Chapter 24: You Are Life, Aren’t You?

"All right, let's do it together! One, two, three, four, and start! Lift your left foot, lift your right foot... Hands on your hips, twist to the left, twist to the right... Arms straight out, squat down, up, down! Five, two, three, four, six, two, three, four!" Following Yuan Qian'er's rhythmic calls, the group moved from initial awkwardness to habit, gradually discovering the joy in the routine.

Standing by the window and watching the activity in the garden, Mo Yiran smiled. This girl, she could make herself at home anywhere. Wherever she went, laughter followed; she truly was a gem.

The members of the Kuangmo unit, also watching from afar, were eager to join in and learn, but their master had not given the order, and no one dared to leave their post.

Observing his men leaning out from the corridor, clearly dying to run over and join the fun, Mo Yiran spoke to them via telepathy: "You are all permitted to learn from this day forward."

The Kuangmo members were overjoyed. Their master was becoming more and more endearing; he had agreed before they even asked. They bowed toward the window and said in unison, "Thank you, Master!"

Back in the garden, Yuan Qian'er continued leading the exercises, but there were always those who enjoyed causing trouble, such as Bing Qingwan, who was staying at the estate.

"Hey! What are you lot of servants doing so early in the morning? It's noisy!" Having heard the commotion from the garden at dawn and sent someone to investigate, Bing Qingwan had learned that Yuan Qian'er was teaching some sort of "fat-burning" exercise. Driven by curiosity, she had come to watch, but it wasn't long before she felt the urge to stir up trouble—she simply couldn't stand seeing Yuan Qian'er happy.

"Reporting to the Princess, this is Miss Yuan teaching us gymnastics. Would you like to join us and learn?" a young girl asked innocently. Influenced by Yuan Qian'er’s lack of airs, she had momentarily forgotten that the Princess standing before them was known for her disdain for servants.

"How insolent! What do you take me for? Should I, a Princess, dance alongside servants like you? Are you flattering yourself, or are you trying to lower my status? Guards, slap her face!" Bing Qingwan already disliked the way Yuan Qian'er got along with everyone, and this young girl’s suggestion that she learn from Yuan Qian'er was the final straw.

"As you command, Princess."

"Wait! Do not touch her," Yuan Qian'er intervened. "Listen, Princess, she was only kindly inviting you; she had no intention of lowering your status. If you don't want to join, just leave. Why resort to hitting people?" Yuan Qian'er detested the way some used their status to bully others.

"Who do you think you are? What business is it of yours if I discipline a maid? You have no right to interfere with me!" Bing Qingwan’s anger flared the moment she saw Yuan Qian'er.

"Well, I am interfering today!"

"Hmph! I’ll strike her if I want to. Guards, do it! Beat that maid to death!"

"Moming! Moxian! Come out here!" Yuan Qian'er shouted toward the direction of the Qingmo Pavilion.

The two men, hiding in the shadows, appeared instantly. "Miss Yuan, we are here! What are your orders?"

"Throw this Princess Anning and her maids out of the Mo Manor," she commanded. It was time to give the Princess a real fright.

"As you command, Miss."

Bing Qingwan panicked at the sight. "You—how can you listen to her? Aren't you Brother Yi's men? Wait! I am a Princess! It is improper for men and women to touch; you are not allowed to lay a hand on me!"

Moming and Moxian, realizing Yuan Qian'er only intended to scare Bing Qingwan, paused and looked to her for further instruction.

"Thank you for your help, you may step back now," Yuan Qian'er said, waving them away with a grateful smile. If she hadn't called them out, would Bing Qingwan have been so afraid? Mo Yiran’s Kuangmo unit was notorious for only recognizing their master’s authority; they would kill even the Emperor himself if ordered, let alone handle the simple task of tossing out a princess.

Once Moming and Moxian retreated, Yuan Qian'er walked up to Bing Qingwan and asked, "Bing Qingwan, were you born of a human mother?"

"What a ridiculous question! Do you think you're the only one born of a human?" Bing Qingwan retorted, failing to grasp the point of Yuan Qian'er’s query.