Tian Tian returned to the manor and first called for the steward to settle Sun Gui and his two children before turning her thoughts to dealing with Xu Mu.

She and Xu Mu had been estranged for some time, and now she needed to go to him for the matter of the refugees’ livelihood. This issue was far more serious than her late-night conversation, where she had asked him not to be so greedy.

Tian Tian sat on the small couch, pondering for a long time, yet still couldn’t come up with a solution.

After a while, Xianglan walked over and bowed, “Madam, lunch has been prepared.”

Tian Tian had no appetite. She lay weakly on the small couch, her eyes dull, and waved her hand listlessly, “Take it away. I’m not hungry.”

“Madam, you must eat something. Your body won’t be able to take it. Please, have at least a little,” Xianglan urged gently.

But Tian Tian still didn’t want to eat.

Xianglan, remaining patient, continued to persuade her for quite a while. Eventually, Tian Tian’s ears started to ring, and she gave in, knowing that if she didn’t eat, Xianglan would likely nag her from noon until the afternoon.

Sitting at the table, Tian Tian looked at the table full of dishes—twenty or thirty varieties, none repeated. Many of the dishes weren’t even available in Changping, and some couldn’t be found in Yuzhou either, requiring a hefty sum to obtain. The extravagance was overwhelming.

Seeing this, Tian Tian’s appetite diminished even further. Outside, people were starving to death, yet here she was, surrounded by lavish food. If this food could be turned into silver and donated, how many refugees could be saved?

“Madam, please try this pigeon soup. The kitchen has been simmering it with top-grade ginseng all morning. It’s extremely nourishing and delicious,” Xianglan said as she served the dish.

Suddenly, Tian Tian’s eyes lit up, and an idea formed in her mind. The living standards in the manor were far too extravagant, especially the lavish meals prepared for every table setting. How could she, alone, possibly consume so much? If she used the excuse of cutting expenses and donated the saved money as silver to the refugees, perhaps Xu Mu wouldn’t oppose her too strongly.

Well, he’d probably still oppose it, but it would be better than directly asking him for silver. At least this approach would be more tactful and less blunt.

Ah, there was no time to hesitate. She had to try. The common people were living in hardship, and the refugees found it difficult to beg for food. People were starving to death every day. She didn’t have the luxury to delay any longer.

But how to bring this up to Xu Mu was something that stumped Tian Tian.

Since their argument that night, their relationship had frozen over. If she suddenly went to him now, it would be awkward, to say the least. Most importantly, Xu Mu might outright refuse her.

She needed to smooth things over between them first. Only then could her chances of success improve.

But how to mend their relationship? That was another problem for Tian Tian, who had never been in a romantic relationship and had no idea what to do.

Thinking carefully, she realized that every time, she had unknowingly offended Xu Mu.

“Xianglan, do you know how to win a man’s heart?” Tian Tian asked, turning to Xianglan, her closest confidante. Now, she had no one else to ask.

Xianglan was caught off guard by the question, her face flushing red like an apple. She stammered shyly, “Madam, I… I am an innocent girl. I have always kept my virtue and would never do something so shameless.”

Shameless? Tian Tian was speechless. “How is this shameless? When two people care for each other, it’s a beautiful thing.”

“Madam, I’m not engaged. If I did such a thing without permission, it would ruin my reputation. I couldn’t dare bring shame to you.” Suddenly, Xianglan seemed to realize something and quickly asked, “Madam, are you trying to win the master’s heart?”

She had noticed that the relationship between Madam and the Magistrate had been strained lately. She had asked about it once, but Madam hadn’t said much. Now that Madam was suddenly asking her such a question, it was clear that she wanted to please the master.

Tian Tian felt embarrassed about actively trying to win a man’s affection, especially since she was from the modern era. But faced with the refugees’ plight, she couldn’t afford to care about such things anymore. Blushing, she nodded, “Something like that.”

