Loyalty is more precious than gold.
Dreamians
***
A maid guided us to our chambers. She leads me in front of a big chamber beside Yu Wen's chamber.
"Lady, I will give the baby drinks milk . Please rest assured. I will bring her back. Lady, she looks like you." She said.
When she said that, I realized the baby looks like me indeed. Who are the baby's parents?
"Yes, she is." I admitted
"Then what is the baby's name?" She asked.
"Her name?"
Wait? Did she think that I am Jin Er's mother? I don't know. Should I explain about this misunderstanding? No...maybe this is the best way to let them think that I am her mother but what is the beautiful name for her?
"Jin Er."
"Such a beautiful name, Lady."
I just smile at the maid who is happy to see the baby.
"Lady please don't worry, I will bring her back into your chamber after giving her milk."
What?! I don't think that is a good idea because I have never taken care of a baby before. I am so tired and I want to sleep but if the baby sleeps here I don't think that I can sleep peacefully. I just want to say something but the maid just leaves the chamber suddenly.
This place is so weird. I don't know why I feel this way.
"Young Master." Yu Wen called me gently.
"Yes, get in."
Yu Wen got into my chamber as I ordered with his awareness. He stands up in front of me until I ask him to sit beside me.
"Yu Wen, do you have any ideas about these people?" I asked.
"Young Master, they are from the Huang family. Actually, I've heard rumors about the Huang family." Yu Wen is still careful about the topic that he brings to me.
"Tell me."
"Lady Huang is the only heir in Huang's family. No one knows her real name. They called her Lady Huang."
"So what's the issue in the Huang family?"
"They said no one ever met Lady Huang before, so there is a big chance they think the Young Master is her."
"How can they have never met her before? And as you said, that is still a big chance. It's impossible they never met her."
"Young Master....actually the hairpin in your hair is Lady Huang's possession as a symbol of Huang's heir."
"What? How can my sister in-law get this hairpin? Yu Wen, How do you know a lot about the Huang family?" I asked.
"When I was child. My Mother told me the story about the Huang family."
"Why is the story about the Huang family like a myth?"
"They say the Huang family is a witch."
"What?"
I startled but still manage to be calm. A lot of questions in my head right now. I try to understand everything.
"Young Master, please calm."
"So Lady Huang is a witch? Is she poisoning me like this? If she is Lady Huang, I promise to kill her because she made me trapped in this woman body!"
"Please calm, Young Master because we are in the Huang family's manor."
"Is this real Huang's manor?"
"Uhm."
"Young Master, please don't need to worry. I will protect the Young Master. This woman's body is the best disguise for the Young Master because now, they are still looking after Li family members who still remain."
I stared at him. Yu Wen looks so serious with his words. I don't know why I can't be angry with him. Still... I am a Li Jun Jie. I am not a woman.
'Li Jun Jie...calm down...' I take a deep breath.
"Yu Wen, you're correct. This time they are still chasing us. Yes. I just need to bear this for us. Yu Wen, you can go back to your chamber. You need to take a rest as well."
"Yes, Young Master." He answered.
Yu Wen left my chamber. I think this chamber is too big for me. In this chamber, I only want to sleep but I still don't know if at any time I could turn into a man again.
"Lady."
"Yes."
I let the maid get in my chamber. This time the maid is a middle woman. She brings Jin Er in her embrace before she puts Jin Er in my embrace.
"Lady, if you need something you can call me."
"Thank you." I answered her awkwardly.
"Lady don't be hesitate to me. I will help you to take care of the little Miss. Do you need something?"
"Not yet Aunty. I will take a rest. Jin Er was asleep also."
"Then I take my leave now, Lady."
I put Jin Er in my bed. Her face when sleep peacefully. I had promised to my sister in-law so I will take care of her absolutely.
I am so tired. I close my eyes and try to sleep. What happened like a nightmare. I don't want to lose my family. I don't want to become a woman.
I see my father, mother, brother and sister in-law come to me. They look so happy. How can in my dream they feel happiness when they leave me alone here? They were smiling.
