When I was six, a nurse called out to my mother and asked to sign a book. That year, I came to realise that my mother is a famous literary author.
"I want to read your books." I whined.
"It's not as exciting as the stories you tell me." My mother smiled.
When I was eight, I 'borrowed' my mother's books from nurse to read. That year, I came to realise that my mother is an amazing author.
"Where did you get that?" My mother asked in surprise, recognising the book I borrowed.
"I borrowed it from a nurse. Do you have anymore books I can read?" I asked using my all powerful superpower, sad puppy eyes.
"I do. But promise me that you will return that 'borrowed' book and apologise to the nurse?" My mother sighed helplessly.
"Okay." I happily agreed despite being seen through.
When I was nine, I finished reading all of my mother's works. That year, I came to realise how important I was in her heart.
"That's because the female protagonists you write are always so brave and incredible! They're the best." I said when she found me hugging a romance novel she first published under a pen name.
"Silly child. You're wrong. No matter how brave and incredible my characters are, they are only fictional. You are real. Remember. You are the bravest and most incredible person there is. To me, you are the best." My mother said as she began playing with my cheeks.
When I was ten, I asked my mother if I could be the female protagonist in her next book. That year, my mother said she is retiring as an author to become an editor due to writers block.
"It's only for a little while. I'll write again soon." My mother comforted the crying me.
"Really?" I asked.
"Really. I want to write the best book I can and have you read it first." She said with a sparkle of certainty in her eyes.
On my 20th birthday, my mother published her newest work after a ten year hiatus. After being given a very special reading by the author herself, I realised why my mother took ten years to write this novel.
"I want to read it." I said, surrounded by my family.
"How about this, I'll read it to you. It's been a long time since I've told you a story." My mother pretended, not knowing I could see the obvious tear stain on her face.
My mother then read it to me. She was by my side everyday, reading 'There Is Sweetness Within Bitterness, That Is Happiness'. When she couldn't read anymore, my father came. When he couldn't read, my brother came. Then on the last day, my mother finished the last page.
But unfortunately. I was too tired to hear the ending.
Yue Lan: Why couldn’t you let me finish listening to the ending first?
Silentwitch: Because you died ah ヽ(*´∀`)
Yue Lan: ...
Huang Yue Lan woke up to the sound of a horse's neigh.
"Young miss. It's cold outside the cover. Let me put your cloak on." An female attendant stoically said, helping her sit up and pulled a white fox skinned cloak over her young miss.
Yue Lan woke up looking a little tired and confused, which was why she reflexively nodded. It took some time to get her bearings, especially when she realised she was inside a horse-drawn carriage. Just as she held onto the cloak. Yue Lan noticed herself wearing a cream layered dress often seen in historical dramas. But the quality was very luxurious. With detailed stitchings of chrysanthemums into her outer layer of the same colour, creating a simple muted look with a feeling of grace. It looked very pretty.
"Where are we?" Yue Lan carefully phrased her words, still in a bit of shock.
"We are ten miles away from Hong capital gates. You've been sleeping since we left Han Qi mountain." The female attendant replied tonelessly.
"Han Qi mountain...Hong capital..." She repeated to herself as she opened the paper screened window and took a look at the outside herself.
'The names. I heard those places somewhere recently. But where?' Yue Lan thought to herself.
Yue Lan's heart quickened seeing the plains of greenery. This was the first time she saw the outside other than the park outside her hospital room. She watched in silence as she was escorted by a train of a dozen guards and female attendants. The guards seem stern and frighteningly big. The attendants all mature and expressionless as the attendant by her side. Sometimes Yue Lan would look at the female attendant, wanting to ask but cannot ask. This moment lastly all the way to Hong capital's outer gates, where a line was formed by the people outside to await for their turn. The guards asked everyone in front of the line for identification papers and asked them to step down to search the carriage if there was one.
They followed with the procedure like everyone else until their turn. Yue Lan's personal hand attendant bowed her head before stepping out the carriage.
"Here are our identification papers. Can I please ask that you give an exception to searching our young miss' carriage? She has a frail constitution and cannot bear the exertion from going outside." The female attendant politely spoke in her monotonous voice.
'So I am sick in this life as well?' Yue Lan lamented over her her circumstances.
"That can't be done. Everyone has to follow the capital's rules. Those that wish to enter must be identified and extensively searched. No exceptions." The guard firmly spoke, unchanging his tone even when he knew which family this young miss was from.
The female attendant paused for a moment before speaking. "I understand. Would it be possible then for this officer to send this token to your superior officer, Minister Rong? We will move our carriage aside and wait for him until he comes."
