Chapter 80: Feeding

Pear Blossom, having prepared to head up the mountain again in the afternoon, leaned two walking sticks she had carved the night before against the bed and said, “I’m going out for a bit. If you absolutely have to get out of bed, use these. It’s not hard to walk with them under your arms.”

Dong Yun hadn’t noticed her preparing these things all morning and asked, “When did you make these?”

Pear Blossom replied, “I made them last night, along with that chair.”

Dong Yun remembered that Pear Blossom had just carried her again to help her relieve herself, feeling irritated. She snapped, “Why didn’t you bring these out earlier? Was it fun carrying me up and down?”

Pear Blossom replied, “Do you think I’d find these walking sticks easier to use? With me here, why would you need one?”

Dong Yun now realized that no matter what she said, it didn’t seem to work as effectively as it used to. Her face darkened, and she said, “You’re becoming slick with your words, no longer obedient like before. I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Go do whatever you want.”

She turned her back to Pear Blossom, facing the other way.

Hearing this, Pear Blossom sighed slightly, sat on the edge of the bed, and said, “Good sister, as long as you don’t drive me away, which of the things you’ve said haven’t I taken to heart?”

Dong Yun was momentarily speechless. Indeed, as Pear Blossom said, aside from not leaving according to her wishes, Pear Blossom hardly ever opposed her.

Still, she couldn’t let it go and retorted, “You know better than I do which things you haven’t listened to.”

Pear Blossom didn’t want to argue with her, nor did she want to leave her upset. She waved at Fubao and said, “Fubao, I’m going up the mountain for a bit. Stay here with your mother. If she wants to do something but can’t, call for Grandma, alright?”

Fubao obediently nodded, “Pear Blossom, come back quickly.”

Pear Blossom ruffled her hair and smiled, “Okay, I’ll catch something and come back right away.”

When Dong Yun heard that Pear Blossom was going up the mountain, she knew she was going to get food for herself again. She had just said she didn’t want to talk to her, yet now she had to turn back around and say, “I don’t need all that wild game. Stop running up there all the time.”

It was still raining outside, and she was struggling enough to take care of herself for the day, without all this running around.

Pear Blossom replied, “I want to eat it. I feel uncomfortable if I don’t have meat for a day.”

“There was someone selling pork this morning, why didn’t you buy it? I’m not short of silver.”

“I don’t want to eat pork anymore,” Pear Blossom said.

“You—” Who doesn’t want to eat meat! Dong Yun was completely at a loss for words. She said impatiently, “Hurry up and go.”

With that, she turned around, facing the wall, clearly displeased.

Pear Blossom smiled and leaned close to her ear, whispering, “Sister, you’re becoming more like Fubao.”

In the past, she always kept her emotions in check. When she saw familiar people from the village, if someone greeted her, she would just smile briefly, but as soon as she turned away, the smile would disappear. Now, she no longer hides her emotions in front of herself, even when she pouts or gets a little angry, it’s so cute.

Dong Yun, hearing this, became even more annoyed and nudged her with her elbow, showing an impatient look.

Pear Blossom chuckled and then stood up and went out.

She didn’t return until near evening, carrying a deer that weighed about fifty or sixty pounds, trudging home.

When it came to preparing game, it still had to be done by her silly father. Pear Blossom asked Dagen to save her a big back leg to bring over to Dong Yun, and then went to take a bath.

With Dong Yun injured, Mrs. Xiong knew that her eldest daughter would need to look after things, so she didn’t stop her. After all, this family’s wealth had been earned by this eldest daughter. Thousands of taels of silver were given just like that—where else could they find such a good daughter?

She could do whatever she wanted, and no one should interfere.

Besides, even if she went out, she hadn’t forgotten her family. Just yesterday, she brought back mushrooms, and today, she was carrying a deer. What else could she want? Why go to this goddess of wealth to show off?

That would truly be a case of having too much time and nothing to do!

Thinking about Dong Yun’s injury, and how her daughter had to cook for her, Mrs. Xiong worried that this silly girl, who had hardly cooked, might ruin such fine venison. So, she marinated the back leg with wine and ginger slices.

When Pear Blossom came out after her bath, Mrs. Xiong instructed her to take it over, boil it on the fire, and slice it thinly when done, dipping it in sauce to eat.

Her mother was so thoughtful. Pear Blossom felt relieved and took the marinated leg of venison over to Dong Yun’s house.

