The Laid-back Life of a Stepmother

Chapter 53

Once the matter of heirs was brought up, Wen Ye felt that the day had become even brighter.

The eldest aunt and her daughter-in-law, Lady Yao, had stayed in Sheng Jing for over three months, and it was now time for them to return to Ling City. Madam Lu had been busy these past few days, not only with preparations for Xu Yuxuan's imminent move back to the west courtyard but also with gathering local specialties from Sheng Jing for the eldest aunt to take back to Ling City.

She was so busy that her feet barely touched the ground.

Apart from preparing gifts for the Shen family, there were also things for Lady Yao's parents.

When Lady Yao had come to the capital, her parents had entrusted her with several crates of local specialties from Ling City. They had been very tactful, sending only some local goods and nothing more, treating it as a simple exchange between relatives. People who understood boundaries were always well-received, and Madam Lu had always held a good impression of the Yao family.

Moreover, due to the eldest aunt's influence, the gifts of Sheng Jing specialties had piled up as they were being prepared.

When Lady Yao arrived at the main courtyard and saw the mountain of gifts, she was nearly overwhelmed. She quickly protested, "Cousin-in-law, this is far too much! My parents wouldn’t need this many."

Madam Lu, however, replied, "This is hardly anything. I’ve estimated it roughly, and it’s not too much."

Wen Ye sat nearby, leisurely sipping flower tea and enjoying apricot blossom cakes. The apricot blossoms used in the cakes had been picked during their recent spring outing. Thanks to the skilled hands of the kitchen staff, the cakes were sweet without being cloying, carrying a subtle, refreshing fragrance. She watched with amusement as Madam Lu and Lady Yao went back and forth in their polite refusals.

It was quite entertaining.

Seeing that her protests were futile, Lady Yao turned to Wen Ye and said, "Cousin-in-law, please help me convince Madam Lu." As soon as she spoke, Madam Lu's gaze also shifted to Wen Ye.

Wen Ye put down her apricot blossom cake, thinking to herself that Lady Yao had chosen the wrong person to ask for help. Of course, she would side with Madam Lu.

Under the gaze of both women, Wen Ye said without hesitation, "I think Madam Lu is right. You should accept the gifts, cousin-in-law."

Lady Yao:

Madam Lu was immediately satisfied and instructed the servants to carry the crates of specialties to the courtyard where the eldest aunt was staying. With the matter of the gifts settled, Madam Lu turned her full attention to Xu Yuxuan's move back to the west courtyard.

Madam Lu said, "The weather has been nice these past few days, so I’ve asked Nanny Ji and the others to gradually move Xu Yuxuan's belongings back to the west courtyard. From now on, he’ll be living with you, and your family of three will finally be truly 'reunited.'"

Xu Yuxuan moving back to the west courtyard?

Wen Ye paused, recalling that Madam Lu had indeed mentioned this shortly after she had married into the family.

In the courtyard, Nanny Ji, Hexiang, and Ren Dong were playing with Xu Yuxuan. Wen Ye glanced at the chubby child, who was already dressed in spring clothes, and after a moment of thought, said, "Xu Yuxuan has been under your care for so long, Madam Lu. If he’s suddenly separated from you, he’ll surely feel uncomfortable."

Madam ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‍Lu was indeed reluctant. Xu Yuxuan was like a son to her, but deep down, she understood that every child longed to grow up by their parents' side.

No matter how much she didn’t want to part with him, she had to let go. Besides, it wasn’t as if they were far apart—just a short walk away.

So she said, "Xu Yuxuan is growing up. We can’t let him stay in the main courtyard forever. What would people think of you as his mother? They might even assume you don’t care for him."

Wen Ye almost wanted to say that she indeed didn’t care much for him. When had Madam Lu developed such a high opinion of her?

Wen Ye still wanted to make one last attempt. After a brief moment of thought, she said, "I only say this because I can see how much you’ll miss Xu Yuxuan. How about this: my husband mentioned that Xu Yuxuan’s tutor will arrive tomorrow. Why don’t we let Xu Yuxuan come to the main courtyard to have lunch with you after his morning lessons? He can then return to the west courtyard in the evening to have dinner with me and my husband, and stay there overnight."

