Chapter 85

Chapter 85

By the time they headed back, it was already quite late.

Jiang Yunsui was operating on the principle of putting things off as long as possible. As long as Ji Yan’an didn’t say anything, she wasn’t going to practice writing.

Then she remembered that before running off, she had drunk a little too much tea, and guilt crept in.

Ji Yan’an wouldn’t beat her up, would he?

W-Well, that was only because Ji Yan’an had gone too far.

She would sneak back first and see what he was doing.

When she returned, she found Ji Yan’an wasn’t there. He had gone out.

She hurried off to go moonbathing first.

By the time she was dozing off in her little pit, Ji Yan’an finally came back.

But the drowsy Little Mushroom didn’t notice at all.

When she woke up, she was already asleep in bed.

After a nice, full sleep, Jiang Yunsui kept her eyes closed and began stretching, flailing her little arms about.

Her hand smacked Ji Yan’an beside her directly.

Still half-asleep, Ji Yan’an furrowed his brows slightly, looking like he was about to wake.

Jiang Yunsui quickly covered his eyes.

Don’t wake up, don’t wake up!

After a while, when she saw Ji Yan’an wasn’t moving, she carefully moved her hand away.

Then her gaze met a pair of dark, heavy eyes.

Jiang Yunsui: “…”

“G-Good morning.”

Little Mushroom instantly became especially obedient and stammered out a greeting.

Ji Yan’an glanced at her, and any trace of sleepiness was gone.

After they washed up and got out of bed, Nanshu’s voice came from outside.

“Young Master, Mr. Song and the others request an audience.”

“Bring them to the study.”

“Yes.”

Jiang Yunsui followed Ji Yan’an’s example as they brushed their teeth, rinsed their mouths, and washed their faces.

Nanny Zhou first tidied Ji Yan’an’s hair, while another maid combed Jiang Yunsui’s.

Honestly, who would understand? She was just a little maid, yet now she was being waited on too.

But right now, she truly didn’t have the skill to do her own hair. Her chubby little arms and hands couldn’t even gather all her hair together properly.

Nanny Zhou noticed that the longer Jiang Yunsui spent with Ji Yan’an, the more some of her movements and habits resembled his.

For example, drinking a cup of tea in the morning, the order in which she put on her clothes, and the sequence of washing up after waking were all more or less the same.

To be precise, Little Mushroom, who was being human for the first time, was working hard to learn from a real human.

Before, she had learned from Cook Chen. Now, she was learning from Ji Yan’an.

That was why many of her habits were similar to Ji Yan’an’s.

Of course, there were differences too.

When Ji Yan’an drank tea, he sat perfectly upright, carrying the restrained elegance and nobility of a young gentleman.

Jiang Yunsui, on the other hand, liked to swing her short little legs. If she thought it tasted good, she even bobbed her head happily.

Of course, when she did those things, she was very cute.

Once Ji Yan’an was ready, he headed for the study.

Jiang Yunsui quickly finished the last sip of tea, then followed right on his heels with tiny, quick steps.

Ji Yan’an stepped over the threshold with ease. Jiang Yunsui had to hold on to the doorframe and work very hard to climb over it.

Then, as usual, she mumbled a complaint.

“Such a high threshold. It’s clearly targeting children!”

Ji Yan’an shot her a speechless glance.

As soon as they left the room, Jiang Yunsui started walking improperly again, looking all around-at the swallows under the eaves, the Peach Tree outside the courtyard, the wild grass, and the mushrooms.

“Ji Yan’an, more mushrooms grew.”

She quickly grabbed Ji Yan’an’s clothes to remind him.

Ji Yan’an glanced over. “Mm. Have Nanny Zhou bring people to dig them up.”

“Are you eating them today?”

“No.”

Little Mushroom puffed out her cheeks and huffed twice. What tasteless humans.

“We should send Fat Chef some mushrooms.”

Ji Yan’an’s voice was mild. “Did he make you extra food again?”

“No, he didn’t. Fat Chef said I got skinny and made food to nourish me.”

Ji Yan’an’s steps came to an abrupt halt.

