Chapter 17: Awakening

Old Madam Wang’s heart was filled with both worry and doubt, yet she firmly believed the things her granddaughter had told her earlier that day about the family ancestors. After all, age had brought her a certain reverence for the supernatural, and she regarded such matters with awe and caution.

Clutching her granddaughter’s small hand anxiously, she prayed silently in her heart. Perhaps her prayers were answered, for after a little more than an hour, she watched as her granddaughter’s eyes fluttered open. Madam Wang hurriedly instructed Granny Zhang to prepare some warm water and a steaming bowl of pure white rice porridge, determined that her granddaughter should have something hot to eat the moment she awoke.

Though she had eaten rice porridge just before fainting, the immense mental exhaustion she’d suffered in that mysterious space had left Wang Keyue feeling desperately empty and uncomfortable. She took the porridge from her grandmother’s hands and drank it all in one long gulp. The thick, warm porridge soothed her stomach, and in an instant, she felt reinvigorated.

“Yue’er, how do you feel? Is there anywhere you feel unwell?” Madam Wang asked in concern.

“Grandmother, I’m all right. I was just overly tired. After a good night’s rest, I should be fine,” Wang Keyue replied with a smile.

“As long as you’re all right, that’s all that matters!” Madam Wang released a heavy sigh of relief.

“Grandmother, the road ahead will only grow more difficult. I want to begin tomorrow by seeking out some strong and sturdy women or maids among our household servants. I’ll teach them some basic martial arts so that our group as a whole can better defend itself,” Wang Keyue said.

Madam Wang hadn’t expected her granddaughter to suggest such a thing and was momentarily taken aback.

“Grandmother, the martial skills I know were passed down to me by our ancestor. They’re simple, suitable for beginners, and within ten days or so, they’ll yield results. If any grown men learn them, they’ll master the basics even faster, in just seven or eight days,” Wang Keyue continued, watching Madam Wang’s thoughtful expression.

Upon hearing that it was the ancestor’s idea, Madam Wang’s spirits lifted.

“Yue’er, do whatever you think best! I’ll support you fully. If you can’t find suitable candidates among the servants, it’s nothing to fret over. When we reach the next town, I’ll buy you some promising boys myself,” Madam Wang said, growing more convinced as she spoke. With the money they had taken from the corrupt officials, purchasing a few slaves would be no trouble at all.

Wang Keyue nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing outright. With her grandmother’s backing, she could now plan in earnest.

Early the next morning, everyone packed their belongings and prepared to set out. But before they could depart, Granny Zhang relayed a message: Madam Wang wanted everyone to gather for an announcement.

Curious, the group assembled around Madam Wang, whispering among themselves. Madam Wang gave Granny Zhang a look, and she immediately understood, stepping forward to call out, “Quiet! Quiet, everyone!”

A hush fell over the crowd.

“The Wang family has suffered calamity,” Madam Wang began. “All of you here are now bound to our fate; our fortunes rise and fall together. Though we have been declared criminals, the Wang family was wronged by villains. I believe that His Majesty will one day restore justice, clear our name, and let us reclaim our honor!”

Her impassioned words ignited a spark of hope among the women present. Most of them were uneducated, unambitious, and had lost all sense of direction. Hearing Madam Wang speak so resolutely, they finally felt reassured; faint smiles eased the tension on their faces.

In truth, only Madam Wang and Wang Keyue understood how naïve and laughable these words were. From the moment the Wang family’s many descendants died at the execution ground, and from the instant Madam Wang agreed to and orchestrated their flight, the Wang family had utterly severed ties with the Great Qin Dynasty. There could be no reconciliation.

In another half a month, when their absence was discovered in the Northwest frontier, their situation would become even more dire. They would be fugitives, hunted by the entire empire.

Still, Madam Wang gave these words of comfort because, for now, her people were dispirited and needed something—anything—to keep them moving forward.