Lanting - Kapitel 211
Xiaoqian's beautiful face immediately showed a pitiful and timid look. Lijiang frowned slightly, and this frown made Xiaoqian even more nervous.
"What are your orders, Miss?"
Lijiang snorted, "Yunya, you tell her."
"Xiaoqian?" He Yunya grasped her hand, looking worried. "You really can't remember anything?"
I pondered how to phrase it most appropriately.
"Huh?" Xiaoqian was confused.
Lijiang said, "Jianyue sent a letter, and this letter is for you."
"For me?" Xiaoqian was both incredulous and overjoyed. "A letter from Young Master Jianyue?"
"Yes." Lijiang took out the letter. "Take a look."
Xiaoqian hesitated as she looked at the letter Lijiang handed her. She looked at Cai Zhonghe with some doubt and pleading.
“Don’t worry.” Cai Zhonghe took the letter from Lijiang and helped her sit down in Heli. “Come on, open it and take a look. It’s not as bad as you think. If reading the letter reminds you of anything, it will only be a good thing.”
Xiaoqian carefully opened the letter. It was less of a letter and more of a collection of ink paintings. Xiaoqian immediately recognized them as Qingjian Yue's work. Slightly relieved, Xiaoqian flipped through the paintings one by one, but the more she looked, the more shocked and horrified she became.
Why? Why are all the paintings so strikingly similar to the scenes in my dream last night?
Xiaoqian's heart trembled, and her hands trembled too. The scenes from her dream flashed through her mind like lightning and thunder, no, it seemed there was more, surging out like a tidal wave, as if trying to burst her brain.
"Did you remember something?" Cai Zhonghe asked hurriedly.
"Do you remember now?" Lijiang asked as well.
“Miss Xiaoqian, you remember now?” He Yunya asked.
Xiaoqian suddenly stood up, her vision went black, and she fell backward. Cai Zhonghe was terrified and quickly caught her. He Yunya cried out, "Miss Xiaoqian!" Lijiang shouted, "Quick, take her back to her room!"
Watching them carry Xiaoqian away, one in their arms and the other two helping her, Du Ping walked into the lotus pavilion with a puzzled expression and picked up the drawing paper that had fallen on the ground.
Xiaoqian fell ill. She kept having recurring dreams, the scenes of which tormented her relentlessly, causing her immense suffering. This illness lasted for seven days. Old Master Lu sent someone to bring her to Yixin Garden, specially allocating a unique courtyard for her to stay in. During those seven days, the ladies and young women of the fortress all came to visit her, and even Old Madam Cai would send someone to inquire every morning and evening if she was feeling better. However, upon waking, she still couldn't remember anything. This time, not only Cai Zhonghe was anxious, but everyone else was too, yet no one dared to ask her, fearing that pushing her too hard would worsen her condition.
That noon, He Yunya brought in medicine and Lijiang. Xiaoqian leaned back on her pillow, her gaze fixed on the picturesque garden outside the window. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes, like autumn water, shimmered with a deep, unfathomable light. They had been inside for a while, but she was still unaware of their presence.
"Miss Xiaoqian." He Yunya leaned down slightly and called softly, as if afraid of frightening her.
Xiaoqian gradually came to her senses, her expression still unreadable, neither sad nor happy. "Why? Something must have happened. Why can't I remember?"
These days, no matter who comes to see her, she always says the same few words. Her mind is in complete chaos, and her heart aches as if a knife is twisting inside. Everyone who comes to see her feels the pain, yet they have no choice but to try to comfort her with the prescription.
"It's alright, if you can't remember, don't think about it." Lijiang sat down, took her wrist to check her pulse, then stood up and instructed, "Feed her her medicine."
He Yunya sat down, gently putting her arm around her with one hand and feeding her the medicine bowl with the other. Xiaoqian cooperated very well, swallowing the bitter medicine spoonful by spoonful. She needed to get better quickly because she had too many questions waiting for Young Master Jianyue to answer.
After blowing the medicine into her mouth, He Yunya brought her water to rinse it. Xiaoqian rinsed her mouth, then suddenly pricked up her ears, listening intently. "Where's that drumming and music coming from? And firecrackers? Is someone celebrating a happy occasion?"
