Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 157

Chapter 157: No Fear

Zhuang Li looked at Shangguan Yue.

Young Lady Li’s makeup was a bit messy today; her face powder and rouge were not applied, her hairpins were askew, and her expression was somewhat dazed. This time, she really did look sick.

He asked if she was okay as soon as he opened his mouth, which meant he must be unwell.

And this unwellness was all brought by her.

Shangguan Yue was a lucky person, but she brought him bad luck.

“I’m okay,” Zhuang Li said with a hint of apology.

She said she was okay, which meant there was something wrong. Shangguan Yue asked anxiously, “What happened last night? Were you on the street last night? I saw the Marchioness of Dongyang, but she wasn’t you at first, nor was she her, it was…”

He paused.

The fear in his heart seemed to resurface.

It wasn’t exactly fear.

He was no longer a child.

It was more of a panic.

Although he had heard rumors of Empress Jiang’s ghost haunting before, and there was a Bai Li ghost by his side, the feeling of Empress Jiang’s ghost actually appearing made everything feel unreal.

Was the human world going to become a ghost realm?

His hand was suddenly grasped.

Shangguan Yue was stunned for a moment, looking at the woman who stood up. She was holding his hand.

Her hands were not cold, but warm and soft.

He seemed to have touched her skin before, when she saved him. She held him, he leaned against her, and even reached out to touch her face.

Another kind of panic replaced the panic of fear, and his chaotic heart seemed to be pulled down by these hands.

Zhuang Li didn’t wait for him to continue, taking over the conversation, “I know who it is, I saw it too.”

She knew? She saw it too? Shangguan Yue’s scattered mind focused.

Holding his hand, Zhuang Li said softly, “Let me tell you first, what you saw at that time was both real and fake.”

Real and fake? These words sounded even stranger. Shangguan Yue frowned, but then smoothed his brow the next moment.

“Is that your ghost realm?” he said, “To me, a living person, it’s fake, but to the dead, it’s real.”

Zhuang Li smiled, “Yes, you could say that.”

She tightened her grip on his hand, both to make him feel real and to allow herself to detect changes in his emotions in time.

Human emotions are reflected in the body.

“Because you are special, you can see what others can’t, but as long as you firmly believe that where you are is real, you won’t be affected. However, last night I borrowed your dreamscape, and some danger occurred, awakening the fear deep in your heart. You must have been very scared when you woke up, and didn’t know why you were scared…”

“Is the danger gone now?” Shangguan Yue interrupted her and asked.

Zhuang Li was stunned for a moment, then nodded, “It’s gone. The dreamscape ended and I woke up, so it’s fine.” She continued to explain to him, “You may continue to experience this inexplicable fear for a while…”

Shangguan Yue nodded, “I understand.” He smiled, “And the greatest fear is the unknown. Now that you’ve told me what happened, I know, so naturally I’m not afraid.”

He was really too easy to talk to.

Zhuang Li looked at him, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say.

Because of her strangeness, she had avoided people since she was a child. Except for her family and later with Master Zhuang and his wife, she had hardly interacted with outsiders.

People feared and loathed her, and she feared people too.

She was so lucky, first she met Zhou Jingyun, and then Shangguan Yue. As long as she told them, they would listen calmly and rationally, and they could understand.

Shangguan Yue felt the hand holding his become softer, as if she had relaxed.

She came to comfort him and tell him not to be afraid, but she must be afraid herself.

Shangguan Yue hesitated for a moment, then gripped her hands back.

“Don’t be afraid, you too,” he said, “Now that you and I are both fine, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Zhuang Li looked at him and smiled, nodding, “Yes, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” She raised an eyebrow, “And it’s time for others to be afraid.”

Shangguan Yue smiled, also raising an eyebrow.

“What do you need me to do?” he said, then asked, “Or, sleep?”

Zhuang Li smiled and shook her head, “It’s not sleeping this time.”

