Chapter 59 - 59: Bringing Disgrace Upon Oneself l

Translator: 549690339

“Eh? What is my brother doing here? Isn’t he preparing for the imperial examination? Shouldn’t he be busy attending classes in the college in the Capital City?” Xie Ying asked.

“Your mother is not very clear about this, but as your grandfather and father have agreed to it, there must be some serious business for him to come here.”

“Oh, okay. No matter, I’ll go and tell Wei Qingruo that my mother has agreed to our idea of setting up the medicinal fields. I’ll get started right away!”

Xie Ying dashed back to the college to find Wei Ruo, delivering the news to her.

“Wei Qingruo, my mother has agreed, when can we start working?” Xie Ying was eager to start.

“We can start immediately.” Wei Ruo appreciated this efficient and straightforward work style.

“Then please tell me, how do we arrange our work now, what items do we need to purchase, and how many people do we need?” Xie Ying sat down next to Wei Ruo.

Wei Ruo took out pen and paper, explaining to Xie Ying whilst noting down the key points on the paper.

Xie Ying listened attentively, asked about what she didn’t understand, showing the semblance of a diligent learner.

After completing the discussion, Xie Ying brought the paper Wei Ruo had written on to ask for help from Madam Xie, officially starting the work with a high efficiency.

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Another one with high working efficiency was Chu Lan, who dispatched a nursemaid to the Military Prefecture to discuss the matters regarding the south city with Wei Ruo, only two days after the agreement.

As a result, Wei Ruo specially asked Mr. Wang for leave and stayed at home to handle various matters.

Mr. Wang had no objections to this, even telling Wei Ruo that what she was doing was part of the learning process.

Upon seeing Chu Lan’s nursemaid, Madam Yun was taken aback, intuitively sensing that the nursemaid was different from their usual nursemaids in terms of background.

Moreover, her husband had reminded her the night before about the special identity of the distinguished person, urging her to mind her manners.

Upon hearing that the person’s surname was Chu, Madam Yun already had some idea. Anyone from the Royal Family, even if it’s from the household of an unpopular prince, is not someone they could afford to offend.

Madam Yun respectfully led Chu Lan’s nursemaid to Tingsong Garden, then left after giving Wei Ruo a few words of caution, so as not to interfere with Wei Ruo and the nursemaid’s discussion.

“Old servant pays respect to Miss Wei.” Qin, the nursemaid, greeted Wei Ruo. She was respectful in attitude, but maintained her imposing demeanor.

Wei Ruo knew that Chu Lan’s nursemaids were from the palace, and were different from ordinary nursemaids.

Although Duke Residence was an earl’s mansion, it could not be compared to the rules of the palace even at its peak, let alone now when it is in decline.

“No need for formalities.” Wei Ruo said, “You are here to assist me under your master’s orders. Please do not be too concerned with etiquette. Just convey my instructions to those below and have them complete the tasks effectively.”

“Rest assured, Miss Wei. The master has already told me to devote all my efforts to assisting Miss Wei. If Miss Wei has any matter that requires my services, as long as it’s related to the development of the wasteland in the southern city, you can instruct me and I’ll arrange for it to be completed.”

Although Qin, the nursemaid, had strict etiquette, she didn’t place herself above Wei Ruo or nit-pick her. She was well aware of her role. If her master highly regarded this person, then she definitely wouldn’t pick faults with her.

As Qin, the nursemaid, was discussing matters with Wei Ruo, Wei Qingwan suddenly arrived at Tingsong Garden.

“Sister.” Wei Qingwan arrived in front of Wei Ruo and called out sweetly.

Wei Ruo’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Wei Qingwan.

The saying that no one visits a temple without a cause came to mind. After the incident of Xie family’s studying blunder, Wei Qingwan hadn’t visited Tingsong Garden. So what kind of wind brought her here today?

“Sister, I brought some osmanthus cakes for you.” Wei Qingwan was holding a delicate food box. Inside were the osmanthus cakes she was skilled at making.

“Wait for a while, I’ll talk to you after I finish discussing with Qin.”

Wei Ruo didn’t know what tune Wei Qingwan was humming, she didn’t want to interact with her too much, for fear that Wei Qingwan would say something displeasing and she would not be able to handle it in front of others.

Wei Qingwan nodded slightly, but she didn’t leave, and just waited on the side.

At this moment Qin, the nursemaid, spoke up, scrutinizing Wei Qingwan: “Is this the Second Miss of the house?”

Upon being examined by Qin, Wei Qingwan blushed and responded in a soft voice, “Yes.”

Who would have thought that Qin would follow up with, “May I ask the Second Miss to excuse us, I have important matters to discuss with the First Miss. It is not appropriate to have outsiders overhearing.”

Wei Qingwan was stunned, but quickly corrected herself saying, “I see, it seems I have come at an inconvenient time. I’ll wait over there first.” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Indeed, the Second Miss has come at an inconvenient time. I think it should be known to the house why I came here today. I wonder why the Second Miss has chosen to come now rather than earlier or later?” Qin’s words were anything but subtle.

What Qin had said was exactly what Wei Ruo was thinking. Wei Qingwan’s behavior today was indeed strange. Because of Chu Lan’s special status, his sending a nursemaid here had made everyone at the Military Prefecture treat it as a serious matter. Madam Yun had earlier instructed everyone in the house to be careful, even those in the Bamboo Garden received the news, and Wei Qingwan definitely would have known about it.

Wei Qingwan was clearly aware, but still chose this moment to see Wei Ruo. To say that she had no other intentions would be hard for Wei Ruo to believe.

If Wei Qingwan had other thoughts, wouldn’t she be too naive?

Although Qin, the nursemaid, was indeed from Chu Lan’s side, no matter what, she was just a nursemaid. Was Wei Qingwan thinking that by behaving well in front of her, Qin would speak highly of her to Chu Lan when she went back? Did she treat Qin as a matchmaker?

If it were about women gossiping in a village, it would be understandable. But Qin was a nursemaid from the palace.

The nursemaids of the Royal Family were very disciplined and would not do such strange things.

Wei Ruo remembered that in the original story, although Wei Qingwan was beautifully weak, she was not so foolish. Could it be that without her, the supporting character’s off scene, or not being able to fall in love with Chu Lan at the predetermined time, had made her head stop functioning properly?

She had only heard that “love is blind”, not that not being in love can also blind people.

After listening to Qin’s words, Wei Qingwan turned pale and hurried to explain, “Nursemaid, please don’t be angry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on my sister’s conversation. I didn’t know that the conversation between the nursemaid and my sister wasn’t meant to be heard by others. I was merely worried that my sister may not be hospitable enough, so I specially brought some cakes that I made.”

“Forgive my bluntness, but when the Second Miss expresses her concern about the First Miss’s hospitality in front of an outsider like me, what exactly is she trying to convey to others?”

Qin, as someone who had come out from the palace, had an astute mind. She could hear the hidden meanings in Wei Qingwan’s words.

Wei Qingwan’s face turned red due to humiliation and she hurriedly explained, “Nursemaid Qin, you have misunderstood me. I had no other motives, it’s that I used my words imprudently and caused misunderstanding..”