In the end, Ze Ning was sent back by Shang Xuan before Liu Yin and Tong Wei could arrive, fearing that Hai Ling would be seen by Yan Wang.

  She had never served a master who could not speak before. Although Rong Yin and Pei Tian were not talkative, they would still speak when necessary. But Ze Ning—he could not speak at all.

  Walking beside Ze Ning's sedan chair, she gnced at him through the swaying curtain. He was well aware that she was looking at him, yet he showed no reaction.

  Sitting upright, his sharp eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, never once meeting her gaze.

  Ze Ning is a very cautious person. After observing him for a long time, Hai Ling came to this conclusion.

  Walking and walking, they arrived at the Qin Wang's mansion. This pce was different from the Yan Wang's mansion. The Yan Wang's mansion was the mansion of the highest-ranking imperial retive of the dynasty. Yan Wang, Zhao Dezhao, was granted the title of Wugong Wang and wielded immense power. His mansion was vishly decorated with gold and jade, exuding an air of nobility and prestige.

  In contrast, the Qin Wang's mansion was much more subdued and tranquil. This was because Qin Wang, Zhao Defang, had a calm and gentle nature. He had a deep appreciation for painting and calligraphy and never sought to compete for power.

  Unlike others who schemed to gain influence at the Shang Xuan Society, he never engaged in such political maneuvering. First, he was not skilled in speaking, and second, he had no such ambitions. Although he held an important position, few people came to his mansion to curry favor. As a result, the Qin Wang's mansion remained secluded and quiet.

  Stepping into this pce, Hai Ling's first feeling was loneliness.

  Such a cold Wang's mansion, such icy pavilions and towers, such desote flowers and trees! The grand Qin Wang's mansion, which should have been the epitome of wealth and nobility, had none of it. It was simply cold—so cold that an empty, profound loneliness arose from the stillness.

  Everything was silent. Not a single sound.

  A sudden clunk startled Hai Ling. She looked down and realized it was the sound of Ze Ning's sedan chair touching the ground. It was so quiet that even this small noise was strikingly loud.

  Ze Ning lifted the curtain and stepped out. Hai Ling followed, completely unsure of where she should go. In this entire mansion, the only person she knew was Ze Ning.

  "Young Master Ze Ning," she called out, only to feel awkward right after. "I—I don't know where I should go. I′m just a firewood girl; I can′t always follow you around. That wouldbe proper—" She knew Ze Ning wouldn't answer, but since she had already started, she had no choice but to continue.

  "The young master hasn't told you to leave, so just follow him," a kind-hearted sedan bearer reminded her. "He will tell you what to do. If you need anything in the mansion, look for the young master. He′s a gentleman—he won′t make things difficult for you, don′t worry."

  He patted Hai Ling's shoulder in a brotherly manner. "There aren't many people in the mansion. His Highness doesn't manage affairs, and the young master is always busy. If anything comes up, just come find me. My name is Kang Tou—I live in the west wing of the mansion."

  Hai Ling was momentarily stunned. Was this... kindness? She had lived a clean and simple life for eighteen years, and now, had she suddenly encountered good fortune? She bowed lightly to the kind-hearted "Kang Tou" and said, "Thank you, big brother. But this... might not be quite proper—"

  Kang Tou burst into ughter. "Don't worry, in the Qin Wang's mansion, there are no such rules. You must have been disciplined by the strict households outside. Once you get used to living here, you'll realize that the young master never likes rules." He hoisted the empty sedan chair onto his shoulders. "We're heading off first—come visit when you have time!"

  Hai Ling shook her head. She had indeed been trained as a first-css maid in a prestigious household. The young master and young dy of the Rong family were both serious and rarely spoke. The rules in the Rong mansion were strict, not because Young Master Rong Yin had deliberately set them, but because he himself was a man of discipline and principle. As a result, all the maids and servants followed his example, forming many unspoken rules. Perhaps it was because he managed military affairs and had simply become accustomed to such order.

