Lan Shang showed Chan Juan all around the Mansion, from the main building to the servants quarters which was exactly the size of her own house.
Such heavenly wealth! Chan Juan exclaimed innerly, as she unceremoniously strolled with Lan Shang. Walking down the terrain, the ember-red leaves of autumn fall slowly, the huffing sounds was too lazy to scatter the leaves; sweet larders of aromas drizzled from the trees.
Finally they came to an halt, standing in front of the beautiful water fountain, jewel-blue stream, flowing as smoothly as syrup from the fountain. There was a visible smile on Lan Shang's face, as she caught a glimpse of Chan Juan, her eyes prying over with a starstruck expression.
"You know, this Mansion is ten decades old." Lan Shang spoke, cocking her lips.
Chan Juan fluttered her lashes meticulously, as she reflexively pointed at the Mansion with her mouth gaped.
She wanted to speak, but she obviously couldn't; Lan Shang instantly felt, the woman before her was an easy-going person; well, apparently Chan Juan had a lot of questions to ask, but she was quite reluctant at the moment.
Then a female servant scurried towards them, she was looking disturbed; her expression couldn't deny a detail. She bowed,
"Mistress Lan Shang! Old.. Old.. Hee" the female servant stammered, bitting her lips and creasing her brows, which was accompanied by an oblivion frown.
Lan Shang sighed deeply, she already understood what she meant.
"It's okay Biyu, I will go to her myself."
Old Hee, is the oldest elder of the Shao family, she was the only one who knew the truth about what happened decades ago, typically how the Shao family got afflicted by the curse.
Too bad, they can't learn one or two about it from her, she was too old to even lift her tongue.
Lan Shang darted from them; and walked into the mansion.
Chan Juan glanced at her side and saw the servant still bowing. Chan Juan gaped in acknowledgement, and bowed repeatedly before she dashed towards the part that Lan Shang had previously taken.
Outside the room of Old Hee, few servants were standing in front; they weren't much, at least one could use his eyes to count; one..two..three.
"What is going on?" Lan Shang asked one of them on getting there, Chan Juan also appeared. She strode fast but soon reduced her pace, slowly... slowly as she got towards them, then, she came to an halt.
"Old Hee doesn't want to take her medicine. She wouldn't let us get close to her, or even get in." One of the servant girl replied.
Lan Shang's mouth gaped slightly, and sighed deeply, massaging her temple in a tired manner.
"You all can go back now, I'll take care of it from here." Lan Shang said and instantly fetched the tray from the servant and discarded them, leaving only Chan Juan and the other female servant who came to convey the issue to them earlier; Biyu.
The caretaking of Old Hee was entrusted to Biyu, but anytime Old Hee gets furious, Biyu calls on her Mistress, Lan Shang to the rescue, given that she was the only one who could pacify Old Hee into taking her medicine.
Lan Shang opened the door, and turned towards Chan Juan; beckoning her to walk in with her.
"Me?" Chan Juan whispered pointing towards her chest, Lan Shang creased the left side of her mouth and nodded gently before walking in.
Chan Juan looked puzzled, she glanced at Biyu who was standing behind her, she felt nervous, gulping down heavily on her saliva. She didn't have the slightest idea on how to handle old women or even converse with them.
In the room, it was moderately big and took the shape of a square, blue murals hand painted on the wall by someone who knew what they were doing. All was in white and blue but the window frame was black, with a vast Asian-style antique decor. The bed was not pushed up against a wall but more central with an elaborate mahogany headboard.
From every wall smiled black and white arts of flowers and abstract sketch of something Chan Juan had no idea about, the room had such simplicity for an old woman of style, Chan Juan thought and there was a visible smile on her face, it soon disappeared when she saw Old Hee.
The winter-white haired old woman was sitting on a wheelchair, her eyes are blood-flecked as she was very old. Her face was time worn and wrinkled, with crooked and inflammed fingers as a result of extreme old age. Despite that, Old Hee's eyes gleamed, and the blue eyes seems to see everything.
She didn't say a word, neither did she move nor lift a finger, Chan Juan never imagined she could be this old.
Lan Shang walked with long strides towards Old Hee, and bent before her, she caressed her rough skin before speaking.
"Old Hee, are you okay?" Lan Shang asked firstly before exhaling at Old Hee's cold demeanor. Lan Shang took her fragile hands,
"You know if you don't take your medicines, you'll fall ill." Lan Shang smoothened her skirt, she could feel her lean legs from beneath.
Lan Shang sighed, and turned towards Chan Juan; she already understood, and stepped few feets forward stretching the tray, which contained Old Hee's medicine; to Lan Shang.
"Thank you" Lan Shang muttered and collected it, she took the ceramic bowl off the tray and began to feed it to Old Hee.
She looks so innocent, Chan Juan smiled at her thoughts.
"Hmm she looks quite..." Chan Juan was still trying to bring the last word out of her mouth, luckily Lan Shang was helpful enough to complete it.
"Old"
"Mmn yes" Chan Juan murmured and nod slightly.
"Old Hee is the eldest in the Shao family" Lan Shang began,
"How old could she be?" Chan Juan asked curiously but not in an offensive way.
Lan Shang smirked, and replied
"130"
Chan Juan jaw dropped as she was outrageously starstruck, such elder, she wondered why the media hadn't carried it on air; unless... unless the Shao family didn't give them an opportunity to pry. They really did a lot hiding it from the media, this alone could gain them thousands of attention.
"Oh! Didn't do any intro." Lan Shang teased, Chan Juan let out a natural smile.
"Old Hee, here's your great grandson's wife, Guo Daiyu. Good name right? You'll surely love her...here" Lan Shang waved her hand invitingly towards Chan Juan, beckoning her to come closer.
Chan Juan felt there was no harm in trying, Old Hee looked harmless. Chan Juan squatted and held her gnarled fingers.
All through Old Hee wasn't responding to any of the advances, but as soon as Chan Juan held her hand. There was a spark that generated from nowhere, rushing through her veins like lightening.
There was a quick elevation of eyebrow accompanied by a bulging eyes, Lan Shang couldn't believe her eyes, only if it lies. Old Hee began to mumble something, her voice was faint, Chan Juan was astonished as she watched the elderly try to reach for her face.
For the first time, in as long as Lan Shang could remember, there was a visible smile on Old Hee's face, keeping a straight and warm gaze with Chan Juan.
"Qiu...Qiuyue..." Old Hee's voice quavered. This time, Lan Shang's expression pronounced into a frown, not only her, including Chan Juan; but she didn't make it visible enough, as they were both confused as to why Old Hee called Chan Juan, Qiuyue.