Chapter 8: Youth is still the best: After Fu Xuan finished speaking to Yu Lang, she turned and went back to the main courtyard, leaving Yu Lang and Shen Wanqing alone...

After Fu Xuan finished speaking to Yu Lang, she turned around and went back to the main courtyard, leaving Yu Lang and Shen Wanqing alone, looking at each other.

"You should keep your distance from your aunt; she has a sharp tongue and can easily upset you."

"Okay, I've got it."

Shen Wanqing was stunned for a moment. She thought that given the relationship between Yulang and Fuxuan, he would say something like, "She just has a bad tongue but is actually a good person." But she didn't expect him to be the exact opposite of what she thought.

Before Yu Lang could finish the word "Chen...", he stopped. It was one thing to call her Shen Shi in public, but now, walking back along the eaves, with several maids and servants lagging behind, it was really inappropriate for the two of them to still call her that.

"I missed my appointment with Grandma today. After the wedding procession in a few days, I'll take you to Tianbaozhai for a stroll."

"Tianbaozhai?"

Just from the name, you can tell it's a place that sells fine silks and jewelry. Shen Wanqing paused for a moment and quickly flipped through her memories. In just two days, Shen Wanqing had already mastered the new skill. How could she pretend to be having a normal conversation while searching her memories without others noticing?

"The shop just opened last month. I heard that most of the items in the shop are from the Jiangnan Textile Bureau and Nanyang goods from Guangzhou, which are different from the items that come out of the Imperial Workshop."

Shen's father first served as the prefect of Fujian, and now he is in charge of the grain transport in Fujian under the Ministry of Revenue. The family may lack other things, but when it comes to the various goods coming from the south, no one can be without the Shen family.

So when he said this, before Shen Wanqing could say anything, Yu Lang laughed first: "You forgot what Grandma's family does, you almost revealed your ignorance."

"Sir, you've misunderstood. No matter how much southern goods you have at home, it's not the same as taking me to Tianbaozhai. I'll remember this, so don't forget it when the time comes."

Being able to go out was a huge blessing for Shen Wanqing. Who knew that even though she'd been so busy for just two days, Shen Wanqing still felt incredibly stifled being cooped up in this courtyard.

Forget about going to Tianbaozhai to buy jewelry, even just going out for a stroll would be fine. After all, the longer she stayed here, the clearer that voice in Shen Wanqing's heart became: she was afraid she really couldn't go back.

Since there's no going back, I have to make plans for myself. Right now, the most important thing is my relationship with Yu Lang. We're husband and wife, and partners as well. I need to gradually gain as much benefit and influence as possible, so I don't need to pretend to be obedient in front of him anymore.

"I won't forget it. Don't worry, I definitely won't forget it."

He never realized before that it would take so long to walk from the main courtyard back to the east wing. As Yu Lang walked beside Shen Wanqing, he couldn't help but turn his head to look at her. He originally wanted to ask her why she didn't ask him what he had been doing that afternoon and why she hadn't come back, but the words that came out of his mouth were something else entirely.

“I noticed you ate quite a lot tonight. Did the people in our courtyard not prepare any snacks or pastries for you this afternoon?”

"No, I was so tired that I overslept and didn't wake up until it was time for dinner. I didn't even have time to see everyone in our courtyard this afternoon. Granny Zhou even came to ask me about it, and I just blamed it on the master, saying that we'd see each other together when he got back."

Using Yu Lang as a shield was a skill Shen Wanqing mastered, but she couldn't let Yu Lang know the truth—a lesson she learned from her previous job. Bosses and superiors might not be afraid of you using their authority, but you must explain things to them afterwards to make them think you're honest; only then can this tactic be used a second time.

“What Grandma says is true. I promise I won’t go out tomorrow. We need to get to know those people down there, but there’s no need to rush. From now on, Grandma will be in charge of the East Courtyard. Naturally, Grandma will decide these matters.”

"Clear clouds".

"What?"

"Jiyun means the clouds disperse and the rain stops. I like to make seals, fan paintings, ink and mounting at home to pass the time. After making a lot, I always wanted to leave a signature, so my father gave me this name."

The original owner wasn't the most favored child in her maternal family. She was usually quiet and didn't cause much trouble. Her only hobby was tinkering with these things, and the Shen family only cared that the original owner was happy, no matter what she did, they would just say it was good.

“In private, Jiyun can just call me Alang. I don’t have a courtesy name yet. My father passed away early, and I was not good at studying. If Jiyun hadn’t brought this up, I would have forgotten about it.”

After entering the Central Plains, the Manchus gradually became accustomed to giving their children courtesy names. Most boys would have their courtesy names given by their elders or teachers when they reached the age of twenty and underwent the coming-of-age ceremony. Yulang was not yet of that age, so it was normal that he did not have one.

