Eileenburg (12)
The sun was already setting in the west, a gentle breeze blew through the courtyard, and the rich fragrance of grass and trees filled the air; Eileen Castle was like a green forest.
Mi helped Ailian lie down on the low bamboo bed in the courtyard. With one hand supporting Ailian's head and massaging her scalp, she used a comb to brush Ailian's hair, making the little cat whimper. Mi chuckled and kissed the little cat's forehead: "So comfortable?"
"Mmm, mmm." The kitten smiled, its eyes crinkling.
Xiaobai poured warm water from a jug over Ailian's head, and Mi continued to comb her hair until it was completely soaked. Then, she picked up a bar of soap and gently rubbed Ailian's hair, quickly creating fine lather. Mi slowly massaged Ailian's scalp inch by inch from the back of her head, repeating this process until the kitten's even breathing began, and she finally fell asleep.
Xiao Bai poured jar after jar of water until Mi shook her head to stop her, then brought over a tray of towels. Mi changed towel after towel, drying Ai Lian's hair until it was half-dry. Then she pulled out a small footstool from under the bamboo bed, spread Ai Lian's hair evenly, and gently fanned it with a fan. Xiao Wei gently covered Ai Lian with a blanket. When the kitten woke up, rubbing her sleepy eyes, her hair, now completely dry and braided, hung down in front of her chest.
"Miss, would you like some oatmeal porridge for dinner?" Xiaowei asked, looking at her well-rested mistress with a sense of relief.
"No, I want to eat meat, I'm very hungry," Ailian refused without hesitation.
"There's meat. Miss Mi stewed some meat and made you some wheat cakes to eat," Xiao Wei comforted her. "Miss Mi instructed that you can't drink any more alcohol."
"Is there sweet soup? Did you cook sweet soup with rice?"
"Yes, Miss Mi has brewed fruit tea."
"Come on, let's go eat." Ailian lifted the small blanket and put on her shoes. "Where's the rice?"
"She's discussing the piece with the musician in the music room. I'll go tell Miss Mi that it's time to eat."
"Yes, we'll eat in the courtyard," Ailian instructed. "Light a few more candles."
"Yes, miss."
The kitten stroked its chin, as if to say, "You can't scold me now that I'm not eating at the restaurant." A cool, breezy night, a courtyard surrounded by tall candles, a well-behaved kitten sitting quietly, mouthwatering food—everything was just right. Melodious music played, the blue moon shone serenely, servants sat or stood quietly, the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers—a captivating summer atmosphere, perfect for lovers to embrace and cherish each other.
Mi took out her notebook and wrote everything down—sweet poems, gentle melodies, notes flowing from her pen, tunes carried on the evening breeze. Putting down her pen, Mi looked up at the deep night sky. Was there a pair of eyes above that unseen canopy? Could those eyes understand the myriad aspects of human life? Could they feel this sweetness welling up from the bottom of her heart? Could they savor this moment of unbridled joy? Mi turned to look at Ailian, the kitten whose mouth was stuffed full of food. Ailian noticed Mi's gaze, took a big bite of the biscuit in her hand, and slowly licked around her lips with her little tongue. Even the most tense and helpless emotions were chased away by Ailian.
The evening breeze gently caressed my face
Tell me that night has fallen.
Although the stars and moon shine together
Only the person in the dream is unaware.
The evening breeze rustled through my hair.
Tell me the night has come
Although the evening breeze was light and gentle
I'm just afraid those good times will slip away too quickly.
Taking advantage of the beautiful night
Hold up a lamp and embrace the night.
Let fireflies surround me
The evening breeze gently caressed my face.
The evening breeze slept past the treetops
Tell me the night has come
Look how beautiful the moonlight is over the lotus pond!
Don't let that beautiful scenery be missed today.
