Qian Xiao Qi didn’t know how to capture her first impression of Song Liang Zhuo. It was like drinking a cold drink on a hot day or sitting by calm water listening to a flute being played. Song Liang Zhuo gave Qian Xiao Qi a soothing feeling.
Qian Xiao Qi felt uneasy to see Song Liang Zhuo walk into the bedchamber wearing white robes similar to Shang Ruo Pai’s white silk dress. Their matching clothes felt like they were husband and wife. Shouldn’t he wear his uniform coming back from the magistrate court? It was obvious he was provoking her.
Qian Xiao Qi wasn’t interested in answering Song Liang Zhuo’s questions.
‘Why?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
Song Liang Zhuo didn’t answer.
‘Wife, what do you think?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
‘Xiao Qi, what do you think?’ Song Liang Zhuo asked.
Song Liang Zhuo looked at the lump on the side of Qian Xiao Qi’s head and he felt guilty. He didn’t hit women. But he had never seen someone injure another person and deny the truth. He remembered Qian Xiao Qi’s stubbornness, ‘What if I pushed her? Official Song, if you have the strength, you should push me down the well too.’
The moment Song Liang Zhuo’s hand hit Qian Xiao Qi, he felt regret. Although he didn’t marry her because he loved her, he knew she truly loved him. She had been a untamed person for years. But no one forced him to marry her. He willingly asked for her father’s blessing to marry her. No matter what, he should give her a comfortable good life.
Qian Xiao Qi recalled a memory of an elderly woman waving a handkerchief and calling Song Liang Zhuo to get his attention, ‘Official Song, look at me. I missed you.’
Song Liang Zhuo seeing Qian Xiao Qi smiling to herself made him feel awkward and he coughed softly again.
‘What… good,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
Song Liang Zhuo sighed. ‘You can’t drink tea like this.’
A smiling woman in her forties walked into the bedchamber. Qian Xiao Qi remembered Liu Lu described what Aunty Feng looked like. Aunty Feng had worked in the Song Manor for a long time.
Aunty Feng glanced at Qian Xiao Qi, and Qian Xiao Qi felt goose bumps. Qian Xiao Qi immediately waved a hand in the air.
Song Liang Zhuo didn’t know what to say because in the past Qian Xiao Qi also called him Official Song.
Qian Xiao Qi didn’t know how she should react. The way Song Liang Zhuo’s eyes looked at her, felt like she was an inconvenience. She wondered if pig’s fat covered her eyes in the past. How did she persistently pursued a man who didn’t love her? She must have been possessed.
Qian Xiao Qi knocked her forehead. How did she know she had big sisters? Although she lost her memory, she would have spent seventeen years with her family so she should at least remember her family members. She reasoned that she didn’t love Song Liang Zhuo that deeply. If she did love him deeply then she would remember him. She was certain she was possessed in the past.
Shang Ruo Pai glanced at Qian Xiao Qi, and triumphantly put food into Song Liang Zhuo’s bowl.
Qian Xiao Qi’s strange behavior was interpreted differently by Shang Ruo Pai and Song Liang Zhuo.
Qian Xiao Qi’s confused eyes widened. Qian Xiao Qi didn’t touch the plate of grilled pork meat.
The aroma from the spices used to marinate the grilled pork meat made Qian Xiao Qi feel conflicted. She didn’t know if she should eat the grilled pork meat. If she ate it then more pig fat would cover her eyes, and Shang Ruo Pai would mock her. But she wanted to eat the piece of grilled pork meat.
Song Liang Zhuo purposely asked the head cook to prepare the plate of grilled pork meat to nourish Qian Xiao Qi’s body. But she didn’t even eat one piece of grilled pork meat, and he thought she must still be angry at him.
Qian Xiao Qi stared at the fragrant plate of grilled pork meat. She nodded and shook her head. ‘Give it to Lady Shang Ruo Pai to eat.’
‘In the future, it’s enough if you don’t do anything harmful again,’ Song Liang Zhuo said.
Song Liang Zhuo didn’t know how he should treat Qian Xiao Qi so he initially avoided her. Yesterday’s unexpected incident made Qian Xiao Qi angry. He didn’t know if he should give her advice.
‘Big brother Zhuo, it’s not good to let food turn cold,’ Shang Ruo Pai said and smiled at Song Liang Zhuo.
Qian Xiao Qi took a walk around the gardens. When she saw Liu Lu coming out of the kitchen, she followed Liu Lu to Liu Lu’s small bedchamber and suddenly missed home.
Qian Xiao Qi took off her shoes, walked toward Liu Lu’s bed and scoffed. ‘You know I’ve forgotten everything. How can I feel relaxed if I’ve forgotten everything?’
‘Of course I’m going to eat it,’ Qian Xiao Qi said.
‘Mistress believe me,’ Liu Lu said. ‘I think that master does care about mistress. Mistress, don’t be sad, everything in the future will be smoother.’
‘Mistress, how can you think your father sold you?’ Liu Lu asked. ‘Mistress’ father saw how you struggled to pursue master. It was mistress’ father who helped you marry into the Song Household.’
Liu Lu began embroidering and hid her smile. ‘Mistress, it’s hard for me to believe you lost your memory when you can remember Xiao Ha Da. Ha Da is mistress’ darling treasure. Even if there is only a bit of food, mistress would give it to Ha Da.’
‘Round, white hair and anyone who meets Ha Da will love Ha Da,’ Liu Lu said.
‘Can I stay here with you?’ Qian Xiao Qi asked and smiled at Liu Lu.
***
End of Chapter Two