Wen Ye suppressed the sudden surge of random thoughts and quietly composed herself, saying, "Well, it's getting late. You should freshen up and rest soon, husband."
Although there might be some joys in being a widow, Wen Ye wasn’t ready to become one so soon.
Xu Yuejia: "..." That strange feeling was back again.
After the lively New Year celebrations, Wen Ye finally got to witness Madam Lu's capabilities firsthand.
After the third day of the New Year, the fifth day marked the birthdays of Duke Xu and Xu Yuxuan. Coincidentally, uncle and nephew shared the same birthday, something Wen Ye only learned on Xu Yuxuan's birthday.
Following their birthdays, many guests arrived, all friends of Xu Yuejia and his elder brother, who were high-ranking officials.
Fortunately, with Madam Lu handling things, Wen Ye only needed to play the role of a well-behaved and respectful companion. Given Xu Yuejia's unique position, not many came specifically for him.
The one who left the deepest impression on Wen Ye was Magistrate Wang, the Prefect of the Capital, a rather interesting man.
Being the matriarch of a noble family was no easy task. While others gained weight during the holidays, Madam Lu seemed to grow thinner each day. Despite being only twenty-six, the New Year had left her looking less radiant than before.
This only strengthened Wen Ye's resolve to cling tightly to Madam Lu as her golden ticket. She was determined never to live such a life herself.
Thinking this, Wen Ye felt a twinge of guilt for not being a better sister-in-law.
Though, to be honest, the guilt wasn’t overwhelming.
With less than two months left before Xu Jingrong was to be sent to Pine Mountain Academy, he began visiting the west courtyard frequently after the eighth day of the New Year, sighing heavily in front of Wen Ye.
Today was already the third time.
This time, Xu Jingrong arrived at the west courtyard at the hour of Si, accompanied by two younger followers.
Wen Ye looked at the three boys standing in a row, each shorter and rounder than the last, and couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth.
They each greeted her with "Auntie" and "Mother."
The wind in the courtyard was strong, so Wen Ye had Tao Zhi bring out a box of toys she had collected earlier, letting the two younger ones play inside.
Xu Jingrong, already quite familiar, dragged a stool out from the hall and placed it next to Wen Ye, who was sitting on a swing. He plopped down on it, resting his chin on his hands and elbows on his knees, sighing as if burdened by the weight of the world.
Wen Ye set down her teacup and glanced at him, asking, "Is going to the academy really that bad?"
Xu Jingrong replied with a troubled expression, "Of course it is! I heard that at Pine Mountain Academy, we can’t even bring servants or book boys. We have to do everything ourselves. I also heard they have several acres of land, and students over twelve have to work in the fields."
He was almost nine, and twelve wasn’t far off. Given his abilities, he’d probably have to stay at Pine Mountain Academy for six or seven years before he could barely pass the child scholar exam.
Xu Jingrong had never washed his own clothes, but he had seen the tenant farmers on the estate—dark and thin. He didn’t want to end up like them when he grew up; it would make finding a wife difficult.
Wen Ye wasn’t familiar with Pine Mountain Academy, established by the Xu family in Orchid City, but from what Xu Jingrong described, it sounded quite good.
The imperial exams were no walk in the park. If scholars couldn’t even lift a hand or shoulder a burden, they probably wouldn’t survive the first day.
Xu Jingrong gave Wen Ye a suspicious look and said, "Auntie, I feel like you’re actually happy about this."
Wen Ye naturally denied it: "You’re mistaken."
Xu Jingrong thought, *I’m not blind*, but remembering his purpose for coming today, he swallowed his words.
"Auntie, your nephew is about to suffer," Xu Jingrong began to act, though his performance was rather cringe-worthy.
Wen Ye couldn’t bear to watch and said, "Can you speak properly?"
Xu Jingrong hesitated, then said, "I just wanted to have one last taste of roasted lamb chops and pig trotters before I leave."
The memory of that meal still lingered, but he hadn’t had it since.
Wen Ye raised an eyebrow and looked at him, "So that’s why you’ve been sneaking into the west courtyard these past few days."
Xu Jingrong put on an innocent face, "Not at all! I just like spending time with you, Auntie."
Wen Ye chuckled inwardly, thinking, *I’d be more at ease if you didn’t come.*
She closed her book and said, "There’s no lamb chops or pig trotters today, but your auntie has decided to treat you to a barbecue. How about that?"
The New Year feasts had added a few pounds to Wen Ye, and she planned to eat light for a month to shed the extra weight.
So, lamb chops and pig trotters were off the menu. She couldn’t eat them, and she didn’t want others eating them in front of her either.
Barbecue offered more options. She could focus on vegetables and eat less meat. One meal wouldn’t make much difference.
Xu Jingrong nodded eagerly, "Yes, yes, yes!"
Though there were no lamb chops or pig trotters, barbecue was still good. Last time, he had been too busy with the chops and trotters to enjoy the barbecue properly.
Wen Ye immediately had Tao Zhi instruct the kitchen to prepare.
Since she was determined to stick close to Madam Lu, Wen Ye planned to use her free time to research a few nourishing soups to help Madam Lu regain her strength.
