Chapter 019: Eat with Me

Zhao Ruyi initially thought that as long as she memorized the Thousand Character Classic, she would be done. But she didn't expect Song Wuji to quiz her on the origins of several stories from the Thousand Character Classic.

Fortunately, when Song Wuji taught her these stories before, Zhao Ruyi also paid attention. Although she couldn't answer fluently, she managed to get close to the correct answers.

Since Zhao Ruyi didn't have to take the imperial examination, Song Wuji's demands on her naturally weren't too strict.

Seeing that Zhao Ruyi had almost finished memorizing the Thousand Character Classic, Song Wuji took out a book called "Youxue Qionglin" from the bookshelf.

"They say that reading 'Exemplary Words' will help you speak well, and reading 'Youxue Qionglin' will help you read." Song Wuji handed the book to Zhao Ruyi and said, "From the beginning of chaos to the establishment of the universe, I will teach you to read this from today onward."

Although he said he would teach her, Song Wuji often seemed absent-minded. Eventually, he just had Zhao Ruyi copy the text from the book while he sat on the side lost in thought.

Zhao Ruyi didn't say much about this. After all, he was the master, and she was the servant. Naturally, whatever the master said was the way it had to be.

Compared to before when she treated writing as just drawing pretty characters, Zhao Ruyi's writing had improved significantly. Her beautiful regular script characters were a delight to behold on paper.

But the time spent reading and writing always passed quickly, and before long it was time for lunch.

For some reason, the Zhou family had prepared seven or eight dishes, which were packed into two three-tiered food boxes before being sent over.

Roast duck, stir-fried fish fillets, mixed vegetables, and braised eel...

So many dishes! The young master definitely couldn't finish them all, so they should all be given to her, right?

Zhao Ruyi couldn't help but feel a little pleased at the thought.

"Want to eat?" Unexpectedly, Song Wuji, who was sitting at the dining table, seemed to have read Zhao Ruyi's mind and looked at her with a half-smile.

"N-No, no..." Zhao Ruyi quickly denied.

Did her intention show so clearly?

Feeling guilty, Zhao Ruyi hurriedly touched her own face.

"I can't finish all of these by myself. How about you eat with me?" Seeing Zhao Ruyi's reaction, Song Wuji couldn't help but understand.

Zhao Ruyi looked at Song Wuji with surprise.

Eating with the young master? Wouldn't that be inappropriate?

"What? Don't want to eat?" Since Zhao Ruyi didn’t react for a long time, Song Wuji raised his eyebrows.

"N-No, I do!" Afraid that the young master might change his mind, Zhao Ruyi quickly grabbed a stool and sat down at the table.

She had served the master well, but it was her first time sitting at the same table to eat with him. She couldn't help but feel a little restrained.

In addition, in wealthy households, it was customary to eat in silence, and since the young master hadn't touched his food, she didn't dare to touch hers.

"You don't have to be so restrained! Just pick whatever dishes you like," Song Wuji teased her, seeing Zhao Ruyi in such a state, "or you can let me pick for you."

Let the young master pick food for her? Zhao Ruyi didn't think she had such privilege. She quickly picked up her chopsticks and grabbed a little of the stir-fried vegetables in front of her, chewing it up cautiously.

After all, this was in front of the young master, and she couldn't afford to act presumptuously.

Seeing her hesitant expression, Song Wuji shook his head and said with a smile, "I knew you wanted me to pick for you."

He then took a bit of each dish and put it in Zhao Ruyi's bowl.

Looking at the mountain-like pile of colorful dishes in front of her, Zhao Ruyi regretted sitting down.

But since she had already sat down, she had to eat from her bowl and not envy what was on the table.

Seeing Zhao Ruyi looking so pitiful, Song Wuji felt a mixture of anger and amusement. He had invited her to dine with him, and yet she seemed to be feeling wronged.

"Ever since I can remember, I used to dine with my mother in her room," Song Wuji reminisced with Zhao Ruyi. "She would always feed me with a warm smile from a small dish. At that time, I wasn't sensible and just wanted to run out to play. My mother was frail from giving birth to me, so she rarely left her room. She could only let the wet nurse follow me and watch me from the door."

"Later, when I was a little older and had my own courtyard and studies, I dined with her even less." Song Wuji smiled with a hint of sadness, "She often sent over my favorite dishes, but I didn't appreciate it. I thought she was a bit annoying."

"Until one day, she fell gravely ill and passed away, and no one else treated me as kindly as she did." A tear unexpectedly trickled down his cheek, leaving Zhao Ruyi feeling a pang in her heart.

Song Wuji looked at Zhao Ruyi and said with a smile, "This morning's pickles made me think of her."

Surprised, Zhao Ruyi looked at him, and their eyes met.

"My mother passed away less than a hundred days ago. My father, using the excuse of no one to manage the household, took the opportunity to marry Xue E, and I was moved to this little courtyard to recuperate due to a sudden illness. Since then, I haven't had anyone to dine with me." Song Wuji spoke with a desolate look, making Zhao Ruyi feel a pang of sympathy.

When she entered the mansion in her previous life, she knew that the First Lady had passed away when the young master was only twelve.

At an age when he should have been carefree, everything changed. He had to endure the torment of illness and the absence of warmth from home and the care of relatives.

It was no wonder that he became melancholic.

"If you don't mind, would you dine with me?" Zhao Ruyi blurted out without much thought.

Song Wuzhi looked at her with a playful expression, which made Zhao Ruyi realize that she had said the wrong thing.

The young lord was in a good mood today, which is why he gave her the opportunity to dine at the same table. Otherwise, as a maid, she had no right to sit beside the young lord. She was really overestimating herself!

Zhao Ruyi bit her lip and stood up, thinking about how to remedy the situation. But then she heard Song Wuzhi laugh and say, "You said that yourself. Don't act all aggrieved later and blame me for bullying you."

Uh...

Zhao Ruyi found it hard to believe her ears. The young lord had actually agreed?

"Why are you still standing there like a fool?" Song Wuzhi continued to look at Zhao Ruyi and said, "Didn't you say you wanted to dine with me? Hurry up and eat!"

With that, he picked up some more food and added it to the little mountain of food that Zhao Ruyi had just managed to finish.

Anxious, Zhao Ruyi quickly protected the dish of colorful lotus-patterned bowl in front of her. "Don't add more! It won't fit anymore if you do."

Looking at her protective demeanor, Song Wuzhi found it adorable.

"Then eat by yourself. If you just keep pushing the vegetables around in your bowl, I'll have to toast to you," Song Wuzhi playfully threatened Zhao Ruyi.