Xianglan thought for a moment, recalling things from her time in Yuzhou, “Whenever the wife of the Prefect wanted to please him, she would pick a beautiful concubine for him.”

Tian Tian shook her head without hesitation, “No.” Even though she and Xu Mu had no real marital relationship, they were still husband and wife in name. There was no way she could bring herself to offer another woman to him.

Xianglan thought again, her face turning even redder, “The mother of the Second Miss, Concubine Chen, always pleased the Prefect by buying alluring clothes and wearing them for him…” She was too embarrassed to finish the sentence.

Tian Tian immediately rejected the idea, “That’s even worse.” Not only did she and Xu Mu lack a real marital relationship, but the thought of her taking the initiative to seduce him made her uncomfortable.

Xianglan was at a loss, frowning, “Concubine Liu always pleased the Prefect by handcrafting clothes or pouches for him. He was very pleased with her skills and constantly praised her. Madam, should we try that?”

This idea seemed more reasonable, but Tian Tian was equally troubled. She was clueless when it came to needlework. Let alone making clothes, she couldn’t even embroider a simple pouch. Besides, it was delicate work that would take at least ten days to complete. She simply didn’t have that much time to spare.

Tian Tian thought about it for a moment. Needlework was all about doing something personally, showing sincerity through one’s own efforts. As long as she focused on that aspect, the key would be the personal touch. Cooking a meal herself would also express sincerity. What mattered was easing their relationship.

“Xianglan, go invite the master to have dinner at the Rose Courtyard tonight. Tell him I’ll be cooking personally, and that he must come.”

In truth, she wasn’t much of a cook. In her first life, her parents had doted on her, believing that girls should be raised with indulgence. They rarely let her set foot in the kitchen. The only thing she could manage was instant noodles, but desperate times called for desperate measures. She would just have to wing it.

Xianglan was shocked. “Madam, you’ve never cooked before, this…” Although Madam was a concubine-born daughter, she was still the prefect’s daughter. From a young age, she never had to worry about food or clothing, and with her beauty, the prefect raised her with great care, her delicate hands never touching household chores.

“It’s fine. Just do as I say,” Tian Tian replied directly.

“Madam, since you’ve never cooked before, it might backfire,” Xianglan cautioned. Not only might this fail to win the master’s favor, but it could also make him even angrier, which would be more trouble than it was worth.

“Just go,” Tian Tian said without further explanation. She was already worried about how to bluff her way through this situation.

“Yes.” Xianglan, unable to argue with her mistress, had no choice but to do as she was told.

When Xu Mu learned that his wife had invited him to dinner, he was still busy at the county office. With the new year approaching, there was a lot of work to be done, and his recent trip to Yuzhou for Second Miss’s betrothal had caused a delay, so he had been focused on catching up with official duties these past few days.

“Cooking herself?” Xu Mu, seated at his desk, emphasized those words.

Xianglan, kneeling nearby, braced herself. “Yes, Madam is cooking herself. She asks that you please come and try it.”

“I understand. You may go back and tell her I’ll be there tonight,” Xu Mu replied. Despite his anger over that night’s events, the fact that Madam was cooking personally touched him. Such a gesture was hard to refuse.

Xianglan, her face filled with despair, acknowledged his response. She had secretly hoped the master would decline, but instead, he agreed without a second thought. Now, Xianglan was beginning to wonder—had the madam and the master really argued?

When Tian Tian heard that Xu Mu had agreed to join her for dinner, she immediately rushed to the kitchen to start preparing.

The kitchen staff, seeing Tian Tian enter personally, all dropped to their knees and bowed, too afraid to even breathe.

Tian Tian smiled and explained her purpose, urging them to relax.

Though Madam seemed kind, it was the first time any of them had seen her in the kitchen, and they still didn’t dare let down their guard. They feared any mistake might bring punishment.

