Qingyun slowly regained consciousness, only to be greeted by an irresistibly rich fragrance drifting into her nose.
The aroma carried a strange sort of magic, as though it could hook directly into a person’s soul. Without realizing it, she inhaled deeply several times in succession.
What is this smell?
From childhood until now, Qingyun had never encountered such an enticing scent before. It was so delicious that her mouth instantly began to water.
Just as she attempted to sit up and investigate the source of the fragrance, a sharp pain suddenly tore through her back.
“Ah…”
She let out a low groan, her brows tightening painfully.
Originally, she had only planned to use a “bitter flesh” strategy, deliberately injuring herself lightly in order to gain the lady’s sympathy and smoothly enter the household.
Who would have thought things would spiral completely out of control, turning her fake injury into a genuine disaster?
Qingyun could only sigh bitterly to herself.
Sure enough, even the cleverest person could make mistakes sometimes.
If her fellow trainees back at the camp learned what had happened, they would absolutely laugh themselves to death over their supposedly talented junior sister making such a foolish blunder.
The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became.
This really was a huge miscalculation.
Still enduring the pain, Qingyun slowly braced herself against the edge of the bed.
Her entire body felt as though every bone had fallen apart. Even the slightest movement sent waves of agony through her wounds.
Despite this, she gritted her teeth and stubbornly forced herself upright little by little before slowly staggering toward the door.
When she finally reached the doorway, the bright sunlight outside made her squint instinctively.
After adjusting to the light, she looked across the courtyard and spotted the kitchen not far away.
Inside stood a woman busy cooking.
Although the woman’s figure appeared petite and graceful, she carried a unique charm that made it impossible for others to look away.
So this is Mu Yuqing…
Before Qingyun could continue observing her, a crisp childish voice suddenly rang out.
“Auntie is awake! Mother, that Auntie is awake!”
Yang Xingyue had spotted Qingyun stepping outside and immediately shouted excitedly toward the kitchen.
Hearing her daughter’s voice, Mu Yuqing quickly put down what she was doing and hurried over.
As she approached Qingyun, concern immediately appeared on her face.
“Your injuries are serious,” Mu Yuqing said worriedly. “Why did you get out of bed so soon? If you accidentally tear the stitches and reopen the wound, you’ll have to endure being stitched up all over again. That kind of suffering really isn’t worth it.”
Then she quickly called out,
“Nanny, help her back to bed so she can rest properly.”
As she spoke, Mu Yuqing instinctively reached out to support Qingyun.
Qingyun’s face reddened slightly in embarrassment.
She awkwardly patted her loudly growling stomach before lowering her voice pitifully.
“Madam… I’m just really hungry. Could I eat something first?”
She looked at Mu Yuqing with pleading eyes.
Mu Yuqing glanced toward the kitchen, where the fragrance of freshly steamed egg custard still lingered in the air, then looked back at Qingyun.
“Of course,” she replied gently. “But your injuries haven’t healed yet, so you shouldn’t move around carelessly. Go back and lie down first. I’ll have Nanny bring food to your room shortly.”
As she spoke, Mu Yuqing unconsciously frowned slightly.
After all, she had put considerable effort into stitching Qingyun’s wounds together. If the girl reopened them, she would have to spend even more effort sewing her up again.
At that moment, two excited voices suddenly rang out from outside.
“Mother! Mother! We’re back!”
Two tiny figures burst into the courtyard like little whirlwinds.
“Wow! What did Mother cook? It smells amazing!”
Yang Xingchen’s eyes lit up instantly while Yang Xingyue’s tiny nose twitched nonstop as she eagerly sniffed the air.
Mu Yuqing walked out of the kitchen smiling.
The moment she saw the two children, she could not help laughing helplessly.
The siblings looked like two little mud monkeys.
Their clothes were covered in dirt and grass stains, and their hair was completely messy. It was obvious they had been running wild all over the village.
Still, Mu Yuqing did not scold them.
Instead, she gently pinched their cheeks and said warmly,
“Look at the two of you, you’re absolutely filthy. Go wash up and change your clothes first. Only after you clean yourselves properly can you ask what we’re eating tonight.”
Then she added firmly,
“And this time, do it yourselves. Don’t ask Nanny for help. You both need to learn how to take care of your own things.”
“Okay, Mother!” Yang Xingyue replied mischievously. “Don’t worry, we’ll come back smelling nice and fragrant for you to sniff!”
Mu Yuqing immediately burst into laughter.
Not long afterward, the siblings returned freshly washed and neatly dressed.
“Mother, can we eat now?” Yang Xingchen asked impatiently. He was truly starving.
“Almost ready,” Mu Yuqing replied with a smile. “Help me set the table first. I only need to finish the last dish.”
Soon, the dining table was filled with steaming dishes that released mouthwatering aromas.
The smooth golden egg custard trembled softly like warm jade.
The egg pancakes were golden brown and fragrant, crisp on the outside yet tender inside.
Beside them sat a brightly colored braised fish coated in thick savory sauce, its rich aroma impossible to ignore.
There was also a fresh wild vegetable and egg soup, its pale green color adding brightness to the table.
The entire meal looked vibrant and irresistibly delicious.
Mu Yuqing picked up a slightly larger bowl and filled it with coarse grain rice.
Then she carefully scooped a large spoonful of silky egg custard on top before adding several pieces of fragrant braised fish. Finally, she paired it with a bowl of vegetable soup.
After preparing the tray, she handed it to the nanny.
“Please bring this to the young lady in the side room,” Mu Yuqing said softly.
The nanny smiled and nodded before carrying the food away.
Once the nanny returned, the two children could no longer hold back.
Yang Xingyue eagerly scooped up a mouthful of egg custard.
The moment it entered her mouth, her eyes widened brightly.
“Mother! What is this? It’s so delicious!”
She pointed excitedly at the custard in her bowl.
“It’s soft and slippery, and it melts the moment my tongue touches it! Yue’er loves it so much!”
Hearing his sister’s praise, Yang Xingchen quickly nodded as well.
“Mother, Chen’er thinks it’s delicious too! Chen’er likes it very much!”
Watching the siblings eat so happily, Mu Yuqing’s heart softened instantly.
A warm smile spread across her face.
“This is called egg custard,” she explained gently. “As long as you like it, Mother can make it for you again tomorrow. From now on, Mother will think of many different ways to cook delicious food for you both.”
As she spoke, she reached out and lovingly stroked their heads.