On the sixth day of the sixth month, before dawn, Qi Zhenzhen was woken up. She bathed and perfumed herself, and one thing after another proceeded in a flurry. Even though she had followed along and practiced when Li Nuan got married, she was still a bit flustered when it was her turn. Fortunately, the wedding officiant and the auspicious woman were there to guide her.
After being dressed, Qi Zhenzhen sat on the bed. Yun Shi waved away everyone in the room and looked at Qi Zhenzhen with teary eyes.
"If my Zhenzhen were still here, she would be very happy, wouldn't she?" Yun Shi said slowly.
Qi Zhenzhen looked at Yun Shi in surprise. Did she know everything?
"Zhenzhen was a filial child, but her temper was most like mine," Yun Shi said faintly. "As a mother, how could I not notice... Although the person is still the same, her temper is completely different. When I was young, I read a book of strange tales in the academy's library. It mentioned people suddenly changing their temperaments, saying it was borrowing a corpse to return the soul."
Qi Zhenzhen clasped her hands tightly. Speaking of which, she should be in this situation. She had died then, and the original owner had also died. But her soul had not dissipated. For some unknown reason, her soul had entered the original owner's body. After receiving her promise, the original owner's soul had finally dissipated.
Qi Zhenzhen had no idea how to respond now that Yun Shi had suddenly brought this up.
"Don't be nervous. Although you are not Zhenzhen, this body is Zhenzhen's. And since you came, you have done your best for me and Yi Ge'er. Without you, with my temperament, I would only be barely alive," Yun Shi said softly. "In the end, if it weren't for my own uselessness as a mother, my Zhenzhen wouldn't have been lost."
Qi Zhenzhen met Yun Shi's gaze. After a long pause, she said with difficulty, "I am indeed not her. She fell in the mountain hollow, and the person..."
Yun Shi grabbed Qi Zhenzhen's hand. "Was she going to the mountains to find medicine?"
Qi Zhenzhen nodded.
Yun Shi had already suspected this, but hearing Qi Zhenzhen confirm it now, she couldn't help but her eyes reddened. "It's all my fault..."
"She never blamed you. Until the end, she was still thinking of you and Yi Ge'er," Qi Zhenzhen said. "Her greatest wish was for you and Yi Ge'er to live safely, healthily, and happily. So, please don't blame yourself."
Yun Shi stared blankly at Qi Zhenzhen, her gaze seeming to pierce through her and see the original owner.
"Both of us met with accidents. I arrived here, and perhaps, she had a similar encounter. She is not gone, just not by your side," Qi Zhenzhen could feel Yun Shi's despair. No wonder Yun Shi had always been indifferent, avoiding matters when she could, with a faint sadness in her eyes. Qi Zhenzhen had always thought this sadness was due to the Yun family's misfortunes. Now, she realized that part of this sadness was for the original owner.
Qi Zhenzhen's words brought a glimmer of light to Yun Shi's eyes. She gripped Qi Zhenzhen's hand even tighter. "Are you telling the truth?"
"Buddhism speaks of cause and effect and reincarnation. My daughter and I are probably entangled by karma," Qi Zhenzhen thought.
"Yes, if you can live in this form, my Zhenzhen should be able to as well! Zhenzhen wished for me to live well, and I, I will definitely live well. Good child, thank you. You have done so much in Zhenzhen's stead, I should thank you. No matter what, I will remember all the kindness you have shown us. This body is still Zhenzhen's body, so we are still mother and daughter," Yun Shi said. "Mother hopes that after your marriage, everything goes as you wish. If you are well, I will have hope, and I will feel that my Zhenzhen is also living well."