A Cannon Fodder Who Became The Future Queen - Chapter 20.2

After getting home, Ji Ping’an first brewed the medicine she got from the pharmacy and made Shen Zhiyu drink it. She then brewed some water with red dates and goji berries for Shen Zhiyu and Suisui. “From now on, remember to put some of these in the water whenever you drink.”

Suisui took a sip and said, “It’s sweet.”

“If it’s sweet, then drink more.”

After Ji Ping’an said that, she saw Shen Zhiyu drinking the dark brown medicine from the bowl. She had smelled the bitter smell of the herbs when she was brewing it, let alone drinking it. Although the expression on Shen Zhiyu’s face was subtle, she could see her brows slightly furrowed when she looked closely. She held the bowl to her mouth but wouldn’t drink it. After waiting for a moment, perhaps because she couldn’t stand the bitter taste of the medicine anymore, Shen Zhiyu closed her eyes and gulped the medicine down in two or three mouthfuls. She then picked up the water with the red dates and started drinking it to wash away the bitter taste. After drinking half of it, her brows relaxed a lot, proving that she really did have a sweet tooth.

Ji Ping’an couldn’t help but want to laugh. When she saw her drink the medicine, she could only think of one phrase: “ready to die with honor.”

The little chick hadn’t seen them all day. When it heard their voices, it went over to them.

“Little Yellow?” Ji Ping’an tried calling it. The chick turned its head and went to peck at the wild vegetables next to it, completely ignoring her.

“?” Ji Ping’an felt that this chick was very disobedient. She told Suisui to try calling it, but the chick ran even farther away.

Then, both of them looked at Shen Zhiyu.

Shen Zhiyu: “…” She felt that sometimes, Ji Ping’an was even more childish than a child, but she always had to bring Suisui into it, so she couldn’t refuse.

Shen Zhiyu’s voice was clear and cold, and even when she called the little chick, it sounded exceptionally pleasant. “Little Yellow.” The little chick, which was still eating grass, immediately puffed up its light yellow fluff and ran to her feet.

Suisui’s eyes were now full of admiration. “Ah-Jiu, Little Yellow listens to you so well.”

Ji Ping’an, however, looked at it more deeply. “How can a chicken at home know who has a higher status?”

While they were playing with the chick, Fugui’s father and Fugui came over with the finished bathtub.

“Ping’an, come take a look and see if this is okay.”

Ji Ping’an quickly opened the door for them, and together, they moved the bathtub into the yard.

“Uncle, this is perfect.” Ji Ping’an looked at the bathtub in front of her. It was exactly what she had imagined. There was a small basket hanging on the side, and the drain hole was also made a little smaller. It would fit perfectly in the kitchen.

“Then let’s put some water in it to test it out. I’ll also connect the drainage pipe for you.”

Ji Ping’an nodded and helped them move the bathtub into the kitchen. The drainage pipe was placed against the wall and wouldn’t get in the way.

Shen Zhiyu also watched from the side. When she saw the little chick also eagerly following them inside, almost getting stepped on, she softly called out to it again, “Little Yellow.” The chick no longer tried to squeeze inside and instead obediently followed her around.

Since there were no problems with filling and draining the water, the bathtub was officially finished. Ji Ping’an looked at Fugui and her father. “Uncle, Fugui, why don’t you stay for dinner tonight? We can also invite your auntie over.”

“No, your auntie has already made dinner at home. We’ll go back and eat,” Fugui’s father said, waving his hand as he left the yard.

Since she couldn’t get them to stay, Ji Ping’an gave up and went back to look at her new bathtub. “Tonight, I can finally have a proper bath.”

“Sister, I want to take a bath, too,” Suisui said.

Ji Ping’an smiled. “After you and Ah-Jiu take a bath, you can try on the new clothes we bought today.”

For dinner, they had stir-fried pea shoots. The pea shoots were fresh and tender, with a crispy crunch to every bite. Perhaps because of her strong desire to wear new clothes, Suisui ate faster than usual. After she was done, she started boiling water. The container for boiling water at home was small, so they had to boil it two or three times to have enough water for a bath. With a bathtub, they would need even more water. Ji Ping’an felt that she should buy a bigger pot.

She had spent two taels of silver in the county town today on clothes, rice, flour, and other miscellaneous things. Her once full purse was now empty. If she were to buy another pot, she wouldn’t have much money left. She had to earn more silver.

The bathtub was quite large, and Suisui was small. Ji Ping’an was worried that something might happen, so she stayed by the child’s side while she bathed and also helped her wash her hair with soap pods.

