Lanyin went to the kitchen.
It was dinner time, and the kitchen was bustling with activity. Among them, Mama Zheng, the kitchen manager, saw someone approaching with an umbrella from afar. The umbrella’s brim was tilted downward, obscuring the woman’s face, revealing only a glimpse of striking red lips and a delicate, fair chin, extending to a slender neck. Thinking it was a maid from the master’s side, Mama Zheng stood at the doorway and smiled, “You’ve come at just the right time, miss. I was about to send someone to ask what the master would like for dinner.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the umbrella tilted upward, and through the curtain of rain, Mama Zheng caught a clear view of the visitor. Her eyes widened in shock, and after a moment of realization, she exclaimed, “Oh my!” and hurriedly stepped out into the rain to greet her. “Why have you come in person?”
She offered to hold the umbrella for Lanyin.
But Lanyin simply smiled and said, “No need.” She even shifted the oil-paper umbrella slightly toward Mama Zheng to shield her from the rain.
Mama Zheng was both flustered and touched, quickly ushering Lanyin into the kitchen.
The other women in the kitchen were also stunned by Lanyin’s arrival. After paying their respects, Mama Zheng asked, “If the master had any instructions, you could have sent someone to relay them. Why trouble yourself to come in person on such a rainy day?”
“I had nothing to do in my room anyway.”
Lanyin allowed Mama Zheng to take the umbrella and glanced around the kitchen, casually asking, “What ingredients do we have?”
“Chen Fu brought some chickens raised on the estate this morning. We used half of one to make chicken soup at noon, and there’s still half left. There are also a few fresh live fish, some spring bamboo shoots and wild vegetables offered by the estate workers, and a piece of pork.” After listing everything, Mama Zheng noticed Lanyin’s thoughtful expression and was surprised. “Are you… planning to cook yourself?”
Lanyin nodded.
Though Mama Zheng and the others were astonished, they dared not dampen her enthusiasm. As Lanyin moved forward, they followed behind, ready to assist.
This wasn’t Lanyin’s first time cooking.
She had learned from the maids in the Wang family during her youth. Her grandmother was picky and had stomach issues, refusing to listen to anyone’s advice. Only when Lanyin cooked for her would she reluctantly eat, not wanting to waste her granddaughter’s effort.
Later, after marrying Xiao Ye, she had also cooked, though that was a long time ago.
Now, she was preparing to cook again, but this time for someone she had only met a few times and could hardly call familiar.
…
By the time Ting Yun returned from delivering a message to the Tingyu Pavilion, only Shi Yu was in the room.
Shi Yu was sitting on a chair, holding an embroidery hoop, lost in thought. Ting Yun, brushing rainwater off her clothes with a handkerchief, couldn’t help but chuckle, “What are you thinking about so deeply?” She glanced around the room and, not seeing their mistress, assumed she was resting in the inner chamber, so she unconsciously lowered her voice. “Is the mistress resting?”
“…No.”
Shi Yu shook her head, still seeming a bit dazed.
Ting Yun frowned, about to ask more, when Shi Yu suddenly stood up, clutching the embroidery hoop. She leaned closer to Ting Yun, wanting to speak but first glanced outside. Then, pulling Ting Yun’s arm, she took a few steps further into the room and whispered, “The mistress went to the kitchen.” Seeing Ting Yun’s equally surprised expression, she added, “Don’t you think the mistress seems to treat this Lord Qi a bit differently?”
First, she invited him to take shelter from the rain, then asked him to stay for a while, and now she’s even gone to the kitchen herself.
“Don’t you think…” Shi Yu hesitated, her expression uncertain, “that the mistress might…”
Before she could finish, her forehead was lightly tapped. She let out a soft “hmph,” holding her forehead as she looked at Ting Yun, who said, “What are you thinking? We’ve been with the mistress since we were young. Don’t we know what she’s thinking and doing?”
“But this time, the mistress left without warning, and we didn’t expect it either, did we?” Shi Yu muttered softly.
Ting Yun was momentarily speechless.
It was undeniable that the mistress had indeed been acting a bit differently these past two days. But no matter how different she seemed, she was still their mistress. Ting Yun chided gently, “Don’t overthink things. We’re with the mistress every day. She’s never met this Lord Qi before. If she’s treating him with special regard, it’s probably because he’s a good official.”
Though it seemed unlikely, it was still the most plausible explanation.
She warned Shi Yu, “The mistress has just left the Earl’s residence. Don’t say anything careless that might upset her.”
“I wouldn’t!” Shi Yu pouted, displeased. “I’m just worried that others might think too much and ruin the mistress’s reputation.”
