Chapter 27

“Miss, Miss, pull the string!”

“Oh no, it’s falling.”

“There’s wind, there’s wind.”

A group of little maids chattered and laughed.

Lu Minghua’s voice was also full of laughter and rarely raised it, saying, “Got it, got it.”

Only a wall separated the main courtyards on both sides, so any noise could be heard if one paid attention, especially since the people living here were sharp-eared and keen-eyed.

A group of personal guards scattered around the courtyard, watching their lord, who had rarely put down his treasured military book, now leisurely looking at the kite. They exchanged glances and playful winks. Their lord had always been distant from women; this was the first time he had shown such interest in a woman.

“Miss, slow down, slow down.” The breeze stopped, and the kite slowly descended. Lu Minghua hurriedly pulled the string and stepped back. Mama Li, worried, repeatedly called out but couldn’t stop her.

“Ah,” Lu Minghua exclaimed as she tripped and fell to the ground, her ankle in severe pain. She instinctively reached out to hold it, gasping, only to realize she had unknowingly backed out of the garden.

“Miss, Miss, are you alright? Are you okay?” The maids hurriedly surrounded her, trying to help her up, but Mama Li stopped them.

“Don’t move,” she said, pushing the maids aside and squatting to check carefully, worried that the bone might be injured.

At this moment, a clear voice came from afar. “Miss Lu, what happened?”

Lu Minghua gasped softly and looked up, realizing the voice came from the other side of the wall.

“Young Master Yuan?” she asked.

“It’s me. I heard some commotion. Are you hurt?” Yan Yuanhua looked at the wall, suppressing the urge to jump over.

“I just tripped. I’m fine,” Lu Minghua said through gritted teeth, not wanting to trouble him.

Mama Li, however, was not reassured. They had brought everything here except a doctor. Seeing her young lady’s forehead sweating made her even more worried. “Miss…” she wanted to speak.

Lu Minghua shook her head.

“Forgive my intrusion,” Yan Yuanhua said, feeling tense.

The personal guards saw him step back and jump over the wall, feeling concerned.

Had their lord forgotten that although his injury was almost healed, the imperial physician had advised him to rest?

Lu Minghua was puzzled. Then she saw a figure in blue jump down from the wall. She was startled and stared blankly.

“Let me see. Did you hurt your ankle?” Yan Yuanhua walked over and knelt down. His embroidered robe touched the ground, getting dusty.

Feeling embarrassed, Lu Minghua tried to move her ankle into her skirt, but the pain intensified, and she couldn’t help but gasp.

“Don’t move,” Yan Yuanhua immediately reached out and held her calf.

Lu Minghua froze, not knowing what to do.

Feeling the soft touch under his palm, Yan Yuanhua paused and said, “This kind of injury shouldn’t be taken lightly. If the bone is hurt, moving it will make it worse.”

Blushing and her heart pounding, Lu Minghua bit her lip, unable to speak. Seeing him look at her, she instinctively turned her face away.

All these years, she had never, never…

Seeing her cheeks turn pink, Yan Yuanhua also felt a bit uneasy. He had always helped the soldiers before, but this time…

His usually clear voice was slightly lower as he said, “Forgive my intrusion.”

Mama Li was startled by Yan Yuanhua’s actions, but when she heard his words, she was surprised and quickly said, “Then I’ll trouble you, Young Master Yuan.”

Lu Minghua suppressed her embarrassment, turned her head, and lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him. She also softly said, “Thank you.”

“It’s no trouble at all. If it were something else, I might not know, but I happen to understand this kind of injury,” Yan Yuanhua said, suddenly wanting to laugh, and he did. As he spoke, his fingers gently pressed on Lu Minghua’s ankle.

Inside her light pink embroidered shoes were white cloud-patterned socks, usually hidden under her skirt and never seen by others. But now, they were held by a large hand, with long fingers gently brushing over them.

Lu Minghua felt even more uncomfortable. Even during her new marriage with Wei Yuntai, they had never been like this. She felt her whole body heating up, wanting to pull her foot back but forcing herself to endure it. She turned her eyes away, not daring to look.

