Der Himmel über den Flüssen und Seen ist sehr klar

Kapitel 10

Xu Jinrong responded casually, his hand still holding her chin, but his thumb began to gently rub her cheek.

Danmei felt a slight itch, as if ants were crawling on her. She turned her face slightly, pulled her hand away, and then sighed, saying seriously, "When I saw the last words of your letter, I was truly terrified. I never imagined that you, so far away and burdened with official duties, would still find fault with my physique. Since ancient times, the husband has been the most important person. Since my physique has already displeased you, I should be even more careful with my words to please you. I thought for a long time before coming up with those words to explain, thinking that you would be satisfied. I never expected that in the end, it would still cause you displeasure. If I had known this would happen, I would have been better off not replying at all."

Xu Jinrong lowered his head and saw that although she had lowered her eyes slightly as she spoke, not looking at him, her two rows of eyelashes trembled wildly, and her long, black hair fell loosely, revealing a forehead as white as jade. Although he knew that her words were just nonsense, and clearly contained a hint of mockery, for some reason, his heart felt as if a stone had been thrown into the center of a lake, slowly rippling, and his expression softened. With a thought, he finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "In the six months I've been gone, have you really not thought of me at all?"

Danmei was startled, wondering why he would suddenly ask such an awkward question. To say she missed him would be a blatant lie, and she really didn't want to submit to him like that. But if she said she didn't, given his unpredictable temper, she didn't know what might happen. Her mind raced through various possible responses, and she honestly replied, "I do miss him. Mother calls out for you a few times every day, and I naturally miss you along with her."

Danmei knew her answer would likely displease him, but since she couldn't find fault with it, she figured he wouldn't do anything about it. So, after speaking, she looked up. Sure enough, his eyes were fixed on her, the candlelight making them appear dark and unfathomable. Instinctively, she tried to look away, feigning a yawn and shifting slightly to sit closer. Unexpectedly, the moment she moved, he reached out and pulled her onto his lap, his hand cupping her lower back.

Are you afraid of me?

He suddenly spoke casually, then lowered his head slightly, bringing his chin closer to hers. He gently rubbed his forehead against hers, and Danmei immediately felt a slightly tingling, itchy sensation there. She froze, still thinking about how to answer, when Xu Jinrong tightened his arms and pressed her tightly against his chest.

Both were dressed only in thin clothing. The autumn night was deep and the dew was chilly. With their skin touching, Danmei immediately felt warmth emanating from him. She also felt him wrap one hand around the end of her hair around her waist and rub it a few times before pressing her down onto the bed. He then pulled down one of the curtains. The knot of the auspicious rope binding the golden hook was roughly broken, and the hook fell to the ground, bouncing a few times and making a few crisp clinking sounds.

Danmei said he was about to consummate their marriage. Although she was somewhat unwilling, she knew she was no match for his strength and that struggling would be futile. So, following her previous experience, she closed her eyes and remained still, letting him press down on her. After half a day without any further movement from him, she opened her eyes and saw the person on top of her looking at her, with a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Danmei was somewhat puzzled and almost blurted out, just like he had done, "What are you laughing at?" She opened her mouth slightly but then closed it again. Xu Jinrong saw that she had opened her eyes, but shook his head and chuckled, "Arranged marriages are not to be trusted. The ancients were right. They said she was second to none in terms of talent and beauty, skilled in needlework, poetry and painting, and with the gentlest and most charming nature. Now it seems she doesn't fit any of those descriptions at all. I'm not fortunate enough to be charming and delicate, and even the letter I received from you last time surprised me. Could such handwriting really have come from your hand? I think even Sister Hui is far superior to you."

Danmei was mocked by him, yet his words hit the nail on the head. She lacked both talent and beauty; her needlework and poetry were unremarkable, and as for her personality, it was indeed worlds apart from gentle and charming, leaving her speechless. Too lazy to say anything, she simply turned her head to stare at the inner wall of the bed, thinking that by remaining silent and acquiescing, Xu Jinrong would give up and let her go. But instead, he reached out and turned her face, forcing her to look at him.

