Chapter 145: Giving Wei Qingwan a Hard Time

"It hasn't been continuous. We only recently reconnected," Wei Ruo replied calmly.

"What did Madam Yuan want when she asked for you?" Lady Yun asked again.

"Didn't I tell you before I went out today, Mother? It's related to farming."

"Why would Madam Yuan care so much about farming?" Lady Yun pressed further.

"Doesn't Mother truly know? Prefect Yuan wants his political achievements to look good. Naturally, that requires prosperous and content commoners, and a harmonious administration," Wei Ruo answered.

Lady Yun had not failed to consider this, but the fact that Madam Yuan had sought out her daughter over such a matter still caught her somewhat off guard.

Looking at the Wei Ruo before her with complex thoughts swirling in her heart, Lady Yun let out a long sigh. "Ruo'er, I am glad that you can win Madam Yuan's appreciation once more, but what I told you this morning came from the bottom of my heart. I truly believe that becoming a proper young lady of a noble household and marrying a good match in the future is your true destination."

The education Lady Yun had received since childhood and her life experiences always made her feel that for a woman, securing a good marriage and assisting her husband in raising children was the only proper destination.

"This is the path I chose myself, and I will bear the consequences of whatever comes in the future. I ask Mother not to stand in my way," Wei Ruo said with a firm attitude.

Lady Yun could not help sighing again. "You are truly like your father, and your father supports you in doing these things."

Sometimes, Lady Yun could not fully understand her husband either.

However, as a wife, she knew she should support her husband and regard him as her heaven.

Wei Ruo said, "Since that is the case, Mother need not try to dissuade me. I am willing to walk this path, and I will bear the consequences of any outcome myself."

Lady Yun nodded. "I cannot stop you. If I try to stop you further and you go complain to your father, there is nothing I can do."

Because of her husband's attitude, all Lady Yun could do was advise Wei Ruo. If the advice failed, there was nothing more she could do, as she feared displeasing her husband.

Especially with a war looming ahead now, how could Lady Yun dare to let chaos break out at home and cause her husband further distraction and worry?

Following that, Lady Yun said, "Since you are now deeply favored by Madam Yuan, if an opportunity arises, please put in a few good words for your younger sister."

Last time, Wei Qingwan had wanted Wei Ruo to put in a good word for her, but Wei Ruo had brushed it off using a headache as an excuse.

Now that Madam Yuan had appeared again, Lady Yun saw an opportunity and brought up the old matter once more.

"If I say I am unwilling, will Mother scold me again for being heartless toward my own sister in the household?" Wei Ruo asked.

Lady Yun frowned and said in a heavy tone, "What happened that day was indeed Wanwan's fault, and it was also somewhat wrong of me to blame you that day."

After many days, Lady Yun was finally willing to admit that she had been wrong on that day.

Then Lady Yun continued, "But Ruo'er, we are a family. One prospers, all prosper; one is disgraced, all are disgraced! Your sister's reputation being damaged does you no good either. You must understand this logic."

Wei Ruo said nothing, looking at Lady Yun with an indifferent expression.

Lady Yun added, "Your sister has already received her punishment. I grounded her, docked her monthly allowance, and her reputation in the prefectural city has also soured. Are all these things not enough to dispel your anger?"

If Wei Qingwan had learned her lesson from these punishments and let the matter rest, Wei Ruo might have let her anger go, but the facts clearly showed otherwise. The scene Wei Qingwan had staged before going out today was the best proof of that.

"I need to go back and think this over carefully," Wei Ruo replied, neither agreeing nor flatly refusing.

Lady Yun was not entirely satisfied with this answer, but she could not push Wei Ruo too hard either. After all, she was asking a favor of her, and driving her into a corner would do no good for anyone.

"Very well, go back and think it over carefully. Your mother still has to figure out a solution for the shortage of medicinal materials in your father's military camp." Lady Yun waved her hand, dismissing Wei Ruo.

Seeing that Lady Yun had nothing more to say to her, Wei Ruo used the excuse of having matters to attend to and returned to Songting Courtyard.

Upon returning to Songting Courtyard, Wei Ruo immediately began writing a letter.

Xiumei poured tea and ground ink for Wei Ruo beside her, then caught a glimpse of the He family being mentioned in the letter.

"Miss, you are having someone deliver a letter to the He family? Why is that?" Xiumei asked in surprise.

Their young miss had almost never had any contact with the He family. Ever since she left the He family at the age of three and was sent to the countryside, apart from the monthly allowance sent every month, they had never seen anyone from the He family again.

"I'm inviting them to be guests at the Wei residence," Wei Ruo replied.

"What? Miss, have you lost your mind? Why on earth are you inviting them to be guests at the Wei residence?" Although Xiumei had rarely seen members of the He family, she had not a single good impression of them.

For all these years, they had abandoned the young miss in the countryside and completely ignored her, simply because a fortune-teller had claimed the young miss was destined to bring misfortune to her parents. It was simply absurd!

"Rest assured, your miss has not lost her mind. I won't even be home for a period of time following this, so even if they are invited over, they won't be able to disturb me," Wei Ruo said.

"If you won't be at the manor, Miss, then why are you having them come?" Xiumei still did not quite understand.

"To find something for Wei Qingwan to do. Since she is making things unpleasant for me day after day, I cannot let her have things too pleasant either," Wei Ruo said.

Xiumei seemed to understand a little.

"Can the He family really make the Second Young Miss unhappy?" Xiumei asked curiously.

Although Xiumei had originally been a maid bought by the He family, she was only five years old when she was bought and had spent almost no time in the He residence, so she knew very little about them.

Wei Ruo smiled brightly. "They will."

Xiumei thought for a moment and had one more question: "But Miss, Xingshan County is still at war right now, and the commoners in the city are all panicking. Will the He family be willing to come?"

"Usually, if we claimed the Wei residence was inviting them, they wouldn't believe it. It's precisely because of the current situation that they will believe it when we invite them. The reason I'm giving is for them to transport medicinal materials, and I've also told them that if they can deliver the urgently needed medicines to Xingshan County, it will be a great contribution," Wei Ruo explained.

The He family were merchants; although their main business was not the trade of medicinal materials, they had some involvement in it. Having them deliver medicine served as both an excuse and an urgent necessity for Xingshan County at present.

For years, the He family's business had not been going smoothly because they lacked strong political connections. Therefore, they had always wanted to forge ties with official figures.

Originally, they had thought they could use the mix-up of the children to establish a connection with the Wei family, but unfortunately, when the Wei family came looking, they only gave them some money and had no intention of maintaining relations.

Now that she had cast the bait, whether the He family would bite depended entirely on them.

Even if the He family didn't take the bait, Wei Ruo had nothing to lose; she had only written a letter.

Xiumei nodded. "Your idea is brilliant, Miss! That way, even if they can't cause trouble for the Second Young Miss by actually delivering the medicinal materials, they can at least resolve the urgent crisis in Xingshan County!"

Wei Ruo: "That is precisely the logic."

Xiumei: "Then I hope the He family receives the letter, successfully procures the medicine, and rushes over to the Colonel's Mansion!"