Chapter 8

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Fire. The ceaseless fire painfully scorched her body and made it difficult for her to breathe. She was awakened in her sleep and as soon as she opened her eyes there was nowhere without fire. Even the corner of her quilt has already ignited with flame, the churning air made distorted visions.

Help! Help me!

She choked on her voice, and she could not even make a sound. She was so anxious that she jumped out of the bed.

Help! Help!

She finally manage to shout. Her voice hoarse and no one can seem to hear her. She was alone in the flames of despair, helpless on the verge of death… everything is making her heart burst.

She finally realized that no one will come and that she can only rely on herself. When she finally reigned her fear, she ran towards the glimmer of light with her weakened legs. Only she can understand the loneliness and sorrow she is feeling. Seeing the starry skies shining brightly, she thought she was finally safe. But just then, a piece of burning beam fell down, and she instinctively blocked it with her arms.

It hurts! The pain is beyond words!

Help me! Can someone save me?

She is terrified and in extreme pain. And although she knew that no one will come anymore, that no one will protect her, she still pined. She still hoped that someone could still give her a hand, hug her as she cries. Someone who would take care of her burns. Her wounds.

But no one came. She has no one.

She curled up in the corner of the yard trembling. When the chief eunuch came, he just looked at her and said, “Just run out.”

No one noticed that she was in pain. No one comforted her fear. Everyone was busy fighting the fire, and she was forgotten shivering in that dark corner.

Orphan. At this moment, she finally deeply realized the bitterness of this words more than ever.

The person that can only hug her is herself. So she held her arms tightly, her whole body curled into a ball. Tears flowed down her face, still stinging with burns. She choked so much that her teeth trembled loudly. With the glimmer of hope remaining in her, even though it was as faint as the spark as the dead ashes, she still looked at the direction of the gate, still hoping that someone would still help her. She hoped that the next person to come through will notice her pain.

Help me! Help me!

But she was not begging to be saved from the burn, but from the loneliness and despair completely conquering her heart.

“Princess Mei Li! Mei Li!”

Someone grabbed her arms and shook them. Her eyes were scorched with heat and could not see clearly. Has she finally been saved? Did someone actually come to her aid? Tears filled her face with gratitude even though she still could not see the man clearly.

“I’m on fire! It’s burning! My arm hurts so much!” Finally. She could finally pour her hearts content to someone who was willing to hear. Even though this person would not actually protect her, it still felt good to have someone there, to listen to how much fear and pain she held inside.

“Mei Li. There is no fire. Nothing is burning.” The man said reassuringly.

She took the man’s hand and burst into tears, “Take me away! Take me out of here!”

“You had a nightmare. Open your eyes and see. You are safe here.”

Safe? She shivered and squinted to look around. Where is this? For a moment, she was confused. She saw several guards holding a torch in one hand and a knife on the other. They are looking at her strangely.

She shuddered and slowly regained clarity. This is her tent in the meadows… She looked the person who came to save her and ran into a pair of young clear eyes filled with sympathy and compassion. The light for the torch dotted his beautiful space with light spots, like stars reflected in a deep pool.

So beautiful… She was indulged for a while— these were Yonghe’s eyes.

“Where is the assassin?” Jingxuan’s cold voice resounded outside the tent before he came in wearing only a casual short coat, holding his long sword tightly in his hand.

He saw Yonghe and Mei Li on the soft couch, he sneered.

After being stabbed by the coldness of Jingxuan’s gaze, she realized she is still holding Yonghe’s arm. She lowered her head and let it go. But Yonghe did not go away. He frowned and looked at her thoughtfully.

“Have you caught the assassin?” Even Yu’an gugu came. Although she is not wearing any ornaments and is not in her formal attire, she was still dressed neatly, her poise dignified. Mei Li then realized that in contrast, she was only wearing a close-fitted underwear, her hair loose, face tear-stained. She was so embarrassed.

“It seems that…” Jingxuan glanced at her. “… there were no assassins. Just someone shouting in her dreams.”

“Hey!” Yu’an Gugu complained. “Princess Mai Li! You scared Lao Zuzong!

Mei Li raised her eyes meekly and realized, “I screamed again, didn’t I?” She looked at Yonghe inquiringly, who only smiled and nodded without reproach.

