The Lucky Heiress

Chapter 501 - 501 Encounter on the Return Journey_1

Chapter 501: Chapter 501 Encounter on the Return Journey_1

They chatted while eating; half an hour passed by, Xiumei brought out a jar of wine.

“Almost forgot about this! A new brew of sweet rice wine from these past few days. Dearest lady, when you and the prince went down the mountain, I with nothing to do stayed on the mountain top, made some of this. As it’s warm these past few days, it’s ripe and fragrant after two or three days, come and taste.”

Xiumei purposefully put the wine in a jar for the convenience of bringing it down the mountain.

“No need.”

“I’m not having any.”

Wei Jinyi and Wei Ruo both simultaneously voiced their refusals.

Drinking spells trouble! Both have made fools of themselves because of alcohol; they dare not drink again.

“What’s wrong, my lady? Is your body not feeling well? You usually have sweet rice wine during summers.” Xiumei asked.

She could understand why the prince would refuse, but why would her lady refuse, too?

“I am already full today.” Wei Ruo excused herself.

Normally she would drink it. The sweet rice wine has a low alcohol level and is sweet. Even if you finish the jar, you wouldn’t get drunk, unless you drink like her second brother does.

However, she mysteriously felt a bit apprehensive in the presence of her second brother.

She couldn’t afford taking risks. She didn’t mind making a fool of herself in front of Meimei, but in front of her second brother…

For some unknown reason, Wei Ruo was somewhat anxious about making a spectacle of herself in her drunken state in front of him, even though she had made a fool of herself in his presence before.

“Oh, okay, then I… .” After glancing at Wei Jinyi, Xiumei promptly decided to give her sweet rice wine to Xiaobei.

As for the prince, because of his low alcohol tolerance, a cup of sweet rice wine could knock him out, so she should not give him any. It is quite a hassle whenever he gets drunk.

Xiaobei happily accepted the sweet rice wine Xiumei handed him, “Thank you, Lady Xiumei.”

As Xiaobei and Xiumei delightedly sipped on their sweet rice wine, Wei Ruo took the opportunity to drink tea with Wei Jinyi.

After they were well-fed and quenched, each of them retired to their rooms for rest and ablutions.

In the dead of night, Wei Ruo woke up, took out Xiumei’s jar of sweet rice wine. Since only Xiaobei and Xiumei had been drinking, there was plenty left in the jar.

She dared not drink in front of her second brother. Yet, when left alone, she could not resist relaxing a bit, especially with just some harmless sweet rice wine.

Wei Ruo opened the window by her bed, sat in front of it and clearly saw the bright moon outside the window.

Shadows of trees wavered, insects chirped.

The beauty of the night was undeniable, and the nighttime wind in the mountains was cool and refreshing, bringing a sense of comfort and pleasure to one’s mind and body.

Wei Ruo poured herself a bowl and leisurely savoured it, looking very satisfied.

Away in the distance, leaning against a tree trunk on the wall, Wei Jinyi stared in the direction where Wei Ruo was.

He simply watched her without interrupting or letting Wei Ruo discover his presence.

###

Wei Ruo and Wei Jinyi stayed in Hejian Prefecture for more than half a month, not only did they finish all the things as planned but also took some time out for sightseeing and enjoying the nature.

Before leaving, Wei Ruo handed over all the necessary matters related to the estate and the nearby cotton fields to Shi Dayou to handle.

He is already the village chief of Stone Village, good at farming and managing villagers, with experience in management. He is also clear about the basic knowledge of farming; he can solve some minor problems on his own.

So, Wei Ruo felt he would be more suited as a manager on the estate rather than working in a shop.”

Most of the villagers from Stone Village who had followed them were working in the factory, leaving behind only a couple of them by Shi Dayou’s side to work, so Dayou would have to hire long-term and short-term workers for farming tasks.

Wei Ruo instructed Shi Dayou to give priority to those who were homeless. Over the years, the grain production in various places had not been good, resulting in many displaced people.

It’s not that these people work harder, so Wei Ruo is willing to employ them. There are diligent and honest people everywhere, as well as those who loaf on the job and try to evade their duties. Wei Ruo just hoped to accommodate as many displaced people as possible, helping more people who were starving and freezing.

After hearing Wei Ruo’s arrangement, Shi Dayou fully agreed and was filled with enthusiasm.

Being a farmer himself, he was well aware of what ordinary people who have lost their land and homes and couldn’t find enough food, would turn into.

When he didn’t have the ability, he never had such thoughts. Now that Master Xu had given him an opportunity, he felt happy and honored.

As for the coal mine, Wei Ruo let Wei Jinyi arrange the people to manage it.

Because the coal mine was not her private property, it was purchased in the name of King Rui Residence, the purchase cost was shared half by Wei Ruo and Wei Jinyi.

At the time of purchase, Wei Ruo has stated that she would split the accounts fifty-fifty with Wei Jinyi, so she simply let Wei Jinyi arrange the manpower.

Wei Jinyi agreed, took this matter very seriously and entrusted it to Zhang Yi to handle.

Zhang Yi certainly dared not be negligent, promised Wei Ruo he would do his best to manage the mines.

Wei Ruo gave Zhang Yi some additional instructions, she wanted Zhang Yi to pay special attention to the safety of the miners, the safety measures needed to be put in place, not to exploit the labor of workers, to provide adequate rest time each day, to give appropriate wages and to provide plenty of food.

Zhang Yi accepted all conditions one by one, also remembered them by heart.

###

On the 25th of July, Wei Ruo and Wei Jinyi embarked on their journey back to Capital City.

Again, in the relatively barren area between Hejian Prefecture and Capital City border, Wei Ruo claimed that she needed to fetch the freshest spring water for Wei Jinyi to brew medicine, causing the convoy to change course.

Then suddenly in the woods, they were not surprisingly ambushed.

A group of masked men in black had been hiding in the area, and when the convoy passed by, they launched an attack, prompting a fight with the guards of the Wang Residence and the Imperial Guards.

The Wang Residence guards and the Imperial Guards sent by the Emperor were elite soldiers, but these attackers were equally skilled, and both sides were evenly matched.

Outside the carriage, the sound of swords and sabers clashing was heart-stopping;

Inside the carriage, Wei Jinyi and Wei Ruo were leisurely drinking in a relaxed and carefree manner.

After a fierce fight, the attacking thieves fled in disarray.

Immediately following this, High Steward came to the carriage to inquire about Wei Jinyi and Wei Ruo’s wellbeing.

“Prince, Queen, the thieves have been repelled. Were you startled?”

“No harm done.” Wei Jinyi replied in a slow and low voice.

“As long as the prince is not frightened, this attack will be truthfully reported to the emperor by us, and the matter will be thoroughly investigated!” the High Steward said.

“Hmm.” Wei Jinyi responded, then asked, “Did any of you get injured?”

“Well…” The High Steward hesitated and then said, “The others are fine, but as for Doctor Xu… He is no more…”

“Got it.” Wei Jinyi’s voice was cold.

He was supposed to be playing a man with a death sentence who was disheartened, so when hearing the news of someone’s death, he should not react too strongly.

We Jinyi then said, “As it’s getting late, let’s prepare the convoy to continue on our journey.”

“Yes, we will follow your orders.”

The High Steward received the orders, retreated and promptly arranged for everyone to move on.

After the High Steward retreated, Wei Ruo and Wei Jinyi shared a look. Everything was understood without being spoken.