This Steward Wu is truly difficult to fool. Even after she explained it like this, he still refused to let her take the young masters away. Otherwise, she would have had to snatch them away directly, but she was worried about frightening the two young masters.
Steward Wu's attitude was firm, refusing to budge. "Miss Caiqing, please don't make things difficult for me. Without the old master's decree, no one will take the two young masters from this old man."
"You..."
Caiqing was so angry she could barely speak. After a moment's pause, her eyes darted around suspiciously before she continued, "Then if the young masters are willing to go with me, Steward Wu, you can't go against their wishes and force them to stay, can you!"
"This... this..." Steward Wu lowered his eyes to glance at the two young masters, then hesitated before saying, "If the young masters are willing, then let them go with you."
This was exactly what Steward Wu had said, and Caiqing's lips immediately curved into a smile. She bent down to face the two young masters. "Young masters, your mother and father are both back. Mother also brought you your favorite pastries and delicious tanghulu. Do you want to come back with me?"
Caiqing continuously enticed Da Bao and Er Bao, sparing no effort to coax them back.
Da Bao and Er Bao exchanged glances. After hesitating for a long time, neither of them responded.
"Miss Caiqing, the young masters do not wish to go back with you, so please don't waste your efforts. You should go back first. When the young masters are willing to return, I will send them back. You should go back now."
Steward Wu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the two children had no intention of leaving. If the young masters were really taken away, it would be difficult for him to explain when he returned.
However, in less than fifteen minutes, Steward Wu's confident expression was immediately proven wrong. After a while, he felt as if he had been slapped in the face.
"Young masters, if you don't go back now, your mother will be angry and won't like you anymore..."
After Caiqing said this, Da Bao and Er Bao became flustered and quickly said, "I... I'll go back with you."
Steward Wu's smug expression instantly fell, and he said somewhat flusteredly, "Young masters... Didn't you just say you weren't going back? Why are you... regretting it now?"
"I want to go back..."
"I want to go back..."
Da Bao and Er Bao said urgently, their voices filled with panic. They hurried towards Caiqing, tightly clutching her clothes and refusing to let go.
Caiqing's lips curved into a slightly smug smile. "Steward Wu, then I'll take the young masters back now."
Fearing that Steward Wu would change his mind again, she directly scooped up Da Bao and Er Bao and fled outwards as if escaping from something.
Only when they were nearing the East Courtyard did Caiqing slightly slow her pace, but she still held Da Bao and Er Bao tightly, not daring to relax.
As they walked further along the corridor, Caiqing spotted Chu Qing's figure and immediately called out, "Chu Qing... Chu Qing..."
"Sister Caiqing, why are you holding the young masters? Aren't you tired?"
"Don't talk now. Quickly take one of them. Let's hurry back to the courtyard. Steward Wu will be here soon."
Caiqing had no time to explain anything else. She quickly thrust Er Bao into Chu Qing's hands and hurried into the courtyard as if pursued by fierce beasts.
Chu Qing also couldn't quite figure out what was happening, but she still hurried behind Caiqing into the courtyard.
After running into the courtyard, Caiqing let Da Bao down and immediately locked the main door. This way, even if Steward Wu chased them, they wouldn't have to worry too much.
"Sister Caiqing, what's wrong? Why are you running so fast?"
Chu Qing put Er Bao down, feeling her whole body aching terribly. She was so tired that she could barely straighten her back, gasping for breath.
"Don't even mention it. I just snatched the young masters from Steward Wu. If I had been a moment later, it would have been difficult to bring them back. But for the next two days, don't take the young masters out of this courtyard. If you encounter Steward Wu, he'll definitely try to snatch them away again."
She was still in shock. If she had been a moment slower, it would have been difficult to bring the young masters back. Fortunately, she had reacted in time.
Hearing the commotion outside, Feng Jin slowly walked out from inside. "Oh, you two finally know how to come back. Why don't you continue living with your great-grandfather and never come back at all!"
Upon hearing Feng Jin's voice, Da Bao and Er Bao's hearts sank. They lowered their heads guiltily, not daring to look at Feng Jin, fearing they would be scolded again.
"Mother... I... we know we were wrong..."
Their voices were very soft, as they were afraid Feng Jin would get angry and beat them severely. It was better to admit their mistake now.
"Alright, stop apologizing to me. I can't afford your apologies. Just go do whatever you were supposed to do, and go with whoever you're supposed to go with. I can't raise you two anymore. You two like following your great-grandfather, so continue following him."
Feng Jin said sarcastically, her heart truly a bit angry. "Caiqing, Chu Qing, go pack their clothes and toys. Take them and their belongings to the old master's courtyard, and let him discipline these two children. I can't discipline them anymore."
Upon hearing this, the two children immediately panicked, feeling that their mother truly no longer wanted them. Tears immediately welled up in their eyes.
"Mother doesn't want me anymore... Mother doesn't want me anymore..."
"Mother... I'm not leaving... I'm not leaving..."
The two children cried out loudly, their small faces covered in tears. They cried heartbreakingly, making even Caiqing and Chu Qing feel extremely distressed.
"Madam, the young masters are still young and不懂事 (ignorant/不懂事), they can be taught slowly. Acting like this will frighten them."
"Yes, Madam, please don't be angry with the young masters this time. Look how much they are crying."
Feng Jin's expression softened slightly. She walked to the two children, her gaze falling on them. She sighed slightly and continued, "Do you two truly know you were wrong?"
The two children stopped crying and nodded in unison.
"We'll let this matter slide for now. If you make the same mistake again, you will both be punished. Do you understand?"