Ting Yun lowered her gaze, deep in thought. “Later, I’ll go and remind everyone to keep their mouths shut. You should also talk to Song Yue and have him keep an eye on the people in the outer courtyard. We can’t let those disloyal servants tarnish the mistress’s reputation.”
After Shi Yu agreed and left, Ting Yun stayed in the room for a while longer before taking a cloak from the rack and heading to the kitchen.
The spring rain fell softly.
The cooking smoke was shrouded in mist, making it hard to see clearly.
Only the brightly lit room and the faint, swaying shadows visible through the white gauze curtains hinted at the lively activity inside. Ting Yun pushed aside her thoughts and walked over. Just as a familiar maid called out to her, the woman in green standing by the stove, sleeves rolled up and holding a ladle, turned to look at her.
“Why have you come?”
“I brought you a cloak,” Ting Yun said with a smile, putting the umbrella aside and walking over. “Do you need my help?”
“No, it’s almost done.”
Ting Yun nodded, glancing at the dishes laid out nearby: plum blossom soup noodles, mountain-style three delicacies, plum spare ribs, and a steaming pot of bamboo shoot and fern dumplings. These were all rustic dishes, not particularly luxurious, but each required careful preparation—especially the plum blossom soup noodles, which were the most time-consuming.
The mistress truly valued this Lord Qi.
But why?
Ting Yun had doubts in her heart, but she didn’t ask. If the mistress was willing to explain, she would do so naturally. If not, there was no need to trouble her further.
“Find someone to take this over.”
After Lanyin finished ladling the dumplings into a bowl, she instructed someone to pack them into a food container.
“I’ll take it,” Ting Yun said, stopping the maid from following. After helping Lanyin fasten her cloak, she personally picked up the food container and held an umbrella to escort Lanyin back to the courtyard.
Lanyin was well aware of why Ting Yun was acting this way.
She was afraid that others might find out these dishes were prepared for Qi Yubai, and that they might speculate and damage Lanyin’s reputation. Lanyin felt a warmth in her heart. Among her maids, Ting Yun and Shi Yu were undoubtedly both capable and loyal. She knew Ting Yun had questions, but this time, she couldn’t provide her with answers.
Ting Yun didn’t need her to explain either.
Upon returning to the courtyard, Ting Yun first served Lanyin her meal, then had Shi Yu attend to the mistress before personally carrying the food container to the outer courtyard.
When she arrived, Qi Yubai was reading. He held a copy of Shui Jing Zhu (Commentary on the Water Classic) in his hand, and on the table lay a brush and another book. He was making annotations and corrections based on both the text and his own travels from his past life.
The book was quite old, and many of the rivers mentioned had either dried up, changed names, or merged into other waterways. There were also newly formed rivers, but Qi Yubai hadn’t yet been able to document them all.
The Great Zhou dynasty was vast, with numerous mountains and rivers. While a large territory was a sign of prosperity, the abundance of rivers also posed challenges. If the waterways weren’t dredged and managed in time, there was not only the risk of flooding but also difficulties in irrigating farmland.
This was especially true in regions like Jiangsu and Zhejiang, which were prone to typhoons. If not properly managed, the disaster that had struck Duanzhou in the past might well befall Jiangsu and Zhejiang in the future.
In his previous life, after becoming the Chief Councillor, Qi Yubai’s primary tasks, aside from reforming the bureaucracy, had been managing flood control projects across the country. Though he was now in a lowly position and such matters were not his responsibility, he still wanted to expedite these efforts, even if he wasn’t the one to carry them out.
“Master, someone has brought food.”
Hearing footsteps outside, Tianqing glanced out the door, while Zhusheng, who had been standing straight, immediately hunched his back. He no longer wanted to draw attention to himself, minimizing his presence to avoid causing trouble for his master.
Thus, it was Tianqing who went to greet Ting Yun.
“Thank you for making the trip, miss,” Tianqing said with a smile as he took the food container from Ting Yun. Noticing that she didn’t leave immediately after delivering the message, he gave her a curious look. “Is there something else?”
Ting Yun didn’t speak, her gaze instead shifting toward Qi Yubai.
Looking at the man in green sitting quietly under the lamp, reading, Ting Yun felt a wave of hesitation. But thinking of her mistress’s reputation, she bit her lip and softly called out, “Sir.”
Qi Yubai turned his head.
His face was as calm as ever, his eyes devoid of much emotion as he looked at her and asked, “Is there something you need?”
