The Shu Mansion was only renovated the year before last. Even though many courtyards were usually empty, the furniture inside was also new. When wiped off the dust, it looked brand new. The hall even had a small kitchen.
In addition to the two maids brought by Wen Ruyue, Yin Hui called a few other maids.
“You can usually eat with us. Food tastes better if there is company. The small kitchen is reserved for you to decode medicine or make some pastries and snacks.” Yin Hui smiled affectionately, completely treating Wen Ruyue as her own cousin.
Wen Ruyue thanked her repeatedly.
After she settled down, Yin Hui left with Jinzhan.
Back in the main courtyard, when Jinzhan was serving Yin Hui alone, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for her master, “She is pitiful but she must have other thoughts about Prince Shi. If the Prince was not determined, maybe he really would have accepted her. Why are you still treating her so well?”
Yin Hui said with a smile, “Is this unacceptable? The Prince feels sorry for his cousin. If I treat her coldly, what would he think?”
Only a fool would make a mistake in such a simple task of saving honor and give others blame.
“You and Yinzhan should go and tell the servants to respect the cousin.”
Jinzhan pouted, “Understood.”
Maybe the first impression was too bad; Jinzhan and Yinzhan couldn’t help it from the bottom of their hearts. Or they would definitely have felt pity for the cousin girl’s experience.
Yin Hui helped Wen Ruyue settle things properly, and Xiao Ning also came back from playing in the garden.
Yin Hui didn’t say anything to the children. She and Wei Luo resolved the matter quickly and neatly. The siblings just treated Wen Ruyue as an aunt.
Xiao Ning was very curious about the new aunt at home, so she took Yin Hui to Zhufeng Hall to play for a while.
Wen Ruyue had just escaped from the wolf’s den and was a bit out of spirit. She had just brainstormed for nothing and still had to make plans for the future, so she couldn’t be in the mood to play with the children.
Although children didn’t understand the affairs of adults, they could feel whether an elder liked them or not.
Because of Wen Ruyue’s indifferent attitude, Xiao Ning quickly dragged her mother away.
In the afternoon, Xiao Heng and Xiao Xun came back first. When the three siblings were talking together, Xiao Xun was also a little curious about the new aunt.
Xiao Ning said bluntly, “My aunt doesn’t seem to like me, and she doesn’t like my mother either. When mother was talking there, she either hummed or nodded.”
Among the elders, Xiao Ning liked the Third Aunt and Eldest Aunt, who were enthusiastic, and the Fourth Aunt, who always smiled. She also liked the kind-hearted grandfather, grandmother, great-grandfather, and Empress.
Of course, she liked her mother the most.
Xiao Xun immediately lost interest in the aunt after hearing what his sister said.
Xiao Heng was thoughtful.
As the red sun gradually set in the west, Wei Luo also came back.
When he was talking with the children, Yin Hui asked Jinzhan to invite Wen Ruyue over for dinner.
Wei Luo glanced at her. Considering that the children were all there, he didn’t say anything.
When Jinzhan went to invite her, Xiao Ning also told her father what she thought of his cousin. Her little face was a little aggrieved, and she didn’t understand why her aunt didn’t like her.
Wei Luo patted his daughter’s head and explained, “Your aunt had a hard life, and she hasn’t recovered yet.”
Xiao Ning blinked her eyes, saying, “What do you mean by a hard life?”
Wei Luo only mentioned something convenient to tell the children, “There was a kid in your aunt’s family who caught an illness last year and is no more.”
Xiao Heng and Xiao Xun understood.
After Xiao Ning understood that “no more” meant “dead”, she no longer blamed her for not wanting to play with her.
Wen Ruyue came over, wearing a plain dress, facing the sky, and saluted Wei Luo in a polite manner.
Wei Luo said, “We are all family here; no need to be polite.”
Everyone sat down around the table.
“The fish soup is delicious; Aunt, you should drink more.” Xiao Ning was actually quite caring and said something to Wen Ruyue from time to time.
Wen Ruyue smiled at the little girl.
After dinner, Wen Ruyue left immediately.
Wei Luo did not check the children’s homework that night because Heng and Xun were curious about the Shaoxing case. Wei Luo told the children about the investigation process. It was also getting dark, and the three siblings obediently went back to their rooms to sleep.
Later, Wei Luo followed Yin Hui to the backyard. After bathing first and returning to the inner room, Wei Luo said to Yin Hui, “Jinzhan is your personal maidservant next. Let other servants go invite my cousin to come over for dinner.”
Yin Hui sat in front of the dressing table and said as she let her hair loose, “I was more serious as it was the first time, but I won’t do that again tomorrow.”
Wei Luo nodded and asked casually, “How was she today?”
Yin Hui said truthfully, “She looked okay. Maybe it will take time to get out of the haze completely. But she probably won’t want to be your concubine anymore.”
As she spoke, she raised her eyebrows and gave Wei Luo a sideways look. Wei Luo noticed it and shook his head. He explained so much last night and didn’t want to repeat it again. Yin Hui was just joking.
After the lights were turned off, the couple lay down on the bed. Wei Luo’s hand reached out, held her hand, and squeezed it repeatedly. Just when he started to touch up her wrist, Yin Hui pushed him away, pressed the quilt back, and said, “I’m sleepy, go to sleep.”