Chapter 5

Then he added, "Throw away all the clothes that Yunyou touched."

Mu Li knew he was fastidious; that cloak was just brought back from the silk shop.

He received a thousand taels of silver.

Even though his master was not short of money, Mu Li still couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

But seeing his ashen face, she dared not say anything more.

"Yes, I will take care of it shortly."

That evening, just as Fu'er was about to retire for the night, Granny Yu came to call her again to give Ning Shiyuxun some clothes.

"Didn't Miss Yunyou scent the young master's robes?"

"His wardrobe is full of robes, does he really have to finish fumigating them tonight?"

It's not a pleasant feeling to be dragged out of bed.

On a cold winter's day, who wouldn't want to stay snuggled up in warm blankets?

"You're not new to the Ning residence, can you really refuse the master's orders?"

"Get up quickly."

"He's in a bad mood today, so don't ask him any questions."

Seeing Fu'er slowly getting dressed, Granny Yu gave her a few words of advice out of concern.

Fu'er was indignant, but she had no backbone and could only complain in her heart.

When she arrived at Wenxuan Pavilion, she saw that the palace lanterns in Ning Shiyu's study were still lit.

I was angry with him, feeling that he just couldn't stand seeing me idle.

She didn't, as usual, take the initiative to approach him, bow, or show her face to attract his attention.

She went straight to the bedroom wardrobe and casually picked up a brocade robe.

Then they went to the lavender room.

She often does these tasks and can complete them by herself.

She finished scenting Ning Shiyu's brocade robe and hung it in the wardrobe in his bedroom.

Just then, Ning Shiyu returned to his bedroom.

Fu'er didn't even look up at him, but simply curtsied and prepared to leave.

Ning Shiyu stopped her with dissatisfaction, "This is something you should be doing, why make someone else do it?"

"Who are you trying to impress with that cold face?"

Fu'er looked at the ground, at the couch, and at Ning Shiyu's feet.

He simply wouldn't look up at Ning Shiyu.

"From now on, you will still be in charge of taking care of my daily life."

Fu'er didn't dare to refute directly, and said in a muffled voice, "In this way, this servant is doing two jobs."

"Doing more is useless; the young master punishes his servants at the drop of a hat."

Hearing her complaints, Ning Shiyu not only didn't get annoyed, but was actually in a much better mood.

"If you don't do a good deed, are you going to not punish you, or even give you a raise?"

Fu'er muttered, "I'll think about it then, but will the young master know how?"

"meeting."

Fu'er suddenly looked up, her eyes lighting up with joy.

But then Ning Shiyu said, "You've just reminded me that it will increase the price for others."

"You like being a maid, so I'll just grant your wish."

"I spent the first half of the day doing accounting in the accounting office."

"The rest of the day, return to Wenxuan Pavilion to continue your usual duties."

After saying that, he pointed to the fruit and cakes on the coffee table and said, "Put those away."

Fu'er was so angry she couldn't speak. For the first time, she realized that her master was also a person who didn't keep his word.

She looked up at the several plates of delicate pastries on the table.

The cherry blossoms, in particular, instantly caught Fu'er's eye.

It's still from Zhengmingzhai.

These cherry blossoms should have been available in April of the following year.

Zhengmingzhai ensures its guests can enjoy the food during the Chinese New Year.

A month in advance, we take the cherries out of the ice cellar and make this cherry piro.

Ordinary families simply cannot afford it.

The Ning residence, however, features a different layout every day.

Whenever Zhengmingzhai releases a new type of pastry, it is sent to Ning's residence.

She used to love eating this pastry the most.

Ning Shiyu only ate one bite of the dish at most; the rest went into her stomach.

Thinking of the deliciousness of the cherry biscuits, Fu'er's gloom vanished completely.

There was also a plate of translucent rice cakes, which her sister loved to eat.

These pastries won't spoil even if left out for a few days in this cold weather.

She thought she would go again tomorrow and bring some for her sister and mother to try as well.

