After the Crybaby Married the Disabled Villain - Chapter 9

The Fourth and Fifth Princes remained silent.

Lu Youqi remarked, “This tea smells wonderful.”

Lu Shiyan frowned, not saying a word. With a look of heartache, he held An Yu’s hand and looked up. “Xiao Yu, you’ve been wronged. Let’s go home.”

An Yu, who had just been acting like a “delicate tea-master,” lowered his head pitifully. Tears shimmered in his eyes as he whispered, “Mm.”

Just then, the servant returned with the ice.

As Lu Shiyan gently held the ice over An Yu’s burn, he turned his head and said, “Imperial Brother, Xiao Yu has an injury on his hand. This younger brother will take his leave first.”

“Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother—farewell.”

Lu Youqi gave An Yu a meaningful look and replied, “It is indeed better to go back and tend to it quickly.”

“Understood. Imperial Brother, take care.”

An Yu nodded to the three of them and followed Lu Shiyan back.

It was nearly noon. The scorching sun made them both break into a light sweat, and they only felt some relief after entering the carriage. As the carriage swayed steadily forward, An Yu—who hadn’t been sleeping well lately—found himself nodding off. His head bobbed forward rhythmically with the motion.

Eventually, unable to resist any longer, he leaned against the window and fell fast asleep. Under Lu Shiyan’s instructions, the carriage traveled slowly and smoothly. Combined with the afternoon sun warming the outer walls of the carriage, An Yu didn’t wake up until they had arrived back at the manor.

“Your Highness?”

“You’re awake? We’ve arrived.”

His brain was a bit sluggish as he processed his surroundings; having slept for about an hour, his body felt much more refreshed. An Yu instinctively moved to stretch and get out of the carriage, only to realize his right hand was being held.

“I saw you were asleep and feared you’d forgotten the injury on your hand, so I kept the ice on it to soothe it.”

Lu Shiyan naturally released An Yu’s wrist. Only then did An Yu notice that the redness from the burn had faded significantly. On the floor where his hand had been hanging, there was still a patch of dampness from the melted ice.

Awkwardly rotating his wrist, An Yu whispered softly, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Medical Treatment and Plans

Though the ice had helped, the burn would still leave a scar if not treated properly. As soon as they entered the manor, Lu Shiyan ordered Mo Ying to bring Yun Liang to the main courtyard.

Mo Ying lived up to his reputation as one of the four great hidden guards; before the two could even finish a cup of tea, he arrived with the doctor.

“I heard Young Master An was burned? Let me see.”

An Yu was sitting at the table drinking the lemonade he had made a few days ago. Upon hearing this, he immediately stretched out his hand and even took a moment to pour a cup for Yun Liang.

“Thank you, Young Master.”

“This injury was treated in time,” Yun Liang noted. “Apply this ointment for half a month, and it will disappear.”

“Thank you, Doctor Yun.”

After handing a porcelain bottle to An Yu, Yun Liang picked up the cup and took a sip. Thinking it was tea, he started with a small taste, but upon realizing the flavor, he took a large gulp. Instant coolness spread through his chest.

The cup was empty in no time. Yun Liang poured himself another. “Which chef made this new summer cooling tea? It’s quite excellent.”

“I am that chef,” An Yu chimed in from the side.

Yun Liang’s eyes widened slightly, though he quickly recovered. His voice was filled with unmistakable curiosity. “Where did Young Master An learn so many strange and wonderful things? I’d like to learn as well.”

Applying the ointment, An Yu capped the bottle and replied casually, “I traveled far and wide with my father since I was a child. Naturally, I picked up a little bit of everything.”

“Then… that set of rehabilitation diagrams? Where did Young Master An learn those?” Yun Liang asked casually. Then, as if not expecting an answer, he continued, “Those diagrams are indeed useful for His Highness’s legs. However, they need to be paired with my acupuncture. If coordinated properly, there is indeed a possibility of recovery.”

At these words, An Yu instantly perked up. “Doctor Yun’s medical skills are extraordinary! When do we start?”

“Whenever His Highness wishes. Anytime is fine.”

