Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Soon, Ye Qing and her group entered the capital slowly with their carriage. The capital bustled vibrantly everywhere. Even at the city gate, the atmosphere thrived lively.

Ye Qing and her group drove the carriage cautiously into the city. Shops lined the streets neatly, and roadside vendors arranged their stalls orderly. The scene presented a unique charm distinctly.

People said the northern disaster struck severely, but the disaster seemed to affect the capital minimally.

Ye Qing and her group slowed their pace carefully to avoid colliding with pedestrians. By noon, their carriage reached the Jiang residence’s entrance finally.

Ye Qing turned back quickly, lifted the curtain, and looked inside. She met Jiang Jinhuang’s deep, inky eyes directly.

“We arrived, get off now,” Ye Qing said hesitantly. Somehow, she avoided Jiang Jinhuang’s gaze nervously. The scene differed from her imagination slightly. She thought Jiang Jinhuang would rejoice wildly, as Jiang Jinhuang left home over six months ago.

But Jiang Jinhuang sat calmly in the carriage. Ye Qing sensed no joy from Jiang Jinhuang whatsoever. The little one, however, raised her hands excitedly and bounced happily in the carriage.

“Yay! I’m home! Sister Ye, my house has lots of yummy food. Eat with me!” the little one said joyfully. She pounced into Ye Qing’s arms eagerly.

Ye Qing smiled warmly at the little one and carried her gently off the carriage.

Jiang Jinhuang got off the carriage alone quietly. She looked at Ye Qing briefly but remained silent for a long time.

Ye Qing glanced curiously at the Jiang residence’s gate. Two life-sized stone lions stood majestically at the entrance. The vermilion gate displayed a plaque with “Jiang Residence” written boldly, indicating the occupants’ wealth or nobility clearly.

Ye Qing withdrew her gaze quickly and knocked on the Jiang residence’s gate firmly.

Soon, a servant opened the gate slightly. Seeing an unfamiliar woman, he frowned suspiciously and asked, “Who are you? Did you send a visiting card? Not everyone enters our Jiang residence freely.”

Ye Qing remained calm outwardly. The servants of grand households acted quite arrogantly indeed.

“I brought your second and third young ladies back. They stand at the gate now,” Ye Qing said confidently.

The servant doubted her words clearly but widened the gate slightly. He warned sternly, “This is the Minister’s residence. If you lie recklessly, trouble will follow swiftly.”

But when the servant saw Jiang Jinhuang and the little one clearly, he froze in shock completely.

“Second Young Lady, Third Young Lady? Is it really you?” he asked incredulously.

Though the residence forbade gossip strictly, the servants knew secretly that the second and third young ladies got separated from Madam near Linzhou City. Missing for over six months, many whispered they were gone forever. Yet, they stood at the gate unharmed now.

Jiang Jinhuang looked at the servant calmly. Her voice carried authority naturally, “What? Do I need a visiting card to enter now?”

“No, no, I spoke wrongly. Second Young Lady, please forgive me. Everyone, come in quickly,” the servant said hurriedly.

He opened the Jiang residence’s gate fully and shouted loudly inside, “Hurry, report that the second and third young ladies returned safely.”

Another servant at the gatehouse doubted him, thinking he joked lightly. But when he stepped outside and saw Jiang Jinhuang and the little one clearly, he realized they returned truly.

The servant bowed respectfully to Jiang Jinhuang, “Second Young Lady, wait a moment. I’ll fetch someone now.”

He ran swiftly into the Jiang residence.

He dashed hurriedly to An Shuran’s quarters. By the time he reached her courtyard, he panted breathlessly.

“Madam, Madam, great news, great news!” he shouted excitedly.

An Shuran sipped tea calmly in her room. Hearing the servant’s loud cries, she frowned sternly and scolded, “What great news? You’re a servant of the Minister’s residence. Never lose composure at any time.”

“Yes, Madam taught me rightly. I got too excited. The second and third young ladies returned safely,” the servant said breathlessly.

“What? Really?” An Shuran asked in disbelief. After scolding the servant, she heard the news and spilled her teacup clumsily. She stood up abruptly.

“Really, absolutely true. The second young lady and others probably reached the front hall already,” the servant continued eagerly.

“Wonderful, wonderful!” An Shuran said tearfully. Her eyes reddened emotionally as she rushed outside. She instructed her maids hurriedly, “Go quickly, summon the master and eldest young lady to the front hall. Tell them Jinhuang and the others returned.”

“Yes, Madam,” several maids replied promptly and ran off quickly.

An Shuran hurried to the front hall swiftly, ignoring her usual grace entirely.

Meanwhile, Jiang Jinhuang led Ye Qing and the others to the front hall calmly.

Ye Qing looked around curiously along the way. The Jiang residence’s wealth impressed her greatly. She lost count of the corridors she passed already. It befitted a high official’s mansion truly.

Jiang Jinhuang walked ahead silently, holding the little one with a melancholic expression. This contrasted sharply with the little one’s excitement vividly.

The little one returned home joyfully. Her home had lots of delicious food and various toys in her room. She missed them dearly. The little one raised her hands excitedly, “I’m back, hehe!”

Ye Qing smiled warmly at the little one. The little one wouldn’t need to endure hardships with her anymore.

Soon, they reached the Jiang residence’s front hall. Jiang Jinhuang set the little one down gently.

She ordered a servant nearby calmly, “Serve tea and bring some pastries quickly.”

“Yes,” a maid replied promptly and left to prepare.

