The children were so frightened that the Empress’s attention was completely attracted to them. She did not notice Yu Wan’s abnormality. Of course, Yu Wan did not continue to let herself maintain the abnormality. She almost subconsciously put down her hand and sat there quietly, just like Nanny Fang had taught her.
The Empress hurriedly stopped the troupe and could not hide her self-reproach. “The children are so young. I was inconsiderate.”
A two-and-a-half-year-old boy was actually frightened by the sound of gongs and drums. The little princess was not afraid of this at the age of one. The Empress shook her head secretly. On the one hand, she sympathized with Yu Wan and Yan Jiuchao. It was not easy for them to give birth to the eldest grandsons of the royal family, but they were a few timid and useless mute people.
The Empress naturally would not gloat. Her upbringing did not allow her to do that, but the palace people had long exploded in their hearts. As expected of the children of a village girl, they were so unpresentable that the sound of gongs and drums could scare them.
Yu Wan felt the disdain in the palace servants’ eyes. She could tolerate anyone criticizing her, but she could not ignore the fact that someone had misunderstood her sons. If they had not experienced her sons’ pain, how could they know the trauma in their hearts?
Yu Wan took a deep breath and suppressed the urge to refute. She stood up and bowed elegantly and calmly. “I’ve embarrassed myself in front of Your Majesty. Since they were tired from playing, I’ll bring them back to the manor first. I’ll enter the palace another day to accompany Your Majesty to choose a song.”
It was just a way to rope her and the Young Master Manor in. It was enough for her to appreciate it. It did not matter if she chose the right one or two.
As expected, the Empress did not ask her to stay.
However, before she left, the Empress rewarded Su Mu, who was loyal to her master.
The Empress thought that she was giving Yu Wan face. After all, in her understanding, children should be handed over to servants to raise. How could there be a master who personally raised children? That was a bad habit of the poor. The royal family was not like that.
Even if the Eldest Prince had fallen down or had bumps when he was young, the first to rush forward would always be the palace servants and nannies. She was the Empress, so she could not lose her composure for a moment. It was the same for Yu Wan. She was the future Princess Consort Yan. She had to abandon the bad habits of the commoners and get used to being high and mighty in the future.
Everyone thought that Su Mu was right. Even Yu Wan could not say that Su Mu had done something wrong. When the children were frightened, she rushed over to hug them immediately. She should be happy that someone was taking care of her sons so carefully. Moreover, her sons had a solitary personality and did not get along well with many servants. Now that they suddenly had someone they liked, as their mother, she should be even happier.
This feeling of not being able to do anything or have the right to be angry was really not good. It made her look very petty.
Yu Wan brought the three little fellows into the carriage.
Fu Ling and the other two also sat down.
Suddenly, Emissary Cui rushed over. “Young Madam, you forgot your things.”
It was a box of rouge. This was not in the Empress’s reward. It seemed that the Empress had something to tell her.
Yu Wan alighted from the carriage and walked to the side with Emissary Cui.
Jiang Hai began to be on guard in case someone overhears.
Emissary Cui whispered, “Young Madam left in a hurry and Her Majesty didn’t have time to instruct you. The envoy from Nanzhao is most likely here for Young Master Yan. Young Master and Young Madam, please be careful.”
The Empress had told Yu Wan that someone in the Nanzhao’s royal family wanted Yan Jiuchao dead. From the Empress’s point of view, she would indeed think that they were here to plot against Yan Jiuchao. However, in reality, there was a high chance that they were here for her and the Nanzhao’s holy artifact in her hands. However, there was no need to tell the Empress this.
Yu Wan did not ask how the Empress knew about these reports. After all, if she did not have some ability, the Empress would not have lasted until now.
“I thank the Empress.” Yu Wan thanked her and took the rouge to get into the carriage.
The three little lads were already asleep. They lay in Su Mu’s arms.
Along the way, Yu Wan’s aura was a little cold.
After the carriage arrived at the Young Master Manor, the three nannies carried the sleeping little masters back into the house.
Yu Wan also returned to her room.
After the three maidservants sent Yu Wan off, they stood up and walked towards the temporary room.
Suddenly, Zi Su pulled Su Mu back. “Stay. I have something to say to you.”
Fu Ling looked at Zi Su in a daze. Zi Su said indifferently, “It’s not you, stand down!”
Inadvertently, she put on the airs of an official’s daughter again. Fortunately, Fu Ling did not argue and obediently left.
