Chapter 86: Fubao

Pear Blossom, after shaking off her two tailing followers, headed straight to the Dart Bureau.

Her regular training sessions with Murong Jin had been interrupted for over half a month, and this time when they met again, the situation was very different.

When the two of them first clashed, Murong Jin thought it was just because her hands were not in good condition. She realized that she seemed to be completely overwhelmed in terms of strength, and what was even more frustrating was that, in the face of such overwhelming power, no matter how skilled she was, it didn’t have much effect.

She was unwilling to accept it, but after a few more rounds of sparring, aside from one that was evenly matched, she was clearly at a disadvantage in the others.

It was then that she became convinced that it wasn’t that her abilities had declined, but that Pear Blossom’s strength had genuinely improved.

There was an uncomfortable feeling in her heart. When she first met Pear Blossom, she couldn’t even defeat her and had taken her eggs; how could such a short time pass, and now Pear Blossom had easily knocked her down?

But with strength clearly before her eyes, she had to admit defeat. Moreover, the person in front of her had a connection with her own sister, so of course, she hoped that Pear Blossom would become stronger, to better protect the two of them in the future.

After leaving the escort agency, Pear Blossom didn’t return home directly. Instead, she chose a hidden corner to observe the movements at the agency.

As expected, after a short while, Murong Jin sneaked out the back door.

Pear Blossom followed her all the way and saw that she had exited the north gate of Jinyang City. She was riding a horse along the main road, heading northeast. After traveling for more than ten miles, they arrived at a village.

Murong Jin dismounted and knocked on the door. It opened quickly, and she slipped inside. The door then shut quickly behind her.

This area was not unfamiliar to Pear Blossom; it was within a region she had previously searched, and it was within a ten-mile range detected by the system.

She couldn’t help but sneer!

The system in her mind seemed to sense that something was off, but Pear Blossom, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, quickly turned to the other side of the village, leaped up the wall, and began to climb up using both her hands and feet.

The system immediately blared an alarm, urgently calling out, “Host, what are you doing? This is private property; trespassing is immoral!”

Pear Blossom snorted coldly and ignored the warning. She moved agilely, leaping to the top of the wall and then carefully crossing over the roof, landing steadily in the corner of a courtyard.

“What’s wrong? You don’t seem happy. Don’t you like the gift I got for you?” Murong Jin’s voice came from the next yard.

“I don’t want a gift. Fubao wants her mother, wants Pear Blossom,” a tender voice followed.

Pear Blossom’s eyes instantly grew warm upon hearing this voice. She hurriedly covered her mouth.

Her Fubao hadn’t been bought by bad people; she had been safely arranged by her sister and settled here.

Her sister’s love for her daughter was so deep that she could never have left Fubao behind to flee alone.

Three days ago, when Bai Yichun brought a group of soldiers to the village and confronted the scholar, Pear Blossom had already sensed that her sister’s actions were part of a well-planned strategy.

If her sister could take care of the people in the village, she certainly wouldn’t have abandoned Fubao.

So who had she entrusted Fubao to?

The first person Pear Blossom thought of was her master, Zuo Qi. However, based on her sister’s earlier attitude, it seemed she wasn’t too willing to interact with Zuo Qi. Moreover, the most important thing was that Zuo Qi hadn’t been in Yanzhou for over a month and had not been training her during that time.

After ruling out Zuo Qi, Pear Blossom thought deeply and finally came up with a possible answer: the Murong family!

She remembered that after her sister was injured, she had mentioned the matter to Murong Jin. At that time, Murong Jin’s expression had changed dramatically, and she rushed to the village without waiting for Pear Blossom.

This wasn’t the attitude one would expect from an acquaintance met by chance. At the time, Pear Blossom had found it strange but hadn’t thought much of it since they were close people around her.

It was only when she thought about it in recent days that she found it suspicious.

This was just one clue, another was from a time last year. Despite her sister distancing herself from Pear Blossom, during the slaughter of pigs, when her master’s family came to eat, her sister showed up unexpectedly, talking to the master’s wife in a way that now felt odd.

She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was strange at the time, but when she thought about both incidents together now, she began to have doubts.

To her surprise, her guess had been right.

Not only had she uncovered her sister’s well-planned scheme, but she also discovered something wrong with the system.

The system could no longer be trusted!

At that moment, the system was silent, the electromagnetic sound crackling in the air. Pear Blossom coldly said, “From now on, unless there’s an enemy situation or I ask you directly, don’t speak to me again.”

In the courtyard next door, Murong Jin was still patiently trying to cheer up the little girl, but to no avail.

Pear Blossom cautiously peered through a crack in the stone, her eyes falling on the little, silent figure. Her heart ached with sadness.

She rarely saw the little girl so quiet, and it was clear that she was heartbroken. Pear Blossom felt deeply guilty. It was because she had been away for those few days that she hadn’t noticed her sister’s plan in time, causing the little girl to suffer so much pain from all the separations.

Murong Jin saw that the little girl still wasn’t smiling, so she gave up and said, “Auntie will go back first. The pear blossoms on the mountain are blooming, and tomorrow I’ll pick a few branches and bring them to you.”

Hearing the word “pear,” the little girl’s eyes lit up, but when she realized it was the pear blossoms from the mountain and not from Pear Blossom, her gaze dimmed. But still, any pear blossoms were better than none, so she replied, “Thank you, Auntie. Fubao really likes pear blossoms.”

Pear Blossom listened, her heart heavy with sorrow.

