Chapter Thirty-Two: Regaining Memory (2)

Update time: June 1, 2013

As the silver needle was withdrawn, Meng Yanran felt as though something had exploded in her mind, a tidal wave of memories surging violently into her consciousness.

On a narrow winding path, a young girl in a pale green gauze dress stamped her feet in anger, furiously waving the whip in her hand, her eyes fixed with clenched teeth on the back of the man who strode away.

On a summer night, atop the dark roof, the woman nestled happily in the man's arms, counting stars one by one. "A-Yue, will you marry me?" The brilliance in the woman's eyes made all the stars in the sky pale in comparison.

In the room of a brightly decorated farmhouse, a man in a red groom’s robe, trembling with excitement, gently lifted the bridal veil at the bedside, gazing at the radiant woman with flushed cheeks and beaming beauty, grinning foolishly.

Still in that same room, the woman lay weak and exhausted on the bed, watching the man carefully cradling an infant in his arms, happiness overflowing in both heart and eyes.

Under the grape arbor in the courtyard, a man gently massaged the swollen legs of a pregnant woman. Nearby, a snot-nosed little boy tugged pitifully at the corner of a slightly older girl’s garment, trying to please her. The girl kept glancing at the couple under the arbor, finally pulling the boy with her step by step toward the gate.

Once more, in that same bed, the woman watched as the man rushed in heedlessly, smiling weakly before falling into unconsciousness.

Meng Yanran slowly digested the memories flooding her mind, feeling the familiar embrace. Tears spilled from tightly closed eyes, traced her cheeks, and fell.

Yue Zhanpeng stared blankly at the woman in his arms, noting every subtle change, feeling the dampness on his hand. His heart was full of anxiety—was his A-Yue truly coming back?

Finally, Meng Yanran slowly opened her eyes, gazing dazedly at the man before her. "Zhanpeng, is it really you? I’m sorry!"

Yue Zhanpeng nodded fiercely. "A-Yue, it’s me! It’s me! It’s me!" Tears ravaged his resolute face.

Meng Yanran raised her delicate hand to caress the beloved face, wiping never-ending tears away, their four eyes locked in a gaze so deep it seemed they could merge each other into their souls.

In the hall, those who witnessed the scene had already shed tears, and even the always rational Yuwen father and son had damp eyes.

"Fourth Sister, Fourth Sister, since you remember Second Brother, what about me? Tell me, who am I?" Zhou Man, heedless of the murderous looks around him, blurted out anxiously to Meng Yanran.

Meng Yanran withdrew her gaze and smiled gently. "Third Brother, even after becoming the clan head, you haven’t learned any refinement—you’re still just a wild bull." She spoke as if she hadn’t seen Zhou Man’s flushed face, then turned her gaze to the white-robed man beside him and called softly, "Eldest Brother." After he nodded, she moved her gaze again.

Finally, Meng Yanran cast her apologetic gaze at the cluster of people who had become a mound of tears, her eyes brimming as she called out, "Yu'er, Jun'er, Shui'er, Yue'er..."

Hearing this, the group began to cry even harder. Lan Shui, Lian Yu, and Yue Lingjun managed to control their emotions without sobbing aloud, but today, Lian Yue, whose eyes had barely been dry, couldn’t hold back. Her mouth quivered, and she began to wail, disregarding all composure.

Her crying tugged at Meng Yanran’s heart. She hurried over, gathered Lian Yue in her arms, and choked out a gentle rebuke. "Yue’er, don’t cry, don’t cry. Mother is here, be good."

Unexpectedly, hearing the word "mother" made Lian Yue cry even harder. The other three wiped away their tears, coming forward to help Yanran comfort Lian Yue. It was a long while before Lian Yue calmed, though she still sniffled from time to time.

Meng Yanran gently wiped Lian Yue’s tears, kissed her little face with affection, and, feeling it wasn’t enough, kissed her several more times. Then she went on to kiss the other three each in turn. Seeing her eldest brother’s reddened cheeks, Lian Yue finally smiled through her tears.

"Wow!" Another cry rang out in the hall, as if passing the baton. Lian Yue looked over her swollen eyes and realized it was Yao Yao, who was crying even more heartbreakingly than herself. Just as she wondered what to do, Yao Yao’s next words left her dumbfounded.

"Wow, it’s so touching! How can it be so moving? Yao Yao’s tears are precious—how can you make me cry like this? Can’t you be less sentimental? I can’t help it, you’re so annoying, but I like it so much, sob sob..."

A flock of crows filed past overhead.

Meng Yanran looked helplessly at her lively apprentice and scolded in defeat, "Yao Yao."

"Master, don’t interrupt! Yao Yao is so moved, sob sob..."

"If you don’t stop, you’ll have to reflect in silence."

In a flash, Yao Yao stopped crying, wiped her face with her small hands, and beamed sweetly. "Master, Yao Yao is very well-behaved, really, and if I have to reflect, Sister Yue’er will be bored. Right, Sister Yue’er?"