There was no one else around. Zi Su retracted her hand and pulled a long face. “What’s wrong with you?”
Su Mu looked at Zi Su calmly.
Zi Su frowned and said, “Don’t pretend to be stupid. You’ve been deliberately currying favor with the little masters these two days. What do you want to do? The little masters’ personal maidservant? The little masters already have a nanny and don’t need a maidservant anymore!”
Zi Su thought of something and said, “…It’s still early for a serving maidservant!”
Su Mu turned around indifferently and was about to leave.
“Eh?” Zi Su was stunned. She grabbed her again and said, “I’m talking to you. What kind of attitude is that! A second-class maidservant dares to pull a long face at me? I’m warning you, you better be sensible and not approach the little masters again!”
Su Mu said indifferently, “I’m just doing my duty.”
Zi Su said coldly, “Didn’t you see that Young Madam is unhappy? Making your master unhappy isn’t called playing your part. It’s called going overboard!”
Su Mu ignored her and turned to leave.
Zi Su looked at her back and said coldly, “Su, take my words seriously! If you continue to be unruly, I’ll punish you!”
Su Mu left.
Zi Su also returned to her room. Su Mu’s attitude made Zi Su angry. Even when Ban Xia went forward to talk to her, she ignored her.
After dinner, Zi Su went to Nanny Fang’s place as usual to hand over the matters of the Qingfeng Courtyard. Nanny Fang did not live in the Qingfeng Courtyard, so she had to go around the Lanfang Pavilion and walk through a quiet path. Along the way, she would pass by a pond.
Just as Zi Su walked to the pond with the lantern, she suddenly stepped on something and slipped. She did not know how to swim. The moment she rolled into the water, she quickly grabbed a willow branch by the pond.
The willow branch was slender and was not enough to support her weight. She gradually sank.
“Help—help… Oh…”
She sank into the water and choked on a mouthful of turbid cold water. She struggled with all her might. The willow branch broke with a bang, and she grabbed another tuft of wild grass.
Just as the weeds were about to be broken by her, a slender figure appeared by the pond and entered her vision.
Zi Su hurriedly looked up and saw a ghost-like cold face.
“Su… Su Mu…”
The moonlight landed on Su Mu’s face, making her look a little sinister. Zi Su’s heart skipped a beat and she felt a layer of fear.
Su Mu reached out to the seaweed that Zisu was pulling.
“What are you doing!” Zisu’s expression changed.
“Miss!”
Ban Xia’s voice came from nearby.
Su Mu grabbed Zi Su’s wrist and pulled her out of the water.
“Miss… Miss! It’s really you!” Ban Xia hurriedly pounced over and used her original form of address.
Zi Su was drenched and trembling.
“What happened?” Uncle Wan was shocked by the commotion by the pond.
Ban Xia hugged Zi Su and said, “Just now…”
Su Mu said, “Just now, Ban Xia and I went to the orchard to pick cherries. The little masters wanted to eat them. When we walked nearby, we heard someone calling for help. Ban Xia said that it sounded like Zi Su. We rushed over to take a look and really saw Zi Su fall into the water.”
Uncle Wan and Zi Su looked at Ban Xia at the same time. Ban Xia nodded. It was indeed because the little masters pointed at the cherries and looked like they wanted to eat them that Su Mu pulled her to the orchard to pick cherries.
Uncle Wan understood and did not suspect anything. He looked at Zi Su and said, “What’s wrong with you?”
Zi Su said in shock, “I went to look for Nanny Fang and accidentally slipped.”
“You’re already so old, but you can’t even walk properly. It’s all thanks to the people nearby this time. Otherwise, you…” Uncle Wan thought about the inauspicious words and finally swallowed them. “Alright, disperse. There’s no need to go to Nanny Fang’s place. I’ll tell her to teach you during the day in the future. You don’t have to do anything for the time being. Just focus on handing over to Nanny Fang.”
“Thank you, Manager Wan.” Zi Su bowed.
It was just an accident, and it was a close shave. Uncle Wan muttered a few words and returned to his room to work.
After returning to the Qingfeng Courtyard, Zi Su took a hot shower and changed into dry clothes. She opened her bag and took out a hollow golden hairpin before knocking on the door next door to Tao’er.
Tao’er and Li’er went to Yu Wan’s room to serve her. Su Mu opened the door.
“It’s so late. What’s the matter?” Su Mu asked.
Zi Su pinched the hairpin in her hand and handed it to Su Mu. “This is for you. Thank you for saving me.”
