Union

Chapter 135 134 Rewards
The days when Second Master was away felt especially long for Yunying.

She endured five days, then eight days, and soon the tenth day arrived.

Even on the tenth day, the Second Master still hadn't returned.

Yunying's appetite has been decreasing these past few days, especially tonight. She barely touched the rice in her bowl twice, and only ate a few bites of the dishes.

Outside, the cold wind howled, but inside, it was warm and cozy. The food on the table looked and smelled delicious, tempting everyone's mouths. But even so, Yunying couldn't take her eyes off it for more than a few seconds.

Yunying finally put down her chopsticks and stood up.

Seeing this, Sui'er and Liu'er were both very worried.

Sui'er said, "Miss, please eat some more. You haven't been eating much these past few days and you've lost weight. I'm afraid Second Master will be heartbroken if he sees this."

Yunying didn't say anything, but she thought to herself: He doesn't care at all. If he did, he would have gone back long ago. He said he would be back in ten days at the latest, and today is the tenth day. Where is he?
Sui'er seemed to see through Yunying's thoughts, and stammered, "Second Master must have been delayed by something important. Don't worry, Miss, he will definitely come back as soon as he finishes his business."

Yunying breathed a sigh of relief and said nothing.

She felt extremely agitated and, not wanting to vent her bad mood on the maids, she could only walk away.

Another gust of cool wind blew in from outside, whistling as it swept across the yard.

I thought this year would be a mild winter, but the weather changed so suddenly. In just a few days, I can no longer wear my old-fashioned jacket, and I have to wear a padded jacket when I go out in the morning and evening.

Yunying stood by the window, looking out at the courtyard.

The cold wind blew the leaves off the trees, and the leaves swirled and flew up in the cold wind.

In this freezing weather, if Second Master were traveling right now, he would probably freeze to death.

Although she wanted to see the Second Master as soon as possible, Yunying suddenly didn't want him to come back so quickly when she thought about him braving the cold to travel.

Yunying was absent-minded all night.

She absentmindedly washed and dressed, and then absentmindedly took off her clothes and lay down on the bed.

Sui'er and Liu'er knew that she hadn't been resting well these past few days, so they wanted to stay and keep her company. Yunying, however, didn't want the maids to sleep on the footstool, as it was uncomfortable and cold, and she didn't want them to get too cold.

Yunying said, "You should go back to sleep. I can't sleep well with someone in the room. You can stay in the next room. If I really need anything, I can just call you and you'll hear me."

Sui'er and Liu'er exchanged a glance and finally agreed.

The two maids lowered the curtains, blew out the candles in the room, closed the door, and went out.

The two maids left, and the room became completely quiet.

Inside the pitch-black canopy bed, only Yunying's own breathing could be heard, so quiet and empty.

Yunying lay in bed, trying to fall asleep, but after lying there for who knows how long, she still couldn't manage to coax herself to sleep.

The more she couldn't sleep, the more anxious she became. Finally, frustrated, she sat up and sat there with her knees drawn up, lost in thought.

Yunying herself didn't know exactly what she was thinking.

Perhaps she was thinking about what the Second Master was busy with, or perhaps she was imagining him galloping wildly on horseback in the cold wind... As she thought about it, her mind became clearer and clearer. She simply put on a coat, got up, relit the candles in the room, and sat down at the table to pick up a book and read it carefully.

After reading for an unknown amount of time, Yunying could even hear the soft snoring of Sui'er and Liu'er coming from the next room. Finally, she became sleepy and prepared to blow out the candles and go back to rest.

It was at this moment that she keenly noticed some movement in front of the door.

The sound wasn't the scratching of insects or rodents, nor the pattering of sand and gravel blown by the wind; it was the soft breathing of a human.

Sometimes light and quick, sometimes heavy and turbid, there is someone in front of her door!
In the dead of night, Yunying was so frightened by her own guess that her hair stood on end!

But then she thought of another possibility, and hurriedly took a few steps forward and pulled open both doors.

The wind was strong tonight, but the moon was also quite large. Under the bright moonlight, Second Master stood in front of Yunying's door, looking tired, with a stubble beard and covered in the frost of the world.

He seemed about to knock, but then he remembered her shallow breathing and how she hadn't moved for a long time while slumped over the table; she was probably asleep. If he knocked, he knew he would wake her.

But if she doesn't knock, and just sits at the table wrapped in her clothes, she might catch a cold...