Lu Shiyan spoke up: “Then we shall begin tomorrow.”

This was truly good news for An Yu. Since arriving here, he had prevented Lu Shiyan’s blindness and avoided the task of the birthday banquet. Now, there was even hope for his legs. It seemed the probability of saving Lu Shiyan from his tragic ending in the original novel was high. However, things had been going a bit too smoothly lately.

“Is Xiao Yu tired? You didn’t sleep well in the carriage. Have a good rest after lunch.”

An Yu nodded; he was indeed still a bit sleepy.

The chef in the kitchen was a new hire brought in by Mo Han. He had a clean background and worked efficiently, specializing in authentic flavors from several regions. With good news on his mind, An Yu ate significantly more during this meal. After eating and resting for a bit, he took a stroll back to his own courtyard.

Trust and Secret Guards

“Your Highness, Young Master An’s rehabilitation diagrams are truly excellent,” Yun Liang said in the study. “Although Your Highness can walk briefly after two years of acupuncture, there are still many inconveniences. If we combine acupuncture with these diagrams, Your Highness’s legs will be no different than before within six months.”

Lu Shiyan remained silent for a long time, the emotions in his eyes complex and shifting. “Hard work, Doctor Yun.”

Mo Ying and Mo Han had remained silent in the room. At this point, Mo Han hesitated. “General, this Young Master An is indeed different from the rumors.”

Mo Ying followed suit: “He is indeed different.”

Lu Shiyan looked at the two of them, a hint of conflict in his eyes. “Tell Qin Feng and Qin Su to return. There is no need to watch him anymore.”

“Yes.”

As Mo Ying turned to leave, Lu Shiyan called out again. “Wait.”

“What are General’s orders?”

“Don’t have Qin Feng and the other return. From now on, they will protect his safety from the shadows. There is no need to report his daily movements anymore.”

“Yes.”

This time, Mo Ying turned and left directly, leaving Lu Shiyan to read his book as usual, while his two subordinates exchanged shocked glances.

The Morning of the Mango Daifuku

The next day, An Yu woke up early, washed up, and sat in his room for breakfast.

“Why is Young Master up so early today?” asked Xiao Zhi.

Outside, a drizzling rain was falling, bringing a refreshing coolness. Sitting indoors with the window open felt like being in an air-conditioned room.

“I’m going to find His Highness in a bit. You don’t need to follow me.”

Xiao Zhi tidied up here and there, finally asking in confusion, “Young Master, half a month ago, you didn’t hesitate to jump into the lake just to avoid marrying the Crown Prince. Why are you so close to him now?”

An Yu took a bite of a small steamed bun, chewed twice, took a sip of milk, and then asked, “Xiao Zhi, do you think His Highness is handsome?”

“His Highness is naturally the number one handsome man in the capital. No matter how the world views him, that much cannot be denied.”

“And what do you think of his character?”

“Although I’ve been in the manor for less than half a month, I can feel that His Highness is not like the rumors. The outside world says he is cold-blooded and murderous, deserving of divine punishment they even say the Empress’s clan was cursed to death by him.”

Xiao Zhi’s voice grew smaller as he noticed An Yu’s expression becoming more serious. He quickly pivoted: “In the short time I’ve been here, I can feel that although His Highness has a cold personality, he treats the servants very well and even gives generous stipends. The old-timers in the manor say that if His Highness hadn’t suffered those misfortunes, he would have been a brilliant ruler.”

“Moreover,” Xiao Zhi added, “His Highness isn’t cold toward you, Young Master.”

The corners of An Yu’s mouth curled up. “Since His Highness is both handsome and kind, why wouldn’t I want to marry him?”

“But Young Master—”

Xiao Zhi frowned, about to continue, but An Yu cut him off. “That day, I didn’t truly want to drown myself. I took a Breath-Holding Pill beforehand just to fool certain people.”

An Yu mockingly covered his mouth. “As for why I am willing to marry His Highness, that’s a secret. But I can tell you this: I’ve known His Highness for a very long time.”

