Buying People's Hearts

Freezing Snow Pavilion.

After Ye Yining had bid farewell to Jun Jiuji, she covertly placed the herbs, wood, and iron acquired by Ye Ze and Hoshino into the Medicine Spirit Immortal Residence.

The quantity of iron was modest, enough for the craftsman room to fashion three large pots suitable for the kitchen stove.

There were various types of wood, and she tasked the craftsman room with crafting wooden jars, barrels, and cutlery of various sizes.

Just as she was about to work with the herbs and test the furnace, Ling Gui addressed her.

"Master, the medicine furnace lacks the function of retrieving medicine from the spatial medicine cabinet. You must open the medicine taking table to use it in conjunction with the medicine furnace!"

Ye Yining felt a pang of frustration. "Could you mention these things sooner next time?"

"No," Ling Gui responded. "I can't influence Master's judgment until I can perceive Master's thoughts."

Ye Yining glanced at the dense spiritual mist enveloping the courtyard and sighed inwardly.

She still needed to accumulate merit points quickly!

After some contemplation, she hurried to the study room to fetch a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Then, she summoned the butler.

The butler, who had spent the entire day anxious and uneasy, rushed over upon hearing that the Young Miss was requesting his presence.

"Young Miss, how may I assist you?"

Ye Yining handed him the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. "Please instruct everyone in the household to write a small wish or something they desire most. Once they're finished, give the wishes to me. Tomorrow, my mother and I will visit Changling Temple to make offerings. We'll present their wishes at the temple to pray for them."

The puzzled butler scratched his head. 

"Miss, are you composing a wish yourself?"

"Yes, they can write down their most cherished desires, wants, or dreams. If anyone cannot write, you may assist them. Ensure they sign their names. If they struggle with writing, they can form a line and come to me. Everyone, please step forward."

Although the butler didn't quite comprehend the Young Miss's intentions, he promptly made the necessary arrangements.

Ye Yining's seemingly impromptu plan left some within the household feeling uneasy.

Some speculated that the Young Miss was scrutinizing their handwriting.

Others suspected she was attempting to identify a murderer among them.

A few even believed she was searching for spies within their midst.

While apprehension rippled through the household, Ye Yining had already summoned the residents of the Frozen Snow Pavilion to pen their wishes.

Little did they know that Ye Yining's sole intention was to assist some individuals and fulfill their modest wishes in exchange for earning merit points.

Her logic was straightforward; rather than aiding those outside, she preferred to begin with those around her.

While her generosity was apparent, no one dared to pen their wishes.

After a while, a young girl tasked with sweeping knelt before Ye Yining, her voice trembling as she spoke. 

"Miss, my name is Lan Cao…I cannot write. My mother is unwell, and I... My wish is to secure leave to visit her."

Ye Yining swiftly granted her request. 

"You shall have a fortnight's leave to care for your mother. Additionally, here's an extra 20 silver for purchasing medicine, alright?"

"Thank you, Miss! Thank you, Miss!" Lan Cao exclaimed in excitement, tears welling in her eyes.

The kindness displayed by the Young Miss deeply touched her.

Ye Yining kept her word, providing Lan Cao with the silver, which stirred a hint of envy among those waiting to pen their wishes.

The fact that Lan Cao was genuinely grateful for her generosity made Ye Yining content. This act allowed her to earn 100 merit points!

Nevertheless, she couldn't help but wonder why her father, a general who had safeguarded the nation and saved countless lives, possessed only 500 merit points.

Ling Gui chimed in, 

"Master's father may have saved countless lives, but he also accumulated a considerable amount of killing aura. Sometimes, merits and demerits balance each other out, resulting in a limited merit value."

Ye Yining suddenly comprehended. 

"So, that's how it works."

"Miss, my wish is to find a wife," one of the servants chimed in, interrupting Ye Yining and Ling Gui's discussion.

Ye Yining cast a glance at him and personally penned a wish note for him. 

"Tomorrow, I'll ensure your wish reaches Changling Temple."

"Thank you, Miss!"

"Miss, can we genuinely express our innermost thoughts?" 

Someone who observed that the Young Miss was approachable inquired, mustering their courage to ask.

Ye Yining nodded. 

"Your wishes are your own. Of course, you can say whatever you want."