But first, she needed to understand Madam Lu’s taste preferences, which she could learn from Xu Jingrong, her son.
Perfect timing.
Barbecue was simple. Just wash the vegetables and meat, cut them into chunks or slices, skewer them, heat the charcoal, brush a layer of oil on the wire mesh, and place the skewers on top.
Turn them occasionally, sprinkle some cumin and chili powder.
When the meat skewers sizzled and gave off a faint charred aroma, they were ready to eat. For those who liked it spicy, a final sprinkle of ground chili powder before eating would do the trick.
Upon hearing that lunch would be barbecue, Xu Jinglin abandoned his toys and followed his older brother closely, afraid of being left behind.
Xu Jinglin was just over a month away from turning six. Wen Ye’s approach to children was simple: after five, as long as it wasn’t poisonous, they could eat whatever they wanted. She wouldn’t stop them.
Before five, however, she resorted to her specialty: the art of distraction.
So, when Xu Yuxuan stumbled over his words, asking to join his brothers for barbecue, Wen Ye gently patted his head and agreed without hesitation, "Don’t worry, Mother would never forget you, Xuan’er."
But right after, she had Hongxing prepare skewers of milk-flavored buns, stir-fried meat slices, and lightly sautéed cabbage.
Xu Yuxuan, oblivious, thought it was a sign of Wen Ye’s affection and grinned from ear to ear.
Nanny Ji, standing nearby, sighed deeply. She wondered when their young master would see through Madam Wen’s tricks.
Honestly, in all her years as a servant, she had never encountered someone like Madam Wen. Her methods were unconventional, yet she always managed to strike the right balance.
Her intentions were always for the young master’s good, but her approach was anything but ordinary.
From her initial anxiety to her current calm, Nanny Ji even found herself feeling a bit sorry for the young master.
Xu Jinglin’s skewers were seasoned with cumin, while Xu Yuxuan enjoyed milk-flavored buns briefly warmed over the charcoal, along with his special meat and cabbage skewers. Xu Jingrong, like Wen Ye, preferred his skewers with a generous sprinkle of chili powder.
Xu Jingrong was sweating from the spice, constantly slurping. The two younger ones, though not eating anything spicy, imitated him, slurping as well.
The scene was quite amusing.
Xu Jingrong: "..."
Suddenly, he felt a bit embarrassed. He downed a cup of milk tea in one gulp, channeling his frustration into his appetite, and took a big bite of a beef skewer.
Having learned Madam Lu’s taste preferences from Xu Jingrong, Wen Ye began her preparations.
For Madam Lu’s nourishing meals, Wen Ye decided to do the cooking herself. Not only would it show sincerity, but it would also help her in her long-term plan to stay close to Madam Lu.
Fortunately, cooking wasn’t too difficult. She treated it as a way to pass the time.
Madam Lu preferred lighter flavors, rarely eating greasy foods, and enjoyed dishes that were refreshing and crisp.
No wonder she was so thin. That wouldn’t do. Wen Ye pondered, deciding to create a few dishes that were light yet meaty, along with some nourishing soups.
After several days of experimentation, she had made some progress and planned to send two dishes to Madam Lu the next day.
In the Great Jin Dynasty, the government resumed work after the Lantern Festival, but Xu Yuejia had already returned to his duties at the Ministry of Justice on the seventh day of the New Year.
Today, Xu Yuejia returned to the west courtyard at the hour of Xu, later than usual.
Wen Ye finished her morning routine and stepped out of the bathroom in her nightgown just as Xu Yuejia entered the inner chamber. Wen Ye immediately greeted him, "My husband, you're back."
Xu Yuejia acknowledged with a hum and said, "There are some imperial gifts outside. Make sure to store them properly."
"Imperial gifts?" Wen Ye draped an outer garment over herself and walked out of the inner chamber. She saw several large wooden chests filling the main hall.
She turned her head to ask Xu Yuejia, "All of these are gifts from the Emperor?"
Xu Yuejia replied, "The Empress also sent some."
Wen Ye, with a sudden realization, asked, "Specifically for me?"
Xu Yuejia hummed in confirmation again.
Wen Ye wasn’t so vain as to believe that the Empress, who had never even met her, would favor her enough to send such an abundance of gifts all at once.
The reason had to lie with Xu Yuejia. Even royal couples adhered to the principle of the husband leading and the wife following.
Though she understood the underlying reason, Wen Ye still felt a bit dazed as she looked at the several large chests before her.
She had someone open the nearest chests, revealing an uncountable array of gold, silver, jewels, antiques, paintings, and calligraphy. There were also rare medicinal herbs and premium bird's nests reserved exclusively for the imperial family.
The sheer richness of the gifts made Wen Ye suspect some ulterior motive. Could the Emperor be fattening Xu Yuejia up only to strike him down later?
But even the sharpest blade would eventually dull...
Xu Yuejia noticed Wen Ye's overthinking expression and, with a faint curve of his lips, said, "The Emperor's intentions aren’t as complicated as you think. Just accept them with ease."
Wen Ye maintained her composure and replied, "I wasn’t thinking anything of the sort."