Tian Tian glanced around the kitchen. She had to admit, the kitchen of a corrupt official was extraordinary, filled with a dazzling array of expensive ingredients. Each item was more luxurious than the next.

Xianglan followed closely behind Tian Tian. Seeing her circle the kitchen without showing any intention of actually cooking, Xianglan couldn’t help but ask, “Madam, what are you planning to make tonight?” Once she confirmed what Madam wanted to cook, she could quickly have the chefs prepare the ingredients. Madam only needed to stir the pot a few times, and it could still be considered a dish made by her own hands.

That way, it could still count as a dish Madam had personally prepared.

Tian Tian thought for a moment and decided to make her favorite dish—stir-fried shredded pork with green peppers.

With that in mind, she spoke up, “I’m going to make stir-fried shredded pork with green peppers.” She was surprised to find green peppers in the kitchen, amazed that such ingredients existed in this fictional era.

Hearing this, Xianglan immediately called for the chef and instructed him to prepare the ingredients.

But Tian Tian stopped her, “There’s no need for the chef to do it. I’ll do it myself.”

Xianglan gasped, “Madam, there’s no need for you to go that far. Once the chef starts cooking, you can just stir the pot a few times, and it will be fine.” After all, would the dish still be edible if Madam truly cooked it herself?

“If I rely on someone else’s hands, how can that be considered cooking by myself? I’ll do it. I’ll personally handle every step,” Tian Tian said firmly.

Xianglan was anxious. “Madam, but you’ve never cooked before!”

“That’s why I’m doing it now. Enough, Xianglan. Don’t say any more. My mind is made up.” With that, she instructed one of the chefs, “Prepare an apron for me. I’m going to chop the vegetables.”

The chef hurried to comply and brought her a clean apron.

Xianglan quickly took it and helped tie the apron around Tian Tian.

Tian Tian selected a suitable knife, walked over to half a slab of pork, and chose a one-pound piece of premium pork belly.

Xianglan, watching nervously from the side, warned, “Madam, please be careful. Don’t hurt your hands.”

“I know,” Tian Tian replied, focusing as she gripped the knife with both hands and began cutting into the meat.

Xianglan couldn’t bear to watch. This wasn’t shredded meat; the pieces were bigger than those used for braised pork! Would they even be edible later?

Tian Tian was very serious. After cutting the meat, she moved on to the peppers. “I remember the master loves spicy food, so I’ll add extra peppers.”

Xu Mu arrived at the kitchen and saw from a distance that the renowned chefs he had brought in from all over the country were standing by the door, their expressions uneasy.

Seeing Xu Mu, they all bowed in unison, “Greetings, Master.”

Xu Mu waved them off. “At ease. Is Madam inside?”

“She’s inside, cooking,” the head chef replied with a complicated expression.

Xu Mu walked straight in. As soon as he entered, he was hit by the strong smell of burning and the choking scent of hot peppers, along with the sound of coughing from inside. His delicate wife stood by the stove, one hand pinching her nose, the other holding a spatula, stirring the contents of the pot…

Xu Mu frowned as he walked closer to the stove. The pot was filled with a burnt, blackened mess, unrecognizable from its original form, yet his young wife was still seriously stirring it with the spatula. From a distance, he hadn’t noticed, but now up close, he could see tears streaming down her face.

Xu Mu quickly strode over, grabbed her hand, and forcefully pulled her away from the stove.

Tian Tian was startled. “Husband, why are you in the kitchen?” She followed him out without even realizing it.

The people inside, seeing the master leave, collectively sighed in relief, glad the torture was finally over.

Xianglan hurriedly ordered, “Clean this up.”

Tian Tian allowed Xu Mu to pull her outside the kitchen, where she finally shook off his hand.

Xu Mu’s brows were tightly knitted. “If you don’t know how to cook, just stay in the Rose Courtyard and let the servants take care of you. Why torment yourself like this?”

