Chapter 19 The Amber Puppy's Sister: "Miss, those bracelets are ones you've kept for years, and you're just giving them away to Grandma like this."...

“Young lady, those bracelets are ones you’ve kept for years, and you’re just giving them to the eldest madam like this.”

“What can I do if I don’t give her anything? You have to be willing to give her good things when you ask her to do something. Look at the gifts that Madam Shen prepared for everyone in the family when she first came in. Is the Shen family lacking in good things? If I try to fool her with ordinary things, I’ll be making a fool of myself.”

"Don't let my arrogant and disdainful demeanor fool you. I know exactly what I'm doing. We're different from those Han Chinese. What were our ancestors doing decades ago? What were their ancestors doing? I've read their books since I was a child. They're all incredibly cunning."

"Besides, look at how Shen is today. My second sister-in-law has become too ambitious in managing the household these past few years. She thinks she's perfect in every way, but everyone knows she's become arrogant. Now look what's happened. People don't play along with her at all and just ask for what she wants. She's in a dilemma whether she gives it to them or not."

Having just married into the Hesheli family, Fu Xuan was convinced that this woman was capable, given how she dared to act in such a way. Her aunt, who remained unmarried at home, was of no benefit to her, so entrusting this matter to her was better than relying on Yu Lang, who was rarely seen.

Fu Xuan was always decisive, and when she said that, the maid beside her naturally thought it made sense. But she didn't expect that Shen Wanqing had no desire to take on this thankless task at all.

“Your aunt told me that if I can really find her a good family, the old lady in this family will definitely like me the most. At that time, I won’t even need to ask my second aunt for anything; the old lady will definitely hand over all the power to manage the household to me on her own initiative.”

Fu Xuan didn't stay long after she arrived. She sat down and got straight to the point, explaining her purpose. Then she took out the pair of bracelets and forced them on Shen Wanqing.

She asked why Yulang hadn't returned yet, and before Shen Wanqing could answer, she launched into a long monologue about how Yulang was now a second-class guard at Yuqing Palace, and would undoubtedly have more social engagements outside in the future, so she, as his wife, should be more understanding. Finally, without waiting for Shen Wanqing's reply, she got up and left.

"Keep your aunt's matter in mind; she's an impatient person. If you don't hear anything in three to five days, she'll definitely come to ask again. If you can't give her a clear answer, then there will be more trouble."

But don't take it too seriously. If you find someone suitable, come back and let me know, and I'll inquire further. Don't just tell her everything you see; if things go wrong, you might get yourself into a lot of trouble.

"I know, I'm not stupid. What's the use of just looking good? What if it's all show and no substance? I'm only doing this because I accepted their bracelet, and I'm obligated to do it. Besides, as the old saying goes, 'Don't be a middleman, don't be a guarantor, don't be a matchmaker for three generations.' I'm really not cut out for this."

"Miss." Ningxiang came in carrying noodles as she spoke, and just then she heard her mistress say this, so she couldn't help but call out "Miss."

"What's wrong?" Shen Wanqing thought something was wrong in the kitchen, but when she saw that the noodles and side dishes that she brought in were all there, she was still a little confused.

"She's telling you not to say things like that in front of me, because she's afraid I'll be upset, right?"

Yu Lang reacted even faster, deliberately making his perfectly normal words sound sarcastic and indirect in front of Ning Xiang, making Ning Xiang blush. She lowered her head, put the noodles and vegetables on the tray, and quickly left.

"Don't tease her. If others see this, they'll think the master has designs on my maid again."

"Hey, hey, you can't say that, I didn't mean it that way."

Shen Wanqing wasn't generous, that was the conclusion Yu Lang drew on their first day of marriage. The more they spent together these past few days, the more Yu Lang felt this way. People who aren't generous tend to be particularly sensitive about such things, and Yu Lang didn't intend to cause any trouble for the two of them in this regard.

"That's good, I was just saying it casually, so please just take it as a casual remark."

Sitting down at the table, Shen Wanqing mixed the fragrant scallion oil noodles. For her late-night snack, Ningxiang always used small bowls; what looked like a full bowl was actually only a few bites.

When Yu Lang said he didn't mean it that way, Shen Wanqing carefully observed his expression and, after confirming that he really didn't mean it that way, smiled and asked him if he wanted to eat some too.

"Just one bite, let me taste it." Ningxiang's cooking skills are excellent, and Shen Wanqing had Ningxiang improve it according to her own taste. Now, anyone who isn't heartless will definitely love this bowl of noodles.

He said he would only take a bite to taste it, but he ate almost half a bowl of noodles with just one chopstick. His hand unconsciously picked up another chopstick, and looking at the almost empty porcelain bowl and the few sparse noodles at the bottom, he looked up at Shen Wanqing.

Yu Lang has handsome features, making him very likable both in public and in bed. At this moment, however, his sword-like eyebrows drooped slightly, making him look even more like a pitiful little puppy compared to his bright, amber eyes.

"Eat quickly, I'll have Ningxiang make another bowl."

Late at night, Ningxiang was being bothered back and forth, so Shen Wanqing simply asked her to go to the kitchen and cut a smoked chicken and a plate of braised beef. The smoked chicken was given to the two maids on night watch, and Ningxiang was to take the braised beef back to her room to satisfy her craving.