Huang Yue Lan was staring into the warm cup of tea that seemed to blend into dark ceramic cup in her hands, when her female attendant came back inside.
"They're only performing their duties. Why must we make it hard for them?" Yue Lan said as she moved her pair of phoenix eyes towards the girl.
"Young miss, this lowly one is wrong." The girl no older than 16, quickly kneeled to the floor in front of her.
Yue Lan was shock but hid her expressions in a flash. She pulled her servant up.
"You aren't wrong. You were also performing your duties on behalf of our household name and reputation. It's just a pity." Yue Lan comforted her, but didn't explain further.
Yue Lan could gather she came to a historical time. Even though she didn't know when, it was ancient enough that she understood vaguely the social norms. She felt pity because just like the guard and her attendant, they were more or less slaves. People of low standing like them lived to be abused by higher-ups at any given moment. Even the most principled and unyielding people of this time would still need to bow down to the more powerful to survive. Their death signed by their other person's one word. She was lucky, from the treatment she received and the well cushioned dark oak carriage it seemed she came from a wealthy household. But the more she thought, the more she felt how dangerous this foreign time and place truly is.
Galloping horses came out to the capital gates. The guards recognised the men on the horses and moved out, only to realise that their purpose was to get to the gate. Minister Rong was famous in the capital for being a man with a large sense of righteousness and was the admiration of the citizens and capital guards. This was why the guards were unyielding in the face of the trained guards and person inside the horse carriage.
Minister Rong's sense of righteousness rang firm into people's hearts. He had once even dared to punish and convict a fifth level minister's son after the son took a widow from a restaurant and took her in a tavern to rape her in broad daylight. As a result, the widow committed suicide. Not that any of this was known to Yue Lan.
"This one apologises for arriving late and has made your household's young mistress suffer." Minister Rong humbly bowed to the carriage, surprising the guards.
"It's no matter. The guards were simply performing their duties to ensure Hong capital's safety. There's no need to blame them. I have troubled Minister Rong to come all the way here and trouble you to vouch for me." Yue Lan spoke in a clear melodious voice with three points of gentleness, making the old man relax with a smile.
'There. Those guards won't be made to blame.' Yue Lan thought confidently.
"No trouble. No trouble at all. It would be an honour to escort you into Hong capital." Minister Rong said as he turned to his guards that immediately move out of the way to let the carriage through.
The carriage moved through the hustle and bustle of the road. People in the capital he many carriages coming through the main roads, so many people instinctively moved whenever they saw a carriage. Curiosity got the better of her and discreetly patted the paper window once more. There she saw the bustling loud crowds of people constantly on the move.
'Mother. Father. Big brother. I am alive like them. Don't worry. I will splendidly live with this second chance at life.' She thought and held her tears with a smile.
This smile was caught by her personal attendant who briefly had a sparkle of joy in her eyes before it was gone in a flash. Shortly after, the train of people and horses all stopped in front of large courtyard away from the bustle of people. In the vicinity were other wealthy households which made the area relatively quiet. It had the words, Serene Forest Corner written on a plaque on top of its entrance.
"We've arrived." The driver stopped and called out.
The guards had long seen the procession of people heading towards them and informed their master. The female attendant helped her out of the carriage when they all heard the large double doors open. Minister Rong and his men all saw Huang family's infamously treasured daughter come out of her carriage. Some of the young men had a look of surprise.
The treasured daughter of Huang Man Qi, was revealed to be an exquisite beauty. From the snow white cloak made with white silk and snow fox fur that showed off her youthfulness. To the black wooden hairpins that gave a feeling of humility and fitting for a scholarly clan. Her skin was white and glowed like morning water dew. A glance from her phoenix eyes could have the power to steal a man's soul away. Cherry blossomed lips. Black silky hair that lightens to bronze under the sun. For people with sharp eyes, the cloak could not hide the figure that was far more matured and alluring than the women from the famous Peach Flower Pavilion. Then there was an scent when she walked past them. It was the scent of something not quiet floral, but more akin to an refreshing plant that had a small hint of medicinal herbs. It was a scent that people wanted to smell more of and would not easily be tired of. The people that saw her all thought of the same word. Beauty. A beauty that should be hidden away.
Minister Rong in the other hand, lamented on a saying. A beauty that can cause the downfall of a nation, came to his mind. Imperial Tutor Huang would be involved in another situation he cannot control. Minister Rong could help but shake his head.
