Only the young madam would not scold or humiliate them arbitrarily, telling them that everyone in this world was equal, and no one was born to be a servant.
Born as a human, one should live for oneself, with dignity, and be a proper person.
"You are young, but you are very intelligent and perceptive. It's good that you understand these things. We servants have no control over our lives. If we are lucky, we might find a good master. If we are unlucky and encounter a cruel one, it would be good just to keep our lives."
Granny Lin's tone was very calm. Having lived to her age, she had long since let go of everything and no longer clung to anything.
"I have noted Granny's teachings," Chu Qing nodded obediently, a faint smile on her lips that did not reach her eyes.
"Go in. I will speak to the Old Master. You can just take the child and walk out later. You are someone from the young madam's side, they will give you face and not stop you."
Although the young madam had not been in charge of the household for long, she had managed the entire household in an orderly fashion and was kind to the servants. Everyone in the household had received favors from the young madam.
As long as they acted under the young madam's name, anything they did in the manor would go smoothly.
"Thank you, Granny, for your guidance. I have noted it all."
With someone willing to help, Chu Qing was overjoyed. She followed Granny Lin obediently inside.
The people in the courtyard, seeing Granny Lin, all showed her a measure of respect. From the entrance to the inner courtyard, everyone respectfully bowed to Granny Lin.
Chu Qing was initially puzzled as to why they were so respectful to Granny Lin. After a long pause, she suddenly realized that the young madam had told her before that Granny Lin had been someone by the Old Master Ling's side.
No wonder these people were so respectful when they saw Granny Lin, their usual arrogance gone.
Granny Lin walked into the main hall and bowed slightly to the Old Master Ling.
"Old Master..."
"Enough, I know why you are here. Both children are asleep. You can take them back after they wake up."
He had no intention of keeping the children this time. It was just that the two little ones had played until they were tired and had fallen asleep right there.
He had intended to send them back after they woke up, but who knew they would come to ask for them so soon? This saved him the trouble of sending someone else.
"Then this old servant will go and see the two young masters."
After receiving the Old Master Ling's permission, Granny Lin stepped into the inner room. Seeing this, Chu Qing quickly lowered her head and followed.
This was the first time she had seen the Old Master Ling. She was immediately intimidated by his presence. Just sitting there motionless, he exuded an inherent aura of pressure. She only dared to steal a glance at him and already felt scared.
Hurrying towards the room, Chu Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief. This old master was truly frightening.
"It's alright, the Old Master just looks fierce. Actually, he is a very kind person. I have served here for so many years, and even when I made mistakes, the Old Master Ling never punished me. You don't need to be afraid, just relax."
Granny Lin saw through Chu Qing's thoughts and said, with practiced ease, words she had spoken dozens of times.
Every servant who entered the Ling Manor felt afraid the first time they saw the Old Master Ling. She had said these comforting words more than once.
"I understand, Granny."
The timidity in Chu Qing's voice had not yet subsided. She nodded busy, took a deep breath, and tried her best to relax so as not to be so scared.
After sitting for a while longer, they left when the two children woke up.
Chu Qing, holding Er Bao, bid farewell to the Old Master Ling with Granny Lin and left in a hurry.
As Da Bao and Er Bao left, the Old Master Ling instantly felt a void in his heart, as if something was missing. He sighed several times.
"The Old Master is reluctant to let the two young masters go. Why not let the young masters stay here for a few days before leaving?"
The butler, as expected of someone who had been by the Old Master Ling's side for many years, immediately guessed the Old Master's thoughts.
"No, the children are too young. They have to be with their mother. They can't stay with me all the time. If they come to see me, an old man, from time to time, I will be content. When people get old, they tend to overthink things."
"You say that before, I never thought about keeping my children and grandchildren by my side. I even thought they were an eyesore. Now, I miss them more and more. Am I nearing my end?"
"Old Master, you shouldn't say such things. It's inauspicious. Spit twice on the ground to ward off the bad luck."
The Old Master Ling let out a loud laugh, his wrinkles filled with mirth.
"Alright, you old fellow, you're getting more superstitious as you get older. Everyone dies sooner or later. I've lived this long, and I can consider myself lucky. To have seen my great-grandchildren in my lifetime, I would be happy even if I were lying in my coffin."
"Old Master, you are blessed with great fortune and will live a long life. You still have to watch the two young masters grow up."
When the two children were mentioned, the Old Master Ling's eyes were filled with tenderness. Seeing the two children every day made him happy from the bottom of his heart.
"I will naturally be happy to watch them grow up, but I don't know if I have that lifespan. Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go out for a walk. If I don't move, this old body will rust."
He was tired of staying in this courtyard all day. He got up and walked out.
The butler hurried after him, holding a cloak in his hand.
"Old Master, it's windy outside. Wear a cloak, don't catch a cold."
He strolled around the manor, but the Old Master Ling found it extremely uninteresting. He was too familiar with every tree and plant, every brick and tile in the manor. He even knew what kind of grass grew on the ground. There was truly nothing new.
After sitting in the pavilion for a while, the Old Master Ling suddenly said, "Go and prepare a carriage. Then send someone to tell Feng Jin that Han'er wants to see her and bring her to the carriage."
"Old Master, you... it's not very good to deceive the young madam like this."
"It's alright. I'll take responsibility if anything happens. Just do as I say."
The Old Master Ling patted his chest, guaranteeing to take all the blame.
No matter how reluctant the butler was, he still followed the Old Master Ling's instructions. The carriage was prepared early. All that was left was for the little servant at the door to inform Feng Jin and trick her over.
As soon as Feng Jin received the news that Ling Mo Han wanted to see her, she did not think twice. She hurried out with the little servant and got into the carriage parked outside the gate without hesitation.
It was only when she saw who was sitting in the carriage that Feng Jin suddenly realized she had been tricked and had boarded a "pirate ship." By then, it was too late to regret it.