Chapter Eighteen: Departure Is Inevitable

Page 1/3

Perhaps it was because Wei Ruo had been spending too much time with her old nurse that Lady Yun called her over and said, “Ruo’er, it’s good that you’re close with your nurse, but you must be mindful of propriety. If people hear that you’re seeing her too often, it could harm your reputation.”

“I understand. I’ll be more careful.”

Wei Ruo didn’t argue; she had long anticipated this would happen. As the daughter of an official family, it was unseemly to be too closely connected to her former nurse. Thankfully, the carrier pigeons were already in place—most matters could be communicated that way, sparing her nurse from having to make so many trips to the Commandant’s residence.

Lady Yun nodded in satisfaction, then continued, “Ruo’er, with the war pressing in recent years, the magistrate’s wife is organizing the ladies of each family to go to Huafa Temple in the north of the city tomorrow to pray for the soldiers. Come with me.”

“Must I go? Can I not?”

“Don’t you enjoy going out, Ruo’er? Why don’t you wish to go?”

“I do like going out, but I don’t care for socializing, and I’m not skilled at those things,” Wei Ruo admitted honestly.

The thought of mingling with a crowd of wives and young ladies exhausted her.

Lady Yun spoke earnestly, “Ruo’er, things aren’t as they once were. You must get used to social occasions. Besides, I’ve been talking to the magistrate’s wife about having you, like Wanwan, study at the magistrate’s residence with the girls there. This is a good chance for her to meet you and put to rest any doubts about your character.”

Lady Yun didn’t specify what doubts, but Wei Ruo knew well enough: they worried she was too crude, unfit to study alongside other young ladies.

“Do you really think I can change her mind? Aren’t you afraid I’ll embarrass myself?” Wei Ruo asked.

“You’ve been doing very well these days. Maybe you’re not perfectly polished yet, but you’ve improved greatly—I’m very pleased. There’s only one thing you must remember: do not mention the matter of you and Wanwan being switched. Just say you were raised in the countryside due to your frail health, and only recently returned to your parents. That’s best for both you and Wanwan,” Lady Yun said with feeling.

“I really must go?”

“You must,” Lady Yun replied firmly. “Ruo’er, be good—these are things you’ll have to get used to sooner or later.”

Wei Ruo sighed, helplessly accepting her fate. “I understand.”

In the original story, Lady Yun hadn’t wanted the protagonist to go; it was only after much begging that she reluctantly agreed. Now, the situation was reversed—Wei Ruo didn’t wish to go, but Lady Yun insisted. Wei Ruo couldn’t help finding it amusing. Where had things gone wrong? Why did events still follow the original plot?

Page 2/3

Wei Ruo remembered that, in the novel, this prayer trip turned into quite the spectacle.

First, as the supporting character, she became the laughingstock among the ladies because her manners were lacking, bringing great shame to Lady Yun.

Second, it was at Huafa Temple that the heroine, Wei Qingwan, had her fateful first encounter with the male lead.

Pondering this, Wei Ruo returned to the Pine Pavilion.

“Xiumei, see if there are any sweet potato chips or slices left in our luggage,” she instructed.

Xiumei quickly found both in the side room, bringing back a small bag of each.

“Are you craving a snack, miss?”

“No, my mother wants me to accompany her to Huafa Temple tomorrow to burn incense and pray for blessings. I plan to take some along. Help me find two satin pouches with drawstrings.”

“Are you worried you’ll get hungry on the road?” Xiumei asked curiously.

“No, I have other plans,” Wei Ruo replied with a sly smile.

Since she couldn’t avoid the outing, she’d go—but she wasn’t going to make the trip for nothing. She intended to gain something from it.

###

Soon news reached Wei Qingwan at Plum Blossom Pavilion that Wei Ruo would be joining Lady Yun at Huafa Temple.

“Did mother ask for my sister to go herself?” Wei Qingwan asked Nanny Li.

“She did. Madam said the eldest miss will have to go out sooner or later, and tomorrow is a good opportunity.”

“So soon...” Wei Qingwan murmured, lowering her head.

“Don’t be sad, miss. It was bound to happen,” Nanny Li consoled her.

“I know, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon...” Disappointment clouded Wei Qingwan’s face.

It was one thing if her sister had pleaded to go; but that their mother asked meant she’d accepted Wei Ruo, that she saw her as a proper young lady.

Page 3/3

“Don’t worry, miss. This might not be a good thing for the eldest miss. In front of so many ladies, if she makes a mistake or embarrasses herself, the whole of Xingshan County will laugh at her.”

“It’s not that I want my sister to make a fool of herself, I just…” Wei Qingwan murmured.

“I understand how you feel, but whether or not the eldest miss embarrasses herself depends on her own upbringing, not on you. Some things will happen, whether she wishes them to or not.”

“If possible, I still hope she does well tomorrow and doesn’t bring shame to the Commandant’s residence,” Wei Qingwan whispered.

“You’re too kind, miss,” said Nanny Li with a sigh.

“As long as mother doesn’t grow tired of me, I don’t mind what happens to my sister.”

“That won’t happen. Madam loves you best of all.”

Consoled by Nanny Li, Wei Qingwan’s spirits lifted. After drinking her calming tea, she went to bed.

###

The next day, at Lady Yun’s behest, Wei Ruo dressed with care.

A light yellow bodice, an outer robe of watery green, and a skirt of deep jade; her hair styled in the latest fashionable chignon. The freshness of her appearance was touched with lively grace.

Though she’d been in the Wei residence some time, it was her first time dressing so properly. She usually preferred simple clothes, her hair done up in a practical countrywoman’s knot, easy for work.

Lady Yun had often urged her to wear the clothes she’d prepared, but Wei Ruo always declined, saying the homespun garments were lighter and more convenient.

Now, seeing Wei Ruo so dressed, Lady Yun smiled with satisfaction. “Ruo’er, you look lovely today.”

Then, noticing the dainty food box in Wei Ruo’s hand, Lady Yun asked, “What are you carrying there?”