Chapter 3 The Princess is truly diligent
Inside the warehouse, candlelight shone brightly.
Ye Xunyang, with his sleeves rolled up and fine beads of sweat on his forehead, was directing two servants to classify and register the last few boxes of medicinal herbs.
Several large sheets of Xuan paper were spread on the ground, covered with the names, quantities, and storage dates of various items. Although the handwriting was not neat, it was clear and easy to understand.
He went into the warehouse in the afternoon and never left.
He had only hurriedly eaten a few bites of lunch and was already starving, but seeing the chaotic accounts gradually become orderly under his hands, a strange sense of accomplishment overcame his fatigue and hunger.
He likes to do things in one go; once he starts, he feels uneasy until he has thoroughly sorted things out.
"Your Highness, this box of snow lotus from the Western Regions has been registered. There are ten plants in total, and they will be stored for three years," a servant reported, holding a register.
"Okay, note it down. Put it in a separate section, and indicate that the medicinal materials are precious and require regular inspection." Ye Xunyang didn't even look up and put a checkmark in the corresponding box.
It hasn't been long since they got married yesterday, and he's already gotten used to being called "Princess".
Just then, a cautious knocking sound came from outside the warehouse door.
"Your Highness, the Prince has sent people to invite us several times, and dinner has been prepared for quite some time now, what do you think..."
Ye Xunyang suddenly realized that it was already late. He rubbed his sore neck and looked at the last two boxes of brocade that had not yet been counted. He thought that he might as well finish them all at once before going to eat, so as to avoid having to dig them out and sort them again tomorrow.
"Tell the prince that I'll be done here soon and will come over as soon as I'm done. Tell him to have his meal first and not to wait for me," he replied loudly, his tone carrying a hint of perfunctory urgency.
After a moment of silence outside the door, the butler responded with a "Yes," and the footsteps gradually faded away, while Ye Xunyang continued tidying up.
Lou Jin sat at the table, watching the carefully prepared dishes go from steaming hot to lukewarm, and his face, like the temperature of the dishes, gradually cooled down.
He was sitting here at 3:45 PM.
Knowing that Ye Xunyang was a newcomer and a man, and fearing that the servants might neglect him, he made a point of setting aside time to have dinner with him, as a gesture to show his respect for the princess.
As a result, the first servant came to report that the princess was taking inventory of the storeroom and would be there soon.
He understands that it's good for a new broom to open and for someone to be energetic.
The second time the servants went to urge her, the report was still that the princess said it was just the last bit and she would come as soon as it was done.
Okay, he patiently told himself to wait a little longer.
The third time, the fourth time... the people sent out all brought back similar answers.
As the sun slowly set, the dishes on the table went from hot to cold, then back to hot again. Even the butler standing by broke out in a cold sweat. Lou Jin tapped the table with his knuckles at a slower pace, but the oppressive atmosphere emanating from him grew heavier.
He had been of noble birth since childhood, and even though he was bedridden for three years, no one dared to treat him so perfunctorily again and again.
Is Ye Xunyang truly engrossed in managing accounts, or is he deliberately trying to intimidate this sick prince?
Anger, mixed with a hint of resentment at being ignored, quietly ignited in his heart, burning ever brighter.
He wanted to see for himself what kind of gold and silver mountain was in that warehouse that made Ye Xunyang forget to eat a meal and leave him standing there for almost an hour!
"Push me to the storeroom." Lou Jin's voice was as cold as ice, breaking the suffocating silence in the dining hall.
"Your Highness, your health..." the steward tried to dissuade him.
"It's alright," Lou Jin interrupted him, gritting his teeth as he spoke.
"I will personally invite the Princess Consort to dine."
The guards quickly pushed over a wheelchair, and Lou Jin was helped into it. The group then silently and swiftly headed towards the storeroom.
In the warehouse, Ye Xunyang had just finished recording the last piece of Yun brocade, let out a long sigh of relief, and clapped his hands in satisfaction.
"Mission accomplished! Now I can finally feel more at ease!"
He stretched out a big yawn, shook his head to loosen his neck, and his joints made a soft clicking sound. Only then did an intense feeling of hunger come over him like a tidal wave.
