Chapter Sixteen: The Wet Nurse Arrives

"Huai Bei Town is in Huzhou Prefecture," Wei Jinyi said as well.

"Ah, that's right! The young lady came from Huai Bei Town. No wonder she has this paper!"

"This paper is not cheap," Wei Jinyi said in a low voice.

Ordinary paper costs ten sheets for a copper coin, but the paper from Four Treasures Studio costs five copper coins for a single sheet—fifty times more expensive than the common kind. Most crucially, Four Treasures Studio’s paper is not easy to buy. Though costly, its quality is so exceptional that many noble youths compete for it, forcing the studio to sell a limited number each day—once sold out, there’s no more until the next day.

Yet Wei Ruo had casually given him twenty sheets.

Where did she get the money? And why was she so generous to him? What was her true intention?

###

After returning to Listening Pines Courtyard, Wei Ruo lay lazily on her bed.

When one is well-fed and content, the blood rushes to the stomach and the mind empties—a perfect state for daydreaming.

"Miss, why do I feel you treat the second young master better than the master, the madam, or even the eldest young master? I think the eldest young master is kinder to you than the second young master. The second young master is cold and aloof, barely willing to speak to you, but the eldest young master is gentle, considerate, and even gave you his own courtyard to live in," Xiumei remarked curiously.

"Because being with the second young master puts no pressure on me."

"The eldest young master makes you feel pressured?"

"Yes. If I’m kind to him, others might think I’m vying for favor. But the second young master is practically invisible in this family; there’s no pressure to treat him well or poorly—I can just be myself."

"Alright, though I don't quite understand, I know that what you think must be right."

Wei Ruo smiled faintly. In truth, it wasn’t only about not wanting to compete for affection.

She had inherited the memories of the original host. Because she was reincarnated into this body, no matter her desires, she couldn't help but feel emotional when facing the family who had hurt and abandoned her in her previous life. These feelings were beyond her control, impossible to suppress with mere rationality.

She understood that the original host’s demise was inseparably linked to her own reckless actions, but the yearning for familial love—and the despair of ultimate abandonment—were deeply etched in her heart.

So, even now, though Madam Yun and Wei Yichen treated her well, she couldn’t truly open her heart to them.

But with Wei Jinyi, he had left no mark in the original host’s memories, and in the novel, he was an insignificant figure. Facing him brought no inner conflict, nor any extra worries.

It was like dealing with the neighbors back in Mo Family Alley. As long as the other party had no ill intentions, she could interact honestly and kindly, and lend a helping hand when she could.

That ease and freedom were something Madam Yun and Wei Yichen could never give her.

###

The next day, Wei Ruo was cutting sweet potato vines to propagate by planting.

Xiumei rushed in from outside, her face anxious. "Miss, it’s Brother Yong! The person causing a commotion with the guards outside is Brother Zhengyong!"

This Brother Zhengyong was Xu Zhengyong, the son of Xu Mama, Wei Ruo’s wet nurse.

"What’s going on?" Wei Ruo asked.

"I heard the noise from inside the gate. Xu Mama has been trying to send messages to the guards at the gate these past two days, hoping to see you, but she was turned away each time. Brother Zhengyong, unable to bear it, came today in her place and argued with the guards, saying they followed the Commandant’s residence rules to deliver the letters, so why weren’t they passed on?"

Xiumei’s forehead was beaded with sweat. "I knew it—Xu Mama should have arrived by now, but the letters never got through!"

"Don’t worry, come with me to the gate," Wei Ruo said.

She set aside the sweet potato vines, tidied herself, and led Xiumei to the entrance.

There, as expected, was Xu Zhengyong, arguing with the guards.

The boy was fourteen, his skin bronzed from years of farm work, dressed in the clothes of a peasant. Because of the quarrel, his face was flushed all the way down to his neck.

When he saw Wei Ruo emerge, the gloom in his eyes brightened instantly. He was about to call out to her, but immediately remembered his mother’s instructions: that now, Miss Ruo was the young lady of the Commandant’s residence, different from before, and he must be careful with his words and never bring trouble to her.

He held back from speaking.

When Wei Ruo arrived, Wei Yichen was already at the gate.

Seeing her approach, Wei Yichen told her, "You must not go out. When unrelated men make a scene at your door, you should not join the commotion."

"He is my wet nurse’s son," Wei Ruo replied.

Wei Yichen’s brow furrowed, then he looked at the boy at the gate and understood.

"You cannot see him, but if you wish to see your wet nurse, I can arrange it for you."

"Thank you. Please ask the guards not to make things difficult for him," she said.

"Very well," Wei Yichen agreed, then turned to head outside.

After a few words with the guards, they released Xu Zhengyong.

Returning inside, Wei Yichen informed Wei Ruo, "I’ve told him to have his mother come tomorrow. The boy is old enough now, and cannot freely enter the women’s quarters. In the future, be mindful when meeting him."

"Understood."

###

"Tell Mother about this matter. She won’t stop you from seeing your wet nurse, but it’s proper to inform her of household matters in advance," Wei Yichen said earnestly.

"Alright."

Wei Yichen looked at Wei Ruo’s bright face, hesitated, and then asked, "Is there anything else?"

After a moment’s thought, he said, "When you have time, spend more of it with Mother. Don’t just stay in your own courtyard. She has excused you from the daily greetings, but you can take the initiative to be close to her. She will appreciate it."

"We’ll see," Wei Ruo replied.

"Just keep it in mind."

"Mm."

Wei Ruo did not argue nor promise, but returned to Listening Pines Courtyard with Xiumei.

###

The next day, when Xu Mama came again to the Commandant’s residence, the guards did not stop her but led her straight to Listening Pines Courtyard.

"Miss!"

Seeing Wei Ruo, Xu Mama was overcome with emotion. After gazing at her for a while, tears welled in her eyes.

"Why are you crying, nanny? Isn’t seeing me a happy thing?" Wei Ruo came forward and gently wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

"I am happy—so very happy! I always said those He family folk were too heartless. So you weren’t their real child after all! Now, you’ve found your true parents, and not only is your father an official, but he dotes on you! Your hardships are finally over, and I am so glad!"

"If you’re happy, you must smile, not cry," Wei Ruo said.

"Yes, I won’t cry, I won’t cry."

Wei Ruo helped her nanny wipe her tears and calm down.

"Just look at me—all I do is weep and forget what I came for!"

Xu Mama hurriedly opened her bundle, took out a small wooden box, and revealed the neatly arranged silver ingots inside.