With these thoughts, Lian Yueyao's heart settled. She recited the Buddhist scriptures with her eyes half-closed. After finishing the scriptures, she quickly fell asleep.
Mu Qiu watched Yueyao sleep, feeling a bit puzzled. But she didn't think too much about it, as she wasn't one to overthink things. Seeing that Yueyao had gone to bed, she walked over to blow out the lamp before lying down again.
Upon waking, Yueyao looked out the window to see a gray haze. The conditions made it impossible to discern the time. Yueyao turned to Mu Qiu and asked, "What time is it now?"
With a smile, Mu Qiu replied, "Miss, it is the second quarter of the si hour (around 10 a.m.)." If it were any other young lady who slept this late, the maids by her side would surely be worrisome. Here, there were strict regulations regarding the lady's waking time, and laziness was not tolerated. However, as Lian Yueyao's circumstances were different, Mu Qiu not only refrained from worrying but also felt rather relieved. Ever since the young lady had lost her parents, she had barely slept, catching only brief naps, which left her increasingly frail. Seeing her sleep so soundly now, how could Mu Qiu not be pleased?
At that moment, a maid clad in lake-green attire with a round joyous face, entered the room from outside.
Seeing the incoming maid, Yueyao couldn't gather her senses for a moment and called out softly, "Hua Lei?" No wonder Yueyao could not contain herself; she had truly wronged Hua Lei. Hua Lei often tried to console her, but she never listened, and ultimately, Hua Lei lost her life because of it—her family even got involved.
When Hua Lei returned and heard that the miss had been sleeping and still hadn't awoken, her heart felt a bit more at ease. Upon entering and seeing Yueyao looking livelier than when she had left, in good spirits too, joy bubbled within her. Hearing Yueyao call her name now, a smile flickered in her eyes. "Miss, it's me, I'm back. Your complexion is much better today. If only it could be like this everyday," because of the lady's favor, she had been able to stay at home for five days. It was the first time in years that she had such an extended time with her family, for which she was grateful.
Her mother was now fine, and she wanted to return early to serve her mistress. It was a blessing that her mistress allowed her to go home to nurse her mother. Naturally, she had to rush back as soon as her mother was well. However, she hadn't expected that, in just these few days, her mistress's complexion had actually started to improve. Could it be that her mistress had come to terms with her grief?
Upon hearing this, Yueyao secretly let out a bitter laugh. The consecutive passing of both parents had dealt her a severe blow, leaving her to alleviate her distress through copying scriptures all day long. But now, more than twenty years had passed; the grief was still present, but nowhere near as deep as in the beginning.
Yueyao suddenly remembered the portraits of her parents stored in the study. Their features were becoming less and less clear in her memory. At this thought, she immediately made her way to the study.
Hua Lei and Mu Qiu were unable to stop her.
In everyone's eyes, Yueyao was a bit stubborn and willful. One could not go against her; they had to comply, or else she would be furious. While the Old Master and Eldest Madam were still around, it was better, as the Madam could mediate. Now with no one to guide her, her willfulness had become even more pronounced.
No sooner had she stepped out of the door than she saw Nanny Gu about to enter. Nanny Gu became upset upon seeing Yueyao wearing only a thin layer of clothing, admonishing, "Miss, you really should take better care..."
But Lian Yueyao dodged her hand as though Nanny Gu were something dirty. Without so much as glancing at Nanny Gu, she went straight into the study.
A shadow passed through Nanny Gu's eyes. Since the night before, the young lady had been ignoring her. And now, this morning was the same.
Nanny Gu sharply felt that the young lady had become more distant towards her. What could be wrong with her? Nanny Gu glared at Mu Qiu, suspecting that this wretched maid had bad-mouthed her to the young lady. In the past, she seemed so honest, yet unexpectedly, she was just like Hua Lei, that thieving maid—both harboring ill intentions.
Mu Qiu lowered her head.
Standing beside her, Hua Lei wore a mocking expression. It appeared that the young lady had realized that Nanny Gu was unreliable. When thinking about it, Hua Lei felt a pang of regret as well. When the Madam was alive, Nanny Gu had also devoted herself to the young lady's matters. It was just that the Madam did not like Nanny Gu having too much contact with the young lady. Nanny Gu dared not annoy the Madam, nor cross the line. However, the young lady had always been very kind to Nanny Gu.
But no one expected that upon her return, Nanny Gu had immediately allied herself with people from the main branch. Eldest Madam's intentions were clear to Hua Lei. If the Madam were still alive, Nanny Gu wouldn't dare have other thoughts. After all, it was because the young lady had become an orphan relying on the main branch that Nanny Gu dared to betray her own young lady.
Yueyao went into the study and searched for a long time, finally finding a painting. This painting was drawn by Lian Yueyao herself, depicting a family of three, a close-knit family of three.
Yueyao gazed at the portrait of her deceased parents. Yueyao remembered the hardships she suffered in her past life. Kneeling before that painting, Lian Yueyao wept bitterly, "Father, Mother, your daughter misses you so much... I long for you both so much…" If only her parents hadn't died so early, she wouldn't have had to endure such tribulations.
Mu Qiu and Hua Lei, who followed her in, also covered their faces and wept. The room was suddenly filled with mourning. Hearing the cry from outside, Nanny Gu entered and saw Yueyao holding the portraits of the Second Old Master and Second Madam, weeping bitterly. She immediately tried to console her, but Yueyao paid her no heed.
Hua Lei was the first to wipe away her tears, walked over, and helped Yueyao up, "Young lady, you must not continue like this, for if you harm your body, the Old Master and Madam will not rest easy under the nine springs. Young lady, you must take good care of yourself."
It was not easy, but everyone finally managed to soothe Yueyao and stop her tears. A maid from outside immediately brought in water. Yueyao wiped away her tears and washed her face. Her clothes had been stained with dust from kneeling on the ground.
Mu Qiu brought Yueyao a semi-new plain blue robe to change into. Hua Lei helped Yueyao to the dressing table, took up the comb, and began to do her hair. She parted it, twisting half into a bun, while braiding the remaining locks into three strands. At the end of the braid, she inserted a plain blue hairpin that matched the robe. Yueyao was still in mourning and could not wear colorful clothes or jewelry.
Yueyao regarded the skillful Hua Lei and was struck by a sudden realization. Hua Lei was the most capable person by her side, yet in the third year after her return, an accident had taken her life.
Looking back, it was laughable to think it was an accident. Likely, Lady Mo was worried that she would be influenced by Hua Lei—after all, the words of comfort from Hua Lei could not have been unknown to Lady Mo. Lady Mo was worried she would become guarded. So she got rid of Hua Lei early, removing future troubles. Afterwards, she even sold off Hua Lei's entire family. Hua Lei's family loyally served her, yet in the end, they suffered such a fate. She owed them.
Seeing Yueyao's dazed look, Hua Lei hurriedly asked, "Young lady, do you not like this hairstyle? If not, I will change it for you."
Yueyao shook her head, "No need, this is fine." She was still in mourning, modesty was fitting. There was no need for extravagance.