Xie Zhaofan watched her, her heart filled with another wave of sentiment.
In modern society, a child this age would likely just be starting middle school, at an age where they sat in classrooms worrying about exam grades.
Yet here, she had already begun learning how to serve others, even having to constantly speculate on her master’s mood. Thinking about it, it really wasn't easy.
By the time she reached the main hall, Madam Shen and Xie Jinyi were already waiting there.
“Zhaozhao, what took you so long?”
Madam Shen saw her approach and offered a soft reprimand, though there wasn't a hint of true dissatisfaction in her tone.
“It’s been so long since your daughter last went out, so I had to make sure I looked pretty. I can't go around losing face for Mother,” Xie Zhaofan said with a grin as she looped her arm through Madam Shen’s. Madam Shen was amused by her antics and reached out to lightly tap her forehead.
“You child, when did you learn to be so glib?”
Xie Jinyi stood nearby, watching the scene in silence, though her expression was slightly unusual.
After observing her for this period, she had discovered that this foster sister was indeed very different from before.
While still lively and headstrong, she lacked that annoying sharpness and malice from the past. At the very least, the current Xie Zhaofan no longer looked at her like she was seeing an enemy the moment they met.
The three of them soon boarded the carriage and left the Prime Minister’s residence, accompanied by a group of guards, maidservants, and mammies.
As the carriage slowly rolled through the streets, Xie Zhaofan quickly couldn't resist lifting the curtain to look outside.
She finally had a chance to truly see this world.
The streets were even more lively than she had imagined. Shops lined both sides in neat rows—selling tea and snacks, jewelry, fabrics—everything one could need.
People came and went, with commoners and vendors in all sorts of colored clothing mingling together. Occasionally, she could see young masters from noble families passing by on tall horses.
Xie Zhaofan watched with great interest, so much so that she nearly stuck her entire head out.
“Zhaozhao,” Madam Shen’s helpless voice came from beside her.
“Stop peering around everywhere. Being outside isn't like being at home; you must consider the Prime Minister's reputation.”
“I know, Mother.”
Xie Zhaofan obediently let go of the curtain, then couldn't help but mutter in a low voice, “It’s just that Father has kept me in Confinement for so long that I’ve almost forgotten what the colorful world outside looks like.”
Hearing this, Madam Shen’s heart softened slightly.
“You... just be more well-behaved from now on. Don't always provoke your father’s anger, and Mother will take you out for walks more often.”
As she spoke, she reached out to stroke Xie Zhaofan’s hair. The gesture was so gentle that Xie Zhaofan was momentarily stunned.
It had been a very long time since she had felt such mother-daughter affection.
Even though the woman before her wasn't her mother in a true sense, according to the original owner’s memories, Madam Shen had truly doted on her like a biological daughter all these years.
Even after the true daughter returned, she hadn't completely given up on this child she had raised for fifteen years.
At this thought, the slight sense of estrangement in Xie Zhaofan’s heart faded a little.
“Don't worry, Mother, I’ll definitely be good from now on.”
“That’s my good Zhaozhao.”
Madam Shen smiled and pulled her into a hug. Xie Jinyi sat on the other side, her gaze complicated as she watched the interaction between mother and daughter.
Once the carriage left the city, the scenery outside immediately opened up.
The sides of the road were no longer lined with dense houses, but with vast fields. Mountains rose in the distance, covered in lush green trees, and occasionally, a farmer could be seen leading a cow through the fields.
A cool breeze drifted through the gaps in the carriage window, carrying the fresh scent of soil and greenery.
Xie Zhaofan’s eyes grew brighter as she looked. She originally had no interest in some Gangen Temple, but at this moment, she suddenly felt this trip wasn't a loss.
She would just treat it as a pleasant outing.
Over an hour later, the carriage finally stopped outside the mountain gate of Gangen Temple.
Looking out, the mountain gate was built into the hillside, ancient and grand. High stone pillars stood on either side of the vermilion temple doors. Following the slope upward, layered halls were hidden among the verdant forest.
This was the most prestigious Gangen Temple in the capital.
As soon as the Xie family carriage came to a halt, monks from the temple immediately stepped forward to receive them.
“Amitabha. Madam Xie has come from afar; please forgive this monk for not greeting you sooner.”
Madam Shen exchanged pleasantries with him politely.
Soon, several noblewomen from nearby carriages also stepped down, proactively coming forward to pay their respects.
“Madam Xie, it has been a long time.”
“To happen upon Madam here today is truly a coincidence.”
Madam Shen responded to each of them with a smile.
She herself was a Lady of the First Rank and the wife of the current Prime Minister; her status in the capital's noblewomen circles was naturally extremely high.
Consequently, the two young misses of the Prime Minister's residence, Xie Zhaofan and Xie Jinyi, also immediately became the focus of everyone’s attention.
“This must be the Second Young Miss. She is truly bright and moving.”
“Isn't she? The Eldest Young Miss is also a rare beauty. Madam Xie is truly blessed.”
The young ladies from the other families also gathered around to pay their respects.
Xie Zhaofan watched these girls, who were clearly quite young, and felt a sense of sentiment.
Good heavens!
These little girls looked to be only thirteen or fourteen, yet the smiles on their faces were more natural than those of seasoned office veterans. They seemed to already know exactly whose family held a higher rank and which families were on good terms with each other.
Ancient people really were precocious.
However, she really couldn't muster much interest in this so-called noble daughter socializing.
On the contrary, Xie Jinyi handled it extremely naturally. No matter who came up to chat, she could respond gently, making people feel as comfortable as a spring breeze.
Xie Zhaofan watched for a while and increasingly felt that this sister did indeed have the potential to be a Female Lead.
Beauty, talent, medical skills, personality, and this sophisticated social ability—what was she if not the chosen one?
“Madam Xie, shall we go in together?”
Several madams offered warm invitations, but Madam Shen smilingly declined.
“There is no need to trouble you all; I will just take my two children inside.”
With that, she led Xie Zhaofan, Xie Jinyi, and their accompanying servants into the temple.
Xie Zhaofan watched everything with interest along the way. In modern Blue Star, this kind of ancient architecture would be a top-tier protected cultural relic; one would usually have to book an appointment in advance to visit, yet here she was, strolling in boldly.
It was a quite wonderful feeling.
However, the process of worshiping Buddha was much more complicated than she had imagined: offering incense, chanting scriptures, listening to Zen teachings, fulfilling vows...
Before she had been sitting there listening for long, her eyelids began to droop.
She truly had no interest in these things. If the Buddha could send her directly back to Blue Star right now, she would immediately become the most devout believer.
Unfortunately, matters of the Space-Time Bureau didn't seem to fall under the Buddha’s jurisdiction.
“Second Young Miss, what are you...”
Chunxing saw her suddenly stand up and hurriedly asked in a low voice.
“To relieve myself.”
“But Madam is still...”
“It’s fine, I’ll just wander nearby. I won't run off.”
Xie Zhaofan slipped away as she spoke.
Though Chunxing was full of helplessness, she could only hurry to follow. The little maid felt like her career might be coming to an end, because if she let the Young Miss continue acting so willfully, she, as the personal maid, would eventually face the consequences.
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