Even though Minister Rong was known to be a loud righteous minister for the people and harshly condemned criminals indiscriminately of their background. The fact that he survive political intrigue and scheming from others for 20 years showed he was in fact a very careful man. This was attributed to a fateful encounter when he was still a soldier and met a man he came to realise later to be the Huang clan's current head, Huang Man Qi. That man was the embodiment of perseverance and unyielding in the forces against him. This thought alone made Minister Rong's heart sink for the man.
The Huang clan came from a long line of scholars and teachers. Many famous ministers in history all had to thank the Huang clan in this regard. But like the people often associated to people of power, the Huang clan was constantly a target for political agenda. Three generations ago, a certain newly arisen emperor ordered a certain Huang family ancestor to become the imperial tutor. But before that order arrived, the ancestor had announced to the world that their clan will never enter politics unless they wish for the family line to end in their hands. When the emperor gave the imperial order, the Huang family refused and would rather face nine familial exterminations. After a round of chaos in politics and public outrage for the emperor, the imperial family agreed and only let the Huang clan continue in serving the country by teaching future generations.
But this was broken when it came to Huang Man Qi. Huang Man Qi is a talented man and had taught half the people that passed the imperial exam after becoming the head of the clan. But he broke family law because his young daughter, Huang Yue Lan was diagnosed to not live past her sixth year. In order to gain imperial favour and have the imperial physician come look at his daughter, Huang Man Qi yielded. He bowed his head and became the imperial tutor for the princes. The imperial physician that was sent to see her that year, saved Huang Yue Lan's life. That year he said to imperial tutor Huang that they need to send her away to Han Qi mountains for any chance to see her daughter again. Three days later, Huang Yue Lan was sent away. This away was ten years.
But no matter how Minister Rong lamented over how a great man like Huang Man Qi yielded because of his daughter and to potentially have his one weakness come back and be manipulated once more, was enough to make him suddenly wish he turned that man's daughter away. Meanwhile, the daughter stared at the words, Serene Forest Corner.
'Han Qi mountain, Hong capital and Serene Forest Corner...aren't they all from mum's book?' She finally recalled.
Quickly, she thought back to the story's historical setting. The female protagonist's entrance. The family behind Serene Forest Corner. Her mind reeled from one realisation to another.
'This means I'm in the world of my mother's creation....alright...the only person that returned from Han Qi mountains was the female protagonist, Huang Yue Lan. She was a daughter of the imperial tutor who was sent away for ten years in Han Qi mountains. She came back like I did at the start of the story, escorted by Minister Rong. Then...then she returned home. Serene Forest Corner. I am the female protagonist? Then that means...' her eyes hesitated but watched as the front courtyard entrance doors opened.
Yue Lan's eyes began to blur when she saw the people that came through the front entrance. Particular the people at the front.
"You're finally back." A women who looked exactly like her mother called to her with her signature gentle smile.
Silentwitch: So I’ve been thinking...
Yue Lan: About what?
Silentwitch: Your life seems so smooth sailing. You’re healthy now. You have a family. You are a wealthy household’s young miss. You even have beauty that can topple nations!
Yue Lan: (O_O)Wait...what are you planning to do? Don’t you dare change my mother’s world!
Silentwitch: It’s my world now ヽ(*^ω^*)ノ
Huang Su Ran walked towards Yue Lan and tearfully grasped her daughter's hands. It seemed like yesterday that these hands were just a baby's fist. Now 15 years had past, these hands belonged to a young lady heading towards adulthood.
"Master, it's really our Lan'er. Lan'er is back." Madam Huang called to her husband.
Huang Man Qi smiled and nodded in agreement to his wife. Compared to the ten letters that was sent to his household the past ten years, it could never compare to seeing his daughter alive and well. Just seeing her, a huge stone was removed from his heart. He looked several times more gratuitous towards Minister Rong and bowed in thanks.
"Thank you for escorting our daughter home safely. It's seems we have troubled you. Would you like to come in have some tea?" Imperial Tutor Huang courteously invited.
Minister Rong stepped back, not daring to have someone as prestigious as the imperial tutor bow down to a small seventh level minister.
"No such thing. I won't intrude on imperial tutor's happy family reunion. I still have to perform my duties." Minister Rong cupped his hands and lowered himself before excusing himself and climbing back on his horse.
"Then, our household will send an invitation to minister to enjoy our household's tea." Huang Man Qi said as everyone readied.
Minister Rong gratefully smiled before taking off on his horse. "I look forward to it."
Huang Su Ran whom had held onto her daughter's small and slightly cold hands all this time, recovered from her thoughts. "Lan'er. Quickly come, you must be tired from travelling. Send the young miss to clean up and rest inside."
