Chapter 52
Xiaobai's words were like a weak match, striking a fleeting spark in the desperate darkness of Jiang Hai.
He stared at Xiaobai's calm eyes, with thousands of words stuck in his throat, which eventually turned into a heavy gasp.
He hesitated again and again, and finally chose to believe Xiaobai.
More importantly, he couldn't believe that his beloved sister had died like this!
He did not tell his parents about this. He quietly handled the procedures for Jiang Jiang and took Jiang Jiang back home.
He gently placed Jiang Jiang on the bed in her bedroom and covered her with a blanket. He even subconsciously checked her breath, but there was still a dead silence.
"Sister..." Jiang Hai's voice was hoarse and broken. He knelt dejectedly beside the bed, holding the edge of the bed tightly with both hands, and his knuckles turned white due to the force.
He was really afraid that the hope he had ignited with great difficulty would be drowned by greater despair.
Xiaobai didn't say anything, and didn't even pay attention to Jiang Hai. He just silently took care of Jiang Jiang who was lying on the bed, and wiped Jiang Jiang's cheeks and hands with a warm towel.
Jiang Jiang lay motionless on the bed, his face pale, clearly...
Jiang Hai couldn't bear to watch any longer and staggered out of the bedroom.
Xiaobai didn't even look back, and continued to do his work silently.
"You used to take care of me, now it's my turn to take care of you..."
Jiang Hai asked Xiaobai when Jiang Jiang would wake up.
Xiaobai shook his head, saying maybe a few days, maybe a few months, or maybe a few years.
Jiang Hai suddenly felt ridiculous. The doctor had already declared his sister dead, so why would he believe the unfounded words of a girl he didn't know well?
But the subtle expectation in his heart made him patient.
Time crawls slowly in the dead silence.
One day, two days...
A week passed, ten days passed...
Outside the window, it changes from dusk to the lights coming on, and then to deep night.
Jiang Hai collapsed.
The long-term fear, anxiety and despair finally broke through the dam like a accumulated flood.
He stood up suddenly, his eyes red, and roared at Xiaobai who was guarding the bed, "You lied to me! You have been lying to me all the time! She is dead! She is dead! What are you talking about still alive! What are you talking about waiting and seeing! It's all your lies! Give her back to me! Give my sister back to me!" He rushed forward, grabbed Xiaobai's shoulders and shook him wildly, his face covered with tears mixed with snot.
Xiaobai was shaken by him and couldn't stand steadily, but he still didn't resist. However, a trace of barely perceptible pain flashed across the depths of his calm eyes.
She raised her hand with difficulty and pointed at Jiang Jiang.
"Jiang Jiang, I'm fine..." Xiaobai's voice was very soft, but it was like thunder, which made Jiang Hai freeze in place and wake up instantly.
He looked in the direction of her finger, and under the light, Jiang Jiang was still lying on the bed motionless, as if dead.
But if Jiang Jiang was really dead, his body would have started to rot in the past ten days.
But Jiang Jiang now remains the same.
He rushed to the bed, held his breath, and took a deep breath.
There is no peculiar smell, only a light fragrance.
This is not an illusion!
Hope, ignited again!
With visible hope, Jiang Hai began to firmly believe that Jiang Jiang was still alive.
He began to have the energy to deal with some of his own affairs.
Xiaobai took good care of Jiang Jiang. After observing him for a few days, Jiang Hai felt very relieved about Xiaobai.
…
One day, when Xiaobai was wiping Jiang Jiang's face, he suddenly found that Jiang Jiang's eyelashes trembled very slightly.
Xiaobai rubbed his eyes in disbelief, fearing that he had seen it wrong.
Xiaobai found that Jiang Jiang had not changed, but he still didn't dare to look away and stared at Jiang Jiang without blinking.
She held her breath. After not seeing him for a long time, Xiaobai's excitement gradually subsided.
"Jiang Jiang..."
She whispered softly.
Jiang Jiang's eyelashes moved again, as if she heard Xiaobai's call.
This time Xiaobai saw it clearly and the towel in his hand fell to the ground.
Soon, the trembling of eyelashes became clearer and clearer.
Xiaobai lay on the edge of the bed, holding Jiang Jiang's hand, his fingertips trembling with excitement.
I don’t know how long it took, but the eyes that had been closed for too long slowly opened a crack as Xiaobai almost suffocated in the waiting.
His eyes were empty and confused, and he didn't know what time it was.
"Jiang Jiang..." Xiaobai's voice was shaking, with incredible ecstasy and great fear, fearing that this was just an illusion caused by his excessive expectations.
The person on the bed seemed startled by the faint sound and frowned very slightly.
