Edited by Elanor
When Chu Mu returned home, the room was filled with warm light.
Xie Tingyue was leaning on the warm couch with his chin propped up, flipping through a book out of boredom. The candlelight shone on his profile, echoing the charcoal fire in front of the bed, warm and cozy, making people unable to resist approaching at a glance.
He was like many ordinary wives waiting for their late returning husbands, warm, soft and lazy.
He was becoming more and more comfortable.
Chu Mu couldn’t help but raise the corners of his lips.
“You’re back?” Hearing the sound, Xie Tingyue turned around and patted the seat next to him with a smile, “Come and sit here.”
There was a small square table on the warm couch, with a small red clay stove on top. The fire was warm, probably just to keep the jars on top of it warm. A set of seven glazed celadon porcelain cups were placed neatly on the side.
Chu Mu opened the lid with a disappointed look on his face, “I thought Madam would warm the wine for me.”
“You already drank three cups yesterday. It’s time for health soup today. Be good.”
Xie Tingyue habitually coaxed the other while serving the soup with a smile and holding it in front of Chu Mu.
Chu Mu: “….”
Xie Tingyue smiled, “Please?”
Chu Mu pursed his lips slightly, as if still unwilling. He took another bowl and smiled at Xie Tingyue, saying, “Madam, won’t you accompany me?”
Xie Tingyue blinked and almost burst out laughing. Are you a child? Do you need someone to accompany you even while drinking soup?
However this soup was a health-preserving soup, not a medicine. There was no harm in drinking a little.
Xie Tingyue prided himself on being a mature man who was not pretentious, so he just gave in to the other party: “Okay.”
He directly reached out and exchanged bowls with Chu Mu, brought the other bowl over, and finished it boldly.
Chu Mu then picked up the bowl, put on a heroic expression as if he was drinking medicine, and drank it all in one gulp.
He finally said, “It feels like I’m having nuptial wine.”
Xie Tingyue: “……”
Can everything be linked to nuptial wine? Crossing cups, I forgot about it long ago!
Nevertheless——
Xie Tingyue’s ears turned slightly red as he looked at the person sitting across from him.
Chu Mu’s body was in poor health and his strength was insufficient, but whenever he could consciously sit up, his waist and back would be straight, as if he would never bend. Although his shoulders were thin, they were not narrow. The shape of his Adam’s apple was perfect and beautiful, not to mention his face. His eyebrows were trimmed like ink dye, and his eyes were deep and far-reaching, like flowing tides….
He himself had a very subtle unearthly temperament, lonely and distant, elegant and noble, very unique.
For example, at this time, there was snow falling outside the window, and a branch of red plum blossoms stretched sideways out of the window. It opened shyly and boldly, and paired with Chu Mu’s handsome and gentlemanly face, Xie Tingyue felt that it was perfect for no reason.
Suddenly, he understood why Chu Mu liked wine.
Because it matched very well.
Such person, such scene, and such atmosphere was more enjoyable with wine.
“Sorry, the soup is not as a good match as the wine, but it is good for your health.” Xie Tingyue felt inexplicably guilty.
Chu Mu looked at him until he was so flustered that he smiled, “Many people are worried about having too much of one thing. I have always been envious.”
Xie Tingyue: “Huh?”
“This kind of luxury, I also have it now.” There was a smile in Chu Mu’s voice, and the tide in his eyes seemed to reflect the starry sky, making his heart skip a beat, “Thank you very much, Madam.”
Xie Tingyue thought about this statement and understood.
For example, his naughty Younger Brother at home would be annoyed because he took too much care, and he often complained to others, but although this complaint was true, the hidden happiness of showing off was also true. The heartfelt care of the people around you was sometimes easy as if it was something you were born with. Sometimes it was really difficult, that no matter how much you wished for it or asked for it, you would never get it.
Chu Mu still disliked this bowl of soup, but he would never reject his caring hand.
He longed for it.
“I haven’t felt this warm in a long time.”
Chu Mu smiled warmly, but Xie Tingyue felt a pain in his heart.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Then he suddenly discovered…
The teacup in hand just now was in the perfect position. Following his habit, he moved it slightly, half an inch to the right. The temperature of the tea was just suitable, and the rare taste… was also very suitable.
Thinking about it carefully, it seemed like this happened every time he was with Chu Mu. The water temperature was always just right and the cups were always placed in the most convenient way.
It couldn’t be a coincidence.
“You seem to know me very well…” Xie Tingyue looked at the cup in his hand, raised his eyebrows slightly, and asked Chu Mu doubtfully, “Why?”
