With tacit approval from Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena Feng, Sweet Dumpling only needed a moment to get Miles Lan out.
The Valley Master’s disciple stuffed Miles Lan into a large trunk, punched two holes for air, and then...
With effortless swagger, the Valley Master’s disciple hefted Miles Lan on his back and strode openly out of the Imperial Mausoleum under the guards’ watchful eyes.
Everyone acted deaf and blind, pretending to know nothing; only Miles Lan and Sweet Dumpling were truly nervous.
Of course, their nerves were different—Sweet Dumpling was excited and jittery, while Miles Lan was uneasy but full of hope.
It was Sweet Dumpling’s first time doing something this ‘bad’—there was no way she wouldn’t be nervous. Facing the mausoleum guards, her little face practically screamed: I’m guilty, I did something wrong!
The mausoleum soldiers honestly couldn’t bear to look.
Princess, even if we’re deliberately turning a blind eye, could you at least act a little more professional? The way you’re behaving, it’s hard for me not to investigate you.
Sigh... The soldiers heaved heavy sighs. Being a lowly guard is tough—being an official is much better.
Miles Lan hid inside the trunk; no matter how he acted, the soldiers ignored him. The one truly suffering was the Valley Master’s disciple...
The child slung on his back was motionless as a stone, barely breathing. The Valley Master’s disciple genuinely worried the boy might suffocate or die of fright.
If he died like this, it would truly be a sin.
The three of them, each lost in their own thoughts, continued forward...
Along the way, Sweet Dumpling behaved like a perfect little lady—no more chattering, just clinging tightly to the Valley Master’s disciple’s sleeve, as if terrified of being left behind.
Fortunately, once they left the Imperial Mausoleum, it was only a quarter-hour’s walk to the side path. As soon as they reached it, before the Valley Master’s disciple could speak, Sweet Dumpling blurted out, “Senior Brother, Senior Brother, hurry and put the little ghost down!”
"Senior Brother, we’re amazing—we really managed to get the little ghost out!"
"When I get back, I’m definitely writing to my big brother to tell him I did something incredible today."
Sweet Dumpling gestured excitedly, her cheeks flushed red—she couldn’t have looked happier.
Seeing Sweet Dumpling so delighted, the shadow guards felt they’d made the right call. No matter how small the matter, as long as the princess was happy, that was enough. As for the little ghost?
Just a brat—how much trouble could he cause? If he tried anything funny, they wouldn’t hesitate to toss him right back into the mausoleum.
Back in the mausoleum, he’d never be so lucky again—he’d never meet someone as kind as the little princess.
The Valley Master’s disciple set Miles Lan down, opened the trunk, and motioned for him to come out. But Miles Lan just stayed curled up inside, dazed and unmoving, until Sweet Dumpling poked him. Only then did he murmur, "Did I really get out?"
"Of course, little ghost... I promised I’d bring you out. See? I did it!" Sweet Dumpling boasted proudly. Miles Lan’s blank eyes instantly welled with tears: "Thank you, sister." You’ve given me a new life, finally let me leave that terrifying place.
"No need to thank me," Sweet Dumpling said, a little embarrassed. "You’re called Little Treasure too. My baby brother isn’t born yet, so for now I’ll treat you as my little brother."
"Mm." Miles Lan saw that Sweet Dumpling was taller and knew more than he did, never imagining he might be older than her. "Sister, I’ll listen to you from now on and repay you someday."
"Oh, I don’t need you to repay me," Sweet Dumpling tugged at Miles Lan. "Hurry up and come out—we need to go, or those three ‘female ghosts’ will catch up."
As she spoke, Sweet Dumpling couldn’t help making ghost faces. Her adorable antics made the Valley Master’s junior brother laugh.
"Alright, alright, little ghost, let’s go!" The Valley Master’s junior brother tugged Sweet Dumpling to hurry her along, then shot Miles Lan a glare.
Rotten little ghost, still wants me to carry him? Keep dreaming.
"I’m not called little ghost." Miles Lan stepped out of the trunk, greedily drinking in the sky and earth...
So this is what blue sky really looks like, and grass is really this green—so beautiful, so beautiful...
He took a deep breath, and found he couldn’t bear to let it go.
It was nothing like the rotten stench of the mausoleum—Miles Lan wanted to treasure it forever.
From now on, he’d never have to go back to the underground palace. He could live a normal life, just like other children.
Mother, I promised you—I’ll live well.
Mother, wait for me. If I ever gain the strength, I’ll come back for you.
Miles Lan’s thin little hand clenched into a fist as he made this silent vow in his heart.
When he opened his eyes again, he found Sweet Dumpling and the older man both staring at him. Startled, Miles Lan instinctively backed up—right onto the trunk, and promptly fell to the ground.
"Sis—sister..." Miles Lan called out timidly.
"Little ghost, you say you’re not called little ghost, so what are you called?" Sweet Dumpling hadn’t forgotten her earlier question.
So annoying—she’d already asked him three times.
"I—I—I don’t have a name." As Miles Lan spoke, he lowered his head. The Valley Master’s disciple saw his chance.
"If you don’t have a name, then I’ll give you one. Your father’s surname is Lan, so you’ll be called Miles Lan." The Valley Master’s disciple made a show of thinking deeply, then announced the name.
"Miles Lan?" Miles Lan mouthed the name, remembering how his mother sometimes whispered that his father’s surname was Lan. So he didn’t mind the name at all.
"From now on, I’ll be called Miles Lan."
"Miles Lan? What kind of name is that? It’s ugly—I don’t like it. I still prefer calling you little ghost." Sweet Dumpling was the first to object.
"Wh-why?" Miles Lan asked blankly. Sweet Dumpling scowled, "Uncle Felix said everyone named Lan is a big villain. There was even a Lan Quinn who almost killed my mother. I hate people with the Lan surname."
Sweet Dumpling was always direct—if she liked someone, she liked them; if she hated them, she hated them.
"Then... Sister, you can still call me little ghost." Sweet Dumpling was the first person to ever show Miles Lan warmth, and he didn’t want her to hate him.
So even though he didn’t like being called little ghost, as long as Sweet Dumpling said it, he didn’t mind at all.
"No way. Senior Brother said your father’s surname is Lan, and if I call you little ghost, you’re still a Lan. There aren’t many Lans—maybe your father’s even related to that big villain Lan Quinn." Sweet Dumpling said it offhand, never expecting she’d hit the mark.
"Sister, then I won’t be called Miles Lan. I’ll just be little ghost." Miles Lan was afraid Sweet Dumpling would be upset, send him back to the mausoleum, or hate him, so he quickly changed his mind.
"No need. I’m not a bad kid, and you’re a Lan anyway—whatever Lan you are, it’s all the same." Sweet Dumpling pouted, feeling especially annoyed.
Annoyed—if she’d known this little ghost’s surname was Lan, she wouldn’t have bothered with him in the first place.
She absolutely hated those Lans—the villains who nearly killed her mother!
Sweet Dumpling turned away, sulking, while Miles Lan stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do...
Senior Brother was secretly delighted...
Serves you right!
That’s what you get for dragging someone out without asking questions first. Now look—how are you going to fix this mess...
As for that villain named Lan Quinn—why did that name sound so familiar?