Chapter 8: Combing

  Xie Yuanmao heard the voice and couldn't help but lower his head to look at his little daughter, whom he hadn't seen in half a year. A hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes.

  In the past, as long as his own daughter made a sound, he would unhesitatingly agree to everything. But now, facing the three old ladies and Chen Shi, he was a member of the Xie family, no longer the Song Wangzhi of the past. After the incident back then, apart from his own name, he had forgotten everything else completely. He married a daughter of the Song family, got a pair of children, thinking that this life would be spent in such a way.

  It was as if it had only taken a blink of an eye for him to return to Kyoto. And Yanling became just a dream.

  Xie Yuanmao's eyes slightly condensed, he turned his head to look at the third old lady and said: "In that case, I'll also temporarily move to Zhilan Pavilion first."

  The three old ladies heard this and their faces didn't change, but the movements in their hands paused for a moment before instructing Chen Shi to "Ji'er, you go and settle down."

  "Yes." Chen Shi was unhappy in her heart, but since Xie Yuanmao had said so and the Third Elderly Lady had also agreed, she couldn't just throw away all her dignity and ask Xie Yuanmao to stay in the main house with her. She had no choice but to agree.

  A group of people withdrew, and the three old ladies sent Chunping to lead them to Zhilan Zhai.

  Just as they entered the house, something unexpected happened, so the luggage brought from Jiangnan was still on the carriage and hadn't been unloaded. Therefore, Gui's mother stayed there to wait.

  "Sir, you can rest assured. I had already made all the necessary preparations earlier. Now, we just need to have someone put things in order and that's it."

  The voice is gentle, like a spring breeze brushing against the face, and also carries a few degrees of warmth.

  Chen is also a personal item.

  Xie Shu Ning had to admit this point. So this time, no matter what, she must summon a hundred times the spirit to respond to Chen Shi properly. She couldn't rely on her mother, but herself was still young and many things couldn't be done, in the end still having to rely on her mother. Moreover, if her mother always helped Fang Cai destroy her plans, how could she continue? However, this time, she had managed to tie her father and family together with him.

  "Dad, Ah Man also brought the inkstone that you like the most." Xie Shu Ning thought for a moment, then looked up at Xie Yuan Mao.

  Xie Yuanmao heard this and smiled, praising her before turning to Chen Shi and saying: "You've worked hard."

  He is a humble gentleman, and in his heart, he indeed values the Song family and their two children. However, no matter what, he is just an ordinary person in this mundane world. Xie Shu Ning understood clearly that for people with some status, it's common to have both wives and concubines by their side. Having offspring is a big deal, especially for families like the Xie family's three branches who are not prosperous.

  So Chen's wife called him husband, which didn't sound good to Xie Juning and others, but it wasn't unusual to Xie Yuanmao.

  "Really, husband, must you be so formal with me?" said Madame Chen with a mixture of annoyance and amusement.

  Xie Shu Ning furrowed her brow, just about to pull her father away, when she suddenly felt Song Shi's grip on her hand tighten, as if he was involuntarily tense.

  Her hand was pinched a bit uncomfortably, but Xie Shuoning's delicate eyebrows relaxed again.

  It turned out that mother wasn't really indifferent at all...

  She was secretly worried about something, while Chen's family had already taken people to the front.

  The old lady's personal maid, Chunping, bowed her head respectfully and said to Xie Yuanmao: "Sixth Master, this way please."

  A crowd of people followed her to Zilan Temple in a mighty and majestic manner.

  On the road, Xie Shuning suddenly felt a little tired for no reason.

  She was only four years old, and had traveled this long distance, plus the cold wind had not yet recovered, suddenly she felt sleepy and couldn't even open her eyelids. She was being led by Song's hand, her footsteps gradually becoming unsteady, her upper eyelid drooping, and she let out a big yawn.

  "But tired?" Song heard the voice and hastily lowered his head to look at her.

  Xie Shu's mind gradually became dizzy, and she felt that the long corridor under her feet was like a soft cloud, making it impossible to walk steadily. She pressed her face against Song Shi's slightly cool handback, muttering: "Can't sleep... can't sleep yet..."

  But the words in his mouth gradually became stagnant and stuck between his teeth before long.

  "Is Ah Man sleepy?"

  "Must be tired from rushing... and caught a cold..."

  Her body seemed to lighten, and the sound at her ear also gradually became distant and ethereal.

  She closed her eyes, and all she saw was a piece of blackness. The blackness was extremely thick and heavy. She lowered her head to look at her own hands, slender and white, with skin so thin that it seemed possible to see the faint blue veins underneath. These were indeed her hands.

  Suddenly, a ray of light fell in the darkness not far from her.

  The thick blackness dissipated like fog clearing away, revealing its true appearance.

  A little child, wearing a thin spring shirt, squatted on the ground, bowing his head and crying. Slowly, the color of his spring shirt deepened, and a puddle of water gradually appeared.

  Although she couldn't see her child's face clearly, Xie Shuoning knew that this was her Zhen'er, it must be her Zhen'er!

  She rushed forward in a panic, but the black fog blocked her way, swallowing her whole.

  "Maxim!"

  She let out a loud cry and opened her eyes.

  Her neck was sticky and sweaty. The quilt on her body was a bit heavy, weighing her down so that she couldn't move.

  Where is this?

  "Madam, you shouldn't have given in today. That Chen woman lives in the main house, while you live here, what kind of situation is this?" The low voice was that of Gui's mother.

  Xie Shu Ning's heart was filled with a sense of desolation, and upon hearing the words, she understood where she was, but didn't know whether to feel happy or sad. The loud shout from earlier had turned out to be just a dream after all. But were these scenes unfolding before her eyes real? She felt utterly bewildered, and her previously open eyes closed again.

  It seemed like there was only one hand stuck on her cheek.

  "Qing Gui, Ah Man's face is so hot, it's burning again!" Song Shi's voice was anxious and worried, "And she's sweating so much!"

  "Please don't worry, the house is heated with a kang and the young lady isn't used to sleeping on it, that's probably why she's sweating. I'll get someone to fetch some water and help her change into new clothes, then everything will be fine."

  The footsteps gradually went away and came back after a while.

  Xie Shu Ning closed her eyes tightly, trying to breathe steadily and pretended to be asleep without making a sound.

  A warm towel wiped her forehead and cheeks, then gently dabbed at the back of her neck.

  "Qīng Guì……" Sòng shì said, "You say I shouldn't have given in today. But if I didn't give in, what about ā Mán? She's going to be living here from now on, and if she gets a bad impression of her grandmother the first time they meet, how will things go later?" As he spoke, his voice paused for a moment, "Besides, it's already been half a year since I last saw him, my heart is still uneasy."

  As soon as she said this, Gui's mother suddenly understood and sighed: "But just now if Sixth Master hadn't suggested moving to Zhi Lan Zhai to live, what would you have done?"

  "It's a test for him, and naturally, everything is possible. I have some calculations in mind..." Song said, his voice gradually lowering.