Chapter 514: Returning to the Capital
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
After two months of traveling, Xiao Juan and the others finally returned to the Imperial Capital.
At this moment, the gauze on Yu Niaoniao’s body had been removed, but because the scar was still there, she could only cover her face with a veil.
When she jumped out of the carriage and looked at the familiar door of the Langjun Imperial Palace, she immediately felt as if her feet had finally stepped on the ground.
Home was the best!
Granny Xiu Yan brought the servants out to welcome them.
As soon as she saw Xiao Juan and Yu Niaoniao, her eyes could not help but turn red.
“You’re finally back. Ever since you left, I haven’t slept well. I’m worried sick every day, afraid that something would happen to you outside. Fortunately, God bless you. You’re all back safely.”
Yu Niaoniao went forward and hugged her. “It’s fine. We’re all fine!” Granny Xiu Yan looked her up and down and said the classic saying of an elder
“You’ve lost weight!”
Yu Niaoniao was pleasantly surprised. “Really? That’s great. I’ve become even slimmer!”
Granny Xiu Yan was caught between laughter and tears.
“Why do you need to be so slender? It’s better for a girl to be fat. It means she’s lucky.”
Yu Niaoniao raised her chin. “But a slender figure looks good in clothes!” Granny Xiu Yan looked like she was helpless against Yu Niaoniao.
The servants began to move the luggage. Yu Niaoniao held Xiao Juan’s hand and walked into the Langjun Imperial Palace.
Granny Xiu Yan looked at the two of them holding hands and could not help but purse her lips and smile.
It seemed that the couple had reconciled again!
Xiao Juan had just sat down and had yet to take a sip of water when someone from the palace came. They said that the emperor had summoned Duke Lang. Xiao Juan could only immediately get up and ride straight to the palace.
Before he left, he did not forget to remind Niaoniao that he would definitely be back late tonight and asked her to have dinner first. She did not have to wait for him.
Granny Xiu Yan asked as she served tea to Yu Niaoniao. “Are you hungry? Do you want the kitchen to get you something to eat?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “No, I ate on the way. I’m still full.”
In order to make it easier to drink water, she had no choice but to take off the veil on her face.
Granny Xiu Yan was shocked to see the scar on her face.
“What’s wrong with your face?”
She was originally a pretty young lady with fair skin. Now, there were two reddish-brown scars on her face. They were especially obvious.
Yu Niaoniao took a sip of water before explaining.
“Don’t be nervous. These are scars from the burns. Little Lo prescribed me medicine to remove the scar. I have to use it every day. The scar will be gone after a while.”
Granny Xiu Yan became even more nervous.
“Burns? How did you get burned? Are there any other burns on your body? Are they serious?”
Yu Niaoniao said casually, “There are still a few burns on her body, but they’ve all healed. There are only scars.”
Her tone was very relaxed as if she was talking about the weather, but Granny Xiu Yan was terrified.
Those were burns. If she was not careful, she would die!
Granny Xiu Yan asked, “Are you really fine? Do you want Duke Lang to get the imperial physician in the palace to take a look at you?”
Yu Niaoniao rolled up her sleeves, revealing the scar on her arm.
“Look, they’re really all better. Little Lots medical skills are very good. He’s not inferior to the imperial physicians in the palace. Don’t worry.”
Granny Xiu Yan’s heart ached. “Looking at the size of this scar, you must have been seriously injured. It must have hurt a lot at that time, right? Seriously, why didn’t he protect you well? He made you suffer so much.” Yu Niaoniao immediately said.
“It has nothing to do with Duke Lang. It was all an accident.”
In order to prevent Granny Xiu Yan from continuing to be sad about this matter, Yu Niaoniao quickly changed the topic.
“I’m going to change. I have to go out and do something later.”
Granny Xiu Yan hurriedly said, “Where are you going? Do you want a carriage?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “No need. I’ll just ride Gray.”
She returned to the bedroom, changed into a light dress, and rode the donkey out of the Langjun Imperial Palace.
Yu Niaoniao arrived at the dilapidated small courtyard rented by Qirui Opera Troupe.
The courtyard door was still the same, but everyone in the courtyard had moved away.
She asked the family next door and found out that Qirui Opera Troupe had moved to Jasmine Street. They had rented a new garden there and named it Qirui Garden.
Yu Niaoniao rode the donkey and continued on her way. As she asked around, she searched and finally found Qirui Garden.
The gate to the garden was closed. The plaque above the gate was still covered in red cloth. It didn’t look like it had officially opened.
She stepped forward and knocked.
Soon the door was pulled open from the inside and Liu Sixing’s head poked out from behind it.
She originally wanted to tell the people outside that the theater had not opened for business yet and let them come back after a while, but she did not expect to see a familiar pair of eyes.
Although the other party’s face was covered by a veil, Liu Sixing recognized her at a glance.
“Boss!”
Yu Niaoniao smiled. “Long time no see. I’m back.”
Liu Sixing sized her up in surprise.
“So you’re a woman too!”
Previously, when she saw her, she was dressed as a man and looked quite handsome.
Unexpectedly, she was a slender little girl. Yu Niaoniao said, “Wearing men’s clothes was for convenience.”
Liu Sixing gave her an understanding look.
“That’s right. Usually, if I go out to do something, I’ll change into men’s clothes for convenience.”
She opened the door completely and welcomed Yu Niaoniao in enthusiastically.
Yu Niaoniao looked around as she walked. The garden was a little larger than she had expected. The tables and chairs were arranged in an orderly manner. There was also a small pool beside it. There were carps raised in it. Coupled with the banana leaves in the corner, it looked quite elegant.
On the stage, Ye Yin was acting with someone. The two of them walked back and forth on the beat, babbling and singing opera words.
Liu Qirui was sitting below and watching.
He was so engrossed in watching that he didn’t notice anyone enter.
He didn’t come back to his senses until Liu Sixing called out to him.
Liu Qirui turned around and saw Yu Niaoniao. He was stunned for a moment before reacting.
“Are you the owner?”
Liu Sixing whispered to him, “Don’t make a fuss. The boss is a woman to begin with. She wore men’s clothes for convenience.”
Liu Qirui was indeed very surprised.
He did not expect his boss, who was so generous, swift, and business-minded, to be a woman.
At his age, he had experienced ups and downs and had seen countless people, but he had never seen a woman like Yu Niaoniao.
Liu Sixing warmly invited Yu Niaoniao to sit down and poured her a cup of tea.
Yu Niaoniao looked at the teacup and smiled.
“There are tea leaves this time. It’s finally not cold.”
Liu Sixing was very embarrassed. “Previously, we didn’t have money and couldn’t afford tea leaves. We could only greet you with cold water.”
Yu Niaoniao took a sip of tea. “This tea is not bad. Where did you buy it?”
Liu Qirui answered honestly, “This is from your sister. She said that there are many tea leaves at home that they can’t finish, so she sent some over, in case we can’t even bring out a decent cup of tea when we entertain guests.” Towards the end, the honest man blushed, looking embarrassed.
Yu Niaoniao put down her teacup. “Since she gave it to you, just accept it.. By the way, how’s the new scene going?