Pei Huaijin’s hand lay across the desk, gently shielding her face.
She rested her cheek on his palm, contentedly nuzzling against it before quickly falling asleep.
Pei Huaijin wanted to withdraw his hand several times, but each time he moved even slightly, she would grasp his fingers tighter, her small face nestling deeper into his palm.
But the account books weren’t finished yet; how could he sleep?
That was what he thought, yet when he saw her scrunched-up little face, the words that came out were: “Wake up, go back to your room and sleep there.”
The sleeping girl didn’t respond; only soft, shallow breaths answered him.
He maintained that position for a long while, long enough for his shoulders and arms to begin aching, while her breathing grew steady and deep—clearly fast asleep.
If he couldn’t read the account books, so be it, but she couldn’t keep sleeping on his hand forever.
Pei Huaijin rose, circled the desk, and came to her side, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her out of the study.
Qingjian, standing guard outside the door, was surprised to see him come out so soon.
“Not even half an hour has passed; how is she asleep already?”
The sleeping girl obediently nestled in his arms as he carried her back to the bedroom.
Danruo wanted to follow inside to assist, but without her master’s orders, she dared not act on her own.
Seeing that Pei Huaijin said nothing, she waited by the door.
Pei Huaijin laid her on the bed, took off her shoes and foot wraps, then inspected the wounds on her soles.
The injuries were healing well; in three or five days, she should be able to walk again.
“Has the dressing been changed today?” he asked Danruo at the door.
“Not yet, Young Master,” she replied.
“Come in and change it now.”
Only then did Danruo dare enter.
There were still official matters unfinished in the study, so Pei Huaijin didn’t linger in the bedroom.
When he returned, he saw the account books on the desk, which had been opened but barely flipped through.
He turned to Qingjian and instructed, “Tomorrow, watch her closely. She must finish reading both books.”
Qingjian pressed his lips and said, “Young Master, I don’t think the Young Madam can finish them.”
“Well, she’s new to bookkeeping. Even finishing one book would be enough.”
Qingjian shook his head again.
“Not even one book, perhaps not even one page.”
Pei Huaijin frowned slightly.
“Why do you say that?”
Qingjian had spent the afternoon watching Shen Youran with the account books.
According to his observations, though the books had been flipped halfway through, the Young Madam hadn’t absorbed a single word.
“When the Young Madam looks at the books, her gaze is fixed…”
“What do you mean?”
“She spaces out the moment she looks at the accounts…”
She’d zone out for a bit, flip a page, then zone out again, flip a page again—repeating endlessly.
The books might as well have been meant for me, he concluded.
“Understood.”
Pei Huaijin closed the account books on the desk.
It seemed self-study wouldn’t do; it was best to arrange a female tutor for her as soon as possible.
Three days later, the Fuzi Pei Huaijin had hired for Pei Huaian came to the estate first.
The Fuzi was strict and stern, with no nonsense, and taught in a dry manner that frustrated Pei Huaian.
In two days, he tried to escape three times, each time caught red-handed by Shen Yunshu lying in wait.
On the fourth attempt, he finally broke out of his courtyard.
His foot wound was nearly healed, and he ran faster than he ever had in the woods.
Just as he was about to leave the estate, the young servant at the gate—already ordered by Shen Yunshu—rushed out to block him.
The servants dared to stop him but wouldn’t dare hurt him.
During the scuffle, Pei Huaian still managed to get outside the gate.
At that moment, a carriage slowly stopped in front of the Pei residence.
Shen Yunshu had also chased out with others and approached him.
“Seventh Young Master, come back with me.”
“No! I can’t read a single word of those books anymore…”
Pei Huaian struggled hard to break free from the servant who was holding him around the waist.
Inevitably, Shen Yunshu got caught up in the commotion.
She tripped over a fallen servant, losing her balance and stumbling backward.
Just as she thought she would fall, a large hand reached out and steadied her waist, helping her regain her footing.
She turned and met a pair of deep, ink-black eyes.
“Are you alright?” the man withdrew his hand just in time.
“I’m fine. Thank you, Langjun, for your help,” Shen Yunshu stepped back a few paces and bowed slightly.
Meanwhile, Pei Huaian had already shaken off his sleeves and run far away.
Shen Yunshu watched him disappear down the alley without looking back, her expression tinged with helplessness.
The man who had helped her looked about Pei Huaijin’s age and wore a dark blue official robe, indicating he was at least an eighth-rank official.
She had thought he was just passing by the Pei residence by chance.
Unexpectedly, he stood beside the carriage, and when the curtain was lifted, he helped a lady dressed in crimson and blue silk down.
The lady’s every movement exuded grace and composure.
After stepping down, she gave Shen Yunshu a gentle smile and reached out to adjust her hairpin.
“Seventh Young Madam, your sidepin is crooked.”
He actually knew her?
But Shen Yunshu was sure she had never seen this lady before.
“Forgive me, but may I know your name, Furen?”
“My surname is Xiao,” the lady replied.
“I’ve been entrusted by Eldest Young Master Pei to come to your residence to tutor the Eldest Young Madam.”
She had heard her third sister mention that Pei Huaijin was arranging for a female tutor.
So this was that Furen.
The surname Xiao was well known in the capital for a certain virtuous and unmatched Missus Xiao, literate and talented in poetry and embroidery, who had served as a lady-in-waiting in the Palace.
