Mama!

“Mama!”

Mò Lián called out in her sleep.

The night lantern flickered and went out.

Her body twisted beneath the blankets, drenched in sweat.

“Mama!”

She jerked up, panting.

The door flew open.

“Lián?” her grandmother cried, rushing to her side.

Mò Lián fell into her grandma's arms.

“It’s a bad dream, I’m here!”  She held Mò Lián’s quivering fingers.

“Your body is so cold.”

“Lián?” Her grandfather stood at the edge of the bed.

 He followed her fixed gaze, his brow knitting in confusion.

“Mama.” She whispered, raising her finger.

Her eyes were wide, fixed on the empty wall.

“Stop!”

Lián trembled, noticing her environment.

“There is no illness in her body; it’s a demon,” he said.

Her grandmother’s voice trembled.

“What is happening to her?”

“When will Chen visit?”

Mò Lián tilted her head, releasing her grip.

“Lián?”

A noise was heard from the courtyard.

Lord Chen just arrived.

He entered quietly, his cloak still damp with morning dew.

“Papa, Mama.”

He entered the quiet compound and settled his luggage, scanning the area.

“Lián…”

No reply.

“Mama!”

He walked down the passage to his daughter's room.

He pivoted, entering the open door.

“I took the night…”

His voice cut mid-speech as the unspoken words weighed his shoulder low.

The tense air unsettled him.

He stepped inside, eyes scanning the room.

His step slowed.

“Chen…” His mother-in-law noticed him.

Her trembling hands wiped the tears from her eyes.

 His gaze fell on his daughter lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling as though she were no longer part of the world.

“Lián…” he whispered.

She turned at the sound of his voice.

He hurried to the bedside in confusion.

“Fa…ther…” The word came forcefully and weakly.

“I’m here,” he said. “I won’t leave ...”

His heart ached as a smile tugged at her lip.

He knelt holding her hands.

I’m not losing you!

He turned towards his In-law in fear.

“I will invite the temple priest,” his father-in-law said in urgency.

“I’ve seen her,” she murmured, “She’s alive…”

Lord Chen could not explain the grief he saw lingering in his daughter’s eyes. It unsettled him more than his teary eyes.

“Papa!” She rose from the bed.

Her grandfather halted mid-step.

He spun, worries worn out his face.

She waved her head in disapproval.

“You are not sick, you had a bad dream!” The granny cried, standing by the bed.

She held her gown, sobbing.

“Mò Lián?”

“I don’t want to go anywhere!” She took a breath, facing both her grandparents.

“Lián, your body is cold,” she said.” Your dream is not normal; you encountered a demon in your dreams.”

Chen sat, confused, staring at his daughter’s stubborn face.

“I saw my mother, not a demon.” She turned to the other side of the bed, crossing her arms.

“Lián….”

The granny wept, leaving the room.

“You are just as stubborn as your mother….”

“I saw my mother. She was with me just now…” She folded her leg to her chest, remembering the face she saw in the dream.

Mò Lián's grandparents left at once for the temple.

“Lián…”

She tilted her neck slowly.

“The priest won’t hurt you,” he patted her hair. “We need to know why you met your mother in your dream.”

He paused as she turned.

“A dead person is a bad omen. I love you, I don't want anything bad to happen to you.”

Tears dripped from her watery eyes.

“Mama is not bad! I want to see mama…” She blink remembering how her mother hugged her in her dream.

He embraced her.

“I will take you to the capital, your….”

She pulled out smiling.

“Really!” She beamed, eyes shining in excitement.

“Yes.”

She let out her breath.

“Tell me your dream.”

He looked straight into her eyes.

A footstep redirected their gaze to the door.

Both turned at the same time.

“Lián…”

A voice called, entering.

Yù Xuān.

She bowed slightly, holding her gown.

Lord Chen straightened, looking at the girl that just entered.

“You are welcome.”

He turned to his daughter before walking away.

She smiled as Yù Xuān straightened.

“Yù Xuān?”

Lord Chen stepped out.

“Lián, how are you doing?” She moved forward.

She opened her blanket, stepping onto the cold floor.

“I thought you were still angry with me.”

“Even if I'm, it doesn't mean we won’t visit.”

“Who?”

“My father was summoned, so I joined him.” She sat behind Mò Lián.

Mò Lián sat calmly, looking at the floor.

“You look pale. What happened?” Yù Xuān took a deep glance at her friend.

“I can hear your heartbeat…” She paused, adjusting. “You are not sick,” she mumbled, examining her.

“You had a dream!” She exclaimed, covering her mouth with her palm.

Mò Lián tilted her head slightly as their gaze met.

“I don’t believe in all that, don’t start. There is something you have to know.” She rose, sighing.

“Lián! You have to…”

“A lot happened while you were busy with your temple work.” She grinned, raising a brow.

They smiled at each other.

“But Lián...” She stood up holding her gown.

“Join me! It’s not a light one.” She turned away.

 “Tell me about it…”

“First, tell your father I’m not sick.”

“I will just give me a tip of the fun.” Yù Xuān smiled, walking beside Mò Lián.

“Yes, my lady.” She laughed out loud, pivoting.

They entered the corridor.

“This is the right time.”

 Yù Xuān turned to the compound.

“There they are, my lady.” Mò Lián turned to her, winking.

Yù Xuān sighed as her shoulder dropped.

“You can do it, you taught me.”

She descended the pavement, approaching her father, who was conversing with Lord Chen.

Mò Lián stood in the corridor watching, but her mind was still on her dream.

“Chen, I can’t do that. What if she is summoned?”

“What if she finds out, and…” Chen paused mid-speech as his gaze fixed on the girl approaching them.

