Many years ago, at Li Mansion.
Gu Xueqin carried breakfast into the rear courtyard beneath the scattered sunlight. The surroundings were so quiet that only her footsteps could be heard.
She stopped outside the guest room rather than entering immediately, leaning in to inspect the room. She saw the little girl who had been the sole survivor of the Ying Family Courtyard, curled up on the bed.
"Little Bing still isn't awake?"
"Madam, this girl didn't sleep all night. I went in to persuade her to rest, but she just stared at me without saying a word. It was terrifying," the maid said, still shaken.
"Then she only fell asleep this morning..."
"Madam, so many people in the Ying Family Courtyard all... Yet she alone survived, and her body is so cold. Do you think some ominous evil thing latched onto her, and that's why..."
Before the maid could finish, she lowered her head. She had noticed that the usually easygoing mistress's gaze was steadily turning stern.
"I do not want to hear such words in this household again."
After dismissing the maid, Gu Xueqin went in and examined Little Ying Bing's body. Only when she discovered that the girl was ill did she finally let out a breath.
Just as she rose to leave, an icy touch came from her hand.
She saw that the owner of the little hand had a pale face and tightly pressed lips. Though cold air seeped from her body, sweat slid down from her furrowed brow.
"Mother, don't leave me behind..."
"I'm here. Go to sleep."
After that, Ying Bing often caught hold of a warm hand in her dreams.
Time flew by.
That pitiful little face gradually blossomed before her eyes. The terror and worry had vanished from those eyes, and beneath