Lian Yue was speechless at Yao Yao’s performance, inwardly admiring her: "A talent, truly a talent! I bow in defeat!"

Seeing Lian Yue not buying her act, Yao Yao quickly shifted her focus. "Oh, what are these two sisters’ names?"

"What, do you want Yao Yao to be your master?" The thought crossed Lian Yue’s mind, and she unconsciously glanced at Chuchen, catching the loneliness in his eyes. Only then did she remember that Mother hadn’t called his name just now. Sensitive as he was, he must be hurt. Lian Yue quietly tugged at her mother’s sleeve.

Meng Yanran followed Lian Yue’s gaze and finally saw the wounded Chuchen. Her heart was startled, and her face turned cold instantly. "Chen’er, who hurt you like this? Tell mother, and she will not forgive them!"

Whatever hurt he had felt was swept away by the word "mother." He repeated, excitedly, "Mother, mother!"

Meng Yanran paused, seeing he didn’t answer her question, and swept her gaze across the hall, finally settling on Yuwen Lingxi, who was also injured. "Chen’er, tell mother, was it him?"

In Meng Yanran’s arms, Lian Yue could sense the murderous aura. If Chuchen nodded, she had no doubt that her seemingly gentle mother would take Yuwen Lingxi’s life.

She looked at the still dazed Chuchen, and at Yuwen Lingxi, who had no intention of explaining. Shaking her head, she tugged at her mother’s arm. "Mother, it wasn’t him. He was injured saving me. Chuchen’s injury has nothing to do with him."

"Fourth Sister, Yue’er is right. The injury is unrelated to Lingxi." Now that his son was involved, the usually silent Yuwen Mo spoke up to explain.

Meng Yanran frowned unhappily. "Eldest Brother, when did you start speaking for others?"

"Fourth Sister, cough, cough... this is my son." Yuwen Mo coughed as he wiped cold sweat from his brow. Fourth Sister was as sharp-tongued as ever.

Meng Yanran, hearing this, sized up Yuwen Lingxi again. Remembering what Lian Yue had said, she nodded gratefully to him, then turned her attention back to Lian Yue, confirming she wasn’t injured before continuing, "Then who hurt him? Yue’er, tell mother, please?"

Lian Yue felt bitter. Oh, dear mother, wasn’t it you who hurt him? But how could she say that? She couldn’t possibly tell her mother she was the one.

Perhaps sensing Lian Yue’s difficulty, Chuchen finally emerged from the shock of "mother," looking at Meng Yanran with deep affection. "Master, it wasn’t someone else—I was careless."

"What do you mean careless?" Meng Yanran interrupted him sternly. "Don’t be afraid, tell mother, mother will stand up for you."

Yao Yao, unable to bear it any longer, muttered quietly, "Master hurt him herself—how could she forget?"

Though her voice was soft, it was clear enough for Meng Yanran to hear. A trace of pain flashed in her eyes. So it was her own doing.

That pain didn’t escape Chuchen’s notice. "Master, it’s nothing serious. A few days’ rest and it’ll be fine."

"Chen’er, it’s all mother’s fault. Your hand is wrapped in bandages, isn’t it?"

Chuchen, seeing his master fix her gaze on his left hand, quickly hid it behind his back and shook his head.

"Foolish child, why suffer like this? I’ll get through it, but if you get hurt, what will happen?"

"Fourth Sister, don’t worry. This time, my nephew didn’t lose much blood—it was my eldest nephew who did. This method..."

"Uncle Zhou!"

"Third Brother!"

"Father!"

The simultaneous reprimands made Zhou Man swallow his words. He knew he’d misspoken and stood awkwardly.

But everything that needed to be said was said. Meng Yanran had already grasped Yue Lingjun’s hand, watching the blood seep through the bandages, her eyes reddening again. "It’s all mother’s fault, making you suffer real hardship."

Yue Lingjun’s throat tightened, and he said hoarsely, "Mother, it’s nothing."

Seeing her mother’s tears about to fall again, Lian Yue quickly cast a pleading look at her father.

"A-Yue, Jun’er is fine. Now, let’s find a doctor to check Chen’er and Yuwen’s injuries."

Lian Yue silently praised him—her father always knew how to find the perfect reason.

"Yes, yes," Meng Yanran said, holding back her tears. She instructed Yao Yao, "Yao Yao, go call the Fourth Elder."

Before she finished, Meng Lan walked in with medicine in hand. "I’m here—no need to call the Fourth Elder. Settle them in chairs and I’ll check them." She looked at Meng Yanran, "Since you insist, I can’t stop you. If anything unusual happens, tell me immediately."

Meng Yanran nodded quickly.

Meng Lan examined the two carefully, poured out two pills for internal injuries from her porcelain bottle, and had them take the medicine. After checking their wounds and giving a few instructions, she left the hall.