Little Treasure, You Must Be Happy

"I can't lift you. You're too heavy." No matter how strong Sweet Dumpling was, she was still just a seven-year-old girl. Carrying a big trunk out would be too much for her.

"I... I can skip meals. Then I won't be heavy." Miles Lan blinked and stared down at his shoes, which had a hole in them.

His shoes were too small, but his wet nurse had forgotten to make new ones. His clothes were also short, and he hadn't changed them in days. Luckily, the mausoleum was dark, and Miles Lan didn't sweat much, so he didn't smell.

"But I still can't lift you." Sweet Dumpling drooped her head. "If only my brother were here, he would definitely think of something."

Miles Lan had heard Sweet Dumpling talk about her brother more than once. Every time she mentioned him, her face lit up as she described all the things he'd done for her. Miles Lan envied her—having a brother must be wonderful...

He wished he had a brother too.

"Then I won't go. Just... remember to visit me in the future." Miles Lan lowered his head, his tone neither disappointed nor hopeful, but his eyes had lost all their brightness.

"Hey, don't be like that! I promised to take you away from those three female ghosts, so I definitely will. Don't worry, if I can't manage it, I'll ask my senior brother for help. He really cares about me, and if I beg him, he'll definitely agree." Sweet Dumpling, full of righteous conviction, patted her little chest in assurance.

Miles Lan said nothing, just kept his head down...

Sweet Dumpling focused on thinking up a solution, and the two agreed to meet again tomorrow.

"I can't lift you. You're too heavy." No matter how strong Sweet Dumpling was, she was still just a seven-year-old girl; carrying a big trunk out was really too much for her.

"I... I can skip meals. Then I won't be heavy." Miles Lan blinked, staring down at his shoes with a hole in them.

"But I still can't lift you," Sweet Dumpling said, hanging her head. "If only my brother were here, he'd definitely think of a way."

Miles Lan had heard Sweet Dumpling talk about her brother more than once. Whenever she mentioned him, her face lit up as she described all the things he'd done for her. Miles Lan envied her—having a brother must be wonderful...

He wished he had a brother too.

"Then I won't go. Just... remember to visit me in the future." Miles Lan lowered his head. His tone was neither disappointed nor hopeful, but his eyes had lost all their brightness.

"Hey, don't be like that! I promised to take you away from those three female ghosts, so I definitely will. Don't worry, if I can't do it, I'll beg my senior brother. He really cares about me; if I plead, he'll definitely agree." Sweet Dumpling, full of righteous conviction, patted her little chest in assurance.

Miles Lan said nothing, just kept his head down...

Sweet Dumpling focused on thinking up a solution, and the two agreed to meet again tomorrow.

"Senior brother, you're the best!" Sweet Dumpling hugged him tightly, rubbing her little face against him. "I like senior brother the most!"

...I don't want your affection at all. My biggest regret is going to Skyvault Palace to fetch you, but now...

Regret won't help now.

The Valley Master's disciple forced himself to focus and determined to complete the task given by the shadow guards. "Sweet Dumpling, why do you want to take that little ghost away?"

"He's so pitiful, don't you think?" Sweet Dumpling answered without hesitation.

Besides, she had no younger children around her. This little brother was called Little Treasure, and Sweet Dumpling felt it was fate, so she wanted to save him from the female ghosts.

"Just because he's pitiful? Nothing else?" The Valley Master's disciple thought that asking a seven-year-old girl about her feelings was really hard.

Sweet Dumpling probably didn't even understand what liking someone meant, right?

"What else should there be? He spends every day with three female ghosts—isn't that pitiful enough?" Sweet Dumpling was genuinely puzzled.

The Valley Master's disciple questioned her for a long time, but they kept going in circles. In the end, he gave up.

Sweet Dumpling really didn't understand anything...

While the Valley Master's disciple was questioning Sweet Dumpling, Clara Phoenixfield was holding Miles Lan, her face blank and smiling foolishly. To outsiders, Clara still seemed mad, but in truth, with the disciple's treatment, she was gradually regaining clarity.

"Little Treasure, Mama's Little Treasure. You must leave here, leave this ghost place—it's the only way you'll survive."

"Little Treasure, remember what Mama says. If you get the chance, you must leave here. Don't worry about Mama—I'll be fine here."

"Little Treasure, it's Mama's fault. When you get out, remember to find your uncle, Adrian Phoenixfield. He'll protect you."

"Little Treasure, I know you can leave. Once you're out, you must be good and never do anything bad, and don't be greedy."

"Little Treasure, remember—your grandaunt isn't a good person, and neither is your wet nurse. Never listen to them. If you meet anyone who talks about the Former Dynasty, never go with them."

"Little Treasure, Mama doesn't want you to achieve greatness. I just want you to live a safe, ordinary life."

"Mama was too greedy in this life, always wanting things that weren't hers. That's why I ended up like this."

"Mama regrets it, truly regrets it. If I'd just taken you to live quietly in a village, you'd be healthy now. Maybe I could've seen you marry and have children."

"Little Treasure, I'm sorry. Your whole life was ruined by me. If I hadn't been greedy, you wouldn't be like this."

"Little Treasure, remember Mama's words. Once you leave here, live honestly, never want what isn't yours, and never hate anyone."

"Once you leave here, never come back. Forget Mama, forget your grandaunt, and forget everything about this place."

"Little Treasure, remember what Mama says. If you get the chance, you must leave here. Don't worry about Mama—I'll be fine here."

Clara Phoenixfield held Miles Lan, talking endlessly. Her tangled, dirty hair hid her face; no one heard her words but Miles Lan, who clung tightly to her.

Miles Lan's thin body curled up in Clara's arms. Whenever he looked up, he saw his grandaunt's sinister eyes and his wet nurse's ghostly face...

"Mama, I will leave here. Don't worry." It took Miles Lan a long time to reply to Clara.

Clara froze, nearly bursting into tears. To keep anyone from noticing her clarity, she forced herself to push Miles Lan away and then, resuming her act, screamed wildly: "Hehehe... My son is the emperor! Hahaha, my son is emperor, I'm the Empress Dowager, I'm the Empress Dowager now..."

Little Treasure, you must be happy!