Mama Yu, whom Madam Qin had sent over, was directing a group of servants as they stacked ledger after ledger onto the table.
“These are the year-end account books from the Marquis Manor’s five shops, and these are the household ledgers. Your task, Young Madam, is to reconcile every single entry. After that, you’ll personally inspect the storerooms to make sure nothing has been overlooked.”
With a smile, Mama Yu continued, “The First Madam knows this is your first time managing household affairs, so she’s assigned you the easiest work. You only need to finish within three days and submit everything for her review.”
Yun Juan casually picked up one of the ledgers and flipped through it with practiced ease.
Jiaoyue looked utterly overwhelmed.
“How could anyone possibly finish all these account books in three days? Is Madam supposed to give up sleeping?”
“That depends on the Young Madam’s abilities.” Mama Yu dipped into a curtsey. “This old servant will take her leave.”
Jiaoyue followed her to the doorway and spat angrily at her retreating back.
“What a bully, throwing her weight around because of her mistress!”
Turning back, she groaned.
“Madam, you’re really going to read all of these? You’ll go blind before you finish!”
Yun Juan didn’t even look up.
“Really? I don’t think they’re that bad.”
“Go summon the managers of these five shops to the manor. Once I’ve finished checking the books, we’ll settle the inventory in the storerooms.”
Jiaoyue nodded, found someone to relay the message, then returned with one of the ledgers and sat on the footstool.
“Miss, I’ll help you!”
She had grown up alongside Yun Juan, and when Granny Sun taught arithmetic, she’d learned alongside her. Though she wasn’t nearly as skilled as Yun Juan, she was more than capable of balancing accounts.
Yun Juan smiled and nodded.
Mistress and maid buried themselves in calculations, brushes flying across the paper. Before long, Xiaoyao Pavilion had the quiet, studious atmosphere of a classroom.
When Xiao Lanting returned from court, he stepped over the threshold and was just about to put his foot down when Yun Juan cried out,
“Don’t step there!”
He froze instantly, one foot suspended in midair, while Yun Juan hurriedly rolled up the long sheets of paper spread across the floor.
Only after entering did Xiao Lanting realize that papers covered nearly every inch of the room, leaving barely any place to stand.
Jiaoyue had ink smudged across her face and looked half-asleep.
“Young Master’s back… I’ll go make some tea…”
Xiao Lanting walked over to Yun Juan, pressed down one corner of the papers to stop them from curling, then glanced at the five thick account books beside her. His eyebrows twitched.
“Stop doing the accounts. Return the ledgers.”
“No!” Yun Juan protested. “I’m already halfway through this one.”
She hugged the ledger protectively while hurriedly sweeping the completed calculation sheets beneath herself.
Xiao Lanting’s eyelids twitched.
“Are you stupid?”
“What do you know?” Yun Juan muttered.
“Hm?” He raised an eyebrow.
Straightening up, Yun Juan smiled brightly.
“Since Father insists on putting me in charge of the household no matter what, I can’t keep acting as Madam Qin’s assistant forever. Between the inner estate, the shops, and the farms, there are endless matters to deal with. If she dumps everything on me, my days ahead will be miserable.”
She spoke calmly.
“If I’m going to take over eventually, then I intend to be the one with the final say.”
“So confident.” Xiao Lanting leaned against the desk. “Madam Qin has managed these affairs for decades.”
Yun Juan pursed her lips.
How could she possibly explain that, in reality, she and Madam Qin weren’t all that far apart in age?
She tugged lightly at Xiao Lanting’s sleeve.
“If I really can’t manage it… then you’ll have to put in a good word for me.”
“And what do I get in return?”
“We’re husband and wife! Husband and wife are one. How can you talk about benefits?”
As she spoke, she subtly scooted backward. Knowing Xiao Lanting, whatever “benefit” he had in mind was probably not an innocent one.
Before she could escape, he had already reached out and pinched her chin between his fingers.
“Then be a little more obedient in bed from now on, and I’ll help you.”
“I’m not obedient enough already?”
She already let him have his way with her most of the time. It wasn’t her fault that some positions were simply impossible for her!
Xiao Lanting loosened his collar, revealing the fading bite mark on his collarbone.
“Next time, no biting.”
His thumb slipped gently into Yun Juan’s mouth.
“You like biting people so much. Are you a puppy?”
Yun Juan immediately bit down on his finger with a fierce expression.
“I’m a sheep!”
“Heh.”
Chuckling, Xiao Lanting withdrew his finger.
“Close enough.”
Picking up a handkerchief from the table, he leisurely wiped his finger clean.
“There are too many accounts. You don’t have to do everything yourself. I’ll find a few people to help.”
“If other people do it, then it won’t be my ability they’re seeing. How could Father trust me with the household then?”
Yun Juan looked utterly confident.
“Don’t worry. These five ledgers are still manageable. Once I get the household tally tokens, I’ll delegate all the work back to Madam Qin and the accountants below. That should satisfy you, right?”
Xiao Lanting eyed her skeptically.
“You can really finish them?”
Yun Juan handed him one of the ledgers, crossed her legs, sat up straight, and made a grand sweeping gesture.
“Ask me anything.”
He casually flipped to a random page.
“Eighth day of the tenth month. Twin lotus—”
“‘One pair of twin-lotus hairpins, twenty taels of silver. One gilt butterfly fan, ten taels and eight mace…'”
Without hesitation, Yun Juan recited the contents of the page word for word.
A flicker of interest appeared in Xiao Lanting’s eyes. After asking about several more entries, he closed the ledger.
“You have a photographic memory.”
“It’s not that miraculous.” Yun Juan replied modestly. “I usually have to read something twice.”
Though she spoke humbly, her back unconsciously straightened, and her bright eyes fixed eagerly on Xiao Lanting, practically screaming, Praise me!
A dark glint passed through his eyes.
Lowering his gaze, he seemed lost in thought.
When the compliment she expected never came, Yun Juan drooped in disappointment.
“When will you finish these accounts?”
“Madam Qin gave me three days.”
“Three days from now, I’ll take you to a banquet.”
Curious, Yun Juan asked,
“What banquet? Is it hosted by one of the officials you’re close to? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I haven’t even prepared a gift.”
“Changfeng has already prepared the gift. It’s the birthday celebration of the Dowager Madam of the Zhonglu Earl’s Estate. Just accompany me to pay your respects.”
The moment Xiao Lanting finished speaking, Yun Juan froze.
The Zhonglu Earl’s Estate.
Her brows knitted together as countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
That night, after washing up, Yun Juan noticed Xiao Lanting still hadn’t returned. Carrying a lantern, she went to look for him in the front study.
He wasn’t reviewing official documents.
Instead, he sat by the open window, gazing silently at the night sky. Hearing her footsteps, his eyes drifted lazily toward her.
“You’re here.”
“It snowed last night. Don’t sit by the window—you’ll catch a chill.”
Setting the lantern down, she walked over and lowered the window support, closing the lattice window.
The room remained cold despite shutting out the wind. Yun Juan took the cloak hanging on the rack and draped it over Xiao Lanting’s shoulders.
Noticing the faint shadows beneath his eyes, she softened her voice.
“Have you been very tired lately?”
“Not really,” Xiao Lanting answered calmly.
He reached out, wrapped an arm around her waist, and rested his head gently against her lower abdomen, quietly breathing in her warmth.