Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Jiang Jinhuang sat on a stool in the room, holding the little one, listening to Ye Qing and Wei Zicheng talk. Her lips were tightly pressed together.

Though she knew Ye Qing was likely just playing along with the male Kunze, she still felt uneasy.

The little one’s big eyes darted between the door and her sister.

“Sister, didn’t Ye Qing marry you already? Why is she getting married again?” the little one asked innocently.

“Grown-up matters aren’t for kids to ask about,” Jiang Jinhuang said faintly, glancing at her sister’s blackened face.

If this had happened before, Jiang Jinhuang might have thought Ye Qing was abandoning her and her sister. But after everything they’d been through on the road, with Ye Qing risking her life to save them multiple times, Jiang Jinhuang didn’t believe Ye Qing would truly leave them. Still, hearing Ye Qing chat and laugh with another male Kunze made her feel a bit uncomfortable.

Jiang Jinhuang pinched her sister’s blackened cheek, pursed her lips, and kept listening to their conversation.

Ye Qing talked with Wei Zicheng for a bit before returning to her room. She couldn’t suggest exploring the stronghold herself, as it would seem too suspicious. With a few days left, she didn’t need to rush.

Soon, a knock came at the door.

“Miss Ye, the young master had us prepare bathing supplies for you,” several lackeys said eagerly outside.

Ye Qing calmly opened the door, looked at them, and said, “Come in.”

“Yes, yes.” The lead bandit smiled, quickly urging the others, “Hurry up, move it, move it.”

A group of servants and maids entered Ye Qing’s room, some bringing clothes, others preparing bathwater.

The lead bandit smiled. “Miss Ye, see if you need anything else. We’ll get it now.”

“Nothing for now. You can go,” Ye Qing said calmly.

“Alright, alright.” The bandit quickly ushered everyone out and left.

Ye Qing bolted the door and blocked it with a chair before heading to the tub.

They hadn’t bathed in a long time on the road, not because she didn’t want to, but because conditions didn’t allow it.

Since everything was prepared, Ye Qing didn’t hold back. She stripped off her dirty clothes and got into the bath.

Her hair was matted together. She washed it carefully, scrubbing several times until her head and body felt truly clean.

After bathing, Ye Qing put on the clean clothes the bandits provided—a moon-white dress with a fur-lined cloak, quite nice-looking.

Dressed, Ye Qing opened the door, had the servants empty the bathwater, and toss her dirty clothes, acting as if she already owned the stronghold. The bandits were stunned.

While drying her hair, she casually called over a bandit. “Go get some food, and make sure there’s plenty.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll get it ready,” the bandit said, not daring to offend her, and hurried off with a smile.

Once they left, the bandits started whispering about Ye Qing.

“She’s something else, acting like this is her home.”

“No kidding. Killing someone in front of the master? That’s one of a kind. But she’s good-looking, no wonder the young master fell for her.”

“Yeah, a Qianyuan prettier than a Kunze…”

Ye Qing ignored the gossip. Since she was here, she’d make herself comfortable, eat well, and plan her next move.

She sat leisurely at the table, waiting for food. Soon, maids brought various dishes—fish soup, chicken, braised horse meat, and plenty of small pastries.

Ye Qing summoned the system in her mind. “09, scan this food. Is it safe?”

“Sure thing, dear.” The system scanned carefully and concluded, “All safe and harmless, dear.”

Reassured, Ye Qing set aside half the chicken and horse meat, along with half a plate of two stir-fried dishes. She opened her door, carrying a plate of vegetables in one hand and meat in the other, and went next door.

The two guards, Wei Zicheng’s men, were surprised to see Ye Qing.

“Open the door. I’m bringing them food,” Ye Qing said.

“Miss Ye, don’t make this hard for us,” one bandit said.

Ye Qing’s face turned cold. “I’m about to marry your young master. He said himself there’s nowhere in this stronghold I can’t go. I’m just dropping off food and leaving. If anyone gives you trouble, I’ll take the blame. Open the door.”

The two bandits exchanged hesitant looks but opened the door. Ye Qing had said she’d take responsibility.

“Alright, Miss Ye, go ahead,” one said, opening the door.

Ye Qing carried the meat and vegetables inside. The little one’s eyes lit up when she saw her.

“Ye Qing!”

