Chapter 14：Heaven and Earth

It was drizzling again as though the clouds wanted to pour out the last vestiges of tears before autumn arrives.

But it came so suddenly.

Yin Hua Lei was about to visit Yin fu when it rained. She hadn't boarded her carriage yet as she looked up the sky.

But she still decided to continue her short travel back home. After all, it was just a thin sheet of rain.

As she was about to lift her skirt, the corners of her eye caught a commotion on the street.

The scene caused her heart to stop and then palpitate, her lips immediately forming words: "Zhao Gang!"

For once, she didn't mind the volume of her voice as it soon drowned amidst the sounds of horses neighing and flailing wildly.

A shadow darted between the two carriages which were about to clash. In a flash, along with the rain, red liquid also flowed.

The street quieted down as the two horses dropped to the ground with a sickening thud.

Some people watched in horror while a figure emerged from the entanglement. The tall and masked man was solemnly holding a jaded child in his embrace, especially making sure that her pure eyes wouldn't be tainted with the violence around them.

"Gods, whose little child is that? The kid almost died there!" One exclaimed.

"The one who saved her is probably Princess Gao Le's people. I saw her shout just before..."

"Good thing her Highness was quick or else... The kid would have died so young!"

"En... Her Highness is truly benevolent. Look! Even personally holding the traumatized child!"

Waves of praises sounded under the rain.

But the subject of their talk couldn't care less.

Yin Hua Lei took the child and placed her over her bosom. She herself wasn't aware that her limbs were badly trembling.

Zhao Gang who saw her was a bit hesitant to hand the toddler but his mistress was adamant.

Yin Hua Lei barely held herself together but she knew she was still outside. The most she could do was hold the child and quickly get inside her palace. She even lost the ability to speak.

For a second, her maidservants were flustered with these series of events. But Zhao Gang, in a rarely heard serious tone said, "Serve mistress!"

Then proceeded to personally order to shut the gates and park the unused carriage.

Xin Tao and Xin Ling immediately woke up from their trance.

Mistress walked under the rain!

So they hurriedly went after her. Xin Ling opened a huge oiled paper parasol while Xin Tao advanced to prepare a warm bath and fresh set of clothes.

Yin Hua Lei was only focused on sheltering the ball of warmth in her bosom. The child obediently kept quiet as she was still shaken by the accident. Yin Hua Lei could feel the slightest tremor from the meek young one.

Gao Le palace servants were really efficient. In only a quarter of a shichen, Yin Hua Lei and the rescued kid had changed to warmer clothes. Hot ginger tea was also served to avoid catching a cold.

"Mistress should drink too before it cools." Xin Tao had to remind Yin Hua Lei as the latter was too preoccupied spoon feeding the child.

Not once did their mistress let go of the small dumpling. This was too much of a privilege for the child ah! They didn't even know her origins.

Now that the girl was out of her wet clothes, her countenance was clearly seen.

She appeared to be three to four years old with bright intelligent eyes. Even after suffering a huge shock, she didn't bawl or let out a squeak in front of strangers.

By now, she had overcame the initial trauma and was distracted with the attention she was receiving and the new sights she was seeing.

She also had smooth milky white skin, indicating she was a pampered jaded child of a rich family.

But surely, no matter how cute the toddler was, that alone wouldn't incite their mistress to lose her cool and fuss over the child.

Xin Tao knew how her mistress hated small children. If it was normal, she'd probably just watch the child get in an accident and reluctantly offer medical assistance afterwards just because it happened in front of the Gao Le palace.

Seeing her sister's denseness, Xin Ling offered her a look and gestured on the tea table.

Xin Tao's gaze travelled before it stopped and her eyes almost bulged at what she saw.

"All the servants are dismissed!" She said decisively.

"Yes, senior sister Tao..." They answered in unison.

Xin Ling quietly closed the door after exchanging a look with her sister. She'd probably guard from the outside. Xin Tao remained on this side.

Yin Hua Lei was oblivious to her surroundings. The little girl was sitting on her lap and she alternated with making her drink the warm tea and drying her hair personally.

Her long slender hands were slow and deliberate in their endeavor as if she was working on the most fragile flower. Even the most beautiful of Yin Hua Lei's piece of art didn't elicit this kind of care.

The small toddler clung to her for dear life, even ruining her dress. But she didn't mind as she was lost in thought while staring at the child's peerless face.

Impossible... Her mind endlessly echoed. After some time, she gained somewhat a semblance of sanity. Yin Hua Lei admitted that she lost herself for a moment earlier. It was now time to think of this rationally.

The hall was filled with warm silence. Two pairs of eyes gazed into each other. One big, one small.

"Can you speak already?" Yin Hua Lei started. Somehow, her usual antisocial tone was tinged with warmth. But she wasn't aware of it.

The adorable girl on her lap first swallowed the tea in her small mouth.