“It’s nothing serious, just a sprain,” Yan Yuanhua said after examining her, feeling relieved. He wanted to help massage it, but, seeing the delicate hem of her skirt, he restrained himself and said, “Don’t move. I have some medicinal wine. I’ll send it over later. Have someone massage it daily, and it will be fine in a few days.”

Lu Minghua didn’t rush to speak. She moved her foot, trying to pull it back.

Yan Yuanhua gently released his grip, watching as the embroidered shoe slid back under her skirt. So small, he instinctively compared it to his own.

“Thank you, Young Master Yuan,” Lu Minghua said, trying to get up.

“Just sit down. It’s better not to stand,” Yan Yuanhua immediately stopped her.

Lu Minghua nodded slightly and said, “I want to sit over there.” She pointed to a stone bench nearby, feeling that sitting on the ground was too undignified.

Yan Yuanhua understood but was full of disapproval. In his view, it was best for Lu Minghua not to move and to rest immediately.

“Don’t move,” he said softly.

Seeing the concern in his eyes, Lu Minghua couldn’t find the words to argue.

“In the heat of the moment, I was rude. Please don’t take offense, Miss Lu,” Yan Yuanhua said, standing up and raising his hand slightly.

“Young Master Yuan, you were helping me. How could I take offense?” Lu Minghua quickly said, trying to get up.

“Then I’ll leave first. Don’t move; no need to see me off. Go back and rest,” Yan Yuanhua said, still worried but not wanting to stay longer and make her uncomfortable. He smiled.

Lu Minghua felt relieved and nodded. Then, she felt her attitude was not right. Seeing Yan Yuanhua smile and turn to leave, she hesitated.

Suddenly remembering something, she quickly asked, “By the way, Young Master Yuan, you still have an injury!”

“It’s nothing; it healed long ago. They’re just making a fuss,” Yan Yuanhua said, feeling a slight stir in his heart. He turned back with a smile.

“Young Master Yuan, you just told me not to be careless. I think you shouldn’t be either. Don’t go climbing over walls; use the main gate,” Lu Minghua said, her unease fading and replaced by concern.

Yan Yuanhua initially wanted to refuse. It was convenient for him to go that way, but seeing Lu Minghua sitting on the ground, looking up at him with worry in her eyes, he couldn’t say no.

“Mama, please see Young Master Yuan out,” Lu Minghua quickly said.

Looking a bit worried, Mama Li glanced at her and stepped forward to escort him.

Seeing the master and servant like this, Yan Yuanhua couldn’t help but smile. Raising his hand, he said, “Thank you, Miss Lu.”

He was always so carefree and relaxed. Whenever Lu Minghua felt uneasy, seeing him like this made her think she was overthinking things.

Young Master Yuan is a good person; she shouldn’t let her thoughts run wild. Thinking this, Lu Minghua looked up with a smile and said, “Take care, Young Master Yuan.”

Yan Yuanhua nodded unconsciously, suppressing the urge to say more, and turned to leave.

Mama Li escorted him to the door, thanking him all the way. Yan Yuanhua responded with a few words, though he spoke less than usual.

She didn’t mind; after all, he was a noble.

“Mama Li, wait a moment. Come with me to get the medicinal wine,” Yan Yuanhua instructed as Mama Li was about to see him off. She quickly followed.

At the neighboring courtyard, Yan Yuanhua had someone fetch the medicinal wine and personally explain how to use it. Mama Li was very grateful, listened carefully, and thanked him repeatedly before leaving.

“This is truly a case of joy turning to sorrow.”

When Mama Li returned, she heard her young lady sighing softly while sitting on the couch. She lifted the curtain and entered, her face stern. “Miss, you mustn’t say such things.”

“Mama, why do I feel like I’m always getting into trouble this year?” Lu Minghua was puzzled and a bit embarrassed, especially since Young Master Yuan always seemed to be around when it happened.

Mama Li, however, didn’t seem to mind. She sat by the couch, looking at the reddened ankle with concern. She quickly took out the medicinal wine and, following Young Master Yuan’s instructions, carefully massaged Lu Minghua’s ankle.

