Chapter 255
Chapter 255
“They’re back, Young Master! They’re back!” Nanshu’s excitement overflowed. “Little Yunsui and Doctor Shen are back!”
Ji Yan’an rose the instant he heard. Uncle Li beamed. “Finally! The Young Master has been so worried he couldn’t eat, drink, or sleep properly. Is everyone safe?”
Ji Yan’an was speechless. Slander. When had he ever eaten or slept well?
“Everyone’s fine,” Nanshu said happily.
Then a short little girl ran in, the ornaments on her clothes, hair, and wrists jingling.
Little Mushroom wore a festive red dress from the southern borderlands. Knowing they would arrive today, she had spent ages making herself pretty in the carriage-though Shen Qingzhu had actually done the work.
“Ji Yan’an! Ji Yan’an…”
Hearing that urgent, soft voice after so long, Ji Yan’an strangely realized he had missed it.
“Ji Yan’an!”
Anyone could hear her delight, but this time she did not hurl herself into his arms. An egg hung against her chest; what if she crushed it?
Nanshu first looked delighted, then puzzled. “Wait. Didn’t your egg already hatch? What’s this one?”
Holding Ji Yan’an’s hand, Jiang Yunsui turned to him. “Nanshu, Nanshu! Long time no see. You’ve gotten… a little fat.”
“Ji Yan’an, you got thinner.”
“Uncle Li got fatter too.”
Uncle Li and Nanshu fell silent.
Of course they had. Whenever the Young Master refused his food, the two of them had eaten it. They shot Ji Yan’an resentful looks.
Ji Yan’an pinched one of Jiang Yunsui’s braids. “You haven’t changed.”
Her personality, build, and complexion were exactly the same. Her hair was a little longer, but as for her height… still unchanged.
Jiang Yunsui rose onto her toes and measured him. “You look taller than before.”
“Huh? Wait. Why does your voice sound funny?”
Ji Yan’an shut his mouth.
“Ji Yan’an? Talk. Say something!”
Little Mushroom circled the adolescent boy whose voice was changing, urging him repeatedly. He said nothing and merely planted a hand on her head.
He had become even more aloof lately, sometimes uttering only a few words all day. In his happiness just now, he had forgotten about his changing voice. No matter how she pestered him, he refused to speak again.
Jiang Yunsui puffed up. She refused to believe he could remain silent forever!
Nanshu and Uncle Li found it funny, and they were delighted. The Young Master had been lifeless lately and irritable because his voice ruined his image. He cared a great deal about appearances.
Shen Qingzhu entered. “Young Master, I brought back medicinal herbs.”
Ji Yan’an grunted.
Jiang Yunsui immediately stared at his face, anticipation written all over hers. But after that single sound, he fell silent again.
Uncle Li and Nanshu looked nervously at Shen Qingzhu.
“Doctor Shen, the Phoenix-Mimic Bird…”
“The only one we found was dead.”
They nearly burst into tears, and Ji Yan’an’s eyes dimmed. It was fine. He had long prepared himself for failure.
Then Shen Qingzhu added, “But it left an egg.”
Every gaze landed on the egg hanging from Jiang Yunsui’s chest.
Nanshu pointed. “Th-this one?”
Jiang Yunsui nodded. “Yes, yes. This one.”
Uncle Li asked excitedly, “Can it hatch?”
“I don’t know.” She held it toward Ji Yan’an. “When we found it, it was almost dead.”
Their hearts leaped into their throats.
“But I saved it~”
Uncle Li and Nanshu stared at her. Their hearts could not take these rises and falls!
Ji Yan’an wanted to ask who had taught her to speak like that.
Jiang Yunsui grew serious. “But I really don’t know if it’ll hatch. It isn’t time for it to break its shell yet.”
“At least there’s hope,” Uncle Li said.
Grrr…
Whose stomach was that?
Jiang Yunsui instinctively looked down at her own slightly rounded belly. She had eaten throughout the journey and was not hungry.
“I’ll have food brought in!” Nanshu said, fleeing. Now that their little ancestor was back, the Young Master would surely eat more.
“Ji Yan’an, that was your tummy!”
Ji Yan’an remained expressionless, refusing to admit it, though his ears reddened.
They ate lean-pork congee. His poisoning had already reduced his appetite, and the summer heat made rich foods nauseating, so his meals had to be light.
“I want some too.”
Jiang Yunsui took out several mushrooms and offered him a Beauty Mushroom. “Try this. It’s delicious raw, just like fruit.”
It was a variety Ji Yan’an had never seen. Without doubting her, he took a small bite. It really did taste good.
Jiang Yunsui had already eaten a spoonful of congee. It was just the right temperature.
“It also makes you prettier.”
Ji Yan’an paused, then kept eating.
“Eat more congee. You’re so skinny.”
Little Mushroom worried terribly. When he tried to put his bowl down after a few bites, she stared at him.
“More. Eat more.”
Behind him, Uncle Li and Nanshu smiled with relief. As expected, only Jiang Yunsui could cure the Young Master’s refusal to eat.
Watching him eat more than usual, they wanted to hug their little ancestor and cheer.
Once everyone had eaten, Ji Yan’an went to inspect the herbs while Jiang Yunsui wandered around looking for familiar faces.
“Nanny Zhou, I missed you! I brought you a present.”
“Sister Shuqin, I brought you one too. Is my dress pretty?”
“Sister Shuhua…”
Like a showy little butterfly, she fluttered from person to person with a basket of gifts: embroidered handkerchiefs and pouches from the south, rouge, powder, and pearls for the women.
“Fat Grandpa, I’m back~ I brought you wine!”
Fat Chef’s round face lit up until his eyes nearly vanished. “My little ancestor, you’re finally back! I was worried sick. Let me see if you’re hurt.”
“Nope. I’m perfectly fine.”
She skipped in a circle before him. Even if she had been injured, she had healed long ago~