Hack...hack...hack…
Xiuying coughs as she opens her eyes however she can’t see anything but only feels being hugged by a pair of strong arms and hard chest hinders her eyesight. She tries to get up and remove the arms hugging her but the person wakes up due to her movements.
“Ying-er? Daughter?” Qi Chen's hoarse voice reached her ears and it seems he is in pain.
“Fa-father?” As her oriole like voice is heard she can feel droplets pour onto her back realizing it isn’t raining but the father she only heard during her coma who is always strong and determined is now crying silently while hugging her more tightly.
“I thought we would lose you… I thought I couldn't save you again…” Her father’s voice is full of self-blame and at the same time happy that she is finally awake.
“You save me father… Please don’t cry.”
“Then you also don’t cry and I’ll stop.”
Her hands reach out to feel her father’s face and try to wipe his tears that seem endless, not realizing she is also crying until Qi Chen mentioned it.
“I will… see I am not crying anymore. Father, where are we and where’s Xue?”
“We are in the underground room located underneath your bed. Don’t worry Xue is behind you, she passed out due to tiredness. Rest for now while waiting for your brother because the door can only be opened by the key he has.”
“But where’s your key?”
Ahem… “I left it in the study… I was in a hurry to save you…” Qi Chen is thankful that there’s no light in the room, otherwise her daughter will definitely see his embarrassed face.
Suddenly giggles echoed throughout the room, Xiuying’s body shakes as she tries to hold back but she really can’t help it.
“You dare laugh at your father now, huh?” Qi Chen tries to make his voice stern but his happiness can’t help but mix in it.
“Don’t dare…don’t dare…”
Qi Chen gently helped her daughter stand up as he faintly heard someone trying to open the door.
“Father… “ before Xiuying completed her question to Qi Chen the door opened. The light of the moon peeks into the room until it lightens up the whole room.
The first thing Qi Ming notices is her sister’s being helped by his father to stand up and her doe-like eyes suddenly turn to face him. He immediately steals Xiuying from his father’s arms and hugs her tightly, thanking fate for giving his sister a chance of another life while trying to fight his tears from falling.
“Brother…?”
“Yes, your handsome brother is here…” Qi Ming jokes lightly.
Qi Chen lightly smacks Qi Ming’s head upon hearing the usual greetings he hears from him, earning a chuckle from both his children.
“Took you a long time to clear out everything.” Qi Chen lightly reprimanded his son.
“There are spies mixed in with our servants due to what happened earlier. I wasn’t able to guard tightly.”
“I see.. Did you catch the people who started the fire?”
“Yes but one has died in the fire. His retribution came faster than the others.”
“Make sure to keep the rest alive and don’t alarm the people behind them.”
“Yes Father.”
Ahem…”Can we talk about this later, I am hungry…” Xiuying blushes as she interrupts the two, she feels that if she didn’t interrupt it will take a long time before they get done discussing.
“Sorry Ying-er, pretend for now that you are still in a coma till we sort everything out. Housekeeper Qi, have a female servant help Xue. She passed out after protecting my daughter. Ming-er help your sister, I’ll go see your mother.”
Seeing that everything can be handled by his son, Qi Chen hurriedly went to his wife.
“Glad to have you back little sis… Don’t make us worried again, alright?”
“I will try...” Xiuying wittily answered Qi Ming, earning a flick on her forehead.
“Brother…”
“Pretend to be asleep, I’ll tell you once we arrive in our parents’ courtyard.” Qi Ming chuckles as he carries his sister. Xiuying nodded lightly before closing her eyes.
Xiuying can still hear the movements however the sounds became faint and she can feel her sleepiness due to tiredness increased as Qi Ming’s movement served as her lullaby.
When they are about to reach the place where the former gate of her sister’s courtyard, Qi Ming hears his sister’s light snores, easing up his worries of her being in a coma again.
Upon seeing Qi Ming showing up from the ruins after Qi Chen with Xiuying in her arms, all servants loudly cheer, however a few have stiff expressions on their faces. Qi Chen didn’t care about them but glanced at his trusted servants who nodded lightly to him tacitly understanding his master’s instructions to note those and have their movements monitored moving forward.
Xiuying woke up around afternoon the following day, hearing the movements of the person on the bed. Xi Hui immediately came near her daughter. She is excited since last night hearing from her husband about her daughter’s coming out of the coma. She sees her daughter scratching her eyes as she tries to adjust to the light and immediately stops Xiuying by grabbing both of her hands. Xi Hui can’t help but bring Xiuying’s hands to her lips and lightly kiss both.
