Chapter 78: Yun Ranyan of the Nine Provinces Academy

The enrollment period had ended, admitting a total of five hundred and twenty-one students, twenty-one of whom were accepted as exceptions.

Yet, Yun Ranran had fallen ill—she was suffering from a severe chill, her entire body burning bright red as she lay in her room. If Tangtang hadn’t happened to pass by, she might have already “slept” away.

“Eh...? Tang...Tang, why are you here...? My head’s so dizzy...” Yun Ranran sounded as if she had drunk several bottles of Peach Blossom Wine, unable to tell east from west.

Tangtang tucked the quilt around Yun Ranran, but she showed no gratitude, kicking the covers off with a careless foot.

“Little Aunt, you need to behave, or I’ll call Master!” Tangtang knew Yun Ranran was still somewhat afraid of her sandalwood master. Usually, just mentioning Master would make her little aunt settle down and stop throwing tantrums.

But right now, the person before her was hardly the same aunt she knew. Still, the old trick worked on this version of Yun Ranran. At the mention of “Master,” the figure on the bed instantly deflated, ceased kicking the quilt, and Tangtang breathed a sigh of relief. “Be good, Aunt. I’ll go find the medicine master to check on you.”

She tucked the quilt back in place and left, muttering as she went, “Master’s name is always useful.”

Yun Ranran, lying on the bed, wriggled like a worm, murmuring, “Master Chongli... Lotus Treasure... I won’t be naughty anymore... Please don’t spank me…”

A figure silently appeared by the bedside, lips curling in a smile. Seeing the kicked-off covers, he reached out and tucked them gently around her.

“Don’t leave, Master!... You’re abandoning your disciple…” Yun Ranran clung tightly to his sleeve, and Chongli’s face softened with indulgence. “Be good.”

He gently pulled his sleeve free, a bottle of pills appearing suddenly in his hand. He took one out and tried to feed it to the restless patient.

Chongli pried open Yun Ranran’s mouth, but her teeth were clenched too tightly. Glancing at her sleeping face, he felt an inexplicable thirst.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he gazed at her dry, reddened lips, momentarily lost. “Lotus Treasure, forgive me…”

He tossed the pill into his own mouth, leaned down, and reverently pressed his lips to hers, coaxing her teeth apart with his tongue and delivering the medicine down her throat, not stopping until she swallowed.

The medicine was bitter, yet somehow sweet—the sweetness made Chongli reluctant to rise, for Lotus Treasure’s lips tasted of honey. Before leaving, he gently nipped at the corner of her mouth, lingering in his departure.

Outside, footsteps could be heard shuffling. “Lotus Treasure, get well soon. Next time, don’t be naughty and play in the water…” The sounds faded into the room’s silence.

Tangtang hurried in with the medicine master. “Uncle Yun’s forehead is burning hot. She must’ve caught a chill yesterday. Please, master, have a look…”

The medicine master eyed Yun Ranran, bundled up like a silkworm cocoon, his whiskers twitching. “This troublesome girl—her body hasn’t fully recovered, and I heard two students say she was happily splashing in puddles on a rainy day. I didn’t believe it at first!”

Tangtang carefully propped Yun Ranran up so the medicine master could examine her pulse, but his face shifted from bright to dark, leaving Tangtang anxious. “Master, how is she?”

The medicine master gently released Yun Ranran’s hand, furrowing his brow. “Her fever has subsided. She should avoid cold and spicy foods for the next couple of days, and she’ll be back to normal soon.”

“No need for medicine?”

He glanced at Yun Ranran’s pale face, but the chill in her body had been dispelled. “There’s no serious harm, no need for medicine. Your aunt’s temperament is a bit gloomy—keep her company more often.”

The medicine master was old; he had watched Yun Ranran’s parents grow up, and Yun Ranran herself as well. When Yunshu and Wanqing departed long ago, he should have foreseen this outcome—Yun Ranran was a girl born with hardship.

Tangtang nodded. “Aunt barely spoke to me before, but lately her mood seems to have changed a lot!”

The medicine master did not object—he had noticed the difference in Ranran during the ceremony in the great hall: more vitality, more energy, and a touch of youthful innocence befitting her age.

“Keep an eye on her. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.” The medicine master stood, brushed the dust from his robes, and drifted away like a cloud, leaving nothing behind.

When Yun Ranran awoke, evening had fallen. Tangtang entered with a bowl of porridge, delighted to see her awake. “Little Aunt, you’re up!?”

Yun Ranran nodded, about to speak, when she felt her lips had been bitten—numb and sore, even her saliva tasted bitter as she swallowed.

Tangtang quickly poured a cup of warm tea. After Yun Ranran rinsed her mouth, she felt better. “Tangtang, was my lip bitten by a mosquito? It’s numb and burning…”

Tangtang set down the porridge and leaned close, inspecting her. “Aunt… your lower lip seems to have been bitten by a mosquito—it’s swollen into a little bump.”

Tangtang had noticed the swelling developing that afternoon and figured it was likely the result of that bite.

Yun Ranran was indignant, “Mosquitoes these days are outrageous! Even in this state, they bite my mouth!”

Tangtang produced a box of ointment from nowhere, opened the lid, and a fresh jasmine scent filled the air.

“What’s this? It smells wonderful~” Yun Ranran craned her neck to inhale the fragrance.

“It’s an ice-cool balm I made myself. When applied, it feels soothing and cool! I use it for wounds—they heal quickly with it.”

Tangtang glanced again at Yun Ranran’s lips. “I’m not sure if it works on mosquito bites, but it should help with the burning.”

Yun Ranran dabbed a little balm on her finger; her fingertip was instantly cool. She gently spread it across her lips, and the burning eased at once. “This works great! No more burning!”

Tangtang fetched a mirror from the vanity and handed it to Yun Ranran. “Use it a few times and the swelling will go down!”

Yun Ranran took the balm. “Since you’re giving it to me, I won’t be shy!” She conjured a jade bottle in her palm, scooped a small portion with a golden spoon, and sealed it inside.

Tangtang watched as her aunt, smiling, stored away the tiny bottle of ice-cool balm. Before she could speak, Yun Ranran chimed in, “I think I smell snow lotus in it. You must have spent a lot of effort making this. That little bit will last me a long while.”

Tangtang suddenly felt her aunt wasn’t nearly as intimidating as the students claimed. In fact, she seemed remarkably clever.

She herself had spent most of her time in seclusion, rarely seeing her aunt. Now, after emerging, she realized how unreliable rumors were—her aunt was plainly adorable.

Meanwhile, the little rascal in the space had automatically blocked out everything from the outside. For one, Chongli’s gaze as he left had been murderous, and it still wanted to see tomorrow’s sunrise.

For another, it couldn’t believe yet another kind-hearted beauty was enchanted by its master. How hateful, how sad! Alas!