The sky darkened in due time, birds chirped in the trees, and the fragrance of gardenias lingered, but Yuan Xi seemed to be unaware of it. Seeing Xiao Du's face getting closer and closer, her confidence was instantly wiped out. She hurriedly backed away, but soon she hit the tree trunk behind her. She had no way to retreat, and could only watch his eyebrows and eyes continue to expand, letting his breath hit her face. She had never been so close to a man before, and even though this man was her husband, she couldn't hide her heartbeat, and lowered her head and dared not look at him.

Xiao Du sighed and said, "Why is my wife always so afraid of me, as if I would eat people?" As he spoke, he reached out to play with the fine hair that fell on her shoulders, and then stroked her fair and slender neck. Suddenly, he stopped smiling and said, "It is said outside that I love to eat human blood, especially women's. Do you believe it?"

Yuan Xi only felt that his neck was itchy and hot, but he didn't dare to push it away, so he tilted his head and dodged it, answering in a mosquito-like voice: "I... don't believe it. That human blood is useless and tastes bad, who would really drink it?"

Xiao Du wanted to scare her, but she smiled with interest and said, "How do you know whether human blood tastes good or not, and how do you know it is useless?" He put his lips close to her ear again, and said in a low and charming voice, "I heard that drinking the blood of young women can improve your complexion and health, and prevent all diseases."

Yuan Xi took a deep breath, and as if she mustered up her courage, she dared to look up at the handsome face so close to her. Her eyes were filled with seriousness as she answered, "If you drink the blood, it will just be excreted directly, and it is impossible for it to penetrate into the body. How can it improve your appearance and health? Serious medical knowledge has never mentioned that human blood can cure diseases, so these functions are completely unfounded."

Xiao Du's smile finally froze on his face. He couldn't find any words to reply to her for a moment. He could only stare at her. He really didn't understand what his wife's brain was made of. Seeing that he couldn't scare her anymore, Xiao Du had to stand up straight in boredom. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind: with her stubborn and unpredictable personality, it would be just right for her to deal with Aunt Wang. He already found it very interesting just thinking about it, and suddenly he couldn't wait to see how exciting Aunt Wang's expression would be.

Aunt Wang's face was indeed not very good, especially when she took the pile of account books handed over by Yuan Xi and heard her say that she had memorized all of them. She made Yuan Xi memorize the account books just for her own benefit, and she just wanted Yuan Xi to give up and understand that she could not interfere in the affairs of the head of the family at will.

But now... She was stunned for a long time before she realized that she had lost her composure. She adjusted her hair uncomfortably and forced a smile, saying, "Young Madam is really smart. She finished reciting it so quickly?"

Yuan Xi nodded firmly, with a gleam in her eyes, and said, "Auntie, you can test me as you like."

Aunt Wang moved her eyes towards the account books suspiciously. Her fingers that were resting on the desk stiffened for a moment before she finally pulled out one and flipped through the pages to examine it carefully. She asked about several books in a row and saw that Yuan Xi could actually recite it to the last point. She couldn't even keep a smile on her face and could only compliment him a few words in embarrassment, feeling a little flustered in her heart.

Yuan Xi still smiled softly, but her voice was firm as she said, "I have finished the homework that Auntie asked me to do. Now can you teach me the real housekeeping account?"

Aunt Wang was shocked, and she clasped her hands in her sleeves, trying to suppress the anger in her heart. She still smiled and said, "Of course, but the young lady has just started, and it's not easy to do it all at once. How about I give you the farms in the suburbs of Beijing to manage first?"

Yuan Xi tilted her head and thought about it, and felt that this was already a good start. She was not too greedy, and knew that with her own ability, it was impossible to take over all affairs in a short time. But since yesterday, she had secretly made up her mind that since she could not be a pampered wife, she could at least work hard to learn to be a good mistress. Anyway, life in the Marquis's Mansion would be like this, so she was not too anxious.

Seeing Yuan Xi agreed, Aunt Wang took out several books from the cabinet and told her roughly about the population, harvest, and entry and exit items of several farms in the suburbs of Beijing. She also repeatedly reminded her not to rush things. Yuan Xi did not expose her, but just listened carefully and took notes. She did not leave Aunt Wang's room until the moon was at its zenith.

