Nanny Qi’s eyes suddenly moistened; seeing the young girl in this condition broke her heart too, and seeing the Emperor like a lost child ignited a fierce pain in her heart.
Yet, she couldn’t just stand by and watch as grave mistakes were made!
She eased her tone, earnestly persuading, "Emperor, dear child, I know what worries you. The young girl will be fine. She still has you and the unborn child. She would not bear to never wake up. Isn’t Doctor Huang’s father the Thousand Gold Miracle Healer, known as the Divine Doctor? He hasn’t even visited yet. Just wait a bit longer, please don’t act rashly."
Seeing hope surge in his eyes and knowing he was listening, Nanny Qi continued, "Moreover, the young girl would not wish to see you . She is most hopeful for your well-being. You should be well and wait for her to wake up. She is friends with Consort De and Concubine Fang Pin; even the little doggie from the Bureau of Palace Attendants receives her kindness. If you were to punish them, how heartbroken she would be upon waking. Such actions would also tarnish her reputation. Never let the situation go so far that she becomes known as a femme fatale when she awakens. What would she do then?"
Her advice, at last, persuaded the Emperor to reconsider and change his mind. He agreed to only seal off the Harem without taking action but in the end added that he did not want to see anyone from the Harem before him, as he didn’t wish to meet any of them for the time being.
Nanny Qi took a deep breath. With both children in trouble, she had to muster her strength. She had to keep an eye on things.
Hearing movement at the gate and knowing that Consort Xu De had not yet left, Nanny Qi feared someone might burst in and the Emperor would truly lose his sense and commit a grievous error. Only then did she come to dissuade him.
She chose some words carefully and shared them with Consort Xu De, relating Lian Hua’s background and the Imperial Physician’s diagnosis. Nanny Qi, harboring hope, was comforting Consort Xu De and also comforting herself, saying:
"The young girl has a face of great fortune; I believe she will wake up. She’s a good child, always loath to let down those she cherishes. I have a weak stomach, and she’s always taken care of my diet according to the seasons. Just the other day, she talked about having mutton pot soon, and there’s also the special charcoal stove she had ordered for me that’s not yet finished. Only she knows where it’s going to be placed..."
Nanny Qi prattled on about the things Lian Hua owed her, and before she knew it, she had said quite a lot. The more she spoke, the heavier her heart felt, the more it pained her, and in the end, holding back tears, she smiled and said, "Look, just I alone am owed so much; let her rest a while. I’m petty-hearted. When the time is nearly right, if she does not wake, I will have to nag her every day, somehow wake her up and get these things done."
It was the first time Consort Xu De had heard of Lian Hua’s background, and it took her a long time to gather her thoughts. The usual playful and cheerful little sister had endured such great hardships. The Palace Maid was just the trigger; how much bitterness must have accumulated in her past to be suppressed until it collapsed at the slightest touch...
Alas, one’s sorrows cannot be shared; she could not endure even a bit on behalf of her sister.
Seeing this, Nanny Qi turned and took Consort Xu De’s hand, patting it and saying, "Consort De, you care deeply, no need for guilt or self-blame. Everyone has their fate. She’s forgotten those hardships, and now recalling them is just finishing the tribulations not suffered before. Everything will be fine afterward. The young girl is so strong, having survived countless hardships; now that life is good, how could she not overcome this hurdle? What’s most important for you now is to look after this vast Harem for the Emperor, and to prevent any schemers from stirring up trouble. That will be enough."
"Nanny, I understand..." Consort Xu De gripped Nanny Qi’s thin hand firmly and said, "I have faith in my sister. Although she seems gentle, I know she is much stronger than me. It’s embarrassing to say, but since Brother Ming left, it took me more than ten years to move on, and I wouldn’t have done so without her. Don’t worry, Nanny, she will definitely get better. I will go back now and ensure that those with malice will neither laugh nor cry." Her words rang with determination, like a military order.
After speaking, she let go of Nanny Qi, gestured decisively, and Consort Xu De, along with the people from Huaying Hall, left Canglan Court loudly.
Nanny Qi nearly said "Don’t mess around," but the words hadn’t left her mouth when the person was already far away.
"Ah..." she sighed and didn’t try to stop her anymore. Let her be, for now the young girl still lay unconscious, not knowing when she would wake. If others had it too good, she wouldn’t allow it...
Shaking her head, she felt weary and turned to look at the gate of Canglan Court, gazing towards the Main Hall. The young girl she loved as her own granddaughter, what was in those forgotten memories that she couldn’t leave behind? Check latest chapters at novel·fire·net
"Nanny, it’s getting dark. Let’s go back," said Zhang Qing nearby.
Pang Ya also said, "Maybe when we get back, Master Lian will have awakened?"
Nanny Qi looked at the two of them and nodded. They supported her on either side, slowly moving back through the gates. Canglan Court’s gates closed slowly, sealing off the troubles of the harem.
It had gotten dark, another night had fallen.
In daylight, the dangers were people; at night, the dangers were wild beasts.
A young girl used her tender hands to build up a bonfire, haphazardly placed branches at the entrance to prevent wild beasts from invading.
After finishing these tasks, she finally sat down to catch her breath, appearing very tired. The clothes she wore were indistinguishable in color, evidently worn for a long period without change, with some places torn, resembling a beggar. Fortunately, it was mid-spring, so she wasn’t wearing too many layers, yet they were thick enough to withstand wearing.
The girl sat for a while then got moving again, pulling out a small knife from her body and whittling two wooden forks. Fortunately, she carried many things with her, loving to play with other children, building mud ovens to roast sweet potatoes, using slingshots to shoot sparrows, or catching wild chickens outside the town. The older she got, the wilder her play became, which led her to bring a variety of equipment.
This small knife was a gift from her second brother on her birthday. Her mother had said it wasn’t proper for girls to play with knives, but seeing how much she liked it, she ultimately didn’t take it away from her. On her birthday each year, her mother was particularly easy-going, not even commenting when her father gave her a small wooden horse.
Once the forks were ready, she speared a mountain rat she had killed beside her, forming a cross over the fire to roast it. The mountain rat was difficult to catch, and she managed it only after much effort, planning to eat some and save some for later. She then took out a few wild berries from her pocket and placed them aside—berries she didn’t recognize and had picked only after seeing birds eat them.
After finishing all this, she hugged her knees and sat blankly staring at the flames. Tears surged up swiftly, and she quickly wiped them with her sleeve, then busied herself again. Only by staying busy, could she forget her fears and those events. Now, she was alone and could not cry, for there were no relatives to comfort her softly, the misery intense.