Chapter 4 Phew... I almost gave myself away! My wife really likes me!

"Who is the young lady calling?" Bai Yan stopped in his tracks, his expression growing serious. The name sounded like a man's, and he even knew the lady before him. It seemed he needed to hurry.

"It's nothing, just an old friend I haven't seen in a long time and suddenly remembered me."

"Oh? Are you and him very close, young lady?" Bai Yan composed himself and quickly followed.

The second floor has a decent amount of space, but it's still cluttered with a lot of fabric stock, leaving little room to move around.

Jiang Yuzhi walked straight to the table where the unfinished products were placed, picked up the scissors to cut the cloth, and then answered Bai Yan's question.

"Well, I guess that's alright, but whether he considers me a friend is another question." Thinking back on that person's actions, after so many years, Jiang Yuzhi had become indifferent to it all. She stopped talking and focused on her work.

Bai Yan wasn't idle either. Seeing that she showed no sign of continuing, he picked up a ledger and started recording the fabric inventory.

Before you know it, it's noon.

A-Zhao, accompanied by several people, carried five food boxes that reached up to her knees, and was led in by a maid at the counter.

A group of people were setting up a table, and at Fan Wujiu's signal, a maid went upstairs to urge the man and the ghost to come down for their meal.

Jiang Yu's weaving and cutting of cloth was nearing its end, and Bai Yan silently gathered up the scraps of fabric.

When we came downstairs, the small stone table was piled high with plates, almost forming a small mountain.

"Why didn't you bring out that wooden table from the kitchen?" Jiang Yuzhi's lips twitched twice as she coldly questioned her two brothers' actions.

"Xiao Zhi, I rarely eat these things." The implication was that this was his problem, and had nothing to do with me.

Having his words stolen and frequently stealing food from the human world, Xie Bi'an could only glare at the composed Black Impermanence before reluctantly heading to the kitchen to move a table.

"Brother Jiang, let me help..." Bai Yan was about to step forward to help his future brother-in-law when Jiang Yuzhi grabbed his wrist. "Let him go. You're not feeling well. Sit down quickly."

Having spent the morning with Jiang Yuzhi, Bai Yan, full of energy and boundless vitality, obediently listened to his wife and sat on the stone bench.

The weather was lovely, and they ate in the yard for two days in a row.

Fan Wujiu didn't just wait idly. He silently walked to the storeroom, and when he came out, he was followed by three maids dressed in the same clothes, making a total of four with the previous one.

The maids carried trays, stacking the dishes high, without showing any sign of strain.

Bai Yan was completely baffled. Were all the women in his wife's family of the same lineage and strong? These maids were carrying so many things, and they were expressionless. Looking closely, they all seemed to look pretty much the same.

He quietly turned his head and asked in a soft voice.

"Mother... Tamao, may I call you that?"

"What's wrong?"

"Are your maids sisters? They look so alike. What do they eat? They seem quite strong."

Oh no, what's wrong with Brother Fan? Jiang Yuzhi frantically tried to find a way to smooth things over.

"Um, these girls were bought by my older brother on his way here. Yes, that's right. His family used to run a security escort agency, but they went out of business due to bad luck. They couldn't afford to raise four daughters, so my brother bought them. It's normal that they know some martial arts and are strong."

Once a lie is out of your mouth, it flows smoothly and easily.

"What are their names? I'll be here often in the future, so I'm sure I'll see them a lot."

"Hmm...weaving clothes, weaving earrings, weaving umbrellas, weaving Si."

The name was also strange. Bai Yan stretched out his hand in front of Jiang Yuzhi, "Which characters are they? Can you write them down for me?"

A slightly cool hand, calloused and smooth, traced lines on Bai Yan's palm. Bai Yan felt a tingling sensation in his heart, and the small patch of skin that touched his palm felt warm.

I put all my doubts aside. Anyway, the name has been given and the origin has been explained, so there shouldn't be any problems. My wife's hands are so warm and her touch is so gentle.

The female ghost withdrew her icy hand and, seeing that Bai Yan was no longer asking questions, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Xie Bi'an, who had already retrieved the table, didn't dare to utter a sound. The Black and White Impermanence watched the entire process nervously, afraid that their mistakes would ruin their sister's plan.

