It was a late morning in spring. A gentle breeze swept through the garden behind the Grand Tutor's residence, carrying the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers throughout the air. Amidst the peaceful stillness, the cheerful laughter of a little girl echoed softly.
"Catch me if you can! If you do, I'll let you tease me all day!"
A bright, playful voice of a young boy rang out as a small girl darted around, chasing something invisible to others.
Su Meiying, a five-year-old girl with fair, rosy skin and a plump, round face, had sparkling, mischievous eyes. Dressed in a light pink cotton dress, her lively and playful demeanor made her resemble a porcelain doll from a festival. She was chasing after her "secret friend"âthe mischievous spirit of a young boy she had met after moving into the manor.
"You can't catch me, Meiying!" the boy's ghostly laughter echoed back. She ran after him until she tumbled onto the grass, but instead of crying, she burst into joyful laughter.
"You're cheating, Xiao Bai!" she shouted, brushing the grass off her skirt. "If I were a bit faster, you wouldn't be able to escape me!"
"Meiying!"
A stern voice called out. It was Su Yangyu, her 13-year-old brother, standing with arms crossed and a serious gaze.
Yangyu had the fair skin typical of a noble's son, and his features were beginning to show signs of youthful handsomeness. His sharp, serious eyes made him seem more mature than his age. Naturally calm and composed, Yangyu acted like a little adult, constantly tasked with watching over his mischievous little sister.
He sighed, arms still crossed. "What are you playing now? Grandfather is asking us to prepare to welcome our guest!"
Meiying pouted, her face scrunching up before she snapped back, "A guest? Who is it? How important can they be?"
"The son of the Grand General!" Yangyu replied firmly. "He will be staying here. You must behave yourself, understand?"
Meiying wrinkled her nose and leaned in to whisper to Xiao Bai, the invisible spirit.
"The son of the Grand General? Sounds scary. I think I need to find out just how scary he really is."
Yangyu looked at his sister wearily. "Don't cause trouble for anyone, especially Grandfather."
The Grand Tutor's residence was located in the countryside, far from the bustling capital. Su Zhentian, once a prominent Grand Tutor in the imperial court, had retired after serving the royal family for decades. Wishing to escape the turmoil of political affairs, he chose to live a quiet life with his family in the rural outskirts.
Unlike other noble families, the Su family wasn't large. Su Wenyang, Meiying's father, was a mid-ranking official renowned for his honesty and loyaltyâqualities rare among other nobles of the time, many of whom had multiple concubines.
Su Wenyang was devoted solely to his wife, Li Meilin, and valued their pure relationship. They chose to have only two children: Su Yangyu and Su Meiying.
Li Meilin hailed from the influential Li family, a wealthy merchant family in the capital. Though not of noble blood, the Li family was well-regarded for their business acumen and connections with the upper class. Raised to be a well-rounded lady, Meilin excelled in managing household affairs, needlework, and negotiation. She gracefully handled the manor's responsibilities and was famed for her exquisite embroidery.
Although Meiying's parents deeply loved her, the person she was closest to was her grandfather, Su Zhentian, the famed Grand Tutor and astrologer. Not only did he care for her dearly, but he also taught her how to harness her rare giftâthe ability to see and communicate with spirits, a power passed down through their family.
When Su Zhentian discovered that Meiying had inherited this ability, he immediately recognized her as his successor.
"Meiying is special," he often said when others asked why she received such exceptional attention.
A servant rushed in to report, "Grand Tutor, the son of the Grand General is nearly here."
Su Zhentian set aside the book he was reading, his sharp eyes sweeping the room before landing on his curious little granddaughter.
"Grandfather! Who exactly is this guest?" Meiying asked brightly as she ran over to sit beside him while he sipped his tea calmly.
Su Zhentian glanced at her and smiled faintly. "Just a boy. Be a good playmate for him, won't you?"
Meiying furrowed her brows before grinning mischievously. "A playmate, huh? Fine! As long as he's not a crybaby, I'll play with him!"
She lifted her chin defiantly, her large eyes sparkling as if plotting something.
Before Su Zhentian could respond, a deep yet gentle voice called from behind.
"Meiying, don't you dare think about pranking our guest."
Startled, Meiying turned sharply to see her father, Su Wenyang, standing with his arms crossed, his stern face softened by a hint of affection.
"Father! I was just jokingâŚ" Meiying mumbled, though her eyes still glimmered mischievously.
Su Wenyang's gaze remained serious. "Joke or not, don't cause trouble for anyone. Do you understand?"
Meiying pouted but quickly ran off to avoid another scolding. "I understandâŚ"
Su Zhentian chuckled softly and nodded to his son. "Don't be too hard on her. She's just a child being playful."
Su Wenyang sighed before speaking respectfully. "Father, may I ask why the Grand General's son must stay here?"
Su Zhentian paused, setting his teacup down. His sharp gaze turned serious.
"The Grand General was assassinated," he said calmly, though his tone was heavy. "The Wu family is in chaos. Relatives are fighting over wealth and power. The Emperor has commanded me to shelter his son for now, to protect him from this turmoil."
Su Wenyang's brows furrowed instantly. "Is the situation truly that dire? If so, won't our household be in danger too?"
Su Zhentian slowly nodded, his eyes unwavering. "I'm well aware. But there's no safer place than the Grand Tutor's manor. Even His Majesty trusts me."
From the side, Li Meilin, who had been quietly listening, spoke softly, "Will our family be safe?"
Su Zhentian's eyes gleamed with depth, revealing wisdom beyond reach. He was not only a master of astrology but also inherited a rare giftâcommunicating with spirits. Over the years, Su Zhentian had subtly protected his family by forming pacts with ancient and guardian spirits residing within the manor.
"Our home is guarded by more than just walls," Su Zhentian replied coolly, his eyes cold and resolute. "I have many ways to protect this family, and I've prepared everything. They won't touch us easily."
Su Wenyang was silent for a moment before nodding in understanding. Though he couldn't see what his father could, he knew well that this manor was filled with things unseen to the naked eye.