Chapter 488 – Extra: Not Coming to the Northwest for Nothing

Chapter 488 - Extra: Not Coming to the Northwest for Nothing

Wealthy put on its exclusive golden lock and curiously lowered its head to nibble... But after failing to reach it, it didn't bother anymore.

After all, it didn't hinder its grass-eating routine.

This sheep was different when it got used to its owner. Yun Li gradually realized that it wasn't devoid of intelligence.

At least after the persistent teaching by the crested ibis, the sheep knew not to defecate just anywhere.

When Yun Li rested in the garden, the sheep would find her on its own.

It would then lie next to her and start to regurgitate.

The rhythmic munching noises went on for a while; it was so monotonous that Yun Li even felt drowsy listening to it.

She reached out to stroke the sheep's head. "Wealthy, you really do live a life of luxury. Your daily task is just to eat, right?"

Wealthy lifted its head to rub against her hand, never pausing in its chewing.

After chewing its cud for a while, it got up to survey the garden, seeking out tender grass to nourish itself.

With this ancestor around, there wasn't much in the garden that could be considered appealing anyway.

Chen Jing brought a blanket to drape over her legs. "There's a draft here. It's not noon anymore."

"Hmm, even though I'm living a life of luxury, I'm craving mutton. Not the kind made in the estate, but the kind from the street vendors. A big bowl of it, slow-cooked and tender."

"I'll go buy some," Chen Jing offered.

"And the large flatbread you bought the other day was also excellent," she added.

Chen Jing nodded in agreement.

After Chen Jing left, Jujube approached. "Shall you skip your nap now?"

As Yun Li grew older, she had developed a quirk where she couldn't sleep during the day.

If she did, she wouldn't be able to sleep well at night.

Yun Li yawned. "I'm not sleeping. Keep me company."

Jujube chuckled. "At this hour, I don't know what to talk about anymore. Well, Mr. Chen does resemble him a lot."

Yun Li smiled. "Could they have mistaken one for the other?"

"How could that be? They're still two different people," Jujube replied.

"Ai, tell me. When people miss the deceased, they often dream of them. Am I heartless then? I do think of my late husband often, but I've never dreamed of him once. Isn't that strange? Yet last night, I dreamed of Lu'an Palace and Ye Baolin, who has just become a concubine. There's no connection between us at all..." Yun Li shook her head.

"Perhaps... it was because the Late Emperor couldn't bear to let you have sorrowful dreams," Juyu ventured.

"That's quite a mystical interpretation. But it's not just him – I don't dream of my parents or my uncle either. Many people don't dream of their loved ones," Yun Li said. "So, dreaming doesn't really signify anything."

"Exactly. No matter what, those who've passed on are still in our hearts," Juyu replied.

"Are you regretting coming with me? If you hadn't, I'd be sitting in the Cixian Palace right now. It's the first day of the month, and I'd spend the whole morning listening to the emperor's consorts and empress. If I didn't want to get involved, I'd have to praise them all. If I did, I'd have to both cajole and scold. Tsk..."

"How could I regret it? If not for following Madam, would we have seen so many places in this lifetime? Back then, I didn't understand. I thought royalty meant wealth and prestige. The palace was the most esteemed place on earth. But the freedom you spoke of doesn't exist there."

"In truth, if all women in the world were as free-spirited, there would be no need for the strife within the inner courtyard, right?"

Yun Li nods. "Indeed."

"Madam," Reeds approaches, "Shall we head back? Isn't it getting a bit chilly now?"

Yun Li rises. "Let's go."

Fortune, probably noticing its master leaving and no longer feeling hungry, chews slowly as it follows along.

Chen Jing has bought quite a bit of meat, which they all enjoy together during dinner.

With a sprinkle of chili powder, Yun Li sweats but finds it delightfully satisfying.

"The mutton in the northwest tastes more flavorful. Do you think it's too much trouble and expense to send a few sheep back to Little Nine?"

"That wouldn't be a problem. Just a few heads, and you don't send them every day," Zhi Fu suggests.

Yun Li, however, smiles. "No, I won't. Come, I need to write a letter."

Zhiru hurried to grind ink.

She looked at the letter closely... It was clearly a cookbook!

The Lady had meticulously described the cuisine of the Northwest, emphasizing the lamb served that day. She concluded by saying: To avoid exhausting the people and finances, a mother can taste it on her child's behalf. If the child truly yearns for it, palace lamb could suffice.

She even drew a plump sheep on a separate sheet of paper.

Zhiru handed the letter to the guards, who promptly rode with haste back to the capital.

Seven days later, Little Nine received the letter, finding it both amusing and exasperating.

