Mother (2)

Xiaolu shakes her head, gaze falling upon the dried pools of blood, and filth. Yue Xiaolu grits her teeth. Our poor mother was tormented to death.

After a moment, Yue Xiaolu shakes away her rage, going to the well in the corner of their courtyard, letting the bucket down. Feeling it full, Xiaolu tugs it up, her breathing quickly turning to pants.

Fuck is this thing 40 lbs or something.

Once she had it on the lip of the well, Xiaolu stops just to breathe. This body is too weak.

With every step, water sloshed out, soaking her skirt and turning dirt to mud beneath her feet. She finally reached the hearth and transfers the water into a hanging pot, and light the hearth.

Leaving the water to boil, Xiaolu explores. Through it was supposedly a courtyard, her home was a small cottage and yard surrounded by stone walls and a gate that connected to the rest of the manor. Really there was the main room which served as a bedroom, dining room, and living room; and a side room serving as a pantry.

Going to the bed Yue shared with Mother, Xiaolu tugs on a silk cord and a drawer beneath the matress rolls out. This is a bit too much like an Ikea bed, isn't it? Xiaolu thinks, lips twitching. Never mind. Here it is.

A shimmering golden hanfu makes Xiaolu's eyes burn. Mother's hanfu. The only hanfu she brought with her to this marriage. Mother dressed mainly in tunics before and after her marriage. Never caring for dressing up, Mother willingly cut up even her wedding dress in order to sew Nan Yue new clothes.

Only this Hanfu remained untouched. It was passed down from her own mother, Nan Yue's grandmother when Mother left her ancestral home.

When Lily opens again, I'll wash Mother and dress her in this. In Lily, Mother's body would be preserved in the Lily space until Yue Xiaolu found land where Mother could sleep in peace.

Taking the hanfu to the table, Xiaolu pauses, gaze drifting to silk rug beneath her muddy feet.

Oh? A hidden cellar? Yue's memories tumble through her mind. Mother dug it after they were abandoned and set up a formation around it. Only people who shared Mother's blood could open it. Inside the cellar, Mother hid her dowry and all the treasures she'd collected over the years.

Nan Yue had been confused when Mother hid it all away. At least until the consorts and concubines started blatantly raiding their courtyard taking away anything they liked. They walked away with a smoke screen, while Nan Yue's inheritance sat below a crumbling cottage.

Yue Xiaolu sets the golden hanfu aside and lifts away from the rug. The floor showed no difference, just a wooden floor.

Yue Xiaolu tilts her head, a memory Nan Yue hadn't understood before flooding her mind.

Mother sealing the formation and staggering back, face stark white. 'Mother why won't we leave? Why stay here?' Nan Yue had asked. Mother smiled sadly. 'I swore a blood oath to never abandon your Father, little beauty. He did the same. Why do you I am still his official princess? He can't remove me or kick me from this Manor. That's why he sits back watching his women. He's waiting for my death' Mother looked up at the sky. 'Don't worry, darling. Once you reach the lesser heaven realm Auntie Sunny will take you to my Mother in the Wei Family. Your Grandmother will protect you'

Xiaolu stares dazedly at the wooden floor. Mother knew. She knew that she would die here. All she wanted was us safe. XIaolu crouches, pressing her palms to her eyes. "Mother. Why? Why Mother? Mother, don't leave us!" I'm so tired of being alone. This faded, distant warmth, so close but forever out of reach. Yue Xiaolu drops her head to her knees, allowing silent tears to fall.