Gan Cai’er looked at the child clutching her skirt tightly, tears streaming down his face, and felt a pang of tenderness in her heart.
She crouched down, gathered the child into her arms, and gently comforted him, “Yes, Fairy Sister knows you have parents, you’re a good child. By the way, what’s your name? Where are your nanny and maid?”
“My name is Du Ke. Father and Mother call me Ke’er. Nanny Luo and Sister Xi Que were called away by Mother,” Du Ke replied in a soft, timid voice.
“Does Ke’er remember which courtyard is yours? Fairy Sister will take you back, alright?”
“Ke’er remembers,” Du Ke nodded obediently.
Gan Cai’er picked up Du Ke and followed his directions, winding through the Du Residence along secluded and deserted paths. Whether it was due to his timid nature, a habit of avoiding people, or because he was not allowed to appear in public, she couldn’t tell.
Gan Cai’er looked at the child in her arms—quiet, neither fussy nor noisy, displaying an obedience and maturity beyond his years. She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of heartache.
After walking for about the time it takes two incense sticks to burn, they arrived at a small courtyard. The courtyard was extremely remote, seemingly tucked away in a corner of the residence. There was no main road in front of the courtyard gate, only a narrow path. On either side of the path grew weeds, but the courtyard itself was meticulously clean, orderly, and even exquisitely arranged.
Above the courtyard gate hung a plaque inscribed with three characters: Listening to Bamboo Courtyard.
Gan Cai’er frowned, finding it strange.
If the courtyard’s owner were dearly cherished, they wouldn’t be placed in such a remote location. Yet if they were not favored, the courtyard shouldn’t be so beautifully arranged, clearly the result of careful thought and effort.
Moreover, Du Ke’s attire was exquisite from head to toe, no less refined than that of the children who had bullied him.
As soon as Du Ke saw the courtyard, he struggled out of Gan Cai’er’s arms and, with a loud “wah,” burst into tears and ran inside.
“Hey, hey, why is this child crying again?” Xiao Hong exclaimed, pointing at Du Ke’s short legs. “Won’t people think we bullied him?”
“Children are like this. They hold back their grievances outside, but as soon as they see their mother, they naturally cry,” Gan Cai’er said, shaking her head with a smile.
“Let’s go too. If we don’t leave soon, people really will think we bullied a child.”
With that, Gan Cai’er turned and walked away.
High walls and grand mansions breed trouble, and Gan Cai’er had no desire to get deeply involved. In her past life, she had witnessed too many dark secrets and dirty tricks within the Inner Residence. Even now, the mere thought of them sent shivers down her spine.
It was enough to have delivered the child safely.
Gan Cai’er led Xiao Hong along the small path, heading outward. After a while, Xiao Hong sensed something amiss.
“Huh, Miss, why are you walking toward the exit of the residence?”
Weren’t they here to attend the Lotus Appreciation Banquet and broaden their horizons? But if her mistress kept walking this way, they would soon leave the Du Residence.
“If we don’t leave quickly, are we waiting to be caught?”
Only then did Xiao Hong realize that the beaten child might have gone to complain to someone. If they were caught… Xiao Hong shuddered. They’d likely be skinned alive, if not worse. Her mistress had beaten a young master of the Du Residence!
“Miss, let’s hurry, hurry!” Understanding the reason, Xiao Hong grabbed Gan Cai’er’s hand and quickened her pace.
As the mistress and maid hurriedly made their way out, they suddenly heard chaotic footsteps behind them, as if someone was running to catch up.
Gan Cai’er and Xiao Hong exchanged a glance, both startled.
No way? They found them so quickly?
Just as Gan Cai’er was lifting her skirt to start running, she heard someone behind her call out loudly:
“Madam, please wait. My lady wishes to invite you.”
Upon hearing the words “lady,” Gan Cai’er slowed her steps and turned to look.
She saw a middle-aged nanny, panting heavily, jogging toward them.
“Oh, I finally caught up with you, Madam,” the nanny gasped, clutching her chest.
Then, she bowed to Gan Cai’er and said, “Madam, for helping the Ninth Young Master, my lady is deeply grateful and wishes to invite you for a chat to express her thanks.”
Gan Cai’er breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they weren’t here to cause trouble, it was fine. As for gratitude, she’d rather not.
She slightly bowed in return and smiled, “You flatter me, Nanny. It was just children playing too roughly, and I merely helped the young master back to his courtyard. Please convey to your lady that it was a small gesture, not worthy of thanks.”
Seeing Gan Cai’er refuse, the nanny was somewhat surprised. She discreetly observed Gan Cai’er, noting that although she wore her hair in a married woman’s style, her face was extremely youthful, still carrying the spirit of a young girl.
