Chapter 194

Chapter 197: Frost and Wind (Part 2)

Miss Eleven let out a sigh of relief upon hearing the news.

Lin Bo, excited, squeezed over, "Let me see, let me see."

The stool was too small for two people, so Zhao Ying jumped down.

"Madam, Young Master Fengqing is sleeping up there..." he said with a broad smile.

Miss Eleven nodded and smiled, "Quickly go and tell Steward Bai to ease his worry. We should also send word to Lord Xu."

Zhao Ying nodded eagerly, "I'll go right away."

Steward Bai was in the inner courtyard, and Lord Xu was with the elder madam.

Hearing this, Lin Bo jumped off the stool, "Then I'll go to inform Lord Xu."

Miss Eleven nodded, and the three left the bedroom.

Dongqing and Binju gathered around curiously.

They had overheard something but weren’t sure. They looked both hopeful and worried.

Miss Eleven smiled and nodded at them, "We found the child—he was sleeping on top of the bed."

"Thank heavens!" Dongqing clasped her hands together towards the west, and Binju also repeatedly said, "That's good, that's good." Both were so overjoyed they cried.

"It’s alright!" Miss Eleven laughed, "He’s been found, so stop crying."

They nodded, wiping their eyes with handkerchiefs.

Lin Bo and Zhao Ying smiled and bowed to Miss Eleven. One went to Lord Xu, the other to Steward Bai.

Binju then said, "Should we bring Young Master Fengqing down? If he rolls off the bed, it’ll be another problem."

Miss Eleven thought about it and agreed. He might be groggy and fall, causing more trouble.

"If we had known, we would have had Lin Bo and Zhao Ying stay a bit longer to help," Dongqing said, "We might not be able to get him down."

Binju rolled up her sleeves. "It’s fine—he’s only three."

Dongqing, having been bitten by him once before, was still a bit hesitant.

Miss Eleven thought for a moment, "There's no rush. Let's see how things go." Then she took Dongqing and Binju to the bedroom, standing on the stool to peer at the top of the bed.

In the dark and hidden top of the bed, Fengqing was curled up with a food box, sleeping soundly.

Miss Eleven was momentarily stunned, feeling a sudden pang of sadness.

He must have been so scared of being beaten and starved that he got used to carrying food and finding a place he thought was hidden and safe to rest...

She gazed at him for a long time, then quietly stepped down from the stool, "Let him sleep well there. Just make sure he doesn't roll off."

Binju, puzzled, asked, "So we're not bringing him down?"

Miss Eleven remained silent.

Dongqing quickly tugged at Binju's sleeve and smiled, "It's all because of us, tiring Madam. Let Binju accompany you to rest on the large kang in the study, and I'll stay here to watch over Young Master Fengqing."

Lady Eleven then realized she had a light sweat on her back.

"Be careful not to startle him," she glanced at the bed's canopy, "Just keep an eye on him here."

Dongqing nodded, and Binju accompanied Lady Eleven to the study.

The books here were quite different from those in her own courtyard's study. Not only was the collection much more extensive, but it also covered philosophical texts, maps and atlases, military tactics and strategies, and poetry, with the majority focusing on military tactics and strategies.

Binju remarked in surprise, "Madam, the Marquis's study has as many books as our elder master's study."

Lady Eleven smiled silently and nonchalantly picked up a copy of "Annotations on the Book of Changes" to read.

After flipping through a few pages, a cry came from the bedroom: "Madam, Madam, come quickly!"

Thinking of Feng Qing in the room, Lady Eleven dropped the book, gathered her skirts, and ran towards the bedroom, where she saw Dongqing standing with arms wide open in front of the bed. Hearing movement behind her, she didn't dare to turn around and said, "Madam, Master Fengqing has woken up and was about to fall from above... I called out, and he pulled back in."

Binju, who had followed closely, immediately stepped onto the stool: "Master Fengqing, let me carry you down."

But from the bed's canopy came the sound of feet kicking the wooden boards, "thump thump," until it stopped at the corner.

Lady Eleven just shook her head.

To Feng Qing, they were all strangers who had taken him by force to this unfamiliar place and then washed him thoroughly. How could he obediently let someone carry him down?

"Forget it, let's wait for Zhao Ying and the others to arrive—they're stronger and can reach further, making it easier for them. We just need to keep him from falling."

Dongqing stood in front of the bed, and Binju stood on the stool, and they stood their ground for a moment until Steward Bai and Zhao Ying rushed in, out of breath.

"Madam, I heard that Master Fengqing has been found," Steward Bai said with excitement.

Lady Eleven nodded with a smile, "Fengqing is mischievous and climbed onto the bed's canopy. It really gave Steward Bai a fright."

"Madam, your words are too kind," Steward Bai looked at Lady Eleven with admiration and said respectfully, "If it weren't for Madam, we really wouldn't know how to handle this situation." Then, without waiting for Lady Eleven to speak, he bowed deeply to her, "Madam, I thank you for your assistance here." Then, pointing at Dongqing and Binju, he asked curiously, "Madam, what's going on here?"

As the chief steward of Yongping Marquis Estate, he certainly knew how to flatter without any ambiguity. Compared to Wan Daxian, he was far superior. There was much to learn from him!

