Nanny Ji opened the food box and saw a cake as big as a child's palm. After some thought, she decided to cut one of the cakes in half. It was only an hour before dinner, and it would be better to eat fewer snacks now, as they might spoil the appetite. Xu Yuxuan watched as his piece of cake suddenly became smaller and softly protested, "Nanny, there's less!"
Nanny Ji had Ren Dong take the rest away and pointed at the cake on the table, which now had a noticeable missing corner, saying, "It's not less, I’ve been watching it. Young master, eat up."
The cake was soft and fluffy, so Nanny Ji prepared a small spoon for Xu Yuxuan to scoop it up himself. Xu Yuxuan pursed his lips, loosened his grip on the spoon, and let it slip to the ground. He then turned and ran toward the study.
As the collection of storybooks grew, Wen Ye had added another bookshelf. She now stood in front of it, her serious demeanor making it seem as though she was selecting a masterpiece for the ages.
Xu Yuxuan ran and walked in turns, finally reaching Wen Ye. He complained as if lodging a formal grievance, "Mother, Nanny took my cake!"
The word "cake" had only been mentioned a few times by Wen Ye that day, and Xu Yuxuan hadn’t yet fully grasped it.
Wen Ye was engrossed in reading the summary on the first page of a storybook but spared a glance at him, asking, "You mean Nanny took your cake?"
Xu Yuxuan nodded vigorously, "Yes, Mother, help me?"
Wen Ye chuckled, then picked up another book. She guessed that Nanny Ji must have thought a whole cake was too much for Xu Yuxuan and had cut it in half or more, which the little boy had noticed.
Wen Ye had never raised a child before, so she trusted Nanny Ji, who had been taking care of Xu Yuxuan, to know how much he could eat. Xu Yuxuan coming to her for help was clearly a case of barking up the wrong tree.
Finally finding a storybook she liked, Wen Ye looked down at Xu Yuxuan and said, "You didn’t even eat the little cake I brought you. Why should I help you?"
Xu Yuxuan looked confused, his little brain struggling to process the logic, but he still replied softly, "Xuan'er will eat it~"
Wen Ye tickled his chubby chin and then said sternly, "Then go back and finish it. Once you’re done, I’ll definitely stand up for you." Something felt off, but Xu Yuxuan was gently pushed out of the study before he could figure it out.
Nanny Ji had been waiting in the hall. Seeing Xu Yuxuan indeed being "chased" out of the study, a smile flickered in her eyes. She stepped forward to greet him, "Young master, do you still want to eat the cake?"
Xu Yuxuan hesitated for a moment but then nodded firmly, "Yes!" After all, only after eating would Mother help him~
Xu Yuxuan sat back down on his little stool, picked up his special spoon, and began eating bite by bite. The unfamiliar treat tasted different from anything he’d had before.
The little white flower on top of the cake seemed to melt like water in his mouth, slipping down his throat in an instant.
It took Xu Yuxuan nearly half an hour to finish the small cake. As he took the last bite, Nanny Ji handed him a cup of warm water and said, "Didn’t the young master prepare a birthday gift for Madam Lu? Shouldn’t you go and deliver it now?"
Xu Yuxuan’s little face lit up with realization, "Yes, let’s go!"
As for the matter of asking Mother for help after eating, Xu Yuxuan had already forgotten it entirely.
How could a two-year-old child remember an elder’s birthday and prepare a gift in advance?
It was all thanks to Nanny Ji’s prior coaching. Madam Lu treated Xu Yuxuan as her own son, and as a beloved younger family member, it was only right to show some gesture on her birthday.
Even a few words of blessing would suffice. At Xu Yuxuan’s age, he couldn’t do much else, so Nanny Ji had quietly taught him a few celebratory phrases.
Even though the words were halting and awkward, Madam Lu was still overjoyed. It was the first time she had heard Xu Yuxuan say such a long string of words.
In comparison, the usual gifts on the table seemed even more "ordinary."
The remaining two pieces of cake were taken by Wen Ye and given to Liuya and Liuxin to try after Nanny Ji left with Xu Yuxuan. Yun Zhi and Tao Zhi, who stayed by Wen Ye’s side, never lacked food or drink and had light workloads.
Liuya and Liuxin had taken on much of their work, so Wen Ye considered giving them a raise.
As for Xu Yuejia, Wen Ye recalled his "leisurely" pace the first time he ate cake, which probably meant he didn’t care for it.
Since the New Year, Xu Yuejia had been quite busy. Although no new cases had arisen, the Ministry of Justice was swamped with old and mishandled cases left over from the previous emperor’s reign. Nearly 90% of them required re-examination.
Two days later, Duke Xu waited in the front courtyard specifically for Xu Yuejia. He didn’t see him until late in the evening.
When Xu Yuejia entered the study and saw his elder brother, a hint of surprise flickered in his eyes. He asked, "Brother, is there something you need?"
Duke Xu wasn’t sure how to phrase it and felt somewhat awkward. "Do you know what your wife did for your sister-in-law’s birthday?"
Xu Yuejia walked around the desk, placing the book he was holding back on the shelf, and replied calmly, "I do."
Duke Xu sighed, "I don’t know where your wife learned these tricks—birthday cakes, heart-shaped fireworks, and sweet words that have your sister-in-law still talking about it today."
Xu Yuejia only knew about the cake and was unaware of Wen Ye’s other preparations.
But thinking about her two bookshelves filled with storybooks, it didn’t seem surprising that she could pull off something like this.
Xu Yuejia’s lips twitched slightly upward as he looked up and asked, "So, brother, is that why you’re here today?"
Duke Xu was blunt, "The gifts Jingrong, Jinglin, and I gave were completely overshadowed."
