Chapter 38 – You Should Manage Your Own Wife

Chapter 38 - You Should Manage Your Own Wife

Wen Ruan quickly consolidated the resources of his farmland.

His own estate was already taken care of, having completed planting work that didn't require any changes. For the newly acquired Pan family and Sixth Prince's estates, he wouldn't touch the crops already planted, but for the unoccupied land, he was determined to make full use of it. Even the nearby land that could be cultivated was swiftly put to work with a wave of his hand.

Upon consolidating everything, he realized that the amount of land he could now cultivate was incredibly vast, stretching from the foot of the mountain up to its waist, and even further into a vast expanse!

In that case... Could I also experiment with my fruit trees and grafting?

Thoughts turned into action.

For others, suddenly needing so many saplings would be difficult to obtain immediately, especially those ready to bear fruit. But Wen Ruan had the trade routes of Lady Huo Erliang and an engaged prince as his fiancé. With enough connections and money, anything he wanted could be delivered instantly.

This feeling was incredibly satisfying. Wen Ruan blended in with the farmers in the fields, too busy to pay attention to his fiancé, the Sixth Prince.

The Sixth Prince seemed to adapt well, selecting a lush tree nearby and instructing Lan Tian to set up a table, chairs, and tea. He casually sat down, lazily tuning his lute.

Fragrant tea, tranquil joy, no other affairs.

Waiting for the wind, waiting for people to return.

Lan Tian, seeing the future princess consort working so hard in the fields while his master relaxed, felt a pang of conscience: "Your Highness... Should you go over to help?"

"Am I the kind of person who does such tasks?" Zhu Yan continued idly strumming the lute. "There is a time and place for everything. One must allow others to showcase their skills."

Lan Tian: ...

Alright, I understand. You just can't do it.

Zhu Yan was skilled in playing the lute, his style reflecting personal taste. The music was melodious yet sharp, blending tenderness into its clarity. Even if one couldn't understand it, they would certainly find it beautiful.

"Wow, is that the Sixth Prince? The young master's fiancé?"

"At first, I was a bit worried. How could a prince be so approachable, especially the Sixth Prince... Hmm, it seems like the Sixth Prince really likes the young master!"

"How could anyone not like the young master!"

"The young master will live happily ever after with the Sixth Prince, in love forever!"

"May your words come true; I'll strive for it."

Wen Ruan enjoyed the music, proving that fieldwork and refined elegance weren't mutually exclusive. Listening to the music made him happier, increasing his work speed!

The Sixth Prince...

Probably wishes for a pleasant cooperation.

"...The grafting I mentioned earlier isn't something done haphazardly. Different plants have different suitable times for grafting, occurring in spring, summer, or autumn. The most crucial part is choosing the right stock and scion..."

Wen Ruan's attention only wavered for a moment before returning: "When the fruits grow, they might combine the best qualities of both plants, becoming juicier, sweeter, and more delicious. However, there's also a chance they could become worse, hence the need for experimentation... You asked about flowers? That could also be tried. The variety you mentioned has a pure, fresh, and milky scent, perfect for perfumes..."

Turning around unexpectedly, he saw Li Yue'e.

Li Yue'e, upon hearing the news, quickly prepared a large pot of cooling tea to relieve the heat and brought it over. Seeing the young master imparting knowledge, she didn't want to leave and joined in to listen. Her eyes shone particularly bright when various flowers were discussed.

Noticing Wen Ruan looking at her, she felt awkward: "I should be going back..."

But Wen Ruan smiled at her: "You're skilled in cooking. Surely you have insights on seasoning dishes?"

Li Yue'e: "Well... yes?"

Even detailed recipes often left the exact amounts of ingredients vague, the word 'appropriate' enough to stump newcomers. Yet, talented cooks could measure the right quantities by eye and hand, ensuring consistent flavors. Such skill made their hands and eyes all the more remarkable.

Wen Ruan: "Would you like to try out my distillation equipment later?"

Li Yue'e widened her eyes: "Can I?"

She hadn't been at the estate for long, but nothing was kept from her. The young master was open and genuine, not hiding anything, even when making wine or fragrances. She knew her boundaries, quickly retreating when she accidentally glimpsed something and realized what was happening. Never did she expect the young master to... teach her?

Was she really allowed?

"There's no need to worry," Wen Ruan looked at her seriously. "I'm never afraid of teaching. My fear is that someone won't learn, lacking talent in that direction. No matter how hard they try, they might not reach the standard. If you wish to give it a try, come find me after you're done with your work. Don't worry about anything else. Just think carefully about whether you truly want to learn."

