Chapter 497 Extra Wan Shuang [I]
I seemed to have had a very long dream.
But when I woke up, I didn’t quite remember what I dreamed about, I just felt very tired.
When I opened my eyes, I was sitting on a warm seat at home, with my chin supported by one hand and a book covering half of my face with the other hand.
Yingxiang moved a small stool and sat next to me, holding a book and talking to me about her knowledge.
"Zhuangzi dreamed of butterflies in the morning, and King Wang placed his love on the cuckoo..."
These past two days my father asked her to teach me to read, but I was not born that kind of person. I didn't dare to disobey just to make my father happy, and could only suffer here in vain.
Yingxiang knows me best. We grew up together. She knew I didn't want to study but she didn't force me. Even when she saw me falling asleep, she just turned a blind eye and finished reading the book in her hand, just to get the job done.
At this moment she continued to chatter, and I just rested my chin on my hand, looked at the bright scenery in the courtyard, and thought about the dream just now.
But like many times, I only remember that dream so clearly and so real.
But now it is hard to remember what I dreamed about.
I only vaguely remember the scene before I woke up from the dream, which was quite horrifying.
——I seemed to... dream about my own monument.
I saw another bright and pretty woman with a hint of sadness between her brows. She stood in front of the stele and offered me two taels of wine. She said without any context that I had protected her a lot, and if there was an afterlife, she would protect me instead.
As for the rest of the details, I couldn't remember them no matter how hard I tried.
I felt that dreaming about my own tombstone was a bad omen, so I stopped Yingxiang and said to her:
"I just had a dream. I dreamed of my own tombstone."
Yingxiang withdrew her gaze from the book and stared at me blankly.
I saw her frowning at first, but soon she smiled again.
"That's great! People often say that dreams and reality are opposites. Miss, you dreamed of your own tombstone. Doesn't that mean you will live a long life?"
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her when I heard her nonsense. "You've read too much, so you can say a lot of nonsense. My dream was very real. Normally, after waking up from such a terrible dream, I should be glad that I'm still alive, but it makes me feel empty inside. It's really strange."
Yingxiang started to complain after hearing what I said, "If I were to blame, I'd say it's all the eldest master's fault. He has been fighting outside with the master for many years, and he only comes back once every year or two, but he always tells Miss about his bloody deeds on the battlefield. If Miss hears too much of that, won't she be scared and have nightmares?"
What she said made sense, but I didn't think it made sense.
After all, I was born with a boy's temperament. When I was young, I always loved to pester my father to tell me things on the battlefield. Later, my father was appointed as a general and was busy with military affairs, so I started to pester my brother.
It's something I'm used to hearing, so why would I be scared?
I was about to retort when the window next to the warm seat was suddenly pushed open from the outside. I looked over and saw my brother leaning in with half his head, looking downcast and saying to Yingxiang:
"What bad things are you saying about me behind my back?"
Yingxiang and I grew up together, so she was naturally considered my brother's childhood playmate. Whenever they met, they would quarrel, and I loved watching them.
Look, Yingxiang is not afraid of her brother at this moment, but makes a face at him.
"I dare not say anything bad about the eldest master, but I suddenly remembered that the last time the eldest master left home, he promised to buy a hairpin for the young lady. But it has been five days since he returned home, why hasn't the eldest master given it to the young lady yet?"
"you......"
My brother's face turned red instantly, as if his secrets had been exposed.
He glared at Yingxiang, then glanced at me with a guilty look.
"Wan'er...please listen to my explanation. I will definitely buy it back for you next time!"
I couldn't help laughing when I saw how embarrassed he was.
Growing up, I knew how much my brother loved me, and I also knew how careless he was.
It doesn't matter if he forgot to buy the hairpin this time. After all, we are brother and sister for life, and he still has a long time to spoil me, so a little while longer won't make a difference.
But just when I was about to act coquettishly to my brother and ask him to compensate me with a pair next time, I looked into his eyes and a horrifying picture suddenly flashed through my mind.
I saw...
My brother was kneeling in the middle of the execution ground, wearing prison uniform and covered in blood.
The people watching around were making a lot of noise. At the command of the supervising officer, the executioner raised his broadsword high!
"ah!!"
I screamed, and the real and horrifying scene in my mind finally disappeared.
"Wan'er?"
My brother climbed in through the window, put his arm around my shoulders and asked me,
"What's going on?"
I didn't reply. I didn't know what to say. I just felt very scared.
I hugged my brother tightly, trying to feel his body temperature and his heartbeat.
Fortunately, he is fine.
I thought, maybe Yingxiang is right?
Is it because I have heard too many stories from my father and brother about the bloody things on the battlefield that I have been having frequent delusions recently?
I shook my head vigorously, trying to get rid of these strange thoughts from my mind.
After a long pause, he said to his brother: "Brother, you will always be with us, right?"
My brother rubbed my head and laughed at me for being silly, "Of course. You know I don't remember things. I broke my promise to buy you a hairpin this time, so I will pay you double next time. You can't think that I will give up on you just because I was careless this time, right?"
"Of course not."
I smiled and felt relieved.
"Is it a silver willow hairpin?" he asked.
"Yeah." I nodded.
Unlike most women who like roses and peonies,
I have liked silver willow since I was a child.
The flower symbolizes freedom and unrestrainedness, which is exactly the life I want to live.
Although my brother is confused, he remembers everything I like.
So does dad and mom.
In this family, everything I love is always what everyone hopes for.
So even though I had reached the age of 15 last year, my parents did not rush to marry me off like other wealthy families did. Instead, they allowed me to find my own soulmate according to my heart.
With the Ning family's family background and status in the Qi Dynasty, as the legitimate daughter of the Ning family, I must marry into a wealthy family, otherwise my father would inevitably lose face in the previous dynasty.
But Daddy doesn't think so.
I once asked him, "What if the man my daughter likes has no power and influence, and makes Dad lose face in front of his colleagues?"
Dad waved his hand and said, "Compared to my daughter's happiness, they are nothing! I conquered this world for the emperor, so why should those old asses have the right to say irresponsible things?"
Women in the Qi Dynasty have always been subordinate to men.
Obey your father, your brother, and your husband, and never be yourself.
But even in a place like this where even princesses have to marry far away, my family only hopes that I will be happy and healthy.
These things are deeply engraved in my heart. Whenever I think of them, I feel that being born in the Ning family and having such a family is a blessing I have earned in three lifetimes.
"What are you thinking about?"
I was distracted when my brother suddenly scratched my nose, peeled a lychee and handed it to me, then said seriously:
"The Queen has just recovered from a serious illness. Tomorrow, officials from all ministries will bring their female relatives to Fengluan Palace to pay their respects. You dare not be so absent-minded when you see the Queen. There are many rules in the palace, not like at home."
The Royal Palace...
I sighed softly, looked out the window, and took a deep look in the direction of the palace.
Looking out from my boudoir, I could only see a small golden roof in the distance.
My brother said that was the top tower of Chaoyang Palace, and that the emperor, the most honorable person in the world, lived there.
With the emperor close by, there are so many rules that they are overwhelming, and I am used to being free and easy, so I don't want to follow my father into the palace.
I didn't go before, and my mother went to the palace for me. But recently my mother has been ill and it is really not suitable for her to work.
So I don't want to anymore.
This time,
There's no way to hide from it.
[The disease has been cured! Revived with full health! 】
[Extra timeline: The fifty-third year of Qianyuan, the year before the old emperor passed away.]
[Sister Ning’s extra chapter will be very long. Starting tomorrow, I will update twice a day. My dears, please take your time~( ′` ) Love you]
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