Yun Shuyao received a reply from her natal family. The letter said they were all doing well, her father’s injuries were looking optimistic according to the physician, and her two younger brothers had become more steady and sensible… Yun Shuyao’s heart settled, and she practiced calligraphy on paper, stroke by stroke.

Aside from their wedding night, Lin Ruhai had not come again. However, this didn’t necessarily mean anything, because after he had sent jewelry to both her and Jia Min, he became busy and stayed continuously in the outer study, no longer entering the inner courtyard. Concubine Mei was quite disappointed by this.

She had noticed, you see—she had made quite a few preparations, but then the master became too busy, leaving all her preparations suspended.

With the master busy and Jia Min only focused on preparing delicious food for him in the study, she had no mind for other matters. Yun Shuyao had plenty of time, and she figured out what she should do.

Besides cultivation and needlework, she planned to practice her soft, weak calligraphy.

Brush calligraphy was a skill she hadn’t possessed before.

Coming here, with the original owner’s memories, she could now be considered capable of it. However, the original owner hadn’t formally studied for examinations either. She could read and write, but because she had practiced little, her writing wasn’t particularly good—one could only say it was barely neat.

Now with plenty of time, cultivation and needlework were necessary tasks, so practicing calligraphy became a hobby.

She also taught Hong Xiu and her two companions to recognize characters.

Learning to read had no disadvantages.

When she first wrote their three names on paper and gave them the papers, Yun Shuyao saw that Hong Tao, the youngest, had tears welling in her eyes: “This is Hong Tao’s name? So this is my name! Thank you, Concubine. I will definitely learn!”

This day, she was practicing calligraphy. Just as she was absorbed in her work and had finished writing a page, she looked up and suddenly saw someone at the door, which startled her.

At such close distance, she hadn’t even noticed.

In this peaceful era, her vigilance had decreased.

The person who came was Lin Ruhai.

“Greetings, Master. Has Master been here long?”

Then she looked at Hong Xiu: “Hong Xiu, why didn’t you call me?”

Lin Ruhai waved his hand: “I told her not to disturb you.”

He walked closer to look at the characters Yun Shuyao had written.

The writing was mediocre, but from the characters themselves, one could see that she had written very earnestly.

This attitude was worthy of affirmation.

As for the content she was practicing, it was quite simple—the most basic Three Character Classic.

Hong Xiu could move now and immediately went to prepare tea for the master. But the tea leaves in Lanxin Courtyard couldn’t be called good. Yun Shuyao asked Lin Ruhai, “Master, would you like to try flower tea? My mother specially picked flowers earlier and dried them to make this.”

Lin Ruhai, accustomed to good tea, would likely set aside and ignore the tea leaves here. But flower tea was different—it wouldn’t be too bad and he could taste something fresh.

Without thinking, Lin Ruhai knew there was no good tea in Lanxin Courtyard, and he didn’t want to drink it. He nodded, and Hong Xiu immediately went to prepare.

Lin Ruhai: “What calligraphy model are you practicing?”

Yun Shuyao: “I don’t have a model. I just want to write more neatly.”

She didn’t have any in her dowry, and she didn’t want to buy one.

Her bright eyes looked at Lin Ruhai: “I heard that Master’s calligraphy is excellent. I wonder if Master could give me some of your past writings?”

Lin Ruhai was a Third Place Scholar. His calligraphy was definitely qualified.

At this time, there was also a saying that seeing one’s writing was like seeing the person.

During examinations, if the writing was poor, the examiner might not have the mood to continue reading. Therefore, every candidate practiced excellent calligraphy.

Rather than spending money to buy mediocre calligraphy models, it was better to directly request the calligraphy treasures of Scholar Lin.

Lin Ruhai moved his eyebrows slightly, and a hint of smile appeared on his refined and elegant face: “Who said so?”

Yun Shuyao: “My elder brother said so.”

Lin Ruhai neither confirmed nor denied it. “I’ll have someone send it to you later.”

Yun Shuyao smiled and performed a courtesy: “Thank you, Master.”

The flower tea was ready.

Lin Ruhai took a sip.

It was sweet.

Lightly sweet.

And fragrant with flowers.

Lin Ruhai put it down.

Indeed, it was something women would like.

Yun Shuyao thought for a moment and actively initiated conversation: “Has Master finished the matters that kept you busy before?”

He could return to the residence before dark today, so he must not be busy now.

Previously, when he returned, he would go directly to the outer study to rest, not entering the inner courtyard.

Lin Ruhai’s gaze lingered on Yun Shuyao for a moment, but then he looked away.

Yun Shuyao noticed.

This reaction—was it related to her?

Yun Shuyao quickly thought of a person: Wu Peng.

The smile on her face deepened: “Master, what would you like to eat tonight? I’ll have someone tell the kitchen.”

Lin Ruhai was a capable person.

