“Mother, don’t be nervous. Look how kind the嬷嬷 is; this must be good news,” Qi Zhenzhen comforted Yun Shi. “Aren’t you always concerned about Yi ge’er’s studies? If we return to the mansion, Yi ge’er will surely have great scholars to teach him, and he’ll have a bright future.”
Qi Zhenzhen said this for Fang嬷嬷 to hear. Although she and Yun Shi were not favored, they had Qi Yi. As the young master of the Marquis’s mansion, and currently the only young master, even if he was born to a concubine, he was not someone any servant could look down upon. They were the people closest to him, and looking down on them was looking down on Yi ge’er.
Fang嬷嬷’s smile did not diminish. “Second Miss is truly an insightful person.”
Clearly, Fang嬷嬷 had understood that Qi Zhenzhen’s words held deeper meaning.
“嬷嬷 is joking. Zhenzhen is merely stating facts.嬷嬷 also knows that my mother is timid. When we went to the estate, if it weren’t to protect us, she wouldn’t have done such a bold thing,” Qi Zhenzhen said with a smile. “I believe Father and Grandmother are also aware of the whole story.”
“Those servants on the estate who disrespected Concubine Yun, Miss, and Young Master back then have all been sold off or punished. The Marquis and the Old Madam also went to great lengths to find Concubine Yun’s whereabouts. The mansion has never stopped searching all these years. However, this matter was ultimately not something honorable, and it was difficult to make a big fuss, which is why it took this long to find Concubine and Miss,” Fang嬷嬷 said. “What’s past is past, Concubine, you don’t need to dwell on it. The Marquis and the Old Madam both miss you.”
Was this considered an explanation for them, mother and son, and daughter? No, more accurately, it was a warning. The events of the past had concluded, and no one would bring up old matters for their sake. At the same time, it was to remind them to know their place, not to think too highly of themselves, or to seek justice. The most important point was to remind Yun Shi of her status as an escaped concubine; it would be better to return obediently, otherwise, Yun Shi would surely suffer.
“Do Father and Grandmother really miss us?” Qi Zhenzhen pouted, her nose twitching, her voice tinged with tears. “I thought Father and Grandmother didn’t want me and my brother anymore! Mother, did you hear what嬷嬷 said? Father and Grandmother miss us very much!”
With tears in her eyes and unconcealable joy on her face, Fang嬷嬷 observed this and nodded secretly. She had thought the Second Miss was too indifferent earlier, wondering if she resented the Marquis’s mansion. Seeing her now, she seemed normal. Perhaps she had been suppressing her emotions earlier, and upon hearing her full confession, she could no longer hold back.
Although life outside seemed not bad, how could it compare to the luxurious life of the Marquis’s mansion?
“Second Miss, please don’t cry. If the Marquis and the Old Madam knew, they would think this old servant bullied you,” Fang嬷嬷 said with a look of affection.
Qi Zhenzhen wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, her gaze shy. “嬷嬷, Zhenzhen is just too happy.”
Fang嬷嬷 observed Qi Zhenzhen’s every move. She was dignified and graceful. Although she lacked a bit of the polish of a young lady from a noble family, she did not exhibit the coarseness of a village girl. It seemed Yun Shi had raised the Second Miss quite well.
Although they were supposed to return immediately after receiving the people, the young master was not present, so they could not leave like this. Fang嬷嬷 sent someone back to report, so the Old Madam and the Marquis could be at ease. She decided to stay here and see if she could pry out any hidden information.
“I’ll go prepare a room for嬷嬷 to rest. Mother, you stay here and chat with嬷嬷. Qingshui, you stay here and serve. If嬷嬷 needs anything, take good care of her,” Qi Zhenzhen instructed.
Fang嬷嬷 did not stop her, only watched Qi Zhenzhen’s departing figure and praised, “Concubine Yun has raised Miss very well.”
Yun Shi, who had been nervous, felt an involuntary surge of pride when Fang嬷嬷 spoke of Qi Zhenzhen. Her demeanor also became less timid than before.
“Zhenzhen is very sensible. Last year, I fell seriously ill. If it weren’t for Zhenzhen,嬷嬷 might not be seeing me now. Not only that, but the family is not lacking in food or clothing now; it’s all Zhenzhen’s doing. And Yi ge’er, if it weren’t for Zhenzhen, how could I have sent him to study with my own abilities?”
Fang嬷嬷’s gaze was obscure and unreadable. She was somewhat curious if the Second Miss spoken of by Concubine Yun was truly so… Fang嬷嬷 could not find words to describe Qi Zhenzhen. After all, young ladies from noble families rarely left their homes, and when they did go out, they were always surrounded by servants. Their usual interests were in perfumery, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. But the Second Miss described by Concubine Yun had nothing to do with those young ladies.
For a young girl to manage the household so meticulously, her methods were extraordinary.
Qi Zhenzhen soon returned, personally supporting Fang嬷嬷. “嬷嬷, would you like to see the room?”
“Miss, you are truly humbling this old servant,” Fang嬷嬷 tried to pull away from Qi Zhenzhen’s support.
Qi Zhenzhen did not let go. “嬷嬷, we haven’t returned to the mansion yet, so there are no such rules. Zhenzhen is very happy that嬷嬷 could find us. You are an able person by Grandmother’s side, and Grandmother relies on you. In Zhenzhen’s heart, you are like Grandmother. It is only right for a granddaughter to serve her elders!”
These words greatly pleased Fang嬷嬷. There was another young lady in the mansion, the legitimate eldest daughter, who outwardly showed her some respect but privately held her in disdain. Having seen countless people in her life, she could distinguish genuine affection from pretense. The Second Miss had put genuine effort into her actions.
After inspecting the prepared room, Fang嬷嬷 was even more satisfied.
It was clean and tidy, with new bedding and pillows. Not only that, but even a foot basin had been placed in the room.
“Second Miss has put in a lot of effort.”
“I’m glad嬷嬷 doesn’t mind.”
In the evening, Qi Zhenzhen personally cooked a good meal. The guards were each given a few meat buns, and they went to take care of themselves. When Fang嬷嬷 was led to the dining table, her brows furrowed. Since her arrival, she had not seen any men. Yet, at dinner, there were several men sitting at the table: an old man of similar age to her, a man who looked about Yun Shi’s age, and two young men who appeared to be only two or three years older than the Second Miss.
Could these be the people Yun Shi had found after leaving the Marquis’s mansion?
Was the old man and the middle-aged man father and son, and the two young men the middle-aged man’s sons?
Seeing Fang嬷嬷’s expression change drastically, Qi Zhenzhen poured soup for her and said, “嬷嬷, this village is called Apricot Blossom Village. There is a large area of wild apricot trees in the village. Before the New Year, I had some money, so I bought that apricot grove. For grafting, I asked someone to invite Uncle Qian from the Qian family to help. These are Uncle Qian and his two apprentices. This is Master Gu, who is building a manor by the apricot grove. He came from the Ministry of Works and is a very capable person.”