Everyday Exile in Ancient Times

by Usui Takumii

not mine, asia novel. Total: 210 chapters and 9 extras . Beware edited mtl.

9. 81 to 90

Chapter 81.

In the continuous drizzle, the weather was damp and bone-chillingly cold. Pedestrians on the street huddled their necks and crossed their hands inside their sleeves for warmth.

Yuying had wrapped a cotton cloth around her neck and wore a hat, feeling warmer than others thanks to the hemp-wool sweater she had made after several attempts, worn under her cotton coat.

However, after sitting in an open, wind- and rain-exposed ox cart for nearly half an hour, she was shivering and trembling with cold, struggling to speak clearly.

Once inside, it took a long while warming up in front of the fire basin before she started to feel better.

Moments later, Fuxian brought her a freshly brewed cup of hot ginger tea, offering, "Have some ginger tea first to warm up."

Yuying took it, thanking him with a soft "thank you," and then sipped the steaming tea gently.

The hot ginger tea warmed her as it slowly went down her throat, gradually spreading a comforting warmth throughout her body, restoring color to Yuying's pale cheeks.

Holding the half bowl of warm ginger tea to heat her hands, Yuying looked at Fuxian, whom she hadn't seen for over a month.

He was looking at her too.

Yuying had to divert her gaze, looking instead at the crackling fire in the brazier on the floor.

Fuxian sat down on a stool next to her, asking, "Why have you arrived so late?"

Even without taking Old Chen's ox cart, she should have arrived around the usual time.

Upon entering the house earlier, she had immediately changed her shoes, which were caked in mud, as if something had happened on her way.

Shivering, Yuying exhaled a cold breath and took another sip of ginger tea before explaining, "The ox cart got stuck in a mud pit on the way, which is why I arrived so late."

No wonder she had arrived at Yuxian at such an hour.

Seeing that she hadn't fully recovered, Fuxian got up and went to get his thick coat, draping it gently over her shoulders.

Yuying was momentarily startled and about to refuse, but Fuxian cautioned, "The weather has been particularly cold these days, and we're leaving for the prefectural seat tomorrow. Don't catch a cold at this crucial time."

Hearing this, Yuying let it be.

After all, an extra piece of clothing on her shoulders added more warmth.

The coat, while providing warmth, also carried a faint scent of ink and bamboo, Fuxian's signature fragrance.

It was a comforting scent.

Yuying adjusted the coat on her shoulders.

Seeing her acceptance, a smile appeared on Fuxian's face.

Fuxian told her, "Before the policy was implemented, I mentioned to the magistrate that the idea of the medicinal fields was yours. Also, since you had paid a year's rent in advance and didn't need guidance from local medical halls on how to grow and harvest herbs, the magistrate agreed to buy your herbs at the same price as those from the medical halls."

Hearing this, Yuying felt a great relief.

Her purpose in coming to Yuxian was not only to accompany Fuxian to the prefectural seat but also to inquire whether she could sell her herbs independently and at the same price as before.

Fuxian continued to explain, "The policy mainly targets herbal farmers and will be refined over time. For instance, herbs harvested from the wild will eventually be more valuable than cultivated ones. But as it's the initial phase of the policy, and the first batch of herbs hasn't been sold yet, and considering the dangers of the mountains, we are not encouraging people to forage in the wild."

Yuying agreed with Fuxian's reasoning. Indeed, if people knew that wild herbs were more valuable, they might risk harvesting in the mountains and neglect their cultivated fields.

Speaking of policy matters, Yuying naturally inquired about Fuxian's situation at the yamen.

"Is anyone at the yamen still making things difficult for you?"

Fuxian calmly picked up the tongs and rearranged the wood in the clay pot, casting a warm glow on his face that accentuated his deep and handsome features.

Compared to six months ago, Fuxian had changed significantly.

He had transformed from a young nobleman in distress to a responsible and composed adult.

It was as if he was a dragon lurking in the depths, bound to soar to the skies one day.

After tending to the fire, Fuxian looked up at her with a smile and reassured, "I'm doing well at the yamen, don't worry too much."

"That's good to hear," Yuying smiled in response.

Fuxian briefly discussed their upcoming trip to the prefectural seat.

"The magistrate plans to stay in the prefectural seat for about five days, during which we'll stay at an inn. I'll accompany the magistrate to the government office during the day, and you can go out if you wish."

A five-day trip would inevitably incur expenses.

In modern times, such business trips would be reimbursed, but Yuying wondered if the financially strapped Yuxian yamen had any such provisions.

After pondering for a moment, Yuying asked, "Will we need to pay for our own food and lodging?"

Yuying had only about three taels of silver, and if they stayed in a decent inn, it would cost seventy to eighty wen per night, which seemed exorbitantly expensive.

Fuxian, aware of her concern about money and knowing how hard she worked for it, had inquired carefully.

"The yamen covers food and lodging, with separate rooms for staff officers and shared rooms for four yamen runners each."

There were only two staff officers, Fuxian and Qian, so the expense for two rooms wasn't much.

However, with many yamen runners, they would have to make do.

Yuying was struck by the stark difference in treatment between staff officers and yamen runners, and she, too, would benefit from this arrangement.

Even though food and lodging were not a concern, Yuying couldn't help worrying about what might happen at the prefectural seat with Fuxian and the magistrate.

At that moment, Fuxian's call for dinner came from outside, and Fuxian stood up first. Yuying hesitated for a moment before calling out to him.

"Fuxian."

Fuxian turned to her, "Hmm?"

Yuying said, "If anything happens at the prefectural seat, don't brood over it alone. You can discuss it with me."

"Why say this all of a sudden?" Fuxian was puzzled by her remark.

Yuying smiled, "Just in case something unexpected happens."

For instance, during this trip to the prefectural seat, Fuxian might encounter an acquaintance of his biological father, leading to doubts about whether his father truly collaborated with the enemy and suspicion towards his foster father.

Fuxian smiled and nodded, "If anything happens, I'll definitely talk to you about it."

Reassured by his words, Yuying also stood up to have dinner in the main hall.

In the afternoon, after Fuxian left for his duties, Yuying went to the market to buy some provisions for their three-day journey.

The cold weather meant there was no worry about the food spoiling, and they could cook meals during midday breaks to enjoy warm food on the way.

Since they lived close to the yamen, there was no rush to leave early the next day. After finishing breakfast when it was slightly brighter outside, Yuying left with Fuxian.

Yuying placed the bundle on Fuxian's lap, holding an oil-paper umbrella to shield them from the drizzle while helping to push his wheelchair.

The continuous light rain for two days had made the roads muddy and difficult for the wheelchair to navigate due to small pits and bumps.

When they arrived at the yamen, a carriage was just being brought by a yamen runner.

Yuying once again felt the poverty of Yuxian.

Of the four carriages, only the leading one with a red top was made of wood.

Probably because all the county magistrates of Cangwu Prefecture were gathering at the prefectural seat, the magistrate had the carriage freshly painted with red lacquer to avoid embarrassment.

The other carriages appeared worn, with their canopies made of cloth instead of wood, and some areas were severely faded.

Despite this, compared to most people who traveled by ox cart, these carriages were still a luxury.

For this trip to the prefectural seat, the magistrate's wife and children were also going, along with Qian, the staff officer's wife and daughter.

Yuying didn't share a carriage with Fuxian but traveled with Qian's wife and daughter.

Yuying had met the magistrate before, but this was her first time seeing his wife.

Surprisingly, the wife of a robust man like the magistrate was a gentle and dignified woman.

Around thirty years old, not very beautiful, but she had an elegant and inherently clean aura, giving a very comfortable impression.

Yu Ying accompanied Fu Wei to pay a visit to the wife of the county magistrate.

After the visit, Lady Zhou, with a warm smile, said to Lady Yu, "I've long heard of Lady Yu's capabilities and have always wanted to meet her. Today, I finally have the chance."

She had heard about Lady Yu from her husband and the people in the yamen, describing her as a highly competent woman.

Meeting her today, she couldn't help but be more curious.

She scrutinized Lady Yu carefully, her gaze eventually resting on the "freckles" on Lady Yu's cheeks.

While initially pitying the blemish on such delicate features, she quickly thought of something, paid more attention to those few "freckles," and then smiled faintly, no longer feeling sorry.

Yu Ying modestly replied, "I'm just an ordinary woman. Although I can recognize a few herbs, I don't possess any special skills."

Lady Zhou's smile remained as she continued, "Lady Yu is a modest person, much like Mr. Fu. No wonder you are husband and wife."

Hearing this, Yu Ying couldn't help but glance at Fu Wei beside her.

Their eyes met, and they both smiled.

As the time for departure approached, Yu Ying and Fu Wei parted ways.

Yu Ying watched Fu Wei being helped onto the carriage by Huo, the yamen runner, and was about to look away when she inadvertently noticed an elderly gentleman standing in front of the yamen.

The uncle, around fifty years old, was not dressed in the uniform of a yamen runner but wore a broad-collared overcoat and a formal hat.

Such attire indicated wealth in Yuxian, leaving no doubt that this man must be Sun Mouliao.

When Yu Ying looked his way, she saw Sun Mouliao's eyes dark and brooding, staring at Fu Wei like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment.

Sun Mouliao seemed to sense someone watching him and quickly masked his displeasure.

Yu Ying could guess why Sun Mouliao bore such an expression.

In the past, when visiting the county seat, the county magistrate would take him along with Qian Mouliao, but this year, he brought Fu Wei instead, leaving Sun Mouliao behind, which would hardly sit well with him.

Yu Ying remembered reading about Sun Mouliao giving Fu Wei a hard time when he first joined the yamen, being the most severe among them.

Thinking of this, Yu Ying furrowed her brow.

But then she realized that the situation was now entirely different, and Fu Wei was no longer affected by Sun Mouliao's harassment.

Fu Wei had already won over Luo Dianshi, and the hearts of the yamen staff were gradually aligning with him, solidifying his position in the office swiftly.

As for Sun Mouliao, unless something unexpected happened, he would leave the office before the year's end.

Having realized this, Yu Ying casually withdrew her gaze and stepped onto the carriage.

Once inside, after settling down, Yu Ying nodded slightly towards Qian Mouliao's wife and politely introduced herself, "Greetings, Madam Qian. I am Yu, the wife of Magistrate Fu."

Madam Qian, like her husband, was aloof and proud. She glanced at Yu Ying, nodded with a "hmm", acknowledging her.

A little girl around seven or eight years old looked at Yu Ying, scrutinizing her appearance, then pursed her lips and looked away without a word of greeting.

The reaction of the mother and daughter suited Yu Ying just fine; she wasn't much of a talker, and spending the next few days quietly would be agreeable.

Chapter 82.

The carriage was much smoother than a bullock cart, and also spared one from the brunt of the weather. For Yu Ying, who had spent half a year traveling by bullock cart, it felt like a world of difference.

The comfort of the carriage made her drowsy, but the whispered conversation of the mother and daughter nearby, seemingly about her, kept her from falling asleep.

Although they spoke softly, Yu Ying, sitting so close, could not help but overhear.

Moreover, they didn't seem to mind her overhearing.

"Mother, why is she so ugly?" The girl, around seven or eight, was at an age where innocence meets awareness, but her question lacked any politeness.

Yu Ying's lips twitched slightly as she kept her eyes nearly closed.

Despite some blemishes, she certainly wouldn't consider herself ugly.

Madam Qian frowned and admonished, "I've told you before, even if you don't like someone, you mustn't speak rudely. Have you forgotten?"

Yu Ying: ...

This was hardly a reprimand, and Madam Qian's words were not much more polite.

Deciding to open her eyes, Yu Ying looked directly at the mother and daughter, her gaze resting on the chubby little girl.

The girl stared at her unabashedly, her gaze impolite.

Yu Ying, maintaining a calm tone, continued Lady Qian's sentiment, "It's also impolite to discuss someone in their presence. Such behavior is quite rude."

Lady Qian's brow furrowed, her expression displeased: "Lady Fu, I am disciplining my daughter. As an outsider, you should not interject."

Yu Ying looked up at Lady Qian, her expression serene: "Lady Qian is teaching her daughter in my presence, which I don't oppose. However, Lady Qian's recent remarks seemed quite impolite, making me feel offended."

As Lady Qian was about to retort, Yu Ying added, "When I went to pay respects to the wife of the county magistrate, she was gracious and dignified, showing no disdain for my background. Hence, I hold the Lady of the county magistrate in high regard."

Yu Ying paused, then continued, "Perhaps Lady Qian, of noble birth, looks down on me as a descendant of a criminal. Even so, I will not tolerate slander or be disrespected without response. Should Lady Qian or her daughter make any more disrespectful remarks, I will not hesitate to retort. If necessary, I would seek justice from the wife of the county magistrate, who I believe would judge fairly who is at fault."

Lady Qian's face darkened, surprised that Yu Ying would invoke the wife of the county magistrate against her.

This time, it was Lady Qian who had sought the company of the county magistrate's wife for the journey. Creating discord would only reflect poorly on her husband.

Finally, albeit reluctantly, Lady Qian conceded, "I misspoke earlier. Please, Lady Fu, do not take it to heart."

Yu Ying smiled faintly, shifting her gaze from Lady Qian to the little girl, and said, "It's alright."

The little girl looked in surprise at the woman in front of her, dressed almost like a servant in her own home.

She hadn't expected this woman to make her mother back down. She also realized that this woman was different from the servile servants at home.

With this thought, she withdrew her scrutinizing gaze.

The minor altercation had already stifled conversation, and now they simply ignored each other.

For those who disliked her and whom she also disliked, such an arrangement suited her perfectly.

After a day of travel, they only stopped for a half-hour rest at noon before continuing on their journey.

Since the yamen runners were on foot, the journey by carriage to the provincial capital took about the same time as by ox cart, spanning three days and two nights.

Just before nightfall, they arrived at the post station.

The station was small with limited rooms, so some yamen runners had to sleep on mats on the ground floor.

Fu Wei and Yu Ying, as a couple, were assigned a small room.

The room was even narrower than the thatched hut Yu Ying had slept in when she first time-traveled, with a bed just wide enough for two.

After entering a room with Yu Ying, Fu Wei furrowed his brows slightly upon seeing the surroundings.

Perhaps knowing that the county magistrate would rest here, the station had been specially cleaned.

Although he didn't know what the rooms of the county magistrate and Qian's aide were like, the one they were staying in was clearly very dilapidated.

