Chapter 10: Laying Cards on the Table with Huan'er

Mu Xiaoxue was so happy at the thought that she could also recruit underlings just like the bosses on TV that she couldn't find her bearings, jumping around while humming a song that only she could understand. Please, could you mind that you're wearing men's clothing right now? It was a good thing it was late at night and no one was around, otherwise, they would definitely have mistaken Mu Xiaoxue for a mental patient.

"Today my mood is beautiful, ee-ya ee-ya yo! I've recruited a little follower, ee-ya ee-ya yo!"

Mu Xiaoxue kept singing like this, and Huan'er, who was following behind her, was truly about to have her eyes pop out of her head! When had the old Mu Xiaoxue ever sung a song? And such a strange song at that! When had the old Mu Xiaoxue ever helped anyone? It was already a miracle she wasn't hitting people. It seemed that after falling down the stairs, the Eldest Miss had truly changed a lot, or perhaps this Eldest Miss wasn't the Eldest Miss at all.

But when Mu Xiaoxue arrived at the walls of the Prime Minister's manor, she became unhappy. "Now my mood is very bad, ee-ya ee-ya yo! Could it be that I have to climb through a dog hole again, ee-ya ee-ya yo!"

Sigh! Might as well climb! Who told me I couldn't fly over walls and rooftops like people in ancient times! Just as she was thinking about climbing, Mu Xiaoxue suddenly remembered: *Wait, could it be that someone actually can?* Why not see just how amazing she is?

"Still not coming out? Do you think watching the Eldest Miss climb through a dog hole is fun?" Huan'er knew the Eldest Miss would find her sooner or later, she just didn't expect it to be this fast.

"It is the Eldest Miss. This servant will lead you in immediately. Forgive my offense, Eldest Miss."

As Huan'er spoke, she picked up Mu Xiaoxue with one hand and took off with a single toe-tap against the ground. Although she had long known about the lightness skills of ancient times, she was still startled when she tried it herself. However, it was still very thrilling. How could a person just fly up like that in an instant? In the blink of an eye, before Mu Xiaoxue could even enjoy it, they were inside the courtyard walls.

As soon as Huan'er landed, she let go of Mu Xiaoxue and knelt on one knee, rather than kneeling on both knees as she had done in the past. The posture was quite dashing.

"I am sorry, Eldest Miss."

Mu Xiaoxue ignored Huan'er. She felt this wasn't the place for talking, so she turned and walked toward her own room. She thought Huan'er would follow, but to her surprise, Huan'er remained kneeling there, motionless. *Sigh!! Why are these ancient people so troublesome?*

She didn't realize that her actions were putting immense pressure on Huan'er. Seeing Mu Xiaoxue walk inside without acknowledging her, Huan'er thought the Eldest Miss was angry and was about to punish her.

"Why haven't you come in? How long do you plan to kneel? Do you think this is a place for talking?"

"Yes."

Back in the room, Mu Xiaoxue poured herself some water to drink, ignoring Huan'er and not saying a word, as if she hadn't just called her in. She scrutinized Huan'er carefully. Was this still the same timid and kind Huan'er? Was she still the same Huan'er who was ordered around and arbitrarily beaten by the old Mu Xiaoxue? If she were a person with ill intentions placed by my side, that would not be a good thing.

"Don't you feel like you have something to say to me?"

"Eldest Miss..." As Huan'er spoke, she knelt on one knee again.

"What? You don't know how to say it? I really didn't know I had a hidden master by my side! Was that timid and kind Huan'er from before just an act? Or did you replace the old Huan'er? Or were you sent by someone to kill me?"

While speaking, Mu Xiaoxue kept watching Huan'er. Although the girl kept her head low, Mu Xiaoxue couldn't see a trace of fear in her eyes. Even though she was kneeling on the ground, she gave off an air of dignity and grace. The old Huan'er would certainly have been crying and begging for mercy.

"Eldest Miss, please rest assured. I will not harm you; I am only here to protect you."

"You say you won't harm me, and I'm just supposed to believe you? Since you won't speak, I will ask and you will answer." Mu Xiaoxue wasn't asking for Huan'er's opinion; she was making a demand. This aura was truly something others could not hope to match!

"Very well, Eldest Miss, please ask! I will tell you everything I can."

That meant there were still things she couldn't say! If she was a friend, it was fine; but if she was an enemy, she shouldn't blame me for being unkind.

"What is your real name, and where are you from?"

"This servant does not know her real name, nor does she remember where she is from."

"You answer the very first question like that? It seems you don't intend to speak properly!"

"It is not that this servant will not answer, but that this servant truly cannot. I really don't remember. I was picked up; I truly remember nothing."

"By whom?"

"By the Madam."

"Slap! If you're going to lie, at least pick a better target! My mother was already gone when you entered the manor." Mu Xiaoxue was truly angry. *Couldn't you just confess? I have to ask, and then you just answer! Why play these games with me? Is this really necessary to be so infuriating...*

"Eldest Miss, please do not be angry. When Madam picked me up, I was only four or five years old. At that time, Madam was on her way back from the temple to pray for blessings while pregnant, and she saw me collapsed by the roadside. I was very ill then, so Madam brought me back to the manor."

"But I remember you only entered the manor two years ago! I was the one who personally chose you back then."

"Yes, that is because on the day you were born, I left with my Master."

Mu Xiaoxue looked at Huan'er suspiciously. "There's such a coincidence?"

"It is true. Eldest Miss, I have nothing left to hide from you now!"

"Then who can prove it? My mother is no longer here, so of course you can say that."

Hearing that Mu Xiaoxue still didn't believe her, Huan'er grew a bit anxious. "It is true... Oh, right, this servant remembers. There is one more person who can prove it, and that is the Nanny who brought me back with Madam at that time."

"That Nanny?"

"It seems to be Nanny Feng. Yes, it was Nanny Feng. I remember it was that Nanny who took care of me when I was sick."

"Fine. It's too late now. I'll call Nanny Feng tomorrow to discuss this. For now, tell me why you left on the day I was born."

"Miss should know that since childhood, someone has prophesied your fate: 'To possess this girl is to possess the world.'" Mu Xiaoxue didn't make a sound, merely nodding to signal her to continue.

"On the day Miss was born, an old man came to the manor. He was the one who gave the prophecy. However, many people only know the part 'To possess this girl is to possess the world'; there was more, but neither the Prime Minister nor Madam mentioned it. I was present at the time. As the old man—who is also my Master—was leaving, he glanced at me, asked Madam for me, and said he would return me in ten years."

"That old man... no, what else did your Master say?"

"Master said that although Miss will become a person of great status in the future, there will be many obstacles along the way, especially at... at..."

"At what? Speak quickly."

"Especially at age fourteen, there will be a great disaster, and this disaster might take Miss's life. At that time, the Prime Minister and Madam were terrified; Madam even fainted from fright." *No wonder the Prime Minister was so worried when he heard I fell down the stairs this time. It turns out he already knew I would face a tribulation this year.*

"Then did your Master not say how to avert it?"

"Master did not say how to avert it, he only said that Miss is blessed by heaven and will... re... reborn during this disaster."

*Heavens! Could it really be that divine? To be able to calculate a rebirth right from birth! No, I must find an opportunity to meet this god-like figure. When the time comes, I'll even take a photo... Uh! It seems there are no cameras here! Sigh! How boring...*

Huan'er looked up at Mu Xiaoxue. What was wrong with the young lady? One moment she was smiling foolishly, and the next she was frowning. What on earth did she mean by that!

"Where is your Master now? Can I meet him?"