Tian Tian, still recovering from the overpowering pepper fumes, had tears streaming from her eyes, and her once fair and smooth face was now smudged with soot, making her look both pitiful and disheveled.

Feeling wronged by his scolding, Tian Tian hunched over, her head lowered as she mumbled, “Husband, can’t you see I did all this to please you?” If not for him, why would she go through such lengths?

Xu Mu was stunned. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say. Looking at her like this, he felt both angry and sympathetic.

“Stop crying. I didn’t even scold you.” Xu Mu took out a handkerchief and gently wiped her tears.

“I’m not crying. The peppers irritated my eyes while I was cooking. It stings,” Tian Tian said while still tearing up.

Xu Mu sighed helplessly. The frustration he had been feeling for the past few days seemed to dissipate at her words.

Forget it. This girl had a pure heart, and he realized that she probably didn’t even understand the weight of her own words.

“Come on, let’s go back.” Xu Mu took her hand again.

Tian Tian obediently let him lead her, like a docile little wife. She could clearly see the shift in his mood—her plan to win his favor with a show of effort had succeeded. Truthfully, she wasn’t that bad at cooking, but she had exaggerated her incompetence just to achieve the desired effect.

“Are your eyes really bothering you? Should I call a doctor to take a look?” Xu Mu asked as they walked.

Tian Tian shook her head. “It’s fine. I’ll wash them when we get back, and they should feel better.”

Back in the Rose Courtyard, Xu Mu personally helped Tian Tian wash her face and clean her eyes. They were so close that Tian Tian could feel his warm breath against her skin.

Her cheeks flushed, and her heart raced like a drum.

“Husband, can you stop being angry with me?” Tian Tian looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes. Her face was still slightly swollen from the irritation, making her look especially pitiful—like an abandoned puppy.

Xu Mu’s heart softened instantly. He thought to himself that he really had been neglecting her lately.

“Who’s angry?”

Tian Tian saw that he was pretending and pointed out, “I mean what happened in Yuzhou last time…”

“I’ve just been busy lately. The New Year is coming, and there’s a lot to do. That’s why I haven’t had time to visit you,” Xu Mu said without missing a beat.

Tian Tian, knowing when to let things slide, accepted the excuse. Since Xu Mu was giving her an out, she wouldn’t press the matter. After all, she needed his help and couldn’t afford to throw a tantrum now.

“Alright, then I misunderstood you,” Tian Tian said with a smile as bright as a flower.

After helping Tian Tian wash her face, Xu Mu inspected her carefully. “Your eyes are still a bit swollen. If they don’t get better by tomorrow, have the steward call a doctor.”

“Okay.” Tian Tian nodded obediently.

In the end, the dish Tian Tian had cooked didn’t make it to the table. The two of them sat down for dinner, and Xu Mu noticed that Tian Tian wasn’t eating much. He kept placing food on her plate with his chopsticks.

“Why aren’t you eating, Madam?”

“I can’t eat, Husband.” Tian Tian proceeded to tell him everything she had seen outside that day.

Xu Mu, losing his appetite as well, set down his chopsticks and listened intently.

“Husband, those refugees are really pitiful. I want to help them.”

“What do you want to do?” Xu Mu asked directly.

Tian Tian glanced at the untouched food on the table. “Husband, we never finish all the food at every meal. I was thinking, can we cut back on our meals? Maybe just have two or three dishes per meal, as long as we’re full.

The silver we save could be used to help the refugees. Most of them are victims of this year’s disaster. If they can survive this winter, they’ll be able to return to farming in the spring, and the situation will naturally improve by then…”

“Alright,” Xu Mu agreed without hesitation.

Tian Tian was stunned. “Husband, did you just say… yes?”

Xu Mu nodded in agreement.

Tian Tian was dumbfounded. This… this went too smoothly, so smoothly it felt unreal. Xu Mu, after all, was a notorious corrupt official who regarded human lives as worthless. Yet, here he was, agreeing without hesitation to spend money to help the disaster victims. This… didn’t seem logical at all.

