"Yes, Your Ladyship," Cui'er nodded and went to the outer room to invite Madam Liu in. The others looked tense, not knowing what had happened to warrant calling Madam Liu in alone. Could it be that the young mistress was beyond saving?
The thought of this possibility made the little maids cry. Even the concubines, who usually wished for the downfall of the mistress blocking their path, found themselves recalling her past kindness when the day seemed to arrive. They couldn't imagine filling the position of the Huang family's mistress. If another fierce madam took over, their good days would be over.
Thus, these women began to weep. Meanwhile, Liu Si's husband remained huddled in a corner, silent, a strange sadness on his face. Tears welled in his eyes, filled with regret.
If only he had divorced his wife sooner, letting her live the life she desired, perhaps she wouldn't have met with misfortune.
He had, in fact, loved her. Love made people selfish, which was why he had clung to her so tightly, even knowing she loved the man named Lin Mo.
Madam Liu followed Cui'er into the sleeping chambers. Inside, Liu'er's face and that of Physician Nangong were grave. Madam Liu, believing Liu Si was beyond saving, began to sob again. Seeing her mother's grief, Liu Liu quickly spoke, "Mother, do you want to save Sister?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Liu's tears fell, and after a long moment, she responded with heartbroken anguish.
"How could I not want to save your sister? She is such a filial child. How could I bear to see her unhappy? It is all my fault and Father's. Otherwise, she would surely be fine. If only we hadn't stopped her back then."
"So Sister truly had a man she deeply loved? Who is he?" Liu Liu was surprised that Father and Mother could be so unenlightened. Why were parents always so self-righteous?
They had cruelly torn apart a loving couple, bringing Sister to the brink of death.
"His name is Lin Mo, and he lives in Peach Blossom Ferry, Lin Family Bay. He was a desperately poor young man. We thought that since Sister is a young lady of noble birth and has never suffered hardship, how could she follow that poor boy and suffer? Do you know? Mother truly did it for her own good. Who knew that even after so many years, she still yearned for that boy? Now she is close to death, and Mother regrets it so much, Liu'er."
Madam Liu wept into Cui'er's shoulder, and Cui'er quickly supported her. Though Liu Liu was angry, seeing her mother so haggard, she could not bring herself to blame her. Her mother had also suffered greatly, and seeing her age several years in an instant, Liu Liu knew her mother had paid the price for her past mistakes.
"Alright, Mother, don't be sad anymore. Listen to my arrangements from now on. Don't say anything else if you wish for Sister's happiness." Liu Liu walked to her mother's side, gazing at her intently, her small face glowing.
She intended to send her sister to Lin Mo's side, but had Lin Mo married? If Lin Mo had taken a wife, wouldn't her sister still be heartbroken?
Madam Liu nodded, seeing the confusion in her daughter's eyes. She quickly wiped away her tears and said,
"Lin Mo had said back then that he would wait for your sister at Peach Blossom Ferry. He is the kind of person who keeps his word."
As soon as Madam Liu finished speaking, she received a cold glance from Liu Liu. Since they knew Lin Mo was so upright and kind, why had they separated them?
Madam Liu lowered her head guiltily. Liu Liu turned and walked to the bedside, sitting down and taking her sister's emaciated hand. She whispered into her ear,
"Sister, do you miss Lin Mo? He is waiting for you. Younger sister will send you to his side. If you truly have consciousness, then move your finger. Think of Lin Mo. Can you bear to let him wait until he grows old and dies alone? He loves you so much. Can you truly bear it, Sister?"
Liu Liu spoke on and on, her words moving everyone in the room to tears. When Liu Si's finger trembled slightly, she suddenly smiled, tears still in her eyes. She looked at Nangong Yue and whispered,
"She moved just now. She heard me."
"That's good," Nangong Yue nodded, taking out a bottle of medicine. He shook it gently and placed it under Liu Si's nose. He then turned to look at the people in the room.
"This is a death-simulating potion. Do not reveal any information. Go out and tell the Huang family that Liu Si has died, and then concoct a reason to send her to Peach Blossom Ferry."
After Nangong Yue finished speaking, he handed an antidote to Liu Liu.
"I have done all I can," he said, then left the sleeping chambers and walked out. Liu Liu glanced at Madam Liu and Cui'er, and said coldly, "Where have your tears gone now?"
At this, Madam Liu and Cui'er began to sob uncontrollably. Even though the eldest mistress was not dead, seeing her so silent and still, like a corpse, filled them with sorrow.
Liu Liu also sat by the bedside, wiping away her tears. The commotion in the room had alerted those in the outer chambers, who rushed in. Nangong Yue was already gone, leaving only the Empress and Lord Liu weeping.
At that moment, cries filled the entire Huang residence. Liu Liu cast a cold glance at Madam Liu, who, amidst her tears, loudly declared, "My daughter, Mother knows you loved the waters of Peach Blossom Ferry the most in life. You once told Mother that if you died, you wished to be sent downstream with the current. Now you have finally fulfilled your wish."
When Madam Liu cried out, the Huang family understood that the Liu family intended to give their daughter a water burial. They disagreed, insisting that such a filial person must be entered into the Huang family's ancestral hall.
However, seeing the Huang family remain silent, Madam Liu wept and wailed even more hysterically. No matter how much Prime Minister Liu tried to stop her, it was useless. Finally, the Empress stepped forward and said,
"My sister's wish in life was indeed to be buried in Peach Blossom Ferry. Since you love her, grant her this final wish."
With the Empress speaking, the Huang family could say no more. They lost even the hope of retaining a memento. Cries erupted, and the little maids knelt on the ground.
In the sleeping chambers, the concubines and Liu Si's husband, Huang Tianbiao, had already knelt. Liu Liu instructed Father to carry her sister onto the carriage outside. Master Huang and Madam Huang, upon hearing Liu Liu's words, cried uncontrollably.
However, Liu Liu could not keep her sister. If her sister did not go to Lin Mo's side, she would only have death to face.
Prime Minister Liu picked up his daughter. He didn't understand why his wife and younger daughter insisted on taking Liu Si away, nor the talk of a peach blossom burial. Although he knew Liu Si had once liked that young man by Peach Blossom Ferry,
Now that she was dead, why insist on a peach blossom burial? Though he didn't believe in such things, he couldn't refuse his daughter's request. He carried Liu Si to the carriage waiting outside the Huang mansion's gate.
Liu Liu ordered the little eunuchs in front to drive the carriage to the dike outside the city. According to Mother, by taking a small boat and drifting downstream, they would reach Peach Blossom Ferry, a place covered in peach blossoms.
Although the season for peach blossoms had passed, the peach leaves on the riverbanks would surely drift downstream. The boat would carry them all the way to where Lin Mo lived.
A small, flat boat drifted downstream. Tourists lined the banks, and cheerful, melodious singing could be heard from time to time.
Liu Liu tightly hugged her sister. She was so light, as if she would float away if Liu Liu let go. Therefore, she held on tightly, just to feel her heart beating. She turned and ordered Cui'er beside her.
"Quick, give the antidote to the eldest mistress," Cui'er immediately took out the antidote and gently fed it to the eldest mistress's mouth. The medicine dissolved as soon as it reached her throat. Liu Liu leaned close to her sister's ear and whispered softly,
"Sister, I am sending you to the peach blossom forest. Lin Mo is waiting for you there."
It turned out that Sister loved peach blossoms because the man she loved liked them. Sister, you must wake up quickly, or Lin Mo will worry. Do you want to make him sad, Sister?
He has grieved for so many years. Isn't it time you brought him some happiness?" Liu Liu's gentle words sent ripples through the clear, green lake.