Chu Mu was quiet for a moment, and a glimmer of light surged in his eyes: “Why do you think…that is?”
Xie Tingyue was slightly startled.
Chu Mu was admitting to understanding him.
Why would a person understand another person, subconsciously pay attention to that person’s habits, preferences, and small actions, and involuntarily take care of them without realizing it…
Wasn’t ‘that’ the easiest reason to think of?
Because I like you, because I care.
How could Chu Mu possibly like him? Accepting closeness was not simply because he was useful?
Xie Tingyue looked at Chu Mu and suddenly felt that the other person’s gaze was burning. Even across the table, he felt an indescribable sense of oppression.
The tips of his ears were a little red, and he drank two mouthfuls of tea in a panic, almost choking, making himself even more embarrassed, “Me, how would I know?”
Chu Mu looked at him deeply, his smile getting deeper and deeper, “It feels good to be taken care of by someone. I think you do too.”
Xie Tingyue almost spit out the mouthful of tea.
This was saying that he was too good to him, his feelings were almost overflowing, couldn’t he live with his conscience if he didn’t give something back!
This bastard would feel uncomfortable if he didn’t take advantage of him, wouldn’t he?
“No, I’m not, I didn’t, you misunderstood.” Xie Tingyue said, this was just a transaction, the work ethics of ‘being a wife’.
He could now basically confirm that Chu Mu was just teasing him, it was intentional!
“Is that so?” Chu Mu looked at him quietly, his voice very soft, “But I am.”
“Boom–”
Someone was setting off fireworks outside, and the bright light reached into the night sky, exploding into greens and silver flowers.
The two of them were bathed in the light and shadow, as if facing each other in daylight.
Xie Tingyue’s heart skipped a beat.
At this moment, the person opposite seemed to fall from the clouds to the earth, which was truly incredible.
Chu Mu extended his slender hand from the table and held Xie Tingyue’s hand, saying, “There is nothing better in the world than watching the fireworks with you.”
Both his gaze and his voice were extremely gentle.
Xie Tingyue quickly withdrew his hand as if he had been scalded, and said with a stern expression, “Take good care of your health and don’t joke around.”
Chu Mu accepted the good advice and sighed regretfully, smiling as usual, “Okay.”
Knowing that the other party was joking, Xie Tingyue still couldn’t control his restless heart and had to shift his mind to something else.
“Today, two men ran naked on the street. Everyone was talking about it. Did you… know?”
He actually wanted to ask, did this matter have anything to do with you? He always felt that even though Chu Mu was sick, he might actually be capable of it.
Chu Mu looked upright, “I don’t know, it has nothing to do with me.”
All right.
Xie Tingyue was only suspicious but believed Chu Mu’s denial. Because what happened to He Yuanqi was so terrible. He entered the Fang Guo Pavilion and was sexually assaulted and ran away. He heard that the scene at that time was extremely difficult to describe and one-sided…it was indeed very different from Chu Mu’s temperament.
Xie Tingyue had no sympathy for He Yuanqi and even wanted to applaud. Just because of what Qi Yingfei’s little sister had experienced made him feel that it was too appropriate to teach He Yuanqi a lesson. Judging from news coming back from the street, it showed that He Yuanqi was really not a good person. He had done a lot of bad things, and this was letting him go too easy!
“I don’t know how the little girl is doing…”
She cried so miserably during the day. He wondered if she would be embarrassed when she looked back on what happened that day?
“What are you thinking about, Madam?”
The voice was right next to his ear. Xie Tingyue turned around suddenly. Chu Mu had already moved to him from across the table!
“Why are you leaning so close?”
Xie Tingyue subconsciously stepped back.
Unexpectedly, when he moved back a little, Chu Mu came closer, with raised eyebrows and a gentle smile, “I thought——Madam’s voice was so low was just to let me get closer?”
Xie Tingyue:……
He was so angry with him that he lost his temper.
“Can there be a time, Chu Mu, when you don’t over-interpret my behavior?”
“Why are you afraid of interpreting facts?” Chu Mu didn’t retreat at all, and took advantage of the opportunity to hold Xie Tingyue’s hand, his eyes narrowed, “I’m sorry — this is the only thing, I’m afraid I can’t do it.”
Just as Xie Tingyue was about to push him away, between the friction of the clothes, a piece of paper fell out of Chu Mu’s chest lapel.
The letter paper was neatly folded, and there was no envelope, so it fell open and spread out.
It was too close, the position was just right, and Xie Tingyue was not blind, so he saw it even if he didn’t want to see it.
