Nuonuo sized up Shen Rumei, scratching her head. “You’re so afraid of Auntie going to see Little Brother—are you worried your little misdeeds will be discovered?”
Shen Rumei grew frantic and hissed, “You little beggar, don’t you dare spout nonsense and slander people!”
Nuonuo’s words suddenly cleared the hesitation from Tang Wanqing’s mind. Her face turned cold as she said, “Rumei, Nuonuo is an honored guest in our household. Who gave you permission to speak to her like that? Qingyi is my son. Do I need your permission to go see him?”
These few words left Shen Rumei speechless. She stammered, “Madam, that’s not what I meant. I was only thinking of Third Young Master.”
“Step aside. I’ll take responsibility if anything happens,” Tang Wanqing said, then walked straight past Shen Rumei and headed directly to the Pine Wave Courtyard where her third son, Lin Qingyi, lived.
Watching the retreating figures of the woman and the child, Shen Rumei’s eyes nearly spat fire. Just who was this Nuonuo? She had only been here a day, and already things were spiraling out of control.
Her daughter Ruoxuan had long wanted to move into the Rosy Clouds Pavilion. Shen Rumei had told her to be patient a little longer, but now this little beggar had seized the opportunity first. It was infuriating.
She ordered her personal maid, Cailian, to investigate what had happened the day before, while she herself hurried off to the villa where the Old Madam was recuperating.
Meanwhile, Tang Wanqing had already brought Nuonuo to the entrance of the Pine Wave Courtyard, but she hesitated, unable to take a step forward. Qiuyue looked at her mistress with pity but couldn’t utter a single word of comfort.
Ever since witnessing his mother’s breakdown three years ago, Third Young Master had become like a startled bird. Not only was he terrified of his mother, but even the sight of the things she had prepared for him before would frighten him half to death. If he so much as stepped half a foot outside the Pine Wave Courtyard, that same fear would follow him like a shadow.
Even when he stayed obediently within the courtyard, he was still plagued by nightmares at night. Thus, for three years, Madam had not set foot in the Pine Wave Courtyard, and Third Young Master had not left it either.
Thinking of this, Tang Wanqing lost her resolve. “Maybe… we should go back.”
Nuonuo looked up at the Pine Wave Courtyard and said in her childish voice, “There’s a bad thing in this house.”
“The little brother inside isn’t a bad person. It’s my fault as his mother for frightening him into this state,” Tang Wanqing said, wiping away tears as she spoke.
“Auntie, Little Brother isn’t the bad thing. It’s the bad thing that’s making Little Brother uncomfortable,” Nuonuo said, her words like a tongue twister. She then grabbed the threshold and struggled to climb into the Pine Wave Courtyard, sighing as she went, “Little Brother’s threshold is really high.”
“Nuonuo, come back!” Tang Wanqing reached out to grab her but didn’t dare take half a step forward.
By then, Nuonuo had already huffed and puffed her way to the large locust tree in the courtyard. She crouched beneath it, waving energetically at Tang Wanqing. “Auntie, come here! It’s this bad thing that’s making Little Brother afraid of you.”
Just then, a cold voice rang out. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”
Nuonuo followed the voice and saw a boy standing before her, dressed in a moon-white robe. His face was pale, and he was as thin as a reed.
“You must be Auntie’s little brother, right? I’m Nuonuo. Auntie misses you and brought me to see you. Right, Auntie?” As she spoke, Nuonuo turned to look for Tang Wanqing, but there was no trace of her to be found.
Nuonuo scratched her head, “That’s strange, where is Auntie?”
“She won’t come in. I fall ill the moment I see her.” Lin Qingyi said, yet his gaze remained fixed on the doorway, reluctant to look away.
“I must have done many bad things in my past life, otherwise why would I fear my own mother?” The young man finished speaking and lowered his head despondently.
Tang Wanqing had not gone far. Her son’s words pierced her heart like a knife. It was clearly her own madness that had frightened her son, yet he took all the blame upon himself. She truly did not deserve to be a mother.
From within the courtyard, Nuonuo’s sweet voice rang out again, “Auntie misses Brother, and Brother misses Auntie too. Once Nuonuo digs out this bad thing, Auntie and Brother can see each other.”
“Little brat, what are you doing? Isn’t that dirty?” Watching Nuonuo digging a hole directly in the muddy ground with her bare hands, Lin Qingyi felt utterly uncomfortable.
Nuonuo paid no mind. With her sticky hands, she tugged at Lin Qingyi’s robe, her face innocent as she said, “Little Brother, come and dig together!”
The maids and servants attending nearby felt their hearts leap into their throats. The Third Young Master was extremely particular about cleanliness—this little girl had surely caused a disaster.
Strangely, when he met the little one’s obsidian-like eyes, Lin Qingyi felt no disgust in his heart. Instead, he felt a sense of familiarity. As if bewitched, he crouched down, pulled her up, and while brushing the dirt off her clothes, he asked coldly, “Dig here?”
“Mhm.” Nuonuo nodded vigorously, her flower-like hair dancing along with the movement. Lin Qingyi couldn’t resist ruffling it.
With a single glance from Lin Qingyi, a servant understood and fetched tools, digging where Nuonuo had indicated. Before long, they unearthed a square box.
Nuonuo picked up the box and placed it under the sunlight. The box immediately began emitting thick Black Qi.
Watching the Black Qi dissipate and vanish, Nuonuo smiled sweetly. She called out toward the gate, “Auntie, the bad thing has been driven away by Nuonuo. You can come in now.”
Tang Wanqing’s heart stirred. How could she not miss Yi’er? Yet, fearing she might frighten her son, she dared not act rashly.
Since Auntie still wouldn’t come in, Nuonuo simply ran out, took her hand, and said, “Little Brother misses you very much. Let’s go see him.”
“Nuonuo, I can’t go.” Tang Wanqing’s face showed terror. She let go of Nuonuo and ran, nearly stumbling after just a few steps.
Nuonuo cried out in alarm, “Auntie, are you alright?”
Hearing his mother was hurt, Lin Qingyi instinctively rushed out of Songtao Garden. Seeing his mother in tears, he choked out a cry, “Mother.”
Tang Wanqing looked up. Standing before her was truly the son she had longed for day and night. She immediately scolded, “What are you doing out here? Don’t you value your life?”
Only then did Lin Qingyi realize he had stepped out of Songtao Garden. Yet, he didn’t feel the slightest discomfort and couldn’t help but say, “Mother, I’m fine. That child really did cure me.”
“Yi’er, my son…” After calling out this name, Tang Wanqing could no longer hold back. She hurried toward her son but stopped at the last step, not daring to approach.
“Auntie, the bad thing is gone. Don’t worry.” As she spoke, Nuonuo took Tang Wanqing’s hand with one hand and Lin Qingyi’s hand with the other, bringing them together. Lin Qingyi was not frightened; he still gazed with tear-filled eyes at his long-missed mother.
Mother and son embraced each other, weeping together—three years of longing finally found its resting place in this moment.
The servants standing nearby also had tears welling up in their eyes.