With a gust of wind, cold air fiercely rushed in through the large gaps in the windows, chilling to the bone.

Stepping on the floorboards, they creaked loudly, echoing the sound of wood being gnawed by termites in the beams.

The quilt on the small wooden bed was patched and washed to the point of fading.

Fu Wei, apologetically, said to Yu Ying, "I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

Yu Ying smiled and replied, "This isn't great, but it's much better than the straw hut we stayed in before."

As they spoke, a yamen runner came to call for Fu Wei.

Fu Wei had no choice but to leave first.

Yu Ying examined the small bed and sighed helplessly.

In the eyes of others, she and Fu Wei were husband and wife, so a small bed wasn't unusual.

But they weren't, and if only the bed were a bit larger, she wouldn't have sighed.

After sighing, Yu Ying began to tidy up.

Calmly, she went to the kitchen and fetched some straw to block the large gaps in the windows.

Although cold air still entered through the gaps, it was much better than before.

Yu Ying, foreseeing this, had prepared clean sheets knowing the conditions wouldn't be great.

She took out an indigo duvet cover and sheets to start making the bed.

The sheet was spread over the bed, neatly covering the old, patch-ridden mattress, and then the worn but clean and odorless quilt was slipped into the cover.

When Fu Wei returned and saw the transformed bedding, he looked at Yu Ying in surprise.

Yu Ying, with her arms crossed and a slight smile on her face, said, "How about that? I do have some skills, don't I?"

Fu Wei clapped his hands lightly in admiration, "Indeed, you are foresighted."

Yu Ying laughed, "You're just flattering me."

After tidying up the room, the next issue was dinner.

Unlike other magistrates who might have asked the yamen runners to bring their own dry food, this magistrate Zhou was planning a big move to win people's hearts, including providing food and lodging.

With yamen runners specially preparing the meals, Yu Ying didn't need to worry about it.

Dinner was a stew of cabbage and meat, served with an egg for each person - a hearty meal to forget the day's fatigue.

After dinner, Yu Ying went to the kitchen to brew a pot of longan and red date tea.

Dried longan and red dates, readily available in stores, were not very expensive in Lingnan.

The brown sugar was a bit scarce, so Yu Ying used only a small amount in the brew.

After the red date tea was ready, Yu Ying tasted it. The natural sweetness of the longan meant that even with little sugar, the tea had a pleasant sweetness.

Yu Ying filled several bowls of tea and handed them to the maid serving the magistrate's wife, saying, "It's cold, this longan and red date tea should help with sleep. Please, take a bowl to the magistrate's wife."

The maid took the tray, "Mrs. Yu is so thoughtful."

Yu Ying smiled, then said, "I've made plenty, there's enough for everyone. I'll bring yours in a bit."

Hearing this, the maid's face brightened with a smile, "You're too polite, Mrs. Yu, I can serve myself."

Yu Ying replied, "It's no trouble at all."

Yu Ying then turned and left, returning to the kitchen to pour more bowls of tea, and called on the familiar Wu, a junior yamen runner, to deliver them to Mr. Qian's room.

Although she didn't get along with Mrs. Qian and her son, Yu Ying knew the importance of maintaining appearances.

After serving three extra bowls, Yu Ying moved the pot to the main hall and said to Huo, the yamen runner, "It's cold tonight. Everyone will sleep in the main hall. I've made some hot tea to help warm up and sleep better. Please call others to share it."

Huo, the yamen runner, replied, "Mrs. Yu, your kindness is appreciated. I'll thank you on behalf of everyone."

Yu Ying smiled and said, "My husband has received much care from everyone recently. Brewing some hot tea is the least I can do."

Nearby yamen runners, hearing Mrs. Fu's words, praised Fu for having such a virtuous wife.

After speaking, Yu Ying turned back to the kitchen and carried several bowls of hot tea upstairs.

Entering the room and seeing Fu Wei looking up from his bamboo slips, he asked her, "Did you go to make tea?"

Yu Ying placed two bowls on the table and said, "It's cold, and though we have a bed to keep us warm, the others have to sleep on the floor. So, I made a pot of longan and red date tea to warm us up. Let's drink it while it's hot and not busy ourselves with other things."

Fu Wei looked at the other bowl in her bowl and asked, "Who is the other bowl for?"

Yu Ying picked up the tray, "It's for the maid serving the magistrate's wife. She's busy serving the magistrate's wife, and by the time she's free, there might be no tea left. I don't want her to remember me just for a bowl of tea."

Saying this, she left the room.

Inside the magistrate's quarters.

Magistrate Zhou was soaking his feet, and as Mrs. Zhou was trying to put the child to sleep, the serving maid came in with several bowls of tea.

"This is longan and red date tea sent by Mrs. Yu. She said she made plenty for everyone."

Both longan and red dates are warming tonics, so it's not unusual to brew them together as tea.

Hearing this, Mrs. Zhou smiled, "Mrs. Yu is quite considerate."

After the maid placed the tea on the table and left the room, Mrs. Zhou cautiously tasted it to ensure it was safe before giving it to her children.

Only after her son had drunk half a bowl did she hand another bowl to her husband.

Watching her children play on the bed, Mrs. Zhou lowered her voice and asked her husband, "What do you think of Mrs. Yu's appearance, my lord?"

Magistrate Zhou, who was drinking tea, nearly choked on his wife's question. He set down his bowl and looked at her quizzically, "Why should I take special notice of a subordinate's wife?"

Mrs. Zhou gave him a sharp look, "Haven't you ever noticed the dark spots on Mrs. Yu's face?"

Magistrate Zhou placed his empty bowl aside, pondering, "I only glanced at her briefly, didn't pay much attention."

"Exactly, if you had looked closely, you would have noticed something peculiar about those dark spots."

Puzzled, Magistrate Zhou asked, "What could be peculiar about them?"

"They seem deliberately applied, but I can't be certain. I'll take a closer look in a few days to see if there's any change."

Prompted by his wife, Magistrate Zhou tried to recall Mrs. Yu's appearance but couldn't remember any specifics, so he saw nothing amiss.

He then remembered that the Yu family had been physicians and were exiled due to a misdiagnosis, adding, "Women in exile often don't fare well. Mrs. Yu, being from a family of physicians familiar with herbs, might use them to disguise her appearance for self-protection."

Mrs. Zhou's expression dimmed at the mention of 'exile', "In the past, exiled criminals were known for their misdeeds, but now I can't discern if those exiled are truly guilty or wrongfully accused."

The current court is so corrupt that those exiled aren't necessarily guilty of serious crimes.

Take the Yu family, for instance. Their only fault was a minor misdiagnosis of the Emperor's favored concubine, which didn't result in death or irreparable damage. Yet, they were still beheaded and the entire family exiled to Lingnan.

Magistrate Zhou hushed her, "My lady, be careful with your words."

Mrs. Zhou ceased, giving him a look, "Jade County may be poor, but at least it's peaceful. I don't understand why you're so fixated on the capital."

Magistrate Zhou sighed, "I have my reasons."

With the political situation bound to descend into chaos, he needed to seize power quickly. How else could he ensure his safety in the future?

Chapter 83.

As night deepened, Yu Ying, having soaked her feet, was the first to lie down on the narrow bed.

She looked at Fu Wei, still poring over bamboo slips at the table, and called out, "Stop reading, we have a journey tomorrow. Let's rest now."

Fu Wei hesitated for a moment but eventually rolled up the bamboo slips, put them in his bag, blew out the oil lamp, and groped his way to the bed in the dark.

He stood by the bed for a while before lying down fully clothed.

The wooden bed, obviously many years old, still creaked loudly as he lay down, the sound especially noticeable in the quiet room.

Knowing the bed was small, Yu Ying pressed herself tightly against the wall, but even with Fu Wei lying down, there was still space between them.

Without needing to check, she knew that half of Fu Wei's body must be hanging off the bed.

Yu Ying shared half of the quilt with Fu Wei, whispering, "Move in closer."

Fu Wei took the quilt, covering himself with it.

Soon, a gentle warmth spread from her side under the quilt.

"This is fine."

Since he said it was alright, Yu Ying didn't insist further.

The howling cold wind made the old station emit various creaking, almost crumbling sounds.

The quilt, being quite old, offered little warmth. Not to mention the gap between them, where the cold air intermittently seeped in.

Even with cloth socks on, Yu Ying couldn't feel any warmth, shivering with her arms tightly wrapped around herself.

Fu Wei, who was initially half off the bed, somehow shifted closer in his sleep.

Lying side by side, the gap in the quilt was closed, and warmth gradually built up beneath the covers.

As Yu Ying turned her head, she heard a rustling sound and then felt a warm breath softly land on her cheek.

She was startled.

In the darkness, even though she couldn't see anything, she felt Fu Wei's gaze directed towards her.

Though they couldn't see each other, their senses were heightened, feeling each other's restrained breaths slowly exhaling warmth.

Yu Ying's heartbeat gradually quickened.

It was just a moment, yet it felt like a long time had passed.

She turned her head back, hearing the rustling sound again, indicating Fu Wei had also turned.

Yu Ying gazed into the pitch-black space above, pondering her relationship with Fu Wei.

They were neither spouses nor lovers, yet their closeness had surpassed that of mere friends.

What exactly was their relationship now?

Since Fu Wei's sincere confession, she realized that avoiding the issue was futile.

Moreover, sharing a bed in their current situation seemed somewhat unfair to someone from ancient times.

What troubled her now was her lingering hope of returning to the modern era.

Despite knowing this hope was minuscule, even impossible, she still didn't want to leave too many attachments in this era.

After all, relationships can end, marriages can dissolve; there might be pain, but it's not as if one can't survive without the other.

Having decided to find Fu Wei in Jade County from Lingshui Village, Yu Ying had come to a clear understanding.

Aside from the outside noise, the room was so quiet that the gnawing sound of termites on wood was disturbingly loud.

"Fu Wei," she called softly.

"Hmm?"

After a moment of consideration, she continued, "I can't make any promises, but maybe we can start a relationship and see where it leads. What do you think?"

Yu Ying, staring into the darkness, let out a silent breath, her heart pounding rapidly.

The person beside her remained silent for a long time, as if contemplating.

After a while, Fu Wei, pondering, asked, "What do you want to talk about?"

…

After a tense moment, it turned out that he didn't understand what 'starting a relationship' meant.

Yu Ying turned her back to Fu Wei, hesitating for a while before explaining, "It means we'll be committed to each other for now, and talk about being a real husband and wife later."

Hearing the term "commitment," Fu Wei's eyes gradually widened, as if a huge wave surged in his heart.

After a while, his voice tense, he confirmed, "Are you really sure, you want to commit to me?"

Yu Ying softly hummed in affirmation.

In the darkness, a smile spread across Fu Wei's face and eyes.

"Alright, let's start with a commitment," he said slowly and gently, seemingly calm but filled with immense joy inside.

"Ah Ying."

"Hmm?"

"May I hold your hand?"

Yu Ying hesitated, then turned back to lie face up, and after a long pause, lightly touched his hand with her fingertips.

The moment she touched him, her hand was enveloped by his warm, broad palm.

Yu Ying's heart fluttered slightly.

"Ah Ying, I am very happy."

Yu Ying could tell from his voice, light and joyful, that he was indeed elated.

Yu Ying smiled faintly too.

No one knew what the future held, but she wanted to take the first step while they were still together.

They were not overly affectionate or excited, simply holding hands throughout the night.

In the morning, Fu Wei had already risen to tidy his clothes and hair.

As Yu Ying sat up in bed, Fu Wei handed her outer robe to her.

They exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.

Dressed and ready, Yu Ying fetched water to wash up.

After washing, they had a bowl of hot porridge in the main hall before preparing to depart.

When Huo, the yamen runner, greeted Fu Wei, he saw a face brimming with a spring-like smile.

Curious, he asked, "Mr. Fu, why are you so happy today? Is there some good news?"

Fu Wei slightly restrained his joy and asked, "Wasn't I like this before?"

Huo laughed, "Mr. Fu, you underestimate me. Having served as a yamen runner for eighteen years, how could I not notice the difference between your demeanor yesterday and today?"

After a moment of thought, he analyzed, "Yesterday, your smile was gentle. Today, it's not just on your face, but even in your eyes. It's as if your face is saying 'I am in a very good mood.'"

Fu Wei's gaze fell on Yu Ying, who was getting onto the carriage, his smile deepening: "Indeed, I am in a very good mood today."

Huo and another person, who was helping Fu Wei onto the carriage, followed his gaze, then looked at the more pronounced smile on his face, and both understood, sharing a knowing smile.

The two men silently helped Fu Wei onto the carriage.

After Fu Wei was seated, Qian, the staff advisor, and the historian also boarded the carriage in turn.

The carriage moved forward at a leisurely pace.

Qian glanced at Fu Wei, recalling his wife's complaints from the previous night about Yu Ying.

Not only did she interfere with her disciplining their daughter, but she also threatened to take the matter to the wife of the county magistrate if anything unpleasant was said.

His wife had suggested he speak with Yu Ying's husband to ensure she doesn't overstep her bounds.

After a moment of silence, Qian initiated the conversation, "Mr. Fu."

Fu Wei, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and looked at Qian, smiling lightly, "What can I do for you, Mr. Qian?"

Qian, with an air of haughtiness, said, "It seems your wife lacks manners. Not only did she interrupt my wife while she was disciplining our daughter, but she also rudely threatened to involve the wife of the county magistrate. Such behavior is quite offensive."

As he spoke, the smile gradually faded from Fu Wei's face.

The historian, hearing this, opened his eyes slightly wider.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, he regretted being there but realized that leaving the carriage now would be too conspicuous.

Sitting on the right, he could only lower his head to minimize his presence.

As Fu Wei's smile faded, he retorted, "Does Mr. Qian truly understand my wife?"

Qian frowned, "Why should I need to understand your wife?"

Fu Wei smiled, "If Mr. Qian does not know her, why presume that she lacks manners and is offensive? Is it merely based on your wife's one-sided account?"

Qian's face darkened, "Are you suggesting that my wife falsely accused yours?"

The smile disappeared from Fu Wei's face as he spoke earnestly, "While I respect Mr. Qian, it does not mean you and your wife can slander mine. My wife holds immense importance to me, akin to Mount Tai. If there is any misunderstanding or false accusation, I will certainly seek to clarify it."

Qian Mouliao, displeased, said, "For such a trivial matter, do you want to make trouble with the magistrate's wife?"

