Yan Ruyu returned to the manor in a good mood. After experiencing so many “disasters” in two days, her luck had finally turned. There was something satisfying.

That woman dared to bully the General Manor just because the Young Master Manor was indebted to her. She was really arrogant. Now that she had fallen into Young Master Yan’s hands, she would die miserably.

“Sister!”

As soon as Yan Ruyu entered the room, a young master dressed in brocade strode in. It was the Yan Manor’s young master, Yan Xie, whom she had not seen for many days.

Ever since he was taught a lesson by Shangguan Yan, he had been staying in his room. To put it nicely, he was recuperating from his injuries, but in reality, it was Mrs. Yan who punished him to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors. After reflecting for so long, his injuries had healed and his body was about to mold.

“What made my sister so happy?” He sat down beside Yan Ruyu, poured a cup of tea, and drank it in one gulp.

Yan Ruyu said indifferently, “How did you see that I was happy?”

Yan Xie put down her cup. “Oh, that’s true. The Xiongnu people wiped out the Northwest Army Camp in one go. Father’s life and death are unknown, and Mother has encountered such a disaster. If Sister can still be happy, then you’re too heartless.”

Yan Ruyu glared at him coldly, wishing she could chase him out. “It’s so late. Why did you come looking for me?”

Yan Ke chuckled. “There’s a lantern festival tonight at Qilin Street. Do you want to take a look?”

Yan Ruyu said in a teasing tone, “Isn’t it said that Father’s life and death are unknown, and Mother has met with such a disaster? So I’m not in the mood to enjoy myself.”

“Ahem.” Yan Xie’s eyes flashed. “I was afraid that you would be sad and wanted to take you out to relax.”

Yan Ruyu said indifferently, “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. Don’t even think about asking me to fool Mom for you. If you want to go, go yourself!”

How would Yan Xie dare? If his mother knew that he had left the manor without permission, she would definitely beat him to death. He grabbed his sister’s wrist and begged bitterly, “Aiya, good sister, just promise me this once. When you were young, I treated you the best. Even your second and third brothers bullied you. When did I not stand up for you?”

Yan Ruyu coldly retracted her hand. “This move is useless against me. If you want to leave the manor, think of a way yourself!” She did not want to be talked about at this juncture. Besides, she had something else to do tonight.

Seeing that he could not persuade his sister no matter what, Yan Xie left in disappointment.

… .

On the other hand, it was inconvenient for Yan Jiuchao to stay with Yu Wan and Yu Feng in the courtyard. No matter what, a certain young master understood that a lady’s reputation could not be lost.

Yu Feng heaved a sigh of relief after he left. Although Young Master Yan had never done anything to hurt his sister, the rumors about that person were too terrifying. At least there were so many eyes watching in the village, but this was his own territory. If he really wanted to do something, how could he and his sister withstand it?

After the little ones asked for three big kisses each, they obediently followed their father back to the manor.

The siblings were sorting out the herbs in Uncle’s room. Other than them, there was also a pageboy called San’er.

San’er was specially sent by Uncle Wan to serve Uncle. In the past, he had been a medicine boy in Imperial Physician Zhang’s residence and knew a little about medicine.

Imperial Physician Zhang was one of the two physicians who had suddenly descended on Baozhi Hall during the day. The other was Imperial Physician Liang. The two of them were invited by Yan Jiuchao. The consultation fee that was exempted for everyone was also paid out of Yan Jiuchao’s own pocket. Yu Wan and Yu Feng did not know about this.

There was a commotion nearby.

Yu Feng pretended to be calm as he distributed the medicine packets, but he could not help but glance outside.

Yu Wan looked at him in amusement and asked the pageboy beside her, “San’er, what’s going on over there?”

San’er replied, “Miss Yu, that’s Qilin Street. There’s a lantern festival tonight.”