She had prepared a whole speech, but now there was no need for it.

Seeing his wife looking dazed and confused, Xu Mu found her incredibly adorable and couldn’t help but laugh. “Hearing me agree, does Madam seem disappointed?”

Tian Tian quickly shook her head. “No, absolutely not. Husband, your heart is so kind, and I am deeply moved and in awe.”

Xu Mu chuckled and shook his head. Though he worked at the county office, he was well aware of her actions. He had always known that his young wife was kind-hearted.

Today’s elaborate effort was simply to win his favor and make him relent. Since that was the case, why shouldn’t he agree? After all, it was just about cutting back on some luxuries—he had already enjoyed everything he needed. If his young wife was willing to lower herself to please him, what harm was there in him using some trivial things to make her happy?

Tian Tian was overjoyed, practically on cloud nine. Now, when she looked at Xu Mu, he seemed like a perfect gentleman—handsome, graceful, and pleasing in every way.

Without thinking, she leaned over and gave him a big hug.

“Husband, thank you. Thank you so much.” These words came from the bottom of Tian Tian’s heart. The refugees now had hope, and her head would be safer on her shoulders.

As the fragrance of her soft body fell into his arms, Xu Mu froze. He hadn’t expected his wife to be so bold and affectionate, and for a moment, his mind went blank. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to sit on his lap.

Suddenly, Tian Tian realized what she had just done. Her face flushed red with embarrassment, and she quickly slipped out of his embrace. Her hands nervously twisted together as she avoided eye contact, not knowing where to look.

“Um… Husband, I should go check the account books,” Tian Tian stammered and started to leave.

Xu Mu, still a little distracted by the embrace, called out to her in a voice lower and more magnetic than usual. “It’s late. Why bother looking at account books now? Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

Tian Tian shook her head. “No, I need to calculate the savings tonight so I can donate it as soon as possible tomorrow. The refugees are struggling, and if I act quickly, I might save another life.”

Hearing how serious she was, Xu Mu didn’t stop her and let her go.

Tian Tian, her face still flushed, hurried to the study. Xianglan saw her come out of the dining room and couldn’t help but ask, “Madam, what happened?”

“I’m going to the study to check the account books,” Tian Tian answered as she walked quickly.

Xianglan’s head hurt just hearing that. “Madam, does the master know about this?”

“He knows. I already told him,” Tian Tian replied, still walking briskly toward the study.

“Madam, is it really appropriate to leave the master alone like that?” Xianglan followed her, trying to remind her that as a wife, she should prioritize her husband. Leaving him alone like this was a big mistake.

Tian Tian, who had been preoccupied with thoughts of the refugees, hadn’t considered this. Now, after Xianglan pointed it out, she realized she might have gone too far. It was like a man being heartless after taking action…

The more she thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed, and her face turned even redder as she shook her head.

“Xianglan, go tell the master that I’ll apologize to him after I’m done with the account books.” She knew she needed to show some consideration, at least to make him feel better. That way, it wouldn’t be as difficult to ask for help in the future.

Xianglan sighed, but for the sake of Madam’s future happiness, she had no choice but to go along with it.

Tian Tian entered the study and stayed there until late into the night. Despite everyone’s attempts to persuade her to rest, she refused. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to rest—she just couldn’t afford to. The faster she calculated the savings, the sooner the refugees could receive aid.

Though she was utterly exhausted, the results were worth it. Tian Tian’s plan to cut down on food costs didn’t just apply to herself and Xu Mu but extended to the entire Xu household.

She had long known that the servants in Xu Mu’s household lived extravagantly off his wealth. She hadn’t bothered with it before, thinking it wasn’t necessary since everyone needs some leeway. But now, with so many refugees suffering, she could no longer turn a blind eye.

