Wen Yunyi’s health improved day by day.
In the morning, Bai Lan helped her comb her hair while Qing Tao stood to the side holding a jewelry box, picking out ornaments and muttering to herself. She said that since this was the first proper morning greeting visit to the Duchess after her illness, she had to dress more presentably—she could not simply make do with a plain hairpin like the previous times.
Wen Yunyi sat before the mirror and glanced at her. “I’m going to pay my respects, not to compete with anyone.”
Qing Tao shrank a little under that glance, but still muttered softly, “Even so, it can’t be too plain. Otherwise people will think Your Ladyship hasn’t recovered yet.”
That remark struck the point.
Wen Yunyi thought for a moment and ultimately did not insist on keeping everything understated. Today she wore a dusky rose brocade jacket with a pale moon-white embroidered skirt beneath. The colors were not bold, but they complemented her fair, full, and strikingly beautiful face, adding a touch of vitality. Her black hair was styled into a round chignon, adorned with a single kingfisher-feather-inlaid pearl hair ornament placed at an angle. A pair of delicate eastern pearls hung by her ears, swaying gently as she moved, softening the lingering frailty from her illness.
She had always been someone who drew attention.
Even when ill, she had stood out. Now that her complexion had improved slightly, merely sitting before the mirror gave her an air of radiant elegance and wealth. Only her jade-like eyes remained quiet—less restless than before, carrying a depth that was harder to read.
Bai Lan smoothed her clothes and said softly, “Your Ladyship looks very good today.”
Wen Yunyi rose and took her hand as she walked out. “Let’s go. It wouldn’t be proper to keep Mother waiting.”
When they arrived at the Duchess’s courtyard, several people were already present.
Xu Mingshu sat beside the Duchess, wearing an apricot-red jacket, though she looked somewhat dispirited, as if she had just been scolded. Jiang Yunzhi was also seated below.
Wen Yunyi’s gaze brushed over her briefly before withdrawing.
The Duchess was also looking at her.
Today, she wore a deep purple brocade jacket with gold thread, her hair secured with a gold and kingfisher-feather hairpin. Though aged, traces of her youthful beauty remained. She had always been straightforward, her likes and dislikes clear, her thoughts often reflected in her expression. Seeing Wen Yunyi enter like this, her gaze paused for a moment before she said flatly, “You look fully recovered.”
Wen Yunyi stepped forward and bowed. “Daughter-in-law greets Mother.”
“Rise.” The Duchess looked her over from head to toe before continuing, “Your complexion is better than before, though you’re still thin. Since you’re still recovering, there’s no need to come so early every day.”
Wen Yunyi rose and sat to the side. “Daughter-in-law has already neglected many proprieties during her illness. Now that I can rise, I shouldn’t trouble Mother to bear them for me.”
The Duchess’s expression did not change, but she felt somewhat appeased.
In the past, Wen Yunyi had always resisted these matters, feeling that greetings and etiquette were burdens placed upon her. This response now suggested she finally understood her responsibilities.
Just as the Duchess was about to say more, an older female servant entered to report that the kitchen and tea room staff were waiting outside regarding the Spring Banquet.
The Duchess frowned immediately. “What now, so early in the morning?”
The servant replied, “Madam, it concerns the refreshments for the Spring Banquet the day after tomorrow. The tea room says the pre-Qingming tea they received yesterday is only enough for entertaining guests in the outer courtyard, not for the inner courtyard ladies. The kitchen also says the pastry list has been revised twice and they are unsure whether to follow the original or the later version.”
Xu Mingshu frowned in annoyance. “It’s just a small gathering for tea and flowers. How do they always manage to make such trouble?”
The Duchess’s expression darkened.
The banquet itself was not significant, but such small gatherings were often plagued by trivial details—seating, arrangements, tea selection, the number of pastries—everything had to be both elegant and proper. She had already delegated the tasks two days ago, yet now the kitchen and tea room were disputing in front of her.
“Bring them in,” she said.
Soon, two stewarding older female servants entered—one from the kitchen, one from the tea room. Both looked tense as they bowed.
