22 The New Young Misses of Guo Estate |Part 1| (2/2)
”You've been watching me?”
”All the way, and look how much my daughter has grown!” Fa Hua said, cupping her daughter's face in her hands and kissing her forehead.
XieRong giggled.
”Mother, where am I? Have I joined you in Heaven? If I have, then I have to go fight the gods to sent me back. FeiHong needs me.”
Her mother laughed. It was a sweet tinkling sound that left XieRong surprised. She had never seen or heard her mother laugh before.
”My sweet XieRong, you don't have to go fight the gods. They've only sent you to me temporarily, then they will return you to where you belong. It's not your time to come here yet XieRong, and it won't be for a very long time. The gods have big plans for both my beautiful daughters.
”XieRong, I know mother told you to protect FeiHong, but what mother meant was to teach her how to protect herself. The knowledge you impart to FeiHong is the best protection you can give her, and mother knows you have been teaching her, but you must let her face the trials and tribulations of life so she knows how to use what she has been taught. XieRong, there's more to FeiHong than what meets the eye. She is not the same child she was when mother left you.”
”Mother, what do you mean by 'there's more to FeiHong than what meets the eye'?”
”XieRong, do you remember the time when you were leaving through the forest to buy provisions from the capital.”
”Yes...”
”Do you remember your offer to make a sisters bond with Fei Hong?”
XieRong nodded.
”Yes, but FeiHong refused.”
”Do you remember what she said after she refused to make the bond?”
”She said that were some matters that she couldn't tell me about yet, that even if she did, I wouldn't believe her because it was too unreal. She said that when she was ready to tell me, she would form the sisters bond with me. Are these 'matters' that she mentioned what make her different?”
”Yes, and when she feels that you are ready to accept her for everything she was and is, then she will tell you.”
”Mother, is this why the gods brought me here? So that you could tell me to stop pampering Fei Hong?”
Fa Hua smiled.
”No, the gods brought you to me because they know something has been bothering you. Something that only I can resolve, so tell me what made you come here?”
”Mother, I've been thinking as to why you gave up, whyyou didn't escape, why you didn't live for us who loved you but instead chose to die for the ones who betrayed you?”
Fa Hua patted her daughter's head.
”It's the opposite of what you said, XieRong. I chose to die for the people I love, and if I would have lived, I would have lived for the people who betrayed me. If I had lived I would have been so consumed by my hatred and thirst for revenge that I would have pulled you into my plans.”
”I don't understand.”
”XieRong, when you decided to grow stronger to protect the ones you love and seek revenge did you do it because mother asked you to?”
XieRong thought about it.
”No, I do want revenge for mother but it's not because mother told me to. I decided that I wanted to.”
”Now, if mother were alive and told you not to take revenge, would you disobey me?”
”No.”
”You see, if I lived I would have forced you to take revenge whether you wanted it or not. I didn't want you and FeiHong to become my puppets so I chose to die and let you carve your own paths.”
XieRong understood her mother's decision. If her mother had been there she would not be where or how she was now. It could only be them or her and her mother had chosen them. However, she couldn't completely agree with it.
”Why did the gods give you such a terrible decision to make mother?”
”Don't blame the gods, XieRong. They gave mother plenty of chances. I had just become too blind to see them. The decision to choose between you and me came up because of my mistakes and bad choices. When I think about it now, perhaps there had been more paths that I could have chosen, but I had lost belief in myself so those were the only choices I could see.”
XieRong knew her mother was right. She sighed.
”Mother knows there's something else troubling you, XieRong. You can ask. I won't be angry.”
”Mother, don't you hate grandpa? His stubbornness to not contact you or come see you just aided Fa LiHua and Fa Boqin's plans.”
”Everyone has flaws XieRong, my father's was his stubbornness and pride. He never knew how much harm his stubbornness could cause him until he lost me, but I know my father loves me, XieRong, he always did and always will, despite what he says and does so I will try my best to forgive him if he tries to change for the better. Does this answer your question?”
XieRong nodded. She too would try to forgive her grandfather as long as he tried to change himself.
XieRong could feel herself grow drowsy.
”Mother, I'm sleepy.”
Fa Hua pulled her daughter's head into her lap gently and kissed her forehead.
”XieRong, mother loves you and is proud of you, now go to sleep.”