Spoiled and mad critic of powerful ministers

She opened the box, inside were a filigree gold phoenix hairpin and a pair of jade bracelets of excellent quality.

"Oh my!" Liu exclaimed, hurriedly covering her mouth. "This is so beautiful... I haven't worn anything this nice since I came to the North."

The other aunts also received their own gifts. Although they were not as valuable as those of their aunt and second aunt, they were all fashionable jewelry styles from the capital, enough to make them stand out in the women's circle of Wuxian.

For a moment, the hall was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation, dispelling the gloom that had accumulated in the home since the exile last year.

"Sister-in-law! Where's mine?"

A boy of about half a year squeezed in; it was Pei Zhiyan.

He was two years younger than Pei Zhihui, at the age when cats and dogs disliked him, and his eyes were bright as he stared at Shen Qiongju.

Shen Qiongju chuckled and pulled a sheathed dagger from her sleeve.

"You'll get your share."

Pei Zhiyan snatched it away and pulled it out with a "whoosh".

A flash of cold light appeared, and a chilling aura filled the air.

Although the dagger was short, it was made of refined steel with an extremely sharp blade, and the handle was wrapped with non-slip sharkskin.

"What a fine knife!" Pei Zhiyan exclaimed, admiring the dagger and brandishing it a couple of times. "Thank you, sister-in-law! This is even better than the one my father had back then!"

Mentioning her father, Liu wiped away her tears and laughed while scolding, "That heartless bastard, all he knows is wielding knives and guns, isn't he afraid of hurting his hands?"

In the corner, the youngest, Zhichun, ran over with her short legs, hugged Shen Qiongju's leg, and called out in her childish voice, "Sister-in-law, hug me."

Shen Qiongju bent down, picked him up, and handed him an exquisitely crafted cloth tiger and a box of sugar paintings from the capital.

The children's satisfied smiles, the women's barely suppressed joy, and the warmth that filled the room.

Pei Zhihui stood outside the crowd, quietly watching Shen Qiongju surrounded by people in the center. A part of his heart seemed to be melting little by little.

.

Dinner was served in the main hall.

Because of the ingredients and money Shen Qiongju brought back, tonight's dishes are exceptionally plentiful.

A variety of dishes made from Beijing specialties filled the round table, steaming hot and fragrant.

The family was reunited, and the atmosphere was warm and lively.

Pei Junlan sat in the main seat, looking at her family members who were laughing all over the room, and a smile appeared on her serious face.

After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation naturally turned to Pei Zhihui.

"Zhihui," Pei Junlan put down her chopsticks, her expression solemn, "Judging by the days, the autumn imperial examinations are only a few months away. Although you gained some experience in the capital this time, you must not neglect your studies."

Pei Zhihui put down his wine cup and said respectfully, "Aunt's teachings are correct. Nephew understands."

"Your teacher sent a letter a few days ago." Pei Junlan took out a letter from her sleeve. "He said he was urging you to return to the academy in the prefectural city as soon as possible. You've been gone for a month or so, and he's been extremely worried. The words in the letter were quite blunt."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qiongju's heart stirred.

She put down her chopsticks and continued, "Aunt is right. This exam is a big deal for Zhihui, and we can't afford to be careless in the slightest."

She turned to look at Pei Zhihui, her gaze concerned.

"I was just about to discuss this with my aunt. Shen Song is going to the prefectural city in a couple of days to renovate the shop we just bought there, and I'm thinking of having him go to the vicinity of the academy and rent a larger courtyard there."

Shen Qiongju meticulously planned, counting on her fingers.

"The courtyard needs to be secluded so as not to disturb your studies. We also need to hire two quick and efficient old women to take care of your meals and daily life. The food at the academy is not very oily, and since you haven't fully recovered, you still need to recuperate. How can you manage without proper nutrition?"

"After a while, once the winery in Wuxian is almost fully expanded, I'll open a branch in the prefectural city. I'll stay there then and be able to look after things from time to time."

The more she talked about it, the more she felt that the arrangement was appropriate.

This way, he could take care of Pei Zhihui without interfering with his business, achieving the best of both worlds.

Pei Junlan nodded repeatedly, "Qiongju is so thoughtful. Zhihui has suffered two major illnesses and definitely needs to be well taken care of."

Everyone present thought the arrangement was excellent and echoed it.

Only Pei Zhihui's eyes darkened slightly.

She was always like this, wanting to arrange everything perfectly, wanting to compensate the Pei family and him with this meticulous care. This mentality made her stand far away from him, making her very distant.

This subtle feeling left him feeling slightly uneasy.

"No need."

A cool, clear voice rang out, interrupting the heated discussion.

Shen Qiongju was taken aback: "Why?"

Pei Zhihui slowly poured himself a cup of tea, his movements as elegant as flowing water.

"I was quite content with my old courtyard in the prefectural city. Although it was a bit old, it was quiet. Although Granny Wang was hard of hearing and couldn't hear anything, she had taken care of me for so many years and had long been used to my temperament."

"But..." Shen Qiongju frowned, "You still need to brew the medicine, and Granny Wang alone probably won't be able to take care of you."

"It's alright." Pei Zhihui smiled faintly, with a hint of reassurance. "Besides, I'm afraid the teacher won't let me out easily this time when I return to the academy."

"The teacher said that in order to prepare for the autumn provincial examination, a few of us students would have to study in the study room on the back mountain. It's a secluded place where we would eat and live, and we wouldn't be released until a few days before the provincial examination."

He looked at Shen Qiongju, his eyes filled with an unreadable emotion.

"So, my sister-in-law rented a courtyard, but it's just sitting empty, and the people she hired are just sitting idle."

"My sister-in-law is already very tired from taking care of this big family every day. As for studying for the imperial examinations, my sister-in-law doesn't need to worry about me."

Pei Zhihui paused, his tone becoming exceptionally firm, subtly conveying a sense of reassurance.

Shen Qiongju opened her mouth, but found that she could not refute it.

He spoke logically and with evidence, even citing the teacher's instructions.

Seeing this, Pei Junlan also spoke up, "Since Zhihui says so, let's listen to him. Scholars value tranquility; they're more likely to be uncomfortable in a new environment."

"Yes." Shen Qiongju could only nod, but she still felt that something was wrong.

Closed-off reading environment?

In her previous life, how come she had never heard of such a rule in the academy of the prefectural city?

However, it is indeed something that a stern Confucian scholar would do.

"Then... then whatever you lack or are missing, you must have someone send a message back."

Shen Qiongju was still worried, her brows furrowed. "If Granny Wang can't take care of everything, I'll send someone else over."

"Really, you don't need to."

Pei Zhihui smiled, a smile that carried a hint of helplessness, yet also a subtle touch of doting affection.

"I'm not a three-year-old child. Do you expect my sister-in-law to feed me?"