"Then… Then my wish was quite grand. I wanted to eat Buddha Jumps Over The Wall Soup once…"

"You can even talk about food? I heard that there is a kind of fruit called longan in Western Liang. I also wanted to try it!"

The topic of food began to pique their interest, and many people started to compile their wish lists. Even those who weren't sure how to start now had a goal in mind.

Upon hearing that numerous people were eager to savor Buddha Jumps Over The Wall Soup and Tianke Restaurant's Drunken Chicken, Ye Yining decided to go all out. She provided the butler with the necessary funds and asked him to order twenty servings of Buddha Jumps Over The Wall Soup and thirty portions of Drunken Chicken from Tianke Restaurant.

Ultimately, Ye Yining instructed the kitchen to prepare extra meals for the entire household.

General Ye and Madam Ye were initially taken aback but soon let their daughter proceed as she wished.

Ye Yining made a few trips to the kitchen and secretly asked the Chef Spirit to help prepare a large pot of braised pork, a pot of seafood soup, and a pot of mutton dumplings.

During the banquet, Ye Yining addressed everyone, expressing her hope that all the residents would collaborate to safeguard the General's residence.

Simultaneously, she encouraged everyone to exercise caution when venturing outside and to assist in looking after their parents, thereby preventing outsiders and those with malicious intent from taking advantage of them.

Her speech was sincere, and she dined with the servants, greatly touching the majority of them within the General's Estate.

Ye Yining hadn't expected that this meal would strengthen everyone's bond with the General's Estate.

Meanwhile, upon hearing the news, Ye Yunjiao's rage led her to smash the peanut and red date porridge before her.

Ye Yining was treating everyone in the residence to "Buddha Jumps over the Wall," yet she was having porridge. Why?

It was as if they no longer regarded themselves as a family.

To her, servants were merely servants. Ye Yining had spent a substantial sum to win their favour.

It was infuriating!

Ye Yining used to detest such actions the most. How had she ended up doing the same?

Ye Yining had no time to be concerned about Ye Yunjiao. After indulging in the sumptuous feast, she returned to her room and took a bath in high spirits.

She hadn't only won the hearts of the people but had also amassed 1,302 merit points. Nothing could be more satisfying than this.

After unlocking the seal on the medicine table, she went to bed contentedly.

…

On the other hand, while savoring the delectable braised pork, General Ye remarked to his wife, 

"Ye Yining has truly matured. I heard that this Red Braised Meat was personally cooked by Ye Yining. It's exceptionally delicious."

Madam Ye pursed her lips and smiled. 

"That's not all. Ye Yining also prepared the seafood soup and mutton dumplings herself." 

She had heard from the kitchen that on that day, Ye Yining had even made steamed buns, but Jun Jiuji had taken them away.

General Ye raised an eyebrow, a hint of nostalgia coloring his tone. 

"Ye Yining is proficient in both the hall and the kitchen." 

He couldn't fathom when his little girl had acquired all these skills.

His memories remained fixed on the time when a young Ye Yining had accidentally set the kitchen ablaze. Now, the years had passed, and his cherished daughter was on the brink of marriage.

Madam Ye didn't dwell on it and spoke in her customary protective tone, 

"Our Ye Yining has been clever since childhood. Once she sets her mind to something, she excels at it. Do you recall how, when she was younger, she was solely interested in martial arts? I told her that unless she mastered the four arts, she wouldn't be permitted to frolic with you. In the end, in her pursuit of martial arts, she swiftly became proficient in the four arts."

"That's true. Our daughter is brilliant."

General Ye chuckled warmly, swelling with pride.

Ye Yining was very much like him: intelligent, fearless, and compassionate.

"Oh, by the way, Ye Yining has developed an interest in medicine due to the well poisoning incident in the residence. Please find some medical books for her later…" Madam Ye suddenly recalled her promise to their daughter.

General Ye believed that reading was beneficial, regardless of the type of book. Consequently, he readily agreed. 

"Tomorrow, after the morning court session, I'll request a few medical books from the Honour Yard's magistrate. This way, Ye Yining can read them during the journey to Cloud Border City to alleviate her boredom."

Although Madam Ye didn't believe that reading medical books could alleviate boredom, she nodded in agreement.

…