Xiuying knows Xi Hui is near her due to the fragrance she smells from her and feeling her mother’s light kisses warms up her heart more. She slowly opens her eyes and finally sees a beautiful woman wearing a dark green hanfu which makes Xi Hui’s skin more white, her eyes trails from her mother’s hands that holds hers to her eyes that looks at her with so much love that she can’t help but tear up.
“Mother…”
“Yes my daughter…”
“Mo-mother…”
“I’m here.. Don’t be afraid… we’re here for you my child.” Xi Hui pats her daughter’s back as she hugs her.
Xiuying didn’t know why, but she can’t help but start to cry loudly as she repeatedly calls out Xi Hui as mother. As her heart firmly recognized her new family and identity, she felt something left her body or she could say it was the original Xiuying’s soul.
They will be my family now Xiuying and I’ll cherish and love them as you did when you were alive.
Even the servants near them couldn't help but to be emotional, they controlled their emotions immediately as they knew Xi Hui would need them to be ready for any orders. The most trusted mama of Xi Hui immediately instructed one of the maidservants to get boiled eggs and have them peeled as both mother and daughter’s eyes are now swollen due to crying.
“Hush now my child… you’re safe now. Don’t cry anymore alright? You are making me worried if you cry more, look your eyes are now swollen.”
Xi Hui finally let go of her daughter and gently wipes the other’s tears with the handkerchief readily handed by her trusted maidservant before exchanging it with the peeled egg and gently tap it on Xiuying’s eyes to lessen the swelling.
After making sure that her daughter’s eyes aren’t swelling much she stops her actions and puts a few hair strands behind Xiuying’s ear while taking a good look at her now-awake child. No words can describe how thankful and happy she is at this moment.
“Did both of you cry babies got your eyes swollen again?” Qi Chen's voice alerted the servants and composed themselves before greeting their master.
“Mother..., Father’s making fun of us!” Xiuying hids in her mother’s arms as she complains.
“He dares to make us a joke… You will sleep in the study.” Xi Hui wraps her arms around her daughter’s thin body, a slight distress flashed in her eyes. She immediately calms her emotions before turning her gaze to her husband and jokingly reprimanded him.
“You child! I am just stating the fact, look at your reddish and swollen eyes.” Qi Chen can’t rebut his wife even with their antics so he turns to his daughter who is now looking at him proudly with a smirk.
“You still scold my dear daughter, let’s increase your punishment for a week then.”
“Please don’t do that my dear wife. It is this husband’s fault for stating the facts…”
“Stating the facts?” Xi Hui raises her eyebrow as she questions her husband.
“Who said that, I only said it is this husband’s fault. Now… Now let’s stop on this topic and eat our lunch shall we?” Qi Chen denies urgently as he hugs both of his wife and daughter before kissing their foreheads before changing the topic. In his mind, he hopes that his dear wife will not let him sleep in the study tonight.
“Fine, let’s get you ready Ying-er and you, my husband needs to get our lunch ready.”
“At your command my beautiful wife.” Qi Chen bows like a servant before leaving as if nothing happened, earning a giggle from Xiuying as she notices her mother’s blushing face.
Qi Ming was waiting in the dining hall and seeing his father coming back he immediately got up from his seat before sitting again after Qi Chen went to his seat. “Is Ying-er awake, Father?” Not hearing his father talk, Qi Ming immediately asks as he is still worried about his sister. “Yes, she’ll come here with your mother.” Hearing a sigh from his father after answering he guessed that his mother will be sleeping with his sister again tonight. He subconsciously chuckles, earning a glare from Qi Chen. Qi Ming uncomfortably coughs hiding his embarrassment from being caught. “Physician Li will arrive this afternoon as we requested, Father. Are you still worried about any sequelae that my sister might suffer in the future?”
***Xiuying/ Raine's POV*** I ordered Xue to take the child to the nearest inn and help her clean up. I watch Xue'er preparing the bath with the help of one of inn's servants while the little girl blankly stares at me. I just let her be and sit on the chair near the window and look outside I can't help but recall when I hugged the child earlier after all I was once like her... Headmistress where are we going? an eight year old girl asked as their orphanage's headmistress hastily held her hand and walk through the busy street. The little girl looks back worriedly at the direction where they came from, there are times when she almost stumbles but the headmistress just held her hand and walk. She didn't hear any answer from the headmistress and only hears her choking up her sobs as they walk. When they arrived in front of a big house she stopped and look at the child's face. "Little Raine...our..our orphanage will be closed if we don't do what they want..." "Ummm
It is the day of the family's annual meeting. I have heard from mother that according to the spies planted by father in first uncle's courtyard the old patriach and first uncle plans to announce the change of Long's eldest son's fiance to my cousin Qi Fan. I really don't care about them but since the former Xiuying died because of them I'd gladly and slowly play them. I'm excited as it will be today that father plans to execute our plan to separate our family, they really don't deserve father's efforts in flourishing businesses. Xue and Hua helped me prepare and I just let them choose whatever dress and accessories to wear, it was tiring even though I only need to stand or sit as they help me. They wake me up earlier than the usual just to bath, dress and fixed my hair. I noticed that they even added more rose petals and rose essence than the usual in my bath.
