In the middle of the second night, with horse-drawn carriages and guards holding torches and a letter from the dōng gōng (Bureau of Crown Prince), they entered to meet Xie Eiliang. After a while of conversation, they requested to leave. Once the guests left, the Xie clan did not rest until dawn.
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The youngest son committed a reckless act, using his own body as a shield, receiving a sword strike in place of the heir apparent.
The wound from the sword pierced through Xie Lhong's back, though not severe, if not treated carefully, it could lead to fever and death. Just receiving this news almost made him unable to stand. The person who reported it also mentioned that despite the injuries, the youngest son went back to fight alongside the guards, and due to recent illness, his injuries worsened, causing a fever all night. Although the royal physician was keeping a close watch, Xie Eiliang couldn't help but worry.
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Xiao Lhong lay in bed for two days due to the poison. However, due to his relatively weak health, it took until the fourth day for him to get up from bed. Crown Prince, Wang Jieer, visited him every day, despite having tight duties. It wasn't just because the young man helped save him, but also because he admired the bravery. Even though there was some doubt because there were people who didn't want to meet him in the royal palace, he could discern who had ulterior motives. If someone approached him with a plan, it had to be considered a true determination. Why not keep someone like Xie Lhong by his side? It was just a matter of buying his heart and certainly, in the future, he could benefit from such a person. Just convince him.
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Certainly, before deciding to keep someone by his side, he would investigate the person's background eight generations back. Xie Lhong, this person, had a clean history, not involved with any assassin groups. Xie Lhong also knew about the data his groups. It was just surprising why someone would risk their life just to approach him. How did the young man know he would be there that day? Who provided this information?
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Although Wang Jieer smiled during the conversation, in his heart, he was contemplating about the person behind the young man and had already assessed the next steps.
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Currently, Xie Lhong still bears the pain from both the wound on his back and the fever poison. Despite his weakened state, he persists in sitting up and conversing with the crown prince. Although the conversation is brief, it consumes much of his remaining life force.
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Earlier, Crown Prince had given orders for Xie Lhong to join the classroom with him in the palace. This unexpected turn of events goes beyond Xie Lhong 's expectations. While he is carrying out his duties secretly, little does he know that there is an imminent threat from the assassins, a situation he never anticipated.
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Xie Lhong learns about this when he helps with tasks at the study office. He overhears a conversation between one of the professors and Xie Sui. He discovers the strong bond between Xie Sui and this particular professor, resembling that of a father and an obedient son. The professor also has a son slightly older than Xie Lhong , and he wishes for Xie Sui to support the future. If Xie Sui and his son can become close allies or confidants of the Crown Prince's Bureau, it could lead to advantageous prospects. Not only would it enhance the bureau's reputation, but it would also bring benefits to the professor himself.
But who would have thought that amidst the birds chasing and competing for food, there would be an organic competition for everything towards the end? As for the assassins, they only know that they have been eliminated and cannot trace their lineage. Even if some are captured, those who survive seek death later on.
With Xie Lhong having little experience and no connections, he is unaware that this is related to a group of people who aspire to overthrow the monarchy in the future, changing his life forever.
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Nan Khai Li , had been bedridden due to fever and heavy bleeding for two days. Although the wounds from the stabs were painful, he resisted staying in the room and ventured out to play in the family garden, simply because he was bored of lying down and because of the injuries. His journey back to his hometown in Shandong District was postponed, coupled with the strict inspections for entering and leaving the city. His father, who had to leave home every day to order goods and prepare supplies to bring back, also complained about the chaotic situation causing delays in work.
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Reflecting on the situation at that time, Nan Khai Li was almost about to escape. However, anything destined would inevitably escape. Just as he was about to step out of the arena and was about to escape from the chaos, he suddenly felt pain in his leg, causing him to stumble. After that, a weapon with no eyes stabbed him in the back. Even though he tried to dodge to turn and face the person who harmed him, before he could even think, the person pulled the sword from behind him, causing him to fall down face down. Up to now, he still doesn't know whether the person who stabbed him is among the group of assassins or in the group of guards.