She sighed in chagrin. Since the fire, she has always been screaming in her dreams. It was not a big deal when she lived alone. But now she made a big mess. It has even disturbed the guards in the night watch. She may have also awakened the ones in the surrounding tents.

“Princess Mei Li, if it will be alright, can you come to Lao Zuzong to clarify the situation. The old woman heard such terrifying screams in the middle of the night, she was so scared and was trembling all over. She thought you were injured by an assassin. Even His Majesty was so scared thinking something happened to the Grand Empress Dowager.”

She then looked at the guards. “You! You broke into the Princess’ tent in the middle of the night. Go and pacify the frightened masters outside! Let’s all go so we can all sleep at ease!”

The guards retreated, their disdained faces obvious. They did not deliberately break in. They heard Princess Mei Li shouting so badly, they also thought something is happening to her. Now that they did their duty, they were still reprimanded. They feel very wronged.

And Mei Li is aware of this. Even though Yu’an gugu did not reprimand her directly, it was obvious that she is angry of the the big trouble she caused. Even Shen momo who has been with Mei Li before told her that Yu’an gugu is not very fond of her in the first place. What more now? Maybe, she hated her even more.

Jingxuan also picked up the curtain by the door and annoyingly stepped out.

Yonghe was the only one warm. He patted her on the shoulder and said, “I am on night watch. If you have anything, you can come to me.”

Mei Li nodded and smiled gratefully before she changed and went out.

After asking Lao Zuzong for forgiveness, Mei Li retreated back to her tent. But she only looked at the stars and sighed. She did not dare sleep again for fear that the same thing would happen. Instead of waking the whole hunt if she screams again, she chose not to sleep instead.

Yonghe took a team of guards with him to patrol around her tent. Some were obviously unwilling but he dealt them with a few words. Mei Li sees this and approached him to apologize. She even caused him a lot of trouble.

“Not sleeping?” Yonghe waved to the guards behind him to continue the patrol as he stayed. He led Mei Li to the small fire with a kettle hanging on it. He let her sit down as he poured her a glass of water. “Be careful. It’s hot.”

Mei Li sat down, still a little concerned. And now that he is being so kind to her, she is even more embarrassed.

He sat down next to her as if he understood her reasons why she is not sleeping. “Has it always been like this after the Anning Temple caught fire?”He asked carelessly. But unlike others who had mocking and obscure undertones, his was asked without malice. Mei Li’s nod came out naturally. She only thought why Yonghe knew about this detail. He just came back, hasn’t he? It seems that tragedies really travels fast. She can only just smiled.

“It will be fine in a while. I used to have nightmares when I was a child. It slowly disappeared through time.”

Mei Li smiled and nodded. It felt good chatting with Yonghe. Although she had not known him for long, she feels that he was someone sincere. And even though he seem enthusiastic like a big child, his heart was not as crooked as the others. He laughs when wanted to laugh. He says whatever crosses his mind.

“You grew up outside the border?”

“En.” Yonghe smiled, his beautiful mouth arched, revealing the whites of his teeth, his smile so clear it made Mei Li’s heavy heart as if it is being blown by a warm comforting wind.

This man… if only would not grow up and lose this innocence.

She could not help but sigh because of his smile. Her thoughts drifted to Zi Yu even if she does not want to think of what he had become. Because now that he has accepted the duties that were once Zi Yu’s it could not be helped for Yonghe to change. And it would be a pity if he loses this innocent smile.

Yonghe probably felt embarrassed that there suddenly was an awkward silence, so he shared some things and experiences he had outside the border. But when he saw her shoulders slowly lowering down, he asked worriedly, “Are you tired?”

Without waiting for her answer, he had already asked someone to bring some thick felts which he folded into a tall pile for her to lean against. Because there was no support and could not stand such weight, Yonghe simply sat to the opposite end of the pile and laugh. “It’s okay now. Just lean comfortably. It won’t collapse this time.”

Perhaps Mei Li felt the security of the felts and looked again into the starry sky as she obliged. She temporary depended on him. But she also warned herself not to indulge. But maybe because she is too tired, she told herself that maybe it is okay if she can lean like this… even for a while.

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T/N: Kind of translating multiple stories recently and my mind is fried, and I am also reading a lot of stuff, so I kind of jumble some worlds in my brain, so if there were mix-ups, please do inform me, thank you so much. This is also so sad to translate, but I hope you continue reading this classic.

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