In addition to the gifts from the old lady and the grain and meat she bought at the market today.

They can eat for several more days.

He immediately took out the oil paper from under the tea table and wrapped it up.

At this moment, Ning Shiyu, who was sitting on the edge of the couch, glanced at Fu'er out of the corner of his eye and saw her smiling eyes.

The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"I heard your sister had an accident, is it resolved?"

Fu'er paused in her hand as she wrapped the pastries, then replied, "Thank you for your concern, young master. It's all taken care of."

Unexpectedly, Ning Shiyu changed the subject the next moment, "I heard you've been making mistakes in your accounts these past few days?"

"You're usually very careful, why have you made mistakes these past few days?"

"Are you dissatisfied with my arrangements?"

Fu'er immediately became alert and smiled, "This servant wouldn't dare. This servant was only worried about my sister. I won't do it again in the future."

"There will be no errors in the accounts today."

Ning Shiyu thought that her answer would satisfy him.

Unexpectedly, a chill slowly crept into his previously calm eyes.

Fu'er simply shut up and tidied up the tea table.

Before leaving, Ning Shiyu said again, "If you make a mistake, you must be punished."

"Uncle Hong indulges you, but I cannot."

"You are to be punished by copying the 'Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art' ten times."

Fu'er breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that it wasn't a fine.

"This servant will go back and copy it right away."

"No need to go back, just copy it here."

Fu'er said in surprise, "I'll disturb you and Yunyou if I'm here..."

Ning Shiyu immediately stopped him, "Shut up."

“If you say another word, you will be punished by copying it twenty times.”

Fu'er dared not utter another word, and could only skillfully take out paper and pen from under the tea table.

She sat down at the plum blossom table next to Ning Shiyu, which was also where she used to sit.

The room was warm and quiet, and Ning Shiyu was carefully flipping through the book in her hands.

Neither of them disturbed the other.

These days, Ning Shiyu has made things difficult for her repeatedly, and Fu'er's dissatisfaction has reached its peak, but she dares not say it outright.

Taking advantage of his momentary lapse in attention, she got up and, with the tip of her pen, began to poke the large koi in the blue-and-white porcelain fish basin.

Ning Shiyu cherishes this big koi fish very much and has raised it for many years.

Normally, even Little Orange wouldn't dare touch it.

He ruined his precious koi fish.

Fu'er felt much better afterward.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she turned around, she met Ning Shiyu's cold eyes.

Fu'er forced a smile, "Young master, this servant is feeding Hong'er."

Ning Shiyu slammed the book shut, ignoring her explanation, and decisively ordered, "Ten more times."

Fu'er wailed inwardly and buried herself in copying.

By the fifth copy, Fu'er was so sleepy that she fell asleep on the plum blossom table. The room was warm with a floor heater.

Ning Shiyu did not wake her until he went to rest.

That's how they woke Fu'er up and told her to go back to her room to sleep.

Before leaving, he reminded her to make up for the fifteen times she hadn't finished copying the text the night before.

The next day, while Fu'er was having breakfast in her room, Yunyou came in with her maid Caiwei.

He was holding a small box in his hand.

Fu'er quickly got up and welcomed the two into the house.

As soon as she sat down, Yunyou put the small box into Fu'er's hands.

“Sister Fu’er, I’ve just arrived at the Ning residence and there are many things I need to ask you for advice.”

"Please accept this small token of my appreciation, sister."

When Fu'er opened it, she found a pair of gold wire earrings inlaid with pearls.

She immediately closed the box and returned it to Yunyou.

“Miss Yunyou, this gift is too precious, I dare not accept it.”

"Just let me know if you need anything."

Yun You then spoke frankly: "I heard that you were serving the young master last night?"

"Do you know why the young master didn't wear the cloak I scented for him yesterday when he left the manor today?"

Fu'er immediately understood the purpose of Yun You's visit today.

Now that she has offended Ning Shiyu, she cannot afford to offend his favorite concubine.

