Can I ask for a reward for Chapter 62?
Inside the Ruyi Embroidery Building, in the side room on the second floor.
When Shen You pushed open the door and entered, Fang Qi was already waiting inside. "Miss."
Shen You nodded slightly. "Uncle Fang, sit down and let's talk."
Fang Qi placed the account books he had brought on the table. "These are the account books from several shops and estates that have had relatively good revenue in the past six months, as you instructed."
“Hmm,” Shen You replied, then had Green Ivy serve tea to Fang Qi, while she herself lowered her eyes and carefully examined the account book.
In a short while.
She closed the ledgers and picked out two of them. "Uncle Fang, could you please reorganize the previous income and expenses for these two estates and shops? If the accounts really can't be balanced, then you can borrow some money from me first."
"Young lady, what is this...?"
Previously, when Fang Qi was entrusted by Shen You to take over her businesses, he arrested several managers of estates and shops who were involved in shady accounting practices in order to make an example of them.
After these people were arrested and imprisoned, the remaining people who usually took advantage of small gains felt insecure and many of them went to Fang Qi to "turn themselves in."
Seeing that the desired effect had been achieved, Shen You did not actually punish these people severely. He simply told them to pay back what they had embezzled in installments each month.
But now, why the sudden need to settle the accounts of these two estates and shops?
Shen You took a sip of hot tea and said, "Also, prepare the transfer documents and land deeds; you'll need them later."
Fang Qi was even more puzzled, "Who is the young lady going to transfer it to?"
"My younger sister, Chen Xiangning."
With this estate and shops, no matter what happens to Chen Xiangning or the Chengde Marquis's mansion in the future, she will have some security.
Seeing that Shen You intended to transfer the estate and shops to his younger sister, Fang Qi didn't ask any further questions. He simply responded and then left.
Not long after Fang Qi left, Lu Hao knocked on the door and entered.
"Miss, Shen Linhui has taken action."
Shen You paused in his movement as he reached for the cup. "Tell me in detail."
Lu Hao recounted everything he had observed over the past few days.
Shen You had previously suggested that they could spread the word that many people wanted to go to Xishan to catch fighting crickets, so that he would feel a sense of urgency.
The objective of sinking into You has now been achieved.
Lu Hao said, "He will secretly lead a group to Xishan tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Shen You curled her lips into a cold smile.
Bandits roamed the Western Hills, and Shen Linhui was truly willing to risk his life for fun. Even though he had already ruined one leg, he still went to the Western Hills to catch fighting crickets.
"Miss, should we send someone to follow you?"
“No need,” Shen You shook his head. “Let them go on their own. Just make sure they get into Xishan smoothly.”
Once she enters the Xishan area, the rest of the results she desires will naturally be achieved.
“Yes,” Lu Hao bowed and then withdrew.
Shen You stayed in Ruyi Embroidery Building for a while before coming out through the back door.
She arrived at the end of the fourth hour and is leaving at the beginning of the fifth hour. The carriage parked at the back door is quiet, with no man in sight.
Shen You remembered what he had said earlier about coming to pick her up. She paused slightly as she got into the carriage, but still bent down and entered the carriage. She said to Green Ivy, "Let's go."
"yes."
Green Ivy responded and was about to tell the coachman to turn around when she heard Shen You's voice coming from inside the carriage again, "Tell Lu Hao to go to the Criminal Investigation Department and tell him I'm going back first."
Green Ivy paused for a moment before realizing who "he" referred to.
Her eyes lit up, and she called out "Okay!" before running quickly through the back door. A short while later, she ran out again.
She said crisply to the people in the carriage, "Miss, I've already spoken with Lu Hao."
Shen You looked at her, "What are you so happy about?"
Green Ivy leaned closer to her and whispered, "Miss, have you and the Duke made up?"
Shen You countered, "Do you want me to reconcile with him?"
"Mmm-hmm," Green Ivy nodded vigorously several times, but then, as if remembering something, she quickly shook her head.
"What's wrong?"
Green Ivy said, "This servant doesn't understand any grand principles, I just hope that you can always be happy and safe."
She could tell that the girl was no longer as resistant to the Duke of Zhenguo as before, but she was not a girl after all and could not fully know her feelings.
Ultimately, the decision should be left to the girl herself.
“Miss…” Green Ivy cautiously looked up at her, “Will you reconcile with the Duke?”
Will it?
Shen You sighed inwardly.
She didn't know either.
She recalled the tender and intimate moments they shared in the brightly lit bed last night.
She didn't resist his touch, but did that mean she was willing to make up?