Fu Wei: "This should be a matter among women, and we men should not intervene. But since Mr. Qian has spoken, I cannot pretend I didn't hear it."

As Qian Mouliao frowned, Fu Wei continued, "Let's clarify this first. If my wife indeed spoke out of line, we will surely apologize. But if it remains unclear, then we may seek the magistrate's wife for reconciliation between Madam Qian and my wife. We need not involve ourselves further. Mr. Qian, what do you think?"

Qian Mouliao agreed, "Agreed."

During the noon break, Yu Ying stepped out of the carriage for some fresh air and was surprised to see Fu Wei and Qian Mouliao approaching together.

Madam Qian, about to pull back the curtain to step out, smiled upon seeing them.

Although Fu Langjun is a secretary, he is new to the office, and my husband is his superior. Subordinates still need to follow the lead of their superiors.

Even though he knew his wife had said nothing wrong, to save his superior's face, he would surely reprimand her.

This would also serve as a lesson for the self-righteous Mrs. Yu.

When the two approached, Yu Ying placed her hands on her abdomen and nodded towards Mr. Qian: "Greetings, Mr. Qian."

Mr. Qian responded with a cold snort towards her.

Yu Ying glanced at Fu Wei, her eyes questioning what exactly was going on.

With no one close to the carriage, Fu Wei spoke plainly, "Mr. Qian mentioned to me just now that you rudely interrupted Mrs. Qian while she was scolding her daughter, and after being reprimanded by Mrs. Qian, you spoke of seeking the magistrate's wife for arbitration."

Hearing this, Yu Ying understood: it was a case of the offender playing the victim first.

She turned her head to look at the mother and daughter, who had already disembarked from the carriage.

Mrs. Qian, chin lifted, wore a disdainful attitude, as if certain that Fu Wei would scold Yu Ying.

"I don't believe you would act in such a manner, so I came with Mr. Qian to clarify the situation," Fu Wei said.

Yu Ying turned back to Fu Wei, then looked at Mr. Qian, and spoke calmly, "Yesterday, right after boarding the carriage, Little Miss Qian asked her mother why I was so ugly, in my presence. Mrs. Qian reprimanded her, saying that even if you dislike someone, you shouldn't speak ill of them to their face."

"I felt offended and merely suggested that Little Miss Qian refrain from discussing me in front of others, as it would be impolite. That doesn't seem too unreasonable, does it?"

Mrs. Qian immediately retorted, "The child was naive, and I did scold her. But Mrs. Fu was overly sensitive, thinking I insulted her too. She even talked about discussing this in front of the wife of the county magistrate. Isn't that just trying to embarrass me?!"

Both parties seemed to have their own justifications.

Fu Wei looked at Mr. Qian, "My wife indeed felt offended, and it seems Mrs. Qian did not explain the full story to you."

Mr. Qian also frowned.

Fu Wei suggested, "Since this is a domestic matter and beyond our scope, why don't we seek the county magistrate's wife for mediation?"

The mention of involving the county magistrate's wife unsettled Mrs. Qian, who quickly said, "It's just a minor issue, why make such a fuss?"

Mr. Qian, no fool, knew his wife well. If she was truly at fault, even taking the matter to the county magistrate's wife wouldn't justify her actions.

His desire for a peaceful resolution now seemed suspect!

Thinking this, Mr. Qian's expression darkened. He turned to his daughter and asked sternly, "Did you really say those things in front of Mrs. Fu?"

Intimidated by her father's stern look, the young Miss Qian dared not lie and nodded.

It was now clear who had instigated the matter.

Mr. Qian, embarrassed by his wife and daughter, looked displeased.

With a dark expression, he turned to his wife and said sternly, "If you cause any trouble, I will immediately send you back to Yu County!"

After speaking, she left indignantly.

Mrs. Qian's face showed embarrassment.

Yu Ying, not one to kick someone when they're down, said nothing more and simply pushed Fu Wei away.

She stopped only when they reached the riverside.

With the wheelchair coming to a halt, Fu Wei said to her, "Don't be upset with that woman, it's not worth it."

Yu Ying walked beside him and smiled, "I'm not angry, nor do I care."

Fu Wei turned his head and looked up at her.

Indeed, she appeared carefree, truly unaffected by the incident with that woman.

Fu Wei also showed a faint smile, his gaze softly falling on her hand.

Recalling last night, he slowly extended his hand and held hers.

Yu Ying was startled, looking down at her suddenly clasped hand, then back at him. She gently tugged her hand away, whispering, "Someone might see."

Fu Wei calmly replied, "What does it matter if others see? I am holding my wife's hand…"

Before he could finish, a soft cough interrupted them, and Fu Wei immediately released Yu Ying's hand.

Both turned to see Huo Yachai and the county magistrate.

County Magistrate Zhou, with a stern face, admonished, "I know you two love each other, but be mindful of the public's eyes."

Yu Ying: ...

Fu Wei: ...

The young couple, caught in their first display of affection, couldn't help but blush.

Yu Ying quickly curtsied and then swiftly walked away.

After eating some dry food, they continued on their journey.

Yu Ying and Madam Qian sat in silence in the carriage, evidently displeased with each other's company.

In another compartment, the usually arrogant Qian Mouliao, still clear about separating personal issues from official matters, said to Fu Wei, "My wife's behavior was uncalled for, please don't hold it against her."

Fu Wei smiled, "Since the misunderstanding is cleared, there's no blame. I only hope that Madam Qian can reconcile with my wife in the future."

Qian Mouliao, seeing Fu Wei not insisting on the matter, said, "I can't promise a reconciliation, but I assure you, she won't cause trouble behind your back."

Fu Wei bowed slightly, "Then I thank Mr. Qian."

…

After three days and two nights, they finally arrived at the county seat.

Since it was nearly nightfall when they entered the city, Yu Ying had to wait until the next morning to look for Song Sanlang at her market stall.

Initially, they thought they would stay in an inn, but the county government had arranged accommodations for the magistrates.

A small courtyard was arranged for County Magistrate Zhou.

Yu Ying and Fu Wei shared the same room, which was far better than the one at the post station, equipped with all the essentials.

However, Yu Ying, while strolling outside, inadvertently heard from the servants that among the seven counties under the jurisdiction, County Magistrate Zhou's residence was the smallest and least impressive.

Upon reflection, Yu Ying realized that people often judge others based on their status, and being from the poorest county in Cangwu Prefecture, Yu County was not held in high regard.

County Magistrate Zhou, a cadet branch member of a noble family, was sent to such a minor county town like Yu County either due to annoyance or fear of him posing a threat.

Yu Ying surmised it was probably a combination of both.

It was precisely because Zhou was relegated that Fu Wei had the chance to meet his benefactor.

Their current predicament was only temporary.

Chapter 84

The next day dawned clear and much warmer compared to the previous two.

Early in the morning, after breakfast, Fu Wei hurriedly left with County Magistrate Zhou for the Governor's Mansion.

After a quick wash, Yu Ying reapplied the "freckles" on her face using the bronze mirror in her room.

Once ready, she set out to find Song Sanlang.

Yu Ying ran into the wives of the county magistrates just as she was leaving the courtyard.

The wives of the county magistrates were walking in the yard with their children and Mrs. Qian.

Upon seeing Yu Ying, Mrs. Qian subtly frowned.

Yu Ying paused and then respectfully greeted the county magistrate's wife, who asked her, "Are you going out, Mrs. Fu?"

Yu Ying replied, "Yes, I have some errands to run."

"It might be unsafe for Mrs. Fu to go out alone. Shall I send someone to accompany you?" the county magistrate's wife offered with concern.

Yu Ying smiled and responded, "I spent about half a month in the provincial capital over a month ago, so I'm somewhat familiar with the place."

The county magistrate's wife, recalling when Fu Wei joined the yamen, expressed surprise, "Did you come here alone?"

"Not exactly. I initially came with my brother-in-law and his wife, along with some acquaintances from our village. Later, I set up a small stall here to do some business. The acquaintances stayed to continue their trade. Since I'm here, I thought I'd pay a visit," Yu Ying explained.

Mrs. Qian's eyes revealed a hint of disdain upon hearing about the stall.

In contrast to Mrs. Qian's reaction, the county magistrate's wife was curiously inquired, "What kind of business do you run, Mrs. Fu?"

Yu Ying answered, "I know a bit about herbs, so I make my own face creams. If you don't mind, I can bring some for you to try when I return today."

The county magistrate's wife warmly smiled, "A woman who knows herbs and can make face creams is rare. Why would I mind?"

Mrs. Qian looked somewhat displeased upon hearing the county magistrate's wife's praise.

After a few more words, the county magistrate's wife excused herself to let Yu Ying continue with her errands.

As Yu Ying left, Mrs. Qian remarked, "Knowing herbs and making face creams is a skill, but setting up a stall in public still lacks refinement. Mrs. Fu really embarrasses Mr. Fu."

The smile on the county magistrate's wife's face faded slightly, and she said gently, "I don't see it that way. After all, every great river starts as a small stream. Today it's just a small stall, but who knows if Mrs. Fu might turn it into a shop in the future?"

Mrs. Qian laughed lightly, "If Mrs. Fu does open a shop, I'll be sure to send her a grand gift."

The county magistrate's wife smiled, "I'll remember that for Mrs. Fu."

Due to the recent cold weather, there were fewer people on the streets than when Yu Ying visited the provincial capital over a month ago. Still, it was much busier than Yu County.

The bustling market was filled with the shouts of vendors hawking their wares, creating a lively atmosphere.

Yu Ying noticed that many stalls looked different from before.

The previous stalls were set up for convenience, but now almost all had signs, and low stalls were gradually being replaced by taller ones.

It seemed that the vendors were starting to put more thought into their stalls.

Yu Ying sighed softly, relying on her memory to find the place where she used to set up her stall.

Seeing the familiar sign, her stall, which used to stand out, now appeared less remarkable amidst the similarly styled ones around it.

Yu Ying frowned slightly, but seeing a few people gathered around her stall, she breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed that business was still going well.

As Yu Ying happily approached, she realized that the person at her stall wasn't Song Sanlang, but a girl around sixteen or seventeen years old.

The girl, seeing her, eagerly greeted, "Madam, are you looking for face cream? Not to boast, but our Ruyu Fang's face creams, made from various herbs, are more effective than the usual ones."

Yu Ying, looking at the unfamiliar face, inquired, "I remember a man surnamed Song running this stall. Why has it changed hands?"

The young girl, surprised by the question, then turned her head to look towards the end of the street.

Following her gaze, Yu Ying saw a man eating noodles at a stall not far away - it was indeed Song Sanlang.

Song Sanlang, who was eating, looked up towards the stall, and upon seeing Yu Ying, showed a look of astonishment. He quickly finished his noodles and hurried back.

Arriving at the stall, Song Sanlang exclaimed in surprise, "Mrs. Fu, what brings you here?"

Yu Ying responded, "My brother-in-law had business in the provincial capital, so I came along."

After speaking, she glanced at the girl at the stall and then back at Song Sanlang, asking, "What's going on?"

Seeing the two knew each other, the young girl also looked surprised and asked Song Sanlang, "Shopkeeper Song, who is this lady?"

Song Sanlang quickly explained, "This is my employer."

The young girl looked surprised upon hearing this.

Song Sanlang said to her, "You keep busy."

Then, turning to Yu Ying, "Mrs. Fu, may I have a word with you in private?"

Yu Ying followed him to the side of the street, where Song Sanlang began to explain.

It turned out that after they left the provincial capital, business at the stall dwindled day by day. Song Sanlang thought it might be because his intimidating appearance deterred customers.

Furthermore, since the business mainly catered to women, he considered hiring a woman to run the stall for a few days to see if it made a difference.

In the alley where he lived, he fortuitously met this eloquent young girl, and after some negotiation, they agreed on her managing the stall for a daily wage of seven wen.

Miss Su agreed to a trial period.

The result was unexpectedly positive.

Consequently, Song Sanlang had her manage the stall while he stayed nearby to prevent any disturbances.

Upon hearing this, Yu Ying calculated the finances.

If Song Sanlang was paying the girl out of his own earnings, then they would need to sell three jars of the better-quality face cream daily to cover his monthly expenses in the provincial capital.

Realizing this, Yu Ying's expression grew serious, "So how is the business doing?"

Song Sanlang replied, "Miss Su has a way with words. In the past forty-odd days, over thirty-two days of operating the stall, we've sold over a hundred jars of face cream. I'll bring the earnings to you tomorrow."

Yu Ying hadn't expected the business to be quite successful and responded, "There's no rush."

She glanced at the stall, watching the girl enthusiastically engage with customers, and after a moment's thought, suggested, "I think we could employ her long-term."

As she spoke, Yu Ying looked at the bustling street and added, "This isn't the best place for a detailed discussion. Let's talk more after closing the stall, at the inn we stayed at before."

Song Sanlang looked towards the stall and agreed, "Alright."

Yu Ying took two jars of the more expensive face cream from the stall and then returned to the inn.

By the time she got back to the inn, it was already noon.

Just as she entered her room, Fu Wei returned.

Yu Ying lit the stove to heat some tea and asked him, "How was your meeting with the Governor of the provincial capital today?"

Fu Wei stood up from his wheelchair, shaking his head with a hint of helplessness, "There's a song and dance feast arranged for tonight. He doesn't seem like someone capable of great things."

It was supposed to be a meeting to report on the conditions of each county, but starting with a grand feast on the first day suggested he was not the kind of person to accomplish significant things.

"Are you going to attend?" she asked.

"I have to go."

Fu Wei recalled how earlier that day, while accompanying County Magistrate Zhou to the Governor's Mansion, he had waited outside. Due to his conspicuous wheelchair, the Governor noticed him immediately upon leaving the building.

The Governor's gaze held a mix of curiosity and amusement.

Clearly, this look was tinged with condescension.

If Fu Wei had truly been disabled, he might have had to swallow the insult and put on a forced smile.

However, being able-bodied, Fu Wei responded to the Governor's unusual gaze with a calm bow.

Perhaps the Governor thought Fu Wei could add to the merriment, so he specially instructed him to attend as well.

Fu Wei didn't share these details with Yu Ying. Instead, he asked her, "Did you manage to find Song Sanlang today?"

Yu Ying nodded, "Yes, I did. He has hired a girl to manage the stall, paying her seven wen a day. But after some calculations, it seems that, after his living expenses, he doesn't save much."

