Yu Zhizhi was caught in the middle, feeling a bit helpless but even more touched.
Eight-year-old Yun Xiaochen witnessed the scene before him and, without hesitation, wrapped his arms tightly around the legs of the three adults and burst into tears.
Yu Zhizhi was not the original owner of this body, so she did not feel a strong sense of immersion in everything happening. Although she did not cry, she was still moved by their sincere emotions, and her heart softened slightly.
She comforted her mother first, then soothed her father.
Finally, she had to coax her younger brother.
The family chatted happily for a full hour. If Aunt He had not come to remind them that it was already lunchtime, Yun Haodong and Fang Lanzhu would probably have had much more to say to Yu Zhizhi.
After lunch, Yu Zhizhi still had important matters to attend to and had to go out.
When Xiaochen learned that she was leaving, he immediately wanted to go with her. Seeing how attached he was, Yu Zhizhi decided to take him along.
Watching the siblings walk toward the gate, Yun Haodong said to his wife,
“Our biological daughter isn’t like the rumors say—arrogant and looking down on others. I almost believed those stories.”
Fang Lanzhu nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. When I first heard that the Prime Minister’s Residence had raised Zhizhi into such an ill-mannered troublemaker, I was worried sick. Thankfully, those were only rumors.”
“Madam, why don’t you visit a clothing shop later and buy some clothes for our daughter?”
“You don’t need to tell me. I was already planning to.”
Fang Lanzhu smiled gently, her eyes full of motherly affection.
Earlier that morning, Uncle He had informed them that their daughter had returned empty-handed yesterday, bringing nothing with her.
The outfit she was wearing now had actually belonged to Yun Yuqing.
The thought made them both surprised and heartbroken.
Fang Lanzhu immediately decided to visit a tailor shop and buy several beautiful outfits for her daughter, hoping she would feel the warmth of home.
Meanwhile, Yu Zhizhi and Xiaochen headed toward the Prime Minister’s Residence.
Along the way, Yu Zhizhi hummed cheerfully, completely unbothered by the many townspeople pointing and whispering about her.
The original owner had been too high-profile in the past, and with He Yang, her conspicuous sidekick, always by her side, many people in the capital recognized her.
Even though her clothing today was far more modest than before, people still recognized her at a glance.
Someone in the crowd sneered,
“Oh? Yu Zhizhi really has fallen on hard times. Back then, when that little follower of hers, the Second Young Master of the He family, bought candied hawthorns for her, she wouldn’t even look at them. What happened? No more fancy food now?”
Another person chimed in,
“Exactly. Now she’s eating candied hawthorns that cost only three wen a stick.”
Holding his own candied hawthorn skewer, Yun Xiaochen clenched his fists and shouted at them,
“Stop saying bad things about my sister! She never looked down on candied hawthorns!”
Someone laughed.
“Little boy, don’t let her fool you.”
Yu Zhizhi shot the speaker a cold glance.
“Try saying one more word.”
For some reason, the aura she gave off now was completely different from before.
After a moment of hesitation, the man decided not to provoke her.
Yu Zhizhi gently patted Xiaochen’s head and said softly,
“Don’t mind them. Your sister likes candied hawthorns just as much as you do.”
Technically, she wasn’t lying.
The candied hawthorns she loved simply came from the modern world, not this ancient one.
Xiaochen widened his eyes in surprise.
“Really?”
Yu Zhizhi nodded firmly.
“Of course.”
Hearing that answer made Xiaochen incredibly happy.
So his sister liked the same things he did.
At that moment, he secretly made up his mind.
In the future, he would save all his pocket money and buy candied hawthorns for his sister.
If Yu Zhizhi knew what he was thinking, she would definitely regret speaking so casually.
After all, she didn’t love candied hawthorns that much.
Returning to the Prime Minister’s Residence only a day later, Yu Zhizhi intended to settle matters as quickly as possible.
She had not forgotten the promise she made to Xiaotao.
Although Xiaotao’s slave contract was in the hands of the Prime Minister’s wife, the lady herself did not appear this time.
Instead, she sent Nanny Chen, one of her trusted attendants, to handle the matter.
Perhaps she simply did not wish to meet Yu Zhizhi again.
Carrying her bundle, Xiaotao happily ran out of the Prime Minister’s Residence.
The moment she saw Yu Zhizhi, she broke into a wide grin.
“Hehe~ Miss, you’re so good to me!”
Then she suddenly started crying.
“Waaah…”
She had truly believed that her mistress might never come back for her.
After Yu Zhizhi left yesterday, the other maids had mocked her endlessly.
They said the young miss had deceived her and would never return to redeem her freedom.
Seeing her laugh and cry at the same time, Yu Zhizhi helplessly wiped away her tears.
“Stop crying. It’s making you look ugly.”
Then she handed over the slave contract.
“Take it.”
Xiaotao’s eyes widened like saucers.
Was this really what she thought it meant?
The words that followed confirmed it.
“Take this contract to the government office and restore your status as a commoner. If you still want to work by my side afterward, you’ll always be welcome. And this time, I’ll pay you wages.”
Yu Zhizhi knew that Xiaotao had become a servant only because circumstances had forced her to.
Who wanted to spend their childhood as a slave?
Tears immediately welled up in Xiaotao’s eyes again.
Clutching the contract tightly, she was overwhelmed with emotion.
Miss was just too kind!
Far kinder than before.
Not only had she redeemed her freedom, but she had also returned her status as a free citizen.
She would follow Miss for the rest of her life.
Raising two fingers solemnly, Xiaotao declared,
“Miss, I still want to stay by your side. I swear that even after becoming a commoner again, I will never betray you!”
Yu Zhizhi gently lowered her raised hand and patted her shoulder.
“I believe you.”
“Take a few days to handle the paperwork with the authorities. Then go back to Yang Family Village and share the good news with your family.”
Yang Family Village was located about ten kilometers outside the capital—not very far away.
In the past, Xiaotao had only been able to return home once a year.
She nodded vigorously.
“Okay!”
After saying goodbye to Xiaotao, Yu Zhizhi took her younger brother and headed toward the Sixth Prince’s residence.
Although both the Sixth Prince’s residence and the Prime Minister’s Residence were located in the Haidong District, one stood in the east while the other stood in the west.
By the time they arrived at the gates of the Sixth Prince’s residence, another half hour had passed.
Not only was Xiaochen tired, but even Yu Zhizhi’s feet were beginning to ache.
The weather was scorching, the sun hung high overhead, and her throat felt dry enough to smoke.
Her gaze drifted toward an apricot tree standing near the entrance of the Sixth Prince’s residence.
The branches were weighed down by golden apricots.
Apparently, no one had bothered to pick them, as the ground beneath the tree was littered with ripe fallen fruit.
What a waste.
Still, business came first.
Taking her brother’s hand, Yu Zhizhi walked up to the guards standing at the entrance.