A thousand thoughts swirled in my mind, but they were all just empty words.

The real reason was that they had been separated for too long. He missed her so much that his heart ached. Now that they were so close, he couldn't see her. He felt like he was suffocating and going crazy.

Just as the Second Master reached out his wicked hand and touched her door, he keenly heard her getting up. Her light footsteps hurried toward the door, and with a soft creak, a warm and cozy atmosphere wafted out, revealing her beautiful face.

Without pausing, the Second Master took two steps forward and, amidst Yun Ying's delighted cry of "You're back!", pulled her into his arms.

He squeezed her hands hard twice, as if trying to meld her into his very bones. His voice was hoarse, his cold cheek rubbing against her soft skin, "I'm back."

At this moment, Yunying swallowed all the words in her heart.

The tight bindings, the icy aura emanating from him, and the frantic thumping of his heart all told her that Second Master had indeed returned.

Second Master is back!

Yunying's face lit up with a bright, radiant, and dazzling smile.

She used a little force to push the second master away, then grabbed his hand and pulled him into the house.

"It's too cold outside, come in and let's talk."

The second master looked tired and stared intently at her, but his movements were very obedient, and she easily pulled him into the room.

Before the door could be closed, the door to the next room was hurriedly pulled open.

Sui'er and Liu'er showed their faces. The two maids, still shaken, suddenly beamed with joy when they saw that the man in the courtyard was the Second Master.

"So it's Second Master who's back."

The two maids hurriedly greeted her, and Yunying told them to get up, saying, "I'd like to trouble you two to go to the kitchen and get some food for the Second Master."

As soon as she finished speaking, Yin Yunying turned to look at the Second Master, "You haven't had dinner yet, have you?"

The second master said in a hoarse voice, "No."

He held Yunying's soft, boneless hand tightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Yunying didn't know what the Second Master was laughing about, and she didn't have time to ask. She then instructed Sui'er and the other girl, "Get the Second Master some good medicine, and also have someone send some to Suiyu and Leiting. After you're done with these, boil some hot water and put it in the bathtub so the Second Master can take a bath later." "Sigh."

"We'll go and do it right away."

"Thank you for your hard work. I will show you the reward when it gets light."

"Why should I ask the young lady for a reward?"

"This is what we should and should do."

The two maids left in a hurry, leaving only Yunying and the Second Master in the courtyard.

Yunying busied herself around the Second Master, first taking off his cloak and draping it over a chair, then leading him to the washroom in her room to wash his hands and face.

On the shelf in her washroom was a basin of clean water, which she used to wash her hands after getting up at night. The water was still clean, and because the room was warm, it wasn't cold.

As Yunying helped the Second Master wash his hands and face, she grumbled, "Why did you take so long? I thought you would come back sooner, but you've only just returned now. How many days have you been traveling? If you couldn't come back on time, a few nights wouldn't have mattered. Why did you travel at night?"

While washing his face, Second Master would occasionally reply to Yunying, “Something came up and I was delayed… I was afraid you would worry, so I traveled back overnight… It’s alright, it’s just a bit cold today, but it was fine the other day.”

After washing his hands and face, the second master wiped the water off his face and said, "Where's your handkerchief? Let me use it."

Second Master's words abruptly brought Yunying back to reality.

Her actions just now were like a dream. If she wasn't dreaming, how could she have dragged a man into her bathroom while her clothes were disheveled?
Pay attention, she was disheveled! And that was her bathroom!
Not to mention her disheveled appearance, it's a good thing she has a modern mindset, otherwise she would have been mortified!

As for the purification room, it's similar to a canopy bed—a very private place, or even more private. Because the purification room often involves bathing and changing clothes, and even other more shameful things, it's hard not to have impure thoughts when you enter it.

She's very averse to others using her private room!
But when the Second Master used it, she didn't feel uncomfortable; she just felt a little numb!

Yunying thought that the Second Master must have cast a spell on her, otherwise she wouldn't act so carelessly every time she met him, doing a series of things that were contrary to her personality.

Either the Second Master cast a spell on him, or the Second Master knows some strange sorcery.

While her mind was filled with these strange thoughts, Yunying's actions betrayed her true intentions. She took a handkerchief from the shelf beside her and handed it to the Second Master, saying, "You'll have to make do with this."

The second master seemed to see her dilemma and smiled, "I won't settle."

