Chapter 94
In the dim and quiet room, Fu Wei’s figure was shrouded in darkness, sitting motionlessly at the table, his hands clasped together, seemingly unaware of the passing time.
The night was bitterly cold, yet the chill in the body was nothing compared to the coldness in the heart.
Not knowing how long he had been sitting, the sound of the night watchman’s gong stirred again, only then did Fu Wei's eyes flicker as Yu Ying approached the table.
Yu Ying lit the oil lamp on the table and kindled the small stove, placing a pot of water that had long gone cold on it.
As the water heated, she sat down.
Fu Wei looked at her, “Why did you wake up?”
Yu Ying replied softly, “The night watchman’s call woke me. I thought to have some water, and seeing you still awake, decided to join you.”
She added, “If you can’t sleep, I’ll stay up with you till dawn.”
A smile appeared on Fu Wei's face, “You don’t need to stay up for me. I’ll go to sleep in a bit.”
Yu Ying said, “I’ve slept for a while and I'm not sleepy now, so I can keep you company for a bit.”
After a pause, she suggested, “Since we’re up anyway, why not have some tea and pastries?”
Saying this, she got up and took out some of the tea leaves and pastries they had bought that day.
When she returned, the tea in the pot was already steaming.
She opened the pastries and put some tea leaves in the pot to brew. Soon, the refreshing aroma of tea filled the air.
She slowly poured two cups of tea, and the combination of snacks and tea created a serene atmosphere in the middle of the night.
Fu Wei took a sip of tea, put down his cup, and sighed with an apologetic tone, “I’m sorry for worrying you.”
Yu Ying shook her head, “Caring for each other is a sign of closeness; there’s no need to feel burdened.”
Yu Ying refilled their cups with tea and said softly, “I realize I’ve never really talked to you about my past.”
Fu Wei showed surprise in his eyes as she began to speak about her history.
Yu Ying smiled at him and shared, "Apart from my parents, I have a younger sister who's three years younger than me. My grandparents are also still alive. My family runs an old medical clinic, which I had just inherited before I came here."
Fu Wei listened quietly, gaining some understanding of her era from her mention of inheriting the clinic.
Although he didn't know where she was from or which era she belonged to, he could discern the environment she lived in.
"The place where you lived must have been a peaceful and prosperous time, unlike anything I've ever seen."
Yu Ying nodded, "Indeed, it was a time of peace, without fear of sudden wars or instability."
Seeing her tranquil demeanor as she spoke of her homeland, Fu Wei realized how deeply she yearned for her past.
With this thought, Fu Wei's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze deepening as he said, "If one day, you truly have the choice without any concerns, go back."
That peaceful era would allow her to flourish without worries, surrounded by her loved ones – a stark contrast to this dangerous era they were in, which seemed like a utopia.
On the matter of returning, Yu Ying no longer felt as distressed as before, calmly stating, "No one knows what the future holds, but even if I never get the chance to see the people I long for, I'll make the most of every day."
Fu Wei knew she was trying to help him see things from a different perspective, and he couldn't help but smile gently.
He wondered how much good he had done in his previous life to be so fortunate to meet her, from a different world.
A desire to be close to her welled up in Fu Wei, and he took action.
He called her name softly, "Ah Ying."
Puzzled, Yu Ying uttered a questioning "Hmm?"
"Stand up for a moment," he requested.
Though unsure of his intentions, Yu Ying stood up.
As soon as she did, he also stood and in the next instant, he embraced her tightly, causing Yu Ying to freeze in surprise.
"Ah Ying, let me hold you for a while," he murmured lowly.
Hearing this, Yu Ying willingly accepted his embrace, a slight smile curling her lips as she wrapped her arms around his waist in return.
As Yu Ying wrapped her arms around Fu Wei's waist, she distinctly felt his body tense momentarily before gradually relaxing.
After holding each other for a while, Yu Ying suddenly said, "Fu Wei, I just remembered something."
"Hmm?"
"I think I'm older than you."
Not just think, she definitely was.
Fu Wei smiled, "I don't mind."
"I'm actually four years older than you."
Fu Wei playfully whispered in her ear, "Then should I call you 'Sister'?"
His calling her "Sister" right next to her ear was deep and magnetic, sending a pleasant shiver through Yu Ying.
In that moment, Yu Ying somewhat understood why some men enjoyed being called 'Brother' by women.
