Chapter 14

Chapter 14

◎Xun Rou◎

Li Cheng's wounds were almost fully healed, but he had to leave for the Huai River to train the navy immediately.

In the past, he could leave without a second thought, but now, gazing at Huiyin's sleeping face, he felt an unexpected twinge of reluctance. Huiyin preferred to keep the bed curtains drawn tightly when she slept, so she wouldn’t know whether it was day or night, allowing her to sleep soundly without any worries.

She sensed Li Cheng stir slightly and opened her eyes, letting out a small yawn. "You're leaving today, right?"

"Yes, after breakfast," Li Cheng said, gently touching her smooth cheek.

The previous day, they had visited Baolian Temple for a ceremony. Li Cheng had observed Huiyin’s dignified demeanor during their outing. When a little girl fell on the road, Huiyin personally got out of the carriage, lifted the child, and returned her to her parents. It was all very commendable.

However, there were far too many men who lingered to admire his wife’s beauty, including a young monk who blushed when he saw her.

As a result, Li Cheng was still uneasy. "Don't go out while I'm away. With constant battles happening, I’m worried that enemies might come looking for trouble."

It was a lie, but Huiyin didn’t catch it. Unfamiliar with Xuzhou, she nodded obediently. "Don’t worry, I’ll stay in the mansion and wait for you."

Li Cheng felt a flutter in his heart as Huiyin got up, raised three fingers, and swore innocently and obediently not to leave. "Huiyin..."

But Huiyin smiled and said, "A true man shouldn’t be overly emotional. When you return, we can spend time together as a couple."

She wore an emerald green bodice and a pale yellow undergarment, with her raven-black hair cascading over her shoulders. Unlike fragile women, she exuded a vibrant and robust beauty.

Li Cheng used all his willpower to control himself and stood up. Knowing he was leaving today, Huiyin had prepared a special beef noodle dish for him.

“This time, I used beef bone broth and added some of my best spices. The chili oil is from Jizhou—it looks spicy, but it’s actually fragrant and not too hot.”

As Li Cheng picked up his chopsticks to eat, he noticed Huiyin wasn’t eating. "Aren’t you joining me?"

“I’ll eat slowly after you’re gone. I’ve already checked with your personal guards about your travel gear and packed everything for you. I just want to spend a little more time with you. Who knows when we’ll see each other again?”

Li Cheng was deeply moved by her words and, before leaving, sternly instructed Manager Qiao, “I’m going to Huai and Si to train the navy. While I’m away, you must all obey the young princess. If I hear of any disrespect, I’ll come back and punish you myself.”

Manager Qiao and the others realized that the new princess must have won the young prince’s heart, or he wouldn’t have warned them so sternly.

After Li Cheng left, Huiyin’s expression remained calm and composed, showing no visible attachment. They hadn’t faced hardships or life-and-death situations together, so it was premature for her to pledge her life to him. If he were home, Huiyin could nurture their relationship, but since he was leaving so soon, she had to focus on managing the Huaiyin Mansion first.

When Nanny Fan received the letter confirming Miss Xun’s arrival, she knew her previous message had succeeded and felt relieved. If she had to scheme, it would only involve some subtle manipulation. These methods were useful, but unfortunately, Princess Zheng was favored and pregnant. When you’re in a favorable position, people don’t dare to challenge you directly.

Fortunately, Xun Rou was coming. Miss Xun was the Empress Dowager’s favorite and had been in charge of the entire Huaiyin Mansion in Jianye. The current staff had been handpicked and sent by her. Even He Guanshi’s daughter, who married two years ago, received generous rewards from Miss Xun. This girl had grown up in the mansion since the age of seven and shared a special bond with the young prince, having spent their childhood together.

Most importantly, she was highly capable. At the age of seven, when her father remarried, her stepmother reportedly treated her poorly, so she secretly stowed away in a carriage delivering gifts to the Prince of Wu’s mansion. At such a young age, she had shown remarkable determination. Initially, the wife of the Prince of Wu paid her no special attention, but when the wife later fell seriously ill, Xun Rou bled herself to copy scriptures, which deeply moved the wife of the Prince of Wu. With her arrival, things were sure to get interesting.

Huiyin was gradually organizing the Huaiyin Mansion, and now she was the legitimate head of the household. For those who defied or disobeyed her, she had Nanny Nan take notes.

“These people are hypocrites and will likely turn against me in the future. Keep an eye out for their mistakes. Here are fifty taels, Nanny. Only by uncovering their weaknesses can I truly understand them.”

**

It’s easy to twist the truth, but it’s hard to hide it completely.

Nanny Nan immediately bowed and replied, “Yes.”

Nanny Nan also had four main maids under her. Le Yun was skilled at reviewing accounts, so Huiyin had her examine the account books first, flagging any obvious discrepancies or falsified entries for Huiyin to review again. Fu Gui was responsible for overseeing the needlework and tea rooms. If any issues arose, they would be documented, and the responsible individuals would either be dismissed or reassigned.

Qiufeng and Dongshun each have their own duties.

The people in the prince's mansion had no idea that Huiyin was so thorough, almost to the point of drilling into every detail. They assumed she would just skim through things and not uncover anything significant.

