This was the place where she’d lived day in, day out. Every flower, every blade of grass, every brick, every tile, all bore witness to her every day.
In the past six years, Duan Lan had craved to see her countless times, repeatedly sending people to the Yu State to inquire about any news of her, even though the news would just make him feel miserable.
Now, standing truly and definitely on this piece of land where she had lived for six years, a sense of satisfaction, even joy, welled up in Duan Lan’s heart, a feeling he had never experienced before.
Wanting to laugh at himself, he found himself surprisingly easy to please.
Six years, not long, not short, changed too many things, he had changed, what about her?
Duan Lan remembered the day he saw her at the wharf. Despite her veil hat, he could almost imagine her expressions and tone of voice while speaking. She hadn’t changed, not at all.
Duan Lan paused, staring blankly at the cluster of peonies in the garden outside the corridor, seeming to be lost in some past memory, he forgot to go on.
The boy leading the way was wondering whether to suggest they move on when suddenly a little girl popped up beside them, her voice soft and mushy: "Uncle, you like peonies too?"
Turning around, Duan Lan saw a cute little girl. She was short, with a round and tender face, her twinkling eyes filled with curiosity, her gaze boldly sizing him up.
The boy leading the way was scared out of his wits when he saw her, he quickly bowed in respect: "Little master, why have you come to the front courtyard? Where are the maids and women who are meant to be attending to you? Have you run off again? Little master, don’t scare the servants like this, please go back now!"
Duan Lan was slightly taken aback, then understanding dawned, the smile on his face becoming more genuine: "You must be Ah Guai, am I right?"
Ah Guai blinked in surprise: "How do you know my name?"
Duan Lan crouched down and said with a smile: "Come and let uncle give you a hug."
Ah Guai frowned in deliberation: "My mother said I shouldn’t let strange uncles hug me, they could be bad people."
"Does uncle look like a bad person?" Duan Lan asked.
Ah Guai looked at Duan Lan’s exceptionally handsome face and shook her head sincerely: "Uncle is so good-looking, he can’t be a bad person."
The smile on Duan Lan’s face deepened: "That’s right."
"But my mother also said that there are many good-looking men who are beasts in disguise." Ah Guai scratched the little bun on her head, evidently puzzled.
Duan Lan: "..."
Quickly, Ah Guai said, "Let me ask my mother first, then I’ll see if I can let you hug me."
With that, she turned and ran off.
Duan Lan was left in an odd mix of laughter and tears, this little girl was so innocent. It was truly amusing to think that Mu Houchu and Ji Xinhe, two people known for their shrewdness, could have such a daughter.
With her short legs, Ah Guai didn’t get far before bumping into Song Xi, who had been looking for her.
"Brother Xi!" Ah Guai joyfully flung herself into his arms.
Song Xi lifted her up and laughed, "What are you running for? I heard you’ve disappeared again, is that true?"
Ah Guai giggled, "No way! There’s an uncle who wants to hug me, I have to ask my mother if I can!"
Song Xi glanced at the man standing at the other end of the corridor and his eyes narrowed slightly. If he wasn’t mistaken, this man was probably Duan Lan.
Luckily, although Song Xi had spent some time in the palace five years ago, he had mainly remained in the Eastern Palace and had never met Duan Lan, so Duan Lan shouldn’t recognize him as the supposedly dying young master of the Song family.
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