In fact, Jiang Yuzhi had no plan; she just hadn't figured out how to bring it up with Bai Yan yet.

I can't just tell him directly that I'm actually a female ghost. If he's not mentally strong enough, wouldn't he just come and work as her colleague? And then she'd get struck by lightning.

Their relationship hasn't reached that point yet.

"What are you brothers standing there for? The weaving is all done. Let's eat."

Jiang Yuzhi changed the subject, greeting the Black and White Impermanence.

The maids didn't go back to the storeroom; some watched the shop, others cleaned, everything was in order and everyone was doing their job.

Not only medicinal cuisine, but Ah Zhao also brought many delicious and hearty dishes, such as roasted chicken, plum juice, lamb trotters, lychee kidneys, and a mixed soup. After the meal, snacks and fruits were also served, including stir-fried ginkgo nuts, sugar-roasted chestnuts, and honey-fried herbs. There was something for everyone.

Bai Yan was stunned when he saw these things; his mother must have been involved in some of them.

All this food isn't meant to be eaten in one meal. Those beautifully packaged fruits and pastries are clearly gifts.

"This is too much!" Jiang Yuzhi couldn't help but exclaim in amazement. The large round table was spread out, revealing a dazzling array of dishes.

Bai Yan: "Yu Zhi, should we put those snacks away first? They're all things that can be stored for a long time and can be eaten as snacks."

"Oh, I had Zhi'er put it in the cupboard."

Of the three ghosts, only Xie Bi'an often stole food from the human world, so he was naturally attracted by this large table of dishes.

Even the Black and White Impermanence found Bai Yan much more pleasing to the eye.

While Jiang Yuzhi was eating, she didn't forget to keep an eye on Bai Yan, who was only eating medicinal food.

She placed two pieces of roasted chicken on his plate. "Mingze, have some of this, it's delicious."

My wife is picking food for him, but it seems he can't eat it. What should I do?

"No, I can't digest it..." Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Yuzhi stuffed a piece of roasted chicken into his mouth.

"Don't worry, it's fine to eat some, it's really good."

Ah, my wife is feeding me with her chopsticks! Hmm? I think I can taste it now?

“Eating it occasionally won’t hurt,” the fake doctor Xie Bi’an added, trying to increase his sister’s credibility.

Bai Yan's problem wasn't indigestion; his body simply didn't have enough energy to support the normal functioning of his digestive system, barely managing to sustain life with minimal energy expenditure. However, he couldn't eat much to replenish his energy, thus falling into a vicious cycle.

Now, he has absorbed a portion of the residual power of the map of the state within the Soul-Soothing Bell, which is more than enough to digest some food.

My mouth was always full of bitterness from taking medicine all year round, but the salty and juicy roasted chicken seemed to wash away the bitterness and even had a hint of sweetness.

Heaven did not forsake him; ever since he met his wife, everything has been moving in a positive direction.

After a hearty meal, the three ghosts finished every last grain of rice, leaving nothing behind. Even Bai Yan, who had seen Jiang Yuzhi's appetite before, was amazed, remarking that they were indeed a family.

The Black and White Impermanence had long since retreated to the study to handle matters of the underworld, while Jiang Yuzhi and Bai Yan lay under a tree, chatting idly.

Bai Yan: "Were you satisfied with today's meal?"

Jiang Yuzhi: "Of course! Mingze, where did you find so many delicious foods?"

Bai Yan: "It's my mother."

Jiang Yuzhi: "Hmm?"

The Eldest Princess?! Jiang Yuzhi suddenly felt a pang of guilt. Bai Yan, a wealthy young master, was following her around doing all sorts of things.

She couldn't help but let her mind wander. The princess's son should also be granted a title like a prince, right? When she was alive, it was still the previous dynasty, and the factional struggles were fierce. There was a faction that seemed to have a prince, who was also the princess's son. Their family was even... Hmm? Why can't I remember?

“I’ve been drinking bitter medicine since I was little, and I always have a lingering taste in my mouth. Everything tastes the same to me. My mother was anxious, but she couldn’t cook. She would explode as soon as she entered the kitchen. So she had to search for recipes and cooks everywhere to make different dishes for me, but I still couldn’t eat them. I’ve barely grown up. Luckily, Yuzhi loves to eat, so it’s not a waste of my mother’s good intentions.”