After she was done, Ji Ping’an couldn’t help but pinch the child’s soft face. It felt even better after being washed with hot water.

“Sister, I’m going to go to the room and try on my new clothes!” Suisui said, bending over and escaping from her hand. Ji Ping’an shook her head with a hint of regret.

Because she had helped Suisui bathe, her sleeves were a little wet. She instinctively rolled up her sleeves to work. After draining the water from the bathtub and scrubbing it, she looked at Shen Zhiyu outside the door. “Ah-Jiu, do you want to take a bath?”

Shen Zhiyu saw the exposed part of her arm. It was toned but very strong. She easily lifted half a bucket of water and poured it into the bathtub. She paused for a moment and then moved her gaze away from the Qianyuan’s arm. She then nodded and said, “I can do it myself.”

“Then be careful when you change the water.” Ji Ping’an also pointed to the small basket next to the bathtub. “I put the new soap I bought in here. You can try it.”

After saying that, Ji Ping’an left the room. Worried that Shen Zhiyu would trip or bump into something, she found a place to sit in the yard.

If they wanted to have light at night, they had to light oil lamps or candles made of solidified grease. They weren’t cheap, so the village was much quieter at night than during the day, and most families went to sleep early.

The chick in the yard had also returned to its coop. The only sound that could be heard was the occasional sound of water from the room. The sound was very soft, but it went on and off, making Ji Ping’an feel a little restless and her ears a little hot. She had never been in a relationship in her past life, but she was very clear about her own sexuality. She liked women. Now, an exceptionally beautiful and cold woman was taking a bath behind a door. How could Ji Ping’an be as calm as still water and be completely unmoved?

Ji Ping’an touched her hot ears and tried her best to distract herself by thinking about other things. She thought about how to deal with Gong Rong, how to earn more money, and whether she should go up the mountain tomorrow. Or, if she had time, should she go to the next county to find another doctor to see if she could cure Shen Zhiyu’s amnesia?

When she realized that her thoughts had once again landed on Shen Zhiyu, Ji Ping’an immediately straightened up, wanting to think about other things. But then she heard the sound of the door opening. She subconsciously looked over.

Shen Zhiyu was wearing the new white clothes they had bought earlier that day. They were the right size and accentuated her slender waist. It was the middle of the month, and the moon in the sky was full and bright. The silvery-gray light it cast made the yard a little brighter. The moonlight fell on Shen Zhiyu’s brows and eyes, making her look even more exquisite, as if she were a true beauty who had walked out of a cold moon palace. Ji Ping’an was completely captivated.

Her gaze was a little too intense. Shen Zhiyu slightly frowned. “What are you looking at?”

Ji Ping’an snapped back to reality and immediately looked up at the sky, changing the subject. “I’m looking at the moon and stars in the sky. They’re so beautiful.” There was no air pollution or light pollution in ancient times, so she could see the stars dotted in the sky just by looking up.

Shen Zhiyu also looked up, but she only looked for a moment before looking away. She wasn’t interested in the stars and moon. She looked at the person in front of her and said, “Ji Ping’an.”

“Here,” Ji Ping’an answered subconsciously when she heard her name. But as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized that this was probably the first time Shen Zhiyu had called her by her name.

Ji Ping’an turned her head and asked curiously, “What is it?”

Shen Zhiyu looked at her for two seconds, then suddenly said, “It’s nothing.”

Ji Ping’an: “?” She couldn’t help but say, “Ah-Jiu, do you know that it’s a very bad habit to only say half of what you want to say?” She had to admit, when she heard Shen Zhiyu call her by her name just now, she was only a little curious. But when she heard the two words “it’s nothing,” her curiosity instantly reached its peak.

Shen Zhiyu saw her expression and deliberately said, “I don’t know.”

Ji Ping’an couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, “You’re so evil.” How could she not know? She’s clearly doing it on purpose to get a reaction out of me. She still has amnesia, and I can already see how manipulative the future empress will be.

“What did you just say?” The Qianyuan’s voice was so low that Shen Zhiyu couldn’t hear it, but she had a feeling it wasn’t anything good.

Ji Ping’an almost choked on her own saliva. She quickly said, “I said, if you don’t tell me what you were going to say, I might not be able to sleep tonight.”

“Ah-Jiu is so kind, so you’ll tell me, right?” What she said was true. If Shen Zhiyu didn’t tell her, she might lie in bed all night trying to guess the answer.

“If I don’t tell you, what will you do?” Shen Zhiyu’s original words weren’t important. But now that she saw Ji Ping’an’s expression, she was a little interested.

