Volume One, Chapter Five: Pain! Young Brother, Rong Li Sells Herself to Bury Her Sister

“Madam Hou is the model of a noblewoman in the capital; her demeanor is truly extraordinary,” he nodded in approval.

Mrs. Fang was sharply choked up. Before she could speak, Xie Tingmo continued, “It seems the Second Miss has merely been spoiled. With proper guidance, she will surely become more refined in time. I understand Madam Hou’s loving concern, so for Qingqing’s sake, I will arrange for the palace’s finest governess to assist you!”

As he finished speaking, Xiao Tingmo snapped his fingers lightly, and a servant departed toward the palace.

Mrs. Fang’s expression darkened, but she forced a smile and thanked the Regent Prince for his thoughtfulness.

In truth, her heart burned with hatred for Mu Wanwan:

That shameless wretch, that damned tramp!

She had gone out once and somehow learned those detestable coquettish tricks, even using the Regent Prince to back her up?

Very well, if that shameless woman is stirring up so much trouble just to return to the Hou Mansion, then so be it. Let’s see how she begs for mercy from me in the future.

Mrs. Fang glanced toward Grandmother Xiao. The two exchanged a barely perceptible nod.

She then approached Mu Wanwan with a fake smile and said, “Qingqing, since you have returned safely and remained pure, why not hurry back to the mansion? The prince has countless affairs to attend to and no time to indulge your reckless behavior!”

She gave a subtle signal to her trusted attendant, and soon a fire basin was brought in.

“Qingqing, quickly step over the fire basin to dispel bad luck and let everyone feel at ease!”

The implication was clear: Mu Wanwan was considered a bearer of misfortune.

Mu Wanwan paid no mind. What she wanted was to enter the Hou Mansion and thoroughly investigate her sister’s affairs.

And her young brother, Xiao Rongli—where was he?

Today was her sister’s funeral, yet Mu Wanwan had not once seen his figure. Something was amiss.

With these thoughts, Mu Wanwan strode straight toward the fire basin.

With the Regent Prince’s support, she did not fear any tricks from the Hou Mansion’s people. Mrs. Fang, who had secured her position as the matriarch of the Hou Mansion, was certainly no fool.

Sure enough, everything went smoothly. The servants led Mu Wanwan back to the original courtyard.

Suppressing her deep resentment and bitterness, Mrs. Fang cast one glance at the coffin. “Steward Lin, since the young lady has returned, remove all these things. They only bring misfortune!”

With that, she helped Grandmother Xiao back inside the mansion.

As for Xie Tingmo, he did not stay long.

In the past half month, he had indeed accumulated many state affairs to handle and hurried back to the prince’s residence.

Before leaving, he wanted to leave someone behind for Mu Wanwan, but she refused.

Mu Wanwan had observed carefully and knew the Regent Prince had once harbored suspicion toward her. Though she did not know why, he ultimately concealed those feelings. She did not want anyone to discover her secret.

She was skilled in martial arts, unlike her sister. If the Regent Prince left behind a maid or secret guard for her—someone who also knew martial arts—it would hinder her future plans.

The Hou Mansion’s Tingfeng Courtyard.

Mu Wanwan looked outside—it seemed fine—but inside, the courtyard was bleak and shabby. She could not help but shed tears.

Her heart ached deeply:

Sister, is this where you lived?

Where was the wealth and luxury?

The once grand courtyard was desolate. In one corner, a vegetable patch had been cultivated, and the chicken and duck pens lay in disorder, clearly recently vandalized.

Besides Nurse Rong, there were no other servants left in the mansion.

No one could believe the eldest legitimate daughter of the mighty Marquis of Wu’an was living in such misery.

Mu Wanwan carefully examined every detail of Tingfeng Courtyard, slowly feeling the traces of her sister’s life.

Sadly, many things had been destroyed.

“Miss, why are you crying?” Nurse Rong brought a basin of water. Seeing Mu Wanwan silently weeping, she panicked and said remorsefully, “It’s my fault, I should have brought hot water. Why must the young lady suffer?”

Nurse Rong’s tears fell. She would never have reacted this way before, but today, having returned to the mansion with her heart heavy for the young master, she secretly inquired about him.

She was horrified to learn that those beasts were abusing the seven-year-old young master—forcing him to eat and sleep in the stables, living among animals.

She had intended to secretly take the young master away but was discovered by the Second Miss’s people—

“Why is your clothes torn? Your hair is a mess! Who bullied you?” Mu Wanwan turned to see Nurse Rong in a disheveled state, her brow furrowed and eyes blazing with fury.

“Miss, your old servant is fine. But seeing how they mistreat the young master breaks my heart. Wuwuwu...” Nurse Rong fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.

“Just now, I saw the young master burning with fever. If treatment is not administered soon, I fear the worst!”

“Miss, what shall we do? The young master—”

Before Nurse Rong could finish, Mu Wanwan took swift steps forward and said, “Where is Li? Take me to him immediately!”

She had promised her sister to protect her brother, no matter what. She would not let him suffer harm.

“Here...” Nurse Rong hesitated, then stood quickly. “Miss, follow your old servant.”

She could not bring herself to say it outright: the young master was in the stables!

*

“Wuwu X﹏X, sister, where are you? They say you don’t want me anymore, but I don’t believe it,” Xiao Rongli’s cheeks were flushed unnaturally, his eyes full of fear and disbelief.

No, it couldn’t be. Sister was so gentle and kind to him—how could she possibly abandon him?

He refused to believe it.

The seven-year-old boy, with tangled, uneven hair, his thin, frail body curled up, arms tightly wrapped around bent legs, his dirty face streaked with tears.

“Hmph, if you hadn’t kept nagging that little tramp wasn’t dead, how would I have gotten two teeth knocked out?” Ziling glared at Xiao Rongli with hatred.

Hmph, she could not harm Xiao Qingqing who had the Regent Prince’s backing; how could she harm the bastard Xiao Rongli?

“What are you waiting for?” Ziling shouted at the maid beside her. “Hurry and drag that dog out! Today, I’m feeling generous—give him something to eat.”

She pulled out half a steamed bun from her bosom, a wicked smile curving her lips.

Suddenly, the bun slipped from her hand and fell into the horse manure.

“Ah, a bastard is always a bastard—can’t even eat a clean bun. Truly unlucky.”

She laughed arrogantly, lips curled in contempt.

When Xiao Rongli was dragged out, his eyes changed. The hatred in his gaze instantly solidified, shooting straight toward the frail child.

She turned to a stable boy and said, “You, pick up that bun and properly serve our young master Li’s meal!”

Then she feigned surprise. “Ah, what a poor memory I have.”

Her voice dragged mockingly, full of scorn and ridicule. She rolled her eyes contemptuously, a triumphant smirk playing at her lips—

“In this place, there is no such thing as Young Master Li. He is no more than a lowly slave sold into servitude.”