Governing the country, enriching the people, an unparalleled imperial tutor

As the crowd dispersed, no one spoke. Some people let out a long sigh of relief after leaving the courtyard, some squatted in the corner for a long time without standing up, and some pulled the person next to them and whispered, "Did you see that?" The person next to them nodded, their voice trembling.

Lin Yanzhou turned and went back to his study, with Lin Xiaolan and Lin Xiaoyu following behind him, gently closing the door behind them. He took the ring off his hand and casually placed it on the desk. The two women stood before the desk, neither speaking first.

Lin Yanzhou sat down and glanced at them: "You saw what happened just now. Is there anything you'd like to say?"

Lin Xiaolan spoke first, her voice gentle yet clear: "The fact that the Imperial Preceptor was willing to demonstrate this skill in front of everyone shows that he trusts the people in the manor. Xiaolan will not betray that trust."

Lin Xiaoyu thought for a moment, then spoke in a slightly softer voice than her sister: "The Imperial Preceptor was so adept at handling things just now. Those valuables are safer in your hands than anywhere else. Xiaoyu only wishes to safeguard the Imperial Preceptor's documents and accounts, ensuring that no one takes a single penny that they shouldn't."

Lin Yanzhou nodded and looked out the window—dusk was falling, and the lanterns under the eaves had already been lit.

He paused for a moment, then softened his voice: "Tonight, none of you need to do anything. Have the butler tidy up the side hall and light more lamps."

The two women acknowledged and withdrew. Lin Yanzhou sat at the desk, twirling the silver ring on his finger before placing it back. The display just now wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was something he had planned long ago. The time ratio between the modern world and Xuan Shuo was 1:30. He was away from Xuan Shuo most of the time, and with so many people and so much gossip in the mansion, he needed a sufficiently powerful demonstration to ensure everyone would stay in their proper place.

After dinner, the housekeeper came to the study. Behind him was his wife, an elderly woman with gray hair, who stood upright with her eyes downcast and her hands folded in front of her. She did not come in.

The butler bowed slightly: "Grand Preceptor, the side hall is ready. Six lamps have been lit, the bedding has been changed, and the incense has been used to perfume it."

The old woman behind him bowed slightly, her voice neither loud nor soft, carrying the steady and gentle quality characteristic of palace servants: "This old servant has taught the two young ladies the proper etiquette for serving the Imperial Preceptor: bathing, changing clothes, making the bed, serving tea and water... and other things as well. I've taught them everything that needs to be taught, all according to the standards for serving the Emperor in the palace. Imperial Preceptor, please rest well tonight; the two young ladies will serve you with utmost care."

Lin Yanzhou glanced at her: "You're quite sensible. Go to the accounting office to collect your reward later."

The old woman bowed slightly, took two steps back, and left with the butler.

At night, the lights in the side hall stayed on longer than elsewhere. Six copper lamps were lit in succession, illuminating the entire room warmly and clearly, even revealing the carvings on the old screen in the corner. On the table sat a pot of warm tea, two clean cups, and a plate of osmanthus cake, freshly made by the cook that afternoon.

Lin Xiaolan changed into a moon-white loungewear dress, the neckline slightly closed, a single button fastened above her collarbone. Her hair, freshly washed, cascaded over her shoulders, carrying a faint scent of soap. She stood beside the embroidery stool under the lamp, her eyes slightly lowered, the candlelight casting a warm shadow on her eyelids. Her gentle and serene demeanor appeared even softer in the lamplight, like a white magnolia quietly blooming in the night.

Lin Xiaoyu changed into a light blue dress, her hair was loose, and there was still a damp mark at her temple. Her usual sharpness had melted away under the light. Her chin was slightly lowered, her gaze fixed on her clasped fingers. She didn't look up, but she didn't look away either. The corners of her mouth were slightly pursed, forming a smile that conveyed a sense of nervousness that she didn't want anyone to see.

The two stood side by side, like two new bamboo shoots bathed in lamplight, one quiet and gentle, the other lively and shy.

Lin Yanzhou sat on the edge of the bed, watching them. He was ecstatic: the threesome he'd only ever seen in Japanese adult films was actually happening in this ancient world, and both of them were top-tier beauties. "I'm rich! My goodness, I'm all better now!" he thought. "No, next time I go back to the modern world, I'll have to bring some pink lights to add some atmosphere."

"Put the tea on the table," he said.

Lin Xiaolan gently placed the teacup on the table, took a half-step back, but not far. Lin Xiaoyu followed, standing beside her sister. For a moment, the hems of their clothes brushed together, but neither of them moved away.

Lin Yanzhou raised his hand and turned the lamp up a bit, letting the light fall on their drooping hair, like a thin layer of golden ripples. He looked at their lowered eyes under the lamplight, and after a moment, he patted the edge of the bed beside him: "Come here, little darling."

Xiaolan moved first. Her steps were quiet and slow as she walked to the bedside, sat down on the edge of the bed, and the soft fabric of her clothes spread out in a moon-white arc on the edge of the bed, like a closed flower petal. Her face was slightly warm in the candlelight, her gaze was lowered, her fingertips were interlaced on her knees, and her breathing was even and shallow.

Xiaoyu paused for a moment before following. Her movements were more agile than her sister's, but there was a hint of trembling in that agility typical of her age. She sat down on the other side of the bed, the light blue hem of her dress hanging down, overlapping with the moon-white corner, like two petals of different colors falling side by side.

Lin Yanzhou leaned against the headboard, his arms outstretched. He didn't look at them, his gaze falling on the lamplight on the opposite wall. His voice unconsciously revealed his masculine nature: "Tonight, you two use all your skills to let me experience the thrill of being the male lead."

As he finished speaking, he raised his hand and extinguished the wick of the lamp closest to him. The moment the flame went out at his fingertips, tiny wisps of light fell into the copper tray with a soft rustling sound. The light in the room dimmed slightly, and the remaining five copper lamps softly filled the entire side hall, blending the shadows of the three people together and casting them on the wall, making them indistinguishable from one another.

Xiaolan gently turned to the side, resting her head on his shoulder. Strands of her hair brushed against his chin, carrying a faint, damp scent of soap. Her soft breath fell on the skin of his neck, like a very light feather. Xiaoyu leaned in from the other side, her forehead against the outside of his arm. She tensed for a moment, then slowly relaxed, exhaling a breath she herself might not have realized she had been holding back for so long.

Lin Yanzhou closed his eyes and felt the two breaths beside him slowly becoming even, like two flames finding their place under the same eaves. Come on, let's experience the contrast of ice and fire.

One of the last two lamps in the corner went out, leaving the other still lit. The flame flickered in the copper lamp for a moment, then settled. The night wind outside the window blew through the eaves, causing the paper windowpane to billow slightly before settling back down, like a suppressed gasp.