If it weren't for the pressing matter of Feng Qing, Lady Eleven really wanted to take this opportunity to get acquainted with Steward Bai.

She briefly explained the situation. Steward Bai immediately laughed, "What is this matter to trouble Madam with? Just give me a command." Then he called Zhao Ying, "You stand below, and I'll go up to carry Master Fengqing down."

Zhao Ying was also clever, especially in front of Lady Eleven. He immediately said, "With me here, how could I let you climb the bed's canopy? You watch below, and I'll go get Master Fengqing." Without waiting for Steward Bai's response, he headed towards the stool.

Binju didn't care who went up, as long as Feng Qing could be brought down. She immediately gave the stool to Zhao Ying and said, "Be careful."

Steward Bai didn't stand on ceremony and immediately stood in front of the bed. Dongqing naturally stepped aside and stood behind Lady Eleven.

"Don't worry, Sister Binju," Zhao Ying quickly climbed onto the bed's canopy, "Master Fengqing, Master Fengqing, it's me, Zhao Ying! Zhao Ying from the Marquis's side. I'm here to carry you down so you don't fall." He coaxed gently as he crawled towards Feng Qing, who was huddled in the corner of the bed.

A big ship sails steadily, but a small boat turns easily.

Feng Qing hunched over and ran to the other side with a "thump thump thump."

Zhao Ying had to crawl towards the other side again.

Just as he reached out and touched Feng Qing's clothes, Feng Qing ran to the other side again.

And so it went, Feng Qing seemed to have found something fun, not only enjoying it but also laughing "giggle giggle."

The people below didn't know what was happening above, only hearing the chaotic "thump thump" sounds, and couldn't help but ask, "What's going on?"

Eleven Miss and Steward Bai waited anxiously, while Zhao Ying was growing increasingly anxious.

"It’s fine, it’s fine," he responded, carefully approaching Feng Qing, then lunging forward to grab him in his arms.

Being captured meant pain, and Feng Qing screamed loudly, kicking and scratching.

Zhao Ying dared not use force. Though he held on, he dodged and moved, "Master Fengqing, I’ll carry you down, I’ll carry you down."

During the struggle, with a loud crash, a piece of the ceiling fell, and Zhao Ying and Feng Qing fell down.

Everyone was stunned.

Feng Qing, however, didn’t even flinch. He rolled out of Zhao Ying’s arms, slid off the bed, and ran out of the room with a clatter of footsteps.

The adults in the room finally regained their composure.

Eleven Miss, standing nearest to the door, stepped forward and grabbed Feng Qing.

Feng Qing screamed and kicked at Eleven Miss.

Eleven Miss hadn’t expected him to be so wild and was caught off guard, letting him break free.

Steward Bai had already sprung into action, taking a few quick steps to grab Feng Qing.

He screamed and kicked at Steward Bai just as he had with Eleven Miss.

But Steward Bai was not Eleven Miss; he held on firmly without releasing him.

"Madam..." he looked at Eleven Miss, waiting for her instructions. Eleven Miss looked at Feng Qing, covered in dust as if wrapped in thorns, and gritted her teeth, "Hand him over to me." She then stepped forward, took hold of Feng Qing by the shoulders, and instructed Dongqing, "Go, get some water to clean his face. Then sit him in the armchair, his legs kicking wildly in the air, and hold his arms firmly, keeping him securely in your lap."

Dongqing stared in surprise, then snapped out of it, "Oh," and hurried out to get water.

Steward Bai and Zhao Ying hadn’t expected Eleven Miss to act so decisively. They glanced at each other, then simultaneously lowered their eyes, pretending not to have seen anything.

Binju approached with concern, "Madam, are you alright?"

Feng Qing was strong, but Eleven Miss was determined to teach him a lesson, holding him tightly despite his struggles and screams. Hearing Binju’s concern, she nodded, "It’s fine. Ignore him, he’ll settle down soon."

Just as she spoke, Dongqing returned with the water, and Binju wrung out a cloth to wipe Feng Qing’s face.

Feng Qing, after all, was just a three-year-old child. He couldn’t match the strength of several adults. His movements grew smaller, his strength weaker, and tears began to fill his eyes as he glared resentfully at Binju, who was wiping his hands.

Eleven Miss sensed his change and gradually calmed down. She spoke softly to him, "If you sit quietly on my lap, I’ll let you go. If you agree, nod your head."

Feng Qing didn’t respond, but after a while, he gave a slight nod.

Eleven Miss slowly released him.

Feeling the restraint on his body gradually disappear, Feng Qing immediately jumped off Eleven Miss’s lap and ran out of the room.

With his short legs and small steps, he didn’t get far. Eleven Miss simply bent down and caught him, saying coldly, "Since you didn’t keep your word, we’re even now." She then firmly held him in her arms again.

Feng Qing once again struggled violently and screamed loudly.

Eleven Miss acted as if she didn’t hear, smiling at Steward Bai and Zhao Ying, "There’s nothing else here. If you have other matters, feel free to attend to them."

Steward Bai also saw the situation for what it was—it was like dealing with capable stewards; it all came down to who could assert dominance.

"In that case, I’ll go fetch a doctor for Master Fengqing," he respectfully excused himself.

Zhao Ying, seeing this, immediately said, "The Marquis instructed me to move his usual items to the main room. I’ll go and arrange that." He also took his leave.