Moreover, Fu Wei, usually so composed and restrained, suddenly calling her 'Sister' with such puppy-like adoration was irresistibly charming.
Moved, Yu Ying softly requested, "Say it again, I want to hear it."
A gentle smile filled Fu Wei's eyes as he whispered, "I'll call you that again when you're feeling down next time."
Yu Ying muttered, "But I'm already feeling down right now."
Fu Wei smiled without a word, slightly tightening his arms to embrace her more closely.
——Her comfort, not touching upon the matters he least wanted to mention, was truly soothing.
After a long embrace, Fu Wei joined her in bed to rest. Even without any desire to sleep, he stayed in bed.
On their last day in the prefecture, Fu Wei accompanied Zhou, the county magistrate, to bid farewell at the Prefect's residence.
Not long after their departure, Song Sanlang also arrived at the inn.
Yu Ying packed the finished lip balms for him, explaining the pricing and selling points in detail, and asked him to relay the information to Miss Su.
Once done, Yu Ying handed him a string of fifty coins, saying, "Seeing that business is good with Miss Su's help, I've prepared this reward in advance. Don't tell her yet; mention it when you're ready to return to Yu County at the end of the year."
For a business running less than two months, fifty coins were not a lot, but still a significant amount.
Song Sanlang agreed, then added, "I'll head back in about eight days."
Yu Ying nodded, "Once you return, come find us directly in the town."
After a few brief words, Song Sanlang took his leave.
Fu Wei and the county magistrate had to wait half an hour at the Prefect's residence before finally meeting with Prefect Shen.
Despite a five-day summary, they had spent four days leisurely; on this last day, they finally discussed serious matters.
During their conversation, Fu Wei learned from others that this was not the first time the bandits of Mukun Mountain had raided the iron mines.
Over the past year, several well-mined iron ore sites had been robbed by them.
Fu Wei began to ponder the issue of the iron mines.
The bandits wanted the iron ore mainly for making weapons.
Either for their use or to sell to others.
In these unsettled times, along with the war Yu Ying mentioned, repeatedly raiding iron mines at such a critical juncture raised questions. Were these bandits really just planning to use the iron for themselves, or to sell it to others?
Fu Wei lowered his eyelids, skepticism evident in his eyes.
— Or did they already know that chaos was imminent in the next few years and hence were preemptively making weapons?
What role did the man he met yesterday play among these bandits?
Being in the county office, Fu Wei didn't have the leisure to delve into these issues.
During the day's negotiations, no one dared to rashly suggest attacking Mukun Mountain.
Firstly, because of the bandits' fierceness; secondly, the magistrate of Cangwu County was only interested in indulgence, having no intention of power struggles. Thus, any suggestion would likely displease the magistrate.
The county magistrates were well aware of this, so they angrily cursed the bandits while sympathizing with the magistrate.
Amidst this fruitless anger, a meaningless morning passed.
Early the next day, the group set off to return to Yuxian.
After several days of travel, they finally returned to Yuxian.
The carriage brought Fu Wei and Yu Ying directly to the entrance of Xi Alley.
After getting off the carriage, Yu Ying and Fu Wei walked into the alley.
The residents of the alley, gradually aware of Fu Wei's position in the yamen and his connections, greeted them warmly with smiles.
Upon reaching their house, Yu Ying took out the keys to unlock the door.
Since they had been away from Yuxian for about ten days, Luo Shi and Fu An had stayed with the elder brother and sister-in-law, so Fu Wei had asked them to return to the village.
They were expected to come to Yuxian the next day.
As it was already late and the house had been unoccupied for ten days, gathering dust, Fu Wei began to tidy up while Yu Ying prepared dinner.
They had rice, eggs, cured meat, and dried winter bamboo shoots at home, ensuring there was no shortage of food.
Yu Ying soaked the bamboo shoots in warm water, washed rice to cook, and boiled a piece of cured meat in hot water.
After soaking the dried bamboo shoots for a while, she drained them, sliced them thinly, and stir-fried them in a dry pan to remove excess moisture, enhancing their crunchy texture.
She made a dish of stir-fried bamboo shoots with cured meat and cooked an egg drop soup.
As she brought the food into the house, Fu Wei had just finished his chores.
They lit a small oil lamp in the main room and sat down to dine together.
