Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Intentions

This time, they finished their meal at the Xue Residence without a hitch. In the afternoon, Zhou Jingyun mentioned chrysanthemums, and Madam Xue personally took Zhuang Li to see them, even selecting two pots for her to take back.

“Put one in your room and give one to your mother,” Madam Xue said with a smile, then chuckled, “Just say you asked me for them.”

Zhuang Li smiled and said, “Aunt also often thinks of Mother.”

She knew this was Madam Xue’s goodwill, allowing her to curry favor with her mother-in-law.

But where would she need her to ask Madam Xue to send flowers to Madam of Dongyang? Even if she said so, Madam of Dongyang wouldn’t believe it.

“It’s just for her to hear,” Madam Xue laughed heartily, “Let her know I like you.”

Zhuang Li didn’t say anything more, bowing to express her gratitude.

“But I didn’t lie to you, your mother is careless and doesn’t know how to take care of flowers. I wouldn’t bear to give them to her to ruin,” Madam Xue said with a smile, holding her hand, “You’re meticulous and reliable, I’m at ease leaving the flowers to you.”

Zhuang Li pursed her lips, actually, she didn’t know how to take care of flowers either, only how to tear them, cut them, and scent them…

Her older sister never let her take care of flowers either. Not to mention flowers, even the grass at home was fenced off, and she wasn’t allowed to go near it.

She returned to the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence with the two pots of flowers.

This time, Zhou Jingyun asked her if she wanted to pay her respects to Madam of Dongyang.

“It’s Aunt’s intention,” he explained, indicating that he wasn’t forcing her to go.

Zhuang Li didn’t misunderstand him, but she didn’t stand on ceremony either, shaking her head, “You going will make Mother happy, I won’t add to the chaos.”

Zhou Jingyun chuckled, “Every mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are like this. If I hadn’t married, and it was just me and Mother, she wouldn’t be happy either.”

Zhuang Li was amused and said, “Then I’ll have to trouble the Marquis’s Heir to shoulder the responsibility of both husband and wife alone. I’ll go back and finish the half-page of calligraphy I didn’t finish yesterday.” She glanced at him again, “Wait for the Marquis’s Heir to come back and critique it.”

Was this teasing him about last night? Zhou Jingyun touched his nose; if she dared to say it, he dared to respond.

“Alright,” he nodded.

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

Looking at the pot of flowers sent by Madam Xue, Madam of Dongyang was very happy. Of course, she pursed her lips at the words about sending flowers through Zhuang Li.

But she didn’t say anything more.

“Your aunt is kind and compassionate, always worrying about others, never taking care of herself.” She sighed softly, “Your grandmother passed away early, and as the eldest sister, she was first afraid that my life wouldn’t be good, and then when you were like this, she was also worried day and night, fearing you would be alone for life.”

Aunt was indeed very protective of Mother, Zhou Jingyun thought. It was fortunate to have such a deep sisterly bond. He then thought of Zhuang Li and Bai Ying. He wondered, when questioned by Zhang Ze about that wanted poster, what did Bai Ying do? Was she helpless, or did she try her best to cooperate?

“What good fortune do I have? If I had good fortune, I wouldn’t…” Madam of Dongyang muttered, glancing at Zhou Jingyun, and saw that her son seemed to be lost in thought.

Was he thinking of his deceased wife?

Madam of Dongyang swallowed the words “First I lost a daughter-in-law, then I got an unlikable daughter-in-law.” Forget it, things have come to this, let’s look ahead.

“Now that you’ve settled down, the matter of offspring can’t be delayed,” she advised.

Zhou Jingyun was stunned for a moment. That’s right, being husband and wife also involves the matter of children.

Madam of Dongyang’s voice rang in his ears.

“She’s young and frail, I’m afraid she won’t be easy to bear children.”

“Maybe we should invite someone from the Imperial Medical Academy to take a look, see how to nourish her.”

Zhou Jingyun hurriedly interrupted, “Mother, I’ll consider it, you don’t have to worry about these things.”

“I don’t worry? I haven’t worried for years?” Madam of Dongyang glared, “Jingyun, you’re not young anymore.”

Walking out of Madam of Dongyang’s courtyard, Zhou Jingyun’s steps slowed, his eyes on Feng’er carrying the lantern ahead.

“How old am I this year?” he suddenly asked.

Feng’er turned around in surprise, “Marquis’s Heir, you don’t even remember how old you are?”

Zhou Jingyun smiled, “Sometimes you forget time.”

Forget time? Feng’er couldn’t help but scratch his head. He firmly remembered his birthday, every holiday, looking forward to having fun and eating delicious food.

How could anyone forget time?

Zhou Jingyun gazed at the night sky.

After the person you care about is gone, time loses its meaning.

