023

Meng Yuning cradled a bunch of wildflowers and walked to the raised platform on the side of the wooden cabin. She picked up a bamboo tube that Qi Jingyan had carved for her earlier, went to the spring, filled it with water, and then placed the wildflowers inside, adjusting them until they looked just right.

The vibrant green of the bamboo paired with the colorful wildflowers was exceptionally beautiful. Faced with such loveliness, the slight vexation she had felt earlier regarding the house vanished into thin air. Smiling, she carried the bamboo tube back into the cabin and placed it on the floor between the two beds, right on her side, before heading out to prepare a meal.

The guards were still gathered together. Seeing Meng Yuning approach, they quickly cleared a path. Mu Shan asked with a grin, "Miss Meng, what’s for lunch?"

Meng Yuning surveyed the ingredients, pondered for a moment, and set the menu for the day. She then taught everyone how to prepare the food, and they all pitched in. Even Yi'er sat by the stove with Mu Feng, helping to tend the fire.

After an hour of bustle, the meal was ready. A large pot of pheasant stewed with mushrooms, a large pot of wild bamboo shoot and wild duck soup, braised carp, scrambled eggs with locust flowers, stir-fried shepherd's purse, and a dish of cold-tossed wild garlic—they used every pot and bowl they had to serve the dishes.

The guards had previously built a long table using the leftover bamboo from the house construction. As the dishes were laid out one by one, the guards crowded around, their eyes gleaming and their mouths watering.

Meng Yuning, along with Mu Yun and Mu Feng, portioned out a serving of each dish and placed them on the small bamboo table in front of Qi Jingyan. Just as Meng Yuning turned to go eat with the guards, Qi Jingyan spoke up, "Sit."

Unsure if he was calling her or Yi'er, she looked back and saw him pointing to the bamboo chair on his right. "Sit down and eat with us."

Mu Feng, quick to read the room, said, "Miss Meng, you sit. I'll go get your rice." He ran off to the stove, filled a bowl for her, and brought it back with a pair of chopsticks.

Meng Yuning thanked him, took the bowl and chopsticks, and sat down to Qi Jingyan’s right, while Yi'er sat in the high chair Mu Jiu had specially made for him on Qi Jingyan's left.

Qi Jingyan picked up his chopsticks, looked at the table full of food, and then at Meng Yuning. "Are these all home-style dishes?"

Meng Yuning didn't know why he kept mentioning home-style cooking today, but she nodded anyway. "I suppose so."

Yi'er held his chopsticks, looking from one dish to another, drooling with anticipation, yet he didn't reach out, as if unsure where to start. Finding this amusing, Meng Yuning picked up a piece of scrambled egg with locust flowers and placed it in Yi'er's bowl. "This is scrambled egg with locust flowers, Yi'er. Have a taste."

Yi'er asked, "Is it that pretty flower?"

Meng Yuning nodded. "Yes."

Yi'er picked it up and took a bite, his eyes sparkling. He mumbled, "So yummy."

Meng Yuning smiled. "If it's tasty, have some more."

Seeing Qi Jingyan also watching her, she placed a portion in his bowl as well. "Your Highness, please have a taste."

Qi Jingyan agreed and took a bite. The locust flowers were fragrant, the eggs fresh and tender; it was quite delicious. He nodded, "The taste is excellent."

Meng Yuning smiled and ate a few bites of the eggs herself. She then picked up a spoon and served a mushroom to both Yi'er and Qi Jingyan, introducing them enthusiastically: "This mushroom is called a milk-cap; it's very delicious."

The two brothers obediently took a bite. The mushrooms had been stewed with the pheasant for nearly half an hour, soaking up the savory chicken broth until they were sweet, tender, and rich in flavor. Two pairs of similar phoenix eyes—one large, one small—lit up in unison.

Feeling a great sense of accomplishment, Meng Yuning served them each two more, then filled a large spoonful for herself, mixing the chicken and mushrooms, and began to eat heartily. Having only had a bowl of porridge in the morning and spent hours walking and cooking, she was famished.

Seeing her wolfing down the food, Qi Jingyan knew she was hungry and said, "Eat your own meal; don't worry about me and Yi'er."

Meng Yuning didn't stand on ceremony. She nodded, grabbed a large piece of braised carp and some bamboo shoots, and buried herself in her meal. Qi Jingyan ate while tending to Yi'er; both brothers ate with elegance, yet their pace was not slow.

When Meng Yuning finished, she sipped her chicken soup slowly. The brothers also finished their rice, and the dishes on the table were soon empty. A clean plate is the greatest compliment to a cook. Meng Yuning’s eyes curved into crescents. "Your Highness, this chicken soup and the duck soup are both very fresh. You and Yi'er should have some more."