She reached out to hug Ye Qing but hesitated, looking at her blackened hands and Ye Qing’s clean clothes, and pulled back.

Ye Qing set the food on the table, glanced at Jiang Jinhuang, winked, and then walked over to hug the little black bundle.

The little one didn’t know where to put her hands, afraid of dirtying Ye Qing’s clothes.

“Ye Qing, where’d you go? I missed you~” the little one said, her big eyes looking up as she pouted.

Ye Qing smiled. “You and your sister will leave in a few days.”

“Yay! We can go?” the little one asked happily.

Ye Qing looked at her blackened face and corrected, “You and your sister will go. I’m staying.”

“Huh? But, but we’re all together,” the little one said, looking at Ye Qing sadly.

“Be good and listen to your sister from now on, okay?” Ye Qing said gently.

Hearing this, the little one’s big eyes welled up with tears. “Waaah, you don’t want us anymore. Sister, Ye Qing doesn’t want us.”

Ye Qing quickly bounced the little one in her arms. “Don’t cry, sweetie. I’ll get you more food.”

She handed the little black bundle to Jiang Jinhuang. The little one clung to Ye Qing’s arm, crying with snot and tears.

Jiang Jinhuang’s heart ached. She quickly took her sister back from Ye Qing.

Ye Qing met Jiang Jinhuang’s eyes, winked again, and turned to leave.

As she left, she said, “I’ll be back. I haven’t brought all the food yet.”

Ye Qing returned to her room, portioned out pastries and rice, and some fish soup, then carried them next door. She thought for a moment and told a bandit at the door, “Go get two sets of bowls and chopsticks. Hurry, or the food will get cold.”

The bandit at the door was kept busy by Ye Qing. One stayed to guard, while the other obediently fetched the bowls and chopsticks. Ye Qing checked them before bringing them inside.

The little one was still crying sadly in her sister’s arms, her blackened face almost washed white by tears. Jiang Jinhuang held her, soothing her.

Seeing the little one cry, Ye Qing felt a pang but couldn’t explain. She only said, “You two eat first. I’m going.”

Ye Qing left and returned to her room, glancing at the two black handprints on her arm. Her eyes softened—the little one was adorable.

She looked for a moment, then started eating.

One of the bandits guarding Jiang Jinhuang’s room ran to a fancy building nearby.

Soon, he entered a lavishly decorated room, bowed to the person inside, and said, “Young master, Miss Ye just brought food to the room next door.”

Wei Zicheng’s face wasn’t pleased, but he asked, “Did they say anything?”

“Oh, Miss Ye said they can leave in a few days, but she’s staying. The little black kid heard that and is still crying.”

Wei Zicheng’s face brightened with a smile. “Good. This is for you.”

He tossed a piece of silver. The bandit caught it, bowed, and said, “Thank you, young master.”

“Keep watching. Let her bring them food if she wants. After the wedding, we’ll send them off anyway,” Wei Zicheng instructed.

“Got it,” the bandit said, bowing again before leaving.

Meanwhile, Jiang Jinhuang finally calmed her sister down. Ye Qing had brought plenty of food. Though Jiang Jinhuang didn’t trust the stronghold’s people, she trusted Ye Qing.

She held the little one, feeding her a lot. The little one turned her sadness into appetite, gobbling up food and falling asleep in Jiang Jinhuang’s arms.

Jiang Jinhuang was exhausted, having not slept last night. She bolted the door, blocked it with a chair, and went to bed with the little one.

She didn’t know Ye Qing’s plans, but all she could do was avoid causing trouble.

Ye Qing ate lunch and even napped. In the afternoon, Wei Zicheng came by.

Ye Qing opened the door, saw him, and politely invited him in. “Why are you here?”

“I had nothing to do, so I came to check on you. What about you? What are you doing?” Wei Zicheng asked.

“I’m free too. I just got here and don’t know where I can go or who’s who in the stronghold. I’m worried about going out and offending someone, so I stayed in,” Ye Qing said, smiling.

“That’s easy. I’ll take you around. You can’t stay cooped up in here. Plus, I’ve got plenty to talk about with you.” Finding a female Qianyuan who wasn’t afraid of him thrilled Wei Zicheng, especially after the bandit’s report, which made him trust Ye Qing more.