Chapter Seven, The Long Ditch Flows Silently Under the Moon (Three)

Goo! It seemed to respond to my teasing, as Mu Xin's stomach unexpectedly let out another loud growl.

I pursed my lips and said: "Fool, it's not meant to be pounded. If you're really uncomfortable, just rub it yourself."

I opened my eyes wide to look at her; she must have known that I was punished to kneel. Where does this statement come from?

Uncle and godfather were both anxious and opened their mouths at the same time, but were stopped by mother’s gesture. In that moment, she did not know why her voice sounded so weak, swaying like a candle flame in the wind: "It is time for her to reflect on her actions. You and I cannot protect her for a lifetime. In the future, whether she becomes a phoenix or a sparrow, whether she possesses virtue or not, all depends on whether she can truly repent."

Someone came over, supporting Mu Xin, and said in a clear voice: "Fourth brother, please calm down and do not be anxious"

The autumn cicadas illuminate the gauze lanterns, and the indoor atmosphere is suffused with a faint red light, casting a rosy glow on people's faces. She is a charming and clever young woman, who, while taking out the dishes, laughed and said: "I am helping in the kitchen; everyone is so busy that we almost forgot to deliver the meals to the young master and young lady, and it was thanks to the second young master’s reminder."

The godfather remained calm: "Has someone from the capital arrived?"

The night gradually deepened, and my uncle and godfather had yet to return. I was unaware of what important matters they were discussing. I knelt there; the initial numbness and pain had subsided, and it felt as though my lower body no longer belonged to me. Beside me, Mu Xin, who had pretended to be asleep, had truly fallen asleep.

Before the daughter could speak, the uncle had already raised his eyebrows and angrily said: "Well, you little rascal, I knew you were a troublemaker. Why didn't you say anything earlier? You got Huaisu punished, didn't you?"

Behind me, Mu Xin's panicked cries echoed: "Huaisu, what’s wrong, Huaisu..." The shouts gradually faded, discarded in the cool night breeze.

Mu Sheng looked at us, his usual demeanor being composed and steady: "I heard that you have been punished, so I came to check on you. You haven't eaten yet, have you? The autumn cicadas have arrived."

... ...

I have been a vegetarian since childhood, detesting meat. Autumn Cicada brought me West Lake tofu and rose lan ding, and also served a small bowl of porridge. I did not rise but sat cross-legged, slowly savoring it while perusing books. Meanwhile, Mu Xin was unceremoniously devouring his meal with great enthusiasm. Autumn Cicada watched and couldn't help but smile, saying, "Fourth Young Master, the lady has asked me to take you back."

Liu Xia came to support me, her expression in the candlelight was frighteningly pale, yet she smiled broadly and answered off-topic: "The maidservants are destined to follow the young lady; the young lady will be my master in the future, whether in water or in fire. If Liu Xia furrows her brow, it would be disrespectful to the madam."

Ah ! ! ! ! ! ''

Even in the darkness, I knew that Mu Xin's face had turned red, and I could even feel that wave of warmth. A mischievous thought crossed my mind: perhaps if I brought an egg, it could be cooked?

In the darkness, I could not discern the expression on that young man's face, yet I vaguely sensed the flicker of light in his eyes: "As a grown man, standing tall and firm, how could I allow you to bear all the sins alone"

Here, far from the front courtyard, it is desolate and quiet, devoid of the bustling voices and the throngs of people. I can only imagine that in the inner courtyard of the Wang residence, the various lanterns that had already been hung during the day must now be lit one by one, resembling a scattering of stars across the painted eaves and flying roofs, amidst the high pavilions with green tiles and the willows leaning low, with dots of red glow and colorful brilliance like clouds

I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Kind-hearted Mu Sheng, who was clearly terrified of my aloof and distant mother, actually mustered the courage to plead on my behalf. Truly, he is deeply affectionate towards his younger brother. I waved my hand and said, "Don't go, my mother won't see you."

I sighed inwardly; this young man is quite clever, knowing that my godfather and uncle care for me, and thus he would not be punished. He simply let me take the blame. Unexpectedly, my mother suddenly intervened. I suppose he has a bit of backbone, unwilling to be sheltered by a woman

Uncle showed a hint of difficulty: "Yes, I am currently waiting in the study."

