Chapter 1499: Chapter 1499: Saving Brother
Many young noblemen went out of the capital to hunt; there were hunting grounds nearby, fenced off to avoid harming passersby. Most hunting grounds were free to enter and not exclusive to the royal family. When the Zhou family’s group arrived, the best tents had already been taken.
The girls—Yu Die, Yu Wen, and Yu Jiao—did not join the hunt. Instead, they stayed behind with their maidservants to prepare snacks and tea, while the young servants tended to the fire. Their tent was near a stream, guarded against wild animals.
Yu Die was not one to sit idle and suggested, "Why don’t we go for a walk nearby?"
Yu Wen, reclining on a cushion, lazily waved her hand. "I’m not going anywhere."
Yu Yi, worried about Yu Die and Yu Jiao, said, "Yu Wen, I’m leaving the tent to you."
Yu Wen replied, "Got it."
She was planning to take a short nap anyway since her cushion was extraordinarily comfortable.
Yu Die and Yu Jiao walked quickly, showing little interest in admiring the scenery; instead, they seemed eager to play by the stream. Yu Yi took her time, appreciating the scenery around her, when she noticed figures coming their way in the distance.
Soon, the figures approached, and truly, it felt like enemies meeting on a narrow road—here came the sisters of the Wen family and their entourage. With their numbers, they instantly made Yu Yi’s group seem disadvantaged.
When Wen Ling caught sight of Zhou Yu Yi, her expression turned unpleasant. The Zhou family had rejected the Wen family’s marriage offer, and now Yu Yi was engaged. The rivalry between the two families had only escalated, and Wen Ling believed the Zhou family’s actions were intentional.
Wen Ling sneered, "I was wondering who was playing in the water like some country bumpkins—turns out it’s the Zhou family’s ladies."
Miss Qie, the fourth daughter of the Qie family, curled her lips. "It’s normal for the Zhou girls to play in the water; after all, didn’t they grow up in a village?"
Yu Die’s face flushed with anger. They were clearly insulting the Zhou family’s background, calling her and her sisters unsophisticated bumpkins.
Yu Yi tugged at her third sister’s sleeve. The Wen family had deliberately come to mock them, having spotted their group first.
Yu Yi smiled and said, "Are you implying that our Zhou family lacks proper upbringing? I hope I haven’t misunderstood you."
Miss Qie, quick to retort, sneered, "At least you’re self-aware."
Wen Ling’s heart sank as Yu Yi continued, her tone sharp, "My great-grandmother was from the direct lineage of the Rong family, and even the Retired Emperor himself would call her ’Aunt.’ Are you questioning the upbringing of the Rong family?"
Miss Qie became flustered and blurted, "That’s not what I meant!"
Yu Yi’s gaze grew cold, though her smile remained warm. "So, you must be doubting the words of the Empress herself, who once praised us sisters as well-read, virtuous, and graceful. You wouldn’t dare, would you?"
Miss Qie was speechless, frozen on the spot.
Wen Ling drew a deep breath, realizing they had been led straight into Yu Yi’s trap. To respond or not to respond—it seemed impossible to avoid. "Miss Qie is still young. With your gracious upbringing, Yu Yi, I’m sure you won’t hold this against her, right?"
Yu Die tugged at Yu Jiao’s sleeve, signaling her. Yu Jiao caught on quickly, her eyes glinting with slyness. "You know what they say—ugly personalities stir up the most trouble. Today, I’ve truly seen it in action."
She paused, then flashed a sweet, innocent smile. "But oh dear, I’m the youngest here. Surely my elder sisters won’t take offense, right?"
Wen Ling: "..."
The other noblewomen: "..."
The verbal sparring between the young ladies fired up tensions, while the hunt grew fiercer as well. Ming Rui frowned upon seeing the Wen family youths; their larger numbers were a blatant advantage, enabling them to intentionally snatch prey from the Zhou family’s targets.
Unaware that his sisters had triumphed in their verbal duel, Ming Rui found their hunting efforts dismal—they had managed to catch only a few rabbits.
Meanwhile, in Zhangzhou Province, Yushuang was helping her mother-in-law sift through herb seeds. Lady Hu remarked, "I can handle this myself. Don’t strain yourself while pregnant."
Yushuang smiled, "The baby’s being very cooperative, Mother. I’ve got time to spare—let me help you."
Lady Hu reminded her, "If you feel tired, don’t push yourself."
"Alright," Yushuang agreed.