The tea was now warm. Yu Ying flipped open two cups, slowly pouring the tea. She pondered, "I think I should bear this expense. After all, I didn't provide Song Sanlang with a basic salary before..." realizing Fu Wei might not understand, she rephrased, "Which means just the bare minimum wage, for selling the goods. But the profit is very minimal."

Saying this, she set down the teapot and picked up a cup to drink.

Fu Wei thought for a moment and analyzed, "It should be covered. After all, Song Sanlang must stay in the provincial capital. His role isn't just to sell the face cream, but to keep an eye on the business there. Even if the girl sells a lot of face cream, she's not someone you trust."

Yu Ying agreed, "Moreover, if it weren't for him hiring that girl, the business wouldn't have been so good."

Continuing, Yu Ying added, "Song Sanlang told me he sold over a hundred jars of face cream. I originally thought it would be around eighty at most. I didn't expect it to exceed that by so much."

Fu Wei was surprised by the number as well.

Although the profit was only a few taels of silver, it was still a significant amount for a small stall to earn in just over a month.

"I'll talk to Song Sanlang about it today. But knowing his nature, he won't easily accept it. I need to think carefully about how to arrange this."

Seeing her deep in thought, Fu Wei rested his hand on the table and propped his chin, quietly watching her concentrated expression.

Yu Ying, absorbed in her thoughts, noticed him staring and quickly covered his eyes with her hand, "Don't stare at me like that. Be more reserved."

Fu Wei's lips curled into a slight smile, "Alright, I won't look."

Yu Ying removed her hand and gave him a light glare.

At that moment, a servant knocked on the door, announcing, "Master, Madam, lunch is ready."

Yu Ying looked towards the door, and after Fu Wei settled in his wheelchair, she got up to open it.

She took the meal brought by the servant, placed it on the table, and then turned to close the door.

Although staying at the inn did not cost money, the meals were paid for out of County Magistrate Zhou's own pocket.

The meal consisted of one meat dish and two vegetarian ones, quite a decent spread.

After lunch, Yu Ying and Fu Wei took a midday rest.

Once in bed, Fu Wei took Yu Ying's hand and gently held it in his.

Since the night they acknowledged their feelings for each other, Fu Wei had enjoyed falling asleep holding her hand.

Although it was a bit shy for her, Yu Ying decided to indulge him, as it was not too much to ask.

After their nap, while Fu Wei went to see the county magistrate again, Yu Ying took the two jars of face cream to visit the county magistrate's wife.

The county magistrate's wife, having just finished her midday rest, was preparing to take her two children out for a walk, but she postponed her departure when Mrs. Fu came to see her.

Yu Ying presented the two jars of face cream to the county magistrate's wife.

The county magistrate's wife examined the jars for a moment.

The porcelain jars looked exquisite, not like something one would find at a small street vendor's stall.

Opening one jar, she observed the face cream's translucent orange-yellow color, which looked quite attractive.

She scooped out a little and spread it around her wrists, then lifted her hand to smell it, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

The fragrance was fresh and pleasant.

The county magistrate's wife looked up at the young woman before her and generously praised, "It seems Mrs. Fu has put a lot of effort into this face cream. Its quality compares favorably with those sold in shops, not inferior in the slightest."

Yu Ying modestly responded, "There are still some differences."

The county magistrate's wife shook her head, "The best-selling face cream in Yu County's shops probably can't match up to Mrs. Fu's."

Yu Ying smiled lightly, looking down.

Her face cream formula was an improved version of an ancient recipe, naturally making it more effective than common ones.

In this era of limited knowledge, most effective medical formulas came from well-known medical families and were closely guarded secrets. This gave Yu Ying, who had studied medicine for over a decade, a means to make a living.

"If this face cream proves effective, when I return to Yu County, I will help you attract some business," the county magistrate's wife offered.

Yu Ying quickly thanked her, "I am grateful for your high regard for my small business."

The county magistrate's wife put down the jar, "Although it's a small business, the product is good. Mrs. Fu needn't worry about not being able to sell it. You might even grow wealthy from this face cream."

Yu Ying responded with a smile, "Then I'll take it as a good omen from you."

As the county magistrate's wife had plans to go out, she didn't keep Yu Ying for long. After a short while, Yu Ying left the magistrate's courtyard.

When it was about time, Yu Ying left again to meet Song Sanlang at the inn as arranged.

Arriving at the inn's lobby and finding Song Sanlang not yet there, Yu Ying ordered a pot of tea and two snacks.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Song Sanlang finally arrived, a bit late.

He entered carrying a bamboo basket.

The basket was wrapped in cloth, obscuring its contents, but when placed on the table, it gave a slight thud, indicating something heavy inside.

Yu Ying immediately realized that the basket must be filled with copper coins.

Surprised, she asked, "Why bring it today? Wasn't it supposed to be delivered tomorrow?"

Song Sanlang smiled, "Since Mrs. Fu arranged to meet today, I went back to fetch everything."

He glanced at the basket and continued, "Our stall has gained some reputation. Many people come specifically for our Ruyu Fang brand. Coupled with Miss Su's eloquence, we sold fifty-eight jars of the fifty-wen face cream and eighty-seven jars of the thirty-five-wen one."

Lowering his voice, Song Sanlang added, "Some haggled for a wen or two, so it's a few dozen wen less. In total, there are 5,905 wen in this basket."

Although costs hadn't been deducted yet, the figure of over five thousand wen pleasantly surprised Yu Ying.

She regained her composure and said, "Let me do the accounts tonight, and I'll bring your share tomorrow."

Song Sanlang replied nonchalantly, "No rush for mine."

Yu Ying smiled, then thoughtfully said, "Since you've helped me earn so much, I should pay Miss Su's wages from my end."

Song Sanlang quickly objected, "That won't do, that won't do. She was hired by me; how can I let Mrs. Fu pay for it?!"

Yu Ying calmly responded, "Don't worry, Song, just hear me out first."

Chapter 85

"Don't rush, Song, just let me finish," Yu Ying reiterated.

Song Sanlang hesitated briefly but then said, "Alright, Mrs. Fu, go ahead."

Yu Ying analyzed with him, "If it were just Song managing the stall, we certainly wouldn't have earned this much, right?"

Given that Song Sanlang had to hire help out of necessity, the sales were probably even less than her estimate of eighty jars.

Song Sanlang was aware of this limitation.

He nodded in agreement, "Indeed, I couldn't have."

"I am far away in Yu County, and Song cannot consult with me on every matter. But making the right decision that brings good profits, I am more than grateful to Song, how could I exploit his earnings?"

Yu Ying recalled the sales figures Song Sanlang mentioned and calculated again in her mind.

Based on the promise she had made earlier, the two types of face cream were to be calculated at four and six wen per jar, respectively. Now, they sold eighty-seven and fifty-eight jars.

So, the corresponding payment would be three hundred forty-eight wen for each, totaling six hundred ninety-six wen.

Accounting for his daily expenses of seven wen, which is quite frugal, it would amount to nearly three hundred wen in over forty days, plus a rent of one hundred twenty wen.

After deducting around four hundred wen for these expenses, he would only have two to three hundred wen left.

Subtracting the two hundred wen for Miss Su's wages, there would be very little remaining.

Considering this, it would be better to treat the stall as a small shop. Song would be the manager, and Miss Su an employee. If they could earn more, she, as the owner, certainly shouldn't be stingy.

"Working hard for over a month to earn just twenty or thirty wen, even if Song doesn't mind, I'm not willing to be so miserly."

While Song Sanlang was still thinking, Yu Ying made a decision, "Let's do it this way. Paying an extra two hundred wen or so a month is still quite profitable for me."

Song Sanlang looked a bit solemn, but he couldn't help saying, "But she was hired by me, it doesn't seem right for Mrs. Fu to pay her wages."

Yu Ying firmly said, "I think this is the most reasonable way. When there's profit, we should all earn together to ensure the business lasts longer. If only I am well-fed while others only get soup, the business won't last. Business is business, and personal feelings aside, I will not be vague about what should be given."

Song Sanlang fell silent.

Yu Ying added, "Moreover, if this year's earnings are good, perhaps next year we can open a small shop in the provincial capital. Then we could ask Miss Su to help us long-term."

Hearing Mrs. Fu's plan to open a shop in the provincial capital, Song Sanlang's solemn face revealed a flash of surprise, but he quickly considered the current profits and realized that a small shop could indeed be profitable.

"Right, please tell Miss Su that at the end of the year, based on the stall's profits, she will receive additional bonuses," Yu Ying requested.

Song Sanlang was taken aback, "The daily wage of seven wen is already quite good, and she gets a bonus too?"

Yu Ying smiled, "This is to motivate Miss Su. Before, she might have sold only four jars a day, but with this incentive, she could sell six. I only need to take a few wen from the extra profit of those two jars to pay her, making it a no-loss business."

Concluding her point, Yu Ying looked at him, "Think about it, Song, doesn't it make sense?"

Song Sanlang pondered for a moment.

He remembered when he worked for a noble family; had there been a year-end reward for his labor, he certainly would have worked harder.

Realizing this, he agreed, "Indeed, it would make one work harder."

Yu Ying didn't dwell on Miss Su's matter and moved on to discuss the current stock.

"There's only a bit more than half a month until the year's end. With the increased shopping around the New Year, the remaining 140 jars of face cream should be more than enough."

After some thought, she added, "But I'm considering making more, especially with the New Year's holiday approaching, to try and sell as much as possible."

Song Sanlang suggested, "The method of giving away free samples worked well before. At least one or two out of ten people would return to buy."

Yu Ying shook her head, "That strategy is no longer novel. Today, I noticed other stalls also giving away free samples. If we do it, we need to offer something different."

Song Sanlang asked doubtfully, "But our stall focuses on face cream, what else can we give?"

Yu Ying thought for a moment before speaking, "Although we sell face cream, most of our customers are women who can afford face cream, and thus likely afford other cosmetics like rouge and powder..."

Pausing mid-sentence, Yu Ying suddenly had an idea, her face lighting up with a smile, "I know what to give away."

Song Sanlang looked puzzled.

Yu Ying shared with him, "Let's make lip balm."

She realized she had overlooked the fact that in addition to face cream, they could also make lip balm!

Yu Ying, having thought of this, said, "I'll buy the ingredients tomorrow morning and start preparing. I'll deliver them before you close the stall."

She added, "I'll make a small quantity for giveaways, and also a regular amount of lip balm for sale."

After discussing her ideas with Song Sanlang, it was almost time to return.

The over five thousand wen in the basket weighed about thirty kilograms. Yu Ying couldn't carry it alone for half an hour without straining her hands, so Song Sanlang carried the basket almost to the inn before leaving.

When Yu Ying got back to her room at the inn and closed the door, she opened the basket to find it filled with copper coins.

It seemed Song Sanlang had strung the coins by the days, which is why each string varied in amount.

Yu Ying carefully took out the copper coins from the basket, placing them all on the table. She then untied the hemp ropes and began joyfully counting the coins.

She first counted out the money for Song Sanlang and Miss Su, totaling nine hundred and forty-one wen.

Then she calculated the costs: two thousand four hundred wen for ingredients and around six hundred wen for the stall rent and Song's food and lodging.

After deducting a ten percent profit share for her brother-in-law and his wife, the net profit came to around one thousand five hundred wen.

Although it was only about one thousand five hundred wen, it was nearly equivalent to what a poor family might spend in a year.

And since this was just the start and they were already making money, it suggested future prospects could be even better.

Compared to half a year ago, when she was scraping together pennies, now she could earn the same amount in about three months that she initially needed to redeem her brother-in-law, something Yu Ying had not even dared to imagine initially.

With an income of one thousand five hundred wen, plus some money earned from selling medicinal herbs over the past month, despite spending over five thousand wen on renting land and hiring labor for land reclamation, Yu Ying's savings were still around five taels of silver.

This amount of money could buy a small house in Yu County.

However, given the unstable situation, Yu Ying still felt that renting a house was the safest option.

Happy with her substantial earnings for the day, Yu Ying hummed a tune while stringing the copper coins. Halfway through, a servant brought food, so she paused to eat and then took a bath.

By the time she resumed counting the coins, it was already completely dark.

She hadn't seen Fu Wei as he had gone to a banquet at the Governor's Mansion with the county magistrate in the afternoon.

The Governor's Mansion was brightly lit, filled with the sounds of music and dance. Dancers gracefully moved in the center of the feast.

The county magistrates were flattering the Governor, and the clerks were toasting and chatting, creating a lively atmosphere of clinking cups and laughter.

The banquet's splendor and liveliness belied the fact that Cangwu Prefecture was one of the lower-ranked among the one hundred and ninety prefectures in the country, as if it were a time of great peace and prosperity.

Fu Wei wore a feigned smile, interacting with clerks from other counties.

The clerks from other counties looked down upon him and Yu County, all displaying a sense of superiority.

One person said, "I heard that Lord Fu of Yu County was once an adopted son of the Wuling Prefecture Governor. Being an adopted son, he must have some talents. I wonder if he can ride horses and shoot arrows?"

Another clerk in his thirties laughed, "This young Lord Fu's legs are crippled. Asking him to ride and shoot is just making things difficult for him. It'd be easier to have him pour a cup of tea for you."

Hearing this, Mr. Qian, who was nearby, had a slightly darkened expression.

Fu Wei, maintaining a smile, picked up the wine pot to pour for the speaker, "Although my legs are disabled, my archery skills are still decent."

Seeing him actually pour the tea, Mr. Qian's expression worsened, while others laughed heartily, increasingly disregarding Fu Wei.

The thirty-something clerk commented, "Since your archery is decent, why not demonstrate it for us?"

This suggestion effectively treated Fu Wei as entertainment for amusement.

The Governor, surrounded by beauties, noticed his clerks laughing heartily. He raised his hand to quiet the music and asked, "What are you gentlemen discussing that's so amusing?"

The clerk who suggested Fu Wei demonstrate his archery stood up and replied, "Your Excellency, this clerk from Yu County claims his archery is decent despite his disability. I proposed he showcase his skills for everyone's enjoyment."

All eyes then turned to Fu Wei.

Fu Wei bowed towards the Governor.

The Governor, interested, said, "That's a good suggestion. Bring in the archery target."

Fu Wei said, "Just me shooting might not be very entertaining." Smiling, he looked at the clerk who made the suggestion, "I noticed calluses on Mr. Gu's left hand and on the index and middle finger of his right hand, clearly a sign of an experienced archer. Why not join me?"

