They all stopped in front of a house which I’m sure to be Minister Zhao’s. Perhaps, he might know how I got here. A man got out from the house wearing a frown. He was wearing a traditional silk robe.
“What’s this entire ruckus about”?
“Your daughter bought something from my stall and refused to pay for it. This is her fourth time”. The man shot me an angry look. Oh Lord. I pray I should wake up from this dream any sooner.
“Is this enough”. Minister Zhao threw a pouch of money at the young man. The young man smiled happily. “Now let’s go of her”.
“Sure”. They released me. “Everyone let’s go”. They all left.
“Follow me”. He walked back inside the house and I followed. The maids greeted as we entered. “Take the young Ms and beat her twenty strokes of cane”.
“What”! I exclaimed.
“Yes sire”. They walked over to me and held my hands.
“Don’t you dare touch me? Let’s go of me. Let me go. Hey mister. I think you got the wrong girl. I’m not your daughter. I’m Belia”.
“How dare you speak back”? A woman came out of nowhere. She was heavily adorned. OMG. Isn’t that a golden hairpin? It really is. My eyes can’t deceive me. “Such an insolent child. You’re just like your stupid mother”.
“That’s okay”. The man cut in. “Double her punishment”. He said and walked away.
My butts were all sore from those numerous beating. How can I feel the pain when I’m in a dream? Or this is not a dream? Did I die or something? I was clearly sure that something hit my head at the library but I don’t know what it was.
“Awww”. I cried out rubbing my butts. “So painful. The afterlife is so painful”.
“Sister”. A girl voice called from outside. “Can I come in”?
“Huh…….sure”. She entered. Her face was smooth, small and round. She looks so cute. How can someone be this cute? She sat in front of me.
“Here”. She put a small jade pot on the table.“Apply it on your wound. Do not let mother sees it. I stole it from her chamber”.
“Oh”! I looked at her. “Thanks”. I smiled. “How old are you”? I asked.
“Fourteen”.
“No wonder why you’re so cute”.
“Why do you ask? You knew my age from the start”.
“I……..I was just curious you know”. I faked a laugh to keep her from any suspicion. I caught a glimpse of my face in the mirror but something was different.
“Father is planning on marrying you off”. She said.
“Marriage? I? I’m not even done with high school”.
“High school? What’s that”? She asked.
“High school. You know middle school. You go to high school before going to college”. She looked at me with confusion written over her face. I tried to explain to her then I clearly remember that I was still in a dream or should I say afterlife. “Can I ask you something”?
“Sure”.
“Am I dead? I mean is this the afterlife? I’ve always have a better imagination of the afterlife. So I was thinking maybe I died and ended up becoming your sister. Right? Is that it”?
“I…….I don’t understand”.
“Never mind. I guess this is all a dream”.
“Zanillia”. A male voice called from outside.“Are you asleep”?
“Father’s here”. The girl stood up. But who’s Zanillia anyway?
“Are you asleep”?
“Answer him sister”. She urged me.
“Me...oh. No, I’m not asleep. You can come in”. He entered.
“You’re also here”. He looked over to the girl. “I would like to talk with your sister privately”. He sat.
“Sure”. She bowed slightly and left.
“You’ve changed so much”. He began.“Your mother left you when you where just a week old. I did send her away in order to save both of you. Your stepmother was bent on killing both of you. So I made the decision to let her go. You must have suffered a lot. I know the reason why you stole. The punishment was only to keep your stepmother away from mal-treating you but I blamed myself for not giving you the love, care and attention you deserved. To make up for it, I’ve decided to send you off to the seven realms. Perchance, you might end up marrying the legendary lord. I’ve put down your name among the candidates to be selected. Maybe, you might find happiness over there. So, I guess this is farewell for both of us”.
“Yeah. I guess so”.
“I just want you to know that I love you and I’ll always do”. He got up. “I’ve told the maids to prepare your luggage so you don’t have to worry”. He left. Seems like I would be stuck here for some time. Neither phone nor WIFI. My instagram. My WECHAT. My face book. My Weibo account. Oh no”. I cried. “I want to wake up from this dream”. Oh yeah. That reminds me. I crawled to the front of the mirror only to meet the shocking moment of my life. A different face stared at me. “Who’s this”?
