? Is father here?" She tugged at Fang's sleeve and began to cry again

Fang was deeply touched by her words, his eyes reddening as he both cried and laughed, saying: "Zhuo'er, be good. Mother is not tired; you just sleep."

The master came by and sat for quite a while before leaving. Upon seeing the young lady sleeping weakly, he felt quite distressed. When I went to pour tea and returned, I saw the master quietly wiping away his tears. Heh, at that moment, I didn't dare to come in. It was only after the master had wiped away all his tears that I felt it was safe to enter.

Old Madam Liu was amused by the mother and daughter, saying: "This is remarkable. It is only natural for a mother to love her daughter, and it is rare for a daughter to also care for her mother. Where can you find such a well-behaved, obedient, and filial daughter in other families? It is already good enough if they do not cause their mothers headaches all day long. Madam, given the young lady's heartfelt intentions, you should go back to your room and rest. The young lady has servants here to attend to her, so you can rest assured."

Four or five braziers warmed the room pleasantly, while Ba Xiu slept on the footrest, drooling, presenting a charmingly naive appearance. Qi Qiao sat at the table, with an unfinished embroidery project beside her, her head bobbing up and down like a chick pecking at grains.

"Since you won't go to bed, I can't fall asleep. Qiqiao, dear Qiqiao, why don't you just keep me company while I sleep? Come and touch me; I just got up, and the blanket is already cold. Come help me warm it up." She was being playful while also trying to come up with excuses, and she even lifted the blanket to let Qiqiao come over and touch her.

Fang Shi patted her chest and couldn't help but laugh, saying: "Zhuo'er, you gave me quite a scare. I thought something serious had happened. Your brother is sleeping right now, and I've asked Si Xi to keep an eye on him, so there won't be any issues. Your father went to the government office early this morning, and once he finishes his official duties, he will come back to see you. Now, be a good girl and lie down to sleep, cover yourself well with the quilt, and don't catch a cold again"

In my memory, it was because of her falling into the water this time that Fang came to take care of her even before she had completed her confinement. However, she refused to take the bitter medicine, and it took her two or three months to recover. Fang took care of her without rest, which ultimately left her with lingering health issues. After their father had an accident, she fell seriously ill and left her and her younger brother without support, enduring endless bullying.

She remembers that Ba Xiu was most afraid of being tickled; once tickled, she could not stop laughing, to the point where she could hardly catch her breath, yet still could not stop.

Although Hua Zhuo could not help but want to laugh, he still had to maintain his father's authority. He straightened his expression and said: "Qiqiao is right; that is not called crying. That is called a father's love as solid as a mountain. Baxiuxiu, you are not allowed to speak nonsense again, otherwise... otherwise I will tickle you."

Mr. Fang truly doted on his daughter to the core; unable to resist, he embraced her and gave her a kiss, only reluctantly letting go. He allowed San Chun to support her, turning back three times as he left.

Hua Zhuo saw Qi Qiao sitting back at the table, preparing to play with the little chicks, and felt a pang in her heart. In her previous life, she had been immature and had not had the chance to treat Qi Qiao well before this girl was stabbed to death by a refugee while trying to protect her. Since heaven had given her another chance, she would never allow those around her to be harmed because of her again

Qiqiao murmured softly, but ultimately felt relieved. Before long, drowsiness washed over her. She glanced up to see Huazhuo had already closed his eyes, and only then did she feel at ease to fall asleep.

Hua Zhuo looked at the two of them, feeling a pang of heartache. These two most considerate girls, a few years older than her, had always been like elder sisters. However, on the journey to seek refuge with their relatives, they encountered refugees who robbed them of their grain and silver. In order to protect her, Qiqiao was stabbed to death by a refugee with a knife. Baxiou followed her to her uncle's house, where her aunt forcibly arranged for her to marry an ugly and old servant. Baxiou, unwilling to endure such humiliation, threw herself into a well

Hua Zhuo couldn't help but want to laugh. On the surface, her father appeared to have a serious and stern temperament, but in private, he was quite soft-hearted. When her mother was giving birth to her younger brother, she secretly watched her father pacing back and forth in the flower hall. Upon hearing her mother's cries, she nearly fainted from fright.

Mother does not sleep, and Zhuo'er does not sleep either

Not wanting to wake her, yet unexpectedly, he still woke up Qiqiao, and Huazhuo felt somewhat apologetic

When I woke up again, it was already midnight

Qiqiao whispered to herself, took a thick cotton coat to drape over Huazhuo, attended to her during the night, and then went outside the Xiugé to call someone to fetch warm water from the small kitchen at the back, which had been heated on the stove, washed her up, and finally allowed her to go back to sleep

It is not a dream, it is not a dream, she has returned, the heavens have shown mercy, she is back by her mother's side, Qi Qiao and Ba Xiu are still here, and Liu Momo is also present. Suddenly recalling something, unable to pretend to be asleep any longer, Hua Zhuo abruptly turned over and sat up, startling Fang Shi, who was watching her.

"Qiqiao, you should come to bed and sleep too"

"Stop talking nonsense. What crying? Do you think the master is like you? The master is concerned for the young lady." Qiqiao quickly reprimanded her.

Hua Zhuo's face flushed red as he recalled that he was indeed afraid of the dark when he was young. However, after experiencing a series of changes, he had walked through the night, even hearing the howls of wolves nearby. At that time, he was so frightened that he nearly lost his courage, but it also cured him of his fear of the dark.

Fang was amused by her words, and perhaps he truly felt a bit tired. Supporting himself with San Chun's hand, he stood up and said gently: "Alright, Zhuo'er, with your sincere filial piety, Mother will listen to you. Go back to the room and rest. Zhuo'er, you must also be obedient, do not complain when taking medicine, and you must listen to Liu Mama's words. Otherwise, even if Mother rests, she will not be at ease."

Hua Zhuo then lay down again, but did not close his eyes. He softly said, "Mother, you let Qi Qiao and Tu Shu, as well as Ba Xiu, take care of me. You have just given birth to my younger brother and should not exert yourself. Please go back to your room and lie down. If you become ill because of me, it would be my unfilial conduct."

Lying down again, the two of them squeezed into one blanket, and soon it became warm and cozy. Hua Zhuo had already slept enough and was finding it hard to fall asleep again. Seeing that Qi Qiao also appeared unwilling to sleep, he couldn't help but ask: "Did Father come by while I was asleep?"

"The servant is not tired." Qiqiao smiled at her, picked up the embroidery, and brought it under the candlelight, stitching it carefully.

Although Hua Zhuo had her eyes closed, she was actually unable to sleep. At this moment, she was full of energy and couldn't help but ponder once again about the events that occurred when she was eight years old, the moments when she closed her eyes and then opened them again.

Qiqiao came over and touched the bed; it was indeed a bit cool. She hurriedly took off her outer garment and climbed into bed, saying, "Miss, please do not lift the quilt. I will just sleep here. Be careful not to catch a chill again. The doctor said if you catch a chill again, it will be difficult to treat your illness."

Hua Zhuo, seeing her mother leave, finally closed her eyes again and lay down. She was already exhausted, and now her body was also ill, suffering from a cold evil, alternating between chills and fever, which truly drained her strength. After crying for a while and taking medicine, the effects of the medicine began to take hold, and as soon as she lay down, she could not endure it any longer. Sleepiness surged over her, and in a moment, she fell asleep.

Ba Xiu stuck out her tongue and said, "I understand, my lady." She then got up from the foot of the bed and continued, "Miss, Qi Qiao, you all should go to sleep. I have already rested enough, and I will keep watch during the second half of the night. You can rest assured."