The husband I snatched halfway through his life is strange.

Since marrying into the Shunguo Duke's mansion, even though the red silk curtains were warm, Ning Suchan would still step back three steps each morning to hand Wei Fengxing his court robes.

Wei Fengxing was unwilling for her to serve him, but Ning Suchan's eyes held the high walls built by more than ten years of palace training.
For her, etiquette is absolutely essential.

During tender moments, she would even control the blushing of her ear tips to within three breaths, as if all the unbearable tenderness had to be crushed and sifted according to the Book of Rites.

She was alone in Wei Fengxing's room. As a scholar-official, the two of them would tenderly kiss each other, even stroking her eyebrows with their fingertips first, as if requesting permission.

The most audacious thing he did was press her hands down on the pillow, his strength as restrained as if he were copying a calligraphy model, taking her feelings into consideration with every step.

But never before had it been like this, charging headlong into her, trying to crush her bones and flesh.

The next day.

The stewards reported at the main courtyard gate, as there were many matters that required the mistress's decision. Not only them, but also the shopkeepers under the name of the Duke of Shun's mansion outside the mansion sent over their account books, which Ning Suchan needed to reconcile.

However, Ning Suchan has yet to make an appearance.

Finally, the old woman came over and said, "Madam is not feeling well. Please come back another day."

After sending these people away, Granny Ru waited for a full hour before any movement came from the bedroom.

She quickly pushed open the door and went inside to serve him.

Ning Suchan sat half-sitting in front of the couch, her hair loose and her face radiant, looking as if she had been thoroughly pampered.

Yesterday's commotion...was a bit too much.

As the old woman said, "The young master is already so grown up, which shows how close the lady and the Duke are."

"The Duke went to the morning court early this morning. When he saw that you were not awake, he specifically told this old servant not to disturb you."

Ning Suchan felt weak and was about to get out of bed.

She has a lot to do and doesn't want things to pile up.

"correct."

As the old woman said, “Look at my memory, Gu’s daughter came early this morning. She said she wanted to visit you and refused to leave, so I invited her to the reception room.”

Ning Suchan frowned.

What brings a little girl here?

Yao Yao waited in the waiting room for a long time.

Ever since Wei Zhao's expression turned strange yesterday, and after Wei Fengxing's servant invited Ning Suchan to the study, and Ning Suchan didn't return to the flower hall, she belatedly realized that perhaps it was... no, it was Wei Zhao!

Wei Zhao has gotten himself into trouble!
Feeling guilty, she worried that the medicine might cause harm, so she quickly came to check on the patient.

The original intention was to visit Wei Fengxing.

But Wei Fengxing wasn't there, and she'd heard that Ning Suchan wasn't feeling well, probably because she'd been taking care of Wei Fengxing yesterday and was exhausted.

"Miss Gu, Madam requests your presence."

Finally, a maid came over.

Yao Yao saw Ning Suchan in the main courtyard.

She was working on the abacus, with several baskets of account books in front of her.

Yao Yao stepped forward and respectfully greeted him.

"My lady is well."

Ning Suqian paused, her hand still. She looked up, her expression cold as she looked at her.

He didn't say anything, but he had quite a presence.

She was always like this, but Yao Yao thought that Ning Su Chan didn't have much of a smile because yesterday's events had been exposed.

She met Ning Suchan's eyes and walked over with small steps.

Ning Suchan remained expressionless.

Nine years old may seem young, but among the noble ladies of the capital, she should be quite sensible. There's no reason for her to visit without a formal invitation.

No rules.

However, she was only recently found and doesn't know these things, so we can't blame her.

Yao Yao's conscience wanted to make amends.

She steeled herself and said, "I'll grind the ink for you, Madam."

Yao Yao ran forward, took the ink stick from Granny Ru's hand, and imitated the way Gu Fu Ju used to grind ink for her, doing it in a very proper manner.

Ning Suchan: ? ? ?