"Yes." The female servants answered.
Yun Fei followed closely behind her young miss inside. Her quarters looked clean and simple. But it was like what she imagined when her mother told her of this place. Cool in summer, warm in winter. Serene and quiet with a sense of scholarly charm.
Within the newly renovated quarters, at least a dozen potted flowers decorated the entryway to give a particularly lively atmosphere. When she was guided inside, several servants greeted her.
"Lan'er. Look at all these people. They are all bright and diligent. Why don't you choose a couple to personally serve you?" Her mother advised kindly.
"I'm not used to this many people serving in my quarters. All this time, Yun Fei took care of my daily needs. Having her personally serve me is enough."
"You will quickly get used to it. How can one servant take care of everything? At least choose one more." Madam Huang nudged.
Yue Lan nodded and looked at everyone. She passed through all the capable looking ones and directly went to the end corner, where a particularly small and nervous girl stood. She had a cute face that made people feel a need to protect.
"Then, how about you?" Yue Lan's close voice made the small girl look up in surprise.
Seeing Huang Yue Lan's beauty up close, the girl blushed shyly. "M-m-me?"
Seeing her cutely blush, Yue Lan sweetly asked, "What is your name?"
"This servant's name is Tan Su." The small girl meekly answered.
Yue Lan's eye's glimmered at her name. "Then from now on, you will follow under me as my personal attendant with Yun Fei. Everyone else will be outer chamber servants."
"Y-yes." Tan Su immediately replied, still looking a little shock.
After an understanding glance, everyone was sent out. Finally leaving the mother and daughter pair alone with their personal attendants.
"This is Yun Fei from your letter?" Madam Huang looked over to the girl behind her daughter.
'That's right. It was mentioned that a letter was allowed to be sent out along with the exported goods down mountain once a year.' Yue Lan thought to herself.
"Yes." Yue Lan answered shortly, afraid that details of the letters sent would be asked.
"I understand. She looks like a diligent child." Su Ran complimented Yun Fei, whom had a stoic expression on her face.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere between the two, Yue Lan purposely held back a yawn.
"You must be tired from the journey. Have the young miss clean up and rest. We have plenty of days ahead to talk." Madam Huang smiled and left with her people.
"Tan Su, go instruct the mamas to prepare a bath." Yun Fei ordered before helping Yue Lan head into her private quarters.
Yun Fei helped Yue Lan brush her long and freshly washed hair. Yue Lan sat on the vanity, lightly patting on Yun Fei's comb held hand on her shoulder.
Yue Lan turned and looked at Yun Fei with some sadness. "Yun Fei. I've made you suffer. You could've lived a nice life up the mountain with your master, but you were sent to suffer down here instead. I'm sorry."
Yun Fei lowered her head and solemnly spoke. "Young miss, it isn't suffering. I am willing to serve you whole-heartedly as my master."
Yue Lan sighed and took back her hand, reaching to the table for the small pot of hand cream.
'What is real? What is fake? Yun Fei is a character from a book. But she is has a beating heart and there blood running in her veins. It looks like this world can only be real. I must not mistake this as a book. Even if none of this feels like it.' Yue Lan thought as she took a good look at her own face.
This face was hers but also wasn't. There was seven parts likeness to her own face. But the three parts that wasn't came from a healthy quality on her skin. There wasn't any feeling of sickliness and unhealthy dullness from her original face. Nor was there such pore less, smooth and flawless skin that doesn't exist in real life, but only in the description of a book. Even the lightest makeup would cover her beauty.
"Young miss." Yun Fei called out from her side.
Yue Lan turned away from her own reflection and looked at Yun Fei.
This one was also a genuine small beauty. Other than her face that couldn't expression emotions, she was the perfect ice cold beauty.
"Yes?" She reacted.
"Madam conveyed dinner to be prepared but was uncertain if young miss wishes to have it now or have it sent to young miss later." Yun Fei conveyed from the servant that sent word over whilst she was in the bath.
"A family dinner. I haven't experienced that in a long time." Yue Lan thought aloud.
"I will inform madam right away." Yun Fei bowed and left, leaving Tan Su to take over.
Yue Lan arrived shortly, wearing a light purple robe over her cream coloured dress. Everyone saw a particularly youthful looking girl that was as pretty as a butterfly fluttering over a garden of peonies.
"I've kept everyone waiting." Yue Lan courteously bowed.
Her big brother, Huang Yue Rui quickly reacted. "Yes you have. I'm about to starve in hunger. Mother wouldn't allow us to eat first. Look father. As soon as little sister back, mother has forgotten you and I."