The man called Mr. Gu was taken aback, not expecting Fu Wei to involve him and turn him into a subject of amusement.

The Governor suggested, "Then how about a competition between you two? The winner will receive a reward from me..." He paused, scanning the crowd, his gaze settling on a beautiful dancer. He then called her over, smiling, "Whoever wins will spend the night with this beautiful dancer."

Fu Wei's eyes narrowed slightly, his hand tightening, and then he bowed, "Your Excellency, with my disability... I am afraid I cannot enjoy such a reward."

His response led to varied expressions in the crowd, with some thinking, 'His disability is in his legs, not his manhood, why act so reserved?'

Others, not considering this, simply felt that he indeed was incapable.

Mr. Gu, the clerk, mocked with a laugh, "Mr. Fu's refusal seems to suggest he could actually beat me."

Fu Wei simply smiled and remained silent.

The Governor, greatly interested, plucked a golden hairpin from his concubine's hair, saying with a laugh, "You can have either the beauty or this golden hairpin, or even both if you wish. Choose whatever you like."

County Magistrate Zhou looked at Fu Wei with concern.

He had anticipated that today's banquet wouldn't pass peacefully when he arrived.

As the least regarded among the seven counties, Yu County often faced difficulties in previous years, and this year's target seemed likely to be Fu Wei.

It was expected that Fu Wei would be used to belittle Yu County.

Zhou had thought of visiting the Governor and then not bringing Fu Wei to the banquet, but they ended up attending together.

If Fu Wei lost, Yu County would likely continue to be the butt of jokes among the other counties.

The clerk Mr. Gu, who challenged Fu Wei to archery, was a clerk from Wu'an County, only slightly better off than Yu County. Ridiculing Yu County would deflect laughter away from Wu'an County.

Mr. Qian, sitting beside Fu Wei, whispered, "Mr. Gu's father was once a cavalry archer captain in the army, and Mr. Gu himself has practiced archery since childhood. Are you confident you can beat him?"

Fu Wei's face still held a gentle smile, "I have also practiced archery since childhood."

He had learned archery from a young age under his adoptive father, who was a prefectural governor in charge of an army.

Mr. Qian remained worried, "But Mr. Gu is fully able-bodied, and you… It seems somewhat unfair."

Fu Wei shook his head, "It's alright."

At that moment, the target was set up, and someone brought two regular bows, each weighing about twenty kilograms, and handed them to both men.

As the archery contest involved one competitor with disabled legs, the crowd's interest shifted entirely from the beautiful dancer to the competition.

Mr. Gu glanced at Fu Wei with undisguised contempt, saying, "If Mr. Fu can beat me, I will bow to you as a junior and call you 'sir'. If you lose, you must call me 'grandfather' three times. How about that?"

Fu Wei smiled, "Mr. Gu wishing to become my grandfather is wishful thinking, I'm afraid."

This remark from Fu Wei made the crowd struggle to hold back their laughter.

Mr. Gu scoffed disdainfully, "Don't speak too soon."

The rules of the contest were simple: five arrows each, and the one whose arrows were closest to the bullseye would win.

Fu Wei asked Mr. Qian to position his wheelchair sideways to the target and adjusted his angle for shooting.

Mr. Gu withdrew his gaze from Fu Wei, took a breath, nocked an arrow, and aimed at the target. The next instant, the arrow swiftly left the bow.

The target had five rings; Mr. Gu's first arrow wasn't exactly at the bullseye but deviated only slightly, still hitting the central ring.

Fu Wei, sitting sideways, nocked and drew the bow, squinting slightly towards the target. The surroundings were exceptionally quiet, and he waited for a moment when the wind arose.

When the wind ceased, he suddenly opened his eyes with sharp focus, and the arrow left the bow.

Chapter 86

As the arrow flew, everyone's attention was riveted on Fu Wei's shot.

In a moment, the arrow reached the five-ring target, but it landed in the third ring.

This position was within reach of any archer.

After inspecting the targets, the guards raised the red flag on Mr. Gu's side.

Seeing this, almost everyone was greatly disappointed.

The Governor, seeing such an unsurprising outcome, immediately lost interest in watching and turned to flirt with his concubine.

Mr. Gu smirked at Fu Wei, teasingly saying, "Mr. Fu might as well admit defeat now, to save yourself from an uglier loss later."

Fu Wei turned to him with a smile, "The competition is about who hits closest to the bullseye the most, and this was just the first arrow. There are four more to go; the outcome is far from decided. Why so hasty, Mr. Gu?"

Mr. Gu let out a slight scoff, not taking Fu Wei seriously, and picked up another arrow from the quiver, raising his bow to draw.

He released the arrow effortlessly. It veered slightly more than the previous one, landing between the bullseye and the fourth ring.

Although not as good as his first shot, Mr. Gu showed no sign of disappointment and looked at Fu Wei with a relaxed expression.

County Magistrate Zhou, watching from the table, frowned deeply.

Fu Wei methodically picked up an arrow and slightly adjusted his angle while holding the longbow.

Just when everyone thought Mr. Gu would win again, Fu Wei's arrow whistled through the air and hit the bullseye perfectly.

All sounds ceased in an instant.

Even from a distance, it was clear the arrow was lodged right in the center of the target.

Mr. Gu's pupils contracted slightly, and even the Governor stopped his flirting, pushing away the beauty beside him to watch the thrilling shot with great interest.

A contest with suspense is truly exciting.

When the flag on Fu Wei's side was raised, the Governor clapped in approval, followed by applause from the audience.

Mr. Gu's face turned dark.

County Magistrate Zhou's furrowed brow relaxed instantly, his face showing disbelief. He shook his head with a laugh, as if in awe.

Indeed, impressive!

It seemed that not only was Fu Wei's mind sharp, but he also possessed other remarkable skills!

His fundamental skills were solid; it was just that he had always shot arrows standing, and now, shooting while seated, he hadn't adapted yet, resulting in the initial miss.

Fu Wei looked at Mr. Gu with a gentle expression, "Mr. Gu, please proceed."

Mr. Gu found himself reassessing the seemingly harmless young man before him.

It appeared he had been feigning weakness all along.

Taking a deep breath and dropping his disdainful attitude, Mr. Gu turned to fetch another arrow.

This time, Mr. Gu didn't release the bowstring immediately but paused to compose himself before shooting.

His arrow was better than the second one, but it was unclear whether it hit the bullseye.

Fu Wei's third arrow landed in a spot similar to Mr. Gu's.

Unable to distinguish which was closer, a guard closely inspected the targets.

Fu Wei's turnaround from defeat to victory in the second round had been unexpected, so this round of the competition drew even more intense and silent anticipation from the onlookers.

The brief wait felt exceptionally long.

Moments later, the flag on Fu Wei's side was raised, surprising everyone.

The Governor's face lit up with a broad smile, and he clapped, exclaiming, "Excellent!"

The others, unconcerned with the dignity of a mere clerk, followed the Governor's lead, applauding and echoing his praises.

Mr. Gu pressed his lips tightly, clenching his teeth to ignore the humiliation.

With two arrows left, he knew he had to win both to avoid defeat.

Until the fourth round, the guards raised flags in both arms, indicating a tie.

If the final arrow also resulted in a tie, they would have to shoot an extra round.

But Mr. Gu was flustered, and his last arrow deviated slightly, while Fu Wei's arrow hit the bullseye once again.

Fu Wei won the archery contest.

Mr. Gu stared blankly at the target, unable to believe he had lost, especially to someone younger and with a disability.

Both County Magistrate Zhou and Mr. Qian tried to conceal their delight, but they couldn't hide the smiles in their eyes and the slight upturn of their lips.

This time, Fu Wei truly brought honor to Yu County!

The Governor, pleased with the contest, continued to increase the prize money for further challenges.

Naturally, no one dared to challenge Fu Wei again, firstly because of his remarkable skill demonstrated in the last four arrows, and secondly, for fear of embarrassment like Mr. Gu's.

Fortunately, the clerk from Yu County tactfully withdrew, sparing the others from an awkward dilemma.

Despite new contests unfolding, no one forgot the promise Mr. Gu made in his overconfidence.

Mr. Gu, having lost, felt utterly humiliated, enduring both the angry glare of his own county magistrate and the mocking gazes of the audience.

He knew everyone was waiting for him to humbly acknowledge Fu Wei.

Having agreed to the terms, he couldn't back out and had to muster the courage to approach Fu Wei, bowing stiffly and grudgingly addressing him as "Mr. Fu."

Fu Wei quickly raised his hands in a gesture of false support, saying, "It was just for fun, Mr. Gu, don't take it too seriously."

Mr. Gu took a deep breath, feeling humiliated yet conceding, "There are always bigger mountains and higher heavens. It is I, Gu, who was narrow-minded and arrogantly overconfident."

At that moment, Mr. Qian approached and whispered, "Mr. Fu, the Governor has summoned you."

After speaking, he pushed Fu Wei's wheelchair towards the Governor.

The Governor was already in a good mood today, and the exciting contest further elevated his spirits.

After praising Fu Wei, he instructed the dancer to present the golden hairpin and to attend to Mr. Fu.

The music of strings and bamboo resumed.

Fu Wei, having caught the Governor's eye, attracted others who came to socialize and toast to him.

Glass after glass of wine was poured into Fu Wei's stomach.

Initially, the dancer was displeased with the outcome of the contest favoring a man with a disability. However, upon noticing Fu Wei's handsome features and his impressive archery, she quickly became enamored with his appearance.

But despite her interest, Fu Wei did not spare her a single glance.

The night was cold and deep.

Yu Ying had neatly arranged the copper coins and waited, yawning continuously, but Fu Wei did not return.

At such banquets, she knew there would be many who would try to trouble him. Although confident in his ability to cope, it was inevitable that he would face difficulties.

Thinking about this, Yu Ying couldn't help but worry about Fu Wei.

Not sure how long she had waited, she thought she heard faint sounds of horse hooves in the outer courtyard. Her drowsiness instantly faded. She got out of bed, slipped on her shoes, put on a coat from the clothes rack, and went to check.

After briefly tidying her hair, Yu Ying took an oil lamp and opened her room door.

Outside, only a faint light was visible. She stepped out and looked towards the arched entrance of the courtyard.

Soon, she noticed a weak light spilling onto the ground near the archway.

Moments later, a young attendant holding a lantern and Huo, the guard, pushing a drunken Fu Wei, entered through the archway, crossing the courtyard.

Yu Ying approached and saw Fu Wei, somewhat incoherent, leaning back in his chair.

When Fu Wei raised his eyes to look at Yu Ying, they seemed blurred by a layer of mist from too much alcohol, and there was a hint of redness at the corners.

He smiled at Yu Ying, his teeth bright against his red lips, a strikingly handsome and elegant young man.

Seeing him like this, Yu Ying's heart fluttered wildly.

"Mrs. Yu?"

Huo, the guard, called out to her.

Yu Ying snapped back to reality and then asked, "What happened?"

Huo explained, "Today, a clerk from another county challenged Mr. Fu to an archery contest. Mr. Fu won, earning praise from the Governor. Others came forward to toast and socialize, and Mr. Fu ended up drinking all their offerings."

Hearing this, Yu Ying frowned slightly but quickly said, "Let's get him inside first."

Huo and the young attendant pushed Fu Wei to the front of the room, then together lifted him and his wheelchair into the house.

Together, they managed to move Fu Wei onto the bed.

Fortunately, Fu Wei didn't become aggressive when drunk; he remained quiet and cooperative throughout.

After settling him down, Huo, the guard, instructed the young attendant to boil water.

Yu Ying said to Huo, "I can take care of him. You should go and rest."

Huo nodded and then left.

After closing the door, Yu Ying took the teapot that was warming on the small stove, poured a cup of hot tea, and hurried to the bedside.

By then, Fu Wei had sat up. He turned to look at Yu Ying approaching, his face breaking into a warm, tender smile, calling softly, "A-Ying."

Yu Ying: …

Drunken Fu Wei, somewhat disarmingly charming, left her slightly overwhelmed.

Yu Ying coughed lightly, then brought the hot tea to his lips, gently saying, "You're drunk. Have some hot tea to sober up."

Obediently, Fu Wei opened his mouth to sip the tea.

Despite being inebriated, Fu Wei retained a degree of clarity and rationality.

At least he knew not to reveal his unimpaired legs, not to expose Yu Ying's identity in front of others, and especially not to call her "A-Ying" in their presence.

Being close to Fu Wei, Yu Ying smelled the unpleasant odor of alcohol mixed with a faint scent of cosmetics.

Her eyes narrowed slightly in confusion about the source of the fragrance, but she didn't suspect anything.

After all, she trusted Fu Wei's character and believed he wouldn't behave inappropriately.

After finishing the cup of water, Yu Ying was about to turn and put the cup away, but then her wrist was suddenly grasped.

As she turned back, Yu Ying saw Fu Wei taking out a glittering gold hairpin from his bosom and handing it to her.

…？！

Staring at the hairpin in astonishment, she looked up at Fu Wei, who was smiling, and asked incredulously, "Where did this come from?"

"I won it for you. Others have worn it, so don't wear it. Just exchange it for silver," he replied.

Recalling what Huo had said about Fu Wei's archery contest victory, Yu Ying realized that the hairpin was legitimately acquired and breathed a sigh of relief.

She glanced at the hairpin, tempted but said, "You should keep it for future expenses."

Fu Wei, however, refused to let go of her hand, insisting, "This is for household use. Exchange it for silver, then rent a better house. You and my eldest brother can move to Yu County together."

Seeing that he wouldn't release her hand and realizing it wouldn't be appropriate for him to exchange it, Yu Ying decided to accept the hairpin, planning to give him the silver later.

Weighing the hairpin, she estimated it was just under a tael of gold.

Although a tael of gold was worth ten taels of silver, due to the exquisite design of the hairpin, it could probably fetch between fifteen and twenty taels of silver.

Fu Wei's archery contest had unexpectedly earned a tidy sum.

Yu Ying accepted the hairpin and smiled at him, "I'll keep the hairpin. You can let go of my hand now."

But when Yu Ying relaxed, Fu Wei not only didn't release her hand but suddenly pulled her towards him with force.

Caught off guard, Yu Ying was pulled over and stumbled, falling directly into his arms.

The cup in her hand rolled onto the side of the bed.

Then, Fu Wei wrapped his arms around Yu Ying in his embrace, burying his head into the nape of her neck.

Yu Ying's heartbeat became erratic, and she exclaimed in a slightly alarmed tone, "Fu Wei, what are you doing?!"