The task of sorting seeds required meticulous care. As Lady Hu inspected them, she sighed, "Oh dear, there are so many bad seeds mixed in."
Yushuang explained, "My husband worked tirelessly for these seeds, even developing mouth sores. It’s our first time buying them, so we had no experience."
They couldn’t depend on her father-in-law for everything, and their youth had revealed its limits. The reality was harsh—only a thin layer of usable seeds atop a heap dominated by bad ones. How could they distribute such seeds to the townsfolk?
Lady Hu’s heart ached for her son. It was only after arriving in Zhangzhou that she truly realized how hard her son’s life was. He was so young, yet stress had already etched wrinkles onto his face.
Lady Hu commented, "Liufeng poured an entire year’s salary into this—and thank goodness your household doesn’t rely solely on that income to get by."
Yushuang sighed deeply. The money for purchasing the medicinal seeds had come from the county’s coffers, which were already stretched thin. Her husband had taken responsibility and added his annual salary to compensate—but even that wasn’t enough. He had ended up contributing extra silver out of his own pocket.
Lady Hu murmured, "I just hope the townspeople will be grateful. It would be devastating if we ended up exhausting ourselves for nothing."
Yushuang’s thoughts drifted to her husband, who was out leading people to clear farmland in the villages. The Imperial court supported the cultivation of new fields and even distributed seeds to various provinces. Her husband had been laboring tirelessly, from dawn to dusk, for days on end.
Lady Hu, her hands sore from the delicate work, found herself struggling to adjust to the physical effort she rarely performed anymore.
Yushuang noticed and offered gently, "Mother, please leave this task to the maidservants."
Lady Hu shook her head, determined to do more for her son.
Back in the capital, Zhulan received an invitation—one from the Qie family. As someone responsible for the orphanage, Zhulan hadn’t received such invitations in quite some time.
Lady Li asked, "Mother, are you planning to go?"
Zhulan replied, "Yes, and this time, I’m taking you along."
She wouldn’t let her son bookish and soft-spoken Shuren bear all the pressure by himself. If the Qie family had ulterior motives, Zhulan intended to uncover them personally.
Lady Li, sharp as ever, pointed out, "This invitation doesn’t seem to carry good intentions."
Zhulan reassured her, "Don’t worry. You won’t lose face for our family. Watch how I handle things when the time comes."
"Understood," Lady Li nodded.
Just then, Steward Ding rushed in, panting as though he had sprinted all the way. "Madam, Young Master Ming Hui has fallen off his horse."
Zhulan bolted upright. "What happened? How did he fall?"
Steward Ding, beads of sweat still forming on his brow, took a breath before explaining, "A young servant reported that an unknown arrow came close to hitting Young Master Ming Rui’s horse. Young Master Ming Hui shielded Ming Rui, and the arrow struck Ming Hui’s horse instead, causing him to be thrown off."
Zhulan’s expression turned icy and grave. A deliberate stray arrow—clearly aimed at Ming Rui—and Ming Hui had taken the blow to protect him.
Lady Li, on the verge of tears, asked frantically, "Is Ming Hui alright?"
Steward Ding replied, "Young Master Ming Hui injured his leg and cannot move. A doctor has already been summoned to tend to him. Madam, should I request an Imperial Physician as well?"
Zhulan’s face darkened further. "Yes, summon the Imperial Physician. Prepare the carriage—I will go see him myself."
A leg injury was no trivial matter in this era when bone-related injuries could leave lasting consequences if poorly treated.
Lady Li was overwhelmed with anxiety. The first household had led a smooth and prosperous life up until now, and the sudden accident with Ming Hui struck her heart deeply. "Mother, please—I need to go with you."
When Lady Zhao heard of the news, she rushed over. Seeing her elder sister-in-law’s tear-streaked face, Lady Zhao spoke quickly, "Elder sister-in-law, let me come along and check on Ming Hui as well."
She had nearly fainted upon hearing the news herself. Ming Rui was the second branch’s eldest son. If Ming Hui hadn’t stepped in to save him... she couldn’t bear to think further. At the same time, she was deeply worried about Ming Hui’s condition and felt a sense of foreboding.
Meanwhile, at the hunting grounds, Ming Hui clenched his teeth against the pain. Among the brothers, he had always been the most pampered and delicate. Truthfully, he wanted nothing more than to cry, but he resisted, not wanting to burden his third brother with guilt. "Third Brother, I’m fine."
The pain was excruciating—he was certain his leg was broken. Still, he believed the injury wasn’t too severe, considering his leg hadn’t twisted out of shape.