Danmei reluctantly met his gaze. Though a hint of her earlier smile remained on his face, his eyes, fixed on her, seemed to hold a probing intent. Her heart tightened slightly, and she said, "My mother asked me to write the letter for her. I twisted my wrist at the time, and it wasn't fully healed, so my handwriting is a bit messy. What's so strange about that?" This was an excuse she had prepared beforehand, precisely to avoid his suspicion and questioning. Now it had come in handy. Seeing that Xu Jinrong still seemed somewhat unconvinced, she didn't bother to pay him any more attention. Besides, she felt a tightness in her chest from being held down by him for so long, so she forcefully pushed him away.

Xu Jinrong casually used Danmei's strength to flip her off, but then pulled her right hand over and held it in his palm, slowly stroking it.

Danmei's arm immediately went cold, and when she tried to pull it back, he held it tightly.

"You twisted your wrist and still have the mood to write such lamenting poems and tease me, my wife, you are truly rare..." As Xu Jinrong spoke, one hand slowly meandered up Danmei's arm, finally stopping at her chest, and his fingers slightly untied the collar of her inner garment. Seeing that Danmei was staring at him with wide eyes, he chuckled and said, "Do you still remember what I said at the end of my last letter? It's been half a year since I left, I wonder how she is now."

If you don't gain weight soon, you'll face severe punishment.

Danmei's face flushed bright red. Judging from his expression, it seemed as if he wanted to strip her clothes off to examine her.

It was one thing to be undressed during marital relations, but to be stripped naked and exposed before him like this was clearly a provocation, even a desecration. A surge of blood rushed to Danmei's head, and without thinking, she slapped his hand away, rolled over, pulled the covers tighter around herself, and lay down to sleep. The original bed hadn't been brought back when Xu Jinrong took Huijie away; this one was a new one Danmei had taken from the chest and cabinet while waiting for his return.

Xu Jinrong was slightly taken aback when his hand was slapped away, but he quickly regained his composure. Instead of being annoyed, he lay down outside with her, stretched, and then said unhurriedly, "If you won't let me see, then I won't. I don't think there's anything interesting to see anyway. But it's late at night, how can you just roll up in the blankets and sleep like this? I have to get up and go back to the East Gate early in the morning..." Before he could finish speaking, he let out a sound of surprise, realizing that he had unintentionally pulled a book out from under his pillow.

When Danmei heard him exclaim "Eh?", her heart skipped a beat. She knew it was the book of Analects for Women that she had casually tucked under her pillow the night before and forgotten to put away.

She used to read Hui Jie's "Admonitions for Women" as bedtime reading, but later discovered that Hui Jie also had a book called "The Analects for Women" written by a Tang Dynasty author, so she simply took it as well. When bored, she would flip through it and find that the "The Analects for Women" imitated the style of the Analects, and although it also prescribed many rules for women's speech and behavior, it was much easier to recite than the "Admonitions for Women," and some of the negative examples were described in a rather humorous way. For example, in the fourth chapter, "Early Rising," it tells women that they should "cook and eat according to the family's means, preparing vegetables, roasting fermented soybeans, and pounding ginger. Adding ingredients as needed, making them sweet, mild, and fragrant. Keeping bowls and plates neat and tidy, and setting out separate dishes. Eating three full meals a day, morning and evening." It also says, "Don't be like a lazy woman, who doesn't know how to think. Even when the sun is high in the sky, she's still in bed. She gets up after a long day, feeling ashamed and flustered. Without even washing or grooming, she rushes into the kitchen. Her face is filthy, her hands and feet are hurried. She brews tea and cooks rice, not doing it on time." Danmei, reading this, couldn't help but laugh, adding a note beside the text: "Good women and lazy women are both women; they are both necessary in the drama of life." The Analects also teaches women, "Don't look back when walking, don't raise your lips when speaking. Don't move your knees when sitting, don't sway your skirt when standing. Don't laugh loudly when happy, don't raise your voice when angry." So, another note was added beside the text: "This is a puppet on a string, not a woman." And so on.