The kitten, having finished its meal, washed its paws and sat down beside Mi, picking up the sheet music and lyrics to look at. After reading only two lines, it glanced sideways at Mi, then stretched out its little paw and pinched the soft flesh on Mi's waist, gently twisting and scratching. Without its claws, the kitten's scratching didn't hurt, but the itching was unbearable. Mi closed her eyes and lay back on the wicker chair, pretending the kitten wasn't there. The kitten scratched for a long time without success, then pleaded, nudging Mi's face: "Change 'The Person in My Dreams' to something else, please change it."
"What do you want to change it to?" Mi asked with a smile, her eyes still closed.
"Only lovers would know," the kitten blurted out, its eyes darting around.
Mi opened her eyes and looked at her teasingly. The kitten's face slowly turned red, and she lowered her head and muttered, "Fine, I won't change it then. Why are you looking at me like that!"
As night deepened, the servants cleared away the dishes and left. Mi yawned, got up, and went upstairs. The kitten followed behind, watching as Mi coldly closed the door in front of her.
"Xiaowei, let's go back to sleep!" Ailian stomped her feet twice at the door of Mi's room.
"Yes, miss."
"Xiaowei, tell me, how should I tell Mi that I'm a long-lived species?" Ailian said with distress. "I'm so afraid of her now."
"It's alright, Miss, Xiaowei will go and say it for you." Xiaowei patted Ailian's head, as if she were looking at her beloved daughter, wishing she could do everything for her.
"Xiaowei, you have to speak properly. You have to say that I didn't mean to deceive you. Fine, say whatever you want." Ailian pulled the blanket over her head.
"It's alright, Miss. I think Miss Mi likes it very much."
"Really?" Ailian pulled off the blanket, revealing her flushed face.
"Really," Xiaowei replied affirmatively.
"Xiao Wei, Xiao Wei," Ai Lian said domineeringly, blinking her eyes as she hugged the down comforter, "you have to think of a way so that I can sleep with Mi every day."
"Miss, please don't make things difficult for Xiaowei," Xiaowei patted her mistress's head, "Go to sleep, you'll feel better once you're asleep." After saying that, she took away the candle from Ailian's room, leaving Ailian alone in the dark, staring at her with wide eyes, trying to figure out a solution.
Mi, having changed into her pajamas, heard a soft knock on the door. "Come in," she said. Xiao Wei entered carrying a candlestick. As she set the candlestick down, she said, "Bring Miss Mi two more candles. It'll be brighter for reading at night."
"Okay, thank you, Xiaowei." Mi didn't know how to face this old-fashioned and wise housekeeper, who was like an old mother to Ailian. She didn't know what role Xiaowei had played in this matter. Mi hesitated, wondering how to make Xiaowei understand that she and Ailian were not together at all. She couldn't tell others that she was a witch; she could only keep the title of "accompanying maid" on her head.
"Miss Mi, thank you." Xiao Wei squatted down and turned to leave.
“Xiaowei,” Mi called out to her, “let’s talk.”
"Okay." Xiao Wei moved the wicker chair from the window over. "Miss Mi, please have a seat."
"Okay, you sit down too." Mi felt like Xiao Wei was leading her by the nose.
“Okay,” Xiaowei pulled up a chair for herself and sat down, smiling as she looked at Mi scratching her head. After waiting a while and seeing that Mi didn’t speak, she fell into her memories: “I still remember the first time I met Miss Mi. I had never met such a kind person as Miss Mi.”
“Kindness?” Mi felt that Xiaowei was talking about an old lady with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles.
“Yes,” Xiaowei said with a smile, looking at Mi. “Xiaobai doesn’t know, but I do. I happened to pass by the alley behind the restaurant’s kitchen that day.”
That day, starving Xiaobai waited in the alley behind the kitchen for the restaurant's leftover food scraps. Her father, having somehow heard about it, came looking for her and demanded money. Without a single coin, Xiaobai could only kneel and weep, enduring her father's rage and beatings. Mi saw this and waved for Fried to help. Xiaowei saw Mi pull out two gleaming gold coins and say something to Fried. Then Fried ran towards Xiaobai's father. As he ran towards Xiaobai, a gold coin slipped from his pocket, but Fried didn't notice and kept running. Xiaobai's father immediately picked up the coin and bit it with his teeth. At this moment, Mi shouted loudly, "Hey, did you see that kid run past? He stole two brand-new gold coins from me! I'm going to catch him!"
