Two hours into breakfast, Zhulan was in the yard cutting eggplant strips with Lady Li when the main gate opened.
Zhulan watched silently as Wang Ru, her head covered in blood, was carried by a guard into the yard. Yao Zheyu apologized, "My carriage struck this young woman. Since the neighbors are all women, it was inappropriate for me to go over, so I had to bring her here. I hope Scholar's wife won't be troubled."
Zhulan tugged at the corner of her mouth. She really didn't want to get involved, but she couldn't refuse given Yao Zheyu's status. She gave a dry laugh and gestured for the guard to carry Wang Ru into the main hall and place her on a chair. She was adamant that Wang Ru wasn't allowed into the house; her room was off-limits and so were her daughter's. "Put two chairs together and lay her across them for now."
Fortunately, the chairs in the house had no armrests and could be put together to accommodate Wang Ru.