Fu Wei tightened his arms around her, whispering softly by her ear, "A-Ying, don't move. Just let me hold you like this for a while."

Chapter 87

"A-Ying, don't move. Just let me hold you like this for a while."

His voice, deep and gentle, flowed into Yu Ying's ears like a tranquil stream, devoid of any overt passion, yet filled with tender longing.

Yu Ying's initially racing heartbeat gradually calmed down, and her stiff body slowly relaxed.

Trustingly leaning into Fu Wei's embrace, her palm resting against his chest, she felt the steady beat of his heart.

This was the first time since her youth that Yu Ying had completely relaxed in the embrace of a grown man.

Her cheeks and chest felt warm.

Fu Wei's breathing grew more even, holding the delicate warmth close, his nostrils filled with the faint scent of herbs from her, making him want to draw even closer, burying his face deeper into the nape of her neck.

After a long time, he exhaled warmly, softly calling, "A-Ying."

"Hmm?" Yu Ying responded.

"A-Ying," he murmured again.

Yu Ying understood; he simply wanted to call her name.

As he continued to embrace her, her legs outside the bed began to feel numb, and she reluctantly pushed him gently.

Fu Wei lifted his head from her neck, his gaze appearing dazed as he looked at the person in his arms.

As he lowered his head, Yu Ying also looked up at him.

The room was quiet, with the dim, soft candlelight casting a warm glow on his handsome face, his dark eyes shining.

In those luminous black eyes, Yu Ying saw her own reflection.

In Fu Wei's eyes, the world was vast, but all he could see was her.

Yu Ying felt the full depth of affection emanating from his dark eyes.

In that fleeting moment, Yu Ying temporarily forgot the impossible dream of returning home, her heart fluttering with emotion.

Finding someone who wholeheartedly loves and respects you, and whom you also love, is almost impossible.

But now, Yu Ying had found just that.

A spontaneous smile spread across Yu Ying's face. Under Fu Wei's drunken gaze, she leaned in and gently pecked his rosy lips, quickly withdrawing.

Her cheeks flushed, Yu Ying continued to smile tenderly at him.

Fu Wei seemed frozen in that moment.

He stared at her, dazed, and after a couple of breaths, his eyes gradually widened, sparkling like stars.

Unfortunately, at that moment, the room door was knocked on, and Wu Xiao Ya Chai's voice came from outside, "Madam Yu, the hot water is ready."

Yu Ying gently removed his arm from around her waist, whispering, "I'll go get the water."

As she was about to get up, Fu Wei, as if waking from a dream, instinctively pulled her back into his embrace, lifting her slightly and capturing her lips with his.

Yu Ying, caught by surprise, widened her eyes, unsure how to react.

Both inexperienced, Fu Wei followed his instincts, kissing her soft lips and just as he was about to deepen the kiss, another knock sounded at the door.

"Is Madam Yu not there?"

Yu Ying snapped back to reality, her face flushing as she quickly pushed Fu Wei away.

Fu Wei, pushed away, looked bewildered, not understanding why she had stopped their kiss.

Yu Ying: …

Fu Wei's innocent expression momentarily made her feel an inexplicable sense of guilt.

In an instant, Yu Ying quickly shook off such absurd thoughts from her mind.

Seizing the moment of Fu Wei's daze, she hurriedly pulled away his hands and escaped from his embrace.

Taking two steps back, her face flushed red, she turned and walked towards the room door.

Wu Xiao Ya Chai, waiting outside, thought Madam Yu was not in the room and had temporarily stepped out, so he waited with the water basin outside.

When the door suddenly opened and Yu Ying appeared, Wu Xiao Ya Chai was taken aback, "I thought Madam Yu wasn't in the room."

Feeling awkward inside, Yu Ying tried to remain calm, a slight smile on her lips, "I was busy taking care of my husband, so I couldn't respond right away."

Wu Xiao Ya Chai, not suspecting anything, handed over the water basin and asked, "Does Madam Yu have any other instructions?"

Yu Ying took the basin, shaking her head, "Nothing more, thank you for your help tonight, Wu Ya Chai."

Wu Xiao Ya Chai, flattered, replied, "It's no trouble at all. It's an honor to help Mr. Fu."

The respect in Wu Xiao Ya Chai's words suggested that Fu Wei had indeed made a significant impression tonight.

After sending Wu Xiao Ya Chai to rest, Yu Ying, holding the basin with one hand, closed the room door.

Turning back into the room, she found Fu Wei, who had been dazed just moments before, now lying down and asleep.

Yu Ying couldn't help but smile, then she placed the basin on the stool next to the bed, sat on the edge, and began to gently wipe Fu Wei's face and hands with a damp cloth.

Contrary to Fu Wei's good-natured drunkenness, County Magistrate Zhou was quite the opposite.

When the bailiff brought County Magistrate Zhou back to his room, his wife's annoyance quite literally sobered him up by waking their son.

Holding his half-asleep son, County Magistrate Zhou joyfully said, "My good son, your father really made a name for himself today!"

Mrs. Zhou, irritated, retorted, "The child just fell asleep in this unfamiliar bed, and you, the drunken mess, woke him up."

County Magistrate Zhou, grinning at his wife, put down his son and then embraced his wife, planting a kiss on her face. His breath reeked of alcohol, prompting Mrs. Zhou to push him away with disgust.

Losing her patience, Mrs. Zhou threatened, "If you don't let go, I'll make you sleep outside once you're sober, and let everyone at the courthouse laugh at you!"

Cornered, County Magistrate Zhou unwillingly released her but still maintained a smile on his face.

Finally able to breathe, Mrs. Zhou exhaled and commented, "Look at how happy you are; anyone would think you've found gold today."

County Magistrate Zhou laughed, "It was indeed like finding gold, but not for me, for Fu Wei!"

Mrs. Zhou, puzzled, asked, "What happened?"

Embracing his son who was rubbing his eyes, County Magistrate Zhou explained, "The old head from Wu'an County wanted to mock me, to mock our Jade County. He intentionally had his aide trouble Fu Wei, hoping to humiliate him publicly and thereby humiliate me. Unexpectedly, Fu Wei turned the tables with his skill, even earning praise from the governor."

Wu'an and Jade counties are neighboring rivals, often at odds.

Given that the magistrate of Wu'an County had held his position for over a decade, compared to Zhou's mere three years in Cangwu Prefecture, the governor's favoritism was obvious.

Today's event had allowed County Magistrate Zhou to release a long-held breath of relief.

After the excitement, County Magistrate Zhou, only slightly inebriated, sobered up and gently patted his son's back, saying, "Seizing the governor's good mood, Fu Wei dared to propose that I ask the governor to reduce Jade County's taxes by thirty percent next year, promising full payment the following year."

"Jade County's tax remittance is always the latest and the least."

"A thirty percent tax reduction would definitely provide some relief for this year."

Mrs. Zhou, astonished, asked, "Did you go?"

County Magistrate Zhou replied, "Such a great opportunity, of course I went. We always fall short by twenty percent each year; thirty percent isn't too much. The governor reproached me but eventually agreed."

Mrs. Zhou, hearing this, couldn't help but smile, "It seems you do plan to heavily rely on that young Fu."

County Magistrate Zhou nodded, "He does have some skills, certainly more knowledgeable than us who have been secluded in Jade County for three years."

"After all, Wuling Prefecture is a higher-ranked region, far more informed than our remote Cangwu Prefecture; they know much more about imperial court affairs."

Mrs. Zhou pondered and then suggested, "If you plan to rely on young Fu, I'll help his wife more."

"That works."

After chatting for a while, Mrs. Zhou suddenly remembered, "Now that young Fu has made a name for himself, what if the one who was mistakenly brought up with him becomes aware of Fu working under you and targets you?"

County Magistrate Zhou exhaled, "We'll just have to deal with it as it comes. Besides, I'm the magistrate of Cangwu Prefecture, under Governor Shen's jurisdiction. If Fu gains Governor Shen's favor, he'll be seen as one of his people. Even if that man from Wuling Prefecture learns of Fu working for me, without the Wuling Prefect's intervention, any move he makes will be overstepping his bounds against Governor Shen's man."

He paused, then added, "Considering Cangwu Prefecture's lower status, Governor Shen must show respect to the Wuling Prefect. However, Governor Shen remaining in his position for so many years without being dismissed suggests he has backing in the capital."

"Even if the Wuling Prefect decides to act, he would think thrice, let alone someone with just the title of the governor's son and no official position. He's not qualified to challenge Governor Shen."

Realizing this, County Magistrate Zhou understood why Fu Wei had made such a scene today.

Tonight's first arrow's failure might have had a trick to it. After all, hitting the bullseye with the next four arrows doesn't align with an off-target shot in the third ring.

It seems the failure was real but deliberately exaggerated to disinterest the audience, then followed by a bullseye to stir up emotions, making the competition even more thrilling.

After deducing this, County Magistrate Zhou suddenly burst into laughter, "This Fu Wei, he really has some tricks up his sleeve!"

Ultimately, the winner was him, Yuxian. Regardless of whether the competition was Fu Wei's stratagem or not, what does it matter!

That night, Fu Wei had a night of pleasant dreams.

The next day, Yu Ying, needing to buy ingredients for making lip balm, got up early.

When Fu Wei woke up, there was no one beside the bed.

Sitting up while holding his forehead, he felt a splitting headache from the hangover.

At that moment, the door was pushed open from outside.

Looking up, he saw Yu Ying entering with a tray.

Seeing him awake, Yu Ying closed the door and approached, saying, "You were so drunk last night; I knew you would have a headache this morning, so I made you some hangover soup."

As she reached the bedside, Fu Wei took the soup from her. Still groggy from the hangover, he asked her in a hoarse voice, "Did I say or do anything inappropriate last night?"

Recalling how she impulsively kissed him first last night, followed by his kiss in return, Yu Ying felt her cheeks burning intensely.

"No!"

Her emphatic denial made Fu Wei look at her suspiciously.

As Fu Wei's gaze turned towards her, Yu Ying quickly turned to pick up a basket prepared on the table, saying, "I have things to do today, and cooking the hangover soup made me late. I don't have time to talk more now, so I'll be going."

Without waiting for Fu Wei to respond, she walked straight to the door.

Opening the door, stepping out, and closing it behind her, she performed these actions almost in one fluid motion.

Fu Wei...

Felt that something was amiss.

He furrowed his brows slightly, withdrawing his gaze and began to drink the hangover soup.

Just as a sip of the hangover soup reached his lips, flashes of the previous night's memories suddenly filled his mind.

He was holding her.

She kissed him.

And he kissed her back.

The scalding hangover soup burned his mouth, jolting Fu Wei back to reality.

His ears turned red, though it was unclear whether from the heat of the soup or the memories of last night.

Fu Wei set down the soup and slowly raised his hand, his fingertips touching his lips.

He faintly remembered the touch of her light peck and the lingering scent she left behind.

Leaning back against the bed, Fu Wei moved his hand from his lips to his face.

His whole palm covered the upper half of his face, hiding his eyes, but the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved upwards.

A smile gradually spread across his lips.

Chapter 88.

After calming her emotions, Yu Ying left the guesthouse and headed towards the market, as directed by the staff the day before.

She examined lip balms at a stall selling rouge and powder, carefully inspecting both cheap and expensive varieties, then bought a few small jars to test on her wrist.

After a closer examination, she realized these lip balms were made from animal fat; the cheaper ones were paste-like, while the more expensive ones were slightly more solidified.

Yu Ying thoughtfully recalled the evolution of lip balms in ancient times, realizing that using beeswax in lip balm was a practice that emerged after the Tang dynasty, and the current era seemed to precede the Tang. Thus, finding a beehive to make beeswax could lead to creating a unique lip balm.

These lip balms, in small jars, seemed to contain about twice the amount of a modern lipstick.

The cheapest lip balm cost eight wen, both the pottery jar and the balm itself were quite rough, and the color was uneven.

Slightly better ones were priced around fifteen wen, but they were only marginally better than the eight wen variety.

In the shop, the better quality balms were priced at twenty-five wen per jar, with the more expensive ones going upwards, even reaching a thousand wen.

Yu Ying, having a sense of the quality and pricing of these lip balms, began searching for materials to make her own.

Lip balm didn't require many ingredients, but those needed were somewhat costly.

Tea oil, lithospermum, dried flowers, and finally, beehives for making beeswax.

She found dried flowers at a fragrance shop, choosing roses.

Roses not only had a pleasant fragrance but also offered beauty and skincare benefits.

These dried flowers were expensive, costing fifty wen per liang, but fortunately, one liang could make a good amount of lip balm. The cost was worth it.

Lithospermum would deepen the color of the lip balm and also prevent chapped lips, offering restorative benefits. Combined with tea oil, beeswax, and roses, it would create a balm that was not only aesthetically pleasing but also effective in repair and hydration.

Finding the tea oil proved challenging; after asking around, she learned it was available at medical halls.

She went back to the Ren Shan Medical Hall to purchase tea oil and lithospermum.

Tea oil was expensive, costing thirty wen per liang.

Lithospermum was available at the pharmacy, costing ten wen per liang.

Since it was just a trial and the New Year was half a month away, Yu Ying didn't plan to make much lip balm. Excluding the four liang of tea oil, she bought two liang each of the other ingredients, spending a total of two hundred and twenty wen.

As the apprentice packed the tea oil and wrapped the lithospermum, Yu Ying was about to leave when she happened to run into Doctor Wu.

Doctor Wu was momentarily taken aback upon seeing Mrs. Yu.

Yu Ying smiled and nodded at Doctor Wu before turning to leave.

Watching her depart, Doctor Wu hesitated slightly but then decided to follow her out.

"Mrs. Yu, please wait a moment."

Yu Ying turned around, "Is there something you need, Doctor Wu?"

Doctor Wu said, "About the face cream we discussed earlier, I would like to have another conversation with Mrs. Yu. Would it be convenient for you to sit in a private room for a talk?"

Yu Ying was genuinely surprised that Doctor Wu would seek her out again to discuss the face cream business and agreed after a moment of thought.

Once seated in the private room, a young apprentice served them tea.

Doctor Wu spoke, "After discussing with the head of the medical hall, we can offer forty-five wen per jar for your face cream, with a minimum order of one hundred jars. The medical hall will provide the jars."

Doctor Wu had realized that if the price was too low, Mrs. Yu would simply refuse to sell, firmly and resolutely.