Does she really have the courage to start over?
Shen You suddenly couldn't understand himself anymore.
She shook her head and did not answer.
Seeing her like this, Green Ivy dared not ask any more questions.
The carriage wheels rolled slowly and soon came to a stop in front of the Marquis's residence.
Shen You stepped off the carriage using a stool and went straight into Wen Gui Courtyard.
Lunchtime had passed, and she had little appetite. After eating only half a bowl of chicken soup wontons, she covered her red lips and yawned.
Since she had nothing else to do today, she simply changed into her inner garment, removed the yellow jade osmanthus hairpin from her hair, and turned to go to bed.
Outside, the winter sun shines brightly, and osmanthus flowers are spread out to dry in a bamboo basket in the yard.
A breeze blows, and the tiny, soft stamens gently tumble, releasing a delicate fragrance along with the osmanthus blossoms on the branches of the four-season osmanthus tree beside them.
Inside the bedroom, light-colored gauze curtains hung gently, and the girl slept soundly, covered by a brocade quilt.
Breathe gently and slowly.
As the sun began to set, the sunlight outside the windows gradually dimmed, and lanterns were lit throughout the Marquis's residence.
When Shen You slowly woke up, there was no one else in the room, and the faint sounds of green ivy and wisteria could be heard outside.
"No, no, it should be like this..."
"Oh dear, all the osmanthus blossoms have fallen..."
She got up, casually put on a cloak, and went to the outer room.
A gentle night breeze stirred outside, scattering the osmanthus blossoms in the bamboo basket, many of which fell onto the ground in the courtyard.
Green Ivy and Wisteria were busy tidying up everywhere, while Shen You leaned against the door, watching the two maids bustling about.
However, amidst the commotion, she perked up her ears and suddenly heard a noise coming from a window on the side of the inner room.
Shen You raised her eyebrows slightly, gripped the cloak's sash tightly, and turned to return to her bedroom.
Sure enough, that familiar figure stood brazenly in front of her bed.
Shen You subconsciously looked at the back window.
She had it sealed off.
How did you get in?
Chu Xiao was somewhat disheartened by the fact that she had actually gone through with the heart of sealing the windows. He came up to her, took her hand, and said, "You really sealed the windows..."
Her voice sounded very aggrieved.
Shen You raised an eyebrow again. "But you still came in."
Chu Xiao touched the tip of his nose, feeling a little embarrassed to admit that he had found another window and climbed in.
In the courtyard, the sounds of the green ivy and wisteria continued, and the osmanthus flowers were still not all picked up.
Shen You looked up at Chu Xiao, and an idea suddenly popped into her head.
"Could you help me gather up the osmanthus flowers in the yard?"
"good."
Chu Xiao agreed without hesitation.
He was eager to do anything she asked him to do.
Wen Gui Courtyard is divided into an inner courtyard and an outer courtyard. The maids and servants who can enter the inner courtyard are all people who are very close to and trust Shen You.
Therefore, even if they saw Chu Xiao appear at Wen Gui Courtyard, they wouldn't say anything.
not to mention...
Shen You turned around and went back to the door, saying to Green Ivy and Wisteria, "You don't need to put them away."
The two maids paused slightly, looking at her with confusion.
Shen You smiled slightly but did not speak directly.
However, the man who had been inside came out and stood behind her, his eyes lowered, his gaze fixed on Shen You.
The green ivy and the wisteria exchanged a glance and suddenly understood.
Green Ivy smiled slyly, "Okay, girl! We understand!"
After saying that, she grabbed Zi Teng and quickly left through the moon gate, taking Zhao Mama, who was about to enter, with her.
For a moment, only Shen You and Chu Xiao remained in the inner courtyard of Wen Gui Courtyard.
Shen You looked up at him and gestured, "Lord Duke, please."
The winter night wind rustled, and the leaves of the osmanthus tree were blown down again. The lanterns under the eaves swayed gently, and the light and shadow on the ground moved and shifted.
Chu Xiao reached out and pulled the cloak over her shoulders tighter. "It's windy outside, shall we go inside and wait?"
Shen You didn't refuse. After nodding in agreement, he went straight back to his dormitory.
Chu Xiao watched her back until she was out of sight before turning around and going down the steps.
The osmanthus flowers he had picked up in the osmanthus grove were now scattered around the bamboo basket.
Each one is tiny and pale yellow.
It almost scattered when the wind blew it away.
Chu Xiao strode to the osmanthus tree, bent down, picked up a bamboo sieve, and carefully gathered the scattered yellow flowers back into the sieve.