After a long while, the eyes tried to open again. This time, after adapting to the light, they turned very slowly towards the figure beside the bed that was trembling with excitement.
"Xiao...Bai?" A weak and hoarse voice sounded, but Xiaobai felt that the voice was like the sound of nature.
Xiaobai could no longer control himself, and suddenly rushed to the bedside, hugged Jiang Jiang tightly, buried his face in the quilt, and cried like a child, his shoulders shaking violently, as if he wanted to cry out all his fears, "Jiang Jiang! Jiang Jiang! Jiang Jiang..."
Jiang Hai rushed in upon hearing the noise, and seeing his sister open her eyes, tears instantly streamed down his face. He threw himself to the bedside, calling Jiang Jiang's name incoherently.
*
Lin Yue died because he lost too much blood and was not rescued in time.
After police investigation and evidence collection, it was discovered that this case was a fight that was accidentally caused by Lin Yue and others breaking into a private residence.
Perhaps there were senior executives involved, which resulted in most of the responsibility falling on Lin Yue.
Mr. Wang, who invested in Lin Yue's experiment, directly gave up Lin Yue's experiment and went to look for other ways to prolong life.
Regarding this matter, he sent a lawyer and an assistant and gave the Jiang family a large sum of money to settle the matter privately.
The lawyer held the documents and checks and said a lot of high-sounding things. He pushed his glasses and said in an unquestionable strong tone, "Mr. Wang hopes that this matter can end here. Both parties sign this confidentiality agreement and will no longer make any comments or pursue any responsibility on this matter. Otherwise..." The unfinished words at the end were filled with a cold threat.
Jiang's parents looked at the dizzying string of zeros on the check, and then looked at their daughter who was still weak in bed and needed a long period of rest. Their faces were filled with grief, anger and helplessness of reality.
The other party seems to have a powerful background and is very influential. It is a great blessing for my daughter to be alive now. Continuing to pester him is like hitting a stone with an egg, and may even bring greater disaster.
This money can at least pay off the mortgage, ensure the subsequent recovery and life of his daughter, and leave some for Jiang Hai to marry.
The two looked at each other and saw the compromise in each other's eyes.
"Let's...sign." Jiang's father's voice was dry and hoarse. He sighed deeply and signed his name on the agreement with trembling hands.
"Dad!" Jiang Hai stood up suddenly, his eyes red. "They almost killed my sister! Are you just going to let it go like this? Pay them to keep their mouths shut? For what?!"
The lawyer looked at Jiang Hai dissatisfiedly, "Mr. Jiang, Mr. Wang did not harm Miss Jiang. As for this check, it is just a humanitarian gift to Miss Jiang for emotional compensation..."
The lawyer knew that the Jiang family had no evidence.
"You!" Jiang Hai's chest heaved violently, his fists clenched so hard that they made a creaking sound. He wanted to argue, but was stopped by Jiang Jiang.
"Jiang Hai, forget it." She looked at her brother and shook her head gently, her voice weak but clear.
She knew that she couldn't pursue the matter any further. If that Mr. Wang really noticed her and Xiaobai, it would be difficult to deal with.
Jiang Hai looked at Jiang Jiang, all his anger and unwillingness were like a popped balloon, leaving only heartache and bitterness.
He wiped his face heavily, stopped talking, and accepted the result.
Forget it, as long as his sister is alive and well, he is also afraid that the secret of his sister's resurrection will be discovered!
*
Time is the best medicine, and it also washes away surface traces.
Jiang Jiang's body was recovering at an astonishing speed.
Except for the extreme weakness and drowsiness in the first few days, Jiang Jiang basically returned to normal. Even his previous sub-health condition disappeared, and his overall complexion looked much better.
With the money, the mortgage was paid off, and there was still a lot left, so Jiang Jiang gave it to his parents and asked them to keep it for Jiang Hai.
Although her mortgage was off, she still had to renovate the damaged parts of her house due to the fight! Jiang Jiang was in tears; she had worked so hard to buy this house!
Fortunately, the company was kind and did not fire her, but only deducted her salary.
She turned her computer back on and dealt with the pile of work emails.
Her colleagues all thought she had a serious illness and congratulated her on her recovery and hoped she would get better.
After Xiaobai regained his memory, he became introverted and profound.
The innocence that belonged to Xiaobai had completely faded, leaving only the calmness and steadiness beyond her age as the fifth princess Zhao Yuebai.
She still works as an assistant in Liang Rou's studio, organizing painting tools, cleaning, and mixing paints.
But her eyes changed. When she looked at those brilliant colors, she was no longer simply curious, but focused with insight. Sometimes she would even unconsciously use extremely fine brushstrokes to outline some traditional and complex patterns in the blank corners of the canvas. Even Liang Rou was secretly amazed when she saw it.
