Gu Qingcheng's mind raced. Was the imperial court unhappy with their human sacrifice ritual and sent troops to rescue them? Or perhaps, her parents had undergone a golden finger transformation and become emperors, sending soldiers to save her?
"You are Gu Qingcheng, aren't you?" a middle-aged man in simple cloth attire walked up and asked.
"Indeed. And you are?" Gu Qingcheng asked, bewildered.
"Oh, I am the steward of Prince Xia, my surname is Zheng. You can call me Steward Zheng. Mr. Gu asked us to rescue you."
Gu Qingcheng instantly felt relieved. Her parents had indeed never given up on her.
What kind of situation was this? In one night, her father had managed to get acquainted with Prince Xia and even had him dispatch troops to rescue her? She had always thought her father was socially anxious, but who knew he was actually socially adept. He had managed to connect with the most powerful figure in Jinsha City! The clown was her.
"Mr. Gu has matters to attend to and cannot come himself. He sent us to escort you back to the city," Steward Zheng stated concisely.
Gu Qingcheng dared not ask further. Without understanding the situation, it was best to speak less. For now, at least, this person was on their side.
"Steward Zheng, how should Gu Ming and these people be dealt with?" Gu Ming, the elder master Gu, whom she had previously called "Master," was now addressed by name. A military officer stepped forward and asked Steward Zheng.
"Escort them all back to the city. Imprison them first, and we will interrogate them later." Steward Zheng waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to help Gu Qingcheng onto the carriage.
"Steward Zheng, I have one more matter to report." Gu Qingcheng glanced around. The Gu family members were still there, having not had time to escape.
"Miss Gu, please speak." Steward Zheng was very polite. Gu Qingcheng then stated her request. If she didn't seize this opportunity to bully the fallen, she wouldn't deserve the surname Gu! Gu Qingcheng's demand was to arrest the Gu old man's family.
Steward Zheng showed no signs of hesitation. With a wave of his hand, a group of soldiers pounced like wolves and tigers. Not a single member of the Gu old man's family escaped; they all fell into the soldiers' hands. What law was there? Might made right! Gu Qingcheng smiled with satisfaction.
Mi Guo sat aside, utterly dejected. Having survived the ordeal, he still hadn't recovered. It all felt like a dream. Seeing Gu Qingcheng about to leave, he couldn't help but call out, "Fairy sister."
Gu Qingcheng stopped and looked at Mi Guo. She saw his teary eyes and disheveled hair, yet he looked at her with such earnestness. This little boy was so adorable! She couldn't bear to abandon him. So, she said to Steward Zheng, "Can I take him with me? He has no family anymore."
"Certainly." Facing the daughter of the Prince's savior, Steward Zheng was completely accommodating, granting every request. With a single sentence, he changed Mi Guo's fate. He was also brought onto the Prince's luxurious carriage, sitting beside Gu Qingcheng as they headed towards the city.
"Fairy sister, are you really a fairy sister? Even the officials came to rescue us!" Mi Guo was awestruck. He looked at Gu Qingcheng as if he wanted to burn incense and worship her. If it weren't for the inconvenience inside the carriage, Mi Guo probably would have prostrated himself before her.
"Mi Guo, you have no family now. Would you be willing to follow me from now on?" Gu Qingcheng didn't answer the fairy question but instead sought his opinion on his future life. She felt a connection with Mi Guo. Since she had saved him once, why not save him again? Otherwise, with the impending natural disaster, the previous rescue would have been in vain.
"Can I follow you?" Mi Guo never expected that the fairy sister would be willing to take him in.
"Of course, you can. However, following me comes with one condition," Gu Qingcheng said.
"What condition?"
"You cannot betray us!"
When Mi Guo heard the condition, he thought, this wasn't a condition at all. Even if Gu Qingcheng hadn't said it, he would have felt the same way. So, Mi Guo nodded firmly, "I can swear a solemn oath. If I ever betray Sister Gu, may lightning strike me and may I never be reborn."
"Good, I believe you." Even though Mi Guo was rescued, he had nowhere else to go and would ultimately have to return to his uncle's home. Could that heartless uncle who sold him be a good person? He might sell him again next time. Taking advantage of Prince Xia's influence to take Mi Guo away meant that hateful uncle wouldn't dare say anything. The luxurious carriage was comfortable, not feeling bumpy at all. Soon, they entered the city. Gu Qingcheng could feel the carriage moving on the stone-paved road. After a while, the carriage stopped at a location.
When she alighted, Gu Qingcheng was immediately embraced tightly by someone. It was a familiar scent – her mother's. "Qingcheng, you scared me to death," Hu Lanfang cried aloud. Gu Qingcheng felt rather guilty; she must have made her mother worry all night. In reality, if the firewood shed hadn't been so uncomfortable yesterday, she and Mi Guo would have had a pleasant chat, and her situation wouldn't have been as dire as her mother imagined.
After comforting her mother, Gu Qingcheng seized the opportunity to briefly introduce Mi Guo's situation. Shopkeeper Zhang quickly interjected, "Wife Gu, don't cry. Qingcheng is back, which is a joyous occasion. Don't scare her; she was already startled in Pukou Village!" Hu Lanfang then noticed Gu Qingcheng's strangely vibrant clothes, her hair ornaments, and her peculiar makeup. Recalling that this was the attire of a child bride, she felt uneasy. So, she asked Sun Sanniang to find a place for Qingcheng to change out of those clothes. Sun Sanniang then took the mother and daughter to her own room to change.
Inside the room, Gu Qingcheng retrieved a clean set of clothes from her system, changed, and washed off the horrifying makeup. After changing and washing her face, letting down her hair and styling it into a bun, Gu Qingcheng transformed back into her usual spirited young girl appearance. Seeing her familiar daughter before her, Hu Lanfang finally breathed a sigh of relief. She stepped forward, took her hand, and examined her from head to toe.
Mi Guo was also taken to change clothes. Mi Guo wore clothes that Sun Sanniang had found for him, which she said belonged to Sun Mister's grandson. Gu Qingcheng was startled to realize that Sun Mister, who looked only slightly older than her father, was already a grandfather! Fortunately, her father had also transmigrated; otherwise, she would be pressured by her "parents" to get married now! A shiver ran down her spine.
After changing into old clothes and washing away the makeup, Mi Guo looked neat and clean. Apart from his yellow hair and pale lips, he looked like a fresh and charming young boy. "Mom, this is my brother in hardship!" Gu Qingcheng deliberately used an affectionate term, intending to keep Mi Guo. As expected, Hu Lanfang's maternal instincts surged upon seeing Mi Guo and learning of his misfortune. She took his hand and fussed over him with concern.
The fact that the Princess had dispatched troops that morning to deal with Elder Master Gu was unknown to outsiders. Even the gossip in the city had not yet spread, and everyone was oblivious. Hu Lanfang had received a letter from Shopkeeper Zhang, informing her that Gu Zhaobei had rescued the Prince and, with the Princess's help, had sent troops to rescue their daughter. All Hu Lanfang could do was wait. She couldn't have gone to the scene anyway; with thousands of cavalry charging forward, she couldn't have kept up even if she rode a horse carriage! Fortunately, the troops were dispatched in time, encircling Elder Master Gu's altar, where he was performing his ritual, and successfully rescued Gu Qingcheng. Less than an hour after learning that her daughter was safe, Gu Qingcheng had returned to the city and appeared before Hu Lanfang.
"Mom, I had Steward Zheng escort all of the Gu family members to prison. Did I do the right thing?" Gu Qingcheng whispered into her mother's ear.