Chapter 9: I Am Your Father

Jiang Ning arrived at the second branch manor of the Jiang family. The half of the family that was famed for its bad reputation.

Zhou Mama was waiting at the corner gate with a few servants. When she saw the carriage, she quickly made her way to greet them excitedly.

Jiang Ruobai exited the carriage first before he stretched out his hand to help her down. "Xiao Qi, slow down. Let me support you."

"There is no need, Uncle," Jiang Ning said, holding the cat in her arms. "You can ask one of the maids to help me."

"...Xiao Qi, I'm your father." Jiang Ruobai said carefully, "That's Zhou Mama, your mother's trusted maid."

Jiang Ning couldn't bring herself to say the word 'father'.

Moreover, she didn't know if this man was really her birth father. Who knows, he could also be her Godfather.

But looking at the gorgeous manor in front of her, she was starting to believe that perhaps the previous host of this body was indeed the Jiang family's lost daughter.

Otherwise, why would someone as rich as the Jiang family bring a disabled orphan into their home?

"Call me father," Jiang Ruobai insisted. His eyes were full of stars as she looked at her expectantly.

Jiang Ning glanced at the entrance of the Jiang residence. The rest of the servants were watching them. If she wanted to stay, she had to put her discomfort aside. So, Jiang Ning made up her mind.

"Daddy!" She called.

Jiang Ruobai stared at her a little blankly. 

'What is a 'daddy'?' The man thought.

'It's probably another nickname for father, is it not? But no matter. At least Xiao Qi called him 'father'!'

With flowers blooming in his heart, Jiang Ruobai excitedly asked Zhou Mama to bring the servant girls to carry her down.

"Xiao Qi, father has already prepared a courtyard for you. It's very close to your mother's, but your mother's condition isn't very good right now, so let's stay here first and see your mother slowly, okay?"

All the servants looked at Jiang Ruobai a little perplexed. Their master was suddenly so careful in his words. His actions were also very gentle as he simultaneously fawned over a little girl. Where was the strict and blunt minister in charge of all the money and grain in the land?

None of the servants dared to stare too long. 

Jiang Ning nodded in response.

"I'll go and see your mother first," Jiang Ruobai continued. "Zhou Mama, send Seventh Lady to her room." He said to the older woman and the rest of the servants before looking back at the younger girl, "Xiao Qi, let's have dinner together later, okay?"

Jiang Ning nodded and watched him leave.

Zhou Mama pushed a brand-new wooden wheelchair over and helped Jiang Ning onto it.

Jiang Ning let them move her around, and when she was finally settled onto her seat, one of the maids let Miaomiao back into her lap. When she saw the servant about to take the cat bowl away, she told them she preferred to hold the bowl herself. 

Although they were initially a little reluctant, they finally handed it over to her. 

So with a cat and a cat bowl in her lap, she finally let Zhou Mama push her to her courtyard.

The Jiang residence was enormous, and everything was luxurious and exquisite. She hadn't even entered the main house, but she could already see how money and wealth were oozing from the sight of the garden alone.

Jiang Ning had been to all kinds of gardens before, but they were all unattended, and the bushes and flowers mainly had withered away. Those gardens couldn't even compare to this one. The Jiang family's garden was so full of life and color.

She even spotted a small pond from afar.

She looked around curiously as if she was here for sightseeing.

This was one of those moments when she craved modern technology.

'I wish I have my camera with me.'

When they finally reached her courtyard, Jiang Ning's eyes still widened in awe. Compared to the garden, the courtyard was not big, but it was gorgeous. There was a rockery, a small pool, and a pavilion full of wisteria flowers.

The entire courtyard was exquisite and romantic.

Four older women, four servant girls who were slightly older than her, and eight young servant girls stood in a row and bowed to her.

"This servant greets Seventh Lady."

Jiang Ning was stunned.

Did she really need so many people to serve her?

Zhou Mama looked very dissatisfied and guilty at the servants before them. "I was in a rush and didn't prepare well. Seventh Lady will have to make do with this for the time being. This servant will arrange for a few good servant girls to serve the young lady in two days. "

"These maids are enough," Jiang Ning said with a smile.

Zhou Mama said, "Spring comes, and autumn1 goes. You two go and boil water and help Seventh Lady bathe and change her clothes. I'll get the kitchen staff to prepare some food. Seventh Lady is in poor condition, so all of you should serve her with your utmost care. I'll skin you alive if I find any mistakes, understood?"

The servants in the manor were all curious about their youngest lady, who had gone missing for twelve years.

Chun Qu and Xia Lai were the first-ranked maidservants in the Jiang family's residence, and they were called over from Jiang Ruobai's courtyard.

The other two were called Qiu Qu and Dong Xie.

Jiang Ning found their names to be quite interesting.2

Especially Dong Xie, who was so strong that she could carry Jiang Ning in her own arms like she weighs nothing.

She wondered if Jiang Ruobai had specially picked her because he found her legs to be a great hindrance.

Lying in a large carved bathtub full of rose petals, Jiang Ning let out a comfortable sigh.