Dou Lu was tending the fire.
Along the wall of the room stood a flower rack with over twenty pots, several of which had sprouted leaves. Peony leaves.
“Is it Jin Yin who won’t give up, or are you too persistent?” Mo Zi watched Dou Lu busying herself for quite a while, estimating that if she didn’t speak up, she’d have to keep waiting.
Hearing Mo Zi’s voice, Dou Lu turned back with a beautiful smile. “Elder Sister, please sit. Wait till I finish, then I’ll talk with you.”
Mo Zi removed her winter robe and sat by the window. “This room is warm enough to make one sweat.”
Dou Lu didn’t hear this time—forcing flowers with heat was extremely delicate work that couldn’t tolerate distraction.
Mo Zi surveyed the room. The room wasn’t new, but one could tell it had been recently renovated. Three walls had red pomelo lattice windows painted with fragrant white paper. A wall-length window was pulled open—wind couldn’t blow in but only passed by outside, so inside it was warm without being stuffy.
Looking out the window, the pavilion house where she’d just spoken with Jin Yin stood not far away, though now Yuan Cheng had replaced her in drinking Jin Yin’s bitter tea. She hadn’t continued staying there because what needed to be said was already said. If Jin Yin needed her help, a word would suffice, as long as she could manage it. But she also knew this matter was too big—not something she could prevent or had the power to interfere with. As for Yuan Cheng, perhaps he could still contribute some effort. Using the excuse of seeing her sister, she wouldn’t blindly interfere in those two’s conversation.
The door curtain lifted as a tall, thin man entered, holding a wooden tray with snacks. Seeing Mo Zi, his eyes instantly became hawk-like, extremely sharp.
“Who are you?” His voice also seemed to conceal a blade’s edge.
“Uncle Ba Liang, this is my elder sister Mo Zi.” Dou Lu just happened to turn around, a black smudge on her cheek from the smoke.
Ba Liang handed Dou Lu a half-damp towel, saying expressionlessly, “Your face is black. Wipe it.”
Dou Lu hastily thanked him, wiped her face clean, and when she raised her eyes again, discovered only herself and Mo Zi remained in the room. She couldn’t help saying, “In this household, I’m probably the most leisurely—everyone else comes and goes in a hurry.”
As an elder sister who blindly protected her younger sister, Mo Zi had absolutely no objection to such complaints from Dou Lu. She’d be happiest if Jin Yin worshipped Dou Lu like a bodhisattva. Though that wasn’t very likely.
“Dou Lu, did this Ba Liang only come to bring you snacks?” A middle-aged uncle delivering pastries—Mo Zi wasn’t quite used to seeing this. Also, Yuan Cheng had mentioned that Jin Yin’s most formidable expert was called Ba Liang. If that naming-incompetent young master hadn’t made a mess of things, then it should be the same person. A martial arts master delivering snacks and handing towels to a flower gardener girl—was this showing Jin Yin’s special care for Dou Lu?
“Mm. Usually they’re brought by Auntie Qi Liang, but if Auntie Qi Liang is too busy, Uncle Ba Liang delivers them. Uncle Ba Liang is a general laborer in the residence—when the young master doesn’t send him out, he helps around everywhere.” Dou Lu handed Mo Zi a piece of peach pastry.
“Who’s Qi Liang again?” Yuan treasures flying all over, grab one and count by the tael.
“Uncle Ba Liang’s wife. Also the residence’s cook. When not cooking, she manages flowers and plants, makes clothes for people in the residence…” Dou Lu thought for a moment, then another job popped out.
It seemed to Mo Zi that this Auntie Qi Liang probably didn’t even have time to sleep all year round—she was like an all-rounder who could do everything. Dou Lu’s dress from the flower appreciation gathering had obviously been too large, but now the same dress fit perfectly—most likely Qi Liang’s doing. And Ba Liang too—a general laborer who also served as groom, errand runner, security guard, tea server and water carrier, holding multiple positions.