As long as she wanted to... she could? Was it that simple?

Li Yue'e's eyes welled up: "Young Master..."

Wen Ruan smiled: "Alright, back to work."

Unbeknownst to him, Luo Linchang had arrived. After exchanging ideas with Wen Ruan previously, he had a unique experience. Immediately afterward, he rushed to arrange his own affairs, re-planning all new cultivation projects. He even moved his experimental fields closer to Lai Feng Mountain to be nearer to Wen Ruan, ready to respond to any developments.

And here he was now!

Hearing this, he thought, besides farming, the young master also knows grafting? He's going to experiment on fruit trees again? With fruit trees today, there will be other varieties tomorrow. Why wait? He must join in!

With others, Wen Ruan simply imparted knowledge, but with Luo Linchang, it was a two-way discussion. He had a wealth of information, while Luo Linchang had more extensive farming experience and familiarity with the world's geography. Exchanging information only made their upcoming plans smoother.

The Sixth Prince's lute music abruptly stopped.

His youth was obedient and wonderful, too wonderful, always attracting others' covetous gazes.

He wished he could hide him away, but good things couldn't be concealed. They could only be seized, possessed, owned absolutely, so that outsiders couldn't shake his hold.

Wen Ruan noticed the music stopping much later, turning to see that the Sixth Prince was gone.

Nanxing: "It seemed like there was an urgent matter. I saw a messenger riding up to the Sixth Prince, whispering a few words in his ear. Then, the Sixth Prince left. Lan Tian came over to tell me not to disturb you, and if you ask, just say there's nothing major."

Wen Ruan hummed in acknowledgment: "Then let's continue."

Nanxing: "Aren't you really going to ask?"

"Nanxing," Wen Ruan's eyes curved into a gentle smile, "The Sixth Highness and I aren't yet a family."

Nanxing: ...

At the city gate, Fang Rui awaited the Sixth Prince: "Are we really going to... sneak into the Wu family quietly?"

Such... well, low-key approach, isn't it a bit like thieves and rogues?

Zhu Yan glanced at him, "Do I look like a good person?"

Fang Rui was resolute and decisive, "It's not like that."

Zhu Yan: "Are you a good person?"

"I am certain then..."

"Why haven't you moved yet?" Zhu Yan cut off Fang Rui's words, his sharp gaze slicing across.

Fang Rui: ...

Although gentlemen do not fuss over trifles, and others have done so many underhanded deeds, why can't they be a bit more flexible? But the Sixth Highness being so self-righteously bold is somewhat...

"Has Wu Fu from the Ministry of Justice offended Your Highness at some point?"

Zhu Yan: "I never seek personal vengeance."

Fang Rui: ...

Dare you speak louder, so everyone can judge?

Zhu Yan: "But he shouldn't have touched my fiancée."

Fiancée? Ah Ruan?

Fang Rui suddenly recalled, yes, the last time Wen Ruan fell gravely ill and fainted, it was because of Wu Fu from the Ministry of Justice! If it weren't for this Wu Fu detaining Chen Yongan first, dawdling and delaying, trying to protect officials and maintain the Pan family's interests, how could Wen Ruan have been dragged on for so long, exhausting his strength, ultimately falling sick from fatigue?

"Right, when dealing with scoundrels, why bother with methods!"

Fang Rui's aura flared up in an instant.

Zhu Yan lowered his eyes slightly, unexpectedly discovering an incidental benefit of their marriage – love, always the reason behind all sorts of incidents.

Fang Rui marched forward with a bold and aggressive stride: "I've been to the Wu residence before. It's different from the usual abode of a scholar-official. Years ago when Wu Fu was impoverished, he bought a house that wasn't big enough. He added many haphazard structures in between. Even after he became wealthy and purchased the neighboring houses for expansion, those messy additions remained untouched. It's quite annoying. If only I knew something about formations... Your Highness!"

"Don't you know someone who does? The one who fought me on Lai Peak last time? Quickly, introduce me to him!"

Zhu Yan lifted his eyelids slightly, giving Fang Rui a sidelong glance. "Do you want me to settle accounts with you?"

Fang Rui: ...

"I've already said I wasn't lying or late; that day, I really did shield you from the masked man... Forget it, I'll get to work! What kind of officials does this court have? All they know is corruption, no ambition!"

Wen Ruan was rather busy for the first half of the day, arranging numerous tasks, but as for the latter half...