Only by getting along well with Yunyou.

Only then would I have the chance to climb into Ning Shiyu's bed again.

Looking at Caiwei next to Yunyou, she realized that she wasn't as pretty as Yunyou, but she wasn't worried.

She couldn't let Yun You become jealous of her.

Fu'er grinned, "Miss Yunyou has misunderstood. I was kept behind by the young master to be punished last night, and I returned at 9 PM."

"This servant is stupid and clumsy, and cannot meet the young master's eye."

"It wasn't like what the girl imagined."

"As for the clothes the young lady mentioned, that's a complete misunderstanding."

"The young master has many outer robes and cloaks in his wardrobe, most of which have been scented."

"Whichever outfit Mu Li picked out for him, he would wear it."

Upon hearing this, Yun You realized that the problem lay with Mu Li.

After listening to Fu'er's explanation, I felt much better.

He chatted with Fu'er for a few more minutes.

When she learned that Ning Shiyu disliked Fu'er, she not only had to continue her accounting duties, but also had to take care of Fu'er's past work at Wenxuan Pavilion.

Yunyou outwardly offered words of comfort, but inwardly she still felt a hint of schadenfreude.

At noon, after finishing her accounting work, Fu'er went out of the mansion to deliver some things to her sister and mother.

It was already dark when I got back.

He hastily ate a couple of bites of food and then went to Wenxuan Pavilion.

Seeing that Ning Shiyu had returned to the mansion, she hurriedly went to the kitchen to collect his meals.

Ning Shiyu's meals were prepared separately by Yang, the cook in the small kitchen.

She was also the cook who worked the longest after Fu'er's mother left.

She used to live in a wealthy family and knew how to cook the ingredients and flavors that Ning Shiyu liked.

Seeing that it was Fu'er who came to collect the food today, Madam Yang said, "Miss Fu'er, please wait a moment, there is still abalone soup that has not been cooked yet."

You'll have to come back later.

This abalone is stewed with bird's nest and shark fin to make ginseng soup.

To ensure the food tastes delicious, the cooks time their cooking precisely.

These ingredients are precious, and Ning Shiyu is not stingy with them; Fu'er has been able to eat them every time in the past.

Thinking back to the present, Fu'er sighed, "I'm afraid I won't have this good fortune in the future."

She carried two food boxes back to the dining hall of Wenxuan Pavilion.

After preparing the meal for Ning Shiyu.

Then he rushed to the kitchen to get the abalone soup.

When he returned, he saw Yunyou already serving Ning Shiyu vegetables.

It was inconvenient to disturb their good time.

He was overjoyed, thinking to himself that this would save him from copying the text as punishment tonight.

He placed the abalone soup in Mu Li's hand, who was standing at the door, and strode out of Wenxuan Pavilion.

She returned to her room and ate the meal that Xiang'er had left for her.

After washing up, she took out her winter clothes.

The place where her sister and her family live now is not only far from the county town, but also very cold.

It wasn't even December yet, but ice had already formed on the ground.

So she has to go again tomorrow, not only to bring them skirts and jackets, but also to buy them some charcoal.

Fu'er took out the money from her earthenware jar.

After counting, there were only five or six taels of silver left.

After receiving her monthly allowance, she would give most of it to her mother to deposit in a bank.

They said they wanted to leave a dowry for Fu'er.

Fu'er used the rest of the money for her usual expenses.

Ning Shiyu also frequently bestowed gifts upon her, so in theory she shouldn't have to worry about money.

Strangely enough, she had a moment of weakness and lent thirty or forty taels of silver to her aunt who was in trouble.

It was only later that they found out that her uncle had taken it to gamble.

She didn't dare tell her parents about this; it was kept from her family.

Fu'er was heartbroken, knowing she would likely never get the money back.

After packing her things, Fu'er turned off the light and went to bed.

Before she could even warm up in bed, Zhuang Xing called out from the doorway, "Miss Fu'er, the master wants you to go and receive your punishment."