All of that is fine, but the problem lies in the chapter on "serving one's husband," which says, "Compare your husband to the heavens, for his duty is no light matter. When your husband speaks, listen attentively. Do not be like a foolish woman, outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant; if your husband goes out, remember the route. If he has not returned by dusk, look for him. Turn off the lamp, warm the meal, and wait for him to knock on the door. Do not be like a lazy woman, who takes care of herself first; if your husband is ill, worry about him all day long. Seek medicine from many sources and seek divine intervention everywhere. Do not be like a stupid woman, who is completely unconcerned; if your husband is angry, do not get angry back. Step back and yield, endure his anger and speak softly. Do not be like a shrew, who quarrels frequently." Danmei, on a whim, added a self-deprecating note: "Others are virtuous, graceful, and eloquent, but I am foolish, lazy, stupid, and shrewish, embodying all four traits of a woman. Alas, Third Master Xu, how pitiful!"

If he sees anything else, he can see it, but if he sees this place, he might really get into trouble and be severely tortured.

Danmei's first reaction was to snatch the Analects from his hands, but she feared that would only pique his curiosity further. If he forcibly took it, things might get out of hand. After a moment's thought, she suppressed her racing heartbeat, rolled out of bed, and said nonchalantly, "It's just my Analects. I also have a copy of the Admonitions for Women in my room. I know I'm lacking in virtue, appearance, speech, and skills, so I read it when I have free time to improve myself."

Chapter Twenty-Five

After Danmei finished speaking, she saw him glance at the cover and then turn his gaze to her, looking her up and down with a hint of suspicion. Her heart skipped a beat, and without thinking of anything else, she immediately smiled slightly at him and said, "My lord, I have nothing to do at home, so I'd like to read some 'Women's Analects' and 'Women's Admonitions.' Don't you think that's a good idea?"

Her tone and manner of speaking clearly carried a hint of coquetry, which even gave Danmei herself goosebumps. Xu Jinrong, however, seemed quite pleased, grunting, "Since you know these things, it's clear you still want to improve. Very good." With that, he lifted the bed curtains and tossed the blue booklet he was holding onto a small table by the bedside, placing it on top of the clothes he had previously taken off and placed there.

Danmei thought it best to put the bomb away as soon as possible; she was still a little uneasy leaving it so close. So, as she climbed out to get off the bed, she explained, "It's weighing down your clothes. I'll go put the books away."

Xu Jinrong glanced at it and said indifferently, "We can release it tomorrow. It's so late, you should rest now." As he spoke, he lifted the bed curtains and blew out the candle on the bedside lamp. The room was immediately plunged into darkness.

Danmei relaxed, thinking that she could quietly get up and hide after he fell asleep. She figured he wouldn't remember it by tomorrow morning. So she crawled back to the inside of the bed in the dark. Just as she was about to lie down, a hand reached out from the side and gently pulled her, causing her to fall onto him.

As soon as Danmei was pulled into his arms, his other large hand slipped under the hem of her clothes, groping her skin as it slowly moved upwards, along her waist and abdomen, finally stopping at her chest.

Over the past six months, perhaps due to eating too much sweet egg soup, Danmei felt as if her body had begun to develop. Her breasts were fuller than before, and sometimes when she touched them while showering, they felt as smooth and soft as tofu, with a wonderful texture. The man beside her, who was currently embracing her, had clearly noticed this as well, and his hand covered her breasts, repeatedly making various movements.

Danmei remained still, her heart pounding faster under his constant caresses. The man seemed to sense it too; Danmei heard a low, short laugh in the darkness, followed by her earlobe being sucked into his mouth. With each teasing touch of his warm, wet lips and tongue, waves of tingling pleasure spread through her body, and she couldn't help but let out a soft, gentle moan.

Suddenly, Danmei felt a weight on her; Xu Jinrong had rolled over and pressed down on her. Her already disheveled clothes were quickly removed, and Danmei's cool skin trembled slightly as it touched his hot body. She heard the man on top of her let out a soft sigh and lower his head to kiss her forehead.