Yun Shuyao didn’t know exactly what his official position was, only that it was a high position. To become a high official, his abilities wouldn’t be lacking.

He hadn’t been in office as the prefect of Xingtai Prefecture for long, and the previous prefect was said to be mediocre. As long as nothing major happened, he just indulged himself in pleasure and excess.

Now that Lin Ruhai had taken office, would he continue his predecessor’s style?

Especially when there were people like Wu Peng almost brazenly arrogant under his jurisdiction.

Yun Shuyao indicated she was very much looking forward to it.

Lin Ruhai saw how her eyes lit up when she mentioned food, and remembering how she had a hearty appetite on their wedding day, his smile deepened, causing Yun Shuyao to stare involuntarily.

She had seen all kinds of glamorous celebrities in modern times, but this person—even under the Qing Dynasty hairstyle that severely tested one’s looks, even among all those brilliant stars, he would be in the top tier.

Indeed, handsome men are still the most handsome even with shaved heads.

Lin Ruhai sat down in a pleasant mood: “What do you want to eat?”

To say he didn’t value food and drink… that would definitely be false.

If he didn’t value food and drink, he wouldn’t have brought both of his trusted cooks with him.

Yun Shuyao’s eyes sparkled: “I heard that Cook Miao makes excellent pastries, and Cook Fang is skilled at Suzhou cuisine.”

Lin Ruhai looked at her deeply: “Were you like this at the Yun family too?”

A refined lady, so happy talking about food—did the Yun family raise daughters differently from other families?

Yun Shuyao was very forthright: “At home, I mostly ate home-cooked meals. My mother’s cooking skills are excellent. Under her hand, even home-cooked food becomes delicious delicacies. I love to eat.”

Her taste was varied. As long as it was delicious, she loved eating it.

Whether sweet, salty, spicy, or mild, she could handle it all.

Especially after going through the apocalypse, being able to eat one’s fill brought great happiness.

Yun Shuyao ordered several dishes beyond her usual allowance. When Hong Xiu and Hong Yi brought all the dishes to the table, it was a full table.

Many substantial dishes.

For example, braised pork, roasted chicken, steamed meat, squab, and various other dishes with elegant names.

Yun Shuyao especially liked that steamed pork dish.

Extremely smooth, the surface layer melted in the mouth, but biting into the inside released elasticity and meat juices. She ate one piece after another, unable to stop.

Don’t speak while eating or sleeping.

But just watching Yun Shi’s expression, Lin Ruhai seemed to hear her continuously saying “delicious, delicious.”

Her dining etiquette wasn’t unsightly—she had clearly learned proper manners. Her speed wasn’t very fast either, not making people think of a starving person pouncing on food like a hungry tiger. But the final result… could indeed be described as a hungry tiger pouncing on food.

Before he knew it, Lin Ruhai had eaten too much again.

When he put down his chopsticks, Yun Shi also put down her chopsticks. At this point, the table was basically empty plates, most of which Yun Shi had finished.

Lin Ruhai: “…”

Dining with Yun Shi always brought such novel experiences.

No matter how many times he witnessed it, Lin Ruhai found it miraculous that Yun Shi’s flat little abdomen could accommodate all this food.

Yun Shuyao contentedly drank the last sip of soup: “After meals, take a walk, and you’ll live to ninety-nine. Master, shall we go for a stroll?”

Lin Ruhai immediately stood up, silently expressing his agreement.

The two walked around Lanxin Courtyard. While circling, Yun Shuyao witnessed how learned this erudite Third Place Scholar was.

There wasn’t a single flower or plant in Lanxin Courtyard that he didn’t recognize.

Yun Shuyao’s knowledge of plant varieties was limited. After his introduction, she remembered most of them.

When Lin Ruhai saw the same varieties again and was about to speak, he heard Yun Shi continue on her own. His curiosity piqued, he consecutively pointed to several orchids: “Do you still remember these?”

“This is Cymbidium orchid. The leaves are slender and long. After blooming, the petals are large, and the flower colors are diverse.”

“This is Cold orchid…”

“This is Ink orchid…”

Lin Ruhai couldn’t help but look at her with new eyes.

Yun Shi’s memory was quite good.

He had only said it once, and she had remembered everything.

Yun Shuyao: “Master, I heard these orchids were all collected by the previous owner?”

Lin Ruhai nodded.

The Lin residence wasn’t an official residence, but a wealthy merchant’s mansion that Lin Ruhai had arranged to purchase here in advance.

This wealthy merchant had scholar credentials. If not for a facial injury, he had originally planned to continue with the imperial examinations. He was someone who loved poetry and books. With no lack of money at home, he spent considerable effort arranging his home to its current state.

When Lin Ruhai first arrived here, he was very satisfied.

“You may have heard—his family runs a grain business, Pan’s Grain Store.”

Yun Shuyao had indeed heard: “There’s a Pan’s Grain Store near the Yun family. When my mother buys grain, she mostly goes to Pan’s. The prices are more reasonable, the grain quality is better, with less old stock.”

