After Tang Wanqing explained the entire situation clearly to Old Madam Lin and presented the Kylin Flute that Wen Zheng had given to Nuonuo, Old Madam Lin finally believed it, especially since even the Imperial Astrologer had acknowledged it. Overwhelmed with emotion, she hugged Nuonuo tightly. “Child, did you really cure Yi’er?”
Nuonuo blinked her big eyes and said proudly, “Yes, Grandmother! Little brother is fine now. But Auntie said the bad person hasn’t been found yet, so we can’t let others know that little brother is already better. Grandmother is a good person, so you can know.”
Recalling her earlier demeanor, Old Madam Lin couldn’t help but ask, “Grandmother was so fierce just now. Do you still think Grandmother is a good person?”
Nuonuo said earnestly, “Grandmother looks fierce on the surface, but there’s a faint red light above your head. Only good people have such light. Even though this red light is being suppressed by something bad, Nuonuo can still see a little bit of it.”
Hearing the words “something bad,” Tang Wanqing instinctively shuddered and asked anxiously, “Are you saying there’s something bad here with Grandmother too?”
Nuonuo carefully examined Old Madam Lin and then walked around the room, shaking her head. “The bad thing isn’t here. It’s still far away.” After saying this, she stood on tiptoe to touch Old Madam Lin’s head, but she was too short. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t reach. Panting, she said, “Grandmother, please lower your head.”
Although she didn’t know what Nuonuo intended to do, Old Madam Lin obediently lowered her head. Nuonuo used her small hands to grab a few times at Old Madam Lin’s head, then clenched her fist and toddled out of the room on her short legs.
Old Madam Lin and Tang Wanqing followed her out. They saw Nuonuo throw whatever was in her hand into the air and call out, “Xiao Cui, follow it!”
The little emerald-green bird appeared out of nowhere and flew off with a whoosh.
Nuonuo patted her hands contentedly and said, “Good, we’ll soon know where the bad thing is.”
“Is that all it takes?” Old Madam Lin looked puzzled.
“Xiao Cui will come back and tell me when she finds the place.” After saying this, Nuonuo patted her little belly and said, “Don’t worry, we can eat soon.”
Tang Wanqing then realized that Nuonuo had been busy with her since breakfast this morning, and now it was already noon—no wonder she was hungry. She said to Old Madam Lin, “Mother, Nuonuo must be hungry. I’ll take her to eat something and then come back.”
Old Madam Lin stopped her. “I haven’t eaten either. Let’s eat together. It’s been three years since we last shared a meal.” As she said this, she was reminded of what happened three years ago, and both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law felt a pang of sorrow.
“Auntie, Grandmother, have some meat. When Nuonuo misses her mother, she feels sad too. Granny says eating until you’re full makes you feel better.” Nuonuo obediently placed a piece of meat in each of Old Madam Lin’s and Tang Wanqing’s bowls.
Tears welled up in Old Madam Lin’s eyes. “What a good child.” If Wanqing’s daughter were still alive, she would be about this age now.
Knowing that Nuonuo had saved Lin Qingyi, Old Madam Lin now saw her in an entirely favorable light. She even felt that Nuonuo resembled her son and daughter-in-law in some ways. Aware of Nuonuo’s difficult past, she asked, “Nuonuo, why don’t you stay here and be Grandmother’s granddaughter?”
Nuonuo shook her head. “No, Nuonuo has to go find her mother. Once all the bad things in your house are driven away, Nuonuo will leave.”
“Is that so?” Old Madam Lin felt a twinge of reluctance in her heart.
Having been called “Auntie” repeatedly by Nuonuo, Tang Wanqing had long regarded Nuonuo as her own child. Hearing Nuonuo say this, her heart felt empty. Yet, thinking of Nuonuo’s mother missing her child just as she missed her own, Tang Wanqing immediately felt at peace.
It was already heaven’s mercy to have encountered Nuonuo, who saved both her and Yi’er. How could she be so greedy? She promptly said, “Auntie will send someone to inquire right away—which family lost a little girl three years ago. I’ll also send someone to check at the magistrate’s office to see if anyone reported it. I’ll definitely help you find your family as soon as possible.”
Unaware of the reluctance in Tang Wanqing’s eyes, Nuonuo obediently thanked her, “Thank you, Auntie.”
But all of this was noticed by Old Madam Lin. She knew that Wanqing was thinking of her own child. She patted Tang Wanqing’s hand—both were mothers who had lost their children; she understood.
Tang Wanqing was fully aware of her mother-in-law’s kindness. She knew that three years ago, when she had lost her mind and frightened Yi’er, some had urged Old Madam Lin to divorce her as a daughter-in-law or, at the very least, send her to a temple.
But her mother-in-law had only asked her not to go to Songtao Garden to upset Yi’er and had retreated to another residence herself, preserving the dignity befitting the mistress of the household.
Although her words today were sharp, it was all out of concern for Yi’er. Now, the General’s Mansion still relied on her and her mother-in-law to hold it together.
Tang Wanqing spoke openly, “Mother, Magistrate Wen also doesn’t know the origin of this box, but the deadly poison ‘King of Hell’s Smile’ in my medicine is definitely connected to Shen Rumei. What do you think we should do?”
“What are your thoughts?” Old Madam Lin asked, placing a piece of braised pork in Nuonuo’s bowl.
“With foreign poisons and lost Evil Arts involved, I don’t believe Lin Zhicheng and Shen Rumei have such capabilities. There must be a more formidable figure behind them. My idea is to deliberately stir the grass to see what snakes emerge. However, doing so would expose Yi’er to the enemy’s watchful eyes again.”
As she spoke, Tang Wanqing glanced repeatedly at Old Madam Lin. She understood what Yi’er meant to the Lin family. If there were any other way, she wouldn’t want Yi’er to face danger.
Old Madam Lin raised her eyes, filled with determination. “Yi’er is the bloodline of the Lin family, carrying the blood of generals. Since he is already well, how can he hide behind his grandmother and mother’s skirts? Find an opportunity to take him out to meet people, to let the capital know that the Lin family has not been left without an heir.”
The enemy’s relentless attacks were aimed at wiping out the General’s Mansion. Wanqing was right—Lin Zhicheng and his wife couldn’t stir up such waves on their own. If they learned of Yi’er’s recovery, they would surely take action.
But Yi’er’s safety couldn’t be compromised in the slightest. She summoned Lin Feng, the head of the Lin family guards, and ordered him to increase the number of hidden guards to protect Lin Qingyi’s safety.
After giving these instructions, Old Madam Lin struggled to stand up. Her right leg had been injured on the battlefield, and now, with age, it had worsened. Often, her entire leg felt numb.
“Mother, is your leg bothering you again? Should I ask Doctor Xiao to take a look?” Tang Wanqing asked with deep concern.
Old Madam Lin waved her hand. “It’s no use. Time spares no one. Let it be.”
“Does grandmother’s leg hurt? Let Nuonuo blow on it to make it better.” As she spoke, Nuonuo helped Old Madam Lin to a chair, gently massaging her leg with her small hands while pursing her lips to blow on it with effort.
Her little mouth kept murmuring, “Pain fly away, pain fly away.”
Despite her young age, Nuonuo already understood the virtue of repaying unkindness with kindness. Old Madam Lin was overwhelmed with mixed emotions—Nuonuo’s heartfelt gesture was more precious than anything.