“The lantern festival,” Yu Wan muttered. She had been in the ancient times for so long, but she had never seen the bustling night view of the Capital. “Big Brother, let’s go take a look?”

Yu Feng swallowed his saliva and said seriously, “Go ahead. I’ll look after Dad.”

It was obvious that he wanted to go. It seemed that the saying was right. Every man had a big boy living in their hearts.

Yu Wan laughed and looked at San’er. “We’ll be back soon. Besides, Uncle has someone to take care of him. He’s much better than you and me.”

San’er scratched his head. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Old Master Yu.”

Yu Feng wanted to say something but was pulled out of the room by his sister. He was a big man, but he couldn’t break free from a girl’s hand. It would be embarrassing if word got out. After walking out of the courtyard and heading east, they could see a pond. They followed the pond to the right and walked until they arrived at Qilin Street.

Qilin Street was filled with colorful lights, and it had already become a colorful sea. The people of the Great Zhou Dynasty were more open-minded than the previous dynasty, and it was not that the girls did not leave their houses. On the streets, other than the elegant young masters, there were also many young ladies who had yet to marry. The daughters of wealthy families were mostly surrounded by servants and wore veils or bamboo hats. The commoners were not as particular.

“It’s so beautiful.” Yu Wan sighed as she looked at the lanterns beside her.

“Which one do you like?” Yu Feng couldn’t bear to see his sister drooling over the lantern.

Yu Wan picked up a lotus lantern from a stall and asked, “Big Brother, do you want to buy it for me?”

The vendor immediately said, “A hundred copper coins each.”

What lantern cost a hundred copper coins? Yu Feng’s hand froze.

Yu Wan couldn’t help but laugh. She really didn’t know who could pluck a strand of hair off this miserly brother.

“Great! How dare you follow me!”

A familiar voice came from the alley beside them. The siblings’ expressions froze. After exchanging glances, Yu Wan said in confusion, “Could it be Miss Bai…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Yu Feng had already disappeared into the alley.

Yu Wan put down the lantern and followed.

The two of them did not hear wrongly. The person in the alley was indeed Bai Tang, and there was actually a man who appeared in the alley with Bai Tang. From Bai Tang’s tone, it was not difficult to tell that she had been followed. Yu Feng rolled up his sleeves and was about to teach that lecher a lesson when he was stunned by the scene in front of him.

The young man in luxurious clothes curled up and fell to the ground. Bai Tang held a wooden stick in her hand and punched him. “Do you know who I am? You even dare to follow me. I think you don’t want to live anymore!”

“What’s wrong, Big Brother?” Yu Wan walked over.

Yu Feng weakly pointed at the lecher who was beaten up by Bai Tang. Yu Wan walked over to take a look. “Eh? Why does this person look familiar? I think I’ve seen him somewhere before.” Wasn’t this the former city patrol envoy, Yan Xie, who had captured Yu Wan and the three little munchkins into jail? After offending Shangguan Yan, he was decisively fired by the magistrate.

Yan Xie was an idiot to begin with. He had relied on his relationship with Shangguan Yan to obtain an official position in the magistrate prefecture. In reality, he’s useless. He was also addicted to sex and loved to tease beautiful girls.

The first time he saw Yu Wan, he also had some thoughts. However, at that time, he did not dare to mess around.

It was a coincidence that he had offended Bai Tang. Although the two of them were neighbors, they had never met. How could he know that this delicate little girl was the infamous Miss Bai?

Bai Tang beat Yan Xie up so badly that Yu Wan did not even recognize him as the once awe-inspiring young master of the Yan Manor.

“Miss, please spare my life. I won’t dare to do it again!” Yan Xie begged for mercy. He had sneaked out of the manor alone without a pageboy or guard. If something happened, he wouldn’t even have someone to protect himself.

Bai Tang hit him again with the wooden stick. “Be careful of your skin if you dare to follow me again! Get lost!”

Yan Zhen rolled away, peeing his pants.