Her fiancé had died young, and she had vowed never to remarry, wearing her hair in a bun ever since.
She had never expected Pei Huaijin to invite her to teach the Third Miss.
Shen Yunshu was delighted but then heard the introduction of the gentleman beside her—none other than the one who had just helped her up.
“He is my nephew, Xiao Ci, currently serving as a Dàyǐsì Sīzhí at Dali Si.
He happened to be passing by today and accompanied me here.”
Xiao Ci?
Dàyǐsì Sīzhí Xiao Ci?
The case about Lu Yi’s abduction was entrusted to him by Pei Huaijin.
It had been several days already; she wondered how the investigation was progressing.
“I’ve heard from my elder brother about your talents, Xiao Sīzhí…”
Shen Yunshu wanted to inquire about the abduction case, but since it was their first meeting, she held back to avoid being too direct.
Xiao Ci gave a slight nod.
“I’m pressed for time and will head to the office now. I’ll trouble the Seventh Young Madam to escort my aunt inside.”
“Thank you, Xiao Sīzhí.”
Shen Yunshu stepped forward to lead Lady Xiao into the residence.
“Seventh Young Madam…”
Yunzhi Courtyard.
Shen Youran sat listlessly in the hall, not a trace of a smile on her face.
The previous night, Pei Huaijin had informed her early that the female tutor he had arranged would arrive today and asked her to get up early to dress properly as a sign of respect.
She had worried all night and barely slept.
She had heard that he had hired a very strict Fuzi for Pei Huaian; it was certain the female tutor he had arranged for her wouldn’t be any gentler.
This morning, she had lost her appetite and barely touched her early meal before returning to her room to get ready.
Qinghe, who had been injured protecting her on their wedding day, had recovered and returned to attend to her.
The two maids busied themselves, dressing her up in finery.
Shen Youran yawned slowly, her eyes vacant as she gazed outside.
Just as her eyelids began to droop, about to close…
“She’s here! The female tutor has arrived!”
Qinghe came running from the courtyard gate to announce.
Danruo hurried over and helped the drowsy young lady sit up.
“Young Madam, please pull yourself together.”
To show respect for her teacher, Shen Youran intended to greet Lady Xiao at the Pei residence entrance.
But upon entering the courtyard, she saw her sister accompanying a dignified, elegant lady inside.
She hadn’t seen her sister in two days; Pei Huaian was locked in Ci You Courtyard studying, and her sister was busy accompanying him.
“Sister!”
Shen Youran was overjoyed to see her.
Her sister subtly signaled to her, “Your tutor is Lady Xiao, the one Eldest Young Master Pei hired for you.”
Shen Youran bowed to the visitor.
“Your tutor is honored, Auntie.”
“Eldest Young Madam, no need for formalities,” Lady Xiao raised her arm gracefully, her demeanor composed and refined, every gesture pleasing to the eye.
“Thanks to Eldest Young Master Pei’s favor, I shall be your Mu Shi from now on.”
Her tone was gentle, like a warm spring breeze, quite unlike the stern tutors Shen Youran had imagined.
Yet in just a few words, she inspired sincere admiration.
“Yes, Auntie, I will study hard under your guidance,” Shen Youran replied earnestly.
Though unsure if she could learn well, at least her attitude was sincere, serious, and willing.
“You are naturally beautiful, with delicate features and fair skin, so heavy makeup is not suitable,” Lady Xiao examined her makeup.
“Today, we’ll start with basic feminine grooming. At the morning ritual, a simple look shows filial piety and respect. No powder to cover your skin, no dark eyebrows to steal attention, no bright rouge on your lips. Let’s go inside; I’ll teach you how to redo your makeup.”
Learning makeup?
No young lady could refuse.
Shen Youran gladly agreed.
Shen Yunshu, seeing her sister happily getting along with Lady Xiao, felt reassured.
After bidding farewell to them, she returned to Ci You Courtyard to clean up the mess Pei Huaian had left behind after his escape.
An hour later, Lady Xiao finished her lesson.
Being their first meeting, she hadn’t taught anything too difficult, just basic morning and evening makeup and clothing coordination.
Shen Youran was eager for more and ate a bit more at lunch than usual out of happiness.
She never expected Pei Huaijin to hire such a gentle and warm lady as her Mu Shi, who praised her before each lesson and was even more patient than her elder sister.
In that hour, Shen Youran learned willingly, like a well-brushed colt enjoying the ride.
After three days of feminine grooming lessons followed by three days on feminine virtue, she grudgingly accepted the lessons on the “Three Obediences and Four Virtues.”
Though she mostly disagreed with those teachings, she still learned obediently because Lady Xiao was beautiful and kind.
Even the previously impossible-to-memorize Nu Jie flowed smoothly from her lips with Lady Xiao’s guidance.
So far, everything was going smoothly—until Lady Xiao brought out the account books and told her she must learn bookkeeping.
Shen Youran’s head almost exploded.
“Auntie, do I really have to learn this?”
She had grudgingly endured the feminine virtues, but the account books were complicated.
She really couldn’t grasp them.
“You will be in charge of the household’s finances and managing the estate eventually. You can’t avoid this.”
Seeing her hesitation, Lady Xiao praised her to encourage her.
“You’ve been with me for days; it’s clear you’re intelligent. This bookkeeping isn’t hard; I’ll show you step by step. Don’t be afraid. Today, we’ll start with checking the land rent accounts.”
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