Having lunch and then staying in the main courtyard for a nap would be ideal.

Madam Lu was somewhat tempted but restrained herself. "Are you sure you’re okay with that?"

Wen Ye smiled. "Even if I’m not, I’ll have to be. You’re my dear sister-in-law, after all. Xu Yuxuan has turned out so well-behaved, and it’s all thanks to you." Madam Lu was touched but maintained her composure. "I’m sorry to trouble you." Wen Ye shook her head, her expression sincere. "It’s no trouble at all."

She truly didn’t mind.

Madam Lu, however, seemed to have made up her mind. "Don’t worry, after Xu Yuxuan finishes his meal, I’ll have Nanny Ji bring him back to the west courtyard."

Wen Ye:

There was no need to rush.

And so, the matter of Xu Yuxuan moving back to the west courtyard was settled.

The tutor Xu Yuejia had hired for Xu Yuxuan was Xu Baili, a distant relative of the headmaster of Pine Mountain Academy in Orchid City.

He had passed the imperial examination in the 29th year of the Chengping era at the age of seventeen. It was said that he couldn’t adapt to the deceit and intrigue of the officialdom and resigned from his post within two years, vowing to travel across all the provinces of the Great Jin Dynasty.

Wen Ye’s favorite book, a biography detailing the customs and traditions of various regions in the Great Jin Dynasty, was written by this very Xu Baili. Xu Yuejia had gone to great lengths to invite him to be Xu Yuxuan’s tutor.

Xu Baili was supposed to arrive at the Duke’s residence today to prepare, and Madam Lu had even prepared a room for him. However, Xu Baili had only sent a letter, saying that it had been a long time since he last visited Sheng Jing, and everything felt unfamiliar. He wanted to spend a few days exploring the city and would arrive at the Duke’s residence in seven days.

What could Madam Lu do? She handed the letter to Wen Ye and said, "Xu Yuxuan’s education has always been your husband’s responsibility. You take this letter back."

Wen Ye took the letter, read it, and smiled. "Xu Yuxuan’s tutor seems to have quite the unique personality."

Madam Lu replied, "I don’t know what your husband was thinking. While Xu Baili is highly knowledgeable, his temperament is far too unstable." Xu Jingrong was about to start studying at Pine Mountain Academy, so Madam Lu was already well-informed about the Xu family. This distant relative of the academy’s headmaster had never married, had no children, and had always lived alone. Wen Ye, however, had an inkling of Xu Yuejia’s deeper intentions in choosing this man.

She closed the letter and said, "Madam Lu, Xu Yuxuan is still young. He can barely hold a brush. If we were to find him a stern and profound tutor, he might come to see studying as a dull and tedious task."

Madam Lu couldn’t help but think of her own sons, Xu Jinglin and Xu Jingrong.

Their tutors had been recommended by their maternal grandfather, both renowned scholars from prestigious families. Their knowledge and literary skills were no less than Xu Baili’s, but their temperaments were entirely different.

No, if her two sons had encountered a tutor like Xu Baili, they would have probably torn the roof off the Duke’s residence. Those two rascals needed someone to keep them in check, unlike Xu Yuxuan, who had always been well-behaved. Once she understood this, Madam Lu stopped worrying and said, "You’re right."

After dinner, Wen Ye handed the letter to Xu Yuejia and said, "It’s a letter from Xu Baili."

Xu Yuejia set down his teacup, opened the letter, and after reading it, said, "It’s fine. I’ll be taking a few days off anyway."

Wen Ye was surprised. "The case is over? That was quick."

Xu Yuejia replied with a hint of resignation, "The Ministry of Justice isn’t run by me alone."

However, he wasn’t simply taking a break. Following the leads from Caiyun Pastry Shop, they had discovered that Zou Quan had connections with the remnants of the Ninth Prince’s faction.

The Emperor had ordered the Ministry of Justice to halt the investigation and had instructed Xu Yuejia to take a few days off to mislead those lurking in the shadows. They were in the light, while their enemies were in the dark. Only by making the other side feel safe could they continue to follow the trail.

