An Underlying Problem

"Xiaojie! Xiaojie! It's time to get up."

'Why is there so much noise? Xiaojie? Who is this xiaojie?' thought Yingyue. Half-asleep YIngyue got up ready to launch a pillow into her human alarm's face. Thinking it was Lin Chun who came back to bother her because she had accidentally left something behind, she launched a pillow at her.

BAM! "Xiaojie how can you hit Xiao Lan like that," a pitiful voice said from beside her. Slowly sitting up, she rubbed her eyes as she took in her surroundings. It was not her room! Taking in her new environment, her eyes seemed to almost pop out of her sockets.

'Where am I? This is a really realistic dream. It must be because Lin Chun always made her binge watch all those dramas,' thought Yingyue as there were no other explanations for her to be in this gorgeous, but outdated room from ancient china.

"Xiaojie, you have been sleeping for days. Master and Xiao Lan have been so worried for you. Are you okay? We understand that you are grieving for your mother, but you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. Nubi is so happy you are awake now though." said a 12-year old girl in a light green chiffon hanfu, double buns on the side of her heads, and chubby cheeks smiling toothily.

"Xiao Lan! I have told young mistress is sick right now, so you should not disturb her," gently said an older girl in the same outfit, who was bringing in a tub of boiling water and a soft towel. Setting it gently on the sandalwood vanity, she turned around gracefully.

"Young miss, you are finally awake. We must go tell master he will be so happy. Xiao Lan, you go fetch master, while I go invite the imperial physician.

"Who are you? Where am I? Is this a joke?," said Yingyue warily.

The two girls' eyes widened into shock.

After pausing and staring at Yingyue the elder one said,"Xiaojie, what are you talking about?"

"I asked you, who are you and where am I?" calmly said Yingyue as anxiety built up in her heart.

Gasping in shock the two girls ran towards her,"Xiaojie, are you okay? Is this a joke?"

"What joke? What is going on?" she began to raise her voice. Her eyes full of panic and her breathing began to be laborious.

Stumbling towards the door the elder of the two girls shouted,"Someone please go get the master and the imperial physician. There is something wrong with the young miss."

Before long a group came in consisting of two elderly men and a group of young teenagers. One of the men was wearing a light blue robe. He looked very kindly and in good health with a long, grey, and pointy beard. However compared to the other elderly man, he seemed a lot weaker. The other man was what you could describe as a bear. Broad shoulders and tall physique, he towered over everyone in the room and as he entered the two young girls bowed.

"Yingyue! Yingyue! Are you okay?" sobbed the bear man. Running towards her, he almost trampled on the small Xiao Lan.

Recoiling back and a little frightened by the bearlike man burling towards her with a face full of tears and snot.

"Who are you?" she asked and with that he began sobbing even further. She was a bit shocked that such a big and terrifying looking elderly man could bawl so much.

"How can you not remember daddy?" he said bawling like he was abruptly betrayed.

"Duke, please let this one check the young miss's health," said the other elderly man.

"Check, check, yes, check," the man wiped his tears and moved away to allow the elderly man.

He cautiously approached her as if he was worried about frightening away this terrified little miss and with permission, he took out a handkerchief and placed it over her wrist.

After feeling her pulse for a while, he stood up and went outside with the bear man. Taking advantage of the fact that there was mainly her as the others also went outside, she tried to stand up to go find a mirror.

However, as her feet touched the floor, she collapsed on the ground. She couldn't move her legs!