The room was very quiet, so quiet that it made one uneasy. Everyone was looking at Lian Yueyao, who was watching Nanny Gu with a mix of fury and hatred; no one knew what had happened.
Seeing Lian Yueyao's expression, Nanny Gu didn't think too much of it. Assuming that Lian Yueyao was troubled by a nightmare, she raised her voice and asked, "Miss, Miss, what's the matter with you? Did you have a bad dream?"
Yueyao was brought back to her senses by Nanny Gu's words. When she met Nanny Gu's concerned look, her eyes filled with disgust and hatred. She didn't know how she had been so bewitched to trust her so completely in the past, resulting in being sold so thoroughly that not even her bones remained.
Nanny Gu saw that her young lady's gaze towards her was extremely sharp, and her heart almost leaped out of her chest in fright. "What kind of nightmare did the young lady have?" she asked in alarm.
Lian Yueyao, seeing Nanny Gu reaching out to touch her, felt extreme revulsion. Turning her head aside, she said coldly, "Don't touch me."
Nanny Gu's hand fell into emptiness, creating an awkward moment. After hearing Lian Yueyao's cold words, she asked in fright, "Miss, were you troubled by a nightmare?"
Yueyao also realized that her behavior was inappropriate. She had heard too many stories in the Nunnery about people deemed possessed by demons because of improper behavior, eventually being burnt alive. If her behavior now was deemed inappropriate, she too could be accused of being possessed by a demon, and her fate would not be good.
Yueyao knew what she needed now was calmness; she had to think calmly. She shouldn't be impulsive, for if she acted out of line in haste, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Suppressing the disgust and anger in her heart, Yueyao said expressionlessly, "I'm fine. Mu Qiu is here to look after me, you may leave!"
Mu Qiu was somewhat surprised. Her lady had always been kind and gentle towards Nanny Gu. Not only had the lady shouted in anger at her this time, but she had also spoken so harshly, even changing how she addressed her. It used to be the affectionate "Mother," but now she didn't even use "Mother." The young lady really must have been troubled by a nightmare.
Nanny Gu was taken aback, "Miss..."
Yueyao, impatient, with a flash of cold light in her eyes, said irritably, "I told you to leave, did you not hear me?" Even her utmost patience couldn't tolerate the disgust she felt upon seeing this person.
Upon hearing these words, Nanny Gu's heart skipped, and, looking embarrassed, she stood up. Her young lady had never snubbed her before. Knowing Yueyao's temperament, she realized that if she persisted, it would only anger Yueyao further, and then she would truly become unwelcome. Nanny Gu thought it best to retreat for now to avoid upsetting her lady. Before leaving, she carefully reminded Mu Qiu and then walked out under Lian Yueyao's indifferent gaze.
Mu Qiu covered Yueyao with the quilt, "Miss, the nanny is just concerned about you, Miss..."
Yueyao knew Mu Qiu was sincere and didn't want to say much more to her. She interrupted her abruptly, "Where is Hua Lei?" She had two senior maids by her side. One was Mu Qiu and the other was Hua Lei.
Both had been carefully trained by her mother and were her right-hand women. While Mu Qiu was more steady than clever, bluntly put, she was somewhat obtuse. Hua Lei was not only steady but also smart and insightful. Hua Lei had even warned her about the ill intentions of the Lady family before, but she had not listened. Both were loyal to her, though there was a slight difference; Mu Qiu had been bought from outside, while Hua Lei was a family-born servant of the Lian Mansion, with both parents working in the estate.
Mu Qiu, not feeling embarrassed by Yueyao's interruption as she wasn't Nanny Gu, softly said, "Miss, have you forgotten? Hua Lei's mother was ill, and you graciously allowed her to go home to care for her mother. Hua Lei sent a message today saying her mother's illness has improved, and she will return tomorrow."
Hua Lei's parents both worked in the manor, and going back and forth required half a day. Therefore, Lian Yueyao simply gave her leave. Normally, as a first-class maid, she would not be able to leave her mistress's side if her parents were ill. But this was a grace that Yueyao had granted. At the time, Yueyao had thought of her own parents not being with her and didn't want to prevent Hua Lei from visiting her sick mother.
Lian Yueyao sighed lightly. After more than twenty years, how could she remember these trivial matters? What she remembered most were the cheerful days with her parents in Jiangnan, every detail of those memories etched in her heart, not wanting to forget at all. As for the matters of Lian Mansion, she deliberately tried to forget, and her memory had faded.
Lian Yueyao, looking at the familiar room and the young Mu Qiu, finally showed a relieved smile. The heavens had been so cruel to her in her previous life, so they showed mercy this time, granting her a chance to live again. She could start anew.