Just as she finished speaking, there was a “thump,” and she was lying flat on the bed again. This time, the pain was so intense that tears streamed down her face, and she couldn’t even speak. “Miss… Miss… you… you… can… speak now?!” A maid in green with two buns in her hair, her face a mixture of shock and joy, stammered out her words. “Xiaoxuan, quick! Quick! Go tell the lady that the miss has really spoken!” “Alright! I’ll go right now.” No sooner had she spoken than the maid named Xiaoxuan, dressed in red, dashed out of the room with astonishing speed. Seeing Wu Xiaopei’s eyes brimming with tears, the maid in green, full of guilt, moved to help her up. Seeing the green-clad maid’s action, Wu Xiaopei quickly called out, “Wait! I was just thrown down by you, and now my whole body hurts so much I can’t move. Don’t touch me!” She was in so much pain that she even furrowed her brows. “I’m sorry! Miss, Xiaobi was just startled that you spoke and accidentally dropped you. It was unintentional, please rest assured, Xiaobi will be very careful this time, Miss.” The maid in green, who introduced herself as Xiaobi, looked full of regret but spoke with utmost sincerity. One should not strike someone with a smiling face, nor should one curse someone who is repentant; these were principles she always adhered to. Since she had heard the apology and the attitude was very humble, it seemed a bit ungracious to get angry. Wu Xiaopei thought this far and decided not to blame her for the “slight” mistake, especially since she really needed someone to help her up in this situation. “Will you really be careful this time?” Wu Xiaopei asked skeptically. “Yes!” Xiaobi nodded vigorously. “Alright then! I’ll trouble you.” Wu Xiaopei gritted her teeth to prevent the numbing pain from spreading throughout her body when she got up. Xiaobi sat on the edge of the bed, gently helping her up with movements so familiar that one could tell she had done this countless times before. Huh? Why didn’t it hurt so much this time? Wu Xiaopei looked at Xiaobi with wide, puzzled eyes. “Miss, what’s wrong? Still in pain?” Seeing Wu Xiaopei’s expression, Xiaobi thought she was in pain again and was about to cry in urgency, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! It’s all Xiaobi’s fault for not holding you properly, making you hurt so much now.” “Oh, no!” Wu Xiaopei quickly explained, “It’s because it didn’t hurt at all this time, which I found strange.” “Phew—That’s how it is!” Xiaobi let out a big sigh of relief, “Then, Miss, please sit for a moment, I’ll bring the washbasin so you can freshen up. When the lady comes in later, you two can have a good chat. She’s been waiting for this day for so long.” After Xiaobi quickly settled Wu Xiaopei, she turned to the outer hall to fetch the washbasin for her to freshen up. Wu Xiaopei felt that something was off. She had accidentally been nudged by Niu Qi, rolling into a dark place, and upon opening her eyes, she saw antiques and even ancient people. Could it be that she had been reincarnated? But Meng Po had clearly told her she was still reincarnated in modern times, so how could she be seeing these antiques and ancient people? Moreover, why didn’t she forget her past like others do after reincarnation? Even more bizarre was that she had grown up and could even speak. What exactly had gone wrong? Wu Xiaopei furrowed her brows, unable to figure out what had gone awry.
After a while, excited voices could be heard from outside the room. Leading the way was Xiaoxuan, followed by two men and a woman. Before Wu Xiaopei could get a good look at them, the woman in the middle rushed to the bedside, grabbed Wu Xiaopei’s hand, and tears flowed down. “Meng’er, your mother has waited for this day for sixteen years. The City God really didn’t deceive your mother; you’ve really spoken.” The woman said joyfully. “Mother!” Huh? Why did I just call her mother? Wu Xiaopei felt utterly baffled. Hearing Wu Xiaopei call her mother, the woman hugged her tightly in excitement. Although the embrace was almost suffocating, Wu Xiaopei did not resist; instead, she was filled with an indescribable feeling, instinctively knowing this woman was her mother and she was her child. Moments later, a cough was heard, “Cough, cough.” Wu Xiaopei looked in the direction of the sound and saw a very familiar look in someone’s eyes. She started to say “Niu” when the person winked at her, signaling her to calm down. Hearing Wu Xiaopei say “Niu,” the woman seemed to remember something, quickly let go of her, and turned to the person who coughed, “Master Niu, what should we do now?” “Madam,” the speaker bowed to her, “please give us a moment. After I cleanse the miss’s room once more, everything will be fine.” The woman nodded to him, then turned to Wu Xiaopei, “Meng’er, after Master Niu cleanses your room, your father and I will have a good chat with you.” To find out what was going on, Wu Xiaopei nodded and smiled at the woman, agreeing to her words. Once everyone had left the room, Wu Xiaopei burst into laughter. “Brother Niu Qi, when did you become so proper?” “Hmph, you think I want to?” Niu Qi replied with disdain. “Hehe, can’t you turn back?” Niu Qi, upon hearing Wu Xiaopei’s words, snapped his fingers, returning to his original bull-headed form, and walked into the inner hall, sitting at the small round table. “Wow! Brother Niu Qi, you’re still as majestic and divine as ever, truly the best envoy of the Bull-Headed Corps.” Wu Xiaopei flattered him. Flattered by her, the corners of Niu Qi’s mouth couldn’t help but lift slightly, but only for a brief moment because there was something more important to do. “Xiaopei, there’s something very important I need to tell you.” Niu Qi said very seriously. Seeing Niu Qi’s grave expression, Wu Xiaopei also remembered the questions she had earlier. “Oh! I have something to ask you too.” “Is your question why after I nudged you, you rolled into a pitch-black place, and upon opening your eyes, you saw antiques, and even ancient people appeared? And have you been reincarnated? If so, it’s very strange, isn’t it? Because Meng Po clearly told you you were still reincarnated in modern times, so how could you be in ancient times?”