Xu Yuejia replied matter-of-factly, "That just means you weren’t thoughtful enough."
Duke Xu was momentarily speechless.
Xu Yuejia added, "Brother, you should put in more effort."
Duke Xu’s expression turned complicated, "...Zitan, do you understand what I’m saying?"
Xu Yuejia remained unmoved. He had brought back some old case files from the Ministry of Justice and planned to review them before bed. "What does this have to do with me?"
Duke Xu said, "Of course it has to do with you. As your wife, Wen Ye should be focusing more on you. If not you, then at least on Xu Yuxuan. Or she could just stay in the west courtyard, enjoying good food and drink. The Duke’s residence wouldn’t mistreat her. Why is she always cozying up to your sister-in-law? As her husband, you should guide her behavior."
Xu Yuejia remained calm, "Isn’t it good for sisters-in-law to get along?"
Duke Xu frowned slightly, "But this is too much harmony."
"The gifts I’ve given your sister-in-law over the years, she’s always liked them. But this year, her attitude changed completely." What Duke Xu didn’t say was that even Xu Yuxuan’s two celebratory phrases had outshone the gifts from him and his sons.
Xu Yuejia asked, "What does this have to do with Wen Ye?"
Duke Xu replied, "Of course it has to do with her. You’re her husband, after all. Don’t you know where she learned all these tricks?"
Xu Yuejia paused for a moment before answering, "I do."
Duke Xu immediately said, "Tell me."
Without a moment’s hesitation, Xu Yuejia firmly refused, "I suggest you find another way." Years of reading storybooks wasn’t something just anyone could easily replicate.
"Also," Xu Yuejia added, "please watch your words."
Duke Xu, "...My apologies."
Duke Xu sighed, "Even though they’re all jewelry from Liuyunzhai, the designs are different every year. But your sister-in-law insists that the gifts I’ve given her over the past few years are all the same. She says she’s tired of guessing what they’ll be."
Such complaints could only be shared with his younger brother, Xu Yuejia. If he told his sons, it would reach his wife’s ears within half an hour.
When Xu Yuejia heard the phrase "all the same," his expression briefly flickered with subtle discomfort. He flipped a page of the case file and finally looked up, asking, "Brother, do you have nothing to do lately?"
Duke Xu met his younger brother’s gaze without flinching, "The tasks His Majesty assigned me were completed flawlessly half a month ago. Not long ago, I even helped the Ministry of Works improve a long-range arrow."
Duke Xu was always strict about separating public and private matters and never delayed his work. He always finished one task before moving on to the next.
Xu Yuejia said, "Today, I heard His Majesty mention that the Sixth Battalion has a batch of weapons that don’t match the records. If you’re free, why not volunteer to investigate?"
Duke Xu almost agreed on the spot but stopped himself at the last moment.
Matters should be handled in the order they come. Duke Xu said, "When you have time, you should have a heart-to-heart talk with your sister-in-law. Not for your own sake, but for the sake of me being your elder brother."
Is there something unusual happening in the Sixth Battalion? He needs to investigate.
Without waiting for Xu Yuejia's reply, Duke Xu added before leaving, "By the way, help me ask how the cake is made."
In the evening, just as Wen Ye stepped out of the side room, Tao Zhi came in to report that Xu Yuejia was heading towards the west courtyard. Wen Ye was somewhat surprised. Usually, at this hour, Xu Yuejia would stay directly in the front courtyard.
After Xu Yuejia finished washing up, Wen Ye was already lying on the bed, holding a storybook.
Before Xu Yuejia could get close, to be on the safe side, Wen Ye chose to be upfront: "Husband, I'm not feeling well today."
Xu Yuejia's hand froze as he was about to lift the blanket. After a long pause, he said, "...You're overthinking it."
"That's good."
It wasn't that Wen Ye was overthinking. A man would occasionally have needs, and Xu Yuejia was no exception. For him to suddenly return to the west courtyard to sleep at this hour, as a mature woman, it was only natural for her to think of such matters.
When Xu Yuejia got into bed, Wen Ye closed her book and asked, "Husband, do you have something to ask me?" If it wasn't about that, there must be another reason. Xu Yuejia wouldn't make such a move without a purpose.
"There is one thing," Xu Yuejia didn't hide it for Duke Xu, "My brother asked me to inquire about the recipe for making the cake."
Wen Ye: "Just that?"
Xu Yuejia gave a slight nod and looked at her.
So Wen Ye said, "How about we pretend you didn't come today?"
Xu Yuejia wasn't particularly keen on getting the recipe for his brother, but he still asked, "Is the recipe that important?"
Seeing the faint emotion in his eyes, Wen Ye guessed his thoughts—he wasn't very determined.
Having figured it out, Wen Ye's lips curved slightly as she said, "If your brother wants to please his wife, he should figure it out himself. Learning from me might not win her favor."
"What if I wanted to eat it? What would you do?" Xu Yuejia suddenly asked.
Wen Ye: "...I think longevity noodles suit your temperament better." Besides, she vaguely remembered that Xu Yuejia's birthday was in autumn, still a while away.
"Every gesture is unique," Wen Ye said with a serious expression, "Husband, do you understand?"
Xu Yuejia's gaze was calm: "Are you reminding me?" Wen Ye almost didn't catch the meaning behind his words. Her own birthday wasn't far off either.
After a moment of thought, Wen Ye said, "I'm different from others. I like to take the initiative." A double entendre.
Wen Ye slowly lay down. Before closing her eyes, she said, "Husband, just wait and see."
Xu Yuejia: "..."
Xu Yuejia: Should I be looking forward to it?
