She had long understood that this Seventh Sister was the most calculating of them all.
It seemed she wouldn’t be able to return to her room tonight.
Where should she go?
Yunxi was lost in confusion.
With trouble in the mansion, Su Xian was surely busy, so she couldn’t go disturb her aunt.
But she was unfamiliar with the place—where else could she go?
A wave of grievance swelled in Yunxi’s heart, and her eyes reddened.
She missed home!
If only her mother were here—how wonderful that would be!
Yunxi glanced at the closed door behind her, then aimlessly wandered through the courtyard.
She noticed the household servants all rushing about in a hurry.
Moreover, every one of them covered their mouths and noses, terrified that anyone they passed might infect them.
Yunxi didn’t know how long she had walked when a voice came from behind her.
“Third Sister?”
Yunxi turned around dazed, and saw Duoduo in the distance happily waving at her.
Duoduo had just finished her exercises when she spotted Yunxi walking aimlessly, her eyes vacant.
She was wiping her eyes as she walked, as if she had been crying?
Yunxi crouched down to pay her respects. “Greetings, Princess!”
Duoduo bounced over, but just as she approached, Yunxi quickly stepped back a few paces.
“Princess, please don’t come near!”
Duoduo stopped in her tracks, puzzled.
“Third Sister, what’s wrong?”
Seeing the tear streaks on Yunxi’s face, Duoduo was taken aback.
So Third Cousin really had been crying!
“Third Sister, what happened? Did someone bully you?”
“Tell me, I’ll get back at them for you!”
At Duoduo’s words, Yunxi’s tears, which she had managed to hold back, poured forth again.
She saw Duoduo take out a handkerchief and step toward her, so she hastily retreated two steps.
“Princess, don’t come closer—let’s just talk like this.”
Duoduo tilted her little head, finding it very strange.
When had Third Sister become so distant with her?
Duoduo blinked, then sat down on a chair in the corridor.
“Alright, I’ll sit here. You sit down too.”
Seeing Yunxi take a seat, Duoduo shot Lüdou a meaningful glance.
Lüdou hesitated for a moment before hurrying away.
“There, just the two of us now, Third Sister. Tell me, what’s really going on?”
“Are you homesick, or did one of the servants mistreat you?”
At Duoduo’s concerned words, Yunxi’s tears nearly fell again.
She took a deep breath, struggling to calm herself.
“Princess, I’m fine—I’m just homesick.”
“Crying like this at my age—isn’t it so useless?”
Duoduo gave Yunxi a reassuring smile.
“Not at all! Isn’t missing home only natural?”
“Besides, crying is a woman’s right—how is that useless?”
Yunxi felt much better after hearing Duoduo’s words and having cried a bit.
She managed a smile at Duoduo. “Thank you!”
Duoduo shook her head. “Don’t mention it!”
Yunxi suddenly remembered the plague situation, and urgently warned Duoduo.
“Princess, please take your maids back inside—someone in the mansion has caught the plague!”
“It’s too dangerous for you outside! Go back to your room! Oh, and don’t let the maids come in either!”
Duoduo’s eyes widened.
The plague?
How had she not heard a whisper about this?
Could Third Cousin have been deceived?
Or was someone spreading rumors on purpose to harm the manor?
Seeing Duoduo frozen in place, Yunxi grew anxious.
Thinking Duoduo didn’t believe her, she hastily explained.
“Princess, don’t you trust my words? The Princess herself told me!”
“Rest assured, if I’ve spoken a single lie, may lightning strike me dead!”
Panicked, Yunxi swore an oath.
Duoduo stared at Yunxi for a long moment before slowly shaking her head.
“Third Cousin, it’s not that I don’t believe you.”
“I just wanted to ask—I’m a bit scared. Would you be willing to walk back with me?”
Yunxi, knowing she had nowhere to go tonight, gritted her teeth and nodded.
“Alright, I’ll escort you.”
Duoduo beamed with joy and held out her hand toward Yunxi.
“Let’s go!”
Yunxi quickly stepped back. “I’ll follow behind.”
Fearing her words might make Duoduo uncomfortable, she added.
“I worry I might already be infected—if I passed it to you, Princess, that would be a real problem.”
Duoduo tilted her head again, studying Yunxi’s complexion.
Those who knew medicine observed people through looking, listening, asking, and feeling.
Duoduo saw no abnormality in Yunxi’s face, though her spirits seemed off.
She nodded.
“Alright then, but you must stay close behind me!”
Yunxi thought Duoduo was afraid she might slip away, so she promised.
“Don’t worry—I’ll see you back for sure.”
Duoduo said nothing more and turned to walk back.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they arrived one after the other at Duoduo’s courtyard.
Yunxi stopped and wouldn’t go farther.
Duoduo looked back. “Third Cousin, won’t you come in and look around?”
“What if there’s someone else in my room who’s been infected?”
Hearing that, Yunxi didn’t hesitate to step into the courtyard.
A hint of a victorious smile crept onto Duoduo’s lips.
Duoduo’s courtyard already had few servants.
Qingliu had been sent to attend Nanny Li, and Lüdou hadn’t returned yet.
Only the rough-work maids and servants were left, and they never came near unless Duoduo called.
Once inside, Yunxi glanced around and saw no one else. She breathed a sigh of relief.
“Princess, I’ll be going back now.”
Duoduo pouted. “Third Cousin, I’m scared alone!”
Yunzi hesitated, caught in a dilemma.
“Third Cousin, stay and chat with me for a bit.”
“Wait until my maid comes back, then you can leave.”
Looking at Duoduo’s expression, Yunxi agreed.
After all, she had nowhere else to go.
Duoduo sat down, rested her chin on her hands, and her eyes darted around.
“Third Cousin, since there’s a plague in the mansion, why weren’t you in your room? Why were you wandering the garden instead?”
At that question, the smile vanished from Yunxi’s face.
She lowered her head and twisted her handkerchief nervously.
Duoduo blinked.
“Third Cousin, did Seventh Cousin drive you out?”
As soon as Duoduo spoke, she saw Yunxi look up in astonishment.
Duoduo flashed her a sweet, innocent smile.
Yunxi paused, then gave a bitter smile.
“Yes. Princess, you’re so clever—you guessed it in one try.”
Just then, Lüdou hurried in.
She went to Duoduo’s side and whispered something in her ear.
Yunxi wanted to warn Duoduo not to let her maid get so close, but Lüdou had already finished, and Yunxi could only stand up in alarm, too late.
After hearing what Lüdou said, a strange glint flickered in Duoduo’s eyes.