The godfather was taken aback and went to see the uncle, who could only smile wryly, knowing that I was outwardly round but inwardly square, and had always held the utmost respect and affection for my mother. He would never go against her in the slightest, so he could only shake his head: "Very well, once the excitement subsides, she will naturally call Huaisu back, as she has always cared for her greatly"

I opened my eyes amidst the screams, the moonlight was heavy, the room was tranquil, the candlelight flickered casting deep shadows on the curtains, the air of desolation grew ever more pervasive, yet where is the mingling of blood and tears in the flowing twilight

In the haze, I heard the sound of the door, and Liu Xia entered with a bright smile: "Miss, I searched for you with great difficulty."

Turning to look at Mu Xin, his face was very grim, and he was gently pounding his knee with his fist, but the more he pounded, the more he grimaced.

Mu Sheng and Qiu Chan left helplessly after packing their things. After hesitating for a while, Mu Sheng asked me: "If I go to plead with my aunt, will she forgive you?"

I am running wildly, running wildly, not even knowing how my knees, which have been kneeling for so long, can support such intense running. The night grows cooler, and a chill pervades the air. I am dressed lightly, and due to my anxiety, cold sweat covers my body, which is instantly dried by the wind, leaving the coldness clinging to me, freezing my skin and causing it to shiver. Meanwhile, a voice deep within me grows louder, almost shouting: "Come back! Come back! ! !"

I knelt on the ground, feeling my knees gradually shift from soreness to numbness, then from numbness to stiffness. After the stiffness, sharp, needle-like pains surged forth one after another, in waves, unceasing and relentless, spreading as if my entire body had also become numb.

I rose gently, leaning into her embrace, feeling only the coldness of the fabric, while her hands were even colder, penetrating to the bone. A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I managed to ask her, "What’s wrong? Your hands are so cold—" Liu Xia turned her head, gazing steadily at me. I struggled to lift my eyelids to look, only to see blood trickling down her forehead, dripping to the corner of her lips. She still smiled at the corner of her mouth, yet tears were rolling in her eyes! I forced myself to ask her again, "What’s wrong? Your hands are so cold—" Liu Xia turned her head, gazing steadily at me. I struggled to lift my eyelids to look, only to see blood trickling down her forehead, dripping to the corner of her lips. She still smiled at the corner of her mouth, yet tears were rolling in her eyes!

He simply closed his eyes, appearing utterly unshakable, and chose to remain silent.

I had no time to ponder this somewhat peculiar remark when she straightened her back, bowed to both her godfather and uncle, and silently walked out. I watched her retreating figure, upright yet delicate, slowly fading from my sight. The afternoon breeze lifted a corner of her silk robe, revealing a pure white skirt beneath, the hem appearing slightly crimson from a distance. I stood there in a daze, suddenly feeling a surge of terrifying emotion rising from the depths of my heart, as if this warm and beautiful figure was about to drift away, leaving my life forever.

Hey! I silently cursed, that foolish boy Mu Xin, having already caused trouble, whether alone or together, one person kneels or two people kneel, why add another pair of knees to suffer? He really doesn't know how to calculate.

Uncle and godfather thought I was afraid of punishment, so they pleaded with my mother, calling out to her, and both came forward to help me up: "Huaisu, don't be afraid, your mother has left anyway, get up, no one will know."

She lowered her head to look at me, and I suddenly felt that her gaze was strange and profound, filled with a meaning that startled my heart: "You should reflect on your past here... No one from the hidden courtyard is calling you, you must not get up"

I got up, but immediately fell down. Gritting my teeth, I rolled over on the spot, propped myself up against the chair, and stood up despite the sharp pain in my knees. I bit my lip hard and staggered into the deep night.

I lowered my head, pondering my mother's words, feeling that something was amiss. Was it my mother's desolate tone that made me uneasy? Suddenly, I heard a thud; someone knelt beside me and exclaimed loudly, "It has nothing to do with Huaisu; it was I who attempted to seize the jade pendant, and Huaisu only failed in the process. Please, aunt, do not punish Huaisu; the blame should fall on me!"

I laughed heartily: "Indeed, a man of great stature. May I ask what sound is coming from your belly? How can it resonate so powerfully as to shake the mountains?"

A chill ran through my entire body, and something in my mind exploded with a roar, instantly shattering all the haze: "Ah!!!!!!!!"

Mu Sheng sighed, carrying the autumn cicada as he departed. I observed his steady and composed stride; although young, he already possessed a dignified demeanor. Then I glanced at the clever child beside me, pretending to be asleep, and couldn't help but sigh. How is it that people can be so different from one another

I smiled at Mu Sheng and looked at the dishes: lotus flower chicken soup, roasted goose with red glaze, apricot-flavored venison, shrimp and eel with a crispy texture, West Lake tofu, rose-flavored dumplings, four small rolls with lard and pine nuts, four crab roe and winter bamboo shoot dumplings, and fragrant glutinous rice. There was also a complete selection of congee and rice, along with a bowl of ginseng soup, which was for Yun, and a maid took it away to deliver it to the inner chamber

Mu Xin was clearly somewhat shaken, and Mu Sheng also advised him: "Mother is very worried about you, why not go back and reassure her? As for your sister, I believe Aunt will soon calm down and everything will be fine."