Once the rice was steaming and the meat was simmering, Pear Blossom finally had time to check on Dong Yun.

She saw Dong Yun sitting on the bed, staring straight ahead with no expression, her eyes empty of any emotion.

Pear Blossom didn’t like that look; it made Dong Yun seem distant, almost as if life had no meaning for her.

She would rather Dong Yun be angry, or even bite her. That would be more lively than this.

She walked over and entered Dong Yun’s line of sight.

Dong Yun, blocked by her presence, raised her eyes slowly. When she saw Pear Blossom, her mood didn’t seem to have fully returned, and she softly said, “You’re back.”

Her tone had lost the resentment from before Pear Blossom left.

Pear Blossom approached, reached under the blanket to feel her feet, confirming they were warm before pulling her hand back and tucking the blanket in. “I caught a deer today. When Dad cut it, I checked, and the meat is tender. Mom marinated it, and I brought the seasonings along. It’s stewing now. It won’t take long to eat.”

Dong Yun hummed in acknowledgment. “Your father and mother are very considerate.”

“Well, it depends on the person. If it were someone else, would they care this much?” Pear Blossom replied.

Dong Yun didn’t want to bring up the matter of the thirty taels of silver, so she leaned back slightly.

Seeing her expression, Pear Blossom quickly asked, “Are you feeling uncomfortable? Do you want me to massage you, or do you want to get out of bed? I’ll help you walk.”

Dong Yun shook her head. It was her heart that felt unwell, but seeing the worry on her daughter’s face, she said, “I’m just hungry.”

“Hunger’s easy to fix. I’ll add more fire and hurry it up.”

Dong Yun watched her get up and kept her eyes on her back as she disappeared through the door.

Dinner was indeed as Pear Blossom said, delicious. The venison was tender, and stewed with mushrooms, it was even more flavorful. Even Dong Yun, who hadn’t had much of an appetite in the morning, ate a few more pieces.

Seeing her appetite returning, Pear Blossom was pleased.

“There’s still a lot left. We’ll have it with noodles tomorrow morning.”

Dong Yun nodded.

“After breakfast tomorrow, I have to go to the city. Do you need anything?” Pear Blossom didn’t specify she was going to the escort agency, fearing Dong Yun would use that as an excuse to send her away again.

Dong Yun shook her head. “I don’t need anything.”

“Then I’ll buy a fish on the way back. Don’t you think the bass from last time was really good?”

“Yes, it was delicious,” Dong Yun nodded, finally not rejecting her.

Just then, they heard the sound of a gong outside. The deep voice of Zhang Sanye, the village chief’s eldest son, came through. “The yamen is collecting taxes again—everyone, prepare your grain. It must be submitted by the end of next month. If you’re late, you’ll have to pay more.”

This news was like a large stone thrown into a calm lake, immediately creating ripples. Mrs. Zeng from the East Yard had already leaned out her head, anxiously asking, “Da Shi, what’s going on? Taxes weren’t collected at this time last year. It’s only just after the New Year. Besides, we already paid this year’s taxes. Why pay again? Is there a mistake?”

Da Shi paused, sighed, and said, “Mrs. Zeng, this time it’s for next year’s taxes in advance. My father’s just the messenger. They told us to pay, and we can’t do anything about it. I reckon we’ll have to pay the taxes for the year after next around midyear.”

Shaking his head, he continued banging the gong as he headed toward Dagen’s house.

Pear Blossom and Dong Yun, of course, heard their conversation. Dong Yun’s mood, which had just begun to improve, instantly dropped again. She pushed away the dish Pear Blossom offered and said, “I’m full, I don’t want to eat anymore.”

If Pear Blossom hadn’t discovered Dong Yun’s true identity, she might have assumed that her worries stemmed from heavy taxes burdening her family. But now that she knew Dong Yun was of noble birth, it was clear what was troubling her—her grandfather’s empire had been squandered by a foolish emperor. Instead of governing the nation, the emperor blindly pursued an illusory prophecy, relentlessly chasing after the former imperial princess.

The common people were already suffering greatly, and if this continued, the kingdom would face ruin.

Pear Blossom didn’t press Dong Yun further and quietly cleared the dishes.

The sky gradually darkened, like a giant piece of silk slowly draping over the entire heavens.

While cooking dinner earlier, Pear Blossom had taken advantage of the heat from the stove to boil water. She first bathed Fubao, sending her over to Mrs. Zeng’s house, where the old woman was still grumbling about the tax collection.