‘ Oh.. it's heartbreaking not to let me know who you are. Your father is ready to take a knife to your back.’ He thinks, holding his injured left shoulder, while walking slowly ahead.
After walking back and forth for a while, he stopped by the poolside pavilion. As he looked over, he saw a young girl already sitting there. The petite little girl, absorbed in playing with kittens on the table, didn't notice someone approaching. She was busy feeding the kittens grass, completely unaware that someone was walking towards her.
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It had been almost a week since he had been in this area, and this was the second time encountering the pitiable little miss. Others from the neighborhood had also come to visit, including two twin girls, but the little miss was not among them.
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He stood not far from the pavilion, close to the pavilion's edge. He could see a small, faint smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. Her cheeks still resembled the delicate petals of a sala flower. Just a smile and a normal laugh brought a refreshing atmosphere to the surroundings.
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"Do you remember me, little miss?" He walked towards the small girl, knowing that breaking the ice was necessary despite the formality. His inquisitive nature compelled him to greet her first.
"Mr. Nan," as she looked at the newcomer without making eye contact, she immediately bowed her head.
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"Uh... you're playing with the cat here. Is it your friend, or can I play with it too? Does it have a name?" He quickly continued the conversation with her.
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The girl looked at the cat before answering, "It... its name is Xiao Mao."
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"Haha, truly a relative of Xiao Mao. If I encounter your elder brother's friend again, I'll have him greet his relative here. Hope you don't mind." He spoke with a cheerful laugh, already starting to compare the resemblance between the face of a person and a cat, just at the thought that Xiao Mao had relatives.
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"Are you talking about Mr. Xie?" The little girl looked up at him, tilting her head inquisitively.
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Han lightly lifted his eyebrow, "Uh... do you know him?"
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"Yes, I know him. He's a close friend of my older brother."
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"Oh... besides him, do you know anyone else? Care to introduce me to some of your acquaintances?" Nan asked, continuing the conversation. However, he was more interested in chatting with the little girl than expecting a detailed response.
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"I... I hardly know anyone," she replied softly.
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The answer was not far from what he expected. She barely knew anyone, considering that she rarely left the small house, especially in recent days. It was quite surprising to see her outside in the central garden today.
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"Are you out here today to play with the cat?" He asked, pointing to the cat that was currently alternating between looking at him and the little girl.
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"Yes, it ran outside, so I chased after it," she explained, holding one of the cat's front paws in her hand.
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After a brief moment of silence, she added, "I think I should go back now."
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Nan Khai Li heard that and reached out to pat the cat's head. The cat, accustomed to human contact, purred in response.
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"You stay here. I'm a bit bored, so I came out for a walk. Now, I'm a guest in your neighborhood. Will you leave your guest and go away without caring?" He spoke with a playful tone, teasing the girl.
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Xian Xian didn't know what had happened in the past two or three days. She had been confined to the house, spending time with only a few close maids. The others rarely spoke to her. She stood there, unsure whether she should leave or stay.
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Seeing her standing there, Han smiled and pulled her towards the pool. He pointed to the fish in the pond, something familiar to her, as she had seen them since childhood.
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"Did you come out today just to play with the cat?" he asked, pointing to the cat that was now sitting on the edge of the pool.
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"Yes, it ran out, so I chased after it," she replied, holding one of the cat's front paws in her hand.
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After a short pause, she added, "I think it's time for me to go back."
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Han heard that and reached out to pat the cat's head. The cat, accustomed to human contact, purred in response.
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"You stay here. I'm a bit bored, so I came out for a walk. Now, I'm a guest in your neighborhood. Are you going to leave your guest and go away without caring?" he teased, playfully threatening the little girl.
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Xian Xian, unsure of what had transpired in the past few days, remained standing there. She had been confined to the house, with only a few close maids for company. The others rarely engaged in conversation with her. Han continued to smile, pulling her closer to the pool and pointing at the fish swimming in the water.
