After Jiang Yu Ran left, Yu Qin run to the private kitchen, the courtyard might be small but Jiang Yu Ran has installed everything necessary to make Zhuang Mu Zi life comfortable, for other people her behavior might look like she was alienated Zhuang Mu Zi from other people but for people who have farsight view they would realize that Jiang Yu Ran is very protective with Zhuang Mu Zi.

With his own kitchen and storage, she decreased the possibility that Zhuang Mu Zi would be harmed by other concubines and because there's only one maid to serves Zhuang Mu Zi the chance for anyone to tamper his food or watch his moves would be minimalized.

​​

This is how Zhuang Mu Zi survive all these years, he successfully grew without raising any flags, but everything change since Lao Min Na came and now he becomes crippled.

Yu Qin came with a basin and a clean towel on the tray she helps Zhuang Mu Zi to wash his feet with warmed water. Meanwhile, Zhuang Mu Zi have conflicted expression, he doesn't like it when Yu Qin do a dirty job for him, even though Yu Qin is a maid but she is his only friends and someone he considers to be family other than Jiang Yu Ran, she like a sister for him, he aspirated to be a strong man when he is grown up so he can take care his stepmother and Yu Qin but now that dream seems so far away.

"Xiao Qin did I told you not to do this again" Zhuang Mu Zi would pull his legs to stop her if he can, sadly he can't even move his toes.

Yu Qin smiles brightly seemingly unbothered by his complain "You will sleep better if I do this, you always like to be clean"

Zhuang Mu Zi can only sigh because the meek young girl can be stubborn sometimes. The little girl carefully wiped his feet with a wet towel, her serious face make Zhuang Mu Zi lips curved slightly.

"Master..." Yu Qin suddenly called

"Hum?"

"Can HeiSshen Sect people heal you?" She asked while drying his feet.

her question make him feel strange but he answers anyway "I don't know...they are powerful Sect that filled with talented people so....maybe, why you asking about this" he darted his gaze on Yu Qin little face.

Yu Qin squeezes the towel in hands from nervousness "Nothing...it just...I think they are not mean as the rumor said, maybe if we ask for help....."

"NO!" he cut her words swiftly "Don't think about it! even if they are good people but the Zhuang family and Hei Shen were in the opposite position, with Long Ming volatile character is impossible for him to help me..."

"But master...." she wants to say Long Ming might like that but his wife is different if it's her perhaps she doesn't mind.

"Yu Qin" he reprimands her with a low but stern voice.

Yu Qin shut her mouth immediately, she pressed her lips together.

"Don't go near Long Ming in any way, for your own good and mine..." his voice softens as he feel guilty for scaring the little maid he got.

Yu Qin looks down dejectedly "Okay..." she quietly said, but something flashed in her eyes.

_____________________________________________________________

"Lorrryyyy...~"

The coquettish voice seems familiar, Lory lifts her head then stunned "Bei Li Yan, Jin Hao, you are here?!" Lory exclaimed.

Jin Hao calmly nods his head while Bei Li Yan grin ear to ear, suddenly he feel cold gaze prick his skin, his smiles become stiffed "Milord, it's nice to meet you" he cupped his fist gracefully.

"Meh.." Zhao Li Xin make a vague grunts.

Three dark lines appear on Bei Li Yan face 'I don't know what that's mean but I take it as a warmed greeting' he cheers himself inwardly.

"I thought you already left Milord?" Jin Ha takes a seat in front of Zhao Li Xin and Bei Li Yan next to him.

"Someone deliberately stalling us" Zhao Li Xin casually said.

"The Zhuang family?" Jin Hao raised his eyebrows, his face is mix with surprised an amused "I don't know they have the guts"

"It must be your dear stepbrother who persuaded them, Zhuang family may look great from the outside but inside...they are like the sandcastle" Bei Li Yan prop his chin elegantly, his feminine gesture makes Lory feel conflicted as she feel less than a woman in front of Bei Li Yan.

"What they are doing to stall us?" Jin Hao asks.

"They don't want to release the port clearance" Zhao Li Xin sips his wine nonchalantly. The port clearance is given so the ship is allowed to leave the port, without it the military is given permits to stop them using any means necessary then the owner and everyone inside the ship will be granted with heavy punishment like jail time.

"What stop you, Milord?" Jin Hao frown with a baffled look.

"Yeah, I thought you just gonna cut their head and move along....you know, the usual" Bei Li Yan tilted his head with the same expression as Jin Hao.

Lory glance at Zhao Li Xin, being scrutinized by his wife Zhao Li Xin immediately clarify himself "I never cut anyone head just for a permit, I might cut a finger or hand but never head....that is to excessive even for me..." he clear his throat as he righteously said.

'What make you think that's better?'

Jin Hao, Bei Li Yan, and Lory exchanged glance to each other, then with tacit understanding, no one make another comment.

"So....why are you still here Milord?" Bei Li Yan shifts the question back to the beginning.

Zhao Li Xin put down his wine cup on the table gently then say "I just curious what they want to do, by delayed my departure....but my wife here suggests we should not underestimate our opponent so I decide to leave today" he said lazily while patted Lory's head gently.

"That wise....is Lao Min Na we talking about, she might not that strong but she is slick like a snake" Jin Hao snort in disdain.

'Coincidentally she does have a snake as her backer' Lory let out a long sigh.

the door suddenly knocks then Mong Ki enters the room with a dejected look "Milord, the port superintendent adamant to delayed the permit"

"Oh, is that so?" Zhao Li Xin said with indifference, he rubs his hand together while contemplating then he nods "Okay..."

Lory doesn't know what 'okay' means but judging by how Jin Hao and Bei Li Yan smirk, Lory secretly lit a candle for the port superintendent in her heart.

"Excuse me, young madam" Mong Yi suddenly enter the room too but it seems for a different reason.

"Yes?"

"Someone name Yu Qin told me to gives this to you, she pleads to meet you, Madam" Mong Yi shows Lory the hairpin.

It was the hairpin Lory gives to Yu Qin yesterday, Lory stunned then curious how the timid and meek lady like Yu Qin dare to ask permission to meet her, she guesses it must be something urgent but that girl is from Zhuang family.

"What is that?" Zhao Li Xin saw the hairpin then he wonder why Lory's expression becomes serious.

Lory bore her eyes at the hairpin "Just something I give to someone....you remember the girl name Yu Qin we met yesterday?"

"No..." he said with blank looks.

Stupid of her for asking, Lory scratch her nose and said "She is the Zhuang family maidservant" she try to jog his memory although she knew it useless.

"Why you give hairpin to Zhuang family maidservant?" Bei Li Yan looks very confused.

Lory make dismissive shrug "It's only for a whim, her life seems difficult inside the Zhuang manor...she looks like an honest girl" Lory mutters.

"Is she still here?" Lory asks Mong Yi.

"Yes, she waiting downstairs" Mong Yi reply.

"Okay, let's meet her!" Lory raised from her seat abruptly.