Wei got up early to go out to buy supplies for cooking meals, at reflection mansion. Wei wore simple clothing, of light pink shade, with gold drop earring, and hair tied with a ribbon. The clothing wasn't heavy, so she could roam around freely. Wei, Aide Fei and Fu Lin were ready to leave the reflection mansion, when Aide Fei asked, "Madame shall I call for a carriage?"
"Yes please, we will take the carriage to the food street first for breakfast and then go to the outer city for purchase." Instructed Wei. The carriage arrived outside the Xu residence back gate, which is closest to the reflection mansion. The two ladies went inside the carriage while, Fei sat outside on the ledge of the carriage. The streets were bustling in the morning hours. They arrived at the food street when the aromas started tingling the noses. "Madame, I'm starving what shall we eat?" Asked an eager Fei.
Madame Wei : "Just stop ahead."
Lin assisted her lady to step down from the carriage, and Fei paid the carriage. They went to the restaurant at the corner, the shop that connects to Mei'ren. Wei hadn't paid a visit to Madame, but she cannot ditch Fei to meet Madame either. Her arrival at the restaurant itself would reach Madame's ears. Her knowing this much is enough for the time being.
Shopkeeper : "Madame this way."
They sat at a table close to the window on the first floor, private room. "What would you like to order?" Asked the shopkeeper. Even before Fei could open his mouth, Lin ordered.
Fu Lin : "Noodles in chicken stock, fried tripe, mixed vegetable steamed buns, and egg custard. And rice cakes with honey and sesame. That will be all."
Fei : "Woah, you know the dishes in the menu?"
Lin : "Yes! This is Madame and my favourite restaurant. We come here whenever we can."
The server brought green tea with dried rose buds to serve. "Madame likes tea with rose petals, the shopkeepers and all know that here, so they serve it even before we ask," explained Lin to curious Fei.
They had petty little chat, when the servers came in with their order. It was a wholesome treat, visually and taste wise. Fei like the fired tripe so much that one more plate of it and mixed vegetable steamed buns were order.
Shopkeeper : "Madame, your long time friend has called for you at the lotus room."
Madame Wei : "Fei you can continue eating, I'll go greet my friend, take your time."
Fei : "But Madame…"
Madame Wei : "Don't worry, Lin will accompany me. Shopkeeper serve a plate of baked sesame buns with stuffed pork tenderloin, and a jujube date flower cakes please and ginger tea, to the gentleman. If there is anything left pack it."
Shopkeeper : "Yes Madame."
Lin and Wei climbed the stairs to third floor lotus room. Instead of sitting in the conjoining room of Mei'ren, Madame Rong was present at the lotus room of the restaurant itself. Seeing Wei and Lin, Madame Rong got up to hug them. Once they settled down, Madame Rong wanted to know everything.
Madame Wei : "Madame Rong thank you for the most beautiful wedding attire! It was splendid!"
Lin : "I was surprised you picked Madame's dowry everything matched her so well."
Madame Rong : "You underestimate your mother. I wanted it to be extravagant but Wei wouldn't let me.
So, the Aide that accompanied you, didn't come up?"
Fu Lin : "He liked the food here that he ordered seconds. He can really eat a lot and look at him still looking like a grasshopper. He devoured six meat filled buns, when Madame and I could only eat one."
Wei : "Lin and the Aide Fei bicker like little siblings who can't stand each other. That is my entertainment."
Fu Lin : "Maa, you know what happened at the wedding, Madame when she went to the ancestral hall…"
Madame Rong : "I know, my men told me everything that took place there. Your dress being spoiled, you went for a quick change, and Mei seizing the moment to exchange husband…I know all the events that happened on your wedding day. I'm just glad that your husband is not the chancellor, he does not sit well with me."
Fu Lin : "Then you should know that Madame was thrown out the dining table on the first day as the bride after tea ceremony."
Wei : "Lin!"
Madame Rong : "Let her speak."
Lin narrates everything that happened from the night of the wedding day up till yesterday. Also mentioned the reason for them visiting the market.
Madame Rong : "Hmm, I'm sure if you mention this to General, he will surely allow you to make a kitchen in the mansion."
Wei : "Yes."
Wei wasn't sure about mentioning it to General. She didn't wanted to burden a man at war, protecting the nation.
Wei : "Lin go down stairs and pay for the meal before Fei does."
Madame Rong : "My dear take these, mung bean cakes and your favourite rise sesame cakes."
Fu Lin : "Thank you Maa. We'll come soon again to meet you." As soon as Lin left, Madame Rong turned to Wei and asked, "Now tell me why you made my daughter rush out?"
Wei : "This may seem late to address now, but I want your insight. The Eunuch on the day of the wedding decree announcement told me a riddle. I think it was indicating that I should marry General itself. I did not pay much heed to it at the time, because I did not fully comprehend it. The riddle is :
'For what causes destruction is the scorching sun, for what revives the thirst is the moon. One is disgrace, other is pride. How long will tide remain unchanged? For a weed will still stay a weed, even in an ornate vase.'
Now I realise what he actually meant."
Madame Rong : "My child! It is the General, you should have told me this earlier. Emperor is considered the sun, the agricultural lands in the southern state are suffering from terrible drought, it could be indicating to it. And the prince of the previous Emperor, his palace is named 'moon shadow palace.' Your husband is the disgrace and your sister's husband is the pride, but the tide will turn around. There must be something boiling in the court that the royal eunuch was sure about, and your husband maybe the epicentre of it. My advice trade carefully, if he gains power it will be beneficial but it will bring along its own dangers. Take good care of yourself, and be careful at every step. "
Wei : "Yes, I did not tell youths earlier, because I wasn't certain of it myself, besides I just wanted to escape from Lu residence. Did not matter if I married right."
Madame Rong : "My dear, you should stop thinking that good things cannot happen to you. You always go with the flow, do never retaliate, don't live in the shadows. Your married, you now have more freedom, utilise it, don't you think you should stop living in hiding?… My child you deserve happiness. Please care for yourself, you are precious."
Wei never tried to stand out, she had gotten used to living in seclusion, colourless. She thought doing so kept her safe. After her parents died, Wei hasn't opened herself to others, she mostly kept to herself, with her head low and avoiding trouble. Madame Rong fished for her to live and love and enjoy the things in life, she wished that she could gain that happiness from her husband. But Wei will take time, to evolve herself, before she could learn to love and rely on other. She only uttered dimly, "Yes Madame."
At this moment, Fei interrupted their chat, when he entered the room, "Madame, why did you pay for the meal, General will tie me upside down, for letting you pay."
Wei : "Fei meet my friend, Madame Rong."
Fei : "I'm sorry for barging in like this, greetings Madame Rong."
Madame Rong : "No worries, I take no offence. You look like a capable young man. Take good care of these two kids."
Fei : "Yes Madame it is my duty."
Madame Rong: "Very well then, take your leave Wei, Lin'er look after Wei."
With that their meeting with Madame Rong ends, and they head out to outer city for purchasing essentials.