He had also heard that Mrs. Yu had already set up a stall in the county seat, where the face cream was selling well and had a good reputation, as reported by an apprentice who had investigated.

After some consideration, he understood that if the price was lower than what Mrs. Yu initially mentioned, she would likely still refuse, thinking it might be better to set up her own stall.

Therefore, Doctor Wu decided not to haggle over a few wen and agreed to the price she had previously stated.

Besides, the face cream sold at the stall for fifty wen per jar, and the cost of the jar alone was about ten wen, so offering forty-five wen per jar, with the medical hall providing the jars, was still profitable for them.

Honestly, a month ago, Yu Ying would have immediately agreed, but now she hesitated.

Seeing Mrs. Yu's hesitation, Doctor Wu added, "The clientele buying face cream from the medical hall is different from those at the stall. Those who can afford to buy from the medical hall are mostly from the middle class or wealthier, and the price will undoubtedly be higher, not lower. This arrangement won't affect your business adversely."

Indeed, buying the cream for forty-five wen and selling it at a doubled price would not impact their business.

For those who had tried both, they might even think that the fifty wen face cream was worth eighty or ninety wen, further enhancing the reputation of Jade Workshop.

Doctor Wu was confident Mrs. Yu would agree, continuing, "Mrs. Yu, the pottery jars you use for your face cream are exquisite and must be expensive. Our Ren Shan Medical Hall has long cooperated with a ceramics workshop. Regardless of whether our business deal happens or not, I will introduce you to them as a favor to Manager Luo."

Hearing this, Yu Ying found it hard not to be swayed.

Although switching to selling her face cream through the medical hall meant the good reputation would not be hers, it did not conflict with making money or her own face cream business.

After a moment of contemplation, Yu Ying's thoughtful gaze became clear and decisive.

She smiled and replied, "I'll take the deal."

Doctor Wu smiled upon hearing her response, "The medical hall will give a thousand wen as a deposit. We'll settle the balance once the face cream is delivered. How does that sound to Mrs. Yu?"

Yu Ying nodded in agreement, then added, "However, I won't be in the county seat for long, and making face cream requires time and labor. Could I first deliver fifty jars and then send the remaining fifty after ten days?"

Doctor Wu responded, "That's acceptable. As for the jars for the face cream, I'll have someone deliver them to you tomorrow. Where should they be sent?"

The medical hall also made face cream, so the pottery workshop had stock, only needing to label the new face cream on the bottom.

Yu Ying gave the location of her stall for the delivery.

Doctor Wu nodded, handed her the deposit, then called an apprentice and instructed, "Take Mrs. Yu to Gu Ji Pottery Workshop and say it's on behalf of Doctor Wu from Ren Shan Medical Hall. Ask them to give her the same pricing as they do for the medical hall."

Yu Ying stood up, bowed slightly to Doctor Wu, "Thank you, Doctor Wu."

Doctor Wu laughed, "It's just a small effort on my part."

After all, the face cream was of good quality, and collaborating with Mrs. Yu was mutually beneficial.

Yu Ying took the deposit and left the medical hall with the apprentice, heading to Gu Ji Pottery Workshop.

At the workshop, Yu Ying chose two types of ceramic jars similar to her current ones. With the introduction from an acquaintance, the cost of each jar dropped by three wen.

The better jars were nine wen each, and the standard ones five wen each.

She ordered a hundred of each type.

Finally, she selected two different styles of smaller jars for the lip balm, these more attractive ones costing six wen each.

Yu Ying, making only a small batch of lip balm, initially ordered just thirty of each type of jar.

After inspecting these, she asked the pottery workshop staff about the smallest available ceramic bottle.

The staff informed her that the smallest were the ones used for lip balm; anything smaller would require a custom order and at least two days to complete.

Yu Ying needed the lip balm for gifting purposes and couldn't use bamboo tubes. She also wanted to enhance the perceived value of the gift, making customers feel that getting free lip balm with their face cream purchase was a great deal.

Since the quantity was limited, the containers for the lip balm had to be exquisite.

For the promotional lip balm, the quantity had to be small to save costs while also encouraging quicker usage and repurchase.

Yu Ying planned to use the three wen saved from the cost of face cream to order smaller containers.

The diameter of the new containers would be about one inch, with an even narrower interior, and the height including the lid would be only a third of an inch.

When filled, only a shallow layer of lip balm would be needed, making even sparing use last at most around ten applications.

Yu Ying ordered one hundred and fifty of these, which would also be ready in two days.

The total cost for these ceramics was about two thousand five hundred wen. After subtracting the cost of jars and lip balm from the money she received yesterday, nearly half would be spent.

Indeed, making money was not easy, but fortunately, the medical hall had provided a thousand wen as a deposit, giving her the capital to buy materials for the face cream.

After paying the deposit, Yu Ying continued her market stroll, hoping to find a beehive for honey.

In this dynasty, beekeeping existed but was still uncommon.

After a long search, Yu Ying finally found a stall selling white honey.

She hurried over, finding that the stall had ready-made white honey priced at fifteen wen per liang.

The stall also had unprocessed honeycombs, and a jar beside it contained already squeezed honeycombs.

Beehives were the source of beeswax, which was exactly what Yu Ying needed.

Remembering that Fu Wei would be in the county seat for another four days and would likely drink again, she thought honey water might comfort him.

With this in mind, she had the vendor pack two liang of honey in a bamboo tube.

After purchasing the honey, she inquired about the price of the squeezed honeycomb residues.

Although beeswax wasn't used for lip balm in this era, it was likely used for making candles, so the honeycomb would not be cheap.

Indeed, it was expensive.

Sold by weight, it cost eighty wen per jin.

Yu Ying had experience making beeswax; typically, one jin of honeycomb residue yielded only about three liang in the decimal system.

Honeycombs were rare in Yuxian, and she needed to continue making face cream. Unable to delegate the purchase and knowing beeswax could be stored for a long time, Yu Ying decided to buy the residue inside the pottery jars.

In total, it amounted to three jin and twelve liang, more than enough to make one jin of beeswax.

After paying, Yu Ying bought some gauze and then went to Song Sanlang's stall to give him the silver coins she had calculated the day before.

She also paid Miss Su's wages through Song Sanlang.

Miss Su, having heard from Song Sanlang about the possible year-end bonus, was exceptionally enthusiastic when she saw Yu Ying.

After a brief stop at the stall, Yu Ying discussed the medical hall collaboration with Song Sanlang and instructed him that the medical hall would be delivering pottery jars the next day.

He was to take the jars to where he lived, as the face cream would also be made there.

After giving these instructions, Yu Ying returned to the guesthouse.

Back at the guesthouse, finding Fu Wei absent, she inquired and learned from the guesthouse staff that Fu Wei had gone to the county office with the magistrate.

With Fu Wei away, Yu Ying quickly ate her meal and began sewing small bags from the gauze. Later, she borrowed a clay stove, pots, and a small steamer in the kitchen to start processing the beeswax.

She boiled the honeycomb in water until it bubbled, then let it cool and settle.

Once the beeswax solidified and separated from the water, she scooped it out, broke it into pieces, and placed them in the gauze bags. Then, she put the bags in a large bowl and steamed them in the steamer.

The steamed beeswax oozed from the bag, effectively filtering out impurities.

After repeating the process, the pure beeswax was ready.

Yu Ying quickly poured it into small bowls while it was still hot, making the solidified wax smaller, convenient for carrying and use.

Once finished, she looked out the window and noticed the darkening sky, guessing that Fu Wei must be returning soon.

Chapter 89.

Today, the county governor's mansion continued the extravagant revelry of last night.

Fu Wei, being mortal, had his needs after excessive drinking.

With the assistance of the Huo official, he visited the privy, and upon returning, he chose not to rush back to the hall but to enjoy a moment of breeze in the corridor.

Fu Wei gazed at the darkening sky outside the corridor, unsure of when he could return.

Compared to the indulgences here, Fu Wei longed to return to the inn and dine with Ah Ying.

Thinking of Ah Ying.

Fu Wei's expression softened, and a slow smile crept onto his lips.

"Mr. Fu, it's time to go in," the Huo official reminded.

The smile faded from Fu Wei's face, asking the Huo official to push him to the main hall.

Returning to the main hall, the music and dance had ceased, and for some reason, the atmosphere was subdued, vastly different from when Fu Wei had left.

Where the dancer Hu Ji had previously whirled, now stood only a scout in the center of the hall.

Something the scout said enraged the governor, who suddenly stood up and exclaimed angrily, "Such a buzzkill, disperse!"

Having said this, he swept out of the hall.

As soon as the governor left, everyone in the hall began to rise and depart.

Fu Wei also left with Zhou, the county official.

Once on the carriage, he asked his colleague Qian: "What happened in the hall just now?"

Qian, lowering his voice, replied: "A scout reported that bandits collaborated with the forced laborers at the Dongyu Mountain iron mine to steal a large amount of iron ore."

Fu Wei raised his eyebrows slightly: "Where did these bandits come from?"

Qian answered: "I heard from others that these bandits from Muchun Mountain have been a major scourge in Lingnan for about twenty years. They are tall, strong, and fierce, seizing control of the mountains upon their arrival and declaring themselves kings."

"At that time, Governor Shen, newly in charge of Cangwu County, led 5,000 soldiers to suppress them, but was defeated by the less than 500 bandits. This remains a lifelong humiliation for Governor Shen, and people only whisper about it, not daring to discuss it loudly."

"Over the years, the Muchun Mountain bandits have grown stronger, but fortunately, they do not kill indiscriminately. However, they have stolen a lot of government silver and grain. Governor Shen despises them, but given their strength, he dares not act rashly."

Fu Wei tapped his knee thoughtfully before saying: "These bandits are strong and tall, like northerners. They took advantage of the terrain as soon as they arrived in Lingnan, and their victory over a much larger force suggests a deep understanding of military strategy and formation. These people—"

He looked up at Qian.

Qian nodded in understanding: "Some say they were once soldiers, but for some reason, they turned into bandits."

Fu Wei wondered: "Is there really no way to find out their background?"

Qian replied: "They are incredibly secretive, striking quietly and unexpectedly, making them difficult to guard against."

Continuing, he sighed: "Now that the bandits have robbed the Cangwu County iron mine, Governor Shen might be held accountable. The coming days will be tough for the county officials."

"These bandits have existed for many years and have stolen government silver and grain numerous times. Even if Governor Shen is held accountable, it's unlikely he will be dismissed."

"But being held accountable means he will surely take out his frustration on his subordinates."

Fu Wei returned to the inn at the fourth quarter of the hour of Xu.

Two constables, along with Su Yu, lifted him up the stairs before knocking on the door: "Madam Yu, Mr. Fu has returned."

A slightly anxious voice came from inside the room: "Wait a moment, please."

After a short while, the door opened.

Seeing Yu Ying covering her face with her sleeve, both Fu Wei and the knocking constable were taken aback, puzzled.

Yu Ying explained, "I just applied an ointment to my face and feared it might seem disrespectful, so I covered it with my sleeve."

Hearing this, the constables cautiously carried Fu Wei into the room and then hurried away.

Once they were gone, Fu Wei looked at Yu Ying and reminded her, "They've left, and there's no one outside."

Upon hearing this, Yu Ying quickly closed the door.

Fu Wei asked her, "Why suddenly apply ointment for no apparent reason?"

After closing the door, he stood up and went to pour tea.

Turning back, Yu Ying said, "I didn't apply any. I just washed off some spots from my face earlier."

Fu Wei paused in his pouring, silently raising his head for a moment before slowly turning to look at Yu Ying as she approached.

Seeing her clean, fair face and those rosy lips... had she applied lip rouge?

Fu Wei's breath caught, his gaze fixated on her lips.

Those rosy, captivating lips.

Memories of last night's bliss suddenly flooded his mind.

Fu Wei felt a dryness in his throat, swallowing involuntarily, his Adam's apple bobbing.

He asked hoarsely, "Why did you stop using the ointment, and why suddenly apply lip rouge?"

In that instant, Fu Wei thought he was overthinking, wondering if her change today was for him.

Enchanting thoughts began to dominate his mind, prompting him to quickly avert his gaze, put down the teapot, and finish the tea in one gulp.

Yu Ying noticed Fu Wei's slight panic, realizing that he might have misunderstood, and possibly even let his thoughts wander a bit too far...

Although her mindset was more liberal than his, their relationship was only a few days old. Even if she was open-minded, things wouldn't progress this rapidly!

She promptly offered a proper explanation: "The juice of this fruit, if applied continuously, can penetrate the skin and become difficult to remove. I didn't wash it off before because it was cumbersome, but today, as I wanted to try the lip rouge, I washed it away in the process."

Fu Wei: ...

Indeed, he had overthought.

He quietly exhaled, banishing those fanciful thoughts from his mind.

Fu Wei turned to look at her, examining her closely before complimenting, "The color of the lip rouge suits you well."

It wasn't an overly bright red, but a light shade of red that made her skin appear even more luminous and her complexion much improved.

Yu Ying also took a seat at the table and said, "I plan to make some trial lip rouges as gifts and also sell some at the stall. With a variety of options, it should attract more customers."

Continuing, she added, "Today, when I went to the Ren Shan Medical Hall to buy materials for the lip rouge, I met Doctor Wu. He discussed the lip rouge business with me, offering to provide the containers and brand them with their hall's name, at a price of forty-five per jar for me."

Fu Wei opened a cup and placed it in front of her, pouring tea while looking at her: "Did you agree?"

Yu Ying nodded: "Of course, I agreed. It's a profitable opportunity that came knocking; it would be foolish not to take it."

Fu Wei sat down after putting the teapot aside and said to her, "Although forty-five wen per jar is more profitable than selling at the stall, using their name to sell means you're earning less."

Yu Ying took a sip of her tea and explained, "My face cream isn't miraculous; it's just effective. Besides, currently, I'm just running a small workshop, not yet big enough to supply under my own brand. So, for now, this is the best approach. Once the business grows, I can consider other options."

Fu Wei nodded in agreement.

After drinking half a cup of tea, Yu Ying suddenly realized something, "I thought you'd come back heavily drunk from the governor's mansion today..." She sniffed the air; there was a smell of alcohol, but it wasn't strong.

"Did you have fewer social obligations today?"

Fu Wei replied, "The socializing was the same as yesterday, but the banquet ended early because a scout reported that bandits had stolen iron ore from the mine, and the governor lost his mood for the feast."

