Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 138

Chapter 138: Her Dream

As dusk approached, snowflakes fell silently, and every household lit up their lamps, creating a warm and vibrant scene.

In a small courtyard with a signboard that read “Zhuang Residence,” a young maid stood on a chair, hanging new lanterns under the eaves.

“Xiaojuan, there’s no rush to hang them, the courtyard is bright enough,” Madam Zhuang said from inside.

A servant woman emerged from the kitchen carrying dishes of food and said with a smile, “Madam, leave her be, she’s clearly just enjoying the novelty.”

The young maid finished hanging the lanterns and giggled, “The lanterns that Aunt Cong sent over are so pretty.”

Madam Zhuang looked over through the door. The new lotus lanterns were exquisite and beautiful, appearing even more delicate and charming amidst the falling snow. She nodded with a smile, “Indeed, they are beautiful. Madam Cong has put a lot of thought into them.”

The servant woman placed the dishes on the table and pointed at a plate of steamed fish, “Sent over from the Huang family, freshly caught fish.”

The young maid ran in and said, “The young scholar from the front alley invited Madam to climb Wenshan Mountain, saying something about appreciating the scenery after the snow.”

The servant woman exclaimed, “Aiyo, the roads are so difficult to walk on after a heavy snow, and it’s cold. Why climb a mountain? It’s better to wait until spring when the flowers bloom.”

Madam Zhuang said, “Back when we were at home, Zhuang Lang and I loved to climb mountains after the snow. It’s been decades since we left home, it’s touching that someone still remembers.”

The servant woman said with a smile, “Master Zhuang dedicated himself to teaching, never caring about his students’ family background or origins. Not to mention, how many children on this street have had their lives changed because of Master Zhuang, no longer fishing or farming. Even if they just work as accountants, saying they’ve studied under Master Zhuang can earn them an extra two taels of silver.”

Madam Zhuang laughed, “It’s still because they are willing to learn. The master leads the way, but cultivation depends on the individual.” She then sighed, “I originally thought coming back would be lonely, but I didn’t expect the clan members to take care of me, and the neighbors to be so caring. It’s even livelier than when we were at the academy.”

The young maid nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, it’s liveliest at home. Madam should have come back earlier, maybe if you had come back earlier, Master wouldn’t have…”

Wouldn’t have died.

The young maid almost blurted it out without thinking, but luckily the servant woman glared at her, stopping her.

Madam and Master were deeply in love, it’s New Year’s, don’t make Madam sad.

The young maid sheepishly picked up the tray on the table, “I’ll go clean up the kitchen,” and ran out.

Madam Zhuang smiled, “Life and death have never been taboo subjects that can’t be discussed. I will die too.”

The servant woman said, “It’s good that Madam is not sad. As humans, we should live our lives happily.”

Madam Zhuang nodded, “I’m not sad. You go eat quickly.”

The servant woman replied, “Yes,” and retreated.

Time seemed to pass slowly, yet in the blink of an eye, night had fallen deeply.

The lanterns hanging in the courtyard seemed to be swallowed by the darkness.

“Madam should rest now,” the servant woman said gently and with concern.

Madam Zhuang looked at the book in front of her.

The lights in the room had all been extinguished, only the servant woman held a lamp, casting a dim light.

“You can’t go without sleep,” the servant woman said, and then extinguished the lamp in her hand.

The room plunged into darkness.

Madam Zhuang stood on the street with a basket in her hand, listening to the hawkers’ cries, her expression somewhat dazed. What should she buy today? It’s almost New Year’s, what does her husband love to eat? What does Ah Li like to eat?

“Madam Zhuang, you adopted a child? Is that child coming back this year?” A neighbor woman asked from behind.

Madam Zhuang shook her head, “She’s not coming back.” She sighed, “That child…”

She stopped there, as if she didn’t know what to say.

A woman came forward and asked curiously, “What happened to that child?”

Madam Zhuang felt a pang in her heart, tears sliding down, “That child is sick…”

Both women shed tears along with her, “What illness does that child have?”

They stood on the bustling street, surrounded by the noise of people coming and going, yet seemingly isolated from it all.

Madam Zhuang sighed, “That child, she can’t remember the way home, can’t remember who she is.”

The two women sighed along, “That’s truly pitiful. But Master Zhuang can cure her, right?”

Madam Zhuang nodded, “Yes, yes.” She said, forcing a laugh.

The two women also laughed, and the three of them walked towards the end of the street.

The next moment, Madam Zhuang appeared at the entrance of the street again, standing dazedly with the basket in her hand.

The two women behind her caught up, “Madam Zhuang, you adopted a child? Is that child coming back this year?”

Madam Zhuang shook her head, “She’s not coming back.” She sighed again, “That child…”

The other woman asked curiously, “What happened to that child?”

Madam Zhuang’s tears slid down, “That child is sick…”

They repeated the conversation they had just had, walking forward along the street once again.