Letter: Young Master Chu, I heard that you fell ill again, and my Elder Brother kicked the door of your warehouse and grabbed the ginseng to save you. Why don’t you just let nature take its course and die? My Elder Brother has been exhausted to this point, your poor conscience is so sick that it’s incurable! Please make sure to live well, and even if you die, wait until this Young Master takes a vacation to personally take care of you!
A very familiar font, a very familiar tone——
Xie Tingyue squinted his eyes and gritted his teeth, “Xie, Ting, Xing!”
Chu Mu quickly held his hand in case he accidentally hurt himself with too much strength, “Younger Brother is still young and not sensible, don’t be angry.”
Xie Tingyue’s face turned green with anger, “Look at what he has said! Where is his politeness and his cultivation, have they been eaten by dogs?!”
Chu Mu patted Xie Tingyue on the back, “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. Wait until younger brother comes over for the holidays and you can teach him well.”
“Why are you calling him here? To torture a patient like you?” Xie Tingyue slapped the table, his eyebrows stern, “We must have Luo Momo confine him to the house to read, not be allowed to go out!”
Chu Mu poured a cup of tea for his wife, raised his eyes, and smiled deep in his eyes.
Xie Tingyue was upset and even scolded him, “And you! Don’t run around outside in the winter. Please cherish your body!”
Chu Mu was very obedient, “What the Madam said is true, just listen to the Madam.”
**********
It was a good night’s sleep.
When they woke up the next morning, the snow was still falling.
Chu Mu held the medicine bowl and drank slowly, “Your Indigo Cloth has a good starting point. The Plum Banquet can be arranged.”
Xie Tingyue was startled.
When this person was not serious, he had absolutely no clue and couldn’t even guess what was going on in his mind. When he was serious, he was very serious, elegant, ascetic, wise and full of power, which was unbelievable.
Xie Tingyue suddenly had a feeling, as if his situation… Chu Mu had always taken it to heart and been worried about him.
“Why did you go to the Chamber of Commerce that day?” He pursed his lips slightly, “If no one bought my Indigo Cloth, would you have taken action?”
The room suddenly became quiet.
Chu Mu seemed not to have expected Xie Tingyue to ask such a question. His elegant and gentle smile paused for a moment before looking over, “Madam’s career must always be supported.”
Xie Tingyue’s eyes were complicated, “You don’t have to be like this…”
Chu Mu lowered his eyes and looked at the medicine bowl in his hand, moving his fingertips lightly but saying nothing.
Not yet…in due time.
When he raised his head again, the familiar sense of teasing returned. He tilted his head slightly and looked at Xie Tingyue with a smile, “Madam, are you so curious about me?”
Xie Tingyue rubbed his forehead.
Here we go again.
Chu Mu: “Madam, you can be more curious. I’m looking forward to it. Just don’t be frightened when you come near me one day.”
Xie Tingyue couldn’t bear this kind of provocation and raised his eyebrows, “I’m really looking forward to this kind of shock. Don’t let me down!”
Disliking each other was disliking each other, and one had to admit that they thought of the same thing.
Xie Tingyue was now the legitimate Grandson-in-Law of the Chu family, and he was also in charge of the household accounts. However, principles were principles, and the truth was that people were humans, he could not completely control the servants of the Chu family. In the past, a punishment board could scare people from making troubles, but it would not be able to scare them into being loyal. People would not dare to violate the rules, but they would inevitably be passive and negligent in their work. If they were not careful, they would be easily unprepared and accidents would happen easily.
There were too many preparations for the Plum Banquet, and the day of the event would be very busy. If Xie Tingyue could not control the servants, there was no way to ensure that it would be completed smoothly. It was too difficult and costly to win over people’s hearts in a short period of time. The best way was to take advantage of the situation.
Inducing pressure from the outside world, forcing people to face it and do things well, not for Xie Tingyue’s sake, but for the reputation of the entire Chu family——
Xie Tingyue originally planned to launch the Indigo Cloth, sell it to a nobleman, using appropriate tactics to stir up his fame. He would use this gimmick to attract more influential women to have a good impression of him, and then with the Plum Banquet’s specifications, influential people would come to the Plum Banquet, the Chu family could not ignore it. From the Master to the servants, no one would dare to be neglectful. And the Plum Banquet would be a success.
He did not have the patience to have a house-fight. Why not just power-up at one go, forcing you to work hard and achieve success on your own!
Who would have imagined that in this battle, they would suddenly bump into the Princess’s Nanny, Madam Ji, the effect was bound to be overwhelming.
It would be foolish not to strike while the iron was hot and run the business properly.
Xie Tingyue stopped talking nonsense, straightened his clothes and stood up, “Then I’ll go get busy.”