Danmei felt his warm, thick lips and tongue kiss her forehead and eyes, slowly moving down, finally pressing against her lips and lingering for a moment, as if trying to pry open her tightly closed lips and enter.

Danmei froze, then slightly turned her face away to avoid it.

The man on top of her seemed to pause for a moment, but he was quickly drawn to his physical desires and stopped looking at her face. He moved his hand to her waist, lifted her buttocks slightly.

Danmei's grip on his back tightened; he had already conquered her. Her previous experiences had taught her that he wasn't a gentle person. So now she tried to relax her body, hoping to make herself more comfortable in what was to come.

But Danmei soon found herself somewhat defenseless; this time, it was far more intense than the previous times six months ago. The man on top of her possessed incredible strength, like a flood that had been trapped for a long time finally breached. In the end, she felt only one thing: he was a ravenous beast, and she was his prey beneath him, being devoured whole, leaving not even a trace.

When Xu Jinrong arrived, it was already late at night. After such a long and torturous ordeal, the sky outside the window was beginning to turn a dark blue, and it was now possible to see some things inside. Danmei couldn't withstand such demands. Her body had long since gone from being compliant to aching unbearably. Her delicate skin was covered with wet marks. She was exhausted and weary. Thinking back to the comfort of sleeping alone in the past few months, she became increasingly angry. She wanted nothing more than to kick him off the bed. Finally, when he thrust into her again, she couldn't help but bite him hard on the shoulder.

Xu Jinrong winced in pain, letting out a muffled groan, and suddenly looked up at her. Danmei then released her teeth, raised her eyebrows at him defiantly, and suddenly felt his body tense up as he abruptly released himself.

When the man finally released her and rolled over to lie on the side of the couch, Danmei closed her eyes, let out a long sigh, and hastily pulled the blanket over herself before collapsing there, too lazy to even move a finger. The thought of being tormented like this by him in the future was utterly agonizing; she would be left with no one to turn to for help, only the urge to cry out in despair.

Danmei was still lost in thought when Xu Jinrong beside her said, "I have to go. I have a lot to do today, so I won't be able to get back early. Please give my regards to Mother..."

Danmei opened her eyes and saw that he had already turned over and sat up, looking at her. Following his gaze downwards, she realized that the brocade quilt only covered her shoulders, with most of her chest still exposed. She quickly reached out and pulled it up.

Xu Jinrong chuckled, seemingly finding her actions quite amusing, and suddenly leaned down. Danmei was still wondering what kind of trick he was going to use on her again, and was feeling a little uneasy, but unexpectedly he simply whispered in her ear, "You have indeed gained some weight compared to before, so the torture can be spared."

Seeing the mocking look in his eyes as he finished speaking, Danmei decided to pretend she hadn't heard him and not let him get too cocky. However, her face involuntarily flushed slightly, and she felt annoyed, so she turned over and went inside.

Xu Jinrong chuckled, reached out and smoothed her slightly disheveled long hair, and said softly, "You must be tired; you didn't sleep much last night. Get up a little later today. I told your maid not to come and disturb you. I'll go and pay my respects to Mother myself before I leave. She's an early riser anyway, so waking her won't hurt." After saying that, there was a rustling sound, and he had already lifted the curtain and gone downstairs.

Danmei suddenly remembered the Analects of Confucius that was still on his clothes. She hadn't had a chance to get away all night. Now, afraid that he might see it and touch it, she hurriedly sat up, grabbed a piece of clothing that he had taken off last night from the bed, draped it haphazardly over herself, and then lifted the curtain to get down.

Xu Jinrong was reaching for his clothes when he saw that she had also gotten up. He was somewhat surprised and said, "Didn't I tell you to sleep some more? Why did you get up so early?"

Danmei said, "I'll help you change your clothes."

Xu Jinrong raised an eyebrow, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Danmei then moved in front of the table to block the blue booklet, reached for his undergarment, and pushed the Analects of Confucius inside as well.