He was just about to tidy up and go eat when the warehouse door was pushed open from the outside.
In the flickering candlelight, Lou Jin sat in a wheelchair and was slowly pushed in by the guards.
He was still wearing his usual clothes, his face appearing even paler in the flickering firelight, but his deep eyes were fixed on Ye Xunyang, who stood amidst a pile of account books and miscellaneous items.
The air seemed to freeze instantly.
Ye Xunyang was taken aback when Lou Jin came in person, especially when he met the other's obviously displeased gaze. He belatedly realized that... someone had invited him to dinner before? And more than once?
"Your Highness?" Ye Xunyang subconsciously straightened up, looking somewhat guilty as if he had been caught red-handed.
"Why are you here? You're not feeling well, you should rest more..."
Lou Jin's gaze swept over the large sheets of paper spread out on the ground, then over the neatly stacked ledgers and clearly categorized items on the table, before finally returning to Ye Xunyang's face, which was slightly dusty but still exuded heroic spirit.
He genuinely appeared to be working diligently, rather than deliberately slacking off.
But this did not completely quell Lou Jin's anger.
"The princess is truly diligent."
Lou Jin spoke, his voice calm but carrying a barely perceptible hint of sarcasm.
"You've worked tirelessly, forgetting to eat and sleep—it's truly touching. But I wonder, is my storeroom more appealing than dinner?"
Ye Xunyang sensed the dissatisfaction in the words and lowered his head to speak frankly: "I'm sorry, Your Highness, I got so busy that I forgot the time. There are quite a few discrepancies between the accounts and the actual items, so I thought it would be better to clarify things once and for all to avoid future trouble. I apologize for keeping you waiting."
His frank attitude and quick admission of his mistakes made Lou Jin's pent-up anger seem like it hit cotton, unable to erupt.
Lou Jin remained silent for a moment, looking at the undiminished focus and exhaustion in Ye Xunyang's eyes, as well as the genuine apology. The anger in his heart was gradually replaced by a more complex emotion.
He waved his hand, signaling the guards to step back.
The warehouse door was gently closed, leaving only the two of them.
"Is there a problem with the accounts?" Lou Jin moved his wheelchair closer, his gaze falling on the papers on the ground.
Seeing that he seemed to have calmed down, Ye Xunyang also relaxed and pointed to his records to explain, "These are the accounts I kept myself. For example, these few medicinal herbs have huge expenditures on the books, but the warehouse inventory does not match the actual consumption records. I suspect there is something fishy going on."
Lou Jin looked at the ledger that was full of Ye Xunyang's personal style, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Although this method is crude, it hits the nail on the head and is extremely efficient.
This is something that an ignorant and incompetent person could not have come up with.
"You... you know all this?" Lou Jin's tone softened considerably.
"I have a smattering of knowledge. I've only seen my mother in charge at the General's Mansion, so I've picked it up from what I've seen. I'm not as good as a professional accountant, but I can handle the big issues."
Lou Jin looked up at Ye Xunyang. In the candlelight, Ye Xunyang's face was radiant, and his eyes were full of pride and smugness.
At this moment, Lou Jin couldn't help but laugh. The unhappiness he felt from waiting completely vanished, and he even felt a strange sense of admiration for Ye Xunyang.
Lou Jin looked away, cleared his throat, and his voice returned to its usual deep tone.
"Now that we're done with our work, let's go have our meal. The food should be ready again by now."
"Okay, okay! I'm starving!" Ye Xunyang responded immediately, and his stomach growled in unison.
Lou Jin's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile as he turned his wheelchair toward the door.
"Let's go. Next time, remember to eat on time. The Prince's mansion isn't so stingy as to make the Princess do the accounting on an empty stomach."
Ye Xunyang followed behind him, listening to the seemingly reproachful but actually caring words. He touched his nose and thought to himself: This King Jin doesn't seem as difficult to get along with as the rumors say. Maybe his plan can be implemented, hahaha.
"Your Highness, has your dowry... been counted and put away?"
Lou Jin's sudden question stunned Ye Xunyang.
"ah?"
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