22 Quarte

As the couple headed towards the emperor's palace, Fan Daiyu looked around and started out a map to become familiar with the city. She noticed everyone turning their way whenever they passed by but thought it was normal since her father was a mighty general but she didn't realize that she was the center of attention.

Actually even Fan Ying thought he had gained more popularity.

[I can't help it if I'm so dashing]

He began to worry of his wife jealousy but she knew what was happening. Just like them, she had previously thought her husband had gained more fame but as they walked on, she heard people talking about Daiyu and pointing her way. To say she was proud was an understatement.

It was a comical image. The mother help her head up full with pride as if she was the mother of Jesus herself, the father hid his face in a bashful way that mage one cringe away, and the cause of it all was oblivious and in a daze.

Fan Daiyu wasn't in a daze as she appeared to be, she was looking at everything as they passed. She noticed that although there was more freedom, everything was broken down into classes. The commoners and the nobility. However, people could gain titles if they had power. The stronger you were the more you were respected.

[I guess every place has its drawbacks but at least this one isn't as corrupt as the previous one. Although there is a power structure and people are still fighting to survive, it isn't as bad as my last life. People have a chance to grow here.]

Seeing such a world, she smiled. Although it was a dog eats dog world at least it wasn't hell like her valley. She never liked mentioning that world because she felt that she wasn't a part of it. Only the valley was the place that she recognized as her previous rotten home. It brought her suffering but it was still her refuge for a long time.

It was beautiful. She had never seen so much nature unless she went to the small parks that only had a few measly trees. Everything else was chaos.

Here there were small villas or cottages everywhere. People walked around everywhere selling and buying things. It was like a market.

Daiyu would have enjoyed the atmosphere if she hadn't noticed the gap between the strong and the weak.

She saw a girl being screamed at by a 40-year-old woman. The girl was young and had pretty features but she had a scar running down her face she was still young and seemed to be about ten years old. The woman seemed to be 40 but she had wrinkles everywhere and droopy eyes that made her seem at least 60. At first, she that it was that woman's granddaughter but as she heard their conversation she frowned at the injustice being committed. She was no saint but she did have a soft heart for those who had been through suffering. She liked to be nice because she understood suffering best. Although she didn't think of herself as a saint, if anybody else grew to know her they would absolutely say she was. Eventually she saw that woman try to do something which irked her so much so she opened her mouth to scream out.

-Little girl-

[I don't know why this is happening]

[Why is everything so unfair? I didn't even do anything. She was the one at fault so why am I on the receiving end.]

[I want my mommy. I want her to defend me and comfort me but she didn't want me.]

She felt her throat and eyes burning with a familiar sensation.

[I just wanted to look at that beautiful baby.]

She was seen as a rat by people but she had feelings too. It hurt whenever people would scorn and humiliate her. She was like them curious about that genius baby so why did she have to suffer so much to be like them. Ever since she saw that child, she felt like she had seen her goddess. She felt devotion. She felt a connection but she didn't understand why. All she knew is that she wanted a small glance like everyone else in town but every time she wanted something, there was always a problem.

When she had heard that the beautiful family were walking outside she ran out of her small corner and searched for them. She was stepped on and pushed by people who had the same goal as her. In the end, she fell to the ground and dragged her body out of there. She wanted to cry but she needed to be strong. She had to be strong if she wanted to survive. She stood up again and tried to walk towards the family but an old woman pushed her. As she fell, her arm grazed the old woman's robe. Since she was homeless and dirty, she cast a streak of dirt on the woman's robe and pulled it enough to reveal the woman's breast.

The woman screamed in embarrassment and covered herself up as fast as lightning. Her bright red face wrinkled up more with anger and shame but no one had seen her since everyone's attention was on a certain trio passing by. She let out a sigh in relief but still berated the child.

"Look at what you did! My robe is a mess! I'm a NOBLE! HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE UP FOR THIS! I CAN'T FACE THE GENERAL AND HIS WIFE IN THIS STATE!

YOU UGLY RAT! YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN BE ALIVE!

SL*T! I BET THAT'S WHY YOUR MOTHER ABANDONED YOU!"

