Chapter 335: She Made a Vow

Only a ghost would believe you claim not to know!

Nanny Zhang inwardly cursed,

That little vixen, for not telling me plainly! If she truly knew nothing, why was she constantly finding reasons and excuses before to prevent the Eldest Princess from her kneeling practice? What was that for?

Nanny Zhang was so furious her nose felt like it was twisting out of shape. She didn’t exchange another word with Xie Pan’Er and turned to leave.

Xie Pan’Er didn’t dwell on it. She returned to her room, took Xiaosuisui by the hand, and headed outside.

"Pretty sister, where are we going?"

"To find your Second Uncle, to have him check your pulse for you!"

Xie Pan’Er recalled Steward Liu’s words. Coupled with her observation that Nanny Zhang had clearly lost all interest in teaching the Eldest Princess, she decided to take her to Ji Youran first.

They had just gotten halfway when they encountered Huo Xing’Er, who was rushing towards the Qinxin Garden.

"Second Lady!" Xie Pan’Er called out.

"Second Aunt!" Xiaosuisui chimed in.

From afar, Xie Pan’Er and Xiaosuisui saw her and greeted her.

"What’s going on?" Huo Xing’Er asked as she approached. "The sky suddenly changed, and it seemed like lightning struck Suisui’s courtyard. What were you two doing just now?"

Upon seeing them, Huo Xing’Er strode quickly forward, grabbed Xiaosuisui, and looked her up and down.

Xie Pan’Er glanced helplessly at Xiaosuisui.

Xiaosuisui pouted. "Second Aunt! I... I caused trouble again... SOB SOB SOB..."

Seeing Xiaosuisui cry, Huo Xing’Er felt a vague sense of unease.

"What’s wrong? Don’t cry, Second Aunt is here! No matter what trouble you’ve caused, Second Aunt can help you!"

Xie Pan’Er rubbed her temples in exasperation. "Second Lady, that’s not how you comfort a child!"

"Ah!" Huo Xing’Er was completely at a loss. She had never raised a child; how would she know how to comfort one? Although Xiaosuisui had been with the Ji Family for some time, she spent most of her days with Zhu Xiuxiu. Huo Xing’Er rarely looked after her.

"Princess, don’t cry. That was a natural disaster; it had nothing to do with you!" Xie Pan’Er took Xiaosuisui from Huo Xing’Er’s grasp, held her, and soothed her, gently patting her back to help her catch her breath. Xiaosuisui finally stopped crying.

"What happened? Why did lightning strike Suisui’s courtyard?"

Just as Xiaosuisui was comforted, Zhu Xiuxiu’s voice came from around the corner of the Moon Gate.

"My precious girl! What’s wrong? Your grandmother heard you crying from far away."

Old Madam Ji arrived with her.

"Greetings, Old Madam Ji!" Xie Pan’Er quickly curtsied to Old Madam Ji.

"No need for so many formalities at home," Old Madam Ji said. "What happened? I heard lightning struck Suisui’s Qinxin Garden?"

Old Madam Ji snatched Xiaosuisui from Zhu Xiuxiu’s hands, held her, and questioned Xie Pan’Er.

Xie Pan’Er glanced around. Seeing no maids or young male servants nearby, she then said, "It was Nanny Zhang. She was teaching the Eldest Princess the grand kowtow ceremony for Royal Family sacrificial rites!"

"What?" Zhu Xiuxiu was the first to exclaim. "Are you saying Suisui just knelt? And that’s why the Celestial Phenomenon was abnormal?"

Seeing Xie Pan’Er nod, Zhu Xiuxiu flew into a rage and turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" Old Madam Ji called out sharply.

"I’m going to find Nanny Zhang..." Zhu Xiuxiu trailed off. If she found Nanny Zhang, what could she say? What could she even do?

"Third Lady, please don’t go," Xie Pan’Er interjected. "Nanny Zhang was so frightened she could barely walk. Besides, I’ve already instructed her to keep this matter strictly confidential."

"She promised?" Zhu Xiuxiu was still dubious. "Can her promise be trusted? This won’t do. I still need to go and give her another warning."

Still uneasy, Zhu Xiuxiu finished speaking and made to leave again.

Xie Pan’Er quickly pulled her back. "You can trust her. She swore an oath in front of the Eldest Princess!"

"She swore an oath? What oath did she swear?"