"Yes." A sweet and milky voice answered.

Yin Hua Lei's emotions were in turmoil. Once again, she found her hands terribly shaking.

She reached out for something on the table.

"Then, will you tell me who gave this to you? You see, it's really pretty. I want to get one too."

For once, Yin Hua Lei spoke plainly, without any form of honorifics to herself.

On her palm sat a plain looking opaque lilac jade hair ornament. It was in the shape of two twinkling stars in the night sky.

She carefully put it on the side of the girl's now combed hair. The child's long lashes met her cheeks as she blinked.

"Momma gave Bao Bei. No other..."

By now, Yin Hua Lei's breathing was ragged. She squeezed her eyes shut to prevent herself from doing something stupid. The kid talked clearly albeit quite in incomplete sentences.

Pulling the child closer, she gave an unrestrained smile, or at least she tried to. All the while careful not to scare the little dumpling with her stiff face.

"If Bao Bei wants, I will give you more pretty ornaments before sending you home. Do you like that?"

The lovable toddler widened her eyes in surprise before smiling brilliantly.

"Nn!" The small face then grew stiff. "Little treasure still favorite."

Her short arm reached for the jade clip on her head.

Yin Hua Lei's eyes softened. "Of course..."

She was about to make excuses for the child to stay here for a few days because she wanted to investigate but a silky, piquant voice interrupted her.

"Ben wang heard Princess Gao Le rescued my cute daughter from being stomped on by beasts. So it is true."

Yin Hua Lei almost snapped her head towards the door and she instantly felt lightheaded, her ears ringing. What did she just hear?

"Poppa!" The child in her arms grew lively but made no move to escape her embrace.

Yin Hua Lei instinctively tightened her arms around the small dumpling but she made sure it wasn't to the point of suffocation.

The man standing by the door gave off a frail feminine appearance. The iconic white hair and red-brownish eyes immediately gave his identity away.

"Your Highness, Feng wang..." Yin Hua Lei stood up, bowed slightly and didn't forget to put her usual detached mask. "Should your Highness be entering an unmarried lady's boudoir?"

Prince Feng humoured her and even took a few steps further.

"Oh, but Gao Le princess won't understand a parent's predicament. Ben wang almost died from worry and shock when I heard the news, immediately dropping all matters in the palace to get here. How could ben wang be satisfied with waiting in the receiving hall?"

Sure enough, several palace maids along with the Xin sisters all looked at their mistress apprehensively. Feng wang obviously forced his way in.

Yin Hua Lei also didn't miss the immense anger swirling in the prince's eyes even though he was supposed to be smiling pleasantly. Was it because of the accident? Was it out of genuine concern for the child?

"Bothering Princess Gao Le to hand ben wang's child." His voice suddenly turned frigid and didn't bother to hide his warning tone.

Yin Hua Lei stared at his outstretched arms for a moment then to the small dumpling who looked up at her expectantly.

A suffocating silence ensued.

After which, Yin Hua Lei gave Bao Bei to the prince with a neutral face as though the earlier stalemate didn't happen.

Xia Lian Bei's bewitching smile returned once his daughter was in his arms as the small girl immediately plastered himself on to him.

He secretly felt for her pulse and knew the little princess was uninjured.

"Ben wang is really grateful to Gao Le princess. Don't know if the princess has any requests in exchange for this huge favor?"

The words of formality warped into gloating in Yin Hua Lei's ears. She couldn't stop her fingers from shaking so she thoroughly hid them under her sleeves.

"This princess only did what's right. My only plea is for your Highness to investigate today's matter... lest the little princess is harmed again in the future."

Yin Hua Lei didn't want to give herself away but she couldn't help the anger ramming her rib cage.

Xia Lian Bei grinned more widely, showing his canines in the process. "Naturally, princess need not remind ben wang. This prince will of course take more care for my daughter. If I find this was premeditated, ben wang will make the people concerned suffer for the rest of their days."

He nodded and was itching to get himself out of here.

"Your Highness..." That came out softer than expected. But Prince Feng still reluctantly turned back to Yin Hua Lei.

"May I ask what the little princess' name is?" She braved.

"Hmm? What if ben wang says you may not?" Xia Lian Bei was born rude after all.

But before he passed the door, he became considerate and spat out the poem.

"Under the heavens, above the earth, my soul seeketh bliss. A thousand years, here she was, the rapture I have sired. Tiandi is her name. Xia Tiandi is rather a good name. Ben wang has to thank her mother for it."

With that, he flicked his sleeves and exited.

When the two were out of sight, Yin Hua Lei finally collapsed to her seat. Her wobbly legs couldn't hold her weight any longer.

The sliver of calm she portrayed earlier completely left her.

Her face was pale and she could barely breathe. "How... Just how could this be?"

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Tian means heaven, Di means earth.