Xu Jinzhi moved back into the Main Courtyard only after Wen Yunyi’s health had fully stabilized.
After her miscarriage, the Imperial Physician had ordered strict rest. Everything in her room and daily routine needed careful attention, so Xu Jinzhi had been staying in his study all along. On one hand, it was to avoid disturbing her recovery; on the other, their relationship during that period had already been strained, and living apart at least spared them mutual discomfort. Now that her qi and blood had gradually recovered and her daily life had returned to normal, requiring only routine nourishment, Xu Jinzhi naturally moved back into the Main Courtyard.
To outsiders, it looked like the heir returning to his wife’s quarters—a proper couple reuniting under one roof.
But inside the room, it was not entirely warm.
At night they still shared the bed, and in the morning they could still hear each other moving. Yet they spoke little. They were no longer as sharply opposed as before, but neither had they reached any intimacy. It felt more like a thin wall between them—neither side had deliberately touched it, but both knew it was still there.
On this day, before the sky had fully brightened, Xu Jinzhi had already gotten up.
When Wen Yunyi opened her eyes, pale morning light was already filtering through the bed curtains. She propped herself up against the pillow and heard Bai Lan and Qing Tao speaking in lowered voices outside.
“Madam sent someone early this morning.”
“They said the young madam is to go and review this month’s household allowance ledgers.”
At this, Wen Yunyi’s eyes cleared instantly.
The day before, she had just received several account books from the Duchess. Now, she was being called again to review allocations first thing in the morning. It was clearly not a casual errand—it meant the Duchess truly intended to let her gradually take over inner-household affairs.
She got out of bed just as Xu Jinzhi came out from behind the screen, already dressed in regular attire.
Their eyes met first. Xu Jinzhi spoke before she did.
“Mother is calling you over?”
“Yes.” Wen Yunyi let Bai Lan drape an outer garment over her, her voice steady. “It’s probably still about yesterday’s ledgers.”
Xu Jinzhi looked at her. His tone was not heavy. “You’ve only just started handling these. If you’re unsure, you don’t need to force yourself.”
It did not sound like deep concern—more like a measured reminder.
Wen Yunyi understood. “I know.”
Xu Jinzhi nodded and left first.
After he was gone, Qing Tao fastened the last button on Wen Yunyi’s robe and whispered, “The heir has been returning to the Main Courtyard every night these days.”
Bai Lan lightly scolded her, “Is that something you should be discussing?”
Qing Tao stuck out her tongue and did not dare speak further.
Wen Yunyi said nothing, only adjusted her hair in the mirror.
She understood better than anyone that Xu Jinzhi moving back was not about rekindled affection. It was because her body had recovered, and by status and propriety, he was supposed to return.
In noble households, rules always came before feelings.
If she could not even distinguish that clearly, she would have lived this life in vain.
After breakfast, Wen Yunyi went to the Duchess’s courtyard.
This time, the courtyard was not as crowded as before. Only two close maidservants and an older female servant from the Storehouse remained in the outer room.
The one lifting the curtain was Guiqiong.
She was not particularly striking in appearance, but she carried herself with calm steadiness. Her hair was neatly arranged without a single strand out of place. When she saw Wen Yunyi, she simply stepped forward quietly and said softly, “The young madam has arrived. Madam is waiting inside.”
She then lifted the curtain aside without another unnecessary word.
On the other side of the room stood Danzhi. She had a slender neck, fair skin, and wore a rose-colored vest. She looked refined, but her movements were more agile than Guiqiong’s. When Wen Yunyi entered, she had already straightened the two account books on the small table and smiled as she stepped aside half a pace.
“Madam just said that if the young madam didn’t come soon, these ledgers would make her lose her temper.”
Her tone was brisk and lively, easing the atmosphere in the room.
Wen Yunyi nodded slightly to both of them before stepping forward to greet the Duchess.
The Duchess was seated on a couch, flipping through a ledger. Seeing her arrive, she pointed to the seat beside her.
“Sit here.”
Wen Yunyi complied.
The Duchess did not waste words and directly handed her the ledger.
“Yesterday you said that mixing old and new systems easily allows the Main Courtyard’s authority to be used to fill gaps elsewhere. Today I’ve had them sort out all the spring allowances for each courtyard. Take a look—according to your thinking, how should these be distributed?”
This was no longer a test.
It was direct delegation.
Wen Yunyi took the ledger and lowered her head to examine it.
At a glance, she immediately saw the issue.
Spring allowances included charcoal, soup ingredients, fine cotton, and seasonal fruit. Individually, none of the amounts were large, but the distribution was inconsistent. The young ladies’ courtyard followed unmarried daughters’ standards. Listening Rain Pavilion had an additional line labeled “for health recovery.” The Main Courtyard, on the surface, received sufficient amounts, but two entries had been split into fragments—clearly designed to obscure proportions.
Such arrangements were precisely where subordinates could easily manipulate accounts.
The Duchess watched her silently, not interrupting.
