**Dongyuan Prefecture, Prefecture Capital**
Lin Kexin, now one year and one month old, was already as tall as a four- or five-year-old child.
She was playing hide-and-seek with servants in the backyard of the prefecture lord’s palace.
“Miss? Miss?”
“Miss, I see you! Come out!”
Several maids searched the yard.
Mischievous Lin Kexin hid by a pond.
As a maid approached, Kexin sneaked behind her and, with her tiny hands, gave a gentle push.
Despite her age, her strength was remarkable.
Splash!
The maid tumbled into the pond.
“Giggle!”
Seeing the maid fall, Kexin burst into giggles, delighted by her prank.
“Haha!” The other maids, seeing their soaked colleague, laughed too.
At that moment, Lin Yun walked in.
“Look, Miss, the prefecture lord is back!” a maid exclaimed.
Kexin turned and saw Lin Yun.
“Daddy, you’re back!”
Her little face lit up with excitement, her big eyes sparkling!
“Daddy! Daddy!”
Barefoot, Kexin spread her arms and ran toward Lin Yun!
Having been away for six months, Lin Yun was thrilled to see his daughter, eager to scoop her into his arms.
But as Kexin reached him, he restrained himself. Instead of crouching to embrace her, he put on a stern face.
“Kexin, stand still!” he scolded, his voice firm and severe.
Startled by his tone, Kexin froze, her innocent smile fading as she stared at him.
Lin Yun had never raised his voice at her before, and she was clearly frightened.
The maids, seeing Lin Yun’s anger, knelt immediately.
“Daddy, what did Kexin do wrong?” Kexin asked, her eyes brimming with hurt.
“Why did you push that sister into the water?” Lin Yun asked, his tone reproachful.
“Kexin… Kexin was just playing with her. And aren’t they just servants? Mu-gege from the Mu family said servants are slaves,” Kexin said timidly.
Lin Yun’s expression remained serious. “Kexin, playing doesn’t mean building your happiness on others’ suffering. Understand?”
“Kexin… Kexin understands. I won’t do it again. Daddy, please don’t be mad,” Kexin said, tears streaming from her big, dark eyes, looking deeply aggrieved.
Seeing her so upset pained Lin Yun’s heart.
Though he scolded her harshly, it hurt him too.
Despite his reluctance, he knew he had to be firm. No matter how much he adored her, he couldn’t compromise on principles.
At her age, her worldview was still forming. If he let this slide, she might grow into a spoiled, arrogant noble like others.
Lin Yun continued sternly, “Also, they’re servants, not slaves. They’re people, just like you, with parents and loved ones. If Daddy were mocked or bullied while working outside, would you be happy?”
“Of course not! If someone bullied Daddy, Kexin would fight them!” Kexin said, clenching her tiny fists earnestly.
“So, when you prank them, their children and parents feel hurt too,” Lin Yun taught gently.
“Kexin understands!” Kexin nodded vigorously, tears in her eyes.
“Good. Come with Daddy to apologize.”
Lin Yun took her soft, tiny hand and led her to the soaked maid.
The maid had already climbed out of the pond.
“Lord,” she said, kneeling.
“Stand up,” Lin Yun said, helping her up.
He turned to Kexin. “Kexin, apologize.”
The maid quickly said, “Lord, Miss was just playing. There’s no need to take it seriously, and I’m not worthy of her apology.”
The maids knew that in other noble households, such pranks were trivial. On the cultivation continent, servants and maids often had no rights—humiliation or even loss of life was common.
So, the maid could hardly believe that Lord Lin Yun would demand his daughter apologize to a mere servant for such a small matter, something unthinkable in other households.
“Even if you’re servants, she should apologize. Even as the young miss, she must know right from wrong,” Lin Yun said earnestly.
“Sister, Kexin was wrong. I shouldn’t have pranked you,” Kexin said to the maid.
“It’s okay, Miss.”
The maid, overwhelmed, quickly accepted. As a servant, she never imagined receiving such respect.
“Here are fifty spirit crystals. Buy some new clothes,” Lin Yun said, handing her ten spirit crystals.
To the maid, fifty spirit crystals were a fortune, equivalent to several years’ wages.
“Thank you, Lord! Thank you!” she said, accepting the crystals gratefully.
“You may all go now,” Lin Yun said, waving the maids away.
After they left, Lin Yun crouched down and scooped Kexin into his arms.
“Daddy!”
Kexin enthusiastically kissed his cheek.
“Daddy, please don’t be mad. Kexin hasn’t seen you in six months,” she said in her sweet, childish voice.
“Kexin, you mentioned Mu-gege from the Mu family told you servants are slaves, right? Is this Mu-gege from the Mu family, one of the twelve great families in the capital?” Lin Yun asked.
Lin Yun was familiar with the capital’s twelve great families, including the Mu family.
So, when Kexin mentioned “Mu-gege,” he immediately thought of them.
“Yes, Mu-gege is from the Mu family. He’s a few years older than me and often comes to play with me, along with some other brothers and sisters from other families. They’re Kexin’s friends,” Kexin said, smiling brightly.
“What else has this Mu-gege told you?” Lin Yun asked.
“Mu-gege said you’re the biggest figure in Dongyuan Prefecture, and everyone has to listen to you. Daddy, you’re amazing—you’re Kexin’s hero!” Kexin said, her face glowing with pride.
“From now on, spend less time with this Mu-gege,” Lin Yun instructed.