The final amount she calculated shocked Tian Tian. The food saved in Xu Mu’s household each day amounted to around one hundred taels of silver.

This was a huge sum. Converted into grain, it could feed a large number of refugees.

The result made Tian Tian overjoyed.

Xianglan, who had been dozing off outside the study, woke up when she saw Madam finally emerge. “Madam, are you done?”

Tian Tian nodded, smiling. “Let’s go back and rest.” She was thoroughly exhausted. “Hand the account book on my desk to the steward first thing in the morning and have him follow the instructions in it.”

Xianglan nodded in agreement.

“Madam, the master is staying in the Rose Courtyard tonight.”

Tian Tian, who had been feeling sleepy, froze in her tracks. Her drowsiness vanished almost instantly.

“What? The master is staying tonight?”

Xianglan nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”

Tian Tian was stunned. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Why was Xu Mu staying in the Rose Courtyard tonight? He had been sleeping in the main courtyard before.

Xianglan sighed. “The master didn’t want to disturb you, otherwise, I would’ve told you sooner.”

Tian Tian was speechless, her mind filled with nervousness. She couldn’t help but think of the hug she had given him earlier—did he think she was sending some kind of signal with that hug?

Tian Tian was utterly flustered, but on second thought, they were legally married. Xu Mu staying the night was perfectly reasonable. Besides, she had already mentally prepared herself for the possibility of them consummating their marriage.

“Let’s go back,” Tian Tian continued walking toward the bedroom. It was already a done deal, so there was no need to dwell on it. Besides, even if something did happen with Xu Mu, she found she didn’t quite mind.

This realization left Tian Tian puzzled. When had her impression of Xu Mu changed? He was still a corrupt official, but she didn’t dislike him. In fact, sometimes when she saw him, her heart would race, and her face would flush.

Xianglan respectfully followed behind, nodding in agreement.

As Tian Tian approached the bedroom door, she instinctively slowed her steps, trying not to make any noise, afraid of disturbing Xu Mu.

When she entered the room, the quiet was almost eerie. In the soft candlelight, she saw Xu Mu already asleep in bed. She couldn’t help but glance at him a little longer. He truly was handsome, with sharp features, a strong brow, and eyes that even when closed radiated a noble aura. Even asleep, he exuded an extraordinary presence.

Tian Tian instructed Xianglan to fetch her some clean clothes for bathing and tiptoed to the side room to wash up.

Despite it being late into the night, Tian Tian found herself wide awake.

After bathing, she applied a fragrant balm before finally returning to bed.

As soon as she crawled into bed, filling the space with her scent, Xu Mu woke up. “Wife, you’re back?”

Tian Tian froze mid-crawl, then forced a smile. “Yes, I’ve finally finished reviewing the accounts. Tomorrow morning, I’ll have Xianglan deliver them to the steward to be implemented.”

“It’s late. Let’s rest,” Xu Mu said as he lifted the blanket for her to get in.

Tian Tian had already mentally prepared herself, so she wasn’t flustered. Blushing, she slid under the covers and lay next to him.

Xu Mu pulled her into his arms, and the scent of her filled his senses, stirring his thoughts.

Tian Tian squeezed her eyes shut, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited silently for him to make a move. The stillness of the night amplified the sound of her heartbeat.

Xu Mu, however, though tempted, realized how late it was. His wife had been working in the study for so long—she must be exhausted. He couldn’t bring himself to take her now.

After waiting a long time without any movement from him, Tian Tian finally opened her eyes in confusion, only to see him breathing heavily, his expression tense.

Meeting her gaze, Xu Mu’s desire to devour her flared up, but he restrained himself. “Sleep now. It’s late, and we have plenty of time in the future.”

He was letting her off the hook. Tian Tian didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. A faint melancholy crept into her heart, leaving her feeling inexplicably stifled.

“Alright.” It wasn’t something she could force, so Tian Tian closed her eyes and tried to sleep.