Why are you being so attentive?
Besides, she wasn't familiar with this girl.

Ning Suchan wanted to speak up to stop her, but she was just about to open her mouth when...

"Mistress".

The warehouse manager rushed over.

"The gifts that the guests brought yesterday have all been registered and recorded. Please take a look."

Ning Suchan straightened her expression.

This banquet was hosted for the royal family, and the royal family also paid for it, so we cannot accept any gifts.

But His Majesty's intention was for her to go back and hand over the clothes to her uncle, replacing them all with clothing for the border soldiers to keep warm.

She didn't dare delay and picked it up to examine it carefully.

Once he had a clear idea of ​​what was going on, he handed it over to Granny Ru and asked her to go out and exchange it all for silver.

After giving these instructions, Ning Suchan continued with her accounting. But after only a couple of taps, she remembered the little girl beside her.

As soon as she turned her head to look, she saw that Yao Yao looked very worried, and for some reason, her little hands were covered in ink stains.

Ning Suchan's eyelid twitched.

Yao Yao met her gaze and slowly said, "I was careless."

Ning Suchan: ...

Her head throbbed twice.

Yao Yao asked in a gentle voice, "Could you wash my hands?"

Ning Suchan said calmly, "There's water in that basin over there."

She had taken it to wash her hands after she finished calculating the accounts.

It has faded away, gone in a blur.

It's nothing like home, where there are a bunch of servants to wait on you.

Ning Suchan disliked being waited on while doing her accounts. After the old woman left, all the maids in the courtyard retreated to a distance.

Since the mistress of the house had not spoken, no one dared to step forward to help her.

Yao Yao washed it very carefully.

But the ink is too hard to rub off.

Just as Ning Suchan finished calculating one ledger and was about to go down to get another, the little girl came running over.

"lady."

Yao Yao looked innocent: "I was careless again."

Ning Suchan?
She looked up and saw that Yao Yao's sleeves were completely wet.

It was wet and dripping water.

Ning Suchan was very puzzled.

How did Yao Yao do it?
Is she special, or are all kids this age like this?

or……

She trembled.

It was her... Guizhi, who could take care of everything on her own since she was a child, so she didn't have to worry about her.

She didn't have any clothes for a girl Yao Yao's age, so she told her maid to quickly go to Shen Jin's place to get some.

Shen Zhiyi often went there for a short stay; her figure was similar to Yao Yao's.

While waiting for her clothes, Yao Yao didn't want to be idle.

"Madam, is there anything else you need me to do?"

Ning Suchan: "No."

Don't make things worse.

Yao Yao gave an "oh" and, seemingly out of nowhere, brought out a stool and placed it next to Ning Suchan.

Ning Suchan frowned, disliking being too close to people: "Let's sit somewhere else."

Yao Yao whispered, "But the light is best here."

Ning Suchan: ?
Aren't you afraid of me?
Yao Yao glanced at the snacks laid out on the table like a servant setting out a meal, but Ning Su Chan didn't touch a single bite.

"Madam, may I eat this?"

After receiving permission, she picked up a piece and put it in her mouth.

"This tastes like the glutinous rice cakes sold in the shops outside the Imperial College."

Ning Suchan ignored her.

Yao Yao: "It's not as sweet as that."

Ning Suchan ignored her.

Seeing that she remained silent, Yao Yao spoke closer and closer, until she was practically whispering in her ear.

“My two mothers often buy it for me.”

"Has Madam bought anything for Prince Wei?"

Ning Suchan could no longer bear it: "Never."

I was just trying to calm her down.

But then I heard a sentence.

"He's so pitiful."

Ning Suqian's fingers froze: "What?"

Yao Yao: "Everyone else has it, but he doesn't."

Ning Suchan thought it was something serious and didn't take it seriously when she heard it.

"It's just a regular snack. Guiyi has never had a sweet tooth, but if he ever wants one, there's always a chef at home who can make it for him."

(End of this chapter)