Chapter 144: Long-Overdue Warm Candlelight and Wei Wei Shuyi's Apology [Heartfelt Thanks for Everyone's Support

Zhou Zhou Xueniang, dressed neatly and standing at the courtyard gate, smiled upon seeing Sister Sister Xiaodie emerge: "Where is the Little Lady?"

At that moment, Wei Wei Shuyi also walked out.

Zhou Zhou Xueniang, clutching a handkerchief, quickened her steps to stand before Wei Wei Shuyi, bowed respectfully, and said: "Little Lady, this humble servant has come on behalf of my own Little Lady to offer you an apology."

As she spoke, Zhou Zhou Xueniang moved to kneel, but under Wei Wei Shuyi's signal, Sister Sister Xiaodie hurried forward to support her: "Little Lady, please let Sister Sister Xiaodie release her grip; this servant must kneel, otherwise my Little Lady will severely punish me."

Wei Wei Shuyi shook her head and said: "There is no need for such things."

Leaning on Sister Sister Xiaodie's support, Zhou Zhou Xueniang remained standing and spoke with deep anguish: "The Little Lady is so benevolent! You do not know that early this morning, upon learning of the matter concerning Guan Guan Pozi, my Little Lady was so enraged she took to her bed and could not rise. Only after I conducted a thorough investigation did we discover that Guan Guan Pozi—that filthy old hag! —actually stuffed all the rations allocated to your courtyard into her own pockets."

Hearing these words, both Wei Wei Shuyi and Sister Sister Xiaodie displayed expressions of shock.

Sister Sister Xiaodie recalled the hardships her own Little Lady had suffered in the side courtyard since becoming pregnant, most of which were caused by Guan Guan Pozi's obstruction, though whenever Zhou Zhou Xueniang appeared, she did at least uphold justice.

Seeing the expressions on the mistress and servant, Zhou Zhou Xueniang continued: "Upon learning this, my Little Lady was so distressed she did not even take a single sip of her life-saving medicine; she strictly ordered me to immediately prepare goods equivalent to your six months' rations. Come, you all enter!"

At Zhou Zhou Xueniang's summons, the servants at the courtyard gate, carrying charcoal on their backs and holding tea leaves, bolts of cloth, and other items in their hands, entered the courtyard and stood behind Zhou Zhou Xueniang.

"Please, Sister Sister Xiaodie, inspect where these items should be placed," Zhou Zhou Xueniang said, looking at Sister Sister Xiaodie.

"Follow me," Sister Sister Xiaodie said, leading the servants into Wei Little Lady's room.

Standing aside, Zhou Zhou Xueniang continued: "My Little Lady has borne two children; before I came, she specifically instructed me that while the hardships Guan Guan Pozi inflicted upon you these past days are minor matters, lacking food and clothing is trivial compared to neglecting the child in your womb, which is the grave issue."

"When our Little Lady was carrying Brother Feng, it was just like this, and the Wu Da Da Niangzi she—" Zhou Zhou Xueniang cut herself off, daring not to speak the remaining words.

"Our Little Lady also said that once her illness improves slightly and she is able to leave her bed, she will certainly come to your presence to apologize in person," Zhou Zhou Xueniang finished, bowing deeply; at this moment, the servants who had finished placing the goods emerged from the room, followed by Sister Sister Xiaodie.

"Little Lady, this humble servant must now take her leave."

Wei Wei Shuyi nodded.

Sister Sister Xiaodie also walked to Wei Wei Shuyi's side, glanced at the departing servants, and said with a smile: "Little Lady, I have inspected them; everything sent is of good quality, and the charcoal is plentiful."

Wei Wei Shuyi hummed in agreement; having just heard Zhou Zhou Xueniang's words, a look of contemplation and worry appeared in her eyes.

Since she had sold herself into the Sheng family so many years ago, naturally few people had ever imparted to her any knowledge regarding prenatal care; when she previously gave birth to Minglan, it was still before Da Da Niangzi Wang Wang Ruofu had lost her authority over household management, and it was an elderly nurse from Wang Shi's quarters who had assisted in the delivery.

"Little Lady, let us go inside; I will light the charcoal brazier so we can warm up."

"Mm," Wei Wei Shuyi replied, glancing down at her belly.

Shen Hour (around five in the afternoon)

The sky was on the verge of darkening but not yet fully dark.

Minglan happily returned to the courtyard with Xiao Xiao Xiaotao, each of them carrying quite a few items in their hands.

"Mother, I am back!"

As soon as Minglan entered the room, her bright eyes widened instantly, and she asked in surprise: "Mother, why is the room so warm! Ah! There is so much charcoal in the brazier! Did Father send someone to deliver these things?"

Wei Wei Shuyi, who was putting away her embroidery frame, nodded.

"Mother! You are truly amazing! Indeed, our courtyard has improved these past few days!" Minglan walked before Wei Wei Shuyi, gazing at her own mother with eyes full of admiration; Wei Wei Shuyi stroked her hair and asked: "Did you have fun playing at Grandmother's this afternoon?"