She couldn’t help but smile gently, “Madam, please come with me. The Fifth Young Master is the legitimate son of the residence. Since childhood, he has been exceptionally intelligent, with a remarkable memory, always praised by his tutors for being able to remember things after just one glance.”
Xiao Hong looked at the nanny in confusion. What did their Fifth Young Master have to do with them?
But Gan Cai’er was startled. She understood the nanny’s underlying message. The child she had hit was not only of noble status but also had an excellent memory!
If they wanted to slip out of the residence unnoticed, it wouldn’t be easy.
“In that case, I’ll have to trouble your lady.”
Thus, Gan Cai’er returned to the previous courtyard. This time, she met the owner of the Listening Bamboo Courtyard: Concubine Zhao.
Concubine Zhao’s face was no longer young, but she was still a rare beauty. Her eyes and brows seemed to carry endless charm; with just a slight lift of her gaze, she unconsciously exuded a hint of allure. Her thick, beautiful hair was casually tied up, with a few strands falling loose, adding a touch of lazy languor.
She was truly beautiful, but overly seductive and frivolous, lacking the dignity to be considered refined and elegant.
Du Ke, now tidied up, sat quietly beside Concubine Zhao, playing with a nine-linked puzzle.
“Today, Ke’er was bullied, and fortunately, Madam intervened. As a concubine, I don’t have much to offer, but this jade pendant is quite rare. I’d like to give it to you. If there’s ever a time in the future when you need my help, you can bring this pendant to find me.”
Gan Cai’er was so frightened that she waved her hands repeatedly, “There’s no need for that, Concubine. It was just a small gesture.”
How dare she accept something from Zhao Jiaor!
Earlier, it had just been a moment of impulse; she couldn’t control her temper and acted, which nearly prevented her from leaving the Du Residence. If she accepted something from Concubine Zhao now, wouldn’t she truly be dragged into the inner conflicts of the Du Residence’s Inner Residence?
If it were just her, it might be manageable, but she feared bringing trouble to Lan Tingzhou. Having experienced her past life, Gan Cai’er deeply understood that the Inner Residence and the front hall were closely connected.
But Concubine Zhao forced the jade pendant into Gan Cai’er’s hand, saying, “I, Zhao Jiaor, may not have many skills, but I can still whisper in the master’s ear.”
With things put so bluntly, Gan Cai’er had no choice but to accept it.
“Nanny Huang, go bring out the clothes,” Concubine Zhao said.
“They’re already here,” Nanny Huang replied with a smile.
Gan Cai’er looked closely and saw that Nanny Huang was now holding two sets of dresses in her hands.
Concubine Zhao said, “The Fifth Young Master has been spoiled rotten; he can’t stand the slightest offense and holds grudges fiercely. In the past, when a servant accidentally crossed him, they were beaten to death on the spot and thrown out of the residence.”
“Now that he’s been disciplined by the Madam, he certainly won’t let it go. He’s probably searching all over the garden for her right now.”
“I’ll have Nanny Huang give the two of you a new look, so he won’t trouble you.”
Gan Cai’er thought this was a good idea and nodded in agreement.
Nanny Huang was skilled with her hands. In less time than it takes for a stick of incense to burn, she had transformed Gan Cai’er and her maid.
Gan Cai’er changed from a plain water-red brocade dress into a goose-yellow gossamer gown embroidered with gold thread. Her hairstyle was also redone into the currently most fashionable double-coiled bun, adorned with intricate hairpins and colorful ribbons. She now appeared exceptionally lively and dazzling, a stark contrast to her previously low-key and modest appearance.
Looking into the bronze mirror, even Gan Cai’er could hardly recognize herself. She couldn’t help but marvel at Nanny Huang’s almost magical skill in transformation.
Xiao Hong was also completely different from before.
After the makeover was complete, Gan Cai’er bid farewell to Concubine Zhao and left the Listening Bamboo Courtyard with Xiao Hong. The mistress and maid continued along the small path toward the residence’s exit.
As they approached the side gate, Gan Cai’er saw three or four maids holding lotus flowers, giving a few blossoms to each lady and young miss who had left early. They said it was a small token of appreciation from Madam Du.
Everyone couldn’t help but praise Madam Du for her generosity, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail.
However, Gan Cai’er noticed that any woman wearing red clothing was always stopped by the maids and questioned further. They would subtly inquire about which family the lady belonged to, where she lived, whether she had enjoyed herself, and would even give her two extra lotus flowers.
Gan Cai’er stopped in her tracks, then turned around and walked back into the Du Residence.
“Miss, didn’t you say we were leaving the residence?” Xiao Hong was confused.
“I’ve changed my mind. Let’s wait until the banquet ends and leave with everyone else.”