“It’s normal for children to like playing with each other. This couple is considered quite capable in the court. Even the Empress Dowager has to come out of seclusion to listen to the advice of this Grand Tutor’s wife.”
"Empress Dowager? I've never heard of her when I was in the palace?"
"Ying'er~" Xie Yuancheng came over and pinched my chin: "I told you, you are not suitable for the palace, but you still don't believe me. Just because people don't talk about her doesn't mean she doesn't exist. She has been in the palace for many years and rarely appears."
"Such a mysterious figure, would she listen to a Grand Tutor's wife? Are they related?"
"I don't like listening to women's business, so how would I know about their relationship? This Hua is very favored by the Empress Dowager. If you don't have anything to do, don't provoke her or get to know her, lest she discover your flaws and use you. Just come with me to climb the mountain to pray for blessings the day after tomorrow."
"Hmm~ I'm going to take a nap now, get up quickly, you're pressing on my hand."
Xie Yuancheng moved to a different spot and carried me to lie down. He was probably tired too, and it was rare for him to take a nap indoors. I covered him with a blanket and leaned against him, not letting go. They were really getting in the way of the manor; I really hoped they would go back soon.
However, neither the mother nor daughter came over in the afternoon. Xizhi is now alone in the small courtyard. I went to pick him up and take him to play in the big courtyard. There's a big swing and a ball pit there, and Xizhi ran around everywhere as soon as he came in.
"Mommy~ Hug me~" He could only say these words clearly, and we could only guess what he was saying from some of the unintelligible parts and his actions.
"Xizhi, you're such a little rascal now." I touched his little face; he really looked just like me, like looking in a mirror when I was a child.
"Hehe~" Xi Zhi's smile is somewhat similar to Yu'er's, both having prominent little front teeth.
"Ying'er, you brought Xizhi in?" Xie Yuancheng came in wearing his official robes. I didn't even know when he changed into them.
“Yuancheng, come and see! Your youngest son looks just like Yu’er when he smiles.”
I held Xizhi up to show him, and Xie Yuancheng touched Xizhi's face: "This annoying little face reminds me of when I was three years old."
"Daddy, hug me~" Xi Zhi waved her little hand, wanting Xie Yuancheng to hug her. He hugged her and said that his son was much more obedient than his wife.
"Don't accuse me of anything. I'll hug you later, but you can't change your clothes."
I followed Xie Yuancheng's arm to touch his belt. The patterns on it brought back so many memories. When I first entered the palace, I was also wearing official robes.
“Xizhi, your mother is up to no good. Let’s go and not bother with her.”
"Hehe~" This father and son are just looking for trouble. I told them to go out so I could stay in the yard and read a book. I couldn't be bothered with them.
Xie Yuancheng really did carry Xizhi away. He told me to play in the yard and he'd be back in a bit. I secretly went to peek into the small yard, and that awful voice inside was really annoying; it was definitely Fatty Sweetie.
I glanced over and saw that she had claimed the slide and cotton balls entirely, while Su Ling and Yan'er stood outside watching her play. Luckily, I carried Xi Zhi into the yard, otherwise I would have been dragged around with Fatty Tian Tian.
This little girl is a bit presumptuous. Just as I was about to go in and speak, Madam Hua came out: "Madam of the Marquis, I want to talk to you about something."
"The Grand Tutor's wife is inside. It seems you're still not very good at taking care of children."
"Yes, my sweetie has suffered with me since she was little. When I see the slide and toys in the mansion, I think of life in modern times."
I thought I misheard, so I asked again. Hua said she traveled from the modern world, is that true?
We went to sit in the nearest small garden, which Xie Yuancheng had planted with roses. Roses were everywhere, even under the benches, and on both sides of the greenhouse were drooping roses.
"I can't be mistaken, this place has been converted from some modern elements. Whether it's the drainage system underneath, the small sluice gate made of bamboo, or the reservoir we saw along the way, it all proves that you also came from another time, right?"
"Madam, did you not sleep well? Why don't you go back to sleep? The Marquis read all of this in a book and somehow obtained the secrets from some wise people. It was only recently built, and it was in terrible condition at first."
"Don't lie to me. We're both from another time. Shall we try to go back together? Or, you could let me stay in the manor. I don't want to go back to the capital anyway. From being a prisoner to now being the wife of the Grand Tutor, there's nothing I like."
She started to cry, saying that life is not easy for any woman, and that Fatty Sweetie is not her daughter, no wonder she doesn't care much about her.
"Wait a minute, if she's not your daughter, then she's the daughter of the previous lady?"
“No.” Madam Hua shook her head: “We found her on the road. Her parents starved to death on the road to exile. I saw that she was an infant in swaddling clothes and felt very sorry for her.”
I struggled in the quicksand, starting with small things and accumulating wealth little by little until I became rich. When I met my current Grand Tutor, he didn't look down on my background, and I used my wisdom and ability to help him become Grand Tutor step by step.
But I don't want to live here anymore. I miss my mom and dad. In modern life, you can have everything. Here, it's all deceit and scheming.
"Madam, what are you saying?" I blinked twice, looking confused, and asked her, "Do you miss your parents? You can ask the Grand Tutor to send you back to your parents' home. I sometimes go back to the capital to see my parents too."
“You don’t need to lie to me. This place could not possibly have been built in such a backward ancient era. You must have a way.”
Hua's eyes went completely mad, and I quickly shook my head, unsure if what she said was true. Luckily, Xie Yuancheng called me from behind, and Fatty Tiantian ran towards Hua. The two put on a show of motherly affection, and I stepped back to Xie Yuancheng's side.
"Madam, please take a stroll around the manor. I'll take you back to discuss something with you."
Xie Yuancheng readily led me away. When I passed the small courtyard, Su Ling and Yan'er were no longer inside. Xie Yuancheng and I went straight into the courtyard, and he instructed Bi Zhu and the others to guard the entrance and not allow anyone to enter.
"What were you talking about just now? I told you not to leave the manor, but you wouldn't listen!"
“Yuancheng, don’t be angry. I just went to see if Yan’er and Su Ling were in the courtyard. As soon as I got close, I saw their daughter playing. Su Ling and Yan’er were standing by watching. I wanted to go in and talk to her, so she came out to talk to me.”
"You shouldn't have talked to her. What's the point? You don't go out and don't manage anything, so she won't get any information."
"Is she asking me for information? Something doesn't seem right." I dragged him inside, but Xie Yuancheng pulled me back, looking shy, and said it was daytime. I tapped his forehead; his mood changed really quickly.
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