Hearing such words from a mere stranger made her feel a great injustice and suffering. She wanted to cry so much but she couldn't she had promised herself so.

She glared up at the woman and closed her eyes at the slap coming her way.

The woman was furious at the rat's glare she couldn't take it. Just thinking of the humiliation she could have gone through, made her robe made burst into fury.

It was her fault but she would deny it to no end and looking at their statuses, they would rather believe her than that street rat.

She lifted her hand and revealed a cruel smile seeing the girl close her eyes. She was about to slap her when a small voice screamed out.

"STOP!"

The woman looked up in annoyance to see who had the audacity to order her around. Her body stiffened as she saw a small chubby hand pointing her way.

The girl slowly opened her eyes and they widened as she looked up at her savior.

It was the baby goddess.

-Family of three-

Fan Ying's ears almost burst at the scream his daughter let out.

[Darling, please I can hear you. Have some mercy I'm right next to you.]

Fan Ying was carrying Daiyu so he turned his head to confusion as he looked at her.

Nuwa Yenay stood next to him and asked, "Baby what's wrong? Why do we need to stop?"

There was no response.

However soon they saw her lift her arm and point at something with an angry expression.

Her mystical eyes lit up ablaze with fury as she said, "look!'

They turned around to see the cause of her anger.

There was a small girl trembling behind a woman that had her arm lifted up in an aggressive stance. The woman turned to look at them with a hideous expression but it quickly changed to one of surprise and delight as she hid her hand behind her back. It was as if the previous events had never occurred. Fan Ying and Nuwa Yenay immediately understood what had happened but it was normal in this kind of society. They could do nothing about it.

"Daiyu we can't do anything about it. We don't even know her."

Fan Ying knew that he wasn't in a position to protect the girl so he could only disappoint his daughter but as her broke the news to her he saw her tearing up.

She looked up at him with a sorrowful expression. Her eyes widened and became misty and her tiny red lips slowly arched downwards. She looked so pitiful that everyone around began to criticize the woman.

"How shameless! Doing such things in public and making a small child cry!"

"I saw what had happened. It was all her fault! She was the one that pushed the girl making her fall. Now she's blaming the child for dirtying her robe! DESPICABLE!"

"And she calls herself a noble. She's shaming the rest of us here!"

Fan Ying looked at his pitiful daughter and his heart broke. He walked up to the woman and looked at her in disappointment.

The woman ran away in embarrassment and cursed the girl in her heart.

[None of this would have happened if it weren't for that rat. She'll pay for this!]

Seeing everything resolved without a problem he glanced at the pitiful child and turned to leave but a certain baby glanced daggers at his actions so he turned to her to ask, "What's wrong?"

Fan Daiyu Ignored her father and turned to look at the small girl that had been looking up at her in gratefulness and … adoration?

She smiled and all the people around them screamed.

"OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! DID YOU SEE THAT! AHHHHH"

"I KNOW SO ADORABLE"

"I WANT TO GET PREGNANT NOW"

"You fool! Stop overestimating yourself. Do you really believe you can make such a beautiful genius!"

Fan Daiyu ignored their screeches and motioned to the ground.

Fan Ying understood and gently let her down.

She stood and walked towards the girl in her small peach robe. Her baby hairs shone silver in the light and her eyes seemed clearer than the sky.

There was silence before a great eruption of noise.

"SHE HAS SILVER HAIR!"

"SO HEAVENLY! THEY MADE AN ANGEL!"

Seeing her walk up to the ugly street rat mad her seem like a heavenly creature bestowing forgiveness to a mere human. From a far, a pair of eyes glinted and quickly began to focus. His eyes burned with passion and his hands quickly dipped a brush in paint. He was going to make a masterpiece.

The little girl stared at the baby in amazement and in a daze.

[My goddess. I don't know why but from the moment I saw you I felt like crying. I felt like you were my comfort. I felt happy seeing you. I felt like I was understood and I could rely on you. But I'm too dirty for your brightness. I can't be near you. I will stain you.]

She sighed in sadness and resigned to the feeling of loss in her heart.

When she noticed that everything was silent again, she lifted her curious eyes and felt shocked just like everyone else present.

