Second Madam's Help, First Meeting with Dai Luoli

"Second Madam."

At the sight of the Beautiful Matron, everyone in the Patrol Team immediately became respectful. The stern-faced middle-aged man at the front quietly shifted his hand slightly away from the hilt of his blade.

"What happened?"

The Beautiful Matron approached with a smile at the corner of her lips and asked curiously.

The Patrol Team Captain hurriedly replied, "Reporting to Second Madam, an unidentified person has infiltrated the Outer Mansion. We were just about to apprehend him."

Hearing that, the Beautiful Matron instinctively turned her head and looked over. She happened to see the boy standing on the arched bridge, his body trembling constantly in the cold wind, yet his eyes unusually resolute. His patch-covered clothes were already soaked through. Strangely, he even had what looked like a quilt wrapped around his waist, making for an utterly bizarre sight.

When she noticed the boy's lively, deep-blue eyes, Second Madam's delicate brows twitched. She seemed to have seen those exceptionally beautiful deep-blue eyes somewhere before...

"Second Madam, please step back a little. Allow us to capture this unidentified person first," the Patrol Team Captain said respectfully. Then he waved his hand. In an instant, the other nineteen patrol guards spread out in perfect coordination, completely cutting off every route Huo Yuhao could use to escape.

Every one of them gripped the hilt at their waist, their gazes sharp as they waited for their captain's command to seize the person before them.

"I'm not a thief. I have proof that I'm free to enter and leave the Outer Mansion."

Huo Yuhao drew a deep breath and called out loudly. Then he swiftly took the White Tiger Dagger from his waist. Yet that movement put the Patrol Team on guard. They did not listen to him at all, while the Captain's eyes turned cold. His muscles tensed, and he charged toward Huo Yuhao like a gust of wind.

In the blink of an eye, he covered seven or eight meters.

But at that critical moment, Second Madam remembered something. Somewhat surprised, she shouted, "Stop!"

Upon hearing that, the Patrol Team Captain, who had already rushed more than ten meters, abruptly stopped. He turned back toward Second Madam in confusion.

The other patrol guards all looked toward Second Madam as well. Within the Duke's Mansion, although Second Madam was only a Concubine, her status was second only to the First Madam and the Duke's two legitimate sons. Moreover, her father was the current Imperial Guard Chief Instructor, a man of considerable standing.

"You're Huo Yun'er's son?" Second Madam's voice was very gentle as her beautiful eyes rested on Huo Yuhao.

At the mention of Huo Yun'er, the Patrol Team Captain's expression changed slightly. He had heard of certain matters within the Duke's Mansion.

"Yes." Huo Yuhao nodded with a grave expression. Taking advantage of the moment, he raised the White Tiger Dagger in his hand and said to the Patrol Team Captain, "This is the White Tiger Dagger personally bestowed upon my mother by the White Tiger Duke. As a member of the Duke's Mansion guard, I assume you recognize it."

As he spoke, Huo Yuhao showed them the side of the sheath bearing the white tiger emblem. The moment they saw that exquisite white tiger design, the expressions of the Patrol Team members all changed slightly.

Their tense moods did indeed relax somewhat. In the Star Luo Empire, no one dared use the White Tiger Family's exclusive symbol to deceive others.

Huo Yuhao caught every change in their expressions. He sighed helplessly inwardly. To be honest, using the White Tiger Dagger to prove his identity was an extremely desperate measure. If they refused to acknowledge it, he would be finished. But he had no choice. Compared to hurting someone, fleeing the Duke's Mansion, being caught halfway, and tortured to death, he would rather take this all-or-nothing path that still offered a sliver of hope.

After all, he had not chosen to swallow his humiliation like Huo Yuhao in the Original Work. He had chosen to resist the servants' abuse, and the course of history had been disturbed from that moment onward.

Huo Yuhao himself did not know what the outcome would be.

But no matter what, Huo Yuhao was still grateful to Second Madam. If she had not called out for the Captain to stop, he would have been caught within seconds.

"I know him. You may leave. Don't delay your patrol duties." Second Madam's tone became more stern. She was also a Soul Master, and a Soul Ancestor at that. As she spoke, her words carried a trace of Soul Power that made no one dare take her lightly.

