Fortune Across the World

Chapter 10: Safe Return and Meeting Unseen Names

"Alright," Ding Qiyu replied, wondering to herself if they were indeed the children of the great general. She shook off the thought and focused on driving the carriage towards the General's Mansion. In Xingcheng, even if you didn't know where the government office was, you were sure to know the location of the General's Mansion, as it belonged to Lu Zhongwu, the Emperor-appointed Great General of the North, who maintained peace in the region. The grandeur of the mansion, a gift from the Emperor, was evident even from the outside.

As the carriage pulled up to the mansion, Ding Qiyu took note of the imposing plaque above the entrance, inscribed with the bold characters "General of the Northern Frontier." The four sentries at the gate stood with military precision, clearly soldiers rather than mere guards.

After halting the carriage, Ding Qiyu called out, "We've arrived," and dismounted. The woman in purple lifted the curtain, and Ding Qiyu instinctively offered his hand to help her down. She hesitated briefly but, seeing Ding Qiyu’s friendly smile, accepted his assistance with a light touch via her handkerchief. She smiled back, softly saying, "Thank you."

Her smile, as radiant as blooming flowers, added an extra glow to her already stunning features. Up close, Ding Qiyu was reminded of the description from "Dream of the Red Chamber": "Cheeks like new lychees, nose like goose fat, gentle and silent, endearing at first sight." She was indeed a gentle and graceful lady.

The maid, however, wasted no time and quickly jumped down from the carriage, accompanying her lady to the entrance. Ding Qiyu helped the young master down, only for him to be whisked away by the arriving servants. Two more servants came up: one carried off the unconscious servant, and the other took charge of the carriage.

The woman in purple approached Ding Qiyu, formally bowing in gratitude. "Thanks to the young master today, for saving us. Please, come inside for a moment." With her brother now in safe hands, she relaxed somewhat, playfully adding "young" before "master" as she addressed him, with a gentle smile.

"Younger master..." Ding Qiyu felt a slight twitch at the corners of her mouth. She glanced down at herself, then at the woman. Was it just because she was a bit thin and shorter by a smidge? Determined, she vowed to grow taller—at least two centimeters—in a month and regain her once tall and slender stature. While others mistaking her for a child didn’t bother her, being called "young" by this woman felt oddly displeasing.

In truth, over the past few months in this new world, Ding Qiyu maintained a healthy routine of early rising and physical activity. Although her meals weren’t exactly gourmet, she never went hungry. This lifestyle had strengthened her frame significantly. She’d grown rapidly, with her knees showing stretch marks from her bones growing so fast, and she sometimes experienced leg cramps at night. Unfortunately, without calcium tablets or milk, she had to rely on her meals for nutrition. Given her young age and previous malnutrition, Ding Qiyu was still a bit shorter than the tall, slender woman, but only by about two centimeters, hence her ambitious goal.

Seeing Ding Qiyu look down at her torn clothing with a dissatisfied expression made the woman chuckle, raising her hand to cover her mouth. This gesture captivated Ding Qiyu, who found her more enchanting when she blushed.

Realizing she was staring, Ding Qiyu blushed in embarrassment. "Oh, uh, no need to thank me. It was only right to help when I saw injustice. I should head back; my mother might worry if I’m late."

"Must you leave now?" the woman asked.

"Yes, it’s almost noon, and it’ll take a while to get back," Ding Qiyu replied, preparing to leave.

Seeing she couldn’t persuade him to stay, the woman said, "Then let me have someone escort you home, so you can arrive faster. My name is Lu Weixi. May I know your name, so I can repay your kindness someday?"