“Why are you here?” Bai Tang threw down her stick and clapped her hands. She looked at the siblings who had suddenly appeared.

Yu Feng cleared his throat uncomfortably.

Yu Wan smiled and said, “We came to watch the lantern festival. When my brother heard your voice, he thought something had happened to you and ran faster than a rabbit.”

Yu Feng’s heart trembled.

Bai Tang nodded. “What can happen to me? I’ll deal with any of these lechers!”

Yu Wan smiled. “Miss Bai is also here to see the lanterns?”

Bai Tang muttered, “That’s right. In the end, I met that guy. What a disappointment!”

Yu Wan glanced at Yu Feng. “We just arrived and haven’t started watching yet. If Miss Bai doesn’t mind, shall we go together?”

The three of them strolled around the lantern festival on Qilin Street. Bai Tang was a native of the Capital and had seen many such lantern festivals. She did not find it strange, but it was a different feeling to be able to be with friends.

At first, the three of them were still walking side by side. But Yu Wan slowly fell behind them, and the two of them did not notice. Yu Wan was angry and amused. Although she did it on purpose and did not want to be a third wheel for the two of them, wasn’t it a little sad to ignore her existence?

“We’re selling lanterns! Fresh lanterns! Lotus lanterns, peach lanterns, apricot lanterns, eighty copper coins each!”

Yu Wan was attracted by the hawker’s shouts. The lanterns in this shop were indeed not bad. She decided to buy one for each of the young lads. When Yu Wan was choosing lanterns for the three little lads, a scream suddenly came from the back of the crowd. “Aiya! Someone fell into the water!”

Yu Wan remembered that there was indeed a pond on the way to Qilin Street, and this place was not far from the pond.

When Yu Wan arrived, the outside of the pond was already surrounded by passersby. However, no one knew how to swim. An old man found a bamboo pole and wanted to let that person grab it, but that person sank straight down.

In a moment of desperation, Yu Wan couldn’t care less about the cold spring water. She jumped into the pond and saved the person who fell into the water. It was an old man with white hair. Yu Wan pressed on his chest and the old man spat out a mouthful of water.

An auntie said, “I saw him standing here for a long time just now. So he wanted to commit suicide.”

For such an old man to commit suicide, he must have encountered something bad. Everyone sympathized with this old man.

Unexpectedly, the old man panted and scolded the auntie, “You’re the one who wants to commit suicide! Your entire family wants to commit suicide!”

The auntie choked. “You… you… you old thing!”

The old man scolded her. “You’re the old thing!”

The auntie was so angry that she fell back! She just sympathized with him too much and said it casually. If he wasn’t, then he wasn’t. Why did he have to say such harsh words?

The people who originally sympathized with him dispersed in disdain. This damned old man could die wherever he wanted!

“I was hungry,” the wet old man said to Yu Wan. He was freezing and his voice was trembling. “I didn’t stand properly and fell into the water.”

Yu Wan: “Oh.”

The old man hugged his trembling body tightly and looked at Yu Wan. “Is there anything to eat?”

Yu Wan took out a few pieces of candy from her purse, peeled off the icing, and handed it to him. “Is this okay?”

The old man took the candy and wolfed it down. He didn’t leave a single one for Yu Wan. “It tastes terrible!”

Yu Wan : “…” You’re welcome. What a strange old man. Yu Wan ignored him and stood up to leave.

“You’re leaving just like that?” The old man stopped Yu Wan.

Am I still responsible for you?

The old man said, “I don’t live far. Help me back.”

Yu Wan said, “What if I don’t?”

The old man said without thinking, “I’ll say you pushed me into the water.”

Yu Wan’s face darkened. “…Old man, it’s wrong of you to try to scam me.”

The old man also realized that he had gone too far with his savior. He took out a money bag and poured out a brocade box sealed with wax. He threw it to Yu Wan and said, “For you!”