After dinner, Fu Wei went to bathe.
When it was Yu Ying's turn to bathe and she returned to the room, he had already fallen asleep.
Fu Wei had been pretending to be lame for ten days, and after meeting the mysterious person, he hadn't rested well. Coupled with the days of travel, even his robust constitution was showing signs of wear.
Yu Ying leaned at the doorway, observing the sleeping Fu Wei, and sighed softly. After a moment, she closed the room door and went to Luo Shi's room.
The next day was a rest day for Fu Wei, and since Luo Shi and the elder brother’s family were coming to Yuxian, Yu Ying and Fu Wei planned to go to the market together to buy groceries.
Walking on the streets, they heard the intermittent coughing of passersby.
Observing carefully, Yu Ying noticed that about three out of every ten people were coughing.
Whenever someone coughed, others would soon follow suit.
Hearing these frequent coughs, Yu Ying’s brow furrowed slightly.
It was flu season, and those with weaker constitutions were most susceptible, especially the elderly and children. In ancient times, even a minor cold could be deadly, and the awareness of disease prevention was very limited.
Yu Ying suddenly remembered that in the book, Fu Ning had died shortly after Fu Wei started working at the county office, likely due to contracting the flu.
This realization weighed heavily on her mood.
Luo Shi and Fu Ning had weaker constitutions and were more likely to contract the flu. To prevent this, the only solution was to take precautions and minimize going out.
Initially planning to buy groceries for two days, Yu Ying, worried, ended up buying three large fish, one for today and two to make cured fish. She also bought over ten jin of meat to make cured meat.
She stocked up on eggs, rice, and flour as well.
Seeing her buying so many groceries, Fu Wei sensed something was amiss and asked, “Why are you suddenly stockpiling so much food?”
Yu Ying whispered to him, “Have you noticed the large number of people coughing on the streets?”
Fu Wei reflected for a moment and carefully observed the surroundings, then nodded.
Yu Ying said with a serious expression, “This could likely be an epidemic. People with weak constitutions are prone to infection, so I'm buying extra food to keep at home to avoid having Aunt Luo and Fu An go out for groceries.”
In ancient times, there was no specific term for influenza; it was referred to as an epidemic.
Hearing the word “epidemic,” Fu Wei’s face became instantly grave, and he asked, “Are you sure?”
Yu Ying nodded, “I’ll explain more when we get back.”
After buying the groceries, they didn’t linger and hurried back home.
Once home, Yu Ying explained, “The weather is inconsistent, shifting between cold and hot, which can easily trigger an epidemic. And since people aren’t taking precautions, it could get worse.”
People in those times didn’t have the habit of drinking hot water, wearing masks for protection, or seeking medical treatment. They would continue their usual activities, which is why so many succumbed to the epidemic during ancient flu outbreaks.
Fu Wei, looking concerned, said, “Tell me if you have any strategies in mind.”
Yu Ying spoke slowly, “Drinking hot water can suppress mild fever, and covering the face with a cloth when going out can effectively prevent the spread of the epidemic. As for those with cold symptoms…” She paused, looking at Fu Wei.
Fu Wei asked, “What’s the matter?”
Yu Ying hesitantly said, “I was thinking you could propose to the magistrate to set up a stall for distributing herbal soup. I can help with consultations. With the yamen backing us, there shouldn’t be any trouble. It would not only enhance the reputation of the yamen and yourself but also benefit the public. However, I just realized that I don’t have a license to practice medicine.”
A few days ago, Fu Wei had heard about her inheriting a medical hall, so he had looked into various regulations concerning medical practitioners.
After pondering for a moment, he said, “It’s not absolutely necessary to have a medical license. If an experienced doctor from the medical hall vouches for you, you can still practice medicine.”
“You should come with me to see the magistrate and explain the current situation. Then, propose the strategies you just mentioned. If the magistrate agrees, we can find a doctor to assess you, and if you pass, you can practice.”
For someone without the time to take the formal exams, this was a viable alternative.
Modern influenza is common, but in ancient times, such epidemics were deadly, claiming more than just one or two lives.
Yu Ying didn’t dare delay.
Having a method to address the situation, she couldn’t just look out for herself.
Yu Ying asked the aunt next door to inform Luo Shi upon their arrival that they had gone to the yamen and would return later. Then, she hurried to the yamen with Fu Wei.
