Your Highness, please stop chasing me.

Under the cover of night, Mu Xue, along with Granny Kang, Su Su, and Cang Lin, returned to the courtyard in Shenjing Lane.

The huge courtyard was completely dark. Cang Lin looked around with disdain and said, "Have Manager Wang send a few people over as soon as it's light tomorrow. We don't have these two people to boil water."

"There aren't enough people. Let's ask the slave trader to bring a few people tomorrow. We'll pick a few reliable ones so that Granny won't have to cook for us every day," Mu Xue said after thinking for a moment.

Looking at the large courtyard, Granny Kang said, "Miss, with such a big courtyard, if we buy it, will we still have money to buy servants?"

Kang Mama recalled that when they were in the Mu family, Aunt An was in charge and would deduct Mu Xue's monthly allowance for all sorts of reasons every month. In recent years, she hadn't given her any money at all.

"Miss, this old servant has some silver here, please take it." As she spoke, Granny Kang reached out to take out the silver from her bosom.

Seeing this, Susu also wanted to give some: "Miss, I have one too. I have one too."

Mu Xue was both touched and amused. He said, "You guys keep it. I'm not short of money."

Cang Lin also said, "Granny Kang, don't worry, I'll take care of Xiao Xuexue and you all from now on."

Mu Xue rolled her eyes at him and said, "Who needs you to support me? I'll earn lots and lots of money in the future."

The snake gallbladders that were promised to the Wang family have already been sent over by Mu Hu.

Once the cooperation is finalized, she will have a lot of money, and the Wang family will be considered extremely wealthy.

Thinking of this, she said, "Granny, I need to go to the Wang family tomorrow."

Kang Mama said, "Then tomorrow Susu and I will go and buy the things that the family is missing."

"No, Granny, you and Susu shouldn't go out for the next few days," Mu Xue said.

Before, when they were in the Mu residence, no one dared to touch them. Now it's different. They followed him out of the Mu residence, and there's no guarantee that someone won't capture them to blackmail him.

Su Su asked, puzzled, "Miss, why shouldn't we go out yet?"

“Silly Susu, there are too many people outside who want me dead right now. You are the people I care about most right now. If I can get hold of you, it’s the same as having control over me.” Mu Xue tapped her forehead and said.

"Don't worry, Miss. If they arrest me, I'll fight them to the death. If that doesn't work, I'll commit suicide. I will never hold you back," Su Su said with a determined look in her eyes.

Mu Xue slapped Su Su on the back of the head.

"You're really foolish! You have to live well and wait for me to save you. All you have to do is believe me, I will definitely come to save you. As long as you're alive, there's still hope. So does your nanny." Mu Xue said earnestly.

"Miss, it hurts," Su Su said, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Serves you right, it's good that it hurts, so you'll learn your lesson." Granny Kang said, but then she reached out and rubbed Su Su's sore spot.

Cang Lin, seeing the three of them joking around, chimed in, "Don't worry, I'm here, I'll protect you."

He said to Wang Qi, who was following behind him, "Send some men to guard the place tomorrow. The location is remote, so let's keep a low profile."

Manager Wang bowed and said, "Yes, I will arrange it when I get back. Should I send a few more reliable maids to serve me?"

He hadn't forgotten that Cang Lin disliked women getting close to him.

He remembered that a few years ago, when he was still in Shanghai, a maid spilled tea, and the water splashed onto his clothes. The maid knelt down and was about to wipe it when a knife was swiftly drawn and the maid's head fell to the ground.

From then on, not a single young maid was ever seen in Cang Lin's mansion, and the few elderly women left could only move around in the kitchen and backyard.

Thinking of this, Manager Wang carefully observed Cang Lin's expression, and then heard Cang Lin say, "Find two quick and honest maids to be in charge of cleaning and cooking, and keep them away from me."

"Yes, yes, I'll arrange it right away." Manager Wang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He almost thought he was going to anger Cang Lin. Thank goodness!

"Manager Wang, I'm sorry to trouble you. Please make sure you thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of the maids and nannies you hire. I'm already embroiled in a lot of trouble, and I don't want things to get out of hand," Mu Xue said.

"Yes, I will definitely investigate carefully and make sure it is delivered to Miss," Manager Wang said respectfully.

He knew that Miss Mu Xue was the only young woman by his master's side, so she was someone he approved of and someone his master valued highly. Therefore, he felt even more respect for Mu Xue.

After Manager Wang left, Cang Lin said, "It's getting late. Granny Kang, take Su Su to rest. I have something to say to your young lady."

"Yes, this old servant and Susu will go down first." Granny Kang pulled Susu back to her room to pack her things.

They didn't bring much with them, and the courtyard had all the basic necessities they needed.

Mu Xue followed Cang Lin to the study.

The two sat down facing each other, neither of them speaking first.

Finally, Cang Lin spoke first: "You've had a hard time these past few years, haven't you?"

"Fortunately, Granny Kang and Susu have always protected me," Mu Xue said.

“I’ve been away from Xiyu Kingdom all these years, and it’s been too far to protect you. I’m very sorry,” Cang Lin said earnestly.

Mu Xue had never seen Cang Lin so serious before. When he wasn't joking, he maintained his composure and exuded an aura of authority.

She said calmly, "Mu Xue in the past didn't understand the coldness and warmth of the world. She was very naive and didn't know the hardships of life. Now, I will no longer be bullied."

She thought that since they had already recognized each other, it was better to clarify some things.

Of course, she couldn't reveal that she wasn't the original owner, but she also needed to make Cang Lin understand that she was different from the original owner.

Her tone was so calm, as if she were saying that the weather was just so-so today, showing no trace of the foolish and innocent girl she once was.

Cang Lin had never seen Mu Xue in her mentally challenged state; he had only imagined what Mu Xue originally looked like based on Wang Qi's description.

But now he feels that she seems like a completely different person.

This is not the same person as Mu Xue as described by Wang Qi.

He looked at Mu Xue now, and was slightly shocked.

He had always treated her like a child, but today he realized that he had underestimated her; she was much stronger than he had imagined.

For someone who looks thirteen but is almost thirty at heart, her inner strength is truly remarkable.

Cang Lin looked at Mu Xue's face, which resembled Shen Wan's by about 50%. Even before she had fully grown up, she already possessed stunning beauty. It was easy to see that as she grew older, she would resemble Shen Wan even more and become even more outstanding.

He was so engrossed in watching that Mu Xue called his name several times without him responding.

Mu Xue reached out and waved her hand in front of his eyes, saying, "Snap out of it! What were you thinking about so intently?"

“I was thinking about your mother. You and she look a lot alike,” Cang Lin said bluntly.

"Do we look alike? But no one has ever told me that I look a lot like my mother!" Mu Xue asked curiously.

She once asked Granny Kang if she looked like her mother. In her memory, her mother was a gentle and graceful woman.

“You are more radiant and courageous than her,” Cang Lin said after recalling carefully.

"I will not succumb to fate," Mu Xue said calmly.

Unlike Shen Wan, she wouldn't passively accept things; she would actively seize what she wanted.