On the last day of the month, the chefs of Chengxin Hall rose before dawn. In addition to preparing breakfast, they also had to make pastries suitable for taking on an outing. The Third Master had a fondness for crispy shortbread and fried spring rolls, while the Madam preferred rice cakes with red dates and fragrant soft cakes. They also prepared pumpkin cakes and sweet potato cakes for Wu Lang.
Yin Hui had risen early as well, eager for the upcoming outing. On this special day, she took extra care with her appearance.
Wei Luo drew back the gauze curtain, revealing Yin Hui standing on the other side of the screen. Two servant girls were diligently helping her dress, their faces filled with delight. They whispered to each other like bees buzzing around a flower, coHurting a butterfly.
Yin Hui said, “Oh, you’re up.”
Wei Luo responded with yes.
After a while, the delicate butterfly flitted around the screen and landed in front of him. She spread her wings and inquired, “Well, how do I look in this attire?” She tilted her face towards him.
She was adorned in a burgundy dress embroidered with leaves and crabapple flowers. The fabric was light and smooth, rippling gently with her movements before settling back into place. The vivid red of her dress contrasted beautifully with her fair complexion.
Some beauties exuded excessive allure, but their eyes lacked depth, growing tiresome to look at. Yin Hui was different. No matter how enchanting her face appeared, her eyes were always clear, reminiscent of a mountain spring. They brought to mind the image of lotus flowers emerging from a pond after fresh rain, or the bright stars twinkling in the night sky.
In her early days of marriage, she adhered to strict decorum and didn’t know how to display her beauty. As she grew more comfortable, her beauty began to radiate outward like a tide, touching those around her.
Wei Luo absentmindedly nodded in response, rising to his feet to ask, “Have you packed Xiao Heng’s belongings?”
Yin Hui smiled and answered, “I informed the nurse yesterday. I’ll go and check.”
With that, she turned around, her footsteps light, and her splendid dress seemed to bloom with each step, resembling a butterfly taking flight.
At mealtime, Xiao Heng, who ate slowly, ended up being the last to finish again. Yin Hui seized the moment to ask Wei Luo, “Have you ever been to Dongshan?” Following the elder and second brothers being dispatched on errands out of the palace one after another, their father had relaxed their rules slightly. Occasionally, the two of them would take their younger brothers out for a meal, but it was only in Pingcheng. It wasn’t easy to persuade their father to go anywhere else.
Last year, when Wei Luo entered the guard, his travels were primarily confined to commuting between the palace and the guard. He had never ventured into the countryside or the mountains without proper authorization.
Yin Hui smiled and replied, “Before I entered the palace, I visited Dongshan several times each year. Dongshan isn’t particularly high. Inside, there are various mountain paths that lead to different hills. There’s also a circular mountain road that runs around the base. Most visitors head up to the mountains to enjoy the flowers or visit temples to offer incense, rarely taking the mountain roads. As a result, these roads are perfect for horse racing. Some young masters often engage in horse racing competitions there.”
Wei Luo gazed at her and asked, “Do you know how to ride a horse?”
Yin Hui playfully responded, “I used to know how to ride a horse, but if you don’t like it, I won’t ride anymore.”
Wei Luo chuckled softly, noticing how Yin Hui had grown more audacious after revealing her true nature.
While the wet nurse was engrossed in caring for Xiao Heng, and Jinzhan and Yinzhan kept their eyes lowered, Yin Hui gently tapped Wei Luo’s boot with the tip of her shoe.
This action made Wei Luo frown.
Yin Hui flashed a flattering smile and suggested, “If you’d like to take a stroll along the mountain roads, I can be your guide. I promise we won’t get lost.” Her implication was clear – she wanted to go horse riding.
When she saw him glance at Xiao Heng, she continued to say, “We’ll finish our morning meal at the temple around noon, and Xiao Heng will surely fall asleep by that time. Let’s go when he’s napping. There will be fewer people on the mountain roads at that time.”
Only then did Wei Luo acquiesce.
Suddenly, Xiao Heng called out, “Horse!”
Yin Hui laughed at him and said, “You are still young, dear. Daddy will teach you how to ride a horse when you grow up.”
Xiao Heng kicked his little feet in protest, refusing to sit still. It was only after he had his meal that he sat obediently on the dining chair.
The family set off right away. Besides a few pastries, snacks, and tea, they brought a set of men’s clothing for Yin Hui and a bunch of items for Xiao Heng. The servants were the first to load these belongings onto the carriage outside the gate.
Word of this outing quickly reached Yizhi Hall and Changyuan Hall. Wei Yang, the eldest son, smiled and remarked, “Lately, our third brother has been acting more and more like our second brother.” It was common knowledge in the Yan Palace that Wei Yan doted on Ji Xianxian.
Xu Qingwan gazed at the clear blue sky outside and was about to comment on the beauty of spring outings, but she didn’t want her husband to think she wanted to go out, so she kept her thoughts to herself.
The elder brother and his wife remained composed, while in Changyuan Hall, when Ji Xianxian heard that her third sister-in-law was going on an outing, she grew anxious and urged Wei Yan, “Let’s go too!”
Wei Yan usually focused on his official duties, but on that particular day, he managed to secure some free time. He had hoped to stay at home, but Ji Xianxian’s suggestion made it impossible. After all, the last time he had gone out with her had been exhausting, and the thought of bringing their two children along was even more overwhelming.
“If you want to go, go. I’m staying here,” Wei Yan declared.
Ji Xianxian remained insistent, so Wei Yan eventually turned to Concubine Liu for help. While they were having their back-and-forth, Yin Hui, Wei Luo, and their group had already departed from their residence.