She spoke even less, but her gaze towards Jiang Jiang became more focused and deep, as if she wanted to carve her figure into the depths of her soul.
That love is no longer as ignorant and tentative as that of a newborn animal, but like aged wine, becoming more mellow and strong.
…
One day after dinner, the local news was playing on TV.
The anchor's clear, melodious voice echoed through the living room. "...Our latest news: Last year, an ancient tomb unexpectedly discovered in the suburbs due to heavy rains has led to a breakthrough in archaeological work. Experts have confirmed that the tomb belongs to a certain dynasty. According to the remaining epitaph on the tomb, the occupant is believed to have been the fifth princess of that dynasty, who tragically died at the young age of eighteen from poisoning..."
"Tsk tsk tsk, who is so bold as to poison the princess!" Jiang Hai was peeling an apple when he looked up at the screen in surprise.
The screen switched, showing photos of the messy archaeological site and close-ups of several cleared burial objects.
"What's puzzling is," the host's voice was inquiring. "Based on the on-site investigation and analysis of the remains within the coffin, it's clear that a humanoid figure was placed inside, consistent with the characteristics of buried remains. However, no traces of bones or ashes were found within the coffin. Experts speculate that the princess's body may have been severely poisoned, causing the remains to decay by then, or that some special humanoid substitute, such as a puppet or jade figurine, was used for burial. Experts say that an earthquake several years ago severely damaged the mausoleum, and a suspected robbery hole of unknown age was discovered at the site. The possibility that the remains or substitute were damaged and stolen earlier or after the earthquake cannot be ruled out. The case has been transferred to relevant departments for further investigation. Some well-preserved unearthed artifacts have been transferred to the Municipal Museum for protective restoration and display..."
The news ended, and Jiang Hai sighed a few words about the beauty's tragic fate.
Jiang Jiang glanced at Xiao Bai, then pulled Jiang Hai out by the ear, "You're almost graduating, right? Have you finished your thesis? Have you found a job? You've been eating and drinking for free at my place all day!"
"Ouch, ouch, Jiang Jiang! Be gentler!" Jiang Hai wailed.
Jiang Jiang did not relax his grip.
Jiang Hai had no choice but to beg for mercy, "Sister, sister, I was wrong, please let me go..."
Jiang Jiangcai ignored Jiang Hai's pleas for mercy, pulled Jiang Hai and threw him out the door, "Go back to school quickly, don't stay here with me!" Then he slammed the door shut.
Jiang Jiang looked at Xiaobai sitting on the sofa, racking his brains to think of how to comfort her, but he saw that Xiaobai was looking at the TV screen without any shock or sadness on his face. He was as calm as if he was watching a distant story that had nothing to do with him.
She finally pursed her lips and didn't say anything. She just sat silently beside Xiaobai and held her hand tightly.
Xiaobai then slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Jiang Jiang beside him, with a gentle warmth in his eyes that was almost overflowing.
She stretched out her hand and interlocked her fingers with Jiang Jiang's hand very naturally, her palms conveying a firm and warm strength.
"Those are just external possessions." Xiaobai's voice was so soft that only Jiang Jiang could hear it clearly. It spoke with a kind of clarity that comes from having experienced many vicissitudes of life. "They are cold and boring."
She squeezed Jiang Jiang's fingers, the corners of her mouth curved slightly, and she looked at Jiang Jiang with an indescribable passion and determination in her eyes. "The most important thing is here, in front of my eyes, in my hands."
Jiang Jiang's heart was touched by Xiaobai's words. She held Xiaobai's hand back, nodded vigorously, and a relieved smile appeared on her face.
Yes, the princess’ tomb from a hundred years ago, the missing remains, the secrets and grudges buried deep underground, what are they compared to their clasped hands at this moment and the peaceful life before them?
A few days later, Jiang Jiang took a special leave and took Xiaobai to the city museum.
The newly opened “Treasures - Special Exhibition of Cultural Relics Excavated from the Tomb of a Princess of a Certain Dynasty” is not large and has few visitors.
Jiang Jiang looked carefully, trying to feel Xiaobai's past life from these cold objects.
Xiaobai just followed Jiang Jiang quietly, scanning the exhibits calmly with his eyes, without any ripples, as if he was looking at something completely unfamiliar.
To her, these items that once belonged to "Zhao Yuebai" were nothing more than items imposed on her by that cold palace and that selfish and indifferent father. They carried not love but constraints.
What she truly cherishes is the person who is walking beside her and holding her hands.
"Let's go, there's nothing to see." Xiaobai pulled Jiang Jiang's hand with a flat tone.
