Chapter 104: Xie Ying's Insider News

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Wei Ruo had no interest in the activities of a group of ladies and misses, but she was quite eager to stroll through the streets of the prefectural city. After a simple dressing-up, she happily followed Lady Yun out the door. However, Lady Yun insisted that Wei Ruo and Wei Qingruo stay on the carriage as much as possible. If they needed to get off and enter a shop, they had to wear their veiling hats properly and not remove them casually, with their maids closely following behind.

Naturally, Wei Ruo couldn’t stay still. Upon reaching the bustling area, she got off the carriage and wandered among the various shops and stalls. After wandering for a short while, she encountered Xie Ying.

“Ruo Ruo!” Xie Ying spotted Wei Ruo first with her keen eyes and bounced over to her. Unlike Wei Ruo, who wore a veiling hat, Xie Ying was unreserved and open.

“Ruo Ruo, why are you dressed like this? It’s so inconvenient. If I didn’t recognize the fabric I personally picked out, I wouldn’t even have known it was you,” Xie Ying said.

The clothes Wei Ruo wore had just been recently made using the cloud brocade satin that Xie Ying had gifted her.

Wei Ruo smiled, thinking that the Xie family truly doted on Xie Ying, allowing her to act as she pleased.

“By the way, why are you in the prefectural city? You never mentioned coming here before,” Wei Ruo asked curiously.

“I didn’t come because of the prefect’s wife’s invitation. Although my grandfather was promoted to the fourth rank, my father is still a minor official, and since my mother comes from a merchant family, those traditionalists look down on her a bit. Of course, my mother wouldn’t want to mingle with them, so she’s happy not to come,” Xie Ying explained.

“So why did you come then?” Wei Ruo asked.

“I came for fun. My brother is here. Since you haven’t been around these past few days, I told my mother to let my father rest a few days too, and she agreed,” Xie Ying said proudly.

“I see.”

“Ruo Ruo, my brother booked a pleasure boat on East Lake. Come with me to have some fun!” Xie Ying invited.

Wei Ruo glanced back at the carriage behind her; Lady Yun was still inside.

Noticing Wei Ruo’s hesitation, Xie Ying said, “Don’t worry, I told my nanny to speak with the lady; I only mentioned the two of us, not my brother. With such a large group of household servants following me, your mother won’t refuse.”

After speaking, Xie Ying gave the instructions to her nanny, who then approached the Wei family’s carriage and spoke briefly with Lady Yun. Soon, the nanny returned and told Wei Ruo and Xie Ying that Lady Wei had agreed.

“Let’s go,” Xie Ying said, taking Wei Ruo’s hand. They got into the Xie family’s carriage and headed toward East Lake.

Once in the carriage, Xie Ying promptly removed the veiling hat from Wei Ruo, which she thought was obstructive.

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On the way to East Lake, Wei Ruo asked Xie Ying, “Is your brother in the prefectural city because of that nobleman?”

“Probably. He didn’t say much, but I guessed—it’s most likely because of Seventh Prince,” Xie Ying replied.

Then she turned to Wei Ruo and said, “Actually, your Wei family knows about him being Seventh Prince, right? You have people in the capital; there’s no way you wouldn’t know.”

Wei Ruo nodded slightly, then said, “It’s just strange why he’s stayed in Taizhou Prefecture for so long. If it’s because of the Japanese pirate issue, there’s already been a victory. He could return to the capital and report. As for that wasteland south of the city, he could just leave an official behind. It’s such a small matter, no need for him to oversee personally.”

“I heard a rumor about this,” Xie Ying said.

“A rumor?”

“Don’t tell anyone outside, okay?” Xie Ying whispered.

“Okay.”

“I heard Seventh Prince might be searching for the prince born to the late Empress.”

“But didn’t that prince die right after birth?” Wei Ruo asked.

“I don’t know the exact details. The rumor says he wasn’t actually dead. He was secretly sent to Jiangnan by the late Empress’s maternal family—the former retainers of Duke Xu. But there’s also news that those retainers were caught maintaining close ties with Jiangnan, and it’s suspected the prince from back then might be alive,” Xie Ying shared some hearsay.

Whether it was true or not was unknown.

“That must be a misunderstanding,” Wei Ruo muttered.

In the original story, that early deceased Ninth Prince never appeared, not even after the protagonist Chu Lan ascended the throne, so he likely didn’t exist.

“I also think it’s probably a misunderstanding. If he really were alive, it would cause chaos,” Xie Ying murmured and didn’t say more.

Some matters are better left with just a hint of curiosity; delving deeper could bring trouble to oneself and one’s family.

Soon, the carriage arrived at the edge of East Lake.

Xie Ying and Wei Ruo, supported by their maids, got off the carriage.

By the shore, Xie Jue was waiting for his sister’s arrival.

He had expected only his mischievous sister to come but was surprised to see Wei Ruo with her.

At the sight of Wei Ruo, Xie Jue’s smile widened; his eyes fixed warmly on the pale blue satin jacket and skirt she wore, her hair styled simply but gracefully.

Wei Ruo approached Xie Jue and gave a slight bow. “Greetings, Young Master Xie.”

“No need for formalities,” Xie Jue said, fiddling with his fan, seemingly unsure where to place his right hand.

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Following behind Wei Ruo, Xiu Mei wanted to laugh inwardly, thinking perhaps Young Master Xie was still nervous from being struck by her last time and was now instinctively uneasy seeing the young ladies.

“Stop dawdling; let’s board the boat quickly,” Xie Ying, impatient by nature, said and pulled Wei Ruo onto the boat before her brother could react.

Xie Jue hurriedly followed and ordered the boat to set off.

The pleasure boat gradually left the shore, heading toward the center of East Lake.

Wei Ruo and Xie Ying sat in the boat’s tea room, gazing through the lifted gauze curtain at the scenery on the lake.

A gentle breeze brushed their faces, and the water rippled softly.

Looking at the teapot before her, Wei Ruo took two paper packets out of her embroidered pouch, handing one to Xie Ying and keeping one for herself.

Opening the packets, they emptied the contents into teacups, then poured hot water from the boat to brew the tea.

“What is this?” Xie Ying asked curiously.

“Herbal tea,” Wei Ruo answered. “It’s made from dried honeysuckle, dried jasmine, and several herbs for regulating qi and nourishing blood. The blend is sweet without astringency. Try it.”

Hearing this, Xie Ying quickly brewed her own cup.

Before they could taste it, Xie Jue came in, smiling teasingly. “Wei family miss, I’d like a cup of that herbal tea too.”

Xie Ying shot him a look. “Brother, why do you like taking Ruo Ruo’s things so much?”

“Miss Wei’s things are good and nowhere else to be found. If I don’t grab some now, there won’t be any later,” Xie Jue said frankly.

“That’s true,” Xie Ying agreed.

Wei Ruo smiled and then took out all the remaining tea packets from her pouch, handing them to Xie Jue. “If Young Master Xie likes it, I’ll give them all to you.”