Yun Jinnian stayed in a courtyard at the Han Family called Chaoyang Academy, where Chaoyang signifies the rising sun, implying warmth.
There were four head maids named after the four seasons—Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter—and four second-tier maids named after Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum. There were eight young maids and four rough laborers, along with one butler.
Ming Yang followed over and basically had nothing to do because Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter would take care of everything.
After Yun Jinnian returned to Chaoyang Academy, the hot water was already prepared. After bathing and changing clothes, she sat on the chaise longue while Chongchong dried her hair.
Yun Jinnian thought about who would be visiting the Zhuangyong Marquis Residence tomorrow?
Once her hair was dry and combed, Yun Jinnian went to sleep.
The clothes, accessories, and gifts for tomorrow had been prepared by Chongchong long ago.
Yun Jinnian’s maternal grandfather was hailed as a Divine Doctor, so it was natural to send medicinal herbs as gifts.
As for the elixirs, Han Xuzi’s concoctions were worth their weight in gold, and Yun Jinnian could not bear to part with them.
No sooner had Yun Jinnian fallen asleep than she began to dream again.
"Mother, Mother, come chase after Momo!"
"Momo, slow down a bit, don’t fall..."
The grown-up version of her was chasing after Momo.
Mother and son were laughing playfully, free from worries and troubles, and Yun Jinnian smiled faintly, too.
But then the scene changed.
Momo’s eyes were filled with hatred, and even at his young age, his hostility was profound.
"Mother, why didn’t you protect Momo? Why didn’t you take care of Momo? You don’t like Momo, do you? You definitely don’t like Momo, that’s why you forgot about him..."
He questioned her bitterly.
Yun Jinnian felt a sharp pain in her chest.
"No, no, no, Momo, that’s not it. Mother will not forget you, Mother has not forgotten you, Mother is always trying, trying to bring you back..."
Yun Jinnian screamed and sat up, her entire body drenched as if she had been pulled from water.
The bed curtains were drawn back, "Miss, what’s wrong?" Chongchong asked with concern.
"It’s, it’s nothing, just a nightmare!" Yun Jinnian exhaled a few breaths, "Bring me some clothes!"
Xiaxia and Qiuqiu quickly brought over undergarments and pants, attending to Yun Jinnian as she changed.
Yun Jinnian leaned against the bedhead, unable to fall asleep anymore.
"Miss, try to sleep a little more!"
Yun Jinnian shook her head, "I’ll just sit for a while, you go to sleep, I’m fine!"
Obviously, the maids weren’t going to sleep, but instead, they brought over stools, "Miss, let us tell you a story!"
Yun Jinnian looked at Chongchong, "You know how to tell stories?"
"Yes, Chongchong was very poor when she was little, with many siblings at home. Our parents couldn’t afford to raise us, but couldn’t bear to sell us off, so they let us wander. Chongchong wandered for many years until the old master brought her back to the Han Family, so Chongchong has encountered a lot of interesting stories!"
Because of the things in her dream, Yun Jinnian’s heart was pounding fiercely.
Having someone with her made her feel a lot better, "Then let’s hear it!"
"I remember one year, a wealthy family was distributing porridge, and Chongchong went to ask for some. But at that time, Chongchong was growing and one bowl of porridge was never enough, so Chongchong disguised herself!"
As Chongchong spoke, noticing Yun Jinnian was listening attentively, she continued, "The first time Chongchong disguised as a little boy and successfully got another bowl of porridge!"
"Then she disguised as a limping boy and received another bowl!"
"It must have been very difficult back then," Yun Jinnian remarked.
Chongchong nodded slightly, "Yes, back then, we had insufficient clothes and food. Having eaten one meal, we didn’t know where the next would come from, and we didn’t know when we might end up dead on the street. But later, after meeting the master, I no longer have to worry about food and clothing and have even saved a considerable private stash. The old master says that when Chongchong turns eighteen, he will find a family for me to let Chongchong live as a decent person!"
Yun Jinnian knew that Chongchong was trying to comfort her.
But she couldn’t talk to anyone about the things in the dream, nor did she dare to.
Those things were as if she had lived through them, etched into her soul, branded into her marrow—every time she dreamt in the midnight hours, she would dream of Momo eating her flesh, drinking her blood...