Chapter 8: Sneaking Out of the Mansion

At the same time, a flicker of calculation flashed in Concubine Liu's eyes as she witnessed this scene, and it did not escape Mu Xiaoxue's sight.

"Alright, Chen'er, come down quickly. The Prime Minister has just returned and is tired. You child, you really are being unreasonable, sitting on the Prime Minister's lap like that; you truly don't know how to show consideration."

Hearing Concubine Liu say this, Chen'er lowered his head aggrievedly, tears welling up in his eyes but refusing to fall. Just as he was about to get down and return to his seat, his hand was caught by someone.

"It's fine for Chen'er to sit on Daddy's lap. Come, see what you like to eat, and Daddy will serve you."

However, the Prime Minister did not know that this action had already caused Concubine Liu to harbor the thought of getting rid of Mu Yichen, because this family could only be inherited by her son, Mu Yifeng; no other concubine's son was worthy. It was just that she forgot that she herself was merely a concubine, and her son was also merely a concubine's son.

After a meal where everyone harbored their own private thoughts, the Prime Minister finally carried Chen'er back to the Fourth Concubine's Rouxin Garden. I don't know if I am helping you or harming you this time; you have gained the Prime Minister's attention, but at the same time, you have become a target in the eyes of the other concubines.

Returning to her own Baixue Garden, Mu Xiaoxue felt bored just thinking about it. She had heard that ancient night markets were quite good, hehe... I have an idea.

"Huan'er, give orders to everyone to return to their own rooms and not come out to wander. Don't do any work and get some rest early." Huan'er looked up at Mu Xiaoxue, feeling very strange—why did the Young Mistress suddenly want everyone to rest? Looking at the sky outside, it was still early!

"Yes, Eldest Young Mistress."

Mu Xiaoxue saw Huan'er's doubt, but felt comforted that Huan'er didn't ask too many questions. It seemed Huan'er was not a meddlesome servant; she should have a good talk with her in a while.

"Huan'er, you go directly back to your room later as well; there's no need to come and serve me."

Huan'er's efficiency was quite good; in less than half a stick of incense, there was no more sound outside. Mu Xiaoxue found the clothes she had previously asked Huan'er to make for the Crown Prince and changed into them.

"Hmm, they seem a bit large... I have it." If Huan'er were here right now, she would surely faint from shock. Is this that Eldest Young Mistress who knows nothing? She had previously asked for help making clothes for the Crown Prince, but who is this person holding the needle and thread now!

That's right, she was Mu Xiaoxue. The Mu Xiaoxue of the twenty-first century had no parents and lived only with her grandfather, so she had been very self-reliant since childhood. Therefore, needlework was no trouble for her.

"OK." Soon, Mu Xiaoxue finished altering the clothes, tied her hair into a simple ponytail with a hairband, and after tidying herself up, she quietly approached the wall. Looking at the wall that was several heads taller than her, *If only I had ancient lightness skills. Prime Minister, why did you make your family's walls so high! Are you afraid someone will steal your daughter?*

Just as Mu Xiaoxue was preparing to return to her room in disappointment, she saw a small hole in the bushes beneath the wall. Heavens! No way! You're not going to make a person from the twenty-first century crawl through a dog hole! Forget it, I'll just crawl! A real man can bend and stretch. Fine! I'm just a little lady, but I can still crawl.

As Mu Xiaoxue prepared to crawl out, she turned back and smiled toward a certain spot. In truth, she had always known someone was behind her, and that person was Huan'er; the reason she remained composed was that she wanted to test Huan'er.

She quickly crawled out, stood up, and brushed the dust off her body. She looked left and right, making sure no one saw her, then relaxed and practiced walking like an ancient man. Actually, Mu Xiaoxue looked quite good in men's clothing.

Relying on her predecessor's memories, Mu Xiaoxue arrived at the busiest street, ignoring the tail following her. She looked around curiously, just like a noble lady who never left her home. Seeing the snacks, she ordered a little bit of everything; she hadn't eaten her fill just now, and she couldn't let her stomach suffer!

"Boss, give me a little bit of every snack you have."

"This... Young Master is alone?"

"Yes! Is there a problem?"

"Can one person finish so much, Young Master?"

"Whether I can finish it or not is my business; just serve it. I won't be short a single cent of silver." Mu Xiaoxue took out an ingot of silver and placed it on the table.

"Customer, here it is. Please enjoy."

Although Mu Xiaoxue ordered quite a lot, she only took one bite of each item because she wanted to save room for other things! Not far away, a five or six-year-old child with a dirty face and ragged clothes stared at the delicacies in front of Mu Xiaoxue, swallowing saliva incessantly.

Seeing that Mu Xiaoxue wasn't eating, the boss followed her gaze and saw the filthy, ragged child. Thinking he had disturbed Mu Xiaoxue and fearing he might get angry, he hurriedly tried to drive the child away.

"Kid, get lost, don't interfere with my business." As the boss spoke, he was preparing to strike the little girl.

"Alright, Boss. Little one, come here, come to big brother... oh no, come to big sister here." The child walked up to Mu Xiaoxue.

"Come, sit here. See what you like to eat and help yourself."

"But big brother, I don't have silver to give you."

"It's fine, eat! Look, I can't finish all this by myself anyway."

"Then when I have money, I'll pay you back." The child picked up a small soup bun and put it in their mouth before even having time to blow it cool.

"Alright, eat slowly, be careful not to burn yourself. Here, have some water so you don't choke."

Standing not far away, Huan'er's mouth hung open at the sight of this Mu Xiaoxue, unable to believe it. *Is this still our Eldest Young Mistress? So the Eldest Young Mistress can also have a caring side!*

Seeing the child stop after eating one, she continued.

"Why aren't you eating? It's okay, this big brother gave the silver for all of this."

"Big brother, I'm full. Can I take these back to eat with my grandma and brother? Grandma and brother haven't eaten for many days either." What a sensible child! In the twenty-first century, a child this age would have been pampered in their parents' palms.

"Boss, wrap all of these up for me."

"Today, the little one happened to meet such a good person! Usually, those customers would rather waste it than give it to her," the boss muttered...

"Little one, where are your parents?"

"I... I don't... I don't have parents. Big brother said they went to a very far place. Big brother, do you know where a very far place is?" Looking at the hope in the child's eyes, Mu Xiaoxue felt an inexplicable heartache. Children without parents are the most pitiful, because I am also...

"Then what is your name?"

"Guo Rou. You can call me Xiao Rou, just like my grandma and brother."

"Customer, your things are wrapped."

"Keep the change. In the future, whenever this little girl comes, put it on my account; someone will come to settle the bill."

"Yes, customer, please walk carefully. Come again next time."

"Thank you, big brother. No need, if my brother finds out, he'll scold me."

"It's fine. Can you take me to see your grandma and brother?"

"But... but..."

"It's okay. If it's inconvenient, I just won't go. Just remember to come to this shop for food in the future; I will have someone send the silver."

"No, no." The little girl shook her head like a rattle.

"Big brother, I'll take you. It's just that my house is quite broken, please don't look down on it." Mu Xiaoxue crouched down and patted the little girl's head. What a sensible child!

"It's fine, big brother won't look down on it. Let's go quickly! Otherwise, this food will get cold."

The little girl led Mu Xiaoxue to a dilapidated temple, letting go of Mu Xiaoxue's hand and running inside.

"Grandma, brother, look, I brought delicious food back for you!" A woman in her fifties was seen lying on the ground, which was only simply covered with a layer of straw, a tattered piece of clothing covering her body. Hearing the girl's voice, she struggled to prop herself up.