"Jun Jie, Jin Er is your seed." My brother taps my shoulder with his happy smile.
"Jun Jie, don't worry." My sister in-law holds my brother's arm. "They will help you."
"Jun Jie...You have to be strong." My father said.
"Father Mother, I am so tired."
"You can do it, my Son." This time my mother is caressing my face.
Then they disappear in second in white fog. I looked for them but they were gone.
"Don't leave me here!"
"Lady, please wake up."
Is somebody calling me? I open my eyes and find tears make my face become wet.
"Lady are you alright?" The Aunty asked. She looks so worried towards me.
"Yes."
Jin Er woke up and spoke to me with her funny voice. I put her in my embrace. She is my solace after all the tragedy in my family. Maybe fate chooses me to be your guardian.
"Lady, can I bring a little Miss for bathing and give her milk?"
"Yes, please."
The Aunty brings Jin Er out of the chamber and the young maid is still here.
"Lady, do you want to bathe?"
"Yes."
"I will prepare all, Lady."
I am still sleepy but I have to talk with the old man who welcomed us in this manor.
What should I do now? Since bathing becomes an awkward moment for me. I hope Yu Wen was here but I realize this is inappropriate with my woman appearance now.
The young maid offered to assist me with bathing. At first, I planned to refuse the offer but I can't think of such a thing right now. I just want to enjoy this bathing time but can't because their faces are still in my head. All the hurt memories about their death still accompany me. How they give me their last smile. That is tearing my soul.
"What is your name?" I asked the young maid.
"Lady my name is Xiao Ran."
"How long have you known about this family?"
"I am an orphan. And you bring me here after war. Don't you remember? We ran together and you had saved me from an army who wanted to sell me in a brothel. I was ten years at that time."
"WHAT?! I..."
I stopped. This maid's face is so familiar to me. Is she who poisoned me that night? Is she the lady who played guqin that night?
"Do you need something Huang Jing Er Lady?"
I stared at her and so did she. Yes, definitely her. Why is she here? How does she know I make my woman's name as Jing Er? Who is she? She bowed to me and made me confused. Her name is Huang Jing Er.
"From now on I, Xiao Ran will give my life and all loyalty to serve you Huang Jing Er Lady."
She does kowtow in front of me. I am speechless for some minutes. I can't inhibit her doing the kowtow because I am naked now.
"What?!"
How can this happen? She poisoned me and now she gives me her life and loyalty to serve me? Does this make sense?
"I will help Lady."
"What do you mean?"
"I will help you to wear a woman's dress properly."
I am still confused but she helps me to wear a woman's dress properly. I just wear undergarments before wearing some layers of dress later.
"This is really you."
She touches my back. I feel the pain when she touches that area. In the mirror I see an incomplete lotus tattoo carved in my back skin.
"The lotus will be completed when Lady gives your half."
"What is the meaning? Wait! Do you want to kill me?"
"No. I will serve you my Lady."
"Please don't say such creepy things to me. You know that I am a man, right?"
Xiao Ran looked at my face without any words.
"Young Master are you alright?" Yu Wen got in my chamber suddenly. Maybe he can hear my conversation from his chamber then suddenly he turned his face from me.
I just wore an undergarment. Yu Wen has seen my naked body before but his reaction makes me feel awkward but I just don't care because I am a man. I take Yu Wen's sword from the case and point it at her neck.
"Yu Wen, close the door."
Yu Wen does my order and covers my naked back with a woman's dress beside him.
"Now tell me all. Why were you poisoning me? You know that I am a man why I became like this. How do you know my fiction name?"
I can feel the pain in my back but I force myself to endure it. I will remember her name. I really want to kill her now.
"Let's get dressed first."
"What?"
"Lady, rest assured because we will never betray our Lady. I know Young master is Li Jun Jie, right?"
"Xiao Ran, what is your real intention?!" I push the sword into her jugular vein but she looks so calm.
"Lady, do you really want to kill me now?"
Killing her is useless right now because I need to know to come back in my man body so I give the sword to Yu Wen who stands in my back.