Yi'er pointed his little finger at the bowl of chicken soup. "Yi'er wants that one." He had seen Ah Ning ladle soup from that bowl, and he wanted to drink the same as she did.

Qi Jingyan agreed, picked up the ladle, and served Yi'er a bowl of chicken soup. Yi'er hugged his small bowl and, mimicking Meng Yuning, squinted his eyes and took small sips. Qi Jingyan looked to his left and then his right; seeing the identical expressions of bliss on their faces, he couldn't help but chuckle, then ladled some soup for himself and drank slowly.

Once the three finished the chicken soup, they shared the duck soup. Satisfied, Meng Yuning leaned back in her chair, holding her stomach, unwilling to move. Yi'er followed suit, holding his belly and leaning back in his chair.

Qi Jingyan smiled and beckoned to Mu Feng, who was peering over from a distance. Mu Feng brought a guard over to clear the table. After they sat for a while longer, Yi'er began to yawn and reached out to Meng Yuning. "Yi'er is sleepy, Ah Ning, hold me."

Meng Yuning was also tired, so she took the opportunity to carry Yi'er back to the cabin. She sat on her bed, patting him gently and humming a soft tune. Qi Jingyan was helped inside by Mu Yun and Mu Shan and lay down on his bed, watching the woman backlit by the doorway; his stern features softened imperceptibly.

After lulling Yi'er to sleep, Meng Yuning rose and walked toward Qi Jingyan’s bed to place the boy down. As she leaned over, she lost her footing and nearly collapsed onto Qi Jingyan, almost dropping Yi'er in the process.

Qi Jingyan reached out just in time, supporting her with one hand and the boy with the other, steadying them with ease. Meng Yuning glanced at the large hand on her arm, smiled sheepishly, and whispered, "I slipped, thank you, Your Highness."

Qi Jingyan nodded in acknowledgment, then released her and took Yi'er to place him on the bed. Meng Yuning returned to her own bed, took off her shoes, laid down, and soon fell asleep.

Qi Jingyan had slept well the previous night and was not sleepy now, so he turned his head slightly to watch the woman sleeping soundly on the small bed beside him. After a while, he turned back to stare at the ceiling, the curve of his lips slowly fading.

---

Exhausted, Meng Yuning slept until sunset. Qi Jingyan and Yi'er were no longer in the room. She lingered in bed for a while before getting up. Stepping outside, she saw Yi'er feeding the rabbit; she walked over to play with him for a bit before moving to the center of the courtyard.

She couldn't help but marvel at the power of numbers—all the ingredients brought back in the morning had been processed according to her instructions.

The four grass carp had been cleaned, split, salted, and hung on a bamboo frame, their surfaces now dried by the sun. The extra bamboo shoots had been peeled, washed, blanched, and laid out to dry on the bamboo table. The mushrooms had also been picked clean, sliced, and set out to dry. The remaining ferns and wild garlic were spread out on the ground as well.

She had been thinking that since they were living on the mountain, food was readily available, but once Qi Jingyan’s leg improved, they would head toward Lingnan. She didn't know what conditions would be like on the road, so drying these provisions would ensure they had food for the journey.

Seeing her inspect the work, Mu Yun walked over and asked, "Miss Meng, does this look right?"

Meng Yuning nodded, giving her full approval. "It’s perfect. You’ve been a huge help; otherwise, I don't know how long it would have taken me to finish all this on my own."

Mu Yun replied, "You are too formal, Miss Meng. We are all eating this food, so how could we let you handle it alone?"

Meng Yuning had just been polite; she would have asked them to help regardless, but hearing Mu Yun say that made her quite happy.

Mu Yun asked again, "Miss Meng, should we eat these dried goods later, or keep them stored?"

Meng Yuning explained her plan, and Mu Yun nodded solemnly. "You have thought this through carefully. I will have the brothers go out tomorrow and gather more."

Meng Yuning agreed.

They had eaten late and very heartily at lunch, so when suppertime arrived, no one felt very hungry. Meng Yuning boiled a large pot of pheasant, mushroom, and shepherd's purse porridge, and everyone gathered around the campfire to finish it in a lively atmosphere.

After dinner, Qi Jingyan took Yi'er to enjoy the cool air in the courtyard and had Mu Yun help Meng Yuning carry water to the cabin. Meng Yuning bolted the door and took a bath in the dark. After she finished and dressed, she set aside the clothes she had changed out of, intending to wash them the next day.

She stepped out to get the two bamboo tubes, intending to dump the water herself, but Qi Jingyan stopped her and asked her to sit beside him. Mu Yun went in, carried out the wooden tub, dumped the water, and washed the tub clean.

