Immediately afterwards, a little girl in a light blue dress with double buns came running in briskly. She finally stopped and tilted her head to size up the people in the room.
Shi Ning'an looked innocent on the surface. She knew Shi Yongtang, but it wasn't difficult for her to pretend to be innocent and act as if she didn't recognize him. There was surprise in her eyes, but more shyness and timidity.
She asked timidly, "Are... you my father?"
Her soft voice was not as overbearing and arrogant as Shi Yongtang had thought. The girl's face echoed the one in his memory. She was indeed his daughter, looking so much like her mother.
Seeing Shi Yongtang in a daze, Shi Ning'an curved her eyebrows, and called out again in a clear voice, "Father, I'm Ning'an."
Father. Shi Yongtang remembered that when his aunt came to take Ning'an away, Ning'an was not even one year old. His little and tender daughter, perhaps having lost her mother at birth, was naturally timid and cried day and night. Only when he held her could she rest obediently in his arms.
At that time, although he said he was annoyed, he was actually extremely happy in his heart. She was his first child, the first one who relied on him so much. Every day when he rushed home, the first thing he did was to wash his hands and hold and comfort her.
When his aunt took her away, she was already asleep. But just as they were about to get on the carriage, she started crying again. The baby who couldn't speak yet held up her hands towards him and for the first time called out pitifully, "Father, Father, hold me..."
Half of Shi Yongtang's heart softened, and half of his original anger dissipated.
Fourteen years had passed, and his daughter had grown up. Shi Yongtang stepped forward and stroked Shi Ning'an's hair. "Ning'an's back?"
Shi Ning'an raised her face, looking like an innocent young girl. Her eyes were filled with excitement, a hint of shyness, and most of all, admiration and longing.
Even her brisk tone turned into a sob. "Father, your daughter misses you so much."
She happily grabbed Shi Yongtang's sleeve. The smile on her face couldn't be hidden. She looked a bit silly, but more cute and endearing.
"Father, Madam said you've been busy with official business recently and would come home late. She told me not to wait. But I just got back. Of course I should see you first."
Xu Youqing's heart skipped a beat. She quickly forced a smile. "I saw you were not in good spirits, so... I thought you should rest more..."
Shi Ning'an did look rather exhausted. The dark circles under her eyes were still obvious. After a long journey and the scare in the morning, it was understandable. Shi Yongtang glanced at Xu Youqing, his eyes showing a hint of displeasure.
Xu Youqing was filled with resentment in her heart, but she knew that in Shi Yongtang's eyes, Shi Ning'an's words made her seem overly fussy. As soon as the child came back, she couldn't wait to complain.
But she never expected that this little girl would act one way in front of her and Qingmei, and another way in front of the master.
Shi Ning'an seemed not to hear Xu Youqing's words. She just stared blankly at Shi Yongtang and giggled from time to time, which piqued Shi Yongtang's curiosity.
"Ning'an, why are you staring at Father like this?"
Shi Yongtang was a scholar and had always been strict with his children. Whether it was his beloved Shi Qingmei or his legitimate son Shi Jingyuan, he was very strict with them. They always called him "Father" and never dared to call him "Daddy".
But today, even he didn't know why. When he saw Shi Ning'an, he couldn't help but feel that the child should call him "Daddy".
Shi Ning'an scratched her head stupidly and forced a smile. "Ning'an is... always afraid that if I don't look at you more, this will turn into a dream in a while, and I'll be back at my great - aunt's place."
Although Shi Yongtang liked Shi Ning'an, he also had his own calculations. The joy in his eyes faded a bit, and his smile was not as gentle as before. "Ning'an, don't be afraid. It was out of necessity before. Now that you've grown up, it's time for you to come back and live here."
Previously, a high - ranking monk had predicted that Shi Ning'an was destined to bring bad luck to her parents. She had to be sent far away and could only return to the mansion when she reached the age of fifteen. But Shi Yongtang brought her back not because she had reached that age, but to arrange her future.
Shi Ning'an knew this very well in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face. She still smiled stupidly and didn't take the initiative to speak anymore.
Shi Yongtang asked about Shi Ning'an's life in the Zeng family, like whether the Zeng family treated her well.
In fact, since she was eight years old, the Shi family seemed to have forgotten about Shi Ning'an. Every year, they only sent some festival gifts out of courtesy, and never included her food, clothing, and daily necessities in their considerations.
Shi Ning'an didn't mention other things. She just nodded in response.
"The Zeng family treats me no differently from the other sisters. My cousin often says that my great - aunt treats me better than her."
"Moreover, my brothers and sisters treat me very well. The elder brothers teach me to recognize medicinal herbs and read prescriptions, and the elder sisters teach me to spin and weave."
"At first, my great - aunt didn't want me to learn these things. She said that as a young lady from the capital, I didn't need them. Later..."
Shi Ning'an raised her head and showed a sweet smile. "There were also some naughty kids in the village who said that Father didn't want me. I used to cry about it. But now Father has brought me back, hasn't he?"
A sense of guilt welled up in Shi Yongtang's heart. He reached out and stroked Shi Ning'an's head. "Father had no choice before. But look, as soon as you reached the age of fifteen, I sent someone to bring you back."