Chapter 94
In the dim and quiet room, Fu Wei’s figure was shrouded in darkness, sitting motionlessly at the table, his hands clasped together, seemingly unaware of the passing time.
The night was bitterly cold, yet the chill in the body was nothing compared to the coldness in the heart.
Not knowing how long he had been sitting, the sound of the night watchman’s gong stirred again, only then did Fu Wei's eyes flicker as Yu Ying approached the table.
Yu Ying lit the oil lamp on the table and kindled the small stove, placing a pot of water that had long gone cold on it.
As the water heated, she sat down.
Fu Wei looked at her, “Why did you wake up?”
Yu Ying replied softly, “The night watchman’s call woke me. I thought to have some water, and seeing you still awake, decided to join you.”
She added, “If you can’t sleep, I’ll stay up with you till dawn.”
A smile appeared on Fu Wei's face, “You don’t need to stay up for me. I’ll go to sleep in a bit.”
Yu Ying said, “I’ve slept for a while and I'm not sleepy now, so I can keep you company for a bit.”
After a pause, she suggested, “Since we’re up anyway, why not have some tea and pastries?”
Saying this, she got up and took out some of the tea leaves and pastries they had bought that day.
When she returned, the tea in the pot was already steaming.
She opened the pastries and put some tea leaves in the pot to brew. Soon, the refreshing aroma of tea filled the air.
She slowly poured two cups of tea, and the combination of snacks and tea created a serene atmosphere in the middle of the night.
Fu Wei took a sip of tea, put down his cup, and sighed with an apologetic tone, “I’m sorry for worrying you.”
Yu Ying shook her head, “Caring for each other is a sign of closeness; there’s no need to feel burdened.”
Yu Ying refilled their cups with tea and said softly, “I realize I’ve never really talked to you about my past.”
Fu Wei showed surprise in his eyes as she began to speak about her history.
Yu Ying smiled at him and shared, "Apart from my parents, I have a younger sister who's three years younger than me. My grandparents are also still alive. My family runs an old medical clinic, which I had just inherited before I came here."
Fu Wei listened quietly, gaining some understanding of her era from her mention of inheriting the clinic.
Although he didn't know where she was from or which era she belonged to, he could discern the environment she lived in.
"The place where you lived must have been a peaceful and prosperous time, unlike anything I've ever seen."
Yu Ying nodded, "Indeed, it was a time of peace, without fear of sudden wars or instability."
Seeing her tranquil demeanor as she spoke of her homeland, Fu Wei realized how deeply she yearned for her past.
With this thought, Fu Wei's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze deepening as he said, "If one day, you truly have the choice without any concerns, go back."
That peaceful era would allow her to flourish without worries, surrounded by her loved ones – a stark contrast to this dangerous era they were in, which seemed like a utopia.
On the matter of returning, Yu Ying no longer felt as distressed as before, calmly stating, "No one knows what the future holds, but even if I never get the chance to see the people I long for, I'll make the most of every day."
Fu Wei knew she was trying to help him see things from a different perspective, and he couldn't help but smile gently.
He wondered how much good he had done in his previous life to be so fortunate to meet her, from a different world.
A desire to be close to her welled up in Fu Wei, and he took action.
He called her name softly, "Ah Ying."
Puzzled, Yu Ying uttered a questioning "Hmm?"
"Stand up for a moment," he requested.
Though unsure of his intentions, Yu Ying stood up.
As soon as she did, he also stood and in the next instant, he embraced her tightly, causing Yu Ying to freeze in surprise.
"Ah Ying, let me hold you for a while," he murmured lowly.
Hearing this, Yu Ying willingly accepted his embrace, a slight smile curling her lips as she wrapped her arms around his waist in return.
As Yu Ying wrapped her arms around Fu Wei's waist, she distinctly felt his body tense momentarily before gradually relaxing.
After holding each other for a while, Yu Ying suddenly said, "Fu Wei, I just remembered something."
"Hmm?"
"I think I'm older than you."
Not just think, she definitely was.
Fu Wei smiled, "I don't mind."
"I'm actually four years older than you."
Fu Wei playfully whispered in her ear, "Then should I call you 'Sister'?"
His calling her "Sister" right next to her ear was deep and magnetic, sending a pleasant shiver through Yu Ying.
In that moment, Yu Ying somewhat understood why some men enjoyed being called 'Brother' by women.