When she returned, Pear Blossom fetched water and went to the bedside. In a soft voice, she said to Dong Yun, “You had a fever last night and sweated a lot. Your body needs to be wiped down.”

Seeing that Pear Blossom had already brought the water, Dong Yun couldn’t refuse.

Besides, she felt sticky and uncomfortable, so she silently agreed.

Pear Blossom, who had cared for her three younger siblings since childhood, was adept at bathing children. However, apart from helping Dong Yun cool down last night, this was her first time cleaning an adult.

In her eyes, Dong Yun seemed far more delicate than her siblings, or even Fubao, so she dared not use too much force for fear of aggravating her injuries.

After wiping Dong Yun’s face, neck, hands, and feet, Pear Blossom took the water outside to empty it.

Dong Yun wanted to call her back because one area hadn’t been cleaned, but after hesitating, she chose to remain silent.

To her surprise, Pear Blossom returned shortly after with a fresh basin of water, pausing briefly at the bedside.

Originally, Dong Yun intended to clean her lower body, but now that the water had been brought in, she, like the previous night, became bashful.

Mrs. Xiong, known for her cleanliness, had instilled certain habits in her children. Even in winter, when baths were impractical, they would at least wipe themselves down with clean water.

Naturally, Pear Blossom applied the same principle to Dong Yun. Since Dong Yun’s hands couldn’t touch water for now, it wasn’t feasible to leave her unclean for ten days. Pear Blossom decided to take on the responsibility herself.

Their gazes briefly met before quickly shifting away.

Tightening her grip on the towel, Pear Blossom said, “I’ll undo your pants now, okay?”

Dong Yun responded with a faint “Mm.”

Only then did Pear Blossom lift the blanket, pull up Dong Yun’s dress, and gently lower her undergarments.

She didn’t dare look directly, keeping her focus roughly at Dong Yun’s waist while her peripheral vision guided her hands. She wiped several times with the damp cloth before stopping.

Her movements were careful, and Dong Yun didn’t utter a sound throughout.

The entire time, Pear Blossom avoided looking directly at the woman before her. Her face felt hot, and once finished, she found a clean pair of undergarments from the wardrobe to replace Dong Yun’s, pulled down the dress, and covered her with the blanket.

Only then did she carry the water basin out of the room.

Dong Yun didn’t feel much better, either. It was as though Pear Blossom’s hand carried an electric charge, disrupting her breathing. She exhaled in relief only after Pear Blossom left.

…

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, after preparing breakfast and serving the mother and daughter, Pear Blossom mounted her horse and hurried to the city.

She went first to the Dart Bureau to inform Murong Jin that she wouldn’t be able to train for the next few days.

Murong Jin asked, “What happened?”

Pear Blossom explained Dong Yun’s situation in detail, but she hadn’t anticipated Murong Jin’s strong reaction. Murong Jin immediately mounted her horse and rushed toward Daliushu Village alone.

Pear Blossom was a bit surprised. She didn’t know when Murong Jin and Dong Yun had grown so close, but she was aware of Murong Jin’s hatred for injustice. Perhaps she intended to teach Liu Youtie a lesson. If that were the case, Pear Blossom wouldn’t mind.

She considered following but remembered her promise to Dong Yun the previous night to buy fish. So, she decided against it and headed to the market instead, returning to the same stall to purchase grass carp and sea bass.

She bought two sea basses—her teacher was a refined person, and if her sister ate fish, the teacher naturally couldn’t be left out.

Meanwhile, Murong Jin quickly arrived at Daliushu Village.

Since Pear Blossom’s connections with the Longwei Dart Bureau and the temporary residence of Teacher Xia (Master Xia), the villagers were accustomed to seeing horses coming and going.

Dahei barked when he saw a stranger enter the courtyard.

Before Dong Yun could intervene, Fubao ran out of the room, rushing to the courtyard. Seeing Murong Jin, whom she recognized, she smiled and called out, “Auntie!”

Upon seeing the little girl, Murong Jin felt a mix of emotions. What a twist of fate—what she had once joked about had turned out to be true.

Murong Jin picked up the little girl, accidentally bumping her round belly. Laughing, she asked, “Did you eat something good? Your tummy’s so full!”

Fubao giggled as Murong Jin tickled her. “I ate meat! Pear Blossom cooked meat!”

“Is Pear Blossom’s cooking delicious?”

“Delicious!” Fubao’s admiration for Pear Blossom was unwavering. “Pear Blossom can do anything!”