Shi Ning'an nodded vigorously. Then she carefully glanced at Xu Youqing and asked in a low voice, "Father, Madam said you don't pay attention to the morning and evening greetings. So can't I come to pay my respects to you?"
Xu Youqing was so angry that she almost fainted. This little girl had learned to complain! She wanted to see how she would do it. Shi Yongtang didn't like to be disturbed. Except for Shi Qingmei who occasionally paid morning and evening respects, only Shi Jingyuan who was still in school could see his father from time to time. When she said there was no need for morning and evening greetings, it wasn't a lie.
Shi Yongtang had his own thoughts. He could see the girl's intentions, but he didn't care. "You don't need to come in the morning. I have to get up early for the court meetings or go to the ministry. You're still young. There's no need to go through such trouble. But if you want to see me in the evening, just come. I usually stay in the outer study after dinner."
Shi Ning'an's eyes lit up. She asked happily, "So can I go to the outer study to accompany you in the evening?"
Seeing Shi Yongtang looking at her, her voice became softer. She raised her hand. "I promise I won't disturb Father. I'm very well - behaved. I can write and read. I won't make any noise."
This timid look pleased Shi Yongtang even more. This child had been away from him for too long. It was normal for her to have admiration and longing for him. How could he refuse?
"Of course."
Shi Ning'an clapped her hands and laughed. "That's great. From now on, I can see Father every day. Father doesn't know. They always laughed at me and said I had no parents. My mother passed away early, but actually, I have a father!"
She pouted, and there were stars in her eyes.
Shi Ning'an thought for a while and then asked, "What about Father? When Father misses me, will you come to see me? I live in Jingbo Courtyard. It's that courtyard. It's very close!"
Shi Yongtang's face gradually darkened. He looked at Shi Ning'an seriously, then at Shi Qingmei beside her. He cleared his throat. "Jingbo Courtyard? Isn't that your elder sister's courtyard?"
All the excitement on Shi Ning'an's face faded away. Only panic remained. She asked in a flurry, "I... can't live in Jingbo Courtyard?"
Shi Yongtang thought he had been too strict and scared this newly - returned daughter. He quickly softened his expression and smiled. "No. It's just that Madam has prepared a courtyard for you. Why do you want to live in your elder sister's place? Don't you like the courtyard Madam prepared for you?"
Shi Ning'an lowered her head halfway and looked at Shi Yongtang eagerly. She nodded. "I don't like it."
"It's the small courtyard in the southernmost part. It's very far away, far from everywhere, the main gate, the inner gate, the main courtyard, and the master's courtyard. If I want to see Father, I have to walk for half an hour to get there... I don't like it there."
She raised her head, still looking timid. "Jingbo Courtyard is good. It's close to everywhere. Madam and cousin also said they would let me live there."
Hearing this, Shi Yongtang understood immediately. It was Xu Youqing's intention to arrange Shi Ning'an so far away. But this child, Shi Ning'an, looked obedient but was actually very stubborn. That's how the conflict arose.
No wonder she refused to call Xu Youqing "Mother" and only called her "Madam". She was indeed his daughter, with backbone.
Xu Youqing half - opened her mouth and stammered, "No. I thought Ning'an came from the countryside and might like a quiet place, so I arranged..."
Tears welled up in Shi Ning'an's eyes, twinkling with grievance. "Because I'm from the countryside, do I only deserve to live in the worst courtyard? Jingbo Courtyard is a good place, but I'm also a daughter of the Shi family. Can't I live there?"
Shi Yongtang gave Xu Youqing a cold look. "Of course not. Ning'an is my daughter. She should naturally live in the best place. Jingbo Courtyard is the best. Since you like it, it's yours."
Shi Qingmei gasped. She didn't care about anything else and looked at Shi Yongtang with a wronged face. "Father..."
Shi Yongtang gave Xu Youqing a warning look. Since he intended to suppress Xu Youqing, he naturally wouldn't care about Shi Qingmei's feelings.
"Father is so kind!" Shi Ning'an smiled sweetly. Then she seemed to remember something and muttered, "I can't show my teeth when I smile. Humph, there are so many rules in the capital."
Seeing his daughter like this, Shi Yongtang couldn't help laughing out loud. "What? You've only been here, and you already know there are many rules in the capital?"
Shi Ning'an pouted and nodded. "On the way here, Mama Zhang told me about them for a long time. She said cousin is the most talented young lady in the capital and told me to learn from her. But Father, I was born in Nanling and grew up beside the rural medicinal mountain. If I learn cousin's manners, won't I just be making a fool of myself like the ugly woman imitating the beautiful one?"
Shi Yongtang stroked her head. "Take your time. You're a daughter of the Shi family in the capital. You can't go out and make people laugh at you and disgrace the Shi family."
Shi Ning'an reluctantly nodded. "Okay. Since I want to stay by Father's side, I definitely can't disgrace Father."
She looked up at Xu Youqing. "But the mama Madam gave me is really no good. She's not even as good as the mama beside Grand - grandmother Zeng. Madam, please change one for me."