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"Do you know that I can do this?" he said as he broke a twig from a nearby tree, selected the sharp end, and swiftly jabbed it into the pond. When he lifted the stick, a plump fish hung from its end.
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Xian Xian was astonished, wondering how his hands could move so quickly.
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"You can... do this? you won't starve anymore .The little girl genuinely admired him.
This was quite an unexpected event. He had caught a fish, and she seemed amazed at his swift movement. Nan Khai Li, being a merchant, didn't usually catch fish. Even if he couldn't catch one, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
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But taken as a compliment, it was still appreciated.
Swiftly breaking twigs and jabbing fish might leave some wounds, but enduring a bit of pain allowed him to extend his time outside. Engaging in conversation with the little girl and the relatives of Xiao Mao was even better. Despite the wounds, he started looking for tasks for the little girl.
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"Do you have a fire pit?" he asked.
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Xian Xian looked at him before responding with a question unrelated to his query. "Are you going to grill the fish here, or do you want me to take it home for cooking?"
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"He glanced at the little girl. "Why you Let someone else do it. It will be more fun if You grill it yourself.""
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"But... but... I've never grilled fish before," the girl replied hesitantly, glancing at the fish that were still wriggling despite the stakes pierced through them.
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"Who said you have to do it? I'll do it myself," he said. After a brief chat with a nearby chubby servant, he walked back to the little girl.
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"I've never seen anyone grill fish in the garden before. Will it be okay?" she asked, repeating her initial question.
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"It won't be a problem. Normally, at your house, you don't buy fish from outside. I've seen them catch it from the pond here. As long as I don't catch valuable fish, there shouldn't be any issues," he assured.
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The little girl still didn't answer. "If there's a problem, I'll take responsibility myself," he added to boost her confidence.
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"Or should I go and grill it at your house? I think it would be better to grill the fish for Xiao Mao and you at your house. You won't have to worry if someone sees you. Besides, your house is far away, and there's no chance anyone will catch us there. What do you think?"
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The little girl didn't immediately respond. "If there's a problem, I'll take responsibility myself," he reiterated, trying to reassure her.
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Not expecting Nan Khai Li's cunning plan, Xian Xian hesitated. After a while, she lowered her head. She had never had this much fun before. Encountering him today seemed to be a stroke of luck.
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"Wait... let me catch more fish first, just one more. How will you and I have enough to eat?" he smiled as he spoke, rolling up his sleeves and walking to break two more branches by the pond. He then proceeded to catch another fish with the same swift movements.
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Xian Xian didn't notice the change in his words earlier. While the fish were initially only for her and Xiao Mao, now there was one more for him. The fish in the pond, nearing winter, had accumulated more fat. Besides swimming more slowly than usual, they were also plumper. Nan Khai Li, looking at the plump fish, felt hopeful.
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Not long after, he caught two more fish. This time took slightly longer than the first round, as he was beginning to feel more pain in his shoulder. His movements became awkward and hesitant. When he had the required number of fish for both people and cats, he lifted the fish impaled on the sticks and walked back to the little girl.
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The distance between the central garden and Xian Xian's house was not too far, but it required walking along the wall, taking some time. "Next time, if you're going that way, take your servant with you," he said to the girl, who was now walking beside him. It was dangerous for a girl her age to play by the pond alone.
Guo Xian Xian received the items but kept her head down, not engaging with him further. She was absorbed in the upcoming fun event at her house, so she didn't pay much attention to Nan Khai Li’s questions.
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As they walked around the pond towards the arched gate, the little girl noticed the chubby guy returning. She quickly ran to hide behind a tree.
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Nan Khai Li didn't understand the girl's actions and just shrugged, continuing to walk. He get the items the chubby guy had given him . They included a Firestarter and some seasonings.
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As he walked back towards the tree, the little girl was nowhere to be found. "Where did she go and how did she disappear?" he wondered.
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He searched around and found the answer. The little girl had crawled through a small opening below the wall, covered by overgrown vegetation. It was small enough not to be noticed unless one looked carefully. Even though he is so young and wasn't as big as an average young man, he couldn't squeeze through. So, he shouted to the girl to wait for him; he would hurry to the other side.