Uncle was left speechless

Unexpectedly, after pondering for a while, he devoured all the dishes on the table with great enthusiasm, then crawled down from the table and knelt beside me, saying: "I promised to accompany Huaisu, and I must fulfill that promise"

Mu Xin was momentarily taken aback, rubbed her leg, and then stared at me in a daze. I continued to drink my porridge without looking up: "What are you looking at? You've been kneeling for half a day; your uncle must have calmed down by now. If you don't leave soon, you'll just be a fool."

I was both angry and amused, glaring at him: "Who asked you to accompany me? Hurry up and get lost"

Uncle instructed the servants to prepare cushions for us and reminded them not to forget dinner, and then he left with us.

I shook my head, and my mother softly spoke: "Eldest brother, Huaisu has ultimately experienced this; one must bear their own responsibilities. If a man can do it, why can't a woman?"

Mother! I cried out in pain as if facing a life-and-death separation, trembling all over as I fell to the ground, hoping she would turn back and look at me just once to ease my mind. However, she did not look back and walked away, gradually fading until she disappeared around the corner of the corridor

I cling tightly to the ground, my fingers digging into the seams of the blue bricks: "No!"

Suddenly I think of my mother, what is she doing? Is she worried about my mischief, lightly furrowing her brow, lazily neglecting her makeup, perhaps spending her rare moments without her daughter by reading a book under the light? Does she feel empty without me by her side, just as I do at this moment?

Before the words had left her lips, the door creaked open. The autumn cicada from the small kitchen in the backyard entered, carrying a food box. The aroma of the dishes wafted through the air, enticing one's appetite from afar. Mu Xin exclaimed in delight and, in a moment of impulse, was about to leap up, but immediately let out a soft "ouch" as she sank back down, her legs having gone numb

I marvel at his ability to fall asleep in any situation. Raising my head, I looked through a slightly ajar window. The moonlight was cool and distant, with a silvery base revealing faint blue veins, embodying a purity and cleanliness that is worth cherishing. The ground was painted in large patches of powdery white by this cool and translucent moonlight, resembling a roll of fine silk satin.

Mu Sheng hesitated for a long while; I thought he was surely going to leave. This young master, who has never experienced hardship, has found this half day quite rare.

The godfather nodded slightly: "Very well, there are too many people and too many eyes here, let us go to the study for some peace and quiet." He glanced at Yun, who was sleeping in the inner room, then looked at us kneeling, sighed, and walked away first

After teasing Mu Xin once, the lingering anxiety in my heart gradually faded. I felt a pang of conscience, straightened my back, and with rare kindness, comforted Mu Xin: "Don't worry, it will be here soon. Your father's birthday banquet is tonight, and there are too many guests. The kitchen and the servants are all extremely busy, so naturally, they can't attend to us right away."

Uncle glared at Mu Xin: "Then you kneel on behalf of your sister! Huai Su, get up."

It was a nightmare

Yet my heart tightened with each passing moment, cold sweat flowed like a spring all over my body, and an inexplicable pain arose from deep within, as if being sawed and crushed. An ominous premonition made it impossible for me to stay any longer. No, I must leave! I must return to my mother immediately!

With a playful nudge of his arm, he said: "Hey, silly boy, why did you jump out earlier?"

As he was speaking, someone hurriedly entered and whispered a few words to his uncle. The uncle's expression changed, and he looked towards his godfather

I only feel my mind is muddled and my body is stiff, everything I see is vague and indistinct. I murmur to her, "Did my mother send you to call me?"

Mu Xin raised her neck and shouted louder than his father: "I will definitely say it!" After saying this, she looked at me with a face full of grievance

Mu Xin was momentarily taken aback, then immediately began to rub vigorously, exclaiming "Oh dear, oh dear." I found it somewhat strange; this kid, who usually loves to oppose me, actually listened to me this time.

The sunlight filtered through the lattice window, fragmented into countless small pieces resembling shards of gold, cascading onto the smooth stone floor before us. Although shattered, one could still discern the light gradually slanting towards the west, until it sank into darkness, marking the passage of more than half a day.

I turned my head to look, and vaguely recognized Mu Sheng. Why did he come as well