The next morning, Tian Tian was still fast asleep when Xu Mu woke up. He looked at her peaceful, delicate face, which was flushed from sleep, her long black hair spilling over most of the pillow. Her fair skin contrasted with the soft pink of her cheeks, making her look even more beautiful and hard to resist.

Xu Mu’s eyes softened as he watched her. It was the middle of winter, and if not for the impending New Year and the need to send gifts to various superiors, he wouldn’t mind lingering in bed with his wife.

He got up and dressed carefully. Xianglan and the other maids entered to attend to him. Seeing that Madam was still sleeping, Xianglan became anxious. Yesterday, she had already left the master on his own. If she behaved like this again today, it would be too much.

Madam had just been talking about how to win the master’s favor. As her maid, Xianglan had to look out for her.

Taking advantage of the maids assisting the master with his clothes, Xianglan quietly reached out and touched Tian Tian’s foot under the covers. The sudden coldness startled Tian Tian awake.

“Madam, you’re awake?” Xianglan whispered.

Tian Tian groggily opened her eyes and saw Xu Mu, already dressed and looking her way. Xianglan kept signaling her with her eyes, and she immediately understood.

“Husband, how could you wake up without asking me to serve you? It’s my duty, and I’m at fault.” She quickly threw off the blanket, ready to help him dress.

Xu Mu held out his arms, allowing the maids to continue dressing him. “You stayed up late with the accounts last night. Why not sleep a little longer? I have servants to help me. There’s no need for you to do it.”

Tian Tian smiled sweetly. “Since I’m awake now, how could I let the servants take over? It’s my duty as your wife to take care of you.” If she hadn’t woken up, it would’ve been fine, but now that she was awake, she had to make a good impression.

Xianglan promptly handed her a cloak, which Tian Tian put on before walking over to Xu Mu to help fasten his buttons.

Freshly awake, her eyes were soft and misty, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her lips a delicate shade of red. She looked more beautiful than a flower. Xu Mu, being a normal man, couldn’t help but focus on his lovely wife.

Tian Tian could feel his intense gaze and blushed even more, her face turning a shade deeper than the morning sky.

After helping Xu Mu finish dressing and washing up, Tian Tian personally escorted him to the door. Xu Mu turned to her and said, “There’s no need for you to see me off, wife. Go back and rest. I’ll be busy at the county office for the next few days and will stay there most nights. I’ll come back to accompany you during the New Year.”

Leaning in close to her ear, he added in a low voice, “I’ll be staying over.”

The implication was clear—he intended to make up for their wedding night.

Tian Tian’s face, which had just regained its normal color, flushed crimson again.

This… this man had just said that so bluntly. It was…

Tian Tian was too flustered to even know how to respond.

Xu Mu laughed heartily and quickly left the Rose Courtyard, eager for the day to arrive.

Watching him leave, Tian Tian stumbled back into the room, feeling weak all over.

Xianglan couldn’t help but ask, “Madam, are you alright?”

Tian Tian quickly shook her head. “I’m fine.”

Xianglan didn’t quite believe her. She still didn’t know what the master had whispered in Madam’s ear, but it had left her in such a state. However, as a servant, she knew better than to pry into the affairs of her masters.

Tian Tian lay on the bed, trying to catch up on some sleep, but Xu Mu’s words seemed to have a profound effect on her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t fall asleep. After resting for a while, she decided to get up.

“Xianglan, did you give the account book I left in the study to the steward?” she asked.

Xianglan quickly bowed and replied, “I gave it to him first thing this morning.”

Tian Tian nodded in approval.

Xianglan stepped forward to assist her. “Madam, are you not going back to sleep?”

Tian Tian continued dressing. “No, I’m going to distribute porridge to the refugees.”

“Madam, you could send a couple of servants to handle it. There’s no need for you to go in person.”

