That night Bairan dreamt that she was somewhere unfamiliar.
Her feet felt unbearably heavy and a burning pain came through her chest. She lowered her head to look at her chest .
There was an arrow that had cuted through her armor and blood dripping from her wound.
Her trembling fingers brushed against the shaft slowly she rise her head her vision was blurred the colors bleeding together until all she could make out was the faint outline of a figure.
Clad in a white hanfu and crowned with shining beads. The man sat tall upon a white horse looking at her.
She tried to see his face but it was distant and foggy.
Bairan's lips moved saying something but she didn't know what it was. She staggered back one step then another.
Her heel struck nothing and she fell.
She reached out her hand to catch the edge of a robe.
But her grip slipped.
She fell until the cold water swallowed her whole.
Bairan jolted awake suddenly.
Her heart pounded wildly against her ribs she was breathless.
Her hand flew to her chest.
No arrow and no wound.Yet her fingers still trembled just as they had in the dream.
She turned her head toward the window. Warm sunlight spilled into the room it was dawn soft rays cutting through the thin veil curtains welcoming a new day.
Another dream… she thought. She forced her breathing to steady.
Slowly taking breaths in and out.
The door creaked quickly by Bao'er.
She hurried in her face pale with worry.
"Young Miss—what happened? Did you have a bad dream?"
Bairan nodded faintly.
Without saying much Bao'er poured a cup of warm water and handed it over to her.
"Here, drink this. It will calm you down."
Bairan held the cup her fingers still shaking slightly as she brought it to her lips. She glanced at her fingers and a faint smile tugged at her lips.
So, I became a grandma just because of a dream… she teased herself silently. Shame on me.
Bao'er stood by her side watching her Young Miss drink with trembling hands. Her heart ached. Her Young Miss doesn't want to speak of it but she must be suffering a lot… Her eyes reddened, tears threatening to fall.
But before they could Bairan straightened up. Placed the empty cup back in Bao'er's hands and suddenly smiled brightly
"I'm fine now,"
She went to the window and pushed it open letting the fresh morning air brush against her face.
Bairan had completely calmed down. She turned to Bao'er with a gentle smile.
"Let's start our day."
Bao'er: "..."
Bairan chuckled softly and called out, "Hurry up," while tidying up her clothes.
During the change of her clothes Bao'er asked her, "Young Miss, why did you ask us to give that boy the easiest job and a good place? He's just a slave there's no need to be kind to him that much."
Bairan looked at Bao'er's face, which did not look much older than Baian.
She responded warmly, "He's not like you or other any servants in here. He put himself in danger for helping me without knowing who I am." She tapped Bao'er's head gently."Tell me, if I haven't have your Young Miss's face, would you be serving me like this?"
Bao'er's eyes widened. "What face… what are you saying, Young Miss? Of course I'll always help you"
Bairan smiled at her then added jokingly, "His name is Baian, not boy. Didn't I tell you that yesterday? I think you're getting old, forgetting things. Time to change you."
Bao'er called out annoyed, "Young Miss!!"
Bairan laughed at her angry face and said hurriedly, "I'm just joking with you."
Then she remembered and asked, "Where's Qing'er? I haven't seen her since last night."
Bao'er calmed down. thinking since her Young Miss came back she's joking so much.
She responded to her question, "She's caught a cold. The doctor said your body is weak, so she's scared and doesn't dare to come."
Bairan nodded.
Then stood up and said, "Let's go greet Father."
On Zhouyan and Hanyue's side,
things had already begun to shift.
That very morning Dongyan rushed forward with urgent news:
"Master, the prisoner, Gangwe has escaped and we tried to catch him again but we lost him."
For someone to slip away under the watch of Hanyue's men could only mean two things—either the prisoner was far stronger than he had shown or there was a mastermind working behind the scenes to pave his escape easily.
Zhouyan and Han Yue examined the situation carefully. Hanyue's men is all trustworthy and honest so there mast be someone else's Who could be that smart?
in the end only the some name surfaced in both of their minds—Bairan and her father, Master Lin.
For Bairan,
Her cunning and calm nature was far from that of a nineteen-year-old girl who had grown up in a town. At her age most girls only concerned themselves with looking pretty marrying a handsome husband and dreaming of a promising future.
But what they know is different. She was calm and calculated in everything she did, not easy to understand and carrying some secrets.
From getting involved with Shen Yueran, to daring to let them enter the Lin family's house even when she knew they had ulterior motives … none of it fit the picture of an ordinary young miss.
And her father had a history with YaSha.
Hanyue fixed his gaze on the teacup before him. In his heart he respected her strong personality—but that didn't mean he trusted her completely.
He spoke softly to Zhouyan,
"Your Highness, she's certainly a cunning person… but she's respectful and helpful toward others. Do you think she had anything to do with this man and Shen Yueran?"
Zhouyan only said "Maybe."
Hanyue thought only one word couldn't help his doubts to be cleared then he remembered Dongpo mentioned to him that Miss Lin had spoken with His Highness the previous night.
Curiosity stirred in Han Yue's heart. Wondering what they talked about? How could she stop His Highness for chatting?
After a moment's hesitation, he asked respectfully,
"Your Highness… did she say anything to you last night?"
Zhouyan knew what he was curious about. He looked at him calmly.
Though if it wasn't for some of her acting looking like Xinyi, he would never bother to look at her let alone speak to her.
He answered briefly, "Didn't Dongpo already say?"