“Father…”

“Father.”

“Yù Xuān… here you are.”

He turned to his daughter.

“Father, I want to go to the river with Lián.” She smiled.

“Okay.” He saw the figure standing in the corridor.

She smiled, bowing.

“Thank you, Father.” She turned, leaving.

“Your daughter is fine. Why then was I summoned?”

He turned back to his friend, holding his scarf firmly.

“I’m not sure she is,” Chen replied, watching the girls leave through the vineyard.

“Take her with you…”

His gaze darted sharply.

“Why?” Chen asked, raising his brow.

“Yù Xuān's ordination is soon…” the man said happily.

They smiled at each other.

“I never knew our friendship would last this long.” Chen smiled and walked toward the citrus tree.

“How is Rong?”

“Good, she told me to bring Lián with me.” He laughed out, settling on the bench.

“When is the ordination?”

At the River

“Ahha… Lián…” Yù Xuān laughed out, tapping Mò Lián's shoulder.

She just finished bathing and was washing her dirty clothes.

“I’m serious. He is taller than you would imagine.”

“When will he visit…”

“I don’t know, even if he does, I’ll be joining my father in the southern province.” She smiled, raising the soaked gown.

“I would love to join you. I miss Aunt Rong.” She pouted, clasping her palms.

“What of your service at the temple?”

“Hmmm,” she sighed, helping her friend hang the clothes on the spreading robe.

“Will Aunt Rong come for the temple purification ritual?”

“I don’t know,” she noticed a gaze.

Mò Lián gave her friend a sign.

“Yes, she is the one I told you about.”

A group of men passed, pointing fingers at a young girl playing at the shore.

“How could she kill her mother and still live!”

“Such children shouldn’t be allowed in the temple.”

Yù Xuān spun while watching the men.

“Let's return home…” Lián stopped herself from speaking back.

Yù Xuān's face turned disgusted as the men continued pointing.

She turned to her friend, who was already walking out.

“Lián…”

The men turned at once, recognising the tone.

“We are not done with the laundry.” She held Lián’s wrist.

She turned at once, and her gaze fell on Lián's teary eyes.

Yù Xuān turned ‌to the men in anger.

“You bastard sons of a whore. How dare you!” She freed Lián’s wrist, moving with full force.

They retreated.

“We are sorry… Please spare us.” The men lowered their heads, placing their palms on their backs.

She paused, folding her arms across her chest.

“This is the last warning. If you don’t listen, the law will deal with you.”

“Thank you, my lady…” They hesitated before leaving her presence.

“Lián…” Yù Xuān approached her friend, who was already spreading the remaining clothes.

“Did you collect your father’s cultivation?”

They laughed together.

“My ordination is not yet official.”

The people on the shore started running away.

“A royal! A royal is here!” The children ran away.

The people moved far from the river.

A chill crept down their spines.

Mò Lián turned, looking around, her fingers tightening instinctively on the edge of her dress. Yù Xuān inhaled sharply.

Both looked up at the same time.

Nothing.

Whatever or whoever had been watching was gone now, retreating as silently as it had arrived.

Yù Xuān forced a laugh.

 “Must be the wind,” she said, though her eyes flicked back to the water once more.

Mò Lián nodded, but unease coiled tightly in her chest.

“It’s sunny; let's take the clothes home.”

“When will you be leaving?”

Lián turned to a friend who was carrying most of the clothes.

“Don’t know either.”

They walked home.

“Lián… My father just summoned me.” She turned to Lián.

“I wish I had cultivation… “ Lián pouted.

“Maybe you have another ability.”

They crossed the vineyard to Lián’s grandparents' house. The door was open.

They could hear voices increasing as they approached.

“The yearly ritual was conducted….. I don’t perceive any roaming spirit!” Yù Xuān’s father

Yù Xuān heard her father’s voice; a chill crept down her spine. Her father rarely gets angry.

Lián noticed Yù Xuān’s sudden reaction.

“Yù Xuān?”

They entered the open gate.

“If the dream continues, it’s your fault… “He noticed his daughter’s presence from behind.

“Lord Chen. Leave today if you want your child alive!”

He turned to leave.

“Thank you, your holiness.” Lián’s grandparents bowed.

“Father… You summoned me.” She passed the clothes to Lián, who was looking at everybody, confused.

What happened? Why the silence?

Yù Xuān bowed slightly as her father approached them; she could perceive his released power.

They disappeared.

Lián adjusted, bowing slightly, and the hair on her skin prickled, and a cold breeze blew her hair sideways.

Lián tilted her head.

“Yù Xuān?” Her eyes shone in surprise.

She turned to her family, who were looking at her. Her gaze fell on her grandfather’s angry face, then to her grandmother, who was looking pitiful, and finally to her father, who was looking worried and lost in thought.

“I’m hungry, mama.” She walked to the lines, not minding the intense gaze of her grandfather.

“Lián… “

She spread her clothes as her grandmother held her arm.

“Lián… Remember to visit the temple anytime you have bad dreams…” Her grandmother sniffed, raising her palm to hold her face.

Mama?

 “I know this is not right!”

Lián turned sharply to her grandfather, who walked to his room.

“Mama, what happened?” She asked, dropping the cloth on the line.

“His holiness said you have to join your father in his province.” The granny muttered, holding her tears; she could see her daughter through Lián’s face.

Lián looked at her grandmother with confusion and pity.

“Mama…why?”

“Yes, Lián.” They hugged each other tightly.

Lián understood the deep affection her grandparents had for her.

“Mama, why do I have to leave?” Lián patted her grandmother's hair.

"Lián... Pack your clothes."

She heard her father's voice.

"Father?" she pulled from the embrace.

"Be good."

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***