The young man speaking with Anning is her cousin, Yao Sheng, the third branch young master of the Yao Family.

He flicked open his folding fan, fanning himself theatrically: "Grandmother urged me to come out and see if you’ve arrived. Look, I’ve been waiting for ages in this hot weather."

Anning lifted her skirt and stepped onto the stairs: "Then hurry up and let’s go."

Upon entering the Yao Family gates, Anning felt the demon energy grow stronger.

She didn’t bluff with Yao Sheng; there was indeed demon energy around the Yao Family. She sensed it before even reaching the Yao Family gates, and upon arrival, she was sure about it. The deeper she went inside, the denser the demon energy felt.

Anning had once been a Nine-tailed Spirit Fox among the Demon Clan in the Primordial days, making her especially sensitive to demon energy. She never mistook its presence.

After entering the second gate, Anning glanced in a certain direction, growing more confident in her assessment.

"What are you looking at?" Yao Sheng asked Anning.

Anning smiled: "I was wondering if there’s anything fresh, like flowers or fruits, in our garden."

"You’ve got that right."

Yao Sheng smiled, pointing towards the garden: "The other day, brother went to Luo City and brought back a few peony plants."

"Peonies, huh."

Anning chuckled lightly: "Our home will indeed become bustling."

"Forget about the peonies, let’s move along quickly."

Yao Sheng tugged at Anning.

The siblings entered the main courtyard.

Granny Yao lived in the main courtyard. When Anning entered the room, she heard Granny Yao grumbling at her: "If I hadn’t sent someone to fetch you, you probably wouldn’t have come. See, I’m old now, and nobody cares for me anymore."

Anning hurried a few steps to pay her respects to Granny Yao, plopping down next to her: "Where did Grandma get such an idea? I had already planned to come, and just as fate would have it, you sent someone to fetch me. This shows our minds are in sync. Our minds aligning like this proves you’re still young, so no more talk of being old."

She made Granny Yao beam with a single sentence.

Eldest Aunt Mrs. Zhao smiled beside them: "Second Miss really knows how to flatter people. The Old Madam gets happy the moment you arrive."

"Eldest Aunt."

Anning stood up and bowed to Mrs. Zhao.

"Where is Sister Xue Lian?"

"She’s feeling a bit unwell and was worried about spreading illness to the Old Madam, so she didn’t come."

Mrs. Zhao spoke softly.

"What’s wrong with her? Is she ill with something? Has she seen the doctor?"

Anning sounded anxious and asked several questions in a row.

Mrs. Zhao laughed: "It’s nothing serious, just a seasonal thing. She’ll be fine with some rest."

"I’ll go check on her later." Anning wrapped Granny Yao’s arm: "I haven’t been idle at home these days, and I even made a headband for Grandma. Look, I pricked my fingers several times while sewing it."

Anning extended her right hand to show Granny Yao.

Granny Yao saw that Anning’s fingertips were somewhat red, with visible pinpricks here and there.

She felt a pang of sympathy: "You child, do I need a headband that badly? Look at what happened to your hands. What shall we do about it?"

After a while, Granny Yao said repeatedly: "Out of all my grandchildren, Anning is among the most filial."

Mrs. Zhao chuckled: "Ningning is, of course, extremely filial, just like her aunt."

Granny Yao loved hearing this and was equally gentle towards Mrs. Zhao: "Alright, I don’t need anyone to accompany me here. You’re busy, so go attend to your matters. Don’t come to serve at lunch today either."

"Then this daughter-in-law will take her leave while Old Madam and Second Miss talk."

Mrs. Zhao curtsied before leaving the room.

Anning chatted with Granny Yao in her room for a long time. She always enjoyed listening to storytelling at the tea house. Lately, she had heard some new stories and shared them with Granny Yao.

She was eloquent and narrated vividly. After listening to Wang Tiezui’s stories so often, she even picked up a few ventriloquism tricks. Now her storytelling was captivating, and not only Granny Yao, but the attending maids and old women were all enraptured.

Even until lunchtime, the maids and old women were reluctant to leave.

Granny Yao laughed scoldingly: "You are all just standing around even though it’s time to serve the meal. If my little darling goes hungry, I’ll have you whipped. Get to work quickly; Ningning will be staying here for some time and will have plenty of chances to tell stories."

Only then did the maids and old women spring into action.

After lunch, Anning accompanied Granny Yao for a stroll in the cool part of the courtyard and laid down with her for an afternoon nap.

When Granny Yao woke up, Anning mentioned she was leaving, packed up a few pieces of jewelry in a handkerchief, and went to see Yao Xuelian.

When Anning arrived, Yao Xuelian had just awoken from her nap.

She instructed the maid to open the window and placed a soft couch by the ventilated area near the window, then reclined there, reading with her hair down.

Anning came in smiling: "Sister, what are you reading that has you so engrossed?"

Yao Xuelian quickly put the book down and sat up: "Sister is here. Nianfeng is becoming lazier and lazier, not even announcing your arrival."

Nianfeng drew back the curtain and came in, carrying tea: "Mistress, how can you blame me? Clearly, you asked for tea because you were thirsty. Now you’re blaming me for not guarding the door well, as if I can split myself into eight parts, or as if Miss Luo might sneak in to steal from us."

Yao Xuelian pointed at Nianfeng and told Anning: "Look at this; this girl’s getting more and more audacious. I say one thing and she’s ready with seven or eight retorts."

Anning laughed: "This is a matter between you and your maid; I’m not an impartial judge who can resolve disputes."

She sat next to Yao Xuelian and told Nianfeng: "Please serve your best tea and snacks."

Nianfeng placed the tea for Yao Xuelian and then went out to bring tea and snacks for Anning.

Anning sipped her tea and asked Yao Xuelian: "Sister, where are you feeling unwell?"

Yao Xuelian held her chest: "I just feel tightness here, an uneasy feeling I can’t describe. Also, I can’t seem to go outside. The moment I do, I feel weak in the legs."

Anning immediately understood the situation.

"Let me take a look."

She reached out to squeeze Yao Xuelian’s leg: "The more you keep lying down, the weaker your legs will get. I’ll massage them for you, and then you can walk around a bit. The weather isn’t too hot today. How about I accompany you for a stroll through the garden later?"

"Alright."

Yao Xuelian, unwilling to let Anning’s kindness go to waste, agreed with a smile.

Anning massaged her legs for a while and then had her put on shoes and walk around.

Yao Xuelian circled the room a few times, surprised and delighted: "I actually have strength now. Before, I couldn’t even complete two laps."

Anning laughed: "These are the legs I personally massaged; they better perform well, otherwise, I’d be very embarrassed."

She told Nianfeng: "Help your mistress change into something more suitable. Let’s go for a walk. I’ve heard some interesting things lately, and I even met Mr. Ou’s disciple who told me many stories about Mr. Ou. I’ll share them with you later."