He adopted a meek and pitiful demeanor, looking nothing like the unruly young man he had been in the main courtyard. Even his once-raised eyebrows drooped obediently, as if it were a matter of utmost importance whether Shen Wanqing had the courtesy name or not.

Before Shen Wanqing could even discern the emotions in Yu Lang's eyes, her finger was hooked by this man, and her entire hand was enveloped in his large palm. Martial artists have thin calluses on their fingertips and where their fingers connect to their palms, which felt tingly and slightly itchy against her palm, yet she could still bear it.

Looking up at Yu Lang again, he had returned to his normal appearance, as if he had just misread the expression on his face.

In the afternoon, the eldest mistress, accompanied by her maid, went to the main courtyard alone, only to be led back by the eldest master. Without needing to say anything more, this single action clearly conveyed Yulang's stance to everyone in the east courtyard.

At night, beneath her lay a brand-new, soft mattress, and on top of her was Yu Lang, whose boundless energy seemed to have no end. Except for the initial awkwardness of him not knowing where to go, he then swept over her with ease, wanting nothing more than to carry her around and toss her about.

Her fair and smooth arms clung tightly to Yu Lang's shoulders, and Shen Wanqing had only one thought: youth is indeed the best.

The dragon and phoenix red candles in the east courtyard remained lit all night, and by the next morning the entire Hesheli family knew about it. Madam Shen, the eldest daughter-in-law, was very pleased.

“Madam, when I saw the master and mistress yesterday, I felt that they were truly a perfect couple. Last night, I heard from Granny Wang that they didn’t call for water until the middle of the night. You can rest assured from now on.”

"What 'jade person' nonsense, that's just something sung on stage to fool people. In the long run, as long as the two of them can live peacefully, that's better than anything else."

Niohuru lived with her eldest son and daughter-in-law in the east wing of the courtyard. The front yard was for receiving guests, while she lived in the middle courtyard with her daughter and youngest son.

This last section was originally a rear building. When Yulang was fifteen, he moved there to live alone and borrowed part of the garden at the back, transforming it into a well-proportioned courtyard.

"This servant thinks that the Second Master has hit the jackpot this time. Since yesterday, everyone in our East Courtyard has been saying that the new eldest mistress is very capable. With her arrival, the Madam has gained a helper. From now on, the major and minor affairs of this mansion should be decided by our eldest branch."

"Everyone's talking about it?" Niohuru, who was usually indifferent and would just listen to whatever was said, suddenly stopped fiddling with her prayer beads and put them down on the dressing table with a clatter. The maid who was combing Niohuru's hair behind her was startled and stopped as well.

"Since you know everyone's talking about it, you should find the ringleaders and punish them according to the rules of the manor. Madam Shen has just entered the family, and instead of helping her out, you're all just watching the show and gossiping."

Even if she's a newly arrived mistress, she's still the master, and you, no matter how old you are, are still servants. Do I really need to explain this to you? Granny, I've never really taken care of you, and you've actually grown up so arrogantly?

"Please calm down, Madam. I spoke presumptuously and ask for your punishment."

"Why would I punish you? What's the point of punishing you now? Go find the people who started this gossip and deal with them according to the rules of the manor. Don't let me hear you whispering about these things behind my back again. Once you've done this, come back to me to receive your punishment."

"Yes, this servant will take care of it right away."

The well-dressed, rosy-cheeked middle-aged woman dejectedly left the house, leaving Fangyi sitting quietly to the side, watching her mother throw a tantrum.

"Fangyi, do you understand what your mother means?"

"clear."

"What do you understand?"

"No matter how capable your sister-in-law is, you can't say it. If it gets to her ears, she'll be unhappy. We'll have to see how she behaves in the future. If you get cocky now, it'll only give the second branch of the family an opportunity to make trouble. Being good with words isn't a real skill; being able to actually control people is."

Nine-year-old Fangyi was already a girl who was not quite grown up. Her words might still be simple and childish, but she was already a girl who could keep things in mind.

"Mother, look at this. My sister-in-law had it brought over to me last night when I went back to my room. Isn't it pretty?"

"It's beautiful. Since your sister-in-law gave it to you privately, keep it safe. Remember how good your sister-in-law is to you, understand?"

"Yes, daughter understands."

Shen Wanqing had a pearl necklace delivered to her. The pearls were not large, but they were of uniform size and had a warm, soft luster, making them very suitable for a young girl like Fangyi who had not yet grown up.

Fangyi took a liking to it at first sight last night, and brought it up to show Niohuru this morning. She was quite happy at first, but after hearing what Niohuru said, her happiness faded, and she couldn't explain why.