Aunt Wang stood at the doorstep, watching Yuan Xi walk away, the smile on her face slowly faded. She turned back to her room, and suddenly coughed because of the incense in the room, so she called two maids in and said angrily: "What kind of incense is this! Do you want to kill me? Change them all for me!!" The two maids looked at each other, not understanding why the incense that was lit every day would make her so angry, but as soon as they saw Aunt Wang's face, they knew that she was in a bad mood, so they quickly responded obediently, extinguished the incense burner and ran out to change the incense.

Aunt Wang walked over to the incense burner and fiddled with the ashes inside with a look of disgust. She gritted her teeth and muttered, "I never thought that I really underestimated you before."

Yuan Xi walked back with An He. Thinking of her gains today, she couldn't help but smile. She wanted to get familiar with the farm affairs as soon as possible, so she walked back more quickly.

Just as she reached the door, she suddenly heard Nanny Li talking to someone in the room. It was a young woman's voice, clear and melodious like a yellow oriole singing in a valley, but not like that of any maid in the mansion. Yuan Xi felt some doubts in her heart, pushed open the door, and saw someone she had never expected to see in the room.

Xiao Zhixuan, wearing a yellow silk dress with apricot flowers and a white silk pleated skirt, was talking to Li Mama with great joy. When she saw Yuan Xi coming in, she rushed over and pulled her arm affectionately, saying, "Sister-in-law, you are finally back." Yuan Xi was a little uncomfortable with being so close to others, but she had always liked this young lady, so she did not refuse. She just pulled her to sit on the couch and said with a smile, "What do you want to see me for?"

Xiao Zhixuan smiled sweetly and said, "Nothing, I just felt bored so I came to chat with my sister-in-law. Ever since that incident in the Buddhist temple, daddy won't allow me to walk around the house, saying that he's afraid of something happening. It's really suffocating me." After saying that, she pouted her lips angrily, seeming very dissatisfied.

Yuan Xi couldn't help but want to laugh. She was indeed a naive and romantic girl. Her biggest worry was having no place to go out for fun. She had no idea that the intrigues and bloody battles going on in the house these days were a thousand times more annoying than not being able to go out for fun.

She was about to say something to comfort her, but Xiao Zhixuan suddenly grabbed her hand and said excitedly, "Sister-in-law, can you accompany me to the farm to play? Last year, my eldest brother took me there. At this time of year, the peaches there are big and sweet. My eldest brother can also teach me how to catch fish. It's fun."

Yuan Xi's mind was moved. She just wanted to go to the farm to take a look. After all, if she wanted to understand the real situation of the farm, the best way was to go there and ask questions. However, she still had some concerns and asked, "Are we the only two women going? Is it inconvenient?"

"Of course not!" Xiao Zhixuan immediately shouted, "Of course, big brother has to take us there, otherwise there's no way dad would let me leave the house. Besides, this is a great opportunity for big brother and big sister-in-law to develop a good relationship." After she finished speaking, she winked at Yuan Xi meaningfully.

Yuan Xi found it a bit strange. How could this little girl understand such things? Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of Nanny Li standing beside her with the same meaningful smile. She immediately understood that Nanny Li must have seen that Xiao Du never came to her room and was too worried about her. It was not enough that she had been reciting the spell to ward off husband in her ear every day, and now she had even dragged her younger sister-in-law into this.

Thinking about how Xiao Zhixuan was trying to match her up with Xiao Du as a concubine, her face started to heat up. She couldn't help but glare at Li Ma with resentment. However, Li Ma didn't take it seriously and just happily replied for her, "It just so happens that the young lady also wants to go out and relax. Sorry to bother Miss Xuan."

Yuan Xi was afraid that she would say something again, so she coughed lightly a few times and sent her outside to serve. Nanny Li didn't care. She happily went out and told An He and Rong Xuan to come in and pack Yuan Xi's boxes. She looked even happier than she was about getting married.

Yuan Xi suppressed her urge to hold her head high. Xiao Zhixuan assumed that she had agreed and said excitedly, "Great! I'll talk to my brother right away. When the time is set, I'll send someone to tell my sister-in-law."

Early the next morning, Xiao Zhixuan brought her maid and boxes to wait for Yuan Xi outside her room. They walked to the gate of the courtyard together and saw several carriages already waiting there.