"Mm, I had fun; we played pitch-pot, and I won everything. But..."

Wei Wei Shuyi cupped Minglan's cheeks and asked: "What is wrong?"

"Cousin Jing Biao Ge called me a yellow-haired girl again..." Minglan pouted and said somewhat unhappily.

Looking at her daughter's somewhat frail appearance, Wei Wei Shuyi sighed inwardly.

"By the way, Mother, when Sister Gu was leaving today, she invited Elder Sister, the other sisters, and me to visit her maternal grandfather's home!"

"What did the Wu Da Da Niangzi say?" Wei Wei Shuyi asked; Minglan thought for a moment and replied: "The Wu Da Da Niangzi smiled and said it was fine; after Sister Gu and her cousins depart, the Wu Da Da Niangzi said she would make new clothes for Sister Sheng Hualan and Sister Hearing Rulan."

Having finished speaking, she hugged Wei Wei Shuyi.

Wei Wei Shuyi paid no attention to little Minglan but instead glanced at Xiao Xiao Xiaotao behind Minglan and asked: "What are you holding in your hands?"

"Replying to the Little Lady, the elder sister attending that Da Da Niangzi of the Gu family asked me to bring this back, saying it is a token of gratitude from her own Da Da Niangzi," Xiao Xiao Xiaotao said clearly, then walked over and handed the bolt of fabric she was holding into Wei Wei Shuyi's hands.

"Mother, that cousin said this is a gift for the little baby in your belly," Minglan said, pressing herself against her own mother's stomach.

Stroking the fabric and marveling at its incredibly soft texture, Wei Wei Shuyi asked: "Then did you thank your cousin?"

"Mm."

"Sister Sister Xiaodie, put this away and pick out another piece from the newly delivered fabrics," Wei Wei Shuyi said, handing the fabric to Sister Sister Xiaodie, while she herself sat on an embroidery stool beside the charcoal brazier.

Minglan's eyes instantly lit up, and she jumped for joy, asking: "Mother, are you going to make me a new outfit?"

"No," Wei Wei Shuyi said; seeing Minglan's spirits drop, she continued: "I am going to refurbish the padded jacket you wear."

"That counts as new clothes too!" Minglan said happily, shaking her head.

Sister Sister Xiaodie took the exceptionally soft, fine fabric from Wei Wei Shuyi's hands, sighed with emotion, put it away properly, then selected several pieces from the fabrics delivered that afternoon in the wardrobe and brought them over to Wei Wei Shuyi.

Wei Wei Shuyi took Minglan's padded jacket and told Sister Sister Xiaodie to find the thread ends and begin unpicking them.

Minglan and Xiao Xiao Xiaotao went to the bedside, took out the pitch-pot set they usually played with, and placed it in the middle of the room.

While they were talking, the sky gradually darkened, and the temperature dropped significantly along with it.

In the past, at this hour in the side courtyard, short candles would have been blown out, leaving the courtyard in complete darkness, with everyone retiring early to bed, covering themselves with quilts to keep warm.

But today,

Sister Sister Xiaodie found two of the newly delivered candles, lit them, and placed them before Wei Wei Shuyi.

In the dim yellow candlelight,

The charcoal fire illuminated the entire room, making it bright and warmly cozy.

Wei Wei Shuyi sat on the embroidery stool, gazing at the fabrics, pondering in her heart how to match them to look best;

Sister Sister Xiaodie leaned close to the candles, searching for thread ends and carefully picking them open with scissors.

Inside the room, Minglan let out a cry of "Ya!" because she had missed her shot, drawing Wei Wei Shuyi's gaze;

Xiao Xiao Xiaotao picked up the pitch-pot arrow that Minglan had missed and returned it;

The glow of the charcoal fire and the candlelight merged together, shining through the window paper to the outside;

A cold wind blew, scattering plum blossom petals into the night sky.

Looking down,

The light in that side courtyard house once again became one of the tiny glimmers dotting Yang Zhou City.

Linqi Pavilion,

After finishing her medicine and resting, Lin Lin Qinshuang woke up.

Zhou Xueniang recounted to Lin Lin Qinshuang what she had said to Wei Wei Shuyi in the side courtyard that afternoon; Lin Lin Qinshuang nodded slightly and said with some displeasure, "It is a pity that after planning for so long, we failed to sever one of her arms. What you did this morning and this afternoon was excellent."

Zhou Zhou Xueniang lowered her head and replied respectfully, "It is this slave's duty."

"Next month, keep half of the profits from the shop in Chengxi."

"Thank you, Wei Xiaoniang. What about that side courtyard?"

"Hmph, my apology extends far beyond what happened this afternoon."

Everyone, please don't get angry or argue while reading the novel (＾U＾) ノ~YO

That's all for tonight.

Tomorrow's update will be a bit late, as I need to sort out some things.

It should be back to normal the day after tomorrow; thank you all for your support!

(`) Heart fingers

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(End of Chapter)