The Foolish General's Mute Spouse - Chapter 107

107: Family

Qiao Ying nodded and hummed in agreement. “This is something almost everyone in our Baihua Valley knows how to do! If you come to visit, I can show you! I have several really beautiful gu insects!”

Si Qi let out an impressed “wow” and gave her a sincere thumbs-up. “You’re amazing!”

“Oh, it’s nothing special!” The young girl was thoroughly pleased and walked out with her hands behind her back. “Later, I’ll give you a few as pets—they can also protect you. A weak scholar like you, with no strength to even tie up a chicken, would definitely need them!”

Si Qi couldn’t help but laugh, though he still nodded politely. “Yes, you make a good point.”

“You’re leaving in a few days? Are you going back to the capital for school? Is it at that… what’s it called… the Imperial College? Grandmother said the people there are all really good at studying. Are you good too?”

She fired off this rapid string of questions, leaving Si Qi unsure which to answer first.

“This time, I came with Prince Qing on official business. Once it’s done, I’ll head back. But I’ll return after some time. When I do, I’ll help you open the box, okay?”

“Huh? Then I’d better ask my cousin to help me. The round trip between the capital and Zhizhou takes one or two months—if I wait for you, who knows how long it’ll take!” Qiao Ying waved her hand dismissively and walked straight out the door. “See you if fate allows!”

She’s quite impatient, Si Qi thought. I really should speed things up and return to Jiangnan soon to accompany the young master.

After getting the book, Qiao Ying left satisfied, and Si Qi followed behind her.

The door to the room was still closed, and no sound came from inside—an eerie silence.

The two exchanged a glance, and Qiao Ying stepped forward to knock.

“Is that Xiao Ying? Come in,” Fu Yu’an’s voice called out.

They entered the room and saw Elder Shu and Fu Yu’an both looking grave, each staring at a cup of tea, lost in thought.

What exactly was the truth from back then? Si Qi wondered. It’s left both of them so silent.

“We’ll take our leave now,” Elder Shu said, rising with her cane. Qiao Ying went to support her. “In a few days, it’ll be your uncle’s birthday. Though he’s never met you, he’s always cared and asked about you. Will you have time to visit Baihua Valley?”

Fu Yu’an stood up and supported her other arm. “Of course, I’ll make time.”

“Good. Then Ying’er will bring you there when the time comes. This… young gentleman is your adopted child, so he’s also family. He should come along too!”

Si Qi’s heart leapt with joy, though his expression remained calm.

“He’ll be returning to the capital in a few days. I’m not sure if he can make it.”

“Back to the capital? Let’s see—it’s in three days. If he can’t come, it’s fine. There’ll be plenty of time in the future.”

“Mm.” Fu Yu’an nodded. “I’ll have someone escort you back.”

Qiao Ying giggled at this. “Cousin, you might not know this, but our Baihua Valley is surrounded by a maze. If you send someone to take us back, who knows who’ll end up escorting whom!”

Fu Yu’an realized she was right and didn’t insist further.

After they left, Fu Yu’an asked, “Qiao Ying doesn’t seem like the type to care for jewelry. What did you pick for her?”

Si Qi scratched his head. “I didn’t pick anything—she chose it herself.”

“Herself?”

“Right, she picked a few sketchbooks from the boxes in the room and said she’d return them in a few days.”

Fu Yu’an was instantly horrified: “Sketchbooks?! How could there be sketchbooks in the side room?”

Hadn’t he left all those sketchbooks back in the capital? Unless Qi Ren had brought them back!

Flustered and embarrassed, he could only silently pray that the girl didn’t realize they were his own work.

“You’re really in trouble. I hid all my books properly—how could you be so careless?” Xia Xiu gloated with a laugh, holding a bag of pineapples in his hand.

Fu Yu’an sighed and glanced around. The street was crowded with people, and he couldn’t bring himself to speak openly. So he leaned in closer and whispered, “Those sketchbooks are all… indecent. I don’t know which ones she took, but I’m mortified!”

The other man, however, was unfazed and patted his shoulder reassuringly. “She doesn’t know you drew them, so what’s there to fear? Forget about that for now—let’s find a place to eat first. I’m starving!”

Fu Yu’an smiled helplessly, his own stomach growling in agreement.

The two found a restaurant serving northern cuisine, but it was peak dining hours, packed to the brim—even the most expensive private rooms were full.

“Ah, sirs! We really don’t have any seats left at the moment. How about… we pack your order for takeaway? Or perhaps you’d be willing to share a table with others?”

This put them in a difficult spot. Neither of them was particularly adept at socializing with strangers, and the idea of sitting down to eat with unfamiliar people was almost worse than torture.

They exchanged hesitant glances, neither able to come up with a solution.

“Maybe… takeout?” Xia Xiu wanted to suggest going elsewhere, but under the waiter’s eager gaze, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Fu Yu’an was equally conflicted. He turned and scanned the room, finally spotting a table where the customers were about to leave.

“That table’s clearing up,” he said, pointing. “Let’s go over there.”

The waiter hurried over and quickly cleaned the table for them.

The spot was against the wall, a table for four, which suited them perfectly.

“I haven’t had northern cuisine since coming here,” Xia Xiu sighed. “Order whatever you want—I’ll treat you with my husband’s money!”

His words were bold and dramatic, and one could only wonder how Fu Yanxiao would react if he heard.

After ordering, they settled in to wait. With so many customers, it was bound to take a while.

Fu Yu’an glanced around and noticed that most of the diners had distinctly northern features. Though he and Xia Xiu were also northerners, they looked more like they were from the south.

Maybe it was because they weren’t as tall!

However, Fu Yu’an’s mother was originally from the south of the Yangtze River, with delicate and gentle features—her appearance was naturally soft and refined.

The two were chatting about little Yuanbao’s antics from the previous day when the table was suddenly knocked a few times—not too hard, but not too light either.

They turned to look and saw a man with deep-set eyes, a tall and straight nose, thick dark brows, and half of his curly hair tied up. Though he wore a loose robe and a heavy cloak, his overall appearance seemed rather mismatched.

He didn’t look like someone from Yan—more like one of those captured prisoners, resembling… someone from Tianchang?!

Fu Yu’an’s heart skipped a beat, and he cautiously asked, “May I ask… what business do you have with us, sir?”

The man pressed a hand to his collarbone and gave a slight bow, smiling. “This restaurant is truly too crowded—there are no other seats available. Might I trouble you two gentlemen to spare a seat for this humble one? I won’t impose for free—I’ll cover the cost of your meal as repayment. How does that sound?”

His voice was clear and melodious, almost ambiguously androgynous.

Coupled with that strikingly beautiful face, Fu Yu’an instinctively glanced at his throat.

There was an Adam’s apple—probably a man.

Still, his Central Plains speech was fluent and precise, making it hard to discern his true origins.

But since he had already asked, they couldn’t very well refuse. So they scooted over slightly to make room for him.