He Yunya looked towards Lijiang.
Lijiang leaned down slightly and looked directly at Xiaoqian with a serious expression. "I can tell you. But you must promise me that you won't get excited. Lord Lu and Jianyue are back."
Xiaoqian's body trembled slightly. "Young Master is back?"
"Yes," Lijiang said. "Jianyue is back. He heard you were sick, so he rushed back day and night. You absolutely cannot get sick again, otherwise, how can you face Jianyue?"
Xiaoqian nodded, fighting back tears. "Okay, I'm not sick, and I'm not excited. Miss Lijiang, I'd like to greet you, young master."
Lijiang sighed softly, "If I don't agree, you'll get all anxious. Alright, I'll have someone prepare a soft bag. Yunya, help Xiaoqian change her clothes and comb her hair."
He Yunya agreed.
Soon, He Yunya helped Xiaoqian wash and dress, changed her into a brightly colored dress, and applied some face powder and lipstick to conceal her pale complexion. Then, Lijiang carried her to a soft-sided carriage, which was lifted by two burly men. They rode in the carriage straight to the council hall. Upon arriving, Cai Zhonghe, who had already been informed, was waiting at the entrance. Seeing them arrive, Cai Zhonghe personally carried her inside. The hall was packed with people; all the lords, managers, stewards, and their families from Lu Family Fortress had come to welcome their triumphant return. When Cai Zhonghe carried Xiaoqian in, all eyes turned to them. Xiaoqian had never seen such a scene before; she was terrified and clutched Cai Zhonghe's clothes tightly. This time, even the heaviest face powder couldn't hide her snow-white complexion.
Cai Zhonghe comforted him, "Don't be afraid, no one means any harm."
Xiaoqian nodded, her voice trembling.
Old Madam Lu had already instructed someone to bring a chair and place it at her feet, with a soft cushion on it. Cai Zhonghe helped her sit down, and the maids and servants immediately brought her water and towels, attending to her with utmost attentiveness and concern. Old Madam Lu and Old Madam Cai repeatedly asked if she was feeling better, and the ladies, young mistresses, and young ladies from various households also showed their concern and care.
Because Xiaoqian was physically weak and lacked mental strength, He Yunya handled everything for her from beginning to end. Looking at the people in the hall, Xiaoqian couldn't help but sigh.
She never dreamed she'd be in this situation. Of course, it was all thanks to Young Master Jian Yue. But why? Even when Young Master Jian Yue doted on her before, these people had never treated her with such deference. Now, even the high and mighty Old Madam Lu was being so kind to her. She couldn't understand it.
Finally, Lu Qingcheng, Qing Jianyue, and the snow-white little fox walked into the living room.
Xiaoqian slowly got up, tears streaming down her face.
Kiyomi Tsuki also looked at her with tears in her eyes, opened her arms, and smiled, "Hoshi'er, come here."
Suddenly, something seemed to burst forth from the deepest recesses of Xiaoqian's heart, surging forth all at once, filling her mind to overflowing. In the blink of an eye, those things, like a flood that had just subsided, returned to calm. Xiaoqian understood everything. She ran to Qingjian Yue, threw herself into his arms, and held him tightly, unable to control her emotions any longer, bursting into tears.
How could I forget you? How could I forget you? How could I?
"Xing'er, Xing'er."
"I'm sorry, Yue, I'm so sorry, I forgot you, I forgot you, I'm so sorry..."
That day, the two sisters hugged each other and cried their hearts out, and everyone else shed tears with them...
Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Grand Wedding
Luo Buqun committed suicide, and Li Ying surrendered, agreeing to compensate Tianlong Fort and Lu Family Fort for their losses. Zhao Family Manor reverted to its original name, Xingyue Manor, and was returned to Qing Jianyue and Zhao Xing. As for Zhao Wuyang's family, thanks to Qing Jianyue's magnanimity, they were allowed to remain at Xingyue Manor. Qing Jianyue finally avenged her father, found her long-lost sister, and with Li Lin's help, even resolved her last remaining emotional knot. Lu Qingcheng proposed to her again, and she readily accepted.