Chapter 2: I’m Back

The fifth day of the second lunar month in the eighteenth year of the Qingde era, the New Year had just passed. Every household had pasted bright red window decorations and Spring Festival couplets on their doors, and the entire city of Liangzhou was filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year.

However, one household on the east side of the city seemed out of place. There were a few white lanterns hanging in front of the gate, and a white cloth was tied to the plaque that read “Bai Mansion.” The servants in the mansion were all dressed in white mourning clothes, their faces solemn as they led the guests who came and went.

“Sigh, it’s so tragic. The husband and wife both died suddenly. They say they were attacked by bandits, and they were so cruel. Mrs. Bai’s face was completely disfigured.”

“Yeah. I remember Miss Bai was only ten years old this year. I wonder how she’s going to live her life now…”

Today was the third day of the Bai family’s mourning period. As passersby walked past the gate of the Bai Mansion, they all lowered their voices and discussed the matter.

“Bring in another charcoal brazier!”

A voice with a heavy nasal tone and a slightly hoarse quality came from the Yuxiu Zhai.

“Miss, it’s been three days, please wake up!”

“May the spirits of your father and mother in heaven bless you, Miss, and protect you from harm…”

A thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl with a round face knelt on the ground, her hands clasped together, muttering to the air.

Behind her was a beautiful purple sandalwood carved bed. A girl about ten years old, with delicate features like a carved jade, lay on the bed with her eyes closed, unresponsive.

The doctor said that if she didn’t wake up soon, she would be in danger…

“Yun… you… come back!”

Bai Jinxi felt her whole body burning up, bound tightly by something. Her consciousness returned to the moment before her death. Aunt Yun, the aunt she had trusted wholeheartedly for five years, was the one who had killed her entire family.

How hateful it was that she only learned all this from Yun Moyi’s mouth when she was burned beyond recognition!

With a crisp crack, a spark flew from the silver charcoal in the brazier. Bai Jinxi mumbled, “Come back, Yun Moyi!” She wanted Yun Moyi to come back, she wanted Yun Moyi to explain why she had done this to her family!

With all her strength, she sat up abruptly from the bed. The dizziness that followed sent her crashing back down onto the bed.

“Ah! Miss is awake! Doctor! Quickly call the doctor!”

The girl’s voice, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps, gradually faded away… The voice was somewhat familiar, making Bai Jinxi momentarily dazed, but she couldn’t remember who it belonged to.

She… called me Miss? Could it be… Banxia?

But Banxia… my Banxia… Bai Jinxi’s mind flashed with an image of a lifeless face…

The day before her coming-of-age ceremony, Ban Xia went out to buy her some osmanthus cake from Qiao’s Restaurant, but she didn’t return until nightfall.

After much pleading, Yun Moyi finally sent someone to search for her. They eventually found Banxia in a dilapidated temple in the west of the city, her body bruised and purple, her clothes tattered like a rag doll. The tears in the corners of her eyes and her unclosed pupils spoke volumes of the despair she had experienced before her death…

So, am I dead…?

“Miss, what’s wrong with you? Don’t be afraid, the doctor will be here soon.” Banxia’s voice rang out again.

Bai Jinxi looked up and saw the thirteen or fourteen-year-old maid, her eyes red-rimmed, standing by her bed in white mourning clothes, her hand resting on her forehead.

Her hand! It was warm! Could it be?!

“Miss, you scared me to death. The doctor said if you didn’t break your fever, you would… Thankfully you woke up!” Bai Jinxi had been in a high fever for three days, and it had truly frightened Banxia…

The day before, officials suddenly came to the mansion, saying that the Bai family’s caravan had encountered bandits, resulting in heavy casualties, and asked the Bai family to identify the bodies.

After confirming their identities, the steward sent people to bring back the bodies of Bai Jinxi’s father and mother. Ten-year-old Bai Jinxi, with unknown strength, ignored the steward’s objections and rushed forward to lift the white cloth covering the bodies…

The moment she saw the tragic state of her parents, Bai Jinxi fainted. That night, she developed a high fever. The doctor said it was caused by shock and excessive grief. If she couldn’t pull through, they would have to prepare for her funeral…

Bai Jinxi stared blankly at Banxia’s white clothes, unable to hear the maid’s voice. Only a few words echoed in her mind: She’s back!