Moreover, Fu Wei, usually so composed and restrained, suddenly calling her 'Sister' with such puppy-like adoration was irresistibly charming.
Moved, Yu Ying softly requested, "Say it again, I want to hear it."
A gentle smile filled Fu Wei's eyes as he whispered, "I'll call you that again when you're feeling down next time."
Yu Ying muttered, "But I'm already feeling down right now."
Fu Wei smiled without a word, slightly tightening his arms to embrace her more closely.
——Her comfort, not touching upon the matters he least wanted to mention, was truly soothing.
After a long embrace, Fu Wei joined her in bed to rest. Even without any desire to sleep, he stayed in bed.
On their last day in the prefecture, Fu Wei accompanied Zhou, the county magistrate, to bid farewell at the Prefect's residence.
Not long after their departure, Song Sanlang also arrived at the inn.
Yu Ying packed the finished lip balms for him, explaining the pricing and selling points in detail, and asked him to relay the information to Miss Su.
Once done, Yu Ying handed him a string of fifty coins, saying, "Seeing that business is good with Miss Su's help, I've prepared this reward in advance. Don't tell her yet; mention it when you're ready to return to Yu County at the end of the year."
For a business running less than two months, fifty coins were not a lot, but still a significant amount.
Song Sanlang agreed, then added, "I'll head back in about eight days."
Yu Ying nodded, "Once you return, come find us directly in the town."
After a few brief words, Song Sanlang took his leave.
Fu Wei and the county magistrate had to wait half an hour at the Prefect's residence before finally meeting with Prefect Shen.
Despite a five-day summary, they had spent four days leisurely; on this last day, they finally discussed serious matters.
During their conversation, Fu Wei learned from others that this was not the first time the bandits of Mukun Mountain had raided the iron mines.
Over the past year, several well-mined iron ore sites had been robbed by them.
Fu Wei began to ponder the issue of the iron mines.
The bandits wanted the iron ore mainly for making weapons.
Either for their use or to sell to others.
In these unsettled times, along with the war Yu Ying mentioned, repeatedly raiding iron mines at such a critical juncture raised questions. Were these bandits really just planning to use the iron for themselves, or to sell it to others?
Fu Wei lowered his eyelids, skepticism evident in his eyes.
— Or did they already know that chaos was imminent in the next few years and hence were preemptively making weapons?
What role did the man he met yesterday play among these bandits?
Being in the county office, Fu Wei didn't have the leisure to delve into these issues.
During the day's negotiations, no one dared to rashly suggest attacking Mukun Mountain.
Firstly, because of the bandits' fierceness; secondly, the magistrate of Cangwu County was only interested in indulgence, having no intention of power struggles. Thus, any suggestion would likely displease the magistrate.
The county magistrates were well aware of this, so they angrily cursed the bandits while sympathizing with the magistrate.
Amidst this fruitless anger, a meaningless morning passed.
Early the next day, the group set off to return to Yuxian.
After several days of travel, they finally returned to Yuxian.
The carriage brought Fu Wei and Yu Ying directly to the entrance of Xi Alley.
After getting off the carriage, Yu Ying and Fu Wei walked into the alley.
The residents of the alley, gradually aware of Fu Wei's position in the yamen and his connections, greeted them warmly with smiles.
Upon reaching their house, Yu Ying took out the keys to unlock the door.
Since they had been away from Yuxian for about ten days, Luo Shi and Fu An had stayed with the elder brother and sister-in-law, so Fu Wei had asked them to return to the village.
They were expected to come to Yuxian the next day.
As it was already late and the house had been unoccupied for ten days, gathering dust, Fu Wei began to tidy up while Yu Ying prepared dinner.
They had rice, eggs, cured meat, and dried winter bamboo shoots at home, ensuring there was no shortage of food.
Yu Ying soaked the bamboo shoots in warm water, washed rice to cook, and boiled a piece of cured meat in hot water.
After soaking the dried bamboo shoots for a while, she drained them, sliced them thinly, and stir-fried them in a dry pan to remove excess moisture, enhancing their crunchy texture.
She made a dish of stir-fried bamboo shoots with cured meat and cooked an egg drop soup.
As she brought the food into the house, Fu Wei had just finished his chores.
They lit a small oil lamp in the main room and sat down to dine together.
