Mama Sun led two matrons quietly approaching the Taihu rock, crouching down and reaching her hand into the stone cave.

From inside came a child’s sharp scream. Mama Sun grabbed the little one and dragged him out. The child struggled continuously, kicking her, and even bit Mama Sun’s arm. Mama Sun winced in pain, yet dared not release him. The other two matrons hurriedly pinned down the child’s hands and feet, only then could Mama Sun break free.

Fortunately, she was wearing a thin cotton coat for autumn, otherwise, this little creature would surely have drawn blood.

Mama Sun sighed and told the two matrons to bring the child over to report to Gu Jin Chao.

“Madam, it is a child. His teeth are quite fierce…”

Gu Jin Chao examined the child. His small face only had a clean patch in the middle; the rest was covered in dirty grime. This was due to the child’s careless face washing, merely wiping his face once in the basin and considering it done. His eyes were young and properly set, now looking at her with terror. Unfortunately, his mouth was covered by the matron, making only muffled sounds. Even so, Gu Jin Chao could recognize him – wasn’t this child Chen Xuan Yue?

He wore a jacket worn black with age, buttons fastened incorrectly, and his hair in complete disarray. If thrown among beggars outside, anyone would believe he was a beggar without question!

Even if not highly regarded, he was still a young master of the Chen family. How had he ended up in such a state?

Yu Wan Xue hadn’t met Chen Xuan Yue before and whispered, “Is he the son of some steward or servant…”

But Chen Xi said, “It’s Ninth Brother!” She pulled at Gu Jin Chao’s sleeve. “Mother, Eleventh Brother once told me that Ninth Brother was sick and couldn’t remember people. How pitiful… Please let him go…”

Hearing her speak, Chen Xuan Yue struggled violently again. Chen Xi was frightened and stepped back, tightly holding Nurse An’s hand.

Previously, she had seen Second and Third Brothers go hunting and catch a spotted deer. The guards tied the deer’s legs and hung it from a tree. At that time, she also begged the Second and Third Brothers to release the deer. They readily agreed and had the nurse take her back to play. She walked quite far when suddenly she heard the deer make a “gu” sound. Later, Second Brother gave her a beautiful deerskin hand warmer cover, which she never used.

Ninth Brother wasn’t like a spotted deer; he was like a captured leopard, both pitiful and frightening.

Gu Jin Chao smiled bitterly – if they released him, wouldn’t he just run away? What happened afterward would be beyond their control.

Originally, she hadn’t planned to interfere.

According to this child’s original life trajectory, he would eventually become the famous Left Commander-in-Chief and be granted the title of Gansu General. Moreover, this was Second House’s affair, and it would be inappropriate for her to intervene.

But the child’s current condition was truly pitiful. If not for suffering some hardship, why would he run away? Looking at his appearance, he probably had no one to care for him in the Second House, yet somehow had managed to survive on his own – truly not easy.

No wonder he would later hate Madam Qin so much…

Since she had encountered him today, she couldn’t bear to ignore him. Even if just to form a good karmic connection!

Jin Chao spoke gently to coax him: “Xuan Yue, if you don’t bite people, I’ll have the matron release you, all right?”

Chen Xuan Yue stared at her directly, not blinking once.

Gu Jin Chao continued: “Are you hungry? If you come along nicely, we’ll go eat some snacks, all right? Would you like some sugar-roasted chestnuts?”

Perhaps hearing “sugar-roasted chestnuts,” Chen Xuan Yue’s expression finally relaxed somewhat.

The matron removed her hand, and Gu Jin Chao noticed his lips were purple, likely from being outside in the cold for a long time.

She asked Mama Sun to bring over a cloak to drape around the child.

She didn’t have the matron release him completely, only loosening her grip slightly. Chen Xuan Yue seemed to have no strength left and stopped struggling, still staring directly at Gu Jin Chao. She had the matron carry him, and the group headed toward Tanshan Courtyard.

Yu Wan Xue was very surprised – since he was a young master of the Chen family, how could he end up in such a state? However, as Gu Jin Chao remained silent, she didn’t ask.

Unexpectedly, as they approached Tanshan Courtyard, Chen Xuan Yue became frightened again, struggling continuously. The matron could barely hold him. Chen Xuan Yue resorted to his previous tactic, biting the matron’s arm. As her arm loosened, he fell to the ground. His head hit with a “dong” sound.

Gu Jin Chao felt pain just hearing it. This child was already not intelligent; another couple of hits like this would only make him more foolish!

Probably feeling the pain, he let out a loud “wa” and began crying.

Gu Jin Chao reached out to check and found a bump had formed on the back of his head. Both angry and amused, she asked, “Will you still run away?”

Grabbing him by the collar to stand him up, she realized this child was much lighter than typical ten-year-old children. Chen Xuan Xin was a year younger, yet he was taller than Chen Xuan Yue! He only looked about seven or eight years old. Feeling aggrieved from the fall, he cried with hiccups and no longer struggled.

Wild children indeed needed discipline. Gu Jin Chao patted the dust off his clothes and led him by the hand toward Tanshan Courtyard.

Mama Sun reached out to take over, but Gu Jin Chao shook her head indicating it wasn’t necessary. When led by her, the child was quite docile.

The closer they got to Tanshan Courtyard, the more nervous the child became, his small hand clutching Gu Jin Chao’s until it hurt. She thought to herself, no wonder it took two matrons to restrain him earlier – this child was truly strong, definitely material for a future general.

