“Young Master Yun, Qinyan, slow down. No one’s going to steal the food from you.”
Lu Zhiyao ladled out two bowls of soup and placed them in front of the boys.
“Have some soup.”
Yun Qingyi watched the scene quietly.
Lu Zhiyao was only fifteen years old, yet she already carried herself like a mother.
From their studies and manners to their meals and daily routines, she concerned herself with every aspect of her younger siblings’ lives.
There was none of the carefree innocence one would expect from a girl her age.
Only the worry and anxiety of someone carrying responsibilities far beyond her years.
At that moment, Yun Qingyi silently thanked her own parents and brothers.
Though both she and Lu Zhiyao were daughters of noble families, not every noble daughter was fortunate enough to grow up as she had—surrounded by affection, free to live comfortably and as she pleased.
“You’re full now, aren’t you?”
Yun Qingyi smiled.
“If you’ve finished eating, go play somewhere else. Sister Zhiyao and I still have things to talk about.”
The two boys were sensible enough.
Upon hearing this, Yun Qingshi immediately grabbed a flower pastry and left.
Not wanting to fall behind, Lu Qinyan quickly snatched one as well before making his escape.
Children really were children.
Not content with eating there, they had to take food away too.
Yun Qingyi shook her head helplessly, smiling as she watched them disappear into the distance.
Just as she turned back toward Lu Zhiyao, another visitor arrived.
“So it is Sister Zhiyao. It has been quite some time.”
The newcomer was a young married woman with lowered eyes and a timid demeanor.
She seemed to know Lu Zhiyao well.
“Is Minister Lu in good health?”
“My father is doing very well. Thank you for your concern, Sister Hui.”
Lu Zhiyao’s reply was polite and proper.
From the interaction, Yun Qingyi could tell they were acquaintances through family connections rather than close friends.
Assuming it was merely routine small talk unrelated to her, she took the opportunity to prepare a pot of tea.
She had just taken out some jasmine tea leaves when the woman suddenly turned toward her.
“May I ask if this young lady is Lady Yun?”
Yun Qingyi looked up.
The woman appeared nervous and somewhat timid.
“That would be me. How may I help you, Sister Hui?”
The woman quickly waved her hands.
“Lady Yun, you jest.”
“I’m rather foolish.”
“A few days ago, my husband was on duty together with your elder brother and brought home half a bowl of soup you had made.”
“He said that not only does Lady Yun come from a distinguished family and possess great beauty, but your hands are also skillful.”
“Unlike me, who is clumsy and incapable of doing anything properly.”
“Today I’ve brought a soup of my own. I hope Lady Yun might sample it and offer some guidance.”
Yun Qingyi instinctively looked toward Lu Zhiyao.
Since the woman was one of Lu Zhiyao’s acquaintances, it seemed appropriate to hear her thoughts first.
Lu Zhiyao immediately explained.
“Father serves in the Ministry of Rites and once presided over the imperial examinations.”
“He selected Young Master Wei as Third Scholar.”
“Technically speaking, Young Master Wei is Father’s student.”
“That is how I came to know Sister Hui.”
“If she sincerely wishes to seek your advice, and if it is convenient for you, I hope you’ll help her.”
With that explanation, Yun Qingyi understood.
Hui Niang’s husband was both her second brother’s colleague and Minister Lu’s former student.
Offering a few cooking suggestions would be a simple favor.
She accepted the bowl.
Inside was rock sugar pear soup.
The broth possessed a clear amber color, bright and translucent without any impurities.
The texture was smooth.
The sweetness was gentle rather than overwhelming.
Served warm, it was easy to digest and aligned perfectly with traditional health-preserving principles.
From a technical standpoint, the soup was already excellent.
If she had to score it, she would give it eight out of ten.
The only improvement she could think of was using the snow pears Yun Qingyi had previously purchased.
Those would enhance both the flavor and nutritional value.
“Sister Hui’s soup is already very well made.”
Yun Qingyi answered honestly.
“The snow pears I used before simply have slightly better nourishing properties.”
To her surprise, Hui Niang immediately looked panicked.
“Does Lady Yun think I’m hopelessly stupid and therefore unwilling to teach me?”
“My husband said my soup isn’t even one-tenth as good as yours.”
“I beg Lady Yun not to withhold your guidance.”
Yun Qingyi stared blankly.
She had meant exactly what she said.
How had it become something entirely different in Hui Niang’s ears?
To prove she was sincere, Yun Qingyi picked up the bowl and drank every last drop.
Then she repeated her assessment word for word.
Only then did Hui Niang leave happily.
Elsewhere in the banquet hall, Yun Qingyuan and Wei Yuheng were enjoying a pleasant conversation together.
The moment Hui Niang spotted her husband, she hurried toward him without even acknowledging Yun Qingyuan.
