Rebirth: Traveling To Ancient Times As A Companion Reading Chapter 15

Disappeared

Following Nanny Wu, Qiao Yi arrived at a courtyard.

Nanny Wu did not stay there for long. She had someone examine his injuries, gave him a simple wash, and assigned a few people to look after him before preparing to leave.

Before departing, Nanny Wu did not forget to say to Qiao Yi, “These are the Madam’s people. If you need anything, just tell them. I still have matters to attend to, so I won’t stay here for long.”

Under the service of several maids, Qiao Yi finished bathing and changed into a set of clean, comfortable, and soft red silk clothes. Qiao Yi, who had already regained his composure, suddenly turned red-eyed upon hearing this. He grabbed Nanny Wu’s sleeve and refused to let go, pouting his lips in grievance. “Don’t go, Nanny. I’m scared.”

Looking at Qiao Yi’s large, round, dark eyes filled with tears, Nanny Wu’s heart softened instantly. She gently wiped away the tear stains on Qiao Yi’s smooth, fair face and comforted him, “Don’t be afraid. This is Changchun Pavilion, where the Madam lives. No one will dare bully you again.”

Qiao Yi shook his head and choked out, “Sixth Brother keeps dogs. He wants to set them on me to bite me to death. I can’t run away.”

Nanny Wu said, “It’s alright. With Ming Huan and the others here, there won’t be any dogs.”

“That’s right. Young Master, we sisters are all here. With us around, not even an ant can get close to you. Rest assured.” Ming Huan, who was standing nearby, was quick-witted and stepped forward to help comfort Qiao Yi.

Qiao Yi turned to look at Ming Huan and the others. He seemed a bit more at ease and knew he could not rely too much on Nanny Wu. He let go of her sleeve and wiped the tears from his face. Though his eyes were still red and swollen, he remained strong. “Mm. My mother said that a man shouldn’t be a crybaby. I can do it myself. Nanny, I can do it.”

Seeing Qiao Yi’s display of feigned strength, like a young beast forced to learn independence after losing its mother, Nanny Wu’s eyes filled with maternal affection. She stroked Qiao Yi’s head. “Good boy, rest well here. After tonight, everything will be better tomorrow.”

Qiao Yi: “Mm.”

Standing up, Nanny Wu looked at Ming Huan and the others and said calmly, “Take good care of the Young Master. As for other things, don’t talk too much.”

“Yes.”

After Nanny Wu left, Ming Huan stepped forward and asked Qiao Yi, “Young Master, are you hungry? Would you like some food served?”

Qiao Yi blinked his eyes in confusion and asked innocently, “Can I eat food too?”

Seeing Qiao Yi’s expectant yet fearful gaze, Ming Huan felt a pang of pity. He was clearly a young master of the Qin residence, yet he didn’t have enough to eat or wear and was beaten until his body was covered in wounds. What a sin.

“Of course you can,” Ming Huan said softly. “Young Master, what would you like to eat?”

Qiao Yi: “Then I want to eat steamed buns.”

“Steamed buns?” Ming Huan asked in surprise.

Qiao Yi’s mood instantly plummeted. He crossed his hands, looking somewhat restless. “What’s wrong? Is it not allowed?”

Ming Huan reacted immediately and smiled. “Of course it’s allowed. You can eat whatever you want, Young Master.” She then turned and called out, “Ming Hua, go to the small kitchen and get some white flour steamed buns and side dishes. The Young Master wants to eat.”

Ming Hua: “Alright.”

Hearing that he could eat steamed buns, Qiao Yi immediately broke into a smile. He gave Ming Huan a sweet grin. “Thank you, Sister.”

Ming Huan’s heart felt as soft as could be. “This is what I should do.”

After eating, seeing that Qiao Yi was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open, Ming Huan was sensible and immediately had everyone leave so Qiao Yi could rest in the room.

The candles were extinguished, and the room fell into darkness.

After an unknown amount of time, once it was certain there was no movement outside, the lump under the quilt on the bed suddenly moved. Then, a round black head appeared in the darkness, its owner pricking up his ears to listen to the sounds outside.

No one, no one, no one here either. Good, very safe.

After confirming no one was outside, a dark shadow leaped from the bed with a swish.

Creak.

The door opened, and the dark shadow sneakily left the courtyard, heading straight for the kitchen.

Seriously, didn’t we agree you’d come find me? Why haven’t I seen that dead cat after waiting so long?

Wearing only thin inner robes, Qiao Yi grumbled inwardly while searching for the cat.

The frost was heavy on this late summer, early autumn night, and the temperature was low. Qiao Yi hopped around from the cold while whispering Heipa’s name, hoping the cat would hear him and come out quickly.

“Strange? Why haven’t I seen him after calling for so long?” Qiao Yi was very confused. He and Heipa had agreed that if he didn’t see the cat coming for him, it would definitely be staying here. Where did the cat go?

He wanted to search more, but Qiao Yi only found that inconspicuous box in the corner where Heipa had been crouching tonight. He couldn’t see anything else.

“Where did Heipa go…?” Qiao Yi looked at the box in his hand with confusion. “Did he run back to find me at this time?”

Maybe I should look a bit more.

Just as he was thinking this, Qiao Yi suddenly heard the voices of Qiao Yunlan and Nanny Wu coming from not far away.

Not good.