Xiao Bai's father glanced furtively at the gold coin hidden in his palm, then said guiltily, "Sir, I didn't see anything, I didn't see anything." He clenched his fist and ran off, ignoring Xiao Bai lying on the ground. Mi sighed as he watched Xiao Bai crying on the ground and turned to leave. A moment later, the restaurant's food scraps were thrown out early, including a whole wheat cake and two scraps of meat. Xiao Bai quickly ate one piece of meat, stuffed the other piece into the wheat cake, tucked it into his clothes, and limped away.
“That day,” Mi said with a sigh, “that marigold coin was specially made. When Xiaobai’s father took it out to buy wine, he was caught by the security team who were waiting.” Mi paused for a moment, “Later, Xiaobai came to beg me to let her father go. I don’t know what’s the point of saving such a scoundrel, but I had someone tell her that as long as her father returned that one marigold coin.”
"Why?" Xiaowei asked, puzzled.
“Because I tricked him, Xiaowei. Human nature cannot withstand testing. Once the restrictions on entrapment are lifted, everyone will be lured down the path of crime.” Mi looked at Xiaowei, wondering if she could understand.
"You really are—" Xiao Wei paused, and after a while said, "very principled."
"Oh no, Xiaowei, you overestimate me. I just have a few principles and ridiculous insistences." Mi shook her head. "But Xiaobai, what brings you to Ailian Castle?"
"I told Miss about this when I got back, and Miss went to Xiaobai's house and hired her back," Xiaowei said with a slight smile. "Xiaobai's father is ruthless to his wife and daughter, and he doesn't dare to utter a sound in front of nobles. Now Xiaobai's father is herding sheep for Lord Bart, and Lord Bart is not a kind-hearted man." Xiaowei finished speaking and chuckled softly.
"Does the wicked always have their own wicked counterparts to deal with them?" Mi wondered if this counted as fighting evil with evil and violence with violence.
"Xiaobai's mother is pregnant again, and this time she's said to have a boy," Xiaowei said. "Xiaobai's mother always says that her husband is angry because she didn't give birth to a son, and that this is the punishment she deserves. Let's see if her fate will change after her son is born."
“Well, you guys, oh, I mean the Flower Kingdom doesn’t overly emphasize male inheritance,” Mi said, somewhat puzzled. “I’ve also noticed that few families in the countryside are fixated on the gender of their children. So, what about Xiaobai’s mother?”
“People always need an excuse to endure everything in life, Miss Mi,” Xiao Wei sighed. “Otherwise, what can you expect her to do? Some people are stuck in the mud and can’t get out. She’s just a little more cowardly than the average person. Miss Mi, cowardice is not a sin.”
"I understand, Xiaowei, I understand." Mi didn't want to continue the topic and changed the subject: "Is Miss Lian asleep?"
“Miss Lian?” Xiao Wei looked at Mi with a smile in her eyes. “This seems to be the first time you’ve addressed me as ‘Miss’ in a restaurant. It’s been several years. I really miss it.” Mi scratched her head awkwardly, unsure how to continue. “Miss Mi, please rest assured, no one will say that you are Miss’s maid. Ailian Castle will not allow Miss Mi to fall into that situation.”
“Who thought of this?” Mi carefully chose his words. “I am not afraid of so-called gossip.”
“It’s me, Miss Mi, it’s me.” Xiao Wei showed a slight shyness as she organized her thoughts: “I told you about accompanying the maid. I know you’re worldly-wise, Miss Mi. As long as you accept me, that’s enough.”
"Why? Ailian will eventually get married. She should stay in a normal environment. There are too few young people in Ailian Castle."
"Our young lady is of the long-lived species."
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