3 Get! Out! (1/2)

The person who had entered was a woman in her thirties. An oval-like face with a pointed chin, small dimples gracing her mouth and dark hazel irises, the woman was a mature, beautiful lady.

Dressed in a light purple spring garb of an ancient clothing style, she stepped into the room holding a wooden tray. On it, An Fei could see a steaming clay bowl with a lid, the faint smell of freshly cooked porridge seeping through.

However, none of it mattered to An Fei. Not that the woman before her was similarly dressed in a historic fashion, not that the objects before were suspicious and reeked of antiquity, and definitely not because the room only permitted entry.

All that remained in her mind was a persistent chorus of screams and howls of anger, each profaning her demise.

”Get out! I don't have such a daughter like you!”

”You're only some wench your father picked up from some illegal brothel. Don't even try claiming the family name of An!”

”Hah! Because Father decided to grant you a family title, you think you've attained solace? Dream on! You are merely a servant, not a treasured Miss like Yan Yue!”

”Because of you, Yan Yue missed her chance of marriage. You say you wanted to help her? I see that you merely wanted to step on her head, thinking any sparrow picked from who knows where can become a phoenix by climbing onto a higher branch!”

”Father truly dotes on you. Since it's going to be like that, then I'll take everything away. Your marriage with the Gong Family, your academical achievements and glory, your possessions, all will belong to Yan Yue! As for you, learn your place and kill yourself already!”

Her mind fleeting into a spiral of memories, An Fei's vision warped as the scarlet haze deepened, a fierce heat pulsing in her chest. Her fingers curling into fists, the nails digging into the soft flesh of her palm, the girl began to tremble fiercely as her eyes blazed with an unearthly fury.

”-get out.”

”This doesn't seem to be faring well, this mustn't be sustained any longer. Contacting the Old Emperor and begging for an Imperial Physician seems to be the last…huh?”

Quietly grumbling to herself, the woman sat near the bed, removing the lid of the clay pot and setting it to the side. Suddenly, she heard a faint sound in the room, causing her to instantly stiffen and look around, her gaze darting through the room, leaving no stone untouched.

Hearing nothing even after a few moments, the woman frowned in confusion as she continued to portion out a small bowl's amount of rice porridge.

”What was that just now? Didn't I instruct Xiao Ling to watch over? Those servants, when will they stop gossiping?”

”….”

As another intelligible mumble sounded within the room, the woman stopped her movements, placing the spoon onto the tray. Holding the tray on her lap and focusing her attention, the woman could hear the soft rustling of fabric, that of silken cloth.

Alarmed, she slammed the bedframe with her left hand, her powerful voice resounding in the room and accompanying the solid strike of palm on wood.

”Who!? Show yourself!”

”…I'll kill…I'll kill…”

Hearing the whisper for the third time, the woman closed her eyes, silently searching for the source of the sound. Her head turning towards the bed, the woman opened her eyes to find the curtains of Moon Silk before her.

Tilting her head in puzzlement as she gazed at the faint patterns of peonies and orchids spanning across the silvery brocade, the woman suddenly snapped her hand to her mouth. Her pupils constricted in shock, she hastily placed the wooden tray to the side, pulling open the curtains to reveal An Fei's figure.

”You're awake…you finally woke up…”

Her vision clouding over, a sour sensation filled her nose, the woman reached for the girl, her voice quivering from emotion.

”Hypocrite.”

”…my daughter finally wok-huh?”

Feeling her arms slapped away, the woman raised her head in bewilderment, her gaze focusing on the girl's figure. Upon seeing the blazing fury and hatred struggling to free itself within those delicate eyes, the entire body shaking from anger, the woman could not help but lurch back in surprise.

However, she quickly recovered and rushed forward, reaching out to grab the girl with both arms.