How could it be considered settling?
This handkerchief was something she always used, and it had the same sweet fragrance as her.

He took it, holding it in his hands as if he had touched something taboo. In that instant, he felt his heart surge and his blood rush to his head. He was too overwhelmed with gratitude to even express his satisfaction; this was a reward for returning home on time!

After washing his face and stepping out of the bathroom, Second Master touched the stubble on his face and felt uncomfortable all over.

Yunying turned her head and saw this scene, and curiously glanced at it a few more times.

Second Master coughed lightly, "We've been traveling for several days straight and haven't had time to rest."

"You still dare to talk back!" Yunying glared at him. "Time is of the essence. You can come back slowly. I didn't say you had to be back in the manor by a certain date. Even if you come back late, I'll just grumble at you a few times, but I won't say anything else. On the contrary, you're traveling all night. If something happens to you, I'll be heartbroken."

"It's not that it hasn't been released yet..."

Seeing Yunying's tense face, the second master found it amusing, yet a strange feeling stirred within him. He quickly raised his hands in surrender, "Alright, I'll remember this. I won't travel at night again. If I'm ever really pressed for time, I'll write to you beforehand, okay?"

Yunying nodded, "Let's do it this way from now on."

That hurdle was cleared, and the Second Master leaned close to Yunying and asked, "Isn't my beard rather ugly?"

Yunying looked at Second Master and said, "I didn't expect you to be so concerned about your image."

But to be honest, it's not ugly!

Not only is he not ugly, but he also exudes masculinity and looks like a tough guy.

Yunying thought this way, and that's what she said.

Upon hearing the word "tough guy," Second Master couldn't help but twitch his lips. Whether he was a tough guy or a soft guy, he'd better shave his beard. Otherwise, he'd look several years older for no reason, and standing next to Yunying, they'd look like father and daughter…

Yunying had no idea what the Second Master was thinking. If she did, she probably would have thrown the towel in her hand right at his face.

What kind of weirdo is this guy? He wants to act like an elder to others. He's dreaming.

The two sat down at the table, and Yunying put away the book she had been reading.

She hadn't even turned a few pages, and in such a short time, she had almost forgotten everything in the book.

Yunying picked up the teapot and poured a cup of warm water for the Second Master. Then she asked him, "Why did Prefect Zhang summon him over in such a hurry? And why has he been gone for so many days? Has something serious happened?"
Upon hearing this, the Second Master didn't hide anything from Yun Ying and told her everything.

It turns out that the Second Master's trip there was entirely due to a scheme by Prefect Zhang.

Prefect Zhang sent a letter saying he had important matters to discuss. Second Master assumed it was about some changes in the gold mine, so he went directly there.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving in the prefectural city, they discovered that there were also magistrates from other counties present.

When Second Master saw those people, he sensed something was wrong.

Unfortunately, by then it was too late to turn back.

As it turned out, Second Master's intuition was correct.

He was being held up by Prefect Zhang!
The people under the county magistrate's jurisdiction were so hungry that they started eating grass roots and tree bark. They had no choice but to appeal to the prefectural city, hoping that Prefect Zhang would allocate some more relief grain.

Unfortunately, Prefect Zhang wasn't just the head of one household; he was the head of all the county magistrates in Lingnan Prefecture. The entire Lingnan Prefecture had suffered from the disaster, with some counties in even worse condition. Prefect Zhang was already struggling to help others, so he was reluctant to help this one, who clearly still had the capacity.

But if he didn't help, the other party would come to him again and again, even wanting to sleep on the ground outside his door... Prefect Zhang really had no choice, so he thought of Chen Yanzhou.

Although Yun Gui County, where Second Master lived, suffered severe damage, the people recovered quickly because Second Master himself was well-off and he was truly capable.

In particular, he heard that the overall harvest of crops in Yungui County this season was good, and Yungui County had recovered.

While many other counties were still starving, Yun Gui County had the resources to help others. No wonder Prefect Zhang was misled and set his sights on Yun Gui County.

Prefect Zhang wanted the Second Master to ask for a grain loan, but unfortunately, the Second Master knew his own family's situation.

His situation is starting to improve, and borrowing grain is absolutely out of the question, as even the people under his jurisdiction don't have enough to eat.

Happy New Year's Eve!! In the new year, may you reach for the highest peaks, may you pluck the brightest moon, may you enjoy good health and happiness, and may you become incredibly wealthy!!