The comprehensive planning had been completed, and he delegated tasks according to categories. Although there were vast fields and plenty of manpower, it wasn't necessary for him to micromanage everything. He only needed to monitor progress in real-time, carefully understanding the current situation and any issues, just like how Sizhou was being managed efficiently.

A mature division of labor mechanism would operate on its own. If he were to force himself into the process, it would instead cause everyone to focus on him, asking questions and engaging in discussions, leading to a decrease in efficiency.

So when he received a new message saying that there was an issue with Young Master Huo, he decided to return to the city to take a look himself.

The Huo family's shop was particularly lively today, but not in the way that business was booming. A large crowd had gathered outside, as the entrance was blocked by the official yamen. The officers stood sternly, while the common folk came over to watch the spectacle. The sounds of knocking on doors mixed with whispers and animated expressions, truly making for quite a scene.

Huo Xuning was currently in his own shop, unfortunately caught off guard and not paying attention to his surroundings, now trapped here unable to leave.

Seeing Wen Ruan sneak in through the back door, he suddenly stood up: "Why are you here? Is this a place you should be coming to?"

Wen Ruan leisurely sat down at the table: "Doesn't the shop have a share of my profits? Why can't I come?"

Young Master Huo: ...

"I can handle my own affairs!"

Worried that Wen Ruan might be implicated, with so many people outside, what if some careless soul pushed or trampled him? He had plenty of ways to resolve the current predicament, it just required time. Any response needed time, and he had to stall here for a bit.

Wen Ruan: "Don't I also have a backer?"

He was referring to the Sixth Highness. With his status as a prince and a temper that others dared not provoke, why wouldn't he use such an advantage?

"You call that having someone to rely on—"

Young Master Huo gritted his teeth, "I haven't asked you yet, are you serious? Do you genuinely like His Highness the Sixth Prince? This is a matter of marriage; have you thought it through?"

Wen Ruan: "My affairs, I can handle them myself."

Young Master Huo: ...

In truth, Wen Ruan's decision wasn't hasty or forced upon him. He had seriously considered it. He didn't like women and didn't want to burden any young lady. However, the Duke's Mansion would never let him go, and they would certainly use his marriage to control him. While he could resist, once, twice, three times... there are those who can steal for a thousand days, but who can guard against a thief for a thousand days? If he slipped up just once and failed to defend himself, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He did not harbor any ill feelings towards the Sixth Prince. Through their several encounters, he sensed that the prince's character was indeed somewhat eccentric, but it was far from the vile depiction others often portrayed. The Sixth Prince harbored no ill intentions towards him; thus, he ought not to indulge in undue speculation and unfounded assumptions.

Furthermore, he also bears the threat of assassination; perhaps with the Sixth Prince as his formidable ally, others might exercise some restraint...

His intentions were not pure.

Fortunately, this was never a pure marriage contract to begin with, and it had an expiration date.

Should any unexpected incident occur during the course of the marriage... what loss would he truly incur?

Money? He didn't have much in savings. Freedom? In this era, freedom was always relative. His life? He had already died once; the first time is the hardest. Things he wanted to do? This was indeed something he wanted to try with all his might, but if he didn't do it, only the people here would suffer, not himself.

So what was there to fear?

Still, as he often said, everyone's life would have its share of unexpected setbacks. When they came, one simply had to find ways to solve them. Relationships between people were no different. Everyone had things they cared about, and the Sixth Prince was no exception. As long as he could see through it and understand... he wasn't without bargaining chips.

Wen Ruan looked earnestly at Young Master Huo. "I thought that after knowing each other for so many years, you should understand me."

Young Master Huo: ...

He did understand.

If Wen Ruan were truly naive and simple-minded, with so many ingenious ideas in his head and so many unknown money-making methods in his hands, he would have been tricked and locked away by unscrupulous merchants long ago, forced to bleed every day... Not everyone in their Huo family was good.

But A'ruan was doing well now. Instead, all the merchants who wanted to make money came running to him, begging to befriend him, even forming an unwritten rule that no one was allowed to speak ill before the young master, lest they upset him!

Not caring about money, not being overly concerned with making profits, not being too attached to land ownership, focusing solely on crops and food, wanting to grow more grain, develop better seeds, and ensure that everyone in the world could have enough to eat...

Wen Ruan had subdued everyone with his gentle demeanor like a breeze over the mountains, earning their respect and admiration, and none dared to slight him.

He was willing to embrace everything in life, the good and the bad, and had the courage to face and resolve all unexpected events.

