The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 123 - 122

Chapter 122

Mu Manor

At dawn the next day, Mu Jie woke up early, with the sky still shrouded in darkness. Inside her room, remnants of the night’s shadows lingered. As usual, she got up and washed her face by herself.

While other young misses in the residence might have had servants to attend to them, Mu Jie had always done everything on her own. This was because her servant and nanny had to leave for work outside the quarters at the crack of dawn. Consequently, Mu Jie had learned to take care of herself from a young age until now, which she was already twelve years old.

This self-reliance wasn’t a problem for Mu Jie. Growing up amidst hardship and constant vigilance had made her thoughts and actions mature beyond her age and peers. She could handle various tasks independently with ease.

As Mu Jie was about to step out into the outer room, she suddenly noticed a shadow standing by the window. Startled, she paused momentarily.

"You..."

"The Young Miss says to burn the letter after reading it,"

A deep voice whispered in her ear before the figure of the black-clad man disappeared into the shadows, leaving only an envelope on the windowsill.

Mu Jie placed a hand over her heart and exhaled deeply, trying to calm her startled nerves. If the black-clad man had intended to harm her, she wouldn’t have escaped unscathed. But he had only come to deliver a message.

She was relieved...

When her nerves calmed down somewhat, she approached and picked up the letter, opening it to read its contents. As she read, her brows furrowed with concern.

‘Now the trio of mother and daughters have returned, and as the benefactors of the Empress Dowager, you understand the significance. Not only have they returned in grandeur, but they also have the Empress Dowager’s backing. If you wish to survive the dangerous times ahead, your only protection is the affection of grandmother...’

Mu Jie read the letter with a trembling heart. Glancing at the final line signed with the word Zhuiping Residence, she immediately understood that the letter came from Zhuiping Residence. It must be her half-sibling, either her older or younger sister.

She pondered over the contents for a long time, her face betraying her anxiety. Finally, she turned and walked to the lamp in the corner of the room, holding the letter to the flame. She let the fire slowly consume the paper, reducing it to ashes.

The flame from the lamp cast its light on the small face of the young girl, revealing a calm expression and emotionless eyes. However, her brows were tightly knitted, showing her tension.

Was the content of the letter true?

There was no reason for anyone from Zhuiping Residence to fabricate a lie to deceive her. But there was also no reason for them to send a warning and advice either.

Could it be because of the incident before...

Mu Jie pondered over the events silently as she walked to her window and looked out at the sky, which was beginning to brighten.

If what was stated in the letter was true, it meant that the three women would return soon!

Thinking about the actions of the three women in the past, Mu Jie’s eyes narrowed instantly with tension. Her hands, resting on the windowsill, gripped the wood tightly without realizing it.

No one knew better than she did how cruel the three women could be. Before they left, she had to endure various forms of bullying, as if she were nothing more than a dog!

Even though she still lived a difficult and impoverished life after they left, it was much happier than before. She no longer had to endure physical pain like in the past.

It’s often said that one doesn’t appreciate something when one hasn’t experienced it, but once you’ve experienced it, you cherish it more than anything.

Similarly, having lived a peaceful life free to endure the torment of the three women in recent times, how could Mu Jie willingly go back to enduring the same fate after their return?

She certainly would not!

She refused to believe that the three women had turned over a new leaf or changed themselves.

She didn’t believe it!

The deep-seated cruelty in their blood could not disappear so easily...

As she thought more about the actions of the three women, Mu Jie’s body began to tremble involuntarily. Her eyes hardened with unyielding, and her face showed extreme tension.

The letter stated that the trio were returning not only as benefactors of the Empress Dowager but also with her support. This meant they would stand strong in the Mu family again, and no one could challenge them as before.

If that were true, the three women would have the privilege to act as they pleased!

If something were to happen, she, being just the daughter of a concubine without a mother to care for her and a father who neglects her, an invisible spirit in the Mu family, would not be able to survive.

The letter mentioned that if Mu Jie wanted to survive, her only shield was the affection of Elder Mu Furen.

This statement was not an exaggeration in the least!

If she wanted to survive, if she did not want to live in hell again, she had to seek out her grandmother!

But how should she go about it...

Mu Jie, having decided to follow the advice in the letter, now worried about how to carry out that advice. She was not someone who was good at talking or being persuasive. For twelve years, she had grown accustomed to hiding and accepting everything that happened to her with head hanging low, whether it was right or wrong, good or bad.