Murong Jin had long noticed the little girl’s blind adoration. Now, learning that Fubao was her cousin, she couldn’t help feeling competitive with Pear Blossom.

“I can do anything too,” she said.

Fubao thought for a moment and asked, “Can you help Mother pee?”

Murong Jin was so startled that he almost dropped the little one in his arms. Shaking his head, he replied honestly, “No.”

Fubao huffed, as if to say, “See? Just one question, and he’s already no match for Pear Blossom.”

After teasing her, Murong Jin finally set her down and urged her to head over to Mrs. Zeng’s place.

Dong Yun had already figured out who had arrived when she overheard their conversation. Earlier, she had worried that Lady Jiang might have kept things to herself without informing her husband and daughter about the situation. But now that Pear Blossom had only just stepped out and Murong Jin had arrived so soon, she realized she had been overly suspicious.

Murong Jin entered the room and, seeing Dong Yun lying on the bed, softly called, “Sister.”

Hearing this, Dong Yun felt a twinge of complexity in her heart. Although they were half-sisters, they still shared a blood bond. For a long time, the late emperor had only one child, and her cousins had always been covetous of her family’s position. A sibling relationship, even one by blood, was rare and precious to her.

Yet, the fact that the Murong family had done so much for her revealed their magnanimity. Dong Yun felt grateful. Despite all the hardships she’d endured, she had been fortunate to meet people who were pure, kind, and deeply protective of her. How could she not be moved?

Looking at the young woman dressed boldly in red, like a spirited warrior, Dong Yun sighed and said, “You shouldn’t have come.”

Murong Jin shrugged. “What do I have to fear?”

Faced with her younger sister, who had a personality so different from her own, Dong Yun gave a wry smile. “Getting involved with me isn’t a good idea. I’ve even made plans in case something happens—I hope you’ll take care of Fubao. Beyond that, I ask for nothing more.”

Murong Jin scoffed lightly. “They all call you a prodigy, and even the state monk prophesied that you would unify the land under the bright moon and extend the nation’s reign. But looking at you now, it seems that prophecy was mistaken.”

After years of being relentlessly pursued and forced into flight, Dong Yun was now resigned to her fate. Hearing Murong Jin’s words, she didn’t refute them but merely replied calmly, “I’d rather that so-called prophecy had never existed from the start.”

Murong Jin couldn’t help but raise her voice. “Sister, Yu Wenjing has gone too far! How can you endure this?”

Dong Yun looked at her and said, “You saw it that day, didn’t you? Even a mere county registrar dared to come to my door to arrest me. I barely escaped with my life. If I can’t deal with someone like him, what choice do I have but to endure?”

Murong Jin was momentarily at a loss for words. After all, she herself had been there with Master He that day, and even she had felt some trepidation toward the man. How could Dong Yun, who had no means of self-defense, possibly stand against him?

“While no one knows you’re here, you should leave. It’s best for both you and Fubao.”

Murong Jin, though passionate and impulsive, was no fool. Reluctantly, she left Zeng’s courtyard under Dong Yun’s insistence.

However, just before stepping out, she turned back and asked, “About you and Pear Blossom, is it what I think it is?”

Dong Yun froze in silence.

Murong Jin smirked. “So, you’re not entirely a coward when it comes to matters of the heart.”

Dong Yun was speechless. In every aspect of her life, she was nothing if not a coward!

When Pear Blossom returned from Jinyang City, she delivered some fish to the school, perfectly missing Murong Jin.

After thanking her, Teacher Xia Xunyan said, “You haven’t been studying these past few days, and I’ve excused you because of your other obligations. But if you have free time, don’t slack off. Review the essays I’ve previously taught you and go over them occasionally. If you don’t understand something, ask your Sister Dong. I’m sure she’d be happy to teach you.”

Pear Blossom, who indeed had not been reading much recently, blushed at the teacher’s admonition and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

As she was leaving, she glanced back unintentionally and saw the teacher, clad in white, standing by the schoolhouse, watching her. The north wind blew, lifting her garments so that she looked like an immortal being.

Feeling ashamed, Pear Blossom thought about the teacher’s noble character. Knowing about her relationship with Sister Dong, the teacher had been nothing but supportive. How could she have once doubted that the teacher had interfered in their relationship? She was mortified.

After berating herself, another thought crossed her mind, and her expression turned serious.

That day when the teacher held Sister Dong’s hand, perhaps it had a deeper meaning.