Fan Daiyu shined like a diamond but this diamond had stretched out her arm to the person everyone looked down on as a rat. She never looked at anyone but this girl had gotten her attention.

Was she worthy?

Everyone felt envy towards the small and innocent girl.

She could feel their envy, surprise, disgust, and most of all their criticism but when she looked at Daiyu she looked at a bright smile and felt warmth enveloping her heart and body. She was an angel.

Daiyu patiently waited for the girl to take her hand but the girl was trembling so she revealed a warm smile and yet there was still no movement from her.

"Come."

She motioned for the girl but she only saw her gripping her clothes tightly before smiling at herself in ridicule.

"I'm too dirty."

She could hear the girls pain and longing and she felt her own heart sympathize.

"I don't care."

Hearing those words from Daiyu made the small girl finally break down her walls and crumble. Her knees became weak and she cried. Daiyu walked up closer and hugged her.

After some time the girl stopped crying and Fan Daiyu released her. She looked into the girls eyes and asked, "What's your name?"

It took her some time to respond. She was mesmerized by those pure eyes that reflected endless warmth. She knew that those eyes seemed as if they had been through so much but she couldn't understand how.

She snapped out of her daze and trembled. Her name reflected her mother's hate towards her. She didn't like sharing it or saying it aloud but this was an angel she wouldn't humiliate her for it right?

Her lips trembled before she answered, "Mallory Deirdre"

Mallory – unlucky. Deirdre – sorrowful.

"Why?"

Daiyu was curious why was she named as if she was a disaster.

"Because I wasn't wanted. Mother told me I made her unlucky and therefore my life should be sorrowful. She was right I am a disaster. I was abandoned because I am worse than a rat."

Hearing such words from a child made people reflect on themselves but they still didn't think it was wrong. It was a dog eats dog world, why should they care?

However the small child that had a mature mind and an intelligence beyond her age said a few words that made them all feel horrible.

"Then was she really a mother? Aren't mothers supposed to care? Why would she wish you a horrible life?

Is she even human? People are supposed to help one another, love one another, and live knowing that they have done so. I don't understand why you were treated so horribly because you are not a rat you are a human. You are special. You should be valued and cared for. Unfortunately she couldn't see your worth.

She wasn't human. She is worse than trash.

If people treat each other so horribly can they really be considered people or barbarians.

Power is important here but what is power for if not to protect themselves and others. What is it for if its not to protect their own town. To protect their wealth? Is wealth more important than a person. If it is, then I can never see them as humans."

People were astounded at her thoughts. She was a mere child and yet she could already think so maturely. She was above geniuses. She was a monster.

Even her parents were flabbergasted.

"Papa. I want her."

[And here I was thinking she was so righteous but now she want a slave. No way.]

"My jade you can't have people. You just said it yourself. She is a person not anything less."

"Foolish daddy. I don't want a slave. I want her as a friend at home or a servant that can live with me. I want to give her a home. I want her to learn to be strong."

Hearing Daiyu, the small girl trembled with hope and tears as she looked at Fan Ying.

The couple had never had servants before but if their daughter wanted one they could only bend to make her happy.

Fan Ying bent down to look at his daughter. She looked hopeful and anxious.

He sighed at the two girls' looks and relented, "Fine we will make servant quarters for her but she will not stay in out courtyard. We need our privacy okay"

"Thank you daddy I love you so much!"

*muah*

She jumped in excitement and kissed her father's cheek.

Fan Ying was over the moon and his wife was burning with jealousy.

Daiyu smiled and took the girl's hand and led her to her mother.

"Mama we need to clean her up."

The emotional Nuwa Yenay only nodded and took them to a nearby store.

[My daughter is growing up too fast. This is too unrealistic. Sigh.

At least she's happy]

Mallory took a bath and changed into a plain white robe while Daiyu changed into golden sandals and a milky yellow robe.

After washing up Mallory looked younger than before so Daiyu couldn't help but ask, "How old are you?"

"I'm actually seven today."

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME? WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE!"

Daiyu looked so cute to her at the moment. She couldn't help but give out a small smile as she said,

"Because this is already the best present I could get."

Daiyu's heart warmed and they headed out again to their mysterious destination.

The four people headed out and ignored the shocked crowd.