When the second bowl of noodles was served, Shen Wanqing ate most of it, and Yulang finished off the remaining half. After finishing, he felt a bit full, so he dragged Shen Wanqing around the East Courtyard to digest. In short, the entire East Courtyard was always in an uproar whenever he came back.

After eating and drinking to his heart's content, he led his newlywed wife around the courtyard under the moonlight. He tore off his newly acquired waist token and shoved it at Shen Wanqing. Life after marriage was so smooth that Yu Lang felt a little lightheaded.

Shen Wanqing couldn't remember what time the two returned to their room. She only knew that the man, who had been holding back a lot of energy and seemed to have an inexhaustible supply, finally calmed down that night, simply burying his head tightly against her neck without making any other movement.

The next day, Yulang got up very early. On the day of his shift, he had to go to the capital early to hand over his duties. The men in the family did not need to go to the main courtyard to pay their respects, and even the wives could go to the main courtyard at any time later.

Right now, all that's important is to take good care of her husband, let Yulang eat breakfast properly, change into his robes and go out to work comfortably and with peace of mind.

This has been the rule of the Hesheli family for many years. When Erhe was alive, the Niohuru clan followed this rule. When Heyi served as an official, the Shumulu clan followed this rule. Now it is Shen Wanqing's turn to follow this rule as well.

"I went to the guards' office yesterday and they arranged my duty schedule. I'm on duty today and won't be back for five days."

"How many days off can you get if you work five days?"

“Two days. Yuqing Palace is different from the Guard Camp. Serving in front of the master is not so easy.”

"Then for these five days, you'll have to stay by the Crown Prince's side every single day."

"Don't even think about it. The Crown Prince's personal guards are the First-Class Guards, and we are responsible for patrols and guard duty. The daytime and nighttime shifts are different. During the day, we rotate every two hours, and at night, we are divided into the first and second halves of the night. I don't know exactly how the rotation works yet. I'll tell Madam when I get back."

Five days on, two days off. The job looks glamorous to outsiders, but it's hard to believe it's not tiring. With the cold winters and hot summers, Shen Wanqing thought that if she were in that situation, she might not be able to handle it.

"Don't worry about me." Yu Lang raised his hand, intending to pat Shen Wanqing's head, but afraid of messing up her hair, he lowered his hand a little and pinched her earlobe. The pinching made Shen Wanqing shudder, and she withdrew her hand.

"The men of the Hesheli family grew up on horseback and can endure any hardship."

"Understood. Those men from the Hesheli family, next time you won't beg for mercy in front of me like 'sister, sister.'"

He had hoped to act like a domineering CEO in front of Shen Wanqing, but one sentence from her left him blushing. Unable to keep up the act any longer, Yu Lang had to make an excuse that it was getting late and hurried out, as if someone was chasing him.

After seeing Yu Lang off, Shen Wanqing took off her cloak and went back to bed for a nap. Last night, someone from the main courtyard came and said that Madam Tongjia was going out today, and that she didn't need to go to the main courtyard herself after Yu Lang left. It sounded nice, like she was being considerate, but actually she was afraid that she would bring up yesterday's events in front of her, so she simply found an excuse to avoid it.

Let them avoid it then; they had no intention of making things difficult for an old woman anyway. Ultimately, both families felt they had been wronged. For married women, managing the household is a power struggle.

It's easier to dream than to expect Tongjia to simply say a few words and make Shumulu obediently give up. Shen Wanqing has no interest in dreaming; she prefers to fight for what she can herself.

After taking a half-hour nap, Shen Wanqing had Chunxian style her hair into an extremely neat bun. She then chose a pair of peony hair ornaments and kingfisher feather hairpins to adorn her hair, and dressed herself up as flamboyantly as possible as she walked towards the west courtyard.

The West Courtyard is different from the East Courtyard. Shen Wanqing couldn't feel the difference when she was in the East Courtyard or the main courtyard. Only after she truly stepped into the West Courtyard did she understand why Shumulu was so reluctant to give up the power of the family.

Although they were dressed similarly, the servants in the west courtyard had more vibrant expressions on their faces than those in the east courtyard.

It's no wonder they act this way. They're all servants from the same household. If the people in the East Courtyard want something, they need the approval of Shumulu from the West Courtyard. Even though Shumulu never withholds anything or makes things difficult for them, they still feel inexplicably inferior to the people in the West Courtyard.

“Grandma, don’t be fooled by how those maids and servants are all all smiles like trumpet flowers when they see us now. They weren’t like this before.”

"What were they like before?"

"I can't say for sure. It's not that they look down on the people in the East Courtyard, but we all know they're arrogant. Ultimately, it's because our Madam doesn't manage the household."

Qing Shuang wasn't intentionally trying to sow discord; she simply had a lot to say but nowhere to vent. Yu Lang was not only the master but also a man. Chang Shun and the others could tell him whatever they wanted about things outside, but if the maids were to bring everything about the inner quarters to their master, they would be asking for trouble.

"Alright, let's not say that again. We should remember their kindness. A few years ago, when Pusa Bao and Xiao E'er were too busy, it was thanks to Second Madam that they were able to lend a hand."

"Yes, I'll remember that. Madam, you are kind and generous, so it's fitting that Second Madam also knows this."

Anyone can say nice things, but no matter how nicely they are said, Shen Wanqing's sudden attack still startled Shumulu, who had been waiting since yesterday for He Yi to return.

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Happy Qixi Festival everyone! [Let me see][Dog head carrying a rose][Dog head carrying a rose]