“Jin Yin, this cheapskate.” Who knew why people still willingly worked for him? “Dou Lu, another day I’ll take you to buy new dresses.” They weren’t noble young ladies, but before falling into misfortune, they’d lived lives of fine clothes and good food. She herself didn’t care about wearing old or torn clothes, but seeing a large patch on Dou Lu’s hem was visually jarring.
“Elder Sister, it doesn’t matter. I stay in the flower house all day and don’t often go out. Old clothes are good for working in and comfortable to wear. Speaking of which, what I miss most is the work apron Elder Sister made for me by hand—the color didn’t show dirt, you just slipped it over your neck, tied a knot at the back, and you could move flower pots. It even had pockets for small scissors. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to bring it out.” Dou Lu never loved dressing up, even somewhat feared it, because in the past when Father and Elder Brother had maids dress her up, it was to take her into the palace. She didn’t like the Yuling Imperial Palace—the Empress Dowager’s sharp gaze hidden in the Buddhist hall’s sandalwood incense, the Emperor’s abnormal concern, and the Crown Prince’s sinister smile as if he wanted to devour her alive simply suffocated her. There was something she kept buried deep in her heart, not daring to tell her sister. When Father and Big Brother died, she wasn’t sad at all—rather, she felt relieved.
Seeing Dou Lu’s somewhat darkened expression, Mo Zi thought she was still upset about that “work outfit” and smiled. “What’s the difficulty? I’ll just make you another one—don’t mind if my hands are clumsy. You know, I’ve always been careless with needlework.” Moreover, ever since having Lu Ju, she’d only moved her lips.
Dou Lu was delighted, her smile more beautiful than a hundred flowers.
“Elder Sister, this past year I’ve started having that dream again.” She didn’t want to hide this matter. “Last time I didn’t get to tell you.”
Since childhood, Dou Lu often had the same dream—in the dream, flames roared fiercely. A pair of hands pushed her and Mo Zi out of the sea of fire, but she couldn’t see clearly the face behind the flames. Aside from piercing screams, she couldn’t hear anything else.
Mo Zi naturally knew about Dou Lu’s dream. Dream scenes were replays of memory, so after hearing Dou Lu mention it, she had expended considerable mental effort but couldn’t remember anything. Finally she asked Father, who at first impatiently dismissed her, but later specifically called the sisters over and said when they were little, their old home had caught fire once. Dou Lu was only two years old then and was probably frightened.
A two-year-old child generally had no memory. Mo Zi had originally doubted Father’s explanation, but Dou Lu admitted that in the dream she was about two years old and Mo Zi around four. She could only believe Dou Lu had unusual brain cells and remembered things earlier than most people. She asked some old family servants who confirmed the fire incident. So she made up a complete story to tell Dou Lu, and Dou Lu stopped dreaming it.
“Still can’t see the face clearly, can’t make out the words?” Mo Zi frowned—this dream had followed Dou Lu far too long. Somewhat worried, yet her mouth comforted, “Perhaps it’s because we suffered such great calamity that you connected it with childhood events.”
“This time… I heard the voice.” Dou Lu bit her lip, her eyes resisting Mo Zi’s comfort. Lowering her head and voice, staring fixedly at the table, “Elder Sister, I think—the person in the fire was Mother.”
“What?” Mo Zi thought she’d misheard.
Dou Lu suddenly raised her head, her gaze very clear. “That voice called us good daughters—if not Mother, then who?”
Mo Zi’s head immediately began aching. Stunned for a long moment, she said, “Dou Lu, Mother passed away from illness when you were two years old—you know that too, don’t you? Perhaps… perhaps because you suddenly felt helpless and alone, you missed Mother. Dreams are just dreams, not real.” Even if there were parts from memory, they would be distorted, exaggerated, confused.
“Maybe Mother died saving us, not from illness. In the dream, when I called Mother, that person cried.” Cried so sorrowfully that even after waking, she couldn’t help but shed tears.