Chen Xi curiously observed her Ninth Brother, as if looking at the rabbit she raised. All her other brothers were well-mannered; where had she ever seen someone like Chen Xuan Yue who dared to bite people, cry so loudly, and show such disrespect to her mother? And being almost the same height as her, how could he be considered a brother?

Old Madam Chen was surprised to see Gu Jin Chao leading a small boy in.

Upon realizing the boy trying to break free from Gu Jin Chao’s grasp was Chen Xuan Yue, she was even more astonished.

Gu Jin Chao quickly explained to Old Madam Chen: “…When passing by the Bagua Pavilion, I saw him hiding in the flower bed outside the pavilion. I initially thought it was someone else, but then discovered it was the Ninth Young Master. He appears to have been outside for some time. Perhaps we should prepare some hot water for him to wash his face and tidy up, give him something to eat… and then have Second Sister-in-law come fetch him.”

Bagua Pavilion was very close to Muxi Hall, which was far from the servants’ quarters. How did Chen Xuan Yue end up at Bagua Pavilion?

Old Madam Chen frowned deeply and immediately had a matron lead him over. Chen Xuan Yue, however, threw a tantrum, desperately avoiding the matrons’ hands. Old Madam Chen grew more puzzled: “This child… he wasn’t like this before!”

How could a child fight against so many people? No matter how strong he was, his hands were eventually pried open, and he was taken to the washing room to clean up.

Sounds of struggle and crying continuously came from the washing room.

After listening for a while, Gu Jin Chao felt something was amiss: “Mother, I remember the Ninth Young Master can speak, correct?”

Old Madam Chen nodded: “He doesn’t speak clearly, but can barely manage…”

With Gu Jin Chao’s comment, she too realized something was wrong. Chen Xuan Yue had struggled extensively, cried, and shouted, yet hadn’t uttered a single word.

Old Madam Chen called over Nurse Zheng and asked her to find Madam Qin. Madam Qin managed the household affairs and sometimes was too busy to attend the morning greetings.

The Fourth and Sixth Houses quickly arrived. Hearing Old Madam Chen explain Chen Xuan Yue’s situation, they were all very surprised. Chen Xuan Xin also came to pay respects to Gu Jin Chao and then bowed to Yu Wan Xue.

Soon, Chen Xuan Yue was brought out by the matrons. Seeing so many people, including Chen Xuan An, Chen Xuan Ping, and Chen Xuan Xin who had bullied him before, he gripped the lattice door frame and refused to come forward. Old Madam Chen’s face grew even darker as she asked everyone to go to the east side room, leaving only Gu Jin Chao, Madam Wang, and Madam Ge.

Only then did Chen Xuan Yue sit on the arhat bed. His thoroughly washed little face had deep contours, with long dense eyelashes and a long neck. If not for his idiocy, he would have been quite distinguished in bearing. He quickly shrank into a corner, hugging a welcoming pillow.

When a matron tried to take the pillow from him, Old Madam Chen signaled it wasn’t necessary. If holding it made him feel safe, let him have it.

Jin Chao placed a plate of yam cakes before him, smiling: “Xuan Yue, do you like yam cakes? They’re very sweet.”

Madam Wang and Madam Ge both had kind faces and were smiling.

Chen Xuan Yue looked around before picking up a yam cake and devouring it ravenously. The plate of pastries quickly left only crumbs.

Madam Wang gasped: “This child, who knows how long he’s been hungry!”

Jin Chao saw he was choking and offered him tea. Xuan Yue didn’t stand on ceremony, gulping down a cup of tea to wash down the yam cake. At this moment, the mutton noodles Old Madam Chen had ordered were served.

Xuan Yue began slurping noodles. Madam Wang discreetly frowned.

Back in her hometown, when household servants were too busy, they hired laborers every year. When eating noodles, they would squat by the roadside holding their bowls, making just such sounds. She always found it uncomfortable to hear. Chen Xuan Yue probably had never been taught proper manners; otherwise, no matter how hungry, he wouldn’t be so uncouth.

The child ate most of the large bowl of mutton noodles. Old Madam Chen then had a matron take the bowl away, knowing Chen Xuan Yue had likely not eaten for a long time and eating too much at once would harm his stomach. Xuan Yue didn’t fight but belched and retreated. Jin Chao held his hand.

“Ninth Young Master, were the mutton noodles good? Would you like more water?” She hoped Chen Xuan Yue would speak to her, to see if the child was normal.

However, Chen Xuan Yue merely nodded, then shook his head.

Madam Wang spoke softly: “I’ve heard that when children suddenly stop speaking, it’s usually because they’ve experienced a severe fright…”

Old Madam Chen’s face darkened like water: “Old Second’s wife has gone too far! Even if he is feeble-minded, he is still a human life, Old Second’s bloodline. How could she care for him in such a manner!” Hearing this, Gu Jin Chao knew Old Madam Chen was angry – when not angry, she called her daughters-in-law by their pet names.

Everyone remained silent. Chen Xuan Yue looked at Madam Wang, then at Madam Ge. Perhaps feeling most familiar with Gu Jin Chao, he hid behind her and wouldn’t come out.

Old Madam Chen originally didn’t like Chen Xuan Yue either, but seeing him now, she felt sorry for him. The child now wouldn’t even speak; who knew what he had experienced?

Just at this moment, Madam Qin arrived.

Behind her followed the matron who attended to Chen Xuan Yue, Madam Zheng, whose face was filled with anxiety and whose eyes were red.

A little maid lifted the curtain, and Madam Qin entered, first paying respects to Old Madam Chen. Then, choking with emotion, she said: “…Mother, Mama Zheng just came to tell me that the Ninth Young Master is missing!”