Little Bun

An Ziran's words had not been mere talk. Within two days, he began putting them into action.

He had already gone through all the An Family's tangled accounts. What An Changfu had loved most in life was gleaming silver. He sold the land rent collected from tenant farmers at high prices, bringing in a considerable sum every year. Apart from setting aside some to curry favor with others, he had stored the rest in the An Family's treasury. Over the years, it had accumulated into quite a fortune.

After An Changfu and his wife died, Steward Su was the only one who knew about it. Even An Changde did not know his younger brother had a treasury; otherwise, he would certainly have bribed someone in the An Family to investigate it.

Although most of the silver in the treasury had been squeezed from the common people, the An Family's current circumstances actually made it easier for him to transfer it. There was no need to exchange the silver specifically.

However, how to move the treasury was a major problem!

One wrong move, and An Changde might discover it. If he knew, then his principal wife, Wu Zhi, would know as well. If they then informed the Prefect of Yong Prefecture, whether the treasury could still be kept was something he could not guarantee.

Because of this, An Ziran did not sleep the entire night.

The next morning, he appeared at the dining table with dark circles beneath his eyes. Breakfast consisted of porridge, steamed buns, and a few slices of fried pancake—simple and unextravagant. Having been here for over two months, he had nearly grown accustomed to it. He no longer drank nothing but a cup of coffee for breakfast as he had in his previous life.

After breakfast, he headed for the study as usual. At the corner of the corridor, his mind occupied with how the An Family should develop in the future, he nearly collided with a maid. She was so startled that she fell to the ground and did not react for a moment.

"Are you all right?"

Only when An Ziran's calm voice sounded did she come back to herself.

The maid then realized that the young man standing before her was the eldest young master. Remembering why she had come, she hurriedly said, "Eldest Young Master, please hurry and see the Second Young Master. Something is wrong with him."

An Ziran finally recognized the maid before him. At the same time, he remembered his younger brother, who had been born only three months ago. One troublesome matter after another had arisen in the An Family, and he had only gone to see him once, so he had not immediately recognized Yue Ju, one of the maids caring for his brother.

When the two arrived at Maple Court, the wet nurse was tending to An Ziming.

On the way over, An Ziran had already heard from Yue Ju that his younger brother had suddenly developed a fever that morning. Though his temperature was not very high, for an infant only three months old, the slightest carelessness could endanger his life.

The wet nurse did not dare delay. She immediately had another maid, Cai Ju, fetch a physician, then sent Yue Ju to inform him.

An Ziran walked over and lowered his head to look at the Little Bun in the cradle, his cheeks flushed red. This Little Bun was his younger brother. His feelings could not help turning complicated; in his previous life, he had been all alone. Not to mention a younger brother, he had not even had parents.

As though sensing his gaze, the drowsy Little Bun slowly opened his eyes, revealing two grape-like pupils. His bright, watery eyes looked at An Ziran as his tiny, barely visible hand waved gently, as if beckoning to him. Then he suddenly broke into a delighted smile.

An Ziran froze.

The wet nurse promptly said, "The Second Young Master is truly clever. He knew the Eldest Young Master had come. No matter how this servant coaxed him just now, he had no spirit at all, but the moment you arrived, he opened his eyes."

As if possessed, An Ziran took hold of his little hand. The tiny thing wriggled even more happily. Blood ties truly were a strange thing.

The physician arrived quickly. Little Bun had tired himself out from playing and was already asleep.

After examining him, the physician said it was nothing serious, merely a mild fever. He wrote a prescription for a folk remedy and gave some instructions on what needed attention before leaving.

An Ziran did not stay long, but he came again that afternoon. Little Bun had already awakened and was recovering quickly; by afternoon, his fever had subsided. His eyes were especially lively, and with his little mouth open, he kept gazing at An Ziran cheerfully. It was not until Steward Su came looking for him that he realized an entire shichen had somehow passed. He felt as though he had only been sitting there for a moment.

The moment Steward Su entered Maple Court, he saw the trace of a smile on the eldest young master's face before it could be withdrawn. This was the first time in two months that he had seen the eldest young master smile. The hesitation in his heart suddenly hardened into resolve. He decided to tell the eldest young master about that matter and let him make the decision himself.

"Steward, what is it?"

Seeing him standing at the doorway without entering, An Ziran looked at him in confusion.

Steward Su walked before him and said softly, "Eldest Young Master, there is something very important I need to tell you."

An Ziran raised a brow and gave him a surprised look. Then he instructed the wet nurse and the two maids, "You may leave first. Stand guard outside, and do not let anyone approach."

The three did not dare say more and immediately withdrew in a proper, orderly manner.

Very quickly, only the two of them remained in the room, along with one sweet-smelling Little Bun.