Qiao Yi didn’t dare make a sound. He pressed himself against the wall to hide his figure. He must not let them discover he had snuck out.

The mistress and servant seemed to have come to the kitchen to get something. Their conversation was very casual and relaxed. They never imagined someone would be hiding in the corner eavesdropping on them.

Not knowing what Qiao Yunlan had said earlier, Nanny Wu seemed a bit helpless as she advised, “Madam, it’s enough to deal with that concubine. Those children are, after all, the Master’s offspring. If you go too far, it will inevitably lead to gossip.”

Qiao Yunlan sneered. “Nanny, you don’t need to persuade me. If that Qin Chi were as well-behaved and cute as Qin Yi, I would let it go. But he actually dared to release hyenas to bite me? Does he really think I’m some kind of living Bodhisattva? If I don’t kill them, I’ll be failing my child who died young ten years ago, and I’ll be failing myself.”

“Sigh…” Nanny Wu seemed to recall something from the past. “That incident back then was truly a pity. If not for… otherwise, Madam, you would have a child this old by now.”

Qiao Yunlan: “I thought that the fall I took back then was in the past, and I only blamed myself for being careless. But that bitch just had to provoke and goad me. If I don’t kill her as she wishes, I won’t be able to satisfy my hatred.”

Nanny Wu: “Madam…”

“Forget it, forget it… let’s not mention this.” Qiao Yunlan seemed to find it unlucky and changed the subject. “How is the child you brought back to Changchun Pavilion today?”

Speaking of this, Nanny Wu’s tone became somewhat strange. “That child…”

Qiao Yunlan: “What is it?”

Nanny Wu shook her head. “The doctor who came today said the injuries on this child are all extremely dangerous, fatal wounds. It’s a miracle he survived.”

Qiao Yunlan: “It’s that serious?”

Nanny Wu: “More than that. According to the doctor, this child has been hungry for a long time and already shows signs of collapse. If he hadn’t been saved sooner, I’m afraid he would be gone.”

Qiao Yunlan: “How could that be? Didn’t he look fine tonight?”

Nanny Wu: “I’m afraid the child was just enduring it and not showing it. That kind of suffering, he…” Nanny Wu shook her head. “He and his mother must have had a hard time these past few years.”

Qiao Yunlan thought carefully, perhaps reminiscing about something. Only after a long time did she say, “Let’s go see him.”

Holy crap! Damn! There’s no need for that, right?

Qiao Yi never expected that their conversation would lead to them deciding to visit him.

To avoid being exposed, Qiao Yi couldn’t care about finding Heipa anymore. He turned and dashed back along the shortcut he had just taken.

Because he was running too fast, Qiao Yi felt something fall off his person.

Qiao Yi looked back as he ran, seemingly trying to see what he had lost. But the sky was dim, and Qiao Yi was taking a small path overgrown with weeds, so he couldn’t see what he had dropped at all.

Forget it, never mind! Getting back is more important.

Unable to see anything, Qiao Yi turned his head without hesitation and charged straight ahead. No matter what he lost, it wasn’t as serious as blowing his cover in front of Qiao Yunlan and Nanny Wu. He had to get back first.

Hurrying all the way, Qiao Yi managed to lie back on the bed just before Qiao Yunlan and Nanny Wu arrived.

The moment Qiao Yi calmed his breathing, the door was opened.

The faint light of a candle appeared in the room, followed by several dark figures.

Ming Huan and Ming Hua had also just been woken up. They threw on outer coats and led Qiao Yunlan and Nanny Wu inside.

By the faint light of the candle, Qiao Yunlan looked at Qiao Yi’s peaceful sleeping face as he lay on the bed. He was truly endearing. She couldn’t help but reach out and gently touch Qiao Yi’s face. Although it was a bit thin and sallow from hunger, it was still soft, firm, and smooth. Were children always this well-behaved and cute?

After lightly touching Qiao Yi, Qiao Yunlan intended to withdraw her hand. But unexpectedly, in the next instant, a small hand grabbed the hand pressed against his face.

In his sleep, Qiao Yi unconsciously grabbed Qiao Yunlan’s hand and murmured, “Mother.”

Upon hearing what Qiao Yi was calling out, Qiao Yunlan’s eyes widened instantly. She held her breath, her heart feeling as if it were being tightly squeezed, making it difficult for her to breathe.

Seeing this scene, Ming Huan couldn’t help but think of tonight’s events and sighed, “The Young Master is truly pitiful. For dinner tonight, he didn’t even think about how much delicious food he could have; he only wanted steamed buns. I wonder how much suffering he endured in the past to become like this.”

Qiao Yunlan looked back.

Nanny Wu scolded in a low voice, “What nonsense are you talking! Get out!”

Ming Huan was so frightened she immediately knelt. “I didn’t mean it. It’s just… it’s just that the Young Master is… I’m sorry…”

Qiao Yunlan said nothing, only saying, “Get up.”

Ming Huan, still shaken, said respectfully, “Yes.”

Qiao Yunlan looked at the sleeping Qiao Yi, her gaze softening. There was a slight change in her expression, no longer as hardened as it had been in Baixiang Garden tonight.

Nanny Wu noticed the change in Qiao Yunlan’s attitude and guessed something. She looked at Qiao Yi on the bed and thought to herself, “You child, your bitter days have finally come to an end.”

Banxia Novel, lots of happiness.