In the main room, near the window on the side facing the corridor, Shen You, wearing a cloak, stood by the window, smiling as she watched him pick osmanthus flowers.
This job looks simple, but it's actually very tiring.
The two young maids, Green Ivy and Wisteria, had to bend over to pick up the flowers. After doing this for a while, they would mutter under their breath that their backs ached. It would be even more difficult for someone as tall as Chu Xiao to bend over like this all the time.
But he didn't say anything, and he was as serious as if he were handling a case in the Criminal Investigation Department.
It was as if what they were holding in their hands was not a delicate flower bud, but a series of meticulously worded official documents.
The night was dark, and the moon cast long shadows on the ground, elongating the man's silhouette. The hem of his sapphire blue brocade robe fluttered gently in the wind, brushing against the osmanthus blossoms on the ground and creating slight curves.
Shen You pointed to the other side of the Four Seasons Osmanthus tree and told him, "You need to clean this side too."
“Yes, Miss Shen,” Chu Xiao glanced at her, then lowered his head again to continue his work.
One stood by the window, the other squatted in the yard, a distance that was neither too close nor too far, yet each had a smile hidden in their eyes.
After an unknown amount of time, Chu Xiao finally gathered all the dried osmanthus flowers back into two bamboo baskets.
The man stood up straight, placed the bamboo basket behind the door of the outer room of the main house, washed his hands with clean water, and then went into the inner room.
After spending a long time in the courtyard, he also picked up a faint fragrance of osmanthus blossoms.
As soon as she walked in, Shen You smelled it.
She teased him deliberately, "Did you use osmanthus-scented balm today, Your Excellency?"
Chu Xiao then realized that she had done it on purpose.
It was like playing a trick on me.
But he didn't care about any of that. If it pleased her, he wouldn't mind doing it as many times as he wanted.
He came to her side and explained why he had rushed over as soon as it got dark.
"Lu Hao said you should go back to the Marquis's residence first, and I thought you didn't want me to pick you up," which is why he deliberately left Ruyi Embroidery Building ahead of time.
Lu Hao usually worked as a helper at Ruyi Embroidery Building, so neither Mu Geng nor Cui Yang had ever seen him, let alone the other people in the Criminal Investigation Department.
When he arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department, Chu Xiao's carriage had just left for the palace. Lu Hao couldn't find anyone at the department, so he could only wait. He waited until evening.
When Chu Xiao heard that Shen You had returned to the Marquis's residence alone, he thought he had done something wrong and rushed over.
Fortunately, it was winter, and there were few pedestrians on the streets at night, so he wouldn't be discovered climbing over the wall of the Marquis's mansion.
Shen You found it quite amusing after hearing what he said. "Is this your reason for seeking another solution?"
Speaking of this, Chu Xiao felt even more aggrieved.
The man moved closer to her without making a sound, his tall body almost enveloping her completely in his arms. His long fingers, hidden behind his wide sleeves, moved and gently hooked the girl's fingers that were lying at her side.
"Shen You," his voice was low, tinged with pleading and disappointment, "can the back window really not be opened anymore?"
Shen You's heart skipped a beat. She turned her head away from him and simply replied, "No."
Okay.
Chu Xiao slowly leaned down, his long arm, which had been around her waist without her noticing, tightened around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. "Since you picked the osmanthus flowers, can you ask for a reward?"
award...
Shen You suddenly remembered that in the morning, when he was in the carriage, a simple hook of his hand was enough for him to consider it a reward.
A thought flashed through her mind, but her mouth moved faster than her brain, and she immediately agreed, "Okay."
Upon hearing this, Chu Xiao's eyes suddenly turned deep and dark.
The hand that had hooked her fingers grasped her wrist, draped the arm over his shoulder, and then lowered his head, a warm kiss falling down without warning.
"Hmm..."
Shen You suddenly opened her eyes, staring in disbelief at the man so close to her.
When he kissed her, his eyes were slightly closed, his eyelashes drooping and casting a small shadow on his lower eyelids, his high, straight nose pressed against hers, and he kissed her with great passion.
He used his lips and tongue forcefully, but dared not venture deeper without her permission. He could only hold her lips in his mouth, sucking and licking them, again and again, until he had drained all her strength.
Shen You gripped the fabric of his clothes tightly with both hands, her breath hot, her raven-feather eyelashes trembling. She wanted to push him away, but she had lost her strength.
Only after the kiss ended did he reluctantly let go of her.
He buried his head in her neck, his breath hot as he spoke, "Chen You, I'm so happy."
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