As we walk towards the main hall they passed the garden Xiuying noticed something in the pavilion. She hurriedly whispered something to her father and that she won't attend the banquet, he was about to object and narrowed his eyes as if he see right through her. Xiuyung smiled at him mischievously though Qi Chen didn't know what's going on in her daughter's mind he nodded. Noticing that her daughter went to a different direction, "The banquet will start soon where is she going?" Xi Hui asks her husband. "She'll just catch up don't worry too much." Xi Hui nodded after hearing Qi Chen's reply and the couple started to walk again towards the main hall. Once Xiuying got her father's permission she urge Xue'er to go the kitchen so they could eat and afterwards take a walk in the garden while waiting for meeting to start, She simply don't want to mingle with her cousins and their families. Most of the servants are shocked to see their third young miss enter
Xiuying cries as she run and 'bumped' to few servants in the main hall's pathway. Some of the servants who are aware of the affair between the Long clan's eldest young master and their second young miss can only sigh inwardly and throw pity looks to Xiuying. All of them have the same thought as they saw the place where their third young miss came from, that is where the two couple are staying instead of attending the banquet. After few minutes they see Xue run after her young miss with worry in her eyes and thought that she is sad for Xiuying if only they knew that Xue is currently worrying how to fix her young miss' ruined dress as it was personally ordered to be made by their Third Madam, Xiuying's mother. Meanwhile in the main hall seven people are discussing the current year issues and plans of the clan while their servants are serving drinks and snacks. "Cousin I heard that your new business is doing well and since your only son is always travelling why
Noticing the glances between the patriach and her first uncle and they're about to speak to control the situation, Xiuying cries more louder which makes Fang Fei grew more annoyed as she feel the uneasiness in her heart. "Ying'er calm down you aren't a little child anymore and as a family we are here for you, am I right Uncle?" Qi Chen chided Xiuying though his voice sounded strict Xiuying can only feel warmth in her heart. "Yes as a family we are here for you." Immediately seconded by the Patriach, Qi Bao. "Chen'er why you didn't tell us that Xiuying have recovered? We could have prepared more dishes earlier in the banquet to celebrate." He voiced out his grievances though it sounded stiff due to shock of Xiuying appearance. He look at his nephew trying to see through his intention by hiding the news but he can't as Qi Chen have long mastered in concealing his thoughts. Qi Chen was about to speak but Xiuying interrupted him.
Your sleepy shameless adorable author: Thank you for supporting me and Xiuying! Here's my first 1000+ words chapter, enjoy reading! 🥰😍💋 Now I can go dreamland with Ying'er! 😴 In another place.... ML: 👿 . . . . After making sure that Xiuying, Xue and Xi Hui went to the side hall, Qi Chen finally look at his uncle. The Patriach was about to speak but Qi Chen beat him to it. "Uncle I know that you favor first cousin's daughter the most and I fully understand that however if such favor would result to this I need you to turn them to the authorities for them to be punished. If you just want to replace my Ying'er with Qi Fan you could have told us and we would gave way but instead you let Young Master Long and Fan'er to have an affair and hurt my daughter!" "Chen'er I know you are angry however you didn't inform me that Ying'er have recovered I could h
That bitch recovered! No! This can't be happening! Qi Fan's mind is in turmoil. Both their families agreed to have her wedding set on eight day of following month and now her cousin, who is the original fiance, recovered. All her thoughts aren't shown on her face as Guanting, her second uncle and aunt are present. "Really grandfather! Oh I'm so happy, thankfully Buddha have answered our prayers!" Fan exclaimed with a happy expression but turned worried as if she remembered something and look at Guanting. "Don't worry everything is already set. The one I love is you and soon you are to be my wife, Fan'er." Guanting immediately answered as he saw the worried eyes of his beloved. "I am glad that you didn't change your mind Young Master Long. My daughter is really lucky to have you." Fang Fei proudly commented while smirking at her second branch couple. "No, I am the lucky one here as Fan'er ha