Ting Yun didn’t dare meet his gaze. She lowered her head and, mustering her courage, stammered, “Our household has strict rules, and the inner courtyard is reserved for women. Sir…”
She spoke haltingly, her hands nervously clutching the hem of her dress. Before she could finish, Qi Yubai interjected, “I will leave after finishing dinner.”
Ting Yun was stunned. She even forgot her fear and looked up.
“Is there anything else?” The man’s voice was calm and even, showing no sign of anger or displeasure.
Ting Yun shook her head.
As Qi Yubai turned his attention back to his book, she hesitated, biting her lip. “Sir, I…”
“It’s fine. Go back.”
Qi Yubai continued flipping through the book in his hand without turning his head again.
Ting Yun bowed deeply to him before turning to leave. After she left, Tianqing silently set the table, while Zhusheng couldn’t help but express his dissatisfaction. “That maid is too much! The mistress already allowed you to stay. How could she take it upon herself to ask you to leave?”
He felt indignant on behalf of his master, who had worked so hard to get this opportunity.
For once, Tianqing didn’t scold Zhusheng.
“It was never appropriate to begin with,” Qi Yubai said calmly, still flipping through his book, his expression unreadable.
Even without Ting Yun’s words, he had already planned to leave. His visit today had two purposes: first, to satisfy his long-hidden desire to be closer to her, and second, to gauge her situation. From her attitude, it seemed she had also been reborn after death; otherwise, she wouldn’t have treated him this way. Of course, he wanted to be close to her, as close as possible. But if he stayed overnight, rumors were bound to spread. After all, this estate wasn’t populated solely by her trusted confidants.
He couldn’t let his personal feelings tarnish her reputation. Besides, what he wanted from her was never her guilt or compensation.
“…Master!”
Zhusheng was unhappy with his response.
Tianqing, however, shook his head at Zhusheng to silence him. Once Zhusheng quieted down, Tianqing turned to Qi Yubai and said, “Master, let’s eat first.” He smiled. “Miss Gu’s people are truly impressive. These dishes look exquisite, especially this bowl of plum blossom soup noodles. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
At the mention of “plum blossom soup noodles,” Qi Yubai, who had been writing, suddenly paused.
He closed his book and stood up. When he saw the familiar bowl of soup noodles, his dark eyes softened, and under the glow of the lamp, they seemed to shimmer with a gentle light.
“It’s not someone else.”
“What?”
Tianqing was momentarily confused, but when he noticed the smile on Qi Yubai’s lips, he understood. “It’s… Miss Gu?”
“Yes.”
Hearing this, Zhusheng’s sullen expression also lifted. He hurried over and, seeing the dishes, suddenly felt that his master’s years of effort hadn’t been in vain. He smiled but couldn’t help asking curiously, “But why would the mistress personally cook for you?”
Qi Yubai didn’t answer. Instead, he began to taste the dishes Lanyin had prepared for him.
The first time he had eaten plum blossom soup noodles, it was also made by Lanyin. That day, he had gone to the Wang family to see Chengze, who had smilingly offered him a taste. Qi Yubai had never been one to indulge in food—no matter how exquisite, it all seemed the same to him. Besides, he had already eaten lunch that day and was about to decline when Chengze said, “This was made by my little cousin. I had to beg my grandmother to share a bit with me.”
After that, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
Years had passed, and Qi Yubai had thought he had long forgotten the taste of that plum blossom soup noodles. But now… as he looked at the delicate plum-shaped noodles floating in the blue-and-white porcelain bowl, he said softly, “It still tastes the same as before.”
Except that last time, he had eaten what she made for someone else. This time, it was made for him.
Qi Yubai’s heart softened immensely.
Sitting alone under the lamp, he ate by himself as he had always done, yet he felt no loneliness. After finishing his meal, he kept his earlier promise and did not linger. Before leaving, however, he specifically instructed Zhusheng, “Stay behind and keep an eye on whether anyone in the estate is spreading rumors. If there are, don’t act rashly. If she hasn’t noticed, find a way to discreetly inform her.”
Zhusheng, who had been looking for an opportunity to make up for his earlier mistake, eagerly accepted the task.
Qi Yubai then left with Tianqing.
As he boarded the carriage, he gazed through the light rain at the brightly lit estate, imagining what she might be doing at that moment. But when Song Yue glanced over, he quickly concealed his thoughts, nodding slightly before lowering the carriage curtain.
The carriage departed.
Song Yue returned to the house.
Meanwhile, Lanyin, who had just finished her dinner, finally received the news.
“He left?”
She was momentarily stunned.
Ting Yun, on the other hand, quietly breathed a sigh of relief, though she had to admit that her mistress was right—Lord Qi was indeed a good man. (TL: I kinda don’t like this maid)