Chapter 224 – Waiting Anxiously
Remembering how General Zhan would always find various reasons to keep Yan Xiaosi for a long time whenever he summoned her, Tian Dazhuang’s brows furrowed deeply.
Even just to deliver medicine, Xiaosi could be delayed at the military camp in Tongluo Plain for a while.
“I won’t wait anymore, I’ll go directly to the Tongluo Plain camp to find Xiaosi,” he said resolutely.
Before Yan Shuqin could say anything, he turned and left the cave with long strides. The Yan sisters wanted to stop him but didn’t have time, and could only watch his departing figure.
After Tian Dazhuang was gone, Yan Shuqin was silent for a moment before handing the things Tian Dazhuang brought to Yan Shuxue.
“Shuxue, take these things into the cave and let Mother know I’m going down the mountain to Brother Dazhuang’s home.”
Seeing her about to leave, Yan Shuxue reminded her anxiously, “Big Sister, you want to go take care of Auntie Tian, right? But you haven’t had breakfast yet.”
Yan Shuqin replied while quickly walking, “Brother Dazhuang went to Tongluo Plain to find Xiaosi, now there’s only Auntie Tian at the Tian home. Auntie Tian is injured so I’m a bit worried. I’m not hungry yet, I’ll eat when I come back.”
Yan Shuxue couldn’t stop her, feeling distressed for her big sister. Big Sister was going down the mountain to take care of Auntie Tian without even eating breakfast, all because of the Yan family’s doing. The Yan family went too far, bullying the villagers of Shaoyao Village just because they used to be an official’s family with some money.
The scene shifts to Tongluo Plain.
Yan Xiaosi took some ointment from her space to treat scrapes and hurried to the military camp. This morning, Ms. Zhong was making mushroom buns which made her mouth water just thinking about it. After delivering the ointment to Long Yu, she still had to rush back to eat buns.
“Hello mister, I am Yan Xiaosi, I’ve come to-”
(I’ve come to deliver medicine to your War King.)
Before she could finish her sentence, the two armed soldiers guarding the entrance cleared a path for her.
One of them said respectfully, “His Highness is already waiting for Young Master Yan in his tent. Please enter.”
Xiaosi was stunned for a moment. Was she that recognizable now? This was only her second time coming to the Tongluo Plain camp, yet these soldiers already knew who she was?
Since the soldiers recognized her, after some thought, she handed the bamboo tube with the ointment to one of them, smiling ingratiatingly.
“Mister, since you recognize me, could you do me a small favor and deliver this to the War King for me?”
Yan Xiaosi only asked one person, but both of them shook their heads like rattles, looking troubled.
“Young Master Yan, His Highness instructed that you deliver it to his tent in person.”
“Young Master Yan, it’s not that we’re unwilling to help you…”
Seeing how nervous the two soldiers were, Yan Xiaosi couldn’t force the issue. She could only put the medicine away, silently curse Long Yu in her heart, then take big strides towards Long Yu’s tent.
Long Yi and Long Er were standing guard outside the main tent. Seeing Yan Xiaosi walking towards them, their tense expressions instantly relaxed.
They thought: Young Master Yan, you finally came.
Long Yu had been waiting for Yan Xiaosi to deliver the medicine. But as Yan Xiaosi was very delayed in coming, Long Yu waited anxiously with his mood turning foul, causing the atmosphere inside the tent to become oppressive. Long Yi and Long Er sensed the heavy pressure and didn’t dare enter, nervously waiting outside.
Inside the tent, Long Yu was sitting at his desk studying a map of the area around Four Sisters Mountain when he suddenly slapped the map on the desk, gritting his teeth.
“It’s already late morning and that brat still hasn’t come with the medicine. Was he deceiving me?”
He didn’t know that Yan Xiaosi had a habit of sleeping in, not getting up until the sun shone on her bottom. At this point, it was late morning and she had already arrived at the camp, proving that she took her promise to Long Yu seriously and got up earlier than usual today.
Just as Long Yu was getting angry, Long Yi’s voice came from outside.
“My lord, Young Master Yan has arrived.”
Long Yu’s angry expression instantly vanished. He picked up the map on the desk again, sitting properly, then ordered, “Let him come in.”
“Yes.”
Soon, the curtain at the entrance was lifted by a small, thin hand as Yan Xiaosi walked in.
“Commoner Yan Xiaosi pays respects to Your Highness.”
Long Yu sat properly at his desk, moving his gaze from the map to glance at her.
Seeing her very respectfully bowing and saluting to him, but with eyes that weren’t the slightest bit respectful, he said: “You may rise.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Yan Xiaosi straightened up, holding the bamboo tube with the ointment in both hands. She walked to Long Yu’s desk and presented it with both hands.
“Last night, Your Highness was injured because of this commoner. I feel deeply sorry. This is medicine I specially made for Your Highness.”
Long Yu lightly furrowed his brows and reached out to take the medicine from her hands. Opening it, he smelled a faint fragrance wafting out from the bamboo tube which was quite pleasant.
Seeing him put away the medicine, the corners of Yan Xiaosi’s mouth curled up slightly, expressing satisfaction with her ointment.
“Since the medicine has been delivered, this commoner will not disturb Your Highness any longer and shall take my leave.”
Without waiting for Long Yu’s permission, she bowed, took three steps back, and prepared to turn and leave.
However, before she could exit Long Yu’s tent, Long Yi stood at the entrance and reported, “My lord, Tian Dazhuang from Shaoyao Village is outside the camp, saying he has an urgent matter and needs to see Young Master Yan.”
Brother Dazhuang is here! And he has an urgent matter!
Yan Xiaosi’s brows visibly furrowed, her face filled with worry.
Last night, she and Tian Dazhuang had worked together to trick Yan Shujing. Could it be that the Yan family discovered it was them who did it and found trouble with Tian Dazhuang?
Thinking this, she quickened her pace, taking big strides towards the tent entrance.
Bang!
Suddenly, there was a loud crash from behind her. Startled, Yan Xiaosi subconsciously halted and turned to look at Long Yu.
Long Yu had a dark expression, his cold gaze fixed on her.
That loud bang just now was from the War King slamming his palm on the desk.
“You’re getting bolder and bolder. Did I allow you to leave?”
Yan Xiaosi’s skin tightened. Indeed, he hadn’t given her permission to go yet.
She had forgotten about the rules of the Great Chu Dynasty in her moment of urgency. The man before her was not someone to be trifled with – he could crush her with a flip of his finger if offended.
Thinking this, her heart sank. She quickly turned to face Long Yu again, forcing a smile.
“Your Highness, do you have any other orders?”
For some reason, despite her ingratiating smile, Long Yu’s expression didn’t soften. Instead, seeing her smile at him like that, his mood worsened, as if a big wad of cotton was stuffed in his chest, making him uncomfortable.
“Tian Dazhuang came with you? You’re in such a rush to leave, is it to go meet him?”
From Long Yu’s perspective, that’s what the situation looked like right now.
Yan Xiaosi was puzzled by his question. “What?”