Then they returned to the beginning of the street, repeating it all over again.

But when it repeated for the fourth time, Madam Zhuang stood there dazedly with the basket in her hand, suddenly spotting someone approaching from the side of the street.

“Madam—” he called out.

Madam Zhuang’s body trembled, looking at the person in front of her, she subconsciously stepped back.

The two women behind her blocked her way, no longer asking about the child, but instead asking, “Madam? What’s wrong? Who is he?”

With their questioning, Madam Zhuang looked at the person in front of her and murmured, “It’s the lantern seller.”

As she spoke, a carrying pole appeared on the young man in front of her, hung with lanterns.

But he was wearing black attire, with sharp eyebrows and eyes, and a sword hung at his waist.

There was no trace of a peddler’s aura about him.

Madam Zhuang moved her lips, seemingly very reluctant, but still called out his name.

“Jiang Yun,” she said, “Where is the Marquis’s Heir?”

Jiang Yun, carrying the lanterns, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, said, “The Marquis’s Heir is at home.”

The two women standing behind Madam Zhuang spoke out one after another, “What are you here for? What are you here for?”

Jiang Yun said blankly, “I’m here to deliver a letter to Madam Zhuang.” He raised his hand as he spoke, a letter appearing in his hand.

But the next moment, fireworks erupted, the lanterns on the carrying pole, the letter in his hand, and the person holding the letter, instantly turned into a ball of fire.

Madam Zhuang let out a scream and opened her eyes.

She was greeted by a faint light, unsure if it was the dawn or the reflection of the snow outside the window.

“Madam.” The servant woman, who usually slept in the side room, stood by the bed, seemingly having come over after hearing the noise, or perhaps she had been standing there all along. She frowned and said, “So you met someone you knew on the street.”

Madam Zhuang sat up in bed, a wry smile on her lips.

The dream was fake.

But the dream also held truth.

She had heard the hidden name during the day and recognized the disguised Jiang Yun. She could pretend not to recognize him, but in the dream, she couldn’t.

Whoever she recognized, that person would appear.

“Madam, since he came, you should see him. You can say whatever you want to say.” The servant woman said, sighing softly, “You know, we never interfere with your freedom, otherwise we would have taken you to the capital instead of letting you return to Dengzhou as you wished.”

Madam Zhuang smiled.

“Yes, you’re right, you never restrict my freedom.” She said, also sighing softly, “But it’s only the awake me who is free, the sleeping me is not.”

She couldn’t control herself from dreaming, nor could she stop others from peeking into her dreams, or even fabricating them.

The servant woman handed her a cup of tea, “Madam, dreams are fake, they are absurd. A truly awake person wouldn’t be troubled by dreams.”

Madam Zhuang didn’t take the tea, looking at the servant woman, she asked, “So?”

The servant woman said, “So, whoever wakes up is free.”

Madam Zhuang looked at her, the next moment her vision blurred, the servant woman disappeared, and she suddenly turned over, her arm bumping against the edge of the bed, a sharp pain shooting through her.

The real pain made Madam Zhuang open her eyes, this time she was truly awake.

She rubbed her arm, the dream fading rapidly from her memory, becoming a blur.

✿✿✿

There were sounds of snow being swept in the courtyard, and the young maid feeding the chickens and ducks.

“I almost forgot, I’m going mountain climbing today.” Madam Zhuang opened the door and said to the outside.

The young maid feeding the chickens and ducks smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Madam, we haven’t forgotten. The cart is ready, and the thick clothes are prepared.”

The servant woman threw down her shovel, “I’ve already made yellow fish noodles, Madam, come and have a bowl, it’s piping hot.”

The morning courtyard became lively.

By the time they left, the sun had already risen high. Madam Zhuang rode a donkey, led by a guard, with the young maid walking beside her as they passed through the street.

The shops had opened, and with the Lantern Festival approaching, the street became even more bustling.

“Madam Zhuang is going out.”

Although she had only been back for less than a year, almost everyone on the street recognized her, and warm greetings followed her all the way.

Madam Zhuang responded with a smile, her eyes searching the street, and soon she spotted Jiang Yun, who had disguised himself as a lantern seller yesterday.

Perhaps remembering her words from yesterday, Jiang Yun didn’t approach her this time and even looked away.

Madam Zhuang stopped on her own initiative, “Young man, your lanterns are quite nice. I’m going to visit relatives and friends today, I’ll take two to give as gifts.”

Jiang Yun seemed surprised and looked at the people around Madam Zhuang, seeing only the young maid and the coachman, without the two women from yesterday.

“It’s safe today.” Madam Zhuang whispered, taking advantage of choosing the lanterns to get closer to him, “Jiang Yun, what did the Marquis’s Heir send you to do?”

But as soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Yun seemed startled and stepped back, “Madam, two lanterns cost ten coins, I can’t lower the price anymore.”