…….

…….

Shopkeeper Cai leaned forward slightly, as if he had been pushed. He abruptly raised his head.

The maids’ soft laughter reached his ears.

“This Granny, your Young Lady has come out.”

The Young Master has come out? Shopkeeper Cai subconsciously turned his head and saw a woman dressed as a young man, her shoulders hunched, swaying as she walked out.

How long had it been?

Had he fallen asleep just now? Was he too tired? He hadn’t slept all night, and he had fallen asleep standing up? This was too strange. No matter how tired he was, he wouldn’t be so relaxed at this time.

Shangguan Yue walked past him and went forward.

Shopkeeper Cai was dazed, then he saw the Marchioness of Dongyang come out wrapped in a cloak and wearing a large hat.

The maids immediately surrounded her.

“Let’s go,” Shangguan Yue whispered.

Shopkeeper Cai withdrew his gaze and followed, feeling as if this trip was no different from not coming at all. He seemed to have just come to take a nap, he hadn’t heard or seen anything.

However, the Young Master obviously didn’t come for nothing, his spirit had changed.

Sitting in the carriage, leaning back in the corner, Shangguan Yue’s face was still pale, but his thin lips had regained their color, his dazed expression had dissipated, and his eyes were bright and alert.

His soul had returned to its rightful place.

He was dispirited without seeing the beauty, but once he saw her, he became full of energy. This was how all infatuated men and women in the world behaved.

Shopkeeper Cai had a headache. If it were an unmarried man and an unmarried woman, it would be fine, but now this was a forbidden love.

Looking at the corner of the Young Master’s mouth, sometimes it curved upward in a faint smile, sometimes it sank, lost in thought, sometimes sad, sometimes happy. Others would say a woman’s infatuation is unspeakable, but the Young Master’s was a man’s infatuation that was unspeakable, and he was also holding —

“Hey, Young Master, what is that?” Shopkeeper Cai asked.

He had just noticed a small box in Shangguan Yue’s hand.

It wasn’t there when they came.

Shangguan Yue was examining the box, his expression alternating between joy and solemnity. Hearing his question, he immediately stuffed the box into his cloak and hugged it.

“Nothing,” he said perfunctorily.

Shopkeeper Cai snorted in his heart, it must be a love token. He raised his hand to his forehead again, having a headache.

…….

…….

“Take that set of red gold and gemstone buyao.”

Chun Yue thought of something and said hurriedly.

Two maids were about to walk out with clothes and bundles in their hands, when one of them went back into the inner room and took out a jewelry box.

A maid reminded them from outside the door, “Sister Chun Yue, the Young Madam has finished seeing that Young Lady Li and has gone to Madam’s place.”

Chun Yue replied, “Okay,” and urged the two maids, “Hurry up and go.”

The two maids, holding clothes, bundles, and a jewelry box, walked out happily, greeted by a maid outside.

“When I came over, Madam’s room was full of clothes and jewelry, all new, waiting for the Young Madam to choose. You don’t need to bring so much.”

“Madam prepared those, the Young Madam should also bring some, the more the better.”

“No matter how much, there’s only one Young Madam, she can only wear one outfit, what a pity.”

✿✿✿

“No rush, no rush, the Young Madam will have many opportunities to wear them when she goes out in the future.”

The maids chatted and laughed, Chun Yue also had a smile on her face, and she instructed the little maids who stayed at home, “Don’t be naughty, watch the brazier in the room.”

The little maids replied in unison, “We won’t go anywhere.”

Chun Yue looked around the room again, “Don’t touch the Young Madam’s desk.”

The brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone were laid out on the desk, there were also half-written characters, and the bookshelf was full of books —

Eh?

Chun Yue’s gaze swept over and then back again.

It seemed like something was missing?

She couldn’t help but take a step forward, and at the same time, she remembered.

“Where is the lotus root that was placed here before?” she asked, “Who took it?”