…

While chatting and walking in circles, after digesting their food, they returned to the room. Tonight, Lin Ruhai naturally stayed.

Compared to the first time, today’s experience was much better. Yun Shuyao also dared to “boldly” respond actively.

Lin Ruhai was satisfied. Yun Shuyao was also satisfied.

Everyone was happy.

The next day, when going to pay respects, Jia Min gave Yun Shuyao an extra look.

During these busy days, as soon as the master returned, he went to Lanxin Courtyard… Well, Yun Shi had just entered the household, so it was the time of novelty.

She suppressed the sourness in her heart. On the surface, she remained the dignified principal wife treating concubines.

Concubine Mei was more blatant. Yun Shuyao noticed several large eye-rolls full of sourness.

Jia Min didn’t make things difficult. Once they left Bitao Courtyard, Concubine Mei flicked her sleeve and left. Not long after returning to Lanxin Courtyard, a servant from Lin Ruhai’s side came carrying a box.

Inside was a book of regular script that Lin Ruhai had selected.

Yun Shuyao also practiced regular script.

But compared to her regular script that could only be called barely neat, Lin Ruhai’s book of regular script was completely different.

Yun Shuyao couldn’t provide expert commentary, but could offer the most intuitive description: beautiful, orderly, flowing like clouds and water.

Looking at such calligraphy even improved one’s mood.

Besides this calligraphy model, Lin Ruhai had also sent a canister of tea leaves, a tea set, and a complete set of the four treasures of the study.

At the bottom, there was also a recipe book.

When Yun Shuyao saw this recipe book: ???

Did he have some misunderstanding about her?

She loved to eat, true, but her cooking skills were limited to being able to cook food until done…

Hong Yi looked at these items, her face glowing with joy: “Concubine, this time the master only sent things to our courtyard!”

The pride in her words overflowed.

Yun Shuyao heard these words and paused in her actions.

It seemed she would stand out this time.

The main courtyard should be fine, but as for her colleague at Meixiang Courtyard, the impact would likely be significant.

This day, Lin Ruhai went to Bitao Courtyard.

The next day, he came to Lanxin Courtyard again, checked Yun Shuyao’s calligraphy “homework,” enjoyed a delicious meal together, and sent her two more books.

Then after another two days in the inner courtyard, Lin Ruhai went to Bitao Courtyard again. The two sides almost took turns, with no connection to Meixiang Courtyard.

When going to pay respects, Yun Shuyao noticed that her colleague’s eyes had turned red.

Jia Min’s gaze also showed some change.

Now the two were evenly matched in terms of frequency.

Meixiang Courtyard wasn’t touched at all.

This was something that hadn’t happened since Concubine Mei entered the household.

The master didn’t visit Meixiang Courtyard often. He wasn’t someone with strong desires. To be honest, the number of days he stayed in the outer study in a month might be even more.

But when entering the inner courtyard, before Yun Shi’s arrival, he came to her place most often. Meixiang Courtyard received at most five visits in a month.

When Concubine Mei first entered, because of her appearance, Jia Min was indeed anxious for a while. But after observing for some time, she felt much more at ease—the master didn’t particularly favor her.

This could be seen from the frequency.

But now that Yun Shi had entered, it was different. She could actually stand on equal footing with her!

And he kept sending her things!

Nanny Qian offered advice to Jia Min: “Madam, shouldn’t we let that vixen Yun know what rules mean?” She felt greatly humiliated. What a misjudgment—it turned out this Yun Shi was the real fox spirit!

Jia Min fell into silence. After a long while, she shook her head. “Yun Shi has only been here how long? Don’t lose your composure.”

The master was just seeking novelty. Moreover, the master came to her place quite often too. If she interfered, the Old Madam would definitely be displeased.

She only wanted the concubines to bear children for the master. How could she be happy with the master constantly coming to her place?

“Has the wandering Doctor Chang been found yet?”

Nanny Qian lowered her head: “We’ve already found where he stayed recently. It should be soon.”

Jia Min touched her belly: “As quickly as possible.”

The master’s temporary interest wouldn’t affect much. Ultimately, what mattered was having offspring!

Whether male or female, Goddess of Fertility, please give me one. When my wish is fulfilled, that will be when I create a golden statue for you!

Concubine Mei also understood what was most important.

She gnashed her teeth at that fox spirit in Lanxin Courtyard.

At first glance, she seemed unremarkable, but actually was showing weakness to the enemy, making her careless!

However, she knew what she most needed to do.

After thinking deeply at night, Concubine Mei still had someone send word to her natal family to prepare medicine.

With the master frequently visiting Lanxin Courtyard, if that side gained the advantage and gave birth to the Lin family’s first grandson first, it would be too late.

She had to give birth to a son first. For this, even if it meant paying some price, she accepted it!