Chapter 44

The next morning.

Nan Baoyi slept soundly when she was suddenly awakened by He Ye’s gentle tugs, “Miss, wake up, it’s dawn. You won’t be able to wait for Second Young Master here.”

Nan Baoyi wiped her saliva in a daze, “Second Brother hasn’t come back yet?”

“I heard from a servant that Second Young Master and General Situ were drinking last night and stayed in a hotel for a night when it was late. He just got back.”

Nan Baoyi asked hurriedly, “Where is he now?”

“In Songhe Yard, greeting and talking to Old Madam.”

“I’ll go have a look!”

Before Nan Baoyi could run out, He Ye dragged her back, “Miss should freshen up first. With this appearance, people will laugh at you.”

Nan Baoyi looked at the mirror.

Her clothes were disheveled and her loose buns and hairpins were slanted which was unsightly.

She rubbed the tip of her nose shyly.

Two hours had passed when she was finally dressed up properly and head to Songhe Yard.

Oddly enough, there were a lot of relatives in Songhe Yard and the hall was crowded.

Nan Baoyi looked around quietly and found Xiao Yi sitting next to Grandmother. His posture was grave and reserved, greeting relatives around him.

Although he looked absent-minded, it did not give people a feeling of arrogance.

It was as though he was born with this unattainable elegance.

After listening for a while, Nan Baoyi found out that Xiao Yi was highly recognized by Situ Lin and made an exception to promote him to an officer of the sixth rank, managing his military rations and expenses. He would officially take office seven days later.

Her fingertips unconsciously scratched the corner of her sleeves. A lot of things had changed since her rebirth, even Xiao Yi entering the military was ahead of time…

This was still considered good news, right?

While thinking about it, Grandmother smiled kindly and said, “You’re here Jiaojiao’er?”

Nan Baoyi obediently walked into the hall and saluted all the elders to pay her respects.

She secretly glanced at Xiao Yi. He sat upright and still did not look at her.

Grandmother said further, “A few of your cousin sisters and Zhu’er are playing in the garden. Go quickly and entertain them properly.”

Nan Baoyi responded okay and could not help but look at Xiao Yi again.

He was talking to an uncle and obviously had no time to entertain her.

Her eyes darkened. She lowered her head and walked out.

When it was time for lunch, she held the lucky coin and looked for Xiao Yi but the male members of the family already started eating.

Even if it was only an officer of the sixth rank, having a member of the Nan family in an official position was not an easy thing to do. Xiao Yi was treated like a god by his relatives and there was a lot of enthusiasm in the dining table. She had no chance of squeezing in to talk, let alone giving a present.

Nan Baoyi could only accompany her cousin sisters half-heartedly for the rest of the day.

Birds returned to their nests when the evening light gradually slipped off the glazed tiles.

Finally, it was time to send their relatives off and Nan Baoyi had free time.

She happily ran back to Chaowen Yard but Xiao Yi had not returned yet.

She stood under the eaves feeling disappointed.

Yu Wei passed by and asked curiously, “Why is Miss standing here all alone?”

“I’ve prepared a present for Second Brother and want to give it to him in person.”

Yu Wei smiled, “Master is still talking to Old Madam in Songhe Yard, I’m afraid he will be having dinner over there. You shouldn’t wait anymore, the winds are strong at dusk. If you get a cold, Master will be sad.”

Nan Baoyi did not respond but her heart was filled with grievances.

When Yu Wei left, she walked back to the study dispiritedly.

There were piles of gifts from their relatives, all to congratulate Xiao Yi. There were many rare items such as thousand-year-old ginseng, red jade agate, jade screens, gold paperweight, etc. Even though she was used to seeing expensive things, she was still dumbfounded.

Yes, Second Brother entered the military, they should bring gifts.

She looked at the lucky coin on her palm and felt inadequate in an instant.

Compared to the gifts by others, how could she present such an ordinary gift?

Second Brother would look down at it.

She walked out of the study sadly and sat on the steps.

The setting sun sank into the sky, shadows leaping around in the garden. The colorful flowers looked a little withered, like her, she could not lift her spirits.

She held her cheeks with both hands and quietly looked at the entrance of the yard.

She thought, even if she did not give him a present, it was also good to thank him and congratulate him in person.

The moonlight shined.

The lanterns flickered under the eaves, the gardens were mottled with light and shadow, cricket noises could be heard vaguely, making Chaowen Yard seemed quieter and more reserved.

Nan Baoyi tightened her clothes and stared eagerly at the courtyard door.

The moon shadow crossed the flower walls and the young man had yet to return.

She yawned and dozing off, murmured aggrievedly, “The moon is high up in the sky, why are you still not back yet…”

She could not fight her sleepiness and gradually fell asleep on the steps.

When Xiao Yi was asked to come back by Yu Wei, he saw the little girl outside the study from afar.

She must be cold, sleeping in a manner all curled up like a ball, like a cub curling up.

Was she waiting for him?

Yu Wei said in a lowered voice, “Miss has been waiting for Master the whole day and even prepared a present. I felt pity for her so I boldly asked Master to return.”

Xiao Yi walked closer and called out, “Nan Baoyi.”

The little girl was sound asleep.

Xiao Yi paused and carried her, heading to his own bedroom.

He laid the little girl on a bed.

Nan Baoyi’s cheeks were fair and tender, like hibiscus that had yet to bloom, her bright red lips looked extra delicate.

He could smell the hibiscus scent on her when he moved closer to her.

He knew that she liked to use floral-scented lipstick and skin cream.

He stretched out his hand to touch her face.

The girl’s skin was cold, she must have waited for him for a long time.

He carefully covered her with a blanket.

She was nestled deep in the blanket. Perhaps she dreamt of something unhappy, she pursed her lips slightly, her cheeks bulging like a squirrel which gave him the urge to kiss it…

This thought puzzled Xiao Yi.

However, he heard of his classmates in the academy discussing how they also liked their young sister at home, although what they meant by young was one to two years old.

But Nan Jiaojiao was only twelve years old and not fifteen years old yet, she should still be considered a young child, right?

[Translation note: A fifteen-year-old girl is considered a young woman of legal age in ancient times]

Xiao Yi personally felt it was.

And so he leaned forward closely with his eyes closed.

He inhaled a deep and sweet hibiscus scent.

This was Nan Jiaojiao’s smell…

He felt at peace and kissed her cheeks lightly.

He opened his eyes and saw the little girl woke up somehow, looking at him foolishly.