Chaoter 640: Yes. I Like It
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Zhou Linghuai nodded and tilted his head to see Chang An poking his head in. “Bring it in!”
Chang An quickly entered the house and placed a small basin of water and a bowl of ice on the small table by the bed before leaving the room.
“Sit still obediently.” Zhou Linghuai dipped the towel into the water.
Yu Youyao was very obedient and did not move obediently. She let her cousin twist the handkerchief and gently wash her face. She had cried for a long time just now, and her face was dry and uncomfortable. After wiping her face clean, she felt much more refreshed.
Zhou Linghuai picked up a few pieces of ice and wrapped them in a towel. “Your eyes are swollen from crying. It’ll reduce the swelling faster if you apply ice on them. Otherwise, it’ll be very uncomfortable.”
The ice that was wrapped around the towel was placed on her eyes. It was cold, but it was not too uncomfortable. Instead, it was very cooling. Her eyes, which felt swollen and uncomfortable just now, were more comfortable.
Every time she felt that it was too cold, her cousin would move the ice to another eye.
After repeating it more than ten times, he finally stopped. Zhou Linghuai looked at her carefully. “The swelling has mostly subsided. Sleep well. When you wake up, you’ll be fine.”
Yu Youyao smiled. “Thank you, Brother Jingzhi!’
Ever since the day of her birthday, when Yu Youyao called him Brother Jingzhi for the first time, she would say it from time to time when there was no one else in private. Every time he heard Yu Youyao call him “Brother Jingzhi” obediently, gently, and sweetly, he couldn’t help but feel a little distracted, so he kept forgetting to ask, “M/hy are you calling me Brother Jingzhi?”
Yu Youyao felt as if someone had seen the secret in her heart. She subconsciously lowered her eyes to avoid his gaze. When she looked up again, her lips were curved, and her soft fingers gently tugged at her cousin’s sleeve. She pouted. “Cousin, don’t you like me calling you that? Then I won’t call you that anymore.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it,” Zhou Linghuai quickly explained.
Yu Youyao’s smile curved. “Then you like it?”
There was a hint of slyness in the little girl’s smile. Zhou Linghuai reacted and nodded helplessly. “Yes, I like it.”
Yu Youyao blinked. “l also think that I feel closer to you when I call you
Brother Jingzhi instead of Cousin.”
Zhou Linghuai also gave up on continuing to probe. Anyway, there was still a long way to go. As long as Yu Youyao did not leave the Yu Residence, the Yu Residence would be a restriction to her.
She turned around and saw that it was already four o’clock. Dawn came earlier in summer. In an hour, it would be dawn.
Previously, she had a nightmare and cried for half the night. Now, the little girl was tired and yawning.
Zhou Linghuai’s heart ached. “Sleep a little longer.”
Yu Youyao subconsciously tightened her grip on her cousin’s sleeve and said pitifully, “I’m afraid of nightmares.”
“Don’t be afraid.” Zhou Linghuai helped her lie down and covered her with a thin blanket. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay here and guard you. Nothing will happen.”
“Okay Yu Youyao finally felt relieved and slowly closed her eyes.
Not long after, Zhou Linghuai heard Yu Youyao’s even breathing. She must have really fallen asleep.
Zhou Linghuai was about to go to the study outside when he remembered that he had promised Yu Youyao that he would guard her in the house. He stopped in his tracks and lowered his voice to call out to Chang An.
Chang An was guarding outside. When he heard his young master lower his voice, he also lowered it. “Young Master?”
Zhou Linghuai thought for a moment. “l remember that a merchant ship from Zhejiang brought a box of black onyx beads from overseas. Go to the storeroom and find it. At the same time, bring my tool box over.”
After Ye Hanyuan established the navy, his cooperation with Yu Youyao on maritime trade also progressed smoothly. In the past two years, maritime trade had brought him a huge wealth.
There were many areas in the Great Zhou Dynasty that were rich in agate, but black agate was very rare. This box of black agate was also very rare.
Soon, Chang An returned and handed it to Zhou Linghuai.
It was filled with black onyx. It was black, bright, pure, and impenetrable. Zhou Linghuai picked out a bead the size of a soybean, took the smallest Kunwu Knife, and carved scripture patterns on the bead.
When Yu Youyao fell asleep again, it was already seven o’clock.
The window opened a crack, and sunlight shone into the room. On the small table beside the bed, there was a lacquer tray. There was a set of clothes neatly folded, as well as shoes and socks.
Only then did Yu Youyao realize that this was the inner room of her cousin’s study, where he usually took a nap.
She had not returned to the Jade Courtyard last night and had fallen asleep in the Green House.
Her cousin was no longer around.
Yu Youyao’s heart skipped a beat. She slowly sat up on the bed and inadvertently saw a string of black and pure onyx bracelets beside her pillow.
She remembered that it wasn’t there before she went to bed!
Yu Youyao’s eyes lit up. She quickly picked up the bracelet. The small black onyx stones were like black jade beads. They were pure and smooth. When she leaned closer to take a look, every one of them was carved with detailed patterns. The patterns on the beads were of the micro-carved type, so they were not easy to recognize. After taking a closer look, she barely recognized that this was the language of Sanskrit.
Yu Youyao quickly put the bracelet around her wrist twice. It was just the right size. If she wore it, it would not fall off.
The newly carved black agate was polished and smooth. It had even been enhanced with wax a few times. It wouldn’t hurt when worn on her wrist. If it was kept close to her body for a while, the color would be even smoother and more beautiful.
Agate was one of the seven treasures of Buddhism. It had the blessing of determination and courage. Wearing it could help overcome fear, uneasiness, and evil. Black agate also had the effect of calming the mind.
Yu Youyao was overjoyed that her cousin had specially made it for her.
At this moment, footsteps sounded outside the door.
Zhou Linghuai lifted the curtain and entered. The little girl was sitting on the bed with her hair draped over her shoulders. She looked rosy, full of energy, and in good spirits. After a nap, her mood finally calmed down.
Zhou Linghuai was finally relieved. His gaze subconsciously landed on her wrist.
The black agate was black and pure, making her fair wrist look as smooth as jade. The small beads also made her wrist look thin. The contrast between her fair skin and black agate was impactful.
Yu Youyao raised her wrist. “Cousin, does it look good?”
Zhou Linghuai nodded. “It’s very beautiful.”
Yu Youyao fiddled with the beads on her wrist. “Cousin, are the patterns on the beads in Sanskrit? What scripture is it?”
Zhou Linghuai smiled. “It’s the Sutra of the Medicine Buddha, your favorite chapter.”
Yu Youyao’s eyes widened and she smiled. “His body is like glass, clear inside and out. It’s pure and flawless. It’s bright and vast, and his merit is majestic. His body is good and stable, and his flame is dignified. It’s more dignified than the sun and moon, and all living beings in the Netherworld. Is this the part?!”
She had an inexplicable fate with this scripture. That day, in a daze, she had seen this scripture in the space where the child Buddha was sitting on the lotus..