It was already past the time it takes to drink a cup of tea after I left the main courtyard.
Li Shiyue led Chunling slowly towards the front yard. Steward Wang was currently in Xu Yunci's courtyard. It had been a long time since she had seen Xu Yunci since that day at the ancestral hall.
I heard that the Jingzhao Prefecture has been extremely busy these past few days. Just now, I heard from Madam Yang that Xu Yunci has even been staying at the Jingzhao Prefecture these past few days.
Since Xu Yunbo was sent to the military camp in the western suburbs, Madam Wei has become even more reluctant to go out and meet people, and this is when the rare tranquility of the Xu family began.
Li Shiyue, with Chunling in tow, walked leisurely towards the front yard, unaware whether Xu Yunci had returned by now.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw Chang Shun leading several servants to sweep the snow in the yard. Upon seeing Li Shiyue, Chang Shun quickly put down his broom and came over, bowing: "This servant greets Miss Li. Are you looking for your husband? It's just in time, he has just returned."
Li Shiyue smiled and said politely, "Please trouble Brother Chang to pass on my message and tell him that I have something I'd like to see my cousin."
"Please just call me by my name, Miss. Please wait a moment."
Chang Shun moved swiftly, entering the study in a few steps and returning shortly after. He greeted her politely, "Please, Miss."
Xu Yunci's courtyard, like himself, doesn't favor elaborate decorations. Entering the study, one is greeted by a faint scent of books, and various kinds of books are displayed on the shelves.
On the shelf by the window, there was a beautifully crafted and sharp sword.
Xu Yunci sat behind his desk, one hand on the chair and the other rubbing his brow, looking quite tired.
She seems to have come at the wrong time.
Li Shiyue walked in with Chunling, keeping a distance from the table: "I apologize for bothering you. I came to tell my cousin that my aunt has arranged a manor and shops for me. Once everything is settled, I will have Steward Wang manage them so as not to trouble you any further."
Xu Yunci's hand rested on his brow bone, the weariness still visible in his brows adding a touch of softness to his cool and aloof face.
"Okay, if you still don't want them, I'll be a little reluctant to let them go."
Li Shiyue was puzzled, but Xu Yunci had a slight smile on his lips: "Steward Wang knows some medical principles. The Jingzhao Prefecture has been very busy lately, and Steward Wang has helped me a lot."
"But since he's one of yours, there's no reason for me to keep him. I just don't know how to thank him."
Li Shiyue smiled and said, "Why don't you find a wife for me, Steward Wang?"
Xu Yunci stopped, looking at Li Shiyue with slight surprise.
Li Shiyue lowered her head shyly: "Manager Wang is over thirty years old now. He was taken in by my mother when we were fleeing famine, and he has stayed at the Earl's Mansion for many years out of gratitude for my mother's kindness. He even escorted me to the capital."
“Most men would be married by now, but Steward Wang is still all alone and has no children. Everyone says a loyal servant is a loyal servant, but such loyalty is truly rare.”
Xu Yunci pondered for a moment: "That's not difficult, but it's better if Mother makes the decision. You mean you want to re-establish the shops and estates?"
Li Shiyue nodded and told Xu Yunci all her plans: "My aunt has made the arrangements for me, I just need to wait to collect the money."
Xu Yunci was taken aback, then couldn't help but chuckle. His little cousin was still so childlike. Although he and his mother didn't care about the money, it was still money, after all. He really didn't know whether to say that his little cousin trusted them or was just too naive.
His smile was always faint, and this was the first time Li Shiyue had ever seen him laugh out loud like this. Unlike the aloofness and coldness he displayed when they first met, this wasn't the kind of haughty demeanor he exuded, but rather the kind of warm, approachable older brother who unconsciously drew people closer.
After laughing, Xu Yunci took out a stack of things from a box next to him: "Check these silver notes. They are cash exchanged from the shops under my aunt's name. I haven't had time to give them to you these past few days because I've been busy with affairs in the Jingzhao Prefecture."
There were six or seven of them, each with a face value of five hundred taels.
Li Shiyue smiled, her eyes crinkling. How could she not be happy to receive the money? "Thank you, cousin."
Without counting them carefully, he looked at the first two notes and clutched the banknotes in his hand.
"No need to thank me, it's yours anyway. I have a day off tomorrow, I'll take you and Sixth Sister out for a walk. People in the capital love to release lanterns on New Year's Eve, let Sixth Sister show you around. Don't worry, Fifth Brother and I will be with you."
Xu Yunci's gaze was much gentler than usual, and only then did he notice that his little cousin's clothes were rather bright, and then he remembered that she had already finished her mourning period.
"Sixth Sister said earlier that she would definitely take you out for a walk. The capital is bustling, especially during the New Year season. There will be a lot of people on the streets. Don't wander around, or you might get lost."
Li Shiyue put the silver notes back into the box, held them in her hands, and smiled as she agreed.
For some unknown reason, the smile on her face vanished. Xu Yunci noticed the change in her emotions and asked, "What's wrong?"
His first thought was that it was Xu Lingwan; could it be that she had caused trouble for Li Shiyue again?
Li Shiyue held the box in her hands and lowered her eyes: "Did my cousin send my fourth cousin to the army camp because of me?"
So that's what it was. Xu Yunci breathed a sigh of relief.
"How could you think that way?" As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Yunci suddenly thought of the Wei family and sighed softly, "Don't overthink it. It's just that Silang is incompetent. I'm only thinking about his future. What does it have to do with you?"
Li Shiyue's hand gradually tightened, and she pursed her lips: "I didn't mean to overthink it. My cousin in Shangjing County knows best. I really don't know how to get along with a man I don't know well."
“My fourth cousin is like this, and so is my third cousin. I am really uneasy about it.”
"Sanlang?" Xu Yunci placed his hands in front of him, his brows furrowing slightly.
Li Shiyue nodded hesitantly, then recited Xu Yunyang's visit to Chengyu Pavilion, including what he said to Old Madam Xu: "Maybe I'm overthinking it, but what I've experienced really doesn't allow me to think too little."
Xu Yunci's expression was unreadable: "Alright, I understand. Don't think too much. With me and Mother here, don't be afraid. Those days at the Earl's Mansion are over."
Li Shiyue didn't stay long; after saying a few words, she left with Chunling.
Inside the study, Xu Yunci leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought. Just as he was resting, he heard footsteps and opened his eyes to see Chang Shun walking in again.
Chang Shun looked troubled: "Your Highness, Princess Chunhui has gone to the Jingzhao Prefecture again."
In his opinion, even if Princess Chunhui is wonderful in every way, the Crown Prince doesn't like her, so why bother him?
Before she finished speaking, Xu Yunci's originally gentle face instantly turned cold and impatient.
Xu Yunci rubbed his temples with his index finger: "Ignore it. Tell the people in the capital to be more alert. Grind the ink, have someone arrange a coachman, and Wulang and Qilang will go out together tomorrow."
If Xu Lingzi and Li Shiyue were to go out on their own, not only would he be criticized, but even Madam Yang and Old Madam Xu would be furious with their gossip.
If he accompanies himself, it's because of the difference between boys and girls. It would be better for him to call his two younger brothers and take them out to play. No one else can say anything about that.
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