At that time, she had jokingly asked if lotus root could be smoked, the Young Madam said yes, Chun Hong really dug some up, the Young Madam really smoked it, and then it had been kept here.

After all, it couldn’t compare to flowers and plants, and it wasn’t eye-catching in daily life, but it was something made by the Young Madam herself.

The little maids shook their heads in confusion, “We didn’t touch it.” “The Young Madam must have put it away, right?”

Chun Yue was about to ask again, but the little maids urged her, “Sister, hurry up and go, we’ll look for it when we come back.” “The room is only this big.”

That’s true, she could just ask later. Chun Yue retracted her steps and went outside.

The Marchioness of Dongyang’s place was crowded with people.

Zhou Jiuniang’s voice kept ringing out, “This one looks good.” “That one looks good.” “Sister-in-law, wear this one.”

The other sisters chided, “Are you choosing for the Young Madam or for yourself?”

Chun Yue walked through the crowd and stood beside Zhuang Li, watching Mama Xu hold a pearl hairpin against Zhuang Li’s temple.

Zhuang Li had already redone her hair in a peony bun and was wearing a bright red lotus-patterned jacket and skirt, looking radiant and beautiful, with less youthful innocence.

The Marchioness of Dongyang looked at her from the side and nodded with satisfaction, “Let’s go with this one, it’s a festival, we need to be bright and beautiful.”

Several concubines praised, “Madam has chosen well.”

Concubine Yang even chimed in, “Madam, you chose the clothes well, and you chose the daughter-in-law well.”

The Marchioness of Dongyang glared at her, but didn’t say anything bland like usual, saying it wasn’t her choice, it had nothing to do with her, and so on.

Even if the daughter-in-law wasn’t her choice, she had been in the family for almost a year now, so she could be considered as having been taught by her.

“Once we enter the palace, you will follow behind me, pay your respects to the elders, smile at your peers, and you don’t need to say much else,” she said, looking at Zhuang Li.

Zhuang Li curtsied and replied, “Yes.”

“The lanterns and fireworks in the palace must be even more beautiful,” Zhou Jiuniang said with envy.

The Marchioness of Dongyang said to Zhuang Li, “You are not allowed to wander around or look around once you enter the palace, you must stay by my side at all times, it’s not like going to your aunt’s house.”

Zhuang Li replied, “Yes,” once again.

Zhou Jiuniang shrank her head and muttered that the lanterns and fireworks on the street were still better. Her nanny hurriedly scolded her for talking nonsense and being disrespectful.

Zhou Jiuniang didn’t dare to speak anymore, looking at Zhuang Li with sympathy, entering the palace was really no fun.

“This is the first grand banquet since His Majesty’s ascension to the throne, there will definitely be many people. We will leave at the hour of the Horse （11am-1pm）, so you don’t need to have lunch here. After you finish eating, rest for a while. Although His Majesty doesn’t like to feast all night like the previous emperor, we won’t be back until at least the hour of the Dog （7pm-9pm） at the earliest,” the Marchioness of Dongyang said, then thought of something and frowned, “Where is Jingyun?”

Zhuang Li hurriedly said, “There are some matters at the government office, the Marquis’s Heir has to report back to His Majesty.”

The emperor was indeed different from the previous emperor, he didn’t like banquets and wouldn’t rest even during festivals. The Marchioness of Dongyang nodded.

“Alright, let’s all disperse,” she said, “I’m going to rest too.”

Everyone in the room replied, “Yes.”

Zhuang Li walked out with the maids, then suddenly stopped, “You go back and put away the clothes and jewelry first, I’m going to take a walk in the garden.”

Chun Yue was a little surprised, why did she suddenly want to visit the garden at this time?

Chun Xiang reacted quickly, the Young Madam must be nervous, after all, it was her first time entering the palace, she had to see the Empress and the Emperor, and also see all the noble ladies in the capital.