“You’ve had this dream for many years. Now the dream is becoming increasingly vivid—it only shows you’re thinking about it during the day.” Mo Zi stuffed a piece of pastry into Dou Lu’s mouth. “We sisters are reunited now. Gradually you won’t have this dream anymore. Trust me, don’t think wildly.”
Dou Lu forcefully chewed the pastry, yet her eyes reddened, truly crying. “Whether illness or fire, Mother is gone either way. I’m very foolish, aren’t I?”
Mo Zi’s heart also ached—unable to remember the body’s original mother at all, yet still able to remember her pre-rebirth parents. Not knowing how much pain her death would bring them. But as the elder sister, she had to be strong. “At least I’m still fine, you’re still fine, and we can live together.”
Dou Lu nodded, sobbing as she swallowed the pastry.
Outside the window, Jin Yin stood there with a scrunched face speaking. “Those who don’t know would think Young Master Jin’s residence serves snacks so terrible they make people cry. Jiu Jiu, you’re already ugly—crying makes you even more unbearable to look at. Do me a favor, stop hurting my eyes and quickly wipe your tears. By rights, you don’t resemble your sister in looks at all—at least you should be similar in temperament. Your sister fears neither heaven nor earth—even with swords at her throat, she wouldn’t blink. You cry at night and cry during the day—are you a ghost fished from water?”
Dou Lu’s sleeve busily wiped tears. After finishing, she slowly said, “I’m a water ghost, then the young master is a money ghost. My elder sister is a cloud in the sky, I’m a blade of grass on the ground. But she’s my sister, not yours—even if you’re envious, you can only watch dryly. So what if I’m ugly? The young master looks good, sure, but when you go out, people mistake you for a woman cross-dressing as a man and get harassed.”
Speaking slowly but still deflating others just the same.
Mo Zi held back laughter there, asking with mock seriousness, “Someone really mistook Young Master Jin for a woman?”
Yuan Cheng clapped twice. “Who says the sisters aren’t similar?”
Jin Yin usually hated when people called him feminine-looking, but facing these three he couldn’t lose his temper. Frustrated enough to huff, he could only swallow it down.
The situation was three to one—completely favorable.
Yet Dou Lu’s nature was pure and kind. After winning the verbal exchange, she spoke the honest truth: “Actually, though the young master is good-looking, he doesn’t have a woman’s delicate beauty. That lecher seems to like both male and female beauty but doesn’t dare admit it publicly, so deliberately pointed at a deer and called it a horse.”
Having gained Dou Lu’s temporary defection, Jin Yin immediately perked up his tail and looked sideways at Yuan Cheng. “Did you hear that? This young master is elegant like a jade tree—if I get harassed, it’s also because of this impeccable face. Compared to someone who needs several glances before one can reluctantly say he looks refined—” Taking Dou Lu as an ally, “Jiu Jiu, don’t you think he’s far inferior to me?”
Mo Zi smiled and shook her head. The narcissus was blooming again.
“Young Master Yuan’s complexion is like jade, warmly restrained and unassuming, like early moon at dawn, a white peony with dew about to bloom—not a flower king but a gentleman, untouched by dust.” Speaking of peonies, Dou Lu’s face glowed, her eyes crystal bright.
Yuan Cheng glanced at Mo Zi, then smiled at Dou Lu. “Thank you for your praise, Miss Dou Lu.”
Jin Yin shooed people away. “Great Peony Yuan, please leave. I’m vulgar yellow—I won’t see you out.”
“Yao Yellow.” Dou Lu corrected him.
“Jiu Jiu, you’ve finished your work here, right? Then go help Er Liang wash clothes.” Jin Yin demonstrated his cheapskate spirit.
“Elder Sister, I’m going to wash clothes then. Uncle Yi Liang said in a few days he’ll give me two days off—I’ll come find you at Hongyu.” Dou Lu properly curtsied to Jin Yin and left.
Assigning her sister to wash clothes right in front of her? Mo Zi narrowed her eyes and called out “Second Brother.”
Jin Yin shivered.