"Mom, please don"t laugh! It was really a nightmare..." TanTan protests to her Mom who sits and laughs so hard beside her on the sofa.
"But you are not really his wife right?...no need to feel upset... I believe if he knows who you really are, maybe he even can fall on you, silly girl. Isn"t he handsome?"
"No way. Yes, he is handsome but he"s really not my type. He is more like your type, Mom. Now if I remember ,he is really alike your favourite actor, what is the name....ah...*LeeMingHo....that korean actor, only he is younger."
"LeeMingHo is not my type..."
"Don"t lying, Mom. You watched almost all his movies..."
"I didn"t lie...I am fonding to him because he was alike my first love, that"s it!"
"Your first love? You never tell! Who is it? Is he your elementary cla.s.smate? Junior high school cla.s.s mate? High School Oppa? Come on Mom, tell me..."
"Silly girl ,he is no others than your Dad!"
"Really? Wow, so Daddy is your first love and you managed to marry him at last? Wow, Mom, you are amazing!"
"Not only that, I am even blessed to have you, my dear TanTan. You are a treasure from my first love."
"Oww, so romantic. I wish I have a romantic story like yours, Mom."
"Oh, you will, TanTan...I know that you will have your own first love and be happy with him forever..."
"Mom, you realize, right? That I am already too late to experience first love, now my life goal is just having a bright job and living happily with you forever."
TanTan hugs her Mom"s shoulders warmly and her Mom touches her nose as usual, and says
"Silly girl, it never too late for a first love...One day you must leave me and find your first love..."
"Nooo, I don"t want...I want to be with you forever..." TanTan responds spoiled and closes her eyes.
At that moment, she smiles so peaceful.
And then she opens her eyes ,suddenly she realizes she just had a dream. Now what she sees is a roof of antique bed,
"Good Morning SiaoCie" TanTan arises and sit beside her bed, the ray of sunlight is pa.s.sing through the transparent door papers. Then she sees that XiaoRue is preparing a wooden bask of water.
"Oh No!....I am still in the past. So this is really not a dream! I am really, really thrown into the past! I am feeling want to cry right now...Ugh ,my head is heavy..." TanTan ma.s.sages her head lightly to remove the heavy feeling.
XiaoRue sees that and feels worry,
"XiaoCie, Are you feeling unwell?" She immediately takes a cup of tea and serves it to TanTan.
"How thoughful this girl is" TanTan takes the tea with smile and drinks it up. Then like before she gives back it to XiaoRue and says, "Thank...".
But XiaoRue seems not comfort with the words ,so TanTan stops saying it, and just smiles to her. After that, TanTan yawns so wide and stretches her hands up. She stands up from the bed and then continue stretches her body a little bit. XiaoRue looks surprise, and then
"Usually XiaoCie is very attentive with her manners as a lady. This illness has making her forgetting her lady-manners also." she sighs.
"I want to brush my teeth, where is the bathroom?" asked TanTan.
"Brush the teeth? But XiaoCie has drunk the tea just now. Maybe XiaoCie means to wash your face and hands? Here XiaoRue has prepared the water for XiaoCie washes the face and hands."
"The tea...do you mean you don"t brush your teeth every morning but just drinking tea to clean your teeth????"
TanTan feels weird with the fact. She looks to the tea pot, checking what kind of tea she drunk just now, she pours it again, but this time she gargles her teeth with the tea, and then she threw out the tea at outside the room, to the plant.
Seeing TanTan"s actions, XiaoRue is being nervous,
"XiaoCie, you are scaring XiaoRue right now...you act so weird..."
TanTan then learns that the customs in this time is so different than her future time"s customs. TanTan is a fast thinker. From what happened yesterday she concludes that if she acts more oddly in XiaoRue"s eyes. She will report it to Madam Hua and then perhaps TanTan can be seen as a crazy woman to Madam Hua and everyone. It will trouble and make Madam Hua sad. TanTan doesn"t like to make Madam Hua who has treated her so kind yesterday, as like her own grandma to be sad more than she already has right now.
"Ahhh, XiaoRue....I am fine....I am really fine. It just....it is already too long I was being in the coffin, so I feel need a little of exercise....that"s it! Now, where"s the water? I want to wash my face and hands..."
