Xu Di studies diligently every day, and the small kitchen in the yard has recently been put to use.

The main kitchen was quite far from Xu Di's courtyard. As the weather turned cold, the food prepared in the main kitchen would get cold before it was even brought to the courtyard. Xu Di was impatient with eating cold food, so he went to Ning Shi and asked to cook in the small kitchen in his own courtyard.

When others made such a request to Ning Shi, she might have hesitated because of what others would say. But when Xu Di made the request, Ning Shi naturally agreed without hesitation.

Xu Di will be taking the exam next year, and he is currently the most talked-about person in the household. In addition, Xu Di is the benefactor of several ladies, so they naturally have no objection to what Xu Di wants to do.

After the small kitchen was put into use, the yard was filled with the tempting aroma of food every day. Every morning, Li Yuexi would start cooking a pot of soup early, such as bone broth, fish soup, and chicken soup. After cooking, she would use this soup to make a bowl of hot soup noodles for Xu Di in the morning, with two poached eggs, and sprinkled with some finely chopped green onions or spinach leaves. It looked beautiful and tasted delicious.

This pot of soup can be used as a base for cooking, and even though Xu Di gets up early every day to exercise, he still feels he has gained some weight.

When Ning was about to delegate her tasks, she naturally did not intend to bypass Li Yuexi, her eldest granddaughter-in-law. However, Li Yuexi declined, saying that her husband would be taking the imperial examination soon and she needed to take good care of him.

Xu Di felt that Li Yuexi was always in her own yard, and he wanted her to go out and interact with other people more so she wouldn't be bored.

Li Yuexi was putting a headband on the old lady when she heard Xu Di's words. She smiled and said, "Husband, although this is our home, we will eventually leave this mansion. If you want to manage things, you have to manage people. You can't be a good leader. If you are strict, you will offend people. I don't think it is necessary to do that."

Seeing Xu Di looking at her, Li Yuexi put down the needle and thread in her hand and said, "Husband, right now, besides taking care of your daily life, I don't want to do anything else. You will be entering the field in a little over two months. Now is the most crucial time. Not only is your mood important, but I am with you every day, and my mood also affects you. We are fine as we are now. What's the point of having those little powers? It's just asking for trouble."

Upon hearing this, Xu Di smiled and said to Li Yuexi, "I never expected that my wife is someone who doesn't covet power."

Li Yuexi picked up the battle line on the kang table again and said with a smile, "Power is something to be greedy for, but you have to be careful about what kind of power it is. I will definitely guard our own power well, as for the Marquis's mansion..."

Li Yuexi smiled and shook her head. Xu Di naturally understood what Li Yuexi meant. She understood very well that although they were still living in the Marquis's mansion, once the Marquis passed away and the heir inherited the title, their family would have to move out of the mansion.

Seeing Xu Di smiling at her, Li Yuexi quickly said, "It's time to make lunch. How about we stew cabbage and glass noodles for lunch?"

Xu Di readily agreed. On such a cold day, a bowl of stewed cabbage and vermicelli, followed by a steamed bun made at home, would be incredibly comforting.

Li Yuexi went to the kitchen to get busy, while the servants in the yard had already prepared the dishes according to her instructions.

After Li Yuexi put on the cooking apron and entered the kitchen, her personal maidservant smiled and greeted her. Seeing that it was just Li Yuexi and herself in the kitchen, she leaned close to Li Yuexi and whispered, "Young Madam, the servants who serve the Heir Apparent's wife said that they want to assign the affairs of the manor to the young ladies. Young Madam is the eldest grandson's wife in this manor."

Li Yuexi frowned, glanced at the maid who had accompanied her from Hexi to the capital, and said, "Our young master will be entering the examination hall in two months. At this time, the most important thing is to ensure that the young master has a quiet environment to read. If the young master is well, you servants will naturally benefit as well."

Li Yuexi felt sorry for this maid who had served her since she was a child, and thinking about how hard it had been for her all these years, she nodded slightly.

After listening, the maid was silent for a while, then whispered, "I know that you are not someone who likes to stand out, but we have been back in the manor for so long, and we keep the courtyard gate closed all day. People in this manor have been ignoring us."

Seeing Li Yuexi looking at her, A-Ling decided to speak her mind. "Miss, there are so many ladies in the manor, and the eldest young master has so many brothers. Since we entered the manor and accompanied the eldest young master to his studies, not many people in the manor know us. Why don't you take this opportunity to ask for a few things to do and establish your authority in this manor?"

When Li Yuexi heard Ah Ling say this, she frowned, but still remained silent.

Ah Ling had lived with Li Yuexi for many years, so she naturally understood her daughter's feelings. Ah Ling knew very well that when Li Yuexi was unhappy with what others were saying, she usually wouldn't interrupt them. She would just listen patiently, and whether she could actually take it in was up to her.

Ah Ling thought that this was a rare opportunity, so she might as well say everything she had to say. She continued, "Miss, I'm only doing this for your own good. After all, you are now the eldest young mistress of this mansion. How can you not have any power? I heard from the servants that you come from a small place and don't know how wealthy this mansion is. It makes me sad. Now that such a good opportunity is in front of you, why don't you seize it? You were personally taught by Granny Lu. Let alone just one or two things in the mansion, you can easily manage the household affairs all by yourself."

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