“Ban Xia…” Bai Jinxi’s voice choked with tears, and then she threw her arms around Ban Xia’s waist and burst into tears.

This time, she would protect her Ban Xia, she would protect everything that belonged to the Bai family, she would!

Ban Xia was startled, then her eyes also turned red. She gently patted Bai Jinxi’s back and comforted her in a soft voice: “Miss, don’t cry, don’t cry. I’ve always been here, and I’ll always be here with you…”

“Ban Xia… what time is it?”

Bai Jinxi’s crying subsided, and she tried to calm herself down. Now that she had cried and vented, she couldn’t be so weak anymore!

She concealed the complexity in her eyes, looked up at Banxia, and asked, “Banxia… what time is it?”

“Miss, today is… the third day, it’s four in the afternoon.” Banxia replied cautiously, her voice almost inaudible at the end.

“Help me up, I want to see my father and mother…”

Bai Jinxi sighed inwardly. It had been five years since she last saw her parents.

“Miss, you just woke up. The doctor said you can’t handle too much joy or sorrow. Besides, the eldest master just sent word that he’s coming to see you…” Banxia hesitated.

Bai Jinxi remained silent for a moment, pressing her slightly throbbing forehead. Then, she suddenly raised her eyes.

“Where’s Tiandong?”

She actually knew where Tiandong was. The treacherous servant should be leading Yun Mo Yi towards her room at this moment.

“Uh… Miss, actually Tiandong has been serving here all along. It’s just… just that the eldest master just sent word that there are distinguished guests coming, and Tiandong went to greet them.”

Banxia and Tiandong had been with Bai Jinxi since they were young, and they had always been close. At this moment, just like in the previous life, Ban Xia was trying to cover for Tiandong.

Seeing Banxia’s hesitant and evasive manner, Bai Jinxi suddenly realized that Tiandong had already begun to neglect her at this time.

Thinking of the drastically different choices and outcomes of the two in the previous life, a cold glint flashed in Bai Jinxi’s eyes. She almost forgot about this treacherous servant!

In this life, if she let Tiandong be taken as a concubine by Lu Yian, as in the previous life, and live a life of being served by others, then she, Bai Jinxi, would have lived in vain!

“I understand… Since my uncle is coming, help me wash up a bit.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Banxia helped Bai Jinxi sit up, brought over a cup of tea for her to rinse her mouth, and then used warm water to dampen a face cloth and gently wiped her small face. Bai Jinxi declined Banxia’s offer to braid her hair, saying that she only needed Banxia to comb her hair smoothly.

Banxia gently ran her fingers through Bai Jinxi’s hair, but noticed that Bai Jinxi’s body was trembling.

The room was actually quite warm, not at all like winter. Besides the two purple copper carved braziers, there was also a charcoal brazier placed in front of the bed. Banxia’s forehead was even slightly damp with sweat.

Thinking that Bai Jinxi was still cold, she put on the moon-white cotton robe she had prepared for Bai Jinxi and wanted to give her a small hand warmer, but Bai Jinxi quickly said that she felt a little stuffy.

Seeing that Bai Jinxi’s face had turned rosy, Banxia put away the hand warmer and retreated to the side.

“Miss, you…” As soon as she started speaking, Banxia seemed to think of something and paused. When she spoke again, it was, “Miss… I, I’ll go see if Tiandong has arrived.”

She swallowed the words she was about to say.

Perhaps feeling that her words were a bit abrupt, Banxia hurriedly found an excuse and walked quickly towards the door…

Bai Jinxi knew what Banxia wanted to say. She wanted to ask if she was okay? She wanted to persuade her not to be so sad, but she was afraid that it would make her feel worse.

Seeing the maid’s nervous and conflicted expression, Bai Jinxi sighed inwardly.

Sigh, my Banxia is such a gentle girl, how could I have been so blind and alienated her in the previous life…

Banxia, in this life, I will protect you too.