Flower Loves Butterfly
Last time, we talked about how Grandma Yuan Er had mixed feelings of laughter and tears because of her dream of butterflies.
So let's go back to the butterfly.
A butterfly embroidered with mineral blue silk thread, its delicate wings seeming as if it's about to burst forth from the thin fabric at any moment.
Yi Ling gazed intently at the butterfly, caressing it. A deep, primal thirst welled up within her. This thirst, savage and untamed, rose from the soles of her feet, like a green willow branch, winding around her flesh, skin, and bare bones, all the way to her throat. She cried out in pain, nearly collapsing to the ground. Her hands barely managed to grip the edge of the lacquered wooden table; it was icy cold, offering no warmth even in the depths of summer.
Suddenly, the children's wet nurse knocked on her door. Her rough, calloused hands slammed against the door with one knuckle, the rustling sound of the calluses making her feel like she was going to have a spasm. She nervously braced her hands against her skirt with all her might.
"Second Madam, Miss has a fever this morning, please go and take a look."
Upon hearing this, she jumped up and hurriedly went to push the door open.
Upon entering Miss Yiqiu's room, one could see her petite body slightly hunched over, covered with a red and green satin quilt, her porcelain-white face flushed with a rosy hue reminiscent of a drunken peach.
Yi Ling walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, taking Miss Yi Qiu's hand in hers from the side. The hand was slightly hot from the heat, and Yi Ling felt a pang of heartache.
"Have you called the doctor?" There was a hint of anger in her voice. Perhaps the fever had started during the night; the wet nurse usually preferred to sleep well at night and never paid much attention to the child. She knew this all too well, but today, holding her daughter's feverish hand and seeing her flushed little face, her anger flared up instantly.
"The medicine has already been prescribed. The doctor said it was probably because I caught a chill last night..."
"What were you doing out in the chilly night? Did you just sleep soundly by yourself?"
As he spoke, he glared at her with his eyes wide open, the corners of his eyes squinting upwards.
The wet nurse was much older than her, and having worked away from home for so many years, she had developed many of Pira's habits. Now, being scolded by such a young grandmother, she simply clasped her hands together, lowered her head, and felt quite resentful.
After taking the medicine, the fever gradually subsided. That evening, Miss Yiqiu finally opened her round, dark eyes and spoke clearly to Yiling.
Ideally, only a son would be born in this situation. However, the Yuan family only has one daughter, Yiqiu.
She looks just like Yi Ling, is clever and pretty, and has a really endearing personality, so her family loves her dearly.
"Mom, I'm awake now, don't worry."
Yiling touched the top of Miss Yiqiu's head and took the towel that Muye had laid out to wipe her face.
He waited until dusk, then Qin Teng took his leave of his teacher. Knowing that his sister had a fever, he went to her room to check on her.
Yi Qiu then took another dose of medicine and went to sleep.
Qin Teng was a little over twelve years old and slightly taller than his mother. He stood silently with his arm around her shoulder.
The next morning, after paying my respects at the main house, the eldest mistress, with her slender finger adorned with bright red nail polish, held the teacup and asked, "Lvyu said that Yiqiu developed a fever yesterday. How is she now?"
"It's nothing serious, the swelling has already subsided after taking the medicine prescribed by the doctor."
The garden of the Yuan family's old house, with its peanuts and branches, was usually well-maintained.
Yiling walked alone on that quiet land, smelling the sweet scent of summer flowers, a faint fragrance in the air, like that of an unmarried young lady in her boudoir, her face timid and shy, but her heart filled with longing like a water snake.
They leaned against the two-foot-square window, hoping that a good man of the right age would come and enjoy these few fragrant moments.
She couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Her youthful beauty was in its prime, but now even a trace of it had vanished without a trace.
I fear that the fleeting years, coming and going like water, will leave me with a strange and unpleasant feeling.
As he walked slowly, lost in thought, he passed the green lawn and was about to step into the front hall when he suddenly saw two or three servants carrying boxes following behind a man.
The man was wearing a hat, so his face was not clearly visible. He was tall and slender, dressed in Western-style straight trousers and an ivory-gray coat. She stood there until she saw the group hurriedly turn into the front hall and into the courtyard of the main house.
My thoughts were in complete disarray because of this group of people. I lost all interest in relaxing and slowly walked back along that road.
In the evening, Mu Ye served her food and lowered her voice to say, "Today I heard Lu Yu directing so many helpers to clean up the empty rooms of the neighboring house. She said that the eldest mistress's nephew is going to move into the mansion and it seems he will be staying for quite some time."
She paused her chewing as she held her chopsticks, recalling the description she had given her that afternoon, and said, "I saw him in the garden before. He was dressed in Western clothes and looked like a young master who had studied abroad."
As Konoha poured her tea, she said softly, "That's right."
After the hottest days of summer, the sweltering heat dissipated somewhat, and a breeze began to blow at night. The eldest son and his wife were lying on the edge of the bed, the young master smoking, so a faint smell of smoke hung in the air.
The eldest wife said to her husband, "Xusheng will be staying here for a while longer. You'll have to take good care of him and see how things go in the future."
The young master remained silent, only smoking quietly.
The eldest grandmother said again, "I only have this one nephew, so don't give me that look."
The young master fell even more silent. One or two tobacco leaves were burned to a deathly black, and the smoke drifted out, dancing gracefully through the slightly cracked window.
The couple stopped talking, turned off the oil lamp, and quickly went to sleep.
The next morning at breakfast, Xusheng came to his room to greet his aunt.
The aunt and niece hadn't seen each other for many years. The younger sister was only a year younger than her own son; they had grown up playing together.
"You've gotten even thinner after spending a few years in the West." He said, picking up a piece of braised, juicy Dongpo pork from the plate and placing it on his plate.
After the two exchanged a few words, Green Jade came in to report: "Grandma, Second Grandma and Third Grandma are already waiting outside the door."
Since the newborn was an outsider, it was inconvenient for him to stay any longer, so he stood up and said goodbye to his aunt.
He turned out of the door, and the entrance was a lush, verdant summer scene. His gaze followed, and two graceful, willow-like figures walked slowly towards him beneath a magnificent ancient tree. One wore a pink robe adorned with oleander leaves, her gait swaying with elegance. The other, walking slightly slower, wore a lake-green silk skirt embroidered with mountain and water motifs, her face lightly brushed with hawthorn-colored rouge, her steps steady and serene.
Before anyone even got close, you could already faintly smell a subtle fragrance.
With rosy cheeks, she strolled leisurely through the deep summer, feeling that this affection could grow stronger every day.
That feeling, like a butterfly fluttering around the flowers, only now has it donned its finery.
It is about to make its debut.
Does that flower love butterflies?
As soon as she reached the front of the house, Yi Ling bowed slightly to him and then turned and went inside.
That flower, it can be attracted to butterflies.
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