Chapter 104

Chapter 104

Jiang Mo rested her chin on her hands, her bright eyes fixed on Chen Yingchou. "Your Majesty even knows how to brew medicine?"

"I don't know how, but I can learn. It's not difficult." Chen Yingchou picked up the palm-leaf fan and began to fan the stove fire. However, he fanned too hard, causing flames to leap out. Just then, two maids entered the kitchen to prepare lunch, and as they lifted the curtain, the wind blew the smoke toward Chen Yingchou. He inhaled it without a chance to prepare, coughing uncontrollably.

He quickly stood up and turned his back to Jiang Mo as he continued coughing.

Jiang Mo walked around the stove to his side and patted him on the back. "Are you alright?"

She poured him a bowl of water and handed it over. Chen Yingchou took it, drank a couple of sips, and gradually stopped coughing.

Jiang Mo took the fan from him. "Let me do it."

She sat back down on the small stool, used a thick cloth to lift the lid of the medicine pot to check, then covered it again. "The medicine will be ready soon. Your Majesty, please wait a moment."

Chen Yingchou looked a bit dejected. "Even such a small task as brewing medicine, I can't manage well."

Jiang Mo glanced at the two maids, who kept craning their necks to look this way. She lowered her voice. "Your Majesty, it's better if you wait for me outside."

Given Chen Yingchou's identity, the page boy in the front yard must have already told the other servants. The emperor coming to take her away meant the An Family Army had lost. Jiang Mo's heart was pounding. Aside from Bai Gu, who served Madam An, she wondered if the others would stay on.

"I'm not leaving. I'll wait for you here." Chen Yingchou said to the two maids, "You two, get out."

Startled, the maids hurriedly left.

"Your Majesty, you chased them away. Who will prepare lunch?"

Chen Yingchou rolled up his sleeves. "After you left, I learned to make one pastry and one congee. A Mo, would you like to try them?"

Jiang Mo looked up. "What pastry and what congee?"

"Jasmine flower cake and lily congee. How about it? They're both your favorites."

Jiang Mo felt a warmth in her heart. She hadn't expected Chen Yingchou to learn these especially for her. Her eyes grew misty. "But there are no jasmine flowers or lilies here. How will Your Majesty make them?"

Chen Yingchou frowned, looking around. He noticed red beans on the vegetable rack. "How about I make red bean cake and red bean congee for you instead? They're both pastries and congee, so the method should be similar, right?"

Jiang Mo lifted the lid of the medicine pot to check, then set the lid aside. She set down the fan, stood up, walked over to Chen Yingchou, rolled down his sleeves, and thrust the cloak into his hands. "The medicine is ready. Your Majesty doesn't need to wait here with me. Quickly, let those two maids come in to prepare lunch."

She picked up an empty bowl from the counter, used a white cloth to grip the handle of the medicine pot, poured the decoction into the bowl, placed it on a tray, and said, "I'll deliver the medicine to Madam An. Your Majesty, please wait for me in the flower hall."

As Jiang Mo headed toward the rear courtyard rooms, Chen Yingchou followed her like a puppy dog all the way to Madam An's door.

Jiang Mo hadn't expected him to be so clingy. She turned to him. "Your Majesty isn't planning to follow me inside, is he?"

"I'll wait for you here." Chen Yingchou's gaze looked pitiful. "I want to wait for you."

Jiang Mo gave a gentle shake of her head. Holding the tray with one hand, she touched his face like coaxing a child, her voice soft. "I have a lot to say to Madam An. It's too cold outside. Your Majesty should go to the flower hall."

Chen Yingchou looked reluctant, crossing his arms as he leaned against the corridor pillar. "I'm not leaving. I'll wait for you here."

He was too afraid—afraid that Jiang Mo might disappear at any moment, afraid he would never find her again, afraid of losing her once more.

If Jiang Mo were willing, he would have followed her inside.

Jiang Mo no longer tried to dissuade him. "I'll be quick. Your Majesty, please wait."

Chen Yingchou said, "No need. Say everything you want to say; leave no regrets. I'm strong and healthy; waiting a bit longer is fine. Don't worry about me."

Jiang Mo looked at the white streak of hair at his temple, her heart aching. Although Chen Yingchou hadn't explained the reason, she knew that such a thing only happened when one was in extreme grief. He must be afraid she would vanish without warning, which was why he didn't dare to be far from her.

Her gaze fixed on Chen Yingchou, she stepped right up to him in one stride, shielding the bowl of medicine on the tray, stood on tiptoe, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before turning and entering the room.

Chen Yingchou's brows and eyes lifted, his mouth unable to stop grinning. His heart was sweeter than honey, at that moment he felt he was the happiest person in the world.

As soon as Jiang Mo entered the room, Bai Gu came to take the tray from her hands. "I just heard some commotion in the front yard. What happened? This old servant wanted to go check, but the madam wouldn't allow it."

"It's General Jinzhi who has returned."

Upon hearing this, Madam An struggled to sit up. "Jinzhi is back? Why hasn't she come to see me? How goes the war?"

"General Jinzhi looks very tired. She must have gone to bathe and change first."

Madam An stared at Jiang Mo, with an expression that showed she knew she was being deceived but didn't call her out. After drinking the medicine, she dismissed Bai Gu, saying she wanted to speak to Jiang Mo alone.

"Come, sit by the bed." Madam An leaned against the pillow and beckoned to Jiang Mo.

