Chapter Sixty-One: Thus, All Is Well

“I’ll go ask my young master right away.”
Little Bei hurried back to the Bamboo Pavilion to find Wei Jin Yi.
After hearing Little Bei’s report, Wei Jin Yi said, “The prepared pheasant and wild rabbit can be offered to her as compensation for her missed snacks.”
So Little Bei ran again to Pine Pavilion to relay the message.
“That’s settled, I’ll go with you,” Xiu Mei agreed without hesitation, grabbing a bundle and heading straight for the Bamboo Pavilion.
Little Bei was puzzled. “Miss Xiu Mei, aren’t you going to check with your young lady first? What if she doesn’t like game?”
Xiu Mei glanced at the slow-witted Little Bei and smiled. “Don’t worry, my young lady will absolutely love it.”
Xiu Mei went to the Bamboo Pavilion’s small kitchen and began her preparations.
The rabbit was braised, omitting spicy seasonings to suit Wei Jin Yi’s taste; otherwise, with her own young lady’s preferences, it would certainly have been spicy and fragrant.
The pheasant was made into a nourishing soup, with astragalus and goji berries added for health.
She also stir-fried sweet potato leaves and pumpkin tips—the sweet potato leaves brought by the wet nurse, the pumpkin tips freshly picked from Wei Ruo’s garden.
Four dishes in total, both meat and vegetables, with soup and sides.
When Little Bei brought the dishes to the table, Xiu Mei went next door to invite Wei Ruo.
After Little Bei set out the four dishes, he sighed to Wei Jin Yi, “Young master, the young lady is so kind. We asked her to help cook the game, and she even provided vegetables and ingredients, making four dishes that are a feast for the senses.”
“Mm.” Wei Jin Yi replied.
“If only the young lady could come dine with us more often,” Little Bei mused.
He knew it was unlikely—Master and Madam would surely want the young lady to eat in the dining hall with everyone.
As they spoke, Wei Ruo arrived, smiling as she walked into the pavilion.
Wei Jin Yi had already set her a stool. When Wei Ruo sat down, her eyes swept over the three dishes and soup, and her lips curled upwards.
Her beloved rabbit—she hadn’t tasted it in so very long!
Wei Jin Yi noticed Wei Ruo’s excitement and couldn’t help but smile faintly, picking up a rabbit leg and placing it in her bowl.
“It’s my fault you missed your snack. Let this rabbit be my apology,” Wei Jin Yi said.

“I won’t be shy, then.” Wei Ruo tilted her face and smiled at Wei Jin Yi, then wasted no time picking up her chopsticks.
Both knew the truth: one had deliberately prepared the game for the other to enjoy, and the other had feigned needing compensation for a missed snack as an excuse to join the meal.
Only Little Bei remained blissfully unaware.
After a hearty meal, Wei Ruo rested in a wicker chair nearby.
“When did you get this wicker chair, Second Brother? I didn’t notice it before,” Wei Ruo asked.
“Just recently. It looked nice, so I bought it,” Wei Jin Yi replied.
“It’s lovely. You can rest here when you’re tired from reading.”
“Mm.” Wei Jin Yi agreed, watching Wei Ruo lazily sway on the chair, knowing it had been the right purchase.
“How are your studies at the Xie family lately?” Wei Jin Yi inquired.
“Very good. The lady tutor you found is truly impressive. I thought I wouldn’t be able to keep up, but her teaching is so engaging. I learned some incense-making skills, which are surprisingly similar to my pharmacy work.”
“That’s well, then.” Wei Jin Yi responded, his face as calm as ever.
“And you? Has your health improved these past days?” Wei Ruo asked casually.
“Mm. Your medicine has been very useful—I feel much better.” Wei Jin Yi replied.
“That’s well, then.” Wei Ruo mimicked Wei Jin Yi’s tone exactly, then lay back in the wicker chair, utterly at ease.
Most of the time, their companionship was quiet; Wei Jin Yi spoke little, and Wei Ruo sometimes chatted, sometimes stayed silent, simply relaxing.
###
After several busy days, Wei Ruo finally managed to delegate most of the tasks concerning the wasteland in the southern part of the city.
With some free time today, she decided to tidy up the loofahs, pumpkins, and gourds in her courtyard; otherwise, once she returned to her studies at the Xie family, she’d have little time again.
She was busy in the garden when Xiu Mei rushed in.
“Miss, Miss, Miss…”
“What’s wrong, Mei Mei?”
“Well…well…” Xiu Mei checked to make sure no one else was in Pine Pavilion, then told Wei Ruo, “Miss, Brother Xiao Yong got into a big argument with Uncle Xu and the wet nurse!”

“What happened?”
“It seems Brother Xiao Yong wants to join the army! Haven’t there been a lot of recruitment notices posted around the county these days? And because of the special situation, the age for enlistment has been lowered from fifteen to fourteen. Brother Xiao Yong just meets the requirement, so he said he wants to go fight the invaders!”
“Where is he now?” Wei Ruo asked quickly.
“He’s been tied up at home by Uncle Xu! Uncle Xu doesn’t really mind, but the wet nurse disagrees. She cried, so Uncle Xu tied up Brother Xiao Yong!”
“Let’s go. Call Granny Zhang to join us,” Wei Ruo decided at once.
She now had the excuse of her work in the southern city, so she could leave almost at will, but Granny Zhang had to accompany her.
At first, Granny Zhang had looked down on Wei Ruo, finding her a bit shabby, but after spending time together, her attitude changed greatly. Once she acknowledged Wei Ruo’s abilities, she began to truly obey her.
When Wei Ruo suddenly came to her, Granny Zhang didn’t question it; she promptly prepared the carriage and took Wei Ruo out.
After leaving the house, Wei Ruo had the carriage stop at a street corner, telling Granny Zhang she was going to Four Treasures Studio to buy writing supplies.
Now that Wei Ruo was studying, buying ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones was perfectly normal. Neither Granny Zhang nor the coachman found anything strange about it.
Wei Ruo put on her veiled hat and got out of the carriage, entering the shop but not looking at the goods; instead, she went straight through the back door into the courtyard.
Inside, Xu Zheng Yong sat on the ground, tightly bound with his hands behind his back.
His expression was stubborn. “Father, a real man’s ambitions reach far and wide. Now that the country faces invasion and the people suffer, I, as a man, ought to fight on the front lines!”
Xu Zhu Shan retorted, “I don’t care about all that. If you upset your mother, it’s unacceptable!”
Xu Zhu Shan wasn’t opposed to his son joining the army, but if his wife was distressed, that was reason enough.
“Father, Mother’s just thinking like a woman. You’re a man; you should understand my intentions!” Xu Zheng Yong argued.
“Useless! If you want to go, you’d better find a way to make your mother stop worrying!” Xu Zhu Shan insisted, leaving no room for negotiation.
As the father and son debated, Wei Ruo entered.
Seeing her, Xu Zheng Yong’s eyes lit up, as if seeing a savior. “Sister Ruo!”