“What exactly is going on?” the Duchess asked directly.
The kitchen steward spoke first, explaining that they had received two versions of the pastry list—one with eight items, and a later one adding almond cream and green plum cakes. They had prepared according to the latter, but the tea room insisted on the original list.
The tea room steward immediately countered that their tea and fruit drinks had been allocated based on the original list, and adding items would leave the outer courtyard short.
They argued back and forth until Xu Mingshu frowned. “What were you doing yesterday? Why argue here now?”
Jiang Yunzhi, seeing the Duchess displeased, gently said, “Mother, please don’t trouble yourself over such a small matter. If it’s too difficult to resolve immediately, it would be fine if my side had one or two fewer items. It’s just tea.”
Her words were soft and agreeable.
The Duchess’s expression eased slightly. “You are always the most considerate.”
Xu Mingshu nodded. “YunzhiMadam is easy to deal with.”
Wen Yunyi, seated to the side, observed everyone’s expressions but did not speak immediately.
This kind of small problem was most dangerous when everyone tried to be a peacemaker. If they simply settled for “it doesn’t matter,” the confusion would only grow. Today it was the Spring Banquet; tomorrow it would be something else. Over time, the household rules would become hollow.
The Duchess clearly understood this but was too annoyed to sort it out carefully.
Just as she was about to lose patience, a steady voice spoke.
“If Mother trusts Daughter-in-law, perhaps let me look at both lists.”
The room fell silent.
All eyes turned to Wen Yunyi.
She sat calmly, her attire neat, her expression composed. Her tone was neither urgent nor forceful, as if she were merely offering a casual suggestion. Yet coming from her, it made the Duchess pause.
The Duchess looked at her. “Can you understand them?”
The question was direct.
Wen Yunyi replied calmly, “One has to look first to find the problem.”
After a moment, the Duchess nodded and had the lists brought forward.
Wen Yunyi examined them briefly and quickly identified the issue. The original list was written neatly on standard kitchen paper. The revised one used thinner paper, with the added items slightly misaligned, as if inserted later. Without careful inspection, it was easy to confuse them.
She then asked for the tea list, compared them, and smiled faintly.
“No need to argue. Neither side is wrong. The problem lies with the person who passed the message. They skipped the proper step of rewriting a final list and simply inserted the revised one with the original. The kitchen received the revised list, the tea room the original—naturally they don’t match.”
She pointed out the folded edges as evidence.
Her explanation was simple but precise.
The two stewards fell silent, their expressions changing.
Xu Mingshu stared, surprised. Jiang Yunzhi also raised her eyes slightly, her emotions complicated.
The Duchess finally asked, “How should it be resolved?”
Wen Yunyi answered without hesitation, offering a balanced solution that preserved both arrangements while resolving the shortage.
The room grew quiet again.
The method was not extraordinary, but it was steady and practical.
The Duchess looked at her, her expression finally shifting. For the first time, she truly saw that Wen Yunyi possessed not only beauty and status, but also capability.
She ordered the stewards to follow Wen Yunyi’s plan and penalized the responsible party.
After they left, the tension eased.
Xu Mingshu blurted, “Sister-in-law—” then corrected herself awkwardly, “Your Ladyship is very observant.”
Wen Yunyi smiled faintly. “It’s just tracing the clues.”
Jiang Yunzhi added softly, “Your Ladyship is indeed meticulous.”
Wen Yunyi replied calmly, “You need not concern yourself with such matters.”
The Duchess watched her, then said, “You’re finally willing to pay attention to these things.”
Wen Yunyi answered quietly, “In the past, I narrowed my own path. Now that I’m still here, I must do what I should.”
After dismissing the others, the Duchess spoke to her more directly, expressing both disappointment and lingering expectations.
Wen Yunyi accepted everything calmly.
When she left, the spring air was warm, sunlight filtering through new leaves.
Bai Lan said softly, “Madam’s tone was much gentler today.”
Wen Yunyi glanced at the light and allowed a faint smile.
The former Wen Yunyi had exhausted everyone’s patience. Now, she would have to earn it back little by little.
At least this time, appearing in public had not been in vain.