“It’s always better to check things myself,” Tian Tian replied. She wasn’t the type to put on airs, and she wanted to personally ensure that the refugees had food to eat.

The steward had acted quickly. By the time Tian Tian finished washing up and headed out, he had already set up a simple shelter on the street and was directing the servants, who were distributing porridge in an orderly manner.

“Greetings, Madam,” the steward said as he bowed upon seeing her approach.

“No need for formalities,” Tian Tian said, gesturing for him to rise. Her eyes fell on the orderly line of refugees. “You’ve done a thorough job, Steward. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Thank you for your praise, Madam. I followed your instructions and set up porridge stations all over Changping. The refugees are all being taken care of.”

The refugees, grateful for the help, knelt down when they saw Tian Tian, expressing their thanks for her kindness in distributing porridge.

Tian Tian smiled warmly and told them to get up, explaining the source of the funds. She credited Xu Mu for everything, stating that without him providing the silver, none of it would have been possible. It was only right that the credit went to him.

The refugees, moved to tears, were full of gratitude.

“I misjudged our county magistrate. I used to think he was a greedy man who valued money above all else, but now, in our time of need, he’s the one saving us from disaster.”

“He truly is a rare and good official. We are fortunate to have him.”

“I think it’s Madam who changed him. Before he got married, everyone knew what kind of man he was. He’s only changed since marrying her.”

“That’s right.”

“Madam is truly virtuous.”

Hearing all these compliments made Tian Tian’s face burn with embarrassment. She smiled humbly and walked over to the servants distributing porridge. “Let me do this,” she said, eager to contribute herself.

The servants looked hesitant.

The steward quickly intervened, “Madam, your status is too high for this task. Please allow the servants to handle it.”

But Tian Tian was determined. This was the perfect moment to win the hearts of the people, and more importantly, she genuinely wanted to help.

Despite their protests, Tian Tian insisted on distributing the porridge herself, which made the refugees even more grateful.

She spent most of the day personally serving the refugees before returning to the manor.

With the refugee issue temporarily resolved, Tian Tian shifted her focus to preparing for the New Year—curing meat, making sausages, hanging couplets, and planning the dishes for New Year’s Eve. She was incredibly busy.

On New Year’s Eve, Tian Tian finally saw Xu Mu in person. When he returned to the manor, he was swaying unsteadily, looking utterly exhausted. Tian Tian, still feeling shy about his earlier comment, put her embarrassment aside and hurried over to support him. “Husband, what’s wrong? You look unwell.”

As she got closer, she caught a faint whiff of alcohol on his breath.

Xu Mu held her hand and gave it a gentle pat. “It’s nothing. It’s just that with the New Year approaching, many notable families in Changping have been hosting gatherings. Last night, the wealthiest family, the Changs, threw a banquet, and I drank a little too much.”

With the New Year approaching, not only did Xu Mu have to send money to his superiors, but the prominent figures in Changping also took the opportunity to give him silver, so social gatherings were unavoidable. If it weren’t for the money involved, he wouldn’t have bothered attending.

Tian Tian’s expression tightened. “Were there beauties accompanying you at the banquet?” Instantly, her mind flashed to scenes from TV shows she had seen, where men at banquets were always surrounded by beautiful women, sometimes even two at a time.

Xu Mu was her husband, at least in name, and she wouldn’t tolerate him fooling around with other women.

Xu Mu noticed her tense expression, her pretty face taut with suspicion, and couldn’t help but laugh heartily. “With such a lovely wife at home, why would I be interested in those common women?”

Tian Tian still seemed unconvinced.

Seeing that, Xu Mu sighed and decided to be completely honest. “Those gatherings with Changping’s influential families are to give me silver. Do you really think they’d bring women along to those meetings?” Some of the hosts had indeed wanted to provide women, but he had refused. It was best to keep things discreet when receiving money.

Tian Tian fell silent. A corrupt official was indeed a corrupt official.

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