Yu Zixi went out to carry the next bag of military rations. The woman gave Yu Zixi a sweet smile. This smile was like a bright Chinese flowering crabapple blooming in the dilapidated ruins.
Yu Zixi nodded to her and said with a smile, "Yaoyao, you've had a long and arduous journey. Go to the inn and take a rest first."
The woman named Yaoyao lowered her head and said with a soft smile, "Brother Zixi, with you here, how could Yaoyao ever feel tired?"
This woman was extremely beautiful, with a voice like a warbling oriole and charming glances. Even a gentlewoman like Qi Jinxuan would have to admit defeat in the face of her charm.
Seeing this, Wei Dongling stood there, stunned on the spot.
Yu Zixi noticed Wei Dongling's fluctuating expression at a glance. He came over and grabbed her hand, then introduced her to the woman, "Yaoyao, this is Miss Wei Dongling I've told you about."
The woman saw Yu Zixi holding Wei Dongling's small hand. A flash of barely perceptible displeasure passed through her eyes. She lifted her chin and nodded at Wei Dongling.
Yu Zixi then said to Wei Dongling, "This is County Mistress Rong'an, He Yao, the daughter of my master."
Wei Dongling's heart trembled slightly. She curtsied and said, "This commoner pays respects to County Mistress Rong'an."
He Yao stood up and grabbed Yu Zixi's other hand. She nodded at Wei Dongling and said gently, "From now on, we'll be a family. Sister, don't be so polite."
A family? Wei Dongling saw He Yao's fair and delicate hand tightly clutching Yu Zixi's. She felt faintly unhappy in her heart, but didn't say anything in front of everyone.
Just then, Cui Huan brought some tea. She curtsied to Yu Zixi to pay her respects. When she looked up and saw the woman standing beside the young master, she was instantly dumbfounded.
He Yao saw Cui Huan and waved to her with a smile, "Cui Huan, long time no see. How have you been?"
Cui Huan glanced at Wei Dongling and Yu Zixi. She steeled herself and stepped forward to bow, "Miss, it's so chaotic and dangerous here. Why did you come?"
He Yao gently leaned her head on Yu Zixi's shoulder and said coquettishly to Cui Huan, "If Brother Zixi can come, so can I!"
Cui Huan trembled with fear in her heart and didn't dare to look at Wei Dongling's expression.
Uncle Li walked out of the door and glanced at everyone. He quietly called out to Yu Zixi, "Yu boy, Lord Shen left a letter for you."
Yu Zixi gently squeezed Wei Dongling's finger, then let go of both of them. He stood up and followed Uncle Li into the house.
Wei Dongling nodded at He Yao and went to the warehouse to check the military rations.
After a while, the innkeeper came to Wei Dongling very embarrassedly and hoped that she could give up the best guest room for County Mistress Rong'an to rest. The reason was that He Yao had given a large amount of silver and specifically asked to stay in the best room.
When the innkeeper said this to Wei Dongling, he looked very embarrassed. He also said that during the disaster, the inn had no income for a long time, and all the stored grain and firewood had been taken out to help the common people. Since the county mistress was willing to spend money to stay in the inn, they had no reason not to accept it.
Wei Dongling didn't mind. She nodded and gave up the room.
When Ruan Niang heard about this, she insisted on giving up her own room for Wei Dongling and Cui Huan to live in. She said that Wei Dongling was injured and couldn't be neglected. She herself packed her clothes and moved into the storage room.
After Yu Zixi finished reading the letter and heard about the assassination attempt on Wei Dongling today, he left Tian Qi to secretly protect her. Then he rushed to meet up with Shangguan Yun and the Ninth Prince to help Lord Shen.
County Mistress Rong'an, He Yao, was quite reasonable. She covered her face with a veil, rolled up her sleeves, and took her maid to help Ruan Niang treat the patients. She took care of the patients quite professionally and even fed the medicine herself without showing any airs of a county mistress, which won the praise of everyone.