Ji Ping’an said, “I will…”

Shen Zhiyu slightly raised an eyebrow. Will she get angry? Or will she take back all the good things she’s given me?

Ji Ping’an fell silent after saying those two words.

She realized she had absolutely no leverage over Shen Zhiyu.

Her mind raced, and after a moment, she said, “I’ll… I’ll buy the answer with money.”

With that, Ji Ping’an pulled a small piece of silver from her sleeve. “Will this be enough?”

If she couldn’t plead for it, she could at least pay for it, right?!

Besides, hadn’t Shen Zhiyu said earlier that she wanted Ji Ping’an to give her all her money? She must like money, so she surely wouldn’t refuse.

Even in the fading light of the courtyard, the silver gleamed brightly, and Shen Zhiyu saw it clearly.

“…”

She hadn’t expected this to be Ji Ping’an’s solution.

Seeing Shen Zhiyu remain silent, Ji Ping’an assumed the money wasn’t enough.

She gritted her teeth and took out another, slightly larger piece of silver from her sleeve.

“This is really all I can give you. I was hoping to buy a new cooking pot for the family with the rest.”

Shen Zhiyu’s eyes flickered. She knew that Qianyuan had misunderstood her intentions, but she still didn’t take the silver.

After a moment, Ji Ping’an, looking utterly defeated, pulled out a final piece of silver from her sleeve. “This is it, really, truly all I have. I can’t give you any more.”

She didn’t say the rest of her thought: “You can’t be too greedy,” for fear that she wouldn’t even get the answer for a few taels of silver.

Seeing the expression on her face, Shen Zhiyu knew this was genuine. She took the three pieces of silver from her hand.

As she took the money, her fingertips brushed against Qianyuan’s palm.

The fleeting, cool touch was lighter than a feather across her skin. Ji Ping’an instinctively curled her fingers, then asked, “Can you tell me now?”

It was quite a hefty price to pay for her curiosity.

Shen Zhiyu toyed with the three pieces of silver in her hand. “When did I ever say I would sell you the answer?”

Ji Ping’an’s eyes went wide. “What?!”

She realized that after she offered the money, Shen Zhiyu hadn’t actually given her a definite “yes.”

If Shen Zhiyu ever went into business, she’d be an absolute swindler!

“Then give me back my money.”

Ji Ping’an reached out to take it back, but Shen Zhiyu shifted, tucking the silver into her sleeve. “I was only going to ask why you suddenly decided to make a bathtub.”

Before she could finish, she realized that this question was no different from her earlier ones. Since it wouldn’t get her an answer either, she decided not to ask it.

She hadn’t expected Ji Ping’an to be so curious, and she had gotten three pieces of silver for nothing.

“Is that all you wanted to ask?” Ji Ping’an sounded unconvinced.

Shen Zhiyu simply said, “Believe it or not.”

Ji Ping’an muttered under her breath, “It’s three pieces of silver. If I don’t believe you, I’ll have lost it all. I guess I’ll have to believe you.”

“What did you say?”

The distance between them wasn’t far, but Shen Zhiyu still hadn’t heard Qianyuan’s words clearly this time.

“I said I’m going to go wash up.”

And mourn the loss of her silver, incidentally.

Ji Ping’an had a strong suspicion that Shen Zhiyu was now wealthier than she was.

It was getting late, and Suisui in the house should be asleep by now.

Shen Zhiyu wasn’t interested in Qianyuan’s bathing. She hummed in acknowledgment and said, “You should use a different bar of soap.”

Ji Ping’an asked, “Why?”

As she said the word, she instinctively clutched the cuff of her sleeve where her silver was hidden, afraid of losing even more money for no reason.

When she bought the soap, Ji Ping’an had purchased two bars: one scented with osmanthus and another with orchid.

Osmanthus was easy to find, but orchids were rare and had to be sought out in the mountains. As a result, the orchid soap cost three copper coins more.

She had just placed the orchid-scented bar in the bathroom.

“No reason,” Shen Zhiyu said. “Just use a different one.”

With that, she went into the house, as if she didn’t want to discuss the topic any further with Ji Ping’an.

Ji Ping’an stood in the courtyard and thought for two seconds. She could only come up with two possibilities.

First, Shen Zhiyu thought the orchid soap was no good and was specifically warning her.

Second, Shen Zhiyu really liked the orchid soap and didn’t want her to use it.

After thinking it over, given Shen Zhiyu’s character, Ji Ping’an felt the second option was far more likely.

And if the soap smelled that good, all the more reason to use it!