“Miss, you were always too sensible. Before your marriage, you rarely went out. After getting married, you were busy managing household affairs. There was no time for leisure. Now, this is just right. I see you are much happier than before, and that’s enough.”

“Playing always comes with the risk of getting hurt. Just be more careful in the future,” she added, still worried.

Mama Li’s rough and aged voice filled the room, low and gentle.

Lu Minghua lay on the couch, enduring the pain. She quietly watched her, her eyes filled with joy.

Mama Li wasn’t someone with excellent skills—those who were truly capable had long left, seeing no future here. But she stayed, not only staying but also meticulously taking care of her. She remembered when she was younger, Mama Li wasn’t so stern. When Madam Qin wronged Lu Minghua, Mama Li cried harder than she did.

When the mistress didn’t care, the servants in the courtyard began to neglect their duties. At some point, Mama Li started to put on a stern face. Her once gentle voice became harsher day by day, managing the servants strictly until they were all obedient.

Lu Minghua still remembered Mama Li’s intense heartbeat in her ear when she returned to the bedroom after scolding those people and holding her in her arms.

She was scared. But she never gave up on her.

Until now.

“Alright, I understand, Mama.” The sunlight outside was just right. In late spring, the flowers were in full bloom. The sunlight streamed into the room, and you could see tiny particles dancing in the light. Mama’s stern expression softened as she spoke gently. Outside, the little maids were laughing and playing. Lu Minghua lay on the couch and suddenly thought of a phrase.

Peaceful times.

Indeed.

Next door, Yan Yuanhua wanted to pick up his military book, but as he reached out, he couldn’t help but think of what had just happened. His hand was empty, but he still remembered that delicate ankle. The cloud-patterned socks loosely embraced it as if it would break with a touch.

He was of noble status and had encountered many women who appeared before him in various ways since he was young. Innocent, pitiful, or shy, trying to catch his eye, but he had never cared. But today, seeing Lu Minghua, who seemed to resist and tried hard to suppress her gasps, Yan Yuanhua suddenly understood what it meant to feel pity.

Perhaps her life had been too tumultuous. Yan Yuanhua thought this, smiled and continued reading his military book.

With the arrival of summer, a sudden drizzle came.

News came from the capital that Lu Chengsong’s eldest son, Lu Yaoqi, had become a disciple of Hanlin scholar Wu Zhizhou.

Wu Zhizhou’s reputation was well-known; even Lu Minghua had heard of him. At previous banquets, she had often heard noble ladies talk about wanting to send their children to him but failing. She never expected he would accept Lu Yaoqi.

She knew this half-brother well enough. He wasn’t particularly talented and had a temperament similar to Lu Chengsong’s. Years ago, he barely passed the imperial examination and failed the provincial examination. At that time, Lu Chengsong blamed her, attributing Lu Yaoqi’s failure to her not asking Wei Yuntai to find a good teacher.

Now, it seemed he had finally gotten his wish.

However, the Marquis’ wife would likely be furious. If she remembered correctly, the Marquis’ wife’s nephew had long wanted to become Wu Zhizhou’s disciple, but she had consistently declined. Now, Wei Yuntai had managed to arrange it for Lu Yaoqi…

This would surely make her lose face in front of her family.

Thinking this, Lu Minghua couldn’t help but laugh; even her somewhat listless pipa playing became more cheerful. Due to her injured ankle, she had been resting for half a month. Although she felt she had recovered, Mama Li insisted she stay in bed, making her realize she could grow tired of lying on a soft couch.

“Do you think she would be even happier if she saw this?” Next door, Yan Yuanhua chuckled, holding a letter.

“Miss Lu should be happy. If it were me, I’d want to see it with my own eyes,” Zhao Shiyi nodded repeatedly.

Compared to Lu Minghua’s limited information, Yan Yuanhua’s news was undoubtedly more and faster.

While she had just received the apprenticeship news, he had already learned that the Marquis’ wife had fallen ill with anger upon hearing what Wei Yuntai had done.

The Marquis of Ningguo was furious and said something that made Wei Yuntai kneel in the courtyard for three hours, almost unable to stand.