He took it to the Empress.

"It seems Mother is enjoying herself."

As long as she's happy, nothing else matters.

At the end of October, the first major snowfall in the Northwest arrived right on schedule.

The day was chill, blanketed by heavy snowfall.

Fierce winds swirled, carrying snowflakes that cascaded upon the earth.

Trapped indoors, Yun Li took to writing behind closed doors.

At times, when writing became wearisome, I would dictate my thoughts, and Leto's son, a skilled calligrapher with a quick mind, would take up the pen for me.

With Yun Li's guidance, he excelled in both poetry and prose, but had little affection for the rigid style of classical composition.

Yun Li still felt guilty, afraid of corrupting the child. But Lü Wei didn't think it was a big deal.

Anyway, the goal was for them to grow up happily.

Indeed, Lü Wei was a unique woman of her time, with a very modern mindset.

The winter in the northwest made Yun Li regret ever coming. She couldn't afford the hassle, especially at her age.

What was the point of having winters where it either didn't snow at all or made it impossible to go out?

However, following the local customs during the festive season was quite entertaining.

Everything was intriguing, including Zhu Huan.

Zhu Huan was typically astute, but this time he found himself in a rare state of confusion – he had caught the eye of a cook.

The cook was a local widow.

She claimed she wanted to marry Zhu Huan at all costs.

Zhu Huan sighed inwardly; if he were an ordinary man, he wouldn't have objections to marrying her. The cook was quite attractive, in her thirties, and had a young daughter.

But he was a eunuch...

Eventually, Yun Li learned of this situation.

For a moment, she was at a loss on how to handle it.

"Before we leave, you should tell her the truth," Yun Li suggested. "If she still wishes to be with you, then take her along. At least with you, she won't suffer. Her daughter will also be taken care of. If she changes her mind, I doubt she'd dare to spread the news casually."

Zhu Niao answered with great embarrassment.

They were not set to leave until the following March. A few days before their departure, Zhu Niao openly expressed his feelings to the cook.

After crying for an entire day and night, the cook began packing her belongings.

Seeing her reddened eyes, Zhu Niao was about to say that they would be leaving soon.

But the cook replied, "So... you won't be sharing the bed with me anymore, right? Well, you still have to treat me well, and I'll do the same for you."

Zhu Niao's face flushed red; he was no spring chicken...

They were indeed a legitimate older husband and younger wife couple.

"Coming to the northwest wasn't for nothing. Zhu Niao has found a wife," Yun Li smiled.

Zhu Niao adored his little daughter, who was only six years old but had already grown close to him.

"I'm a straightforward person, so let me put it simply. When I write, I usually decide on the ending from the beginning. Thus, when I was conceptualizing, He Jinli was destined to die early, around fifty. As for He Jinyao, I had him planned from the start. Some readers asked why he only appeared briefly earlier on. My answer is that his presence was like a dragonfly skimming over the water. Now, does it matter if he ends up with Yun Li or just stays by her side later on? To me, it doesn't really matter."

As mentioned in the first chapter, this is not a love story. Ancient people didn't express love as we do today. Emperor He Jincheng was indeed kind and considerate to Yun Li. As his concubine, she never harmed him. Although ancient society demanded women's loyalty, Yun Li, from the very beginning, deceived the emperor, indicating that she wasn't a typical woman of her time.

So, does it become cliché if she ends up with someone? I don't think so. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and you're free to disagree.

Yun Li's character was well-planned from the start. She aimed to witness the grandeur of the land after the emperor's death. When she calls the scholar a "toxic predictor," she means she could never marry the general. There's no hidden meaning behind it.

I've mentioned before that if you don't like it, you can consider the main story as the ending; it's perfectly fine.

Writing a book is, in fact, quite a personal endeavor. It's not that I'm unwilling to listen to feedback, but it's just not feasible to accommodate all opinions. Each reader has their own preferences, and it's impossible to please everyone. Those who choose to read it enjoy it because it suits their taste. If I were to write exactly as readers want, wouldn't that become predictable?

However, calling it disgusting is uncalled for. Displeasure equating to disgust? Who decides that the female lead must be a virgin or that a widow must mourn forever?

The reason for mentioning this at the end is that I will continue writing, and should anyone stumble upon my works in the future, this is my stance. I enjoy engaging in discussions, not arguments. I speak bluntly, being an Aries. Once I've made a decision, there's no turning back. I'm stubborn and unrepentant...

Lastly, there won't be many extra chapters. If you're not interested in He Jincheng's story, feel free to stop here. If the new book piques your interest, give it a look. If not, perhaps we'll meet again in another book. Thank you all.