And now, to suddenly try to ingratiate herself with her grandmother, whom she wasn’t close to...was no small task.

What should she do?

As Mu Jie was lost in her thoughts, Nanny Fang, who had gone out early to secretly sell embroidered cloth outside the manor, returned to the quarters. Seeing the young miss standing by the window, she immediately grabbed a cloak to drape over her slender shoulders.

"Miss, standing by the window so early, you’ll catch a cold,"

The familiar, warm voice of Nanny Fang brought Mu Jie back to her senses. She turned to look at Nanny Fang, who had recovered from her previous illness, and smiled.

"Thank you, Nanny."

"Are you hungry, Miss? On my way back from selling embroidered clothes this morning, I bought some pork steamed buns. Please eat them while they’re hot."

Nanny Fang handed over a bundle containing two pork steamed buns to Mu Jie. On her way back to the manor, Nanny Fang had come across a stall selling fragrant pork steamed buns. She couldn’t help but think of her thin young miss and decided to use some of her money to buy steamed buns so the young miss could have a filling meal.

Mu Jie looked at the hot pork steamed buns in her hands with gratitude. Judging by Nanny Fang’s demeanor, she had clearly bought the two buns with the intention of letting her eat them alone. The three of them never had enough to eat, but Nanny Fang had bought these pork steamed buns solely for Mu Jie to make sure she had a full meal.

"Nanny, let’s eat them together."

"I’ve already eaten, Miss. You’re so small; you should eat them while they’re still hot,"

Nanny Fang quickly refused, rubbing her stomach as if she were full. But Mu Jie knew it was a lie. Nanny Fang would never buy food for herself secretly. Moreover, the last meal they had together was last night’s dinner, which consisted only of pickled vegetables and a little chicken.

How could she possibly be full until now...

Although Mu Jie knew it was a lie, she didn’t expose Nanny Fang. She forced a faint smile and took a bite of the bun. If she continued to be stubborn, Nanny Fang wouldn’t eat, so she did what she could: accepted the kind gesture.

After the previous incident where Mu Jie sent someone to warn Mu Qingxuan at Zhuiping Residence, she received ten taels of gold as compensation. Thanks to that money, Nanny Fang was able to recover from her illness and regain her strength. The three of them now had enough to eat three meals a day and no longer had to worry about falling ill.

Because of this, Mu Jie felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Zhuiping Residence. Even though a portion of the money had been spent on medicine and nutritious food for Nanny Fang, they still had more than seven taels of gold left. Nanny Fang suggested saving it for emergencies, which meant that while they were no longer in dire straits, they still couldn’t live as comfortably as the young misses of other quarters.

Nanny Fang and Mu Jie continued to embroider in secret to sell for income, while their servant, Lu Xin, diligently took care of the chores both inside and outside the quarters, ensuring that no other quarters could find fault with them.

As Mu Jie ate her steamed bun, she watched Nanny Fang prepare the embroidery materials. If the three women really did return, she could probably manage on her own, but it would be a different story for Nanny Fang and Lu Xin.

If anything were to happen, she wouldn’t be able to protect them...

Both of them were more like family to her than her own blood relatives. If she lost either of them, her heart would surely shatter into pieces.

"Nanny, I have something to discuss with you,"

Mu Jie decided that she would protect her people, so she wanted to inform Nanny Fang about the situation and seek her advice on how to approach the Elder Furen.

“What is it, Miss?” Nanny Fang set the cloth on her lap and smiled gently at her mistress.

"Zhuiping Residence sent word that the trio of mother and daughters will be returning soon, and they’ll be coming back as the benefactors of the Empress Dowager. It seems they will have the Empress Dowager’s support..."

As soon as Mu Jie finished speaking, Nanny Fang frowned deeply. Without mentioning names, she immediately knew who Mu Jie was talking about. "Are you sure this is true, Miss?"

"Yes, Nanny. The people of Zhuiping Residence have no reason to lie to us."

Hearing this, Nanny Fang nodded in agreement. She had heard the young miss talk about the previous incident when she was ill and felt grateful to Zhuiping Residence for being kind to her young miss. Without the ten taels of gold, her young miss would not have had three meals a day during this time.