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He chuckled to himself. If he wasn't a bit bigger than dog hole, he might have managed to slip through without wasting time walking around like this. Thay why no one see Xian Xian When she go out from her house, even though no one saw her by the wall gate, she was still accross the wall by go inside this hole.
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He walked around until he found the little girl sitting with her legs dangling from a large branch above the ground. She was petting a cat, waiting for him. Seeing this, he couldn't help but hold back a smile at the corner of his mouth. Still, he decided to tease her with unrelated words.
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"Hey, you... Huh..." he was about to continue when she stood up and jumped down from the big branch, walking ahead with the cat in her arms.
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He looked at the back of the little girl. Today, she had tied her hair on both sides with pink cords, wearing a windbreaker in the same color. There were no accessories or adornments, unlike the twin younger sister of Gou Yun who couldn't do without silver hairpins, earrings, and jade pendants. The comparison made him think about them again.
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Guo Xian Xian walked straight to her little house. When she stopped in front of the yard, she saw guests, paused, and looked around her own house.
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"Mr. Nan, is there something?" she asked.
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Nan Khai Li continued to survey the surroundings. True to what he thought, her house was less than half the size of Gou Yun's. It had only four rooms. The central one appeared to be a bedroom, probably for the servant who took care of her. The next one likely belonged to her, and the one next to that seemed to be a storage room. From a slightly opened door, he could see that it was mainly used to store tools. There was also a small kitchen adjacent to it.
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While observing, he replied to the little girl, "You can call me Big Brother Nan or just Big Brother. No need for the formal 'Mr. Nan' every time." He felt annoyed about having to put on masks with a little girl and decided to let her change the way she addressed him to reduce the distance between them.
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While his father may have the status of being employed by her father, he also has a personal business, making his status not entirely considered as a member of her household. Xian Xian looked at Nan Khai Li and changed the address.
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"Brother Nan, what will you do with the fish next? Should I call someone to help you?"
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"No need. Do you have a knife? I'll scale the fish and grill it for you to eat." He answered almost instantly.
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"Yes, wait a moment. Is there anything else you need?" She thought the question was clever, handing everything at once so that she wouldn't have to run back and forth. He thought to himself.
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"No, just calling your servant is enough. I mean, he 'll go pick up things for you. You don't have to run around." He spoke what he really thought.
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"There's no one here at the moment. Please wait for me." The little girl looked at him in surprise. This was the first time she didn't avoid eye contact during a conversation.
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Nan Khai Li became even more puzzled. Why was this little girl so lonely? He let go of the small children who were playing alone like this.
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In fact, what he didn't know was that there were people in her house. Although not as many as in other households, it was just enough. However, at this time, the various ruffians secretly wept because they saw that her house was far away and almost no one cared. They only came to deliver food and pick up at the appointed time. Anything that needed to be done was done until it was completed. Whether it was good or not, they went about their business, and no one paid much attention. If done frequently, it became a routine. Therefore, during the day when the little girl needed something other than her regular brother, she almost had to do everything herself. It's just that her needs weren't many, so she has been able to live without much trouble until now.
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Guo Xian Xian ran to pick up a small knife in the kitchen on the side and brought it back to Khai Li. He took a deep breath before taking the knife to scale the fish and went to wash the fish in the water tank near the house.
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While washing the fish, he asked about her servant. The little girl explained as if it were a normal thing.
"Was your servant sent to the laundry room? Did he do something wrong?"
"She didn't do anything wrong. But there's no one there, so They asked my serveant to help." The little girl answered his question.
Khai Li was speechless. He took a deep breath again before taking the knife to scale the fish and started a fire in front of her house. Luckily, there was a stove in her house, so he didn't have to go pick up dry wood himself.
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While scaling the fish, The little girl ran to find the two small stools, sat cross-legged, and watched him work with curious eyes. Khai Li smiled while working. She looked so cute and charming. Why didn't he have a sister? If he had one, he would catch fish and grill them for his sister to eat every day.
