Chapter 24: Where's My Dowry?

  One night, Wang Qifang woke up to find her head throbbing severely. The entire memories of the two people were stuffed into her brain like a duck filling, from birth to childhood, then growing up, getting married and giving birth to a daughter. Every detail of Wang Qifang's first half of life was vividly projected in her mind, piling up to the brim, making it hard for her to sort out at once.

  "Qī niáng, get up! Stop daydreaming! Let's go eat!"

  Mrs. Zhao was busy taking care of Wang Qifang, who had a nightmare last night, and didn't get a good rest all night. Early in the morning, she got up to decoct medicine and cook porridge, and was busy for half a day. When she returned home, she found that her own daughter was staring blankly at the wall corner with dull eyes.

  "Auntie, didn't you get a good rest yesterday? You're tired again today!"

  Called back to her senses by Zhao, Wang Qifang saw the old lady in her fifties with two thick black eye circles, still busy serving her. She thought of the sturdy chest from last night and felt a pang of guilt in her heart, unconsciously speaking with a tone of tenderness.

  "Ah, what's tiring or not, as long as Seventh Sister is fine, whatever happens to me is okay!"

  Mrs. Zhao heard the concern in Wang Qifang's words and a sweet thought flashed through her mind, smiling as she spoke.

  "Thanks for your hard work!"

  Wang Qifang did not stop there, and with a sigh full of emotion, she continued. After last night, Wang Qifang's experiences over the past twenty years were completely presented in her mind, including childhood memories that even she herself had forgotten.

  With these memories, Wang Qifang was even more grateful to the old nanny in front of her. If it weren't for Zhao Nian's loyal and dedicated care, Wang Qifang estimated that she wouldn't have survived to grow up and get married, either being taken care of by a stepmother with ulterior motives or bullied to death by the servants.

  Witnessing Wang Qifang's past, the current Wang Qifang has merged the thoughts and emotions of two people. She no longer looks at the people and things around her like a passerby watching a play, but has truly become the master of this body again.

  "Oh no, Seventh Sister, what's wrong with you? Why did you suddenly think of saying this?"

  Aunt Zhao heard Wang Qifang's soft whisper, suddenly stunned, and then thought of the words that Qiuniang cried out in her nightmare last night, sighed with a heartache, and hugged Wang Qifang into her own arms, softly comforting: "Qiuniang, did you have another bad dream yesterday?"

  "Ah!"

  Wang Qifang's muffled voice came from the warm embrace of Zhao Ayi, at this moment, whether it was Wang Yi in her previous life or Wang Qifang herself, she tightly hugged her wet nurse, savoring the longed-for but unattainable motherly love.

  In her past life, Wang Yi's birth mother Du Jingyan loved Wang Yi dearly, this was beyond doubt. However, apart from the unconditional and intense maternal love, Du Jingyan couldn't protect Wang Yi like a brave mother should, and due to physical reasons, she couldn't even provide a warm embrace for her daughter.

  And yet, the old woman in front of her, who didn't have any blood relation with Wang Yi, why did her embrace make Wang Yi so infatuated and satisfied, as if this was the mother's embrace she had fantasized about countless times in her dreams.

  As for Wang Qifang's real mother, there is even less to say. Her birthday was also her mother's memorial day, and she had never known the feeling of a mother's love. However, based on her speculation and imagination, being loved by her mother should be similar to the way Zhao Ayi loves her? From the day she could remember things, Wang Qifang had always treated Zhao Ayi as her own mother, and Zhao Ayi did not disappoint her expectations, truly loving and caring for the motherless Wang Qifang.

  So, the two people who were united as one gradually unified their feelings towards Zhao's mother.

  "Good grief, this child is so spoiled, acting like a mother herself and throwing tantrums at her nanny!"

  Mrs. Zhao felt the wetness rising from her chest and knew that the weak girl had cried again, so she quickly patted her back with both hands and said in a slightly scolding tone.

  Wang Qifang didn't respond, but instead shook her head buried in Zhao's bosom and couldn't help but say with a hint of coquetry: "Even if Seventh Lady is older, she's still a child in front of Mother!"

  "Alas, who says it's not?" Zhao Ayi knew that Wang Qifang was wholeheartedly relying on her. As the most intimate wet nurse of the young lady, she naturally also wished to see the young lady and herself being close. However, as soon as she thought of Wang Qifang's current situation, Zhao Ayi couldn't help but feel anxious again.

  She is already nearly fifty years old, even if she wants to take care of Qīniáng again and repay her husband's life-saving grace, she will definitely die under Qīniáng's hands. And Qīniáng, now is not the young lady in the boudoir, but has become a wife with children and a mistress of the house, if she continues to be so weak, what if one day she can no longer serve Qīniáng, what will happen to Qīniáng, Xiǎo Yā and the little master in her belly?!

  "Seventh Lady, I know you've suffered a lot these past few days and almost lost the child in your belly. But we must pull ourselves together, you're not alone now, there's Xiao Yu at the Zhao Manor and another one on the way, as a mother, you must be strong..."

  "In the past, your nanny pitied you and would always be by your side, but what if one day she's no longer around? What will you do then? Would you still want a 4 or 5-year-old servant girl to protect you? Seventh Young Mistress, don't forget that you're the daughter of the Taiyuan Wang family. This status alone is noble beyond compare. Even if your father and brothers aren't close to you, they wouldn't let you suffer at the Zhao's house. When it's time to stand up for yourself, you should do so with dignity. You're a young mistress from a prestigious family, after all; you shouldn't be inferior to even a poor servant girl..."

  "Got it, Nanny," Wang Qifang said with a nasal tone, rubbing her face against Nanny's clothes. "The weak and timid Wang Qifang of the past is already dead in that carriage accident. The new me will not let those scoundrels bully me for the sake of my child, you, and my brothers."

  "Really? Qiuniang, have you really figured it out?"

  Madam Zhao's heart skipped a beat when she heard Wang Qifang's words. To be honest, this was not the first time she had been persuaded like this, but every time it ended with Wang Qifang's silent tears.

  As she pulled Wang Qifang out of her bosom, Zhao's nurse joyfully sized up the young lady who was obviously in much better spirits. When she saw that Wang Qifang's eyes were shining with a light that had never appeared before, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up. Just as she was about to continue encouraging her, Wang Qifang spoke up:

  "Right, mother-in-law, where's my dowry? And what about those slaves' contracts of sale?"

  P.S. It is said that crying children will be fed, and a certain Sa has also worked hard to rush into the new book list, so I'm begging for support from relatives! (&g;_&l;), asking for sponsorship, asking for long reviews!