Song Zhao leaned toward Ye Qing uncomfortably. She didn’t expect Jiang Jinhuang’s family to be so wealthy, with many strict rules.

Ye Qing felt relieved greatly, though. Jiang Jinhuang’s affection level remained at 45 steadily. Now, she planned to escort Jiang Jinhuang and the others to the Jiang residence, stay in the capital with Song Zhao for a few days, and then leave.

By her estimate, she had over a year to travel freely.

Soon, An Shuran rushed into the front hall hurriedly. Seeing Jiang Jinhuang truly returned, she cried tearfully, “Jinhuang, is it really you? Mother thought she’d never see you again.”

An Shuran hugged Jiang Jinhuang tightly and wept sadly. Jiang Jinhuang’s eyes reddened emotionally too.

“Mother, my sister and I are fine completely. Don’t cry,” Jiang Jinhuang comforted softly.

“Yes, Yangyang, my Yangyang!” An Shuran said tearfully. She released Jiang Jinhuang quickly and picked up the little one from the floor eagerly.

“Yangyang, it’s Mother’s fault. I lost you both. You must have suffered greatly on this journey, right? During the disaster, did you go hungry daily?” An Shuran asked distressedly.

The little one pinched her tummy curiously. Except for some hunger near Linzhou City initially, after heading south, she never missed a meal. Her tummy stayed chubby, not thinner at all.

“Mother, I ate plenty. Sister Ye gave me yummy food,” the little one said proudly.

An Shuran noticed something odd slightly. Her daughter felt heavier than before when hugged. Was this the weight of someone who endured months in a disaster?

“Not hungry, that’s good, that’s good,” An Shuran said relievedly. She then looked at Ye Qing and Song Zhao curiously.

Her eldest daughter visited the Second Highness previously. The Second Highness said Ye Qing had good character and stood out among female Qianyuan in appearance. An Shuran thought the Second Highness comforted her kindly. But this female Qianyuan indeed looked striking.

“Are you Ye Qing?” An Shuran asked smilingly, wiping her tears gently.

Ye Qing bowed respectfully to An Shuran, “Greetings, Madam. I am Ye Qing. This is Song Zhao beside me. We traveled together as companions during the escape.”

“Good, good children. Thank you for caring for Jinhuang and Yangyang. Thanks to you, I see my daughters again,” An Shuran thanked repeatedly, observing Ye Qing closely.

The Second Highness mentioned Jinhuang’s special bond with this Ye Qing. Now, Ye Qing’s figure and appearance impressed her greatly. Escorting her daughters safely from so far to the capital showed Ye Qing’s character undeniably.

If such a person bonded with her daughter, it wouldn’t be improper. Their family lacked no wealth, so her daughter wouldn’t suffer if married.

“Everyone supported each other mutually. It’s not my credit alone,” Ye Qing said smilingly.

An Shuran saw Ye Qing’s clear eyes and humility. She approved of her even more instantly.

At that moment, Jiang Jinyang rushed into the front hall hurriedly, “Yangyang, Jinhuang? Wonderful, you’re both safe!”

The usually composed eldest daughter of the Minister’s residence lost her poise momentarily. She picked up the little one and spun her joyfully, “Yangyang, did you miss your sister?”

“I missed you!” the little one said happily, hugging her big sister tightly.

Jiang Jinyang held the little one and pulled Jiang Jinhuang into a hug warmly, “It’s wonderful. You’re both safe.”

“Eldest Sister, don’t worry. Yangyang and I suffered no hardships on the journey,” Jiang Jinhuang reassured calmly.

Jiang Jinyang examined Jiang Jinhuang closely. Her second sister looked unchanged from when she left, not gaunt from the disaster. She remained beautiful. As for Yangyang, she felt heavier and taller when lifted, not like someone who endured great hardship.

“You’re both fine, that’s good,” Jiang Jinyang said smilingly to Jiang Jinhuang.

She looked at Ye Qing and Song Zhao curiously, “Who are these two?”

“Ye Qing and Song Zhao. Thanks to their care, Yangyang and I returned safely,” Jiang Jinhuang explained briefly.

Jiang Jinyang’s gaze fell on Ye Qing, showing slight surprise. She didn’t expect the Second Highness’s words to be true. Ye Qing’s appearance stood out remarkably.

Even without notable background or status, such a person would attract wealthy families’ daughters in the capital easily. Her sister didn’t lose out, at least in looks and figure, as Ye Qing matched her well.

Jiang Jinyang thought quietly and bowed respectfully to Ye Qing, “Thank you for protecting Jinhuang and Yangyang. Bringing them back from so far must have been hard. It’s nearly noon since you arrived. I’ll have lunch prepared soon and arrange your stay. We’ll talk more later.”

Ye Qing didn’t plan to stay at the Jiang residence actually. In the capital, gossip spread quickly about any household’s affairs.

If she and Song Zhao stayed, it might harm Jiang Jinhuang’s reputation. Ye Qing didn’t want to burden her. Besides, staying here lacked freedom. She and Song Zhao preferred staying outside, going wherever they wished and buying what they wanted without trouble.

As Ye Qing prepared to decline politely, a male voice interrupted from outside, “Wait. Our Jiang residence is a respectable household. We’ll give due thanks generously, but allowing a strange Qianyuan to stay here is absolutely unacceptable.”

Jiang Changde stepped into the front hall confidently, wearing a blue robe. He appeared steady and authoritative distinctly.