Seeing Meng Yuning's embarrassment, Qi Jingyan said, "Living out here is inconvenient; these chores must be left to Mu Yun and the others. Do not overthink it."

Thinking about it, Meng Yuning realized he was right. They would be here for a long time, and she couldn't possibly carry the water out ten or twenty times every time. She nodded. "All right."

Afterward, Meng Yuning bathed Yi'er and took him outside to play, while Mu Yun wiped down Qi Jingyan’s body. Once they were all settled, Physician Tang brought the decoction as usual. After Qi Jingyan drank it, the physician treated his leg. When the physician departed, it was late, and everyone retired for the night.

Having slept too much during the day, Meng Yuning tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She looked at Qi Jingyan and, seeing his eyes were open, whispered, "Your Highness?"

Qi Jingyan turned his head toward her.

Meng Yuning held up a finger and pointed to his leg. "Is your leg feeling any better?"

Qi Jingyan replied, "It is better."

Meng Yuning asked, "Does it still hurt?"

Qi Jingyan said, "It does not."

Meng Yuning said, "Oh, that's good."

They both fell silent, and the room returned to quiet. A moment later, Meng Yuning whispered again, "Your Highness?"

Qi Jingyan turned his head once more.

Meng Yuning asked, "When we get to Lingnan, where will we live?"

Qi Jingyan was silent for a moment before saying, "It should be the Prince Shen Residence."

Meng Yuning propped herself up on her arm and leaned closer, her tone filled with expectation. "Will there be enough rooms so that I can have one to myself?"

Qi Jingyan did not hesitate. "Yes."

Meng Yuning smiled. She pressed her palms together and bowed toward him while lying down. "Thank you, Your Highness. You are truly kind."

Qi Jingyan looked at her for a moment. "Hmm."

Suddenly remembering something, Meng Yuning crawled toward the head of the bed and moved the bunch of wildflowers near her pillow closer to him. "These flowers are quite fragrant. Your Highness, smell them."

Qi Jingyan recalled the scene earlier that day when she had snatched the flowers back from him, and he was momentarily speechless. He understood now: this girl was not only a flatterer but also someone who only sought help when she needed it. He didn't want to speak, but seeing her large, dark eyes still fixed on him, waiting for a response, he let out a hum.

Receiving a reply, Meng Yuning smiled and crawled back to her spot. "Then let's leave them on your side."

Qi Jingyan said, "Hmm."

"Goodnight, Your Highness."

"Goodnight."

Both thought it would be a night of uninterrupted sleep until dawn, but unexpectedly, a torrential downpour began in the middle of the night. The cabin windows had no paper coverings, and the rain blew in without obstruction, landing directly on Meng Yuning’s face. She woke with a start and sat bolt upright.

Seeing the situation, she hurriedly jumped to the floor and gathered her bedding and baggage. She spun around, not knowing where to put them, and stood there holding them, complaining softly, "Oh dear, why did it have to rain? How are we supposed to sleep now?"

Qi Jingyan reached out. "Put them on my side for now."

Surprised that he was awake, Meng Yuning handed the items over. Just as she finished putting on her shoes, she heard the voices of Mu Feng and the others outside.

"Quick, collect it all, don't let it get wet!"

"And those fish, they were almost dried; go get them back!"

"Mu Shan, go collect the mushrooms!"...

Meng Yuning turned to run outside, crying, "Oh no, the dried goods are still out there!"

Qi Jingyan grabbed her wrist. "Do not panic, Mu Feng and the others are collecting them."

Meng Yuning was still anxious. "I'll go help."

Qi Jingyan did not let go. "Your body is weak; you'll get sick if you get soaked."

Unable to leave, she realized he was right and nodded. "I won't go. Your Highness, please let go of my wrist."

His grip seemed light, but she had struggled twice and could not break free. Qi Jingyan glanced down at their hands and released her.

Before long, it grew quiet outside; they had clearly finished. Meng Yuning looked at her bed, which was already half-soaked, and at the rain growing heavier outside the window, and couldn't help but sigh.

Well, there would be no good sleep for her tonight. She looked around, picked up the quilt she had placed on Qi Jingyan’s bed, walked to the wheelchair in the corner, draped the quilt over herself, sat down, kicked off her shoes, pulled her legs up onto the seat, and rested her chin on her knees, intending to make do for the night.

Qi Jingyan watched silently as the girl curled into a ball on the wheelchair, speechless for a long time. She was certainly good at making the best of a bad situation.

A while later, just as Meng Yuning was drifting off, she heard Qi Jingyan speak in a low voice: "Ah Ning."

Meng Yuning looked up. "Yes?"

Qi Jingyan's voice was gentle. "Come over here and sleep."

Meng Yuning looked at him, bewildered. "Sleep where?"