Being held by her like this, her head nestled in his neck, her speaking bringing a light, itchy warmth made him feel quite uncomfortable. While trying to get up, he coldly threw out a question: “What makes you so sure?”
“As long as you’re willing, I can do it. Forever.
Her voice was light and soft, different from her usual low tone. She was happy he was willing to listen, and in her eyes, this wasn’t a heavy matter.
He didn’t want to discuss life’s variables or heart’s variables. Just from these words, he felt a slight movement in his heart, producing an inexplicable sigh. He quietly let her hold him and stay in bed for a while.
Only when he urged her again did she finally let go and get up.
The young servant at the door called out a few times with no response but heard slight movements from the master’s room. Blushing, she changed to standing at Xu Wanzhi’s door with a lowered head.
Xu Wanzhi, already changed, opened the door. The servant immediately bowed in greeting. He glanced inside and said, “Go bring some clothes and shoes for your mistress.”
“Yes, master,” the servant responded, lowering her head and quickly entering the adjacent room. Qing Yu was quite familiar with his habits and brought in washing supplies before going to prepare breakfast.
Qu Xiaojue didn’t return to her own room but sat down naturally when breakfast arrived, planning to eat here. Sitting across from her, Xu Wanzhi suddenly remembered something and asked, “How did you deal with the Wang sisters?”
Mentioning those two, her expression immediately turned unpleasant. She simply said, “Following my husband’s wishes, I left them with their lives, but while the death penalty can be avoided, punishment is unavoidable.”
After drinking the light porridge, he responded casually, not intending to pursue how they were “beyond redemption,” but instead changed the subject: “May I inquire about your family matters?”
Qu Xiaojue raised her eyes and looked directly at him, saying: “My husband, please speak directly.”
“With such a servant in your household, it’s not entirely unimaginable. I roughly observed that the Qu family has few main members but too many servants.”
With just this light remark, she understood his meaning perfectly. She glanced at his expression and answered with slight helplessness: “My husband’s thoughts are naturally known to me. However, the Qu family’s business has come to this point, and many servants are household-born, with their ancestral slave status attached to the Qu family. How can they be easily dismissed? Moreover, although the Qu family is a merchant household, it is also a traditional established family.”
Understanding the nuances, he put down his chopsticks and slightly narrowed his eyes: “Are there vacancies at the kiln?”
In fact, she had been thinking about this too. Hearing him directly raise the point, her eyes brightened, and she honestly said: “Kiln work is particularly laborious and requires considerable time to master. Many craftsmen are quite elderly, so naturally, there is a shortage—does my husband have any insights?”
“
“Transfer the clearly excess people in batches; select those you trust to learn true skills from the master craftsmen. What I want to say is that for people like the Wang sisters, sending them with proper admonishment to work at or guard the kiln seems just right.”
Unexpectedly, he had so easily articulated what she had been contemplating. Qu Xiaojue looked at him; he spoke with a flat tone. She smiled: “My husband’s words are exactly right.”
Xu Wanzhi nodded, then after considering, said: “Regarding the young servants in your household—”
“I will discuss with Aunt De and try our best to arrange suitable placements for those who need not remain in the household,” Qu Xiaojue directly responded. Because he was willing to think about these matters for her, she couldn’t help feeling joy in her heart and smiled while telling him: “The person I mentioned to you that day, I personally spoke with her, and she resigned the next day.”
“You’re not at ease?”
She shook her head: “Since I let her go, I am at ease.”
Such confident and composed words revealed the demeanor of a household head without intentional display. Facing his slight smile, there seemed to be both admiration and simple happiness.
Xu Wanzhi felt somewhat uncomfortable and hummed: “Even if you’re not at ease, there are ways. She must have children or relatives who could continue working for you.”
“Thank you for thinking so thoroughly for me.”
I rejected her suggestion that day,” she laughed more happily, her eyebrows slightly curved, her mood as bright as a dancing light on a pitch-black table.
Feeling somewhat displeased, someone stood to seal the old wine jar from the previous night. Qu Xiaojue followed and saw him finding a ribbon to cover the jar’s mouth, and said: “Husband surely doesn’t drink. Later, I’ll have someone move it to my room.”
His hand tying the ribbon paused, considering whether to imitate those heroic figures and drink directly from the jar, when he heard her move closer and say: “I’m free today. Does my husband have any plans?”
“Aren’t you keeping me under watch?” When he finished sealing the wine jar, he turned and gave a cool smile, unwilling to be led by the nose.
Qu Xiaojue placed her hand on her forehead in helplessness: “You know I ordered them to withdraw. In the future, my husband can go wherever he wants without obstruction. Please do me the honor of accepting today’s invitation.”
“Blood Sea’s Charm.” After thinking, this was still on his mind.
Qu Xiaojue came forward, held his hand, and smiled: “As you wish.”
Xu Wanzhi was pulled outside without much resistance, thinking to himself: Indeed, his temperament isn’t bad. Considering her previous imprisonment and impact on him, not retaliating is already quite polite.
He should no longer want to see her, though her slap was enough to make him remember her for a lifetime—so why is he now going along with her?
Fine, he’s just outwardly cold but inwardly unable to resist her kindness.
“Where’s Yan Liu?” At the courtyard gate, he pulled her to a stop and asked.
Originally getting along well, his direct mention of this person displeased her. Hearing him call her by name made her face darken: “Rest assured, I’m treating her well!”
She knew Yan Ziye would likely be fine and wouldn’t be easily mistreated. So in the past few days, Xu Wanzhi had quietly stayed in his room without inquiring. This time, he wasn’t trying to touch her sensitive points. Facing her unfriendly expression, he showed exasperation and helplessness: “You’re overthinking. She and I are just friends.”
Given her understanding of her husband’s attitude toward others, this explanation was already more depth than he would typically use with her. Although she had never heard of a man and woman being friends, if she had spoken to him like this before, he would have only given her a cold glance—
Qu Xiaojue’s heart leaped with joy, and she gripped his hand, responding: “Since you say so, I believe you.”
Encountering Danger
Today’s weather was excellent. Leaving the courtyard gate and walking along a stone path, the entire garden was filled with bright green.
By coincidence, a voice of immense surprise rang out—they encountered Yan Ziye, who persistently came to find him daily, though she had never had the chance to see him. Qu Yao stood behind, blocking her with a sword. She lightly leaped over.
“Wanzhi, you’re out!” She called his name unconsciously in her excitement, sidestepping Qu Yao and rushing straight toward him. Just as she was about to approach Xu Wanzhi, Qu Yao seized her arm from behind with a sword, pulling her far away.
Xu Wanzhi heard her “you’re out” and naturally misinterpreted it, nodding with a speechless eye roll: “I’m fine.”
