"You should prepare yourself as well. We are leaving the estate now."
"Now? But Madame, you have only just been able to get out of bed..."
"I am not so delicate as that."
Every moment of delay only deepened the unease in her heart. The fact that Shen Yunan and Old Madame Shen were not in the estate was, in truth, the best opportunity she could hope for.
Carrying the child, she boarded the carriage with Cuiliu and, following the memories of her previous life, arrived in the vicinity of the small courtyard on the outskirts of the capital where Lu Rou was temporarily residing.
Cuiliu had followed her the entire way, but upon seeing the courtyard not far ahead, she finally truly believed Xu Yuan’s words.
The little master really had been swapped!
"Madame, shall I go and scout the area?"
"No. You stay here and keep an eye on the surroundings; I will go in alone."
Xu Yuan knew that Cuiliu possessed some martial arts skills, and leaving her to stand guard was the most prudent choice. Though Cuiliu was worried, she could only comply, leaving Xu Yuan with a soft, "Please be careful, Madame."
Xu Yuan entered the courtyard. Everything was deathly quiet, just as she had anticipated—Lu Rou was not there.
Holding the child, she gently pushed the door open. As she entered, a strange fragrance rushed to meet her.
Xu Yuan frowned. In her previous life, Lu Rou’s child had been frail from birth, and she had spared no effort for the boy, not only searching far and wide for physicians but also studying medicine under a master.
Under her meticulous care day and night, the child’s condition had slowly improved. The moment she smelled the scent, Xu Yuan recognized it as a substance that induced deep slumber...
She quickly scanned the room and strode into the bedroom, where she saw an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes lying on the bed, the room still filled with the lingering scent of soul-calming incense.
Xu Yuan moved forward swiftly. As she set the child from her arms down, she checked the mark behind the infant's left ear. Her pupils constricted the moment she saw the tiny mole.
It was him! The child who had been stolen from her!
"My child, Mother has finally found you. Thank goodness—everything can still be set right!"
"Madame, this is terrible! I see a carriage stopped at the foot of the hill, and the Old Madame and the Marquis are bringing a young woman up the path!"
Lu Rou’s courtyard was situated on the mountainside; from here, one could see the scene at the base of the hill quite clearly.
Xu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. Swapping the children back had been a secret operation; she absolutely could not let Shen Yunan and his party notice. If they did, she, the child, and Cuiliu would all be in mortal danger.
"Cuiliu, report their movements to me at all times!"
The distance from the foot of the hill to the mountainside could only be traveled on foot. The Old Madame suffered from leg ailments, so she hoped that would buy them some time.
She had to hurry!
Xu Yuan quickly unwrapped the swaddling clothes from the infant and placed Lu Rou’s child inside, just as she heard Cuiliu’s voice again.
"Madame, the Marquis and the Old Madame will be here any second! If we don’t leave now, it will be too late!"
This time, Cuiliu ran straight inside.
Xu Yuan forced down her panic, glanced around the room one last time to ensure she hadn't left any trace, and picked up her child to flee. But just as she stepped out of the courtyard, she heard a woman’s coquettish voice nearby.
"Mother, please walk slowly..."
It was Lu Rou’s voice. They were already very close; to turn back now would mean running straight into them. She could not afford to be exposed at this moment!
"Madame, there is a bamboo grove over there."
Cuiliu pointed behind them, where the bamboo grove cast shadows that would be perfect for hiding.
"Go! Quickly!"
Xu Yuan hurried toward the bamboo grove with the baby. The child, still under the influence of the soul-calming incense, lay quietly in her arms, completely motionless. If not for the faint breath, one might have thought the child was dead.
Only seconds after they entered the grove, the figures of the three appeared outside the courtyard.
Lu Rou was supporting Old Madame Shen as they walked in front, with Shen Yunan trailing behind.
"Mother, this is where I am staying for now."
"Why such a humble dwelling?" Old Madame Shen frowned. "And you, Yunan!"
"Rou’er saved my life, and she has given you a healthy, chubby grandson. How could you let her suffer such indignities!"
Shen Yunan nodded repeatedly. "Mother is right to reprimand me. I have just purchased a new residence; tomorrow, I will have Rou’er move into the capital."
Hidden behind a rockery, Xu Yuan and Cuiliu held their breath, not daring to make the slightest move.
"Madame, stay still," Cuiliu whispered.
Xu Yuan felt something cold brush against her foot. Cuiliu reacted with lightning speed, grabbing the body of a green snake, but before she could throw it away, her retreating step landed on a dry branch. The resulting *snap* was jarringly loud in the silent bamboo grove.
Shen Yunan, who was speaking to the two women, furrowed his brow, his gaze locking onto the bamboo grove in an instant.
"Brother Yunan, what are you—"
"Shh!"
Shen Yunan made a silencing gesture and drew the long sword at his waist, a fierce, cold light in his eyes that was truly terrifying. He began to approach the bamboo grove, step by step, his movements light and predatory.
"Madame, hide well with the little master. I will go and draw the Marquis's attention."
Seeing Shen Yunan drawing closer to the grove, Cuiliu readied herself to rush out and fight to the death.
"Wait," Xu Yuan whispered.
Her eyes were fixed on Shen Yunan. It was impossible not to feel a shred of fear, but she knew that before he was named Marquis, Shen Yunan had served in the army and been on the battlefield; he had surely suspected something from the noise. If he discovered the two of them hiding there with a child, he might not dare to act against her as the daughter of the Duke’s Estate, but he would never let a child unrelated to him live!
Even though Cuiliu had martial arts skills, the opponent held a blade; the odds of catching a sharp edge with bare hands were virtually nil.
Xu Yuan tightened her grip on the child.
*To live a life again—must I repeat the same mistakes?* The person who deserved to die most was still living well, while the innocent were made to suffer. She would not accept it!
Xu Yuan fought to steady her heart and took a deep breath. She suddenly remembered the Soft Tendon Powder she carried. In her past life, she had not only studied medicine but had also achieved considerable mastery in the art of poisons. If she broke the vial, the powder would disperse into the air, colorless and odorless. It would take only an instant to render someone completely limp and unable to resist. But using it would surely expose their presence, and she didn't want to use it unless absolutely necessary.
The footsteps drew closer. Shen Yunan dragged his sword along the ground, each step filled with an oppressive, dangerous force.
As he spotted the rockery not far away, Shen Yunan sneered, "What kind of coward hides and skulks?"
"Get out here now, and I will spare your life!"
One step. Two steps...
Just as Xu Yuan felt Shen Yunan rounding the back of the rockery, she caught sight of the green snake still clutched in Cuiliu’s hand, and Lu Rou following right behind Shen Yunan.
She quickly signaled to Cuiliu.
The tacit understanding between mistress and servant was immediate; Cuiliu threw the green snake toward Lu Rou.
"Ah! Brother Yunan, a snake!"
As Shen Yunan moved toward the grove, Lu Rou had followed close behind, curious to see what was happening. Upon seeing the green snake, she turned deathly pale and threw herself into Shen Yunan’s arms.
Shen Yunan held his sword in one hand and wrapped his other arm around Lu Rou.
"Don't be afraid. I am here."