Young Master Huo stopped asking questions and instead asked, somewhat resentfully, "Why the Sixth Prince?"

Wen Ruan: "He's handsome."

Young Master Huo: ...

Wen Ruan: "He looks good in any clothes, playing the pipa is beautiful, and he even has a pretty black dog."

Young Master Huo: ...

"So you're into the Sixth Prince..."

"Trust me, okay?" Wen Ruan didn't answer directly, only smiling at Young Master Huo. "After knowing each other for so many years, have I ever done anything to worry you?"

Young Master Huo looked at him pensively. "Not really."

Wen Ruan: ...

"If something really happens, I'll send you a message, and you'll help me escape? Uh, you won't refuse when I come looking for you, right?"

"How could I!" Young Master Huo glared at him.

Wen Ruan shrugged. "So, the world is vast. Your friends and my friends won't fail to save me or find a place to hide me."

Young Master Huo: "That's true."

Looking at Wen Ruan for a moment, he suddenly felt reassured. Let the young master enjoy whatever he liked, what was wrong with a prince? It wasn't as if they couldn't handle it... Well, maybe it wasn't that simple either.

Wen Ruan looked outside. "What's going on out there?"

Young Master Huo rolled his eyes and slumped back in his chair, losing his composure. "We've been targeted again. You'd think it was the capital, where business connections are wide. That Wu Fu from the Ministry of Justice personally came today, saying that I ruined the livelihoods of the weavers, forcing these poor girls to drown themselves. He wants to shut down my shop and destroy my looms... Bullshit! A corrupt official with no vision or integrity, what does he know!"

He sipped his tea listlessly. "Remember those looms? You spent so much effort improving them, barely leaving your room for a month, hardly eating or sleeping. After the looms were finally made, you fell sick... You and my grandfather repeatedly told me that this was crucial for the people's livelihood, that we couldn't just focus on our own profits but had to consider the well-being of the common folk and the weavers. That's why we established those favorable contracts for the weavers, ensuring a steady income. Our family has lived up to your expectations, A'ruan, and to the weavers of Jiang Nan. We came to the capital full of enthusiasm, ready to address any issues properly. These people clearly understand, yet they have no conscience, trying to pin everything on us, wanting us to back down and swallow our losses. They're dreaming!"

"–This official, Wu Fu of the Ministry of Justice, hereby summons the owner of the Huo family shop to respond to the charges. The people's livelihood is fundamental to the nation and cannot be shaken. You must provide a proper explanation. If innocent, this official will not pursue the matter. But if you cannot produce evidence and continue to evade, don't blame this official for following the law!"

Wu Fu shouted loudly, ensuring that everyone in the shop and the surrounding citizens understood the reason for his visit.

"The weavers may be lowly and ignorant, easily swayed, but they shouldn't be trampled upon like this –"

Wu Fu, as an official with supposed evidence, stood on the moral high ground, speaking words that no one dared to oppose. But that was for ordinary people. Someone passing by couldn't stand it.

"What did you say about the weavers? How are they lowly and ignorant? Why assume they were led astray by temptation? Were you not born of a woman, to look down on women like this?"

It was none other than Meng Weiyi, the Censor-in-Chief.

The old man came from humble beginnings, orphaned in his youth. His mother, a weaver, worked tirelessly, weaving cloth after cloth to raise him, educate him, and see him succeed, only to pass away due to her early health problems before she could enjoy any benefits of his success.

The regret of not being able to repay his mother was Meng Weiyi's lifelong pain, a wound that could never be touched.

As a lone official, he dared to criticize anyone in the court, including princes. Why would he fear a mere official from the Ministry of Justice?

He charged forward immediately.

"Weavers earn their living by weaving cloth, not slaves, and are no less than anyone else. How can they be considered lowly? A dignified court official spouting nonsense, trying to demean whom? Mislead whom!"

Meng Weiyi's finger nearly touched Wu Fu's face, almost in a gesture of reprimand. "Men till the soil, women weave the cloth; such has been the order of things. Weaving is an honorable craft. How dare you deem it a menial occupation? Indeed, I may have overestimated you, Wu, a noble of high rank. Perhaps you are utterly unaware of the toil of the fields and the labor of tilling the land. Have you ever witnessed it with your own eyes? Without firsthand experience, how can you comprehend the plight of the weavers and dismiss them with mere words?"

"I see that you not only lack understanding of reputation and commerce but also the grand strategies of the court. Wait and see, I will impeach you!"

