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Yao Xueying was not pleased at all and immediately exclaimed in anger, "How can I be on equal footing with that wretched woman?"
Liu Jianmin shouted, "Be quiet! Come here!"
Pulling his wife aside, Liu Jianmin whispered, "Yuan Yingwu has military achievements and has been promoted to Major General at such a young age. He is favored by His Majesty, and who knows, he might even be granted a title of prince someday! We cannot afford to offend him!"
"Then you might as well divorce me and let that wretched woman take the position of the main consort!" Yao Xueying was still furious and ran off after saying this.
Liu Rumeng saw this and called out for her mother while chasing after her.
Liu Jianmin returned to the table, wearing a smile on his face as he looked at Yuan Yingwu.
Liu Ruyi picked up a piece of food and fed it to Bai Jieqiong, saying, "Mother, eat some vegetables!"
After her mother took a bite, Liu Ruyi asked with concern, "Is it good?"
"Delicious!" Bai Jieqiong nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude.
Seeing this scene, Yuan Yingwu deliberately dropped his chopsticks on the ground and said, "Wife, my chopsticks fell too. Why don't you feed me as well?"
Liu Ruyi put down her chopsticks and discreetly hit him a few times under the table, saying, "Dropping chopsticks is bad luck!"
"What's wrong with him?" Bai Jieqiong asked with concern.
Yuan Yingwu felt embarrassed to tell the truth and covered up, saying, "It's nothing! The whole army has been training hard lately; my arm hurts and I can't hold the chopsticks!"
"Then let me..." Liu Ruyi started to say when Niu Peng volunteered to stand up: "Young Lord, my family has a traditional skill. Let me help you loosen your muscles!"
With that, Niu Peng stood behind Yuan Yingwu and began to massage him.
"How is it?" Niu Peng asked proudly while massaging.
Unfortunately, Yuan Yingwu couldn't be bothered to respond. Liu Ruyi understood that Niu Peng's flattery was misplaced; what the Young Lord truly needed was her comfort. Since he had fought for his mother's recognition, Liu Ruyi decided to fulfill his small wish. She picked up a piece of chicken and held it to his mouth, saying, "Here, eat some. After you're full, we should head back early. After all, there are many matters waiting to be dealt with."
Yuan Yingwu appeared satisfied as he ate and nodded in agreement.
After the meal, Liu Ruyi bid farewell to her mother Bai Jieqiong and left with Yuan Yingwu from Liu Residence.
In the autumn of Duke's Residence, ginkgo leaves fell like golden foil, carpeting the stone slabs of the winding bridge.
On this day, Liu Ruyi wore a moon-white satin cloak with intricately embroidered lotus vines on the cuffs as she strolled slowly under the corridor. In her hand was an old ledger with yellowed pages; her fingertips lightly traced over the paper as her gaze remained focused and sharp, as if she intended to engrave every number into her heart.
"Miss, Old Madam requests your presence in the main hall for a discussion," Zhang Yue hurriedly approached with a hint of tension in her voice.
Liu Ruyi nodded slightly, handing the account book to Zhang Yue. She adjusted her collar and walked towards the main hall. She knew that today’s meeting was crucial for her to successfully take over the family management, and there could be no room for error.
Inside the main hall, Old Madam sat at the head of the table, her expression serious. Yuan Yingwu stood beside her, his gaze fixed intently on Liu Ruyi as she entered. Mei Xin sat at the lower end, holding an embroidery frame, seemingly focused on her work, yet her eyes occasionally darted towards Liu Ruyi, revealing a flicker of complex emotions.
“Liu Ruyi, you’re here,” Old Madam began. “I am getting old, and it’s time to pass the management of the Duke's Residence to you younger ones. After observing you for some time, I believe you are steady and sensible, suitable for this important responsibility.”
Liu Ruyi felt a surge of joy in her heart but maintained a humble demeanor. “Grandmother’s praise is overwhelming; I am afraid I may not be able to gain everyone’s trust as I am still new here. I will need your guidance.”
Old Madam nodded in satisfaction. “There is no need for modesty. I will have your sister-in-law assist you for a while. Once you are familiar with the household affairs, I will officially hand over the keys of management to you.”
Mei Xin suddenly jabbed her needle into her fingertip, blood oozing out. “Grandmother, I… I fear I won’t be able to assist effectively. Sister Two is far more capable; there is no need for my help,” she said, her voice tinged with reluctance and sarcasm.
Old Madam frowned. “What are you saying? We are all family and should support each other. This matter is settled; starting tomorrow, you will hand over the household accounts and keys to Liu Ruyi.”
Mei Xin bit her lip and reluctantly agreed, “Yes, Grandmother.”
After leaving the main hall, Liu Ruyi strolled to the back garden. The autumn breeze brushed past her, causing ripples on the lake's surface that reflected the evening glow of the sky—truly a breathtaking sight. Standing by the water's edge, she gazed at her reflection, lost in thought.
“What are you thinking about?” Yuan Yingwu’s voice came from behind her.
Liu Ruyi turned around to see Yuan Yingwu approaching and softly replied, “I was contemplating the burden of managing the household; it seems it won’t be easy to bear. Your sister-in-law clearly resents this situation; there will surely be both open and covert struggles ahead.”
Yuan Yingwu reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Liu Ruyi’s ear, a hint of concern flashing in his eyes. “With me here, you need not fear her. If she dares to make things difficult for you, I will not let her off easily.”
Liu Ruyi looked into Yuan Yingwu’s determined eyes and felt warmth swell in her heart. She gently leaned against his shoulder and said, “I’m not afraid of her; I just don’t want to cause trouble for Grandmother. This Duke's Residence is ultimately your Yuan Family’s foundation; I don’t want internal strife to disrupt our harmony.”
Yuan Yingwu wrapped his arm around Liu Ruyi’s waist and whispered, “You always understand others so well. Don’t worry; I will help you establish your footing.”
The next morning, Liu Ruyi arrived early at Mei Xin’s courtyard. Mei Xin sat at a table piled high with account books and keys. She looked up at Liu Ruyi with a hint of coldness in her gaze. “Sister Two arrives quite early; are you eager to take over this Duke's Residence?”
Liu Ruyi smiled and replied, “Sister-in-law is joking; I just wanted to ensure that household matters aren’t delayed by coming early for the handover.”
Mei Xin snorted dismissively and tossed an account book at Liu Ruyi. “Here are the accounts from the past three months; take a look. If there’s anything unclear, feel free to ask me.”
Liu Ruyi accepted the account book and opened it to find neat handwriting and clear numbers. However, as she examined several pages closely, she noticed some discrepancies. She continued flipping through without showing any signs of concern while mentally noting those suspicious details.
“Sister-in-law, why are there only three keys for the storeroom? I remember Grandmother mentioning that there are five storerooms; shouldn’t there be five corresponding keys?” Liu Ruyi raised her head and met Mei Xin’s gaze directly.
Mei Xin’s expression shifted slightly before she smiled again. “Oh, those two keys belong to storage rooms with trivial items; they aren’t important so I didn’t bring them out. If Sister Two wants them, I can have someone fetch them right away.”
Liu Ruyi nodded politely. “Thank you for your trouble. Managing the storeroom is crucial; if we don’t have all the keys, it could lead to problems.”
Mei Xin gritted her teeth and instructed a maid to fetch the keys. Watching the maid leave, she cursed inwardly: “This Liu Ruyi is indeed not easy to fool; it seems I’ll have to be more careful from now on.”
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