Pear Blossom recalled the look on Dong Yun’s face that day. From the side, her expression had been cold as ice. The bowl of food she held was barely touched, and when they left, they walked hurriedly, side by side.

Something must have happened that day to change her sister’s demeanor so drastically. The way she looked then reminded Pear Blossom of the fear she had seen in her sister’s eyes when Master He had come to the door.

Like a startled bird, skittish and uneasy.

Only now did Pear Blossom realize how she had overlooked her sister’s panic and mistakenly thought her entanglement with the teacher was unresolved feelings. She cursed herself for being so blind.

Of course, Pear Blossom couldn’t ask the teacher directly about what had happened. Instead, she activated the system and asked, “On the day Zhang Chunjing got married, during the meal, did anyone mention Sister Dong?”

The system, unsure of what the host was planning, reluctantly retrieved the data and found the conversation between Zheng Sange and Zhang Chunjing on that day.

“Host, data is only available for a month. Anything older can’t be accessed.”

Pear Blossom understood. After listening, her heart was in turmoil, and she wanted to slap herself repeatedly.

Zheng Sange had mentioned Zeng Dayou and that someone had begun investigating the princess’s former guards. It was only a matter of time before they traced their way to Dayou Village. Once they found Zeng Dayou’s home, they would undoubtedly find Dong Yun.

If the Town Surveillance Department took over, Dong Yun would have no chance of escape.

How could she not panic?

At this moment, Pear Blossom finally understood why she had been driven away repeatedly over the past few days.

Her sister’s suffering was something she could barely comprehend even a fraction of. Pear Blossom felt deeply guilty.

She rushed toward the far end of the village on horseback. First, she returned home to deliver a five or six-pound grass carp to her family. Then, she eagerly made her way back to Dong Yun’s place.

Upon entering the courtyard, she poked her head into the house to check on the woman she couldn’t get out of her mind. Seeing that Dong Yun seemed slightly more energetic than the lifeless state she had been in yesterday, Pear Blossom’s heart finally settled. She then headed to the kitchen to prepare the fish.

She had made up her mind: once her sister’s situation was resolved and their days became stable, she would dedicate herself to mastering cooking, ensuring there was delicious food for her every day.

The bass was steamed. Since Dong Yun was injured and needed light meals, Pear Blossom prepared a simple sauce, which was flavorful enough.

Once the fish was steamed, Pear Blossom carefully removed the bones, placing a small portion into Fubao’s bowl while leaving the majority for Dong Yun.

Seeing that half the fish was served to her, Dong Yun asked, “You’ve given it all to the two of us—what about you? What will you eat?”

The market stall had only two basses today—one was given to her teacher, and the other was brought here for Dong Yun. Pear Blossom, who had a big appetite, preferred pork over fish. But she could use the steamed fish sauce to mix with rice.

She knew if she lied and said there was another fish in the kitchen, Dong Yun wouldn’t believe her. So, she answered honestly, “This fish is tricky to prepare and not very satisfying to eat. Pork is simpler and more satisfying for me. I’ve cooked some pork for myself, and I’ll eat that in a bit.”

How could Dong Yun not be aware of the girl’s kindness toward her? Gratitude had been expressed more than once, but she knew Pear Blossom didn’t like hearing it too often. In the end, she didn’t say anything further. When Pear Blossom picked up a piece of tender fish belly to feed her, Dong Yun raised her bandaged hand and gently pushed it back toward Pear Blossom, her voice so soft that only the two of them could hear: “You eat it.”

Her eyes no longer carried the coldness they once had. Instead, they were filled with emotion and depth.

With just one glance, Pear Blossom felt herself drowning in those eyes, but she still shook her head and returned the chopsticks.

Dong Yun spoke softly, “Be good…”

She pushed the piece of fish back again.

Pear Blossom was completely enchanted by the phrase “Be good.” By the time she came back to her senses, she had already swallowed the piece of fish.

Blushing to the tips of her ears, she continued feeding Dong Yun, and together, one bite at a time, they finished the bowl of rice.

Worried that Dong Yun might still be hungry, Pear Blossom scooped another bowl, pairing it with the remaining mushrooms and greens. But Dong Yun shook her head and said, “I’m already very satisfied today.”

Pear Blossom sighed helplessly and began eating herself, but she still occasionally glanced up at Dong Yun, wanting to confirm that the tenderness she had just witnessed was real and not something she had imagined.