Chapter 633 - 316 Recovery_1
The next morning, Yixiu was jolted awake by a chorus of chirping birds. Drowsily opening her eyes, she saw faint daylight filtering through the pink gauze canopy embroidered with tiny blossoms, revealing the Four Gentlemen floral patterns carved on the canopy bed instead of the fortunate patterns inset with jade. For a moment she was befuddled, but then she remembered she had returned to Guiyuan; this was the Lianxiang Water Pavilion.
She snapped awake, sitting up and calling out, "Zi Zhu, Zi Zhu."
"I’m here." Zi Zhu hooked the gauze canopy on the lotus bronze hook and began helping her dress, saying, "Miss, you’re up so early, it’s only the second quarter of the Mao Hour, the sky isn’t fully bright yet."
Dressed and washed in record time, Yixiu hurried to the front courtyard, full of anticipation. She loved the morning on the wasteland, watching the thin mist under the rising sun slowly dissipate...
Passing by the Shining Mirror, she saw the Drooping Flower Gate wide open; Manjiang was standing at the doorway with Pan Yue, looking outward. Now, next to her little mother was Father Jiang; she was no longer alone.
Moving past them, on the vast expanse of wasteland - a mix of green and yellow wild grasses bejeweled with a thin layer of morning mist - stood Sangui, leaning on his cane. Grandfather Sangui’s silhouette had added solidity, unlike the figure from years ago that seemed as if a gust of wind could blow it over.
The cool breeze, the moist air, the eastern sky adorned with a red sun, and the wisps of smoke rising from the village rooftops. Further back, the solemn Xishi Mountain towered, a mix of green and yellow against Xijing Mountain.
Back again. How wonderful!
Yixiu took several deep breaths. She enjoyed the moist air of the South; to this day, she still wasn’t quite used to the North’s dryness.