“The lanterns in the garden haven’t been taken down yet, they’re very beautiful,” she hurriedly said, urging Chun Yue, “Sister, accompany the Young Madam.” She also suggested, “Or we could just have lunch in the garden, the Wangchun Hall is not big, the underfloor heating can warm it up quickly.”

Zhuang Li smiled, “There’s no need for that, I’ll just take a walk and go back.”

Chun Yue glared at her, “It’s the middle of winter, don’t come up with random ideas, what if you catch a cold? You still have to attend the palace banquet in the evening.”

Chun Xiang stuck out her tongue and smiled, not saying anything more.

“Fortunately, I brought a hand warmer.” Chun Yue took the hand warmer from a little maid and stuffed it into Zhuang Li’s hand, “You won’t be cold while walking in the garden.”

Zhuang Li smiled and took it, walking forward. Chun Yue followed, while Chun Hong, Chun Xiang, and the others went back first.

She said she was going to visit the garden, but to be precise, she was visiting the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence. Zhuang Li seemed to be walking aimlessly, asking curiously about every place she passed.

Chun Yue thought that since she entered the house, she hardly ever went out, she rarely even went to the Marchioness of Dongyang’s place. As the Young Madam, she was actually not familiar with this house, so it was time for her to familiarize herself with it. She pointed out each place to her.

“Is that where Jiuniang and the others live?”

“The outer courtyards of the young masters are over there.”

A thin layer of sweat formed on her body, she had basically walked around the entire Marquis’s Residence.

Zhuang Li stood on the bluestone path, looked back at the places she had passed, and then withdrew her gaze, “Let’s go, let’s go back for lunch.”

Chun Yue followed her, “You definitely won’t be able to eat well at the palace banquet, so lunch is prepared to be more sumptuous, but Young Madam, don’t eat too much, it’s inconvenient to change clothes in the palace. I’ll have them prepare some snacks… but, Madam has definitely prepared some, and so has the Marquis’s Heir. Young Madam, it’s your first time entering the palace, you have Madam and the Marquis’s Heir with you, don’t worry, where is the Marquis’s Heir?”

Chun Yue, who was rambling on, suddenly raised her head and looked at the sky.

“The Marquis’s Heir should be almost done, right?”

Zhuang Li raised her head and looked in the direction of the imperial city, humming in agreement, “Almost.”

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

Zhou Jingyun looked up at the main hall in front of him. The imperial city, decorated with colorful lanterns for the festival, had a touch of liveliness amidst its solemnity.

“Oh, Marquis Zhou’s Heir is here.” Grand Eunuch Gao Shi’er, standing outside the door, saw him and a smile appeared on his arrogant face.

Zhou Jingyun held a scroll in his hand, “His Majesty asked about the shortfall in the autumn taxes a few days ago, I have investigated it and come to report to His Majesty.”

After saying that, he glanced inside the hall, hearing the laughter of the officials inside.

“It seems like you came at a bad time, there are many people here to see His Majesty.”

Gao Shi’er lowered his voice, “Those people are not talking about serious matters, the Marquis’s Heir doesn’t need to be polite, come, come, come in with me.”

Even if they were talking about serious matters, His Majesty wouldn’t be angry if Zhou Jingyun interrupted them and saw his face.

But Zhou Jingyun shook his head, “I’ll wait for a while.” He looked at the side hall next to him.

A eunuch was also standing outside the side hall, dodging and peeking over here. Seeing him looking over, he quickly retracted his head.

Gao Shi’er snorted coldly, “Bai is over there.”

Everyone now knew that Consort Bai was pregnant, and for the safety of her child, she often stayed by the emperor’s side to receive the protection of the dragon’s aura.

It was a matter concerning the heir, so the court officials didn’t stop this unconventional practice, but they all avoided going near the side hall.

“Madam Bai is there,” Zhou Jingyun said, “I’ll go pay my respects.”