Wu Fu, proud and arrogant, wouldn't stand still to be scolded. Of course, he would retaliate. Meng Weiyi had never lost an argument, and he relished the challenge...

Thus, two officials of the court began arguing in the street.

In front of the Huo family shop, in front of all the citizens.

News spread quickly.

At the Second Prince's residence, Zhu Bin jumped up. "How did it escalate again!"

Although Meng Weiyi had a fiery temper and Wu Fu was no saint, he hadn't even had the chance to extend an olive branch to the former before the latter acted out. What was the Third Prince doing, couldn't he control his subordinates!

No, wait, this was happening at the entrance of the Huo family shop. His men reported that the young master of the Duke Wen's mansion had arrived...

Could it be that person stirring up trouble again!

Where was the Sixth Prince, why wasn't he coming to manage his wife!

At the Third Prince's residence, Zhu Fu also smashed a teacup: "How could it be so coincidental that when Wu Fu was handling matters, Meng Weiyi just happened to pass by? He's an old man with only an elderly wife at home and not much money. How could he have wandered into such an expensive and bustling market street and just happened to overhear Wu Fu's words?"

It was hard for him not to think of a conspiracy, but after ruling out his good elder brother, he couldn't think of any other direction. Upon hearing the details, well, Wen Ruan was involved again.

Could this be the work of the Sixth Prince?

Was the Sixth Prince still harboring resentment over Wen Ruan fainting from illness in Wu Fu's official hall?

The Sixth Prince was a heartless person. Twelve years ago, he didn't even cry at the late Crown Prince's grave. Now, it was even less likely for him to develop feelings for another man. But what belonged to him, he never liked others to touch...

Then why didn't he go and manage his own wife!

"Is this useful?"

In Wu Fu's residence, Fang Rui was also rummaging through things intensely, cursing as he did so: "I, the noble Marquis' son, you make me act like a thief. Doesn't your conscience hurt!"

Zhu Yan calmly replied: "Are your acts of thievery few?"

Fang Rui: ...

He instantly recalled his mischievous deeds from his youth, stealing his grandfather's wine, stealing the wooden doll his father carved for his mother, secretly putting caterpillars in his mother's makeup box...

All these messy things, the Sixth Prince knew about them all!

Zhu Yan: "Last time with the granary—"

Fang Rui: "Wasn't that because you made me do it!"

Zhu Yan: "I could have sent you to the border."

Fang Rui: ...

"Alright, alright, alright, I'll kowtow to you on behalf of my grandfather, Your Highness!" While working, he muttered to himself, "Clearly, you were playing with me, beating me up until I screamed. When I went to the border, my grandfather saw how badly I was beaten. With a casual question, his expression changed, forcing me to tell him how Your Highness beat me... The next day, he picked up his weapons, utterly defeating the Northern Di. Clearly, I had contributed to the victory, but my grandfather scolded me for causing trouble and chased me back. It was only after the Northern Di's defeat that news spread out. They wanted to open mutual trade markets, and now we're looking at being busy again..."

"Hiss, something's not right... Your Highness, did my grandfather know of your abilities and do this on purpose? But my grandfather hasn't seen you often, he doesn't—"

Zhu Yan: "Hasn't he seen you often?"

And Fang Rui, stubbornly fighting against the Sixth Prince whom he couldn't defeat, getting tricked every time but never giving up...

"You can avoid me if you want." Zhu Yan kindly reminded him.

"You're finally afraid of losing, aren't you!" There was no way Fang Rui wouldn't challenge him. As long as he hadn't won once, he would never give up. "Watch this move!"

He started the cycle of repeated defeats and battles again.

Zhu Yan wasn't angry, letting him cause a commotion. Clearly, Fang Rui came from a family with deep roots in martial arts, and his skills weren't low. Yet in Zhu Yan's hands, he was easily handled, and Zhu Yan could even point out Fang Rui's weaknesses, helping him improve.

"Aaaaah, I'm going all out against you—" Fang Rui was furious.

Lan Tian entered at this opportune moment, his expression grave.

Zhu Yan had already obtained what he wanted and was preparing to leave: "What's wrong?"

Lan Tian: "Something happened with the young master."

"What? Who bullied Ah Ruan again! Did they pull out his seedlings or bully him because he has no one to back him up? What do they take me, Marquis Fang, for!"

Fang Rui immediately got fired up, grabbing his weapons and ready to jump over the wall to rush outside.

Lan Tian: ...

Would you wait a moment?

His Highness's eyes were practically murderous.