No, I Can't Sleep

Book of a Hundred Lives, Shiqiao Village.

In the early morning, as Xiao Qing opened her door, a gust of cold wind blew past.

The young girl couldn't help but shrink her fair neck into her clothes, instinctively tightening the garment around her.

It was only early November, yet the morning breeze was already a little biting.

This year's winter seemed to have arrived more suddenly than usual.

Xiao Qing turned to look at her sister lying on the bed.

Her sister was still sleeping, curled up under the covers.

"Sister. Wake up, sister."

Xiao Qing walked to the bedside and gently pushed her sister's shoulder.

"Mmmph." Bai Ruxue responded lazily, but her eyes didn't open at all. Instead, she buried her head deeper into the quilt.

"Sister, aren't you going to the market? If you don't go soon, there won't be any vegetables left."

Xiao Qing was actually quite puzzled in her heart.

For some reason, her sister seemed to be sleeping much more than usual this winter.

Although hibernation was in the nature of the Snake Clan.

But her sister's cultivation was already very high; logically, she shouldn't be feeling sleepy so early.

She herself wasn't feeling sleepy yet.

"Sister, are you alright?" Xiao Qing asked worriedly. "Is there a problem with your cultivation again?"

"I'm fine, Xiao Qing. Sister is just a little sleepy. Sister will get up now."

With great willpower, Bai Ruxue sat up from the bed. A strand of hair brushed across her cheek, curling onto her heaving chest.

Although her sister had sat up, she was swaying, her eyes still closed, as if she might lie back down at any moment.

Xiao Qing lifted the quilt covering her sister.

The cold air rushed into the quilt, and Bai Ruxue's delicate body shivered.

This time, the woman was truly awake.

As usual, the sisters went to the Huang Village market to buy vegetables, then returned home to clean the courtyard, dry clothes, prepare ingredients, and start cooking.

If there was nothing else, Bai Ruxue would also serve tea and water to Xiao Mo and massage his shoulders.

Although Bai Ruxue usually did these things.

Xiao Qing noticed that ever since Brother Xiao returned that time, the relationship between her sister and Brother Xiao seemed to have grown closer. Her sister's gaze towards Brother Xiao had become even more tender, an indescribable tenderness.

Unknowingly, it was already the twelfth lunar month.

As the weather grew colder, Bai Ruxue became even more prone to sleep.

In fact, Bai Ruxue didn't know what was happening to her. She just felt very sleepy, which hadn't happened in the previous two years.

As the New Year approached, every household became busy.

Especially Xiao Mo's family.

In previous years, the village chief would write Spring Festival couplets for the villagers. But this year, Shiqiao Village had produced a Jieyuan, and everyone hoped Xiao Mo could help write some to bring good fortune to their homes.

Xiao Mo naturally did not refuse.

He had grown up eating the food of the village; what was wrong with writing a few couplets?

However, the villagers did not take his help for granted and would send him things like chickens, ducks, and fish. Xiao Mo tried to refuse a few times, but he couldn't resist the village aunties and elder ladies.

"Ruxue, are you alright?"

One day, while Xiao Mo was writing couplets in the courtyard, he saw Bai Ruxue, who was mending clothes, dozing off. Her head bobbed, like a chick pecking at rice.

Her beautiful peach blossom eyes seemed about to close.

"Ah?"

Hearing Xiao Mo's voice, Bai Ruxue shivered violently and suddenly woke up.

"I-I'm fine." Bai Ruxue shook her head. "Ah! Your blue robe! How did I sew it like this?"

Xiao Mo smiled. "It's okay if the clothes aren't sewn well. Seeing how drowsy you look, just don't prick your finger. Ruxue, go and get some sleep."

"No, no." Bai Ruxue shook her head. "The New Year is in eight days, and I still have so many things to do. I'm not sleepy."

Saying that, Bai Ruxue looked at the sky. "How is it already almost noon?"

Bai Ruxue quickly put the clothes on the table and ran into the kitchen. "Xiao Mo, I'll go to the kitchen to cook first. I'll finish sewing your clothes for you this afternoon."

Watching the woman's retreating back, Xiao Mo felt a sense of confusion.

He knew snakes needed to hibernate, but Xiao Qing was still energetic and had gone to collect eggs with Aunt Wang that morning.

Why was Ruxue, who had a higher cultivation, in such poor condition?

In the kitchen, Bai Ruxue splashed water on her face again and again.

Water droplets slowly slid down the woman's smooth cheeks.

Looking at herself in the water basin, the woman's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, "What's been happening to me lately?"

Last year, she always felt sleepy and hibernated around mid-January, waking up after half a month.

But now, it was only the twelfth lunar month.

"No, I can't sleep."

Bai Ruxue forcefully patted her own cheek.

She had a feeling that her hibernation this time might be different from before.

Although Bai Ruxue didn't know how it would be different, the woman felt extremely uneasy in her heart.

"I'll get through this winter! When spring arrives, I won't feel like sleeping anymore!"

Bai Ruxue clenched her small fists, cheering herself on.

"Next spring, after Xiao Mo returns from the Metropolitan Examination, he will marry me."

In the following days, whenever Bai Ruxue felt sleepy, she would take a fierce bite of a red chili pepper.

Even though she disliked spicy food, just one bite would instantly make her feel alert.

On the twenty-sixth of the twelfth lunar month, with only three days left until New Year's.

A letter arrived from the capital.

This letter was personally delivered to Shiqiao Village by Magistrate Sun.

The sender was a Hanlin of the current dynasty, the highly respected Elder Zhang Qianzhi.

After reading Mr. Zhang's letter, Xiao Mo's expression seemed tinged with helplessness.

"Xiao Mo, did Mr. Zhang say anything?" Magistrate Sun asked, seeing Xiao Mo's somewhat complicated expression.

Xiao Mo put away the letter. "Mr. Zhang hopes I will head to the capital after the New Year and wishes to see me before mid-February."

"That's wonderful!" Magistrate Sun said happily. "I heard Mr. Zhang will be taking up his post as the Prefect of Beihai Prefecture after the New Year, likely around mid-February. For Mr. Zhang to want to see you before taking office shows how much importance he places on you. Why do you seem so conflicted, Xiao Mo?"

Xiao Mo smiled. "I want to spend more time with my family."

"Alas, Xiao Mo, valuing relationships is a good thing, but Mr. Zhang's invitation is something every scholar in Da Qi dreams of. You are still young, and you will have plenty of time to spend with your family later."

"Besides, the Metropolitan Examination is in early March. You'll only be heading there half a month early. It's not a big deal. Don't be foolish."

Xiao Mo bowed. "This humble student understands."

"Good, I'm glad you understand."

Magistrate Sun patted Xiao Mo on the shoulder.

"I learned from your village chief that you wish to marry the Bai family's daughter after you pass the Metropolitan Examination. When you achieve success, riding a red horse, with a red flower pinned to your chest, a grand procession of ten miles, and lanterns hung throughout the city. You two, a talented scholar and a beautiful lady, will be a celebrated tale in Jiangnan Prefecture!"