"No, I don’t want to! Auntie, please let me see Uncle... Auntie, Little Aunties..."

"Zhenzhu, be a good girl. Don’t cause a scene..."

"Let your aunties take you to my courtyard. You can tell me and them whatever is on your mind."

"No... I just want to see Uncle! Don’t pull me! I want to see my uncle!"

The sound of Zhenzhu’s crying, mingled with the placating voices of Mrs. Liu and several concubines, drifted in from outside the courtyard.

Ye Qianning glanced at Xiang Minghou. Seeing his silence and downcast eyes, she sighed.

In the time she had been at the manor, she had come to understand Xiang Zhenzhu’s character well. The girl was very timid and usually stuck close to the old madam or Mrs. Wang, rarely running off on her own.

Her coming to Yuehua Small Building meant there was an eighty-percent chance someone had put her up to it.

A six-year-old child already understands a great deal, and it’s a crucial time for guidance. If the roots are planted crookedly, the tree will be hard to straighten.

"Go bring her in," Xiang Minghou said.

"Yes."

Ye Qianning moved a chair to the bedside and sat down. She knew Mrs. Wang wouldn’t take this lying down.

"Uncle! Uncle..."

In the next moment, Xiang Zhenzhu ran in, crying, and rushed straight to the bed.

"Zhenzhu," Xiang Minghou said her name softly.

Xiang Zhenzhu collapsed by the side of the bed. "Uncle, I heard Grandma’s gone, and Father has to go too. Mother says my brother and I have to go as well. Uncle, why are you making us leave?"

"Uncle isn’t making you leave. Uncle will buy Zhenzhu a big house... COUGH, COUGH..." Xiang Minghou’s voice was strained.

"No! I don’t want to go, and I don’t want a big house! I just want to stay home! I’m not going anywhere... Uncle..." Xiang Zhenzhu was bawling.

Six-year-old Xiang Zhenzhu was a rather pretty child. Now, with her cheeks flushed red from crying, even Ye Qianning found it hard to watch. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Xiang Minghou was away for most of the year and rarely saw Xiang Zhenzhu. The last time he remembered holding her, she had just been a month old. In a flash, the child was already grown.

Looking at the small, sobbing child, he felt a pang in his heart and was deeply unsettled.

’But... I can’t be this soft-hearted.’

"Zhenzhu, go back now," Xiang Minghou said softly.

"No! Uncle, please don’t make me leave! I’ll do whatever you say..." Xiang Zhenzhu wiped her tears with her small hands, then turned to Ye Qianning. "Big Sister, I won’t call you a pig anymore. I was wrong."

...

Ye Qianning’s heart truly ached for her. ’A child’s tears aren’t an act, but... sigh...’

’Dealing with children is so difficult!’

"Second Madam, please don’t go in."

"Don’t try to stop me! I’d like to see who dares!"

"Sister-in-law, don’t be rash! Put the knife down!"

"Out of my way! All of you, move!"

Another wave of clamor erupted from the courtyard.

Ye Qianning’s expression darkened. After two incidents involving knives, she was thoroughly disgusted. ’Does she think brandishing a knife is so intimidating when she doesn’t even have the strength to tie up a chicken?’

Hearing the commotion, Xiang Minghou tried to get up.

"Dad, don’t move. I’ll go and see."

"I’ll go." Xiang Minghou struggled to his feet, ignoring Ye Qianning’s attempts to stop him.

"Uncle, be careful," Xiang Zhenzhu mumbled through her tears.

Xiang Minghou merely shot her a glance before Luo Wen helped him out the door.

The courtyard was now crowded and chaotic.

Mrs. Liu and eight concubines had all entered the courtyard. Mrs. Wang stood in their midst, brandishing a knife, as the terrified concubines tried to placate her.

Hearing the commotion, the Zhan family and Elder Gu had also hurried over.

"Don’t try to stop me! If anyone gets hurt, it won’t be my fault..." Mrs. Wang threatened the crowd with the knife.

The concubines tried to reason with her but didn’t dare get too close.

"What is all this commotion about?" Xiang Minghou demanded coldly.