“En,” Chu Mu held the medicine in his left hand and flipped through the pages of the book with his right hand, “Come back early, the manor sent a good sheep today.”
After Xie Tingyue left, a group of servants gathered around the table with hesitant expressions on their faces.
“What should we do? Should we do something or not? If we do, we have to do it now, or it’ll be too late. ……”
“If you want to move, you move, but there is no guarantee over there yet. Will you bear the consequences later?” The shrewd-looking Momo pointed towards the second room.
“But the Eldest Mistress has a good relationship with Madam Ji! I heard that the cloth was very beautiful. Princess Changning liked it at first sight. Not to mention whether she would support the Young Mistress, there are rumors that there will be a lot of people coming by then. If we can’t handle this Plum Banquet well and lose people, where will you gain face? Then you will be fine?”
“Oh, if you don’t take action now, the other side won’t be happy. If you can’t do it now, there will be no future!”
“Okay, okay, stop arguing. If it doesn’t work, just try again. Why are you so anxious?”
**********
There were also many people on the street who were holding a wait-and-see attitude.
The auction of the Chamber of Commerce was full of twists and turns, and various gossips were circulated, which were over-processed and distorted the truth. Some were convinced by Xie Tingyue and greeted him when they saw him, while others had squinting eyes and all kinds of profound meanings, making assumptions and bad mouthing.
“What’s the use of selling just one piece of cloth? I heard there are several pieces of cloth in their warehouse rotting in the corner and getting moldy!”
“Who says it’s not the case? If they don’t sell it at a low price at this time, they’ll be smashing their own hands!”
“People are counting on this Indigo Cloth to celebrate the New Year. Of course, he can’t sell it cheaply!”
“I have never heard of this Second Young Master Xie to have any achievements in the business world. He is famous because he married Young Master Chu. Is he not a fake? Is he deliberately doing a stunt this time to extort money?”
“Isn’t Madam Ji being deceived? Someone should go over and warn her…”
A bunch of people were worried about the country and the people in the corner. Slowly, they started to get excited and were filled with righteous indignation. Finally, they really found the connection between twists and turns and went to see Madam Ji to remind her.
Madam Ji was teaching a young maid the rules. When she heard the message, she raised her eyebrows and said, “What? There are still a lot of goods in stock? There are a lot of them in hand, but they are not sold and the quality is not as good as the Indigo Cloth? Then what are you waiting for? Ask someone to help me send a message to the Second Young Master Xie. Tell him, how could he be so ungrateful, how can he bear to hide it from me and not give me a few rolls of cloth? Bring more silver bills, if he doesn’t sell them, increase the price. You must buy them, you understand?”
After Madam Ji finished her instructions, she sighed regretfully, “If it weren’t for the fact that the Princess wouldn’t let me go, I would have gone personally and asked for it myself…”
It was quite normal for her to behave like this.
Nobles didn’t like to wear matching clothes. She only had the best and best things and could use them to show off. But when the servants wear inferior clothes, it was a confirmation of their taste. The wider the spread, the more it showed that she had better discerning eyes, the more noble people compare themselves to influence in many cases, so how can the subordinates not actively perform?
Xie Tingyue was already in the shop at this moment, receiving the people sent by Madam Ji. He spread his hands in great distress, “There is really nothing I can do about it. There is indeed a lot of cloth in the warehouse. I am in the process of improving the Indigo Cloth. There are very few finished products. I can only provide two finished products for Madam Ji, no more.”
The young maidservant who did the shopping was clever and pestered Xie Tingyue and promised a bunch of benefits. Xie Tingyue finally agreed to get another one, but there were only three in total, and there were really no more.
The young maid was a little disappointed, but she nodded, “Okay.”
She was taught by Madam Ji, and she knew how to read eyes best. She also knew that the other person was Master of the family. She could tell that Xie Tingyue was telling the truth, and that the cloth was really not much, “Then if there are new arrivals, Master Xie, please notify us as soon as possible.”
Xie Tingyue responded with a smile, “I feel really sorry for Madam Ji taking such care. There is a card here, please accept it for Madam Ji.”
The young maid took the card and felt it was very novel.
————-
Zaki~ the chapter was too long.. (7kplus word count).. had to chop it.. but still long.. sorry Ela hehheehe.
Thank you so much 😊
Wow so many smart plans!
Thank You for the new chapter (◞ꈍ∇ꈍ)◞⋆*✚ ♡
Thank you for the update 🤓
5 laps naked around the courtyard for the little brother. He still needs his balls, no like pervert He
Young Master Chu: I don’t have health, morals or an adoring family but you know want to do have?
A Waifu to rizz!