tallest building

Chapter 74 Pushing the Waves

Early in the morning, Gong Xu went to pay his respects to Old Madam Gong.

He has a day off today, so he can spend more time with his family.

"Did the old lady not sleep well last night?" Gong Xu noticed that his mother seemed a little listless.

"I slept well for the first half of the night, but not so well for the second half," said Madam Gong, yawning involuntarily. "Chang'an was quite noisy last night, and I woke up when I heard the noise."

"What's wrong with Chang'an?" Gong Xu asked. "Is he feeling unwell?"

“Reporting to Master, last night I was with the Fourth Young Master and he had a nightmare and woke up in a fright,” Sang Er said with some lingering fear. “He kept saying that there was a child in red clothes and green pants sitting on his chest and making it hard for him to breathe.”

"How can you be so ill-mannered, girl? Your master is speaking, how dare you interrupt?" Madam Wei reprimanded her servant sternly, a rare occurrence for her.

She did this because she knew there were taboos involved.

The relationship between Wen Mingqian and Gong Xu has eased a little, but bringing up the old incident again will only make Gong Xu feel disgusted with Wen Mingqian again.
Unfortunately, Sang Er was a newcomer and knew nothing about what happened back then, so she spoke without restraint.

"Alright, take Chang'an back to the Second Madam's place!" said Old Madam Gong. "Tell her she doesn't need to come over to pay her respects; I need to take another nap."

"Yes." Sang Er retreated, somewhat ashamed.

Gong Xu sat there expressionless, as if he were a clay sculpture.

“Many years have passed, and I’ve said long ago that it’s time to move on,” Madam Gong reminded her son. “You promised me, didn’t you?”

"Mother, rest assured, I remember everything I said." Gong Xu finished speaking and forced a smile, but it seemed somewhat forced.

"Your wife told me yesterday that the two girls she bought are for you to be concubines," Old Madam Gong changed the subject. "I think Yunying is more mature, so you can take her in as your concubine for now. As for Sang Er, she's still a bit young and childish. Let's talk about her in a year or two."

"It's all up to Mother to decide," Gong Xu said obediently. "The old lady always thinks more thoroughly than we do."

"Since you've agreed, then tell them to choose an auspicious day. Set up a few tables of wine and invite some people over to celebrate. Things haven't been going well for our family lately, and you had a close call. Aunt Song hasn't been having much peace either, so why not take this opportunity to bring some good luck?" Old Madam Gong casually mentioned Madam Song.

“If the old lady says it’s good, then it’s good,” Gong Xu said. “Your son will just follow her instructions.”

"Alright, go ahead! I'm really exhausted, I need to take another nap." Old Madam Gong yawned again.

"You servants must be careful. If the old lady feels unwell again, call the doctor immediately without delay," Gong Xu said to the servants beside him.

"It's nothing, I just missed a nap. I'm not that weak." Old Madam Gong smiled. "I'll have Zhang Ma's cooking for lunch. You all come and eat with me. It's been quite a few days since we had a meal together."

Seeing that the old lady was in high spirits, Gong Xu smiled and agreed.

As he stepped outside, a sense of gloom still lingered in his heart.

Sang Er said that Gong Chang'an had a nightmare, and he knew who the child in the dream was.

Naturally, I thought of Madam Song. I had neglected her these past two days, which was very wrong of me.

"Does the master wish to return to his study, or perhaps take a stroll in the street?" the servant asked him.

"I'm not going out, I'm going to the young mistress's place." Gong Xu said, and strode westward.

"Master, you've finally arrived!" Granny Yang greeted Gong Xu as if she had seen a Bodhisattva, almost kneeling and kowtowing. Seeing her like this, Gong Xu couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

"Please go in and see the young mistress!" Granny Yang wiped away her tears. "She's been causing quite a commotion these past few days!"

"What's wrong? Is she feeling unwell again?" Gong Xu was very worried and also felt guilty.

"After taking the prescription from the imperial physician, the baby's condition has stabilized considerably," Granny Yang said as she lifted the curtain for Gong Xu. "But... but..."

"Just what? What can't be said?" Gong Xu had already entered the room as he spoke.

There was only Song Shi in the house.

“Master…” Song’s tears fell as soon as she saw Gong Xu, looking like she had been wronged and could no longer hold back her tears when she saw her family.

"Don't cry, what happened to you? Just tell me." Gong Xu walked over with heartache.

“My lord, I can’t hold back any longer and have to tell you the truth,” Song said, sobbing. “These days have been so agonizing for me.”

"What are you hiding from me? Didn't I tell you? You can tell me anything, don't keep it to yourself," Gong Xu said, gently patting her back to comfort her.

"Actually, I've been having frequent dreams about Kang'an for a while now... He's come back. In my dream, he calls me 'Mother,' saying he died unjustly and asking me to avenge him..."

He also said, "Why should I smile at my enemy? He blames me, blames me for forgetting how horribly he died back then..."

He haunts me in my dreams every night, telling me how wronged he is, how much pain he is in...

But I can't say these things to anyone, and I can't bear to make you, sir, suffer as well...

I thought I could just bear it and it would pass, but who would have thought... who would have thought... he got even more and more agitated.

The other day, when the fourth young master, the young master of the Feng family, and Bao'an were playing together, they all said they saw a child in red clothes and green pants run into my room.

Even more frightening, Bao'an said that he had a dream after falling asleep, in which a young man wearing a red shirt and green pants asked him for rose cakes.

The child was making a fuss all day yesterday, insisting on a red dress, green pants, and rose cake. Sir, I really can't take it anymore…”

"Yes, sir! We were all scared too. The fifth young master was making a huge fuss yesterday, crying and screaming." Granny Yang chimed in from the side, "The young mistress is pregnant now and her body is weak. The fifth young master is also young and can see unclean things."

If this continues, what will become of us?

Gong Xu had no doubt about what they said, because Gong Chang'an had also dreamed of that child.

Many people don't believe in ghosts and spirits, but this disbelief is often not absolute. More people simply believe that "it's better to believe it exists than not to believe it doesn't."

"Don't be afraid, I'll send someone to invite a sorcerer," Gong Xu said immediately. "He'll come and exorcise the evil spirit."

“Then I’ll have to trouble you, sir. But with the old lady and madam above us, I can’t make decisions on my own,” said Madam Song, wiping away her tears. “However, I’ve heard that there’s a Taoist master named Zhang from Xijing at Longhu Temple who is very skilled. It would be best if you could invite him.”

“Alright! I’ll write the invitation and have someone send it over right away,” Gong Xu said. “Please ask him to come as soon as possible.”

(End of this chapter)