Rebirth: Traveling To Ancient Times As A Companion Reading Chapter 12

A Tearful Plea

Help! There is a ghost!

With his hair disheveled, Qiao Yi ran into the kitchen courtyard like a madman. He waved his hands and shouted, tears streaming down his face. Wah! There is a ghost! Save me!

Most of the kitchen staff had left with the maidservants who had come by earlier. There were not many people left working there now. Seeing a child suddenly burst in wailing, they were momentarily stunned, unsure of how to react.

Finally, an elderly woman was the first to stop what she was doing. She patted the excess flour off her hands onto the apron tied around her waist before walking over. She crouched down to meet Qiao Yi’s eyes and asked, What is it, child? What happened?

Qiao Yi grabbed the old woman around the waist, sobbing so hard he could barely speak, only able to let out a few broken sounds.

The old woman listened carefully. Seeing Qiao Yi’s face covered in tears and snot, she did not show any disgust. Instead, she took out a clean handkerchief and began to wipe his face.

Once Qiao Yi had cried enough, the woman patiently asked again, What happened?

Qiao Yi hiccuped and sobbed, his words slurred. I… ugh… I saw… a ghost over there!

As if remembering something terrifying again, the crying Qiao Yi had just managed to stop broke out once more. I am so scared!

The woman seemed extremely patient. She said nothing else, only whispering comforts. Do not be afraid, child. Do not be afraid. There are no ghosts here.

The people standing nearby now recognized who the wailing child was.

One middle-aged woman, about thirty or forty years old and wearing a gray headcloth, stepped forward and whispered a few words into the old woman’s ear.

The old woman was very surprised. She carefully studied Qiao Yi’s appearance as if confirming something.

But considering Qiao Yi was just a child, the old woman did not rush to verify anything immediately. Instead, she continued to soothe Qiao Yi’s emotions.

When Qiao Yi finally stopped crying, the old woman asked slowly, Which family do you belong to?

Qiao Yi shook his head and curled into himself. With snot still hanging from his face and his two cheeks as red as a monkey’s bottom, he looked quite pitiful.

The old woman reached out to wipe his face clean. Do not be afraid. I am Nanny Wu, who serves the Madam. I will not hurt you. If you have any grievances, just speak up. I will help you. Do not be afraid, alright?

Qiao Yi: Nanny Wu. Wu! I… I am going to die! I am going to see my birth mother.

Nanny Wu: Nonsense! Your mother is sitting perfectly fine in Qingfeng Hall.

Qiao Yi: I am sorry. I did not know. But since I was born, I have only ever seen my birth mother. I have never seen Mother.

Nanny Wu: Your birth mother? Is it Qiu Lin?

Qiao Yi: I… I do not know my birth mother’s name, because they all call her a wench. Wu… wu… but… but… birth mother was really good to me. Yet they all say she was bad. I hate them.

As he spoke, Qiao Yi lowered his head and began to sob again. Sixth Brother and I are both Father’s children. I do not understand why they always call me a bastard and bully me. When my birth mother was still here, I at least had her to protect me. But now that she is gone, I am all alone. Every day in the mansion, I do not even have enough to eat. Two days ago, Sixth Brother said that if I went out, he would give me a chicken leg. But when I went out, not only did he not give me the chicken leg, he even beat me up and would not let me come back. If I had not gone to the Lou family on Qingyang Street to beg for some porridge, I am afraid I would have starved to death outside long ago. I thought Sixth Brother was just beating me like usual and would let it go once he cooled down. But I did not expect that he really wanted to beat me to death.

Nanny Wu sensed something was wrong, and the corners of her mouth tightened. However, she did not show her emotions. Instead, she maintained a kind expression and asked, Besides beating you and not giving you food, what else did they do to you?

Qiao Yi seemed to have finally found an outlet for his emotions. His tears suddenly poured down like a floodgate opening. He spoke while crying, but this time his words were much clearer than before.

I thought I would not be able to come back and would have to wander outside as a beggar. So, I found a dark alley to stay in. I do not know how Sixth Brother found me, but he not only snatched away the food I had begged from others, he even wanted to set vicious dogs on me to bite me to death. If I had not run fast, I would have been killed. Seeing that I did not die, Sixth Brother just left. I thought I could stay there peacefully after he left. But I did not expect Sixth Brother’s people to knock me out and bring me back to lock me in the woodshed. When I woke up, I was so hungry I could not stand it, so I searched everywhere in the woodshed for an exit. Fortunately, I finally found a hole and crawled out. I originally wanted to come to the kitchen to beg for something to eat, but I was so hungry that when I saw a stray cat biting a roasted chicken on the way, I followed it in a desperate rush. Who knew that after running to who-knows-where, I would actually see a ghost. It was so terrifying!

Qiao Yi buried his head in Nanny Wu’s arms, his shoulders shaking as if he were truly terrified to the extreme.

Inadvertently, his ill-fitting hemp clothes slipped from his shoulder, revealing several shocking bruises and scars.

Nanny Wu noticed the injuries on Qiao Yi’s body. Her expression suddenly turned stern, and her eyes grew deep as she thought about something. Her first move was to fix Qiao Yi’s clothes, and then she began to gently pat his back one stroke at a time, comforting him. It is alright now. It is alright, child. This Nanny will settle this for you.

The others in the kitchen looked at each other upon hearing this, but at this moment, no one dared to say another word.

After all, Nanny Wu’s status was different. She was not just the Madam’s dowry nanny; she was also one of the Empress Dowager’s people from the palace.

Nanny Wu’s position in the Qin residence was second only to the Master and the Madam.

Nanny Wu did not bother wasting any more words here. She straightened up, swept a casual glance around, and said, Enough. Stop whatever you are making. I am taking this child to Baixiang Garden. All of you, come with me.

Everyone responded in unison, Yes.

When Qiao Yi was led out by the hand, his face had already returned to a clean and normal state.

He walked beside Nanny Wu, and while no one was paying attention, he quietly flashed a peace sign toward a pair of green eyes hidden in the darkness nearby.

After seeing Qiao Yi’s gesture, those green lights quickly vanished into the dark.