Should they or shouldn’t they? Ding Dachui didn’t dare answer and looked toward the young officer ahead—though the boss hadn’t come, Ding Dachui still hadn’t become the decision-maker.
Xie Yanlai’s entire face was wrapped in a scarf with only his eyes showing. He glanced at Chu Zhao: “Rather than drinking wine, Miss Chu should continue patrolling with us.”
Chu Zhao laughed mischievously: “No.” She made a delicate gesture. “Miss Chu is young and frail. She needs to rest. The heavy responsibility still relies on you fine lads.”
Xie Yanlai scoffed and spurred his horse to gallop away. Ding Dachui and the others hurried to follow—
Though the boss hadn’t come, Ding Dachui still hadn’t managed to expose Granny Ding’s true identity to Chu Zhao, because every time he wanted to speak, he always felt someone watching him. He just couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Forget it, take things one step at a time—having finally latched onto the big tree that was the Empress, Ding Dachui didn’t want to die so early.
The group galloped away.
Chu Zhao quickly entered the government office and ran straight toward the rear courtyard.
“Miss, Miss.” A’Le waited in the corridor, face full of smiles. “It’s even colder today.”
Chu Zhao made an affirmative sound, clutching her cloak tightly as she rushed into the room.
“Father, are you asleep?” She stood in the hall and shouted loudly. “I’m back.”
With such loud shouting, even someone asleep would be startled awake. A’Le smiled helplessly.
A voice already came from the inner chamber, calm and measured: “I know. Not asleep yet. Waiting for you.”
Chu Zhao kicked off boots that were as hard as ice blocks. A’Le removed her cloak while two other maids put warm shoes on her feet and used hot towels to pat her body, helping her warm up quickly and also to avoid bringing the cold air into the inner chamber.
A moment later, Chu Zhao hurried toward the inner chamber and looked at Chu Ling lying in bed.
Under the dim lamplight, the middle-aged man in bed had a face like white paper, his eyes unfocused. However, his face still bore a smile and he looked toward where Chu Zhao was.
The girl under the lamplight had a face like a flower in bloom.
“Father.” She said with some pride. “Guess what I brought back?”
Chu Ling said: “Did the young lady patrolling the city catch a spy?”
“No.” Chu Zhao laughed and opened her hands that had been held before her, revealing a small rabbit white as snow. “I found a rabbit in the snow.”
“A’Zhao is impressive.” Chu Ling said. “To be able to catch a rabbit in the snowy night—did A’Jiu catch it?”
“It wasn’t A’Jiu!”
“Fine, he discovered it first, but I caught it myself.”
The girl’s clear voice rang out in the inner chamber. Chu Ling lay in bed listening with a smile, then felt something soft and fluffy in his hand.
“Father, look, the little rabbit is like a snowball.” Chu Zhao said.
Chu Ling said: “Rabbits bite. Don’t forget—when you were little you got bitten and cried for three days.”
Chu Zhao laughed heartily: “Really? I don’t remember that at all.”
“Was it too long ago?” Chu Ling asked with a smile. “Have you forgotten things from childhood?”
Yes. Chu Zhao sat by the bed thinking—for her, having lived a second life, childhood really was very distant.
“Father, tell me about when I was little.” She said.
Chu Ling gently stroked the snow rabbit with one hand and spoke softly: “You weren’t ordinary as a child. When you were just born, red light filled the room. A fortune teller passing by immediately changed expression and pointed, saying an auspicious omen had descended from heaven—”
Chu Zhao laughed so hard she clutched her stomach.
“Father—did you sneak off to the street to listen to the teahouse storytellers again?”
A’Le stood in the outer chamber. Hearing the father and daughter’s laughter and conversation inside, she smiled too, raised her hand to wipe away tears, and quietly withdrew.
Deep in the night, the sounds of conversation inside gradually stopped.
Chu Zhao watched the hand stroking the snow rabbit motionless, her face as white as the snow rabbit itself. She slowly reached out to feel Chu Ling’s pulse. The next moment she sighed with relief and slumped back down on the floor beside the bed.
Thank goodness, Father was still alive.
Though the physician said he could die at any time.
Chu Zhao held the snow rabbit in her arms, leaning against the bed, burying her head in her knees. Tears wet her dress.
But she was still very happy. This time, she could accompany Father as he left this world.
……
……
The cold wind of late night howled unrestrained. When Xie Yanlai walked back to his lodgings, he was blown about unsteadily.
With such strong wind, he stopped and glanced toward the government office, wondering if Chu Zhao could sleep?
The next moment his foot turned toward another direction.
“Who’s there?” He said coldly. “If you’re capable enough to get into the city, why hide?”
The cold wind swirled, and a figure swayed. Someone walked out from around a corner.
“Young Master A’Jiu.” A gentle female voice. “It’s me.”
Xie Yanlai made a sound of acknowledgment with a half-smile: “Oh, Granny Ding. What’s this? Unfamiliar with the area? Came but can’t find where Uncle Ding is?”
Mu Mianhong walked a few more steps. In the night her thin body swayed, but the fierce wind couldn’t blow her away.