Danmei just wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible, but Xu Jinrong not only did not cooperate with her in getting dressed, but instead moved one hand to her body, reached into her collar and grasped one of her soft breasts.

Danmei dodged slightly, but he pressed closer, causing most of her collar to slip off her shoulder, leaving her momentarily flustered. After finally helping him put on his undergarments, she hurriedly reached for his outer garment, but in doing so, the blue booklet came off with it and fell to the ground at Danmei's feet with a thud, its pages open.

It was around 5:30 in the morning, and the morning light filtering into the room had become much brighter.

Danmei looked down and immediately noticed the ink stains she had left on the pages. Startled, she was about to bend down to close the book when Xu Jinrong, sitting opposite her, was faster. He picked up the book and began flipping through it. At first, he seemed somewhat surprised, but as he flipped through the pages faster, his brows furrowed more and more deeply until they were completely ashen. Danmei glanced at him and saw that he was staring intently at the chapter on "Male Concubines."

"So you're just reading the Analects for Women when you have nothing to do at home. Is this how you study and strive for advancement? I underestimated you before." With a "thud," the book was thrown to the ground.

After he took the booklet in his hand, Danmei knew that her secret had been exposed. She thought that she couldn't escape his anger anyway, so the initial panic disappeared, and she remained silent and let him scold her.

Xu Jinrong saw that although she had lowered her head slightly and kept her eyes downcast, there was little fear on her face, nor any trace of remorse. He recalled that he had specially rushed back early for her sake. He could understand that she hadn't shown any surprise when she first saw him last night; after all, words reflect the heart. If he hadn't coincidentally seen this annotation now, he would never have imagined that she still viewed him, her husband, in such a way. A surge of unease welled up inside him, and he abruptly lifted her chin.

Danmei's chin was being held so roughly by him that she felt uncomfortable. She tried to push him away, but his other hand gripped her wrist tightly, as if she were being pinched by pliers. The pain brought tears to her eyes. She thought to herself that it was just a self-deprecating joke, why was he so serious about breaking her hand? Anger rose within her, and she chose to endure the pain rather than beg for mercy.

Xu Jinrong saw that she was in so much pain that her eyes seemed to be glistening with tears, yet she kept her lips tightly closed and didn't utter a sound. He was at a loss for what to do. After staring at her for a moment, he snorted and said, "I find it strange that the Prime Minister's mansion could raise a daughter like you!" After saying that, he let go of her hand, put on his clothes, and turned to go to the door.

Miao Chun and Miao Xia knew their master had returned last night, so they got up early this morning to wait outside for his summons. Suddenly, the door opened, and they were about to go to greet him when they saw him come out with a sullen face and go straight to the old lady's room. They were both startled and stood there, not daring to move. Only after he had disappeared from sight did they enter the room, full of suspicion. They saw that the curtains were still hanging down and a golden hook lay on the floor.

Miao Chun called out softly, and after a while, a voice responded from inside the tent: "Put some water in my bathtub."

Miao Chun and Miao Xia exchanged a glance. One picked up the golden hook from the ground, while the other hurriedly went out to call someone to prepare it.

Danmei sat in the bathtub, looking down at the faint red marks still visible on her chest and shoulders, all from that man's actions. Just a moment ago they were all lovey-dovey, and in the blink of an eye he turned into a ferocious demon; his temper changed faster than flipping through a book. She sighed, rested her head against the side of the tub, and closed her eyes slightly.

In the five or six months that Xu Jinrong was away, I clearly lived too comfortably and relaxed, and I was so careless that I caused today's accident. From now on, I must be careful with my words and actions to avoid causing trouble again.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Danmei had barely slept a wink last night and was utterly exhausted. Soaking in the warm water only made her eyelids feel heavier, and she drifted off to sleep against the tub. She was only jolted awake by Miaochun's persistent knocking at the door; the water had long since cooled. As soon as she stepped out of the tub, she felt the chill of early autumn, goosebumps rising all over her body, and she couldn't help but shiver.

