The Entangled Life of Qing Luo (Man Man Qing Luo)

Being awakened, Cheng Jin immediately closed her eyes, opened them in unison, closed again and then reopened. After repeating this motion twice, Cheng Jin judged that she was not lying on her own bed at home but was lying in a completely strange place.

She roughly felt around her limbs and found out that they were still perfectly intact on her body.

She thus sat up. Nothing seemed to be wrong.

Cheng Jin was thinking who on Earth would silently move her from her house to this strange place in the middle of the night. They didn't even wake her up.

Whenever Cheng Jin sleeps alone, she had always been a light sleeper. This is especially when her parents are on businesses trip, her sense of hearing is heightened pretty impressively. A mouse turned the trash bin in the kitchen and right after the mouse rested its paws on the lid of the trash bin, Cheng Jin who was sleeping jumped up from her bed and sprinted to the kitchen with a tennis racket. The mouse who had been a long term 'guest' in the Cheng family's kitchen was shocked. It ran away and quickly drilled into the ventilation hole. On the way, it complained to itself and cursed Cheng Jin.

'Seriously? Just picking up the remnants of the trash, not even flipping up the refrigerator... Do you need to?'

Cheng Jin hurriedly shooed the mouse off and climbed her bed to continue her sleep. There was no more sound as a disturbance. There was not even a dream and hence, she had a good sleep. The moment she was awaked, she was already here in this place.

The room was not huge, it was decorated in white and pink walls and there was a landscape painting hung on the wall. Observing the ceiling that was made of an array of wood plank, one can see there was a long table, carved with exquisite flower carving, just right below the window. On top of the table was a pot of plant. The design and layout were minimalist with a hint of elegance. She suddenly felt a little sore all over her body, only to realize it was a hard wooden bed. One who is used to sleep on a soft and comfortable bed will naturally suffer from soreness.

The bed was an antique, seemed to be those antique collections from the Ming dynasty, it was surrounded by bed safety barriers and bed curtain. Ming dynasty famous Four Master[1] elements were seen from the designs. The artwork and skills were exquisite and meticulous. Light yellow sheer satin draperies were hanging around the surrounding. Cheng Jin thought that it was really beautiful as the imitation was fine in quality. It must be high in value! She laughed at a long shaped article embroidered with flowers.

'Pillow?' She touched and felt small particles inside the pillow that tickled her hands. It was really what she had thought of.

The surroundings were really quiet. Cheng Jin was already awaked and she did not plan to lie down again. She wanted to look around where was she and who had brought her here.

Cheng Jin calmed down and thought to herself. First, she had never done any bad deeds. As a good student in her school, she had a good relationship with everyone. Secondly, she had no debts, not even borrowing rice less to say owing money or favour. Thirdly, it was her parents. Thinking about this, Cheng Jin was stunned for a little while.

'Don't tell me my parents who were public officers actually had provoked some people out there?'

Having this thought, Cheng Jin was feeling unsettled her heart.

She stretched out her feet as she wanted to wear her shoes. However, she was shocked looking at her feet. As if to confirm something, she dragged her hands up front to inspect and she was once again dazed out. She looked down and roughly felt all over her body. It had almost caused her a heart attack and her mind went all blank. Listening to her own chaotic heartbeat, her tears flowed down...

'This...this is not my own body!'

'I am not wearing modern clothing!'

Cheng Jin sobbed and gasped out a "Ma!"

She heard the door was being pushed and a lady in her twenties had rushed in.

"San Er[2], Ah Niang[3] is here, you had a nightmare?"

Cheng Jin was once again being shocked.

"Niang?"

That woman walked over and gently embraced Cheng Jin.

"San Er, be good. With mother here, you don't need to be scared. Did you have a nightmare? Look at you, sweating all over!"

While talking to Cheng Jin, that lady used her handkerchief to wipe the sweat off. A light sweet fragrance had assaulted her nose. Cheng Jin was so scared that she was trembling all over.

'This is really not a dream!'

That lady seemed to feel it. She lifted Cheng Jin gently and let her sat on her lap. She then hugged her while patting on Cheng Jin's back and said: "Niang is here, San Er be good, don't be afraid."

At that moment, Cheng Jin who was totally stiffened due to her fear could not even utter a word.

The lady realized that the situation was not right and started to shake her up a little" San Er, what's wrong? Anyone? Help!"

Two servants ran into the room, one was clad in maid clothing and one was clad in nanny's clothing. Old nanny Zhang asked anxiously" Qi Furen[4], what's wrong with Xiao Jie[5]?"

The lady spoke with a hint of anger in her tone "Xiao Jie has been afraid to sleep alone, did both of you also looked down upon us? What's with this kind of treatment?"

Pu Dong!

The two of them immediately kneeled down and their face had gotten a shade paler. The one who was older had bigger courage and hence, she spoke up "Qi Furen, this servant thought that the sky has brightened up and it is not early anymore. I decided to go and prepare Xiao Jie's dress for her test later. This servant did not expect Xiao Jie to get nightmare again ah!"

The younger servant cried and replied "Today Xiao Jie had overslept, Xiao Yu had wakened her twice and Xiao Jie had answered me too... Thus I had rushed out to prepare the hot water, I really thought that Xiao Jie had woke up... Furen, please forgive Xiao Yu, in the future, I promise not to leave Xiao Jie if she is not awaked yet.

Qi Furen sighed and said "Faster go and prepare! Jin Er cannot afford to be late!"

Nanny Zhang and Xiao Yu heard the instructions, raised their head and bowed down before they went out.

Qi Furen spoke softly to coax Cheng Jin "San Er, Nanny Zhang and Xiao Yu are the people ah Niang had chosen carefully. They all treat you sincerely."

...........

1=Tang Yin, Wen Zhengming, Shen Zhou, and Qiu Ying were regarded as the "Four Masters" of the Ming period

2= San Er, normally the family in ancient will give nicknames according to their birth position, this means Cheng Jin is the third miss

3= Niang, mother

4= Qi Furen, the seventh madam

5= Xiao Jie, literally means little miss, a way for the servant to address young mistress