Chapter 48: First meeting with Xia mama
龙凤胎 longfengtai – dragon phoenix twins; twins of mixed sexhistorical
An trembling, emaciated hand entered their sight as they looked and saw the person on the bed struggle to lift a teacup on the bedside. Mi mama immediately rushed over and carefully helped her up. Then, she help put the teacup to her lips and tenderly said, “lao jiejie, if there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask!”
This was the first time Yun Qian Meng saw Xia mama. The fifty year old lady actually looked like an old woman of seventy years. Her body was skinny and shriveled, leaving only bone; the cheeks that protruded from her wrinkled face were full of age spots; and her grayed hair almost blinded Yun Qian Meng. Who would have thought that the wet nurse of the xiangfu’s furen back then would have become like this?
With her body under the clothes as brittle as glass, her hand that was just skin and bone had tightly grasped Mi mama’s. She only said with great effort, “No.. need..”
Her speech caused Yun Qian Meng to notice something peculiar. From the tone and tempo of Xia mama’s speech, it was evident that her tongue had been injured. And half her body didn’t seem to bulge from under the covers. This caused Yun Qian Meng’s heart to suddenly sink. Her eyes were suddenly suffused in cold light, as she almost couldn’t suppress the anger that was boiling in her body!
Yun Qian Meng’s chilly expression had finally roused Xia mama’s attention. She only turned over slowly, and saw a young girl in a green coat and white skirt standing at the end of the bed. Only, the girl was wearing a muslin veil, so she couldn’t see her face clearly. But looking at her graceful and slim figure as well as her dignified posture, she was certainly from a prestigious family!
Mi mama saw the confusion in Xia mama’s eyes. Looking to see Yun Qian Meng nod to her, she then whispered into Xia mama’s ears, “lao jiejie, this is furen’s xiaojie!”
After that, Yun Qian Meng saw the originally spiritless Xia mama unexpectedly straighten up emotionally. Her deadly still eyes suddenly became emotional as she counldn’t help but stretch her arms over, wanting to touch Yun Qian Meng. She cried out with great difficulty, “xiao.. jie.. xiao.. jie..”
Yun Qian Meng only felt her nose stuff up and immediately took off the muslin veil. Her appearance that was so similar to Qu Ruo Li suddenly appeared before Xia mama, causing her to stir even more emotionally, even almost falling off the bed....
Yun Qian Meng quickly stepped forward and helped support her with Mi mama. Looking at Xia mama’s white hair, her throat choked with emotion, “mama, Meng’er has come late!”
When Xia mama heard Yun Qian Meng admit her identity, she firmly grasped her hands while she strenuously and resolutely said, “laonu.. greets.. xiaojie!”
Yun Qian Meng nodded heavily with tears in her eyes and then helped her sit properly. Personally taking the teacup, she carefully fed her a few sips. Then, she took out her own silk handkerchief and carefully helped her wipe away the stains around her lips, smiling to say, “mama, you can restfully recuperate in the future! Meng’er will definitely cure you!”
Xia mama was currently overwhelmed by her favor. She never expected that she would still be able to meet the little young miss after so many years. She expected even less that the little young miss was such a considerate person. Reminded of the deceased Qu Ruo Li, she momentarily felt her sadness welling up, a single tear falling from her wrinkled eyes....
Yun Qian Meng lifted her hands and gently brushed away the tears at her eyes, smiling, “mama, you can tell me all your grievances. I will definitely make those black-hearted people pay!”
Xia mama saw how staunch Yun Qian Meng was and felt gratified. However, she didn’t reply and instead groped around the bed. She pulled out a red sandalwood box from under a stack of covers and respectfully passed it into Yun Qian Meng’s hands, her happy eyes indicating for Yun Qian Meng to open it....
Yun Qian Meng was slightly puzzled, but she couldn’t bear to let down Xia mama’s enthusiasm. Her fingers gently brushed against the nephrite jade lock as she opened the box.
Suddenly, the room was filled with a dazzling radiance, making it hard to keep their eyes open! Yun Qian Meng fixed her stare and found that the red sandalwood box was neatly stuffed with thirty South Sea Pearls that were about the size of an infant’s fist. Each of the pearls had a bright luster, with almost uniform size, it could even be said to be the best quality out of the best goods!
In the centre of those pearls was actually an adult-fist-sized Night Luminous Pearl. In the dusky room, the Night Luminous Pearl emitted a brilliant luster; a priceless treasure!
A shriveled hand now clamped on top of Yun Qian Meng’s, as Xia mama who had teared up in happiness said, “This was.. left behind.. by.. furen.. for xiaojie.. nubi.. today.. finally returned.. returned it to the rightful owner..”
But Yun Qian Meng who had received it didn’t show the slightest bit of pleasure. She only calmly closed the box and put it back into Xia mama’s bosom, tenderly saying, “mama, mother gave this to you!”
Yun furen must have had two lines of thought back then; she would leave it for her own child, but if her children met with disaster, she would leave it for Xia mama’s retirement!
But she didn’t think that Xia mama would protect it loyally. She would rather endure poverty for more than ten years, and never once touched this box of riches. This caused Yun Qian Meng to feel extremely moved!
But Xia mama was quite a stubborn character. She stuffed the box into Yun Qian Meng’s bosom, unwilling to accept it no matter what was said!
Mi mama saw this and wiped the tears in her eyes. She came over to advise Yun Qian Meng, “xiaojie, you should just accept Xia mama’s sincerity! What’s more, mama will be in your care in the future, she won’t need to live pass those inhuman days anymore!”
At this, Yun Qian Meng nodded and passed the box to Mi mama, then finally steadied her heart to question Xia mama, “mama, what happened to your legs? How have you been living these few years?”
Xia mama heard Yun Qian Meng mention the matters from the past and steadied her mind. She held down the suffering in her heart and slowly said, “xiaojie.. that year.. furen was carrying.. dragon phoenix twins.. but Su Qing.. bribed the midwife.. the little gongzi was.. drowned in water.. when he was born.. xiaojie was a girl.. managed to escape.. nubi.. they cut off my tongue.. they broke my legs.. furen.. let nubi act insane.. finally escaped....”
At this point, Xia mama sobbed uncontrollaby with a face full of tears; her body was trembling violently with rage!
Yun Qian Meng had an austere expression, but the hatred in her eyes could not be wiped away. She only lightly embraced Xia mama’s scrawny body, and gently consoled her, “mama, you should recuperate safely! This grudge for mother, didi, and you; I will definitely repay Su Qing tenfold, hundredfold!”
When Xia mama heard Yun Qian Meng’s words, her heart tightened. Although she knew she shouldn’t let the young miss take risks at the moment, the grudge of furen and the grudge of the little shaoye could not be left forgotten. She only hated that her handicapped condition didn’t allow her to help. She could only softly remind, “xiaojie.. be careful.. of.. xiangye....”
When she heard this, the air around Yun Qian Meng seemed to freeze, her body emitting chilly waves....