Afraid of catching a cold, Danmei quickly dried herself and put on her clothes. She went back to her room intending to sleep again, but it was a daily routine to go and talk to the old lady and have meals with her. Although the man had told her to go back to sleep and not to come, those were words spoken before he got angry, and now that he had turned his back on her and left, he probably didn't mean them anymore. Danmei felt it wasn't right to be presumptuous, so she quickly got ready and went to the old lady's room.

When Danmei entered, the old lady was having dinner with Huijie. She put a piece of braised pork in her bowl and said, "Eat more. You'll grow taller if you eat more." Huijie responded and ate it. Over the past six months, the grandmother and granddaughter had become much closer than before.

When the old lady saw Danmei enter, her face immediately lit up with a smile. She beckoned her to come to her side and then said with a smile, "My son actually returned last night. He's so thoughtful. When he came to greet me this morning, he told you to get up later and not to come and serve me this morning. Why did you get up again?"

Danmei was somewhat surprised, not expecting that Xu Jinrong hadn't forgotten to mention this in front of the old lady. Seeing the expression on her face, she naturally understood the reason, and felt a little embarrassed, unable to say anything.

The old lady thought she was just being shy and reached out to take her hand, saying, "Having children is a natural thing, what's there to be ashamed of? Now that my son is back, you don't need to worry about anything else, I'll take care of everything for you. You two should just have a few more children for me soon."

Danmei saw that she was speaking like this in front of Huijie. Although she didn't quite understand the words "worry" and "handle," she was afraid that something even more explicit would come out later, so she quickly nodded in agreement. After breakfast, she led Huijie back and saw her embroidering with the tutor. She sat for a while, but her eyelids became heavier and heavier. Finally, she couldn't stay awake any longer and went back to her room. She told the maid not to come and disturb her, then lifted the covers and went to sleep.

Danmei slept soundly, and when she woke up, her head felt slightly heavy. She sat for a while before feeling better. She got up and opened the door, only to see Miaoxia standing outside, seemingly having waited for quite some time. Seeing her come out, Miaoxia smiled and said, "Madam, you're up. I have some good news for you, Madam, I guarantee you'll be happy to hear it."

Danmei smiled and asked, "What good news?"

"Does Madam still remember the chrysanthemum grower from Xingzhuang? He came over this morning with a cart, bringing a white peony that you mentioned before. Although I know nothing about flowers, it looks quite beautiful. Would Madam like to go and take a look?"

Danmei was pleasantly surprised. The heaviness in her head when she stood up disappeared, and she felt much more refreshed. She hurriedly went out of the corridor and sure enough, she saw a peony plant placed next to her flower bed. The branches were thick and the leaves were not as early as those of ordinary peonies, even though it was late autumn. The leaves were still more than half a person long when they were spread out. It was clear at a glance that it was no ordinary plant.

Danmei looked at the flowers carefully for a while, then suddenly remembered something and turned back to ask, "Where is Old Man Huang who delivered the flowers? These flowers must be very expensive."

"This servant inquired on behalf of Madam. Father said that Madam had helped him a great deal last time, and after returning home, he kept in mind to find the white peony Madam had mentioned. A few days ago, he learned that a family had some, so he went to ask to buy it. It just so happens that the family is moving to the south and is worried about what to do with the peony in their garden. Knowing that Father wanted to buy it for someone who is extremely skilled in growing flowers, they sold it at a low price, saying it was better than it withering and dying on the way. Even if they took it to the south, they were afraid it wouldn't be able to adapt to the climate and wouldn't survive, which would be a waste."

Danmei gave an "oh" and still smiled, "Father is so kind. We should always give you the money."

"I asked him. He said that Madam had been kind to him, and this was his way of showing his appreciation. He would never dare to accept money. After saying that, he took off the flowers and left. I saw that Madam was sleeping, so I didn't dare to disturb her."