Xu Yuejia didn’t argue with her. "Keep these safe. Remember, imperial gifts cannot be sold."
Wen Ye, feeling slighted, retorted, "What kind of person do you take me for?"
Having finally gained the upper hand, Xu Yuejia turned his back, his lips curling almost imperceptibly as he said, "I was merely offering a friendly reminder."
Wen Ye gritted her teeth and let out a cold laugh. "How very thoughtful of you, my husband."
If that was the case, then he wouldn’t be getting any of the ginseng, medicinal herbs, or bird's nests.
The next day, Wen Ye personally prepared a medicinal meal and brought it to the main courtyard, startling Madam Lu. Looking at the spread of dishes, Madam Lu couldn’t help but suspect that Wen Ye had been possessed by some wandering spirit.
Facing Madam Lu's skeptical gaze, Wen Ye calmly explained, "I noticed that Sister-in-law has been quite exhausted these past few days, so I thought I’d prepare some medicinal dishes to help replenish your energy."
Her tone was gentle and obedient, gradually easing Madam Lu's doubts. Perhaps Wen Ye was genuinely sincere.
The aroma of the dishes stimulated Madam Lu's appetite. These days, her busy schedule had left her with little desire to eat, but today, her appetite was unexpectedly revived.
Madam Lu sampled a few dishes slowly, finding them quite different from her usual meals. It was clear that Wen Ye had put a lot of thought into them.
With her appetite piqued, Madam Lu ate until she was half-full before slowing down. She looked at Wen Ye with a sense of satisfaction and said, "This bird's nest is an imperial gift, isn’t it?"
Wen Ye smiled, her eyes curving. "Nothing escapes Sister-in-law's notice."
Madam Lu chuckled. "When I visited the palace in the past, the Empress also gifted me some."
Wen Ye replied honestly, "I had someone prepare a bowl this morning. It tasted quite good, so I thought to share some with you."
Madam Lu set down her spoon and looked at Wen Ye. "I lack nothing here. You should keep it for yourself."
Then, with a meaningful tone, she added, "Your mother, Madam Shen, manages the entire Wen Mansion. It’s not an easy task."
Those in similar situations often empathize deeply.
Madam Lu didn’t elaborate further, but Wen Ye understood.
With a slight smile, Wen Ye said, "I’ll follow Sister-in-law's advice."
After delivering medicinal meals for several days, Wen Ye looked at the remaining bird's nest and called for Yun Zhi and Tao Zhi. Suddenly, she began to reflect, "Do you think I’ve been a source of worry in the past? Having a daughter like me, my mother and Concubine Chang must have done something terrible in their past lives."
Tao Zhi and Yun Zhi exchanged glances and wisely decided not to respond.
It was best to listen to Madam's words but never to agree, as she often spoke without truly meaning it.
However, many of the things Madam said were accurate and cutting.
Wen Ye didn’t expect an answer from them. She simply instructed them to divide the bird's nest into three portions and asked Yun Zhi to return to Wen Mansion the next day to deliver these portions.
Tao Zhi counted and noticed only three portions. She couldn’t help but ask, "Madam, aren’t you sending any to Concubine Chang and Fifth Miss?"
Wen Ye glanced at the remaining bird's nest in the chest and said, "No rush. After Second Sister-in-law gives birth, I’ll return for the celebration and bring some for Concubine Chang and my younger sister then."
These valuable items wouldn’t go through Madam Shen's official channels.
Although the Wen Mansion was currently harmonious, Wen Ye still didn’t want Concubine Chang and her younger sister to become the focus of the entire Wen family. It was better for everyone to live their lives peacefully without interference.
The next day, in the main hall of Wen Mansion.
Madam Shen summoned her two daughters-in-law and said, "These are imperial bird's nests sent by your fourth sister, Wen Ye. Each of you take a portion."
Madam Yang and Madam Liu were both surprised and delighted. Madam Yang exclaimed, "Imperial bird's nest?"
Madam Shen nodded faintly. In truth, she was also puzzled by Wen Ye's intentions.
She had reviewed the gift list and confirmed there were only three portions, clearly excluding Concubine Chang. So why had Wen Ye gone through the trouble of sending them?
Had her usually shrewd nature changed after marriage?
Regardless of her thoughts, Madam Shen maintained her composed demeanor. "Since this is your fourth sister's gesture, accept it with gratitude and remember her kindness."
Madam Yang and Madam Liu both agreed.
During lunch, Madam Shen had her daughters-in-law stay for the meal. A servant brought out a bowl of bird's nest, and Madam Shen had a portion served to each of them.
Madam Shen also drank a bowl herself, but the more she drank, the more unsettled she felt.
Suddenly, she recalled Concubine Chang's recent visit, where she had mentioned wanting to send a set of clothes to the young master of Duke Xu's household under Madam Shen's name.
Madam Shen had agreed at the time, but only verbally, without any further action.
Now, looking at the bird's nest in her bowl, Madam Shen thought to herself, "There are still two bolts of cloud-patterned brocade from Suzhou in the storeroom. I’ll give one to Concubine Chang to make clothes."
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to enjoy the bird's nest with a clear conscience.