Jiang Yunsui nearly crashed into him again. Fortunately, this time she managed to stop in time.
Ji Yan’an looked Jiang Yunsui up and down, then came to a conclusion.

“His eyesight is poor.”

Nanshu nodded vigorously from the side. Good heavens, Fat Chef’s eyes must have been squeezed smaller and smaller by all the flesh on his face, so much so that he’d seen Jiang Yunsui as thinner than she was.

Lost weight? What a colossal joke.

The child was soft and chubby from head to toe. She even had a double chin now.

Although they had been out these past few days, she had never once mistreated her mouth.

Even when they went to the bandit stronghold, she had managed to run to the kitchen and grab food.

Jiang Yunsui: ???

What are you implying!

The little one had just been about to put her hands on her hips and question them when they arrived outside the study.

At that moment, three people were already seated inside: Song Jin, Shen Qingzhu, and Fan He.

As soon as Ji Yan’an entered, all three stood.

“Young Master.”

Ji Yan’an gave a faint hum, walked in, and took the main seat.

Jiang Yunsui followed him in as well. She looked left, then right, then went to move over her special little stool and sat down beside Ji Yan’an too.

Let her hear what they were going to talk about today.

Unexpectedly, it actually had something to do with her.

For Jiang Yunsui’s meritorious service this time, Ji Yan’an gave her not only one hundred taels of gold, but also ten mu of farmland and a small courtyard of her own.

After listening, Little Mushroom counted on her fingers. “That much? It’s mine? It’s really all mine?”

Her little eyes were practically shining.

Ji Yan’an said, “This afternoon, I’ll have Nanshu take you to see your fields and your house.”

Jiang Yunsui was overjoyed.

She had a house that belonged to her now~

Naturally, the others had rewards as well, and there was also the matter of handling the fallen Yaoguang Guard.

“Same as before. Bury them on Seven Star Mountain.”

Seven Star Mountain was a barren mountain the Ji Family had purchased specifically as a burial ground for the Yaoguang Guard and their own hidden guard-those with no homes to return to, those who died in battle.

Because of this, both the Yaoguang Guard and the hidden guard were exceptionally loyal to the Ji Family. They did not fear death.

Death was merely reuniting once more with another group of brothers.

Finally, the group discussed the most important matter this time: the iron mine.

Fan He, honest as ever, even asked Ji Yan’an when he planned to write a memorial and report it to the throne.

He was laughing happily, thinking they had rendered great service this time and the Imperial Court would surely grant them rewards.

But after he finished speaking, Fan He realized that the way everyone was looking at him seemed… a little off.

He was at a loss. “W-what? What’s wrong?”

Those looks were making his scalp prickle.

Ji Yan’an set down his teacup. “Mr. Song, Mr. Shen, what are your esteemed opinions?”

Shen Qingzhu said, “Young Master, when do you believe this iron mine should be reported?”

Song Jin clicked his tongue. “Tsk, tsk, tsk…”

He did not speak. He simply watched those two put on their act.

Fan He: Why do I feel like the atmosphere is a little strange?

Song Jin asked directly, “Are we letting those miners go?”

Ji Yan’an tapped his fingers against the tabletop and said nothing.

Song Jin said, “Enough. What are you all pretending for? If that iron mine really gets reported, I’ll be the first one to object.”

The corners of Shen Qingzhu’s lips rose. “Indeed. Something we found with such difficulty-who would be willing to hand it over?”

In any case, the few of them were not about to let someone else profit for nothing.

Fan He went from confused at first to outright shocked.

“Y-you, you people…”

Song Jin walked over to him and draped an arm over his shoulder.

“Magistrate Fan, now that you’ve boarded our pirate ship and know so many secrets, you’d better choose carefully.”

That was a blatant threat.

Fan He’s face flushed red from holding himself back. “You are trying to rebel!”

“I-I am a man of integrity and upright principles. I will absolutely not sink into corruption with the likes of you.”

Song Jin gave an oh. “Then, Young Master, kill him.”

Fan He: !!!

“Wait… We are all cultured men here. Why resort to violence and killing the moment we disagree? How vulgar!”