Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

Early the next morning, Ye Fuxun took Qingruo to Songfeng Garden where Ye Xiu'an lived. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they were greeted by a strong medicinal smell. A charming maid was trimming flowers in the garden. She paused when she saw Ye Fuxun and quickly came over to greet her, then led her inside with a deferential manner.

Ye Fuxun was anxious to see Ye Xiu'an, the only person she cared about in this life. She hurried into the main room and saw Ye Xiu'an, pale-faced, standing at the desk practicing calligraphy while his personal servant, Shizhu, stood by attending to him. Ye Xiu'an hadn't written many characters before he started to wheeze and then cough. Shizhu quickly brought him a cup of tea and advised, "Young master, you should rest for a while."

"It's nothing," Ye Xiu'an said without looking up, then picked up the brush again. Despite his illness, his calligraphy was still elegant and dignified.

"An'er."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Ye Xiu'an looked up in surprise. His eyes, usually calm, now showed a glint of joy as he gazed at the woman standing before him with a gentle smile, full of affection.

"Sister!" His voice trembled slightly. He never expected to see his sister in this lifetime. Overwhelmed with emotion, he put down the brush and walked over to Ye Fuxun, at a loss for words.

Seeing Ye Xiu'an in such a state reminded Ye Fuxun of the previous lifetime when he was seriously ill. She had placed all her hopes on Aunt Xie, hoping she could find a good doctor to save Ye Xiu'an. But she never expected that she would unwittingly harm her brother. Thinking of this, Ye Fuxun couldn't help but feel a surge of hatred.

"I'm back." This time, she would change the course of events and turn the tables!

"Sister... cough... cough..." Ye Xiu'an, overwhelmed with emotion, couldn't help but cough. His pale face flushed red. Ye Fuxun hurried over and gently patted his back, just like she did when they were young.

"You need to rest well when you're not feeling well," she said, helping Ye Xiu'an to sit on the bed and pouring him a cup of tea. "Have you seen a doctor? What did the doctor say?"

"I've seen one. It's just a minor cold. Sister, don't worry," Ye Xiu'an said, tightening the handkerchief in his hand and then smiling. "You've lost weight over the years in Qingchuan." He then instructed Shizhu to prepare some food. Although Ye Xiu'an was not favored by Ye Hanliang, he was protected by the old lady, so Aunt Xie could only cause trouble behind his back.

The lively young boy who used to follow her around was now thin and worn, with a hint of maturity and determination in his eyes.

Qingruo placed a gift and a box with holes on the table.

"I brought some rare items from Qingchuan for you."

Ye Xiu'an played with a bead, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Sister, are you treating me like a child?"

"If you don't want it, I'll give it to Shizhu," she teased, pretending to give the item to Shizhu. Ye Xiu'an quickly begged for it.

At that moment, a maid came in with a bowl of medicine. "Young master, it's time to take your medicine."

"Put it there," Ye Xiu'an said, putting away his smile and speaking calmly.

"Madam said the medicine should be taken while it's hot to be effective."

"Give it to me. You can go now," Ye Fuxun took the medicine from the maid and placed it on the table. The maid hesitated for a moment before leaving.

"Qingruo."

Qingruo immediately understood and opened the box, revealing a cage with a small white mouse inside. Ye Xiu'an looked at Qingruo in surprise as she fed the medicine to the mouse. The lively mouse soon became lifeless after drinking the medicine.

"Sister, how did you know the medicine was poisonous?" Ye Xiu'an asked, slightly astonished. He had long suspected the medicine was tainted, but the poisoning was too deep for him to solve. He never expected his sister to see through Aunt Xie's deception. It seemed he didn't need to worry about her.

"If I hadn't exposed it today, were you planning to keep it from me forever?" He had known about the poison all along, but he chose to endure it silently to spare her from grief.

"I was too deeply poisoned. I only told you to avoid causing you unnecessary worry," he said. There were some things he wanted to protect in his own way, and Ye Fuxun was the person he cared about the most.

"I will find a way to save you. Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you," she reassured him.

"Alright, let's not talk about this. Sister, stay with me for the meal."

After accompanying Ye Xiu'an for the meal and seeing him tired, Ye Fuxun asked Shizhu about Ye Xiu'an's daily routine and instructed her to take good care of him before returning to Meiyuan. While Ye Fuxun was talking to Shizhu, Qingruo went to the kitchen and collected some of Ye Xiu'an's medicine residue.

As soon as she arrived at Meiyuan, she was greeted by Jixiang Ruyi.