XiaoRue is still unbelieving but she keeps helping her XiaoCie to clean up. TanTan tries to remember all customs she ever watched in chinese dramas. She knew that usually the servants help their master to change the clothes. So she lets XiaoRue to do her duties although she is actually not to comfort being served like that. Then after that she is also letting XiaoRue to comb her hair. When TanTan sits in front of a bronze mirror. It isn"t give a clear reflection but enough for her to see that it isn"t her face who reflected inside the mirror. She then realizes yesterday she didn"t really pay attention to her face. So this is must be the real HuaMuTan"s face. As XiaoRue starts to comb her hair, TanTan is observing the face in the mirror.
First ,she realizes that HuaMuTan is younger than her real age. She looks around 16-17 years old. But doesn"t she already married? Once again ,TanTan remembered that in ancient time, marriage age is younger than in future time. "So its acceptable, but still how come they do it, too young..." thought TanTan.
Second, she can see that this HuaMuTan is actually a very pretty girl. With her big eyes and long eyelashes, then oval face and long nose, the face is even smooth without any acnes at all. Her body skin is also in bright colour but pale, like never being burned under sunlight. Although her b.o.o.bs were still in growing she guesses.
But overall, this HuaMuTan has a potential to be a famous idol if in the future time.
"Not bad at all" somehow TanTan feels proud for the face. But then she feels sorrow coz it isn"t her real face, she misses her own face. Can she ever get back to her true self later?
"Its done XiaoCie!" TanTan amazes with how handy XiaoRue to tie her long hair.
She almost want to say thank you again,
but she stops when another servant comes to deliver messages.
"Young Lady, Madam Hua is expecting Young Lady to meet her in the main room."
"Ok, tell her, I am going there now"
XiaoRue"s expression sudden changes, TanTan can see an anxiety on her face.
"Anything wrong, XiaoRue?"
"No, its nothing...Come, XiaoCie... Madam Hua is waiting for you"
TanTan knew something fishy but she doesn"t want to force XiaoRue, maybe she will figure it out later. Beside, what XiaoRue said is right. Meeting Madam Hua is the priority so TanTan follows XiaoRue to the main room ,which where the funeral was held before. But now, the place has been cleaned from any funeral things. It just a huge room with some wooden furnitures and some ancient paintings and decorations.
What makes TanTan surprised at there is that not only Madam Hua who sit in front of the room but she is also seeing Prince LiZouWei sitting at another side of the room, accompanied with a young man who looks like his bodyguard.
"What is he doing here? Does he come to threaten me again?" TanTan is feeling annoyed with this Prince Li"s presence.
Beside Madam Hua, there is another old woman sat, a quite pretty aunty but this Aunty stared unpleasing to her. TanTan wonders why?
"Where is your manner, MuTan? Why don"t you greet properly to me, your Grandma and your husband here?" TanTan doesn"t like the tone that aunty speaks. She can see that this aunty, whoever she is, obviously in hostile with HuaMuTan.
"Its alright, Gui Er... TanEr is still not recovering from her sickness. Let spare her this time, okay. Come, TanEr. Let Ama sees you."
"Mother, you are always spoiling her. Prince Li is here, how can we show to him this un-educated manner...its...its so embarrasing..."
"Mother? So this woman is really HuaMuTan"s aunty!" TanTan comes forward to Madam Hua without hesitated. She is pa.s.sing through Prince Li, who just drinking the tea, doesn"t care of her at all.
"Good Morning,...Ama...Aunty..." TanTan bows a little bit, tries to greet Madam Hua and this aunty politely.
"Very well, its enough, TanEr. How do you feel today?" Madam Hua smiles to TanTan while Aunty Gui just giving annoying expression.
"I am feeling fine. Thank you for Ama"s concern". TanTan tries to respond carefully, her heart is beating fast,
"I am not saying anything wrong right? At least I remember this is the way they talk in drama"
"I am so glad to see you healthy again, my TanEr... isn"t it, Prince Li?
"Yes, you"re right, Madam Hua." The prince smiles politely to Madam Hua.
"So, he can smile. Not bad when he"s smiling, he looks more handsome."
