Mo Qinghuan stepped forward and pushed the man away. "I was just about to ask why it's you again!"
She grabbed the quilt to cover Shuang'er. Dan'er rushed in and hugged her trembling younger sister.
"Don't be afraid, Shuang'er. Sister's here." Shuang'er nestled in Dan'er's arms.
Mu Yanming and Bai Ke came to the door. Du Yan still tried to act tough, but when he saw the Regent, his legs went weak and he knelt on the ground. His pants also dropped.
While pulling up his pants, he mumbled, "I must have forgotten to check the almanac before going out today!"
Mu Yanming looked at Du Yan with a gloomy face. His voice was cold and intimidating.
"Humph, Young Master Du is quite free. It seems this king has to ask the Censor-in-chief to find you something to do!"
Du Yan knelt on the ground, trembling and begging for mercy. "Please spare my life, Regent!"
"Get out of here!"
Hearing this, Du Yan grabbed his pants and ran out.
"Bai Ke, arrange a carriage to send them back to the General's Mansion."
With that, he walked out. Mo Qinghuan chased after him. "Thank you for today. I owe you a favor. If you need my help in the future, just ask."
"Okay."
Mo Qinghuan watched his back as he went downstairs.
When she returned to the room, she saw Shuang'er kneeling on the ground, slapping herself.
"Sister, I was wrong. I shouldn't have treated you like that. I was selfish. I deserve to die! You can beat me or scold me, but please say something!"
Dan'er silently helped her get dressed.
Mo Qinghuan coughed lightly. "Dan'er, do you want to take her back with you?"
Dan'er suddenly turned around and knelt on the ground. "Miss, please, please let me take my sister back with me."
Mo Qinghuan sat at the table, rubbing the ring in her hand. "You can take her back, but I won't keep disloyal people by my side. If one day you betray me or sell me out for personal gain, your fate will be worse than it is now. So, you'd better think it over."
Dan'er looked at Shuang'er. "Shuang'er, did you hear that? You can let me down, but if you choose to go back to the mansion with the miss today, you must remember that no matter what happens in the future, even if it means death, you can't betray the miss for saving your life today. Do you hear me!"
Shuang'er also knelt down. "Shuang'er will never forget the miss's great kindness. Shuang'er swears here that if I ever betray the miss in the future, I'm willing to be struck by lightning and suffer the pain of being skinned alive!"
"Good. Then come with me."
Mo Qinghuan stood up. The mistress and her two maids returned to the General's Mansion together.
Dan'er and Shuang'er were busy tidying up the yard, while Mo Qinghuan leaned back in a chair, reading a book.
There was nothing of real value in the room, but there were quite a few rare ancient books on the bookshelf, probably given by the original owner's father.
It was likely that whatever was valuable had been ransacked by Lady Lan and her daughter. Books weren't considered valuable to them, so they were left behind.
Dan'er came in to report. "Miss, the gatekeeper says the Duchess of the Duke's Mansion is here."
"Please show her in."
Mo Qinghuan put down the book and walked into the yard.
She saw the Duchess come in. The maid behind her was carrying a bulging package.
Mo Qinghuan stepped forward, a faint smile on her face.
"I've come today especially to thank the princess."
The Duchess handed the package to Mo Qinghuan.
Mo Qinghuan took out a gold ingot. "The reward the duchess gave is already more than enough. Today, I'll only take one ingot. After that, the duchess should take good care of her daughter."
After seeing off the Duchess, Mo Qinghuan called Dan'er and Shuang'er over.
"Shuang'er, you're smart and quick-witted. From now on, I'll leave the task of gathering information to you. You should use your advantages to report the situation in the mansion to me at any time."
"As for Dan'er, stay by my side at all times."
As she was speaking, she suddenly felt dizzy. Fortunately, Dan'er caught her in time.
This body was too weak. She had to take good care of it, or she wouldn't be able to do anything.
It was already past noon, but the kitchen hadn't sent any food to their yard.
Mo Qinghuan didn't want to waste time arguing with them. She made a list and gave it to Dan'er, asking her to go shopping.
From then on, they would be self-sufficient.
After everything was bought.
Dan'er cooked the first meal since they came to the General's Mansion.
"Miss, it's time for dinner."
Mo Qinghuan came out and sat in the main seat. Dan'er and Shuang'er stood at the door.
"Come in and eat with me." Dan'er and Shuang'er sat down, but they both shed tears involuntarily.
Mo Qinghuan knew they were touched and said nothing. After all, if she wanted others to work for her, she had to use both kindness and severity.
...
Early the next morning, Mo Qinghuan got up and called Dan'er.
"Go out of the mansion with me today to find some herbs. Tell Shuang'er to keep an eye on the mansion."
The two of them changed into men's clothes and left the house.
The herb she was looking for liked water and had vines that could climb trees. So it mostly grew in places not far from water and with trees. So she hired a carriage and headed out of the city, towards places with water and trees.
The carriage stopped by the river. Mo Qinghuan handed the portrait in her hand to Dan'er.
"Look around here. Don't go too far."
The two of them started looking separately. Not long after, they heard Dan'er's scream.
She tightened her grip on the hoe and ran towards Dan'er.
"What's wrong?"
Dan'er pointed at the grass, trembling. "There seems to be something in the grass."
She poked the grass with the hoe. It seemed to hit something. Then she heard a muffled groan and the sound of something heavy falling to the ground.
Dan'er summoned up her courage and stepped forward to check. "Miss, it seems to be a person."
Mo Qinghuan went over and saw a man in white clothes. However, he was injured in many places, and his white clothes were already stained red with blood.
"Miss, save... save me! I'll surely repay you in the future."
Mo Qinghuan didn't want to save him at first, but then she suddenly saw the jade token on his waist.
She took out her own and compared them. They were the same.
Could this man be one of Mu Yanming's subordinates...
She and Dan'er helped the man to the riverbank and cleaned his wounds. Mo Qinghuan also found some herbs for treating injuries and applied them to him.
After a busy while, she was soaked in sweat, and her hair was sticking to her forehead.
"Miss!"
Mo Qinghuan turned around and saw that the man had woken up. He was now pinching Dan'er's neck.
"Is this how you treat your savior?"
The man loosened his grip. Dan'er immediately ran to Mo Qinghuan's side.
"Miss, I was too abrupt. Thank you for saving my life." Mo Qinghuan looked at him coldly. "Who are you to Mu Yanming?"
"Miss knows the Regent?" The man looked surprised. "In that case, I wonder if the miss could help me one more time and take me into the capital to see the prince. Otherwise, once the pursuers arrive, I'll surely die."
Mo Qinghuan was still considering when she saw a bamboo raft floating on the river not far away. There were six or seven people standing on it.
"Dan'er, help him up!"
Mo Qinghuan jumped onto the carriage and whipped the horse hard. The horse neighed and galloped towards the capital.
When they reached the city gate, they were stopped by the soldiers.