About ten days after Li Cheng left, Yun Hui suddenly came in and said, "Young princess, Miss Xun's carriage has arrived."

"Miss Xun? Who is she?" Huiyin was somewhat puzzled.

She noticed Yun Hui's expression became slightly unnatural, as if she was preparing for an enemy, but she only said, "Miss Xun is the young prince's cousin, raised in the mansion since childhood."

So, they grew up together?

Could it be that Li Cheng's ideal match is her? Huiyin wondered, but she kept her expression calm and asked, "Did she come alone? Why would a young lady travel all the way from Jianye to Xuzhou?"

The roads aren't safe these days, and what brings her here now?

Yet Yun Hui shook her head, clearly unwilling to say too much.

Nanny Nan looked at Huiyin with concern, but Huiyin said, "Since she's already at the door, please bring her in. Yun Hui, you've been here for a long time; could you go and receive her for me?"

Yun Hui, however, hesitated unusually. "Young princess, it's not that I don't want to receive Miss Xun, but she didn't get along with me in Jianye, which is why I requested to come to Xuzhou."

"Oh, so there's history between you two. Then let Granny Chao go and welcome her. I'll see what Miss Xun wants," Huiyin said, her tone slightly displeased.

Yun Hui quickly went to invite her.

Nanny Nan said, "This Miss Xun seems quite difficult to deal with. From what I've observed these days, Yun Hui is meticulous and never oversteps."

"Nanny, you're a kind person, but not everyone is," Huiyin smiled.

Nanny Nan, however, replied, "You're being too suspicious."

It wasn't entirely Huiyin's fault. In the Zheng family, they were under the protection of Madame Ji. Their only concern was the occasional hostility from Elder Madame Xu. However, with Zheng Wuheng growing stronger and Pei Shuo's formidable presence, they had long since lost their influence.

They likely had no idea how treacherous the outside world could be.

A moment later, Granny Chao carefully escorted a young lady inside. She was dressed in a light purple gown, adorned with jade combs and gold flying swallow hairpins, creating an elegant balance of gold and jade. Even with her critical eye, Huiyin could see that this was a graceful and beautiful young lady.

The seemingly simple light purple dress shimmered with intricate patterns in the light. Clearly, Miss Xun was well-dressed and lived a comfortable life.

Granny Chao introduced, "Young princess, this is Miss Xun, the young prince's cousin."

"Cousin? Are you the daughter of the late princess?" Huiyin greeted her with a smile.

Granny Chao explained, "Miss Xun is the great-niece of our Empress Dowager and the daughter of the head of Shanglin Garden."

Xun Rou bowed and greeted, "Cousin-in-law."

"Cousin, no need to be so formal. I've just arrived, and the young prince has already left for Huai and Si to train the troops. I wasn't aware of your visit, so I apologize if I've neglected you. Please don't take it personally," Huiyin said, taking her hand and adding, "You're so beautiful—rare not just in Xuzhou, but even in Jizhou and the capital. Come, let's talk inside."

The two entered the inner room. Xun Rou noticed the calligraphy on the walls and the numerous books arranged in the main hall. The walls shouldn't be too plain, but they also don't need to be overly luxurious. Hanging calligraphy can sway in the wind, but when pasted on the wall, it creates a certain artistic ambiance. The corners of the parlor were painted with colorful flowers and lush trees, and birdcages hung from them, housing thrushes and parrots, adding a touch of elegance.

Xun Rou nodded to herself, "I came to Xuzhou with the Empress Dowager two years ago, and this place was just bare walls. Did you arrange all this, cousin?"

"Yes, since I'm staying here, I had to arrange it properly. Not just here, but even in my small study, I had wooden partitions installed and papered."

The two entered the inner room, and Huiyin had Nanny Nan bring a chair for Xun Rou to sit. She also had someone serve tea.

Xun Rou took a sip of the tea and then set it down, saying, "Cousin, you're probably curious about why I came."

"It's not that I'm curious about why you've come; I was just wondering what brings you all the way here to see the Little Prince. He’s out in Huai and Si for military training and likely won’t be back anytime soon, so it wouldn’t be convenient to disturb him about this." Madame Ji said this without a trace of emotion.

Xun Rou smiled and replied, “Don’t worry about it, sister-in-law. I’ve already written to my cousin. To be honest, I turned down the request multiple times, but the Empress Dowager insisted. She misses her grandson and remembered that I had helped manage the household at Huaiyin Mansion before, so she asked me to come and assist you."

Assistance? As they say, how can you let someone else sleep soundly right next to your own bed?

The household has always been under my management, so why would the Empress Dowager send someone else? However, given that the country is governed by principles of filial piety, even Madame Ji has to put up with snide remarks from elder Madame Xu, so what chance do I have?

With the Empress Dowager’s instructions, Madame Ji smiled and said, “In that case, I’m more than happy to have you here. To be honest, it’s been rather lonely here. Now that you’re here to keep me company, I’m genuinely happy. Nanny Nan, please have the kitchen prepare a fine feast. Let everyone know that the Empress Dowager specifically sent Miss Xun to help manage the household, so we mustn’t neglect her."

Xun Rou was taken aback, sensing that something wasn’t quite right about those words.