  But Ze Ning seemed to be an entirely different kind of person.

  She followed him in silence, lost in thought.

  Suddenly, Ze Ning stopped. Caught off guard, she almost bumped into him and quickly stepped back, looking at him with a hint of apprehension.

  Since leaving the Yan Wang's mansion, Ze Ning had not looked at her once. Now, he was looking at her.

  His gaze was deep and unreadable, as still as a pond, as profound as the sea. He simply stared at her.

  This made Hai Ling uneasy. She asked softly, "Young Master Ze Ning, did I do something wrong?" She had no idea what his gaze meant, but she knew that whenever he looked at someone like this, it meant something important. Just earlier at Yan Wang's mansion, when he had raised that note saying, She cannot stay, he had worn the same expression.

  Ze Ning stared at her for a long time before slowly raising his hand and tracing shapes in the air —drawing—writing—

  At first, Hai Ling didn't understand what he was doing. Then it dawned on her—he was writing.

  She felt a wave of shame and murmured, "Young Master Ze Ning, I... I don't know how to read."

  Ze Ning was clearly surprised. Rong Yin was a high-ranking minister, and Rong Pei was renowned as a genius woman, yet the Rong family's chief maid couldn't read?

  It was nearly unthinkable. He rarely showed emotion, but this time, his astonishment was unmistakable.

  Hai Ling knew he was surprised, so she softly expined, "I... wasn't originally a maid of the Rong family. Four years ago, I was gravely injured and colpsed outside the gates of the Rong mansion. It was the young dy who saved me. But my injuries were too severe—I remained unconscious for over a month. When I finally woke up, I had forgotten who I was. I couldn't speak, couldn't walk—I could barely do anything. It was the young dy who patiently taught me how to dress and eat, taught me how to speak, and even gave me a name—‘Hai Ling’—hoping that one day, I would find out who I truly am. So... that′s why I still can′t read. Maybe I once knew how, but I forgot."

  She sighed. "I'm truly grateful to the young dy and Young Master Rong. Without them, I would have long been nothing but a pile of bones. Young Master Shang Xuan has a deep prejudice against Young Master Rong, and that makes me sad. In truth, both Young Master Shang Xuan and Young Master Rong are good people."

  She paused for a moment before adding, "Young Master Ze Ning, you are a good person too."

  The surprise in Ze Ning's eyes faded, but a new problem arose—Ze Ning could not speak, and Hai Ling could not read. How were they supposed to communicate?

  He couldn't expect her to just stare into his eyes, miraculously deciphering his thoughts. She had no such ability. No matter how beautiful Ze Ning's eyes were, they weren't a mouth—they couldn't express everything.

  As soon as she finished speaking, Hai Ling realized the issue and felt deeply apologetic. "Young Master Ze Ning, this is my fault. Please don't mind it."

  She already found it difficult to meet his gaze, and now she dared even less. She felt like a walking fire needle, always poking at Ze Ning's sore spots. Wherever she was, he would be reminded, every moment, that he was a mute. Because of this difference, he couldn't communicate with most people who couldn't read.

  Ze Ning, however, didn't seem particurly shaken. From the steadiness of his breath, Hai Ling could tell he was very calm.

  She lifted her head and unexpectedly saw Ze Ning give a faint smile. She had been in the Yan Wang's mansion for so long, yet she had never seen Ze Ning smile before. And now, he actually smiled? What was so funny? Was he ughing at her for being illiterate? Hai Ling furrowed her brows.

  "Young Master Ze Ning, it's my fault that I don't know how to read. But please, don't mock me, alright? Most—" She paused and let out a light sigh. "Most poor commoners are illiterate. There's nothing funny about that."

  Ze Ning shook his head and walked toward the garden.

  Hai Ling had no choice but to follow him. Ze Ning truly disregarded rules. If it were Young Master Rong, he would never do such a thing.