“Let’s go,” he lifted his foot and took a step.

Feng’er responded with a “Yes.” The Marquis’s Heir often spaced out like this when he was outside, he was used to it.

After sending the Marquis’s Heir back to his courtyard, he could go catch crickets. There must be a big general hiding in the southeast corner of the study. Just as he was about to take a step, Zhou Jingyun’s voice came from behind again.

“Go to Concubine Mei’s place.”

Feng’er’s foot, which was about to land, twisted, and the lantern in his hand swayed.

……

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

“Concubine Mei was in front of the Marquis’s Heir before us. She was promoted to concubine, and the older sisters who were with her at the time were released, and we were promoted.”

Chun Yue spread the bed while speaking in a relaxed tone.

“When we first arrived, Concubine Mei often guided us. She took good care of the Marquis’s Heir’s clothes and shoes, and Madam praised her. Although she’s not very bright, she’s skillful with her hands, a useful person.”

Hearing this, Zhuang Li couldn’t help but laugh, “Not very bright? Chun Yue, you also gossip behind people’s backs?”

Chun Yue blushed and said, “It wasn’t this servant who said it, it was Madam.” She looked at Zhuang Li again and whispered, “Please don’t be upset, Young Madam.”

When Feng’er delivered the message that the Marquis’s Heir was going to Concubine Mei’s place tonight, the atmosphere in the room froze for a moment.

Chun Yue, Chun Hong, Chun Xiang, and the others even breathed more softly.

Zhuang Li’s expression remained unchanged, sitting still and writing a full page of calligraphy.

“Perhaps Young Madam is using calligraphy to dispel her frustration,” Chun Hong whispered to Chun Xiang, “Scholars are all good at concealing their emotions, expressing themselves through calligraphy, painting, and poetry.”

But what could be done? Chun Yue sighed inwardly. The Marquis’s Heir had a deceased wife and a concubine who grew up with him. She could only sigh that they had met too late.

Now that the two had just married, there were still many days ahead. She didn’t want Young Madam to get stuck in a rut, so she couldn’t help but offer a few words of comfort.

Zhuang Li heard this and laughed, pointing to her face, “Do I look unhappy anywhere?”

Knowing that Zhou Jingyun wasn’t coming back to sleep, she was very happy.

Zhuang Li looked at the big bed.

Tonight, she could have a good sleep and a good dream.

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

The Cold Palace seemed even more desolate on an autumn night.

In the palace chamber where Bai Ying resided, the table was no longer piled with fresh flowers, but the lamps were still lit, and Bai Ying was pacing back and forth, seemingly muttering to herself.

Wang Degui, standing by the side, was also muttering to himself. Bai, living in the Cold Palace, seemed to have gone a little mad.

“You’ve already sent a basket of palace flowers to the Empress, you should rest early tonight,” he persuaded.

Bai Ying shook her head and looked outside, “Go pick some more flowers.”

Wang Degui exclaimed, “My Lady, you’ve already plucked all the flowers in the Cold Palace!” He bowed repeatedly, “Please rest, it’s so late.”

Bai Ying looked at the eunuch and said, “You don’t understand, I don’t want to sleep.” Her voice was soft, “What if I dream? I don’t want to dream.”

This Consort Bai must have lost her mind, Wang Degui’s heart sank. He had to find Zhang Ze and get him out of the Cold Palace. Otherwise, even if Gao Shi’er fell, no one would remember him.

Although his heart was cold, he still had to coax and persuade her tonight.

“If you don’t overthink, you can sleep well and not dream.”

“As the saying goes, ‘You dream what you think about during the day.'”

“My Lady, you’re just thinking too much. Listen to this servant, don’t think about anything…”

As he spoke, he helped Bai Ying inside. Bai Ying didn’t refuse anymore, walking into the inner chamber in a daze and sitting on the bed.

“Close your eyes, and you’ll sleep until dawn,” Wang Degui said.

Bai Ying looked at the pearl curtain hanging from the bed canopy. Is that so? She closed her eyes, Wang Degui’s nagging voice ringing in her ears.

“Sleep, My Lady, this servant will stay here, keeping you company.”

Actually, she was very timid as a child, and until she was seven or eight years old, her mother still had to coax her to sleep.

Mother would sing her lullabies while making silk flowers.

Father’s salary was meager, and he was generous, supporting many orphans and widows of soldiers. Mother would make silk flowers for them to wear, saying that even though they didn’t have gold or silver, our daughters couldn’t lack jewelry.

Bai Ying clenched her hand at her side.

She thought she could be coaxed to sleep by Mother for a long time, even if Mother gave birth to a little sister, it wouldn’t matter. She would lie with her little sister then.

But then, her sister was born, and Mother was gone.

Bai Ying turned over, tears sliding down from the corners of her tightly closed eyes.