Jiang Jiang came back to his senses from his thoughts, looked at Xiaobai's calm profile, and suddenly understood where her indifference came from.
She smiled with relief, "Well, let's go."
The two walked out of the museum's somewhat deserted door hand in hand.
The afternoon sun was shining brightly, and the warmth shone on my body, dispelling the slight chill brought from the museum.
They stood by the roadside waiting for a bus.
At this moment, Jiang Jiang's gaze inadvertently swept across the street and he stopped.
Liang Rou was seen hurriedly chasing after Xiao An, while Xiao An was striding forward angrily without even looking back, obviously angry.
Liang Rou's face was full of anxiety, as if she was explaining something.
"Huh? Isn't that Sister Liang and Xiaoan? What happened to them? Did they have a fight?" Jiang Jiang subconsciously wanted to cross the road to ask what was going on.
"Don't go." Xiaobai grabbed her and shook his head gently, with a smile of understanding and a bit of mischief on his face.
Jiang Jiang stopped in confusion, "Why?"
Xiaobai didn't say anything, but just used his eyes to signal her to continue watching.
Across the street, Liang Rou finally ran a few steps and grabbed Xiaoan's arm.
Xiaoan struggled for a while but failed to break free, so he simply stopped, turned his back to Liang Rou, and shrugged his shoulders slightly.
Liang Rou turned to her, put her hands on her shoulders, said something anxiously, her eyes focused and gentle.
Xiaoan turned her head away stubbornly at first, but as she listened, tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks.
Seeing this, Liang Rou seemed relieved, but also felt distressed. She reached out and gently wiped away the tears from Xiaoan's face.
The next second, Xiaoan suddenly threw himself into Liang Rou's arms and hugged her tightly.
Liang Rou immediately hugged her back, patting her back gently, her chin resting on the top of Xiao An's head, her face showing a gentle look of relief.
The sunlight shines on their embracing figures, sketching a warm and intimate picture.
Jiang Jiang was stunned. Looking at the two people hugging each other tightly opposite him, he opened his mouth belatedly and a blush of embarrassment slowly appeared on his face.
Fortunately, she didn't disturb him rashly.
Xiaobai looked at the couple hugging each other, and the curve of his mouth deepened. That smile carried a kind of warmth that saw through everything and a deep blessing.
She said silently in her heart, Third sister, I hope that you can get what you want in this life and live in peace and happiness with the one you love.
"Let's go." Xiaobai withdrew her gaze, the smile on her face still not completely fading. She held Jiang Jiang's hand tighter and said in a light voice, "Let's go home."
"Well! Let's go home!" Jiang Jiang also smiled, putting the embarrassment just now behind him.
There is no need for anything thrilling or luxurious. Just holding hands and going home together is the most solid happiness.
The two walked along the sidewalk towards the bus stop.
Jiang Jiang felt the warmth and strength of the close connection in his palm, and his heart was filled with a calm and warm current. However, after taking a few steps, Xiaobai suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Jiang turned around in confusion.
Xiaobai didn't look at the road or the front, but just stood there, turned around and faced Jiang Jiang.
The sunlight filtered through the branches of the roadside sycamore trees, casting dancing spots of light on her.
The mischievous aunt's smile on her face disappeared, replaced by an extremely serious and gentle expression, and her eyes were as bright as if they were filled with stars.
She lowered her head slightly, her eyes falling on their tightly clasped hands.
"Jiang Jiang," Xiaobai raised his head and looked directly into Jiang Jiang's confused eyes. His voice was as gentle as a feather brushing against the tip of his heart, with a solemnity that spanned a long time. "Thank you."
Jiang Jiang blinked, a little confused, "What are you thanking me for?"
Xiaobai didn't answer directly, but the corners of his lips curved into a deeper and warmer arc.
Her eyes seemed to penetrate Jiang Jiang in front of her, seeing that cold rainy night, and seeing Jiang Jiang reaching out to her in such a state of disgrace, "Will you come home with me?"
At that moment, the gears of fate began to turn again, making a faint but firm clicking sound.
Just like a thousand years ago, in that deep palace filled with unknowns and complexities, the little Fifth Princess Zhao Yuebai looked at the ten-year-old Jiang Jiang and stretched out her hand, "Are you willing to return to the palace with me?"
Reach from one hand to the other.
From one sentence "Follow me back to the palace" to another sentence "Follow me home".
From the oppressive palace a thousand years ago to the bustling streets bathed in sunshine a thousand years later.
The cause and effect of fate are endless.
Their story begins with a reach and a choice.
And the hands clasped together at this moment are the most perfect destination after going through all the darkness and despair.
(over)
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