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Su Wenyue felt her preparations had been inadequate; she couldn’t believe she had forgotten to bring Han Yu a raincoat. This rain in the dead of winter could easily lead to illness. Even the sturdy men of the military camp might not withstand the chill, especially with the dampness in the mountain forest. And now, she couldn’t deliver anything, not because it was too far, but for fear of causing Han Yu trouble unknowingly.

“Lan Xin, Lan Fang, did you sleep well last night? The thunder was loud; I hope it didn’t scare you. I wanted to check on you, but I was afraid I’d disturb your sleep if you hadn’t woken, so I didn’t come over.”

Her cousins had come for breakfast, and Su Wenyue asked with concern. These days, most of her attention had been on Han Yu and her three children, slightly neglecting them. She’d let Aunt Li and Grandma Chen handle many arrangements and hadn’t inquired personally. Yet, the two cousins had been understanding and helpful, staying on to keep her company instead of going back home after a few days as they had planned.

“Don’t worry, cousin; we’re not children, the thunder can’t scare us. But the little ones, they weren’t frightened, were they?” Lan Fang asked warmly, hugging Su Wenyue’s arm with a cheerful smile, then expressed concern for the three little ones. She genuinely adored the endearing children. Despite their size, they seemed so aware, listening intently whenever spoken to, more intelligent and cute than babies from other families, inspiring a genuine affection and tenderness.

“Yes, cousin, we are perfectly fine; you needn’t worry. Just some thunder, nothing frightening. It’s you who’s been constantly worried about our brother-in-law; you should relax,” agreed Lan Xin, who appreciated her cousin’s genuine concern for their feelings—the first time relatives had cared for them in this way, and that alone was enough.

“That’s good to hear. I’ve been quite distracted lately and haven’t taken good care of you. We’re sisters, so let’s not bother with formalities. Speak freely about anything that bothers you, and don’t be shy about asking for anything you want. Consider this your own home.”

“There’s no need for concern, cousin; we understand. This place feels even more like home than the Marquis Mansion. It’s more relaxing and comfortable than ever before here,” they said, expressing their genuine feelings; they wished they could stay in this carefree and happy place forever, free from the need to be cautious and please others—able to do as they pleased based on their own moods.

“Well, then, if you’re happy here, feel free to stay longer. I’ll talk to our eldest aunt about it. When your brother-in-law returns, I’ll take you out to see the sights. What’s the fun in staying home all the time? Before I was married, although mother was strict, I still managed to sneak out with my Second Brother to have some fun—it was thrilling.”

Recalling those days made Su Wenyue somewhat nostalgic. Her maiden days were unforgettable. Now, a mother of three and having lived a lifetime more, her perspective had matured. Back then, such carefree escapades were pure joy.

Hearing Su Wenyue talk like this, Lan Xin and Lan Fang, raised as ladies by a noble family, couldn’t openly express their desire to go on such outings. They had been taught by their mother from a young age to be modest and dignified; it wasn’t something they were supposed to even think about, yet their eyes gleamed with longing.

“Cousin, that may not be advisable. After all, as women, we are expected to be demure and proper. Engaging in such outings could tarnish our reputations,” said Lan Xin, struggling to suppress her desire.

Su Wenyue saw right through Lan Xin’s facade and rolled her eyes in an unladylike way. “You silly girl! If we’re sneaking out, how could anyone find out? Our reputations won’t be damaged, and besides, I’ll accompany you. It’s not like my days of having to sneak out; if we’re just careful, it’ll be fine. Don’t talk to me about all those restrictions placed on women, meant for show. Those are just to put on a front—actually living by them would be exhausting.”

“But isn’t that how women are supposed to be?” Lan Fang asked, younger and having been brought up under such strict teachings—especially those of the Queen Mother—and she was skeptical of Su Wenyue’s arguments.

“You two are being foolish. What does ‘supposed to be’ even mean? Rules are made by people. The world is unfair to women, and if we can’t fight back, we should at least find ways to make ourselves happy. If we just passively follow all the rules, life would be so tiresome! Don’t talk to me about doctrine. I don’t believe for a second that’s what you actually think; you’re just obliged to comply. Now that you have this chance, why hold back?”

“You sort of make sense, cousin,” both sisters admitted, no longer needing to hide their emotions in Su Wenyue’s presence. Their expressions betrayed their eagerness to try.

“It’s not merely ‘making sense,’ this is the truth. Take advantage of your status as unwed girls without burdens and enjoy a good time while you can. When you’re married, you’ll have enough worries, and even if you get the chance to go out, you won’t have the same spirit or mood,” Su Wenyue advised out of experience.

With such enticement, the two young girls couldn’t resist making up their minds, pleading with Su Wenyue to take them out for some fun in the future.

Su Wenyue readily agreed; after spending time together, she grew to genuinely care for her affectionate cousins. Knowing how difficult life could be in a husband’s family, especially for Su Lanfang who would later enter the palace a lonely and oppressive place Su Wenyue sincerely wanted them to enjoy their days and at least have happy memories to look back on, rather than feeling their lives barren and tedious, as she had endured.

The plans to take her cousins out would have to wait for Han Yu’s return—that way, Su Wenyue would be in the right frame of mind, as she watched the relentless rain outside.

“This damned weather is just too cursed,” Liu Cong cursed as he took off his rain-soaked clothes and dried them by the fire.

Fortunately, Han Yu had prepared well, choosing a high-ground cave that remained dry, but such weather was inevitably depressing. Especially in the forest, garments easily became damp with rain, creating an uncomfortable coldness. Yet, in Han Yu’s eyes, the weather was an excellent opportunity. Far from disheartened, he decided to bring forward the planned operation.