“What?” Yu Wan took off her wax coat and opened it. “Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus?”

The snow lotus was bigger, fuller, and more fragrant than the one in the Baozhi Hall. If the Baozhi Hall used a first-grade snow lotus, the one the old man gave her was undoubtedly a top-grade snow lotus. If she used it as medicine, it would definitely have a better effect!

On account of the snow lotus, Yu Wan decisively helped him up. “Old man, where are you staying?”

… .

The night was as cold as water. A carriage slowly stopped in front of a quiet mansion. The curtain was lifted and Yan Ruyu alighted from the carriage. The vermilion door was tightly shut. She walked up the stairs and gently knocked on the door.

Creak—

Not long after, the thick door was pulled open from the inside. A young pageboy stuck his head out and saw that it was a girl wearing a veil and luxurious clothes. His vigilance decreased greatly and he asked in confusion, “What’s the matter?”

Yan Ruyu asked gently, “May I know if Chef Bao is around?”

The pageboy frowned.

Yan Ruyu saw his confusion and patiently explained, “It was Madam Du who told me that Chef Bao stayed here.”

The pageboy’s expression softened.

Yan Ruyu took out Madam Du’s handwritten letter. This was what Madam Du had left for her before she left. This could be considered the last thing Madam Du did for her. From now on, she and Madam Du really didn’t owe each other anything.

After the pageboy read it, he returned the handwritten letter to Yan Ruyu. “It’s indeed Madam Du’s handwritten letter, but my master isn’t around.”

Yan Ruyu asked, “Then can I wait for him here?”

“Up to you.” With that, the pageboy took back the head and closed the door.

Yan Ruyu choked.

Lychee, who was behind her, complained, “What kind of person is that? Doesn’t he know how to invite Miss to wait in the inner hall?”

Yan Ruyu glanced at her coldly. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Lychee lowered her head resentfully.

Everyone was not qualified to invite Madam Du’s master since it was already so difficult to invite Madam Du. Although she could use the power of the General Manor, once word got out, not only would it not be glorious, it would also give occasion for gossip.

These people with unique skills often had strange personalities and thought highly of themselves. It was fine. She, Yan Ruyu, had patience.

“Old man, we’ve already walked two streets. Where exactly is your house?”

This voice!

Yan Ruyu’s eyebrows twitched. She turned around and looked into the night. She saw Yu Wan, who was dripping wet, supporting a thin old man who was also dripping wet, walking over.

Yan Ruyu suspected that she was seeing things. Wasn’t she dealt with by Young Master Yan? Why would she appear in front of her?

“Miss… Miss Yu?” Yan Ruyu called out tentatively.

Yu Wan looked up and paused. “Yan Ruyu?” Meeting her twice in one day, wasn’t she too fated with this woman?

Yan Ruyu didn’t even look at the old man supported by Yu Wan and said in disbelief, “You… Aren’t you…”

“Aren’t I?” Yu Wan asked despite knowing the answer.

Yan Ruyu wanted to say something but hesitated. After teasing for a while, she changed the topic and said, “I see you everywhere. You’re really haunting me! Tell me honestly, did you hear some news and deliberately follow me?”

“I followed you? Here?” Yu Wan looked at the desolate streets. There were old houses on both sides and there were almost no people here anymore. She must have had nothing better to do than follow Yan Ruyu to such a place.

Yan Ruyu felt that Yu Wan was following her. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be such a coincidence. “It’s useless even if you follow me. Master Chef Bao won’t see you!”

“Master Chef Bao?” Yu Wan touched her chin.

When the pageboy inside the house heard the commotion, he opened the door again. He stuck his head out to take a look and immediately opened the door.

Yan Ruyu thought that he was finally going to welcome her into the house and proudly tidied her clothes. Unexpectedly, he walked past her and walked down the steps in two to three steps. He walked to Yu Wan and bowed to the old man who was supported by Yu Wan. “Master, you’re back!”