After a moment, Wen Yunyi closed the ledger gently.
“This allowance list cannot be handled this way.”
The Duchess lifted her gaze. “How so?”
Wen Yunyi reopened the ledger and pointed to several lines.
“Courtyards for young ladies, concubines, and the Main Courtyard should each follow their own standards. The additional allocation for Listening Rain Pavilion should be recorded separately. If it is for Concubine Jiang’s recovery, it must be clearly labeled as such. Otherwise, it will look as though she is entitled to extra allowances by default.”
She paused, then pointed to the Main Courtyard entries.
“As for the Main Courtyard, splitting items like this creates confusion. It may look complete on paper, but in reality, it allows subordinates to exploit ambiguity. If things are not clearly visible, people will always find ways to deceive.”
Her tone was calm, but every word struck the core.
The Duchess’s expression remained unchanged, but the scrutiny in her eyes softened slightly.
She had not expected Wen Yunyi not only to understand accounts, but also to see through the subtle manipulations hidden in household allocations. This was not mere intelligence—it was awareness of her role.
After a pause, the Duchess asked, “Then what would you change?”
Wen Yunyi answered steadily.
“Separate Concubine Jiang’s allocation into its own entry. Mark it clearly as Madam’s personal consideration for her recovery. That way, no one can question it. Miss Mingshu should follow standard rules. If there is to be additional allocation, it should be openly listed, not concealed.”
Then she pointed again at the Main Courtyard.
“The Main Courtyard should be handled strictly according to Main Courtyard standards—each item clearly listed, not fragmented or ambiguous. If even the Main Courtyard becomes unclear, subordinates will assume they can blur every other account as well.”
The room fell silent.
After a long moment, the Duchess said, “You’re starting to sound more and more capable.”
It was not loud praise, but it was approval.
Wen Yunyi lowered her eyes slightly. “Daughter-in-law does not dare to claim credit.”
The Duchess gave a soft snort, but did not press further. Instead, she said, “Bring the box closer.”
Danzhi immediately stepped forward and pushed a purple sandalwood box to the table. Guiqiong silently gathered the scattered ledgers to one side.
Only then did Wen Yunyi see what was inside.
Several small authority tokens lay neatly arranged.
The Duchess picked one up and placed it in front of her.
“This is a Storehouse entry token. You will hold it for now. For the next month, you will oversee Storehouse entries and spring allowances for each courtyard. If you manage it well, we will discuss further responsibilities.”
It was not full authority.
But it was real power.
Wen Yunyi did not immediately reach for it. After a brief pause, she took it.
The token was not heavy, but its edges were worn smooth from years of use.
The Duchess looked at her. “Do not underestimate it. In the inner household, the smallest token often tests people the most. Those older female servants will not necessarily respect you. If you cannot hold your ground, this will be nothing more than a piece of wood in your hand.”
Wen Yunyi met her gaze. “I understand.”
The Duchess’s satisfaction deepened slightly.
When Wen Yunyi left the courtyard, it was nearly noon. The sunlight had grown warmer, casting a soft glow across the ground.
Bai Lan glanced at the token in her hand and smiled faintly. “Madam has truly entrusted you with responsibilities now.”
Wen Yunyi looked down at it. “Only one small step. There is no need to rush.”
When she returned to the Main Courtyard, Xu Jinzhi was already there.
He had returned early from outside duties and was reviewing documents in the main room. When he saw her enter, his gaze fell first on what she held, and he paused slightly.
“Mother gave you an authority token?”
His tone was even, but clearly not a casual question.
“Yes.” Wen Yunyi placed the token on the desk. “Only a small one for Storehouse allocations. I will test it first.”
Xu Jinzhi studied her for a moment before saying quietly, “If Mother is willing to give you this first, it means she truly intends for you to start taking over responsibilities.”
He paused, then added, slightly slower, “When you were at home… did you often handle such things?”
Wen Yunyi froze slightly, not expecting the question.
After a moment, she replied, “My father did not allow me to interfere in external affairs, but inner household accounts, allowances, and records were all things I was made to learn from a young age. In his view, reading and managing accounts were the same. Not for show—just things one should know.”
The room fell quiet.
Xu Jinzhi looked at her, and for a brief moment, he recalled those early days of marriage when she had spoken about poetry and spring rain beneath lamplight. Back then, she had been sharp but not unpleasant—bright, intelligent, alive.
At that time, he had truly believed they could speak to each other.
Somehow, that ability had been buried under later conflict.
He did not respond immediately.
Wen Yunyi did not press him either. Instead, she simply asked, “Will you have lunch in the Main Courtyard?”
Xu Jinzhi returned to himself and replied, “Yes.”
The words were ordinary.
Yet in that moment, they carried a faint sense of continuity—like life itself was finally moving forward again.
Wen Yunyi gave no further comment and simply instructed Bai Lan to have the kitchen prepare lighter dishes.
At the very least, for now, she was no longer confined to this one courtyard.