He made up his mind that during the four or five days he had to stay to take care of himself, he would play with her every day. However, at this time, he was idle without any playmates because Guo Yun was temporarily sent to another place to study again. He would come back once he finished his studies, as the school was closed for investigation and trial due to the intrusion into the Crown Prince's residence. It would take some time before it reopened.
The girl nodded, eagerly waiting for the fish. He wrapped one of the fish in a large leaf and placed it near the smoldering charcoal. Although the exterior of the fish appeared dark, when he peeled off the outer skin, the inside revealed a white, aromatic flesh. It was better than the fish she had grilled herself.
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Seeing her watching the fish intently, he couldn't help but laugh. It was obvious that the fish was not too hot to eat yet.
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"It's hot. Open your mouth, and I'll feed you. I'll blow on it so it won't be too hot," he told her. He didn't trust her to eat this hot fish by herself.
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He blew on the fish to cool it down and then fed her one bite at a time, alternating between feeding her and eating some himself. Sometimes he teased her by pretending to feed her but not doing it. She would open her mouth, eagerly waiting, only to be left disappointed. After seeing the girl's face fall, he decided not to tease her anymore. He fed her the rest of the fish, making sure she enjoyed every bite.
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He noticed her looking at him with a curious expression. Even though she didn't ask, he could tell she wanted him to continue speaking. So, he began talking about his home in the Shandong region, which bordered the land and the sea. She listened attentively, and although she didn't ask many questions, he could see she was fully engaged.
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He spoke about his family's house, the current situation in the region, and the difficulties they faced being close to the border and the sea. The girl absorbed the information with keen interest. Even though he was just grilling fish for her, he felt a sense of importance, as if he were someone significant in her life.
He took the fish he had wrapped in the red charcoal ashes and placed it on a large leaf. The outer color of the fish looked completely black, but when he peeled off the outer skin, the inside revealed white flesh that was even more fragrant than the previously grilled fish. Guo Xian Xian had never seen anything like it before, and so he carefully removed the grilled fish from the girl's hand and began peeling it for her to eat.
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As he walked to pick up a tea kettle to boil water on the smoldering charcoal, he entered the small kitchen. Apart from an old stone stove, a wooden box used for storage, a rough wooden floor, a few plates and bowls, and a handful of kitchen utensils on a shelf, there wasn't much else. Fortunately, there was a small set of a hot water kettle, which he placed on the stove.
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The living conditions here might be worse than in his servant’s home.
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"What happened to your fourth younger sister at home...?" He didn't ask her, and honestly, he didn't want to hear it from her mouth. Because he was just a guest, and he couldn't help with anything. It was better not to know than to know and feel helpless. However, she had been here for quite some time now, and these people probably didn't intend for her to die or neglect her. He sighed and went out to fetch water to boil.
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"Do you have any tea leaves left?" he asked her.
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The little girl perked up and hurried into the open storage area of her belongings, bringing out a packet of tea leaves. She handed it to him.
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He took it with a gentle smile. The way she searched for a suitable place to keep her things suited her well.
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He boiled the tea and handed her a cup first, gesturing for her to wait until it cooled down a bit before drinking. Meanwhile, he blew on his own cup slightly and took a sip.
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While they were engrossed in conversation, it was almost noon when they saw a young girl walking in holding a tray of food.
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Feng Ran was somewhat surprised to see the young man with her master. Although she knew this person, she had never seen him so close to her master, except for the elder brother. So, she placed the tray of food in the bedroom before coming out.
"Feng Ran, you has returned." Guo Xian Xian speak out to her.
Feng Ran nodded with a smile, "Miss, Servant hasn't received permission to return yet. Just when I was staying and saw someone going to deliver food to various houses. Servant thought of you and volunteered to bring the food to you."
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"Miss, I will be away for three more days. Please take care of yourself. Don't run around too much. Servant will be back soon," Feng Ran said softly while lifting a hand to tuck the strands of hair that had come loose near the girl's cheek, tucking them behind her ear.