But the smile is quickly fading when his eyes meet TanTan"s eyes. Then he turns his eyes to Madam Hua, talking to her politely and ignoring TanTan as she doesn"t exist there.
"Its a big fortune for HuaMuTan could survives from the incident. As soon I heard the news, I immediately came here to check her condition. Forgive me to come suddenly yesterday and disturbed Madam Hua."
"Checking my a.s.s, didn"t he come to give her warning...even threaten to kill me yesterday?"
TanTan feels sick to hear this Prince Li so smoothly pretending to be caring for her. But she is only can vomit it inside her mind. The situation is not clear yet for her, she doesn"t want to make any unnecessary scene. Furthermore she is still confuse for the purpose of this meeting.
"Yeah, my TanEr is so lucky... her fortune is having you as her husband who cares about her so much."
"No, he doesn"t, Ama. He wants to kill me" shouted TanTan in heart.
"Now I can feel ease to let her return to your house and let you continue taking care of her. Maybe in that way, she can recover better and gain her memories quickly back." Madam Hua pats gently TanTan"s hands.
"What???? No way, Doesn"t it mean that this Prince comes to pick me up? He wouldn"t agree with this right? Doesn"t he hate HuaMuTan so much?"
"Please be ease, Madam Hua. I promise I will taking good care of HuaMuTan."
"What the h.e.l.l? What is his planning to? Does he really plan to kill me later at his house? Nooo..."
"Nooo ,Ama...I don"t want to leave you, please let me stay here...I am scare..." TanTan tries to soften Madam Hua"s heart. Deep in her heart, she repeated the words "I am really scare to be killed, Ama..."
"Don"t be ridiculous, MuTan. You are a married woman now. You suppose to follow your husband, don"t make a shame to Hua family!" scolded Aunt Gui. TanTan felt that this aunty is also so urge to kick HuaMuTan out from the house.
"TanEr, your Aunty is right. We must follow the tradition. Prince Li has come this far to take you home. Beside, don"t worry. This man is your husband who you loved so much before. You ever said being with him is the most happiness moment in your life. I believe this is the best way to bring back your memories."
"Did HuaMuTan say that? What a love-blinded that girl!!"
"But...but I don"t know him....I really don"t want..."
"Stop it, MuTan! Do you want to stress your grandma again?"
TanTan sees the expression of Madam Hua. The worries is so clear on her face. TanTan carefully looks at Prince Li again. She surprises that this time the Prince stared back to her. A very cold and sharp stare, but also contain a confusion for a moment. And then Prince Li talks to her, gently like to a little child,
"Come, MuTan...don"t worry your GrandMa anymore. Let"s go home."
TanTan evaluates the situation. If she keep insists to stay, then maybe Madam Hua can feel something odd with her, and like her aunty and that Prince said, it can burden Madam Hua so much. But if she follows this Prince, she can"t insurance her own life. But she is also realizing how important is the family good name in the past time, of course from dramas she watched.
TanTan looks at Madam Hua again, she is so old, but her warmth reminds TanTan to her Mom. For her, TanTan feels that she is willing to do anything as it can make her happy.
"If..if I return with this...this Prince Li. Will it make you happy, Ama?"
"As long you are happy, TanEr...I will happy too..."
"..." TanTan is also noticing her aunty still looking at her with an unpleasing glare. She seems doesn"t give up to push her away.
"Well h.e.l.l, I am not in a good position right now...This HuaMuTan has troubling this kind GrandMa by marrying the wrong man for her. If I want to fix it, I need to understand the problem, which means I need to go to the lion"s den if I have to..."
"Very well, Ama...This TanEr will just listening what you say..."
"Is it that mean you are willing to follow Prince Li to return to his house ?"
TanTan just nods her head slowly.
"Aiyah, very good TanEr...I believe this is the best way for your health. Just don"t forget to visit Ama in next year, okay...." Madam Hua touches TanTan"s face gently. "Aiyah, I will always miss you, my TanEr... Now, I give you my blessing. Go with your husband and live happily as what you dreamed about."
"TanEr will also miss you Ama, and I feel grateful for your kindness. I promise I will never forget to visit you next year..."
