Feng Qishi watched Xiao Nian’s receding back, pondering the Rabbit Queen’s words. "Is that old butler really going to die?" he asked, turning his head to look at the Rabbit Queen.
The Rabbit Queen hesitated before replying, "I cannot tell you."
Upon hearing this, Feng Qishi frowned. "No, I'm asking you. You say you can't tell us, but why did he ask," he pointed at Piao, "and you answered? What do you mean?"
Piao said, "You can see for yourself. What she says isn't necessarily true. Perhaps the old butler won't die."
"How do you know?" Feng Qishi shifted his attention back to Piao.
Piao smiled. "Can't I just guess?"
"Fine," Feng Qishi nodded helplessly.
Meanwhile, Mu Anxiao followed the old man to the bushes some distance from the room.
"Why didn't you want Xiao Nian to hear what you had to say?" she asked.
The old man looked at Mu Anxiao, who was asking earnestly, and said, "Her mother didn't go looking for any master. Her mother... was thrown into the deep forest by her father. I don't know if she's alive or dead now."
"You threw her?" Mu Anxiao's eyes widened as she asked.
"It wasn't exactly throwing. I persuaded her to leave, and then I sent people to take her there," the old man explained.
"Deep forest," Mu Anxiao repeated, thinking of the current Rabbit Queen and angrily saying, "How could you do such a thing?"
"I know it was my fault, but... I had no choice," the old man said with difficulty.
"You could have sent her away. Why did it have to be the deep forest?" Mu Anxiao asked helplessly.
The old man pondered for a moment. "The master said that Xiao Nian's mother has a strong fate. Only by doing this would she not be able to return."
"Why did your master insist on doing this?" Mu Anxiao asked.
The old man glanced around. "Because the young madam... One time, Xiao Nian's mother accidentally brushed her arm while walking. Xiao Nian's mother didn't apologize promptly. From then on, the young madam began to retaliate against her, spreading many rumors, saying that Xiao Nian's mother was ill and that any child born would be as small as Xiao Nian, including boys. Then the master began to avoid Xiao Nian's mother. Just a few days before the young madam's arrival, she made a move to drive Xiao Nian's mother away."
"Did she cry?" Mu Anxiao asked.
"She didn't dare to cry in front of Xiao Nian, so she fabricated the absurd story of the master wanting to cultivate immortality for Xiao Nian. After that, she left. From then on, Xiao Nian would always sneak out of the mansion to find the master her mother spoke of," the old man said in detail.
Listening to the old man's words, Mu Anxiao recalled the moment she had suddenly appeared and startled Xiao Nian. Thinking of every word Xiao Nian had said to her, she asked, "If I take her away, will you report me?"
"I support it," the old man said firmly.
"Really?" Mu Anxiao smiled.
The old man nodded. "Really. You are a good person, young lady. Xiao Nian will be happy with you."
"You think too highly of me," Mu Anxiao said bashfully.
The old man smiled and said, "Young lady, I'll go get you some blankets. It gets cold here at night."
"Okay, thank you for the trouble," Mu Anxiao said with a smile.
The old man shook his head and walked away.
Mu Anxiao let out a sigh and was startled when she turned to look at Yan.
"Why are you here?" she asked, taking a step back.
"I heard," Yan said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Mu Anxiao looked into Yan's eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"
"My mother... my mother must have had her reasons too, right?" Yan said.
Mu Anxiao looked at the regret in Yan's eyes and said, "Everyone's situation is different. As for your mother, I don't really know her well. However, if you go back, I think you should talk to her clearly. Your attitude was indeed quite hurtful to her."
"I understand," Yan nodded.
Mu Anxiao smiled. "It's good that you understand. Let's go back."
Yan nodded and turned to leave first.
Mu Anxiao let out a long sigh and followed Yan's footsteps.
Upon returning to the room, Xiao Nian excitedly stood up and ran to Mu Anxiao. "Did Grandpa tell you where my mother is?" she asked.
Mu Anxiao looked down at Xiao Nian, then hesitated. "No."
"Then why did he call you out?" Xiao Nian asked with an adult's tone.
Mu Anxiao said, "He took me to see your kitchen. I saw that the environment wasn't very good, so I'll take you out to eat from now on."
"Oh," Xiao Nian nodded listlessly and turned away.
Mu Anxiao looked at the back of Xiao Nian's head and asked, "Don't you like to eat?"
"I miss my mother," Xiao Nian choked out.
Mu Anxiao's brows furrowed. She stepped forward, circled around to the front of Xiao Nian, and knelt down. "Your mother is very busy."
"I know she's busy, but... she should come back to see me too," Xiao Nian said, pouting.
Mu Anxiao reached out and gently tugged Xiao Nian's cheek. "Your mother said cultivating immortality is not easy, so finding a master is even less so. I suspect your mother is currently in the deep mountains seeking that master and will return with her."
"Really?" Xiao Nian asked.
Mu Anxiao nodded. "Of course, it's true. So, before your mother returns, you need to gain some weight. That way, your mother won't be sad when she sees you, don't you think?"
"Mmm, I... I actually don't want my mother to come back. I want my mother to take me away. Here, mother suffers and endures hardship. It's not good at all," Xiao Nian said, starting to cry.
Seeing Xiao Nian cry, Mu Anxiao became flustered. "Don't cry."
"Hug her," Feng Qishi reminded from Xiao Nian's side.
Mu Anxiao looked up and glared at Feng Qishi, then awkwardly hugged Xiao Nian. "Don't cry. I will take care of you until your mother returns. I won't let anyone bully you."
Hearing Mu Anxiao's words, Feng Qishi was speechless.
Piao said, "There cannot be two of you in one place."
Upon hearing this, Mu Anxiao looked up at Piao, narrowing her eyes.
Piao was startled by Mu Anxiao's gaze and quickly averted his eyes.
Feng Qishi sighed.
Yan said, "Her mother was thrown into the deep forest by her father. In the deep forest, there are..." She glanced cautiously at the Rabbit Queen. "There are rabbits. She must be dead already."
"Dead?" Feng Qishi was shocked and turned to the Rabbit Queen. "Have you seen her mother before?"
"I..." The Rabbit Queen stopped speaking.
Piao frowned and said, "I remember that this place was burned down overnight. The arsonist was never found. After that night, no one came here again. What exactly happened?" He looked at the Rabbit Queen.
The Rabbit Queen looked at Piao's serious expression. "You still remember."
"I just remembered," Piao said.