After dinner, Fu Wei went to bathe.
When it was Yu Ying's turn to bathe and she returned to the room, he had already fallen asleep.
Fu Wei had been pretending to be lame for ten days, and after meeting the mysterious person, he hadn't rested well. Coupled with the days of travel, even his robust constitution was showing signs of wear.
Yu Ying leaned at the doorway, observing the sleeping Fu Wei, and sighed softly. After a moment, she closed the room door and went to Luo Shi's room.
The next day was a rest day for Fu Wei, and since Luo Shi and the elder brother’s family were coming to Yuxian, Yu Ying and Fu Wei planned to go to the market together to buy groceries.
Walking on the streets, they heard the intermittent coughing of passersby.
Observing carefully, Yu Ying noticed that about three out of every ten people were coughing.
Whenever someone coughed, others would soon follow suit.
Hearing these frequent coughs, Yu Ying’s brow furrowed slightly.
It was flu season, and those with weaker constitutions were most susceptible, especially the elderly and children. In ancient times, even a minor cold could be deadly, and the awareness of disease prevention was very limited.
Yu Ying suddenly remembered that in the book, Fu Ning had died shortly after Fu Wei started working at the county office, likely due to contracting the flu.
This realization weighed heavily on her mood.
Luo Shi and Fu Ning had weaker constitutions and were more likely to contract the flu. To prevent this, the only solution was to take precautions and minimize going out.
Initially planning to buy groceries for two days, Yu Ying, worried, ended up buying three large fish, one for today and two to make cured fish. She also bought over ten jin of meat to make cured meat.
She stocked up on eggs, rice, and flour as well.
Seeing her buying so many groceries, Fu Wei sensed something was amiss and asked, “Why are you suddenly stockpiling so much food?”
Yu Ying whispered to him, “Have you noticed the large number of people coughing on the streets?”
Fu Wei reflected for a moment and carefully observed the surroundings, then nodded.
Yu Ying said with a serious expression, “This could likely be an epidemic. People with weak constitutions are prone to infection, so I'm buying extra food to keep at home to avoid having Aunt Luo and Fu An go out for groceries.”
In ancient times, there was no specific term for influenza; it was referred to as an epidemic.
Hearing the word “epidemic,” Fu Wei’s face became instantly grave, and he asked, “Are you sure?”
Yu Ying nodded, “I’ll explain more when we get back.”
After buying the groceries, they didn’t linger and hurried back home.
Once home, Yu Ying explained, “The weather is inconsistent, shifting between cold and hot, which can easily trigger an epidemic. And since people aren’t taking precautions, it could get worse.”
People in those times didn’t have the habit of drinking hot water, wearing masks for protection, or seeking medical treatment. They would continue their usual activities, which is why so many succumbed to the epidemic during ancient flu outbreaks.
Fu Wei, looking concerned, said, “Tell me if you have any strategies in mind.”
Yu Ying spoke slowly, “Drinking hot water can suppress mild fever, and covering the face with a cloth when going out can effectively prevent the spread of the epidemic. As for those with cold symptoms…” She paused, looking at Fu Wei.
Fu Wei asked, “What’s the matter?”
Yu Ying hesitantly said, “I was thinking you could propose to the magistrate to set up a stall for distributing herbal soup. I can help with consultations. With the yamen backing us, there shouldn’t be any trouble. It would not only enhance the reputation of the yamen and yourself but also benefit the public. However, I just realized that I don’t have a license to practice medicine.”
A few days ago, Fu Wei had heard about her inheriting a medical hall, so he had looked into various regulations concerning medical practitioners.
After pondering for a moment, he said, “It’s not absolutely necessary to have a medical license. If an experienced doctor from the medical hall vouches for you, you can still practice medicine.”
“You should come with me to see the magistrate and explain the current situation. Then, propose the strategies you just mentioned. If the magistrate agrees, we can find a doctor to assess you, and if you pass, you can practice.”
For someone without the time to take the formal exams, this was a viable alternative.
Modern influenza is common, but in ancient times, such epidemics were deadly, claiming more than just one or two lives.
Yu Ying didn’t dare delay.
Having a method to address the situation, she couldn’t just look out for herself.
Yu Ying asked the aunt next door to inform Luo Shi upon their arrival that they had gone to the yamen and would return later. Then, she hurried to the yamen with Fu Wei.
