The Lucky Heiress

“I hope that Boss Sun can give me a chance,” said Wei Ruo.

“You ask me for an opportunity but refuse to budge on the price.”

“Please don’t take it the wrong way, Boss Sun. The materials were hard to come by, so I simply can’t lower the price,” said Wei Ruo.

Sighing, Sun San’niang said, “All right, all right. Given the quality of your material, I agree to your price. However, it’s based on the condition that all materials you bring later are of this quality. If any are subpar, I won’t accept them.”

Knowing well that the materials were not just exceptional but also unique, Sun San’niang felt that the price she paid was justified. Her previous words were just tactics of negotiating and bargaining.

Seeing Wei Ruo’s unwavering stance, Sun San’niang didn’t try to haggle further, fearing that if she did, the deal might fall through.

“I will deliver the materials in a few days, Boss Sun. Please inspect them in person,” Wei Ruo proposed.

“Agreed,” Sun San’niang affirmed.

By the time Wei Ruo finished speaking with Sun San’niang, Wei Qingwan and Lady Bai had already left Caiyun Room.

Wei Ruo made sure to check the condition of all the employees in the store, and once ensuring that no one was feeling ill, she left.

Since it was already late, Wei Ruo and Xiumei went back to the house they came from, changed clothes, and got back into the carriage.

“Madam, did the two guards who followed us ask you about my whereabouts?”

In the carriage, Wei Ruo asked Nanny Zhang.

“They asked several times, but I didn’t say anything. I just told them to be patient and that you’d return when your task was completed,” replied Nanny Zhang.

“That’s good.”

“But miss, they might report this to the Madam when they get back,” warned Nanny Zhang.

“There’s no need to worry about that. Let them report it if they want to,” replied Wei Ruo calmly.

Wei Ruo had no fear of these guards getting suspicious or of having to confront Madam about their report.

She didn’t care about her reputation being ruined. On the contrary, it was the Loyal and Righteous Duke Residence that worried about her reputation.

So, when these guards reported to the Madam, she would likely ask them to keep quiet.

At this point, the seniors wouldn’t punish her for anything. At the most, they’d restrict her from going out the next time.

It was late when Wei Ruo returned to the mansion. She had her dinner in Changchun Garden.

Her meals had improved over the past few days and the dishes sent from the main kitchen were not just fresh, but also abundant.

After dinner, Wei Ruo heard that doctors were summoned for Lady Bai and Wei Qingwan.

Since their return, they and their maids had developed itchy red rashes all over their bodies for unknown reasons.

Lady Bai was seen crying and screaming in discomfort. She was so itchy that she even tore her clothes off.

Wei Qingwan was no better. She was seen weeping a lot and rolling on her bed. Lady Yun was sweating profusely due to the worry and even the Madam was disturbed and went to see them personally.

Now, with the doctor yet to arrive, no one in the house knew what was wrong with them and whether they’d contracted some strange disease.

Xiumei chuckled softly behind her hand, “What disease? This is the effect of the medicine the mistress specially prepared!”

Just then in Caiyun Room, Wei Ruo had applied the medicinal powder to the fabric that Wei Qingwan had chosen. Naturally, when Wei Qingwan and Lady Bai touched the fabric again, they came into contact with the medicinal powder.

Anyone who comes into contact with this powder breaks out in itchy rashes. While it’s unbearable, it isn’t life-threatening and usually fades within two to three days.

Before leaving Caiyun Room, Wei Ruo made sure none of the employees felt unwell, just in case they touched the fabric again. She did not want any innocent people to suffer.

If anyone accidentally came into contact with it, Wei Ruo had the antidote. The symptoms would disappear immediately after taking it.

Later, Xiumei went out to find out what was happening and discovered that the doctor the Wei family had summoned couldn’t identify the cause of Lady Bai and Wei Qingwan’s condition. Only some general medication for rashes was prescribed for them to take.

Lady Bai and Wei Qingwan had a tough night, crying and fussing until dawn.

The next day, while there was some relief, the rashes didn’t fade. The medication prescribed by the doctor wasn’t effective.

Everybody in the mansion was anxious, especially for Wei Qingwan. They feared her rashes wouldn’t heal, that she may fall deathly ill, or that the rashes would leave scars, making it challenging to explain to Prince Yu.

After three days, the rashes on Lady Bai and Wei Qingwan finally cleared without leaving any scars. Only then did the Wei family breathed a sigh of relief.

2

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Twentieth of February.

Xiu Fengyuan visited Wei Yichen.

With the civil service examination approaching, Xiu Fengyuan had come to Capital City to take the test.

Xiu Fengyuan should have been concentrating on preparing for the examination at his place at that time but instead, he came to find Wei Yichen.

In Wei Yichen’s study, Xiu Fengyuan sat somberly. His handsome face bore a sullen expression, a faint glow of anger in his brow.

“Why did you not stop it? Are you just going to allow Ruoruo to be arranged into such a marriage?” Xiu Fengyuan questioned Wei Yichen.

Before departing for the Capital City, he had heard about the plans of the Loyal and Righteous Duke Residence to betroth Wei Ruo to the almost sixty-year-old Marquis Xuanping as a surrogate wife. This news had deeply angered and upset him.

Upon arriving in Capital City, he learnt that Wei Ruo had been betrothed by an imperial decree to the ninth prince who was nearing death. This news left him feeling bitter and conflicted.

Despite thinking it over time and again, he still felt restless. Hence, he decided to meet with Wei Yichen to clarify matters.

Xiu Fengyuan said with bitterness and regret in his voice, “I chose to abandon and yield, not to see her become a surrogate wife or marry a dying man. She should marry someone better than me, someone who can protect her!”

Wei Yichen, expressionless, responded, “Brother Xiu, you’re too impulsive. Now is a crucial time for examination preparation. You should not be distracted by these matters.”

Xiu Fengyuan stared at Wei Yichen in confusion, “I’m an outsider, but Ruoruo is your sister, a person who twice saved your life. Why are you so indifferent towards her?”

Wei Yichen looked at Xiu Fengyuan with an indifferent expression, “What do you think I could have done, Brother Xiu? Who can change an imperial decree? Even if that weren’t the case, regarding the earlier marriage arrangement with the Marquis Xuanping Residence, we’d have been just as powerless to change anything.”

Xiu Fengyuan fell silent, “But… how about Ruoruo? She… does she really have to marry and become a widow? How could we bear that?”

Just the thought of Wei Ruo having to marry someone on the verge of death made him feel as if there was a huge rock pressing against his chest.

“If you wish to protect someone, Brother Xiu, you must first make yourself stronger. Otherwise, it’s all empty talk. For the both of us, the best way to protect our family is to perform well in our examinations, become governmental officials and not waste our time on meaningless worries.”

Xiu Fengyuan stared confusedly at Wei Yichen.

“So, you aren’t indifferent towards your elder sister, but rather, you know how to protect her?”