“Alright, I’m going to find him now. Go play by yourself.”

An Yu didn’t let anyone hold an umbrella for him. He walked along the manor paths, breathing in the damp air as he headed toward Lu Shiyan’s quarters. He recalled everything about Lu Shiyan from the original novel, and the storyline in his head became clearer.

The stone steps were slippery in the rain, so An Yu walked slowly, taking twice as long as usual. When he finally stepped into the courtyard, he saw Mo Ying and Mo Han standing outside.

“Why are you standing outside?”

“Reporting to Young Master: Doctor Yun is currently administering acupuncture to the General. He said it is not suitable for too many people to be inside.”

An Yu closed his umbrella and sat at the stone table under the eaves. “Then I’ll wait a while before going in.”

Mo Ying poured a cup of tea for An Yu and stepped back. Having already eaten his fill, An Yu took two sips of tea and turned to Mo Ying. “Doctor Yun came so early; has His Highness had breakfast?”

“Not yet,” Mo Ying replied.

An Yu nodded in understanding, stood up, and clapped his hands. “Have you two eaten?”

“Not yet,” Mo Han replied.

“Then stay busy. I’ll go check on His Highness’s breakfast.”

Without waiting for a response, An Yu headed to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, the new chef was directing the servants to prepare ingredients. Seeing An Yu arrive, he hurried over to bow. “Greetings, Young Master An. Is the breakfast not to your taste?”

The chef was a middle-aged man, looking every bit the professional, with a kind, smiling face.

“No. I came to see if His Highness’s breakfast has been started?”

“Reporting to Young Master, Doctor Yun sent someone yesterday to instruct us to deliver it later. We are preparing, but have not started cooking yet.”

An Yu nodded. “It’s fine. You do your work; I’m going to make something.”

With a real master chef here, the daily meals were all delicacies; naturally, An Yu wouldn’t interfere with the main course. He looked around and saw milk, butter, starch, and sugar—all basic ingredients for desserts.

An Yu decided on the spot to make Mango Xuemeiniang (Mango Daifuku).

In his previous life, An Yu’s illness was severe every winter, and he could do nothing but stay home. Out of boredom, he often watched the family’s maid cook. He had seen her make Xuemeiniang many times and was very familiar with the process—though as for the exact measurements, he’d leave that to fate.

He first mixed the glutinous rice flour, cornstarch, sugar, and milk, strained the mixture, and put it in a pot to steam. Seeing An Yu bustling about somewhat frantically, the chef hesitated before asking, “Does the Young Master need help?”

An Yu was holding two large mangoes, getting ready to dice them. He looked at the chef—who was preparing many dishes yet remained perfectly organized—and felt a bit of admiration. “It’s fine. I only look busy. You’re the one who is truly busy.”

The chef nodded and went back to his work, though he still kept a worried eye on An Yu. After all, he was a young master; it would be troublesome if anything went wrong.

The two mangoes, each larger than a palm, yielded three full bowls of cubes. An Yu estimated that two bowls would be enough for about six pieces, so he ate one bowl while he worked. The mangoes were shipped from the south, yet they remained fresh and juicy due to good preservation; they were extra sweet after being chilled.

When the mixture was ready, An Yu took the bowl out of the steamer, added an appropriate amount of butter, and stirred until absorbed. He divided the dough into six uniform round balls.

He knew all about cream; he had earlier asked a servant to whip it and chill it on ice. Now was the perfect time.

He coated the glutinous rice skin with cooked flour, rolled it out, and placed it into a porcelain bowl he had carefully selected. He filled it with mango cubes and cream, then wrapped it up. A palm-sized, fragrant, and chewy Xuemeiniang appeared before him.

After finishing the remaining five, An Yu let out a long breath. Indeed, I am naturally gifted.

He divided the six treats into two plates and set them on ice to chill. Taking this time to wash his hands and brush the flour off his clothes, An Yu sat on the kitchen steps, finishing the leftover mangoes bite by bite.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Xuemeiniang were sufficiently chilled. An Yu placed them into a food box, making sure to include two blocks of ice.