At night, after Wei Dongling's wound on her shoulder had been dressed, she was lying on the bed listlessly, dozing off. Cui Huan pushed the door open and came in to pass on a message, saying that He Yao wanted to see her. Wei Dongling had no choice but to get up reluctantly, put on her clothes, and follow Cui Huan.
He Yao was sitting upright at the table. Wei Dongling curtsied to her. He Yao smiled faintly and motioned for her to sit down. She asked the maid to pour tea for her.
Wei Dongling held the teacup and asked curiously, "I wonder what the county mistress wants to see this commoner for so late at night?"
He Yao looked at Wei Dongling, curled her lips, and said with a smile, "I met Sister Dongling for the first time today and felt very happy in my heart." As she said this, she waved her hand and asked the maid to present a delicate wooden box. Inside the box, there was a jade bracelet with excellent luster lying quietly.
He Yao gently grabbed Wei Dongling's hand and slowly put the jade bracelet on for her. She said softly, "Sister Dongling and I will eventually marry the same man. I also sincerely want to be on good terms with sister. This jade bracelet was originally a dowry of my mother, Princess Jiaxin. I brought it here specially to reward sister as a meeting gift. I hope sister won't dislike it."
The jade bracelet felt cool in her hand, making Wei Dongling's fair wrist look even more radiant like the bright moon.
He Yao sized her up and down and said to Wei Dongling with a smile, "If sister changes into some decent clothes and looks more noble, it will be a perfect match!"
Tsk tsk, it seemed that she meant I was unworthy!
The corner of Wei Dongling's lips curved into an arc. She replied with a beaming smile, "This jade bracelet has excellent luster. It has taken the county mistress a lot of trouble. But my arm has gotten a bit thicker these days. I feel it's a bit tight when wearing it."
He Yao looked at Wei Dongling's slender wrist and said in surprise, "How could it be tight? There's still so much room left."
Wei Dongling raised her hand and stared at the jade bracelet, looking left and right. She asked doubtfully, "Really? Why do I feel like I can't take it off after putting it on?"
"How could that be?" He Yao was extremely surprised. She quickly reached out to take off the jade bracelet and asked doubtfully, "This jade bracelet is like it was custom - made for sister. It's quite suitable."
"Really? Let me see." Wei Dongling pretended to be surprised on her face and reached out her hand to take the jade bracelet.
He Yao handed the jade bracelet over. Wei Dongling reached out to take it.
With a clinking sound, the jade bracelet fell straight to the ground and broke into three pieces.
When He Yao saw the jade bracelet fall to the ground, her whole face darkened.
Wei Dongling exclaimed in surprise, "Oh! Sister County Mistress, how could you be so careless and break such a precious jade bracelet! What should we do now! This was your mother Princess Jiaxin's dowry!"
He Yao was already heart - broken. Hearing Wei Dongling's words, she was so angry that she trembled all over. She pointed at her nose and shouted, "You, you, you, you did it on purpose!"
Wei Dongling showed a look of regret on her face and shouted anxiously, "Sister County Mistress, what are you talking about? I haven't even caught it yet. Why did you let go? What should we do now that it's broken? You should quickly ask someone to pick it up and see if we can find a craftsman to repair it. It would be good to make it into a gold - inlaid jade bracelet!"
Cui Huan quickly bent down to pick it up.
He Yao looked at the jade bracelet broken into three pieces on the ground and said angrily, "It's broken like this. What's the use of repairing it? Sister Dongling, even if you don't want to be on good terms with me, you don't have to waste things like this, do you?"
Seeing the anger in He Yao's eyes, Wei Dongling pretended to be terrified and said, "I'm so honored to be sister with the county mistress. I'm too happy to be willing. How could I be unwilling? If sister is really upset, just think that I've accepted this gift." What she meant was that she had never accepted this bracelet.