Chapter 16 Unaccountable Heartache

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  "But then again, Yuan Niang is still just a five-year-old child, yet she spends all day with the Buddhist nun, and at such a young age, she doesn't have any of the usual childish ways about her!"

  On the other side, Zhao Ayi seemed to have not seen Wang Qifang's surprised look, and while talking, she tidied up the room. "Oh dear, Seventh Lady, they're too much! Letting you live in such a shabby courtyard, and you still say she's okay?! In my opinion, you're just too kind-hearted, anyone dares to bully you!"

  "Alas, if it weren't for worrying about you, Yuan Niang wouldn't have to be so careful and self-effacing. Other people's children at her age are still just playing and throwing tantrums, but not our poor little one? Of course, it's also thanks to Little One's good fortune in being favored by the mistress that I, an old slave with no authority, can protect her completely."

  "...... Seventh girl, as the saying goes, 'for mother then strong', you even if not for yourself, not for Wang's family, not for old slaves, also want to think about poor Yuanniang, she is the flesh and blood from your body, is your own daughter!"

  Zhaoyi was the wet nurse of the Wang family. In a wealthy household, a wet nurse usually held a higher status than ordinary servants, let alone in the prestigious Wang family with five surnames and seven honors! However, after she followed her mistress into the Wang family and went through years of tempering, she also started doing some rough and heavy chores that ordinary servant women did.

  Alas, what can be done? Who made these girls so weak? In the backyard of the Zhao family, from maids to nannies and grandmothers, which one is not a lamp that wastes oil, which one does not have eyes full of power, and which one is not a master who bullies the weak and fears the strong?!

  The master's position is not secure, and naturally, the wet nurse will not have a comfortable life either. If it weren't for her affection towards the child she nursed, Zhao Nian probably would have retired and returned home to reunite with her son long ago.

  It can be said that for Wang Qifang, Zhao's mother not only gave up the opportunity to return home and enjoy her old age, but also worked hard in the Zhao family like a rough and practical woman, doing her best to protect Wang Qifang and her daughter Yuan Niang.

  Of course, being used to doing rough work also has its advantages. Look, while Zhao Ayi was chatting, she had already tidied up Wang Qifang's bedroom and small courtyard, making them spotless and neat.

  At this time, Feng Tiezhu also brought two tenant farmers to deliver the luggage and bedding that Zhao Aiguo had brought. After hearing the call at the door, Zhao Aiguo received the things at the small courtyard gate, very dissatisfied with throwing the old quilt that Qiangniang had given to Qifang back to Feng Tiezhu, and rudely closed the door.

  Back in the house, Zhao's mother laid out Wang Kui Fang's usual bedding, satin quilt and pillow, then hung up a lotus-colored mosquito net. She put away toiletries, cosmetics and some not-too-valuable hair accessories on the kang cabinet that served as a dressing table. Next, she lit the incense burner and took out two small pieces of incense from her purse and threw them into the incense burner. Only then did the whole room finally have a bit of a boudoir look.

  A faint white mist rose, and the old room was filled with a few more fragrances and peace. Zhao Ayi washed her hands, then pulled Wang Qifang back onto the kang, and examined her again:

  "What did the doctor say after the child fell?"

  Wang Qifang's attention was still on "Little Yaqi", and upon hearing Zhao Ayi's words, she shook her head woodenly, "I didn't see the doctor. Nanny, I'm fine!"

  "What, not even a doctor's visit? And no tonic to drink?" Zhao Ayi's face was full of indignation, she bit her lip hard and turned to Wang Qie Fang saying: "Seventh Lady, don't blame Ayi for speaking bluntly, you should also change your ways. This time, the wet nurse can see that you're alive, it's because you were lucky, anyone who miscarries without proper treatment will be left with a weak body even if they survive by luck. Now, you've finally passed this calamity, but what about next? Do you want to spend the rest of your life cooped up in this courtyard, never seeing your loved ones or children?"

  Don't want to! So, she worked hard to save money and prepare to leave the farm as soon as possible. But, for some reason, whenever she heard the names Xiaoyu and Yuanniang, her heart couldn't help but ache. Was it the lingering attachment of her past life?

  Seeing Wang Qifang's disheartened and dejected expression, Zhao's heart ached again. She had raised this child herself, didn't she understand her? Since childhood, being ignored by her stepmother, whatever happened was always hidden in her heart, not daring to speak out.

  But this time the matter is too serious, and in the future, we can't let Qīniáng's temper get the better of her. Zhao Niáng couldn't bear to think that if it weren't for the protection of the deceased first wife, their Qīniáng might have been killed by that sly vixen. Miscarriage, abuse, and then abandonment by her husband... Oh dear, why is our Qīniáng so pitiful?

  At night, Wang Qifang declined Zhao's kind intention to accompany her to sleep and asked the old lady to rest in the small bedroom next door.

  Joking aside, Nai Nang is Wang Qifang's senior in both status and age. How could she possibly let an elderly person sleep on the floor to keep watch for her?

  In the dark of night, Wang Qifang lay on a soft and clean bed, her heart which had been anxious for half a day finally calmed down temporarily, and she slowly fell into a dream.

  In her dream, her soul once again floated away from her body and slowly came to a familiar yet strange courtyard. The yard was small, but the layout was clever, with pavilions, towers, small bridges, and flowing water, all of which seemed to exude a few hints of classical elegance.

  In the courtyard, the lights were shining brightly. Through the silver-red window screens, she saw a small figure hunched over a large desk writing. Hmm? Who was this, and why did they look so familiar?

  Wang Qifang's floating figure passed through the window and came to the little guy's side, carefully examining this three or four-year-old little girl. The small body, the small hands, but holding a brush, extremely serious and devoutly writing something stroke by stroke. Wang Qifang took a closer look, row after row of regular script, written was the Ksitigarbha Sutra.

  What? Such a small child is actually copying Buddhist scriptures?!

  As soon as this thought flashed through her mind, Wang Qifang's heart suddenly felt like it was being cut by a knife, and tears couldn't help but well up in her eyes.

  In a daze, she seemed to have realized the identity of the little girl in front of her. It was none other than Zhao Yuanniang, the eldest daughter of Wang Qifang and Zhao Tianfang, the second young master of the Zhao family!

  "Boom!"

  Wang Qifang's eyes were blurry as she looked at the small figure under the candlelight, and she herself didn't understand why seeing a child with whom she had no blood relation would cause her such heartache.

  At this moment, the door was suddenly pushed open and then closed with force. A 12 or 13-year-old maid ran back in, pouting and wiping away tears as she tearfully complained to the little girl:

  "Woe is me, miss! They're bullying me too much!"

  "Who's there?" The little girl asked in a calm voice that didn't belong to her age.

  "Yu Zhu, the third-rate servant girl beside Aunt Su!"