noffsinger Chapter 2184 Master and Servant Finally Meet
Chapter 2184 Master and Servant Finally Meet
As Yan Ruyu listened to the First Madam's story, her heart stirred slightly. She reached out and took the earthenware jar from the maid. Her fingertips touched the jar, and she felt its warmth.
There was nothing unusual, and there were no alarms in the space.
She carefully examined the seal on the jar, then leaned closer to smell it, only detecting a faint medicinal aroma mixed with the fresh scent of the ingredients.
She got up, walked to the table, picked up a clean porcelain bowl, and personally served a bowl to the First Madam.
The medicinal dish had a warm, light brown color, with a few red dates and goji berries faintly visible inside. Its aroma was becoming increasingly rich, and the smell was soothing.
Yan Ruyu took a light sniff; the aroma of the ingredients was pure, the medicinal smell was not strong, and the blend was just right. From the color and aroma to the texture, there was nothing wrong with it.
The First Madam took the porcelain bowl, picked up a spoon and stirred it gently. She scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth, savoring it carefully, a satisfied look on her face.
"This medicinal cuisine is really good. It's not bitter or astringent, and it even has a hint of sweetness. It tastes much better than those herbal soups."
She took a few sips, put down the bowl, and sighed comfortably: "After drinking it, my whole body felt warm and I felt indescribably comfortable."
Looking at her calm demeanor, Yan Ruyu smiled gently, but secretly pondered: The arrival of this medicinal diet from Yishengtang was too strange. It happened to appear just when her mother and Madam Cao's illnesses were not getting better, and it just so happened to cure their illnesses. It was too much of a coincidence.
Just then, footsteps came from outside, and Huo Changhe and Huo Changxu walked in.
When the First Madam saw them return, she quickly said, "You're finally back! Please sit down, the food is almost on the table."
The maids quickly brought out the food, a table full of steaming dishes.
Huo Changhe sat down next to Yan Ruyu, his gaze sweeping over the dishes on the table before finally settling on the bowl of medicinal food in front of the First Madam. He asked, "Mother, do you drink this medicinal food from Yishengtang every day? What kind of medicinal food is it that has such effects?"
“I drink it every day,” the First Madam said with a smile. “I drink their ‘Qi-Nourishing and Mind-Calming Soup,’ which they say is made with astragalus, angelica, red dates, and a few other ingredients that I don’t know the names of. It’s specially made to nourish qi and blood and calm the mind.”
She turned to Yan Ruyu and said, "You can buy some to try too. They taste good and are very effective."
Yan Ruyu nodded with a smile: "Thank you for your concern, Mother. Since this medicinal cuisine is so good, I will have to try it sometime."
Huo Changhe raised his eyes and asked, "What do the shopkeepers and waiters there look like?"
"The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man who spoke gently and seemed quite kind," Huo Changxu recalled. "The staff were also very enthusiastic and would carefully inquire about the guests' health conditions before recommending suitable medicinal meals."
They are quite meticulous in their work.
The First Madam placed a piece of black-boned chicken in Yan Ruyu's bowl: "Quickly try this chicken soup. It's been simmering for several hours, and it's very tender. You and Changhe have had a long journey back, so you should nourish yourselves."
Yan Ruyu thanked her and accepted the soup, then lowered her head and took a sip of the chicken soup, the fresh and fragrant taste spreading across her tongue.
She ate while listening to the First Madam speak, her gaze occasionally sweeping over the medicinal food jar on the table, her doubts still lingering.
After lunch, Huo Changhe and Yan Ruyu bid farewell to the First Madam and walked side by side along the stone path under the corridor to their own courtyard.
Sunlight filters through the dense branches, casting dappled shadows on the ground. A gentle breeze carries the fragrance of flowers, a truly delightful experience.
After walking a few steps, Huo Changhe turned to look at Yan Ruyu, his voice gentle: "Do you feel there's anything wrong with the medicinal cuisine?"
Yan Ruyu did not stop walking. Her gaze fell on the lotus pond not far ahead. The surface of the pond was sparkling, and several lotus flowers were about to bloom.
She nodded slowly: "From the color and aroma to the taste, there is nothing wrong with it, but I just feel like something is not right."
She paused, then added, "The illnesses of Mother and Madam Cao came on strangely, and coincidentally, the medicinal cuisine from Yishengtang could cure them. It's too much of a coincidence."
Huo Changhe frowned slightly and pondered for a moment before saying, "What you said makes sense."
He turned to Yan Ruyu, his tone tinged with concern, "Go back to your courtyard and rest well. You must be exhausted from traveling these past few days. I'll arrange for someone to buy several kinds of Yishengtang medicinal cuisine and have them carefully examine them."
"Alright." Yan Ruyu agreed, a hint of fatigue on her face. "You should also be careful and cautious in everything you do."
Before they even reached the courtyard gate, they could see two figures leaning against the door frame, craning their necks to look in their direction. It was Linlang and the head of the household.
Since learning that Yan Ruyu was returning to the mansion today, the two of them have been restless, running to the door to look around every now and then.
Upon seeing Yan Ruyu, Linlang's eyes lit up instantly. Unable to contain herself any longer, she pounced on Yan Ruyu, with the leader behind her quickly following behind, his face filled with uncontainable joy.
"Master! We've been waiting for you to come back!" Linlang ran up to Yan Ruyu, bowed respectfully, her voice filled with genuine longing, and her eyes slightly moist.
Yan Ruyu stopped and smiled as she looked at the little girl in front of her.
Linlang seemed to have grown taller and thinner than before, but her eyes were still bright and she was full of energy.
She reached out and gently patted Linlang's shoulder, then turned her gaze to the head of the household beside her.
The head of the gang was still the same as always, dressed in a plain-colored outfit, her hair neatly combed. However, her eyes were filled with emotion as she looked at Yan Ruyu, and her eyes were quietly moist. She stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, you're back."
"Get up, both of you." Yan Ruyu helped the two of them up.
Linlang straightened up and couldn't help but say, "Master, you've been gone for so long, I've missed you terribly!"
"Every day I do nothing but practice martial arts and calligraphy, and Green Lake is never in the courtyard. I'm getting so bored."
Yan Ruyu was amused by her and took out a small cloth bag from her bundle, handing it to Linlang: "I passed through several small towns on the way and saw some interesting little things, so I brought them back for you."
Linlang took the cloth bag with delight and couldn't wait to open it. Inside were a pair of small and exquisite jade pendants, carved into the shape of rabbits, round and cute, as well as a silver dagger and a pair of wrist guards.
Linlang's eyes sparkled as she picked up the silver dagger, admiring it with obvious delight: "Thank you, Master!"
The head of the gang also accepted the wristband that Yan Ruyu handed over, stroking it with his fingertips: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
"These are just some cheap little things, I'm glad you like them."
Yan Ruyu was smiling and about to walk into the courtyard when she suddenly heard light footsteps behind her.
"princess!"
The group turned around and saw Su Shengsheng walking quickly towards them.
He had entered the manor with Yin Ding earlier and knew that Yan Ruyu had spoken to the First Madam, so he hadn't dared to go and disturb her.
"Miss Su," Yan Ruyu nodded in greeting.