The bamboo was lush and layered, an intensifying shade that caught one’s eye amidst the bleakness of the courtyard in deep winter. As Ye Ning was wheeled in, she could still scent the fragrance of the bamboo leaves.
"This place is even more beautiful than Orchid Garden!"
As she was wheeled in, the moment she passed through the archway into the courtyard, just like when she first entered the estate, rows of servants stood neatly on both sides and greeted her in unison, "Young Madam—"
Taken aback by this unexpected display, Ye Ning might have panicked if Sister Wang hadn’t patted her on the shoulder from behind, gesturing for her not to be nervous.
Have the people in this garden always been ?
She swallowed hard but finally entered with Sister Wang’s help.
Luckily, as soon as she entered, Ou Xiaobao, who had been staying in this courtyard, came out. Seeing his mother, he immediately waddled over in his puffy little body, "Mama, you’re finally here? We’re about to eat."
With the onset of winter and his active nature, Ou Mucen had no choice but to have a very warm down coat made for the child. When Ye Ning saw his little arms and legs, she thought he looked just like a bouncy ball, very funny and cute.
"Xiaobao, what have you been playing with this afternoon?"
"Playing chess with Grandpa, and then we played games like digging trenches!"
She finally understood why the old master was always so keen on having her come here. It wasn’t really her he wanted, but the child’s company.
Ye Ning bit her lip, feeling a slight pang of sadness...
Just then, the old master came out from inside. Seeing that she had arrived, he called out, "Xiaobao, your mother’s here? Quick, bring her in."
Ou Xiaobao, with his whole little face flushed from playing, didn’t care what his mother was thinking. Hearing his grandfather’s call, he immediately pushed his mother inside.
It was at this moment that Ye Ning finally entered the legendary Bamboo Garden!
It was another elegant courtyard, but compared to their residence at Orchid Garden, this one’s style leaned more towards traditional Chinese aesthetics, with primary colors predominating. It was clear that the old master was a nostalgic man.
Noticing this, Ye Ning had Sister Wang remove her coat, and she wheeled herself into the courtyard.
"Master, the madam said she’d also like to come down for dinner." Just as Ye Ning was seated at the dining table, ready to eat with Xiaobao and the old master, an elderly servant suddenly came in from outside with this inquiry.
Isn’t that Xiaobao’s grandmother?
Right, she had been here for some time now, but it seemed she had never seen her, had she?
Ye Ning put down her chopsticks and turned towards the elderly servant, "Then let her come to eat, go call her quickly."
Since waking up, she had never met Bai Tingfang; her memories regarding the woman were completely gone. Hearing the servant say this, she naturally asked them to hurry and invite her to join them for the meal.
The madam was her husband’s mother; naturally, that meant she was also her, Ye Ning’s, mother.
However, what was strange was that, despite her saying this, the elderly servant still hadn’t moved, but continued to look cautiously at the old man sitting beside her.
Did her mother-in-law need to obtain the old master’s permission just to have a meal?