To Be A Virtuous Wife

21

When Qu Qing Ju walked out of the study, it was more than an hour later. She adjusted the slightly askew hairpins and narrowed her eyes to smile at the western sunset at the doorway. When she turned back, she saw the shadow of He Heng standing straight by the desk.

A person in the dark, a person in the light. They always will find the other exceptionally dazzling. When He Heng raised his head, it just happened that he saw the smile and his eyes were blinded. Unexpectedly, feelings of amazement rose. He seemed to understand "a beauty melt's one's heart with her coquettish smile."[1]

"Wang fei," Yu Zan came forward and wrapped a thin cloak around Qu Qing Ju. She bent to tighten the cloak. "It's cold outside, wang fei has to take care of her body."

Slightly raising her chin to let Yu Zan finish adjusting, Qu Qing Ju laughed: "You yahuan, are you all really thinking of me as a porcelain doll?"

"Wang fei has been ill recently. Nubiand the others were very worried. Even though all is well, there's still a need to be careful." Yu Zan tied off the cloak and smiled as she bent in a bow. She moved to Qu Qing Ju's side and supported her hand.

Qu Qing Ju shook her head in amusement and stepped onto the stone stairs, "I remember I have an unfinished pouch to embroider, let's return."

Ming He watched as wang fei left with a herd of yahuan. He bowed along with the other servants, calling: "Wang fei take care."

Qu Qing Ju stopped in her steps to turn and nod at him before continuing forward.

Just this little action, it suddenly decreased the distance between Ming He and wang fei. The status embodied by wang fei. For her to nod at him, that was a great honor. He turned to look inside the study, walking to the door way and inquired: "Wang ye, The Department of Household Affairs delivered some lamb from the Northern borders. Master can have a bit of a taste."

"Get somebody to prepare meats and vegetables and deliver it to zhengyuan. Ben wang and wang feiwill eat hotpot together," He Heng walked to the door. He looked at Ming He before adding, "A while earlier, didn't one of the Eastern Commandery official present some roe deer and other game meat, get them to prepare it carefully. Wang feimentioned a few days ago she wanted to eat hotpot. With the weather now, it's a good time to do so."

"Nucai will go order it immediately," Ming He bowed and retreated. He sped up as he left the yard. On his way, he had to tell this to zhengyuanso wang fei wouldn't be surprised.

To eat hotpot inside in the winter was a very satisfying experience. Even more so when the food were very fresh and there was no need to worry about pesticides or loss of texture from freezing it.

Picking up an authentic wild mushroom and putting it in the bowl, she dipped it into the prepared top-notch seasoning. One bite, rich and spicy, it was unspeakably enjoyable.

Qu Qing Ju didn't like lamb, but the preparation of the lamb meat this time was very good. She could only taste the smooth and fine texture of the lamb and there was no rank odor. The mountain chicken was tender, the shrimp succulent, and the deer and game meat that was rarely eaten in her previous life, Qu Qing Ju couldn't resist but eating those too.

He Heng stared with shock at the disappearance of dish after dish of food. This was the first time he saw a woman who had this hearty of an appetite. He thought he had seen many different kinds of women, but seeing Qu Qing Ju's chopsticks wielded with such precision, speed and strength. This kind of woman, he had never encountered before.

At the end, Qu Qing Ju swiped the mushroom on her chopsticks before swallowing and setting them down. She rinsed her hands and mouth before exclaiming: "It's been so long since I've eaten so freely, has qiescared wang ye?"