"Then I think its better for us to start our journey ,Madam Hua so we can arrive to Li Mansion more quickly and let MuTan take a rest sooner" Prince Li stands from his seat and then giving a formal farewell gesture to Madam Hua and also to Aunty Gui.
"Yeah, you are right, Prince Li. The sooner both of you start the journey is better. Prince Li, please take a very good care of my beloved granddaugter, TanEr..."
"I will"
And then in a few minutes later, Madam Hua ,accompanied by Aunty Gui are ushering TanTan and Prince LiZouWei at the gate of Hua resident. There is a decorative and luxury horse chariot , which the s.p.a.ce is enough for 4 people has waiting for them.
"Then, I"ll go now, Ama." TanTan gives her farewell for the last time.
"Yes, TianEr," Madam Hua,
and then the prince helps her to ascend into the chariot. TanTan knows that he did that just because being seen by Madam Hua.
Then when Xiao Rue want to ascend to, Madam Hua sudden stops her.
"XiaoRue,wait..." She talks to Prince Li, "Prince Li, TianEr just recovers from her sickness. If you are kindly hearing this old woman"s wish. I hope you can accompany TianEr inside the chariot and let XiaoRue sits at the front. I believe both of you need a lot to talk about during the journey."
Prince Li has a high respect to Madam Hua, so he pressures his dislike and do as what Madam Hua"s wishes. He ascends to into the chariot. And then XiaoRue sits at the front, beside the Prince"s bodyguard who also acts as the charioteer.
There is an unspoken intense aura between them inside the chariot.
Prince Li is purposely looking to anyways except toward TanTan. He clearly avoids to have any contact with her. Meanwhile TanTan is in her alert, staring at this Prince Li in case he takes any action. In her future life, she never afraid to the bad guys. Living only with her Mom makes she also equips her self with some modern martial arts, boxing, karate and shooting to protect herself and her Mom. Although the present condition of her body isn"t really her real body but she a.s.sumes that as long she has her future memories, at least she can defense herself quite well.
But nothing happens so far, TanTan is very curious so it pushes her dare to ask,
"Why?"
"...." Prince Li is finally looking to her.
"Why do you want to pick me, don"t you hate me? Why don"t you just let me stay at least for some months with Madam Hua? In that way, we won"t bother each others right?"
"And giving you another chance to harm ShuangAi?"
"What?"
"Don"t you think I don"t know your evil plan ,HuaMuTan! I know that you are pretending to be sick so you can freely plan an evil plan to harm ShuangAi again, and also discredits my good name in front of your GrandMa and the King!!"
"Wow, is that HuaMutan willing and able to do such those evil things?"
"I won"t do that!!"- ("Obviously i won"t ,not Lang TanTan!)
"Ah, enough with your hypocrite actions already. I am sick of it!!! There is no one beside us in this chariot...Why don"t you try to be honest once in your life HAH?? Listen to me carefully, I pick you up just because I need to keep my eyes on you from making any evil plans to hurt ShuangAi." Prince Li sudden shouts, instructed the chariot to stop. Then he arises from his sit.
TanTan confuses why do he need to stop the chariot?
"What are you doing?" she asks.
"We already so far from Hua resident. No need to be pretending anymore. I can"t breathe if I stay here with you..."
He steps out from the chariot and asks XiaoRue to replace their seats.
TanTan can feel that the grudges this Prince has to HuaMuTan is so deep, makes TanTan curious,
"Who are you exactly, HuaMuTan? And what had you done to this man?"
When XiaoRue enters the chariot, XiaoRue thinks she will seeing her XiaoCie rages and cries like usual. But what a surprise that she sees TanTan just sits silently and in deep thinking,
but not in anger.
"XiaoCie, are you okay?"
"Hah, what?" TanTan awakes from her thinking, looking at XiaoRue and suddenly remembered XiaoRue"s reaction before, "So. XiaoRue was weird before because she knew about this journey...". TanTan begins more fond to this girl. This XiaoRue is clearly always worry for HuaMuTan since she has been awaken till now.
TanTan smiles gently to her,
"Yeah, I"m alright. Come, sit here and help me to refresh my memories before we arrive. Tell me about everyone that I will meet there."
"I am still in a dark here. For now, I must gain all information i can so later i can decide what I can do next."