Grabbing Wei Yuheng’s arm, she exclaimed excitedly,
“Husband!”
“I met Lady Yun!”
“She drank my soup and said all I need to do is change the pears!”
Her excitement was met with icy indifference.
Wei Yuheng’s expression darkened instantly.
The abrupt interruption had already irritated him.
“You foolish woman!”
“Lady Yun only said that because she realized you’re beyond saving.”
“She was merely being polite and preserving your dignity.”
“And you actually believed her?”
He sneered.
“Can your cooking really compare to Lady Yun’s?”
“Do you have no self-awareness whatsoever?”
“Husband, I really didn’t—”
Before she could finish, he cut her off with a look of disgust.
“Return to the side hall and rest.”
“Stop disturbing my discussion with Brother Yun.”
Though unwilling, Hui Niang could only leave, looking utterly aggrieved.
Once she was gone, Wei Yuheng finally suppressed his irritation and resumed speaking with Yun Qingyuan.
“My foolish wife has made a spectacle of herself.”
“I hope Brother Yun won’t laugh at me.”
Yun Qingyuan looked somewhat uncomfortable.
Then his gaze landed on his sister nearby, providing the perfect opportunity to change the subject.
“These days all my meals have been prepared by my younger sister.”
He gestured toward Yun Qingyi.
“Xuanxuan, this is Brother Wei.”
Wei Yuheng stepped forward and bowed politely to the two young ladies.
“My foolish wife has caused trouble for both of you.”
“Please forgive her.”
Before Yun Qingyi could respond, Lu Zhiyao spoke first.
“She caused no trouble at all.”
“We exchanged some food earlier.”
“Sister Hui’s soup was quite delicious.”
“Lady Yun praised it several times.”
Wei Yuheng smiled dismissively.
“Junior Sister, you’re too kind.”
“Everyone knows Lady Yun inherited Master Yun’s talents.”
“Were she not born a woman, she would surely earn official rank and accomplish great things.”
“As for my foolish wife…”
“How could she possibly deserve such praise from either of you?”
At this point, Yun Qingyi’s dislike for him deepened considerably.
From beginning to end, he referred to his wife as a “foolish woman.”
The contempt wasn’t limited to his words.
It showed in every expression and gesture.
Certainly, Hui Niang had interrupted his conversation somewhat recklessly.
But the level of disdain he displayed toward his own wife felt excessive.
Wei Yuheng turned toward Yun Qingyi.
“Lady Yun is exceptionally talented.”
“Brother Yun is truly fortunate.”
“To enjoy such delicious meals every day.”
He smiled.
“I wonder whether I might be lucky enough to receive a taste of Lady Yun’s cooking today?”
By now, Yun Qingyi had already formed a poor opinion of him.
So her smile remained perfectly polite.
And perfectly distant.
“I’m terribly sorry, Young Master Wei.”
“My younger brother stopped by earlier and raided my supplies.”
“The food box is completely empty.”
Then she added sweetly,
“However, if Young Master Wei wishes to enjoy something delicious, I still have a pot of soup Sister Hui gifted me.”
“The flavor is genuinely excellent.”
Wei Yuheng immediately understood the hidden rebuke.
The smile on his face stiffened.
Finding an excuse about the late hour and needing to return home with his wife, he quickly excused himself.
Not long afterward, Yun Qingyi also bid farewell to Lu Zhiyao and went to find her mother together with Yun Qingyuan.
Once they were out of earshot of others, Yun Qingyuan asked,
“Xuanxuan, did you really leave nothing for your brother?”
Without a word, Yun Qingyi opened her food box and showed him the empty interior.
“Brother, I wasn’t lying.”
Yun Qingyuan sighed dramatically.
“How heartless.”
“So your brother holds no place at all in your heart?”
The exaggerated complaint nearly made Yun Qingyi lose her teeth from secondhand embarrassment.
Rolling her eyes, she pulled a flower pastry from her sleeve.
“I said the food box was empty.”
“That part was true.”
“But remembering my brother is also true.”
The moment he saw the pastry she had secretly saved just for him, Yun Qingyuan smiled.
“Brother Wei was right.”
“Having such a good younger sister truly is a blessing.”
Yun Qingyi snorted.
“Brother protects me.”
“So naturally I repay kindness with kindness.”
“But if Brother spent every day calling me foolish and incompetent…”
“I definitely wouldn’t save any pastries for him.”
Yun Qingyuan immediately understood who she was referring to.
His expression softened.
“This brother will never dislike Xuanxuan.”
“My only worry is whether one day Xuanxuan might grow tired of me.”
The answer pleased her immensely.
After all, mutual care and appreciation were exactly how family ought to be.
Repay kindness with kindness.
That was the principle she believed in.