Chapter Twenty-Five: Wei Jin Has Fallen Ill

“But if you have to study with younger children, I worry it might make you feel uncomfortable,” Lady Yun explained gently.

“Then, could I find a tutor myself?” Wei Ruo asked.

“That…” Lady Yun hesitated, a troubled expression crossing her face. “Ruo’er, hiring a female tutor is no simple matter. First, it’s difficult to find one; educated women rarely agree to teach in ordinary households. Second, the payment for such a tutor is no small expense…”

The household's expenditures were already stretched thin, and arranging for the eldest son’s apprenticeship left no extra funds to hire a private female tutor for Wei Ruo.

“What if I could find a female tutor who wouldn’t charge?” Wei Ruo pressed.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Lady Yun frowned.

“I’m not being ridiculous. I’m serious. If I truly manage to find someone willing to teach me without expecting payment, would you allow me to study separately from the others?”

“Ruo’er, even if there were a female tutor willing to teach you for free, it’s still extremely difficult to find one at all. You’ve just returned home, so it’s understandable you don’t yet understand everything, but trust your mother—I will always try to do what’s best for you,” Lady Yun said earnestly.

“I understand, but for now, I must first fulfill the task in the southern part of the city.” At least she still had this excuse at hand.

She had originally only wanted to solve the grain problem in Xingshan County, but unexpectedly, it also gave her a way to avoid studying at the magistrate’s residence for now.

Lady Yun said, “I’ll allow you to focus on the southern project for a few days, but after that, you must arrange for the household staff to take over and go study at the magistrate’s house yourself.”

Wei Ruo replied, “Understood.”

Lady Yun assigned Granny Zhang and two laborers to assist Wei Ruo.

Granny Zhang was entirely unwilling. The south of the city was desolate and potentially dangerous—who in their right mind would venture out there? Besides, the young lady was eager to farm the land, but her own old bones could not withstand such toil.

But it was Lady Yun’s order; she had no choice but to obey.

She expected Wei Ruo to take everyone straight to the southern fields, but the young lady’s first command was for them to purchase bran and straw, and to collect leftovers from the kitchen.

“Young miss, didn’t you promise the master to plant crops in the wasteland outside the southern city? Why are you gathering bran and scraps? Are you planning to raise pigs?” Granny Zhang asked skeptically.

“I am going to farm, but just do as I say. I also need a batch of tightly sealed wooden barrels to store these things,” Wei Ruo instructed.

Granny Zhang was utterly baffled—she had no idea what her young mistress was up to.

Seeing the doubt on Granny Zhang’s face, who did not move for some time, Wei Ruo stated sternly, “Granny Zhang, my mother sent you to assist me, not to question me. If I fail, I will answer to my parents myself.”

“Yes, miss,” Granny Zhang replied, suppressing her displeasure and nodding in agreement.

What else could she do? The master and madam were always so indulgent with the young lady—she wouldn’t dare voice her complaints.

In Meiyuan, Wei Qingwan learned about Wei Ruo’s recent endeavors and that their mother had postponed her own studies at the magistrate’s house to accommodate her sister.

“Granny Li, if my sister goes out to the fields every day, won’t that harm her reputation?” Wei Qingwan asked the attendant at her side.

“Of course it will. But you needn’t worry too much, miss. The young lady has just returned from the countryside, bringing with her all those rustic habits. If she can just learn some manners and avoid embarrassing herself, that’s already a blessing—she could never hope to be as refined and well-read as you.”

“That’s not entirely fair. My sister has her strengths too. Last time, her sweet potato crisps and chips won everyone’s praise and affection,” Wei Qingwan murmured.

“That’s hardly noteworthy. The ladies and young misses were just hungry and offered a few casual compliments. She can’t hope to build a reputation solely on sweet potato snacks,” Granny Li said, dismissive of Wei Ruo’s earlier moment of praise.

Wei Qingwan lowered her eyes slightly, feeling much better after hearing Granny Li’s assessment of her sister.

Several days passed with Wei Ruo busily preparing for the rehabilitation of the southern wasteland. Each evening, she fell into bed exhausted, sleeping soundly till dawn.

That night, as usual, she went to bed early. In the middle of her deep sleep, a frantic knocking jolted her awake.

She sat up, craning her neck toward the outer room, and heard the sound of the door opening—Shuimei had gone out to answer.

After a while, Shuimei returned.

“Miss, you’re awake?”

“What’s causing such a commotion?”

“It was Xiaobei from Yingzhu Courtyard. He said his young master has fallen ill.”

“If he’s ill, they should see a doctor—why come knocking at my door?” Wei Ruo was puzzled.

“Xiaobei said he tried to ask the household staff for help in finding a doctor, but no one paid him any mind. In desperation, he came to our courtyard.”

Yingzhu Courtyard held no status in the Commandant’s Residence, and so the servants felt free to neglect them.

Although Wei Ruo was new to the family, her standing was still higher than Wei Jin Yi’s, and the servants, no matter what they thought of her, wouldn’t dare slight her to her face.

Xiaobei must have thought Wei Ruo had more influence and thus came to her for help.

“Meimei, bring me my clothes,” Wei Ruo said.

She got out of bed, dressed quickly, and hurried outside.

Xiaobei was still waiting at the entrance to Tingsong Courtyard. When he saw Wei Ruo approach, he immediately knelt and pleaded, “Young miss, I beg you—please save my young master. He’s burning up with fever. If this continues, he won’t make it! If you speak to the household, maybe they’ll agree to fetch a doctor.”

Xiaobei truly had no other choice. To summon a doctor, he’d have to go through the housekeepers, but he couldn’t even get an audience with them. Moreover, the master had been absent for days, busy dealing with the threat of coastal raiders.

After much thought, Xiaobei realized that Wei Ruo—who had already sent his young master gifts twice—was the only person in the residence who might help.

“All right, I understand. Get up and take me to see your young master,” Wei Ruo said.

“Yes, yes, please follow me,” Xiaobei said, leading her quickly back to Yingzhu Courtyard.

Inside the main house, Wei Ruo saw Wei Jin Yi lying unconscious on the bed.

His skin, already pale by nature, now looked bloodless—white as paper.

Wei Ruo reached out and touched his forehead—it was burning hot.

“How many days has your young master been ill?” she asked.