Hearing this, everyone in the Patrol Team looked toward their Captain. The Captain stared deeply at the White Tiger Dagger in Huo Yuhao's hand before saying, "Everyone, reform the formation."

Very quickly, every member of the Patrol Team gathered together again.

Under Second Madam's gaze, the entire patrol guard swiftly departed to patrol elsewhere. In truth, eighteen guard squads patrolled the Duke's Mansion every night, each inspecting a separate area without interfering with one another. That was why Huo Yuhao had not encountered any other guard squads along the way.

"Thank you."

Seeing the guards leave, Huo Yuhao's taut body relaxed. With a weary expression, he thanked Second Madam. Rain continuously washed over his thin body, and he occasionally shuddered from the cold.

Seeing Huo Yuhao in such a state, Second Madam sighed inwardly. She had once seen Huo Yun'er living in extreme hardship and had taken the initiative to help her, but it had drawn the First Madam's hatred. The First Madam had even secretly sent people to target her father in official circles. Helpless, after that incident years ago, she had never helped again. She had not expected that, after several years had passed, the woman with those lively eyes had died, leaving behind only a child not yet eleven years old.

With that thought, Second Madam stepped forward onto the small bridge. She shifted her umbrella slightly, bringing Huo Yuhao beneath it as well.

Huo Yuhao froze for a moment, then instinctively took several steps back into the rain.

Creak!

At that moment, the tightly shut gates of Falling Maple Courtyard, brightly lit inside, opened. Two people stood before the gate. The one in front had gray-white hair, numerous wrinkles on his face, and wore a simple gray robe. He appeared to be around seventy years old. Yet despite his age, his eyes were exceptionally clear, without the slightest cloudiness.

Beside the old man stood a boy who looked even younger than Huo Yuhao. His little face was stubborn, as though he was upset about something.

"Mother!" Suddenly, the little boy saw Second Madam holding the umbrella. A smile immediately appeared on his stubborn face, and he excitedly ran out through the gate, splashing water everywhere and soaking the hems of his trousers.

Before long, the little boy threw himself into Second Madam's arms. Second Madam looked at him with a doting expression and pretended to scold him. "You child, you just had to run in the rain. Look, now your trousers are wet."

So this is Dai Luoli... Huo Yuhao stood in the rain with his head lowered, thinking to himself.

But suddenly, he sensed an undisguised gaze fixed upon him. He reacted quickly and searched for where it was coming from, only to see the old man in gray standing at the gate of Falling Maple Courtyard staring at him. This man was Chen Hongsheng, the Steward who had followed Dai Hao into battle for decades. Within the mansion, people generally called him Old Chen.

Second Madam did not know what Huo Yuhao was thinking. She assumed he had moved away because he disliked others getting too close to him. Now, seeing him look toward Falling Maple Courtyard, she asked, "You came to Falling Maple Courtyard to see Old Chen?"

"Yes." Huo Yuhao withdrew his gaze and nodded respectfully. "Could I trouble you to introduce me to him?"

Although Second Madam did not know why Huo Yuhao wanted to see him, she did not refuse his request. With Dai Luoli, who was watching Huo Yuhao curiously, she walked toward Falling Maple Courtyard. Before long, Second Madam seemed to say something to Old Chen, who nodded as well.

Afterward, Second Madam returned holding Dai Luoli's hand. Smiling, she said to Huo Yuhao, "Go on."

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and bowed. "Thank you." He did not say anything about repaying this great kindness someday. He simply engraved this favor deeply in his heart.

After saying that, Huo Yuhao hurried toward Falling Maple Courtyard.

"Mother, who is he? Is he here like me, to ask Grandpa Chen to teach him how to cultivate Soul Power?" Dai Luoli tilted his head up and asked his mother.

"Are you hungry?" Second Madam did not reveal Huo Yuhao's identity.

Hearing that, Dai Luoli immediately forgot his question. Instead, he excitedly raised both hands and said, "I've been hungry for ages! I feel like I could eat a whole cow."

Second Madam dotingly rubbed the back of Dai Luoli's head and smiled. "All right, let's go back and eat."

Amid the misty rain, Second Madam led Dai Luoli away, followed by six maids. The group chatted and laughed until they disappeared from sight.

Please keep reading and vote with recommendation tickets. This book's pace is rather slow, so I hope you'll excuse it.