Jiang Mo sat down. Madam An took her hand. "Miss Jiang, your expression is different from before. Your eyes look much brighter. Has the An Family Army been defeated? Are you leaving?"

Jiang Mo lowered her head and said according to An Jinzhi's instructions, "The war isn't over yet. Old General An and the others are all fine. It's Young Master An who wants to see me and has sent someone to fetch me. I'll be leaving for a while."

Madam An leaned forward, closer to Jiang Mo. "Miss Jiang, look up at me. Tell me the truth. Don't deceive me anymore."

Jiang Mo still couldn't bear to tell the truth. Knowing Madam An didn't have many days left, she let her hold onto hope.

"Madam, don't overthink. Just rest well and focus on recovering."

Madam An released Jiang Mo's hand and turned her head away. "I know you're lying to me, and I know why you're doing it. It seems I will die without knowing the truth."

Jiang Mo stood up and curtsied to Madam An. "Madam, I am leaving today. I don't know when we'll see each other again. Please take care of yourself, and wait for An..."

"Have the general and my two sons all died in battle?" Madam An interrupted Jiang Mo, turning to look at her, eyes full of tears. "I know my children. When Jinzhi left, her expression was wrong. I could see she was putting on a brave face. I know I am terminally ill and have only a few days left." Saying this, Madam An tried to get up, but she was too weak. Jiang Mo quickly supported her.

"To the window."

Jiang Mo helped Madam An to the couch by the window. Madam An looked outside, pointing to the osmanthus tree in the courtyard, and smiled bitterly. "More than ten days ago, I dreamed of the general and my eldest son. They were standing under that tree. I asked them why they didn't come inside. The general said they weren't clean and just wanted to take one last look at me before leaving."

As she spoke, tears rolled down Madam An's face. "I knew they were dead and had come to bid me farewell."

She grasped Jiang Mo's hand. "You are a good girl. I know your heart is not with Zeyou, and that you would leave sooner or later. Before you go, give me the truth, so I can die knowing whether to hurry or take my time on the road to the underworld."

Jiang Mo felt there was no need to lie anymore, but she couldn't bring herself to say such cruel words. She only said, "Young Master An is still alive. He will come to see you soon."

Madam An patted Jiang Mo's hand and nodded. With just that sentence, she understood everything. "Thank you for telling me..." Her tears flowed uncontrollably. "Thank you for taking care of me all this time. Go now, go where your heart desires. I'll pray for you." She pointed at the dressing case. "At the bottom layer, there is a jade bracelet. Bring it here."

Jiang Mo opened the dressing case, took out the jade bracelet, and handed it to Madam An. Madam An held it up to the window light, looking at it. "This was meant for you, but it's a pity Zeyou wasn't fortunate enough. We are fated not to be family."

Jiang Mo said, "Young Master An will surely meet a good girl who loves him, and he will put this jade bracelet on her wrist with his own hands."

Madam An sighed deeply. "I won't be alive to see that day." She pushed herself up from the couch. "Help me back to bed."

Once Madam An was back in bed, Jiang Mo pulled the quilt over her. "Madam, I'll leave after noon. Take care."

"Don't tell Jinzhi that I already know. Let her continue to deceive me. That way, after I'm gone, she'll feel a little better."

Jiang Mo nodded and turned to leave.

When she walked out of the room, she saw Chen Yingchou leaning against the pillar with his eyes closed, resting. She stood still, her gaze fixed on his face, and only then noticed the exhaustion on his face.

God knows how much he went through to find her.

A gentle warmth slowly trickled into Jiang Mo's heart, growing stronger and pushing her to run toward him.

Chen Yingchou sensed her gaze and had just opened his eyes when he saw Jiang Mo running over. He immediately opened his arms and caught her. "Are you done talking?"

Jiang Mo deeply inhaled the familiar jasmine scent on Chen Yingchou. "All done." She lifted her head. "Are you tired, Your Majesty?"

"Not tired. After lunch, we'll set out around 3 PM and arrive by 7 AM tomorrow. But tonight, you'll have to put up with traveling at night." Chen Yingchou held Jiang Mo tightly. "After that, you'll have to endure more than ten days of travel before we reach Shangjing."

Jiang Mo looked up and lightly pecked Chen Yingchou's chin. "I don't want to go back to Shangjing yet. I want to go to Jiangnan first to find my father and younger brother. Would you be willing to come with me, Your Majesty?"

Chen Yingchou lowered himself to meet Jiang Mo's eyes and pouted. "That was way too half-hearted. I can't agree to that."

Jiang Mo laughed teasingly and lightly pecked his lips. "Like this, does Your Majesty agree?"

Chen Yingchou gazed at Jiang Mo, his eyes brimming with the preciousness of having her back and endless longing. "Not enough."

"Mm..."

Jiang Mo was pressed into his arms, and kisses rained down on her, gently and lingeringly tasting her lips. The warmth between their lips slowly melted and flowed into each other's hearts.

In the silence, they could only hear each other's breathing. Everything seemed to freeze, as if only they existed in the world.

Jiang Mo still had a shred of reason and, realizing they were outside, gently pushed him away.

Chen Yingchou rested his forehead against hers, his warm hand caressing her cheek, covering half of her face. His fingers traced back and forth over her lips, his gaze so tender it felt like it could swallow her whole. "A Mo, I love you so much."