Chapter 1621: Nine Years of Time
Chapter 1621: Chapter 1621: Nine Years of Time
The eastward-flowing water passes by, and it’s another season when everything revives.
"Nanny Gong, how long has it been since Pan’er and Qi’er left?"
Nanny Gong was holding a plate, a small silver fork in hand, pierced a slice of apricot and handed it to Song Ci. Upon hearing the question, she silently counted and replied, "In the blink of an eye, it’s been five or six years."
It is now the 29th year of Shengping, Song Ruqi went to Jiangnan in the 23rd year, and Niu Pan’er left the capital in the 24th year. Calculating on fingertips, isn’t it indeed five or six years?
Song Ci took the silver fork, squinting her old eyes at the Hai Tang flowers planted in the courtyard and said, "It’s been this long."
Calculating thus, she’s been in Great Qing for nine years now.
It’s truly unexpected that she has stayed this long; yet, perhaps she can’t stay much longer.
Since the year Niu Pan’er left, she suddenly fainted, and her health has declined year by year, becoming increasingly old and forgetful.
Strangely, every 24th year since then, every year in the month of her birthday, she inexplicably falls into a coma, awakening after a day or two at most, but this year, she was unconscious for three whole days, scaring the entire Song Family so much they almost prepared funeral clothes for her.
Because of Song Ci’s health, the Song Family contributes considerable incense money to temples annually and consistently performs good deeds, donating copiously.
Since last year, Song Zhiyuan, as the eldest son, even turned vegetarian to pray to Buddha for his mother’s health.
Yet even so, they cannot stop Song Ci from aging day by day.
Nowadays, she can be described as extremely elderly; needing two people to assist her to walk just a few steps.
Song Ci knows the reason she can’t stay long is because each time she falls into a coma, she returns to the modern world, where her true self lies on a hospital bed unconscious.
She has a feeling that when the time is right, she will wake up on that hospital bed.
Song Ci is not afraid of death, but her heart is reluctant.
In these few years here, she has genuinely considered these people as family, and if she were to leave happily shutting her eyes, she would truly be unwilling.
"Indeed, time flies, the children are all grown, and we too are old." Nanny Gong said.
Song Ci bit into the apricot slice—indeed she has gotten old. Just to eat an apricot slice, it has to be steamed soft first before being served to her.
No other way; her teeth aren’t good anymore.
Song Ci’s current state has returned to how it was when she first arrived here, elderly and weak, needing support in every situation, sometimes even needing maidservants to help with certain bodily functions.
But now, she doesn’t feel embarrassed anymore, having grown accustomed to it, she simply lies down comfortably.
"Madam, there’s great news!" Xiaoman ran over and bowed to Song Ci, joyfully announcing, "Just now, good news came from Yuqing Pavilion; the third madam gave birth to a pair of dragon and phoenix twins, mother and children are safe."
"Really?" Song Ci was also delighted.
"Indeed, the messenger is still waiting at Chunhui Hall."
Song Ci then looked at Nanny Gong and said, "This is indeed great news. Nanny, prepare the sedan chair, I’m going over to have a look."
Nanny Gong said, "The third madam has just given birth, I’m afraid things are still chaotic over there, and the aura hasn’t dissipated yet. Aren’t you afraid of any clashes?"
"What’s there to be afraid of? Twins of dragon and phoenix are rare and auspicious; I’m going to share in the joy." Song Ci said, "Hurry, prepare the sedan, or I’ll go on foot. I’m blessed abundantly, not fearing any aura clashes."
Nanny Gong had no choice but to have the sedan chair prepared. Time has passed, but the old lady’s stubbornness remains unchanged.