Murong Jin reluctantly instructed a few maids to take care of the little girl before turning and leaving the small courtyard.

The maids had spent a few days with Fubao and noticed that although the little girl didn’t cry or throw tantrums, she couldn’t be cheered up no matter what they tried. She didn’t like them following her either, and they were only responsible for her meals, daily routine, and safety. So, unless necessary, they stayed away.

Just like that, Pear Blossom easily leapt into Fubao’s small courtyard and slipped into the room through the window.

Fubao had returned to her room, holding the yellow fabric tiger that Pear Blossom had bought for her. She murmured to herself, sometimes calling out Pear Blossom’s name, other times calling for her mother, which made Pear Blossom’s heart ache.

When the little girl heard a sound by the window, she turned around and saw the person she had been longing for. The joy in her eyes was so overwhelming it seemed like it would burst out. She dropped the fabric tiger and lunged toward Pear Blossom.

Pear Blossom quickly caught her and covered her mouth, whispering, “Fuer, don’t make a sound, be quiet.”

Fubao’s tears had already fallen, and as they landed on Pear Blossom’s hand, they burned into her heart. With her eyes red, she nodded vigorously.

Pear Blossom finally let go, and the little girl wrapped her arms tightly around her neck.

Pear Blossom embraced her, lifting her up, and walked over to close the door to prevent any maid from accidentally barging in.

It wasn’t that she was afraid of Murong Jin knowing that she had figured out their plan, but since her sister wanted to keep it from her, then for now, she would keep it a secret. As long as she knew her sister and Fubao were safe, nothing else mattered.

“Pear Blossom, Fubao misses you so much…” The little bundle murmured by her ear, their warm faces pressed together, radiating warmth.

Pear Blossom’s heart softened beyond measure.

Whether or not she was her sister’s biological child, Fubao was raised by her sister since infancy, treated like her own flesh and blood. She was her sister’s child, her little Fubao.

She lowered her head and kissed the little face, saying, “I miss Fubao too, I think about you every day.”

Just like your mother, I dream of seeing both of you.

Fubao, initially excited, became genuinely happy and started to act coquettishly, clinging to her in a sticky, affectionate way.

After the happiness faded, she began to ask, “Pear Blossom, when can Fubao see Mama?”

Pear Blossom’s heart ached when she heard this. How she wished she could see her sister too.

“Not so soon. Mama is busy with something important right now, she doesn’t have time. Fubao, be good. When it’s time, Pear Blossom will bring Mama to see you, okay?”

If it were anyone else saying this, Fubao might not have believed it. But since it was Pear Blossom, she believed every word. She extended her little finger and said, “Pinky swear.”

Pear Blossom also extended her finger and hooked it with hers.

“Pear Blossom, don’t make Fubao wait too long.”

Pear Blossom quickly nodded.

At that moment, footsteps were heard outside. Pear Blossom set the little girl down and hid behind the wardrobe, signaling Fubao to be quiet.

The maid’s voice came: “Miss, it’s time for your meal. Please open the door so I can come in?”

Fubao glanced towards Pear Blossom’s hiding spot, then hurried to the door, stood on a small stool, and opened the latch.

Seeing her rosy cheeks, the maid noticed the dark mood had lightened a lot. She asked, “Why did you close the door in the middle of the day, little miss?”

Fubao replied, “Fubao is sleeping, scared, needs the door closed.”

In the first few nights after Fubao arrived, she was always scared to sleep, so Murong Jin would stay with her. If Murong Jin wasn’t around, she wouldn’t let anyone else sleep with her and would close the door herself.

The maid understood and comforted her, “Little miss doesn’t need to be afraid. We are outside guarding, no strangers will come in. Sleep soundly.”

Fubao hummed but didn’t respond. After all, if Pear Blossom came back, the door still had to be closed.

After the maid set the table, Fubao said, “I’ll eat by myself, Sister Cui’er, you go ahead and do your thing. When I finish, you can come back to collect the bowls.”

Cui’er had no objection. The young miss said so, so she bowed and left with the plate.

Fubao quickly ran back to close the door.

Cui’er could only shake her head helplessly.

When Pear Blossom saw the maid had left, she came out from behind the wardrobe.

Fubao, acting sweetly, said, “Pear Blossom, feed me.”

Seeing her like this, Pear Blossom’s heart filled with affection. She sat at the table holding Fubao and said, “Alright, I’ll feed you, let’s make that little belly round and full.”

She gently rubbed Fubao’s small belly, only to find that the previously round belly had now become flat.

This was Murong Jin’s territory, and of course, no one would neglect Fubao. It was obvious that the little girl, newly arrived and missing her mother, hadn’t eaten well and had lost weight. Pear Blossom’s heart ached as she pinched her little face, saying, “Even though Mama and Pear Blossom aren’t here, you still have to eat well, understand?”

Fubao twisted her body and reluctantly responded with an “Oh.”

“I’ll come to see you whenever I can, but you have to eat well. If your belly is still this flat next time, I’ll have to spank you.”

Fubao whimpered twice, pouting, “Okay, then I’ll eat more.”

Pear Blossom rubbed her little face and said, “That’s better. Come on, open your mouth, let’s have some scrambled eggs.”

Watching the little girl obediently open her mouth and eat, Pear Blossom felt a little more at ease.

Now that Fubao was fine, she just needed to handle the people from the Zhenfu Division. Once they were dealt with, her sister would definitely appear again.