Resplendent – Chapter 512

Chapter 512 — Peace of Mind

Looking back now, the initial panic, fear, helplessness, and danger all seemed to have faded, leaving only the faint or strong bond between the two of them. From depending on each other for survival to eventually leading a team of a hundred, he had always been by her side…

Thinking of those past days, Gu Ye could no longer maintain her usual cold demeanor. She pointed at the sachet hanging above her head and said, “I have mosquito-repelling powder…”

Ling Juechen immediately replied, “Is mosquito powder as effective as me?”

Seeing him stubbornly refuse to leave, Gu Ye found it hard to associate this mischievous, clingy man with the cold, imposing figure from her previous life. In her past life, Ling Chen was cold and aloof to everyone, spoke little, and was like a sealed gourd. Gu Ye couldn’t help but voice her feelings with a little complaint.

Ling Juechen remained silent for a moment and then said, “Two people who aren’t good at expressing themselves only push each other further away. I don’t want to repeat the mistakes of our past life. In this life, I want to change myself, come to your side, be close to you, be near you. All I wish for is to spend my life with you.”

A wave of emotion surged in Gu Ye’s heart. To others, he was the untouchable War God, the Great King General, and the newly titled Prince Ning of Yan. But to her, he had always been her Brother Chen. It was just that he was far too good at speaking sweet words. 

Who taught him? Who did he practice on? The thought of him showering her with endless flattery made her feel uneasy. Very uneasy!

“I’m going to sleep now!” she said, rolling halfway on the soft couch, turning her back to him, giving off the impression that she was annoyed.

Ling Juechen recalled that his last words must have offended the little girl, achieving nothing. Sigh… A woman’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea is true indeed!

“You have an assessment tomorrow. Go to sleep now. If you’re tired, it’ll affect your performance,” Ling Juechen said, gently pulling the thin blanket up over her.

Gu Ye rolled over, scrunching her nose at him: “So you know I have the senior-level pharmacist assessment tomorrow, and yet you snuck into my room in the dead of night to disturb my rest?”

“I can’t help myself!” Ling Juechen put on an innocent expression. His starry eyes were wide open, shining brilliantly in the dim candlelight. His full pink lips, relaxed, were slightly pursed, their rosy color soft like petals, as if inviting someone to taste them.

Gu Ye secretly swallowed, mesmerized by the sight. Under the light, his beauty was even more vivid. Her eyes almost stuck to his face, unwilling to look away.

“Sleep now. I’ll watch over you,” he said, just like before, placing his hand over her eyes. Her eyelashes brushed lightly across his palm, tugging at his heartstrings.

Gu Ye puffed out her cheeks like an angry little frog: “You’re such a big guy standing here! How am I supposed to sleep? If I fail tomorrow, it’s all your fault!”

“It’s just the seventh-level pharmacist assessment. Even if you fall asleep, you’d pass in your dreams. I have confidence in you!” Ling Juechen lightly snapped his fingers, and the candle on the table not far off went out, leaving the room in dim shadow. Moonlight streamed in from outside, casting a hazy silhouette.

Gu Ye thought she’d be tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep. Yet, the familiar presence felt like a lullaby, and despite usually having trouble falling back asleep after waking, she drifted off quickly. She slept so soundly, so sweetly, so peacefully…

The next morning, if it weren’t for Yue Yuan coming in to wake her, she would have almost missed her entrance time. She hurriedly washed up, gathered her prepared items, and set out with her two assistants, Hua Hao and Yue Yuan, rushing to the assessment site. They were nearly the last to arrive.

“No way! That little girl is here again! She looks barely ten, and she’s taking the senior-level pharmacist assessment. Incredible for the future.” All the participants in the senior-level pharmacist assessment were men, most well into adulthood. Gu Ye became the only exception, naturally drawing attention.

“Mother, look! That’s Sister Ye! She’s so cute. Everyone’s busy preparing medicine, but she’s stretching and moving around. Is she planning to do the full Five-Animal Exercises?” On the viewing platform of the Marquis of Dongping’s family, a boy around nine years old pointed at the familiar figure and said to his mother.

Having taken leave specifically to accompany his wife to watch the senior pharmacist assessment, Marquis Dongping smiled: “The Chu family’s little girl has a good mindset, that’s already half the battle. Bo’er, Fei’er, remember this: a good mindset is the foundation. In the future, when you take the county and provincial exams, you must always maintain a good mindset like hers.”

Han Mubai nodded in agreement. He was thinking: if he were in the little girl’s position right now, under all those eyes, could he carry on as if no one were watching?

“Wow! Ye’er even brought a tent. Was she planning to camp out?” Han Mufei laughed uproariously.

The old matriarch of the Marquis of Dongping’s household, though not particularly fond of this daughter-in-law, genuinely doted on her two grandsons. The eldest was steady and dependable, while the youngest lively and spirited: they were both her treasures.

Seeing her youngest grandson so happy, she held him in her arms and asked with a smile, “Fei’er, how do you know this little pharmacist?”

“When mother and I were staying at the estate, Sister Ye and her brothers came by to take shelter from the rain. She even taught the estate’s cooks to prepare quite a few delicious dishes. Oh, and the dragon well shrimp that grandmother loves? She was the one who taught the cooks that too,” Han Mufei said, leaning against his grandmother, eyes sparkling with excitement as he watched the scene unfold.

The old lady chuckled, “She looks no older than eleven or twelve! As the saying goes: when a girl is grown, she brings gold bricks. If Fei’er likes her, grandmother could arrange for her to be betrothed to you…”

Female pharmacists were highly sought-after, and the old lady certainly knew it. Even low-level female pharmacists had considerable insight into medicine; many girls who studied pharmacology specialized in medicinal cuisine. 

Although this little girl’s social standing was a bit low, it didn’t matter much. Fei’er was the youngest son and wouldn’t inherit the family business, so marrying a female pharmacist wouldn’t diminish his status.

“Grandmother, what are you saying? Sister Ye is thirteen, five years older than me. She’d be a better match for my brother!” Han Mufei shyly turned his head, his flushed ears betraying his emotions.

Han Mubai shot him a sideways glance: “Why drag me into your quarrel with grandmother? Got an itch, huh?”

“Sister Ye’er is the young miss of the Defender Duke’s Manor. Her status is high enough to be a match for my brother,” Han Mufei, that fearless little rascal, added boldly.

The girl newly brought back to Duke’s Manor? She was raised among commoners from childhood, so  what manners could she possibly have? Don’t let her be like her daughter-in-law, with not an ounce of decorum!

The old lady looked toward Marchioness Dongping, who was pointing and gesturing at the scene in the arena. Seeing her son occasionally nodding in agreement, she got so angry that her chest ached!