Chapter 330: Chapter 119: Contradiction (Part 1) Chapter 330: Chapter 119: Contradiction (Part 1) The mountains were profoundly quiet, the wind outside causing the papered windows to flap loudly.
Hua Lei looked up and said, “Is the mountain wind always this strong here?” In the Lian family’s home, the windows were fitted with glass, but here, they were merely papered, without any glass installed.
Yueyao, addressing Hua Lei and Qiao Lan who were still sewing beneath the lamp, said, “Stop sewing, doing too much needlework at night is harmful to your eyes.”
Before Hua Lei and Qiao Lan had a chance to reply, a sudden wolf howl sounded outside. Jolted by it, Hua Lei, with a face full of panic, asked, “Miss, what is that? Why is it so frightening?” It sent chills down one’s spine.
Yueyao laughed and said, “That’s the howl of a wolf. Don’t be afraid, the mountains around us have been cleared, the wolves are far from here!” Having often heard wolves during her time in the mountains, Yueyao found the sound strangely familiar.
Seeing Yueyao’s composed demeanor, Hua Lei reflected on her own fearfulness, thinking she was perhaps too timid, not even possessing half the courage of her own miss.
Yueyao said, “From now on, Hua Lei, you will sleep with me; Qiao Lan, you will sleep with Nanny Hao. We all need to make do with the simplicity up here in the mountain.” Having two people in one room was actually quite fortunate.
Nanny Hao and Qiao Lan naturally had no objections, but Hua Lei felt a bit uneasy and softly said, “Miss, I can just sleep with Nanny Hao and Qiao Lan.” It might be a bit cramped, but it would be more comfortable than sharing a bed with the miss, which would not feel right.
Yueyao waved her hand dismissively and said, “The bed is only so big, three people can’t fit in it. Don’t make a fuss, just wash up and go to sleep!”
Remembering Nanny Hao’s words, that servants must keep to their roles, Hua Lei shook her head, “No, I should sleep in another room.”
Seeing her insistence, Yueyao felt somewhat exasperated. Hua Lei was overcorrecting. Quickly, Hua Lei said, “Nanny Hao, Qiao Lan, could I squeeze in with you?”
Nanny Hao replied with a smile, “It’s cold in the mountains, snuggling together will keep us warm.”
Yet Yueyao shook her head and said, “If you’re not comfortable, we can each have our own quilt when the time comes.”
Looking at the small bed, Nanny Hao realized that each having their own quilt was indeed a tight fit! However, she didn’t speak, and seeing this, Hua Lei did not raise any more objections.
Nanny Hao and Hua Lei went out to fetch water, but Hua Lei returned very soon after. She was quite upset as she reported, “Miss, the Eldest Miss used the hot water, which was fine since it was boiled for their use anyway. But it’s excessive that they used nearly all the water in the tank, leaving less than half a bucket left.” Hua Lei was extremely frustrated.
Yueyao shook her head and said, “Let it be, we’ll just make do for today.” It was not feasible for Yueyao to ask Nanny Hao to fetch water so late, so they managed with the half bucket of water to wash up before going to bed.
Before sleeping, Yueyao sat cross-legged and recited the Diamond Sutra three times. After she finished and lay down, Hua Lei expressed immense admiration, “Miss, you can recite the scriptures without even looking.”
Yueyao nodded, “Having copied so many scriptures, it’s normal that I remembered them.”
Hua Lei still thought her miss was remarkable.
Yueyao slept inside, Hua Lei on the outside. Hua Lei tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Previously, she had always slept beneath the miss’s bed. Sleeping beside the miss today made her feel incredibly uneasy.
Just as Hua Lei was about to speak, she turned her head and saw that Yueyao was already asleep. Hua Lei chuckled to herself, thinking there was no point in feeling uneasy if the miss wasn’t. In past times when the miss was scared, she too would sleep with her. With this thought, Hua Lei felt at ease.
“Ah…” A piercing scream startled Yueyao to jump up from the bed.
Yueyao quickly asked, “What happened?” Given that Zhaohua Temple was an Imperial Temple, it was extremely secure and certainly no place for thieves.
Nanny Hao was the quickest to act, and upon returning, she had a very odd look as she said, “Miss, there are mice in that room.”
Yueyao was puzzled, “Didn’t we clean from inside out yesterday? How could there still be mice in the room?” It had been a long time since anyone had lived there, and it was not unusual to have mice in a mountain house. What was puzzling was why they had not found any while cleaning the house yesterday. If it had been cleaned well and the windows shut, there shouldn’t be any mice.
Yueying, dressed in a long cotton coat, pale-faced and supported by Cai Qing, walked over. Still frightened, she asked, “Third younger sister, could I sleep with you in the future?” She was terrified just at the thought, even though the mice were not in her room. She dared not return there, trembling at the mere thought of mice in the room.
Yueyao was taken aback, unsure whether the mouse was real or not. Regardless, she would not agree to stay with Yueying, saying, “Big sister, have Nanny Hao and Hua Lei and Qiao Lan help Cai Qing care},”