Hearing the word "bandits," Yu Ying's expression froze momentarily.

Seeing her change in expression, Fu Wei asked, "What's wrong?"

Yu Ying, regaining her composure, looked at him with a slightly complex expression.

Hesitating for a moment, she said, "Actually, there are some things I've been keeping from you. I feared they might affect your judgment, so I haven't spoken of them."

Fu Wei wasn't surprised by her confession.

He had already suspected that she was keeping many things from him. The recent revelations about his elder brother and the chaotic times were enough to overturn his understanding, let alone the unimaginable things she hadn't disclosed.

Although Fu Wei didn't know the specifics, he understood that delving deeper might bring truths even he couldn't bear, so he chose not to probe further.

Sometimes, ignorance might be problematic, but knowing too much isn't always a good thing either.

Fu Wei showed a mild smile, "I trust you. If you chose to keep something from me, it means I can handle it smoothly."

Yu Ying felt a warmth in her heart from Fu Wei's understanding.

Soon, a servant from the inn brought hot water.

Pretending to tidy up the bed, Yu Ying faced away from the door, allowing the servant to enter directly.

After the servant left, Yu Ying suddenly realized something.

Fu Wei, with his mobility issues, had always washed himself inside the room while traveling.

At the inn, she had consciously left the room while he washed, but now, without the juice on her face, how could she leave?

After a moment of silence, Yu Ying looked at Fu Wei, who was searching for clothes.

Hesitating, she said, "I can't go out like this either. When you wash, I'll lie on the bed and draw the bed curtains, and I absolutely won't peek." Pausing, she blinked and asked, "Would you mind that?"

Fu Wei, picking up his change of clothes, paused, his feelings mixed.

After considering it, he honestly replied, "Actually, I don't mind. After all, I'm not the one at a disadvantage."

Yu Ying glanced at him sideways with a playful scold, "I wouldn't peek at you."

She turned around, took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and then, looking very serious, said, "I promise I won't peek!"

Having said that, she drew the bed curtains down.

Fu Wei shook his head with a resigned smile and turned to wash behind the screen.

The sound of water in the quiet room was particularly clear, and Yu Ying could hear it even with her head covered.

Thinking of Fu Wei undressed in the room, Yu Ying couldn't help but blush.

Initially, when she first met Fu Wei, she could calmly apply medicine to him without any embarrassment, but now, why was she feeling so shy so easily?

Lost in her thoughts, the sound of water stopped.

A moment later, Fu Wei walked over to the bed and lifted the curtain, seeing her wrapped up tightly, not even showing her head, he couldn't help but laugh silently.

After lying down on the bed, Fu Wei said, "I'm dressed."

Yu Ying pulled back the quilt, revealing her flushed face, and glanced at him lightly, "It's not that I'm afraid of you being undressed."

It was just the sound of water that made her feel embarrassed and led to her wandering thoughts.

Fu Wei simply smiled, pulled the quilt over, and for the first time in full consciousness, cuddled close to her.

He asked, "May I hold you as we sleep?"

Yu Ying, holding the quilt, hesitated for a moment before nodding. As she slightly lifted her upper body, Fu Wei's arm slid underneath, pulling her into his embrace.

In that instant, Fu Wei was also nervous.

The two lay in each other's arms in silence, enjoying the peaceful moment.

Without overly intimate actions, their embrace transmitted warmth to each other, bringing a sense of joy and comfort to both body and mind.

Chapter 90.

The morning light was faint, the brightness filtering through the latticed window screens, gradually illuminating the room.

Yu Ying woke up in Fu Wei's embrace, dazed for a moment before realizing where she was.

—She was no longer single.

Today marked the fifth day of their romantic relationship.

On the first day, they held hands.

On the third day, they embraced and shared a kiss.

On the fourth day, they slept in each other's arms.

The progression of their relationship was indeed swift, but considering they had been sharing a bed for some time, it wasn't exceptionally fast.

Yu Ying gently lifted her head to look at Fu Wei, who was breathing softly.

Even from this upward angle, Fu Wei looked perfect.

On closer inspection, Yu Ying noticed that his eyelashes were remarkably curled.

Fu Wei was still asleep, evidently exhausted from the past few days.

First, there was the three-day journey, followed by two days of accompanying Zhou, the county official, to social events, always on edge. Only when the door was closed could he relax, so how could he not be tired?

After a moment of contemplation, realizing it was already late, Yu Ying decided to get up and prepare for the day. Her plan was to deliver the lip rouge to the county official's wife and then go out to buy materials for the face cream.

Just as she was about to get out of bed, she realized that Fu Wei had his arms firmly around her waist.

She barely moved his arm when Fu Wei woke up.

He half-opened his eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"

Fu Wei's voice was low and husky upon waking, unexpectedly pleasant to the ear.

Yu Ying said, "I'm getting ready to wash up."

Fu Wei, upon hearing this, was slow to react. It was only after she nudged his arm that he finally let go and sat up.

Yu Ying got out of bed and put on her outer garment before starting to comb her hair.

"By the way, I'm going out to buy materials for the face cream today, and I'll be working on it at Song Sanlang's place, so I might return late."

Fu Wei, who was putting on his outer clothing by the bed, paused in his movements and after a moment's thought asked, "Will it be just you and Song Sanlang?"

Yu Ying chuckled lightly, "I'll be careful to avoid any misunderstandings. On my way back in the afternoon, I'll bring along Miss Su, who conveniently lives nearby."

After all, in this era, it was important to avoid any impropriety between a man and a woman alone together.

Hearing this, Fu Wei let out a sigh of relief.

Yu Ying turned to Fu Wei and said, "About the gold hairpin you brought back the day before yesterday, since the pawnshops in the county can't compare to those in the jurisdiction, I plan to pawn it today. What do you think?"

Fu Wei was indifferent: "Since I gave it to you, you can decide what to do with it."

Yu Ying nodded and then casually mentioned, "When I was at the market yesterday, I heard people talking about you. They said a young man named Fu, riding in a palanquin, made quite an impression at the governor's mansion, hitting the bullseye with four out of five arrows."

Continuing, Yu Ying narrowed her eyes, "I also heard the prize was a gold hairpin and a night with a beautiful dancer."

Fu Wei, anxious she might misunderstand, quickly clarified, "I only took the hairpin, I didn't engage in anything else. Even when the dancer approached, I didn't spare her a glance."

Yu Ying covered her mouth with a smile, "I never said you did anything else."

After saying this, she turned back, picked up a small bottle, opened it, dabbed some black liquid onto a cloth, and started applying it to her face.

Fu Wei let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Yu Ying then went to fetch water for washing up.

After washing up, she brought back another basin of water for Fu Wei.

After getting ready, Yu Ying took the extra lip rouges she had made the previous day to visit the county official's wife.

Living in the inn and with Fu Wei being an aide, it was necessary for her to pay her respects to the county official's wife these days.

Moreover, maintaining a good relationship with the county official's wife was only beneficial.

Yu Ying learned that the county official's wife had gone to the temple to offer prayers early that morning when she arrived at her residence.

Yu Ying left the lip rouge with a servant to pass on to the county official's wife, then took the medicinal herbs she had brought from Yu County and headed out.

In the market, Yu Ying bought sheep fat and alcohol for making the face cream, and then took them to her stall.

Miss Su, upon seeing Yu Ying, hurriedly called out, "Owner."

Yu Ying laughed, "It's just a small stall, calling me 'owner' might be laughable. Just call me Madam Yu."

Miss Su looked a bit surprised, unsure whether to comply, and hesitantly glanced at Song Sanlang.

Song Sanlang nodded and said, "Listen to what the wife of the Fu family says."

Reassured by Song Sanlang's approval, Miss Su immediately showed a sweet smile to Yu Ying, "Madam Yu."

Yu Ying smiled warmly.

The weather was pleasant and the streets were busy. Soon customers began to show interest in the face cream, and Yu Ying asked her to attend to them.

After placing the materials under the stall, she quietly said to Song Sanlang, "I want to visit the pawnshop but fear it might not be safe. Would you come with me?"

Holding gold that could be exchanged for several taels of silver, enough to buy a house in Yu County, Yu Ying was naturally worried about being targeted.

After instructing Miss Su to watch the stall, Song Sanlang accompanied the wife of the Fu family to the pawnshop.

The pawnshop wasn't far, just about a quarter of an hour's walk.

Upon reaching the pawnshop, Song Sanlang stayed outside while waiting.

Yu Ying entered the pawnshop and approached the counter, then took out the gold hairpin to show to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper, upon seeing the exquisitely designed gold hairpin, looked intriguingly at the plainly dressed woman, who appeared unremarkable.

If it were stolen goods, it could still be bought for a standard gold price, then melted down and remade into jewelry for a guaranteed profit.

Yu Ying sensed the shopkeeper's peculiar gaze, suspecting he thought she had acquired the hairpin through dubious means and was perhaps calculating to take advantage of the situation.

For instance — assuming she wouldn't dare cause a scene and thus offering a lower price.

Yu Ying slightly lifted her chin, maintaining a calm demeanor, "This hairpin was acquired legitimately, so, shopkeeper, there's no need for baseless speculations. If the price is fair, I'll pawn it; if not, I'll find another pawnshop."

The shopkeeper, realizing his thoughts had been seen through by the woman, coughed awkwardly and then asked, "Since the lady claims the hairpin was obtained legitimately, may I know its origin?"

Yu Ying frowned, retrieving the hairpin from the counter, "If you suspect it to be stolen, then I'd rather not pawn it here."

The pawnshop owner hastily replied, "Madam, please don't be offended. We just have to be cautious to avoid trouble, hence the inquiry."

He deliberated for a moment and said, "Let me weigh the hairpin first, then I'll quote a price."

With that, he took out the scales and looked at the woman.

After a moment of consideration, Yu Ying handed over the hairpin for weighing.

After weighing it, the shopkeeper said, "One tael and six qian, which converts to sixteen thousand copper coins."

The weight was accurate and matched Yu Ying's own assessment.

After stating the weight, the pawnshop owner pondered for a moment before offering a price: "I'll pay 16,200 coins, including 200 as a crafting fee. It's a fair offer, Madam. You might want to consider it."

Yu Ying replied, "I am willing to accept 17,000 coins."

The shopkeeper exclaimed in surprise, "Madam is really bold! A 1,000-coin crafting fee is unheard of; no pawnshop would dare to ask for that."

Next to the pawnshop was a jewelry store, and it was not hard to guess that the pawnshop and the jewelry store were owned by the same party.

Yu Ying argued, "As I understand it, intricate gold jewelry designs are valued higher, and while the design of this hairpin is not extremely complex, its finesse makes it valuable. If it were sold in a jewelry store, it would fetch at least eighteen taels of silver. Asking for 17,000 coins is not unreasonable."

The shopkeeper shook his head, insisting, "No, no, a 1,000-coin crafting fee is still too expensive. I can only offer up to an additional 500 coins."

Yu Ying thought for a moment and countered, "Then let's meet halfway. The lowest price I can accept is 16,800 coins. Any lower, and I won't pawn it."

The pawnshop owner furrowed his brows in hesitation, but after a while, he nodded in agreement and asked the woman whether she preferred silver or copper coins.

Silver was more convenient to carry, so naturally, it was the better choice.

The pawnshop owner weighed out sixteen taels of silver and added eight strings of copper coins, asking the woman to confirm the amount before accepting it.

Yu Ying checked the silver and roughly counted the copper coins. After confirming the amounts, she wrapped the silver and copper in cloth and placed them in her basket.

Leaving the pawnshop, Yu Ying said to Song Sanlang, "Let's go back to the inn first. I need to drop off these things. In the afternoon, after closing the stall, I'll join Miss Su and go to your place to make the face cream."

Song Sanlang had no objections and did not show any curiosity about what she had pawned.

Across the street, a ruffian leaning against a wall with a grass stalk in his mouth eyed the woman's basket with ill intent.

When she entered, her basket was empty, but upon leaving, it was visibly fuller, clearly indicating she had pawned something valuable.

Just as the ruffian's greed surfaced, he saw the woman speaking with a tall, robust man at the pawnshop entrance before they left together.

The ruffian furrowed his brows tightly.

How had he not noticed earlier that these two were together?!

After much contemplation, the ruffian discarded his grass stalk and exchanged glances with two others stationed in different directions. Understanding each other's intentions, they then split up to act separately.

On their way back, Song Sanlang chuckled, "I heard about the second brother of the Fu family's deeds at the county office in the market yesterday. Everyone's curious about what kind of capable man this Mr. Fu is."

Yu Ying smiled, "The second brother is naturally a man of ability."

The two engaged in intermittent small talk.

While they were talking, a man with a suspicious look approached them. Yu Ying, being on high alert, instinctively moved to the other side of Song Sanlang when the man came closer to her.

The man showed no sign of ill intent and simply walked away, which made Yu Ying wonder if she was being overly paranoid.

Song Sanlang looked slightly confused and asked, "What's wrong, sister-in-law of the Fu family?"

Not wanting to cause unnecessary worry for Song Sanlang, and thinking she might have been overthinking, Yu Ying shook her head and said, "It's nothing."

Just as she spoke, someone suddenly bumped into her from behind. Alert, Yu Ying quickly realized a hand reaching for her basket and swiftly pulled it away, shouting angrily, "What are you doing?!"

Before she could get a clear look at the person who bumped her, they ran off quickly after hearing her voice.

Yu Ying's shout drew the attention of bystanders.

At this moment, Song Sanlang also realized they were being targeted.

Seeing the thief run away, Song Sanlang initially moved to chase but then hesitated, fearing a diversion, and refrained from pursuing.

Yu Ying, looking at the unharmed basket in her hands, exhaled in relief, but her expression quickly turned grave as she said firmly, "Let's hurry back."

The near loss of the silver left Yu Ying completely tense. That silver was Fu Wei's livelihood; if it had been stolen, she didn't know how she would explain it to him.

Moreover, her biggest concern was that the thieves might be part of a larger gang.

If it were a gang, she and Song Sanlang certainly wouldn't be able to handle it.

Amidst her worry, she suddenly heard Song Sanlang exclaim in surprise, "Isn't that the second brother of the Fu family?!"

Yu Ying, startled by his words, looked in the direction of his gaze.

Amidst the crowd, Yu Ying's and Fu Wei's eyes met.

Seeing Fu Wei on the street brought Yu Ying a pleasant surprise, especially seeing Huo and Wu, the constables, with him.

The tension Yu Ying had been feeling instantly eased.