The Lucky Heiress

“I was returning from the wilderness, and was caught in the heavy snow. Continuing the journey would have been too dangerous, so I decided to rest here.” replied Wei Ruo.

Lu Yuhong then inquired: “Do you plan on making a camp here?”

“Yes, the snowstorm is severe, and traveling is unpredictably dangerous. This place is open, without the risk of avalanches, and as long as we make sure to keep warm, staying put and resting should be relatively safe.” Wei Ruo analyzed.

Indeed, it made sense, and all six of them showed approval.

However, that would be predicated on having enough supplies.

Just like their current situation…

Wei Ruo asked: “Why are you guys here?”

Yuan Wangyuan, who was next to Lu Yuhong, answered for the group: “We set off down the mountain just as it started to snow in the morning. At that time, we didn’t expect the snowfall to be so heavy. We thought we could hurry down to the stables at the foot of the mountain, retrieve our horses, and swiftly make it back to town. However, by the time we reached the foot of the mountain, the accumulated snow was already thick, and it would be more dangerous to go back up. So, we decided to ride back to town, but we hadn’t gone far before we were unable to move forward.”

Yuan Wangyuan’s face showed difficulty as he spoke.

Wei Ruo astutely picked up on the group’s predicament. With such heavy snow, not only were their clothes thin, they only had a few horses and probably didn’t bring much food.

So Wei Ruo took the initiative: “If you don’t mind, you can rest in my tent and warm up by the fire.”

We Ruo’s proactive invitation spared them from the embarrassment of having to ask themselves.

“Really?” Liu Yu asked, seemingly surprised.

“Of course,” Wei Ruo replied.

Lu Yuhong laughed: “What are you saying, Liu Yu? Brother Yichen is here, they’re blood siblings, what are you afraid of with him around?”

Liu Yu chuckled: “True, Brother Yichen is here, but we have no familial or personal relationship with Miss Wei. We’re indeed grateful to be accepted.”

“That’s a fair point!”

As Lu Yuhong said this, he unfastened the Jade Pendant from his waist, intending to give it to Wei Ruo as a token of appreciation.

Wei Ruo naturally wouldn’t accept it.

Wei Yichen stopped Lu Yuhong: “Brother Lu, it’s inappropriate for men and women to exchange personal items.”

Lu Yuhong was taken aback before realizing that men giving their Jade Pendants to women was indeed a highly improper gesture.

So he laughed awkwardly: “I’m sorry, Miss Wei. I didn’t mean to disrespect you. My mind just wasn’t thinking straight. I just wanted to express my gratitude.”

Wei Ruo, knowing Lu Yuhong’s blunt nature, wasn’t going to take that to heart.

“There’s no need to be formal, Mr. Lu. Find a place to sit for now, while Meimei and I cook a pot of meat soup. It will help everyone warm up.”

After explaining to the group, Wei Ruo went back to the carriage to get the supplies.

Once Wei Ruo was inside the carriage, Yuan Wangyuan turned to the silent Xiu Fengyuan with an amused smirk: “Brother Xiu, if you have something to say, you should just say it. Don’t stifle it.”

“I have nothing to say,” Xiu Fengyuan replied.

“Brother Xiu, your mouth can lie, but the way you were looking at Miss Wei cannot.”

“Brother Yuan, I’ll go find some stones to use as seats. Would you mind settling our horses?”

Xiu Fengyuan changed the subject, handed his horse’s reins to Yuan Wangyuan, then walked away.

Yuan Wangyuan shook his head with a resigned smile, then his gaze landed on the equally silent Wei Yichen.

It was strange. It was understandable that Xiu Fengyuan acted reservedly around Miss Wei, but why was Wei Yichen also silent?

Though they were blood siblings, they didn’t seem close. Wei Yichen’s relationship with Miss Wei seemed even less familiar than Lu Yuhong’s with her.

Soon, Xiu Fengyuan came back with the stones, and the horses were also settled around the tent.

After everyone sat down by the fire to warm up, a tantalizing aroma wafted from the hot pot.

Lu Yuhong was the first one who couldn’t hold back. As he sniffed the alluring scent of the food, he asked Wei Ruo who had just climbed down from the carriage:

“Miss Wei, what are you cooking in this pot? It smells so good.”

“Lamb soup. It’s cold out, and the lamb soup can keep us warm.” Wei Ruo answered.

“It smells amazing! I’m getting really hungry,” Lu Yuhong said.

“That must be because you’re hungry, Mr. Lu,” Wei Ruo replied.

“Though I am hungry, there is no doubt that your lamb soup smells delicious,” Lu Yuhong remarked.

Yuan Wangyuan teased from the aside: “Mr. Lu, make sure you don’t sneak a bite.”

Lu Yuhong retorted irritably: “Rest assured, I will not touch anything before Miss Wei says it’s ready to eat. To try food before it’s ready is to disrespect it.”

Wei Ruo chuckled, then passed a cloth bag to Lu Yuhong.

“You can warm this up in the fire pot, and then have it with the lamb soup.” Wei Ruo suggested.

Lu Yuhong opened the cloth bag, revealing a pile of pancakes bigger than their faces.

Without hesitation, everyone took one.

While the group was heating up their pancakes, Xiumei brought out a few coats and blankets for everyone.

“These coats are designed for females, but they are new and never worn. If you don’t mind, you can wear them to keep warm,” Wei Ruo explained.

Everyone took a coat without hesitation or negotiation and wrapped it around themselves.

Compared to manners and face-saving, life was undoubtedly more important.

With the coats and blankets, as well as the heat from the fire, they all felt much warmer.

A while later, the lamb soup was ready. Wei Ruo served a bowl for each person, and each bowl had two large pieces of lamb.

Seeing the bowls and chopsticks Wei Ruo had just brought out, Lu Yuhong couldn’t help but exclaim: “Miss Wei, you have everything in your carriage.”

“I often travel to the wilderness where supplies are scarce, so I got into the habit of being fully prepared,” Wei Ruo explained.

Actually, not all of those items were in the carriage. Even a large carriage had limited space, so it was impossible to carry every possible item, especially something as perishable as lamb, which would spoil in a few days.

“You are truly foresighted, Miss Wei. It’s thanks to you that we can keep warm in this weather,” Yuan Wangyuan gauged.

Wei Ruo smiled: “Drink while it’s still hot.”

Without hesitation, everyone started sipping the steamy soup.

They couldn’t tell whether they were just too hungry, or Wei Ruo’s lamb soup was exceptionally delicious, but an expression of pure satisfaction spread over their faces.

“Miss Wei, your lamb soup is simply amazing! It is the best I have ever tasted! And this pancake, it’s even better than other places!” Lu Yuhong exclaimed in praise.