Outside the study, a girl stood holding a plate of exquisite pastries, tears glistening in her eyes.
It was Baili Mengran. She had intended to visit her father and brother, but instead overheard their plan.
Her father wanted to send her away, but why?
Baili Mengran couldn't fathom it. A bitter smile touched her lips as she walked out of the study's courtyard.
She turned back to the guards and said, "There's no need to let Father and Brother know about this. They are very busy and have no time for such trivial matters."
The guards had initially tried to stop her, but she used her status to insist on seeing. It turned out she had stumbled upon gossip concerning herself.
Baili Mengran walked like a puppet whose strings were being pulled. Her eyes red, she dropped the pastries in her hand and then ran behind the rockery by the pond, burying her head and crying.
Why didn't Father and Brother want me? Does Mother know? Mother must know. Did I do something wrong?
But she had been so well-behaved, she hadn't done anything.
Baili Mengran didn't know what she had done wrong to be abandoned by her father and brother.
...
In the study, Master Baili and Baili Jingxuan were unaware of this. They continued to discuss the matter.
"If I send my younger brother out of the mansion, how should we answer if someone asks in the future?" Baili Jingxuan asked.
Master Baili pondered for a moment, then said sinisterly, "No one will ask about this. If anyone does, it will be because you are incompetent. You handle it then, but do not let outsiders know about this matter."
Baili Jingxuan replied, "I understand."
With this guidance, Baili Jingxuan knew what to do. He would not let outsiders know.
However, he wondered why his father was acting this way, insisting on sending his brother away. Though he understood his father had grand ambitions, something felt not quite right.
But he could not question it; he had to wait for the right time.
Baili Mengran cried behind the rockery until her eyes were swollen. However, she dared not go out, fearing she would be sent away immediately if she encountered her father or brother.
She squatted by the rockery, sobbing continuously, her mind in turmoil. She couldn't believe that what her father and brother had said earlier was so carelessly considered. Her father and brother were truly heartless.
The embroidered handkerchief in her hand was already soaked. She didn't know how long she had been crying. In a fit of pique, she thought she might as well cry herself to death here, so they could send her body away and be consumed by guilt.
But perhaps that would be pointless.
Yet, leaving her home and country might offer her more freedom and comfort.
Young Yihao had gone to find Baili Mengran to play. He entered the room but couldn't find her, wondering where the little girl had hidden.
He learned from a maid that she had gone to the study to find Master Baili.
But from the maid's words, it seemed she had been gone for a long time. Young Yihao decided to go find Baili Mengran.
...
Meanwhile, Baili Mengran's personal maid couldn't find her and was anxiously searching the mansion like a headless fly.
Fearing punishment, she dared not say anything until she encountered young Yihao, who was looking for Baili Mengran.
Young Yihao immediately recognized her as Baili Mengran's personal maid and grabbed her. Seeing the maid's anxious state, young Yihao asked, "What's wrong? Where is your young lady?"
The maid stammered incoherently. Young Yihao, after piecing things together, asked, "Has your young lady gone missing?"
The maid nodded. "Precisely. After my lady came out of the study's courtyard, her eyes were red, and she ditched me. I really can't find her."
"Then why didn't you tell Master and Madam?" young Yihao questioned.
The maid stammered, "I, I was afraid of being punished."
The Baili family had extremely strict rules for servants, allowing no mistakes. The punishments were severe, which made the maid harbor a hope of getting away with it.
"Foolish!" young Yihao reprimanded.
The maid, startled, knelt down and dared not make a sound, her body trembling like a sieve.
Young Yihao looked at her and said, "Why are you kneeling here? Go quickly and report to your Master and Madam."
"Yes, yes." The maid quickly got up and stumbled away towards Madam Baili's courtyard.
...
"Madam, Miss Mengran's head maid is here," said Madam Baili's personal maid.
Madam Baili slowly opened her eyes on the chaise lounge and asked, "It's late. Mengran never disturbs me. She must have something important to say. Have her come in."
She then lowered her eyes.
"Yes, Madam," the maid replied and went out.
Then another person entered and said before Madam Baili, "She refuses to come in, only saying that Miss Mengran is missing."
Madam Baili's eyes snapped open. She got up from the chaise lounge and rushed out of the room. Reaching the maid, she saw that the girl was already crying profusely.
She hastily asked, "Where did the young lady go? Has she left the mansion?"
"I don't know," the maid shook her head. "The young lady has not left the mansion. She made pastries to show filial piety to Master and Madam. Who knew that after going to the Master's study courtyard, she came out with red eyes. The young lady wouldn't tell me anything, and then she ditched me. Young Master Yihao has already gone to look for her."
"Someone, go find the young lady!" Madam Baili said, worried about her daughter. She then added, "Go and invite Master and the Eldest Young Master."
Thus, a group of people set out to search the mansion for Baili Mengran, carrying torches that illuminated the entire mansion as brightly as day.
"What is all this commotion at night?" Master Baili, who was still discussing plans with Baili Jingxuan, was called out.
"It's all your fault. Did you scold Mengran?" Madam Baili questioned as soon as she saw Master Baili.
Master Baili looked bewildered. "When did I scold Mengran?"
Although he was strict as a father, he wasn't so idle as to reprimand his children. Moreover, this was his only obedient daughter, whom he doted on. How could he scold her?
It was truly making something out of nothing.
Madam Baili, however, said, "Our daughter made pastries to show filial piety to you. After leaving you, her eyes were red."
"False accusation. I never scolded Mengran," Master Baili lamented inwardly.
"Father, Mother, the priority now is to find Sister Mengran," Baili Jingxuan said, unable to bear the scene, and intervened.
Only then did they remember.
...
The mansion was vast, searched inch by inch. Outside the mansion was even larger, dug out foot by foot.
Baili Mengran, hiding behind the rockery, had fallen asleep at some point. She had a nightmare where her father, mother, and brother all told her to leave the Baili family.
They forced her to die.
Baili Mengran slightly opened her eyes and touched her face, finding it wet.
It seemed she had cried in her dream.
Baili Mengran let out a bitter smile.
Oh well, anywhere could be home, it was just a matter of how many people were there.
"You're here," a soft voice came from the side.
Baili Mengran turned her head and saw young Yihao. She quickly forced a smile and, sobbing, asked, "What are you doing here? How did you know I was here?"
She didn't know why, but this little boy could find her wherever she hid.