Wen Ye didn’t feel awkward at all and even had the audacity to offer some half-hearted flattery. "It’s just that you’re so capable, my dear husband, that it gave me the wrong impression."

"However," she changed the subject, "are you planning to personally tutor Xu Yuxuan?"

Xu Yuejia replied, "Only temporarily."

Wen Ye asked, "May I observe?"

Xu Yuejia raised an eyebrow. "What’s your intention?"

Wen Ye answered honestly, "I’ve noticed that Xu Yuxuan seems reluctant to study. Seeing him struggle brings me joy."

Xu Yuejia: "…You’re quite frank."

Wen Ye leaned back casually. "Life is dull, so one must find their own amusement to make the journey worthwhile." She hadn’t had a philosophical discussion with Xu Yuejia in quite some time. Xu Yuejia met her questioning gaze and, after a pause, said, "No."

Wen Ye: "…I haven’t even said what it is yet."

Xu Yuejia, however, replied, "Just bear with it for a few more days."

Wen Ye’s face darkened. He made it sound as though she was desperate.

The next day, with the spring breeze gently blowing, Xu Yuxuan moved back to the west courtyard and officially began his studies. Since it wasn’t a formal arrangement, a small desk had been set up for him in the study. Xu Yuxuan sat behind the desk, facing Xu Yuejia.

Wen Ye, as she had wished, observed from the side, holding a novel in her hands. Her eyes, however, weren’t on the book but were instead fixed on the father and son with glee.

Xu Yuxuan had a copy of *The Three Character Classic* placed in front of him.

The book was already open, and as Xu Yuejia recited a line, Xu Yuxuan repeated after him. His pronunciation was clear, but his furrowed brow betrayed his obvious discomfort.

Wen Ye couldn’t help but find the scene amusing.

For the first time, she felt that real-life interactions were more entertaining than the stories in her novels.

Soon, it was time for a break.

Xu Yuxuan had been reciting for over a quarter of an hour and was on the verge of a breakdown. His round, dumpling-like face scrunched up as he protested, "How much longer?"

Xu Yuejia took a sip of tea and poured a cup of plain water for Xu Yuxuan before replying, "One hour."

Xu Yuxuan froze, stunned.

He turned to Wen Ye, who was lounging on the soft couch, and wailed pitifully, "Mother~"

Wen Ye handed him a tiny piece of mung bean cake, no larger than a fingernail, and said, "Mother can’t help you either."

In a dramatic tone, she added, "This mung bean cake was snatched from your father after much hardship. You must cherish it~"

Xu Yuxuan immediately stopped crying, nodded solemnly, and accepted the cake. He nibbled on it carefully, though with such a small piece, it was more like licking than eating.

Xu Yuejia glanced over, and Wen Ye could almost see the words "speechless" written on his face. No matter how slowly Xu Yuxuan ate, the tiny piece of cake was bound to disappear eventually.

The joy was fleeting, and the pain resumed.

Xu Yuxuan was still young, and the priority was for him to learn all the characters. For every quarter of an hour of reading, Xu Yuejia allowed him a half-cup of tea’s worth of rest.

During the next break, the cake was gone, and Wen Ye, knowing when to stop, got up to leave, intending to relax on the swing under the corridor and enjoy the breeze. Seeing Wen Ye about to leave, Xu Yuxuan quickly asked, "Mother?"

Xu Yuejia said, "Your mother doesn’t need to study."

Xu Yuxuan pouted and asked, "What about Xuan'er?"

Xu Yuejia replied, "You must study."

Xu Yuxuan’s lips trembled as he muttered softly, "Father is being mean again..." Xu Yuejia’s explanation, if it could even be called that, was rather blunt and unhelpful.

Wen Ye walked over to Xu Yuxuan and said, "If you don’t study, no good family’s daughter will want to marry you, and then Xuan'er won’t be able to find a good wife."

Xu Yuxuan quickly shook his head, "No wife~ No wife~"

"How can you not marry? Look at your father. He studied well, and that’s why he married a good wife like me," Wen Ye said without a hint of shame.

Xu Yuejia: "..."