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"Let me tie your hair again. It's better that way," Feng Ran said, and without waiting for an answer, she began tying the girl's hair, skillfully tying it up again. Meanwhile, the small hands of Guo Xian Xian were holding onto the edge of Feng Ran's outer robe throughout. Her eyes looked towards the young master and tears welled up in her eyes.
Nan Khai Li's gaze lingered on the bitter grooming tableau of the departing boss and loyal servant. The unspoken melancholy hung thick in the air, a palpable heaviness that belied the surface composure. The very young girld and her companion, once entwined in a unique bond, now faced the inevitable parting.
Feng Lang, with a gentle pat on the young girl's shoulder and a few soft words, quietly departed.
"Here, little one... Do you want to go somewhere? I can take you," Nan Khai li said, even though he was in considerable pain. Despite his injuries, he was certain that as long as he stayed here, he would play with the little girl every day. He had a plan forming in his mind: before leaving, he would demand justice for her from Guo Yun Yun. At the very least, he would do something to help her.
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Guo Xian Xian glanced at Guo Yun's elder brother’s friend briefly before turning to her. "I need to get permission from your mother first. She doesn't usually let me go anywhere.
But since I'm here now, she might allow you to go. I have money; I'll buy you something you like," Nan Khai Li added.
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"I won't bother Brother Nan," she replied, smiling slightly, enough to show a small smile at the corner of her mouth.
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"Brother Nan, are you hungry? You can have my food if you want," Xian Xian asked, a bit concerned. She didn't think the little girl would be hungry like herself.
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Khai li shook his head. "I'm not hungry. We've finished the fish between the three of us," he said, glancing at the fish skeleton, where Guo Xian Xian was helping Siyao Ma to eat the remaining parts.
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"Yeah, I'm not hungry either," the little girl responded, then continued, "Brother Nan, wait for a moment."
The young girl hurriedly grabbed a tray filled with food, sprinting back into the room. She opened a small box, poured the old items outside, and slowly lifted the new food replacing . Afterwards, she carefully keep the box back to its place in the large chest within the bedroom.
Nan Khai Li, with his eyebrows slightly furrowed, once again looked towards the room where the little girl had gone. This peculiar behavior of hers, keeping food like this, puzzled him. Why would she store food like this?
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"Don't keep food in a box. If it goes bad, you might get food poisoning," he warned the little girl.
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She raised her head, "I'll keep it for tonight. You don't have to worry; I'll warm it up before eating."
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"Do you know how to make a fire?" he asked, puzzled.
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She nodded again and then sat down on the low stool that had been moved to sit directly beneath the extended roof, which had been moved closer to provide sun light.
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"Do you go to school regularly? I don't mean to pry," Khai Li asked.
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The young girl leaned slightly to glance at the boy before responding to the question. "I don't go to study every day. I have lessons twice a week. Usually, it's with the older sister which always studies more than five days a week."
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Nan didn't see it as a negative. He pondered, considering it rather ordinary and acceptable.
That's not bad at all, he thought.
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"And what do you do in your free time?" he asked.
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She sat quietly for a moment before answering, "I practice calligraphy, sewing, and review the lessons on the mandolin."
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Nan Khi Li found it quite impressive. "Do you also play with Xiao Mao?" he inquired.
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"Yes sure, and every two months, I go to meditate and pray with the nun at Taoist Monastery.
It's quiet there, and the view is beautiful. I have more freedom there than at home. It's a good place to be," she said with a smile, her eyes shining with happiness. Nan Khai Li wanted to see her smile like that all the time.
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He continued to play with a little girl until the sun began to set before departing.
No one came to bring food for the little girl that evening. No wondered if it was an oversight or intentional. The little girl seemed unsure whether to address the issue with anyone. She went to retrieve the food she had hidden earlier and started eating alone, not warming it up as she had promised Brother Nan.
The last rays of the sun streamed into the bedroom through the open door, casting long shadows of a small girl on the floor. She sat alone at the table, quietly gripping a chopstick, with a cat lazily sprawled on the windowsill. It seemed like any other day as she silently consumed her meal, surrounded by the fading daylight.
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