Bai Yan's words instantly made Jiang Yuzhi forget all the chaotic thoughts in her mind, leaving only heartache.

"Trust me, my brother and the others can definitely cure you. See, you were able to eat today, didn't you?"

Despite the suspicious young woman before him, Bai Yan felt no doubt whatsoever, only a sense of peace. He had almost never trusted anyone so unconditionally before. Jiang Yuzhi inexplicably made Bai Yan feel that she was different, and that they were meant to be a couple.

"Of course I trust Tamori. My mother will probably come to visit tomorrow. The food and snacks we had today are probably just a small part of her gift to you, to make a good impression."

What! So fast? Although she did intend to meet Bai Yan's family to see if the Map of the State was related to them, this was too fast. Jiang Yuzhi was somewhat caught off guard.

She had never met a person of the caliber of the Eldest Princess, either during her lifetime or after her death.

The Emperor of Fengdu was automatically excluded by her because he was too down-to-earth.

Her family never taught her any etiquette or manners. She was supposed to enter the Imperial Clothing Bureau at the age of 18 to take over her aunt's job, but when she was 17, her family suffered a great calamity and everyone passed away. She hadn't had time to learn any of it.

Outside, Jiang Yuzhi was always a respectable person, acting like a proper young lady from a wealthy family. Only in front of her relatives did she reveal her true colors, becoming unruly and rude.

"Is there anything I need to prepare?" Jiang Yuzhi, unusually girlish, sat up straight from the recliner and looked at Bai Yan nervously.

Bai Yan chuckled and sat up as well. He wanted to squeeze Jiang Yuzhi's clasped hands, but then felt that it would be a bit offensive to her, so he put his hands behind him on the chair and adopted a relaxed posture.

"You don't need to prepare anything. My mother likes you very much. After all, you are her son's savior."

"Really? Then I'd better go buy some good tea. I can't let the princess feel slighted."

Jiang Yuzhi stood up and paced around the chair, muttering to herself about where the tea was better.

Her adorable appearance made Bai Yan want to hug her tightly and cuddle her.

But Ah Zhao was always so out of place, leaving the cleaned-up plates on the stone table for someone to come and collect.

"Young master, you have other plans for this afternoon. If you don't leave soon, you'll be late."

The servants, carrying clean food boxes, waited behind A-Zhao.

"I understand. You can go outside and wait."

Bai Yan said in a cold voice.

Once they left, they showed a completely different face.

"Yuzhi, I have to go now. I might come with my mother tomorrow. Don't be nervous. What would you like to eat? I'll bring it for you."

The thought of leaving his wife sent a pang of heartache through Bai Yan, and his face, which had been somewhat healthy, turned deathly pale.

Jiang Yuzhi turned her head and saw Bai Yan, who was about to die on the spot and was still saying words of concern for her. She immediately felt something was wrong. He was just like a human being, how could he turn into a ghost in such a short time?

"I can do anything, but you don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"

"well enough."

He was interrupted before he could finish speaking.

Jiang Yuzhi disregarded the traditional boundaries between men and women, quickly stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Bai Yan's waist, and rested her chin on his shoulder.

The two embraced tightly.

Physical contact should allow the power to be transferred faster. He looks like he's about to collapse, so I need to transfer more power to him. Jiang Yuzhi thought to herself.

Bai Yan didn't react for a moment. A blush spread from his neck to his ears and then to his cheeks. Just as he was about to raise his hand to hug her back, the alluring young lady had already let go of his hand, taken two steps back, and was observing his expression.

Whether it was because she had enough strength or for some other reason, her skin had become rosy. Jiang Yuzhi nodded in satisfaction.

"It looks much better now. Go ahead, I'll prepare well."

Bai Yan gave a wooden "okay" and almost stumbled along, leading A Zhao and the others away while looking back every few steps.

A note from the author:

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Paper figures one, two, three, and four represent weaving clothes, earrings, umbrellas, and a silkworm.

Bai Yan: She hugged me!

Ah Zhao: Young Master is acting strangely today too.