"Come sit." Huang Man Qi said.
Seeing the round table of filled with colourful dishes and her family all in one table, she happily replied. "Yes."
Huang Yue Lan sat between her mother and brother and was quickly served with a bowl of steaming white rice in front of her.
"I wasn't certain if you've changed your tastes since back then. If you don't like it, let the chefs know." Huang Su Ran said as she picked up a piece of tofu into her daughter's plate.
"Mother's cooking, I've missed it very much." She replied honestly.
"Come let's eat." Her mother hurried everyone.
The dinner was filled with a nervous but happy air. No one mentioned anything regarding how the past ten years were spent. Simply treasuring this warm moment as a family. For Yue Lan whom was sickly upon birth, this family dinner was something that she had never experienced in her life.
"Have some more fish soup." Her mother pushed a bowl towards her.
"En." Yue Lan answered.
"Eat some more vegetables." Her father commented.
"En." Yue Lan replied.
"Here, try this shredded chicken." Her brother placed some onto her bowl.
"En." Yue Lan nodded.
Sadly this moment was disturbed by hurried footsteps that walked inside. A servant came in and bowed. "Master, the second prince just arrived at the main hall."
Yue Lan saw her mother's unwilling look. But kept her eyes towards her father.
Huang Man Qi didn't take any notice and excused himself from the table. "I'll be right there. Continue dinner without me."
Seeing her family dinner cut short by the unexpected guest, Yue Lan stood up.
"Mother, I still am a bit tired today. Please excuse me first." She said apologetically.
"Alright."Her mother replied, understanding that it had been a big and long day for her.
By the time Huang Yue Lan came back to her own quarters, the sky had darkened outside. Tan Su was preparing her bed as Yun Fei served a cup of tea made from Han Qi Mountain's tea leaves.
"Young miss." Yun Fei presented an a bottle and opened the lid to take out a small brown pill.
"This is, dan ling pill?" Yue Lan guessed from her knowledge from the book.
Yun Fei thought that Yue Lan was unwilling and explained. "Young miss cannot eat meat. Yet today..."
Yue Lan took the pill from Yun Fei and carefully examined it. "It's no matter. Today is a happy occasion. Just let the kitchen know that my stomach is used to Han Qi mountain's simple dishes. So the you will prepare my meals."
"Yes. I will do so now." Yun Fei nodded and left swiftly.
Yue Lan stared at the pill in her hand and with a somewhat unwilling look, took the pill into her mouth and swallowed it with a swig from her tea cup.
Han Qi mountain was a mysterious place in this world, where crabapple trees blossom year round. Suspended in an external spring, all trees and plants would bear flowers and fruits overnight. It is unknown who this land belonged to, only that the three nations claim that it is a holy land guarded by a celestial. The only people that could enter are sworn to secrecy, never to reveal the secrets of Han Qi Mountain.
That year, the five year old Huang Yue Lan finally reached the base of Han Qi Mountain before falling to her last breath. It was only then that she was taken inside and spent ten years with a servant named Yun Fei that brought her medicine and tended to her daily necessities. Yue Lan was allowed to send out one letter every year down mountain, but it was enough. Letting her parents know that she is well and safe was all that mattered. Once she got better, a message was sent out and a procession of people awaited on the mountain's base.
This dan ling pill was a detoxification pill Huang Yue Lan had taken it at the beginning as she purified her body like a blank canvas. Only by this way, she could consume medicine and taking herbal baths to cure her. But she didn't like it. It had laxative qualities....
"Young miss. Master requests your presence in the main hall." A female servant called.
Yue Lan didn't reply, focusing on brushing down her hair.
'Second prince. Should I meet you?' Yue Lan asked to herself.
Yue Lan ended up shaking her head and went to her bed. Yue Lan was never a morning person, but the body she possessed belonged to Huang Yue Lan who was. Yun Fei came in like clockwork and helped her up.
"Did the second prince leave yesterday?" Yue Lan asked as Yun Fei put on a cream robe over her young miss' red dress.
"No. He has decided to stay and listen in on imperial tutor's lecture to his students in the capital this afternoon." Yun Fei replied.
Yue Lan didn't need to ask how Yun Fei knew about what is supposedly the household's private conversation. Yue Lan knew clearly what kind of person Yun Fei was and knew enough to believe it is correct to put her trust in this personal attendant.
Yue Lan nodded in understand and ordered. "Prepare a veil."
"Yes." Yun Fei answered.
— New chapter is coming soon — Write a review
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