Xi Linxuan considered, “If you eat one every two days, definitely not.”
“How could I eat that much?” Weilin retorted.
“Based on today’s appetite, it’s not impossible,” Xi Linxuan said seriously.
“Then we’ll wait for lambs to be born and raise them endlessly.”
“That’s all we can do. Wei Chenbi, have you learned to cook?” Xi Linxuan asked.
Weilin felt embarrassed, as she wanted to learn but had often been too busy reading reports at night. “I should be able to learn this year!”
“Haven’t improved in needlework either, have you?” Xi Linxuan continued questioning.
Weilin hummed softly, “No improvement, just slightly better than the embroidery on the bedding. How shameful.”
“Yes, quite shameful,” Xi Linxuan agreed, not offering the comforting explanation Weilin expected.
After walking around, Weilin felt hungry again. Perhaps food on the grasslands was especially easy to digest. Missing the deer meat from lunch, Xi Linxuan cooked shrimp and mushroom soup, garnished with delicate purple flower petals, along with dried beef and soft flatbread. Xi Linxuan mentioned that eating too much meat at night was hard to digest, so two pieces of dried meat would suffice.
After eating her fill, Weilin washed and put away the bowls and chopsticks. Knowing water was scarce on the grasslands and having not bathed for days, she felt itchy. Seeing Xi Linxuan looking tired, she decided to wait until tomorrow to mention it.
With the tent’s furnishings being simple and Xi Linxuan diligent about cleaning, Weilin straightened the incense candles. She went outside and saw Xi Linxuan return with an old wooden bucket, steam rising in the lamplight.
The bucket was old, but the water was clear. Weilin was touched, feeling her “old husband” understood her needs.
“Water is precious on the grasslands. You can bathe in the pond when summer is warm,” Xi Linxuan said. “Hurry and wash before the water gets cold!”
Though she was usually served by palace maids, being alone with a complete man, even her “old husband,” made her embarrassed, her face turning red.
Xi Linxuan bent down to check the water temperature. “It’s a bit cool.”
“Did you secure the sheep pen gate?” Weilin asked.
“Yes.”
“Did you feed the dogs?”
“The water’s getting cooler,” Xi Linxuan said.
“Maybe you should go check again,” Weilin suggested.