Peonies of this quality wouldn't be cheap even at a low price. Huang Huahu makes a living by growing flowers, and Danmei wasn't about to accept his gifts for nothing. She thought to herself that she should go and express her gratitude one day, and give him the money as well.

Now that the flowers had arrived, Danmei called for someone to break the large earthenware pot used for temporary transplanting, carefully lift it out along with the soil, and plant it in the same spot where the first three peony plants had been grown. By the time everything was finished, it was almost dinnertime. She had just washed her hands and face when she saw Steward Xu approaching.

If Steward Xu had something to do earlier, he usually came in the morning. Seeing him arrive now, Danmei assumed that Xu Jinrong was still angry with her and had sent him to tell the old lady that he wouldn't be coming today. But then she thought about it and chuckled. Even if he really wasn't coming, he could easily have sent a servant to inform his mother; there was no need for Steward Xu to come all the way here himself. She immediately asked what it was about.

Steward Xu bowed respectfully before explaining that the master felt it was inappropriate for Sister Hui to remain in this place at her age, and therefore ordered him to come and take her back.

Upon hearing this, Danmei immediately knew that it was the aftermath of her daughter's annotations on the Analects. Even a fool could tell that Xu Jinrong was extremely dissatisfied with her and feared that his daughter would be corrupted by her presence, which was why he had the steward take her back.

Although Danmei was somewhat reluctant to part with Hui-jie, she was, after all, the legitimate daughter of the Xu family. Xu Jinrong's initial request to raise her was merely a whim, and now that he had changed his mind, she couldn't very well cling to her. After hesitating for a moment, she told Steward Xu to wait and went to Hui-jie's room.

Hui-jie and Duan-er were playing on a newly hung swing under the old tree in front of the yard, laughing and giggling. Suddenly, Dan-mei said she was going to take her back. Her first question was, "Are you going back too?" When Dan-mei shook her head, she stopped swinging and just sat on the board holding the ropes, tears welling up in her eyes.

Danmei felt a little sorry for her and was thinking of how to coax her when Huijie had already taken off the stick. She grabbed Danmei's sleeve and said pitifully, "Mother, please tell Father that I don't want to go back by myself. I just want to live with you."

Danmei thought that since Xu Jinrong had such intentions, they were obviously targeting her. If she insisted on keeping him there, it might be inappropriate. After hesitating for a moment, she suddenly remembered that there was someone who could keep Xu Jinrong in check, so she bent down and whispered a few words in Huijie's ear. Huijie's eyes lit up, and she immediately went to the old lady's room.

Hui-jie was originally a clever girl, but she had been suppressed too much in the past, and was also afraid of her father who had never smiled in front of her, which made her act a bit stiff. In the past six months, her true nature has gradually emerged, and Dan-mei has taught her to be sweet-talking and charming in front of her grandmother, and she has become quite close to the old lady. When reminded at this time, she hurriedly went to get help.

Steward Xu was waiting outside. He recalled that when he arrived at the celebration banquet that afternoon, his master had taken a break, given him some instructions, and then, after walking five or six steps, stopped as if on a whim to give him the same order, a hint of displeasure on his face. He was extremely surprised at the time. He vaguely guessed that it had something to do with the lady who lived in the garden, but he didn't know what had happened to cause his usually composed master to lose his composure like this.

As Steward Xu was pondering this, he heard footsteps coming from the other side. He looked up and saw that it was the old lady coming. He quickly put aside his thoughts and went to greet her.

“My granddaughter is living with me just fine, why send her back now? If she wants to go back, we can do it in a few days. I have my own ideas, I will talk to my son. You go ahead.”

Although it was only a few words, Steward Xu knew that his master was usually very filial to this old lady. Apart from marrying his current wife half a year ago, he rarely went against her wishes. At this moment, he didn't say anything more, but obediently agreed and took his leave.

After tidying up in the evening, Danmei sat down at the table and pondered the situation. Judging from Xu Jinrong's behavior this morning and the fact that he sent someone to bring Hui-jie back, he was probably very angry with her and would likely stay in the west courtyard of the main house tonight.