Next to the carriage with green tent and green gauze, Xiao Du, dressed in a crimson and purple dress, stood leisurely under the blossoming tree, but he had a romantic attitude. Yuan Xi thought of what Li Ma had repeatedly told her last night: to seize this opportunity and make it a done deal, so her face turned red again. Fortunately, Xiao Du was talking seriously to the driver and didn't notice her.

When Xiao Zhixuan saw Xiao Du, she ran over happily and pulled his hand, saying, "Brother, are you ready?" Xiao Du shook his head and laughed, "You are so unruly when you hear that you are going to have fun. It's really time for Master Zhao to set some rules for you." When Xiao Zhixuan heard about Master Zhao, she curled her lips in disdain and said, "I won't listen to such a pedantic and stubborn man." She waved to Yuan Xi and said, "Sister-in-law, come here quickly, let's take the car together."

Xiao Du also saw Yuan Xi, but he just smiled faintly and said, "You and your sister-in-law will take a car. I have other arrangements."

Xiao Zhixuan felt strange and was about to ask what was going on when she and Yuanxi saw two figures approaching from a distance. One of them was dressed as a maid and walked cautiously and timidly. The other was wearing a blue coarse cloth shirt, was thin, and had a dull look. She was the crazy Yunniang in the side courtyard.

Yuan Xi suddenly remembered what happened that day, and her face turned pale. She couldn't help but take two steps back. Xiao Du walked over and helped Yun Niang walk towards them, saying softly, "Don't be afraid. She got sick because of the shock she received that day. I saw that she hasn't been in a good mood these days, so I want to take her out to relax. I wonder if my lady can agree."

Yuan Xi naturally couldn't say no, but she was full of doubts, wondering who this mysterious Yun Niang was. At this time, the driver came to urge that the time had come, so Yuan Xi got on the car with Xiao Zhixuan. Xiao Du took Yun Niang in one car, and several maids and servants took two more cars, and they lined up and drove towards the outskirts of the city.

After the car had been moving for a while, Yuan Xi, sitting in the bumpy carriage, was really curious, so she asked Xiao Zhixuan, "Who is Yun Niang?"

Xiao Zhixuan sighed and said, "Yunniang used to be a maid serving the Madam. After my eldest brother was born, my Madam's health has not been good, so she handed my eldest brother to the care of the wet nurse and Yunniang. It is said that Yunniang has taken good care of my eldest brother since he was a child. Once my eldest brother had a high fever and was almost unconscious. Yunniang stayed by his bed for three days without sleep and finally saved him. Therefore, my eldest brother regarded her as his stepmother. Unfortunately, Yunniang suddenly got a strange disease five years ago and suddenly became unconscious and crazy. Originally, my Madam wanted to move her out of the house, but my eldest brother refused to let her. He found a side courtyard in the house and sent a maid to take care of her. He could also visit her from time to time."

Yuan Xi's heart softened. She had never thought that Xiao Du, who seemed to be willful and reckless, had such a kind side. She also felt more sympathy for Yun Niang. The carriage passed a rugged path and stopped beside a river. Xiao Zhixuan excitedly opened the curtain and said, "We can reach the farm after crossing this river. My butt will grow knots if I sit any further." Yuan Xi couldn't help but burst out laughing when she heard these innocent words.

The group got off the carriage and came to the ferry. When the boatman saw the carriage, he knew it was the people from the marquis's mansion, and hurriedly and respectfully invited them to get on the boat. Yuan Xi sat at the bow of the boat, looking at the distant mountains and the rippling blue waves, and felt indescribably comfortable in his heart.

At this time, a small boat came from the middle of the river. Standing on the bow was a man wearing a green shirt, jade belt, and black scarf. His features were elegant and handsome, like a clear stream, leisurely among the mountains and rivers. He bowed slightly and said respectfully, "I am Luo Yuan, the editor of the Hanlin Academy. I pay my respects to the Marquis."

Yuan Xi thought the voice was very familiar. When the boat came closer and he saw his features clearly, he exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master!"

Luo Yuan shifted his gaze over, paused for a moment, and then smiled faintly, "Mrs. Xiao, long time no see." Xiao Du looked at his wife suspiciously, with an expression of excitement that made it difficult for her to control herself, and could not help but snort softly, muttering, "You are not shy this time!"