He seemed annoyed that Madam Zhuang was bargaining.

“It’s a small business, Madam, please don’t tease me. If you’re not buying, then forget it.”

He shrugged his shoulders and walked away with his carrying pole.

Madam Zhuang stood there dumbfounded.

“That lantern seller has quite a temper.” The young maid called out from beside her.

Madam Zhuang came back to her senses and smiled, “Forget it, if he doesn’t want to sell, then so be it.”

Did Jiang Yun know that she was being watched and it wasn’t safe, so he refused to give her the letter?

Whether he believed it or not, she didn’t really care. The reason she wanted the letter was so that once he gave it to her, he would leave and not stay here anymore.

But what did Jiang Yun want to do now?

Wait and see?

Or wait for someone to come and rescue her?

These things didn’t matter. Even if Zhou Jingyun came, she would just meet him herself.

What she was worried about was…

Jiang Yun was here, Ah Li might use his eyes to take a look.

Her current dreams were not something to be seen.

She hoped Ah Li still remembered her warning and wouldn’t take any risks.

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

In the hazy street, in the repeating dream, Jiang Yun appeared directly this time.

Madam Zhuang went up to him, “Jiang Yun, what does the Marquis’s Heir want to say?”

Jiang Yun, carrying the lanterns, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, shook his head, “The Marquis’s Heir has nothing to say.”

The two women standing behind Madam Zhuang spoke out one after another, “What are you here for? What are you here for?”

Jiang Yun said blankly, “I’m here to take a look.”

Take a look.

Madam Zhuang felt a pang in her heart, tears sliding down, “Is she sick again?”

Both women shed tears along with her, “What illness does that child have?”

Madam Zhuang sighed, “That child, she can’t remember the way home, can’t remember who she is.”

This time, the two women didn’t sigh, but instead looked panicked, “What should we do? What should we do?”

Jiang Yun also seemed frightened and asked along, “What should we do? What should we do?”

Madam Zhuang seemed stumped, staring blankly at Jiang Yun. Although Jiang Yun looked like himself, his expression was exactly the same as the two women beside him, even his hands were clasped in front of him, shuffling his feet slightly like the women.

This was not Jiang Yun being controlled by someone else.

This was just Jiang Yun in her dream.

Just like everyone else in this dream.

So, there was no outside intrusion, the dream hadn’t changed at all, it remained the same.

Madam Zhuang comforted them, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, Master Zhuang is here.”

The two women relaxed, “Yes, yes, Master Zhuang is here, Master Zhuang cured her.”

Jiang Yun also nodded along, “Yes, yes, Master Zhuang cured her.”

Madam Zhuang and the two women, with smiles on their faces, walked forward along the street.

Jiang Yun stood where he was, carrying his lanterns, continuing to hawk his wares, blending in with the noise of the street.

Madam Zhuang returned to the beginning of the street once again, taking a step forward, thinking about what to buy, looking at the reappearing Jiang Yun. But just as she was about to walk over, a soft call suddenly rang in her ears.

“Huang Ru.”

The street scene instantly shook.

Madam Zhuang felt countless gazes upon her.

The two women who were about to catch up to her, the shop assistants by the roadside, the customers in the teahouses and taverns, the passersby on the street, Jiang Yun carrying the lanterns, even the plump sparrows perched on the eaves in winter.

All stood still, staring at her.

Madam Zhuang stood frozen, the entire world seemed to have come to a standstill.

In a teahouse by the street, a chubby, wealthy man stood up and slowly walked out of the teahouse.

His expression was frozen like everyone else’s, except for his eyes.

Those eyes were dark as the stars.

Starlight flowed through the street, and when it reached Jiang Yun, a flicker of surprise seemed to flash in the dark starlight, but it quickly vanished, no longer lingering on Jiang Yun, returning to Madam Zhuang.

“Huang Ru.” The wealthy man opened his mouth, emitting a clear female voice, “Follow me—”

With those words, his eyes split open, a pair of hands reaching out from within, grabbing towards Madam Zhuang.

Madam Zhuang let out a scream, and her surroundings collapsed.

Madam Zhuang fell to the ground, but what she saw was no longer the stone slabs of the street, but lush green grass.

She looked up in a daze, seeing someone sitting amidst the mountains, the green grass beneath them spreading like a carpet, the mountain breeze gently blowing, ruffling her dress.

This is…

Madam Zhuang looked around, her gaze falling upon a horse, a young girl riding on its back, the horse’s hooves clattering, drawing closer with the mountain breeze.

The young girl reined in the horse a few steps away.

She was only eight or nine years old, small in stature, and she raised her chin slightly as she sat on horseback.

“Hey, Huang Ru,” she called out, “Am I still your precious treasure?”

Madam Zhuang sat on the ground, wanting to laugh but feeling helpless.

“This child,” she said, “Why are you still so impolite?”