"If those three women return, we certainly won’t live in peace, Nanny. Zhuiping Residence advised that the only protection we have is the affection of Grandmother. But I don’t know how to go about it," Mu Jie expressed her concern. Nanny Fang quickly understood and agreed with this method.

"How about this, Lu Xin mentioned that she often sees Elder Furen walking in the garden behind the manor these days, probably because she misses the Seventh Young Miss. I’ll have Lu Xin check if Elder Furen will be walking in the garden again today, and then you can wait there to meet her."

Nanny Fang gave a suggestion based on her enduring experience in being a servant in the manor for more than three decades. She certainly has her tricks more or less.

Mu Jie couldn’t help but be skeptical. "You want me to just wait for her?"

"Of course not," Nanny Fang quickly denied. She thought for a moment before leaning in to whisper her plan into the girl’s ear.

That afternoon, in the once quiet garden behind the manor, a small group of people were leisurely strolling. Leading them was Elder Mu Furen, who wore a constantly sorrowful expression.

Ever since her three grandchildren had moved away, Elder Mu Furen, who had been accustomed to the affection of her youngest granddaughter, couldn’t help but feel lonely. She often reminisced about Mu Yingying’s laughter and smiles.

Elder Mu Furen strolled in the back garden for a while before sitting down at a marble table. Her close servant, Su Ming, poured tea for her to quench her thirst.

"With Ying’er gone, the manor feels so lifeless,"

Elder Mu Furen murmured sadly. She sipped her tea and gazed at the scenery. For an old woman like her, nothing was more desirable than being surrounded by her grandchildren and living a peaceful life.

But with her beloved youngest granddaughter far away and the other grandchildren keeping their distance out of fear, none approached her with the same affection as Ying’er.

The more she thought about it, the more despondent she became. She let out a deep sigh.

Meanwhile, a small figure hidden nearby took a deep breath and walked out calmly. As Mu Jie emerged from behind the big bushes, Su Ming noticed her from her standing point.

"Gr...Greetings, Grandmother."

Mu Jie approached and stopped in front of Elder Mu Furen, then curtseyed nervously. She kept her head bowed, waiting for a response out of respect.

Elder Mu Furen glanced at the visitor momentarily, and upon realizing it was one of her granddaughters, she was neither surprised nor displeased. She quietly admired the girl’s respectful demeanor, though she was a bit nervous, as expected from a young child.

"Rise,"

"Th...Thank you, Grandmother."

Mu Jie lifted her head but keeping her gaze lowered, dared not meet her eyes with her grandmother. She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip, before gathering the courage to present what she had prepared.

"F...For the past few days, I’ve seen Grandmother come here often. You look...unwell. I thought you might be missing Seventh Sister, so I made this embroidered cloth in the pattern Seventh Sister liked, hoping it...might ease your longing a bit."

Hmm?

The Elder Furen was quite surprised by what she heard. She glanced at the handkerchief that was being offered to her. The corners of the handkerchief were embroidered with three little ducks, looking very cute. Seeing this, the Elder Furen couldn’t help but smile gently.

If she remembered correctly, Ying’er used to practice embroidery with little duck patterns often, though her stitching was always messy, and the ducks didn’t turn out as intended.

It brought back fond memories...

After seeing this handkerchief and hearing the kind words from her granddaughter, the Elder Furen felt considerably better. She accepted the handkerchief and gave a gentle smile to the granddaughter standing before her.

"Thank you very much, how thoughtful of you."

As the Elder Furen was about to lift her head to look at her granddaughter’s face, her eyes caught sight of the girl’s rough hands. Her hands, which should have been soft and delicate like those of a young miss, were instead calloused like those of a commoner. Moreover, they were covered with scars, both old and new, indicating long-term hard work.

When the Elder Furen’s gaze moved from the hands to the arms, she noticed that the girl’s sleeves were too short, exposing her thin wrists. The clothes she wore were faded and mended in many places, resembling garments that had been worn repeatedly for many years since childhood and no longer fit her growing body in each year.

The more Elder Mu Furen observed, the more she frowned. Finally, when she looked at the girl’s face, she realized that the granddaughter standing before her was Mu Jie, the fifth young miss of the Mu family.

However, if she remembered correctly, Mu Jie should be twelve years old this year, but her thin and small frame made her look more like a ten-year-old child...

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