Chapter 6: The Summer Retreat at Xinlan Court

“This is the summer resort at the foot of Rooster Mountain. The place where you’re standing now is the Xinyan Courtyard Summer Villa, my master’s retreat. It was also my master who brought you here yesterday.”

After listening to her, Zhang Xiaolan understood that the person from yesterday must have brought her here. She released Xiaolian’s shoulders, her arms limp at her sides, and turned to take a closer look at the place and at the girl before her, dressed in ancient attire. So it really wasn’t a dream after all.

Having finished her explanation, Xiaolian saw that Zhang Xiaolan still looked somewhat dazed, but her spirit seemed intact. Yet Xiaolian’s attention had already been drawn to the clothes Zhang Xiaolan was wearing.

To Xiaolian, the clothes seemed novel, a style she had never seen before. She was particularly fascinated by the pattern on Zhang Xiaolan’s shirt—it was nothing more than a mouse, but she was utterly captivated by it. However, as Zhang Xiaolan turned, Xiaolian noticed fresh blood seeping through the white cloth wrapped around her injured arm and hurriedly called out,

“Master, the young lady’s wound is bleeding again!”

Li Rui was practicing calligraphy in the neighboring wing. Hearing Xiaolian call, he immediately strode over, but as soon as he reached the courtyard gate, he abruptly stopped and turned, sternly rebuking Xiaolian,

“Why haven’t you dressed the young lady yet?”

Li Rui’s harsh voice startled Xiaolian, who had been so absorbed in the pattern on Zhang Xiaolan’s shirt that she hadn’t noticed the short sleeves she wore. In ancient times, people were conservative; even a hint of exposed skin could cause a commotion, as if it were a matter of utmost importance.

“Yes, master!” Xiaolian hurried into the room, fetched a cloak suitable for women of the era, and draped it over Zhang Xiaolan, tying it securely.

“It’s done, master.”

Only then did Li Rui turn and continue inside. Xiaolian took Zhang Xiaolan’s arm and presented it for Li Rui to examine.

“Help the young lady inside to change her dressing,” Li Rui instructed, noticing Zhang Xiaolan's distracted and dazed expression.

“Alright, please come, miss,” Xiaolian replied, gently guiding Zhang Xiaolan into the room. Zhang Xiaolan cooperated, though her mind was still spinning—she had traveled through time into the ancient past, and she wondered how she would survive here.

Once inside, Xiaolian fetched the medicine box. Li Rui took out several bottles, carefully unwrapped the bloodstained cloth from Zhang Xiaolan’s arm, and sprinkled medicinal powder on the wound. The pain made Zhang Xiaolan grimace and cry out hoarsely,

“Ah~ it hurts!”

“This golden wound medicine stings a bit. Please bear with it, miss. By the way, I don’t yet know your name. How should I address you?” Li Rui asked, trying to distract her, so the pain wouldn’t feel so intense as he changed her dressing.

“My name is Zhang Xiaolan—Zhang as in ‘writing,’ Xiao as in ‘dawn,’ Lan as in ‘mountain breeze.’ You can call me Lanlan.”

Li Rui’s hand trembled unexpectedly. He had been listening quietly, but upon hearing ‘Lanlan,’ it was as though someone had squeezed his heart. Yet in the next moment, he regained his composure.

“When you recover, I’ll send you home to reunite with your family,” Li Rui said, finishing the bandage and offering comfort, though he dared not look Zhang Xiaolan directly in the eye, only glancing at her occasionally.

“I have no home anymore,” Zhang Xiaolan replied, her sorrow and loneliness plain to see. She knew her parents would be heartbroken if they couldn’t find her.

Li Rui looked at her with compassion, suspecting that war had destroyed her home and family. Without thinking, he blurted out,

“If you don’t mind, you may stay here… I mean, until you wish to leave, or find somewhere else to go. For now, you can rest and recover here.”

His words came out in a rush, startling Zhang Xiaolan. Li Rui quickly tried to explain himself.

“Thank you, Brother Li,” Zhang Xiaolan said, smiling at him for the first time. She had heard his name yesterday, and now, grateful for his offer, she called him Brother Li.

“If Miss Zhang is willing to stay, that’s wonderful,” Li Rui replied, delighted to hear her call him Brother Li, and even more enchanted by her gentle smile. He realized he had lost himself in the moment and, to cover his embarrassment, cleared his throat and turned away. Xiaolian, sharp for her age, saw through it and couldn’t help but giggle.

“Master, letting her stay is best. She has nowhere else to go anyway.”

“Yes, from now on, just call her Miss Zhang,” Li Rui instructed. Xiaolian replied mischievously,

“Understood, master. I’ll do my best to look after Miss Zhang.”

Zhang Xiaolan paid little attention to their conversation, but felt a measure of relief—at least she had somewhere to stay for now. If not for Li Rui, she would surely have been lost in this world fifteen hundred years in the past.

Li Rui left, but as he walked away, a smile flickered in his eyes, though he himself wasn’t sure why. After Xiaolian helped Zhang Xiaolan wash up, she brought lunch. Zhang Xiaolan ate little, having no appetite, which made Xiaolian feel for her, as well as pity for the food.

At night, Zhang Xiaolan sat in the courtyard watching the stars, still wearing her own clothes, with the cloak tied around her shoulders. In the ancient world, night fell swiftly, yet the darkness was enchanting. Listening to the chorus of insects and cicadas, gazing at the stars above, she realized she had never known the sky could be filled with so many bright stars. Perhaps the neon lights of the city had always obscured their faint glow, keeping people from seeing them.

“Miss, are you looking at the stars?” Xiaolian dragged over a chair and sat beside Zhang Xiaolan, following her gaze upward.

“Yes. Where I’m from, the stars aren’t so many or so bright.” Zhang Xiaolan’s words piqued Xiaolian’s curiosity.

“Really? Is the moon in your hometown the same as here?” Xiaolian asked with childlike wonder, just like any curious little girl. Zhang Xiaolan smiled, deciding to tease her,

“Of course… it’s the same! But in my hometown, the nights are filled with lights, so the stars’ glow is hidden. There are fewer stars to see, and they’re dimmer.”

Xiaolian had been eager to hear more, but Zhang Xiaolan’s playful answer left her a little disappointed.

“Oh! So your hometown must be very prosperous, lighting so many candles at night.”

“Haha!” Zhang Xiaolan couldn’t help but laugh at Xiaolian’s innocent remark, her laughter ringing like silver bells. Xiaolian laughed with her, and even the listener on the other side of the wall, hearing their conversation and laughter, shook his head with a smile.

Usually, Xiaolian went to bed early, but after chatting with Zhang Xiaolan in the courtyard, she was reluctant to retire. They talked about everything under the stars, and Zhang Xiaolan shared stories that Xiaolian found novel and amusing—though she was skeptical about the existence of such strange things.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaolan learned from Xiaolian about local customs and traditions, and recalled Li Rui mentioning the Li Dynasty. She now understood that this dynasty had only been established for less than thirty years, and the current emperor had been on the throne for five. Xiaolian spoke with reverence and caution, as if afraid someone might overhear, though in this remote mountain, far from the imperial court, it was unclear what she feared.